China allocates 30 mln yuan to support disaster relief in Yunnan Xinhua) 09:03, August 23, 2025 BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's National Development and Reform Commission on Friday allocated 30 million yuan (about 4.21 million U.S. dollars) from the central budget to help Yunnan Province cope with the aftermath of severe flooding and geological disasters. The funds will be directed toward emergency repairs of damaged roads, water conservancy facilities and other public-service infrastructure so that normal life and production can be restored as quickly as possible, the commission said. Since mid-August, heavy rain has triggered widespread flooding and geological disasters across parts of Yunnan. The national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief on Friday activated a Level-IV emergency response for disaster relief in the province. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Putin-Zelensky meeting not being planned, intense mutual attacks persist Xinhua) 11:10, August 23, 2025 This photo taken on April 22, 2025 shows a view of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua) "Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says. MOSCOW/KIEV, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not being planned, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday as heavy fighting between Russia and Ukraine dragged on. "Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all," Lavrov told the U.S. news outlet NBC. His comments came a week after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Putin in the U.S. state of Alaska for talks aimed at ending the three-year conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. president also met with Zelensky and European leaders on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump (R, Rear) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L, Rear) arrive for a joint press conference after concluding their talks in Anchorage, Alaska, the United States, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) The latest discussions of a potential Putin-Zelensky meeting surfaced after Trump said he called Putin and started working on a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky -- and possibly a trilateral one including himself -- following his talks on Monday. Commenting on the potential meetings, Trump told reporters Friday: "We're going to see if Putin and Zelensky will be working together. You know, that's like oil and vinegar a little bit." "They don't get along too well ... but we'll see, and then we'll see whether or not I would have to be there. I'd rather not. I'd rather have them have a meeting and see how they can do," he said. Lavrov told NBC that Russia has agreed to show flexibility on several issues raised by Trump during his meeting with Putin. The foreign minister previously said that Russia does not reject any formats, either bilateral or trilateral, on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, but noted that any contacts over Ukraine involving top officials need to be prepared "extremely carefully." Zelensky on Friday said Russia is "doing everything" to prevent his meeting with Putin from taking place. "The meeting is one of the components of how to end the war. And since they don't want to end it, they will look for space to (avoid it)," he added. On the frontline, both Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks on each other's energy infrastructures over the past week. The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that over the past week, Russian troops captured nine settlements and launched six group strikes targeting the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and energy facilities, an oil refinery, and storage sites of Ukrainian missiles, fuel, rocket-artillery weapons, and long-range drones. During the period, Russian air defense systems shot down 25 guided aerial bombs, 11 rocket projectiles from the U.S.-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, as well as 1,500 drones, it said. U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Zelensky said Thursday that Russia launched one of the largest strikes against Ukraine overnight involving over 570 drones and 40 missiles. A U.S. factory in western Ukraine was targeted, he added. The commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, announced on Friday an attack on the Unecha pumping station in Russia's Bryansk region. The station is a crucial part of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday the pipeline was subjected to repeated Ukrainian attacks over the past weeks. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Volodymyr Kolosov, who previously served as acting chairman of the district state administration and head of the Pokrovsk district military administration, as the chairman of the Pokrovsk district state administration of Donetsk region. "To appoint Volodymyr Pavlovych Kolosov as the chairman of Pokrovsk district state administration of Donetsk region," reads the text of order No. 101/2025-rp dated August 23, published on the website of the head of state. Kolosov, born in 1962, is a resident of Pokrovsk and worked at the local agricultural firm Agrotis until 2021. In 2021, he was elected as a deputy to the Pokrovsk District Council from the Order party and at the same time became deputy chairman of the district state administration. In 2023, he was appointed first deputy chairman of the Pokrovsk District State Administration. On April 17, 2025, Zelenskyy dismissed Vladimir Zamotayev from the post of chairman of the Pokrovsk district state administration at his request, and since then Kolosov has been acting head of the district administration. Ghislaine Maxwell has described Donald Trump as a gentleman in all respects in newly released US Justice Department transcripts. The convicted sex trafficker denied ever witnessing inappropriate behaviour by Trump during his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The release comes amidst growing anger in Trumps Maga base over the administrations decision to limit the disclosure of Epstein files A US Attorney alongside FBI (right), at a news conference announcing charges against Ghislaine Maxwell for her role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein in New York City, New York, US, July 2, 2020. File Image/Reuters The United States Justice Department has released transcripts from interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, the long-time associate of Jeffrey Epstein. The development comes amidst a growing divide within Donald Trumps Maga (Make America Great Again) supporter base as the US presidents connections to the disgraced financier are put under the lens. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epsteins sex trafficking operation, described Trump as a gentleman in all respects and said she never saw him behave improperly with young women. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The timing of the transcripts release on Friday (August 22, 2025) was not coincidental. For months, Trumps base has grown increasingly frustrated over his administrations handling of the Epstein files, a trove of documents many conspiracy-minded supporters believe contain incriminating evidence against powerful figures. The US Justice Department had previously announced that no further disclosures were planned, which only intensified criticism and fuelled allegations of a cover-up. Against this backdrop, Maxwells remarks are being positioned as a way to cool tensions within the MAGA movement. What Maxwell said about Trump In the series of interviews held in Florida, Maxwell repeatedly defended Trump when asked about his interactions with Epstein. She was questioned by US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche a former personal lawyer to Trump along with a small group that included Associate Deputy Attorney General Diego Pestana, an FBI agent, a deputy US marshal, and three of Maxwells attorneys. Maxwell insisted she never observed Trump in compromising circumstances involving Epstein or the women around him. I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting, she said, referring to the coded language prosecutors say Epstein and his associates used to describe sexual encounters with girls. She added, I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. People walk next to a mobile Ad Van that displays a photograph of US President Donald Trump and disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in protest of the visit of US President Donald Trump in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, July 28, 2025. File Image/Reuters Her testimony also touched on other questions about Trumps association with Epstein. When asked about a risque book prepared for Epsteins 50th birthday that allegedly included contributions from Trump, Maxwell said she could not remember any specifics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Its been so long. I want to tell you, but I dont remember, she explained. At one point, Maxwell went beyond direct questioning to offer unsolicited praise of Trumps political career. I just want to say that I find I I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now, she said. And I like him, and Ive always liked him. Why Maxwells testimony is controversial Maxwells testimony comes with clear complications. She was convicted in 2021 for aiding Epstein in recruiting and trafficking minors and is serving two decades in federal custody. The government has described her as a serial liar. Prosecutors originally charged her with perjury in addition to trafficking offences, though those counts were dropped after her conviction. She chose not to testify at her trial. There is also speculation that Maxwell is attempting to win concessions from Trumps administration. Her lawyer, David Markus, had spent weeks before the interview publicly offering praise of Trump and suggesting that clemency could be on the table. Audrey Strauss, acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, during a news conference in New York on July 2, 2020. File Image/AP Trump himself had in the past made remarks wishing Maxwell well after her arrest and left open the possibility of a pardon before she was convicted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Maxwell was also recently transferred to a lower-security prison camp despite restrictions that normally prevent sex offenders from being placed in such facilities. Officials have not explained the circumstances of that transfer, but the development has fuelled questions about whether she is seeking or receiving preferential treatment. During the DOJ interview, Blanche made clear that while Maxwell had limited immunity for her statements, he was not making promises in return. Im not promising to do anything, he told her during the discussions. How Maga is divided vis-a-vis Trump & the Epstein files Trumps association with Epstein has been well-documented over the years, though he has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing in relation to Epsteins trafficking network. Court filings have referenced Trump alongside other high-profile figures, including former US President Bill Clinton, who had social or professional connections to Epstein. Trumps political allies have long leaned into conspiracy theories surrounding Epsteins 2019 death in jail, suggesting foul play and insisting that the government possesses damaging evidence implicating prominent individuals. For years, the narrative of a suppressed client list circulated widely among right-wing influencers. When Trump resumed office in January, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel hinted at large-scale disclosures of Epstein-related records. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That promise raised expectations among Trump supporters that the files would confirm long-held suspicions. However, when the Justice Department announced last month that no further releases would occur and that the unreleased material was largely explicit recordings of girls, the reaction was swift and hostile. The department also reiterated that investigations had found no evidence contradicting the conclusion that Epstein had died by suicide, dismissing theories of murder. These statements inflamed Trumps base, producing anger online and creating rare fractures within the MAGA movement. Why DOJs approach to Maxwell is suspicious The decision by Blanche, the deputy attorney general, to personally conduct interviews with Maxwell reflected the administrations urgency in trying to regain control of the narrative. It is highly uncommon for the US Justice Departments second-in-command to take on direct questioning of a convicted felon. Blanche had previously defended Trump in his criminal trials. His interviews with Maxwell stretched across two days and resulted in hundreds of pages of transcripts. He later said, the Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time. That information was made public weeks later in redacted form. Maxwell denied prosecutors earlier claims that Epstein had paid her tens of millions of dollars to secure her silence. That is categorically false, she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instead, she claimed the funds were used for investments and expenses tied to Epstein, such as the purchase of a helicopter she said was never hers. My belief is that that money also contained money that was for a helicopter, for instance, that I never owned and I was never mine, Maxwell explained. How Maga influencers are trying to control the narrative Following the release of the Maxwell transcripts, many prominent Trump supporters quickly highlighted her remarks as vindication. Laura Loomer, a conservative activist and outspoken MAGA figure, told Politico that Maxwells testimony demonstrated Trump has always been an honourable person. Laura Loomer has earned notoriety for peddling many conspiracy theories, including one on 9/11 in which she states that it was an inside job by the US government. File Image/AP She added, Im hoping that, you know, these transcripts will quell a lot of the nasty, salacious lies and rumours that were spread by bad actors online who are trying to use Pam Blondies shortcomings as a way to attack President Trump, referring to Bondi by a mocking nickname. Chaya Raichik, the creator of the Libs of TikTok account, shared passages from the transcripts on social media, writing that liberals are going to explode. Another conservative influencer, Rogan OHandley better known online as DC Draino argued that Maxwells defence of Trump should redirect attention toward other figures. If Trump was an Epstein client, the Deep State wouldve already leaked it, he wrote. Hes clean. Now release the Epstein Files and lets arrest the real bad guys. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Democrats are reacting vis-a-vis the Maxwell interview Democrats have responded by questioning Maxwells motives and stressing her history of deceit. US Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, dismissed her testimony outright. Ghislaine Maxwell is a convicted sex trafficker and known liar. Her interview with Trumps DOJ lawyer shows shes desperate for a pardon. She claims no involvement in wrongdoing, which is insulting to the girls and young women she victimized and trafficked. She cannot be trusted, Garcia wrote in a statement posted to X. Ghislaine Maxwell is a convicted sex trafficker and known liar. Her interview with Trump's DOJ lawyer shows she's desperate for a pardon. She claims no involvement in wrongdoing, which is insulting to the girls and young women she victimized and trafficked. She cannot be trusted. Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) August 22, 2025 Other critics argued that the Justice Departments reliance on Maxwells statements to reassure the public is deeply flawed. Given her conviction and her efforts to appeal her case, many believe she has strong incentives to portray Trump positively in hopes of leniency. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies August 23 is remembered for Indias Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing in 2023, a milestone in global space history. The date also recalls Sardar Patels appointment as Indias first Deputy Prime Minister in 1947, the first photograph of Earth from the Moon in 1966, and the 1973 hostage crisis that coined the term Stockholm syndrome People watch a live stream of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft's landing on the moon, inside an auditorium of Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad, India, August 23, 2023. File Image/Reuters We take a look at August 23 as part of Firstposts ongoing **History Today series.** On this day in 2023, India etched its name in history as Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon, making the nation the first to reach the lunar south pole. Beyond this remarkable feat, the date also recalls Sardar Vallabhbhai Patels appointment as Indias first deputy prime minister in 1947, the transmission of humanitys first photograph of Earth from the Moon in 1966, and the 1973 hostage crisis in Stockholm that gave rise to the term Stockholm syndrome. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chandrayaan-3 lands on the Moon On August 23, 2023, India etched its name in the annals of space exploration by achieving what many had thought improbable: a successful soft landing on the lunar south pole through its Chandrayaan-3 mission. This achievement made India the fourth country in history after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China to perform a controlled landing on the Moon. Yet, what made this success stand out globally was its location: no other nation had ever landed a spacecraft in the treacherous southern polar region of the Moon, a site believed to hold vast reserves of water ice. Indias lunar journey began with Chandrayaan-1 in 2008. The orbiter not only placed India in the league of lunar explorers but also made a groundbreaking discovery: water molecules on the Moons surface. This revelation gave fresh impetus to lunar science worldwide, as the presence of water ice could be vital for future human settlement and as a resource for rocket fuel. A decade later came Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. While its orbiter continues to operate successfully around the Moon, relaying crucial data, the mission suffered a major setback when its lander, Vikram, crashed during the final stages of descent. For Isro scientists, it was a devastating blow, as years of work seemed to collapse in those fateful final moments. However, rather than being discouraged, the failure only sharpened Indias resolve. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chandrayaan-3 was conceived as a lander-focused mission, designed to rectify the errors of its predecessor and attempt a precise soft landing once again. Unlike Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 did not carry an orbiter of its own. Instead, it relied on the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter still in lunar orbit to communicate with Earth. This kept the mission leaner and more cost-effective. The spacecraft consisted of two primary components: Vikram lander (named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of Indias space programme) Pragyan rover (meaning wisdom in Sanskrit) The lander was equipped with instruments like a seismometer to detect moonquakes, thermal probes to measure surface temperatures, and spectrometers to study the composition of lunar soil. Pragyan, a six-wheeled rover, was designed to traverse the surface, analyse rocks and soil, and send data back via the lander. A notable feature of Chandrayaan-3 was its engineering. The lander carried stronger legs to withstand impact, improved sensors for terrain mapping, and redundancies in case of system failures. Every detail was scrutinised, informed by lessons from the Chandrayaan-2 setback. On August 23, 2023, millions of Indians tuned in live as Chandrayaan-3 approached the Moon. Isros Mission Operations Complex in Bengaluru was a picture of tense anticipation. Engineers, scientists, students, and ordinary citizens were glued to screens as Vikram descended toward the lunar surface. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At 6:04 pm IST, the lander gently touched down near the Moons south pole. The room erupted in jubilation. Tears, cheers, and applause filled the control centre as Isro scientists embraced one another. Across India, people poured into streets, temples, and community centres to celebrate. The moment was symbolic of more than scientific achievement it was a testament to Indias growing place on the world stage as a scientific power. People watch a live stream of Chandrayaan-3 spacecrafts landing on the moon, inside an auditorium of Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad, India, August 23, 2023. File Image/Reuters Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was attending the Brics summit in South Africa at the time, joined the Isro telecast virtually. Addressing the nation, he declared: India is now on the Moon. This success belongs to all of humanity, and it will help future lunar missions by other countries. The Moons south pole has long fascinated scientists. Unlike other regions, its craters are permanently shadowed and never receive sunlight. Within these dark craters lie deposits of water ice, preserved for billions of years. The availability of water could make the south pole a hub for future lunar exploration. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Water is not only vital for sustaining human life but can also be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen, forming rocket fuel turning the Moon into a potential refuelling station for deeper space missions. Chandrayaan-3s success was thus not just a symbolic victory but one of immense scientific promise. By landing at the south pole, India positioned itself at the frontier of lunar exploration. The data collected by Pragyan and Vikram continues to aid international efforts to understand this challenging and valuable region. In the days following the landing, ISRO confirmed several successful deployments: The rover Pragyan rolled out onto the surface, leaving imprints of Isro and the Indian emblem on lunar soil. The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) detected elements like sulfur, aluminum, calcium, and iron in the lunar surface findings that confirmed theories about the Moons geology. The seismometer detected lunar seismic activity, offering insights into the Moons interior structure. Temperature probes recorded drastic variations, with surface temperatures fluctuating between near-boiling hot during the day and extreme cold at night. Although the mission was designed to last for one lunar day (14 Earth days), Isro scientists attempted to revive Pragyan and Vikram after the lunar night. While the rover eventually fell silent, the mission had already surpassed its objectives. One of the most striking aspects of Chandrayaan-3 was its cost around 615 crore (approximately $75 million). In comparison, this was a fraction of what many space agencies spend on similar missions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For instance, Hollywoods science-fiction movie Interstellar had a production budget of about $165 million, more than double Chandrayaan-3s cost. This cost-effectiveness has become ISROs hallmark. The success of Chandrayaan-3 drew praise from around the world. Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated ISRO, noting the importance of international cooperation in lunar science. The European Space Agency and Russias Roscosmos also extended congratulations. Chandrayaan-3 symbolised a democratization of space science, where emerging economies could make significant contributions. Chandrayaan-3s triumph has set the stage for future Indian missions. Isro is now focused on the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space. Other ambitious projects include Aditya-L1, a mission to study the Sun, and future lunar ventures, potentially in collaboration with global agencies. The mission also reignited enthusiasm among Indias youth for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Classrooms and universities reported surges of interest in space sciences, echoing the way the Apollo missions inspired an entire generation of Americans. In many ways, Chandrayaan-3 was more than just a landing it was a national movement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sardar Patel appointed Indias first deputy PM On August 23, 1947, just days after India gained independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was appointed as the countrys first deputy prime minister. Often called the Iron Man of India, Patel played a decisive role in integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union. General view of the Statue of Unity portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during its inauguration in Kevadia, in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 31, 2018. File Image/Reuters His appointment reflected his stature as one of the chief architects of modern India, alongside Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Patel also served as Home Minister, overseeing internal security and administrative integration at a time of immense turmoil following Partition. First view of Earth from the Moon On August 23, 1966, NASAs Lunar Orbiter 1 transmitted the first-ever photograph of Earth taken from the vicinity of the Moon. The black-and-white image showed Earth as a distant crescent against the vastness of space, providing humanity with a humbling new perspective on its place in the universe. This image of the Earth has been recovered by Nasa from the Lunar Orbiter, and released by Nasa, November 13, 2008. Between 1966 and 1967 NASA sent five Lunar Orbiter spacecraft to the Moon. File Image This milestone laid the groundwork for future lunar missions, including the Apollo programme. The photograph also influenced the environmental movement by highlighting Earths fragility, inspiring later iconic images such as Earthrise and Blue Marble. Stockholm Syndrome The term Stockholm syndrome originated from a bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, that began on August 23, 1973. Armed criminals held four hostages inside a bank vault for six days. Remarkably, the captives began sympathising with their captors and resisted rescue attempts. This psychological response, where victims develop emotional bonds with their abusers, came to be known as Stockholm syndrome. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The incident not only shocked Sweden but influenced the study of human psychology. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trump has nominated longtime aide Sergio Gor as the next US ambassador to India, alongside appointing him special envoy for South and Central Asia. The move comes amid strained ties over tariffs and Indias Russian oil imports Director of White House Office of Presidential Personnel Sergio Gor poses at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, US, March 23, 2025. File Image/Reuters United States President Donald Trump has named Sergio Gor, one of his closest confidants, as the next American ambassador to India. The choice comes at a moment of friction between Washington and New Delhi, with tariff disputes dominating headlines. Gors nomination also carries added weight, as he has been tasked not only with managing the US mission in India but also with serving as special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs a dual role that places him at the centre of a critical geopolitical flashpoint. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nominating Gor, Trump described him as a long-time ally and stated his faith in Gors ability to advance his agenda abroad. Sergio is a great friend, who has been at my side for many years. He worked on my Historic Presidential Campaigns, published my Best Selling Books, and ran one of the biggest Super PACs, which supported our Movement, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He added, For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Until the Senate confirms his nomination, Gor will remain director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, a position he has held since November 2024. In his reaction on X, Gor said the appointment would be the honour of my life. Beyond grateful to @realDonaldTrump for his incredible trust and confidence in nominating me to the be his next U.S. Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs! Nothing has made me prouder than to serve the American people through the GREAT work of Sergio Gor (@SergioGor) August 22, 2025 His ambassadorship will fill a vacancy that has lasted for nearly seven months, since Eric Garcetti stepped down as the 26th US envoy to India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who is Sergio Gor? Sergio Gor, born Sergey Gorokhovsky on November 30, 1986, in Tashkent in the former Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, had an early life shaped by multiple migrations. His family relocated to Malta in 1994, where his mother registered as an Israeli national and ran a business. He grew up in the Maltese town of Cospicua, attending De La Salle College, a Catholic boys school, until the family emigrated again in 1999. By the late 1990s, the Gorokhovsky family had settled in the United States. Gor attended high school in Los Angeles before moving to Washington, DC to study at George Washington University. During his college years, he quickly immersed himself in American conservative politics. He was active in College Republicans and went on to found the universitys chapter of the Young Americas Foundation. Initially enrolled under his full surname, Gorokhovsky, he later shortened it to Gor a name under which he would build his career in Republican politics. How did Gor become Trumps close aide? Gors political journey began with the Republican National Committee, after which he took on spokesperson roles for prominent conservative lawmakers. He worked for Representative Steve King of Iowa, Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, and Representative Randy Forbes of Virginia, honing his communications skills and building his network in Washington. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In May 2013, he joined US Senator Rand Pauls political action committee, RANDPAC, where his responsibilities expanded significantly. Over the next seven years, Gor became a central figure in Pauls team, serving at various times as spokesman, communications director, and eventually deputy chief of staff. His tenure with Paul not only cemented his reputation within Republican circles but also positioned him for higher-profile roles once Trump rose to power. By June 2020, Gor shifted into the Trump orbit, taking the role of chief of staff for the Trump Victory Finance Committee. The next month, he began working with Donald Trump Jr, managing publishing projects and serving as a consultant. This collaboration led to the establishment of Winning Team Publishing in October 2021, a venture that went on to publish several books authored by or about Donald Trump, including Our Journey Together (2021), Letters to Trump (2023), and Save America (2024). Gor also became a key player in pro-Trump political action committees. He served as a senior advisor to MAGA Inc. and later headed Right for America, both of which supported Trumps electoral comeback. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump reacts as Director Presidential Personnel Office Sergio Gor and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles sit next to him on the day of a meeting with US ambassadors at the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 25, 2025. File Image/Reuters His loyalty during Trumps turbulent political journey played a major role in his appointment as director of the Presidential Personnel Office after Trumps return to the White House in January this year. What does Gors dual-role appointment mean for the region? Unlike some of his predecessors, Gor will not only be handling India but will also oversee South and Central Asia as special envoy. This includes indirect responsibility for countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, both of which are often linked to US-India strategic calculations. For years, Washington had pursued a de-hyphenation policy, attempting to deal with India and Pakistan separately rather than through a single lens. Analysts have pointed out that Gors dual role risks reversing that strategy, potentially drawing New Delhi into regional disputes it has resisted being associated with. Critics argue that the US embassy in India could now become entangled in Pakistan-related matters, a prospect India has historically opposed. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman wrote on X, If Gor is confirmed as ambassador to India and also serves in the special envoy role, then it would appear that India-Pakistan hyphenation is back. Another view: The US is signalling the importance of ties w/India by having the special envoy for two key regions be posted in Delhi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If Gor is confirmed as ambassador to India and also serves in the special envoy role, then it would appear that India-Pakistan hyphenation is back. Another view: The US is signaling the importance of ties w/India by having the special envoy for two key regions be posted in Delhi. https://t.co/cQxLWJH0FC Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) August 22, 2025 On the other hand, by consolidating regional strategy in the hands of a trusted Trump ally based in Delhi, the White House may be signalling that it sees India as the anchor of its South Asian approach. Is Gor the right choice for India? Although Gor lacks direct India experience, this is not unusual for American ambassadors to New Delhi. Such appointments have often been political in nature. For instance, US President Joe Biden nominated Eric Garcetti, the former mayor of Los Angeles and a campaign co-chair, to serve as ambassador during his tenure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Eric Garcetti, then-United States Ambassador to India, speaks at an event at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, India, January 6, 2025. File Image/Reuters Similarly, Gors selection reflects Trumps pattern of rewarding loyalty and long-term association with critical diplomatic roles. Gors deep ties to Trump could prove an asset in New Delhi, where direct access to the White House is often seen as valuable for advancing bilateral issues. Steve Bannon, Trumps former senior adviser during his first term, lauded Gors appointment saying, I believe Sergio is the only person outside of [chief of staff] Susie [Wiles] and a handful of others who actually has walk-in privileges to the president at any time, day or night, If Im [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi in India and I say this as somebody thats so pro that relationship I couldnt think of a better pick, Bannon told Politico in an interview. Does he have a deep knowledge base of the Indian policy issues? He doesnt, but this guys a quick study. He not just has access to the president but he has a unique trust. The president trusts this guy, that hes dealing with him straight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His position as both ambassador and envoy may allow him to cut through bureaucratic hurdles, but it could also increase tensions if policy decisions prioritise Trumps domestic agenda over long-term strategic considerations. What happened when Gor and Elon Musk clashed? While Gor is valued by Trump for his loyalty, his career has not been free of disputes. He has been known to exclude individuals deemed insufficiently committed to Trumps agenda, a trait admired by the president but criticised by others as capricious. One of his most prominent conflicts was with tech billionaire Elon Musk, who initially served as a senior adviser to Trumps administration. Their relationship soured over staffing disagreements and Gors management style. Musk publicly labelled Gor a snake and sleazy, accusing him of mishandling personnel decisions and failing to submit his own clearance paperwork while overseeing the vetting of thousands of government appointees. Hes a snake Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2025 The clash escalated when Gor informed Trump that Jared Isaacman, Musks nominee for Nasa administrator, had previously donated to Democrats. This revelation led Trump to withdraw Isaacmans nomination on Musks final day in the White House. A White House official later described the move as Sergios out-the-door f**k you to Musk. Reports also suggest Gor took personal satisfaction when Tesla stock fell. Musk, in turn, criticised the administrations budget as a disgusting abomination and publicly clashed with Trump after leaving the White House. Beyond the Musk saga, Gor has been the subject of media scrutiny over his rapid ascent in Trumps circle and his role in managing publishing projects that earned Trump millions of dollars after his first presidency. How are US-India trade disputes holding? Washington and New Delhi are embroiled in a dispute over energy imports and trade barriers. Following Indias phased pattern that increased its purchases of Russian oil, Trump responded by imposing additional tariffs on Indian goods first 25 per cent, then doubling them to 50 per cent. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently criticised Indias growing reliance on Russian crude, noting that such purchases accounted for 42 per cent of Indias total oil imports compared to under 1 per cent before the Ukraine war. Bessent accused India of profiteering from the crisis. India has pushed back diplomatically, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal saying the government maintains a very open mind about its future trade relationship with Washington. He pointed out that the partnership remains consequential and important for both nations. Yet the escalating tariffs have only been complemented with the cancellation of a planned US trade delegation visit to New Delhi in late August. About Gor being Trumps pick for India, an anonymous source also told Politico, The president [Trump] is sending a powerful signal to the Modi government by sending an envoy that is very personally close to him. Sergio is a clear signal that the negotiations need to be serious and that all messages come from the president. India and the US remain significant trading partners, with annual bilateral trade exceeding $190 billion. Despite political disagreements, the partnership is anchored by shared democratic values and a mutual interest in countering Chinas influence in the Indo-Pacific. With inputs from agencies Over 32,000 asylum seekers remain in UK hotels, down from 50,500 in 2023, but more than 210 sites are still in use. A British High Court order to evict migrants from the Bell Hotel in Epping has emboldened other councils to consider legal action, challenging Labours promise to close all asylum hotels by 2029 Men walk in The Bell Hotel, following Tuesday's High Court ruling in London that granted a temporary injunction to stop asylum seekers from being housed at the site, in Epping, UK, August 20, 2025. File Image/Reuters The current United Kingdom (UK) government is grappling with mounting pressure over its handling of asylum accommodation, as hotels housing migrants have become a flashpoint for protests. A landmark UK High Court decision this week ordered that asylum seekers be moved out of the Bell Hotel in Epping, a town northeast of London. The Epping case emerged after weeks of tensions, sparked when an asylum seeker living at the Bell Hotel was charged with sexual assault. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He has denied the allegation, but the incident became a lightning rod for anti-immigration activists, who staged regular demonstrations outside the property. Police were required to maintain order as opposing groups clashed at the site, resulting in 16 arrests linked to disorder. Epping District Council pursued legal action on the grounds that using the Bell Hotel to house asylum seekers breached planning rules and aggravated community divisions. UK High Court Judge Stephen Eyre sided with the council, instructing contractors to relocate residents by mid-September. The ruling marked a potential turning point, with other councils now considering whether to seek similar injunctions. The UK Home Office opposed the injunction, warning that it would undermine the governments statutory duty to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. Officials cautioned that if replicated nationwide, such legal outcomes could significantly disrupt the asylum system. Nonetheless, the court dismissed the governments last-minute intervention. UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed that an appeal would be lodged. Were going to close all asylum hotels in this Parliament, he said, stressing that the phase-out must be ordered and managed rather than dictated by ad hoc rulings. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How UK came to rely on hotels for asylum housing The use of hotels as asylum accommodation was not intended to be permanent. Until 2020, the government typically contracted private housing providers to rent flats and shared houses for asylum seekers. Hotels were only used temporarily in emergencies. That approach shifted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Social distancing rules prompted the relocation of thousands of asylum seekers from shared housing into hotel rooms. Evictions were paused, leaving many in limbo, while the number of Channel crossings by small boats surged dramatically in subsequent years. By September 2023, the backlog of pending asylum claims had reached more than 119,000 people, up from 45,000 in 2018. Around one-third of these individuals were placed in hotels due to a lack of alternative housing. Although the pandemic-driven policy had been described as temporary, it became an entrenched feature of Britains asylum system. As of March this year, over 103,000 asylum seekers were being housed by the state, with roughly 32,000 still in hotels. While the Labour government has reduced the number of hotels in use from more than 400 in mid-2023 to just over 210 today, campaigners, local councils, and residents remain dissatisfied. The UK Home Office has stated its ambition to eliminate hotel use entirely by the end of the current Parliament, which runs until 2029 unless an early general election is called. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, demand continues to exceed supply of long-term housing options such as rental homes, apartments and shared accommodation. Analysts have noted that the pressure on the system reflects the broader housing shortage in the UK as a whole. How Labour has responded The Labour Party campaigned on a promise to end reliance on hotels for asylum accommodation. Since taking office in 2024, it has accelerated the processing of asylum claims and expanded alternative housing schemes, leading to a reduction in hotel numbers. Despite progress, ministers acknowledge the challenges of balancing community concerns, legal obligations, and logistical hurdles. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted the need for a careful strategy, stating, We agree with communities across the country that all asylum hotels need to close, including the Bell Hotel, and we are working to do so as swiftly as possible as part of an orderly, planned and sustained programme that avoids simply creating problems for other areas or local councils as a result of piecemeal court decisions or a return to the kind of chaos which led to so many hotels being opened in the first place. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dan Jarvis echoed this point, telling BBC that the asylum system must operate more efficiently. The big challenge remains, which is, we need to process asylum claims much more speedily and much more effectively than was the case previously. The government has pledged to close all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, but with migration numbers at record highs and accommodation capacity stretched, critics question whether the timetable is realistic. How protests are on the rise Protests outside asylum hotels have become increasingly common. The Bell Hotel has witnessed sustained demonstrations, sometimes turning confrontational. Police have had to intervene to separate anti-immigration groups from counter-protesters advocating for migrant rights. Similar scenes have unfolded in other parts of England, including Merseyside, London, the Midlands, and the south coast. Far-right groups have played a role in mobilising opposition, publicising the locations of asylum hotels and promoting anti-migrant narratives on social media. Protesters attend an anti-immigration demonstration, in Epping, UK, August 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters The Epping protests were organised through a Facebook group describing itself as a community initiative, but three of its four administrators were found to be members of the Homeland Party, a fringe white nationalist organisation, reported the New York Times. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has urged people to continue campaigning against hotel accommodation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a Daily Telegraph column, he wrote: Lets hold peaceful protests outside the migrant hotels, and put pressure on local councils to go to court to try and get the illegal immigrants out; we now know that together we can win. He acknowledged that such actions might be criticized, adding: No doubt we will be attacked as far Right provocateurs for daring to suggest that people follow the lead of Eppings parents and residents by protesting peacefully. Reform UK, which controls 12 local authorities, has pledged to pursue legal routes wherever possible. How asylum housing is linked to a history of violence Authorities remain alert to the risk of violence at or near asylum hotels. In October 2022, a man carried out a firebomb attack on a migrant processing centre in Kent before taking his own life, having previously expressed intentions to kill Muslim women and children. In April 2024, an Eritrean asylum seeker was stabbed by a neo-Nazi outside a hotel near Worcester; the attacker was sentenced to life imprisonment after calling for further assaults on migrants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In August 2024, widespread riots broke out in Yorkshire after false rumours spread online that the perpetrator of a triple murder in Southport was a Muslim asylum seeker. The misinformation triggered unrest in multiple cities, with several hotels housing asylum seekers attacked by mobs. These incidents have heightened government fears that unrest surrounding asylum accommodation could escalate further, particularly as far-right groups use social media to organise and spread disinformation. Why immigration dominates British politics Immigration has surged to the top of public concerns in Britain, surpassing even the economy, according to voter opinion trackers. With more than 27,000 arrivals by small boat this year alone, public frustration has intensified. Opponents of the hotel system argue that it unfairly burdens local communities and places vulnerable populations at risk. They point to cases where asylum seekers have been accused of serious crimes, including sexual assault and rape. Critics also highlight the contrast between state-funded accommodation for migrants and the struggles of British families facing rising living costs and a shortage of affordable housing. Supporters of asylum seekers counter that far-right groups and opportunistic politicians are exploiting isolated incidents to inflame hostility. They argue that most asylum seekers are fleeing persecution and conflict, and that the real issue lies in systemic delays in processing applications. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We continue to work closely with police and community partners across the country, and discuss any concerns they have, the UK Home Office has said. The security of the local communities within which hotels are located will always be our first priority. The UK is not alone in facing protests against migrant housing. Across Europe, governments have struggled to find adequate facilities for asylum seekers while managing public opposition. In France, for example, far-right movements have mobilised against the opening of dedicated migrant centres. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies A cloudburst late Friday night caused widespread destruction in Uttarakhands Chamoli district, leaving one person feared dead and several areas, including Tharali market and the tehsil complex, badly hit. Search and rescue operation underway following flash floods triggered by a cloudburst, at Dharali, in Uttarkashi. PTI A cloudburst struck Uttarakhands Chamoli district late Friday night, unleashing heavy debris flow that caused widespread destruction. Tharali market, Kotdeep, and the Tharali tehsil complex were among the worst-hit areas, with mud and rubble sweeping into homes, the SDM residence, and several buildings. Vehicles parked at the tehsil complex were buried, while streets turned into pools of water and debris. In Sagwara village, a young girl is feared dead after being trapped under the rubble, triggering panic among locals who rushed out of their homes as rescue operations got underway. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Shops in Chepdaon market also suffered damage, and one person has been reported missing, adding to the crisis. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed concern, saying he is in constant touch with officials monitoring relief efforts. In a post on X, he wrote, Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyones safety. The new deal raises questions about the future of India-Armenia defence relations, however many of Trumps initiatives have historically been volatile and fragile in nature, and whether this pact will endure remains uncertain The US government is now likely to discourage Armenia from deepening its partnership with India, particularly given Washingtons perception of India as a close partner of Russia. Image: White House In the last seven years, if any characteristic can be defined as a robust feature of the world order, it is its changing and transformational nature. The global system is in a state of flux, undergoing massive geopolitical shifts. These paradigm changes revolve around core issues such as the decline of the West versus the rise of the rest. Today, the idea of a multipolar world order is at the centre of global discourse, with countries like China and Russia making their presence felt in increasingly assertiveand at times aggressiveways. India, too, is emerging as a major economic and global power. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This shift in geopolitics and geo-economics has brought about the emergence of various conflict theatres worldwide. The current geopolitical and geoeconomic turbulence began with the Covid-19 pandemic, which completely disrupted the global economic order. In 2022, Russias invasion of Ukraine opened up a major theatre of global geopolitical upheaval. At the same time, tensions were intensifying in the South Caucasus. In 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive, reigniting the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh. For the first time, the massive use of drones in warfare sparked major debates on the future of armed conflict and the role of loitering munitions. In 2023, another flare-up occurred between Armenia and Azerbaijan, leading the global strategic community to expect further escalation in 2025. However, quite unexpectedly, a truce has been reached between the two countries, with US President Donald Trump playing a role in brokering the agreement. Understanding the details of this peace treaty is essential. On one hand, Azerbaijan will gain access to the Nakhchivan enclave, enabling it to connect its territory through the development of a multimodal transport corridor through Armenia to be managed by the United States. Turkey, in turn, will gain access to Azerbaijan via the same corridor. While this deal clearly benefits Azerbaijan and Turkey, uncertainty remains over whether Azerbaijan will return occupied territories to Armenia or withdraw its military forces from border areas. Russias role in the region has diminished significantly, and Armenias tilt toward the Western bloc is now clear and decisive. Until recently, there was uncertainty in the strategic community over whether Armenia leaned toward the West or toward Russia. Even the Armenian government had engaged in a delicate balancing act between the two. With this deal, Armenias choice has become evident. Turkey will continue to play a decisive role in the South Caucasus. Historically, Turkey and Azerbaijan have acted against Armenias strategic interests, but this deal represents Trumps attempt to accommodate them and grant them a sharepossibly more than proportionateof the benefits. Whether they will abide by the terms of the agreement remains to be seen. The role of other global actors, particularly India and China, is also significant in this context. India has become increasingly active in the region, largely due to the growing alliance between Turkey, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan. To counter this, India has developed a strategic partnership with Armenia, centred primarily on the sale of defence equipment and weapons. The new deal raises questions about the future of IndiaArmenia defence relations. Azerbaijan is unlikely to be comfortable with Armenia purchasing Indian arms, as it has objected to such sales in the past. To preserve the peace agreement, the Armenian government may take a more cautious approach and hesitate to buy additional weapons from India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This situation is further complicated by recent strains in IndiaUS relations, which could impact Armenias ties with India. The US government is now likely to discourage Armenia from deepening its partnership with India, particularly given Washingtons perception of India as a close partner of Russia. Furthermore, Indias growing ties with China are unlikely to be well-received by the American establishment. China, on the other hand, may benefit from the current situation. It enjoys strong ties with Armenia and Azerbaijan and maintains functional relations with Turkey. With the strategic connectivity corridor in place, China could potentially gain access to European markets. In conclusion, many of Trumps initiatives have historically been volatile and fragile in nature, and whether this deal will endure remains uncertain. Transforming the vision of a strategic connectivity corridor into reality will require considerable time, and whether Armenia and Azerbaijan can maintain peace over the course of its development remains an open and pressing question. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The author is a Cornell University graduate in public affairs, bachelors from St Stephens College, Delhi and has done his PhD on Jaish-e-Mohammad. He is a policy analyst specialising in counterterrorism, Indian foreign policy and Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Donald Trumps inadvertent decision has not only triggered a temporary truce between two cantankerous neighbours, but also demonstrated that India is a key player in the region that can sustain its interests independently The United States has had a mercurial relationship with India. During the Cold War, it took two decades to build a cordial relationship, and one president to wreck it. After the Cold War ended, India tested its nuclear device, and the relationship hit a nadir. But again, it took two decades and several presidents and prime ministers to build it. In a repeat, it needed one president to ruin it. History has never run a fuller circle than the India-America relationship saga. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For any state head to reverse Indias strategic alliance with America, 4 years is too short a period to change plans. 4 months is too little to judge. And yet, 4 weeks can be long enough to dismantle the bond. President Nixon did it in 1971. Trump has done it in 2025. The only difference was that Nixon did not make any pretence of which side he was on, while Trump does not know if there is a side other than his own. History, by repeating itself, reminds us of the orb we inhabit, just when you begin to think the world may be flat. A few months into his second term, President Donald Trump has reversed a carefully built relationship between India and the US over the last twenty five years. Pessimists diss the prospects while optimists, wary of the downside of India going it alone, believe that the relationship between the two states goes beyond personalities. People ask whether the damage can be reversed. Is it irreversible? The extent of severity can only be known after the tariffs kick in. Or, if Trump decides to backtrack before the end of August, we might again begin to rationalise his actions as one of a snot-nosed, hard-boiled negotiator from New Yorks real estate. This is how some commentators thought of him before the emperor lost his proverbial clothes of discretion: I remember asking a prominent former government advisor about Trump in the early part of his second presidency and received a rational response about the president being a negotiator with a long-term plan. Most of us got it wrong. Thats because dissecting Trump through a rational lens is incorrect. Trump has proved to be remarkably consistent in being inconsistent. Reams have been written on how Trump has impacted Indias trade with America. After all, the 50 per cent tariff hits the pharma, agricultural, textiles, chemicals, electronics, auto parts and other sectors. But what can be the larger impact of Trumps actions, going beyond the those on Indias exports and trade with America? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets start with the backstory. In the last two decades, the rapid rise of China and Xi Jinping posed a significant challenge to American hegemony in the Asia Pacific. The Americans pivoted towards India as a political counterbalance. Despite being an ally, the Americans, post the Cold War, understood that India preferred to operate in an autonomous orbit, pursuing a bilateral route on political, trade and military dealings. The signing of the nuclear treaty, warming up of Indo-US relations, the initiatives on QUAD and Indias diplomatic reciprocation of good relations towards America were based on the consistent line adopted by successive American presidents. The last decade saw US presidents supporting the idea of an active QUAD with India, Australia, and Japan expected to work in tandem to counter Chinese influence. Quad threatened to be a thorn in the flesh for Chinas plans. Killing two birds with one stone, America cannily kept the growth of BRICS at bay. As the war in Ukraine broke out, Washingtons political dependence on India was evident as the US supported Indias energy purchases from Russia, helping stabilise global energy prices. This was in line with Americas acknowledgement of New Delhis neutral stance on international issues, which it did not want to interfere with. Shailender Arya, a former advisor with Ministry of Defence and now, Senior Advisor with Asia Group, believes that India and the US are natural partners and there are geopolitical reasons for them to be aligned. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump and India Therefore, what may have been the inflexion point for Trump overturning the steady relationship with India? His hostility may have been triggered by a bruised ego after India refused to acknowledge his role in defusing the military crisis with Pakistan in May. The inability of Trumps advisers to guide him on the background of the bilateral nature of the dispute between India and Pakistan meant that he put his ego before historical precedent. Whilst there can be an argument that India could have left a smarter escape clause in its response, there is also the thinking that a bully takes more when offered an inch, as the Chinese ambassador alluded in his response to Trumps hyperextended tariffs on India. This signal brought Indias northern neighbours into the picture. The US continues to import fertilizers, chemicals, and minerals from Russia. China has also continued its energy purchases from Russia, despite threats from America. Under Trump, the US has granted China a temporary reprieve on tariffs while it targets India with amongst the highest rates, thus signalling its disinterest in Quad or any such grouping in the region. The US has also been harsher towards allies such as the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan in relation to China. Since the US imported 70 per cent of its rare earth requirements from China, the Chinese weaponised the rare earths in their trade deal with the US and forced them on the backfoot on tariffs. Trump conceded to Jinping in their trade exchanges, much like how Putin held the edge in his meeting with Trump in Alaska. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump and the India-China Tango The recent events have demonstrated a weakening US presence and showcased audacious Chinese ambitions in the region. America has set nations scrambling to find favourable groupings in the event of dwindling trust towards Trumps America. Economist Jeffrey Sachs has termed the tariff policy a foreign policy blunder that unified the BRICS countries as never before, referring to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. As Trump sought to adopt radical postures to hector states into responding to his short-term transactional demands, he ignored a basic tenet. Unlike nations led by tinpot Pakistani generals or rulers where civilian governments had no more than cosmetic value, here he was dealing with two grand old civilisations India and China that have more history than their recent dossier of conflicts. Here were two civilisations inadvertently brought together by an erratic American president. While China held the cards to push back at Trump on the trade deal, the latter believed India did not quite have the cards. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While previous American presidents were conscious of the downside of India drifting towards China or Russia and hence adopted measures that prevented such possibilities, Trump may not have fully comprehended the impact of his actions beyond his immediate transactions or deals. He has triggered the revival of a working relationship between China and India, which is at the expense of American interests in the region. Trump may have failed in his desperate attempts to bring in peace between warring parties elsewhere, but ironically, this is a truce between big rivals that Trump might have inadvertently triggered. The relationship between India and China has been defined by conflict, competition and cooperation. India-China relations have been on the mend for a while, but there has been a remarkable eagerness to build relations after Trumps about-turn on India. India hosted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who stressed that the two countries should view each other as partners, not rivals. In the last six months, Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have visited China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China for the SCO summit at the end of the month. Trade and air services have resumed between the two countries, years after it was suspended after the 2017 Doklam standoff. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Mix of Enthusiasm and Caution Despite recent enthusiasm in favour of a growing India-China relationship, Asia Groups Arya holds a word of caution, adding, Whether it shall lead to a rapprochement is a difficult question to answer. The boundary dispute is intractable. There could be a possibility that we can compartmentalize it and move on to explore other cooperative areas, but then what if there is a unilateral change in the status quo at the LAC by China, as in the summer of 2020? China has built up infrastructure, roads and bridges along the LAC, to the extent that it can leverage the advantage if terms with India seem unfavourable. The trust deficit between the two countries makes the journey from Delhi to Beijing a longer one than imagined. The three pegs that define Sino-Indian relationship conflict, competition and cooperation appear to have been framed more by dispute in recent history and partly competition in recent times whenever the two have jostled for economic headspace and over China plus one markets. Cooperation is an alien term for Indian and Chinese analysts, which shapes a circumspect, cautious opinion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the other hand, the presence of Indian diaspora in the US makes them a natural partner. Arya believes that economic ties and industrial collaborations should be trusted and strengthened, since the situation in the US is temporary People, perceptions and priorities change much faster than it takes to resolve complex boundary questions. The outcome of recent events, however, is a reiteration of Indias adoption of an independent policy defined by its own interests, rather than aspiring for an all-weather relationship. Questions over Quad will gain ground as quickly as those over Americas waning presence in the absence of a strong Indian support in the region. On the other side, it is yet to be seen whether the enthusiasm over a thawing Sino-Indian relationship will lead to gains in the neighbourhood. Much as India would like to play a role in the global arena, the neighbourhood needs attention. The Sino-Indian dialogues will bring India back into discussions with Nepal and Bangladesh over unresolved issues. Therefore, the ability of India to draw takeaways from the recent positive vibes with its northern neighbour will determine how far the two big neighbours can travel together on intractable issues. Trumps inadvertent decision has not only triggered a temporary truce between two cantankerous neighbours, but also demonstrated that India is a key player in the region that can sustain its interests independently. Events of history, as they say, can be an outcome of unintended consequences of not so noble decisions. The writer is the author of Watershed 1967: Indias Forgotten Victory over China and Camouflaged: Forgotten Stories From Battlefields. His fortnightly column for Firstpost Beyond the Lines covers military history, strategic issues, international affairs and policy-business challenges. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Tweets @iProbal. Behind the veneer of economic development and infrastructure lies a more troubling reality of Beijings likely enabling of Islamist extremism and its strategic use of Bangladesh as a pawn in its grander geopolitical game Chinas expansion into Bangladesh is not just about trade or infrastructure, but it is part of a larger, more sinister game of regional dominance rooted in ideological alignment, strategic encirclement, and a shared adversarial stance towards India. Representational image: REUTERS The geopolitical landscape of South Asia is undergoing a shift that is driven in part by Chinas relentless quest to expand its influence across the region. While Pakistan has been a long-standing partner of Beijing in the west, facilitating Chinas strategic interests against India, Bangladesh now emerges as its crucial eastern anchor, especially following the political upheaval that saw Sheikh Hasinas government fall and the rise of the Yunus-led Islamist regime in Dhaka. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The fall of Sheikh Hasinas traditionally pro-India government and the Islamist-backed dictatorial regime led by Mohamad Yunus created an opening for China to deepen its foothold in Bangladesh. The new regime, perceived as more amenable to Beijings interests, has embraced Chinese investments, infrastructure projects, and diplomatic overtures with open arms. This shift has facilitated not only the implementation of major Chinese-funded projects like the Padma Bridge and the establishment of Special Economic Zones but also the invitation to China to invest in water management of rivers and major ports where traditionally India had the clear advantage. These are the moves that serve not only economic objectives but also strategic military and geopolitical aims. Chinas advance into Bangladesh is largely its mirrored policy from Pakistan. What Pakistan represents for China in the west as a proxy state that espouses Islamist ideology and a mindset of perpetual conflict with India, Bangladesh appears to be taking on a similar role in the east. Both countries harbour significant Islamist movements that share a worldview inclined towards hostility with India, envisioning endless conflicts rooted in ideological, religious, and geopolitical grievances. This ideological alignment and shared mindset act as a catalyst for regional destabilisation, and China appears to be leveraging this psychological and political climate to its advantage. Beijings engagement with Bangladesh is not merely economic, but it is strategic, aimed at fostering a network of sympathisers and governments aligned with its regional ambitions. Both Pakistan and Bangladesh have histories rooted in Islamic nationalism, and despite their differences, both are increasingly influenced by Islamist ideologies that reject secular nationalism and see India as a perennial adversary. Elements within Bangladesh, including some political factions and radical groups, echo Pakistans narrative of a strong opposition to India, often fuelled by conspiracy theories, historical grievances, and religious rhetoric. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This shared Islamist mindset in Bangladesh and Pakistan effectively creates a regional front that perceives India as an existential threat. For China, this provides a strategic advantage: that of an unstable, ideologically aligned region that can be exploited to weaken Indias regional influence and assert dominance. Beijings support for Pakistans Islamist extremism and its tacit or active complicity in enabling proxies and shielding terrorists like Masood Azhar, head of the proscribed terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad, which has been responsible for multiple terror attacks in India, from getting globally sanctioned in the past are well documented. Now, with Bangladesh increasingly integrated into Chinas regional and economic plans, there are concerns that Beijing may turn a blind eye to, or even indirectly foster, radical Islamist elements in Bangladesh. This serves Chinas broader goal that is weakening Indias regional rise, creating a buffer zone, and securing choke points in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The strategic gain for China is clear. By fostering influence in Bangladesh, China not only consolidates its eastern flank but also isolates India geographically and geopolitically. The deepening of Chinese investments, military ties, and intelligence cooperation in Bangladesh and Myanmar acts as a counterbalance, effectively encircling India in a web of Chinese-controlled infrastructure and influence. This encirclement strategy diminishes Indias traditional regional dominance and complicates New Delhis security calculus, especially in the context of Chinas Belt and Road connectivity projects and its growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean. It also threatens Indias internal security by making the eastern border states vulnerable to terror and separatist activities. Behind the veneer of economic development and infrastructure lies a more troubling reality of Beijings likely enabling of Islamist extremism and its strategic use of Bangladesh as a pawn in its grander geopolitical game. This raises serious questions about regional stability, sovereignty, and the long-term health of the democratic institutions in Bangladesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The shared Islamist worldview and Chinas tacit backing, or at least toleration, of radical elements pose a risk of increased insurgency, cross-border terrorism, and further destabilisation of Bangladesh. These developments threaten not just regional peace but also global security, as the seeds of conflict and extremism could spill over into neighbouring territories, including India and Myanmar, where the Rohingyas are vying for a separate Arakan region. What Pakistan has long been for China in the west as a strategic proxy rooted in Islamist ideology that antagonises India, the same is now mirrored in Bangladesh, on Indias eastern flank. With Beijings backing, both countries are increasingly poised as ideological and strategic opponents of India, shaping a regional landscape marked by instability and mutual hostility. Chinas expansion into Bangladesh is not just about trade or infrastructure, but it is part of a larger, more sinister game of regional dominance rooted in ideological alignment, strategic encirclement, and a shared adversarial stance towards India. As these dynamics unfold, the region faces a future where destabilisation, radicalism, and geopolitical rivalry threaten to dominate South Asias trajectory. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Raja Muneeb is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets @rajamuneeb. The views expressed in this article are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost. The DG ISPRs denial of Field Marshal Asim Munirs interview with journalist Sohail Warraich comes in the wake of a Supreme Court verdict on August 21 in which Imran Khan was allowed bail in eight cases pertaining to the May 9, 2023, violence in Lahore and other places Even as senior journalist Sohail Warraich held forth in a three-part article in the Jang on a claimed two-hour interview with Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir in Brussels, after the latter addressed a large gathering of Pakistani diaspora there (August 12), Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Thursday, August 21, refuted reports attributing some remarks to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Asim Munir. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While hundreds of people took pictures with the field marshal, including Warraich, Lt Gen Chaudhry categorically stated no interview was given by the army chief, adding further that `the senior journalist had shown irresponsibility for personal gain and indulged in `a publicity stunt. Warraich had claimed, `Regarding a political question, Munir recited on stage the text and translation of the Quranic verses about Adams creation and the role of Satan, inferring that political reconciliation was possible only if angels sincerely asked for forgiveness. Otherwise, the one who did not ask for forgiveness became Satan (Shaitan). Warraich and others interpreted this as an oblique reference to former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Some observers based abroad even saw a newfound confidence in the Field Marshal for starting to give interviews to journalists now, after his successful trips to the United States. Warraich had written that this meeting in Brussels was jointly organised by Syed Qamar Raza Shah, head of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, and a family friend, Sardar Zahoor. Hundreds of overseas Pakistanis from all over Europe participated. General Asim Munir was welcomed as the victor of war; overseas Pakistanis even bowed down and kissed his hands, and many others praised him for the victory of a Muslim country over an infidel country. Among other things, Warraich reported, Asim Munir had denied any ambitions of taking over as president or of his protege, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, replacing Shahbaz Sharif as prime minister. He saw himself largely as a guardian of the country and a `soldier with only `martyrdom as his ultimate goal. In his speech, Munir talked of an economic road map, citing Pakistans hitherto unexploited mineral wealth at Reko Diq (copper and gold), which, if properly executed, could yield two billion dollars in profit from next year. On international affairs, Munir apparently said that Pakistan had long experience of maintaining balance between China and America, and We will not sacrifice one friend for another. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The DG ISPRs denial comes in the wake of an interesting Supreme Court verdict (August 21) in which a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and two others, Justice Muhammed Shafi Siddique and Justice Hasan Askari Rizvi, allowed Imran Khan bail in eight cases pertaining to the May 9, 2023 violence in Lahore and other places. During the court proceedings, Justice Yahya Afridi had taken the precaution of repeatedly pointing out to Imrans attorney, Sohail Safdar, that the bench was not going into the merits of the charge, just giving bail! Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, August 21, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)s senior leaders Latif Khosa, Aamir Dogar and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said that the day marked a moment of relief and joy for the nation. Describing the Supreme Courts decision as a ray of hope, they claimed that the order not only exposed the fabricated narrative but also stood as proof of Imran Khans innocence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It may be recalled, however, that Imran Khan continues to be in Adiala prison serving out a fourteen-year sentence for corruption in the Al Qadir Trust case (verdict given by a lower court on Jan 25, 2025), where he was accused of benefitting estate dealer Malik Riaz (now absconding abroad, in Dubai) in exchange for gifts of land and money for himself, his wife, Bushra Sheikh, and some of her relatives and friends (Farah Gogi, also absconding!). Referring to the case, Salman Akram Raja hoped it too would be decided in PTIs favour, paving the way for Khans release from detention. Meanwhile, reacting to the Election Commissions disqualification of Omar Ayub Khan as the National Assembly opposition leader and Shibli Faraz from the Senate following their conviction in the May 9 cases, Imran nominated Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami party leader, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, as opposition leader in the National Assembly and his own partys Azam Khan Swati as opposition leader in the Senate. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Central and provincial authorities in Pakistan, including some army units, remain tied up in tackling unprecedented floods in all provinces of Pakistan, especially inundating large parts of the greater Karachi urban agglomeration. This has not stopped politicians from rival parties scoring political points against each other. The army also got involved in heavy clashes with Pashtun militants while trying to wrest back control of a key stronghold near the Karmazi Stop area in the Birmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan. Separately, several people were killed in an explosion in the remote Charmang region of Bajaurs Nawagai tehsil. Operation Sarbakaf is currently underway in Bajaur. Residents have been evacuated from parts of the district as security forces work to root out militant presence from the area. The writer is a former special secretary, Cabinet Secretariat. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Apple supplier Foxconn recalled a number of workers from its iPhone manufacturing units in India last month. This is the second time the Taiwanese company has made such a move Foxconn logo is seen in this illustration taken, May 2, 2023. File Photo/Reuters Yuzhan Technology, a Foxconn subsidiary, has sent back around 300 Chinese engineers from its facility in India at a time when relations between the two countries are improving. According to a report by the Economic Times, Apple supplier Foxconn recalled a number of workers from its iPhone manufacturing units in India last month. This is the second time the Taiwanese company has made such a move. Yuzhan Technology is establishing a display module assembly unit in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs 13,180 crore. In a stock exchange filing from May, Foxconn announced a $1.5 billion investment in its Yuzhan subsidiary, as part of its broader strategy to move more iPhone production out of China in response to potential high US tariffs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Foxconn has informed the government that they have been asked to send back all the Chinese expat employees whom Yuzhan Technology brought to India to set up the component ecosystem and factory with immediate effect, a source told ET. The person added that the company had to send some of its workers back and that 60 other engineers who were set to come to India have now been asked to stay back. Additionally, Beijing has asked Foxconn chairman Young Liu to write a report on the companys investments in India. India has agreed to a long-pending Chinese proposal aimed at easing border tensions, while also moving to resume direct flights and restore business ties. According to a report by The Economic Times, citing government and industry officials, the two countries have also reached an understanding to explore trade cooperation, particularly in strategic areas such as rare earths. Additionally, New Delhi may consider relaxing visa restrictions for Chinese business professionals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at his request and, in particular, stressed the importance of "the Global South sending appropriate signals and pushing Russia towards peace." On Telegram on Saturday, Zelensky said that he had informed the South African leader about joint diplomatic efforts with partners and productive meetings with President Trump in Washington. "We must end this war, which no one except Russia has ever needed. We must stop the killing and destruction," Zelenskyy said. "I have once again confirmed that I am ready for any format of meeting with the Russian president. However, we see that Moscow is now trying to drag things out even further. It is important that the Global South sends the appropriate signals and pushes Russia towards peace," the Ukrainian leader emphasized. According to him, they also discussed future contacts with partners, opportunities for joint work with the African continent to develop relations and ensure food security and platforms for dialogue. As US President Donald Trump holds on to his dream to win a Nobel Peace Prize, here are six reasons that reflect how Trumps ambition is still far from being materialised. While the second government of US President Donald Trump looks completely different from the first one, there has been one thing that has remained constant in both terms: His dream to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Even before he became the President of the United States for the first time, Trump had been eyeing a Nobel. He was critical of US President Barack Obama winning the award, just one year after he assumed the White House. When it was his time, Trump often claimed that he was one of the best contenders for the prestigious award. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In his second term, Trump and his White House outrightly expressed his Nobel ambition, frequently claiming that the Potus has ended seven global conflicts. However, one thing which even the sceptics pointed out was the fact that Trump was unable to swiftly end two of the biggest wars gripping the world right now: the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war. In light of this, former US First Lady and Trumps arch-nemesis, Hillary Clinton, went on to state that she would nominate Trump for the award if the President ends the war in Ukraine and ensures that the eastern European nation continues to hold on to its sovereignty. However, things changed after the Alaska Summit. Why Trumps Nobel chase remains a pipe dream The following are the six reasons why Trumps Nobel ambition might not be fruitful: Diplomatic failure and escalation: The Alaska summit, intended to foster peace between Russia and Ukraine, is turning out to be only showmanship with no substance. It has quickly unravelled into a diplomatic deadlock and military escalation, with no progress towards peace. Both sides remain entrenched, and there has been an intensification of warfare, not de-escalation. Lack of genuine compromise or agreement: Neither Russian President Putin nor Ukrainian President Zelenskyy looks to be ready to compromise or join a Trump-led resolution. Curiously, both have welcomed talks, but instead of working further towards any breakthrough, they are taking actions against what the Alaska summit and subsequent Trumps talks with European leaders promised. The Russian and Ukrainian presidents have accused each other of preventing peace, and Putins latest assertion of his terms for peace are not true compromises but ultimatums unacceptable to Ukraine. Inflated or fabricated peace claims: Trumps tendency to exaggerate or fabricate his peace achievements, such as claiming credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire, which India refuted, undermines his credibility as a peacemaker. His claims, however, have got backing from Pakistan as they suit the Pakistan Army and the countrys political leaders in serving their domestic audience a saleable narrative, much against evidence gathered by independent agencies. Nature of previous diplomatic wins: Supporters reference the Abraham Accords, but these were more about formalising already warming relations and did not resolve deep-rooted conflicts or active wars suggesting Trumps formula does not apply to the existential Russia-Ukraine conflict. But the irony of Israels Gaza war is not lost on anyone. Trumps repeated attempts and claims of bringing the war to an end soon have not yielded peace. Now, the Global Hunger Watch body has declared famine in Gaza, with over 514,000 people in its grip. Optics over outcomes: Trumps actions, such as imposing and then retracting artificial deadlines, and failing to secure even basic agreements before high-profile summits, indicate a focus on publicity rather than substantive results. Moreover, he has induced a global trade tension, disrupting decades of progress made among democratic nations to such an extent that even an authoritarian regime like China has commented that the US is threatening world peace. Harsh reality of the reason to get to heaven: Trump recently told Fox News, If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think thats pretty I want to try to get to heaven if possible. Im hearing that Im not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons. But the harsh reality of the Russia-Ukraine war is a deeply rooted, existential conflict not susceptible to quick negotiations or handshake diplomacy. Neither side is looking for a symbolic or quick fix, especially not on Trumps terms, despite making all statements flattering to him. This ticklish diplomatic situation signals that Trumps peace narrative is built on illusion and is unsustainable. In March, Canada imposed a 25 per cent retaliatory tariff on Washington following Trumps announcement of duties on Canadian steel and aluminium imports. Carney has said that Canadian tariffs on US autos, steel and aluminium will stay in place for now Canada has dropped several retaliatory tariffs on the US after Prime Minister Mark Carney held a phone call with President Donald Trump, signalling an improvement in ties between the two countries. In March, Canada imposed a 25 per cent retaliatory tariff on Washington following Trumps announcement of duties on Canadian steel and aluminium imports. Carney has said that Canadian tariffs on US autos, steel and aluminium will stay in place for now. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The removal of some counter tariffs will go into effect on September 1, the prime minister said, adding that Canada has the best trade deal with the US of all other countries. As we work intensively with the United States, our focus is squarely on the strategic sectors, he said. A White House official told NBC News that Ottawas action was long overdue. The official said, We look forward to continuing our discussions with Canada on the Administrations trade and national security concerns. Under then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada quickly responded to US trade actions by imposing counter-tariffs on CA$30 billion (US$21.7 billion) worth of American goods. In July, former President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on Canadian imports to 35 per cent, citing the surge in fentanyl and what he described as Canadas reluctance to cooperate with the US as key reasons for the move. Canada and Mexico team up Mexico and Canada are looking at ways to team up against their neighbour US, which began the relentless trade war by pushing the two countries to the battlefield. Canadas foreign affairs minister, Anita Anand, and Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne visited Mexico earlier this month to meet President Claudia Sheinbaum and make preparations for an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Mark Carney to the country for talks. Its very much an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure that we are kick-starting," Anand told reporters, while Champagne added, It sends a very strong signal when you have the foreign minister of a country and the finance minister come. According to Chicagos own reports, homicides in Chicago have dropped by more than 30 per cent over the past year, robberies by 35 per cent, and shootings by nearly 40 per cent Troops load boxes of rifle ammunition at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters as President Donald Trump implements his order to use federal law enforcement and the National Guard to expel homeless people and rid the nation's capital of violent crime, in Washington, on Tuesday. AP Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson strongly condemned President Donald Trumps plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, calling the proposal offensive and unlawful. The comments come after Trump announced a crackdown on crime in Washington, DC, and suggested that other Democrat-led cities, including Chicago, could be next. Johnson said, Certainly, we have grave concerns about the impact of any unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to the City of Chicago. The problem with the Presidents approach is that it is uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking from the Oval Office the same day, Trump criticised the citys mayor directly and claimed Chicago was failing under his leadership. Chicagos a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent, and well straighten that one out probably next. That will be our next one after this. And it wont even be tough, Trump said. However, Johnson pushed back on those claims and highlighted recent data showing significant improvements in public safety. According to Chicagos own reports, homicides in Chicago have dropped by more than 30 per cent over the past year, robberies by 35 per cent, and shootings by nearly 40 per cent. Heres the bottom line: as the mayor of this city, and in collaboration with mayors across the country, we know exactly what it takes to reduce violence and crime in our cities, because were actually doing it, Johnson said in an interview with WGN, a Nexstar affiliate. He added that Trumps rhetoric, despite being framed as tough on crime, actually undermines the real progress being made on the ground. Its really a shame, quite frankly, and offensive that this president, who claims to stand for law and order, would suggest actions that would do just the opposite, he said. Mayor Johnson warned that any attempt to send in troops without coordination could jeopardise the gains Chicago has made in public safety. Such a move would threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made, he said. Jaishankar on Saturday defended Indias purchase of Russian oil and said US President Donald Trump conducts his foreign policy, including trade, in a very public manner. He emphasised that India will continue to take independent decisions despite trade tensions with the US. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said US President Donald Trump conducts his foreign policy, including trade, in a very public manner. He also emphasised that Indias purchase of Russian oil was not discussed before Trumps announcement raising tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, Jaishankar said, Weve not had a US President whos conducted foreign policy as publicly as the current one. That itself is a departure thats not limited to India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dont buy if you dont like it: EAM On Indias energy security, he added, Its funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, dont buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you dont like it, dont buy it. He defended Indias oil purchases from Russia, saying they serve both national and global interests. Jaishankar emphasised that India will continue to make independent decisions, even as trade remains a sticking point with the US. President Trumps way of dealing with the world, even dealing with his own country, is a very major departure from the traditional orthodox manner of doing so, he said. The minister added that Trumps use of tariffs for both trade and non-trade matters is unusual. The first pronouncement from the Trump administration is often made first in public, and then to the concerned party. The fact that a lot of this is said in public This is a situation which the entire world is facing, Jaishankar said. Jaishankar highlighted three key points in India-US relations under Trump. The first is trade. Negotiations are still going on. But the bottom line is we have some red lines. Negotiations are still going on in the sense that nobody said the negotiations are off. People do talk to each other. Its not like theres a kutti there Where we are concerned, the red lines are primarily the interests of our farmers and, to some extent, of our small producers, he said. The second issue is being framed as an oil problem. According to the EAM, The same arguments which are being used to target India have not been applied to the largest oil importer, China and the largest energy importer, which is the European Union. At least five people have been killed when a tour bus returning to New York City from Niagara Falls with 54 passengers, including from India and China, crashed on a highway outside Buffalo, according to media reports. A tour bus carrying more than 50 passengers from Niagara Falls to New York City overturned on the New York State Thruway on Friday afternoon, killing at least five people and injuring several others, according to local media. The accident happened around 12.22 pm, roughly 48 kilometres east of Buffalo. Trooper James OCallaghan of the New York State Police confirmed the fatalities, The New York Times reported. The bus was transporting 54 passengers including travellers from India and China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Authorities have not released the identities of those killed. Police also dismissed early claims that a child was among the dead, clarifying that all victims were adults, The Buffalo News said. The crash brought traffic to a standstill as both directions of the busy Thruway were shut down for hours. Westbound lanes reopened shortly after 5 pm, while eastbound lanes remained closed until about 8.30 pm, nearly eight hours after the incident. Major Andre J Ray said that five people were pronounced dead at the scene while many are still hospitalised. However, there were no other patients in a life-threatening status, he added. The bus, carrying passengers aged from 1 to 74, was operated by M&Y Tour Inc. out of Staten Island, Ray said. Investigators have ruled out mechanical failure and impairment or intoxication of the driver as causes of the crash, Buffalo News reported. State Police said several witnesses saw the bus lose control, enter the median, cross the southern shoulder and overturn. Trooper OCallaghan during a news conference said every passenger on the bus had at least some sort of cut, bruise or abrasion as an injury. Most of the passengers were from India, China and the Philippines, and many were not wearing seatbelts, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trooper OCallaghan said that the bus was extremely damaged and that many passengers had been ejected from the vehicle when it crashed. The driver was alive and well, he added. He said that the driver had lost control of the bus for unknown reasons. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, in a statement posted on X, said that she had been briefed on the tragic tour bus accident and that her office was coordinating closely with the State Police and other agencies that were responding to the crash. With inputs from agencies In what appears to be a relief for US President Donald Trump, infamous sex offender Jeffrey Epsteins associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, claimed that she never saw the president in any inappropriate setting. The clamour for releasing the Epstein files has overshadowed Trumps desperate bid to highlight the success of his first six months in power because its not his rivals but his own base, which is up in arms. File image What can be seen as a major relief for US President Donald Trump, infamous sex offender Jeffrey Epsteins associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, claimed that she never saw Trump in any inappropriate setting. The US Department of Justice on Friday released the transcript and audio recording of Maxwells interview conducted by Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Blanche said the materials were being released in the interest of transparency, providing links to the transcript and to audio files. The release includes documentation of a two-day interview that was conducted on July 24 and 25. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the interest of transparency, @TheJusticeDept is releasing the complete transcript and audio of my proffer of Ms. Maxwell. The transcript and audio are linked below.https://t.co/TQW5migemm Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) August 22, 2025 The material released by Blanche includes redacted transcripts for both days, along with multiple audio recordings seven separate parts plus test recordings for day one, and four parts plus test recordings for day two. It is pertinent to note that after the interview was conducted, the US Department of Justice granted Maxwell limited immunity to allow her to discuss her criminal case, but did not promise anything in exchange for her testimony. The most important part of this agreement is that this isnt a cooperation agreement, meaning that by you meeting with us today, were really just meeting, Blanche told Maxwell. He added: Im not promising to do anything. Maxwell clears Trump The 63-year-old was a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein and was convicted on five counts, including sex trafficking of minors. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for helping Epstein sexually abuse teenagers. Meanwhile, Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. In the transcript released by the Department of Justice, Maxwell said that she never saw Trump do anything inappropriate. Not only this, but she also repeatedly showered praise on the current American president. The revelation by Maxwell has the potential to provide some relief to Trump and his circle, who have been facing demands to release the Epstein Files. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody, Maxwell said. However, she did affirm a social relationship between Trump and Epstein. I dont know how they met, and I dont know how they became friends. I certainly saw them together, and I remember the few times I observed them together, but they were friendly. I mean, they seemed friendly, she said. I think they were friendly, like people are in social settings. I dont I dont think they were close friends, or I certainly never witnessed the president in any of I dont recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance, he added. Maxwell questioned Bill Clinton The Justice Department also questioned Maxwell extensively about Epsteins ties with former US President Bill Clinton, who was known to have travelled multiple times on Epsteins plane and like Trump has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing. President Clinton liked me, and we got along terribly well. But I never saw that warmth or that that warmth, or however you want to characterise it, with Epstein, she said of Clintons contacts with Epstein. Maxwell maintained that she did not remember Trump having been in Epsteins 50th birthday book, which she assembled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In July, The Wall Street Journal reported that the books collection of letters included one with Trumps name on it. The president has repeatedly denied writing the note and filed a lawsuit accusing the Journal of libel. Maxwell said she saw some parts of the birthday book before her trial, during its discovery phase. There was nothing from President Trump, she averred. Maxwell also denied remembering any picture of a naked woman, a detail the WSJ previously reported. Maxwell said Epstein did not know what to do to celebrate his 50th, and she suggested a birthday book like my mom did for my dad. She added, He said, I love that idea. After the interview with Blanche, Maxwell was moved from the low-security federal prison in Florida, where she had been serving a 20-year sentence, to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. Neither her lawyer nor the federal Bureau of Prisons has explained the reason for the move, which raised eyebrows among Trump critics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump defended his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as the Justice Department released transcripts of Ghislaine Maxwells interviews, downplaying his own links to the disgraced financier while pointing to Clinton associates. People walk next to a mobile Ad Van that displays a photograph of US President Donald Trump and disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in protest of the visit of US President Donald Trump in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, July 28, 2025. File Image/Reuters US President Donald Trump, who is facing criticism over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and questions about his past links to the disgraced financier, has shifted focus to highlight connections involving Bill Clinton and his officials. As the Justice Department released transcripts of interviews with Epsteins former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump went on the offensive. He claimed former Clinton Treasury Secretary Larry Summers was Epsteins best friend and alleged that Bill Clinton had flown on Epsteins plane. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump also voiced concern about innocent people being unfairly implicated. Innocent people shouldnt be hurt, but Im in support of keeping it totally open, I couldnt care less. You got a lot of people that could be mentioned in those files that dont deserve to be because he knew everybody in Palm Beach, Trump said. He added that Attorney General Pam Bondi had been instructed to give them everything you can give them. His remarks came after the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Epstein records earlier this month. Trump had previously pledged to release Epstein-related documents, but in July his Justice Department announced there would be no further disclosures a decision that triggered anger among Maga loyalists and other supporters. As pressure mounted, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who also represented Trump in criminal cases, interviewed Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time, Blanche said after the first session. That appropriate time arrived at 3 pm ET on Friday, 22 August, when the department published heavily redacted transcripts of Maxwells interviews, spanning hundreds of pages. The material, however, offered little to critics hoping for fresh revelations about Trumps connection to Epstein. Instead, Maxwells testimony echoed Trumps efforts to downplay their ties, while Blanches questioning largely zeroed in on Bill Clinton. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I think [Trump and Epstein] were friendly like people are in social settings. I dont think they were close friends or I certainly never witnessed the president in any of I dont recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance, Maxwell said. I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting, she added, referencing Epsteins abuse of women and underage girls. Asked if she had ever heard of Trump doing anything inappropriate, Maxwell replied: Absolutely never, in any context. Her remarks bolstered Trumps attempts to distance himself from Epstein. Maxwell later moved from a Florida facility to a lower-security prison in Texas was also asked about a Wall Street Journal report claiming Trump once sent Epstein a bawdy birthday letter in 2003 featuring a nude sketch. I do not remember, she said. Trump has since sued over the report. Blanche pressed Maxwell repeatedly about the Clintons. Did Bill Clinton ever receive a massage? I dont believe he did, she said. Did Epstein have a relationship with Clinton beyond philanthropy? I would say no. Any business dealings with the Clintons? Again, Maxwell offered nothing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the end, the transcripts delivered no damaging revelations about either Trump or the Clintons granting Trump partial vindication, while leaving critics still demanding the full Epstein files unsatisfied. India on Friday night extended its ban on Pakistani airlines and aircraft from entering Indian airspace by another month, until September 24, in a reciprocal move following Pakistans similar extension for Indian carriers. The restrictions mark the 5th consecutive month of airspace closures. An Indian Air Force Jaguar aircraft. On Wednesday, the IAF's Jaguar crashed in Rajasthan's Churu, making it the third such mishap since the beginning of 2025. File image/PTI India on Friday night extended its ban on Pakistani airlines and aircraft from entering Indian airspace by another month, until the early hours of September 24. The fresh notice to airmen (NOTAM) was issued by Indian aviation authorities just two days after Pakistan extended its own ban on Indian carriers for the same period. With this latest move, both countries airspace restrictions against each other are now entering their fifth month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The restrictions were triggered after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, in which Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 civilians, sharply worsening ties between New Delhi and Islamabad. Pakistan first closed its airspace to Indian aircraft on April 24 for a month, prompting India to respond on April 30 with a reciprocal ban on Pakistani airlines and aircraft. Since then, both nations have been extending the restrictions monthly through NOTAMs. Notably, while Indian and Pakistani carriers are barred from each others airspace, flights from other countries remain unaffected. Pakistans latest NOTAM was issued on August 20, just days before its previous ban was set to expire on August 24. Following this, India was expected to extend its restrictions beyond the same date. Indias new NOTAM mirrors previous ones, except for the updated duration. The airspace will remain closed to Pakistani aircraft, including military flights, until 5:29 am on September 24. Pakistans NOTAM also expires at the same time. The closure has heavily affected Indian carriers. Around 800 weekly flights, mostly from North India to destinations in West Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, the UK, and North America, are now forced to take longer routes. This has extended flight durationsby 15 minutes to several hours depending on the destinationraised fuel consumption, and complicated crew scheduling, driving up operational costs. By contrast, Indias closure has minimal impact on Pakistan. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the countrys struggling national carrier with a limited international footprint, operates only a few weekly flightsaround six between Kuala Lumpur and Lahore or Islamabadthat used to cross Indian airspace, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. For Indian airlines, the impact is far more severe. Air India serves destinations across West Asia, Europe, the UK, and North America. IndiGo, flying to West Asia, Turkey, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, had to suspend its Delhi-Almaty and Delhi-Tashkent flights, as the longer detours exceed the range of its narrow-body aircraft. Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, primarily flying to West Asia, are also affected. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The investment plan will span a decade and is an expansion of the five trillion-yen investment goal that was announced in 2022. PM Modi is set to visit Japan on August 29-31 Japan is likely to announce a 10 trillion-yen private investment plan in India during Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to the country. According to a report by The Economic Times, the investment plan will span a decade and is an expansion of the five trillion-yen investment goal that was announced in 2022. PM Modi is set to visit Japan on August 29-31. What will happen during PM Modis Japan visit? During the visit, New Delhi and Tokyo are expected to agree on a new framework to enhance cooperation in economic security, focusing on securing stable supplies of critical goods. This collaboration would cover areas such as semiconductors, essential minerals, communications, clean energy, artificial intelligence, and pharmaceutical products. India and Japan are also likely to announce an AI cooperation initiative for emerging technology and startups. PM Modi may also travel to Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture for the inauguration of an experimental Shinkansen bullet train car. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From 2000 to December 2024, Japan has invested approximately $43.2 billion in India, making it the fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI). Japanese FDI has primarily focused on sectors such as automobiles, electrical equipment, telecommunications, chemicals, financial services (including insurance), and pharmaceuticals. According to a brief from the Indian Embassy, more than 60 per cent of Japanese companies operating in India reported a rise in market share for their core products and services in 2024, one of the highest rates in Southwest Asia. PM Modis Japan visit The Ministry of External Affairs has said PM Modi will be in Japan on August 29 and 30 to participate in the 15th India-Japan annual summit. This will be PM Modis eighth visit to Japan as the prime minister. The ministry said PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, will review the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan. It said the two prime ministers will deliberate on cooperation in the areas of defence and security, trade and economy, technology and innovation, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as discuss issues of regional and global importance. The visit will reaffirm the longstanding special bond of friendship between the two countries, the MEA said in a statement. With inputs from agencies Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday for a rare two day visit, aimed at rebuilding ties with Bangladesh following the ouster of long time prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday for a two-day trip, the highest-level visit by a Pakistani leader to Bangladesh in more than a decade. The visit comes in the backdrop of Sheikh Hasinas exit from power and is being described by Islamabad as a significant milestone in efforts to revive bilateral relations. Dar, who flew in on a special aircraft, was received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Bangladeshs Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The last Pakistani foreign minister to visit Dhaka was Hina Rabbani Khar in November 2012, when she extended an invitation to then prime minister Hasina to attend a summit in Islamabad. Bangladesh Foreign Ministry officials said the top Pakistani diplomat was scheduled to hold bilateral talks on Sunday with Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain, where up to half a dozen agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) could be signed. He (Dar) is expected to pay a courtesy call on Chief Advisor (interim government chief) Muhammad Yunus later in the day. In addition, meetings are expected with BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) Chairperson Khaleda Zia and leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, an official familiar with his schedule said. On Friday, Pakistans Foreign Office said that a whole range of bilateral relations and several regional and international issues will be discussed during these meetings. Dar was set to visit Bangladesh in April, but it was delayed due to tensions with India after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. However, Pakistans Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visited Dhaka in April for consultations after a 15-year break in diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh. Dar arrived in Dhaka at a time when Pakistans Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan was on a visit as part of bilateral efforts to renew and boost economic and trade ties between the two countries that fought a war in 1971, resulting in the birth of Bangladesh. Khan earlier held talks with the interim governments commerce adviser, Sheikh Bashir Uddin, mainly aiming to form a new Trade and Investment Commission and revive the long-dormant Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Khan also held a meeting with Bangladeshi businessmen in the southeastern port city of Chattogram, seeking to boost business-to-business ties between the two countries. According to officials, the two countries have finalised several deals, including a visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders, a cultural exchange MoU, cooperation between foreign service academies, a joint trade and investment group, and MoUs on strategic studies and state news agency cooperation. Local media reports suggested talks were also underway for MoUs between quality control bodies, Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Pakistans Halal Authority and between the agricultural research institutions of both nations. Bangladesh-Pakistan ties were at their lowest ebb during Hasinas Awami League regime, particularly when it initiated in 2010 the trial of collaborators of Pakistani troops during the 1971 Liberation War. A violent student-led street movement toppled Hasinas government on August 5, 2024, with Yunus taking over as the chief adviser of the interim government three days after she left Bangladesh for India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development paved the way for revitalising ties with Islamabad in the past year when relations between Dhaka and New Delhi turned icy, while India was previously seen as Bangladeshs closest strategic and economic partner under Hasinas rule. With inputs from agencies The German Die Welt, citing EU diplomats, reports that Chinese government circles have confirmed their readiness to take part in the peacekeeping contingent for Ukraine. However, it is stressed that the government in Beijing will be ready to do so "if peacekeepers are deployed on the basis of a United Nations mandate." "In Brussels, Beijing's plan has provoked mixed reactions. On the one hand, they say that the inclusion of countries from the Global South, such as China, could make it more acceptable to deploy foreign troops to monitor the world," Die Welt says. "But on the other hand," the publication continues, "there is also a danger that China will primarily want to spy in Ukraine and take a clearly pro-Russian position instead of a neutral one in the event of a conflict," said a senior EU diplomat familiar with the current discussions. Pakistans foreign ministry said Dar would meet with Bangladeshs interim leader, Muhammad Yunus Pakistans foreign minister flew to Bangladesh on Saturday as the nations, once bitter enemies after they split in 1971, seek to rebuild ties with regional power balances shifting.Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is the most senior Pakistani official to visit Dhaka since 2012, with Islamabad calling it a significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. The two Muslim-majority nations are expected to sign several agreements including on trade on Sunday. Pakistans foreign ministry said Dar would meet with Bangladeshs interim leader, Muhammad Yunus. Analysts say neighbouring India, which fought a four-day conflict with Pakistan in May, will be watching closely. Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi turned icy in August 2024 after a mass uprising in Bangladesh ended the autocratic rule of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, prompting her to flee to India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladesh had been one of Indias closest partners in its neighbourhood, and now it is flirting with Indias chief adversary, said Michael Kugelman, a US-based analyst, ahead of the visit. Pakistan and Bangladesh began sea trade last year, expanding government-to-government commerce in February. Islamabads Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan held talks Thursday in Dhaka, where he agreed to set up joint commissions to boost trade and investment. On Friday, top military commanders from both nations met in Pakistan. Pakistans military was accused of widespread atrocities during the 1971 war, when East Pakistan broke away to form Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands were killed - Bangladeshi estimates say millions and many in Dhaka still demand Islamabad apologise for the killings. After 1971, Bangladesh leaned heavily on India, which almost encircles the country of 170 million people. But Bangladeshs interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Yunus, is furious that India took Hasina in where she remains and continues to refuse to attend her trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity. The toppling of Hasina was a strategic setback for India, and the improved relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan are a consequence of her ouster, said Thomas Kean of the International Crisis Group. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dhaka accused India this month of backing Hasinas now-outlawed Awami League party, charges that New Delhi rejected, saying it does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from its soil. Donald Trump appears to be executing a long-standing strategy of leveraging government authority to consolidate political influence and retaliate against opponents. Recent actions including legal investigations, military deployments and personnel reshufflings suggest a coordinated effort to expand his reach in ways that have raised alarm among political analysts and experts. Experts believes that Donald Trumps political playbook has long cantered on using government authority to target critics and consolidate influence and recent actions suggest he is now fully implementing that strategy. From legal investigations to military deployments, the president is expanding the reach of his office in ways that alarm political observers and legal experts alike. On Friday, the FBI searched the home of John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser, who last week described the administration as the retribution presidency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Trumps team has opened inquiries into figures such as New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trumps company over alleged record falsification, and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who led the House impeachment proceedings against Trump during his first term. Other targets under scrutiny include Rep. LaMonica McIver, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Trump critics from his first administration, Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs. The investigations follow a pattern of retaliation Trump promised during his campaign, particularly after facing multiple indictments related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election, one of which the Supreme Court dismissed citing presidential immunity for official acts. Joe Biden weaponised his administration to target political opponents most famously, President Trump, said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, adding that Trump is restoring law and order. Beyond legal measures, Trump has deployed the military domestically, sending National Guard and federal law enforcement to patrol major cities, including Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, ostensibly to combat crime or assist with immigration enforcement. You combine the threat of prosecution with armed troops in the streets, said Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist at Dartmouth College. The picture is pretty clear for anyone whos read a history book what kind of administration were dealing with. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has also leveraged pardons and personnel changes to consolidate influence. He pardoned over 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack and replaced federal prosecutors who pursued those cases. The Justice Department, under Trumps direction, has examined the origins of the 2016 Russia investigation and initiated inquiries into former President Barack Obama. Investigations targeting the Biden administration and independent special prosecutors, such as Jack Smith, illustrate a broader pattern of attempting to exert influence over the judicial process. Trump has framed these actions as responses to alleged Democratic weaponization of government. It is amazing to me the number of people the Trump administration has gone after, all of whom are identified by the fact that they investigated or criticized Trump in one way or another, said Stephen Saltzburg, a former Justice Department official. Trump has also sought to influence independent institutions, including the Federal Reserve, and has announced potential military deployments in Chicago. Vice President JD Vance defended the investigation into Bolton, insisting, If theres no crime here, were not going to prosecute it. Trump, asserting his authority, said, Im actually the chief law enforcement officer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bolton, who authored a book critical of Trump in 2020, has been investigated for allegedly mishandling classified information, though previous investigations were halted under the Biden administration. Trumps team has also targeted law firms, universities, and judges, employing funding cuts or legal pressure to enforce compliance. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed military leaders perceived as disloyal, and security clearances for dozens of current and former national security officials have been revoked. Its what he promised, said Justin Levitt, a former Justice Department official. Its what bullies do when no one tells them No. Taken together, these measures reflect a strategic use of government power that critics warn blurs the line between governance and retaliation, raising concerns about the consolidation of authority and the intimidation of political opponents in modern American politics. With inputs from agencies Service members of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops near a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine. File image/ Reuters France summoned the Italian ambassador after Italys deputy prime minister opposed the French presidents suggestion that European soldiers be deployed in Ukraine as part of a post-war solution, a French diplomatic source said on Saturday. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini used a Milanese dialect word loosely translated as get lost when asked earlier this week to comment on French President Emmanuel Macrons demands to deploy European soldiers in Ukraine following any resolution with Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD You go there if you want. Put your helmet on, your jacket, your rifle and you go to Ukraine, he told reporters, referring to Macron. Salvini, the populist leader of the right-wing League party and also Italys transport minister in the nationalist, conservative government led by Giorgia Meloni, has repeatedly criticized Macron, especially over Ukraine. The Italian ambassador was summoned on Friday, the diplomatic source said, marking the latest in a series of diplomatic clashes between Paris and Rome before and after Meloni took power in 2022. The ambassador was reminded that these remarks ran counter to the climate of trust and the historical relationship between our two countries, as well as to recent bilateral developments, which have highlighted strong convergences between the two countries, particularly with regard to unwavering support for Ukraine, the source said. Macron, a vocal supporter of Ukraine over its war with Russia, has been working with other world leaders, notably British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to mobilise support for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Israel on Friday vowed to destroy Gaza City if Hamas does not release all the hostages and disarm. While the US president has not provided any more details on the fate of the hostages, he said, Were doing everything we can to get the hostages out US President Donald Trump has said that fewer than 20 Israeli hostages held in Gaza are still alive, renewing fears among the families of the captives. His comments came during a press conference at the Oval Office, where he said, So now they have 20, but the 20 is actually probably not 20 because a couple of them are not around any longer. Israel on Friday vowed to destroy Gaza City if Hamas does not release all the hostages and disarm. Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamass murderers and rapists in Gaza - until they agree to Israels conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament, Defence Minister Israel Katz said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Extortion has to end While the US president has not provided any more details on the fate of the hostages, he said, Were doing everything we can to get the hostages out, its not easy. The situation has to end, its extortion and it has to end, as he slammed Hamas. When asked why Washington is supporting Israels cause to takeover Gaza City, despite hostage families opposition to the plan as it might kill their loved ones, Trump said, Not all of them. And you have to understand, Im the one who got all of the hostages out. Hostage families respond The Hostage and Missing Families Forum has released a statement after Trumps comment, saying, Mr. President, there are 50 hostages. For us, each and every one of them is a world in itself. If [Strategic Affairs Minister Ron] Dermer, who only talks to the Americans and doesnt bother to talk to or meet with the families of the hostages, knows something different, he should have informed the families first, it added. Last week, people staged demonstrations across Israel urging an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the release of hostages as the military prepares for a new offensive in the Palestinian territory. With inputs from agencies For the two leaders, who last met only on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in June, Saturdays talks are largely symbolic and aimed at highlighting their friendship and focusing on exchanges as this year also marks the 60th anniversary of normalizing their diplomatic ties South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, center left, and his wife Kim Hea Kyung, center right, arrive at the Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. AP South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held his first full summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo in a visit largely aimed at showcasing friendly ties between the two Asian neighbors that now face common challenges from the United States, their mutual ally. Lees visit Saturday comes in an unusual order, putting Japan ahead of the U.S., to help him better prepare for his crucial first summit in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump, mainly on trade and defense issues. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His Tokyo visit before Washington is well received by Japanese officials who see it as a sign Lee is placing great importance to relations between the two neighbors whose ties have repeatedly been disrupted by historical disputes, hampering their trilateral coordination with Washington. Noting Lees visit in Tokyo as the first destination of his foreign trip after taking office in June, Ishiba welcomed the South Korean presidents arrival at the Prime Ministers Office and posted photos on social media platform X. The two leaders first met in a closed, small group of officials before summit talks with expanded groups. For Ishiba, who faces pressure from rightwing rivals within his governing party to resign over its July election loss, Lees visit and a successful summit could shore up his support. Rintaro Nishimura, an associate with The Asia Groups Japan branch, said the timing of Lees visit shows his way of pragmatic diplomacy with a focus both on bilateral and trilateral relations with the U.S. Obviously tariffs play a big part, but I also think it was a gesture from Lee to show that Japan is very important in his mind as a partner in his foreign policy, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For the two leaders, who last met only on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in June, Saturdays talks are largely symbolic and aimed at highlighting their friendship and focusing on exchanges as this year also marks the 60th anniversary of normalizing their diplomatic ties, he said. Possible outcomes of the meeting include fast-track entry visas for South Korean travelers and working holiday programs. The two leaders are also expected to discuss mutual concerns including North Koreas nuclear and missile development and Chinas growing assertiveness in the region. Ishiba, who met Trump in Washington in February and held talks with him at the June G7 summit, has settled a tariffs deal ahead of South Korea, enabling him to coordinate with Lee ahead of his summit in the U.S. The summit comes just days after the two leaders signaled their conciliatory approach to each other. In his Aug. 15 address marking the liberation from Japans 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula, Lee called for the two sides to overcome grievances rooted in Japans brutal rule and develop future-oriented ties, though he urged Tokyo to face the issues that remain unresolved and strive to maintain trust. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an interview with Japans conservative Yomiuri newspaper published Thursday, Lee also said he will stick to past agreements with the Japanese government on the forced labor issues and sexual abuses of the so-called comfort women, though hard feelings remain among many Koreans. Ishiba, who has acknowledged Japans wartime aggression and shown empathy toward Asian victims, expressed remorse over the war, which he called a mistake, restoring the word in a Japanese leaders Aug. 15 surrender anniversary address for the first time since its 2013 removal by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. At least five people were killed and dozens injured after a tour bus carrying more than 50 passengers overturned on the New York State Thruway in upstate New York on Friday, according to state police. At least five people were killed after a tour bus carrying more than 50 passengers lost control and overturned on the New York State Thruway in upstate New York on Friday, state police said. The bus, operated by M&Y Tour Inc., was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls when it veered off the eastbound lanes near Pembroke, about 30 miles northeast of Buffalo and 40 miles southeast of Niagara Falls. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For unknown reasons, the vehicle lost control, went into the median, over-corrected and ended up in the ditch, state Trooper James OCallaghan told reporters. He added the bus was traveling at full speed but did not collide with any other vehicle. Five passengers died in the crash none of them children while the 54 people on board ranged in age from 1 to 74. Most of the passengers were Indian, Chinese and Filipino nationals, according to police. Hospitals across western New York received dozens of patients. The Erie County Medical Center treated 24 crash victims, including two in surgery and two in intensive care. Six patients were admitted to the University of Rochester Medical Center, with two listed in critical condition. Other patients were treated and released in Batavia, while Mercy Flight airlifted several to hospitals. Authorities said mechanical failure and driver impairment have been ruled out, and the driver has been cooperative. No charges have been filed as the investigation continues. The crash forced the closure of the thruway in both directions between exits 48A and 49. Please avoid all local roads near the scene as traffic is being diverted, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz posted on social media. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the tragic tour bus accident and that her team was working closely with state police and local officials to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he is going to make a very important decision in the next two weeks regarding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war if both sides dont agree to a peace deal. US President Donald Trump looks on next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15. Putin is said to have agreed to this demand, according to the source. Reuters US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he is going to make a very important decision in the next two weeks regarding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. While speaking to the reporters in the Oval Office, Trump suggested that he might impose massive sanctions or tariffs on Russia or tell Ukraine that its not Washingtons war if both sides do not agree to a peace deal. Trump insisted that his decision would depend on what happens in the next two weeks as he continues to push for a trilateral meeting between him and his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, respectively. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In two weeks, we are going to know which way I am going because Im going to go one way or another. Its going to be a very important decision. Im gonna decide whether its not massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or do we do nothing and say its your fight, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. It takes two to tango. I wanted to have a meeting with those two. Well see if they dont have a meeting, then why it was so, after I told them to have a meeting, he added. Trump wants the war to end When asked about an American factory reportedly hit in Ukraine by a Russian missile, Trump said: Im not happy about it, and Im not happy about anything about that war. Ive settled seven wars, and you think about pre-wars, thatll be three, so 10 wars. Not happy at all. Over the next two weeks, we are going to find out how its going to go. During his rant over the Ukraine war, Trump again claimed that he had stopped a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan, along with six wars. We solved what couldve been a nuclear war with India and Pakistan. It was getting ready to be a nuclear war, he averred. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Putin is ready to meet Zelenskyy, provided all the issues relating to the conflict are settled between the two nations. The Russian president repeatedly said that he is ready to meet, including with Zelensky, if there is an understanding that all issues that require consideration at the highest level have been worked out thoroughly by experts and ministers, Lavrov told RT. Zelenskyy and Putin are like oil & vinegar: Trump While commenting on the prospects of a trilateral meeting, Trump likened Putin and Zelenskyy to mixing oil and vinegar, indicating that his administration has been unable to get the two leaders to talk. Were going to see if Putin and Zelenskyy will be working together, you know, thats like oil and vinegar, a little bit. They dont get along too well for obvious reasons, but well see, Trump said. When asked about his own participation in the talks, the president said, And then well see whether or not I would have to be there. I would rather not. I would rather have them have a meeting and see how they can do. But in the meantime, they continue to fight and they continue to kill people, which is very stupid because theyre losing 7000 people. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hence, it will be interesting to see exactly when these world leaders will sit down to discuss war in Ukraine. Trump on Friday (August 22) named his great friend Sergio Gor, the White House personnel director, as the next United States ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. US President Donald Trump on Friday (August 22) announced that he is appointing " great friend" Sergio Gor, the White House personnel director, as the next United States ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Trump described Gor as a great friend and one of the most influential figures in his administration. The appointment comes at a sensitive moment in relations with New Delhi, as Trump has imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India along with an additional 25 per cent penalty over its trade ties with Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I am pleased to announce that I am promoting Sergio Gor to be our next United States Ambassador to the Republic of India, and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, Trump posted on Truth Social. Sergio and his team have hired nearly 4,000 America First Patriots across every Department of our Federal Government in RECORD time Our Departments and Agencies are over 95% filled! Gor, who currently serves as director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, will remain in the role until his confirmation, Trump said. The president credited Gor with playing a central role in his historic presidential campaigns, publishing his best-selling books, and leading a major pro-Trump super PAC. For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio! Trump added. Who is Sergio Gor? Sergio Gor was born as Sergio Gorokhovsky on November 30, 1986, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He later studied at George Washington University, where he became active with the College Republicans. Gor began his political career working as a spokesman for Republican lawmakers including Michele Bachmann, Steve King, and Randy Forbes. In 2013, he became communications director for Senator Rand Pauls PAC, RANDPAC, and continued to work closely with the Kentucky senator. In 2021, he co-founded Winning Team Publishing, a conservative publishing house that has released multiple Trump-related titles such as Letters to Trump, Our Journey Together, and Save America. He also reportedly led Right for America, a pro-Trump PAC. In November 2024, Trump appointed Gor as director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, a position from which he will transition once confirmed as ambassador. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump announced earlier this week that he would set up a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin as he held discussions with Ukraines European allies in the White House. The development was confirmed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz US President Donald Trump has likened a meeting between Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to mixing oil and vinegar, indicating that his administration has been unable to get the two leaders to talk. Were going to see if Putin and Zelenskyy will be working together, you know, thats like oil and vinegar, a little bit. They dont get along too well for obvious reasons, but well see, Trump said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When asked about his own participation in the talks, the president said, And then well see whether or not I would have to be there. I would rather not. I would rather have them have a meeting and see how they can do. But in the meantime, they continue to fight and they continue to kill people, which is very stupid because theyre losing 7000 people. VIDEO | Washington DC: US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, "We're going to see if Putin and Zelensky will be working together, you know, that's like oil and vinegar, a little bit. They don't pic.twitter.com/lMcdVMLbsd Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 22, 2025 Trump announced earlier this week that he would set up a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin as he held discussions with Ukraines European allies in the White House. The development was confirmed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Russia rules out meeting Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said no meeting was planned as Trumps mediation efforts appeared to stall, while Zelenskyy said Russia was trying to prolong the war. Lavrov dampened hopes for direct Putin-Zelensky talks to resolve the conflict, now in its fourth year, by questioning the Ukrainian presidents legitimacy and repeating the Kremlins maximalist claims. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The veteran Russian diplomat said Putin was ready to meet Zelensky as soon as an agenda was prepared. He added that such an agenda was not ready at all. With inputs from agencies Trump said Intel has agreed to give the US government a ten per cent equity stake, calling the deal a major win for taxpayers and a turning point for the struggling chipmaker. President Donald Trump said Intel Corp. has agreed to hand the US government a ten per cent equity stake, with a formal announcement expected on Friday, according to people familiar with the matter. Hailing the deal as a multibillion-dollar win for taxpayers and a turning point for the struggling chipmaker, Trump said the partial ownership marked a new era in how Washington supports critical industries. The move would represent an extraordinary level of intervention in an American company, breaking with long-held norms that such measures are usually reserved for times of war or systemic financial crisis. Intel declined to comment on the timing of the announcement. Shares in the company rose as much as 6.6 per cent on Friday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick underscored the shift in approach, telling CNBC earlier this week that the goal is to get a good return for the American taxpayer instead of just giving grants away. Although the administration has not disclosed full details of its negotiations with Intel, a US official said companies expanding their US investmentssuch as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Micron Technology Inc.would not be required to offer equity in exchange for federal support. The Intel deal underscores both risks and rewards: the possibility of heavy taxpayer losses if the investment falters, but also the chance of reviving a company that once led the chip industry and is now seen as falling behind competitors. Trump has increasingly tied industrial policy to direct state involvement. In early August, he announced Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. had agreed to give the government 15 per cent of revenue from AI chip sales to China. Earlier this year, he also secured a Golden Share from Nippon Steel Corp. in its deal for United States Steel Corp., granting him veto power over key decisions. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recorded 143 combat clashes over the past 24 hours. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Telegram in operational information on the Russian invasion as of 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. "According to updated information, yesterday the enemy launched one missile and 95 air strikes, used one missile and dropped 174 guided air bombs. In addition, it carried out 5,197 attacks, including 73 from multiple launch rocket systems, and used 5,417 kamikaze drones for destruction," the General Staff reports. The Texas Legislature has approved a Trump-backed plan to redraw congressional districts, a move that could give Republicans five more US House seats. The bill now goes to Gov Greg Abbott for expected signing. The Texas Legislature has approved a plan to redraw the states congressional districts, a move that could help Republicans win five more US House seats, as requested last month by President Trump. The plan now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for expected signing. The Senate passed the plan after an 18-11 vote late Friday night. The redistricting is part of a growing nationwide contest, sparked by Trump, involving Texas, California, and possibly other states, over congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Texas State Sen. Phil King, who defended the plan in the Senate, acknowledged the political aim of the mid-decade redistricting. For the map to be legal in all respects, that was the first goal, King said. And the second one was that it would perform better for Republican congressional candidates in Texas. Trump praised the Texas plan, tweeting, Texas never lets us down, and stressed the stakes of controlling Congress. More seats equals less Crime, a great Economy, and a STRONG SECOND AMENDMENT, he wrote. Democrats have promised to challenge the map in court, saying it weakens the voting power of Black and Latino communities and creates sprawling districts that split urban areas and link them with suburban and rural regions. Democratic State Sen. Judith Zaffirini said she opposed the plan not only because it disregards the growth and diversity of our state but also because it further erodes the strength of minority districts, diminishing our ability to elect candidates of our choice and silencing voices that deserve to be heard. The Senates approval came after hours of debate on Friday. The redistricting effort in Texas, launched after a call from Abbott and Trump last month, prompted California Democrats to respond with their own new map. On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a plan that could give Democrats five extra congressional seats. Lawmakers also approved a special election measure in November to allow the state to implement the map, bypassing the independent citizen redistricting commission. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Redistricting usually happens after the national census at the start of each decade, and how voters are grouped can be crucial in deciding who wins congressional seats. Texas currently has 38 House seats, with Republicans holding 25 and Democrats 13. California Democrats argued their response is necessary. This isnt politics as usual, said Democratic Assemblymember Anamarie Avila Farias. This is an emergency for our state. This is an emergency for our country. This is an emergency for democracy. Republicans countered that only the states redistricting commission should redraw maps. You move forward fighting fire with fire, what happens? You burn it all down. In this case, it affects our most fundamental American principle. Representation, said Republican Minority Leader James Gallagher. He called the plan Gavinmander, and said it was pushed illegally. Democrats said sending the final decision to voters makes the process more transparent. The White House has also encouraged Republicans in other states to consider redrawing maps in their favor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The UK government has postponed its decision on Chinas proposal to build a new embassy in London until October, citing the need for more time to review concerns over blacked-out design plans. The project, already delayed for years, has faced opposition from residents, politicians, and campaigners. A protestor holds a placard during a demonstration against the proposed site of the new Chinese Embassy, outside Royal Mint Court, in London, Britain. File image/ Reuters The British government on Friday delayed the deadline for deciding whether to accept Chinas plans to build Europes largest embassy in London until October after Beijing failed to explain why the designs included blacked-out regions. Chinas plans to construct a new embassy on the site of a two-century-old building near the Tower of London have been halted for three years due to resistance from local residents, MPs, and Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners in Britain. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Politicians in the United Kingdom and the United States have cautioned the government not to allow China to establish the embassy on the site, fearing it would be used as a spy base. DP9, the planning consultancy working for the Chinese government, said its client felt it would be inappropriate to provide full internal layout plans, saying additional drawings provided an acceptable level of detail, after the government asked why several areas were blacked out in drawings. The Applicant considers the level of detail shown on the unredacted plans is sufficient to identify the main uses, DP9 said in a letter to the government. In these circumstances, we consider it is neither necessary nor appropriate to provide additional more detailed internal layout plans or details. The British governments department of housing said in reply it would now rule on whether the project can go ahead by October 21 rather than by September 9 because it needed more time to consider the responses. Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group with ties to an international network of politicians critical of China which revealed the letter, said: These explanations are far from satisfactory. De Pulford, a long-standing critic of plans for the embassy, said the assurances amount to trust me bro. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Chinese embassy in London expressed serious concern over the governments response. The embassy said host countries have an international obligation to support the construction of diplomatic buildings. The Chinese side urges the UK side to fulfil its obligation and approve the planning application without delay, the embassy said in a statement. Earlier this month, the embassy said claims that the building could have secret facilities used to harm Britains national security were despicable slandering. The Chinese government purchased Royal Mint Court in 2018 but its requests for planning permission to build the new embassy there were rejected by the local council in 2022. Chinese President Xi Jinping asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer last year to intervene. Starmers central government took control of the planning decision last year. Former Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage set out plans on Saturday for mass deportations of migrants who have crossed the English Channel on small boats if his Reform UK party forms Britains next government. Former Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage has pledged to carry out mass deportations of migrants arriving in Britain on small boats, should his Reform UK party form the next government. In an interview with The Times, Farage said he would pull Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights and negotiate repatriation agreements with Afghanistan, Eritrea and other key countries of origin for migrants. We can be nice to people, we can be nice to other countries, or we can be very tough I mean (U.S. President Donald) Trump has proved this point quite comprehensively, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Asked about the risk of asylum seekers facing torture or death if returned to countries with poor human rights records, Farage replied that he was more concerned about the safety of Britons. I cant be responsible for despotic regimes all over the world. But I can be responsible for the safety of women and girls on our streets, he said. The UK has seen protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers in recent weeks, fuelled by public safety concerns after some migrants were charged with sexual assault. Immigration and asylum have overtaken the economy as the publics biggest concern, with Reform UK which secured five seats in last years general election, topping recent opinion polls. According to official figures analysed by the University of Oxford, 37,000 people mostly from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Vietnam and Eritrea, crossed the English Channel from France last year. The number was up 25% from 2023 and accounted for 9% of net migration. About two-thirds of small boat arrivals who seek asylum are granted it, while only 3% have been deported. Farage told The Times he would abolish the right to claim asylum for those arriving by small boats and bar them from challenging deportation. He proposed replacing existing human rights laws, withdrawing from international refugee treaties, and creating holding facilities for 24,000 migrants on air bases at a cost of 2.5 billion ($3.4 billion). His plan also includes running five deportation flights daily to remove hundreds of thousands. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As a fallback, he suggested asylum seekers could be detained on Ascension Island, a remote British territory in the South Atlantic, as a symbolic message. With inputs from agencies Roseland, the town where the incident happened, houses about 1,100 residents located roughly 50 miles (80 kilometres) northeast of Baton Rouge. The whole town was placed under emergency, and firefighters worked for hours to contain the blaze. An explosion at an automotive supply company in Roseland forced nearby residents and an elementary school to evacuate. AP A massive explosion followed by a fire rocked an automotive supply company in Roseland, Louisiana. Video of the incident showed the building of Smittys Supply, an automotive supply company, engulfed in flames as thick black smoke took over the skies of a rural community. The incident soon prompted mandatory evacuations within a one-mile (1.6-kilometre) radius. No injuries have been reported by the authorities as of now. An elementary school nearby was evacuated as a precautionary measure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Roseland, the town where the incident happened, houses about 1,100 residents located roughly 50 miles (80 kilometres) northeast of Baton Rouge. The whole town was placed under emergency, and firefighters worked for hours to contain the blaze. Arcola Oil, Smittys oil supply of Roseland, Louisiana explosion. Summary and Current Status: On August 22, 2025, a major explosion at Smitty's Supply, a lubrication plant in Roseland, Louisiana, triggered a mandatory evacuation within a one-mile radius, affecting residents and pic.twitter.com/ZAX9qXAnhi MangoWorxMedia (@MangoWorxMedia) August 22, 2025 Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller called it a godsend that no one was hurt in the incident. We are doing our best to protect people, structures, and the environment," he added. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the explosion, the potential chemical hazards, or how long it may take to bring the situation under control. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Soon after the incident, Governor Jeff Landry urged residents to follow evacuation orders and said the state is praying for everyones safety. The supply company employs about 400 people, manufactures and distributes automotive lubricants and parts, including oils, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and antifreeze. The company is yet to issue a statement regarding the incident. Environmental agencies, including the Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are currently monitoring air quality and assessing any environmental impact. Meanwhile, Local school officials transported students by bus to a safe location following evacuation guidance from the Office of Homeland Security. As US President Donald Trump nominates his loyalist Sergio Gor as the US Ambassador to India and his Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, heres why the nomination matters. Sergio Gor (R), accompanied by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), waits before President Donald Trump arrives for an event at the Kennedy Center on Aug. 13 in Washington. AFP On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that he will nominate his head of presidential personnel, Sergio Gor, to be the US Ambassador to India. The announcement came as relations between India and the United States have taken a hit with the Trump tariffs on Indian goods. The Trump administration has been opposing India's purchase of Russian oil. Meanwhile, New Delhi has called out Washington, DCs duplicity of standards by emphasising that China purchases more Russian oil than India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In his Friday post on TruthSocial, Trump called Gor a great friend, who has been at my side for many years. In the past, Gor ran a pro-Trump political action committee and a publishing firm that paid Trump millions of dollars for his books. It is pertinent to note that the position of ambassador requires confirmation from the US Senate. Trump noted that Gor would remain in his current role until that happens. The president also said he will name Gor special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. It is unclear when Gor will start that role, as it may be made by appointment. For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda, Trump said. As Trump plans to send his trusted soldier to India, heres why Gors nomination matters. Why it matters The timing of Trumps nomination of an Indian envoy garnered significant attention. Amid souring ties between India and the US, Trumps nomination came soon after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a visit to India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Recently, there has been an upswing in India-China bilateral relations. Hence, the move is being seen as a counter-strategy against ties between New Delhi and Beijing. Not having a US Ambassador in New Delhi hindered crucial bilateral relations, a post that has been empty since January 2025 after Eric Garcetti left. A diplomatic void was felt, especially since the trade deal between the two nations stalled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hence, New Delhi would find a full-time ambassador crucial for discreetly resolving differences, delivering key messages and maintaining the consistent, close partnership that Indias growing strategic importance demands as India and the US navigate the rough waters. The pros of it all Many saw Gors nomination as a positive development because of his deep personal proximity to Trump. Gor was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and has often been described in the media as maybe the most powerful man youve never heard of" and the Mayor of Mar-a-Lago". While speaking to Politico, Steve Bannon, Trumps former chief strategist and still a key MAGA figure, called Gors nomination a positive sign for India. Bannon insisted that Gors closeness with Trump would serve both the nations. I believe Sergio is the only person outside of [chief of staff] Susie [Wiles] and a handful of others who actually has walk-in privileges to the president at any time, day or night, Bannon said. If Im [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi in India and I say this as somebody thats so pro that relationship I couldnt think of a better pick," he added. At a time when Trump is inclining towards Pakistan, Gors can play a crucial role in lobbying for India within Trumps inner circle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Concerns over the dual role Many experts, including Bannon, acknowledged Gors limited experience regarding India-specific issues. They also expressed scepticism over Gors dual role. If Gor assumes both the roles, he will be Ambassador to India and will simultaneously function as the Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, thus overseeing US diplomacy in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and others. Kanwal Sibal, Indias former foreign secretary, sharply criticised Gors nomination. Its the first time that a US ambassador to India is also a Special Envoy for South and Central Asian affairs. This means he will have a much wider mandate covering the jurisdiction of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the State Department, Sibal wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday. Ipso facto, he will be supervising Indias relationship within this region. With Pakistan and our other neighbours. This means he will be consulting and coordinating with other US ambassadors in the region to develop a more integrated approach, he added. Many pointed out the dual role re-hyphenating India and Pakistan in the eyes of the United States. Back in 2009, Richard Holbrooke was nominated as the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan under former US President Barack Obamas administration. At that time, the Obama administration hinted that Holbrookes role might also encompass India and the Kashmir issue. However, after an extensive diplomatic push by India and due to the sensitivity over Kashmir, the Obama team dropped India (and any reference to Kashmir) from Holbrookes portfolio. Eventually, Holbrooke formally became the Special Representative solely for Afghanistan and Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hence, Gors dual role can be seen as a repetition of the Obama-era policy. International affairs scholar Brahma Chellaney also expressed concern over the matter. Trump waited over seven months until US-India ties had sunk to a new low to name an ambassador to India. By doubling the nominees role as special envoy for South and Central Asia, Washington signals a throwback to the Cold War era that bracketed India with Pakistan. America weakens its own hand by reducing India from a global partner to a South Asian player, Chellaney wrote on X. Meanwhile, Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, noted the upside of Gors nomination as well. Gors appointment could be a positive step for India as the US is signalling the importance of ties with India by having the special envoy for two key regions be posted in Delhi," he wrote on X. Gors confirmation now lies in the hands of the US Senator. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hundreds of National Guard soldiers in military fatigues and combat boots mingled with tourists, posed for selfies, and treated themselves to ice cream from food trucks on Thursday along Washingtons National Mall, one of the safest parts of Americas capital. Hundreds of National Guard soldiers in camouflage mingled with tourists on the National Mall this week, pausing for selfies and ice cream as they carried out one of the most visible federal deployments in Washington in years. While some locals reacted with anger, most of the soldiers treated the assignment as routine. Its boring. Were not really doing much, said Sergeant Fox of the West Virginia National Guard, who declined to give his first name. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nearly 2,000 National Guard personnel, including around 1,200 from Republican-led states, have been stationed across the U.S. capital under a federal initiative to combat what President Donald Trump has described as a crime epidemic. Yet official crime data shows overall rates have been declining, fuelling criticism from city leaders that the deployment is more political theatre than crime-fighting measure. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she does not believe the operation is about tackling crime and voiced concern about an armed militia in the nations capital. Although soldiers seen by Reuters were unarmed, the Pentagon confirmed they will soon carry service-issued weapons. The task force overseeing the crackdown says Guard troops are placed based on police requests. A White House spokesperson added that their role is to protect federal assets and present a visible law enforcement presence, while arrests are being carried out by federal officers in high-crime areas. Even so, many of the soldiers told Reuters their instructions were limited. Specialist Nevaeh Lekanudos from West Virginia said she had not been involved in any arrests. Honestly, at this rate I dont believe so, she said, noting that their presence frees up local police. Soldiers also carried pre-printed statements to hand to reporters, saying their mission was to keep Washington beautiful and safe. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The unusual use of troops inside the city has revived debate about militarisation of domestic law enforcement. Retired Major General Randy Manner warned the move could set a precedent. Not in our lifetimes has a president said Im going to use uniformed soldiers to reduce crime, he said, predicting deployments would soon extend to other Democratic-led cities. Trump has hinted at such plans, telling police officials in Washington that his crackdown will go onto other places, mentioning Chicago and New York. Still, some welcomed the sight of troops around monuments and museums. Boston resident Anu Pokharel, visiting with his family, said it gave him a sense of reassurance. It feels cleaner and safer, he said. With inputs from agencies Photo: https://x.com/pastormarkburns American evangelical pastor Mark Burns, who the media calls the personal spiritual adviser to US President Donald Trump, announced his intention to visit Ukraine again in the coming days. Leaving South Korea heading to Ukraine, Burns wrote on the social network X on Saturday night, illustrating the message with a photo of himself in the airport waiting room. Burns reportedly visited Ukraine in late March and early April of this year, when he participated in an interfaith religious forum that brought together representatives of religious denominations and communities working in Ukraine. He visited a military hospital, crime scenes of the Russian occupiers, and met with the head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and a number of politicians. Photo: https://t.me/ermaka2022 Three children and a young man, who were illegally taken from the Oleshky orphanage by the occupiers first to the temporarily occupied territory and then to the Russian Federation, were returned to Ukraine as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative of the President of Ukraine, reported the head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak. "For a long time, the children lived separated from their families, unable to leave due to the danger of occupation. Today, they are all home again, safe, on the territory of free Ukraine. Thanks to the State of Qatar for mediation and the team of the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine for their dedicated work," Yermak wrote on his Telegram channel on Friday. 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 Dragone: Issue of security guarantees and contingents of allied countries on territory of Ukraine is still in its infancy The issue of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine to ensure peace after the end of the Russian war "is still in its infancy," emphasizes the head of the NATO Military Committee Giuseppe Cavo Dragone. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Dragone recalled that at meetings of the military leaders of the United States and the countries of the coalition of the Willing they are discussing "a unification of forces led by London and Paris, which, with the prospect of a peace process, wants to accompany the normalization of the situation in Ukraine." "We are talking about the economy, security of the territory, airspace and much more. Their tasks also include organizing a system aimed at keeping Russia from new attacks," Dragone said. To the question about security guarantees and whether there should be a presence of contingents of allied countries on the territory of Ukraine, which the Russian Federation is categorically against, Dragone replied: "These issues are part of international politics and negotiations with Moscow. But we in NATO have not spoken about this at all, have not even mentioned it." "We know that the issue of contingents has been raised by individual countries, possibly at the bilateral level. But, I repeat, it remains in its infancy. The security guarantees that politicians agree on must set the context. For example: who decides on the ground, who violated the agreements - the Russians or the Ukrainians? Who develops the rules of engagement? What territory should be manned? Should soldiers only observe or also protect, and if so, with what weapons? Nothing has been determined," Dragone emphasized. Dragone also recalled that NATO sent Ukraine weapons worth a total of $50 billion in 2024, with similar amounts planned for 2025. "NATO countries provided 99% of all military aid. In 2024, it reached $50 billion. In 2025, we have already reached $33 billion, but by the end of the year we will match the previous figure," Dragone said. "We intend to continue military aid and even increase it," he said. He recalled that "about 40 days ago, together with President Trump and his advisers, we created a list of priority Ukrainian needs (PURL) - a list compiled by Ukrainians." Dragone said that allies "who are willing to participate in the program, without being members of the EU or NATO, finance the supply of American weapons, which are quickly delivered to Kyiv." "To date, weapons worth one and a half billion dollars have been sent under the PURL program," Dragone said. "There are three packages, each worth about EUR 500 million. The first was financed by the Netherlands in early August, the second the next day by Denmark, Finland and Sweden. The third was financed by Germany in the middle of the month," he said. According to the NATO representative, this primarily concerns air defense systems against missiles and drones, as well as ammunition of various calibers. China's police chief meets Cuban interior minister Xinhua) 10:04, August 23, 2025 Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, also a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Cuban Minister of Interior Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Cuban Minister of Interior Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas in Beijing on Friday. Noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Cuba, Wang, also a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with Cuba to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two parties and the two countries, further solidify the ministerial meeting mechanism, enhance personnel exchanges and law enforcement capacity building, deepen practical cooperation in law enforcement and security, safeguard the security and interests of the two countries, and make greater contributions to the building of a closer China-Cuba community with a shared future. Alvarez, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, expressed Cuba's willingness to further enhance coordination and cooperation with China to jointly address security risks and challenges. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism: thats whats become known as the dark triad. The term gained popularity in the United States before projecting itself to the rest of the world and exploding into a thousand viral ramifications. Today there is a proliferation of definitions in which its original meaning, already unscientific, is stretched or distorted. The label has been used to categorize the eccentricities of Elon Musk with empirical varnish and the sinister stratagems of that co-worker who, we consider, is making our lives impossible. The expression was coined in 2002 by Delroy Paulhus and Kevin Williams in their publication The Dark Triad of Personality, which was published in the Journal of Personality Research. Their theory is that these three personality traits Narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism coexist with their own manifestations and, in some individuals, overlap to constitute a common core with strong roots. Since the articles publication, academics have increasingly been drawn to the dark triad. Today there are thousands of studies circulating whose titles include the construct, evoking everything from underground mafias to the triangle of the helmet through which the evil Darth Vader wheezes. I dont think its creators were marketing geniuses or thought they were founding a new area of research, but the term is ideal for doing science of dubious quality and clickbait journalism, says Josh Miller, a professor at the University of Georgia, who wrote an article in 2019 on the weaknesses of the term. According to Miller, much of the research is based on surveys of around 200 participants. In these, scores on Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism are usually explored through a specific behavior or inclination: sexual tastes, job success, relational patterns or political preferences. British professor Minna Lyons, who published a book on the dark triad and has now moved away from its postulates, notes the fascination that this field of analysis has for upcoming psychologists: My students love it, they find it terribly sexy and many propose work on it, she says. The seductive power of the phenomenon as a synthesis of evil explains, to a large extent, why the dark triad is so in vogue in psychology faculties around the world. Conceptual vagueness also contributes to its success while exacerbating the confusion that surrounds it. Several questions remain. Do we have to focus on each element separately or on the axis that brings them together? Does this intersection of narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism really exist, as an observable entity? Why focus on these three traits and not on others? In fact, several authors speak of the dark tetrad, with sadism as the fourth element. The answers are elusive. After more than two decades, the contours of the dark triad, which Jaime Garcia-Fernandez, a researcher at the University of Oviedo, considers reductionist as a paradigm, have not yet been properly established. He and his collaborators are working on a psychometric battery of nine socially aversive personality traits with sufficient entity to be dissected independently. However, Garcia-Fernandez does grant scientific validity to the construct. As long as we do not lose sight of its brutal theoretical overlap and approach it as a grayscale, resisting Manichean temptations. Lyons is wary of our instinct to draw a firm line between dark minds and, lets say, normal ones: It is the idea that there are bad people out there who, of course, are not us. Miller also rejects the term dark, which he judges unscientific, sensationalist and superficial. According to Lyons, when measuring, the traits of the triad, its a free for all. Its a real mess, he says. Countless questionnaires and scales circulate, but have only furthered bewilderment. One of the most widely used, which contains 12 items, was christened the dirty dozen and uses a lexical hook to refer to the most ignoble corners of the human condition. In a 2022 review, Cameron Kay from the University of Oregon exposed the weakness of such methods, which undermine the robustness of the literature on the topic. Take narcissism for example. We assume that we are evaluating more or less one thing, when in reality narcissism is very different things, he tells EL PAIS. Conversely, there are many tests designed to analyze the various traits of Machiavellianism and psychopathy, but when you look more closely, you can see that they try to quantify almost identical things. According to the four experts consulted, the term dark triad is easily used to stigmatize others, especially in polarized spheres. Garcia-Fernandez states that it is beginning to be used to silence or discredit other people, without nuance or context. People love to think that hostile personality traits are categorical, that you have them or not, when the evidence tells us that they are usually changeable, Kay adds. Another controversy has emerged between the pathological and non-pathological. The creators of the dark triad specify that it refers to high levels of narcissism or psychopathy, but cannot be classed as a personality disorder. Perhaps on account of this, they allowed themselves the license to use the adjective dark at a time when care is taken, at least in clinical and academic environments, over how we refer to individuals suffering from mental health disorders. We dont call people who suffer from a psychotic disorder crazy anymore, says Miller, who finds the terminology chosen by Paulhus and Williams from another era. As in good guy-bad guys movies, the dark triad has a flipside that is pure goodness and light. Devised in 2018 by Laura Johnson, the light triad consists of empathy, compassion and altruism. But just like the dark triad, it is vague and hard to pin down, although this has not prevented it from experiencing its own (albeit smaller) research and media boom. Chief of Army statement in response to Court Martial for attempted espionage New Zealand Defence Force 20 August, 2025 The following statement can be attributed to Chief of Army, Major General Rose King: This has been a significant Court Martial, the first of its kind. Earlier this year, the offender indicated his intent to plead guilty to three charges against the Armed Forces Discipline Act, those being Attempted Espionage, Accessing a Computer System for a Dishonest Purpose and Possessing Objectionable Material. The offender was convicted on those charges at this week's Court Martial at Linton Military Camp, where he has been sentenced to two years' detention at the Services Corrective Establishment (SCE) in Burnham Military Camp, and dismissal from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). This is the first time attempted espionage has been prosecuted in New Zealand - either in a civilian or military jurisdiction. The offending strikes at the core of the oath of allegiance all members of the NZDF take when joining the Armed Forces, which commits our personnel to faithfully and loyally serve in the defence of New Zealand. Civilian staff are similarly expected to uphold the NZDF's values and abide by the code of conduct. In this case, the offender sought to disclose official - including classified - information to a foreign entity. The prejudice to New Zealand's national security was assessed by an independent expert to be significant. The actions of this individual were deplorable. They were incredibly poorly judged and brought risk to all of those he served alongside, as well as the wider New Zealand public, and struck to the very core of what we as a Defence Force have a sworn duty to protect. Through incredible efforts and work across our security agencies, including the New Zealand Police and intelligence community, the true cost of these crimes was not realised, and I am both grateful and incredibly proud of the authorities' work to ensure that was the case. I want to assure the public that we let this serve as a reminder to anyone who does not subscribe to the ethos and values of the Defence Force - there is no place for individuals like them in our organisation. Courage, Commitment, Comradeship, and Integrity are not just words or lip service - they are the foundation on which we serve. We don't just say or read these words, we live and honour them. The prosecution of this case is a clear signal to not only anyone considering similar actions, but also to the New Zealand public whose trust in us is vital: there will be zero tolerance of these behaviours and actions. This was an important sentencing decision and therefore the Director of Military Prosecutions will review the decision and the Court's reasoning for the sentence imposed. Finally, I have used this opportunity to empower all of our staff and personnel to engage their moral courage to speak up if they believe someone's behaviours are not aligned with our commitment to the security and defence of our country. Our Defence Force relies on the strength of our combined allegiance and purpose. For that, we need to have full confidence and trust that the person on either side of us will conduct themselves in a way that is appropriate and representative of our values. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Air Force officer gets 7 years for leaking documents to China ROC Central News Agency 08/22/2025 09:45 PM Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) A Taiwanese Air Force officer was sentenced to more than seven years in prison Thursday for leaking military documents to China in exchange for money, in a case linked to a retired major already convicted under the National Security Act. The Taichung District Court handed Air Force Intercept Controller Hsu Chan-cheng () a prison term of seven years and four months, the forfeiture of criminal proceeds, and the deprivation of his civil rights for five years. The case can be appealed. The court said that while the documents were not formally classified as defense secrets, their disclosure could still compromise Taiwan's security. Hsu was recruited in 2021 by retired Air Force Major Shih Chun-cheng (), who had been absorbed by Chinese intelligence after leaving the military in 2008. Shih promised payments in exchange for sensitive military information. Over nearly four years, Hsu provided internal Air Force training materials, including documents detailing fighter jets armed with Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles and operational responses to Chinese military flights around Taiwan. The court noted that although the files were not officially labeled confidential, they revealed operational details that could help Beijing analyze Taiwan's defense capabilities and adjust its strategy. Investigators found that Hsu received over NT$220,000 (US$7,200) in total, a small portion of the payments Shih collected from Chinese handlers. Hsu admitted to the offenses during questioning. Prosecutors charged him under the National Security Act and the Anti-Corruption Act. Hsu's conviction comes amid growing concerns that China continues to target Taiwanese officers -- both retired and active -- with money or business incentives. Earlier Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld a 26-month sentence for Shih while remanding another 10-month sentence to a lower court for retrial. (By Su Mu-chun and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gambian Man, First Non-U.S. National Convicted of Torture, Sentenced to More Than 67 Years in Prison Friday, August 22, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced today to 810 months in prison by Senior Judge Christine M. Arguello for the District of Colorado after being convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture. Correa's actions included burning victims' flesh with molten plastic and subjecting them to repeated, vicious beatings over the course of weeks using a variety of weapons. "Today, Michael Correa has finally been held accountable for the brutal violence he inflicted on others," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division. "The United States will not be a safe haven for individuals who seek to conceal their egregious human rights violations. We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to secure this sentence, and we thank the brave victims whose testimony helped ensure that justice is done." "The victims of these crimes carried the weight of unimaginable suffering for years, not knowing whether they would ever see their torturer held accountable," said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. "Today's sentence delivers a measure of justice for them and affirms that the United States stands firmly with those whose human rights have been violated. This prosecution and sentence should serve as a deterrent for criminals who think they might escape accountability by coming to Colorado." "Mr. Correa's crimes were barbaric and uncivilized; they have no place in the modern world," said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver. "I hope this sentence can bring some kind of closure for his victims and their families. A standard was set with this trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations will hunt down and bring to justice those that commit these horrific crimes." Evidence presented at trial showed that Correa served in an armed unit known as the "Junglers," which reported to The Gambia's former President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture and personally tortured five victims, who were targeted based on suspicions that they had plotted against Jammeh. In today's proceedings, several victims described the lasting physical and psychological harm that they have suffered as a result of Correa's actions. In March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to Mile 2 Prison, the main prison in The Gambia. Over the following weeks, the victims endured severe abuse, including beatings, stabbings, burnings, and electrocutions. One victim testified that his thigh was burned with molten plastic and that he was suspended in a bag and dropped to the ground. Another victim described being suffocated with a plastic bag over his head and having the barrel of a pistol placed in his mouth. Other victims testified to being electrocuted, beaten while hung upside down, struck in the head with a hammer or pistol, and burned with cigarettes. Testimony at trial established Correa played a central role in carrying out these acts of torture. Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa and entered the United States in December 2016. He evaded apprehension until 2019, when ICE arrested him and placed him in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. national on federal torture charges. The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attache in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government's efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman and Chief of the Cybercrime and National Security Section Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado and Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden. Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USAO - Colorado Press Release Number: 25-877 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FBI raids home of Trump's former national security advisor John Bolton Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 3:41 PM The FBI has raided the home of Donald Trump's former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, reportedly in connection with allegations that he possessed classified documents. Bolton, who served as national security adviser for 17 months during Trump's first term before resigning, later faced scrutiny over a book he wrote about his time in government. He has since become a vocal critic of his former boss, condemning Trump's foreign policy as damaging to US diplomatic relations. The FBI executed the search at Bolton's home in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington, D.C. area on Friday. The operation is part of a probe into the handling of classified records, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. Bolton, who was not at home during the raid, was not detained and has not been charged with any crimes, the person said. Associated Press reported that as the search was ongoing, Bolton could be seen standing inside the lobby of the Washington building where he keeps an office. He was talking to two people with "FBI" visible on their vests. A spokesperson for the FBI told the New York Times agents were "conducting court-authorized activity in the area". On Friday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel posted a cryptic message on X, writing: "NO ONE is above the law." His deputy, Dan Bongino, reposted the remark and added: "Public corruption will not be tolerated." No official news has been released of any allegations underlying the federal court warrant that would have been needed to launch this raid. The first Trump administration had unsuccessfully sought to block the publication of a Bolton book that it said contained classified information. The book titled The Room Where It Happened was released on June 23, 2020. In it, Bolton described Trump as an ignorant person, unfamiliar with the basics of US foreign policy dynamics. As soon as Trump resumed power in January this year, he revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton, on his first day back in office. The former national security adviser to the US president is a prominent member of the Republican Party, despite being a sharp critic of Trump, also a Republican. He has strong conservative political views and has been described as an ideologue by some right-wing factions. He is a former senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and a Fox News Channel commentator. The raids come a day after Bolton criticized Trump over his failed summit with his Russian counterpart, calling him an "aberrational president" whose decisions are driven by his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Several prominent Trump loyalists from his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement celebrated on social media after the FBI raided Bolton's home. Roger Stone, a longstanding Trump ally, said on X: "Good morning. John Bolton. How does it feel to have your home raided at 6 o'clock in the morning?" Rep. John McGuire said: "I'm glad they're going after him." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Contracts Contracts For Aug. 22, 2025 DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY Amentum Services Inc., Chantilly, Virginia (HDTRA125DE001); Vertex Aerospace LLC, a V2X Co., Madison, Mississippi (HDTRA125DE003); Jacobs Government Services Co., Arlington, Virginia (HDTRA1DE004); Fluor Intercontinental Inc., Greenville, South Carolina (HDTRA125DE005); Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp., Overland Park, Kansas (HDTRA125DE006); and Parsons Government Services International Inc., Pasadena, California (HDTRA125DE007), are awarded a combined $3,500,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program. The ten-year contract is a cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost, cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, firm-fixed-price-level of effort, and time-and-materials contract. Each awardee is awarded a $10,000 minimum guarantee at contract award through Task Order Two on Sept. 10. This contract will deliver a broad range of services and products to provide sustainable chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threat reduction capabilities to partner nations. The CTR Program partners with willing countries to reduce threat from weapons of mass destruction and related materials, technologies, facilities, and expertise. Work will be performed at various locations throughout the world. Task orders issued under the contract may be for a duration of up to five years and may be extended up to three years past the last ordering date of the contracts. Funding will be obligated for each Task Order and no funds are obligated on the basic contracts. This contract was competitively procured via solicitation HDTRA1-24-R-0001 through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment, solicitation module; the Government received seven offers. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, CTR Contracting Office/DTRA/AL-ACC, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the contracting activity. NAVY Raytheon Technologies Corp., doing business as Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a not-to-exceed $2,878,495,761 cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-fee, undefinitized contract modification (P00008) to a previously awarded contract (N0001923C0030). This modification adds scope for the production and delivery of 141 F135 propulsion systems in support of Lot 18 F-35 aircraft production for the Joint Strike Fighter program for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, F-35 Cooperative Program Partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (17.3%); Indianapolis, Indiana (10.4%); Middletown, Connecticut (8%); Kent, Washington (7%); North Berwick, Maine (4%); El Cajon, California (3%); Cromwell, Connecticut (3%); Whitehall, Michigan (3%); Portland, Oregon (2%); San Diego, California (2%); South Bend, Indiana (2%); Columbus, Georgia (1%); Hampton, Virginia (1%); Manchester, Connecticut (1%); Cheshire, Connecticut (1%); Elmwood Park, New Jersey (1%); various locations within the continental U.S. (27.3%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (7%), and is expected to be completed in February 2028. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $575,726,390; fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funding in the amount of $537,304,610; fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $79,962,704; fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funding in the amount of $77,336,243; FMS customer funds in the amount of $513,763,860; and non-U.S. Department of Defense participant funds in the amount of $228,500,253, will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded $315,118,600 for ceiling-priced delivery order N00383-25-F-YY2B under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00383-22-G-YY01) for the repair of landing gear used on the F/A-18 E/F aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option provision. Work will be performed in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada (37%); St. Louis, Missouri (21%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (18%); Safran, Ontario, Canada (12%); Coronado, California (6%); and various other material suppliers that cannot be determined at this time (6%). Work is expected to be completed by September 2029. Fiscal 2025 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $154,408,114 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Savvee Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, is awarded a $44,092,088 firm-fixed-price, level of effort task order (N3220525F1267) under General Services Administration (GSA) multiple award schedule contract (47QTCA19D00J0) for information technology (IT) engineering support services. The contractor will provide technical support services to help satisfy current and emerging requirements to enhance IT capabilities and help develop and maintain solutions to satisfy emergent cybersecurity mandates and provide continuous life cycle sustainment for deployed systems. The contract contains a 30 day phase-in period, a base period of 11-months and four 12-month options, and a six-month option under Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8 which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $44,092,088. Work under this task order will be performed on a world-wide basis beginning Sept. 8, 2025, and will conclude March 7, 2031, if all options are exercised. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $5,784,009; and working capital funds (Transportation) in the amount of $473,649, are obligated for fiscal 2025 and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited through the GSA E-Buy system and 11 proposals were received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Industries Fleet Support Group LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia, was awarded a $16,813,248 delivery order (N55236-25-F-9982) off indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00024-21-D-4114) in support of Task Order 25-P114 for global engineering and technical support for the overhaul and repair of equipment and systems associated with west coast aircraft carriers and surface ships. The overall total contract value ceiling remains unchanged on the contract at $272,977,437. Work will be performed at the naval ship repair facilities in San Diego, California (40%); Bremerton, Washington (40%); and Yokosuka, Japan (20%), and is expected to be completed July 2026. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,813,248 was obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Detyens Shipyards Inc.,* North Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded a $13,685,726 firm-fixed-price contract (N3220525C4148) for 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the midterm availability of Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler USNS Laramie (T-AO 203). This contract includes a base work package and two unexercised options for additional work and time which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of this contract to $13,775,619. Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina, beginning Aug. 26, 2025, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 8, 2025. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $13,685,726 are obligated for fiscal 2025 and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was a small business set-aside solicited via the sam.gov website and five offers received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220525C4148). Rolls Royce Marine North America Inc., Walpole, Massachusetts, is awarded a $9,877,737 cost-plus-fixed-fee order for the procurement of all material to manufacture, inspect, paint, and deliver one complete shipset of lightweight stator blades for Virginia-class attack submarines. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2028. Fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,877,737 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 via SAM.gov with one offer received. Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, West Bethesda, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0016525G0001, N0016725F1139). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative Inc., DeFuniak Springs, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $17,701,753 modification (P00081) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-16-C-8314) with no option periods incorporating the economic-price adjustment agreement for electric utility services at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract. The performance completion date is July 31, 2067. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2067 Air Force operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. American Polymers LLC,** doing business as AMPO, Vernon, California, has been awarded a maximum $8,345,484 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for layer 7 trousers. This was a competitive acquisition with five responses received. This is a four-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with an Aug. 25, 2029, ordering period end date. Using military services are Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2028 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-25-D-0084). ARMY TurbineOne LLC, San Francisco, California, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for Automated Target Recognition at the Edge in support of Army intelligence enterprise modernization. The amount of this action is $98,900,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 24, 2030. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QX-25-D-A010). Copper Construction Company Inc.,* Vidalia, Georgia, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of a de-painting building portion and painting facility. The amount of this action is $45,264,226. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Warner Robins, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2028. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, defense-wide, in the amount of $45,264,226 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-25-C-A013). Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting Co., Quincy, Massachusetts, was awarded a firm-fixed price contract for maintenance dredging of the New York and New Jersey Harbor. The amount of this action is $18,296,710. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Staten Island, New York, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 15, 2025. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $18,296,710 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-25-C-A008). The April Corp.,* Bowling Green, Kentucky, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract to provide preventive maintenance service, inspection, and repair and/or replacement of overhead and roll-up doors. The amount of this action is $10,000,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 21, 2030. Army 419th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Liberty, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W91248-25-D-A008). U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Lewis Machine & Tools Defense, Eldridge, Iowa, was awarded a 10-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (H9240325DE003) with a maximum ceiling of $92,000,000 for medium range gas gun-assault kits, spare parts and accessories, new equipment training, and engineering change proposals. The work will be performed in Eldridge, Iowa, and the last day to order under the contract is Aug. 14, 2035. U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Aug. 20, 2025) AIR FORCE Sigmatech Inc., Colorado Springs, was awarded a $9,728,495 firm-fixed-price contract for systems engineering and technical assistance. This contract provides for systems engineering and technical assistance support for Office of the Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration. Work will be performed in the National Capital Region and is expected to be completed by Feb. 23, 2026. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance appropriations funds in the amount of $9,728,495 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force District of Washington Contracting Directorate, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA7014-25-C0041), (Awarded Aug. 21, 2025) *Small business ** Service-disabled veteran-owned small business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4283984/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Riga Welcomes NATO Naval Task Group NATO Allied Maritime Command Aug 20 2025 Riga, Latvia -- Two NATO vessels have arrived in the port of Riga, Latvia, for a routine visit, underscoring the Alliance's ongoing maritime presence and support for the Baltic Sentry initiative. The Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) flagship, HNLMS De Ruyter, and the replenishment ship FGS Rhon will remain in Riga through the weekend. SNMG1 is one of NATO's four standing naval maritime groups, providing a continuous and credible presence in key regions, including the Baltic Sea. The group operates as a high-readiness force capable of conducting a wide-range of operations, from collective defence to deterrence and crisis response. During their time in Riga, the ships' crew will engage with Latvian naval counterparts, strengthening cooperation and regional partnerships. The visit underscores NATO's unwavering commitment to Latvia's security and its broader responsibility to safeguard the Baltic Sea region. "NATO's presence in Latvia is a tangible symbol of our commitment to the security of this region," said Royal Netherlands Navy Commodore Arjen Warnaar, Commander SNMG1. "We are here to show that NATO is united, present, and ready." SNMG1 is currently supporting Baltic Sentry, as NATO assets closely monitor and protect Critical Undersea Infrastructure (CUI). This continuous activity increases maritime situational awareness and information sharing among Allies, deterring threats to subsea cables, pipelines, and other infrastructure essential to regional security. While in port, FGS Rhon and HNLMS De Ruyter will also conduct logistical resupply and crew rest before resuming operations at sea. The visit follows recent SNMG1 patrols in the High North and Barents Sea, demonstrating NATO's operational reach from the Arctic to the Baltic. Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address C-130J Hercules simulator arrives at RNZAF Base Auckland New Zealand Defence Force The first components of the C-130J Hercules simulator have arrived at Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Auckland today, flown in by one of the world's largest military aircraft. 20 August, 2025 The United States Air Force's (USAF) C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft touched down at Base Auckland with components for the C-130J Hercules Weapons Systems Trainer, a full-motion flight simulator. A further and final consignment will arrive in the next few days. The equipment will train No. 40 Squadron crews, who operate the RNZAF's newest fleet of five C-130J Hercules aircraft. "This is a really exciting time for the New Zealand Defence Force because the flight simulator is a critical tool that will provide pilot training, loadmaster systems training and engine run training, as well as procedural and mission systems training," Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott said. "It will also play a large role in ensuring our fleet is interoperable and our crews will be able to work alongside our international partners." The system is a full motion simulator designed to simulate the C-130J in a realistic manner. Once constructed, the simulator will look and move just like a real cockpit, simulating a range of realistic scenarios - from emergency operations to poor weather conditions. "Simulators improve crew preparedness and free up the aircraft for operations. They reduce maintenance and flight time on actual aircraft, saving money, time and reducing risk," Air Commodore Scott said. Over the two flights, the C-5 Galaxy will deliver 58 crates of equipment, weighing a total of 49 tonnes. An integrated project team, led by the Ministry of Defence, worked with USAF, CAE USA and Lockheed Martin to deliver the simulator. It will be ready for use from about the middle of next year. Construction and installation of the simulator at Base Auckland will start shortly within a purpose-built facility, which has already been completed. The delivery of simulator components is part of a $1.5 billion project that delivered five C-130J Hercules aircraft, spare parts and training to the NZDF, as part of a Foreign Military Sales process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defence helicopter, plane decisions announced Beehive.govt.nz - The official website of the New Zealand Government 21 August 2025 Hon Judith Collins KC Rt Hon Winston Peters Defence Foreign Affairs Seahawk helicopters and Airbus planes are set to replace aging New Zealand Defence Force aircraft in the first major investment decisions to be made as part of the Government's Defence Capability Plan (DCP). Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced investment decisions of $2.7 billion, with the MH-60R Seahawk the preferred option to replace the existing maritime helicopters. The Airbus A321XLR (extra long range) aircraft will replace the aging 757 fleet. "This decision will ensure New Zealand has a critical combat capable, interoperable and dependable fleet," Ms Collins says. "The MH-60R Seahawk is a great aircraft for what New Zealand needs and fulfils our objective of having a more integrated Anzac force, and the new planes will give us reliable aircraft to deploy personnel and respond to international events." Mr Peters says these decisions show how the Government is responding to the sharply deteriorating security environment. "Global tensions are increasing rapidly, and we must invest in our national security to ensure our economic prosperity. "The DCP provides the foundation for our uplift in defence spending, and two-yearly reviews of the plan will allow us to adapt to an ever-changing security environment." The $2 billion plus investment in maritime helicopters and $700 million investment in the new Airbus A321XLRs are both part of the $12 billion in planned commitments outlined in the 2025 DCP announced in April. Ms Collins says the maritime helicopters are versatile and add combat and deterrent capability to our naval fleet. "These five Seahawks will increase the offensive and defensive capability and surveillance range of New Zealand's frigates and ensure we are interoperable with our ally Australia and other partner defence forces," she says. "We will now move at pace to procure helicopters directly through the United States' Foreign Military Sales programme instead of going to a wider tender, with Cabinet expected to consider the final business case next year. "The two new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will be acquired on a six-year lease to buy arrangement, with capital costs of $620 million and four-year operating costs of $80.86 million. "New Zealand needs reliable aircraft to deploy our personnel, deliver military equipment and humanitarian aid, support the evacuation of civilians, and transport government trade and diplomatic delegations quickly, over long distances, and often at short notice. "The decision to acquire the extra long range aircraft reflects the importance of having an aircraft capable of such things as returning safely from Antarctica if it is unable to land due to conditions on the ice. "Our Defence Force personnel have proven time and time again they do an outstanding job and we must ensure they have the tools that are up to the task." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Polarization isnt a biblical curse. The fact that public debate has become so aggressive and toxic wasnt always the inevitable fate of 21st-century societies. Within the EU, some people are working to defuse tensions, restore serenity, and reestablish a dialogue that seems impossible today. Erika Stael von Holstein, 41, has been advising European institutions on science, technology, society, and democracy for two decades. Shes the founder and director of Re-Imagine Europe, a think tank focused on depolarization. The Stockholm-born advisor has also promoted Nodes.eu, a European observatory of narratives against disinformation. Von Holstein is a member of the expert council on artificial intelligence convened by the Spanish government. This work brought her to Madrid, where she met with EL PAIS. Question. Combating disinformation is exhausting, isnt it? Answer. Its quite exhausting. Its getting harder and harder. I think the way that we communicate is becoming harder, too, because were retrenching into our own echo chambers and our own narrative communities. Were forgetting how to speak to people [from] different communities. Q. Polarization has led us to a wave of lies, hate speech, culture wars, and online rage. How do we depolarize society? A. Polarization and disinformation are highly connected. Polarization fuels disinformation and disinformation fuels polarization. Instead of trying to convince people who have a different opinion to us, [if we] started to listen instead, we would quickly change [society], because the emotions that are currently driving a lot of this polarization are fear for the future, anger about today, and nostalgia about the past. Q. Why are so many people attracted to extremism? A. My biggest worry is actually not so much that theres a big cultural shift which, of course, there is and thats worrying but whats causing that cultural shift. Because [extremism] isnt about climate or vaccines or migration: these are just symbols for much deeper fears and resentments. Q. Young people are becoming the most radicalized. You can see this in their views on feminism, the LGBTQ+ community, or the green transition. Polls show growing support for the far-right among that age group. Whats happening? A. This is the case across Europe, although [there are] large differences between men and women (with women being less susceptible). Its not difficult to understand: young people are having such a hard time finding housing or a job [...] they see the future as increasingly bleak. The [past] era in which one could support an entire family on a single salary has been romanticized. Q. The extremists are having great success in imposing their agenda. A. Theyre extraordinarily successful and they use insights from how the brain works much more effectively than what you would call the traditional players. Just remember what [neuroscientist] Antonio Damasio always reminds us of: we arent rational beings who feel we are emotional beings who think. Emotion comes first. And, right now, were living in very, very emotional times where, unfortunately, theres a lot of distrust in the system. Erika Stael von Holstein, pictured at the offices of EL PAIS. SAMUEL SANCHEZ Q. Can we communicate with those who have moved to extremist positions in another way, bringing them back to moderation? A. What were trying to do today is convince someone that their discourse is wrong. This is almost impossible. We use the same words, but we mean very different things. So how do we go from trying to win a conversation to trying to have a conversation? [Opinion columnist Tom] Friedman says that Trump is the wrong answer to the right question. So, dont focus on Trumps answer: focus on the question and look for a different answer. Set the agenda, set the table. Then, we can have a real debate. Q. Social media has fueled social division, dont you think? A. I definitely agree that social media has acted as a catalyst. Its not the fundamental reason [for social division], but its definitely not helping. We all know that, if we want something to go viral, we have to pick a fight. You need to have an enemy to have anything go viral. Q. Is the same thing going to happen with artificial intelligence? Its potential for political manipulation seems even greater. A. Our research shows that AI is much better at picking narratives that are receptive to different human communities than we humans are. So, theres definitely a risk. What were hoping is that weve learned from the errors that weve made with social media, where we let the technology run free, [without] really realizing how powerful it was and how fragile our minds are. If AI can create [an] environment to change your mind, thats hugely dangerous. So I fully agree. But theres a lot of effort being done, both [in the] government [and in the private sector], to make sure [that AI] can help us communicate, instead of helping to divide us. Q. The EU made progress in regulating Big Tech. But now, the Trump administration is pushing in the opposite direction: any content moderation is now considered to be censorship. Should Europe give up? A. I think everyone has realized especially since the Romanian elections that weve lost control of our information ecosystem in Europe. [The EU] missed the boat when it came to social media. If you have enough money to invest in advertising, or to buy all the media outlets, you can influence all minds. The question is: How do we leapfrog to create an infrastructure that takes into account the characteristics of different languages, highly-fragmented media ecosystems and the powers of states? This can be coordinated at the European level. The big question is whether we will act in time, whether we can correct some of the mistakes of the last 10 years. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition U.S., Saudi Arabia Strengthen Ties Through State Partnership Program By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely, National Guard Bureau August 22, 2025 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expanded its strategic ties with the United States by formally joining the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, or SPP, during a ceremony here Aug. 21. Military leaders from both nations signed a declaration to integrate Saudi Arabia into the SPP, aligning the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces with the Indiana and Oklahoma National Guards in a trilateral partnership established last year. The 115-nation SPP strengthens strategic bonds through joint military training, exercises and exchanges to enhance collective readiness, reestablish deterrence and foster enduring relationships among troops. "Today, we formalize a partnership that reflects the deep strategic relationship between our nations, built on a shared commitment to global security, trust and decades of cooperation," Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, the 30th chief of the National Guard Bureau, said at the signing ceremony. The U.S.-Saudi alliance, rooted in economic and security cooperation since 1940, emphasizes counterterrorism and regional stability. Saudi Arabia's strategic location, capable military and leadership in the Arab and Islamic worlds make it a vital global partner. Additionally, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, an ambitious plan to diversify its economy and transform its society, includes significant investments in defense modernization and technology. "With this signing, the Indiana and the Oklahoma National Guard embark on a journey with the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces to share expertise, promote mutual understanding and advance our shared commitment to global security," Nordhaus said. He was joined by Saudi Arabia's Chief of General Staff, Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili; Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Mancino, Oklahoma's adjutant general; and Army Brig. Gen. Lawrence Muennich, Indiana's adjutant general, in signing the declaration, which will launch formalized joint training exchanges. "The partnership with the United States National Guard marks a historic milestone in the trajectory of our defense cooperation," Al-Ruwaili said. "It embodies our unwavering commitment to developing joint capabilities that strengthen regional security and stability, while firmly establishing the principles of combined military operations in pursuit of a more secure and prosperous future." The SPP agreement follows President Trump's May 2025 visit to Riyadh, where he announced $600 billion in Saudi investments in technology and defense, including a record-breaking $142 billion defense sales dealthe largest in U.S. history. This deal will equip Saudi Arabia with advanced warfighting systems and services from more than a dozen U.S. defense firms, reinforcing its regional security role. Saudi Arabia, the largest buyer of U.S. foreign military sales, allocates 8.1% of its gross domestic product to defensemore than any other Middle Eastern nation and among the highest globally. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby welcomed Saudi Arabia's efforts to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and to make greater contributions to achieving shared regional objectives in a readout from the July 29-30 U.S.-Saudi Strategic Joint Planning Committee. Vision 2030's focus on modernizing the military, developing domestic defense industries and strengthening cybersecurity further enhances Saudi Arabia's strategic importance. The SPP is a Department of Defense, or DOD, program with a cost-effective model managed by the National Guard Bureau, guided by State Department foreign policy goals and executed by the state adjutants general in support of combatant commander and U.S. Chief of Mission security cooperation objectives and DOD policy goals. Through the SPP, the National Guard of every state, territory and the District of Columbia is partnered with nations on every continent but Antarctica. Last year, Guard elements executed roughly 1,000 SPP engagements, at just 1% of the U.S. security cooperation budget. These engagements range from troop-to-troop best practice exchanges to unit-level training exercises, enabling Guardsmen and their partner-nation counterparts to share and develop expertise, enhancing lethality and interoperability. "Our ability to train and operate together is a decisive advantage as we share the burden of regional defense and global security with our Allies and partners," said Nordhaus, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The National Guard is the operational reserve of the Army and the Air Force. It's 433,000 Soldiers and Airmen bring significant experience in disaster relief, domestic operations, homeland defense, warfighting and partnershipslocal to global. "The SPP will enable Indiana and Oklahoma National Guard members to work side by side with our Saudi partners and learn from each other," said Alison Dilworth, charge d'affaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia. "The possibilities of what we can do together are endless." The Indiana and Oklahoma Guard each offer unique capabilities in cybersecurity, disaster response, aviation maintenance, medical response and logisticsall of which provide avenues for exchange and collaborative training. "The Oklahoma National Guard is proud to join forces with our partners in the Indiana National Guard to welcome the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the State Partnership Program," Mancino said. "We are honored to stand alongside our new partners to share knowledge, foster long-term relationships and enhance capacity to respond to shared challenges." "I am extremely proud of the Indiana National Guard for being selected to partner with a strategic ally in the Middle East," Muennich said. "The National Guard is a global force with local roots, and we're excited for this new opportunity to learn alongside our Saudi partners and enhance our readiness." The Saudi-Indiana-Oklahoma partnership began last November with a cybersecurity, disaster response and critical infrastructure protection exchange in Riyadh. This April, joint training focused on counter-unmanned aircraft system operations, border security and maritime domain awareness critical to Saudi Arabia's sovereignty over its coastal waters. The Saudi Armed Forces also seeks to develop its enlisted and noncommissioned officer corps further. This January, a mobile training team of U.S. Airmen assigned to Air Forces Central led the Royal Saudi Air Force, or RSAF, in its inaugural Chief Leadership Course. The course also featured discussions on the RSAF's new partnership with Indiana and Oklahoma. While in Riyadh, Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, participated in a senior enlisted leader forum alongside the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces' first senior enlisted advisor, Ahmed Al-Mutairi, to underscore the critical contributions of the U.S. military's enlisted corps. "Our enlisted corps is the backbone of our military," Raines said. "The character of warfare is changing rapidly, which will require speedy decisions at a much lower echelon." Across the State Partnership Program enterprise, National Guard members have worked to develop and professionalize partner nation enlisted corps, which Al-Mutairi pointed to as another opportunity for collaboration. "We are excited for this partnership," he said. "You are our friends and our second country." Planning is already underway for future engagements, which will occur between troops from each country, both in Saudi Arabia and in the United States. "We're excited for this new partnership which will boost our readiness in our core missions to support the warfight, defend the homeland and build partnerships," Nordhaus said. "This partnership is a force multiplier for security and stability that will make us stronger together and stronger tomorrow." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint statement on the Occupied Palestinian Territories European External Action Service (EEAS) 22.08.2025 Brussels, Belgium EEAS Press Team The decision by the Israeli Higher Planning Committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area, East of Jerusalem, is unacceptable and a violation of international law. We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms. Minister Smotrich says this plan will make a two-state solution impossible by dividing any Palestinian state and restricting Palestinian access to Jerusalem. This brings no benefits to the Israeli people. Instead, it risks undermining security and fuels further violence and instability, taking us further away from peace. The Government of Israel still has an opportunity to stop the E1 plan going any further. We encourage them to urgently retract this plan. Unilateral action by the Israeli government undermines our collective desire for security and prosperity in the Middle East. The Israeli government must stop settlement construction in line with UNSC Resolution 2334 and remove their restrictions on the finances of the Palestinian Authority. Joint statement by: Foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kosovo: Statement by the Spokesperson on the certification of political parties for local elections European External Action Service (EEAS) 22.08.2025 EEAS Press Team The EU is disappointed about the non-certification of 2 Kosovo Serb political parties. We regret the position taken by Vetevendosje during the certification process. The inclusive character of the upcoming local elections is key for the future relationship between Kosovo and the European Union. Political parties that have met the legal criteria must be allowed to participate in the elections and elected representatives to take up their posts across Kosovo, based on a free, fair and inclusive process. We expect responsible institutions to ensure that the entire certification process, including possible appeals, is carried out fully in line with Kosovo's Constitution, Law on General Elections and the principles of the Rule of Law. Any exclusion of political actors goes against the fundamental principle of meaningful democratic participation of all communities in the electoral process. We will continue to closely monitor developments. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Commissioner Lahbib on Gaza famine European Commission Statement Aug 22, 2025 Brussels Famine is no longer a risk in Gaza. It is a reality. Children are dying from hunger and disease, while families are going days without food. Access to clean water and health has collapsed. The report published today by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the global reference for analysis of food and nutrition crises, confirms that Gaza Governorate has been in famine since July. Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis are also projected to fall into famine in the coming days or may already be facing that reality. This is the most severe deterioration since May 2024, when the IPC began analysing acute food insecurity and malnutrition in the Gaza Strip. In Gaza, more than 500,000 people are facing catastrophic conditions of starvation. By the end of September, this number is projected to rise to nearly 641,000 people - almost one in three people across the Gaza Strip. This is a stark indication that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is beyond intolerable. People are starving, while aid is amassed on the border without reaching those in need. Under International Humanitarian Law, all parties to a conflict must ensure that the basic needs of civilians are met, especially food, water and medical care. United Nations agencies and humanitarian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) must be allowed to bring relief to people in need without unnecessary limitations. Despite the continued efforts by the international community to deliver food, the quantities actually entering the Gaza Strip are not sufficient to prevent mass starvation. The magnitude of the crisis demands a sustainable, large-scale response to make real recovery possible. We reiterate that Israel must grant access to aid immediately through all safe and effective channels to reach everyone in Gaza. Israel must provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and allow essential, principled humanitarian actors to operate. We are approaching a point of no return. Famine will cause even greater loss of life if immediate action is not taken. Every day of inaction means more civilians, including children, will die. Now is the time for Israel to allow immediate, unimpeded, and sustained humanitarian access to all people in need. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister of Defence Hakkanen decides on procurement of TNT explosives Finnish Ministry of Defence 22.08.2025 13:15 Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to sign a procurement contract on TNT high explosives. The contract covers the procurement of TNT high explosives for the Finnish Defence Forces from 2028 to 2037. The Finnish company Forcit Pori Oy will supply the explosives. The overall value of the procurement without value added tax is EUR 189 million. It is related to a project raising the efficiency of explosives production in Finland and securing access to domestically-produced TNT high explosives. Forcit Pori Oy will build a new plant to meet the growing demand. The plant is estimated to employ 70 people. It will have significant indirect effects especially on the logistics and chemicals industry. In addition, the construction of the plant will create new jobs and benefit the City of Pori and its economic region. Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen emphasised the importance of the new plant for homeland defence. "At the Ministry of Defence, we started preparing the construction of a TNT plant to safeguard domestic security of supply in Finland. The Finnish-owned TNT plant in Satakunta ensures that Finland will be able to rely on the domestic industry's capacity to produce high explosives for heavy ammunition. Once operational, the plant will be an important component of military security of supply in Europe. Our procurement decision will ensure a sufficiently high volume of orders over the long term, making it feasible to build a new plant in Finland," Minister Hakkanen said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US forces begin withdrawal from Ain al Asad airbase in Iraq IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 22, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The withdrawal of US military personnel from the Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq's Al-Anbar Province has begun, according to local media sources. Informed sources reported that the withdrawal commenced last night, with the aerial transport of some personnel and equipment currently underway, as reported by the Iraqi Alsumaria News on Friday. Also, Arab media, citing Iraqi security sources, said that the Ain al-Asad airbase is expected to be completely vacated of the US personnel by early September 2025. This withdrawal from the Ain al-Asad airbase is part of the implementation of the agreement between Baghdad and Washington to conclude the mission of the US-led military coalition in Iraq and transition to a non-combat security partnership. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel utterly rejects the statement of the foreign ministers regarding the approval of a construction plan near Jerusalem Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs The State of Israel is governed by a democratically elected government, which acts to promote the interests of the citizens of Israel. The presumption of foreign governments to speak in the name of what is best for Israelis is an unacceptable pretension in international relations. Type: Press Releases Topic: Foreign Policy Publish Date: 22.08.2025 (MFA Spokesperson Announcement) Israel utterly rejects the statement of the foreign ministers regarding the approval of a construction plan near Jerusalem, its eternal capital, and rejects the attempt to impose foreign dictates upon it. The historic right of Jews to live anywhere in the Land of Israel - the birthplace of the Jewish people - is indisputable. There is no other nation in the world that has a stronger, longer-standing, and better-documented connection to its land than the Jewish people has to the Land of Israel, and this connection and right do not require the affirmation of foreign governments. Israel acts in accordance with International law. The establishment of a Jewish state in the Jewish people's ancient homeland, including the settlement by Jews on the land, was clearly recognized in the British Mandate, which was adopted by the League of Nations in 1922. The adoption of the 1917 Balfour Declaration into the Mandate was expressly agreed in the 1920 San Remo Conference. Under the Mandate, the right of the Jewish people to build their national home extended to the entire territory of "Mandatory Palestine". These rights were preserved under Article 80 of the UN Charter. There is no restriction for Arabs to reside in any part of the State of Israel, and a call to deny Jews - and Jews alone - the right to reside in certain areas of the State of Israel has a name: racism. The Jewish people are the indigenous people of the Land of Israel. At no point in history has there ever been a Palestinian state, and any attempt to argue otherwise has no legal, factual, or historical basis. Regardless of the absurdity of the claim regarding the future consequences of the decision - Israel rejects the external attempt to impose a jihadist terror state in the heart of Israel. Finally, the State of Israel is governed by a democratically elected government, which acts to promote the interests of the citizens of Israel. The presumption of foreign governments to speak in the name of what is best for Israelis is an unacceptable pretension in international relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's Office Statement Israel - Prime Minister's Office Type: Press Releases Government: The 37th Government Publish Date: 22.08.2025 The Prime Minister's Office this afternoon: The IPC report is an outright lie. Israel does not have a policy of starvation. Israel has a policy of preventing starvation. Since the beginning of the war Israel has enabled 2 million tons of aid to enter the Gaza Strip, over one ton of aid per person. Today, prices have plunged because of Israel's surge in humanitarian aid in Gaza. (SEE IMAGE 1.) The report says nothing about the collapse in prices. The facts: 101,000 trucks, 2 million tons of aid have entered Gaza facilitated by Israel since October 7 (COGAT, Ministry of Defense). Over one ton of aid per person in Gaza (COGAT). UN/WFP data (July 2025): Of 1,012 aid trucks collected, only 10 reached warehouses; the rest were looted before distribution. Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF): 2.2 million relief packages, equal to 132 million meals. Community kitchens (run by NGOs with Israeli facilitation): 86+ kitchens produce 400,000+ hot meals daily for civilians. Kerem Shalom Crossing: Journalists saw hundreds of pallets of food left untouched because UN agencies refused to distribute them. Israel's Humanitarian Surge Like all previous IPC reports, this one ignores Israel's humanitarian efforts and Hamas's systematic theft. Hamas steals aid to finance its war machine. These were the causes of temporary shortages, which Israel overcame with airdrops, maritime deliveries, safe transport routes, and GHF distribution points manned by American companies. Israel has gone to unprecedented lengths to enable aid to go into enemy territory. According to John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point, no other country at war has gone to such lengths to feed the civilian population in enemy territory. (SEE IMAGE 2) The only ones being intentionally starved in Gaza are the Israeli hostages. A Modern Blood Libel Refuting lies always takes longer than inventing them. The IPC's fabrications will soon collapse. We have seen this before major outlets publishing photos of children with congenital diseases, like cerebral palsy, and falsely blaming Israel for "starvation." This is not analysis. It is a modern blood libel, spreading like wildfire through prejudice. History will judge those who peddle it. The IPC must end its double standards against the Jewish state. Israel, will continue to act responsibly, ensuring aid reaches Gaza's civilians while destroying Hamas's terror machine. The Hamas-orchestrated "starvation campaign" will not deter us from freeing our hostages and eliminating Hamas. The civilized world must demand two things: the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages and the truth. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Stealth meets lethality New Zealand Defence Force In the tussock grasses of Waiouru, New Zealand Army snipers, supported by Australian and US Army comrades, recently delivered training to Pacific partners to enhance our collective lethality and interoperability. 22 August, 2025 Patience, deception and precision. Vital attributes required to succeed as a sniper. "It almost goes without saying that the ability of a marksman to remain undetected is a fundamental skill, but it's so much more than just being able to move around stealthily - it's the meticulous planning before you go into the field, it's knowing every detail of your target's movements and routines, it's setting up decoys and employing deception techniques, and ultimately the need for incredible resilience and mental toughness to stay focused in all sorts of conditions, often isolated by yourself," said Soldier X, one of the NZ Army snipers leading the exercise. It may be days, weeks or even years of training and waiting for the opportunity to execute a mission, so when the moment comes, it can't afford to be missed. Recently, New Zealand and partner nations' personnel were tested in the tussock grasses and changing conditions of the Waiouru Military Training Area as they honed their marksman skills and tactics on a course led by the New Zealand Army. Not that you'd easily spot them, especially from a distance. The Pacific Sniper module was one of three hosted by the NZ Army, which also included a Training Design and Intelligence module. The course was delivered to support various long-range reconnaissance units within the Pacific, with soldiers from Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Fiji attending. The NZ Army's Director of International Engagements, Lieutenant Colonel Vanessa Ropitini, says this kind of opportunity to train alongside Pacific partners is invaluable, and an area where the NZDF gains valuable insight in return. "Ngati Tumatauenga, the New Zealand Army is from, and of the Pacific - and so having the chance to get out into the training area with our sisters and brothers from the Pacific is not only hugely valuable on a personal level to build on those peer-to-peer relationships, but it also provides crucial insights into how we each operate, where our collective strengths are and how we can best support each other in the tactical environment," said Lieutenant Colonel Ropitini. The high-quality training also allows our units to maintain a level of interoperability with our partners in the Pacific and continues to build on what are significant and deepening relationships in the region. "The quality of soldiers in the Pacific from across all our partner nations is incredibly high, and so these weeks are not about teaching the basics - far from it. It's about how do we refine our skills at that top-level, to enhance each of our capabilities and lethality. We look forward to the next opportunity to work alongside our partners," said Lieutenant Colonel Ropitini. The soldiers conducted a variety of training scenarios in both Ardmore and Waiouru, covering how to engage sniper targets, judge distances, stalk an objective, as well as a variety of skills around observing and reporting information and operating various equipment. "The ability to train and operate alongside our Pacific comrades in advance marksmanship training - or any training for that matter - requires patience and a determination to succeed through kinship. We may have soldiers come to us with varying levels of knowledge and skill, including language barriers, but the diversity of cultures within the NZDF gives us a great scaffolding to do this, and we are renowned for our ability to foster relationships and build rapport in the field," said Soldier X. "Marksmen are a different breed of soldier who can either operate individually or in small teams, who take pride in their trade and are always looking for self-development. These are traits born out of our history and ones we wish to continue to strengthen alongside our Pacific brethren." *The NZ Army sniper cannot be named for operational and security reasons. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Continuing killings of civilians in El Fasher and Abu Shouk camp Press briefing notes Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 22 August 2025 From Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Jeremy Laurence Location Geneva Brutal attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the besieged city of El Fasher and the adjoining Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons in North Darfur, Sudan, resulted in the killing of at least 89 civilians over a 10-day period up to 20 August. We fear the actual number of civilians killed is likely higher. In the latest attacks documented by our Office, between 16 and 20 August, at least 32 civilians were killed. At least 57 civilians were killed in previous attacks on 11 August. Such attacks are unacceptable and must cease immediately. We are particularly horrified that among the most recent spate of civilian killings, 16 appear to have been cases of summary executions. Most of the victims were killed in Abu Shouk camp and belonged to the African Zaghawa tribe, according to information gathered by our Office. In another case in the El Fasher area, a victim was asked which tribe he belonged to. He was killed after responding that he was from the African Berti tribe. This pattern of attacks on civilians and wilful killings, which are serious violations of international humanitarian law, deepens our concerns about ethnically motivated violence. We have also received disturbing reports from the ground that during attacks on 16 August at least 40 internally displaced men were abducted. Their whereabouts remain unknown. The humanitarian situation in El Fasher has reached a critical point after more than a year of siege. There is a growing risk of famine in both the city and other areas of North Darfur. In this context, we are appalled by accounts that those trying to deliver much-needed aid have once again come under attack. On 20 August, a UN humanitarian convoy, consisting of 16 trucks carrying essential food supplies, was hit by aerial strikes in Mellit, North Darfur. This incident follows a previous attack on a UN humanitarian convoy in Al Koma, North Darfur, on 2 June. Humanitarian assistance and workers are protected explicitly under international humanitarian law and must not be targeted. Attacks on humanitarian efforts only worsens the human rights situation for civilians. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk calls on all parties to the conflict to take concrete measures immediately to ensure the protection of civilians, including safe passage for those wishing to leave conflict-affected areas, and to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian assistance for those in need. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's pharmaceutical industry is now the second largest in the world, while accounting for about 30 percent of the global total in terms of innovative drugs currently in the development and research process, a health official said Friday. #XinhuaNews Central delegation visits officials, residents in Lhasa People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:19, August 22, 2025 LHASA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation on Thursday visited local officials and residents in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the delegation, attended the event. When visiting senior officials of the city of Lhasa and representatives from various ethnic groups and sectors, Wang called for efforts to advance the four major tasks -- ensuring stability, facilitating development, protecting eco-environment, and strengthening frontiers, thereby making new contributions to promoting lasting peace, stability, and high-quality development in Xizang. When visiting patriotic figures from Xizang's religious circles at the Jokhang Temple, Wang expressed the hope that they will resolutely safeguard national unity and ethnic solidarity, and actively participate in building a modern socialist new Xizang. The delegation also inspected the development of higher education at Xizang University and visited a park to observe afforestation and greening efforts. Wang stressed the need to focus on ensuring and improving people's wellbeing, promote employment and income growth for the public, and steadily advance common prosperity. The delegation is here for the region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New training facilities at the Nowa Deba - Lipa training grounds Poland - Ministry of National Defence 22.08.2025 I have familiarised myself the effect of the efforts and decisions made by me and our partners from Norway, to place a training facility built by our Norwegian allies on a part of the Land Forces Training Grounds in Nowa Deba-Lipa. Today, we are at the training ground where we are building training facilities, for both Polish and Ukrainian troops. It is a mission that Norway has decided to undertake together with Poland, within the NATO framework. This is also our philosophy - we want to support Ukraine from the Polish territory - deputy prime minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said after the conclusion of an information briefing. On 22 August, the minister of national defence has met with soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces and Norwegian troops currently present at the Nowa Deba - Lipa training grounds. We are in NATO together, we are working together. American troops and soldiers from the Czech Republic are also present at the Nowa Deba-Lipa training ground. All that makes Poland one of the strongest centres for the Alliance and can count on the support of those who are in NATO together with us. NATO means solidarity. The word "solidarity" has special meaning in Poland. Norway passed a test of solidarity and brotherhood. This year, I have visited Norwegian soldiers in Krzesiny, where F-35s have been defending the Polish sky. A few weeks ago, I was at the airport in Jasionka together with the minister of defence of Norway, where I had the opportunity to talk to those, who defend the airport with their air defence, anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems. This partnership with Norway brings positive results. On 14 July the construction of a big camp - a training space - started. The works are at an advanced stage, everything will be concluded on 1 September, and the first training for Ukrainian soldiers will begin here in Poland. Of course it will not be the first in general, because training has been taking place for months, but the first one in this camp - built together with our Norwegian allies. After the conclusion of the mission to support Ukraine, this camp will be transferred for use by the Polish Armed Forces. - The minister of national defence noted. The deputy prime minister reminded that Poland has already trained around 30 thousand Ukrainian soldiers. Some of these activities are conducted as part of the mission to support Ukraine led by the European Unions, and some are our bilateral relations. As you can see, our relations with Norway - which is not part of the European Union, but is a part of NATO - are very good. - said the deputy prime minister The minister of national defence has noted that the training infrastructure at Nowa Deba is another example of the presence and expanding capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces stationed in Podkarpacie. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH Navy unfazed by increased Chinese presence in Ayungin Shoal Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno August 22, 2025, 4:45 pm MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is not intimidated by the increased presence and activities of Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying there is nothing new to it. "Their actions are coercive and aggressive. And in the past we have seen (a) similar number of vessels sa ating mga features (in our features) in the WPS," PN spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in an interview on Friday. Five China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were observed in Ayungin Shoal on Aug. 20, with 11 rigid-hulled inflatable boats and fast boats, and nine Chinese maritime militia vessels. Some of the CCG's fast boats were also observed to have been upgraded with mounted weapons, including heavy crew-served weapons, and were seen conducting maneuvers and drills involving the use of water cannons. "This is a form of intimidation. They are trying to intimidate us. They are trying to coerce us, showing their capability," Trinidad said. "Sa atin naman, alam naman natin na dati nilang ginagawa ito (But for us, we are already aware of these tactics as they've already used it against us). We have been here before," he added. Aside from these sea vessels, a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle were also monitored in Ayungin Shoal. Trinidad maintained that the presence of Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal is illegal, and that every Filipino soldier "is convinced of the legitimacy of our cause, of our stand in the WPS." Also called the Second Thomas Shoal, Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the country's 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). A World War II-era vessel, BRP Sierra Madre, manned by Filipino soldiers, has been grounded in Ayungin Shoal since 1999, serving as a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory. Asked on how the troops will prepare for the next rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to BRP Sierra Madre following the Chinese drills in Ayungin Shoal, Trinidad refused to go into specifics but stressed that all their actions will be "within the rules of engagement." The last RORE mission to Ayungin Shoal was on May 16. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bersamin, Aussie defense chief meet as PH, Australia boost ties Philippine News Agency By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos August 22, 2025, 3:41 pm MANILA -- Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Friday welcomed Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles at Malacanan Palace in Manila, as the Philippines and Australia seek to strengthen their defense cooperation. A video of Bersamin's meeting with Marles was uploaded on the official Facebook page of state-run Radio Television Malacanang (RTVM). Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also joined the meeting held at Malacanan's Presidential Guest House, based on the video. Marles is in Metro Manila to attend the second Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers' Meeting, a high-level dialogue which is part of efforts to institutionalize regular consultations on defense and security matters. He is also set to observe activities related to Exercise Amphibious and Land Operations (Alon) 2025, Australia's largest overseas joint training activity this year, and discuss the overall bilateral and regional defense cooperation between the two countries. Aside from the Philippines and Australia, the United States and Canada are also participating in the joint exercise, bringing the total number of personnel deployed for the event to more than 3,600. The Philippines and Australia elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2023, paving the way for closer defense, economic, and people-to-people cooperation. The two nations' militaries have conducted a series of joint activities in recent years, including maritime patrols and humanitarian assistance drills. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US donates equipment for PCG vessel maintenance Philippine News Agency By Marita Moaje August 22, 2025, 12:05 pm MANILA -- The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to Philippine maritime security, turning over PHP1.9 million (USD34,500) worth of equipment to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for its Fleet Maintenance and Repair Group (MRG) Workshop at Sangley Point, Cavite on Aug. 18. In a statement on Friday, the US government said the assistance, provided through the US Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), would help enhance the PCG's ability to maintain and repair its fleet. "This activity is another important step in our capability buildup to provide the necessary equipment for our MRG," PCG Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Rommel Supangan, said, noting that the assistance reflects a strong US-Philippine partnership in promoting maritime security. US Embassy INL Director Kate Richie echoed this commitment, pledging continuous support for the Philippines. "INL pledged to continue supporting the MRG as they operationalize their maintenance facility and address vessel sustainment requirements comprehensively across the Coast Guard Fleet. This transfer of essential equipment and backup power supply will enable a broader and more effective equipment repair program," she said. The 400-square-meter Fleet Sangley Point MRG Workshop, inaugurated in May 2024, with a PHP54 million (USD950,000) funding from the US Department of Defense and technical support from the US Coast Guard, complements the MRG facility in the Manila Port Area. A joint initiative among INL, the Joint US Military Assistance Group Philippines, and the PCG, the MRG Workshop enhances maintenance and repair capability for small boats and systems aboard larger patrol vessels, which is crucial for the country's maritime law enforcement and defense. The INL, together with other US government agencies, is planning additional support for PCG vessel maintenance efforts in the coming year, through technical training programs, maintenance and logistic systems planning, and equipment donations for vessel operating stations. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, Australia to seal defense cooperation pact in 2026 Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno August 22, 2025, 7:53 pm MANILA -- The Philippines and Australia on Friday signed a statement of intent to pursue a Defense Cooperation Agreement that aims to further boost security ties. The agreement is expected to be completed and signed by next year, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a media briefing after the 2nd Philippine-Australia Defense Ministers Meeting in Makati City. "Today, we have, as you have just seen, also signed a statement of intent to pursue a Defense Cooperation Agreement that we will seek to sign this time next year," Marles said. "This will be a really important step forward in terms of our defense relationship." Marles said the agreement will build on the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines and Australia. "It will encapsulate the totality of our engagement in defense, but it will include, for example, a commitment to see us having annual defense ministers' meetings. It will look at how we can do more in terms of coordinating our exercise and operation tempo between our two countries," he said. The agreement will also look into how Australia can do more in terms of infrastructure development in the Philippines, which Marles said can benefit the Armed Forces of the Philippines. "To that end, we have also, as part of our outcomes, agreed to pursue a defense infrastructure plan. Right now, Australia is pursuing eight different infrastructure projects across five different locations here in the Philippines," Marles said. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the defense agreement will place "in concrete form" the partnership between the Philippines and Australia. He said it is "appropriate" for the agreement to be signed next year when the Philippines hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit meetings. Teodoro thanked Australia for supporting the Philippines' rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "We also are working together heavily in this region, in the Indo-Pacific Region, in order to uphold our shared values of international law amidst increasing shared challenges," he said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deploy peacekeeping force to Gaza: Rights body urges UN General Assembly Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 7:39 PM An international rights group has urged the United Nations General Assembly to invoke a historic resolution allowing it to bypass the world body's Security Council and deploy a peacekeeping force to the Gaza Strip. The Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor made the plea on Friday after the UN declared that the Gaza Governorate in the northern part of the Gaza Strip was suffering from actual famine that could spread far within weeks. It attributed the situation to the Israeli regime's deliberate policy of starving the Gaza Strip to the extent that - in accordance with Israeli officials' own admission - no food or water would enter the coastal sliver. The body denounced the approach as a war crime, a crime against humanity, and an act of genocide. It, therefore, called on the General Assembly to implement its "Resolution 377 A(V) of 1950 ("Uniting for Peace")." The resolution, Euro-Med reminded, "empowers the Assembly to convene an emergency special session and adopt collective measures, including the establishment of a peacekeeping force, when the Security Council fails to act due to vetoes or lack of consensus." Euro-Med was referring to the unexceptional trend of the United States', the regime's biggest ally's casting its notorious veto power in the face of punitive measures targeting Tel Aviv. The invariable nullification of such disciplinary steps by Washington has historically gone hand in hand with its providing the regime with unstinting and unprecedented arms support, including during its October 2023-present war of genocide on the coastal sliver. Euro-Med, meanwhile, identified the UN declaration as "late," but yet an "unequivocal" proof that the Israeli regime had deliberately manufactured famine in Gaza through systematic starvation policies, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and destruction of local food sources. "It represents the first such acknowledgment since the start of Israel's ongoing genocide against Palestinians, in which starvation has been one of its most brutal tools." The body, meanwhile, vehemently denounced the regime's and the US's establishment of the so-called "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" on May 27, which is supposedly tasked with delivering food to Gazans, but has actually "exacerbated the crisis." It cited the GHF distribution points' having rather turned into "death traps, where Israeli forces, sometimes accompanied by US mercenaries, have killed 2,036 people and injured 15,064 others, with thousands more dying while attempting to reach aid trucks in Israeli-controlled areas." It also noted that "the foundation's distribution mechanism deliberately excluded vast segments of Gaza's population." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN famine declaration confirms months of starvation, says Oxfam Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 6:32 PM The international charity Oxfam says the UN-backed food security body's declaration of famine in Gaza City confirms what the charity and its partners have been documenting for months across the besieged Palestinian territory. "The famine in Gaza is entirely driven by Israel's near-total blockade on food and vital aid, the horrifying consequence of Israel's violence, and its use of starvation as a weapon of war," said Helen Stawski, policy lead at Oxfam's British branch. The Oxfam official further noted that Israel had deliberately been preventing humanitarian organizations from delivering basic supplies and vital necessities into Gaza for several months. "Despite warnings in July that famine was imminent, Israel has continued to deprive Palestinians of food, denying almost every request from long-established humanitarian agencies, preventing them from delivering vital food and aid that could have stemmed hunger, malnutrition and disease," Stawski stated. She said that Oxfam had more than $3.3 million worth of aid, including high-calorie food packages, sitting in warehouses outside Gaza. "Israeli authorities have rejected it all, at a time when it is needed more than ever," she added. Stawski said the failure of the UK government "to put any meaningful pressure on Israel, standing idly by as people - including babies - starve to death, is as bewildering as it is reprehensible. This has to stop," she stressed. In an earlier statement, Oxfam said Israel was starving people in areas where famine is now classified, while persisting with plans to forcibly displace the starving population out of Gaza City. The charity strongly denounced inaction by the international community against Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza. "Other governments that could have done more to stop Israel are complicit in enabling genocide and war crimes by their silence, inaction and the continuation of many to supply Israel with arms." Oxfam called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the complete lifting of the blockade, and entry of urgent humanitarian aid on a large scale through all crossings. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), highlighted that "months of warnings have fallen on deaf ears," but now that the famine is confirmed in Gaza City and the surrounding areas, it is "time for political will" to end it. UNRWA chief held Israel accountable for starvation and famine in the besieged Palestinian territory. "This is starvation by design and man-made by the Government of Israel. It is the direct result of banning food and other basic supplies for months, including from UNRWA," Lazzarini said. The UNRWA emphasized that the spread of famine can still be controlled by a ceasefire and allowing humanitarian organizations to do their work and reach starving people with aid. Meanwhile, the chief executive officer of the US-based aid group Mercy Corps, Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, also called the UN announcement of a famine in Gaza City "absolutely horrifying, yet not surprising." "This is the direct result of months of deliberate restrictions on aid, the destruction of Gaza's food, health and water systems, and relentless bombardment. This is a man-made catastrophe, entirely preventable and entirely unconscionable," McKenna said, adding that Mercy Corps staff were also facing dire conditions in Gaza. "We're watching our own team members waste away. They're standing in food lines, skipping meals so their children can eat, and risking their lives daily just to find bread and water," she stated. McKenna said that while the organisation has supplies for 160,000 people waiting at crossings, some goods have already expired due to delays, as Israel has sealed all crossings into the coastal enclave. "What we are witnessing in Gaza is a moral failing of the highest order. The world knows how to stop a famine - we just need the will to act," the Mercy Corps chief added. In a grim assessment released Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said famine had taken hold in and around Gaza City, the besieged region's largest urban center. The area is home to between 500,000 and 800,000 people, most of them displaced and living without proper shelter under the weight of Israel's months-long blockade and bombardment. Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has killed nearly 62,263 Palestinians and injured 157,365 since October 7, 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: UN's famine declaration 'important' but 'very late' Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 2:58 PM The Gaza Strip's Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has described the United Nations' earlier declaration of famine in the northern part of the coastal sliver as an "important" step, while still condemning it as long overdue. The announcement that was made on Friday was "very late after long months of warnings," the group said in a statement later in the day. "We have repeatedly warned that the policies of blockade, systematic starvation, and the denial of food, medicine, and water to our people constitute a full-fledged genocide," it added. The movement was referring to the Israeli regime's near-total ban on the entry of desperately needed supplies into the territory, which has already endured more than 22 months of a Western-backed war of genocide. The brutal method has led to human rights bodies denouncing the regime for using starvation as a weapon of war. The approach has increased the Palestinian death toll by hundreds, bringing the total to nearly 62,100 so far, with women and children comprising the majority of the victims. Still referring to the declaration, Hamas said, "Today, UN reports confirm to the entire world the extent of the humanitarian catastrophe our people are experiencing." 'Criminal denial' The group went on to lambaste the Israeli regime's continued "criminal denial" of the facts on the ground, pointing to its officials' unexceptional rejection of such declarations and similar reports. The denial, Hamas added, "reveals a criminal mentality that deliberately lies to cover up the murder by starvation practiced against children, women, and the sick, in flagrant defiance of all international laws and norms." The international community, meanwhile, bears an urgent legal and moral responsibility to stop the atrocities, and "save more than two million people facing genocide, starvation, and the systematic destruction," it noted. The group asserted that the draconian conditions imposed on the Palestinian territory have to be followed by immediate UN action towards stopping the war and provision of unrestricted aid access for the coastal sliver. The international community also had to hold the regime accountable over its crimes, the movement concluded. Prior to the world body's declaration, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) had declared a full-blown famine in the Gaza Governorate, warning that up to 800,000 Palestinians were now enduring catastrophic conditions marked by starvation, destitution, and death. According to the IPC's estimates, famine conditions were projected to spread from the Gaza Governorate to the Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis Governorates in the coming weeks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN declares full-blown famine in Gaza; up to 800,000 Palestinians at risk Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 2:41 PM The UN-backed food security body has declared a full-blown famine in the Gaza Strip, warning that up to 800,000 Palestinians are now enduring catastrophic conditions marked by starvation, destitution, and death. In a grim assessment released Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said famine has taken hold in and around Gaza City, the enclave's largest urban center. The area is home to between 500,000 and 800,000 people, most of them displaced and living without proper shelter under the weight of Israel's months-long blockade and bombardment. IPC also declared that famine is underway in the Gaza Governorate, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the north. The report warned that the famine is likely to spread to Deir el-Balah in central Gaza and Khan Yunis in the south by the end of next month. The UN-backed experts cautioned that the crisis is "entirely man-made" and could lead to exponentially rising deaths without immediate intervention. "This famine is entirely man-made; it can be halted and reversed. The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading," the IPC report said. It stressed that any delay could result in sharp rise of famine-related deaths in the besieged strip. "There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that an immediate, at-scale response is needed. Any further delay - even by days - will result in a totally unacceptable escalation of famine-related mortality." After 22 months of Israel's genocidal war, over half a million people in Gaza are now in famine conditions (IPC Phase 5), marked by "starvation, destitution and death," the IPC reported. An additional 1.07 million people are in emergency levels (Phase 4), while 396,000 people (20%) remain in crisis (Phase 3). Among them, about 41,000 severe cases are at heightened risk of death. This marks the sharpest deterioration since the IPC partnership began assessing acute food insecurity and malnutrition in Gaza. The IPC global initiative called the crisis "a race against time," stressing that "famine must be stopped at all costs." The UN body cautioned that acute malnutrition is expected to deteriorate further and "rapidly." The IPC report also voiced alarm over the ongoing large-scale killing of civilians attempting to access food aid at US-backed Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) centers in Gaza. The total number of aid seekers killed around the controversial GHF centers since May has now reached about 2,000. It urged "urgent, comprehensive and sustained action to end the swiftly deteriorating and ever-expanding humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip." The IPC noted that Gaza's food system has effectively collapsed, with nearly 98 per cent of cropland either destroyed or inaccessible, livestock wiped out, and fishing completely banned. In addition, the health system has crumbled, and access to clean drinking water and basic hygiene has been severely restricted. "If a ceasefire is not implemented to allow humanitarian aid to reach everyone in the Gaza Strip, and if essential food supplies and basic health, nutrition and [sanitation and water] services are not restored immediately, avoidable deaths will increase exponentially," the report further warned. The IPC alerted that by June 2026, at least 132,000 children under five could face life-threatening malnutrition. The report also mentioned that nearly 55,500 malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women will urgently need nutrition support. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Gaza's famine as a "man-made disaster." The UN chief also said Israel, as the occupying power, has "unequivocal obligations" under international law to ensure food and medical supplies reach Gaza. "We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity. No more excuses. The time for action is not tomorrow - it is now," Guterres said. Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has killed nearly 62,263 Palestinians and injured 157,365 since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza Health Ministry. At least 71 Palestinians, including 24 aid seekers, have been killed and 251 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the latest 24-hours. In the same period, at least two people have starved to death in the besieged territory, bringing the total count of hunger-related deaths to 273, including 112 children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tim's fingers tightened on his PS5 controller as the Chinese word for "death," or "game over," appeared again and again on the screen. The black-clad hero he was guiding carried the aura of Chinese martial-arts fantasy, drawing one of the longest queues at Gamescom 2025. "The art style is really cool, and even the boss fight I just cleared looked great," said the young gamer from Germany's Harz after a one-hour demo. Titled "Phantom Blade Zero," the upcoming action role-playing game has already notched up 6 million views for its latest gameplay video on YouTube. More than halfway through the five-day event, a record 50 Chinese exhibitors made their presence impossible to miss, their booths among the busiest at the world's largest games fair. On Gamescom's Opening Night Live showcase on Tuesday, Chinese studio Game Science closed the event with a flourish, unveiling its latest title "Black Myth: Zhong Kui." Introduced by the host as "the last surprise before saying good night," the two-minute trailer was met with thunderous cheers in Cologne and on the global livestream. The studio had released "Black Myth: Wukong" exactly a year earlier, China's first AAA game inspired by the classic novel "Journey to the West," now a global hit. Its new title, Zhong Kui, draws on Chinese folklore, bringing to life the legendary ghost catcher with fierce eyes and a thick beard. Grace Pan, senior project manager at Cologne Exhibition Center (Koelnmesse), co-organizer of Gamescom (styled as "gamescom" by the organizers) alongside the German Games Industry Association, said Chinese game developers in recent years have emerged as "true content creators" and "peers of leading European, U.S. and Japanese studios." "Chinese developers are bringing a wide variety of new titles, advanced production techniques and distinctive elements such as Chinese martial arts and mythology," Pan told Xinhua. Their original works, she added, stand out with strong visuals, storytelling, and gameplay. A report released ahead of the fair by the German Games Industry Association showed the rising popularity of Chinese mobile titles in Germany. Four Chinese-developed products ranked among Germany's 10 most-downloaded mobile games in 2024. In Germany, home to 37.5 million players and Europe's largest gaming market, smartphones remain the top platform, used by more than half of all gamers, with consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox close behind, the report noted. That trend was also mirrored at this year's Gamescom, where three Chinese titles were nominated among the five contenders for Best Mobile Game. The award went to "Love and Deepspace" on Friday, a romantic sci-fi title developed by Shanghai-based Infold Games. The growing footprint of Chinese developers, coupled with the rise of China's gaming ecosystem, is also opening doors for partnerships in Europe. In a written interview with Xinhua, Felix Falk, managing director of the German Games Industry Association, said collaborations between Chinese studios and their counterparts in Germany and the wider Europe are becoming more frequent, enabling both sides to better understand and access each other's markets. Tencent, China's gaming giant, offers a snapshot of that approach. The company brought more than 10 new titles to Gamescom, including projects built on international IPs or in partnerships with renowned European studios, such as yet-to-be-released "Dune: Awakening" and "Dying Light: The Beast." Tencent also unveiled an AI-powered tool for game art production, positioned as a way to foster collaboration at the technical level. "As the global games industry becomes increasingly interconnected, we will likely see even more cooperation in the future," Falk said. China condemns US deployment of destroyers near Venezuela Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 11:40 AM China has condemned the US deployment of Navy destroyers near Venezuela, warning against foreign interference in the internal affairs of the Latin American country. China opposes "any move that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and a country's sovereignty and security", Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. She stressed that Beijing rejects "the interference of external forces in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext", calling on Washington to "do more things conducive to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region". Her remarks came as three US destroyers and an amphibious squadron carrying about 4,000 Marines have been dispatched off the coast of Venezuela allegedly to curb drug trafficking. Caracas and its allies call the patrols a direct threat to Venezuela's sovereignty. The Trump administration has also escalated its pressure campaign, increasing the reward for Maduro's capture to $50 million, claiming that he is "one of the world's largest narco-traffickers", an allegation rejected by Caracas. Maduro has responded by mobilizing 4.5 million members of the Bolivarian Militia and ordering a 30-day suspension of drone flights nationwide, in order to thwart US threats of war against his country. Iran has condemned the US threats to use force against Venezuela's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning of the dangerous consequences of Washington's acts of adventurism for the Caribbean region's peace and security. Venezuela and the US severed formal diplomatic relations in 2019 after the latter backed opposition leader Juan Guaido in the Latin American country's presidential election. The US government has not recognized Maduro's last two electoral victories. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel threatens to destroy Gaza City if Hamas rejects its impossible terms Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 10:43 AM Israel's minister of military affairs has threatened to destroy Gaza City if the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas does not agree to its terms, including surrendering its arms. The threat comes as Israeli forces prepare a full-scale assault on the cityhome to nearly a million displaced civiliansdespite urgent United Nations appeals to halt the operation amid what aid agencies describe as "unimaginable" levels of starvation and destruction. "Soon, the gates of hell will open" in Gaza until Hamas agrees to "Israel's conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all captives and the movement's disarmament," Israel Katz posted on social media on Friday. "If they do not agree, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun," he added, invoking two cities in the territory that have already been reduced to rubble during Israel's nearly two-year-long genocidal war. The threat coincides with Israel's push for the military plan to seize and occupy Gaza City with up to 60,000 reservists. UN officials warn the offensive will trigger another wave of mass displacement, compounding a humanitarian crisis in which hundreds of thousands are already starving due to Israel's blockade on food, fuel, and medicine. Aid groups say the siege has turned Gaza into a "war on children," with at least one in three children in Gaza City now malnourished The hawkish minister's remarks came after Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Thursday that he had ordered "immediate negotiations" to release all the remaining captives held in Gaza "on terms acceptable to Israel". Netanyahu claimed that the push to release the captives would accompany the invasion aimed at occupying Gaza City, the largest city in the strip. However, Netanyahu refrained from making any official reference to the mediators' latest ceasefire proposal, which Hamas accepted earlier this week. On Wednesday, Hamas agreed to the latest proposal: a 60-day ceasefire that would include the return of half of the captives held in Gaza in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners. The latest proposal also includes a path to a comprehensive deal that ends the nearly two-year genocidal war in Gaza. While Qatar said the proposal was nearly identical to the one put forward by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and was accepted by Israel, mediators were still awaiting a response from the Israeli regime to the plan. The UN humanitarian agency has warned that the Israeli plan to occupy Gaza City would have "a horrific humanitarian impact" on an already exhausted population. Israel has launched a genocidal war on Gaza since October 7, 2023 after Palestinian resistance fighters waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the Zionist entity in response to the regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed more than 62,190 Palestinians, mostly women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finland summons Israeli envoy over Gaza occupation, West Bank settlement plans Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 7:12 AM Finland's Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel's ambassador to Helsinki in response to Israel's illegal plans to occupy Gaza City and construct new settlements in the occupied West Bank. In a statement posted on its X account, the ministry said the Israeli envoy was called in to "express Finland's deep concern" over the regime's controversial It also called for the unhindered access of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where Israel is waging a genocidal war, in line with international law. schemes. Nearly two years into the genocide in Gaza, the Israeli security cabinet voted on August 8 for the occupation plan, which means more bloodshed 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 62,192 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 157,114 others since October 7, 2023. On August 20, Israel announced it had given final approval for a 3,400-unit settlement construction project in the E1 area, east of al-Quds, which would effectively cut the occupied West Bank in two. Far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said the plot, which had been frozen for decades, "practically erases" any prospect of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the construction project divides the occupied West Bank into "isolated areas and cantons that are disconnected from one another, turning them into something akin to real prisons." Foreign ministers from 21 countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada and France, denounced the E1 settlement plan as "unacceptable" and "a violation of international law." "We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms," they said in a joint statement. The top diplomats cited UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which "reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds), has no legal validity". Additionally, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned the Israeli ambassador to London in a display of criticism, saying the E1 settlement poroject critically undermines the two-state framework. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine defense chief condemns Chinese activity near Second Thomas Shoal His remarks come as Manila and Australia conduct live-fire drills and aim to deepen cooperation in the South China Sea. By RFA staff 2025.08.22 -- China has deployed an array of armed coast guard forces near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea one in a series of Chinese actions that the Philippines' defense chief on Friday called "a matter not only of concern but of condemnation." Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro spoke Friday during a joint press conference with Richard Marles, the defense chief for Australia, as the two countries engaged in combat drills that began Aug. 15 and worked toward an enhanced joint defense pact. "We work really closely with the Philippines in terms of asserting the rules-based order in the South China Sea," Marles said. "That's really important for us to jointly do." The Philippine military reported this week that China has deployed coast guard and militia ships in the area, as well as a cadre of speedboats, some fitted with high-caliber machine guns. A helicopter and a drone were also reported in the area. According to the Philippine report, one of China's boats came within 50 meters of the Sierra Madre, a warship that the Philippines deliberately grounded in 1999 to serve as a base of operations on Second Thomas Shoal. Two Filipino boats were deployed to keep the Chinese from coming closer, the Philippine military said. China's coast guard on Friday released a statement warning the Philippines to "immediately stop all infringement activities, provocations and false accusations" in the area, saying it would continue to "carry out law enforcement activities." The Philippines and China have long fought and negotiated over territory in the South China Sea. Second Thomas Shoal sits within the Philippines' U.N.-defined exclusive economic zone. It's also within the wide swath of the sea that China claims as part of its maritime territory. In March, the Philippines accused China of "deceptive messaging" after state-run television accused the Philippine military of burning trash aboard the Sierra Madre. Last June, members of China's coast guard used pikes and machetes to puncture Philippine boats and seized firearms during a Philippine mission to resupply the Sierra Madre. By December, China said it had granted permission for such resupply missions on humanitarian grounds. Philippine fishermen told RFA's BenarNews last year that the heavy presence of Chinese vessels caused them to send out fewer boats, leading to a reduced catch and economic hardship. Includes reporting from The Associated Press. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The UK is deeply concerned by the scale of human rights abuses, including sexual violence, by armed groups in eastern DRC: 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 the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki CMG Published 22 August 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 22 August 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) I will make three points. First, the United Kingdom welcomes the positive momentum towards peace generated by the work of EAC-SADC and the AU, the signing of the Peace Agreement between DRC and Rwanda in Washington, and the Declaration of Principles between DRC and M23 in Doha. Second, the United Kingdom condemns the widespread killing of civilians by the Rwanda-backed M23 in Rutshuru territory as well as killings by ADF in Ituri province. The scale of human rights abuses, including sexual violence, by armed groups in eastern DRC is deeply concerning. We call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to protect civilians. The parties must comply with the ceasefires to which they have committed. Reported violations by both M23 and Wazalendo groups are deeply concerning, as is the rise in inflammatory rhetoric by both sides. The UK urges the parties to show restraint, avoid further escalation, and engage constructively in the peace process. Third, President, the United Kingdom remains concerned by restrictions imposed on MONUSCO's freedom of movement by M23. UN peacekeepers must be allowed to deliver the mandate agreed by this Council. We welcome news that supplies of fuel and water are no longer being restricted. We also welcome that some of MONUSCO's necessary troop rotations have now taken place. This must be sustained. To conclude, the United Kingdom strongly supports all efforts towards peace in Eastern DRC. We commend the ongoing efforts of US, Qatari and AU mediators and facilitators. We welcome the resumption of talks between DRC and M23. The parties should now urgently and fully comply with the commitments they have made to a ceasefire and the protection of civilians. The Security Council should remain seized of their progress. The full implementation of these agreements is critical to delivering the sustainable peace and prosperity that the people of DRC deserve. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement in response to the famine declared in the Gaza Governorate as determined by the Famine Review Committee. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 22 August 2025 Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: The confirmation of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighbourhood is utterly horrifying and is wholly preventable. The Israeli government's refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe. This is a moral outrage. The IPC report makes clear the sickening consequences, especially for children. The Government of Israel can and must immediately act to stop the situation deteriorating any further. It must immediately and sustainably allow unhindered food, medical supplies, fuel, and all types of aid to reach those who so desperately need them. The Israeli government must allow the UN and international NGOs to carry out their life-saving work without obstruction. Aid must reach those in need urgently and without delay. We desperately need an immediate ceasefire, to enable aid delivery at maximum speed and at the scale required. This includes halting the military operation in Gaza City which is the epicentre of the famine. The UK reiterates its condemnation of this military action, which will only worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and endanger the lives of the hostages held by Hamas. We urge the Israeli government to change course and halt its plans. This terrible conflict must end. An immediate and permanent ceasefire is the only way to stop the suffering, secure the release of the hostages, achieve a surge in aid and deliver a framework for lasting peace. Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 22 August 2025 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Daniela Gross, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. ** Secretary-General/Gaza Good afternoon. I'm going to start with a few notes. In a statement issued early this morning, the Secretary-General said that just when it seems there are no words left to describe the living hell in Gaza, a new one has been added: "famine". This is not a mystery, he said; it is a man-made disaster, a moral indictment and a failure of humanity itself. The Secretary-General noted that famine is not only about food; it is the deliberate collapse of the systems needed for human survival. He pointed out that people are starving, children are dying and those with the duty to act are failing. The Secretary-General said that as the occupying Power, Israel, has unequivocal obligations under international law, including the duty of ensuring food and medical supplies of the population. He stressed that we cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity. No more excuses, the Secretary-General said, adding that the time for action is not tomorrow, it is now. He emphasized that we need an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages and full, unfettered humanitarian access. There have been also several other statements on this, including from our Emergency Relief Coordinator, UN agencies and our UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. All of those statements are available online. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Now on the humanitarian side. Our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs remind us again today that civilians are bearing the brunt of this war. As strikes continue to intensify across the Strip, casualties are flooding hospitals' emergency departments. We and our partners continue to warn of the catastrophic consequences that the intensification of the ongoing offensive in Gaza city would have for civilians. Overnight and into today, multiple strikes were reported in the Jabalya Al Balad and An Nazla neighbourhoods. Our partners monitoring population movements in the Strip say that as a result, about 900 people reportedly left, heading towards the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood and western Gaza City. Once again, we remind parties to the conflict of their obligations under international law to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers and those who cannot or choose not to move. As we have said before, those fleeing must be allowed to do so safely. They must also be allowed to return if they wish to do so, as the situation allows. OCHA reiterates the urgency of ensuring people have access to aid and basic services, whether they leave or stay. Supplies must be allowed to enter Gaza through all available crossings and corridors. We and our humanitarian partners must have safe, predictable and sustained access to deliver aid at scale to people in immense need of assistance. Our colleagues working on health remind us that nearly half of all hospitals and field hospitals are located in Gaza city and account for 40 per cent of the total inpatient bed capacity in all of the Gaza Strip. Expansion of military operations would further cripple the collapsing healthcare system. Many medical facilities in the south are operating several times over their bedspace capacity. Partners stress that access to healthcare must be immediately restored to avert more preventable deaths. ** Secretary-General/Travels Today, in Japan, the Secretary-General delivered remarks on the occasion of the UN Special Day at the Expo 2025. He said that the United Nations touches our lives every single day. Every year, he said, the UN provides food and assistance to more than 150 million people, supplies vaccines to 45 per cent of the world's children and supports elections in more than 50 countries. The Secretary-General highlights the importance of reform. He added that he launched the UN80 initiative to help ensure that the eightieth anniversary of the UN is not only a moment of reflection, but a catalyst for reform and renewal. Mr. Guterres visited some pavilions at the Expo 2025, including the UN pavilion and he expressed his gratitude to the UN staff there and volunteers, as well as to Japan, the host country. He will be back in New York tomorrow, Saturday. ** Security Council And here in New York this morning, Martha Pobee, the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, briefed the Security Council on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She noted encouraging progress in recent months, notably the signing of a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, as well as the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the DRC and the M23. She expressed appreciation for all the efforts of the United States and Qatar to bring peace to the DRC. She also noted the efforts of the East African Community, the South African Development Community and the African Union, adding that the UN is providing support where needed. Regrettably, Ms. Pobee said, the evolution of the security situation on the ground has not matched the progress achieved on the diplomatic front. She told Council Members the number of civilian casualties has risen dramatically. Humanitarian workers are risking their lives to provide limited assistance to a population whose needs continue to grow. Conflict-related sexual violence persists, amid general indifference. The forced recruitment of children continues. At this critical moment for the country and the region, Ms. Pobee said it is vital that the Security Council place its full weight behind current peace efforts and exerts its influence to ensure respect for and compliance with resolution 2773. All parties must live up to their commitments and obligations. She concluded that while the situation on the ground remains dire, there is every reason to hope that with the genuine engagement of the parties and the concerted support of the international community, peace for the people of eastern DRC is possible. ** Security Council/Libya And also on the Security Council, yesterday afternoon, as you know, the Security Council held a briefing on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the Mission, briefed Council Members. Mentioning that 26 Libyan municipalities successfully went to the polls on 16 August in spite of some significant challenges, she called on all candidates to accept the election results as the choices made by their voters. Ms. Tetteh pointed out that the economic situation in Libya remains dire, and the security situation in the country remains volatile, with increasing militarization of all sides. She urged representatives of both sides to resolve their outstanding issues through dialogue and not to make demands to each other that could amount to provocation. Both remarks were shared with you. The ones on Libya and the DRC. ** Global Health Challenges/Extreme Heat The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today published a joint report and guidance, highlighting the growing global health challenges posed by extreme heat on workers. The report notes that as climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves, many workers who are regularly exposed to dangerous heat conditions are already feeling the health impacts of rising temperatures. WHO and WMO warn that increasing heat episodes are also leading to health issues for vulnerable populations in developing countries, such as children, older adults and low-income populations. The WMO noted that 2024 was the hottest year on record. Daytime temperatures of more than 40C, and even above 50C, are becoming increasingly common, a clear indication that immediate action is needed to address the worsening impact of heat stress on workers worldwide. The report is available online. ** Senior Personnel Appointment I have a senior personnel announcement for you. Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Chaloka Beyani of Zambia as the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. He succeeds Alice Wairimu Nderitu of Kenya, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her services. The Secretary-General also wishes to extend his appreciation to Virginia Gamba, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, who have been serving as Acting Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. Ms. Patten will continue to serve as Acting Special Adviser until Mr. Beyani assumes his position. Currently an Associate Professor of International Law in the Law Department of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Mr. Beyani brings practical legal, diplomatic and political experience in international law and human rights, including national constitutions and treaty making. There is more information online. ** International Days I have one last note. We have a couple of International Days to flag. Today is the International Day commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General says that around the world individuals and communities face violence based on religion or beliefs, stressing that we must confront this threat head-on and stand together to build a world where diversity is celebrated and everyone can live in safety and dignity. Tomorrow is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. It is a day that is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples. ** Questions and Answers Associate Spokesperson : Do we have any questions today? [...] Please go ahead. Question : Hi. So it's Eric with Kyoto News, Japanese newswire. Associate Spokesperson : Thank you. Question : Does the SG plan any actions in response to these two concurrent famines that the IPC has raised? Associate Spokesperson : What I have on the SG is what I told you, that he said on his statement, okay? But I think this is just another reminder of what we have been saying here from this podium for months, that we need this conflict to stop. We need people to stop the guns, and we need unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, all the crossings open. And also, like he said on his statement, the unconditional release of the hostages. Question : Is he considering, for example, a meeting of the Security Council, calling for one? Associate Spokesperson : I don't have any information on that at this point. Do we have any other further questions? No? So have a good afternoon, everyone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Famine in Gaza: 'A failure of humanity itself', says UN chief 22 August 2025 - More than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine, marked by widespread starvation, destitution and preventable deaths, according to a new UN-backed food security report released on Friday. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the results of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis were no mystery: "It is a man-made disaster, a moral indictment - and a failure of humanity itself. "Famine is not about food; it is the deliberate collapse of the systems needed for human survival." Famine conditions are projected to spread from Gaza Governorate to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis Governorates in the coming weeks, the IPC estimates. UN agencies have collectively and consistently highlighted the extreme urgency of delivering immediate and full-scale humanitarian aid given the escalating hunger-related deaths, rapidly worsening levels of acute malnutrition and plummeting levels of food consumption in Gaza - with hundreds of thousands going days without anything to eat. Israel's obligations "As the occupying power, Israel has unequivocal obligations under international law - including the duty of ensuring food and medical supplies of the population," said the UN chief, reacting to the famine declaration from the IPC, which is endorsed by dozens of governments, UN agencies and NGOs as the key evidence-based measure of food insecurity and malnutrition. Mr. Guterres said Israel's denial of its duties could not be allowed to continue: "No more excuses. The time for action is not tomorrow - it is now." Silence the guns, release the hostages UN agencies operating in Gaza joined the UN chief in calling for an immediate ceasefire to finally allow unimpeded, large-scale humanitarian response and the immediate release of all hostages taken by Hamas and other militants during the 7 October 2023 terror attacks. Agencies also expressed grave concern over the threat of the intensified military offensive on Gaza City and any further escalation in the conflict, as it would have further devastating consequences for civilians where famine conditions already exist. "Many people - especially sick and malnourished children, older people and people with disabilities - may be unable to evacuate," they said in a joint statement. Famine set to expand By the end of September, more than 640,000 people will face 'catastrophic' levels of food insecurity - classified as IPC Phase 5 - across the Gaza Strip. An additional 1.14 million people in the enclave will be in phase 4 with a further 396,000 people facing phase 3 'crisis' conditions. Conditions in North Gaza are estimated to be as severe - or worse - than in Gaza City. However, limited data prevented an IPC classification, highlighting the urgent need for access. Classifying famine means that the most extreme category is triggered when three critical thresholds - extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths - have been breached. The latest analysis now affirms on the basis of reasonable evidence that these criteria have been met, UN agencies said. Briefing journalists on Friday at UN headquarters in Geneva, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said it was a famine that could have been prevented "if we had been allowed." Famine in a fertile land "Yet food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. It is a famine within a few hundred metres of food, in a fertile land. It is a famine that we repeatedly warned of - but that the international media has not been allowed in to cover, to bear witness," he added. "It is a famine in 2025. A 21st century famine watched over by drones and the most advanced military technology in history. It is a famine openly promoted by some Israeli leaders as a weapon of war." On a wider scale, Mr. Fletcher said it was "the world's famine. It is a famine that asks 'but what did you do?' A famine that will and must haunt us all." Malnutrition among children in Gaza is accelerating "at a catastrophic pace", said UN agencies, who note that in July alone, more than 12,000 children were identified as acutely malnourished - the highest monthly figure ever recorded and a six-fold increase since the start of the year. Possible war crime UN human rights chief Volker Turk said the famine was the "direct result" of Israeli Government policies. "It is a war crime to use starvation as a method of warfare, and the resulting deaths may also amount to the war crime of willful killing," he said. "Israeli authorities must take immediate steps to end the famine in the Gaza Governorate and prevent further loss of life across the Gaza strip. They must ensure immediate entry of humanitarian assistance in sufficient amounts, and full access to UN and other humanitarian organizations." First Middle East famine Since the last IPC Analysis in May, the number of children expected to be at severe risk of death from malnutrition by the end of June 2026 has tripled from 14,100 to 43,400. The new assessment reports the most severe deterioration since the IPC began analysing acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition in Gaza Strip, and it marks the first time a famine has been officially confirmed in the Middle East region. Since July, food and aid supplies entering Gaza increased slightly but remained vastly insufficient, inconsistent and inaccessible compared to the need. Meanwhile, approximately 98 percent of cropland in the territory is damaged or inaccessible - decimating the agriculture sector and local food production - and nine of ten people have been serially displaced from homes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territory Famine confirmed in Gaza The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) today confirmed that famine is currently occurring in Gaza governorate and projected to expand to the governorates of Deir al Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. This has generated multiple calls to action by the UN and its humanitarian partners. Speaking in Geneva, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, said that "the Gaza Famine is the world's famine." He stressed that this could have been prevented if humanitarians had been allowed to do their work - but instead, food stacks up at the borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. Fletcher called on the international community to act and implored the Israeli authorities and those with influence to get a ceasefire and open the crossings - north and south, all of them - so that humanitarians can get food and other supplies in, unimpeded and at the massive scale required. The Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization in a joint press release stressed that famine must be stopped at all costs. To enable life-saving humanitarian operations, the UN agencies underscored the importance of an immediate and sustained ceasefire to stop the killing, allow for the safe release of hostages, and permit unimpeded access for a mass influx of assistance to reach people across Gaza. They emphasized the urgent need for greater amounts of food and nutrition aid - along with shelter, fuel, cooking gas, and food production inputs. They also called for dramatically improved delivery, distribution and accessibility. The UN agencies said that the restoration of commercial flows at scale, market systems, essential services, and local food production is also vital if the worst outcomes of the famine are to be avoided. The Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, stressed that despite repeated warnings and tireless efforts to avert the famine, the political will to ensure unimpeded humanitarian operations by the UN and NGOs has tragically fallen short. He reiterated the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained - stressing that they must be treated humanely. OCHA underscores that civilians are bearing the brunt of this brutal war. As strikes continue to intensify across the Strip, casualties are flooding hospitals' emergency departments. The UN and its partners continue to warn of the catastrophic consequences that the intensification of the ongoing offensive in Gaza city would have for civilians. Overnight and into today, multiple strikes were reported in the Jabalya Al Balad and An Nazla neighbourhoods. Partners monitoring population movements in the Strip say that as a result, about 900 people reportedly left, heading towards the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood and western Gaza city. Once again, the UN and its partners remind parties to the conflict of their obligations under international law to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers and those who cannot or choose not to move. Those fleeing must be allowed to do so safely. They must also be allowed to return if they wish to do so, as the situation allows. OCHA reiterates the urgency of ensuring people have access to aid and basic services, whether they leave or stay. Supplies must be allowed to enter Gaza through all available crossings and corridors. The UN and its humanitarian partners must have safe, predictable and sustained access to deliver aid at scale to people in immense need of assistance*. Partners working in health note that nearly half of all hospitals and field hospitals are located in Gaza city and account for 40 per cent of the total inpatient bed capacity in all of the Gaza Strip. Expansion of military operations would further cripple the collapsing healthcare system. Many medical facilities in the south are operating several times over their bedspace capacity. Partners stress that access to healthcare must be immediately restored to avert more preventable deaths. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory with urgent support. Posted on 22 August 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Violence Outpacing Diplomacy in Democratic Republic of Congo, United Nations Senior Official Warns amid Surge in Civilian Deaths Meetings Coverage Security Council 9985th Meeting (AM) SC/16152 22 August 2025 Light of Diplomacy Dimmed by Rising Violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Delegate Tells Diplomatic gains fall short without a genuine ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, warning that the country is facing one of the most acute humanitarian emergencies worldwide. Highlighting encouraging progress in recent months, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, highlighted the signing on 27 June in Washington, D.C., of a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, facilitated by the United States, followed on 19 July by the signing of a Declaration of Principles between Kinshasa and the Congo River Alliance (AFC) and 23 March Movement (M23). She added that the Democratic Republic of the Congo's representative and AFC/M23 have been meeting again in Doha, to "make way towards a full-fledged peace agreement". However, she cautioned, "the evolution of the security situation on the ground has not matched the progress achieved on the diplomatic front". The number of civilian casualties has risen dramatically. Humanitarian workers are risking their lives to provide limited assistance to a population whose needs continue to grow. Conflict-related sexual violence persists amid general indifference, while the forced recruitment of children continues, with thousands of children unable to go to school due to insecurity. "Despite a relative lull in direct clashes, the parties continue to deploy troops and transfer weapons along the front lines," she stressed. In North Kivu, the conflict has escalated significantly since April. AFC/M23 has continued to make incremental territorial gains in Masisi, Walikale and Lubero Territories, capturing ground from local armed groups operating under the Wazalendo umbrella. At least 319 civilians, including at least 48 women and 19 children, were killed by AFC/M23, backed by members of the Rwanda Defence Force, between 9 and 21 July in four villages in Rutshuru Territory, in North Kivu Province, she said, adding that these killings were "the harrowing result" of a military campaign targeting traditional strongholds of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). "During these operations, health centres and infrastructure have been destroyed, villages burned, crops confiscated and many civilians have been forced to flee or toil as labourers against their will," she added. In both North Kivu and Ituri Provinces, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) continue to pose a major threat to civilians. One hundred and eighty-five civilians, including children, have been killed since the beginning of July. Hundreds have also been kidnapped over the same period. Following the Komanda massacre of 27 June, which claimed 43 lives, including 19 women and 9 children, ADF has continued to perpetrate killings daily. Between 11 and 18 August, in the Grand Nord of North Kivu alone, ADF killed approximately 50 civilians, including 7 women and 2 children. Accordingly, it is paramount to strengthen coordination between the various peace initiatives under way, she observed, adding that the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) remains committed to leveraging its expertise in support of all ongoing peace efforts. She concluded: "At this critical juncture for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region, it is vital that this Council place its full weight behind current peace efforts." In the ensuing discussion, delegates commended the ongoing mediation efforts of the United States, Qatar and the African Union, underscoring that "there is no military solution to the Great Lakes conflict". Escalating Violence Noting "an alarming increase in violence in eastern DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] that has resulted in scores of civilian deaths", the delegate of the United States stressed that "the killings perpetrated by the Rwanda-backed M23 against civilians in Rutshuru Territory and elsewhere are horrifying". On 12 August, the United States sanctioned four entities producing and trading conflict minerals in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. "Administrative control of the region must return to the DRC Government under a governance structure that is representative of the local communities," she stressed, underscoring the need to hold to account armed groups and other destabilizers for their egregious actions. Also sounding the alarm over the deterioration in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, France's delegate condemned the "unacceptable" attacks by M23, CODECO and the Alliance Defending Freedom or ADF, including recent assaults on civilians and churches. He stressed that "this violence must end" and perpetrators must be prosecuted, while reiterating support for MONUSCO's mandate to protect civilians. Adding to that, the United Kingdom's delegate voiced concern over reported violations by both M23 and Wazalendo groups and the rise in inflammatory rhetoric by both sides, urging the parties to show restraint, avoid further escalation and engage constructively in the peace process. The representative of Sierra Leone, speaking also for Algeria, Guyana, Somalia, emphasized that, despite the signing of a peace agreement, "the security situation in eastern DRC remains deeply troubling". Citing atrocities from the Allied Democratic Forces in Beni, the Convention pour la Revolution (CRP) and Zaire militants in Ituri, and ongoing M23 attacks in Masisi, he noted that the conflict's toll includes "increasing deaths and injuries, mass displacement, hunger, disease, sexual violence and the destruction of civilian infrastructure". Amid repeated ceasefire violations, he called for "thorough and impartial investigations" to ensure accountability for perpetrators and for "a credible and robust verification mechanism" to monitor compliance with agreements. Protection of Civilians, Lifting Restrictions on UN Mission The horrifying, targeted attacks on the civilian population in the Ituri and North Kivu Provinces, as well as escalating violence in South Kivu, are a stark reminder that "peace in eastern DRC remains elusive", said Denmark's delegate. Civilians continue to pay the heaviest price in this conflict. Their suffering is amplified by recent deliberate, humanitarian funding cuts, restrictions on humanitarian access including through the prolonged closure of the Goma airport and the looting of humanitarian and medical facilities. Accordingly, she called on all parties to protect civilians and for all perpetrators to be held accountable, stating: "Justice is not optional." In the same vein, Slovenia's delegate condemned the escalation of deadly attacks in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. "We are appalled by the brutality of these assaults," she said, noting the shocking massacres documented in July in Rutshuru Territory, where at least 319 civilians were killed. Equally alarming were the attacks in Beni and Lubero in August, claiming over 50 lives. "These atrocities add to the already unspeakable suffering of millions," she said, commending MONUSCO's efforts in providing protection where possible and urging safe and unhindered humanitarian access. "The light of hope once beamed through dialogue and diplomacy is now darkened by the shadows of stalemate," observed the representative of the Republic of Korea. He voiced concern over the increase in conflict-related sexual violence in the eastern part of the country, warning that "armed groups continue to use [it] as a tactic to assert control over this region". For its part, Seoul is committed to preventing such violence and building peace, including through its contribution of $8.6 million to relevant UN programmes. The speaker for Greece expressed concern over M23's continued obstructions to MONUSCO's work, especially in the eastern part of the country. "Any continuing restrictions on uniformed personnel or the movement of supplies and vital goods are unacceptable," he asserted, adding that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and perpetrators must be held accountable. The Russian Federation's representative, meanwhile, underscored the need to "impartially draw conclusions" regarding MONUSCO's ability to comply with its mandate in the context of recent events in North and South Kivu. She further condemned the horrific attacks by M23 and ADF, which have caused hundreds of civilian casualties over recent months. "Millions of Congolese are tired of suffering and fighting for their lives daily," she stressed. Support for Country's Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity "The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC are not negotiable," said the representative of Panama, Council President for August, who spoke in his national capacity to demand the withdrawal of unauthorized foreign forces and urge all armed groups to cease attacks. Further, he called for accountability for war crimes, warned that "impunity cannot prevail" and urged the Council to consider additional sanctions, stressing that the Congolese people "deserve peace, security and dignity". Also reaffirming support for the Democratic Republic of the Congo's sovereignty and territorial integrity, China's delegate emphasized that "only by rejecting force, enhancing cooperation and pursuing joint development can peace be preserved". Noting that "the humanitarian crisis demands urgent attention", he called for greater support to aid operations and the reopening of airports to deliver essentials. "There is no military solution [to the conflict]," concurred Pakistan's delegate, underlining the need to tackle its root causes, particularly "the illegal exploitation of natural resources that fuels conflict". For his part, the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said that, for far too long, the eastern part of his country has suffered under the aggression of the Rwanda Defence Forces-M23 coalition, which has displaced some 7 million people and created a humanitarian catastrophe. While welcoming the Washington, D.C., peace agreement and the Doha Declaration of Principles, he voiced concern over "Rwanda's sincerity" and its proxies' determination to breach these commitments. Despite diplomatic efforts, the reality on the ground is alarming, he stressed. In July alone, more than 300 civilians, including women and children, were summarily executed in North Kivu by the M23 coalition. The UN's group of experts has clearly established Rwanda's military, logistical and operational support to M23. These crimes also bear an undeniable "ethnic dimension", he said, adding that civilians are being "targeted based solely on their ethnic background" in an attempt to fracture the Congolese social fabric. To that end, he urged the Council to act decisively: strengthen the sanctions regime against M23 commanders and their Rwandan supporters, ensure full implementation of resolution 2773 (2025) and support the International Commission of Inquiry to identify and prosecute all perpetrators. "No peace process can survive impunity," he stressed, urging the Council to end this senseless war and bring lasting peace, not another "ephemeral truce". "Today's session is taking place amid grave and utterly unfounded allegations against my country," countered Rwanda's delegate. On the alleged massacre of civilians in Rutshuru, he described the initial reporting of facts as "contradictory, vague and implausible". Only an impartial and independent investigation can provide the Council with a reliable set of facts, he asserted, voicing concern over the pattern of selective reporting of human rights matters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, "where victims are painted as perpetrators, and vice versa". He reiterated his country's support for the ongoing peace efforts, citing the Washington, D.C., and Doha processes alongside the African Union coordinated framework as "a unique opportunity to address the root causes of the crisis". The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo directly affects Rwanda, both on the security and humanitarian fronts. Waves of violence and discrimination have pushed over 100,000 refugees into Rwanda, he said, adding: "Unfortunately, this is not spoken about." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TOKYO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung visited Japan and held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported. The two leaders agreed to steadily advance bilateral relations, including strengthening strategic communication in the field of security, expanding cooperation in emerging sectors such as hydrogen energy and artificial intelligence, and creating an intergovernmental framework to discuss common challenges such as regional revitalization, aging populations, and disaster prevention. They also pledged to broaden the working holiday visa program to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. This marks Lee's first visit to Japan since taking office as South Korean president in June. He is scheduled to leave Japan for the United States on Sunday, where he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Coast Guard, partners conclude Operation Ika Moana in Samoa United States Coast Guard Press Release | Aug. 22, 2025 Coast Guard Oceania District External Affairs - (808) 265-7748 HONOLULU -- The U.S. Coast Guard concluded participation in Operation Ika Moana, a maritime surveillance initiative hosted by the Samoan Police Maritime Wing in conjunction with the Pacific Maritime Security Program in Apia, Samoa, Aug. 8-14. The exercise included representatives from Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Cook Islands. Partners from Timor-Leste, Palau, Nauru, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands also observed the operation. Operation Ika Moana is a collaborative maritime surveillance initiative intended to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and transnational crimes across Oceania, such as drug and human trafficking. The operation brought together national and regional partners to conduct coordinated patrols, surveillance, joint exercises and crew exchanges. "Ika Moana provided the U.S. Coast Guard a unique opportunity to work with maritime security professionals from many Pacific Island coast guards, navies and marine police units," said James Duval, maritime security cooperation director, Coast Guard Office of International Affairs. "We have several common missions, challenges and objectives and have benefitted from the opportunity to discuss, share and contrast our individual techniques. This interaction will help us all continue to refine our skills to best serve the people of our nations." The Coast Guard Mobile Training Team delivered classroom and underway training for participating patrol boats focusing on boarding team and search and rescue techniques. "By partnering with regional maritime law enforcement agencies, the Coast Guard seeks to strengthen global maritime governance to preserve sovereignty," Lt. Cmdr. James Bruce with the International Mobile Training Branch at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown. "We value partnership oppotunities focused on our shared objective of rooting out illicit activities and eradicating threats to our collective prosperity." The Pacific Maritime Security Program and the Coast Guard share a formal collaborative partnership to coordinate bilateral and joint training with Pacific Island Country partners. The Coast Guard Mobile Training Team is a deployable unit that fosters international cooperation and strengthens maritime partnerships by exporting formal U.S. Coast Guard training and providing technical assistance to partner nations around the globe. Every year, they train over 2,400 international partners in more than 40 countries. For more information follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram. -USCG- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Santa Barbara Conducts First-Ever Visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka US Navy 22 August 2025 From Lt.j.g. Camillia Nguyen COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) conducted its first-ever port visit to Colombo, Aug. 16-21. During their time in port, the crew hosted senior Sri Lankan officials aboard to display the combat capabilities of the LCS mission set and strengthen the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership, Aug. 16. Santa Barbara hosted U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, U.S. Senior Defense Official and Defense Attache Army Lt. Col. Matthew House and senior Sri Lankan government and military leaders including: Deputy Minister of Defense Maj. Gen. (ret.) Aruna Jayasekara, Sri Lankan Secretary of Defense Air Vice Marshal (ret.) Sampath Thuyacontha, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Adm. Kanchana Banagoda and Sri Lanka Navy Chief of Staff Rear Adm. Damian Fernando, along with their accompanying spouses. "The arrival of the USS Santa Barbara - a littoral combat ship built for speed, agility, and advanced operations - is more than just a port call. It reflects the strong and growing relationship between our nations," said Chung. "For over 75 years, the United States and Sri Lanka have worked together to advance shared goals of economic prosperity, security, and stability." Aboard the ship, distinguished guests visited the mission bay, galley, hangar bay, flight deck and pilot house. Guests had the opportunity to view an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21. This port visit marks the first-ever conducted by Santa Barbara to Sri Lanka, and follows past port visits such as the 2024 port visit by Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112). The port visit reflects the U.S. Navy's commitment to strengthening regional partnerships in South Asia to address maritime concerns and ensure regional stability. "We are grateful for every opportunity to engage with our partners in South and Southeast Asia," said Capt. Matt Cox, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. "We are especially excited for Santa Barbara's first-ever port call to Colombo. This shared opportunity was crucial in strengthening our partnership with Sri Lanka." Santa Barbara is rotationally assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations under operational and tactical control of Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. As the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, functions as Commander, Task Force 76 Sea Combat Commander, and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements as the executing agent of Commander, Task Group CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training). U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strengthening U.S. Navy, JMSDF Interoperability Through Consolidated Cargo Replenishment at-Sea US Navy 22 August 2025 From Grady T. Fontana SASEBO, Japan -- Military Sealift Command's commercial charter motor tanker Stena Imperative conducted ships qualification training with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force oiler JS Omi (AOE-426), culminating in a consolidated cargo replenishment at-sea, west of Kyushu, Japan, Aug. 12-15, 2025. Military Sealift Command's (MSC) commercial charter motor tanker (MT) Stena Imperative conducted ships qualification training (SQT) with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) oiler JS Omi (AOE-426), culminating in a consolidated cargo replenishment at-sea (CONSOL), west of Kyushu, Japan, Aug. 12-15, 2025. A CONSOL refers to the process when an MSC tanker conducts underway refueling and cargo transfer to combat logistics force (CLF) ships at sea. SQT is the certification confirming a ship is fully trained and equipped to safely receive fuel from U.S. Naval replenishment vessels. SQT is conducted through pier-side dry-run connection training between the ships. "By conducting CONSOL operations with our allies and partners, MSC vessels not only extend the endurance of naval forces at sea, but also build the interoperability that turns combined fleets into a truly lethal and unified combat force," said U.S. Navy Capt. David L. Reyes, commodore, MSC Far East. "Interoperability forged through CONSOL is a force multiplier, transforming logistics into a decisive advantage that underwrites combat power in contested seas." The training builds upon a previous SQT iterations between a U.S. Navy commercial oiler and a JMSDF oiler. The ability of a JMSDF tanker to CONSOL allows them to carry fuel out to the fleet, and provide underway replenishment of fuel, fleet cargo, and stores to customer ships at sea, increasing capacity in the Indo-Pacific region. "At MSC Far East, we are committed to certifying as many vessels as possible under the CONSOL program because we believe in this initiative and recognize that demand will only continue to grow," said Peter P. Bok, marine transportation specialist, MSC Far East. "These CONSOL-capable vessels are a vital resource for supporting the U.S. Navy and our allies during critical operations, and I see this effort as a meaningful way to help ensure our service members return safely to their families." The training began in port on board Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan where both crews participated in pier side training: deploying, retrieving and re-deploying the fuel lines between the two ships while in port. On the final day, both ships, while underway, connected at sea and transferred fuel in a successful certification. "By achieving CONSOL certification, CLF ships provide a critical logistics link that allows U.S. and allied naval forces to remain on station longer and operate as a truly interoperable team," said Bok. "It's a capability that directly enhances coalition endurance, readiness, and overall combat effectiveness." MSC Far East supports the U.S. 7th Fleet and ensures approximately 50 ships in the Indo-Pacific Region are manned, trained, and equipped to deliver essential supplies, fuel, cargo, and equipment to warfighters, both at sea and on shore. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Central delegation visits officials, residents in multiple areas of Xizang People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:38, August 23, 2025 LHASA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Members of a central delegation on Friday visited local officials and residents in multiple areas of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the central delegation, visited multiple places in the city of Xigaze with a main group of the delegation. While learning about post-disaster reconstruction and relocation work in a quake-hit county, Wang urged efforts to carry out the reconstruction work in a meticulous and solid manner, prevent disaster-induced poverty and strive to build happy and beautiful new homes. While learning about primary-level Party building and rural revitalization work, Wang called for efforts to give full play to the key role of grassroots Party organizations and promote all-around rural revitalization. During his tour to a land port and a national-level wetland park, Wang stressed the need to promote the high-quality development of Xizang and enhance ecological conservation and environmental protection in the plateau region. Other groups of the delegation visited Ngari, Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about various kinds of work in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former Sri Lankan president Wickremesinghe arrested over alleged misuse of state funds People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:56, August 23, 2025 COLOMBO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. Wickremesinghe was arrested for charges of misusing state funds to visit London to attend a graduation ceremony of his wife, during his tenure as president in September 2023, according to local media. It is the first time a former executive president has been arrested in Sri Lanka's history, and he has been brought to the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court following his arrest, according to local media. As part of the investigations, the CID had previously recorded statements from the former president's private secretary and his presidential secretary. Wickremesinghe arrived at the CID to provide a statement on Friday morning, and he was taken into custody following the recording of the statement, said media reports. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 22 August 2025 - Day 1276 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 UK Ministry of Defence reported that Ukraine's General Staff reported that on 14 August 2025 Ukrainian forces conducted an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) strike against Port Olya-4, a Russian-flagged cargo vessel carrying UAS-related equipment and ammunition from Iran, in the southern Russian port of Olya, leaving it partially submerged (see attached imagery). Port Olya-4 is reported to have regularly transited the Caspian Sea transferring materiel between Iran and Russia. Satellite imagery from 19 August 2025 shows Russian efforts to salvage the remaining cargo. Ukraine's General Staff stated the Caspian Sea port of Olya to be a key logistics hub for Iranian military supplies to Russia. The strike on the vessel, approximately 640 km from Ukraine's borders, highlights the continuation of Ukraine's regular UAS strikes deep into Russian territory and emphasises the difficulties for Russian air defence in protecting both military and industry locations within range of Ukraine's ever improving UAS capabilities. Iran has supplied artillery munitions, ballistic missiles, significant quantities of one way attack (OWA) UAS and provided extensive support to Russian OWA UAS domestic production in support of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia's reliance on Iranian UAS-related support for Russia's war against Ukraine has likely decreased in 2025 as Russian proficiency in domestic UAS development and production has increased. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential. Since the beginning of the day, there have been 107 combat clashes, the Russian enemy launched one missile and 52 air strikes, used one missile and dropped 79 CAB. In addition, he used 1419 kamikaze drones, carried out 3033 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, Ukrainian soldiers repelled five Russian assault actions since the beginning of the day, another confrontation is still ongoing. The Russian enemy also launched ten air strikes using 20 controlled air bombs, and carried out 221 shelling, two of which were from jet systems of salvage fire. In the South Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces tried to attack the positions of Ukrainian units in the area of the settlement of Ambarne and towards Kolodyazny, Ukrainian units repelled three attacks, one fight is currently ongoing. Six attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansky direction in the areas of Kindrashivka, Mirny, Stepova Novoselivka and Zagrizovoye. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped 19 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements of Grekivka, Green Valley, Kolodyazi, Torske and towards Serebryanka, fighting clashes in some locations still do not stop. In the sivers komu direction, the opponent carried out three offensive actions in the areas of grigorivka, viymki and pereiznogo. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped five attempts to advance near the White Mountain and towards Stupochok. In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers today seven times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Scherbinivka, Toretsky, Poltavka and towards Stepanivka. The defense forces are steadily suppressed the pressure and repelled all Russian offensive actions. The Russian enemy committed 30 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance near the settlements of Nikanorivka, Novoekonomicne, Mirolyubivka, Rodins ,ke, Bilitske, Dry Yar, Chunyshine, Zvirove, Udacne, Molodetske, Muravka and Dachne. The three fighting clashes are still ongoing. According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction, Ukrainian warriors eliminated 53 Russian invaders and wounded 41. Two artillery systems, 14 BPLAs, five vehicles, a warehouse of military equipment and five shelters for the Russian enemy's personnel were affected. In the Novopavlovsky direction, Ukrainian units stopped ten Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Green Gai, Tovste, Shevchenko, Voskresenko, Olgivskke, Zaporizhke and Temirivka, while the battle is ongoing. In the Gulyajpils komu direction at the moment, the Russian enemy has not carried out offensive actions. On the Orihivsky direction in the area of Kamians ,kogo Russian zagarbniki once tried to go forward in the position of Ukrainian troops, received a cut off. In the Pridniprovsky direction, four attempts of the Russian opponent to advance at the position of Ukrainian units have failed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address August 22, 2025 By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News DOD Civilians Can Volunteer for Details to Southern Border Defense Department civilians can now apply for details of up to six months with the Department of Homeland Security to help support President Donald J. Trump's priority of securing the southern border. DOD civilians were notified of the opportunity via email Aug. 20. Civilians who would like to contribute to the southern border mission can do so by applying at the USAJOBS website. Following that action, DHS will review applications and initiate coordination with an employee's organization to get approval for a detail to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Already, nearly 500 DOD civilians have signed up to participate and bring their skill sets to the border security and immigration enforcement mission at the participating DHS agencies. Michael A. Cogar, the deputy assistant defense secretary for civilian personnel policy, said he hopes even more will volunteer to participate in the program. "I hope that we can get as many [general schedule] civilians as possible to volunteer for this critical mission," Cogar said. Participating in a detail to the participating DHS agencies requires supervisor approval, but Cogar encourages supervisors across the department to work hard to find ways to make it possible for their employees to volunteer. "I would ask the supervisors to take a hard look at what they can and can't accomplish with their employees," he said. "This mission is truly critical, not just for DHS, not just for DOD, but for the entire country. Any individual, any one person, can have a force multiplying effect for those DHS agents, allowing them to focus on what they do best, while we can provide that technical support that they need to be on target, on mission and out there every day focused on the safety of our nation." According to Cogar, all appropriated fund DOD civilian employees in good standing, who have served with their current agency for more than 90 days and who are not on a probationary period, are eligible to volunteer for the detail. Those assignments will be mostly in border states and require travel, though other duty locations are currently being identified by participating agencies, he said. The DHS agencies, Cogar said, are looking to tap into some of the skill sets that DOD civilians possess to help them with operations at the southern border and with internal immigration enforcement. "Department civilians are technical experts across multiple fields, and they are waiting to be called to support this absolutely critical and necessary mission," he said. Included among those skills, Cogar said, are those related to, among other things, transportation security, data input and analysis, targeting and intelligence analysis, firearms, corrections, detention and prisoner processing, linguistics, case processing and human resources. While on detail, he said, DOD civilians will be involved with data entry, operational planning support, processing and throughput logistics, and logistical support. Law enforcement functions will not be among the roles performed. Right now, the agreement between DOD and DHS lasts until Sept. 30, 2026, and DOD civilians can be detailed up to 180 days. During their time on detail to the participating agencies, they will continue to receive the same pay and benefits they earn during their regular DOD jobs. While with the participating agencies, they will also be eligible for overtime and premium pay. But DOD civilians who choose to participate in the detail will get more than just regular pay and benefits they will be able to enhance their careers, Cogar said. "This is an opportunity for them to receive additional training," he said. "They're going to get professional development and cross-functional expertise. Also, they're learning how to work with partner agencies. The experience gained from working in a multi-agency cross-country operation could be considered on their next performance evaluation." DOD civilians aren't the only ones who can now apply to assist DHS in protecting the nation's southern border. Since June, the department has also offered retiring and separating service members the opportunity to work for DHS through the SkillBridge program. As part of that effort, directed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, military departments are encouraging service members considering participation in the SkillBridge program to seek internships, apprenticeships or on-the-job training with DHS. Like civilian details, those SkillBridge opportunities last up to 180 days. Meeting the president's goals for the southern border will require a whole-of-government approach, and DOD civilians can be a part of that mission, Cogar said. "This is a national security problem, and our civilians have the critical skill sets to support DHS in their mission," Cogar said. "We're proud that our civilians are already willing to sign up." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Amends Five Entries on Its Sanctions List Press Release Security Council SC/16155 22 August 2025 On 22 August 2025, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da'esh), AlQaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities enacted the amendments specified with strikethrough and/or underline in the entries below on its ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2734 (2024), and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. A. Individuals QDi.057 Name: 1: IBRAHIM 2: ALI 3: ABU BAKR 4: TANTOUSH Name (original script): Title: na Designation: na DOB: 2 Feb. 1966 POB: al Aziziyya, Libya Good quality a.k.a.: a) Abd al-Muhsin b) Ibrahim Ali Muhammad Abu Bakr c) Abdul Rahman d) Abu Anas e) Ibrahim Abubaker Tantouche f) Ibrahim Abubaker Tantoush g) 'Abd al-Muhsi h) 'Abd al-Rahman i) Abdel Ilah Sabri (false identity related to fraudulent South African identification number 6910275240086 linked to South African passport number 434021161, both documents have been confiscated) Low quality a.k.a.: Al-Libi Nationality: Libya Passport no: a) Libya number 203037, issued in Tripoli, Libya b) (Libyan passport number 347834, issued under name Ibrahim Ali Tantoush, expired on 21 Feb. 2014) National identification no: na Address: Tripoli, Libya (as at Feb. 2014) Afghanistan (as at June 2014) Listed on: 11 Jan. 2002 ( amended on 31 Jul. 2006, 4 Oct. 2006, 16 May 2011, 10 Jul. 2015, 24 Nov. 2020, 22 Aug. 2025 ) Other information: Associated with Afghan Support Committee (ASC) (QDe.069), Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS)(QDe.070) and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) (QDe.011). Photograph and fingerprints available for inclusion in the INTERPOL-UNSC Special Notice. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 1822 (2008) was concluded on 8 Jun. 2010. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) was concluded on 24 November 2020. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals QDi.150 Name: 1: AL-AZHAR 2: BEN KHALIFA 3: BEN AHMED 4: ROUINE Name (original script): Title: na Designation: na DOB: 20 Nov. 1975 POB: Sfax, Tunisia Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: a) Salmane b) Lazhar Nationality: Tunisia Passport no: Tunisia number P182583, issued on 13 Sep. 2003 (expired on 12 Sep. 2007) National identification no: na Address: No.2 89th Street Zehrouni, Tunis, Tunisia Listed on: 12 Nov. 2003 ( amended on 20 Dec. 2005, 21 Dec. 2007, 30 Jan. 2009, 16 May 2011, 23 Feb. 2016, 24 Nov. 2020, 22 Aug. 2025 ) Other information: Sentenced to six years and ten months of imprisonment for membership of a terrorist association by the Appeal Court of Milan, Italy, on 7 Feb. 2008. Imprisoned in Sfax Prison on 5 June 2007 pursuant to an order issued by the Appeals Tribunal in Tunisia for joining an organization linked to terrorist crimes (case No.9301/207). Sentenced to two years and 15 days' imprisonment and released on 18 June 2008. U Considered a fugitive from justice by the Italian authorities as at Jul. 2008. On 20 January 2009, Italian authorities issued a detention order (No. 70/2009 S.I.E.P), following a 3 years 4 months and 29 days sentence for terrorism-related crimes. Under administrative control measure in Tunisia as at 2010. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 1822 (2008) was concluded on 21 Jun. 2010. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) was concluded on 24 November 2020. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals. QDi.154 Name: 1: SULAIMAN 2: JASSEM 3: SULAIMAN 4: ALI ABO GHAITH Name (original script): Title: na Designation: na DOB: 14 Dec. 1965 POB: Kuwait Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: Abo Ghaith Nationality: Kuwait Passport no: Kuwait number 849594, issued on 27 Nov. 1998, issued in Kuwait (and expired on 24 Jun. 2003) National identification no: na Address: na Listed on: 16 Jan. 2004 ( amended on 23 Jul. 2008, 10 Jun. 2011, 24 Nov. 2020, 22 Aug. 2025 ) Other information: Left Kuwait for Pakistan in June 2001. His Kuwaiti citizenship has been revoked since 2001, and he is currently incarcerated in the United States of America. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 1822 (2008) was concluded on 21 Jun. 2010. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) was concluded on 24 November 2020. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals. QDi.338 Name: 1: SHAFI 2: SULTAN 3: MOHAMMED 4: AL-AJMI Title: Doctor Designation: na DOB: 1 Jan. 1973 POB: Warah, Kuwait Good quality a.k.a.: a) Shafi al-Ajmi b) Sheikh Shafi al-Ajmi Low quality a.k.a.: Shaykh Abu-Sultan Nationality: Kuwait Passport no: 0216155930 National identification no: na Address: Area 3, Street 327, Building 41, Al-Uqaylah, Kuwait Listed on: 23 Sep. 2014 (amended on 24 Nov. 2020, 22 Aug. 2025 ) Other information: Fundraiser for Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant (QDe.137). In November 2023, he was released from prison in Kuwait as part of the Special Amiri Decree Pardon No. 225/2023. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) was concluded on 24 November 2020. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals. QDi.372 Name: 1: GULMUROD 2: KHALIMOV 3: na 4: na Title: na Designation: na DOB: a) 14 May 1975 b) Approximately 1975 POB: a) Varzob area, Tajikistan b) Dushanbe, Tajikistan Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality: Tajikistan Passport no: na National identification no: na Address: Syrian Arab Republic (location as at Sep. 2015) Afghanistan (Kunar and Nuristan provinces and border areas of Zebok district, Badakhshan province). Listed on: 29 Feb. 2016 (amended on 24 Nov. 2020, 22 Aug. 2025 ) Other information: Syria-based military expert, member and recruiter of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, listed as Al-Qaida in Iraq (QDe.115). Wanted by the Government of Tajikistan. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) was concluded on 24 November 2020. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals. The ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List is updated regularly on the basis of relevant information provided by Member States and international and regional organizations. An updated List is accessible on the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee's website at the following URL: www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list. The United Nations Security Council Consolidated List is also updated following all changes made to the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List. An updated version of the Consolidated List is accessible via the following URL: www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/un-sc-consolidated-list. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Whiting at SOUTHDEC 25: Invest in space, secure the future United States Space Force Published Aug. 22, 2025 U.S. Space Command Public Affairs PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- As Russia and China seek to expand their influence in space, Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, urged greater international cooperation to safeguard the domain at the South American Defense Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 20. The three-day conference was co-hosted by Adm. Alvin Holsey, U.S. Southern Command commander, and General Xavier Isaac, Chief of the Argentine Armed Forces' Joint Staff, and included plenary sessions on enhanced maritime domain awareness, and armed forces support to law enforcement in countering transnational criminal organizations. The U.S. has worked with regional partner nations across geographic domains in the western hemisphere for decades, but Whiting highlighted the need for growth in partnerships in the space domain. "U.S. Space Command and U.S. Southern Command have become excellent partners in space-working together for security cooperation and domain awareness," he said. He highlighted the investment of $42 million for infrastructure development and the placement of 11 space domain awareness telescopes with partners in South America. "We're working to build and share specialized expertise through partner space training opportunities and share enhanced domain awareness via SOUTHCOM's [Enhanced Domain Awareness] program," Whiting said. The EDA program is a SOUTHCOM initiative-a comprehensive system that integrates various data sources and technologies to improve situational awareness and understanding of activities in a specific domain. Whiting emphasized its role in enhancing situational awareness and collaboration for space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities, noting its positive impact on maritime domain awareness, countering illicit activities and disaster response. Holsey underscored these capabilities are crucial for addressing threats already facing the region. In his opening remarks, he highlighted how illicit activities, including transnational criminal organizations operating across the Americas, threaten the region, and how the U.S. is countering these operations. "The challenges and threats that span the Andean Ridge to the Strait of Magellan are growing more complex...Expanding the scope, scale and strength of transnational criminal organizations throughout the region is a top concern. Currently, 33 U.S.-sanctioned groups, including recently designated 10 foreign terrorist organizations, are operating in the Western Hemisphere, engaged in illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, commodities, wildlife and persons that earn them $358 billion a year in revenue." Whiting emphasized that space-based capabilities underpin the global economy, infrastructure and security, noting sectors such as farming, banking, communications and weather forecasting rely on space technology. While many nations understand the vital importance of the space domain, there are countries undermining the collective progress of humanity in space. Whiting detailed the Communist Chinese Party's irresponsible creation of space debris and its lack of transparency in sharing launch information, endangering satellites and astronauts, while also highlighting concerns about its operations within host nations to support military space activities. He further raised concerns about Russia's reported plans to violate the Outer Space Treaty with a nuclear-capable satellite, a development he deemed "unjustifiable irresponsibility" posing an indiscriminate threat to all satellites. He said the CCP and Russia are seeking to establish space operation facilities in the Americas, likely including counterspace operations. "Both nations are fielding a wide range of related weapons from reversible, non-kinetic systems like satellite communications jamming, GPS jamming and cyber-attacks to direct ascent antisatellite missiles and co-orbital antisatellite weapons, putting friendly satellites at risk," he said. Given this threat environment, USSPACECOM views partnerships and alliances as essential for enhancing space security and responding to emerging threats. "We need capable partners who are willing to increase their capacity to effectively contribute to the team," Whiting said. "A partnered approach to enhance space security through sharing expertise, burden sharing and coordinated rapid, effective responses to emerging threats-leaving no doubt to our opponents that we are stronger, more capable and always ready to counter any threat." Nimble Titan, a missile defense war game led by USSPACECOM, with 25 participating nations, including Argentina as an observer, is critical for missile defense collaboration. Global Sentinel, USSPACECOM's annual capstone event, is a space exercise involving 28 nations, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru, and provides opportunities for regional nations to enhance space capabilities and interoperability. USSPACECOM recently welcomed its newest liaison officer from Brazil, joining 11 partner nation LNOs already embedded within its headquarters, further emphasizing the importance of international collaboration. "I encourage the continued investment in space from our partner nations, because we know that our cooperation in space is a strategic advantage that can harness capabilities, capacities, access and strengthen messaging," he said. "Your individual strength is a direct challenge to autocratic nations' careless ambitions." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ADF continues commitment to Pacific maritime security Issued by Defence Media 22 August 2025 The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has continued its successful support to surveillance operations in the Pacific region. Under Operation Solania, the ADF assisted the Solomon Islands through the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to safeguard their marine resources by monitoring vessels suspected to be involved in illegal fishing. As part of the FFA's Operation Island Chief, the ADF deployed a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-27J Spartan aircraft and aircrew from No. 35 Squadron to the Solomon Islands to conduct aerial surveillance patrols detecting and deterring illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing threats. Operation Island Chief is one of four annual multilateral FFA operations funded by Defence through the Pacific Maritime Security Program. The Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, said the latest iteration of Operation Solania was the third for the year, highlighting Australia's ongoing commitment to Pacific partners. "This year, ADF actions in support of the FFA and its members have been conducted across four Pacific nations, including the Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga, Fiji and the Solomon Islands," he said. "The FFA brings together a number of likeminded nations in support of their Operations and the ADF is proud to contribute. "Operation Solania contributes to a secure Pacific and supports a sustainable future in the region," Vice Admiral Jones said. Detachment Commander and C-27J Spartan captain, Squadron Leader James Champness of RAAF 35 Squadron said the crew were actively engaged with instances of illegal and suspicious activity. "The aircraft travelled more than 22,413 kilometres during Operation Solania patrols in the Solomon Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone, identifying potential threats to their marine resources," he said. "We identified 65 vessels of interest, and documented suspicious activities at sea, providing crucial information to the FFA. "35 Squadron continues to deliver a capability that contributes strongly to Pacific security," Squadron Leader Champness said. Australia remains committed to working with Pacific partners against the threat to territorial sovereignty and economic development caused by transnational crime and the illegal, unreported, and unregulated exploitation of natural resources. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COLOMBO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court on Friday night remanded former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had been arrested earlier in the day by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations of misusing state funds, until Aug. 26, local media reported. The court took the decision after a representative for the country's Attorney General's Department, appearing for the CID, told the court that evidence against Wickremesinghe will be presented under the Public Property Act and requested that the court remand the suspect as the investigation is not complete. Wickremesinghe was admitted to the prison hospital following the ruling, local media reported. Wickremesinghe was produced before the court after he was arrested for charges of misusing state funds to visit London to attend an event organized by a British university, during his tenure as president in September 2023, according to local media. It is the first time a former executive president has been arrested and remanded in Sri Lanka's history. Wickremesinghe was elected president by parliamentarians in July 2022 following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president. He lost the presidential election held in September 2024. Canadian FM meets Rubio in first official meeting; topics covering Gaza, Ukraine and countering China, but not tariff Global Times By Fan Anqi Published: Aug 22, 2025 05:31 PM Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held their first official meeting on Thursday local time, covering a broad range of topics, including Gaza, Ukraine, and countering China-but notably leaving out the most pressing issue: tariffs. The absence of the "elephant in the room" suggests that Washington aims to fully exploit Canada's role in serving US geopolitical objectives while extracting maximum economic benefit, a Chinese expert said, warning this is likely to create further friction between the two countries. Anand met Rubio in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning. The two officials had previously spoken on the phone before, but their first official meeting came as US President Donald Trump escalates pressure on Canada through escalating tariffs and rhetoric, Canadian news portal Global News reported. "Minister Anand and Secretary Rubio discussed the Canada-United States bilateral relationship and the two countries' continued cooperation on shared priorities," Global Affairs Canada said, according to the report. US State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the two "discussed efforts to support Haiti's security and overcome Hamas's ongoing obstruction of peace in Gaza," as well as "peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war" and mechanisms to strengthen their "hemisphere's response to China's coercive activity," according to a State Department readout released on Thursday local time. The meeting between Anand and Rubio reflected a degree of consensus and alignment of interests between the two countries on geopolitical issues, underscoring what Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, described as the US' pervasive geopolitical competition toward China. Li added that the US has not abandoned its approach of rallying allies and coordinating efforts to exert pressure on China. Lu Xiang, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that by hyping up "China threat," both sides are engaged in a strategic game, each with their own hidden agendas - Rubio aims to repair US-Canada ties under the sweeping tariff hit, but it cannot address the real problems but only serves as a "symbolic comfort," while Anand, on the other hand, attempts to use the "China threat" narrative to persuade the US to ease trade restrictions, Lu told the Global Times on Friday. Canadian media Global News noted that neither readout from Anand and Rubio's offices mentioned the ongoing trade negotiations between the two close neighbors. Trump signed an executive order last month raising tariffs on Canada to 35 percent. The White House said the tariff hike was imposed because Canada "has failed to cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs" into the US, as well as in response to Canada's retaliatory tariffs on American goods. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "disappointed" by Trump's decision to raise tariffs further. Although tariffs were not addressed in the meeting, they remain a fundamental issue in US-Canada relations, Li noted. "From the Trump administration's perspective, Washington seeks to fully exploit Canada's role in serving US geopolitical objectives while at the same time extracting maximum economic advantage. This approach, marked by extreme economic nationalism, will likely create more friction between the two countries," Li said. From Canada's perspective, Ottawa may adopt a tit-for-tat strategy by cooperating with the US on areas of strategic consensus while resisting economic pressures, the coercive measures taken by the US are likely to fuel growing dissatisfaction among the Canadian public. Canada may also try to leverage Washington's strategic dependence on Ottawa to negotiate better terms in trade or other areas, Li said. "The past has shown Canada loud and clear that acting in the US' interests brings it no benefits." Lu urged Canada to focus on safeguarding its sovereignty while protecting its economic interests. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi: 21st Century Should Be An Era of Accelerated Development and Revitalization for Asia, Especially South Asia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 21, 2025 21:31 On August 21, 2025 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar jointly met the press after the Sixth Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad. A journalist asked about China's views on the current situation in South Asia and the role of China-Pakistan cooperation, as Pakistan is the last stop of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to the three South Asian countries. Wang Yi said that South Asian countries have a long history, splendid civilization, large population, and huge development potential. They are China's close neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, and also an important direction for China to build a community with a shared future in its neighborhood. Stressing that he felt the immense development potential and resilience of South Asia following this visit to India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Wang Yi said the 21st century should be an era of accelerated development and revitalization for Asia, especially South Asia. Wang Yi pointed out that although India, Afghanistan and Pakistan have different national conditions, they all recognize that development is the top priority and the broadest consensus among them, as well as among all countries in the region. A peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia serves the common interests of all parties and meets the aspirations of the people of all countries. The three countries expressed their readiness to enhance good-neighborliness and friendship with China, their largest neighbor, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and seek mutual benefit and win-win results. In the face of pressure from unilateral and bullying acts, the three countries all believe that they should adhere to multilateralism, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and strive to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. China will be a trustworthy partner and a strong support for South Asian countries. Wang Yi emphasized that China pursues a policy to foster an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, adheres to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and upholds the vision of a shared future. China has always been committed to fostering mutual respect, mutual understanding, and mutual trust with South Asian countries, and helping each other succeed. China and South Asian countries are natural partners, with broad space for cooperation. Despite ups and downs, China-India relations have a long history and increasingly demonstrate a clear historical logic. The China-Pakistan friendship has withstood the test of time, become as strong as steel, and gained stronger internal impetus. The relationships between China and Pakistan, China and India, as well as China and other neighboring countries, are not directed against any third party and are not subject to any third-party influence. Wang Yi stressed that China and Pakistan are ironclad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners. The building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future is at the forefront of China's building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, setting an important example. China and Pakistan are leading the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, and the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will not only benefit the people of the two countries but also extend to Afghanistan and other countries. China and Pakistan also practice the Global Security Initiative, uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and remain committed to developing high-level security cooperation. China and Pakistan attach importance to the Global Civilization Initiative, transcending differences in culture and social systems to promote greater mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples. China and Pakistan are both important members of the Global South. Pakistan has assumed the role of a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) starting this year, and China has gained another partner in upholding fairness and justice in the UNSC. The two countries will closely coordinate and cooperate to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and the Global South. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Holds China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 21, 2025 20:27 On August 21, 2025 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the Sixth Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad. Wang Yi said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership is steadily advancing, with its strategic significance becoming even more important. China and Pakistan are devoted friends tested by adversity, and are also trustworthy and reliable ironclad friends. China will continue to prioritize Pakistan in its neighborhood diplomacy, and will, as always, firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, countering terrorism, achieving unity and stability, accelerating development and revitalization, and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs. Wang Yi congratulated Pakistan on assuming the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for July, upholding justice for developing countries and enhancing Pakistan's international standing and influence. Wang Yi stated that China is working with neighboring countries to promote the building of a neighborhood community with a shared future. China is ready to make joint efforts with Pakistan to fully implement the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and Pakistani leaders, make good preparations for high-level exchanges in the second half of the year, ensure that the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future continues to take the lead in the building of a neighborhood community with a shared future, better benefit the people of both countries, and play a demonstrative role in safeguarding regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. Wang Yi noted that China supports Pakistan in developing its economy and consolidating its national strength to fundamentally enhance its capability to respond to internal and external challenges. Both sides should work together to uphold the multilateral trading system and oppose unilateralism and bullying acts. China is ready to work with Pakistan to create an upgraded Version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), strive to build a growth corridor, a livelihood-enhancing corridor, an innovation corridor, a green corridor and an open corridor, focus on the three key sectors of industry, agriculture, and mining, build and operate the Gwadar Port well, ensure the smooth passage of the Karakoram Highway, and promote the CPEC into a new stage of high-quality development. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in areas such as information technology, cybersecurity, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China hopes that the Pakistani side will continue to create a safe, efficient and convenient business environment, and effectively protect the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan. Mohammad Ishaq Dar thanked China for its steadfast support to Pakistan over the years, saying that as the international situation is undergoing profound changes, the strategic dialogue between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and China is timely and a concrete embodiment of the ironclad friendship between the two countries. Pakistan and China have strong political mutual trust, and bilateral relations have reached new heights, becoming a model for state-to-state relations. Friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy and a consensus shared throughout the nation. Pakistan upholds the one-China principle and firmly supports China without hesitation on all issues concerning China's core interests. Pakistan is committed to upholding international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and opposing unilateralism and bullying acts. Pakistan will continue to fully support China's work as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and will work together to ensure the success of the Tianjin Summit. Mohammad Ishaq Dar said that the Pakistani side looks forward to further deepening practical cooperation in various fields between Pakistan and China, jointly advancing the building of the upgraded version of the CPEC, strengthening cooperation in industry, mining, agriculture, energy, information technology, connectivity and other areas, and continuously enriching the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. Pakistan will firmly support the building of a Pakistan-China community with a shared future, and support the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. The Pakistani side will make all-out efforts to combat all forms of terrorism and take all measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Pakistan. The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hold the Sixth Dialogue Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 21, 2025 09:55 On August 20, 2025 local time, the Sixth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Dialogue was held in Kabul, Afghanistan. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar attended the dialogue. Wang Yi said that since the trilateral foreign ministers' dialogue mechanism was resumed in Tunxi, Anhui Province in 2022, the three sides, based on the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and mutual benefit, have continuously advanced cooperation in the fields of politics, development and security, safeguarded regional peace and tranquility, and responded to various risks and challenges. The world today has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. President Xi Jinping has put forward the important vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. These important international public goods have provided significant guidance for the three countries in jointly building a better homeland and laying a solid foundation for security. Wang Yi said that China is ready to work with Afghanistan and Pakistan to deepen good-neighborliness and mutual trust, render mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's core interests, and firmly oppose interference by any external forces in the region, as well as any organization or individual engaging in acts within their countries that undermine the national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the other sides. The three sides should further step up exchanges at all levels and continue to consolidate strategic mutual trust. China supports Afghanistan and Pakistan in improving their bilateral relations, deepening the convergence of interests, and properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation, to promote the steady and long-term development of trilateral cooperation among China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Wang Yi pointed out that China and Pakistan have been at the forefront of the international community and regional neighbors in helping Afghanistan restabilize and rebuild the country and expand its foreign exchanges. China will continue to uphold justice for Afghanistan on multilateral occasions, encourage the international community to engage with Afghanistan in a constructive manner, and support Afghanistan in advancing the normalization of its diplomatic relations. Wang Yi said that the three sides should expand development cooperation, increase trade and investment exchanges, strengthen the building of connectivity networks, and enhance people-to-people bonds. The three sides should improve the security dialogue mechanism, deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, intensify efforts to combat transnational terrorist activities, and eradicate the breeding ground of terrorism by addressing both symptoms and root causes on the basis of consensus. It is important to uphold the principle of indivisible security, respect each other's legitimate security concerns, and blaze a path of cooperative and common security. Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke highly of the positive progress achieved by the trilateral foreign ministers' dialogue mechanism and appreciated China's contributions to promoting trilateral cooperation. Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed the attendance of the Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers at the dialogue and thanked China and Pakistan for their steadfast support for Afghanistan on the international stage. He said that given the profound changes in the current international and regional situation, Afghanistan hopes to take this meeting as an opportunity to deepen friendly relations, strengthen coordination and collaboration, and work for greater development of trilateral cooperation. Mohammad Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan, China and Afghanistan share close historical, cultural and economic ties, and that trilateral cooperation enjoys great potential. The three sides should jointly advance their partnership, and enhance cooperation in trade, the Belt and Road Initiative, connectivity, counter-terrorism and other areas to achieve common development. As a neighboring country of Afghanistan, Pakistan is willing to make greater contributions to the peace process in Afghanistan and to improving the livelihood of the Afghan people. Pakistan called for the unfreezing of Afghanistan's overseas assets. Based on the principles of equality, mutual trust and shared responsibility, the three sides should work together to combat all forms of terrorist activities, including cross-border terrorist attacks. The three sides agreed to fully leverage the role of the trilateral foreign ministers' dialogue mechanism, strengthen exchanges and cooperation across various fields, and promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China issues regulation to cap total rare-earth quota, build traceability system Global Times By Tao Mingyang Published: Aug 22, 2025 08:40 PM China has rolled out an interim regulation on rare-earth mining, smelting and separation, requiring enterprises to establish a traceability system to record the flow of rare-earth products and upload the data every month to a government-run tracking platform. The regulation, jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), is aimed at strengthening total volume control for rare-earth mining and processing, covering both domestic extraction, including rare-earth mineral products, and smelting of minerals obtained through mining, imports, or processing of other ores, such as monazite concentrates. Rare earths are a critical strategic resource, and managing their mining and smelting-separation processes is vital for national resource security and the sustainable development of related industries, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Friday. According to the document, the authorities will set annual control targets for rare-earth mining and smelting based on factors such as national economic development goals, resource reserves and variations, industry development, ecological protection, and market demand. Enterprises engaged in rare-earth mining, smelting and separation are required to strictly comply with laws and regulations, and operate within the assigned quota limits. The MIIT, together with the MNR, will designate the qualified enterprises. Any other organizations or individuals are prohibited from engaging in rare-earth mining or smelting activities, said the document. The document clarifies that "rare-earth mining" refers to the process of extracting rare-earth minerals such as bastnaesite, ion-adsorbed rare-earth ore, and mixed rare-earth ore to produce mineral products. Also, "rare-earth smelting and separation" refers to the process of refining rare-earth mineral products into various single or mixed oxides, salts, or other compounds. Zhou pointed out that China, as one of the world's largest holders of rare-earth reserves, enforces regulation of its rare-earth industry, reflecting not only a high level of responsibility for its domestic resources and industries but also a commitment to global economic development and regional security. Notably, Zhou stressed that the implementation of a rare-earth traceability system ensures that these strategic resources are not used in areas that could threaten national security. "In other words, as long as their use is safe and compliant, the export and trade of rare-earth products will not be hindered," he said. He Yongqian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce, said on July 10, 2025, that China had already launched a special operation to combat smuggling of strategic minerals, while continuing to process legitimate export applications for civilian use. To prevent illegal outflows, China launched a special operation in May this year targeting the smuggling of strategic minerals, said He, noting that as a responsible major country, China considers other nations' civilian needs for strategic minerals and approves export licenses that meet legal requirements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on August 22, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 22, 2025 20:50 CCTV: We noted Foreign Minister Wang Yi just concluded his visit to Pakistan. What's your comment and can you further brief us on the visit? Mao Ning: During his visit to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff Asim Munir, and co-chaired the sixth round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue together with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted the China-Pakistan friendship has stood the test of time, and the all-weather strategic partnership remains unbreakable. The strategic cooperation between the two countries is significant to our common development and regional peace and stability. China and Pakistan have been at the forefront in building a community with a shared future in the neighborhood. China will work with Pakistan to follow the guidance of the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, jointly develop CPEC 2.0, and build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. China and Pakistan will always render each other high-level trust and support, focus on development and mutual benefit, safeguard security and deliver for the people, coordinate and collaborate and jointly respond to challenges. This visit is the last leg of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's three-nation trip to South Asia. South Asian countries are China's close neighbors, and hold an important position in building a community with a shared future with our neighbors. Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that the 21st century should be an era of faster development and revitalization for Asia and particularly South Asia. A peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia serves the interests of all and what people hope to see. China and South Asian countries are natural partners and enjoy ample space for cooperation. China is committed to fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, and upholds the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the vision of a shared future in developing relations with neighboring countries. China remains committed to pursuing mutual respect, accommodation, trust and success with South Asian countries. RT TV: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on August 20 that Russia supports providing strong security guarantee for Ukraine and agrees not to exclude UN Security Council members, including Western countries and China, from providing the so-called guarantee. However yesterday, on August 21, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not need China as one of the security guarantors. What is China's view? Mao Ning: China has always held an objective and just position and has always been fair and square on the Ukraine crisis, which is for all to see. It is essential to pursue common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. China stands ready to play a constructive role to that end. China News Service: August 24 marks the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the ROK. What's China's comment on growing its relations with the ROK? Mao Ning: China and the ROK are and will always be each other's neighbors. Over the past 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the comprehensive and rapid growth of bilateral relations demonstrates that a sound, stable and deepening China-ROK relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conducive to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and beyond. China stands ready to work with the ROK to cherish the commitment made when establishing diplomatic ties, uphold good neighborliness and the friendly ties, work for mutual benefit, and elevate the strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level to deliver more tangibly for the two peoples. News 1 Korea: My first question is, the ROK government announced today that from August 24 to 27, a special envoy team led by former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug will visit China, during which he will have talks with Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and deliver a personal letter. The visit coincides with the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the ROK and China. What is China's expectation and comment? My second question is, ROK's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik will attend commemorations on September 3 marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. What is China's expectation and comment? Mao Ning: On your first question, China welcomes the visit of former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy. Our two sides are in communication on the specifics. On your second question about inviting foreign leaders to the commemorative events and relevant arrangements, we will release timely information. Beijing Daily: We've learned that recently, some Chinese students when entering the U.S. were groundlessly interrogated, harassed, badly treated or even repatriated by U.S. border control staff. What's China's comment? Mao Ning: Recently, the U.S. has frequently carried out discriminatory, politically-driven and selective law enforcement against Chinese students arriving in the U.S. The students went through unfair treatment and were taken into small separate rooms for extended interrogation. Some were detained for more than 70 hours and repeatedly forced to answer questions that had nothing to do with their purpose of travel to the U.S. Some students' visas were even revoked and they were banned from entering the country after being told they "might endanger national security." The U.S.'s moves severely violate the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals, impede the flow of people between the two countries, and dampen China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges. Every time such incidents occurred, China immediately protested to the U.S. and urged the U.S. to correct its wrongdoings. The CPC and Chinese government always put the people first, and China's diplomacy is people-centered. China would never allow any Chinese national traveling to the U.S. to be unfairly treated anytime anywhere. We urge the U.S. to face the issue squarely, take China's concerns seriously, act on the U.S. leader's statement of welcoming Chinese students, and stop the groundless interrogations, harassment and repatriation against them. China will continue working hard to protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals going to the U.S. Reuters: I have two questions. So about SCO. China has invited a number of leaders to SCO. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm as of today who has accepted the invitations? Second question, about Wang Yi's visit to Afghanistan. He mentioned that China supports an early resumption of bilateral patrols in the Wakhan Corridor and urges Afghanistan to take firm actions to crack down on the East Turkistan Islamic Movement. Can we ask if talks for the resumption of bilateral patrols on the Wakhan Corridor have started and how will that take shape? And also have there been more growing concerns about the East Turkistan Islamic Movement recently? Mao Ning: On your first question, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin shared relevant information at the press briefing this morning. More specifics will be released in due time. On Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Afghanistan, relevant readouts have been released, which you may refer to. China supports Afghanistan in firmly combating terrorism, in particular terrorist groups such as ETIM, and keeping the region peaceful and stable. The Paper: Recently, the U.S. State Department announced the visa restrictions on officials and their family members from African Countries, Brazil, Cuba, Grenada, and former officials and their family members of Pan American Health Organization involved in the Cuban Government's overseas medical missions. He stated that the United States is committed to ending Cuba's overseas medical missions as an exploitative behavior of forced labor, warning countries cooperating with Cuba to "think twice." What is China's comment on this? Mao Ning: We noted that according to statistics of the government of Cuba, during the past 60-plus years, Cuba sent over 600,000 medical personnel to over 60 countries, provided medical services for over 230 million people and performed over 17 million operations and surgeries, which saved the lives of more than 12 million people. Cuba's overseas medical cooperation plays an important role in the health systems of Latin American and Caribbean countries as well as African countries, and is welcomed by the governments and peoples of the relevant countries. The so-called "forced labor" has become a false pretext and tool of hegemony for the United States to suppress other countries. Relevant measures of the U.S. is an extension and escalation of its over 60 years of unpopular sanctions and blockade on Cuba. Political figures and people from all walks of life in relevant regions have expressed their clear opposition or concern. China opposes coercive diplomacy and urges the U.S. to immediately stop the blockade and sanctions on Cuba in any name and do more things that help improve relations with Cuba and promote regional peace and stability. AFP: Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin announced this morning the list of some foreign representatives who will attend the SCO summit. He did not mention any official from Afghanistan, which is an observer country of the SCO. Does this mean that Afghanistan is not invited to the summit? Mao Ning: On the participation of foreign leaders in the SCO summit Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin offered detailed information this morning. I have nothing to add. Antara: Another question about the SCO, because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs already announced that there will be at least 22 leaders from 22 countries, including the non-permanent members, observers and also non-dialogue partners, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Viet Nam and Cambodia and also Laos. Does this indicate that the SCO is considering the admission of new member states into the organization? Mao Ning: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will uphold the principle of openness and inclusiveness and keep its doors open to all countries who identify with the Shanghai spirit. The SCO is always prepared to welcome more countries that share its vision to join the big family of the SCO. AFP: The African country of Nigeria said yesterday it has deported 60 Chinese nationals convicted of cyber terrorism and internet fraud. Did you collaborate with the Nigerian authorities on this case? And how will you deal with these Chinese nationals? Mao Ning: The Chinese government always asks Chinese nationals overseas to act in strict accordance with local laws and regulations and supports host countries in lawfully combating criminal activities. Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in Nigeria are closely following the case. They have conducted consular visits, maintained communication with Nigeria on ensuing matters, and requested the country to protect the safety and lawful rights and interests of relevant Chinese citizens. Bloomberg: A question on U.S. sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department against two Chinese ports for facilitating the transportation of Iranian oil. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this latest sanctions on Chinese ports by the U.S. side? Mao Ning: China opposes unilateral illicit sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council. We urge the U.S. to abandon the wrong practice of arbitrarily resorting to sanctions. Countries' normal cooperation with Iran within the framework of international law is legitimate and justified. China will do what is necessary to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens. AFP: A U.S. navy sailor has been convicted of espionage for selling military secrets to China. At least that's what the U.S. Department of Justice said yesterday. Have you communicated with the U.S. on this issue and what is your position on this issue? Mao Ning: I'm not aware of what you mentioned. Bloomberg: A question on Nvidia which, according to reports, has instructed component suppliers to stop production related to the H20 chip. This is after earlier reports in recent days and weeks that the Chinese side was discouraging Chinese companies from using H20 chips. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments on the latest reports about production related to H20 being stopped by Nvidia? Mao Ning: I'd refer you to competent authorities on this issue. Let me say more broadly that we believe all countries need to jointly keep global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded. AFP: Got a question related to sports. Saudi Arabian officials have discussed approaching China about relocating the 2029 Asian Winter Games. Is China willing to consider hosting the 2029 Asian Winter Games edition if that were the case? Mao Ning: I have not heard about what you mentioned. We support Saudi Arabia in hosting the 2029 Asian Winter Games. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address General Mobilization for Land Administration in Spring Proves Successful Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The mobilization for land administration in spring was launched in different parts of the DPRK. The agricultural sector over-fulfilled its plan for building coastal protection facilities for the first half of the year, including completing the 2 000-odd-meter embankment repair project in Sukchon County. The fields of mining industry, construction and building materials industry and vehicle-building industry had directed efforts to adjusting and repairing dust-collecting equipment and improving their performance at smelteries and cement factories. The Kumgang Trading Guidance Bureau gave technical guidance to adjust the tailing settling basins of various mines and put the wastewater disposal on a scientific basis of a higher level. South Hwanghae Province finished the concrete pavement of roads extending tens of kilometers as required by technical regulations and repaired more than 10 bridges. The province is pushing ahead with the projects of tideland embankment of Kakhoe Islet and coastal protection facilities, laying water pipes needed for solving the problem of living water for the inhabitants of Haeju City and turning Mt Kuwol into a cultural recreation ground for the people. Similar achievements have been made in Unsan County of North Phyongan Province, Kangso District of Nampho Municipality, Sunchon City of South Phyongan Province, Manpho City of Jagang Province, Kaechon City of South Phyongan Province and Hoeryong City of North Hamgyong Province. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Banquet Given in Honor of Commanding Officers and Combatants of KPA Overseas Operation Unit and Bereaved Families of Martyrs Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- A grand banquet was given at the Mokran House in honor of the commanding officers and combatants of the overseas operation unit of the Korean People's Army and bereaved families of the martyrs. The banquet hall was filled with boundless emotion, joy and excitement of the commanding officers and combatants honored with high glory and happiness of their lives under the care of the motherland and the great brilliant commander they have yearned for even in a dream. Leading officials of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and leading commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence attended the significant banquet together with the commanding officers, combatants of the overseas operation unit of the KPA and bereaved families of the martyrs. Pak Jong Chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and secretary of the Party Central Committee, made a speech at the banquet. At the decisive battlefields for defending the absolute authority of the Party Central Committee and safeguarding the dignity and honor of the DPRK and the appellation and tradition of the KPA, officers and men of the KPA wrote the immortal combat records at the cost of their blood, created a new great history of the KPA with their militant courage and legendary military merits that put the stories of heroes in the human history of war to shame and recorded a new glorious page in the history of war victory of the DPRK in gold letters, the speaker said. The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK will always emerge victorious in the sacred war to be faced with in succession regarding the brilliant and heroic life of the brave soldiers who participated in the war as an example, he said, stressing that all divisions, brigades, regiments and battalions and service personnel of the whole army will courageously advance along the road of victory the brave soldiers who participated in the war have won. The commanding officers and combatants of the KPA overseas operation unit pledged to keep glorifying the dignity and honor of the KPA with the priceless military merits of the present generation in the militant journey of opening up a new era of building a rich country with a strong army, regarding the trust and love of the Party as the lifeline of their destiny and the spirit of their courage. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spokesman for KPA General Staff Issues Press Statement Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, August 23 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army on August 22 issued the following press statement "The situation of the ROK clouded with powder smoke will further bolster the full readiness of our army": Despite the unanimous concern and rejection of the public at home and abroad, the U.S. and the ROK clans finally started the large-scale joint military drill Ulji Freedom Shield on August 18. The joint military drill Ulji Freedom Shield, being staged on land, at sea and in the air of the ROK under the deceptive signboard of "shield of freedom", is an extremely provocative and aggressive large-scale drill for an actual war clearly aimed at a sudden preemptive attack on the DPRK as it is an actual command and field maneuvering drill for applying and mastering new manuals and methods of modern warfare in actual conditions of the Korean peninsula. The gravity and danger of the drill lie in the fact that it includes the application of "OPLAN 2022", a war scenario simulating "preemptive strike against origin" as regards the nuclear facilities of the DPRK, and various kinds of exercises staged by forces and mechanized strike groups of regimental-level and above to maneuver in attacking formation and fire live shells. The reckless war drill of the U.S. and the ROK warmongers is seriously threatening the security environment of the DPRK and pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region to the extreme tension. Particularly, some warships belonging to the British army which were engaged in the joint maritime drill in the Pacific entered the Pusan operational base and other forces of member states of the "UN Command" participated in the joint military drill, and thus the "Ulji Freedom Shield" completely turned into a multinational joint military drill and the military threats against the DPRK was redoubled. All the facts clearly show once again that the adventurous military drill of the U.S. and the ROK leads to the destruction of balance of power in the region and the chief culprit of harassing peace on the Korean peninsula is none other than the U.S. and the ROK. No place in the world is like the surrounding area of the DPRK where huge forces are concentrated and conduct actual military drills. The full readiness of our army to perfectly contain and smash any hostile military move against the DPRK will be further bolstered. The DPRK army as already declared will respond to the military provocations of the hostile forces posing direct threat to the safety of the country with proper and indiscriminate exercise of the right to self-defence. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Visit of External Affairs Minister to Russia (August 19 - 21, 2025) India - Ministry of External Affairs August 22, 2025 External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Russia from 19-21 August 2025 to co-chair the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). 2. During the visit, EAM called on President of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin and held meetings with Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Denis Manturov and Minister for Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov. EAM also interacted with prominent scholars and think tanks. 3. During his call on H.E. President Putin, EAM conveyed personal greetings of the Prime Minister and discussed key issues of the bilateral agenda and contemporary global issues of mutual interest, including the developments related to Ukraine. 4. On August 20, EAM co-chaired the 26th Session of the IRIGC-TEC with First Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Denis Manturov. It was emphasized that addressing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, removing bottlenecks in logistics, promoting connectivity, effecting payment mechanisms smoothly, timely finalization and execution of the Programme of Economic Cooperation till 2030, the early conclusion of the India-Eurasian Economic Union FTA, whose terms of reference were finalised, and regular interaction between the businesses of the two countries, were among the key elements for timely achievement of the revised bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030. 5. Importance of sustaining energy cooperation through trade and investments was highlighted. The issue of mobility of Indian skilled workers, especially in IT, construction, and engineering, was also discussed. Following the conclusion of the Plenary Session, the Co-Chairs signed a Protocol for the 26th Session of IRIGC-TEC. 6. EAM and H.E. Mr. Manturov spoke at the India-Russia Business Forum which followed the IRIGC-TEC meetings. The Forum saw participation from a wide range of stakeholders including officials as well as representatives from businesses and industries from both sides. It was considered to have a coordination mechanism between the Business Forum and the different Working Groups of the IRIGC. 7. On August 21, EAM met Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov and undertook a comprehensive review of the entire gamut of India-Russia bilateral relations, including in sectors like trade and economic cooperation, various connectivity initiatives, political, defence and military-technical cooperation, fast-tracking of opening of two new Indian Consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg, etc. On global and multilateral cooperation, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to reform of global governance, and collaboration in G20, BRICS and the SCO. EAM underlined the imperative to expand and energize the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary realities. 8. Regional developments such as those in Ukraine, Middle East, West Asia and Afghanistan were discussed. EAM reiterated India's approach to emphasize dialogue and diplomacy as essential to resolving differences. EAM also raised the issue of Indians serving in the Russian Army and hoped for an expeditious resolution of the pending cases. 9. On terrorism, both sides resolved to fight jointly against all forms and manifestations of terrorism. EAM conveyed India's strong resolve to adopt a zerotolerance policy against terrorism and its sovereign right to defend Indian citizens against cross-border terrorism. 10. Both sides discussed preparations for the forthcoming Annual Summit between the leaders, including its key deliverables and outcomes. EAM invited H.E. Mr. Lavrov to pay a visit to India at a mutually convenient date to continue their dialogue. Moscow August 22, 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the central delegation, and members of the delegation visit quake-affected residents while learning about post-disaster reconstruction and relocation work at Zimgag Village of Chamco Township in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 22, 2025. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, members of a central delegation on Friday visited local officials and residents in the city of Xigaze. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) LHASA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Members of a central delegation on Friday visited local officials and residents in multiple areas of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the central delegation, visited multiple places in the city of Xigaze with a main group of the delegation. While learning about post-disaster reconstruction and relocation work in a quake-hit county, Wang urged efforts to carry out the reconstruction work in a meticulous and solid manner, prevent disaster-induced poverty and strive to build happy and beautiful new homes. While learning about primary-level Party building and rural revitalization work, Wang called for efforts to give full play to the key role of grassroots Party organizations and promote all-around rural revitalization. During his tour to a land port and a national-level wetland park, Wang stressed the need to promote the high-quality development of Xizang and enhance ecological conservation and environmental protection in the plateau region. Other groups of the delegation visited Ngari, Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about various kinds of work in the region. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the central delegation, and members of the delegation learn about rural revitalization work and people's daily life at Ayag Village of Gadong Township in Bainang County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 22, 2025. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, members of a central delegation on Friday visited local officials and residents in the city of Xigaze. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Five police officers killed in southeastern Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 22, 2025 Zahedan, IRNA -- Five police officers were killed in a terrorist attack targeting two patrol vehicles in Iranshahr, southeastern Iran. On Friday, armed assailants attacked two police patrol units on the Khash-Iranshahr Road, leading to the tragic loss of five officers. The attack occurred during a patrol at the Daman checkpoint on the outskirts of Iranshahr city, where these brave officers were martyred in a cowardly assault. The attackers fled the scene after committing the crime. The official media reported that efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for this terrorist act have been prioritized by security and law enforcement forces. Iranshahr, a city situated in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, is located 337 kilometers away from Zahedan, the capital of this province. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Araghchi to talk with E3 over phone on removal of sanctions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 22, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will hold a joint telephone call on Friday with his counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany, which also known as the E3. Baqaei told IRNA that the top diplomat would discuss lifting of the unlawful sanctions in a telephonic conversation with the European Troika on Friday. The discussions will also cover the need for the involved parties to respond to criminal attacks against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, he added. Israel launched the large-scale assaults against Iran on June 13. Washington also joined the Israeli war and bombed three of Iran's main nuclear facilities on the pretext of preventing Iran from what it claimed to be developing nuclear weapons. The war was halted on June 24 after Israel was forced to cease its aggression unilaterally. 7129**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Larijani: Meaningful talks possible only if West acknowledges war threats will not work against Iran Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 7:25 PM Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, has reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to diplomacy while warning that meaningful talks can only progress if the United States and Europe recognize that pressure and threats of war will not intimidate the Iranian nation. In a recent interview with the website of Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Larijani, who serves as the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, emphasized that diplomacy remains a central tool for the Islamic Republic, but only when conducted in good faith. "My advice has always been that Iran must never abandon diplomacy, because diplomacy itself is a tool," he stated. "The Islamic Revolution Leader has also asserted that the flag of negotiation must always be held in our hands. That is absolutely correct." Larijani, however, cautioned that negotiations cannot succeed if the West uses them as cover for hostile actions. "If the enemy turns the diplomatic scene into a theater, or uses it merely to justify another course of action, then that is not diplomacy," he said. "But if diplomacy means that we realize war is useless and we want peace, then that is real diplomacy." Iran's mistrust of the United States and its allies has deepened in recent weeks. On June 13, the Israeli regime carried out an unprovoked strike against Iran, assassinating senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Less than ten days later, the US officially entered the war by bombing three peaceful nuclear facilities, which were safeguarded by the International Atomic Energy Agency, in clear violation of the UN Charter and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). These attacks came even as Iran and the United States, with Oman's mediation, had held five rounds of indirect nuclear negotiations since April and were preparing for a new round of talks in Muscat on June 15. Against this backdrop, Larijani pointed out that the West has exploited diplomacy as a tactic rather than a genuine avenue for peace. "I feel that the diplomacy they are pursuing is just for creating excuses," he said. "We must not say we are cutting off diplomacy... [but] real negotiations bear fruit only when the other side understands that war is useless." Larijani was clear about Iran's red lines. "If you are seeking war, then go ahead. Whenever you regret it, come for negotiations," he said. "But if you truly understand that this resilient nation cannot be forced into submission, then there is a basis for real talks." He pointed out that Western rhetoric about pressuring Iran into surrender has already proven hollow. "In this war, they themselves realized that Iranians are not the kind to surrender," he added. Asked about Iran possibly leaving the NPT in case of increased pressure on the country, Larijani did not rule out the option. "This possibility has always existed," he said. "I'm not saying anyone will do it now, because this too must be approached with prudence... We are not pursuing a [nuclear] bomb, but the reality is that the NPT has brought us no benefit." He argued that what matters in the international arena is strength, not empty agreements. "Whenever you act with power, you advance. But if you think problems are solved through mere diplomatic embrace, no, such a thing does not exist. If you have power, you will move forward; so Iran should seek power," he said. Snapback part of 'American operation' He also criticized European efforts to revive the so-called "snapback" mechanism, describing it as a threat that undermines constructive engagement. He said the European nations are effectively serving Washington's agenda. "Their behavior is clear; they are carrying out part of America's operation." Snapback mechanism would reinstate six UN Security Council resolutions against Iran, bringing back the expired arms embargo, asset freezes, and travel bans. Iran insists the European states have no legal or moral authority to invoke such measures, arguing that they failed to honor their commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal in the first place. Larijani dismissed the approach by the European countries as both legally flawed and politically biased. "This mechanism was meant for a party that failed to honor the JCPOA commitments. Who violated the agreement? Our facilities were bombed, yet they want to use snapback against us," he said. "From the perspective of international law, the situation is tragic." He also pointed out procedural violations. "If you want to use the snapback mechanism, you cannot go straight to the [UN] Security Council. First, you submit your request, then a panel of experts, then ministers evaluate it. Yet they rushed directly to the Council," Larijani explained. Larijani argued that the logical way forward is through genuine dialogue, not pressure. "The reasonable path was to solve the issue through negotiation," he said. "But they want to solve it through pressure either the American way with bombings, or the European way with threats." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, IAEA hold 'progressive' talks about new framework for cooperation: Envoy Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 6:38 PM Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have held progressive talks about setting a new framework for bilateral cooperation, the Iranian envoy to the agency has said. Reza Najafi said on Friday that an Iranian delegation met with the IAEA deputy head in Vienna in the continuation of discussions held between the sides during a visit by the agency's official to Tehran earlier in August. "The parties made progress in this round of talks and it was agreed that discussions would continue to develop a protocol for interaction arrangements within the framework of the parliamentary law," he added. He emphasized that the Iranian and IAEA representatives continued discussions initiated in Tehran and exchanged views about bilateral cooperation in light of the new circumstances created by the unlawful attacks by the United States and the Israeli regime on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities and within the framework of the parliamentary law suspending Tehran's full cooperation with the agency. "The new conditions set by the Islamic Republic of Iran for cooperation with the IAEA were outlined," Najafi said. On August 11, Massimo Aparo, Deputy to Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, travelled to Tehran and held talks with Iranian officials about possible ways for interaction amid the new circumstances. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the country's delegation expressed strong criticism about the IAEA's failure to fulfill its responsibilities during the Israeli-US acts of aggression in June. The Iranian team also informed the IAEA's delegation of Tehran's demands for reforming the incorrect processes governing the agency pertaining to the Iranian nuclear issue. Iran says the IAEA chief has failed to fulfill his legal duties in protecting the country's peaceful nuclear facilities against the Israeli-US attacks. Tehran also emphasizes that the IAEA chief's biased technical report regarding Iran's nuclear program prepared the ground for such acts of aggression. On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and killing hundreds of civilians. On June 22, the United States also entered the war and bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in a clear violation of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 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 Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The Vienna talks on Friday were held in parallel with a phone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the EU high representative for foreign and security policy and his counterparts from Britain, France and Germanythe three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Araghchi told the Europeans that Tehran is open to any diplomatic solution that safeguards its national rights, while warning Europe that triggering the JCPOA snapback mechanism would carry serious consequences. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Five policemen killed in terrorist attack in Sistan and Baluchestan Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 2:57 PM A terrorist attack on two police patrol units in southeastern Iran has claimed the lives of five law enforcement officers. The attack occurred Friday along the Khash-Iranshahr road in Sistan and Baluchestan province, a region long plagued by cross-border militancy. According to a police statement, armed assailants opened fire on the patrols, killing five officers before fleeing the scene. The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group later claimed responsibility for the attack. Security forces have launched a manhunt to track down the perpetrators. The victims were identified as Captain Gholamreza Vahdani, along with three other police personnel, Mohammadreza Rahimi, Mohammad Noruzi, Hassan Tavala, and Hadi Royaie, a soldier. The terrorist group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Last week, the group claimed responsibility for a shooting incident in Iranshahr County that left one police officer dead. Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces over the past years. Jaish al-Adl has repeatedly targeted civilians, border guards, and police forces in an attempt to destabilize the region. In one of the deadliest attacks in recent years, ten police officers were killed in Taftan County, last October. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says ready for talks, warns EU over triggering snapback Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 2:17 PM Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is open to any diplomatic solution that safeguards its national rights, while warning Europe that triggering the JCPOA snapback mechanism would carry serious consequences. Araghchi made the remark in a Friday phone conversation with the EU high representative for foreign and security policy and his counterparts from Britain, France and Germanythe three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "Just as the Islamic Republic of Iran acts firmly in self-defense, it has never abandoned the path of diplomacy and is prepared for any diplomatic solution that guarantees the rights and interests of the Iranian people," he said. He outlined Iran's stance on Europe's threat to invoke the so-called snapback mechanism to restore sanctions and the E3 and EU's responsibility in this regard. The top Iranian negotiator once again emphasized that the European countries lack the legal and moral authority to resort to the mechanism, warning that triggering snapback would have consequences. Snapback would bring into force six previous Iran-related Security Council resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2010. It would reinstate the expired UN arms embargo that barred countries from supplying, selling, or transferring most military equipment to Iran and prohibited Tehran from exporting any weapons. It would also impose export controls, travel bans, asset freezes, and other restrictions on individuals, entities, and banks. In response to Europe's repeated suggestions of extending UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to allow more time for negotiations, Araghchi said the Council must decide in this regard. He noted that Iran has its principled stance on the issue but will not be involved in the process. The Islamic Republic, however, will consult and exchange views with its friends in the Security Council regarding the consequences of such an action, the Iranian foreign minister emphasized. The foreign ministers of the European troika, along with the EU's foreign policy chief, voiced their readiness to pursue a diplomatic solution to address what they called concerns over Iran's peaceful nuclear programeven though the IAEA has repeatedly confirmed Iran's full compliance with its JCPOA obligations. At the end, it was decided that Iran's talks with the three European countries and the EU would be continued at the level of deputy foreign ministers next Tuesday. Iranian deputy foreign ministers Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi and senior representatives from the E3 countries held a closed-door meeting at Iran's Consulate General in Istanbul on July 25. The meeting, which lasted more than three hours, followed a similar round held on May 16 in Istanbul. The Iranian foreign minister on Wednesday warned the European troika that invoking the so-called snapback mechanism would be illegal, but that Tehran has prepared a response to potential attempts to restore the UN sanctions against the country. The path of diplomacy was derailed after Israel and the United States attacked Iran's nuclear facilities in June. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Army chief vows 'more crushing response' to new aggressions Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 10:29 AM Iran's Army Chief Major General Amir Hatami has expressed his forces' readiness to deliver a response to aggressors that is "more crushing" than the one seen during the illegal Israeli-US assault against the country. He made the remarks in a message sent to Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh on Friday, marking the National Defense Industry Day. Hatami said Iran's progress in the defense sector reached a peak during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war and the June Israeli-US aggression, leading the world to recognize the country's reliance on the power of its people and indigenous defensive capabilities. "The 12-day imposed war proved that the strategy of national unity and cohesionunder the wise guidance of Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei], the self-sacrifice of the Armed Forces, and most importantly, the insightful and conscious resistance of the beloved people of Islamic Iranled our country to victory against the unholy alliance of evildoers and thwarted the enemy's sinister goals," he added. "Today as well, the honorable sons of the nation in the Islamic Republic of Iran Army are readyjust as in the pastwith strength and resolve to punish any malevolent aggressor and deliver a more crushing and regret-inducing response to it." He also honored the memory of martyrs of the Israeli-US aggression and appreciated the efforts of Nasirzadeh, as well as dedicated experts, scientists, and employees of the Defense Ministry. Hatami further voiced the Army's preparedness to "take great stridesusing national capacitiesto reach the lofty peaks of progress and growing power." On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians. The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia. On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the terrorist aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Water Crisis Worsened By Taliban Dam By Kian Sharifi August 22, 2025 What You Need To Know New Dam, More Water Problems: Iran's water crisis is going from bad to worse as the Taliban's Pashdan Dam on the Hari River threatens the city of Mashhad's main water supply. Despite longstanding agreements, Iran's water share is being cut off. Experts blame both the Taliban's disregard for neighbors' rights and Tehran's failure to act on warnings. Iran Rejects E3 Offer To Extend 'Snapback' Deadline: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian media this week that Tehran believes European powers "do not have the right to extend" the deadline of the so-called "snapback" mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions. The mechanism -- a provision under the 2015 nuclear deal -- is set to expire in October. Britain, France, and Germany, known as the E3, have threatened to trigger it by the end of August if there is no progress in talks between Iran and the United States. They have offeredto extend the October deadline to incentivize Iran. Look out for my explainer on the "snapback" mechanism on August 24. Kremlin Allies Iran, Belarus Agree To Up Defense Cooperation: Iran and Belarus, both under sanctions that constrain their trading options, agreed this week to enhance bilateral defense relations during President Masud Pezeshkian's first official trip to Minsk. Pezeshkian said that Iran could assist Belarus in "neutralizing" restrictions, drawing on Tehran's long experience in navigating Western economic pressures. Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko called Pezeshkian a "friend" and offered to cooperate on a range of issues, "from providing your country with food to military-technical cooperation." The Big Issue Reservoir 'Dried Up' Iran's deepening water crisis is primarily driven by prolonged drought, chronic mismanagement, and the impacts of climate change. The crisis is so bad that officials say Tehran is becoming uninhabitableand Israel is hoping it will get people to revoltagainst the Islamic republic. Making an already bad situation worse is the Taliban's launch of a hydroelectric power station at the Pashdan Dam. Located on the Hari River in northwestern Afghanistan, the dam threatens to cut off the main water supply to Mashhad -- Iran's second-largest city with roughly 3.5 million residents. The Taliban, with whom Iran maintains ties but does not officially recognize as Afghanistan's rulers, started filling the dam last year and launched the power station on August 14. Iranian media say that with the diversion of the Hari River toward the Pashdan Dam, the Doosti Dam downstream -- which supplies Mashhad -- has nearly "dried up." Why It Matters: Water rights have long strained relations between Iran and Afghanistan, which share a 900-kilometer border. The Hari River flows through Afghanistan into Iran's Khorasan Razavi Province, supplying water to millions of people in the northeast. The Taliban's dam projects -- including the Salma and Pashdan dams and the planned Tirpul and Ghofghan projects -- have disrupted the river's flow, worsening Iran's water crisis. This comes despite agreements granting Iran about 820 million cubic meters annually, a quota the Taliban has not honored. Tehran has repeatedly urged "reasonable and equitable use" of the river under international law. The Taliban frames dam construction as part of its economic self-sufficiency strategy, claiming the Pashdan Dam will irrigate 13,000 hectares of farmland in Herat. What's Being Said: While Iran had raised no serious objections during 14 years of construction, officials condemned the project once the dam was filled, calling it a violation of Iran's "customary rights." Similar disputes have arisen over the Helmand River. The moderate conservative newspaper Jomhuriy-e Eslami, which was among the last Iranian papers to stop labeling the Taliban as "terrorists," described the group's behavior toward Iran as "hostile." "No government would remain silent in the face of hostility, let alone make concessions," the paper said, suggesting that Tehran has not adopted a hard enough stance against the Taliban. Tehran-based journalist Azadeh Mokhtari wrote on X that the Taliban's moves highlight "weakness in water diplomacy" in not just Iran but the wider region. "Who will you blame for this weakness in water diplomacy -- some power in the East or the West?" she added. Expert Opinion: Fatemeh Aman, a political analyst on Iranian and Afghan affairs, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Iran's water crisis is rooted in years of mismanagement and a pattern of ignoring, or imprisoning, environmentalists. The Taliban has exacerbated the problem with its growing appetite for dam building, which she said has been happening without any sort of agreements with Iran. The Taliban, she said, "either disregard their neighbors' water rights or refuse to acknowledge them altogether." She also criticized Iranian authorities for depending on shared water sources to supply several provinces, arguing that this strain could have been avoided if warnings had been heeded and proper measures taken over the years. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/farda-briefing-iran-water-crisis- taliban-pashadan-dam-afghanistan/33509433.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 Iraq's Kurdistan violence kills 3 security personnel amid political tensions Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 5:34 PM Intense clashes erupted in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region following the arrest of an opposition figure, resulting in the deaths of three security personnel and injuries to 19 others in the northern city of Sulaymaniyah. Security forces on Friday detained Lahur Sheikh Jangi Talabani, a former member of one of the ruling parties in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), at a local hotel after violent overnight confrontations with his supporters. Talabani's brothers Poland and Aso were also arrested, along with a number of his guards. In a statement, Kurdistan security authorities said the clashes lasted for more than three hours leaving three members of the security forces dead and 19 others wounded. It confirmed the arrest of Talabani and several others, describing them as "outlaws." According to a senior adviser to the Kurdistan region's President Nechirvan Barzani, Talabani's arrest was related to a power struggle within the ruling Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party (PUK), particularly with his cousin Bafel Talabani, who consolidated control over the party in 2021. Talabani, who is now a leader of the opposition People's Front party, may face "political isolation, the dismantling of his forces and potentially being expelled from Kurdistan", the adviser told The National. Sulaymaniyah court issued a warrant against Talabani and several others based on charges of "conspiracy aimed at destabilizing security and stability," under Article 56 of the Iraqi Penal Code. Earlier on Friday, the Prime Minister of the KRG, Masrour Barzani, said the Sulaymaniyah clashes were "targeting the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region." "Any issues or grievances must be addressed through legal means," Barzani said in a statement. Iraq's federal government in Baghdad called the events in Sulaymaniyah "unfortunate", warning that the rule of law must be respected. The authorities need to "take legal and judicial action in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, and in a manner consistent with the principles of justice and the rule of law," Sabah Al Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces said. He also stressed the "importance of implementing these measures with complete impartiality and transparency, away from any armed manifestations or attempts to intimidate citizens." Talabani is the second opposition figure to be arrested in Sulaymaniyah in less than two weeks. On August 12, Shaswar Abdulwahid, the leader of New Generation party, which holds 15 of the 100 seats in the Kurdistan parliament, was detained after being convicted in a defamation case filed by a former member of parliament. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar: Eight years after brutal military assault, Rohingya suffering continues UNOHCHR Press briefing notes Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 22 August 2025 From Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Jeremy Laurence Location Geneva As we near the passing of another year with no justice for the violence which started on 25 August 2017 in Myanmar, we are left to ask the question of when the enduring misery for these and ongoing crimes will end, particularly for the long-suffering Rohingya community. Ending impunity and ensuring the Rohingya's rights to security, citizenship and equality are essential for breaking the cycle of violence. Since November 2023, the human rights and humanitarian situation in Rakhine have sharply deteriorated, further deepening the already life-threatening conditions faced by the Rohingya. Both the military and the Arakan Army have committed and continue to commit serious atrocity crimes against the Rohingya with impunity in flagrant violation of international law, including the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice. Amidst a global funding crisis, Rohingya in both Myanmar and Bangladesh are enduring dire conditions compounded by drastic cuts to food assistance. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk implores the international community to step up support for the Rohingya by increasing humanitarian funding to secure access to basic needs and essential services, and to resolutely support international accountability processes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Children watch hexapod robots dancing at Zhejiang Science and Technology Museum in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 22, 2025. Children participate in various activities during summer vacation across the country. (Xinhua/Han Chuanhao) Children visit Zhejiang Museum of Natural History in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 22, 2025. Children participate in various activities during summer vacation across the country. (Xinhua/Han Chuanhao) Children learn about Dunhuang colored sculptures at an art gallery in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 22, 2025. Children participate in various activities during summer vacation across the country. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua) A kid reproduces Dunhuang murals at a classroom in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 22, 2025. Children participate in various activities during summer vacation across the country. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua) Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on the eighth anniversary of the displacement of Rohingya people and other communities from Myanmar United Nations Secretary-General New York 22 August 2025 Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General Eight years since their forced mass displacement from Rakhine State, Rohingya people in and outside of Myanmar are facing a further deterioration of their already dire circumstances. In Rakhine State, Rohingya and other civilians are caught in the crossfire between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army and subjected to forced recruitment, human rights violations and other abuse. Continued violence has forced more Rohingya to flee, including into Bangladesh, already generously hosting over 1.1 million refugees from Myanmar. Reports of pushbacks, removals and deportations across the region raise serious concerns over potential violations of the principle of non-refoulement and shrinking asylum space. Funding cuts are severely curtailing education, food assistance, healthcare, livelihood opportunities and protection services. The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the protection of all civilians in accordance with applicable obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law. He recalls his visit to Cox's Bazar earlier this year, where he witnessed the resilience of Rohingya communities and stressed the urgent need for strengthened international solidarity and increased support, in parallel to efforts toward a comprehensive political solution that meaningfully includes the Rohingya and addresses their displacement and the root causes of the protracted crisis. The Secretary-General is hopeful that the 30 September High-level Conference on Rohingya and other minorities in New York, as mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, will draw renewed international attention to the urgency of finding durable solutions. The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar continues to engage all stakeholders toward the cessation of violence and a viable Myanmar-led political process to build conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya people to Myanmar. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Meets with Wang Yi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 22, 2025 10:07 On August 21, 2025 local time, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Islamabad. Shehbaz Sharif asked Wang Yi to convey his best wishes and friendly regards to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, and said that he looks forward to visiting China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit and commemorative activities 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. The friendship between Pakistan and China is unique, with their all-weather friendship covering various fields and levels. The Pakistani side hopes to work with China to promote the building of an upgraded Version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), deepen cooperation in agriculture, mining, energy and resources, aviation and aerospace, information technology, infrastructure development and other fields, and enhance the vitality of Pakistan's economic and social development. The Pakistani side attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan and will make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and projects. Pakistan firmly supports the three global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, upholds multilateralism, and is committed to building a Pakistan-China community with a shared future. Wang Yi conveyed the cordial greetings of the Chinese leadership, and expressed China's welcome to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming visit to China. He said that the Chinese side looks forward to working with Pakistan and other SCO members to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and make the summit an event of friendship, solidarity, and fruitful outcomes. The theme of the commemorative events to be held by China on September 3 is to bear history in mind, honor all those who laid down their lives, cherish peace and open up the future, manifesting China's firm resolve to uphold the outcomes of the victory of World War II and international fairness and justice, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Wang Yi said that the China-Pakistan relationship is unparalleled. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan remains unshakable and unbreakable. The two countries not only share extensive common interests but are also true friends connected by heart. The building of a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future aims to closely link each other's future and destiny, promote common development and prosperity, and work together on their way to modernization. Wang Yi said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has led the Pakistani government in advancing reforms with determination and promoting steady and positive economic development in Pakistan, which China appreciates. China has always been the most reliable partner and strongest supporter for Pakistan. Both sides should accelerate the building of an upgraded Version 2.0 of the CPEC, focus on agriculture, industry and mining, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in Gwadar Port, industrial parks, connectivity and high technology, comprehensively enhance Pakistan's independent development capabilities, and strengthen its resilience against external challenges. China supports Pakistan in resolutely cracking down on all forms of terrorism and creating a secure and favorable environment for national development and bilateral cooperation. Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Meets with Wang Yi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 22, 2025 09:40 On August 21, 2025 local time, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Islamabad. Asif Ali Zardari asked Wang Yi to convey his cordial greetings and express his highest respect to President Xi Jinping. Pakistan-China friendship has stood the test of time, and the two countries are all-weather good friends and good partners. The world is facing risks and challenges, but China is courageous to face up to them, oppose bullying practices, and firmly safeguard its own interests and the common interests of developing countries. Regardless of changing circumstances, Pakistan places full trust in China and stands unwaveringly with China. The Pakistani side thanked China for its selfless assistance for Pakistan's social and economic development, and expressed willingness to promote new progress in cooperation projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar Port, to better benefit the people of both countries. Asif Ali Zardari expressed hope that the two countries will continue to enhance coordination and cooperation on major international and regional issues, so as to jointly maintain regional peace, stability, prosperity and development. Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings, saying that under the dynamic leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party of China has united and led over 1.4 billion Chinese people to forge ahead with determination and concerted effort, and will surely achieve the great goal of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China's development represents the growth of the force for world peace and stability, as well as the strength of developing countries. No force or difficulty can halt the forward march of the Chinese people. Wang Yi said that China-Pakistan friendship has stood the test of time and is unbreakable. China has always prioritized relations with Pakistan in its neighborhood diplomacy. China is grateful for Pakistan's long-standing support for China's core interests and major concerns. China will continue to support Pakistan's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity. Facing the changing international situation, China is ready to work with Pakistan, guided by the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, to deepen their traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, establish an upgraded Version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era for the well-being of the people of the two countries. During the visit, Wang Yi also met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff Syed Asim Munir, and held the Sixth Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson August 22, 2025 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The Secretary and Foreign Minister highlighted the enduring strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance, which has remained the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific for over seven decades. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Cho discussed ways to advance the U.S.-ROK Alliance centered on a forward-looking agenda that enhances deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, increases our collective burden sharing, helps to revitalize American manufacturing, and restores fairness and reciprocity in our trade relationship. They also reinforced the importance of U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council should not ignore Israel's continued destabilizing actions in Syria: Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 22, 2025 Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani says Humanitarian Situation in Syria remains deplorable. Addressing a UN session in New York on Thursday, the situation in Sweida remains fragile, and although the ceasefire has restored temporary calm, fighting continues, and the Security Council should not ignore the Israeli regime's continued destabilizing actions in Syria. The full text of Iravani's speech at the UN meeting is as follows: Statement by H.E. Mr. Amir Saeid Iravani Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Before the United Nations Security Council On "The situation in the Middle East: (Syria)" New York, 21 August 2025 Thank you, Mr. President. Since this is my first intervention this month, allow me to extend my congratulations to you, Mr. President, on Panama's assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. We are confident that under your able guidance, the Council's work will be steered successfully. I also wish to commend Pakistan for its effective stewardship and valuable contributions during its presidency in July. We thank Special Envoy Mr. Pedersen and Under Secretary Mr. Fletcher for their informative and insightful briefings. On the situation in Syria, I wish to make the following points: First, the humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire. We commend OCHA, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners for delivering life-saving assistance under difficult circumstances. We reiterate the call by the Security Council for full, safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access to all affected communities, in strict accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. In this context, we welcome lifting all illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people. These illegal measures deepen the humanitarian crisis, block reconstruction, and obstruct economic recovery. Their removal is essential to enable the safe and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons. Sanctions must never be used as instruments of political coercion or interference in Syria's internal affairs. Second, we take note of the recent report of the Monitoring Team of the Sanctions Committee 1267, which highlights the persistent and grave threat of terrorism in Syria. Da'esh, Al-Qaida, and FTFs continue to destabilize Syria and the wider region, seriously undermining regional and international peace and security. We are deeply alarmed by credible reports indicating the relocation of certain terrorist elements and FTFs from Syria to Afghanistan, which poses a direct threat to Afghanistan's neighbors and regional stability. We stress that all states must fully comply with international law in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Third, the situation in Sweida remains fragile. According to the report, while a ceasefire has restored temporary calm, clashes continue, and the risk of renewed violence is high without durable arrangements. The humanitarian impact, including the displacement of nearly 200,000 civilians, and restricted access, is deeply alarming. We recall the Council's presidential statement of 10 August, which condemned these atrocities and called for the protection of all Syrians. We welcome the Syrian interim authorities' condemnation and pledge to investigate, but stress that accountability must be swift, credible, transparent, and impartial, including for atrocities against Alawite communities in Latakia and Tartous. We urge the authorities to ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice. Fourth, we remain concerned about the clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the interim authorities in the northeast. We stress that ongoing political engagement between the parties must be actively encouraged and expanded to prevent further escalation and to create meaningful avenues for dialogue. Fifth, the Security Council should not ignore the ongoing destabilizing actions of the Israeli regime in Syria. Israel's repeated aggressive attacks have caused civilian casualties, destroyed vital infrastructure, and escalated regional tensions. We categorically reject any attempt to undermine Syria's sovereignty, alter its demographic composition, and fragment its territory. Regrettably, the Council's recent presidential statement failed to address these violations. Israel's continued illegal occupation of the Syrian Golan, in defiance of international law, the UN Charter, Council resolutions, and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, must end without delay. Finally, we reaffirm our conviction that the only sustainable path forward for Syria is a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations, in conformity with the core principles of the Security Council resolution 2254. Such a process must safeguard the legitimate rights and aspirations of all Syrians, while preserving the sovereignty, independence, unity, and national institutions of Syria. In this context, we note the ongoing preparations for indirect elections for the interim parliament. These efforts must be part of a broader, genuinely inclusive political process that ensures representation and legitimacy. I thank you. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria's HTS, Israel to sign 'security agreement' in September: Report Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 7:43 AM Israel and Syria under Hay'at Tahrir al-Shama (HTS) will sign a "security agreement" next September, amid intensified Israeli acts of aggression against the Arab country, a report says. Citing senior Syrian sources, Independent Arabia reported that Israel and Syria will sign the "security agreement", mediated by the US, on September 25 with the aim of "reducing tensions" between the two sides. However, a comprehensive peace deal between the two sides is not expected "in the near future," the report said. According to the sources, the accord will be signed a day after HTS head Abu Mohammed al-Jolani delivers his first speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Washington is also working to facilitate a meeting next month between Jolani and Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with US President Donald Trump expected to participate in it. The expected agreement comes as Syria's de facto foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani held a meeting with an Israeli delegation in the French capital Paris this week to discuss de-escalation and the situation in Druze-majority Sweida province. Sweida has seen intense fighting and significant casualties in recent months, with Israel bombing military headquarters in Damascus under the pretext of supporting the Druze minority. Sky News Arabia reported "progress" in talks, held between al-Shibani and Israel's strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer and mediated by the United States. Israel has conducted repeated acts of aggression across the Syrian territory following the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad's government last year. Netanyahu has ordered his forces to push deeper into Syrian territory and seize several strategic locations. Instead of resistance to the ongoing Israeli military operations, HTS's lack of action and its normalization overtures to Tel Aviv appear to have given Israel greater leeway to expand its occupation measures and increase the intensity of its airstrikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns Israel's repeated acts of aggression against Syria Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 2:41 AM Iran has strongly condemned Israel's repeated acts of aggression against civilians and vital infrastructure in Syria, urging the UN Security Council not to ignore the regime's destabilizing actions. Iran's permanent UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani made the remarks while addressing a Security Council meeting on Syria on Thursday. Iravani said Iran categorically rejects any attempt to undermine Syria's sovereignty, alter its demographic composition, and fragment its territory. He stated that "the Security Council should not ignore the ongoing destabilizing actions of the Israeli regime in Syria." "Israel's repeated aggressive attacks have caused civilian casualties, destroyed vital infrastructure, and escalated regional tensions," he said. "We categorically reject any attempt to undermine Syria's sovereignty, alter its demographic composition, and fragment its territory," he said. He called for an immediate end to Israel's occupation of the Syrian Golan, calling it a violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the Security Council's resolutions. Iravani also warned about the persistence of terrorism in Syria. Iran's ambassador said Da'esh and Al-Qaida continue to destabilize Syria and the entire region, seriously undermining regional and international peace and security. He stressed that the only sustainable path forward for Syria is a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, to safeguard the legitimate rights and aspirations of all Syrians. Since Assad's ouster, the regime in Damascus has been effectively controlled by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Abu Muhammad al-Jolania notorious Takfiri militant with clear affiliations to terrorist groups such as Daesh and al-Qaeda. Rather than resisting the ongoing Israeli invasion, HTS's inaction and normalization overtures toward Tel Aviv have emboldened Israeli forces to intensify their occupation and bombardment campaigns. Israeli forces have deployed to at least nine posts deep inside southern Syria, mostly within the UN-monitored buffer zone, citing the need to counter Takfiri threats. However, this deployment serves as cover for a broader strategy of territorial expansion through both military aggression and settler incursions. The Israeli regime has also escalated its relentless bombardment of Syria's military and civilian infrastructure, further destabilizing the region and exacerbating humanitarian suffering. These attacks have systematically weakened Syria's ability to resist occupation and defend its sovereignty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense spending to reach 5% of GDP by 2030: President ROC Central News Agency 08/22/2025 08:32 PM Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te () on Friday pledged to steadily increase defense spending, setting a goal of raising it to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, to underscore Taiwan's commitment to boost defense capacity. Lai made the remarks while addressing Navy personnel aboard a frigate of the 168th Fleet in Su'ao, Yilan County, a day after his Cabinet unveiled the 2026 government budget proposal, which included a record-high defense allocation of 3.32 percent of GDP. "The government will continue to increase defense spending in the future, with the goal of reaching 5 percent of GDP by 2030," in line with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) standards, Lai said. It showed a strong commitment to defending national security and democracy, as well as working with global partners to project strength of deterrence to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific, he added. The proposed 2026 defense budget, factoring in expenditures for veteran affairs and the Coast Guard, will reach NT$949.5 billion (US$31.08 billion), or 3.32 percent of GDP, pending approval by the Legislature. In his talk, Lai also addressed the omission of a pay raise for military personnel in the 2026 government budget proposal, as demanded in the newly amended Pay Act of the Armed Forces passed by the opposition-controlled Legislature in June. The amendment set the minimum monthly salary for volunteer soldiers at NT$30,000, up from NT$13,000 to NT$15,000 depending on rank. It also raised conscripts' pay to the NT$28,590 minimum wage, up from NT$21,350 -- the lowest level for privates second class. The Democratic Progressive Party-controlled Executive Yuan on Friday submitted a request for the Constitutional Court to review whether the amendment is unconstitutional, citing its failure to specify a funding source for the budget increase. Citing concerns over the amendment's constitutionality, Lai said the government will await a constitutional ruling before allocating the budget, should the amendment be deemed constitutional. (By Wen Kuei-hsiang and Shih Hsiu-chuan) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KMT, DPP make last push before 2nd round of Taiwan recall votes ROC Central News Agency 08/22/2025 10:19 PM Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) Less than 24 hours before recall votes against seven Kuomintang (KMT) legislators begin, the opposition party rallied in New Taipei Friday urging "no" votes, while recall groups and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) mounted last efforts to call for support to remove them. "Vote 'no' on the recall on Aug. 23," KMT supporters chanted at a rally Friday evening in New Taipei's Xindian District, the constituency of eight-term KMT lawmaker Lo Ming-tsai (), whose fate will be decided in the Saturday recall vote. Among those who took the stage to support Lo was Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu () of the KMT, who said he still did not understand "why the recall is being held." Since President Lai Ching-te () took office in May last year, three recall drives have already been launched, Han said, criticizing Lai, who also chairs the DPP. The three recall campaigns referred by Han are the unsuccessful attempt against Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang () last October, the July 26 votes targeting 24 KMT legislators and Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an () that also failed, and the upcoming recalls against seven KMT lawmakers. The July 26 and Aug. 23 recall votes are part of an unprecedented recall campaign launched by informal civic groups and supported by the DPP, which has sought to unseat most of the KMT lawmakers. Apart from Lo, the other six directly elected KMT lawmakers facing the Saturday recall votes include Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang () of Taichung, Ma Wen-chun () and Yu Hao () of Nantou County, Lin Szu-ming () of Hsinchu County, and Yen Kuan-heng () and Yang Chiung-ying (), both representing Taichung. Han said that if the Legislative Yuan were made up solely of DPP members, decades of democratic progress in Taiwan would go to waste. In such a scenario, "all of our most fundamental democratic principles of oversight and checks and balances in the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) would be completely destroyed," he added. Echoing Han, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang () said that after all 24 KMT legislators survived the July 26 recall, the DPP "failed to reflect" and instead pushed ahead with the second round of recalls targeting those seven opposition lawmakers set for Saturday. He said a rejection at the ballot box on Saturday would send a message to Lai that "the people of Taiwan have had enough of the DPP's authoritarianism." As a prominent campaigner for a pro-nuclear national referendum set to take place on the same day as the recalls, Huang also urged voters to back the "decisive ballot" for Taiwan's energy transition. "Please support extending the operation of the Third Nuclear Power Plant," Huang said. "Let's make Taiwan more beautiful, make our electricity bills lighter, and give stronger momentum to the future development of our AI industries." The plebiscite was proposed by the TPP and backed by the KMT in an attempt to restart the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County, which was decommissioned in mid-May, leaving Taiwan with no more operating nuclear power facilities. The DPP, meanwhile, has urged its supporters to vote against the proposal. A rally in support of the recall was held the same evening in Taichung, where DPP lawmaker Puma Shen () said that "the DNA of recalls has always been in the hearts of the Taiwanese people." "We have always worked to remind everyone that winning an election is not the end," he said. "Those elected must continue to be held accountable by the people -- this is an important right of the Taiwanese people." He said the goal of the KMT is to undermine a year of hard work by the civic movement, a move he described as "against the people, against Taiwan, and against Taiwan's democratic system." Shen also noted that before the July 26 votes, six recall attempts had been launched against KMT lawmakers. "While none succeeded at the time, none of those six were ever elected again," he said, adding that they all faded from politics as constituents came to see them as unfit to serve. "That is why no civic movement is ever in vain," Shen added. Tung Hsiang-lan (), the primary person who proposed the recall against Yen, said she and other campaigners spearheaded the movement "not for personal fame or gain, nor for the interests of any political party." "We are taking part in this recall because of our deep love for this land," Tung added. (By Hao Hsueh-ching and Sunny Lai) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. lawmakers call for Taiwan's participation in ICAO assembly ROC Central News Agency 08/22/2025 06:37 PM Washington, Aug. 21 (CNA) Four members of the U.S. Congress on Thursday urged the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to invite Taiwan to participate as a guest in its upcoming 42nd assembly in September. In a letter addressed to Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO secretary-general, the lawmakers also called on the aviation organization to "clarify its opposition" against China's unilateral move to fully open a third extension of the M503 flight route in the Taiwan Strait. Such concerns were raised in the letter by Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican Representative John Moolenaar, who heads the House Select Committee on China, Democratic Senator Gary Peters, and Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi. The M503 route, unilaterally declared by China in 2015, is located in the Shanghai Flight Information Region but is very close to the Taipei Flight Information Region, raising concerns about flight safety and Taiwan's sovereignty. In February 2024, China moved the M503 route eastwards and closer to the median line of the Taiwan Strait, despite protests from Taiwan. In July 2025, Beijing unilaterally announced that it would also open the northwest-to-southeast W121 route connecting Dongshan in Zhejiang province to the north-south M503 flight route. "This action places civilian aircraft dangerously close to Taiwan-administered airspace and creates potential conflict points with east-west routes operated under the Taipei Flight Information Region, which handles over 1.85 million flights annually," the lawmakers said. The U.S. lawmakers argued that such unilateral changes disregard international aviation procedures and ICAO's own standards, which emphasize the importance of coordination and risk mitigation in shared airspace. In their letter, the lawmakers said the issue was especially troubling because Taiwan continues to be barred from meaningful participation in ICAO despite its critical role in global aviation. Citing Taiwan as the world's 11th-largest aviation market and a key transit hub in East Asia, they argued that its "absence from ICAO meetings and decision-making undermines global aviation safety." "As an organization tasked with ensuring the safety, security, and efficiency of international civil aviation, ICAO must not remain silent," they said, calling on ICAO to publicly state that it does not support unilateral changes to international flight routes that impact regional safety. "Additionally, we urge you to include Taiwan in the upcoming 42nd ICAO Assembly as a guest and technical participant," they added. The event is scheduled to be held at ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 3. (By Chung Yu-chen and Ko Lin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address LJUBLJANA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia's largest steel producer on Friday urged the EU to adopt new safeguard measures to protect the steel sector from unfair competition, stressing that the measures should be introduced before the current ones expire in July 2026. SIJ said in a statement that the European steel industry faces pressure from high energy costs, slowing economic growth, surging imports of low-cost steel, geopolitical instability, U.S. trade protectionism and the costs of transitioning toward greener sources of energy. In its appeal to the European Commission and the Slovenian economy ministry, SIJ proposed a permanent quarterly import quota without carry-over of unused capacity. It also called for a 50-percent levy on imports exceeding the quotas to align with U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum products. The European Commission launched a public consultation in July on the future of safeguard measures for the EU steel sector and is expected to present new trade instruments in September. The Slovenian economy ministry said on Wednesday that it is closely following the Commission's discussions. SIJ is one of the leading producers of stainless steel and special steels in Europe. U.S. may want stake in TSMC, but Taiwan's interests come first: Source ROC Central News Agency 08/22/2025 11:47 AM Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) The interests of Taiwan and its companies are the government's top priority, a Cabinet source said Thursday in response to reports that Washington may seek a stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in exchange for CHIPS Act funding. Reuters reported Wednesday that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the U.S. government is considering taking equity stakes in chipmakers that receive CHIPS Act subsidies. Lutnick told CNBC that the administration is in talks with Intel about a 10 percent stake, and may pursue similar arrangements with other companies. According to two anonymous sources, the firms under consideration could include Micron, Samsung and TSMC, the world's largest advanced chipmaker. The Cabinet source, who requested anonymity, said the U.S. is Taiwan's most important strategic partner but that the competitiveness of Taiwan's semiconductor and electronics sectors is predicated on government policies and cooperation with the global high-tech industry. "It did not come out of nowhere, and it will not be gone all of a sudden," the source said. Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei () said Wednesday that TSMC is a private company and that Taiwan's negotiating team has not raised the issue with him. If the U.S. does seek to invest in TSMC, Kuo said the Department of Investment Review would review the matter, noting that an expert assessment of its potential impact would be necessary. Meanwhile, Pegatron Corp. Chairman Tung Tzu-hsien () cited former U.S. President Ronald Reagan's words: "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." Calling on the Trump administration to "take your hands off," Tung argued that "TSMC, Intel and Samsung will become more competitive if they can be put to the market's test [without interference]." The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that a U.S. official downplayed the possible inclusion of TSMC and Micron as companies in which the U.S. government would want a stake, citing their rising investment in America. Instead, the request for equity stakes would target companies that are not contributing more to the country, the official said. (By Lai Yu-chen, Jeffrey Wu, Liu Chien-ling and Chao Yen-hsiang) Enditem/ls 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 2025/08/23 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Aug. 22 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Aug. 23 (Sat.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 22 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 18 out of 22 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. 1140823_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window] 1140823_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window] NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update on Gaza Medical Evacuation Scheme UK Government update on efforts to medically evacuate Gazan children for treatment in the UK. From: Department of Health and Social Care, Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Published 22 August 2025 The Prime Minister announced at the end of July that the UK will medically evacuate Gazan children for treatment in the UK. This support comes as the appalling humanitarian situation continues to leave many in urgent need of medical care. Most hospitals in Gaza are no longer functioning at all, essential medicines and supplies are running out and medical workers are not able to do their jobs safely. A cross-government taskforce is working urgently to get some of these sick and injured children out of Gaza, so that they can receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK. The UK is partnering with the World Health Organization (WHO), which works on the ground and plays a critical role in supporting medical evacuations from Gaza. The first patients who are accepted for evacuation and treatment are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. They will be accompanied by their immediate family members and will travel via a third country. The taskforce is working to ensure treatment in the UK is in the best interests of each individual child. Further patient arrivals are expected later in the autumn. We will work with local authorities to ensure those that arrive in the UK receive the help and support they need during their stay in the UK. This is a sensitive and complex process, as patients and their families are likely to be traumatised from the horrendous conflict in Gaza. Their safety and wellbeing are our top priority, so we will not be providing a running commentary on the evacuation process. The UK continues to support medical care in Gaza and the region. Our funding to UK-Med and their field hospital operations has helped them to treat over 600,000 patients in Gaza. Through support to WHO Egypt, UK funding is helping to treat some of the 8,000 Gazans who have been medically evacuated there. The UK continues to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a surge in aid and delivery of a framework for lasting peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU delivers over 4 billion to Ukraine ahead of its Independence Day European Commission Press release Aug 22, 2025 Brussels Ahead of Ukraine's 34th anniversary of independence on 24 August, the EU delivers another strong signal of unwavering support by disbursing 4.05 billion to the country. This includes 3.05 billion via the Ukraine Facility and 1 billion through the European Commission's exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA). Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission said: "As Ukraine celebrates its 34th Independence Day, the EU sends a clear message: our solidarity with Ukraine is unwavering. Today's disbursement of over 4 billion demonstrates our staunch commitment. This new funding underlines our commitment not only to Ukraine's recovery, but to its future as a sovereign and democratic country. Because when Ukraine is strong, Europe is stronger too." Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the EU and its Member States have mobilised 168.9 billion in humanitarian, financial, and military assistance to Ukraine and its people. The Commission disburses over 3 billion under the Ukraine Facility Today, the Commission has disbursed a fourth regular payment of over 3.05 billion under the Ukraine Facility. This funding will enhance Ukraine's macro-financial stability, strengthen its public administration, and drive critical long-term reforms. With this latest disbursement, the total EU support to Ukraine under the Facility has reached 22.7 billion since its start on March 1, 2024. This represents nearly 60% of the funds available under the Ukraine Plan. Following the payment request submitted by Ukraine, on 8 August the Council endorsed the Commission's assessment that Ukraine has satisfactorily fulfilled 13 reform indicators tied to this fourth regular quarterly payment. Key reforms accomplished for this payment concern public administration, management of public assets, human capital, green transition, regulation of the digital and agri-food sectors, and management of critical raw materials. This fourth regular payment under the Facility demonstrates Ukraine's commitment to implementing the ambitious reforms agreed in the Ukraine Plan. Ukraine is set to receive up to 50 billion in grants and loans for the period 2024-2027 under the Ukraine Facility. The disbursement comes in the context of Ukraine's continued progress on EU accession reforms, including the restoration of the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office by the Verkhovna Rada on 31 July. Safeguarding the autonomy of these two institutions is a cornerstone of Ukraine's anti-corruption architecture and of its European path. Ukraine receives a further 1 billion from EU's contribution to G7 loan In addition, the European Commission has also disbursed the seventh tranche of its exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine, worth 1 billion. With this payment, the Commission's total lending to Ukraine under this MFA reaches 9 billion since the start of the year and comes on top of the assistance provided via other support instruments. In total, the MFA amounts to18.1 billionand represents the EU's contribution to the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative, which collectively aims to provide approximately 45 billion in financial support to Ukraine to cover its urgent needs. The ERA loans from G7 partners, as well as the EU's MFA loan, are being repaid with proceeds from immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank, held by central securities depositories in the EU via the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism. Background Since the onset of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU, together with its Member States, has unequivocally condemned Russia's actions and has offered unprecedented support to Ukraine and its people. As the largest donor, the EU has mobilized 168.9 billion in total, including: 73.6 billion enabled by the EU budget in humanitarian support, crisis response, budget support, and early recovery and reconstruction. 15 billion in bilateral assistance from the 27 EU Member States. 59.6 billionin military assistance, including a share funded by the European Peace Facility. 3.7 billion made available from the proceeds stemming from frozen and immobilised Russian sovereign assets (windfall profits). In addition, the EU and its Member States have mobilised at least 17 billion to support people fleeing Ukraine. Quote(s) Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission said: "As Ukraine celebrates its 34th Independence Day, the EU sends a clear message: our solidarity with Ukraine is unwavering. Today's disbursement of over 4 billion demonstrates our staunch commitment. This new funding underlines our commitment not only to Ukraine's recovery, but to its future as a sovereign and democratic country. Because when Ukraine is strong, Europe is stronger too. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission The EU continues to stand with Ukraine. As we prepare to mark Ukraine's Independence Day, we are disbursing an additional 1 billion under the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative. By using immobilised Russian assets to provide this crucial support, we are ensuring that Russia pays for the destruction it is causing. Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification Ukraine has taken another important step in advancing the reform agenda defined in the Ukraine Plan, which is critical for its European path, recovery, and reconstruction. This payment brings total disbursements under the first pillar of the Ukraine Facility to over 22 billion in direct budget support, demonstrating the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia's war of aggression. Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China has always been fair and square on Ukraine crisis: FM Global Times By Chen Qingqing Published: Aug 22, 2025 10:20 PM In response to a media inquiry about recent remarks by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on whether China could serve as a security guarantor for Ukraine, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday that China has always held an objective and just position and has always been fair and square on the Ukraine crisis, which is for all to see. Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but all issues must be worked through, and questions remain over Zelensky's authority to sign a peace deal, Putin's foreign minister said on Thursday, according to Reuters. A draft document seen by Reuters showed Ukraine was asked to agree to permanent neutrality in return for international security guarantees from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia and the US. However, Zelensky claimed that Ukraine does not need China as a guarantor providing security guarantees, according to Ukrainian media reports. It is essential to pursue common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Mao said, adding that China stands ready to play a constructive role to that end. "In fact, China has made many efforts to address this issue. For example, China released an official diplomatic document titled China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis one year after the crisis began. China is not just talking, but is committed to systematically helping resolve the issue," Wang Xiaoquan, an expert with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday. "China aims to comprehensively address the security concerns of all parties, including address accompanying issues, such as preventing nuclear proliferation, ensuring nuclear power plant safety, protecting civilians, guaranteeing food exports, halting unilateral sanctions, maintaining stable industrial and supply chains, and promoting post-war reconstruction. These efforts reflect the country's security concept, demonstrating a systematic and meticulous approach to problem-solving and embodying our sense of responsibility as a major power," Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and Poland join forces to enhance energy security Ukraine Government Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, posted 22 August 2025 19:36 The development of strategic cooperation in the energy sector was the central topic of discussion between the Ukrainian delegation and Polish officials. During their working visit to Poland, representatives of the Ukrainian energy sector, including Deputy Minister of Energy Roman Andarak and CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine Sergii Koretskyi, met with Wojciech Balczun, Minister of State Assets of Poland, to address deepening bilateral cooperation. Amid unprecedented challenges faced by Ukraine's energy system as a result of russian aggression, cooperation with international partners, including Poland, is of particular importance. Poland is one of Ukraine's key allies in strengthening energy security and further integration into the European energy market. Despite the difficult conditions, Ukraine's energy system remains balanced, but the risks of an energy crisis in wartime require additional security and coordination measures. Therefore, the Ukrainian delegation thanked their Polish colleagues for their continued solidarity and assistance, including the supply of necessary equipment, assistance in logistics and storage of strategic energy resources. The joint efforts of the governments and companies of both countries in developing energy and gas transportation systems deserve special attention. These steps are extremely important in the context of the cessation of russian gas supplies and constant attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. "Our cooperation with Poland has already proved to be effective in enhancing the energy sustainability of both countries. We have every reason to strengthen this partnership further through coordination and implementation of mutually beneficial projects," said Roman Andarak. "We have a successful experience of partnership with the Polish concern ORLEN, in particular in the issue of supplying American liquefied gas to Ukraine. We are open to in-depth cooperation and implementation of joint projects that strengthen the energy security of Ukraine and the entire Eastern European region," said Sergii Koretskyi, CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine. In gearing up for the 2025-2026 heating season, the Ukrainian side presented an action plan to prepare for the winter heating season. The delegations also discussed the possibility of coordinating with the Polish side in attracting additional and strategic resources. The parties paid special attention to cooperation projects between Naftogaz of Ukraine and ORLEN S.A. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update 310 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine International Atomic Energy Agency 80/2025 Vienna, Austria Aug 22 2025 The sustained presence of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has been essential to our ongoing efforts to reduce the risk of a nuclear accident amid the conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said, as the IAEA approaches three years of continuous presence at the site. Over the past week, the IAEA team at the ZNPP reported hearing military activities almost every day, and the IAEA teams present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl NPP site heard air raid alarms nearly every day, as well. On Thursday morning, the IAEA team at Chornobyl was awakened by the sound of multiple explosions. They were later informed that several drones were detected above the Exclusion Zone, approximately 5 kilometres from the site, and the sounds the team heard were anti-aircraft fire. "My position remains unchanged. I'm deeply concerned about the increased frequency of reported drone activity near nuclear facilities," Director General Grossi said. "I renew my call for maximum military restraint to prevent a nuclear accident." Over the weekend, the IAEA team based at the ZNPP was informed of a newly constructed dam to isolate one of ZNPP's channels from its cooling pond. This channel currently supplies water for the cooling of several plant systems, such as unit transformers that provide power to the site's six reactor units, which is needed for the operation of their safety systems. The ZNPP's six reactors have been in cold shutdown since spring 2024 but still require cooling water for their safety systems, reactor cores and spent fuel pools. While the ZNPP continues to use water from the groundwater wells on site for the cooling of these essential services, the dam was constructed to preserve the water in the channel to provide cooling for other plant systems that are needed to maintain the ZNPP in safe shutdown for extended periods of time. The IAEA team has also been informed that the site is pumping water from the cooling pond into the isolated part of this channel and that the current water level in the channel is more than a meter above the point where cooling pumps would cease to operate. The ZNPP is also considering other options for supplying power to its reactor units to maintain the operation of its safety systems, as well as other measures for the cooling of the unit transformers. "This underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring reliable cooling water for the ZNPP's six reactors and their safety systems needed to maintain long-term cold shutdown. The potential loss of cooling resulting from the depletion of the water in this ZNPP channel represents a real concern with respect to nuclear safety, which is a priority for the IAEA," Director General Grossi said. "The IAEA teams will continue to request access to the new isolation dam and will monitor this situation extremely closely," he added. The ZNPP has been connected to a single off-site power line for over three months. The IAEA teams will continue to monitor the external power situation, which continues to be extremely fragile. This is now the longest period of time when the site has not had a back-up power line. At Ukraine's three operating NPPs, two of their nine reactors are shut down for maintenance and refuelling, which includes work on some off-site power lines. Over the past weekend, two reactor units had their power levels reduced due to grid limitations. Both have since returned to nominal power levels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General visits Ukraine NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 22 Aug. 2025 Press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President of Ukraine Volodomyr Zelenskyy Dear Mr President, dear Volodymyr, Thank you for what is always a warm welcome to Ukraine. It is good to be here with you in country. And good to be with you again following a very important meeting in Washington earlier this week. Three and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues to stand strong. And your friends and partners in NATO continue to stand with you. Our support is unwavering and continues to grow. Including, as you said, through the new Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List - PURL - that supports a crucial flow of lethal US weapons to Ukraine through funding provided by NATO Allies. In less than one month indeed, this has already meant an additional $1.5 billion of essential equipment. Air defence. Ammunition. And more. Further packages will follow. Allies are supporting your defence industry - investing in ways that not only boost your security but also bolster your economy. I have witnessed the innovation that Ukraine brings to the table with drones. Allies can learn a lot from Ukraine. And I listened carefully also to what you said about the need for more investments here. We are working together in NSATU, the NATO command in Germany - to ensure your fighting forces have what they need both today but also into the future. We are working together in our Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre in Poland, through the NATO office here in Kyiv, through the NATO-Ukraine Council. The list goes on. We are together because we share common values - freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. We are together because we share common cause in preserving the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Our security is interlinked. Dear Volodymyr, your country has been actively defending freedom for three and a half years. Your people have seen terrible horrors and endured so many sleepless nights as Russia has continued to bombard homes and hospitals. Industry and infrastructure. Ukrainian soldiers are fighting bravely. They have pushed back and held back the Russian invasion. We support you and salute you. And we stand with you in the push for a just and lasting peace. Indeed, we were together in Washington on Monday - along with the US President and so many European leaders - to seize the opportunity to end this horrible war and bring peace and security after so much suffering. President Trump has made this a priority - not only breaking the deadlock with Putin but making clear that the United States will be involved in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. Robust security guarantees will be essential - and this is what we are now working to define. So that when the time comes for you to enter that bilateral meeting - you have the unmistakable force of Ukraine's friends behind you. Ensuring that Russia will uphold any deal. And will never, ever again attempt to take one square kilometre of Ukraine. Mr President, dear Volodymyr, I commend your courage and your personal leadership. As well as the fortitude of the Ukrainian people. And as you prepare to mark this great country's Independence Day, know that NATO continues to stand with Ukraine. Thank you once again. Slava Ukraini. Question: Security guarantees differs from the Budapest Memorandum, which did not protect us from the Russian invasion. Which enforceable mechanism should be included to make them real? Thank you so much. NATO Secretary General: Yes, well, let's first agree the importance of the fact that Ukraine, the United States and Europe are working together, and when we talk about security guarantees, let's also agree that there are two layers. Layer number one will be after a peace deal, slash a long term cease fire, or a combination of the two. The first layer has to be for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to be as strong as possible to defend this proud country and nation going forward. And the second layer has to be the security guarantees provided by Europe and the United States, and that's what we are working on. And as we all know, the Budapest Memorandum and Minsk did not provide those security guarantees. So we clearly know what it should not be. And we are now working together Ukraine, the Europeans, the United States to make sure that the security guarantees are of such a level that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, sitting in Moscow, will never, ever try to attack Ukraine again. Question: Dear Secretary General, in continuing the topic of security guarantees, whether or not you discard the actual foot on the ground and deployment of the troops? Thank you. NATO Secretary General: As President Zelenskyy already said, these discussions are now ongoing at many levels. So the security advisors are working together, the foreign ministers are working together on this. Ukraine is heavily involved through both Andrii, both the security advisor and the foreign minister, and the same for the European countries and the United States. So we're really working together on this. And it is too early to exactly say what will be the outcome, but clearly, the US will be involved. Clearly, we do not want to repeat of the Budapest Memorandum or the Minsk agreement. These security guarantees should be holding. And as I said, as a second layer on top of building the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the war moving forward, and NATO will be heavily involved there. We are already, of course, heavily involved through our commands in Wiesbaden, which is helping Ukraine to stay in the fight now, but also to help Ukraine to develop its armed forces as a sovereign, proud nation going forward after the peace deal. So NATO is proudly involved in all of that. Question: And the second question is to Mr. Mark [Rutte]. Thank you so much for your support. And I'd like to hear the direction of NATO regarding the most recent Russian attack on the territory of Poland, a couple of dozens of kilometres from Warsaw. So don't you see that Putin is testing the Article 5 of NATO? NATO Secretary General: Well, we are closely coordinating this with our Polish colleagues, so I'm not going to say too much about it, but we are in very close contact with Poland on this. They have also rightly strongly reacted to this latest incident. So you can be assured to that we are on top of this. Katy Watson, BBC: Hi, Katie Watson from the BBC. My first question is to President Zelensky. It's been a week of talks. I've spoken to lots of Ukrainians who don't feel anything will come out of this. What do you say to Ukrainians who think that we're in the same position as we were a week ago? My second question to the Secretary General. Obviously NATO memberships is off the table, but there's the Ukrainian flag next to NATO. Is your presence a help or a hindrance or even a provocation? And what happens if Russia says no to any guarantees? Does it have a veto? Thank you. NATO Secretary General: Clearly Ukraine and NATO - the US, Europe, Ukraine, NATO - we are all working extremely well together. As I mentioned, we have jointly with Ukraine an organisation in Poland to capture all the lessons from this terrible war and to understand what it means for all the NATO plans in the future, for Ukraine itself, for the build of both arms forces in the future, what lessons we can learn. We have the command in Wiesbaden, from which we organise, together with Ukraine, all the support for Ukraine in this world, from NATO Allies. We are heavily involved in making sure that the Ukrainian Armed Forces, also longer term, will be as interoperable as possible, of the highest standards compared with NATO. We have the Comprehensive Assistance Package. We have this new initiative, thanks to President Trump. By buying from American stockpiles, from the US, military lethal weapons and, of course, air defense systems and interceptors to be paid for by the Europeans directly being delivered to Ukraine. So NATO is involved in all of this. And we agreed in Washington, there is an irreversible path for Ukraine into NATO. And it is true that a couple of NATO Allies, including United States, but also Hungary and others, have said, not now, maybe never, this is for the future. But what we are doing in the meantime is making sure that we work as closely together as possible. We are doing that, and also when it comes to the meeting last Monday, I think it was very important that not only the European countries were there and Ukraine was there, and of course, the American President, and again, let me commend his leadership, the fact that he broke the deadlock with Putin, that he had this enormous success in The Hague with the 5% commitment on defence spending and then putting secondary sanctions on India, making this initiative possible of delivering American weapons into Ukraine, and basically day in, day out, working on bringing peace to this region and ending this terrible war. But it was not only Europeans there and the American President, but also the European countries, the European Union and NATO. So this is all evidence that we work hands in glove. And I visited here in October, I was here in Odesa with the President in April. I'm proud to be back now. I will be back in the future, because we have this very close working relationship between NATO and Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow: No Putin-Zelensky talks without agreed peace agenda Iran Press TV Friday, 22 August 2025 6:32 PM Russia's top diplomat has said there will be no Putin-Zelensky meeting until the agenda for the peace deal between Kiev and Moscow has been agreed upon "There is no meeting planned... [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is ready to meet with [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky, when the agenda would be ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all," Lavrov said on Friday. US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, had claimed on Sunday that during the Trump-Putin summit in Anchorage, Alaska, last week, the two leaders had agreed on the framework of an agenda to achieve peace in Ukraine. Witkoff said the Russian leader had agreed to let the United States and its European allies provide Ukraine with security guarantees similar to NATO's collective defense framework as part of a potential agreement to end the three-and-a-half-year conflict. "We secured a significant concession: the US could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the primary reasons Ukraine wants to join NATO," Witkoff stated on CNN's "State of the Union." However, Witkoff's claims that the sides of the conflict had agreed upon an agenda to achieve peace in Ukraine were incorrect. "President Trump suggested, after Anchorage several points which we share, and on some of them, we agreed to be to show some flexibility," Lavrov said. "When President Trump brought those issues to the meeting in Washington with Zelensky present together with his European sponsors, he clearly indicated... that there are several principles which Washington believes must be accepted, including no NATO membership, including the discussion of territorial issues. And Zelensky said no to everything," he added. "He even said no to, as I said, to canceling legislation prohibiting the Russian language. How can we meet with a person who is pretending to be a leader?" Lavroc added. Russia's top diplomat pointed out that during the Alaska summit, the Russian leader had agreed to show some leniency on a number of issues raised by Trump. He said that the meeting between Putin and Zelensky has not been planned, but the Russian leader is ready to meet him. The top Russian diplomat said such an agenda is currently nonexistent. Lavrov said the Russian leader's meeting with Zelensky will be planned when the summit agenda is ready. In the meantime, the war in Ukraine continues to escalate. The US president had initially set August 8 as the deadline for Putin to agree to end the war or face new sanctions targeting Russia and its oil buyers. Instead, Trump decided to meet with Putin in Alaska last Friday. Since then, Russia has largely held firm to its longstanding demands, while proposing to freeze the front line in two Ukrainian regions and expressing conditional willingness to return small portions of occupied territory. In the meantime, according to Ukrainian military source, Russian troops fired 574 drones and 40 missiles on Thursday that struck western regions of the country, inflicting casualties. Russia's Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted "enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex," including drone factories, storage depots, missile launch sites and areas where Ukrainian forces were gathered. Ukraine, for its part, has stepped up drone attacks on Russian targets. Since Moscow launched the special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the US-led Western countries have been providing Kiev forces with countless weapons and munitions to fight against Russian troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelensky Rejected All of Trump's Proposals for Ukraine Settlement, Says Lavrov Sputnik News 20250822 Volodymyr Zelensky said 'no' to all of US President Donald Trump's proposals for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, which the US considers necessary, at a meeting in Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey "President Trump suggested, after Anchorage several points which we share, and on some of them, we agreed to be to show some flexibility. When President Trump brought those issues to the meeting in Washington with Zelensky present together with his European sponsors, he clearly indicated... that there are several principles which Washington believes must be accepted, including no NATO membership, including the discussion of territorial issues. And Zelensky said no to everything. He even said no to, as I said, to canceling legislation prohibiting the Russian language. How can we meet with a person who is pretending to be a leader?" Lavrov said. At the Alaska summit Russia agreed to demonstrate flexibility on a number of issues raised by US President Donald Trump, Lavrov added. A meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky has not been planned, but the Russian leader is ready to meet him when the summit agenda will be ready, which is currently inexistent, Lavrov said. "There is no meeting planned... Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky, when the agenda would be ready for for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all," Lavrov told NBC. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po visits Raiqen Monastery in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 29, 2025. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po performed his regular duties at the Xizang branch of the Buddhist Association of China and participated in religious and social activities in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region from June 30 to Aug. 20. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) LHASA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po performed his regular duties at the Xizang branch of the Buddhist Association of China and participated in religious and social activities in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region from June 30 to Aug. 20. Panchen Rinpoche, a leader of Tibetan Buddhism, arrived in Lhasa, the regional capital, by plane from Beijing on June 27. From July 7 to 24, he visited Qamdo and Nagqu, where he attended religious services and conducted social research. During his time in Lhasa, he presided over a series of meetings as the president of the Xizang branch of the Buddhist Association of China. At a symposium held by the association's Xizang branch on Aug. 13 to mark Xizang Autonomous Region's 60th founding anniversary, he emphasized that Xizang's progress is a systematic achievement that spans politics, the economy, social harmony, and ecological advancement. He noted that work related to ethnic groups and religion has played an irreplaceable role in building a united, stable, and harmonious society. Between July 1 and Aug. 18, Panchen Rinpoche also visited several temples in Lhasa to provide Buddhist teachings and offer blessings to believers and residents. Additionally, he carried out research at a local cultural development company. Panchen Rinpoche is a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, and is also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po carries out research at a local cultural development company in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 6, 2025. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po performed his regular duties at the Xizang branch of the Buddhist Association of China and participated in religious and social activities in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region from June 30 to Aug. 20. (Photo by Chogo/Xinhua) China Ready to Play Constructive Role in Political Settlement of Ukrainian Crisis Sputnik News 20250822 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday that all parties should work toward a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis grounded in lasting security, and that China is ready to play a constructive role in this process. "We believe that all parties should promote a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis based on common, comprehensive cooperation and a sustainable security perspective. China is ready to play a constructive role in this issue," Mao said, commenting on the statement pf Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Kiev "does not need China as a security guarantor." China always adheres to an objective and fair position on the Ukrainian crisis, which is "obvious to all interested parties," the diplomat said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Druzhba Oil Pipeline Attacked Again Slovak Economy Minister Sputnik News 20250822 Russian oil supplies to Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline had to be suspended earlier in August following an attack linked to Ukraine. The Druzhba pipeline near the Belarusian border has been targeted again, said Slovakia's Economy Minister, Denisa Sakova. "Pumping may stop shortly. We are assessing the scale of the damage," she warned in a social media post. On Wednesday, Slovakia's Economy Ministry reported that oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, halted after an attack linked to Ukraine on Monday, had resumed. Russian oil supplies to Hungary had also been suspended earlier this year following the Ukrainian military's attacks on the pipe's key distribution station "Unecha" in Russia's Bryansk region. Expressing gratitude to Russia for the swift repairs, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto added that Hungary considers strikes on energy infrastructure an attack on its sovereignty. The attacks come as Ukraine has been desperately attempting to jeopardize the peace process, which gained momentum after the historic Putin-Trump meeting in Alaska. A Ukrainian terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge has been prevented, according to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). Russian anti-drone systems intercepted an attempted drone attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a nuclear power plant in Russia's Smolensk region. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Suspect Arrested in Italy Investigated for February Tanker Explosions - Reports Sputnik News 20250822 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Genoa Prosecutor's Office has requested information regarding a Ukrainian arrested on suspicion of the Nord Stream pipelines attack to determine his possible involvement in the February explosions on an oil tanker in the Italian port Savona, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the German prosecutor's office said that Ukrainian citizen Sergei K., who is suspected of coordinating sabotage on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in 2022 was detained in Italy. The prosecution is interested in the "similarities and suspicions" between the Nord Stream terrorist attack and the attack on the Malta-flagged oil tanker Seajewel in the port of Savona in February: a hole was formed in the ship's hull due to the explosion of two magnetic mines, one of which was later found on the seabed, the report said. According to Italian media, the attack targeted the so-called "shadow fleet" under foreign flags, which allegedly transports Russian-origin oil in violation of sanctions. On February 18, Italian media reported that two explosions occurred on board the Seajewel tanker in the port of Savona, producing a hole in the hull of the vessel with traces of external impact. The crew of the Malta-flagged ship reported the incident on February 15 during the unloading of oil. The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were hit by explosions in September 2022. Germany, Denmark and Sweden have not ruled out deliberate sabotage. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has opened an investigation into it as an act of international terrorism. Russia has repeatedly requested data on other countries' investigations into the explosions, but never received it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry statement on the modern lessons of the 86th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 22 August 2025 20:00 Eighty-six years ago, on August 23, 1939, the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, known as the "Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact," was signed in Moscow, along with its secret protocols. In these agreements, Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Europe. This event triggered World War II, which began with the joint attack on Poland by two totalitarian regimesthe Nazi Third Reich from the west and the communist USSR from the east. These military operations implemented the secret protocols signed in Moscow and culminated in a joint military parade of Wehrmacht and Red Army units in Brest, on occupied Polish territory. Today, the lessons of the past are more relevant than ever. Just as it was 86 years ago, Moscow's main objective is to divide spheres of influence and redraw borders in Europe by force. And just as it was then, any support for such aims or secret agreements with Moscow can only lead to a global catastrophe. The events of 1938-1939, which culminated in the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the start of World War II, demonstrated that appeasing an aggressor does not bring peace; it always leads to a greater war. At that time, the short-sighted and cowardly policies ultimately resulted in the deaths of 70 to 85 million people, unprecedented atrocities and destruction, and a global catastrophe for humanity. The international community must not repeat these mistakes today, as the Russian Federation has unleashed the bloodiest war of aggression in Europe since World War II. It has brought back to European soil atrocities not seen since that time, which Russian occupiers are committing in the course of their aggression against Ukraine. It is telling that the current regime in Moscow is making every effort to manipulate and distort the historical truth about August 23, 1939. The signing of the non-aggression pact between the Third Reich and the USSR is justified with all sorts of opportunistic arguments, and the fact of the joint attack on and dismemberment of Poland with the Nazis is presented as a strategic necessity. All of this contradicts historical documents and testimonies. We call on the international community to resolutely condemn Russia's manipulation and whitewashing of this and other crimes of the Soviet Union and the Stalinist regime. It is necessary to double our joint efforts to study, preserve, and promote the historical truth about the causes and consequences of World War II. Drawing the correct conclusions from the past will help prevent catastrophic mistakes in the present and the future. In the context of the current situation, we once again express our support for the efforts to achieve peace through strength, led by the United States and personally by U.S. President Donald Trump, with the active role of European allies. We emphasize that Ukraine, more than anyone else, wants to end the war and restore a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace and is ready to work as effectively as possible with its partners to achieve this goal. We also separately stress the importance of the U.S. and European allies providing effective security guarantees for Ukraine as part of the peace process. In light of the lessons of the past, we emphasize that to achieve a just peace, it is necessary to increase pressure on the aggressor state of Russia and strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and resilience. A just end to Russian aggression will be the best evidence that the international community has learned from the mistakes of the 20th century and that the slogan "Never again!" truly has practical meaning for modern generations. The law of force must never become superior to the force of international law, and the desire for peace cannot be a reason for appeasing an aggressor. The events of the past must be a lesson we have learned, not a mistake we have repeated. Together, we are capable of protecting the world from this. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the planned military exercises in the territory of the Republic of Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 22 August 2025 18:12 In the context of the planned in the coming weeks military exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, namely "Interaction-2025", "Search-2025", "Echelon-2025", and the joint strategic exercises of the armed forces of Belarus and the Russian Federation "Zapad-2025", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine states the following. Since 2022, the Republic of Belarus has been an accomplice in the crime of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Minsk has provided the Russian occupiers with the territory of Belarus and its airspace to attack our state, and also continues political, military, military-technical, informational and other types of support for Russia in its unprovoked and criminal war of aggression against Ukraine. The cooperation between the regimes in Moscow and Minsk poses an immediate threat not only to Ukraine, but also to Poland, the Baltic states and all of Europe, and also hinders peaceful efforts of the United States President Donald Trump to end the war. We call on our partners to remain vigilant, to increase sanctions and political pressure on Russia and Belarus, to jointly counter Russian propaganda and strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, which protect Europe from the Russian threat. We remember the bitter experience and the price of the false statements of the Russian and Belarusian dictators. The build-up of Russian troops on the borders of Ukraine in 2021-2022 took place under the cover of the joint military exercises of Russia and Belarus "Zapad-2021". We warn Minsk against reckless provocations, advising to remain prudent, not to approach the borders and not to provoke the Defense Forces of Ukraine. We emphasize that Ukraine has never posed and will not pose a threat to the Belarusian people, with whom we strive to live in peace, having a common past that dates back to the Princely Era and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and a future in the European family of nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yevhen Perebyinis held a meeting with the Romanian parliamentary delegation Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 22 August 2025 16:26 On 22 August, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Yevhen Perebyinis, held a meeting with the Romanian parliamentary delegation led by the head of the Friendship Group with Ukraine in the Romanian Parliament, head of the Union of Ukrainians in Romania, Mykola Petretskyi. Yevhen Perebyinis expressed gratitude to the Romanian parliamentarians for their support of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as for the comprehensive support provided by Romania to our country in countering Russian aggression. The parties confirmed their shared position on the importance of restoring a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace for Ukraine. During the meeting, they noted the active political dialogue and dynamic cooperation between the countries in all areas of mutual interest, reflecting the level of strategic partnership. The parties welcomed the agreement reached to establish passenger rail connections between Kyiv and Bucharest in the near future. The Romanian delegation emphasized its support for Ukraine's course towards full membership in the European Union and NATO. Additionally, the prospects for enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation and Romania's participation in the reconstruction of our state were discussed. The parties also exchanged views on the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, highlighting the constructive and substantive dialogue on this issue. The meeting also focused on cooperation in the trilateral format of "Ukraine - Republic of Moldova - Romania" at both governmental and parliamentary levels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denys Shmyhal and NATO Secretary General discuss defense cooperation between Ukraine and the Alliance Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 22 August, 2025, 5:03 PM EEST Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kyiv. "We held a substantive and constructive dialogue on defense cooperation between Ukraine and the Alliance. I highly commend Mark Rutte's leadership in launching Alliance initiatives to support Ukraine. In particular, approximately USD 1.5 billion in military assistance has already been mobilized under the PURL mechanism, developed jointly with NATO and the United States," said Denys Shmyhal. According to the Minister of Defence, in this context, it is essential to continue meaningful cooperation within the Coalition of the Willing. The parties discussed preparations for the next Ramstein-format meeting, the future enhancement of NATO's role, and coordination on financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the development of the defense industry. "Our priorities are clear: achieving NATO standards, integrating into global supply chains, and deploying innovations and battle-proven technologies. I thank NATO and the Secretary General for their strong and steadfast support of Ukraine. Together, we are building a peaceful and secure future for the next generation," the Defence Minister emphasized. In addition, Denys Shmyhal and the NATO Secretary General visited one of Ukraine's largest drone manufacturing enterprises. This enterprise regularly fulfills government contracts, supplying drones to units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine. Notwithstanding the security threats of full-scale war, the enterprise continues to develop and implement innovative approaches to expanding production, the Minister of Defence noted. "Ukraine possesses unique expertise in battlefield innovations and industrial production, and is prepared to share it with NATO partners. We count on the Alliance to maintain support for Ukraine's defense industry and invest in our shared security," summarized Denys Shmyhal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mark Rutte Took Part in the International Veterans Forum President of Ukraine 22 August 2025 - 19:18 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte took part in the VIII International Veterans Forum "Ukraine. Veterans. Security." The event is traditionally held on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day. The Head of State thanked all those who have defended and continue to defend Ukraine and its independence. The President emphasized that Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that this war for independence ends as soon as possible and, most importantly, with real security for future generations, justly and with respect for Ukrainian defenders and all citizens. "The key to this is security guarantees, which we are currently working on together with our partners. I am confident this will happen. And it will be based on our strong army, and therefore on your experience and combat results," the Head of State said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that veterans must know and feel how much all of Ukraine owes them and how important they are to the country. The Head of State called on everyone to remember the Ukrainians who gave their lives for all of us. The memory of the fallen warriors was honored with a minute of silence. Mark Rutte noted that it is a privilege for him to honor Ukraine's defenders, who, all these years, have been defending everything they hold dear. "We stood with you from the beginning, and we stand with you now, and we will stand with you throughout the challenges ahead. NATO allies and partners have provided unprecedented military support to Ukraine, including air defenses, ammunition, armored vehicles, and fighter jets," he said. The NATO Secretary General also noted that the Alliance cooperates with Ukraine to support veterans, their psychological rehabilitation, and the establishment of rehabilitation centers. According to him, the experience of Ukrainian warriors will be of enormous importance during the transformation of transatlantic defense approaches. The President of Ukraine, together with Mark Rutte, presented state awards to Ukrainian warriors. Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Order of the Golden Star to the family of the late Hero of Ukraine, Maksym "Dali" Kryvtsov. He volunteered for the front in 2014. During the ATO and JFO, he participated in the defense of Pisky and Avdiivka. After demobilization, he worked at the ATO/JFO Rehabilitation Center "YARMIZ" and Veteran Hub. After the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, serving as a Special Operations Forces machine gunner: engaging directly with the enemy, participating in assaults, and conducting raids behind enemy lines at various sectors of the front. In 2023, his poetry collection "Poems from the Loophole" was published. Maksym Kryvtsov was killed last year, on January 7, in the Kharkiv region due to a Russian mortar attack. He was awarded the Ulas Samchuk Literary Prize (posthumously). The Head of State also awarded defenders with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class, of Merit, III class, "For Courage," I and III classes, and the Medal "For Military Service to Ukraine." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Guarantees, Defense Support, and Diplomatic Efforts to Achieve Peace: Summary of the Meeting between the President of Ukraine and the NATO Secretary General President of Ukraine 22 August 2025 - 18:08 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who visited Kyiv on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day. The Head of State thanked Mark Rutte for his personal engagement in the peace process, his ongoing support for Ukraine, and his participation in the Washington meeting. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mark Rutte discussed joint steps that could provide greater security for Ukraine and all of Europe and bring the war to a real conclusion. In particular, they focused on preparing reliable security guarantees. The President noted that negotiations on the specific content of security guarantees for Ukraine are ongoing practically every day. "Our shared goal is exactly as it is formulated in the dialogue with partners - Article 5-like guarantees, similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. These are truly effective security guarantees, and that is the outcome we must achieve: a crystal-clear architecture of which countries assist us on the ground, which are responsible for the security of our skies, which guarantee security at sea and support Ukraine," the Head of State said. Security guarantees should also include funding for the Ukrainian army in the size and quality that will provide real defense for Ukraine. Among other topics, the meeting discussed the implementation of the PURL program, through which European partners have already allocated USD 1.5 billion to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mark Rutte also talked about engaging additional partners in this initiative. "New participants will soon join - we are grateful to each and every one of them. This enables Ukraine to procure from the United States such critically needed items as air defense systems - first and foremost, Patriots, missiles, HIMARS, and other types of weaponry," added the President. The meeting also addressed in detail the funding of Ukrainian drone production. The President emphasized that Ukraine's potential in this area far exceeds its financial capabilities. According to him, the funding gap of more than EUR 6 billion needs to be closed in the near future. "I witnessed innovations Ukraine brings to the table with drones. And allies can learn a lot from Ukraine," said Mark Rutte. The President of Ukraine and the NATO Secretary General also exchanged views on working together to end the war. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he is ready for meetings with the Russian leader, both bilaterally and in a trilateral format involving the United States. "Truly strong sanctions are needed if they do not agree to a diplomatic solution to this war. If they do not want to end the war, we are counting heavily on strong packages from our partners. We believe everything must be done to ensure Russia can no longer evade such meetings. We see a strong signal from the United States that they are ready to move forward. Europe and other countries within the Coalition of the Willing are also ready to help - and we are grateful for that," emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Mark Rutte noted that during the meeting in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump clearly stated that the United States would be involved in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. "This is what we are now working to define. So that when the time comes for you to enter that bilateral meeting, you have the unmistakable force of Ukraine's friends behind you, ensuring that Russia will uphold any deal and will never ever again attempt to take one square kilometer of Ukraine," concluded the NATO Secretary General. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Speech by the President at the VIII International Veterans Forum "Ukraine. Veterans. Security" President of Ukraine 22 August 2025 - 17:47 Glory to Ukraine! Our dear warriors, our dear veterans! Everyone who is here in Ukraine, who stands with Ukraine, with our defenders! I am glad to welcome all of you. And continuing this tradition - the tradition of veterans' forums on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day - I want to begin this year's forum with the most important thing: with gratitude and applause for each of you, every single person defending our state, our independence. We remember: an independent Ukraine exists thanks to those who care about what will happen to Ukraine. We thank you all! And I would also like to express special gratitude today to Mark. It is an honor. I thank you for the fact that the NATO Secretary General is here today with his team and that he supported this proposal. I really wanted you to be present here today at the veterans' forum. It is an honor for us. Thank you! Dear attendees! Many of us, when we were children, heard the word "veteran." And it was about the people around us - our relatives who went through the war, the Second World War. And these were already elderly people - like my grandfather, who fought against the Nazis. We saw them; we saw how distant the war was. They rarely spoke of the war. But they always remembered those who had gone through that war with them. They were proud that they had protected life. But they never turned it into a cult. And they never imagined that war could return and again become something ordinary for Europe, and that their grandchildren, young generations, would fight again, and they also would be called veterans. And that the same kind of evil would come again, only this time - Rashism. 2014. 2022. For Ukraine, this war is now already longer than the Second World War. And no one yet knows when this war - the War for Ukraine's Independence - will end. But we are doing everything to ensure that it ends not someday far away, but as soon as possible. This is extremely important. And most importantly, it must end with real security for our children, our grandchildren. But it must also end justly. This is crucial - with respect for Ukraine, for Ukrainians, for all of you, for our warriors, for veterans. I have no doubt that Ukraine will defend its independence. In fact, you have already defended our independence. We have already united all of Europe and many other countries of the world around Ukraine and around such brave people of ours. Now our task is to ensure that our children, our grandchildren, and our future generations of Ukrainians do not have to go through war. The key to this is security guarantees, which we are currently working on together with our partners. Today, Mark is here, and he is a great friend of ours, a great friend of Ukraine, and together with him, with other European leaders, with the United States of America, and with a coalition of our partners - over 30 countries - we are preparing security guarantees, so crucial for Ukraine. I am confident this will happen. And it will be based first and foremost on our strong army, and therefore on your experience, experience of combat results - yours and your brothers-in-arms', hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who are now at the front, on combat missions, or who have already returned from the war with honor. I do not want to speak now about challenges - you know them - about figures, percentages, statistics. We will hear about these today from our government officials. We will hear proposals, initiatives, and decisions. And this is important. But it is equally important that you know, and that each of you feels, how much all of Ukraine owes you. And that we hope you will continue to stand with Ukraine - to strengthen Ukraine, to work, to preserve for Ukraine and for all our future generations the knowledge that courage truly changes history and protects the right to life for nations. I thank you! And I ask you always to honor the memory of all our men and women who gave their lives for us. I ask you now to observe a minute of silence in their memory. Thank you. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, visits Donggaozhuang Village of Sunzu Town, Yinan County, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 20, 2025. Li made a research tour to Shandong from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) JINAN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's anti-graft chief Li Xi has called for greater efforts to ensure the high-quality development of discipline inspection and supervision work. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, made the remarks during a research tour to east China's Shandong Province that lasted from Wednesday to Friday. Li underlined that the efforts to improve Party conduct, build integrity, and combat corruption should extend to the grassroots level and target the most pressing issues of public concern. He also urged efforts to foster the culture of integrity and to serve the country's high-quality development with solid discipline inspection and supervision work. When presiding over a symposium to review the progress of discipline inspection and supervision work and solicit opinions and suggestions, Li stressed that discipline inspection and supervision agencies play an important role in advancing the self-reform of the CPC. Li called on these agencies to intensify efforts in combating misconduct and graft, particularly those affecting people's daily lives, and improve their own capabilities in an effective and persistent manner. Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, presides over a symposium in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 22, 2025. Li made a research tour to Shandong from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Statement by the President of Ukraine Following the Meeting with the NATO Secretary General President of Ukraine 22 August 2025 - 15:39 Thank you very much, Mark, my dear friend! Dear attendees, our teams, dear journalists, Today, on the eve of Independence Day, we welcome to Ukraine our friend, our ally - an ally in many senses of the word. Mark has been helping Ukraine, helping our defense and our relations with other partners, throughout all these years, since the beginning of this war, since the start of the full-scale invasion. Both when he was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and now as NATO Secretary General. We deeply appreciate your personal support, Mark, and I am very grateful to you. And today, we discussed primarily what next joint steps of ours can bring greater security to Ukraine and all of Europe, and bring us closer to a real end to the war. The first point is security guarantees. Together with all our partners, we have reached an important understanding with the United States of America. The United States is ready to be part of the security guarantees for Ukraine, and this is the first time we have secured such readiness. Now, practically every day, negotiations are ongoing on the specific content of the security guarantees for Ukraine - at the level of national security advisors, our military, and diplomats from all teams. Yesterday, there was a call between Ukraine, all of Europe, and the United States. Today, this work will continue. I am grateful to everyone involved in this process. Our shared goal is exactly as it is formulated in the dialogue with partners - Article 5-like guarantees, similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. These are truly effective security guarantees, and that is the outcome we must achieve: a crystal-clear architecture of which countries assist us on the ground, which are responsible for the security of our skies, which guarantee security at sea and support Ukraine. This also involves financing our army - the size and quality of the Ukrainian army that will defend Ukraine. Much of this is based on our cooperation with partners, on our cooperation with NATO, which has already been achieved. The Ukrainian army, and our defense and security infrastructure as a whole, are very strongly integrated into the Alliance's system. There is also extensive bilateral cooperation with NATO members. We will certainly continue all practical levels of our cooperation with NATO. The second point is weapons for Ukrainian warriors. The PURL program is already operational. Mark, thank you so much for this initiative - it is a truly powerful one. This program allows us to purchase American weapons with funds provided by our partners. It already includes $1.5 billion from our European partners, and new participants will soon join - we are grateful to each and every one of them. This enables Ukraine to procure from the United States such critically needed items as air defense systems - first and foremost, Patriots, missiles, HIMARS, and other types of weaponry. Mark, once again, thank you for organizing and coordinating this program. It is important that every month adds more funding and efficiency to the program - on average, about $1 billion per month. Mark and I discussed that it could be $1 billion per month, or perhaps around $1.5 billion - this is something we need to work on. We discussed how to engage more countries in the PURL program. Equally critical is ensuring sufficient funding for our domestic drone production programs - this was the second part of our discussion with our teams, focusing exclusively on internal production. Ukraine's production potential is far greater than our current financial capabilities, and we are working to close this gap. Today, Mark has already seen some of our drones - different models, very effective - and they truly are weapon number one: they hold back the enemy, hold the front line, and reduce the number of Ukrainian losses. This is undoubtedly the most important thing - and it is achieved thanks to drones. The Russians are increasing their use of drones. We can see this. We have everything we need to counter this. Funding is important. In the near future, we must cover this shortfall. We have already spoken openly about this - it's just over $6 billion - and we are counting heavily on support from our partners. And the next point is diplomacy. We discussed the key details of our joint efforts aimed at meaningful negotiations to end the war. Mark and I consult frequently - we are constantly in touch - on how best to act, especially in the context of partnership, both our broader partnership and our joint partnership with the United States of America, with President Trump. We had, I believe, a historically important visit to Washington, to the capital. We agreed on security guarantees, which I have already mentioned. We also discussed possible formats for meetings with Russia and its ruler - both a bilateral format and a trilateral one. We have also heard about all this. It is at the leaders' level that issues must be resolved to end the war. Right now, however, we see that the Russians are doing everything to prevent such meetings from happening. Ukraine, unlike Russia, is not afraid of any meetings with leaders. We are ready to work as productively as possible, and we hope that our partners will help ensure at least a minimally productive position from the Russian side. They must be compelled to engage in diplomacy. Truly strong sanctions are needed if they do not agree to a diplomatic solution to this war. If they do not want to end the war, we are counting heavily on strong packages from our partners. We believe everything must be done to ensure Russia can no longer evade such meetings. We see a strong signal from the United States that they are ready to move forward. Europe and other countries within the Coalition of the Willing are also ready to help - and we are grateful for that. A solid coalition platform has been built - more than 30 countries, including Japan, Canada, and others. It is a pro-Ukrainian coalition - and it is quite large. It is important to implement all of this. It is very difficult, but it is important. That is what we are working on. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Presidential Office Will Be Reformed to Increase the Share of Military Personnel and Veterans Across All Departments President of Ukraine 22 August 2025 - 10:10 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has endorsed a proposal to reform the Presidential Office, ensuring that a significant portion of its staff are military personnel with verified combat experience and combat veterans. The proposal was submitted by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak. The reform will apply to employees at all levels across every department. According to Andriy Yermak, this initiative is not only about fair treatment of Ukrainian warriors but also about their ability to deliver important results. As an example, he cited the work of his deputy, Colonel Pavlo Palisa, who previously served as the commander of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade and is now serving in the Presidential Office, demonstrating the same speed, integrity, and principled approach. Andriy Yermak noted that in the future, this culture should expand across the entire civil service and called on representatives of business, IT, and culture to support this initiative. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin-Zelensky meeting not being planned, intense mutual attacks persist People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:10, August 23, 2025 "Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says. MOSCOW/KIEV, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not being planned, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday as heavy fighting between Russia and Ukraine dragged on. "Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all," Lavrov told the U.S. news outlet NBC. His comments came a week after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Putin in the U.S. state of Alaska for talks aimed at ending the three-year conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. president also met with Zelensky and European leaders on Monday. The latest discussions of a potential Putin-Zelensky meeting surfaced after Trump said he called Putin and started working on a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky -- and possibly a trilateral one including himself -- following his talks on Monday. Commenting on the potential meetings, Trump told reporters Friday: "We're going to see if Putin and Zelensky will be working together. You know, that's like oil and vinegar a little bit." "They don't get along too well ... but we'll see, and then we'll see whether or not I would have to be there. I'd rather not. I'd rather have them have a meeting and see how they can do," he said. Lavrov told NBC that Russia has agreed to show flexibility on several issues raised by Trump during his meeting with Putin. The foreign minister previously said that Russia does not reject any formats, either bilateral or trilateral, on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, but noted that any contacts over Ukraine involving top officials need to be prepared "extremely carefully." Zelensky on Friday said Russia is "doing everything" to prevent his meeting with Putin from taking place. "The meeting is one of the components of how to end the war. And since they don't want to end it, they will look for space to (avoid it)," he added. On the frontline, both Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks on each other's energy infrastructures over the past week. The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that over the past week, Russian troops captured nine settlements and launched six group strikes targeting the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and energy facilities, an oil refinery, and storage sites of Ukrainian missiles, fuel, rocket-artillery weapons, and long-range drones. During the period, Russian air defense systems shot down 25 guided aerial bombs, 11 rocket projectiles from the U.S.-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, as well as 1,500 drones, it said. Zelensky said Thursday that Russia launched one of the largest strikes against Ukraine overnight involving over 570 drones and 40 missiles. A U.S. factory in western Ukraine was targeted, he added. The commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, announced on Friday an attack on the Unecha pumping station in Russia's Bryansk region. The station is a crucial part of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday the pipeline was subjected to repeated Ukrainian attacks over the past weeks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Diplomacy May Be Putin's Path To Victory, Not Peace, Warns Clifford May By Current Time August 23, 2025 As global leaders push for potential peace talks to take place between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- the first in more than three years of Moscow's full-scale war against Ukraine -- there is considerable skepticism that Putin would make any reasonable promises, let alone stick to them in the medium or long term. Clifford May, the founder of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C., voiced such a warning in a recent interview with Current Time. He maintains that what Putin wants is victory, not peace, and his ultimate goal is to restore the Russian Empire by subsuming Ukraine. Putin's only interest in diplomacy, May says, is to achieve what his protracted and bloody war cannot: full control of the Donbas. Current Time: How exactly do you envision a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy unfolding? Clifford May: Uncomfortably. This is not going to be easy for Zelenskyy. It won't be so hard for Putin, as he's used to bullying people. He bullies pretty much everybody in his life -- or flatters them, as he did with Trump. But he'll attempt to bully Zelenskyy. His mission, it seems to me, is very clear: It's to restore the Russian/Soviet empire. And that requires that he drag Ukraine back into it. He also doesn't like the idea of a free, independent, and democratic nation right across the border from him. A bad example for Russians, as he sees it. The negotiations between [Putin and Zelenskyy] are going to be very tense and very difficult because Putin will essentially be saying, "You need to surrender to me. Anything else will not be acceptable." Current Time: Two of the main issues under discussion are security guarantees and territory. As for territory, Zelenskyy has said he will only discuss this in person with Putin. What are the implications of a sovereign state negotiating territorial concessions to achieve peace? May: It's happened before: Think of the Soviet war against Finland in 1939, the Winter War. In that case, Stalin thought -- as Putin thought -- I can take over this little country in a few days. The Finns fought so bravely and so hard to protect their sovereignty and independence. Finland did not become a constituent republic of the Soviet Union like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It didn't become a vassal state. [However,] it lost some freedom in independence. It lost roughly 10 percent of its territory in the end: Karelia. But Finland today is a free and independent country and now a member of NATO. Here's what worries me most: Too few people understand that what Putin wants through diplomacy is not peace but victory. He wants to get through diplomacy what he hasn't been able to achieve through war over the past three or so years. He has much of the Donbas but not all of it. He wants the rest of it. In particular, he wants what's known as "the fortress belt," [which is made up of the] fortress cities he hasn't been able to break through. There's a British military assessment that says for [Russia] to break through that would probably require another four years of fighting and roughly 2 million more casualties. Putin no doubt thinks, "If I can get there through diplomacy, isn't that a big victory for me?" What security guarantee [can] there be in place of the fortress belt? French soldiers, British soldiers? Will they stay long enough? Will they be good enough? These are very important questions that I hope will at least be brought to Trump's attention by his advisers and that he will think about very hard over the coming days and weeks. Current Time: What do you think such security guarantees should look like? Many politicians say they should resemble NATO's Article 5. Is implementing such a mechanism outside of NATO realistic? May: It's a possibility. Article 5 under the NATO treaty says you attack one NATO member, you've attacked all NATO members, and, theoretically, all NATO members will respond. I'm not absolutely sure [that would happen], and this worries me. It worries me because imagine Putin considers that he succeeds in Ukraine and decides he now wants [something like] a land bridge through Lithuania to his military bases in Kaliningrad. How many days will it take for [Russia to occupy] this southernmost road in Lithuania and say, "This is now Russian territory"? Theoretically, Article 5 is now triggered. Do we all go to war against Russia for a road in Lithuania? Does the US? I can see plenty of people in the US who would say, "That's not really not worth American blood and treasure." So it's hard. We have to think about what security guarantees are going to mean at the end of this. It's helpful if it means European troops and not just peacekeepers; they're meant to hold that border line. And if France and Britain say, "If you attack one of our soldiers, we'll consider an attack by Russia on us," that's useful, too. But a security guarantee can also be something like the Budapest memo of 1994. Russia signed it, America signed it, Britain signed it. It said: "We will all respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine." That security guarantee was not literally worth the paper it was written on. Security guarantees are a good thing, and I'm glad Trump is talking about it. It doesn't mean American boots on the ground [but could] mean American drones in the air, American satellites, and intelligence cooperation. It could even mean a no-fly zone in that area. But we don't know. The devil is very much in the details. Current Time: Assuming Ukraine receives effective and reliable security guarantees, why would Putin accept them? May: He might accept them with the thinking: "You know what, I'm going to get the land I want without fighting for four years. Without losing, without 2 million casualties." He knows his army is tired. His army is not particularly good at this point. He wants to rebuild that. His economy is in terrible shape. He might say, "This is good. Yeah, there are going to be some security guarantees, but I don't think they'll hold up. And I'll do everything I can in the negotiations to make sure these security guarantees are not so good." Current Time: You talk of Putin seeing Russia only as an empire. Recent polls in Ukraine indicate most citizens believe Putin would not stop even after a cessation of hostilities. In your opinion, would Putin return to seize all of Ukraine after a possible freeze in the war? May: His goal is to take all of Ukraine. He doesn't believe Ukraine has any right to be a sovereign, independent country. He will take all of it if he absolutely can. And he will take more. Putin has put up monuments to Stalin in the Moscow [subway] and around the country. Why? [Not] because he's a communist, but he's not an anti-communist, either. He has an unlimited partnership with Xi Jinping, leader of the most powerful Communist Party ever in history. He has very good relations with Kim Jong Un in North Korea. [Putin] knows that when Stalin was dictator of the Soviet Union, the Russian Empire was at its largest in history. It's what Putin's mission is, to restore [that]. It's not so much the territory that he wants, because Russia already is a huge country. But he could use 40 million more Russians, couldn't he? The population, the demography [of Russia] is dreadful. So [Putin] would love to expand his population. And one way to do that is to force Ukrainians to consider themselves Russian. That's why he's been stealing Ukrainian children and trying to brainwash them into thinking of themselves as Russian. Current Time: Do you think a possible meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy could lead to any concrete agreements? May: My best guess is that it doesn't lead to much. Maybe a few agreements will be worked out if they can be at the trilateral when Putin, Zelenskyy, and Trump get together and Trump will take on the role of referee and say, "Volodymyr, give up the Donbas." And then maybe he says to Putin, "Vladimir, you can have everything you've conquered, but not much more." Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/clifford-may-current-time- interview-putin-ukraine-defense-of-democracies/33510295.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 George Town, Cayman Islands, Aug. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coffee With Q In the latest episode of Coffee With Q, hosted by entrepreneur and journalist Qamar Zaman, guest John Kaplan shares his trading journey and first-hand experience as a beta tester of the Q Algoa custom-built tool designed to help traders navigate SPX zero DTE options. Kaplan, an entrepreneur turned trader, discussed his years of trial-and-error with different trading systems before discovering the Q Algo. His story highlights both the challenges and opportunities of trading SPX zero DTE contracts and how structured tools can help remove emotional decision-making. Key Highlights From the Interview: John Kaplans transition from entrepreneurship into day trading and options. Lessons learned from testing strategies like iron condors, futures, and earnings trades. Why SPX zero DTE options became his focus. Early results using the Q Algo with one-contract trades showing accessibility for beginners. showing accessibility for beginners. Insights on trading discipline, cutting losses early, and avoiding overtrading. Read the full article and interview breakdown here: Coffee With Q Podcast: John Kaplans Journey Into SPX Zero DTE Options With the Q Algo Media Contact Kat@CoffeeWithQ.org Source: Coffee With Q Podcast Show RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SILQFi, the financial arm of SILQ Group, has partnered with Helix, a leading RWA tokenization protocol, to launch a first-of-its-kind shariah-compliant tokenized invoice financing initiative in the Gulf. This collaboration combines Helixs on-chain infrastructure with SILQFis regional expertise to channel stablecoin capital into real-world financing for small businesses, advancing financial inclusion across the region. The global SMEs financing gap stands at $5 trillion, with the GCC alone accounting for over $250 billion. Despite making up nearly 90% of all businesses, SMEs receive just 9% of traditional bank lending. This mismatch continues to limit their growth and GDP contribution. By bridging decentralized finance (DeFi) and embedded finance, this initiative offers a powerful alternative, unlocking new sources of capital through tokenized assets and delivering it directly into business workflows. By linking on-chain and off-chain markets, it combines the reach and efficiency of blockchain with the real-world utility of embedded credit, creating a new model to close the SMEs financing gap at scale. Market momentum is clear. By August 2025, tokenized RWAs (excluding stablecoins) had surpassed $25 billion, while stablecoins the backbone of on-chain liquidity reached $267 billion. Looking ahead, the tokenized RWA market is projected to reach $30 trillion by 2034, driven by demand for transparency, liquidity, and access that on-chain infrastructure can provide. Helix has been actively shaping this global dialogue. Together with Bank Kenanga one of Malaysias largest independent investment banks Saison Capital, and Satori Research, Helix recently co-authored a landmark whitepaper projecting that tokenization of products such as bonds, sukuk, and unit trusts could unlock a US$43 billion opportunity in Malaysias capital markets by 2030. The SILQFiHelix collaboration brings this momentum into practice with a tangible use case. Stablecoin capital flows through Helixs on-chain protocol and is deployed off-chain via SILQFis infrastructure, embedding liquidity directly into merchant workflows across the region. The model delivers transparency, decentralization, and speed while maintaining flexibility and compliance all without disrupting natural business operations. SILQFi is doubling down on DeFi after a successful pilot in the Asian market early 2025, where stablecoin capital financed local SMEs through shariah-compliant, invoice-backed structures. The pilot demonstrated strong repayment performance, solid return, and massive business impact, validating the thesis of harmony between DeFi and Embedded finance. Building on this success, SILQFi and Helix are now scaling the solution across the Gulf region. The Gulf is vibrant with the adoption of frontier fintech, from blockchain to tokenized assets, and we see a real appetite for innovation, said Mohammed Aldossary, CEO of SILQFi. With strong liquidity in the market, this model allows us to channel capital toward real-world SMEs through embedded financing, minimizing the funding gap for merchants while generating meaningful returns for investors. Backed by a recent $110 million raise from investors including PIFs Sanabil Investments and Valar Ventures, SILQFi has powered over $2 billion in SME transactions and financed more than 150,000 invoices across Asia and the Gulf. Now, SILQFi is charting the next frontier where blockchain, AI, and Islamic finance converge to unlock capital for underserved businesses across the region. Stablecoins are the backbone of programmable finance secure, transparent, and efficient by design, said Jitendra Singh Jaitawat, Co-Founder & CEO of Helix. Through this partnership, we are demonstrating how Helixs RWAFi orchestration infrastructure translates that promise into real-world outcomes bringing liquidity to SMEs and driving financial inclusion at scale. In a world of fragmented financial systems, where access to capital varies widely across borders, this collaboration signals a bold move toward cohesive, inclusive infrastructure. SILQFi and Helix are connecting off-chain demand with on-chain capital, building rails that are fair, fast, flexible, and frictionless. About SILQFi SILQFi is building the financial rails that power SME growth across the Gulf and Emerging Asia. As the financial infrastructure arm of SILQ Group, SILQFi delivers embedded, shariah-compliant financing solutions tailored to the real workflows of small businesses. From invoice financing to revenue-based credit, SILQFi bridges capital with commerce, offering fast, fair, and flexible financial tools backed by institutional trust. With over $2 billion in SME transactions financed, SILQFi is redefining access to capital for the worlds most underserved businesses. SILQFi is pioneering embedded finance and digital lending in emerging markets through blockchain, AI, and Islamic finance Learn more: https://silqfi.com/ About Helix Helix is building an orchestration layer for stablecoins and RWAFi, enabling omnichain issuance, distribution, UX abstraction, and seamless DeFiTradFi composability through a unified, modular architecture. Led by TradFi veterans with a track record of US$500M+ in off-chain deal volume and zero defaults, Helix combines the confidence of TradFi with the composability of DeFi through purpose-built infrastructure, laying the foundation for the mainstream adoption of programmable finance at scale. Learn more: https://www.helixfi.io/ Contact: Helix marketing.helix@heli-cap.com Disclaimer: This content is provided by Helix. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. 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. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95919dce-5dca-46c0-ab2e-6a6351aa3740 ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Aug. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ozak AI is swiftly gaining traction as one of the most promising crypto presales of 2025. Currently in its 5th presale stage at $0.01 per token, the mission has correctly raised over $2.3 million and sold more than 800 million tokens, signaling overwhelming investor self-assurance. Beyond the numbers, the real story is the colorful network backing the project that is supporting it to benefit from momentum beforehand of its token release. Why Ozak AI Is Drawing So Much Attention Unlike meme coins that rely on hype, Ozak AI is application-focused, combining artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. The platform is designed to offer AI-pushed solutions for trading, analytics, and decentralized programs. This consciousness of tangible use instances offers Ozak AI a robust cost proposition and makes it a standout alternative for buyers searching out each increase and utility. The presale shape has made it available to a large target market, allowing both retail and experienced traders to take part early. At a simple $0.01 consistent per token, contributors can accumulate massive positions at minimum capital outlay, which sets the stage for probably huge returns if the token achieves its goal rate of $1 or better post-release. Community Support Driving Growth Community engagement has been a prime component in Ozak AIs fulfillment. Across social media, crypto boards, and presale updates, the task has cultivated a faithful following this is actively selling its adoption. Early traders are sharing insights, coordinating participation, and assisting newbies in apprehending the price proposition. This grassroots help has amplified the presales attainments, contributing to the over $2.3M milestone in record time. Community-driven boom is critical for projects like Ozak AI. Beyond capital infusion, an engaged base of supporters can force partnerships, media coverage, and user adoption, all of which fortify the assignments long-term-period trajectory. OZ Presale Performance and Investor Opportunity The presales performance highlights the exponential potential Ozak AI gives. At the contemporary stage, buyers getting in at $0.01 in step with the token ought to see 100x or extra upside if the venture reaches its short-term goals. Compared to hooked-up cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin ($113,045), Ethereum ($4,344), or maybe Solana ($185), which offer incremental gains, Ozak AI provides an opportunity for massive returns with an enormously small preliminary funding. This high-risk, high-reward dynamic is attracting a diverse variety of buyers, from pro crypto traders to newcomers in search of publicity to AI-focused virtual property. The combination of sturdy fundamentals and community enthusiasm makes Ozak AI a compelling proposition for the ones trying to maximize growth capability in 2025. Strategic Partnerships Amplify Momentum Ozak AI is also constructing credibility through strategic partnerships with leading blockchain and crypto corporations. Collaborations with entities like CoinKami, Manta Network, Block Bali Com, Forum Crypto Indonesia, and Bitcoin Addict TH have elevated the missions attainments. ensuring that Ozak AI isn't always just a presale phenomenon but rather a long-term player in the crypto space. These partnerships bring more than marketing musclethey offer network effects, integration possibilities, and broader community exposure, which further solidify investor confidence and increase the likelihood of post-launch success. The Ozak AI presale surpassing $2.3M in funds raised and selling over 800 million tokens is a clear signal that investors are recognizing the projects potential. Its combination of AI-driven utility, community support, and strategic partnerships positions it for strong performance in 2025 and beyond. For investors looking to enter a high-growth project with tangible utility, the current presale stage represents a unique opportunity to secure tokens at an early price point. With momentum building and the community rallying behind it, Ozak AI is proving that it is more than just another altcoinits a future-ready crypto platform with the potential to deliver life-changing returns. About Ozak AI Ozak AI is a blockchain-based crypto project that provides an innovative platform that focuses on predictive AI and advanced data analytics for financial markets. Through machine learning algorithms and decentralized community technologies, Ozak AI enables real-time, accurate, and actionable insights to help crypto lovers and corporations make the perfect choices. For more, visit Website: https://ozak.ai/ Telegram: https://t.me/OzakAGI Twitter: https://x.com/ozakagi Contact Us: Andres Brinc media@ozak.ai Disclaimer: This content is provided by Ozak AI. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. 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/b616086b-23e9-4bfe-b3dc-3ce0342c614e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/734b6b76-fab6-491a-9b39-32a6e8ca6759 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e41dd814-0d37-49ef-957e-57916e610f8e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/089f9693-a0aa-460e-9d3a-8d313c89cba3 ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Aug. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lyno AI has officially entered its early bird phase, marking a significant milestone as artificial intelligence utility projects begin to attract increasing investor attention. Positioned within decentralized finance (DeFi) trading, Lyno AI introduces solutions designed to address real-world needs, highlighting the expanding role of AI-driven applications in the market. This phase reflects a broader industry shift, with investors actively engaging in projects that bring practical AI utility to blockchain and DeFi ecosystems. Early Bird Phase Sets Investor Tension A clear indicator of strong momentum is the 324,104 tokens sold, out of 16,000,000 tokens available in the current early bird round of the Lyno AI presale. The presale is already priced at a competitive 0.050 per token, and the next stage will rise to 0.055, indicating that the token will soon appreciate in price. This price advantage serves the investors early enough before its recognition by the wider market causes prices to shoot upward. Purchasers of presale more than 100 dollars have a chance to participate in the Lyno AI exclusive giveaway and can win a share of 100K. The jackpot is divided by 10 evenly so each investor gets 10K. This is not just a reward of participation early but is also a way of hoping that a bigger stake will be committed. AI Utility As a Driver of DeFi Advancements What makes Lyno AI unique is that it is a measurable source of AI utility in DeFi ecosystems. The platform has incorporated AI to maximize trading mechanisms where users can gain automated and intelligent market execution unlike in theoretical projects. Based on expert analysis, Lyno AI is projected to experience mind-blowing returns, with profits potentially reaching as high as 158,300%, which is comparable to Solana during its cycle. Such an approach to AI utility closes an important gap between the hype and action, and makes Lyno AI a leader in what is proving to be a growing industry. The addition of sophisticated AI features and its use in the DeFi will herald a new era of investor perception and asset prices. Reasons to Act Now Before the Surge Investors interested in the exposure to AI-driven DeFi solutions must turn to the Lyno AI presale with a sense of urgency. The preliminary phase has provided the following opportunities: At a reduced entry price prior to price increasing An opportunity to use a platform that was audited by Cyberscope, which increases the trust and safety. Participation in a contest in which greater investments received prizes. Chance to exploit the project which is supported by serious utility and market analysts. Waiting to purchase exposes one to a big upside risk since the token will be in the next presale stage and so forth. Conclusion: Lyno AI a leader in the Revolution of AI Utilities Lyno AI is not another speculative token, it is the union of artificial intelligence and decentralized finance utility. The early bird step has shown the interest of investors in the project and proved its relevance and potential. Cyberscope auditing ensures that there is transparency and a well-thought incentive program is already underway, investors are encouraged to take action and get on board before demand quickly spikes. The individuals who want to experience the genuine AI utility in DeFi should focus on Lyno AI now. 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. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. 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. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b443aa46-3de5-45ee-a7f2-85bcbc14f08a SAN DIEGO, Aug. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS) securities between April 29, 2025 and June 23, 2025, all dates inclusive (the Class Period), have until this upcoming Monday, August 25, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Hims & Hers class action lawsuit. Captioned Sookdeo v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., No. 25-cv-05315 (N.D. Cal.), the Hims & Hers class action lawsuit charges Hims & Hers as well as certain of Hims & Hers executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A subsequently filed complaint is captioned Yaghsizian v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., No. 25-cv-05321 (N.D. Cal.). If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Hims & Hers class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-hims-hers-health-inc-class-action-lawsuit-hims.html You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@rgrdlaw.com. CASE ALLEGATIONS: Hims & Hers is a telehealth company that provides prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and personal care products. According to the complaint, on April 29, 2025, Hims & Hers announced a long-term collaboration with Novo Nordisk A/S, starting with the immediate sale of a bundled offering of Novo Nordisks FDA-approved Wegovy on the Hims & Hers platform. The Hims & Hers class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Hims & Hers was engaged in the deceptive promotion and selling of illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy that put patient safety at risk; and (ii) as a result, there was a substantial risk that Hims & Hers collaboration with Novo Nordisk would be terminated. The Hims & Hers class action lawsuit further alleges that on June 23, 2025, Novo Nordisk issued a press release announcing that it was terminating its partnership with Hims & Hers based on Hims & Hers deceptive promotion and selling of illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy that put patient safety at risk. On this news, the price of Hims & Hers stock fell more than 34%, according to the complaint. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Hims & Hers securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Hims & Hers class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Hims & Hers class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Hims & Hers class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Hims & Hers class action lawsuit. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the worlds leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world, and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 800-449-4900 info@rgrdlaw.com Tampa, Aug. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This press release is for informational purposes only. Statements made have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Pharaohs Nectar is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consumers should always consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any supplement or health program. Is Pharaohs Nectar the best new Law of Attraction supplement introduced in 2025? Pharaohs Nectar enters the year against a backdrop of cultural fascination with manifestation tools and ancient traditions repackaged for modern wellness. Search interest in the best Law of Attraction supplement has climbed sharply, reflecting a wave of curiosity about how products framed around energy, focus, and personal alignment are shaping public conversations. Early online chatter positions Pharaohs Nectar as part of this broader shift in 2025, where audiences are exploring whether supplements tied to spiritual or historical narratives fit into self-guided well-being practices. Explore the Full Pharaohs Nectar Formula For those seeking background, recent lifestyle coverage has highlighted the surge of interest in alternative wellness tools. A New York Post feature on health trends noted that more than one in three Americans now use AI to track their well-being, while another survey story revealed one in four Americans give the nations health a failing grade. These snapshots reflect a climate where public attention is turning toward unconventional approaches and consumer-driven exploration. Visit the Official Pharaohs Nectar Site Why Interest in Best Law of Attraction Supplement Is Surging in 2025 Search data, TikTok mentions, and Reddit discussions show the phrase best Law of Attraction supplement has gained momentum throughout 2025. Google Trends reflects a steady climb in searches tied to manifestation tools, spiritual enhancement routines, and alternative approaches to wellness. On TikTok, creators discuss visualization hacks and personal rituals, often asking whether supplements can play a role in amplifying intention and focus. This surge is less about prescriptive outcomes and more about cultural curiosity. Users are sharing personal stories, speculating on the meaning of ancient practices, and asking what it means when a formula is framed as part of Law of Attraction conversations. The result is a unique blend of social exploration, online virality, and curiosity-driven demand. Observers note that interest spikes often align with larger public debates around health, energy, and fulfillment. Whether through hashtags, short-form videos, or forum threads, the term best Law of Attraction supplement continues to appear in wider discussions about how people want to shape their lives in 2025. Learn More About Pharaohs Nectar Here Pharaohs Nectars Ingredient-First Response to These Trends Within 2025 wellness conversations, Pharaohs Nectar is often highlighted for its ingredient-first positioning. Rather than presenting outcomes, the formula is described in discussions as designed around transparency, purity, and recognizable components. This framing reflects a wider consumer shift where people ask what is inside a product, how it is sourced, and what it deliberately avoids. Pharaohs Nectar has been positioned within online communities as a supplement that mirrors the cultural fascination with sacred formulas and ancient preparation methods. The narrative often ties back to traditions linked with manifestation, intention-setting, and rituals rooted in historical or mythological references. In this way, Pharaohs Nectar aligns with a broader market reflection: people want supplements to be framed less as prescriptions and more as transparent experiences. Conversations also point out what the formula is not associated with. The absence of stimulants, artificial fillers, or heavily processed ingredients positions Pharaohs Nectar in line with cleaner-label expectations across the supplement category. This ingredient-first narrative matches public demand for clarity, even when the context is framed within Law of Attraction discussions. Ingredient Spotlight Whats Inside the Formula Much of the online discussion around Pharaohs Nectar in 2025 centers on what is inside the formula. Public curiosity is less about direct outcomes and more about whether the ingredients align with the historical and cultural stories attached to manifestation and Law of Attraction themes. Among the most frequently discussed components is monoatomic gold, sometimes referred to in cultural texts as white gold or manna. Online audiences often connect it with traditions from Egypt and Biblical references, framing it as an ingredient associated with ritual, symbolism, and historical curiosity rather than a prescriptive element. Egyptian Blue Vervain is another highlighted inclusion. Often described in historical accounts as the sacred herb, it has been linked in cultural narratives to purification rituals and spiritual practices. Within online commentary, its presence signals alignment with symbolic traditions rather than clinical promises. Siberian Eleuthero Root appears in global wellness conversations as a plant historically associated with vitality and endurance. Studies often cited in open forums discuss its adaptogenic reputation, and its presence in Pharaohs Nectar is tied to audience recognition of ancient herbal practices. Ladys Mantle Herb has appeared in European folklore as an herb connected with renewal and balance. In supplement discourse, it is frequently listed in transparency-focused formulas, with audiences noting its grounding association in wellness history. Sacred Licorice Root is also included. While licorice is well known in culinary and wellness spaces, the sacred form is often linked to cultural narratives of energy flow and absorption. Its presence here has been noted by commentators as part of a pattern of heritage-linked ingredient choices. Finally, pure peppermint oil provides both a recognizable taste and a symbolic connection to clarity and freshness. In online discussions, peppermint frequently surfaces in conversations about circulation, grounding, and enhancing sensory experience. Together, these inclusions are not positioned as medical solutions but as ingredients tied to transparency, heritage, and symbolic meaning. This is why many conversations frame Pharaohs Nectar within the cultural context of the best Law of Attraction supplement for 2025. What Reddit, Podcasts & TikTok Creators Are Saying The phrase best Law of Attraction supplement has not only risen in search but also found traction across creator-driven platforms. On Reddit, threads often reference supplements like Pharaohs Nectar in the context of manifestation routines, third-eye symbolism, or ancient formulas being revisited in modern times. These posts rarely claim outcomes, but they consistently reveal curiosity about how products are framed, marketed, and discussed in 2025. Podcasts have also played a role. Hosts focused on self-improvement, spiritual history, or alternative wellness often bring up supplements in broader debates about cultural shifts. Rather than making endorsements, the conversations highlight why audiences are drawn to ingredient-first storytelling, ancient myths, and transparency in sourcing. Listeners engage not by asking does it work, but by debating how such narratives resonate with modern lifestyles. TikTok, known for sparking viral curiosity, has amplified this trend. Short-form videos discussing manifestation formulas or sacred supplements often rack up thousands of views. Creators present commentary, trend mashups, and reaction videos about products like Pharaohs Nectar, positioning them as part of a growing cultural fascination rather than prescribing health outcomes. This style of content keeps the discussion alive while staying within curiosity-driven framing. Collectively, these platforms show that Pharaohs Nectar has become a talking point within 2025s broader cultural exploration of manifestation, ritual, and alternative supplementation. For many, the appeal lies less in direct claims and more in the surrounding stories and symbolic associations. Join the Conversation About Pharaohs Nectar Who Might Be Drawn to This Type of Supplementation in 2025 The audience conversations surrounding Pharaohs Nectar in 2025 often focus on mindsets rather than demographics. Instead of prescriptive targeting, discussions frame the product within lifestyle categories and cultural communities. One group frequently mentioned includes biohackers, who follow trends in alternative supplementation, neuro-focused tools, and self-experimentation. For this audience, curiosity lies in how a formula is positioned as part of a broader system for optimizing personal focus, clarity, and alignment. Another visible community includes spiritual optimizers people who blend ritual practices, meditation, and intention-setting with symbolic or supplement-based tools. Online commentary often shows this group asking questions about ancient references, symbolism in ingredient selection, and whether modern formulations tie back to historic narratives. A third audience involves preparedness and resilience communities. Within these groups, discussion often centers on supplements framed as part of self-sufficiency or energy-focused routines. The interest is less about promises and more about symbolic association with strength, balance, and independence. In all three cases, conversations frame Pharaohs Nectar not as a prescription but as part of a cultural exploration of how supplements interact with beliefs, rituals, and the search for greater alignment. This wide range of engagement shows why the term best Law of Attraction supplement resonates so strongly in 2025. Emerging Wellness & Performance Innovation 2025 Market Reflections The introduction of Pharaohs Nectar in 2025 aligns with a wider surge of consumer-driven wellness innovation. Across the supplement category, products are increasingly positioned as part of a lifestyle choice rather than a prescriptive health solution. Analysts note that this reflects shifting public expectations: people want brands to tell stories, highlight transparency, and connect with cultural themes already trending across social platforms. Market reflections show that supplements framed around manifestation, energy, and vitality are often discussed in parallel with the rise of self-guided well-being. This movement emphasizes individual exploration, where consumers decide which rituals or tools best align with their personal vision of health and fulfillment. Pharaohs Nectar is being positioned in commentary as part of this wave, framed more as a symbolic experience than a guaranteed outcome. Performance innovation is also being shaped by curiosity about alternative support systems. These discussions focus on early-stage adoption trends where audiences experiment with new approaches to focus, creativity, and resilience. In this context, a formula like Pharaohs Nectar becomes part of a conversation about what people want from supplements in 2025 more transparency, more alignment with personal beliefs, and more recognition of ancient traditions reframed for modern life. This broader trend has fueled a cultural environment where phrases like top Law of Attraction supplement and best manifestation formula are becoming SEO hotspots. It reflects both rising interest and a shift away from traditional supplement marketing into territory that blends wellness with story, ritual, and curiosity. The Public Debate Around Ingredients and Keywords Signals, Skepticism, and Saturation The rise of Pharaohs Nectar in online conversations has also sparked debate. While many see the formula as symbolic of a growing fascination with manifestation and Law of Attraction supplements, others question whether these narratives represent lasting cultural shifts or temporary viral cycles. Positive voices often frame the discussion around cultural meaning. They highlight how ingredients tied to ancient traditions capture attention in ways that modern synthetic supplements do not. For these audiences, the appeal is less about prescriptive claims and more about the resonance of a product tied to history, symbolism, and transparency. Skeptical perspectives focus on commercial saturation. Some observers argue that when too many products claim alignment with manifestation or spiritual wellness, the meaning behind the terms risks dilution. This viewpoint stresses caution around hype-driven marketing and calls for closer attention to sourcing, labeling, and authenticity. Neutral commentary positions Pharaohs Nectar and similar supplements as part of a larger conversation. In this framing, the debate itself between enthusiasm and skepticism demonstrates how cultural interest has reached a level where it cannot be ignored. Whether viewed as an authentic reflection of consumer demand or a symbol of over-saturation, the keyword best Law of Attraction supplement is now firmly established in 2025s wellness discourse. Read Consumer Reactions to Pharaohs Nectar About Pharaohs Nectar Pharaohs Nectar is positioned in 2025 as a supplement framed around ingredient transparency and cultural storytelling. Rather than emphasizing prescriptive outcomes, the brands narrative highlights historical associations, symbolic meanings, and alignment with consumer curiosity about manifestation and Law of Attraction practices. The stated mission of Pharaohs Nectar is to present a clean-label, ingredient-first formula that reflects both heritage-inspired traditions and modern production standards. Discussions often reference its inclusion of recognizable botanicals and symbolic components, placing emphasis on what the formula contains and what it avoids. Observers point out that Pharaohs Nectars public framing aligns with a broader movement across the supplement industry products introduced as part of cultural experiences rather than clinical claims. In this context, Pharaohs Nectar is described by trend watchers as both a wellness participant and a storytelling brand, emerging at the center of 2025s conversation about the top Law of Attraction supplement. Contact Company: Pharaohs Nectar Ingredient-First Transparency Focus Pharaohs Nectar Ingredient-First Transparency Focus Email: support@pharaohsnectar.com support@pharaohsnectar.com Phone (US): +1-800-390-6035 +1-800-390-6035 Phone (INT): +1-208-345-4245 +1-208-345-4245 Website: www.pharaohsnectar.com Final Disclaimer This press release is for informational purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Pharaohs Nectar is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement, routine, or health program. Some links in this release may be promotional in nature and may lead to third-party websites. The publisher or author may receive compensation through affiliate commissions if a purchase is made through these links. This compensation does not affect the price you pay and helps support continued research and content publication. Results described or implied may not be typical and should not be interpreted as guarantees. Statements made about ingredients or outcomes reflect public discussion and historical usage only, and are not endorsed by medical professionals or regulatory agencies. Always do your own research and make informed decisions. by Jonathan Tham, Wang Jiawei KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A memorial park commemorating the Nanyang Volunteers - overseas Chinese drivers and mechanics who returned from Southeast Asia during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression - officially opened to the public here on Thursday. The new memorial park, named the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics Memorial Park, features an earthen ring wall engraved with the names of over 3,000 members. Its tiered pathways and winding design were inspired by the "24-Zig" section of the Burma Road, symbolizing the courage and resilience of those who once traversed it. The park, initiated and built by the Association of Kwong Tong Cemetery Management Kuala Lumpur, also features a memorial hall, which houses historical artifacts, photographs, and personal letters that vividly recount the volunteers' dedication and sacrifice. "History must not be forgotten, and the truth should be remembered," said Yong Pock Yau, chairman of the Association of Kwong Tong Cemetery Management Kuala Lumpur. "We hope the park and the hall will inspire the youth to learn about this history and uphold the values of peace and justice." Farah, a Malay employee involved in the park's construction, said that although she cannot read Chinese, she carefully studied the engraved names and stories. "These stories deserve to be remembered and passed down from one generation to the next," she said. Inside the memorial hall, faded photographs and newspaper clippings tell the stories of the Nanyang Volunteers, enduring treacherous mountain roads, enemy air raids and diseases. More than 1,000 lost their lives, an average of one for every kilometer of the nearly 1,146-km Burma Road. Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing said in his remarks that the Nanyang Volunteers braved life and death, making an indelible contribution to the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. "We shall forever remember their heroic deeds in our hearts and inscribe them in the annals of humanity's just cause," he said. For descendants of the volunteers, the event was deeply personal. How Hwee Bee, granddaughter of patriot Hau Say-huan (Hou Xifan) - who helped organize the volunteers and perished in 1944 while en route to a school opening in Kunming - said she was moved to see the memorial completed. "Whether in China, seeing my grandfather's grave and other memorials well preserved, or here in Kuala Lumpur witnessing the completion of the memorial park and hall, I am deeply moved by his patriotism and dedication," said How. During the war years, Hau worked with patriotic overseas Chinese businessman and philanthropist Tan Kah Kee to organize the Nanyang Volunteers, coordinating and mobilizing members while helping solve their living and medical needs. "I believe it was this profound love that made my grandfather resolutely return to China and devote everything to the cause," How said. "The more we live in times of peace, the more we must cherish this history and the patriotism behind it." Toronto, August 22, 2025 - Champion Electric Metals Inc. (CSE: LTHM) (OTC Pink: CHELF) (FSE: 1QB0) ("Champion Electric" or the "Company") announces that, effective immediately, President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") Jonathan Buick has stepped down from his position for health reasons. Jonathan will remain a member of the Company's Board of Directors. The Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") has appointed Nicholas Konkin as Interim President and CEO, effective immediately, ensuring continuity during this transition. Director Patrick Highsmith commented: "Jonathan's tenacity and leadership have been instrumental since Champion's earliest days. He successfully navigated challenging market conditions by pivoting the Company to a new commodity and securing a major lithium project in a tier one jurisdiction, hence positioning the Company for its next phase of growth. On behalf of the Board, we sincerely thank him for his contributions and wish him the very best in his recovery." Nicholas Konkin brings to Champion Electric over 15 years of capital markets and corporate development experience, with a track record of guiding private and public companies in the resource sector. He was part of the team that took Champion Electric public and currently serves as Director of Capital Markets at Grove Corporate Services. Mr. Konkin stated: "Champion has strong underlying assets and a highly capable board. My immediate priority will be to strengthen the Company's foundation, and ensure it is properly structured to capitalize on the coming metals bull market. Jonathan has been a mentor and a friend, and I join the Board in wishing him a full and speedy recovery." About Champion Electric Metals Inc. Champion Electric is a discovery-focused exploration company that is committed to advancing its highly prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. In addition, the Company owns the Baner gold project in Idaho County (optioned to Legacy Gold Mines Ltd.) and the Champagne polymetallic project in Butte County near Arco, Idaho. The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "LTHM", on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "CHELF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB0". Champion Electric strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder, and contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates, taking its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CHAMPION ELECTRIC "Patrick Highsmith" Patrick Highsmith, Director To learn more, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca or the Company's corporate website at www.champem.com. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. Cautionary Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company, including closing of the Transactions and the prospectivity of the Projects for lithium. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. The Projects are at an early stage of exploration, and the Company cautions that the qualified persons who have reviewed and approved this news release have not verified scientific or technical information produced by third parties. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/263592 While some states want to amend the U.S. Constitution to change Washington, the city itself is on track to adopt its own constitution to become a state.Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed for a state constitution as a means of convincing Congress that the nations capital is ready for statehood. Voters gave the idea their overwhelming approval on Tuesday.Residents "wanted to be treated like every American," Bowser told theTuesday night. "We need equality, and the only way to get there is with statehood."The question now returns to the city council, which will be in charge of approving a constitution.It's still a long, highly uncertain road to statehood, but its an idea that has long had popular appeal locally. District license plates complain about Taxation Without Representation, since D.C. has no congressional vote. Congress, which oversaw district affairs prior to granting home rule four decades ago, continues to overturn local laws on a wide range of issues, including gun control and abortion access. D.C. tried a similar strategy in 1982, when voters approved a previous version of a constitution.Bowsers push drew complaints that the process is being rushed. A draft constitution was approved by a commission made up of Bowser and four other members, with limited public input. Voters, having granted the city council authority to write a final version, will not be given a say over the language in the final document.Bowser dismissed all the complaints, saying that there has been consensus around all but a handful of items in the new constitution.Shes modeled this approach after one used more than two centuries ago by Tennessee, which was admitted as a state in 1796 after approving a constitution as a territory.The glaring weakness with this strategy is that Congress is highly unlikely to be persuaded. If the overwhelmingly Democratic city were to become a state, that would create a new Democratic House seat and two Democratic senators. A Congress under Republican control will never go along with that idea. Even when Congress was controlled by Democrats back in 1993, the House voted down statehood handily.If Congress ever did make D.C. the 51st state, however, all the concerns that have been expressed about Bowsers process would slip away. Once a state is a state, it can rewrite its constitution any way it likes and theres nothing Congress or anyone other than the Supreme Court can say about it. 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 HONG KONG, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 policy address of Hong Kong will be delivered on Sept. 17, John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said on Saturday. Lee made the remark at a media briefing after visiting Kwun Tong district of Hong Kong to gather public opinions on the upcoming policy address. He said that the HKSAR government has held over 40 consultation sessions for the policy address in the past two months, with public submissions rising 10 percent compared to the previous year. Lee said earlier that this year's policy address will be delivered earlier than in previous years because a Legislative Council (LegCo) election will be held at the end of the year, and the current LegCo term will end early. Previous article: India will buy oil from where it gets 'the best deal' - envoy to Russia Featured Gaza City officially in famine, with hunger spreading, says global hunger monitor Reuters International News Aug - 23 - 2025 , 11:06 5 minutes read Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine, and it will likely spread, a global hunger monitor determined on Friday, an assessment that will escalate pressure on Israel to allow more aid into the Palestinian territory. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system said 514,000 people - close to a quarter of Palestinians in Gaza - are experiencing famine, with the number due to rise to 641,000 by the end of September. Some 280,000 of those people are in a northern region covering Gaza City - known as Gaza governorate - which the IPC said was in famine following nearly two years of war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas. It was the first time the IPC has recorded famine outside of Africa, and the global group predicted that famine conditions would spread to the central and southern areas of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month. It added that the situation further north could be even worse than in Gaza City, but limited data prevented any precise classification. Reuters has previously reported on the IPC's struggle to get access to data required to assess the crisis. "It is a famine that we could have prevented had we been allowed," said U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. "Yet food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel." Israel dismissed the findings as false and biased, saying the IPC had based its survey on partial data largely provided by Hamas, which did not take into account a recent influx of food. The report was an "outright lie", said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Israel does not have a policy of starvation," he said in a statement. "Israel has a policy of preventing starvation. Since the beginning of the war Israel has enabled 2 million tons of aid to enter the Gaza Strip, over one ton of aid per person." U.S. President Donald Trump last month said many people there were starving, putting him at odds with Netanyahu, who has repeatedly said there was no starvation. However, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, when asked about the IPC determination, reiterated accusations that assistance to Gaza has been looted and said Hamas was "systematically promoting a false narrative of deliberate mass starvation to put political pressure on Israel." "The U.S. Government is focused on getting aid delivered to the people of Gaza. Addressing these challenging issues means honestly addressing problems for the sake of Gazans, who deserve better, not engaging in semantics," the spokesperson said. FAMINE CLASSIFICATION The IPC - an initiative involving 21 aid groups, U.N. agencies and regional organizations funded by the European Union, Germany, Britain and Canada - has only registered famines four times previously - in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020 and in Sudan in 2024. For a region to be classified as in famine at least 20% of people must be suffering extreme food shortages, with one in three children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition and disease. Palestinians reach out with pots and containers while waiting to receive food from a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, August 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Gaza famine was a "man-made disaster, a moral indictment, and a failure of humanity itself". He called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages still held by Hamas and unfettered humanitarian access. U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk warned that deaths from starvation could amount to a war crime. Israel rejects war crimes charges in Gaza. Kate Phillips-Barrasso, vice president of global policy and advocacy at Mercy Corps aid agency, said it was a frustration that the IPC report was not legally binding. "We have photos, we have clear data, and now we have this assessment, yet it still hasnt translated into the urgent action needed to stop people from starving," she said. DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT Israel controls all access to Gaza. COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows, said the IPC report ignored Israeli data on aid deliveries and was part of an international campaign aimed at denigrating Israel. "The IPC report is not only biased but also serves Hamas' propaganda campaign," the agency said. In Israel, Hebrew-language news websites highlighted the famine report on their front pages, with the liberal Haaretz focused on the severity of starvation in Gaza City, while Israel Hayom, N12 and ynet emphasized Israel's rejection of the report as biased and cited concerns over the possible diplomatic fallout. Underscoring those worries, Britain called the IPC report "utterly horrifying" and demanded that Israel immediately allow unhindered supplies of food, medicines and fuel. Britain, Canada, Australia and many European states recently said the humanitarian crisis had reached "unimaginable levels". Israel has long counted on the U.S., its most powerful ally, for military aid and diplomatic support. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week found that 65% of Americans believe the U.S. should help those starving in Gaza. The IPC said its analysis only covered people living in Gaza, Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis governorates. It was unable to classify North Gaza governorate due to access restrictions and a lack of data and it excluded any remaining population in the southern Rafah region as it is largely uninhabited. The U.N. has complained of obstacles to delivering and distributing aid in Gaza, blaming impediments on Israel and lawlessness. Israel had criticized the U.N.-led operation and accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the militants deny. The Gaza war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's military campaign has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Featured EOCO's red flag list: These 4 car brands are most likely stolen, says anti-graft agency GraphicOnline Aug - 23 - 2025 , 06:50 2 minutes read The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has revealed that Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150 pickups, Range Rovers, and Dodge models are the most frequently intercepted brands in its ongoing crackdown on stolen vehicles trafficked into Ghana. This comes amid international concerns, with Interpol previously describing Ghana as a lucrative hub for cars stolen primarily from North America. Speaking to Joy News, Leo Anthony Siamah, Head of EOCOs Legal Unit, advised potential buyers to exercise extreme caution when considering these models. There are certain types of vehicles that are suspicious. For instance, the Honda CR-V series, the Ford F-150, the Range Rover, and I think the Dodge Ram. These are four brands that are very high in terms of the number of stolen vehicles that we recover. Most of them happen to be these vehicles. So, obviously, if you are going to purchase one of those vehicles, that should be a red flag for you, he stated. Mr Siamah also highlighted a concerning trend of newer models appearing on the market in suspiciously good condition. He urged buyers to be wary of vehicles that seem too new and accident-free, particularly 2023 and 2024 models, which deviate from the traditional market focus on salvaged or accident-damaged cars. If you look at one of those vehicles that was recently released, maybe a 2023 model, 2024 model, which is accident-free, it should be a red flag for you. That should point you to doing extra, for instance, go to Interpol to find out whether or not that cars status is stolen, he advised. While these four brands are currently the most prevalent in EOCOs recoveries, Mr Siamah clarified that investigations are not limited to them. Would you go after a Toyota Corolla, for instance? Yes. Weve gone after a couple of Toyota Highlanders and Honda Accords. So, its not like we have a preference, he explained. The office continues to urge the public to conduct thorough due diligence, including verification with Interpol, before purchasing imported vehicles. Next article: EOCO's red flag list: These 4 car brands are most likely stolen, says anti-graft agency Featured Ridge Hospital nurse demands GH7m from 'Ralph De FellowGhanaian' over assault and defamation GraphicOnline Aug - 23 - 2025 , 09:09 2 minutes read A nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), Rejoice Tsotsoo Bortei, has filed a GH7 million lawsuit against social media personality and activist Ralph Saint Williams, popularly known as Ralph De Fellow Ghanaian, for alleged physical assault and defamation. The writ, filed at the High Court in Accra on August 22, 2025, details a violent incident that occurred on August 17, 2025, in the hospitals emergency room. According to the statement of claim, the defendant, leading a group of men, allegedly stormed the facility, demanding immediate treatment for an injured finger while medical staff were attending to critically ill patients, including one with an open fracture. When staff requested he obtain a hospital card, the defendant reportedly became aggressive and began recording patients and staff without consent. The plaintiff claims that despite providing him with initial first aid, the defendant later returned with a group of men and physically assaulted her. The Defendant, without provocation, struck the Plaintiff's left hand with a clenched fist and a metallic cellphone, the writ states, alleging that she was then brutally beaten by the group, resulting in injuries to her right shoulder, left lower arm, back, and waist, along with severe headaches and chest pains. Days after the incident, the defendant is accused of mounting a live video session during which he defamed the nurse, stating: Liar, Wo se wo nsam abu. Duab0 bebam. You say you have suffered an injured hand and a dislocated shoulder. This is cooked up to cover the nonsense going on at the hospital. The plaintiff is seeking GH5 million in damages for battery and GH2 million for defamation, arguing that the defendants words have cast the Plaintiff as a liar, a non-trustworthy person, and a crook and reduced her standing in the estimation of right-thinking members of society. Additional reliefs sought include a court order for a full public apology and retraction, a perpetual injunction against further defamatory publications, a restraining order preventing the defendant from coming within 50 meters of the plaintiff, and legal costs. The defendant has eight days to enter an appearance upon being served with the writ, or risk a default judgment. This case comes as Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has issued a one-week ultimatum to a committee investigating recent assaults on health professionals at Ridge Hospital, highlighting growing concerns over violence against medical staff. Next article: Police: It is not true interdicted officer who allegedly assaulted journalist during Ablekuma North by-election has been dismissed Featured Saboba Chief warns youth: Choose farming over drugs Simon Unyan Aug - 23 - 2025 , 16:37 4 minutes read When Isaac (not his real name), a 22-year-old school dropout and mason in Saboba, first took tramadol, he believed it would give him the strength to work longer hours and earn more money. Instead, it left him battling dependency, poor health, and broken relationships. His story mirrors that of many young people across Ghana who are falling prey to the growing menace of substance abuse. According to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), about 10 per cent of Ghanas youth aged 1535 are involved in drug abuse, with tramadol emerging as one of the most misused substances, particularly in the northern regions. It is against this worrying backdrop that the Paramount Chief of the Saboba Traditional Area, Ubor Bowan Mateer John Sakojim IV, has sounded a stern warning to the youth, urging them to avoid drugs and instead embrace productive ventures such as farming. He stressed that drug abuse threatens not just individual lives but the future of the community as a whole. Drugs do not ensure a healthy life, he cautioned in an interview with Graphic Onlines Simon Unyan. The youth are the future of every society, a nation, and a family. Indulging in drugs will only destroy your future and life. Saboba needs you, the nation needs you, and your family needs you. You are an asset, not a liability. A national concern with local impact Tramadol use in Ghana has surged over the past five years, often sold illegally for as little as GH5 to GH10 in drug stores and on the black market. Despite the passage of Executive Instrument (EI) 168, which outlawed the sale of high-dose 250 mg tablets, the drug continues to circulate widely. Reports show that commercial motor riders, drivers, students, and unemployed youth are among the most vulnerable groups. Many misuse tramadol in the hope of boosting energy, easing pain, or enhancing sexual performanceoften unaware of the severe health risks and social consequences. In Saboba, where unemployment, poverty, and school dropout rates remain high, the problem is especially concerning. While acknowledging the difficulties of joblessness, Ubor Mateer urged the youth not to use it as an excuse for substance abuse. It is painful to finish school and remain unemployed. But being idle does not mean you should waste your life on drugs. Use your education to create something meaningful. Farming is one of the best ways to start, he advised. Farming as a path to empowerment The chief stressed that agriculture remains the most practical and rewarding source of livelihood in Saboba, with arable land available in almost every household. Land should not be a barrier here. Every family owns land. Our young people must eschew laziness, go to the farms, and work hard to sustain themselves. The government cannot employ everyone, he said. He also encouraged those with technical and vocational training to adopt innovative approaches to self-employment, and to save and reinvest their earnings to build sustainable futures. Community response Echoing the chiefs concerns, Mr Jalulah Jagri Maurice, Assemblyman for the Saboba West Electoral Area and President of the Concerned Youth of Saboba, confirmed that tramadol abuse is creeping into the community. We have intel that some people are secretly selling tramadol in Saboba. We are tracking them, and anyone caught will be dealt with appropriately. This menace must be stopped before it destroys our youth, he told Graphic Online. Mr Maurice also appealed for stronger government and NGO support to create sustainable livelihoods, and for public education and awareness campaigns. He further highlighted the need for irrigation facilities to make year-round farming possible in the district. A shared responsibility Both traditional and youth leaders emphasised that safeguarding Sabobas future requires collective action. They called for chiefs, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, civil society groups, and the wider community to work together to protect young people from destructive habits. For the next 50 to 100 years, if Saboba grows, it will depend on the type of youth we are raising today. Education, innovation, and farming must replace drugs and idleness, Ubor Mateer declared. As Ghana confronts the wider challenges of unemployment and substance abuse, Sabobas message is clear: the nations future lies not in pills and powders, but in ploughs, skills, and innovation.t Featured Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang urges GAF graduates to confront modern security threats Diana Mensah Aug - 23 - 2025 , 06:37 3 minutes read The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has urged graduates of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Senior Command and Staff Course 46 to apply their newly acquired skills in tackling the complex security threats facing the country and the wider sub-region. Addressing the joint graduation ceremony of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) in Accra, she underscored the rapidly evolving nature of global and regional security, stressing that challenges now range from climate change and terrorism to trans-border crimes and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. She commended the college for adapting its curriculum to reflect these realities by introducing new disciplines that equip officers with the knowledge and expertise needed for modern military operations. The introduction of multi-domain operations and future wars modules is timely, given the evolving nature of contemporary security threats, she said. With the role that technology is now playing in shaping the trajectory of modern security operations in the battle space, the inclusion of digitisation awareness and cyber security issues in the curriculum is very commendable. A total of 135 officers graduated from the Senior Command and Staff Course 46 after 48 weeks of intensive training designed to sharpen their professional, analytical, and leadership skills. They included 30 officers from 16 allied African countries, as well as civilians enrolled in the Master of Science in Defence and International Politics, the Masters in Defence and International Affairs, and the Masters in Security Studies programmes. The ceremony brought together the Chief of the Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, heads of security services, members of the Armed Forces Council, members of the Staff College Control Board, commandants, the President of the National Defence University, generals and senior officers both serving and retired, members of the Teshie Traditional Council, staff of the college, Forces and Service Sergeant Majors, service personnel, graduates and invited guests. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang lauded the GAFCSC for its consistent pursuit of excellence in training world-class military officers and security professionals. She praised the institution for maintaining high academic and professional standards despite growing student enrolments, describing it as a beacon of excellence in preparing officers to confront the demands of modern security landscapes. As we navigate the complexities of our current global dynamics, including international conflicts, alliances, and power shifts, it is essential for our officers to broaden their perspectives and enhance their critical and strategic thinking, she said. She further commended the colleges academic innovations, including the introduction of a Doctorate in Defence and International Politics and a new MSc in Security Studies, describing them as vital in broadening perspectives and enhancing strategic thinking among officers and scholars. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang encouraged the graduates to uphold the values of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, reminding them of the importance of networks and relationships built during their time at the college. As you step into the next phase of your careers, remember that in the fast-changing security environment of today, collaboration and informed decision-making will be your greatest assets, she urged. Reaffirming the governments commitment to supporting institutions like the GAFCSC, she also expressed gratitude to Ghanas international partners for their contributions to defence training. She acknowledged the sacrifices of families, communities and countries in the graduates success and congratulated award winners and all participants. Now that you know what you are capable of, maintain the high standards you have set. And well done to each graduate for completing your course. This is a big achievement for all of you, she said. Next article: Ridge Hospital nurse demands GH7m from 'Ralph De FellowGhanaian' over assault and defamation Previous article: Police: It is not true interdicted officer who allegedly assaulted journalist during Ablekuma North by-election has been dismissed Featured Volta basin on alert as Burkina Faso sets August 27 date for Bagre Dam spillage GraphicOnline Aug - 23 - 2025 , 09:19 2 minutes read The government of Burkina Faso, through its national electricity company, SONABEL, has announced it will commence controlled spillage of the Bagre Dam on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, due to rising water levels caused by heavy rainfall. In a statement dated 22nd August and signed by Kindo Issiaka, Head of Hydraulics at SONABEL, the company disclosed that the dams current upstream elevation stands at 233.98 metres, with a filling rate of 86.38 per cent. The reservoir level is just 1.02 metres below the normal retention level, necessitating the release of excess water to protect the dams structural integrity. A subsequent public notice from SONABELs Department of Communication and Public Relations confirmed: SONABEL will proceed to open the valves of the dam flood drain on August 27, 2025, from 08:00. The notice strongly advised downstream communities to remain vigilant, stating: SONABEL therefore invites the coastal populations living downstream of the dam to remain vigilant and to take necessary precautions against the potential risks of flooding as a result of this measure. The spillage operation is a routine safety measure to prevent uncontrolled overflow and potential dam failure during the peak rainy season. Meanwhile, the update also provided status on the Kompienga Dam, indicating an upstream elevation of 177.66 metres and a filling rate of 77.26 per cent. Its reservoir level remains 2.34 metres below its maximum operating capacity, requiring continued monitoring. The announcement serves as an early warning to communities along the White Volta Basin in both Burkina Faso and Northern Ghana, which often experience flooding following spillage from the Bagre Dam. KABUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have arrested five suspects, including a woman, in connection with the killing of a family in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, the local media Tolonews reported Saturday. The detainees were allegedly involved in a deadly incident in Surkh Rod district of the province, where six members of a family were shot and stabbed to death, the report said. The suspects had attempted to steal valuable household items and passports from the targeted home before committing the murders, the report said, adding that the arrested individuals are currently under investigations. Ron McNinch filed a lawsuit on Friday in federal court alleging Guam election laws violate his civil rights by making it hard for independent or non-partisan candidates to be listed on the general election ballot. He filed a complaint in the District Court of Guam against Guam and the governor and is representing himself, pro se. McNinch has been a registered Guam voter since 1996, has voted in Guam elections since 1996 and holds elected office in a non-partisan office, the complaint states. He currently serves on the Guam Education Board. The complaint alleges violations in Guam election laws related to several elected offices specified in federal laws, including the delegate, governor, senators and the attorney general. In the federal laws that authorize the positions, the methods and processes used to elect these officials are specified, the complaint states. The elections for the offices require placement on a ballot at the general election. Guam election laws require candidates for these positions to go through a predominantly partisan primary election before being placed on the general election ballot. Further, Guam law makes it very difficult for independent candidates to be placed on the ballot by using differing election outcome standards at the partisan primary. This effectively bars certain candidates from placement on the general election ballot and denies Guam voters the opportunity to vote for a candidate of their choice, the complaint states. McNinch argues that the general election ballot for these offices should include all eligible candidates. Federal laws are not being followed. The use of partisan primaries as a bar to inclusion on the general election ballot violates basic voter rights in a number of ways, the complaint states. The use of a partisan primary for ballot placements chills the ability for non-partisan and independent candidates to be named on the general election ballot, the complaint states. Current Guam law allows for frequent party raiding and further creates a monopoly for the two traditional political parties on Guam, McNinch wrote in his complaint. Party raiding occurs when opposing party members vote in primary elections as a strategic method to disrupt or interfere with legitimate voters, he wrote. The primary election practices appear to also contribute to independent or non-affiliated under-representation in the Guam Legislature. McNinch has attempted to lobby the Legislature to bring election processes in line with federal laws, but there was no interest to make corrections, the complaint states. Therefore, unless this Court enjoins the defendants from pursuing this current course of action and mandates corrections, the plaintiff and all other Guam voters will not be permitted to vote for the candidates of their choice at future Guam general elections, the complaint states. McNinch argues that other U.S. territories appear to follow federal laws and dont use partisan elections as a filter to placement on the general election ballot. Partisan primaries in other territories are used for party selections and candidates not selected are allowed to run on the general election ballot as independents, he wrote. Election statistics from the past 10 general elections show no independent candidates survive the partisan primary in most years, they do not even try, McNinch wrote. In the last 60 years, no general election on Guam has produced an independent senator, and in the last 50 years, no independent candidates appear to have been allowed to run for delegate or governor in the general election, the complaint states. McNinch said primary elections should not be used for the offices of delegate, governor, senator or attorney general and objective and fair ballot access methods should be used. He is asking the court to hold an oral hearing on the complaint. McNinch hopes the court will mandate the Guam election processes be corrected before the 2026 general election. He is also seeking enjoining the defendants from engaging in the current policy of preventing him and others from voting for eligible candidates at the general election. He is also asking the court to enjoin the defendants from using partisan primary election results to determine general election ballot inclusions and declare the defendants conduct has been and would be if continued, a violation of U.S. law, the complaint states. McNinch is a columnist for the Pacific Daily News. A worker carries jute at a jute market in Manikganj, Bangladesh on Aug. 20, 2025. (Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua) Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe is arrested in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Aug. 22, 2025. Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 22, 2025 shows the Baotu Spring in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2025 shows the site of a bridge construction accident on the Qinghai section of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway in northwest China's Qinghai Province. Twelve people have been confirmed dead and four remain missing as of 6 p.m. Friday after a steel cable snapped during bridge construction in Qinghai Province, according to the emergency command headquarters handling the accident. (Xinhua/Wang Yan) Palestinians fleeing to south Gaza Strip are seen on a road in Gaza City, Aug. 22, 2025. Israeli forces have been besieging the densely populated Gaza City for about two weeks from several directions. Israeli officials said that evacuation notices would be issued to Palestinians there before the army moves in, according to Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Giant pandas Leni (Top) and Lotti (L, Bottom), known in Chinese as Meng Hao and Meng Tian, and their mother Meng Meng are seen at Zoo Berlin in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 22, 2025. Giant panda twins Leni and Lotti marked their very first birthday here on Friday. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) This photo taken on Aug. 20, 2025 shows a scene at the smart workshop of SinceTech, a shoe material textile company, in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province. Cities of southeast China's Fujian Province have been taking good use of digital and intelligent technologies to upgrade its traditional industries in recent years. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) Members of the National Guard patrol inside Union Station in Washington, D.C., the United States, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Results from a survey on Guams dog and cat population show the total number of dogs on island over the past decade has remained steady at approximately 60,000. This is according to the 2025 Dog and Cat Population Survey done by the Guam Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division in partnership with Humane World for Animals. Its the first islandwide update since 2014 on companion animal populations, ownership practices and free-roaming dog numbers, a release from agriculture states. The findings show notable improvements in responsible pet ownership and veterinary care over the past decade. The survey found that over half of Guam households or 51.4% own at least one dog, with the highest ownership in southern and rural villages like Inalahan and Malesso. Most dogs are acquired locally as gifts or strays, but many mixed dogs go unclaimed. More dogs are now sterilized, vaccinated, and kept confined, indicating progress in responsible care. Currently, the combined efforts of the Spay and Neuter Island Pets (SNIP) program and private practice veterinary clinics average about 4,000 sterilizations per year, according to Department of Agriculture. Although encouraging, this progress is not enough to reduce overall population growth, and the Humane World for Animals emphasizes that without consistent and large-scale interventions, free-roaming dog numbers will rise. To address this, they recommend increasing annual sterilizations to at least 6,000 per year to reach the target of 85% sterilization by 2035, the threshold needed to achieve a steady decline in the free-roaming dog population. They further recommend sustained education through targeted outreach campaigns, including school-based programs to promote responsible pet ownership, vaccination, and sterilization, which are key to improving animal welfare and reducing stray populations. Bridging this gap will require strategies such as, expanding partnerships with local veterinarians for high-volume and subsidized spay/neuter clinics, and strengthening support systems for pet owners and animal control services. This survey shows weve made progress, but we cannot meet our goals without everyone at the table. The government, private sector, and our community must work together to expand access to spay and neuter, improve public education, and support humane, effective solutions for Guams free-roaming animals, Territorial Veterinarian Dr. Mariana Turner said in a statement. She said the numbers make it clear if we dont act with urgency, we will be facing the same challenges in another 10 years. The Guam Department of Agriculture and Humane World for Animals urge all residents to be part of the solution by sterilizing their pets, avoiding abandonment of puppies and kittens, and participating in community education initiatives. This survey marks a critical turning point for Guam. While were seeing encouraging progress in responsible pet ownership and animal care, the rise in free-roaming dog populations is a call to action. We cannot afford to be complacent. Our path forward must include sustained, collaborative actionexpanding access to sterilization, strengthening education, and empowering our communities to be part of the solution, Chelsa Muna, director of Guam Department of Agriculture said in a statement. She said with Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorios leadership in establishing an Intergovernmental Agreement with Andersen Air Force Base, the government of Guam through the Department of Agriculture is committed to leading these efforts alongside our partners and the people of Guam, because the health of our animals is directly tied to the wellbeing of our island. For more information or to get involved, contact the Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division at (671) 300-7964/66 or animalcontrol@doag.guam.gov. Password managers are actually designed to simplify the handling of many different passwords. To this end, they usually come with browser extensions that can automatically fill in form fields with access data. An IT researcher has uncovered a vulnerability in the browser extensions of various password managers that allows malicious websites to steal access data using a clickjacking attack. Anzeige Clickjacking attacks are actually well known. Attackers place invisible elements in front of dialogs, for example, and the visitor's clicks then land on the invisible element and not in the desired field. The DOM-based attack on browser extensions, which Marek Toth presented at Defcon 33, is new. Toth describes the basic attack as follows. First, a malicious website must have an element that denies access to the page, such as a cookie banner, a captcha or similar. The website itself requires a form, for example for personal data such as a log-in. Attackers set the opacity of the form to 0.001, making it invisible. The focus() function is now used to activate the form field, whereupon the drop-down menu for filling in the password manager appears. What is new is that with the presented attack via the Document Object Model (DOM), the user interface of the browser extension can also be made invisible by reducing the opacity here the DOM-based clickjacking now happens in the browser extension: Victims supposedly click on the cookie banner or captcha and land on the invisible dialog of the browser extension. This fills in the form fields and the attackers access the entries in the form. Vulnerable password managers Toth examined the following password managers: 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, Enpass, iCloud Passwords as a browser extension, Keeper, LastPass, LogMeOnce, NordPass, ProtonPass and RoboForm. In the tests, Toth used the password manager extensions to manually fill out forms. With most password managers, attackers can read non-domain-specific information such as credit card details or personal data such as name, phone number, address and so on with maliciously set up websites. Password managers are usually vulnerable to the delivery of non-domain-specific data. (Image: Marek Toth) To get credentials and even two-factor data, attackers need to find a website with cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, take over subdomains, achieve web cache poisoning or the like, and configure password managers to disregard subdomains usually the default setting for password managers, Toth explains. As an example, he cites that a cross-site scripting gap in "test.dev.sandbox.cloud.google.com" is sufficient to obtain the access data for "accounts.google.com". Toth also explains another attack that in some cases even allows passkeys to be abused with the clickjacking attack and new sessions to be opened by attackers. Anzeige By Tuesday of this week, Dashlane, Keeper, Nordpass, ProtonPass and RoboForm had patched the vulnerabilities. LastPass has already contained the disclosure of non-domain-specific information. Version 2025.8.0 of Bitwarden is now also available. Click on "Help" "Check for updates..." to download and install the update. In the meantime, Enpass also has published updates browser extensions. Toth makes a number of recommendations to help users protect themselves. These include activating automatic updates and ensuring that the latest version of the password manager is used. However, not every manufacturer offers updates yet. Deactivating the auto-fill feature will help the problem, but users will then have to copy usernames and passwords manually. The "Exact URL match" setting is also helpful. In Chromium-based browsers, it is also possible to grant access "On click" instead of "On all websites" in the browser extension settings in Chromium. An extension can then only be used after clicking on the extension icon to the right of the address bar. IT researchers occasionally find vulnerabilities in password managers. Last October, for example, the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) analyzed the code of Vaultarden and KeepPass and discovered a number of security leaks. (dmk) 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. The system, referred to by the Finnish Defence Forces as Surface-to-Surface Missile 2020, is now one of the Navys two primary weapon systems alongside naval mines. The missiles are currently installed on Hamina-class missile boats and will later be deployed on the new Pohjanmaa-class vessels still under construction. The Finnish Navy has officially brought the Israeli-made Gabriel missile system into operational use, replacing its aging Swedish counterpart, Helsingin Sanomat reports . Gabriel missiles can be launched from land-based vehicle platforms as well as naval vessels. The system is capable of striking both enemy surface ships and land targets, with an operational range exceeding 200 kilometres. The missiles are guided using satellite positioning and inertial navigation, with terminal guidance provided by radar. Produced by Israel Aerospace Industries, the Gabriel replaces a Swedish missile system that will be phased out by the end of this decade. The Defence Forces procurement of Israeli weapon systems has drawn public attention due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In addition to the Gabriel system, the Navy also uses Euro Spike missiles, which, despite the name, originate from Israel. The most debated acquisition has been the Davids Sling air defence system, manufactured by Israels Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The Defence Forces are expected to put it into use by the end of the decade. HT Speaking to Helsingin Sanomat after returning from meetings in Washington, Stubb said Russia is intent on continuing the war into the autumn to maximise territorial gains. They want to continue the war at least into autumn to maximise their own territorial conquests, he said. Finnish President Alexander Stubb says Russia has no intention of entering peace talks with Ukraine and that only U.S. President Donald Trump holds the leverage to pressure Moscow. Stubb dismissed the likelihood of a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in the coming weeks. If the goal was a bilateral meeting two weeks from Washington, I find it highly unlikely. Russian delaying tactics continue, he told the paper. The Finnish president has been in direct and frequent contact with Trump and Zelenskyi, positioning Finland at the centre of ongoing discussions on Europes security. He said diplomacy is moving toward a ceasefire, but that the only person who can force Putin into this is Trump. Stubb noted that Trump has not yet applied strong measures such as wider sanctions against Moscow but added that past examples show their effectiveness. He recalled that after Washington imposed secondary sanctions on India, Putin immediately sought direct talks with Trump. The president described Finlands role as one of influence rather than hard power. Finland is a small country, so hard power is limited. But influence can be significant, he said. He portrayed his function as a mediator among European leaders and Trump, with Finland stepping in when larger powers reach an impasse. Stubb also addressed discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine. He said these would only take effect once a ceasefire or peace agreement is achieved. Primary responsibility for Ukraines security lies with Ukraine itself. Europe will support in one way or another, coordinated or backed by the United States, he said. He pointed to U.S. capabilities in air defence and intelligence as examples of possible support. On territorial integrity, Stubb stated the goal is to ensure Ukraine does not lose land. He compared the situation to Finlands experience during the Winter and Continuation Wars, when Finland retained independence but lost sovereignty and territory under Soviet pressure. It is important Ukraine preserves independence, sovereignty, the right to join NATO or the EU, the right to maintain strong armed forces, and of course we aim for no territorial losses, he said. In a separate Yle interview, Stubb said Putin had made the greatest geopolitical mistake of recent history in invading Ukraine. He argued that Putin has failed on all strategic objectives, instead uniting Europe, driving Finland and Sweden into NATO, and increasing NATO defence spending. Putin has tried to conquer Donetsk for 12 years and advanced only about 25 percent, he said. Stubb also speculated on a possible route to peace, saying one scenario could involve an initial Putin-Zelenskyi meeting followed by trilateral talks with Trump, who could then set a time frame for negotiations. On the Middle East, Stubb reiterated his readiness to recognise Palestine if Finlands government submits the proposal. I have never been pro-Israel or pro-Palestine, I am pro-peace, he said, noting Israels violations of international law and the condemnation of Hamas by Arab states. He added that Finlands longstanding position supports a two-state solution. Stubb said the decision ultimately requires a proposal from the government and must follow constitutional procedure. He believes Finland will eventually recognise Palestine, depending on when European peers take similar steps. Hopefully the government will reach a consensus, and the constitution will be followed, he said. HT The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) concluded that famine conditions exist in Gaza City, with starvation spreading to the wider enclave. Its assessment cited three main indicators: extreme food shortages, widespread child malnutrition and daily deaths linked to hunger and disease. A UN-backed global hunger monitor has confirmed that famine is taking place in Gaza, warning that half a million Palestinians are now suffering from starvation, malnutrition and preventable deaths. The report noted that at least 273 Palestinians, including 112 children, have already died from malnutrition. Aid agencies said Israels restrictions on food deliveries, combined with dangerous collection points under military control, created a situation where civilians must risk death to obtain food. According to the UN, nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed near Israeli-approved distribution sites since May. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Israel, as the occupying power, had a legal obligation to ensure food and medical supplies. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher accused Israel of systematic obstruction of aid. Britains Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the famine a man-made catastrophe. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk warned that using starvation as a weapon amounts to a war crime. Israel rejected the IPCs findings, accusing the organisation of bias and of relying on Hamas data. Officials argued that the thresholds for famine had been manipulated. Israel maintains that aid trucks are waiting at the border and blames aid agencies and Hamas for distribution failures. Despite limited easing of restrictions in recent weeks, only half the 600 daily aid trucks deemed necessary have been allowed into Gaza. Prices remain prohibitive, with flour reaching up to $85 per kilo earlier this year. Aid drops by foreign aircraft continue but are criticised as dangerous and ineffective. The famine declaration coincided with Israels preparation for a full-scale assault on Gaza City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had approved the militarys plans to take control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas. Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the city would be razed if Hamas refused to disarm and release all hostages. Israel has ordered aid agencies and medics to prepare for the evacuation of one million residents from Gaza City before the offensive. UN bodies including UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the World Food Programme said many civilians, especially children, the elderly and the disabled, will be unable to flee. Hamas has agreed to a Qatari- and Egyptian-mediated proposal for a 60-day ceasefire involving the release of half of the remaining hostages. Netanyahu dismissed the plan, demanding the release of all captives and Hamass surrender. Israel believes 20 of the 50 hostages are still alive. Meanwhile, protests inside Israel have intensified. Demonstrators blocked major highways in Tel Aviv and gathered in Jerusalem to demand that Netanyahu reach a deal to secure the hostages release. Families of captives accused the government of deception and obstruction. International reactions continued. Amnesty International said famine in Gaza was the direct result of Israels blockade, accusing governments of complicity. The Dutch acting foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned after failing to push through tougher sanctions against Israel, citing opposition from colleagues and Germanys resistance within the EU. The humanitarian toll is worsening. The Gaza Health Ministry reported more than 62,000 deaths since the war began in October 2023. Israeli air strikes on Gaza City killed 37 people on Thursday alone. Doctors Without Borders described the situation as carnage and warned of mass deaths from starvation and disease. Across the region, tensions escalated. Yemens Houthis said they fired a ballistic missile and drones at Israel, disrupting flights at Ben Gurion Airport. In Lebanon, Israeli air strikes hit suspected Hezbollah targets. The occupied West Bank also saw new raids and settler attacks, including the uprooting of Palestinian farmland. Aid agencies stressed that only unrestricted entry of supplies by road could prevent further deaths. UNICEF official Samir Elhawary warned: Children are starving not because food doesnt exist, but because aid cannot reach them in time. Every hour matters. HT GUANGZHOU, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- When I walked into the meet-and-greet event in southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou with American author Wendelin Van Draanen, she looked around in astonishment and asked, "Are they all here for me?" Readers eager to meet Van Draanen and get her autograph had formed a long line. They greeted her with smiles and high-fives, their excitement filling the hall. Overwhelmed by the warmth of her Chinese readers, Van Draanen took out her phone to capture the moment. "It makes me cry, actually. My story has traveled around the world and touched so many hearts here. It's a very emotional thing for me," she told me. From Aug. 15 to 19, the 2025 South China Book Festival in Guangzhou brought together a host of international authors to meet and interact with Chinese readers. For Van Draanen, it was her first-ever visit to China. Her well-known novel, Flipped, which has been adapted into a hit film, has made Van Draanen a familiar and much-loved figure among young Chinese readers. At the book fair's signing session, she autographed more than 500 copies, with some readers traveling from other cities just to see her. Despite the high demand for signatures and photos, she responded to each reader with patience and warmth. "I think that books have a way of bringing us together and that literacy and literature are so important in seeing how other people live, but also realizing that we share a common heart," she said during her conversations with readers. I asked Van Draanen why Flipped, published 15 years ago, continues to resonate so deeply with young readers around the world. She paused for a moment before saying that the story came straight from her heart. Having spent 15 years as a teacher -- and having experienced the trials of adolescence herself -- she has a deep understanding of what young people go through. Van Draanen explained that her goal in writing is to craft stories that show young people they are not alone, that they can overcome the challenges they face, and that staying true to themselves matters. She believes these messages can empower readers through difficult times. Van Draanen brought Flipped to Guangzhou, and the city itself also "flipped" her heart. During her stay, she visited landmark sites and eagerly shared her impressions, from the rich history of Guangdong literature at the Bai'etan Greater Bay Area Art Center to the exquisite architecture and folk craftsmanship at the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum and the stunning cultural spaces of the Guangzhou Opera House and Guangzhou Library. Guangzhou is such a beautiful city, with history, culture, fashion and a sense of modern technology, she said. Though California, where Van Draanen lives, lies across the Pacific Ocean, she felt that her days in Guangzhou reshaped her perspective of the world. "Being in a different environment gives you a different perspective. The time it took for me to get here was very long, but the world is actually very small. Any of you could be my neighbors, and we could understand each other," she said. Before leaving, Van Draanen told me she had spent some of her happiest days in Guangzhou. "When I go home, I'll tell people about this city and its warm, welcoming people. I truly believe word of mouth is stronger than any advertisement." The divers, part of a six-member group, attached explosives to the gas pipelines at a depth of 70 to 80 metres. According to official documents seen by Swedish broadcaster SVT and Denmarks DR, the charges were installed by a team of divers operating from the yacht Andromeda in the Baltic Sea. German investigators believe at least four timed underwater charges were used to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022. The devices weighed between 14 and 27 kilograms and were made from high-powered HMX (also known as Octogen) and RDX explosives, according to the case files. The group had rented the yacht on the German island of Rugen in early September 2022. The vessel later docked in Sandhamn, Sweden, after sailing via Bornholm and Christians. Witnesses at the Swedish harbour reported that the crew paid in cash and spoke neither Swedish nor English among themselves. Sandhamn harbour master Peter Jorgensen told SVT that the crew's behaviour drew attention. They paid their docking fees and fuel bill in euros and kept to themselves during the two-day stay. One of the six suspects, a 49-year-old Ukrainian man, was arrested in Italy earlier this week. German authorities accuse him of coordinating the operation on board the Andromeda. He is also suspected of planning the sabotage and directing the groups actions. Germany has requested the suspect's extradition. According to AFP, the man denied the allegations in a court hearing in Bologna and said he was in Ukraine at the time of the explosions. Swedish authorities concluded their part of the investigation in February 2024. Their findings, along with those of Swedens Security Service Sapo and the Swedish Navy, were handed over to German officials. A German court has confirmed to SVT that the investigation is ongoing and that the judicial process will continue once Italy responds to the extradition request. HT KABUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 383 development and infrastructure projects have been implemented and put into operation in eastern Afghanistan's Laghman province over the past four years, the state-owned Bakhtar News Agency reported on Saturday. Among them, 330 projects, valued at 88 million U.S. dollars, were funded by partner organizations, while the remaining projects, worth over 8.4 million dollars, were financed through the domestic budget, Bakhtar quoted Mawlawi Jaan Mohammad Hamid, provincial director of economy, as saying. According to the official, these initiatives include water dams, road reconstruction, water supply networks, school rehabilitation, power generation systems, retaining walls, solar energy systems and various other projects. The implementation of these projects has created job opportunities for hundreds of residents and improved living conditions for thousands across the province, Hamid noted. The Afghan interim government plans to launch additional development, infrastructure, and agricultural projects across the war-ravaged country, aiming to address economic challenges and foster job creation. People attend a seminar in Tunis, Tunisia, on Aug. 22, 2025. A seminar marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held in Tunis on Friday, co-organized by the International Center for Strategic Security and Military Study and the Chinese Embassy in Tunisia. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua) TUNIS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- A seminar marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held in Tunis on Friday, co-organized by the International Center for Strategic Security and Military Study (CIESSM) and the Chinese Embassy in Tunisia. Dozens of experts, scholars, and politicians from both countries attended the event. Badra Gaaloul, head of CIESSM, said the Chinese resistance against Japan inspired generations of Chinese people to build a strong and united nation. She added that China's wartime victory reflected a wider global struggle against aggression and oppression. Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wan Li said both China and Tunisia had been important battlefields during World War II and should jointly honor history and the martyrs. He reiterated that Taiwan's return to China was part of the outcome of the war and the post-war international order, and thanked Tunisia for its support of the one-China principle. Wan called for stronger China-Tunisia cooperation to promote peace, development, and the well-being of both peoples. After the seminar, a photo exhibition showcased China's resistance against Japanese aggression. Participants said all countries should learn from World War II, cherish peace, and work together for global stability. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of a central delegation, and members of the delegation visit patriotic figures from Xizang's religious circles at Tashilhunpo Monastery in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 23, 2025. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, members of the central delegation visited local officials and residents in Xigaze on Saturday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the central delegation, visited the city of Xigaze with the main group of the delegation on Saturday morning. Wang stressed the need to fully implement the Party's policies for the governance of Xizang in the new era while pursuing more progress to ensure enduring stability and promote the high-quality development of the autonomous region. Other groups of the delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. A farewell ceremony was held when the central delegation departed. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of a central delegation, and members of the delegation present a plaque to the city of Xigaze in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 23, 2025. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, members of the central delegation visited local officials and residents in Xigaze on Saturday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Hu Chunhua and members of a group of the central delegation visit Nyingchi No. 1 Middle School in Nyingchi, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Hu Chunhua and members of a group of the central delegation visit Nyingchi People's Hospital in Nyingchi, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Zhang Guoqing and members of a group of the central delegation visit Qamdo Experimental Primary School in Qamdo, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Zhang Guoqing and members of a group of the central delegation visit Qamdo Experimental Primary School in Qamdo, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Zhang Shengmin and members of a group of the central delegation visit the Samye Monastery in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Losang Jamcan and members of a group of the central delegation visit a high school in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Losang Jamcan and members of a group of the central delegation visit a high school in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Zhang Shengmin and members of a group of the central delegation visit the Samye Monastery in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Entrusted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, members of a central delegation visited Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi and Shannan respectively to learn about local efforts in sectors of education, medical and healthcare, and cultural relic protection. The central delegation to southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday flew back to Beijing after attending region's 60th founding anniversary celebrations, visiting local officials and residents, and inspecting economic and social development in Xizang. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Intel Corporation on Friday announced an agreement with the Trump Administration under which the U.S. government will make an 8.9 billion U.S. dollar investment in Intel common stock. The government agrees to purchase 433.3 million primary shares of Intel common stock at a price of 20.47 dollars per share, equivalent to a 9.9 percent stake in the company. The government's equity stake will be funded by the remaining 5.7 billion dollars in grants previously awarded, but not yet paid, to Intel under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, and 3.2 billion dollars awarded to the company as part of the Secure Enclave program. The 8.9 billion dollar investment is in addition to the 2.2 billion dollars in CHIPS grants Intel has received to date, according to the company. "As the only semiconductor company that does leading-edge logic R&D and manufacturing in the U.S., Intel is deeply committed to ensuring the world's most advanced technologies are American made," said Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel, adding that Intel looks forward to working to "advance U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership." The government's investment will be a passive ownership, with no Board representation or other governance or information rights. The government also agrees to vote with the company's board of directors on matters requiring shareholder approval, with limited exceptions, according to Intel. The government will receive a five-year warrant, at 20 dollars per share for an additional 5 percent of Intel common shares, exercisable only if Intel ceases to own at least 51 percent of the foundry business. "The US taking partial ownership would mark a stunning level of intervention in an American company, shattering norms that investors and policymakers have long considered sacrosanct except in the most extraordinary situations such as war or a systemic economic crisis," Bloomberg reported. TAIPEI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The second round of a recall vote against seven legislators of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party in Taiwan failed on Saturday, with none of the recall proposals being passed, according to local election affairs authority. The voting took place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday across the island. Ballot counting revealed that the "no" votes prominently outnumbered the "yes" votes, marking another sweeping victory for the KMT against the recall campaign. After two rounds of voting in vain, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) still remains a minority party at the island's legislature, holding 51 seats out of 113. It is believed the DPP authorities have plotted the recall campaign against KMT legislators in an attempt to turn around its minority at the legislature. The first round of recall vote took place on July 26, which also suffered a significant defeat. Public opinions believe that the two rounds of voting results demonstrate the strong dissatisfaction among the people in Taiwan with the political manipulation and chaotic governance of the DPP authorities led by Lai Ching-te. BUCHAREST, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and four others injured after violent storms hit Romania on Friday evening, emergency services said Saturday. The storms battered 18 counties and the capital Bucharest, toppling more than 240 trees and power poles, flooding dozens of basements and courtyards, and damaging over 70 cars, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) reported. In Arges county, the roof of a building collapsed on three people, killing an 18-year-old man and injuring two others. In Ilfov county, north of Bucharest, two people kayaking on Lake Snagov drowned after their boat capsized in rough waters. In Prahova county and Bucharest, two other people were injured when struck by a falling roof and a tree, respectively. All four injured victims were hospitalized but remained conscious, authorities said. Authorities issued 19 weather alerts via the RO-Alert system across 12 counties and Bucharest on Friday evening. Romania has faced increasingly frequent episodes of extreme weather this summer, with officials urging residents to take shelter when storm warnings are issued. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called on the international community to help de-escalate the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and restore peace in the broader region. Violence against civilians is unacceptable, said Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. "The international community must urge all armed groups in eastern DRC to respect international humanitarian law, stop violence at once and engage in disarmament processes, and support the DRC in protecting the lives and property of civilians, including foreign nationals." China reiterates its support for the DRC government's efforts to uphold sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, he told the UN Security Council. The recent positive engagement between the DRC and Rwanda has created a promising momentum. The international community must call on the two countries to fulfill their commitments and obligations and work together toward a political settlement of the conflict in eastern DRC, said Sun. China commends Qatar's mediation efforts leading to the signing of the Declaration of Principles between the DRC government and the M23 Movement. As the Doha negotiations enter the most critical and challenging phase, China expects Qatar to push for a lasting peace agreement, he said. The African Union and sub-regional organizations have long been working to end the conflict in eastern DRC. The international community should support a greater role for the United Nations and regional mechanisms, he said. Eastern DRC has been plagued by conflict and violence for too long. The protracted crisis not only destabilizes the DRC but also undermines regional peace and development. Countries in the region are and always will be neighbors. As such, they should renounce the use of force, enhance cooperation and pursue joint development. The international community must continue to act impartially and responsibly to help restore peace in the region, Sun said. China remains ready to continue working constructively to that end, he added. KABUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 1.9 million Afghans have returned from Iran to Afghanistan since the beginning of 2025, the local media Tolonews reported on Saturday. According to the report, about 85 percent of the returnees, or over 1.6 million people, came back between March 20 and Aug. 20. The report also said that the daily return flow of Afghan migrants from Iran has seen a decline in recent weeks. Afghanistan has witnessed a continuous influx of returnees from neighboring countries. MOSCOW, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia said Saturday that over the past 24 hours, it shot down four Ukrainian guided aerial bombs and 160 drones. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defense systems intercepted 33 Ukrainian drones over the country's western border regions. "On-duty air defense systems downed 13 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, 12 over the Bryansk Region and one over the Kaluga Region" between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Moscow Time (0630 - 0900 GMT), said the ministry. It added that 20 more fixed-wing drones were destroyed within the following two hours -- eight over Bryansk, seven over Smolensk, three over Kursk and two over Kaluga. HOUSTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Republican-dominated Texas Senate on early Saturday morning approved a redistricting bill aimed to add 5 GOP House seats in next year's midterm elections as a nationwide "gerrymandering arms race" is rolling out. The bill, requested by U.S. President Donald Trump, will be enacted into state law when signed by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Democrats on the state Senate floor failed to make a last-ditch attempt to delay passage overnight. "This is not democracy, this is disgraceful," State Senator Sarah Eckhardt said on X. After the GOP-led state House passed the bill strictly along party lines on Wednesday, Democrats vowed to wage a legal battle against the measure. "This fight is far from over," said Gene Wu, the Texas House Democratic leader. "Our best shot is in the courts." U.S. states usually redraw congressional maps every 10 years after the nationwide census. The current congressional map in Texas was drawn in 2021, with Republicans having 25 seats out of Texas' 38. The spotlight of the mid-decade redistricting now shifts to Democrat-led California, where a statewide vote on a new congressional map to offset the GOP's gains in Texas is scheduled in November. Pressured by the White House, the Republicans, who are in full control of state governments in Ohio, Missouri, Florida, Indiana and South Carolina, are seeking opportunities to add more GOP-leaning districts before next year's midterms. Meanwhile, Democratic-led states including Illinois, Maryland and New York are also considering redrawing their own congressional maps. "Game on," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on X earlier this week. ISLAMABAD, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A seminar on the "China Year" of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held here, with participating Pakistani experts hailing China's accomplishment as the rotating presidency and expecting Pakistan's greater contribution to the further development of the organization. Delivering the keynote address on Friday at the seminar titled "SCO's China Year 2025: Upholding the Shanghai Spirit" at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, Pakistan's National Coordinator for the SCO Farhat Ayesha said that "2025 will be remembered as the year when China's active participation and strong contribution consolidated the organization's role as an important platform for multilateralism." She added that Pakistan looks forward to contributing to the SCO's long-term development and the upcoming summit in Tianjin later this month. On the occasion, Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi said that the Pakistan-China relationship is the cornerstone of Islamabad's foreign policy, adding that as an international cooperative platform for dialogue, equality and shared development, the importance of the SCO is growing and vital for ensuring peace, security and sustainable development. Pakistan's former and first SCO National Coordinator, Babar Amin, looked forward to the SCO Tianjin Summit and commended China's efforts in advancing cooperation in line with the Global Development Initiative. KABUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation announced plans to appoint new transport attaches in neighboring and regional countries to facilitate trade and provide better services for Afghan citizens. "In line with the approved structure of the ministry, we have positions for transport attaches in Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Though so far only representatives in Pakistan's Peshawar and Quetta have been introduced, efforts are underway to expand this to other countries as well," local media Tolonews quoted Hikmatullah Asifi, spokesman for the ministry, as saying. Business leaders welcomed the decision, saying it could help ease transit challenges, boost exports, and expand access to international markets. As a landlocked country, Afghanistan relies heavily on road transport through neighboring states for its imports and exports. Trade corridors and other regional agreements are seen as crucial for connecting Afghan traders to global markets. Iran will meet next week with Britain, France and Germany on its nuclear programme, the parties said Friday, as the European powers warned Tehran to engage swiftly to avoid snapback sanctions. The Islamic republic suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency in July in the wake of its 12-day war with Israel, citing the UN nuclear watchdog's failure to condemn Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities. The European trio -- parties to the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal -- have threatened to trigger a "snapback mechanism" by the end of August. The move would reimpose sweeping UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 agreement unless Iran agrees to curb its uranium enrichment and restore cooperation with IAEA inspectors. "It was agreed that Iran's talks with the three European countries and the European Union would continue next Tuesday at the level of deputy foreign ministers," Iran's foreign ministry said after a phone call between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior European diplomats. France confirmed the talks and cautioned that Iran faced a narrowing window of time. "We have just made an important call to our Iranian counterpart regarding the nuclear programme and the sanctions against Iran that we are preparing to reimpose," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on X, noting he was joined on the call by his British and German counterparts and the EU's top diplomat. "Time is running out. A new meeting will take place next week on this issue," he added. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on X that his country remained "committed to diplomacy but time is very short". "Iran needs to engage substantively in order to avoid the activation of snapback," he said. "We have been clear that we will not let the snapback of sanctions expire unless there is a verifiable and durable deal." The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, made a similar statement. "With the deadline for the snapback mechanism fast approaching, Iran's readiness to engage with the US is crucial. Iran must also fully cooperate" with the IAEA, she said. It was not immediately clear where the talks, the second since the Iran-Israel war, would take place. Israel in June launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iranian nuclear, military and civilian facilities, prompting Tehran to respond with missile strikes on Israel. The United States also joined its ally Israel, targeting key Iranian nuclear sites deep within the country. Iran and the European trio -- known as the E3 -- held talks in late July at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, which Tehran described as "frank". Iran's 12-day war with Israel derailed its nuclear negotiations with the United States and saw it suspend cooperation with the IAEA. The 2015 nuclear deal was aimed preventing Iran from developing an atomic bomb -- an ambition it has consistently denied. The deal was torpedoed in 2018 when Donald Trump, during his first term as US president, unilaterally withdrew the United States from the agreement and slapped crippling sanctions on its economy. Iran has ever since criticized Europe over failing to meet its commitments under the deal. Araghchi reiterated Friday the "lack of legal and moral competence of these countries to resort to the said mechanism" while warning about "the consequences of such an action". Iran has previously said it would leave the non-proliferation treaty -- or NPT -- if the mechanism, envisaged in the nuclear deal, is activated by the European parties. The deadline for activating the mechanism ends in October, though Europeans have set an internal target of the end of August to trigger it if diplomacy fails. They have also offered an extension to buy time for talks. Araghchi said Friday that "this is a decision that must essentially be taken by the United Nations Security Council; and while the Islamic Republic of Iran has its own principled positions and views in this regard, it is not involved in this process." The foreign minister said earlier this month that Iran was working with China and Russia to prevent the snapback of sanctions. MEXICO CITY, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday said U.S. migration policies were responsible for a decrease in July remittances sent home by Mexicans living in the United States. Sheinbaum said remittances dropped 16 percent from June to July and are down by about 5 percent so far in 2025, back to 2022 levels. "Remittances increased substantially in 2023 and even more in 2024. Now we are at levels similar to 2022," she told a daily news conference in Mexico City. "What explains this? Above all, the policies the United States has imposed on our migrant brothers and sisters," she said. Sheinbaum said her government, along with Mexico's central bank, is assessing the impact of the decline in remittances and considering measures to protect Mexican families reliant on the funds. Sheinbaum stressed that the situation does not pose a risk to Mexico's overall economy. The U.S. is expected to impose a 1 percent tax on outbound remittances starting in 2026. The Mexican government has announced a special program to reimburse the tax on cash transfers from migrants. Mexico received 62.5 billion U.S. dollars in remittances in 2024 from about 8 million Mexicans living in the U.S., official data showed. Experts warn that higher costs could push undocumented migrants to turn to informal channels to send money, potentially boosting the irregular market. Benjamin Torres is seen in the main office at Williamstown Elementary School. Q&A: New Principal Takes Over at Williamstown Elementary WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Benjamin Torres said he never intended to be a school administrator. He was happy pursuing his passion as a technology teacher at Holyoke Community Charter School. But the road that led to his new post as principal of Williamstown Elementary School started when he realized how many more lives he could impact when not tethered to a single classroom. "Little by little, my principal started to see how I was building relationships with students, how I was connecting with the kiddos, helping to reverse some behaviors," Torres said recently. "Some students who were disengaged, not wanting to come to school, I started helping them get more engaged. "And my principal approached me and said, 'Do you want to be a dean of students?' I said, 'I don't know what that is.' And she said, you're going to be working with kiddos all day, and it's going to be positive interactions and discipline interactions as well dealing with some challenges as well. I decided to give it a shot." He served the charter school in that capacity for three years, gradually expanding his reach from one-on-one interactions with students to conversations with their teachers about how to reach those "kiddos," he said. That led to Torres taking the job of "academic quality controller" for HCCS's middle school, where he worked for seven or eight years. "We did a lot of amazing work," Torres said. "I started bringing some of my passion with connecting with kiddos into the learning and dealing with curriculum planning and what not. "Immediately, we started to see the middle school doing extremely well academically and behaviorally, as well. That led to my principal approaching me and saying, 'We've got to replicate that in the lower level. We need K to 4 to have some of this amazing work you've been doing in the middle school.' I was never interested in the younger grade levels. It was never a passion of mine up to that point. But then when I was tasked to be the deputy director of academics, I had to oversee the entire K to 8. While I was observing and watching over those grade levels, it was very evident to me that I really enjoyed the little ones." Eventually, Torres had another conversation with his principal, who told him that she would be retiring soon and he should work on his licensure. He did so, but after 19 years at the same school, "I wanted to explore what was out there and see what other schools looked like." Last spring, that curiosity led him to Williamstown, where, on Sept. 2, he will greet the kiddos who call the Church Street campus their home away from home. This month, Torres sat down with iBerkshires.com to talk about the road that led him to North Berkshire and some of the challenges that come with the job. Question: So you started in July? Torres: July 1. Q: So about six weeks in, how's it going so far? Torres: I'm falling in love with Williamstown as a community. I've never been up here before. And all of this happened, kind of unexpectedly. I was working on my principal licensure, and out of the blue, I decided to update my resume. I worked at Holyoke Community Charter School for 19 years, serving in multiple roles. Because I was working on my licensure, I decided to update my resume and get things out and about. And I started looking at some principal positions that were available in the area. I just came across this district, and I did the interview. I think I did OK during the interview. Then I was invited to join, and this last six weeks, all I've been doing is meeting with teachers, community members, partnerships we have with Williams College. And it's been nothing but amazing. I definitely think this is such a beautiful school and an amazing community. Q: What attracted you to Williamstown Elementary? Torres: I came to visit here as part of the interview process, and my first interview ... I met with teachers, district staff and parents were part of that interview committee. The type of questions they were asking were really powerful in my opinion. It really talked to me a lot about what the district values are. There were a lot of questions about equity, there were a lot of questions about supporting diverse learning. After I decided all the questions and I was heading back home, I decided to look more deeply into the information from the district. And it was evident to me by looking at their mission and vision statement, their big desire for diversity and equity. And I said to myself, 'This is the type of school that I would like to spend the rest of my years in.' I was invited to do a second round interview, and in the second round interview, I was asked to come directly to the school and met with sixth-grade students. I met with teachers. I had a lunch with a group of teachers and paraprofessionals. And, as I was meeting with them and discussing with them a little about my experience, my background and what I'd done in Holyoke, it became very evident the school was looking for that type of leadership here. So I was officially offered the position, and once I started, I sent out an email to all the teachers saying, 'Hey, I'm here. I want to learn. I don't want to wait until the start of the school year. So if your schedule allows it, stop by. I would like to hear you, understand what the values of the school are, what are the challenges, what are the ideal things that you will want to see in your next principal.' And for about five weeks, that's what I've been doing: gathering a lot of information. From that point on, I started meeting with different community leaders. I've been meeting with parents and a ton of meetings with the district personnel in terms of what we envision for the school. I'm very excited about the things that they want to see and the things that I'm passionate about coming together in this very unique moment of my career. Q: You said you were from Holyoke. Did you grow up in Holyoke? Torres: I actually was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Just to give you a little of my background and what led me to be an educator. I grew up in poverty, extreme poverty. ... In my childhood, I was never 'a good student.' Q: It's hard in that situation to be a good student. Torres: Yeah. I was the trouble-maker, the disengaged kid. And then, I met amazing teachers in the middle school and high school and, eventually, in college as well, who were able to see beyond my current reality. They were able to see that there's such a powerful potential within you and the passion that you bring to what you do. You just don't believe in yourself, you just don't see it yet. I remember in my early years, especially middle school where I was having all these difficult emotions and going back and forth in terms of what I wanted to do, my middle school teacher said to me, 'If you ever want to overcome some of these challenges, let me know. I'm here for you.' That interaction, at first, it was kind of difficult to see what she was talking about because my reality was so different from what she was talking about that, at first, I wanted to be very dismissive and very standoffish. ... But then, eventually, when I decided to put my guard down, she taught me not just social studies she was my social studies teacher but she taught me how to be a good student, how to be a responsible student, how to study, how to prep for my work, how to do my assignments. She started giving me all those tools. When I started to experience good grades in middle school, that was never part of what I experienced at the elementary level, I, for the first time in my life, thought that maybe I can do this. So I started being a little bit more responsible with my school, with my academics. And, eventually, I moved on to high school, where I met another number of great teachers. But one particular teacher noticed that there were some significant gaps in my map and my Spanish subject. And she ended up putting in countless hours in tutoring me, supporting me, helping me something that she did on her own. She wasn't being compensated by the school, nor by my family. And I started to, not only continue to experience more academic growth, but I was accepted in the University of Puerto Rico, and I happened to have one of the top scores that year, when looking at the SAT score and the GPA for high school. So I received a ton of scholarships to enter my program. I did a bachelor's in computer science and mathematics. And on Saturdays, I did my teaching licensure work. Eventually, things just didn't work out in Puerto Rico in terms of the economic opportunity, so I said, I've finally gotten to this point in my life, let me move to the U.S.' I moved to Massachusetts, to Springfield, and I started throwing a ton of resumes around. My English, back then, was not the greatest. This was in 2006. I, obviously, had very limited English, some different challenges in terms of the language. But, eventually, being surrounded by students, surrounded by educators, everyone ended up helping me a great deal to maneuver the language barrier. Then, once I started working in the charter school, it just snowballed into where I am today, which is kind of amazing. Q: Two questions come to mind. One, you mentioned 'snowballs,' so why Massachusetts after growing up in Puerto Rico. But, more seriously, why Springfield? Did you have family in the area? Torres: No, not at all. Q: You just threw a dart at a map? Torres: No. Because, in high school and college, I was top of my class, education became extremely important to me. So what I did was research what state takes education more seriously and has the highest standards. And Massachusetts just kept popping up. Then, landing in Springfield was all in an accident. That definitely was random. There was no reason. I had no family members there. I remember when I landed in the airport, I had my two suitcases, and I looked around, and I was like, 'Alright, what am I going to do now?' I don't know where I'm going to sleep tonight. At that point, my grandma called me and said, 'Hey, I have a friend of mine who used to go to my church. He lives in Springfield. Head that way, and they're going to house you for the first few days.' They had me over to his place for about a month or so, and then at that point, I got the job. ... From that point, I spent 19 years of my career [at HCCS]. Q: You mentioned that it was a charter school, which was a little different. Torres: Very [laughing]. Q: So what's that been like and how has the transition to being a leader in what we'd call a 'traditional public school' setting with the union, not to be too blunt? How do you see that transition playing out? Torres: A couple of things. When I was in the charter school, even though we didn't have a teacher union, we were very intentional about decisions we were making and the things were were doing because, obviously, we didn't want to take advantage of the fact that there was no union or contracts. We worked very hard to keep our teachers happy, excited and wanting to return back to our buildings. So their voices were always very important, and it guided a lot of our work. Coming here, that's one of the things that I discussed with the district. Having a union, it's going to be unique to me. So one of the things I did right away was I studied both the teacher and paraprofessional contracts, because I wanted to make sure decisions I was making are within the parameters of the contract. Then I met with the two union reps for WES. I had a very candid conversation with them. I said, 'I've never worked with a union before, so I'm going to need your support. I'm going to need your guidance. I'm going to be consulting with you to see the dos and don'ts.' And they extended a very supportive approach to say, 'We've got you.' In terms of leadership, I've been doing this for a bit. So rounding up support, really listening to the voices, creating a work environment where we value the contribution of each other, that part I'm very comfortable with because I've done it for some time. But, now, consulting with a district office as well as a teacher union, that is going to be the learning curve for me. From what I understand, the teachers union here has a really good relationship with the school district and the school as a whole. So I don't foresee any major challenges in the coming year. Q: The other thing that, from the outside looking in, would appear to be a challenge is you're coming from a very different school community. Torres: Yes. Q: If you look at the demographics ... I don't have to tell you, the percentage of students who identify as white, the percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged at the Holyoke school versus here [According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Holyoke Community Charter School has a student population that is 3 percent white and 81 percent low income; WES' student population is 76 percent white and 22 percent low income.] Torres: A big difference, for sure. I can't hide the truth there. I will say, in my experience with Holyoke, regardless of what people might think about urban settings and school systems, I always believed that parents want what's best for their students. Sometimes what parents can do might be a little bit different, and how they might support may be a little different in Holyoke than, potentially, Williamstown. But, in my opinion, if you work with the families and you listen to how they can contribute and how they can support the work we're doing, you just accommodate those styles, the level of involvement, the level of knowledge and background information they might bring to the table. And then you work from that point on. In my opinion, yes, it is very evident when I've been meeting with families here, families in Holyoke, there's definitely a big disparity between both groups of families. But what I do get is the same is both sets of families want what's best for their kids. It's just me understanding here what kinds of systems and supports exist, versus the one that existed in Holyoke. In Holyoke, I was able to leverage a lot of different resources I knew because of how long I worked there. I was able to leverage my primary language, which is Spanish. Here, I might not necessarily leverage that language as much, but, definitely, just getting to know the community, getting to know the supports that exist in the area, I think that that will be the starting point to leverage some of those supports. Q: Looking at that question a different way: Given the smaller percentage of students who are what the state categorizes as economically disadvantaged, is it harder to help that group when they're so much in the minority versus in a setting where a lot of people are coming from the same place? Does that create a unique set of challenges in a school like Williamstown? Torres: I think maybe the opposite, to be honest. I felt like in Holyoke there's a lot of students who are struggling a great deal, both financially and with some of the things they have to live through and experience as kiddos. I think that in Holyoke, that seemed to be very overwhelming, in a good way, but overwhelming nonetheless. The beauty of what we had in Holyoke is our school principal was very intentional about the work we did. So she ended up creating a lot of different supports and put a lot of tools and resources to ensure we were always supporting that group of students. Here, it seems, based on the numbers that I have been studying over the last few weeks, the population is smaller, the supports are smaller, but it seems a lot more manageable in my opinion. When I've heard of different challenges in terms of discipline and behavior here at Williamstown, I look at what we experienced and witnessed in Holyoke, and it's drastically different. We were dealing with a lot of kids who were going hungry or not having a place they can go and sleep and spend the night. So those were very significant challenges that we had to handle on a daily basis. Here, the community seems to be very responsive to the needs of this group of students. I understand, from the work I've done with the district, that they do focus on providing that equity for the students here, ensuring that they receive all the tools and the supports needed to ensure their success. Q: You've talked about the mission statement and the values of the district. A lot of that has been tested the last few years. There's been, and I'm sure you've heard, people very public about it going to School Committee meetings and talking about their kids experiencing things. And, in response to that, the district is developing new incident response procedures and that sort of thing. Are you happy with where that is, and do you think what is being put in place is going to help address some of the tensions? Torres: I'll be honest. When I was about to make a decision of whether I was going to accept the job or not, I did look into this. And I watched over a year's worth of recording from the School Committee meetings. And what was very evident to me was that, regardless of what transpired, the School Committee and the district were really committed in moving forward and healing and repairing some of the harm that was described. As an outsider looking in, I felt very compelled by the work that they were willing to put in and the vulnerability that they decided to have to say, 'Yes, we do have an issue with our incident responses.' And that vulnerability and that space where they basically said, 'We're going to do something about it,' has been very intentional. From the moment I started interviewing to tomorrow [Aug. 14] we have a meeting in the district office to talk more about this, this has been communicated to me in a very transparent way. They have been very transparent in terms of what transpired and, more importantly, what we want to do to repair some of these challenges that the school experienced. My commitment is to be as open-minded as I can. Obviously, I haven't experienced anything yet that makes me believe that we have a major issue here. But my commitment is: I want a school setting where all students are valued, all families are valued. And that's something that I'm going to be fostering as much as I can. It is also the commitment of the district and the school committee as well. Q: On a happier note, you mentioned the relationship with Williams College. Do you have any thoughts on how that can be strengthened? Torres: At my previous school, we had a lot of significant partnerships around the community. I, actually, had the opportunity to review the outreach report that Williams College put out in terms of the collaboration between WES and them. And I was just blown away with the amount of collaboration that exists. I met with some of the staff members from Williams College, and we talked about more opportunities to continue to expand what we're doing. Obviously, I do have to go through the learning curve of understanding the school, understanding the systems that currently exist. But, based on the report that I saw and the dialogues I've been having with the district, it is a partnership that we value. And wouldn't say it's underutilized, but the partnership will be leveraged a lot more in the next few years. We already started having some conversations around this particular topic. And we're looking now to look for new opportunities and new areas where we can definitely focus on expanding. Clarksburg Fire Company Asks for Budget Increase to Offset Costs CLARKSBURG, Mass. The Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company is hoping for more financial support from the town to address increasing costs. "The fire company would like to approach the town for our budget to grow," Fire Chief Carlyle "Chipper" Chesbro told the Select Board on Monday. "I don't want to say enormously. But just in retrospect with everything going on with costs of things, budgets ... Upon realizing our budget is ridiculous.ly low for what we do, for what we provide." The Fire Department's budget has hovered around $20,000 annually for the past 25 years, he noted. "We take what's given to us and we make it work," Chesbro said, adding that the company does fundraisers and fills pools to finance its needs as much as possible. "The fire company, the last three years, has responded to an average 150 calls a year, which is extremely up. Medical calls are about way up. ... If you look at our budget, and you figure it out per hour, it's $2.28 you're paying per hour for us to be on duty for 35 firefighters. That's six cents an hour you're paying for us to be on call 24/7, 365 days a year." In the meantime, the cost for outfitting a firefighter with gear is $4,500, servicing the trucks is about $5,000 and the SCBAs, or Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, are around $1,200 and 30 need to be replaced over the coming years. That's not including unexpected truck repairs like $21,000 for a blown turbocharger or the $11,708 spent on equipment this year. The company spent $25,987 in its funds to operate in 2024, and $21,463 the year before for uniforms, parts, repairs and other needs. Those numbers don't include grant funding, such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant or a forestry grant. But grants are beginning to dry up, such as a state grant that's coming to an end. "I'd like to put in at least 50 percent increase, maybe more, depending on how you guys feel about it," Chesbro said. "I mean, for what you're getting, for what we provide, it's pretty darn cheap ... "We're asking our members to do more and more and more, you know, and getting things done. So at this time, I just want you to realize that at the end of the year, when we get our requests for budgets, you know, I'm going to substantially ask for more." The chief asked about the police budget and would anything be left from that but Chair Daniel Haskins said those funds were spent last fiscal year and don't exist in this budget. The police department was dissolved a year ago. Haskins said the company got $20,298 this fiscal year, which is up about 2 percent from the previous year. "I think everyone the town appreciates everything the Volunteer Fire Company does for us. And I'm not opposed of trying to bump this up a little bit, because I do understand the cost of everything's gone up tremendously on everything," he said. "Right now, I'm just knowing we can't make any promises ... until we get into our budget season, which is probably we're hoping to start that in January." The Select Board would also like to get an agreement in writing with the independent fire company about supplying it with trucks. Chesbro said there was a "handshake" understanding from the 1960s that the town would buy a firetruck every 20 years and the company would maintain it. The most recent truck, Engine 1, was purchased with American Rescue Plan Act funds in 2023 but now Engine 2 is 33 years old and the tanker, paid for with a grant, is 20. The company also bought a 2005 rescue truck for $30,000. "We'll definitely chat some more once we get closer to budget season," said Haskins. The board also discussed the condition of 471 Middle Road, where the property owner has been living in a trailer since the house burned down in 2021 Town Administrator Ronald Boucher said the Berkshire Health Alliance had spoken with the owner, who had constructed partial framing on the existing slab sometime ago. "In our bylaws, there's a set amount of time, either you're going to rebuild the dwelling, you can't have a trailer or a mobile home on there," he said. "I didn't know if the board itself has set any kind of terms on that property. I'm not trying to force somebody out here." According the bylaws, the Select Board can issues a temporary permit to use a camper or mobile home during the construction of a permanent dwelling for up to nine months. The three-acre property's listed for $115,000, which the agent had considered high and not likely to sell. Haskins said he believed some terms had been set last year to be enforced by the building inspector, though they made a point of not wanting to force someone out during the winter. "Let's try to address the human aspect of it and see what kind of resources are available. If we can try to help this resident transition into some sort of housing," said Select Board member Colton Andrews. "The problem is, if we set any sort of terms at this point, the clock is going to run out. Because really, it has already." The board had some discussion about how they could help the individual because he is a veteran but Boucher said it wasn't up to the town or Berkshire Health Alliance to set up resources for him. He did reach out to the veterans service agent but it would be up to the property owner to follow through. "If you make a [exemption] for this one, then the next guy that comes in and says, 'Hey, you did it for this guy, why don't you do it for us?'" said Boucher. "That's all I'm trying to do, and I agree we need to stand by the bylaws that are set in place." The board did not have the bylaws and hand and were not sure of the time limit. Select Board member Seth Alexander said he was uncomfortable setting a deadline until they were clear on what the bylaw states. The others agreed and postponed further discussion until the next meeting. In other business, Boucher said the n ew assessor, Romana Messer, and the new administrative assistant, Markell Shea, would be starting Monday; and the board confirmed the appointment of Bonnie Cahoon to the Council on Aging with a term to expire July 2028. Boucher reported that the roof project at Clarksburg School should be completed next week. The school will have half-day dismissals on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to accommodate completion of drains and flashing. The next concert at the town field will be Aug. 29 with food trucks and classic cars from 6 to 8 p.m. KUNMING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Before dawn, villagers of Jidi set out with baskets and walking sticks, their torchlight slicing through the darkness as they ascended mist-shrouded mountains rising over 3,000 meters in southwest China's Yunnan Province. They are the traditional "matsutake hunters," guardians of secret forest patches teeming with the prized fungi. Yet alongside this age-old ritual, a digital transformation is quietly unfolding. By 9 a.m., the scene had shifted dramatically. In a bustling warehouse at the Shangri-La matsutake trading market, 22-year-old Wu Xia, dressed in vibrant Tibetan attire, promoted the mushrooms online through her smartphone. Fresh matsutake, still dusted with earth, filled the screen, while young packers and sorters moved swiftly behind her. "What you see is what you buy. Shipped immediately," Wu said to her livestream audience. Her livestreaming stretched deep into the night, drawing over 110,000 viewers and generating nearly 120,000 yuan (about 16,825.3 U.S. dollars) in sales. The embrace of technology is transforming life in Yunnan's Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, home to some of the world's richest matsutake forests. Once dependent on distant city markets or low-paying middlemen, villagers are now harnessing the power of the digital world. Leading this change is Chunpai, a local known as "Village Chief Losang." When he returned to his hometown in 2019, the young Tibetan saw foraging practices threatening the region's precious matsutake fields. He introduced a conservation model in which villagers partner with companies and research institutes, retaining ownership while pledging to protect young mushrooms and rotate harvesting areas. In return, enterprises purchase their premium matsutake at above-market prices. "At first, villagers resisted," Chunpai recalled. "We had to go door to door to explain the long-term benefits." The results soon became clear, as natural matsutake growth rose by 20 percent, and household incomes from foraging increased by an average of 20,000 yuan annually. By 2 p.m., Jidi's trading market was buzzing. Elders in traditional dress efficiently sold their day's harvest, with transactions completed in minutes thanks to online price checks. Cold-chain trucks stood ready, ensuring that mushrooms reach 264 Chinese cities within 24 hours and overseas destinations such as Tokyo and Seoul in 36 hours. Chunpai's vision goes beyond sales. He trains villagers in online marketing, with more than a dozen now earning income by livestreaming their hunts. A new "matsutake camp" offers immersive foraging, camping and culinary experiences, while traditional homes welcome tourists as guesthouses. According to Zhao Yuezhen, a visitor from Shanghai, the hands-on hunt is both rewarding and eye-opening. "Connecting deeply with nature is healing. It makes you appreciate how hard this is." "The old hunters told tales of finding mushrooms," Chunpai said. "We, the new generation, are weaving the story of an entire industry. The path for rural revitalization only widens when the young walk it." 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 Only just over a third of U.S. states require sexual education in public schools to be medically accurate, researchers said on Friday, potentially preventing tens of millions of students from receiving crucial information about sexual health. While 42 states ask students to take a course that covers at least one sex ed topic between kindergarten and high school, just 19 mandate that the information be evidence-based and supported by the medical community, according to a new analysis from the Boston University School of Public Health. And five of those states require accuracy for specific topics, which may include sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, and unhealthy relationships. While many students in the U.S. are required to get some form of sexual education, our study shows that substantially fewer students are likely to be getting the comprehensive sexual education that public health and medical associations recommend, Dr. Kimberly Nelson, an associate professor at the school, said in a statement. More than 65 million students were enrolled in public schools in 2021, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. Now, only 58 percent of students live in a jurisdiction that requires sex ed to be medically accurate, Nelson noted, and many jurisdictions have content mandates that extend only to a few topics. open image in gallery Public school students may not be receiving crucial information about sexual health. Researchers at Boston University School of Public Health said just a third of U.S. states require the education they mandate to be medically accurate ( Getty Images ) This means that many U.S. students are living in jurisdictions where they are unlikely to receive the accurate and comprehensive information that we know will help them make informed, healthy choices about their sexual behaviors and relationships, she explained. No federal law requires schools in the U.S. to teach sex ed, leaving decisions to the states or school districts. Dozens of the 42 states that mandate sex ed courses 34 require instruction on abstinence, which the researchers say has consistently proven to be ineffective or harmful to adolescent sexual health. The same number of states mandate instruction about HIV, while only 32 require education about sexually transmitted infections, and 31 mandate instruction on child abuse prevention. Even fewer states require instruction about healthy relationships and dating or intimate partner violence. Just 24 states require education about sexual assault, even though one in five American women has experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime. Nearly a quarter of men have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime, according to federal health officials. In addition, only 20 states require instruction related to contraception, and nine states mandate instruction about consent to sex. The analysis also found just 12 states mandate instruction about sexual orientation, with Oklahoma and Texas requiring the use of messaging the researchers called stigmatizing or negative. open image in gallery Both elementary and high schools teach sexual education. But the subject matter differs by state ( Getty Images ) State mandates also varied by region, with all Northeast states requiring school-based sex ed for at least one topic. The same was true for 88 percent of states in the South, 83 percent of states in the Midwest, and 62 percent of states in the West. The researchers said 34 states have allowed parents to opt their children out of receiving sex ed instruction, and five states require parents to opt in. The findings were based on an examination of state statutes, administrative regulations, state court decisions, sex ed content requirements, and parental notice and consent policies. Although more research is necessary to fully understand the extent to which parental policies limit the effect of state sex ed mandates, the researchers said current policies may stop students from receiving vital information about sexual health. Because policy decisions about sexual education curricula happen at the state-level, state-level sociopolitical forces exert substantial influence on sexual education, said Nelson. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Lucy Connolly has claimed she was Sir Keir Starmers political prisoner after she was jailed for over a year for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers on the day of the Southport murders. The 42-year-old, from Northampton, said she felt the authorities were determined to throw the book at her when she was arrested over a post on X (formerly Twitter) last summer. The case centred on a post she wrote on the social media platform that said: Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f***ing hotels full of the bastards for all I care ... if that makes me racist so be it. Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred by publishing and distributing threatening or abusive written material, after her post was viewed 310,000 times. She served 40 per cent of her sentence, before being released on Thursday on licence. Speaking to The Telegraph following her release, she said she believed she had been targeted because her husband was a Conservative councillor. Im just a woman from Northampton living in a three-bed semi that worked as a childminder with a husband as an engineer, she said. OK, he was a councillor. But that, people forget, thats almost like a second job. open image in gallery Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed in Southport last year in an incident that triggered riots across the country ( PA ) His first job as an engineer, as a father, as a husband, we are nobody. We are not known to anybody. So I will never understand how it got to this. Theres people that have done far worse and people wouldnt be able to name them, but theyd know my name, and I just find it all really, really bizarre. Asked if she considered herself Sir Keir Starmers political prisoner, Connolly replied: Absolutely. Me and several other people. Connolly added that she had written the post in a red mist fit of anger, before later deleting it after returning from a walk. Eight days later, she was arrested at her home and questioned by police. She claimed the authorities wanted to hammer her after she was refused bail, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) released a statement that suggested she had told officers in her police interview that she did not like immigrants. A press release issued by the CPS after her guilty plea on 2 September included a quote from Frank Ferguson, head of the CPSs Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, which said: During police interview Lucy Connolly stated she had strong views on immigration, told officers she did not like immigrants and claimed that children were not safe from them. Connolly claimed that her words had been massively twisted and used against me, and is now considering taking legal action, saying she didnt believe she would have had a fair trial had she pleaded not guilty. She said: I dont want to say too much because I need to seek legal advice on that, but I do think the police were dishonest in what they released and what they said about me, and I will be holding them to account for that. She also said she is set to meet with members of Donald Trumps administration following her release from prison. open image in gallery Lucy Connolly is set to meet representatives of Donald Trumps administration on Saturday ( AP ) The former childminder told Dan Wootton on his YouTube show that the US presidents lawyers were very interested in the way things are going in the UK and keen to speak with her. Asked what she knew about the meeting, she said: Not much, just that theyre very interested in the way things are going in the UK, and they are obviously big advocates for free speech, and their lawyers are keen to speak with me. The US Department of State has previously accused the UK of having significant human rights issues, including restrictions on free speech. A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: We are aware of comments made by Lucy Connolly in an interview following her release from prison. We hope to contact Mrs Connolly in the coming days to understand the issues she has raised around Northamptonshire Police. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A seven-year-old boy has been seriously injured in a motorbike crash in north Yorkshire. Emergency services were called to Westminster Road in Middlesbrough on Thursday afternoon after reports of a collision. The boy was rushed to hospital in Newcastle where he remains in a serious but stable condition, police said. Two men, aged 19 and 21, were later arrested and have since been released on bail pending further enquiries. Police have now issued an appeal for more information, telling people with knowledge of the incident to look to their conscience and remember a small child is currently in hospital. open image in gallery The boy is in a serious but stable condition in the Royal Victoria Infirmary (Owen Humphreys/PA) ( PA Archive ) Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Taylor, who is leading the investigation, said: I would urge anyone with information on this incident to get in touch with us. There are people in the community who know who these riders are and where the bikes are being stored, and I would ask them to look to their conscience and remember that a small child is currently in hospital, seriously injured. We have officers patrolling the area, so please approach them if you have any concerns or any information to provide, or you can call Cleveland Police on 101. If you dont feel that you can talk to us directly, you can provide information anonymously through Crimestoppers at https://orlo.uk/gBi0f or by calling 0800 555 111. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A suspected arson attack at a restaurant in north-east London looked like a scene from Halloween, a local businessman has said. Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the scene at Indian Aroma in Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill in Ilford about 9pm on Friday. CCTV footage from the fire, which left three people in a life-threatening condition, appeared to show a man running out of the building with his clothing on fire. Footage shows a group of people with their faces covered walk into the restaurant before pouring liquid on to the floor. Seconds later, the inside of the restaurant is engulfed in flames. Part of the ground floor was damaged by fire, and crews rescued five people from the restaurant. Nine others got out beforehand, London Fire Brigade said. open image in gallery A forensic investigator at the restaurant in Ilford (Helen William/PA) ( PA Wire ) Sayed Bokhari, 39, said he had spoken to the manager of the restaurant, adding: He was crying. He was very shocked. He was really crying. He was extremely scared. Mr Bokhari said: Its awful and its very scary. It looked like a scene from Halloween. It was a serious, dramatic thing and people were running around him, he said, referring to the injured man. Mr Bokhari, who has run a business in the area for 15 years, said: It is scary because we run retail stores which are welcoming customers in. The doors are open like the doors of your house. We cannot body check everyone to see if they are safe. There is only so much that high street security can do. It is scary. You are worried for people. You are worried about your business. London is not such a fun place any more. No arrests have been made following the suspected arson attack and the cause of the blaze is being investigated by firefighters and the Met. open image in gallery Police officers search the area on Woodford Avenue in Ilford (Helen William/PA) ( PA Wire ) One local resident described the aftermath of the suspected arson attack as horrible. Hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, stepped outside his nearby home with his 12-year-old son to see if he could help after hearing screaming. He said it was more than scary and the sort of thing that you dont want to look at twice. He said he thought one man who was on the street and a woman who was also outside may have been customers. Mr Thawe added that the mans whole body was burnt, including his shirt, but he was still wearing his trousers. A police cordon was in place on Saturday as forensic officers examined the scene. A trail of what appeared to be bloody footprints along the pavement was spotted by a forensic officer and a number of items were also bagged up in clear plastic carriers. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Mets Central Specialist Crime North unit, said: We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together. Locals can expect to see a large police presence in the area. If you have any concerns, please speak to those officers on the ground. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Met on 101, quoting 7559/22AUG. If you wish to remain anonymous, speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The family of a man who was stabbed to death at Notting Hill Carnival three years ago have issued a fresh plea for information to help find his killer. Takayo Nembhard, 21, was killed while surrounded by several hundred people on Monday 29 August, 2022, in the Ladbroke Grove area under the Westway flyover. He was visiting his friends and sister after having travelled from Bristol to enjoy the carnival, before he died in hospital due to a stab wound to his right groin, Met Police said. Although multiple arrests were made in connection with the murder, no charges have been brought by police. open image in gallery The adults parade, part of the Notting Hill Carnival celebration in west London, 2023 (James Manning/PA) ( PA Archive ) "Takayo left behind a heartbroken family and two beautiful boys, said his parents, Sandra and Vincent Nembhard. We don't want them to grow up without knowing someone has been charged with his murder. "We don't blame the Carnival for our son's murder; it was the action of a small minority. But if you have any information about what happened that day three years ago please come forward." Detective inspector Richard Kempshall, who is deputy senior investigating officer on the case, said: Takayo was a talented rapper who attended Notting Hill carnival, like so many others, to enjoy the day and the event. "A mindless act of violence has ensured that his children are without a father. Due to the timing and venue of the attack it is quite likely that many people witnessed the events before, during or after. Met Police are now calling on any witnesses of the attack to come forward on the eve of Notting Hill Carnivals 2025 edition. The force is urging people to contact them on social media or the 101 phone number, or by calling the incident room directly on 020 7175 2206. Witnesses should quote case number 7478/29AUG22. A historic gatehouse named "Moon-walking Pavilion" is pictured next to the manor of the Shaw family in Pingtung County, southeast China's Taiwan, June 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianhua) TAIPEI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tucked away in a small township of southern Taiwan's Pingtung County, a humble and weathered gatehouse stands quietly, bearing a romantic name, "Moon-walking Pavilion." Few today would suspect that this was once the redoubt in a battle where local villagers made a desperate and heroic stand against invading Japanese forces 130 years ago. "It's not just a building. This land was once soaked with blood," said 73-year-old Shaw Kai-ping, great-great-grandson of Shaw Kuang-ming who led the battle against the Japanese here in 1895. The battle was part of a brief but fierce resistance movement that erupted in Taiwan after the Qing government, defeated in a war launched by Japan against China, was forced to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan. "This is where they fought," said Shaw, pausing before a wall still marked by bullet holes. "Many, like my great-great-grandfather, chose death over surrender." The Shaw family had migrated from Guangdong Province on the mainland to southern Taiwan in 1786, eventually becoming a leading clan in the region. Their home, a sprawling manor built in a double-enclosed layout, became a battlefield in October 1895 when about 18,000 Japanese soldiers landed at the Fangliao port of Pingtung. Local Hakka communities, led by leaders such as Shaw Kuang-ming, decided not to surrender but instead mobilized local villagers. They flooded farmland with seawater to slow down Japanese troops and staged ambushes in the jungle. When retreating to the Shaw estate, they poured boiling water and threw rocks from the top of the ramparts of the front gate. But their resistance was tragically insufficient against the Japanese onslaught. Armed mostly with crude muskets and farming tools attached to kitchen knives, the local fighters held out for 14 hours before the Japanese stormed and torched the estate and the surrounding village. Over 100 local defenders died, including one of Shaw's sons. His other son was seriously wounded and died days later. Local people's resistance did not end in Shaw's hometown. About 30 km away, the village of Changxing earned the name "Fireburn Village" in November 1895. The last major stand of the resistance movement was commanded there by Chiu Feng-yang. "He was a towering 66-year-old Hakka man renowned for a booming voice and courage," said Chiu Chi-chang, his great-great-grandson. In this final clash, Chiu led 3,000 villagers, including women, children and the elderly, against overwhelming odds. Japanese troops tried to negotiate several times, but Chiu refused. What followed was heavy artillery bombardment and the complete destruction of the settlement. "Flames tossed like waves and smoke masked the sky," reads a historical record describing the scene. About 250 local fighters were killed, including Chiu's teenage son. In 1968, the construction of a nearby school unearthed some remains of these fighters. Today, their remains rest in a small shrine in a park on the site of the battlefield. Chi Chia-lin, chief of a Taiwan history research association, told Xinhua that nearly 10,000 people in Taiwan sacrificed their lives during the resistance movement in 1895, while on the Japanese side a total of 4,800 Japanese military personnel were killed and about 27,000 injured. The 1895 resistance was suppressed -- but its patriotic spirit has been passed on through generations. Shaw Kai-ping's father, Shaw Dao-ing, was born in Japanese-colonized Taiwan in 1916. "Despite the colonial indoctrination of the time, my father grew up hearing whispered tales of ancestral defiance," Shaw said. Japan invaded northeast China in 1931 and initiated a full-scale invasion of China in 1937. In 1940, Shaw Dao-ing and his wife went to the mainland to join the resistance war against Japan, where he used his medical training to serve as a frontline medic for Chinese troops. "My parents believed that it was their mission to fight for the motherland when it was in peril," Shaw said. Tens of thousands of Taiwan residents followed similar paths. Between 1937 and 1945, at least 50,000 crossed the Taiwan Strait to join the war of resistance on the mainland. The descendants of these patriotic families, including Shaw and Chiu, have strived to preserve these valuable memories. Shaw helped found an association in Taiwan for relatives of patriots who fought against Japanese aggression, which has over 30 members. Every November, villagers of Changxing, including Chiu's family, gather for a ceremony paying tribute to these past heroes. In recent years, they have been facing growing challenges. Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, which have actively pursued a secessionist agenda, are constructing a historical narrative that diminishes or reframes the island's Chinese cultural roots. Taiwan people's persistent resistance against Japanese aggression, including the 1895 resistance movement, clearly proved that many people in Taiwan at that time chose to die rather than surrender their national identity as Chinese. These episodes of history are being erased from public memory and Japan's colonial rule was whitewashed through various cultural programs, including revised textbooks, launched by the DPP authorities. "It's painful to see our history being erased or twisted," said Shaw. "What they're teaching the youth is toxic. It severs them from their roots." However, the bullet holes on the Shaws' ancestral walls, the scorched earth of "Fireburn Village," and the humble shrine in the battlefield-turned park in Changxing, combine to speak a truth that persists -- not through grand monuments but via families who value these memories. "I often take my children for walks in the park that was once the 'Fireburn Village,' talking about the stories of our ancestors," said Chiu Chi-Chang. Shaw Kai-ping speaks during an interview at the manor of his family in Pingtung County, southeast China's Taiwan, June 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianhua) This photo taken on June 5, 2025 shows a monument in a park on the site of a battlefield in Pingtung County, southeast China's Taiwan, June 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianhua) For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Three men have been charged after a teenage girl was allegedly raped in a London park. Police were called to reports a 17-year-old girl had been attacked in Fishponds Park in Surbiton, south-west London, at around 7:15am on Thursday. Four suspects, aged between their 20s and 40s, were arrested following the alleged incident, the Metropolitan Police said. Three have now been charged, with the fourth released on bail pending further enquiries. Vladas Rupeika, 35, of Epsom, appeared in court on Saturday charged with rape. Nerijus Venckus, 36, of Surbiton, has been charged with rape and assault by penetration, and Peter Hoppe, 41, of Tolworth, was charged with oral rape. All three men have been remanded into custody. Officers have stepped up patrols in the area and are continuing to appeal for more information related to the incident. They added the girl and her family are being supported by specialist officers. 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 Anti-immigration protests have surged in recent weeks, with some targeting hotels used to house asylum seekers, sparking violence and prompting multiple arrests. Amid the demonstrations, misleading claims about the cost of accommodating migrants have been spreading widely online. But what does it actually cost to house asylum seekers in hotels and how are false figures shaping public anger? open image in gallery A man reacts after being arrested during a demonstration outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf on August 3, 2025 over its use to house asylum seekers. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Misleading figures spread online One focal point has been the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, East London, which has witnessed clashes between anti-immigration protesters and anti-racism demonstrators, leading to the arrest of two people on 8 August. Social media posts and viral messages have claimed that housing asylum seekers in hotels costs the government between 200 and 500 per night. However, there is no evidence to support these figures. One expert claims these kinds of falsehoods are most likely spread with a strategic purpose in mind. The real cost The Home Office told The Independent that the Britannia Hotel costs 81 per night to house asylum seekers. In March 2025, the average cost per night for a hotel room used to accommodate asylum seekers was 118.87 down from 162.16 in March 2023. Across all hotels, this equates to around 5.77m per day, down from 8.3m per day the previous year, according to the Home Office. Stephan Lewandowsky, Professor of Cognitive Science at the University of Bristol, told The Independent that false information spreads because divisive posts attract more attention from readers. He said: Social media algorithms favour information that is outrage-evoking because it generates more audience engagement hence making more money for the platforms and in consequence disinformation often has an advantage over factual content and spreads faster and further. On top of that, the goal is, of course, to incite hatred and what better way to do that than to spread outrageous falsehoods. open image in gallery ( Getty Images ) These misleading claims are not just a matter of numbers. Experts warn they could amplify public anger and stoke already high tensions. There is now very clear and strong evidence that online misinformation can cause real-world harms. For example, last years riots in the UK targeted mosques based on the false rumour that the perpetrator of a heinous crime was a Muslim refugee he was not, he was a native-born British citizen, Mr Lewandowsky said. Court ruling piles pressure on Starmer Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after Epping Forest District Council secured an interim High Court injunction to ban migrants from being housed at The Bell Hotel after weeks of protests at the site. The council argued the site had become a feeding ground for unrest following a spate of violent protests that left several police officers injured. On 4 August, Starmer condemned the violence as far-right thuggery and warned that those responsible would face the full force of the law. For now, one of many challenges for ministers will be to ensure the facts about the costs of asylum hotels are reaching the public. 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 A High Court Judge ruled that asylum seekers can no longer be housed at a hotel in Epping that has been the site of multiple protests in recent weeks. Epping Forest District Council won an interim injunction to stop asylum seekers being hosted at The Bell Hotel, saying it had become a feeding ground for unrest. The judgement requires all migrants currently housed in the hotel around 140 men as of last month to leave by 4pm on 12 September. open image in gallery All migrants currently housed in the Bell Hotel are required to leave by 4pm on 12 September ( PA ) The Home Office is responsible for asylum and protection in the UK, and must now find somewhere else for these people to go. Reacting to the ruling, it warned it would substantially impact its ability to house asylum seekers across the UK. Home secretary Yvette Cooper had unsuccessfully attempted to have the councils case dismissed shortly before the ruling. Other councils have also shown an interest in following suit in the wake of the ruling. However, none have initiated legal proceedings similar to Epping. Most experts agree that housing asylum seekers in hotels is not appropriate for a number of reasons. Cost, overcrowding and community tensions are amongst of the most commonly cited reasons. Border security minister Angela Eagle said the government will continue working with local authorities and communities to address legitimate concerns, adding: Our work continues to close all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament. The case raises the question of where the asylum seekers currently in the Bell Hotel will need to go come September and, should the widespread use of migrant hotels come to an end, where all people currently housed in them can be placed instead. Hotels The latest Home Office figures show that there were 32,059 asylum seekers in UK hotels at the end of June, up eight per cent on the same point 12 months ago. This is down slightly on the previous quarter, however, and far lower than the peak of 56,000 in September 2023. There are also now fewer than 210 hotels in use, down from 400 in summer 2023. These hotels only make up around 35 per cent of all people in asylum accommodation, according to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) in May. open image in gallery Home Secretary Yvette Cooper unsuccessfully attempted to have Epping councils case dismissed shortly before the ruling (PA) ( PA Wire ) But their cost is disproportionately expensive, making up 76 per cent of total government spending on asylum accommodation. And, as has been seen in recent months, they are also a hot-bed for protests which have oftentimes turned violent. Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at Refugee Council said: Asylum hotels have become a flashpoint for tension in communities, cost billions to the taxpayer, and leave people trapped in limbo. Ending their use is in everyones interest, but the Governments current plan to phase them out by 2029 is far too slow. We need to reform the accommodation system so that councils can house people in the community. Housing Moving more asylum seekers into houses or flats is one possible alternative to the use of hotels. These could be provided by private landlords or social housing groups. Around 66,000 migrants were housed in these kind of properties by the end of December 2024, compared to 38,000 in hotels at the same time. The main criticism of this approach is that it will add more demand onto the UKs already stretched housing industry. In the private sector, rising rents are making living costs unaffordable for many households. Moving more asylum seekers into these properties funded by the government may push up rental prices further and create less availability for UK residents. open image in gallery Newly-released data shows how many asylum seekers are housed in UK hotels ( PA ) However, housing more asylum seekers in social housing would possibly create issues for residents who are struggling most in that local authority. The waiting list for council housing reached over 300,000 in 2024 if more migrants are moved into social housing, the already-long wait times may increase further. Mr Hussain said: Housing people in communities is cheaper and more effective than hotels or military sites. Local authorities already manage housing for other groups and know their local areas best, so theyre well placed to provide accommodation. Ultimately, the only way to end hotel use for good is to resolve asylum applications quickly and accurately so people can either rebuild their lives here or return home with dignity. This will cut costs and allow refugees to integrate into their new communities, contribute, and play their part in Britain. Military bases and boats Military bases have been used to accommodate asylum seekers in the past, but their use attracted widespread criticism. In 2022, the Conservative government said it would use large sites like ex-military facilities, as well as barges and ferries to reduce demand on asylum hotels. The only two sites still in use are Wethersfield Airfield in Essex and Napier Barracks in Kent. As of December 2024, there were only 735 migrants living between them. The government said in March that Napier Barracks would be closing after multiple allegations of poor conditions and criticism from MPs. It was also found that former home secretary Suella Braverman acted unlawfully in accommodating three asylum seekers at Wethersfield who argued they were living in prison-like conditions. open image in gallery The last people housed in the Bibby Stockholm departed from the vessel in November 2024 ( Getty Images ) However, despite pledging to close Wethersfield in opposition, Labour is set to continue and even expand its use, increasing its capacity from 800 to 1,225 in July. Most agree that the use of boats is not a tenable or humane solution. The last people left the Dorset-moored Bibby Stockholm in November after fierce criticism against the migrant barge. Student accommodation The government purchased former student accommodation in Huddersfield in 2023 with the purpose of housing asylum seekers. As of February 2025, the property was under development, according to the NAO. The 405-bed block of flats will hold a maximum of 670 people, the Home Office has said. There were reports that 168 students had planned to live in the building and were told they had to make alternative arrangements, although the government denied this. Using this kind of accommodation already built for temporary use may be a strong option to replace the use of hotels in the coming years. However, Kirklees Council said in March that there were issues it would like to see addressed before the plans go ahead. Council leader Cathy Scott said: "The Home Office needs to commit to engaging properly with the Huddersfield community on its plans as well as addressing the many important issues the council and its partners have put forward before the site becomes operational. She added: "In Kirklees, we have a strong record of supporting people who are fleeing persecution. But the system relies on trust and confidence. We do not believe the Home Office has done enough to build trust over the past six months. Thats why we will continue to raise our concerns on behalf of local residents and communities." 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 The public is losing confidence in Sir Keir Starmers ability to tackle migration, new polling has revealed. The YouGov findings revealed that 71 per cent believe that the prime minister is handling the asylum hotel issue badly, including 56 per cent of Labour voters. The findings for The Times came as the government announced that it would be overhauling the legal process for asylum applications in an effort to fast-track decisions and attempt to prevent over interpretation of the European Convention of Human Rights. It also followed a weekend of demonstrations outside asylum hotels, which saw protesters clash with police. Under the Abolish Asylum System banner, demonstrators gathered in Solihull, Dudley, Epping, Stevenage, London, Manchester, and Norwich. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said a new fast-track appeals system would see decisions made more quickly, curtailing the spiralling backlog in the courts and helping Labour meet its promise to end the use of asylum hotels. open image in gallery Home secretary Yvette Cooper vowed to speed up the appeals process ( PA ) But with Nigel Farage set to unveil details of a mass deportation plan on Tuesday as Reform tries to capitalise on the issue, the YouGov poll underlined its importance to voters. According to the findings, nearly four in 10 voters (37 per cent) said that immigration and asylum was the most important issue facing the country, compared with 25 per cent who said it was the economy and 7 per cent the health service. While the backlog of initial decisions has been cut under Labour, there are about 51,000 asylum appeals waiting to be heard, more than a year on average to reach a decision. Decisions will be prioritised for foreign national offenders and those in asylum accommodation under the plans, with professionally trained adjudicators replacing judges to remove cases from the backed-up justice system. The home secretary said on Sunday: We inherited an asylum system in complete chaos with a soaring backlog of asylum cases and a broken appeals system with thousands of people in the system for years on end. That is why we are taking practical steps to fix the foundations and restore control and order to the system. Labour has promised to end the use of asylum hotels by the next general election, but critics, including Labour MPs, have called for Ms Cooper to bring forward the plans and remove migrants from hotels sooner. Mr Farage and Kemi Badenoch have called for their use, which is costing taxpayers billions and stoking tensions in communities, to end immediately. Several arrests were made at protests that took place against asylum hotels on Saturday, with anti-migrant protesters and anti-racism counterprotesters clashing. Three arrests were made at the protest outside the Four Points hotel in Horley, Surrey, with two for a breach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice. open image in gallery A protest and counterprotest were held in Perth on Saturday ( PA ) Meanwhile, on Sunday, a council leader said that protests which took place the day before in Perth were sparked by completely false claims of further asylum hotels opening in the area. A lot of this in Perth started off two or three weeks ago when there was a claim there was another hotel or two hotels going to be used for housing asylum seekers completely false, Grant Laing, the SNP leader of Perth and Kinross Council, told BBC Scotlands Sunday Show radio programme. The use of asylum hotels has increased in the past year under Labour, with critics warning that they are becoming flashpoints in communities and trapping migrants in limbo. On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, from 12 September. The judgment, which the Home Office is to appeal, followed a series of violent protests that resulted in multiple arrests and saw police officers injured. In one of Sundays demonstrations, uniformed police stood guard outside the Britannia hotel in Canary Wharf, east London, which has recently been the focus of anti-migrant protests. Security guards could also be seen standing behind full-length barriers that blocked off the entrance way. About 20 protesters stood quietly on the other side of the road with union flags propped up against a fence. They ranged in ages from an adult wearing a T-shirt bearing the name of activist Tommy Robinson to a schoolgirl wearing a union flag dress and bow in her hair. She had tied a St Georges flag around her shoulders. A woman carried a homemade banner, with a St Georges flag drawn on it, which read: Tower Hamlets Council house homeless Brits first. Another banner read: Enough is enough protect our women and girls. 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 number of asylum seekers housed in government hotels has risen in the first year under Labour, piling further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to get a grip on the growing number of people making dangerous Channel crossings. The data follows a High Court ruling on Tuesday that banned the use of the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, for housing asylum seekers after lawyers argued it had become a feeding ground for unrest following a string of violent protests near the site. As the government braces for a fresh round of legal action from councils seeking similar bans in their areas, new Home Office figures reveal that the number of people claiming asylum in the year to June rose to a record 111,000, while the number of small boats crossing the Channel continues to grow. The government has been repeatedly accused of failing to tackle immigration, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage saying the public is right to be very angry over the rise in asylum seekers being housed in hotels. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp claimed ministers had lost control of our borders. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has said that the country is well past breaking point, and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch questioned whether it would be possible to set up camps for migrants, rather than housing them near local communities. While the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels is up eight per cent year-on-year, the numbers have been consistently falling since December last year. The number of people in hotels 32,059 is also significantly lower than the peak of over 56,000 under the Tory government in September 2023. Labour has also made progress on cutting the backlog of asylum claims and speeding up the number of deportations, with enforced returns up by 25 per cent to 9,072, and an increasing number of criminals deported in the year to June. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Thursday that the numbers showed Labour had strengthened Britains visa and immigration controls, cut asylum costs, and sharply increased enforcement and returns. The bad news: asylum claims and small boats at record levels The number of migrants being housed temporarily in hotels has risen by eight per cent to 32,059 in the year to June. This was up from 29,585 at the same point last year, when the Conservatives were in power, but down from 32,345 in March, and has been falling since last December. That figure is still far below the peak of 56,000 asylum seekers living in hotels in September 2023. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp slammed weak ministers for there being more immigrants in hotels than at the time of the election, but Labour has blamed the Tories, with Ms Cooper on Thursday saying the government inherited a broken immigration and asylum system that the previous government left in chaos. The government has said it is committed to ending the use of asylum hotels by the end of this parliament and has already reduced asylum costs by 11 per cent. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council charity, said: Theres still far too many people in hotels. Everyone agrees that hotels are the wrong answer they cost the taxpayer billions, trap people in limbo and are flashpoints in communities. The rising numbers in hotels come as a record number of people 111,084 submitted claims for asylum in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12 months since records began in 2001. Small boat migrants, numbers of which have topped 50,000 so far this year under Labour, accounted for 39 per cent of these claims, but many thousands of people also claimed asylum after travelling to the UK on legal visas. In the year to date, some 6,700 people have claimed asylum after coming to the UK to study, and 5,900 people after arriving for work. Most applicants were from Pakistan, accounting for 10.1 per cent, followed by claimants from Afghanistan and Iran. The government has made progress on cutting the backlog, and the number of people awaiting a decision continues to fall. The total number waiting was 70,532 in June, down from more than 90,000 at the end of 2024, after the former Tory government stopped processing applications while it waited to see if it could send people to Rwanda under its ultimately failed deportation scheme. The numbers waiting for more than 12 months for a decision are also falling significantly, although some 19,000 are still waiting. Mr Solomon, of the Refugee Council, said that the government could be proud of the genuine achievement of bringing down the numbers but warned that this good work is being put at risk by poor-quality decisions, with nearly half of appeals against rejected applications succeeding. Marley Morris, at the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, agreed that there were signs of progress since the Home Office sped up processing times. However, she said it needs to improve the quality of initial decision making and speed up the appeals process, and expand the stock of temporary accommodation available for migrants to reduce spending on hotels, which cost 2.1bn in 2024-25. The good news: more deportations and removal of criminals One area where Labour is making real progress is in the significant upturn in deportations. Enforced removals have increased by 25 per cent, with 9,072 people returned to their country of origin in the year to June. Voluntary returns those leaving willingly are also up by 13 per cent, with 26,761 people opting to leave the UK. That brings the total number of removals to over 35,000 in the year to June. There has also been a significant increase in assisted returns, where the Home Office provides support or even financial incentives for migrants to leave the UK. That figure has more than doubled from 4,032 to 9,227. Earlier this year, The Independent revealed that the Home Office had paid 53m for assisted returns over the past four years, with each migrant receiving up to 3,000. The Home Office has reallocated some 1,000 staff to immigration enforcement, which it notes may have boosted returns. In particular, an increasing number of foreign criminals are being deported, with 5,265 offenders returned around half of which were EU nationals. Earlier this year, the prime minister announced that specialist immigration enforcement teams were being sent into prisons to speed up the removal of prisoners who have no right to be in this country. The latest figures are the highest number of criminals removed in years, but are still below the peak in 2016. Migrants and asylum-seekers coming from Albania, Romania, Brazil, and India are among the top nationalities being deported, but the top return destination for migrant removals is France, with 8,403 people sent there in the past year. The governments new one-in, one-out deal with France will allow a small number of migrants to be returned after crossing the Channel. But the numbers are small understood to be around 50 people a week and so far none are known to have been sent back. 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 Police and protesters clashed on Saturday as demonstrations against asylum hotels unfolded across the country. Protesters and counterprotesters gathered for demonstrations in towns and cities around England, including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, and Horley in Surrey, and at Canary Wharf in central London. There were also protests at Aberdeen and Perth in Scotland, and Mold in Flintshire, Wales. open image in gallery Demonstrators gathered outside asylum hotels on Saturday ( PA ) Under the Abolish Asylum System banner, anti-migrant protesters draped in union jacks gathered outside hotels and brandished signs calling for them to be emptied. Meanwhile a series of protests organised by Stand Up to Racism saw counterdemonstrators voice support for migrants in Bristol, Cannock, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wakefield, Horley, and Long Eaton in Derbyshire. In Bristol, mounted police were brought in to separate rival groups in Castle Park, where officers scuffled with protesters. A 37-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Avon and Somerset Police said no officer sustained serious physical injury or has required hospital treatment, but inquiries will be carried out after reports of assaults on officers. In Liverpool there were 11 arrests for offences including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray, as a UK Independence Party protest was met by a counter-demonstration. The demonstrations came amid mounting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to fulfil Labours pledge to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers in the UK. The use of asylum hotels has increased in the past year under Labour, with critics warning that they are becoming flashpoints in communities and trapping migrants in limbo. On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, from 12 September. The judgment, which the Home Office is to appeal, followed a series of violent protests that resulted in multiple arrests and saw police officers injured. Nigel Farage has led opposition to the use of asylum hotels, calling for demonstrators across the country to stage similar protests to those seen in Epping. On Saturday, he set out plans for mass deportations if he becomes prime minister. Arresting asylum seekers on arrival, automatic detention, and forced deportation to countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea are among the proposals expected to be announced by Mr Farage on Tuesday. They are also expected to include deals with third countries, which could include reviving the Conservatives Rwanda link-up, and sending asylum seekers to British overseas territories such as Ascension Island as a fallback option. open image in gallery Nigel Farage has outlined plans to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants ( PA ) Mr Farage said the plans could see hundreds of thousands of people deported and five charter flights taking off from the UK every day. The first step in Reform UKs plans would be to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and scrap the Human Rights Act. These actions would be followed by legislation to bar those who come to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum. The aim of this legislation is mass deportations, Clacton MP Mr Farage told The Times. We have a massive crisis in Britain. It is not only posing a national security threat but its leading to public anger that frankly is not very far away from disorder. There is only one way to stop people coming into Britain, and that is to detain them and deport them. Labour has vowed to end the use of asylum hotels by the next general election by moving migrants into alternative accommodation and clearing the backlog of asylum claims and appeals. In Horley, around 200 anti-immigration protesters draped in St George and union flags clashed with roughly 50 Stand Up to Racism protesters in Bonehurst Road. The anti-racism protesters chanted Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here, and held signs calling for solidarity and to stop deportations. They were met with a torrent of abuse from the anti-migration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone: Youre all scum and you should be ashamed and This wasnt about racism. The two groups almost came together in the early afternoon, with lines of police separating them. The Stand Up to Racism protesters were shepherded into a smaller area as they continued to chant No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here, which was met with a riposte of No theyre f***ing not from the other side of the street. The government announced plans on Friday to appeal against the High Courts refusal to allow it to intervene in the case involving Epping Forest District Council, and to further appeal against the temporary injunction. Other local councils also publicly announced their intention to seek legal advice as to whether they could achieve a similar injunction for hotels in their areas. 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 Councils across England are weighing up legal challenges after the High Court's decision to block a hotel in Epping from accommodating asylum seekers. The ruling blocks asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in the Essex town, and current residents must be removed by September 12. On Wednesday, several local authorities, including some run by the Labour Party, said they were considering their options to take similar action. The ruling has resulted in another wave of criticism directed at Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour government over immigration, with opposition parties repeatedly accusing the government of failing to adequately tackle the issue. Yet amid backlash and local council tensions, the figures show that Labour has already made significant steps to move away from the use of hotels. The multi-billion cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels has dropped markedly from its peak in 2023. Last year (2024/5), the cost for hotel bills was at 2.1bn, down by a third from 3.1bn in the previous year. The smaller bill is a result of multiple factors, most notably the reduction in the asylum backlog. The average daily cost for housing each asylum seeker in a hotel has gone down from 176 to 170 per person. This still remains higher than previous years. The government has also made efforts to reduce the proportion of asylum seekers housed in hotels, moving them towards other types of accommodation. Figures from March show 32,345 asylum seekers out of over 100,000 were being accommodated in hotels, with the remainder housed in temporary accommodation including council-owned homes and a former airfield. Just 30 per cent are staying in hotels, which is meant as a contingency - or temporary - measure. Government accounts show that costs are likely to remain similar this year, with 2.2bn requested by the Home Office to asylum housing costs; suggesting that the number of asylum seekers is unlikely to fall significantly. In February, Home Office permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft said the department was aiming to get to zero asylum hotels by the end of this parliament in 2029. In 2022, the government began plans to use large sites like cruise ships and ex-military bases to accommodate asylum seekers. Among these are the Bibby Stockholm barge, which was shut down last year, and former RAF airfield Wethersfield which now houses 588 people as of early 2025. But a review last year found that these sites cost more than hotels as a way to house asylum seekers. Nonetheless, hotels cost around six times more on average than other types of accommodation, according to analysis by the Migration Observatory; at 170 a day compared to 27 a day. Yet most of the time, the government is forced to place people in hotels due to a lack of capacity, with a shortage of accommodation and a substantial albeit decreasing asylum backlog. The asylum backlog stood at 78,745 cases at the end of March a 13 per cent drop from December, and down 41 per cent from the mid-2023 peak. Yet the sizeable backlog, which is still higher than pre-2022 levels, represents a host of ongoing costs for the government as people wait for a decision on their asylum claims. Most asylum seekers are still waiting over six months for an initial decision on their claim, although waiting times have improved compared to the same time last year. The majority of people in the backlog are Afghan, Pakistani and Iranian nationals, according to the Migration Observatory. The UKs asylum backlog is the fifth largest in Europe. Where are asylum seekers staying in the UK? Now, over 8 in 10 local authorities host some asylum seekers, Home Office figures show. This is a significant rise over the last decade. Accommodation for asylum seekers varies by region. In the North East of England, just 5 per cent are housed in hotels, while in London hotels make up the majority of accommodation (65 per cent). Epping Forest council is within the East of England region, which has 41 per cent of migrants housed in hotels. However, being in Essex, the council is on the edge of London which has a higher concentration of asylum seekers than the rest of the UK. Around 140 migrants were being housed in The Bell Hotel in Epping, according to BBC reports, all of whom must now leave by September. Though the hotel has provided accommodation for the Home Office for several years, occupancy has fluctuated, with figures in March showing just 28 asylum seekers housed across Epping Forest hotels. Reform leader Nigel Farage has called on other councils to seek Epping-style injunctions against the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, adding: It is high time that the outrageously expensive asylum hotel scheme, which nobody in Britain ever voted for, was brought down by popular demand. The recent pushback has come amid record levels of small boat crossings to the UK. Labours education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith has admitted that the high numbers are a problem that, up until this point, we havent managed to tackle. People coming on small boats make up an increasing proportion of asylum applications. Last year, a third of the UKs asylum claims came from small boat migrants. In 2025 so far, over 26,000 migrants have already crossed the English Channel, higher than summer levels in any year to date. In fact, figures at mid-August have nearly exceeded the entirety of 2023 (29,437). Meanwhile arrests of people smugglers who enable the crossings were down last year, according to National Crime Agency data obtained by The Independent. The shadow home secretary called Labours failure to smash the gangs an abject failure. This suggests that small boats migration could be the highest on record over 2025, bringing with it a slew of new asylum claims; since almost all irregular migrants apply for asylum. 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 Britain felt like a safer place to be trans in the Nineties than it does now, the UKs first transgender judge has said, raising the alarm over what she sees as a backslide in attitudes towards trans people. Giving her first interview since lawyers acting on her behalf began the process of taking the government to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over Aprils bombshell Supreme Court ruling on biological sex, Dr Victoria McCloud expressed concern that the ruling could impact young trans people who are considering coming out. When I came out, things were bizarrely rather better. That was the Nineties we didnt really have any rights, but there was less of a climate of fear, McCloud tells The Independent. The retired judge, who has been heralded as a symbol of the modern judiciarys diversity, said she no longer sees the UK as a safe place. Since the decision was taken in Scotland, weve seen a declaration of genocidal intent made by the Lemkin Institute in relation to the United Kingdom to warn people about whats going on. Weve seen concerns from the United Nations and from the Council of Europe, she says. In June, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security condemned recent judicial and governmental developments in Britain, which they said attempt to harm transgender and intersex people by stripping them of privacy and segregating them as others. The Lemkin Institute believes these moves are part of a broader process of erasure. It is not only government action but also the media narrative that has fuelled hostility to and debate about the humanity of trans and intersex people while ignoring their voices, the body said. McCloud, who now lives in Ireland after leaving Britain in 2024, says she is very cautious when she returns to London something she is doing more at present as she begins the process of challenging the judgment. Im very cautious. When I come over, I dont see it as a safe place to go. Lovely cis[gender] friends are great at helping me to stay out of risky situations where I might be confronted or even potentially assaulted, because, of course, my face is quite well known. Im particularly at risk of becoming a target of some of the more extreme people from the gender critical ideological movement. And thats a worry. But I think its important that I do carry on, and I do have to come back for things like media interviews and so on occasionally, she said. McCloud has set up the Trans Exile Network (TEN) to help other trans people who want to leave the country. There are families involved in that who are leaving the UK for the sake of their children. And thats a really quite a large network, because theres a lot of worry about the future of children and the messages that theyre getting, she says. Lawyers acting on behalf of McCloud, 55, who stood down last year, filed an appeal in the ECHR last week arguing a breach of her rights under Article Six the right to a fair and impartial hearing by an independent tribunal. The judge claims the Supreme Court refused permission for her to intervene on how the case would affect herself and other trans people, saying they didnt give any reason for it. Decisions about us that fundamentally change our rights shouldnt be made without us. The case relates fundamentally to fairness. Whats known as Article Six, and it was a situation where nowhere throughout the whole of the case, trans people were heard or represented at all. Gender critical campaigners were elated after the ruling in April, hailing it as a victory which would protect the rights of biological women. But speaking about the impact of the ruling, McCloud said she is worried about how it has affected lesbian women, or other cis women who do not conform to feminine norms because of the new emphasis on subjective appearance. Ive had lots of stories about people who are not trans being abused for being trans. Its really common, and indeed, not just lesbian women, just anyone whos maybe a tall woman or whatever. Its leading, I think, to more abuse of non-trans people than it is to trans people, because most trans people actually are quite invisible we go to quite a great length to be invisible, whereas people who are non-trans dont see the need to do that. Theyve got a perfect right to be what they want. open image in gallery McCloud said she no longer sees the UK as a safe place ( Jim Campbell ) McCloud, who retired in 2024, jokes that it is nice to be the client for a change instead, letting her trans led legal team take the lead. The first case in history to be brought by such a team, McCloud is being represented by Oscar Davies, the UKs first openly non-binary barrister and Olivia Campbell-Cavendish, the founder and executive director of the Trans Legal Clinic and the first black trans lawyer in the UK. Her team expect the case to take between 12 and 18 months but it could take up to seven years if it is not treated as a priority case by the ECHR. The Supreme Courts ruling has been praised by gender critical groups as being a victory for women, arguing it will help to protect single sex spaces. Asked what she would say to cis women with fears about trans people entering single sex spaces, McCloud said trans people were able to access single sex spaces for decades before the ruling, with no reported incidents. I do understand the fact that in theory, you could get a man who says, Im a woman, and walks in and attacks someone, but they can walk in any anyway. Those arent transsexual people. They arent trans people, and it's important to separate the two, she says. In my case, for example, to get a gender recognition certificate, I have a medical diagnosis. I have medical expert reports. A court had to consider my case and evidence so its very tightly regulated. McCloud also points out that, statistically, trans people are much more likely to be assaulted by non-trans people than the other way around. There are very few of us. You're very unlikely to actually run into one of us and those with gender recognition certificates there's only ever been 8,500 of us in a country of 66 million. 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 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., to carry weapons on patrol, according to multiple reports. The nearly 2,000 troops will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training, Fox News reported late Friday morning, citing an unnamed U.S. defense official. Its been over two weeks since the start of what the Trump administration is referring to as a crime crackdown, despite crime declining in recent years. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb called it a hostile takeover as he sued President Donald Trump and other administration officials. Last week, Trump announced he had placed the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deployed about 800 National Guard troops to D.C. I'm announcing a historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor, and worse, he said. open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., to carry weapons on patrol, according to multiple reports ( REUTERS ) The number of National Guard troops in the capital has grown to nearly 2,000, with Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia sending soldiers. "The Interim Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard retains the authority to make any necessary force posture adjustments in coordination with the D.C. Metropolitan Police and Federal law enforcement partners, the defense official told Fox News. The D.C. National Guard remains committed to safeguarding the District of Columbia and serving those who live, work, and visit the District. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X Friday morning there have been 719 arrests made and 91 illegal guns seized in D.C. since Trumps federal takeover. Just yesterday we made 40 arrests, took 5 more illegal firearms off our streets, and had 36 ICE arrestsincluding a suspected MS-13 gang member, she said. Thank you @POTUS for your unwavering support to make DC safe again! open image in gallery The number of National Guard troops has grown to nearly 2,000, with Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia sending soldiers ( REUTERS ) Despite the Trump administration painting D.C. as a crime-ridden city, statistics released by the U.S. Attorneys Office for D.C. in January showed violent crime went down by 35 percent in 2024, a 30-year low, after peaking in 2023. Trump thanked roughly 300 men and women from the Metropolitan Police Department, National Guard, Homeland Security Investigations and other federal agencies during a photo op at the U.S. Park Police facility in Anacostia Thursday evening. We've had some incredible results that have come out, and it's like a different place. It's like a different city. It's the capital. It's going to be the best in the world, the president told the crowd. 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 New York State Police have identified the five victims of Fridays tour bus crash in New York, which investigators believe was caused by distracted driving. The bus, carrying 54 adults and children, was returning from Niagara Falls to New York City on Friday afternoon when it flipped over on Interstate 90 near Pembroke. Some of the passengers were ejected from the bus while others were pinned beneath it. Authorities said Saturday that the fatalities include a Columbia University student from China, three residents of New Jersey, and one person from India. The deceased are identified as Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City; Jian Mingli, 56, also of Jersey City; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; and Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India. At a Friday evening press conference, State Police Major Andre Ray said its believed that the male driver, who survived the crash, became distracted, lost control, over-corrected and ended up on the right shoulder there." "The cause of the collision is still under investigation. However, mechanical failure as well as operator impairment have been ruled out at this time, Ray said. The operator has been cooperative and with the investigation still underway. No charges have been filed at this point." open image in gallery Five passengers aboard a tourist bus were killed on August 22 when their driver got distracted and crashed on a New York state highway, police said ( Photo by MIKE FLAIG/Courtesy of Facebook user Mike FLAIG/AFP via Getty Images ) Police said that a list provided by M & Y Tour Inc., the Staten Island-based bus company, confirmed that 54 people were on board, including the driver and an additional tour company employee. Ground and air ambulances, state and local police, and other first responders all rushed to the scene. Most of the passengers were not wearing seatbelts, police said. Passengers ranged from ages one to 74. Many of the travelers, including some from China and the Philippines, spoke limited English, so translators were brought to the scene along with ambulances and tow trucks to assist police. At least 30 people were hospitalized across four regional facilities following the crash, with injuries ranging from minor to critical, including head and internal injuries and broken bones. Kaleida Health, which runs several hospitals in the Buffalo area, provided updates on patients injured in the crash. Buffalo General Medical Center received five adults, with one in good condition and another already discharged. open image in gallery Five adults died in a tourist bus rollover crash Friday that was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls ( AP ) Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital treated 11 adults and two children. Ten are in good condition, and three are in fair condition. Oishei Children's Hospital received three children, two in good condition and one in serious condition. The University of Rochester Medical Center confirmed treating six patients, three transported by Mercy Flight and three by ambulance. Two are in critical condition, while four, including a child, are medically stable. Erie County Medical Center reported treating 24 patients from the crash. More than 80 years ago, a group of brave Chinese fishermen rescued hundreds of British POWs from the sinking "Lisbon Maru." Join Xinhua correspondent as we return to the island to uncover this remarkable story and the enduring friendship between the British and Chinese people. 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 Ghislaine Maxwell said she never saw President Donald Trump behave inappropriately around anyone in Jeffrey Epstein's circle, a transcript of her interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has revealed. Blanche interviewed Maxwell, a former associate of Epsteins, last month over two days in Tallahassee, Florida. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in helping Epstein recruit, groom and abuse young girls. About a week after the interview, the 63-year-old British socialite was moved to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas. Blanche sat down with Maxwell as the Trump administration attempted to quell backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike over its handling of the Epstein investigation. In the wide-ranging interview, Maxwell responded to questions about several famous people with alleged connections to Epstein, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew. Maxwell told Blanche she never witnessed Trump, who was once friends with Epstein, doing anything inappropriate. I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting, Maxwell said, according to the transcripts. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. In the bombshell interview: Maxwell said she absolutely never saw Trump behaving inappropriately with anyone in Epstein's circle. She does not believe Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell in New York in August 2019 but said she had no idea who might have been responsible. There is no list of Epsteins clients or famous associates, Maxwell claims. Maxwell said she does not believe she ever recruited a masseuse from Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. She praised Trump during the interview, saying he had accomplished an extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now and that she liked him. The British socialite said claims that Epstein paid her $30 million over several years to recruit young women are categorically false. Maxwell says she did not introduce Epstein to Prince Andrew. open image in gallery Donald Trump poses with Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at his Mar-a-Lago club in 2000. ( Getty ) Maxwell praises Trumps achievement in becoming the President After Maxwell said she never saw Trump doing anything inappropriate, Blanche asked: Did you ever hear Mr. Epstein or anybody say that President Trump had done anything inappropriate with masseuses or with anybody in your world? Absolutely never, in any context, Maxwell replied. Maxwell told Blanche she met Trump in the 1990s through her father, the controversial British newspaper magnate Robert Maxwell. She described Trump as always very cordial and very kind to me. Maxwell said she admires Trumps extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now. And I like him, and I've always liked him, she added. So that is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him. open image in gallery Ghislaine Maxwell praised President Donald Trump and said she has always liked him ( Federal Bureau of Prisons ) There is no list of Epsteins clients, Maxwell claims Blanche also asked Maxwell about Epsteins so-called client list or black book that has been said to contain the names of his alleged associates. Maxwell said the list doesnt exist. So there's been a lot of conversations about whether Mr. Epstein maintained, like, a list of people, like a book of famous people that he knew, Blanche said. Like a, it's called a black book or a client list or a list. Did you know of the existence of any such list? There is no list, Maxwell responded. The FBI and Justice Department released a joint memo last month similarly claiming that Epsteins client list doesnt exist, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi telling Fox News the list was sitting on her desk waiting to be reviewed in February. Maxwell says she doesnt remember recruiting women from Mar-a-Lago Maxwell also said she doesnt recall any masseuses from Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate giving Epstein a private massage, and that she doesnt remember recruiting any masseuses from the estate. This comes after Trump claimed last month that Epstein stole young women working at his Mar-a-Lago spa. Trump said this included Epsteins alleged victim Virginia Giuffre, who claimed Maxwell recruited her in 2000 while she was working as a locker room attendant at Mar-a-Lago. Do you know whether masseuses from Mar-a-Lago's spa ended up giving massages to private massages to Mr. Epstein? Blanche asked. I'm not asking for what you may have read, but from at the time, from your personal knowledge, do you know whether that's true? I I don't I don't recall, Maxwell responded. Is it possible? Yes. But I don't remember I don't remember that. So I don't want to I don't recall that, but it's possible. Blanche then asked: Do you have a recollection of you ever recruiting a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago spa to give to go give a private massage to Mr. Epstein? I've never recruited a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago for that, as far as I remember, Maxwell said. I can't ever recollect doing that. Maxwell also told Blanche she denies the claim that Epstein paid her millions to help recruit young women. What I'm trying to just make sure I that I understand, is that the idea that you were paid $30 million between '99 and 2007, in order to by Mr. Epstein to reward you for recruiting young women, Blanche said. That is in your you're saying that is categorically, completely false? That is categorically false, correct, Maxwell replied. Maxwell does not believe Epstein died by suicide Blanche also asked Maxwell about Epsteins death. Epstein died in an apparent suicide in a New York City jail cell in 2019, shortly after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges. While there have been conspiracy theories surrounding his death, the Justice Department and FBI confirmed in a memo last month that he died by suicide. Blanche said: Do you so you think he was he did not die by suicide, given all the things we just talked about. I do not believe he died by suicide, no, Maxwell responded. And do you believe that do you have any speculation or view of who killed him? Blanche asked. I no, I dont, Maxwell said. Blanche continued to press Maxwell on why she thinks Epstein didnt die by suicide. I ask that because, if you don't believe that there's any truth to the allegations of blackmail or that he had kind of a list, or that he had reasons to have people hate him, why would somebody kill him in prison? Blanche asked. In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will pay somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary, Maxwell said. That's about the going rate for a hit with a lock today. Maxwell went on to note that if he had been killed, it was due to an internal situation at the prison. Blanche then asked Maxwell if she has any reason to believe that Epstein may have been murdered to keep him quiet or because he had information on rich and powerful people. I do not have any reason to believe that. And I also think it's ludicrous, because if that I also happen to think if that is what they wanted, they would've had plenty of opportunity when he wasn't in jail, Maxwell responded. And if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he would've been a very easy target. Maxwell addresses connections with former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew Blanche asked Maxwell about other famous people that she and Epstein may have been connected with, including former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew. Blanche asked if Maxwell was aware of Clinton ever visiting Epsteins private island. He never. Absolutely never went, Maxwell responded. And I can be sure of that because there's no way he would've gone -- I don't believe there's any way that he would've gone to the island, had I not been there. Because I don't believe he had an independent friendship, if you will, with Epstein. Maxwell also told Blanche that she did not introduce Epstein to Prince Andrew. Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year, said she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew when she was 17. Prince Andrew has denied the claims and paid Giuffre an out-of-court settlement in 2022. I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew, Maxwell told Blanche. I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew or to Sarah Ferguson. That is a flat untruth. I'll start with that. Justice Department sends Epstein files to House Oversight Committee Earlier Friday, the House Oversight Committee also received the first round of Epstein files from the Justice Department, the Associated Press reports. This comes after the committee subpoenaed the files earlier this month. The Committee intends to make these records public after thorough review to ensure any victims identification and child sexual abuse material are redacted, a spokesperson for Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said. The Committee will also consult with the DOJ to ensure any documents released do not negatively impact ongoing criminal cases and investigations. Maxwells interview came as the Trump administration faced blowback over its handling of the Epstein investigation. The Justice Department and FBI released a memo on July 7 indicating there would be no further disclosures related to the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Democrats and Republicans alike criticized the move and have since demanded more transparency from the administration. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. 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 Ghislaine Maxwell has repeated her claim that a photograph showing Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre is fake. In an interview with the US Department of Justice, conducted last month, Maxwell said: I believe its literally a fake photo. The imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein also dismissed as rubbish Giuffres claims that she was paid to have a relationship with Prince Andrew and that he had sex with her at Maxwells London home. The disgraced socialite claimed one of the motives behind the story was to attack the Royal Family. Maxwell was interviewed by the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, over two days in Tallahassee, Florida just a week before being moved to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas. While the name at the centre of the discussion on Prince Andrew had been redacted, it is circumstantially highly likely to be Giuffre, given the conversation, as well as the timelines and mention of an infamous photograph. open image in gallery Ghislaine Maxwell claimed the picture of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre with herself was a fake in a new interview conducted in July ( US Department of Justice ) It is not the first time she has questioned the photograph. During a 2023 interview with TalkTV, after having been sentenced to 20 years in a Florida prison, she said: Its a fake. I don't believe its real for a second, in fact Im sure its not. Well, theres never been an original and further, theres no photograph, and Ive only ever seen a photocopy of it. The photograph, said to have been taken at Maxwells London home in 2001, shows the Duke of York with his arm around Giuffre, who was then 17. Maxwell can be seen smiling in the background. The picture has been central to allegations made against Andrew, which he has strongly denied. Questions over the photographs authenticity have surfaced repeatedly. Prior to her death last year, Giuffre had insisted it was genuine and said she gave the original to the FBI. Photographic experts have told various media outlets that there is no clear evidence that it has been doctored. open image in gallery Maxwell is a former partner of Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 ( US District Court for the Southern District of New York ) Earlier in the transcript from Julys interview, Maxwell also denied that Andrew could have had sex with Ms Giuffre because her London house was too small. The idea of him doing anything of that nature in my house, thats the size of this room, is so mind-blowingly not conceivable to me, she said. The remarks are the latest in a series of denials Maxwell has issued since being convicted in 2021 of trafficking underage girls for Epstein, the financier and sex offender who died in a New York jail in 2019. Prince Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing. In 2022, he reached a financial settlement with Giuffre in a US civil case without admitting liability. His legal team at the time said he was making the settlement in order to avoid prolonging the case and to allow him to dedicate himself to public service. In the interview, Maxwell also described the first time that Epstein and Andrew became acquainted, claiming that she had never thought about introducing them as they were like chalk and cheese. She said the pair met in the early 2000s either in Nantucket or the Vineyard, at an event separate to Maxwell, and that they quickly became close, making her feel left out. Maxwell also claimed that it was Sarah Ferguson who had introduced Epstein and Andrew, after she met with the financier in the Bahamas. She described accusations that she was the one to introduce them as a flat untruth. 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 Skepticism abounds following the release of transcripts and recordings of Ghislaine Maxwells testimony to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case. Four years after her conviction and sentencing on charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and other crimes, how credible is her testimony? Ranking House Oversight Committee Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia was especially damning in the hours after the interview transcripts were released Friday, writing on X: Ghislaine Maxwell is a convicted sex trafficker and known liar. Her interview with Trump's DOJ lawyer shows she's desperate for a pardon. She claims no involvement in wrongdoing, which is insulting to the girls and young women she victimized and trafficked. She cannot be trusted. Blanche interviewed Maxwell, a former girlfriend and accomplice of Epsteins, last month over two days in Tallahassee, Florida. The disgraced British socialite is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking conspiracy and other crimes helping Epstein recruit, groom, and abuse young girls. open image in gallery Ghislaine Maxwell is serving 20 years for conspiracy to sex traffic girls to her late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein how credible is her new testimony four years after her trial as she angles for a pardon? ( AP ) The interviews came as the Trump administration attempted to quell backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike over its handling of the Epstein investigation. President Donald Trumps MAGA base was especially incensed at the announcement that the so-called Epstein files would not be released, no further charges would be filed, and that there was no client list of associates of the late sex offender, who died in prison while awaiting trial in August 2019. Having propagated conspiracy theories regarding Epstein and promising the release of the case files, senior Trump administration officials saw new testimony from Maxwell as one way of tamping down the anger. Democrats seized on the outrage and kept reminding the public that Trump and Epstein had been friends for some 15 years. Many suggested the reason the infamous files were not being released was because the presidents name was mentioned in them. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing. On Friday evening, some hours after the release of the transcripts and recordings, CNNs Abby Phillip noted on her show Newsnight that Maxwell clearly understood the assignment here, referring to her flattering portrayal of Trump and denial of any wrongdoing on his part. Having been convicted of federal crimes, her only likely hope for getting out of prison early is either a pardon or a commutation from the president. Maxwell told Blanche she never witnessed Trump doing anything inappropriate. open image in gallery The Epstein case and the presidents former friendship with the late sex offender have haunted the first months of the Trump administration ( Getty ) I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting, Maxwell said, according to the transcripts. I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. About a week after the interview, the 63-year-old British socialite was moved to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas. CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig expressed skepticism about what she had to say in her interviews with Blanche. Speaking to Phil Mattingly, guest host of The Lead with Jake Tapper, Honig was asked Friday whether this was a credible interview. Oh my gosh, no, Phil in this transcript, Ghislaine Maxwell provides a simply bizarre worldview wherein almost nobody did anything wrong. She doesnt even actually implicate Jeffrey Epstein. If one believes that worldview, fine, the former federal prosecutor continued. Then maybe Ghislaine Maxwell is credible. I certainly do not. I find it impossible to believe her account of things. As to the timing of the release by the Justice Department mid-afternoon on a Friday in late August Honig said: It tells me theyre gonna do nothing next with respect to actually making criminal cases. He continued: I said from the start, the fact that DOJ is even considering releasing this transcript, which they now have done, that in itself is a tell, because if you were planning to ever make new criminal cases based on Ghislaine Maxwells information, releasing her transcript like theyve just done is the last thing you would ever do. It would tip off your potential targets. It would tip off your investigative methods. Honig added: And beyond that, Phil, as I just said, Im actually surprised to see she doesnt even implicate anybody. I mean, even if a juror was to take everything in this transcript as true, there would be nobody else to charge or convict with anything. Yet another reason why Im just not buying this. open image in gallery One of Ghislaine Maxwells hopes for early release from prison is a pardon or commutation from President Donald Trump ( Federal Bureau of Prisons ) Mattingly raised the pertinent question of the hour: What does Maxwell gain from this? Is there a chance that Maxwell could get a reduced sentence because of this? he asked. Theres a couple of chances, Honig replied. So first of all, she still has an appeal pending. Shes trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court to take her case. Its unlikely, but its possible. He continued: She also could receive whats called a Rule 35 letter from the Justice Department. Thats when a prosecutor goes to her judge after sentencing, where we are now, and says, Id like you to reduce her sentence. Thats up to DOJ, whether they want to make that motion. Honig concluded: But finally, she could get a pardon or commutation Shes absolutely playing for that. She goes out of her way to praise Donald Trump. In addition to her flattering portrayal of Trump, Maxwell also denied the existence of the infamous Epstein client list. That echoes what the Department of Justice said in early July, which sparked such a furore among the MAGA base. While Attorney General Pam Bondi had said early this year that she had it on her desk, she later clarified that she meant the files relating to the case, not a specific list itself. open image in gallery David Oscar Markus, an attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell, talks with the media outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, after her meeting with Trumps Justice Department ( AP ) On The Will Cain Show this afternoon on Fox News, correspondent Shannon Bream noted that this tracks with what former Epstein lawyer Alan Dershowitz told her some time before there was no formal list, and you wouldnt expect anyone involved in a criminal enterprise to keep one. Later in the evening on Fox News, prime time host Jesse Watters seemed put out by the lack of a specific list but reminded viewers of the existence of a trove of other potential evidence: The list doesnt exist? So, flight manifests dont exist? The surveillance tapes dont exist? The bank records dont exist? Attorney and legal scholar Jonathan Turley joined Watters to share his thoughts and noted the sense of disappointment in Washington when Maxwell said there was no client list. She was immediately denounced as a liar, and that there has to be a list and that she was protecting the president, he said. There is another possibility, and that is she didn't have anything on the president, and perhaps there is not a list is she gaming the system? Probably. He went on to say: She clearly also does want something from Trump; she wants a commutation. That might not come until the end of the term. She is clearly angling for it. open image in gallery Having Trump administration officials interview Maxwell was expected to quell anger over broken promises relating to the Epstein case ( AFP/Getty ) Trump has, notably, nothing negative to say about the case against a woman he knows, the accusations against her, or the jurys verdict. The president has not ruled out pardoning Maxwell. Congressman Garcia also noted on All In With Chris Hayes on MSNBC that, in addition to Maxwell, he remains extremely skeptical about the Trump Justice Department. Today, his committee received the first batch of documents from the Epstein files also on a Friday afternoon in August. He posted on X after the interview: We are in the process of reviewing 33,000 pages of Epstein documents. It appears that most of these files are already in the public domain. Bondi needs to release all the files immediately, and we must remember that Trumps Department of Justice cannot be trusted. 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 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a Pentagon leader whose agency determined Junes strikes on Irans nuclear facilities were less effective than President Donald Trump had claimed, according to multiple reports. Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, has been dismissed from his role, the Associated Press reported, citing a White House official and two unnamed sources familiar with the matter. A DIA spokesperson told The Washington Post, which earlier reported on the firing, Kruse was no longer in charge of the agency and said his deputy, Christine Bordine, would become acting director. The DIA had previously found Irans nuclear program had not been fully obliterated as Trump had touted. open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a Pentagon leader whose agency determined Junes strikes on Irans nuclear facilities were less effective than President Donald Trump had claimed, according to multiple reports ( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images ) The preliminary report, which was leaked to news outlets, stated the strikes had only set back Irans nuclear program by a few months. The Trump administration had denied the assessment, which was first reported by CNN, calling it flat-out wrong. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard later released new intelligence claiming Irans nuclear program had actually been set back years. In a news conference following the June strikes, Hegseth lambasted the press for focusing on the preliminary assessment but did not offer any direct evidence of the destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities. You want to call it destroyed, you want to call it defeated, you want to call it obliterated choose your word. This was an historically successful attack, Hegseth said at the time. Trump has a history of removing government officials whose data and analysis he disagrees with. Earlier this month, after a lousy jobs report, he fired Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, suggesting she could not be trusted with the data because former President Joe Biden nominated her. The firing of the DIA head culminates a week of broad Trump administration changes to the intelligence community and shakeups to the military leadership. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence which is responsible for coordinating the work of 18 intelligence agencies, including the DIA announced that it would slash its staff and budget. open image in gallery Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse had served as the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency ( Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images ) The Pentagon announced this week that the Air Forces top uniformed officer, General David Allvin, planned to retire two years early. Hegseth and Trump have been aggressive in dismissing top military officials, often without formal explanation. The administration has fired Air Force General CQ Brown Jr. as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the Navys top officer, the Air Forces second-highest-ranking officer, and the top lawyers for three military service branches. In April, Hegseth fired General Tim Haugh as head of the National Security Agency and Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, who was a senior official at NATO. No public explanations have been offered by the Pentagon for any of these firings, though some of the officers were reportedly believed by the administration to endorse diversity, equity and inclusion programs. 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 Within minutes after he was released from a Tennessee jail Friday as he awaits criminal trial, Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Kilmar Abrego Garcia that he may be deported to Uganda, his attorneys said. If he pleaded guilty to criminal smuggling charges against him, Donald Trumps administration said he would be removed to Costa Rica, according to his attorneys. If not, he would be sent to Uganda, court filings show. The wrongfully-deported Salvadoran immigrant has been ordered to report to ICEs Baltimore field office Monday morning, according to court documents. A federal judge in Maryland, who is overseeing his deportation case, has required the government to give him 72 hours' notice before initiating deportation proceedings. His lawyers accused the Department of Justice and Homeland Security of working in lockstep to coerce him into accepting a guilty plea in his criminal case, holding over his head the prospect of possible indefinite detention or worse in a country halfway across the world, according to court filings. open image in gallery Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rages after Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a wrongly deported Maryland father, was released from a Tennessee jail Friday, calling him a 'monster' ( AP ) The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia in March, accusing the Salvadoran national of being a MS-13 gang member a label he and his attorneys have rejected and sent him to a brutal Salvadoran megaprison, where he was jailed for nearly one month. After ignoring several court orders for his return, the administration sent him to Tennessee, where a grand jury indicted him on federal smuggling charges. Last month, a federal judge ordered his pretrial release, finding the government failed to provide any evidence that warrants his detention. On Thursday, the government said if he stayed in custody and pleaded guilty to both counts in the criminal indictment, then he would be removed to Costa Rica, after serving any time imposed by the court, his lawyers wrote in a Saturday filing. Costa Rica assured he could live freely as a refugee or with residency status and wouldnt be sent back to his home country, the lawyers said. But Abrego Garcia appears to have refused the arrangement and was released Friday. DHS then sent an email to Abrego Garcias attorneys, warning that ICE intended to deport the Salvadoran immigrant to Uganda no earlier than 72 hours from now and ordered he appear at an ICE filed office in Baltimore on Monday. After his release, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem branded Abrego Garcia a monster and accused the judge who allowed the Maryland father to return home disregarding Americans safety. Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country, she said in a statement. By ordering this monster loose on Americas streets, this judge has shown a complete disregard for the safety of the American people, she continued. We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country. Noem regularly uses inflammatory language about migrants as she implements the presidents anti-immigration agenda. DHS is facing a barrage of lawsuits over its aggressive deportation efforts. The governments decision to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda makes it painfully clear that they are using the immigration system to punish him for exercising his constitutional rights, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, a lawyer for the Salvadoran national, told The Independent. There is a perfectly reasonable option available, Costa Rica, where he his family can visit him easily, but instead they are attempting to send him halfway across the world, to a country with documented human rights abuses and where he does not even speak the language. This is not justice; it is retaliation. open image in gallery Kilmar Abrego Garcia walks, after he has been released from the Putnam County Jail in Cookville, Tennessee ( Reuters ) Uganda and the U.S. reached a temporary deal in which the African country agreed to accept people who may not be granted asylum in the United States but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin, Ugandas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday. However, that deal excludes individuals with criminal records. The Independent has contacted DHS for more information. Earlier this week, a senior DHS official told The Independent that Abrego Garcia wont be on American streets again. He entered the U.S. illegally as a teenager in 2011 after fleeing gang violence in his home country, and has since been living in Maryland with his wife, a U.S. citizen, and their three children. An immigration judge in 2019 allowed him to legally live and work in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds, preventing the government from sending him back to El Salvador. Despite this order, in March, he was removed to El Salvadors notoriously brutal CECOT prison. The government admitted in a court filing that his removal was due to an administrative error. In April, the Supreme Court ordered the government to facilitate his return to the U.S. Still, the Trump administration fought court orders and insisted he would never set foot in the U.S., branding him as a criminal gang member. Abrego Garcia has vehemently denied the claim and has never been charged with or convicted of being a member of any gang. 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 First Lady Melania Trump wasnt at last weeks summit in Alaska with her husband President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin - but she was there in spirit. Trump handed Putin a letter from his wife, appealing to him to remember the innocence of the children caught in the midst of the fighting between Russia and Ukraine, and to put an end to the violence. In todays world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future, the first lady wrote. Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter. At the end of the letter, which was shared on social media by Attorney General Pam Bondi, was the first ladys signature, which looked rather familiar. And it sparked wild speculation online. open image in gallery Social media is alight with conspiracy theories about First Lady Melania Trumps signature on a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. ( Getty ) open image in gallery Melanias signature on the letter to Putin, handed to him by Trump at last weeks Alaska summit. Melania appealed to him to remember the innocence of the children caught in the midst of the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. ( @AGPamBondi/X ) open image in gallery Why she have the same sharpie a** signature as Trump? a social media user on X said, referring to the presidents favorite pen. ( Getty ) It didnt take long for people to remark how similar it looked to the presidents. Donald Trump and Melania Trump's signatures. So weird, said one person on X, who shared a side-by-side image of the two. Thats IDENTICAL to Trumps own signature Melania has the same type of signature as Trump...odd... wrote a Facebook user. Why she have the same sharpie a** signature as Trump? said another, referring to the presidents favorite pen. No way is that her signature, said another. She didnt write it and Trump signed it, someone else said on Facebook, without evidence. open image in gallery Melanias handwriting and signature have morphed into Trumps in the last decade and is part of the brand of the couple, according to expert Bart Baggett. ( Getty ) Others questioned why the first ladys signature appears to have changed over the years, with one user asking Elon Musks Grok AI chatbot, Why did Melania Trump change her signature? Melania Trump's signature evolved after her 2005 marriage, shifting from a flowing cursive style (as Melania Knauss) to a peaked, stylized one resembling Donald's, Grok replied. Analysts suggest it's for branding unity, quick signing via autopen or to reflect tenacity and privacy. No official reason given. The chatbots answer actually tallies with the opinion of Bart Baggett, a handwriting expert who has testified in criminal cases. He said the style with its angular letters and long downstrokes is all about the Trump brand. She's got angular writing that's a fast, analytical line. She's had that long before she met Donald Trump, Baggett said. However, Melanias handwriting and signature has morphed into Trumps in the last 10 years, the expert noted. open image in gallery Signatures of Melania and Donald Trump in the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum guest book on a visit to Jerusalem in May, 2017. ( AFP/Getty ) Her current handwriting is almost like a brand, like a logo, and I think she morphed it a little bit more into matching Trumps as she bought into the brand, Baggett added. The signature on the letter to Putin is an aggressive one, which tied in with the powerful display of a B-2 Stealth Bomber flying overhead as the two leaders met for the first time last week, the expert said. [Trump] did have a bomber fly over their meeting, he did have a red carpet. He had a lot of pomp and circumstance, Baggett said. So there's a lot of pressure about how powerful we are as a country and so that doesn't surprise me that it's a more aggressive signature. You don't want a heart and flowers on your letters, Baggett added, referring back to a handwritten note Melania penned in 2017 to the patients of a childrens hospital in Italy. Baggett, who stressed that he has not examined the letter to Putin personally, poured cold water on the conspiracy theory that the first ladys signature was forged in any way. open image in gallery Signatures of Melania and Donald Trump on a 2016 tax return, released in 2022 by the House Ways and Means Committee. ( House Ways and Means Committee ) I don't see any nefarious thing about her letter, Baggett said. Those conspiracy theories, I think, are just grasping at straws. Chatter online turned to Trumps Sharpie, the marker he raved about during his first term, and he has used to sign dozens of executive orders since his return to the White House. Did she borrow his Sharpie? one person joked on X. Well, quite possibly, according to Baggett, who said the Sharpie is typical of the Trump brand. I think a Sharpie probably was used, and it is very typical of his brand, he said, referring to the signature on the Putin letter. For some people, if you write really heavy, Sharpies are [a] really good instrument. People that write heavy are more passionate. The marker has become a trademark of the presidents. I was signing documents with a very expensive pen and it didn't write well, Trump said in a 2018 HBO documentary in partnership with Axios. It was a horrible pen, and it was extremely expensive. And then I started using just a Sharpie, and I said to myself, Well wait a minute, this writes much better and this cost almost nothing, Trump said. open image in gallery A handwritten note Melania penned in 2017 to the patients of a childrens hospital in Italy. ( Supplied ) Reddit and X users were also wildly speculating whether the first lady used an autopenwhich has become one of the presidents go-to attack lines on his predecessor Joe Biden. Earlier this year, Trump began accusing Biden of using the mechanical device to sign pardoning documents, rather than doing so by hand. Trump claimed, without providing evidence, that Biden had no knowledge or approval of the documents. Did Melania use Donald's autopen? asked one X user. The autopen can only have one signature preset, jested another. The Independent has contacted the White House to inquire whether the first lady did, indeed, use Trumps Sharpie or an autopen to sign the letter to the Russian dictator. Unfortunately for the autopen conspiracy theorists out there, until there is a definitive answer - it will remain a mystery. If [Melania] has an autopen, we don't know about it, Baggett concluded. But [the signature] doesn't really deviate too much from her known handwriting, the expert said. She's got angular letters, she's got a very similar Trumpian style of aggressiveness, which I'll call triangles. 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 For many workers or organizations reliant on the federal government, President Donald Trumps return to office has meant jobs, funding and entire agencies slashed, as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claims to have cut $202 billion. But one industry has seen exponential growth and expects even more to come: immigration detention. Private prison companies have been so giddy since last November, about the prospect of making billions of dollars at the expense of every American, Stacy Suh, director at Detention Watch Network, told The Independent. And the companies made sure to help Trump get elected. Americas two leading detention companies, Geo Group and CoreCivic, were among the Trump campaigns most notable donors last year, with executives and subsidiaries donating a total of $2.7 million to the presidents campaign and associated political action committees. open image in gallery An officer wears the logo of the GEO Group private prison company outside the Adelanto ICE Processing Center detention facility in Adelanto, California, on July 11, 2025 ( AFP/Getty ) CoreCivic even bestowed over $500,000 towards Trumps inauguration this year, while Geo Group contributed to his 2016 inauguration fund. Trumps Big, Beautiful, Bill set aside an unprecedented $45 billion for ICE to boost immigration detention. As the two largest detention powerhouses in the U.S., both Geo Group and CoreCivic stand to win big. As soon as Trump won the election last November, CoreCivics share price saw a huge spike, nearly doubling from $13.63 per share to $22.13 per share in just one week. GeoGroups share price jumped from $15.13 to $25.05 in the same post-election period. This is likely because the privately-run facilities house 86 percent of the detained immigrant population, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). Yet just 6 percent of Americans believe that ICE detention centers should be run privately, an exclusive poll for The Independent can reveal, with the majority saying facilities should be run by federal or state governments, according to Prolific. Over 60,000 people are currently held in immigration detention across the U.S., according to ICE records seen by The New York Times. That number has already jumped by 54 percent since Trumps return, with average detention populations under the Biden administration around 39,000, according to TRAC. open image in gallery Immigrant Detention Leavenworth ( AP ) But though the government may determine their future, the 20 largest ICE detention centers are all operated by private companies, according to TRACs data in January. GeoGroup and CoreCivic are the leading operators, both in terms of facilities operated and their capacity. Other private firms, like Lasalle Corrections and Management & Training Corporation (MTC), also have contracts to run ICE facilities. CoreCivic runs the biggest detention centre in the country Adams County Correctional Facility in Natchez, Missouri, with over 2,100 detainees on average each day. The new federal facility at Fort Bliss may soon take the cake, however, with a capacity of 5,000 people. Both CoreCivic and GeoGroup provide both traditional prison incarceration services, and immigration detention services, to federal and state governments. But with a slowdown in incarceration and greater focus on rehabilitation in recent years, prison contracts have been drying up and increased immigration detention contracts has become more foundational to their business models. One of Trumps first actions in office was also to end the Biden-era ban on private prison providers, allowing companies like GeoGroup and CoreCivic to once again contract with the Department of Justice. When asked for comment about its reliance on punitive policies by the new administration to build its business, CoreCivic noted that it does not enforce immigration laws, or arrest anyone, or have any say over an individuals deportation but it acknowledged that Trumps policies does provide it with growth opportunities. As the current administration is exploring all options available to them to address the increasing demand for detention services and capacity, we expect that those options will include the high-quality solutions CoreCivic provides, Ryan Gustin, director of Public Affairs at CoreCivic, told The Independent. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for GeoGroup told The Independent that simply put, our facilities are never overcrowded. But Freedom of Information Act requests by TRAC last month revealed that several facilities run by GeoGroup were significantly overcapacity on at least one day this year. This includes GeoGroups Pine Prairie processing centre in Louisiana, which has a contractual maximum of 500 people but held 1,311 detainees at some point in 2025. open image in gallery ( Google ) Immigration operations make up over a third of revenue for both Geo Group and Core Civic, latest financial reports show, making ICE their largest governmental partner. We are proud of the role our company has played for 40 years to support [ICEs] law enforcement mission, over seven different Presidential Administrations, a GEO Group spokesperson told The Independent. Geo Group has been awarded nearly $8 billion in federal contracts over successive governments, according to the federal database, in addition to state contracts. Over half of this ($4.4 billion) was awarded by ICE for immigration detention services. Meanwhile CoreCivic has been awarded over $8.3 billion in federal contracts over time, with a quarter ($2 billion) of those being ICE contracts to run detention facilities. ICE's budget now is larger than many militaries around the world, while our hospitals and schools remain underfunded, and people are losing their access to health care and food benefits, said Suh. The Independent contacted ICE for comment for this article but did not get a response. Federal contracts from ICE have been steadily increasing since Trumps first term (with for a brief time during the peak of the pandemic), according to the federal spending database, rising from $137.5 million awarded in 2016 to $463.4 million in 2025 so far. ICE contracts awarded since January alone include $353.5 million to GeoGroup, $148 million to CoreCivic, and $313 million to CSI Aviation ICEs deportation flight contractor. There is more and more incentivization to cage people in immigration detention. The more people that they detain, the more their business grows, Suh said. Financial Incentives are really the bedrock of incarceration. And now, documents seen by The Washington Post reveal that ICE is planning to more than double detention capacity, from around 50,000 to more than 107,000 by January 2026. These plans include opening or expanding 125 facilities before the end of the year with over $1 billion in contracts each year between CoreCivic and GeoGroup, according to the Posts analysis of ICE documents. Already, both detention giants have seen a flood of new or amended contracts and have opened up new facilities to expand their capacity. Whats more, ICE has issued nine of these contracts without allowing competitive bids , citing a national emergency at the Mexico border meaning that CoreCivic secured the deal to reopen its contentious Leavenworth facility without competition, according to PBS. We stay in regular contact with ICE and all our government partners to understand their changing needs, and we work within their established procurement processes. It is our policy to respect these processes, Gustin told The Independent of CoreCivics contracts. open image in gallery ( AFP/Getty ) Since January alone, several facilities have been opened up to hold more immigrants in detention as ICE ramps up its raids. In the Michigan town of Baldwin, former prison North Lake Correctional Facility has now reopened as an immigration center operated by Geo Group, to the tune of $70 million in annual revenue. The 1,800-bed facility opened in June despite facing significant pushback from residents and local protests. And just last week, a tense dispute broke out at a local board meeting in Mason, Tennessee, over the reopening of a CoreCivic facility as an immigration detention center. Residents crowded the meeting and chanted outside in protest of the contract, which was ultimately approved, according to reports in the Tennessee Lookout. open image in gallery Nebraska Detention Center ( AP ) If ICE expansion plans are fully realized, that's a massive shift in resources. Its also a massive transformation in the very fabric of American society and how it operates, Suh told The Independent. Communities across the country are rightly outraged about detention expansion happening on their doorstep. People are saying, No, we don't want detention in our community. We don't want our neighbors to be torn apart away from their loved ones. 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 might have thought he had some distance from the Jeffrey Epstein headlines that were dragging down his poll numbers and made his base turn on him. But, over the last few weeks, the president has seen positive economic news, taken over the streets of Washington D.C. from local police and watched as his FBI raided the home of former adviser John Bolton. Those stories were dominating the news cycle - until Ghislaine Maxwell made her return. The release of the transcripts of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches interview with Maxwell, Epsteins longtime associate and onetime partner who assisted in his abuse of girls and young women, became the motherload of all Friday news dumps. It will certainly rekindle questions about what exactly Trump knew about his former friend and likely give congressional Democrats all the more reason to push for the declassification of files related to the Epstein investigation when they return from recess. Trump, who has continuously expressed annoyance about the affair that he has called bulls***, so far has not commented on it. Just before the transcript dropped, he again distanced himself from it when speaking to reporters. I have said to Pam and everybody else, give them everything, because it's a Democrat hoax, he said in reference to Attorney General Pam Bondi. That's just a hoax. The whole Epstein thing is a Democrat hoax. Friday morning started with news of an FBI raid on the home of John Bolton. By the afternoon, the latest in the Epstein investigation made it seem like a distant memory. ( AP ) For the past two months, the Justice Department and the FBI specifically faced negative headlines after it released its two-page memo that said Epstein likely killed himself and that no client list existed. It put Attorney General Pam Bondi, one of his most ardent loyalists, under a microscope and led to her vanishing from Fox News. The takeover signaled her return to Fox as long as she faced no questions about Epstein. The country, for the most part, had moved on from Epstein - at least until Congress returns from recess and Democrats push for the release of the Epstein files. Congress got a copy of the files Friday and said he would release them, but its unclear when. Still, Trump seemed to push that off the front page and the world was focused on the Bolton raid. Until the afternoon rolled around. Then, the Justice Department dropped its transcript of its with Maxwell, Epsteins associate currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in her and Epsteins abuse of young girls. In the interview, Maxwell said that she absolutely never saw Trump behaving inappropriately with anyone in Epsteins circle. She praised Trumps extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now. She also said that she did not believe that Epstein killed himself. While much Maxwells words sound exculpatory, the fact that Trumps deputy attorney general took the unprecedented step of interviewing her will make her words seem spurious. And Maxwells words must be understood through the prism of the fact that she is a known liar and convicted abuser of children who has every incentive to lie again to receive a pardon or have her case appealed. And the new headlines along with her vehement denial of Trumps involvement will only rekindle questions about how much Trump knew about Epsteins abuse before he ran for president. It will also only add further fodder for congressional investigators as a bipartisan group of members plan to file a discharge petition to release files related to Epstein. Trump might want to turn the page on Epstein and Maxwell, but hell find that tough for the immediate future. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration reportedly plans to mobilize up to 1,700 National Guard troops across 19 states in the coming weeks to support its immigration and anti-crime crackdowns, a dramatic expansion of the controversial operation thats seen federal agents and Guard troops carrying out activities across Washington, D.C. The troops, who will largely be activated across Republican-controlled states, will serve in support of the administrations Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, as well as other law enforcement priorities, according to comment from unnamed Pentagon officials and documents obtained by Fox News. The Guardsmen assisting ICE will be carrying out tasks that may include personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing and photographing of personnel in ICE custody," an official told outlet. The deployments will take place across the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, per Fox. Texas is reportedly slated to have the largest deployment. open image in gallery The Trump administration is reportedly expanding its crime crackdown by deploying up to 1,700 National Guard troops across 19 states in support of its immigration and crime crackdowns ( AFP via Getty Images ) The Independent has contacted the reported states for comment, as well as the central National Guard leadership and the Department of Homeland Security. The Guardsmen will be serving under Title 32 Section 502F authority, in which they technically remain under state command and control, but can assist with federal missions and are paid with federal funds. The status allows them to avoid running afoul of a federal law limiting military involvement in domestic law enforcement. When asked about the reported operation, the Defense Department referred The Independent to a July announcement from the Pentagon changing the status of troops supporting ICE to Title 32 and adding 500 additional personnel to the mission, bringing it to a total of approximately 1,700 troops. The statement said the troops could be involved in direct interaction with individuals in ICE custody, and that the mission stemmed from a May request from the Department of Homeland Security for assistance. The Virginia National Guard plans to mobilize approximately 60 Soldiers and Airmen with a mission to provide administrative and logistics support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at locations across the state, a spokesperson told The Independent. VNG personnel will not conduct law enforcement functions, and VNG support will not include making arrests. open image in gallery National Guard operation in Washington has reportedly netted over 700 arrests alongside local and federal partners this month ( AP ) Nevada officials pointed The Independent to a Tuesday announcement from Gov. Joe Lombardo, which described up to 35 Nevada National Guardsmen assisting DHS with vital clerical, administrative, and logistical support ensuring there will be no direct contact with detainees, no law enforcement duties, and no weapons involved. A spokesperson for the Idaho National Guard told The Independent the states contingent will feature 14 personnel providing three ICE offices with administrative functions, potentially including data entry, record keeping, creating and maintaining reports, and other clerical duties. The apparent expansion in operations comes as President Trump threatened to send the regular military into Chicago for a similar crime crackdown, as well as potentially send troops to New York City. We're going to make our cities very, very safe. Chicago is a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent, and we'll straighten that one out, probably next that'll be our next one after this, and it won't even be tough, Trump told reporters at The White House. Nearly 2,000 Guard troops from Washington, D.C., and six states are deployed to the capital as part of the presidents anti-crime and immigration push. Washington residents overwhelmingly oppose the federal law enforcement operation there, according to polling. The operation has netted more than 700 arrests since beginning earlier this month, according to the Trump administration, though it hasnt released in-depth information about the identities or alleged offenses that form this figure. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration and Intel have reached an agreement for the U.S. government to own nearly 10 percent of the struggling chip maker, the president announced on Friday. The United States paid nothing for these Shares, and the Shares are now valued at approximately $11 Billion Dollars, Trump wrote on Truth Social, claiming the agreement means the government fully owns and controls a major portion of the company. This is a great Deal for America and, also, a great Deal for INTEL. Building leading edge Semiconductors and Chips, which is what INTEL does, is fundamental to the future of our Nation, he added. Funding for the $11.1 billion deal comes from $2.2 billion in funding Intel received under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, plus $5.7 billion from the act the company was awarded but has not received, as well as $3.2 in funds already awarded as part of the Secure Enclave national security program, the company announced on its website. The stake is in the form of passive ownership and does not give the government board representation or other governance rights, Intel said, adding that the U.S. had an option to purchase further shares. open image in gallery Deal converts billions U.S. invested in Intel under 2022 CHIPS and Science Act into equity, marking one of largest government interventions in American firm since 2008 financial crisis ( REUTERS ) As the only semiconductor company that does leading-edge logic R&D and manufacturing in the U.S., Intel is deeply committed to ensuring the worlds most advanced technologies are American made, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said in a statement. President Trumps focus on U.S. chip manufacturing is driving historic investments in a vital industry that is integral to the countrys economic and national security. The deal marks a striking change in tone from the administration, as well as the most consequential government investment in a single U.S. company since the multi-billion-dollar auto bailout of GM and Chrysler during the 2008 financial crisis. Earlier this month, Trump called on Tan to resign, accusing the CEO of being highly conflicted because of his past work and investments in the Chinese tech sector. The administration said the deal sprang from negotiations last week with the Intel boss, who walked in wanting to keep his job, and he ended up giving us $10 billion for the United States, Trump said at a news conference. A framework for the deal between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Intel finance chief David Zinsner was solidified on Wednesday, The New York Times reports. Following the announcement of the deal, Lutnick praised the agreement as fair to Intel and fair to the American People, posting a photo on X of himself with Tan. This historic agreement strengthens U.S. leadership in semiconductors, which will both grow our economy and help secure Americas technological edge, Lutnick wrote. The deal could face legal challenges from shareholders, and some experts say its unclear if the CHIPS Act funds can legally be turned into equity. Some observers were also unsure if a government investment would turn things around for Intel, a pioneering Silicon Valley chip maker that has struggled in recent years as competitors like Nvidia outpaced it on key innovations like chips for artificial intelligence. The questions I have are first, what are the guardrails to ensure that a government stake doesnt result in unhelpful political influence on the company, and, second, how exactly a government stake will facilitate the financial turnaround, economic historian Chris Miller told The Washington Post. open image in gallery Trump administration has made influencing semiconductor industry a majority priority in its effort to reshore U.S. manufacturing ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Intel shares were up more than 5.5 percent as of Friday afternoon. The Trump administration previously sharply criticized the Biden-era CHIPS Act for awarding billions to revive the U.S. semiconductor industry, which makes key components for computers and numerous other devices with digital components, arguing the act was a giveaway to companies that didnt result in enough benefit to the American people. The White House, which has also negotiated golden share-style government influence over Nippon Steels investment in U.S. Steel, has shown particular interest in putting Trumps mark on the semiconductor industry, which has largely moved to Asia in recent decades. Trump said this month he plans to put a 100 percent tariff on computer chips unless companies build in the U.S., and the administration agreed to a deal to receive 15 percent of Nvidia and AMD's revenues from the sale of the companies chips in China. MEXICO CITY, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday once again rejected any U.S. military intervention in cracking down on the country's drug cartels, reiterating Mexico's sovereignty. Mexico "is free, independent, and sovereign" and will not allow any foreign government to violate its autonomy, she told a daily news conference in Mexico City. Her comments came in response to remarks made by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole when speaking to Fox News that his agency would back a U.S. presidential decision to attack Mexican drug cartels. "That will not happen," Sheinbaum said. "Mexico has great strength -- from our people and from what we represent as a government of the people. Any attempt will be met with national unity." Sheinbaum has repeatedly rejected a U.S. military intervention in the country's drug war, a prospect threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. Earlier this month, U.S. media reports said that Trump signed a secret order authorizing military actions against drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations in Latin America. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The manager of a park in southern France has been detained for alleged religious discrimination after a group of Israeli children was refused access to the facility, a French prosecutors office said on Friday. The Israeli children, aged between eight and 16, were on holiday in Spain and had booked to use the zipline at the Tyrovol zipline adventure park in Porte-Puymorens, near the Spanish border in the Pyrenean mountains, on Thursday. The Perpignan prosecutors office said the manager initially said he was refusing the group access on the grounds of personal beliefs before offering other justifications to others. A message posted on the parks social media on Wednesday evening said the site would be closed on Thursday due to a storm, in order to carry out a complete inspection of the facilities. The park told the group they could not visit. They went to another leisure facility in France with no incident, the statement said. The manager denied any wrongdoing, it added. open image in gallery The Porte-Puymorens park is located near the Spanish border in the Pyrenean mountains ( AP ) A line was crossed. We are appalled, said Perla Danan, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It started with graffiti, insults and physical attacks and now its literally a ban on children aged eight to 16, Danan said, adding that it reminded her of the no Jews or dogs allowed sign during the Holocaust. Frances values have been violated," she said. Jean-Philippe Auge, the mayor of Porte-Puymorens, which has around 100 inhabitants, said the DNA of our community is based on a sense of sharing and fraternity, adding that the incident had caused utter astonishment in the village. Auge said the zipline course is operated by a private company. The Jewish Observatory of France also expressed deep outrage" in a statement on Friday. It said, such an act of discrimination, targeting minors exclusively on the basis of their nationality and origin, is extremely serious and undermines the fundamental principles of the Republic. Discrimination based on religion is an offence punishable by up to three years in prison in France. Antisemitism has surged in France, with a sharp increase in incidents reported in 2023 after the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. These include physical assaults, threats, vandalism, and harassment, prompting alarm among Jewish communities and leaders. 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 drone and missile attack on western Ukraine overnight that hit targets including a US-owned electronics plant proved that Vladimir Putin is trying to avoid peace talks, warned Kyiv. The aerial assault was one of Russia's biggest this year and came as Moscow objected to key aspects of proposals that could end the war it started in February 2022. Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, saying it was carried out as if nothing were changing at all. The signals from Russia are simply, to be honest, indecent, he told Ukrainians in his nightly presidential address. open image in gallery Firefighters in Lviv on Thursday ( AP ) A US electronics plant near the Hungarian border was struck, according to Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. The Flex factory is one of the biggest American investments in Ukraine. At the moment of impact, 600 night-shift workers were on the premises, and six were injured, Mr Hunder added. Russian attacks on Ukraine since it launched its invasion have damaged property belonging to more than half of the chamber's roughly 600 members, he said. The message is clear: Russia is not looking for peace. Russia is attacking American business in Ukraine, humiliating American business, Mr Hunder said. Russia's defence ministry said the strikes targeted enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. It claimed the attack hit drone factories, storage depots and missile launch sites, as well as areas where Ukrainian troops were gathered. Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilian areas of Ukraine. In Lviv, one person was killed and three were injured as the attack damaged 26 residential buildings, a nursery school and administrative buildings, regional head Maksym Kozytskyi wrote on Telegram. The regional prosecutor's office said three Russian cruise missiles with cluster munitions struck the city. Moscow has shown no signs of pursuing meaningful negotiations to end the war, Mr Zelensky said. He urged the international community to respond with stronger pressure on Moscow, including tougher sanctions and tariffs. Plans for security guarantees will become clearer by the end of next week, Mr Zelensky said, by which time he expects to be ready to hold direct talks with Mr Putin for the first time since Russias full-scale invasion. Donald Trump discussed the war with Putin in Alaska last week before hosting Mr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday. open image in gallery A damaged residential building in Lviv ( Reuters ) Mr Trump questioned Putin's commitment to ending the war, saying the Russian leader talks nice and then he bombs everybody. Russia has fired nearly 1,000 long-range drones and missiles at Ukraine since Monday's White House talks, according to Ukrainian tallies. European countries are discussing how they can deploy military assets to deter any post-war Russian assault on Ukraine, but the Kremlin will not accept the deployment of any troops from Nato countries, and Russias foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that making security arrangements for Ukraine without Moscow's involvement was pointless. Putin is ready to meet with Mr Zelensky to discuss peace terms, Mr Lavrov said on Thursday, but only after key issues have been worked out by senior officials in what could be a protracted negotiating process because the two sides remain far apart. US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who also serves as Mr Trump's national security adviser, held a conference call on Thursday with his European counterparts to discuss the options. Final details must still be worked out, but European countries would provide "the lion's share" of any forces involved in security guarantees for Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter said. That echoed vice-president JD Vance's comment on Wednesday that Europe would need to shoulder "the lion's share" of the costs of the operation. Mr Trump has said he will not deploy US troops in Ukraine but has left the door open to other US military involvement, including air support. Reuters and Associated Press 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 Ukrainian-made drone attack on a Russian ammunition depot last September demonstrated Kyivs ability to strike deep behind enemy lines, a feat particularly gratifying for Iryna Terekh, head of production at Fire Point. Her company manufactured the drones that flew over 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), subsequently curtailing Russias devastating glide bomb attacks on her native city of Kharkiv. Iryna Terekh, head of production at Fire Point, highlighted aerial warfare for Ukraine, stating: "Fighting in the air is our only real asymmetric advantage on the battlefield at the moment. We dont have as much manpower or money as they have." Her comments came as she surveyed dozens of "deep-strike drones" from the assembly line, destined for Ukrainian forces to target Russian military and economic sites. Driven by its existential struggle against Russia and constrained Western aid, Ukraine has rapidly become a global hub for defence innovation. The nation aims to match, if not outmuscle, Russias capabilities, with Fire Point leading the way. The Associated Press was granted an exclusive look inside one of Fire Points dozens of covert factories. open image in gallery Workers inspect a Flamingo cruise missile at Fire Point's secret factory in Ukraine ( Associated Press/Efrem Lukatsky ) In a sprawling warehouse where rock music blared, executives showed off their signature FP-1 exploding drones that can travel up to 1,600 kilometers (994 miles). They also touted publicly for the first time a cruise missile they are developing that is capable of traveling 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles), and which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes will be mass-produced by the end of the year. Even as US President Donald Trump presses for an end to the war and dangles the prospect of US support for NATO-like security guarantees Ukrainian defense officials say their country is determined to become more self-sufficient in deterring Russia. We believe our best guarantee is not relying on somebodys will to protect us, but rather our ability to protect ourselves, said Arsen Zhumadilov, the head of the country's arms procurement agency. Ukraine's government is now purchasing about $10 billion of weapons annually from domestic manufacturers. The industry has the capacity to sell triple that amount, officials say, and they believe sales to European allies could help it reach such potential in a matter of years. Drone innovation grew out of necessity open image in gallery A worker carries part of a combat drone at Fire Point's secret factory in Ukraine ( Associated Press/Efrem Lukatsky ) Like most defense companies in Ukraine, Fire Point grew out of necessity after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Despite pleas from Ukrainian military officials, Western countries were unwilling to allow Kyiv to use their allies' longer-range weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. That's when a group of close friends, experts from various fields, set out to mass-produce inexpensive drones that could match the potency of Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia was firing into Ukraine with devastating consequences. The company's founders spoke with AP on the condition of anonymity out of concern for their safety and the security of their factories. By pooling together knowledge from construction, game design and architecture, the company's founders who had no background in defense came up with novel designs for drones that could fly further and strike with greater precision than most products already on the market. Their long-range drones had another benefit: they did not need to take off from an air field. When Terekh an architect was hired in the summer of 2023, she was given a goal of producing 30 drones per month. Now the company makes roughly 100 per day, at a cost of $55,000 apiece. The FP-1 looks more like a hastily made science project than something that would roll off the production lines of the world's biggest defense contractors. We removed unneeded, flashy glittery stuff, she said. But the FP-1 has been extremely effective on the battlefield. With a payload of explosives weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds), it is responsible for 60 per cent of strikes deep inside Russian territory, including hits on oil refineries and weapons depots, according to Terekh. These strikes have helped to slow Russias advance along the 1,000 kilometer-long (620 mile-long) front line in eastern Ukraine, where army units have reported a sharp decline in artillery fire. I think the best drones, or among the best, are Ukrainian drones," said Claude Chenuil, a former French military official who now works for a trade group that focuses on defense. When the war in Ukraine ends, they will flood the market. Ukraine is becoming the Silicon Valley of defense open image in gallery Ukraine's government is now purchasing about $10 billion of weapons annually from domestic manufacturers. ( Associated Press/Efrem Lukatsky ) Fire Points story is not entirely unique. Soon after Russia's 2022 invasion, hundreds of defense companies sprouted almost overnight. The Ukrainian government incentivised innovation by relaxing regulations and making it easier for startups to work directly with military brigades. Patriotic entrepreneurs in metallurgy, construction and information technology built facilities for researching and making weapons and munitions, with an emphasis on drones. The ongoing war allowed them to test out ideas almost immediately on the battlefield, and to quickly adapt to Russias changing tactics. Ukraine is in this very unique moment now where it is becoming, de facto, the Silicon Valley of defense, said Ukrainian defense entrepreneur Yaroslav Azhnyuk. The biggest strategic asset that we have is that we have been at war with Russia for 11 years. A case in point: Fire Point had initially sourced navigational equipment for its drones from a major Western firm, but before long Russia was able to disrupt their effectiveness using electronic warfare; so Fire Point developed its own software to outwit the enemy. Because defense companies are high-value targets for Russia, many operate underground or hidden within civilian centers to evade detection. Although they are guarded by air defenses, the strategy has the disadvantage of putting civilians at risk. Many Ukrainians have died in imprecise Russian attacks that were likely targeting weapons facilities. Entrepreneurs said the alternative is to operate openly and face attacks that would set back the war effort. Supplies of drones don't last long open image in gallery The Ukrainian government incentivised innovation by relaxing regulations and making it easier for startups to work directly with military brigades ( Associated Press/Efrem Lukatsky ) On the day AP reporters visited the Fire Point factory, there were dozens of drones awaiting delivery. They would all be gone within 72 hours, shipped to the battlefield in inconspicuous cargo trucks. The Fire Point team receives regular feedback from army units, and the company has reinvested most profits toward innovating quickly to keep pace with other drone makers. Increasingly, those profits are being directed to develop a new, more potent weapon. The company completed testing this year for its first cruise missile, the FP-5. Capable of traveling 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) and landing within 14 meters (45 feet) of its target, the FP-5 is one of the largest such missile in the world, delivering a payload of 1,150 kilograms (2,535 pounds), independent experts said. Because initial versions of the missile came out pink after a factory error, they called it the Flamingo and the name has stuck. Fire Point is producing roughly one Flamingo per day, and by October they hope to build capacity to make seven per day, Terekh said. Even as Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials pursue ways to end the war, Terekh said she is skeptical that Russia will accept terms for a real peace. We are preparing for a bigger, much scarier 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 From the grey rubble of Gazas bombed water treatment plants, a rare and deadly paralytic disease has emerged that has brought a new crisis to a region already devastated by starvation and illness. An unprecedented surge in acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) a condition which causes a rapid onset of muscle weakness and paralysis has seen 110 people diagnosed in the past three months. In previous years, Gaza saw just one or two cases of AFP per year. The symptoms occur when the bodys immune system is triggered by certain viruses, in some cases causing it to attack its own nervous system. In Gaza, the rapid spread of water-borne infectious diseases has led to a striking rise in AFP cases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Dr Ahmed al-Farra, head of paediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, told The Independent that Israels destruction of Gazas vital water treatment plants is largely responsible for the spread of these diseases. To see 110 cases, this is incredible. This is an outbreak, it is alarming for us to see that number, Dr Farra said, describing the situation as one of the most challenging medical incidents Gaza has seen since 2023. open image in gallery Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis was flooded with sewage last week ( Reuters ) Acute flaccid paralysis is associated with a variety of causes, including GuillainBarre syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune condition and the main cause of AFP in Gaza. Severe cases of AFP and GBS can cause lifetime paralysis, or respiratory failure, potentially resulting in death. Gazas health ministry says 36 per cent of the reported cases of GBS were in children aged under 15. In Nasser Hospital and Al-Shifa hospital, the hotspots of the outbreak, at least nine people have died of AFP so far. Senior Palestinian and Israeli medics, along with the WHO, have told The Independent that critical and lifesaving treatments are not available anywhere in the ravaged enclave. open image in gallery A Palestinian girl drinks water near a distribution centre in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip ( AP ) The Israeli military denies that it prevents the entry of medicine into the strip, and says it continuously and consistently facilitates the operation of medical services in Gaza. It blames its destruction of water infrastructure on Hamas, which it accused of embedding its military assets among the civilian population. Other factors such as overcrowding in shelters, malnutrition, and restricted access to healthcare have all exacerbated the crisis, a WHO spokesperson said, adding that the abrupt nature of the recent surge in cases is partly due to improved monitoring processes. Lab testing samples came back positive with enterovirus, a group of viruses which typically spreads through humans or water. Most samples also contained Campylobacter jejuni, a species of bacteria commonly found in animal faeces, Dr Farra said. The lab findings show that water that the patients are receiving is completely polluted by sewage due to the destruction of the sewage system, he said. In July last year, Oxfam reported that Israel had destroyed 70 per cent of all sewage pumps and 100 per cent of wastewater treatment plants in Gaza. It accused Israel of restricting the entry of Oxfams water testing equipment. open image in gallery Satellite imagery shows that the solar panels powering the Sheikh Ejleen wastewater treatment plant have been largely destroyed ( Planet Labs ) Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Thursday that Israel is deliberately depriving people of water in Gaza. Since June 2024, Israel has only approved one in every 10 import requests of items for water desalination, the charity said. Israel must begin allowing the importation of critical equipment for water supply and distribution, at scale, MSF added. The Israeli military must stop its destruction of water infrastructure and allow the immediate repair of water systems that have been damaged to ensure people have life-sustaining access to water. Such is the desperation for clean water that health officials in Gaza are advising people to place water which they want to drink in sunlight, so it is as sterilised as possible before they drink it, Dr Farra said. An IDF spokesperson said the military does not seek to harm civilian infrastructure and strikes only military targets, in accordance with international law. It added that the IDF works to ensure humanitarian water supply in Gaza, and said millions of litres are provided daily via Israels water lines alongside the local water system. open image in gallery Young girls drink from communal taps ( Masoud/SOPA Images/Shutterstock ) But medics and humanitarian organisations in Gaza say that a shortage of clean water is behind the increase of AFP which they are struggling to address without the proper treatments. Severe cases can need months to recover in hospital, but beds are in high demand. An Australian medic who recently left Gaza told The Independent that all 50 intensive care beds in Nasser Hospital are filled up, each and every day. AFP requires a long time for recovery with challenging treatment, Dr Farra said. open image in gallery Children walk past destroyed buildings and a puddle of sewage water erupting from collapsed underground pipes in Khan Younis ( AFP/Getty ) Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), an expensive treatment for GBS which prevents respiratory failure, is not available in Gaza. Neither is plasma exchange, a procedure in which blood is filtered. Israeli paediatrician Prof Dan Turner, a human rights activist and deputy dean of the medical faculty at the University of Hebrew, helps coordinate the entry of medical aid into Gaza. He told The Independent he had received an urgent call for IVIG from physicians within the strip last week. The WHO said it needs unimpeded access to get medical supplies into Gaza and to rehabilitate the water, sanitation, food and health systems. But the Israeli military denies that it prevents the entry of medicines and other aid into the Gaza Strip, and said that 45,000 tons of medical equipment have been transferred to Gaza via more than 3,000 trucks. open image in gallery A young man distributes bottled water to children during Iftar in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza ( Middle East Images ) It added: The IDF continuously and consistently facilitates the operation of medical services through aid organisations and the international community, maintaining ongoing communication with international aid agencies in the Strip to meet hospital needs. Diagnosis with AFP which can lead to long-term or even permanent paralysis, particularly if not treated properly has been made more difficult due to the lack of MRI machines and cerebral spinal fluid analysis, Dr Farra said. Many are asking to be medically evacuated to undergo comprehensive treatment in foreign countries. Unfortunately, when the approval comes for the evacuation, and lots of connections and phone calls are made, the patient is already dead, Dr Farra 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 At least 25 people were killed in Israeli strikes and shootings in Gaza on Saturday, including Palestinians sheltering in tents or seeking scarce food aid, according to local hospitals. It followed a famine determination by the worlds leading authority on food crises, which galvanised governments and aid groups to intensify pleas for Israel to halt its 22-month offensive on Gaza, prompted by Hamas October 7, 2023, attacks. For months, aid groups have warned that the war and Israels restrictions on food into Gaza are causing starvation among civilians. Israel denounced the famine declaration as lies, with its military pressing ahead with preparations to seize Gaza City. Efforts toward a ceasefire that could forestall the offensive are on hold as mediators await Israels next steps. Gaza hospitals take in new dead and wounded Israeli strikes killed at least 14 people in the southern Gaza Strip early Saturday, according to morgue records and health officials at Nasser Hospital. The officials said the strikes targeted tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, which became home to hundreds of thousands who had fled from elsewhere in Gaza. More than half of the dead were women and children. Awad Abu Agala, the uncle of two children who died, said no place in Gaza is now safe. The entire Gaza Strip is being bombed ... In the south. In the north. Everywhere, Abu Agala said, adding that children were targeted overnight while in their tents. open image in gallery Mourners pray over the bodies of three Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes ( AP ) A grieving relative, Hekmat Foujo, pleaded for a truce. We want to rest, Foujo said, fighting through her tears. Have some mercy on us.'' In northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed at least five aid-seekers Saturday near the Zikim crossing with Israel, where U.N. and other agencies' convoys enter the enclave, health officials at the Sheikh Radwan field hospital said. Six people were killed in other attacks on Gaza elsewhere Saturday, according to hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to questions about the deaths. A famine announcement ups the pressure A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said Friday that Gaza City is gripped by famine that is likely to spread if fighting and restrictions on humanitarian aid continue. It was a highly rare pronouncement by the group, its first in the Middle East, and came after Israel imposed a 2 1/2-month blockade on Gaza earlier this year, then eased access with a focus on a new U.S.-backed private aid supplier, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or GHF. In response to global outrage over images of emaciated children, Israel in recent weeks has allowed airdrops and a new influx of aid entering by land, but U.N. and other aid agencies say the food reaching Gaza is still not nearly enough. open image in gallery A Palestinian woman mourns her relative who was killed ( AP ) AP journalists have seen chaos and security problems on roads leading to aid deliveries, and there have been reports of Israeli troops firing toward aid-seekers. Israel's military says they fire warning shots if individuals approach the troops or pose a threat to soldiers. The IPC said nearly half a million people in Gaza, about one-fourth of the population, face catastrophic hunger that leaves many at risk of dying. It said hunger has been magnified by widespread displacement and the collapse of food production. Netanyahus office denounced the IPC report as an outright lie,'' and accused Hamas of starving the hostages. Israel says it has allowed enough aid to enter during the war. Activity is escalating ahead of the Gaza City offensive With ground troops already active in strategic areas, the widescale operation in Gaza City could start within days. Aid group Doctors without Borders, or MSF, said Saturday its clinics around Gaza City are seeing high numbers of patients as people flee recent bombardments. The group said in a statement that strikes are forcing people, including MSF staff, to flee their homes once again, and we are seeing displacement across Gaza City. The Israeli military has said troops are operating on the outskirts of Gaza City and in the citys Zeitoun neighbourhood. Israel says Gaza City is still a Hamas stronghold, with a network of militant tunnels. The city is also home to hundreds of thousands of civilians, some of whom have fled from elsewhere. Ceasefire efforts await Israel's response Many Israelis fear the assault on Gaza City could doom the roughly 20 hostages who have survived captivity since 2023. Netanyahu said Thursday he had instructed officials to begin immediate negotiations to release hostages and end the war on Israels terms. It is unclear if Israel will return to long-running talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar after Hamas said earlier this week that it accepted a new proposal from the Arab mediators. Hamas has said it would release captives in exchange for ending the war, but rejects disarmament without the creation of a Palestinian state. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Hamas stance, suggesting the militant group was less interested in making deals to release hostages with so few left alive. The situation has to end. Its extortion, and it has to end, Trump told reporters Friday. I actually think (the hostages are) safer in many ways if you went in and you really went in fast and you did it. Last Sunday, Israel stopped. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum led a nationwide strike and mass protests that drew more than 1 million people across the country 500,000 rallied at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv alone. Families of the missing accused the government of abandoning loved ones to politics. Addressing the rally, Ofir Braslavski, father of Rom, who appeared in a Hamas video, emaciated and desperate, simply stated, My Rom has no time, the hostages have no time. The message was simple. Bring them home. End the war. Now! The families desperate pleas are understandable, though not everyone agrees. Other hostage families, along with some of the families of the victims of 7 October, reject the protests and efforts to end the war. They see total victory as critical and the only way to return the hostages, even with the risks involved. Im not a military expert. I cant say whether taking Gaza City and occupying all of Gaza is the right or wrong move. I personally trust that the Israel Defense Forces will act in a responsible manner. I have my doubts, however, when it comes to total victory, which, according to Benjamin Netanyahu, is just weeks away as it has been for the past 18 months. Israelis deserve to have a government we can trust to make these tough decisions in our best interests. Regrettably, we dont have such a government today. There is no precedent for this war. Not in scale, not in horror, nor in the grotesque failures of those in charge. Many Israelis simply do not trust Netanyahus coalition to put the country ahead of its own political survival. Not its motives, its judgement, nor its decisions. In the immediate aftermath of 7 October, the government of Mr Security went awol. Nowhere to be found, they werent hiding from advancing terrorists but from their own public. As if the weight of the moment was simply too much, they vanished. In its darkest hour, the country felt rudderless, leaderless. To date, there has been no meaningful acceptance of responsibility. Not one minister has stated clearly, this happened on our watch. However, ordinary Israelis rose to the occasion. On the day of the Hamas massacre, brave individuals raced south to fight, to rescue, to help in any way they could. Reservists showed up in record numbers. In the days that followed, ordinary Israelis organised evacuations, provided shelter, fed soldiers, cared for survivors, handled logistics, even identified victims. They held the country together with pure grit. When government ministers finally resurfaced, it was shameless. No humility. No change. Just the same self-serving blame game. Their priority from the outset, political survival. open image in gallery Protesters in Tel Aviv on Thursday demand the return of hostages taken by Hamas ( AP ) Israelis have done everything asked of them, and more. Regulars and reservists have been sent to the battlefield again and again, to the point of exhaustion. Families, relationships, businesses, and entire communities have unrelentingly accepted the punishing grind of this seemingly endless war. Hostage families have shown remarkable strength and resilience, as their loved ones rot in Hamas tunnels. Bereaved parents, survivors, displaced communities, people from every corner of Israeli society, Jews and non-Jews alike, have carried the nation on their backs. And yet, their government betrays them. Despite the IDF stating it was short of 20,000 troops, the coalition is now pushing a bill to exempt tens of thousands of perfectly healthy Ultra-Orthodox men from military service, purely to placate religious parties and keep the coalition afloat. Its a national disgrace, a knife in the back of those already risking everything to defend the country. Hostage families understand that, for this government, their loved ones are no longer the priority. Their return is no longer the primary war objective, despite Netanyahus protestations. So what is driving the decision-making today that has left the world, and many Israelis, aghast? The extremists in the government, led by Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, demand total conquest and resettlement. For them, the hostages are an inconvenience. They dont need them back if it means ending the war. Netanyahu, ever the political contortionist, complies. So long as he keeps his coalition intact, the cost is immaterial. He has already sold his soul, and that of the countrys. open image in gallery As Netanyahu panders to extremists, he risks turning successes and sacrifice into diplomatic failure and international isolation ( Reuters ) Israel must be guided by its own security interests, not international pressure or approval. However, as Netanyahu panders to extremists, he risks turning successes and sacrifice into diplomatic failure and international isolation. Netanyahu appears detached from reality. He talks of total victory but fails to define it. He refuses to accept responsibility for the greatest security failure in Israels history, and yet claims credit for every military success since. These are the accomplishments of the IDF and security services; institutions whose chiefs have acknowledged their failures leading to 7 October, accepted responsibility, promised reform, and pledged to resign. Heads of the IDF and Shin Bet, the security agency, have already gone. Netanyahu cannot have it both ways. If he takes the credit when things go right, then he must also take the heat for the failures. And there were catastrophic failures that led to this war. But as always, Netanyahu has a plan. A campaign to eliminate dissent and distance himself from the debacle of 7 October. Before the war, defence minister Yoav Gallant warned judicial reform was harming security. Only public pressure prevented Netanyahu from firing him. Gallant then opposed exemptions for the Ultra-Orthodox, especially during a war. Netanyahu removed him, replacing him with an inept, blustering sycophant. Tony Soprano could have learnt a thing or two from Netanyahu. Power at all costs. Be ruthless. Punish dissent. Reward obedience. Power over principles. Politics over people. open image in gallery Crowds flee the Nova Festival after the arrival of Hamas terrorists in October 2023 ( Sourced ) Chief of staff Herzi Halevi also resisted the exemption law, and paid with his job. Shin Bet director Ronen Bar refused to fall in line. At the time, Bar was also investigating Netanyahus inner circle over illegal payments from Qatar. Bar didnt survive the purge. The investigation into Netanyahus advisers continues. Yuli Edelstein, chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, stubbornly refused to back the draft-dodging bill. Netanyahu replaced him with a loyalist stooge, tasked with ramming the law through the committee. When you gift the oversight of the police to a far-right extremist with multiple criminal convictions, like Ben-Gvir, dont be surprised when anarchy ensues. Crime is up. Trust is down. The force is being politicised and purged of anyone who dares question authority or act with integrity. The entire country is less safe. Extremist settlers run riot in Judea and Samaria, even attacking IDF and police, a gross assault on law and order. Yet, security services are blocked from acting. Incredibly, as war rages, while around 50 hostages still languish in Gaza, this government presses ahead with its judicial coup. It seeks to undermine the very pillars of Israeli democracy: the courts, the police, the free press. Eroding every safeguard, every limit, every check on their power. Its a government of criminals and crazies. A coalition of grifters, zealots, cowards, and sycophants. Its not serving the country. Its not serving the people. Its feeding off of them. open image in gallery Protesters demonstrate against Netanyahu's plans to expand the occupation in Gaza earlier this month ( Getty ) This war is unlike any we have known. So is the betrayal. Its a betrayal of Zionism, of Judaism, of everything Israel represents, and the incredible achievements of the past 77 years. Israelis faced 7 October and its aftermath with incredible bravery, resilience, and determination. I would love to add unity. But as it publicly promotes unity, to its shame, our government has worked tirelessly to divide and rule. One million Israelis cried out for leadership, pleading with our government to put the country and the people first. Hostages languish in Hamas dungeons. Soldiers continue to be called up to fight and die. Families are fraught. Israelis struggle with a collective trauma that will last generations. Yet still this government plays politics, as it cowers, connives, and desperately clings to power. You can find Gary Cohens Substack here There are fears the 7pc price rise from Flogas could be echoed by other energy providers, with no Government energy credits on the way for households this winter Electricity prices could be on the way up again. Stock image: Getty After falling for five months in a row, figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the cost of wholesale electricity crept up in July, in a blow to households hoping for a fall in elevated electricity prices. From Monday, 45,500 Flogas residential electricity customers will be hit by a price rise of around 10.51 a month, adding 126 to annual bills. Experts have warned that more energy companies could raise their prices. The Government has ruled out any further energy credits this winter, after the credits helped to ease the energy cost crisis for the last three years. But more than 300,000 households are still in arrears on their electricity bills. The CSO said wholesale electricity prices had risen by 4.6pc in the month to July. They were 10.3pc lower than July last year. Wholesale electricity costs have fallen by 74pc when compared with the peak which occurred in August 2022. But experts have said wholesale electricity costs remain well above where they were before Russia invaded Ukraine. Daragh Cassidy, of price comparison site Bonkers.ie, calculated that wholesale electricity prices were now just under 100 per megawatt hour (MWh). This was well above the 40 to 50 per MWh level that was normal in the years before the war in Ukraine, he said. So there wont be any fall in energy bills for households any time soon, unfortunately. Mr Cassidy said wholesale prices make up only half of the final cost of electricity for consumers. Government taxes and levies, costs for the transport of electricity into peoples homes, such as network fees, supplier operating costs and profit margin, also need to be factored in. And some of these costs are likely to increase in the near term. Rising electricity prices could put extra pressure on households this winter. Photo: Getty Mr Cassidy said that in the next week or so, the energy regulator was likely to propose another increase in network fees for the upkeep of the electricity grid. Last year, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) hiked fees which worked out at just over 100 a year per, with further increases also likely over the following years. Its up to individual suppliers to determine how they pass on any increase in grid or network fees, Mr Cassidy said. They can absorb part or all of the hike themselves, increase their prices, or reduce their prices by a lower amount than they otherwise would have. But the upward pressure on grid fees, coupled with wholesale prices which remain stubbornly high, mean the outlook isnt great for those hoping for lower energy bills. Last winter, the Government paid two energy credits to households, worth 125 each. The credits, coupled with substantial social welfare support, had helped shield customers from high energy costs, Mr Cassidy said. So this lack of support means well all be paying more for our energy this winter. As a result, its imperative that households switch supplier to ensure theyre on the cheapest tariff possible. Eoin Clarke, an energy expert at another price comparison site, Switcher.ie, said Flogas electricity customers would be hit by a 7pc price hike from Monday. Flogas blamed higher network charges approved by the regulator. Mr Clarke also warned that rising infrastructure charges could start driving up prices. The concern is that the Flogas announcement is a bellwether for the wider Irish energy market, he said. Given that network charges affect all suppliers, industry experts are anticipating similar price increases from other suppliers in the coming weeks and months. Teenage suspect still on the run two months after gentle soul James Berney was stabbed to death at his home Officers raided his house, but fear he has fled abroad James Jake Berney was stabbed at his home in Balgaddy on June 25 Ken Foy Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 06:30 A teenager who is the chief suspect for the murder of a 53-year-old man in west Dublin remains on the run almost two months after the fatal stabbing. Areej Al Zohoor was hospitalised with severe exhaustion and starvation just a day after arriving in Dublin Palestinian couple Feras Shaheen and Areej Al Zohoor were reunited In Ireland after Ms Al Zohoor was evacuated from Gaza by the Department of Foreign Affairs Feras Shaheen waited anxiously for his wife of six months to appear through the arrivals door at Dublin Airport. Areej Al Zohoor (28) had been evacuated from war-torn Gaza by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) just days before, and as she slowly emerged through the crowds, waif-like and frightened, Mr Shaheen (23) could finally allow himself to believe he had a future with her. President Michael D Higgins has said he will do his best to have the place looking alright for his successor before he moves out of Aras an Uachtarain. Asked about what he would like to see in the incoming president, he said he wont comment on the forthcoming events. All I know is that I'll do my best to have the place looking alright, he told RTE Radio Ones Second Captains Saturday this afternoon. President Michael D Higgins (Liam McBurney/PA) Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd After his great move from Aras an Uachtarain, as he described it, President Higgins (84) confirmed he will live in Rahoon, Co Galway. I know I'm hearing talks about boxes and skips and books and everything. I'm very much looking forward, I'm going to be living in Rahoon, he said. There are projects I'm continuing abroad, as well as at home, and I do think I will run a few significant things that I haven't really got to deal with that I want to put more on, and that is in relation to the elimination of violence against women. I also want to do a few more things, because all my life, I have been meeting the travellers and so forth, and I will probably do something. So there are a number of pieces that I have to finish before we go for the inauguration of my successor. Speaking about the next chapter of his life after the presidency, he is looking forward to spending time with his two grandchildren, Finn (2) and Fiadh (4). It is marvellous that Sabina and I have both been public figures all our lives. I'm very much looking forward to spending some time with our two grandchildren, he said. I've got all these books that [were] left aside to come back to, so I won't be stuck for something to do. The President also opened up about the stroke he suffered on February 29 last year, after which he spent eight days in hospital. Then I had very good treatment from the physios and from everyone, so I didn't cancel anything. So I can assure you I'm not flying up and down the steps to the same speed. I also used sticks, because the stroke was on my left side, and it is mostly all back, but my balance is risky, he added. He also spoke about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing this period as tragic. While opening the Fleadh Cheoil festival in Wexford three weeks ago, the President said: I cannot really stand in a public venue and give a public speech and speak about our language, when I see such an incredible destruction of an entire people taking place. "Are we to watch children starving? Women dehydrated trying to feed their children. So something must happen, he said at the time. "The interview I gave at the opening of the Fleadh has now [been] carried on Al Jazeera, and it has been on Iranian television and Turkish television. And I got two letters yesterday from the Institute for Arab Studies in Paris. I'm a member of a group of non-executive presidents called Arraiolos, and I resent a letter to them, [saying:] This is not a time for silence and so forth. And among the people who replied to me is President Mattarella of Italy. And he said: Would I have a go at drafting a statement?. And I had a go at it, so I'm leaving it, and I'm waiting for the response to that. The realm of unaccountability is the most dangerous threat to democracy. "The main thing is, I think, for a global reassertion of the importance of the General Assembly. And I have been outlining recently how in the charter, there is a mechanism called chapter seven, where, if a certain proportion of the General Assembly supported, even if the Security Council uses the veto to block it, the Secretary General can call for a force to be put together to guarantee humanitarian access with United Nations support. "And that's what's in the letter that I have sent to my colleagues. NEW DELHI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and three others critically injured Saturday in a collision between an autorickshaw and a truck in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, the police said. The accident took place on Daniyawan-Hilsa state highway-4 in Patna, the capital city of Bihar. "Today, a truck rammed into the autorickshaw, carrying 13 people, including the driver, that was coming from the opposite direction. Seven people were killed on the spot while three others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital," a senior police official said. "Three injured have been moved to the hospital, and their condition is stated to be critical." Officials said of the 10 deceased, nine were women and the tenth was identified as the autorickshaw driver. The autorickshaw was completely crushed due to the impact of the collision. The police suspect the accident was caused by the truck driver, as he fled from the scene after the crash. The police have registered a case and ordered an investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident. A police team has been formed to arrest the truck driver. The organisers of the Victorious Festival in the UK have apologised after The Mary Wallopers claimed they were cut off during their performance for displaying a Palestinian flag on stage. A spokesperson for the festival had initially said that the band had their set cut short for using a discriminatory chant. The band shared a video on Instagram on Saturday of their performance, claiming that the organisers statement was misleading and that a festival crew member had interfered with their show. 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 A statement read: Yesterday, a famine was declared in Gaza, where at least 65 people were killed by Israeli attacks, all the while Israel pushed ahead with plans to split the West Bank in two. These are the important facts about yesterday. We are uploading this video so everybody can see @victoriousfestival cut our gig short for having a Palestinian flag on stage. The festival have released a misleading statement to the press claiming they cut our sound because of a discriminatory chant, and not the bands call to Free Palestine. Our video clearly shows a Victorious crew member coming on stage, interfering with our show, removing the flag from the stage and then the sound being cut following a chant of Free Palestine. The same crew member is later heard in the video saying you arent playing until the flag is removed. We completely reject Victorious portrayal of todays events and request that they retract their statement immediately. We know this is getting some attention and we dont want another distraction which takes attention away from the genocide that is happening in Palestine. FREE PALESTINE. In its statement, a spokesperson for Victorious said: We spoke to the artist before the performance regarding the festivals long-standing policy of not allowing flags of any kind at the event, but that we respect their right to express their views during the show. Although a flag was displayed on stage contrary to our policy, and this was raised with the artists crew, the show was not ended at this point, and it was the artists decision to stop the song. The decision by the event management to cut the sound and end the performance was only taken after the band used a chant which is widely understood to have a discriminatory context. To be clear, we respect the right of artists to use their platform to express their views within the inclusive nature of the event and it was not the bands call to Free Palestine which resulted in this outcome. However, organisers of the festival issued an updated statement on Saturday afternoon where they said they absolutely support the right of artists to freely express their views from the stage, within the law and the inclusive nature of the event. They went on: We are sorry that this situation has come about and will be making a substantial donation to humanitarian relief efforts for the Palestinian people. 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 The festival is set to feature Vampire Weekend, The Kaiser Chiefs and Kings Of Leon over the weekend. Before the festival issued an updated statement with an apology, The Mary Wallopers received support from rap trio Kneecap, who wrote in a post on X: Speak up against genocide in England and youre treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers. Meanwhile, other Irish bands the Academic and Clifford also pulled out of the event as an initial response. The Academic released a statement online and said it wants to stand in solidarity with other Irish bands. 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 Cork band Clifford said it was not made aware of the no flag policy at the festival. 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 The Last Dinner Party also decided to boycott the event, in a statement online, it said: "We are outraged by the decision to silence The Mary Wallopers. 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 It comes after the BBC last month issued an apology for the divisive set by punk rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury in June. Theres no time, we will die: Palestinian mother in Ireland fears for son and husband in famine-hit Gaza Woman pleads for help to get relatives to safety after medical evacuation with youngest son Ibtisam has asked the Government to help evacuate her family from Gaza. Photo: Mark Condren Laura Lynott Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 23:30 A Palestinian mother now in Ireland whose husband and son remain trapped in Gaza has begged the Government here to please save them. I want to bring fun, passion and mischief to RTE says TV boss Steve Carson as door remains open to Ryan Tubridy RTEs head of video is the man shaping the future of Irish television. As the broadcaster launches its autumn schedule, he talks about the Irish Traitors, focusing on the here and now and his mission to inform, educate and entertain RTE head of video, Steve Carson, teases the debut season of Traitors John Meagher Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 06:30 In Steve Carsons early years as director of BBC Scotland, one particular television project generated unusual levels of excitement even before it was made. The mothers who felt the last rasping breaths of their children as they died hardly needed to be told starvation was stalking Gaza. Famine has officially struck the war-ravaged enclave, devoid of meaningful aid. The suffering in the teeming wards, where there is an eerie silence, is unimaginable, say overwhelmed medics. An unnatural quiet is explained by the fact that the skeletal children are too weak to cry. And if they did, those grief-stricken parents must wonder: would the world pay any heed? An Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report said 514,000 people are experiencing famine. It was Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020 and Sudan in 2024; in 2025, it is the children of Gaza paying the highest price for world indifference. UN chief Antonio Guterres has called out the failure of humanity itself. Oxfam Irelands CEO Jim Clarken said: Confirmation of famine in Gaza City is a devastating but tragically predictable milestone in a crisis that has been unfolding in plain sight. Predictably, Israels foreign ministry rejected the report, insisting there is no famine in Gaza. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the famine should haunt us all. It was entirely preventable had the UN not been thwarted in delivering food. Food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel, he said. This famine must be stopped, and the horrendous civilian deaths must end The worlds most powerful man, US president Donald Trump, told us last month that many people in Gaza were starving. It had put him at odds with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite Mr Trumps words, the US neglected to use its weight to insist on a ceasefire, or that aid should be let through Amid the suffering and despair, Mr Netanyahu has now approved plans to take control of Gaza City. Hundreds of thousands of exhausted, frail people with nowhere to flee will again come under intense bombardment. So far, an estimated 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 22-month-long war. The Guardian has published what it claims are figures from a classified Israeli military intelligence database. It said five out of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza were civilians. The figures (up to May this year) say 53,000 Palestinians were killed and 8,900 named fighters were listed as dead. It claimed 83pc of the dead were civilians. The Israeli military said the figures were incorrect. But the paper said intelligence sources claimed the military viewed this database as the only authoritative tally of militant casualties. This famine must be stopped, and the horrendous civilian deaths must end. To unleash the humiliation and degradation as the scourge of starvation seems incomprehensible. With aid so close at hand, it also makes it unforgivable. It is a war crime to use starvation as a method of warfare, the UNs Volker Turk said. Yet what use have laws if there are no consequences for breaking them? Early tests suggests massive Cork fish kill was not caused by fungal infection Anglers and representatives criticised the investigation into the fish kill at a meeting on Friday Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD, senior advisors, IFI Acting CEO Suzanne Campion, the EPA, and local IFI staff Martin Mongan Corkman Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 06:00 The progress of the investigation into the deaths of thousands of fish in the River Blackwater was criticised during a meeting between State bodies, representatives and citizens in Mallow on Friday. Former garda creates RIP.ie for pets after recognising overlooked grief of animal loss Former garda Mick Hanly from West Cork launched Rest Easy Friend after experiencing multiple pet losses and noticing the lack of digital spaces for grieving animal owners, unlike the support available for human bereavement Mick with Oatie the dog. John Bohane Corkman Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 15:01 A new website has been launched to honour and remember beloved pets with memorial profiles. John Cooley with one of the dogs in residence at the facility. Ryan Carton with Daisy, a Golden Retriever/Lab who was surrendered after her owner passed away. Ryan Carton encourages people to always look to adopt before buying a pup, confident that there will be a dog there that will suit them. Its a typical morning at the Galway Dog Pound, where the citys three dog wardens begin their daily routine. The sharp scent of the fresh linen air freshener in the empty reception area is strong and the simultaneous cacophony of barking from the back rooms is loud. One of the wardens is in the back hosing down the floors, opening and closing metal kennel latches as he finishes up the morning duties. Another pulls up outside in a Galway City Council branded van returning from a public call, while the third settles in at the front desk, powering up the computer and reviewing the days schedule. John Cooley, Tom Costello, and Adam Carton serve as Galway Citys three dog wardens. Based at the Galway Dog Pound in Ballybane, they spend their days monitoring the city and caring for pups who have yet to find their forever homes. Adam Carton is the newest member of the team, expanding the wardens responsibility capacity, allowing them to focus on priority areas, such as East and West Galway, and to manage more tasks throughout the city. Adam Carton with Daisy Most days begin like this one the standard set of chores, feeding, and cleaning. From 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the pound opens its doors to the public, allowing visitors to meet dogs available for adoption. The remainder of the day is spent responding to complaints and calls about stray or disruptive dogs. During the summer months, when beaches enforce a strict no dog policy from May to September, wardens also patrol the shoreline. Tom Costello notes that this years beach patrols have been easier than in the past, thanks to proactive campaigns and signage along the coast that clearly outline when dogs are permitted. Ryan Carton encourages people to always look to adopt before buying a pup, confident that there will be a dog there that will suit them. Galway City Council recently launched the Love Your Dog, Love Your City campaign, which promotes responsible dog ownership. The initiative aims to educate dog owners on respecting public spaces and ensuring the health and safety of all dogs enjoying walks along the Prom. MADRA will also collaborate with the city council to offer educational workshops on dog ownership in local primary schools. Pictured left to right, Fergal Cushen Environmental Awareness Officer Galway City Council, Deputy Mayor of Galway City Cllr. Alan Cheevers, Dawn Divilly MADRA, Paul Connolly Senior Executive Engineer Galway City Council Deputy Mayor Cllr Alan Cheevers said: This campaign is a fantastic reminder that loving your dog also means loving your city. Every dog owner has a role to play in keeping Galway clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone. As the saying goes, Its not your dogs fault, its yours when your dog misbehaves. By cleaning up after our pets, we protect public health, support biodiversity, and show respect for our neighbours and shared spaces. It's all part of the job A dog wardens responsibilities extend far beyond enforcement. Each of the three wardens has personal experiences that make the role rewarding. For John Cooley, it was the day he watched his longest-resident terrier leave for a loving home after nine months at the pound, completing a remarkable turnaround. When he came in, hed bite my hand off. Mr. Cooley said. You couldnt even catch him in the cell. Eventually when we were cleaning and feeding, we would drop a few treats, as Mr. Cooley gestured to dropping something at the back of his heels, and he would come closer and closer. Eventually you could rub him. The fright was gone out of him. John Cooley with one of the dogs in residence at the facility. If you came in looking for a dog, I would have handed him to you, he was that quiet. The bond between wardens and dogs is strengthened by the time spent together and the effort required to help dogs acclimate to the new environment. Mr. Cooley explained that most dogs arrive scared, either because of past experiences or simply the stress of entering the pound. Some dogs come to the pound due to unfortunate circumstances, such as the passing of family members or an inability to care for a beloved pet. Its very hard at the door sometimes. Tom Costello said. You do have to approach it like you are doing this and just keep doing it. You cant talk them out of it, and you cant say its good or bad what they are doing. Its hard when that happens. This was the case for Daisy, a lively Golden Retriever who was recently turned over to the pound when her owner had passed away. When interacting with her, Daisys excitement settles into contentment with every belly rub, a testament to the care she has received and her sweet demeanour. Daisy The wardens have all experienced the joy of dog ownership firsthand through the dogs that have passed through the pound. They speak about their own pets with the same affection and delight most owners do. Ultimately, they want prospective dog owners to make healthy, responsible decisions. A Galway City Council service Being part of the local authority, Mr Costello believes, is a major advantage. That is the best advantage of it. Anything we need, we can get. It means that effective campaigning for the well-being of pets throughout the city is strongly backed and can easily be widespread throughout. However, all three wardens face challenges stemming from outdated perceptions about the pound that have lingered for decades. The whole thing about dogs here is people dont want to give them to us because they think we will put them down. If there is anything we want to get out to the public, its that that does not happen. Dogs admitted to the pound receive vaccinations, veterinary checks, and microchips to ensure they are ready for their forever homes. Mr Cooley says these measures help rebuild public trust: Once [a dog] comes in here, it might take a week for them to come around to you, but they will. There are dogs here that dont want to go then. Adam Carton encourages people to always look to adopt before buying a pup, confident that there will be a dog there that will suit them. Education, support, and resources are available through Galway City Council and community initiatives. There are people for every dog, and a dog for every person. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Take a stroll through the streets of Galway city and you will no doubt come across random splashes of colour, in public places normally reserved for the bland and the grey. This is the work of Margaret Nolan, the talented artist who moved west from Dublin in the 1980s and has, in recent years, been painting the city's electrical boxes, transforming the dull and grey into vibrant artistic creations full of vibrancy and colour. Meath man who escorted this years winning Rose of Tralee hails the festivals role in promoting Irish tourism From watching the festival as a child in rural Meath to escorting the 2025 Rose of Tralee winner, Tommy Meade describes his experience as 'a bit of a dream come true' Meath escort Tommy Meade jiving on stage with Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins. Photo: Domnick Walsh Louise Hickey Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 07:00 For Meath man Tommy Meade, taking part in this years Rose of Tralee was a bit of a dream come true, as he got stuck in during boot camp and made friends for life. All other aspects of the service were deemed to be compliant with regulations while residents reported that they were happy and felt safe at the service The training and development of staff at a Kerry residential service for adults with intellectual disabilities was judged to be substantially compliant with regulations after an inspection. St John of God Residential Community Services in Tralee was reviewed by an inspector from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) on April 30. The HIQA inspector, Robert Hennessey, reported that the service was compliant with all regulations, and judged its training and staff development to be substantially compliant. Mr Hennessey reported that the service provider, St John of God Community Services CLG, had ensured there were effective systems in place for the training and development of staff members. The inspector said the person in charge maintained a training matrix to monitor the training needs of staff. Good oversight was being maintained for most staff working in the centre, he said. Mr Hennessey noted that evidence of up to date training in fire safety and safeguarding for agency staff being used in the centre was not available on the day. The service provider was ordered to ensure that the staff have access to appropriate training, including refresher training. These staff members were provided with training updates and refresher training in the week following the inspection, Mr Hennessey reported. The inspector also reported that information required by regulations such as the Health Act, and guidance from State and professional bodies, was available to service staff, which also provided a supervision schedule. The inspector judged all seven other aspects contributing to the capacity and capability of the service, including staffing and notification of incidents, to be compliant with regulations. All eight aspects of the quality and safety of the service, including the premises in use and residents rights, were judged to be compliant. The residential service is comprised of two semi-detached houses, one of which is divided into two apartments, two detached houses and an apartment located behind one of the detached properties. Three of the houses are located in one housing estate and another is located in a different development on the outskirts of Tralee. The service was accommodating its maximum capacity of 11 residents on the day of the HIQA inspection. Some of the residents, both male and female, stay in the services centres seven nights a week while others stay in the centre four nights a week. Each resident has their own bedroom and other rooms in the centre include bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, dining areas, and utility rooms. Residents are supported by the person in charge, social care workers, health care assistants and nursing staff. The inspector met with four of the residents. The residents that met the inspector appeared relaxed and content in the centre. Staff were very respectful with the residents and also interacted with them in a jovial manner. Residents spoke highly of the staff support they received. Family members of the residents also spoke highly of the staff team, the HIQA report stated. Residents completed surveys ahead of the inspection, which indicated that they were happy with their living arrangements and felt safe in the centre. Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe is arrested in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Aug. 22, 2025. Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua) COLOMBO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. Wickremesinghe was arrested for charges of misusing state funds to visit London to attend a graduation ceremony of his wife, during his tenure as president in September 2023, according to local media. It is the first time a former executive president has been arrested in Sri Lanka's history, and he has been brought to the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court following his arrest, according to local media. As part of the investigations, the CID had previously recorded statements from the former president's private secretary and his presidential secretary. Wickremesinghe arrived at the CID to provide a statement on Friday morning, and he was taken into custody following the recording of the statement, said media reports. File photo taken on Sept. 21, 2024 shows Ranil Wickremesinghe (Front) leaving a polling station after casting his vote for the presidential election 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Aug. 22, 2025 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. (Xinhua/Wu Yue) It hasnt always been open hostility, but there have been moments Spanish woman feels tension towards foreigners is increasing Marie has lived in Kerry for more than 20 years but is noticing rising tension towards non-Irish people. Marie Recio enjoying the lakes near Annascaul in County Kerry. Stephen Fernane Kerryman Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 08:00 A Spanish national living in Kerry for over 20 years has said she is noticing a concerning change in attitude towards foreigners within the county in recent years. Niamh Gilmartin collecting her Leaving Certificate results from the Ursuline College, Sligo. She is pictured with Principal Colm McIntyre and her father Gabriel Gilmartin. The new Rose of Tralee has been held up as an example of how passion and practical skills can lead to success by Minister of State Marian Harkin as she invited Leaving Certificate students to explore their options after receiving their results on Friday. The Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science said the new Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins, an apprentice electrician from Laois, was a powerful example of how passion and practical skills can pave the way to success. Her achievement shows that apprenticeships are an exciting and empowering option for todays students. This is a timely message for the thousands of young people who received their Leaving Certificate results today." Congratulating all Leaving Cert students who received their results, the Minister encouraged all students to explore their options. For some students, university will be the choice they make, and that is great, but there are many other pathways. With 77 different apprenticeship courses available, students can go directly into employment and upskill on the job. Others may consider Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses, widely available in local Education and Training Boards (ETBs) nationwide. In recent months I have visited ETBs across the country and witnessed the innovation, talent and opportunity within the Further Education and Training (FET) sector. From beauty therapy and music production to robotics, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and climate-related skills learners can explore a vast array of options. The Minister points out that the 16 ETBs have centres in every county offer a wide choice of accessible and flexible programmes. Whether in Sligo, Cork, Galway, Dublin, Wexford or Donegal, there is a local hub of opportunity available. She particularly referred to apprenticeships and Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses. Apprenticeships have been transformed. Traditional trades such as electrical, plumbing and carpentry remain vital, but there are also opportunities in finance, ICT, biopharma, hospitality and engineering. Learners can earn while they learn, achieving qualifications up to PhD level. Employers are actively recruiting, and the career prospects are excellent. PLC courses remain a vital launchpad, combining practical learning with structured work placements. They cover areas such as business, healthcare, IT, creative arts, science, childcare and tourism. Importantly, places are reserved for PLC graduates in universities and technological universities, offering an excellent route into higher education. As Minister of State with responsibility for Further Education, Apprenticeships, Construction and Climate Skills, my message is clear: look at all the options before you. Our ETBs, apprenticeships and PLC programmes provide choice, flexibility and opportunity. The possibilities are limitlessjust look at the Rose of Tralee. A play that was co-produced by Brays Mermaid Arts Centre has received not only universal acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival but an award for outstanding new writing at the prestigious event. Lost Lear, co-produced by Mermaid Arts Centre and Riverbank Arts Centre, in Newbridge, County Kildare was announced as one of the recipients of the Fringe First Award, by The Scotsman newspaper, which is tasked with the honour every year at the festival. The Fringe Firsts recognise outstanding new writing premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe, across theatre, dance, physical theatre, musicals and opera. Awards are announced by The Scotsman every Friday of the festival, with the first five announced on August 8, with Lost Lear announced on week two. Edinburgh festival editor for The Scotsman, Andrew Eaton-Lewis, said: The Fringe Firsts were set up at a time when there was very little new theatre work being premiered in Edinburgh in August. Allen Wright, the Scotsmans arts editor at the time, wanted to encourage more companies to bring new work to the festival, and so he founded an award that would recognise and encourage outstanding new writing. Since then, the Fringe Firsts have helped to launch countless numbers of careers. Lost Lear, written by theatremaker Dan Colley and his company, is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear, in which actress Venetia Bowe plays Joy, a retired thespian, now a resident living with dementia in a care home, and whose memory has faded in every respect apart from a word-perfect recall of the play. The staff in the home go along with it, playing the parts of some of the central characters. Joys delicately maintained reality is upended by the arrival of her estranged son who must find a way to speak his piece from within the limited role hes given. Culture Minister Patrick ODonovan congratulated Dan and the Lost Lear Company on the First Fringe Award, calling it a brilliant achievement. I send my sincere and warmest congratulations to Dan, Matt [producer] and the entire Lost Lear company on their Fringe First. This is not just a brilliant achievement for all involved in this moving theatrical story but also an acknowledgement of the strength of Irish work being supported by Culture Ireland this year as part of its Showcase. Dan, who was inspired by the story of his grandmother, who lived with dementia for 10 years, remarked: We are thrilled with our Fringe First. This recognition and the inclusion in the Culture Ireland Showcase will undoubtedly continue to open more doors for our international touring. For that, we are doubly grateful. The Housing Minister James Browne has been strongly criticised over the collapse of a planned social housing development in Blessington. The project, which was due to deliver 106 new units as part of a Private Public Partnership Scheme bundle, was pulled at the last minute earlier this summer, leaving families with little clarity from government on what happens next. Speaking on the issue Sinn Fein TD for Wicklow John Brady claimed Deputy Browne is hiding behind legal proceedings to avoid explaining why this project collapsed and what the future is for these homes. The people of Blessington and Wicklow deserve answers. Nearly 4,500 people are on the social housing waiting list in this county, they cannot be left in the dark. The Wicklow TD said the ministers decision to pull the plug at such a late stage was guaranteed to end in legal disputes. The decision to cancel this development at the eleventh hour was bound to lead to legal action. Staff had already been hired and site works had commenced. To walk away at that stage was to render the project essentially unviable. This fiasco is a direct result of the Ministers failure to address the warning signs before this point. Brady also highlighted the long-opposed stance by his party of the use of public private partnerships for housing, warning that they are costly and inefficient. We have always said PPPs are an overly expensive and inefficient way to deliver social housing. This collapse proves that point. Instead of delivering for families in Wicklow, the government has tied the project up in legal disputes while refusing to say how or when the 106 homes will now be delivered. Legal proceedings are slow to resolve and will leave these desperately needed homes now in limbo. As recently as July 1, Minister Browne had assured Deputy Brady that these homes would still go ahead through alternative procurement and delivery strategies. Since then, there has been no update on the situation. Brady said the government needs to provide more information on the status of the Blessington homes. There is now a complete shroud of secrecy surrounding this project. The government has put its head in the sand, refusing to inform the public about the future of these homes. Families in Blessington and across Wicklow are desperate for social housing, but instead of action all they are getting is silence. Minister Browne must urgently clarify how and when these 106 homes will be delivered. he added. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme The study looked at the effects of hydration on stress hormones. Photo: Alamy/PA People who do not drink enough water have a stronger biological response to stress, according to a study. Researchers found those who habitually drink less release greater levels of the stress hormone cortisol, despite not feeling any thirstier than people who drink more. Keeping a water bottle nearby during stressful periods could be beneficial for long-term health, researchers suggest. The study, led by experts at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), included 16 people who drank under 1.5 litres of water a day, along with 16 people who regularly met daily recommended guidelines for fluid intake. Researchers used the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidelines, which recommend men should drink 2.5 litres of water a day while women should drink two litres. In the UK, the Eatwell Guide suggests adults should drink between six and eight cups of fluid a day, which is roughly 1.5 to two litres. Researchers monitored hydration in both groups over seven days using urine and blood samples However, people may need to drink more when it is hot, if they are very active, if they are recovering from an illness, or if they are pregnant or breastfeeding. Researchers monitored hydration in both groups over seven days using urine and blood samples, after which they were invited into the lab for a stress test. The test involved an impromptu job interview, for which each individual was given 10 minutes to prepare for. After that time, they were invited into another room where a fake camera was set up and asked to do the interview to a panel of three people dressed in white coats. Following the fake interview, individuals were then asked to do a mental arithmetic challenge which involved subtracting numbers as fast as they can. People who have a low daily fluid intake are likely to be poorly hydrated Professor Neil Walsh, of the LJMU School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, described the test as really flustering. He told the PA news agency: We know that people who have a low daily fluid intake, who dont meet the recommendations, are likely to be poorly hydrated. But what we didnt know was whether, when you then stress those people under controlled conditions, they would have a greater stress hormone response. Researchers collected saliva samples from the group before and after the stress test to measure cortisol levels. Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress. The president of the regions teachers union referred to the teachers conduct as abysmal behaviour A German teacher who called in sick for 16 consecutive years has sued her employer after they asked to see some proof that she was ill. The teacher, whose identity has not been revealed because of German privacy laws, first went on sick leave in 2009 for undisclosed mental health issues. Over the next 16 years, the teacher repeatedly extended her leave of absence while receiving a full salary from the education authority of North Rhine-Westphalia, a west German state. According to German media reports, state authorities began to question her prolonged absence and asked the teacher to undergo a medical exam. The teacher refused and filed a legal challenge against her employer that argued that the request was unreasonable, according to court papers filed at the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia. The judges have dismissed the appeal and the teacher must now agree to a medical exam to confirm her illness if she wishes to continue with sick leave. She must also pay court fees of 2,500. The highly unusual case, which has become public only as a result of the teacher taking legal action against her employer, has outraged the states teachers union. This behaviour is a slap in the face to my colleagues. Ive never experienced anything like this in my entire professional career. It is completely abysmal behaviour, Andreas Bartsch, the president of the North Rhine-Westphalia teachers union, which has 30,000 members, told Bild tabloid. He said that the teachers conduct was particularly egregious as German employment law would have banned her school from finding a replacement for her, with other colleagues taking on the workload. The school principal, in general, cannot fill the position of a teacher on sick leave with a full-time position. This means that the missed work falls to the teachers, he said. As teachers in many German states are classified as Beamte (civil servants), they are entitled to generous benefits packages, including the right to receive a full salary indefinitely on sick leave. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday Russia was doing everything it could to stop a meeting between him and Vladimir Putin from taking place, while Russias foreign minister said the agenda for such a summit was not ready. The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly called for Putin to meet him, saying it is the only way to negotiate an end to Russias war in Ukraine. US president Donald Trump, who has vowed to end what he calls the bloodbath in Ukraine, said he had begun the arrangements for a Putin-Zelensky meeting after a call with the Russian leader on Monday. But Mr Zelensky accused Russia of stalling. The Russians are doing everything they can to prevent the meeting from taking place, he said yesterday at a press conference in Kyiv with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. The meeting is one of the components of how to end the war. And since they dont want to end it, they will look for space to [avoid it], he added. Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told NBC in an interview yesterday that there is no agenda for such a summit. Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit. And this agenda is not ready at all, he said. The statement echoed Moscows established rhetoric about a leaders meeting being impossible unless certain conditions were met. Russia's president Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia on Friday. Photo: Reuters Asked for his response to Mr Lavrovs comments and what the next steps are, Mr Trump told reporters: Well, well see. Were going to see if Putin and Zelensky will be working together. Its like oil and vinegar a little bit. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Russia launched in 2022. Analysts estimate that more than a million soldiers on both sides have been killed or wounded and fighting is continuing unabated, with both sides also attacking energy facilities. Russia has maintained its long-standing demand for Ukraine to give up land it still holds in two eastern regions while proposing to freeze the front line in two more southerly regions Moscow claims fully as its own and possibly hand back small pieces of other Ukrainian territory it controls. Mr Zelensky meanwhile has dropped his demand for a lengthy ceasefire as a prerequisite for the leaders meeting, even though he has previously said Ukraine cannot negotiate under the barrel of a gun. Yesterday, he called on his countrys allies to pressure Russia into at least a minimally productive position, including by applying fresh sanctions if Russia showed no interest in moving towards peace. Speaking at the press conference with Mr Rutte, Mr Zelensky said they had discussed security guarantees for Ukraine by other states. He said the guarantees ought to be similar to Natos Article 5, which considers an attack on one member of the alliance as an attack against all. This is the beginning of a big undertaking, and it is not easy, because guarantees consist of what our partners can give Ukraine, as well as what the Ukrainian army should be like, and where we can find opportunities for the army to maintain its strength, Mr Zelensky said. Mr Rutte said Nato allies and Ukraine are working together to make sure security guarantees are at such a robust level that Russia will never try to attack again. Robust security guarantees will be essential, and this is what we are now working on to define, he said. On Thursday, military chiefs from the US and a number of European countries presented options to their national security advisers for providing security guarantees to Ukraine, officials said. Mr Zelenskys chief of staff Andriy Yermak told Ukrainian television yesterday that Kyiv expects to see the first drafts of the security guarantees proposals next week. Mr Zelensky added yesterday that Turkey has said it wants to be part of Ukraines security guarantees, with responsibility for maritime security. When asked whether Turkey could consider sending a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine as part of security guarantees, a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday that a ceasefire should be secured before such decisions were finalised. President Tayyip Erdogans office did not immediately respond to a written request for comment on Zelenskys remark. Estonia is ready to participate in the peacekeeping operation in Ukraine with a force of up to one company, the Baltic countrys prime minister Kristen Michal said at a press conference with his Finnish counterpart in Tallinn yesterday. Mr Michal did not say how many troops this could entail. French president Emmanuel Macron and UK prime minister Keir Starmer have both spoken in favour of troop deployments in a post-war settlement as part of Ukraines coalition of the willing, with German chancellor Friedrich Merz also signalling openness to German participation. Former national security adviser John Bolton has been critical of Mr Trump. Photo: Logan Cyrus FBI agents work outside the home of John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Trump, August 22, 2025 in Bethesda, Maryland. Photo: Getty FBI agents searched the home of John Bolton, a former adviser to US president Donald Trump turned persistent critic, yesterday in what a source familiar with the matter said was part of a national security probe. The investigation is focused on the potential criminal release of classified information, the source added. An FBI spokesperson confirmed court authorised activity in the area of Mr Boltons home in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland. An FBI spokesperson has also confirmed law enforcement activity at Mr Boltons Washington DC office. Mr Trump has long complained that the justice department was wrongly used against him Mr Bolton, who served as the US ambassador to the United Nations and as the White House national security adviser during Mr Trumps first term in office, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNN reported he said he was unaware of the law enforcement activity and was looking into it further. Mr Bolton has called Mr Trump unfit for office. The search marks the latest instance of the Trump administration moving to wield the levers of government power against Mr Trumps perceived enemies since taking office in January. Mr Trump has long complained that the justice department was wrongly used against him during his four years out of office, when he faced two federal criminal prosecutions for attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat and for retaining classified documents after leaving the White House. Former national security adviser John Bolton has been critical of Mr Trump. Photo: Logan Cyrus The special counsel behind those cases dropped them after Mr Trumps election, citing justice department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Mr Trump vowed during his presidential campaign to use the criminal justice system against his rivals, and since returning to power his administration has arrested the Democratic mayor of a New Jersey city, filed criminal charges against a Democratic US representative and started federal investigations into a Democratic US senator, a Democratic state attorney general and just this week a governor of the Federal Reserve. Hes a real sort of a low life. He could be a very unpatriotic guy When asked about the raid, Mr Trump said yesterday: No, I dont know about it. I saw it on television this morning. Im not a fan of John Bolton. Hes a real sort of a low life. He could be a very unpatriotic guy. Were going to find out. FBI agents began searching the house at 7am as part of a probe ordered by FBI director Kash Patel, according to the New York Post. An investigation does not necessarily lead to criminal charges. No one is above the law @FBI agents on mission, Mr Patel wrote, without mentioning Mr Bolton, in an X post shortly after 7am. Reuters video footage from the scene showed multiple people in FBI jackets walking in and out the front door of the home. The justice department during Mr Trumps first term sued Mr Bolton and started a criminal probe into him over allegations his 2020 book, The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, contained classified information. The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday (August 22) dismissed rumours of fertiliser shortage in the state and shared the availability report for soil nutrients. This comes amid reports of fertiliser shortage in certain parts of UP, something the opposition used to target the Yogi Adityanath-led government. UP government shares soil nutrients availability report The UP government has assured citizens that there is no scarcity of fertiliser in the state and emphasised that steps have been taken to ensure the welfare of farmers. CM Yogi Adityanath. | Credit: UP Government According to the agriculture department, the state has access to 5.95 lakh metric tonnes of urea, 3.91 lakh metric tonnes of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), and 3.01 lakh metric tonnes of NPK (Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium). This essentially means that farmers will have access to an adequate stock during the Kharif season, The authorities also highlighted that they are monitoring the situation and are committed to ensuring proper distribution. Subsidies are a game-changer for farmers, says government The statement issued by the government authorities also pointed out that the government has provided subsidiaries to enhance the availability of fertilisers. The actual price of urea is Rs 2,174 per bag, but due to subsidy, it is being made available to farmers at only Rs 266.50. Due to the timely availability of fertilisers, seeds, and irrigation facilities, the state's food grain production has risen to 737 lakh metric tonnes, read the statement. The statement also clarified that vigilance has been increased in border districts to prevent smuggling. Moreover, steps are also being taken against hoarders to ensure the comfort of farmers. The cosmos were shaken once again when Kim Cattrall, the eternal Samantha Jones, sent fans into a frenzy without even uttering a word. All it took was a single Instagram like. A fan had boldly declared that it was Sam, not Carrie, who carried the entire Sex and the City universe on her Manolo-clad shoulders. And yes, Cattrall cosigned. Drama begins as Kim Cattrall likes a shady AJLT post amid finale | Credit: Jio Hotstar Samantha Jones is still the real main character Cattrall, who largely stayed away from And Just Like That save for a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo in Season 2, has long been the fandoms favourite. Her nod to the comment only reignited the whispers about her alleged feud with Sarah Jessica Parker and the rest of the Manhattan girl gang. Drama begins as Kim Cattrall likes a shady AJLT post amid finale | Credit: Jio Hotstar Writers vs. the internet: The toilet scene backlash of the show And Just Like That While Cattrall was subtly sipping her cosmopolitan, And Just Like That writers were fending off flames. The finale featured a now-infamous bathroom sequence that revolted audiences. Some fans admitted they felt sick, while others accused the showrunners of trolling long-time viewers with a literal toilet send-off. Drama begins as Kim Cattrall likes a shady AJLT post amid finale | Credit: Jio Hotstar Writer Julie Rottenberg brushed off the outrage, saying the uproar proved people did not want to say goodbye to Carrie. She argued that strong reactions, even negative ones, meant the finale struck a chord. Fellow writer Elisa Zuritsky added that while doomscrolling exposes her to harsh critiques, she still meets plenty of viewers in real life who adore the shows return and could not care less about online drama. And Just Like That | Credit: Jio+ Hotstar Sarah Jessica Parker shrugs it off Meanwhile, Sarah Jessica Parker, forever Carrie Bradshaw, had a much blunter take. She told the New York Times that she genuinely does not care about the backlash. For her, the shows enormous success and meaningful audience connections outweighed the noise of disappointed fans. Drama begins as Kim Cattrall likes a shady AJLT post amid finale | Credit: Jio Hotstar Is Mr Big happy after the shutdown? Adding fuel to the drama, Chris Noth, who played the late Mr. Big, was the only original castmate to publicly wish Cattrall a happy birthday this week. He simply commented, Happy Birthday Kim! on her post, a move that fans read as a subtle declaration of allegiance in the long-rumoured Parker-Cattrall feud. Drama begins as Kim Cattrall likes a shady AJLT post amid finale | Credit: Jio Hotstar Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to be the Chief Guest at the Vimukt Jati Diwas celebrations which will be held in Lucknow on August 31. The grand event, slated to take place at the Bhagidari Bhavan, aims to bring the Vimukt Jati a historically marginalised community into the mainstream. Yogi Adityanath to attend Vimukt Jati Diwas celebrations, details inside Yogi Adityanath will serve as the Chief Guest at the special event on the occasion of Vimukt Jati Diwas on August 31. Several members of the community from across the state will be participating in the function, which is set to serve as a reminder of social inclusion and empowerment. Yogi Adityanath. Credit: UP Government Speaking about the initiative, Minister of State for Social Welfare (Independent Charge) Aseem Arun revealed that the government in Uttar Pradesh will strive to give the communities respect and a new identity on this special occasion. He also confirmed that the Yogi government is in the process of implementing several schemes in fields such as education, health, and employment to ensure the upliftment of the community. He also recalled that on August 31, 1952, the Government of India abolished the draconian Criminal Tribes Act, a colonial-era law that had unfairly deprived certain communities of their basic rights by branding them as criminals. Yogi government keen to mainstream the Vikmukt Jati Elaborating on the steps taken by the Uttar Pradesh government to make the community self-reliant, Aseem Arun said that the state machinery has made inclusive development of the Vimuki Jati its priority and allotted land on lease. He also pointed out that the social welfare department has constantly been striving to raise the communitys standard of living through extensive housing schemes and the expansion of health facilities. Moreover, efforts have been made to create more employment opportunities for them. He added that through these initiatives, the Yogi government hopes to include the Vimukt Jati into the mainstream and help their children secure a better future. Lyle Menendez, one-half of the infamous Menendez brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, has once again been denied parole. The decision came just a day after his younger brother Erik faced the same outcome, leaving both men behind bars more than three decades later. Despite positive steps in prison, including education and mentoring other inmates, parole commissioners cited ongoing concerns about Lyles behaviour and history of deception. The case, which shocked America with its blend of wealth, abuse allegations, and violence, continues to draw public attention as the brothers fight for freedom. Lyle Menendez's parole denied after 10-hour long hearing On Friday, August 22, 2025, Lyle Menendez faced a parole board for more than 10 hours. Despite acknowledging his remorse and decades of personal growth in prison, the board ultimately denied his request for release. Lyle Menendez faced a parole board for more than 10 hours (Credits: X/@MenendezLegacy) Commissioners pointed to his past deception, ongoing struggles with rule-breaking, and even recent violations involving illicit cell phone use in prison. While the panel recognised his contributions to fellow inmates, they concluded he still poses a risk to society if freed. Erik Menendez was denied parole a day before Lyle Menendezs rejection Just a day before Lyles hearing, his younger brother Erik was also denied parole after a separate review. Both men must now wait at least three years before another opportunity, though the timeline could shorten with good behaviour. Just a day before Lyles hearing, his younger brother Erik was also denied parole (Credits: X/@LiZaOutlives) Together, the denials mark a major setback for their supporters, who had hoped recent court wins and public advocacy might finally open the door to freedom. Who is Lyle Menendez? Born in 1968, Lyle Menendez grew up in Beverly Hills under the strict rule of his wealthy parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Alongside his brother Erik, he lived a privileged lifestyle, but later claimed he endured years of emotional and sexual abuse from his father. Lyle Menendez grew up in Beverly Hills under the strict rule of his wealthy parents (Credits: X/@IamHeartbreak_) In 1989, the brothers fatally shot their parents inside their mansion, sparking one of the most sensational murder trials of the late 20th century. Prosecutors portrayed them as greedy heirs, while the defence argued they acted out of desperation and fear. What comes next for the Menendez brothers? The brothers legal fight is far from over. Their attorneys are pushing for clemency from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who faces pressure as the high-profile case gains renewed media attention, especially after Netflix dramatised their story. If Erik gets turned down for parole Im going to let them know that I want to be turned down too. Because even if I get parole, I am not going to leave here without him. - Lyle Menendez#JusticeForErikAndLyle #FreeTheMenendezBrothers pic.twitter.com/PGT7GPFcps Lea (1D's version) Justice for Lyle & Erik (@onedworldnation) August 22, 2025 These two ARE NOT A DANGER to society - their parents were, sexually abusing their own children. Unimaginable. Erik and Lyle Menendez both deserve freedom. They served enough time for something the parents were guilty of. FREE THEM. pic.twitter.com/zT7sBmTdiM Ron NYC (@JusticeforLNM) August 22, 2025 A judge is also considering whether newly presented evidence of alleged childhood abuse could justify a new trial. For now, though, both Lyle and Erik Menendez remain in prison, their hopes for release delayed once again. The set of Netflix's Emily in Paris turned into a scene of tragedy in Venice when assistant director Diego Borella, suddenly collapsed and died while preparing the show's climactic final scene. What was meant to be a glittering close to the fifth season at the iconic Hotel Danieli ended in shock and devastation as stunned cast and crew watched the collapse unfold before their eyes. Emily in Paris assistant director Diego Borella dies at 47 Days after Netflix released the date for the highly-anticipated forthcoming season if Lily Collins and Ashley Park starter show, the passing away of Diego Borella has left fans devastated. 47 year old Diego Borella passed away in Venice. Credit: Instagram|diego___borella After his tragic collapse during the filming, medics raced to the location around 7 PM, fighting desperately to revive the 47 year old, but their efforts failed. Borella's untimely death has plunged the production into mourning and brought filming to a heartbreaking halt. Who was Diego Borella? Borella, 47, was not only a respected Venetian professional but also a creative force who left his mark both in Italy and abroad. Trained in Rome, London, and New York, he built a solid reputation as a skilled assistant director, admired by colleagues for his dedication and craft. His talents extended beyond the screen - he also published fairy tales and childrens stories, revealing a softer, imaginative side that highlighted his artistic range. A look at his Instagram page reveals the man behind the career: a private individual who values travel, art, and culture. Borella was reserved about his personal life yet genuinely curious about the world, and he brought a calm refinement to both his profession and his passions. Netflix halts Emily in Paris filming after tragedy Production on Emily in Paris season 5 has now been suspended following Borella's death. The shoot, which began on August 15, was originally set to wrap by August 25. However, with this unexpected tragedy, the filming schedules remain uncertain as the team mourns their colleague's passing. Netflix halts Emily in Paris filming after tragedy. Credit: Instagram|diego___borella What to expect from Emily in Paris season 5 Despite the pause in production, Netflix still plans to premiere season 5 of Emily in Paris on December 18. This season follows Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins, working at Agence Grateau in Rome. Fans have already seen behind-the-scenes shots of Lily riding a scooter and filming at the Fendi store in the Italian capital. The storyline builds on season 4's cliffhanger, where Emily fell for Italian heartthrob Marcello, played by Eugenio Franceschini. The expansion of the series into Italy was a key development, adding a new romantic and cultural twist to the shows Parisian origins. Cast shake-ups: Camille Razat exits The upcoming season also comes with changes in the cast. Camille Razat, who played Emily's friend-turned-rival Camille, announced her departure from the series earlier this year. The French actress, 31, shared an emotional farewell on Instagram, posting a carousel of images from her time on set, confirming that season 4 was her last. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. 55th Chicano Moratorium Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM - 3:00 PM Event Type: Other Organizer/Author: CSO San Jose Location Details: Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose Join us as we commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium! On August 29th, 1970 - 30,000 Chicanes marched against the war in Vietnam to demand an end to the war and the disproportionate deaths of Chicanos abroad as well as equality and social justice at home! We will march and rally starting at Mexican Heritage Plaza > Story/King Rd followed by an educational by veteran Chicano activist and co-founder of the Brown Berets, Carlos Montes at Amigos de Guadalupe Center - 1897 Alum Rock Ave #35, San Jose,CA On the 55th commemoration of the Chicano Moratorium, we demand End to the Deportations, ICE out of San Jose and end to the genocide in Palestine. Our struggle to protect our Chicano communities, putting end to war and for equality and social justice continues! WE DEMAND ICE OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES END TO THE DEPORTATIONS END TO THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE LEGALIZATION FOR ALL FREE ULISES FREE THEM ALL Dozensof animal remains have been discovered at an illegal pet burial sitein a public park in Athens, prompting a police investigation and aseparate internal inquiry into whether municipal employees wereinvolved, officials have said. Thediscovery was made in Alsos Chorofylakis park after the city receivedcomplaints from residents. The burials have reportedly been takingplace since 2021 near the city's municipal veterinary clinic. TheDeputy Mayor for Urban Fauna and Animal Welfare, Olga Dourou, said amunicipal team inspected the site and found the remains. "Thepolice were immediately called, the area was sealed off, and I fileda complaint against those responsible, she said. Ms.Dourou stressed that the unauthorized burials pose a public healthrisk, as the park is a recreational space frequented by children. Thecity has launched an internal investigation to determine how theburials were carried out. Theaffected sections of the park have been cordoned off. iefimerida.gr Policeon the Greek island of Rhodes are searching for a group of six peoplewho allegedly assaulted two tourists and robbed one of them outside abar in the popular resort town of Faliraki. Accordingto police, a 25-year-old Swiss man was punched and kicked before theassailants stole his bag, which contained cash, a mobile phone, andbank and cryptocurrency cards. Themans 25-year-old Austrian friend was also struck during the attackbut was not robbed. Authoritieshave opened an investigation for robbery against the six unknownsuspects. Theincident has added to concerns about tourist safety in busy resortareas during the peak season. iefimerida.gr Analysts believe that only a mix of policies can turn the looming shortage into an opportunity. Greece is heading toward one of the most serious labor market challenges in its modern history. A European study warns that by 2035 the country will need more than two million workers to replace those retiring and to sustain new jobs created by economic growth. The looming shortfall is not only numerical: almost 650,000 of the future positions will require high levels of expertise, particularly in new technologies. For a society that is aging rapidly, the scale of the challenge is daunting. Policymakers and businesses alike will be forced to address how to attract Greeks living abroad with advanced skills, while at the same time retaining talented professionals already in the country. Experts caution that without decisive action, labor shortages could intensify, threatening economic momentum just as Greece seeks to consolidate its post-crisis recovery. Although official statistics show unemployment has dropped significantly in recent years, employers across nearly every sector report difficulties in finding staff. Analysts point out that this is not a temporary or cyclical problem but a structural one, reflecting deep mismatches in skills, demographic pressures, and the emigration of young, educated Greeks during the financial crisis. Businesses estimate that actual labor needs may already be far higher than official figures suggest. The most acute pressure will be felt in high-skilled professions. Between 2025 and 2035, Greece will require hundreds of thousands of specialists in fields linked to digital transformation, including data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence ethics, software development, and automation. These roles, with their high added value, could command attractive salaries and career prospects while boosting the competitiveness of Greek companies. At the same time, demand will remain strong in more traditional sectors: personal services, healthcare, teaching, and care work are expected to generate hundreds of thousands of additional positions. Analysts believe that only a mix of policies can turn the looming shortage into an opportunity: greater participation of women and older workers, targeted recruitment from outside the European Union, integration of migrants, and incentives for highly skilled expatriates to return. #GREECE #WORK A former House of Representatives candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Austin Okai, has described Labour Partys Peter Obi as the most significant threat to President Bola Tinubus chances of securing re-election in 2027. Okai stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) views Obi as the primary challenger because of his growing popularity and consistent political activities, particularly in northern Nigeria. The major threat to APC today is Obi because they know that Jonathan may not contest. Some people see him to be weak, some people see him not to be a desperate person, Okai told Daily Post. Advertisement READ More : FCT Police Arrest Two Suspected Kidnap Kingpins, Recover N7.4m, Weapons He noted that while other political figures like former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde remain relevant, Obis rising acceptability in the North places him ahead of the pack. Obi is ahead; every week he is in one activity or the other, and the rate of acceptability he is getting in the North is increasing, he added. Despite Obis momentum, Okai acknowledged President Tinubus strategic appointments and political maneuvers, which have strengthened APCs control in key states. But Tinubu too has been able to play some games. Today it will be difficult to take Plateau, Southern Kaduna, some of those swing states their key men are being appointed, he explained. The PDP stalwart further highlighted internal challenges within the opposition, citing the example of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri. Governor Fintiri not working for Atiku in Adamawa a sitting governor is very powerful, he said, stressing that a fragmented opposition would only strengthen Tinubus position. We cant defeat Tinubu with divided opposition, take it to the bank because incumbency alone is 40 percent of the votes, Okai warned. According to him, incumbency guarantees a sitting president a substantial portion of votes due to established party structures, financial influence, and control of state institutions. Addressing calls for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside, Okai argued that such demands prove Atiku remains a formidable force. If they say Atiku shouldnt contest, that means somebody is afraid of him and that means he is a threat. Why will people say he should not contest? Are you funding him? The major threat will be Peter Obi if Jonathan is not contesting, he emphasized. Okai also dismissed the possibility of Obi running as a vice-presidential candidate, warning that the move would not sit well with southern voters. The South will not vote for him because the Southern region wants the presidency, not running mate, he insisted. He equally criticized Obis proposal of a single-term presidency, describing it as unrealistic and unenforceable. Such agreements can be disregarded once in power, as we saw with former President Jonathan, Okai remarked. Nigerian actor, Gabriel Afolayan, has stressed the importance of criticism in helping Nollywood grow stronger. In an interview with Saturday Beats, the actor explained, Criticism is needed. How do we get better if people are not ready to talk about what we are doing? Both the audience and filmmakers have to come together. Speaking on whether Nollywood is prepared for action-packed films, Afolayan said the industry is ready to take on any genre. Advertisement READ MORE: Nollywood Used To Be Passion-Driven, Now Its Cosmetic-Obsessed Bimbo Akintola He noted, Nollywood is ready for everything. Trust me, we just need to keep serving. You dont know how intelligent people are until you create something that will blow their minds. Even if you believe youve made a great film, until an audience watches it and decides whether its good or not, nothing else really matters. I feel our audience is ready for everything we have to give them. Afolayan further praised the intelligence and analytical skills of Nigerian viewers, regardless of their backgrounds. According to him, The taste buds of Nigerians when it comes to different movie genres are very sharp. You see people in the medical field analysing films as if they were part of the production. Ordinary people dissect movies, and youll be amazed. You know why? Because we make these films for them. A film doesnt belong to the filmmaker; they are just instruments the universe uses to put it together. And because they love the film, theyll put money in your pocket as a filmmaker. But even after you release a film, you wont make anything from it until the audience says it is good enough. The Delta State Police Command has announced the arrest of five suspected fraudsters and syndicate robbers who allegedly specialise in defrauding and robbing unsuspecting victims of their valuable possessions. According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the arrests were made following credible intelligence. In a statement issued on Saturday in Asaba, the state capital, he revealed that operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team carried out the operation between August 11 and 16, 2025. Edafe stated, Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team between August 11 and 16, 2025, arrested a syndicate of robbers/fraudsters who specialise in robbing and defrauding unsuspecting victims of their valuable items such as phones, motorcycles, jewellery, and looting of their victims bank accounts. Advertisement READ MORE : NDLEA Seizes 10m Cannabis, Arrests Suspect In Kano The suspects act in the guise of looking for directions and then hypnotise their victims before extorting and defrauding them. The arrested suspects include Ibrukoko, 32; Obruche Actor, 31; Umukoro, 28; Emmanuel Buruutu, 22; Musa Abdulahi, 27; Sokoh, 30; Preye Julius, 36; and Kadija Abass, 30. Edafe further disclosed that the syndicate operated across Warri, Ughelli, and other areas in Delta State, as well as Edo State. Items recovered from the suspects include two Toyota Camrys with registration numbers LND-809-HE and KSF-61-JU, and 16 suspected stolen iPhones. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects have so far defrauded their victims of over N23 million, stolen about 42 iPhones, lady bikes, and defrauded 12 female victims, Edafe added. In a separate operation, the Delta State Police also arrested five individuals for stealing ladders in the Ekpan area. According to Edafe, the DPO Ekpan Police received multiple complaints from residents about missing ladders, which were allegedly stolen by people posing as customers. He explained, On August 22, 2025, the DPO detailed operatives who embarked on an intelligence-led investigation and arrested one Esquire Stanley, who claimed he sold the ladders at N25,000. The investigation further led to the arrest of other receivers, including Chinedu Okorie, Orgi Abara, Philip Augustine, and Obone Jevweu. In total, 11 suspected stolen ladders were recovered during the operation. KABUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,693 Afghan refugee families, totaling 6,202 individuals, returned to their homeland, Afghanistan, from the neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Friday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees Problems announced Saturday. The returnees crossed into Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing in western Herat province, the Torkham border crossing in eastern Nangarhar province, the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province, and the Abrisham border crossing in western Nimroz province, it said. Over two million Afghans, including 500,000 children, have returned from Iran, Pakistan, and other countries this year alone, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported in early August. Around 6 million Afghan refugees, most of whom are undocumented, are currently living abroad, with most living in Iran and Pakistan, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reported in late July. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnapping kingpins. They include Masud Abdullahi of Karu, Nasarawa State, identified as the gang leader, and Muhammad Tahir of Jos, Plateau State. On Friday, the commands spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, revealed that the arrests came after a coordinated counter-kidnapping operation conducted with the Nasarawa State Police Command. Advertisement READ MORE: Seven Stolen Motorcycles Recovered As Kano Police Arrest 10 Suspects She stated that the operation commenced after a report was filed on August 16, 2025, at approximately 12:05 a.m., indicating that a syndicate had broken into an estate in Karu, Abuja, and abducted a resident, Henry Chichi. Adeh said, Upon receiving the report, the Commands Anti-Kidnapping Unit immediately swung into action, mounting intense pressure on the kidnappers, which eventually led to the safe release of the victim on 17th August 2025 at about 9:05 p.m. In a follow-up operation, in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Police Command, the assailants were tracked and intercepted along the Guraku axis of the Nasarawa FCT Highway after their operational vehicle, a red Opel Vectra with registration number BLD 566 AT, lost control. The spokesperson added that although some gang members managed to flee, the gang leader, Masud Abdullahi, and his associate, Muhammad Tahir, were apprehended during the operation. She stated that the suspects later guided operatives to their hideout in Karshi Forest, Nasarawa State, where another gang member, 22-year-old Kabiru Jibril, was taken into custody. Adeh said, Exhibits recovered from the hideout include: N7.4 million cash, three AK-47 rifles with magazines, one G3 rifle with magazine, sixteen rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and one Tecno handset. Meanwhile, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, commended the operatives for their professionalism and stated that operations are ongoing to arrest the remaining fugitives of the gang. The Federal Government has pledged to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators behind the brutal killing of more than 50 worshippers in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State. In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government condemned the incident, describing it as a callous and barbaric attack on harmless citizens who had gathered in peace to worship. According to the minister, security agencies are already on the trail of the assailants and will not relent until those responsible are brought to justice. Advertisement READ MORE : Ill Run With Peter Obi In 2027 Baba-Ahmed No stone will be left unturned until they are apprehended and held accountable for their actions. The Government assures Nigerians that justice will be swift and decisive, and that such acts of terror will never be allowed to take root in the country, Idris stated. He further conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubus condolences to the bereaved families, the people of Malumfashi, and the Katsina State Government. Idris added that the administration shares in their grief and prayed for the repose of the victims. According to reports by Guardian Nigeria, It was confirmed that at least 50 people lost their lives when bandits stormed villages in Malumfashi last week. According to Aminu Ibrahim, the member representing Malumfashi constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly, 30 worshippers were shot dead during early morning prayers, while another 20 victims were burned alive in their homes. The minister noted that the tragic incident occurred at a time when security forces have been recording significant breakthroughs in counter-terrorism operations across the country. He recalled the recent arrests made by the National Counter-Insurgency Centre (NCTC), which captured notorious terrorist commanders including Mahmud al-Nigeri of the Mahmuda group, his deputy Abu Abba, and Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Abu Baraa) of the Ansaru faction. All three had been on the international wanted list. These arrests are an indication of the successes being recorded by Nigerias counter-terrorism operations as directed by President Tinubu, who has made it very clear that acts of terrorism against the Nigerian state and its citizens will soon be a spectre of the past, Idris said. Reaffirming the governments commitment to justice for the Malumfashi victims, the minister declared: Those who shed innocent blood will find no hiding place in Nigeria. The former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conducting a fraudulent and bad election. He made this claim in reference to the 2023 general elections, criticizing how the commission managed the electoral process. Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Friday, during an interview on Channels TVs Politics Today programme. Advertisement Speaking on the integrity of the electoral process, he said, The question youre asking me about INEC, I have never been a critic of INEC. I dont have energy to spend on criticising INEC. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/peter-obi-slams-tinubu-for-approving-n142bn-to-build-six-bus-terminals-but-budgeting-below-n100bn-for-teaching-psychiatric-hospitals.html INEC conducted a fraudulent and bad election, which is not, up to now, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution, the declaration itself, and I stated it that they have finished us. Baba-Ahmed stressed that the commission must be held accountable for its actions, adding, They have declared a government that is in place and providing the kind of governance they can provide. So I have no business with INEC besides the statement of fact. He further emphasised the need for posterity and Nigerians to judge the electoral commission, saying, Now, having cleared this, and it is very, very important statement of fact, let INEC do what they feel like, let their conscience judge them. He added, Let posterity judge them, let Nigerians judge them. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has rescued 76 abducted persons, including many children, during a targeted airstrike on a notorious bandits camp in Kankara, Katsina State. The operation, which was carried out on Friday evening, August 22, 2025, targeted the stronghold of a bandit leader identified as Babaro. He is said to have masterminded the recent deadly attack on Gidan Mantau in Malumfashi Local Government Area. Advertisement According to a press statement released on Saturday, by the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the strike was a precision raid on the Pauwa Hill camp aimed at dismantling Babaros criminal network. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/none-of-my-aides-earn-less-than-%e2%82%a61m-monthly-gov-umo-eno.html The Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr. Nasir Muazu, confirmed that all those abducted from the Gidan Mantau attack were among the rescued victims. Sadly, he revealed that one child died in captivity before the operation. We are glad to announce that 76 persons, including women and children, were safely rescued following the successful airstrike. Unfortunately, we lost a child during the ordeal, but this operation marks a significant breakthrough in the fight against banditry, Muazu said. He praised the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies for their coordinated efforts, describing the raid as part of a broader plan to secure the state. This is not an isolated operation but part of a broader strategy to eradicate criminal hideouts and restore peace in Katsina, he added. The commissioner further urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces. We call on citizens to support security agencies with timely intelligence so that together we can end these criminal activities, he said. The National Association Of Nigerian Students (NANS) has cautioned that another strike by the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) would throw the countrys education sector into fresh instability. In a statement issued on Friday by its President, Olushola Oladoja, and National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Samson, NANS urged both the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their disputes through dialogue rather than industrial action. The student body expressed deep concern over ASUUs recent threat of embarking on strike following unresolved disagreements with the government. Advertisement READ MORE : Fake Cowbell Sachet Milk Now In Circulation In Nigeria NAFDAC Alerts Consumers According to the association, the lecturers grievances include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government Agreement, settlement of outstanding salary arrears, withheld promotions, and the welfare of retired academic staff. While acknowledging the legitimacy of ASUUs demands, NANS stressed that embarking on another strike would cause severe setbacks for Nigerian students, who are always the most affected. The association further noted: One of the greatest achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is the establishment of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has already begun to ease access to higher education, as well as the maintenance of an uninterrupted academic calendar for over two years. These gains must be protected at all costs. NANS therefore appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address ASUUs concerns with sincerity, emphasizing that safeguarding the academic stability of Nigerian universities should be treated as a national priority. On the part of ASUU, NANS urged the union to show patriotism by shelving its planned strike and continuing negotiations with the government. Nigerian students cannot afford another round of avoidable disruption to their academic pursuit, the association maintained. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of a 27-year-old suspect, Umar Adamu-Umar, with cannabis worth over N10 million in Kano. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commands Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, confirmed that Adamu-Umar is a resident of Fagge Local Government Area. He explained that the suspect was intercepted on August 6 along the ZariaKano Road by operatives attached to the Kiru Area Command. Advertisement He was allegedly transporting 19 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 9 kilograms, from Lagos to Kano. The suspect confessed to being involved in the illegal drug trade and had been under surveillance by the command for some time, Muhammad-Maigatari said. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/ill-run-with-peter-obi-in-2027-baba-ahmed.html He explained that the arrest was a major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking in the state, stressing that the interception had denied traffickers a huge financial gain. According to him, The seizure dealt a major financial blow to the trafficking network as it disrupted their supply chain and reduced funds available for further criminal activities. He added that the NDLEAs actions were not only aimed at curbing the circulation of drugs but also protecting communities from the harmful effects of narcotics. Removing this quantity from circulation also helps protect vulnerable communities from the social and economic harms associated with the trade in narcotics, he noted. The spokesperson further assured that the Kano Strategic Command, under the leadership of Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, would intensify patrols across the state. He added that the Command will also adopt more intelligence-led operations to dismantle trafficking syndicates. He urged residents to support the agency by providing credible information to help combat drug crimes in Kano. Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly criticized former Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Tukur Buratai, following his recent call for another nationwide lockdown in Nigeria. According to a report by Daily Post, Buratai, during an interview on Channels Television, emphasized the need for a fresh lockdown across the country as a strategy to decisively tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and other forms of insecurity. Reacting to the statement, Sowore, in a Facebook post, dismissed the idea, recalling that Buratais major legacy during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown was the bloody EndSARS massacre. Advertisement READ MORE : INEC Conducted Fraudulent 2023 Elections Datti Baba-Ahmed The activist also took a swipe at the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, over his recent remarks suggesting self-defense as a measure against the rising wave of insecurity. Sowore wrote: Today, this same man is shamelessly calling for another COVID-style lockdown, while the current Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, absurdly proposes Kung-fu self-defense as a solution to insecurity. He further added: This is the calibre of airheads who have ruined Nigeria, men who respond to real crises with outright nonsense. A suspected vandal, Umar Biliaminu, was rescued by the Lagos State Police Command from a mob after allegedly being caught stealing barbed wire in the Iju area of the state. Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the command, shared the information on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday. At about 8:40pm on August 21, 2025, Umar Biliaminu was caught while carting away barbed wire on a perimeter fence in Iju area of Lagos State, Hundeyin stated. Advertisement READ MORE: Seven Stolen Motorcycles Recovered As Kano Police Arrest 10 Suspects He further explained that Biliaminu stabbed one of the people trying to catch him with a pair of scissors, provoking the mobs violent response. This prompted mob action on him. Patrol officers from Iju Police Division raced to the scene and rescued him, he said. Hundeyin added that investigations are underway to identify and prosecute those who assaulted the suspect. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend those behind this barbaric act of jungle justice. Say NO to jungle justice! Hundeyin wrote. Six people were killed and 19 others injured on Friday when a passenger vehicle somersaulted following a tyre burst at Osuponri Village, near the ICT Polytechnic in Itori, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, confirmed the accident during a phone conversation with PUNCH on Friday. Akinbiyi explained that the accident happened around 11 a.m. when a Toyota bus with registration number KJA 851 YH, carrying 27 passengers, was involved. Advertisement READ MORE: Fake Doctor Nabbed In Akwa Ibom After Illegal Abortion Claims Womans Life He stated that the vehicles tyre burst while it was moving at high speed, leading it to somersault. He said, A fatal accident occurred at Osuponri Village near ICT Polytechnic, inbound Itori, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State. It involved a Toyota bus with registration number KJA 851 YH (grey colour). It was caused by a tyre burst and loss of control that led to the vehicle somersaulting. The crash reportedly claimed the lives of six passengers, including the driver, while 19 others suffered different degrees of injuries. Akinbiyi added that those injured were rushed to the Ifo General Hospital in Ogun State for treatment, while the remains of the deceased were placed in the hospitals morgue. 25 people were in the bus, including seven male adults, 11 female adults, two male children, and five female children. 19 people were injured, including five male adults, nine female adults, one male child, and four female children. Six people died, comprising two male adults, two female adults, and one male and one female child, respectively. The injured victims were taken to the Ifo General Hospital, Ifo, for medical treatment, while the presumed dead bodies were deposited at the same hospital morgue, the TRACE spokesperson said. Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, Akinbiyi cautioned drivers against using counterfeit or expired tyres due to the serious risks involved. Nevertheless, TRACE, the Police, and the FRSC commiserate with the families of the deceased, advising drivers to exercise caution while driving. In the words of the acting Head of TRACE, Cdr. Omonayajo Elias, drivers are hereby charged to avoid using fake and expired tyres in view of their attendant consequences, he concluded. Calabar residents have been thrown into fear and panic following the gruesome discovery of an 18-year-old boys body, suspected to be the victim of a ritual killing. The remains were found along the swampy stretch of the Calabar River, behind the Cross River Basin Authority at Ikot Effanga, Calabar Municipality. The deceased, identified as Daniel Ekanem, a native of Ikot Offiong in Odukpani LGA and resident of Lemna community in Calabar Municipality, was reportedly last seen on August 14, 2025. Advertisement Daniels decomposing body was discovered five days later, on August 19, after a frantic search by his family. When found, the corpse had been decapitated, raising strong suspicions of ritual murder. READ MORE : NDLEA Seizes 10m Cannabis, Arrests Suspect In Kano Family members revealed to journalists that Daniel had gone to the swamp to harvest vegetables before he went missing. The discovery of his headless remains in the same area has not only devastated the community but also reignited fears of ritual killings in Calabar. Commercial and farming activities in the swampy areas have since come to a halt, as residents and farmers fear for their safety amidst the rising concerns. Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua, described the killing as tragic. He expressed condolences to the victims family and assured that investigations were ongoing, stating, Justice will be served. CP Afegbua added that tactical units of the Command, including the Dragon Squad and the Ikot Omin Division, have been deployed to follow credible leads in the case. Leaders of Ikot Effanga and the neighboring Ikot Enebong communities, where the body was discovered, have pledged full cooperation with security operatives to help unravel the circumstances surrounding what many fear may be the latest ritual killing in the state. COLOMBO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Assets worth 4.5 billion rupees (around 15 million dollars) of criminal gang members were confiscated in recent months, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Addressing the media, Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Western Province North Range, Nishantha de Zoysa, said these assets were seized through the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He said they will also establish a new police division named Proceeds of Crime Investigation Division to strengthen investigations into assets gained from illegal activities. He added that they are carrying out operations to arrest criminals and seize weapons used by them to ensure the safety of the people. When Jason Kao started traveling regularly, Delta Air Lines was the easiest option. For the past 10 years or so, Kao, 34, has often flown out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, where Delta has plenty of flight options. The rewards started piling up as he traversed the country for work as a cybersecurity adviser. But now that Delta is increasing its use of artificial intelligence in its dynamic pricing model, Kaos loyalty is wavering. When the prices potentially may be a lot higher because of using AI to set prices, I may not be getting as good of a deal, Kao said, noting that he could start earning similar loyalty perks with other airlines. Is there much of a reason for me to stay loyal to Delta? Advertisement Kaos doubts arrived after Delta president Glen Hauenstein said on an earnings call in July that he wants the airline to increase AI-based pricing to nearly 20% of domestic flights up from the current 3% this year. Democratic senators voiced their concerns in a letter to Delta and asked for clarity about how the AI is used; Rep. Gregorio Casar (D., Texas) introduced a bill in the Republican-led House to prohibit certain uses of algorithmic decision systems to inform individualized prices. Delta is one of many large companies adopting artificial intelligence to change the way we travel. In April, Hertz confirmed that several of its locations are using AI-assisted scanners to assess damage and send reports to customers without employee input. As of July 14, Marriott is using AI to assign hotel rooms and decide which loyalty members get upgrades. This wave of AI implementation comes after travel agents have used chatbots and other technology to help arrange and book trips for years. For travelers, price fluctuations and less human interaction could be more common. Dynamic pricing isnt new for Delta, but some customers and consumer advocates worry about supercharged AI pricing that could be based on personal information. Those fears were bolstered by comments that Hauenstein made at Deltas Investor Day in November, when he expressed hope to have a price thats available on that flight, on that time, to you, the individual, using technology from Israeli start-up Fetcherr. Shortly before the collaboration with Delta, Fetcherr CEO Roy Cohen spoke to Forbes about collaborating with airlines. Weve been training our engine, using all the data we can get our hands on, Cohen said last summer. We are very stealth about how we work. An opaque process Recently, Delta published a letter that chief external affairs officer Peter Carter sent to the concerned senators denying that the airline uses personalized data in the AI-based pricing model. He said there is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized prices based on personal data. Carter also said Delta is not sharing personal data with Fetcherr and does not require customers to log in to see prices. When Lina Khan heard about Deltas new pricing model, she thought it sounded like surveillance pricing, a term for companies use of personal data to charge different rates to different customers. As the chair of the Federal Trade Commission in the Biden administration, Khan studied the practice. The FTC did not respond to the Posts questions about whether the Trump administration will continue studying it. Even if Delta isnt using peoples wages or recent searches, the lack of clarity around companies like Fetcherr worries Khan, who had not studied Deltas new tactics in detail. AI and these algorithms can turbocharge the ability to engage in surveillance pricing, Khan said. Its very salient for that reason. A lot of technological advances that were seeing in machine learning are happening concurrently with even more and more personal information being collected. The data opacity is part of what led Casar to introduce the Stop AI Price Gouging and Wage Fixing Act, which would ban the use of artificial intelligence to set prices based on personal data. Delta is the first of the [U.S.] airlines to say that theyre going to price a large number of their tickets using artificial intelligence and using models that are secret and not transparent to anyone, Casar told the Post. In a disaster scenario, an airline could increase the prices on your ticket because they knew that you Googled the family obituary and that youre desperate to get to a family funeral. We cannot allow that to happen. Delta spokesperson Jessica Merrill said the airline complies with federal pricing regulations. A variety of market forces drive the dynamic pricing model thats been used in the global industry for decades, with new tech simply streamlining this process, Merrill said in a statement. While many airlines have dropped bereavement fares, Delta offers flexibility and discounted fares for SkyMiles Members needing to travel due to the death of an Immediate Family member according to its website. Some frequent Delta fliers have considered a VPN or private browsing window in case such data is being used. Others have figured that the pricing model could help, especially if the data shows their unwillingness to pay more for a ticket. While Virgin Atlantic has used Fetcherrs AI-pricing technology since 2023, American, Southwest, Alaska, and United said they do not use AI to determine costs for travelers. Z. John Zhang, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who studies pricing strategies, said consumers might be surprised if all airlines plan to use this form of pricing. As long as airlines are competing with each other, theyll pursue customers with lower fares. Ultimately, everybody will catch up. Everybody will go in that direction and, in the end, suffer as firms, Zhang said. Of course, thats good for the consumers. If the airlines compete harder against each other, they dont make a lot of money and people will travel at a lower price. AI-generated charges for rental car damage At six locations across the country, Hertz car rental service detects damage on its vehicles by taking high-definition photos and comparing them through an AI program from the company UVeye. In the case of a notable ding or crack on a car, the system automatically sends a report to the traveler and asks for payment, Hertz spokesperson Emily Place said. If a customer disputes the charge, a Hertz employee reassesses the reported damage. The new scanners havent had a seamless transition. When Adam Foley headed to Atlanta to visit his brother in late June, Foley rented a car from Hertz without thinking twice. Upon arriving back in San Antonio, he received a text message from Hertz that included photos of damage and a charge for $350. He said it was the last time he would be renting with Hertz. You had to 5X zoom in and really look side-by-side to even maybe get what is going on there, Foley said. To Foley, who advises companies on how to integrate AI and automation, Hertz isnt thinking about the customers satisfaction. He disputed the charges, but his protests were futile. I tried communicating, he said. They had a chatbot [asking], Do you have any questions? on that same page. Any question you had, it looped you back to a policy page. There was no break in it to get to a human. Foley hasnt paid the charges. No need to fight it In June, Marriott chief technology officer Naveen Manga said at an event hosted by Skift that Marriott was working with AI technology to automate room assignments. Travel publications One Mile at a Time and View from the Wing reported that as of July 14, Marriotts Automated Complimentary Upgrade system decided through an AI model which royalty members would receive upgrades. This advanced system will automate the upgrade process, transforming it from a manual task into a swift operation completed in seconds, Marriott spokesperson Kelly Lavin said in a statement. Eligible members will benefit from increased visibility into their upgrades with advanced notifications, creating more anticipation before arrival and enhancing their overall experience. When Greg Guiteras, CEO of Florida-based Lorraine Travel, heard about Marriotts new system, he knew frequent travelers might be upset. But Guiteras said the AI upgrades system could do away with the connections and tactics commonly used to get upgrades, making it easier for Marriott customers to get rewards if theyve earned them. To illustrate his point, Guiteras used a hypothetical hotel guest. Mr. Smith, who might have had a good connection with the room director at a hotel in Memphis, no longer has that connection, Guiteras said. When Mr. Smith calls that contact and says, Hey, Im going to be there like usual on Friday; can you get me that upgrade? that other guys probably going to say, Hey, AI handles this right now. Ill do my best. Guiteras says that by using AI, his company can compete better with larger travel services. While talking with travelers, the agents at Lorraine use a chatbot to quickly source hotel prices or pull up pictures of potential lodging. The accuracy of the bot has been strong enough that Guiteras may let his customers use it. His optimism expands to situations like Deltas or Hertzs, even if consumers are uneasy about using AI. Im sure that there are cases where people get surprised by it, Guiteras said, confident that consumers will still want his services. But, hey, its going to be around. Theres no need to fight it. In fact, Im all about embracing it. Police investigate a mass shooting on the 1500 block of South Etting Street in Philadelphia on July 7. Three people were killed and 10 were injured. Read more Two men were charged Friday in connection with the mass shooting in Grays Ferry last month that left three people dead and 10 others wounded the third and fourth suspects arrested in what officials say they hope will be among at least a dozen people charged in the coming months. Jihad Gray, 35, was taken into custody Thursday morning at his South Philadelphia home after investigators said he fired multiple bullets down the 1500 block of South Etting Street during a block party July 7. Gray was charged Friday with three counts of murder, attempted murder, causing catastrophe, and related crimes. Advertisement Gray also faces drug and weapons charges after officers, during a search of his home, recovered a horde of narcotics and firearms, including an assault rifle and an old-fashioned revolver shotgun, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. Police on Friday also arrested Dieve Drumgoole and charged him with three counts of murder and related offenses, a police source said. Drumgoole, the father of one of the shooting victims, allegedly threw a gun into the Schuylkill after the shooting, then reported it stolen to police after officials started making arrests, the police source said Gray and Drumgoole are the latest people to be charged in the shooting, and officials said more arrests are to come after ballistic evidence showed that at least 13 people fired guns on the block that night. Daquan Brown, 21, and Terrell Frazier, 22, were arrested earlier this month. A fifth man, Christopher Battle, is on the run, police said. Police said the men were among more than 100 people attending a block party on Etting Street one of two that weekend on the block in the early morning of July 7 when dozens of bullets were fired down the street. Police first said that 12 people, ages 15 to 27, had been shot, but they have since found an additional victim a 15-year-old girl bringing the total to 13. Three people were killed. Zahir Wylie, 23, of Overbrook, was struck in the chest, and Jason Reese, 19, of West Philadelphia, was shot in the head. Azir Harris, 27, who used a wheelchair after being paralyzed in an earlier shooting, was struck in the back. Initially, police said they believed the party had been targeted, but after interviewing witnesses and reviewing video and ballistic evidence at the scene, detectives said they no longer believed that was the case. Now, police say they believe that someone at the gathering shot once into the air or toward a car or person passing by. The sound then triggered half a dozen men, believing they were under fire, to pull out their weapons and spray more than 120 shots indiscriminately down the block. Bruce Springsteen (right) and Clarence Clemons perform at Rutgers University on Oct. 12, 1976, a year after "Born To Run" was released. Read more Bruce Springsteen was always shooting for the stars. In his 2016 memoir, he talks about making plans for world domination with his first boss, early 1970s manager Mike Appel. Advertisement We werent aiming for a few successful records and some modest hits. We were aiming for impact, for influence, for the top rung of what recording artists are capable of achieving, he wrote. I wanted to collide with the times and create a voice that had musical, social and cultural impact. The crucible in which Springsteen hoped to prove he was up to that task was the recording of Born to Run, his majestic third album that was released 50 years ago, and also gave a name to his memoir. The tortuous road to fruition of the Boss breakthrough album complete with singles leaked to Philadelphia DJs and Springsteen tossing an acetate of the finished work into a Kutztown, Pa., swimming pool in disgust is chronicled in Peter Ames Carlins assiduous new Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born To Run (Doubleday). The book details the drama of creating an acknowledged classic that would most likely win a poll of Springsteen fans as to what their favorite album is. (Is it mine? Read on.) His first two albums, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, both released in 1973, were well reviewed but hadnt sold well. Born to Run was a high stakes enterprise, as well as a key transitional moment, in Springsteens career. He already had a stronghold in Philadelphia, however, and more precisely, at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr. There, the E Street Band played an astounding 45 shows in 24 nights between January 1973 and February 1975. But while the legend of Springsteens live show was growing, his three-album deal with Columbia Records executives was ready to expire. He was prone to self-loathing, which led to the Kutztown tantrum, when he decided that the eight-song masterwork he had just completed was utter garbage not worthy of release. But along with self-doubt, he had plenty of swagger. Of course I thought I was a phony that is the way of the artist, he wrote in his memoir. But I also thought I was the realest thing youd ever seen. In Tonight in Jungleland, he tells Carlin that while recording Born to Run: I was concerned with only one thing, which was making an absolutely great rock n roll record. I was on a mission. I gathered my disciples around me, and we were in. We were going for the throat. Mission accomplished. Born to Run was rapturously received and, by October, had landed Springsteen simultaneously on the cover of Time and Newsweek. At a New Years Eve show that year at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, he waxed philosophical about that accomplishment: Seasons come, seasons go, you get your picture on the cover of Time and Newsweek, he said with a shrug before Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street? in a show that demonstrates the wildcat energy of the E Street Band of that era. (Its one of 342 Springsteen concerts streaming, including five from the Born to Run Tour on the Philly-based live music platform Nugs.net.) Born to Run lifted Springsteen to the cultural plateau hed been aiming for where, remarkably, he still finds himself a half-century later. These days, hes buddies with one American president and under the skin of another. And is set to see Deliver Me From Nowhere, the Jeremy Allen White-starring biopic due in October centered on another landmark album, 1982s Nebraska. The story of Born to Runs birth contains plenty of detail likely unknown to even die-hard fans. Theres a tale of racism at the Jersey Shore, when E Street keyboard player David Sancious and Springsteen are threatened by thugs on Long Beach Island, a situation thats defused when 6-foot-5 saxophonist Clarence Clemons showed up beside his skinny friends. Also news to this Springsteen nerd: Roy Bittans piano part on the B-movie fugue Meeting Across the River, which Appel championed over the objections of Springsteen and Jon Landau who would soon replace Appel as the Boss manager was inspired by jazz sax player Pharaoh Sanders. Theres plenty of Philadelphia in the saga. Randy Brecker, the Grammy-winning trumpeter from Cheltenham, plays on Meeting Across the River. He was joined by his late sax playing brother Michael on Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, on a buoyant arrangement cooked up on the spot by Steve Van Zandt, who was not yet an E Street Band member. And late WMMR-FM (93.3) DJ Ed Sciaky plays a key role. Appel supplied him with a prerelease version of the Born to Run single in 1974, correctly calculating that radio play for the powerhouse track would get the suits at Columbia off their back. Tonight in Jungleland also tracks the E Street Bands transition away from the improvisatory ensemble of The Wild, the Innocent. That loosey-goosey style is still preferred by many old head Philly fans who recall the Main Point glory days before the world discovered Phillys Springsteen secret. With Born to Run, E Street became tighter and more aggressive, reflecting Springsteens focused vision and unplanned personnel changes. Sancious left the band in 1974 when offered his own record deal, taking nimble drummer Ernest Boom Carter with him. Bittan and straight-ahead drummer Max Weinberg replaced them. Suddenly, Springsteen says in Tonight in Jungleland, we had a very different group sound, and we had streamlined ourselves into not a rock and soul band, but into a tight little five-piece rock n roll band. Did the music of Springsteen, Bittan, and Weinberg with organ player Danny Federici and bassist Garry Tallent, plus auxiliary players like violinist Suki Lahav make the greatest Bruce Springsteen album ever? Maybe. Its a pretty flawless record. And a necessary one in Springsteens evolution, a heroic getaway that shifts into overdrive and personalizes the promise of the accelerating Chuck Berry rock and roll that Springsteen felt deep down in his bones. I still get chills every time the romantic quest that is at the albums core is put into words as a lights-up encore at every show: I want to know if love is wild / girl, I want to know if love is real. You cant beat it. And as a no-skips experience in which every song achieves exactly what it sets out to do, its only real competition is Nebraska, whose nearly nihilistic vision is the antithesis of Born to Runs operatic catharsis. But neither are my personal favorite. That would be 1978s Darkness on the Edge of Town, where open-road possibility meets up with the real world claustrophobia, and Springsteens protagonists are left with no alternative but to dig in and declare It aint no sin to be glad youre alive! Maybe that preference is because Darkness was the first Springsteen album to hit me in real time, when I was a teenager at the Jersey Shore, ready to get walloped by it. And its surely because its existential and working-class concerns are the key to understanding everything Springsteen has done since. And it might also have something to do with the difference between the two albums thats articulated by Van Zandt in Carlins book. Born To Run is about the guy who leaves, says Springsteens consigliere, while Darkness is not about escape from reality, but coping with it. Its about the guy who stays. If Im still around, I can expand on that idea on Darkness 50th anniversary, three years from now. Bruce Springsteens Tracks II: The Lost Albums, gathers together seven complete unreleased albums recorded between 1983 and 2018. Read more Bruce Springsteen writes a lot of songs. That has been apparent over a 50-plus-year recording career that includes 19 albums of original material, stretching back to 1973s Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Advertisement And Springsteen who has been in the news with a Deliver Me From Nowhere biopic due in October and persistent criticism of President Donald Trump (leading Trump to label him not a talented guy) has always made more music than he knows what to do with. Thats where Tracks came in. Back in 1998, the four-CD box of leftovers, whose cover featured him lounging on a couch at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr, gathered up outtakes and B-sides that didnt make the cut on his various album projects. Tracks II: The Lost Albums, which comes out this week and contains a whopping 87 songs, is something else entirely. It consists of seven discrete and complete albums, recorded between 1983 and 2018. Theyre projects typically conceived of with a unified vision, musically and thematically, often recorded simultaneously with another album that did see the light of day. For instance, in the mid-1990s, Springsteen worked on the bare bones The Ghost of Tom Joad in Los Angeles at the same time as he was recording Tracks IIs countrified, raucous Somewhere North of Nashville, often on the same day. Tom Joad went out into the world; Nashville was locked away. Until now. Tracks II explores roads not taken, charting a shadow Springsteen career. It starts with LA Garage Sessions 83, a double LP 18 song-set, cut contemporaneously with the Born in the U.S.A. sessions that turned Springsteen into a megastar. It moves down highways and byways to include such excursions as the moody and mysterious Streets of Philadelphia Sessions and unexpected detours such as Twilight Hours, a Burt Bacharach- and Frank Sinatra-flavored set that, so far, is my favorite of the bunch. Tracks II will be available in its entirety on all streaming services, and if you seek the physical product, its expensive. Needlessly so. The nine-LP box goes for $349.98, with nine CDs at $299.99. (Two of the sets are double albums, hence the extra discs.) A condensed double-LP 20-song Lost & Found version is $39.98. So: Is Tracks II any good? Did the Boss make the right career choices? Lets dig in, one album at a time. LA Garage Sessions 83 This 18-song set splits the difference between the desolation of 1982s Nebraska and stadium-size grandeur of 1984s Born in the U.S.A. Its the Tracks II album with the most songs that have previously seen the light of day, with the Elvis Presley rewrite Follow That Dream, a My Hometown with added lyrics, and B-sides of Johnny Bye-Bye and Shut Out The Light (the latter a subtle, equally good companion to Born in the U.S.A about a returning Vietnam veteran). Sugarland, a stark character study informed by the mid-80s farming crisis, is another gem. And most harrowing and relevant is The Klansman, told from the perspective of a son who watches his father turn to a life of hate. Streets of Philadelphia Sessions Referred to among cognoscenti as the loops album, this 10-song set takes as its starting point the ghostly 1993 song Springsteen wrote for Jonathan Demmes AIDS drama Philadelphia. Like that Oscar winner, its songs are built around moody drum loops and synthesizer washes, with added instrumentation from Zach Alford, Shayne Fontayne, and Tommy Sims from the non-E Street Band that Springsteen toured with in the 90s. Songs pick over entropic relationships and an absence of faith, with characters that feel incomplete while Waiting On The End Of The World. Springsteen was correct to conclude that it doesnt feel finished, and decided to move on. Faithless This is an intriguing one. Springsteen was commissioned to soundtrack a movie that was never released, which hes still not revealing details of, preferring to let the music stand on its own. From instrumentals The Desert and A Prayer By the River and gently folkie ruminations like Goin to California and Where You Goin, Where You From (which features his sons, Sam and Evan, on backup vocals), it sounds like a sunbaked spiritual Western, with a welcome blast of country twang. Somewhere North of Nashville A legit Springsteen country album that serves up the most fun to be had on Tracks II. The top notch title cut in which he sings I lie awake in the middle of the night, thinking of the things I didnt do right, made it onto Western Stars, the 2019 album shaped by the Southern California sound of the early 1970s. But Somewhere North of Nashville is rawer, with snarly Chuck Berry guitar; significant contributions from E Streeters Garry Tallent, Danny Federici, and Soozie Tyrell; and best of all, pedal steel guitarist Marty Rifkin, who makes Under A Big Sky soar. Springsteens had a blast ripping through Repo Man, and if the lusty double entendre Detail Man is essentially a Mad Libs rewrite, who cares? Both are a hoot. Somewhere also includes Tracks IIs lone cover, of Johnny Rivers 1966 hit Poor Side of Town. Its perfectly suited to Springsteen in lonely working man mode, and its stunning that he didnt put this one out. Inyo Inyo dates to the 1990s and 2000s, taking its cues from the detailed, folkie narrative songs on Tom Joad and 2005s Devils & Dust. But its also timely, centering on stories from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, with empathy for characters so often dehumanized in anti-immigrant rhetoric. In Adelita and The Lost Charro, Springsteen is even accompanied by a mariachi band, and his cinematic songwriting is in effect on One False Move, with a title inspired by Carl Franklins 1991 noir masterpiece. Inyo is marred, though, by whispered vocals and a sluggish pace, with too many songs inspired by Los Angeles Times stories rather than personal experience. Twilight Hours Recorded at the same time as Western Stars, Twilight Hours is sophisticated pop that esteems Bacharach and Sinatra and yes! Andy Williams. Its no wonder that Springsteen didnt put it out. His fan base might have thought he was turning into an easy-listening sad sack. But guess what? It suits him. Songs like Sunday Love and Dinner at Eight are patient, pensive melancholy romances. His vocals are relaxed and confident as melodies soar and strings kick in. Theres more noir in High Sierra, exploring a familiar theme of a man who cant escape a violent history that, Springsteen says, was inspired by Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past but reminded me of Burt Lancaster in The Killers. And the album ends in a four-song suite that recalls Sinatras sublimely bummed 1970 Watertown. Fun fact: The lovely parental sentiment of Ill Stand By You Always was written after the Boss read the Harry Potter books to his son Evan and was submitted but rejected for the movie for Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. Perfect World Tracks II wraps with an album that wasnt conceived as such. Its a grab bag, cobbled together from decades of source material. Thats OK, because the songs cohere, and it brings the box to a close with a jolt of energy. Perfect kicks off with three songs cowritten with Springsteens Pittsburgh pal Joe Grushecky, who does the Boss a favor by getting him out of his own head and rock out. The songs yearn for sustaining strength, from the stately Blind Man to the simple prayer You Lifted Me Up, featuring the twin pillars of his wife, Patti Scialfa, and consigliere Steve Van Zandt. The closing title track dreams of an existence where the passing day would absolve our sins and in the cool of the evening, the losing team would win. But alas, the world remains imperfect, even if it is now a measurably better place thanks to the existence of seven new Bruce Springsteen albums. Volunteers prepare backpacks designed to hold an infusion pump and IV medication for children receiving at-home treatment for leukemia. The Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation, which created the bags, is donating 300 of them to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in honor of Barbara Friedes, a CHOP medical resident who was fatally struck by a car while biking. Read more With colorful heart, bow, and flower patterns, the backpacks designed by a Philadelphia cancer philanthropy look from the outside just like the dozens of others filling store shelves as a new school year approaches. But these backpacks have a special mission: They are designed to hold an infusion pump, IV bag, and tubing for children with leukemia being treated with an at-home immunotherapy medication. Advertisement The 28-day infusion of blinatumomab allows children to spend less time in the hospital. But the bags typically provided with the drug are adult-sized much too big for children to comfortably and safely carry. Families have often resorted to buying childrens backpacks or purses, which arent designed to hold medical equipment. Now a Philadelphia-area philanthropy has created a solution to help families coming to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia for treatment. New child-sized bags designed by the Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation and Burning Tree Designs have a clear pouch and elastic straps in the front pocket to hold an infusion pump, as well as clips to keep the IV bag upright. Plastic tubing laces through the side of the bag to connect to the patients medication port. The foundation, created by a Philadelphia couple after the death of their daughter who was treated for leukemia at CHOP, is donating 300 of the backpacks to the hospital for future leukemia patients. Jackie and Dan Didio, whose daughter Maddy died of leukemia in 2022 when she was 14 months old, said they hope the bags will help improve quality of life for children receiving at-home cancer treatment. We want to see kids running on the playground with these bags, said Jackie Didio, who lives in Philadelphia with her husband and their daughter Hannah, Maddys twin. Honoring a leukemia patient Maddy was diagnosed with leukemia at 3 months old. Didio said she felt privileged that she and her husband were able to interview cancer programs up and down the East Coast to find the right fit for Maddy. They relocated from Virginia to Philadelphia so that Maddy could be treated at CHOP. The familys health insurance covered most of Maddys treatment and provided a stipend to put toward their long-term hotel stay. Dan Didio kept his job by traveling between Philadelphia and Virginia. Maddy received several different treatments at CHOP, including the CAR-T therapy pioneered at Penn that has been heralded a cure for certain types of leukemia. READ MORE: Emily Whitehead was the first child cured of cancer with therapy from Penn. Shes back as a freshman. But Maddys cancer evolved, and became resistant to treatment. After her death, the Didios decided that they wanted to honor her memory by creating a foundation that could help families with nonmedical expenses that can be an added hardship on top of significant medical costs. The foundation gives away about $45,000 a year to families with a child being treated for leukemia to be used for rent, car payments, food, and other nonmedical expenses that make it possible to be by your childs bedside, Didio said. Innovative backpacks for cancer care On Tuesday, volunteers from Philadelphia Insurance Companies helped set up the backpacks, attaching key chains and filling them with back-to-school supplies at the companys Bala Cynwyd offices. The national property, casualty, and professional liability insurance firm supported the initiative, named Backpacks with Barbara, in honor of Barbara Friedes, a CHOP medical resident and family friend of the Didios, who was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle last year. The 300 backpacks given to CHOP will be distributed over the next five years, helping families to safely and comfortably manage their childs treatment both at home and on the go, said Susan Rheingold, an attending physician with the Cancer Center at CHOP, who serves on the foundations board. Rachel Nassif, day center director at the PACE Organization of Rhode Island, with program participant Roberta Rabinovitz. Rabinovitz goes to the center, in East Providence, for all her medical care, and an occasional lunch. PACE also set her up with a studio apartment in an assisted living facility in Bristol. (Felice J. Freyer for KFF Health News) Read more BRISTOL, R.I. At age 82, Roberta Rabinovitz realized she had no place to go. A widow, she had lost both her daughters to cancer, after living with one and then the other, nursing them until their deaths. Then she moved in with her brother in Florida, until he also died. And so last fall, while recovering from lung cancer, Rabinovitz ended up at her grandsons home in Burrillville, R.I., where she slept on the couch and struggled to navigate the steep staircase to the shower. That wasnt sustainable, and with apartment rents out of reach, Rabinovitz joined the growing population of older Americans unsure of where to lay their heads at night. Advertisement But Rabinovitz was fortunate. She found a place to live, through what might seem an unlikely source a health care nonprofit, the PACE Organization of Rhode Island. Around the country, arranging for housing is a relatively new and growing challenge for such PACE groups, which are funded through Medicaid and Medicare. PACE stands for a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and the organizations aim to keep frail, older people in their homes. But a patient cant stay at home if they dont have one. As housing costs rise, organizations responsible for peoples medical care are realizing that to ensure their clients have a place to live, they must venture outside their lanes. Even hospitals in Denver, New Orleans, New York City, and elsewhere have started investing in housing, recognizing that health isnt possible without it. And among older adults, the need is especially growing. In the U.S., 1 in 5 people who were homeless in 2024 were 55 or older, with the total older homeless population up 6% from the previous year. Dennis Culhane, a University of Pennsylvania professor who specializes in homelessness and housing policy, calculated that the number of men older than 60 living in shelters roughly tripled from 2000 to 2020. Its a national scandal, really, that the richest country in the world would have destitute elderly and disabled people, Culhane said. Over decades of research, Culhane has documented the plight of people born between 1955 and 1965 who came of age during recessions and never got an economic foothold. Many in this group endured intermittent homelessness throughout their lives, and now their troubles are compounded by aging. But other homeless older adults are new to the experience. Many teeter on the edge of poverty, said Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, a national association representing what are known as area agencies on aging. A single incident can tip them into homelessness the death of a spouse, job loss, a rent increase, an injury, or illness. If cognitive decline starts, an older person may forget to pay their mortgage. Even those with paid-off houses often cant afford rising property taxes and upkeep. No one imagines anybody living on the street at 75 or 80, Markwood said. But they are. President Donald Trumps recent budget law, which makes substantial federal cuts to Medicaid, the public insurance program for those with low incomes or disabilities, will make matters worse for older people with limited incomes, said Yolanda Stevens, program and policy analyst with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. If people lose their health coverage or their local hospital closes, it will be harder for them to maintain their health and pay the rent. Its a perfect storm, Stevens said. Its an unfortunate, devastating storm for our older Americans. Adding to the challenges, the Labor Department recently halted a job training program intended to keep low-income older people in the workforce. Those circumstances have sent PACE health plans throughout the country into uncharted waters, prompting them to set up shop within senior housing projects, partner with housing providers, or even join forces with nonprofit developers to build their own. A 1997 federal law recognized PACE organizations as a provider type for Medicare and Medicaid. Today, some 185 operate in the U.S., each serving a defined geographic area, with a total of more than 83,000 participants. They enroll people 55 and older who are sick enough for nursing home care, and then provide everything their patients need to stay home despite their frailty. They also run centers that function as medical clinics and adult day centers and provide transportation. These organizations primarily serve impoverished people with complex medical conditions who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. They pool money from both programs and operate within a set budget for each participant. PACE officials worry that, as federal funding for Medicaid programs shrinks, states will curtail support. But the PACE concept has always had bipartisan support, said Robert Greenwood, a senior vice president at the National PACE Association, because its services are significantly less expensive than nursing home care. The financing structure gives PACE the flexibility to do what it takes to keep participants living on their own, even if it means buying an air conditioner or taking a patients dog to the vet. Taking on the housing crisis is another step toward the same goal. In the Detroit area, PACE Southeast Michigan, which serves 2,200 participants, partners with the owners of senior housing. The landlords agree to keep the rent affordable, and PACE provides services to their tenants who are members. Housing providers like to be full, they like their seniors cared for, and we do all of that, said Mary Naber, president and CEO of PACE Southeast Michigan. For participants who become too infirm to live on their own, the Michigan organization has leased a wing in an independent living center, where it provides round-the-clock supportive care. The organization also is partnering with a nonprofit developer to create a cluster of 21 shipping containers converted into little houses in Eastpointe, just outside Detroit. Still in the planning stages, Naber said, the refurbished containers will probably rent for about $1,000 to $1,100 a month. In San Diego, the PACE program at St. Pauls Senior Services cares for chronically homeless people as they move into housing, offering not just health services but the backup needed to keep tenants in their homes, such as guidance on paying bills on time and keeping their apartments clean. St. Pauls also helps those already in housing but clinging to precarious living arrangements, said Carol Castillon, vice president of its PACE operations, by connecting them with community resources, helping fill out forms for housing assistance, and providing meals and household items to lower expenses. At PACE Rhode Island, which serves nearly 500 people, about 10 to 15 participants each month become homeless or at risk of homelessness, a rare situation five or six years ago, CEO Joan Kwiatkowski said. The organization contracts with assisted living facilities, but its participants are sometimes rejected because of prior criminal records, substance use, or healthcare needs that the facilities feel they cant handle. And public housing providers often have no openings. So PACE Rhode Island is planning to buy its own housing, Kwiatkowski said. PACE also has reserved four apartments at an assisted living facility in Bristol for its participants, paying rent when theyre unoccupied. Rabinovitz moved into one recently. Rabinovitz had worked as a senior credit analyst for a healthcare company, but now her only income is her Social Security check. She keeps $120 from that check for personal supplies, and the rest goes to rent, which includes meals. Once a week or so, Rabinovitz rides a PACE van to the organizations center, where she gets medical care, including dental work, physical therapy, and medication always, she said, from incredibly loving people. When shes not feeling well enough to make the trek, PACE sends someone to her. Recently, a technician with a portable X-ray machine scanned her sore hip as she lay in her own bed in her new studio apartment. Its tiny, but I love it, she said of the apartment, which shes decorated in purple, her favorite color. Police gather at the Villanova University campus where an active shooter was reported Thursday. Read more A day after a hoax shooting incident upended freshman orientation week at Villanova University, police continue to search for the suspect who they say made a bogus report of someone with an automatic weapon terrorizing the leafy suburban campus. Officials said the emergency call to Villanovas Department of Public Safety, which came shortly after 4:30 p.m. Thursday, included the sound of gunshots in the background. That triggered an immediate lockdown on the Catholic school grounds, where students and parents were attending Mass, resource fairs, and other opening day events. What was supposed to be a peaceful welcome to the fall semester descended into pandemonium as police officers and tactical units swarmed the campus. Advertisement Confusion spread during the ensuing hourlong manhunt for a shooter who did not exist. Responding officers at one point said they had identified not only a suspect a 6-foot male but also a gunshot victim, according to police scanner recordings. Law enforcement authorities and university leaders later said there were no injuries and described the incident as swatting, a cruel hoax that involves filing false reports of a crisis to induce panic. Delaware County officials on Friday declined to release a transcript or audio of the 911 call recording that is now central to the police investigation. District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer also declined to answer questions Friday about the law enforcement response. They did an amazing job. Period, Stollsteimer said in an email. The Radnor Township police scanner broadcast a chaotic depiction of the response on campus between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. SWAT units set up a perimeter around Scarpa Hall at the Charles Widger School of Law as officers began clearing the floors of the academic building. No signs of gunfire were found. John Stayer was touring Villanovas campus with his daughter, an incoming freshman, when police ushered them to shelter in a classroom nearby. He said he opened a police scanner app on his phone to learn more about the active shooter situation, and his ears perked up when he heard first responders describe a victim with a GSW. Strayer, an emergency room physician from Seattle, Wash., immediately knew what that meant: gunshot wound. But it soon became clear that no one was really hurt. READ MORE: Police scanner shows panicked response to Villanova shooting hoax Strayer praised the swift and massive police response on campus. But he said he is confused about why officials have yet to address the erroneous report of a gunshot victim, given that the entire situation turned out to be bogus. Clearly someone said that, and there was a response to that, but after five minutes it was like nothing happened, Strayer said. They didnt say anything about anyone being injured or misidentifying someone who was injured. As the threat dissipated on campus, police appeared to turn their sights on finding the person responsible for the hoax. Commanders instructed police to search nearby parked vehicles and to look out for anyone with binoculars who might be watching from afar. Swatting hoaxes on the rise In the age of mass shootings, law enforcement agencies may struggle to distinguish real threats from the false alarms. Swatting incidents have risen sharply across the U.S. in recent years, from 400 in 2011, to more than 1,000 in 2019, according to an FBI estimate provided to the Anti-Defamation League. Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and criminal justice professor at Penn State Lehigh Valley, said the inspiration for swatting often begins on the internet, originating from a joke among friends or forum users. Unfortunately, it has become part of the culture that we see online, Giacalone said. However, from a law enforcement perspective, they have to take these very seriously. Theyre coming prepared to have to use deadly force. Politically motivated swatting incidents are also increasing, targeting election workers, voting centers, religious institutions, and elected officials. Meanwhile, the nature of swatting itself is evolving. A report published in April by the National Association of Attorneys General found the technology involved in swatting is becoming more sophisticated, with artificial intelligence and data scraping tools providing perpetrators with an array of options to more accurately target victims and mask their identity. AI-assisted vocal cloning and image manipulation can be exploited to impersonate individuals and create realistic emergency situations, according to the report. It is unclear whether digital tools were used in the hoax report placed with police near Villanova. Authorities provided few details about the initial phone call that led to Thursdays panic, aside from the description of gunfire in the background. Giacalone said swatting investigations can be tedious. Police would likely scour cell phone tower records, the schools Wi-Fi network, and university security cameras to search for digital or physical traces of a suspect. This is going to be painstakingly slow, Giacalone added, citing the sheer number of people on campus who were connected to cellular and other communication networks. The criminal justice professor suggested it was possible that the false report of an active shooter at University of Tennessee Chattanooga that came in around 1 p.m. Thursday may have inspired a copycat call in Pennsylvania just hours later. Investigators have not commented or provided information on whether there is a link between the two incidents. In a situation like this, Giacalone said, there will be serious implications if the individual or individuals are found. The FBI declined to comment on any possible connection between the two incidents. PYONGYANG, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) condemned an ongoing major joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea, saying it is "extremely provocative" and calling the two countries "chief culprits" who undermine peace on the Korean Peninsula, state media said Saturday. In a Friday press statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army said the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, being staged on land, at sea and in the air of the Republic of Korea (ROK), is "an extremely provocative and aggressive large-scale drill for an actual war clearly aimed at a sudden preemptive attack on the DPRK." The spokesperson underscored in the statement the gravity and danger of the drill, saying it includes the application of a war scenario simulating a preemptive strike against the DPRK nuclear facilities as well as various kinds of military maneuvering and live firing exercises. "The reckless war drill of the U.S. and the ROK warmongers is seriously threatening the security environment of the DPRK and pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region to the extreme tension," said the spokesperson. The statement also noted that some British warships participating in a joint maritime drill in the Pacific Ocean entered South Korea's Busan operational base and other forces of "UN Command" member states joined the military drill, turning it into a multinational military drill and redoubling the military threats it posed to the DPRK, according to the KCNA report. The military drill "leads to the destruction of balance of power in the region and the chief culprit of harassing peace on the Korean peninsula is none other than the U.S. and the ROK," said the statement. The DPRK army will further bolster its full readiness, and will respond to the military provocations of the hostile forces posing direct threats to the safety of the country with "proper and indiscriminate exercise of the right to self-defence," the statement added. 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 Our error of judgment might have gone unnoticed, had I not declared the cash to my mum that day. I was in Junior Infants when a little girl in my class began slipping coins my way each week, in the misguided belief that charity begins in the classroom. It was 1978 and I was the only child who looked like me in my school. One of seven children living in Cork, I had been adopted by Irish born and bred parents. My two older brothers are my parents biological children, and I like to think destiny brought the rest of us together. My older sister landed first, aged approximately one month old. She is half Irish and half Libyan. Two years later I exploded onto the scene, having been born to an Irish mother and Jamaican father. Over the next few years, the stork continued to visit my parents. With a penchant for the exotic, he delivered a half-Irish/half-Indian brother, and another sister who is half-Irish and half-Italian. I didnt know I was any different, but while my classmate saw colour, it wasnt in the way that one would expect. The missions were the order of the day back then. My own recollection suggests that my class was collecting for Trocaire, but mum tells me it was the Missions so I have to take her word for it. Everyone - Junior Infants included - wanted to do their bit. Teachers constantly reminded us about the importance of giving to the black babies in Africa. When one of my friends went home to request money, her mother had no idea that this black baby was me. It was genius really, because that same little girl decided to cut out the middle man by donating to the child sitting beside her in school. She probably assumed that I was starving, despite the fact that we were the best-fed family in Cork. We just thought we were the same as everyone else. Colour wasnt an issue in my household growing up. It wasnt really an issue outside the home either, with the exception of an isolated racist incident that I experienced during my youth. The story of the little girl gifting me cash on the other hand is one of pure innocence. Its not something that could ever be viewed as offensive because we were both innocent parties. I was, after all, very happy to accept the money without any real understanding of why it was coming my way. People sometimes talk about the racism and discrimination they faced as children growing up in Ireland who were black or mixed race. This was the flipside. The little girl thought she was doing the right thing and I was going home with more money than I knew what to do with. In our eyes we had done nothing wrong. As soon as my mum found out where the money was coming from, she approached the little girls mother to explain what was going on. This woman was understandably mortified, while my own mum found the whole thing hilarious. All she could do was laugh. I dont remember her speaking to the childs mum, but its a story Ive grown up with that continues to be spoken about to this day. My family loves to laugh about it, because it reminds us of more innocent times. Maeve Dalton at home in Glounthaune. Picture: Eddie O'Hare I look back at that story now and smile, because the way we saw the world was beautiful. Life was definitely less complicated then. When you talked about things like the missions, in those days, they seemed a lot further from home. These were faraway places we didnt know much about that only nuns and priests visited. In some ways, I think children were better off knowing less. There were some other misunderstandings over the years, albeit not as many as we got older. To this day everybody knows our family because we all looked so different to one another. Ill never forget when my brother Noelie brought friends home for the first time. They must have assumed that he had foreign students in the house or something. It was confusing for people when we were introduced as brothers and sisters. We found ourselves explaining quite a lot when meeting people for the first time. None of us ever felt any different though, because my mother treated us all the same. Mum never saw us as different. She praised us the same, and disciplined us the same, because we were all equal. She did things right which is why we all had a lovely childhood. I was good in school. You might say I was a bit of a nerd because I loved reading and wrote poetry. My own son's life is very different from how I grew up. There was no such thing as travelling when I was a kid, but life couldnt be any different for Finn. Hes in secondary school now but his first holiday abroad was at the age of three months old. We went to Madrid. I think both of us had very happy childhoods which is all that any of us can really ask for. Albania mania It has been a long time coming but Ryanair has just announced its first direct flights to Albania from Ireland. The new route from Dublin to the airlines new base in capital Tirana will offer an exciting new option for fans of the Balkan region and an alternative to Irish favourites of Montenegro, Croatia, and Greece. Return regular fare flights (so including a 10kg carry-on) start from 172 return. Afternoon departures from Dublin will make flights more appealing for regional travellers too. Heres to an Albanian Riviera summer for 2026? Winter in Florida Fort Myers Beach, Florida, USA Eyeballing a sunny Florida break this winter? Then take a look at the Gulf Coast resort of Fort Myers. The city is bouncing back following the devastation from hurricanes Ian and Milton, not least thanks to its $20m Estero Island Shoreline Protection Project focused on the restoration of its seven-mile beach. The city makes for an excellent nature lovers destination with its mangroves, beaches and blueways. Value-seeking road-trippers will luck out too; check out Marriots new StudioRes brand in the city which offers residence style stays from less that 100 a night. Moxy Belfast Moxy Belfast New week, a new hotel launch! This time its the turn of the Moxy Belfast, which is set to open its doors in two weeks. The colourful brand is located in the citys very central Clarence Street (a handy 5 minute walk to City Hall) and will increase their Irish offering to three properties with current offerings already in Dublin and Cork. Nows a great time to book your next Belfast break due to the hotels attractive lead-in rates; theyre as low as 104 per night as I write, which include the hotels signature complimentary breakfast and welcome cocktail upon check-in. Its also dog-friendly. Rail USA Cayo Costa State Park. Pic: Brian Tietz Planning a trip to the States? Next week sees the much-anticipated launch of NextGen Acela, the latest evolution of Amtraks high-speed trains. Its the first upgrade to the service which was introduced in 2000 and will see increased capacity on the models as well as top speeds increasing from 150mph to 160mph (thats a 16kmph bump). The service will run across the DC to Boston Northeast corridor, meaning stops in Philadelphia and New York City along the way. And rates aint so bad either: business seats (theres no economy options on) start from $75 one way, making them a fine option for those seeking to avoid the hustle and hassle of flights. Galway Getaway G Hotel and Spa If youre thinking of a luxury getaway to Galway, put the G Hotel & spa on your short-list. The five star hotel has just announced a flash sale which runs from now until next Sunday (August 30) and is valid for all bookings up until December 31, 2026. The deal is available to members only but thats essentially achieved by adding your email in a jiffy. B&B rates at the time of print start from the 180 per night. Jillian Bolger is away. Former clients of Private Midwives Ireland (PMI) who are in late pregnancy have been urged to contact Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) or their nearest maternity hospital. The private service closed abruptly last week for financial reasons, leaving women scrambling for care with some as late as 38 weeks pregnant. PMI offered homebirths with many of its midwives working in areas where the HSE national homebirth service does not operate. CUMH clinical director Dr Mairead ORiordan said on Friday: We urge women approaching their due date to contact their local maternity hospital and ask to be put through to the bed manager. "From there, a plan will be put in place to ensure they receive timely and appropriate care as they prepare for the arrival of their baby." She added: Many women will have built strong relationships with their midwife through PMI. "If they wish, that midwife can attend the birth as their support person. HSE Southwest said each woman will be assessed individually and given a care plan. The CUMH switchboard can direct calls for any women affected who have clinical concerns or are approaching their due date, it said. Women who are earlier in their pregnancy are advised to contact their GP and arrange a referral for care. Anyone who has difficulty contacting a GP for this can instead contact their local maternity hospital and explain their situation, the HSE said. In an emergency situation, women should attend their nearest emergency department immediately, it advised. The Doula Association of Ireland also said on Friday the news is deeply saddening. It said: At a time when choice in maternity care is more important than ever, losing a provider that offered home birth options to so many is heart-breaking. Its comments follow similar concerns shared last week by AIMS Ireland and midwives working for PMI. Midwife Sarah McCann told the Irish Examiner the sudden closure left her clients "scrambling" for alternatives. The eligibility criteria for homebirths with PMI and with the HSE are different. And she explained this meant her clients could not simply transfer over even though she worked for both services. MOSCOW, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States are discussing the possibility of cooperating in liquefied natural gas (LNG), not only in the Russian Arctic zone but also in the U.S. state of Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday. Speaking at a meeting with nuclear industry workers and scientists in Sarov, Nizhny Novgorod region, Putin noted that several Russian companies, including major LNG producer Novatek, are already cooperating with partners from Europe and Asia. "We are also discussing with American partners the possibility of working together in this area, and not only in our Arctic zone, but also in Alaska," Putin said, quoted by TASS news agency. Putin noted that Russia possesses unique LNG technologies, which have attracted the interest of its partners, including those from the United States. More than one thousand people marched through the streets of Dublin to call for justice for a young child who died after dealing with long delays for scoliosis surgery. Nine-year-old Harvey Morrison, who had scoliosis and spina bifida, died on July 29. His parents, Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt, said their son waited for years for spinal surgery, during which time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130 degrees. By the time Harvey received spinal surgery last December, the curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected. The march took place in Dublin city centre (Gareth Chaney/PA) The curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing. His parents, opposition politicians and campaigners have called for the Tanaiste and former minister for health, Simon Harris, to step down, after he pledged in 2017 that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment. Speaking at the Justice for Harvey rally in Dublin, Ms Sherratt said that her son was forced to spend the majority of his life waiting for treatment. Harveys painfully short life was very much a rollercoaster. There were a lot of low times but the highs were what kept us going, she told the large crowd at Custom House. We often called Harvey our easy child, as despite how complex he was, he was also just so laid back and took everything on the chin. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald spoke to demonstrators (Gareth Chaney/PA) Harvey spent the majority of life waiting. He was made to wait for everything but he asked for nothing. All he wanted was his iPad, his Hunky Dorys, the odd lollipop and timely access to healthcare. To us, that seems like so little to ask. We could provide him with most things. We could ensure that almost all his needs were met, but we unfortunately didnt control all aspects of his healthcare. Despite doing everything we could, despite begging for help, we didnt have the final say. CHI (Childrens Health Ireland) has not only failed to met their basic needs, but they appear to he protecting those that indirectly or directly caused harm. Harvey was nine. He waited 33 months for scoliosis surgery and, in that time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130. He had to have his whole life put on hold while he waited. Joan Daly and Aaron Daly from Dun Laoghaire with their daughter Sophia during the march (Gareth Chaney/PA) We cancelled family holidays, cancelled our wedding, postponed his sisters heart surgery as he sat and waited for a date for surgery. We had to watch him deteriorate, cry in pain, struggle to breathe and lose the sparkle in his eye over those 33 months. Most importantly it robbed him of his childhood, it robbed him of his comfort, robbed him of quality of life and robbed us of the opportunity to make precious family memories with him. That is something we will never get over. This is why we will continue to advocate. What we have been through, what Harvey has lived through, is soul-destroying. We will keep pushing in hope that no family will have to face what we did. This is something we vow to continue in his death. Among those attending Saturdays march was People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Senator Tom Clonan. All three addressed the crowd. Mr Morrison thanked the demonstrators. We would like to say a massive thank you for everyones support over the last few weeks. The level of support has been absolutely overwhelming, he said. We are here to call for justice for Harvey and all the other kids continuing to be failed by Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) and the state. Harvey was our first child. He is the one that made us parents, he made us a family and he made us into the people we are today. He showed us how to be brave, how to be patient, courageous and kind. Today we hope we make him proud. Without a doubt, Ive faced challenges like financial struggles and a tough environment, but to me, those hardships have only created more room to grow and push myself further. Those were the words of one Leaving Certificate student whose battle with adversity made him determined to do everything in his power to succeed. Kyle O'Connell from Knocknaheeny on Cork City's northside was celebrating on Friday after getting his results, which included a H2 in Irish, a H3 in English, and a H4 in French. The above quote is from a scholarship application Kyle made to University College Cork (UCC) to study international business with languages. The application details were shared by Kyle's proud principal Phil O'Flynn, from Gaelcholaiste Mhic Shuibhne in Knocknaheeny. In the application, the young man also wrote: Id like to think that younger Kyle would be proud of who Ive become. If he stood before me now, quiet and uncertain, Id tell him hes so much more than the cruel names the other boys sling at him, more than their simple words could ever define. "Throughout my life, I have always felt a slight disconnect from the people and world around me. "Growing up queer has often made me feel like an observer of the world rather than a part of it." He said while others moved freely, "I learned to listen, to notice, to understand the shift of a glance or the weight behind a word." "That disconnect, though lonely, sharpened my senses," he wrote. "As I walk around Cork City, I see things others overlook. Quiet moments of beauty, tension and possibility are all around us. Ive found a quiet kind of understanding, and a perspective that feels uniquely my own. After collecting his results, Kyle told the Irish Examiner how he often felt restricted by damaging stereotypes, even about growing up in Knocknaheeny. There are often negative connotations attached to the place where I come from," he said. "People are individual and unique, which makes it so wrong to write off a whole area. I can understand because Ive lived here all my life. "I understand how much these expectations can restrict people, especially the younger generation. I saw this disadvantage, however, as an opportunity to overcome." He said growing up with those struggles helped him develop an appreciation for other things in life that have allowed him to get to know himself more than the average person would. "I think in life you have to come through these times in order to find out who you truly are. Otherwise you wont feel fulfilled. "I would not be the person I am today, had I not experienced those struggles. I think that success is subjective and individual from person to person. People need to find that fulfilment however they can in life." In the carefully varnished world of contemporary literature, where a writers greatest sin is often being accused of earnestness, Sally Rooney has carved herself out as something far more dangerous: A moral presence. That may sound odd given that we live in an era where everyone online is either performing outrage or being devoured by it. But Rooney, in her quiet way, is doing something far more destabilising than simply throwing hashtags around. She is daring to ask the obvious, inconvenient question: Why should a novelist plead neutrality in the face of genocide? The answer, if you listen to her critics, is that she ought to sit down and get back to writing about awkwardly beautiful twentysomethings who struggle to say how they feel. The answer, if you listen to Rooney, is that the writers quill cannot ignore the blood spilled in Gaza nor the subjugation of the Palestinian people This is what makes her subversive. Not the cool girl Marxist chic she was once accused of hiding in her prose, but the persistence with which she insists on speaking into silence. Literature, despite its reputation for being brave and bold, is at times a remarkably timid industry. Writers may bluster about sex, drugs, and class struggle, but bring up Palestine at a panel discussion and watch the oxygen vanish from the room. Hypocrisy, bias, and naivety Rooney, born in Castlebar, schooled in Trinity, now living in a glare she openly despises, has done something most of her peers dare not: She has placed her moral weight against Israels flagrant system of apartheid. She refused an Israeli publishers request to translate her novel Beautiful World, Where Are You into Hebrew through companies that are complicit with the state. She instead directed them toward Palestinian translators. Cue the outrage. Cue the headlines. Cue the accusations of hypocrisy, bias, naivety, faux-feminism. What if her choice was neither naive nor hypocritical, but simply consistent? She had said she supported the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, and then she acted on it. You might not like the politics I do but you cant accuse her of flinching. In doing so, Rooney has drawn a line through the centre of the literary establishment. On one side, those who believe the writers duty ends at the desk, the bookshop reading, the festival circuit, and comfortable chairs sat in by MFA adjunct professors. On the other, those who believe words are a form of currency and silence is the most expensive coin of all. Rooneys subversiveness isnt in the content of her novels which, for all their delicately rendered relationships, rarely veer into the geopolitical. Its in her willingness to be a public writer who doesnt just promote her brand, but insists on acknowledging the brutality of the world she lives in. For many in publishing, Gaza is a topic best avoided the conversational equivalent of a third rail Better to speak of abstract justice than of murdered children. Better to write essays about ethical storytelling than to take a position that might upset the donors of a literary prize. Rooney, by contrast, has done what Irish writers have always done at their best: Poked the bruise, called the bluff, and refused the comfort of silence. She has done it in a world where the price for speaking is steep. It is one thing to post your solidarity with Ukraine and receive a wave of applause, its quite another to demand solidarity with Palestine and watch as doors quietly close. Prizes withheld. Invitations lost in the post. Reviews sharpened ever so slightly. Subversive voices rarely begin as such. They become subversive only because the world around them is so allergic to honesty. Rooney did not invent her politics. They were nurtured in the soil of the land that birthed her, a country long acquainted with occupation and injustice. They were sharpened in her reading, in her education, in the circles she moves through. Sally Rooney refused an Israeli publishers request to translate her novel Beautiful World, Where Are You, through companies that are complicit with the state. That she happens to be a best-selling author simply makes her refusal to play the role of neutral celebrity all the more startling. Critics often mistake her popularity for mere fashion young readers falling for autofiction with leftist gloss. But it turns out those same readers, millions of them, are being introduced not just to her characters but to her conscience. When she speaks of Gaza, they listen. When she names apartheid, they repeat it. Threat to establishment What is art if not political? Well, heres the thing: I started a masters degree in writing at an Irish university a month before October 7, 2023. I finished it 10 months later, when the dead numbered tens of thousands amongst them hundreds of Palestinian poets, novelists, screenwriters, essayists, and students. How many times were the words Palestine, genocide, or Gaza mentioned in those tiny classrooms filled with brilliant people desperate to find an agent and sell a novel? I can assure you it was negligible. This, then, is the true danger Rooney poses to the literary establishment. Not that she is cancelling Israel, nor that she is politicising literature. The establishment has always been political, it simply prefers its politics to be aligned with power What Rooney threatens is the possibility that literatures young audience might begin to expect moral seriousness from its stars. In Ireland, we should be used to this. From Synge to Behan, OCasey to Edna OBrien, our writers have never simply written to amuse. They have railed against silence. They have screamed against the warm complicity of those who would rather not know. Rooney, in her turn, is part of that inheritance. It is tempting to patronise her, to cast her as the precocious young woman out of her depth in the thickets of geopolitics, but listen carefully and you hear something else: Not naivety, but moral clarity. A refusal to watch as the bodies mount in Gaza and pretend it is merely a regrettable sideshow to the serious business of writing novels while swilling the riesling. In an industry allergic to risk, she has taken one. In a culture that rewards distraction, she has insisted on sharp focus. That is why she is being called subversive, because she has refused the invitation extended to every successful novelist: To smile politely, collect your royalties, and shut up. By speaking up, she reminds us that literature is not just about observing the world but daring to change it, with all its ugliness, all its injustice, all its unspeakable grief. Subversive Sally? Only in a world where telling the truth has become the most radical act of all. Palestinians have lived and died through horror over the last two years. There are no words left to describe the devastating and systematic genocide of an entire population. We have used them all up. Its almost impossible to imagine how things could get worse, but they are. The horror for Gazas 2.2m people is sliding even further into unrelenting slaughter, starvation, and horror. The confirmation on Friday by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) of famine in Gaza City, amidst plans by Israel to take the city over, has plunged this desperate crisis to a new low. Things are, unbelievably, getting worse. After months of deliberate starvation, imposed through the Israeli governments blockade of lifesaving aid, famine was inevitable and predicted. The most catastrophic level, Phase 5, was confirmed in Gaza Governorate the area around Gaza City and is projected to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. Smoke rise to the sky following an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel. Picture: Leo Correa This is the most severe deterioration since the IPC began analysing acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, and it marks the first time a famine has been officially confirmed in the Middle East region. More than 500,000 people are already enduring catastrophic conditions marked by starvation, destitution, and death, while more than half the population,1.07m people, are in the emergency phase of starvation and a further 396,000 in the crisis phase. Given the hellish conditions in Gaza right now, these numbers are likely under-estimated. This is deliberate. The repeated closure of border crossings, the obstruction of humanitarian convoys, and the weaponisation of food and medical supplies by Israel constitute collective punishment and egregious breaches of international law. Under international humanitarian law, the deliberate starvation of civilians as a method of warfare constitutes a war crime. Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths. the IPC said in a statement. Latest data indicates that famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City. People, and children, are dying. Thousands of frail and hungry children are slowly wasting away, with the IPC saying what we have already known for weeks access to food and other essential items and services has plummeted to unprecedented levels. ActionAid and partners have warned that famine was inevitable if the siege continued. Now, the consequences are undeniable and catastrophic. Mothers are forced to feed their babies with unsafe substitutes for milk; children are dying from preventable causes; and entire families, including ActionAid staff and humanitarian workers, are starving. ActionAid continues to work with partners across Gaza to deliver whatever aid is possible under the current restrictions and stands ready to scale up operations if access is granted. More than 20,000 children in Gaza have been admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, with more than 3,000 severely malnourished. Hospitals have reported a rapid increase in hunger-related deaths of children under five years of age, with over 100 kids dead now from man-made starvation. All the while the brutal bombardments and mass killings continue apace, bringing with them terror, grief and trauma. On Thursday, Israel bombed a camp for internally displaced people. Amidst this man-made starvation, the military operation to seize Gaza City, will bring further death, displacement, and devastation. This is a brutal offensive with neighbourhoods once filled with families and hopes already being decimated with artillery, airstrikes, and an utter disregard for the sanctity of civilian life. If Israel proceeds to occupy Gaza City now, the consequences will be catastrophic. The pattern is clear. Just like with Rafah, the city will be encircled, the population starved and bombed, buildings destroyed. While Gaza city has been badly destroyed with almost 70% of its buildings razed to the ground, it will now be totally flattened and made entirely inhabitable. The world failed to stop it for Rafah, and signs are that nothing will stop this. The displacement that will ensue will be mass death on the move. Where will the almost 1m residents go? To the over-crowded and inhumane camps in the south? What are starving people to do when displaced under shelling? The elderly and the very young die first. With health facilities shattered, even treatable illnesses become fatal. What the world is witnessing in real time is not warfare. This is engineered starvation, deliberate displacement, and a merciless assault on a trapped and terrorised population. Israel's inhuman strategy weaponises hunger and fear and punishes the innocent including mothers, children and the elderly. This is a moral collapse of epic proportions. This famine is man-made. It flows from political choices. Global inaction has led to time running out for Palestinians in Gaza. Words have failed. Famine must be stopped at all costs. Ending it is a race against time. An immediate ceasefire and end to the conflict is critical to enabling an unimpeded, large-scale humanitarian response that can save lives. World leaders must use every diplomatic tool to press for an immediate, durable ceasefire that protects civilians, enables the release of all hostages, and opens space for a political resolution rooted in international law. Famine is a horror known well in Irish history. It is a devastating reality with hunger, malnutrition, and disease converging in a catastrophic tide of death. We must stand with Palestinians; they do not need our pity. They need action. Karol Balfe is CEO of ActionAid Ireland The controversy surrounding allegations of a Russian agent in the Oireachtas has deepened, after the media outlet which claimed so-called Agent Cobalt had been cleared doubled-down on the accuracy of its report by detailing what it claims to be a supporting document. The Journal first published a story on Tuesday stating that there was no Agent Cobalt and that a garda investigation had exonerated him. It suggested that the politician was sent confirmation of this in writing. That sparked a strong statement later on Tuesday from Garda HQ, which said there was an ongoing active criminal investigation into the case. Senior garda sources told the Irish Examiner that no letter from gardai was sent stating the politician was in the clear and stressed gardai would not do this. The Journal responded to the Garda HQ statement by publishing a second story, on Friday night, citing what it claimed to be a document compiled following a meeting between gardai and lawyers for the politician. It said the document unequivocally states that the politician has no case to answer. It contends the document is a memorandum of a meeting held between gardai and lawyers for the politician held after The Sunday Times published a story last October alleging there was a Russian agent in the Oireachtas. The Sunday Times is expected to publish more details tomorrow to support its original reports, further deepening the controversy. The controversy has yet to drag in politicians, who are on holiday, with the Oireachtas not returning until September 17. Deflect Garda Commissioner Drew Harris managed to deflect involvement on Friday by stating he would not comment on matters of national security. He departs at the end of next week and the new commissioner, Justin Kelly, starts. The politician has not yet commented publicly on the allegations and has continued being an active member of the Oireachtas. The Journal article published on Friday evening claims that the document was drawn up after a number of meetings between gardai attached to the Special Detective Unit (SDU) and the politician and their legal representatives. The article said that one paragraph of the document alleges that the SDU reiterated clearly and unambiguously that the [politician] was never a person of interest nor was he under investigation or suspicion regarding the subject matter of the Sunday [newspaper] article. The article also states that the document notes apparent discussions about a related garda investigation into the source of the information on the politician that made its way to The Sunday Times. It said that, according to the document, detectives believed undoubtedly the information came from within the Garda organisation. Other possible sources of the information that have been speculated on previously have also included senior figures in the Government and civil service, British intelligence, and even Irish military intelligence. Again, there is little publicly known evidence that could potentially back up any of these theories. Security sources have told the Irish Examiner that meetings have been held between the SDU the operational arm of the Gardas Security & Intelligence Service - and the politician's legal team, although they stress no assurances as claimed would have been given. The Garda Press Office declined to provide the Irish Examiner with details as to when the garda criminal investigation began and whether or not the sole suspect in the investigation has been arrested or interviewed voluntarily. Prior to the criminal investigation, the politician would have formed part of a much wider counter-intelligence operation by both Garda Security & Intelligence and the Irish Military Intelligence Service, who were monitoring people linked to Russian intelligence services operating in Ireland. The Garda Press Office told the Irish Examiner there was no further comment following the latest article by The Journal and referred back to their statement on Tuesday. The Pope has strongly affirmed the rights of the weakest against the ambitions of the powerful during an audience with refugees from Chagos, the contested Indian Ocean archipelago that is home to a strategic US-UK military base. Historys first American pope insisted on the right of the Chagossian people to return to their homes and hailed a recent UK-Mauritius treaty over the archipelagos future as symbolically important on the international stage. Leo XIV met with a delegation of refugees from Chagos, some 2,000 of whom who were evicted from their homes by the UK in the 1960s and 1970s so the US could build a naval and bomber base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia. Displaced islanders fought for years in UK courts for the right to go home. In May, the UK and Mauritius signed a treaty to hand sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius while still ensuring the future of the base. Leo told the refugees he was delighted that the treaty had been reached, saying it represented a significant victory in their long battle to repair a grave injustice. There is a military base on the islands (Alamy/PA) He praised in particular the role of the Chagossian women in peacefully asserting their rights to go home. Leo said in French: The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and a powerful symbol on the international stage: all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, in particular the right to live on their land; and no-one can force them into exile. He said he hoped that Mauritian authorities will commit to ensuring their return, and pledged the help of the local Catholic Church. Under the agreement, the UK will pay Mauritius an average of 101 million a year to lease back the base for at least 99 years. It establishes a trust fund to benefit the Chagossians and says Mauritius is free to implement a program of resettlement on the islands other than Diego Garcia. But it does not require the residents to be resettled, and some displaced islanders fear it will be even harder to return to their place of birth after Mauritius takes control. Mauritius had long contested the UKs claim to the archipelago, and the United Nations and its top court had urged Britain to return the Chagos to Mauritius, 1,250 miles south-west of the islands. In a non-binding 2019 opinion, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK had unlawfully carved up Mauritius when it agreed to end colonial rule in the late 1960s. The late Pope Francis visited Mauritius in 2019 and met a group of Chagossians at the Vatican in 2023. Francis told reporters en route home from Mauritius in 2019 that the UK should obey the UN and return the islands to Mauritius. Firetrucks are seen near a site of the wildfire in Unhais da Serra, central Portugal, on Aug. 22, 2025. Wildfires raging across central Portugal's Gardunha mountains have encircled several historic villages, forcing evacuations and leaving others under siege. LISBON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires raging across central Portugal's Gardunha mountains have encircled several historic villages, forcing evacuations and leaving others under siege. Castelo Novo, one of Portugal's officially recognized "12 Historic Villages," known for its medieval ruins, picturesque scenery and cultural vitality that draw visitors year after year, is one of the hardest hit. Although the flames are now largely under control, firefighting crews remain stationed nearby, ready to respond to flare-ups at any moment. On Thursday, as a Xinhua reporter entered the village, the acrid smell of smoke hung in the air, mingling with ash and haze. Flames have already licked the edge of the settlement; scorch marks scar the stone walls at the entrance, and the hills beyond lie charred, their blackened tree trunks leaning at awkward angles. From above, the scene resembles a quiet green oasis marooned in a desert of ash. Many residents have been evacuated, but some villagers and visitors remain. They gather in the local cafe, sipping coffee as if to ward off the bitter smoke that hangs over the square. Among them is Lopez, a Spanish tourist, who shrugged as he told Xinhua he never expected to encounter wildfires while traveling in Portugal. "Wildfires in Spain are even worse. So we've given up moving around - we'll just stay here a few days," he said. Eighty-year-old Lourenco Inacio's home sits at the edge of the village, separated from the flames only by a narrow road. A few days ago, when the fire was at its worst, flames shot six or seven meters high, he recalled. Driven by the strong wind, the wildfire surrounded the village in less than 30 minutes. Inacio lives beside a viewing terrace built for tourists. Standing there, one would normally see verdant hillsides stretching into the distance. Now, only scorched slopes remain, a landscape of ruin. Nights, residents say, are the most terrifying. Fires often reignite in the darkness, spreading from multiple directions. "Fear doesn't help," Inacio said. "You can't just watch everything burn away. I'll stay and fight until the end." Another villager, Antanio Barroso, also refuses to leave. His orchard has been destroyed, but his house still stands. Running his hand along a wall blackened by smoke, he said, "This house is all I've worked for in my life. I can't abandon it. I'll stay and fight alongside the firefighters." About 40 kilometers away, the village of Unhais da Serra is now another frontline. Nestled at the foot of Serra da Estrela, the highest peak on Portugal's mainland, it has seen its surrounding national forest reduced to ashes. Along the main road, dozens of fire trucks and more than a hundred firefighters are deployed to prevent flare-ups. Firefighter Gomes told Xinhua that crews from across the country have been battling here for a week, taking turns to rest wherever they can. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), wildfires in Portugal have scorched more than 278,000 hectares so far this year, second only to the record 563,000 hectares burned in 2017. In terms of land area affected, Portugal ranks first in Europe, with 3.03 percent of its territory burned - far above the long-term average of 1.05 percent. Portugal has been under nationwide alert since Aug. 3 due to extreme heat that has heightened wildfire risk. Two people have died in Portugal as a result of wildfires this year. With extreme heat persisting across the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal's wildfire threat remains acute. For the residents of Castelo Novo and Unhais da Serra, these ancient villages are more than just homes - they are history and heritage that must be defended. Firetrucks are seen near a site of the wildfire in Unhais da Serra, central Portugal, on Aug. 22, 2025. Wildfires raging across central Portugal's Gardunha mountains have encircled several historic villages, forcing evacuations and leaving others under siege. This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2025 shows an area devastated by the wildfire in Castelo Novo, central Portugal. Wildfires raging across central Portugal's Gardunha mountains have encircled several historic villages, forcing evacuations and leaving others under siege. Firefighters work at a site of the wildfire near Unhais da Serra, central Portugal, on Aug. 22, 2025. Wildfires raging across central Portugal's Gardunha mountains have encircled several historic villages, forcing evacuations and leaving others under siege. This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2025 shows an area devastated by the wildfire in Castelo Novo, central Portugal. Wildfires raging across central Portugal's Gardunha mountains have encircled several historic villages, forcing evacuations and leaving others under siege. Firefighters work at a site of the wildfire near Unhais da Serra, central Portugal, on Aug. 22, 2025. Wildfires raging across central Portugal's Gardunha mountains have encircled several historic villages, forcing evacuations and leaving others under siege. This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2025 shows an area devastated by the wildfire in Castelo Novo, central Portugal. Wildfires raging across central Portugal's Gardunha mountains have encircled several historic villages, forcing evacuations and leaving others under siege. This photo taken on Aug. 23, 2025 shows the scarred landscape after wildfires in the mountains near Unhais da Serra, Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) This photo taken on Aug. 23, 2025 shows the village of Unhais da Serra among scarred mountains in Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) This photo taken on Aug. 23, 2025 shows the scarred landscape after wildfires in the mountains near Unhais da Serra, Portugal. (Xinhua/Xun Wei) TEHRAN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Friday exchanged views on the latest developments regarding Iran's nuclear issue. In a phone call, the two sides discussed threats by France, Britain and Germany, collectively known as the E3, to reinstate international sanctions on Iran on the verge of the expiration of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, said a statement released by the Iranian foreign ministry early Saturday. The statement said the E3 has no legal and moral competence to resort to the snapback mechanism and reinstate the Security Council's sanctions on Tehran as it has "flagrantly violated" Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 JCPOA, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The "snapback" clause, part of the JCPOA, allows world powers to reimpose international sanctions if Iran fails to comply with the deal. The statement added that the ministers also exchanged views on the path ahead of the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West, stressing that Resolution 2231 should end at the scheduled date, which falls on Oct. 18. Earlier in the day, Araghchi held a joint phone call with the E3 foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, elaborating on Iran's positions regarding the potential triggering of the snapback mechanism and the resumption of negotiations between Iran and the Europeans. During the phone call, it was decided that Iran and the E3 would resume nuclear talks next Tuesday at the level of deputy foreign ministers. Since September last year, Iran has held several rounds of talks with the three European states, most recently in Istanbul in late July. By Leonie Fleischmann, City St Georges, University of London (The Conversation) The Israeli government has approved a plan for construction of a massive new settlement bloc in the controversial E1 area in the occupied West Bank. In reviving a project first proposed in 1994, which will comprise about 3,500 new dwellings in a line across the West Bank, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich laid bare the intentions of his government. He declared that approval of construction plans in E1 buries the idea of a Palestinian state, and continues the many steps we are taking on the ground as part of the de facto sovereignty plan. E1 (East 1) refers to 12 square kilometres of unsettled land east of Jerusalem. It sits inside the boundaries of the third most populous Israeli settlement in the West Bank, Maale Adumim. In 1975, Israel expropriated 30 sq km of land on which seven Palestinian villages had once stood. Here they built Maale Adumim, one of three Israeli settlement blocs that form an outer ring around the Israeli-defined municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. Israeli authorities refer to these blocs as facts on the ground. They were initiated in the West Bank by the Israeli government after the 1967 War to ensure that Israeli population centres were protected from potential attacks. Today, almost 40,000 Israelis live in Maale Adumim largely secular Israelis and diaspora Jews who have moved to Israel. Far from the makeshift Israeli outposts that are scattered across the rural West Bank, Maale Adumim was designated a city by Israel in 2015. It is considered by the majority of Israeli Jews to be a permanently protected settlement bloc, which will be retained through land swaps in any final agreement with Palestinians. The E1 development plan would involve a significant expansion of the existing settlement. All settlement building in East Jerusalem and the West Bank is deemed illegal under international law, but the E1 plans are particularly controversial. At the heart of the controversy is the viability of a Palestinian state. Israeli construction in E1 would cut the West Bank into two separate parts, rendering it impossible to establish a contiguous Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. In addition, according to an objection lodged by the Israeli pressure group Peace Now, Israeli construction in E1 would negatively affect the economic development of a future Palestinian state. Its objection argues the E1 area is essential for expansion of an urban metropolis necessary for economic growth, and is the only land in East Jerusalem suitable for further development in the Palestinian part of the city. It states that E1 should therefore be left for Palestinian rather than Israeli development. Political threat The plan to develop E1 was first proposed in 1994 by Israels then-prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, to make sure Maale Adumim was part of a united Jerusalem. This was subsequently reaffirmed by Shimon Peres during his prime ministership in 1996, as part of proposed territorial swaps in the framework of a permanent peace agreement. In 2005, those plans were frozen after the US administration under George W. Bush told Israel that settlement in E1 would contravene American policy. The plan was reignited by Israels current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in 2012, in retaliation for the United Nations extension of non-member status to Palestine. But it was then put on hold for eight years due to international pressure. In 2020, a week ahead of the third national elections held in Israel in a single year, Netanyahu pledged to revive the E1 project, with the hope of securing votes and to court the ultra-nationalist parties into a potential coalition. In 2022, Netanyahu renewed the E1 construction plans, weeks before then-US president Joe Biden was due to visit Israel. Opposition and support Each time the plans have been proposed, the decision to advance construction has been met with both internal and international condemnation. On June 9 2023, the planning hearing was indefinitely postponed following a call between Netanyahu and Bidens secretary of state, Antony Blinken. In response to the most recent announcement to reinstate the plans, the European Union put out a statement expressing concern. It urged Israel to desist from taking this decision forward, noting its far-reaching implications and the need to consider action to protect the viability of the two-state solution. However, Donald Trump now appears to be breaking with the position of previous US administrations. It was recently reported in the Jerusalem Post that the Trump administration supports the reactivation of the development plans. A spokesperson for the US State Department said a stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administrations goal to achieve peace in the region. Photo by abu adel: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cityscape-of-a-eastern-country-city-3805146/ Israels latest attempt to initiate construction in E1 shows that, while the plans have consistently been delayed, they have never been abandoned. The question is why did Smotrich, with the apparent approval of Netanyahu, make this announcement now? The answer is most likely that, with the international focus firmly on the continued assault on Gaza, the Israeli government believes it has the breathing space to press ahead with its commitment to building settlements across the West Bank. Alongside the proposed Israeli takeover of Gaza City, the promise by Smotrich that 2025 would be Israels Year of Sovereignty and with it the end of a future Palestinian state appears to be coming ever closer. Leonie Fleischmann, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, City St Georges, University of London This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 22, 2025) - Inspiration Energy Corp. (CSE: ISP) (WKN: A40GPX) (OTCID: ISPNF) ("Inspiration" or the "Company") a Canadian gold and copper exploration company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Rottenstone West Project (the "Acquisition"), a district-sized mineral property in Northern Saskatchewan. With the Acquisition, Inspiration becomes one of the largest landholders in what is rapidly emerging as one of Canada's most exciting new volcanogenic massive sulfide ("VMS") and gold exploration districts. "With over 85,000 acres now under Inspiration's control, we are now one of the largest landholders in this exciting new VMS district," stated Charles Desjardins, CEO of Inspiration. "We've strategically positioned ourselves along trend with recent discoveries and have cutting-edge satellite data identifying multiple gold-copper targets. Our technical team is finalizing drilling plans right now, and we anticipate launching our first drilling program shortly." Figure 1: Location map of the Rottenstone West & Rottenstone North properties With just over 30 million shares outstanding, Inspiration offers shareholders strong upside leverage to exploration success. Its tight capital structure, combined with large-scale land holdings, advanced geophysics, and near-term drill readiness, positions the Company to participate meaningfully in one of Canada's most promising new discovery corridors. The new Acquisition comprises approximately 31,011 hectares (76,640 acres) of contiguous mineral claims in the Rottenstone Domain, immediately southwest of Ramp Metals Inc.'s ("Ramp") discoveries on their Rottenstone SW property. The Acquisition is located along the same northeast-southwest trending geological structures that host multiple high-grade showings in the region, including 73.55 g/t Au over 7.5 metres at the Ranger Showing and 1.61% Cu at the Rush VMS discovery (see Ramp's news release dated June 17, 2024). Notably, historical work on the Rottenstone West Project identified multiple massive sulfide occurrences as early as the 1950s (linked below). These areas remain untested by modern exploration methods, presenting compelling targets for new discoveries within a top-tier mining jurisdiction, as ranked by the Fraser Institute. (linked below). This Acquisition significantly complements Inspiration's adjacent, 100%-owned Rottenstone North Gold Project ("Rottenstone North"), where the Company recently completed an Advanced Atomic Mineral Resonance Tomography (AMRT) satellite survey (Figure 1). The AMRT survey identified numerous high-priority gold and copper targets along the eastern property boundary of Rottenstone North - parallel and on trend with Ramp's Rush copper-gold-silver discovery, located just a few kilometres away. A drill permit application has been submitted, and the Company is finalizing plans to commence its inaugural drilling program in the near term. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Inspiration may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties. Under the terms of the acquisition, Inspiration will acquire 100% ownership of the Rottenstone West Project in exchange for a cash payment of C$18,590 to reimburse staking costs, the issuance of 3,000,000 common shares of the Company, and 2,000,000 transferable share purchase warrants exercisable at $0.18 for a period of five years. The vendors will retain a 3.0% net smelter return (NSR) royalty. The Company shall have the right, at any time, to purchase from the vendors one-half (1.5%) of the NSR Royalty (the "Buy-Back Option") by paying the vendors the sum of Three Million Dollars (C$3,000,000). This agreement is subject to all relevant approvals. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans, P.Geo. (APEGS #82498), an Independent Advisor to the Company, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Dr. Jobin-Bevans has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release. Links Historical Work on Rottenstone West https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/0862 https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/0864 https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/0868 Fraser Institute https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/annual-survey-mining-companies-2024 About Inspiration Energy Corp. Inspiration Energy is a Canadian mineral exploration company advancing a portfolio of high-potential precious and base metal projects in Tier-1 jurisdictions. The Company applies innovative, data-driven exploration technologies and is focused on unlocking district-scale discovery potential in underexplored but highly prospective regions. For more information, please refer to the Company's information available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). About 100 people staged a protest Saturday outside a Russian army base in the Armenian city of Gyumri, calling for an end to Moscow's military presence in the country. Armenia, a landlocked ex-Soviet country in the Caucasus, has long relied on Russia to bolster its security in its standoff with neighbouring Azerbaijan. But ties between the traditional allies have been strained since Azerbaijan's 2023 offensive on Nagorno-Karabakh, in which Moscow did not intervene to back Armenia. "We demand the withdrawal of the Russian base from the territory of Armenia. The presence of this base does not ensure security, but creates an internal threat," said Arman Babajanyan, one of the organisers. Some protesters held placards with slogans including: "Armenia without Russian boots" and "End the Russian occupation". "Russia must leave Armenia," said protester Anahit Tadevosyan who said the Russians were "destroying Ukraine". "They have betrayed us, they must leave," the 74-year-old added. A heavy police presence outside the base -- home to around 3,000 troops -- prevented clashes between the anti-Russia rally and a rival protest of a few dozen people in support of the base. The Gyumri base "ensures the independence and security of Armenia," Manuk Sukiasyan, a member of the Mother Armenia movement said at the counter-protest. The Russian 102nd Military Base has been in the northern Armenian city since 1995. Last year, Russia agreed to remove some troops and border guards from Armenia, but left its forces on Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran. The two countries are military allies through the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a mutual defence pact, though Yerevan said it had de facto suspended participation amid bilateral tensions. Armenia also joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) last year, a move that obliges it to arrest Russia's President Vladimir Putin should he set foot on Armenian territory. Putin faces an ICC warrant on war crimes charges. MOSCOW, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia has requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council on the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, following the arrest of a Ukrainian suspect in Italy, a senior Russian diplomat said Friday on social media. Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the UN, said that the meeting will take place on Aug. 26 at 4:00 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) under the presidency of Panama. He said Moscow will draw attention to the "protracted and non-transparent" nature of Germany's investigation into the blasts. German prosecutors said the Ukrainian national, identified as Serhii K., was detained Thursday in Italy at Germany's request. He is suspected of being part of a group that planted explosive devices on Nord Stream pipelines, and allegedly served as one of the coordinators of the operation. Serhii K. has reportedly denied any involvement, saying he was in Ukraine at the time of the incident, and refused voluntary extradition to Germany, where he could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. On Sept. 26, 2022, unprecedented explosions caused severe damage to the Nord Stream pipelines, including three of the four lines of Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2, the latter of which had not been put into operation. Russian officials have repeatedly asserted that the sabotage was carried out with U.S. support. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal case, classifying the incident as an act of international terrorism. Friday, August 22, 2025 - Bomet Governor Hillary Barchoks first wife, Saline, has set tongues wagging after a series of emotional social media posts that appear to point to turbulence in her marriage. In the posts, which have since gone viral, Saline poured out her heart in cryptic yet painful messages, leaving many of her followers deeply concerned about her well-being. She spoke of betrayal, heartbreak, and the struggles of holding on to a troubled relationship. Cry today, slay tomorrow. Heartbreak is temporary but comeback is permanent, one of her posts read. In another, she warned, Usione simba amenyeshewa ukadhani ni paka. Her emotional updates have fueled speculation among Kenyans online, with many interpreting them as a direct reflection of her strained marriage to the Governor. According to insiders, alleged infidelity is at the center of the marital woes. Saline had earlier shared a viral video where she was seen crying uncontrollably while praying for her marriage, further deepening public concern. Friday, August 22, 2025 - The Government has unveiled plans to relocate the iconic Kenya National Archives from its current site in Nairobis Central Business District (CBD), citing heightened security concerns. Gender and Culture Principal Secretary, Ummi Bashir, speaking on Thursday, August 21st, said the decision followed recent youth protests in the city, during which demonstrators reportedly attempted to torch the historic building. PS Bashir explained that moving the Archives to a quieter and more secure location would better protect the countrys heritage while also providing a more conducive environment for researchers. We would like to safeguard the assets in this building and take them to an environment where researchers can work seamlessly and comfortably, she stated. The National Archives, located between Tom Mboya Street and Moi Avenue, is both a heritage site and a popular Nairobi landmark. Established in the 1930s as the headquarters of National and Grindlays Bank, the building was later converted into the Kenya National Archives through an Act of Parliament two years after independence. It houses over 40,000 historical photographs, parliamentary records, artefacts, and African art collections, with recent additions including more than 300,000 digitised colonial-era files returned by the UK. The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. While some Kenyans welcomed the move as necessary for security and preservation, others expressed skepticism, speculating on hidden agendas to seize the prime CBD property. Many Nairobians also joked that without the iconic landmark, meeting friends in town would become more confusing. Friday, August 22, 2025 - The sudden dismissal of Dr. Evanson Kamuri as Chief Executive Officer of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has ignited controversy, with sources alleging that it was orchestrated by cartels that are entrenched within the Ministry of Health. These cartels, long accused of manipulating procurement processes for personal gain, are believed to have engineered Kamuris removal to facilitate irregular supply deals - particularly through the implementation of a Fixed Fee Contract (FFC) system. At the heart of this storm is the Sh433 million oxygen plant procurement, which has come under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). Despite the Ministry of Health being solely responsible for the acquisition, efforts have been made to implicate Dr. Kamuri and the KNH leadership in its shortcomings. During a Board of Management meeting on December 29th, 2024, Kamuri notably refused to endorse a report detailing anomalies in a Sh443.6 million tender awarded to Biomax Africa Ltd two years earlier - a move that insiders say sealed his fate. Kamuris principled stance against questionable procurement practices made him a target. His resistance to rubber-stamping irregular deals, including his written appeals to then Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai regarding unresolved issues with the oxygen plant, positioned him as a barrier to the cartels ambitions. By accelerating his exit months before his scheduled terminal leave in October, these interests cleared the way for the introduction of the FFC model - a system that allows suppliers to deliver equipment and services under blanket contracts with minimal oversight. While touted as efficient, critics argue that it opens the door to inflated pricing and unchecked corruption. This episode is emblematic of a broader pattern within Kenyas health sector, where whistleblowers and reform-minded officials are sidelined to protect entrenched interests. From the irregular supply of PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic to inflated medical tenders, the Ministry of Health has repeatedly been accused of enabling profiteering at the expense of public welfare. Kamuris removal fits this troubling narrative: discredit or eject those who resist, then exploit the system. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, August 22, 2025 - The Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services has formally responded to a petition calling for the relocation of the remains of Kenyas first President, Jomo Kenyatta, from Parliament Grounds in Nairobi to his ancestral home in Gatundu, Kiambu County. The petition, filed on July 26th by John Mweha, argued that the late Presidents current resting place was not symbolically or constitutionally reserved for the legislative arm of Government and may not align with traditional African values. Mweha urged the Government to consider a dignified, consultative, and culturally sensitive process to transfer Kenyattas remains to Gatundu. In its response, the Ministry, through a statement signed by Cabinet Secretary Hannah Wendot, acknowledged the concerns but noted that the matter involves legal, constitutional, and cultural complexities. The petitions reliance on constitutional provisions is robust but requires deeper scrutiny to assess its legal viability. Consequently, a multi-phased approach is necessary, read part of the statement. The Ministry said such an undertaking would require family consent, cultural validation, and legislative or judicial oversight to ensure compliance with the law and maintain national unity. Kenyas Constitution does not specify where a former President should be buried, only that they are entitled to a State funeral. Jomo Kenyatta, who died on August 22nd, 1978, following a stroke, was interred at Parliament Buildings to honor his role in leading Kenya to independence. His mausoleum remains heavily guarded and closed to the public, though past petitions have sought public access. Friday, August 22, 2025 - Drama unfolded in Githurai on Friday after a group of rowdy youths clashed with police officers who had blocked a section of Thika Road ahead of the highly anticipated CHAN match between Harambee Stars and Madagascar at Kasarani Stadium. In a viral video, the defiant youths can be seen shouting and hurling insults at the officers before forcefully removing barriers placed on the busy highway. The situation quickly escalated as the crowd overpowered the police, reclaiming the road and allowing vehicles to pass through. Motorists and commuters who had been stranded in heavy traffic cheered as the youths celebrated their victory. Police later returned in larger numbers to restore order. Watch the video. Gen Z wa Githurai wamefungua road block Thika Road kwa lazima. They have told the police sisi ndio tunawalipa mshahara - polisi imebidi watoke mbio pic.twitter.com/ATXqTf1MgP PropesaTV (@PropesaTV) August 22, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, August 22, 2025 - A vehicle belonging to Siaya County Government that had been stolen was recovered just 2 kilometers from the spot where it had been parked. It is believed that the vehicle ran out of fuel and also developed a puncture, forcing the thieves to ditch it. This incident marks the second case of car theft in the county within a short span. Only days ago, a Siaya resident lost her vehicle under similar circumstances, raising concerns about the growing trend of vehicle theft in the County. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have since launched a probe into the matter. They are pursuing crucial leads to establish whether the two incidents are connected and to apprehend those behind the thefts. Residents have been urged to remain vigilant as investigations continue. The Kenyan DAILY POST MOSCOW/KIEV, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not being planned, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday as heavy fighting between Russia and Ukraine dragged on. "Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all," Lavrov told the U.S. news outlet NBC. His comments came a week after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Putin in the U.S. state of Alaska for talks aimed at ending the three-year conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. president also met with Zelensky and European leaders on Monday. The latest discussions of a potential Putin-Zelensky meeting surfaced after Trump said he called Putin and started working on a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky -- and possibly a trilateral one including himself -- following his talks on Monday. Commenting on the potential meetings, Trump told reporters Friday: "We're going to see if Putin and Zelensky will be working together. You know, that's like oil and vinegar a little bit." "They don't get along too well ... but we'll see, and then we'll see whether or not I would have to be there. I'd rather not. I'd rather have them have a meeting and see how they can do," he said. Lavrov told NBC that Russia has agreed to show flexibility on several issues raised by Trump during his meeting with Putin. The foreign minister previously said that Russia does not reject any formats, either bilateral or trilateral, on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, but noted that any contacts over Ukraine involving top officials need to be prepared "extremely carefully." Zelensky on Friday said Russia is "doing everything" to prevent his meeting with Putin from taking place. "The meeting is one of the components of how to end the war. And since they don't want to end it, they will look for space to (avoid it)," he added. On the frontline, both Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks on each other's energy infrastructures over the past week. The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that over the past week, Russian troops captured nine settlements and launched six group strikes targeting the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and energy facilities, an oil refinery, and storage sites of Ukrainian missiles, fuel, rocket-artillery weapons, and long-range drones. During the period, Russian air defense systems shot down 25 guided aerial bombs, 11 rocket projectiles from the U.S.-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, as well as 1,500 drones, it said. Zelensky said Thursday that Russia launched one of the largest strikes against Ukraine overnight involving over 570 drones and 40 missiles. A U.S. factory in western Ukraine was targeted, he added. The commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, announced on Friday an attack on the Unecha pumping station in Russia's Bryansk region. The station is a crucial part of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday the pipeline was subjected to repeated Ukrainian attacks over the past weeks. A HOME care provider is hoping to recruit 30 new staff in Kildare at a jobs fair in Newbridge on 4 September. Dovida, Irelands leading home care provider, will host a series of National Hiring Week events across the country from 1-5 September as part of a major recruitment drive, and will be offering the placements in the Newbridge Resource Centre. Dovida caregivers provide essential support to ageing adults and people living with disabilities in their own homes. The organisations person-centred approach means that its Caregivers build meaningful connections with their clients and empower them to live fuller, more independent lives. National Hiring Week is a great way for us to get out and about in the community to connect with people looking to start a rewarding career in home care, said Sarah Murphy, General Manager of Dovida Kildare. It provides us with an excellent platform to highlight what makes us an employer of choice in the sector and gives potential recruits the chance to meet local Caregivers and support team members to explore whether a career in care is right for them, she added. Dovida Caregivers provide a range of vital services that empower people in their community to remain living as independently as possible in their own homes. Whether assisting an older person who needs some help around the house or supporting someone who has a disability to attend events in the community, Dovida Caregivers are there. Dovida offers both full and part-time positions as well as flexible hours in the mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends, allowing Caregivers to fit their work into their lives and balance it with other commitments, such as family life or study. The company also provides comprehensive training and support, as well as opportunities for personal and professional development. People who need support from Dovida want to maintain autonomy over their life, to experience belonging, pursue happiness and find purpose. Our Caregivers are key to ensuring that as many people as possible can do just that, Sarah concluded. Dovida welcomes applications from people from all walks of life and is committed to supporting them every step of the way. For more information on life as a Dovida Caregiver and how to apply Eva Osborne The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declaring that famine is occurring in Gaza City dominates the front pages of Irish newspapers on Saturday. The Irish Times reports on the IPC also warning that these famine conditions are expected to spread next month to Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza Strip and to Khan Younis in the south. Gazan mothers are now to hungry to breastfeed due to the "entirely man-made" famine in Gaza, the Irish Examiner reports. The Echo leads with Cork being allocated 25 new gardai at the latest graduation from the Garda Training College in Templemore, with 20 going to the city and five to the county. Thousands of homeowners are facing a triple hit in local property tac bills next year, according to the Irish Independent. Analysis carried out by the paper reveals rising house prices, changes to LPT bands and more councils voting to increase the amount they charge could see some homeowners homes paying far more than in previous years. The Irish Daily Star reports on Taoiseach Micheal Martin and President Michael D Higgins joining worldwide outrage after famine was declared in Gaza. The Irish Daily Mirror reports on the UN saying that Gaza is suffering from famine due to the "systematic destruction" of aid by Israel. Ghislaine Maxwell has sensationally claimed she did not introduce Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein, the Irish Daily Mail reports. The Herald leads with a teenager who is the chief suspect for the murder of a 53-year-old man in Dublin remaining "on the run" almost two months after the stabbing. Key Points Archer is making steady progress toward launching commercial operations. Government agencies are streamlining the approvals of electric aircraft. 10 stocks we like better than Archer Aviation The low-altitude economy is on the verge of rocketing higher over the next few decades. Bank of America sees the global adoption of electric vehicle take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to increase by 62% by 2030. While Joby Aviation is one way to profit from this opportunity, it's worth noting that Cathie Wood of Ark Invest has placed her bet on Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) for the Ark Innovation ETF, which holds almost 18 million shares. There's one reason that may explain why Wood is bullish, and it's also why I hold shares -- and that's a steady flow of positive developments in the past year that position Archer to be a leader in the air taxi market. The Midnight model eVTOL aircraft. Image source: Archer Aviation. Why buy Archer Aviation stock Over the past year, there have been a number of announcements that show the company progressing toward receiving the required certifications and launching commercial operations. This has had a significant impact on the stock price, which has doubled over the past year despite the company not generating significant revenue yet. Archer has previously announced partnerships with United Airlines and Southwest Airlines to operate air taxi networks across major cities in the U.S. It also has financial backing from Stellantis and other investors as it works toward its goal of manufacturing 50 aircraft per year. In its second-quarter earnings report, Archer reported there were six Midnight aircraft in different production stages, with three in final assembly at its Georgia and Silicon Valley facilities. In June, Archer, along with the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation, announced an alliance with the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand in streamlining the certification and commercial launch of eVTOL aircraft. Finally, Archer Aviation was recently named the official air taxi service for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, which will be valuable marketing in demonstrating its capabilities. Given these developments, Archer Aviation is a potential breakout growth stock to watch over the next year. Should you invest $1,000 in Archer Aviation right now? Before you buy stock in Archer Aviation, 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 Archer Aviation wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. Emilee Ruth Calametti currently serves as Staff Reporter for The Center Square covering the Northwestern Louisiana region. She holds her M.A. in English from Georgia State University and an additional M.A. in Journalism from New York University. Her articles have been featured in DIG Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, Bookstr, inRegister, EntertainmentNOW, AOL, MSN, and more. She is a Louisiana native with over seven years of journalism experience. If youre looking to collect a steady income through your investments, high-yield dividend stocks are one of the most reliable paths available. The strategy is simple. Find companies that offer attractive dividend payouts and have the financial strength to sustain them. Right now, Energy Transfer (ET) and Ares Capital (ARCC) are two stocks that offer high dividend yields of over 7% and have sustainable payouts. What makes these stocks even more reliable is that Wall Street analysts have assigned a Strong Buy consensus rating to them, signaling confidence in their ability to keep rewarding shareholders. More News from Barchart Dividend Stock #1: Energy Transfer Energy Transfer is a reliable income stock, thanks to its sustainable and high yield of 7.6% and a solid history of increasing its dividend. This leading energy infrastructure company is well-positioned to benefit from rising demand for natural gas (NGV25) and natural gas liquids (NGL). The company owns over 105,000 miles of natural gas pipelines, moving nearly 30% of U.S. production and serving around 200 gas-fired power plants. Its scale, storage capacity, and deep relationships with suppliers and customers give it a competitive advantage in capturing new growth opportunities. www.barchart.com Energy Transfers integrated business model, fee-based contracts, and high system utilization generate stable earnings and cash flow, supporting continued dividend growth. In April, it raised its quarterly payout by 3% to $0.3275 per share ($1.31 annually). Further, management expects long-term dividend growth of 3%5% annually, backed by strong cash flows and new investments. ETs future growth will likely be driven by a robust pipeline of projects, most of which are already contracted with high-quality counterparties. These initiatives should begin contributing meaningfully to earnings in 2025, with benefits accelerating in 2026 and 2027. The company is targeting about $5 billion in organic growth projects for 2025, expected to deliver mid-teen returns. Further, demand from data centers, LNG facilities, and power plants is providing additional momentum. Notably, Energy Transfer recently signed a long-term agreement to supply natural gas to CloudBursts new AI-focused data center in Central Texas a capital-light deal with quick revenue impact. With a growing project backlog and favorable market trends, Energy Transfer remains well-positioned to deliver reliable income and steady growth. Bakura took over from former Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, whom the Nigerian authorities claimed to have killed several times 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. It's AI summer, but some business leaders seem concerned that they're partying like it's 1999, just before the dot-com bubble burst. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently told reporters that the AI market might be too hot, renewing the debate over whether there's an AI bubble. Here's what leading tech CEOs and business leaders are saying about what's ahead. Sam Altman "It was clear that if we didn't do it, the world was gonna be mostly built on Chinese open source models," Sam Altman said of OpenAI's newly released open-weight models. Andrew Harnik via Getty Images OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that the AI market is in a bubble. "When bubbles happen, smart people get overexcited about a kernel of truth," Altman recently told reporters, per The Verge. Altman said this describes the state of play. "Are we in a phase where investors as a whole are overexcited about AI? My opinion is yes. Is AI the most important thing to happen in a very long time? My opinion is also yes," he said. Eric Schmidt Former chairman and CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt. Shahar Azran/Getty Images Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said just because it looks like a bubble doesn't mean that it is. "I think it's unlikely, based on my experience, that this is a bubble," Schmidt said in July during an appearance at the RAISE Summit in Paris. "It's much more likely that you're seeing a whole new industrial structure." Schmidt said it takes solace in where the hardware and chips markets stand. "You have these massive data centers, and Nvidia is quite happy to sell them all the chips," he said. "I've never seen a situation where hardware capacity was not taken up by software." Joe Tsai Jos Tsai Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters Alibaba cofounder Joe Tsai has voiced concerns about the scramble for data centers needed to help power the next generation of AI models. "I start to see the beginning of some kind of bubble," Tsai told the HSBC Global Investment Summit in March, Bloomberg News reported. Tsai said he's worried the building rush might outpace demand. "I start to get worried when people are building data centers on spec," he said. "There are a number of people coming up, funds coming out, to raise billions or millions of capital." Lisa Su Lisa Su Thomas Padilla/AP AMD CEO Lisa Su says the bubble talk "is completely wrong." "For those who are talking about a 'bubble,' I think they're being too narrow in their thinking of, what is the return on investment today or over the next six months," Su told Time Magazine in 2024. "I think you have to look at this technology arc for AI over the next five years, and how does it fundamentally change everything that we do? And I really believe that AI has that potential." Ray Dalio Ray Dalio said on Monday that the US "debt bomb problem" can only be solved with a "mix of tax revenue increases and spending decreases that are determined in a bipartisan way." Jemal Countess via Getty Images Hedge fund icon Ray Dalio voiced concerns about a bubble earlier this year, when DeepSeek's rollout led analysts to rethink AI's outlook. US-based insurer ALKEME Insurance has expanded nationally by purchasing Sheets Forrest Draper Insurance (SFDI), an independent agency headquartered in Marion, Iowa. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. This move is part of ALKEME's strategy to expand its operations in the Midwest and collaborate with regionally focused agencies to enhance services for customers. Established in 1902, SFDI has been providing insurance solutions to individuals and businesses in Marion, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Iowa City. The agency, led by Scott Stephens as president and Spencer Stephens as vice-president, offers a range of products including auto, home, business and specialty insurance. ALKEME Insurance CEO Curtis Barton said: Our goal at ALKEME is to join forces with exceptional agencies who share our commitment to independent, client-centred solutions and deep community ties. SFD Insurances long-standing legacy and dedication to local relationships makes them an ideal fit for the ALKEME family. We are excited to support their growth while preserving the core values that have made them trusted for generations. Stephens said: Becoming part of ALKEME allows us to maintain our local focus and independence while accessing broader resources and expertise. With ALKEME behind us, we are ready for the next chapter continuing our mission to protect our community, now and into the future. In April, ALKEME appointed Jesse Dantice as the president of its east region. Dantice brings more than 27 years of experience to the role and will be responsible for overseeing operations and growth in the eastern US. Since its inception in 2020, ALKEME has completed over 70 acquisitions and established a presence in 29 states with more than 60 sites. The full-service insurance agency offers commercial and personal insurance products, as well as employee and executive benefits, retirement and wealth management services. "ALKEME expands in US with acquisition of Iowa insurer " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. So, youve booked your Walt Disney World vacation and now youre planning everything you need to pack. Surely youve seen people talking about a MagicBand, but if youre not familiar with it, youre most likely wondering what it is and if you need it before your trip. Lets dive into what a MagicBand is and whether you really need it or not. The Nightmare Before Christmas MagicBand+ $45 MagicBands start out at $35 and go up to $55. This limited edition Nightmare Before Christmas MagicBand+ retails for $45 and is perfect for anyone traveling to Disney for the Halloween season. Buy Now for $45 For a limited time, MagicBand+ is on sale for $5 off when you buy two MagicBands at the Disney Store with the promo code MAGIC. If youre currently debating a trip to Disney World, our personal recommendation is to travel in either September or February to avoid the largest crowds. What is a Disney MagicBand? As a Lilo & Stitch lover who was traveling to Disney World on 6/26, I knew I needed to get the Stitch MagicBand+. Ana Suarez for NJAM MagicBand is actually no more, and were already onto the third version, the MagicBand+. MagicBand was first introduced in 2013, then the MagicBand 2 came out in 2016, and now were onto MagicBand+ as of 2022. Disney describes the MagicBand+ as the best way to experience next-level magic with the interactive effects and gesture recognition of the new MagicBand+. Basically, the MagicBand is a waterproof, watch-like band that lets you get into more of the magic inside of the Disney Parks, but really it also means you dont need to take your wallet or phone out every time youre going on a ride, into the parks, entering your hotel room or looking to buy something at Disney. MagicBand+ Features There are Disney Fab 50 Characters that you can interact with inside of the Disney Parks. Ana Suarez for NJAM Interactive MagicBand+ experiences inside of the Disney Parks Perks that eliminate the need to pull out your wallet You can use the MagicBand+ to enter theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort Check in at Lightning Lane entrances Link Disney PhotoPass photos to your MyDisney account At Walt Disney World Resort hotels, you can also unlock your Disney Resort hotel room with a single tap Yoy can use your MagicBand+ to charge food and merchandise purchases to the payment card on file at your Disney Resort hotel room during your stay Your MagicBand+ will always work to enter the parks, access Lightning Lane books and get into your hotel room, whether your band is charged or not. To access the immersive experiences, your band needs to be charged. MagicBand+ Cost The MagicBand+ price starts out at $35 for the simple designs but goes up to $55 for limited-time designs. If you see a limited edition release, youre going to want to buy it before it sells out because Disney Store does not seem to restock these. My niece bought the cutest Winnie the Pooh MagicBand+, but it is no longer in stock. On my last visit, my boyfriend opted out of getting a band. I bought the Stitch MagicBand+ ($45) and my sister got a plain black MagicBand+ ($35). MagicBand+ Discount You dont need to spend full price on your MagicBand! If you have a confirmed Walt Disney World resort booking, you can log into your My Disney Experience app to access your MagicBand+ discount. Guests with valid bookings can save $10 on a MagicBand+, bringing the price down to $25 to $45, depending on the style you choose. Can I use an old MagicBand? Disney first introduced MagicBand in 2013, and it has greatly evolved over the years. We're not onto the third edition, MagicBand+. Disney Yes, you can use your older MagicBand. As long as the band is still connected to your My Disney Experience account and in working condition, it will still work for park entry, Lightning Lane access and room entry. The original MagicBand looked more like a slim Fitbit, while the MagicBand+ looks closer to the MagicBand 2 and has more of a watch-like size. What at the differences between MagicBand and MagicBand+? The main difference between the original MagicBand and the newer MagicBand+ is the interactive features that you can use in the parks with the MagicBand+. The interactive features include lighting up and vibrating during special shows in the Disney Parks and game elements when playing the Bounty Hunting experience in Galaxys Edge. The MagicBand+ is slightly larger than the original and has a more detailed design. It also comes in far more colors and patterns than the previous two versions, with new releases every month or two on Disney Stores website. Is a MagicBand+ worth it? You might want to grab a MagicBand protector to help your band feel extra secure while in the Disney Parks. Ana Suarez for NJAM Yes! Do you need one? No. But if you dont want to have to pull your wallet or phone out constantly in the parks, then yes, a MagicBand is worth it. Especially if you get it at a discount. Whether that is through your WDW resort booking or when Disney Store runs its 25% off sitewide sale. The band lets you get into the park, access all of your LL reservations, quickly link your Disney Photo Pass, get into your hotel room, interact with fireworks shows and special statues in the theme parks, AND it can literally act as your means of payment for the entire trip. Just remember that the bill isnt on Walt and Mickey, and the band is connected to your credit card on file at your hotel. So, you will need to pay that bill at the end of your trip! Sometimes it is easy to forget when tapping for every purchase how quickly itll add up. The only con is that you might need to get a little accessory to help this stay on longer. And if you wear a Fitbit or Apple Watch, youll need to double up your wristwear while at Disney. Magic Band Protectors $7 These Magic Band Protectors are a must-buy before heading to Disney World or Disneyland. Buy Now on Amazon Pro Tip: Get a pack of MagicBand protectors from Amazon before your trip. The MagicBand design can sometimes unhook. Everyone on social media recommends slipping this protector over their MagicBand to secure it in place. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Members of Macra have extended their heartfelt congratulations to Katelyn Cummins, the Laois Rose and a proud Macra member, on being crowned the 2025 International Rose of Tralee - the first-ever Laois winner. The organisation said her success marks a momentous occasion for her county and for young rural women across Ireland. Katelyn, a 20-year-old apprentice electrician from the village of Ballyouskill on the LaoisKilkenny border, has inspired many with her determination and leadership. The chairperson of North Kilkenny Macra, she combines her apprenticeship at Alpha Drives with helping out on her familys dairy farm. Her dynamic presence, performing a spirited jive on stage, alongside her clear commitment to challenging stereotypes in trades, earned her widespread praise both on the night and online. In her onstage interview, Katelyn emphasised the importance of confidence and encouraged young women to pursue whatever path they believe in. Macra President Josephine ONeill congratulated Katelyn on her achievement. As North Kilkenny Macra chairperson, Katelyn has long demonstrated her passion for Macra. It was wonderful to see Katelyn speak of Macra on such a National platform. We wish her well on her journey as Rose of Tralee for the next year and look forward to seeing her at Macra events along the way. READ NEXT: Colleagues in Portlaoise 'immensely proud' of Laois Rose Macra would also like to commend the Wexford Rose, Cliona OLeary. Cliona has long represented Wexford Macra as their National Council Representative, and continued to champion the Model County in her role as Wexford Rose.Both women have represented themselves, their families and communities, and the young women of rural Ireland excellently, and we are very proud of them. The organisation also extends its congratulations to all Macra members who participated in the festival this year, with a number of members acting as escorts. By Sai Ishwarbharath B BENGALURU (Reuters) -Consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal plans to nearly triple its global capability centre staff in India to 2,000 by the end of 2028, a top executive told Reuters, joining a growing league of firms seeking to tap talent in the world's most populous nation. Multinational companies are increasingly setting up so-called global capability centres, which have evolved from low-cost back offices to high-value innovation hubs that support operations, finance, research and development. Marquee names such as JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, Walmart, American Express, Microsoft, SAP and Novo Nordisk also have global centres in India. New York-based A&M, which currently employs about 700 people at its global centre in Gurugram near India's capital New Delhi, plans to open another one in the southern city of Bengaluru in the coming months, Manish Goyal, managing director, said on Wednesday. The firm plans to hire professionals, including about 150 this year from premier institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology, to bolster core business areas such as transaction and tax advisory, corporate restructuring and turnaround services, Goyal said. "We expect this (the India operation) to be an inverted pyramid," the official said. "We don't expect us to have a very large bottom with freshers." A&M's Indian global centres work with nearly 30 of its units across six continents. The firm also has corporate offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Gurugram that work with clients on mergers and restructuring. (Reporting by Sai Ishwarbharath B; Editing by Dhanya Skariachan and Mrigank Dhaniwala) A truck driver has died and five other people have been injured in a road crash in west Dublin. Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene on the N7 Westbound at Rathcoole on Friday evening. The collision happened at approximately 6.40pm and involved a truck and two cars. A man, who was driving the the truck, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed to the mortuary at Whitehall where a post-mortem examination is due to take place. Five other people were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries believed to be non-life threatening at this time. The road was closed for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. It has since reopened. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. Any road users with camera footage, including dash-cam, and were travelling on the N7 near Rathcoole between 6.30pm and 7pm on Friday are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Clondalkin Garda Station on 01 666 7600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. A Laois teacher says she is absolutely devastated at losing her job in adult education, and is joining a nationwide strike this month with others. She says there are hundreds more like her in the same boat, who had worked less than three years and whose contracts are not renewed. The teacher fears that it will hit the most vulnerable, the thousands of students that they taught. She wishes to remain anonymous, is pleading for action by the Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless. The teacher spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. I was teaching with the LOETB in outreach, literacy and community education. I was on a Adult Educator contract for a couple of years. I was heading into a contract of indefinite duration which would have given me more security. I got a call in June out of the blue. They told me they had no hours for me in September. They never said anything when school finished in May. I am absolutely devastated. I work really hard, at times at 11oclock at night preparing classes. As an adult education tutor you want to give your students a better experience, some have had awful experiences, you have to nearly coax them in, and be very prepared, and very empathetic. Im paying a mortgage, I have the usual overheads. Its been a really worrying time. All teachers like me have been let go, its several hundred across Ireland. Its going to have a huge effect on our literacy students and on the Ukraine community. All the classes have been pulled. They have really taken the classes off the most vulnerable. The people with literacy issues who cant go and email someone to complain. The way it has been done is very unfair. Im applying for any job in my remit now. Its awful, she said. Its a job I love, I really enjoyed it. Youre a teacher at heart, it really is a vocation, its part of who you are. The joy is in seeing people flourish. To go from Level 1 up to even Level 5. They come back to you and tell me how they didnt have any hope, and now their confidence has increased, the teacher said. I am among several people who were all pushed onto a new contract. They sold us this adult education contract saying it gave better job security, that we would be paid for breaks, and you would have a job to go back to in September. it seemed to be good. The Minister gave more money to SOLAS, but I cant see where that money has gone to, the Laois teacher said. Read also: Leaving Cert students earn top grades in CBS Portlaoise Adult Education Teachers from across Ireland are holding the protest march in Dublin from SOLAS to the Department of Further & Higher Education on Wednesday, August 27 from 11.30am 1.30pm. The teachers say that the jobs cuts are due to underfunding of Adult Education. The LOETB say they are unable to comment on the issue. An exhibition based on a series of aerial photographs of the greater Blessington area, taken by the Irish Air Corps in May 1939 prior to the flooding of the upper Liffey and Kings River valleys, is taking place locally. In the intervening years the appearance of the landscape has been significantly altered by the flooding of the valleys following the construction of the dams at Poulaphuca and Golden Falls, by the forestry plantations and by the continuing spread of housing, commercial and industrial activities throughout the district. READ NEXT Man threatened to burn down grandmother's home, Kildare court told In May 1939 the Irish Air Corps took a series of over 50 aerial photographs of the upper Liffey and Kings River valleys in conditions of excellent visibility. These aerial photographs present a fascinating visual record of the area prior to the dramatic changes in the landscape from the 1940s. There are aerial pictures of Blessington, Ballyknockan, Lacken, Hollywood, Russborough and Russelltown, Ballinahown, Valleymount, Liffey and Kings rivers confluence at Baltyboys, Lugnagun, Baltyboys Lower and the construction of the dams at Poulaphuca and Golden Falls. Blessington History Society is very interested to engage with local people whose families were affected by the flooding and who wish to share memories, images and artefacts from that time. Before the Waters (the exhibitions name) is presented by Blessington History Society with the support of Blessington Tourist Office and the cooperation of local historians and archaeologists. Its a partnership project supported by Wicklow County Council and co- funded by the Heritage Council. The exhibition runs until August 24 at the tourist office in Blessington. Festivalgoers heading to Electric Picnic this year can breathe a small sigh of relief after fresh forecasts suggested conditions may not be as bleak as first feared. Earlier this week, Midlands forecaster Alan OReilly of Carlow Weather warned of uncertain and potentially wet and windy conditions linked to the remnants of Hurricane Erin. With more than 80,000 people due in Stradbally, talk of a stormy, wet and windy weekend sparked widespread concern among festival campers. OReilly stressed that no hurricane would reach Ireland, but that the storms remnants could still influence the countrys weather. At the time, computer models were offering conflicting outcomes, leaving predictions very unreliable. However, the latest updates have eased some of those worries. While Met Eireann still expects a mix of sunshine and showers, with the risk of heavier bursts in southern and western counties, the European forecast model now points to a largely dry weekend. Daytime temperatures are likely to reach 1620 degrees, dipping to 913 degrees at night. READ MORE: OPINION: The Rose of Tralee isn't outdated - its critics are just anti-feminist The American model, by contrast, continues to suggest more unsettled weather, meaning the picture remains uncertain. OReilly has underlined, however, that suggestions of a washout are just suggestions and not fact. People need to remember a hurricane is not coming, he said. For the tens of thousands making their way to Co. Laois from August 2931, the advice remains the same, be ready for mixed conditions. Waterproofs, wellies and sturdy tents could still make all the difference. Series'Adjani, The Famous Stranger' (1/6). Nothing seemed to predestine her to become one of the greatest stars of French cinema. Yet the young actress, born to an Algerian father and a German mother, experienced a meteoric rise. She made her debut on stage at barely 17 years old and quickly transitioned to film. Isabelle Adjani preferred not to look at her grandfather's birth certificate, which we brought to her. She preferred to have it read aloud. Mohammed Bensalah Hadjami was born on May 22, 1898, in Philippeville, now Skikda, in Algeria. The actress had always heard him referred to by another first name, Said, and had never seen a single photo of him. She was shocked to learn that the term "indigene" (a colonial term meaning "native" and referring to non-European subjects of the French Empire) appeared in parentheses beneath his name. At that time, French citizenship was denied to Muslim populations. He was from the Kabylia region in northern Algeria, meaning he was from the Berber ethnic group. The surname "Hadjami" is typically Algerian. It lost two letters when, a quarter of a century later, Mohammed Cherif Adjani, the actress's father, was born in 1923 in Constantine. "You get off lightly if you are born in the 1920s in French Algeria and only lose a letter or two from your name," said historian Benjamin Stora, a specialist in the region's history. "You could have lost your entire name." Two missing letters amounted to an act of scorn and negligence for a father. For his daughter, "that name has become a kind of pseudonym," she said. A name that now sounds different. It has become a star's name; an embodied name written in capital letters for decades on posters, in films and on stages. It's as if the peremptory decision of a civil servant in Algeria, instead of disfiguring it, revealed it. Meteoric rise You have 92.93% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. SSE AIRTRICITY has announced over 200,000 in funding for six innovative sustainability projects across Limerick through its Generation Green Community Fund. These projects are among 56 community-led sustainability initiatives across the island of Ireland to receive full funding from the 5 million fund, which supports local efforts to enhance community resilience, promote environmental programmes, and develop sustainable infrastructure. The Generation Green Community Fund reflects SSE Airtricitys long-term commitment to supporting the communities it serves by enabling meaningful environmental and social change. READ MORE: Community spirit shines as the Going for Gold finalists are revealed The fund was developed following extensive engagement with community groups across Ireland, helping shape its priorities around education, biodiversity, infrastructure, and climate adaptation. In Limerick, Manor Fields Adare is advancing its goal to become a carbon-negative community facility by upgrading floodlights to LEDs, installing rainwater harvesting, and creating biodiversity ponds along walking trails to reduce emissions and support local wildlife. TASC (Think-tank for Action on Social Change) will drive its Peoples Transition programme in three communities, including Adare, using climate action as a tool for local and just sustainable development. The Burrenbeo Trusts Hares Corner helps landowners create wildlife-friendly habitats such as mini-woodlands and heritage orchards, offering tailored advice to develop Plans for Nature on their land. To tackle coastal erosion, ACT (Accelerating Change Together) will train 240 participants and 15 trainers in 17 coastal communities on sustainable dune management and nature-based climate resilience solutions. Education projects include the Irish Schools Sustainability Network (ISSN), which will run its Sustainability Accelerator Programme to support students, teachers, and principals in delivering innovative sustainability education. Meanwhile, Teen-Turn integrates green innovation into afterschool programmes for youth in rural and underserved areas, increasing environmental awareness and fostering eco-tech skills. Stephen Gallagher, Managing Director of SSE Airtricity, said, We understand the challenges many projects and groups face in accessing funding resources, and were proud to play a part in enabling them to create lasting environmental and social impact. THE SIGHTS and sounds of an agricultural show include cattle bawling, horses neighing, dogs barking, music playing, all amid crowds of people. This can all be overwhelming for those with autism and sensory differences who still want to enjoy fun events. READ NEXT: Third generation of Power family among thousands looking forward to Limerick Show Limerick-based national charity ASD Ireland had the perfect solution at Cappamore Show with their brand new mobile sensory room. CEO Keith Enright, originally from Clarina, said it's the only one in the country that was actually built and designed by autistic people for autistic people. This is the first outing for this new unit that we fundraised for. It was only finished yesterday. A lot of people would have seen our original mobile sensory room that would've gone around to different events all around the country, said Keith, who describes it as a safe space. There is an awful lot going on outside. For example, there's a band setting up for a concert and there's amusement park rides - it just becomes too much for people with autism. This is a safe space where they can come in, close the door and it blocks out all that noise outside, said Keith. It is designed for both adults and children. We had children as young as two-years-old in here today and we had adults as old as 65 in here today as well. Autism doesn't just stop because you turn 18 so we provide support for adults as well, said Keith. The mobile sensory unit has a number of facilities like auditory reprocessing and a range of materials regarding a person's senses such as smell, hearing, sight. Different items will support different parts of the autistic person's brain. The idea of it is to remove whatever issue is happening outside and make it safe in here, he explains. The unit cost 60,000 which was all funded by the public. A list of companies that donated are listed on the front of the trailer. We're based in Limerick city and we provide support to about 3,500 people every year. The only funding we receive is from donations from members of the public or from the families or from the business community. We are hoping to be at events all over Limerick and all over the country. If anybody wants to get in contact, they can just email myself keith@asdireland.ie and we can plan to see if we can come and attend your event, concludes Keith. ASD Ireland was founded by two parents - Keith Enright and Caroline Hogan - who both have teenagers with autism spectrum disorder. It was developed due to the lack of socially inclusive activities available for their children. It began with the development of Limerick autism group, progressed to providing a number of inclusive activities and is now ASD Ireland. (Bloomberg) -- HSBC Holdings Plcs Swiss private bank is ending relationships with wealthy Middle Eastern clients, including many with assets exceeding $100 million, as the bank seeks to lower its exposure to individuals it deems high-risk, according to people familiar with the matter. More than 1,000 clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar and Egypt are among those being told they can no longer bank with HSBCs Swiss wealth management business, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing an ongoing process. Some clients have already started to be informed and over the next few months will receive closing letters advising them they could consider transferring to other jurisdictions, the people said. HSBC announced plans in October last year to reshape the Group to accelerate strategic delivery. As part of this, we are evolving the strategic focus of our Swiss Private Bank, the bank said in an e-mailed statement. The reshuffle is coming at a time of ongoing scrutiny from Swiss banking watchdog Finma, which has found that the lenders private bank failed to carry out adequate due diligence on high-risk accounts owned by politically exposed persons. The exits are expected to largely be completed within six months and HSBC is putting in place a team to help it with the closures, the people said. We are creating a simpler, more dynamic organisation, focused on increasing leadership and market share in the areas where we have a clear competitive advantage, according to HSBC. The move would come as a further blow for HSBC in a region thats become a magnet for wealth managers. Rival firms have beefed up to cater to high-net worth individuals in the Middle East, though HSBC has struggled despite hiring Credit Suisses top wealth-management executive Aladdin Hangari a few years ago. Last year, Finma ordered HSBC not to enter into any new business relationships with so-called politically exposed persons, or individuals with a public role that may make them more susceptible to corruption. Finma instructed the lender to mandate an external auditor to conduct a review of the relevant business. Clients with over 100 million Swiss francs ($124 million) in assets are deemed by the bank to be high risk. The risk rating is also impacted by factors including the individuals domicile and nationality. HSBCs Swiss unit had been part of the banks effort to build its wealth offerings for the Middle East, which had faced setbacks including the departures of high-profile bankers. While the lender has typically been among the top players in the regions capital markets, it has struggled against rivals including the Swiss in private banking. Last month it was revealed that HSBCs Swiss private bank is the focus of a Swiss investigation into suspected money-laundering connected to the alleged embezzlement of hundreds of millions of dollars by the former head of Lebanons central bank. In June last year, Finma pointed specifically to two high-risk business relationships where it said HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA hadnt adequately checked the origins, purpose or background of the assets involved. The suspect transactions involving more than $300 million moved between Lebanon and Switzerland were carried out between 2002 and 2015, according to Finma. --With assistance from Harry Wilson. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- Indonesias President Prabowo Subianto has signed a decree dismissing Immanuel Ebenezer from his position as Deputy Manpower Minister after being named a suspect in an extortion case, the first sitting member of his cabinet to be involved in an anti-corruption investigation. State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said late Friday that all legal procedures regarding the case will run as they should, underscoring the Presidents intention to fight against corruption. Ebenezer allegedly participated in extorting parties seeking workplace safety certificates, charging them more than 20 times the supposed price, Setyo Budiyanto, chairperson of Indonesias anti-graft agency, said in a press conference on Friday. The agency known as KPK launched the investigation based on a public complaint. The deputy minister allegedly got 3 billion rupiah ($183,000) in kickbacks in December 2024 for his involvement, Budiyanto said. He was caught, along with about a dozen others, in a sting operation that started on Wednesday night. Ebenezer will be detained for 20 days for further investigation. Ebenezer denied his involvement in the extortion and and said he hopes to get clemency from the president, local media reported. The incident will be a test for Prabowo, who in his annual national address last week said he would not tolerate corruption, even among big-name politicians and allies. Ebenezer previously led a pro-Prabowo volunteer group and is now a member of the presidents Gerindra party. The issue quickly reverberated in Jakarta on Thursday when news broke about the sting operation. A lawmaker called the arrest an own goal for the government. On social media, Indonesians reposted controversial remarks Ebenezer made earlier this year telling those unhappy with the economy to just leave the country. This is a heavy blow for us, Manpower Minister Yassierli said on Thursday. D. Nicky Fahrizal, Jakarta-based researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, lauded the governments efforts to clean up its ranks. The law is being applied without exception, and that deserves credit, he said. However, investors will need to see structural reforms to be convinced that corruption can be rooted out of Southeast Asias largest economy. If its only the top people punished without deeper reform, cases like this will keep happening, he said. (Updates with comments from State Secretary and Deputy Minister Ebenezer in second and fifth paragraphs.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Multiple investment firms boosted Nvidia (NVDA) stock price targets ahead of its Aug. 27 earnings report, with analyst expectations showing strong momentum. According to a report from Seeking Alpha, KeyBanc raised its NVDA stock price target to $215 from $190, Susquehanna increased it to $210 from $180, and HSBC hiked it to $200 from $125. For fiscal 2026 (ending in January), analysts forecast revenue of $202.44 billion, while the top-line for 2027 is projected at $259.36 billion, up from $130.5 billion in fiscal 2025. Current quarter expectations call for $45.97 billion in revenue, representing 53% year-over-year growth. Earnings per share are expected to increase to $1.01 per share in fiscal Q2 of 2026, up from $0.68 per share last year. More News from Barchart However, China uncertainties loom large. KeyBanc expects guidance excluding direct China revenue due to pending license approvals, though inclusion could add $2-3 billion. HSBC notes the artificial intelligence (AI) GPU market exceeded expectations but warns of China-related risks, including lower pricing and potential pushback from Chinese authorities. www.barchart.com Is Nvidia Still a Good Stock to Buy? In fiscal Q1, Nvidia reported revenue of $44 billion, an increase of 69% year-over-year (YoY), showcasing the company's commanding position in the AI revolution that's reshaping global computing infrastructure. Nvidias multi-platform strategy positions it perfectly for sustained long-term growth across several expanding markets. The transition to NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture has been remarkable, contributing nearly 70% of Data Center compute revenue with the fastest product ramp in company history. Major hyperscalers are deploying almost 1,000 NVL72 racks weekly, equivalent to 72,000 Blackwell GPUs per week. This massive scale demonstrates both customer confidence and NVIDIA's manufacturing excellence. Microsoft (MSFT) alone has deployed tens of thousands of Blackwell GPUs and plans to scale to hundreds of thousands of GB200s. The emergence of reasoning AI models has fundamentally changed the compute landscape. Microsoft processed over 100 trillion tokens in Q1, a fivefold YoY increase. DeepSeek and similar reasoning models generate 13 times more tokens than traditional AI models, creating exponential inference demand. NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 delivers 30 times higher inference throughput, making it the ideal platform for this compute-intensive workload. Meta is following what Mark Zuckerberg had envisioned in July making billions of dollars of investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and in a bid to be more future-ready. The company has signed a deal with generative AI lab Midjourney, the Facebook parent's chief AI officer said on Friday. In a separate deal reported by Reuters, the Mark Zuckerberg-led tech firm signed a $10 billion partnership with Google. The developments come at a time when the company is restructuring its AI efforts by building the Meta SuperIntelligence Labs, which has seen Mark Zuckerberg poaching top AI talents from rivals including ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Here are the two MAJOR deals Meta has signed recently to give a push to its AI dreams. Meta-Midjourney partnership Meta has signed a deal with Midjourney, the generative AI lab, to licence the startup's aesthetic technology for the Facebook parent's future products and models. This technical partnership will bring together both the companies' research teams, bringing beauty to billions, Meta chief AI officer Alexandr Wang said in an X post on Friday. We are incredibly impressed by Midjourney. They have accomplished true feats of technical and aesthetic excellence, and we are thrilled to be working more closely with them, he said. Also Read | Meta freezes AI hiring after blockbuster spending spree The move signals Meta's push to differentiate its products on visual quality. Generating images from text prompts, Midjourney licenses its tools to users through a subscription model. To ensure Meta is able to deliver the best possible products for people it will require taking an all-of-the-above approach. This means world-class talent, ambitious compute roadmap, and working with the best players across the industry, Wang said. Midjourney's AI capabilities could help Meta scale up its user experience in terms of AI image generation, potentially bringing down content production costs and shoting up engagement. Also Read | ChatGPT wants to take on Google but with Google's own tools Meta signs $10 billion deal with Google To further its AI journey, the Mark Zuckerberg-owned company has reportedly also signed a deal with Google worth over $10 billion, Reuters reported quoting a source. Google's six-year cloud computing deal with Meta Platform is the second big agreement in recent months after the Sundar Pichi-led giant partnered with OpenAI. Meta will be able to access Google Cloud's servers, storage, networking and other services under the agreement, according to the report. Taipei [Taiwan] August 23 : Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei confirmed Friday night that the US government will not seek an ownership stake in the chipmaking giant, reported by Focus Taiwan. "They have announced they will not take a stake ," Wei told reporters, according to the news platform. Echoing Wei's statement, a TSMC spokesperson told Taiwan's Central News Agency on Saturday that the company had never discussed US government ownership and that no such request had been made. The initial Reuters article, citing unnamed sources, claimed the US was considering equity in firms like TSMC that are receiving federal funding to build fabrication plants in America. However, a US official later told The Wall Street Journal that there were no such plans, specifically naming TSMC and Micron as companies that would not be subject to any equity requirements. Despite the clarification, the Reuters report caused jitters in the market, with TSMC shares dropping 4.22 per cent in Taipei on concerns about potential government interference. Adding his voice to the debate, Pegatron Chairman Tung Tzu-hsien referenced former US President Ronald Reagan's famous remark: "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem," urging the US government not to interfere in private companies' operations. As reported by the Focus Taiwan, TSMC is currently investing USD 65 billion to build three advanced semiconductor fabs in Arizona, with the first already in commercial production since late 2024. In March, the company announced an additional USD 100 billion investment in the state over the next few years, which includes plans for three more fabs, two IC assembly plants, and a research and development center. By Aditya Soni, David Shepardson, Andrea Shalal and Max A. Cherney WASHINGTON -President Donald Trump said on Friday the U.S. would take a 10% stake in Intel under a deal with the struggling chipmaker that converts government grants into an equity share, the latest extraordinary intervention by the White House in corporate America. The deal puts Trump on better terms with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, after the president recently said the CEO should step down due to conflicts of interest. It will ensure that the chipmaker will receive about $10 billion in funds for building or expanding factories in the U.S. Under the agreement, the U.S. will purchase a 9.9% stake in Intel for $8.9 billion, or $20.47 per share, which represents a discount of about $4 from Intel's closing share price of $24.80 on Friday. The purchase of the 433.3 million Intel shares will be made with funding from the $5.7 billion in unpaid grants from the Biden-era CHIPS Act and $3.2 billion awarded to Intel for the Secure Enclave program, also awarded under Trump's predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden. Intel stock rose roughly 1% in the extended session on Friday after closing up 5.5% during regular trading. Trump met with Tan on Friday, a White House official said. That followed Trump's August 11 meeting with the Intel CEO after Trump demanded that Tan resign over his ties to Chinese firms. "He walked in wanting to keep his job and he ended up giving us $10 billion for the United States. So we picked up $10 billion," Trump said on Friday. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on X that Tan had struck a deal "that's fair to Intel and fair to the American People." PLAYING CATCH UP The Intel investment marks the latest unusual deal with U.S. companies, including a U.S. government agreement allowing AI chip giant Nvidia to sell its H20 chips to China in exchange for receiving 15% of those sales. Other recent deals include an agreement for the Pentagon to become the largest shareholder in a small mining company, MP Materials, to boost output of rare earth magnets and the U.S. government's winning a "golden share" with certain veto rights as part of a deal to allow Japan's Nippon Steel to buy U.S. Steel. The federal government's broad intervention in corporate matters has worried critics, who say Trump's actions create new categories of corporate risk. Ahead of the U.S. deal with Intel, Japan's SoftBank agreed to take a $2 billion stake in the chip maker on Monday. Some industry observers still question Intel's ability to surmount its problems. Daniel Morgan, senior portfolio manager at Synovus Trust, said Intel's problems are beyond a cash infusion from SoftBank or equity interest from the government, singling out Intel's contract chip manufacturing business, known as its foundry unit. "Without government support or another financially stronger partner, it will be difficult for the Intel foundry unit to raise enough capital to continue to build out more Fabs at a reasonable rate," he said. Intel "needs to catch up with TSMC from a technological perspective to attract business," he added. The government's stake is to be passive ownership and does not include a board seat, Intel said. The government will be required to vote with Intel's board when shareholder approval is necessary, with "limited exceptions." Intel did not specify the exceptions. The equity stake also includes a five-year warrant at $20 a share for an additional 5% of Intel stock, which the U.S. can use if Intel loses control of the foundry business. Federal backing could give Intel more breathing room to revive its loss-making foundry business, analysts said, but it ceded the AI market to Nvidia and has lost market share to Advanced Micro Devices in its central processor business for several years. It has also faced challenges in attracting customers to its new factories. Tan, who became CEO in March, has been tasked to turn around the American chipmaking icon, which recorded an annual loss of $18.8 billion in 2024 - its first such loss since 1986. The company's last fiscal year of positive adjusted free cash flow was 2021. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has fined VLCC Limited 3 lakh for misleading ads promoting fat-loss and slimming treatments using the US-FDA approved CoolSculpting procedure, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said in a statement. The department said the VLCC matter came into notice through a complaint and monitoring of ads in the beauty sector. On examination, it was found that VLCC was making exaggerated claims of drastic weight loss and inch reduction within a single session, which went far beyond the actual approval granted to the CoolSculpting machine, thereby misleading consumers, the statement said. It said investigation into the matter "revealed that the advertisements of VLCC projected CoolSculpting and related procedures as a permanent weight-loss and size-reduction solution. Some of the alleged claims included: Lose up to 600g and 7 cm in 1 session, Drop 1 Size in 1 session permanently, Drop one size in one hour, VLCC brings you a ground-breaking fat reduction treatment, and With Lipolaser Lose 6cm and 400g in one session. These advertisements misled consumers into believing that CoolSculpting guarantees permanent and substantial weight loss, it mentioned, further saying, the procedure is only approved for targeted fat reduction in specific areas of the body and is intended solely for individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or below. Also Read | Rapido fined 10 lakh by CCPA for misleading advertisements It stated, With respect to the US-FDA approved CoolSculpting machine CCPA observed that: The CoolSculpting machine, manufactured by Zeltiq Aesthetics, is approved by the US-FDA only for the reduction of localized fat bulges in areas such as the upper arm, bra fat, back fat, banana roll, submental area, thigh, abdomen, and flank. 'US-FDA has not given any specific endorsement for use of CoolSculpting in India' "It is not a weight-loss treatment. Clinical trials submitted to the US-FDA included only 57 participants of Caucasian, Hispanic, and African American ethnicity, with no Indian or Asian representation. The US-FDA has not given any specific endorsement for the use of CoolSculpting in India," the statement added. Also Read | How Trump will decide which Chips Act companies must give up equity The CCPA has issued a stern warning to all beauty clinics, wellness centers, and service providers in India using CoolSculpting machines, emphasising the need for strict compliance with its directives. Any deviation will attract serious consequences under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, including financial penalties, mandatory withdrawal of misleading advertisements, and legal action. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025 on Saturday, 23 August 2025, said that the Russian oil trade with India, which was presented as an issue, was not discussed before US President Donald Trump imposed heavy tariffs on all India-made products imported into the United States. One day before the 1 August tariff deadline, President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all goods imported from India into the United States. Trump cited India's dealings with Russia on oil and the high tariffs as the reason behind this move. Also Read | Trade negotiations with US underway: EAM says amid Trump tariff tantrums Later on 6 August 2025, the US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff rate on all imports from India, on top of the earlier 25% and a baseline tariff of 10% on all US imports from world nations. Since then, India has been in talks with the American delegations to negotiate a trade deal that would benefit both nations. As per earlier media reports, the US delegation is set to arrive in India on 25 August 2025, to conduct the sixth round of trade talks amid the raging tariffs. Trump's non-orthodox approach Jaishankar highlighted that the United States has never had a President who has been so public while conducting foreign policy, which is a first for not just India but for the whole world. We've not had a US President who's conducted foreign policy as publicly as the current one. That itself is a departure that's not limited to India said Jaishankar at the forum, a video shared by the news agency ANI showed. The External Affairs Minister also said that President Trump's approach to the world is very different from the traditional orthodox manner of global diplomacy. President Trump's way of dealing with the world, even dealing with his own country, is a very major departure from the traditional orthodox manner of doing so... he said at the World Leaders Forum on Saturday. India-US trade deal progress External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, at the event, also highlighted that the India-US trade negotiations are still underway. However, he also said there are some red lines concerning the interests of the farmers in India, as the US focuses on including agriculture in the potential trade deal. Negotiations (India-US trade negotiations) are still going on. But the bottom line is we have some red lines. Negotiations are still going on in the sense that nobody said the negotiations are off. People do talk to each other. It's not like there's a 'kutti' there... Where we are concerned, the red lines are primarily the interests of our farmers and, to some extent, of our small producers, said Jaishankar. The Union Minister also highlighted that arguments on India's Russian oil imports have been used against the nation for a long time now, and the same equation is not being used against China or the European Union, which is the largest importer of the commodity. Days before the additional US tariffs are due to hit, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Saturday said the trade negotiations with Washington are continuing but there are lines that New Delhi needs to defend, reported the Reuters. According to the details, due to its increased purchases of Russian oil, Indian goods face additional U.S. tariffs of up to 50%. Though 25% tariff has already come into effect, the remaining 25% is set to be enforced from August 27. On August 25-29, a planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi has been called off, which had dashed hopes that the levies may be lowered or postponed. "We have some redlines in the negotiations, to be maintained and defended," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said at an Economic Times forum event in New Delhi. Earlier this year, the India-U.S. trade talks collapsed as India didn't agree to open its vast agricultural and dairy sectors. Bilateral trade between the world's largest and fifth largest economy is worth over $190 billion. "It is our right to make decisions in our 'national interest'," Jaishankar said. What analysts say? Capital Economics' analysts on Friday said that if the full U.S. tariffs come into force and stick, the hit to India's economic growth would be 0.8 percentage points both this year and next. "The longer-term harm could be even greater as a high tariff could puncture Indias appeal as a global manufacturing hub." The Indian minister described U.S. President Donald Trump's policy announcements as "unusual". "We have not had a U.S. president who conducts his foreign policy so publicly as the current one and (it) is a departure from the traditional way of conducting business with the world," Jaishankar said. He also said Washington's concern over India's Russian oil purchases was not being applied to other major buyers such as China and European Union. "If the argument is oil, then there are (other) big buyers. If argument is who is trading more (with Russia), than there are bigger traders," he said. Russia-European trade is bigger than India-Russia trade, he added. The minister also said India's purchases of Russian oil had not been raised in earlier trade talks with the U.S. before the public announcement of tariffs. Lil Nas X will remain behind bars through the weekend following a disturbing incident in Los Angeles early Thursday morning. The rapper, whose real name is Montero Hill, was arrested after being seen wandering Ventura Boulevard in Studio City wearing only underwear and white cowboy boots. Lil Nas X arrested and hospitalised Video footage obtained by TMZ shows the 26-year-old artist walking in the middle of the street at 4am, appearing disoriented. At one point, he placed an orange traffic cone on his head and muttered about going to a party. The LAPD later confirmed that Hill appeared to be in a confused state and charged at officers before being taken into custody. He was initially transported to a local hospital for what police described as a possible overdose and later placed under arrest for battery on a police officer. According to the LAPD, he is being held on charge 69 (a) PC a California penal code related to resisting or obstructing a police officer. The arrestee (Hill) cannot be cited out, the LAPD said in a statement. It is mandatory that he appear before a judge before he is released. This will happen on Monday. Also Read | Lil Nas X shoes with a drop of human blood land in a soup Hill is currently being held at Valley Jail in Van Nuys. His current condition has not been disclosed, and his representatives have not responded to requests for comment. When Lil Nas X spoke about his medical issue The incident comes after a difficult year for Lil Nas X, who has faced ongoing health struggles in 2025. In April, he revealed on social media that he had suffered partial facial paralysis. The following month, he cancelled a headline performance at the Outloud Pride Music Festival in West Hollywood. At the time, festival organisers cited an ongoing medical issue, adding they had been in close contact with the artists team. After my recent hospital visit, I like all of you should must prioritise my health and getting back to 100%, Hill said in a statement following that cancellation. Announced without obtaining any prior permission from Thalaivar, Superstar Rajinikanths team denied the claims of a scheduled meet-and-greet event for Coolie movie in Malaysia and warned the fans against falling prey to the fake event. In an X post, Rajinikanths team said, We would like to clarify that the Meet & Greet Thalaivar contest that is currently being promoted by Malik Streams in Malaysia is completely unauthorised, fake, and has been announced without obtaining any prior permission from Thalaivar. We strongly advise fans and the public not to participate or engage in this misleading activity, the team said, while requesting cooperation in spreading this clarification to ensure that fans are not misled. The clarification comes amid growing online buzz about the event, with several fans expressing excitement over what they believed was a rare opportunity to meet the iconic star. Coolie enters 450 crore club globally Coolie amassed 439 crore gross globally in eight days, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. Around 167 crore gross revenue came from the overseas market. Film trade analyst Sumit Kadel, in a post on X, remarked that the movie crossed the 450 crore mark worldwide in the first extended week. Coolie OTT release date According to industry sources, the gangster drama will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video from September 11 onwards. However, an official announcement is still awaited. About Coolie The movie features Rajinikanth in the titular role of a coolie who stands up to a corrupt syndicate that exploits and abuses his former colleagues in a port town. It was filmed in several locations, including Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, and Bangkok. The star-studded cast also includes Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, with Nagarjuna as antagonist and Bollywood star Aamir Khan in a special appearance. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- There are a handful of filmmakers whom we reflexively think of as New York City directors Gothamites who tell stories about the city and its people with a natives knowledge, insight and compassion. Martin Scorsese is the most obvious; Sidney Lumet is also clearly in the running. Then theres Spike Lee, perhaps the most New York of New York directors, whose pictures are rarely set outside of the five boroughs, and whose brash NYC identity comes across not only in his work but in his interviews, writings and even appearances at major sporting events. So it comes as no shock that his latest feature film, Highest 2 Lowest, is a New York movie through and through. Whats more surprising is that it arrives at a time when anti-city rhetoric feels louder than ever from the government, so the film serves as a striking response. The story, which originated in Ed McBains 1959 novel Kings Ransom and was previously adapted by Akira Kurosawa into the 1963 film High and Low, is fairly straightforward. David King (Denzel Washington) is a wealthy music mogul who lives in a penthouse apartment and enjoys a life of luxury, though his label has faltered in recent years and is on the verge of sale to a competitor. Just as hes assembling the cash to take over the deal on his own terms, he gets a terrifying phone call: his teenage son has been kidnapped. After several frantic hours, the NYPD discovers that its not Kings son who has been abducted, but his best friend, the son of Kings loyal chauffeur (Jeffrey Wright). And so it becomes an ethical dilemma: Will King spend his entire fortune to save someone elses child? These revelations, conversations and conflicts occupy most of the first half of Highest 2 Lowest, which many critics (and, as far as I can tell, viewers) agree is the pictures less successful section. It takes place primarily up in the clouds within the walls of the King family penthouse, which is isolated and detached. The movie comes to life when King leaves that elevation (literally and figuratively) and gets down on ground level where the life and blood of the city is. He hits the streets for the centerpiece sequence, in which the mogul has been instructed by the kidnappers to personally deliver the ransom. Incognito in a ballcap and shades, carrying the loot in a backpack (Nike Air Jordan, of course this is a Spike Lee Joint), hes instructed to take the 4 train into the Bronx. As the subway zips through its stops, the rousing musical score rising, we realize its game day; Yankee fans are getting on the train, which takes them mere steps from Yankee Stadium at the 161st St stop. Theyre rowdy and ready, loaded for bear, exchanging fist pounds and starting their pro-Yankee (and anti-Red Sox) chants.As the train approaches 161st, moviegoers can see whats happening on the ground: the Puerto Rican Day Parade, where the legendary Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra is playing. As these threads converge, Lee deftly braids them together the action of the plot, the salsa music of the parade, the fans chanting LETS GO YANKEES. First, they run in parallel, then they collide. Every seemingly disconnected element moves in rhythm with the others, resulting in a joyful and incredible city symphony. Spike Lee might not have initially envisioned Highest 2 Lowest as a Donald Trump-era movie. At least thats what it seems, as the film is set right now, in summer of the Year of Our Lord 2025, but Kings son has a giant Kamala Harris FORWARD poster on his wall the kind of thing her supporters likely dont still have up, lest it serve as a reminder of what could have been.In reality, we are in Trump 2.0, and one of the key themes of this young administration has been a pronounced suspicion, if not hatred, of our cities. Theres precedent for that sort of thing; after all, New York City in the 1970s and 1980s was a near-wasteland of violent crime. That turbulence was vividly captured in the crime thrillers of the era, pictures such as Death Wish, The Warriors, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and Taxi Driver. Today, data show that the city is now one of the safest in the US, but Trump, in many ways, is still stuck in the New York of the 1980s, where he rose to prominence. His virulent view of all cities reflects that mindset. As a result, were seeing more widespread anti-urban sentiment now than weve seen in decades, and much of it is coming from our federal government. Trump is all but unleashing martial law on Washington, DC, because of high crime backed not by numbers, but vibes. He'll send federal troops there and into Los Angeles primarily, it seems, because they are diverse cities with liberal leaders and progressive policies. And Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has spent a lot of time trying to make it seem as though the New York City subways are something out of Death Wish. And yet heres Spike Lee, in this summer of unrest, showing us how this city like so many others is a lively, vibrant, multicultural utopia. Thats not the main takeaway from Highest 2 Lowest, and it certainly isnt the one the filmmaker intended. But it may be the films most valuable contribution to an increasingly uneasy cultural moment.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. Jason Bailey is a film critic and historian whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Vulture, the Playlist, Slate and Rolling Stone. He is the author, most recently, of 'Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend.' More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion Rumours about Govinda and Sunita Ahujas divorce is back in news! The actor's wife has reportedly accused him of adultery, cruelty, and more as part of the formal grounds for their separation. Reacting to the rumours, Govinda's manager broke his silence. Govinda's lawyer on actor and Sunita Ahujas divorce rumours The actor's lawyer, Lalit Bindal, dismissed the report and called it "old news". "This is the same old news which came out six-seven months ago. Sunita had filed a divorce petition six-seven months ago, now everything is getting settled. In a week or so everyone will hear the news," Govinda's manager Shashi Sinha told PTI. "The whole family is going to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi festival together for which, Sunita is busy doing the preparation," he added. Meanwhile, Govinda and his wife are yet to react to the speculations. Govinda and Sunita Ahujas divorce rumours As per a report by Hauterfly, Sunita Ahuja filed for divorce on December 5, 2024, in the Bandra Family Court, citing adultery, cruelty, and desertion. The couple is married for 38 years now. They tied the knot on March 11, 1987 and have two kids- son Yashvardan Ahuja and daughter Tina Ahuja. Rumours about their divorce began in February this year. Rumours of Ahuja and Govinda heading for a divorce became a hot topic after she revealed that they have been living in separate houses. The divorce rumours grew stronger when she revealed that she has been spending her birthdays alone for the last 12 years. A post on Reddit also claimed that their divorce was a result of their strained relationship. It alleged that the actor's extra-marital affair with an unnamed young actress might be the cause behind their divorce. Putting an end to the rumours, Sunita Ahuja's manager, Sadia Solkar denied reports of their strained marriage to Live Mint. She said, This is not true. Ausgold has entered a binding agreement to acquire approximately 860 hectares of freehold land, crucial for the development of its Katanning Gold Project (KGP) in Western Australia (WA). This acquisition includes land previously under legal dispute, which has now been discontinued, allowing Ausgold to proceed with its project plans without further legal challenges. The land in question is part of Ausgold's mining licence ML70/211 and was the focus of legal action that has been ongoing since August 2023. The acquired land hosts a significant portion of KGP's mineral resource and is essential for the project's proposed development footprint, as detailed in a definitive feasibility study (DFS) completed in June. The agreement also provides Ausgold immediate access to exploration and studies, enabling optimisation of the project's mine plan, which could add additional life-of-mine gold production and reduce mining costs. Under the agreed terms, the vendors are required to vacate the land by 28 February 2027, in time for the expected launch of mining operations. Ausgold is set to start a multi-rig drilling programme targeting high-grade areas within the land, which were previously inaccessible. The total consideration for the land acquisition is A$35m ($22.4m), with A$15m in payments scheduled for August 2025 and A$20m upon a final investment decision, or August 2026, whichever comes first. The company reported having A$45m cash on hand as of 31 July 2025. Ausgold executive chairman John Dorward said: Securing this land is the key de-risking event for the development of the KGP. Land access issues, which have impaired the optimal development of the Katanning Gold Project up this point, have now been removed and we can now get on with the unfinished business of determining the full potential of this emerging gold district. Significant gold endowment was artificially excluded from the DFS due to previous tenure constraints, and we look forward to showcasing the full potential of the KGP. This June, Ausgold entered a farm-in agreement with Critica for exploration licence E70/5077, adjacent to its Kulin gold project in WA. This agreement allows Ausgold to earn up to a 70% interest in the licence by investing a total of A$610,000 over three and a half years. "Ausgold signs land acquisition deal to advance Katanning gold project" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at his high-stakes meeting with President Trump armed with props to drive home the human toll of Russias war in Ukraine: a battlefield map, an oversize letter from his wife, and even a golf club gifted by a wounded Ukrainian soldier. Behind closed doors with Trump and European leaders on Monday, more mundane documents seemed to strike a chord. Across a long wood table, Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation showed Trump a photo and birth certificate of a Ukrainian toddler who was only a few months old when the war began in 2022 and was taken by Russian forces from a childrens home in Kherson, according to a person familiar with the matter. Then they showed Trump a Russian birth certificate for the same child, with a new name, that listed her birthplace near Moscow after she was removed to Russia and adopted by a Kremlin-linked politician, the person said. Ukrainian officials say the child was one of thousands that they say have been taken to Russia since the invasion, many with their names and identities rewritten. The Wall Street Journal couldnt independently verify the allegations about the child. Trump appeared to be moved by the childs story, according to officials present. It was emotionally significant for the American President to see a personal human fatenot only the facts and figures," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was in the room, told reporters after the meeting. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky handed over a letter from his wife to President Trumps wife during the mens Oval Office meeting this week. In front of the cameras that day, Zelensky also presented Trump with a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, to first lady Melania Trump, thanking her for pressing President Vladimir Putin to save the lives of thousands of children with a stroke of the pen." The twin appeals were the culmination of a monthslong lobbying campaign by Ukrainian and European officials, joined by evangelical Christian organizations, to bring the plight of the missing children to the attention of senior American officials and make it a demand in peace negotiations. There are signs it has broken through. The children are devastated," Trump told Fox News the day after the meeting. Theyre taken away from their homes." That evening, he posted on Truth Social, expressing hope to bring them home to their families." Trump allies in Congress have also vowed to take up the issue. It remains to be seen whether it will have a lasting effect on Trumps view of the war or prompt him to bring more pressure on Russia. While Trump has at times been swayed by powerful images or personal storiesas when photos of Syrian children killed in a 2017 chemical attack prompted U.S. missile strikeshis attention has just as often shifted as new priorities arise. A White House spokeswoman said Trump has a humanitarian heart" and is working to end the war because he wants the suffering to stop. Ukraine says it has reports of 20,000 missing children, many of whom were taken from orphanages and schools in occupied Ukraine when Russia withdrew its forces from those areas. The United Nations says it hasnt independently verified Ukraines figure. Ukrainian officials say thousands of children have been taken to Russia since the invasion, many with their names and identities rewritten.Under international law, the forcible transfer of children from one group to another can constitute genocide under certain conditions. Russia has acknowledged transferring some children, saying it did so to remove them from harms way. Moscow has declared that occupied parts of Ukraine are Russian territory, and Putin has said Ukrainians and Russians are one people. Officials close to Putin say Ukraine distorts the issue. There are no children who were forcibly transferred or deported by us from Ukraine," said senior Putin adviser Vladimir Medinsky. There are only children saved under fire." Some Russian officials have expressed pride about adopting children transferred from parts of Ukraine. Under international law, the forcible transfer of children from one group to another constitutes genocide if conducted with the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Ukraine has long pushed for this issue to be at the forefront of diplomatic efforts to end the war, but only in recent months has it managed to break through to the Trump administration and conservative figures close to the U.S. president. A key moment came on March 11, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke publicly about Ukraines desire to get the children back after meeting with Ukrainian envoys in Saudi Arabia. The Ukrainians had pressed the Americans to include the issue on their list of demands with the Russians. A few days later, it became public that funding for a U.S.-based program that tracked missing Ukrainian children had been halted as part of the Trump administrations freeze on foreign aid. U.S. lawmakers pressed Rubio for answers, arguing the database was critical for returning the children to their homes. Ukraine and its supporters in Congress tried to use the setback as an opportunity to lobby the administration on the issue. Evangelical groups, some of them with close ties to Trump allies, rallied to renew their efforts to lobby the White House on the issue, according to several organizers. That same week, Trump first raised the issue with Zelensky in a call on March 19, promising to work closely with Ukraine to make sure the children were returned home. Once MAGA Republicans learn about Russias abduction of Ukrainian kids, support for Ukraine increases by more than 20 points," said Melinda Haring of Razom, one of the nongovernment organizations involved in lobbying for Ukraine in Washington. Its a really potent issue." In April, a group of evangelical organizations sent a letter to Trump and Rubio urging them to make the issue a central demand in negotiations to end the war. Among them was the Family Research Council, a conservative group with strong ties to Trumps inner circle that has hosted the president at its national summit several times. Ukrainian families evacuated from the Dnipropetrovsk region during a Russian advance in June.Childrens handprints decorate the wall of the culture center in the front-line village of Kalynove in Ukraines Kharkiv region. Calling the transfer of Ukrainian children a grave moral and legal atrocity" in violation of international law, they cited Bible verses while urging the U.S. president to make their return a key condition in any negotiations. A few days later, groups that signed the letter met with key members of the Trump administrations staff on Ukraine. Weve pushed for this to be front and centernot just something that would be nice if it got done, but a condition in peace negotiations," said Chelsea Sobolik of Christian nonprofit World Relief, who led the outreach to the White House. The appeal seemed to gain traction. Two months later, Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican, introduced a resolution in Congress calling for the return of abducted Ukrainian children before completing any peace agreement. In a rare act of public appeal to a foreign leader, Melania Trump wrote her letter to Putin, appealing to him to protect the innocence of children. Mr. Putin, you can single-handedly restore their melodic laughter," she wrote in the letter, which was shared by Trump on Truth Social. It is time." The first ladys office declined to comment on what prompted her letter. Although she didnt specifically mention Ukrainian children or the war, Ukrainians quickly seized on it as an opening, prompting Olena Zelenskas response that was presented by Zelensky at the White House meeting. In a Truth Social post, Trump later said that the missing children were a big subject with my wife, Melania." Write to Matthew Luxmoore at matthew.luxmoore@wsj.com and Vera Bergengruen at vera.bergengruen@wsj.com Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been jockeying between the U.S. and China chip markets as the two countries hammer out a trade policy. Nvidia is halting production of an artificial-intelligence chip it developed for China after the government in Beijing told companies not to buy it, the latest twist in the U.S.-China tech war centered on the $4 trillion chip designer. Nvidia in recent days has told some partners to stop work related to making its H20 product, which was approved by the Trump administration for sale in China in exchange for 15% of the sales going to the U.S. government, people familiar with the matter said. The pause came after Chinese officials raised concerns about potential security risks in the chips. The company and its Chinese customers are now hoping for approval to sell a more advanced AI chip, the people said. They are betting that the product performs better than chips Chinese companies can offer, but worse than the most advanced Nvidia products, and that both governments will be satisfied with the outcome. Trump recently said he would approve a chip based on Nvidias Blackwell architecture that was 30% to 50% worse than the companys top product. In recent weeks, Nvidia has presented versions of such a product to U.S. officials, some of the people said. The discussions started earlier this year, before Trumps comments, and included a chip with roughly 80% of the peak performance. The company has also directed its leading manufacturer in Taiwan to focus on next-generation products. The jockeying highlights the uncertainty facing companies and governments in the rapidly evolving AI industry. Both Washington and Beijing have zigzagged repeatedly, seeing chips as critical to national security while they hammer out a broader trade agreement. Caught in the middle, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has turned into a diplomat, shuttling between the U.S. and China to secure the market access he needs. Critics of Huang and the Trump administrations approach warn they could undermine national security if the chips fall into the wrong hands. China is also in a bind, wanting to boost domestic companies like Nvidia-competitor Huawei and catch up in the AI race. That makes it difficult for many in Washington to tell whether Beijings H20 security concerns are a negotiating tactic, a legitimate government stance or a combination of both. China wants to have the best chips but also wants to have domestic chips at the same time. Those two goals are in conflict with one another," said Jimmy Goodrich, a senior adviser to the think tank Rand who focuses on tech issues. If the U.S. government were to approve a powerful Blackwell for China, even at a 30-to-50% performance reduction, my guess is wed miraculously see China forget about security concerns," he added, reflecting a common view among industry executives. Some in the White House view Chinas actions as a move to support Huawei and the domestic AI ecosystem, an administration official said. The Trump administration has cited Huaweis improving capabilities in justifying exports of AI chips. Chinese developer DeepSeek this week indicated China will soon have its own next-generation chips to run AI models. We constantly manage our supply chain to address market conditions," a Nvidia spokeswoman said. China wont rely on American chips for government operations, just like the U.S. government would not rely on chips from China. However, allowing U.S. chips for beneficial commercial business use is good for everyone." Many Chinese companies still view Nvidia products as better than what they can get domestically. They would have more than $15 billion available to buy additional AI chips beyond what domestic producers can supply this year if U.S. products like Nvidias were available, analysts at investment bank Bernstein estimate. During a visit to Taiwan Friday, Huang acknowledged the export approval for a Blackwell chip is a big question mark. Its up to, of course, the United States government," said Huang, who met executives from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, which makes Nvidia chips, during his trip. Were in dialogue with them, but its still too soon to know." Trump called Blackwell technology super-duper advanced" and the latest and the greatest in the world" when he discussed chip exports recently. Last month, after a meeting between Trump and Huang, the administration said Nvidia could sell the H20 in China, reversing an April decision that had blocked sales. Customers in China immediately flocked to put in orders after finding domestic supply insufficient, industry participants said. Nvidia placed orders for hundreds of thousands of H20 chips with TSMC to add to its existing inventory. But the fever only lasted for days. Beijing officials started raising concerns about potential security risks, including trackers that would let other people operate the chips remotely. Nvidia has said its products dont have such backdoors." The government instructed Chinese companies not to buy them until the all-clear was given. Were surprised by that," Huang said Friday when asked about Chinas scrutiny. They requested and urged us to secure licenses for the H20s for some time." Nvidia at least for now sees no point in making more H20s, some of the people said. In recent days, the company has told partnersincluding TSMC, Foxconn and Samsungto halt work for producing new H20s. The Information and Reuters earlier reported on Nvidias direction to its partners. Officials in Beijing are reluctant to have Trumps approval of the H20 treated as a U.S. concession to Chinese wisheseven though Huang said China urged him to get the approval. They say that if the U.S. really wants to show goodwill, it will give Chinese users more access to cutting-edge American technology. In one considered modification of the Blackwell chip for China, Nvidia initially removed high-bandwidth memory units and the components that allow the chips to communicate with one another, some of the people said. Both help AI computers make more simultaneous calculations and improve performance. After Huang persuaded the White House to allow H20 exports, Nvidia engineers began to reverse their modifications. They reasoned that since the H20 contains high-bandwidth memory, a Blackwell chip with that feature might get approval too. It is normal for tech companies to discuss products in development with government officials who regulate exports. Some Chinese companies have tested samples of the new Nvidia chips and seen positive results. AI is going to advance around the world, with or without the United States," Huang said Friday, describing how he explained the issue to Trump. Its important for us to maximize our AI export technology at the time when this industry is being formed." Write to Raffaele Huang at raffaele.huang@wsj.com and Amrith Ramkumar at amrith.ramkumar@wsj.com For two days every year in June, China comes to a standstill. Unusual sights abound: Men put on qipaos, traditional dresses typically worn by women, as a symbol of luck; police stand on street corners, silencing drivers to ensure minimal disturbance; temples overflow with relatives sending out final prayers; crowds, unusually quiet, gather in hushed vigils outside thousands of schools. State media zero in on an event affecting 10 million students and their many family members: the gaokao, Chinas national college entrance exam. The highest scorers on the gaokao in each province are practically guaranteed a spot at an elite university and the life-changing power that comes with it. In some places, top scorers are treated like celebrities and interviewed on local television. In others, legal measures now shield the identity of the highest scorers to protect them from overexposure. The gaokao is the culmination of hundreds of tests that Chinese students take during the 12 years of elementary to high school. Exams are a fact of life in many places around the world. But no country is as thoroughly governed by test scores as China, where they both reflect and reinforce the structure of society as a tournamenta zero-sum competition where, if your neighbor wins, in all likelihood you lose. The higher education system in China is a pyramid with five tiers. At the top are approximately 100 elite universities, which receive priority in government funding and resources. Below them are several thousand four-year universities designated Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4, which differ substantially in terms of their reputation and resources. At the bottom of the pyramid sit two-year or three-year vocational colleges, which are similar to community colleges in the U.S. Every students score on the gaokao is compared to the score of every other student within their province; it is only by knowing how well others are performing that one can gauge ones own performance. Of the 10 million students who take the gaokao every year, about 500,000, the top 5%, will gain admission to a Tier 1 college. Admission is entirely determined by test score, in contrast with the U.S., where standardized tests like the ACT and SAT are just one of many factors considered by an admissions office, and each college typically accepts students with a range of scores. For Chinese families, obsessing over the gaokao is perfectly rational: Unless they do so, they have little chance of succeeding within the system. That is why, even though Chinese primary and middle schools are free and high school tuition is relatively low, families with students devote about 7.9% of their total household expenditure to education, compared to a global average of roughly 2% to 3%. After all, if every student is supposedly receiving the same free public education, the only way to surpass your peers is to do something different, something extra. Thats where tutoring comes in. For ambitious urban students, tutoring is nonnegotiable. The chance of getting into Chinas two top universities, Peking and Tsinghua, is close to zero if a student does not attend one of the top 10% of high schools in their province. To attend a top high school, a student must be a top tester in one of the best middle schools. And to get into one of the best middle schools, a student must be a top tester in one of the best elementary schools. That means children often begin the tutoring grind at age 4 or 5. The need to pay for tutoring puts wealthy families at a notable advantage. The same is true in many countries, but inequality of educational opportunity is especially problematic in a country that emphasizes socialist ideals. In recent years, Chinas government has taken pains to tackle inequalities in the exam system, even outlawing all forms of tutoring in 2021. Within a month, the stock price of Chinas most prominent tutoring company plummeted by 90%. But while the policy was meant to help students and families struggling with expenses, it did nothing to change the underlying reality of the system. The demand for higher scores exists because the gaokao exists. Wealthy individuals now simply hire private tutors under the table instead of contracting with bigger companies. Other tutoring companies have gone underground, which only drives up the cost and limits access for students already struggling with limited resources. Even housing can be considered an educational expense, since living in a top school district offers a shortcut to the best elementary schools. In Beijing, a 550-square-foot apartment in a prestigious district can cost roughly $1.2 million, a higher price per square foot than in Palo Alto, Calif., one of the most expensive cities in America. Chinas efforts to reduce private spending on education extend beyond the tutoring crackdown. Since 2012, the government has boosted its education budget to over 4% of GDP, matching the global average of 4.3%. It has also introduced a lottery system for school districts in major urban centers, to increase access for poorer students. But with the system as competitive as ever, these efforts have done little to reduce individual expenses, and Chinese parents still hear the popular phrase ringing in their heads: Dont let your children lose at the starting line." As graduates of elite Chinese universities, both of us know how life-changing Chinas educational system can be for winners in the tournament. But after spending years in the system and even more time studying it, we are also aware of its limitations. Teaching to the test" discourages students from exploring subjects beyond what appears on the gaokao. It can also hinder the development of social skills, which are extremely valuable in the workplace and likely to become even more so as many tasks become automated by AI. Fostering social skills is undeniably a strength of the education system in the U.S., and few would doubt that the quality of an American college education exceeds that of a Chinese one. For younger students, on the other hand, Chinese education has significant strengths. Starting in elementary school, the system emphasizes hard skills" like math and logic, as well as soft skills" such as hard work and discipline, which are useful in higher education and the workplace. As for whether the Chinese system stifles creativity and innovation, the answer reaches far beyond the classroom. The real problem is that Chinese society as a whole is structured as a hierarchical tournament, like the gaokao: It rewards the types of behavior necessary to climb the ladder while discouraging those that foster creative destruction. The failures of Chinas education system wont be remedied unless the broader society changes as well. Ruixue Jia is a professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego, and Hongbin Li is co-director of the Stanford Center on Chinas Economy and Institutions. This essay is adapted from their new book, The Highest Exam: How the Gaokao Shapes China," written with Claire Cousineau, which will be published Sept. 9 by Harvard University Press. Yes Bank on Saturday said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved a proposal by Japanese lender Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation to acquire up to 24.99% in the private sector lender. The Japanese lender announced in May that it will acquire a 20% stake in Yes Bank for 13,482 crore, in the largest cross-border investment in the Indian banking sector. SMBC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, the second largest banking group in Japan with assets of $2 trillion at the end of December. Then in July, Reuters reported that SMBC sought approval for an additional 4.9% stake in Yes Bank. It is not immediately clear as to when and from which shareholders SMBC will purchase the additional shares to take its stake in Yes Bank to just under 25%. Per the 20% stake sale plan, Indias largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) will sell a 13.19% stake, and seven other shareholders Axis Bank, Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank will sell a total of 6.81%. ...we are pleased to inform that SMBC has received the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire up to 24.99% of the paid-up share capital/ voting rights of the bank vide letter dated August 22, 2025. This approval is valid for one year from the date of this letter, Yes Bank said in a regulatory filing on Saturday. Following a deterioration in Yes Banks financial position, the RBI superseded the board in March 2020. Soon after, a clutch of banks led by SBI rescued Yes Bank. RBI, the statement said, has further clarified that following the acquisition, SMBC would not be treated as a promoter of the bank. At present, Yes Bank has no promoter and is fully owned by public shareholders. Yes Bank said that the proposed transaction is subject to approval from Competition Commission of India (CCI) and customary conditions precedents as mentioned in the agreements referred in our intimation dated 9 May. This deal is expected to pave the way for similar transactions in future where foreign capital will be able to seamlessly flow into the Indian banking sector. As per Fitch Rating, Indias foreign investment norms cap voting rights for investors in banks at 26% and investments by financial institutions in Indian banks at 15%, which have deterred such stake sales. However, there have been exceptions. The RBI has previously allowed the local unit of a foreign bank to take over a struggling domestic lender. In November 2020, the central bank seized control of Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) and forced a merger with the Indian arm of Singapores DBS Bank. That was the first instance of the central bank deploying a foreign-owned bank to stabilize a domestic peer. Board seats and dissent Meanwhile, as part of the deal, SMBC will get two seats on the board of Yes Bank. However, Yes Banks decision to give the Japanese lender the right to place its nominee directors on the lender's key board committees did not go down well with proxy advisory firms. Mint reported on 15 August that two proxy advisory firms Institutional Investor Advisory Services India Ltd (IiAS) and Stakeholder Empowerment Services (SES) have recommended investors to vote against the proposal. Yes Bank chief executive Prashant Kumar, whose term ends in April 2025, had told Mint three months ago that the proposal to sell 20% in Yes Bank has allowed the private sector lender to achieve three key objectives. One of the banks overhangs was the fate of State Bank of Indias (SBI) stake in the bank, and that has been taken care of, Kumar had said. The search for a new chief executive should gather steam now. The board of Yes Bank Ltd had paused the search till the banking regulator cleared its ongoing stake sale, Mint reported on 7 July citing two people aware of the development. This was after some directors voiced concerns about shortlisting a new CEO at a time of ownership change. Minuscule direct spending from the market regulators swelling corpus meant for investor education and protection has triggered calls for a sharp shift in strategy, particularly targeting first-time investors and countering misinformation from financial influencers. The Securities and Exchange Board of Indias Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF) saw its corpus jump nearly 43% in 2024-25, from 533 crore in FY24 to 761 crore. Yet, direct deployment from the fund remained stagnant at 2.7 crore. This growing gulf between the funds size and spending has renewed calls for Sebi to shift from event-led awareness drives to outcome-focused deployment. A Sebi official, however, pointed out that the regulator also spends money on investor initiatives via market infrastructure institutions such as stock exchanges and depositorieswhich isnt reflected in its annual report. Another former Sebi officer, Abhiraj Arora, and a partner at Saraf and Partners, revealed that spending decisions rest with a committee inside Sebi. Sebi has spent extensively on investor sessions nationwide, but some funds may come from the general fund rather than IPEF due to bureaucracy or specific committee approval and reporting," he said. Sebi and its partners ran 50,789 investor awareness events across 724 districts in FY25, up from 43,826 events across 687 districts in FY24, widening the reach but not the spending. Also Read | Why Sebi is drowning in record investor complaints Sebi can deploy the IPF (Investor Protection Fund) and IPEF funds far more effectively if it moves beyond broad brush awareness campaigns and ties utilization to measurable outcomes," said Sonam Chandwani, managing partner, KS Legal. She added that instead of generic seminars in large cities, Sebi could channel more funds to tier-2 and tier-3 cities where first-time investors often start with derivatives (futures and options trading) or small-cap stocks without grasping the risks involved. Individuals trading in futures and options alone suffered losses exceeding 1 trillion in FY25, according to Sebis research report released on 7 July. Fund vernacular, short-form digital literacy to counter finfluencers at the source; build simulation tools that let investors practice risk-free; and deploy data-driven early warnings like illiquidity or concentration alerts," Chandwani said. She also suggested creating an impact scorecard for Sebis fund so every rupee is judged against reduced complaints, lower mis-selling, and genuine behaviour change". Emails to Sebi on the matter went unanswered. Untapped potential Legal experts who work closely with Sebi called its approach cautious and technically consistent with the law, but increasingly misaligned with market realities. While Sebis regulations empower it to use its corpus for education and awareness, there is no structured framework for direct compensation, they added. IPEF functions more as a reservoir for awareness initiatives than as a vehicle for restitution," said Sumit Agrawal, founder and partner at Regstreet Law Advisors and a former Sebi officer. From a policy perspective, there is a growing gap between the size of the corpus and the modest expenditure, especially when the number of first-time and retail investors has surged. This makes the cautious approach look increasingly misaligned with the spirit, if not the letter, of investor protection," Agrawal said. Also Read | Sebi reforms to give investment advisers a boost. But more needs to be done Other experts drew comparisons with global regulators. The US Securities and Exchange Commissions Fair Funds mechanism returns disgorged monies to affected investors and supports whistleblower rewards. The UKs Financial Conduct Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission spend aggressively on technology-enhanced education and public campaigns. Considering the exponential growth of retail investors, Sebi should certainly consider using more IPEF funds to enhance investor awareness, protection, and confidence in the Indian financial markets," said Abhishek Dadoo, partner at Khaitan and Co. law firm, highlighting there was no spending threshold for IPEF. Akshaya Bhansali, managing partner, Mindspright Legal, said amendments to the IPEF framework in 2023 introduced a hierarchy ringfencing disgorged amounts for eligible, identifiable investors, or whistleblower rewards. Only after seven years can leftover funds move to education; therefore, a clearer, rules-based mechanism to quantify loss could bridge the gap between enforcement and outcome, Bhansali explained. Theres one niggle, though, according to her: It has been difficult for Sebi to identify the investors who have lost money due to the wrongdoings of market participants, leaving aside broker defaults." Two Adani Group stocks, namely Adani Ports and Adani Enterprises, will be in focus on Monday, August 25, after both the companies made important investment announcements in two separate regulatory filings. Here is why Adani Ports and SEZ, and Adani Enterprises shares will be in focus at the stock market sessions on Monday. Adani Ports stock price Adani Ports and SEZ Limited shares will be in focus on Monday as the company on Saturday, August 23, announced that it was building a logistics park in Kochi spanning 70 acres with an investment of over 600 crore. The facility will have a 1.3 million sq. ft. of integrated logistics infrastructure with smart and sustainable features Developed under the Invest in Kerala initiative, this landmark project marks a pivotal step in transforming Kerala into a logistics and industrial powerhouse, Adani Ports said in a press release. Also Read | How Adani makes the best use of US solar tariffs Strategically located in Kochi- a city rapidly emerging as a hub for industrial and logistics development, the park spans over 70 acres and is designed to reduce transportation costs, enable just-in-time operations, and enhance export capabilities across key sectors including e-commerce, FMCG/FMCD, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and retail, it added. The Adani Ports Logistics Park in Kochi is expected to generate over 1,500 jobs, fostering local employment, skill development, and economic growth, while creating opportunities for SMEs to thrive within the supply chain ecosystem. The facility will feature EV charging stations, smart logistics solutions, and digital integration, and will be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Shares of Adani Ports and SEZ closed 1.55 per cent lower at 1340.35 apiece on the BSE on Friday, as compared to 1361.50 at the previous close. Adani Enterprises stock price The flagship company of the Adani Group, Adani Enterprises Limited, has announced the incorporation of a new step-down wholly owned subsidiary, CG Syn-Gas & Chemicals Limited (CSGCL), marking the firm's entry into the chemical manufacturing industry. The new entity was established on August 23 through AEL's subsidiary Mundra Synenergy Limited (MSEL). CSGCL has been incorporated with an initial subscribed capital of 5,00,000, divided into 50,000 equity shares with a face value of 10 each. Also Read | Stocks to buy under 200: Mehul Kothari of Anand Rathi recommends three shares Mundra Synenergy Limited will will hold 100 per cent of the share capital in this new entity. Shares of Adani Enterprises closed 2.23 per cent lower on BSE on Friday at 2324.65, as compared to 2377.70 at the previous close. HDFC Bank bonus issue: The board of directors of HDFC Bank has declared the issuance of bonus shares in a 1:1 ratio to its eligible shareholders. HDFC Bank's bonus issue record date is fixed on 27 August 2025. As August 27, 2025, is a stock market holiday, HDFC Bank shares will trade ex-date for bonus shares on 26 August 2025, i.e. on Tuesday next week. So, those HDFC Bank shareholders holding HDFC Bank shares after the market close on Tuesday next week will be eligible to issue an equal number of HDFC Bank shares available in their respective Demat Accounts. However, there is a catch for HDFC Bank shareholders who are eligible for bonus issues. According to the income tax rules, bonus shares come under the purview of income tax (both short-term capital gain and long-term capital gain). A bonus share beneficiary must pay 20% short-term capital gain (STCG) if they sell the bonus shares within one year of the share allotment date. The entire sale value will be considered the investor's income, and a 20% STCG will be levied on the whole bonus share sale value. Similarly, if the bonus share beneficiary sells bonus shares after the one-year bonus shares allotment date, a 12.50% LTCG will be levied on the net sales value above 1.25 lakh. So, a marginal retail investor should only go for the HDFC Bank bonus issue benefit if they want to hold HDFC Bank shares for over a year. How will HDFC Bank's bonus shares be taxed? On how the HDFC Bank bonus issue will be taxed, Mumbai-based tax and investment expert Balwant Jain said, "For the potential HDFC Bank bonus issue beneficiary, the cost of bonus shares would be zero. If the upcoming HDFC Bank bonus shares are sold within one year of issuance, then a flat 20% STCG will be levied on the bonus shares. If bonus shares are sold after holding them for more than one year, then in that case, the bonus share beneficiary will have to pay 12.50% tax on income over 1.25 lakh that the shareholder has earned from the date of issuance of bonus shares." Balwant Jain said that on most occasions, a marginal retail investor need not pay LTCG on their bonus shares as their portfolio is so small that it does not exceed the 1.25 lakh limit. He said that marginal retail investors should go for the bonus share benefit if they have a perspective of more than one year on HDFC Bank shares. Fundamental outlook of HDFC Bank shares Highlighting the fundamentals of HDFC Bank, Seema Srivastava, Senior Research Analyst at SMC Global Securities, said, "In the near term, the stock may benefit from positive sentiment ahead of the August 27 record date. Over the next 12 months, while NIM compression and slower corporate loan growth could weigh, HDFC Banks resilient balance sheet, strong deposit franchise and prudent provisioning make it a safe compounding story. It has reported a healthy Q1 FY26 performance with PAT up 12.2% YoY despite making large discretionary provisions of over 10,000 crore to strengthen its balance sheet. Net interest income grew 5.4% to 31,440 crore, though core NIM moderated 3.35% due to deposit repricing pressures." Seema Srivastava, who is a certified Chartered Accountant (CA) as well, said that loan growth was steady at 6.7% YoY, led by retail (+8.1%) and SME (+17.1%), while corporate loans grew modestly at 1.7%. Asset quality remains best-in-class with gross NPA at 1.40% and net NPA at 0.47%, supported by robust provisioning buffers. Capital adequacy is strong with a CAR of 19.9%, well above regulatory requirements, providing ample headroom for future growth. "On the shareholder rewards front, the bank declared a 1:1 bonus share issue and a special dividend of 5 per share, reflecting managements confidence," Seema Srivastava of SMC Global Securities said. Technical outlook of HDFC Bank shares Speaking on the HDFC Bank share price chart pattern, Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi, said, "HDFC Bank shares have been witnessing a strong uptrend after giving a breakout above the key level of 1850 per share. The stock is expected to maintain its positive momentum if it sustains above this crucial support zone. In the near to medium term, the uptrend may continue, with the potential to rally towards the 2,050 to 2,100 levels. Hence, investors are advised to hold existing positions and consider buying on dips, keeping a stop loss at 1850 to manage risk effectively. On breaking above the 2,100 levels, we can expect HDFC Bank shares to touch the 2,350 apiece levels. This setup offers a favourable riskreward opportunity for investors looking for steady gains in the coming months." HDFC Bank bonus issue details In one of its latest exchange filing, HDFC Bank informed exchanges about the bonus shares record date, saying, "This has reference to our intimation dated July 19, 2025, wherein the Board of Directors of HDFC Bank Limited (Bank) had approved the issuance of bonus shares in the ratio of 1:1 i.e. 1 equity share for every 1 equity share held by the shareholders as on the record date i.e. August 27, 2025 (Record Date) and also increase in the Authorised Share Capital of the Bank and consequential amendment to Memorandum of Association, subject to applicable approvals including from the Members of the Bank. Reference is also drawn to our intimation dated July 22, 2025 wherein we had informed about circulation of the Postal Ballot Notice dated July 19, 2025 to all the Members, seeking their approval for the said matters." If you live in Mumbai, you dont need a time machine to imagine yourself dining in the Bombay of yore. You need to visit the Circle Sixty Nine bistro at Kathiwada City House, an art, food, wellness and culture centre. Or take in the charm of Scarlett House restaurant set inside a 90-year-old Portuguese bungalow. Or head to Subko for coffee and bakes in a 1920s house in Bandra. Across India, a growing number of restaurateurs are transforming old structures into vibrant new dining spots. While it actively preserves and highlights these buildings, it also gives the public fresh and engaging ways to appreciate their significance. Mumbais Kathiwada City House, which was built in the Art Deco style in the 1940s, once belonged to Jehangir Nicholson, then sheriff of the city and a prominent art collector. Any historical building has collected energy over many years. In maximum cities like Mumbai there are very few naturally historic buildings which are repurposed. A European-style bistro in a heritage Art Deco bungalow is a heady combination," explains owner Sangita Kathiwada. Also Read | Meet Sujata the mixer and other chefs' tools View Full Image Circle Sixty Nine in Mumbai. The bistro is steeped in layers of history as well as art, particularly by M.F. Husain. Not his famous horses, but furniture sketches. This is from the time when he was painting movie posters, much before he became Husain the artist. These were the drawings for the furniture he made for the royal family of Dhrangadgra in Gujarat," she reveals. The barringtonia trees that drape the building have been photographed and printed on napkins and plates. The menu is a mix of salads, pastas and oven-fresh breads. In Bandra, a quaint red bungalow is the setting of actor Malaika Arora and Dhaval Udeshis Scarlett House, which opened last year. Designed like a cheery living room, it has with old teak windows, a raftered ceiling and stained glass windows. The vintage dinnerware on display feels like curios collected over time and adds to the global fare served with an Indian twist by chef Beena Noronha, such as ghee roast wraps and Salmon Mille Feuille layered with jeera khari. View Full Image Inside Paashh, Mumbai. A short distance away is another charming spot, which has been restored into a farm-to-table restaurant called Paashh. When we first stepped inside the 150-year-old bungalow, the walls were weathered, fittings worn out and the facade crumbling. We saw not just what it was but what it could becomea quiet sanctuary in Mumbais constant movement," explains founder Vaishali Karad. In Goa, Indo-Portuguese bungalows are being reborn as artisanal cafes, restaurants and slick cocktail bars. The high ceilings, wooden beams and detailed mouldings create an ambiance unmatched by modern, purpose-built restaurants. Noteworthy among these is Grumps, a bar housed in the outhouse and firewood storage room of a century-old home designed by Goa-based interior design firm Studio Praia. To replicate the old tavernas, it bears exposed laterite walls, cement oxide floors and a Mangalore tiled roof. Every old Goan home, legend has it, is watched over by a resident snake," explains Rochelle Santimano, project head at Studio Praia. Their protector is a grey terrazzo snake, crafted from recycled alcohol bottle chips, seen gracefully slithering across the bar top. View Full Image Scarlett House in Bandra, Mumbai. For restaurateurs looking to revitalise old spaces in with the new" doesnt have to mean out with the old". Creaky floors and distressed walls are seen as quirks that add character. At Scarlett House, the stained glass windows were meticulously restored and worn beams resurrected. Everything today feels so polished and fast-paced. I wanted to create a little pause. So when I found this heritage space, we built it like a supper club where people can slow down and connect over good food," says Udeshi. When Nishant Sinha, founder of Roastery Coffee House, zeroed in on the 80-year-old Jahangirabad Palace in Lucknow to set up his latest outpost, he only changed the flooring. In an era where most coffee shops and restaurants are tucked into glass boxes with no sense of place, a heritage structure offers a shift in rhythm, a new perspective on how spaces can make you feel," says Sinha. Its also about respecting the building materials and craftsmanship, some of which will never exist again, believes Dina Weber, the owner of Sapa Bakery. It is snuggled inside a 1940s bungalow in Mysurus Jayalakshmipuram, a house originally built for the engineers who worked on the Krishnaraja Sagara Dam on the Cauvery. You will find gorgeous arches leading to seating around a lily pond. This idyllic setting provides the perfect backdrop to savour Webers famed quiches, eclairs and artisanal breads. Turning an old building into a modern restaurant comes with challenges that go beyond dealing with dampness, roof repairs and new plumbing and electrical systems. Structural stability is a huge issue with these kinds of buildings. Many old Goan houses, for example, were built without the technology to create large openings or bring in a lot of natural light. The goal is to find a balance between retaining the buildings original bones and aesthetic while introducing a modern touch," says Santimano, who has also designed Shiori and Boilermaker, both bars housed in old Portuguese buildings in Siolim, Goa. But often, the results are totally worth the trouble. The special mix of character and history that these old places offer is simply too appealing to pass up. Also Read | From kebabs to cocktails, koji is a hit in modern Indian dining Nivedita Jayaram Pawar is a Mumbai-based food and travel writer. The water had gone inside our shoes when we saw it. Inside an old Aravalli forest, bearing testimony to structures from at least three dynasties, a black creature with yellow feet sheltered from the rain. It was a scorpion, that nemesis from old trunks with forgotten memories, that reading in the horoscope when one looked for meaning on a fresh new day. The yellow-footed peninsular black scorpionlikely flooded out of its holewas biding its time till the rain stopped. We were all huddled under a man-made structure: Four of us, one scorpion. Its tail twitched once, raised and alert, but the animal had resigned itself to devoting its waking and nocturnal hours for waiting rather than hunting. There was a perfect truce between our little night survey party and the arachnidno sudden movements or snap judgements, united in riding out the storm with as little histrionics as possible. A few days later, I travelled to the central Indian highlands. Like in the north, the rain pattered, lightning flashed as the world was fondled (or occasionally slapped) by sheets of rain. In the forest, we watched a bush move with a large animal twitching underneath. A young male tiger, big paws stretched out in front of his massive head, had taken shelter underneath the vegetation. Rain sped towards the earth. It seemed determined to outpace itself, dislocating soil and the tigers evening plans. We waited, just as we had done in the company of the scorpion. The sun slipped down in the sky, liquid haze through the cloudbank. As the storm finally exhausted itself, the tiger came out. He looked around him, his great neck stretching, rising and falling like a tide. As he turned towards us, a sharp gaze and a hint of tooth pierced the airfamiliar, but not friendly. There was a grudging sort of acceptance in his demeanour; he didnt seem thrilled by the weather. On his neck, three ticks glistened, because the monsoon is the hard time of parasites, the time when decay and growth are cheek-to-cheek with each other. The tiger then crossed the path and made his way between huge monsoonal leaves. He disappeared into the forest as water going into sandeffortless and silky. We left too, soaked by the rain, but nourished by the sight of a nimble, if slightly sodden, predator. Also Read | Lessons we can learn from the humanism of forests And back in Delhi, an animal shivered under a shop awning as the monsoon thundered. This wasnt a mysterious scorpion or a snarling tiger. It was instead an animal that embodies contradictions like no otherfamiliar but fierce, loving but protective, endearing but overwhelming in its sheer numbers. The next day, citizens woke up to news about this animal, one who waits patiently but also hunts efficiently, the worlds most ubiquitous predator: The stray dog. In a recent order, the Supreme Court had asked for the removal of stray dogs from Delhis streets, noting dog bites. It directed for shelters to be made for this purpose. No recent decision has cleaved people so strongly. Some rejoiced, though admittedly this seemed to come from clean it all up, I dont want to see dirt mentality that privileged classes excel inprivileging law and order, no matter what the cost, seeing disorder as a sign of the developing world. This group was criticised as wanting to remove the misfit of the dog and dog-feeder, to eliminate any form of threat, especially when it represents the sidelined. Others mourned, claiming they had spent time and money in vaccinating and sterilising dogs, being proxies for the state, pointing out dogs were a soft target when so many other urban problems persist. The criticism hurled at this group predicates the self over the animalthe idea that elitist people want dogs, even if they bite or chase people, framed as an ivory tower versus shanty problem; that dog-lovers feed their own egos even as they feed dogs. Two Black-rumped flamebacks tap a tree-trunk through the rain. But reality is more nuanced than us versus them debates. Despite their huge numbers in Delhi (let us assume there are at least one million dogs in the city), dogs are not safe on the street. They are frequently run over, and are exposed to extremes of weather. Everyone will agree that dogs deserve better than living on the margins. Yet, it is also true that all dogs should not pay the price for the callousness of the municipal corporation that hasnt sterilised dogs, and has in effect allowed dog populations to explode. You will find the richest and the poorest with dogs, and it is not enough to say If you love them, take them home. Some simply cannot. Over the last few weeks, I have learned that the divide between those who want dogs gone and those who want them to remain is not necessarily reflective of a stance on dogs themselves. Rather, it is a stance on vitiated groups of people on each other. But one more thing is abundantly clearstuffing so many dogs into shelters that do not even exist will be wanton cruelty; an impossible task. The metaphor that comes to mind is sardines in a boxonly dogs are not sardines. They are highly territorial, intelligent and competitive. Instead of intellectualising our differences, perhaps we can move forward on what we agree on. We can agree on the fact that stray dogs are a huge problem and populations need to be controlled. We agree that the municipality has failed in its duty of sterilising dogs, that it has sat on its hands while the issue grows to monstrous proportions. We agree on parens patriae, that vote-less animals require dignity and care. The other thing we can agree on is that the matter needs solutions, not histrionics; and that solutions dont come from snap orders but a roundtable. Also Read | When it comes to healing, copy the trees In a new order under a different Bench, the court has directed for aggressive dogs to be taken to shelters and banned feeding in public spaces. The definitions of aggression and what could be feeding areas needs to be mulled. One hopes the solution will be worked out by those who are actually involved in these matters. Meanwhile, the rain continues to expend itself. Climate change is sweeping over the land, killing people, felling trees, flooding gullies and moving hills. We shiver in the rain, we rejoice in it, get displaced by it, and are joined by it, whether top predator, arthropod or domestic animal. The dog subject reminds us that we will have to get used to finding effective solutions as larger threats loom. It is a reminder that though we are tempted to remove everything we fearin arrogance or in a lack of imaginationmulti-faceted problems require complex solutions. We will have to think of scale, of a dogs life span, and coming up with customised solutions. Natural justice seems hard to dispense when the natural world is changing, when polarisation between people also seems natural. And we have to face that like climate change, the dog issue is created by us. We threw it crumbs and kicks. We let it cross a tipping point till we could not deny it. I think back on the tiger and the scorpion waiting out the rain with us; and I hope we will sit together in the next few months, without necessarily liking each other, and do the right thing. Neha Sinha is a conservation biologist and author of Wild and Wilful: Tales of 15 Iconic Indian Species. Views expressed are personal. Also Read | Look at animal movement with more generosity Abodh Aras recalls an incident from 15 years ago when a posh Mumbai club, which had around 38 sterilised stray dogs in its grounds, got rid of them illegally overnight. No one knows where they were takenwhether they were culled or dumped in some other area. But what followed was predictablestrays from surrounding areas moved in quickly to occupy the territory, and the members of the club soon had a bigger problem on their hands. Instead of sterilised strays that were familiar with them and the surroundings, they had packs of un-neutered, unfamiliar dogs roaming around the compound. Around eight years later, they had over 100 strays within the premises. After consistent sterilisation, the number has come down to 58still more than it was earlier. If they had not removed the original dogs, the population would have been in single digits by now," says Aras, whose organisation The Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD) was involved in the sterilisation process. In the wake of the Supreme Courts suo moto order of 11 August asking municipal authorities in the National Capital Region to pick up stray dogs from the streets and relocate" them to shelters" within two months, a debate over strays raged across India. Organisations like The Welfare of Stray Dogs, along with other NGOs that have been working with strays since the early noughties in Mumbai, are clear that relocating or removing strays is simply a solution that does not worknot even in the medium term. Another Bench of the Supreme Court modified the order on 22 August, and directed that the animals be sterilised, vaccinated and released back into the same area. For more than 150 years, street dogs used to be killed in Mumbai to bring down the population and control rabies. And this didnt happen. In 1994, we conducted a study that showed that while the municipal corporation used to kill more than 50,000 dogs every year, rabies deaths were at an all-time high," says Aras. At that point, WSD took over the killing pound and started what was then called sterilisation programmes and now referred to as Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes. Bombays model not only had an early start, but it was consistentan ongoing, targeted, area-wise programme," recalls Aras. More NGOs, such as In Defense of Animals (IDA), Ahimsa and the Mumbai SPCA joined in and the suburbs were includedalong with stronger, more humane support from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which remains involved in the sterilisation and vaccination of strays. In fact, it also collects some dataa recent article in The Times of India says that as per the BMC, 57 strays are sterilised every day in the city, up from 46 in 2024. While it would be too much to say that Mumbai doesnt have strays, it demonstrably does not have a stray dog problem". Its not just Mumbai. Sikkim is often cited as a success story in the control of stray dog populations, dog bites and rabies deathsfollowing the launch of the Sikkim Anti-Rabies and Animal Health (SARAH) programme, a state-wide ABC and anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) programme initiated in 2005. At the moment, Sikkim has a rabies-free status. Bhutan, a country with similar socioeconomic conditions as many Indian states, is also held up as an example of managing stray populations humanely. It successfully addressed its stray dog problem through a comprehensive, 14-year programme focused on sterilisation and vaccination. In India, Bengaluru has historically had a huge stray dog and dog bites problem. The city reported over 13,000 cases of dog bites till 31 July this year, according to data from the state veterinary department. View Full Image Members of the Ulsoor Canine Squad in Bengaluru (instagram.com/ulsoorcaninesquad) It is a problem of rapid urbanisation," says Ajita Vijayan, a member of the Ulsoor Canine Squad, a volunteer-driven group that monitors the feeding, vaccination and sterilisation of strays in one neighbourhood in the city, creates awareness campaigns, liaises with the local municipality for ABC-ARV, organises regular adoption drives, and fund-raises to keep the programmes going. They know practically every stray in the area (and have named them), keeping their eyes out for un-notched ears (a small portion of dogs ears are clipped to indicate that they have been sterilised) and pregnant streeties", as they are called. The squad is a part of a network of 60-odd canine squads in Bengaluru that came up in the early months of the covid-19 pandemic under the initiative of Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, an executive search consultant and civic activist. In the core areas of Bengaluru, where local groups like the Ulsoor squad, along with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), are actively involved in the management of strays, results have been fast and encouraging. Most of the central squads have stray populations that are 80-90% neutered and vaccinated. Some of the outlying ones have not reached this figure and are at 60-70%. There are cases when we started squads in an area that was previously unmonitored, just grit our teeth and ramped up ABC massivelywith around 300 dogs sterilised in six months," says Rajagopal. A picture emerges from these storieswhile the management of strays is under the purview of local municipal bodies, successful campaigns have seen the involvement of citizens as well as NGOs that keep these bodies on their toes. Social media narratives about animal lovers" who feed strays without taking the responsibility of ABC-ARV are largely falseand if there are pockets in cities where this happens, there has been a failure of communication and awareness building. What has been working for us? Its the hyperlocal, hub and spoke model. The focus is first and last on a geo-defined local community," says Rajagopal. Its about the aggregation of animal lovers in a community made of people who are focused on human-animal coexistence and are not blind towards the safety of humans. We work towards 100% neuter and vaccinationso much so that a litter of pups and an unnotched ear is a squad failure." (Reuters) -Bavarian Nordic, subject of a takeover offer valuing the vaccine maker at about 19 billion Danish crowns ($3 billion), reported a higher than expected revenue for the second quarter on Friday, citing a strong performance in both its travel health and public preparedness businesses. WHY IT MATTERS A consortium led by Nordic Capital and Permira said in July it would launch a bid priced at 233 crowns per Bavarian Nordic share, which the Danish group's board is recommending to its stakeholders. The vaccine maker's main shareholder, Danish pension fund ATP, has said it has no intention of accepting the offer. ATP holds a 10% stake in Bavarian according to LSEG data. KEY QUOTE "If there are other interested parties, they know where we are," CEO Paul Chaplin said in an interview. "We're not actively seeking additional offers, but it is now a public transaction." CONTEXT Bavarian Nordic is a key vaccine supplier to governments globally, including public health preparedness programmes in the United States, where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been making sweeping changes to vaccine policies. Chaplin had said in November that Bavarian was not concerned about the vaccine scepticism Donald Trump's presidency and Kennedy's appointment would bring into the U.S. health policies, a sentiment he reiterated on Friday. "We seem to be isolated from a lot of the vaccine scepticism discussions," he said. BY THE NUMBERS Bavarian reported quarterly revenue of 1.65 billion Danish crowns, exceeding a company-compiled consensus of 1.46 billion, based on estimates from three analysts. It now expects full-year revenue of 6.0 billion to 6.6 billion crowns, compared to the previous range of 5.7-6.7 billion, citing the strong travel health business and further clarity on the public preparedness business. WHAT'S NEXT Innosera, a company controlled by the consortium, is expected to publish an offer document on Tuesday at the latest. The takeover bid will be successful only if it gains acceptances for more than 90% of all shares. "It's really up to the shareholders to decide whether this is an appropriate offer or not," Chaplin said. ($1 = 6.4376 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Elviira Luoma and Vera Dvorakova in Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak) Classic meets kooky at luxury decor label LObjets store in Delhis Chanakya mall. Take the Aegean collection, which features porcelain pieces handpainted in 24-carat gold and platinumstarting at 3,600 for a plain white porcelain saucer and touching 99,400 for gold-plated serving bowl. Or the Lorel picture frames ( 31,400 onwards), also plated in gold or platinum and studded with Swarovski crystals. The brands collaborative line with American artists, the Haas Brothers, speaks a different languagedespite its gilded detailsas monsters, crocodiles and other fantastical figures transform into boxes, board games, incense burners, timers and cake stands with prices beginning at 6,800 and crossing 5 lakh. Refinement and humour are both part of LObjets design vocabulary, says founder and creative director Elad Yifrach, who was in Delhi in May to announce the brands India debut. I tried to bring a beautiful mix that will give customers the full expression of what the brand is all about, and also give them the ability to show us what they like," says the Lisbon-based Yifrach. A few months earlier, Baccarat, the French crystalware brand, opened its flagship boutique, also at The Chanakya. Historically catering to Indian royalty, Baccarats recent retail expansion targets a new generation of luxury clients in the country. What makes this moment in 2025 so compelling is how the spirit of the contemporary Indian luxury client mirrors the maisons own evolution," Alexandrine Reille-Linyer, export director of the brand, writes in an email. There is a heightened sensitivity to heritage, a desire for experiences that carry meaning and a renewed appetite for excellence." LObjet and Baccarat are among a legion of international decor brands that have found their way into India in recent months. Until a few years ago, the scene was different. The homegrown design ecosystem was nascent and few international design brands operated in the country. Sourcing luxury products usually required long periods of waiting, extensive travel or annual pilgrimages to design fairs like the Salone del Mobile in Italy. In a shift, a number of international brands are now setting up stores in India, participating in pop-ups or exploring new collaborations to capitalise on the growing appetite for exclusive, high-quality design objects. Also Read | Make your home shine with pearls on the walls and gemstones on the spoons The United States' move to halt worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers has prompted a leading Canadian truck association to demand from its government to address the immigration-related problems in the industry. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday announced that the US will pause issuing work visas to some foreign truck drivers. The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers, he wrote on X halting the visas. Alarmed by the announcement, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) issued a statement regarding the situation in the country with regards to truck driving. What did CTA say? In a statement issued on Friday, the CTA said that Canada should take the announcement as a wake-up call to review its own system. The Visa restrictions announced by Secretary Rubio do not pertain to the Visas utilised by drivers in Canada. However, CTA believes Canada must view these events as a wakeup call to clean up the issues within our system or risk potentially facing similar restrictions in the future, it said in the statement. CTA is calling for the Government of Canada, as well as the provinces and territories to ensure Canadas own issues with truck safety and licensing integrity are not a concern for the US Administration and as authorities increase oversight south of the border, it added. The CTA said it has been adamant with governments the problems in the industry related to immigration are very evident and must be addressed." Calling out the government for its apparent 'inaction, the CTA pushed for revamping trucking immigration programmes. Also Read | Indian truck drivers to be possibly worst hit by US pause on worker visas It is not acceptable that those who follow the rules and operate legally be caught in the net the US is casting, it said. Flagging safety issues, it said that the trucking industry in Canada has seen immigrants conduting unethical business practices. Unfortunately, the Canadian trucking industry has seen an influx of trucking fleets and ownership groups who have little regard for safety and other ethical financial & labour business practices. It urged the government to take note of the US decision to pause worker visas for truck drivers. The announcement by Secretary Rubio should be the clearest signal yet the non-compliant segment of the Canadian trucking industry which erode the integrity the driver licensing, training, safety compliance and immigration systems, must be dealt with immediately, it noted. Why did the US ban worker visas? Rubio's announcement comes shortly after the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lodged an arrest detainer for Harjinder Singh. Dharmasthala burials are in the spotlight after a woman named Sujatha Bhat who recently lodged a fresh police complaint in the case, decided to retract her statement. Previously, the woman claimed that her daughter Ananya Bhat disappeared in 2003 after a trip to Dharmasthala. However, the woman in question now claims that she had made a false complaint and that she never had a daughter. Amid ongoing SIT probe on suspicious killings and burial, the women said the story she narrated was fake and is not true". According to her statement, she made the fabricated claims under pressure of activists due to a property issue. In an interview with the Youtube channel InsightRush, Sujatha Bhat said, It is not true. There was never any daughter named Ananya Bhat, HT reported. She further noted that two well-known activists, Girish Mattannavar and T Jayanti pressurised her to make up the story. As a proof of her daughter's existence, she had shared a photograph which was also suggested to be completely fake." Apologising to the public for making false claims, she said, I had a grouse that my grandfathers ancestral property was given away without my signature. All I wanted to ask was that. She alleged that the activists provoked her to make up a story. "I did not know my complaint would blow up this big, she added alleging that the activists provoked her to make up a story, in an interview on Friday. According to the woman, her grandfather's property was allegedly handed over to Dharmasthala temple authorities without her consent. After the complainant was served a notice to appear before the SIT, Sujatha Bhat said, Nobody demanded money from me. I have never asked anyone for money either. What I questioned was how my grandfathers property was given away without my signature. That is the only thing I asked." Also Read | Dharmasthala mass burial: SIT discovers more skeletal remains at spot 11 Furthermore, several claims made by Sujatha Bhat in her July 15 complaint were also found to be false. She had alleged thar her daughter was a student at Kasturba Medical College when she went missing while she was working at the Kolkata's CBI office. The complainant, a former sanitation worker employed at Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014, alleged that he was forced to bury several bodiesincluding women and minors, some showing signs of sexual assault. He has recorded a statement before a magistrate regarding these claims. The Special Investigating Team (SIT) arrested a complainant who had alleged multiple murders, rapes and burials in Dharmasthala, official sources said on Saturday. The move came after the SIT and its chief, Pranab Mohanty, questioned the complainantwhose name is not revealedon Friday till late hours. As per news agency PTI, officials said the arrest was made after inconsistencies were found in the statements and documents provided. The SIT is continuing its probe into the matter. The complainant-witness was taken to a hospital for medical examination after long hours of questioning. What did the complainant claim? The complainant-witness, a former sanitation worker at the Dharmasthala temple, reportedly claimed that he worked in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014, and that he was forced to bury a number of bodies, including those of women and minors, in Dharmasthala. He had alleged that some of the bodies showed signs of sexual assault. He also gave a statement before a magistrate in this regard. A case regarding these alleged murders and burials was filed after the whistleblower went public to allege decades-long undocumented burials in forest areas which he claimed the temple authorities ordered. To probe these allegations, the Karnataka government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which eventually carried out excavations at several locations to see if human remains exist there. As part of the probe, the SIT had been conducting excavations at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in the forested areas along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, where some skeletal remains were found at two sites so far. Stating that till now, only excavations have happened, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the probe "hasn't even started" yet, and that only the SIT probing the matter, not the government, would decide on the need for further digging. Also Read | Dharmasthala: Partial skeletal remains found at 6th site in mass burial case 'Woman admits she faked' daughter's disappearance' Earlier, a woman named Sujatha Bhat, who was the first to lodge a fresh police complaint on 15 July regarding her daughter Ananya Bhat disappearance in 2003, had later said that the story she told was fake and is not true". She alleged that activists pressured her to fabricated the story due to a property dispute involving her grandfather's land linked to Dharmasthala temple authorities. Her grandfather reportedly owned the property which was allegedly held by Dharmasthala temple authorities. "It is not true. There was never any daughter named Ananya Bhat, The Hindustan Times quoted her statement to a Youtube channel. She added that the photograph that was shared as a proof of her daughter's existence was also completely fake". She claimed that two well-known activists, namely, Girish Mattannavar and T Jayanti asked her to make up the story Nobody demanded money from me. I have never asked anyone for money either. What I questioned was how my grandfathers property was given away without my signature. That is the only thing I asked, she added. Also Read | Dharmasthala: Partial skeletal remains found at 6th site in mass burial case Meanwhile, Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple, alleged that an "organised campaign" targeting Dharmasthala and its trust has been carried out for over 14 years. The crime branch of Ahmedabad police has busted a Syrian gang which collected money from mosques by posing as victims of the Gaza conflict, reported India Today on Saturday. The Crime Branch have also arrested one member of the gang, identified as Ali Meghat Al-Azhar, who was in India on a tourist visa, added the report. The officials stated that Al-Azhar and his associates raised funds from mosques in Gujarat and claimed it was for the welfare of Gaza war victims. On being questioned, Al-Azhar admitted that the money was actually being used to fund their lavish lifestyle, the report added quoting the police. Meanwhile, three of Al-Azhars accomplices are currently on the run. Police even stated that all the suspects have entered India on tourist visas as well, which is in violation of visa rules. Describing the gangs activities as a matter of serious concern for the countrys internal security, the crime branch said, "Such activities can pose a threat to the countrys internal security." The police added that both state and central agencies are now investigating the motive behind the fund collection and the possible use of the money. Meanwhile, officials have initiated proceedings to blacklist and deport the arrested accused, reported India Today. Similar incident: The education authorities in Gujarat on Saturday have issued a notice to an Ahmedabad-based school for "serious negligence" on its part over the murder of a Class 10 student by a fellow pupil, reported PTI. The authorities alleged that the school did not take steps to ensure timely medical help to the victim and asked why No Objection Certificate (NOC) given to it by the Gujarat government for ICSE board affiliation should not be revoked. Earlier on August 19, a stabbing incident took place near the main gate of the Seventh Day Adventist School located in Khokhra area of the city. The victim, who was injured in the incident, died during treatment later that night. Following the incident, the crime branch booked the school principal for showing a "callous approach", District Education Officer Rohit Chaudhary on Saturday issued a notice and sought a clarification from the school management over the entire issue. The Delhi High Court rapped the restaurant association on Friday, questioning it over restaurants levying service charges. The court asked them why are they levying service charge, when they already charging more on MRP in the name of the experience. Accoridng to news agency PTI, a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela posed the query to the counsel representing the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI). What's the case? The court was hearing a plea filed by the restaurant associations against a single judge's order. In March, the single judge of the high court had held that restaurants cannot mandatorily levy service charge on food bills in a "camouflaged and coercive" manner as it is against public interest and amounts to unfair trade practice. Double whammy: What did HC say in latest hearing The high court division bench said on Friday, August 22, that restaurants were charging the visitor under three components food items sold, providing ambience and serving. "You [restaurants] are charging more than MRPs, for the experience being enjoyed by the person visiting your restaurant. And youre also charging the service charges for the service rendered... providing an ambience for certain kind of experience will not include the services youre providing? This we dont understand," the bench was quoted by PTI as saying. "This service charge should include that also," the bench added. The bench asked the counsel for the NRAI and FHRAI through an example that when the restaurants were charging 100 for a 20 water bottle, why the customer will have to pay an addition charge for the services it provides? And why are you quoting 100 in your menu for 20 rupee water bottle, without specifying that this 80 rupees extra is for the ambience you're providing?, the bench asked. "This can't be like this. This is an issue Providing the ambience will form part of the services being provided by you... Can you charge any amount over and above the MRP? And for service you're charging, what's that 80 rupees for?" the bench asked. On March 28, the order said collection of service charge was a "double whammy" for consumers who were forced to pay Goods and Services Tax on top of the service tax. SRINAGAR : In the small village of Losedanow, nestled in Kashmirs apple town of Shopian, Sayar Ahmad Lone hoped to change his familys fortune when he invested 16 lakh in European high-density apple saplings for his orchard three years ago. He uprooted 80-year-old apple trees for the promise of higher yields, quicker harvests, and better returns. But this year, an unexpected glut in the apple market has sent prices tumblingleaving Lone and thousands of growers across the valley anxious about their investments. The hype around high-density apple farming was so strong that my family agreed to uproot the orchard established by our ancestors to make way for a new high-density plantation. But with the trees yet to bear fruit, prices have already fallen sharply compared to 2024, leaving us uncertain about the future," Lone, 33, told Mint. As European apple varieties hit the market this season, prices tumbled nearly 40% due to oversupply against softer demand. A 10-12 kg box that fetched 1,300-1,400 in 2024 is now selling for just 750-1,000, squeezing grower margins and raising fresh doubts about the economics of Kashmirs most important horticultural crop. Valued at over 8,000 crore, the apple farming forms the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir's economy, supporting more than 3.5 million people directly or indirectly and contributing nearly 8% to its gross domestic product. The valley produces about 75% of Indias total apple output, followed by Himachal Pradesh with around 25%, and exports approximately 1.8 million metric tonnes annually, according to data from the J&K horticulture planning and marketing department. Also Read | How a lotus bloom in Wular Lake may boost Kashmir's green economy Chasing higher yields, the valley's farmers have embraced high-density apple cultivation, introduced in 2015-16. While traditional apple trees take up to 15 years to bear fruit, high-density varieties begin producing within one to two years and reach full output by the fourth or fifth year, allowing for earlier harvests. To accelerate adoption, the J&K governments Modified High-Density Plantation Scheme targets expanding their cultivation to 5,500 hectares by 2026, offering a 50% subsidy on costs. In partnership with private entrepreneurs, the government has imported plant material worth several crores, including popular varieties such as Red Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Super Chief, Red Velox, Scarlet Spur II, and Gala Redlum, from countries like Italy, the Netherlands, and others. Today, the Italian Gala dominates the valleys apple orchards, accounting for nearly 70% of plantations, underscoring how quickly these European imports have transformed the regions apple industry, promising better productivity and higher returns. Poor quality, oversupply Tempted by the promise, many fruit growers have also turned to high-density apple farming. In Pulwama, for instance, fully matured almond and plum plantations have been converted on a large scale over the past five years, a trend experts warned could undermine the diversity of Kashmirs other fruit cash crops in the long run. Ghulam Mohuddin Bhat, a 45-year-old apple grower from Parigam in Pulwama district, switched from cultivating almonds and plums to high-density apple farming in 2021. But this years steep price drop has left him in a quandary. Given the current prices, I regret moving away from almonds and plums, which require almost no investment, pesticides, or major inputs," rued Bhat. Some fruit markets in Kashmir circulated misleading rate announcements on social media, claiming high-density apples were fetching 1,800 to 2,000 for a 20kg box. That tempted many growers to harvest early." According to Bhat, many farmers began picking their apples in the first week of August, before the fruit had fully ripened. The apples were still raw inside and only partially coloured, especially the Gala variety. Once they reached the markets, buyers rejected them for poor quality. With limited shelf life, growers had no choice but to sell at low rates," explained Bhat, who has invested 10 lakh into high-density apple farming. Abdul Rashid Baba from Tral in South Kashmir, about 30 kilometres from Srinagar, blamed heavy monsoon showers for dampening demand. The rains kept consumers indoors and away from markets," he said. Gala apples ripen around the same time as plums, but this year, continuous downpours prevented vendors from setting up stalls. With both fruits hitting the market simultaneously and fewer buyers, prices came under pressure and eventually crashed." Apple growers and experts point to several other reasons for the underwhelming returns. At the mega fruit market in Shopian, fruit trader Mohammad Ashraf Wani claimed high-density orchards were planted with low-quality apple saplings imported from different European nations. We are planting the saplings that have been rejected by Europe and are outdated. Besides, the research support from the regions agriculture university is missing, leaving growers without region-specific guidance. Training and awareness programmes have not kept pace with the rapid expansion of high-density apple farming." Also Read | How AI can weave a future for Kashmirs centuries old carpet industry Izhan Javeed, chief executive of Fruitmaster Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd, which imports high-density plant material, told Mint that while European plants and technology have been introduced in the valley, many farmers remain hesitant to fully adopt the modern practices these systems require. The infrastructure is here, but on the ground, farmers often revert to traditional methods. In Europe, growers follow scientific practices rigorously, and that difference limits the true potential of high-density orchards," he said. Similarly, Ehsan Quddusi, CEO of Orchardly, an agronomy services company that works with nearly 15,000 apple growers across Kashmir said most growers ignore advisories and work as per their own will. Affordable soil testing is rare, and pesticide and fungicide sprays are vastly overused. While precision spraying in Europe uses about 300 litres of water per hectare, here a single spray consumes nearly 6,000 litres. Not only is this costly, but it also shows massive inefficiencies." But growers point to the spread of new diseases, forcing even traditional orchards to rely on more frequent pesticide sprays. The imported plant material could be carrying pests. Since the trees are not properly quarantined and are taken directly to the Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development in Zainapora, Shopian, many pests end up reaching orchards," said Wani, president of the Mega Fruit Mandi, Shopian. He suggested quarantining the plant material outside Kashmir to prevent pests from entering and triggering outbreaks in the valley. Foreign varieties, domestic practices Quddusi, 39, pointed out that a lack of mechanization and modernization has left many growers stuck in legacy practices. Our orchards are still maintained the way my grandfather did, with very little change. With climate change posing a growing threat to cash crops, we also need to shift towards climate-resilient varieties, invest in cloning and local nursery development, and start growing varieties beyond Gala. Varieties that ripen later would allow us to stagger the harvest." High-density apple varieties also demand consistent and ample water, especially during the critical pre-harvest phase, a dependence that is colliding with Kashmirs changing climate. The valley has witnessed back-to-back dry winters with negligible snowfall, and this summer brought record-breaking heat. On 5 July, temperatures touched 37C, well above the threshold of 30C that scientists at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) said is detrimental to apples. Last years prolonged dry spell and heatwave, with scarce rainfall between June and August, took a heavy toll on the regions high-density apple orchards. Many apples remained undersized and underdeveloped despite the use of drip irrigation systems. Irrigation is a must for high-density apple cultivation. We do not allow the establishment of such orchards without reliable irrigation support. For instance, even if a grower has sufficient land and capital, without proper water sources, we do not permit setting up high-density apple orchards," said Mohammad Amin, subject matter specialist and technical officer to the director of horticulture in Kashmir. According to Quddasi, the real challenge for Kashmirs apple economy is not falling prices but chronically low productivity. Globally, the average apple yield is around 45 tonnes per hectare, while in J&K ,we are stuck at just 18 tonnes. Even if market prices decline, good production would still keep farmers viable," he explained. Indias major apple-growing regions together produce about 2.0-2.5 million metric tonnes annually, well short of the countrys overall demand of nearly 5 million metric tonnes. Quddusi also pointed out that Kashmir's growers often follow prevailing trends, but what the market needs is a more diverse mix of apple varieties. For the past decade, it has mostly been Gala apples, all harvested around the same time," he said. When everyone brings high-density apples to market between late July and early August, it creates oversupply and pushes prices down. Apples from Himachal Pradesh also arrive during this window, adding to the pressure. Growers need to diversify by planting later-yielding varieties to help stabilize prices through better demand-supply balance." Wani blamed growers for neglecting proper thinning of flowers, a critical step that improves fruit size and colour. When thinning is neglected, the fruit ends up smaller and with less colour, which fetches lower prices. If European farming techniques were followed in letter and spirit, growers here could achieve both better quality and higher yields." A 2021 study analyzing the economics of high-density apple orchards in the Union territory compared to Trentino-Alto AdigeItalys leading apple-growing region known for its high-yield, premium-quality producefound that productivity in the Himalayan region remains lower across all planting densities. The gap, researchers noted, stems from agro-climatic constraints, poor soil health, substandard rootstocks, and limited adoption of scientific crop management. Also Read | Rice is running out of ground in a warming Kashmir The high upfront cost of ultra-high-density orchards deters most growers, with nearly 90% opting for densities between 1,500 and 2,000 trees per hectare. The lower-density orchards often see yield stagnation by the ninth to eleventh year, putting a cap on long-term profitability." Amin said while current prices may be lower than expected, they are still market-driven and not entirely unviable. High-density apple orchards remain a lucrative business. The encouraging part is that educated youth are entering the sector and following advisories and expert recommendations to maximize returns." The official stressed that for Kashmirs apple industry to grow further, farmers need to focus on improving post-harvest practices. We should adopt proper packing and grading methods, similar to what growers in Europe do. That is essential for enhancing the industry's long-term viability." Flood relief camps have been established in Mayur Vihar as the Yamuna in the national capital nears 206m dangerous mark. Aerial images taken through drone near Loha Bridge on Friday revealed water flowing nearing hazardous levels. CM Rekha Gupta, however, assured that there water is expected to recede in a day or while confirming that there is no flood situation after visiting the residential area at Yamuna Bazaar. Until now, the river has exceeded the danger mark only once, causing floodwaters to enter residential neighborhoods. However, fluctuations in the water level have kept officials on high alert, ANI reported. In response, the administration has established temporary shelters in schools for residents near the Yamuna camp. Providing food and water, as well as a medical facility The situation is under control. The water level was close to 206 m in the morning, but it has not crossed this mark yet. The water should recede in a day or two. We are providing food and water, as well as a medical facility here. There is no flood situation in Delhi, Gupta stated after reviewing the affected areas. While visiting the area to assess the situation and interact with students, Gupta added that the authorities have set up facilities in schools for those seeking safer shelter, offering accommodation, meals, and all essential assistance in the impacted region. The Yamuna River is nearing the danger level after all 18 gates of the Hathinikund Barrage in Yamunanagar, Haryana, were opened on 17 August following a steady rise in water levels caused by incessant rainfall. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi CM Atishi criticised the BJP-led Delhi government on 19 August, alleging that despite heavy rainfall flooding the citys roads, residents are still facing a shortage of drinking water. She noted that, for the first time, the national capital is experiencing a water crisis during the monsoon season. There is water on the streets (due to rains) but there is no water in people's homes, PTI quoted her as saying. The Government of India's Department of Posts, on Saturday, 23 August 2025, announced that it has issued an executive order temporarily suspending all types of postal articles to the United States amid US President Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on India. According to the official announcement, the temporary suspension will be in effect except for the letters or documents and gift items which have a value of up to $100. The Department of Posts has decided to temporarily suspend booking of all types of postal articles, destined for the USA, with effect from 25th August, 2025, except letters/documents and gift items up to $100 in value, said the department in the official filing. As per the Department of Posts, these exempted categories will continue to be accepted and conveyed to the USA, subject to further clarifications from CBP and USPS, the postal service companies. The Department is closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all stakeholders, and every effort is being made to normalise services at the earliest possible opportunity, the government said. Also Read | Trade negotiations with US underway: EAM says amid Trump tariff tantrums What will happen to the booked parcels? The Department of Posts announced that the customers who have already booked their parcels for the United States will have to claim for a refund, due to the temporary suspension of all types of postal articles. Customers who have already booked articles that cannot be dispatched to the USA due to these circumstances may seek a refund of postage. The Department of Posts deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to customers and assures that all possible measures are being undertaken to resume full services to the USA at the earliest, said the government. US duties on post The US federal administration issued an order on 30 July 2025 stating that the duty-free goods valued up to $800 will be withdrawn with effect from 29 August 2025. This means that all international postal items destined for the United States, regardless of their value, will be subject to customs duties as per the country-specific International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) tariff framework. However, gift items up to the value of USD 100 shall continue to remain exempt from duties, according to the official announcement. According to the order, the transport carriers delivering shipments through the international postal network are required to collect and remit duties on postal shipments. A day after the Enforcement Directorate conducted multiple searches at the premises linked to Karnataka Congress MLA KC Veerendra Pappy and some others, theED on Saturday arrested him from Gangktok in connection with illegal online and offline betting case. Veerendra was arrested under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The investigative agency said it hasrecovered amount of approximately 12 crore in cash, including around 1 crore in foreign currency, gold jewellery worth 6 crore, silver articles around 10 kilograms. It also found international casino membership/reward cards of MGM casino, Metropolitan Casino, Bellagio casino, Marina casino, Casino Jewel. Multiple credit and debit cards of various banks, luxury hospitality membership cards of Taj, Hyatt and the Leela hotels, cars with number plate 0003. Veerendra is a legislator from the Chitradurga assembly seat in Karnataka. Premises linked to the MLA and some others were searched in a case linked to online betting and gaming. ED's Bengaluru zonal office searched 30 premises spanning Chitradurga (6), Bengaluru (10), Jodhpur (3), Hubli (1), Mumbai (2), and Goa (8), including five prominent casinos--Puppy's Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppy's Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino, and Big Daddy Casino. The officials said that Preliminary findings suggest that the Chitradurga MLA and his associates were running multiple illegal betting websites under names such as King567, Raja567, Puppy's003, and Rathna Gaming, reported news agency ANI citing officials. The investigation further revealed that Veerendra's brother, KC Thippeswamy, was operating three Dubai-based entities, Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies, and Prime9 Technologies, that were linked to the call centre and gaming operations. The agency also searched premises linked to Anil Gowda, brother of MLA Kusuma H from Rajarajeshwarinagar, Bengaluru. On the financial front, Rivian is backed by Amazon , which uses its delivery vans, and it still has more cash coming from Volkswagen if and when certain milestones are reached. It has also secured a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy to help build a second U.S. plant. With $7.5 billion in cash and short-term investments, the company has plenty of capital to support the R2 launch. Management is targeting earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) breakeven by 2027, which seems like a realistic timeline if the R2 is successful. The next big step for Rivian will be launching its new, smaller R2 SUV next year. At a starting price of around $45,000, it will target a much broader audience than the R1 luxury line, which costs over $100,000 for some versions. Importantly, Rivian has locked in costs through supplier contracts and expects the R2 to deliver stronger margins through lower material costs, higher volumes, and shared fixed expenses with its R1 and electric delivery van lines. Building out a profitable EV business is not easy, with even major automakers often struggling to sell their EV models for a profit. However, Rivian took a big step in this direction when it switched to a zonal architecture. This slashed the number of electronic control units and wiring in its vehicles, making its SUVs cheaper to build. It also helped the company secure a major partnership with Volkswagen , which opened up its checkbook to gain access to the technology and form a joint venture. Rivian slipped back into negative gross margins in Q2 after two straight positive quarters, with higher material costs due to supply constraints and new tariffs taking their toll. The loss of the federal $7,500 EV tax credit this fall will be another drag. Those are real headwinds, but they don't take away from the progress that Rivian has been making. Both stocks come with risk, but one has a much better setup for investors right now. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has dominated the electric vehicle (EV) market for over a decade, but the company's core business has begun to struggle. Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ: RIVN), meanwhile, is still in the early innings as an automaker, but is starting to hit important milestones. Both Rivian and Tesla are facing headwinds with tariffs and the end of federal EV tax credits. Story Continues Rivian is still a high-risk name, but it has the balance sheet, the partners, and the right vehicle strategy to grow into a profitable business. Tesla is losing momentum Tesla's core auto business has been heading in the wrong direction. Deliveries dropped double digits in each of the past two quarters, while auto revenue slid 16% in Q2. Profitability and cash flow have also taken a hit. Adjusted EPS dropped 23% last quarter, while operating cash flow fell 30% and free cash flow collapsed to just $146 million. Meanwhile, its high gross margin regulatory credit sales were cut by more than half during the quarter. Musk has already warned investors that things could get worse once the EV tax credit disappears later this year. Rather than focusing on improving its ailing auto business, Musk has instead continued to try to sell investors on Tesla's autonomous driving and robotics ambitions. The company has launched a small pilot robotaxi program in Austin, Texas, but the service is limited to a geofenced area and requires a Tesla employee as a safety driver. It's also already drawn scrutiny from local officials after several safety incidents. Tesla is promising a rapid rollout of robotaxis across half the U.S. by year-end pending regulatory approvals, but the technology does not appear ready. Its decision to eschew lidar technology and use a camera-only approach remains controversial. This design saves costs, but the technology has struggled in some complex driving conditions, leading to questions around the safety of its approach. By comparison, Alphabet's Waymo robotaxi is far ahead, with years of experience operating paid, driverless rides in multiple cities. Image source: Getty Images. Which EV stock wins? Both Tesla and Rivian stocks carry their fair share of risk. Rivian is still unprofitable and faces near-term headwinds from tariffs and the loss of EV tax credits. Tesla, however, has a weakening auto business, a valuation that assumes big success in robotaxis and robotics, and a CEO whose actions have hurt the brand with many consumers. Between the two, Rivian looks like the better investment. The company is improving its cost structure, expanding its market with the R2 SUV, and has the support of well-financed partners to help fund its growth. Tesla's stock, by contrast, is still priced as if its autonomous driving and robotics bets will pay off, even though it has yet to prove they can. For investors willing to take on risk, Rivian is the better EV stock to own in my view. Should you buy stock in Rivian Automotive right now? Before you buy stock in Rivian Automotive, 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 Rivian Automotive 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 $649,657!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,090,993!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,057% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% 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 18, 2025 Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Volkswagen Ag. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better EV Stock: Rivian vs. Tesla was originally published by The Motley Fool Nayan Santani, a Class 10 student, was fatally stabbed by another student on campus. What the school did after learning about it has shocked many. The shocking incident at Seventh Day Adventist Higher Secondary School in Maninagar, Ahmedabad, has sparked outrage. After the 15-year-old student had been stabbed, the school did not rush him to the hospital. Instead, the school allegedly called a water tanker to clean bloodstains, The Times of India reported. LiveMint could not independently verify the report. Parents accused the management of negligence and evidence tampering. Police revealed that no staff or security guard had dialled the 108 emergency service. Instead, the injured boy was taken in a rickshaw arranged by classmates. By then, he had lost critical blood. The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) has sent the accused to an observation home. The incident happened on August 19 near the schools main gate after an argument between the two boys. The victim tried to stop his stomach bleeding by hand. He sat near Gate No. 3 before being taken for treatment. He died later that night. Also Read | Girl locked overnight in school, found at dawn trapped in window grills A senior officer said the boy reached the hospital only after 30 minutes, and timely help could have saved him. "There seemed to be gross negligence. Had the student been taken immediately, there was a chance that he could have been saved," TOI quoted the officer as saying. Police have said that the investigation will now also look into the school's negligence. Additional commissioner Jaipal Singh Rathore confirmed that lapses such as not calling an ambulance are being probed. Joint commissioner Sharad Singhal has confirmed that parents accused the school of tampering with evidence "A forensic team will verify the claim that someone from the school summoned a tanker to clean the crime scene. We will take strict action if this allegation is proven," he said. Child denied life-saving treatment A preliminary report by the district education officer also accused the school. The administration failed to provide immediate medical help, says the report. "Not calling 108 at the first instance denied the child a chance of life-saving treatment. We will recommend strict action against the administration," TOI quoted the report as stating. Meanwhile, school principal G Emmanuel has been booked for failing to inform authorities on time about the incident. The police have said the school's negligence made matters worse. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (crime branch) Bharat Patel, the principal informed the local police only after 40-45 minutes. From the Centres proposed ban on online gaming to Indias possible return to an eastern trade bloc, a slowdown in private banks hiring, and a reboot of the GST regimehere are this weeks key numbers. Look east India may rejoin the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the trade bloc it walked away from nearly five years ago, Mint reported. The rethink comes amid rising trade frictions with the US and a thaw in ties with China. India had pulled out of the 15-nation pact just before its signing, citing concerns over market access, a widening trade deficit with China, and risks to farmers and the dairy industry from a flood of Chinese goods and New Zealand dairy exports. RCEP member nations currently account for about a fifth of Indias exports, roughly on par with the US. Game over? The Indian government has pushed ahead with a blanket ban on all real-money online games, regardless of whether they are based on skill or chance. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with the government citing concerns over addiction, financial ruin and societal harm. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the industry, warning of job losses, a decline in tax revenue, and a shift towards illegal and offshore platforms. In the past few years, billions in investor capital have been poured into the industry. Steely resolve $9 billion: Thats the planned investment amount in a new steel plant in Odisha by JSW Steel and South Koreas POSCO Holdings, Mint reported. The plant, with a proposed capacity of 6 million tonnes per annum, will be built on a 900-acre land parcel recently acquired by JSW Steel. For POSCO, this is the third attempt to establish a foothold in Indias steel market after earlier projects in Odisha and Karnataka failed to materialize. The joint venture will also explore electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy generation for the plant. GST gamble The government proposal to scrap the 12% and 28% GST slabs by moving the majority of items to 5% and 18% tax brackets, respectively, is unlikely to be a tough task, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a tight deadline. A Mint analysis of slab-wise goods shows that the number of items in the 12% and 28% brackets is fewer compared to other categories. They, together, also contribute significantly less to total collections. The 18% tax bracket has the highest number of items and contributes the most to the collections. Blending blues E20 fuel, or 20% ethanol blended with petrol, has come under scrutiny amid the Centres push for wider adoption, despite consumer concerns about cost and vehicle efficiency. Last month, the government announced that India had achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol, five years ahead of schedule Supporters argue that the shift reduces crude oil dependence, boosts farmers incomes, and lowers emissions. Critics, however, including consumers and the auto industry, warn it could damage older vehicles, causing seepage or leakage, and insist the blend should remain optional. Fleet feat 75,000 crore: That is the investment the Centre is planning over the next four to five years on building three shipyards, Mint reported. These facilities will be located along the east and west coasts, and will build and repair ships. One of the three could house a shipbreaking unit to supply raw materials. Five states are in discussions with domestic and foreign shipbuilders for locations. This initiative is part of a larger government strategy to raise the share of India-built ships in the national fleet from 5% to 7% by 2030. The Budget for 2025-26 had proposed a Maritime Development Fund, which will be a 25,000 crore government-industry partnership in the segment. Hiring downturn Hiring at Indias leading private sector banks dropped to its lowest level in at least three years in FY25, according to a Mint analysis of annual reports of seven banks. In FY25, these banks added 131,471 employees, marking a 32% and 16% decline compared to FY24 and FY23, respectively. HDFC Banks hiring declined 44%, while Axis Bank saw a 22% drop. Experts attribute the decline to a wider adoption of digital channels for branch operations and banks strategy of prioritising promotions and in-house programs over lateral recruitment. Chart of the week: Fleeing Indians The number of Indians giving up their citizenship has declined over the past two years, though it remains above the 200,000 mark annually. Between 2019 and 2024, more than a million Indians renounced their citizenship, according to data from the external affairs ministry. Follow our data stories on theIn Charts" andPlain Facts" pages on the Mint website. In a horrific event, a cloudburst struck the Tharali area of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand late Friday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction, reported PTI. Due to the cloudburst, Tunri Gadhera overflowed into residential and market areas, sweeping debris into houses, the tehsil office, and eventually into the Pindar River. Also Read | J&K CM Omar Abdullah announces relief aid for Kathua cloudburst victims According to the district administration, the Tharali market, Kotdeep, and the Tharali tehsil complex were hit hard. The debris swept away people's homes, SDM residences, other buildings, and vehicles parked at the tehsil complex. Reports also arrived that in nearby Sagwara village a young girl is dead after being trapped under the debris. Chamoli DM Sandeep Tiwari said, as quoted by ANI, One person has died, and one is missing. Electricity has been restored, mobile connectivity has been restored. All facilities are available in the hospital... If it doesn't rain, the situation will soon return to normal. The state government has sent significant aid for relief work, SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, Sashastra Seema Bal are all present here, revenue and police teams are also present here with sufficient force. Relief work is progressing at a good pace. One person is missing, and the search for them is ongoing... Relief camps have also been set up, and all arrangements have been made there. Earlier today, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed 'deep grief' over the death of a young woman after she got buried under debris following cloudburst in Tharali. Also, two people, including a 20-year-old woman, were reported missing from Sagwara and Chepdon market areas. Here's what we know so far: 1) The incident occurred around 2 am on Friday night when a cloudburst struck the Tharali area of Chamoli district, said Chamoli district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari. Also Read | Kishtwar cloudburst horror: Pilgrims were having langar when flash floods struck 2) The cloudburst caused destruction across multiple locations within a one-km radius of the tehsil headquarters and water levels in local streams rose sharply. 3) In nearby Sagwara village a young girl is dead after being trapped under the debris, while many were feared trapped inside the debris. Earlier today, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed 'deep grief' over the death of a young woman after she was buried under debris following a cloudburst in Tharali. 4) CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was personally monitoring the situation and prayed for the safety of residents. 5) The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and Indian Army launched rescue operations. 6) Educational institutions in three development blocks were ordered shut on Saturday. Also Read | 46 people killed in massive cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar 7) The KarnaprayagGwaldam National Highway was shut after debris piled up near Ming Gadhera. Tharali-Sagwara and Dungri motor roads were also blocked. 8) Chamoli DM ordered the temporary requisition of the offices and rest houses of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) in Kulsari and Deval villages. 9) The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand on Friday, forecasting thunderstorms and very intense rain in different parts of the state. Shocking details have emerged in the Class 10 student stabbing-murder case after a preliminary probe conducted by police found that after getting stabbed the victim student was untreated for more than 30 minutes. Nayan Santani, the 15-year-old Class 10 student had stumbled into the campus seeking help but lay untreated for half an hour. The stabbing incident took place over some issue between the two students on August 19 near the main gate of the Seventh Day Adventist School located in the Khokhra area of Ahmedabad. Also Read | Uttarakhand horror: Student shoots teacher with gun packed in lunchbox Before calling an ambulance, school authorities allegedly called a water tanker to clean the bloodstains, reported Times of India. G Emmanuel, the principal of the Seventh Day Adventist School has been booked for not informing police or education authorities about the incident. A preliminary probe revealed that after getting stabbed by the accused student outside the school, Nayan sat near the gate No.3 of the institute and tried to stop his bleeding by his hand, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (crime branch) Bharat Patel. "The victim sustained a deep wound on his stomach. After seeing him bleeding, a security guard alerted the school management, following which he was first taken to LG Hospital and then to SVP Hospital, where he eventually died. The Khokhra police learnt about the stabbing from a policeman deployed at the hospital," said Patel. Also Read | Girl locked overnight in school, found at dawn trapped in window grills The ACP further said that nearly 45 minutes had passed from the moment the security guard noticed the bleeding student to police receiving information about the incident from the hospital. "It shows that for 40 to 45 minutes, school principal G Emmanuel did not inform local police or the District Education Officer about the incident. Thus, for such callous approach, we have lodged an FIR against Emmanuel under sections 211 and 239 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)." The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) has sent the accused student to an observation home upon his production by the crime branch. According to Patel, both victim and the accused were Class 10 students but studied in different divisions. After the alleged stabbing, the accused went home and then to his tuition class. In the post-mortem of the deceased, doctors found that while the external stab wound was only 1.5 cm, it had fatally damaged a major abdominal artery and vein. Around 2.5 litres of blood had collected in his stomach. The US Justice Department (DOJ) released over 300 pages of transcripts of its interviews of Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. As per those transcripts, Maxwell spoke glowingly of US President Donald Trump, called him a gentleman in all respects and described him as friendly with accused sex offender Epstein. In a big claim, she denied she saw Trump engage in any "inappropriate" behaviour or "in any type of massage setting." She said, In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. The transcripts are from interviews Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted with Maxwell last month. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping late financier Jeffrey Epstein abuse young girls. Here are Top 10 explosive revelations from Ghislaine Maxwell DOJ's interview: 1. The transcripts show Maxwell repeatedly denying that she had observed Trump engaged in any form of sexual behaviour. She shed light on her relations with Trump. As far as Im concerned, President Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me, Maxwell said. I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. And I like him, and Ive always liked him. So that is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him," she said. 2. Maxwell also said she doesn't recall Trump sending Epstein 50th birthday note. The Wall Street Journal reported in July that Donald Trump had written a "bawdy" letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 for his birthday. When Todd Blanche asked her if she remembers "President Trump submitting a letter or a card, or a note". Maxwell replied: "I don't", and adds that she remembers seeing some parts of the book but saw "nothing from President Trump". 3. Asked by Blanche if she ever observed Trump receiving a massage, she answered: Never. I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting, Maxwell said. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects," she said. Asked if she ever heard Epstein or anyone else say Trump had done anything inappropriate with masseuses or anyone else in their orbit, Maxwell replied: Absolutely never, in any context. 4. Trump and Epstein "seemed friendly", she said, but added she only recalled seeing the pair together in "social settings" and not in "private settings" Maxwell estimated that she hadnt seen Trump since the mid-2000s, again in a social setting. Maxwell said she and Epstein would go to Trumps Mar-a-Lago club, often separately, though she didnt say specifically when that was. She said she loved going there and that Epstein would maybe go himself to the spa. I certainly did. 5. Maxwell also claimed she was not aware of any sort of Epstein client list - there's more detail on this in our previous post She said she did not believe Epstein died by suicide in prison - despite the medical examiner ruling his death as such - but added she had no reason to believe he was killed to keep him quiet. 6. Maxwell said Robert Kennedy Jr and Epstein were friends. When quizzed about which powerful men were friends with Epstein, Maxwell told Blanche that Epstein did know Robert Kennedy Jr., who leads the Health and Human Services Department under Trump. Maxwell said they went on a trip together dinosaur bone hunting in the Dakotas in the early 1990s. 7. Asked by Blanche if she had any recollection of any inappropriate behavior involving Kennedy on the trip, Maxwell replied: I never saw anything inappropriate with Mr. Kennedy. 8. Maxwell spoke favorably of Britains Prince Andrew and dismissed as rubbish the late Virginia Giuffres claim that she was paid to have a relationship with Andrew and that he had sex with her at Maxwells London home. She denied introducing Epstein to Prince Andrew, using a British idiom to describe how she felt they wouldnt have anything in common. I couldnt imagine them being friends. Two chalk and cheeses would never I mean, for real, theres nothing there to connect them, she told Blanche. 9. Maxwells interview wasnt only helpful to Trump, but also another one-time White House occupant with Epstein ties: former President Bill Clinton. Maxwell said that Clinton was initially her friend, not Epsteins, and that she never saw him receive a massage nor did she believe he ever did. The only times they were together, she said, were the two dozen or so times they traveled on Epsteins plane. That wouldve been the only time that I think that President Clinton could have even received a massage, Maxwell said. And he didnt, because I was there. Also Read | Trump Admin seeks Epstein, Maxwell grand jury testimony release amid controversy 10. Maxwell discussed other high-profile men. When asked about trips she went on with high-profile men, Maxwell said it was difficult to remember details, as they became a blur. Maxwell said she met Musk around 2010 or 2011 during an event for the co-founder of Google that Epstein did not attend and then saw Musk again later at the Oscars. Jeffrey Epstein's imprisoned former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell has told the Justice Department that she is unaware of any Epstein client list. Ghislaine Maxwell has also revealed that she never saw President Donald Trump in any of the massage settings or behave inappropriately. Maxwell is serving 20 years of prison for helping the wealthy financer sexually abuse minor girls. The fresh revelations have emerged from transcript of Ghislaine Maxwells two-day grilling by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. When Todd Blanche asked Ghislaine Maxwell if Jeffrey Epstein maintained any client list, she said, There is no list that I am aware of. Ive never, at any time, at least during the period of time when I was present. Speaking about President Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell said, I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. The Justice Department's release of the transcripts and audio recordings of Maxwell's interview comes amid intense public curiosity about Epstein, a multimillionaire who socialized with the cultural and political elite, and as Trump, a Republican, tries to tamp down a political crisis stemming from the Justice Department's decision not to release files from its investigation of Epstein despite its earlier pledges to do so. 'NEVER INAPPROPRIATE' Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. During Maxwell's trial the financier's longtime pilot, Lawrence Visoski, testified that Trump flew on Epstein's private plane multiple times. Trump has denied flying on the plane. In her interview, Ghislaine Maxwell claimed that Donald Trump was very cordial and never saw him any massage setting. "As far as I'm concerned, President Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me," Maxwell said, according to the transcript. And I just want to say that I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now. "I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. North Korea accused South Korea of a dangerous provocation during a recent incident at the border of the two countries, adding to tensions as Pyongyang chafes at the annual joint US-South Korean military drills that are underway. South Korean soldiers earlier this week fired more than 10 warning shots with a machine gun at North Korean soldiers who were building a barrier intended to permanently block the border, according to a North Korea military statement published by state media KCNA. The recent incident, timed to coincide with the large-scale joint military drills being staged in the region of the ROK, cannot but be construed as a premeditated and deliberate provocation aimed at military conflict, North Korean Army Lieutenant General Ko Jong Chol said in the statement. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, which is South Koreas official name. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said via text message that its forces fired warning shots on Aug. 19 after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line at the middle front line. The soldiers soon retreated, and the South Korean military said its closely monitoring further activity from the North. New South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sought to ease inter-Korean tensions since taking office in June, but North Korea has so far dismissed the possibility of rapprochement North Korean Kim Jong Uns sister said there is no role for Seoul to play in regional diplomacy. With assistance from Sarina Yoo and Soo-Hyang Choi. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Six workers who died in what authorities suspect was exposure to gas at a dairy farm include a 50-year-old father and two sons, in events that left rural Colorado communities in mourning. Weld County Chief Deputy Coroner Jolene Weiner on Friday confirmed the identities of the deceased all Hispanic males, including four members of an extended family. Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, of Nunn, died along with his 17-year-old son Oscar Espinoza Leos a high school student and a second son, 29-year-old Carlos Espinoza Prado of Evans. The Espinozas are related by marriage to another 36-year-old victim from Greeley Jorge Sanchez Pena. Organizers with a support network for food workers told the Denver Post that the four relatives repaired machinery at various dairies in and near Keenesburg, Colorado, where they were found dead Wednesday evening. They were extremely hardworking and humble, said Tomi Rodriguez, an outreach worker for Project Protect Food System Workers. They were a very united family. The Weld County Coroner's Office identified the other deceased Colorado residents late Friday as Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, and Noe Montanez Casanas, 32, both of Keenesburg. Words of condolences flooded message boards in online fundraising drives for their families while flyers were posted for dances, hair cuts and a car wash to benefit them over the weekend. Their bodies were recovered by rescue workers at a dairy farm in Kennesburg, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Denver. Project Protect personnel said the two lived on the grounds of the dairy in employer-provided housing, according to the Denver Post. The coroner's office is investigating the deaths as the possible consequence of gas exposure in a confined space. The office on Friday said autopsies have been completed on all six people, but it was awaiting the results of further testing to determine exactly how they died. Weld County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Melissa Chesmore has said the agency didn't find anything that would indicate a crime took place. County tax records say the property is owned by Prospect Valley Dairy LLC and list a Bakersfield, California, address for the owners. The Associated Press left phone messages this week at a number listed for the California address. Weld County is a major agricultural producer. Three-quarters of its land is devoted to farming and raising livestock. Its Colorados leading dairy producer and the states biggest source of beef cattle, grain and sugar beets. Former DOGE head and billionaire Elon Musk had once slammed Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump's India envoy pick. While reacting to an X post, Musk had called Gor a "snake" on Saturday. Back in June this year, an X user had alleged that Gor, who was reportedly tasked to hire employees across US departments, did "not submit official paperwork about his own background needed for a permanent security clearance." "Hes a snake," the Tesla and SpaceX boss had written in his response. Gor currently leads the White House Presidential Personnel Office. Gor fueled Trump-Musk feud? Gor is the White House adviser who reportedly fueled the Trump-Musk NASA feud. According to the New York Times, Gor was involved in providing Trump information that Jared Isaacman, a businessman and ally of Musk whom Trump picked in late 2024 to lead NASA on Musks recommendation, had donated money to Democrats in the recent past. It was among many factors that led to the shocking fallout between Trump and his one-time "First Buddy," the world's richest person. Musk and Gor had a tense relationship that surfaced in March during a heated Cabinet meeting in which Musk got into an argument with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, The New York Times reported at the time. Sergio Gor as next US Ambassador to India Trump announced Sergio Gor as the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs on Saturday (IST). Announcing on Truth Social, Donald Trump said, "I am pleased to announce that I am promoting Sergio Gor to be our next United States Ambassador to the Republic of India, and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs." "As Director of Presidential Personnel, Sergio and his team have hired nearly 4,000 America First Patriots across every Department of our Federal Government in RECORD time -- Our Departments and Agencies are over 95% filled! Sergio will remain in his current role at the White House until his confirmation," Trump said. Trump said Gor and his team had overseen the hiring of nearly 4,000 officials across federal departments and agencies in record time, adding that over 95 per cent of positions were now filled. Addressing Gor as a "great friend," Trump expressed his complete trust in him while noting his contributions to the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. United States President Donald Trump on Friday, August 22, explained the challenges in arranging a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin by comparing them to mixing oil and vinegar. Oil and vinegar don't mix well due to their differing chemical properties; oil is hydrophobic (water-repelling) while vinegar is hydrophilic (water-attracting). Donald Trump also emphasized on how the two leaders don't get along too well, hence getting them to work together is quite difficult. Donald Trump said, We're going to see if Putin and Zelenskyy will be working together. You know, it's like oil and vinegar a little bit. They don't get along too well for obvious reasons, but we'll see. And then we'll see whether I need to be there. I'd rather not. I'd rather they have a meeting to see how they can do. Challenges in bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table Trump voiced hope that the two leaders could work together to end the war in Ukraine, noting that the conflict between the two countries is claiming about 7,000 lives a week, mostly soldiers. Also Read | Trump Again Threatens Russian Sanctions If Ukraine Conflict Doesnt End Speaking of the war casualties, Trump said, they continue to fight and they continue to kill people, which is very stupid because they're losing 7,000 people. I used to tell you five, now they're losing 7,000 people a week. Think of that, they're losing 7,000 people on average a week. Mostly soldiers. Trump claims to have stopped seven wars The US President then went on to note that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been the most difficult to end, claiming that he has stopped seven wars. "So, we want to see if we could stop it. I've stopped seven wars. I want to make this one I thought would have been in the middle of the pack in terms of difficulty, and it's turning out to be the most difficult," he said. US-Russia holds a summit in Alaska Trump met Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15 which was held to hold talks, aiming to bring an end to the Ukraine war. However, no concrete ceasefire deal was made as part of the meeting, Mint said earlier. Also Read | How Trumps Ukraine peace push stalled out in four days Despite the meeting being a negotiating ground, Ukraine was not invited for the talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has publicly refused pressure from Trump to surrender territory seized by Russia, closely tracked the Trump-Putin talks at Alaska along with other European leaders, the news report said. Zelensky meets Trump in White House Volodymyr Zelensky met Trump at the White House on August 18, accompanies by an extraordinary cadre of European leaders to show Trump a united front against Russia, Reuters reported. Following talks at the White House, Zelensky said that he would be willing to meet directly with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to end the invasion of his country. Also Read | What Russia wants as peace deal with Ukraine? Vladimir Putin has three demands Binance Australia has been directed to appoint an external auditor by the country's anti-money laundering (AML) regulator. Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) said it has identified "serious concerns" with the crypto exchange's AML and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) controls. Binance Australia has 28 days to nominate external auditors for AUSTRAC's consideration. AUSTRAC said it has flagged concerns about Binance's AML/CTF governance based on its high staff turnover and a lack of local resourcing and senior manager oversight. We have engaged openly and transparently with Austrac over the past several months and continue to value their guidance, expertise, and oversight, Matt Poblocki, general manager of Binance Australia and New Zealand, said, according to a Bloomberg report. We remain committed to maintaining best-in-class compliance standards and will continuously enhance our capabilities. Binance did not immediately respond to CoinDesk's request for further comment. The Binance empire has had a difficult relationship with regulators over the years. A string of regulatory bodies issued warnings about the exchange's authorization (or lack thereof) to operate in 2021. This came to a head in 2024 when founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao was sentenced to four months in U.S. federal prison after pleading guilty for violation of money laundering laws. AUSTRAC has been trying to take a proactive approach to its oversight of the digital asset industry in recent months, recently enacting a series of measures on crypto ATM providers over concerns about their alleged use for scams. Ghislaine Maxwell is making headlines after US Justice Department issued transcripts of interview with Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend. These transcripts were released on Friday, August 22, and gives an insight into Epstein's interactions with several high-profile men. In the transcripts, Ghislaine Maxwell described US President Donald Trump's behaviour as being friendly with Epstein and called him a gentleman in all respects. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted the interview with imprisoned Maxwell last month at a Florida courthouse where she revealed that the sex trafficking accused Epstein went on a trip with Robert Kennedy Jr. The early 1990s trip was one of dinosaur bone hunting in the Dakotas. However, Maxwell revealed that she never saw anything inappropriate with Mr Kennedy. Britain's Prince Andrew Speaking favourably of Britains Prince Andrew, Maxwell dismissed late Virginia Giuffres claim as rubbish that she was paid to have a relationship with the Britain Prince. She further denied the claim that he had sex with her at Maxwells London home. Furthermore, she denied allegations suggesting that she introduced Epstein to Prince Andrew. Maxwell said, I couldnt imagine them being friends. Two chalk and cheeses would never I mean, for real, theres nothing there to connect them, AP reported citing the transcripts. Also Read | Federal judge refuses to release Ghislaine Maxwells grand jury records Former US President Bill Clinton According to Maxwell's statement, Bill Clinton was initially her friend, not Epsteins. She further noted that she never saw him receive a massage nor did she believe he ever did. Disclosing Bill Clinton's time spent with Epstein, she said the two dozen times they were together was when they travelled on Epsteins plane. That wouldve been the only time that I think that President Clinton could have even received a massage, Maxwell said, adding, And he didnt, because I was there. Elon Musk and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo were also a part of the discussion. According to Maxwell, her first encounter with the Tesla CEO occurred in 2010 or 2011 during an event for the co-founder of Google while Epstein did not attend the event. Later, she saw Musk again at the Oscars. Meanwhile, Maxwell suggested that she was friends with Andrew Cuomos ex-wife, Kerry. As per the transcript, she met the former New York Governor a few times in the past and she didnt believe thar Cuomo knew Epstein. US President Donald Trump revealed his plan to take a very important decision in the next two weeks if Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin fail to make a deal to end Russia-Ukraine war. He asserted he might impose massive sanctions or tariffs or do nothing. Trump stated that his decision relies on developments over the coming fortnight and advocated for talks between Putin and Zelensky. "In two weeks, we are going to know which way I am going because I'm going to go one way or another. It's going to be very important decision. I'm gonna decide whether it's not massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both or do we do nothing and say it's your fight. It takes two to tango. I wanted to have a meeting with those two. We'll see if they don't have a meeting, then why it was so, after I told them to have a meeting," Trump told reporters at Oval office. Trump said he is not happy about US factory reportedly bombed in Ukraine during recent Russian missile attacks. He stated, I'm not happy about it and I'm not happy about anything about that war. I've settled seven wars and you think about pre-wars, that'll be three so 10 wars. Not happy at all. Over the next two weeks we are going to find out which ways it's going to go. Previously, Russias top diplomat Sergey Lavrov stated that President Vladimir Putin is willing to hold talks with Ukraines leader Volodymyr Zelensky, on the condition that every matter connected to resolving the dispute between Moscow and Kyiv are fully addressed. While speaking to RT on Thursday, Lavrov mentioned, "The Russian president repeatedly said that he is ready to meet, including with Zelensky, if there is an understanding that all issues that require consideration at the highest level have been worked out thoroughly" by experts and ministers. Trump-Zelensky meet On August 19, 2025, Trump met with Zelensky at the White House alongside several European leaders, signalling a more collaborative approach to ending the war in Ukraine. Trump hinted at providing security guarantees for Ukraine. He proposed a trilateral summit with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to US media. Trump-Putin meet Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-profile but ultimately inconclusive summit in Alaska on August 15. Despite hours of discussions, the summit ended without any formal agreement or ceasefire on Ukraine. However, Trump described the talks as very productive and Putin viewed them as a potential starting point. NATOs easternmost member states are grappling with a sharp rise in radio and satellite interference, with Baltic governments accusing Russia of positioning equipment for electronic warfare close to their borders. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Baltic Sea region has registered widespread signal jamming, including of the Global Positioning System or GPS, which has affected air and maritime communications. But authorities in the Baltic states say its significantly escalated in recent months, with the Estonian regulator saying that 85% of flights in the country now experience disruption. Theyve also reported a rapid increase in intentional transmission of faulty coordinates, a practice known as spoofing. Lithuania last month accused Russia of orchestrating a spike in GPS jamming, causing a 22-fold increase in such incidents since the previous year. At stake isnt only the safety of civilian transport but the security of a region thats become a flashpoint for NATO in its standoff with the Kremlin. The jamming amounts to a challenge to the military alliance over how to respond, according to Jacek Tarocinski, a research fellow at the state-funded Center for Eastern Studies in Warsaw. Russia is continuously testing NATO, probing both our military and political responses, Tarocinski said. Its part of an effort to exploit divisions among allies and undermine the cohesion of the alliance. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia the Baltic members of the alliance that border Russia and have been among its most vocal supporters of Kyiv have escalated their complaints to international organizations as Moscow has flexed its electronic-warfare capabilities. Together with neighboring Finland, they flagged worsening radio-navigation interference to the International Telecommunications Union, or ITU, according to a letter addressed to the communications watchdog on June 23 and seen by Bloomberg News. The same governments, along with Sweden and Poland, also expressed concern about Russian electronic warfare in a letter to the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO in early July. They submitted data on disruptions, on the basis of which the aviation watchdog concluded that Russia was the source of the interference. In the letter, also seen by Bloomberg News, the ICAO expressed grave concern over flight safety, saying that unless Russia outlined the measures it would take to cease the disruption within 30 days, the matter would be considered a potential violation of international law. Similarly, the ITUs board told Russia to immediately halt the interference. Lithuanias communications ministry told Bloomberg that its unaware of an official Russian response to the letter from the ICAO Councils president and the disruptions continue. A state that violates ITU regulations may be suspended from issuance of new permits for the use of radio frequencies and their protection, according to its constitution. ICAO and ITU are agencies of the United Nations. The Russian administration didnt deny its jamming activity at the recent ITU meeting, but justified its actions by the need to protect national infrastructure, the Lithuanian communication authority said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Baltic states and allies have taken steps to counteract the interference. In July, the bloc announced that its Galileo global navigation satellite launched a new capability to counteract signal spoofing, responding to the situation in sensitive areas including the Baltic Sea. Flying Blind However, the disruption is expanding further inland and to ground level, according to the letter to the ITU, adding that the frequency bands used by mobile phones have also been affected. At first it used to affect aviation, now interference is also affecting the sea, shipping and ground communication towers, Jurate Soviene, the chair of Lithuanias communications authority, said in an interview. Baltic officials have warned civilians not to fly drones near the countries borders with Russia amid a spike in spoofed GPS coordinates. If the thing falls down from a few hundred meters in an unsuitable location, it can hit someone on the head or fall on someones car, Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro said last month. He put the broader cost of such disruption to government at 500,000 . Although authorities across the region say commercial flights continue to be safe, pilots increasingly have to switch to alternative navigation methods. The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency or PANSA told Bloomberg in an emailed statement that the disruptions significantly increase air traffic controls workload, since pilots must turn to radar assistance due to GPS disruption. PANSA said the interference was particularly pronounced in north-eastern Poland, near the border with Lithuania. That area includes the Suwalki Gap, the borderland that ranges less than 100 kilometers , wedged between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad, surrounded by NATO nations, is widely believed to be the focal point of Russias electronic warfare efforts. In their letter to the ITU, Lithuanian officials identified four locations in the exclave where they believe Russia has installed additional jamming equipment. But the governments of Estonia and Latvia, neither of which border Kaliningrad, say theyre also affected by signals interference from mainland Russia. In July, Estonian officials said that the Russian military had moved additional devices to a town near the countrys border. Authorities in Riga also believe that Moscow has moved equipment to its Pskov region which borders Latvia, the public broadcaster reported in August, citing officials. Some electronic warfare devices could also be deployed on naval vessels in the Baltic Sea, officials from the Baltic states said. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The UK will extend its training program for Ukrainian solders in an effort to help Kyiv strengthen its army ahead of any European and US-backed security guarantees linked to a potential peace deal. The Interflex program, which offers both combat and leadership training, will be extended until the end of 2026 at the earliest, the Ministry of Defence said Saturday. Work toward a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia has gathered momentum this week, with US and European military chiefs meeting to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. A UK- and France-led Coalition of the Willing has developed plans to deploy a multinational military force to Ukraine to deter attacks after a peace deal. The MoD said meetings in recent months have involved more than 200 military planners and input from about 30 countries. The first stage of the package being drawn up would bolster Ukraines military with training and reinforcements, Bloomberg reported this week. Those forces would be supported by the multinational group of mostly European troops, to be stationed in Ukraine away from the front line. A further part of the plan calls for a so-called US backstop, which would contribute intelligence sharing, border surveillance, weaponry and possibly air defenses. More than 50,000 Ukrainian recruits have been trained in Britain under Interflex so far. We will continue to step up our support alongside allies, so that Ukraine can defend today and deter tomorrow, said Defence Secretary John Healey. In the face of ongoing Russian attacks, we must put Ukraines Armed Forces in the strongest possible position. And as the push for peace continues, we must make the Ukrainians into the strongest possible deterrent to secure that future peace. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Climate Change & You is a fortnightly newsletter written by Bibek Bhattacharya and Sayantan Bera. Subscribe to the newsletter to get it directly in your inbox. Dear reader, The climate crisis does not recognise borders. India and Pakistan spent 14th and 15th August busy demonising each other, while celebrating their common independence from colonialism. Meanwhile, deadly cloudbursts and flash floods were decimating mountain communities on both sides of the border and leading to mass casualties. In India, the small village of Chositi in Kishtwars Pabbar Valley in Jammu and Kashmir was inundated by a flash flood on 14 August, killing at least 65 people. The number of casualties is expected to rise, because the village was packed with pilgrims headed for the Machail Mata temple in the valley for an annual pilgrimage. People eating in community kitchens were swept away in the blink of an eye; a car parking area was similarly engulfed. Although some 300 people have been rescued, it is feared that a lot more people have lost their lives. And this weekend, there was a deadly landslide after a cloudburst in Jammus Kathua district, killing at least seven people. This is turning out to be a season of disasters in the western Himalaya, with the two incidents occurring just a week after the catastrophic flood that swept away a part of the village of Dharali in Uttarakhands Garhwal. In each instance, the sudden floods turned deadly in part because of unregulated tourism infrastructure in highly sensitive mountain areas. As climate change makes monsoon rainfall both more violent and less predictable, the Himalaya are turning extremely unsafe during the rains. View Full Image A view of the extent of damage in Dharali village in Uttarakhand. (PTI) It has been a similar situation in Pakistan, where cloudbursts and flash floods have been creating havoc in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions Buner and Bajaur districts, with over 300 people killed. The Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan region of the Karakoram range has also suffered repeated cloudbursts and floods. As my co-writer of this newsletter, Sayantan noted in the previous edition of Climate Change & You, Himachal Pradesh has been suffering one rain-related disaster after another throughout the monsoon. Whether in Pakistan or in India, the shocking lack of understanding of mountain topography and the naked greed of tourism has been the common theme. And climate change, of course. State of the climate View Full Image People fleeing wildfires in northeastern Spain. (AFP) Deadly heatwaves in Europe and the Middle East While South Aisa has been grappling with flash floods, record heatwaves have been sweeping through Europe and the Middle East. August has been a hellish month for Europe, with regions like south-west France recording unprecedented maximum temperatures up to 12 degrees Celsius above normal. The Arctic Circle recorded temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius, while Balkan countries like Croatia touched day-time temperatures of nearly 40 degrees Celsius. Also Read | Why the COP30 climate summit's success is crucial for India and BRICS countries Wildfires have ripped through the Balkans, and more recently Spain and Portugal. Over the past weekend, 25% of Spains weather stations recorded daytime highs of 40-45 degrees Celsius. Fires are raging across the country, with 348,000 hectares of land already burnt. In North America, Canada is facing its second-worst wildfire season on record (its worst was in 2023). In the Middle East, even as Israel continued to bomb Gaza, the region recorded its hottest nights on record, even as daytime temperatures persisted at above 35 degrees Celsius, at times touching nearly 50 degrees Celsius in some places. Jordans Red Sea port Aqaba broke the countrys heat record with 49.6 degrees Celsius. News in brief A recent study has highlighted how, over the past 200 years, nature words have been disappearing from the books we read, further underscoring just how disconnected we are getting from our natural environment. Could this be a reason why we are not trying hard enough to stop climate change and biodiversity loss? Increasing jellyfish blooms are an indicator of how hotter seas are changing ocean biodiversity. This is leading to strange new problems: a swarm of jellyfish recently clogged up the cooling systems of two French nuclear power stations, leading to their shutdown. This Mint opinion piece argues how Indias aim of reaching renewable energy generation at gigawatt scale is closer than ever before. However, to unlock its full potential, government has to create a more enabling environment with policy changes. Climate change tracker View Full Image Bleached and dead coral around Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef. (AFP) The Great Barrier Reef is dying One of the direct effects of an overheated ocean is the death of coral reefs. And right now, the biggest reef system in the worldAustralias Great Barrier Reef (GBR)is suffering from unprecedented losses. The 2024-2025 annual report by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), released earlier this month, has found the largest annual decline in coral cover in the past 40 years. When sea temperatures get too high, the brightly colourful corals turn whitea process called bleaching. While corals can revive if sea temperatures return to normal, a reef cannot revive beyond a period of two months of high temperatures. According to the report, the GBR experienced a widespread bleaching episode in 2024-2025. Nor was this a one-off, since it was the sixth large-scale bleaching episode since 2016. Also Read | Where the forest meets the sea: Walking the mangroves of Queensland View Full Image The latest survey of the Great Barrier Reef shows a massive loss of coral. (Courtesy Australian Institute of Marine Science) The GBRs health is an important indicator of the state the worlds reef systems, simply because it is the largest, covering an expanse of 2,400km. The AIMS report states that recovery of the affected parts of the reef system will take years, and that too only if marine heatwaves subside. The worlds oceans have, since the baseline year of 1970, absorbed 90% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions. With persistently high ocean temperatures, the chances of recovery seem slim. Coral reefs are vital to the overall health of the oceans, and, indeed, even to the food supply of humans. Although reefs occupy less than .01% of the global ocean, they support 25% of the global ocean ecosystem. Prime number View Full Image A schoolgirl wades through flood waters in Mumbai. (AFP) 89 It is often assumed that Indians dont really know or care much about climate change. The fact is that the subject is hardly discussed in mainstream media apart from when major climate catastrophes strike, like cyclones, floods or heatwaves. Nor is climate ever an electoral issue. As a result, it might seem that despite being one of the worst affected countries, we dont care about the climate crisis. A new India-wide survey, however, tells a somewhat different story. Conducted by CVoter International and Yale Universitys Program on Climate Change Communication, 89% of surveyed Indians say that they have personally experienced the effects of global warming. However, only 53% people say that they know something" about global warming. View Full Image A new survey reveals that Indians understand and fear the effects of climate change. (Courtesy Yale Program on Climate Change Communication) 27% people said they know nothing about the subject. However, when given a definition of global warming and an explanation of how it affects weather patterns, 96% of all those surveyed said that they believe that global warming is indeed taking place. The survey, titled Climate Change In The Indian Mind, received many other interesting responses, and I think everyone should read it. One set of answers was especially interesting. When asked how often they come across global warming in news media, 58% Indians said they hear about it at least once a month, sometimes more often. However, 41% said that they hear of global warming just several times a year", while 14% said that theyve never heard of global warming in the media. Book of the month View Full Image Orbital by Samantha Harvey Orbital by Samantha Harvey If you are a regular reader of this newsletter, you would know that sometimes I recommend books that do not have anything directly to do with climate change, and Orbital is one such. The 2024 Man Booker Prize-winning novel by Samantha Harvey is a short, atmospheric novel about the lives of six men and women abord the International Space Station. Set across one single day in the lives of the crew, they observe 16 sunsets and sunrises as the ISS speeds along about 400km above the Earths surface. It is a grand meditation on the beauty and miracle of our wonderful, fragile planet, the only known place in the Universe that is home to intelligent life. If you need to fall in love with our world, or even if you dont, Orbital is a must-read. So thats it for this edition of Climate Change & You, dear reader. Sayantan will be back in a fortnight with the next instalment. In The Beat Report , Mint's journalists bring you unique perspectives on their beats, breaking down new trends and developments, and sharing behind-the-scenes stories from their reporting. Hello, I am Sayantan Bera and I write on food, farming and the climate crisis for the Long Story page in Mint. Earlier this month, I began working on a piece on India's roving beekeepers. It all began with a conversation with a mango grower and connoisseur. In late May, I travelled to Samastipur and Darbhanga in Bihar to take a close look at two of Indias much-loved summer fruits: litchi and mango. It turned out to be heartbreaking. Growers had lost interest in orchards, and most pre-sold their harvest at pitifully low prices. Most orchards were managed by fly-by-night contractors who sprayed a cocktail of chemicals to manage pests and drive yields. These practices resulted in poor-quality fruits, leading to lower prices at the farmgate. On the last day of the trip, barely hours before I was to catch a flight from the Darbhanga airport, I met Amal Kumar Jha, an orchardist and Sanskrit scholar, at his house in Sarisabpahi village in Madhubani. We discussed mangoes and litchis, and Jha helped me understand how to identify different varieties of mangoes by looking at the trees. Towards the end of our conversation, I asked Jha if the overuse of chemical pesticides was hurting pollinators like bees and impacting fruit yield. Because pollination is critical to fruiting. Arey," Jha replied in an exasperated tone. Dont you know the bees have stopped working? Because they are fed so much chini ka ghol (sugar water), they have become lazy. They dont go out and work as hard (meaning, collect nectar from flowers) as they once used to," he said. View Full Image Litchi honey, a much sought-after delicacy, on display at an event in Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University in Samastipur, Bihar. (Sayantan Bera/Mint) I was hooked by this hypothesis: the busy bees turning lazy because of sugar. Was this really the case? After my return, I began probing and speaking with those who work with beekeepers. It turned out that what Jha said was a half-truth. Yes, in commercial beekeeping, bees are fed sugar solution. That happens during the lean months when there is no flowering. In the honey trade, this is known as the akaal period (akaal means famine in Hindi). Bees store honey for exactly this reason, so they could survive the lean months, but we humans harvest the honey and bees have to make do with sugar! But this does not make bees lazy. The moment you put bee boxes next to a crop or in an orchard in flowering, they will venture out and work tirelessly to collect nectar and pollen, which is converted with enzymes in their stomach to make honey. Also, sugar is just a source of energy to prevent death from starvation. They cannot use it to make honey. Also Read: How safe is the food on your plate? Madam Bee Bees are definitely not indolent, but as one expert told me, some tribal farmers do call the exotic Apis mellifera species (Western honeybee) by the name memsahib madhumakkhi (madam honeybee). This European species was introduced into India back in the 1970s, and it is now the mainstay of commercial honey production. They are delicate and less resilient than Indias indigenous bees, such as Apis cerana and Apis dorsata. The mellifera needs more care and has to be tended to by beekeepers, hence the likening to memsahibs (madam). One comment by Jha piqued my interest. In the process, I also learnt a lesser-known side of agriculture. Bees are critical to crop yields, but the honey they make earns India millions of dollars every year. In 2024-25, India exported honey worth 1,750 crore, most of it to the US. In fact, the US consumes more Indian honey than Indians do. And guess which honey is exported most? The one which is collected from mustard flowers. Most brands in India do not sell mustard honey because it crystallizes in the winter. Consumers suspect the honey to be mixed with sugar. Commercial beekeeping grew by leaps and bounds over the past decade with farmers traveling long distances with their bee boxes: from litchi fields of Bihar to apple orchards in the Himalayas. This led to an explosion of floral expressions of honey. But because of the high dependence on export revenues, and slow growth in domestic demand, beekeepers are now facing an uncertain future. Prices have collapsed and tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump are threatening to unsettle the sector. Also Read: How the humble egg is raising millions View Full Image Bee boxes kept in an abandoned fuel station, next to crop fields in flowering. Alwar, Rajasthan. (Sayantan Bera/Mint) Earlier this month, I travelled to Alwar in Rajasthan to meet a group of migratory beekeepers from the hill state of Uttarakhand. They were in Alwar because pearl millet and sorghum fields were in bloom. It was there that I met Bablu Saini who is now a guru to many novice beekeepers from his village. After spending a day with Saini, I learnt fascinating stuff about the bees and honey trade. You can read the story of Indian honey and the headwinds facing the sector here. And if you havent already, take a look at Mint's Long Story on mango here and on litchi here. If you have a question on honey, bees, litchi, or mango, drop me an email at sayantan.bera@livemint.com. Also, you can share ideas and topics you'd like to read about. I am always fishing for interesting stuff . Have a relaxed weekend. I dont know about you, but my grandmother, God rest her soul, always had a story to tell. I remember her stories as being the primary way of interacting with her, and I couldnt get enough of them. So I tried to recapture a story like one she would have told. To tell the truth, all I really did was ask Geminis new feature, Storybook, to create a story about a fox, a crow, a monkey, and, of all things, an eggplant, for those were often the main characters of her quaint tales. The result, delivered in mere minutes, was astounding. Storybook wove these unrelated elements together in a charming tale, warmly narrated, and beautifully illustrated. The quality was beyond professional. Whats more, the story had a lesson to it. The three animals all wanted the big juicy eggplant for themselves, but in the end it was team work that allowed them to obtain it and share the fruit, or rather, the vegetable, of their labour. Heartwarming stories from Storybook in the midst of so much disorienting news about the world of AI come as a breath of fresh air. They also make for a strategic move from Google. If theres anything that can introduce AI to the general public beyond tech-savvy early adopters in a non-intimidating manner, its the age-old tradition of the bedtime story. To get to Storybook, just look on the left menu in the Gemini app or in Gemini in your browser. Tap, and here you have the choice of how much you want to contribute to the creation process. I got The Great Eggplant Adventure with just a one-sentence prompt. But I also created other stories with detailed prompts and supporting photos. I delighted a friend with a story about her two mischievous cats and included their anticstoppling a whole bookshelf, bringing down a floor lamp, and destroying a television. Also Read | Free-AI: How well India adopts AI will shape its future Tales with tech I also requested a story about some of my favourite Tudor characters, Anne and Mary Boleyn. The resulting story maintained the historical context without my saying so, costuming characters nicely, and not contradicting any historical facts. You get ten pages of story, and you can ask for any type of illustration, from claymation to pixel art, watercolour to comic style. I even got one story made to look like it was knitted in wool. You have a few limited choices with the pitch of the narrators voice, but anything else you specifically need by way of content has to be spelt out in the prompt. You cant make any edits to a completed story, but you can tell Storybook to correct or modify something, and it will regenerate the story. Although you can give supporting files and photos, dont be surprised if the characters look different from the images. This is because Googles guidelines will not allow you to put actual people in. Youll see the difficulty level of the language stepping up if the age level is increased. Concepts too will be more complex. You can have stories for adults as well, but the basic target is children, families and educators. For instance, you can create a story to teach a child the phenomenon of gravity. Or photosynthesis. There are 45 languages supported, so you can get a version of the story in any one of these. Just ask. The implications for education are obvious. I decided to get Gemini to create a story for me to brush up on the rules for the French past tense for verbs, passe compose. I told it to target the story at a difficulty level that worked for me. I was surprised at the useful lesson as it came up with sentences that had multiple verbs, challenging me on all the associated rules for this tense. Given that stories can be so easily created and in such high quality, does that replace grandma telling her grandchildren a bedtime story? I rather think not. It actually opens up possibilities for more activities together. Grandma can even be in the story. So can kids drawings, favourite toys, photos from a family vacation or virtually anything else. One can also print a story book for colouring. One can also create stories to explain difficult concepts, make a scrapbook from a family vacation or anything else you can come up with. The New Normal: The world is at an inflexion point. Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be as massive a revolution as the Internet has been. The option to just stay away from AI will not be available to most people, as all the tech we use takes the AI route. This column series introduces AI to the non-techie in an easy and relatable way, aiming to demystify and help a user to actually put the technology to good use in everyday life. Mala Bhargava is most often described as a veteran writer who has contributed to several publications in India since 1995. Her domain is personal tech, and she writes to simplify and demystify technology for a non-techie audience. Also Read | AI Tool of the Week | Google Storybook for compelling business narratives Long before the Tatas and Birlas became synonymous with Indian industry and philanthropy, a young orphan in Bombay was laying the foundations for modern Indian commerce and charity. Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoyborn in 1783, the son of a poor Parsi weaverrose from collecting discarded bottles on the streets to becoming a global trader, shipping magnate, and Indias first baronet. His life was a tale of storms, captures, and fortunes, but also of vision and generosity that reshaped Bombays future. Jeejeebhoy was a Parsi trader who turned rags to riches, and then gave much of his wealth away. Starting as an opium tradera common enterprise in the early 19th centuryhe gradually expanded into more respectable businesses. But it was what he did with the fabulous wealth he accumulated that deserves our respect. He used his gains to set up well-known institutions like the JJ Hospital and Grant Hospital, and the JJ School of Art and Architecture in Mumbai. He was also one of the founders of Bombay Samachar and the Bombay Times that eventually blossomed into the Times of India. It was fitting that the orphaned teen who once scavenged Bombay's streets for empty bottles, ended up being knighted and hailed as a baron of business. His career mirrors the wild opportunities and perils of the China trade era. In a life that seems like swashbuckling fiction, he sailed through storms, French captures, and market booms and yet ended up redefining Indian philanthropy and commerce. Born on 15 July 1783 in Bombay to a Parsi family from Navsari, Gujarat, Jeejeebhoy's early years were far from promising. His father, a weaver named Merwanjee Mackjee Jejeebhoy, died young, leaving the boy orphaned at 16. With no inheritance to fall back on, he turned to collecting and selling discarded bottles in Bombaya humble start that instilled in him the value of every rupee. His big break came via his maternal uncle, a spice merchant, who hired him as an assistant around 1799. At 16, he embarked on his first voyage to China, trading Indian cotton for Chinese goods. Profits from that trip while modest at first, funded the next. By his fourth voyage in 1805, he was dealing in opium, the era's hot commodity. Captured by the French on one such voyage, he lost everything but with his steely resolve he returned to rebuild. His strategy? Start small, reinvest relentlessly, and forge alliances across cultures including with British firms like Jardine Matheson, Chinese Hong merchants, and Portuguese traders. Sources paint him as devoutly Zoroastrian yet tolerant, honest in dealings, and disarmingly humble. And secular too; his business partners belonged to different faiths in times that favoured close guilds. Jeejeebhoy's rapport with the British was a pragmatic partnership. Like Dwarakanath Tagore, the merchant prince of Bengal, he tried to combine imperialism with individual favour and identity. He supplied their China trade needs, earning trust and a knighthood in 1842, the first Indian so honoured by Queen Victoria. In 1846 he surprised the Queen with a gift of four fine Arab steeds in Buckingham Palace. By 1857, he became Baronet of Bombay, a nod to his loyalty during the Mutiny. Yet he lobbied for reforms, petitioning Parliament for better Indian representation. He might not have been a rebel, but he was no pushover either. As he grew, he diversified from pure trade to banking ties and real estate which acted as a cushion against volatile markets. Figures tell the tale of Jejeebhoy's ascent. By the 1830s, his wealth was an estimated 2-3 crore (roughly 2-3 million then). Opium was key: he handled shipments worth lakhs per voyage, exporting to China where demand boomed post the Opium Wars. Cotton exports added ballast which is why he migrated to selling bales in China and buying opium on return. To carry all this he built a shipping powerhouse with over 10 ships. While his total business turnover is hard to estimate, you get a sense of it from his 1822 charitable pledge of 2.45 lakh from trade profits. For all his material success, Jeejeebhoy didn't hoard wealth but used it to seed India's future. His philanthropy included funding hospitals, agiaries, schools, the waterworks of Poona, the Victoria and Albert Museum, bridges like the Mahim Causeway and famine relief across India and Iran. His kindness led him to pay the British 20,000 to get grazing rights for the poor to graze their cows at Charni Road. The still-functioning 150-year-old Sir J J Dharamshala on Bellasis Road in Mumbai is an old age and destitute home for all, irrespective of caste or creed. Opposed to war, he nonetheless gave generously for victims of the Russo-Turkish conflict. His philanthropy crossed boundaries of geography and religion, setting a precedent later followed by dynasties like the Tatas. In an age when commerce was cutthroat, Jeejeebhoy showed profit and purpose could sail together. He proved that Indian merchants could operate globally and that wealth could be used not just for status but for public good. From scavenger to shipping magnate, from opium runner to baronet, from self-made millionaire to visionary philanthropistSir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy built not only his fortune but also Bombays future. Read more stories from the author: Also Read | Sri Aurobindo: The mystic whose economic philosophy deserves attention Also Read | Chanakya saw what others didntwealth is power Also Read | Gulshan Kumar, the juice seller who rose to become the music mogul of Bollywood Expelled MLA Pooja Pal wrote a chilling letter to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claiming that he and his party were to be blamed if anything happens to her. She claimed she has been subjected to severe trolling on social media and has received life threats, and said, It is possible that I too may be murdered like my husband. Saying that her only aim of receiving justice for her husband's murder is now fulfilled, and even if she dies, it won't matter, Pooja said, If this happens, then I demand from the government and administration that the real culprit of my murder should be considered Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav. Also Read | Who is Pooja Pal? Chail MLA expelled from SP BSP MLA Raju Pal was shot dead in Prayagraj in 2005, days after his wedding with Pooja Pal. In February 2023, Umesh Pal, a key witness to the murder, was shot dead in Prayagraj's Sulem Saray area. Reiterating her praise for the Uttar Pradesh government under the BJP rule, Pooja Pal stressed that it was during the BJP government that the long-overdue justice was delivered. Expulsion is not just about me: Pooja Pal Days after being expelled from the Samajwadi Party, Pooja Pal wrote to party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of strengthening criminal elements within the organisation by insulting and deserting her midway. Also Read | Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav to begin Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar from Aug 17 She added that her ouster was not just a personal matter but also an effort to silence the concerns of the state's backwards classes, Dalits, and economically weaker sections. Pooja said that her explanation would have given the SC, ST and OBC community people an answer on whether Akhilesh is truly a protector of the "Pichhde" (backwards), Dalits, and "Alpsankhyak" (minorities) (PDA). My voice against injustice and betrayal! Expulsion from the party is not just about me, but an attempt to suppress the voice of the backwards, Dalit, and poor people of Uttar Pradesh. I have fought and will continue to fight the battle for justice, she wrote. She criticised the SP chief for his arrogance, which made him expel a widow from a backwards community. Pooja further questioned her expulsion from the party, reportedly for voting for a BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections, when Akhilesh Yadav himself voted for a BJP candidate in the Constitutional Club elections in Delhi just days later. Earlier, Pooja Pal was expelled from the Samajwadi Party citing reasons such as engaging in anti-party activities and displaying indiscipline, specifically for praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's zero tolerance policy. Out of the 30 chief ministers in the country, 12 of them have declared criminal cases against them, a new report has found. This means that 40 per cent of the sitting chief ministers in India are facing criminal charges, according to the report by poll rights body ADR. Additionally, 10 (33 per cent) chief ministers have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to attempt to murder, kidnapping, bribery, criminal intimidation etc. Which CM has the highest number of criminal cases? Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has declared 89 cases against him, making him the chief minister with highest number of criminal cases. The Congress leader has 72 serious IPC charges, and 160 other IPC charges in these 89 criminal cases. The charges include offences such as 34 counts of criminal intimidation, and one count each of undue influence on election and outrage of modesty of a woman, among others. Also Read | Modi Govt may find it tough to pass bills on PM, CM removal in Parliament List of CMs with most criminal charges Here is a list of CMs of state who have the most number of criminal cases against them, as per ADR report: 1. Revanth Reddy, Telengana: 89 criminal cases 2. MK Stalin, Tamil Nadu: 47 criminal cases 3. Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh: 19 criminal cases 4. Siddaramaiah, Karnataka: 13 criminal cases 5. Hemant Soren, Jharkhand: 5 criminal cases 6. Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra: 4 criminal cases 7. Sukhvinder Singh, Himachal Pradesh: 4 criminal cases 8. Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala: 2 criminal cases 9. PS Tamang, Sikkim: 1 criminal case 10. Bhagwat Mann, Punjab: 1 criminal case 11. Mohan Charan Manjhi, Odisha: 1 criminal case 12. Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan: 1 criminal case The report comes as the government brings three bills that seek the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers arrested for 30 days on serious criminal charges. The ADR said it analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 30 sitting chief ministers in state Assemblies and Union Territories. Its a relatively quick fall from grace for the family, which reached its zenith in 2018. The elder Bolsonaro had won the top job, Flavio cruised into the Senate and Eduardo returned to the lower house with a record vote count. That son of yours, Eduardo, is a jerk, Silas Malafaia, an evangelical pastor with close ties to the family and the countrys right-wing movement, said in a message to Bolsonaro at the height of the tariff tensions in July, according to the police documents. He just handed Lula and the left a nationalist narrative. And at the same time hes screwing you over. The tariff threat has also given President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a shot in the arm, allowing the leftist to seize a nationalistic mantle and paint himself as a defender of Brazil. His once-sagging approval ratings are rising, and he now leads all potential challengers in early polls. While Eduardo wanted his father to celebrate the tariff threat, his elder brother Flavio has expressed concern about the impact of US levies on Brazil. The messages lay bare the fractious divisions in the Bolsonaro family. Less than a decade ago, the patriarchs meteoric rise to Brazils presidency created a modern political dynasty with the potential to reshape the country for generations. But now, the once-united clan is creaking under pressure. When Jair Bolsonaro later described his son as immature, Eduardo exploded. Go f yourself, you ungrateful motherf, he wrote in one of the messages, which Federal Police compiled as part of another probe. Youre my biggest obstacle in trying to help you, he said in another. The most powerful man in the world is on your side, he told his father, according to text messages released by the Supreme Court this week. If the main beneficiary cant even post a soft tweet, were screwed. When Trump demanded that Brazils Supreme Court put a stop to the trial if the country wanted to avoid the tariffs, it seemed like the younger Bolsonaro had succeeded in his mission. But he was frustrated that his dad didnt share his enthusiasm in the moment. Four months earlier, the 41-year-old had abandoned his congressional seat in Brazil to move to the US in a bid to persuade the White House to help his father, Jair Bolsonaro the nations former leader who is on trial for an alleged coup attempt. Eduardo Bolsonaro wanted a win, and when US President Donald Trump in July threatened to hit Brazil with 50% tariffs, he believed he had one. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press next to his son Senator Flavio Bolsonaro at the Federal Senate in Brasilia. Story Continues Legal troubles started to pile up during Bolsonaros controversial four-year government and his spreading of falsehoods about Brazils electronic voting system led to a ban from holding public office that has rendered him ineligible to run next year. But it was his alleged attempt to remain in power after narrowly losing the 2022 vote to leftist archrival Lula that has become his biggest problem. A week after Lula took office, Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in the capital while demanding a military intervention, an episode akin to the Jan. 6, 2021 attacks on the US Capitol. Damage outside the Supreme Court building following the Jan. 8, 2023 insurrection attempt.Photographer: Arthur Menescal/Bloomberg As an investigation into the events encroached on the former president, the Bolsonaros began operating toward a singular goal: Winning amnesty for their father, in hopes of keeping him out of jail and allowing him to wage a rematch against Lula next year. But Eduardo and his older brother have also at times struggled to get on the same page. In July, Flavio quickly deleted a social media post that called on Trump to suspend the tariffs in favor of sanctions on Brazilian officials. Later, he took down another that included video of his fathers remarks to supporters in Rio de Janeiro in an attempt to avoid provoking Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, whod accused Bolsonaro of violating judicial orders. In a written response, Eduardo said deleting the post amounted to giving into the whims of Moraes, the crusading judge who is now under sanctions from the Trump administration, and who has ordered Bolsonaro into house arrest. Flavio Bolsonaro, left, and his brother EduardoPhotographer: Andre Coelho/Bloomberg A favorite of the more radical elements of Bolsonaros base, Eduardo has fostered strong relations with Trump allies and other global right-wing figures. He has openly acknowledged interest in running for president if Bolsonaro asks. Ive already made myself available, and I remain open to it, he told Bloomberg News. If its Gods will, I will walk that path. Flavio, by contrast, is known as the familys shrewd operator, and said in an interview that hes fully focused on his fathers candidacy. Still, he has worked to strengthen ties with centrist party leaders in Brasilia, a person close to him said. Hes also sought to build bridges to investors, according to the person, at a time when many in market circles are concerned that putting another Bolsonaro on the ballot will boost Lulas reelection odds. Michelle Bolsonaro, meanwhile, has molded herself into a more outwardly political figure, staging events aimed at women to the familys cause. But despite nearly two decades with Bolsonaro, shes never fully gained the familys political trust, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Unlike her stepsons, the former first lady rarely speaks to press and declined an interview request. Altered Future The Bolsonaro familys inability to mount a coherent and forward-thinking defense strategy is not only putting the familys political future at risk. It has also left the coalition of center-right parties in their orbit in disarray, and could soon cost Brazils conservative forces a 2026 presidential election that has largely been considered theirs to lose. Allies have grown frustrated amid signs that Bolsonaro plans to insist on his candidacy until the final possible moment, then pass the baton to one of his sons. Leaders of parties aligned with the family along with many investors and business elite have pushed him to support an alternative like Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, who would need Bolsonaros blessing at a much earlier stage in the race to have a viable chance against Lula. Whatever Bolsonaro ultimately decides, the US pressure campaign has clearly altered the future of Bolsonaro clan. The former president is currently under house arrest, and is again facing the risk of pretrial detention from Moraes, who this week demanded an explanation from Bolsonaro after Federal Police said that he had weighed asking Argentinas Javier Milei for asylum. Bolsonaros legal team told the court Friday night that an unsigned draft letter requesting asylum found on his phone did not prove he intended to flee, and that he is not a flight risk. They also denied he had violated previous court orders and asked Moraes to reconsider his house arrest. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing in the coup trial and accused the court of politically persecuting him, claims his defense team reiterated. Eduardos political career appears to have taken a hit. Federal authorities this week recommended that he and his father face charges for obstructing justice in relation to the coup trial, and hes unlikely to return home any time soon, four people with knowledge of the situation said. Michelle Bolsonaro speaks next to Jair Bolsonaro during his presidency.Photographer: Arthur Menescal/Bloomberg Eduardo denounced the police probe, saying it was not about justice but political damage against the Bolsonaros. Few around the family are convinced Michelle will win the support of her husband, who has pushed her toward a Senate race and previously joked that she could only run for president if she committed to name him chief of staff. That has left Flavio as the de facto favorite if the notoriously unpredictable Bolsonaro indeed backs a family member. The tariff fight has also given Lula a shot in the arm, allowing the leftist to seize a nationalistic mantle and paint himself as a defender of Brazil. Trumps Bolsonaro-related demands on Brazil have been more curse than blessing for the clan, said Bloomberg Economics analyst Jimena Zuniga. They are unlikely to be pivotal for Bolsonaros legal destiny, and they have backfired politically big time, as most Brazilians see Bolsonaro and his family focused on saving their own necks as opposed to defending their countrys interests. (Adds Bolsonaro legal response to Supreme Court from 26th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. New Delhi: As the first tranche of Indias chip incentives ends, the government plans to expand the scheme to boost indigenous design and bring components and other parts of the supply chain under the India Semiconductor Mission, said the top technology ministry bureaucrat. India does not need only chip fabs (fabrication plants) and testing plants, but also equipment suppliers, material suppliers, gases and chemicals are all areas that were not covered under ISMs (the semiconductor missions) first plan, and need attention," said S. Krishnan, secretary in the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity). These areas were previously covered under the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (Specs), which completed its tenure," he toldMintin an interview. Now, a part of this has been replaced by the electronics component manufacturing scheme (ECMS), which very specifically focuses on electronics components. The semiconductor part of it is what will now come under ISM 2.0." The plan comes ahead of the fourth Centre-backed Semicon India, an annual semiconductor event at which India will likely seek more partnerships with global chip supply-chain vendors. Krishnan said that since the goal is tofocus on building a resilient ecosystem, it is important to encourage the overall supply chain". Also Read | TCS working with Tata Electronics to build first made-in-India chips Krishnan, who is in charge of the semiconductor incentives programme, said the Centre was looking at a way to focus on areas that were not in the spotlight through ISMs first tenure. ISM was approved by the Centre in December 2021, with a $10 billion outlay over six years. Krishnan said at a press conference late on Friday that the scheme has utilized nearly all of its budget, with just over 2% remaining. Out of the $10 billion (around 76,000 crore when the scheme was approved), 65,000 crore was allocated for semiconductor fabrication. Of this, the government has so far committed 63,000 crore towards 10 projects and is looking to fund a few small projects with the remaining funds, Krishnan said. The government kept 10,000 crore for the revamp of Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali and 1,000 crore for the design-linked incentives, approving 23 projects under the scheme so far. Krishnan said that as part of the revamp under the design-linked incentive scheme, the government is also examining how quickly the funds can be made available for the companies. The first chip will be rolled out this year, Krishnan said. For funds under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, the government is in talks with the finance ministry, Krishnan said. With ISM 2.0, were also looking to revamp our design-linked incentive scheme, for which were looking at a number of suggestions," said Krishnan. Theres been a request from the industry to give it wider coverageto make more risk capital available. These issues are being addressed as part of our revamp of the scheme." Ashok Chandak, president of India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (Iesa), said the core ask of the semiconductor industry is to incentivize the entire ecosystem, so that we can support the full production locally". The need of the hour is operational efficiencies, and at the upcoming Semicon 2025, we will have representation of all parts of the global semiconductor supply chain," he said. Pushing for developing strategic parts of the chip ecosystem will now be crucial to take our industry to the next step." Krishnan, a 1989 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Services, took charge at Meity in September 2023. He also oversees Indias top initiatives for electronics and technologyincluding the $2.7 billion ECMS, a $1.2-billion AI Mission, and ongoing initiatives such as production-linked incentives (PLIs) for mobiles. Krishnan, who has served as the chief executive of Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board, was responsible for developing the southern state into an early hub for electronics manufacturing and drawing investment from Taiwans Foxconn, among others. Amid preparations for the next tranche of semiconductor investments, conversations around the Centres blanket ban on online money games persisted through the week. On Friday, Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed that the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 had received the Presidents assent. Krishnan told Mint that the law does not target any individual entity. Were saying that categories that are permitted will be promotedonly one of the three categories is problematic, and needs to be stopped. There will be a requirement for a small set of rules to enforce the oversight committee and other such details, which will also be done at the earliest." The official also added that the long-pending Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2025 is likely to be enforced much earlier than the end of this calendar year". There arent many changes, and alterations are limited and not very major. We are consulting other ministries, and should be able to put it out quickly," he said. A lot of energy went into clarifying the rules, which sorted out many issues associated with the DPDP Act. Beyond that, there were some genuine issues where some minor changes, some language tweaks and some clarity were required. All of that has been completed now." Also Read | Aadhaar Act to be amended, aligned with DPDP Act Apple is in early discussions with Google about using the tech giant's Gemini AI to power the revamped version of Siri, according to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The iPhone maker had first announced its next big update to Siri at WWDC 2024, but it has been delayed by over a year due to engineering setbacks. The Cupertino-based tech giant has reportedly approached Google to explore building a custom AI model that would serve as the foundation of the new Siri voice assistant next year. Google is also said to have started training a model that could run on Apple's servers. Prior to discussions with Google, Apple had also explored partnerships with Anthropic and OpenAI to see if either Claude or ChatGPT could serve as the brain for the new Siri. A decision on which AI model will be used for powering Siri is still several weeks away, and the company hasn't totally ruled out using its internal models as well. Apple is internally holding a bake-off to see which of the two approaches will work the best. The iPhone maker is said to be developing two versions of Siri: one called Linwood, which is powered by its own AI models, and another called Glenwood, which runs on outside AI models. While Apple executives are said to have been inclined towards Anthropic initially, the financial terms demanded by the AI startup led to Apple bringing in other companies into the mix. Meanwhile, in the case of a Siri partnership with third-party models, Apple would likely run them via its Private Cloud Compute servers, which use Mac chips for remote AI processing. This would also mean that the new version of Siri won't run on devices. Apple is suing a former employee who left for Chinese smartphone maker Oppo on the claim that he stole Apples trade secrets relating to Apple Watch and to disclose them to his new employers. The lawsuit claims that sensor system architect Chen Shi accessed confidential documents on Apples health sensing technologies and disclosed them to Oppo before leaving Cupertino in June so that his new employers could develop a competing wearable device. Concealing his impending employment with a direct competitor, Dr Shi set up and attended dozens of one-on-one meetings with Apple Watch technical team members to learn about their ongoing research, the complaint by Apple reads. Apple says just three days before his departure, Shi downloaded 63 documents from a protected Box folder. He then transferred them to a USB drive one day before his departure. The company further claims that before downloading confidential information off its networks, Shi searched the internet for terms like how to wipe out a MacBook and Can somebody see if Ive opened a file on a shared drive? Apple claims that Oppo was also aware of Shis conduct, which they condoned and encouraged. In a text sent on 4 June 2025 by Shi to Zijing Zeng, Ph.D., Oppos Vice-President of Health, the techie is said to have revealed that he was conducting a lot of one-on-one meetings with many Apple executives and was trying to collect as much information as possible. Lately, Ive also been reviewing various internal materials and doing a lot of 1:1 meetings in an effort to collect as much information as possiblewill share with you all later, the text translated from Apple reads. In his role as a sensor system architect, Apple says that Shi oversaw the development of many cutting edge health sensor technology which included highly confidential roadmaps, design and development documents and specifications for ECG sensor technology. Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday announced the creation of a new company called Macrohard to take on Microsoft's software business while leveraging the power of AI. In a post on X confirming the existence of Macrohard, Musk wrote, Its a tongue-in-cheek name, but the project is very real! In principle, given that software companies like Microsoft do not themselves manufacture any physical hardware, it should be possible to simulate them entirely with AI, he added. Media reports revealed that Musk's xAI had filed for the Macrohard patent at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on 1 August. xAI's application lists a number of AI-focused services that Macrohard could provide, including "downloadable computer software for the artificial production of human speech and text" and downloadable computer software for designing, coding, running, and playing video games using artificial intelligence. In a post on X last month, Musk had said that xAI's latest AI software company would spawn hundreds of specialized coding and image/video generation/understanding agents all working together and then emulate humans interacting with the software in virtual machines until the result is excellent. This is a macro challenge and a hard problem with stiff competition! Can you guess the name of this company? he added. Musk has had a blow hot-blow cold relationship with Microsoft and its CEO Satya Nadella over the past few years. On the one hand, he has dragged Microsoft into his lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming the ChatGPT maker has breached its foundation mission in favor of a profit-seeking motive. On the other hand, Musk and Nadella had a public conversation in May when Grok 3 models were made available on Microsoft's Azure AI platform. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, free for now from jail, could be deported to Uganda. Here's what to know You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. China is preparing to consider yuan-linked stablecoins as part of its efforts to expand the currency's use worldwide, in what would represent a significant departure from its previous stance on digital assets. What Happened: The State Council, China's cabinet, is expected to review a policy roadmap later this month that could authorize the issuance and use of yuan-backed stablecoins, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The plan is likely to set targets for global yuan adoption and assign responsibilities to regulators such as the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the report quoting sources said. Trending: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market and you can too at just $2.90/share. Senior leaders are also scheduled to meet before the end of August to discuss yuan internationalization and the role of stablecoins, which have grown increasingly important in global financial flows. If adopted, the strategy would mark a reversal from Beijing's 2021 ban on cryptocurrency trading and mining, which had been introduced over financial stability concerns. Officials are now considering stablecoins as a potential instrument to advance yuan internationalization, particularly as U.S. dollar-backed tokens dominate the global market and gain traction in cross-border trade. China has long sought a greater international role for the yuan, but strict capital controls and persistent trade surpluses have constrained progress. Those restrictions remain a challenge for the rollout of yuan-backed stablecoins, analysts note. See Also: 2,000 High Earners Manage $6B With This AI Platform Book Your Private Demo Why It Matters: The yuan accounted for just 2.88% of international payments in June, down to a two-year low, according to data from SWIFT. In comparison, the U.S. dollar held a 47% share. Dollar-linked stablecoins currently make up more than 99% of the $247 billion global stablecoin market, according to the Bank for International Settlements. Beijing's move comes as other Asian countries also explore local stablecoins. South Korea has pledged to allow won-backed tokens, while Japan is developing its own frameworks. Hong Kong, meanwhile, enacted a regulatory regime for fiat-backed stablecoins on August 1, positioning itself as one of the first global jurisdictions to do so. Shanghai and Hong Kong are expected to spearhead domestic implementation of China's stablecoin plan, sources said. The immigration crisis is putting increased pressure on the Balearic security forces and rescue resources. A total of 12 migrants are missing after jumping into the water from a small boat on Friday afternoon, according to the Balearic Islands Government Delegation. The boat was rescued at 6.45 p.m. about 36 miles southwest of Cabrera. A total of 26 people were travelling on board, according to the 14 migrants of North African origin who were rescued. The Civil Guard Maritime Service (Rio Gallego), CUCO and Maritime Rescue vessels have set up a search operation in the area. The Provincial Maritime Service of the Civil Guard and Maritime Rescue took part in the rescue operation. The Caminando Fronteras collective, based on information received from relatives of the migrants, is aware of the disappearance of at least two boats that left the coast of Algeria in recent days bound for the Balearics and have not reached their destination. The first set sail last Sunday and apparently had 25 people on board, all of them of Maghreb origin. The head of the NGO, Helena Maleno, believes that it could be the one rescued on Friday afternoon with 14 survivors and 12 missing. On Friday, the activist said they received another alert from relatives warning that a second boat with 26 people on board could have disappeared during the journey and they informed the authorities. Apparently, there were 18 people of North African origin and eight Somalis on board this boat. Among the latter, there were six women. Concern is growing in the Balearics over the record arrival of small boats from Algeria. The president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, warned that the migration route between Algeria and the Balearic Islands is the fastest growing in Europe, with more than 4,700 arrivals so far in 2025, 77% more than in 2024. The Balearics are experiencing strong migratory pressure, especially in Ibiza and Formentera, where the reception network is saturated and the reception centres still have no opening date. Prohens called on the central government and the EU to urgently deploy Frontex to the islands, citing information already shared by this body warning of an increase in the arrival of small boats via this route. She also called for cooperation with the Algerian authorities to be strengthened to prevent a humanitarian crisis. C&S said it still expects the acquisition to be completed later this year, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Shutterstock You can find original article here Supermarketnews. Subscribe to our free daily Supermarketnews newsletter. C&S Wholesale Grocers has withdrawn and then refiled certain documents related to its planned acquisition of SpartanNash in order to give antitrust officials more time to consider the merger. In a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, SpartanNash said C&S withdrew its Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Notification and Report Form on Monday and resubmitted it on Tuesday. The refiling launched another 30-day waiting period before the merger can be finalized. Withdrawing and refiling pre-merger notifications is standard procedure and gives the Federal Trade Commission additional time for antitrust review of certain transactions, SpartanNash said in the SEC filing. The company said it still expects the acquisition to be completed later this year, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. SpartanNash has scheduled a special meeting of shareholders to vote on the merger for Sept. 9. SpartanNashs board of directors has unanimously approved the merger and recommended that shareholders vote in favor of it. C&S and SpartanNash initially appeared to have few antitrust concerns When they announced their agreement to merge in June, C&S and SpartanNash said their operations were complementary, signaling that they had little of the overlap that often requires companies to divest some holdings to satisfy antitrust concerns. The two companies both have widespread wholesale distribution operations, although they appear to operate largely in distinct markets. SpartanNash has distribution facilities in 14 states, primarily concentrated in the Midwest, and C&S has facilities in 15 states, mostly in the Northeast, Southeast, and West Coast areas. SpartanNash also operates retail grocery stores in 10 states: Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. C&S, meanwhile, has limited retail operations, although it does license the Piggly Wiggly supermarket banner to operators in several states where SpartanNash owns stores, including Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. If the merger cannot be completed for antitrust reasons, C&S would owe SpartanNash an antitrust termination fee of $55 million, according to SEC filings. Conversely, if SpartanNash elects to terminate the merger agreement for any reason, it would owe C&S a termination fee of $35.4 million. As previously reported, C&S had first approached SpartanNash about acquiring a single warehouse in North Carolina, but subsequently made an offer to acquire the whole company for about $1.77 billion. The merger agreement followed the failed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, in which C&S was scheduled to play a major role by acquiring 579 stores and certain related support infrastructure across several markets to satisfy antitrust concerns. In rejecting that merger agreement, some state antitrust officials cited the challenges C&S would face in operating the disparate network of stores. Residents of Pleasant View Apartments in Easthampton hold signs on Saturday, Aug. 23, about rent increases at the complex. (Nicole Williams / Special to The Republican) Nicole Williams / Special to The Republican Editors note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Rowin Capital. EASTHAMPTON The battle against rising rents for the residents of Pleasant View Apartments in Easthampton continues as they demanded fair treatment from out-of-town property owners, Rowin Capital, at a press conference Saturday. The sudden rise in rent came after the 33-unit apartment complex was sold to the New York City-based private investment firm last fall. Residents said they were notified of rising rents upon coming home to notices taped to their doors from the new management company, A Better Way, out of Three Rivers. The community of residents, many long-term renters who were on month-to-month leases, is made up of public servants such as mail carriers and firefighters and teachers, as well as many elderly residents who are on Social Security with limited income and veterans. The initial notice gave a 10-day window for residents to sign the new terms, which subjected them to a 34.7% increase in rent. Kate Zanetta is a teacher in Amherst who has lived in the complex with her daughter for the past six years. She said her rent was initially $1,150, but it was then raised to $1,550, or she would have to pay $1,750 if she didnt sign the new terms and face eviction. As a single mother tied to the Easthampton community, Zanetta felt like she didnt have a choice, given the small window of time to find a new apartment, so she signed. Zanetta said that, as a teacher, she cant just work more hours to make up the difference. Its like quicksand, said Zanetta. I was stable, now I no longer have that stability. When my lease is up, I dont doubt my rent will increase and I wont be in any position to move. In March, the owners of Rowin Capital, Daniel and Joseph Scherban, sent a letter to the residents in an effort to remedy the situation at the complex. They noted the number of long-term renters in the complex and offered a $100 rent reduction for those who signed on for $1,550. At the time, Joseph Scherban wrote in an email to the Republican: Our property recently was in the media for a rental increase and new leases that caused concern among our tenants and was communicated in a way that was regrettable and not reflective of our standards. But residents said Saturday said they are distrustful of the owners intentions. Residents argue that the management of the complex has gone down since the change in ownership, with poor snow removal over the winter, resulting in multiple falls and a recent flooding in one of the buildings, which resulted in a mold issue. Noticing a Zillow ad for their apartments at $2,295, they ask what improvements have been made to result in the price increase. The residents also report that poor communication with the management company, reporting bully tactics being used. If these were people living in my community, I dont think this would be happening the same way, said Zanetta. Nancy Dorian, an artist and driver for Valley Transport, has lived in the complex for 2.5 years and spoke on behalf of residents who were too intimidated to fight for themselves or they dont want any pushback from speaking up. Dorian said that her rent was raised $400 and noted that multiple octogenarians in the complex experienced $500 increases. I came to this as one of the last affordable places in the area, said Dorian. I cant afford to live here anymore. Mona Shadi attended the press conference to show support as she also faces a hike in rent in her complex. She shared similar feelings to Dorian, that Easthampton is getting priced out for its local community members. Zanetta said that there are three outcomes they would like to see happen from todays press conference. The residents would like rents to be reduced to $1,200 a month for legacy tenants and individuals who were at the complex before it was sold. They also seek no further increases to be made that are more than 3% annually for the next four years for the entirety of the complex, so no one is suddenly destabilized. And they would like to remove the property management company, which they believe to be openly combative with tenants. They also cite concern over a lawsuit against one of the co-owners of the property management group from another complex, for predatory behavior toward a female resident at that complex. The residents are getting support and advice from Springfield nonprofit, No One Leaves, which helped organize the event. Tim Benoit, the resource development director of No One Leaves, said that the organizations aim is to get property owners to see their tenants as more than just a number on a spreadsheet, and to get them to sit down and negotiate fair leases. Rowin Capital said in a statement issued Sunday that it strives to keep rent prices affordable, but also made a series of capital improvements and inflation has increased its costs. Since purchasing the property, the owners installed new walkways, put in new landscaping and spent tens of thousands of dollars on exterior paint, Rowin Capital said. The current effective rent is $1,450 for a two-bedroom apartment, Rowin Capital said in its statement, which is below HUD fair market rent and is one of the most affordable rates in the region. New leases at the property stand at $2,100 and Rowin Capital said theres a waiting list for the property. Pleasantview is well-maintained and professionally managed, the statement said. Many tenants are quite happy. Management has generously offered any unhappy tenant that they may break their lease at any time and leave to another apartment complex they like better. So far, no one has taken up the offer (which still stands) which speaks to the complexs desirability and affordability. A Maine man was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol after a multi-car crash that shut down Cape Cods Bourne Bridge Friday night. Police were called to the bridge at around 9:30 p.m. after a Ford F-250 rear-ended an SUV, according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police. First responders briefly closed the bridge to safely access the scene. During an investigation, Garret Mullen, 37, of Lewiston, was found to be driving the F-250 while intoxicated and illegally possessed a firearm, according to the statement. He was arrested and faces multiple traffic and firearms charges. Three people in the SUV were brought to area hospitals with injuries, one of whom required trauma care. Mullen is expected to be arraigned Monday at Falmouth District Court on charges of felony OUI-liquor or .08%, serious injury and negligent; misdemeanor OUI-liquor or .08%; felony carrying a loaded firearm without a license; felony posession of a firearrm large-capacity feeding device; civil exceeding posted speed limit; misdemeanor possession a firearm while intoxicated, civil alcohol in motor vehicle, possession of an open container and felony possession of ammunition without firearms identification card. Bourne Bridge reopened at around 10:40 p.m. to normal traffic. Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, 42, and her husband Marcel Rosa, 38. Jimenez Rosa was detained at Boston Logan by federal agents on Aug. 11 and held for 10 days. (Marcel Rosa) Marcel Rosa watched helplessly as federal agents led his wife, Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, away at Boston Logan International Airport on Aug. 11. Their three young daughters clung to him in tears, fear and confusion. What should have been the end of a joyful vacation to Mexico for the Canton family, with over 30 relatives, had turned into a nightmare. Jimenez Rosa, a legal permanent resident and mother of four U.S. citizens, was detained over what her lawyer believes was a decades-old, personal-use marijuana charge an offense that was pardoned by Gov. Maura Healey in 2024 and is no longer a crime in Massachusetts. I was just like, Girls, we might never see your mother again in this country, Marcel Rosa, 38, said on Friday. I looked over to the officer and said, Am I telling the truth? And he said, Yeah, that could be possible. I told my kids right in front of the officer that shes being arrested, and the girls just started crying, hugging her, he said. I know most parents would not have told that to their kids, but there was no way I was going to allow those officers to think theyre just going to rip my wife away from my family, thinking its going to be business as usual. Neither U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement nor the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts, federal agencies involved in Jimenez Rosas detainment, would respond to inquiries from MassLive, several inquiries from the familys lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, and Boston 25. Federal authorities never directly said why Jimenez Rosa was detained. An email to her lawyer from the U.S. Attorneys Office hinted at the reason shortly before her release on Aug. 20. During the 10 days after Jimenez Rosa was detained, the family would be thrust into a bureaucratic maze as the 42-year-old mother was shuttled between detention facilities including one for men only from Massachusetts to Maine. She was denied proper health care for her diabetes, asthma and other serious health issues, which led to two hospitalizations, her lawyer said. All the while, her husband a former Department of Homeland Security employee who grew up in Boston struggled to locate her and secure her release through court intervention. Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, 42, who was detained at Boston Logan by federal agents on Aug. 11 and held for 10 days. (Marcel Rosa) Jemmys detention was brutal and capricious and never should have happened, said state Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Bristol/Norfolk, who was on hand in Burlington when Jimenez Rosa was reunited with her family Wednesday. [She was] needlessly, unjustly and cruelly taken from her family and deprived of basic rights in the most un-American way possible, he said. Jimenez Rosas time in custody ended with her alone, wet and begging for help at The Cheesecake Factory in the Burlington Mall, after ICE agents released her into the rainy street outside the detention facility Wednesday night. She was 30 miles from home, with no phone and a broken spirit. The family fears that their nightmare will never truly end. I know shes not, I know shes not okay ... I dont think shell ever be the same, to be honest. I really dont, Marcel Rosa said. In the Boston Logan backrooms Jimenez Rosa, her husband and their three girls all under 10 landed in Boston from Mexico at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11, and like all international travelers, went through customs. But when they handed their passports and Jimenez Rosas Green Card with her permanent resident status, which wasnt set to expire until 2035, the agent told her to go to a room downstairs at the airport for additional questions. This is when federal agents made a vague reference to her arrest on marijuana possession charges from when she was in college, 22 years ago, Pomerleau and Marcel Rosa said but never stated the specific charges. There was an officer sitting at the opposite end of the room where I was seated, and he said to my wife, Tell me about your arrest, Marcel Rosa recalled. She was confused, like, What arrest? I dont know what youre talking about. Five seconds later, in my head, I was like, Hes probably talking about the arrest over two-plus decades ago, he said. But the agent never directly told them or their lawyer the charges they were referring to while she was detained. The agent simply told the couple he was doing an investigation into Jimenez Rosa, Marcel Rosa said. In 2003, when Jimenez Rosa was a 20-year-old college student, she was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana, Pomerleau said, to which she pleaded guilty at the time and fully served probation for. It was the only criminal charge one thats no longer a crime under Massachusetts law that Jimenez Rosa has faced in her life since coming to the United States at 9 years old, Pomerleau said. Her records were sealed over a decade ago, Pomerleau added, and he noted that based on police reports, there was never any amount of marijuana listed blaming Jimenez Rosas defense attorney for allowing her to plead guilty 22 years ago to something that apparently wasnt even a provable crime. Her records were sealed for 12 years. They [federal officers] would have had no access to these records unless somebody illegally handed them over ... They never once asked for records from me about the case, and I had to guess that it might have been a marijuana charge because I was left in the dark for a week, Pomerleau said. The CBP agent then took Jimenez Rosa into another room for more questions before the family said their tearful goodbyes. Marcel Rosa told the agents about his wifes diagnosed serious health concerns when she was taken into custody, including her diabetes, asthma, depression, anxiety and several other conditions, and asked how she would be medically taken care of. An agent told him, If you have her medicine, you can leave it here with her, Marcel Rosa recalled. I told them I dont have all of her medicine with her wed just got back from vacation and at that point, they pretty much just stopped answering questions." Within two hours of her detainment, Jimenez Rosa was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital for a medical emergency related to her health conditions. She was able to tell her husband where she was because a nurse let her borrow their phone, and neither had any idea shed be transferred back to Boston Logan at 2 a.m. or that it would be the last time theyd speak for days. Held at the airport Marcel Rosa barely slept and didnt put his phone down for the next 10 days. He quickly got in contact with Pomerleau, who put about a dozen staff members on Jimenez Rosas case and filed a habeas corpus petition for her release on Aug. 12. A judge ordered that she not leave Massachusetts while the case was pending. Marcel Rosa said he called CBP every day of his wifes detainment and on Aug. 13, he spoke with the supervisor who was present when she was taken into custody. That supervisor started off the conversation by telling me he could neither confirm nor deny whether she was there, or if she was transferred into another facility, Rosa recalled. When Rosa asked why, the agent cited privacy laws. I said, Thats my wife. Theres nothing private. Im the person thats going to sign everything in her behalf, and do everything, Rosa said. Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, 42, and her husband Marcel Rosa, 38. Jimenez Rosa was detained at Boston Logan by federal agents on Aug. 11 and held for 10 days. (Marcel Rosa) When Rosa asked about his wifes medical care, the agent cited HIPAA laws as a barrier to knowing her health issues. Taken aback, Rosa pointed out that doctors can share medical information with law enforcement when a patient is in custody, which is specifically outlined in HIPAA. He said a very disgusting joke after that, Rosa recalled. He said, Well notify next of kin if she dies. And at that moment, I knew that I was no longer dealing with humans. I knew I was dealing with someone that is sick in the head, and this was the person who made the decision to incarcerate her, Rosa said. Three of Pomerleaus lawyers on staff went to the airport on Aug. 14, demanding Jimenez Rosas immediate release. CBP claimed she was still in inspection and had no right to counsel, Pomerleau said. The agents refused to let the lawyers see her and forced them to turn off video recording of their interaction. Pomerleau and his team also began to plan to overturn her marijuana conviction which Pomerleau had only guessed at being the reason behind his clients detainment, he said, since federal agents refused to communicate with him on the case. Detained in Maine Around Aug. 15, Jimenez Rosa was transferred from Boston Logan to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts, where she had her first shower in nearly five days after flying in from Mexico, being detained and getting treatment at the hospital. According to her husband, the shower was at an all-male facility. Pomerleau said there are no facilities in Massachusetts that house female detainees. Afterward, on Aug. 15, Jimenez Rosa was brought to the Cumberland County Jail in Maine, where she was finally able to call her husband and lawyer, traumatized, Pomerleau said. That was when Jimenez Rosa first realized she even had a lawyer, he added. She said rats were running in the walls all night long during her detainment, Marcel Rosa said. There was a water leak in her ceiling and she got little sleep because of the continuous clanging of metal gates as people were brought through the facility. On Monday, Pomerleau was able to get a judge to vacate Jimenez Rosas past marijuana conviction in a Roxbury courtroom, and he filed a motion for her release on Wednesday. Thank God I guessed right, he said. After the motion was filed ... they cowered, and the ICE lawyer said something to the effect by email, Theyre going to let her out now, because clearly the marijuana charge isnt around anymore. Its like, well, thank you for letting us know in writing that was the basis for her detention, which we still have never seen, Pomerleau said. Pomerleau and her family would later discover she had been hospitalized a second time while in custody, her blood pressure at 198. Jimenez Rosa was handcuffed to the bed and this time, told she couldnt make any calls. Alone at the Cheesecake Factory Even at the end of her detainment, it was not easy to find Jimenez Rosa. Around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, after her conviction had been vacated, Pomerleau called Cumberland County Jail and was told Jimenez Rosa had left 15 minutes earlier, but they wouldnt say where she went. After failing to reach ICE, he called the jail again, where staff eventually said two men had picked her up and they assumed she was en route to the ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts, to be released. It was raining when Marcel Rosa picked up their three children before leaving with Pomerleau to find their wife and mother. Then, the phone rang. It was Jimenez Rosa. She was at the Burlington ICE facility before any of us were there. She said, Theyre going to kick me out, or theyre going to keep me in the jail cell till you guys get here, because theyre closing soon, Pomerleau said. When they finally got to the facility at 1000 District Ave., Jimenez Rosa was nowhere to be found. Then, she called because a stranger at The Cheesecake Factory, in the Burlington Mall, lent her their phone because she was so distraught, Pomerleau said. Without a way to contact her family, the mother had made her way to the mall about a half mile away seeking help. She couldnt even stand up when Pomerleaus lawyers finally got to her in the restaurant, and her spirit was destroyed, her husband and Pomerleau said. She was completely disheveled ... She reminded me of asylum seekers who have been absolutely victimized. She was constantly breaking down in tears. She was trembling. All she did was just hold on to her kids and hold on to her husband, and she just sat there and cried for 45 straight minutes. She couldnt even function, Pomerleau said. Back in Canton Since she returned home in Canton, Jimenez Rosa has been crying throughout the day and shes not herself, Marcel Rosa said Friday. The family is making appointments with a psychiatrist and for a full hospital workup, he said. A GoFundMe has also been established to offset the legal expenses the ordeal has cost the family. Its raised over $14,000 as of Friday, with a $16,000 goal. Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, 42, who was detained at Boston Logan by federal agents on Aug. 11 and held for 10 days. (Marcel Rosa) Marcel Rosa warns other families of the same fate. If anyone is on a Green Card, you need to talk to an attorney before you travel ... but based off my experience, I dont think you should be traveling. Youre better off taking that loss than getting arrested and being in the same situation that my wife went through, Marcel Rosa said. Locking up a legally present Massachusetts mom, who has been here legally since she was 9 years old, and taking her away from her husband and young kids, one of whom was celebrating a birthday, does not make our community safer, state Sen. Feeney said in a statement to MassLive. It only serves to instill fear and undermine the rule of law, which seems to be the goal of the president as he regularly forsakes commonsense and common decency to score political points, Feeney said. And while Pomerleau said the federal habeas corpus case he filed seems to be in limbo, given the lack of response from the government, were not stopping till we get justice for Jemmy, he said. Despite his clients release, Pomerleau said he will continue the fight. It is a big deal when law enforcement violates the law under the guise of enforcing it ... but I took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States as an attorney. The rule of law needs to be respected, he said. If it can happen to a non-citizen, Green Card holder whos been following nearly every rule her whole life, paying taxes, it can happen to you. It can happen to anybody, and we are taking a stand, Pomerleau said. A Freetown woman was killed in a single-car crash in Dartmouth early Saturday morning, according to a statement from the Massachusetts State Police. Troopers responded to reports of a crash at 3:30 a.m. on Interstate 195 east at mile marker 21. When they arrived, they found the driver, identified as Crystal Mullens, 36, of Freetown, trapped under the car, according to the statement. The Dartmouth Fire Department and emergency medical services went to the scene to extricate Mullens. She died of her injuries at the scene, according to the statement. We offer our condolences to the loved ones of the victim, State Police said. A passenger in the car suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The road was closed shortly after the crash occurred and reopened to regular traffic shortly after 6 a.m. The crash remains under investigation. A jury deliberated just over four hours before convicting bairon Ubeda of 14 charges related to child rape and posing her in the nude. The Appeals court upheld that conviction Friday. A Springfield man was convicted Thursday after a four-day trial for possession and receipt of child sex abuse materials and other charges, according to U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah B Foleys office. Bairon Ubeda, 45, was convicted on one count of possession of child sexual abuse materials, one count of receipt of child sex abuse materials and one count of sexual exploitation of children. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 24. Ubeda was indicted on federal charges in May 2023, while serving a state sentence for aggravated rape and abuse of a child, posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity, disseminating child sex abuse material, trafficking of a person for sexual servitude, extortion, larceny, assault and battery and trafficking of a person under 18 years of age for sexual servitude. Federal court documents state that from December 2018 through February 2019, Ubeda employed, used, persuaded, induced and coerced a 3-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct so he could create child sex abuse images. In 2019, Ubeda was found guilty on several counts of child rape of a 15-year-old and extortion of a woman. A Hampden County Superior Court judge sentenced Ubeda to 10 to 12 years in state prison after the guilty verdict. A federal investigation led authorities to file child exploitation charges against Ubeda. Hes expected to be arraigned on the charges and go to trial unless there is a plea agreement, while he remains in custody for his prior conviction. Sexual exploitation of a child carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child sex abuse images carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child sex abuse images has a mandatory minimum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, according to federal officials. 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Data on Wednesday from the General Administration of Customs showed imports of rare earths ore from the U.S. surged to 4,719 metric tons in July after falling to zero in June, sparking market speculation over the source of the shipments. MP Materials, which owns the only U.S. rare earth mine has long sent ore to China for its minority shareholder Shenghe Resources to process. But MP said in April that it had stopped shipping the critical minerals to China as the U.S. and China clashed over import tariffs before ceasing them altogether in July after announcing the U.S. Department of Defence had invested in the company to effectively become the biggest shareholder. MP told Reuters on Thursday that its final exports were sent in the second quarter and "shipments over water, warehousing and other factors can contribute to reporting delays." The jump coincided with a recovery in China's exports of rare earth magnets, key to electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence sectors. China's rare earth magnet exports to the U.S. jumped by 75.5% from the month before to 619 tons, 4.8% higher than the same month in 2024, the customs data showed. Meanwhile, the U.S. is seeking to procure cobalt worth up to $500 million for defense stockpiles amid the country's move to boost its critical mineral supplies. The Trump administration is also considering a plan to reallocate at least $2 billion from the CHIPS Act to fund critical minerals projects and boost Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's influence over the strategic sector, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The proposed move would take from funds already allocated by Congress for semiconductor research and chip factory construction, avoiding a fresh spending request as it seeks to reduce U.S. dependence on China for critical minerals used widely in the electronics and defense industries. Separately, China released on Friday interim measures for the control and management of its rare earths mining, smelting and separation activities. This came after that the world's dominant supplier of the critical minerals that are key to electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence sectors began in February a public consultation on new regulations designed to protect its domestic rare earths industry. 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Having been described as 'Irelands Funniest man in Irelands Funniest Show', its easy to see why, it really is non-stop laughter all the way! With 40 years on stage and having recorded over 40 albums, there are very few comedians around with the wealth of jokes he brings. Before he achieved his first ever Double Platinum Album with the absolutely hilarious 'Live and Full of it', Conal Gallen had taken the Irish comedy scene by storm. His outstanding sense of comic timing, his tremendous singing voice and dynamic stage presence make him a favourite with audiences in all places and of all ages. Conal is a comedian, songwriter, vocalist and true entertainer. Dubbed 'Irelands Ambassador of Humour' he is making his mark not only on the Irish scene but also around the world. So if you fancy a good laugh, Westport Town Hall Theatre is the place to be this Saturday night, August 23 to see Conal Gallen in 'Gallens of Laughter'. Tickets are available from the theatre website: www.westporttheatre.com or by calling 098 28459. READ MORE: Win a trip to Nashville thanks to Mayo music festival A CAR BLAZE erupted with such force that it blew in windows of a house in a residential estate in Limerick, Limerick Live has reported. The blaze that tore through the vehicle in a housing estate that stopped motorists in their tracks on Thursday afternoon. Emergency services attended the scene of the car fire just after 4pm on Thursday, August 21. A spokesperson for Limerick Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they received the first call about the fire at 4.21pm. Three units from Limerick City Fire Station attended the scene, before returning to base at 5.33pm. It is understood that the car went up in flames due to a fault, with damage being caused to the dwelling house, including windows being blown in. READ MORE: 'I started to panic'- Man's car impounded due to garda glitch during random stop A passenger in a passing vehicle who recorded the scene exclaimed: "Oh my God" on witnessing the scene. One local told Limerick Live: "It's a miracle the house didn't go up too. The firefighters were on in no time and put it out." The local described the incident as a "scary thing to happen during the day but at least it wasn't in the middle of the night when people would be asleep". A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana confirmed that gardai attended the scene: "Gardai assisted Fire Services with an incident of fire in Annacotty, Co. Limerick on Thursday 21st August 2025 at approximately 4:20pm. "No offences have been disclosed at this time." A significant win for the EU is how Taoiseach Micheal Martin described Thursdays announcement of the 15% ceiling on tariffs for EU exports of pharmaceuticals to the United States of America. There had been a concern that an ongoing Section 232 investigation by the US authorities into the sector might have led to an even higher tariff on the very important sector. READ MORE: Trump tax moves led Westport firm to redomicile to US in 2020 However, the Taoiseach made clear the ceiling applies in all circumstances, including when the current US Section 232 investigations are concluded. Mayo eyes will have been drawn to the line in the Joint Statement from the EU and US that reflects acknowledgement by the European Union of the concerns of the United States and our joint determination to resolve our trade imbalances and unleash the full potential of our combined economic power. In the era of Trump and a big focus on trade balances, Irelands trade surplus in goods of 70 billion was always going to draw attention. However, when services are included in the mix, Ireland actually has a trade deficit of 93 billion. Pharmaceuticals play a big role in the trade surplus of goods, with the Botox produced at AbbVies Westport facility being a very well-known example of the manufacturing in this country. The US is a major market for the pharmaceutical goods produced in Westport, with an estimated 70% of the turnover from the plant coming from across the Atlantic. Mayo Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh discussed the issue on CNN. Could have had a devastating impact Speaking to an American audience on CNN, Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh outlined the stark reality if the tariffs had been higher. In the west of Ireland, we have Johnson and Johnson, we have Baxter, we have AbbVie. And so, if we had seen the likes of 30% and figures like that, it could have had a devastating impact. If you look at my hometown, we're a small town of 7,000 people. So if you take out 1,300 employees, that would just wipe out the town economically. We have always said, we would love to see zero for zero. But if we have to accept 15%, I think that's something that we can live with. Complexity cant be underestimated In the face of speculation about what the tariffs could mean for Irish jobs, Caroline Gaynor, the incoming chairperson of the Irish Venture Capital Association, offers a calming overview. The experienced pharmaceutical industry insider says that the complexity involved in moving a manufacturing site can't really be underestimated. It's not something that you can make a decision on quickly, and it can't make it as effective quickly. She points out that unless the US pharmaceutical companies already have a lot of capacity already existing in the US they could access, it's a big endeavor. Having been privy to some of the work that would have to be done to make such change happen. It's complex. It's not something that can be done overnight. READ MORE: Horrible histories of Westport a big hit with locals and tourists alike She acknowledges that the 15% tariff is not good but says adds that there's still an awful lot in flux and a lot of details that need to be ironed out. It's an additional cost that we didn't have before now. Companies will do what they always do when these things happen, and sit down and you understand where you can make up some of the slack and make it work. So that's the beginning of all these folks having to do that. Lithium Photographer: Gilles Sabrie/Bloomberg Trading activity in Chinese lithium futures has surged, with investors facing heightened levels of volatility as speculation around supply uncertainty swirls. Volumes for the Guangzhou Futures Exchange in July racked up the busiest month since the lithium contract was launched in 2023, according to data from the bourse. Open interest the number of outstanding bets on prices was at a record too, with the surge continuing into this month. Most Read from Bloomberg The exchange has become a popular venue for betting on lithium, a key material for the electric-vehicle transition that in recent years was hit by a glut and signs of slower growth in EV-battery demand. Now, uncertainty over the supply outlook in Yichun, Jiangxi province one of the nations major production hubs has bulls and bears jousting over price trajectories, leading to wild swings. The most-active futures surpassed 80,000 yuan ($11,135) a ton in July, before falling back to 67,840 yuan by the end of the month. Prices in August then rose more than 30% to above 90,000 yuan, before paring monthly gains to around 21% as of Thursday. Chinese commodity exchanges have a very high share of participation from speculative or individual investors much higher than commodity exchanges outside of China which can lead to greater volatility on a daily basis, said Przemek Koralewski, global head of market development at Fastmarkets. Battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. halted a major mine in the region earlier this month, after failing to renew a mining permit following its expiry. Thats fueled additional concerns of tighter scrutiny from Beijing over other nearby projects. As well as the supply turmoil, the anti-involution theme thats gripped Chinas financial markets may have also helped drive the spike in futures activity for lithium due to speculative trading. Guangzhou contracts for lithium carbonate, a refined form of the metal used in car batteries, have traded at daily limits more frequently in recent weeks. In July, the bourse moved three times to rein in speculative trading, including capping new positions and adjusting trading fees. The markets current sensitivity to policy uncertainty around supply cuts and related news flow is likely keep price volatility elevated during the next couple of months, Citigroup Inc. analysts wrote in a note this week. Rising global temperatures put farmworkers and vulnerable populations at serious risk of heat-related illnesses. Trusted Source WHO, WMO issue new report and guidance to protect workers from increasing heat stress Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Over 2.4 billion workers face extreme heat, causing 22.85 million injuries annually! #heatstroke #heat #environmentalhealth #farmers #medindia Over 2.4 billion workers face extreme heat, causing 22.85 million injuries annually! #heatstroke #heat #environmentalhealth #farmers #medindia Advertisement Keeping Workers Safe From Heat Advertisement What the World Meteorological Organization Says The frequency and severity of high heat events have significantly increased the risks for both indoor and outdoor workers More than 20C reduces worker productivity by 2-3% Heatstroke, dehydration, renal failure, and neurological conditions are all health risks that compromise long-term well-being and financial stability are all health risks that compromise long-term well-being and financial stability High temperatures hurt approximately half of the global population Aside from extreme heat, a heavy workload, dehydration, and insufficient rest increase the risks How to Beat The Heat on the Farm Hydration Adjusted work hours Shade breaks Proper clothing Adopting technologies to increase productivity Education and awareness raising WHO, WMO issue new report and guidance to protect workers from increasing heat stress - (https://www.who.int/news/item/22-08-2025-who-wmo-issue-new-report-and-guidance-to-protect-workers-from-increasing-heat-stress) The continuing rise in global temperatures and the increasing frequency of heatwaves due to climate change are raising serious concerns about the safety and health of working people, warn the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ()., in particular, are particularly susceptible to heat stress because of the demanding nature of their jobs, which are mostly done outside in unfavorable conditions. Most studies report high HRI and kidney disease among farmworkers. The severity of illness increases with gender, age, and migrant status.In developing nations, rising heat waves are also causing health problems forsays a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official, Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Care.According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2024 was the warmest year ever. Temperatures above 40C and even above 50C during the day are becoming more frequent, which is a glaring sign that urgent action is required to address the growing effects of heat stress on workers throughout the world.The WHO and WMO analysis and technical guidelines support the conclusions of previous International Labour Organization (ILO) publications that show overworldwide are, leading to overSource-The World Health Organization Corn futures closed out the Friday session with mixed action, as nearbys were within a penny of unchanged. September managed a 4 cent gain this week, with December up 6 cents. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was up 1 cent at $3.70. USDA reported a couple private export sales of 119,769 MT of corn to Costa Rica and 140,452 MT to Spain this morning all for 2025/26. More News from Barchart After this weeks crop tour showed most states yield above last year, ProFarmer pegged the 2025 national yield at 182.7 bpa, with production at 16.204 billion bushels. That is down from 188.8 bpa and 16.742 bbu from USDAs August Crop Production report. CFTC data showed speculators in corn futures and options cutting 31,464 contracts from their net short position as of August 19 to a net short of 144,650 contracts. Commercials added 25,041 contracts to their net short position by Tuesday to 57,745 contracts. Export Sales data has old crop US corn export commitments at 70.505 MMT, which is 98% of the USDA estimate and lags the 103% average sales pace. New crop business has reached 16.69 MMT, which is more than double the same week last year and within 2 MMT of the 2021/22 marketing year, which is the current record buying pace for the next marketing year. Sep 25 Corn closed at $3.88 1/4, up 1 cent, Nearby Cash was $3.70, up 1 cent, Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.11 1/2, down 1/4 cent, Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.28 3/4, down 1 cent, New Crop Cash was $3.68 1/4, up 3/4 cent, 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 scheme, currently in force for the summer period, has led to significant congestion Logistics UK has urged the government to deliver a long-term alternative to Operation Brock, warning that the traffic management system on the M20 in Kent is no longer fit for purpose. The call comes ahead of the bank holiday weekend in England and Wales, when experts predict up to 18 million car journeys will take place. The scheme, currently in force for the summer period, has led to significant congestion and disruption for freight operators and holidaymakers alike. Jonathan Walker, Logistics UKs Head of Planning and Infrastructure Policy, said: Traffic chaos can be scheduled as accurately as a cross-channel ferry timetable when Operation Brock is deployed. "The planning and budgets that have gone into developing and deploying the scheme now need to be applied to implementing a permanent solution. It is unacceptable to expect professional drivers, who are supporting the nations supply chain by providing consumers and businesses with the goods that they rely on every day, to tolerate being treated like second class citizens, without access to proper sanitation or refreshment facilities we would not tolerate that sort of treatment in offices, factories or schools so why should we expect our logistics workers to put up with it? Operation Brock was first introduced in 2019 to mitigate delays caused by potential post-Brexit border congestion. Although originally designed as a temporary measure, it is now routinely deployed when disruption is anticipated, such as during peak holiday traffic, adverse weather or other interruptions to Channel crossings. The system holds HGVs heading for Dover and Eurotunnel in designated lanes on the M20, while other traffic is diverted onto a contraflow on the opposite carriageway. The scheme is estimated to have cost 35 million to develop, with a BBC Freedom of Information request revealing that deployment on ten occasions between 2019 and 2024 cost taxpayers more than 2.7 million. Mr Walker stressed that congestion in Kent has wider national implications: Over half of all goods traded between Great Britain and mainland Europe use the Short Straits crossings between England and France and up to 16,000 freight vehicles travel through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel every day. Drivers of these vehicles are critical to the prosperity of the country and governments growth ambitions and need to be treated with the respect they deserve, not held parked on the hard shoulder without access to a hot meal or a toilet for hours or even days on end. He suggested that the Sevington inland border facility, built at public expense, could be repurposed into a dedicated waiting area with proper facilities. He also called for electronic queuing systems to be introduced, allowing vehicles to be released in a controlled manner to ease traffic flows around the ports. Mr Walker concluded: The creativity and resourcefulness that designed Operation Brock in the first place must be put into finding a permanent solution to what was expected to be a temporary problem. The current situation is not sustainable, and we urge the government to work with the logistics sector to develop a solution that keeps goods moving, while minimising disruption to passengers as well as Kent residents, who have had to put up with queuing traffic for years. This solution must also ensure that HGV drivers have access to dedicated waiting areas with proper facilities - something every other worker in the country takes for granted. An Ingalls Shipbuilding employee was arrested on a murder charge Friday after an early-morning shooting killed his coworker and sent thousands across the sprawling shipyard into tense lockdown, authorities said. Police described an urgent search that began when a worker discovered a shooting victim on an under-construction U.S. Navy ship. Officers swept industrial buildings, boats and warehouses to isolate the suspect among thousands of Ingalls workers. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said officers detained a man they believe is the shooter by 9 a.m. Pascagoula Police Chief Terry Scott called the shooting a tragic but isolated dispute that involved two friends. This was between the two young men, he said. Police rushed around 7:30 a.m. to the landmark shipyard in Pascagoula, where more than 10,000 people work to build boats for the Navy and Coast Guard. Ingalls warned of an active shooter and told employees to shelter in place for several hours as police combed the property. Authorities identified the victim as Tahj Johnson, 27, of Prichard, Alabama. Jackson County Deputy Coroner James Prisock said Johnson died on the ship where he was working. Police said the suspect is Curtis Demetries James Jr., an 25-year-old Ingalls employee from Mobile. He was being interviewed by detectives Friday morning but was later booked in the Jackson County jail and held without bond. It is unclear how the shooter brought a gun to the shipyard, a secure facility where company policy prohibits weapons unless they are required for security duties. At a news conference on Friday, Ingalls Shipbuilding president Brian Blanchette said the company would be working with the police department to look into this further. I have no idea how he got on with a gun, Scott said. The shooting At least two shots were fired Friday morning on a Navy ship under construction near the water on the shipyards south side, police said. An employee found Johnson dead and called 911. A few hundred people doing industrial work on the ship may have muffled the gunshots, and loud fans blew even as police cleared the ship of workers. Police said the suspect slipped away, apparently unnoticed. Scott said the man mixed back in with the crowd and just tried to blend in. Police who arrived at Ingalls asked company leaders to give head counts and isolate workers in groups, according to Scott. He said police questioned employees who described what the suspect was wearing. Police say James left the boat and went to a warehouse in the shipyard, where he was later detained. Scott said it took officers an hour and 27 minutes to find the suspect in a group of over 8,000 employees on duty. Ingalls mourns shipbuilder Blanchette said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy. Its about the worst thing you can imagine to hear, he said at the news conference. This is not a day I would want to wish on anyone. Danny Hernandez, an Ingalls spokesperson, said the company was devastated by the passing of a fellow shipbuilder. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the employees family and friends during this difficult time, he said. Little is known about the victim or suspect, but police said they were painters at Ingalls. Scott said the two friends had argued earlier this week in Prichard. He would not say what the dispute was about. Ingalls sent employees home with pay on Friday, and Blanchette said the company plans to offer grief counseling. It was the second fatal shooting at Ingalls Shipbuilding in recent decades: A shipyard worker there also killed a supervisor in 2005. The police said no one else was injured on Friday, and no ships were damaged. Ledbetter said authorities were searching all buildings James had been in. Scott said Friday afternoon that a dive team was still trying to find the gun. It is unclear if anyone witnessed the shooting, and Pascagoula Police urged anyone with information to come forward. Margaret Baker contributed reporting. 2025 The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.). Visit www.sunherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Angels announced theyve reinstated reliever Robert Stephenson from the 60-day injured list. They optioned righty Chase Silseth in a corresponding move. Los Angeles already had a couple openings on the 40-man roster after recently designating Connor Brogdon and Shaun Anderson for assignment. Stephenson returns after losing almost three months to a biceps injury. Hed missed all of last season rehabbing elbow surgery. That carried over into late May this year. Stephenson has spent a total of three days on the Angels active roster. He tossed a perfect inning with two strikeouts in his team debut on May 28. Two days later, the biceps injury knocked him out of action before he finished an at-bat. The Halos signed Stephenson to a three-year, $33MM free agent deal going into 2024. While the elbow injury wiped out the entire first season, it triggered a conditional $2.5MM club option for 2027. Stephenson was dominant down the stretch two seasons back, striking out 43% of opponents with a 2.35 ERA in 42 appearances for the Rays. His arm hasnt given him a chance to repeat that performance. The Halos have dropped five games under .500 and are very likely going to miss the playoffs. Theyll hope Stephenson looks like his old self in the final five weeks of the regular season. Thatd at least allow them to pencil him in as a high-leverage arm as they construct their 2026 bullpen. Kenley Jansen is an impending free agent. Ben Joyce will be working back from shoulder surgery. Reid Detmers is a quality reliever but might get a chance to compete for a rotation spot next spring. Ryan Zeferjahn has strikeout stuff with wildly inconsistent command. Stephenson and Brock Burke may be the only locks for next years season-opening bullpen right now, and thats obviously conditional on the former staying healthy after two injury-wrecked years. The Tigers have signed infielder Kevin Newman to a minor league deal, as noted this evening by Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Newman has already reported to Triple-A Toledo and is in tonights lineup for the Mud Hens. Newman, 32, was a first-round pick by the Pirates back in 2015 who made his big league debut during the 2018 season. He appeared in just 31 games during that first taste of the majors and didnt hit much at all, but earned a regular role with the Pirates in his first full big league season the following year and hit quite well across 130 games. Then 25 years old, Newman impressed with an above-average .308/.353/.446 slash line (109 wRC+) in 531 plate appearances as Pittsburghs starting shortstop. Unfortunately, that excellent rookie season proved to be an outlier. Over his next three years with the organization, Newman hit just .240/.283/.323 (64 wRC+) in 270 games. Newmans lackluster work following his rookie campaign led the Pirates to part ways with Newman following the 2022 season. In November of that year, he was shipped to the Reds in a minor trade just before the non-tender deadline. With Cincinnati in 2023 and Arizona in 2024, Newman showed a form similar to the one he showed with the Pirates during the 2022 campaign as he hit a below average .267/.311/.370 (84 wRC+) with strong enough infield defense to be a quality bench bat and role player. His value was further augmented by his ability to put up respectable numbers (including a 114 wRC+ from 2022 to 24) against left-handed pitching. That solid work in a part-time role over the past few years was clearly enough to convince the Angels to sign Newman to a one-year, $2.75MM guarantee this past offseason. He was part of the clubs infield mix alongside a number of newcomers like Yoan Moncada, Scott Kingery, Tim Anderson, and J.D. Davis. The majority of those players are no longer on Anaheims roster, and Newman himself was designated for assignment on the day of the trade deadline after the Angels acquired Oswald Peraza in a trade with the Yankees. That DFA came after Newman appeared in just 33 games with the club and hit a paltry .202/.209/.272 (27 wRC+) in the 116 plate appearance he received during his time in California. That weak offense wasnt enough to keep a job on Anaheims big league staff, but Newman has now attracted interest from the Tigers as a minor league depth piece. By joining his new organization prior to the start of September, Newman remains eligible to play in the postseason for the Tigers in the event he gets added to the roster at some point. Javier Baez, Zach McKinstry, and Trey Sweeney have split time at shortstop this year for Detroit, but its possible that Newman could make his way into that group if one of that trio suffers an injury or the Tigers decide theyd prefer to get both Baez and McKinstry more time at other positions. Dear Annie: I met my husband three years ago, about eight months after he lost his first wife of 20 years. Their marriage was often toxic, and she was very abusive toward him. After she passed, he was ready to move on. Right away, I knew something wasnt right with my husband. In his mid-50s, he was having short-term memory issues, falling frequently and struggling with his mental health. After seeing his health care provider and enrolling in the Veterans Affairs health care system, we discovered he had suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries during his time in the Army. That diagnosis led to him becoming a 100% service-connected disabled veteran and allowed him to receive the care he needed for a better quality of life. His family, however, waged a war against me for helping him, accusing me of manipulating and brainwashing him. My husband has distanced himself from them, and were no longer on speaking terms. My husband has a lot of anger toward them as he suffered for decades without their help or support. His parents, who live in another state, are elderly and in poor health. I fear that if he doesnt reconcile with them before they pass, he will resent me. I love my husband with all my heart, and this has been a hard road. I just want the very best for him, unconditionally. Any advice? -- Wife on the Defensive Dear Wife on the Defensive: Youve been an incredible source of support for your husband. You recognized he was suffering and helped him get the care he so clearly needed. Thats not brainwashing; thats being a spouse through good and bad, in sickness and in health. Its understandable to worry he might one day regret cutting ties with his parents, but reconciliation isnt something you can or should force. That decision is up to your husband. If he ever expresses interest in reaching out to them again, support him gently. If not, trust that hes made peace with that choice and knows whats best for him, even if its painful. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. Bradford James Gille appears remotely in front of Chief Magistrate Tammi Rodgers, Monday, July 28, 2025, in Traverse City, Mich., on terrorism and assault with intent to murder charges in connection with stabbing attacks on Saturday at Walmart. (Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP) AP GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI The 42-year-old man accused of stabbing 11 people at a Traverse City Walmart has been found incompetent to stand trial. Bradford Gille appeared for a competency hearing via Zoom Friday, Aug. 22, CBS News reports. Gille, of Pellston, is charged with terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder for his suspected role in the July 26 mass stabbing. He was arraigned on July 28. Each of the 12 counts carry a penalty of up to life in prison or any term of years. He pleaded not guilty. Gille was ordered to undergo evaluation at the Michigan State Center for Forensic Psychiatry, MLive previously reported. The evaluation determined whether Gille is capable of participating in his legal proceedings. MORE: Traverse City Walmart mass stabbing suspect will undergo mental competency evaluation The judge referred Gille for further treatment and to regain competency to stand trial, per CBS. He will continue to be held in Saline. Gille has repeatedly stated he is being held at a death of concentration camp, a forensic center doctor testified. Gille believes providers are attempting to harm or kill him. Gille has previously been disruptive during court hearings, interrupting court officials and damaging a camera that sent his video feed to the courtroom. Gille has a long history of issues with mental illness and substance use, according to family. He was first psychiatrically hospitalized at the age of 14, records show. Corn futures are trading with contracts fractionally lower so far on Friday. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price is down 1/2 cent at $3.68 1/4. USDA reported a couple private export sales of 119,769 MT of corn to Costa Rica and 140,452 MT to Spain this morning all for 2025/26. More News from Barchart Export Sales data has old crop US corn export commitments at 70.505 MMT, which is 98% of the USDA estimate and lags the 103% average sales pace. New crop business has reached 16.69 MMT, which is more than double the same week last year and within 2 MMT of the 2021/22 marketing year, which is the current record buying pace for the net marketing year. The final day of the annual ProFarmer showed Iowa yield estimated at 198.43 bpa, up from last years total of 192.79 bpa and above the 3-year average of 186.47 bpa. USDA is looking for an 11 bpa increase yr/yr. Yield in Minnesota was a record 202.86 bpa, well above last year (164.9) and the three-year average (178.88 bpa). The International Grains Council estimates the world corn production total at 1.299 billion MT, a 23 MMT increase from last month. World corn stocks were up 16 MMT to 294 MMT, as demand was increased by 13 MMT. Sep 25 Corn is at $3.86 3/4, down 1/2 cent, Nearby Cash is at $3.68 1/4, down 1/2 cent, Dec 25 Corn is at $4.11 1/4, down 1/2 cent, Mar 26 Corn is at $4.29, down 3/4 cent, New Crop Cash is at $3.67 1/1, down 1/2 cent, 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 first Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree is scheduled for Sept. 11-14, 2025, in Houghton, Mich. The event offers night hikes, twilight yoga, panel discussions, photography exhibits and more. Visit Keweenaw HOUGHTON, MI A celebration of the cosmos is coming to Michigans Upper Peninsula. The first Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree is scheduled for Sept. 11-14 in Houghton, a town in the dark-sky haven of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Organizers have dubbed it GLAD JAM for short. GLAD JAM is a reflection of who we are in the Keweenaw, said Brad Barnett, executive director of Visit Keweenaw. This place has always inspired curiosity about nature, the universe and our place in it. GLAD JAM invites people to slow down, look up and connect with the magic of our dark skies in a way thats distinctly Keweenaw: raw, real and full of wonder. The first Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree is scheduled for Sept. 11-14, 2025, in Houghton, Mich. The event offers night hikes, twilight yoga, panel discussions, photography exhibits and more. Isaac Diener Photography | Visit Keweenaw Visit Keweenaw teamed up with Michigan Aurora Chasers to organize the event. GLAD JAM promises to blend stargazing with science, storytelling and art for an unforgettable experience. Events include a reception with music, night sky photography and a keynote address from Melissa, Kaelin, founder of Michigan Aurora Chasers and author of Beyond the 45th Parallel: The Beginners Guide to Chasing Aurora. There will also be stargazing opportunities, observatory tours, guided hikes, twilight yoga, photography and science workshops, open mic sessions and panel discussions. The first Great Lakes Aurora Dark Sky Jamboree is scheduled for Sept. 11-14, 2025, in Houghton, Mich. The event offers night hikes, twilight yoga, panel discussions, photography exhibits and more. Kris Bethea | Visit Keweenaw The Keweenaw Dark Sky Park will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, for stargazing. Its the only dark sky park in the U.P. certified by DarkSky International. Some events are open to the public, while others require registration. Click here to view the full schedule and to register. Thousands of runners traverse Flint in the 10-mile road race on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 during the HAP Crim Festival of Races. (Jake May | MLive.com) FLINT, MI With laces tight and a determination to cross the finish line at top of mind for each and every runner, Crim race day is back again. The 2025 HAP CareSource Crim Festival of Races continues on Saturday, Aug. 24, with the 10-mile, 5-mile, 5K and Teddy Bear Trot races. Hundreds of runners from across the country will gather in Michigan for the 48th annual road running event in Flint. Here is how to find your finish time after running in one of the races. This years event will be scored live, and results will be available at this link. The top three finishers from each race will be announced by Crim Festival of Races organizers. The national anthem will take place at 6:45 a.m. Then, the 10-mile race starts from at 7 a.m., the 5-mile race starts at 9 a.m. and the 5K begins at 10 a.m. Be sure to check back on our site for photos, videos and stories from the day after you have completed the race as well. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. The exterior of the mens shelter at Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries campus in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com KALAMAZOO, MI Changes are coming to Kalamazoos downtown homeless shelter, limiting the number of people who can sleep there for an emergency stay and how long they can stay. Beginning Oct. 6, Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries will limit its emergency shelter beds to 140 beds 80 for single men and 60 for single women. The key change is that we will no longer be using overflow mattresses on the floor in emergency services, CEO John Simpson said. This adjustment is important not only for the safety and wellbeing of our guests and staff, but also for creating an environment where we can provide deeper, more transformative care. Simpson said KGM has been adding more sleeping space on the floor at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, 448 N. Burdick St., rather than turning people away. KGM will continue to operate with a total capacity of more than 400 beds, the majority of which are connected to programming designed to help people take the next steps toward long-term stability, KGM said in a letter sent to partners. The shelter advertises religious-based programs on its website. As part of the change, guests staying in the emergency shelter will be limited to 120 days. The decision was not made lightly, Simpson wrote in the letter. The exterior of the new womens shelter at the Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries campus in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. Joel Bissell | MLive.com From 2022 to 2025, the mission has seen a 68% increase in mens overnight stays and a 51% increase in womens overnight stays. While the increase reflects a growing need in the community, it has also stretched the emergency shelter system to the point where it compromises guest and staff safety, quality of care and more, the organization said. The shelter said overcrowding increases risk during overnight hours and emergencies. Smaller guest-to-staff ratios allow for more personal, trauma-informed support, KGM said. The change will allow them to redirect resources into programming, which KGM states is the true path to long-term change to ending chronic long-term homelessness. The change is needed for sustainability, Simpson said. We must preserve the capacity of our team and facilities to serve well into the future, Simpson wrote. Moving forward, emergency shelter beds will be prioritized for Kalamazoo County residents, he wrote. The facilitys emergency services bed occupancy varies by night and by season, he said. At the peak this past winter, the facility averaged around 425 total guests in the building each night, including people in the emergency shelter and programming based shelters. Beginning in October, KGM will have 410 total beds available 140 designated for emergency services and the remainder allocated to program beds. The length of stay varies significantly by guest, Simpson said, so he did not have an average length of stay to provide. Every guest in emergency services will meet with staff at 30, 60, and 90 days. At each interval, guests will be offered the option to move into one of the missions programs, which would allow them to stay beyond the 120-day emergency shelter limit. The changes will help KGM shift from crisis-only shelter to more intentional pathways that support lasting change, he said. Read the letter, below: Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A Battle Creek man is facing up to life in prison for possessing over 4,000 fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone with the intent to deliver. Nazzarie Carmouche-Heath, 29, pleaded guilty on Aug. 21 to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, according to a news release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. Carmouche-Heath faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 4, 2025. According to the plea agreement, Carmouche-Heath admitted to possessing and intending to sell thousands of fentanyl pills weighing over 470 grams in March 2025. Prosecutors said the Battle Creek man was found in possession of 4,714 blue pills that were designed to look like M/30 Oxycodone, an opioid analgesic, but in fact contained fentanyl. Carmouche-Heath also had over 600 grams of fentanyl in powder form and two firearms. I hope everyone knows by now how deadly fentanyl is, U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said in a statement. Our office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute the drug dealers who sell it. We especially look for cases like this, where the fentanyl was disguised as legitimate medication, a situation that can lead to accidental overdoses by the unsuspecting. Derek Ress, assistant special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration, said fentanyl poisonings caused by counterfeit pills are a massive concern in the U.S. Our communities can rejoice in taking another piece of this deadly drug trade off the streets, which will prevent future potential overdoses and tragedy, Ress said. KALAMAZOO, MI A resident who moved out of Kalamazoo years ago returned this week, delivering 50 air purifiers to help people breathe easier. Brandi Crawford-Johnson, who now lives in min-Michigan, made the rounds in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, Aug. 20, dropping off air purifiers at schools, day cares and homes. Shes advocated for action to stop the proliferation of toxic gas, like hydrogen sulfide, in neighborhoods north of downtown Kalamazoo a problem confirmed by state health researchers in 2023. Her latest action was to go to the streets, delivering the large Medify air purifiers by U-Haul. When she asked county health officials for help, they handed over the leftover purifiers from a different program so she could distribute them in her former neighborhood. Current levels of the gas, shown on several Kalamazoo sensors, are well over the threshold thats dangerous for long-term exposure. On Aug. 21, a sensor on Forbes Street had a 14-day average of 9 parts per billion (ppb) and a sensor at Krom Street and East Prouty Street, in a city park, was at 7 ppb. Health officials say people should avoid a long-term consistent exposures over 1.4 ppb. Sensors show a 14-day average concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. Health experts say humans should avoid a consistent long-term exposure above 1.4 ppb. Several sensors exceed that amount, shown on Aug. 21, 2025. (Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com) The levels are still high, Crawford-Johnson said, and residents should be informed. The data shows serious public health risks from hydrogen sulfide, Crawford-Johnson said. The public was not notified soon enough when the city investigated the issue years ago at the wastewater plant in 2009, she said. MORE: Health, odor and air quality concerns raised for years in Kalamazoo, even before factory was approved to expand I moved to Kalamazoo in 2012 for the (Kalamazoo) Promise, for my son. If the city of Kalamazoo would have made a public announcement about the toxic gas leaks, I would have never moved to Kalamazoo and had my family exposed to such dangerous toxic gases, Crawford-Johnson said. She believes she wouldnt have severe asthma, she said. State health officials noted how hydrogen sulfide exposure can make existing asthma cases worsen. The state investigation focused on hydrogen sulfide. Crawford-Johnson and others are also concerned about other chemicals. Crawford-Johnson said the city has prioritized its reputation over human health. MDHHS knows the risks. EGLE knows the risks. The city of Kalamazoo leaders know the risks, she said, urging them to do more to communicate with residents and warn them, or provide a countermeasure like purifiers. No past or present resident should be forced to take on that responsibility while government agencies and local foundations with abundant resources do nothing, she said. Government agencies have taken some actions to try to stop the spread of the gas, such as a city project to reroute underground pipes that were a historical source of the toxic gas. Its not enough, Crawford-Johnson said. She and her ex-husband, Adrian Johnson, dropped off the devices, hauling large boxes through the front doors of schools, police stations, restaurants and homes this week, in places she has highlighted as areas of concern. She chose the locations based on data and years of observations of the neighborhoods, where she knows people with asthma and other breathing problems. The recipients were thankful for the air purifiers from Crawford-Johnson, via the Kalamazoo County Heath and Community Services Department. She estimated they cost about $500 each and she kept a detailed record of where they were distributed, sharing it with county officials. The purifiers came from a state indoor air quality initiative. The state had leftover air filtration units and offered them to local agencies, Kalamazoo County Public Information Officer Taylor Koopman said. Internally, the county health department offered the purifiers to its case-managed customers, through programs like AAA, the Landing Place and others. Feeling helpless, taking action Crawford-Johnson said she has felt helpless at times, especially in the years since the state report confirmed hazardous levels of gas in Kalamazoo. The agencys advice was also disappointing at the time of the finding, Crawford-Johnson said. MDHHS told people to stay inside to avoid the toxic gas found floating around in the sky. RELATED: Stay indoors to avoid polluted air hazard, state says. Thats no solution, neighbors say. Its been years since the finding. Crawford-Johnson questions the states advice that people should just stay indoors, especially if the indoor air is not filtered. Her ongoing fight has included filing lawsuits against the city of Kalamazoo and Graphic Packaging International (GPI), the nearby paper plant. One stop on Wednesday was at Lincoln International Studies elementary school. It sits in the shadow of the GPI plant and the city wastewater treatment plant, both sources of the toxic and stinky hydrogen sulfide gas. Adrian Johnson attended school at Lincoln International years ago as a child. He felt good about delivering the devices there to help students, he said. An odor was noticeable in the air outside the school Wednesday. Crawford-Johnson said it smelled like the hydrogen sulfide that can cause headaches at low levels or worse health conditions at higher concentrations. It gave her a headache and made her asthma feel worse, she said, after spending some time in the area. She feels worse for the families who have to experience it daily. MLive has reached out to Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo County and the city of Kalamazoo seeking comment. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. BAY CITY, MI Seven people will be interviewed on Monday, Aug. 25, for the vacant seat representing the 5th ward on the Bay City Commission. The seven applicants include Andrew Turner, Mark T. Zanotti, Paul Young, Melyssa J. Secor, Kimberley K. Urban, Kelsi Myers, and Matthew A. Sous. Each applicant will be allotted 15 minutes for their interview. Mondays meeting agenda also noted that an appointment is expected to be made following the interviews. The candidate appointed will take over a seat vacated earlier this year by Rachelle Hilliker. The individuals term will expire in December 2026. The meeting will take place starting at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The agenda can be viewed here. Andrew Turner Turner, 52, is retired from the U.S. Navy and is currently a physical security specialist. He has lived in Bay City for six years. According to his application for the 5th ward seat, Turner is interested in serving on the city commission because he has made a lifelong commitment to public service, has a desire to give back to Bay City, and wants to advocate for veterans, working families and those with disabilities. I bring over 20 years of leadership experience, a strong sense of civic responsibility, and a deep-rooted commitment to the people of this community, Turner wrote in a letter attached to his application. Mark T. Zanotti A quality engineer/representative with Waupaca Foundry, Zanotti, 72, has lived in Bay Citys 5th ward for 45 years. He previously served on the Bay City Public Schools Board of Education. Zanotti said in his application for the commission seat that the qualifications that make him a strong candidate are that he cares about his community, understands budgets and believes in working together to solve problems. Overall, the importance to me to be involved and contribute to making the community I call home a better place, Zanotti wrote as to why he is interested in serving on the commission. Paul Young Young, 31, a senior field service technician/manufacturing manager with Duperon Corp. in Saginaw, has lived in Bay Citys 5th ward for eight years. Young wrote in his application that he wants to try to be another voice for people and affect some change. He described his qualifications as integrity, honesty and a love for Bay City. I am a self-starter, always eager to learn new things, Young wrote in his application. Melyssa J. Secor Secor, 30, is a clinical research coordinator at Michigan Medicine. She is a lifelong resident of Bay City and the 5th ward. In her application for the city commission, Secor wrote that as a coordinator, she is used to working in fast paced environments and solving complex problems. She said she is interested in serving on the commission because she wants to be able to serve her community. My father served this community for over 25 years, she wrote in her application. I would love to be able to follow in his footsteps and serve my community. Kimberley K. Urban A self-employed community health worker, Urban, 49, has lived in Bay City for nine years. She said in her application that she has an extensive history within the community and has a great understanding of the needs in the community, as well. Her interest in serving on the commission stems from her belief that she would be an asset, that she would be objective and provide a needs versus wants understanding. Often we have to make those tough decisions of need and want that are often misunderstood or motivated by personal interest, her application reads. I believe the community as a whole deserves a voice and to be heard in a respectful, collaborative way. Kelsi Myers Myers, 27, has lived in Bay City for 25 years, including 21 in the citys 5th ward. She is a customer service representative with Client Financial Services. A lifelong resident of Bay City, Myers wrote in her application that she cares deeply about the future of the community and that she wants to have a more active role in shaping the decisions that impact our residents. Myers application also noted a longstanding commitment to volunteerism, civic engagement, and having an active presence in the community. Matthew A. Sous Sous, 38, an attorney with Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, will interview virtually, according to city agenda information. He has lived in Bay City for five years. Sous previously was a city commissioner in Mt. Pleasant, serving on that commission from 2013-15, according to his application. He noted that in law school he took classes specializing in property, zoning and land use. I have long had a passion for local government and serving my community, Sous wrote in his application. I want to be a part of helping Bay City reach its full potential as an attraction for tourism, business, and new residents while strengthening our community for all. Corn futures closed the Thursday trade with contracts up 7 to 8 cents across most nearbys. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was up 7 cents at $3.70. Export Sales data pegged old crop corn bookings at a net reduction of 27,109 MT, an improvement from the 88,686 MT in net reductions from last week. New crop business was tallied at the second largest for the marketing year at 2.86 MMT in the week ending on August 14, up 39.7% from last week. The largest buyer was unknown destination of 949,400 MT, with 749,000 MT sold to Mexico. More News from Barchart Day 3 of the annual ProFarmer showed Illinois yield estimated at 199.57 bpa, down from last years tour record of 204.14 bu above the 3-year average of 196.19 bpa. USDA is looking for a 4 bpa increase yr/yr. Yield in the western 3 districts of Iowa was above last year and the three year average for all three, at 197.89 bpa in the northwest, 207.25 bpa in the west-central, and 195.03 bpa in the southwest district. Full IA results, as well as MN, will be announced later today. The International Grains Council estimates the world corn production total at 1.299 billion MT, a 23 MMT increase from last month. Stocks were up 16 MMT to 294 MMT, as use was increased by 13 MMT. Sep 25 Corn closed at $3.87 1/4, up 7 1/4 cents, Nearby Cash was $3.70, up 7 cents, Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.11 3/4, up 7 3/4 cents, Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.29 3/4, up 7 3/4 cents, New Crop Cash was $3.67 1/2, up 8 3/4 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com Govinda appears unbothered and blows kisses during his first public appearance amid divorce rumours with Sunita Ahuja Satwik Jaiswal 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 Gayatri Rani USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Vidya Balan recalls working with Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt in Parineeta ahead of its re-release Satwik Jaiswal 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 Namita S Kalla is a senior journalist who writes about different aspects of modern life that include lifestyle, health, fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Ishita Batra 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 Corn price action is showing fractional losses early on Friday. Futures closed the Thursday trade with contracts up 7 to 8 cents across most nearbys. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was up 7 cents at $3.70. Export Sales data pegged old crop corn bookings at a net reduction of 27,109 MT, an improvement from the 88,686 MT in net reductions from last week. New crop business was tallied at the second largest for the marketing year at 2.86 MMT in the week ending on August 14, up 39.7% from last week. The largest buyer was unknown destination of 949,400 MT, with 749,000 MT sold to Mexico. More News from Barchart The final day of the annual ProFarmer showed Iowa yield estimated at 198.43 bpa, up from last years total of 192.79 bpa and above the 3-year average of 186.47 bpa. USDA is looking for an 11 bpa increase yr/yr. Yield Minnesota was a record 202.86 bpa, well above last year (164.9) and the three-year average (178.88 bpa). The International Grains Council estimates the world corn production total at 1.299 billion MT, a 23 MMT increase from last month. Stocks were up 16 MMT to 294 MMT, as use was increased by 13 MMT. Sep 25 Corn closed at $3.87 1/4, up 7 1/4 cents, currently down 1/4 cent Nearby Cash was $3.70, up 7 cents, Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.11 3/4, up 7 3/4 cents, currently down 1/2 cent Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.29 3/4, up 7 3/4 cents, currently down 1/2 cent New Crop Cash was $3.67 1/2, up 8 3/4 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com Archisha Yadav is a sub editor with 1.5 years of experience in writing news articles on topics like education, jobs, and politics. She specialises in crafting simple, clear, and engaging stories that are easy to understand and hold the readers interest, making complex topics accessible and relatable to a larger audience. 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I Accept 14,000 new polling booths likely in Bengal; all-party meet on Aug 29 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Gemini, the crypto exchange backed by the billionaire Winklevoss twins, has secured a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), strengthening its bid to expand across the European Union under the blocs new regulatory framework, the company said in a blog post Thursday. The approval marks a significant step in Geminis EU strategy, enabling the firm to roll out its trading products and services to customers in more than 30 European jurisdictions, the company noted. Europe's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into effect this year, is the EUs first region-wide crypto rulebook, designed to harmonize digital asset oversight across member states and provide legal clarity for firms operating in the sector. Gemini has been steadily building its regulatory base in the region. In May, the company secured a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) license to offer derivatives. That was followed by the launch of tokenized stocks in Europe a month later. The crypto exchange said the MiCA license underscores its long-standing focus on compliance as it looks to introduce additional offerings, including derivatives, to both retail and institutional clients in Europe. Gemini is also among several crypto companies that are looking to go public. Last week, the firm said it had hired Goldman Sachs (GS), Citigroup (C), Morgan Stanley (MS) and Cantor as lead bookrunners for its planned IPO. Read more: Gemini Hires Goldmans, Citi, Morgan Stanley and Cantor as Lead Bookrunners for Its IPO Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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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. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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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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Will continue to speak truth': Tejashwi on FIR lodged in Maharashtra Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Maharashtra Governor, CM pay tributes to Sanskrit University VC who dies in road accident in UP 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept A recent episode of The Ramsey Show featured a caller from Boston named Jennifer who revealed a massive breach of trust in her marriageher husband secretly racked up $100,000 in debt while managing all of their household finances. I found out in the fall about $100,000 of debt that I didnt know about, Jennifer told hosts Dave Ramsey and Ken Coleman. It was credit cards that I didnt know about and also tax debt. Debt Paid Off, But Bigger Issues Remain Despite the shock, the couple worked aggressively to eliminate the debt and are now halfway through Ramseys Baby Step 3, saving for an emergency fund. But Jennifer said the real problem wasn't just the money; it was her husbands ongoing behavior. Don't Miss: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market and you can too at just $2.90/share. Scrolling To UBI' Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share. After discovering the hidden debt, Jennifer insisted they combine their finances, begin using a budgeting app, and attend counseling. Her husband went along with it, but not willingly. He says sharing accounts and the budget are the worst decision hes ever made, she said. Even having a budget is embarrassing to him. Jennifer added that her husband still goes on solo trips, spends impulsively, and refuses to track expenses. The latest argument from this weekend was because I just realized that after months, he still hasnt switched his direct deposit over, she said. Ramsey pointed out that this wasn't a financial issue anymore. This is not a financial problem, hun. Its a marriage problem. Its manifesting itself in the finances, he said. I dont really want to be married is what hes actually saying. Im afraid. I hope not. Trending: Kevin O'Leary Says Real Estate's Been a Smart Bet for 200 Years This Platform Lets Anyone Tap Into It Coleman added that the husband's behavior shows someone who came from an entitled background, which Jennifer confirmed. Ramsey and Coleman both suggested the husband has likely never faced consequences for his actions and is avoiding accountability. Behavior is a language, Ramsey said, referencing a phrase from another co-host John Delony. What hes doing is screaming, I dont really want to build a life together. I want to be able to do whatever I want to do when I want to do it.' Jennifer said she's stayed in the marriage because she still wants to try. If this marriage could be fixed, would you do whatever it takes? Coleman asked. Jennifer responded, Absolutely. I wouldnt have stayed. Hes been lying since the beginning of our marriage. My blood, life is Congress: DK Shivakumar rules out any tie-up with BJP, RSS after row over anthem recital Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept My rival a quintessential RSS man; I am far, far away from that ideology: Sudershan Reddy 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Politics heats up in Dharmasthala mass burial case as BJP, Congress spar: 'Pits dug up, nothing found' Chhabi Kala 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 S Jaishankar on India-US trade talks: Negotiations continue, but we have some red lines Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Shashi Tharoor welcomes appointment of Sergio Gor as US Ambassador to India Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept TMC differs with opposition over joining JPC on bills to remove PM, CMs, Ministers held on serious charges 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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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 'Want it to be decent election', says Oppn V-P pick Sudershan Reddy; advices Amit Shah to read Salwa Judum judgment Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept In response to continued low lithium and nickel prices, several mines in WA have gone into care and maintenance, including BHPs Nickel West and West Musgrave projects ; IGOs Cosmos and Forrestania mines ; and First Quantums Ravensthorpe mine. Nickel jobs have dropped by more than 3,200 (FTE). As a result, many traditional manual roles are evolving, creating new opportunities for upskilled professionals and technical newcomers in the mining sector, he says. Layoffs in open-pit operations in the region havent been enough to plug the gap especially as open-pit mining skills are not easily transferrable in the short-to-medium term to underground mines, according to Heather. Recruiters of other roles say they are seeing demand for heavy duty diesel fitters, MC and HC truck drivers, mechanical trades, mining engineers with 3-5 years experience, open-pit mining geologists, highly experienced plant operators and underground charge-up operators. Lind also notes that many traditional manual roles are evolving, creating new opportunities for upskilled professionals and technical newcomers in the mining sector. We can only see this getting tighter in the short-to-medium term; a big driver [is] the need to maintain very unique safety standards across the underground environment, Heather says. There is acute demand being witnessed in every technical discipline across mine geology, engineering and processing, with the underground environment the biggest driver for the significant demand lift, he says. On the ground, the situation is overt, says Steve Heather, managing director of WA-based MPI Recruitment. This growth mirrors a wider trend across Australias mining sector where vacancies remain at record levels, surpassing peaks from the 201112 mining boom, with skills shortages widespread, according to the report. Gavin Lind, CEO of the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA), which published its 2025 workforce skills plan Insights for tomorrow in August, says WA is expected to account for 40% of the nations resource workforce growth over the next five years, reflecting its huge share of the national industry. Iron ore, which is concentrated in the Pilbara, was responsible for the lions share of WAs mining workforce (65,359 up 4,500 FTE), followed by the currently booming gold sector (33,285 up 3,000 FTE) in the Goldfields and mid-west. For eight years straight, employment in Western Australias (WA) mining industry has been climbing. Government data shows that in 2024, the region, which accounts for 47% of Australias total mining workforce, registered a record high of 135,693 on-site full-time equivalent (FTE) positions filled. Story Continues Employer reports indicate that WA's mining workforce underwent significant changes during 202425, says Lind. He points to BHP, which cut around 100 roles in its iron ore division, mainly targeting middle management and support teams, to streamline operations. The companys nickel operations were also placed in care and maintenance, affecting around 800 operational jobs, although many were redeployed, he notes. Rio Tinto also reduced its Pilbara workforce by around 500, driven by rising production costs. In February, the company cut approximately 120 in-house tradespeople roles from its Pilbara mine site services division, outsourcing the work to contractors as part of ongoing cost-cutting. The change is part of broader operational adjustments across Rios WA iron ore operations, which employ more than 17,000 people across 17 mines, says Lind. Dani Tamati, founder and director of recruitment company THE resources HUB, says Tier 3 and Tier 4 mining companies involved in lithium and nickel are the ones really feeling the pinch and in response have made a raft of redundancies. The Tier 1s are not seeing that trickle down as much at the moment, as happened in the downturn of 2012, she says. Nickel and lithium only account for a small section of the WA mining industry, however, and so arent affecting the bigger employment picture in the region. Tamati says that, along with the technical roles, her office is also seeing an influx of sales roles for mining services, with people trying to move from oil and gas into mining which is not always an easy sector transition. The mining industry, in WA in particular, wants to ensure whoever we are bringing into the fold in a sales role already has a network and established connections and knows the products it is not as easy a transition as some think. Migrant workers in WAs mining workforce So, how is WAs mining industry filling roles? In part, through migrant workers, who have become essential to the mining workforce, says Lind. The number of skilled migrants has increased over the years, indicating an ongoing need for their skills, he says. In 2023, the Labor government launched a Skilled Migrant Job Connect Programme, which includes a subsidy to help skilled WA-based migrants access financial support of up to $7,500, and gain employment in occupations commensurate with their formal overseas qualifications, skills and experience. Despite this, Harriet Banda, founder of Bantu Agency, an Australian-owned recruitment agency based in Perth and Zambia, believes the cost of placing migrant workers is still prohibitive. It can cost up to A$20,000 per candidate for training, acquiring an Australian drivers licence, equipment and sponsorship, she says. The cost is prohibitive and there is no scale. Whether your business makes A$100m or $2m you still pay the 482 visa cost, which is unfair, she says. Heather agrees that the Australian Government is simply not responding fast enough to simplify the process of bringing in foreign technical workers. His company has noticed more of the medium-to-larger scale companies with global operations starting to bring employees from outside of Australia to fill gaps and share knowledge. For these companies, offering their internal talent the opportunity for cross-country transfers, assuming the role is on the skills immigration priority list, is attractive, he says. Attracting candidates amid rising labour costs To win candidates miners are deploying different strategies, including getting creative with financial incentives. Tamati says one of her clients implemented a sign-on and a six-month retention bonus, after which employees receive a monthly bonus for staying at the company. They were paying at the lower end for mechanical trades but with the retention bonus it was keeping their employees happy, she says. However, rising wages remain a sticking point for the industry. It is not hard to find a TikTok story about a migrant worker coming to the Pilbara with a few hundred dollars in their bank and leaving at the end of the year with tens of thousands. However, consistently meeting high wages can be challenging for the smaller players, says Tamati. When the industry is booming, they have to offer the same sort of remuneration packages, share options and benefits to try and entice and retain workers, she says. They find it difficult when the bigger boys can throw money around and offer more perks. Attracting more women could support a more robust talent pool but parity figures have remained stubborn. Women comprise around 24.8% of the WA mining workforce, slightly lower than on a national level (27%) and up by 3.3% since 2021 but much lower than the national average of 48%. Dani Tamati, founder and director of THE resources HUB at a WA mining site. Credit: Dani Tamati. AUSMASA data also shows that the mining industry still has significant gender pay gaps, with 95% having gaps in favour of men. Many companies have set quotas, but Tamati doesnt believe this is the right approach. It is merely setting up many of these women to fail within their careers, because they are literally a tick-the-box exercise, she explains. Apprenticeships: a bigger opportunity Apprenticeships are another area where the mining industry could do better. In its report, AUSMASA raises concerns about the level of mentoring provided to apprentices, noting that the national average completion rate for those who started studying in 2018 was 55.8% by 2022. This problem is exacerbated for international students who, because of visa regulations, cannot gain industry placement during their study period. As a result, employers must invest in training international students once they are hired. AUSMASA says it has received stakeholder feedback calling for better-aligned visa regulations that would enable international students to acquire training and education equivalent to that of domestic students. Tamati agrees apprentices are a missed opportunity in the industry. Apprentices are the first to be let go, yet they are the cheapest labour in the mining industry. Then when the next upturn happens, we don't have any tradespeople, which is why we need to bring in sponsored people from the UK, Ireland and Africa, etc, she explains. What more can be done? WAs 48 proposed resource projects are expected to require more than 11,065 new workers by 2029. The highest demand will come from the mining sector, led by demand for mining operators. New workforce demand in Australia by skills group, 202429. Source: AREEA. Overall, the government estimates that the Australian mining industry will require an additional 56,000 workers by 2033, on top of the thousands of existing vacancies that remain difficult to fill. AUSMASAs main priorities are to help industry fill these roles, according to Lind, include running programmes in the areas including educational pathways, promoting diversity, technological advancement and digitalisation, workforce attraction, retention, and wellbeing, and sustainability and industry transformation. However, many feel the government should do more. Tamati says that when it comes to the building and construction industry the government is doing a really good job, offering discounted trades qualifications and other incentives but it could do much better for mining. It is not just the mining sector but the flow-on effect with suppliers and contractors and consultants, she adds. Heather agrees. Right now, an awful lot of the heavy lifting is being left to the industry itself via its various associations and employer groups but when you consider the huge contribution this industry makes to the Australian economy, why is the government not acting in its role of active industry partner? he says. "Drilling down: how Western Australia can tackle its mining workforce shortage" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Woman slapped eight times in 38 seconds for feeding dogs in Ghaziabad Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Hyderabad neurologist says even 2,500 to 4,000 steps a day lowers cardiovascular disease risk. Here's how Shubhi Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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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 AliExpress makes a surprise return in India after 5 years: What we know so far 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 Apple wants Googles help for Siri to make it better and more powerful, here's how 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 Is TikTok back in India after 5 years of ban? Here's what government has to say 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 Pragya Trivedi 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 Chinas playbook in Indias backyard: How Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are being roped into Beijings designs 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 Eric Trump plans to visit Japan next month as the Trump family continues to expand its presence in the cryptocurrency space, people familiar with the matter said. The son of the U.S. President is scheduled to attend the September 1 shareholder meeting of Metaplanet Inc., a Japanese Bitcoin treasury company modeled on Michael Saylor's Strategy Inc. Metaplanet, formerly a hotel operator, pivoted to Bitcoin accumulation in early 2024, using business profits to build its holdings. The company says it holds more than $2.1 billion in Bitcoin. Eric Trump was appointed as a strategic adviser to Metaplanet in March. News of his planned trip to Tokyo helped Metaplanet shares recover, with the stock reversing earlier losses to gain nearly 2.1% on Friday, according to Bloomberg. Although volatile, the stock has surged almost 800% in the past year, even after falling by more than half from its peak in June. The upcoming shareholder meeting will include a vote on new capital-raising measures, with Trump expected to attend. His Tokyo visit will follow closely after his participation in the Bitcoin Asia conference in Hong Kong on August 2829. The move highlights the Trump family's growing involvement in digital assets. A Las Vegas-based firm tied to Trump associates recently announced a $1.5 billion deal to transition into a crypto treasury, including tokens linked to World Liberty Financial, a Trump-affiliated venture. In addition, Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, disclosed earlier this year that it had accumulated more than $2 billion in Bitcoin. Separately, cryptocurrency miner American Bitcoin, backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., is pursuing acquisitions in Asia, targeting listed firms in Japan and possibly Hong Kong. The developments come as Japan continues to embrace digital assets, marked by regulators approving the country's first yen-denominated stablecoin on August 18 and the upcoming WebX2025 forum, where Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato is expected to speak. This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here. How Trump is using mortgage fraud allegations as a political weapon Pragya Trivedi 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 (Corrects Dmitry Tatyanin's title to Chairman in paragraph 17) By Alexander Marrow LONDON (Reuters) -EU tariffs on Russian fertiliser imports that aim to cut funding for Moscow's war in Ukraine have so far hit European farmers, raising costs and risking higher consumer prices while Russian companies say they can divert exports to other markets. "We're shooting ourselves in the foot," farmer Cedric Benoist, deputy secretary general of French wheat farmers union AGPB and head of the cereals committee of EU farmer association Copa Cogeca, told Reuters, saying farmers are now faced with paying higher global prices. Global fertiliser prices have been rising this year, World Bank data shows, in part due to the additional levies introduced on July 1 on top of import tariffs, adding to other challenges facing European farmers such high energy costs and environmental regulations. Western countries did not impose sanctions on food or fertiliser exports over Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But fertiliser export tariffs are now being imposed gradually over three years by Europe as it looks to further reduce dependence on Russian supplies. Russia produces more than 20% of the world's fertiliser and supplies around 25% of the EU's fertiliser imports. The EU said it will be monitoring the impact of tariffs closely to ensure that the EU's fertiliser industry and farmers are protected. Tariffs kicked off at 40 euros per metric ton for urea and nitrogen in July and are set to reach 315 euros per ton from July 2028. Average prices for urea, a nitrogen-based fertiliser, rose 26.5% to $496 per metric ton from May to July, World Bank data showed. The EU does not yet have data to evaluate the impact of its tariffs, but an official said the tariffs can be postponed if the result is that prices rise too high. "Due to...hesitancy around Russian purchases, European suppliers are pricing their products higher than in other regions," independent fertiliser market analyst Swati Kushwaha told Reuters, referring to prices of fertiliser products. "Consequently, buyers are turning to more expensive sources, like Canada." Farmers are concerned, particularly as wheat prices have hit five-year lows. Benoist said lots of farmers were holding off buying, hoping fertiliser prices would fall. "It can't last at this price, given the price of wheat," Benoist said. "But right now, in terms of profitability for farmers, it's completely unsustainable." Rising prices for fertilisers such as diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea contributed to soaring consumer prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Prices eased in early 2023, but are once again rising. Trumps third-country deportation policy: What it means and how other nations have tried it Pragya Trivedi 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 warns of massive sanctions on Moscow, says he may do nothing if Putin-Zelensky talks fail 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 By Nupur Anand NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. banks are petitioning the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to seek national standards for providing banking services that would override state-imposed rules, three sources familiar with the matter said. Large banks, in particular, are lobbying for uniform U.S. regulations outlining how they can make loans, issue bonds or provide investment banking services, or assess anti-money laundering risks while curbing state powers over their operations, said the sources, who declined to be identified while discussing private talks. The renewed push for national standards, which is being reported by Reuters for the first time, is part of a sweeping effort by the banking industry to lock in more favorable rules under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. The changes would make it easier for lenders to operate, the sources said. They would also curtail states' power to disrupt banks' operations with rules on so-called "debanking," a practice in which banks allegedly deny services to customers based on political or religious beliefs. Individual states have previously punished banks and barred them from doing business based on lenders' policies on guns, climate change, diversity and other social issues. The debate around national standards came into focus in a lawsuit involving Bank of America. In a 2024 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal law takes precedence for national banks over state laws, a concept known as preemption. Large banks have focused on lobbying to defend themselves against accusations of debanking this year, citing unclear rules. Trump passed an executive order on debanking this month that aims to make the rules more uniform. Emboldened lenders are now focused on preemption after getting regulators to water down stress tests and capital requirements, one of the sources said. Banks plan to ramp up lobbying efforts after meeting with the OCC earlier this year to press the issue, the three sources said. The OCC declined to comment. We strongly support national preemption and believe federal fair access legislation or regulation would be a prudent move to address account closures in a consistent way across all states, the Bank Policy Institute, an industry association, said in a statement. The American Bankers Association previously has said that an increasing number of states are considering laws that disregard the existing federal laws. The proposals would give state regulators authority over basic operations of a national bank, including decisions about deposit taking, lending, and risk management, which the ABA has opposed. South Koreas president highlights friendly ties in Japan before key summit with Trump View Photo TOKYO (AP) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in his first summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday, stressed the importance of setting aside their past differences as they face common challenges from the United States, their mutual ally. The two agreed to cooperate in areas that include clean energy, artificial intelligence, low births, the aging population and disaster prevention. They reaffirmed South Korea and Japan would work together and with the United States toward ending North Koreas nuclear and missile development programs. Lees visit to Japan may help him prepare for his crucial first summit in Washington on Aug. 25 with U.S. President Donald Trump, mainly on trade and defense issues. I came to Japan today with a conviction to boldly break away from past practices, pursuing pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interest and opening a path toward future-oriented, mutually beneficial cooperation between the countries, Lee told a joint press conference after two summit sessions. First new South Korean leader to visit Japan before the US Lee who met Ishiba on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in June said he is the first South Korean president since the 1965 normalization of ties to choose Japan as the first destination for a bilateral summit after taking office. Japanese officials see it as a sign of Lee placing great importance on relations between the two neighbors whose ties have repeatedly been disrupted by historical disputes, hampering their trilateral coordination with Washington. It is more important than ever for the two countries to cooperate, Ishiba said. The president and I share this view since his inauguration and I feel encouraged. The stable relations not only benefit the two countries but also the region, said Ishiba in his opening remarks at the summit. The Japanese prime minister faces pressure from rightwing rivals within his governing party to resign over its July election loss. Saturdays summit was aimed at highlighting the two nations good ties as they mark the 60th anniversary of normalizing their diplomatic relations. Regional challenges and Trump Rintaro Nishimura, an associate with The Asia Groups Japan branch, said the timing of Lees visit shows his style of pragmatic diplomacy, with a focus both on bilateral and trilateral relations with the U.S. I also think it was a gesture from Lee to show that Japan is very important in his mind as a partner in his foreign policy, he said. Ishiba, who met Trump in Washington in February and held talks with him at the June G7 summit, has settled a tariffs deal ahead of South Korea. We shared a recognition that in the face of a rapidly changing international situation, unwavering cooperation of South Korea-Japan and South Korea-U.S.-Japan is more important than ever, Lee said. Lee said they agreed to pursue a virtuous cycle in which their improved relations enhance their trilateral cooperation with the U.S. Ishiba said they agreed to step up strategic dialogue in the areas of defense and economic security. Japans wartime past The summit comes just days after the two leaders signaled their conciliatory approach to each other. A joint statement after Saturdays summit, the first such in 17 years, said the two leaders agreed to look toward the future even as Tokyo reiterates its deep remorse and heartfelt apology over Japans brutal colonial rule. In his address last week marking the liberation from Japans 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula, Lee called for the two sides to overcome past grievances while also urging Tokyo to face unresolved issues and strive to maintain trust. Also, Lee told Japans conservative Yomiuri newspaper in an interview published Thursday, that he will stick to previous agreements with Japan on the forced labor issues and sexual abuses of the so-called comfort women, though many Koreans still harbor hard feelings. Ishiba, who has acknowledged Japans wartime aggression and shown empathy toward Asian victims, expressed remorse over the war, which he called a mistake, restoring the word in a Japanese leaders Aug. 15 surrender anniversary address for the first time since its 2013 removal by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. ___ Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report. By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press Top officials of Amazon nations meet in Colombia to push joint rainforest protection plan View Photo BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Presidents from South Americas Amazon nations gathered Friday alongside Indigenous leaders to agree on a joint plan to safeguard the worlds largest rainforest a vast region seen as crucial to slowing global warming. Gathering in Colombias capital of Bogota, the presidents of Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia joined the vice president of Ecuador and other top officials from Amazon nations. There is no individual exit from the climate crisis, Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said during his declaration. We need a new global governance with the authority to make countries keep their promises. They signed off on the Declaration of Bogota, a political blueprint to be formally adopted by Amazon nations, setting out a common vision for deeper cooperation across the region, which sprawls over more than 2.5 million square miles (6.7 million square kilometers). Ecuadors Vice President Maria Jose Pinto urged leaders to move beyond good intentions to concrete actions to protect the Amazon, calling it both the regions responsibility and its legacy to the world. She said work must be led from the territories, listening to communities and respecting ancestral knowledge, and stressed the rainforest should be central to the global agenda because what happens here determines the future of everyone. In Ecuador, we believe solutions are not built from the capitals, but from the territories, listening to and working alongside our people, Pinto said. We must keep the Amazon at the center of the global conversation. On the eve of the gathering, foreign ministers from the eight members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization a little-known, decades-old intergovernmental body linking all the countries of the Amazon basin approved 20 resolutions. They range from a new regional Indigenous Peoples Mechanism to initiatives on food security, climate risk and institutional strengthening. Scientists say the Amazon acts as a massive carbon sink absorbing more carbon dioxide than it releases and plays a key role in regulating rainfall patterns far beyond South America. Its loss could accelerate global warming and disrupt agriculture as far away as the U.S. Midwest and parts of Europe, while threatening the survival of thousands of species found nowhere else on Earth. Top officials also met on Thursday to review progress on commitments made at the Belem Declaration, a 2023 agreement signed in Brazil that pledged closer coordination on protecting the Amazon, including policies on deforestation, climate change and Indigenous rights. Each ACTO country will appoint two government delegates and two Indigenous delegates to the body, which will meet annually and can convene extraordinary sessions. Decisions must be made unanimously. Oswaldo Muca, who represents Colombias Indigenous Amazon communities, told The Associated Press on the sidelines of Fridays event that his community is committed to safeguarding our territory and the Amazon, protecting it and caring for it. He said they oppose mining and oil exploration because it destroys our territory, destroys humanity and destroys life. Muca welcomed the ministers approval of a direct financing mechanism for Indigenous peoples, calling it the only way to avoid reaching the point of no return and noting that we are now part of that treaty mechanism. Asked if he believed the heads of state would follow through, Muca said they had talked a lot about saving the Amazon, but insisted that our words must be more than political speeches they must be real, concrete actions. ACTO Secretary-General Martin von Hildebrand said that political will and unity among member countries are essential to protecting the basins forests, rivers and biodiversity resources that store vast amounts of carbon and help regulate the planets climate. Peruvian Indigenous leader Julio Cusurichi, attending the event, said: We are asking countries to take immediate action because deforestation and pollution are advancing, and the impacts of climate change are severe. ___ 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. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america By STEVEN GRATTAN Associated Press Colombian ex-leader known for contentious war on rebels pays tribute to slain presidential hopeful View Photo BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Saturday paid tribute to slain presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay at a Bogota park where he was gunned down, calling for a stronger security crackdown as violence surges nationwide. The 39-year-old politician was shot in the back while delivering a campaign speech in Colombias capital in June alongside a small security detail. The two men are not related but belong to the same political party. May this place symbolize an eternal flame, like Miguels eternal love for Colombia, Uribe said beside a photo of Uribe Turbay. May those who pass through this place find that Miguel inspires the security needed for peace to come one day. Uribe Turbay died in August after two months in intensive care. His death stunned the country, once again faced with the assassination of a politician campaigning for president, something not seen in three decades. In the wake of his death, his father Miguel Uribe Londono announced he would take his sons place and run for president. The killing sparked a debate about how to prevent conflict in the South American country from roaring back in the lead-up to next years presidential election, a race in which the former leader is hoping to weigh in. The former president was escorted Saturday by heavy security: Streets were closed, drones monitored the parks and police with rifles kept watch from the roof of a nearby house. If Miguelito Uribe had had this kind of security, he wouldnt have been killed, said Vilma Ramirez, a local resident, in tears. She joined the crowd of about 200 people gathered in the park. The visit marked one of former President Uribes first public appearances since a judge removed his house arrest order while he appeals a 12-year sentence for witness tampering and fraud convictions. Uribe, who governed from 2002 to 2010, is best known for the heavy-handed military campaign that beat back Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which signed a peace pact with the government in 2016. The leader brought the rebel group to its knees, making Uribe the most powerful political voice on the right. But it also fueled accusations of human rights abuses, including that his government systematically slayed thousands of civilians, dressing many bodies up as guerrillas, in order to boost kill counts. On Saturday, Uribe and members of his Democratic Center party demanded justice and a thorough investigation into the death of Uribe Turbay. Six suspects, including a minor alleged to have pulled the trigger, are in custody. Authorities are investigating whether a guerrilla faction born out of the now-defunct rebel group, known as FARC dissidents, were involved. Here the assassin, with drugs, money, and a chain of intellectual authors and instigators, took Miguel from us, Uribe said, surrounded by members of his Democratic Center party. The former president seeks to influence the 2026 legislative and presidential elections and strengthen the countrys right wing amid simmering discontent with current President Gustavo Petro, Colombias first leftist leader. Under Petro, who ran on the promise that he would bring total peace to a conflict-torn nation, violence among warring criminal groups has only spiked. On Thursday, 19 people, including police officers were killed in attacks involving explosives against a police helicopter and a car bomb in an urban area that left more than 70 injured. The country is falling apart at this moment. The war is back, the terror is back, lamented Claudia Marcela Badillo, a retired police officer who attended the political gathering and had supported Uribe Turbay. By ASTRID SUAREZ Associated Press Map of the project areaTCOES View Photo Tuolumne County, CA An informational meeting next week will update a home hardening project in Tuolumne County involving the California Wildfire Mitigation Grant Program (CWMP) Project Area. The project area is in the Ponderosa Hills and Mira Monte area of the county. This federally funded award offers financial assistance for regionally administered projects to build resiliency in particularly vulnerable communities in high-risk wildfire zones. According to Tuolumne County OES officials, the initiative makes use of current best practices and policy guidelines from state and local authorities to reduce the danger of embers igniting when wildfire approaches and enters the wildlands-urban interface (WUI). Qualified applicants may be eligible for financial support under project criteria to engage in controlled modifications to structures and defensible space on their property. The Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services is hosting the meeting on the Home Hardening Project Grant for the area. On hand with updates on the CWMP Project Area will be representatives from the county, CAL Fire, and Cal OES. They will identify requirements for opting into the program and walk through the application process, while also answering attendees questions regarding the project. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26th, at 6 p.m. at the Tuolumne Community Resilience Center, located at 18241 Bay Ave in Tuolumne. For additional information or questions, call the OES main line at 209-533-6395 or click here. Hegseth fires general whose agencys intel assessment of damage from Iran strikes angered Trump View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a general whose agencys initial intelligence assessment of U.S. damage to Iranian nuclear sites angered President Donald Trump, according to two people familiar with the decision and a White House official. Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse will no longer serve as head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, according to the people, who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Hegseth also fired Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, who is chief of the Navy Reserve, as well as Rear Adm. Milton Sands, a Navy SEAL officer who oversees Naval Special Warfare Command, another U.S. official said. No reasons were given for their firings, the latest in a series of steps targeting military leaders, intelligence officials and other perceived critics of Trump, who has demanded loyalty across the government. The administration also stripped security clearances this week from additional current and former national security officials. Taken together, the moves could chill dissent and send a signal against reaching conclusions at odds with Trumps interests. Trump decried agencys initial findings on US strikes on Iran Kruses firing comes two months after details of a preliminary assessment of U.S. airstrikes against Iran leaked to the media. It found that Irans nuclear program has been set back only a few months by the military effort, contradicting assertions from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Republican president, who had pronounced the Iranian program completely and fully obliterated, rejected the report. His oft-repeated criticism of the DIA analysis built on his long-running distrust of intelligence assessments, including one published in 2017 that said Russia interfered on his behalf in the 2016 election. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence which is responsible for coordinating the work of 18 intelligence agencies, including the DIA has been declassifying years-old documents meant to cast doubt on those previous findings. Following the June strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, Hegseth lambasted the press for focusing on the preliminary assessment but did not offer any direct evidence of the destruction of the facilities. You want to call it destroyed, you want to call it defeated, you want to call it obliterated choose your word. This was a historically successful attack, Hegseth said at a news conference at the time. Democrats raise concerns about implications of key firing While the Pentagon has offered no details on the firings, Democrats in Congress have raised alarm over the precedent that Kruses ouster sets for the intelligence community. The firing of yet another senior national security official underscores the Trump administrations dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country, said Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called on the administration to show why Kruse was fired or otherwise, we can only assume that this is another politically motivated decision intended to create an atmosphere of fear within the intelligence community. Trump has a history of removing government officials whose data and analysis he disagrees with. Earlier this month, after a lousy jobs report, he fired the official in charge of the data. His administration also has stopped posting reports on climate change, canceled studies on vaccine access and removed data on gender identity from government sites. Trump administration makes series of military and intelligence changes The new firings culminate a week of broad Trump administration changes to the intelligence community and new shake-ups to military leadership. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced this week that it would slash its staff and budget and revoked more security clearances, a tactic the administration uses against those it sees as foes. The Pentagon also said the Air Forces top uniformed officer, Gen. David Allvin, planned to retire two years early. Hegseth and Trump have been aggressive in dismissing top military officials, often without formal explanation. The administration has fired Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the Navys top officer, the Air Forces second highest-ranking officer, and the top lawyers for three military service branches. In April, Hegseth dismissed Gen. Tim Haugh as head of the National Security Agency and Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, who was a senior official at NATO. No public explanations have been offered by the Pentagon for any of the firings, though some of the officers were believed by the administration to endorse diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Trump has demanded government agencies purge DEI efforts. The ousters of Kruse, Lacore and Sands were reported earlier by The Washington Post. By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, MARY CLARE JALONICK and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press Texas redistricting fight shakes up battle lines for both parties in key US Senate race View Photo HOUSTON (AP) Just as Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred was holding a town hall near the Mexican border as part of an unrig Texas campaign tour, the states Democratic fundraising powerhouse Beto ORourke rallied support in Austin for lawmakers who left the state to delay a redistricting plan led by President Donald Trump. The next morning, one of those wayward lawmakers, James Talarico, stood in the pulpit at former President Barack Obamas old church in Chicago to say he and his fellow legislators had simply taken a leap of faith. All three Democrats are either declared or potential contenders for the Senate seat on the ballot in next years midterm elections. In what would typically be a quiet period in Texas politics, Republicans have roiled the states 2026 Senate campaign with their rush to redraw congressional maps to give Trump more allies in Congress. The turmoil impacts contenders in both parties and gives Democrats fresh hope that they can capture a long-elusive seat, where an upset would dramatically improve their chances of regaining Senate control in Washington. For Democrats, the GOP power play offers a new way to stand out as fighters against Trump and his Make America Great Again movement. For Republicans, including incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, its a Trump loyalty test. Cornyn publicly called for involving the FBI in rounding up the defiant Democrats. His main primary challenger, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, used his current office to ask state courts to remove departed lawmakers from office and to jail ORourke for raising funds to support the Democratic legislators. The clash has also been a welcome distraction from recent questions about Paxtons private life. Trump, meanwhile, had his eyes on the U.S. House when he openly prodded Texas Republicans this summer to give him five more GOP seats in a state he won handily last year. He hoped to avoid losing a slim House majority, as he did during his first term in 2018. Democrats nationwide condemned the effort to alter the playing field, in part because it comes before the typical 10-year timeline for redrawing congressional districts based on census results. Texas Democrats walked out for two weeks, denying Republicans the quorum they needed. They ended the walkout this week, but only after California Gov. Gavin Newsom countered with a redistricting push in his state, a Democratic stronghold. Weve got to stand up to them. These people are thugs, ORourke said in an interview with The Associated Press. Giving in or seeking compromise, or trying to make concessions in the hopes that theyll stop pursuing you, that stuff clearly does not work. The only thing that works is fighting. ORourke, a former congressman and onetime presidential candidate who has run and lost against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, said he has not decided whether he will launch a senatorial bid. Republicans flex their muscle for Trump Paxton has assumed the role as the Lefts chief antagonist, a good look during a primary campaign aimed at drawing the most devout Republicans. He asked courts to expel the lawmakers who walked out, brought lawsuits to declare their seats vacant and sought to jail ORourke, arguably the states most well-known Democrat, accusing him of illegally raising money to help defray costs for the Democratic lawmakers who left. A judge granted a temporary restraining order, ordering ORourke to cease and handing Paxton a victory. We are pursuing every legal remedy at our disposal to hold these rogue legislators accountable, Paxton said in a statement. Texas deserves representatives who do their jobs instead of running away at the behest of their billionaire handlers. Cornyn, a fourth-term incumbent, faces pressure Cornyn used his federal role to ask the FBI to help bring Democratic lawmakers who fled the state back to Texas. After first criticizing Paxton for being on vacation in Europe when the redistricting drama began, Cornyn used the moment to question Paxtons tactics. It seems like both are doing what each of them can do, given their own public office, said Roy Bailey, a wealthy Republican donor from Dallas. Cornyns own polling shows him trailing Paxton. Cornyns campaign and groups that support him, including a pro-Cornyn super PAC and the Washington-based Senate Leadership Fund, have spent more than $7.5 million in advertising since July, mainly criticizing Paxton. Republicans affiliated with the Senate majority in Washington, including the Senate Leadership Fund, have argued that if Paxton wins the Republican Senate primary, it would cost the party at least $100 million more to win the open seat in Texas. Although the map of states with Senate elections next year favors Republicans, the party can afford to lose no more than four seats and still hold the majority. Redistricting gives Democrats a platform ORourke has rallied around the state and raised money to support the dozens of Texas House Democrats who left the state earlier this month. At a time that so many who have the power to fight are instead bending the knee to Donald Trump, he said, the country really needed to see someone stand and fight. The redistricting drama has also inspired Allred, a former congressman and voting rights attorney who launched his bid for the Democratic nomination last month, to travel for a series of town halls on redistricting. Allred told The Associated Press the fight is energizing organizers and voters. He said a pastor in a Black church in Dallas compared the situation to a bully only being able to take it so far before victims start fighting back. If this had passed as quickly as it looked like it was going to, I think many folks wouldnt have known what was happening, Allred said after a Houston town hall. There certainly wouldnt have been the national attention on whats happening here in Texas, but that attention has built and built, and the awareness has also built and built, and so this means to me that ultimately there also will be a backlash against these folks who are trying to rig the elections. Redistricting clash boosts young Texas lawmakers profile The clash in Texas has elevated the profile of Talarico, a 36-year-old legislator from Austin. He was among those who packed their bags and headed to Chicago. Talarico has appeared on network television and last month was interviewed by conservative podcaster Joe Rogan. Talaricos social media following has expanded to more than 1 million on Instagram and TikTok. He has said he is considering a Senate run but hasnt decided yet. ORourke had high praise for Talarico but said the young lawmakers plans wouldnt affect his decision. I think this is one of those moments where Democratic voters are looking at whos fighting and whos folding. And that to me is the primary dividing line in our party right now, Talarico told the AP. Its not really progressive versus moderates. Its fighters versus folders. In his sermon Sunday at Obamas old church in Chicago, Talarico referred to himself as one of the Texas outlaws who walked out, prompting loud cheers and applause. This is not just a political struggle, he told them. Its a spiritual struggle. By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON, LEKAN OYEKANMI and THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press DAMASCUS (Reuters) -Syria will issue new banknotes, removing two zeros from its currency in an attempt to restore public confidence in the severely devalued pound, according to seven sources familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by Reuters. The step is intended to strengthen the Syrian pound after its purchasing power collapsed to record lows following a 14-year conflict that ended with President Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December. Confirming the move, Syria's Central Bank Governor Abdelkader Husrieh said on Friday the revaluation was a strategic pillar of fiscal and monetary reforms. "We have formed committees with public and private banks and experts from the central bank to determine the requirements for changes" in the currency, he told Saudi state-owned broadcaster Al Arabiya, describing the new currency as a "necessity". He said a time frame to introduce the new currency was still "under review". The Syrian pound has lost more than 99% of its value since war erupted in 2011, with the exchange rate now at around 10,000 pounds to the U.S. dollar, compared to 50 before the war. The sharp depreciation has made daily transactions and money transfers increasingly difficult. Families usually pay for weekly grocery runs from black plastic bags holding at least half a kilogram of 5,000-pound notes, currently the highest denomination. In an attempt to ease transactions and improve monetary stability, Syria's central bank informed private banks in mid-August that it intended to issue new currency by "removing zeros", according to a document seen by Reuters. Reuters spoke to five commercial bankers, one central bank source and one Syrian economic official who said the central bank had informed them that two zeros would be removed. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that had not yet been made public. Meetings on the currency overhaul have been chaired by Central Bank Deputy Governor Mukhlis al-Nazer, according to the commercial bankers who attended the meetings. Nazer did not reply to a request for comment. Amal al-Masri, the head of the central bank's Banking Supervision Department, declined fo comment. The finance ministry did not respond to a request for comment. It was not immediately clear whether the revaluation of the pound would need legislative approval. Syria is set to hold its first elections to set up a new legislative assembly in September. Two of the bankers and another Syrian source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Syria had agreed with Russian state-owned money printing firm Goznak to produce the new notes. Rural Colorado mourns 6 who died from suspected gas exposure at dairy farm View Photo Six workers who died in what authorities suspect was exposure to gas at a dairy farm include a 50-year-old father and two sons, an incident that left rural Colorado communities in mourning. Weld County Chief Deputy Coroner Jolene Weiner on Friday confirmed the identities of the deceased all Hispanic males, including four members of an extended family. Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, of Nunn, died along with his 17-year-old son Oscar Espinoza Leos a high school student and a second son, 29-year-old Carlos Espinoza Prado of Evans. The Espinozas are related by marriage to another 36-year-old victim from Greeley Jorge Sanchez Pena, Weiner said. Organizers with a support network for food workers told the Denver Post that the four relatives repaired machinery at various dairies in and near Keenesburg, Colorado, where they were found dead Wednesday evening. They were extremely hardworking and humble, said Tomi Rodriguez, an outreach worker for Project Protect Food System Workers. They were a very united family. The Weld County Coroners Office identified the other deceased Colorado residents as Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, and Noe Montanez Casanas, 32, both of Keenesburg. Words of condolences for the six flooded online message boards while flyers advertised a dance, hair cuts and a car wash over the weekend to benefit their families. Their bodies were recovered by emergency responders at a dairy farm in Kennesburg, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Denver. Project Protect personnel said the two men outside the extended family lived on the grounds of the dairy in employer-provided housing, according to the Denver Post. The coroners office is investigating the deaths as the possible consequence of gas exposure in a confined space. The office on Friday said autopsies have been completed on all six people, but it was awaiting the results of further testing to determine exactly how they died. Weld County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Melissa Chesmore has said the agency didnt find anything that would indicate a crime took place. County tax records say the property is owned by Prospect Valley Dairy LLC and list a Bakersfield, California, address for the owners. The Associated Press left phone messages this week at a number listed for the California address. Weld County is a major agricultural producer. Three-quarters of its land is devoted to farming and raising livestock. Its Colorados leading dairy producer and the states biggest source of beef cattle, grain and sugar beets. Census data from 2020 shows 30% of the county was Hispanic or Latino, compared to 22% for the state overall. By MORGAN LEE Associated Press What a lovely Little Lady! Kent animal sanctuary announces birth of sweet snow leopard cub Daily Mail (Li) Size Matters: Study Reveals Snow Leopards Hunt Like No Other Big Cat Snow Leopard Trust. They are the only big cats that prefer prey two to three times their size. Why Shop? In Maine, the Library of Things Has It All (Almost) New York Tims (resilc). Brunswick! Nearest town to my ancestral home of Bailey Island! One of my brothers is vacationing there now. How Europes oldest language ended up on US trees BBC (Kevin W) The end of the cult of the wunderkind Engelsberg Ideas (Micael T) Gustave Dores Haunting Illustrations of Dantes Divine Comedy Open Culture (Micael T) Barry Eisler on Political Thrillers, AOC, and how The System Justifies War Current Affairs (Anthony L) Scientists are building cyborg jellyfish to explore ocean depths ars technica American at the grocery store shows that every single thing she picks up now says Contains bioengineered ingredients I'm here at Aldi, and almost everything they have contains bioengineered food ingredients. This is all fake food, Americans are treated as lab rats pic.twitter.com/hk44M4jb18 Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) August 22, 2025 The illusion of safe marijuana Unherd COVID-19/Pandemics "Before the pandemic, mortality trends for 25-44 year-olds mirrored other adult age groups. Since COVID-19, the mortality is unique. 25-44 year-olds now have a 70% higher chance of dying than in 2010." https://t.co/MpPlhCtbeD Nate Bear (@NateB_Panic) August 22, 2025 Climate/Environment China? Sri Lankas former president Ranil Wickremesinghe arrested BBC South of the Border NORTHCOM openly preparing unilateral military strikes inside Mexico The Trump administration has issued a Top Secret order directing the U.S. military to prepare lethal strikes on Mexican cartels, investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein reports. The planning order tasks https://t.co/cq7zJjE6xg Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) August 22, 2025 Time is running out for the coup plotters Socialism and Democracy (Micael T). Brazil. European Disunion Old Blighty An IPSOS poll this week showed that a third (33%) of 16 to 34 year olds would consider voting for the new left wing party. Its not hard to see why. pic.twitter.com/Btklswi2pO Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) August 22, 2025 Britains Mass Fatality Preparation: What Is the Government Preparing For? Jim Ferguson (Chuck L). The author is an alarmist on governments curbing rights. However, that does not make this find untrue. However, the tender amount is bupkis. So is this grifting even when the Government budget is under strain? Or Russia paranoia? Why are food prices still rising by so much? BBC Israel v. The Resistance New Not-So-Cold War Caucasus Big Brother is Watching You Watch DNS Becomes a Tool of Digital Rebellion: From Internet Infrastructure to Privacy Weapon Reclaim the Net (Micael T) Imperial Collapse Watch Ministry of Violence Buttondown (resilc). On evangelical child abuse. Denmark ending letter deliveries is a sign of the digital times BBC (Kevin W). Bullshit. Its a sign of neoliberalism, as in privatization of once public services that when they were implemented were seen as advances in civilization. Admittedly, in the US, the Internet did kill severely dent a key source of revenues for the Post Office, catalogue delivery. Trump 2.0 Tariffs Treasury Secretary Bessent is gaslighting the American people on tariff revenue as government debt runs wild, analyst says Investors Observer Trump says furniture tariffs are coming later this year CNBC (Kevin W). I wrote about this years ago, keying off a Wall Street Journal story on the loss of North Carolinas furniture industry. As I recall, the Journal stressed the skill loss, not just at the factory floor but also the managerial level Immigration Laffaire Epstein Ghislaine Maxwell never saw Trump in any inappropriate setting, transcript shows Guardian (Kevin W). Such a tortured formulation is suspect. So she saw him with sex trafficked women in bed? That would be an appropriate setting. A massage setting is a massage table, FFS. Prosecutors please pipe up. How conceivable is it that someone very compliant with the DoJ did a dry run and told Maxwells attorneys if and how her statements could be reformulated. Democrats en deshabille Fedwatch The only place the Fed is "independent" is in the Economics classroom the Fed has always been responsive to political pressure https://t.co/i4ABGJMD2Y Richard Field (@tyillc) August 22, 2025 Economy Class 8 Truck Orders Drop 35% from Year Ago, Medium Duty Down 40% Michael Shedlock AI Guillotine Watch How SpaceX avoids paying taxes Musk Watch Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): And a bonus (guurst): A second bonus: After losing his final saxophone in the car crash . We hunted all over eBay to find the exact same of his favorite toy. Today it arrived pic.twitter.com/VqDSEQx5Di Unregistered HyperEm 2 (@warmaliens) August 22, 2025 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. To some, this post might seem quaint. It looks back on a period when some Democrats were willing to act in a principled manner, at least when the costs were not high. It even show members of what Black Agenda Report calls the black misleadership class like Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters acting as if they had some decency. But a key, albeit secondary part, of this account on how the South African divestment and sanctions movement got rolling is the seminal role of year of campus activism, which included targeting university endowments for divestiture of South African holdings. No wonder Zionist billionaire have been so savage in their efforts to stamp out student and faculty opposition to Israels genocide and ethnic cleansing. By John P. Ruehl, an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C., and a world affairs correspondent for the Independent Media Institute. He is a contributor to several foreign affairs publications, and his book, Budget Superpower: How Russia Challenges the West With an Economy Smaller Than Texas, was published in December 2022. Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute By the early 1980s, South Africas system of racial apartheid had evolved from an issue of limited concern to becoming a major issue globally. Years of campaigning by anti-apartheid activists, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and student-led divestment movements were beginning to bear fruit. This momentum, however, stalled due to the conservative turn in U.S. politics after Ronald Reagans 1980 election victory. His constructive engagement policy toward South Africa prioritized resistance against communist expansion over efforts to end human rights violations internationally, stated the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Moreover, Cold War concerns over some anti-apartheid groups links to radical or communist entities made the cause politically sensitive for many Democrats. The breakthrough came with the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act (CAAA) of 1986, when Congress overrode President Reagans veto to impose sanctions on South Africa, a result of years of pressure from progressive lawmakers and Democrats. It marked a turning point that would help see apartheid officially dismantled by 1994, assisted by the easing of Cold War tensions and the end of Soviet backing for South Africas liberation movements. Apartheid was never a decisive electoral issue for most Americans. For Democrats with presidential ambitions in the 1980s and early 1990s, support for ending it was strongest in liberal centers like New York and on university campuses, where protests and local resolutions aligned with activist solidarity. Nationwide, however, the cause risked alienating some conservatives and foreign policy hawks. Still, prominent Democrats helped normalize legislation against South Africa, including bans on state entities doing business with companies operating there. Their pressure on the Reagan administration cemented a Democratic brand of foreign policy based on moral conviction. But having claimed a leading role in dismantling apartheid, this legacy has increasingly come back to haunt them. Carter to Reagan By the 1970s, events like the 1976 Soweto uprising and the rise of independent trade unions created a link between South African struggles and U.S. civil rights, student activism, and labor movements. For many Democrats, condemning apartheid was becoming a public litmus test for moral internationalism and prioritizing genuine social change abroad over realpolitik. President Jimmy Carters administration favored heavier pressure against South Africa, backing the 1977 UN-sponsored arms embargo and restricting exports of certain products. Carters defeat in 1980 led to a policy turnaround. Ronald Reagans administration viewed South Africas liberation movementsthe African National Congress (ANC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF)as too closely tied to the Soviets, and embraced the constructive engagement policy with the South African government. Seeking gradual reform while maintaining political links, the White House downplayed apartheid as a priority in favor of retaining South Africa as a Cold War ally. Some Democrats continued to see the issue as both morally and politically urgent. In 1983, Representative Stephen Solarz introduced H.R. 1693 to limit U.S. financial assistance to business operations in South Africa and ban the import of certain goods from the country. The bill failed, but Solarz emerged as a prominent foreign policy force throughout the 1980s. In an 1985 Opinion piece in the New York Times, he pointed out that Just as President Reagans policy of constructive engagement could not bring Pretoria to its senses, American economic sanctions alone will not bring it to its knees. It will take a combination of increasing internal and international pressure to convince the South African Government that the price of maintaining apartheid exceeds the cost of abandoning it. By 1992, political analyst Charlie Cook floated him as a possible presidential contender, but his prospects faded after losing his House seat in post-1990 redistricting. He was offered the Indian ambassadorship by Bill Clinton, which fell through following allegations that he had sought a U.S. visa for a Hong Kong businessman with a criminal record. Solarzs actions, however, showed that standing against South Africas apartheid didnt negatively impact ones political career. National security concerns, especially over South Africas suspected nuclear activities (including a possible 1979 nuclear test), also helped build some bipartisan support for sanctions. In 1983, Representative Charles B. Rangel introduced H.R.1020 to ban exports of nuclear materials and technology to South Africa, while Representative William H. Gray III proposed H.R. 1392 to limit U.S. investment in the country. He also introduced the Anti-Apartheid Action Act of 1985, which called for prohibiting loans and new investments and restricting imports. Though it passed the House and Senate, the bill stalled before becoming law. The legislative push against apartheid actually began more than a decade earlier, with Representative Ron Dellums, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, issuing the first legislative challenge to apartheid in 1972. By the mid-1980s, community leaders and CBC politicians like Maxine Waters,Ron Dellums, and Charles Rangel had all helped raise awareness, notably after the 1984 arrests of Dellums and Representative John Conyers at the South African Embassy for protesting against racial segregation. Civil rights leader Jesse Jacksons 1984 presidential campaign showed that voters could support a more radical stance on apartheid. In 1984, while speaking at the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid, he said, The present U.S. partnership with apartheid is a violation of our national morality. Senior Democrats like Gary Hart and John Glenn, also running for president that year, were less vocal on the issue. However, Democratic nominee Walter Mondale, long critical of apartheid since the 1960sand vocal against it as vice president under Jimmy Carter, endorsed strengthening the strategic embargo and limiting diplomatic contact as part of his presidential campaign. Mondale was defeated in a landslide, winning only in his home state of Minnesota and Washington, D.C., in an election where his pledge to raise taxes and lingering dissatisfaction with the Carter administration weighed heavily. Despite his defeat, Mondale helped normalize opposition to apartheid within mainstream Democratic discourse, and after retiring from politics following the 1984 presidential election, he later served as U.S. ambassador to Japan under Clinton and narrowly lost a 2002 Senate race. Democrats continued to introduce new legislation in their fight against apartheid and found success at the local and state levels. By 1985, numerous cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Boston, had passed divestment ordinances, while states like Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, and Nebraska had enacted divestment laws. The same year, New York Governor Mario Cuomo said that to demonstrate the abhorrence of [New York] residents to the pernicious system of apartheid he would soon propose legislation to require the divestiture, over the next five years, of billions of dollars in state funds. Despite it being struck down, Cuomo remained a powerful Democratic figure until his 1994 electoral loss. The movements momentum spread from House members to mayors and governors, and senators. Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, who challenged Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Democratic primary, stayed a vocal critic of apartheid, traveling to South Africa in 1985 and meeting anti-apartheid activist and bishop Desmond Tutu. Kennedys strong liberal base and national profile allowed him to champion sanctions, even as personal scandals invited criticism. In 1986, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware made headlines by sharply rebuking Secretary of State George Shultz during a Senate hearing over the Reagan administrations lenient policy toward South Africa. Joined by fellow Democrats and several Republicans, Biden pressed for a timetable to end apartheid. While his national profile was still rising, he remained popular in Delaware. The turning point came in 1986 when Congress, led by Democrats unanimously, reintroduced the Anti-Apartheid Action Act as the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act. The victory marked the moment when apartheid became mainstream Democratic policy, reflecting growing public support nationwide. Moving into the Mainstream Widespread Democratic support for anti-apartheid measures was clear by the 1988 presidential race. Representative Dick Gephardt, a co-sponsor of the 1983 bill to reduce investment in South Africa, won early 1988 election contests like Iowa but later withdrew amid declining support. Joe Biden also ran briefly in 1988, while Jesse Jackson, in his second presidential campaign, made helping end apartheid an integral part of his foreign policy. The nomination ultimately went to Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis. Dukakis had already divested state pension funds from companies doing business in South Africa in 1983. During his campaign, Dukakis, influenced by Jesse Jackson, labeled South Africa as a terrorist state. Although he lost the general election, he continued his stance by signing an executive order in 1989, which banned Massachusetts state contracts with firms operating there. However, his political capital had diminished, and he chose not to seek reelection as governor in 1991. A major reason behind growing Democratic activism against apartheid in the 1980s stemmed from greater public awareness. Campus divestment movements further entrenched anti-apartheid activism into the Democratic Party and wider American political culture. Beginning in the late 1970s, a grassroots movement of American college students and faculty across the country started demanding that their academic and civic institutions divest their holdings in companies doing business in South Africa and that pension funds and banks divest any South African assets. By 1988, more than 155 academic institutions had fully or partially divested from South Africa In addition, by 1989, 26 U.S. states, 22 counties and more than 90 cities had taken economic action against companies doing business in South Africa, stated the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva. A series of events organized globally further helped bring apartheid into the national spotlight. These included the 25th anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre in 1985, the 1985 global hit Sun City, a song that had roots in the protests against a whites-only resort in South Africa, and the 1988 televised London concert for Mandelas 70th birthday. Negotiations to dismantle apartheid began in 1989 when Frederik Willem de Klerk became South African president. In the United States, Democrats were critical of President George H.W. Bushs decision to lift certain sanctions on South Africa in 1991. It was not, however, a major campaign issue in the 1992 election, with foreign policy sidelined due to the Soviet Unions collapse and a deep recession at home. The election was primarily shaped by domestic concerns, which Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and his vice-presidential pick Al Gore successfully navigated to win. Both men had taken relatively cautious public positions on apartheid in the 1980s. Gore was a vocal supporter of the 1986 CAAA but did not make it a strong part of his political identity. Clinton was, meanwhile, governor of a southern state and did not advance any divestment initiatives. But the 1992 South African referendum, where white South Africans voted to end minority rule, provided a welcome opening. The Clinton presidential administration strongly backed South Africas ongoing reforms and offered strong assistance. In April 1994, apartheid was formally dismantled, and South Africa held its first free elections. Six months later, Clinton welcomed President Nelson Mandela on his first official state visit to the U.S., with Clinton later visiting South Africa in 1998. Yet Clintons trip also exposed early strains. Mandela rejected U.S. trade proposals and defended ties with leaders in Libya, Iran, and Cuba. Still, Democrats retained much of the moral authority associated with their stance on apartheid, a perception reinforced by contrast with President George W. Bushs wars in the 2000s, until disappointment followed. Barack Obamas presidency, with Biden as vice president, often appeared to be pushing for overall reform but was morally inconsistent with new military campaigns being initiated during his term. Trumps 2016 campaign leaned on a promise not to start new wars, a record that Biden was able to match. But what defined Biden instead was his steadfast support for Israel after October 7, 2023. His administrations political and military backing split Democrats more sharply than any foreign policy issue in decades, alienating younger, progressive, and Muslim and Arab American voters who once saw the party as a vehicle for moral clarity abroad. Bidens anti-apartheid legacy has been recast as hypocrisy amid his support for Israel as Palestinians suffer. The wider Democratic Partys inaction on Israel, aside from its progressive voices, showed that the problem was not just Bidens but reflected the wider sentiment of the party. What began as a story of global solidarity and moral clarity has become a painful point of contention, particularly over Israel and other perceived failures of Democratic presidents since then. South Africas post-apartheid promise, based on U.S. support, has also faltered, with ongoing racial divisions, corruption, crime, power outages, and a water crisis. These issues drove the African National Congress, dominant for 30 years, to its worst-ever electoral results in 2024. South Africans frustration has extended to the U.S., with lingering distrust over American intentions over the past two decades, leaving space for China and Russia to expand their influence. The Democrat legacy of ending apartheid has not only set higher expectations that the Biden administration failed to meet but also contributed to a geopolitical setback. Democrats legacy has been further complicated by President Donald Trumps renewed focus on white South Africans. Beginning in 2018 and escalating during his second term, Trump has framed their plight as evidence of ongoing racial discrimination in the country. In February 2025, he issued an executive order titled Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa, and during an Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in May, he accused him of enabling a white genocide in the country. Trumps refugee program for white South Africans saw its first arrivals during the same month. The lesson of the Democratic anti-apartheid legacy extends beyond the single historic victory of helping end South Africas discriminatory and oppressive system. While its role in ending apartheid was essential and historic, lasting political change depends on the willingness to act decisively, endure political costs, and uphold principles even when they are inconvenient or unpopular. It also means applying the same standards across countries and time periods, which the Democrats have been unable to achieve. The vaccine circus rolls on: Why medical groups are still pushing unnecessary shots that cause heart damage Most people refer to the COVID pandemic in the past tense, saying things like, During COVID However, the American Academy of Pediatrics continues to push COVID-19 vaccines on children , as if there is still a pandemic, and as if another round of boosters will save kids from COVID-19. This is a clown show a tragic one, where the punchline is your childs health. So here we are again, with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doubling down, urging COVID-19 vaccines for infants as young as six months despite mounting evidence that the benefits for healthy children are negligible at best, and the risks are real and devastating when they occur. Key points: The AAP now recommends COVID-19 vaccines for infants as young as six months, despite minimal risk from the virus in this age group and no evidence the shots prevent transmission. The organization is heavily funded by Pfizer and Moderna, raising serious questions about financial influence over medical advice. The CDC, under new leadership, has scaled back its own recommendations, no longer advising COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children a move the AAP is now undermining. Flu shots for kids are also under scrutiny, with studies suggesting they may increase hospitalization risks in children with asthma, yet the AAP still pushes them universally. Parents are caught in the crossfire, pressured by pediatricians to follow guidelines that may not align with independent science or common sense. Other countries, including the UK and Australia, have stopped recommending COVID-19 vaccines for most children, leaving the U.S. increasingly isolated in its approach. When science is for sale, whos really calling the shots? The AAPs latest recommendation that infants as young as six months should receive a COVID-19 vaccine lands with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The justification? A study of 2,490 hospitalized children, a sample size so small its statistically laughable when applied to the entire U.S. child population. Of those, most infants under two had no underlying conditions. But heres the kicker: COVID-19 hospitalization rates in children have always been minuscule. The risk of severe outcomes for healthy kids is so low that it borders on irrelevance. So why the aggressive push? The AAP is not some neutral arbiter of child health. Its an organization that receives direct funding from Pfizer and Moderna, the two pharmaceutical giants that manufacture the COVID-19 vaccines being recommended. This isnt a conspiracy theory; its a documented conflict of interest, one that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has already flagged. Andrew Nixon, an HHS spokesman, didnt mince words: By bypassing the CDCs advisory process and freelancing its own recommendations, while smearing those who demand accountability, the AAP is putting commercial interests ahead of public health and politics above Americas children. Let that sink in. The group writing the prescriptions is also cashing checks from the companies filling them. Meanwhile, the CDC long criticized for its own cozy relationship with vaccine manufacturers has quietly reversed course under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As of May, the agency no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children or pregnant women, a stark contrast to its previous universal mandate. Dr. Marty Makary, a former FDA commissioner, put it bluntly: Theres no evidence healthy kids need it today, and most countries have stopped recommending it for children. So why is the AAP still beating the drum? Because if the shots arent recommended, insurance companies might stop covering them. And if insurance stops covering them, the billions in annual revenue from childhood vaccinations could dry up. And if that happens, then there would an astronomical drop in myocarditis in children, along with a host of other health issues that children suffer from due to this COVID jab program. It's these vaccine induced health issues that are propping up the entire pediatric industry. Without vaccines, the AAP and pediatricians would be shuttered, as parents generally raise healthy kids without all the recommended poisons. Flu shots, thimerosal, and the art of moving goalposts If the COVID-19 vaccine push and its wave of myocarditis werent enough, the AAP is also doubling down on flu shots for infants, starting at six months. Again, the justification is shaky. While the flu can be serious, hospitalization rates for children are exceptionally low ranging from 7,000 to 26,000 in the 2019-2020 season, a fraction of a percent of the U.S. child population. Yet the AAP insists on annual shots, despite emerging research suggesting they may increase hospitalization risks in children with asthma. Then theres the thimerosal problem. This mercury-based preservative, long used in flu vaccines, has been linked to neurological issues, including tics in children. The CDC, under Kennedys leadership, recently banned thimerosal-containing flu vaccines for kids. The AAP? Opposed the move, arguing theres no health concern with the mercury levelsdespite studies suggesting otherwise. This is the same playbook weve seen for decades: Dismiss concerns, ignore alternatives, and insist that the only safe path is the one that lines pharmaceutical pockets. Its not medicine; its marketing disguised as public health. Most parents have woken up to the destruction of the vaccine industry Heres the uncomfortable truth: Most parents dont trust these recommendations anymore. And why should they? Weve watched as countries like the UK and Australia hardly anti-vaccine strongholds have dropped COVID-19 vaccine mandates for kids, citing lack of benefit. Weve seen FDA and CDC advisers admit that the risks for healthy children outweigh the rewards. Weve heard whistleblowers and independent scientists warn about long-term effects, from myocarditis to immune dysfunction, only to be silenced or ridiculed. And yet, the AAP marches on, gaslighting parents into believing that injecting their infants with experimental genetic therapies is just what you do. This isnt about anti-vax hysteria. Its about asking basic questions: If the virus is mild for kids, why vaccinate them? If natural immunity is robust, why ignore it? If other countries have stopped, why hasnt the U.S.? If the CDC has backed off, why is the AAP still pushing? If theres no long-term safety data, how can anyone claim these shots are safe and effective? The answers arent pretty. Because at the end of the day, this isnt about health. Its about control, profit, and a medical-industrial complex that has lost its way. Whats a parent to do? If theres one takeaway from this mess, its this: You have a choice. The AAPs recommendations are not laws. Theyre opinions bought and paid for by an industry that profits from compliance. And that industry needs to market a forever pandemic, no matter how many people have moved on from the coercive messaging. Sources include: Zerohedge.com DocumentCloud.org Pubmed.gov Cidrap.edu FBI raids ex-Trump adviser Boltons home amid claims of classified document misuse FBI raids former National Security Adviser John Boltons home and office over alleged mishandling of classified documents. Probe concerns documents sent via private emails to family while he worked in Trumps administration. President Trump distances himself from raid but calls Bolton unpatriotic. Investigation into Boltons 2020 memoir stalled under Biden but restarted under FBI Director Kash Patel. Raid highlights tensions in national security oversight and perception of partisan law enforcement actions. On Friday morning, federal agents executed search warrants at the home and office of former National Security Adviser John Bolton, a decision that reignited the decades-long feud between Bolton and President Donald Trump. The January raid targeted alleged violations of national security protocols, specifically Boltons use of a private email server to share classified information with his family while serving in the Trump administration. While President Trump, who labeled Bolton a lowlife and unpatriotic, denied involvement, the operation ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel points to escalating tensions over accountability for classified material and partisan accusations of political retaliation. The immediate circumstances Agents from the FBI first arrived at Boltons Bethesda, Maryland, residence around 7:00 a.m., with additional searches conducted at his Washington, D.C., office later in the morning. The probe focuses on Boltons possession of classified documents, allegedly transmitted via personal emails during his tenure (2018-2019). According to a senior U.S. official, the investigation was reopened under Director Patel after being dormant during the Biden administration. Despite widespread speculation that the raid was politically motivated, officials emphasized the focus on national security compliance. NO ONE is above the law, Patel posted on X as agents conducted the search. Bolton, however, has not been arrested or charged, and the FBIs search warrants unsealed but not publicly available appear to highlight concerns about document handling rather than reviving past disputes over his memoir. A history of rivalry The Bolton-Trump clash dates to Boltons dismissal in 2019. Bolton, a hawkish foreign policy veteran, frequently clashed with Trump over military engagement, notably advocating for more aggressive approaches to Iran and North Korea. Their feud escalated in 2020 when Bolton published The Room Where It Happened, a memoir criticizing Trumps incoherent leadership. The book detailed Trumps alleged outreach to China ahead of the 2020 election and his stunningly uninformed grasp of national security. Trumps administration fought to block publication, alleging leaks of classified information, but a court ruled the book could proceed. Trump lambasted Bolton as a wacko and dope while Bolton called Trump unfit for office. The animosity deepened as Bolton continued to criticize Trumps diplomacy, including his negotiations with Russias Vladimir Putin. National security concerns and political speculation Critics, particularly conservative commentators, frame the raid as long-overdue accountability for mishandling classified materials. Supporters of Bolton argue the timing hints at political retribution, given Biden officials allegedly shelved the probe for political reasons. The case parallels the 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid of Trump, raising questions about selective enforcement. Bolton claimed innocence on Friday, posting a criticism of Trumps Ukraine policy minutes after agents entered his home. Meanwhile, Trump labeled Bolton unpatriotic but insisted he had no prior knowledge of the raid. The FBI and Justice Department handle these things themselves, he said. I tell them, Do what you have to do. Broader implications The investigation underscores growing scrutiny of national security officials conduct and the role of leaked classified information in political drama. With Senate Republicans pushing to end Kash Patels confirmation blockade, the Bolton raid amplifies debates over FBI independence. Historically, administrations including both Bush and Obama have reviewed classified material from departing officials. However, the current polarized climate has turned such procedures into contentious political issues. Boltons case now joins a chain of controversies, from Hillary Clintons private server to Trumps Mar-a-Lago, illustrating the complexity of balancing accountability with partisanship. A divide over duty The FBIs raid on John Boltons home reflects a broader struggle over trust in institutions and the line between patriotism and political treachery. Whether Boltons actions were negligent, intentional, or framed by political bias remains unclear. What is certain is that the incident deepens existing fractures in a nation already wrestling with foreign policy rivalries and doubts about who safeguards the nations secrets. As President Trump noted, Were going to find out but for millions, the process of uncovering the truth about classified documents and political feuds will test the limits of both accountability and tolerance. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com FoxNews.com NYPost.com Gabbard REVOKES security clearances of intelligence officials tied to Russiagate hoax Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard revoked security clearances of 37 current and former intelligence officials tied to the Trump-Russia investigation, accusing them of politicizing intelligence, leaking classified information and failing professional standards. Gabbard framed the move as a strike against Deep State influence, declassified a 2016 briefing implicating Obama, and suggested high-level involvement in manipulating the Russia collusion narrative. Among those losing clearances were Biden administration officials, fueling accusations of political retribution. Critics argue the action violates privacy laws and longstanding intelligence protocols. She justified the revocations as necessary to restore integrity, stating security clearance is a "privilege, not a right," and accused the officials of violating their oaths and leaking classified intelligence. The purge intensifies deep partisan divisions, raising concerns about politicization of intelligence while supporters view it as accountability against corruption within agencies. Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Tulsi Gabbard has revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former intelligence officials igniting a firestorm of controversy and accusations of politicization. Gabbard framed the sweeping action, which targets individuals linked to the controversial Trump-Russia investigation, as both a defense of constitutional duty and a strike against the Deep State's influence within the intelligence community. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine, the controversial Trump-Russia investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the 2016 election. However, it was later exposed as a politically motivated hoax lacking credible evidence, orchestrated by Deep State actors, Democrats and intelligence officials to undermine President Donald Trump's legitimacy. The probe unlawfully surveilled innocent Americans, wasted taxpayer money and became a tool of partisan persecution rather than justice. Gabbard's decision, announced through an Office of the Director of National Intelligence memo, has terminated the access of 37 officials to classified materials, contracts and government employment. The memo as reported by the New York Post accuses these individuals of "abusing public trust by politicizing and manipulating intelligence, failing to safeguard classified information, or disregarding tradecraft standards." Among those affected is Vinh Nguyen, a senior aide to former DNI James Clapper. Nguyen allegedly pressured a whistleblower to endorse the findings of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Gabbard has also declassified a December 2016 presidential briefing, suggesting that former President Barack Obama was aware of and involved in the politicization of intelligence regarding the Russia narrative. This revelation has further fueled the debate over the legitimacy of the Trump-Russia investigation and the role of high-ranking officials in its inception. (Related: Tulsi Gabbard alleges Obama, Clinton committed treason in bombshell DNI report.) Gabbard: Security clearances a privilege, not a right Gabbard's actions have been met with fierce criticism from both Democrats and national security professionals. Critics argue that the move is a blatant attempt to politicize the intelligence community and undermine the credibility of those who have served under multiple administrations. National security attorney Mark Zaid accused Gabbard of violating the Privacy Act and deviating from well-established laws and policies. He stated: "These are unlawful and unconstitutional decisions that deviate from well-settled, decades-old laws and policies that sought to protect against just this type of action." Emily Horne a National Security Council spokesperson under former President Joe Biden and Brett Holmgren, a former assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, are among the Biden administration officials whose clearances were revoked. The inclusion of these individuals has led to accusations that Gabbard is targeting political opponents and using her office to settle political scores. In response to the criticism, Gabbard defended her actions as a necessary step to protect national security and uphold the integrity of the intelligence community. She also accused the targeted officials of "leaking classified intelligence without authorization" and "committing intentional egregious violations of tradecraft standards." "Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right," Gabbard wrote on X. "Those in the intelligence community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold." She emphasized the need for the intelligence community to remain committed to the values and principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and to prioritize the safety and security of the American people. While the long-term consequences of Gabbard's decision remain to be seen, but it is clear that the DNI has set the stage for a contentious battle over the future of U.S. intelligence and national security. Watch this Fox Business report about President Donald Trump and DNI Tulsi Gabbard revoking the security clearances for top Biden officials. This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump strips Deep State operative Norm Eisen of security clearance in major blow to anti-Trump efforts. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard confirms Media PSYOP Operation Mockingbird revived to target Americans. Trump REVOKES former President Joe Bidens security clearance. Sources include: YourNews.com Brighteon.ai TheIndependent.co.uk TheHill.com Brighteon.com Plague cases spark outbreak concerns in western U.S. A California resident contracted the plague after a Lake Tahoe camping trip, marking the latest in a string of cases across the western U.S. Health officials report confirmed cases in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, with nine fatalities since 1957. Plague is transmitted by fleas from wild rodents, with bubonic and pneumonic forms posing serious health risks. Public health agencies urge precautions during outdoor activities and stress the importance of prompt treatment with antibiotics. Surveillance programs monitor rodent populations, but erratic reporting complicates tracking and prevention. Health officials in California confirmed a rare case of bubonic plague in a South Lake Tahoe camper, fueling concerns about sporadic outbreaks across the American West. The 21-year-old victim, who recovered after treatment, was likely infected via a flea bite during an outdoor activity. Its important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, said Kyle Fliflet, El Dorado Countys acting director of public health. The incident follows similar cases in New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. In Colorado alone, 45 people have contracted the plague since 1957, with nine deaths, including a recent pneumonic plague fatality in Williamsburg. Pneumonic plague, the deadliest strain, is transmitted via respiratory droplets and requires urgent care. A historical threat resurfaces amid environmental shifts Plague bacteria (Yersinia pestis) have been endemic in North America for centuries, but human cases remain rare due to modern medicine. Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, Fliflet said, noting 41 plague-exposed rodents were identified in El Dorado County from 20212024, with four more in 2025s Tahoe Basin alone. Elevated rodent surveillance has uncovered flare-ups in national parks like Yosemite, where two cases were reported in 2015. Last month, Arizona health officials confirmed a pneumonic plague death the first since 2007. How plague spreads and how to stay safe The disease typically spreads through flea bites contracted during camping or hiking near rodent habitats. However, plague can also emerge in urban and suburban areas where rodents thrive in close proximity to human dwellings. The bacterium responsible is transmitted when infected fleas often from rats, prairie dogs, or other small mammals feed on humans or animals. After ingesting blood, fleas regurgitate the bacteria during subsequent bites, a process more likely in cooler temperatures that prolong flea survival and amplify infestations. Rodent habitats pose a significant risk. Infestations flourish in cluttered spaces such as tool sheds, brush piles, basements, garages and attics. Homeowners are urged to eliminate these hazards by clearing debris, sealing entry points in buildings and storing food in rodent-proof containers. Routine inspections of outdoor storage areas and removal of trash are critical to disruption of rodent nesting. Pets, particularly cats, are highly susceptible to plague and can carry infected fleas indoors. Dogs exhibit greater resistance but may still transmit fleas if exposed. Owners should use veterinary-approved flea prevention products, avoid letting pets roam in rodent-heavy zones (like dense brush or abandoned burrows) and check animals for fleas and symptoms such as lethargy, high fever or swollen lymph nodes. Sick pets require immediate veterinary care, as untreated cases endanger both animals and their owners. Human symptoms begin abruptly with fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes near the bite site. If left untreated, the disease can escalate to severe forms like septicemic plague (leading to organ failure) or pneumonic plague (a deadly form spread via airborne droplets from coughing). Prompt antibiotic treatment is critical to prevent complications. The bigger picture: Why this matters now Health agencies, while advocating measures like insect repellent (containing DEET) and protective clothing during outdoor activities, must be approached with skepticism given their potential ties to corrupt agendas. Independent vigilance such as avoiding dead animals, never touching fleas or rodents without gloves and manually reducing rodent-friendly environments is paramount. The CDCs guidelines, while widely promoted, should be cross-referenced with community knowledge and herb-based preparations like echinacea or neem for natural flea deterrence. As temperatures rise, flea populations may wane, but cooler regions or seasonal changes can still harbor risks. Staying informed through decentralized networks, like local prepper groups, and stockpiling herbal first-aid solutions (e.g., garlic, oregano oil) provide alternatives to trusting faltering institutions. While plague deaths are rare, their occurrence hints at broader ecological and public health challenges. Moreover, delayed reporting and inconsistent protocols hinder containment efforts. A call for vigilance in an uncertain landscape Dr. Charles Brown, an epidemiologist at the CDC, emphasized the urgency of education: Raising awareness in high-risk areas is critical to preventing severe outcomes. As warmer weather drives outdoor recreation, health experts urge campers and hikers to proceed with caution. With cases resurfacing in iconic landscapes like Lake Tahoe and the Rocky Mountains, the reminders are stark: centuries-old threats persist, demanding modern vigilance. Our surveillance systems work, but vigilance is key, Fliflet said. Plague wont be eradicated, but it can be managed if people know how to spot it. Sources for this article include: 100percentfedup.com FoxNews.com TheGuardian.com Stephen Miller blasts Democrats over immigration policies in fiery Fox News appearance White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller accused Democratic leaders of prioritizing undocumented immigrants and violent criminals over the safety of American citizens, calling the Democratic Party an "extremist organization." Miller specifically targeted sanctuary city mayors, alleging they are violating federal law by protecting undocumented criminals and refusing to comply with federal immigration mandates. Miller warned that noncompliance with immigration laws could result in the loss of federal funding and potential criminal charges for harboring and smuggling undocumented immigrants. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent formal warnings to 32 Democratic mayors, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, demanding immediate action to eliminate policies obstructing federal immigration enforcement. Bondi emphasized the federal governments intent to prosecute public officials who knowingly interfere with immigration enforcement, citing possible violations of federal statutes and signaling a broader crackdown under the Trump administration. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has accused Democratic politicians of prioritizing the protection of undocumented immigrants and violent criminals over the safety and interests of American citizens. In a sharply worded appearance on Fox News on Aug. 19, Miller claimed that the leaders of the Democratic Party have abandoned the core responsibilities of public service in favor of defending "foreign terrorists, hardened criminals and violent illegal aliens." He then labeled the Democratic Party "an extremist organization." "A political party represents Americans, law-abiding citizens. All you see all day long are crazy Democrats screeching on TV on behalf of foreign terrorists, hardened criminals and violent illegal aliens; a political party exclusively dedicated to protecting terrorist criminals, gang bangers and murderers," Miller said. (Related: Stephen Miller vows to unleash full federal power for MASS DEPORTATIONS, promises to restore law and order in America.) Miller directed particular criticism at the leaders of sanctuary cities, alleging they are defying federal law by refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement. He accused mayors in cities like Boston of ignoring deadlines to comply with federal mandates requiring the handover of undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes. "These sanctuary city mayors, the DOJ has been very clear. They [mayors] had a deadline and they violated it. They had a deadline to comply with federal law and hand over the criminal illegal aliens in this country, the child rapists, the child predators, the drug traffickers, the human traffickers. The sanctuary cities like Boston refused to turn over these menacing threats to public safety," he added. Miller warned of potential legal consequences for noncompliance, including the loss of federal funding and possible criminal charges. "So now, they face not only revocation of funds, not only the loss of taxpayer support, but also potential criminal charges for harboring and smuggling. This is as real as it gets!" he declared. AG Bondi threatens legal action against Newsom and 32 Democratic mayors As per Brighteon.AI's Enoch, California and other Democratic-led states have long defended sanctuary policies as a means of protecting immigrant communities and encouraging cooperation with local law enforcement without fear of deportation. However, this is not the case now under Trump. Miller's comments come in response to a warning issued by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to 32 Democratic mayors across the country, instructing them to outline "immediate initiatives" that would eliminate any laws, policies or practices that obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts. On Aug. 13, Bondi sent a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom to warn him about the state's continued refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The letter underscored the federal government's increasing pressure on so-called "sanctuary jurisdictions," which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Bondi accused these jurisdictions of obstructing federal law enforcement and enabling undocumented immigrants to "perpetrate crimes in our communities and evade the immigration consequences that federal law requires." "As the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, I am committed to identifying state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal immigration laws or impede lawful federal immigration operations and taking legal action to challenge such laws, policies or practices. Individuals operating under the color of law, using their official position to obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts and facilitating or inducing illegal immigration, may be subject to criminal charges," Bondi wrote in the letter and posted it on X (formerly Twitter) two days after. Visit Migrants.news for more stories about illegal immigrants in the United States. Watch as Tom Homan explains how illegal immigrants are gaming the system. This video is from the Newsclips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Stephen Miller exposes government fraud, Left reels in outrage. Trump to appoint Stephen Miller as his deputy chief of staff for policy. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller condemns gender transition procedures for minors as "child torture." Stephen Miller, the incoming White House deputy chief of staff, promises "a new golden era" under Trump. Miller: LA Mayor "explicitly" threatening MORE "mob violence" and "insurrection." Sources include: Infowars.com X.com 1 Brighteon.AI X.com 2 Brighteon.com Chipotle Mexican Grill just announced a new partnership that will have orders arriving in a flash. The fast casual chain has joined forces with Zipline, an autonomous delivery system, which will allow digital orders to be transported by drones called Zips. Most Read from Fast Company The new service is fittingly being called Zipotle. According to an August 21 news release, Zipotle will be a zero emissions transport method. It also aims to be faster than traditional delivery, allowing for meals to arrive at customers homes practically just made. Zipotle is a quick and convenient source of delivery that lets guests enjoy our real food from places that are traditionally challenging to serve, including backyards and public parks, said Curt Garner, president, chief strategy and technology officer at Chipotle, in the release. Ziplines commitment to building an efficient, environmentally friendly delivery experience is synonymous with our mission to Cultivate a Better World. The program kicks off on Thursday from a Chipotle in Rowlett, Texas, and will serve the greater Dallas area. Select customers can access the service through the Zipline app. A broader Zipotle launch is expected in the coming weeks. According to the news release, digital food orders will be prepared by employees, then placed into a Zipping Point container, which allows for the Zips to autonomously pick up the order. After flying to its destination, the aircraft will hover about 300 feet in the air, while the Zip lowers to the ground, the release explains. The Zip automatically avoids obstacles and gently and precisely places the order at the guests address. The delivery method is built for just about any type of weather, according to Zipline. Zips are built to handle rain, wind, and heat with easeflying high above flooded roads and traffic jams. And because theyre 100% electric, theyre climate conscious too. The new partnership comes as Chipotle, along with other chains, have been targeting Gen Z consumers due to the fact that they dine out more often than other demographics. The chain also recently launched a new rewards program, Chipotle U Rewards, for college students. This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com Subscribe to get the Fast Company newsletter: http://fastcompany.com/newsletters Ukrainian allegedly involved in Nord Stream pipeline sabotage ARRESTED in Italy A Ukrainian national, Serhii K., was arrested in Italy under a European warrant for allegedly coordinating the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. German prosecutors accuse him of renting a yacht with forged documents, deploying divers and planting underwater explosives. The attack ruptured Nord Stream 1 and 2 with blasts equivalent to 500kg of TNT, severing Russias primary gas supply route to Europe and causing one of historys worst methane leaks. The sabotage reshaped Europe's energy landscape, forcing nations to seek alternative gas sources amid accusations of "energy warfare" and claims of a false flag operation to justify military escalation and green agenda policies. While Sweden and Denmark closed their cases without charges, Germany's probe remains active. Ukraine denies involvement, while Russia accuses the U.S. of orchestrating the attack a claim Washington rejects. Despite the arrest, critical questions remain unanswered including who funded the operation and whether state actors were involved, leaving major geopolitical and environmental repercussions unresolved. A Ukrainian national suspected of coordinating the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines has been arrested in Italy, marking a key breakthrough in one of Europe's most high-stakes energy crimes. German prosecutors confirmed Thursday, Aug. 21, that the suspect identified as Serhii K. was detained under a European arrest warrant in the Italian coastal province of Rimini. He was taken into custody for his alleged role in the underwater explosions that catastrophically damaged the pipelines. The September 2022 attack ruptured the two Nord Stream pipelines, reshaping Europe's energy landscape. It also forced nations to seek alternative gas supplies amid accusations of geopolitical sabotage. "The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines led to accusations of deliberate energy warfare," Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine elaborates. "Critics claim this false-flag operation was designed to escalate tensions, justify expanded military intervention and undermine European energy independence while benefiting globalist elites pushing green agendas." Authorities allege Serhii K. was part of a group that rented a yacht in Rostock, Germany using forged documents, then deployed divers to plant explosive charges near Denmark's Bornholm Island. The blasts equivalent to 500 kilograms of TNT left gaping holes in the pipelines, severing one of Russia's primary gas supply routes to Europe. Prosecutors accuse him of conspiracy to cause explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of critical infrastructure. If Serhii K. is extradited to Germany, he could face severe penalties under these charges. Nord Stream sabotage: Arrest sparks new questions in pipeline bombing The Nord Stream explosions occurred at a volatile moment in Europe's energy crisis, just months after Russia's special military operation in Ukraine led Western nations to pivot away from Russian gas. Moscow has repeatedly accused the U.S. of orchestrating the attack an allegation Washington denies while Kyiv has denied involvement. (Related: U.S. officials throw Zelensky under bus, claiming it was HE who ordered Nord Stream pipeline attack.) German media previously reported that a pro-Ukrainian group may have been responsible, though Kyiv dismissed the claim. Sweden and Denmark closed their investigations earlier this year without charges, leaving Germany's probe as the sole remaining inquiry. German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig hailed the arrest as a major investigative success, emphasizing the need for a full resolution of a case that has loomed over European energy security. Meanwhile, Berlin has vowed to block any future revival of Nord Stream, signaling a long-term shift toward liquefied natural gas and alternative suppliers. Beyond geopolitics, the explosions caused one of the worst methane leaks in history. Vast quantities of greenhouse gas spewed into the Baltic Sea, raising alarms over ecological damage. As Serhii K. awaits extradition, unanswered questions persist: Who financed the operation? Were state actors involved? For now, the arrest offers the first concrete lead in a mystery that continues to reverberate through global energy markets and diplomatic corridors. Head over to Conspiracy.news for more similar stories. Watch Judge Andrew Napolitano and Larry C. Johnson discussing whether the attack on the Nord Stream pipeline was an act of state-sponsored terrorism in this clip. This video is from the CADKIAH channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Retired general insinuates in leaked footage that US is behind Nord Stream pipeline BOMBING. Former British PM Liz Truss reportedly texted top U.S. official after Nord Stream sabotage: 'It's done.' America likely sabotaged Nord Stream pipelines to provoke Russia and make Europe more reliant on American natural gas. Sources include: OilPrice.com APNews.com Brighteon.ai AlJazeera.com Brighteon.com 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. By Jaspreet Singh (Reuters) -Intuit (INTU) forecast first-quarter revenue growth below analysts' estimates on Thursday, hit by sluggish performance at its marketing platform Mailchimp, sending the shares down nearly 6% before the bell on Friday. The company provides products such as tax-preparation software TurboTax, personal finance portal Credit Karma and accounting software QuickBooks. Mailchimp, acquired in 2021 and housed within Intuit's Global Business Solutions unit, saw its fourth-quarter revenue decline slightly, the company said. CFO Sandeep Aujla told Reuters that Mailchimp is a near-term drag on growth, but the company has initiatives underway and expects it to be performing well by the year-end. "The small businesses are the bread and butter of Mailchimp," Aujla said, adding they found it "a bit harder to use", which hurts retention and expansion. Intuit has largely completed the shift from QuickBooks Desktop licenses to subscriptions and closed the pricing gap with QuickBooks Online, resulting in slower Desktop growth. Excluding Mailchimp, the revenue growth slowdown is due to lower contribution from price increases expected in fiscal 2026, particularly in Desktop, the company said. With the launch of AI agents systems capable of taking actions on behalf of users for its QuickBooks portfolio, Intuit also raised the prices of its QuickBooks Online and Payroll subscription services last month. "Every time we do a price change, we realize that we were too conservative, but customer attrition ends up being below our expectations," Aujla said. Intuit expects fiscal 2026 revenue to be between $21 billion and $21.19 billion, largely in line with analysts' average estimate of $21.12 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Its annual adjusted profit per share forecast of $22.98 to $23.18 was also broadly in line with estimates of $23. The company's projection for first-quarter revenue growth of 14% to 15% came in below estimates of 16.1% growth. Intuit forecast adjusted earnings per share of $3.05 to $3.12 for the quarter, compared with estimates of $3.07. The fourth-quarter revenue grew 20% to $3.83 billion, beating estimates of $3.75 billion. The adjusted EPS of $2.75 also exceeded estimates of $2.66. Additionally, Intuit's board approved a new $3.2 billion share buyback, lifting total repurchase authorization to $5.3 billion. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi) While the majority of states require public school students to take at least one sexual education course, a patchwork of state-level provisions that mandate inaccurate, outdated, or politically motivated curricula may inhibit students from receiving essential information for their sexual health and well-being. Despite overwhelming evidence of the health benefits of school-based sexual education, no federal law requires schools in the United States to teach this subject. As a result, the decision to provide sexual education to students falls to states or local school districts, leaving a patchwork of inconsistent, inequitable, and often inaccurate instruction that could leave students ill-equipped to make informed decisions about their sexual health, relationships, and well-being. A new study that aimed to better understand and assess current sexual education laws in the US found that while 42 states require public school students to take a sexual education course that covers at least one topic within this subject between kindergarten and high school, only 19 states mandate that this instruction be medically accurate-and 5 of those states only require medical accuracy for specific topics. Led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher, the study found that 34 states that mandate this education require instruction on abstinence, a method that has consistently proven to be ineffective or harmful to adolescent sexual health, but continues to be embraced and funded by the federal government. Thirty-four states also allow parents to opt their children out of receiving any sexual education instruction, while five states require parents to opt in for their children to receive this instruction. The findings were published in the American Journal of Public Health. Adolescents are at a disproportionate risk of experiencing sexual health conditions, including sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, as well as unwanted pregnancies, and unhealthy relationships. Many states have amended their sexual education laws over the five years, and researchers hope this new insight will spur additional policy changes that expand adolescents' access to comprehensive, inclusive, and age-appropriate education and improve their sexual health and well-being. While many students in the US are required to get some form of sexual education, our study shows that substantially fewer students are likely to be getting the comprehensive sexual education that public health and medical associations recommend. Only 58 percent of students reside in a jurisdiction that requires sexual education to be medically accurate, and many jurisdictions have content mandates that extend only to a few topics. This means that many US students are living in jurisdictions where they are unlikely to receive the accurate and comprehensive information that we know will help them make informed, healthy choices about their sexual behaviors and relationships." Dr. Kimberly Nelson, study lead and corresponding author, associate professor of community health sciences at BUSPH For the study, Dr. Nelson and colleagues from BUSPH, Cornell Law School, and Florida International University identified and analyzed state statutes, administrative regulations, and state court decisions that mandated sexual education in public schools in every US state and Washington, D.C., and also examined sexual education content requirements and parental notice and consent policies. These state mandates varied by region, with all Northeast states requiring school-based sexual education for at least one topic, followed by 88 percent of states in the South, 83 percent of states in the Midwest, and 62 percent of states in the West. In addition to abstinence, 34 states mandate school instruction about HIV, while 32 states require education about STIs, and 31 states mandate instruction on child abuse prevention. While less common, 27 states require instruction about healthy relationships, 24 states require education about sexual assault, and 21 states require instruction about dating violence or intimate partner violence. Only 20 states require instruction about contraception, and even fewer mandate instruction about sexual orientation (12 states), condoms (11 states), and consent to sex (9 states). Two of the 12 states (Oklahoma and Texas) that mandated instruction about sexual orientation also required the use of stigmatizing or otherwise negative messaging, such as the idea that same-sex activity is "primarily responsible" for AIDS exposure. The researchers note that more studies are needed to understand the extent to which parental opt-in and opt-out policies, as well as parents' rights to review or receive advance notice of sexual education curricula, limit the effect of state sexual education mandates. But they acknowledge that these policies likely serve as political compromises that may be difficult to reverse. "Because policy decisions about sexual education curricula happen at the state-level, state-level sociopolitical forces exert substantial influence on sexual education," Dr. Nelson says. These forces also help explain why sexual education in school still embraces abstinence-only instruction, versus more comprehensive approaches, she says. "In states where sociopolitical forces and vocal advocacy groups push an abstinence-focused approach, that approach is likely to be seen as politically advantageous and be adopted." The senior author of the study is Dr. Kristen Underhill, associate dean for faculty research and professor of law at Cornell Law School. n6, the award-winning innovator in next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflow solutions, is proud to announce a major expansion of its European enablement efforts. Building on the momentum of winning the "Best New Product" award at SLAS earlier this year, n6 is deepening its commitment to supporting scientists across Europe by simplifying complex workflows and bringing transformative tools directly to the research community. As part of this expansion, n6 is excited to exhibit at SLAS Europe 2025 in Hamburg this week at Stand 1202, where the team looks forward to connecting with scientists, learning about their research, and sharing the latest advancements in NGS workflow optimization. In a significant step to enhance accessibility and customer support, n6 has signed three new distribution partnerships in Europe: Tectum Lab AB (Nordic countries) (Nordic countries) Witech AG (Switzerland) (Switzerland) GeneTiCA Group (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovenia) These partnerships will ensure that more scientists can access n6's innovative solutions, backed by local expertise and support. At n6, our mission has always been to put the needs of scientists first. Winning the Best New Product award at SLAS was a tremendous honor, but what drives us every day is seeing our technology make a real difference in labs around the world. We're thrilled to be at SLAS Europe this week, meeting with researchers and expanding our reach across Europe. With our new distributor partners, we're making it even easier for scientists to optimize and simplify one of the most important parts of the NGS workflow." Pranav Patel, CEO, n6 Since its debut, n6 has continued to invest in customer-driven innovation, ensuring that its solutions not only meet but exceed the evolving needs of the scientific community. The company invites all SLAS Europe attendees to visit Stand 1202 to experience firsthand how n6 is shaping the future of NGS workflows. China: Under-construction bridge collapses, 12 workers dead, 4 missing Last Updated: August 24, 2025, 02:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Qinghai [China], August 24 (ANI): At least 12 construction workers were killed after a steel cable snapped during bridge construction in northwest Chinas Qinghai Province. Four workers remain missing, Xinhua News reported, citing officials from the emergency command headquarters handling the accident.As reported by Xinhua News, the cable of the bridge broke during a tensioning operation at the site of a bridge under construction on the Qinghai section of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The failure caused a 108-meter steel girder arch rib to collapse, with 16 workers present at the site at the time.The authorities quickly launched rescue operations involving 806 personnel, 91 vehicles, 27 boats, one helicopter, and five robots. Six local hospitals have opened green channels for medical treatment of the injured.As reported by Xinhua News, rescue teams are continuing all-out efforts to locate the missing, provide medical assistance, and support affected families.The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a working group to guide the rescue operations, urging verification of the status of all personnel involved and mobilisation of specialised teams to rescue those who fell into the river.Authorities said the cause of the accident must be identified as soon as possible, and strict measures should be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.The Qinghai provincial government has set up an investigation team, composed of four specialised units that focus on coordination, technical analysis, management review, and rescue evaluation, Xinhua News reported.The bridge, under construction over the Yellow River, features a steel truss arch design, with its main span expected to be completed by the end of this month. (ANI) First Published: August 24, 2025, 02:00 IST News agency-feeds China: Under-construction bridge collapses, 12 workers dead, 4 missing 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... Family, friends pay last respects to Punjabi actor Jaswinder Bhalla Last Updated: August 24, 2025, 00:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Mohali (Punjab) [India], August 23 (ANI): Family, friends, and fans gathered in Mohali on Saturday to pay their last respects to veteran Punjabi actor and comedian Jaswinder Bhalla at his residence. Bhalla died on Friday morning at Fortis Hospital in Mohali after battling illness for the past few months. The actor was 65. Remembering Bhallas contribution, Punjab Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who arrived to pay his last tributes to the actor, called him a true son of the Punjabi language." He added that Bhalla not only entertained but also raised social issues through satire."He was a true son of the Punjabi language. He ruled the Punjabi industry with his acting and raised social issues through satire This loss will never be compensated," Tarunpreet told ANI. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema, who was also present at his residence, expressed grief at the actors demise. Calling him a very talented actor," Cheema recalled how Bhalla made people laugh all his life. Jaswinder Bhalla was a very talented actor and made people laugh all his life It is very sad that he is no longer among us May his soul rest in peace" Jaswinder Bhalla was loved by fans for his memorable performances in films like Gaddi Chaldi Hai Chhalla Maarke, Carry On Jatta, Jind Jaan, and Band Baaje. With his charm and wit, he carved a special place in Punjabi cinema and the hearts of millions. (ANI) First Published: August 24, 2025, 00:15 IST News agency-feeds Family, friends pay last respects to Punjabi actor Jaswinder Bhalla 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... Global terrorism and peace in spotlight at India Day event in South Africa Last Updated: August 24, 2025, 03:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Johannesburg, Aug 23 (PTI) Indias determined fight to tackle global terrorism, alongside calls for peace, were under the spotlight as the India Club hosted its 16th annual India Day in Johannesburg on Saturday. India Club is an association of Indian expatriates formed 16 years ago to host events to promote their motherland, the main one being the India Day event hosted in August, the month in which Indias Independence Day is celebrated on August 15. Recommended Stories Thousands of visitors flocked to the free all-day event at which expatriates from most states of India presented cultural events, while Indian companies represented in South Africa exhibited their products at a range of stalls. At the entrance to the grounds in the heart of South Africas commercial hub of Sandton, an exhibition highlighting global terror showed how the world has been under attack by terrorists for decades now, not just in India but across the globe. The exhibition included a timeline of attacks at various places in the world, including those in India, ending with the recent attack in Pahalgam, titled The Human Cost of Terrorism. High Commissioner Prabhat Kumar urged all visitors to take note of it. You must all go and see this exhibition. It will remind you of the terrorist attacks that have taken place in India and throughout the world and how it has disturbed and affected our families and our lives," Kumar said as he recalled the Pahalgam attack, calling it an attack on the unity of India. The terrorists singled out a single religion and killed 26 people on that day. We have responded in a very strong manner. Operation Sindoor, which is continuing in a way, is the resolute response of India to this terrorism. We have said that terror and talks cannot go together; terror and trade cannot go together; and blood and water cannot flow together," Kumar shared. This is the new normal. We will not differentiate between terrorists, their handlers and the state backing them and we will respond each time there is this attack," the diplomat added. Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh, OBE, from the UK, made an impassioned plea for everyone to work towards peace and reconciliation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Because of Nelson Mandela, who was my hero, I have created a Peace Charter for forgiveness and reconciliation. If we want peace, we have to reconcile; and for reconciling we have to forgive. I have come to South Africa to sensitise people of the need for peace peace in our hearts; peace in our families; peace in the society; peace nationally, internationally and globally," Singh said as he commended the India Club for hosting India Day as a major effort towards such peace and reconciliation through unity. PTI FH MNK MNK First Published: August 24, 2025, 03:00 IST News agency-feeds Global terrorism and peace in spotlight at India Day event in South Africa 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 develops handheld brain injury scanners to avoid delays in treatment Last Updated: August 24, 2025, 02:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi [India], August 24 (ANI): Traumatic brain injuries are a significant public health challenge, particularly in rural areas and underserved populations where advanced diagnostic tools like CT or MRI scans are inaccessible or delayed. Now, India has developed a handheld portable brain injury scan machine that can be used to detect bleeding inside the brain.Speaking to ANI about the made-in-India handheld brain scan machine, Dr Rajeev Bahl, DG, ICMR, said, This is a very new technology, which is completely Indian and was developed in an incubator at an IIT in India, supported by ICMR, including its clinical validation and further health technology assessment for cost-effectiveness. It is now available in the government E-market phase This technology uses infrared waves. With a handheld device, you just need to place it on various parts of the head, and it shows whether there is bleeding inside the brain or not"Traditional methods, such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), are prone to errors and subjective interpretations, while imaging techniques require specialised infrastructure, trained personnel and are cost-intensive. To address this issue, CEREBO, a portable, non-invasive brain injury diagnostic tool, has been developed using advanced near-infrared spectroscopy technology powered by machine learning.Capable of detecting intracranial bleeding and edema within a minute, CEREBO provides colour-coded, radiation-free, and cost-effective results. Designed for deployment in ambulances, trauma centres, rural clinics, and disaster response units, it enhances early TBI detection and patient outcomes.Developed through a collaboration between ICMR-MDMS, AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Bioscan Research, CEREBO has undergone clinical validation, regulatory approvals, and feasibility studies, paving the way for global adoption in emergency and military healthcare systems. (ANI) First Published: August 24, 2025, 02:30 IST News agency-feeds India develops handheld brain injury scanners to avoid delays in treatment 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 Naval Ship Kadmatt completes port call at Surabaya, Indonesia Last Updated: August 24, 2025, 01:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi [India], August 24 (ANI): Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kadmatt, an indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) corvette, successfully completed a three-day port call at Surabaya, Indonesia, strengthening the bond of friendship, trust, and interoperability between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), according to a release from the Ministry of Defence. During the visit, professional and cultural engagements were conducted to enhance maritime cooperation and mutual understanding. Key activities included professional interactions and cross-deck visits fostering operational synergy between the two navies. According to the release, the crew also participated in a combined yoga session onboard and a friendly volleyball match with TNI AL personnel, showcasing the shared spirit of camaraderie and collaboration. As part of community outreach, the ship welcomed members of the Indian diaspora residing in Indonesia, providing them with an opportunity to visit the ship and engage with the crew. Additionally, courtesy calls with senior naval leadership further emphasised the commitment of both nations to work together towards ensuring a secure and stable maritime domain in the region, the release stated.The visit of INS Kadmatt reaffirmed the Indian Navys role as the preferred security partner in the region and reinforced the long-standing maritime partnership between India and Indonesia under the shared vision of Partnership Across Sea. (ANI) First Published: August 24, 2025, 01:45 IST News agency-feeds Indian Naval Ship Kadmatt completes port call at Surabaya, Indonesia 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... NCRTC conducts fire emergency mock drill on Namo Bharat train Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 22:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) on Saturday carried out a mock drill near the Sarai Kale Khan station to test the preparedness for fire-related emergency on board a Namo Bharat train. The exercise simulated a real-life situation in which passengers had to be evacuated after a fire incident. Under the drill, commuters were guided along the viaduct walkway to reach the station safely, according to a statement. Recommended Stories It said the exercise involved coordination between the train operations team, the quick response team, the District Disaster Management Authority, civil defence volunteers, local police, CATs ambulance services, health department and the fire brigade. The drill also tested the use of the emergency tripping switch, which disconnects power supply to allow safe evacuation in case of fire, the statement said. According to NCRTC, such exercises are conducted regularly to strengthen inter-agency coordination and ensure efficient rescue and relief measures during emergencies. All Namo Bharat stations are equipped with platform screen doors, CCTV surveillance, security checks at entry points and first-aid facilities, it said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The frontline staff, including train operators and attendants, are trained in first-aid, while nearby hospitals along the corridor have been linked for immediate medical support, the NCRTC said. The NCRTC remains committed to passenger safety and will continue to refine protocols through regular mock drills, it added. PTI SHB ARI First Published: August 23, 2025, 22:00 IST News agency-feeds NCRTC conducts fire emergency mock drill on Namo Bharat train 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... Trish Turner has stepped down as head of the United States Internal Revenue Services (IRS) digital assets division, leaving the role after just three months. Key Takeaways: IRS digital assets chief Trish Turner resigned after just three months and will join Crypto Tax Girl as tax director. Her departure comes amid growing scrutiny of the IRSs handling of crypto taxation and calls for clearer policy frameworks. Turners move reflects a wider trend of senior regulators transitioning into crypto advisory roles as the industry faces major compliance shifts. Turner announced her departure in a LinkedIn post on Friday, reflecting on her two-decade career at the agency. After more than 20 years with the IRS, I have closed an extraordinary chapter of my career with deep appreciation for those who shaped my journey and made the work so meaningful, she wrote. Turner Vows to Bridge Gap Between Industry and Regulators Turner added that she looked forward to building bridges between industry and regulators from a new position outside the agency. Bloomberg Tax later reported that Turner will join Crypto Tax Girl, a private tax advisory firm, as its new tax director. Founder Laura Walter confirmed the appointment, saying Turners expertise will help clients navigate the growing list of compliance challenges. With all of the big crypto tax and compliance changes on the horizon, we are excited to have Trish on board, Walter said. Her resignation comes at a critical moment for U.S. crypto taxation. The IRS has been under increasing pressure to modernize its digital asset strategy, following repeated criticism from lawmakers and watchdog agencies over its handling of crypto-related investigations. Turner herself was only appointed in May, following the departures of Sulolit Raj Mukherjee and Seth Wilks, who left the division after roughly a year. The shake-up coincides with heightened congressional scrutiny. Last month, the House Committee on Ways and Means announced a hearing on how to establish a clear tax framework for digital assets. Earlier in July, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration recommended reforms to the IRSs criminal investigation unit, citing failures to follow protocols in crypto cases. Meanwhile, the broader regulatory environment has shifted under the Trump administration. In April, the president signed a resolution overturning a Biden-era rule that would have required decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to report user transactions to the IRS. Turners move to the private sector highlights the ongoing migration of senior government officials into crypto-focused firms, as the industry braces for sweeping changes in U.S. tax and compliance policy. Russia claims forces took control of two settlements in Ukraines Donetsk Last Updated: August 24, 2025, 03:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Moscow [Russia], August 24 (ANI): Russia on Saturday claimed that its forces captured two settlements in Ukraines Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, Anadolu News Agency reported.In a statement, the Russian Defence Ministry said that the villages of Seredne and Kleban Byk came under Russian control following operations conducted by the Southern and Western groups of forces.The ministry also claimed that Russian forces struck a Ukrainian military-industrial complex and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign fighters across 143 locations.Additionally, Russian air defence successfully countered Ukrainian air attacks and shot down four guided aerial bombs and 160 drones over the past week, Anadolu News Agency reported, citing the statement from the Defence Ministry.This comes amid the peace talks between both nations, brokered by the US, to put an end to the war.Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and told him that he is ready to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.In a post on X, he said, I spoke with President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, at his request. I informed about the joint diplomatic efforts with our partners and the productive meetings with President Trump in Washington."I reaffirmed my readiness for any format of meeting with the head of Russia. However, we see that Moscow is once again trying to drag everything out even further. It is important that the Global South sends relevant signals and pushes Russia toward peace," he added.Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump renewed a threat on Friday to impose sanctions on Russia if there is no progress towards a peaceful settlement in Ukraine in two weeks, showing frustration at Moscow a week after his warm meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there is no agenda for a potential summit between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he accused of saying no to everything", as per Al Jazeera. (ANI) First Published: August 24, 2025, 03:45 IST News agency-feeds Russia claims forces took control of two settlements in Ukraines Donetsk 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... Soaring dreams: 25 Pune Zilla Parishad school students set to visit NASA Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 21:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Pune, Aug 23 (PTI) Shubhra Renuse beamed with pride as the teenager from a tiny village in Pune district enthusiastically spoke about her upcoming US trip in October. The 13-year-old is among the 25 students from rural schools in the district who have been selected to visit the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Recommended Stories I am keen to know more about NASAs recent ISS (International Space Station) mission involving Sunita Williams and her team, as well as its future space expeditions," said the Class 7 student from Pabe in Bhor tehsil, about 40 km from Pune. The NASA visit for Shubhra and other students is part of an initiative by the Zilla Parishad, in collaboration with the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), to broaden their horizons, said an official. A Zilla Parishad is the highest tier in the Panchayati Raj System in rural India, functioning as the district-level local self-government body responsible for developmental schemes and social justice. Gajanan Patil, chief executive officer of Pune Zilla Parishad, told PTI that they aim to provide wide exposure to the students through the tour. Out of 15,000 students, around 235 were shortlisted through written and oral interviews, and finally 75 were selected. Of them, 25 will visit NASA, while the remaining 50 will tour ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) facilities in India," Patil said. Another 160 students will be exposed to other institutions like planetariums, IUCAA, GMRT (Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope), and Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament, within India, he said. Patil said students from Zilla Parishad schools are academically bright but often lack exposure compared to their counterparts in private schools. We want to increase their interest in space and science and nurture a scientific temperament," he said. The 25 students are expected to embark on their journey to America in October, and the process of obtaining passports and visas is underway. Pune Zilla Parishad will fund the entire project, which will cost about Rs 3.5 crore, Patil said. R Srianand, director of IUCAA, said they helped identify the students through a stringent assessment process involving two written tests and one personal interview. The questions were based on science, space, and astronomy from their syllabus. Based on the evaluation, the top 25 will visit NASA, while the remaining 50 will go to ISRO facilities," he said. Although the students come from humble, rural backgrounds, they are bright and intelligent, Srianand said. We want the visit to NASA and ISRO facilities to be an enriching experience. Though NASA is a big attraction, we hope these bright minds will contribute to research here in India as they advance in their academic journey," he added. IUCAA will continue to track the academic progress of the students beyond the visits, he said. Our role is not just to facilitate the trips. We want to ensure their talent is nurtured. Based on this years experience, we plan to prepare a booklet of questions for next year, and the evaluation process will be even more professional," Srianand added. The Zilla Parishad has signed a three-year MoU with IUCAA for this initiative. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shubhra said she is thrilled to have made it to the list of top 25 students. I am very excited to go to NASA. I have already started chalking out the questions I want to ask the scientists and researchers. I want to understand how NASA works and how a space scientist thinks," she said. PTI SPK NR First Published: August 23, 2025, 21:45 IST News agency-feeds Soaring dreams: 25 Pune Zilla Parishad school students set to visit NASA 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... National Space Day: Indias Space Startups Grow From 2 To 350 In A Decade Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 15:23 IST Indias space sector now has over 350 startups like Skyroot, Agnikul, Pixxel, Dhruva, and Digantara, with ISROs National Space Meet 2.0 charting a roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047. News18 From just one or two startups in 2014, Indias space sector now boasts over 350 startups engaged in satellite launches, data services, and advanced space technologies. Companies such as Skyroot, Agnikul, Pixxel, Dhruva, and Digantara are driving innovation in launch vehicles, satellite systems, and Earth observation, signaling the sectors growing maturity and global competitiveness. Recommended Stories The National Space Meet 2.0, organized by ISRO at Bharat Mandapam as part of the 2nd National Space Day celebrations, highlighted this dramatic transformation. The event brought together government ministries, state authorities, private sector players, academia, and experts to chart the next decade of Indias space applications roadmap, aiming to leverage space technology for governance, socio-economic development, and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Chief guest Shri P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, praised the startups for creating a scalable, innovative ecosystem. He noted that reforms such as spectrum allocation, venture capital support, and technology transfer have empowered private players to contribute actively to Indias space missions. Shri Mishra also emphasized integrating emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and big data analytics into satellite systems. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shri V. Narayanan, ISRO Chairman, outlined ambitious targets for the coming decade, including tripling operational satellites, expanding Earth Observation and SATNAV services, and positioning India among the top global space powers by 2040. Shri Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, stressed the importance of a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation" approach, where startups collaborate with ministries, states, and academia to co-create practical solutions. About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More First Published: August 23, 2025, 15:23 IST News business economy National Space Day: Indias Space Startups Grow From 2 To 350 In A Decade 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... Patel Retail IPO Listing Price Prediction: Booked 95x, Allotment Done; GMP Indicates 18% Gain Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 13:27 IST Patel Retail IPO closed at 95x subscription, raising Rs 242.76 crore. Shares list on BSE and NSE August 26, 2025. Patels R Mart runs 43 stores in Maharashtra. Patel Retail IPO To Debut On August 26 Patel Retail IPO GMP Today: The three-day subscription window for Patel Retail IPO concluded between August 19, 2025 to August 21, 2025. The mainboard issue is targeted to raise Rs 242.76 crore through a mix of fresh equity issuance and an offer for sale (OFS). The issue was closed on August 21, 2025. The issue received a massive response from investors with an overall subscription of 95x. Investors made a bid for 74,79,89,460 shares against 78,15,612 shares on offer. Recommended Stories The allotment of Patel Retail IPO was finalized on Friday, August 22, 2025. The lucky ones who have received the allotment are keenly awaiting for the listing of the shares, which is scheduled to happen on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Meanwhile, their eyes are on GMP and listing price prediction to gauge how much return they can get from their investment. The IPO proceeds will be used for debt repayment (Rs 59 crore), working capital needs (Rs 115 crore), and general corporate purposes. Patel Retail IPO Price Band The IPO comprises a fresh issue of 0.85 crore shares worth Rs 217.21 crore and an OFS of 0.10 crore shares worth Rs 25.55 crore. The price band is fixed at Rs 237 to Rs 255 per share, with a face value of Rs 10. The minimum lot size is 58 shares, requiring a retail investment of Rs 13,746. For high-net-worth investors, the lot size stands at 14 lots (812 shares) for sNII and 68 lots (3,944 shares) for bNII. Fedex Securities Pvt Ltd is acting as the book-running lead manager, while Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd is the registrar. The companys shares are proposed to be listed on both BSE and NSE with a tentative listing date of August 26, 2025. Patel Retail IPO Listing Price Prediction, GMP Unlisted shares of Patel Retail were trading at Rs 302, reflecting a gain of 18.43 per cent. GMP changes over time depending on investors sentiment. Patel Retail IPO Reservation Out of the total issue, 44.76% is reserved for retail investors, 29.84% for QIBs, 24.87% for NIIs, and 0.54% for employees, who also enjoy a Rs 20 discount per share. Patel Retail Financials Founded in 2008, Patel Retail operates a chain of supermarkets under the brand Patels R Mart," largely in tier-III cities and suburban Maharashtra. As of May 2025, the company runs 43 stores across Thane and Raigad districts, with a total retail space of about 1.78 lakh sq. ft. Financially, the company reported a revenue of Rs 825.99 crore in FY25, with a 12% rise in net profit to Rs 25.28 crore from the previous year. Step-by-Step Guide to Check Patel Retail IPO Allotment Status Step 1: Visit the Official IPO Allotment Website Go to the registrars website handling the IPO. For Patel Retail, the registrar is usually Link Intime India Pvt. Ltd. The website link is: https://linkintime.co.in Step 2: Navigate to the IPO Allotment Section Look for a tab or link that says IPO Allotment Status" or Check Allotment". Step 3: Select Patel Retail IPO From the dropdown or search bar, select Patel Retail IPO. Step 4: Enter Your Details You will need: PAN Number (mandatory) Application Number / DP ID & Client ID (for demat applications) Step 5: Submit Your Details Click on Submit or Check Status. Step 6: View Allotment Status Your screen will display whether you have been allotted shares or not. If allotted, it will also show number of shares allocated. Step 7: Alternative Methods Stock Exchange Websites: You can also check allotment status on BSE (https://www.bseindia.com) or NSE (https://www.nseindia.com) by searching for Patel Retail IPO allotment. Mobile App / Bank Portal: Some brokers and banks also provide IPO allotment status via their apps or net banking. Step 8: Refund / Share Credit top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If you are allotted, shares will be credited to your demat account. If not allotted, the application money will be refunded to your bank account. About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More First Published: August 23, 2025, 13:27 IST News business ipo Patel Retail IPO Listing Price Prediction: Booked 95x, Allotment Done; GMP Indicates 18% Gain 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... UP Minor Sisters Allege Rape By Stepfather, Say Mother Reprimanded Them Instead Of Helping Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 15:53 IST Two sisters, aged 12 and 14, accused their stepfather of repeated rape in Gomtinagar. Police detained the 35-year-old, who was jailed earlier for their father's murder. The police spoke to the sisters, and based on their allegations, registered a case against the stepfather. (Representative image via PTI) In a shocking and horrific incident, two girls have accused their stepfather of allegedly raping them on a regular basis for several months. The victim sisters, aged 12 and 14, reached out for help on Friday by calling 1090 and claimed that their stepfather, who works at a mall in the state capital, subjected them to heinous acts for several months, Times of India reported. Recommended Stories Gomtinagar Police Station Inspector Brajesh Chandra Tiwari told the news outlet that a distress call was received on 1090 on Friday by the victims, who claimed to have escaped from their home. They alleged that their stepfather raped them for several months and would beat them if they resisted, the police said. They further alleged that their stepfather came home drunk daily and sexually abused them. The sisters said they had informed their mother about the abuse, but she dismissed their claims and instead reprimanded them, instructing them to remain silent. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After being notified by the 1090 team, the Gomtinagar police took immediate action. They registered a case based on the allegations and detained the 35-year-old stepfather. However, the survivors are yet to undergo medical examination. SHO further told the news outlet that their stepfather was jailed 10 years ago for their biological fathers murder. After his release, he moved in with their mother and later married her. The sisters said they never liked him because of his role in their fathers death. When questioned, the stepfather denied the claims and said he was being framed. Police are also questioning the mother. 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 23, 2025, 15:53 IST News lucknow-news UP Minor Sisters Allege Rape By Stepfather, Say Mother Reprimanded Them Instead Of Helping Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... From Village Schools To NASA: Pune Zilla Parishads Young Stars Inspired In Coffee With CEO Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 22:27 IST This NASA study tour is part of Pune Zilla Parishads push to revolutionise rural education 25 Pune zilla parishad school students are going on a study tour to NASAs headquarters. Pic/News18 In the heart of Pune, a group of 25 talented students from rural zilla parishad schools is preparing for the adventure of a lifetimea study tour to NASAs headquarters in the USA. This groundbreaking opportunity aims to ignite scientific curiosity and open global doors for kids who might otherwise dream big from afar. The excitement kicked off with an intimate Coffee with CEO Young Minds, Big Dreams" session at the iconic Council Hall. Led by divisional commissioner Dr Chandrakant Pulkundwar and Pune zilla parishad CEO Gajanan Patil, the event brought these young achievers face-to-face with mentors who shared life lessons over casual chats. Recommended Stories The students, bubbling with enthusiasm, opened up about their ambitionsfrom unravelling space mysteries to innovating for Indias future. Dr Pulkundwar, reflecting on his own path, urged the group to chase goals with grit and vision. Success isnt handed to you," he said, emphasising resilience as the key to turning aspirations into reality. His words resonated deeply, reminding everyone that rural roots dont limit cosmic reach. Pune Zilla Parishad CEO Gajanan Patil, the driving force behind the initiative, highlighted how this goes beyond a simple trip. Education isnt confined to books," he explained. Were bridging worldstaking rural talent to global stages. These students arent just visitors; theyre ambassadors for countless others, proving that dreams know no boundaries." He expressed confidence that the experience will mould them into tomorrows scientists and leaders, contributing to Indias innovation story. This NASA visit is part of Pune Zilla Parishads push to revolutionise rural education. By exposing students to cutting-edge space tech and real-world experts, the program builds self-belief and broadens perspectives. Its a testament to the districts dedication: ensuring every child, regardless of background, gets a shot at the stars. The selection process has been carried out in a highly transparent manner, ensuring fairness and equal opportunity for all. Special care has been taken to provide representation to students from every taluka, so that the process remains inclusive and participatory. To maintain credibility and authenticity, the entire procedure has been conducted through IIUCA, an internationally renowned and reputed third-party organisation. This collaboration has further enhanced the trustworthiness of the selection, ensuring that no bias or partiality influences the outcome. The initiative truly reflects the commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and global standards of excellence in student representation. According to the authorities, the process to obtain the visa for these students has commenced. Authorities will chalk out details of their travel plan once this process is completed. For these kids, the journey symbolises hope. Vedika Gujar, a student who got selected for this programme, shared, I never thought Id see NASA up closenow, I feel like anythings possible." As they pack their bags, the ripple effect is clear: inspiring peers back home to aim higher. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Punes administration is setting a model for inclusive growth, showing that investing in young minds yields infinite returns. With departure looming, the city watches proudly as these rural stars prepare to shine on an international stage. About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa... Read More Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa... Read More First Published: August 23, 2025, 22:27 IST News education-career From Village Schools To NASA: Pune Zilla Parishads Young Stars Inspired In Coffee With CEO 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... Telangana: New Fee Hike Policy To Be Introduced Across Engineering Colleges Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 12:49 IST Now, fees will be finalised considering six key criteria, ensuring that the fees requested by colleges are scrutinized and adjusted if necessary by the Fee Regulatory Commission. The government will set fees for private engineering and vocational colleges every three years. (Representative image/File) Significant changes are imminent for engineering education in Telangana. Traditionally, engineering education has been viewed as four years of instruction leading to a degree. However, this perspective is set to transform dramatically. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has consistently stressed the importance of students not only learning the curriculum but also acquiring job-specific skills during their education. His vision is now being implemented. CM Revanth Reddy, who oversees the education department, has repeatedly emphasised in review meetings that students should be prepared to secure jobs immediately after graduation. Following these directives, education department officials have been diligently working over the past three months. Recommended Stories After extensive discussions, meetings, and analysis of the current situation, they have formulated a new fee policy aimed at enhancing the quality of engineering education. This new policy will overhaul how fees are determined for colleges. The government will set fees for private engineering and vocational colleges every three years. Although the fee hike was originally scheduled for this year, it has been postponed to next year to allow for the introduction of the new policy. A high-level committee, chaired by Telangana Council of Higher Education President Acharya Balakishta Reddy, was formed and has submitted a comprehensive report. Based on this report, Education Secretary Yogitharana officially released the new guidelines on Thursday. Previously, fees were determined solely based on the operating expenses and audit reports provided by the colleges. Now, fees will be finalised considering six key criteria, ensuring that the fees requested by colleges are scrutinised and adjusted if necessary by the Fee Regulatory Commission (FRC). This will enhance control over college management and provide fairness to students and parents. The primary objective of this new policy is to elevate the quality of engineering education. The FRCs focus will expand from staff qualifications and facilities to the standards of education provided to students. Factors such as student attendance, academic performance, campus placements, and post-graduation job opportunities will be crucial. Colleges will now need to demonstrate that students progress in their careers after graduation. Additionally, technology-based reforms like facial recognition attendance (FRS) systems for accurate student attendance records and Aadhaar-based online payment systems for fee collection will be mandatory, enhancing transparency and reducing corruption. The government is also prioritising the research sector, considering factors like publication of articles in national and international journals, new discoveries, patents, and support for startups in the fee determination process. National and international rankings of colleges will also be a key criterion. The FRC will ensure colleges implement the technical education plans set by the state government; non-compliance will result in penalties for the colleges. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Under the new guidelines, 160 engineering colleges across the state must present their comprehensive details to the FRC between August 25 and September 3. The FRC has already notified all colleges. In a key meeting held at the FRC office on Thursday, attended by FRC Chairman Justice Gopal Reddy, Education Secretary Yogitharana, Technical Education Commissioner Sridevasena, Higher Education Council President Acharya Balakishta Reddy, and other senior officials, the decision was finalised. The newly established fees will take effect from the upcoming academic year and remain in place for three years. These changes aim to ensure quality education for students and promote transparency in college operations. 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 23, 2025, 12:29 IST News education-career Telangana: New Fee Hike Policy To Be Introduced Across Engineering 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... Born Sergey Gorokhovsky In Tashkent: Who Is Sergio Gor, Named New US Ambassador To India By Trump? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 06:30 IST The appointment of Gor, a longtime political operative and close Trump ally, is pending US Senate confirmation Trump has described Gor as a 'great friend' and someone he can 'fully trust to deliver on my agenda'. File pic/Reuters On Friday, President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he has named Sergio Gor as the next US ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs. Recommended Stories The appointment of Gor, a longtime political operative and close Trump ally, is pending US Senate confirmation. Born in erstwhile Soviet Union Sergio Gor, whose birth name is Sergey Gorokhovsky, was born in 1986 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, then part of the Soviet Union. His family later moved to Malta before eventually settling in the United States, where he became a citizen. After graduating from George Washington University, where he was active in conservative causes, he began his career in Washington politics. Association with Rand Paul Gors early political work included roles with the Republican National Committee and serving as a spokesman for several Republican representatives. However, he is perhaps best known for his decade-long association with Senator Rand Paul, where he rose to become the Kentucky senators deputy chief of staff and communications director. In 2020, Gor pivoted to work directly with the Trump campaign, serving as the chief of staff for the Trump Victory Finance Committee. In Trumps good books His influence within the Trump orbit grew significantly after he co-founded Winning Team Publishing, a conservative publishing house, with Donald Trump Jr. The company published several of the presidents books. In addition, Gor served as a senior advisor to the super PAC, MAGA Inc, and led another political action committee, Right for America, demonstrating his deep engagement with the pro-Trump political movement. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Prior to his nomination as ambassador, Gor served as the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. In this role, he was responsible for vetting and hiring thousands of officials for the current administration, a task President Trump has publicly praised him for. Trump described Gor as a great friend" and someone he can fully trust to deliver on my agenda". The appointment to the critical diplomatic post in India and the surrounding region signals the administrations reliance on a trusted and proven loyalist for key foreign policy initiatives. 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 23, 2025, 06:30 IST News explainers Born Sergey Gorokhovsky In Tashkent: Who Is Sergio Gor, Named New US Ambassador To India By Trump? 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... 'Character Dheela': Nothing India Just Trolled Google Pixel 10 And It Backfired. But Why? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 11:38 IST Nothing India took a jibe at Google Pixel 10's pricing. There's a reason why. Nothing India trolled Google Pixel 10's pricing. Nothing company, headed by Carl Pei, recently took shots at Googles pricing of its newest Pixel 10 series offering. Unveiled earlier this week, Googles latest generation of rectangular phones created the right amount of buzz among the tech community. The Google Pixel 10 series consists of four new models, including a Pixel foldable. When the rival tech company Nothing India stumbled upon Googles price sheet of the Pixel series, a Salman Khan song came to its mind to sum up all the feelings it felt in the moment. But why does Nothing care about Googles price bracket? Recommended Stories Google Pixel 10 Pricing Heres a quick rundown of the price you will have to pay for each of the models in Googles latest offering. Google Pixel 10 256GB Rs 79,999 Google Pixel 10 Pro 256GB 1,09,999 Google Pixel 10 Pro XL 256GB 1,24,999 Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold 1,72,999 The spec sheet of the Pixel 10 series can be accessed here. Nothing Appears Carl Peis Nothing smartphone company reacted to Googles price list with a sarcastic jibe. But instead of putting it into words, the tech company chose to use a gif of Bollywood actor Salman Khans popular song Character Dheela from Ready. The lyrics used here were: Main karu toh saala Character Dheela hai." This vaguely translates to: Its cool when they do it, its a problem when I do it." Also, for the unversed, Pei had co-founded Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus. He is a popular face in the tech community. Nothing, Chill! Its not every day that you witness a section of social media users defending a tech giant (Google in this case), but when they do, one notices. Apple and google both revolutanized, did innocations and survived the mobile industry for decades you were born yesterday, (sic)" wrote one user on X. As a Nothing user, @nothingindia you have to do better mate," commented another. You are Nothing. Pixel phones are made by Google. There is something known as brand value. I know its a rage bait, but still. Aukat me raho. Vaise bhi tumhare phones kaunse khaas hai? Pehle mid-range waale section me improve karo" chimed in a third. Why This Kolaveri Di? The sharp reactions to Nothings jibe at Google werent unfounded. Lets rewind to July 2025, when Nothing released its latest offering, the Nothing Phone 3. The flagship device attracted significant attention, though not for flattering reasons. Already split on the back design and the companys decision to ditch the Glyph interface for a matrix layout, the new smartphone by Peis company faced flak for its pricing. Nothing Phone 3 in India was priced at Rs 79,999 while the 16GB variant touched Rs 89,999. I don't remember the last time we had such a strong reaction for a phone pricing here in India. Nothing has made a lot of noise this time around.FYI, Phone (3) pre-orders have started in India through Flipkart. Starting price of 79,999 & offers include 5,000 discount on pic.twitter.com/V945SDKf0t Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) July 1, 2025 Not A Great Deal Reacting to Nothings offering, a Reddit user wrote: Yeah if you take design out of it which is subjective the Phone 3 is objectively a terrible deal at that price point." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all You can get better design, software and camera on a pixel. You can get better performance and camera on a oneplus. The point is that there are many better options at this price no matter what your preferences are. This phone doesnt stand out in any way at this price. This phone should have been priced at 60k 70k, (sic)" wrote a second. Three years ago, Nothing launched its first-ever smartphone called the Nothing Phone (1) for Rs 32,999. The fact that the company took a massive leap and released a flagship phone with below-par" specs was questioned by tech enthusiasts. 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 23, 2025, 11:37 IST News explainers 'Character Dheela': Nothing India Just Trolled Google Pixel 10 And It Backfired. But Why? 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... Is 'Door to Hell' in Turkmenistan Closing? What Caused It And Who Was The Only Visitor? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 18:14 IST Is the 'Door To Hell' in Turkmenistan closing? George Kourounis, the only man to enter the fiery spectacle, has an update. Is the "Door To Hell" in Turkmenistan closing after more than five decades? Darvaza Crater, aka Door to Hell" or Gates of Hell", is on the verge of closing. A couple of years ago, the idea of extinguishing fire by Turkmenistans leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, was also put forward. Come 2025, it was reported that the methane gas keeping the unique crater lit had shrunk threefold. However, there is no definite timeline for when the fire will eventually run out or if humans will intervene to undo the blaze that has been a fiery spectacle for decades. However, the unique site once again set the Internet ablaze after George Kourounis himself showed up on a Reddit post and talked about the man-made disaster". Recommended Stories Before we get into who Mr George Kourounis is, what exactly is the Door to Hell"? Darvaza Crater The year is 1971. The Soviet geologists accidentally drilled into the natural gas cavern. The result? The gas field collapsed, and it seemed alighting the site would help curb the escape toxic fumes. The idea was right, but the methane gas never ran out. Even now, despite discussions about closing" the site, there is no definitive update on whether the flames will be manually extinguished or if humans will wait for the gas to deplete, naturally dousing the fire. First Man To Enter The Hell George Kourounis, Canadian explorer and TV host, decided to do what the rest of the humanity didnt: casually enter it. It was far from casual as Kourounis ventured into the netherworld, and that too for 17 excruciating minutes. He wore a special space suit" to enter the pits of hell in 2013. Kourounis descended into the 230-foot-wide, 100-foot-deep crater, equipped with ropes and a heat-resistant suit tailored for extreme conditions. His self-contained breathing system and a specially designed climbing harness, built to endure intense heat, were essential for navigating the hazardous environment. His objective was to gather gas measurements and soil samples from the craters depths. The soil brought back to the earths surface by Kourounis by the microbiologist Dr. Stephen Green, who concluded that the crater colloquially known as the Door to Hell" did indeed exhibit signs of life. Also Read: Character Dheela: Nothing India Just Trolled Google Pixel 10 And It Backfired. But Why? Door To Hell Reddit The site that has intrigued the humanity for decades found a new-found interest when it was recently shared on the popular Subreddit r/Damnthatsinteresting where the Reddit community discussed about the existence of the mind-boggling crater when a user made a mention of Kourounis who helped discover the extremophile bacteria living in the scorching heat. Thats Me!" You have got to love the Internet. The man himself showed up on the viral thread to give an update to the rest of the discussion panel. He also informed everybody that he had been invited back to Turkmenistan but couldnt do so due to his busy schedule. Thats ME! And yes, Ive known about the crater flames dying out for quite some time now. Ive been invited back to Turkmenistan, but I havent been able to make my schedule work. It is a fascinating place, and being at the bottom was the experience of a lifetime. This is why I love Reddit." Spontaneous AMA Now that he was summoned here, Kourounis answered a few questions, one of them being: How hot was it in the suit? It was hot enough that I was close to passing out after about 15 minutes inside the crater. I measured a ground temperature by one of the big vets that was 400C. That over 700F," the adventurer wrote, before adding, The scariest part was the first time I walked up to the edge and looked down inside the crater for the very first time. We studied it for almost a week before I went inside." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all When asked about how he had trained for the ultimate entry into the fire pit, he wrote: Ha! Its a bit crazy, but part of my training for this was to hire a stunt man to light me on fire so that I would be comfortable and not panic around flames." You can read the entire Reddit discussion and Q&A here. 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 23, 2025, 18:14 IST News explainers Is 'Door to Hell' in Turkmenistan Closing? What Caused It And Who Was The Only Visitor? 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... Japanese financial giant SBI Holdings is moving into the red-hot tokenized stock market through a joint venture with Singapore-based blockchain development firm Startale. The companies plan to build an on-chain platform designed for trading tokenized equities and real-world assets (RWAs), they announced on Friday. The step puts SBI alongside a growing roster of major players experimenting with tokenized stocks. Robinhood and several crypto exchanges including Kraken, Gemini started offering blockchain-based versions of publicly traded shares. SBI, which oversees more than 11 trillion yen ($74 billion) in assets and has over 65 million customers globally, sees asset tokenization as a major shift in global markets. "We predict that this movement will eventually lead to the digitalization of capital markets themselves, including exchanges," Yoshitaka Kitao, president and CEO of SBI Holdings, said in a statement. The joint venture will focus on 24/7 trading of tokenized U.S. and Japanese stocks with near-instant settlement, the press release said. Features are expected to include fractional ownership, institutional-grade custody and real-time compliance monitoring. "This platform will be highly interoperable, always open, accessible to anyone, and designed to meet the needs of users worldwide in the global market," Yoshitaka Kitao said. Startale previously developed Soneium, an Ethereum layer-2 network, with Japanese tech giant Sony. Read more: DBS Launches Tokenized Structured Notes on Ethereum, Expanding Investor Access Unstable Mountains, Unchecked Constructions: Why Disasters Keep Striking Chamoli? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 14:20 IST Chamolis vulnerability comes from a dangerous mix of fragile terrain, extreme weather, unstable geology, and risky human development. Rescue operation underway at a disaster-hit area after heavy rainfall, at Tharali, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. (Image: PTI) A devastating cloudburst occurred in Uttarakhands Chamoli district on Friday night, leaving one person dead and several missing. Massive debris flows swamped the Tharali market and nearby areas in Kotdeep Tehsil, damaging homes, burying vehicles, and cutting off roads. NDRF, ITBP teams from Gauchar and the SSB team from Gwaldam are conducting the rescue and relief operation. This is not an isolated incident; Chamoli has long been prone to cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. But what makes this Himalayan district so disaster-prone? Lets break down the geographical, climatic, geological, and human-driven factors that put Chamoli at risk. Recommended Stories Fragile Terrains And Steep Slopes Chamoli sits in the Garhwal Himalayas, a region of sharp slopes and narrow valleys carved by rivers like the Alaknanda, Dhauliganga, and Rishiganga. Elevations range from 800 to over 7,000 meters, creating conditions where heavy rain rushes downhill rapidly. A single cloudburst (an extreme downpour exceeding 100 mm per hour) can easily transform into flash floods and debris flows here. The steep gradients worsen erosion, while glacial lakes and hanging glaciers increase the risk of sudden breaches. The 2021 Chamoli disaster showed this vulnerability vividly when a rock-ice avalanche raced down valleys at nearly 90 km/h. On top of this, Chamoli lies close to tectonic boundaries in a seismically active zone. Even minor earthquakes can destabilise slopes, making landslides more likely during the monsoon. Studies classify nearly three-quarters of Uttarakhand, including Chamoli, under high to severe landslide risk zones. Intense Rainfall And Unpredictable Bursts Chamolis weather is shaped by the Indian summer monsoon, which brings heavy rainfall from June to September. The region is highly prone to orographic liftingwhen moist air rises over mountains, condensing into intense, localised storms. Such cloudbursts can dump 200300 mm of rain within hours, overwhelming natural drainage and triggering landslides. Historical data highlights this pattern: the 2013 floods devastated large parts of Uttarakhand, killing thousands. Recent years show an increase in such extreme events. Studies link this to warmer temperatures that allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture. Combined with western disturbances, this variability makes rainfall patterns highly unpredictable. As a result, Chamolis rivers often turn into raging torrents, carrying massive boulders and sediment downstream. Weak Rocks And Fragile Slopes Chamolis geology makes it particularly unstable. The district sits on fractured rock formations and fault lines, with thin soils that are easily eroded. Heavy rainfall seeps into these cracks, triggering slope failures. The 2021 Chamoli flood was caused by a rock-ice avalanche that released 27 million cubic meters of material into a debris flow. Permafrost thaw, glacier retreat, and seismic activity all weaken the slopes, raising the chances of similar events. Much of Chamoli is marked as a high-hazard zone for floods, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Continuous tectonic uplift steepens the terrain further, ensuring that erosion and instability remain constant threats. Development At A Cost While nature sets the stage, human activity worsens the risks. Hydropower projects, road-building, and tunnelling disrupt natural drainage and destabilise slopes. In the 2021 disaster, two hydropower plants were destroyedshowing how such projects can magnify damage. Deforestation for farming and tourism reduces natural vegetation cover, speeding up soil erosion and runoff. Reports also flag unplanned urbanisation in valleys, which exposes more people to floods and landslides. Blasting for tunnels and dams often fractures rocks further, making landslides more frequent. Weak early-warning systems and poor land-use planning add to the danger, as seen in both 2013 and 2025, when remote villages got little time to evacuate. Climate Change: The Risk Multiplier Climate change is making Chamolis natural hazards worse. Uttarakhand has already lost over 20% of its glacial mass in recent decades, leaving behind unstable ice formations and glacial lakes. Warmer temperatures speed up glacier melt and permafrost thaw, while also fueling more extreme rainfall. Studies predict that cloudbursts and intense monsoon events will become more frequent, making disasters like the 2021 avalanche and 2025 cloudburst increasingly common. Experts stress the need for climate-resilient measures like reforestation, hazard mapping, and stricter land-use planning to break the chain of cascading disasters"where one event triggers another, such as a cloudburst leading to floods and landslides. Chamolis vulnerability comes from a dangerous mix of fragile terrain, extreme weather, unstable geology, and risky human development. The August 2025 cloudburst is a stark reminder of what unchecked vulnerability can cost. Experts and agencies like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) call for a mix of strategies: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sustainable infrastructure planning Early-warning systems that reach remote villages Community-based disaster preparedness Large-scale reforestation and ecosystem protection Balancing development with ecological sensitivity is key. Without urgent action, Chamoli will remain a hotspot of recurring disasters. About the Author Surbhi Pathak Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11. Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11. First Published: August 23, 2025, 14:20 IST News explainers Unstable Mountains, Unchecked Constructions: Why Disasters Keep Striking Chamoli? 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... Attacked By Stray Dogs, Kanpur Student Gets 17 Stitches On Face, Suffers Multiple Injuries Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 12:46 IST The attack left her with multiple bite wounds, and doctors had to administer 17 stitches on her cheek and nose Dog attack incident in UP amid stray dog removal debate in NCR (AI-generated image) A 21-year-old college student sustained grievous facial injuries after being mauled by stray dogs while returning home on August 20, said officials. The attack left her with multiple bite wounds, and doctors had to administer 17 stitches on her cheek and nose. Recommended Stories The victim, identified as Vaishnavi Sahu, a final-year BBA student at Allen House Ruma College, was walking through Shyam Nagar when a fight broke out between stray dogs and monkeys. In the commotion, three dogs suddenly attacked her. According to eyewitnesses, the animals dragged her to the ground, biting her face and body. Her right cheek was torn into two parts, while her nose and limbs bore multiple injuries. Despite her efforts to escape, the dogs overpowered her again and flung her onto the road. Hearing her cries, locals rushed with sticks and managed to drive the dogs away. By then, Vaishnavi was bleeding heavily. She was immediately taken to Kanshiram Hospital by her family members, where doctors stitched her wounds. Her uncle, Ashutosh, recounted, Vaishnavi, the daughter of my late brother Virendra Swaroop Sahu, was returning from college when this terrifying incident happened." Family members said the young woman is unable to eat or move her mouth due to her injuries. She cannot eat anything, nor move her mouth. Somehow, we are giving her liquids through a straw," they said. The family demanded urgent intervention from authorities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The government must do something about these dogs. Either catch them and take them away or keep them in shelters. But they should be removed from the streets so that no one elses daughter or daughter-in-law suffers like this," they said. The incident comes at a time when the Supreme Courts directions on sterilisation and relocation of stray dogs continue to trigger nationwide debate and public concern. First Published: August 23, 2025, 12:46 IST News india Attacked By Stray Dogs, Kanpur Student Gets 17 Stitches On Face, Suffers Multiple Injuries 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 Trapped Under Debris, Man Missing As Cloudburst Hits Uttarakhand's Chamoli Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 12:30 IST Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said in a post on X that he is constant touch with the local administration. Aftermath of Chamoli cloudburst One person is feared dead and several are missing after a cloudburst incident hit Uttarakhands Chamoli on Friday night, leading to widespread damage across multiple locations. The incident has resulted in debris flows affecting local markets, roads, and residential areas. Heavy debris has entered the Tharali market and surrounding areas of Kotdeep Tehsil, damaging houses and burying several vehicles. In Sagwad village, a girl is reported to be trapped under debris inside a collapsed building. Additionally, shops in the Chepardon market have suffered structural damage due to the debris flow. Recommended Stories #WATCH | Uttarakhand: Due to a cloudburst in Tharali of Chamoli district, debris has entered houses, the market, and the SDMs residence. District Magistrate and relief teams have left for the spot. Two people are reported missing: Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod pic.twitter.com/V2aesFekFf ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Speaking about the incident, Chamoli DM Sandeep Tiwari said,"Last night there was a cloud burst incident in Tharali, causing widespread damage to Tharali and the surrounding areas. A woman has been trapped in the debris of her house, and a man has gone missing. There has been a huge loss of property. Administration and other teams are at the spot, and clearance and rescue work is underway" #WATCH | Uttarakhand | Chamoli DM Sandeep Tiwari says, Last night there was a cloud burst incident in Tharali, causing widespread damage to Tharali and the surrounding areas. A woman has been trapped in the debris of her house, and a man has gone missing. There has been a huge pic.twitter.com/pWzaspRkLT ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Meanwhile, the heavy rainfall and resulting debris have led to road blockages, with the Tharali-Gwaldam road closed at Minggadera and the Tharali-Sagwada road also rendered impassable. In response, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has been dispatched from Gauchar to carry out rescue and relief operations. Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari has confirmed the situation and stated that teams are actively working at the affected sites. Efforts are ongoing to assess the full extent of the damage and ensure the safety of local residents. VIDEO | Uttarakhand: Heavy rainfall since late evening has caused massive destruction in Chamoli districts Tharali region. A cloudburst late Friday night buried several vehicles under debris in Radibagad and Chepado.(Full video available on PTI Videos - pic.twitter.com/NXF9bkcNmw Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 23, 2025 Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Monitoring Situation Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said in a post on X that he is constant touch with the local administration. Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations," read a post. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyones safety," it added. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami tweets, Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, pic.twitter.com/iKoanqSzK6 ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Several Routes Closed Due To Cloudburst The following road routes are currently closed due to ongoing issues: Thal Munsyari (State Highway) Closed Munsyari Milam (Border Route) Closed Dharchula Tawaghat (National Highway Border Route) Closed at Elagad top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ramganga Thal Munsyari (National Highway Border Route) Closed at 4 locations Motorists are advised to avoid these routes and follow official advisories. 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 : Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 09:09 IST News india Woman Trapped Under Debris, Man Missing As Cloudburst Hits Uttarakhand's Chamoli Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'From Himalayas To Indian Ocean, Hindi Connects All Languages,' Says J&K LG Manoj Sinha Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 16:39 IST Sinha said India is a land of diversity, stretching from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, and that everyone in the region is an Indian J-K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha (File/ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that India is a land of diversity, stretching from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, and that everyone in the region is an Indian. Speaking at the Hindi Rangmanch Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Pehchaan event held at Tagore Hall in Srinagar, the J&K L-G stressed that Hindi is the one language that connects all others across the region. Recommended Stories India represents the diversity from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, and everyone here is Indian. From the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, if there is one language that connects all others, it is Hindi," Sinha said. VIDEO | Srinagar: India represents the diversity from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, and everyone here is Indian. From the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, if there is one language that connects all others, it is Hindi. In the Constituent Assembly, Durgabai, a representative pic.twitter.com/93XsALmfNG Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 23, 2025 Sinha also referred to the Constituent Assembly, mentioning that Durgabai, a representative of the Madras Presidency before Tamil Nadu was formed, had expressed that Hindi should be Indias sole official language or Rajbhasha. In the Constituent Assembly, Durgabai, a representative of the Madras Presidency, at a time when Tamil Nadu did not exist, had said that Indias Rajbhasha cannot and should not be anything other than Hindi," he added. Just a day earlier, on Friday, Sinha terminated two government employees from Kupwara district for alleged terror links. A teacher in Karnah and an Assistant Stockman in Keran were found to be working for the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The dismissals were carried out under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows termination without departmental inquiry in matters involving national security. Authorities said law enforcement and intelligence agencies had collected clear evidence against the two. This follows similar action earlier in June this year, when three more government employees were dismissed for alleged involvement with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Since taking office in August 2020, Sinha has focused strongly on dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. His administration has targeted not just active militants but also overground workers and sympathisers within government departments. Over 70 such individuals have been removed from government service under Article 311(2)(c), while security forces have neutralised hundreds of terrorists during this period. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Srinagar, India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 16:26 IST News india 'From Himalayas To Indian Ocean, Hindi Connects All Languages,' Says J&K LG Manoj Sinha 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 Temporarily Suspends Postal Services To US After Trump's Tariff Hike Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 15:39 IST India had protested Trump's 50% tariffs on all Indian goods - including 25% duties over Russian oil imports - calling them "unfair and unreasonable". Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. (AP Photo) Indias Department of Posts on Saturday decided to temporarily suspend all types of postal articles destined for the United States due to new American duty rules, after President Donald Trumps 50% tariffs on Indian goods. The Department of Posts has taken note of the Executive Order No. 14324 issued by the US Administration on 30th July, 2025, under which the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued up to USD 800 will be withdrawn with effect from 29th August, 2025," an official release from the Ministry of Communications read. Recommended Stories Consequently, all international postal items destined for the USA, regardless of their value, shall be subject to customs duties as per the country-specific International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) tariff framework. However, gift items up to the value of USD 100 shall continue to remain exempt from duties." The statement said that transport carriers delivering shipments through the international postal network, or other qualified parties" approved by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), are required to collect and remit duties on postal shipments. However, while CBP issued certain guidelines on 15th August, 2025, several critical processes relating to the designation of qualified parties" and mechanisms for duty collection and remittance remain undefined, the ministry said. The Department of Posts said US-bound air carriers have expressed their inability to accept postal consignments due to a lack of operational and technical readiness. Hence, it decided to temporarily suspend booking of all types of postal articles, destined for the USA, with immediate effect from August 25, with the exception of items up to $100 in value. The Department is closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all stakeholders, and every effort is being made to normalise services at the earliest possible opportunity. Customers who have already booked articles that cannot be dispatched to the USA due to these circumstances may seek a refund of postage," the release said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The suspension of postal services comes against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions between India and the US, after President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including an additional 25% penalty for purchasing Russian oil. India had slammed the decision as unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" and that it will take all actions" necessary to protect national interests. 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 23, 2025, 15:18 IST News india India Temporarily Suspends Postal Services To US After Trump's Tariff Hike 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 Tourists To Turkey Halved In Last 3 Months | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 08:00 IST Latest figures of Turkish tourism accessed by News18 show only 16,244 Indian tourists went to Turkey in July this year, compared to 31,659 in May Turkeys stance prompted boycott calls in India, and travel portals like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip and Cleartrip said they would not promote Turkish tour packages. (File pic/PTI) It is official. Indian tourism to Turkey has halved in the last three months, after the role of Ankara in arming and backing Pakistan became clear during Operation Sindoor. Recommended Stories Latest figures of Turkish tourism accessed by News18 show only 16,244 Indian tourists went to Turkey in July this year, compared to 31,659 in May. That is a nearly 50 per cent drop. Even comparing the year-on-year figures, the massive drop is clear. Against 16,244 Indian tourists landing up in Turkey this July, 28,875 went there in the same month last year. That is a 44% drop. Turkeys role was exposed in May with the discovery of Turkish-made drones being used by Pakistan against India during Operation Sindoor. Turkey also adopted a blatant diplomatic stance in favour of Pakistan. Since then, a Boycott Turkey" campaign has emerged in India. This has had a visible impact, as the number of Indian tourists going to Turkey fell from 31,659 in May to 24,250 in June and now 16,244 in July. These three summer months are the top tourism months for Indians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gave a clear message in June when he visited Cyprus, and, along with President Nikos Christodoulides, he went to the historic centre of Nicosia, where they were given a guided tour along the United Nations ceasefire line, a symbol of the islands long-standing division. Christodoulides also showed PM Modi the mountainous region in northern Cyprus, which has remained under Turkish occupation since 1974. Prime Minister Modi last month told Parliament that only three of the 193 member countries of the United Nations favoured Pakistan, while the remaining nations stood in Indias support during Operation Sindoor. He was referring to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijannations that have often stood by Islamabad on the international stage, including at the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The three countries had given statements in favour of Islamabad when the Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Turkeys stance had prompted boycott calls in India, and travel portals like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, and Cleartrip said they would not promote Turkish tourist packages. The sharp drop of nearly 50% in Indian tourism numbers to Turkey since May is not surprising. When a country openly sides with forces that challenge Indias sovereignty, it cannot expect Indians to contribute to its economy. Today, Indian travellers are more conscious of where they spend their money. They prefer destinations that value India and Indians. If any foreign country wants Indian footfalls, it must respect our people and our country. This decline in Turkeys numbers is a wake-up call for all the foreign tourism boards. They cannot take us for granted. India is a global force, and respect for our nation is non-negotiable," said Nishant Pitti, chairman and founder, EaseMyTrip. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Even in its stance and statements after the Pahalgam terror strike, the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken a full pro-Pakistan line. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also visited Turkey to thank Erdogan for support during tensions with India during Operation Sindoor. 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 23, 2025, 08:00 IST News india Indian Tourists To Turkey Halved In Last 3 Months | 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... Locked Inside Odisha School, Class 2 Girl Spends Night With Head Stuck In Window Grills Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 08:05 IST The School and Mass Education Department said the child was now fine and receiving medical attention She was rushed to a government hospital, where doctors confirmed she was safe | Image: X Panic gripped a village in Odishas Keonjhar district after an 8-year-old girl was found trapped overnight inside her school classroom, according to officials. The Class 2 student, Jyotsna Dehuri, had attended classes at the Government Upper Primary School in Anjar under Banspal block on Thursday. Recommended Stories But when lessons ended at 4 pm, teachers and staff locked up the building without noticing she was still inside, officials said. Her family searched through the night but could not trace her. In a desperate attempt to get out, Jyotsna squeezed her body through a classroom window fitted with iron bars, but her head got stuck. She remained trapped in that position until morning. Around 9 am on Friday, the school cook unlocked the classroom and spotted her. Villagers and family members then bent the iron bars to free her. She was rushed to the district headquarters hospital, where doctors confirmed she was safe. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Taking serious note of the negligence, the district administration suspended acting headmaster Gourahari Mahanta. The School and Mass Education Department said the child was now fine and receiving medical attention. Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 08:05 IST News india Locked Inside Odisha School, Class 2 Girl Spends Night With Head Stuck In Window Grills 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... LPG Tanker-Pickup Truck Collision Triggers Massive Blast In Punjabs Hoshiarpur; One Killed Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 08:58 IST Officials said the blast was triggered by a collision involving the LPG tanker, which caused a fire to break out in the industrial belt of the area. Massive blast erupt in Punjab's Hoshiarpur after collision involving LPG truck | ANI Image A massive explosion rocked Mandiala village in Punjabs Hoshiarpur on Monday after an LPG tanker collided with a pickup truck, leaving one person dead and several others injured. Officials said the blast was triggered by a collision involving the tanker, which caused a fire to break out in the industrial belt of the area. Recommended Stories Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain confirmed that fire tenders, ambulances, and Punjab Police personnel were immediately rushed to the spot. The fire broke out, probably due to a road accident. Patients with burn injuries have been admitted to the hospital. One casualty has been reported. It appears that a gas leak occurred following a road accident involving a gas tanker. This is an industrial area, so there may be some migrants who are injured here," Jain told reporters. #WATCH | A massive fire broke out in Mandiala village of Hoshiarpur in Punjab. According to Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain, it is suspected that the fire was caused by a road accident in an industrial area involving an LPG tanker, and one casualty has been reported. Fire https://t.co/1jgGIYZKdD pic.twitter.com/9orethH3jP ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2025 Punjab Cabinet Minister Ravjot Singh also visited the site and the hospital to review the situation, assuring assistance to the victims families. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The situation is such that it cannot be described. A very tragic accident has happened It is not yet known how many people are missing. People are saying that a tanker hit a car, after which a blast occurred because gas leaked The fire has spread widely," Singh said. Rescue operations are underway, and officials said further details would be shared once the situation stabilises. Location : Punjab, India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 07:25 IST News india LPG Tanker-Pickup Truck Collision Triggers Massive Blast In Punjabs Hoshiarpur; One Killed 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 Don't Like It, You Don't Buy': Jaishankar Hits Back At US Over Russian Oil Purchase Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 12:58 IST Jaishankar's response came after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods for purchasing Russian oil, which New Delhi has criticised as "unfair". External Affairs Minister Jaishankar (AFP photo) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took a jibe at the United States and Europe over tariffs on India, saying nobody had forced anyone to purchase refined oil or products from India. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, Jaishankar said, Its funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, dont buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you dont like it, dont buy it." Recommended Stories #WATCH | Delhi: At The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, Its funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, dont pic.twitter.com/rXW9kCcVuv ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Jaishankar On Trade, India-Pakistan Ties Regarding Trumps claim of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Jaishankar highlighted the national consensus in India of not accepting any mediation in matters pertaining to its neighbour. He also clarified the governments position when it came to trade and the interests of Indian farmers. When it comes to the trade, the interests of farmers, when it comes to our strategic autonomy, when it comes to opposition to mediation, this government is very clear," he said. If anybody disagrees with us, please tell the people of India that you are not prepared to defend the interests of farmers. Please tell the people of India you dont value strategic autonomy. We do. We will do whatever we have to do to maintain it." Jaishankars response came amid a strain in US-India relations, after President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, including an additional 25% as punishment for New Delhis increased purchases of Russian oil. However, Trump has not imposed similar tariffs on goods from China, the biggest purchaser of Russian oil. India had slammed the decision as unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" and that it will take all actions" necessary to protect national interests. The Ministry of External Affairs pointed out that several other countries are also making such procurements to protect their own national interest and hinted at its disappointment for singling it out on the issue. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused India of profiteering" in its sharply increased purchases of Russian oil during the war in Ukraine and said Washington viewed the situation as unacceptable. Bessent told CNBC that Russian oil now accounted for 42% of Indias total oil purchases, up from under 1% before the war, while China, the largest purchaser of Russian oil, had increased its share to 16% from 13%. This came shortly after the abrupt cancellation of a visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi. 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 23, 2025, 12:28 IST News india 'You Don't Like It, You Don't Buy': Jaishankar Hits Back At US Over Russian Oil Purchase 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... 'Not Black And White, Dont Link Them To US Moves': Jaishankar On 'Evolving' India-China Ties Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 13:48 IST EAM S Jaishankar said it would be a mistaken analysis to see India-China relations as a direct reaction to developments with the United States. EAM S Jaishankar (PTI Image) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday dismissed speculations that recent diplomatic outreach between India and China was driven by Washingtons trade actions, including US President Donald Trumps tariff moves. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, Jaishankar said it would be a mistaken analysis" to see India-China relations as a direct reaction to developments with the United States. Recommended Stories What I want you to understand is its not black and white. Its not that something has happened with America, so therefore, immediately, something has happened with China There are different timelines of different lengths on different problems," he said. The minister underlined that ties between New Delhi and Beijing were part of a longer, evolving trajectory and could not be reduced to one-off responses to specific global events. I think it would be a mistaken analysis to try and crunch everything and make it into an integrated response to a very specific situation Today, of course, there is a global landscape I want you to understand there is an evolution. Theres a flow of that relationship. There are other relationships, but dont make this connection so tight. Thats not the reality," Jaishankar noted. #WATCH | Delhi: At The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, EAM Dr S Jaishankar speaks on the India-China relations.He says, What I want you to understand is its not black and white. Its not that something has happened with America, so therefore, immediately, pic.twitter.com/3qW7beocrO ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 His remarks come against the backdrop of speculations that India and China are moving closer diplomatically in the wake of the US announcing higher tariffs on both countries. India-China Ties This week, Chinese Foreign Minister and senior Communist Party leader Wang Yi visited India at the invitation of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. During his visit, Wang Yi co-chaired the 24th round of the Special Representatives Dialogue on the Boundary Question alongside NSA Doval. He also held bilateral discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The high-level engagement comes ahead of PM Modis planned visit to China for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. EAM Slams US Tariffs External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also criticised Washington for what he described as unjustified and unreasonable" tariffs imposed on Indian exports, after the Trump administration hiked duties to over 50 per cent in response to Indias purchase of Russian oil. Jaishankar underscored that New Delhis top priority was safeguarding the interests of farmers and small producers, making it clear that there would be no compromise on this front. What we are concerned about is that red lines are primarily the interest of our farmers and, to some extent, our small producers. So when people pronounce that we have succeeded or failed, we as a government are committed to defending the interests of our farmers and small producers. We are determined on that. Thats not something we can compromise," Jaishankar said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He also pushed back against the framing of the issue as an oil dispute," pointing out that criticism directed at India for buying Russian crude was not similarly applied to other major importers. The minister noted, The same criticism levelled at India for purchasing Russian energy had not been applied to larger importers, such as China and European nations." About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More First Published: August 23, 2025, 13:48 IST News india 'Not Black And White, Dont Link Them To US Moves': Jaishankar On 'Evolving' India-China 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... This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter. Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles has responded to a lawsuit filed by its former CFO, Dana Rubin, by submitting a defense and cross-complaint on July 25 that dismissed her allegations as baseless and without legal merit. The filing seeks more than $100,000 in damages, calling for restitution, punitive damages and legal fees. The move follows a complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 4 by Rubin, who served as finance chief of the Reform synagogue from February 2023 until her dismissal on Jan. 31, 2025. Rubin claims she was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for raising concerns about questionable spending by clergy. She is seeking damages and attorneys fees under Californias Labor Code and whistleblower protections. Rubins lawsuit points to more than $30,000 in spending she describes as inappropriate use of discretionary funds by senior clergy. The examples she cites include airfare for family members to accompany rabbis on trips to Israel and a spa visit for the senior cantor. One of the examples Rubin raises involves a reimbursement request for a first-class ticket to Israel for Rabbi Josh Yoshi Zweibacks wife. She says she discussed the $4,720 charge with Executive Director Jodi Berman. According to the transcripts included in her lawsuit, Rubin pointed out the cost was just below her approval limit and warned that if someone started digging into any of this, it could look not good. Berman responded with a one-word reply in all caps: AGREED. Her complaint also points to a June 2024 email exchange in which Rabbi Sari Laufer asked Zweiback if she could use discretionary funds to cover her daughters airfare to Israel, writing that flights to Israel this summer are CRAZY. Zweiback replied that he had done the same in the past to bring family members along and argued that such spending benefits the congregation. Rubin further contends that she was pressured to sign a management representation letter to outside auditors affirming she had no knowledge of fraud or questionable transactions. She refused, saying she believed the temple had entered into an improper agreement that could violate federal law. The synagogues filing rejects Rubins version of events and portrays her termination as performance related. It describes her as an at-will employee dismissed for legitimate business reasons, not retaliation. Among the claims, the synagogue claims that Rubin overstated projected surpluses by $600,000 and $1.8 million in two separate years, ignored follow-up from an auditing firm that could have produced a rebate and disclosed internal salary data in meetings. PM Modi Said No To Exemption For Himself In Bill To Remove Ministers: Kiren Rijiju Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 20:17 IST Kiren Rijiju revealed PM Modi rejected exemption from a bill mandating removal of leaders in custody for 30 days. PM Modi | File Image Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned down a proposal to exempt himself from the provisions of a new bill that would mandate the removal of prime ministers, chief ministers and ministers who remain in custody for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges. In an interview with news agency ANI, the union minister said that during cabinet deliberations, there was a suggestion that the Prime Minister should be excluded from the measure. However, PM Modi rejected the idea. Recommended Stories PM Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation is to keep the prime minister out of this bill, but he did not agree. PM Modi refused to give an exception to the prime minister. The PM is also a citizen, and he should not have special protection," Rijiju said. #WATCH | Delhi | On the bill for removal of the PM, CMs, and ministers held on serious criminal charges, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, PM Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation is to keep the prime minister out of this bill, but he did not agree. PM Modi refused to pic.twitter.com/5zCHyCcddj ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 He further said that the bill would apply equally to leaders across parties, including those in the BJP. Most of the chief ministers are from our party. If our people make mistakes, they will have to quit their posts. Ethics should also mean something. The Opposition would have welcomed this bill had they kept ethics at the centre," he added. Rijiju also emphasised that the Monsoon Session of the Parliament was successful from the nations point of view and a failure from the Oppositions point of view." He highlighted that any government brings bills to save itself, but PM Modi went against the recommendation and put the Prime Minister in the category that even if he commits any corruption, then he has to go to jail and leave his position. Any government brings bills to save itself PM Modi is a prime minister who went against the recommendation and put the PM in the category that even if the prime minister commits any corruption, then he has to go to jail and leave his position. Any position, whether CM, PM or Union Ministers, cannot be above the law. What objection does the Opposition have? The nation is welcoming this revolutionary bill" he added. #WATCH | Delhi | On the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, The monsoon session of the Parliament was successful from the nations point of view and a failure from the Oppositions point of view. The government also thinks that it was a success. pic.twitter.com/rUbxR4PkWY ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Earlier on Friday, PM Modi laid out the need for the bills proposing the removal of PM and CMs over denial of bail for 30 days since arrest, and said that such legislation has been introduced to fight against corruption. Citing an example of a normal government employee who loses his job within hours of his arrest, the Prime Minister questioned why the PMs and CMs should not be forced to step down from their position upon arrest and no bail for 30 days. While addressing a public meeting in Bihars Gayaji, he said, Today, no one should be above the law. But how is it possible that some Chief Ministers, Ministers, or even Prime Ministers enjoy power while staying in jail? If a government employee is imprisoned for 50 hours, then he loses his job automatically, be it a driver, a clerk, or a peon. But a CM, a Minister, or even a PM can enjoy staying in the government even from jail." Whats In The Bill? The Centre introduced three bills earlier this week the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The new bills, referred to a joint parliamentary committee, say that if a PM, CM, or minister fails to get bail in a serious criminal case within a month in relation to an offence carrying a minimum five-year jail term, he would cease to be in his post. The bills say the person can be reinstated once he or she gets bail. The last provision, however, is at odds with the Supreme Courts recent approach in Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balajis case, who was reinstated as a minister after he got bail. Both Houses have passed a resolution to refer the bills to a JPC comprising 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. The committee has been mandated to submit its report to the House in the Winter Session, which is likely to be convened in the third week of November. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If these bills finally become law, it could be the second-biggest anti-corruption move when it comes to the political class. The SC in 2013 ruled that MPs and MLAs convicted with a minimum two-year sentence will be immediately disqualified for six years from the house. The UPA government at the Centre had then tried to push through an ordinance to negate this, which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi vehemently opposed. Lalu Prasad Yadav was barred from contesting in elections due to this order, as he was convicted in the fodder scam. 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 23, 2025, 20:12 IST News india PM Modi Said No To Exemption For Himself In Bill To Remove Ministers: Kiren Rijiju 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... Raising Funds In Gaza's Name, How A Syrian Gang Extorted Money From Gujarat Mosques? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 16:01 IST According to the Ahmedabad crime branch, the real purpose of the fundraising was to support the gangs own lavish lifestyle Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City. (AP file photo) A Syrian national has been arrested in Gujarat for allegedly being part of a gang that collected donations from local mosques by falsely claiming the funds were meant for victims of the Gaza war. According to the Ahmedabad crime branch, the real purpose of the fundraising was to support the gangs own lavish lifestyle. Recommended Stories The arrested man, identified as Ali Meghat Al-Azhar, had entered India on a tourist visa. Authorities said he, along with three other accomplices who are currently on the run, visited various mosques across Gujarat to seek money under the pretext of humanitarian aid. A member of a Syrian gang was detained for raising money from mosques in the name of Gaza victims. Three of his accomplices are absconding," the crime branch said. The crime branch also noted that such activities could threaten Indias internal security. The gangs modus operandi was simple but deceptive. They posed as volunteers collecting relief funds for those affected by the Gaza conflict. They approached mosques, and convinced people to donate. However, none of the money reached any victims or aid agencies. During questioning, Ali admitted that the money collected was used for personal luxuries, including expensive hotels, branded clothes, and high-end electronics. The crime branch has now started the process of blacklisting him and preparing for his deportation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police said all gang members were in India on tourist visas and investigations are ongoing to track down the remaining suspects. (With inputs from PTI) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Gujarat, India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 16:01 IST News india Raising Funds In Gaza's Name, How A Syrian Gang Extorted Money From Gujarat Mosques? 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 Temple Where Water From Shivalinga Is Said To Heal The Sick Curated By : Local18 Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 17:19 IST For villagers, however, it is more than architecture. It is a living presence, a divine guardian who has watched over them for as long as memory stretches. Where Shivalinga Water Becomes Medicine: A Temples Healing Belief In the quiet village of Chikkati, in Gundlupete taluk of Chamarajanagar district, stands the Sri Bireswara Temple, a shrine that has been central to the community for generations. Dedicated to Bireswara, a form of Lord Shiva, the temple is not just a place of worship but also a thread that ties together the faith and traditions of the people. During Maha Shivaratri, the temple transforms into a sea of devotion, with special pujas, night-long vigils, and bhajans filling the air. Recommended Stories Where Myth Meets Architecture The temple itself carries the charm of ancient sculptural styles. Stone carvings and mythological motifs combine to give it a distinct character that draws not only devotees but also history enthusiasts. For villagers, however, it is more than architecture. It is a living presence, a divine guardian who has watched over them for as long as memory stretches. A Unique Ritual of Healing What sets this temple apart is a ritual that blends faith with everyday life. When someone in the village falls ill, their family offers water and flowers to the deity. The priest places the offering before the lingam, bathes the idol with the water, and then returns the water and flowers to the family as prasad. This water is sprinkled on the patient, and the flowers are kept close by. Many in the village believe that these blessed offerings have the power to heal. Stories abound of recovery, where villagers credit the grace of Bireswara before any medical treatment. Festivals That Unite The month of Kartika brings another highlight, a grand palanquin procession. Devotees who have taken vows for wishes to be fulfilled join in carrying the palanquin through the streets. The annual procession is unique, as not just one but two idols of Shiva are carried along with Nandi. The sight of this procession, with music, chants, and lamps lighting the night, draws not only locals but also devotees from surrounding villages who make it a point to return each year. Faith Before Medicine Even today, in Chikkati, tradition dictates that before a sick person is rushed to a hospital, their family first sprinkles them with the water that has washed the Bireswara lingam. The act is simple, yet it carries the weight of centuries of belief. To outsiders, it may seem unusual, but for villagers, it is part of a rhythm of life where devotion and healing walk hand in hand. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Whether one calls it faith, miracle, or cultural heritage, the Sri Bireswara Temple remains a marvel of the modern age. In a time when science and medicine dominate, here is a place where people still turn first to divine blessing. Perhaps the true mystery lies not in the water or the flowers, but in the strength of belief that continues to bind the community to its deity. For the people of Chikkati, Bireswara is not just a god in stone, he is the healer in their midst. 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 23, 2025, 17:19 IST News india The Temple Where Water From Shivalinga Is Said To Heal The Sick Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Was At Number Three, Today I'm CJI': BR Gavai Motivates Law Students, Shares His Journey Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 19:45 IST CJI BR Gavai at VM Salgaocar College of Law in Miramar urged students not to judge success by academic scores. The CJI recalled attending the final year of his law college maybe half a dozen times in Amravati, relying on friends to mark his attendance. (Image: X) Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Saturday stated that academic scores should not be used as a metric to measure anybodys success. Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration of VM Salgaocar College of Law in Goas Miramar, CJI Gavai described himself as an out-standing" student joking that he was often found outside class, according to a report in Indian Express. Recommended Stories Justice Mahesh Sonak, who is like a younger brother to me, has shared that since Miramar beach is nearby, he was an out-standing student. I must share that I was also an out-standing student," the outlet quoted the CJI as saying. He recalled attending the final year of his law college maybe half a dozen times" in Amravati, relying on friends to mark his attendance. Despite his limited classroom presence, he stood third in the merit list. The CJI said the topper became a criminal lawyer handling bail cases, the second rank holder became a High Court judge, and he secured third spot and is serving as the Chief Justice of India. The CJI advised students to not worry about their exam rank, stating that ones hard work, dedication, and commitment matters and not the rank. I was at number three who was a lawyer, and today I am the Chief Justice of India. So, dont go by what your ranks are in the examination. The examination results do not determine what success you will achieve. It is your determination, hard work, dedication and commitment to the profession which matters," CJI Gavai said. Earlier, Justice Mahesh Sonak of the Bombay High Court, who also called himself an out-standing" student, had said that during his college days, the nearby Miramar beach was more attractive than the law library. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Reflecting on legal education, CJI Gavai urged stakeholders not to focus solely on National Law Universities (NLUs) and the CLAT exam. He pointed out that while NLUs are prestigious, they represent a small part of the legal education system. The vast majority are enrolled in regular colleges and universities, many of which face multiple challenges," he said, highlighting the need to strengthen infrastructure, faculty, and curriculum across all legal institutions. 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 : Panaji (Panjim, India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 19:41 IST News india 'Was At Number Three, Today I'm CJI': BR Gavai Motivates Law Students, Shares His Journey Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Will Have Our Own Space Station': PM Modi Outlines Indias Ambitions On National Space Day Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 11:36 IST PM Modi mentioned Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's space mission success in his address, announcing that the country will soon build an astronaut pool PM Modi | File Image Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is working towards building its own space station during the National Space Day address to the nation on Saturday. PM Modi mentioned Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shuklas space mission success, announcing that the country will soon build an astronaut pool. He urged the young minds to join the initiative. Recommended Stories Today, India is rapidly advancing in breakthrough technologies like semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion. Soon, with the hard work of all you scientists, India will also soar with Gaganyaan and in the coming times, India will build its own space station," said PM Modi #WATCH | Delhi: On the National Space Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Today, India is rapidly advancing in breakthrough technologies like semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion. Soon, with the hard work of all you scientists, India will also soar with Gaganyaan pic.twitter.com/2zq0pxObBn ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 This year, the National Space Day is being celebrated on the theme Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities. Just 3 days ago, I met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He filled every Indian with pride by hoisting the tricolour on the International Space Station. The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words," PM Modi remarked. In my discussion with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the immense courage and infinite dreams of the youth of the new India. To take these dreams forward, we are also going to prepare Indias astronaut pool. Today on Space Day, I invite my young friends to join this astronaut pool to give wings to Indias dreams," he added. National Space Day marks Indias historic achievement on August 23, 2023, when the Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully carried out a soft landing of the Vikram Lander on the lunar surface, followed by the deployment of the Pragyan Rover. With this milestone, India became the fourth nation to land on the Moon and the first to do so near its south pole. The landing site was named Shiv Shakti Point. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To commemorate the accomplishment, the Government of India declared August 23 as National Space Day." First Published: August 23, 2025, 11:31 IST News india 'Will Have Our Own Space Station': PM Modi Outlines Indias Ambitions On National Space Day 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... 7 Popular Destinations Where Tourists Must Pay Entry Or Stay Taxes Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 17:36 IST Around the world, several hotspots now charge visitors extra to ease tourism pressures, safeguard culture, and support local facilities. In some areas, the fees are tiny, while in others, they make a sizable contribution to sustainable tourism. Many popular destinations across the globe have introduced tourist taxes as a way to manage the pressures of increasing visitor numbers, protect local heritage and invest in essential infrastructure. These fees, which vary widely from country to country, can take different forms from nightly hotel charges to one-time entry or departure levies. In some places, the amounts are minimal and barely noticeable on your bill, while in others, they are designed as significant contributions toward sustainable tourism initiatives. Below is a closer look at seven countries where such taxes are in place, along with how they are applied and what purposes they serve. Recommended Stories France In France, visitors are charged a taxe de sejour or stay tax, which is calculated based on the city and the type of accommodation chosen. The rate ranges from as little as EUR 0.65 per night (Rs 66) for budget stays to over EUR 15 per night (Rs 1,534) in high-end luxury hotels. Revenue from this tax is directed towards maintaining and improving tourism-related facilities, ensuring travellers continue to enjoy a high-quality experience. Indonesia Bali, one of Indonesias most visited islands, implemented a dedicated tourist tax on February 14, 2024. Each visitor now pays 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (around Rs 815) as a one-time fee upon entry. This contribution is channelled into programs that protect Balis cultural heritage, preserve its natural beauty and support long-term sustainable tourism practices. Austria Austria charges a local tourism tax known as Ortstaxe, with rates differing by region. In Vienna, guests pay 3.2 per cent of their total accommodation cost, while in other parts of the country, the fee typically falls between EUR 0.15 (Rs 15) and EUR 3 (Rs 307) per person per night. Proceeds are used to enhance regional tourism services and infrastructure. New Zealand Travellers visiting New Zealand are subject to the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), which is applied when obtaining an Electronic Travel Authority (eTA) or visa. The fee ranges from NZD 35 (Rs 1,825) to NZD 100 (Rs 5,214), and the funds are invested in environmental conservation projects as well as tourism infrastructure to ensure the country remains a pristine and visitor-friendly destination. Bhutan Bhutan is renowned for its high-value, low-impact tourism model, and part of that approach involves a substantial Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 100 (Rs 8,757) per person per day. This significant charge funds initiatives to preserve the nations environment, cultural traditions, and historical heritage, ensuring tourism benefits the country without overwhelming it. Italy Italy applies a tassa di soggiorno or tourist stay tax, with rates differing between cities and types of lodging. In Rome, the charge ranges from EUR 1 (Rs 102) to EUR 5 (Rs 511) per night, while Venice recently introduced a EUR 5 entry fee specifically for day-trippers. The collected funds are used to maintain infrastructure, safeguard historical sites, and manage the challenges of heavy tourist footfall. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Japan Japans so-called Sayonara Tax is a departure levy of 1,000 yen (Rs 597), paid by all travellers leaving the country. This modest fee supports projects aimed at enhancing tourism facilities, improving airport services, and developing infrastructure that benefits both locals and visitors. fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 17:36 IST News lifestyle 7 Popular Destinations Where Tourists Must Pay Entry Or Stay Taxes Aditi Rao Hydari Continues Her Romance With Red Carpet In Strapless Black Dress Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 15:37 IST For her appearance at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Aditi Rao Hydari stunned in a strapless embellished kurta-style top which she had paired with a sheer skirt. Aditi Rao Hydari was styled by Manisha Melwani. Aditi Rao Hydari is living one of the most special phases of her career as she attends the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025. The celebrated actress, who has won millions of hearts with her elegance and versatility, is currently in Australia. And, she has been sharing glimpses of her experiences from the festival. Fans have been showering her with love as she continues to make headlines with her breathtaking looks and heartfelt moments in Melbourne. The actress recently treated her followers to a carousel of photographs from the event with the simple yet expressive caption, Melbourne", with a red heart, set to the soulful track, Sapphire by Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh. Her ensemble immediately caught attention, striking a perfect balance between grace and glamour. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari) Aditi Rao Hydaris look featured a strapless embellished bustier-style top, intricately adorned with delicate embroidery and light-toned detailing on a black fabric. She paired the top with a dramatic, floor-sweeping black skirt, which added fluidity and volume to her silhouette. Completing the attire were dark open-toed sandals, lending understated elegance. To accessorise, Aditi chose statement chandelier earrings that added sparkle to the look without overshadowing her outfit. Her makeup was kept soft and natural, with a strong emphasis on the eyes, while her hair, styled in effortless loose waves, cascaded gracefully over her shoulders. Honoured with the Diversity in Cinema Award The highlight of her visit to Melbourne, however, came when Aditi Rao Hydari was felicitated with the prestigious Diversity in Cinema Award at IFFM 2025. The Heeramandi actress took to Instagram to proudly share her special moment holding the trophy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari) In an emotional note, she expressed her gratitude, saying, On the day of Indias Independence, the Diversity in Cinema honour is all the more special." She went on to thank Melbourne for the affection and kindness she received during the festival, writing, This was the warmest 3 days. You all felt like home. Thank you, Melbourne, for the love!" From Heeramandi to Upcoming Projects top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Aditi Rao Hydari was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis grand digital debut, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, a lavish period drama set in the red-light district of Lahore during the freedom struggle against British rule. The series explored the intricate lives of tawaifs (courtesans) and how their personal and political battles intertwined with the socio-political landscape of colonial India. The show featured a stellar ensemble cast including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal and Taha Shah Badussha. Looking ahead, Aditi is busy with multiple projects. She is currently filming Parivarik ManuRanjan, a family entertainer alongside Pankaj Tripathi, in Lucknow. Additionally, she has another exciting venture titled O Saathi Re lined up, ensuring that her fans have much to look forward to in the coming months. fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 15:37 IST News lifestyle Aditi Rao Hydari Continues Her Romance With Red Carpet In Strapless Black Dress Janhvi Kapoor Dazzles In A Contemporary Madras Checks Saree By Amit Aggarwal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 10:05 IST For her latest look, Janhvi Kapoor stepped out in a contemporary saree gown by Amit Aggarwal. The ensemble was a fresh take on the classic Madras checks. Janhvi Kapoor was styled by Ami Patel. Janhvi Kapoor had stepped into the spotlight in a couture look that was equal parts heritage and futurism. The actress wore a custom Amit Aggarwal creation that paid homage to the legendary Madras checks, reinterpreted through the designers signature lens of structure, innovation, and fluid glamour. In a video shared by Janhvi Kapoors makeup artist, Savleen Manchanda, the actors look was anything but conventional. Rendered in a kaleidoscope of jewel-toned hues, the drape showcased the timeless Madras checks pattern, but infused with Aggarwals modern sensibility. The pleats and folds, meticulously sculpted, created a fluid silhouette that moved effortlessly while retaining a sharp, contemporary edge. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Savleen kaur manchanda (@savleenmanchanda) What could have been a traditional textile was instead transformed into couture: bold, experimental, and unapologetically glamorous. The strapless, corset-inspired blouse added another dimension of drama, lending the look a sculptural quality that has long been synonymous with Aggarwals design language. It offered structure against the softness of the draped saree, creating a striking interplay between heritage textile and modern tailoring. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DietSabya (@dietsabya) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Accessories were kept minimal but deliberate. Janhvi paired the ensemble with a delicate choker and matching earrings, ensuring that the statement checks remained the focal point. Her hair, swept back into a sleek bun, further amplified the elegance of the saree while allowing her neckline and shoulders to shine. Makeup was understated yet luminous: think bronzed tones, softly highlighted cheekbones, and a nude lip that balanced the vibrancy of the outfit. What stood out most was how Janhvi embodied the essence of Amit Aggarwals couture philosophy: bridging Indias craft traditions with futuristic innovation. The Madras checks, historically a textile of everyday wear, had been elevated to red carpet status, proving that heritage could be both experimental and couture-worthy. Janhvis presence in this look was more than just a fashion moment. It was a narrative of transformation, where nostalgia for tradition met the boldness of modern design. With this outing, she reminded everyone that when it came to wearing heritage-inspired couture, confidence was the ultimate accessory. fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 10:05 IST News lifestyle Janhvi Kapoor Dazzles In A Contemporary Madras Checks Saree By Amit Aggarwal Global Watch | General in the Diplomats Chair: Asim Munir and Pakistans Militarised Foreign Policy Written By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 11:44 IST Pakistan's civilian leaders have been relegated to the margins of strategic decision-making, and their role has been reduced to managing day-to-day governance under khaki authority The contrast between Munir's diplomatic activity and Sharif's absence reflects Pakistan's deepening civil-military imbalance since the late 2010s. (Reuters) Pakistans Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is unusually busy on the diplomatic front. In the span of just two months, Munir has made two visits to the United States. In July 2025, he made a high-profile trip to China. This back-to-back travel to Pakistans two most consequential international patrons is telling. Not only does it reveal Islamabads foreign policy priorities, but it also lays bare the internal architecture of power in Pakistan, particularly in the post-2022 era. These successive visits are not just routine military diplomacy. With the Army Chief becoming Pakistans principal emissary, it demonstrates how Pakistans foreign policy, especially on issues involving its patrons, has become deeply militarized. In most functioning democracies, such strategic overtures would be spearheaded by the civilian head of government or foreign minister. Recommended Stories In Pakistans case, however, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has neither met U.S. President Donald Trump since Trumps return to office for a second term, nor visited Beijing in over a year. The writing on the wall is clear: when Pakistans most important bilateral ties are at stake, it is the general in khaki not the elected premier who takes the lead. The asymmetry between Munirs diplomatic hyperactivity and Sharifs absence from equivalent arenas is symptomatic of a deeper civil-military imbalance that has been steadily entrenched in Pakistans governance model since the hybrid regime experiment of the late 2010s. What was once a behind-the-scenes role for the military establishment shaping security policy, resolving political disputes, and influencing electoral outcomes has now become an absolute and overt dominance over the political establishment. Since Asim Munir took over as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in November 2022, even the fictitious veil of civilian primacy no longer exists. This new dynamic is not entirely unprecedented in Pakistans case. The countrys history has witnessed many military leaders dominating civilian governments overtly and covertly throughout its existence since 1947. What is novel, however, is the degree of normalization and political acquiescence to this arrangement under Asim Munirs military establishment. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who were once vocal civilian challengers to military overreach, now function as political co-signatories to the armys supremacy. In effect, the political elite have recalibrated their ambitions around the militarys gravitational pull, preferring partnership over resistance. Field Marshal Munirs role, therefore, is not an aberration but a crystallization of this new equilibrium. His ability to act as Pakistans de facto foreign minister and prime minister rolled into one signals that the armys writ has expanded from strategic defence to strategic diplomacy. Civilian institutions appear content, and perhaps even relieved, to outsource the burdens of high-stakes international engagement to Rawalpindis General Headquarters (GHQ) evidenced by the lavish praise of the hybrid system" by government ministers such as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. The timing and sequencing of Asim Munirs visits to Washington and Beijing are instructive. They reflect the military establishments diplomatic overtures to balance its two most important patrons, who are often at loggerheads. Pakistans dual dependencies are evident as it deals with the United States as a long-standing security partner and China as a source of economic lifelines and defence hardware. By visiting Washington twice in quick succession, Munir has emphasised the military establishments intent to remain the most important state actor and interlocutor in the American strategic calculus over West Asia and Central Asia, particularly in the operational context of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), where Pakistan has historically played a logistical and intelligence role. His August 8 appearance at the CENTCOM change-of-command ceremony, where he met General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was more than ceremonial. It was a statement that Pakistans military rather than its civilian leadership remains the custodian of U.S.Pakistan relations. Asim Munirs choice to engage in nuclear sabre-rattling and issue veiled threats toward India while on U.S. soil also deserves attention. Although it is not unprecedented for Pakistani generals to use such language, it is important to realise that he felt empowered to make such unprecedented threats on American soil reinforcing the militarys control over Pakistans national security discourse. This is significant because it aligns with the Pakistan Armys long-standing playbook of using the India threat to bolster both external bargaining and internal legitimacy. China, meanwhile, remains the other essential pillar of Pakistans strategic posture. Munirs July visit to Beijing reaffirmed the all-weather" partnership, anchored in defence cooperation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). For Beijing, dealing directly with Pakistans army chief simplifies engagement, bypassing civilian political volatility. And for Rawalpindi, this direct line to Beijing ensures continuity in military procurement, capital inflow, and strategic coordination without the unpredictability of civilian political cycles which, by any measure, have acquiesced their role to the GHQ. Shehbaz Sharifs diplomatic profile has shrunk in proportion to Munirs is no coincidence. It reflects a realignment within Pakistans governance structure. The military appears to have institutionalised a foreign policy model wherein it controls substantive decision-making with respect to the region and its chief patrons, while the elected executive plays a ceremonial role for international optics. Even though this inversion may be justified internally on grounds of national security imperatives," in reality, it reflects a hollowed-out civilian apparatus, with the civilian executive and bureaucracy reduced to administrative shells. The Shehbaz Sharif governments apparent comfort with this arrangement reflects the political logic of Pakistans hybrid system, wherein elected leaders trade policy autonomy for military patronage and political survival. The calculus is simple: without military backing, no civilian government can last long; and without political acquiescence, the military risks open confrontation. The post-2022 settlement appears to have resolved this tension decisively in favour of the latter. Moreover, Asim Munirs aggressive public posturing as Pakistans most powerful political actor is not merely a symptom of civil-military imbalance it also reflects shifting national priorities. In an economy on life support for years, plagued by chronic balance-of-payments crises and looming external debt obligations, foreign policy is increasingly subordinated to the search for economic lifelines. Whether in Washington or Beijing, Pakistans pitch is now as much about financial rescue as it is about strategic partnership. The militarys dominance has created a paradox: foreign governments now view the Pakistan Army as the countrys most credible negotiating partner. This has produced a cyclical relationship where international actors cement the militarys centrality by bypassing the civilian executive and dealing directly with the army. In turn, this reinforces the armys domestic dominance. The danger, however, is that this dynamic leaves Pakistans civilian institutions perpetually stunted, unable to undertake their constitutionally obligated governance functions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As such, Field Marshal Asim Munirs diplomatic outreach is not just a personal itinerary but a mirror held up to Pakistans evolving political order. It reveals a state where the military is not simply a stakeholder but the primary shareholder in both domestic governance and foreign engagement. Civilian leaders have been relegated to the margins of strategic decision-making; their role reduced to managing day-to-day governance under the shadow of khaki authority. The writer is an author and columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Location : Pakistan First Published: August 23, 2025, 11:44 IST News opinion Global Watch | General in the Diplomats Chair: Asim Munir and Pakistans Militarised Foreign Policy 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 | PM Modi's Vision Ignites India's Space Renaissance Written By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 16:34 IST From nurturing startups through IN-SPACe to accelerating the Gaganyaan crewed mission, PM Modi has made space exploration a pillar of India's global stature PM Modi with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla who returned to India early Sunday to a rousing welcome by a large number of people waving the tricolour and beating drums at the airport here to celebrate his historic visit to the International Space Station (ISS). (Photo: X/@narendramodi) India is celebrating a remarkable journey of becoming a global space power. The National Space Day marks the Chandrayaan-3s groundbreaking soft landing near the lunar south pole in 2023, which placed India among an elite group of nations and emblazoned the lunar surface with Shiva Shakti Point", a symbol of Indias scientific prowess. ISROs achievements are a testament to the visionary support from the Narendra Modi government and focus on innovation. Recommended Stories From nurturing startups through IN-SPACe to accelerating the Gaganyaan crewed mission, PM Modi has made space exploration a pillar of Indias global stature. In an interaction with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, he underscored the governments hands-on commitment to Indias space rise, as ISRO plans the next big space leap. It is planning a 40-story rocket to lift a 75-tonne payload to orbit and the module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station, with the launch set for 2028. Space Policy Framework: Transforming Indias Orbital Ambitions Prime Minister Modis administration has fundamentally reshaped Indias space landscape through comprehensive policy reforms that have opened the sector to unprecedented private participation and innovation. The establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in 2020 represents a watershed moment in Indian space policy, transforming ISRO from solely an operator to an enabler of broader ecosystem growth. Under PM Modis leadership, the space sector has witnessed an explosion of entrepreneurial activity, with over 300 startups now operating in the space domain, attracting approximately $526 million in funding over the past five years. The transformation stems directly from the decision to dismantle regulatory barriers that previously constrained private sector engagement. The India Space Policy 2023 explicitly encourages non-governmental entities to undertake end-to-end space activities, from manufacturing to operations, fundamentally altering the competitive landscape. Indias space economy is projected to reach $44 billion by 2033, driven largely by this newfound private sector dynamism facilitated by the policy. PM Modis vision of creating five space sector unicorns within the next five years reflects his understanding that Indias space renaissance requires not just government investment but a thriving commercial ecosystem. The economic impact extends far beyond direct space activities to encompass broader technological spillovers and industrial development. ISROs 58 launch vehicle missions between 2014 and 2025 represent a 38% increase compared to the pre-2014 period, whilst the agencys payload capacity has nearly doubled from 2,200 kg to 4,200 kg for geosynchronous transfer orbit missions. The space startup ecosystems rapid growth, from negligible numbers to over 300 companies within a decade, reflects the success of policy reforms and government support mechanisms. The Lunar Triumph that Redefined Indias Space Stature The Chandrayaan-3 missions success on August 23, 2023, represents more than a technological achievement; it embodies Indias emergence as a space power capable of accomplishing what no other nation has achieved. By achieving the worlds first soft landing near the lunar south pole, India joined an exclusive club of just four nations to successfully land on the moon, while claiming the unique distinction of being the first to reach this scientifically crucial region. The missions significance extends beyond mere technological prowess to encompass strategic scientific value. The lunar south pole region contains vast ice deposits that could provide crucial insights into lunar, Earth, and solar system history. More importantly, these resources could support future human settlements and serve as fuel for interplanetary missions, making Indias pioneering achievement a cornerstone for future space exploration activities. The successful deployment of the Pragyan rover and the comprehensive scientific experiments conducted during the mission have provided unprecedented data about the moons composition and structure. PM Modis decision to name the landing site Shiva Shakti Point" reflects the cultural and spiritual dimensions of Indias space achievements, connecting ancient wisdom with modern scientific excellence. This symbolic gesture reinforces how Indias space programme transcends purely technical objectives to embody national pride and cultural identity. Building Tomorrows Space Capabilities ISROs current development of a 40-storey rocket capable of lifting 75-tonne payloads represents a quantum leap in Indias launch capabilities, symbolising the nations transition from modest beginnings to ambitious futures. ISRO chairman V Narayanans announcement that this next-generation launcher will dwarf the capabilities of previous Indian rockets demonstrates the scale of Indias expanding space ambitions. From Dr APJ Abdul Kalams initial 17-tonne lift-off mass rocket capable of placing merely 35 kg in low Earth orbit, India now envisions launching payloads more than 2,000 times heavier. The rocket will enable India to launch larger communication satellites, deploy constellation missions more efficiently, and support the construction phases of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station. Such capabilities position India to compete directly with established space powers whilst reducing dependence on foreign launch services. The Bharatiya Antariksh Station represents Indias most ambitious space infrastructure project, designed to establish a permanent Indian presence in low Earth orbit by 2028 with the launch of the BAS-01 base module. This 52-tonne facility will provide India with independent research capabilities in microgravity, supporting everything from pharmaceutical research to advanced materials science, while serving as a testbed for technologies needed for future lunar and Mars missions. Cabinet approval of an additional Rs 11,170 crore funding for the expanded Gaganyaan programme, which now includes BAS development, reflects the governments serious commitment to this transformative project. The Gaganyaan programme represents the culmination of PM Modis vision for establishing India as a comprehensive space power, with the first crewed mission scheduled for early 2027 following extensive testing and validation protocols. This Rs 20,193 crore programme demonstrates the governments commitment to developing end-to-end human spaceflight capabilities, from crew training to recovery operations, entirely through indigenous technology and expertise. Recent successful completion of test missions, including the TV-D1 mission and abort tests, validates the safety and reliability of Indian human spaceflight systems. The forthcoming TV-D2 mission and uncrewed orbital flights will provide final verification of all systems before human crews undertake orbital missions. The Gaganyaan programmes integration with broader space objectives, including BAS development and lunar mission preparation, creates a coherent pathway for Indias human space exploration ambitions. The programme will establish fundamental capabilities needed for crew transportation to the Indian space station whilst serving as a stepping stone toward the ambitious goal of sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040. In addition, the signing of the Artemis Accords and various bilateral space agreements reflects Indias evolution from a recipient of space technology to a partner in cutting-edge exploration missions. ISROs technical expertise has proved valuable in international missions, as demonstrated by the agencys role in identifying and resolving critical issues with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket before the Axiom-4 mission. Such contributions to international mission success enhance Indias credibility as a space partner whilst showcasing indigenous technical capabilities. The prevention of what could have been a catastrophic failure" through Indian technical intervention demonstrates that Indias space expertise extends beyond domestic missions to international safety and reliability. The integration of space capabilities with broader national objectives, including defence, telecommunications, navigation, and Earth observation, creates synergies that amplify the impact of space investments across multiple sectors. PM Modis emphasis on space technologys role in governance, from crop insurance to disaster management, exhibits an understanding of space explorations practical benefits for citizens daily lives. Indias space achievements under PM Modis guidance extend beyond technological accomplishment to encompass strategic autonomy, economic development, and inspirational leadership that motivates youth toward scientific careers. The integration of space capabilities with broader national objectives, from defence to development, maximises the return on space investments whilst positioning India for continued leadership in an increasingly space-dependent world. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As India prepares for the next phase of its space journey, including space station operations, lunar exploration, and deep space missions, the foundations laid under PM Modis guidance provide robust capabilities for sustained excellence. The vision of India as a space power is no longer aspirational but increasingly real, with concrete achievements validating ambitious objectives whilst inspiring even greater future accomplishments. About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. First Published: August 23, 2025, 16:34 IST News opinion Opinion | PM Modi's Vision Ignites India's Space Renaissance 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... (Reuters) -Google has struck a six-year cloud computing deal with Meta Platforms worth more than $10 billion, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, the search giant's second big agreement recently after one with OpenAI. Under the agreement, Meta will use Google Cloud's servers, storage, networking and other services, the source, who asked not to be named because the discussions are confidential, said. Google and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The deal was first reported by the Information. The news comes after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's comments in July that the company would spend hundreds of billions of dollars to build several massive AI data centers. The company raised the bottom end of its annual capital expenditures forecast by $2 billion, to a range of $66 billion to $72 billion last month. Meta is seeking outside partners to help it fund the massive infrastructure needed to power AI by offloading $2 billion in data center assets, the company disclosed in a filing earlier this month. In June, Reuters reported that OpenAI was planning to add Alphabet's Google Cloud service to meet its growing needs for computing capacity, a surprising collaboration between two prominent competitors in the artificial intelligence sector. Amid this flurry of deals, Google parent's cloud-computing unit delivered an almost 32% jump in second-quarter revenue in July, which surpassed expectations. (Reporting by Sayantani Ghosh in San Francisco and Angela Christy in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Yazhini MV and Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; editing by Alan Barona) Opinion | Why India Should Get Its Tibet Strategy Straight Written By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 12:12 IST China's massive rail and dam projects in Tibet threaten India's security and Tibetan autonomy. New Delhi must balance firm border defense with diplomatic support for Tibet Beijing's control over Tibet extends far beyond the territory's geographical landscape and tangible assets, reaching to the very heart of its cultural and religious identity. (AP/File) China is set to build the most ambitious rail link connecting Xinjiang province with Tibet, part of which will run near" the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. This is not the only mega construction in the region. Just last month, China started construction of the worlds biggest dam over the Brahmaputra River in ecologically fragile Tibet, close to Arunachal Pradesh. These developments mark a significant escalation in Chinas infrastructure expansion in the Himalayan region. The Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Company (XTRC), registered with an initial capital of 95 billion yuan and wholly owned by the China State Railway Group, has been tasked with constructing this strategic line. According to media reports, the project is part of a broader plan to create a 5,000-kilometre plateau rail framework anchored on Lhasa by 2035. Recommended Stories While the registered capital represents only a small initial investment, the overall costs are expected to be far higher, comparable to the 320 billion yuan spent on the 1,800-kilometre Sichuan-Tibet Railway. The route, averaging over 4,500 metres in elevation, will traverse key Himalayan regions such as the Kunlun, Karakoram, Kailash and other mountain ranges. Certain sections of this railway line will allegedly run very close to the LAC. There is, thus, clear defensive and strategic value in this project for India. Furthermore, this mirrors Chinas earlier construction of the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway through Aksai Chin, which was a key trigger of the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. Thus, the construction of the Xinjiang-Tibet Railway link reinforces the strategic stakes for India, given its historical and cultural ties with the region and claims over the territory. Expanding on the proposed railway link, it is one of four planned rail lines linking Tibet to the rest of China. The new line will come up alongside the already operational Qinghai-Tibet route and two others under construction from Sichuan and Yunnan. Furthermore, these projects are coming at an extremely delicate moment for India-China relations, as Beijing and New Delhi have just recently begun thawing relations after years of standoff along the border. Thus, by inaugurating this project just ahead of high-profile diplomatic engagements with India and the US, China is showcasing its determination to consolidate its grip over the Tibetan plateau through connectivity, integration and military preparedness. Simultaneous to the rail link, China has also begun construction of the worlds largest hydropower dam over the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Nyingchi, Tibet, close to Arunachal Pradesh. According to China, it will generate an annual output of roughly 300 billion kilowatt-hours (approximately three times that of the Three Gorges Dam) and form part of Chinas long-standing West-to-East Electricity Transfer Project, which aims to move power from resource-rich western regions to the industrialised east. The dams location has raised grave concerns about water security and weaponisation of water for downstream states like India and Bangladesh. Additionally, its location near the Great Bend, just before the river enters India as the Brahmaputra, has strategic consequences of ecological disruption and the potential weaponisation of transboundary flows during wartime. Also, since it is positioned in a seismically active Himalayan zone, the risks of structural failure and catastrophic flooding cannot be discounted. Indian officials have voiced these concerns formally to Beijing, with Arunachal Pradesh leaders calling it a water bomb". Bangladesh has also sought greater transparency on the projects implications. These mega projects in Tibet are not isolated engineering projects but components of a deeper strategic vision. Tibet remains central to Chinas resource extraction, energy generation and territorial consolidation goals. The region holds immense untapped hydropower potential. Research indicates over 110 gigawatts are yet to be harnessed. In this context, Beijing has steadily expanded its infrastructural footprint on Tibetan rivers over the past decade. Furthermore, this infrastructure push aligns with the political project of integrating minority regions more fully into the Chinese community. Integration" (jiaorong; ) in this context is, thus, a euphemism for cultural assimilation, economic incorporation and demographic transformation. Tibetans have resisted these coercive policies and measures for decades, but China has doubled down on the region and its ethnic people by constantly advancing infrastructure, resettlement and even ideological education. Beijings control over Tibet extends far beyond the territorys geographical landscape and tangible assets, reaching to the very heart of its cultural and religious identity. The Chinese state has imposed sweeping restrictions on religious practice, language use and political expression, with no Tibetan ever having held the top political position of Party Secretary in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) since its establishment in 1965. The disappearance of the Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama in 1995, the banning of the Dalai Lamas image and the forced use of Mandarin in schools only further exacerbate the erosion of Tibetan autonomy. International bodies such as the United Nations have, for decades, issued resolutions and statements urging China to respect Tibetan rights, but these appeals have been repeatedly ignored. Access for independent observers remains heavily restricted. China consistently rejects allegations of abuses as politically motivated interference, leaving no avenue for dialogue. However, forced assimilation in Tibet is not only ideological but also physical. In recent times, Beijing has implemented large-scale relocation programmes in the region, moving Tibetans from remote highland areas to urban settlements. This is often done under the pretext of improving livelihoods". Analysts believe that such policies disrupt Tibets traditional pastoralist and agricultural lifestyles and sever communities from their ancestral lands, thereby eroding cultural continuity. Infrastructure development, such as the Xinjiang-Tibet Railway, further facilitates these demographic shifts by bringing in large numbers of Han Chinese workers, investors and settlers. This is evident in urban spaces in Tibetan regions, such as Nyingchi, which are increasingly displaying the dominance of Han-owned businesses. From Indias perspective, these developments present both strategic and ethical challenges. Given the close proximity of these infrastructure projects to Indias border, they have direct implications for Indias national security. Furthermore, the emphasis on integrating" minorities into the Chinese nation-state has essentially accelerated the erosion of Tibetan identity while simultaneously tightening Beijings grip on the regions strategic assets. Infrastructure is being used not just as a developmental tool but also as an instrument of control and India must not remain a silent spectator, as the implications for its national security, regional stability and moral responsibility are too profound to ignore. Against this backdrop, the fundamental challenge for India lies in crafting a response that addresses both the immediate security implications and the longer-term cultural and political consequences of Beijings actions. Thus, India needs to not only reinforce border defences and enhance hydrological monitoring but also provide sustained support for Tibetan cultural and religious autonomy. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There must be a diplomatic balance between firmness on issues of sovereignty and national security and sensitivity to the Tibetan cause. This will ensure that India neither appears complicit in Chinas policies nor indifferent to the plight of the Tibetan people. Esha Banerji is presently associated with a premier think-tank in India, specialising in defence, security, and strategic studies. Her research interest and focuses of analysis are defence strategy, geo-economics, foreign affairs, and the implications of Chinese security developments on the region, especially India. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: August 23, 2025, 12:12 IST News opinion Opinion | Why India Should Get Its Tibet Strategy Straight 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 22, 2025, 17:02 IST 1 / 8 It all started when Ghazal Alagh, co-founder of Mamaearth, failed to find toxin-free baby products for her son in India and had to order them from abroad. (Image: File Pic) 2 / 8 Ghazal, along with her husband Varun Alagh, started her startup named Honasa Consumer Private Limited in the year 2016 and launched products in the market under the brand name Mamaearth. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 8 Today, Mamaearth is a well-known brand. The baby care, skin care, and cosmetic product lines offered by Ghazal and Varuns company Honasa have flooded the market. Honasa also owns the brands The Derma Co. and BeBlunt in addition to Mamaearth. (Image: Instagram) 4 / 8 Ghazal Alagh was born on September 2, 1988, in a middle-class family in Gurugram, Haryana. She has a BCA degree in Information Technology from Punjab University in 2010. She has also done an intensive course at the New York University of Art. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 8 She worked as a corporate trainer in the IT sector. She has revealed she used to earn Rs 1,200 per day. (Image: Instagram) 6 / 8 When Ghazal and Varun's son Agastya was born with a skin condition, they were not able to find toxin-free baby products. This led to the birth of Mamaearth. Mamaearth is the first brand in Asia to earn the MadeSafe label. The MadeSafe label is given to brands that make 100% toxin-free products for babies and kids. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 8 With an investment of Rs 25 lakh, Ghazal and Varun founded the company in 2016. By 2022, Honasa Consumer (the parent firm of Mamaearth) became a unicorn. (Image: Instagram) 'I Might Get Killed Like My Husband': Expelled SP MLA Alleges Death Threats, Blames Akhilesh Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 14:27 IST MLA Pooja Pal questioned why her praise for Yogi was condemned, while Akhilesh and his wife's voting for BJP candidates was overlooked. Pal was expelled from the SP a day after she praised the governance of CM Yogi Adityanath.(Image: PTI/file photo) Chail MLA Pooja Pal, who was recently expelled from Samajwadi Party, has written a letter to party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, alleging death threats and holding him and the party responsible if she gets murdered. A three-time MLA, Pooja Pal was expelled from the SP on August 14, a day after she praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for delivering justice to women after the death of gangster-cum-politician Atiq Ahmed. She had reportedly voted for BJP candidates in the 2024 Rajya Sabha polls. Recommended Stories Samajwadi Party expelled MLA Pooja Pal writes a letter to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav it is possible that I too may be murdered like my husband, if this happens, then I demand from the government & administration that the real culprit of my murder should be pic.twitter.com/1O451HdPai ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 She expressed fear that she could be murdered in public, like her husband, former BSP MLA Raju Pal, who was shot dead in 2005 allegedly on orders from gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed. In the letter, she claimed that she is facing threat to her life from criminal-minded" SP functionaries after being expelled from the party. You have humiliated and left me in the lurch. This has emboldened the criminal-minded functionaries of SP. It is possible that I too may be murdered like my husband. I appeal to the government that if it happens, Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav should be held responsible," the letter read. Pal accused the SP of caste-based favouritism and failing to support her long-standing fight for justice. She said she had joined SP with the hope of backing in her battle against powerful criminals, but was ultimately sidelined, silenced and left disappointed. Pooja claimed enduring years of suffering in the party but the final blow was her expulsion without allowing her to present her case. It felt like another act of injustice," she wrote. She questioned why her praise for Yogi was condemned, while Akhilesh and his wifes voting for BJP candidates was overlooked. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A widow from an extremely backward caste is punished for thanking the person who ensured justice for her husband. But when you or your wife vote for BJP candidates in the Constitution Club elections, it is justified," she further wrote. Pal concluded the letter with a message of defiance and pride. I have achieved my goal, my husbands murderers have been punished. Even if I die now, I will die with pride," she further wrote. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More First Published: August 23, 2025, 14:27 IST News politics 'I Might Get Killed Like My Husband': Expelled SP MLA Alleges Death Threats, Blames Akhilesh 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... 'Speaks Nonsense, Party Pays Price': Rijiju Slams Rahul Gandhi, Says Even His MPs Are Uneasy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 21:44 IST Rijiju said Gandhi doesnt listen to advice, not even from within his own party, and accused him of making careless remarks Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. (PTI photos) Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday launched a strong attack on Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying that even his own party MPs feel uncomfortable" when he speaks in Parliament. In an interview with ANI, Rijiju said Gandhi doesnt listen to advice, not even from within his own party, and accused him of making careless remarks. Recommended Stories Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and I dont want to criticise him. The SC scolded him when he called the PM chor, spoke nonsense regarding Rafael, and claimed that China occupied our land. He should speak like an Indian. I am no one to improve Rahul Gandhi," he said. #WATCH | Delhi | Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, Rahul Gandhi kuch bolte hain, unke saare MPs bahot uncomfortable ho jaate hain. Wo darte hain ye anapshanap baatein karenge, uska khamiyaza party ko bhugatna padta hai"Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and I dont want to criticise pic.twitter.com/AHxsGNa3tc ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 The senior BJP leader also said that several Congress MPs are left uneasy by Gandhis style of speaking, fearing that it could damage the partys image. Whenever Rahul Gandhi says something, all his MPs become very uncomfortable. They are afraid that they will speak nonsense, and the party would have to pay the price for it." The Union Minister also criticised the Congress partys conduct during the monsoon session of Parliament, alleging that they had no real interest in debate or discussion. He said many MPs, including some from the Congress and other parties, had approached him privately, saying they were unable to raise issues from their constituencies due to repeated disruptions and adjournments. He added that the government was ready for discussion and had repeatedly urged the Opposition to participate, but the disruptions made it difficult for parliamentary work to proceed. If the Parliament does not run, the loss is for the Opposition. The government will pass the bills in the national interest. But it is not good if the bills are passed without discussion. We believe in discussion The loss is for those who have to ask questions," Rijiju noted. He stressed that the Parliament belongs to the Opposition too, as it is their role to ask questions and hold the government accountable. However, he said that role cannot be fulfilled if the Opposition chooses to walk out or create chaos. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The just-concluded monsoon session of Parliament saw frequent adjournments, with Opposition parties demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. As a result, the Lok Sabha functioned for only 37 out of 120 available hours, with 31% productivity. Rajya Sabha logged 41 hours and 15 minutes of discussion, with 39% productivity. Despite the disruptions, 15 bills were passed during the session. (With inputs from ANI) 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 23, 2025, 21:44 IST News politics 'Speaks Nonsense, Party Pays Price': Rijiju Slams Rahul Gandhi, Says Even His MPs Are Uneasy 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... TMC Calls JPC On PM-CM Removal Bills Farce, Refuses To Nominate Member For Panel Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 17:59 IST Trinamool Congress called the JPC on bills for removal of Prime Minister and Chief Ministers a farce, opposing the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (PTI Image) The Trinamool Congress on Saturday termed the Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) formed to look into the three bills that lay down the framework for the removal of the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers, as "farce" and said that it will not nominate anyone from the party to the JPC. We oppose the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill at the stage of introduction, and in our view, the JPC is a farce. Therefore, we are not nominating anyone from AITC," the party said in a statement. Recommended Stories The party has been aggressively opposing the bill both inside and outside of Parliament. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Constitution (One Hundred And Thirtieth Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025, were introduced in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, a day before the conclusion of the Monsoon Session. The introduction of the bills provoked strong opposition. In Lok Sabha, tensions escalated as copies of the bills were torn and thrown, with members from both ruling and opposition parties confronting each other when Union Home Minister Amit Shah proceeded to present the bills. Whats In The Bill? The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill proposes that a prime minister, chief minister, or minister will be automatically removed from their respective offices if they are in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days and fail to secure bail during this tenure. However, the condition remains that the minister must have been arrested for an offence that carries a punishment of five years or more. They have been referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament. Both Houses have passed a resolution to refer the bills to a JPC comprising 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. The committee has been mandated to submit its report to the House in the Winter Session, which is likely to be convened in the third week of November. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The proposed legislation provides a legal framework for the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers on arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More First Published: August 23, 2025, 17:57 IST News politics TMC Calls JPC On PM-CM Removal Bills Farce, Refuses To Nominate Member For Panel 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... E-Wedding Invite, One Click And 2 Lakh Gone: Govt Staffer Duped In WhatsApp Scam Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 16:32 IST A Maharashtra government employee in Hingoli lost Rs 1,90,000 after downloading a fake wedding invitation APK via WhatsApp; police and cyber cell are investigating the scam. Representative Image. (AI Generated) A digital wedding invitation shared over WhatsApp proved costly for a government employee in Maharashtras Hingoli district, who lost close to Rs 2 lakh. A wedding invitation scheduled for August 30 reached the cyberfraud victim through a WhatsApp message from an unknown sender. Welcome. Shadi mein zarur aye (Do come to the wedding). 30/08/2025. Love is the master key that opens the gate of happiness," the message read. Below was what looked like a PDF file of the wedding invitation. Recommended Stories However, the so-called wedding card was actually an Android Application Package (APK) file designed to hack into users phones and steal sensitive data. As soon as the victim clicked on the file, the cybercriminals accessed the data and stole Rs 1,90,000. A case has been registered against an unidentified individual at the Hingoli police station as well as with the cyber cell. The wedding invitation scam came to light last year when many people lost their money to it. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The scam starts with a WhatsApp wedding invitation. Clicking on it triggers the download of an APK file, allowing cybercriminals to track the victims phone activities. They can then exploit the data to impersonate the victim and defraud others by demanding money. The Himachal Pradesh Cyber police had issued a warning last year, advising people to remain cautious and not download files received from unfamiliar sources. 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 : Maharashtra, India, India First Published: August 23, 2025, 16:23 IST News viral E-Wedding Invite, One Click And 2 Lakh Gone: Govt Staffer Duped In WhatsApp Scam Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Eye Of The Ghost': What Terrified Indians Thought Of The Electric Light Bulb In 1880s Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 17:10 IST Villagers and townspeople saw electricity as a supernatural power from the sky. Bulbs were called ghosts eye or jinns lamp, feared to explode anytime In 1920s Bihar, people feared electric wires, believing an invisible snake ran beneath them. (Facebook/@Philip Thornton) A groundbreaking event took place 145 years ago when electric bulbs were first lit in India, specifically in Kolkata. The installation of electric street lights drew crowds from afar, filled with both awe and fear. Many locals believed the glowing bulbs to be ghosts, viewing the lights with wide-eyed amazement and calling them the burning of a ghost". Such reactions were common in Kolkata during the 1880s, with some even warning against approaching the bulbs, thinking they were the eyes of ghosts. Women, in particular, cautioned their children to avoid looking at the lights, fearing supernatural consequences. Recommended Stories The advent of electricity at the end of the 19th century was met with both fear and wonder. Before electricity, Kolkatas streets were lit with gas lamps, which were powered by coal-gas. By 1857, gas lamp posts had been installed on major streets. The transition to electric bulbs in the 1880s led to the gradual replacement of gas lamps. For a period, Kolkata uniquely had both gas and electric street lights, making it the third city globally to be illuminated in this manner. Public Reactions To New Technology Trapped Fire Inside The Bulb When the Bombay Electric Supply Company lit bulbs in Mumbai in 1905, people were astonished, believing the British had trapped fire in glass. Some even tried warming their hands by the bulbs, surprised by the lack of heat. Villagers Uproot Electric Poles In villages, electricity poles faced resistance as farmers feared they would drain soil fertility. Rumours spread about these poles capturing souls or making the land impure. At that time, electricity had just begun reaching villages in the country. While most villages received it much later, some saw electric poles being installed, which met with resistance. Many farmers uprooted the poles in their fields, believing that these iron rods" would drain the soils fertility. In several villages, poles were removed under the cover of night. Rumors also circulated that the British were using the poles to capture and take away souls," or that erecting them would defile" the land. An Invisible Snake Inside When electricity reached Bihar in the 1920s, people were fearful of electric wires, saying, An invisible snake runs beneath them." Children would run under the wires to avoid being bitten" by this snake. Villagers and townspeople believed electricity was a supernatural power" from the sky. The light in the bulb was often called a ghosts eye" or jinns lamp," and many feared the fire inside could explode at any moment. First Ceiling Fan And Resulting Fears In Calcutta (now Kolkata), when electric fans were first installed in wealthy homes and offices in 1902, people watched the spinning ceiling blades with wide-eyed amazement. When the blades slowed down, their surprise grew even more. Initially, people were hesitant to sit under the fans, and servants feared that the spinning fan might fall and injure someone." Public fear intensified when a worker died from an electric shock, an incident reported in newspapers as an Electricity outbreak." The First Power Station Electricity was first generated in India in the late 19th century. The countrys first power station was established in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1882 by the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC). It operated on direct current (DC) and had the capacity to power around 1,300 bulbs. Electricity Production And Distribution Electricity was first produced and used in India by the Indian Jute Mills Company on the banks of the Hooghly River on July 24, 1879. Electricity powered machines and factories here. However, the citys supply began from Metcalfe Hall on August 15, 1889, with street lighting being the initial use. The Camac Street Power Station, established in 1899 by Kilburn and Company, played a crucial role in this development, alongside significant contributions from British engineers and the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC). Indias First Powerhouses Darjipur, Hooghly, West Bengal (1899): The countrys first hydroelectric power plant. The countrys first hydroelectric power plant. Singhbhum, Jharkhand (1910): Tata Group established a hydropower plant supplying electricity to the Jamshedpur steel plant. Tata Group established a hydropower plant supplying electricity to the Jamshedpur steel plant. Mumbai (Byculla) (1905): Bombay Electric Supply Company set up a powerhouse. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Key Figures In Indias Electrification British Engineer Clyde Rowell: First set up a power plant in Calcutta. First set up a power plant in Calcutta. Jamsetji Tata: The Tata Group pioneered linking electricity with industrial development in India. Between 19031910, Tata established Indias first large hydroelectric power plant in Singhbhum, Jharkhand (Khopoli, later connected to Bhivpuri/Khandala line), supplying electricity to the Jamshedpur steel plant and Mumbai. He is often called the Father of Modern Electricity Supply in India" and sometimes the Electric Man of India" for connecting both industry and cities with electricity. The Tata Group pioneered linking electricity with industrial development in India. Between 19031910, Tata established Indias first large hydroelectric power plant in Singhbhum, Jharkhand (Khopoli, later connected to Bhivpuri/Khandala line), supplying electricity to the Jamshedpur steel plant and Mumbai. He is often called the Father of Modern Electricity Supply in India" and sometimes the Electric Man of India" for connecting both industry and cities with electricity. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar And Other Indian Scientists: During the 1930s40s expansion of electricity in India, Indian engineers and scientists played a key role, with Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar leading the contributions Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: August 23, 2025, 17:10 IST News viral 'Eye Of The Ghost': What Terrified Indians Thought Of The Electric Light Bulb In 1880s 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 Buys Quirky Underwear Online, Suffers Severe Burns After It Melts & Fuses Into Her Skin Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 08:51 IST A British woman landed in hospital with burns after an unusual pair of shapewear she bought online melted onto her skin during a family event. Molly-May revealed that when she spoke to friends and colleagues about the incident, many admitted to buying similar cheap clothes online and experiencing itching and burning. (News18) In this social media-driven world, buying with just a click has become second nature. Platforms promise millions of products at unbelievable prices, but sometimes, low cost masks hidden risks. That was the case for MollyMay Watson from Britain, who ordered some quirky shapewear online, only to experience an agonising ordeal. A Party Wear Turns Painful Recommended Stories MollyMay, aged 27, purchased shapewear described as Spanxlike" in May 2024, paying just 8.57 (around Rs 1,000) from a social media shop. She planned to wear them under a dress for her sisters baby shower. However, during the event on July 27, she was hit by a sudden, intense burning near her thigh and waist, like a bee stinging her from within her clothes. Rushing to the toilet, MollyMay discovered the shapewears elastane had melted and fused to her skin. In pain and panic, she peeled it off, only to find shed suffered first- and second-degree burns. The injury was so severe that she could barely stand and had to leave the event early. A Hospital Visit And Shocking News The next day, MollyMay visited St Thomas Hospital A&E in London. Doctors warned her scars could be permanent. She was immediately treated and bandaged, beginning a difficult recovery that forced her to work from home. A Dismal Response From The Online Platform Distressed, MollyMay reported the incident via the platforms help centre, including photos of her burns and the ruined garment. The response? A paltry 10 coupon and a refund offer. She described the compensation as a joke and an insult. Outraged, MollyMay rejected it: I dont want your coupon, Ill never buy from that brand again," she declared. What seems like a bargain might scar you for life." Similar Incidents Molly-May revealed that when she spoke to friends and colleagues about the incident, many admitted to buying similar cheap clothes online and experiencing itching and burning. Since then, she has stopped purchasing from third-party sellers online. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Following the incident, Molly-May has been working from home until she fully recovers. After she shared the video of the ordeal, it quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism of the product and the platform that sold it. In response, the platform stated that it had removed the seller and their products back in June, before the incident came to light. Yet the question remains: shouldnt online marketplaces ensure the safety and quality of products before allowing them to be sold? 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 23, 2025, 08:51 IST News viral Woman Buys Quirky Underwear Online, Suffers Severe Burns After It Melts & Fuses Into Her Skin 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 Surgeon Accused Of Filming Over 450 Women In Hospital Washrooms Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 20:31 IST Ryan Cho, accused of secretly filming 4,500 videos in hospital restrooms, was granted bail by Justice James Elliott. Cho is expected to face around 500 charges. Pixabay image used for representational purpose only A trainee surgeon accused of secretly filming hundreds of coworkers in hospital restrooms has been let out on bail, according to a report in The Independent. The accused surgeon, identified as Ryan Cho (28), is expected to face around 500 charges related to the alleged recording of over 4,500 intimate videos. Recommended Stories The videos were mostly captured in staff restrooms at three Melbourne hospitals since 2021, the British outlet reported citing Victoria state Supreme Court documents. Justice James Elliott granted bail to Cho on the condition that he live with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne in anticipation of his release. His parents were also required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar surety. Prosecutors argued Cho might flee, noting he has been suspended from his job and has limited ties to Australia. The judge observed that the accused had surrendered his passport and had no criminal connections to help him leave Australia. Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women. The judge held there is no evidence that he shared the footage. He was arrested in July after a phone was found actively recording from inside a mesh bag in a restroom at Austin Hospital. Investigators believe he also filmed in restrooms at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Cho was initially charged with six offenses, but an additional 127 charges were added on Thursday, including intentionally recording intimate images without consent. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His lawyer, Julian McMahon, dismissed concerns that Cho might interfere with witnesses, noting the high number of potential witnesses would make such interference unlikely to impact the case. Cho moved to Australia as a student in 2017 and studied medicine at Monash University. He has not entered any pleas so far. 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 : Australia First Published: August 23, 2025, 20:27 IST News world Australia Surgeon Accused Of Filming Over 450 Women In Hospital Washrooms 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... Did Elon Musk Call Trump's Pick For India Envoy A 'Snake'? A Look At Their Feud Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 08:30 IST Donald Trump named his close aide, Sergio Gor, as the next US Ambassador to India. Gor is believed to be involved in Trump's public fallout with Elon Musk. Elon Musk and Sergio Gor. (Reuters/File) US President Donald Trump named his close aide, Sergio Gor, a well-known figure in the Republican camp, as the new Ambassador to India amid a delicate time between the two countries, marked by trade tensions. Gor is reportedly valued by the president for his perceived loyalty, particularly for helping staff thousands of political positions across the federal government. Gor has played an influential role in Trumps political operations since 2020, and is also one of the major reasons for a bitter public fallout between Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk. Recommended Stories Musk called Gor who currently leads the White House Presidential Personnel Office a snake", after a report revealed that Gor had, at the time, yet to submit official paperwork about his own background needed for a permanent security clearance, while he was tasked with vetting thousands of staffers. Hes a snake Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2025 Feud Between Elon Musk & Sergio Gor According to the New York Times, Gor bitterly fought with Musk, who was once a close adviser to Trump and ran an effort that ripped through existing government systems in the name of cutting costs and reducing bureaucracy. As per reports, Gor was involved in providing information to Trump that Jared Isaacman, a businessman and Musks pick to lead NASA, had donated money to Democrats in the recent past, which prompted Trump to pull the nomination from the Senate confirmation process on Musks last working day at the White House. ALSO READ: How This White House Official Triggered A Fallout Between Donald Trump, Elon Musk According to a report by Axios, the final straw behind Musks relationship with Trump came when the US president was the latters decision to remove Isaacmans nomination as NASA administrator. This was Sergios out-the-door f**k you to Musk," a White House official said. Musk and Gor had disliked each other since before Trump took office on January 20, with Musk describing Gor as sleazy" during the transition and questioning his staffing picks. Furthermore, Gor was reportedly humiliated" by Musk during a Cabinet meeting on March 6, when the Tesla CEO criticised the pace of staffing the administration. Reports claimed Gors intensely personal dislike of Musk was illustrated by his periodic celebrations when Teslas stock cratered. Musks exit was followed by a bitter public spat with Trump over the administrations flagship tax-and-spending budget bill, which he called a disgusting abomination". The row quickly escalated as Musk claimed Trumps name was mentioned in the files related to sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Gor, who is currently the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, would also serve as a special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs. Sergio is a great friend, who has been at my side for many years. He worked on my Historic Presidential Campaigns, published my Best Selling Books, and ran one of the biggest Super PACs, which supported our Movement," Trump said. Gor, in a posting on X, thanked Trump for the nomination and said it would be the honour of my life" to represent the United States in the new role. 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 23, 2025, 08:28 IST News world Did Elon Musk Call Trump's Pick For India Envoy A 'Snake'? A Look At Their Feud 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... Mitsubishi Motors North America has announced a recall of 91,697 Outlander and Outlander hybrid SUVs in the US. The recall is due to a potential risk of the rear hatch falling unexpectedly, posing a safety hazard. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, approximately 1% of the vehicles may be affected by the defect. The recall includes 85,620 Outlanders from the 2013 to 2020 model years and 6,077 Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) from the 2017 to 2022 model years. The defect involves the cylinder of the tailgate gas spring, which is at risk of corrosion due to penetration of saltwater. The corrosion could lead to a reduction in the wall thickness of the cylinder, causing a rapid loss of pressure. This may result in the liftgate falling without warning or the tailgate gas spring cylinder rupturing, increasing the risk of injury. To address the problem, the company will replace the left and right tailgate gas springs at no cost to the vehicle owners. The steel cylinder of the tailgate gas spring will now be treated with an anti-corrosion coating, rather than utilising a heat-shrink resin tube. Dealers will receive notification on 1 October, and owners will be notified starting 6 October. Those seeking reimbursement for expenses related to the recall will be directed to contact the Mitsubishi Customer Relations Department for refund instructions, the report said. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has reported a 4.4% increase in global production for May 2025, with a total of 75,350 units produced compared to 72,199 units in the same month of the previous year. Overseas production saw a 4% increase to 36,138 units, and production in Japan rose by 5% to 39,212 units. This growth was partly attributed to a 27% surge in domestic registrations. Despite a 29% decline in shipments to North America, Mitsubishi's exports experienced an 11% uplift to 19,132 units. "Mitsubishi issues recall for over 91k Outlanders due to hatch risk" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. 'He Trusts This Guy': Ex-Trump Adviser Explains Why Sergio Gor Named As US Ambassador To India Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 11:53 IST Steve Bannon, Trump's former senior adviser, said Sergio Gor's nomination as the US Ambassador to India was a good step for both countries amid trade tensions. Trump expressed confidence in Gor's ability to further the "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" agenda (Image: Reuters) Steve Bannon, the former senior adviser of US President Donald Trump during his first term, has hailed the decision to nominate the presidents close aide, Sergio Gor, as the next US Ambassador to India, saying it was good for both countries. Sergio is a great friend, who has been at my side for many years. He worked on my Historic Presidential Campaigns, published my Best Selling Books, and ran one of the biggest Super PACs, which supported our Movement," Trump said. For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN." Recommended Stories Gor, the White House personnel director and a close friend of Trump, was named as the next ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. He has played an influential role in Trumps political operations, notably by creating one of the largest Super PACs supporting his campaign. While Gor is in the presidents good books for adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward job-seekers who had been critical of Trump in the past, he had a contentious relationship with former Trump adviser-turned-rival Elon Musk, who called him a snake". Powerful Signal To India Gors nomination came at a time when relations between the United States and India are strained due to Trumps 50% tariffs on India, including an additional 25% duties for purchasing Russian oil that will come into effect from August 28. Bannon lauded Gors nomination as the next US envoy to India. I believe Sergio is the only person outside of (White House Chief of Staff) Susie (wiles) and a handful of others who actually has walk-in privileges to the president at any time, day or night," he told Politico. If Im (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi in India and I say this as somebody thats so pro that relationship I couldnt think of a better pick. Does he have a deep knowledge base of the Indian policy issues? He doesnt, but this guys a quick study. He not just has access to the president but he has a unique trust. The president trusts this guy, that hes dealing with him straight," he added. Meanwhile, a person familiar with the matter said Gors nomination is Trumps way of sending a powerful signal to the Modi government by sending an envoy that is very personally close to him." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sergio is a clear signal that the negotiations need to be serious and that all messages come from the president," the person told the US-based outlet. In a post on X, Gor thanked Trump for his incredible trust and confidence" in his appointment, and said it would be the honour of my life" to represent the US in India. He will succeed Eric Garcetti, who served as ambassador from May 11, 2023, to January 20, 2025. 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 23, 2025, 09:24 IST News world 'He Trusts This Guy': Ex-Trump Adviser Explains Why Sergio Gor Named As US Ambassador To India 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... Modern Blood Libel: Netanyahu Calls Gaza Famine Declaration 'Outright Lie' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 22:14 IST Netanyahu accused the UN and its partner agencies of spreading falsehoods and showing double standards Netanyahus office claimed that Israel has never pursued a "policy of starvation". (Image via AP/AFP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly rejected the United Nations declaration of famine in Gaza, calling it an outright lie" and describing the report as a modern blood libel" against the Jewish state. In a series of posts shared by his office on X, Netanyahu accused the UN and its partner agencies of spreading falsehoods and showing double standards. Recommended Stories Netanyahus office claimed that Israel has never pursued a policy of starvation", stating instead that the country has enabled the delivery of over 2 million tons of aid to Gaza. The IPC report is an outright lie. Israel does not have a policy of starvation. Israel has a policy of preventing starvation. Since the beginning of the war Israel has enabled 2 million tons of aid to enter the Gaza Strip, over one ton of aid per person," the post said. The IPC report is an outright lie.Israel does not have a policy of starvation. Israel has a policy of preventing starvation. Since the beginning of the war Israel has enabled 2 million tons of aid to enter the Gaza Strip, over one ton of aid per person. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 22, 2025 The posts described the UN-backed report as fabrications" and said these claims would soon collapse, just as previous reports blaming Israel had. This is not analysis," one of the posts read. It is a modern blood libel, spreading like wildfire through prejudice. History will judge those who peddle it. The IPC must end its double standards against the Jewish state." The term blood libel refers to a historic and false accusation that Jews used the blood of Christian children for religious rituals, a myth that fuelled centuries of antisemitic violence in Europe. The Israeli PMs office also said that Israel would continue to act responsibly, ensuring aid reaches Gazas civilians while destroying Hamass terror machine. The Hamas-orchestrated starvation campaign" will not deter us from freeing our hostages and eliminating Hamas." What The UN-backed Report Said The UN officially declared a famine in Gaza on Friday, stating that Israels systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid during the war was a key reason for the crisis. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed initiative based in Rome, said the famine currently affects 500,000 people in the Gaza governorate about a fifth of the enclaves population. The IPC warned that the famine could spread to Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis by the end of September, potentially impacting two-thirds of Gaza. It described the situation as catastrophic", marked by starvation, destitution and death. Meanwhile, Israels military campaign continued in full force. Heavy bombardments were reported across Gaza, with Defence Minister Israel Katz vowing to destroy Gaza City unless Hamas agrees to disarm and release hostages. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The war, sparked by Hamass October 2023 attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, has led to the deaths of over 62,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, figures the UN considers reliable. (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 : Israel First Published: August 23, 2025, 22:12 IST News world Modern Blood Libel: Netanyahu Calls Gaza Famine Declaration 'Outright Lie' 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... Pentagon Boss Fires Defense Intel Chief Whose Iran Strikes Assessment Angered Trump Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 19:59 IST US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth fired DIA chief Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse after his Iran strike assessment angered Donald Trump; Christine Bordine named Acting Director. S Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday fired Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse, the head of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency. (X) US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday (local time) fired Pentagons Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) chief Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse after his assessment of damage to Iranian nuclear sites from US strikes angered President Donald Trump, CNN reported. Apart from Kruse, Hegseth removed Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore, the chief of US Naval Reserves, and Rear Admiral Milton Sands, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, an official, on condition of anonymity, told the news outlet. Recommended Stories According to people familiar with the decision and a White House official, the firing was due to a loss of confidence," though no specific details were given. The Defence Department has not yet announced who will take over leadership of the agency. However, a DIA spokesperson provided a statement to NBC News saying, Deputy Director Christine Bordine assumes the role of Acting Director of DIA effective immediately." Kruses removal came days after DIAs initial findings into the US attack on Iran appeared to contradict Trumps claims. As per the agency, its initial assessment revealed that the US strikes against Irans nuclear facilities had a limited effect. It further said that Irans nuclear program has been set back only a few months, contradicting assertions from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US President, who had pronounced the Iranian program completely and fully obliterated," rejected the report. In a press conference following the June strikes, Hegseth lambasted the press for focusing on the preliminary assessment but did not offer any direct evidence of the destruction of Iranian nuclear production facilities. You want to call it destroyed, you want to call it defeated, you want to call it obliterated choose your word. This was an historically successful attack," Hegseth said then. While the Pentagon has offered no details on the firings, Democrats in Congress have raised alarm over the precedent Kruses ouster sets for the intelligence community. The firing of yet another senior national security official underscores the Trump administrations dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country," US Senator Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said as quoted by CNN. The Trump administration has increasingly moved against both the military leadership and the intelligence community. Some current and former national security officials, including chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Charles CQ" Brown, chief of Naval Operations Adm Lisa Franchetti, Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan, and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife, were removed from their posts since Trump assumed the presidency. Last week, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David Allvin also announced he would step down in November after being forced out. In April, Trump fired General Timothy Haugh, head of the National Security Agency, and his deputy, Wendy Noble, after pressure from far-right activist Laura Loomer. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A month later, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard removed Michael Collins, acting chair of the National Intelligence Council, along with his deputy, after their assessment clashed with Trumps immigration policies. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: August 23, 2025, 19:59 IST News world Pentagon Boss Fires Defense Intel Chief Whose Iran Strikes Assessment Angered Trump 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... Tensions Flare Between North, South Korea After Seoul Fires Warning Shots In Border Area Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 12:55 IST North Korea said the warning shots fired by the South Korean military were a "provocation", while Seoul alleged that some North Korean troops had crossed the border. North Korea has blown up several inter-Korean roads to create a barrier in the heavily fortified border with South Korea. (Reuters File Image) North Korea on Saturday said the South Korean military fired warning shots in the border area between the two Koreas earlier this week, calling it an act of deliberate provocation, while Seoul said it fired as North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border. According to North Koreas state media KCNA, Pyongyang has observed that warning broadcasts from the South Korean military in the border region were increasing and warned of a corresponding countermeasure". Recommended Stories North Koreas Army Lieutenant General Ko Jong Chol pointed to Pyongyangs work on building barriers in the heavily fortified border, saying it will respond to any obstruction to the project and take no responsibility for the grave consequences" if advanced warning in the area is ignored in the future, as per KCNA. What Did South Korea Say? Meanwhile, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that some North Korean soldiers working in the border region crossed the military demarcation line on Tuesday, prompting the military to fire warning shots. Some North Korean soldiers operating near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the central frontline DMZ crossed the MDL, prompting our military to fire warning shots," said the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The North Korean soldiers then moved north of the MDL." North Koreas aggressive message contradicts South Korean President Lee Jae-myungs announcement last week that his government will halt certain military activities near the border, as part of ongoing efforts to improve relations between the two countries, which remain technically at war. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns sister, Kim Yo Jong, has dismissed any US intent to resume diplomacy, stating the country will not be denied its position as a nuclear-armed state, according to reports. The statement comes as US President Donald Trump, in his second term, has expressed hopes of restarting nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyang. (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 : Seoul, South Korea First Published: August 23, 2025, 12:55 IST News world Tensions Flare Between North, South Korea After Seoul Fires Warning Shots In Border Area 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 Repeats He Stopped India-Pakistan Conflict, But This Time With 'Right About Everything Cap Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 10:06 IST India has repeatedly asserted that the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan was the outcome of direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both armies US President Donald Trump. (Image: CNN) US President Donald Trump, wearing a cap that read Right About Everything" in the Oval Office, once again claimed credit for stopping a nuclear war" between India and Pakistan. Although Trump has repeated the claim multiple times, New Delhi has firmly rejected it, stressing that Pakistan sought the ceasefire after sustaining significant losses in Operation Sindoor. Recommended Stories Reiterating his version of events on Saturday, Trump said: We solved what couldve been a nuclear war with India and Pakistan. It was getting ready to be a nuclear war." #WATCH | Washington DC | On the Russia-Ukraine war, US President Donald Trump says, It takes two to tango. I wanted to have a meeting with those two But many people think nothing will come out of that meeting We solved one that could have been a nuclear war between pic.twitter.com/I0WO31NW6C ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2025 Since May 10, when Trump declared on social media that Washington had brokered a full and immediate" ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a long night" of negotiations, he has reiterated more than 40 times that he was the one who helped resolve" tensions between the two neighbours. India has repeatedly asserted that the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan was the outcome of direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both armies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also told Parliament that no foreign leader played a role in halting Operation Sindoor, stressing that the decision was Indias alone. Turning to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Trump told reporters he would take a very important decision" in the next two weeks, which could involve massive sanctions or tariffs" on Moscow, or telling Kyiv that its not Washingtons war." In two weeks, we are going to know which way I am going whether its massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or do we do nothing and say its your fight," Trump said, while pressing for a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He added: It takes two to tango. I wanted to have a meeting with those two. If they dont meet, then why it was so, after I told them to have a meeting." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US president further claimed: Ive settled seven wars and you think about pre-wars, thatll be three, so 10 wars Not happy at all. Over the next two weeks we are going to find out which way its going to go." His comments came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Putin is willing to meet Zelenskyy if all issues requiring top-level discussion are worked out in advance by experts and ministers. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: August 23, 2025, 08:42 IST News world Trump Repeats He Stopped India-Pakistan Conflict, But This Time With 'Right About Everything Cap 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... Turkey's First Lady Writes To Melania Trump, Urges Her To Speak Out For Children In Gaza Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 20:57 IST The appeal comes as a global hunger monitor officially declared famine in Gaza City and nearby areas. Emine Erdogan (Image: X/@EmineErdogan); Melania Trump (R) (AP photo) Emine Erdogan, the First Lady of Turkey, has written to Melania Trump, urging her to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the suffering of children in Gaza, news agency Reuters reported, citing Turkish authorites. In her letter, dated Friday and published by the Turkish presidency, Emine Erdogan said she was moved by the US First Ladys recent letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin about children affected by the war in Ukraine. Recommended Stories I have faith that the important sensitivity you have shown for the 648 Ukrainian children will be extended to Gaza as well," Emine wrote. Emine Erdogan called on Melania to use her influence to raise awareness, saying such a gesture would be a historic responsibility toward the Palestinian people," especially now, when global recognition of Palestine is growing. These days, when the world is experiencing a collective awakening and the recognition of Palestine has become a global will. I believe that your call on behalf of Gaza would fulfil a historic responsibility toward the Palestinian people," Emine Erdogans letter added. The White House has not responded to the letter so far. The appeal comes as a global hunger monitor officially declared famine in Gaza City and nearby areas. The crisis is expected to worsen, increasing pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the region. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the famine report, calling it an outright lie" and insisting that Israel is working to prevent, not cause, starvation. The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources. Since then, Gazas health authorities report that over 62,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israels military operations in the region. 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 : Turkey First Published: August 23, 2025, 20:55 IST News world Turkey's First Lady Writes To Melania Trump, Urges Her To Speak Out For Children In Gaza Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... UK Sees Surge In Human Skull Trade, Sparking Fears Of Grave Robbing: 'It's Gruesome' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 18:34 IST Henry Scraggs Essex shop Curiosities from the 5th Corner sells human skulls and body parts, sparking expert calls for tighter UK laws amid fears of grave robbing. Representative Image. (AI Generated) In a recent YouTube interview from his macabre curiosities shop in Essex, Henry Scragg appeared in a worn bowler hat, with tribal-style facial tattoos and a ginger beard flowing into three long dreadlocks. When it comes to human stuff, Ill take anything, pretty much," Scragg said. As long as its been ethically sourced, may I add." Recommended Stories The shop, Curiosities from the 5th Corner, provides a backdrop that could be plucked straight from a Victorian penny dreadful: a foetus of conjoined twins floats in a large medical jar at Scraggs elbow, shelves of human skulls and a hybrid animal skeleton loom behind. The shops website markets a monthly human skull subscription (buyers are sent a skull of the shops choice each month), mummified body parts, shrunken heads, and masks and wallets made from human leather, The Guardian reported. While there is no indication that selling such items is illegal, experts including Dame Sue Black, one of the UKs foremost forensic scientists have urged tighter controls on the trade in human remains. Experts warn that the lack of regulation leaves much of the trade in skulls and bones in a legal grey area, with the expanding online market raising fears of a modern form of body snatching" amid reports of bones being taken from crypts and graveyards in the UK and overseas. Youve got people who are breaking into mausolea and who are taking remains away to sell them for people who think this is gothic, quaint [or] supernatural," said Black, the president of St Johns College, Oxford. If you can make the sale of a birds nest illegal, surely to goodness you can make the sale of a human body illegal. Having a necklace made out of somebodys teeth isnt acceptable to people." Experts point out that part of the problem lies in how the law is applied. In the UK, desecrating a grave is a criminal offence, but human remains are not legally considered property and therefore cannot be owned" or stolen." As a result, possessing or selling historical remains even if they were unlawfully exhumed is not automatically a crime. Its gruesome," said Black. Its why we say Rest in peace. You dont expect your body to be dug up and sold." Dr. Trish Biers of Cambridge Universitys anthropology department leads a task force within the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO) that monitors the trade in human remains. She noted a sharp rise in such sales in the UK in recent years. Over the past five years, BABAO has intervened to block more than 200 transactions, including those involving auction houses, shops, and online platforms. Although the market has traditionally been dominated by ex-medical skulls and former museum pieces, Biers suggested there had been an increase in the sale of skulls described as archaeological", the appearance of which is consistent with having been excavated from the ground or exhumed from coffins. Social media has completely changed the market," she said. Its not illegal, and thats the problem." Similar concerns were echoed in March by Mattaeus Ball, a Reading-based dealer in macabre art and oddities," who recently declared he would cease trading in human remains. The waters are becoming too muddy with stolen pieces, pieces that are grave-robbed, so many things that just arent right," he said in an Instagram post. And people keep thinking Im dealing in that, when Im not." Ball declined to be interviewed. The Guardian showed images of 10 skulls found on sale on Instagram and other UK online forums to three forensic experts. Several were judged to be ex-anatomical teaching skulls, but others appeared to be coated with dirt or traces of human tissue, which could indicate more recent excavation. A skull listed for 995 on a Belfast-based website bore signs consistent with having been buried in soil. An expert pointed to patches of darker organic matter, possible rootlets in the sutures and orbits, and indications of rodent gnawing." However, the sites owner denied that roots or rodents were responsible for the damage. Another skull, missing several teeth and marketed for 795 on the website of a UK-based shop, appeared to have manganese oxide staining, the Guardian was told, which is consistent with that seen in bodies excavated from old graves. At least three skulls displayed signs of softening, a condition that occurs when bones are exposed to the acidic environment inside a coffin during decomposition. One skull appeared to have recent facial damage and a thin, dark, flaky layer characteristics I have seen in skulls removed from coffins," said Black. The white areas indicate recent damage, as they reveal the uncoloured bone beneath." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Dr Nicholas Marquez-Grant, a forensic anthropologist at Cranfield University, said that, based on anatomical features, some of the skulls probably originated from outside the UK, including Asia and Africa, and may date as far back as the 19th century. Paul Boateng, who is set to meet Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy next month to press for legal reforms, voiced particular concern over the trade in the remains of Indigenous ancestors. The ongoing commerce in human beings after death, and their continued objectification, is profoundly repugnant and a source of national shame," he said. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: August 23, 2025, 18:34 IST News world UK Sees Surge In Human Skull Trade, Sparking Fears Of Grave Robbing: 'It's Gruesome' 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 Has 1.4 Million Fewer Immigrants After Trump Took Office, A First Since 1960s Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 18:45 IST The US immigrant population fell by 1.4 million in early 2025, driven by Donald Trumps policies, impacting the labor market. US President Donald Trump. (Image: CNN) The US immigrant population has declined significantly for the first time since the 1960s, according to a report in NBC News. The population dropped by 1.4 million between January and June 2025. The decline is driven by President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies, NBC News reported citing a report by Pew Research Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and data analysis institute. Recommended Stories After Trump assumed office, the immigrant population fell from 53.3 million to 51.9 million, marking a historic shift. The report, released on Thursday, links the decline to mass deportations, increased arrests, and tougher restrictions on legal immigration under the Trump administration. The data we are looking at represented a dramatic change," said Jeffrey Passel, senior demographer at Pew, while speaking to the outlet News. The drop is also impacting the American labor market which lost over 750,000 immigrant workers since the start of the year. Passel warned that the US working-age population isnt growing, and without new immigrants, the workforce cant expand. If the workforce isnt growing, its harder for the economy," he further said. Although immigration began slowing in 2024 under the Biden administrations border reforms, the trend has sharply accelerated under Trump. The report also highlights a drop in the number of unauthorized immigrants, falling from a peak of 14 million in 2023driven by stricter deportation efforts and removal of protections. Despite the decline, the US still hosts the largest number of immigrants globally. However, countries like Canada and the UAE have a higher share of immigrants relative to their population. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As of June 2025, immigrants made up 15.4% of the US population, down from 15.8% in January. The Pew report also noted a demographic shift, with more unauthorized immigrants now coming from South America rather than Mexico and Central America. Texas and California remain the top states for immigrants, though the gap between them has narrowed. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: August 23, 2025, 18:41 IST News world US Has 1.4 Million Fewer Immigrants After Trump Took Office, A First Since 1960s 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 Happens If The UN Declares Famine In Gaza And Why It Matters | Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: August 23, 2025, 16:55 IST The United Nations declares a famine when 20% of the population lacks sufficient food, hunger causes 2+ deaths per 10,000 daily, and over 30% of children are malnourished Among the three conditions, the United Nations declares a famine when more than 30% of children are malnourished. (AP/File) The United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza on August 22, stating that 500,000 people are facing catastrophic" hunger. This announcement raises questions about whether aid will now reach the region, especially given the Israeli Foreign Ministrys immediate response that there is no famine in Gaza". The United Nations officially declares famine in a region when the situation reaches a severe humanitarian crisis, indicating not just a shortage of food but widespread distress. The term famine" is applied cautiously under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) scale. Recommended Stories Criteria For Declaring A Famine The United Nations declares a famine when three critical conditions are met: 20% of the population does not have enough food. At least 2 out of every 10,000 people are dying of hunger daily. Over 30% of children are malnourished. A famine declaration signifies a severe humanitarian crisis beyond mere food shortage, indicating mass deaths due to hunger. What Happens When A Famine Is Declared When a famine is declared, a global alarm is sounded, suggesting that the affected area cannot manage the crisis alone. The World Food Programme (WFP) promptly sends large quantities of food grains. UNICEF provides high-energy food supplements and medicines for children and mothers. The World Health Organization monitors disease spread, which often accompanies famine. The UN appeals for funds from member countries, donor agencies, and NGOs worldwide. It pressures local governments not to obstruct relief efforts. (For example, in Somalia or Sudan, the government or militias often blocked relief supplies) Violence, looting, and migration often occur in famine-affected areas. United Nations peacekeeping or international security forces can protect relief distribution, which also brings the area under UN peacekeeping. Impact On Peoples Lives Special camps are established in affected areas to provide food and water. Priority is given to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Daily airlifts and relief trucks are dispatched to deliver aid. In prolonged crises, millions of people may be displaced, seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Assessment Process Before Famine Declaration Data is collected from various sources. Information is obtained from the local health ministry, hospitals, and clinics, documenting child malnutrition and hunger-related deaths. Market surveys are conducted to assess food availability and prices. The status of water, electricity, and fuel is evaluated. The frequency of daily meals among the population is recorded. Child malnutrition is measured through weight and height assessments. Data on deaths, particularly among children under five, is compiled and analysed. Decision-Making Committee The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is composed of experts from UN agencies, NGOs and local authorities. This team compiles data to assess the condition of different areas. Before declaring a famine, the Famine Review Committee conducts an independent evaluation, including international specialists in food security, nutrition, and epidemiology, to verify the reliability of the data and ensure the assessment is free from political influence. Involvement Of Various Organisations The report is submitted to the office of the United Nations Secretary-General. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs issues an official press statement. The World Food Programme, UNICEF, Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Health Organization jointly present the report. The Global Committee of the IPC then provides technical approval. This process does not require the consent of any specific country or countries. Deployment Of Peace Force The UN peace force is deployed only in cases of violence, armed conflict, or political instability, following a resolution by the United Nations Security Council. If routes are unsafe, the UN Security Force or local army provides protection. Peacekeepers may guard food convoys, camps, and prevent looting. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Complexities In Gaza The situation in Gaza is complicated as the UN Peace Force has never been deployed there due to opposition from Israel and the United States, with the latter often exercising its veto power. The delivery of relief materials requires an agreement between Israel, Egypt, and Hamas, with some borders opened under UN supervision. Location : Israel First Published: August 23, 2025, 16:55 IST News world What Happens If The UN Declares Famine In Gaza And Why It Matters | 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... Getting laid off later in life can undermine retirement security, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Boston Colleges 2012 to 2022 Retirement Study. Of Americans aged 50 to 65 many of whom would be Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980 14% were laid off once in the previous 10 years, according to the study. And nearly a quarter of those (24%) werent able to find a new job. And older workers who do manage to find a new job? They may have to accept a low-ball offer to stay employed especially during a period of economic instability and jobs cuts related to AI and automation. Kevin Cahill, an economist at FTI Consulting, told WSJ that, based on a forthcoming study he co-wrote, older workers who find new jobs take, on average, an 11% wage cut. Don't miss Whats going on with Gen X? Theres a perfect storm of factors thats making it harder for Gen X to move ahead in what should be the most successful and highest-paying years of their career. Boomers arent the only ones facing ageism. An AARP study found that 64% of workers over age 50 had witnessed or experienced age discrimination in the workplace. For example, 33% of respondents said theres an assumption in their workplace that older workers arent as tech savvy as their younger counterparts, whether thats accurate or not. Another challenge and one highlighted by the 11% wage cut is that some employers may simply be unwilling to meet their salary expectations. Its a common lament by Gen Xers that theyre overqualified for a position, yet there arent as many senior-level positions available that they would be qualified for. At the same time, theyre passed over for leadership roles because theyre considered too old. As a recent article in Fortune points out, instead of passing the baton onto the next generation, baby boomers are skipping over Gen X in favor of promoting younger talent into their spots. Sometimes theyre even paid less than their younger (and less qualified) counterparts. In a Resume Now survey of workers aged 40 or older, 49% said they earn less money than younger colleagues who do the same job. The long arm of the law has caught up with a notorious gang of armed robbers that terrorised Beitbridge, leaving victims counting heavy losses in cash, phones and airtime vouchers. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed the arrest of eight suspects linked to a string of robberies committed between June and August this year. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Tinashe Nkomo alias Sadamu or Jeck (39), Future Moyo (35), Decent Moyo (35), Obey Chiware (38), Wiseman Muleya (30), Tendai Mapira (45), Khumbulani Mabhena (42) and Admire Charumbira (36) in connection with a spate of armed robbery cases which occurred in Beitbridge between 19 June 2025 and 20 August 2025. The gangs downfall came on 21 August when detectives pounced on Future Moyo while he was allegedly offloading airtime vouchers at suspiciously low prices. His arrest opened the floodgates, with one name after another being dragged in, eventually leading to the capture of the entire gang. From the swoop, police recovered a Girsan pistol loaded with 36 rounds, getaway cars a Honda Fit (AEO 9989) and a Toyota Probox (AGT 7877) plus airtime vouchers worth US$310. The suspects are now clearing nine cases. Among them is the 27 July robbery at a Garikai house where R15 000 and two phones were taken from an airtime vendor, a 1 July heist in SDP New Stands where R4 000 and US$3 000 were stolen, and a 16 July shop raid that saw R27 100, US$130, cellphones and even shoes vanishing. On 13 August, the gang allegedly struck again at Dulibadzimu, pouncing on another airtime vendor and fleeing with US$1 200, ZAR2 000 and vouchers worth US$2 500. In yet another case, they allegedly cleaned out a New Stands home, bagging ZAR99 400, US$1 550 and a cellphone. Comm Nyathi applauded vigilant residents who tipped off the police, saying: The Zimbabwe Republic Police applauds the public for providing positive information which led to the arrest of the suspects. The public is encouraged to continue reporting suspicious criminal activities on National Complaints number (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp on 0712 800197 or report at any nearest Police Station. H Metro Retired Hellen McGhie Primary School head, Herbert Horuno Zengeya stunned a high profile Zanu PF funeral in Gutu on Tuesday when he told supporters that he left the ruling part because it has lied to Zimbabweans for the last 45 years. Zengeya who was speaking at his nephew and Nyazvidzi Ward 4 Councillor, Philip Garirai Tagwireis burial in Nyazvidzi left Zanu PF leaders and supporters speechless as he told mourners that he ceased to be a member of the party a long time ago because it has been 45 years of lies and false promises. Zengeya described Tagwirei as a kind man, adding that he agreed with him on all else except his involvement with Zanu PF. Zengeya said as a Christian he wants to go to heaven and meet his Creator one day. He however, realised that he will not accomplish this wish if he remained in Zanu PF. Zanu PF is deceitful and it has been lying to the people for 45 years. I am a Christian and I am a teacher by profession. As a teacher I had a duty to nurture children to become good citizens but one cannot be a good teacher and a member of Zanu PF at the same time. I was an active member of Zanu PF from the time of the liberation struggle. We told people a lot of lies that when we gain independence, we would till our fields using tractors, education was going to be free, Government would provide decent houses for everyone and employment will be for every citizen. We also said there would democracy and justice in the country These have all turned out to be lies. If at all the situation is far worse now than then. I regret the lies and I apologise to the people of Zimbabwe and I will never be a member of Zanu PF again, said Zengeya to the applause of mourners. The funeral was attended by Gutu RDC CEO, Alexander Mtembwa, District Development Co-ordinator Chiedza Tafirei, Gutu East MP Zvarevase Masvingise and representatives of Winston Chitando and Lovemore Matuke. The top district brass was there. None of the Zanu PF officials responded to Zengeyas sentiments. The funeral was less of a burial and more of a rally with party officials talking more about the by-election. Hordes of party supporters were in the Zanu PF regalia. Masvingo Mirror The Ministry of Health and Child Care has issued an urgent call for the swift implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme to help ease citizens access to healthcare, with the facility scheduled to launch in June 2026. The ministry has also said they are pushing to meet the Abuja Declaration dictates, which calls for member states to dedicate 15 percent of their national budgets towards health funding. The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, made the call during the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA) annual Scientific Congress in Bulawayo last Friday. We are determined to achieve Universal Health Coverage ensuring every Zimbabwean can access quality health care without financial hardship. The NHI scheme will see us setting up a fund that will help every Zimbabwean access health for free. But every individual will contribute to it one way or the other through various taxes, already you are contributing to the sugar tax and airtime tax, we want those funds to be ring fenced so that when they are collected by Treasury, they are channelled towards the proper use, said Dr Mombeshora. He added; We have targeted operationalisation of the NHI scheme by mid next year because we are still going through the other stages, and setting up the fund. He said only funds collected via the National Aids Trust (Aids Levy), a three percent levy, is what the country is collecting and they are aware of what it is being used for. We want to grow that pocket to ensure every one of us accesses health services in our institutions without any out-of-pocket financing. Our Medical Aid Societies are only covering about 13 percent of the population and those that are covered are usually those that are able to pay as they are working and contributing, he said. He outlined how they hope the NHI will work. We want a defined package to say you walk into a hospital, you get seen by a doctor, without paying consultation fees and tests are done, treatments are given without you paying anything, even surgical interventions will be done for free. Its doable, we have the principles to Cabinet and they have been approved, we have done the initial draft for the Bill, we have revised it and done the second draft and revised it. We had our final meeting with the Minister of Finance two weeks ago as he has to approve the revenue streams we have suggested. We have passed that stage and the last stage now is Parliament, said Dr Mombeshora. Secretary for Health and Child Care, Dr Aspect Maunganidze, speaking at the Health Sector Working Group meeting last week, also stressed the need for the finalisation of the NHI. The meeting reviewed progress on previous commitments, discussed technical recommendations and agreed on strategies to strengthen the health sector. Dr Maunganidze, who is also the chairperson of the Health Sector Working Group, said sustainable health funding is important. He said citizens are also experiencing the gap in essential programming following the withdrawal of the United States Government funding to the country. One of the pressing issues we must confront is sustainable health financing. The withdrawal of United States Government (USG) funding has left a significant gap in critical programmes, especially HIV, TB, and malaria. While we deeply appreciate the support we continue to receive from other partners, the lesson is clear: we must strengthen local resource mobilisation. This means two things. First, innovative mechanisms such as the National Health Insurance must move forward with urgency. The draft Bill and benefit package are already in progress, and broad-based consultations will ensure that the scheme is responsive and inclusive, he said. The NHI system, which has been on the cards for about 25 years, is meant to cushion about 90 percent of the Zimbabwean population that do not have any health insurance. The ministry is on record saying Zimbabwe must join other leagues of nations in achieving universal health coverage, where everyone has access to immediate quality healthcare services without being exposed to financial hardship. Second and most importantly, Dr Maunganidze said there is a need for a stronger and predictable commitment from Treasury to health financing. Health is not an expense; it is an investment. Every dollar we put into health today saves lives, boosts productivity and reduces future costs to the economy. The Abuja Declaration set a target of 15 percent of national budgets for health, and while we know fiscal space is tight, we must ensure health is consistently prioritised, he pleaded. The Secretary also said Zimbabwe is focusing on medicines availability, investing in infrastructure rehabilitation, re-equipping central hospitals and modernising its facilities to improve service delivery. These are not just policy commitments they are practical steps towards a more resilient and responsive health system. Let us remember that the health of our people is not the responsibility of one ministry, one agency, or one partner it is a shared responsibility, he said. Dr. Munganidze said the meeting of the working groups comes at a pivotal moment for Zimbabwes health sector where the 202324 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) has given them both reasons to celebrate and act with urgency. We commend the remarkable reduction in maternal mortality from 651 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2015 to 212 in 2024. Life expectancy has also risen from 61 to 64,4 years, with women averaging 68 years. These achievements reflect the effectiveness of our collective efforts. However, we cannot ignore the worrying rise in neonatal mortality, now at 37 deaths per 1 000 live births the highest recorded to date. This calls for renewed focus on perinatal and neonatal care, strengthening our health system, and ensuring a continuum of care from pregnancy through the postnatal period, he added. Sunday Mail Forget frying on a Mediterranean beach. This summer, tourists are increasingly avoiding some of the normal and hotter summer vacation destinations and instead chasing cooler and quieter trips in the mountains and forests of northern Europe, reports CNBC . "Coolcations" are turning countries like Iceland, Slovenia, and Scotland into regular summer hotspots. "The summer of 2025 is a turning point for European tourism, underscoring that no destination is truly immune to climate volatility," said Jenny Southan, CEO of Globetrender. Record-breaking heat has swept across Spain, Portugal, and Greece, triggering wildfires and beach closures at more traditional tourist destinations. But even Scandinavia, long considered a safe haven from sweltering summers, is sweating through heatwaves of its own. That's accelerating a move toward spring and autumn travel, higher-altitude escapes, and northern adventures stretching from the Baltics to the Scottish Highlands. "Travelers are avoiding the most intense heat periods, favoring cooler coastal or alpine locations." However, CNN doesn't think there's anywhere left to coolcation anymore thanks to the effects of global warming. It points out that scientists say climate change has doubled the odds of such heat waves in the far north in just a few years, making the Arctic one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth. So, there may just be no such thing as beating the heat anymore. "Last summer was the warmest in two millennia," said Mika Rantanen of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. "And this year, we have experienced the longest heatwave ever recorded." In a quiet Baltimore funeral home, a new era in eco-friendly farewells is unfolding as Maryland embraces "water cremation"a process that dissolves bodies in chemical baths rather than flames. The Washington Post reports that Maryland has joined a growing list of states offering the process, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, as a legal alternative for handling human remains. The process dissolves bodies in a chemical solution, leaving only bones and a liquid by-product, and is seen as both gentler and more environmentally conscious than traditional flame-based cremation. The method has gained traction since its debut in the funeral industry in 2011, with more than half of US states now permitting it. The Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home in West Baltimore is the first in Maryland to provide the service. Bodies are placed in a silver chamber, where water and chemicals break down organic tissues over several hours. Advocates say water cremation appeals to people seeking a softer, more natural way to say goodbye, as well as those concerned about their environmental footprint. Per Maryland Matters, just one fire-based cremation can send more than 500 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air; WCAX notes that's the equivalent of driving about 600 miles. Water-based cremations, however, don't have airborne emissions to worry about. In Maryland, the journey to legalization began when individuals like Adrian Gardner, motivated by personal family experiences, partnered with professionals to lobby for change. A 2024 state law paved the way for both alkaline hydrolysis and human composting, aka natural organic reduction. The Baltimore funeral home worked with local authorities to ensure that the chemical by-products could be safely disposed of through the city's sewer system after proper treatment. Despite statewide approval, however, regulations are still being finalized, putting the service in a "legal gray area," per the Post. The cost of setting up a water cremation infrastructure is also keeping some funeral homes in states where it's legal from embracing the process, per WCAX. A caller named Ashley from Columbus, Ohio recently joined The Ramsey Show with Dave Ramsey and Jade Warshaw to share a financial dilemma that, on the surface, shouldn't exist. Ashley and her husband have an estimated net worth of $40 million. Of that, $30 million is tied up in her husband's stake in a private company valued close to $1 billion. Despite this, their financial advisor suggested taking out a home equity loan on their fully paid-off vacation house. Locked Wealth, Limited Control Ashley explained that while the couple appears wealthy on paper, their money isn't liquid. Her husband's ownership stake doesn't allow them to redeem shares freely. He's one of the owners in the business, she said, but he is not on the board of directors, so he doesn't get to make the decision on when redemptions can be made. Don't Miss: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market and you can too at just $2.90/share. Scrolling To UBI' Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share. That $30 million may look impressive, but it's effectively locked away. And as Ashley discovered, the board has no plans to make shareholder liquidity a priority. "It was told to me, crystal clear, no questions asked, we will never prioritize shareholder redemptions over the growth of the company," she said. Ramsey was straightforward. Theres no possible way that borrowing on your lake house is a good idea when you have $40 million, he told her. This is just asinine. The remaining $10 million in their portfolio includes about $4 million in retirement accounts. Her husband also brings in about $400,000 annually on commission. Still, the family had grown used to spending far beyond thatat one point withdrawing $1 to $1.5 million per year from the business. Trending: Kevin O'Leary Says Real Estate's Been a Smart Bet for 200 Years This Platform Lets Anyone Tap Into It Ashley said that lifestyle included two homes, paid staff, private flights, yacht charters, a horse farm, and support for an ex-wife. "We spent money assuming that we were going to be redeeming shares," she admitted. "You know, chartering yachts and flying privatethatll happen real fast. Now Im getting there, Ramsey responded dryly. Ashley said she only recently took control of their finances after realizing how unsustainable things had become. Ramsey made it clear the couples main issue wasnt a lack of moneyit was control and discipline. "You have $30 million tied up in something you have absolutely no control over. That is not okay," he said. Hawaii's Kilauea volcano resumed erupting Friday by shooting an arc of lava 100 feet into the air and across a section of its summit crater floor. It was Kilauea's 31st display of molten rock since December for one of the world's most active volcanoes, per the AP . The north vent at the summit crater began continuously sputtering in the morning, and then lava overflowed a few hours later. The vent started shooting lava fountains in the afternoon. The eruption was contained within the summit crater, and no homes were threatened. A few lucky residents and visitors will have a front-row view at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. If the past is a guide, hundreds of thousands more will be watching popular livestreams made possible by three camera angles set up by the US Geological Survey. (See one here.) Kilauea is on Hawaii Island, the largest of the Hawaiian archipelago. It's about 200 miles south of the state's largest city, Honolulu, which is on Oahu. Scientists don't know how the current eruption will end or how it may change. In 1983, magma built enough pressure that Kilauea opened a vent at a lower elevation and started continuously leaking lava from there rather than periodically shooting out of a higher elevation. The eruption continued in various forms for three decades and ended in 2018. Something similar could happen again. Or the current eruption could instead stop at the summit if its magma supply peters out. Sending a package to the US just got a lot more complicated, as postal services across Europe and India suspend shipments in response to new import tariffs and a lack of clear guidance on customs rules. Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy have already suspended shipments, with France, Austria, and the UK set to follow soon, CBS News reports. India is also pausing shipments, except for letters, documents, and gifts under $100. The move is driven by a US decree signed last month that subjects all international goodspreviously duty-free if valued under $800to tariffs starting Aug. 29. Only letters, books, and small parcels under $100 remain exempt. The US and EU recently agreed to a 15% tariff on most goods shipped from Europe. European postal organizations say they're unable to guarantee parcels will reach the US before the new rules take effect, citing confusion over which items are affected and inadequate time to adjust their systems. Deutsche Post, DHL Parcel Germany, PostNord, and Poste Italiane have all issued similar statements, noting they'll continue handling non-merchandise mail. The UK's Royal Mail said it would halt US shipments on Tuesday "to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties kick in." Items originating in the UK will require a 10% duty for items over $100, it said. "Despite discussions with the US customs services, no time was granted to postal operators to organize themselves and ensure the necessary IT developments for compliance with the new established rules," Le Monde quoted France's La Post as saying, per Politico Europe. The Netherlands' PostNL said US authorities have yet to establish a system for collecting duties. India's communications ministry echoed these concerns, stating critical details on who qualifies to collect and remit tariffs remain undefined, leading air carriers to suspend US-bound postal consignments. After declining the federal government's proposal that he plead guilty to human smuggling charges in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been threatened with being sent to Uganda, his lawyers said in a court filing Saturday. When the Salvadoran national declined the terms, which included remaining in jail, and was freed in Tennessee on Friday, the government "responded to Mr. Abrego's release with outrage," his lawyers wrote. Abrego Garcia, who has rejoined his family in Maryland, now has been ordered to report to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Baltimore on Monday for a last chance to take the plea deal, ABC News reports. The brief includes a letter from Costa Rica's government saying that Abrego Garcia would be welcomed in the country as a legal immigrant once he'd served any sentence and wouldn't face detention, per the AP. Like El Salvador, Abrego Garcia's country of origin, and unlike Uganda, Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country. After the Trump administration took office, he was wrongfully deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador, despite a 2019 court order that prohibited his removal to his home country due to fears of gang persecution. The order does not bar his deportation to a third country. Abrego Garcia's attorneys said government agencies are using their power "to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat." A father of three, Abrego Garcia reunited with his family on Friday after being separated for about six months. Images released by advocates show him holding his son and expressing gratitude for the support he received during his detention, per NBC News. "We are steps closer to justice, but justice has not been fully served," he said in a statement. The Trump administration has halted construction on a nearly complete offshore wind project near Rhode Island as the White House wages attacks on the offshore wind industry that scientists say is crucial to the fight against climate change. Danish wind farm developer Orsted says the Revolution Wind project is about 80% complete, the AP reports, with 45 of its 65 turbines already installed. Despite that progressand the fact that the project had cleared years of federal and state reviewsthe Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued the order Friday, saying the government needs to review the project and "address concerns related to the protection of national security interests of the United States." The order did not specify what the national security concerns might be. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, a Democrat, criticized the stop-work order and posted on X that he and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont "will pursue every avenue to reverse the decision to halt work on Revolution Wind." Construction on Revolution Wind began in 2023, and the project was expected to be fully operational next year. Revolution Wind is located more than 15 miles south of the Rhode Island coast and 12 miles southwest of Martha's Vineyard. It was projected to be Rhode Island and Connecticut's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than 350,000 homes. "This arbitrary decision defies all logic and reason," Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in a statement, adding, "This is a major setback for a critical project in Connecticut, and I will fight it." President Trump has made sweeping strides to prioritize fossil fuels and hinder renewable energy projects and recently called wind and solar power "THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!" in a social media post. "The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!!" he wrote on his Truth Social site this week. Green Oceans, which opposes the offshore wind industry, applauded the decision. "We are grateful that the Trump Administration and the federal government are taking meaningful action to preserve the fragile ocean environment off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts," the nonprofit said in a statement. TORONTO, Aug. 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Corinne Pohlmann, Executive Vice-President of Advocacy at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), is releasing the following statement today on Canada's decision to remove some of its counter-tariffs. "We welcome Ottawa's decision to drop some of its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. This is a step in the right direction and will take some of the pressure off Canadian small businesses as trade talks continue. Many small business owners have told us that Canada's retaliatory measures were almost as damaging as the U.S. tariffs themselves. Nearly six in 10 small firms report they were hurt by Canada's counter-tariffs, with only steel and aluminum tariffs doing more harm. Those were not touched today, so the challenges for those businesses remain. While small firms were in favour of Canadian counter tariffs as the trade war began, their support has been falling since February. Today's announcement provides some relief going forward; however, businesses have already paid millions of dollars in counter-tariffs. We urge Ottawa to immediately release its tariff revenue to small businesses directly and indirectly affected by trade disruptions and work quickly to resolve small business requests still tied up in the remissions process." About CFIB The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners' chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca. SOURCE Canadian Federation of Independent Business For media enquiries or interviews, please contact: Dariya Baiguzhiyeva, CFIB, 647-464-2814, [email protected] TORONTO, Aug. 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor is sounding the alarm after today's announcement that Canada will remove retaliatory tariffs on CUSMA-covered U.S. goods, warning that the move undermines Canadian workers and weakens Canada's bargaining position in an escalating trade war. "Donald Trump's attacks on Canada's auto, steel, aluminum and forestry sectors are hitting workers in real time," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "Walking back counter-tariffs is not an olive branchit's an open invitation for more U.S. aggression. It sends the wrong signal at the worst possible moment." Protect Canadian Jobs (CNW Group/Unifor) From the outset of this trade war, Unifor has been clear: Canada's leverage must be used to defend Canadian jobsnot bargained away without reciprocity. The union has consistently called for a strong retaliatory response to the U.S.'s punitive tariffs and supports Premier Ford's stance, echoed by the majority of Canadians, that the only answer to Trump's aggression is to push back hard. "Canada should not give up counter-tariffs unless the U.S. drops all of its unfair tariffs," said Payne. "Backing down with concessions is a betrayal of the workers who are and will be paying the price." Unifor represents thousands of workers directly impacted by U.S. trade aggression, from auto plants and steel mills to aluminum smelters and forestry operations. The union warns that removing counter-tariffs risks emboldening further U.S. attacks on Canadian industries and jobs. "Trade leverage is not just a bargaining chip, it's also a shield," said Payne. "If Canada surrenders that shield without real gains, our workers and communities will be left exposed. That is unacceptable." Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. SOURCE Unifor For media inquiries or to arrange interviews please contact Unifor Communications Director Kathleen O'Keefe at [email protected] or by cell at (416) 896-3303. OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada's unions refuse to accept punishing tariffs on our critical export industries as the "new normal." These tariffs have been an attack on Canadian workers and our economy, and our government must stand strong. Rolling over to Donald Trump's demands is not an option. Let's be clear: capitulation hasn't delivered Canada a single gain from Trump. Whether it was scrapping the digital services tax or making concessions on border security, giving in has only weakened our industries and hurt working people. Removing counter-tariffs now would once again hand Trump an easy victory while leaving Canadian workers and communities to pay the price. Counter-tariffs are not symbolic. They are Canada's line of defence in this escalating trade war. Unilaterally removing counter-tariffs now would betray the clear mandate Canadians gave the Prime Minister: fight back against Trump's trade war and defend good Canadian jobs. Caving to Trump is not an option. It's time to hit back hard, to stand up for workers, and to deploy every tool available to protect our industries and our communities. Prime Minister Carney must use Canada's considerable bargaining power to prevent the decimation of vital industries and the loss of thousands of good jobs. SOURCE Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) To arrange an interview, please contact: CLC Media Relations, [email protected], 613-526-7426 On August 22, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will remove many of its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, also known as USMCA), effective September 1. This affects over 85% of bilateral trade, exempting it from tariffs, and is intended to de-escalate tensions and intensify negotiations for a broader trade and investment agreement. Tariffs on U.S. steel, aluminum, and automobiles will remain in place for now. Canada has not finalized a new comprehensive tariff deal with the United States as of August 23, 2025. Carney said the effective U.S. tariff rate on Canadian goods was 5.6 percent, which he described as the best trade deal of any country. Roman Baber, a Conservative member of the Canadian Parliament, said: Youre lying again Mark Carney just like you lied during the election campaign. Everything that is tariff free now was already tariff free thanks to former Canadian prime minster Brian Mulroney not you. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has reiterated intentions to fully renegotiate USMCA. The most probable outcome is a revised USMCA by mid-2026, rather than an entirely new bilateral pact. Broad exemptions for USMCA-compliant goods, potentially lowering or eliminating punitive tariffs on Canadian exports in exchange for U.S. access to Canadian markets (greater dairy quotas, reduced supply management protections). Agreements on steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber, possibly with quotas or joint production rules to address U.S. concerns over trade deficits. Enhanced border cooperation on fentanyl, immigration, and drug enforcement; potential clauses on foreign influence and energy/security ties. Canada will concede on most demands because Canada is weaker than the US and more dependent. Canada would have to build pipelines and other infrastructure to have other trade market options. As of August 2025, no truck maker or startup has deployed autonomous platooning of semi trucks where the following trucks operate without any human drivers at any location. Platooning will have no drivers in the trucks following a lead truck. Drivers in a convoy will share the driving of the lead truck. This can increase miles driven and provide half the benefit of fully automated trucks. Currently, human driven trucks go about 100000 miles per year and make about $70,000 per truck per year in profit while platooning three trucks can give about 200,000 miles per year for $280,000 per truck per year in profit and fully automated trucks could have 300,000 miles per year for $500,000 per year per truck in profit. Commercial deployment of platooning is allowed in 29 U.S. states: trucks can run from coast to coast or the Canadian to Mexican borders. Importantly, according to Peloton, over 50% of annual U.S. truck freight ton mileage occurs in these approved states. Recent platooning projects Autonomous truck developer Kodiak Robotics is one of the self-driving truck leaders and is already making deliveries. Kodiak completed 900 autonomous freight deliveries for Martin Brower in 2024 and, working with J.B. Hunt and Bridgestone, surpassed 100,000 miles on long-haul routes. In January, Atlas Energy Solutions became the first Kodiak customer to take ownership of a RoboTruck a semi equipped with Kodiaks self-driving system and launch driverless commercial semitruck operations. Kodiak is planning to launch autonomous trucking at scale in the second half of 2026. They have two large sensor pods of each side of the truck. They will use remote driving for to get them onto the road. Kodiak SensorPods combine LiDAR, radar, and cameras to give the Kodiak Driver a detailed view of the driving environment. Theyre designed to be swapped in the fieldquicker than changing a tire, with no specialized trainingkeeping vehicles moving and maximizing uptime. Purpose-built for manufacturing, maintenance, and daily operational use, SensorPods are easy to integrate across different vehicle types and engineered to perform in unforgiving environments. In 2024, Atlas started as the perfect partner for Kodiak. The Permians private lease road network is an almost ideal use case for autonomous technology, and an ideal sandbox to launch our driverless operations. Other than the occasional cow, traffic is limited and speeds average less than 20 miles per hour. Kodiak is able to navigate dirt roads, and they already have extensive dirt road driving experience from their work with the Department of Defense. Platooning projects along I-70 in Ohio and Indiana involve pairs of trucks utilizing advanced automated platooning technology (from Kratos Defense, for example). However, these deployments require professional drivers in both the lead and following trucks for safety and regulatory reasons. The technology allows the lead driver to control both trucks, but each vehicle still has a human onboard who can intervene if necessary. Aurora Innovation plans to launch its fully autonomous trucks on public roadways this year, first in Texas and later in New Mexico and Arizona. By the end of 2025, the Auroras trucks will operate autonomously day and night within the speed limit, up to 75 miles per hour in suburban and urban areas, including in dense traffic in construction and work zones with cones and barriers and in rain and heavy wind. The Aurora Driver, with proprietary FirstLight lidar that can see over 450 meters ahead, has the ability to spot and react to pedestrians up to 11 seconds sooner than human drivers at highway speeds at night. Ahead of the commercial launch, Aurora created a Safety Case Framework, a self-driving vehicle development tool that Aurora said is the first self-driving framework ever to address the safety of both autonomous trucks and passenger cars. Autonomous trucking player Bot Auto plans to deploy a pilot program in Texas that tests its first driver-out (i.e., fully autonomous) commercial freight operations. The company hasnt announced a target date for the driverless launch but is planning continuous cargo hauling between Houston and San Antonio using autonomous trucks. For the last two years, engineers from Waabi and Volvo Group have been collaborating on autonomous trucking technology. In February, the companies announced they are jointly developing driverless heavy-duty tractors. Commercial pilots in Texas are expected to begin in the coming months, with plans for series production of autonomous trucks in the next few years. Prior to announcing its partnership with Waabi, Volvo partnered with Aurora Innovation to bring the companys automated driving technology the Aurora Driver to Volvos VNL model. From 20172018, Volvo conducted U.S. on-highway demos with partners like FedEx and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority. These involved 23 trucks maintaining close gaps (e.g., 50 feet at 55 mph or 1.5-second time gaps at 62 mph) using Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC). Benefits included 67% fuel savings and faster braking responses, but drivers remained in all trucks to monitor and intervene if needed. Advanced platooning concepts distinguish levels: Level 1/2 (Driver-Assisted/Partial Automation): All trucks have drivers; technology automates spacing and braking, but humans handle steering, lane changes, and oversight. This matches Volvos historical demos. Auto-Follower/Level 4 for Followers: Lead truck has a human driver; following trucks operate autonomously (potentially driverless) in a limited domain (e.g., highways). This could save labor by removing drivers from followers, with fuel gains of 4% for the lead and 10% for followers. Volvo has tested elements of this in projects like Sweden4Platooning (20182020), focusing on inter-brand compatibility and reliability. However, even in these, followers had drivers for monitoring road conditions and non-automated tasks like lane changes Volvo has not deployed truly driverless followers (no human aboard) commercially or operationally. Projections from 20192021 estimated market readiness for auto-follower platooning in the early 2020s, but challenges like safety validation, regulations, and integration delayed it. By 2025, industry focus (including Volvos) has shifted from platooning to standalone Level 4 autonomous trucks for hub-to-hub routes. Initial hub-to-hub runs in Texas (e.g., for DHL) include safety drivers; full driver-out operations are planned but not yet deployed. Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck, is working with artificial intelligence specialist Nvidia and manufacturing company Flex to bring autonomous trucks to American roadways. Together, theyve created a scalable, high-performance production platform for the Freightliner Cascadia. Torcs first driver-out trucks will arrive in the Sunbelt in 2027 and scale from there. Startup firm Stack AV publicly announced in September 2023 that it is developing autonomous driving technology for Class 8 trucks. Led by the founders of the now-defunct Argo AI, the company has yet to release details about its launch plans. Semiconductor foundry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) just got a massive vote of confidence from the undisputed industry leader. During his visit to Taiwan, Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang praised TSM as "one of the greatest companies in the history of humanity," and added that anybody who wants to buy TSMC stock is a very smart person. Huang highlighted Taiwan Semis work on Nvidias Rubin chip, and told reporters that the manufacturer is working on six more artificial intelligence (AI) products for Nvidia. We have many, many employees here in Taiwan, and were growing here in Taiwan because our supply chain is so busy here, explained Huang. More News from Barchart TSM stock has ticked fractionally higher ahead of the bell this morning. The chip stock has had a tough week amid selling in large-cap AI names, with TSM breaking below its 50-day moving average in recent sessions. The shares are still up about 15% on a year-to-date basis. www.barchart.com Taiwan Semiconductors Growth Story Taiwan Semi continues to demonstrate exceptional performance in the semiconductor industry, with Q2 revenue surging 44% year-over-year to $30 billion, driven largely by increasing AI chip demand. High-performance computing now represents 60% of the company's sales, highlighting TSMC's crucial role in the AI infrastructure boom. The company's technological leadership remains unchallenged, particularly in advanced chip manufacturing processes at 3nm and 5nm nodes, while competitors Intel (INTC) and Samsung struggle with yield challenges. TSMC's global expansion strategy is marked by significant investments, including a substantial $165 billion commitment to establish six advanced wafer fabs and two packaging facilities in Arizona. The company has already begun production at its first Kumamoto facility in Japan with promising yields, demonstrating successful geographical diversification. However, these overseas expansion efforts are expected to impact gross margins, with a projected 2-3% contraction in 2025. Recent developments have introduced some uncertainty regarding U.S. government equity stakes in CHIPS Act recipients, with TSMC reportedly considering returning their $6.6 billion in subsidies to maintain independence. OpenAI has announced plans to open its first office in India, just days after launching a ChatGPT plan tailored for Indian users, as it looks to tap into the countrys rapidly growing AI market. On Friday, the company said it would set up a local team in India and open a corporate office in the capital, New Delhi, in the coming months. The move builds on OpenAIs recent hiring efforts in the region. In April 2024, the company appointed former Truecaller and Meta executive Pragya Misra as its public policy and partnerships lead in India. OpenAI also brought on former Twitter India head Rishi Jaitly as a senior advisor to help facilitate discussions with the Indian government on AI policy. India the worlds second-largest internet and smartphone market after China is a natural fit for OpenAI, which is competing with tech giants like Google and Meta, as well as AI upstarts like Perplexity, all looking to tap into the countrys massive user base. The company said that it has started hiring a local team to focus on strengthening relationships with local partners, governments, businesses, developers, and academic institutions. It plans to get feedback from Indian users to make its products relevant for the local audience and even build features and tools specifically for the country. Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India, said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in a statement. OpenAI also announced it would host its first Education Summit in India this month and its first Developer Day in the country later this year. While India is clearly an essential market for OpenAI, the company faces key challenges including how to convert free users into paying subscribers. Like other major AI players, it must navigate the monetization hurdle in a price-sensitive South Asian market. Earlier this week, the company introduced its sub-$5 ChatGPT plan called ChatGPT Go, priced at 399 per month (approximately $4.75), making it the first ChatGPT plan in India to attract the masses. This came just days after arch-rival Perplexity partnered with Indian telco giant Bharti Airtel to give Airtels more than 360 million subscribers access to Perplexity Pro for 12 months. OpenAI also faces challenges in integrating with Indian businesses. In November, Indian news agency Asian News International (ANI) sued OpenAI for allegedly using its copyrighted news content without permission. A group of Indian publishers joined that case in January. Over the past few years, you wouldnt be able stroll down a grocery store beverage aisle without catching a flash of hot pink, orange or purple cans of Poppi. Poppi isnt your typical soda. Instead of being packed with sugar and artificial flavor, it started as a kitchen experiment by Allison Ellsworth, who was searching for a drink that made her feel good without doing harm to her body. At nine months pregnant, Ellsworth took that idea to Shark Tank alongside her husband and co-founder, Stephen. On a 2018 episode, they made a deal with Rohan Oza known in the industry as The Brandfather. Oza invested $400,000 for a 25% stake and quickly reshaped the brand. The rebrand was dramatic: Mother Beverage became Poppi. The liquid evolved from an apple cider vinegar tonic into a sparkling prebiotic soda. Glass bottles gave way to sleek cans, and the homespun, farmers-market aesthetic was swapped for bold, Instagram-ready colors. Theres no consumer audience in the world that is willing to embrace new brands as rapidly as Americans are, Oza says. I came here with a dream. Its full circle. That dream paid off. In May, PepsiCo announced it was acquiring Poppi in a $1.95 billion deal. Heres how the man behind the brand turned a soda dream into a billion-dollar reality. Don't miss Eye for the market Poppi may have been Ozas latest billion-dollar bet, but it wasnt his first. And with the global non-alcoholic beverage market valued at $1.22 billion in 2023, its easy to see why spotting the right brand at the right time can pay off. Born in Zambia and raised in the U.K., Oza calls himself a lifelong soda drinker. After working at Mars on the Snickers brand where one boss told him marketing might not be his thing he doubled down with an MBA from the University of Michigan. His real break came in Atlanta, where Coca-Cola handed him the struggling label Powerade, which at the time, faced a 15% sales drop. Under Ozas leadership, sales rebounded 35% the very next year. That track record landed him at VitaminWater. Oza had the foresight to call up rapper 50 Cent with an idea: endorse the brand. But 50 Cent wanted more than a paycheck, he wanted equity. As a result, Formula 50 was born, a collaboration between VitaminWater and 50 Cent, and sales doubled to $160 million in a year. The rappers 2% stake would later net him a windfall when Vitaminwaters parent company, Glaceau, sold to Coca-Cola in 2007 for $4.1 billion. Soybean futures were in rally mode on Thursday, with contracts 18 to 20 cents higher in the front months. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was up 16 cents at $9.85 3/4. Soymeal futures were up $4.80 in the September contracts but down $1.10 to $4 in others. Soy Oil futures rallied 169 to 244 points on the day. The EPA is expected to make an announcement on the backlog of Small Refinery Exemptions sometime this week. This mornings Export Sales report showed net cancellations of just 5,738 MT for old crop bean business in the week of 8/14. New crop sales were tallied at 1.143 MMT, exceeding estimates. That was a MY high for new crop and the largest total in combined sales since January. The largest buyer was unknown destination at 645,000 MT, with 120,100 MT sold to Mexico and 106,000 MT to Spain. More News from Barchart Soybean meal sales totaled 221,882 MT, between the estimated net reduction of 50,000 MT to sales of 450,000 MT, with 45,684 MT for the current MY and 176,198 MT for the next MY. Bean oil bookings were 2,596 MT, in the middle of the trade ideas of net cancellations of 10,000 and 15,000 MT in sales. The third day of the ProFarmer Crop Tour finished off data in Illinois, with soybean pod counts averaging 1,479.22, which was 4.23% above last year and 12.6% larger than the 3-year average. Pod counts in the western 3 districts of Iowa were above their respective 3-year average and the year prior at 1,279.25 pods in a 3 by 3 section in the northwest, 1,376.15 in the west-central, and 1,562.54 pods in the southwest region. World soybean production is estimated to total 430 MMT for the 2025/26 marketing year according to the International Gains Council, up 2 MMT from last month. Stocks were up 2 MMT to 85 MMT, as consumption was up 1 MMT. Sep 25 Soybeans closed at $10.34 1/2, up 19 1/2 cents, Nearby Cash was $9.85 3/4, up 16 1/2 cents, Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.56, up 20 cents, Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.73 3/4, up 18 1/2 cents, New Crop Cash was $9.78, up 17 3/4 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws in the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. John Kuntz, cleveland.com PHILADELPHIA - Phillies ace Zack Wheeler will have thoracic outlet decompression surgery and be sidelined six-to-eight months, the club announced on Saturday. Wheeler had surgery earlier this week for a right upper extremity blood clot removal. Phillies president Dave Dombrowski and trainer Paul Buchheit said Wheeler is expected to make a full recovery. The time frame means Wheeler should be ready early next season. He had venous thoracic outlet syndrome, not the same as a neurological thoracic outlet, the recovery can be a little bit different and the fact he hadnt been dealing with this for long time makes it an acute issue and works in his favor, said head trainer Paul Buchheit. Surgeons say he has a really good prognosis. Buchheit said Wheeler could start throwing as soon as eight weeks after the procedure. Hell come back in the six-to-eight month period and be the Zack Wheeler of old, said Dombrowski. Thats what weve been told. Unless something unanticipated happens, hell be able to come back and pitch the way he has before this. The 35-year-old right-hander, who has finished second in the National League Cy Young voting two of the last four years, was having another outstanding season. He is 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA and made his third All-Star team. Before the blood clot was found in an examination in Washington a week ago, the Phillies strength going into the postseason seemed to be their starting pitcher beginning with Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez. They are still strong in the starting rotation but much less so without their ace at the top. In addition to Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker are in the Phillies rotation. Right now, Suarez and Luzardo appear to be the No. 2 and No.3 starters in a postseason rotation, but Nola has lengthy playoff experience and will be making his second start Saturday after missing several months with ankle and knee issues. Wheeler has a 2.18 postseason era in 12 appearances. Its never good to lose a Zack Wheeler, but we have starting pitching depth thats capable of pitching well for us, youre never going to replace a pitcher like that, said Dombrowski. Ive been through all different situations with pitchers being out, and we have a good ballclub and its up to other people to pick up the slack for us. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he had been operating as if Wheeler wouldnt be back this season. Hes healthy, thats the important thing, said Thomson. Its disappointing to lose him, but we have a lot of depth here. The six-to-eight-month (timeline) is encouraging to me. Our offense has kicked in. The three lefties threw well, Tai got us through five innings yesterday and well see how Noles does today, but they responded very well (to Wheelers absence). Before Wheeler was sidelined, the Phillies discussed a six-man rotation. Thomson said they could still go in that direction when rosters expand Sept. 1 Wheeler has two years remaining on his contract. Nola, Walker, Luzardo and Sanchez are all under contract next year, while Suarez is a free agent and top prospect Andrew Painter could be ready early next season if not sooner. Dombrowski said he hasnt thought about if Wheelers prognosis affects his offseason plans. Thomson hopes Wheeler will be back in the locker room eventually this year. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com. With September officially only a few days away, its the perfect time to start adding to your fall wardrobe. The sweater department is always where I start when it comes to building up my fall collection, and if you are struggling to find the perfect place to secure yours, then look no further than Quince. Buy this 100% Organic Cotton Striped Crew Sweater now $98 Now $50 This Cotton Striped Crew Sweater is the perfect wardrobe staple to have in your closet this fall. $50 at Quince Quince has created a page full of falls best sweaters, and there is a style for just about everyone, whether you are shopping for back-to-school, everyday lounge wear or the office. Plus, a number of these sweaters start at just $40, and are 100% cotton, which is a huge plus when it comes to shopping for breathable sweaters that wont have you itching and sweating all day. So, here are 10 sweaters from Quince that we think are perfect to wear this upcoming fall season. 10 fall sweaters to shop from Quince this season 1. 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Crew Sweater for $40, instead of $110 2. 100% Organic Cropped Cotton Polo Sweater for $50, instead of $118 3.100% Organic Cotton Knit Blazer for $80, instead of $189 4. Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater for $50, instead of $128 5.100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Boxy Cropped Cardigan for $50, instead of $138 6. Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater for $140 7.100% Organic Cotton Cropped Cardigan for $50, instead of $110 8. Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Sweater Vest for $80, instead of $148 9. 100% Organic Cotton Boyfriend Crew Sweater for $40, instead of $100 10.100% Organic Cotton Striped Crew Sweater for $50, instead of $98 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. State Street, a Boston-based custody bank with $49 trillion in assets under its watch, is pushing deeper into digital assets by joining JPMorgans blockchain-based tokenized asset platform Digital Debt Service as the first third-party custodian. The first transaction State Street anchored was a $100 million tokenized commercial paper issuance by the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), a Singapore-based banking group, according to a Thursday press release. State Street Investment Management, the bank's asset management arm, purchased the debt. J.P. Morgan Securities acted as placement agent. The move comes as traditional finance heavyweights and global banks are getting increasingly involved in tokenization of financial instruments, or real-world assets (RWA), placing bonds, funds and credit on blockchain rails. The process promises operational benefits such as increased efficiency, faster and around-the-clock settlements and lower administrative costs. The tokenized asset market could grow could balloon in the next few years, though projections vary from McKinsey's $2 trillion by 2030 to Ripple and BCG's almost $19 trillion by 2033. By joining JPMorgan's blockchain platform, State Street can now offer clients custody of tokenized debt securities without changing its traditional servicing model. In this particular case, State Street manages client holdings in a digital wallet directly connected to JPMorgans system, eliminating manual steps in settlement and recordkeeping. The infrastructure supports delivery-versus-payment settlement, with the option for same-day (T+0) settlement, and automates corporate actions such as interest payments and redemptions through smart contracts. "This launch reflects a meaningful step forward in our digital strategy where we manage a digital wallet on-chain and lay the groundwork for interoperability across blockchain networks," Donna Milrod, State Street's chief product officer, said in a statement. The bank pursued initiatives to tokenize a bond and a money market fund, Milrod said in October. The firm also selected Switzerland-based Taurus as a tokenization partner. Read more: DBS Launches Tokenized Structured Notes on Ethereum, Expanding Investor Access Kratos has a range of active development programs that underscore its role at the forefront of next-generation systems. Among the most notable are drones, satellites, and microwave electronics all technologies vital to strengthening todays military capabilities and expected to become even more indispensable in the future. The centerpiece is the XQ-58 Valkyrie, an unmanned stealth drone currently being evaluated under the Air Forces Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) initiative, via the Low-Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator (LCASD) program. The goal is straightforward: to create a relatively inexpensive, long-range strike drone that can be sacrificed in combat if necessary. Well start in the defense sector, with San Diego-based Kratos. Kratos is a defense contractor providing technology, platforms, and systems for customers in the US and allied national security sectors, and in the civilian/commercial security segment. The companys chief areas of operation are in cutting-edge technologies: hypersonics, advanced propulsion and power systems, unmanned systems, weaponry, space tech, and microwave and digital solutions. Kratos boasts high-level connections with the US Navy and Air Force, and is an important contractor with the nations Missile Defense Agency and the Intelligence Community. With that in mind, we tapped into the TipRanks database to see which stocks fit the bill. Two standouts emerged each already up more than 50% this year and recently winning upgrades from analysts who see further upside ahead. Lets take a closer look. Thats why the real key isnt simply spotting upward movement, but understanding why the gains are happening. Momentum investing works best when the stocks rising on the charts also have the fundamentals to keep them climbing. Companies with sound business models, proven leadership, strong customer bases, and profitable niches are the ones most likely to turn a short-term rally into a long-term win. And this is exactly where Wall Streets professional analysts come in, identifying which winners are winning for the right reasons the ones worth following. Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Everyone loves to go with a winner; thats just a fact. It holds true in stock investing, too, where its the underlying motivation behind momentum investing. This strategy, based on locating and buying into stocks that have posted solid recent gains, flies in the face of the oldest advice in the economics books, that past performance does not guarantee future returns. But its human nature to run with a winner and we all know that when a stock price runs up, theres a reason for it. Story Continues Kratos has been flight-testing the XQ-58 since 2019, with results pointing toward its ability to fulfill those mission demands. Potential applications range from penetrating advanced air defenses to performing reconnaissance and executing both air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes. Still, the Valkyrie is only one piece of Kratos broader portfolio. The company is also working with the US Space Force to advance satellite communications, while extending its technology into civilian markets. For example, a recent partnership with satellite services provider hiSky is leveraging Kratos software-defined ground systems to expand IoT connectivity, targeting both government and commercial customers. Beyond aerospace and satellites, Kratos is finding practical applications for its automation expertise. In late July, the company announced a collaboration with Champion Tire & Wheel to deploy an automated truck platoon at the NASCAR Brickyard 400. The project, which automated the delivery of pit equipment, marked the first use of automated trucking for NASCAR logistics. All of these projects tie back to Kratos financial momentum. In its most recent quarter, the company reported $351.5 million in revenue, up 17% year-over-year and ahead of expectations by $45.67 million. Non-GAAP EPS came in at 11 cents, 2 cents above forecasts. With KTOS shares up 144% year-to-date, investors are clearly taking note of both the defense contracts and the commercial partnerships fueling growth. Wall Street is noticing, too. BTIG analyst Andre Madrid has turned more bullish, noting: We have consistently called out that the lack of a sizable program of record with steady procurement volumes is something that has kept us from seeing further upside for KTOS shares. However, as of this summer, this no longer seems to be the case, with the company having been downselected for the Marine Corps MUX TACAIR program. Given funding currently earmarked for the program in FY2026 and the broader ~$8.8bn unmanned request, we have conviction that KTOS could see significant growth at Unmanned Systems (KUS) in the coming year. Furthermore, we continue to see upside across the breadth of the portfolio, most notably within hypersonics, C5ISR/Modular Systems (MS), Microwave Electronics (ME), and Kratos Turbine Technologies (KTT). Following this stance, Madrid upgraded KTOS shares from Neutral to Buy, setting an $80 price target that implies about 24% upside over the next year. (To watch Madrids track record, click here) Overall, there are 15 recent analyst reviews on record for this stock, and the lopsided 13 to 2 split favors Buys over Holds for a Strong Buy consensus rating. (See KTOS stock forecast) TriMas Corporation (TRS) The second winner were looking at here is TriMas, a manufacturer of various specialty products used in the consumer, aerospace, defense, and industrial end markets. The company employs some 3,900 people in 13 countries, and is known for developing innovative solutions to some of the common problems that face its customers. TriMas has put together a set of brand names that, while not household names, are well known in the industrial world and are recognized for their quality. TriMas has structured its business into several divisions, each targeting different markets with specialized solutions. The smallest of these, TriMas Specialty Products, focuses on the design and manufacture of high-pressure and low-pressure steel cylinders. While seemingly commonplace, these are in fact highly engineered precision devices, critical in the storage, transport, and dispensing of compressed gases. The companys larger divisions TriMas Packaging, TriMas Life Sciences, and TriMas Aerospace represent the core of its business. In packaging, TriMas produces dispensing pumps, sprayers, closures, flexible packaging, and even industrial drums, serving markets that range from beauty and food to pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Its Life Sciences division extends the companys reach into the medical field with precision injection-molded components used in patient monitoring, diagnostics, and surgical devices. Finally, the Aerospace division underscores TriMass engineering depth, supplying everything from air ducts and rivets to anti-icing devices for both commercial aircraft and the US military. This operational diversity translates into measurable financial strength. In 2Q25, TriMas reported revenue of $274.8 million, up 14% year-over-year and beating estimates by $23.6 million. Non-GAAP EPS came in at 61 cents, also ahead of expectations by 13 cents. Investors have taken notice, with the stock climbing 52% year-to-date. Reflecting on these results, KeyBanc analyst Ken Newman points out that TriMas is actively analyzing its business model, yet he sees ample room for the company to remain profitable given the momentum across its divisions. While we acknowledge that the portfolio may shift toward a pureplay Packaging mix as the board continues its analysis surrounding its ongoing strategic review, we are cautiously optimistic that transformation could take a slower transition given Aerospaces solid demand visibility into FY26 and FY27. Assuming that Aerospace remains a strategic pillar of TRSs portfolio over the near to intermediate term, we think it could allow the Company to unlock the full potential of its underappreciated multiple, Newman opined. That conviction also unlocked an upgrade from Newman, who boosted his rating on TRS from Sector Weight (i.e., Neutral) to Overweight (i.e., Buy). His $45 price target points to a 20% upside over the coming year. (To watch Newmans track record, click here) TRS has slipped under most analysts radar; the stocks Moderate Buy consensus is based on just two recent ratings but both are Buys. (See TRS stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. 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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 A businesswoman in the Midlands running a holistic therapy centre has revealed the shockingly frequent times that male customers ask for "sexual services" when booking a massage. Registered and Accredited Psychotherapist Marie Byrne runs the Glosna House support centre in Wolfhill in Laois. An established Laois business for 15 years in a nature setting described as a "haven of peace and tranquility", its offers alternative and holistic therapies by a team of highly trained, professional women. However the owner and her staff are facing incidents of inappropriate requests "several times a week". Ms Byrne took to social media to describe the problem, and she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live just how bad it is, with men regularly asking for "sexual favours". "The messages are increasing. Before I might get a call but I'd be quick to identify if it was a genuine male looking for treatment or one looking for a sexual favour. But recently a male booked in with staff and then he propositioned the female therapist alone in the treatment room. Yesterday a man asked us to send pictures of the therapist. "I have rung Laois Gardai before to complain of sexual harassment, sometimes they ring back the man to frighten him, but unless he is on the property there is little can be done. "I don't want any of my team in any uncomfortable situation. I went public because I've had enough. I really want people to know that if anyone requests this from Glosna House, I'll publicly shame them. Zero tolerance," the businesswoman said. It is a problem for many female massage practitioners in Ireland, she reports. "I have a colleague who has a Thai massage business, all wonderful professional therapists but they are propositioned five or six times a day, to the point that the owner doesn't want her daughters to take over the business when she retires." Since Ms Byrne posted her statement on social media, other therapists have come forward, one saying they now "never answer the phone unless it's a saved number". "I've been contacted by lots of other therapists to thank me, saying it's about time someone said it. It's a huge problem, regardless of the nationality of the therapists. The fact that they are female is the issue. It's mysogyny at its best," Marie Byrne said. The Glosna House owner's social media post is as follows: "Several times every week, men message us asking if we 'include sexual services' in these services. See exhibit A," she said. She shared a screen shot of a text including the texter's mobile number which reads 'can I ask is this just purely massage only or is there happy endings too? Apologies I don't wish to be rude'. The business owner lays it straight to such clients. "Let me be absolutely clear: This is harassment. This is misogyny. This is utterly unacceptable. It is 2025. Women working as professional therapists should not have to put up with this degrading, sexist nonsense. Our work is about care, healing, and respect - not about fulfilling anyones fantasies. "To the men who send these messages: Don't - You are not welcome at Glosna. "To our Glosna community: thank you for standing with us, and for treating our therapists with the dignity and respect they deserve. At Glosna House, there is zero tolerance for harassment. Always," she writes. Ms Byrne warns offending requesters that they cannot hide their identity. "For those who think they can hide behind burner phones, fake accounts, or anonymous numbers, dont be so foolish. In 2025, tracing digital harassment is easier than you think. You are not invisible. I see you and today is not the day and I am not the one ..." This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Subaru reported Q1 FY26 operating profits of 76.4 billion yen ($517 million), down 16.2% year over year, the automaker announced Aug. 7. U.S. tariffs, which began in the middle of the quarter, factored into its operating revenue decline. However, despite higher duties on vehicles and parts sent into the U.S. from Japan, Subarus quarterly sales grew by 25,000 units YoY to 171,000, driven primarily by the Forester and Crosstrek. With regard to retail sales in the U.S., although demand trends have been volatile since the additional tariffs were imposed in April, sales remained firm in July, CFO Shinsuke Toda said in the release. Dive Insight: The U.S. is a key market for Subaru, representing more than 70% of its total vehicle sales, according to President and CEO Atsushi Osaki. While Osaki said the recently negotiated tariff deal with the U.S. that places a 15% duty on imports from Japan alleviated some of the uncertainties surrounding the additional tariffs, significant impacts remain. Should the latest duty on Japanese imports hold, Osaki projects Subarus operating profits at 200 billion yen ($1.35 billion) for its fiscal year ending March 2026, a 50% ($2.7 billion) YoY decline. But to hit that target, Osaki said Subaru will have to boost production and its sales mix, while also seeking ways to reduce costs. Osaki said Subarus commitment to the U.S. has not changed, though the automaker shifted production of 2,000 units from the U.S. to Japan to offset Canadian duties on vehicles bound for that country. Subaru is now focused on a plan to help the company adapt to rapidly changing business conditions, he said. The automaker will release additional details at a later date. Leveraging our companys scale, we will continue making responsive and flexible management decisions as we explore investment strategies in Japan and the U.S. that will lead to Subarus sound and sustainable growth, Osaki said. Recommended Reading As Norway approaches its elections, Donald Trump's image has become a prime target for attacks from leading political parties. This stance, framed as a display of independence, looks more like an admission of political weakness. The political class sidesteps domestic challenges - rising inequality, deindustrialization, and the energy transition crisis. Instead, it shifts focus, turning Washington into a convenient scapegoat for its own shortcomings. At the White House, such attacks are met with icy indifference. Trump has never viewed European politicians, let alone those from Norway, as a force worth factoring into his calculations. To him, Oslo remains a minor NATO ally, far from a significant player. Yet this very indifference makes the situation precarious: if the Trump administration decides to take note of Norway's rhetoric, the consequences could be painful, from trade-preference adjustments to a cooling of diplomatic ties. Rather than confronting this reality, party leaders opt to exploit the anti-Trump narrative. Erik Selle, head of Norway's conservative Konservativt party, bluntly states that such attacks are a tactic: It's partly true - criticizing Trump is used to distract voters from domestic socioeconomic issues. He argues, however, that the deeper cause lies in the ideological drift of Norway's establishment toward the left and globalism. Selle asserts that this sharp anti-American campaign reflects the ruling elites' failure to offer a positive agenda. Even advocates of transatlantic partnership acknowledge the risks of this approach. Dan Hamilton, director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins University, notes that Norwegian politicians are increasingly playing on anti-American sentiments. While bilateral ties remain stable, this trend fits into a broader pattern: a growing divide between transatlantic liberals and populists. This polarization, Hamilton emphasizes, will have long-term consequences for cooperation. Michael J. Geary, a history professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and a member of the Royal Historical Society, acknowledges that anti-American surges, seen across Europe, including in countries like the UK and echoed in U.S. political debates, are not new. But he warns that the current context is dangerous due to its unpredictability. The second Trump administration operates with far greater toughness and pragmatism. Reckless rhetoric could heighten Washington's irritation, he says. Data from Norway's NUPI research institute confirms this shift: public opinion has changed. Some 42% of Norwegians believe the country should scale back cooperation with the U.S., while only 25% support expanding it. For the first time in generations, critics outnumber supporters. Yet, instead of explaining how U.S. policies undermine European economic interests, Norwegian parties limit themselves to denouncing Trump. This strategy is expedient for politicians but risky for the country. Banking on anti-Trump rhetoric yields fleeting victories domestically but threatens to reduce Norway to an irritating bystander in Washington's eyes. America excels at brushing off those who shout loudly but bring little to the table. The longer Norway's elite wields anti-Americanism as an electoral tool, the greater the chance it will face the ruthless pragmatism of the White House. By Robert Weiner and Jenny Zhao This spring, George Clooney stepped onto Broadway for the first time in Good Night, and Good Luck, embodying legendary journalist and war correspondent Edward R. Murrow in a tale of truth, coercion, and bravery against corporate media forces. The irony was unmistakable: while Clooney performed nightly as a reporter who stood firm against political pressure, contemporary developments have been eroding the verification mechanisms that enable citizens to separate fact from falsehood. Last October, President Trump refused to appear for his expected election special interview with 60 Minutes. Fast forward to January, a few weeks before President Trumps scheduled return to the White House, Mark Zuckerberg announced an end to Metas use of independent, third-party fact checkers and his plan to replace them with Wikipedia-style Community Notes. Similarly, in April, Amazon retracted its original plan to display the proportion of costs from President Trumps tariffs next to the total prices of products on its website. This occurred around the same time that President Trump made a call to Jeff Bezos, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Amazons intention a hostile and political act. Whether this timing reflects political pressure or coincidence, the decision still undermined citizens capacity to make informed choices by destroying the foundation that allows people to form confident opinions in the first place. As far back as 1597, English Lord Chancellor Francis Bacon said, Knowledge is power. However, in 1742, the English poet Thomas Gray countered, Ignorance is bliss. Todays dismantling of fact-checking systems forces us to confront which philosophy will define American democracy. The erosion of information infrastructure strikes at the heart of democratic theory itself. Democracy, unlike other forms of governance that are built to concentrate decision-making power in the hands of elites, requires a shared body of knowledge among citizens, for example trust in elections and reliable knowledge to inform policy-relevant debate. The idea that governmental legitimacy partially depends on masses of voters collective ability to make sound decisions provides a major justification for this sort of governance. However, this principle only stands when electoral decisions produce outcomes that are both fair aligning with human rights principles and true based on established scientific knowledge and verifiable facts. While various long-term approaches could theoretically support informed citizenry from improved media literacy to technological solutions the current rapid dismantling of established verification systems creates a dangerous gap. Without reliable mechanisms in place that provide the basis for making true decisions, citizens lose the foundation necessary to exercise democratic choice meaningfully. When verification systems disappear faster than realistic alternatives can develop, citizens lose confidence in their ability to distinguish credible from incredible sources across all policy domains. Instead of empowering informed participation, the absence of reliable verification systems often forces people to choose between retreating into confirmation-biased information bubbles or becoming paralyzed by uncertainty about what constitutes credible evidence neither of which supports the kind of reasoned deliberation that democracy requires. The Amazon tariff case demonstrates how information suppression directly undermines democratic accountability. When tariff cost display was scrapped, consumers lost crucial knowledge about who actually pays import duties. Without this information, voters cannot understand the real sources of price increases or evaluate economic policies based on their actual effects rather than political rhetoric. This hits especially hard in Ontario, Calif., where Amazons largest U.S. facility is based a mere 40 miles inland from Los Angeles. With community-based fact-checking, the expectation that citizens should do their own research misunderstands information complexity. Professional fact-checking organizations hold advantages in professional journalism training, whereas cognitive biases and the radicalizing nature of the internet make self-education and productive conversation difficult. Compounding this is the beginners bubble of overconfidence where a few minutes of Google searches and clicking on suggested links leaves browsers seemingly informed on a topic. If this is the case, then it is even more important that the little information casual users can access during their rapid research is accurate and not distorted by what could be similarly misinformed fact-checking. The speed disadvantage creates the biggest problem: research analyzing over 237,000 community fact-checked posts on X found that community notes might be too slow to intervene in the early (and most viral) stage of the diffusion, with only 13.5% of helpful notes displayed before the posts critical 5.75-hour half-life of viral content spread. Without systematic fact-checking to counter this natural advantage, false information dominates public discourse before corrections can take effect. The cumulative consequence of these trends could transform the nature of democratic competition if they continue unchecked. When truth becomes negotiable, democracy becomes a contest between competing mythologies where the most emotionally compelling, forcefully promoted story wins nearly regardless of its tangible relationship to reality. The parallel between Clooneys nightly portrayal of Murrow and our current moment is inescapable: both eras feature powerful forces attempting to control information flow and silence inconvenient truths. But, unlike Murrow's era, when brave journalists could still find platforms to challenge authority, todays corporate retreat from fact-checking leaves fewer institutional defenders of verified information. Clooneys echoing of this message favorably showcases the issue to a different audience of show goers and art enthusiasts. The question facing American democracy is whether citizens can maintain the shared standards of evidence necessary for democratic deliberation, or whether we will drift to a system where power alone determines what counts as true. Robert Weiner is a former spokesman in the Clinton and Bush White Houses and senior staff for Congressmen John Conyers, Charles Rangel, Claude Pepper, Ed Koch, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and 4-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey. Jenny Zhao is a Policy Analyst at Robert Weiner Associates and the Solutions for Change Foundation, and a student at Wellesley College. Headshot links Robert Weiner Click Here Jenny Zhao Click Here My friends in Gaza are hungry, sick of misery and death that is harvesting those around them daily. They are running out of hope and out of time. The cruelty of the colonizers seem to have no limits, Some attention is being focused on the horrors of forced starvation /famine but action to stop it is sparse and certainly does not rise to a point to give us hope of an end to this holocaust anytime soon. Read on and act or unsubscribe and go on with the life awaiting YOUR turn (and it is coming because colonialism by definition is not going to stop on its own - it has to be stopped. We Palestinians are merely the first main victims. But in any case who wants to live in a world where genocide is normalied. FROM A CITIZEN JOURNALIST IN GAZA 'Horrifying. Israel killed Amna, a 12-year-old Palestinian girl in Jabalia, northern Gaza. They dropped a missile on her as she carried water for her family. Amna was not a combatant. Not a threat. Just a child carrying water.' Video The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC): Famine confirmed in Gaza Governorate, projected to expand. UN body says Israeli forces have killed over 1,000 aid-seekers in Gaza since May, as hunger worsens. Further attacks on non-Jewish indigeneous communities in Palestine Fascist racist Finance Minister in the Zionist regime froze the bank accounts of the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem (that denomination represents most Palestinian Christians including my Qumsiyeh family) to privilage colonial European settlers like his family and friends. 1400 registered for this panel discussion on mobilizing for miitary intervention to stop the genocide to be held tomorrow/Saturday . I am honored to be on the panel with such distinguished speakers. See details. [further isolating the USA as a genocide sponsor] After crushing dissent, U.S. universities are deepening ties with Israeli academia. Don Bryant reports on his visit to the West Bank. Zionist infiltration files: Who profits from genocide (new feature in these emails) 1) Military industrial complex; the Kushner empire: Stay Humane, act, and keep hope and Palestine alive Mazin Qumsiyeh A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine facebook pages Personal Institute French Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi Hakeem Jeffries they should all retire, though they deserve impeachment. Now, I know they can't be impeached, but if it were possible they should be, for betraying America. They colluded in 2016, 2020 and 2024 to rig the primary. Each time there were no legitimate primaries. There were no real opportunities for candidates to win. Their failure to do their jobs intelligently with courage, handed the White House to Trump in 2016 and 2024 and allowed Biden to stay in the White House after he was no longer competent. That is a huge crime, and it should be seen as one, to prevent real democratic primary elections from happening. In 2016 the Democratic leadership decided it was Hillary's turn. So they rigged the primary by setting up rules that handed it to Hillary, with the help of DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. In 2020, Obama put his fingers on the scales by persuading multiple candidates to step out of the race in exchange for appointments, and I speculate that Kamala Harris was offered the vice presidency by Biden, through Obama. In 2024, spineless Democratic leaders should have stopped Joe Biden the day after he demonstrated his cognitive functioning in the debate. Or even before then they should have not allowed him to run for a second term and should have held him to keep his promise not to run. Of course they would certainly have rigged the primary anyway. If they'd been really smart, they would have demanded that Biden stepped down as president and let Harris finish the term, so she would be coming as an experienced incumbent. But she would have blown it with her Israel policy anyway. The cowardice, stupidity and blindness of the democratic leadership should have caused instant removal, but the Democratic party is so moribund that it doesn't really function. We need a movement calling for a massive restructuring of the democratic party with massive layoffs, done by primarying incumbents who are doing a bad job or worse. Anytime where fascism is raising its ugly head, we need strong dynamic leaders, not the incrementalist centrist weaklings that we now have. That's part of the reason why the Democrats currently have a 26% approval rating. The question is do people on the left stay with the Democrats since they seem unable to correct their profound deficits? Or do they go to another party or create a party? I think the time is right and it might be that the progressives who are getting all the media attention now, Mamdani, AOC, Sanders, David Hogg, the squad, who could pull off a new, peoples Democratic Party with the help of some A&b list artists, actors, performers and CEOs. We face three and a half more years of Trump despoiling the Constitution, the environment, democracy, and many people's lives, it's just not acceptable. There's no way that the current democratic leadership have the competency or the courage to actually address these issues dynamically, boldly and with power. I have friends who believe the fascism apocalypse has already begun. If we keep the same leadership, then they may be right. (Image by Dan Kovalik) Details DMCA The best reference for understanding the Palestine-Israel crisis is a book by Dan Kovalik. The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care is a carefully-researched, meticulously-documented, scholarly analysis of the longstanding confrontation, which presents a detailed account of the history of the conflict. I confront bottomless depths of despair and uncontrollable weeping when I just think about the horrors currently unfolding in Gaza. Therefore, Ill try to keep this brief, without avoiding the ugly realities of the barbaric campaign by Israel to ethnically cleanse Greater Israel of the Palestinian people. Zionist propaganda which is all we get from mainstream Western media would have us believe that the Israeli destruction of Gaza is a reaction to the terrorist acts of Hamas on October 7, 2023. History didn't start on that date. The Hamas attack on Israel was a reaction to brutality and oppression of the Palestinian people by Israel without pause for 75 years. It began in 1948 with what the Palestinians call the Nakba. Translation: the Catastrophe. For decades prior to 1948, Zionists had been buying up land in Palestine. [But] by 1948, the Jewish settlers constituted only one-third of the population of Palestine (and the vast majority of these were European settlers who were newcomers immigrating after 1917) and owned less than 6 percent of the land. And yet, the United Nations, in General Assembly Resolution 181 the result of the intense lobbying by the Zionists as well as the guilt the Europeans rightly felt from the Holocaust allocated 56 percent of the land, and the very best land, for the creation of the new Jewish state. Now it was time for the settlers to get serious about taking over the region. The Nakba was the way. Palestinians were thrown off land they had owned and occupied for centuries. 800,000 were quickly uprooted, 532 Palestinian villages were destroyed. The indigenous population was sent packing. Killings and rape occurred not infrequently. This was the beginning of the terror campaign by Israel with the explicit intention of cleansing Palestine of its native population. What has happened since, and the October 7 reaction by Hamas, is the direct result of this policy. Israels intent to drive the Palestinians from their homeland and create a purely Jewish Greater Israel has now expanded into a full-blown genocide. It is very difficult to determine the exact number of casualties which include women and children resulting from Israels unrelenting bombardment of Gaza, and the military operation daily unfolding there. Official numbers of dead are compiled from those delivered to the morgue. But tens of thousands are buried under the rubble, unaccounted for. Additionally, people are dying every day from starvation and lack of medical treatment. Israel has barred food and other aid from entering the conflict zone. But the official number of deaths, as I'm writing this, exceeds 58,000. The real death toll, by some estimates, is more than three times that, or nearly 8 percent of Gazas pre-October 7th population. A substantial number of Israeli citizens make no secret of the fact that they consider the Palestinians sub-human, insects, mere animals, and their presence in Greater Israel is not welcome. They are to be eliminated by whatever method is required. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have herded Palestinians into safe tent encampments, then bombed them in their tents. The IDF attacks schools, mosques, and has destroyed every hospital in Gaza. Hundreds of videos are circulating social media showing children mangled, mutilated, or in advanced stages of starvation; whole families killed by the bombing; horrifying scenes reminiscent of the Holocaust which Jews are so fond of citing as evidence of their own victimhood, of people being burned alive, victims of incendiary weaponry dropped on the homes and apartments of innocent civilians; journalists, doctors and other medical professionals, and aid workers, have been targeted for assassination. None of this is rumor or propaganda. It has been fully corroborated by hundreds of credible eyewitnesses many of them working for humanitarian organizations and human rights groups, including UNICEF, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), WHO, the World Food Programme, the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, Doctors Without Borders, and Amnesty International. Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has spoken out and her message is loud and clear: Israels assault on Gaza is the shame of the century. The latest Israeli gambit is to announce the availability of food, drive the food truck to a designated spot, and when emaciated, desperate Palestinians show up for what scraps they can get, to gun them down in cold blood. U.S. mercenaries are participating in this. The horror show in Gaza is being referred to as the first genocide in history to be televised. Just a few clicks on a computer mouse or swipes on your smart phone, and you can watch the slaughter unfold as it happens. As a relevant aside, Israelis are at the same time continuing their longstanding efforts to rid the West Bank of Palestinians, demolishing homes and entire communities, evicting Palestinians from propery theyve owned for generations. Forcing Palestinians to leave and stealing their land has always been the official policy of Israel, though it has for decades been hidden under a shroud of hypocritical blather. The apartheid state Israel has established in the West Bank has made life miserable, often completely intolerable for Palestinians. Make no mistake about it ... The U.S. is fully complicit in this savagery. The pro-Zionist Congress, administration, and mainstream media all parrot the Israeli propaganda claim that the slaughter of the Palestinian people and wholesale destruction of Gaza reflect Israels right to defend itself. Anyone who has the integrity and basic decency to object to the carnage inflicted by the IDF is subject to penalties and prosecution. The U.S. is providing all of the weaponry Israel is using in its genocidal campaign. From October 7, the date of Hamas attack on Israel, till January of this year, $22 billion in military equipment and ordnance has been given to Israel by America. The U.S. military also provides logistical support, conducts rigorous surveillance, and shares intelligence data which facilitates identifying targets for bombing and troop assaults. President Trump has even explicitly stated his full, unwavering support for the entirety of Israels agenda, specifically stipulating relocating the Palestinians from Gaza. This is by far the cruelest, sickest, most inhumane, barbaric and criminal official action by state actors in this case, Israel and the U.S. Ive witnessed in my lifetime. That the U.S. is not fully, unhesitatingly, forcefully condemning it, is disheartening and distressing. That in fact our tax dollars as U.S. citizens are being used literally to pay for a campaign engineered to uproot and destroy a people is appalling and unconscionable. As U.S. citizens, we all bear the shame for this new holocaust. Security will mark its 90th anniversary. On that date in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the landmark program into law as a safeguard against the hazards and vicissitudes of life. For a federal program to endure for 90 years and maintain an extremely high level of popularity among the American people is truly extraordinary, says the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM). It is an achievement that should be celebrated far and wide. Yet this milestone comes amid growing political controversy that could shape the program's future. Privatization Concerns Emerge Just 15 days before the anniversary, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made remarks that sent shock waves through the aging advocacy community. Speaking at a Breitbart News-sponsored event, Bessent described President Trump's newly enacted Trump accounts (also referred to as Child Savings Accounts or Child IRAs) as potentially serving as a backdoor for privatizing Social Security. His comments, made during a Breitbart policy panel on the evening of July 30, were quickly picked up by national media outlets. Bessent elaborated: If these accounts grow and you have in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for your retirement, thats a game-changer too. He suggested that the success and expansion of these individual retirement accounts - created under President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act -could eventually reduce Americans' reliance on traditional Social Security benefits. The law, signed by Trump on July 4, creates a new tax-deferred investment account for children under the age of 18, born in the U.S. between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. These accounts are seeded with $1,000 in federal funds and allow additional contributions of up to $5,000 annually from parents, family members, or employers. Structured similarly to IRAs, the funds must be invested in low-cost mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track a U.S. stock index. Max Richtman, NCPSSM President and CEO, quickly issued a public response, calling on Trump to denounce Bessent's suggestion of a backdoor to privatization. President George W. Bush tried it after his re-election in 2004 - and failed miserably. The American people didn't buy it then, and they won't buy it now, Richtman said. He urged the former president to issue a clear and unequivocal statement: Make a clear, unequivocal statement (as only you can) that your administration will not try to privatize Social Security. John Hishta, Senior Vice President of Campaigns at AARP, also issued a statement and condemned Bessent's comments. We have fought any and all efforts to privatize Social Security, and we will continue to, he said. President Trump has emphasized many times that Social Security wont be touched, and that he is not going to touch Social Security. This must include any and all forms of privatization. Privatization is a terrible idea, says Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works in a statement, noting that unlike private savings, Social Security is a guaranteed earned benefit that you can't outlive. It has stood strong through wars, recessions, and pandemics. The American people have a message for Trump and Bessent: Keep Wall Streets hands off our Social Security!, she says. Following the backlash, Bessent attempted to clarify his remarks in a post on X (formerly Twitter) the next day: Trump Baby Accounts are an additive benefit for future generations, which will supplement the sanctity of Social Security's guaranteed payments. This is not an either-or question. Our administration is committed to protecting Social Security and making sure seniors have more money. During her Thursday press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that President Trump remains wholeheartedly committed to protecting Social Security, even as Bessent's earlier comments appeared to contradict that position. What the Secretary of the Treasury was saying - and what this administration believes - is that these Trump newborn accounts, which are an incredibly creative and positive provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill, are meant to help supplement, not substitute, Social Security, Leavitt told reporters. Democrats and Advocacy Groups Push Back Last Thursday, amid hundreds of events scheduled this month throughout the nation to celebrate SSA's 90th anniversary, the Washington, D.C.-based Social Security Works hosted a press conference to warn against what they called Trump administration efforts to undermine and dismantle Social Security. Moderator Nancy Altman, President of SSW, opened the Town Hall by emphasizing the importance of celebrating Social Security's milestone anniversary and the need to protect and defend the program. Throughout the event, Altman introduced each speaker, describing them as champions dedicated to safeguarding Social Security. 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). Have you read The Case for Military Intervention to Stop the Gaza Genocide? I dont mind promoting it to you, since I agree with most of it (and also consider most of it to do absolutely nothing to advance any case for military intervention to stop the Gaza genocide). The enormous problem we face is not the people who care enough and are desperate enough to make this misguided proposal. The enormous problem is the usual one: corrupt, evil, malfunctioning, and sadistic governments abetted by great masses of people too busy, distracted, ignorant, or uncaring to try anything at all. The first eight pages of 23 in the document linked above simply tell us that there is a genocide happening and that nothing thus far has worked to stop it. On this there can be no dispute, and anyone unaware or unengaged should immediately read those eight pages five times. The next two pages claim that a military intervention would be legal. While I think the rule of law is extremely valuable, and while I believe there is nothing doing more to tear down and degrade the rule of law than this livestreamed genocide, let me be the first to admit that I would be happy to back a strategically wise proposal to end the genocide regardless of whether it were legal or not. That being said, these two pages do not make a serious case for the legality of military action much less the strategic wisdom of it. There are three legalistic claims made. One is that the Genocide Convention obliges national governments to act to prevent genocide. Agreed, but it directs those governments to the United Nations and to the International Court of Justice. Those institutions have, of course, miserably failed to halt the genocide, but they are the only recourses to be found in the words of the Genocide Convention. The second claim is that the Responsibility to Protect doctrine envisions military intervention. Yes, well, television pundits also envision military interventions all the time. That does not make them legal. The notion that the United Nations can create a doctrine in gross violation of the United Nations Charter and thereby legalize wars in places like Libya or Syria was once roundly condemned by many of the very same people now making that very claim in this document. They were right the first time and are now strengthening an extremely dangerous idea that they will come to regret. The third claim is on behalf of customary international law and interpretations of humanitarian intervention in other words, what governments have done and gotten away with. The paper sends you to an end note for examples, but when you get there, you merely find this: See historical precedents where states intervened despite Security Council deadlock, citing practice supporting morallegal duties to stop mass atrocities. Yes, well, I came to the end notes to see those and there were none there, possibly because such interventions in places like Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, and so on by the dozens have been consistent disasters and moral outrages. Later, theres a FAQ concluding the paper where the authors claim that a military intervention is not a war and therefore not a problem for all the laws such as the UN Charter that forbid war. This strict agreement with Pentagon propaganda is a recipe for countless wars by another name. On the next page, the case for militarism authors lay out what they hope to accomplish but not why armed conflict is the most likely way to accomplish any of it. Then they turn, in fact in the main text of the document, to examples of what they have in mind. The examples are: the Korean War, the Suez Crisis, the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, NATOs war on Kosovo, a French operation in Rwanda, the Gulf War, the war in Bosnia, and the war on Libya. Seriously? Even if the point is a technical one (there have been lots of these wars, so lets have another and it will be totally different from these other ones) shouldnt we notice what universally accepted disasters most or all of these have been or at least disasters recognized by most of the people most concerned and active to halt the genocide in Palestine? Its one thing to note that NATO claimed to be acting on humanitarian grounds in Kosovo. Its quite another to omit what NATO actually did in Kosovo: bombed civilians, created ethnic cleansing, established a permanent occupation and training ground, and created a propaganda precedent for lots more interventions. Next we get a couple of more pages on the indisputable need to do something, and three pages quoting a handful of people who support the proposal or something similar or maybe they dont actually support it. Some of the quotes support an independent protection mechanism or a protective presence etc., which may or may not mean the same thing as military intervention. Some of the quotes use the phrase protection force, but one of the people quoted saying that has told me explicitly and repeatedly that he in fact takes no position at all on whether a protection force should be armed or not. Yet here he is in a quote taking up a quarter of a page supposedly making the case for militarism. So, there is very little of a case for anything made in this paper. If there were, it would be for something arguably illegal and hugely damaging to the rule of law. If it were legal, it would remain an extremely dangerous precedent, and would also be likely to result in catastrophic failure. Going to war with Israel and you do not enforce a no-fly zone over Gaza without going to war with Israel (and you do not wage war in 2025 without slaughtering all types of people in the area) means going to war with (and possibly as) a nuclear-armed military, a military under a prime minister already inclined toward escalation and wider war if anyone can help him get it, and in addition Israels red, white, and blue sugar daddy across the Atlantic. This has the potential to slide Palestine ahead of Ukraine as the leading risk of swift planetary apocalypse. But heres the key question. What the bloody hell would I recommend instead? I would recommend two types of things, both difficult and with no guarantee of success, but with a significant chance of success. One type of thing is stuff that has not been tried yet. The other is vastly more of stuff that has been tried for years now. The war-as-last-resort crowd always rely on the notion that even a token effort, much less a major one, at something other than war makes war the only option. Were about to hear, for example, that peace negotiations have been tried and failed for Ukraine, even as neither side proposed to ever compromise in the slightest and the neutral arbiter in the White House promised to keep the weapons flowing to one side. People have made heroic efforts for peace in Gaza. People are exhausted from all those efforts. But some of those efforts have worked and could be multiplied a-thousand-fold. Countries and companies have been forced to divest and to stop arming Israel, and more could be. Media outlets have been forced to convey bits of reality, and public opinion has swung dramatically. These facts do not make up a rosy, happy, hopeful picture. Theyre sad little semi-wins for a team having a record-bad season. But they are what you can build on. If one dock can block shipments, all docks can. If one pundit can recognize a genocide years too late, all can. If one government can BDS Israel and its suppliers, all can. If a few aid ships can be sent, hundreds can. If some governments can commit to arresting Netanyahu, more can. Nobodys proposing we give up on the climate struggle and join the people shooting guns at storms; and that struggle has been going a lot longer than this one. But what hasnt been tried yet? Of the thousands of tactics of nonviolent activism, most have of course not been tried. But the key tool especially relevant here is UNARMED civilian defense. Here is a leading expert proposing just that. Please read his proposal carefully. One minor point: he quotes Francesca Albanese at greater length than does the pro-militarism paper discussed above, which claims without evidence that she supports military intervention. Here is a collection of resources and success stories for those unfamiliar with the general idea of unarmed defense. Has exactly what is needed here been done before with Unarmed Civilian Defense? No. But it has not yet been tried here either. War is NOT the last resort. Unarmed action builds on a stronger success record than armed interventions or armed peacekeeping. It also has the following interesting advantage over military intervention. The more we put into unarmed civilian defense, the more likely it is to succeed (right up to the extreme in which millions of people are involved and success is guaranteed), whereas the more we put into escalating the war with an intervention, the more likely the war is to do more damage (right up to the extreme of killing all life on Earth). Will world leaders at UNGA act on urgent interconnected threats posed by NCDs and AMR? SHOBHA SHUKLA CNS AMR and NCDs warrant urgent attention to address interconnected threats they pose to global health (Image by CNS) Details DMCA World leaders will meet at the upcoming 80th United Nations General Assembly and UN High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) next month. But would they take stronger action to prevent NCDs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is yet to be seen. The draft text that would be up for their discussion next month is sadly weak and disappointing given the threat NCDs (and AMR) poses to global health and SDGs. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are critical global public health challenges confronting the world today. Globally, AMR is associated with almost 5 million deaths every year (and directly responsible for 1.14 million deaths annually), and NCDs (like cardiovascular diseases such as heart diseases and stroke, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases) kill more than 40 million people every year. AMR and NCDs are deeply interconnected- biologically, socially, and systematically, and they amplify the impact of each other. Both disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, exacerbating health inequities and straining already fragile health systems. Multiple intersections between NCDs and AMR People with NCDs are more vulnerable to infections due to their weakened immune system, and frequent visits to healthcare settings. They often require repeated or prolonged antimicrobial treatments for the infections, thus increasing their likelihood of acquiring drug-resistant infections. AMR complicates the management of NCDs. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Home Forward said it will not be able to issue Section 8 vouchers to about a dozen families that had previously been expecting them. Dave Killen / The Oregonian The Portland-area housing authority this week notified roughly a dozen low-income families they would not receive Section 8 vouchers it had told them to expect. Home Forward issued an Aug. 20 letter to cancel an applicants upcoming Housing Choice Voucher Program orientation appointment, which the recipient posted on social media. Diver Archer Mayo holds a camera with Ken Martins name and address carved into the bottom of the camera case. Mayo recovered it from the Martin family car at the bottom of the Columbia River in Cascade Locks. Mims Copeland | The Oregonian A diver said he has recovered remains of two adults from inside the car believed to belong to the Martins, a family whose disappearance in 1958 sparked dramatic news coverage at the time and fueled years of speculation about their fate. The discovery appears to bring the 67-year-old mystery to an end. Archer Mayo, the diver, has turned over the remains to the Hood River County Sheriffs Office. Theres nothing more that can be done, Mayo said. The Hood River County Sheriffs Office would not confirm or deny Mayos assertions, saying only that the 7-decade-old case remains under investigation. The Martin family left their Northeast Portland home, at 1715 NE 56th Ave., on December 7, 1958, for a day trip to the Columbia Gorge, then disappeared. Ken and Barbara Martin and their three daughters, Barbara, Virginia and Susan, in a family photo. They disappeared in 1958 during a day trip to the Columbia Gorge. Ann Sullivan family archives The bodies of the two youngest daughters Virginia, 13, and Sue, 11 were found floating in the Columbia River the following year. But few new clues appeared in the following decades that could help investigators find Ken and Barbara Martin, the oldest daughter, Barbara, 14, or the car they were traveling in that day. (The couples oldest child, Donald, 28 at the time, was in New York.) Authorities believed the disappearance and apparent deaths were likely the result of an accidental crash that had sent the car into a remote ravine or the river. Items that diver Archer Mayo recovered from the Martin family car at the bottom of the Columbia River include Ken Martin's shoe. Mims Copeland | The Oregonian But the mystery of the familys fate kept police on the case, and sundry true-crime enthusiasts developed various theories over the years, including that the family had been murdered. One of those who became convinced of foul play was Walter Graven, a Multnomah County sheriffs deputy in the 1950s and 1960s, who believed the car went over a cliff near The Dalles. Such views fueled further speculation and investigation, leading local author J.B. Fisher to publish a book about the case, 2019s Echo of Distant Water. Diver Archer Mayo holds Ken Martin's camera, which he recovered from the Martin family car at the bottom of the Columbia River in Cascade Locks. Mims Copeland | The Oregonian Mayo, a recreational and rescue diver, as well as a sculptor and real-estate manager, got hooked on the mystery in 2018. One day he found himself in the Oregon Historical Society archives, looking at a late 1800s photo of the construction of Cascade Locks, which was just upstream from where one of the girls bodies was recovered. The photo showed that engineers had put a massive pit into the bottom of the river. That, Mayo surmised, had to be where the car ended up, because the pit likely would have pulled in anything heavy flowing over it. And the pit was just downstream from a parking lot, where a driver unfamiliar with the lot could have easily made a wrong turn and tumbled into the water. Mayo was right. Items diver Archer Mayo recovered from the Martin family car at the bottom of the Columbia River in Cascade Locks include a childrens cap gun. Mims Copeland | The Oregonian After months spent obtaining the necessary permits and permissions, then doing 60 dives to clear debris with a dredge, he reached an upside-down 1950s Ford station wagon, about 60 feet below the surface. He told the Hood River County Sheriffs Office about the car, and the agency hired contractors to pull it out of the water. That operation, in March, did not go as Mayo had hoped the contractors pulled out the undercarriage and the engine of the car, but they couldnt get the cars body and its contents out of the pit. I was disappointed, Mayo said. He added: Ive been dreaming, thinking and obsessing about this for 7 years. The botched operation meant the car couldnt be examined in a controlled environment by professionals. So, if Mayo wanted real closure for the surviving Martin family members and himself he would have to keep diving. March 7, 2025, Hood River County Sheriffs Office and a team of salvage divers retrieved parts of a car they believe the Martin family drove when they disappeared in 1958. Beth Nakamura | The Oregonian/OregonLive In July, Mayo got back in the river. With a dredge operating on the river surface, he suctioned debris from the river and dropped it downstream. He built a workstation in the pit, so that he wouldnt constantly have to surface for tools. He carefully managed his divetime to make sure he didnt suffer from decompression sickness. What remained of the car had split between the passenger and drivers seats, Mayo said. That tear created a gap through which he could enter the car and remove debris. Every day, during multiple dives, he brought out piles of debris. Mayo said it was dangerous work, due primarily to the constant risk that debris could fall onto him and bury him at the bottom of the pit. The broken springs of the seat cushions sometimes snagged and cut him, and hes gotten caught in an old, discarded salmon net. Visibility frequently would drop to zero. 8 1 / 8 Artifacts from the Martin family car Then, Aug. 11, he came across human remains, contained inside a plus-size nylon stocking. He has found more remains since then, belonging to two adults. He believes its possible the remains he has retrieved also might include a third person. Mayo has also brought up from inside the car what appeared to be a girls nylon sock, a toy cap gun, the cars gas pedal and two seatbelts. And he found a camera case with the owners name and most of his address still visibly etched into the leather: KEN MARTIN 15 NE 56 PORTLAND, ORE USA He said he plans to fill the car with gravel to prevent other divers from entering the dangerous environment. I feel like I got them out to be restored with their families, Mayo said of recovering the remains. And that was the dream. Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com. Kimbal Musk supports Elon Musk's pay package and plan to invest in xAI. MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS Kimbal Musk supports Elon Musk's pay package and plan to invest in xAI. Musk's pay and Tesla's investment in xAI are key issues ahead of Tesla's shareholder meeting. Some investors are skeptical of Musk's interim pay package and of Tesla's pivot into robotics. Kimbal Musk weighed in on his brother's Tesla pay package and Tesla's potential investment in xAI. "I think my brother deserves to be paid," the younger Musk said Friday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "He has zero pay for the past six to eight years. I don't think that's right. I'll let Tesla shareholders make that decision, but I believe that it does need to be. He needs to be paid." "Tesla can't go without a deep, deep understanding of AI. We have a great business relationship with xAI," Kimbal Musk, who sits on the Tesla board, added. "I will again let the shareholders decide that, but we are Tesla, an AI company. As any advanced technology company Nova, Tesla, others AI is built into everything you do." Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The question of Elon Musk's pay and whether Tesla should invest in xAI, which is Musk's AI company, are both contentious issues ahead of the company's November shareholder meeting. Musk doesn't receive a salary or cash bonuses at Tesla. Instead, he receives stock-based performance awards tied to milestones the EV maker achieves. A Delaware judge struck down Musk's $56 billion pay package in January 2024, ruling that Tesla's board had failed to properly justify what would be the highest pay a public company CEO has ever received in the US. Even though the shareholder upheld his pay package, the judge upheld her ruling again in December 2024. Tesla has been appealing the ruling since, and the legal limbo has left Musk without compensation until earlier in August, when Tesla's board granted Musk an interim package worth roughly $29 billion in stock, equal to about 96 million shares. The move was to incentivize Musk to focus on the company, and he can only claim the new award if he remains in a top executive role for another two years. The company would be voting on a long-term pay plan for Musk in the November shareholder meeting, according to an August 4 shareholder letter. Musk also made clear his desire for Tesla to continue to invest in xAI, in a tweet in July that said Tesla would have invested in his AI company "long ago" if it were entirely up to him. The issue will also be put to a shareholder vote in November, according to Musk's post on X. About 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 7, ICE agents pulled over a gray van on Oregon 211 and shattered the driver's window when the driver did not roll it down or open the door. Four of 7 people riding in the van were taken into custody by ICE, including a 25-year-old man from Guatemala who challenged his detention. Oregon For All and Innovation Law Lab Tootie Smith, unseated as Clackamas County chair last fall, will serve as head of Oregons federal farm agency. Beth Nakamura Former Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith has been tapped by the Trump administration for a Department of Agriculture job. Smith, who was unseated by former county Sheriff Craig Roberts last fall, will serve as the head of the Oregon Farm Service Agency, as first reported by Oregon City News. The agency assists farmers, ranchers and agricultural landowners through loans, income support and disaster recovery, among other things. When rural America succeeds, our entire country is stronger, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a press release Thursday. These newly appointed USDA state directors will play a critical role in advancing President Trumps America First agenda in the states and ensuring that our farmers and ranchers are prioritized. Smith, an outspoken Republican who has voiced support for President Donald Trump, is a fourth-generation Oregon farmer who was raised on her familys farm. She and her husband now run a hazelnut orchard. She is steeped in local politics, having served two terms in the Oregon House and as a county commissioner before being elected chair in 2020. She lost her bid for reelection as chair last November, taking 43% of the vote to Roberts 57%. Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Austin De Dios covers county politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios Harjinder Singh, 28, is escorted onto a plane Thursday by Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and law enforcement. Singh was flown from California to Florida, where he was booked into jail Friday. The circumstances of how Singh obtained a commercial driver's license is under investigation by Washington officials. The Associated Press Washington authorities said Friday they continue to investigate the licensing history of a commercial truck driver involved in a fatal crash this month in Florida that has drawn national attention. On Thursday, Harjinder Singh, 28, of Stockton, was extradited from San Joaquin County in California to St. Lucie County in Florida, where he faces three counts of vehicular homicide for an Aug. 12 crash on Floridas Turnpike. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Singh drove recklessly when he crossed all lanes of traffic and attempted a U-turn at an unauthorized location, causing a minivan to slam into the truck. All three occupants of the minivan were killed, the police agency said. The wreck, captured in a video recorded by a dashboard-mounted camera in the truck, has become fodder for the political firestorm over immigration policy. Florida authorities said Singh, who is from India, illegally entered the United States from Mexico in 2018. Federal authorities say the state of Washington issued Singh a commercial drivers license on July 15, 2023. On Friday, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Licensing confirmed his license was valid through July 2024, when California issued him a commercial drivers license. That canceled his Washington license, according to Nathan Olson, an agency spokesperson. The wreck has led to intense scrutiny of state licensing standards. Some federal and state officials have directed accusations at California, where Singh is licensed, and at New Mexico, where they allege law enforcement failed to enforce federal rules during a recent traffic stop with Singh. And some right-wing media and online trucker forums have stated or implied, without evidence, that Singh may have received training through a defunct Pacific Northwest school that allegedly helped unqualified truckers buy their way onto the road. An investigation this year by The Oregonian/OregonLive found that Washington regulators determined that Skyline CDL School, a commercial driving academy with branches in Washington and Oregon, relied on unqualified instructors, falsified records, bypassed English proficiency standards that are mandatory for truckers, and failed to document training hours and students skills. The news organization reported that the school allegedly bribed an independent driving tester, Jason Hodson, to obtain passing grades on exams for its unqualified students in Washington. State regulators obtained photos of a gold envelope addressed to Hodson stuffed with wads of cash, each accompanied by a sticky note listing a license-seekers date of birth. Neither Hodson nor the operators of the business faced criminal charges. Regulators in Washington shut down the school and Hodson lost his testing gig. Oregon regulators later suspended operations at Skylines branch in Hillsboro; the commission did not point to any known conspiracy in Oregon but instead cited the findings of Washingtons investigation. An email to Oregons Higher Education Coordinating Commission about the schools current status was not immediately returned Friday. The commission regulates private career schools in the state. The Washington Department of Licensing since Wednesday has so far declined to release information about who administered Singhs driving test. In an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday, Olson said the agency is investigating the circumstances surrounding the issuance of Mr. Singhs commercial driver license and said it may not be able to release detailed information about his training because of federal privacy protections related to drivers records. Olson did not provide a timeline for the completion of the agencys review of Singhs licensing. Federal authorities are also investigating whether the issuance of Singhs California license met federal rules. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, some applicants for a commercial drivers license may skip a skills test requirement if the applicant turns over a commercial drivers license from another state that is valid or has been expired for less than two years. The California agency has not responded to specific questions about the process of issuing Singhs commercial drivers license. Agency spokesperson Ronald Ongtoaboc said in an email that the state followed all federal and state laws in reviewing and granting Singh the license. The federal government confirmed Mr. Singhs legal presence in the United States, Ongtoaboc said. California Gov. Gavin Newsoms press office said on X Thursday that Singh was subsequently granted a work permit and that the permit was reissued in April. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy said this week that the wreck is under investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and that the inquiry will focus on Singh and the motor carrier, White Hawk Carriers, Inc. Authorities with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said Singh failed an English proficiency test after the wreck, answering only two of 12 questions correctly, according to Duffy. Singh correctly identified one out of four highway traffic signs, Duffy said. Olson, the Washington licensing spokesperson, said a commercial licensing exam is conducted entirely in English. English proficiency is not evaluated as a separate skill, he wrote in an email to the news organization, but is necessary to complete the skills exam successfully. Meanwhile, the federal transportation agency said New Mexico State Police conducted a roadside inspection of Singh last month and issued him a speeding ticket but authorities say there is no indication that New Mexico police conducted an English proficiency test, a requirement since June. On Friday, St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro said Singh had been booked into the county jail and is being held without bail. Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184 or ncrombie@oregonian.com. The Peninsula Pool in North Portland, which has struggled to maintain consistent temperatures with the pools water heater throughout the summer, will remain open until Sept. 5 amid the heat wave. Creston and Pier pools will also remain open. Dave Killen / The Oregonian Heres a splash of good news. Portlands outdoor pool season was expected to come to a close Friday. But when a heat wave for Portland, other parts of the Willamette Valley, southwest Washington and the Columbia River Gorge rolled in, some pools Peninsula, Creston and Pier announced they will remain open through Sept. 5. We know how important cool, safe spaces like Peninsula Pool are during extreme heat, said Portland Parks and Recreationss Interim Director Sonia Schmanski. And were doing everything we can to provide that option for the community. The Peninsula Pool in North Portland had struggled to maintain consistent temperatures with the pools water heater throughout the summer. Ahead of the heat wave, maintenance workers sourced repair parts from out of state and confirmed the pool is performing within safe operating standards, just in time for locals to cool off from the heat wave, said Tim Collier, spokesperson for Portland Parks and Recreation. Pier Pool, located in the St. Johns neighborhood, opened on July 17 after closing last year due to significant water leaks. The pool, along with Southeast Portlands Creston Pool, which has remained open while its neighboring indoor pool, Mt. Scott, has been closed for renovations, joins Peninsula Pool in the Sept. 5 extension. Each pools Play Swim hours vary. Peninsula Pools hours this weekend will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pier Pools hours will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for its Family Swim, and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. for its Open Swim hours. Creston Pools hours will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for its Family Swim, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. for its Open Swim hours. Other outdoor pools across Portland, including Sellwood, Montavilla, Ida B. Wells and Grant will close as planned, however. Pools arent the only option to cool down, Collier said. A Portland Parks and Recreation map shows the different interactive fountains and splash pads locals can enjoy during the weekends heat wave. Tristin Hoffman covers business and breaking news for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at thoffman@oregonian.com A local chocolate company is opening a new lab in Northeast Portland, which will host build-your-own bar experiences for guests. Cara Huato One of the citys premier chocolatiers is moving its staple build-a-bar experiences to a new chocolate lab and tasting space in Northeast Portland. >> Business opening or closing in your neighborhood? Email the reporter at vnocera@oregonian.com. On Saturday at 1:56 p.m. the National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning in effect until Wednesday at 9 p.m. for Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon, Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon, Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon, Foothills of the Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon and North Central Oregon. "Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 98 degrees to 104 degrees expected. This will pose a major to locally extreme risk of heat-related illness," adds the weather service. "An alternative scenario is lingering cloud cover from possible thunderstorms from southern Oregon may result in lower than forecast afternoon temperatures or higher than forecast overnight low temperatures." "Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events," says the weather service. Heat safety: A guide to staying safe in high temperatures Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids. Seek shelter: Stay in an air-conditioned room. Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and make sure to check up on relatives and neighbors. Child and pet safety: Exercise vigilance when it comes to young children and pets. Never leave them unattended in vehicles during high temperatures, as car interiors can quickly become dangerously hot. Caution outdoors: Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. Optimal timing: Whenever possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening hours when temperatures are more manageable. Recognize heat-related issues: Recognize the warning signs and familiarize yourself with symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Dress comfortably: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing to stay comfortable. Additional recommendations for outdoor workers: For outdoor workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends regular rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas. If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location. In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance. These NWS heat safety directives are essential for safeguarding your well-being when facing high temperatures. Stay well-informed and take the necessary precautions to shield yourself and others from the potential hazards of extreme heat. Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service. Hood to Coast runners and supporters gather at exchange point 12 near OMSI in Southeast Portland on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Teresa Mahoney | The Oregonian/OregonLive A record temperature of 102 was recorded Friday at the Portland International Airport. The previous record for Aug. 22 was 98 degrees, set in 1942. The record for Aug. 23 is 101, set in 1988, and we are expected to tie that record today. An extreme heat warning from the National Weather Service that extends from the Portland area all the way south to Eugene remains in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday, with Saturday and Sunday expected to be the hottest days. Cooling centers will be open across Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. The weather service has also issued an air quality advisory for ozone from 10 a.m. Saturday until 8 p.m. Monday, saying the air quality will reach unhealthy levels. "Pollutants can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition," the advisory says. In Portland, Saturday will be mostly sunny and hot with a high around 101 degrees, according to the weather service. Overnight, the low temperature will be about 69 degrees. Sunday, mostly sunny skies will remain with a high around 99. Overnight, the low will be about 69 degrees. Monday will be partly sunny with a high around 95. The overnight low, again, will be about 69. Tuesday will be mostly sunny with a high around 93 and an overnight low around 67. When the heat advisory ends, temperatures will remain in the low 90s and high 80s for the rest of the week. Fashion companies should be paying more attention to the oft-overlooked S in ESG, according to new numbers crunched by data science firm RepRisk. Roughly two-thirds of all supply chain risk incidents in the apparel and footwear sector over the past five yearsmuch more than researchers anticipated before they dug inhave been linked to social issues, it said. Driven by human rights violations and poor working conditions, such cases have doubled since 2020 and risen by 22 percent in the past 12 months alone. More from Sourcing Journal We looked across fast fashion, we looked at premium fashion, and we also looked at luxury fashion segments, said Alexandra Mihailescu Cichon, chief commercial officer at RepRisk. And across all three of these sub-segments, we saw that the S risksthe social riskswere the most prevalent. Dealing with exploitative behavior isnt just a moral imperative, she said. As the judicial administrations of companies affiliated with boldface luxury brands such as Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior and Valentinoall within the span of a yearhave shown, social risks arent just reputational albatrosses, but they can also quickly escalate into legal liabilities that bear tangible financial costs. Despite the global reckoning that the deaths of more than 1,130 garment workers in Bangladesh began in 2013, supply chains are becoming more complex due to a convergence of existential factors, making them more difficult to get a handle on, particularly with continued outsourcing to lower-cost locations with less rigorous regulatory oversight, Cichon said. Climate change, the energy transition, geopolitical conflict and trade turmoil intersect and amplify each other, generating increased volatility that can raise input costs and disrupt business continuity. And while retail is not the only industry to be affected, it is by far the most exposed in terms of risk, she added. Private companies are also nearly seven times more likely to be implicated than those that are publicly listed. Supply chains are not just operational backbones, but theyre really strategic assets, Cichon said. The globalization of fashion over the last three decades has created long, large, complex and sometimes opaque supply chains that often stretch across dozens of countries. And what has happened since the Covid-19 pandemic is a lot of change and a lot of added uncertainty that have increased the challenges, and therefore risks to the sector. On Friday afternoon, Intel confirmed what everyone already knew: that the U.S. government is taking the unprecedented step of investing $8.9 billion into the company. On Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the United States was pushing Intel to accept its $10.9 billion CHIPS Act funding as an equity deal instead. On Friday, President Trump confirmed that deal in a White House press conference. Intel now has formally published a statement outlining the terms of the agreement. The government will invest $8.9 billion into Intel as part of a purchase of common stock, paid for by the $5.7 billion in grants awarded but not yet paid to Intel as part of the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and $3.2 billion awarded to the company as part of the Secure Enclave program, Intel said in a statement. The actual investment will total $11.1 billion, Intel said, because of $2.2 billion in CHIPS Axct grants that Intel has already received. All told, the U.S. government will own 9.9 percent of Intel, made up of 433.3 million shares of Intel common stock at $20.47 per share. After hours, Intels share price had climbed to $24.80, but the government still received a discount. The U.S. government said that its investment would be a passive one, with no Board representation or other governance or information rights. The government also pledged to vote with Intel in matters requiring shareholder approval. It remains to be seen whether President Trump, who is notoriously outspoken, adheres to these goals. The government also has the option to purchase an additional basket of shares worth five percent of the company but only if Intels ownership of its foundry business drops below 51 percent. That would seemingly cement Intels foundry aspirations, although the additional capital doesnt solve the fundamental question: who will use it? Intel has previously said that it would slow an Ohio fab and put off manufacturing projects in Poland and Germany as it weathered layoffs. That provoked former chief executive Craig Barrett and others to suggest that Intels customers bail it out. Broadcom and TSMC were even named as suitors. Trump originally called for Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan to step down, citing concerns that his investments had close ties to the Chinese government even though he allowed Nvidia and AMD to sell AI chips to Chinese government after paying 15 percent of its revenues. On Friday, Trump said that he had met with Tan, and that the Intel chief had agreed to pay $10 billion to the government, and that other, similar deals could happen as well. As the only semiconductor company that does leading-edge logic R&D and manufacturing in the U.S., Intel is deeply committed to ensuring the worlds most advanced technologies are American made, Tan said. President Trumps focus on U.S. chip manufacturing is driving historic investments in a vital industry that is integral to the countrys economic and national security. Intel cited executives from Microsoft, Dell, HP, and AWS in support of the investment. CABAZON, Calif. (AP) The parents of a missing 7-month-old boy were arrested Friday as part of a murder investigation, authorities in Southern California said. While the mother reported last week her son Emmanuel was believed to have been kidnapped, sheriffs authorities said they believe the child is dead. Based on the evidence, investigators determined a kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said in a statement. The search to recover his remains is ongoing. San Bernardino County Detective Eduardo Badillo, left, speaks on the phone alongside a Riverside County Sheriff's officer outside the home of Rebecca and Jake Haro, parents of missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Cabazon, Calif. (Anjali Sharif-Paul/The Orange County Register via AP) AP Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, were arrested at their home in the desert community of Cabazon, which is about 20 miles from Palm Springs, the agency said. The arrests came a little over a week after Rebecca Haro reported to authorities that she was attacked outside a store in the San Bernardino community of Yucaipa while changing her sons diaper and was left unconscious. Authorities said Haro told them that when she awoke, her son was gone. Haro was later confronted by authorities about inconsistencies in her account and refused to continue to cooperate, the sheriffs department said. Authorities searched the familys home, and Jake Haro hired a lawyer, the department said. The couple was booked into a jail in Riverside County and is being held without bail, the department said. The district attorneys office in Riverside County, where Cabazon is located, said it is reviewing the case. It was not immediately known if Rebecca Haro had a lawyer. A message left for defense attorney Vincent Hughes was not immediately returned. Hughes represents Jake Haro in another case and told The Sun he didnt believe the parents were responsible for the boy going missing. Whoever took my son, please return him, we just want him back, Jake Haro told KTLA last week. Video surveillance from a school bus and identification from a stun gun cartridge helped police arrest a 34-year-old man in connection with a brutal attack on a 68-year-old at the front door of her Lancaster County home. The bizarre attack occurred about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday after the victim answered a knock on her door. She said a masked stranger wearing a black hat, black sunglasses and all black clothing tried to push his way into her home. As he barged in, she said he shot her in the chest with a stun gun and punched her in the face after she collapsed on the floor. He ran away when the victims husband appeared, leaving a cracked cartridge cover, wires and identification tags with a serial tracking number from the cartridge. Police released information publicly about the attack on Wednesday asking anyone with video surveillance systems in the area to check their footage for images of a man dressed in black around the time of the attack. On Thursday, an official from a transportation company called police to say one of their school buses for the Pequea Valley School District captured video of a man walking on the victims street wearing all black clothing who got into a white sedan parked in a grassy field about 1,250 feet north of the victims address. Police identified the car as a white Toyota Corolla. Police also contacted a stun gun cartridge manufacturer on Thursday that linked the serial number to a sale from January to Benjamin Brinker, who lives in a mobile home about eight miles from the victims home. The manufacturer said Brinker bought the device and two cartridges at that time. He also bought a ten-pack of cartridges three days before the attack, according to the police affidavit. Investigators looked up Brinker and found he owned a 2014 white Toyota Corolla and that he matched the physical description of the suspect, the affidavit said. The victim said she did not recognize the man who showed up at her door. She said she spoke to him briefly, then tried to close the door on him. Police did not say in court records what the victim and stranger talked about. When officers arrived, the victim had a mark on her chest from where the stun gun prong had pierced her skin. Her face was severely swollen and bruised, with several broken bones in her face, police said. A police license plate reader also logged Brinkers Toyota traveling eastbound on State Route 30 at State Route 10 at 2:33 p.m. The same vehicle was also logged traveling westbound on State 30 and State Route 10 and 2:38 p.m., the direction toward the victims house about an hour before the attack. Police charged Benjamin Brinker with three felonies: burglary, aggravated assault and using an incapacitation device. He remained in the county jail Friday in lieu of a $500,000 cash bond. Brinker does not have any prior criminal charges in Pennsylvania, according to online records. Police would not say if they knew a motive in the attack or whether the attack could be connected to other crimes. The Judds, featuring Wynonna, perform at the Giant Center, Hershey on January 26, 2023. Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive Grace Kelley, the daughter of country music legend Wynonna Judd, was in the headlines plenty last year, and none of it was good. She was arrested three times, and things were not rough for her. But now the 29-year-old is speaking out about her issues, and what she has to say is disturbing to say the least, and it doesnt shine a good light on the country music legend. Kelley told The Daily Progress that her stepfather, D.R. Roach, sexually abused her when she was 10 years old, and that Wynonna failed to protect her. Judd divorced Roach in Sept. 2007, according to Taste of Country, after he was arrested on charges of sexually battery of a minor, but Kelley claims the truth had already come out during family counseling. I dont want to talk bad about my mom, but well just say shes a good performer, Kelley said. She was never a mother. According to Taste of Country, Roach eventually pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit aggravated sexual battery and is still listed on Tennessees sex offender registry. The good news coming from Kelley is that she said she is sober now, has embraced religion, and is living in Virginia where she is rebuilding her life. Judd meanwhile is raising Kelleys 3-year-old daughter. Taste of Country noted that Judd told Oprah in 2010 that she went into mama bear mode when the accusations against her ex-husband emerged. Kelley third arrest of 2024 came back on Oct. 27 in Albemarle County, Virginia. PEOPLE Magazine reported that Kelley was facing seven charges, including three counts of felony grand larceny for that incident. The site said she was also charged with driving without a license, destruction of property with intent, failure to use headlights and setting in motion a vehicle with intent to commit a crime. Kelley was accused of stealing a Charlottesville area churchs van. A GoFundMe launched by the church to help pay for a new van said that the vehicle was stolen from in front of our pastors homes by Grace Pauline Kelley. Kent Hart, the churchs pastor, reportedly chased Kelley down when she was pulling out of his driveway in the van. Kelley also had some disturbing run-ins with the law earlier in 2024. She was arrested in Georgia in August and charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, driving with a suspended/revoked license and not using motorcycle equipment properly, per PEOPLE. She was also reportedly arrested in Alabama in April and she was accused of exposing her breasts and lower body along a busy highway there. FILE - This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) AP By CAIT KELLEY, Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Two and a half years after a derailed train spewed toxic gases across eastern Ohio, none of the nations largest freight railroads have fulfilled promises to join a voluntary federal close-call program designed to reduce rail hazards and prevent accidents. Two railroads BNSF and Norfolk Southern launched partial trials, but havent fully joined the program. A federal working group formed to negotiate railroad participation recently disbanded. Railroads complained that the safety program which lets employees report safety issues and close calls without facing discipline was cumbersome and no better than their own internal processes. But Amtrak and smaller freight and passenger railroads across the country do participate, and studies show the program reduced accidents by approximately 20%. Program advocates say the big Class I freight railroads reluctance to participate shows the industry failed to learn any lessons from the 38-car derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border, in 2023 that engulfed 35 cars in flames and forced the evacuation of homes in a 1-mile radius. We had an opportunity as a group to make things better and make things safer, and we didnt do it, said Jim Mathews, president and CEO of the advocacy organization the Rail Passengers Association. He served on the disbanded working group. Think about how much better and how much safer it could be if we could add all of those 120,000 employees into the mix and all of those operations of hundreds and hundreds of trains a day all across the country, Mathews said. What is CRS? The federal initiative known as the Confidential Close Call Reporting System, or CRS, was initially inspired by a similar program in aviation started in 1976 that has helped make flying the safest form of travel in the United States. Federal transportation agencies argue the rail program could similarly improve safety for passengers, workers and the more than 12,000 communities that can have dangerous chemicals passing through their backyards on freight trains every day. FILE - This image taken with a drone shows the continuing cleanup of portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train on Feb. 9, 2023, that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) AP For the last decade, more than 1,000 trains have derailed every year in the United States, and one accident a day, on average, surpasses $100,000 in damages, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. For years, the National Transportation Safety Board, or the NTSB, has said railroads need a program that allows employees to report mistakes or close calls without facing discipline, arguing similar programs save lives in other industries. The NTSB said in investigation reports that a program like CRS could have prevented accidents in Bridgeport and West Haven, Connecticut, in 2013, and in Chester, Pennsylvania, in 2016 that in total killed three people and injured more than 100. The deadly passenger train crash nine years ago in Chester, Pennsylvania, illustrates how. On April 3, 2016, an Amtrak train barreled down a track near Chester, Pennsylvania, at an authorized speed of over 100 mph. By the time the train engineer saw workers and equipment on the track and engaged the emergency brake, it was too late. The train hit a backhoe with a worker inside at 99 mph. That worker and the track supervisor, who was hit by debris, were killed and 39 other people were injured. Amtrak had joined CRS, but in the midst of contentious contract negotiations and a strict new Amtrak zero-tolerance safety policy, rail unions had temporarily opted out of the close call program and a separate peer-to-peer safety feedback program. The NTSB investigation of the accident revealed more than two dozen unsafe conditions, many involving safety rule violations and risky behaviors by workers across several levels of Amtraks organization, including track maintenance workers and dispatchers and management. The NTSB observed an inconsistent vision of safety throughout the organization, hostile attitudes between labor and management about no-tolerance rule violations, and ill-equipped work crews. Through CRS, workers can file reports of minor rule violations, mistakes, close calls and malfunctioning equipment with NASA, the aeronautics and space agency that runs the program for the railroad administration. As long as those reports meet several requirements, like no one was hurt, no hazardous materials were released, or the employee didnt wilfully break the law like drinking on the job, then the employee receives protection from disciplinary action if they broke procedure. We know that our employees make mistakes. They work hard to prevent those mistakes, but they do happen, Leslie Radanovich said in an interview with the Howard Center. Radanovich manages system safety at Metrolink, a passenger railroad in Southern California that joined CRS in 2023. A Metrolink spokesperson said employees have made more than 300 CRS reports so far and Radanovich said the program has gotten more popular over time. I really think that CRS allows us to see the whole picture and I think any organization could probably benefit from that, she said. All six Class I freight railroads committed to joining the federal program in 2023 after the toxic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. However, they outlined several areas in which they argued CRS needed to be improved or changed, arguing CRS is inefficient and slow, less effective than their own internal programs and the program could allow employees to take advantage of the system and become so-called repeat offenders. FILE - A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file) AP The FRA formed a working group of railroad, labor and federal officials to hash out those details, but after two years discussions stalled and the FRA ended the group. An email sent to working group members in March said the group had reached an impasse and further meetings will not likely produce meaningful results. Mathews said the Class I freight railroads incorrectly assume a punitive approach to safety gets the best results. They are absolutely convinced that the key to a safe railroad is to punish employees first, Mathews said. And we know, not just from the short lines and from Amtrak and from the commuter railroads but from half a century of aviation data, that thats not the right answer. Vince Verna, a former railroad engineer and a national legislative representative for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, one of the largest rail unions, said he heard a common refrain from the biggest freight railroads while serving on the CRS working group. He said railroad representatives and lobbyists call CRS a get-out-of-jail-free program for employees. Its not a get-out-of-jail-free program, its a dont-shoot-the-messenger program, he said. By Dan Nephin, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS) A Lancaster County judge has set a date in November to hear arguments over whether autopsy records in the 2003 death of federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna should remain sealed. The body of the Baltimore prosecutor was found on Dec. 5, 2003, after state police were called to a Brecknock Township well-drilling company in the northern part of the township. He had been stabbed 36 times. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent out a warning to consumers not to eat Great Value frozen shrimp sold at Walmart. Canva If you happen to have bought frozen shrimp from Walmart recently, there is a recall out that you dont want to miss. And maybe call friends and family, too, and tell them to check their fridges and freezers because Walmart says that it is recalling some of its Great Value labeled frozen shrimp after the Food and Drug Administration warned that they could have radioactive contamination. Yes, it sounds like something out of a sci-fi flick. No, this is not a joke. According to CBS News, the shrimp were imported from an Indonesian company, P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati and sold at Walmart under its Great Value label. The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority, Walmart said in a statement to CBS News. We have issued a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores. We are working with the supplier to investigate. And just to be clear, the FDA said people should not, in fact, eat the potentially radioactive shrimp. CBS said that customers can contact the store where they purchased the potentially toxic shrimp for a full refund. Per the report, the shrimp could be contaminated with the radioactive isotope, Cesium-13. The good news is that so far the FDA said that none of the shrimp sold have actually tested positive. The warning was issued after the FDA said it detected radiation in a single shipment of frozen shrimp from the Indonesian company. CBS said the lots being recalled are: The Benedictine Sisters of Erie, falsely charged with election fraud ahead of the 2024 election, are the recipients of a prestigious national award for political courage. The nuns are the 2025 winners of the Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award from the National Association of Secretaries of State. Other recipients of the award include President Jimmy Carter, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor and civil rights activist Rosa Parks. The good Sisters earned this award by courageously challenging political disinformation when they were targeted with false charges of voter fraud just before the 2024 election, said Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, who nominated the nuns. The Sisters thoughtfully confronted the baseless claims and used their time in the spotlight to warn the public that a free republic depends on a discerning and conscientious citizenry who do not unquestioningly accept the word of anyone who has a social media platform." The nuns rocketed onto the national scene in October when a social media influencer posted that someone had gone to the monastery in Erie where 53 nuns are registered to vote and reported NO ONE lives there. The post went viral with 2.5 million views and the nuns found themselves fielding media calls from around the world. The Benedictine Sisters of Erie, who have been in that city since 1856, had to issue a press release to clear up the misinformation. We do live at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery and [we] want to alert those who subscribe to X and other social media platforms to be vigilant and seek additional information before accepting these posts as truth, said Sister Stephanie Schmidt (no relation to Secretary Schmidt) in the release. Sister Schmidt told CNN at the time: These sisters dont deserve to be put down by some misinformation that were a sham, that were a fraud. She added that while Sisters are encouraged to vote, the Benedictine Sisters are nonpartisan and dont endorse any party or candidate. The Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award was established in 1992 to recognize acts of political courage, uncommon character, and selfless action in the realm of public service. The awards namesake, Margaret Chase Smith, was the first woman elected to both houses of Congress. As a senator from Maine in 1950, she risked her political career when she delivered her Declaration of Conscience speech in oppositon to Sen. Joseph McCarthys anti-Communist crusade. Sister Linda Romey said she and her fellow nuns have committed their lives through God to be a presence for good in their community the world. It feels a little awkward to be recognized for doing what is fundamental to who we are, following Gospel teaching, raising our voice against injustice, and standing for truth, she said. Were especially humbled when we look at those who have previously received this award. They remind us that we must all continually recommit ourselves to the values that guide our lives. A small shark became the most unlikely customer at a popular bayfront bar in New Jersey late Thursday night when Hurricane Erins flooding pushed the tiny predator out of the bay up to the clubs outdoor host stand. Bird & Bettys a popular bayside restaurant, bar and night club near a public dock in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island flooded as Hurricane Erins outer bands sent water pouring over bulkheads. Floodwaters submerged the Ocean County bars parking lot and pushed water near the outdoor host stand by the door during karaoke night, the staff said. Thats when staff noticed something moving in the parking lot what appeared to be a small, arm-length sand shark. Dave Lundy, a server at Bird & Bettys, said Friday the scene was unlike anything hed witnessed in his time working there. The whole parking lot was kind of flooded, Lundy said. And then someone points out, Is that a fin? Is that a shark? It was actually pretty insane. The parking lot and bay were pretty much one last night, he added. Flooding from Hurricane Erin pushed a sand shark out of the bay and into the parking lot of Bird & Bettys, a popular nightclub and restaurant in Beach Haven, on Aug. 21, 2025. Bird & Bettys Video posted around midnight on the restaurants Instagram page shows a Beach Haven police officer picking up the shark and carrying it back toward the bay. But moments later, the creature returned to the parking lot and swam up near the host stand near the entrance to the bar. It kept swimming around and hanging out with us pretty much the rest of the night, Lundy said. As the floodwater began to recede, the staff worried the shark would be stranded. Eventually, a security guard working that night built up the courage to carry the shark back into the bay for good, according to witnesses. The unusual encounter came as the outer bands of Hurricane Erin battered the Jersey Shore, generating waves as high as 12 feet and causing significant beach erosion in several towns. Though the storm remained about 350 miles from land, its surge contributed to widespread flooding as one of the last big summer weekends approached. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has launched its next crypto sprint initiative, expanding to stakeholder engagement. Announced on Thursday, the agency is seeking public input on how to better regulate spot crypto trading. Running alongside the SECs Project Crypto, the initiative is a four-phased agenda that began early this month. The series of rulemaking efforts is designed to implement recommendations from the Presidents Working Group on Digital Asset Markets. The Administration has made it clear that enabling immediate trading of digital assets at the Federal level is a top priority, said acting CFTC chair Caroline Pham. Public comments are due on October 20, with final rules expected in a fourth sprint phase. The regulatory efforts follow the release of a 166-page White House report, outlining how America can become the crypto capital of the world through comprehensive policy reforms. New CFTC Crypto Sprint Expands Beyond Spot Crypto Trading With the new phase, Acting Chairman Pham will begin stakeholder engagement on all other report recommendations for the CFTC. The public feedback will assist the CFTC in carefully considering relevant issues for leveraged, margined or financed retail trading on a CFTC-registered exchange, she said. The upcoming sprints are expected to tackle unresolved issues around crypto, such as tax clarity, banking access, among others. Further, the next phases would translate stakeholder feedback into formal rules. Project Crypto to Make America Digital Asset Capital SEC Chairman Atkins simultaneously announced Project Crypto at the America First Policy Institute, outlining plans to modernize securities regulations. Launched on July 31, Atkins outlined plans to establish regulatory frameworks for digital asset trading. Atkins also directed Commission staff to draft regulations that address the confusion surrounding the Howey test, which has led entrepreneurs to treat all crypto assets as securities preventively. Read original story US CFTC Announces Next Phase of Crypto Sprint, Seeks Public Feedback on Trading Rules by Sujha Sundararajan at Cryptonews.com By SUDHIN THANAWALA, The Associated Press A judge ruled late Friday that the Trump administration cannot deny funding to Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and 30 other cities and counties because of policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration efforts. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco extended a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from cutting off or conditioning the use of federal funds for so-called sanctuary jurisdictions. His earlier order protected more than a dozen other cities and counties, including San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. An email to the White House late Friday was not immediately returned. In his ruling, Orrick said the administration had offered no opposition to an extended injunction except to say the first injunction was wrong. It has appealed the first order. Orrick also blocked the administration from imposing immigration-related conditions on two particular grant programs. The Trump administration has ratcheted up pressure on sanctuary communities as it seeks to make good on President Donald Trumps campaign promise to remove millions of people in the country illegally. One executive order issued by Trump directs Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold federal money from sanctuary jurisdictions. Another order directs every federal agency to ensure that payments to state and local governments do not abet so-called sanctuary policies that seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation. The cities and counties that sued said billions of dollars were at risk. Orrick, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said the executive orders and the executive actions that have parroted them were an unconstitutional coercive threat. In May, the Department of Homeland Security published a list of more than 500 sanctuary jurisdictions, saying each one would receive formal notification that the government had deemed them noncompliant. It also said it would inform them if they were believed to be in violation of any federal criminal statutes. Dauphin County was on that list, but officials were unable to explain why. The list was later removed from the departments website after critics noted it included localities that have actively supported the administrations tough immigration policies. The Justice Department has also sued New York, Los Angeles and other cities over their sanctuary policies. There is no strict definition for sanctuary cities, but the terms generally describe places that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces immigration laws nationwide but seeks help from state and local authorities to identify immigrants wanted for deportation and hold them for federal officers. It's a gold rush like nothing seen since the dawn of the Internet. Virtually every business is rushing to capitalize on artificial intelligence. Manufacturers are using AI to improve supply chains and quality. Retailers are using it to boost sales and prevent theft. Healthcare companies are using it to design better medicines. Finance is using it to hedge risks. You get the gist... Even the military is in on the action, exploring its use on the battlefield. The flurry of activity has meant a tidal wave of demand for computers with the power necessary to crunch AI's heavy workloads. This task is ill-suited to the legacy central processors found in most data centers, so companies are spending big money updating their network infrastructure -- padding profits for AI darlings like Nvidia, The situation isn't lost on long-time veteran analyst Sam Stovall, CFRA's Chief Investment Strategist. Stovall has been tracking stocks for over 30 years, and despite hundreds of billions already spent, his team thinks data centers still have a lot of work to do. Servers and chips are modern-day picks and shovels In the gold rush, it was said that most of the money was made by those selling the picks and shovels to those traveling west in search of riches. The modern-day equivalent could be players like Nvidia (NVDA) , Broadcom (AVGO) , AMD (AMD) , and Super Micro Computer (SMCI) , companies at the heart of supplying the demand for faster, more efficient data center infrastructure. Related: Nvidia AI outlook resets after Meta Platforms, Microsoft update plans The darling, of course, is Nvidia. Nvidia's highly optimized graphics processors for gaming and crypto mining proved the perfect tool for data hogging AI apps, causing sales to surge after ChatGPT's launch shocked the planet and caused a major re-shift in IT budget priorities. Sales of Nvidia's GPUs -- first the H100, then the H200, and now its Blackwell lineup -- have grown from below $27 billion in 2022 to a stunning $130 billion last year. The reason? Its GPUs are paired with next-gen CUDA software optimized to keep workflows humming along more efficiently than any other chip option on the planet. Availability, however, has been troublesome. Nvidia's demand has been higher than it can meet, and data centers have gotten creative, leveraging specialty chips, such as ASICs made by Broadcom and others, to fill in the gaps. AMD also recently joined the party, launching its GPU line-up to carve away some of Nvidia's whopping 90% share of the AI chip market. Aiken Standard reporter Bill Bengtson is an Aiken Standard reporter and has focused since 1996 on such subjects as education, churches, retirees, agriculture, veterans, North Augusta, Fort Gordon and northern Aiken County. His start in South Carolina reporting was in Greenwood, with the Index-Journal. He is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Georgia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Key Points Nvidia reports Q2 earnings on Aug. 27 after close of trading. Most of Wall Street expects strong sales and earnings growth, and says you should buy Nvidia stock. Two analysts in particular are not quite so sure you should. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia In just a little under one week, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) will report its earnings for Q2 2025. For the most part, analysts are optimistic about the report, due out after the close of trading on Aug. 27. Consensus forecasts have the semiconductor company growing earnings 48.5% year over year, to $1.01 per share, as insatiable demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips drives a near-53% rise in revenue to almost $46 billion. That's a lot of money Nvidia will be raking in for a single quarter. This is one of the primary reasons why a staggering 58 analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence give Nvidia stock either a "buy" or an "outperform," or an equivalent rating -- versus only one single analyst who says "sell." Image source: Getty Images. One reason why two analysts are worried about Nvidia And yet, not everything's unicorns and rainbows for Nvidia stock. As the final countdown to earnings day begins, two separate Wall Street analysts chimed in Wednesday morning to raise reservations about Nvidia stock and the challenges that lie ahead for it. First up was Deutsche Bank, where analyst Ross Seymore set a price target of $155 that implies the stock could fall 12% over the next 12 months. Ordinarily, the prospect of a 12% near-term loss in a stock would inspire an analyst to recommend selling that stock. But perhaps fearing to deviate too far from the herd on this popular AI stock, Seymore only reiterated a "hold" rating on Nvidia. (Seymore is still one of only a half-dozen analysts with neutral ratings on Nvidia). No matter. Whether any one analyst thinks Nvidia is a "buy" or just a "hold" probably shouldn't concern us as much as why he rates the stock as he does. And in Seymore's case, the answer couldn't be clearer: Writing on StreetInsider.com on Wednesday, Seymore warns that U.S. trade restrictions on semiconductor exports to China will cost Nvidia about $8 billion in "foregone" revenue in Q2. True, a resumption of shipments upon receiving export licenses from the Trump administration should help rectify this situation by Q3. But there's a cost to that solution -- specifically, the Trump Administration's requirement that, to obtain export licenses, Nvidia must fork over 15% of any revenue it generates in China to the IRS. Valerie Nava is part of the Post and Courier's Education Lab in Charleston. She holds an M.A. from the University of Missouri. Seth Taylor covers Greenville and the Upstate for The Post and Courier. Born in Iowa, he worked in Wyoming at the Buffalo Bulletin before moving to the Palmetto State. Greenville, SC (29601) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 82F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low near 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Rep. Chris Murphy, who has represented District 98 since 2010, announced he will retire in January 2026. The Dorchester County Republican Party praised his record on public safety, redistricting, election integrity and securing funds for major road projects. China urges U.S. to stop blockade, sanctions on Cuba in any name: FM spokesperson Xinhua) 09:04, August 23, 2025 BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to immediately stop the blockade and sanctions on Cuba in any name and do more things that help improve relations with Cuba and promote regional peace and stability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Friday. It was reported that recently, the U.S. State Department announced visa restrictions on officials and their family members from African countries, Brazil, Cuba, Grenada, and former officials and their family members of Pan American Health Organization involved in the Cuban government's overseas medical missions. It stated that the United States is committed to ending Cuba's overseas medical missions as an exploitative behavior of forced labor, warning countries cooperating with Cuba to "think twice." In response, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that according to statistics of the government of Cuba, during the past 60-plus years, Cuba sent over 600,000 medical personnel to over 60 countries, provided medical services for over 230 million people and performed over 17 million operations and surgeries, which saved the lives of more than 12 million people. Cuba's overseas medical cooperation plays an important role in the health systems of Latin American and Caribbean countries as well as African countries, and is welcomed by the governments and peoples of the relevant countries, Mao said. She said the so-called "forced labor" has become a false pretext and tool of hegemony for the United States to suppress other countries, and relevant measures of the United States is an extension and escalation of its over 60 years of unpopular sanctions and blockade on Cuba. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Nazrin Abdul In a move symbolizing deepening strategic ties between two Caspian neighbors, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan paid an official visit to Turkmenistan on August 22, 2025. This high-level visit follows the July meeting in Baku with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty (Peoples Council) of Turkmenistan, highlighting a clear pattern of increasing engagement between the two historically, culturally, and geopolitically intertwined nations. A shared past, a strategic future The relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan is built on more than just contemporary political interests. It is rooted in centuries of shared Turkic heritage, linguistic closeness, and cultural overlap. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, both countries have carefully cultivated a bilateral relationship based on mutual respect and shared regional goals. This latest visit underscored how these cultural bonds are now translating into tangible cooperation across key strategic sectors such as energy, transport, and diplomacy. Both nations are leveraging their positions along the Caspian Sea and within the broader East-West transport axis to transform regional dynamics. From bilateral to trilateral: A regional vision takes shape The one-on-one meeting between Aliyev and Berdimuhamedov in the port city of Turkmenbashi was more than ceremonial. It set the tone for what would become a significant trilateral summit involving Uzbekistan. The inclusion of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in this high-level format signals a growing alignment among Central Asias key actors - a format that could evolve into a new cooperative model in the region. As Berdimuhamedov noted, We are united by the Caspian Sea, emphasizing that geography, shared infrastructure ambitions, and economic interdependence now complement historical ties. The leaders spoke openly about their intentions to deepen collaboration in transport, digitalization, logistics, culture, and trade. The East-West corridor, which stretches from China to Europe and passes directly through all three countries, was at the heart of these discussions. Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, in particular, are key logistical gateways on this corridor, and their coordination is crucial for its functionality. With massive investments in seaports, railways, and road infrastructure on both sides of the Caspian, these nations are positioning themselves not only as transit hubs but as critical actors in shaping Eurasias economic future. Political support and diplomatic alignment The political dimension of the visit also cannot be overlooked. Both sides reaffirmed their support for one another in international organizations and praised the consistency of their diplomatic stances. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijans role as a co-author of the UN resolution on Turkmenistans permanent neutrality - a strong signal of long-term trust and mutual endorsement on global platforms. President Berdimuhamedov, in turn, congratulated Azerbaijan on its progress in normalizing relations with Armenia and the strategic opening of a transport corridor through Armenian territory to connect Azerbaijans mainland with Nakhchivan. Such statements not only reflect goodwill but also reveal the strategic lens through which both sides view regional connectivity - as an engine of peace, not just commerce. Beyond high-level political and economic dialogue, the visit was rich in symbolism. The presentation of a prized Akhal-Teke horse named "Taus" to President Aliyev served as more than a gesture of friendship - it reaffirmed shared cultural values and centuries-old traditions. These elements of soft power diplomacy help reinforce mutual respect and deepen people-to-people connections, which are vital for sustainable long-term alliances. Joint cultural initiatives, including cooperation in horse breeding, carpet weaving, applied arts, and the hosting of Days of Culture, were highlighted as priority areas. Such efforts signal a shared understanding that diplomatic relations are more resilient when underpinned by cultural affinity. Institutionalizing cooperation: Signed agreements cement vision A pivotal moment during President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Turkmenistan was the ceremony of signing strategic documents held on August 22 in the city of Turkmenbashi. Attended by President Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the signing marked a concrete step forward in institutionalizing the growing trilateral cooperation between the three states. The event culminated in the adoption of the Joint Statement of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, a political declaration underscoring the shared commitment to deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest - particularly in connectivity, trade, regional security, and cultural dialogue. Among the signed agreements, several stand out for their forward-looking vision: - The Memorandum of Understanding on the Future Development of International Air Relations between Azerbaijans Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and Turkmenistans State Service Turkmenhavayollar? reflects both nations' aim to expand direct connectivity and improve regional mobility through enhanced aviation infrastructure and policy harmonization. - A Protocol on the Establishment of Twinning Relations between the city of Fuzuli in Azerbaijan and the newly built city of Arkhadag in Turkmenistan was also signed. This cultural and municipal cooperation initiative signifies a shared vision of post-conflict reconstruction (in the case of Fuzuli) and modern urban development (as exemplified by Arkhadag), bridging national development narratives through people-to-people diplomacy. - Another key agreement was the Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Transport and Logistics Cooperation signed by transport authorities from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This tripartite accord aims to streamline coordination in rail infrastructure, optimize cross-border transit operations, and support the full activation of the East-West Trans-Caspian transport corridor (Middle Corridor)further reinforcing the region's role as a strategic hub in the evolving Eurasian trade landscape. These agreements collectively demonstrate that the trilateral cooperation framework is not merely symbolic. It is evolving into a functional mechanism that aligns infrastructure, connectivity, and policy objectivesproviding a solid institutional backbone to the political goodwill displayed at the highest level. The summit in Turkmenbashi may be remembered as a milestone in the evolution of a new regional architecture. The Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan trilateral format holds potential to expand beyond symbolic meetings into concrete economic and political alignment. This could serve as a counterbalance to larger regional powers while offering smaller states more agency in shaping regional affairs. The growing synergy between Baku and Ashgabat - once overshadowed by cautious neutrality and resource competition - is now visibly transforming into a purposeful alliance. Their shared ambition to become critical nodes in the Eurasian supply chain, combined with complementary economic models and strong leadership diplomacy, makes this partnership increasingly strategic. President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Turkmenistan was more than a diplomatic courtesy, it was a signal. It reaffirmed Azerbaijans strategic pivot toward stronger regional alliances, emphasized its central role in Eurasian connectivity, and showcased how historical bonds are being converted into 21st-century geopolitical capital. As energy security, transport corridors, and cultural diplomacy converge, the Azerbaijani-Turkmen relationship appears poised to move from bilateral cordiality to regional leadership. Whether this momentum will translate into institutionalized partnerships remains to be seen, but the trajectory is undeniably upward. With a market cap of around $77 billion, Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) is a global leader in mission-critical communications and enterprise security solutions. Operating through its Products and Systems Integration and Software and Services segments, the company serves government, public safety, and commercial customers worldwide with advanced communication, video security, and command center technologies. Shares of the Chicago, Illinois-based company have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. MSI stock has risen 8.5% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 13.3%. Moreover, shares of the company have decreased marginally on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 8.3% rise. More News from Barchart Looking closer, Motorola Solutions stock has also underperformed the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLK) return of 14.7% over the past 52 weeks. www.barchart.com Shares of Motorola Solutions rose 1.9% on Aug. 7 after the company reported Q2 2025 revenue of $2.8 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.75, above expectations. The company also raised its fiscal 2025 revenue growth forecast to 7.7%, higher than its prior 5.5% projection and ahead of analyst estimates, with the newly closed $4.4 billion Silvus Technologies acquisition contributing to the outlook. Strong demand for safety and security solutions across resilient sectors such as healthcare, critical infrastructure, and education, along with supply chain adjustments and pricing actions, further supported investor confidence. For the fiscal year ending in December 2025, analysts expect MSI's EPS to grow 7.4% year-over-year to $13.67. The company's earnings surprise history is promising. It beat the consensus estimates in the last four quarters. Among the 13 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. Thats based on seven Strong Buys, one Moderate Buy rating, and five Holds. On Aug. 8, UBS raised Motorola Solutions price target to $510, maintaining a Buy rating. The mean price target of $507.50 represents a 9.7% premium to MSIs current price levels. The Street-high price target of $520 suggests a 12.4% potential upside. On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-23 22:30:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 650 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / August 23, 2025 / Investors who lost money in Hims & Hers (NYSE:HIMS) are being urged to actively participate in a securities class action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Hims made misleading statements about its GLP-1 weight-loss drug business and its partnership with Novo Nordisk, which was abruptly canceled.This comes after Hims stock plummeted by over 34% on June 23, 2025, when Novo Nordisk ended the collaboration, citing Hims' "deceptive promotion and selling of illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy."If you suffered substantial losses, you may have the opportunity to serve as Lead Plaintiff. The deadline to apply is August 25, 2025. Hagens Berman urges Hims & Hers investors to submit your losses now.Class Period: Apr. 29, 2025 - June 23, 2025Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Aug. 25, 2025Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/hims Contact the Firm Now:HIMS@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895The Lawsuit Against Hims & HersClass-action lawsuits are underway against Hims & Hers Health Inc., representing investors who bought or acquired company securities between April 29, 2025, and June 23, 2025. The lawsuit alleges that Hims & Hers and its top executives violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by making false and misleading statements to investors.Allegations of MisconductThe core of the legal action revolves around Hims & Hers' partnership with Novo Nordisk. The lawsuit claims the company was deceptively promoting and selling "illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy." According to the complaint, Hims & Hers failed to disclose that this practice put patient safety at risk and could lead to the termination of the lucrative Novo Nordisk collaboration.The Aftermath of the Partnership's CollapseOn June 23, 2025, the alleged misrepresentations came to light when Novo Nordisk announced it was ending its partnership with Hims & Hers. The pharmaceutical company explicitly cited Hims & Hers' "deceptive promotion and selling" of unauthorized versions of Wegovy as the reason. This news caused Hims & Hers' stock to plummet by over 34%.In a separate development, Bloomberg News reported on August 14 that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is now investigating Hims & Hers over its advertising and subscription cancellation practices.Hagens Berman Investigates Investor ClaimsHagens Berman, a national plaintiffs' rights law firm, is investigating whether Hims & Hers may have misled investors about its business practices, particularly concerning its compounded weight-loss drugs and the terminated Novo Nordisk partnership.Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation, commented on the situation, "This isn't just about a failed partnership; it's about whether the company's business model was sustainable and properly represented to the market in the first place. The swift termination of the Novo Nordisk deal and the subsequent stock price collapse suggest there may have been a fundamental disconnect between what investors were told and the underlying reality of Hims' operations." If you invested in Hims & Hers and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Hims & Hers case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Hims & Hers should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email HIMS@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's 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.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-24 00:35:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 511 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / August 23, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilAugust 25, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims" or the "Company") (NYSE: HIMS), if they purchased the Company's securities between April 29, 2025 and June 23, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Hims and would like to discuss your legal rights and how the case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-hims/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court byAugust 25, 2025 .About the LawsuitsHims & Hers and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On June 23, 2025, Novo Nordisk announced that it was terminating its partnership with Hims, disclosing that the Company had "failed to adhere to the law which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs under the false guise of 'personalization' and are disseminating deceptive marketing that put patient safety at risk," and that "the semaglutide' active pharmaceutical ingredients that are in the knock-off drugs sold by telehealth entities and compounding pharmacies" may contain "unsafe and illicit foreign ingredients." On this news, the price of Hims' shares fell $22.24, or 34.6%, to close at $41.98 per share on June 23, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.The first-filed case is Sookdeo v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., No. 25-cv-05315. A subsequent case, Yaghsizian v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., No. 25-cv-05321, expanded the class period.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, New Jersey, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-23 16:01:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 440 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 23, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims & Hers" or the "Company") (NYSE:HIMS). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Hims & Hers and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until August 25, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Hims & Hers securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On April 29, 2025, Hims & Hers announced a long-term collaboration with Novo Nordisk, starting with the immediate sale of "a bundled offering of Novo Nordisk's FDA-approved Wegovy on the Hims & Hers platform." Then, on June 23, 2025, Novo Nordisk issued a press release announcing that it was terminating its partnership with Hims & Hers, citing "Hims & Hers deceptive promotion and selling of illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy that put patient safety at risk." The press release stated that Hims & Hers "has failed to adhere to the law which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs under the false guise of personalization.'" The press release further stated that "[b]ased on Novo Nordisk's investigation, the semaglutide' active pharmaceutical ingredients that are in the knock-off drugs sold by telehealth entities and compounding pharmacies are manufactured by foreign suppliers in China" which "FDA has never authorized or approved and which may contain unsafe and illicit foreign ingredients." On this news, Hims & Hers' stock price fell $22.24 per share, or 34.63%, to close at $41.98 per share on June 23, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-23 16:01:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 938 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 23, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against CTO Realty Growth, Inc. ("CTO" or the "Company") (NYSE:CTO) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and docketed under 25-cv-01516, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired CTO securities between February 18, 2021 and June 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired CTO securities during the Class Period, you have until October 7, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]CTO is a publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns and operates a portfolio of purported high-quality, retail-based properties located primarily in higher growth markets in the United States ("U.S."). The Company converted into a REIT in February 2021 and, as of December 31, 2024, owned 23 income properties in seven states, including Ashford Lane, a retail and dining center in Atlanta, Georgia.Under guidelines established by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), REITs must pay out at least 90% of their taxable profits to shareholders annually as dividends. In return, REIT companies are exempt from most corporate income tax. CTO has touted that its operation as a REIT "provides the tax-efficient organizational structure for [its] stockholders" that "will allow [it] to provide them with an attractive and sustainable dividend." To measure its performance, CTO uses the financial metric Adjusted Funds from Operations ("AFFO"). The AFFO of a REIT, though subject to varying methods of computation, is generally equal to the REIT's funds from operations with adjustments made for recurring capital expenditures (also referred to as "capex") used to maintain the quality of the REIT's underlying assets. Professional analysts tend to prefer AFFO because it takes into consideration additional costs incurred by the REIT as well as additional income sources, such as rent increases. Thus, analysts believe that AFFO provides for a more accurate base number when estimating present values and a better predictor of the REIT's future ability to pay dividends.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) CTO's dividends were less sustainable than Defendants had led investors to believe; (ii) the Company used deceptive and unsustainable practices to artificially inflate its AFFO and overstate the true profitability of its Ashford Lane property; (iii) accordingly, CTO's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (iv) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On June 25, 2025, Wolfpack Research ("Wolfpack") published a report entitled "CTO: The B. Riley of REITs" (the "Wolfpack Report" or the "Report"), which compared CTO unfavorably to B. Riley, a financial services company that recently lost more than 90% of its value amid three years of losses, soured investments, delayed financial reports and revelations that the SEC had been investigating whether the firm gave shareholders an accurate picture of its health. Citing interviews with former employees and whistleblowers, the Wolfpack Report accused CTO of, among other things, "not generat[ing] enough cash to pay its recurring capex and cover its dividends since converting to a REIT in 2021" and instead "rel[ying] on dilution (increasing shares outstanding by 70% since December 2022) to cover a $38 million dividend shortfall from 2021 to 2024," employing a "manipulative definition of [AFFO] where they exclude recurring capex, unlike all of their self-identified shopping center REIT peers," and "us[ing] a sham loan to hide the collapse of a top tenant from shareholders at Ashford Lane." (Emphasis in original).Further, Wolfpack predicted imminent further dilution of the Company, noting that CTO has just $8.4 million in cash while facing quarterly dividends of $14 million and average recurring capital expenditures of $5.7 million per quarter, along with approximately $12 million in additional planned capital expenditures.On this news, CTO's stock price fell $0.98 per share, or 5.42%, to close at $17.10 per share on June 25, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-23 02:05:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 734 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / August 22, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTC:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) reports two investor relations engagements.The Company has engaged Apaton Finance GmbH ("Apaton"), wholly owned by Mario Hose, of Ellernstr. 34, 30175 Hannover, Germany (email: office@ apaton-finance.de; phone: +49 511 6768 731), pursuant to which Apaton will provide to the Company certain investor relations services, including but not limited to activities that are designed to enhance brand visibility, educate and engage stakeholders, and drive investor engagement in Germany. In particular, Apaton provides dissemination of Company news releases and German translations on social media platforms and through opt-in email publication. Under the terms of the engagement, Apaton will provide the services for a period of three months from August 25, 2025, until November 28, 2025.In consideration of the services, the Company will pay Apaton a cash fee of Euro 56,000 per month. The engagement can be terminated by the Company at any time. No equity consideration shall be paid in connection with the engagement.The Company has also engaged Cayo Ventures GmbH ("Cayo"), wholly owned by Yves Toelderer, of Grafenauweg 8, 6300 Zug, Switzerland (email: hello@ cayo.ch; phone: +41 765 214 100), pursuant to which Cayo will provide to the Company certain investor relations services, including but not limited to providing German language engagement through opt-in email press release distribution, and digital marketing services designed to drive internet traffic to the Company's website. Under the terms of the engagement, Cayo will provide the services from August 25, 2025, until December 31, 2025. In consideration of the services, the Company will pay Cayo a cash fee of up to Euro 30,000 per week; however, it may be reduced on a week-to-week basis at the discretion of the Company depending on the number of trading days per week and other internal cash management decisions. The engagement can be terminated by the Company at any time. No equity consideration shall be paid in connection with the engagement.About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery platforms, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. Its proprietary platforms include sublingual thin films, transdermal patches, oral tablets, and a new targeted chemotherapy platform designed to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors while reducing side effects.With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide.BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com BioNxt Solutions Inc.Hugh Rogers, CEO and DirectorEmail: info@ bionxt.com Phone: +1 604-250-6162Forward-Looking InformationThe Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-23 17:35:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 704 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Following a landmark court ruling against the Department Of Labor, Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International Holdings exposes the DEA's identical use of unconstitutional in house courts to paralyze medical cannabis research for Huntington's and Multiple Sclerosis patients.WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / August 23, 2025 / A landmark Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision in July 2025 finally struck down the Department of Labor's (DOL) unconstitutional system of in-house courts. For the Marino family, fourth-generation New Jersey farmers, the justice came too late. After a nine-year nightmare where DOL agents acted as prosecutor, judge, and jury, their 125-year-old farm was auctioned off over a paperwork error and crippling fines.Now,MMJ BioPharma Cultivation is sounding the alarmthat the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is running the very same unconstitutional playbook-this time to block critical medical research.For seven years, MMJ has sought a DEA registration to grow FDA-compliant cannabis for clinical trials targeting Huntington's disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Instead, the company has been trapped in a rigged administrative process, precisely the kind the courts and the Department of Justice have now condemned.Two Cases, One Unconstitutional BlueprintThe parallels between the Marino case and MMJ's ordeal reveal a pattern of bureaucratic abuse across federal agencies.The Marino Case (DOL): A single mischecked box on a meal form triggered a decade-long legal siege, $550,000 in fines, and the destruction of a multi-generational family business.The MMJ Case (DEA): Seven years of regulatory limbo, $20,000 per month in wasted facility costs, and thousands of patients denied access to potential life-altering medicine."Two federal agencies, one unconstitutional playbook-it crushed a family farm and is now paralyzing a biomedical company. Enough is enough," said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International Holdings. "DEA Administrator Terry Cole must end this immediately." The DEA's Arbitrary and Moving GoalpostsMMJ's journey is a case study in regulatory obstruction, mirroring the arbitrariness condemned in the Marino ruling:Invented Requirements: A DEA investigator demanded a $100,000 vault with specifications found nowhere in official regulations.Shifting Frameworks: The DEA rejected a "bona fide supply agreement" MMJ crafted using the agency's own published framework.Lost Opportunities: A potential $25 million NIH grant vanished after DOJ lawyers provided assurances that the NIH itself later contradicted.The Human Cost: Patients Are Paying the PriceFor the Marinos, the cost was measured in generations of lost livelihood. For MMJ, the cost is borne by patients suffering from debilitating neurological diseases who remain locked out of access to standardized, research-grade cannabis medicines."Justice delayed is justice denied," stated Boise. "Every day of obstruction is a day of suffering and lost hope for these patients." The Law Has Changed. The DEA Has Not.The legal foundation for the DEA's tactics has completely collapsed:Jarkesy v. SEC (2024): The Supreme Court affirmed the right to a jury trial for defendants facing agency penalties.Marino v. DOL (2025): The Third Circuit Court struck down the DOL's unconstitutional administrative law courts.DOJ Concession (2025): The Justice Department itself admitted that the protections for administrative law judges are unconstitutional.Yet, the DEA continues to cling to this collapsing system to obstruct medical innovation.A Path Forward: MMJ's Call President Trump to ActionMMJ calls on DEA Administrator Terry Cole to:Stay all administrative proceedings and move disputes to Article III courts.Establish clear, workable, and public standards for research supply agreements.Credit compliance investments already made by applicants instead of retroactively shifting rules.Publish transparent, binding timelines for application reviews.Submit DEA requirements to an independent review for rationality and fairness.DEA TERRY COLE: A Moment for LeadershipAfter his family's victory, farmer Joe Marino stated, "We got our good name cleared, but more important than that, I know our case will help others down the road." MMJ now seeks that same justice-not just for itself, but for the patients waiting for a chance at treatment. President Trump's championing of the Right to Try Act for terminal patients established a powerful precedent. His upcoming decision on marijuana presents a pivotal moment to demand the DEA stop playing judge and jury and finally let science serve the people.MMJ is represented byattorney Megan Sheehan .CONTACT: Madison Hisey MHisey@ mmjih.com 203-231-8583SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-23 23:15:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 795 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 23, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., August 23, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the "Western Asset US Core Bond Fund" mutual fund classes - Class I (ticker: "WATFX"), Class A (ticker: "WABAX"), Class C (ticker: "WABCX"), Class FI (ticker: "WAPIX"), Class IS (ticker: "WACSX"), and Class R (ticker: "WABRX") - and the "Western Asset Core Plus Bond Fund" mutual fund classes - Class A (ticker: "WAPAX"), Class C (ticker: "WAPCX"), Class C1 (ticker: "LWCPX"), Class FI (ticker: "WACIX"), Class R (ticker: "WAPRX"), Class I (ticker: "WACPX"), Class IS (ticker: "WAPSX") between January 1, 2021 and October 31, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 5, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased WAMCO mutual funds during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the WAMCO class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31956 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 5, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants failed to warn investors that: (1) defendants favored certain WAMCO strategies, like Macro Opps, over other WAMCO strategies, like Core and Core Plus; (2) defendants disfavored certain WAMCO strategies, like Core and Core Plus; (3) any "compliance policies and procedures" that WAMCO maintained "to result in fair allocations of investment opportunities to clients" were either insufficient to ensure that Leech and his WAMCO Team fairly allocated trades among the strategies they managed or were expressly disregarded by defendants in order to allow the favoring of certain WAMCO strategies at the expense of other WAMCO strategies; (3) any "oversight mechanisms" that WAMCO maintained were either insufficient to monitor Leech and his WAMCO Team or were expressly disregarded by defendants in order to allow the favoring of certain WAMCO strategies at the expense of other WAMCO strategies. As a result, defendants' actions operated as a fraud or deceit on the Class, artificially reducing the price of the "Western Asset US Core strategy" mutual fund classes during the Class Period, damaging Class members.To join the WAMCO class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31956 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Telsey Advisory raised the firms price target on Walmart (WMT) to $118 from $115 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. Telsey expects Walmart will remain a market share gainer in the retail industry and is encouraged by the companys expanded vision beyond retail and e-commerce, the analyst tells investors. The firm notes the companys planned new businesses are more profitable than traditional retail, which should help the company grow its operating income faster. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Published first on TheFly the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See todays best-performing stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on WMT: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue After more than a decade of leaving cargo revenue in the hands of third-party handlers, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has taken back direct control at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The move, which FAAN described as a historic milestone, is aimed at tightening oversight, plugging leakages, and restoring confidence in the countrys busiest airport. The announcement was made on Saturday in a statement posted on FAANs official social media platform. The agency said the new arrangement marks a significant shift towards greater accountability and efficiency in cargo operations. For the first time in more than 15 years, FAAN officials from the Directorate of Cargo Development and Services (DCDS) are now physically stationed at the cargo release points of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), the statement said. Their job is to oversee real-time cargo charge collection, a process the authority says will give it better control over one of its most important revenue streams. A Confidence-Building Measure FAANs Director of Cargo Development and Services, Lekan Thomas, said the reform followed months of consultations with stakeholders. Placing FAAN officers at the point of cargo release is not only a revenue safeguard but also a confidence-building measure for all parties in the cargo value chain, he explained. The MMIA Airport Manager, Olatokubo Arewa, said the results are already showing. Leakages that plagued revenue collection for years are now being addressed. We are seeing greater accountability and a more transparent process. The initiative also gained momentum after a high-level meeting between FAANs Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi. Mrs. Kuku stressed that the development highlighted the value of collaboration. We are committed to operational efficiency and transparency. This milestone is a testament to the power of inter-agency cooperation. Together with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders, we are working to ensure that our airports deliver full value to the Nigerian economy. The Customs Area Command, led by Comptroller T. Awe, has also backed the initiative, describing it as a move that would strengthen cargo operations and improve the ease of doing business at the airport. READ ALSO: Nigerian police detain Chinese national over illegal mining A model for other airports FAANs Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, said the success in Lagos would not remain an isolated case. The success at MMIA will serve as a model for replication at other airports across the country. It reflects FAANs vision to optimise cargo operations and unlock new streams of value for the industry, she said. Emmanuel Geh Geh Obruste, an acclaimed financial expert, found unexpected fame in 2023 after years of using stories of his financial mismanagement to educate his audience. His breakthrough came courtesy of Mavin Records boss, Michael Don Jazzy Ajereh. On 22 January 2023, Don Jazzy posted a video of Geh Geh speaking on investment literacy on his Instagram page. According to Geh Geh, the video fetched him more than N500,000 within four hours. Beyond the financial windfall, it also boosted his social media presence, increasing his following on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Humble beginnings Contrary to claims that Geh Geh just woke up as a financial expert, his journey was shaped by lifes difficult turns. In an interview on The Honest Bunch podcast, posted on the YouTube page on 6 January, he revealed that he was the son of a headmaster who held a masters degree. Yet, he believed getting educated did not guarantee success. He gained admission into university in the 2014/2015 academic session but suffered a major setback when his father died, a man who, despite his academic qualifications, lived and died in poverty. Before university, Geh Geh had already ventured into business. He owned two motorcycles, managed a fish farm, and headed a private school, all of which were thriving. However, peer pressure, his fathers death, and the fear of ending up in similar poverty as his father pushed him to abandon his ventures. He sold everything and left for Ghana in 2016 in search of greener pastures, turning to internet fraud. In Ghana, Geh Geh became a romance scammer, making money until he was arrested by the police. On his release, he had nothing left and eventually resorted to begging on the streets. After enduring several hardships, he returned to Nigeria. Rather than continuing with fraud, he turned to social media, using his experiences as cautionary tales to advise people against making the same mistakes, particularly selling off their assets in pursuit of uncertain opportunities abroad. Breakthrough His turning point came when Don Jazzy reposted one of his videos. That single act transformed Geh Gehs fortunes, elevating him from obscurity to prominence. He went on to establish the GehGeh University of Wisdom and Understanding in August 2025, a virtual hub for financial literacy that has since become widely discussed. Geh Geh, who insists he is not a content creator but a financial expert, has continued to attract attention with his virtual lectures since launching his self-styled university. He often teaches on and finances, offering advice that has stirred widespread debate. In many of his lectures, Geh Geh cautioned men against taking on financial responsibilities for women they are not married to. He further described marriage itself as a financial mistake and urged men to avoid dating students, hook-up girls, single mothers, or women with multiple male friends if they hoped to achieve financial success. On Tuesday, barely a week after establishing the university, Geh Geh announced that over 25,000 people watched his first lecture. He also revealed that uniforms were now available to help distinguish his students from non-members. However, Geh Geh truly set tongues wagging on Thursday with a lecture titled Five Ways to Know Toto Way Don Make Gbim. The session held on TikTok, which started at 4:00 p.m., attracted over 170,000 live participants. A video he posted later showed the lecture ended with 379,000 attendees. As in many of his sessions, Geh Geh spoke on the intersections of money and women, a recurring theme in his teachings that frequently fuels online debate. Gifts He disclosed that gifts received during the lecture were valued at approximately $30,000, which he described as life-changing. He added that over 177,000 attended the live session. Congratulations to me, my school recorded over 170k students today, and the love was massive. I made over 30k dollars. A big thank you to everyone who came to support. Thank you so much, Nigerians, for the love. Over 177,000 people watched my lecture live on TikTok, at Geh Geh University of Wisdom and Understanding, the only university where, once you graduate, women will fear you. They wont even dare to ask you for money. I am now the first person in Nigeria to have 177,000 people watch me live. I didnt graduate from any school, yet I became the first so-called illiterate to establish an online university in Nigerias history. What did I do to deserve this love from you, Nigerians? As an orphan, I never imagined I had hope in this country, but you have shown me otherwise. Forget money, just the gifts alone were worth over $30,000. I wont take this love for granted, because truly, I dont know what I did to deserve it. Sometimes I even wonder if someone secretly performed a ritual on my behalf, because this still feels unbelievable, he said. Furthermore, he classified himself among great people like Professor Wole Soyinka, the late Greek philosopher and polymath, Aristotle, among others. Geh Geh noted, If Nigeria really values people with great minds, then I should be compared to the likes of Aristotle, Wole Soyinka, and others because truly, theres no difference between their brains and mine. While universities like UNIBEN and UNILAG dont even have 10,000 students each, over 177,000 people enrolled in Geh Geh University in a single day. That makes it the first university in Nigeria to register such numbers at once. Graduation This newspaper gathered that some men designed mock identity cards and posters featuring their photos alongside the universitys name, claiming their student status. Others created parody textbooks, allegedly part of the universitys curriculum, with subjects such as Gbimology, Oupvuehology, Moneyology, and Greed Education, among others. Some men shared curated certificates online, claiming they had graduated from a satirical university. The certificates listed unusual courses they allegedly studied, along with the grades they obtained. The courses included Financial Happiness and Greed, Opuehnology, Economics and Stinginess, Manipulation and Logistics, and Use of English to Manipulate Girls, among others. Their results showed they scored straight As across the board. In another video, some men were seen taking notes during a mock lecture delivered by Geh Geh in a motor park. He illustrated his points with examples drawn from the lifestyles of Yahoo boys and girls. According to him, many Yahoo boys who lost their financial strength also lost the women who once stayed with them, as the women moved on to those who could meet their material needs. Geh Gehs teachings triggered a flurry of reactions among netizens, particularly his loyal followers who proudly call themselves students of Geh Geh University. Below are some of the comments. Geh Geh university is the best pic.twitter.com/KEPn1LBzhl Endra (@AuraEndra) August 18, 2025 Whats the biggest lesson you learn from geh geh university #gbim pic.twitter.com/U1EGBh1BAF Simon King (@SimonkingT) August 22, 2025 Congratulations to me.. my school recorded over 170k students today and the love was massive.. I made over 30k dollars. A big thank you to everyone who came to support pic.twitter.com/2G42EC0oq1 GehGeh (@official_Gegeh) August 21, 2025 Its disheartening to see our generation make caricature what should not be joked with. Call a spade, a spade GwinD.Solana (@Gwin_d1) August 21, 2025 Geh geh might sound raw, razz & uncouth but lets not deceive ourselves, there are some iota of truth & reality in his content Naija men fell so bad. They SIMP too much that they became slaves to lust & its not helping anybody Its just creating a toxic atmosphere. You have BIGWATER (@ganymedescrater) August 21, 2025 My professor I worship you Nixon (@Nixon_xxx) August 21, 2025 Our exam don leak pic.twitter.com/bFecEwD6Pl Musab || CFD Trader (@MusabFx_) August 21, 2025 So in your mind you think only Nigerians are in your school, i am the representative of your school in Thailand 21 of us were watching live in Thailand JUGOS (@Jugosblochain) August 21, 2025 Im the sug director of socials for Geh geh uni All sug officials,take attendance here pic.twitter.com/tEMpADcKEn Doge Lawyer (,) (@IamSannwalaw) August 21, 2025 Congratulations once again. Peller havent gotten this numbers tbh. I was surprised. So much love for geh geh. Proud of him I think youre lovely, thats why I (@Flourish4545) August 21, 2025 A 37-year-old businessman, Jeremiah Nworu Obaji, has embarked on a 633-kilometre trek from Ikorodu, Lagos State, to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, in solidarity with Governor Francis Nwifurus peace efforts in the troubled Effium/Ezza-Effium community of Ohaukwu Local Government Area. Mr Obaji, a native of Inikiri Umuezeoka, began the journey at exactly 12 noon on Friday, cheered on by friends and associates. He told PREMIUM TIMES his decision was inspired by Governor Nwifurus intervention in ending the violent conflict that erupted in January 2021, which claimed thousands of lives and displaced many families. The crisis brought untold hardship to me and others. I have been accommodating my parents, my wifes parents, and other relatives who lost their homes. The governor promised peace during his campaign, and he has delivered. This trek is my way of thanking him, Mr Obaji said. He added that beyond peace, the governor had given justice to the community by creating new autonomous communities and approving boundary demarcations to prevent further disputes. Background The Effium/Ezza-Effium crisis began on 22 January 2021 after a clash between two local political leaders, Clement Odah, then council chairman from Effium, and Chinedu Awo, an Ezza member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, over market and motor-park revenue control. What started as a leadership tussle quickly escalated into a full-blown communal war. The two clans, who had lived peacefully for decades, intermarried and shared cultural ties, suddenly turned against each other. The violence spiralled into killings, arson, and mass displacement. By mid-2021, hundreds had been killed, thousands displaced, and villages destroyed. Today, Effium remains largely deserted, as many inhabitants fled to other parts of Ebonyi, the South-East, and beyond. Despite government and civic interventions, peace efforts have struggled to hold. Analysts note that what began as a transport union rivalry has since evolved into a deeper battle over land, politics, and local revenue. State governments actions In May, Governor Nwifuru signed a peace accord into law, commenced land demarcation, and approved the creation of five autonomous communities, three for Effium indigenes and two for their Ezza counterparts. We have been able to champion peace with dignity and respect for humanity. Some people are benefiting from this crisis, but this government will not allow them to sabotage peace, the governor said while signing the law at the Government House, Abakaliki. However, the Effium community has rejected parts of the decision, especially the ceding of land and creation of autonomous communities. Its leaders have vowed to challenge the move in court, accusing the governor of favouring the Ezza people. Other Reactions The Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and federal lawmakers from the state praised Governor Nwifurus measures. APC spokesperson Chidi Ogbuatu described him as a true peacemaker, while Senators Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) and Ken Eze (Ebonyi Central) commended his courageous political will in addressing the four-year conflict. As part of wider peace initiatives, the government recently released about 180 detainees arrested during the height of the conflict, citing insufficient evidence. By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Summary: A U.S. federal court has sentenced a former Gambian army captain from the regime of dictator Yahya Jammeh to more than 67 years in prison. Michael Sang Correa, first held on immigration charges, is the first non-American prosecuted under the U.S. Torture Act Charles McArthur Emmanuel Taylor, commonly known as Chuckie Taylor, was the first person prosecuted with the law. A U.S. federal court Friday sentenced a former member of The Gambias feared paramilitary unit to more than 67 years in prison for acts of torture carried out under the dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh. Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced by Senior Judge Christine M. Arguello of the District of Colorado after jurors unanimously found him guilty in April of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture following a 5-day trial. The Junglers, of which he was a member, was accused of widespread human rights violations including migrant killings during Jammehs 22-year reign. The Jammeh regime was marked by enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings, and a climate of fear that silenced dissent and crushed basic freedoms. According to the findings of The Gambias Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, state agents under Jammehs regime were responsible for the murders of at least 240 individuals including more than 50 immigrants from other West African countries including Nigeria and Ghana. The Commissions findings reveal that sexual violence was widespread throughout Jammehs rule. On his orders, security personnel, especially Junglers, raped and sexually harassed women. Correa is the first non-U.S. citizen to be prosecuted under the U.S. torture statute of 1994, which allows the United States to prosecute any U.S. resident for torture, genocide and war crimes committed outside the U.S. Charles McArthur Emmanuel Taylor, commonly known as Chuckie Taylor, a son of Charles Taylor, a former Liberian president and convicted warlord, was the first person prosecuted with the law. American-born Chuckie is serving a 97-year prison sentence after his 2008 conviction. Correas victims celebrated his conviction. Justice in this case is not only about punishment; it is about restoring faith in the rule of law for victims like me, and for the Gambian people, said Demba Dem, a former member of The Gambias Parliament. Dem was quoted by a release from a coalition of Correas victims, Gambian civil society organizations, and international human rights organizations, including the Center for Justice and Accountability and TRIAL International. I am glad that Correa received a fair trial, said Dem, a victim of Correa. It is more than I and many others received, but it is important for true justice. This decision will resonate far beyond this courtroom, said Jasseh, another victim, who currently serves as advisor to the Gambian Police. The United States involvement in this case has already encouraged Gambian authorities to take accountability seriously. This trial is a catalyst, a jumpstart, for our nations journey toward truth, justice, and healing. In 2024, The Gambia took what experts said were significant steps towards justice, including passing a legislation for hybrid tribunal to try international humanitarian law violations including systemic rape, torture and extra judicial killings. In what experts say is an important precedent for Liberias War and Economics Crimes Court, The Gambia secured a partnership with ECOWAS, the west African regional bloc, to establish the tribunal. The Gambia and Liberia cannot try international crimes in their existing domestic judicial systems. Correa was first arrested in September 2019 on immigration grounds after overstaying his visa, but his charges escalated to torture following a complaint by victims and human rights organizations. Moses Wright Trial Delayed Correas sentence came on the day that the trial of Moses Wright, a Liberian army general accused of federal immigration fraud in Pennsylvania, set for late October, was delayed until May. A brigadier general in the Liberian army during the administration of then-president Samuel Doe, Wright, 72, has been accused by witnesses and prosecutors of lying about his role during Liberias first civil war. In 2022, U.S. prosecutors indicted him, alleging that he either carried out or directed AFL soldiers to commit a range of atrocities including persecuting Gio and Mano civilians, killing and assaulting noncombatants, and subjecting them to false arrests and imprisonment. ALSO READ: Swiss Court hears allegations Jammeh Minister tortured Gambians protesting electoral reform In the past decade, Liberians tried in the U.S. faced criminal immigration fraud charges, though their wartime crimes were central to the cases. The U.S. has been unable to directly prosecute people for war crimes or crimes against humanity because it had not passed laws that covered those crimes. In contrast, European countries have used universal jurisdiction to try Liberians and others for such crimes. Steve Cagen, who led the Correa investigation, suggested others in the U.S. could also be prosecuted under the torture law. A standard was set with this trial and sentencing, said Cagen, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Homeland Security Investigations will hunt down and bring to justice those that commit these horrific crimes. This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Funding was provided by the Swedish Embassy in Liberia which had no say in the storys content. Breast milk production is often seen as a sign of motherhood, but when it occurs in women who are not pregnant or nursing a baby, it may indicate an underlying health condition. Known as galactorrhea, experts say this condition is linked to high levels of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia), a hormone that regulates milk production and could affect a womans menstrual cycle, fertility, and overall health if left unchecked. Speaking with PT Health Watch, Lewis Aituma, a senior resident in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo Central Zone, and a member of the West African College of Surgeons, explained that prolactin is one of the bodys essential hormones. Mr Aituma said it is produced by special cells called lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland located in the brain. While prolactin rises during pregnancy to prepare for the unborn childs nutrition, breast milk production in a woman who is neither pregnant nor breastfeeding is abnormal. Breast milk production in the non-pregnant state connotes a pathologic event ongoing, Mr Aituma said. Cause, effects on reproductive health According to Mr Aituma, several conditions can stimulate prolactin release outside of pregnancy. These include the use of certain drugs such as anti-ulcer medications, antidepressants, psychiatric medications, and some blood pressure medicines like methyldopa. Other triggers are recurrent breast suckling or fondling during sexual intercourse, prolactin-producing tumours in the brain, low thyroid hormone levels, chronic kidney or liver disease, and chronic alcohol use. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), in its publication Reproductive Facts, also notes that chest wall irritation, stress, and certain herbal remedies such as fenugreek, fennel seeds, and red clover can trigger prolactin release. The consequences of hyperprolactinemia go beyond breast discharge. High prolactin levels suppress the brain hormone responsible for triggering menstruation. This disruption may cause irregular or scanty menstrual flow and, in severe cases, a complete cessation of periods. For this same reason, it can impair the fertility chances of the woman as these women are often not ovulating due to the condition, Mr Aituma explained. ASRM noted in its publication that about a third of women in their childbearing years with irregular periods and otherwise normal ovaries have the condition. It is also estimated that 90 per cent of women with galactorrhea have elevated prolactin levels. Symptoms, diagnosing the condition Mr Aituma noted that while many women with high prolactin levels may not experience obvious symptoms, about 70 per cent will notice abnormal breast milk discharge, which may come from one or both breasts. Others may face irregular menstrual cycles, inability to conceive, or complications linked to pituitary tumours. Women with prolactin-secreting tumours in the brain, for instance, may experience persistent headaches and visual disturbances. In men, hyperprolactinemia can lead to galactorrhea, reduced sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, and infertility. According to Mr Aituma, diagnosis usually begins with a blood test, and the normal prolactin levels should be 25-30 ng/ml; if higher than this, it could be suggestive of hyperprolactinemia. To avoid misleading results, the test is often done after fasting and while the patient is calm. He said if a brain tumour is suspected, further imaging such as a CT scan or MRI of the brain may be required. A physical examination may also help identify breast discharge or other obvious signs. Treatment options Mr Aituma explained that treatment depends on the underlying cause, noting that medical and surgical options are available, but management should always be guided by a physician. Medications typically used are those that antagonise prolactin release from the anterior pituitary gland, such as bromocriptine and cabergoline. These drugs are usually given at low doses and gradually adjusted. Treatment may last up to 12 months in cases where hormone levels are very high. During this period, regular monitoring of prolactin levels is important to track progress. He noted that surgery may be necessary for patients with prolactin-secreting tumours that cause persistent headaches or vision problems, adding that lifestyle adjustments, including reducing alcohol intake and addressing stress, can also be beneficial in such cases. Mr Aituma emphasised the importance of awareness, early diagnosis, and timely treatment for this condition, which affects both fertility and overall reproductive health. The House of Representatives recently indicted 31 federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for financial infractions totalling over 103.8 billion and $950,912.05. The indictment follows damning revelations from the 2019 and 2020 Auditor-Generals reports. The lawmakers requested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recover the sums from the indicted agencies. However, the leadership in most of those agencies has changed, and the individuals who supervised the alleged misappropriation of the funds have since left office. Therefore, the question on the lips of concerned citizens and transparency advocates alike is simple: Who were the officials in charge when these happened, and what can be done to prevent a recurrence? Some (of those indicted) have been given ministerial appointments, some elected as governor, some elected and appointed in various capacities. You cannot fight against corruption when you have that kind of situation, said Auwal Musa, executive director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC). MDAs that flout fund management rules should be put on a blacklist for further funding. NASS should not approve their annual budgets, said Mboho Eno of the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development. This question on culpability and prevention is not rhetorical. It cuts to the heart of Nigerias governance crisis, where infractions are blamed on institutions, while actual humans who sign the cheques, approve illegal transactions, and preside over financial recklessness, walk away without sanctions. Institutions do not misappropriate funds; people do, and the breaches are varied but united by one constant: leadership failure. PREMIUM TIMES researched the leadership faces behind the indicted MDAs, relying on public service records, official appointment dates, and news reports. Below is a comprehensive analysis of who led some of these institutions when the funds went missing and what this means for Nigerias accountability future. This does not suggest that the individuals are guilty of any crime: none of them has been directly accused or prosecuted for wrongdoing. In some cases, the infractions may have been directly carried out by subordinates of these officials. However, they supervised the agencies during the period (the years 2019 and 2020) during which the Auditor-General and the House of Representatives said the financial infractions occurred. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Geoffrey Onyeama (2015 2023) The ministry was one of the worst offenders. It approved over N124 million and nearly $795,000 without due appropriation for the construction of a presidential lodge at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia. Additional unauthorised disbursements included 31.7 million and $155,923, while 49.4 million was used for renovation without procurement compliance. Another 9.2 million was paid to staff without documentation. Geoffrey Onyeama, a long-serving diplomat and one of the few ministers retained across both former President Muhammadu Buharis two terms, was in office throughout the period. Bank of Agriculture (BOA) MD/CEO: Kabir Adamu (2017 May 2020) Successor: Alwan Hassan (from May 2020) The BOA failed to recover 75.6 billion in loans and was ordered to recover an additional 350 million. It was instructed to name and shame the defaulters in three national dailies. Under Kabir Adamus leadership, the banks non-performing loan portfolio ballooned, raising questions about internal controls and political interference in loan approvals. Alwan Hassan, who succeeded Mr Adamu in mid-2020, inherited many of the challenges. However, the audit reports indicate that the core failures were rooted in the period that Mr Adamu had full executive control. Rural Electrification Agency (REA) MD: Damilola Ogunbiyi (2019) MD: Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad (from Dec 2019) The REAs breaches were staggering: over 1.3 billion in irregularities, including 394 million spent on projects without approval and 969 million illegally transferred to a Eurobond account. An additional 4.2 million was spent on publicity without clear justification. Damilola Ogunbiyi, now with the UN as CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), led REA for most of 2019 until the Ministry of Power suspended her in December 2019 while the agencys operations were being investigated. However, the presidency subsequently accepted her resignation, effective 31 December 2019, to allow her to take up the UN role at SEforALL. The breaches began under her watch. Salihijo Ahmad took over in December 2019, inheriting pending financial decisions and likely discovering the irregularities. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the EFCC is already prosecuting some senior officials of the REA who are believed to have been directly responsible for the corruption in the agency. Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM) Managing Director: Abbas Masanawa (2018 2022) The NSPM disbursed 14.4 billion in unauthorised salaries and allowances and under-deducted 432 million in employee contributions. An additional 91.5 million was spent on ICT procurements without statutory clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). Abbas Masanawa was the managing director throughout this period. While still serving, he later attempted to contest for governorship in Katsina State, a move that drew criticism for possible conflicts of interest and misuse of public resources. The Central Bank of Nigeria, which supervises NSPM, removed the entire management in 2024, indicating deeper issues of oversight failure. Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) MD: Adesoji Adesugba (from July 2020) Predecessor MD: Emmanuel Jime (2017 early 2019) NEPZA was cited for procurement violations worth 12 million and for failing to retrieve 12 government vehicles retained illegally by the supervising ministry. While Adesoji Adesugba took over in July 2020, the breaches appear to have occurred earlier, pointing to gaps under his predecessor, Emmanuel Jime, who headed the agency until his resignation in late 2019 to contest for political office. Mr Jime is a former member of the House of Representatives. Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller-General: Hameed Ali (2015 2023) The Customs Service was instructed to work with the Accountant-Generals office to reconcile missing financial records and establish transparency on remittances to Federation and Non-Federation Accounts. Hameed Ali, a former military governor, presided over systemic financial transparency issues, which the audit flagged as unresolved for years. Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) CEO: Marilyn Amobi (2016 2019) Marilyn Amobi was ordered to recover 188.3 million paid as property loans to staff and retrieve $69.3 million owed by a foreign firm. Ms Amobi was a controversial figure during her tenure, facing multiple internal investigations and public calls for her suspension. The infractions further highlight the allegations of financial misgovernance that characterised her leadership. University of Uyo Vice-Chancellor (VC): Enefiok Essien (20152020) The university was cited for unauthorised payments totalling 488.1 million, 36.9 million in overpaid contracts, 12 million in irregular allowances, 1.02 billion in unauthorised contract variations, and 47.7 million in unremitted taxes. Enefiok Essien, a professor and former Dean of Law, was VC then. The infractions under his watch suggest a culture of administrative laxity and procurement irregularities. Ministry of Petroleum Resources Muhammadu Buhari (President and substantive petroleum minister from 2015) Ibe Kachikwu (served as Minister of State for Petroleum until May 2019) Timipre Sylva (appointed Minister of State for Petroleum in August 2019) Based on the auditor-generals 2020 report, the ministry was directed to refund 452 million for unauthorised virements and advances. It was also asked to retrieve an official Toyota Prado SUV from an officer. The late Mr Buhari served as substantive petroleum minister throughout his presidency. Mr Kachikwu served as minister of state until May 2019, while a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, replaced Mr Kachikwu in August 2019 and held office Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman: Musiliu Smith (2018 2022) The PSC was flagged for exceeding approved mobilisation thresholds totalling 110.8 million. These payments, which fell outside permissible budget lines, violated the extant guidelines on public sector spending and suggested loose financial oversight within the commission. At the time, Musiliu Smith, a former Inspector-General of Police, chaired the commission. He resigned in 2022. His leadership was marred by several accusations, including a lack of transparency, particularly in recruitment and promotions. Nigeria Police Force ICT Department Inspector-General of Police: Mohammed Adamu (2019 2021) The ICT department of the Nigeria Police Force was cited for spending 1.1 billion on technology procurements without the mandatory clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The audit further noted that audit records were withheld, hindering a full review. During this period, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, oversaw police ICT and logistics departments and was responsible for enforcing procurement discipline across commands and directorates. Despite ICTs critical role in security operations, Mr Adamus oversight mechanisms failed to prevent gross procurement irregularities. Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria Chief Medical Director (CMD): Lawal Khalid (until May 2019) Successor: Ahmed Hamidu ABUTH was asked to recover 5.8 million in unpaid stamp duties, funds that should have been deducted at source but were left unaccounted for. Lawal Khalid was the chief medical director until May 2019. Ahmed Hamidu took over immediately after his tenure. Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Chief Medical Director (CMD): Abdulrahman Sheshe AKTH was ordered to remit 47.6 million in outstanding statutory taxes, either under-deducted or left unremitted to the relevant tax authorities. Abdulrahman Sheshe, a professor and the chief medical director, was in charge of the hospital during the period. Despite AKTHs reputation as a premier tertiary hospital in the North-west, the audit revealed lapses in its financial operations. National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (NCEEC), Lagos Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria: Eli Bala (2013 2023) The Centre was flagged for overpaying a contractor by 7.2 million for constructing an office building. The overpayment was neither justified nor documented. During this period, the NCEEC functioned under the Energy Commission of Nigeria, which was then led by Eli Bala, a professor, as director-general. A coordinating director under his supervision managed the NCEEC itself. The breach signalled weak internal project monitoring and ineffective contract management systems. Ministry of Labour and Employment Minister: Chris Ngige (2019 2023) The ministry was asked to refund 351 million unaccounted for under its Geneva Labour Desk Programme. A further 1.5 billion was linked to questionable spending across consultancy services, job centres, and skill acquisition initiatives. Chris Ngige, a medical doctor who served as labour minister throughout the audit period, was in charge of the ministrys programmes. Despite being a prominent figure in national labour negotiations, his tenure was marked by many audit red flags indicating poor oversight on programme execution and disbursement tracking. Ministry of Mines and Steel Development Minister: Olamilekan Adegbite (2019 2023) The audit found 16 million in tax losses tied to cash advance misuse. Olamilekan Adegbite, the minister from August 2019 to May 2023, was responsible for policy and administrative oversight. His failure to strengthen financial controls over recurring expenses suggests administrative lapses in the ministrys operational processes. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Vice-Chancellor: Charles Esimone (2019 2024) The university was asked to refund 27.4 million paid to external solicitors without appropriate approvals. It was also directed to investigate 165.8 million spent on unauthorised investments, funds deployed outside its statutory mandate. Charles Esimone, a professor who became vice-chancellor in June 2019, presided over the university during the breach period. National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Executive Director: Adedayo Thomas (2017 date) The Board was ordered to refund 20.2 million spent on unauthorised police training, 4.3 million in unpaid withholding tax, and 27.2 million for foreign trips that lacked ministerial or presidential approval. The EFCC was also tasked with probing 18.5 million and 43.5 million paid for possibly fictitious contracts. Adedayo Thomas, executive director of the Board from 2017, was in office during the infractions. He has also faced public criticism for controversial spending on non-core activities and is now being called upon to account for the boards financial anomalies. Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Executive Secretary/CEO: Daniel Asapokhai (2017 2020) FRCN was flagged for spending 10.2 million on legal fees without obtaining appropriate ministerial clearance or procurement documentation. Daniel Asapokhai, executive secretary/chief executive officer of the council during the audit period, was a chartered accountant tasked with upholding public sector reporting standards. Ironically, his agency was found wanting in that regard. Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Minister Niyi Adebayo (2019 2023) The ministry, which supervises NEPZA, was found to have illegally retained 12 government vehicles belonging to the agency. These included eight official vehicles and four operational vehicles. The vehicles, according to the audit report, were acquired with NEPZAs funds but transferred to the supervising ministry without due process. At the time of the infraction, the ministry was headed by Niyi Adebayo, the first democratically elected governor of Ekiti State. Mr Adebayo served as minister from 2019 until the end of President Buharis tenure in May 2023. Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) Controller-General: Jaafaru Ahmed (2016 2021) NCS was directed to remit 7.47 million in unpaid withholding taxes. Jaafaru Ahmed held the position during the audit years. Mr Jaafaru left the helm around early 2021 and later became secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board. Kwali Area Council (FCT) Executive Chairman: Danladi Chiya (2019 present) The council was flagged for disbursing 82 million to over 100 unidentified beneficiaries. Danladi Chiyas leadership spanned the breach period and beyond. His office was instructed to recover and remit the funds and provide documentary evidence. Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) President: Aisha Abubakar The council was faulted for failing to remit 1.1 million in stamp duties and over 19 million in internally generated revenue. Aisha Abubakar headed the Council then. Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat) MD/CEO: Abimbola Alale (from 2016) NigComSat was ordered to refund over 1 billion, including 250 million allegedly misappropriated and 95 million in unremitted taxes, plus nearly 700 million in outstanding debts. Abimbola Alale, who led NigComSat from 2016 and was reappointed in 2019, presided during this period Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) Managing Director: Bassey Nkposong (suspended August 2020) CRBDA failed to produce 731 payment vouchers covering 3.5 billion in disbursements. Bassey Nkposong, who led the Authority during this period, was suspended in mid-2020 due to irregularities and other breaches. However, accountability for those missing vouchers remains unresolved. National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) Director-General: DanAzumi Ibrahim (2015 2023) NOTAP was accused of spending 27.1 million on unauthorised foreign travels and 12.4 million in unremitted VAT. These breaches occurred under Mr Ibrahims long tenure. Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy Minister: Isa Pantami (2019 2023) The ministry was directed to refund 4.8 million spent on unauthorised training in South Korea. Isa Pantami, as minister, was responsible for supervising the ministry. National Office for Trade Negotiation (NOTN) Director-General/Chief Trade Negotiator: Chiedu Osakwe (2017 until death in 2019) NOTN was directed to refund 71.9 million for unauthorised virements and provide proof of tax remittances totalling 198.1 million. It was also asked to refund 123.7 million and 149 million spent on unauthorised international trips, and was warned over illegal recruitment and ICT procurements. Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu Chief Medical Director: Monday Igwe The hospital was flagged for advancing 14 million in unauthorised cash. Monday Igwe was the CMD when the infraction occurred. Federal Medical Centre, Bida Chairman of Management: Ishaq Usman FMC Bida was indicted for spending 600 million on unauthorised payments, 456 million on illicit procurements, and 42.2 million on overpayments. Ishaq Usman was the board chairman then. Federal Government Girls College, Imiringi (FGGC Imiringi) Principal: Aniah Ovia (2018 2024) FGGC Imiringi was ordered to refund 32.1 million following negligent contracting of a building on unsuitable land. Aniah Ovia presided over the school during this time. Anti-graft agencies must act Experts Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Musa of CISLAC, who also heads Transparency International (Nigeria), described the National Assemblys effort as a critical act of democratic oversight, but warned that investigations must not be derailed by political interference. Stressing that the latest audit revelations must not end up as yet another media sensation or empty legislative exercise, he urged the EFCC and ICPC to act swiftly and systematically. According to him, Nigeria has a functional Code of Conduct Bureau, which should be fully deployed to recover diverted funds. Without the support of the Code of Conduct, EFCC, and ICPC, it will be extremely difficult for Nigeria to get rid of this monumental corruption. You cannot be a public official and then today you declare 10 million in your account and next month, you have 1 billion in your account, he said. Mr Musa called for transparency, urging public officials to disclose actions taken on audit findings and prosecutions. In his reaction, Mr Eno of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) said the National Assembly must go beyond exposing corruption to enforcing consequences. He argued that MDAs found guilty of diverting funds should be compelled to comply with proper accounting rules and blacklisted from receiving further funding until they do so. Mr Eno linked the problem to a flawed reward system in public service, where political patronage often trumps merit. He expressed doubt that meaningful results would follow the latest indictments. I dont believe there will be any tangible outcome. We lack the follow-through strategy as a nation, especially when it concerns politically exposed persons, he noted. A child was killed on Friday as the Nigerian military rescued 76 persons, most of them children, after an air strike destroyed a bandit hideout in Katsina State, officials have confirmed. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted the operation on Friday evening, targeting the enclave of a wanted gang leader known as Babaro at Pauwa Hill, in the Kankara area. The strike was launched in response to a recent deadly attack and mass abduction by the gang in Gidan Mantau. In a statement, the Commissioner for Internal Security, Nasir Muazu, confirmed that all those abducted from Gidan Mantau were among the 76 people rescued. However, he added that a child tragically lost his life during the ordeal. Official photographs accompanying the governments announcement, which showed the freed hostages, indicated that the vast majority of the victims were underage children. Armed criminal gangs, referred to locally as bandits, have terrorised North-west Nigeria for years, establishing camps in vast forests from which they launch attacks on villages, schools, and highways to carry out mass kidnappings for ransom. ALSO READ: Five security personnel killed in shootout with Katsina bandits Mr Muazu said the operation was part of a renewed and broader strategy to dismantle criminal hideouts and put an end to the cycle of killings, kidnappings, and extortion that have plagued innocent citizens. The Katsina State Government commended the security forces, reaffirming its commitment to providing logistical and intelligence support to eradicate banditry. Citizens were also urged to remain vigilant and provide timely information to assist with ongoing operations. The Director-General of Protocol to the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Rogo, stands accused in a staggering N6.5 billion corruption scandal now under investigation by Nigerias two foremost anti-graft agencies: the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Investigators allege that Mr Rogo masterminded the diversion and laundering of billions of naira belonging to the Kano State Government, funnelling the funds through suspicious companies, bureau de change operators, and personal accounts. Although probes are still ongoing, the ICPC has already recovered N1.3 billion linked to Mr Rogo, including funds laundered through corporate fronts and his private accounts. On 2 July, the Federal High Court in Kano issued a final forfeiture order, granting the Federal Government control of a portion of the suspected loot traced to the governors aide. What ICPC and EFCC uncovered The case broke in April when the ICPC approached the court by ex parte motion, seeking forfeiture of N142 million reasonably suspected to have been acquired illegally. On 7 May, the judge granted interim forfeiture of the funds and directed that a notice be published in a national newspaper, inviting anyone with interest to show cause within a month why the money should not be permanently forfeited. No claimant emerged. By 2 July, the court ordered a final forfeiture of the N142 million, ruling that it represented proceeds of corruption connected to Mr Rogo. But investigators insist that the forfeited sum is only a fraction of the illicit transactions traced to the top Kano government official. Repeated calls to the Governors spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, for comments on the matter were unsuccessful on Saturday morning. ICPC documents allege that Mr Rogo employed front companies to siphon funds, specifically naming H&M Nigeria Limited, A.Y. Maikifi Petroleum, and Ammas Oil and Gas Limited. According to the investigators, A.Y. Maikifi Petroleum and Ammas Oil and Gas diverted N1.17 billion from the state treasury, which was laundered via bureau de change operators, converted into U.S. dollars, and allegedly handed to Mr Rogo in cash. The ICPC said it has already recovered N1.1 billion of that sum into its recovery account. The AH Bello Business Solutions laundering channel Investigators also exposed a company account allegedly used as a private laundering channel. The account (0505572562 at Alternative Bank) was opened in the name of AH Bello Business Solutions Ltd., but prosecutors allege it was secretly controlled by Mr Rogo. They say funds were regularly moved from the Kano State Governments Directorate of Protocol into the account, and then distributed to bureau de change operators, friends, and family members. Although formally owned by Abdullahi Bello, Managing Director of Ammas Petroleum Limited, Mr Bello admitted during interrogation that Mr Rogo authorised and signed off all major transactions from the account. Between August 2024 and February 2025, the account saw inflows of N3.07 billion and outflows of N2.6 billion, with a closing balance of N142.2 million as of 10 February 2025. That balance was later forfeited to the ICPC by court order. The probes also zeroed in on Mr Rogos personal finances. A Zenith Bank account (1003666925) in his name received N2.28 billion in credits and recorded debits of N2.26 billion between January 2022 and January 2025, leaving a closing balance of N39.3 million. Another corporate account in his name, also domiciled with Zenith Bank, recorded inflows of N54.1 million. Both accounts have now been frozen under Post No Debit (PND) restrictions. Court battle against ICPC and EFCC As investigations widened, Mr Rogo struck back. On 20 February 2025, he filed a suit at the High Court of Kano State, Bichi Judicial Division, accusing the ICPC and EFCC of harassment, intimidation, and double jeopardy. He alleged that his fundamental rightsto dignity, liberty, and freedom of movementwere under threat following separate invitations from the two agencies. Mr Rogo told the court that he had already honoured an EFCC invitation in Kano, given a statement, and secured administrative bail, only for the ICPC to summon him in Abuja on the same matter. When he sought rescheduling, he claimed, he was threatened with arrest. In court, Mr Rogo sought an injunction restraining the ICPC and EFCC from arresting, intimidating, or harassing him. He also sought N20 million in damages and N2 million in legal costs, plus 10 per cent annual interest on any judgment sum. He argued that ICPCs actions disrupted his public duties and constituted an abuse of investigative powers. ICPCs counter affidavit The ICPC rejected Mr Rogos claims, insisting his rights were not violated and accusing him of obstructing a lawful corruption probe. In a counter-affidavit, ICPC official David Efut stated that: The transaction leading to the invitation of the applicant borders on the allegation of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, among others. There are reasonable grounds for believing that the applicant might have committed an offence that warranted his invitation, which was blatantly dishonoured. The agency argued that double jeopardy applies only to prosecution and trial, not to investigations. It insisted Mr Rogo was merely invited to account for his role in an alleged diversion and laundering of public funds. EFCCs counter affidavit The EFCC also urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as frivolous and designed to frustrate legitimate investigation. In a deposition by its operative Umenajiofor Sunday, the agency argued that being under investigation does not constitute a breach of rights, citing Section 35(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution which allows restriction of liberty on reasonable suspicion of crime. The EFCC stressed that it was acting within its statutory mandate under Section 7(1)(a) of the EFCC Act, and urged the court to dismiss the application for lack of merit. Court rules on applicants claim On 18 August 2025, Justice Musa Ahmad of the Kano High Court ruled in favour of Mr Rogo. While acknowledging that his rights had not yet been violated, the judge held that there was a likelihood of breach, given the overlapping invitations and threats of arrest. The court declared ICPCs invitation unlawful, restrained further investigations against Mr Rogo, and awarded him N2 million in costs against the anti-graft agencies. The ICPC has vowed to appeal the judgment, accusing the court of shielding a powerful official from accountability. The police in Enugu State, Nigerias South-east, say they have arrested eight suspected armed robbers in multiple operations in the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. The operations Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, said the operations began at about 11 a.m. on 8 August when police operatives of the Crack Tactical Squad arrested three male suspects. The police spokesperson identified the arrested suspects as Chinenye Nwafor, 35, Chidera Ezeoha, 32, and Joseph Ekete, 41. He said the arrest of the suspects followed a tip-off about an armed robbery operation in which a motorcycle and a Samsung phone were snatched from victims on 7 August at Amokpo-Nike, a community in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state. The stolen motorcycle, alongside another, was recovered from the suspects where they had displayed them for sale at Ogbeke-Nike, Enugu East LGA, he said. The suspects have since been arraigned and remanded in a correctional facility. Mr Ndukwe said, in a separate operation on 12 August, police operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad arrested a suspected male robber, Chigozie Ebisike, 42. He said the operatives recovered a blue Toyota Corolla from the suspect in the Ogui Area of Enugu. The spokesperson explained that the operatives had received an intelligence through AI-controlled cameras at Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre which earlier showed the vehicle being used to snatch a Toyota Camry on 3 August along Rangers Avenue in Independence Layout, Enugu. The suspect confessed to car stealing and snatching, which led to the recovery of two more vehicles: a gold Toyota Sienna minivan as well as several vehicle registration particulars, keys, and number plates, he said. Mr Ndukwe said, in a similar operation on 19 August, police operatives attached to Ozalla Division intercepted some criminals along Udi-Ozalla Road in the state. He said while the operatives arrested one of the suspects, Somadina Udeh, others fled. The spokesperson said operatives recovered a Toyota Hiace bus from the 26-year-old male suspect and another Toyota Hiace bus abandoned by the fleeing suspects who had stolen it from where the vehicle was parked at Amokwe in Udi Local Government Area of the state. Upon interrogation, the arrested suspect confessed to burglary, admitting that he and his fleeing accomplices usually infiltrated Enugu from Anambra State to steal goods from shops and later sell them in Anambra, he said. More operation Mr Ndukwe said the operations ended on 21 August when police operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit arrested three robbery suspects in the state. The police spokesperson identified the arrested suspects as Obinna Eze, 44, and Jideofor Igwumba, 35, all males. Martina Okwor, 49, was the only female among the arrested suspects. Mr Ndukwe said a Toyota SUV reportedly stolen on 21 July 2025 at Trans-Ekulu was recovered from them. Before the recovery, the vehicle was refurbished and then already being prepared for sale in Awka, Anambra State, according to the police. The spokesperson said all the arrested suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicates and recover additional exhibits, he assured. Commissioner speaks Mr Ndukwe said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, has commended the operatives for the success of the operations. Mr Giwa reassured residents of Enugu State that the police in the state were determined to sustain the tempo of crime-fighting in the state. The police chief urged law-abiding Nigerians to remain vigilant and promptly report suspected criminals for action. Robbery attacks Like other states in the South-east, robbery attacks in Enugu State have increased in recent times. Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the state lately. Beyond the robbery attacks, gunmen said to be part of the Biafra agitation in the South-east have been terrorising residents of the region. Several persons, including security agencies and government officials, have been abducted or killed by the attackers. The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been blamed for the frequent attacks in the South-east. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is seeking the secession of South-east and some parts of the South-south from Nigeria. A civic technology non-profit organisation, Legis360 Centre for Advocacy, Development and Public Enlightenment Initiatives, has unveiled a platform designed to bridge the gap between citizens and their representatives in Nigerias National Assembly. Samuel Folorunsho, co-founder of Legis360, during an interactive session with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, stated that the innovation was built to close the persistent communication gap between elected officials and their constituents by leveraging on open data digital tools and evidence-based advocacy. How citizens connect with lawmakers though the platform Legis360 allows users to send messages to lawmakers. Citizens can write directly to their representatives through a dedicated Send Message feature. The messages would be routed to legislators aides, who collate and present them to their principals. The platform also provides notifications when messages are read and when replies are received, creating a chat-like communication system. Other features of the platform Beyond messages, the platform makes it possible to monitor the progress of bills from first reading to final passage, including public hearings. Citizens can also generate petitions on pressing issues on the platform, which are automatically forwarded to the email of the designated legislator. Mr Folorunsho told PREMIUM TIMES that over 2,148 bills have already been digitised from physical archives. Legis360 uses AI-powered tools to analyse, summarise, and assess these bills with legal implications and potential impacts based on historical records and constitutional provisions. Preserving legislative history Mr Folorunsho explained that Legis360 also serves as an archive of Nigerias legislative history, covering not only serving lawmakers but also former members of parliament. This, he said, provides invaluable context for researchers, journalists, and civic groups interested in tracking legislative trends and performance over time. For years, one of the biggest challenges of Nigerias democracy has been the communication gap between citizens and their elected lawmakers. While legislators make laws and decisions that directly affect the lives of millions, ordinary Nigerians have often struggled to reach them or even access timely information on legislative activities. Most interactions between citizens and members of the National Assembly are limited to election periods, with little or no structured feedback channel afterward. Attempts to follow up on bills, petitions, or constituency concerns are usually slowed down by bureaucracy, poor record-keeping, or lack of open communication platforms. Several initiatives have been introduced in the past to bridge this communication gap. From the creation of constituency offices in the early 2000s, to later attempts such as town hall meetings, public hearings, and even dedicated telephone numbers, most of these efforts failed to achieve their intended impact. Constituency offices often lacked funding or are poorly managed, while town hall meetings became irregular and sometimes inaccessible to ordinary citizens. Similarly, public hearings, though open, were frequently dominated by organised interest groups rather than everyday Nigerians. The arrival of social media platforms initially offered hope for closer interaction. However, many legislators either rarely engaged meaningfully online or limited their use of such platforms to political campaigns. This inconsistency only deepened the perception that lawmakers were distant from the realities of the citizens they represent. As a result, the gap between citizens and the National Assembly has persisted. Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. A New York state lawmaker is targeting cryptocurrency users in the fight against substance abuse. Assemblyman Phil Steck last week introduced a bill that proposes a 0.2% tax on all digital asset transactions, including non-fungible token and stablecoin transfers, to raise additional funds to help upstate New York schools fight substance abuse. Steck, who chairs the assemblys Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, expects the tax to generate $158 million annually, Decrypt reported last week, citing a memo shared by the assemblymember. Don't Miss: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market and you can too at just $2.90/share. Scrolling To UBI' Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share. Steck arrived at his $158 million revenue estimate by taking the volume of cryptocurrency transactions in the U.S. between July 2022 and June 2023, as reported by Chainalysis, and adjusting it based on New Yorks share of U.S. GDP in 2024, Decrypt said. He resorted to this roundabout method because the New York Department of Financial Services, which regulates cryptocurrency firms with the BitLicense framework, declined to share data on the volume of cryptocurrency transactions with him, according to Decrypt. New York is not the only U.S. state to consider using cryptocurrencies to support school initiatives, but it is unique in its extractive approach. Wyoming last month detailed plans to support its education fund with yield from its state-run stablecoin. Stecks decision to target cryptocurrency users in the fight against substance abuse appears to arise from skepticism of the asset class and its investors. Trending: Trade crypto futures on Plus500 with up to $200 in bonuses no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. "Crypto investors are driven by a single motive: the desire for quick and instant wealth," Steck said in his memo, according to Decrypt. Steck also said that the cryptocurrency space was "vulnerable to fraud and scams," citing FTXs collapse in 2022, Decrypt reported. At the same time, Steck decried the energy-intensive nature of Bitcoin mining, which is the process by which transactions are validated and new coins are created on the network. According to Decrypt, he said the perceived environmental impacts of the process were "another downside" of cryptocurrencies. The Nigerian Government has introduced a personal income tax calculator giving low-income earners access to a platform, where they can compare their estimated tax payable under the Nigerian Tax Act 2025, against their current pay. The new development is expected to become operational next January. The calculator is designed to achieve transparency in tax administration and protect low-income earners such that a fair tax system must never punish poverty or weigh down the most vulnerable, President Bola Tinubu said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. With the new tax laws I recently signed, taking effect from January 2026, we have lifted this burden and created a path of equity, fairness, and true redistribution in our economy, he added, alluding to the new tax regime the country adopted earlier in the year. Checks by PREMIUM TIMES showed that the calculator requires users to supply data like gross annual income; NHF, NHIS and pension contributions; life insurance premium, and annual rent to enable it to generate the effective tax rates from both the old and the new laws. Other details such as the monthly payable tax are also provided by the platform. For instance, an employee with a gross annual income of N4 million, NHF contribution of N250,000, NHIS contribution N250,000, pension contribution of N1 million, life insurance premium of N400,000 and annual rent of N800,000 will be charged at an effective tax rate of 4.3 per cent under the proposed law, compared to 3.2 per cent under the current law. Meanwhile, a person with a gross annual income of N1.23 million, NHF contribution of N100,000, NHIS contribution of N100,000, pension contribution of N350,000, life insurance premium of N150,000 and annual rent of N400,000 will be excluded from paying tax, compared to under the current regime where they are chargeable at an effective tax rate of 0.5 per cent. Individual Nigerians with a monthly income of N108,000 or below and households with a combined monthly income of N250,000 or less are exempted from tax under the law that will take effect from January. Lauded as the most comprehensive overhaul of the Nigerian tax system since colonial times, the act exempts people earning N800,000 or lower from tax liability on their personal income or gains. All the same, persons with higher income will be taxed progressively up to 25 per cent of their income. The primary objective of this reform is not to raise more tax revenue because if you set out to do a reform in an economy like this with the objective of raising more revenue, you are placing the cart before the horse, said Taiwo Oyedele, who leads the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, on Channels TV in June. If you dont address how to stimulate economic activities but you want to collect more taxes, you are chasing shadows, he added. The new rules have been developed also to ease the informal economy, which contributes more than half of Nigerias GDP, off retrogressive tax burdens, with small businesses (companies with an annual turnover of N100 million and below and total fixed assets of N250 million or less) now excluded from taxes of all forms. The World Bank has urged Gombe communities to ensure effective utilisation of the 169 revitalised health facilities to enhance access to quality healthcare services. Onoriode Ezire, the Task Team Lead, World Bank Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project, said this on Saturday during the inauguration of one of the revitalised facilities in Akko community, Akko Local Government Area of the state. The World Bank, through its IMPACT project in collaboration with the Gombe state government has revitalised and upgraded 103 Primary Healthcare facilities and 66 clinics to Level 2 Status. The project is designed to improve quality and utilisation of immunisation, maternal and child health services, and malaria control, to reduce under-five mortality rates in the state. Mr Ezire urged the benefiting communities, traditional leaders and stakeholders to ensure maximum use of the facilities towards improving health services at the grassroots. He said the common dream that no woman would die while giving birth could be achieved with the new facilities provided, hence the need for women, men and other groups to access the facilities. The World Bank official said effective utilisation of the facilities by members of the communities would guarantee that the investments and resources committed in the upgrade project didnt go to waste. These were done through collaboration effort of the World Bank and Gombe state government to ensure that you have access to quality healthcare, he said. If these facilities are here and you are not accessing them, then it is a disservice to everybody. I challenge our women and men to take advantage of these facilities and access quality healthcare. Mr Ezire lauded Governor Inuwa Yahaya for the proactive and results-driven approach towards strengthening primary healthcare delivery via the IMPACT project. He also hailed the governors exceptional leadership in securing the states inclusion in the multi-state intervention, in spite of Gombe not being originally listed among the participating states. READ ALSO: NPHCDA trains 126 newly recruited officers to strengthen service delivery Mr Yahaya, the State Governor, also reiterated commitment to the improvement of health and wellbeing of the people of the state. Represented by his deputy, Manassah Jatau, the governor said that his administrations commitment resulted in the consistent increase in funding for healthcare in the states budget from 3.5 per cent in 2019 to 15 per cent in 2025, in line with the Abuja Declaration. (NAN) The Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (NAU) in Awka, Anambra State, has suspended for initial three months all doctors, nurses and security personnel on duty at the institutions clinic when a 100-level law student, who later died, was rushed into the facility. The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Carol Arinze-Umobi, announced this in a statement on Friday night. NAU is popularly known as UNIZIK. Death of the student On 4 July, the law student, Isabella Ajana, died under controversial circumstances. The circumstances surrounding her began on 27 June when Ms Ajana, a type 1 diabetic patient, and her roommates mistakenly left their key inside their room and were locked out. She and her roommates were staying at Elmada Hostel which is near the university. They made unsuccessful efforts to obtain a spare key from hostel authorities. On the night of 29 June, Ms Ajanas health became critical as her essential insulin and medication were inside the locked room. The custodian of the spare key was said to have been unavailable until 30 June. When Ms Ajanas health worsened, she was rushed to the universitys medical centre. After a reported delay at the medical centre, the law student, on 30 June, was moved to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital where she finally died a few days later. Last month, the university set up a panel to investigate allegations of complicity and negligence against the hostel supervisor and the officials of the institutions clinic. Panel report Mrs Arinze-Umobi, a professor, said in the statement that her decision to suspend the university officials was based on the report of the panel set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the students death. Arising from the report of the panel, I hereby suspend the doctors, nurses and the security personnel on duty at the universitys medical centre on the day the student was rushed there, for three-months in the first instance, during which all investigations would have been completed, she said. The acting vice-chancellor said the university has demanded the management of the Elmada Hostel to sack the supervisor on duty who was in custody of the spare key and could not return it after repeated calls on her. UNIZIK will re-evaluate (its) relationship with the Elmada Hostel, demanding international best practices in students accommodation facilities, she stated. Condolences Mrs Arinze-Umobi commiserated with the family and friends of Ms Ajana and assured that the university will do everything possible to prevent such incidents in the future. She assured Nigerians, including staffers and students of the university, that the institution was committed to upholding the highest standard of care and safety for everyone in the institution. With seven heads of state in attendance, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday, 22 June, held its 67th summit of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government, ushering in a new leadership. After serving two tenures as leader of the ECOWAS Authority, Nigerias President Bola Tinubu handed over to President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone. In the last five years, since 2020, the bloc has faced persistent challenges and questioning of its legitimacy, especially with some member states experiencing military coups in what some have referred to as the dying of democracy in the region. Although 2020 saw the beginning of a consistent trend, 2023 marked a significant shift when the military in Niger toppled the elected government. ECOWAS has always used sanctions to maintain peace and order within the community; however, the sanctions on Niger were perceived to be the harshest so far, with borders to the country closed and electricity cut. There was also a threat of military invasion to restore the toppled government. The threat to use force appeared to have angered many and elicited solidarity from other states that had similar coup stories Mali and Burkina Faso. Some analysts described the threat of military intervention as reckless, especially as it gave room for disinformation and endangered relationships across the board, especially between Nigeria and Niger, which enjoyed cordial relations. The events in Niger would become the highlight of President Tinubus time as head of ECOWAS Authority, especially the announcement of Nigers withdrawal from the bloc alongside Mali and Burkina Faso. This was the first time since the establishment of the bloc in 1975 that it would witness such a rupture. The withdrawal tampered with the very essence of the bloc: integration, community, security and economic integration. It also sets a bad precedent that questions ECOWAS principles on democracy, good governance, and dialogue. While ECOWAS faces the challenge of keeping and restoring democracy, its new leader, President Bio of Sierra Leone, has outlined his priorities. Wasting no time after the 67th Summit in Abuja, he took to X on Monday, 23 June, to outline his priorities as the chair of the ECOWAS Authority. As Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of @ecowas_cedeao, I will prioritise four key Areas: First, Restoring Constitutional Order and Deepening Democracy. Second, Revitalising Regional Security Cooperation. Third, Unlocking Economic Integration. Fourth, Building Institutional Credibility, he wrote on X. The words of Mr Bio are those of one who is aware of the realities of the bloc; however, what remains to be seen is how many of these priorities will be achieved, given the challenges that continue to confront ECOWAS. Restoring Constitutional Order and Deepening Democracy In the last five years, there have been a series of coups and counter-coups on the African continent, with most of them being in West Africa. The cases of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali remain huge concerns even as they have exited the bloc. Mr Bio recognises this as a major challenge, thereby making it one of his priorities. However, will the Sierra Leonean President make any inroads on this? Paul Melly, a consulting fellow at Chatham House, opines that restoring adherence to democratic constitutional rules and negotiating with the putschist regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger is one task that Mr Bio is qualified to address, having taken part in military coups but then voluntarily relinquished power, handing over to a new elected president in 1996 and departing for civilian life. He waited until 2012 to enter electoral politics, and after being defeated in that presidential race, he had to wait until 2018 to stand again and finally secure victory. So he has shown how a soldier can give up power and accept the tough rules of the democratic game, Mr Melly noted. Mr Bio has promised that he will not seek a third term an important example in a region where some civilian leaders have changed the rules to escape term limits and maintain power a pattern that has undermined popular trust in electoral democracy. Even though Sierra Leone faces big internal challenges and criticism of governance standards, Mr Melly believes Mr Bio sets a strong example. Revitalising Regional Security Cooperation Following the strained relationships in the region, there have been heightened security concerns and incidents of insecurity, including the resurgence of Lakurawa, an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State Sahel Province operating in Mali, Niger, and parts of Nigeria.. Confidence McHarry, a senior analyst at SBM Intelligence, believes that Mr Bios ability to revitalise regional security cooperation could go both ways. He leads a country that has suffered instability for decades, and that experience in managing such complexity gives him an advantage to coordinate issues in a region facing soaring levels of instability, he said, adding that the real task will be in managing security cooperation between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel State (AES), and navigating the external geopolitical influence from foreign actors that ECOWAS has long decried. In the same vein, Mr Melly notes that developing cooperation between ECOWAS and AES may prove difficult. However, seeing that Mr Bio was not at the forefront of the confrontation like Mr Tinubu of Nigeria or Mr Ouattara of Cote dIvoire, he may be able to secure goodwill from the AES in a way that others may not. Unlocking Economic Integration According to Mr McHarry, regional economic integration has not been achieved in a way that improves trade and develops the economies in the community. This lack of cohesive regional integration within ECOWAS limits its ability to capitalise on economies of scale and foster sustainable growth. Thus, while ECOWAS possesses significant potential, its over-reliance on a single volatile commodity (Nigerias crude), uneven human development progress, and weaker integration mechanisms have placed it behind in achieving tangible regional progress, he said. Mr McHarry added that while ECOWAS has focused on trade liberalisation and free movement, implementation has been inconsistent and hampered by diverse economic structures and political will. Leaders in the region are more focused on national wins than on collective wins. With a collective GDP exceeding $628 billion and a population of over 350 million, ECOWAS can become a leading economic powerhouse in Africa, he said. Intra-regional trade within ECOWAS remains strikingly underdeveloped, representing a meagre 10 per cent of the blocs total trade activity and a negligible 0.3 per cent share of global commerce. This limited internal exchange impedes deeper economic integration. It diminishes ECOWASs influence within the global economy and domestically. Building Institutional Credibility To achieve institutional credibility, which has plagued the bloc over the years, will be difficult, especially with some of its leaders engaging in anti-democratic actions that many have described as constitutional coups. Mr McHarry argues that the drag for Mr Bio is in his legitimacy. The circumstances by which he won his current term echo a lot of the anti-democratic actions by civilian leaders that have critically undermined the blocs democratic and institutional ideals. Mr Bios work is cut out for him as the required actions have to begin from within the Authority itself. For example, Cote dIvoires President Alassane Ouattara, who is 83, has announced his intentions to run for a fourth term, which has been denounced by many within and outside the country. Another spoke in the wheel is the conduct of elections in the region, the question of free and fair elections and the challenges of election cycles that reflect the will of the people. Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji on Friday called on all political gladiators, especially those aspiring to public offices to maintain some decorum and play according to set rules and regulations ahead of the electoral season. Mr Oyebanji also raised the alarm about an alleged plot by some opposition elements to unleash a coordinated social media on him ahead of the APC governorship primary election scheduled for 27 October. The governor disclosed these in a statement signed by his media aide, Yinka Oyebode, on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Mr Oyebode, in the statement, alleged that over 150 persons across various social media platforms, including notable influencers at the national level, have been paid to carry out the attack on the governor beginning from next week. The sponsors of this grand plot, sadly, are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who are bent on heating up the polity in a bid to make a cheap political point. Part of their grand design, as uncovered, is to discredit the governor, as well as some key figures within the party and the government, through spurious and malicious allegations, including forged documents and AI generated graphics. Those behind this planned social media onslaught are the same people who clandestinely launched a social media attack against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last week, using one of the federal roads in the state- the Itawure-Aramoko-Igede road as an alibi. Whereas the poorly coordinated social media attack on the President failed woefully because the vast majority of Ekiti people, and indeed the general public, rejected the narratives. These characters went back to the drawing board and came up with another action plan, which include inducing 150 social media attackers with huge sum of money (in foreign currency) to carry out the nefarious act of character assassination and cheap blackmail through online trending of forged documents, he said. Mr Oyebode said the government chose to alert the public on the alleged plot in order to avert likely breach of the peace, adding that unlike in the past, the current plot would be treated with the seriousness it deserves. The government has chosen to alert the public on this grand plot in order to avert likely breach of the peace, recourse to self-help and unnecessary tension in the polity which are the main intention of the masterminds of this ignoble plot. ALSO READ: Gov Oyebanji warns Ekiti people against criticising Tinubu Unlike previous sponsored media attacks on the governor and the State Government that were treated with kids glove, this new plot would be treated with the seriousness it deserves. Hence, the general public, security agencies and all relevant institutions are hereby put on notice. All political gladiators, especially those aspiring to public offices are advised to maintain some decorum and play according to set rules and regulations as we approach the electoral season. He said the government welcomes constructive criticism and is ready to provide sincere answers to genuine enquiries about governance and the management of our commonwealth. All aspirants are also urged to make their campaigns and public engagements issue-based, and stay clear of any sponsored social media attack on the person of the Governor as well as sponsored violent attacks on any citizen of the State, the statement added. Two people were killed on Saturday and three others injured in another road accident in Ebonyi State, Nigerias South-east. Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that the accident occurred at about 6 a.m. in front of the permanent site of the Ebonyi State University in Abakaliki, the state capital. The latest crash happened barely three days after a cement mixer truck rammed into a shop, killing at least three people and destroying shops in Igbeagu along the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Expressway in the state. How the latest incident happened When contacted on Saturday, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi, Anthony Ogodo, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Ogbodo said the crash occurred at about 6:05 a.m. along the AbakalikiEnugu Expressway in the state capital. The sector commander said the crash involved a red Mercedes 911 truck and a white Mitsubishi bus. He attributed the cause of the accident to dangerous driving, adding that the crash involved 10 people seven men, a woman, a female child, and a male child. Two passengers, a man and a woman, were confirmed dead, while three men sustained varying degrees of injuries, Mr Ogbodo said. The sector commander said the FRSC Zebra 31 Unit in Abakaliki swiftly responded to a distress call about the accident and rushed the injured victims to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) for treatment. The bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FETHA morgue after medical confirmation. The wreckage was cleared to restore traffic flow, while both vehicles were handed over to the police traffic division for further investigation, he stated. The FRSC official cautioned motorists against reckless and dangerous driving. He hinted that such behaviour was the major cause of needless loss of lives on Nigerian highways. The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, have arrested a man in possession of 1,100 rounds of live ammunition in Nkpor, an urban community in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, identified the suspect as Akpan Godwin, 65. The spokesperson said the suspect was arrested on Friday by police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu in response to a tip-off. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being involved in the illegal sale of ammunition and mentioned other individuals connected to the illicit trade, he said. He said police operatives had intensified investigation and manhunt for the named accomplices. Prohibited in Nigeria Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition is outlawed in Nigeria. The Act is prohibited in the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024 and the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act (2004). READ ALSO: FCMB Group plans second public offer in race for N500 billion recapitalisation The Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act (2004), for instance, prescribes 10-year-jail term for persons convicted of the offence. However, a legislation proposed by Nigerias National Assembly includes a five-year jail term for firearms possession without a license. Several persons have been convicted in Nigeria for offences of illegal possession of firearms across Nigeria. In July 2021, a Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, sentenced a student of Kogi State Polytechnic, Shehu Mohammed, to eight years imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm. An Ekiti High Court, in 2019, sentenced a Nigerian man to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms. The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, say they detained a Chinese expatriate for allegedly engaging in illegal mining in the state. Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, identified the Chinese expatriate as Mu Hua Qiang, 45. The police spokesperson said the Chinese expatriate is a resident of Aguleri, a community in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state. Arrest Mr Ikenga said Mr Qiang was arrested by operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, an Anambra State-based enforcement agency that works to promote environmental sustainability, order, and public health. The police spokesperson said the Chinese expatriate was arrested for allegedly engaging in illegal mining operations within the Aguleri Axis. He said the enforcement agency handed over the Chinese expatriate to police operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department on Friday evening. His (Qiangs) statement has been voluntarily obtained, and he has been placed in lawful custody for further investigation, Mr Ikenga said. Prohibited in Nigeria Mining without licence is illegal in Nigeria, according to the Minerals and Mining Act (1999). The Nigerian government, in line with the provisions of Act, grants permits for exploration and mining through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The Act stipulates the ownership of mineral resources, conditions for mining and/or exploration and others, but enforcement of the law is poor. Both Nigerians and foreigners have been convicted of illegal mining in Nigeria. In March this year, for instance, the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State convicted and sentenced two Chinese nationals to two years imprisonment for illegal mining. Also in June, a Federal High Court in Minna, Niger state sentenced five Nigerian men to one year in prison for illegal mining. As Trump called each of the European leaders to make a few remarks, the scenario was like a headmaster meeting his pupils. Clearly, the European leaders were jittery. The reasons for this might not be difficult to decipher. First, the Trump-Putin meeting apparently went smoothly and the optics were two smiling presidents appearing like old friends eager to discuss whatever differences they may have, and assuring the world all was well between them. This was obviously to the disappointment of the Europeans United States President, Donald Trump, invited Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to the White House on Monday, 18 August. The purpose was to brief the latter on the outcome of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin three days earlier. Trump had already briefed Zelenskyy on phone and thought a meeting to finalise a possible trilateral summit with Putin was necessary. But rather than Zelenskyy showing up alone, a team of otherwise busy European leaders escorted him. These included the leaders of Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Finland. Also on the escort team were European Union Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary General, Mark Rutte. The popular saying is: many are called, few are chosen. In this case, it is few are called, many choose to invite themselves. As Trump called each of the European leaders to make a few remarks, the scenario was like a headmaster meeting his pupils. Clearly, the European leaders were jittery. The reasons for this might not be difficult to decipher. First, the Trump-Putin meeting apparently went smoothly and the optics were two smiling presidents appearing like old friends eager to discuss whatever differences they may have, and assuring the world all was well between them. This was obviously to the disappointment of the Europeans who expected Trump to put pressure on Putin for an immediate ceasefire, if not a commitment to withdraw from all of the conquered or lost territories of Ukraine. Also, the very warm welcome of Putin after a red carpet had been laid out for him, and an applauding Trump eagerly shaking his hands, negated the long campaign of the European leaders that Putin is a wanted war criminal and that Russia is an isolated country. Also, the US team agreeing with Russia that the issue of the future of some Ukrainian territories are on the negotiation table was a crushing blow for the Europeans. They had egged Ukraine into the war and played motivation speakers, telling it that it could militarily defeat Russia. They had blackmailed their members, like Germany and Hungary, who had advised that Ukraine should avoid war with Russia. Some of the European countries had on 26 September, 2022 gone to the ridiculous extent of bombing the Nord Stream pipelines supplying cheap Russian gas to Germany. Their purpose in resorting to this act of terrorism was to ensure that Germany had no reason not to support the war against Russia. Equally, the US-Russia consensus that negotiations on ending the Russo-Ukrainian War should take the root causes of the conflict into consideration was not pleasing to the European bosses. Their propaganda, which they sold to the gullible, was that Russia just woke up one day and invaded Ukraine. Such simplistic narration excluded the facts that the pro-West part of Ukraine had twice carried out coups, when they could not win at the ballot box, and had gone on to exterminate populations in the pro-Russian regions that had rejected the coups and insisted on democratic processes. Another matter that alarmed the Europeans was the understanding between Putin and Trump that Ukraine and Russia should go directly into negotiations and agreements to end the war. This was against the European leaders campaign for a ceasefire. The claim of the European leaders is that negotiations would take a long time. Which laws state so? Negotiating a ceasefire with agreed boundaries can take the same time as making such negotiation the basis of an agreement to end the war. The claim of a Russian Invasion of Ukraine also excluded the fact that Russia strove to prevent war by suing for peace and being signatory to two peace agreements: Minsk I & II, which the Ukrainian establishment refused to implement. Another matter that alarmed the Europeans was the understanding between Putin and Trump that Ukraine and Russia should go directly into negotiations and agreements to end the war. This was against the European leaders campaign for a ceasefire. The claim of the European leaders is that negotiations would take a long time. Which laws state so? Negotiating a ceasefire with agreed boundaries can take the same time as making such negotiation the basis of an agreement to end the war. Also, Putin had emerged from the meeting with Trump, head held high, exuding confidence and giving Trump, a parting shot: Next time in Moscow. Meaning: the American team is invited to Russia for further talks. The preferred path of the European leadership is the prolongation of the war, the supply of Ukraine with more arms, and the piling of more sanctions on Russia. This, within the purview of the Trump-Putin understanding, appears to be falling flat on its face. The rushing of European leaders to Washington, on the back of the Trump invitation to Zelenskyy, was a fidgety move to individually and collectively pile pressure on the American government to backtrack on its understanding with Russia. Also, it appeared that they did not have confidence that Zelenskyy could hold his own with Trump, who had publicly humiliated him when they met on 28 February. So, they escorted him to the meeting, probably to boost his confidence. excuses are being made why Ukraine may not implement agreements reached, especially if they involve the loss of territories. The argument is that Zelenskyy has no powers, under the Ukrainian constitution, to concede territories. This is a rather puerile argument. It is a foregone conclusion that agreements which may affect the constitutions of Ukraine and Russia, will have to be referred to their parliaments for ratification. But the European leaders, tagged the The Dream Team, do not appear to be enthusiastic about the proposed peace negotiations. The very next day, they called a meeting with their allies. Rather than discuss how to contribute to the peace negotiations, their focus was how to deploy a reassurance force to the region, and what they will do when the negotiations fail or are not implemented. They talked about a security guarantee for Ukraine after the peace deal, which would require boots on the ground. But Trump asked that the US be counted out of such an idea. There were also proposals to give Ukraine a NATO Article 5 cover, under which any attack against it will automatically mean an attack on all NATO members, who will then be under obligation to join such a conflict. In other words, the world would be pushed towards a global conflict. This precisely is what Trump wants to avoid. Such a proposal is also a back-door way of admitting Ukraine into NATO. In fact, the NATO scribe, Rutte, had told the press in Washington: The situation is this that the US and some other countries have said that they are against NATO membership for Ukraine. The official NATO position is that there is an irreversible path for Ukraine into NATO. Also, excuses are being made why Ukraine may not implement agreements reached, especially if they involve the loss of territories. The argument is that Zelenskyy has no powers, under the Ukrainian constitution, to concede territories. This is a rather puerile argument. It is a foregone conclusion that agreements which may affect the constitutions of Ukraine and Russia, will have to be referred to their parliaments for ratification. In any case, did the Ukrainian establishment not violate the constitution when it overthrew elected President Viktor Yanukovch on 25 February, 2014, in an undemocratic act that led to the Ukrainian Civil War and eventual war with Russia? Is Zelenskyy not raping the Ukrainian constitution by refusing to vacate office after his five-year tenure expired in April 2024, and making calls for elections treasonable? European leaders should give room for peace. Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author. With the tax bills now signed into law by President Tinubu, Adedejis journey enters a new phase. He understands that the real test of reform lies not in passage but in implementation. Tax policies, no matter how well designed, fail if they are not understood, accepted, and supported by stakeholders. This is why he continues to prioritise dialogue and collaboration. Yunusa Abdullahi, a consummate writer, analyst, and author of Live Before You Leave and The Nigeria of My Dream, often spoke glowingly of his boss at the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC). A former media aide to a governor, Yunusa later became the pioneer editor of PRNigeria before moving on to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as spokesperson. He once invited me to a media session with his boss, Mr Zacch Adedeji, whom he described as a focused and forward-looking leader. In just one year as executive secretary of the NSDC in 2022, Adedeji introduced democratic leadership, innovative reforms, and people-centred policies. He respected the legacies of his predecessors, building on existing structures, rather than dismantling them. He also enhanced staff welfare, created a positive work environment, advanced sugar self-sufficiency, and ensured industry compliance with the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan and its Backward Integration Programme. So, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him as Revenue Adviser in 2023, Yunusa, within an hour, penned an insightful brief on his bosss background. A chartered accountant, Adedeji graduated with First Class honours in Management and Accounting, earned a Masters degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, and completed an executive programme at Harvard Kennedy School. His career achievements, especially as Oyo States Commissioner for Finance, where he boosted the internally generated revenue, positioned him as a technocrat well-suited to strengthen Nigerias fiscal discipline. Barely three months later, Adedeji faced his toughest challenge yet when he was appointed executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). He wasted no time in proposing bold and aggressive tax reforms that immediately sparked nationwide debate. Among them was the replacement of FIRS with a new National Revenue Service (NRS), designed to centralise all government revenue collection including oil, customs, and port revenues. While the goal is to streamline processes and eliminate leakages, critics fear that it would concentrate excessive power in one institution, rivalling the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). Northern governors resisted the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) formula that allocated revenues on the basis of consumption, rather than location of company headquarters. They argued that the policy would benefit Lagos and Rivers disproportionately, while hurting northern states which had more corporate head offices. I personally witnessed some of these Chatham House-style sessions, including the one hosted by Taiwo Oyedele, the chairperson of Nigerias Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, where the fears of stakeholders were addressed. Adedeji emphasised that the reforms were not designed to stifle businesses but to simplify taxation, plug loopholes, and ensure equity. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the South-East, raised concerns over compliance burdens, despite the reforms raising the threshold of company income tax from 25 million to 50 million. Social media further fuelled misinformation, prompting clarifications that the new regime would protect low-income earners and foster fairness. Although the National Economic Council (NEC) advised that the bills be withdrawn for wider consultations, President Tinubu opted to proceed with legislative review and public hearings to incorporate feedback on them. To many observers, Adedeji initially appeared aloof and combative. Yet, while criticisms mounted, he refrained from public quarrels, instead quietly engaging stakeholders behind the scenes, often through trusted intermediaries. I personally witnessed some of these Chatham House-style sessions, including the one hosted by Taiwo Oyedele, the chairperson of Nigerias Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, where the fears of stakeholders were addressed. Adedeji emphasised that the reforms were not designed to stifle businesses but to simplify taxation, plug loopholes, and ensure equity. His strategy was straightforward but profound: build understanding first, legislate later. This approach contrasted sharply with previous reform attempts, when stakeholders were often kept in the dark until policies were rolled out. Adedeji chose the harder but wiser path nationwide consultations. He met business leaders, tax professionals, policymakers, and the organised private sector, listening carefully and adjusting the policies accordingly. As Olayinka Akintunde, a former editor of the Economic Confidential, told me, this proactive engagement built trust: Adedeji demystified the tax reforms, showing that reform was about creating a fair, transparent, and efficient system, not imposing burdens. By January 2026, the outcomes of Zacch Adedejis leadership will begin to unfold through wider acceptance of reforms, higher compliance rates, sustained institutional cooperation, and improved revenue generation. If his bridge-building strategy holds, even reluctant businesses will gradually embrace compliance. Adedeji also recognised that taxation cannot thrive without security. For businesses to operate and taxpayers to comply, stability is essential. This understanding informed his outreach to the military and security agencies. His meetings with Chief of Defence Staff General Chris Musa and other security chiefs underscored the need for safe environments where businesses and taxable activities can flourish. Equally strategic was his collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Since customs duties, levies, and trade operations are integral to revenue administration, harmonising the functions of the FIRS and NCS became indispensable. Adedejis push for alignment was aimed at eliminating duplication, facilitating trade, and boosting efficiency at the borders. What sets Adedeji apart is his rare ability to act as a bridge builder. He connects policymakers and businesses, revenue authorities and enforcement agencies, government and citizens. In an era of economic hardship and widespread distrust of government, this bridging role is invaluable. He demonstrates that engagement is not weakness but strength, and that sustainable reform comes from consensus, not coercion. With the tax bills now signed into law by President Tinubu, Adedejis journey enters a new phase. He understands that the real test of reform lies not in passage but in implementation. Tax policies, no matter how well designed, fail if they are not understood, accepted, and supported by stakeholders. This is why he continues to prioritise dialogue and collaboration. He is proving that Nigerias revenue future rests not only on bold policies but also on leaders who can build bridges across divides and inspire collective ownership of reforms. By January 2026, the outcomes of Zacch Adedejis leadership will begin to unfold through wider acceptance of reforms, higher compliance rates, sustained institutional cooperation, and improved revenue generation. If his bridge-building strategy holds, even reluctant businesses will gradually embrace compliance. Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of A Dozen Tips for Media Relations. Email: [email protected] By Lucy Craymer and Scott Murdoch WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand's Fonterra Co-operative Group said it will sell its global consumer and associated businesses to French dairy major Lactalis for NZ$3.845 billion ($2.24 billion), which sent its shares surging to a more than 7-year high on Friday. Shares of the dairy company rose 17.1% in early trading to NZ$5.88, their highest level since February 2018. The sale includes Fonterra's global consumer business, encompassing the operations of brands such as Mainland and Anchor butter, Kapiti ice cream and cheese and the Anlene powdered milk supplement. The deal includes long term commitments to purchase milk from Fonterra, Fonterra Chief Executive Miles Hurrell said. The transaction also covers the dairy company's Foodservice and Ingredients businesses in Oceania and Sri Lanka, along with its Middle East and Africa Foodservice operations. Hurrell said in an interview they had run both a trade sale and IPO process in parallel in the past 15 months and it was only in the last couple of weeks that Fonterra had really focused on the trade sale. "Our assessment was a trade sale would give better value," he said. "A trade sale will bring synergies to the business and I think we've seen that play out with the numbers we've announced today," he said. Sources told Reuters in May several companies, including Japan's Meiji, Canada's Saputo and Lactalis, were mulling bids for the units. U.S. private equity firm Warburg Pincus was also among the interested parties. Fonterra said the sale price could rise by NZ$375 million if the Bega licences held by its Australian business are included. "Combining the Fonterra consumer business operations and market leading brands with our existing footprint in Australia and Asia will allow Lactalis to further grow its position in key markets," Lactalis Chairman Emmanuel Besnier said. Privately-held Lactalis, the world's largest dairy company, counts names such as France's brie cheese maker President and Italy's mozzarella producer Vallelata among its brands and sells everything from yoghurt to flavoured milk and desserts. Fonterra is targeting a tax-free capital return of NZ$2 per share following the sale's completion, it said. It is also hoped to grow its ingredients brands and selling high-end ingredients to other companies. "That's where you'll see us continue to innovate and put more of our farmers capital to grow those businesses that get a stronger return long term," Hurrell said. The voters, with their votes, will tell the politicians and their errant clerics that humans must first eat, have shelter, and clothing, before they can practice religion. The primary concern of the masses will fundamentally be the security of life, movement, and property. The protection of their lands, survival of their ethnic groups, and the improvement of their material conditions and wellbeing would equally be their primary concerns. Religion in Nigeria has been negatively politicised and politics itself has been harmfully religionised. These have been by those who control and manage state-power. Religion has been employed to disorganise, demobilise, disunite, and atomise the struggles of the popular masses for democracy and development. Attempts to break this tradition in 1992 was subverted by the military despots. Since then, harmful religious politics has been reinforced by politicians. This was brought to play in the 2023 presidential elections, when the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim, choose another Muslim, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate. Politicians and clerics in 2023 organised political discos around the Muslim-Muslim ticket. These were especially staged in the North and Middle Belt. But the Muslim clerics were largely in the forefront. The concept of the Muslim-Muslim ticket was birthed by them, despite the fact that Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, the rival Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, are Muslims. The politics did not succeed, as the then President Muhammadu Buhari, by his initial opposition to Tinubus candidacy, compelled a lot of people to support the latter. They supported Tinubu not because they liked him but because Buhari and his diehard supporters were apparently for Atiku. Besides, common sense dictated that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. So, they campaigned for Tinubu, and he won. Most Northern or Arewa Muslim clerics deliberately ignored the banditry, terrorism, and violence that the Buhari administration tolerated, encouraged and promoted. They also underestimated the determination of Tinubu to fight them naira-for-naira, and dollar-for-dollar. But, while the Arewa politicians ignored the realities on the ground, the politically dormant Hausa people remembered. As such, unlike in times past when they sheepishly followed their clerics and voted as directed, in 2023 the Hausa masses went for a split, voting more for Tinubu. Come 2027, religion will again be politicised and politics will be religionised. Politicians and their DJs (religious clerics) will organise political discos around and about religion in order to get votes. But the masses will refuse to dance to their music. It is in the North and Middle Belt that clerics, especially the Muslim ones, will go about generally politicising religion. Despite this, the masses will not agree, in the words of Vladimir Lenin, to be, the foolish victims of deception and self-deception in politics. Yes, they might not clearly identify their underlying class interests, but they will, as Lenin once said, seek out the interests of some class or, other behind moral, religious, political and social phrases, declarations and promises. The voters, with their votes, will tell the politicians and their errant clerics that humans must first eat, have shelter, and clothing, before they can practice religion. The primary concern of the masses will fundamentally be the security of life, movement, and property. The protection of their lands, survival of their ethnic groups, and the improvement of their material conditions and wellbeing would equally be their primary concerns. In the South-West geopolitical zone, religious politics have never been an issue of concern. This is because the Yorubas strongly believe and adhere to the axiom that there is no compulsion whatsoever in religion; and that everyone is responsible and accountable for his or her actions to ALMIGHTY GOD. The Yorubas also hold that only GOD knows who is truly worshipping Him, and who is merely paying lip service. Therefore, how you treat your fellow human beings is what concerns them, and not your religion. Consequently, only chronic lunatics and fanatics will go about trying to impose their religious point of views on other people. In the South-South, religion will not play any key role in the 2027 presidential elections. This would be despite the fact that clerics will try to use it in convincing their congregations to vote for their preferred candidates. In the South-East, which is predominantly Christian, with pockets of Muslims, religion will influence the state and National Assembly elections. However, ethnic identity is what will count most there. It is in the North and Middle Belt that clerics, especially the Muslim ones, will go about generally politicising religion. Despite this, the masses will not agree, in the words of Vladimir Lenin, to be, the foolish victims of deception and self-deception in politics. Yes, they might not clearly identify their underlying class interests, but they will, as Lenin once said, seek out the interests of some class or, other behind moral, religious, political and social phrases, declarations and promises. Religious politics will generally be relegated to the background in the 2027 elections in the North and the Middle Belt. With the Fulani terrorists massively slaughtering worshippers in mosques and churches, killing traditional rulers, kidnapping for huge ransoms, raping women, destroying farms, invading and shooting indiscriminately in markets, why should the people succumb to deceptive politics conceived by retrograde politicians and clerics? Why should the indigenous peoples in the North and Middle Belt make religion an issue when their peoples including babies, children, pregnant women, and the elderly could be set ablaze in the vehicles they are traveling in by well-known terrorist groups? Have the terrorists not been known to commit genocide, infanticide, cannibalism, and crimes against humanity? With which ears will the Hausas and ethnic minorities listen to the campaign promises of Fulani politicians and clerics who share the same ethnicity with people perpetrating the terrorism, genocide and crimes against humanity and refuse to condemn them?.. How does anyone expect the people of Benue State, for instance, to listen their governor and other prominent politicians, who virtually kept mute or rationalised the Yelewata genocide? They will tell themselves that they will be cursed by ALMIGHTY GOD if they capitulate to religionism, when hundreds of their communities, villages, and towns have become ghosted. When millions have been turned into refugees, countless children are out of school, and their villages occupied by terrorists who also install their own kings! With which ears will the Hausas and ethnic minorities listen to the campaign promises of Fulani politicians and clerics who share the same ethnicity with people perpetrating the terrorism, genocide and crimes against humanity and refuse to condemn them? How does anyone expect the people of Benue State, for instance, to listen their governor and other prominent politicians, who virtually kept mute or rationalised the Yelewata genocide? Didnt Buhari refuse to officially declare these actors as terrorists because they are from his ethnic group? Did he not, on many occasions, rationalise terrorism? Did Buhari not grant amnesty to Boko Haram terrorists, feed, cloth, pamper and even pay them, while totally ignoring the terrorised, terrified, and displaced in the Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camps? Didnt Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, a Fulani cleric, angrily warn people in the North, during the 2023 presidential election, not to elect any candidate who will neutralise the terrorists? Did he not say: Dont vote for politicians who will attack, kill bandits; theyre our warriors in forests? Did he not boast that: Recent terrorists attack is a tip of the iceberg unless Nigerian Government negotiate with bandits? Do all these not corroborate the statement of a Fulani terrorist that some people in government are behind the terrorism? He had said: I swear to the Almighty God that the government is the one arming us. We Fulani dont know guns. We only know cows and how to rear cows. Cows dont give birth to guns. I swear to God, we just sat down and were supplied AK47 by the government. I am not afraid to say the truth. With all these kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, genocide, why would we expect the Hausas and the ethnic minorities in the Middle Belt to succumb to the politicisation of religion and religionisation of politics in 2027? But there are even far more concrete reasons why the politics of security, survival and well-being, will supersede, override, and cancel the destructive politics of religion in the North and Middle Belt of Nigeria. These will unfold as time goes. Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf worked as deputy director, Cabinet Affairs Office, The Presidency, and retired as General Manager (Administration), Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet). Email: [email protected] The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded a significant breakthrough in its ongoing manhunt for the notorious bandit kingpin, Babaro and his gang who are the masterminds of the recent deadly attack on Gidan Mantau in Malumfashi Government Area. The NAF carried out a decisive air operation, Friday evening at Pauwa Hill in Kankara Local Government Area. Subsequently, the troops early Saturday morning successfully rescued 76 kidnapped victims, including women and children, said Nasir Muazu, Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in a statement. He said the precision air interdiction, conducted between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., specifically targeted Babaros stronghold at Pauwa Hillone of his most notorious bases that has long been a source of terror to surrounding communities. The commissioner revealed that the rescued victims included all those abducted during the attack on Unguwan Mantau in Malumfashi. However, it was regrettably noted that one child tragically lost his life during the ordeal. Mr Muazu stated further: This breakthrough reflects the renewed momentum of security operations across Katsina State. The strike is part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal hideouts, weaken their networks, and put an end to the cycle of killings, kidnappings, and extortion that have plagued innocent citizens. The rescue of the kidnapped victims further underscores the effectiveness of coordinated air and ground operations, as security forces intensify their efforts to flush out bandits and restore confidence among the people. The Katsina State Government, through the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, commended the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, and all security agencies for their courage and professionalism in the fight against banditry. It acknowledged that their sacrifices are steadily reclaiming Katsinas towns and villages from the grip of criminals. We reaffirm our continued support through logistics, intelligence-sharing, and community engagement, ensuring these efforts are sustained until banditry is completely eradicated. We also call on citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely information that can assist ongoing security operations. With the bravery of our forces and the resilience of our people, Katsina will overcome these enemies of peace and achieve lasting stability, the commissioner emphasised. Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Friday denied any involvement in the failed attempt to remove the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh. This is contained in a statement issued in Makurdi by the Governors Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some members of the House attempted to impeach Mr Dajoh on Thursday. In response, the House, during its plenary on Friday, suspended four members for three months over their roles in the failed impeachment plot. According to the statement, Mr Alia reiterated his respect for the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers, affirming that he held the Assembly in high esteem. The statement also emphasised that the governor had consistently responded to all communications and resolutions sent to him by the House. This commitment was demonstrated only a few days ago when he promptly upheld and implemented critical resolutions of the Assembly conveyed to his office, the statement noted. Mr Alia reaffirmed his cordial working relationship with the Mr Dajoh-led Assembly and pledged continued support for its legislative duties in the interest of Benue States development. Benue deputy governor denies replacement rumour Also, the Benue State Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, has dismissed rumours on social media suggesting he might be replaced ahead of the 2027 general elections. Mr Ode, who represented Governor Alia at the funeral of Elizabeth Apochi on Friday in Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area, described the claims as baseless. He said the falsehood was deliberately circulated to mislead the people of Benue South Senatorial District and create unnecessary confusion within the political space. There is no truth in the speculation that Governor Alia intends replacing me with Ojotu Ojema or anyone else, Ode clarified. He stressed that the rumours should be ignored and assured residents that his working relationship with the governor remained cordial and focused on service delivery. Mr Ode however noted that if Mr Ojema considered joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), he would be warmly received into the fold. Benue South is largely controlled by the APC. Ojema is the only representative from the zone outside the party. His inclusion would strengthen us, he explained. READ ALSO: Benue Assembly rejects commissioner nominee after petition by former students The deputy governor also urged respect for traditional institutions, warning politicians and social media users against dragging Idomas traditional ruler, Elaigwu John, into political intrigues. He called on stakeholders to concentrate on Governor Alias ongoing development projects rather than allow themselves to be distracted by divisive falsehoods circulating online. Mr Ode warned against attempts to create discord in Idoma community, stressing that the unity of the people remained their greatest strength and must be preserved. He also advised residents, particularly in Ogbadibo, to participate in INECs Continuous Voters Registration exercise to secure their voting rights in future elections. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that his remarks were intended to douse social media speculation about possible political realignments ahead of the 2027 polls. (NAN) Gunmen on Tuesday shot dead a police operative in Bayelsa State after robbing him of his mobile phone. The slain operative, Obot Godwin, was killed around the Amarata area of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, where he went to buy medicine, Punch newspaper reported. According to the newspaper, the slain operative was pleading with the gunmen to return his phone before he was shot in the head. The police, the newspaper reported, have carried out indiscriminate arrests in the area, including the destruction of houses and tear-gassing school children, causing residents to flee. Windows were smashed during the police raid, and the community has been left in fear of further violence, a source told the newspaper. Every time, we continue to run. This morning, we started running again. They just killed somebody, another source said, adding that the area is noted for clashes between rival cult groups. The police spokesperson in the state, Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday. It is correct. Arrests have been made, Mr Mohammed told our reporter. The incident occurred about four months after gunmen suspected to be militants killed an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state. READ ALSO: One person shot dead as gunmen abduct woman in Ondo Daily Trust Newspaper reported that the officer was killed when gunmen ambushed their patrol van at Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. According to the newspaper, the patrol team was returning from a clampdown at an illegal bunkering site when the incident occurred. In 2022, Vanguard newspaper reported that suspected gunmen killed a police operative along Idema-Otuabagi Road in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. The slain officer, along with four others, the newspaper reported, were returning from their colleagues burial in Rivers State when they came under attack. Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has promised his administration continuous support for Ibom Air, the state-owned airline. He said he would address the recent controversial incident involving the airline and its passenger, Comfort Emmanson. Ms Emmanson was forcefully removed from Ibom Air aircraft about two weeks ago at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for allegedly assaulting a crew member. A viral video of the incident showed Ms Emmanson partially stripped, while the airline officials were trying to remove her from the aircraft. Hours later, she was remanded at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos after the airline pressed charges against her. Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) also imposed a lifetime no-fly ban against her. The severe punishment handed to Ms Emmanson and the viral video showing part of her body stripped triggered a backlash against Ibom Air. Many Nigerians and groups, including Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had rallied support for Ms Emmanson. In an apparent response to the public outcry over the incident, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, asked airlines and aviation regulators to withdraw cases against Ms Emmanson and Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, a music legend, also known as KWAM 1. This newspaper reported how KWAM 1 allegedly insisted on taking an alcoholic drink on board a ValueJet airline despite the caution by officials of the airline. KWAM 1 allegedly tried to physically prevent the aircraft from taking off and was almost hit by it when the pilot proceeded to taxi in preparation for taking off. Well address Ibom Air, passenger altercation Eno Speaking on Saturday at a Town Hall Meeting for Etinan/Nsit Ubium/ Nsit Ibom Federal Constituency, Mr Eno promised his administration continuous support for the airline, saying that both Ibom Air and Ms Emmanson are from the state. Mr Eno was speaking publicly for the first time about the incident. Well continue to support our flagship airline, Ibom Air. Every Akwa Ibom person must support this airline that has flown our colours admirably in the Nigerian aviation sector, Mr Eno said. My money and your money are in Ibom Airline, so you must be happy about it. If theres an issue, dont join others to condemn the airline. Well solve what has happened. The girl and Ibom Air are from this state, he added, urging the people not to talk down on the airline. Ibom Air Ibom Air is a commercial airline owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government. The state government has made a huge investment in the airline, including fleet expansion, building of an International Terminal Building, and a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility at the airline hub Victor Attah International Airport. The airline, two months ago, announced N96 billion in revenue at its first Annual General Meeting. The six-year-old airline, which launched its inaugural flight on 7 June 2019, taking off from the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo to the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, has recorded significant milestones in the aviation industry. Besides winning the best airline of the year for the last four consecutive years, Ibom Air, in 2023, received a safety certification from the International Air Transport Association. READ ALSO: Comfort Emmanson speaks on Ibom Air saga The airline in 2023 received the first of its 10 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft for the expansion of its operations to the West African region, which it launched in October same year with a flight to Accra, Ghana. In August 2024, it added a second Airbus A220-300, increasing its fleet to nine, including seven CRJ 900s and two Airbus A220-300s. The airline flies six domestic destinations and Accra, Ghana. The police in Abia State, Nigerias South-east, say they have killed six kidnappers who abducted a petrol dealer and killed two others in the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. Abduction, killings PREMIUM TIMES reported in March how gunmen abducted the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of Petroleum Retailers Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROA), Lawson Obasi. Mr Obasi was abducted at about 7 p.m. in Azumini, a community in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State. Apart from Mr Obasi, his driver, later identified as Anayo Ukwu and his Special Assistant, Confidence Chijioke, were killed by the attackers. Mr Chijioke, the managing director of DozzMan Filling Station, doubled as the vice-president of PETROA in Rivers State. Ambush of officers during raid of the kidnappers den Ms Chinaka, a deputy superintendent of police, said in the Friday statement that operatives recently intensified efforts to track down attackers following a tip-off. The spokesperson said, at about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, police operatives raided a hideout of the attackers at Ikot Ukpon Village, Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigerias South-south. She said the operatives arrested six of the suspected kidnappers and recovered arms and ammunition. According to the police, items recovered were two AK-47 rifles, 57 live ammunition, locally made pistol, six magazines and a big bag filled with materials suspected to be charms and spiritual items. However, as operatives of the Command were exiting the camp after the successful operation, they were ambushed by other members of the gang, who attempted to rescue their partners in crime. This resulted in a gun battle with the police. The six arrested suspects, while attempting to escape, sustained gunshot injuries and died on the way to the hospital for medical attention, Ms Chinaka narrated. The police spokesperson said other members of the kidnap gang fled with bullet wounds and that two police officers sustained gunshot injuries. They are currently receiving medical attention, she said of the injured operatives. She added that police operatives were still combing the area to track down other fleeing kidnappers and to stop kidnap attacks in the area. Commissioner speaks Ms Chinaka said the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Danladi Isa, has reaffirmed the commitment of the police in the state to crime fighting. Mr Isa assured residents of Abia State that the police in the state will track down unrepentant criminals in the state. The commissioner further assured that the police in the state will continue to collaborate with the police in Akwa Ibom State to fish out other fleeing members of the kidnap gang. The police chief urged residents of Abia State to be security conscious and to support the police promptly reporting to them suspicious persons or anyone with bullet injuries for action. Kidnap for ransom Like other states in the South-east, cases of kidnap-for-ransom in Abia State have increased in recent times. READ ALSO: Gunmen kill police operative in Bayelsa Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the state lately. Beyond the kidnap attacks, gunmen said to be part of the Biafra agitation in the South-east have been terrorising residents of the region. Several persons, including security agencies and government officials, have been abducted or killed by the attackers. The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been blamed for the frequent attacks in the South-east. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is seeking the secession of South-east and some parts of the South-south from Nigeria. The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, says he has forgiven Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, after he tendered an unreserved apology for his past remarks against the traditional ruler. According to a statement signed by Moses Olafare, Director, Media & Public Affairs, the Oonis decision to forgive Mr Adeyemo is a demonstration of his commitment to unity and peace in Yorubaland. At the Oonis palace where the reconciliation took place, Mr Adeyemo was said to have prostrated himself before the Ooni and expressed an emotional apology to the traditional ruler for his past remarks. He revealed that he was surprised to learn of the Oonis role in securing his release from prison in Benin Republic, despite his earlier criticisms. I thank God for my life and for this opportunity. I never thought Kabiyesi would honour me this way. I have offended the Ooni and I am here to seek forgiveness. Whoever I have offended should also forgive me. A person may abuse a monarch behind him, but no one dares to insult a king to his face. Kabiyesi, please forgive me, he was reported as saying. Mr Adeyemi further appealed to the king to use his influence to clear his name from the security watchlist and unfreeze his bank accounts. I beg you to help remove my name from the wanted list and to assist in unfreezing my bank accounts. My priority is the security of Yorubaland. Our people are being killed and I want to use my strength to defend them. I need your support to make this possible, he pleaded. Ooni speaks Describing Mr Adeyemi as a brilliant and courageous son of Yorubaland, the Ooni said the agitators struggles were not for personal gain but for the collective good of the Yoruba people. One thing I know is that patience and humility always prevail. Many insulted me when matters got tough, but I kept smiling because I understood, the Ooni said. The traditional leader revealed that he had previously intervened in Mr Adeyemos case with the late former President,l Muhammadu Buhari in meetings with him. I thank God you are alive today, the Ooni said, assuring Mr Adeyemo that efforts would be made to address his requests. Specifically, the Ooni promised to help resolve the issues of Igbohos wanted status and frozen accounts. You are my son and I am not angry with you. You are a pride to the Yoruba race. Some said I should not receive you in Ife, but I told them you are fighting for our people. All matters will be settled. Let us put aside division and unite as one Yoruba family, the Ooni added. This is not the first time Sunday Igboho would apologise to the Ooni for his slur against the king. But this is the first time he tendered the apology one-on-one. In February 2021, he apologised to the Ooni for describing him as a Fulani slave. The apology came less than 24 hours after he accused the Ooni of not telling then-President Muhammadu Buhari about the travails of Yoruba people during their last meeting in Abuja. Igboho admitted in a video that his tongue misbehaved when insulting the Ooni. Who is Sunday Igboho? Igboho lurched to national fame after he issued a seven-day eviction notice to herders in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State in January 2021. When the ultimatum expired, he led youth to the community and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. Sunday Igboho is a prominent Yoruba activist who has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights and security of the Yoruba people in Nigeria. His activism gained momentum in January 2021 after he issued a seven-day ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen in Ibarapa, Oyo State, to vacate the land following the killing of a prominent individual, Fatai Aborode. During a virtual town hall meeting in February 2021, Sunday Igboho criticized the Ooni, President Bola Tinubu, Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde for prioritizing their personal interests over the welfare of the Yoruba people. He described them as Fulani slaves and accused them of being more interested in maintaining their relationships with the Fulani herdsmen and the federal government than in addressing the security concerns of the Yoruba people. Ooni should be able to tell Buhari about what Yoruba want. But he has collected dollars from Buhari. He called me but I dont want to see him. Only Alaafin is supporting us and he has written a letter to the president. Ooni disappointed me. Politicians are with him, he said. He later apologized for his statement which ignited public outcry. On 1 July 2021, operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) stormed his Ibadan residence in an attempt to arrest him, leading to a violent confrontation that left two of his associates dead. Sunday Igboho subsequently fled to Benin Republic, from where he planned to connect a flight to Germany. He was arrested on 19 July 2021, at the Cotonou airport while attempting to travel to Germany. He was detained for nearly two years before being released in March 2022. READ ALSO: Alaafin reacts to reported supremacy battle with Ooni of Ife Sunday Igbohos arrest and detention sparked widespread outrage and protests in Nigeria, with many calling for his release. The activist has also accused the Nigerian government of sustained persecution, including freezing his bank accounts and those of his companies, despite court judgments in his favour. He gained national prominence in the forceful removal of the Fulani population in the town by a group inspired by Sunday Igboho Adeyemo, a self-acclaimed Yoruba warlord, had catapulted Igangan into national prominence. ( Read 2981 Times) Jaipur, Apex University will be hosting a special academic session on Recent Developments in the Indian Constitution on Monday, August 25, 2025. The program, scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, will feature Prof. Anand Paliwal, Dean, Faculty of Law, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, as the keynote speaker. Objective of the Session The session aims to acquaint students, research scholars, and law aspirants with the latest amendments, judicial pronouncements, and evolving provisions under the Indian Constitution. These developments not only reshape the legal framework but also significantly influence society at large. The discussion will focus on fostering a deeper, practical understanding of constitutional law. About the Keynote Speaker Prof. Anand Paliwal is widely recognized for his scholarship in constitutional law and jurisprudence. With extensive research and teaching experience, he has guided numerous research scholars and contributed significantly to the study of constitutional amendments and judicial interpretation. He has been an active participant in national and international seminars, bridging theoretical and practical dimensions of legal education. Program Highlights Overview of recent constitutional amendments and their implications Judicial interpretations shaping constitutional understanding Prospects for future legal reforms Interactive Q&A session with students Importance of the Event Apex University emphasizes that knowledge of the Constitution is vital not only for students of law but for every citizen. By organizing such sessions, the university seeks to promote legal awareness, critical thinking, and leadership qualities among its students. The university administration has extended an open invitation to students, research scholars, faculty members, and all individuals with an interest in legal studies to join this special session. Source : DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Aug. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The India drone (UAV) market is estimated to be USD 0.47 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.39 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 24.4% according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The Indian drone (UAV) market is growing very fast because of the rising demand for these drones from different sectors, such as agriculture, defense, infrastructure, logistics, and e-commerce. Farmers use drones for spraying, crop monitoring, and improving farm output, while the defense sector uses them for border security, surveillance, and tactical missions. In e-commerce and logistics, drones are being used on a trial basis to make deliveries faster, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The government is also helping this growth through policies and programs like Drone Shakti, which encourage local production, training, and new services, such as Drone-as-a-Service (DAAS). These efforts are creating a strong demand for the drone industry in India. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=136782206 Browse in-depth TOC on "India Drone (UAV) Market" 155 Tables 85 Figures 280 Pages India Drone (UAV) Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2025 $ 0.47 billion Estimated Value by 2030 $ 1.39 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 24.4% Market Size Available for 20202030 Forecast Period 20252030 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type, System, Platform, Application, Industry, and Point of Sale Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Limited payload capacity Key Market Opportunities Increasing use of drones in logistics industry Key Market Drivers Growing emphasis on precision farming By system, the payloads segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period by value By system, the payloads segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment in the India drone (UAV) market because payloads directly determine the functions a drone can perform. Payloads include cameras, LiDAR, thermal imaging units, multispectral sensors, and delivery modules. These are used in applications such as agriculture monitoring, border surveillance, mapping, logistics, and defense operations. As drones are deployed for a broader range of tasks, there is an increase in demand for different types of payloads to meet specific operational requirements. The need for real-time data collection, situational awareness, and precision targeting has led to a greater focus on payload integration, driving this segment's growth. By platform, the civil & commercial segment is projected to lead the India drone (UAV) market during the forecast period By platform, the civil & commercial segment is projected to lead the India drone (UAV) industry, in volume terms, during the forecast period. Drones for civil and commercial usage, which include agriculture, energy, and construction, show a balanced spread, reflecting the technology's cross-sectoral adoption. Small and tactical class drones are preferred for their versatility and lower operational costs, aligning with global trends toward more compact and efficient UAVs for both military and civilian uses. This market distribution underscores the strategic importance of drones in national defense, growing commercial applications, and the potential for further expansion into various industries. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=136782206 Key players in the India drone (UAV) companies include Paras Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. , ideaforge Technology Ltd. , Throttle Aerospace Systems Pvt. Ltd. , Garuda Aerospace Private Limited , Asteria Aerospace Limited , General Aeronautics Pvt. Ltd. , Newspace Research Technologies Pvt. Ltd ., IoTechWorld Avigation Pvt Ltd , Adani Defense and Aerospace , Tata Advanced Systems Limited , CDSpace , THANOS , Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Private Limited , Marut Dronetech Pvt Ltd , Hubblefly , and Raphe . These players have been analyzed based on different parameters, including product portfolios, recent developments, business strategies, and organic and inorganic growth. 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Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/india-drone-companies.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/india-drone.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Tesla and other EV makers in the U.S. are losing a major source of income as the U.S. officially phases out the emissions credit market. In one of my previous articles on TSLA, I discussed the impact of President Donald Trumps recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act on the EV maker. The most significant change is the elimination of the federal tax credit for EV purchases effective Sept. 30. Another important change is the termination of penalty enforcement for automakers with lower average fuel economy, essentially, those producing more gas-guzzling vehicles and fewer EVs. Tesla is a prominent innovator dedicated to accelerating the global transition to sustainable energy. The Elon Musk-led powerhouse designs, develops, manufactures, leases, and sells high-performance fully electric vehicles, solar energy generation systems, and energy storage products. It also offers maintenance, installation, operation, charging, insurance, financial, and various other services related to its products. In addition, the company is increasingly focusing on products and services centered around AI, robotics, and automation. Its market cap currently stands at $1.04 trillion. As Wall Street weighs the risks of a post-credit era, investors are left asking a critical question: without the golden goose of regulatory credits, what does the future hold for Tesla stock? Lets take a closer look. The U.S. governments rollback of clean energy incentives is closing the door on the regulatory credit market that once acted as a financial lifeline for EV makers. For Tesla, the largest beneficiary of the system, this shift represents a turning point. Without the cushion of credit revenue, the company must increasingly rely on its core business performance to deliver profits. Thats a tall order at a time when U.S. EV demand is expected to cool sharply, competition is intensifying, and the companys own fundamentals are showing signs of strain. Tesla (TSLA) has long enjoyed a unique advantage in the auto industry: its ability to rake in billions from selling regulatory credits to rival automakers struggling to meet federal fuel economy and emissions standards. For years, this lucrative stream of easy money has boosted Teslas profitability. But that era is coming to an end, and the implications for Teslas stock are becoming harder to ignore. Story Continues You may be wondering what these credits actually are and why they matter so much to EV makers. To reduce carbon emissions, governments worldwide have introduced incentives to encourage automakers to produce electric vehicles. With that, automakers essentially earn credits by producing zero-emission vehicles. All automakers are required to meet the CAFE and emissions requirements set by the federal government. The CAFE requirements have risen steadily year after year since 2010, reaching 49.2 miles per gallon in 2024. Carmakers that didnt meet this requirement could purchase credits from those that generate a surplus. Since EV makers produce only zero-emission vehicles, they generate surplus credits that can be sold. In other words, Tesla and other EV makers were effectively subsidized by automakers that bought their regulatory credits to keep producing gas-guzzlers such as pickups and SUVs while avoiding U.S. government fines. Buying credits was cheaper than paying fines. Regulatory credit revenue has served as a strong profit driver for EV makers, particularly Tesla. This is because revenue from regulatory credit sales goes straight to the bottom line, thus boosting EV makers profits. It began on a small scale, but as Tesla produced more vehicles, it accumulated a significant number of credits that could be sold to other automakers. Over time, hundreds of thousands in revenue grew into millions, and millions eventually grew into billions. According to FedScout, Tesla has generated $12.24 billion in revenue from the sale of automotive regulatory credits since 2015. However, the passage of the OBBBA ended Teslas golden goose. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Teslas peers Rivian (RIVN) and Lucid (LCID) have faced difficulties obtaining the necessary paperwork from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to finalize zero-emission credit deals. Notably, a week after Trump signed his megabill, NHTSA informed automakers that it would postpone issuing the annual compliance notifications for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. An NHTSA spokesperson told the WSJ that the agency will resume issuing compliance letters once it completes its review of the CAFE standards. However, there is considerable doubt that this will occur under the Trump administration. With that, this effectively ends the market for credits under the CAFE standard, since automakers no longer need to buy credits after the Trump administration officially removed penalties for noncompliance. Meanwhile, the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), an EV industry trade group, filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals seeking to compel the NHTSA to resume issuing the letters. Christopher Nevers, Rivians director of public policy, stated in the petition that the company cannot finalize its credit deals because NHTSA stopped issuing compliance letters, leading to a $100 million revenue loss. Rivian no longer anticipates receiving any CAFE credit revenue this year. In a separate statement, a Lucid executive noted that the credits represent a significant share of the companys revenues. As the largest EV maker in the U.S., Tesla is set to face greater revenue losses than its smaller rivals. Over the past four quarters, Tesla generated nearly $2.5 billion in regulatory credit revenue, which made up a notable share of its net income during the period. Those figures represent global regulatory credit revenues, and while Tesla doesnt specify how much originates from the U.S., analysts estimate that up to half comes from its U.S. sales. Moreover, William Blair analysts estimated in July that roughly 75% of Teslas credit revenue is derived from CAFE standards. In its latest quarterly earnings report, Tesla said revenue from regulatory compliance credits dropped to $439 million, down 26% from the prior quarter and 51% year-over-year. The EV maker also said that the repeal of U.S. federal regulatory credit programs led to a $1.11 billion drop in expected revenue and cautioned that future revenue could be heavily impacted by the changes. While weve never planned our business around such sales, it will nonetheless impact our total revenues going forward, Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja said on the companys Q2 earnings call. It is now clear that the end of the regulatory credits system will have a significant impact on Teslas profits. Although Tesla hasnt needed these credit sales to remain profitable for years, its dependence on them has clearly increased in recent quarters, particularly as sales have declined in recent months. William Blair analysts warn that the loss of regulatory credit revenue will result in a direct hit to profitability and expect demand to drop by about 75% in 2026 before disappearing entirely in 2027. The elimination of the CAFE fines requires a reset in expectations, the William Blair analysts said in a note. Separately, analyst Troy Teslike projects that the U.S. rollback will cut about $255 million from Teslas revenue each quarter, over $1 billion annually moving forward. Some analysts are even more doubtful about Teslas outlook without regulatory credit sales. Gordon Johnson, an analyst at GLJ Research, said, These regulatory credit sales are the reason that Tesla exists today. Without regulatory credit sales, Tesla loses money in its core business. Putting it all together, with the credits gone, Tesla will now have to rely entirely on its actual sales performance for its income. Even more troubling, with the $7,500 EV tax credit set to end in September, EV sales in the U.S. are expected to collapse. On the Q2 earnings call, Musk warned that Tesla could face a few rough quarters due to the end of EV subsidies, and now its clear those quarters will indeed be very rough. What Do Analysts Expect for TSLA Stock? Wall Street analysts remain divided on Tesla, as the stock holds a consensus rating of Hold. Of the 42 analysts covering the stock, 12 give it a Strong Buy, two a Moderate Buy, 18 suggest holding, and 10 rate it a Strong Sell. Bulls are largely encouraged by Musks promises on artificial intelligence, robotics, and self-driving technology, while bears highlight the companys weakening fundamentals and toxic brand image. Notably, the stock currently trades at a premium to its average price target of $299.28. www.barchart.com On the date of publication, Oleksandr Pylypenko 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 DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Aug. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Kaolin Market by Type (Synthetic, Natural), Process (Water-washed, Airfloat, Calcined, Delaminated, Surface-modified & Unprocessed), End-use Industry (Paper, Ceramics & Sanitaryware, Fiberglass, Paints & Coatings, Rubber, Plastic), and Region - Forecast to 2030", kaolin market is projected to reach USD 8.27 billion by 2030, from USD 5.76 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 7.5%. Browse in-depth TOC on "Kaolin Market" 180 - Tables 80 - Figures 300 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=91196438 The kaolin market is primarily propelled by rising demand across various end-use industries, including paper, ceramics, sanitaryware, fiberglass, paints and coatings, rubber, and plastics. In the paper industry, kaolin serves as an essential filler and pigment that enhances quality, with an anticipated surge in paper production for packaging and print media likely to further elevate kaolin demand. In ceramics, kaolin is utilized to manufacture whiteware products, ceramic tiles, and refractories, subject to its high fusion temperature and excellent white burning characteristics. Natural kaolin is expected to be dominant during the forecast period. Natural kaolin holds the highest share in the kaolin market due to its abundance, versatility across various end-use industries, and environmentally friendly qualities. It is commonly found in sedimentary rocks formed under natural geological conditions, making it easily accessible and cost-effective for large-scale mining and application. Its physical traits, such as fine particle size, high whiteness, chemical inertness, and plasticity, make it highly sought after for industries like paper, ceramics, paints, coatings, and cosmetics. The paper industry, in particular, relies on kaolin as a key coating and filler material that enhances paper brightness, printability, and surface smoothness. The water-washed process is expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecasted period. The water-washed process is the fastest-growing segment of the kaolin market, as it is one of the most popular methods for transforming raw kaolin into finished products. Also known as wet processing, this technique extensively utilizes water at various stages, such as screening, grinding, centrifuging, slurring, blunging, and chemical treatment to effectively separate, purify, and process kaolin. This yields a stable chemical composition and enhances the strong adsorption capacity of kaolin, making it highly effective in high-performance and specialty applications. The market is expanding, driven by increasing demand, particularly from the building & construction industry. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=91196438 Asia Pacific is expected to be the leading market for kaolin during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region dominates the kaolin market due to its extensive natural reserves, rapid industrial growth, and high demand across various end-use industries. Countries like China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia are key producers, particularly in ceramics, paper, and construction materials. The kaolin market in this region is characterized by capacity expansions, joint ventures, and collaborations among major players. The ceramics industry, which includes tableware, sanitaryware, construction tiles, and decorative items, significantly drives demand. Recent growth in ceramic manufacturing in China has further fueled the market. Notably, in July 2025, Green360 Technologies, an Australian building materials company, launched a 457-ton bulk calcining run of high-purity kaolin from its Pittong operation in Victoria to produce high-reactivity metakaolin for low-carbon cement, thereby increasing kaolin demand. Request Customization: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=91196438 Key Players Prominent companies include Imerys S.A. (France), 20 Microns (India), KaMin LLC (US), Ashapura Group (India), SCR-Sibelco (Belgium), Thiele Kaolin Company (US), LB MINERALS, LTD. (Hungary), EICL Limited (India), Quarzwerke GmbH (Germany), and Sedlecky Kaolin a.s. (Czech Republic). Get access to the latest updates on Kaolin Companies and Kaolin Market Size Browse Adjacent Market: Ceramics and Glass Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Methanol Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Ceramic Sanitary Ware Market - Global Forecast to 2029 Polylactic Acid Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Electro-Oxidation Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Sodium Silicate Market - Global Forecast to 2029 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New York, Aug 23 : Five people were confirmed dead as a tour bus crashed in the US state of New York, the New York State Police announced. The accident happened on Interstate 90 in Pembroke, Genesee County while the bus carrying more than 50 passengers was returning from Niagara Falls to New York City on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.. "At this time, we have multiple fatalities, multiple entrapments and multiple injuries," said James O'Callaghan, spokesperson for the New York State Police, adding that the total number of deaths and injuries is still being determined. The crash occurred when the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle as it traveled at "full speed," and every passenger on the bus had at least some sort of "cut, bruise or abrasion as an injury," he said. Some victims were thrown from the vehicle when it crashed, police have said, and it is believed most were not wearing seatbelts. The bus was "extremely damaged," many passengers had been ejected from the vehicle when it crashed, but the driver was "alive and well," the spokesperson added. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on X that she was briefed on the "tragic tour bus accident," adding that her team is coordinating with the State Police and local officials who are working "to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved." Mercy Flight, a nonprofit air medical transport service provider, said its three helicopters were transporting people from the crash site to area hospitals. Washington, Aug 23 : US President Donald Trump said that Chicago could be the next city the federal government targets in its crime crackdown, following several days of action in Washington. Speaking to reporters at the White House Oval Office, Trump said on Friday that the capital city is becoming "one of the safest places anywhere on Earth," noting that his administration will go to other cities to tackle crime afterward, Xinhua news agency reported. Chicago "will be our next one after this," said the president. When Trump announced at a White House press conference on August 11 that he was deploying the National Guard to assist in restoring law and order and public safety in Washington, he also cited Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore and Oakland as troubled cities -- all Democratic-led cities. More than 1,900 troops from multiple states have been called up as part of the mission including from West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Louisiana, and Tennessee National Guards, said a release from Joint Task Force - DC on Thursday. Trump visited law enforcement officers and National Guard troops in Southeast Washington on Thursday, renewing his vow to launch similar crime crackdowns in other cities. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered National Guard members patrolling the streets of Washington, to begin carrying their service weapons, CNN cited a US defence official as saying Friday. "The directive from Hegseth represents a notable shift in guidance from the Pentagon, which had previously indicated that National Guard members could be armed if the circumstances warranted," the report said. Early Friday, Trump attacked Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington on social media platform Truth Social, saying that "Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City!" Trump described crime in Washington as "out of control" and declared a "crime emergency" in the city on August 11. In response, Bowser said crime is not only down from 2023 but also from 2019, noting that "we're at a 30-year low in violent crime." Jerusalem, Aug 23 : A missile fired from Yemen landed in central Israel without causing casualties, the Israeli military and emergency services said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the missile appeared to have fragmented in midair, with shrapnel falling near Ben Gurion Airport on Friday, according to Channel 12 News. Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel, including Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem, after smartphone alerts were issued, Xinhua news agency reported. The launch came hours after Israel said it intercepted a drone fired from Yemen toward villages near the Gaza Strip. No damage or casualties were reported in that incident. Earlier on Friday, the Israeli Air Force said it struck energy infrastructure used by Yemen's Houthi group in the capital Sanaa. The Houthis later claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they had targeted Ben Gurion Airport with a hypersonic ballistic missile and drones in response to Israel's war in Gaza. Earlier on Sunday, Israel's military intercepted a missile fired from Yemen towards central Israel, launched in apparent retaliation for an earlier Israeli strike. The missile triggered air raid sirens in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities, sending residents into shelters and safe rooms in the afternoon as tens of thousands rallied in the streets demanding the release of hostages and an end to the war in Gaza. There were no reports of casualties or damage. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (Israel Air Force)," the military said in a statement. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have launched missiles and drones at Israel and Israeli-linked shipping since November, while Israel has carried out retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas, including Sanaa and the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Washington, Aug 23 : US President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of longtime aide and trusted political strategist Sergio Gor to serve as the next United States Ambassador to India, as well as Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump praised Gor's loyalty, organisational talent, and deep involvement in his political and governmental operations. "I am pleased to announce that I am promoting Sergio Gor to be our next United States Ambassador to the Republic of India, and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs," Trump wrote. He continued, "As Director of Presidential Personnel, Sergio and his team have hired nearly 4,000 America First Patriots across every Department of our Federal Government in RECORD time Our Departments and Agencies are over 95% filled! Sergio will remain in his current role at the White House until his confirmation." Trump highlighted Gor's wide-ranging contributions to his administration and campaign, saying, "Sergio is a great friend who has been at my side for many years. He worked on my Historic Presidential Campaigns, published my Best Selling Books, and ran one of the biggest Super PACs, which supported our Movement." "For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!" said Trump. Gor responded with gratitude in a post on X, writing, "Beyond grateful to @realDonaldTrump for his incredible trust and confidence in nominating me to be his next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs! Nothing has made me prouder than to serve the American people through the GREAT work of this Administration! Our White House has achieved historic results in MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! It will be the honor of my life to represent the United States!" The nomination drew praise from top Trump administration officials. Vice President JD Vance wrote, "Sergio is a great guy and will make a fantastic ambassador for our country to India. So much of our success over the last few months was due to Sergio's hard work. I'm grateful to POTUS for giving him this new role." Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in: "I am excited about the President's decision to nominate @SergioGor to be our next Ambassador to India. He will be an excellent representative of America in one of the most important relationships our nation has in the world." FBI Director Kash Patel added his support, posting simply, "Congrats @SergioGor, outstanding pick for Ambassador to India." The 38-year-old Gor quickly rose in conservative politics, becoming one of the most powerful, albeit low-profile, aides in the White House. His task was to vet around 4,000 appointees to ensure their utmost loyalty to Trump. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Aug 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the National Natural Farming Mission (NNFM) on Saturday at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) campus in Pusa, New Delhi. The much-anticipated initiative aims to revolutionise Indian agriculture by promoting sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices, while reducing input costs for farmers and enhancing soil health. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan confirmed the launch during a press briefing on Thursday following a high-level video conference with state agriculture ministers. "Prime Minister Modi will launch the National Natural Farming Mission at ICAR in Pusa (Delhi) on August 23," he stated, underlining the Centre's commitment to environmentally responsible agricultural development. The launch is part of a broader national strategy aimed at positioning India as a global leader in sustainable agriculture. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, in coordination with state governments, has been making extensive preparations for the launch. The goal is not only to scale up natural farming practices nationwide but also to make a meaningful contribution to global efforts to protect the environment and combat climate change. The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) was approved by the Union Cabinet on November 25, 2024. It is being implemented as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme up to the end of the 15th Finance Commission cycle (202526). The mission focuses on scientifically backed approaches to natural farming that improve soil fertility, reduce dependency on chemical inputs, and enhance the overall climate resilience of agriculture. In addition, as part of the broader agricultural development push, the government will run the "Developed Agriculture Sankalp Abhiyan" from October 3 to October 18 during the upcoming Rabi season. The campaign, themed as "Vijay Parv", will aim to further amplify the mission's message and bring farmers, researchers, and policymakers together in a coordinated national effort. With increasing concerns over climate change, environmental degradation, and the health impacts of pesticide use, the NNFM represents a timely and transformative step toward a greener, healthier, and more resilient future for Indian agriculture. Chase is offering great welcome offers on its Sapphire Reserve cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the brand new Sapphire Reserve for Business: Chase Sapphire Reserve : Receive 125,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first three months. Sapphire Reserve for Business: Earn 200,000 points after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. These huge sign-up bonuses follow Chase's announcement of massive updates to its flagship premium travel credit card, the Sapphire Reserve. The Sapphire Reserve updates include a slew of new features and benefits, as well as an annual fee increase to $795. Important: Read more about the new Chase Sapphire card eligibility requirements to see if you qualify for a Chase Sapphire welcome bonus. How much are these Sapphire Reserve credit card bonuses worth? We calculate the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to be about 2.05 cents per point. That means 100,000 Chase points would be worth about $2,050 and 200,000 points would be worth about $4,100. Keep in mind that you can redeem Chase points for a number of different things, but these values are based on redeeming your points for travel. Specifically, you can often get the best value from Chase points by transferring them to certain travel partners, such as World of Hyatt or Air Canada Aeroplan, for high-value redemptions. What can I do with 100,000 or more Chase points? Stretch your points at Hyatt Category 1 hotels You can transfer Chase points to your World of Hyatt account and redeem them toward Hyatt stays. A standard night at a Category 1 Hyatt hotel costs between 3,500 to 6,500 points. In the example above, you can stay 20 nights at the Hyatt Place Los Cabos which is minutes from the beach and offers free breakfast for less than 100,000 points. Thats an excellent way to spend a few weeks if you have the time to spare and like Los Cabos. Its also a great way to work toward earning or maintaining World of Hyatt elite status. Read more: Best hotel credit cards for 2025 Book premium flights You can often get great redemption value by transferring Chase points to certain airline partners and booking premium (first or business class) flights. You should have a specific redemption already in mind, on hold if possible, before transferring your points to a partner, since you cant transfer them back. In the example above, you can book a business class flight with Emirates from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) for 87,000 miles plus $101.50 in taxes and fees. The cash price for this flight is $5,778, which gives you a redemption value of about a whopping 6.5 cents per point. See also: Best airline credit cards for 2025 Score big redemption values on Hyatt luxury stays You can also get excellent redemption value by redeeming your points toward luxurious hotel stays. For example, this one-night stay at the Park Hyatt Vienna costs $1,005.69 or 30,000 points. Redeeming your points on this stay would give you a value of about 3.4 cents per point, which is well above average. Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card details Learn more Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual fee $795 Welcome offer Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months Rewards rate 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel* 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct* 3x points on dining worldwide 1x points on all other purchases *After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually Benefits Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more Receive up to a $120 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review Learn more Sapphire Reserve for Business Annual fee $795 Welcome offer Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in the first 6 months Rewards rate 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel, including The Edit 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct 3x points on social media & search engine advertising 1x points on all other purchases Benefits Get up to $250 in statement credits from January through June, and again from July through December for prepaid bookings made with The Edit Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee charged to your card Receive an annual travel credit up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year Does a Sapphire Reserve card make sense for me? For premium benefits The updated Chase Sapphire Reserve is chock-full of benefits, including loads of new credits that can help offset the increased annual fee. If the credits align with your travel habits and preferences, you should be able to get more than enough value to make the card worth it. If the credits seem too complicated to use, consider other travel credit cards with more straightforward benefits. For business owners The Sapphire Reserve for Business makes sense if you can leverage its rewards and benefits for full value as a small business owner. Part of having a premium travel card is traveling enough to use perks like airport lounge access and Lyft credits. With the business card, you also have access to business-related credits from ZipRecruiter and Google Workspace. If youre not sure whether you can get value from these credits, you might want to consider a different business credit card. For simplicity and affordability The Sapphire Reserve cards only make sense if youre willing to pay a hefty annual fee. If youre not, consider no-annual-fee credit cards or other travel cards with lower annual fees. These cards have plenty of valuable benefits, but they arent always the easiest to use, especially with complicated credits. Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the banks website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product. London, Aug 23 : Chelsea stormed to a thumping 5-1 win over West Ham United at London Stadium, registering their first victory of the 2025/26 Premier League season and turning up the heat on former Blues boss Graham Potter. Chelsea, who lost Cole Palmer to injury during the warm-up, showed no signs of missing their talisman. Joao Pedro, shifted into a central attacking role, was the standout performer with a goal and two assists, while Neto and Estevao impressed in a fluid front line. The hosts made a dream start when Lucas Paqueta fired in a stunning sixth-minute strike, but Joao Pedro led a relentless Chelsea response. The Brazilian headed in an equaliser from close range before teeing up Pedro Neto for a smart finish, turning the match around inside 23 minutes. Enzo Fernandez added a third before half-time after excellent build-up from Estevao and Liam Delap, capitalising on West Hamas disarray. Things went from bad to worse for the Hammers after the break, as shambolic set-piece defending allowed Chelsea to score twice more in quick succession. Moises Caicedo poked home after Mads Hermansen flapped at a corner, and Trevoh Chalobah added a fifth after Joao Pedro headed down another delivery. West Ham, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table with two heavy defeats and major questions surrounding their defensive organisation. The returning Potter watched his side booed off at half-time and outplayed throughout, with many fans leaving well before full-time. With upcoming matches against Fulham and Brentford, Chelsea will hope to build on this resounding victory. For West Ham and Potter, the pressure is mounting quicklya"another performance like this, and the early-season optimism may vanish entirely. Dehradun, Aug 23 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday expressed concern over the cloudburst in the Tharali region of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district and said that he is monitoring the relief and rescue operations. At least two people have gone missing after a cloudburst struck a village in Tharali tehsil late on Friday night, leaving behind a trail of devastation, officials confirmed on Saturday. Heavy rainfall battered several parts of the Tharali developmental block, inflicting widespread damage in Kotdeep, Radibag, Upper Bazar, Kulsari, Chepdo, Sagwara and adjoining areas. In a post on X, CM Dhami said, "Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations." Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were rushed from Gauchar to the affected sites, while the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) began clearing the Ming Khedere stretch to restore road connectivity and assist relief operations. "In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone's safety," he added. According to Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash, debris entered multiple houses and shops, while Chepdo witnessed severe destruction due to the cloudburst. Authorities reported that an elderly person went missing in Chepdo, while in Sagwara village, a 20-year-old girl was believed to have been buried inside a damaged building. The Tharali-Gwaldam road near Ming Khedere was blocked by heavy debris and rainfall, while the Tharali-Sagwara route also remained closed, disrupting movement in the area. The calamity also swept away several cars and vehicles, while in Kotdeep, numerous shops and houses were damaged, and vehicles were buried under layers of debris. In Radibag, debris entered the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's residence, the Nagar Panchayat President's residence and several homes, trapping many bikes and vehicles under rubble. Locals, gripped with fear, fled their homes amid the relentless downpour to seek shelter in safer places. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an 'Orange Alert' in Uttarakhand, warning of thunderstorms/lightning and very intense rain at different places in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Nainital, Almora and Udham Singh Nagar such as Kotdwar, Rishikesh, Gangotri, Kashipur, Kedarnath, Joshimath, Mussoorie, Munsyari, Lohaghat, Ranikhet, Khatima and adjoining areas over the next 24 hours. In the wake of the disaster, the Chamoli district administration ordered all schools and Anganwadi centres in Tharali tehsil to remain closed on Saturday as a precautionary measure. Washington, Aug 23 : US President Donald Trump said that the US government had reached a deal with Intel to take a 10 per cent stake in the American chipmaker in return for federal subsidies, hinting that his administration is seeking to forge more such deals. Trump made the remarks during a press availability, touching on his recent talks with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, as concerns linger that Washington could also consider seeking a stake in foreign companies, including Samsung Electronics, a winner of U.S. grants under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, reports Yonhap news agency. "He walked in, wanting to keep his job, and he ended up giving us $10 billion for the United States. So, we picked up $10 billion," Trump said, referring to the value of a 10 percent stake in Intel. Earlier this month, he called for the Intel chief to resign over his alleged ties to China. "We do a lot of deals like that. I'll do more of them," he added. In a social media post later in the day, Trump said that the U.S. now "fully owns and controls" 10 percent of Intel, saying the shares are now valued at around $11 billion. "I negotiated this Deal with Lip-Bu Tan, the Highly Respected Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The United States paid nothing for these Shares, and the Shares are now valued at approximately $11 Billion Dollars," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "This is a great Deal for America and, also, a great Deal for INTEL. Building leading edge Semiconductors and Chips, which is what INTEL does, is fundamental to the future of our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!," he added. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a U.S. official, that the Trump administration is considering taking stakes in firms receiving funds from the CHIPS Act, but has no plans to seek shares in bigger chipmakers that are boosting their investments in the U.S. Late last year, the administration of former President Joe Biden announced that it had awarded Samsung up to $4.75 billion in direct funding to support the company's chipmaking investment in central Texas. a"IANS na/ Washington/Seoul, Aug 22 : The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States discussed ways to advance the bilateral alliance during their talks in Washington, DC, a State Department spokesperson said, as they fine-tuned the agenda for the planned summit between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Secretary of State Marco Rubio held the talks just three days ahead of the summit, where Lee and Trump are expected to discuss joint efforts to "modernise" the bilateral alliance at a time when Washington focuses on deterring an increasingly assertive China, reports Yonhap news agency. "Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Cho discussed ways to advance the U.S.-ROK alliance centred on a forward-looking agenda that enhances deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, increases our collective burden sharing, helps to revitalise American manufacturing, and restores fairness and reciprocity in our trade relationship," principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a readout. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. The two sides also reiterated the importance of trilateral cooperation with Japan, he added. Cho and Rubio, moreover, highlighted the "enduring" strength of the alliance, which Pigott said has remained the "linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific for over seven decades." In a separate press release, South Korea's foreign ministry said Cho underscored the historic importance of the upcoming summit, to which Rubio responded that he anticipates the talks will be a constructive and productive meeting for both sides. In addition to discussing forward-looking agenda and projects in an array of areas, ranging from security to technology, the top diplomats also exchanged their opinions on regional security issues and agreed to closely cooperate on policies concerning North Korea. Cho separately met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the White House and called for efforts to swiftly wrap up follow-up consultations over their tariff talks, the foreign ministry said. a"IANS na/ New Delhi, Aug 23 : In a significant step towards deepening financial inclusion, the Department of Posts (DoP) and the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) have joined hands to distribute mutual funds via post offices. They signed a pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 30th Foundation Day Celebration of AMFI in Mumbai. The MoU is valid for three years starting August 22, 2025 to August 21, 2028, with provisions for renewal. It includes comprehensive safeguards for investor data and service integrity, setting a new benchmark for operational excellence in India's financial services landscape. This landmark agreement marks the beginning of a new service model where India Post will act as a distributor to facilitate mutual fund investments through its extensive postal network, particularly benefitting citizens in rural and semi-urban areas. The initiative aims to broaden access to mutual fund products, leveraging the trust and reach of post offices across the country, according to the Ministry of Communications. Under this agreement, DoP staff will function as mutual fund distributors to enhance mutual fund penetration in smaller towns and rural regions where access to structured financial products has traditionally been limited. India Post has an extensive presence in rural and semi-urban regions across the country, where awareness about mutual fund investments remains relatively low. "This partnership is a testament to DoP's commitment to financial inclusion and penetration in the remotest corners of the country while reinforcing AMFI's vision of fostering a professional and investor-friendly mutual fund ecosystem in India," said an official statement. The MoU was formally signed by Manisha Bansal Badal, General Manager (Business Development), Department of Posts, and V.N. Chalasani, Chief Executive, AMFI in the presence of Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman, SEBI. IANS na/ New Delhi, Aug 23 : As India marks the second National Space Day, political leaders across the country paid glowing tributes to the scientists behind India's space successes, particularly the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission that landed on the Moon's South Pole on this very day in 2023. Leading the tributes, Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted a powerful message on X, saying, "On #NationalSpaceDay, as we celebrate the historic moment when Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the Moon's South Pole, every Indian heart swells with pride. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the brilliant scientists of @isro, whose unwavering dedication made this achievement possible." He emphasised the transformative leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in propelling India's space ambitions, writing, "Under the visionary leadership of Modi Ji, this landmark mission has opened new frontiers in space exploration and sparked a renewed spirit of innovation and purpose among our youth. From Chandrayaan-3 to Aditya, and the many missions ahead, ISRO continues to turn the aspirations of a rising India into reality with resilience, brilliance, and unmatched national pride." Other Union Ministers also joined in marking the day with powerful tributes. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju wrote, "Let #NationalSpaceDay be a reminder to us that no dream is too high when backed by courage & conviction. Grateful to our scientists for making Bharat shine beyond the skies." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also paid tribute, stating, "On this very day in the year 2023, our great scientists left an indelible mark in global space history by achieving the soft landing of India's pride, 'Chandrayaan-3,' on the moon we salute those great Indian scientists whose dedication, tireless efforts, and remarkable talent have established 'New India' at the pinnacle of space exploration." National Space Day, first declared in 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is celebrated every year on August 23 to honour the success of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander and Pragyan rover, which marked India's entry into elite space history. The day serves as a national tribute to the scientific excellence of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and continues to ignite a passion for space and innovation among India's youth. To mark this occasion, the NCERT's new educational module titled 'India A Rising Space Power' will be introduced in classrooms across UP. This module is designed to showcase India's journey in space science, from early innovations to modern-day achievements, and will highlight key missions such as Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. Digital platforms such as DIKSHA, NISHTHA, and the India on the Moon portal are also being integrated into today's celebrations to provide accessible, high-quality content related to space science and innovation. This year's theme for National Space Day 2025, 'Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities,' captures the essence of India's scientific heritage and future ambitions. It connects the ancient astronomical legacy of scholars like Aryabhatta with the cutting-edge advancements of modern Indian space missions, emphasising the continuity of knowledge and innovation. New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday announced the arrest of Dinesh D. Gehlot, a Proclaimed Offender in a high-value bank fraud case registered more than two decades ago. The case dates back to May 31, 2004, when Gehlot allegedly defrauded Bank of Baroda by dishonestly securing a housing loan using forged and fabricated documents. Following an investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet on April 30, 2007, naming him as one of the conspirators in the fraud. "The accused failed to join the trial or respond to summons/warrants and was untraceable since 2024. Multiple Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs) were issued against him. Finally, on 09.12.2024, the Hon. Special Judge for CBI, Greater Bombay, ordered to issue Proclamation warrant against him. Despite sustained efforts over the time to trace him, the absconding accused had remained untraceable," the agency said in a statement. Officials revealed that Gehlot frequently changed residences, misled locals about his real identity and kept minimal contact with residents, making it extremely difficult to trace him. According to the CBI, "Through the deployment of advanced technological tools and identity-tracking databases, meticulously analysing the digital footprint of the absconding accused to ascertain his current identity and location, supplemented by extensive field investigations and on-ground enquiries, the team successfully located the accused Dinesh D. Gehlot in Noida." He was apprehended on August 20, 2025, and produced before the Competent Court in Mumbai, which remanded him to judicial custody to face trial proceedings. The accused is currently undergoing trial. Highlighting the operation, the CBI said, "This case is a classic example of how the integration of technology-driven Intelligence platforms with the persistent and coordinated efforts of investigating officers on the ground can substantially augment the operational capabilities of law enforcement agencies in tracing and apprehending long-absconding offenders." Mexico City, Aug 23 : Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has once again rejected any US military intervention in cracking down on the country's drug cartels, reiterating Mexico's sovereignty. Mexico "is free, independent, and sovereign" and will not allow any foreign government to violate its autonomy, she told a daily news conference in Mexico City on Friday. Her comments came in response to remarks made by US Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole when speaking to Fox News that his agency would back a US presidential decision to attack Mexican drug cartels. "That will not happen," Sheinbaum said. "Mexico has great strength -- from our people and from what we represent as a government of the people. Any attempt will be met with national unity." Sheinbaum has repeatedly rejected a US military intervention in the country's drug war, a prospect threatened by US President Donald Trump, reports Xinhua news agency. Earlier this month, US media reports said that Trump signed a secret order authorising military actions against drug cartels designated as terrorist organisations in Latin America. Additionally, Sheinbaum also stated that US migration policies were responsible for a decrease in July remittances sent home by Mexicans living in the United States. Sheinbaum said remittances dropped 16 per cent from June to July and are down by about 5 per cent so far in 2025, back to 2022 levels. "Remittances increased substantially in 2023 and even more in 2024. Now we are at levels similar to 2022," she said. "What explains this? Above all, the policies the United States has imposed on our migrant brothers and sisters," she added. Sheinbaum said her government, along with Mexico's central bank, is assessing the impact of the decline in remittances and considering measures to protect Mexican families reliant on the funds. Sheinbaum stressed that the situation does not pose a risk to Mexico's overall economy. The US is expected to impose a 1 per cent tax on outbound remittances starting in 2026. The Mexican government has announced a special program to reimburse the tax on cash transfers from migrants. Mexico received 62.5 billion US dollars in remittances in 2024 from about 8 million Mexicans living in the US, official data showed. Experts warn that higher costs could push undocumented migrants to turn to informal channels to send money, potentially boosting the irregular market. New Delhi, Aug 23 : India is laying the foundations to emerge as a global medtech hub, said the Union government. At a two-day Southeast and South Asia regional meet, Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, emphasised the need to strengthen the medical device sector ecosystem. Beyond "technology and skilled manpower," there is also a need to establish "internationally accredited laboratories, adopt globally harmonised standards, and support clinical investigations for innovative devices to achieve economies of scale but aggregate demand beyond national borders". "With the ongoing development of medical device parks in India and ICMR's MedTech Mitra and Patent Mitra initiatives, clinical trial support schemes and strengthened research platforms, India is systematically laying the foundation to emerge as a significant MedTech innovation hub," he added. Underscoring that "health knows no boundaries", he observed that the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the critical need for collaboration across borders, between sectors, and among government departments and public health agencies in creating resilient and strong healthcare systems. The Secretary also highlighted the contributions of the National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) in developing skilled human capital. Specialised courses in medical devices are now being offered across seven NIPERs, and these have been opened to foreign nationals as well. Medical technologies will increasingly move beyond hospitals into households through digitalisation, thereby making healthcare more accessible and affordable, according to Agrawal. He also highlighted the importance of Academia to Industry: The Discovery Marketplace platform developed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, which aims to enable connections between industry, startups, academic and research institutes, and other stakeholders in the pharma-MedTech sector for partnerships, collaborations, and tie-ups for innovative products and promote breakthroughs for both commercial and public good. The meeting is part of the Regional Enabler for South and Southeast Asia Research for Health (RESEARCH) Platform, which aims to foster solidarity, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration among participating countries. It was organised by the Department of Health Research and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in the national capital. The session brought together senior health functionaries from the governments and public health agencies from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Timor-Leste to deliberate on strengthening health research systems, facilitate exchange of good practices, and promote cross-border collaboration in South and Southeast Asia. New Delhi, Aug 23 : The 56th meeting of the GST Council, slated for September 3-4, will decide on the Group of Minister's (GoM) proposal to retain two slabs - 5 per cent and 18 per cent. New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) The 56th meeting of the GST Council, slated for September 3-4, will decide on the Group of Minister's (GoM) proposal to retain two slabs 5 per cent and 18 per cent. As per an official statement, the Council meeting comes amid the Centre's mega push to reform the GST taxation regime's structure into two slabs, from four at present. According to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who leads the six-member GoM, "we have recommended a two-slab GST structure and submit our recommendations to the GST Council". The GoM agreed that the existing 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs will be scrapped under the new regime. The objective is to move toward a simpler and more transparent GST regime. The country currently follows a four-slab GST system 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent along with an additional cess on sin and luxury goods. Under the new structure, 'merit' goods and services will attract 5 per cent GST, while most other items (standard) will come under an 18 per cent standard rate. A higher 40 per cent levy will remain on a small set of so-called sin goods. Examples include alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling, soft drinks, fast food, coffee, sugar, and even pornography. A sin tax is a special tax that the government puts on such goods. The purpose is to discourage people from using them and to reduce the harm they can cause. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, addressing the two-day GoM meeting earlier, had said that a simplified system would benefit the common man, farmers, the middle class and small businesses, while also making GST more transparent and growth-oriented. As part of the changes, almost all items currently in the 12 per cent category will move to the 5 per cent slab. Similarly, most products taxed at 28 per cent will shift to the 18 per cent bracket, which the Centre believes will improve compliance and reduce complexity. The GoM also reviewed the Centre's suggestion to exempt GST on individual health and life insurance premiums. The final decision on the recommendations will be taken by the GST Council in its meeting in early September. IANS na/ Guwahati/Aizawl, Aug 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the 51.38 km Bairabi-Sairang new railway project on September 13, making Aizawl the fourth capital city in the Northeast to be connected by rail, a CMO official said on Saturday. Guwahati/Aizawl, Aug 23 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the 51.38 km Bairabia"Sairang new railway project on September 13, making Aizawl the fourth capital city in the Northeast to be connected by rail, a CMO official said on Saturday. The official in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Mizoram, said that though the final confirmation of the Prime Minister's schedule is yet to come from the PMO, it is most likely that he would inaugurate the railway project on September 13. The CMO official said that Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, while addressing the 15th Conference of the Mizoram Police Service Association (MPSA), indicated that the Prime Minister is likely to flag off the Bairabia"Sairang railway project on September 13. A senior official of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) headquarters in Maligaon (near Guwahati) said that on September 13, the Prime Minister is most likely to inaugurate the 51.38 km new railway line project from Bairabi, near Assam's Hailakandi district, to Sairang, near Aizawl city, bringing direct rail connectivity to the Mizoram state capital for the first time. "However, we are waiting for the final confirmation of the Prime Minister's schedule from the PMO," the official said. Mizoram CMO official said that on July 14, Chief Minister Lalduhoma met Prime Minister Modi at his official residence in New Delhi and also invited him to formally inaugurate the newly completed Bairabia"Sairang railway line and the new Sairang Railway Station. The official of the NFR said that the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Northeast Frontier Circle, Sumeet Singhal, after visiting the newly laid railway tracks between June 6 and June 10, authorised the NFR to operate both goods and passenger trains on the line. The Bairabia"Sairang railway project was executed at an estimated cost of Rs 8,215 crore. This transformative achievement is expected to significantly enhance passenger and freight movement, stimulate socio-economic growth, and fulfil a long-standing aspiration of the people of Mizoram to see trains arriving in the heart of their capital, the official said. Despite the tough terrain, commendable work has been carried out by the NFR. The official said that the Bairabi-Sairang new line railway project is an engineering marvel of the Indian Railways. The project, which lies in mountainous terrain, consists of 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and 87 minor bridges. The total length of tunnels in this project is 12,853 meters. The height of bridge number 196 is 104 metres, which is 42 metres taller than the Qutub Minar. The project also includes five Road Over Bridges and six Road Under Bridges. Belagavi, Aug 23 : As Ganesh Chaturthi is almost here, the city of Belagavi - nestled at the confluence of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa - comes alive with vibrant celebrations. In every nook and corner, idols of Lord Ganesha adorn homes and public spaces alike. Yet, amid this sea of devotion, one village stands out for its unique and heartwarming tradition: "One Village, One Ganesha." Belagavi, Aug 23 (IANS) As Ganesh Chaturthi is almost here, the city of Belagavi nestled at the confluence of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa comes alive with vibrant celebrations. In every nook and corner, idols of Lord Ganesha adorn homes and public spaces alike. Yet, amid this sea of devotion, one village stands out for its unique and heartwarming tradition: "One Village, One Ganesha." In the quaint village of Nandgad, located in the Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district, the entire community comes together each year to worship a single Ganesha idol. Since 1944, this village has been upholding a tradition that promotes unity, simplicity, environment consciousness and communal harmony. This year marks the 81st year of this inspiring practice. The Ganesha idol, installed in a central public space, becomes the focal point of devotion for all villagers Hindus and Muslims alike. For 11 days, the village resonates with chants, prayers, and cultural performances, culminating in the grand immersion ceremony. Daily rituals include the Ganahoma pooja, followed by community gatherings and cultural events that foster togetherness among people of all castes and religions. Speaking to IANS, a member of the Ganesha committee said, "We believe in unity above all. For decades, our village has celebrated with one idol not only to bring us closer but also to reduce unnecessary expenditure. The message is simple: We are one." As the rest of the country prepares for Ganesh Chaturthi on August 27 this year, Nandgad offers a powerful example of how tradition can also be a medium for social cohesion. Across India, this festival also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav is observed with immense fervor, marking the birth of Lord Ganesha. The 10-day celebration includes prayers, offerings, and community events, with devotees seeking wisdom, prosperity, and success from the beloved elephant-headed deity. From bustling city streets to serene village squares, the essence of Ganesh Chaturthi remains the same devotion, joy, and a sense of togetherness. Ganesh Chaturthi holds immense significance for Hindus. They believe praying to Lord Ganesha can help one achieve wisdom, success, and good fortune. Moreover, when starting any new work, exam, wedding or a new job, devotees of Lord Ganesha pray to him, seek his blessings and ask him to bless them with success. Mumbai, Aug 23 : Days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned businessman Anil Ambani in a money laundering case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday raided premises linked to Reliance Communications (RCOM) and its Promoter Director. The raids, conducted at multiple places in Mumbai, were in connection with an alleged fraud that caused a loss of over Rs 2,000 crore to the State Bank of India (SBI), according to sources. The SBI classified RCOM and 66-year-old Ambani as "fraud" on June 13 in accordance with the Reserve Bank of India's Master Directions on Fraud Risk Management and the Bank's Board-approved Policy on Classification, Reporting & Management of Frauds. In its letter to RCom, SBI said it found deviation in the utilisation of loans, involving a complex web of fund movements across multiple group entities. "We have taken cognisance of the responses to our show-cause notice and after due examination of the same, it is concluded that sufficient reasons have not been provided by the respondent, to explain the non-adherence to the agreed terms and conditions of the loan documents or the irregularities observed in the conduct of the account of RCL to the satisfaction of the bank," the bank said. As per RBI guidelines, after a bank classifies an account as "fraud", the lender should then report it to the RBI within 21 days of detection and also report the case to the CBI or police. Earlier this month, Anil Ambani faced a gruelling nine-hour interrogation at the ED headquarters in the national capital regarding an alleged Rs 17,000-crore loan fraud case. The regulator was set to call Anil Ambani again for questioning in a couple of days, according to sources. Reliance Group Chairman had reportedly sought 7-10 days from the probe agency to submit documents related to the alleged scam. According to sources, Anil Ambani sought to deny any involvement in the case, maintaining that all financial decisions were taken by the internal board of his companies, and that he only signed them. The ED had conducted raids at locations linked to Anil Ambani's Reliance Group. Investigators seized a large number of documents, hard drives, and other digital records from several sites in Mumbai and Delhi. The raids began as part of a money laundering investigation into the Yes Bank loan fraud case. Chennai, Aug 23 : Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran strongly criticised the DMK government for allegedly going back on its electoral promise to increase domestic power generation to reduce reliance on private suppliers, and instead planning to procure electricity at a massive cost that would burden both the state exchequer and consumers. In a statement on Saturday, Nagenthran said reports that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) is preparing to purchase 2,200 MW of electricity from private producers at an estimated cost of Rs 80,000 crore, raise serious questions about the government's priorities. He recalled that before coming to power, the DMK, under its election promise number 231, had pledged to reduce dependence on private sources and instead produce 20,000 MW through clean and renewable energy facilities to ensure affordable power for the people. "Contrary to that commitment, the government has pushed the power board into losses and is now choosing to buy power at high costs from private companies," he said. Nagenthran alleged that this move would inevitably lead to higher electricity tariffs, further straining households and industries already reeling from successive rate hikes. "Is the so-called 'Dravidian Model' only about raising tariffs without adding to power generation capacity?" he asked. The BJP leader accused the DMK of burdening both the government and the public. "By raising the state's debt and simultaneously increasing power charges, the government is pushing Tamil Nadu into darkness while boasting of being a 'Vidiyal' (Dawn) administration," he charged. He also attacked the government for failing to keep its promise of introducing monthly electricity billing, a measure that had been announced to ease consumer payments. "If the DMK government could discard its own promise on billing cycles, it should not find it difficult to scrap this costly proposal to buy power from private firms," he said. He urged the state government to immediately abandon any plan to procure electricity at such high costs from private suppliers, warning that it would only worsen the financial burden on both the treasury and ordinary citizens. Islamabad, Aug 23 : The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly condemned the arrest of the country's prominent journalist Khalid Jamil, calling it an attack on press freedom. Jamil was arrested on Friday by the Cyber Crime Cell of the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) from his residence in Islamabad Media Town. In a statement, the investigation agency said he was taken into custody following "completion of official procedures", without disclosing any further details, local media reported. "The right to freedom of expression for journalists is protected by the Constitution of Pakistan and international human rights agreements. Arresting any journalist for their views or reporting is not only a violation of fundamental human rights but also an attack on press freedom," the HRC Pakistan stated. The rights body demanded that the Pakistani government and relevant authorities must immediately release Jamil and stop the harassment of journalists. Emphasising that freedom of the press is the foundation of a free society, it urged the government to take effective measures in order to protect media freedom in Pakistan, stressing that suppressing the voice of journalists is contrary to democratic values. This is not the first time Jamil has had an encounter with authorities. He was previously arrested in September 2023 by the FIA for allegedly spreading anti-state narratives on social media. Jamil is currently not affiliated with any media organisation and runs a YouTube channel, which often highlights the human rights violations and political repression in Pakistan. Earlier this week, the HRCP sharply criticised the registration of cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) against four women journalists of the National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad, calling it an attack on freedom of expression. The rights body asserted that the action against the journalists Nayyar Ali, Sehrish Qureshi, Maira Imran, and Shakeela Jalil exacerbates the challenges faced by women journalists already operating in difficult conditions in Pakistan. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 23 : The Congress party on Saturday strongly backed first-time MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, rejecting demands from the CPI(M) and BJP for his resignation from the Assembly following allegations of misbehavior. Protests were held by workers of both the CPI(M) and BJP in different parts of Kerala, calling for Mamkootathil to step down. The young lawmaker had earlier resigned as president of the Youth Congress, citing "moral grounds," but has ruled out stepping down as a legislator. He had won the Palakkad Assembly by-election in November last year and quickly rose to prominence as a plain-speaking leader, drawing sharp attention from both the CPI(M) and the BJP. With the allegations against him triggering a political storm, opposition parties have been pressing for his resignation. However, senior Congress leaders insisted the matter had been settled with his resignation from the Youth Congress post. AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Deepadas Munshi, said, "There has been no complaint received by the party or anywhere else. Rahul Mamkootathil resigned on moral grounds even when there was not a single complaint against him. For the Congress, morality comes first. I urge other parties to adopt the same standard." Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan also hit back at the CPI(M), stating that the Left should introspect on its own record. "Complaints have surfaced against CPI(M) and BJP leaders in the past. Did they ever take the kind of action that the Congress has taken? The Congress is different. We lead by example,". Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil, a close aide of Mamkootathil, criticized sections of the media for "spreading baseless news" that he had gone into hiding. "I was in Bihar attending a yatra. Everyone knew it. Why should I run away?" he asked. He further alleged that the CPI(M) was attempting to divert attention from the state government's lapses by targeting Mamkootathil. "One CPI(M) MLA continues despite facing a rape charge sheet. Cases have also been raised against individuals close to the Chief Minister's Office. Did the CPI(M) ask them to resign? The Congress has always taken the right step," Parambil asserted. While Mamkootathil remains firm on not giving up his Assembly seat, the controversy shows no signs of abating, with both the CPI(M) and BJP set to keep the issue alive in the coming days. New Delhi, Aug 23 : The feat achieved by the Chandrayaan-3 mission was unprecedented, and it proved that the 21st century belongs to India, said Hardeep Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, on Saturday. Taking to social media platform X, Puri greeted the nation on National Space Day and expressed his "gratitude to all the scientists dedicated to making India a space superpower". "Today is a day of pride for India. Two years ago, on this very day, our great scientists achieved a world record by successfully performing a soft landing of 'Chandrayaan-3' on the moon," Puri said. "With this success, India became the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the moon's surface and the first country to attempt such a feat on the moon's south pole. This unprecedented achievement proved that the 21st century belongs to India," he added. With Chandrayaan-3, India also became the fourth country, after the US, China, and Russia, to make a soft landing on the lunar surface. Remembering the mission, Dr S. Somanath, former ISRO chief, said: "Chandrayaan-3, Vikram's gentle landing -- etched forever in memory. The control centre screens still glow with pride". It was "a game-changing moment for India," said Somanath, who as the ISRO chairman spearheaded the mission. Meanwhile, P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, hailed India's space journey as a shining example of collective resolve by ministries, states, industries, scientists, and startups. Speaking at the National Space Meet 2.0 hosted by ISRO, he lauded the national space agency for creating a vibrant ecosystem by mentoring youth and startups, while reforms such as spectrum allocation, venture capital funds, and technology transfer have made India's space sector scalable, innovative, and resilient. "India's space journey is about empowering citizens, bridging divides, and building a self-reliant nation. As we march towards Viksit Bharat 2047, space will be one of the strongest enablers of growth and transformation," Mishra said. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan set a bold target for the country. "By 2040, India will stand at par with global leaders in rockets, satellites, and applications, making a significant contribution to Viksit Bharat 2047," he said. Pandhurna, Aug 23 : As many as 25 people are reported to have been injured so far in the world-famous stone-battle fair or "Gotmar Mela" in Pandhurna district of Madhya Pradesh. Pandhurna, Aug 23 (IANS) As many as 25 people are reported to have been injured so far in the world-famous stone-battle fair or "Gotmar Mela" in Pandhurna district of Madhya Pradesh. The centuries-old spectacle began around 6 a.m. on Saturday at the confluence of Pandhurna and Sawargaon on the banks of the Jam River. As tradition dictates, thousands gathered to witness -- and partake in -- the ritualistic "stone-pelting battle" known as Gotmar, a practice that defies modern sensibilities yet continues to thrive with fervent devotion. Speaking to IANS, Superintendent of Police S.S. Kanesh said, "So far, 22-25 people have been injured since morning when it started. It will continue till late evening." Held annually on the second day of the Pola festival (new Moon day), the Gotmar Mela is not merely a fair but a visceral re-enactment of a legend soaked in blood and memory. According to local lore, the tradition began after a tragic love story between a Pandhurna youth and a Sawargaon girl ended in fatal violence. Their attempt to elope was thwarted mid-river by villagers hurling stones -- a moment that birthed a ritual now woven into the cultural fabric of the region. "This year, the fair saw heightened security and medical preparedness. A force of 600 police personnel from Chhindwara, Betul, Seoni, Narsinghpur, and Pandhurna was deployed, operating across 47 designated points using GPS-based coordination. Drone surveillance and CCTV cameras monitored the crowd, while 11 blockades and continuous patrolling aimed to contain the chaos. Even the Bhopal and Jabalpur zones have provided additional force. As many as 10 medical camps are operational, with 16 ambulances and a medical team of 300 personnel, including 45 doctors," the senior police officer said. Each year, medical teams remain on high alert and ready for emergency evacuations. Ointments and first aid are distributed as injuries mount throughout the day. All day, Pandhurna and Sawargaon players clash with chants and drumbeats, hurling stones to push each other back. Between 3 and 4 p.m., excitement peaks as players charge toward the flag with axes. Sawargaon retaliates fiercely, forcing Pandhurna to retreat. By evening, Pandhurna regains ground, breaks the flag, shouting "Chandi Mata ki Jai," and both sides cease hostilities. If the flag remains intact, the administration halts Gotmar Mela by mutual agreement at 6.30 p.m. "The mela often comes to a culmination at around 8-9 pm these days," said a police officer. Despite the inherent violence, the event remains deeply spiritual. Devotees first offer prayers at the temple of Goddess Chandika, the fair's presiding deity, before engaging in Gotmar. The ritual begins with the planting of a Palash tree -- adorned with red cloth, garlands, and offerings -- in the middle of the Jam River, symbolising the battleground. Attempts to reform the tradition have met resistance. In 2001, authorities tried replacing stones with plastic balls, but locals rejected it, resuming stone-pelting with renewed intensity. The ritual, though controversial, continues to draw crowds from across the region and beyond -- a testament to the enduring grip of tradition over time. As the sun sets over Pandhurna, the river runs red once more -- not just with blood, but with the unyielding pulse of a community bound by myth, memory, and devotion. Kolkata, Aug 23 : A nurse and her partner were arrested on Saturday in connection with the murder of an elderly woman in the Panchasayar Police Station area on the outskirts of Kolkata. According to the police, the accused was identified as 36-year-old Ashalata Sardar and her partner, Mohammad Jalal Mir (41), both residents of Dholahat in South 24 Parganas. The two had conspired to rob the elderly couple in the absence of their children, who live outside Bengal, the police said. "Jalal was arrested from his house in Dholahat at 1.40 a.m. Later, Ashalata was arrested from her rented house in the Narendrapur area at 8.05 a.m. Initial investigation revealed that the nurse came to the couple's house at night with the companion. She herself entered the house. But her companion was waiting outside. The arrests have been made within 24 hours of the recovery of the old woman's body," said the police. "Prashant Das, 82, is a resident of Kullu Villa in the Panchasayar area. The old man lived with his wife, Vijaya Das (79). Their daughter lives in Germany, and their son resides in Mumbai," the police said. The accused had also stolen the jewellery worn by the old woman. The autopsy report of the old woman's body revealed that she died due to head injuries and asphyxiation. "The old woman's body was recovered from the house on Friday. At that time, the old man was also lying on the floor in the next room. He was panicking," said the police. The children of the couple have been informed about the tragic incident. After the old woman's body was recovered, it was found that the CCTV cables of the house were cut. Even electricity connection was disconnected, the police added. "The old woman's body was found near the stairs, with her hands and feet tied. The housemaid came but did not get any response. After that, she entered through the back door and saw the old woman's body and informed the police. The back door was open," said the police. New Delhi, Aug 23 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that the India-US trade negotiations are still underway but "we have some red lines", as the country stared at steep 50 per cent tariffs from August 27. Speaking at the 'Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025' here, EAM Jaishankar shared that negotiations with the US are underway. "What we are concerned about is that the red lines are primarily the interests of our farmers and, to some extent, of our small producers. We, as a government, are committed to defending the interests of our farmers and our small producers. We are very determined on that. That's not something that we can compromise on," the EAM told the gathering. The EAM further said that US President Donald Trump's way of dealing with the world, even dealing with his own country, "is a very major departure from the traditional orthodox manner of doing so". Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said at the same event that the government's approach in trade negotiations for free trade agreements with other countries will be guided by national interest and the priorities of Indian industry. "I've always held a very clear vision. When we do trade deals, I have to protect national interests. We usually now work with different countries with the pre-understanding, before even getting into negotiations: you respect my sensitivities, I respect your sensitivities. There are areas of concern in every country in the world," the Commerce Minister said at the event on Friday. He further stated that India is engaging regularly with the European Union and fast-tracking discussions on three to four more trade agreements. "The EU also has certain areas which are very sensitive to them. We respect that. As they respect ours. And, therefore, I think it will not be difficult to come to terms on the trade front," the minister added. The minister said that India's relations with the US are "very consequential" and India has resilience, strength, and is full of possibilities as the world's fastest-growing economy. El Paso Countys only licensed overnight shelter for homeless teens is closing indefinitely as of Sept. 5, The PLACEs Interim CEO Mimi Brown said Friday. The 20-bed shelter near downtown Colorado Springs currently has youth ages 14 to 20 receiving case management and assistance with placement. New Delhi, Aug 23 : In a sharp and unapologetic response to criticism from Western nations, particularly the US, External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, defended India's oil trade policies, particularly its continued purchase and export of Russian crude and refined products. He also stated that "when it comes to the interests of farmers, when it comes to our strategic autonomy, our stand is clear." Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, EAM Jaishankar made it clear that India would not accept undue pressure or hypocrisy when it comes to its energy and economic interests. Addressing recent remarks by members of the Trump administration, who had criticised India for its energy dealings with Russia, Jaishankar said, "If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don't buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it." The blunt statement was part of a broader message asserting India's right to conduct trade in line with its national interests. Jaishankar argued that the US was applying a selective and biased policy, noting that China remains the largest purchaser of Russian oil, yet hasn't faced similar trade actions. "We are not the largest buyer. Others are doing it too. So, why us?" he asked, reiterating that India's procurement is in line with global market practices and necessity. Taking a direct jab at the contradiction in the criticism, he said, "It's funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business." Reiterating the same during his speech, the External Affairs Minister added, "Europe buys, America buys, so you don't like it, don't buy it." Jaishankar also took the opportunity to underscore the government's unwavering stand when it comes to safeguarding the interests of Indian farmers and maintaining national sovereignty. "When it comes to the trade, the interests of farmers, when it comes to our strategic autonomy, when it comes to opposition to mediation, this government is very clear," he asserted. He challenged critics to be transparent with the Indian public about where they stand on these critical issues, saying, "If anybody disagrees with us, please tell the people of India that you are not prepared to defend the interests of farmers. Please tell the people of India you don't value strategic autonomy. We do. We will do whatever we have to do to maintain it." Bhopal, Aug 23 : In a humanitarian gesture coinciding with the celebration of "Shri Krishna Janmashtami," which occurred on August 16, the Madhya Pradesh government has announced a 60-day remission for thousands of convicted prisoners across the state. Bhopal, Aug 23 (IANS) In a humanitarian gesture coinciding with the celebration of "Shri Krishna Janmashtami," which occurred on August 16, the Madhya Pradesh government has announced a 60-day remission for thousands of convicted prisoners across the state. The decision, shared on the official X handle of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, reflects the government's continued tradition of offering sentence relief during major religious festivals. According to the Chief Minister's statement, approximately 14,000 inmates out of the 21,000 currently lodged in state jails will benefit from the remission. The order, issued to the Jail Department, specifically excludes those convicted of serious offenses such as terrorism, sexual crimes, and murder -- ensuring that public safety remains paramount, his post said. The move is part of a broader effort to integrate cultural and spiritual values into the correctional system. The remission will apply strictly to those prisoners who meet the eligibility criteria under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Jail Rules. Only inmates with satisfactory conduct during their incarceration will be considered. The Chief Minister has instructed the Jail Department to carry out the release process with full transparency and security, ensuring that beneficiaries are given a dignified path back into society. Following the announcement, the state administration has begun issuing directives to district authorities, and the necessary documentation is already underway. Jail officials across Madhya Pradesh have been mobilised to initiate the release process promptly. This initiative is part of a broader policy adopted by the state government to grant sentence remissions on major religious and cultural occasions. By aligning such decisions with festivals, the government aims to reinforce the values of forgiveness, rehabilitation, and community harmony. In recent years, Madhya Pradesh has celebrated Janmashtami within prison walls with devotional programs, bhajan sessions, and symbolic rituals honouring Lord Krishna, who, according to mythology, was Himself born in captivity. This year, Indore's Central Jail saw inmates actively participating in elaborate celebrations, decorating the premises, and performing religious tableaux that offered a moment of reflection and hope. Officials from the Jail and Correctional Services Department have emphasised that such initiatives not only uplift prisoner morale but also foster rehabilitation. "Religious and cultural programmes help in boosting prisoners' self-confidence and inspire them to think in a new direction," said one senior officer during the Janmashtami celebrations. The remission policy echoes similar decisions made on Independence Day and other national occasions, where sentence commutations are granted to eligible inmates as a gesture of reform and reintegration. New Delhi, Aug 23 : Strengthening India's automobile sector's presence on foreign soil, Tata Motors on Saturday introduced 10 new commercial vehicles in Sri Lanka in partnership with DIMO, its authorised distributor in the island country. This significant launch underscores Tata Motorsa commitment to providing advanced transport solutions and marks a major expansion of India's automobile sector's presence in the country. aWith a rich legacy and deep understanding of the Sri Lankan market, we have introduced application-oriented vehicles to meet the countryas growing infrastructure, public transportation, and logistics needs," said Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors. This enhanced portfolio delivers a compelling proposition of superior performance, reliability, and optimised total cost of ownership -- empowering customers to achieve greater efficiency and profitability, he added. Indiaas largest commercial vehicle manufacturer also commemorates 65 years of trusted partnership with DIMO. Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman, DIMO, said, aFor over 65 years, DIMO has proudly represented Tata Motors in Sri Lanka, introducing advanced commercial vehicles that continue to set new benchmarks in performance and reliability." According to the Indian heavy vehicle manufacturer, the newly-launched commercial vehicles are engineered to meet a wide range of cargo and passenger mobility needs. "Designed with purpose and precision, they offer smart, reliable, and performance-driven solutions tailored to the evolving needs of enterprises and transporters in Sri Lanka," said Tata Motors. Earlier this month, the Indian automobile manufacturer announced its re-entry into South Africa's passenger vehicle market after a six-year hiatus, launching three SUVs and an entry-level compact hatchback. The company launched models including Punch (compact SUV), Curvv (coupe-inspired SUV), Tiago (hatchback), and Harrier (premium SUV) in the South African market. All models are traditional combustion engine-based vehicles and will be available for sale starting in September. Tata Motorsa commercial vehicles are sold in over 40 countries worldwide, with a portfolio that spans sub-1-tonne mini-trucks to 60-tonne heavy-duty trucks, as well as 9- to 71-seater passenger transport solutions. "With over seven decades of experience in commercial mobility, the company continues to deliver on its promise of performance, durability, and total cost efficiency a" built on a foundation of frugal engineering and global innovation," the company said. New Delhi, Aug 23 : As the US prepares to slap secondary 25 per cent tariffs on India in couple of days, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S. Jaishankar on Saturday defended India's energy ties with Russia, saying that that oil purchases serve both national and global interests by stabilising prices. Addressing an event hosted by The Economic Times in the national capital, the EAM underlined that India would continue to take decisions independently on energy. "It's funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don't buy it," EAM Jaishankar told the gathering. "Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you don't like it, don't buy it," said the EAM. According to the Union Minister, in 2022, there was deep nervousness on the international level due to oil prices going up. "That time, it was said that if India wants to buy Russian oil, let them, because that would stabilise prices," the EAM said, adding that India is "buying oil to stabilise the oil prices. Yes, it is in our national interest but it is also in a global interest". Earlier, during a press briefing in Moscow, EAM Jaishankar said that India's oil purchase from the US has been consistently increasing and India is not the biggest purchaser of Russian oil. "That is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG; that is the European Union. We are not the country which has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the South," the EAM had told the media. He further stated that "We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia". "Incidentally, we also buy oil from the US, and that amount has increased," EAM Jaishankar told the media. The EAM said it is not only about oil, but India and Russia are "going forward" in looking at nuclear energy, greater market access, fertilisers, and labour mobility - something which he is "really very satisfied with". Bengaluru, Aug 23 : Commenting on the arrest of the unidentified complainant, also referred to as the "masked man", in connection with the alleged Dharmasthala mass grave case, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated on Saturday that the state government will take action against whoever is guilty. He was speaking to the media on Saturday near his residence in Bengaluru. "We are neither on their (Dharmasthala's) side nor on this side. We are on the side of justice. All we are saying is, don't do politics in matters of religion," said Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar. When asked about the Dharmasthala case where the complainant witness was arrested and the 'conspiracy' angle that he was the first to highlight, he said, "BJP leaders had not spoken about it till then. They were speaking vaguely, not making their stand clear. Only after I raised the issue of 'conspiracy' did they start speaking." "The family members of the management of Dharmasthala temple themselves came and spoke to the Chief Minister and said that forming the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was a good step," Dy CM Shivakumar stated. "The investigation is going on. Whoever is guilty, our government will take action against them the Chief Minister and the Home Minister have both stated this in the Assembly and also in the CLP meeting," he underlined. When asked about Sujatha Bhat's statement that Ananya Bhatt is not her daughter, he said, "The Home Minister will look into it." It can be recalled that Sujatha Bhat had lodged a complaint with the SIT that her daughter Ananya Bhat, a medical student, had gone missing in Dharmasthala. Home Minister G. Parameshwara, confirming the arrest of the unidentified complainant, stated that he has been taken into police custody. The details of the arrest will be provided by the SIT. "We will know whether anyone is behind him or not only after the investigation. The SIT investigation is continuing, and they will take appropriate decisions." He further said that the SIT is also questioning Sujatha Bhat, who had initially claimed that her daughter went missing and later withdrew her statement. Reacting to the development, A.S. Ponnanna, Legal Advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress MLA, stated in Mysuru, "Those who lodge complaints also have a responsibility. We have underlined that there should be transparency in the investigation. The government will punish the guilty, no matter who they are. The allegations surrounding the case are political, and they are not correct." "The government has emphasised that the honour and respect of the Dharmasthala temple must be maintained during the investigation. Can anyone say that the investigation should not be conducted? It is a crime if a false case is lodged and a situation is created. In this context, the unidentified complainant has been arrested," Ponnanna added. In a major development, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday arrested the unidentified complainant, also referred to as the "masked man," in connection with the alleged Dharmasthala murders case. The masked man has been produced before the court, and the SIT is likely to seek his custody for further investigation. In a major development on July 11, the unidentified complainant who claimed he had been forced to bury the bodies of women and girls who were raped and murdered in Dharmasthala appeared before a court in Mangaluru district and recorded his statement. He requested that the bodies be exhumed in his presence and alleged that the victims bore clear signs of sexual assault. According to him, the bodies were found without clothing or undergarments and had injuries consistent with violent sexual abuse. These revelations have sent shockwaves across Karnataka. However, after extensive excavation operations at the suspected burial sites, the authorities failed to obtain any substantial evidence regarding his claims. New Delhi, Aug 23 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar firmly dismissed claims made by US President Donald Trump regarding American mediation in resolving the brief conflict between India and Pakistan in May this year. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, EAM Jaishankar reiterated India's long-standing policy of rejecting any third-party involvement in bilateral issues with Pakistan. Refuting President Trump's repeated assertions that America had played a role in defusing tensions during the four-day India-Pakistan conflict in May, Jaishankar clarified, "On the issue of mediating (India-Pak conflict), since 1970s, for more than 50 years now, there's a national consensus in this country that we do not accept mediation in our relations with Pakistan." Jaishankar's remarks come at a time when US-Pakistan relations are undergoing a phase of renewed engagement, particularly in the areas of security and economic cooperation. Despite decades of strategic divergence and mistrust, Washington and Islamabad appear to be working to rebuild ties, with several high-level meetings taking place. Notably, Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir has made two visits to the US in recent months, during which discussions reportedly included trade, economic development, and even cryptocurrency regulations, signalling a broader scope in bilateral dialogue. Jaishankar also took the opportunity to underscore the government's unwavering stand when it comes to safeguarding the interests of Indian farmers and maintaining national sovereignty. "When it comes to trade, the interests of farmers, when it comes to our strategic autonomy, when it comes to opposition to mediation, this government is very clear," he asserted. He challenged critics to be transparent with the Indian public about where they stand on these critical issues, saying, "If anybody disagrees with us, please tell the people of India that you are not prepared to defend the interests of farmers. Please tell the people of India you don't value strategic autonomy. We do. We will do whatever we have to do to maintain it." New Delhi, Aug 23 : India's goods exports to China surged 20 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of Financial Year (FY) 26, touching $5.76 billion (about Rs 50,112 crore), according to official data. New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Indiaas goods exports to China surged 20 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of Financial Year (FY) 26, touching $5.76 billion (about Rs 50,112 crore), according to official data. Each of the four months recorded higher outbound shipments compared to the same period last year, underscoring a steady upward trend despite global trade headwinds. Exports peaked in May 2025 at $1.63 billion, up from $1.32 billion in the same month a year ago, marking the strongest monthly performance in the period. In April, shipments rose to $1.39 billion from $1.25 billion a year earlier, while June exports grew 17 per cent year-on-year to $1.38 billion. In July, India exported goods worth $1.35 billion, up from $1.06 billion in the corresponding month a year earlier. The growth momentum highlights a gradual rebalancing of trade between the two Asian economies. India has historically run a high trade deficit with China, which stood at $99.2 billion in FY25. The Aprila"June quarter of FY26 saw exports to China buoyed by strong demand across energy, electronics, and agri-based products. Petroleum product exports nearly doubled to $883 million, while electronic goods surged over threefold to $521 million. Exports of organic and inorganic chemicals climbed 16.3 per cent to $335.1 million, and gems and jewellery shipments rose sharply by 72.7 per cent. On the other hand, Indiaas top imports from China continued to include pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, electronics, machinery, chemicals, plastics, and other industrial goods. The sustained month-on-month gains over last year underscore Indiaas strengthening trade performance with China and rising export competitiveness, even as the variations reflect global trade dynamics and seasonal demand shifts. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had extensive bilateral discussions in New Delhi earlier this month. The talks, which covered bilateral, regional, and international issues of shared concern, were described as "positive, constructive, and forward-looking" by the Ministry of External Affairs. Ujjain, Aug 23 : Tension gripped Madhya Pradesh's religious city of Ujjain late on Friday night after residents of two neighbouring colonies belonging to different communities clashed and pelted stones at each other, leaving at least three people injured, officials said on Saturday. Ujjain, Aug 23 (IANS) Tension gripped Madhya Pradeshas religious city of Ujjain late on Friday night after residents of two neighbouring colonies belonging to different communities clashed and pelted stones at each other, leaving at least three people injured, officials said on Saturday. The incident took place in the Pandyaa Kheri locality on Maksi Road, which falls in the home district of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Acting swiftly, police rushed to the spot and managed to bring the situation under control before it escalated further. Additional Superintendent of Police Nitesh Bhargav, along with teams from two police stations, reached the area soon after receiving information. Later, additional forces were deployed, and a flag march was conducted in the violence-hit locality. Police have registered a case and detained eight people for questioning. Those detained include Aashif, Salman, Sonu, Kadar, Bheru, Chhotu, Shadab, and one more person, officials said. Videos from the area showed police personnel knocking on doors and summoning residents during their investigation. ASP Nitesh Bhargav said that the trouble began when a group of youths armed with sticks, knives, and swords reached Narayan Singh's house on Maksi Road and attacked him. His brother Raghubir and others also sustained injuries, while women of the family were allegedly assaulted when they tried to intervene. The injured have been admitted to the hospital, where their condition is said to be stable. ASP added that the situation quickly escalated as members of a right-wing organisation also reached the spot in support of the injured family, resulting in heavy stone pelting between the two sides. He said mild force was used to disperse the crowd. Heavy deployment has been made to prevent further escalation of the situation. Further investigation is underway. New Delhi, Aug 23 : India has further extended the closure of its airspace to Pakistan-registered aircraft, covering planes owned, leased, or operated by Pakistani airlines and operators as well as military flights, until September 24. As per Indiaas latest NOTAM, an official notice providing critical updates for pilots and flight operators, Pakistani aircraft are barred from transiting Indian airspace until 23:59 UTC on September 23 (05:30 IST on September 24). Pakistan has also extended its reciprocal airspace restrictions for Indian aircraft till the same date. Through different Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), both countries formally announced the change. Pakistan, through its August 20 NOTAM, has continued parallel restrictions on Indian aircraft. India first imposed the restrictions on April 30 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 Indian citizens on April 22. The ban has been extended on a rolling monthly basis after initially being scheduled to expire on May 24. Earlier last month, India extended the ban on Pakistani aircraft from entering the domestic airspace till August 23 after Pakistan's earlier decision to bar Indian flights from its airspace. NOTAM was issued against the backdrop of India's 'Operation Sindoor', which was launched on May 7, in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 innocent people. A NOTAM is issued when a specific airspace needs to be cleared of civilian air traffic. Similar notices were issued during previous tensions with Pakistan to ensure that no passenger aircraft would be caught in the middle of potential aerial operations. It helps prevent civilian casualties by keeping commercial aircraft away from zones of military activity. Bengaluru, Aug 23 : Following the arrest of the unidentified complainant, also referred to as the "mask man", in connection with the Dharmasthala case, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Saturday demanded that the Congress-led government apologise to the people of the state. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Ashoka said, "The government has acted hastily in connection with the Dharmasthala murder case. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should have applied common sense before ordering a probe. Now, will CM Siddaramaiah rectify the propaganda carried out against the temple town of Dharmasthala?" He further stated, "The missing case of Ananya Bhat in Dharmasthala has also turned out to be false. We have been consistently saying that there is a conspiracy behind the allegations made against Dharmasthala. This was meticulously planned. The Congress-led government even provided the mask man with high security, more than what the CM himself enjoys." He alleged that it was all a conspiracy to defame Lord Manjunatha of Dharmasthala and religious conversions. Ashoka also questioned the connection between YouTuber Sameer, who systematically carried out "propaganda and used offensive language in every video against Dharmasthala, and these developments?" He added, "Has there ever been an instance where a mosque or its surroundings were excavated based on allegations? The Chief Minister and cabinet ministers are directly involved in this conspiracy to target Hindus. Only Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is making statements in support of the temple, and that too just for appearances. The Congress party must apologise to the people of Karnataka." Ashoka recalled, "I had already stated on the floor of the House that all allegations in the Dharmasthala case are false. BJP MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has also demanded an investigation into foreign funding that is allegedly being used to spread propaganda against Dharmasthala. It would be better if the state government handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA)." In a major development, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday arrested the unidentified complainant in connection with the alleged Dharmasthala murders case. The mask man has been produced before the court, and the SIT is likely to seek his custody for further investigation. El Paso Countys only licensed overnight shelter for homeless teens is closing indefinitely as of Sept. 5, The Places Interim CEO Mimi Brown said Friday. Funding uncertainty and a lack of grants that help fund the shelter led to the decision, she said. A shelter is very expensive to run because of licensing and training requirements, Brown said. Part of the big challenge is our grants do not cover 100% of the shelters expenses. What were seeing with this uncertainty is the fact that we want to be able to ensure that our organization is able to survive and thrive for the long run. The 20-bed shelter near downtown Colorado Springs has 12 youth, ages 14 to 20, staying at it currently. All are receiving case management and assistance with placement, Brown said. In addition, the organizations drop-in center that opened in winter 2020 in a leased building on Fountain Boulevard will close and relocate later in September to the building the shelter occupies and owns on East Cucharras Street, she said. The shelter serves 120 to 130 youths annually. Thirteen employees will be laid off, which will leave the organization with 20-24 employees, according to Brown. The organizations fiscal year begins Oct. 1, and Brown anticipates a budget shortfall; this years budget is about $3.5 million. The new budget will be presented at the September board meeting and finalized after that. Featured Local Savings Housing programs are going strong for the organization, according to Brown, with scattered housing across the city and transitional houses combined serving about 140 youths a year. The Places new apartment complex for homeless youths ages 18 and above, The Launchpad, on Colorado Springs west side, opened in June and has 34 units leased, with another 10 that have completed applications and five more on the horizon, Brown said. We want to get through this moment in time, to understand better what the funding is going to look like, Brown said. Well work hard to obtain the most funding we can, and were eager to see how repurposing the shelter to become drop-in program can expand and serve more youth with those services. Then we can make a longer-term decision about the shelter. The drop-in center, which provides various activities and assistance with supplies to meet basic needs, education, employment and housing, currently serves 260 to 270 homeless youth up to 24 years old. A search for a new CEO for the organization will begin in September, Brown said. El Paso County's Salvation Army Corps announced a few weeks ago that it is closing half of the beds in its local shelter for homeless families. Lucknow, Aug 23 : After Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) anthem during a session of the Assembly, the Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson A. Jamei on Saturday said that this incident highlights the need to "understand the enemy" and the ideological leanings of those within the INDIA Bloc. Speaking to IANS, Jamei said, "The RSS is an organisation that stands against democracy a" against secular democracy. It has never accepted the Constitution of India or the idea of a pluralistic India. Leaders from the INDIA Bloc must be cautious. If D.K. Shivakumar is now echoing the RSS, then itas crucial to understand who we are fighting. So, it's needed to understand the enemies. We must examine their ideological DNA and their methods." Jamei further reacted on the recent controversy involving Uttar Pradesh MLA Pooja Pal, who was expelled from the Samajwadi Party and has written to party President Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that her life was in danger. In the letter, Pal blamed the party for not supporting her after the murder of her husband, Raju Pal, and claimed that she now fears for her life. aWe respect Pooja Pal. But her political views have always aligned more with the RSS' ideology a" that is the only difference. Now she wants Y-category security. I believe she should be granted that. PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) works for everyone a" even for those who oppose us. But she should make her intentions clear: does she want security, or a ministerial position from the BJP? Either way, she should not try to defame the Samajwadi Party," he told IANS. Jamei defended RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who was recently booked for an allegedly objectionable social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. aThereas a growing trend in India where it feels like a blasphemy law is needed a" but not for religion, for the Prime Minister. Can the Opposition not speak? Can Tejashwi not speak? What about Rahul Gandhi a" will he also be silenced? The nation is struggling with a farming crisis, trade wars, and economic pressure, but no one is allowed to question Modi. He is being treated like the Dalai Lama a" above criticism. Maybe we should make a law that no one can speak against the Prime Minister," he added. In a post on X, Yadav had posted an animated photo of PM Modi, portraying him as a shopkeeper. The signboard of the satirical shop read: "Famous shop for 'jumlas'." It further read that "every promise is a 'jumla' and it is a 100 per cent guarantee." Kochi, Aug 23 : The Kerala High Court on Saturday granted regular bail to Liviya Jose, a 21-year-old woman accused of conspiring to implicate beautician Sheela Sunny in a fabricated narcotics case. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that, given her age and the period of custody already undergone, further detention was not necessary. The case traces back to February 27, 2023, when Excise officials conducted a surprise search at Sunny's beauty parlour near here and allegedly recovered what they claimed were LSD stamps from her handbag and scooter. She was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and spent 72 days in jail, facing social stigma and the loss of her livelihood. However, subsequent chemical analysis revealed that the seized material did not contain LSD. In 2023, the High Court quashed the FIR against Sunny, accepting a report by the Assistant Excise Commissioner which confirmed the contraband was misidentified. Investigations later revealed that the case was the result of a conspiracy. Jose, the sister of Sunny's daughter-in-law, allegedly masterminded the plan to frame her. According to police, Narayana Das, who was arrested in April this year, had tipped off the Excise Department, but under the influence of Jose. Sunny had earlier pointed out that a day before her arrest, her daughter-in-law and Liviya had visited her home, eaten food she served, and taken her two-wheeler out. Soon after the arrest of Das, Jose fled to the Middle East. A lookout notice was issued, and she was finally apprehended by immigration authorities at Mumbai International Airport when she came back in June. Since then, she has been in jail. While Jose got bail on Saturday, Das had already been granted bail earlier. The ordeal has taken a heavy toll on Sunny, who has remained vocal about her determination to restore her reputation and seek justice after being wrongfully jailed. The case, meanwhile, has highlighted procedural lapses in narcotics enforcement and the devastating personal consequences of false implication under the stringent NDPS law. Lucknow, Aug 23 : The political atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh has intensified after Chayal MLA Pooja Pal wrote a letter to Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that her life is under threat and holding him and his party responsible if she is harmed or killed. Pal, who was recently expelled from the SP, claimed in her letter that when her husband, Raju Pal, was murdered in broad daylight, instead of standing with her family, the party shielded the accused. She alleged that she is now receiving fresh threats and fears she could meet the same fate. "If I am murdered, the real culprit will be Akhilesh Yadav. My husband was killed in broad daylight, and instead of standing with us, the SP shielded the criminals. Today, I am receiving threats, and I fear the same fate," she wrote. The remarks triggered sharp political reactions, as the Uttar Pradesh government condemned the Samajwadi Party, accusing it of consistently resorting to "anti-women tactics." Speaking to IANS, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak slammed the SP for trolling Pal over her statements praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's law and order record. "The way the people affiliated with the Samajwadi Party have trolled MLA Pooja Pal is condemnable. The party should apologise to her. The SP has always resorted to such tactics -- insulting women and backwards sections of society. The public will definitely give a befitting response to the party in the upcoming elections," he said. Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar also came out in support of Pal, saying her expulsion from SP showed the party's intolerance towards truth. "She said rightly that the Samajwadi Party does not respect hearing the truth. What wrong did Pooja Pal say in the Legislative Assembly? She only said that the Yogi government ensured justice for her husband's killer. This is why the SP is feeling bad. The Samajwadi Party is anti-women and biased towards the backwards community," he said. "The entire country's perspective has changed towards SP after Pooja Pal's statement. Pal knows that SP is capable of doing bad things, and that is why she said this," Rajbhar told IANS. BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj, meanwhile, said Pal's concerns were personal. "What Pooja Pal said is her own matter. When individuals have any kind of concern, they express it in front of the media," he told reporters. BJP national spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also targeted the SP, accusing it of protecting "miscreants and bahubalis." "The arrests of the 'bahubalis' in Uttar Pradesh have ensured the safety of the citizens there. Pal has now realised which party always protects these miscreants and 'bahubalis'," Naqvi told IANS. Kochi, Aug 23 : In a bid to rejuvenate the traditional aquaculture sector of Kerala's Kuttanad region, the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Minority Affairs has unveiled a new pilot project that seeks to blend modern technology with traditional practices. Union Minister George Kurian announced the initiative at a consultative meeting held at the ICARa"Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). The project aims to enhance the livelihood of fish farmers by introducing a mix of innovative and sustainable aquaculture models. These include integrated fish farming, cage farming, biofloc technology, and the unique "one fish, one paddy" system, which allows for concurrent paddy cultivation and aquaculture. The Department of Fisheries will also facilitate the formation of Fish Farmers Producers Organisations (FFPOs) to provide local farmers with greater bargaining power, access to markets, and institutional support. "Enhancing livelihood for the region's farmers is the primary goal of this initiative," said Kurian. He added that skill development and training programmes will be rolled out to equip farmers with the latest techniques in fish farming and related practices. In addition to production, the project will actively encourage start-ups in the fisheries sector, with a strong focus on post-harvest activities such as processing, cleaning, packaging, and trading. This, officials said, would create new employment avenues and ensure greater value addition to fish products from the region. Recognising the unique aquatic ecosystem of Kuttanad, the project will adopt distinct strategies for fresh and brackish water systems in Upper and Lower Kuttanad, respectively. The expertise of research institutions, including ICAR institutes, central agencies, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), will be tapped to provide technical guidance and scientific support. A detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared immediately to ensure quick rollout and effective monitoring of outcomes. The scheme is expected to provide long-term, sustainable benefits to the farming community in Kuttanad, a region often described as the "rice bowl of Kerala" but equally known for its rich fisheries potential. The meeting was attended by former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Fisheries Development Commissioner Mohammed Koya, CMFRI Director Grinson George, Principal Scientist Imelda Joseph and representatives of various ICAR research institutes and central agencies. Kollam : , Aug 23 (IANS) The Kerala government has assured an investigation into the incident in which a young woman in Kollam was forced to unload a truck full of tiles by herself on Friday night after a group of trade union workers allegedly demanded an exorbitant fee for the work. The workers who are reportedly members of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, the ruling CPI-Mas trade union wing in the state, allegedly blocked the construction workers and neighbours who tried to assist the woman, forcing her to unload all the tiles by herself at night. Kerala Labour Minister, V. Sivankutty, reportedly talked to the woman identified as Priya Vinod, a resident of Kadakkal in Kollam, and assured a probe into the incident soon after the news was reported by the local media. Priya, the homeowner, single-handedly worked for over two hours in the night to unload approximately 150 boxes of floor tiles after the workers from the CITU reportedly insisted on a higher-than-usual wage, a local media report said. After the intervention of Sivankutty, who is also the General Education Minister, the district labour officer visited the house on Saturday to collect a statement from the woman as part of the inquiry. "The government will take strong action against such actions," the minister's office confirmed. After Priya refused to pay the hefty charges (known as anokkukoolia, the charges demanded by workers for loading, unloading, or merely supervising, even when they are not hired for the task) demanded by the workers, they allegedly prevented the unloading of the tiles by others who came to help her. The construction workers hired for the job also reportedly refused to help with the unloading, as union workers stood by until she finished unloading all the tiles late at night. The practice anokkukoolia was once common among head-load workers affiliated to various trade unions in Kerala. The Kerala High Court had, in 2021, declared as unconstitutional the demand for anokkukoolia by trade unions or registered headload workers or any person in any form and manner. Kerala Chief Minister, soon after assuming power in 2016, had assured that anokkukoolia would not be allowed in the state. New Delhi, Aug 23 : In a major success against organised crime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has coordinated the return of fugitive Sunil Kumar, a key member of the Aman Sahu gang, from Azerbaijan. Kumar was wanted by Jharkhand Police in multiple extortion cases and was brought back to India through INTERPOL channels on Friday. According to officials, a three-member team of Jharkhand Police travelled to Baku, Azerbaijan, on August 19 to secure Kumar's custody. The team, along with the accused, landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, on August 23. Sunil Kumar, who operated under the alias Mayank Singh, was wanted in FIR No. 175/2022 registered at Patratu, Bhadaninagar Police Station, Jharkhand. He had been accused of sending threatening WhatsApp messages to coal transporters, railway contractors, and businesspersons, demanding extortion money. Several cases against him are registered in different states. The fugitive is believed to be a close associate of gangster Aman Sahu, whose syndicate has been active in extortion rackets across Jharkhand and neighbouring states. The gang is accused of running a well-organised criminal network that systematically targeted contractors and business operators. CBI, acting as India's National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, had issued a Red Notice against Kumar on October 10, 2024, at the request of Jharkhand Police. The agency later tracked him down in Azerbaijan with assistance from NCB-Baku. An official extradition request was routed to Azerbaijani authorities on January 7, 2025, through diplomatic channels. "CBI, as the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India, coordinates with all Law Enforcement Agencies in India through BHARATPOL for assistance via INTERPOL channels. More than 100 wanted criminals have been returned to India in the last few years through coordination via INTERPOL channels," the agency said in its press statement. The CBI's International Police Cooperation Unit (IPCU) worked closely with Azerbaijan's authorities to execute the handover. The development is being seen as a significant boost to Jharkhand Police's crackdown on the Aman Sahu gang's extortion network. Kumar will now face investigation and trial in India for his alleged involvement in multiple cases of organised crime. New Delhi, Aug 23 : INDIA Bloc's vice presidential candidate Justice (Retd) B. Sudershan Reddy plans to launch his nationwide campaign to seek MPs' support from Lucknow, said his aide on Saturday. "Justice Reddy's Lucknow tour is being drafted," said a member of his personal staff, adding that he would be visiting other states later. The visits to different states will be planned in a way that he manages to establish contact with a maximum number of MPs, he said. Earlier, Justice Reddy said his foremost priority would be to protect and defend the Constitution and for this, rather than appealing to political parties, he is reaching out to individual MPs to take an appropriate and conscious decision. "Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu know me well, and I know them too. They haven't explicitly stated that they'll support the NDA candidate. They've only said that they are part of the NDA and have to go with them. Let's see what happens," he said. Refusing to call the September 9 VP election symbolic due to the Opposition's numerical inferiority, he said, "I don't think there's anything symbolic about this contest. That's a misunderstanding. In Parliament, while we see the numbers of parties, the actual voters are individual Members of Parliament. I appeal to each MP to consider my candidature." The 79-year-old Justice Reddy has a long and illustrious legal career known for his progressive and socially-conscious approach to justice, access to education and judicial independence. During his stint in the Supreme Court from January 2007 to July 2011, while serving as the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and working as a Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Justice Reddy paid special focus on access to education. Justice Reddy expressed strong disapproval of policies limiting access to higher education, particularly for disadvantaged groups. Justice Reddy, who was appointed as a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 2, 1995 and elevated as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on December 5, 2005, has also stood for judicial independence. He was born on July 8, 1946, in Andhra Pradesh's Rangareddy district. After completing his B.A., LL.B., he was enrolled as an Advocate at Hyderabad with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on December 27, 1971 and practiced in Writ and Civil matters in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. He also worked as Government Pleader in the High Court during 1988-90 and served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central government for a period of six months during 1990. Kuala Lumpur, Aug 23 : Highlighting the cultural ties between India and ASEAN countries, a special cultural event with a gathering of over 600 people, titled 'Celebrating India-ASEAN Cultural Harmony', featuring music and dance, including the dramatic retelling of Ramayan, was held in Kuala Lumpur. This event was part of the continuing celebrations of India's 79th Independence Day as well as Malaysia's Chairmanship of the ASEAN bloc for the current year. According to the Indian High Commission, during the cultural programme, the Bharat Club members performed Malaysia's Joget Dance, Coconut Dance and Bamboo Dance, which are popular in several countries in the ASEAN region and also a dance drama with a dramatic retelling of a timeless tale from the epic Ramayan. Additionally, a vibrant costume show from various states in India, celebrating its rich diversity through a tapestry of tradition and style. The programme was organised by the Indian High Commission and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre (ICCR) in collaboration with Bharat Club in Kuala Lumpur. It was held under the Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) scheme of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at Shantanand Auditorium, The Temple of Fine Arts in the Malaysian Capital. YB Tuan M. Kulasegaran, Malaysian Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law & Institutional Reform), attended the programme as the Chief Guest of Honour. More than 600 guests, including the diplomatic community from member states of ASEAN, senior Malaysian government officials, prominent Indian community members, and Bharat Club Kuala Lumpur members, along with leaders of community and cultural organisations, and representatives from business and media, attended the event, the Indian High Commission mentioned. Welcoming the guest, Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia B.N. Reddy, underscored the importance of a comprehensive strategic partnership, cultural connections and harmony between India and Malaysia, as well as with the wider ASEAN region. "Under Malaysia's chair of the ASEAN, this special event highlights the deeply cherished bonds between India and Malaysia as well as other countries in Southeast Asia region," the Indian High Commission posted on X. Furthermore, the Indian High Commissioner appreciated the Indian diaspora in Malaysia for promoting and preserving Indian culture and traditions. He also thanked Bharat Club Kuala Lumpur for serving as a cultural bridge between Indian professionals in Malaysia and Malaysians over the last 50 years. The Deputy Minister Kulasegaran congratulated the Indian High Commission for organising the vibrant event, which not only showcased the rich cultural heritage of India but also highlighted the shared traditions and deep-rooted civilisational ties between India and ASEAN countries. New Delhi, Aug 23 : Delhi Employment Minister Kapil Mishra said on Saturday that the Rekha Gupta government is working to increase employment opportunities, so that the city's young job-seekers are not forced to go to Noida and Gurugram for work. Addressing mediapersons at a job fair organised at Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Minister Mishra said, "Under CM Rekha Gupta, we are working on this issue and have an action plan to generate jobs for city youth." "We want Delhi youths to get better opportunities, training and skills," he said. He praised the job fair experiment in the college and said that over the past decade, the job situation has worsened due to the previous government's apathy. "There was a time when the development in the NCR region was taking place, with Delhi the commercial and job hub and other cities serving as residential zones. However, the situation has deteriorated so much that people are being forced to go to Noida and Gurugram for jobs," he said. Minister Mishra said industries in the city have been destroyed, and job creation has hit rock bottom. "The situation for Delhi's young job seekers turned very bad, but under the Rekha Gupta government, we are committed to improving the situation," he said. "We are planning to bring in modern and non-polluting industries to the city. For promoting investment in the tourism sector, we held a summit last week," he said. He said the Delhi government's focus is on all non-polluting sectors like services, technology-based industries, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics and tourism sector. Talking about the partnership with colleges, he said the Delhi government is looking to bridge the skill gap so that the youth are employable. He said during the past 15 years, the skill gap has widened, and we are working to handle it. "Delhi has some of the most talented students, as the education infrastructure here is good. We are going to improve job generation to create more opportunities in the city itself," the minister said. Jabalpur, Aug 23 : Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, while inaugurating Madhya Pradesh's longest flyover in Jabalpur on Saturday, announced a sweeping infrastructure blueprint worth over Rs 3 lakh crore aimed at transforming the state's connectivity, tourism, and logistics landscape. At the core of this ambitious vision is a Rs 5,500 crore "Tiger Corridor" that will connect four of India's premier tiger reserves -- Kanha, Panna, Bandhavgarh, and Pench -- through a dedicated route originating from Jabalpur. Gadkari described the corridor as a "game-changer for Madhya Pradesh's forest economy," highlighting its potential to boost eco-tourism and generate employment across central India. Among the most significant proposals is a Rs 15,000 crore greenfield four-lane expressway between Bhopal and Jabalpur, spanning 255 km. Gadkari urged the state government to expedite land acquisition, stating, "This road will change the economic scenario of the state." He also announced that the Rs 10,000 crore Lakhnadaun-Raipur four-lane highway would commence soon, with its detailed project report expected by December. Another major corridor -- a Rs 12,000 crore expressway between Indore and Bhopal -- is also in the pipeline. In addition to these, Gadkari revealed several other key projects, including the Rs 15,000 crore Jabalpur-Mandla-Chilpi corridor, a Rs 2,500 crore upgrade of the Seoni-Chhindwara-Sanwner highway (150 km), and the Rs 2,300 crore Khargone-Julwania four-lane road. Work on these projects is expected to begin within six months. He also announced the Rs 625 crore Betul-Paratwara two-lane road (63 km) and the Rs 750 crore Balaghat-Nainpur stretch (74 km), both of which have received approval. On the national front, Gadkari reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to connectivity with Rs 33,000 crore allocated for five greenfield corridors, including IndoreAhmedabad. The Rs 11,000 crore BhopalKanpur Economic Corridor (440 km) is slated for completion by March 2027, reducing travel time to just eight hours. The UjjainKota corridor is nearing completion, while the six-lane AgraGwalior corridor (Rs 5,000 crore) will begin construction soon. Once completed, travel time between Gwalior and Agra will be reduced to 1.5 hours, and GwaliorDelhi to just 4.5 hours. The Rs 1 lakh crore DelhiMumbai highway, spanning 1,382 km -- including 245 km in Madhya Pradesh -- is also nearing completion, with Rs 12,000 crore invested in the state segment. Under the Central Road Fund (CRF), Gadkari announced Rs 1,500 crore worth of flyover projects, including Rs 309 crore for a new structure, Rs 150 crore for Rewa, Rs 510 crore for a major four-lane flyover in Ujjain, and Rs 100 crore for a two-lane flyover. He also confirmed that the Rs 96 crore Ashoknagar bypass to Guna road will begin soon. The Minister inaugurated the 7-km Madan MahalDamoh Naka flyover, built at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore -- the longest in Madhya Pradesh. Reflecting on its approval, Gadkari shared that when he first visited Jabalpur, he was told the flyover fell under a national highway, but it did not. Local legislator had requested CRF funding, which typically caps at Rs 150 crore. Gadkari persuaded then Chief Minister Kamal Nath to submit a proposal, resulting in India's first CRF-funded project exceeding Rs 1,200 crore. For the past four years, the Colorado Chamber of Commerce has hosted a competition to celebrate inventions made in the state. And the business advocacy group has selected their top 10 finalists for the Coolest Things Made in Colorado in 2025. An overall winner will be selected by judges on Oct. 23. And the public will have a chance to vote online to select the Peoples Choice award. From breakthroughs in space technology to products that support our farmers, protect our environment, and celebrate our love for the outdoors, said Loren Furman, president and CEO of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, in a press release, these finalists reflect what makes Colorado such a unique place to live and work. Last years winner was Freedom Trax, a motorized off-road attachment for wheelchairs to go in different terrains such as sand, snow, trails, cobblestone and more. Its manufactured in Golden. Here are this years finalists: AE.1 Cosmos A car trailer aiming to be energy efficient is one of the finalists this year. The AE.1 Cosmos by Lightship claims to be the first all-electric aero-electric travel trailer. It includes a 77 kilowatt-hour battery and rooftop solar panels that can maintain off-grid living for up to a week. The electric trailer is made in Broomfield, according to the Colorado chamber. AIEye AIEye are glasses made in Golden to help translate nonverbal communication cues to people who are vision-impaired or autistic. Using a camera integrated into the glasses, it detects facial expressions, gestures and body language and signals with vibrations on a wristband. Its created by HapWare Austere Remediation Unit (ARU-10T) The ARU-10T is another product made in Golden. The technology is designed to clean 10 tons of soil contaminated with diesel per day. It removes up to 99.99% of pollutants and can separate the diesel to be reused. The chamber credited the technology for helping limit water contamination, reducing greenhouse gasses and helping keep contaminated soil out of landfills. Autonomous Nano Tractor This electric, self-driving mini tractor from Barn Owl Precision Agriculture was made in La Junta. The Autonomous Nano Tractor was designed for small, midsize and regenerative farms. It can help cut labor by 50% through tasks such as weeding, spraying and planting. The company said the technology was designed to help farmers struggling with the increasing costs of business and keeping up with agricultural-technology. Featured Local Savings Clarity-1 Colorados robust aerospace industry is featured with this technology. Clarity-1 from Albedo Space claims to be the first commercial very-low-earth-orbit satellite that can capture pictures at a resolution usually only planes and drones could have taken before. The satellite was developed in Broomfield and was launched last March through SpaceX. Several weeks ago, the National Reconnaissance Office awarded Albedo its second contract for its high-definition satellite images for U.S. defense and intelligence services. The chamber recognized the technology that can capture a 10 cm resolution, or every pixel equals 10 cm on the ground, for its potential applications in city planning and climate research. Innovaflex Arrays Made in Colorado Springs, the Innovaflex Arrays by InnovaFlex Foundry can fit complex electrical systems on flexible materials or glass. It can have different uses such as helping researchers study human tissue and how it responds to different treatments or medicines. Laser Maze Challenge Forget laser tag and escape rooms. Why not combine both? Funovation has created a Laser Maze Challenge in Longmont where players have to avoid laser beams within a certain period of time. There are three different game modes and incorporates a live leaderboard. Spectra Optia Apheresis System Another medical technology is featured as a finalist. The Spectra Optia Apheresis System is made by Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies in Lakewood that debuted in 2007. Its a medical device used for separating blood components and cell processing. Its now used in more than 125 countries. The Narwhals A device that cools body heat quickly? Apex Cool Labs has done it. The Narwhals from Apex Cool Labs is a portable device that can cool human body temperature through the palm of a hand. Its made in Boulder and used by firefighters, athletes, construction workers and others in harsh and hot environments. Vertical Hydroponic Farm The last finalist is the Vertical Hydroponic Farm in Aurora. FarmBox Foods has a patented vertical farming technology that can go inside old shipping containers, aiming to use the most of the space for growing and minimizing use of water and energy. The technology can help grow mushrooms, plants and herbs year-round. Sheikhpura : , Aug 23 (IANS) Government schemes are not only igniting hope but also transforming lives in Bihar. In Sheikhpura district, especially among the youth, the spirit of entrepreneurship is being fueled by initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana and Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana. These schemes, run by the Bihar Government's Department of Industries, are helping aspiring entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality-while also generating employment for others. Sheikhpura (Bihar), Aug 23 (IANS) Government schemes are not only igniting hope but also transforming lives in Bihar. In Sheikhpura district, especially among the youth, the spirit of entrepreneurship is being fueled by initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana and Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana. These schemes, run by the Bihar Government's Department of Industries, are helping aspiring entrepreneurs turn their dreams into realitywhile also generating employment for others. One such story comes from the Chewara block of Sheikhpura district, where Virendra Chaudhary and Suraj Kumar have become examples of self-reliance. Motivated by personal circumstances and limited job opportunities, both decided to start their own ventures. After learning about the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, they applied and were successfully selected. Virendra Chaudhary used the Rs 10 lakh financial support to set up a small-scale shoe manufacturing unit, which is now providing employment to several people in the area. Suraj Kumar, on the other hand, opened a restaurant that has since become a sustainable source of income for him and job opportunities for others. Sharing his journey, Suraj Kumar, a B.Com graduate, recalled that after completing his studies, he sold vegetables at Chewara Chowk to support his family. Later, he moved to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. There, a friend informed him about the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, which offers financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh50 per cent as a grant and 50 per cent as an interest-free loan. Suraj returned to Sheikhpura, visited the Udyam office, enquired about the process, and applied. His application was approved, and with the support, he opened a restaurant that is now thriving. "Today, I am not only earning for my family but also giving jobs to others. The scheme changed my life," he said. The Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana is a sub-scheme under the broader Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, launched to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment across all social categories. It offers financial assistance of up to Rs 10,00,000 to male applicants from the General and Backward Classes to establish and run businesses, thereby strengthening grassroots economic empowerment. On November 16, 2023, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar distributed the first instalment to selected beneficiaries under the scheme at a programme held at Bapu Auditorium in Patna. Washington, Aug 23 : India's geography, economy, and demographic trajectory position it as the "only realistic counterbalance" to Chinese dominance in Asia, a report highlighted on Saturday. "In the shifting chessboard of 21st-century geopolitics, the Indo-Pacific has emerged as the decisive arena for global power. For the United States, containing Beijingas ambitions requires more than naval patrols and economic sanctions; it demands a partner with scale, proximity, and political legitimacy. Among all contenders, India stands alone," Stacey Glaser wrote in One World Outlook. India, the report details, is uniquely situated to challenge Beijingas reach as it shares a 2100-mile land border with China and sits astride the Indian Ocean a" through which a significant share of global trade, including China's energy imports, must pass. Unlike US allies such as Japan or Australia, India can influence both continental and maritime theatres in any strategic equation, it states. "India's economic rise is not merely a domestic success story; it is a geopolitical asset. A stronger Indian economy broadens New Delhi's ability to fund military upgrades, withstand Chinese coercion, and present itself as a viable alternative hub for trade and investment," writes Glaser. However, trade disputes, policy mismatches, and divergent strategic instincts threaten to undermine the full potential of the promising US-India partnership. The report mentions that former US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley has been vocal about the issues and has warned that undermining decades of US-India economic cooperation is a "strategic disaster". She had singled out recent tariff disputes, such as the Trump administration's steep import duties, as "self-inflicted wounds" that risk driving India toward China and Russia. "The reality is that both nations need each other. For Washington, India is the only partner in Asia with the scale and democratic credentials to credibly balance China. For New Delhi, US capital, technology, and market access accelerate its growth and help diversify away from Chinese supply chains. Disagreements over trade policy must be seen in the context of this larger, strategic necessity," the writer emphasises in the One World Outlook report. India's most enduring advantage over China may be its people, Glaser asserts, citing that with a median age of just 29 and a 2025 population estimated at 1.44 billion, India's labour force is both youthful and expanding. China, by contrast, is aging rapidly, with shrinking workforce numbers and rising labour costs. "India's economic rise is not merely a domestic success story; it is a geopolitical asset. A stronger Indian economy broadens New Delhi's ability to fund military upgrades, withstand Chinese coercion, and present itself as a viable alternative hub for trade and investment," the report titled 'Partner, Not Pawn: India's Place in America's Asia Playbook' details. Kochi, Aug 23 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday issued a strong rebuttal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's challenge for an open debate, countering his claims with facts and figures during a meeting here. On Friday, Shah had asserted that the Centre had extended special financial assistance to Kerala for disaster relief. Responding sharply, Vijayan said such statements were misleading and amounted to belittling the state. "Under Article 280 of the Constitution, the Union government is mandated to appoint the Finance Commission every five years. It is the Finance Commission that decides allocations for State Disaster Response Authorities, not the Central Government. To portray this constitutional entitlement as the generosity of the BJP government is factually incorrect and an affront to Kerala," said Vijayan. The Chief Minister reminded Shah that during the 2018 floods, considered the worst in a century, several foreign nations had offered to assist Kerala. " However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declined the offers, citing policy constraints. Even appeals from the Kerala government to accept contributions from expatriate Malayalis were denied. Ironically, when PM Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, external aid had been accepted for that state following a major disaster," said Vijayan. He further highlighted that despite damage assessments running into thousands of crores, such as the Rs 2,221 crore losses estimated during the Wayanad -Meppadi landslide, Kerala did not receive even a single rupee in direct Central aid. "To claim otherwise is nothing short of exaggeration. We survived because of our unity and resilience, creating a model of self-reliance," added Vijayan. Vijayan also accused the Centre of imposing an "economic blockade" against Kerala, creating difficulties but failing to weaken its resolve. "We never abandoned a single welfare or development programme, nor will we in the future," said Vijayan. Responding to Shah's political prediction that the BJP would win 25 per cent of the votes in the next local body polls and come to power in the state, Vijayan said, "Dreaming is not forbidden. But the people of Kerala know that voting for the BJP means losing Kerala's cultural identity. That is why they have consistently rejected the party here. The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the Centre's new bill that could unseat elected leaders, including prime ministers and chief ministers, if they face imprisonment. Calling it a "dangerous move," Vijayan warned that it was an attempt to destabilise governments and must be taken seriously. Patna, Aug 23 : On the seventh day of the Voter Adhikar Yatra, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reached Katihar district on Saturday, accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and several INDIA alliance leaders. The yatra, aimed at highlighting alleged "vote theft" and democratic concerns, has now turned into a show of opposition strength in Bihar. While passing through Kursela, LoP Rahul Gandhi made an unscheduled stop at Makhana fields near Simaria. He interacted directly with farmers, seeking to understand the cultivation process, yields, and export demand of Bihar's famous Makhana (fox nut). Farmers briefed him on the challenges they face, including exploitation by middlemen and a lack of fair pricing. LoP Rahul Gandhi also discussed how Makhana, sold locally at Rs 700 per kg, is exported abroad, including to the US, at several times the price, highlighting the absence of government support for farmers. Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram said that farmers here have been surrounded by middlemen, and despite the high global demand for Makhana, fishermen and farmers are not getting a fair price. "The central government has done little for better management," said Ram. Also, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi launched a sharp attack on the BJP, saying that the lie is nervous even after changing clothes five times a day, but 'our truth stays hidden in a T-shirt'. "After LoP Rahul Gandhi exposed vote theft, the BJP and the Election Commission are restless. This yatra has now turned into a revolution across the country," Pratapgarhi said. The Voter Adhikar Yatra caravan entered Katihar via Kursela and is scheduled to cover 90 km in the district. The Yatra passed through Sameli and Gedabari, drawing huge public participation. Senior leaders, including Katihar MP Tariq Anwar and Kadwa MLA Shakeel Ahmed Khan, were present alongside LoP Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. The interaction with Makhana farmers reflects the Congress's attempt to connect with Bihar's agrarian communities ahead of the Assembly elections. By spotlighting farmers' struggles and issues like "vote theft," the opposition aims to frame the yatra as both a political campaign and a people's movement. New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday carried out searches at two locations in Mumbai, including the residential premises of industrialist Anil D. Ambani and the official premises of Reliance Communication Ltd. (RCOM), in connection with an alleged Rs 2,929.05 crore bank fraud. The case was registered on August 21, 2025, following a complaint by the State Bank of India (SBI), Mumbai, accusing RCOM, its Director Anil Ambani, unidentified public servants and others of cheating and causing wrongful loss to the bank. According to CBI officials, the accused are alleged to have entered into a criminal conspiracy to misrepresent facts and secure credit facilities from SBI in favour of RCOM. The agency said the funds were subsequently misutilised and diverted through multiple channels, including inter-company loan transactions and inter-corporate deposits. Investigators also flagged irregularities such as the misutilisation of sales invoice financing, discounting of RCOM bills by Reliance Infratel Ltd., movement of funds through group entities, and the write-off of capital advances given to Netizen Engineering Pvt. Ltd.a Reliance ADA Group company. In addition, fictitious debtors were allegedly created and later written off to conceal the diversion of funds. The offences under probe include criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal breach of trust. A special CBI court in Mumbai had issued search warrants on August 22, enabling the raids that began on Saturday. "The searches are still continuing," a CBI press statement said. It is pertinent to note here that earlier this month, Anil Ambani faced a gruelling nine-hour interrogation at the ED headquarters in the national capital regarding an alleged Rs 17,000-crore loan fraud case. This is one of the biggest bank fraud cases under probe against a telecom company, underscoring rising regulatory scrutiny of corporate borrowing practices. New Delhi, Aug 23 : Former Supreme Court Judge (Retd) B. Sudershan Reddy, the Opposition's candidate for the Vice Presidential election next month, on Saturday dismissed allegations of having a pro-Maoism outlook, dismissing such remarks as "attempts to build a certain narrative". New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Former Supreme Court Judge (Retd) B. Sudershan Reddy, the Opposition's candidate for the Vice Presidential election next month, on Saturday dismissed allegations of having a pro-Maoism outlook, dismissing such remarks as "attempts to build a certain narrative". "I have not done anything in the past that would make anyone label me as a supporter of Naxalism," Justice Reddy told IANS. "Calling me a Naxalite supporter has no basis," he said, indicating that there could be some misconception about a particular judgment that he authored. "That wasn't even my judgment. I merely authored it, and it was a judgment of the Supreme Court. Three attempts were made to nullify it, all of which failed. A review petition was filed and also dismissed," said Justice Reddy. The 79-year-old former apex court judge said those making such comments, perhaps, didn't get a chance to read the full judgment. "Maybe someone briefed them incorrectly or they are trying to build a certain narrative," he said. On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah trained his guns on Justice Reddy, accusing him of having supported Maoism through his judicial pronouncements. Speaking at a public event in Kochi, HM Shah referred to Justice Reddy's 2011 Salwa Judum judgment, which had declared as "illegal" and "unconstitutional" the state-sponsored arming of young tribal men as special police officers in Chhattisgarh. The ruling ordered that such militias be disbanded, stressing that the state must address the root causes of the insurgency through lawful governance rather than vigilante groups. Revisiting that verdict, the Home Minister alleged the judgment indirectly strengthened Maoist extremists and curtailed the state's ability to counter insurgency. "Sudershan Reddy is the person who helped Naxalism. He gave the Salwa Judum judgment. If that judgment had not been given, Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020," the Home Minister said. Mumbai, Aug 23 : Actress Sana Makbul is back in work mode with a women-oriented web series following a brief break. During her time away, Sana was quietly recovering and preparing herself for her next project. Reflecting on her journey, Sana shared that when life forced her to slow down, she realized how often women put themselves last- their dreams, their health, and their happiness. "Thatas why returning with a women-oriented story feels so right. Itas my way of saying we all deserve second chances, and we all deserve to be heard," she shared. Sana's forthcoming series will focus on womenas emotions, strength, and resilience - a theme that deeply connects with Sanaas personal experiences. She chose the project for her return to the screen as she wanted to bring forward stories that highlight courage, hope, and self-discovery, reminding audiences that setbacks donat define anyoneas future. The 'Bigg Boss OTT 3' winner made headlines back in June when her friend, Dr. Aashna Kanchwala, shared an emotional post from the hospital. Dropping a picture of a visibly unwell Sana on her Instagram stories, she wrote: aMy strongest diva," Aashna wrote. aIam so proud of you for showing so much strength and resilience as you battle such a grave conditiona Inshallah, you will fight this and come out even stronger. Allah is with you." Days later, Sana used social media to thank her admirers, requesting them to pray for her recovery. Posting a photograph of herself holding a Labubu doll, Sana shared: aAnd in the middle of my chaos, he got my first Labubu," she wrote, keeping fans guessing about who the mysterious ahe" might be. More significantly, she added a quiet request: aKeep me in your duas. I am better." Additionally, speaking with comedian Bharti Singh, Sana opened up about her ongoing health battle. Revealing that she had no specific symptoms, Sane explained, aIn this condition, your body attacks its own organs. In my case, it affects the liver. Sometimes, itas like Lupus, it can impact the kidneys or cause arthritis. Samantha Ruth Prabhu has myositis a" which is a muscle condition. I have it with the liver." Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 23 : Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday called for greater social involvement in the care and treatment of patients suffering from rare genetic disorders such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). She stressed that families of such patients require significant community support. The minister was speaking while inaugurating the National SMA Conference here. "Kerala was the first state in the country to extend compassionate intervention for SMA patients, with both the government and society playing crucial roles," said George. " Several affected children in the state have already received financial assistance through crowdfunding initiatives. To ensure that all SMA patients in Kerala get access to life-saving treatment, the state government has launched an official crowdfunding programme," added George. She also urged citizens to actively contribute to the campaign, highlighting that community participation was essential for its success. At the meeting, around 50 children affected by SMA took part, sitting in wheelchairs. The participants came from various states in the country to attend the two-day event, which discussed treatment-related challenges and support systems. SMA is a rare neuromuscular condition that weakens muscles, gradually affecting mobility, bones, and breathing. It remains one of the leading causes of infant mortality. In India, it is estimated that one in every 7,744 infant deaths is due to SMA. Although treatment has recently become available in India, the cost remains prohibitively high. The required injection costs nearly Rs 13 crore, an expense far beyond the reach of any family. This makes government and community support critical for patients struggling with the condition. In Kerala, according to figures, there are more than 200 patients with SMA. Consanguineous marriage, or marriage between close relatives, is linked to an increased risk of SMA because SMA is an autosomal recessive disorder, and closer relatives are more likely to share the same recessive gene defects. Jabalpur, Aug 23 : Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has proposed a revolutionary shift in public transport for Madhya Pradesh, envisioning luxury electric buses with amenities comparable to air travel. Speaking at the inauguration of the city's longest 7-km flyover, Gadkari said that once the Bhopal-Jabalpur and Bhopal-Indore expressways are operational, the state must adopt next-generation electric buses designed for comfort, speed, and affordability. Developed in collaboration with the Tata Group, the project is on the drawing board for manufacturing these luxury buses in Dharwad, Karnataka. The Union minister confirmed that similar buses have begun service in Nagpur, and soon, these "aeroplane-like buses" will be seen on major Indian highways, redefining intercity travel for millions. "These buses will feature reclining seats, onboard hostesses, and refreshments like tea, coffee, packaged snacks, and fruits," he said. Each bus will accommodate up to 135 passengers, offering a premium experience at a fraction of the cost. "Despite the luxury, fares will be 30 per cent cheaper than diesel-run buses," the minister added. The buses will be fully electric, powered by an advanced 'flash charging' system that allows them to recharge in just 40 seconds. Charging stations will be placed every 40 km, enabling seamless travel without long halts. This innovation is expected to drastically reduce fuel costs and environmental impact. Union minister Gadkari urged Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav to ensure that these buses are integrated into the upcoming expressway networks. He emphasised that such futuristic transport solutions are essential for modern infrastructure and sustainable mobility. Initially, the service will be launched on high-traffic routes such as Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Dehradun, and Delhi-Chandigarh. The broader goal is to encourage commuters to shift from private vehicles to eco-friendly, efficient public transport, thereby reducing urban congestion and pollution. With this announcement, Union minister Gadkari has signalled a bold new direction for India's transport sector one that blends technology, comfort, and sustainability to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving nation. Mangaluru, Aug 23 : From charges of rape and murders of hundreds of women to the arrest of the "mask man", the mass grave case in which the management of the famous Dharmasthala temple in Karnataka's Mangaluru district faced direct allegations has taken many twists and turns. The developments have been closely followed by both national and international media. With the arrest of the mask man -- who had claimed that he was allegedly forced to bury hundreds of dead bodies, especially of women and girls showing clear signs of sexual assault -- the case has taken a major turn. The mask man first approached the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Mangaluru district on July 3, carrying a skull allegedly excavated from the burial site. He claimed that between 1998 and 2004, he had buried hundreds of bodies of women and girls at the behest of the temple authorities. Following directions from the Mangaluru SP, he lodged a police complaint with the jurisdictional Dharmasthala police on July 4. On the same day, he was produced before the Belthangady Principal Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate, where his statement was recorded. The complainant was granted protection under the Witness Protection Act. A committee headed by the Principal District Judge, along with the Superintendent of Police and the Public Prosecutor, provided protection to the mask man and his family. As the case gained traction, progressive thinkers and a section of YouTubers demanded that the state government form a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Initially, the Congress-led government said that an SIT was not required. On June 14, Karnataka State Commission for Women Chairperson, Nagalakshmi Choudhary, wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging the constitution of an SIT to probe the allegations of mass burials at Dharmasthala. Responding to mounting pressure, the Karnataka government announced the formation of an SIT on July 19 to probe the Dharmasthala case and appointed Director General of Police Pronab Mohanty -- an officer known for his upright image -- as the probe agency's chief, as demanded by progressive groups and activists who had taken a confrontational stance against the temple authorities. On July 28, SIT sleuths took the mask man to the alleged burial sites and marked 17 spots. Boundaries were cordoned off, and armed policemen were deployed to secure the areas. Excavation of the marked burial sites began on July 29. On August 11, the SIT received a complaint seeking a probe into the unnatural death of Padmalatha, reported in 1986 in Dharmasthala. On August 12, as the SIT excavated site number 13 -- where the mask man had claimed to have buried hundreds of bodies -- no substantial evidence was found. On the same day, the Bharatiya Janata Party raised the issue in the Karnataka Assembly, demanding answers from Home Minister G. Parameshwara. On August 14, the Karnataka BJP alleged that the Congress-led government was working with divisive forces to defame Dharmasthala. Home Minister Parameshwara announced that excavations would soon conclude. In a surprising development, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also said that there was a massive conspiracy to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala, a prominent Hindu pilgrimage centre. Amid mounting pressure, on August 15, the Karnataka government said that the SIT would decide whether to halt excavations and warned that action would be taken against those who had lied. On August 16, the BJP launched the "Dharm Yatra" campaign across the state, condemning the developments around the mass grave case. On August 17, a BJP delegation visited Dharmasthala and demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister. On August 18, Home Minister Parameshwara announced that the SIT investigation would be halted until the results of chemical and DNA analyses of sand samples from the burial sites were available. He also claimed that human bones could have dissolved due to the acidic nature of the soil at the alleged burial spots. On the same day, family members of Narayana and his sister Yamuna, residents of Dharmasthala who were killed in 2012, filed a complaint with the SIT demanding a probe and alleging the involvement of the temple authorities. On August 19, the BJP mounted a fresh attack in the Assembly, alleging that the Dharmasthala SIT was a Congress conspiracy "scripted by ultra-leftists and executed by CM Siddaramaiah". On the same day, Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala temple and BJP Rajya Sabha member, reacted by calling the allegations a conspiracy aimed at diverting youth from their faith and asserted that the damage had already been done. On August 19, BJP MP Kota Srinivas Poojary wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding an Enforcement Directorate probe into foreign funding allegedly used by certain individuals and YouTubers to spread propaganda. On August 21, the Karnataka BJP announced the "Dharm Yuddh" campaign to "protect faith". On August 22, the SIT began investigating the mask man. After 19 hours of questioning, he confessed to misleading the SIT and admitted to acting at the behest of certain individuals. He was subsequently produced before the court and remanded to 10-day custody. Colorado Springs Police Department dispatchers recently received a service call about a woman who was allegedly threatening passersby with a knife, occasionally swinging and thrusting it toward people who came near her. As officers prepared to respond to the call, they began to receive clarifying information: The woman was holding a stick, not a knife, and was arrested without further incident. That new information changed the level of the response and likely saved the woman from getting injured, said CSPD spokeswoman Caitlin Ford. The near-immediate relay of information came from the Real-Time Crime Center, a specialized CSPD unit that integrates an array of technologies, including body-worn camera footage, live drone feeds, law enforcement data, and streams from public and private cameras. Colorado Springs police have been using technology to help solve crimes for years. Officers began wearing body cameras in 2016, and the department launched its drone program in 2018. Security camera recordings have served as an investigative aid for decades. But the Real-Time Crime Center, launched in October 2024, has tied these technologies together to allow near-immediate access to information, which is quickly relayed to officers on the street increasing officer safety and investigative efficiency, CSPD officials said. For the patrol officer on the street, the technology has changed, but the function of the job is still the same: Youre still talking to people and collecting evidence, said Sgt. Matt McLain. But we are using the available technology to help make us better at what we do. The disparate technologies are integrated through a platform called Fusus, a map-based interface that combines a wide range of available data into a single pane of glass that is monitored 20 hours a day, five days a week by a rotating crew of detectives and crime analysts, McLain said. Fusus ties everything together the software, the databases, the cameras and the drones, he said. Its a tremendous help. New York Citys police department launched the first RTCC in the U.S. in 2005, according to multiple reports. Since then, more than 200 law enforcement agencies have developed crime centers of their own, including the Miami-Dade, Tampa, Fresno, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Albuquerque, Seattle and Denver police departments. CSPDs Real-Time Crime Center has access to feeds from more than 800 cameras across the city, including city-owned and business feeds, officer body-worn cameras, drones and more. Greater access means increased efficiency and officer safety, McLain said. Its invaluable to officer safety, McLain said. Were able to assess a situation before our officers arrive, and give them a better idea of what theyre walking into. Just before 1:30 a.m. on July 5, police responded to calls about a group of people arguing outside a downtown nightclub, one of whom appeared to be armed with a rifle. When officers arrived, witnesses and bystanders told police that it was an argument that got out of hand, and that no one was armed. The group appeared to disperse, but began arguing again. Real-Time Crime Center personnel reviewed security video from the area, saw a man reaching into a vehicle for a handgun and alerted nearby officers that there was an armed man at the scene. An officer fatally shot the suspect, but assistance from the RTCC prevented others from being injured or killed, officials said. The RTCCs benefits extend beyond officer safety, according to McLain. We can use the combination of cameras to find a suspect who is evading police, he said. Sometimes we use it to find a victim and lead officers to get to the victim faster. Additionally, as in the case of the female suspect who was brandishing a stick and not a knife, the crime centers technology can prevent certain situations from escalating to violence. It has been really effective, in some situations, as a de-escalation tool, Ford said. But not everyone is convinced that the benefits of Real-Time Crime Centers outweigh the potential risks. Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Police Accountability Project have expressed concerns about invasion of privacy and the use of RTCCs for surveillance purposes. Local law enforcement has had access to cameras in their jurisdictions for a while now, said Anaya Robinson, policy director for ACLU Denver. But when you tie in private cameras as well, or cameras that are owned by other entities, government or private, you are potentially developing a jurisdiction-wide surveillance system that looks at the vast majority if not nearly every square foot of city and county property. Our concern is that not only is the system surveilling potential criminal activity, but that it can surveil peoples day-to-day lives. Featured Local Savings Robinson added that, ideally, law enforcement should allow a period of public discussion before launching a platform like the Real-Time Crime Center. The availability of tech for law enforcement and for surveillance purposes is only going to grow, and there is no way to responsibly use these types of technology without safeguards, regulations and statutes determining how and when law enforcement can implement them and requiring a public comment period before doing so, he said. Because Real-Time Crime Centers are still relatively new, its too soon to tell whether they have a positive impact on investigative outcomes, Robinson argued. However, a 2024 study by the University of Pennsylvanias Criminology Department, titled Creating Solvability With Real-Time Crime Centers, concluded that while research remains limited, available data suggests that RTCC involvement can significantly increase the likelihood that a case is solved. CPSD spokesman Ira Cronin said the RTCC operates fully within the bounds of the U.S. and Colorado Constitutions, state law, and department policy, and that its exclusive purpose is to respond to active calls for service and investigations. Cronin added that the department was transparent in informing the public about the launch of the RTCC and its purpose. While we respect differing viewpoints, our focus remains on using these tools responsibly and lawfully to serve our community, he stated. McLain said public response to the RTCC has been largely positive. I think more community members are recognizing that these are useful technologies, so they expect us to use them for public safety, he said. While the Real-Time Crime Centers camera network seems extensive, there are several pockets in the city where there is little to no coverage, largely because of a lack of community involvement, McLain said. Colorado Springs is actually a large city in terms of land area, he said. Eight hundred cameras might sound like a lot, but there are a lot of blank spots where we dont have eyes. Business owners and residents can assist the Real-Time Crime Center by registering or integrating their cameras, officials said. Area businesses can integrate their cameras into the RTCC system by purchasing Fusus equipment. Residents can register their cameras with CSPD through a secure online portal. So far weve had a decent number of people who have signed up, but there could be so much more, McLain said. We could have ten times as many people register their cameras. Its just a way of helping us solve cases. If a resident emails video to us, it can save time instead of an officer spending an entire day canvassing a neighborhood. Registering a camera doesnt allow police to access it without permission, and integrated cameras are for emergency purposes only and are not monitored by police, officials said. McLain said he believes that most Colorado Springs residents will see the value of the Real-Time Crime Center as a public safety tool, and that officers will feel more secure knowing that RTCC detectives have their back. Were seeing good interaction with officers, and were starting to solve cases faster and more efficiently, he said. Now officers know they have a detective on call waiting to help them with whatever case theyre working on, and they are starting to reach out to us. Mumbai, Aug 23 : To ease travel during the festive rush of Ganesh Chaturthi, a special train service has been launched from Mumbai to Konkan. Popularly named the "Modi Express", the train began operations on Saturday, offering timely relief to passengers struggling to secure tickets during the festival season. Ganesh Chaturthi, one of Maharashtraas most celebrated festivals, draws thousands of people from Mumbai and nearby cities back to their hometowns in the Konkan region. With ticket demand usually skyrocketing, the Modi Express has quickly become a much-welcomed travel option. IANS interacted with several passengers travelling on the inaugural train service. One traveller expressed satisfaction, saying, "It's a good initiative as it is very difficult to get tickets during the festival season. The Narendra Modi-led Union government has done a really great job." Another passenger highlighted the convenience, stating, "We are travelling on the Modi Express. Earlier, we had to wait a long time for tickets, but with this, we got them in just two days. The arrangements look comfortable, and food is also available on board." On August 13, BJP leader and Maharashtra Minister Nitish Rane had announced on social media that two special trains -- dubbed Modi Express -- would run between Mumbai and Konkan for Ganesh Chaturthi. This marks the 13th consecutive year of the initiative, aimed at ensuring devotees can travel comfortably to their hometowns to celebrate Ganeshotsav. Passengers are urged to register their names with their respective mandal presidents to secure seats. Minister Rane described the special trains as a gesture of gratitude to the people of Konkan, especially those from Kankavali, Devgad, and Vaibhavwadi, for their support to the BJP in recent elections. The Modi Express trains have, over the years, become an integral part of festive travel for many families, allowing them to reunite and celebrate together. Beyond the convenience of transportation, the initiative underscores the role of community-driven efforts in making festivals more inclusive and joyous. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated from August 27 to September 6. To meet the heavy rush, special train services have been running since August 11, with frequencies being increased as the festival approaches. Ganesh Chaturthi holds immense cultural and spiritual significance. Lord Ganesha, revered as Vighnaharta and Mangalakarta, is worshipped for good fortune, happiness, and protection. While Maharashtra leads the grand celebrations, states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa also observe the festival with devotion. Indian communities abroad in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia join in the festivities, reflecting the global spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi. Guna : , Aug 23 (IANS) A three-day training programme under the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs concluded in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district, marking a significant step towards empowering tribal communities. The training, organised at Hotel Rajvilas from August 20 to 22, was inaugurated by Collector Kishore Kumar Kanyal and Chief Executive Officer, District Panchayat, Abhishek Dubey, with the worship of tribal icon Birsa Munda. The Adi Karmayogi Abhiyanan ambitious national campaignaims to prepare 20 lakh grassroots leaders, or 'Adi Karmayogis', to deliver essential services and welfare benefits to nearly 10 crore tribal citizens across India. With a vision to integrate tribal communities into the mainstream of development, the programme focuses on strengthening awareness, ensuring last-mile delivery, and fostering leadership at the village level. In the Guna district, 230 tribal-majority villages have been identified, home to nearly 1.75 lakh tribal residents. To ensure effective implementation, officers from six departments were first trained in Bhopal as master trainers. They, in turn, trained 30 officers and employees from various departments in Guna. These trained officials will now take the mission forward by training 10 villagers each, thereby preparing around 3,000 grassroots leaders to take the message of development deeper into the tribal belts. Collector Kanyal emphasised the importance of sewa (service) and samarpan (dedication) for the success of the campaign. "The strength of this initiative lies in its ability to inspire people at the village level to take ownership of change. The focus is not only on delivering schemes but on building awareness and confidence among tribal communities," he said. To streamline the effort, CEO Abhishek Dubey has been appointed the nodal officer, while District Coordinator of the Tribal Welfare Department, B. Sisodia, will serve as the nodal department officer. District Coordinator and Training Nodal Officer B. Sisodia underlined the transformative potential of the campaign. "We are training people who will themselves become agents of change. Our aim is to ensure that no one is left behind," he said. Abha Saxena from the Health Department described the initiative as aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. "The goal is to ensure that every citizen benefits from every scheme, particularly those in tribal and remote regions. Training will continue so that more people can become part of this movement," she added. Dinesh Chandel, Assistant Director of the Women and Child Development Department, echoed the sentiment: "This is not just a scheme; it is a mission to ensure welfare reaches the grassroots. Our responsibility is to work at ground level, shoulder-to-shoulder with the people." The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has positioned the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan as the world's largest grassroots tribal leadership programme. Anchored in the values of Sewa, Sankalp, and Samarpan, the initiative is part of the government's broader vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas." It will cover over 1 lakh tribal-dominated villages across 550 districts in 30 States and Union Territories, building on existing flagship programmes such as the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, PM JANMAN, and the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission. New Delhi, Aug 23 : The NDA's Vice-Presidential candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, an interaction that comes amid the former's push to garner support for himself ahead of the September 9 election. HM Shah took to social media to share information about their interaction. "Met NDA's candidate for the Vice-Presidential election, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan Ji. He is a seasoned leader with vast organisational and administrative experience. I am sure he will contribute immensely to India's national discourse with his vast exposure," wrote HM Shah on X. The meeting came a day after HM Shah accused retired Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy, the INDIA bloc's nominee for the upcoming Vice-Presidential election, of having supported Naxalism (Maoism) through his judicial pronouncements. Speaking at a public event in Kochi, HM Shah referred to Justice Reddy's 2011 Salwa Judum judgment, which had declared as "illegal" and "unconstitutional" the state-sponsored arming of young tribal men as special police officers in Chhattisgarh. The ruling ordered that such militias be disbanded, stressing that the state must address the root causes of the insurgency through lawful governance rather than vigilante groups. Revisiting that verdict, the Home Minister alleged the judgment indirectly strengthened Maoist extremists and curtailed the state's ability to counter insurgency. "Sudershan Reddy is the person who helped Naxalism. He gave the Salwa Judum judgment. If that judgment had not been given, Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020," the Home Minister said. He further claimed the Congress, under pressure from its Left allies, had nominated a candidate "who supported Naxalism with a forum like the Supreme Court". Earlier, Radhakrishnan filed his nomination papers on August 20, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accompanying him during the paper-filing process. The nomination was filed in four sets, each carrying the signatures of 20 proposers and 20 seconders. PM Modi was the chief proposer as he signed and submitted the first set of nomination papers, while the remaining sets bore signatures of other Union ministers and NDA leaders. In terms of numbers, NDA nominee Radhakrishnan enjoys a comfortable lead over the INDIA bloc candidate Sudarshan Reddy. Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 MPs, while the Rajya Sabha has 233 MPs out of a total strength of 245. The BJP has 240 MPs in the Lower House and 102 MPs in the Upper House, and with support from the allies, the total strength of NDA reaches 421 -- 298 and 128 respectively in both Houses. On the other hand, the INDIA bloc parties have 235 Lok Sabha MPs and 77 Rajya Sabha MPs. Their combined strength comes to a total of 312, and if AAP extends support with 11 MPs, the total tally will reach 325. Chennai, Aug 23 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday urged all States in the country to constitute High-Level Committees on Union-State relations, asserting that a strong framework of state autonomy and cooperative federalism alone can safeguard India's unity and diversity. Addressing the National Seminar on Union-State Relations at Kalaivanar Arangam, Stalin declared that Tamil Nadu would continue to push for constitutional amendments to guarantee federal values. "We will make every effort to ensure that the Constitution of India is amended to enshrine the principles of state autonomy and federalism. Weak states cannot strengthen India. A united India will gain strength only through the efforts of self-reliant states," he said. The Chief Minister accused the BJP-led Union government of systematically undermining state powers through "innumerable legal and administrative interferences." He alleged that the Centre was curtailing the independence of finance commissions and depriving states of their fair share of resources. Despite these hurdles, Stalin highlighted Tamil Nadu's economic achievements, noting that the State recorded a double-digit growth of 11.19 per cent in 2024-25 the first time in 14 years. "Even during financial stress, our Dravidian model government has received praise from scholars and activists for implementing social justice-oriented schemes," he said. Reaffirming Tamil Nadu's traditional opposition to the imposition of Hindi, Stalin recalled that the bilingual policy introduced by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai in 1968 has now found resonance in several other states. He pointed to recent anti-Hindi movements in Karnataka, West Bengal, and Maharashtra as proof of Tamil Nadu's influence on the national stage. The Chief Minister also praised eminent jurists and experts such as Justices Jasti Chelameswar and Kurian Joseph, Ashok Vardhan Shetty, and Naganathan, who are leading Tamil Nadu's High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations. He expressed confidence that their recommendations would "pave the way for a stronger India built on genuine federal principles." On this occasion, Stalin launched a dedicated web portal and an online questionnaire to gather views from citizens and experts. He emphasised that public participation would play a key role in shaping the Committee's recommendations and building momentum for a nationwide movement towards cooperative federalism. Vientiane, Aug 23 : In the fight against dengue, Laos is expanding the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, a safe and effective method that turns mosquitoes into tiny warriors against the virus. In early August, Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes were released across seven districts of the capital Vientiane. The move builds on the success of a pilot project in 2022, which saw the deployment of Wolbachia mosquitoes in several areas of the city, protecting 32 villages and nearly 86,000 people. Wolbachia is a natural and safe bacterium that reduces 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. Many citizens have expressed strong support for the ongoing efforts, particularly among those who value environmental protection. Khonesavanh, a resident of the capital, viewed the method as both an eco-friendly and smart solution that safeguards public health while preserving the natural environment. She believed the approach offered a sustainable, long-term form of protection, and said it minimized harm to both people and nature. "I feel satisfied that our government has chosen a method that not only helps prevent and reduce the spread of the disease, but also shows concern for environmental protection and overall effectiveness," she told Xinhua news agency on Saturday. According to a Lao Ministry of Health report, Laos reported 2,614 cases of dengue fever in the first half of 2025, marking a significant decrease from the 5,192 cases recorded during the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, no dengue-related deaths were reported in the country from January to June, compared with three deaths in the same period in 2024. Molakod, a medical student, said dengue fever requires serious attention, as it can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages but can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated in time. Molakod said she appreciates the government's proactive measures in fighting dengue, adding that the battle is far from over. "The government is doing its part, now we have to do ours. We all need to take care of our homes, our yards, and make sure we're not giving mosquitoes a place to breed, especially during the rainy season," said Nilamon, a 35-year-old resident of Vientiane province, told Xinhua. Nilamon believed the real power lies in community action. She urged residents across the country to take personal responsibility by keeping their homes and surroundings clean and safe. As of August 16, Laos has reported 6,746 cases of dengue fever, including one death. The highest number of cases was recorded in the capital Vientiane, which reported 3,405 infections. The battle was far from over. Raipur, Aug 23 : In a fresh development in the on-going investigation into Chhattisgarh's multi-crore liquor scam, a special court has once again sent Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, to 14-day judicial custody. This marks the third such extension since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 following a raid at his residence in Bhilai. The ED, which is probing alleged money laundering linked to the liquor syndicate that operated between 2019 and 2022, had earlier sought a five-day custodial remand citing fresh leads that emerged during the confrontation process. ED counsel Saurabh Pandey told reporters that while the agency did not find it necessary to keep Baghel in continued custody, new facts had surfaced during interrogation, prompting the request for additional remand. "We arranged confrontation with him and reviewed the evidence. Though extended custody wasn't essential, some new facts came to light. Hence, we sought five days of remand," Pandey said. However, the court opted for judicial custody instead, reserving ED's right to seek further custodial interrogation if needed. "We may demand two days of remand later, depending on the investigation's progress," he added. The ED has repeatedly flagged Baghel's alleged non-cooperative attitude during questioning. Officials claim that despite being confronted with documents and statements, Baghel has withheld key information and failed to provide satisfactory responses. During earlier remand periods, he was interrogated over suspected laundering of Rs 16.7 crore through real estate ventures, allegedly part of a larger Rs 2,100 crore scam involving off-the-books liquor sales and manipulation of licenses. The court's decision to extend judicial custody comes amid rising political tensions in the state. The Congress party has accused central agencies of targeting opposition leaders, while Bhupesh Baghel has maintained that the investigation is politically motivated. Nonetheless, both father and son have pledged cooperation with the legal process. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 6, with the ED expected to present further findings. As the probe deepens, Chaitanya Baghel remains lodged in Raipur Central Jail, awaiting the next legal turn in one of Chhattisgarh's most high-profile financial investigations. Kolkata, August 23 : The West Bengal School Education department, on Saturday, directed the police to file an FIR against a Trinamool Congress leader for threatening the acting headmistress of a school in Malda district's Habibpur area. The incident took place at Bulbul Chandi RN Roy Vidyaniketan Girls' School in Habibpur block. The accused person is Trinamool's trade union leader Subodh Roy, who is also the President of the managing committee of the school. A CCTV footage inside the teacher's room showed that the Trinamool Congress leader is threatening the school's acting headmistress Jhuma Majumdar. According to the sources, the headmistress did not grant leave to another school teacher, who raised the matter before the school managing committee and its president, on Friday. After learning about the incident, Roy came to the school on Saturday and questioned the acting headmistress Majumdar on several issues, allegedly insulting and harassing her in various ways. It is also alleged that the acting headmistress's qualifications were also questioned. The CCTV footage showed a teacher screaming and crying and the President of the management committee making several comments targeting the acting teacher, raising his fingers. Regarding the incident, school headmistress Majumdar, said, "Subodh Roy came to the school and started shouting and insulting us in various ways. I have never been so humiliated in my 34 years of service. Other assistant teachers are also worried about the way we were treated inside the school." Meanwhile, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Habibpur block and the District Education Department have also been informed of the matter. After learning about the incident, the school education department has asked the police to register an FIR against the Trinamool Congress leader. However, no FIR has been lodged till the final reports came in. However, Roy, claimed that the allegation is completely baseless. "There are many complaints about the poor quality of the midday meal for a long time. The teachers are taking leave in groups. The quality of education at the school is deteriorating. I only complained to her about these issues," the Trinamool Congress leader said. Mumbai, Aug 23 : Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Saturday slammed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for posting an "objectionable" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nirupam said that while ideological differences are an integral part of democracy, indecent remarks in the name of political disagreement are unacceptable. Tejashwi, the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, has been accused of sharing content targeting the Prime Minister in a derogatory manner. An FIR was lodged against Tejashwi in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on the complaint of BJP MLA Milind Narote. Speaking to IANS, Nirupam said, "Ideological differences in politics are natural; it is the strength of democracy. But breaking the limits and making indecent comments in the name of these differences is not acceptable." He further added that protests and criticism are valid in a democratic system, but stressed that no one has the right to defame individuals. "There should definitely be a protest, but it is wrong to defame anyone. Leaders must use restrained language and avoid such comments. Such behaviour is not appropriate in a civilised society," Nirupam told IANS. On the controversy surrounding Karnatka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar reciting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) anthem, 'Namaste Sada Vatsale Matribhume', in the state Assembly, Nirupam said, "RSS is a nationalist organisation that has been working on personality development and instilling patriotism since 1925. Most of the people who criticise the RSS are leftists or Congress leaders influenced by them. If Shivakumar or any other person sings an RSS song, then it is not a sin." "Objecting to singing RSS songs is wrong. Even Jawaharlal Nehru once shared the same ideological differences, and now Rahul Gandhi does too. You have seen what has happened with them," he added. The debate intensified after Shivakumar, while addressing the Assembly, claimed he possessed comprehensive knowledge and political skills despite not being "groomed" in opposition circles. He had added, "I might not have been groomed in your school, but I have been groomed in Parameshwara school." In response, Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka took a swipe at Shivakumar, recalling his earlier admission that he had worn RSS shorts as a child while attending a shakha in Bengaluru's Rajajinagar neighbourhood. Mumbai, Aug 23 : The National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, speaking at Shakti Samvad in Mumbai on Saturday, said that for women's rights and empowerment, challenges are inevitable, but each challenge brings an opportunity. The NCW, in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Women Commission, hosted a two-day Capacity Building and Training Program for State Women Commissions (SWCs) on August 22-23 in Mumbai. The program, titled "Shakti Samvad", brought together Chairpersons, Members, and senior officers of SWCs from across India to strengthen their institutional capacity in safeguarding women's rights, promoting welfare, and advancing gender equality. At the valedictory session on Saturday, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, MP Sunil Tatkare, and Rupali Chakankar, Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women's Commission, were present. Addressing participants, Rahatkar said, "In our work for women's rights and empowerment, challenges are inevitable -- but each challenge brings an opportunity. We must not be halted by obstacles. Instead, we must focus on finding solutions. When approached with determination, barriers become stepping stones. The role of every State Commission is crucial -- together we can ensure women across India not only feel protected, but also empowered to dream and achieve without fear." She further emphasised, "Shakti Samvad is not merely a dialogue of words, but a dialogue of resolve. When all State Women's Commissions unite with a shared vision, we create collective strength to transform women's lives across the country. This platform is about learning, collaborating, and equipping ourselves so that every woman's voice is heard, her dignity protected, and her aspirations supported. Together, we are safeguarding rights and shaping a future where gender equality is the foundation of progress." The two-day event featured thought-provoking sessions on a wide range of issues -- women's perspectives and best practices in combating human trafficking; legal age of consent and broader narratives around "Inner Women"; artificial intelligence and cyber security, including risks, opportunities, and accessibility of digital services; and contributions of women framers of the Indian Constitution. The issue of menopause and mental well-being, with a call for awareness campaigns to normalise conversations, was also discussed apart from new criminal laws -- the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita from women's perspectives, with case studies. The Shakti Samvad program was inaugurated on Friday, August 22, in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The initiative emerged as a significant platform for dialogue and collaboration, reaffirming the collective resolve of the NCW and SWCs to safeguard women's rights and advance gender equality nationwide. Colombo, Aug 23 : The recent detention of Liu Jianchao, one of China's most prominent diplomats and head of the International Liaison Department, is "less about corruption and more about control" as Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive has evolved into a mechanism for political survival and control, a report highlighted recently. Colombo, Aug 23 (IANS) The recent detention of Liu Jianchao, one of China's most prominent diplomats and head of the International Liaison Department, is "less about corruption and more about control" as Chinese President Xi Jinpingas anti-corruption drive has evolved into a mechanism for political survival and control, a report highlighted recently. The news of Liu Jianchao, widely tipped to be a future foreign minister, being detained earlier this month had sent shock waves in China's official and diplomatic circles. "Liu was not just another seasoned cadre. He was a man deeply embedded in the Communist Partyas disciplinary apparatus, having overseen international aspects of the anti-corruption campaign, including the high-profile Operation Fox Hunt that tracked down fugitives abroad. His abrupt fall from grace, alongside the temporary disappearance of his deputy Sun Haiyan, is not simply a political setback. It is a revealing moment in how Xi Jinpingas anti-corruption drive has evolved into a mechanism for political survival and control," Sri Lanka's leading newspaper 'Daily Mirror' stated. The development indicates that Xi Jinpingas anti-corruption campaign has now expanded to sectors "once thought relatively insulated" including the military, the technology elite, and now, the foreign policy establishment. "Foreign policy has always been a sensitive domain in Beijing, but the Foreign Ministry has historically enjoyed a degree of insulation from the most disruptive aspects of Party purges. The targeting of Liu Jianchao disrupts that tradition. His detention, coming after the still-unexplained disappearance of former foreign minister Qin Gang in 2023, suggests that the Party sees diplomacy not as a neutral domain of statecraft but as an arena that requires continual ideological policing," the Mirror detailed in a report titled 'Xi's anti-corruption drive hits foreign policy lite with Liu Jianchao's detention'. Calling him a "polished diplomat" who has been educated at Oxford and sought to repair Beijing's "frayed ties" with the United States and Europe, the newspaper said that Liu was also a CCP insider, trusted enough to lead anti-graft operations abroad. The irony, it says, is that a man who once hunted down corrupt officials abroad now finds himself hunted by the very system he helped build. "His detention showcases that anti-corruption is no longer primarily about rooting out graft but now is also about policing loyalty. If even those who once embodied the anti-graft crusade can be purged, then no official can feel secure on the basis of past service or institutional role. The signal is of course deliberate from the supremo himself; political obedience not technical competence, is the currency of survival under Xi". The anti-corruption campaign, the report asserts, has outgrown its initial justification of cleaning up graft and has become a governance mechanism premised on fear, unpredictability, and personal loyalty to Xi Jinping. "Critics sometimes argue that the anti-corruption campaign risks destabilising the Party by eroding trust among its elites. But that is precisely the point; instability at the elite level serves Xi's consolidation of power. A system in which no one feels secure is one in which everyone is incentivized to display loyalty constantly and publicly. By keeping even senior diplomats guessing about their fate, Xi ensures that his personal authority outweighs institutional norms," the Daily Mirror report emphasised. The former Denver funeral director who admitted to abusing corpses after the police found around 30 cremated remains and a corpse that had been in his hearse for months at his home last year will spend more than a year in prison. Denver Judge Jay Grant sentenced 34-year-old Miles Harford to 18 months in prison and one year of parole on one count of abusing a corpse and a misdemeanor theft charge on Monday afternoon the maximum sentence for those charges. Harford pleaded guilty to the charges in April, with 10 charges dropped in the deal. Harford appeared well-dressed in the courtroom, donning a burgundy suit and black glasses. He looked straight at each speaker, victims family and friends. He showed no expression. The prosecution pointed out that there were countless people watching the court case online and in the room, including multiple members of the Denver Police Department and District Attorney John Walsh. There is something different about this case. Theres a feeling thats different. I think its because its primal, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jake Friedberg said of the rituals for honoring a human after death. It goes to the very core of our species. This is a need baked into humanity. We have to do this. Its part of our basic programming. I think these cases pose a really difficult situation for the law, Walsh said after the hearing. Its not a violent crime, and, yet, it has a violent effect on the emotions of the families. The Englewood Police Department arrested Harford on Feb. 27, 2024 weeks after a set of events shocked the metro Denver area and appalled customers of Harfords former business, Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services. The Denver Medical Examiners Office and the Denver Police Department received a call about a suspicious occurrence at a house in a residential area of southwest Denver on Feb. 6, 2024. The property owner was cleaning the house following Harfords eviction and found 29 different urns of cremains. Investigators then got to the home and started searching the property, later finding Christina Rosales body covered in rugs in the back seat of Harfords broken-down hearse. The long white vehicle was parked in a side driveway at his Denver home. Rosales had been picked up in late 2022. Harford was then turned down by crematories due to an ongoing debt bill. Instead, Harford covered the body and left it in the hearse until it was discovered during the eviction. For 18 months, he left her in that car in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter, Christina Rosales husband, George Rosales, told the court. I cant understand how he can treat her body that way. He truly was a monster. Along with the abuse of Rosales body, Harford was also taking money from people for prepaid cremation services and providing other families with the wrong cremains. Some of the incidents occurred as early as May 2019, and others started in August 2023 six months before the police discovered a body and cremains on the property of the house Harford rented. What he was going to do was defraud the people who had already prepaid him for funeral services. He was going to give them the remains of other, unrelated people. He did this to represent to them, falsely, that he had completed the contract, Senior Deputy District Attorney Kate Horton said. In one instance, for example, Harford gave fraudulent remains to a father who then spread the ashes at different spots around the country. The father didnt find out till after the arrest that the remains were not of his son, according to Horton. If not for this eviction, would my mother ever have been returned to us? asked Molly Rosales, whose family was given the wrong ashes after her mothers 10-year battle with dementia, Alzheimers and death. The incident along with the 2023 case at a funeral home near Colorado Springs, where deputies discovered nearly 200 improperly stored bodies at the Return to Nature Funeral Home eventually led to Gov. Jared Polis signing Senate Bill 173 into law in 2024. That law requires funeral industry professionals to apply, pay an application fee, pass a criminal history check and not be subject to discipline in another state in order to work in Colorado. Those regulations go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. Harford started the funeral service in 2012 and eventually closed it in 2022 due to ongoing debt. He could not afford to pay for the cremations of his clients, according to prosecutors, so he started shifting around the cremains given to customers. Featured Local Savings Harfords defense attorney, Clarke Cooper, claimed that the issues started from extreme substance abuse especially alcoholism that stemmed from the deaths of his grandmother and, later, his best friend in 2019. Harford began crying. He had shown no emotion throughout the hearing. There is an undertone of significant substance abuse, Cooper told the judge. Mr. Harford has not shied away from this. He added: Mr. Harford is not here to do anything but accept accountability for his actions. This is a young man who almost has no real relationship with the truth. I think hes a conman, prosecutor Friedberg said, claiming that Harford never took full responsibility and has often lied during the investigation process. The defense argued that Harford was drunk during the investigation, leading to his lack of accountability. He is now clean, the defense said. Friedberg also pointed toward two new felony charges out of Arapahoe County in January, in which Harford allegedly hacked into his former employers business account to pay his own Verizon bill. Det. Steven Seidel, who headed the investigation, claimed that Harford never showed remorse throughout the process. According to Seidel, investigators even found a video on his phone where he was lip-syncing to The Bones by Maren Morris outside of the hearse. His actions definitely brought up memories for these families. Definitely brought up the thoughts, but they are contradictory to the thoughts and memories of what these families wanted, Seidel said. They now have thoughts and memories of whether or not their loved ones are at home on their mantle. Harford called the period the darkest time of his life, as he apologized to the families Monday. He added that the repeated exposure to loss, especially deaths in his own family, caused him to burn out. Feeling this way, nobody wins, he said. I dont intend to return to the funeral industry, but I do intend to be a voice of positive and meaningful change for the funeral industry. Harford went on to say that investigators made him out to be a bad guy and cornered him without counsel at the beginning of the investigation process. A bad guy doesnt sober up so that he can be his best self as he addresses the cases before him, Harford said. A bad guy doesnt have perfect compliance with pre-trial for over a year. A bad guy doesnt show up to every court appearance on time to sit and wait for the DA to show up whenever they might feel like it. Victim families shook their heads on the benches. Grant, the judge, said he hopes the sentence does not define Harford as a person and told the families that they deserve justice. The trauma that Mr. Harfords actions caused were not only profound, but lasting. Punishment is not only appropriate, but necessary, he concluded. He never apologized until today, George Rosales said after the sentencing. He apologized to the court. He didnt apologize to us. I forgive him in my heart. I hate to hold that burden and that hatred in my heart. New Delhi, Aug 23 : Adani Agri Fresh Limited (AAFL) has started the procurement of apple with Rs 85 per kilogram in Himachal Pradesh, which is Rs 5 more that the opening rate of last year. AAFL procures apple in Himachal Pradesh from Rohru, Rampur, Tutu-Pani, Sainj, Jarol-Tikkar and Reckong-Peo sites, according to the company. Last month, in a landmark initiative for the horticulture sector, Adani Agri Fresh launched the countryas first digital apple market platform in Bithal near Rampur, about 120 km from Shimla. The project is designed to directly benefit apple growers across Himachal Pradesh. Currently being implemented as a pilot phase, farmers are already expressing strong support for the projectas transparency, convenience, and profitability. The platform enables farmers to digitally participate in transparent auctions, avoid middlemen, and ensure assured payment. The apples are graded, packed, and marketed under the Adani brand, ensuring uniform quality and higher bargaining power for growers. This digital platform is beneficial for both buyers and growers. Bidding can be done from anywhere. Adani Agri Fresh Limited is wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, part of Adani Group which is one of India's leading business houses. With 'Farm-Pik', AAFL emerged as the first company to engage in organised apple purchase, storage and marketing by following the construction of state-of-the-art controlled atmospheric storages in the apple belt of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh in 2006. The set-up includes state-of-the-art controlled atmosphere facilities of 22,400 MT capacity in the apple growing belts of Shimla district in Bithal (near Rampur), Sainj (near Theog) and Mehandli (Rohru). AAFL enjoys a procurement network that extends across more than 17,000 growers in Himachal Pradesh, comprising more than 90 per cent small and marginal farmers for sourcing apples spread across 700 villages. The companyas distribution network comprises 76 wholesale and 1,500 retailers pan-India in addition to the modern retail format. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 23 : As Kerala prepares for the Onam festivities, Leonardo da Vinci's celebrated Mona Lisa has appeared in an all-new avatar on Kerala Tourism's social media accounts, dressed in a traditional Malayali outfit. The 'new' image shows the woman of the Renaissance masterpiece draped in Kerala's iconic off-white kasavu saree, her hair adorned with jasmine flowers. Apart from the cultural makeover, the figure retains the familiar features of the original, most notably the mysterious smile that has captivated the world for centuries. The campaign, captioned "Kerala Tourism a" Timeless. Graceful. Iconic", is part of the department's Onam promotions, inviting visitors to experience the state's grandest festival. This year, the celebrations begin on August 26 and will conclude on September 5 with Thiruvonam, the most significant day of the harvest festival. The artificial intelligence-generated artwork has already become a social media sensation, attracting thousands of reactions, shares, and comments across microblogging platforms. Many praised the innovative idea, applauding the way it blends Kerala's cultural heritage with a globally recognised symbol of art. The timing of the campaign also recalls a historical episode as on August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris, sparking worldwide shock until it was recovered two years later. Tourism officials hinted that the campaign's timing was deliberate, drawing attention both to art history and Kerala's festive charm. Kerala has witnessed a steady surge in domestic and international tourist arrivals in recent years, aided by imaginative marketing and strong digital outreach. By presenting Kerala through global cultural references, officials aim to enhance the state's position as one of the world's premier all-season experiential tourism destinations. As Onam ushers in a season of joy and hospitality, the Malayali Mona Lisa has become a graceful symbol of welcome, an invitation to discover Kerala at its festive best. Chandigarh, Aug 23 : Accusing the BJP of shifting from "vote theft" to "ration theft", Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday criticised the party for their anti-people stance aimed at depriving 55 lakh state residents of free food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Chandigarh, Aug 23 (IANS) Accusing the BJP of shifting from "vote theft" to "ration theft", Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday criticised the party for their anti-people stance aimed at depriving 55 lakh state residents of free food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The Chief Minister told the media here that out of 1.53 crore ration cards in the state, the BJP-led government in the Centre has conspired to discontinue free ration being given to 55 lakh poor. He said, making an excuse of not having Know Your Customer (KYC), the Centre had already stopped free ration for 23 lakh poor in July, and now they have threatened to discontinue this benefit from 32 lakh more individuals from September 30. However, Mann said the Central government will not succeed in its evil motives, and he will not allow them to strike off even a single card. The Chief Minister said while the BJP claims to be pro-people and boasts of providing food grains to 80 crore people through the PDS, it is now attempting to cancel 8,02,493 ration cards in Punjab. This, he said, would effectively deprive around 32 lakh people of their entitlement to free rations. Mann accused the BJP of shifting from "vote theft" to "ration theft," asserting that it is especially unjust to target Punjab, a state that produces foodgrains to make the country self-reliant. The Chief Minister criticised the rationale being used to delete ration cards, which includes ownership of four-wheelers, government jobs, small landholdings, and income. He pointed out the absurdity of penalising entire families when just one member may fulfil one of these criteria. Mann said as long as "he is the Chief Minister, not a single ration card will be deleted". He dared the BJP leaders to showcase this "achievement" during their ongoing mass outreach programmes. The Chief Minister also ridiculed the contradictory nature of Central government schemes, one offering gas connections to the poor while another withdraws benefits on the same basis. He said the BJP's anti-poor agenda has been exposed, and reiterated that he has urged the Prime Minister and other Central leaders to reconsider the exclusionary criteria. He emphasised the need to relax these conditions so that the maximum number of economically weaker and underprivileged people can benefit. The Chief Minister made it clear that the Punjab government will strongly oppose this discriminatory move and has already requested a six-month window to thoroughly review the matter. He warned the Union government to stop treating Punjabis as beggars, adding that the people of Punjab are not dependent on the Centre for their dignity and rights. Mann asserted that Punjabis will not succumb to the pressure tactics of the Union government and will not surrender their legitimate rights. Raipur, Aug 23 : Railway passengers in Chhattisgarh are likely to face significant travel disruptions during the upcoming festive season, as South East Central Railway (SECR) has announced the cancellation of 24 to 26 trains between August 23 and August 27. The cancellations are due to ongoing construction and electrification work on the third and fourth railway lines in the Bilaspur-Jharsuguda section. In addition to the cancellations, two trains will operate via diverted routes, while three others will run only partially. The affected services include several major express and passenger trains such as the Tatanagara"Bilaspur Express, Santragachi-Pune Express, Howrah-Mumbai Express, Hatia-Pune Express, and Puri-Jodhpur Express, among others. Local trains like the Raigarh-Bilaspur MEMU and Gondia-Jharsuguda Passenger will also be impacted. Railway officials stated that the fourth line project, spanning 206 kilometres between Bilaspur and Jharsuguda, is progressing rapidly, with over 150 kilometres of track already completed. During this phase, Kirodimal Nagar station in Raipur will be connected to the new line, and electrification work will be carried out along the Raipura"Jharsuguda corridor. Some long-distance trains, such as the Howraha"Pune Duronto Express and Punea"Howrah Duronto Express, will be rerouted, while services like the Nizamuddina"Raigarh Gondwana Express will terminate at Bilaspur. The railway administration has urged passengers to check the status of their trains through official channels before commencing their journeys. Officials emphasised that while the disruptions may cause temporary inconvenience, they are essential for enhancing rail infrastructure and ensuring improved services in the future. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly boost rail traffic capacity in the region, offering long-term benefits to commuters across Chhattisgarh. New Delhi, Aug 23 : Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has called on both Indian and Pakistani players and fans to "play hard and aggressively" while maintaining discipline, ahead of the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 clash in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month. New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has called on both Indian and Pakistani players and fans to "play hard and aggressively" while maintaining discipline, ahead of the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 clash in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month. The two archrivals will meet for the first time since the tensions earlier this year following the Pahalgam terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir and the subsequent. "I am sure these matches will be entertaining, just like all other India-Pakistan matches. But I hope both the players and the fans will remain disciplined and do not cross the line," Akram told Telecom Asia Sport. The legendary pacer emphasised that "games between India and Pakistan are watched by billions around the world," making the Asia Cup an ideal platform for a spirited yet respectful rivalry. The six-nation tournament will see India and Pakistan face off on September 14 in Dubai, with the potential for a second encounter in the Super Four stage on September 21. Akram said, "If Indians are patriotic and want their team to win, the same goes for Pakistani fans. India has been in better form recently and will start as favourites, but the team that handles pressure best on the day will win." While acknowledging Pakistan's young squad has the hunger to challenge India, Akram admitted disappointment at the absence of star batter Babar Azam. "Personally, I wanted to see Babar Azam in the team, but since he's not been selected, it's up to those in the squad to step up," he told www.telecomasia.net. Looking ahead, Akram suggested the Asia Cup could offer fans multiple India-Pakistan showdowns, including a possible final. "This Asia Cup will be a feast for fans worldwide. It's my wish that India and Pakistan also resume playing a Test series. It's been too long, and it would be a historic spectacle for fans on both sides," he added. But that may not happen in the near future, as the Indian government only two days ago clarified that it would not allow bilateral matches between the two countries. Akram also stressed that fans must uphold sportsmanship alongside the players. "Fans must also show discipline," he said, reinforcing the importance of maintaining decorum in such high-voltage matches. Mumbai 23 August, : : Actress Asha Negi turned a year older on Saturday, 23rd of August, and her long time friend Karan Wahi marked the occasion with an affectionate post that celebrated their decade old enduring bond. Taking to Instagram, Karan shared a bunch of cute photos of them together and captioned it as, "Happpy Birthday @ashanegi To Another year Filled with Love,Laughter and Happiness. Baaki Dunia ka Effort ek taraf, humara Aalas Ek Taraf Main Asha Karta hu ki is saal hum 3 din zaada milenge aur Ek Trip Aur pleaseeee." In the pictures, we can see both Karan and Asha at their goofy best. Reflecting on their journey, Asha Negi and Karan Wahi have known each other for more than a decade now. The actress has always described their friendship as one that has stood the test of time, distance and survived all ups and downs. The two share a deep level of friendship and are often seen partying together and sharing fun moments on social media. Asha Negi and Karan Wahi first met on a flight to South Africa for an award show, back in 2012. Actor Rithvik Dhanjani was their common friend and Asha was dating Rithvik for almost 8 years. Long ago, both Karan and Asha during an interview had admitted that their initial interactions were quite casual and lacked respect. It all started on a not-so-nice note with unfiltered conversations and a somewhat rocky patch. But over the time, their friendship has grown stronger and developed into a meaningful bond built on mutual respect and understanding. Karan and Asha are each other's strong pillars of support and strength and have been with each other through thick and thin. The two are often seen partying with one another and even celebrate festivals together. They consider each other more like family. IANS rd/ New Delhi, Aug 23 : India and the Philippines share a lot of common areas of interest in economic cooperation and the same was reflected in Marcos Jr, the president of the Southeast Asian nation's recent visit to India. During his visit, the Philippine president met various business leaders, which resulted in the signing of 18 business agreements spanning across sectors like renewable energy, healthcare, education, information technology, and others. "The visit secured $446 million worth of direct investment in the Philippines, which could lead to potential investments from India reaching up to about $5.7 billion," moderndiplomacy.eu wrote in its recent report. India and the Philippines do not share much bilateral trade; it was just $3.5 billion in 2023-24, which is around 2 per cent of India's total trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the report said. Therefore, India must expedite its economic cooperation to improve the bilateral relationship with the South Asian country, particularly in light of the tariff threat posed by US President Donald Trump. The Modern Diplomacy's report stated that the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo believes that India has an untapped export potential of $577 million in the Philippines. As a developing country, the Philippines requires economic investments in its infrastructure development. Earlier, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China had made significant investments in the Philippinesa infrastructure sector and pledged to invest around $5 billion to build three railway lines in the country. However, China has not dispensed the funding, prompting the Philippines to drop out of Chinaas BRI-funded projects. India can intervene in this situation to support the Philippines' push for infrastructure development. Notably, the Indian infrastructure giant GMR Group has indicated interest in funding the Build Better More Program of the Marcos administration, particularly in energy and airport projects, such as the Cavite airport project at Sangley. Further, Indian firms can collaborate with Japanese or American companies in developing infrastructure. Green technology is another promising area where both nations can have economic cooperation. According to the report, the Philippines is the worldas second-largest producer of nickel after Indonesia, with the majority of its nickel being exported to China (98 per cent). Securing a steady supply of raw materials like nickel becomes crucial as the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in India rises and the government pushes for self-reliance in the battery manufacturing industry. During Marcos' recent visit (between August 4 to 8), both nations elevated their ties to the Strategic Partnership (SP), with India becoming the fifth country to have SP with the Philippines, joining Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Vietnam. Marcos claimed that the visit would result in a "new beginning" for India-Philippines relations, citing his positive interactions with Indian leaders and business executives. Lucknow, Aug 23 : In a bid to integrate the 'Vimukt Jati' community, which has faced historical marginalisation, into the mainstream, the Uttar Pradesh government will celebrate 'Vimukt Jati Diwas' on August 31 in Lucknow, according to an official statement. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be present as the chief guest at the grand state-level event, to be held at Bhagidari Bhawan in Gomtinagar, Lucknow. Minister of State for Social Welfare (Independent Charge) Aseem Arun, in the statement, said that members of the Vimukt Jati community from across Uttar Pradesh will participate in the upcoming event, which will serve as a symbol of social inclusion and empowerment. He recalled that on August 31, 1952, the Government of India abolished the draconian Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, a colonial-era law that had unjustly branded several communities as criminals and stripped them of their basic rights. The day holds historic significance and is now being marked to honour the struggles and resilience of these communities. Arun said that the double-engine government in Uttar Pradesh will celebrate the day as 'Vimukt Jati Diwas', giving these communities respect and a new identity. He added that under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath, the state government has prioritised inclusive development, launching multiple welfare schemes for the upliftment of the Vimukt Jati community in the areas of education, healthcare, and employment. To promote self-reliance, the government is also allotting land on lease to members of the community. The Social Welfare Department is running programmes that are helping Vimukt Jatis access educational opportunities, job-oriented training, and entrepreneurial support. Expansion of healthcare facilities and housing schemes is also underway to improve their standard of living. The minister emphasised that the government aims not only to empower these communities economically but also to ensure that their children gain access to higher education and even enter administrative services, thus achieving true integration into mainstream society. He said that celebrating aVimukt Jati Diwasa will not only promote social harmony but also reflect the government's sensitivity and strong commitment to uplifting those historically pushed to the margins. Chandigarh, Aug 23 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Saturday appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take up the issue of freezing of work visas of all foreign truck drivers with the US government as it would have a catastrophic effect on Punjabi families who were the backbone of the trucking business there. The Bathinda MP, who also wrote to the External Affairs Minister, said there was an apprehension that several Punjabis who were in the trucking industry may be forced to leave the US. "Punjabi and Sikh drivers make up 20 per cent of the United States' trucking industry, with around 1.5 lakh Sikh drivers engaging in the trucking business. Any mass-level action against them would have a detrimental effect on trucking families and would be discriminatory in nature because Punjabis have built and sustained trucking logistics and trucking networks over decades." She urged the minister to take appropriate steps to allay these fears. Kaur urged the minister to convey to the US government that the Punjabi community had played a vital role in meeting the high demand for drivers and alleviating the stress of driver shortages on American consumers and its economy. She said accordingly, it should be stressed that a mistake by one driver, which had resulted in a fatal accident, should not be used to punish the entire community. The MP also urged the minister to ensure counsellor access was provided to Harjinder Singh, who had been arrested on three counts of vehicular homicide, so that his case could be pleaded appropriately. Reacting to the new executive order detailing new English language proficiency rules for all truckers, she urged the minister to take up the issue of giving foreign drivers, including Punjabis, time to upgrade their English language skills to the required level. "Those failing such proficiency tests should be allowed to apply for the same again so that their means of livelihood are not taken away from them completely," she added. --IANS vg/dan Quetta, Aug 23 : Human rights organisation Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Saturday accused Pakistani authorities of weaponizing law in the country to suppress political activism in Balochistan. The remarks came after a Quetta court on Friday ordered another 15-day remand for Mahrang Baloch, the chief organiser of BYC, along with other leaders, including Shah Ji, Beboow, Gulzadi, and Bibagr - drawing sharp criticism from several human rights activists. "Once again, the leadership of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee has been placed on remand without cause or evidence. In Pakistan, the law has been systematically weaponised to suppress political activism. The judiciary has become ineffective, and the legal system has become a mockery," the BYC said in a statement. According to the rights body, Mahrang and the other BYC leaders are being persistently targetted without evidence, adding that the court strangled the very principles of law and justice by sending them to prison. Condemning the verdict, it asserted that the judiciary's decision once again proved that, for the Baloch, there is no law, no justice, and no functioning judiciary, only "pieces of paper weaponised at will" against political activists. The 15-day remand of BYC's leadership, carried out under the "state's policy of repression", it said, makes clear that Pakistan is resorting to its most unconstitutional measures to silence political voices in Balochistan. Highlighting that just as the Balochistan government persecutes political workers on the orders of Pakistani forces, the BYC stressed that the judiciary too has aligned itself with Pakistan's agenda, denying justice and criminalizing activism. It added that both the provincial government and the courts function under the dictates of Pakistani forces, which continue to target political workers. The BYC called on the Pakistani authorities to understand that their movement against the escalating human rights abuses in Balochistan cannot be dismantled through arrests or the detention of its leadership. "This is a people's movement, deeply rooted in the masses. If the state genuinely seeks to end resentment and hostility in Balochistan, it must first end the ongoing genocide. Until then, the struggle of Baloch political workers will remain organized, determined, and unbroken," the BYC emphasised. One person was killed after being shot by Colorado Springs police during a law enforcement operation at 2:48 p.m. Friday in the 1100 block of Branding Iron Circle on the city's east side, according to Caitlin Ford, a public communications specialist with CSPD. A tactical unit responded alongside the department's violent offender fugitive task force and attempted to contact the suspect in their vehicle. Ford said during the media briefing Friday evening that police identified themselves and the suspect refused to exit. Ford said the suspect had a gun and fired once at officers, and officers fired at least one round at the suspect. Medics pronounced the suspect dead at the scene. Matteo Vigil, an eyewitness who lives nearby on Branding Iron Circle, told The Gazette that on Friday afternoon he saw undercover police park down the street and then a little later heard a really loud bang that he thought was a flash bang. He then saw at least 10 gunshots fired toward the suspect, who was in a white Trailblazer that appeared to be parked on the street, after officers told the suspect to drop the weapon. Videos captured by Vigil reviewed by The Gazette moments after the fired shots show the driver lying on the ground next to the Trailblazer receiving resuscitation by police. Vigil said he saw the driver armed with some type of handgun that was on the ground next to the driver in the video. Featured Local Savings During the incident captured on video there were five police cars, including two on the front and back side of the Trailblazer parked on the street, and eight police officers with one wearing what appeared to be a tactical helmet. Vigil said he has lived in the area for eight years and has never seen anything like this in his quiet neighborhood. It's something I'll never forget that's for sure," Vigil said. "It's still hard to believe it happened." Ford could not confirm whether the suspect's vehicle was the parked white Trailblazer and did not know the identity of the suspect. CSPD's homicide unit and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office are investigating the officer-involved shooting. The department will release a significant event briefing video within 21 days regarding the shooting. There have been eight CSPD officer-involved shootings this year, five of which were fatal. Dhaka, Aug 23 : Bangladesh has been gripped by a climate of fear and anarchy since August 2024 as the unconstitutional regime led by Muhammad Yunus has consistently demonstrated the attributes of fascism, driving the country deeper into crisis, a report cited on Saturday. It stated that while Yunus claims the people of Bangladesh placed him in power, he conveniently avoids explaining through what process they supposedly elevated him to power. "On August 15, the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, brutality was again deployed by the followers of the regime as also by supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Citizens who wished to visit whatever remains of Bangabandhu's iconic home at 32 Dhanmondi came under mob assault," noted Bangladeshi journalist, historian and political analyst Syed Badrul Ahsan wrote in Northeast News. "A rickshaw puller arriving at the place with a bouquet was pounced upon and placed under arrest, on the laughable charge that he had been involved in a murder in 2024. A woman trying to pay homage to the Father of the Nation was jostled by the mob, insulted in a manner that raised new questions about the organised destruction of the republic and the history of the land," he mentioned. According to the report, concerns continue to mount over the general election Yunus has scheduled for February 2026, as a result of the growing public sentiment that, with the Awami League banned under an "illegal proscription", the entire exercise will not be fair, free, and credible. Given that the Awami League commands anywhere between 35 per cent and 40 per cent of public support a figure that has only risen amid the fascistic repression it faces, Yunus and his cohorts can hardly justify holding an election without the party that spearheaded Bangladesh's independence in 1971. The report asserted that over the past 13 months, Bangladesh has been "hollowed out". It added that the rule of law has simply been sidelined, the judiciary has turned a blind eye to the violations of law and civility across the country, and the media has been silenced and intimidated by the mobs. At the same time, gangs of the youth have unleashed violence across the country while rampant allegations of corruption have emerged against multiple advisors of the regime as well as members of the Yunus-backed "king's party". "Resistance is taking shape. People of all classes are beginning to speak out against the treasonous acts of the Yunus regime. On August 15 this year, processions, however small, were brought out across the country, with Joi Bangla and Joi Bangabandhu slogans punctuating the remembrance of the biggest tragedy in independent Bangladesh's history," the report noted. Quetta, Aug 23 : Leading Baloch human rights defender, Mir Yar Baloch on Saturday accused the Pakistani forces of cold-blooded murder of four civilians in Balochistan. Citing credible reports, the human rights activist alleged that the Pakistani terrorist army orchestrated a fabricated encounter in the Basima area of the province to kill the Baloch civilians. Citing verified local sources, he claimed that the deceased, residents of the Gidar area in Surab district of Balochistan, had earlier been held as hostages and kept in illegal custody of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). "Evidence confirms that more than 40,000 Baloch citizens have been illegally abducted and placed in secret detention centres by Pakistan's occupational forces. Many of them are being executed in custody in a systematic and gradual manner. These acts represent clear violations of international humanitarian law, amount to crimes against humanity, and constitute war crimes under established global conventions," Mir posted on X. Highlighting systematic atrocities in Balochistan, he said that the "occupying" Pakistani forces are committing and carrying out a campaign of genocide against the Baloch people. He stressed that such crimes cannot and must not be ignored. Mir called upon international human rights organisations and global institutions to break their silence and take immediate action against the grave human rights violations by the Pakistani forces. On behalf of the people of Balochistan, he urged the international community, the United Nations, and relevant human rights bodies to urgently intervene, hold Pakistan accountable, and ensure justice for the people of Balochistan. Condemning the ongoing "illegal intrusion and brutal occupation" by Pakistan, Mir said, "The people of Republic of Balochistan strongly urge Pakistan's occupational forces to end their illegal presence in Balochistan and give a time frame to vacate from the sea, land, and air spaces of Balochistan immediately." People from Balochistan are currently fighting for their independence from Pakistan. Various human rights organisations of Balochistan have time and again highlighted the repression by Pakistani forces in the province, which includes violent raids on the homes of Baloch leaders and civilians, unlawful arrests, enforced disappearances, the 'kill and dump' policy, detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, and the filing of fabricated police cases. Beijing, Aug 23 : Subjected to systematic repression through mass arbitrary detentions, torture, forced labour, pervasive surveillance enabled by advanced technological systems, and severe restrictions on religious as well as cultural freedoms, China's Uyghur population in the Xinjiang region continues to face extremely dire conditions, a report cited on Saturday. Although the Chinese authorities have claimed to shut down the "re-education" camps, hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs remain at risk of imprisonment on charges of extremism while millions live under relentless state control, the report stated. "The Uyghur birth rate has drastically declined in recent years, and many children are separated from their families to be placed in state institutions aimed at cultural assimilation. Over three hundred new detention facilities have been documented since 2017, and hundreds of thousands of minors are entrusted to the state because their parents are detained or forced into exile," a report in 'ChannelDraw' highlighted. "Restrictions extend beyond daily life to mobility: those wishing to travel must undergo strict checks, provide guarantees, and accept conditions that prevent any contact with organisations or individuals critical of the government. Families often remain hostages of the authorities, facing the threat of retaliation in case of dissent," it added. According to the report, the global community has mixed reactions to the ongoing abuses of the Uyghurs. While some states have slapped trade restrictions and sanctions, others have repatriated Uyghurs to China, putting them at a grave risk of persecution. At the same time, it detailed, leading hotel chains and foreign companies continue their investments in Xinjiang, effectively normalising what human rights groups termed as "crime against humanity". Citing one of the notable cases of repression, the report stated that Uyghur writer Perhat Tursun, one of the most innovative voices in contemporary Uyghur literature, was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He remained cut off from the outside world, with vague and politically motivated charges levelled against him, allegedly for the dissemination of "separatist" ideas. Along with Tursun, it highlighted that another prominent Uyghur intellectual, targetted by state repression, is Ilham Tohti, an economist and activist. He was taken into custody in 2014 and sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of "separatism." Widely recognised for his research on Uyghur society and economy as well as his efforts to promote inter-ethnic harmony in China, the report said his arrest sparked international outrage and turned him into a "symbol of the repression" faced by intellectuals who voice criticism of Beijing's policies. "In summary, life for Uyghurs in 2025 remains marked by repression, forced assimilation, and economic exploitation, with prospects for change still distant. Yet the voices of writers, poets, and intellectuals continue to testify to the strength and resilience of an entire community," the report noted. Islamabad, Aug 23 : Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) remains gripped by escalating unrest as police personnel protesting over delayed allowances and benefits have met with suspensions and salary halts, a report cited. Rather than addressing the grievances through dialogue, the actions of the regional administration, it said, have only deepened the tensions between law enforcement officers and the authorities. The unrest broke out in mid-August when hundreds of police officers, including women constables, staged an overnight sit-in outside the residence of the regional authority in PoGB. Their main demand was the release of allowances approved in the regional budget but withheld in practice. According to a report in the leading Afghan news agency Khaama Press, the officers called for the same treatment as Islamabad Police, seeking a monthly ration allowance of Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 6,000 instead of the PKR 500 increase offered. They also demanded inclusion in the 30 per cent Disparity Reduction Allowance, which was already given to other government employees. "On August 11, authorities in Gilgit suspended 26 officers, citing grave misconduct and violation of government servant conduct. The following day, nine more personnel were suspended in Hunza. In total, 35 officers faced suspension, and their salaries were withheld. Later, police authorities claimed through social media that as many as 63 personnel had been dismissed from service for breach of discipline, a move that, if confirmed, would be one of the largest dismissals in the region's recent history," the report detailed. While the authorities justified the measures as essential for upholding discipline, the protesters argued that their actions fell within the constitutional right to peaceful demonstration. "The August sit-in followed an earlier protest on July 28, which was called off after government assurances that concerns would be addressed within 14 days. Protesters say that the administration failed to meet its commitments, leading to renewed demonstrations," the report stated. It further emphasised that the ongoing unrest in PoGB echoes the protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in July, where tens of thousands of police officers staged a "pen-down strike" to push a 10-point charter of demands. The report mentioned that the demands included revised calculations of allowances, access to military hospital facilities, and the release of salary increases approved since 2008 but not implemented. Citing local media reports, it highlighted that senior police officers have voiced support for the rank-and-file, indicating that discontent runs across multiple levels of the force. Traders, lawyers, and sections of civil society have rallied behind the protests, mounting pressure on the administration to resolve the crisis. "Analysts suggest that continued suspensions and dismissals may deepen mistrust and exacerbate instability at a time when the region's role in national security and international infrastructure projects is expanding," the report noted. Chandigarh, Aug 23 : In a speech blended with science, poetry, realism and future promise, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday that an Indian astronaut will announce "Viksit Bharat 2047" from the surface of moon in 2040, and this will send a message around the universe that India has arrived on the world stage. Addressing the National Space Day programme at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Union Minister Singh said that India's space programme has, from its very beginning, been about more than rockets and satellites -- it has been about empowering people, improving lives, and shaping a better future. He also referred to the recently concluded National Meet 2.0, held a decade after the first Mega User Meet in 2015. "The National Space Day is a reminder that India's achievements in space are not an end in themselves but a stepping stone to a larger vision -- where science, innovation, and public welfare come together to build the nation's future," Union Minister Singh said. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has created a valuable asset for India, he said, pointing to four astronauts -- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan and Group Captain Angad Pratap, who are preparing for the Gaganyaan mission. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call in 2014 to expand the use of space technology in governance, Union Minister Singh noted that 2015 had set the vision for integrating space applications into flagship development programmes. "Ten years later, both the government and private sector have grown significantly in their space capabilities," he said. He added the second edition of the National Meet was preceded by nearly 300 interactions with user departments and produced close to 90 documents, spanning more than 5,000 pages, forming the foundation of a 15-year roadmap. The plan envisages the launch of more than 100 satellites, 70 per cent of them small satellites, to be implemented through a mix of government technology missions and private sector-led operational missions. According to Union Minister Singh, this roadmap will guide India's space journey to 2040 and beyond, supporting the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' by leveraging space technology for food and water security, disaster resilience, environmental sustainability, and inclusive growth. Building on this vision, the Union Minister said that India's space programme has entered a transformative phase where it is no longer confined to symbolic achievements but has become a vital contributor to the country's scientific progress, technological innovation, and public welfare. At the event, he presented awards to students who won the Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon-2025 and the ISRO Robotics Challenge -- U R Rao Satellite Centre 2025 (IRoC-U 2025). Explaining the significance of National Space Day, the Union Minister said the occasion is a reminder of how far India has travelled since the early years of space research, and how the nation has grown into a trusted partner in international missions. Ahmedabad, Aug 23 : In a major operation, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has busted a Syrian gang that was collecting donations from local mosques by falsely claiming to be victims of the Gaza conflict. One of the gang members, Ali Meghat Alzahar (23), was arrested from a hotel. According to the investigation, the gang comprises six members who travelled from Damascus, Syria via Abu Dhabi, arriving in Kolkata on July 22 and subsequently reaching Ahmedabad on August 1. The police are currently searching for other key suspects, identified as Ahmed Alhabash, Zakaria Alzahar, and Yusuf Alzahar, while two more members remain unidentified and are on the run. Authorities recovered $3,600 in cash and Rs 25,000 from Ali. During interrogation, it was revealed that the group was emotionally manipulating people in mosques by presenting themselves as war victims from Gaza. However, they failed to provide any credible proof that the funds collected were being sent to Gaza or used for humanitarian purposes. JCP (Crime Branch) Sharad Singhal stated, "We received intelligence about suspicious individuals claiming to be Palestinians, speaking Arabic, and collecting money in city mosques. The interrogation of Ali has provided us with crucial leads. We are now thoroughly examining his mobile phone, passport, and other documents." It was found that Ali had entered India on a tourist visa and had travelled to multiple cities. He pretended to be from Gaza and made emotional appeals to raise funds. During questioning, he feigned only knowing Arabic and claimed that the injury marks on his body were war wounds. The Crime Branch suspects that the gang may be violating visa regulations and could pose a threat to internal security. The case is now under joint investigation by central and state agencies. Sources indicate that the gang had first assembled in Lebanon before entering India. Their fund collection methods were discreet and conducted through cash and online channels. Authorities are investigating the true purpose and destination of the funds. Deportation and blacklisting procedures have already been initiated against Ali, and his associates' passports are under scrutiny. The police are also analysing CCTV footage, mobile data, and banking transactions from August 1 onward to trace the full extent of the gang's activities. New Delhi, Aug 23 : The 11th Round of India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ind-Aus CECA) concluded on Saturday, further advancing the shared objective of strengthening bilateral trade and economic partnership, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement. The negotiations between the two nations were held here from August 18 to 23. "Building on the progress achieved in earlier rounds and intersessional meetings, the negotiations covered a wide range of areas, including Goods, Services and Mobility, Digital Trade, Rules of Origin, Legal and Institutional Provisions, Environment, Labour, and Gender, bringing greater understanding for convergence in the remaining provisions," the Ministry stated. According to the statement, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India-Australia CECA and ensuring that it delivers meaningful benefits, economic opportunities, and a balanced outcome for both sides. To maintain momentum and achieve convergence, both nations will continue the negotiations in virtual intersessions. "Looking ahead, with shared ambition and mutual understanding to work towards a future-ready framework, India and Australia remain strongly aligned to the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Cooperation," the Ministry said. This round shows a strong commitment to strengthening economic ties rooted in both domestic priorities and international ambitions, as India continues to expand its influence through a number of trade agreements. Earlier this month, India and Australia held the seventh round of Dialogue on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, and Export Control in New Delhi to discuss developments in the areas of nuclear, chemical, biological disarmament and non-proliferation, outer space security-related matters, conventional weapons, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the military domain and multilateral export control regimes. Vanessa Wood, Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, led the Australian delegation to the meeting, while Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the dialogue promoted a better understanding and appreciation of national viewpoints and international advancements on non-proliferation and disarmament issues, which will support the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Kolkata, Aug 23 : Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers on Saturday raided the house of Trinamool Congress MLA Sudipto Roy in connection with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital corruption case. It is learnt that two officers of the central intelligence agency went to Sudipto Roy's house in the Sinthee area on the northern outskirts of Kolkata in the afternoon. However, the Trinamool MLA was not at home the moment CBI officers went to his home. It may be noted that the TMC MLA was the chairman of the RG Kar Patient Welfare Association. After the rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last year, Sudipto was replaced by TMC leader Shantanu Sen. Meanwhile, Sudipto Roy has been under the CBI's scanner for a long time. A section of doctors had claimed that the female doctor's death was an institutional murder. They even raised allegations about corruption at the government hospital. It was at that time that the TMC MLA came under the CBI radar. In September last year, officers of the CBI's Crime Suppression Wing searched his house in Sinthee. At that time, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Shuvendu Adhikari, had alleged that Sudipto had taken the equipment of RG Kar Hospital to his nursing home, which is located adjacent to his house. In this context, the TMC MLA said that he had built the nursing home in 1984. He had built it bit by bit during the erstwhile Left Front regime. On August 9 last year, the body of a post-graduate trainee was recovered from the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident had sent shockwaves across the country and beyond, resulting in widespread sustained protest movements by doctors, the common men, and even women members of households. While the sole convict in the case and civic volunteer Sanjay Roy had already been sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court, even after a year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been unable to complete its investigation on the alarger conspiracya behind the crime. Chennai, Aug 23 : Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthran on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's move to ban online betting and gambling through money gaming apps, describing it as a bold, people-centric decision that placed public welfare above revenue concerns. In a statement, Nagenthran lauded the passage of the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Bill, 2025 in both Houses of Parliament, noting that it was a long-awaited step to address the rising menace of online betting and gambling. "This legislation has brought immense relief. At a time when thousands of youth across India are falling prey to online gambling and many have lost their lives and livelihoods, PM Modi-led government has stepped in to protect them," he said. The bill prescribes stringent penalties for violators, including up to three years of imprisonment or fines of up to Rs 1 crore for those running or promoting online betting platforms. Nagenthran stressed that these provisions would serve as a powerful deterrent. "The government has sent a strong message that profiteering at the cost of society's well-being will not be tolerated," he added. Significantly, the BJP leader pointed out that the Central government had taken this decision despite the projected loss of nearly Rs 20,000 crore in tax revenue. "By ignoring such a huge revenue stream and prioritising the welfare of Indian citizens, Prime Minister Modi has once again proven that his governance is about people first, not profit," Nagenthran declared. He further observed that Tamil Nadu had witnessed several tragic incidents linked to online gambling addiction, including suicides among youngsters trapped in mounting debts. "This ban is not just a legal measure but a moral shield for families across the country," he said. Nagenthran also appealed to all state governments to extend their cooperation in strictly enforcing the law so that offenders face swift punishment. He concluded by saying that the bill would save countless families from financial ruin and restore hope and security among India's youth. New Delhi, Aug 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed his government's commitment to ushering in next-generation reforms, with a particular focus on streamlining the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Speaking at The Economic Times World Leader Summit in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said, "Reform, for us, is the pursuit of better governance." He declared, "We are determined to make life easier for citizens and businesses alike. The upcoming GST changes will reflect that vision." The Prime Minister announced that the revised GST framework would be rolled out before Diwali, promising a reduction in prices of everyday household items and a more efficient tax structure. The Centre has already released a draft blueprint for GST 2.0, which proposes a simplified two-tier system: 5 per cent for essential goods and 18 per cent for most others. This marks a significant departure from the current multi-slab structure, which includes rates of nil, 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent, along with special rates for precious metals. Last Monday, PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting with senior ministers, top bureaucrats, and leading economists to chart the course for these reforms. He later shared the development on social media, stating, "We are committed to rapid reforms across all sectors to enhance ease of living, ease of doing business, and national prosperity." A dedicated Task Force has also been constituted to review existing laws and procedures governing economic activity, signalling a comprehensive overhaul of India's regulatory landscape. These announcements come at a critical juncture, as India faces escalating trade tensions with the United States. In response to India's continued import of Russian oil, President Donald Trump has imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on all Indian goods, effective August 27on top of the existing 25 per cent duty that took effect earlier this month. Against this backdrop, PM Modi's reform agenda seeks not only to fortify India's domestic economy but also to project resilience and adaptability on the global stage. A federal judge on Friday expanded his ruling blocking the Trump administration from cancelling government funding to dozens of accused sanctuary jurisdictions. San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge William Orrick in April ruled in favor of 16 counties and cities that sued the Trump administrations efforts to rescind billions in funding due to criticism that their policies on illegal immigrants were out of compliance with federal immigration law. His ruling applied only to those jurisdictions, as opposed to other court injunctions that have held nationwide implications. This week, the California judge ruled again on the matter in response to further lawsuits brought by dozens more jurisdictions that joined the lawsuit. Orricks preliminary injunction further blocks the Trump administration from ending funding to 34 additional cities and counties, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Boston, and Baltimore. The legal setback comes as President Donald Trump has made targeting illegal immigrants, and the jurisdictions accused of harboring them, one of the cornerstone priorities of his second term. Attorney General Pam Bondi at the Justice Department has sued multiple cities over the issue, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also spearheaded efforts to target illegal immigrants. On Jan. 20, the president issued an executive order that directed Bondi and Noem to ensure sanctuary jurisdictions do not receive access to federal funds. Featured Local Savings Days after Orrick first ruled the directive was likely unconstitutional," blocking the administration from enforcing it against 16 cities and counties that sued, Trump signed another executive order on the matter. The April 28 directive ordered his administration, led by Bondi and Noem, to draw up a list of sanctuary cities that are not complying with federal immigration laws. TEXAS HOUSE PASSES MOTION FOR ARREST WARRANTS FOR DEMOCRATS WHO FLED STATE Bondi and Noem released a list of over 500 such sanctuary jurisdictions in late May that was later taken offline. The list was originally published on the DHS website, with officials sending notices to each city stating that the government considers it noncompliant with federal immigration law and may be violating federal criminal statutes. Months later, Bondi in August issued a significantly smaller list highlighting top sanctuary jurisdictions on the Trump administrations radar, including 13 states, four counties, and 18 cities, and threatening further lawsuits from places that refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Later that month, she reiterated a sharp admonition to governing officials, stating they could soon lose federal funding if they continued to block cooperation with ICE. Bengaluru, Aug 23 : Commenting on the arrest of the unidentified complainant, referred to as the "mask man", in connection with the mass grave case at Dharmasthala in Karnataka's Mangaluru district, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways V. Somanna said on Saturday that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will have pay a price for hurting the religious sentiments of seven crore Kannadigas. Speaking to reporters in Tumakuru, Union Minister Somanna said, "Dharmasthala is a place with thousands of years of history. When the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed, we had met the probe agency's chief in Delhi and told him that all allegations and complaints were fake. The truth, however bitter, always comes out. Lies were projected on a large scale, and the whole world saw it -- the media inevitably had to cover it." "We had welcomed the investigation. Now, if anyone can be held responsible for the sinful acts committed towards hurting religious sentiments, it is Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He will have to pay for this. Imagine the trauma endured not only by the families of the temple authorities but also by crores of devotees across Karnataka and beyond," the Union Minister added. "The attempt was made to tarnish the sanctity of Dharmasthala. I had repeatedly said behind closed doors that the complainant was a fraud. He is just a civic worker, and what are his limitations? Without understanding him or verifying his claims, by succumbing to communal forces, you (CM Siddaramaiah) have hurt the sentiments of seven crore Kannadigas," he emphasised. Taking to social media platform X, former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said, "Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone prevails)". "Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah (Dharma protects those who protect it)". In the Dharmasthala case, the state government must hand over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to reveal who is behind the conspiracy and those named by the mask man Chinnayya must be arrested and investigated; otherwise, people may conclude that the state government itself is part of the conspiracy. To avoid this, the investigation must be handed over to the NIA." "In the Dharmasthala case, the SIT is doing at the end what should have been done in the beginning. Without verifying the credibility of the complainant, the merit of the complaint, and the supporting evidence, the SIT was formed and began digging blindly, like starting work in darkness," Bommai added. It is clear, he said, that the purpose of forming the SIT and the motives of certain people within it were to bring disrepute to Dharmasthala, create suspicion, and tarnish its image. "Believing that such a narrative would receive support from the state government, they exerted pressure, and in response, the state government constituted the SIT." "The fact that competent police officers within the SIT were not given complete freedom is evident from the way the investigation has proceeded. At one stage, when the media was revealing details of every excavation, the moral courage of the government eroded, and it was forced to face widespread public outrage. Realising the strength of the BJP's movement, the state (Congress) government altered its objective and the course of the probe, and only now has the real investigation begun," Bommai said while criticising the Congress-led state government. "In other related cases, since the Mangaluru police conducted proper investigations and brought out the truth, the SIT too has had no choice but to move towards uncovering the truth," the former Chief Minister added. "Looking at how international media has given publicity to the matter, it is clear that instead of controlling the smear campaign against Dharmasthala, the state government has failed to curb it. Therefore, there is no confidence that the SIT probe will bring out the truth. To reveal who is really behind this conspiracy, the state government must hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and arrest and question those named by the mask man. If this is not done, people may conclude that the state government itself is part of the conspiracy. To prevent this, the investigation must be handed over to the NIA," Bommai said. In a major development, the SIT have arrested the unidentified complainant, also referred to as the "mask man", in connection with the Dharmasthala case on Saturday. The complainant was arrested on charges of providing false information related to the Dharmasthala case. The Karnataka court later on Saturday handed over the unidentified complainant, referred to as the "mask man", to 10-day police custody of the SIT in connection with the Dharmasthala case. The SIT had sought his custody, citing the need for a comprehensive investigation and further inquiry into the matter. The SIT also submitted before the court that there is suspicion of the involvement of more people behind the unidentified complainant. Considering the request, the court granted his custody to the SIT. Following the order, SIT sleuths brought him to their office, where the investigation is continuing. Jaipur, Aug 23 : The National Space Day was celebrated in a historic manner at Jantar Mantar -- the UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Rajasthan's Jaipur. Organised jointly by the Rajasthan Tourism Department and Space India, the event marked a major step towards establishing Rajasthan as a hub of astro tourism. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari attended as the chief guest at the event and congratulated scientists, students and citizens present. "Today is a proud moment as, after nearly 300 years, the grand instruments of Jantar Mantar have once again been used for live astronomical observations. I too once dreamed of becoming a space scientist, though my journey took me into politics," the Deputy Chief Minister said. She added that the celebration was organised with the inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, combining science, culture and history. "This is not only a scientific achievement but also a revival of India's deep astronomy tradition. The journey from the instruments of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh to Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan reflects our rich heritage and modern achievements," she said. During the programme, the Deputy Chief Minister visited the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) exhibition, witnessed water rocketry demonstrations, and experienced live telescope-based space observations. A series of activities were held throughout the day, including lectures on astronomy, safe solar observation, a space quiz, water rocket launches, interactive science zones and art exhibitions on space themes. Rajasthan-born ISRO scientists also inspired students by sharing their knowledge and experiences. Rajasthan Tourism Commissioner Rukmani Riar encouraged students and enthusiasts, while Space India founder and Chief Managing Director Sachin Bahmba emphasised that for the first time, Jantar Mantar's ancient instruments were used for live astronomical observation. Deputy Chief Minister Kumari concluded that Rajasthan, known worldwide for its forts and palaces, is now also proving itself as a land of knowledge and scientific vision -- where heritage and modern space science together inspire a brighter future. Bhopal, Aug 23 : Controversial remarks made by the Congress leaders have once again ignited political tensions in Madhya Pradesh. State Minister Vishvas Sarang launched a scathing attack on the Congress, particularly targeting Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar and Congress leader Yashwant Gurjar for their recent statements. Sarang accused the Congress of consistently disrespecting women, Hinduism, and Sanatan culture. Responding to Umang Singhar's comments, he said: "This reflects Congress' frustration. The public has completely rejected them. In a democracy, the judiciary, executive, and legislature each have their boundaries, but Congress leaders try to pressure and insult bureaucrats to regain political ground." Meanwhile, Yashwant Gurjar's remarks on the 'Ladli Behna' scheme sparked widespread outrage, leading to fierce protests by BJP Mahila Morcha on the streets. Sarang stated: "Insulting women has been a part of Congress's tradition. Do they even know how to respect women? The saddest part is that the party is still controlled by Sonia Gandhi. Despite this, Congress leaders continue to insult women publiclythere's nothing more unfortunate. Where is Priyanka Gandhi now, who once gave the slogan 'Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon'? Congress leaders must publicly apologise." Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar has once again stirred a political storm with his sharp and controversial remarks, this time targeting the Chhindwara Collector, the top district official. Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar had made controversial remarks, targeting the Chhindwara Collector. Accusing the officer of acting as an agent of the ruling BJP, Singhar went to the extent of saying: "The Collector is so timid that he has become a slave of the BJP. If he is their slave, then he should wear the underwear of BJP and RSS." Singhar had also said that bureaucrats are supposed to serve the people, not act like servants of a political party. He came under sharp attack from the BJP. Sarang further accused the Congress of running a campaign against Hinduism and Sanatan values. "Wherever Congress exists, Sanatan culture is insulted. It is their old habit to disrespect Hindu deities and religious sites. This party, raised on foreign ideals, will continue such actions, but Sanatan culture will never be tarnished by their false propaganda," Sarang added. New Delhi, Aug 23 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday launched the Dr Manmohan Singh Fellows Programme, inducting 50 selected fellows from diverse professional backgrounds. Addressing the inaugural event, Kharge highlighted the stark challenges of 'unemployment and inequality' facing India, stating that the nation stands at a crossroads amidst rapid global changes. Emphasising what he called the Congress party's long-standing commitment to professional excellence and social justice, Kharge underlined the vital role that professionals play in shaping progressive policy. "Congress has always nurtured professionalsDr Manmohan Singh and Rajiv Gandhi being the finest examples," he said. Recalling his close working relationship with Dr Singh, Kharge drew a pointed comparison between past and present leadership styles: "Dr Manmohan Singh talked less and worked more. Today's Prime Minister talks more and works less." He also noted Singh's unwavering presence in Parliament and willingness to respond to all questions and criticisms. Kharge contrasted the current government's track record with that of the UPA era, claiming that less than 10 per cent of the work done under Dr Singh's leadership has been achieved in the last 11 years. He hailed the former Prime Minister's handling of the 2008 global financial crisis, during which India maintained 8 per cent GDP growth. Reflecting on the UPA's legacy, Kharge listed landmark welfare and rights-based legislations such as the Right to Information (RTI), MGNREGA, Food Security Act, and Forest Rights Act, while also pointing to the rollout of digitisation and Direct Benefit Transfers, and the Rs 70,000 crore loan waiver for farmers. He reminded the audience of the foundational role professionals and intellectuals played in India's freedom struggle. "From lawyers to teachers, doctors to engineersfigures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Sarojini Naidu gave up their professions to dedicate themselves to the country," Kharge said. Congratulating the 50 fellows selected from over 1,300 applicants, he expressed confidence that they would uphold the legacy of Dr Manmohan Singh and contribute meaningfully to transformative change in people's lives. The event was presided over by Praveen Chakravarty, Chairperson of the All India Professionals Congress (AIPC), and attended by several senior party leaders. New Delhi, August 23 : A revealing account has emerged highlighting challenges to media freedom during the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) era. A senior journalist and former Rajya Sabha member, Shahid Siddiqui, recounted how a prominent Congress leader allegedly tried to suppress an interview with the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Sharing his experience during an event, Siddiqui said Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who is now no more, paid a late-night visit under the guise of sharing kebabs but carried a clear political message: "You have interviewed Narendra Modi. This interview should not be published." When the journalist stood firm on editorial independence and the public's right to know, he was reminded of his political ambitions with the words, "You have to go to the Rajya Sabha also." Despite the warning, the interview was published in an Urdu weekly, sparking widespread discussion. Siddiqui soon faced severe consequences, including a swift expulsion from his political party within hours. Though he initially did not take the warning seriously, the fallout was immediate and significant. A clip of the interview with Siddiqui is viral on social media. It has sparked a debate across the political spectrum, highlighting how media control was exercised during that (UPA) period, reflecting the intense pressure faced by journalists. The incident narrated in the viral video clip spotlights what is described as a pattern of intimidation by Congress leaders towards journalists who refused to toe the party line. "They used to reach journalists' homes even at midnight," he said in the video. The interview with Gujarat Chief Minister Modi, which Siddiqui said was intended to challenge and expose the Gujarat leader, instead became a flashpoint for political retaliation. Political observers say that those raising concerns about journalistic freedom today should revisit the UPA era, when the media was under quiet but firm control. Journalists faced midnight visits, veiled threats, and political consequences for publishing dissenting views as disclosed in the viral video. New Delhi, Aug 23 : The double-header day in the 2025 Delhi Premier League (DPL) turned out to be a no-show as both matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium were abandoned on Saturday due to persistent rain. On Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had initially issued a yellow alert for Delhi, warning of heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms. It was later raised to red alert, as reports of waterlogging in various areas of the city and flight disruptions came. The rainy weatheras effect was pretty evident when Match 31 of the competition between North Delhi Strikers and East Delhi Riders was called off due to rain. East Delhi had won the toss and elected to field first. Sarthak Ranjan gave North Delhi Strikers a flying start by smacking India fast bowler Navdeep Saini for consecutive boundaries, before rain forced the teams to go off the field. With the rain not relenting at all, the match was abandoned with both teams sharing one point each on the points table. While table toppers East Delhias tally rose to 13 points from nine games, North Delhi had their points going up to six from eight matches. Due to rain not relenting at all, Match 32 of the competition between West Delhi Lions and Purani Dilli 6 was also called off without the toss even taking place. Both teams will share one point each on the points table. While West Delhi have now nine points from eight games, Purani Dilli 6as tally is now at five points from eight matches, though they continue to be at the bottom spot of the points table. With more rainfall in store for the next two days, it would be interesting to see if the Womenas DPL final between South Delhi Superstarz and Central Delhi Queens, followed by Menas DPL game between New Delhi Tigers and Central Delhi Kings, goes on smoothly or follows the Saturday double-header day into the washed out due to rain path. Jaipur, Aug 23 : Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) supremo and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal reached Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur on Saturday, where he interacted with the media during the ongoing dharna that has entered its 122nd day. The protest is demanding the cancellation of the police sub-inspector (SI) recruitment and reorganisation of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC). MP Beniwal alleged that the BJP government in Rajasthan has become insensitive towards youth issues. He said, "The very issues for which the BJP sought votes while in opposition have now been ignored after coming to power." Referring to the SI recruitment, he stated that several people, including the PSO of the former Chief Minister, were caught by the SOG, and the arrests made so far prove why cancelling this recruitment is necessary. He added that while the public expects justice from the police, corruption within the same system erodes that trust. While raising demand for student union elections, Beniwal reiterated his demand for the restoration of student union elections. He recalled that the previous government had stalled the elections and later failed to honour its assurance of restoring them. "Student leaders emerging from such elections become strong voices of the people. Unfortunately, the BJP too is now following the path of Congress," he said. The MP emphasised that RLP is fighting for public issues. He cited how he raised the Jhalawar school tragedy in the House, protested outside the Assembly, and has been consistently pressing for SI recruitment cancellation and RPSC reforms. He added that the recent by-election result in Bawdi Panchayat Samiti, Jodhpur, where RLP pushed Congress and BJP to third and fourth positions, shows that people will give a befitting reply to both national parties in the upcoming Panchayat Raj elections. Representatives of the Truck Union and Crusher Association of Churu submitted a memorandum against the "arbitrary" policies of the Transport Department, highlighting heavy penalties despite prior recoveries. Beniwal assured action and discussed the issue with senior transport officials. Mandi traders from across the state, including the Food Products Traders Association and Muhana Mandi representatives, submitted a memorandum demanding relief from the Mandi User Tax. In the case of the suspicious death of Sangeeta, a married woman from Lalas village in Nawan constituency, her family appealed for justice. Beniwal said the circumstances indicate murder, not suicide, and demanded a thorough investigation with narco tests of the accused. He spoke directly with the DGP, SP, and other senior officials regarding the matter. Patna, Aug 23 : Rajya Sabha MP and RJD leader Sanjay Yadav on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of coming to power through stolen votes and failing Bihar during his tenure. Yadav, while releasing a written statement on Saturday, claimed that the people of Bihar had effectively filed an affidavit against PM Modi, saying the double-engine government was formed by manipulating the mandate. He also alleged that PM Modi himself had admitted his own vulnerability during his speech in Gayaji on Friday. "PM Modi said in Gayaji that intruders have entered Bihar. Think about it he has been Prime Minister for 11 years, and his party has been in Bihar's government for two decades. If intruders have entered despite this, it proves he is weak and incapable of governance. From where did these intruders come, and who is responsible if not him?" Yadav questioned. The RJD MP also criticised PM Modi for his statement to conduct a demography of Bihar. "Bihar is the youngest state, with 58 per cent of its population between 18 and 25 years. Yet, there are only seven colleges per one lakh population. Out of 534 blocks, 398 still lack a degree college. In 10 years, you did not open a single Kendriya Vidyalaya or Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Bihar," he said. He further alleged that while the Union Cabinet approved 85 Kendriya Vidyalayas and 28 Navodaya Vidyalayas nationwide, Bihar was deliberately excluded. Yadav accused the Modi government of step-motherly treatment. "You gave seven mega textile parks across the country, but when Bihar proposed 1,000 acres of land under the Mahagathbandhan government, you denied us. In 2014, Bihar gave you 33 MPs, in 2019, 39 MPs, and in 2024, 30 MPs yet you have shown enmity towards Bihar," he said. The RJD leader alleged that PM Modi indulges in divisive politics during his Bihar visits. "Whenever you come here, you do regressive politics instead of progressive politics. You never speak a word about corruption in Bihar. Bihar needs development, not hatred," Yadav asserted. The RJD leader also raised concerns about corruption in the ongoing SIR process. "Bribes are being taken from the poor to issue caste and residence certificates. Certificates are being made even for dogs, cats, champagne, and even Donald Trump but not for the poor. This is happening under your nose," he alleged. Citing NITI Aayog reports, Yadav said Bihar remained the most backward state in multiple sectors, like the highest rate of anaemia among women, the lowest doctor-patient ratio, most malnourished and sick children. "Your central and state governments have pushed Bihar to the brink of disaster. Bihar deserves progressive politics, not politics of destruction," Yadav concluded. New Delhi, Aug 23 : Bhartiya Janata Party's In-charge of BJP's National Information & Technology Deptl Amit Malviya has sharply criticised what he calls "misleading interpretations" of the Supreme Court's August 22 order in the Association of Democratic Reforms vs Election Commission case. New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Bhartiya Janata Party's In-charge of BJP's National Information & Technology Deptl Amit Malviya has sharply criticised what he calls "misleading interpretations" of the Supreme Court's August 22 order in the Association of Democratic Reforms vs Election Commission case. In a detailed post on X, Malviya clarified that the apex court did not endorse Aadhaar as a valid document for automatic voter enrolment under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Malviya pointed to Point 9 of the judgment, asserting that nowhere does the Court suggest Aadhaar be used to validate citizenship. "Aadhaar is only proof of identity and residence," he wrote, citing the Aadhaar Act. "It does not establish citizenship or domicile." He further invoked Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which disqualifies non-citizens and those of unsound mind from being registered as voters. The strategist warned that misattributing directives to the Supreme Court amounts to contempt, urging media houses and political actors to refrain from propagating false narratives. He also referenced the Court's August 12 observation that Aadhaar is not a legal document to prove citizenship. Malviya's post took aim at the "vote chori" campaign, calling it a manufactured outcry. He highlighted that despite the deletion of 65 lakh allegedly fake, dead, Bangladeshi, and Rohingya names from Bihar's electoral rolls, only 84,305 objections were filed - a mere 1.3 per cent response rate. "Well below the standard margin of error," he noted. The Supreme Court, in its order, directed political parties to assist genuine voters in reapplying. It noted that 2,63,257 new electors had submitted forms upon turning 18, and emphasised that parties must report wrongful exclusions or inclusions to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) by the cut-off date. In a pointed observation, the Court expressed surprise that 1,60,813 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties had filed only two objections. Some parties claimed their BLAs were being obstructed, but the Court has now mandated each BLA to help restore 10 genuine voters daily potentially enabling 16 lakh re-enrolments per day. Malviya concluded with a firm assertion: "SIR is intact. Aadhaar alone cannot get you enrolled. Only Indian citizens will elect the next government not foreigners." His post underscores the BJP's stance that the Supreme Court has not diluted the legal safeguards around voter eligibility, and that the integrity of the electoral roll remains paramount. Chennai, Aug 23 : The team of actor Rajinikanth late on Saturday night did a 'U' turn, saying that a 'Meet and Greet Thalaivar' contest that they had termed fake earlier in the day was in fact very much valid. Superstar Rajinikanth's publicist Riaz Ahmed late on Saturday night, quoting the tweet he had put out earlier, wrote, "Clarification Statement! Due to an earlier miscommunication, there was some confusion regarding the Coolie Meet & Greet Thalaivar contest by Malik Streams. We now confirm that the contest is valid, organised with the required details, and open for participation. We thank all fans for their understanding and unwavering support." The confusion began on Saturday morning when Superstar Rajinikanth's publicist Riaz Ahmed put out a clarification that a 'Meet and Greet Thalaivar' contest that was being promoted by well known distribution firm Malik Streams in Malaysia had been announced without obtaining prior permission from the actor. Rajinikanth's team urged fans and the general public not to be misled by the announcement. In his post, publicist Riaz Ahmed said, "Dear All, we would like to clarify that the "Meet & Greet Thalaivar" contest that is currently being promoted by Malik Streams in Malaysia is completely unauthorised, fake, and has been announced without obtaining any prior permission from Thalaivar." The publicist went on to add, "We strongly advise fans and the public not to participate or engage in this misleading activity. We request your kind cooperation in spreading this clarification to ensure that fans are not misled." However, late on Saturday night, the publicist issued the second clarification, this time saying that the 'Meet and Greet Thalaivar' contest was in fact valid and open for participation. It may be recalled that a couple of days ago, the distribution firm Malik Streams had put out an announcement poster on its Instagram handle that read, "COOLIE WATCH & WIN CONTEST. The chance of a lifetime: Meet & Greet with Superstar Rajinikanth awaits! All you have to do is: Purchase Coolie movie tickets, Post them on your Instagram feed (public account), Use #COOLIEWW2025." The announcement poster further said, "Only the Top 3 highest purchasers will win this golden opportunity." It also had a list of rules and regulations. It said that to enter the contest, contestants should purchase movie tickets for Coolie and post them on their Instagram feeds (not stories). Their Instagram accounts must be public and they should include the hashtag #COOLIEWW2025 in their posts. Stating that tickets could be purchased in multiple transactions, but the movie, date, showtime, hall, and cinema location must be the same, the distribution firm had said that only tickets dated on or after August 21 would be accepted. The distribution firm also said that each Instagram account was allowed only one entry and that the minimum entry requirement was 50 tickets. The top three highest ticket purchasers would win an exclusive Meet & Greet with Superstar Rajinikanth, it said. A Florida judge on Saturday denied bond to Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant accused of causing a fatal accident on Floridas Turnpike. Singh, a truck driver, is in Florida custody on state vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations after being accused of making an illegal U-turn that ended in the deaths of three people in an Aug. 12 collision. In a ruling on the case over the weekend, St. Lucie County Judge Lauren Sweet ruled there is a substantial flight risk associated with Singh. "There are no conditions of release that will ensure your appearance at trial," Sweet said in a court order that also found probable cause for all six charges against Singh and classified them as forcible felonies under Florida law. "Therefore, sir, Im setting your bond on each charge at no bond." The incident is under federal investigation, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy saying the deadly crash was a preventable tragedy directly caused by reckless decisions and compounded by despicable failures. Featured Local Savings Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced following the incident plans to pause worker visas for commercial truck drivers effective immediately. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO DEADLY FLORIDA CRASH CAUSED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers, he said. Following the Florida crash, Immigration and Customs Enforcement also arrested Singhs brother, who was a passenger in Harjinders truck at the time of the collision. Harneet Singh was also in the U.S. illegally and was detained by ICE on Monday, according to Fox News. New Delhi, Aug 23 : INS Tamal, the latest stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, on her passage to home base in India, called at Souda Bay, Greece, on August 19-22. The ship's crew engaged with the Hellenic Navy and NATO functionaries during the port call. This included the Commanding Officer's call on Commodore Dionysios Mantadakis, Base Commander of Souda Bay Naval Base, Captain Kouplakis Iiias, Head of the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC), and Captain Stephen Steacy, Commanding Officer of the Naval Support Activity of the US Navy on August 19. The discussions during the meetings focused on operational matters and maritime cooperation. A cross-deck visit for the crew of INS Tamal was conducted onboard the multi-role amphibious assault unit ITS Trieste, a Landing Helicopter Dock, of the Italian Navy, at Souda Bay. India's Ambassador to Greece, Rudrendra Tandon, visited the ship on August 20 and interacted with the crew. During the ship's port call, the crew visited the Souda Naval Base and Armament facility, the NMIOTC and the local maritime museum. The ship's crew also paid homage at the World War II cemetery in Crete. INS Tamal sailed out of Souda Bay on August 22 and participated in a Passage Exercise with HS Ritsos, a Roussen-class patrol boat of the Hellenic Navy, aimed at validation of interoperability between the Navies. "The port call by INS Tamal reflects the importance India attaches to its relations with Greece and the endeavour to strengthen the growing defence cooperation between the two nations. It has also provided an opportunity for both navies to share best practices and pursue further opportunities for joint engagement," said a government statement. The ship, en route to its home base in India, will be visiting ports in friendly foreign countries in Asia, furthering maritime diplomacy and strengthening bilateral ties across the spectrum. Star stricken A pair of new memoirs delve into the dark side of fame. Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Kid Cudi writes about his struggles with addiction and depression in Cudi, #4 on our hardcover nonfiction list. Two notches below, with Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, dancer and former Disney star Alyson Stoner joins a recent spate of media on the perils of childhood celebrity, including Jennette McCurdys Im Glad My Mom Died. Hidden Costs The #8 title on our hardcover nonfiction list is The Fort Bragg Cartel by Seth Harp. In this unsettling debut investigation, journalist and Iraq War veteran Harp delivers a blistering expose of criminality within the U.S. Armys Special Forces, according to our review. Focusing on Fort Bragg, N.C., home to Delta Force and other elite military units, and drawing on extensive interviews and documentation, Harp alleges that soldiers returning to Fort Bragg from Afghanistan smuggled opioids and other narcotics into the U.S., sometimes in collaboration with Mexican cartels, and engaged in reckless, often violent behavior on the basemuch of it fueled by substance abusethat the military swept under the rug. Threes company Brigid Kemmerers breakthrough came with the 2019 release of A Curse So Dark and Lonely, a Beauty and the Beast YA fantasy retelling that launched her popular Cursebreakers series. Other novels for teens followed, and now, with Warrior Princess Assassin, Kemmerer joins the ranks of YA authors making their adult debuts. The book, which lands at #13 on our hardcover fiction lists and kicks off the Braided Fate trilogy, is a wickedly perceptive and highly charged triad fantasy romance, per our starred review, with a plot driven by deadly rivalries, a marriage of convenience, and magic. The warrior, the princess, and the assassin take turns narrating the tale, helping to build the slow-burning erotic tension among the trio before a truly spicy finale. Wicked Hot L.J. Shen, known for angsty, dark books and barely redeemable alpha heroes, according to her bio, lands at #7 on our trade paperback list with Handsome Devil. Its the third installment in her Forbidden Love series, which began modestly with 2024s Truly Madly Deeply, now her bestselling title to date. Independent literary publishing has a proud tradition of nurturing authors whove subsequently moved on to success at larger houses. Take Percival Everett, for instance, who published his fiction with Graywolf Press for decades before bringing his prize-winning breakout hit, James, to Doubleday. But theres a reverse trend thats building steam: authors are moving away from corporate publishing to independent. While some are being turned away by the conglomerates that once published them, others say they are switching because they prefer the care and attention that indie presses provide. Savvy authors and agents, Europa Editions publisher Michael Reynolds says, have long known that smaller publishers typically only put out books they feel strongly about, with the entire staff invested in their success, rather than books being championed by one lone, intrepid, but increasingly powerless editor at an anonymous corporate imprint. Europa, which published Elena Ferrantes Neapolitan novels in the U.S., is one of many independent publishers who have welcomed the growing group of major house midlistersand, in some case, marquee namesseeking asylum at smaller presses. The uptick in this trend in recent years, Reynolds suggests, could be attributed to large houses finding themselves unable or unwilling to sustain paying high advances to midlist and mid-career authors when sales dont justify such sums. Or perhaps, he adds,the value proposition of smaller, more nimble, more passionately engaged houses is becoming clearer to everyone. The examples are plentiful. Ethan Rutherford debuted with Ecco, but then switched to Deep Vellum to publish his second and third novelsas did Rodrigo Hasbun, who switched from Simon & Schuster for his forthcoming novel The Invisible Years (Feb. 2026). Helen DeWitt, who made a huge splash with her bestselling debut, The Last Samurai (Miramax, 2000), is now with Dalkey Archive. And Red Hen, which publishes Everetts poetry, recently signed a deal with Jo-Ann Mapsonwho published with various Big Five houses for years before switching to Bloomsbury in 2010to publish her next novel, To the Moon & Back, in 2027. We hear a lot of worries that as the Big Five continue to grow, their midlist authors are increasingly losing their attention, says Sam Mitchell, publicity director at Zando. The concentrated efforts we can offer attract many of them to the indie process, he adds, citing Victoria Redel and her gorgeous new novel I Am You (SJP Lit, Sept.) and former Paris Review editor Emily Nemenss Clutch (Tin House, Feb. 2026). Literary agent Laura Zats, a principal at Headwater Literary Management, points out that not only are there fewer editors at the Big Five available to pitch, but that their imprints are becoming more generic. Were seeing imprints lose their brand identity, she says. Its more common that imprints under the same groups share marketing and sales resources. In general, she adds, Its harder than ever to be a house author at a Big Five. I havent had the same experience with successful smaller presses. What Im seeing is that the large presses are spending stratospheric dollars for books that exist within a kind of narrow framework that might not actually include large numbers of potential readers, contends Dan Simon, publisher of Seven Stories. It seems like an interesting moment: the money is going one way at the same time as some literary authors may be going the other way. Even authors with a long sales track often face hurdles, says agent Emily Forland of Brandt & Hochman, and indie presses can offer a haven. Forland says that while passionate editors at bigger houses loved two-time Oprahs Book Club pick Jane Hamiltons latest novel, The Phoebe Variations (Zibby, Sept.), none could quite get it through. Then she pitched Zibby senior editor Coralie Hunter, whose enthusiasm for Phoebe radiated through Zibbys team, Hamilton says. The editing process was a joy, and discussionsabout the cover, audiobook narrator, the tour, and morehave all felt like a fruitful collaboration. Though the economics of publishing are as difficult as theyve ever been for indies and commercial publishers alike, says Bellevue Literary Press publisher Erika Goldman, as far as the caliber of available authors goes, its a great time to be an indie press. Next February, Bellevue will publish Mule Boy, Andrew Krivaks fifth novel and his fourth with the press. Bellevue published Krivaks debut novel, The Sojourn, in 2011, but Scribner published his sophomore effort in 2017. Krivak returned to Bellevue in 2020 with The Bear, which is now a backlist backbone for the press. Other Press publisher Judith Gurewich maintains that authors who have a name and have not sold well with the big houses come and knock at my door. If that authors work resonates, she adds, I buy it. I dont think much about the market. Sometimes, Im lucky that they havent sold well elsewhere and I can help them. Gurewich notes that a number of these authors are represented by the Wylie Agency, citing as an example Antonio Munoz Molina (Your Steps on the Stairs, April, trans. from the Spanish by Curtis Bauer), who published a work-in-translation with Other in 2006, but subsequently published three books in the U.S. with large houses. While Andrew Wylie, Gurewich says, is considered a tough guy, she insists that he really has a deep respect for publishers who are in love with the works they publish. He and similar-minded agents, she notes, routinely reach out to small, indie presses when they see that the big houses didnt do a great job. National Book Award winner Ha Jins second novel with Other, Looking for Tank Man, is set for October, after he moved to the press in 2023 following the retirement of his longtime editor at Pantheon. That move absolutely wasnt about moneyit was about quality, says his agent, Lane Zachary, of Massie McQuilkin & Altman. At Other, Zachary adds, Jin can listen to his own voice if he wants towhich is even more important than when a writer first starts out. Grove Atlantic has benefited greatly from major publishers dropping authors in the second or later stages of their careers. The press has been so successful in snagging well-established crime writers that it recently launched a fifth imprint, Atlantic Crime, to publish books by the likes of James Lee Burke, Martha Grimes, and Val McDermid. We probably have as much opportunity as weve ever had, says publisher Morgan Entrekin. He emphasizes, however, the necessity of remaining highly selective, so that Grove can effectively allocate what he calls publishing capitalor making sure you can do the book justiceby doing such things as sending authors to conferences, hosting Winter Institute dinners, and participating in ALA teas. Terry Tempest Williams was previously published by Scribner, Pantheon, and most recently FSG before moving to Grove with her latest effort, The Glorians (Mar. 2026). It was my choice, she says, adding that her agent, Gail Hochman of Brandt & Hochman, supported her preference to work with editorial director Elisabeth Schmitz. Williams doesnt miss corporate publishing, with its bureaucracy that interferes with the creative process. She relishes being part of a smaller, more agile publishing community, where you can walk in off the street and not have to show your ID or go through security, and conversations are not corporate-minded but personal. It feels like a family. I plan on staying here as long as they will have me. David Duchovny, best known for his lead role in The X-Files, has written four books published by FSG. But Akashic Books published his novella, The Reservoir, in 2022, and is releasing his debut poetry collection, About Time, in September. Duchovnys literary agent, Andrew Blauner, of the eponymous agency, says that he is pretty sure that he gave FSG first dibs on Reservoir, but the publisher passed on it, so he approached Akashic, as hed long been impressed with its publishing program. Akashic did such a great job with Reservoir that he didnt hesitate at all to go back with About Time. If somethings working and youve got a good relationship and youre not leaving a ton of money on the table, Blauner says. Even if you are, what matters is theyre good publishers. At publishing collectives and cooperatives, indies stand together to reshape traditional publishing models, whether through juicing their purchasing power, streamlining their operations, or pursuing nonhierarchical ideals. Strategic partnerships can give indies a competitive edge. Were hell-bent on making this industry as efficient and profitable as possible, says Ulysses Press CEO Keith Riegert, president of the Stable Book Group, a co-op formed earlier this year by Ulysses, She Writes Press, Trafalgar Square Books, and VeloPress, with Galpon Press as a client and Mountain Gazette Books as a partner. Stable, Riegert says, is building a lean team for the largest publishing portfolio, sharing resources and centralizing operations. It consolidates such operations as managing production and paying royalties, and members combined catalogs increase everyones marketing reach. We have intentionally looked for companies that have category killers in their niches, Riegert adds. We can treat it like an investment portfolio and be as diversified as possible. Ulysses is also among nine members of the growing Publishers Cooperative, established in February to fuel indies purchasing power. Other members include AdventureKeen, C&T Publishing, Gibbs-Smith, Mango Publishing, Mixed Media Resources, Mountaineers Books, Schiffer Publishing, and the latest addition, Red Wheel/Weiser. Belonging to Publishers Cooperative provides a clear economic benefit in that you act as and look like a larger entity, says Brad Farmer, CEO of Gibbs-Smith, enabling members to streamline best practices, compare costs, and negotiate better deals on print runs, shipping, and software licensing. Other cooperative enterprises operate on a much smaller scale. Thinking Ink Press of Campbell, Calif., is a coequal partnership among Anthony Francis, Betsy Miller, Liza Olmsted, and Keiko OLeary, who share decision-making, creative direction, and profits equally, according to Olmsted. Thinking Ink is for-profit, but its socially inclusive program permitted it to seek fiscal sponsorship from a tax-exempt Bay Area nonprofit, Independent Arts Media. Thanks to this alliance, we can apply for grants, the grant money goes to them, and they disperse the money to us, Olmsted says, enabling the publisher to fund its mission to publish books for queer, neurodivergent, and disabled readers. Taking the Long View Collective publishers are distinct from cooperatives, often more motivated by ideological ideals than by increasing the bottom line. One of the longest-running collectives, FC2, marked 50 years of literary endeavor last year. Founded in 1974 as the Fiction Collective and reorganized in 1989 under its present name, the author-run nonprofit is an imprint of the University of Alabama Press publishing six books per year. FC2 operates with support from foundations, arts councils, and the institutions where its authors write and teach. Once FC2 decides to acquire a title, UAP handles contracts, copy editing, production, and distribution. FC2 board chair Joanna Ruocco views UAP as a bulwark in uncertain times for funding. We have not been as impacted as presses that rely on National Endowment for the Arts grants, she says. Though university presses are on the line when priorities change and budget decisions are made, FC2 feels confident in its home institution. The collective is a stubborn labor of love, too. We dont have any paid staff, Ruocco says. We have the skill and devotional, donated energy of our members, who collaborate on acquisition and developmental editing. Authors who publish with FC2 become members of the collective, and their books remain in print in perpetuity. She notes that FC2 wants to remove barriers to access by investing in such projects as 2023s Infinite Constellations, a speculative fiction anthology with work from 30 writers of color edited by Khadijah Queen and K. Ibura. Ruocco appreciates FC2s uncompromising aesthetic vision. While a commercial title has to have buzz and hit a certain number of sales on publication day, she says, FC2 acquires manuscripts that push boundaries of who its for and what narratives can do. No stranger to the trade, Ruocco writes queer historical romance as Joanna Lowell. But at FC2, we like things that push to the edge of every genre envelope. We want to bring those writers in. For board member Brian Conn, the collective exists to promote emergent writing. We have to follow our instincts rather than known formulas for success, he says. Wed rather have a book that sells 100 copies a year for 20 years than a flash in the pan. The collective welcomes such unpredictable texts as Candace R. Nunags debut, A Solar Flare (out now), inspired by an 1859 geomagnetic event, and its backlist includes work by Lucy Corin (Everyday Psychokillers), Samuel R. Delany (Hogg), and Stephen Graham Jones (The Fast Red Road). FC2 offers two annual cash prizes that include publication, both of which opened for submissions on August 15. The $15,000 Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize, funded by the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Foundation at the Community Foundation of Utah, most recently went to John Haskells Trying to Be (Oct.) and Karen An-hwei Lees Marimo, Mon Amour (fall 2026). Winnings for the Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Contest, whose winners include Jesse Efrons Low-Risk Activities (Sept.) and Radhika Singhs Weirdly Tuned Antennae (fall 2026), were doubled this year, to $3,000. Maybe it feels a little strange that were suddenly doubling a prize amount when other publishers must hold steady, Ruocco says of the Sukenick. Yet his widow, Julia Nolet, reached out about creating a larger gift, to make the prize feel more materially significant at a time when the larger climate for the arts is incredibly disturbing and indie publishing is more important than ever. Aesthetic Appeals Ugly Duckling Presse, which like FC2 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, publishes poetry, books in translation, and experimental works. Forthcoming titles include Jonathan Gonzalezs Ways to Move: Black Insurgent Grammars (Nov.) and Terrence Arjoons The Disinherited (Nov.). UDP keeps historically significant work alive with publications including Exercises 19501960 (out now), a collection of poems by Greek revolutionary poet Yannis Ritsos, translated by Spring Ulmer, and the first translation of Ronald M. Schernikaus 1980 queer coming-of-age story, Smalltownnovella (Nov.), translated from the German by Lucy Jones. UDP originated as a zine in the 1990s before incorporating as a not-for-profit in 2002. Today, its a distribution client of Asterism but distributes its own bulk orders. Annual output varies, press manager Marine Cornuet says, because we want to have energy to devote to each book. Presently, UDP has four paid part-time staff members, and three serve on the official 11-member editorial collective; it also offers two nine-month paid apprenticeships. After UDPs editorial collective decides what to publish, staff and apprentices do the nitty-gritty of making and distributing the physical objects, Cornuet says. Having a large editorial group means we can cover a lot of ground, because they know who to contact when UDP posts a call for submissions. The biggest change over the last 15 years was the decision to pay UDPs part-time staff, Cornuet adds. Early on, editors were designing and typesetting and running the studio for free. Especially in a city thats so incredibly expensive, volunteer labor alone cannot sustain the press. Since 2006, UDP has been housed in a former factory in Gowanus, Brooklyn, and production decisions are made by the team on a project-by-project basis. The press specializes in small print runs of around 700 copies per book, 500 per chapbook, and we print most of our covers in-house on a Heidelberg, says UDP editor Milo Wippermann. Economy remains a strong consideration for UDP, which depends on book sales and grants; New York State is its biggest funder. Our NEA funding was cut, and state funding is going to become more competitive, Wippermann says. Were working on shoring up other possibilities. Readers can support the press through subscriptions, and UDP partner bookstores receive special discounts and free returns. A Community Effort Each collective publisher has its own capacities and constraints. At City Works Press, a project of the San Diego Writers Collective, codirector Jim Miller says sustainability requires three things: labor, money, and community. All of our books are paid for as we go. City Works began as a literary journal in 1994, and over the past year its published five books including Stories of San Diego: A Collection About People of Color and Covid, edited by Lindsay M. Hood. Its distributed by Sunbelt Publications of Chula Vista, Calif., and directed by Miller and Kelly Mayhew, faculty members at San Diego Community College. Next year, the press will publish a memoir by former Black Panther and emeritus SDCC faculty member Roberta Alexander. Miller describes City Works as an alternative to the postcard view of San Diego, with emerging student writers alongside people who are well-known. The catalog includes the Reclaiming Our Stories series, with contributions from writing workshop students; poet Jimmy Santiago Bacas collection Rita and Julia; and the Sunshine/Noir series of writing from San Diego and Tijuana, edited by Mayhew and Miller. City Works sells or donates books at community readings and at SoCal universities that teach about regional culture. By design, the books are in limited supply. We try to maintain a policy of no reprints, Mayhew says. Once the press sells through a print run, the book is retired, and the author retains copyright. Frugality and readings that double as fund-raisers have kept City Works afloat. In the 20 years since this press has come out, theres a graveyard of other projects locally that aimed to be bigger, flashier, and didnt survive more than a year, Miller says. The press is DIY, like a band that shows up at the gig with the CDs in their trunk. Thats us. You have to be a multitool AK Press in Chico, Calif., is a worker-run collective. Founded in 1990, it celebrates 35 years of radical publishing in 2025; its seven members identify as anarchists and describe the press as a political project. Worker self-management and control over our labor are written into AKs bylaws, says press member Suzanne Shaffer. Its important to us to embody our politics. At AK, were collective, which is different than worker-owned or cooperative, says AK worker Angelica Sgouros. You can have a workers co-op that has a power structure, a boss, stratified pay. Were nonhierarchical. We decide on our raises and all the financial questions, and a lot of the day-to-day operating is through collective decision-making. AK publishes and distributes around 1620 books per year, including a Working Classics series (The Famous Speeches of the Eight Chicago Anarchists, Nov.) and the Legacy Left series, small books featuring contemporary activists interviewing movement elders (A Southern Panther, out now). Speculative fiction novellas in its Black Dawn series include Ancestors (out now) by adrienne maree brown. Weve always been a scrappy operation, but in the beginning, it was a bunch of activists learning to publish quality books on a timely schedule, Shaffer says. Now, everyone still participates in the acquisition process, but a publishing team focuses on editorial and marketing, while a distribution team manages order fulfillment. You have to be a multitool at AK, Sgouros says. Over the decades, AK has built a network of fellow travelers. We do exclusive distribution for a number of very small presses, Shaffer says, including Girl Dad Press and fellow collectives Between the Lines and Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness. Like UDP, AK offers monthly and annual subscriptions to new releases, and it finds creative ways to get titles into readers hands: the press currently is running a preorder campaign in collaboration with worker-owned Pilsen Community Books in Chicago for Read This When Things Fall Apart: Letters to Activists in Crisis (Nov.), edited by Menominee Native author Kelly Hayes. Its also produced a paperback prison edition of Garrett Felbers biography of jailhouse lawyer and Black bookseller Martin Sostre, A Continuous Struggle (out now), as part of its commitment to providing books for incarcerated readers. Belonging to a collective means participating in debate, realizing shared visions, and taking on projects of long-term artistic and political importance. Or, as Shaffer puts it, Were all committed to figuring out, together, how we put our ideals into practice. Read more from our indie innovators feature. Traditional Publishers Find Success in Nontraditional Ways Dream Baby Press Matt Starr, cofounder and editor Since its founding in 2021, Zach Roif and Matt Starrs Dream Baby has provided a steady stream of new-media fodder with its splashy, X-rated events at Burger King, the Penn Station Sbarro (the one that really blew up, Starr says), and an East Village sex shop. Starr, whose day job involves coordinating events at Substack, is on a mission to pave a grimy, glittery underbelly to New Yorks usual literary reading circuitand publish some books along the way. What sort of community are you trying to create? When Zach and I started, we just wanted to throw readings that lowered the barrier to entry and were, like, most importantly, very funthe WWE of readings. We were very inspired by the punk ethos also in the sense of we can do whatever we want. The people who come are people of all ages, and theres no, like, one scene. And I think its really refreshing. You only have one book out so faryour debut poetry collection, Mouthful. How does publishing fit into the picture? We didnt set out to become a press, but the events kept opening up all these wonderful opportunities and new friends. At a certain point, I said, We built this wonderful community. Lets put the books we want to see out ourselves. With Mouthful, I thought, How can I get people to care about poetry? Because its just totally changed my life. Theres less time, everyones distracted. I tried to create something that would really make people excited to read. Our next book, which is by a pretty well-known person, is really of the time in that same way. Whats next? I want to start back up our writing clubs. I became friends with the management at the three-story Burger King in FiDi, so they let me do it there sometimes. Basically, we give prompts, everyone has time to write, and everyone has time to read, if they want. On average at least a hundred people show up, and they just read the craziest shit. Its so sweet. Dream Boy Book Club Jonathan Blake Fostar, editor-in-chief Youd be forgiven for not knowing that DBBC publishes books after a look at its eponymous Instagram, but the gallery of Y2K paparazzi shots and flashy typography would still give you a decent idea of its zeitgeist. In addition to a poetry- and leopard printheavy catalog, DBBC offers a Sunday Schoolan entry-level online creative writing workshop run by Fostar, who is also an English professor at DePaul University, and guided (in spirit) by such mentors as Lindsay Lohan and Lana Del Rey. Why did you start DBBC? Dream Boy Book Club wasnt my idea. My friend Emily thought it up while we were in rehab in Tucson, and I just sort of went along with it. We made a pinky promise. Then we got out, and she died. But I promised Id do this, so I did it. Your slogan is books for people who dont read books. What does that mean? I dont really like book people. Im so bored of Lacan and ketamine. That sounds meaner than I mean it to. I just mean Im bored of seeing the same 12 people reading at every reading. I want to hold hands with something very, very far away. Do you think of yourself as being aligned with any sort of scene? People dont really invite me to things. Editorially, what do you look for? I want writing littered with typos. I want something that feels like the kind of thing you probably should delete and never tell anyone about. I guess I want mistakes, or stuff from people who make a lot of mistakes. I get the feeling that in the future, thats what will distinguish us from the robots. Cash 4 Gold Books Harris Lahti, cofounder and editor C4G was founded by Harris Lahti and Jonathan Lindsey in 2024, three years after the death of Tyrant Books publisher and alt-lit patriarch Giancarlo DiTrapano. The press found its prodigal son in Peter Vack, the filmmaker and Instagram self-memer whose 2024 novel Sillyboya classic love story between a meme-lord edgeboy and a tattoo artist e-girlput C4G on the chronically online media-criticism map. Now, Lahti, Lindsey, and coeditor Nathan Dragon are hunting for new treasures. I need to hear the story behind the name. The name was Johns idea, and it really informed a lot of the aesthetic. Our attitude fits with the idea of a pawn shopthese ragtag shops that contain both the profane and the profound. For some critics, Sillyboy epitomizes the dive into self-obsessed absurdism that internet culture has taken. Are they misunderstanding the book? I think that Peters voice is electric.If you remove the fact that he is a provocateur on the internet, does the novel still read the same way? I would argue no. What Im interested in is the energy level of the writing, the urgency of the writing, and the voice of the writing, and Peter is hitting all of those. I also loved the juxtaposition of publishing Peters book next to The Champ Is Here by Nathan Dragon, which is vastly different. Our next book is a short story collection by David Ryan, whos a two-time O. Henry Prize winner and has a blurb from Lauren Groff. I dont think Peters silliness detracts from their seriousness. I think theres a sort of cohesion. A lot of C4Gs books are centered on New York City and L.A. Would you say people are tiring of that? I would, yeah! We come from New York and L.A., so were kind of just mining the obvious books we want to publish now. But were in talks now of republishing an early Rudy Wilson novel, and hes from Iowa. Davids book isnt in that world either. Return to main feature. Among the flood of childrens books coming out this fall from independent presses, six stand out as particularly noteworthy: five picture books and an illustrated middle grade title. This comes after Mac Barnett, the 20252026 National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature, vowed to enlighten the industry about the importance of picture books as a literary form. Judging by the titles below, it seems like indie presses were already well aware. The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers and translated from the Dutch by Bill Nagelkerke (Gecko, Sept., ages 46) follows Eric, a duck who fears paddling the lake because he might encounter a monster. But when he is persuaded to venture below the surface, Eric discovers an underwater wonderland teeming with fantastic creatures of all colors, sizes, and shapes. Daring to explore the unknown boosts Erics confidence, and as PWs starred review promises, Children who get their hands on this oversize, glossy delight, filled with made-to-linger details, will be lucky ducks indeed. Publisher-at-large Rachel Lawson describes The Monster in the Lake as a simple story that makes for a standout picture book, adding, Its got drama, a bit of a twist, an emotional hook that keeps the story going, and a denouement. The text may be simple, but Timmerss extraordinary attention to detail isnt: in order to re-create the texture of water, the artist, Lawson says, did all this experimental spraying with shapes and colors and cutouts to try and get the perfect sort of underwater bubble feel. People think he works digitally, but its all by hand. Hes an absolute craftsman. New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani can surely relate to Erics dilemma: he must have entertained thoughts about real-life monsters coming after him during his primary campaign this year. Discussing Zohran Walks New York by Millie von Platen (Astra, Oct., ages 48), associate publisher Susan Dobinick says that, after Mamdani won the primary in June, it came up, conversationally, with our president, Ben Schrank: Wouldnt it be great to have a Zohran book? Dobinick had just come from a meeting with von Platen, and it clickedMillie is an amazing illustrator who is excited for Zohran and has a very specific New York style. So I called her; she immediately said yes. Dobinick says that the project came together so quickly because Astras team was attending the ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia that week. We all had a lot of time just to speak with each other, share the excitement, and talk about the possibilities. Also, observing ALA attendees from all over the U.S. celebrating Mamdanis victory made her and her colleagues even more committed to a project that was fast-tracked from idea to printer in eight weeks. Its one of those books where you feel that its capturing the moment, she says, but it also has staying power. Its not just about Mamdani; its a love letter to New York City. Simon Boughton, publishing director of Norton Young Readers, has high hopes for the forthcoming third installment in a picture book trilogy by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey. The secret to their success: a sense of timelessness. The brothers The Old Sleigh (Nov., ages 48) follows The Old Truck (2020) and The Old Boat (2021). Theres kind of a nostalgic feel to these books, Boughton says, but they dont feel dated or old-fashioned. Theres a fresh, contemporary feel to them as well. I think the art speaks to people for that reason. And the text, he says, is deceptive in its simplicity: theres a lot of depth. Boughton was surprised when the Pumphreys told him The Old Sleigh would be the final book in the series. I didnt see it coming, he says, but I was delighted. I could see how it could draw on some of the same themes that they had explored in the other books. Not only that, but it was an exciting choice for a holiday book. The regional bookseller associations obviously agree: the front cover art for all but one of their holiday catalogs this fall will spotlight The Old Sleigh. Enchanted Lion publisher Claudia Zoe Bedrick says that The Marginalian blogger Maria Popovas The Coziest Place on the Moon, illustrated by Sarah Jacoby (Nov., ages 58), was an immediate fit when Popova proposed a picture book exploring loneliness and solitude. Its something Ive always had in the back of my mind as a good theme for a picture book, Bedrick says; she considers it essential to relay to children who are growing up in an age of omnipresent social media that to be a human, to take the path of becoming fully yourself, you must engage in a dialogue with yourself. Bedrick praises Popovas abstract approach, saying that she writes about ideas in a way that children can understand and appreciate. Jacoby is a very cerebral, very thoughtful, and very intentional artist, Bedrick says, whose visual worldbuilding complements Popovas abstract text. Theres no clue in the manuscript as to what Re and Mi look like, Bedrick says. Theyre these two characters that could be anythinganimal or human. She made them these adorable, cuddly things. Theres also no description of the nooks on the moon that Re and Mi retire to, so really it was an entire world for Sarah to create. She dived deep into her own imagination, resulting in this gorgeous vision in dialogue with Marias text. Creative Company associate publisher Rebecca Glaser says that the Mankato, Minn., press is releasing Betsy-Tacy and Tib for Small Children by Maud Hart Lovelace, illustrated by Lois Lenski (Mar. 2026, ages 57), in a picture book format to introduce the series to younger readers. The text is an abridged version of the original middle grade books, retaining much of Lovelaces language. The idea was just to publish it in a shorter form, Glaser says, so that even younger kids could enjoy it and fall in love with these characters. Though the series was released between 1940 and 1955, Lovelaces stories deal with universal themes that contemporary readers can relate to, Glaser explains, while Lenskis iconic illustrations reflect their historical setting. The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Maithili Joshi (Oct., ages 710), is the middle grade authors first mystery novel, says Charlesbridge publisher Yolanda Scott, who notes that Perkinss Rickshaw Girl (2007) remains one of the presss top-selling titles. Scott praises Perkins for addressing sophisticated topics in her work in an age-appropriate way. She really gets into socioeconomic justice, environmental issues, womens empowerment, the different conflicts that can occur in cross-cultural situations, Scott says, and this is where she shines as a writer: she takes these complex themes and weaves them into an engaging story with incredibly compelling characters. While The Golden Necklace is set on a tea plantation in northeastern India and the amateur sleuth is a Nepali girl, its also largely about family and friendship, Scott says, and has a healthy undercurrent on the joy of food. Full-page illustrations interspersed throughout provide context; Its the kind of setting that may not be familiar to all readers, Scott says. Describing the cover art, Scott confides that we went all out, adding, We even did the gold foil, even though its more expensive. But with a title like The Golden Necklace, we had to have some gold. In July 2025, President Donald Trump issued a flurry of tariff threats to 14 countriesincluding long-standing allies such as Japan and South Koreademanding new trade deals or facing levies of up to 40%. Days later, the list grew to include hydrocarbon exporters Libya, Algeria, and Iraq, despite their modest trade profiles with the United States. On 31 July, the White House announced the final for now tariff rates, and Iraq was hit with a 35% rate, up from the 30% announced in Trumps early July letter to Iraqs prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. At first glance, Iraq seems an unlikely target. According to the U.S. Trade Representative, in 2024, U.S. goods exports to Iraq were $1.7 billion, and imports from Iraq (comprising crude and refined oil) were $7.5 billion, for a U.S. goods trade deficit of $5.9 billion. The U.S., in turn, exported industrial machinery, vehicles, medical equipment, agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals to Iraqkey inputs for a country still navigating post-conflict recovery. In 2024, U.S. services exports to Iraq were $2.2 billion, and services imports from Iraq $532 million, for a services trade surplus of $1.7 billion. Obviously, Iraq is no economic rival to the U.S. It is a nation grappling with the long shadow of war, sanctions, and corruption, what the Brookings Institution called the forgotten legacy of the Iraq invasion. Given that the U.S. invasion of Iraq, based on erroneous information, the mis-managed post-invasion reconstruction, and the dash for the exits in 2011, contributed to the parlous situation in Iraq today, why hit Baghdad with tariffs? Theres little evidence that this move is grounded in economic logic. Instead, it appears politically motivated. Trump may be seeking to: Pressure Iraq to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel, even though Iraqs Parliament outlawed normalization in 2022. Reorient Iraq away from China, Iraqs top trade partner, and so reduce Chinese influence. Align Iraq with U.S.-led blocs. Iraq is a dialogue partner (potential member) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and it isnt a member of BRICS, though the Trump tariffs may make it reconsider. Reduce Iranian influence by targeting institutions like the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which some U.S. lawmakers have sought to sanction, and alleged supporters of Iran in the legislature, the oil and finance ministries, and the banking sector. Discourage efforts like the Iran-Iraq joint security memorandum of understanding that was the topic of Prime Minister Al-Sudanis recent meeting with an official of Irans Supreme National Security Council. Support a particular Iraqi political figure, much as he is using Brazils 50% tariff to stop the witch hunt prosecution of former president (and Trump ally), Jair Bolsonaro. Strengthen Washingtons proxies in Iraqi Kurdistan who can offer a platform (or manpower) for moves against Iran or Syria. Set a precedent for similar steps towards Turkey, a NATO ally, and other U.S. friends in the region, such as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Shore up support from his domestic base by claiming America as being taken advantage of - regardless of the facts. These strategies are not new - but they are risky. Most concerning is the timing. Iraq is headed for national elections in November. Prime Minister Al-Sudanis complicated electoral alliance includes the head of the PMF, so American actions against the PMF and Iraqs economy can be interpreted as a ploy to weaken Sudani. Al-Sudani, who met with President Joe Biden in April 2024, has prioritized restoring trust in Iraqs institutions while seeking to elevate the U.S.-Iraq relationship beyond security cooperation. Sudani wants to see economic investment, education exchange, and private-sector development play a bigger role in bilateral ties. Instead of reinforcing that vision, Trumps actions signal a different approachtransactional, impatient, and insensitive to domestic Iraqi dynamics. These types of messages risk alienating moderates, empowering hardliners, and casting doubt on Americas reliability as a long-term partner. Then there is the matter of diplomatic presence. Currently, there is no confirmed U.S. ambassador in Baghdad. The post has been vacant since December 2024 and is filled by a charge daffaires, who is also the U.S. ambassador to Yemen, where things are apparently pretty quiet. That absence sends the wrong signal at the wrong time. Rather than imposing economic penalties on one of Americas most strategically significant partners in the Middle East, now is the time for a different kind of diplomacyone built on mutual respect, shared goals, and a clear-eyed understanding of regional complexity. Iraq deserves not threats but a serious conversation about trade, development, education, energy cooperation, and how two countries with a turbulent past can shape a more stable future. In a region riddled with flashpoints, Iraq remains one of the few places where American diplomacy can still matter - if Washington invests in it wisely. Al-Sudani said the U.S. and Iraq will meet by the end of 2025 to arrange the bilateral security relationship between the two countries, and to renew his push for a broader economic relationship between the countries. A meeting with Trump is an opportunity for Al-Sudani to highlight that Iraqi government security operations are limiting conflict across the region by thwarting twenty-nine attempted drone and missile attacks on Israel by local militias, and, most recently, an Islamic State plot to target Shia pilgrims in the holy city of Karbala. The coming months are a test. Not just for Iraq, but also for the United States. The question is not whether America can use tariffs to coerce weaker partners it can - but whether it can lead by example when it matters most. James Durso (@james_durso) is a regular commentator on foreign policy and national security matters. Mr. Durso served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and has worked in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from criminal custody in Tennessee and is on his way to Maryland, his attorney confirmed Friday. Abrego Garcia, 29, was freed after U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes authorized his release while he awaits trial on human smuggling charges in Nashville. His legal team has arranged for private security to transport him directly to Maryland, where he previously lived with his family before his arrest earlier this year, according to a report from CBS News. Federal prosecutors charged Abrego Garcia in June with conspiracy to transport migrants illegally across the country, a case tied to a 2022 traffic stop. The Justice Department has also accused him of ties to the violent MS-13 gang, allegations his lawyers deny. His trial is scheduled to begin in January. The release does not resolve the governments parallel effort to remove Abrego Garcia from the United States. Immigration and Customs Enforcement still has the authority to place him back into custody and pursue deportation. A Maryland-based federal judge has ruled that ICE must restore him to its supervision program and give his attorneys 72 hours notice before attempting another removal. That notice could be given as soon as Abrego Garcia arrives in Maryland. The administration has openly considered deporting him to a third country, rather than El Salvador, where he was sent in March despite a limited court order. That removal resulted in a monthslong process, following his initial deportation to El Salvador in March, which spurred litigation over a prior immigration judges limited order barring him from removal to his home country. Abrego Garcia was returned to the U.S. to face criminal charges in Tennessee. With the semester back in full swing, Athens restaurants are rolling out new hours, deals and fun mid-week events to keep the restaurant scene exciting. Whether you're in the mood for a coffee and pastry run, or even a chance to win Braves tickets, theres plenty happening around town this week. On Aug. 13 at around 7:19 a.m., the University of Georgia Police Department was dispatched to Old College, in reference to reports of a gas leak in the building. A UGA student reported her purse stolen at Sanford Stadium on Aug. 12, but later recovered it with nothing missing, according to a UGAPD report. On Aug. 13, a UGA student reported his e-scooter stolen from the bike racks outside of the Chick-fil-A at the Tate Student Center. Spreading risks in sourcing raw materials for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing is "very critical" and the government can play a key role by enabling access to these from multiple locations worldwide, said Vivek Srivatsa, chief commercial officer at Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, on Friday while stressing the need for faster localisation, especially of batteries. Photograph: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff He was speaking during a panel discussion at BloombergNEF summit. Indias EV ecosystem remains heavily reliant on China for critical components particularly lithium-ion cells for batteries and rare-earth minerals used in traction motors. In April this year, China imposed export restrictions on rare-earth magnets, creating supply bottlenecks for EV makers. Since these magnets are vital for traction motor's performance, the neighbouring country's indirect ban triggered warnings of production slowdowns across the EV sector in India. Asked about his opinion on localisation of batteries, Srivatsa replied: "I think it is a bridge we have to cross sooner or later, considering that the government has firmly embraced electric mobility, and they want to further it. "The logical next step is to really push localisation." "the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) category cars and their components took a longer time to achieve a very high level of localisation. "We are still talking about 90-95 per cent of localisation in the best case scenario (for ICE cars). "It took years. For EVs, the speed of localisation has to be much faster," he added. He stated that it is helpful that an EV has fewer components than an equivalent ICE car but the challenge is that a "battery is a tough one to localise". Tata Motors (TaMo) is one of the key electric car makers in the country. Srivatsa stated: "I think spreading our risks in terms of where we source our core materials from is very critical. "That is where the government can really help us, allowing us to access several fundamental components from various locations around the world." However, there has to be strong support from the government to help localise the other components whether in terms of "bureaucracy" or "incentivisation" further to the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme that is already present. "It is imperative that localisation has to be done fast. It has to be very well orchestrated between the industry and the government to accelerate and reach a high level as soon as possible," he noted. "There are two benefits. It is a geopolitical issue, so our dependence (on other countries) comes down. "The other benefit of localisation is cost control and cost savings. So, it is a bridge we have to cross very fast," he stated. In June this year, Tata Motors sold 4,708 electric cars in India, recording a growth of just 2.48 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), according to data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada). JSW MG Motor sold 3,972 electric cars in India in the same month, recording a growth of 168.38 per cent Y-o-Y, according to Fada data. Chinese auto major SAIC Motor holds 49 per cent stake in JSW MG Motor. Plugging the gap The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a case against Reliance Communications and its promoter-director Anil Ambani, for an alleged bank fraud that caused a loss of over Rs 2,000 crore to State Bank of India, officials said on Saturday. Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters The agency is carrying out searches at the residence of Anil Ambani and premises linked to RCOM in connection with the case, they said. The CBI took the action based on a complaint from the lender State Bank of India, which had approached the agency after the entities were classified as fraud on June 13, in accordance with the RBI's Master Directions on Fraud Risk Management and the Bank's Board-approved Policy on Classification, Reporting & Management of Frauds. "On June 24, 2025, the bank reported classification of fraud to RBI, and is also in the process of lodging complaint with CBI," Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary had said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha last month. The credit exposure of SBI in RCom includes, fund-based principal outstanding amount of Rs 2,227.64 crore along with the accrued interest and expenses with effect from August 26, 2016, and a non-fund-based Bank Guarantee of Rs 786.52 crore, he had said. RCom is undergoing the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The resolution plan was approved by the Committee of Creditors and filed with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai, on March 6, 2020. The NCLT approval is awaited. The bank has also initiated a Personal Insolvency Resolution Process under IBC against Anil D Ambani, and it is being heard by NCLT, Mumbai, he had said. The SBI had classified the account and promoter Anil D Ambani as 'fraud' on November 10, 2020 and filed a complaint with the CBI on January 5, 2021. However, the minister said, the complaint was returned in view of the 'status quo' order dated January 6, 2021, by the Delhi high court. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court judgement dated March 27, 2023, in State Bank of India & Others Vs Rajesh Agarwal & Others case mandated that lenders provide borrowers with an opportunity to represent before classifying their accounts as fraud. Accordingly, the minister said, the fraud classification in the account was reversed by the bank on September 2, 2023. The fraud classification process was re-run, and the account was again classified as 'fraud' after following the due process as per the RBI circular dated July 15, 2024. When the government chooses to either ignore or use identity documents only when it suits them, it shakes people's sense of stability, observes Shyam G Menon. Illustrations: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Finally, the voter ID card seemed to matter. For me, that was the most memorable thing about July 29, 2025, a day that otherwise held little interest despite discussions on Operation Sindoor underway in Parliament. As the debate over Operation Sindoor raged in the Lok Sabha, the citizen in me found himself tuned off the discussion and lost to mundane chores. What killed interest was this sense of how things would be eventually reported. One could foresee it in the media, that day's and the next -- everything that the Treasury benches said would be applauded and publicised; the Opposition would be a severely judged side act. It's a boring pattern. And so, it was my tired, reluctant eye, which noticed in the news updates of the day, a report on what Home Minister Amit Shah said in Parliament about the terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev. What caught my attention was a sentence in the relevant PTI report: 'The home minister said security forces had recovered Pakistani voter IDs of two of the killed terrorists as well as chocolates made in Pakistan and the weapons.' All these were ingredients helpful to establish identity. On July 30, I visited the Web site of the Bharatiya Janata Party to cross check the news report as the person being quoted was the home minister. The BJP Web site had a press release containing the salient points of what Shah said during the discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament. One paragraph therein said: 'Hon'ble Union Home Minister said that he felt saddened when the former Home Minister of the country, Chidambaram, questioned the evidence proving that the terrorists came from Pakistan. He raised this question right before the Parliament was to discuss the matter. 'What does Chidambaram want to convey, and why does he want to shield Pakistan? Let me inform you that two of the three terrorists were found with Pakistani voter ID cards. 'The chocolates recovered from Dhok were also manufactured in Pakistan. By raising such a question, Chidambaram, a former Home Minister, is essentially giving a clean chit to Pakistan. 'He is even questioning the Indian strike on Pakistan. While our MPs went across the world and all nations acknowledged that Pakistan was behind the attack, Chidambaram's attempt to save Pakistan is now understood by every citizen of the country -- this conspiracy will not go unpunished.' The highlighted text is as highlighted on the Web site. For those needing context -- Operation Sindoor was the Indian military operation against Pakistan (with the specific intention of dismantling terror infrastructure), which followed the April 2025 attack on tourists in Pahalgam by terrorists that left 26 civilians dead. I don't question any of the proof tabled. Not even the chocolates, although I must confess to wondering whether the country of origin of any product used in times of globalisation, may be considered as proof of identity. It can be confusing because so many of the things we use every day are made in so many different places. Perhaps the late Raj Kapoor got it right when he sang of shoes made in Japan, trousers fashioned in the English style, a red hat from Russia and yet a heart that is Indian. Shree 420 was released in September 1955. That long ago. Brilliant forecast of a future yet to be! Anyway, my mind, as I read of Shah's reference to the voter ID, was on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), currently on in Bihar. The exercise, which seeks to refine electoral rolls and initially declined to consider popular ID cards like Aadhar and voter ID as supportive documents, has been criticised by the political Opposition and sections of the Indian electorate. Expectedly, it has been supported by those approving of the ruling party and the ruling government. Once again, knowing well the image management and majoritarian guidance of opinion that would come into play, I elected to watch the SIR from a distance, resigned to a fate authored by the ruling party, which never tires of reminding us that it and its cohorts will rule us for decades. The only time I grew concerned by the SIR was when the Election Commission appeared to dilute the value of our Aadhar cards and voter ID cards. For each of these cards, citizens had set aside time, stood in line and patiently waited to obtain them. And when he or she got them, the average individual felt that much more secure in an Indian life that is otherwise a vicious rat race. These documents have also since their introduction, settled in as ID cards used in day-to-day life. As some observers pointed out in the wake of the SIR, given only citizens get to vote in an election, diluting the sanctity of voter ID cards after many years of their use by citizens at large, appeared illogical. Having such hard-earned cards rubbished, appeared to me, stressful. After all, as stated in parliament in February 2024 by the then minister of state for external affairs, the total number of Indians owning valid passports was only 9,26,24,661. This, in a country with over 146 crore people as of 2025. I was among those who felt relieved when the Supreme Court subsequently asked the Election Commission to consider including Aadhar and voter ID as valid ID proof even as the SIR exercise stayed on track. It therefore engaged to see the home minister state in Parliament that Pakistani voter IDs were among things used to establish the identity of the killed terrorists as Pakistani. At least in that context, voter IDs (among other items of evidence) seemed acceptable to Indian authorities to fix a person's identity. Advantage voter ID -- I thought. By August 12, 2025, matters had grown more complicated. The Bihar SIR was about refining and revising the electoral roll. The questioning of the validity of already issued ID cards was collateral damage with some semblance of a healing balm offered courtesy the Supreme Court's suggestion that Aadhar and voter ID be considered. On August 7, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi presented before the media, claims of fraud involving manipulated electoral rolls pertaining to one assembly seat in Karnataka. He accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP to steal elections. In response, the chief electoral officers concerned issued notices to Rahul Gandhi and others who raised similar allegations. If these allegations related to the sanctity of the voting process sullied, then less than a week later, the eligibility to vote came under a cloud bigger than the one experienced before in the wake of the Bihar SIR. On August 12, Live Law reported, 'In a significant order, the Bombay high court while denying bail to an alleged Bangladeshi national, held that merely having documents such as Aadhar Card, PAN Card or a Voter ID Card, does not make someone a citizen of India and in fact the concerned person must place on record the verification of these documents.' Theoretically, I imagine, the court's observation opens up some questions. First, as mentioned earlier, voter ID cards have been used in elections before. If as a category they are held suspect, wouldn't it amount to questioning the validity of votes already cast using those cards and thereby, the validity of whole elections? Second, the passport, which is the document now emerging lofty and high based on what critics of the lesser ID cards have to say, also has its share of fakes. In other words, the problem is counterfeiting and the urge to counterfeit. Third, if only the passport is enshrined as acceptable to prove citizenship and thereby used for voting, then as the earlier quoted figure of total valid passports shows, the pool of the eligible will be a terribly small portion of India's adult population. Worse, it is very likely that this pool will also align with economic inequality as most high net worth individuals and the financially well-off would already be passport holders. This has happened before in history -- democracy's evolution has chapters wherein, the right to vote was reserved for a select eligible class till the push for universal adult franchise won the tussle. Left unaddressed, what's happening in India risks nudging us to a state of selective franchise. It is a deeply worrying drift. It is important that ID documents bridging the country's many divides, are considered till such time as everyone is aboard on the same platform. I hope that the validity of our voter ID cards is preserved. Not just for the right to vote; being able to retain the validity of these cards is one headache less in a daily existence increasingly prone to life being decided by political agenda not all of us approve of. Instead of allowing the citizen adequate stability to build his/her life, the general tenor has been to keep switching directions to ideological, political and administrative paradigms suiting whichever party is in power. Rocking the boat, keeping it rocking perennially -- that is an old technique in the playbook for ruling a people. Scared, people gravitate towards political masters for protection. We saw a lot of that in the past decade of BJP rule. From demonetisation to SIR, the ground has been heaving and quaking periodically. The distressing thing is how such playbooks have become the guiding light for rulers -- mainly the insecure Right-Wing sort -- globally. For what it says of a citizenry or an electorate is that the people are merely a means for rulers and oligarchs to corner power. Attributing that approach to a Machiavelli, Chanakya, Sun Tzu or some such strategic brilliance doesn't restore dignity to human beings reduced to the level of statistic for others to grab power and hold on to it. Some more years of this madness and I would probably disappear inside me. All that remains for the outside world would be a body identifiable by whatever ID card the ruling dispensation of the day deems right as per its fancy. And my legacy? A bunch of ID cards, each signifying to a future archaeologist stumbling on my meagre possessions, the mad imagination of whoever ruled when I was alive. It is called the times one lived in. There was, however, one silver lining to reflections around the Parliament debate. My friends told me that our Opposition leaders spoke well. Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff 'Earlier, we used to talk about a deficit economy. There is a deficit in democracy' 'If you read superficially Gandhi and Ambedkar and Nehru, some misconceptions and misunderstanding come to mind, as if they were at loggerheads and they differed radically in their views' 'India is one nation. There is only one citizenship. No citizenship for South India and no citizenship for North India and another for the Northeast' IMAGE: INDIA bloc's Vice-Presidential nominee and former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy holds a copy of the 'constitution' during a discussion in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, in New Delhi. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo The Opposition's candidate for the vice presidential election, B Sudershan Reddy said it was not a contest between two individuals but two ideologies, asserting that while his opponent is a quintessential RSS man, he is "far, far away" from it. "I am essentially a liberal constitutional democrat. This is the area, or rather the arena, for the contest where the fight goes on," he said. Honoured to be fielded as the joint candidate of a rainbow of opposition parties, he said his candidature was a unanimous choice that signalled diversity and represented more than 63-64 per cent of the country's population in terms of voting strength. He also said that it was the Congress that initially proposed his name for the vice president's poll, but later the INDIA bloc parties and other opposition parties extended their support to his candidature, which was an honour for him. Starting his campaign on Friday with a meeting with Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Reddy said he would be travelling to Chennai on Sunday and then to other parties of the country to meet all the MPs of different parties to seek their vote in his support for the September 9 vice presidential election. Excerpts from the PTI Exclusive interview: You are the first former judge of the Supreme Court to contest the vice-presidential election. How did your candidature come about and which opposition parties made the offer? The first move in this regard came from the INDIA alliance. But since you are asking the party's name -- which party first proposed or contacted you in this regard -- it was the Congress party. Was it an easy decision to make or did you have any doubts given the numbers in the electoral college are heavily stacked against the Opposition? No, how I thought about the whole issue is this. When the proposal came from the Congress party, I said it may be difficult for me to become a candidate of the Congress party as such. If the INDIA alliance considers it appropriate to accept my candidature, then only I will be a candidate on behalf of the INDIA alliance. So what was the motivation? There is nothing like motivation (for me to contest the VP polls). My journey began in 1971 when I was enrolled as a member of the Bar Council. Ever since, I have been associated with the functioning of the Constitution, its values, and its conventions. Right from the day I started practice -- and it continues till today -- I consider my journey to be the same; ultimately culminating in, if given an opportunity, to protect and defend the Constitution. Hitherto, I was upholding the Constitution and that is the oath administered to a judge. And there are only three offices in this country that prescribe both mandates, that they have to protect and defend the Constitution -- the highest office of the Republic of India, the president of India; vice president of India; and the governors at the state level. So this journey is nothing new to me. It has been argued that top constitutional posts should be filled by consensus to reflect national unity. So what are your views on this? I wish there could have been a consensus. But you know the polity as it stands is a fractured one. In such circumstances, perhaps it was inevitable, leading to this contest. How would you describe the current state of democracy and the government-Opposition ties? You know, currently we see a lot of strain. Earlier, we used to talk about a deficit economy. There is a deficit in democracy. I do not say that India is no more a democratic country. I don't subscribe to that. We still continue to be a constitutional democracy, but under strain. And about the government-opposition ties? I wish it could have been better. Instead of reducing the discourse to the level we see today, it could have been better. Earlier, opposition parties and the party in power used to coordinate on many national issues. Unfortunately, we don't find that today. You have said that this election is not about one individual, but about the idea of India. Can you elaborate on this? Yes. Certainly not about a contest between me and Shri Radhakrishnan ji (NDA's VP candidate). It is a contest representing two different ideologies. One, which the other side themselves are propagating, that here is a quintessential RSS man. Therefore, the country should elect him as the vice president. So far as I am concerned, I do not subscribe to that ideology and I am far, far, far, far away from it. I am essentially a liberal constitutional democrat. This is the area or rather the arena, for the contest where the fight goes on. The vice president is also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha and you have talked about your commitment to decorum and dialogue. What do you have to say on the politics of disruptions that is emerging as a regular feature now in Parliament? You see, the difficulty is this. Somebody, an eminent journalist, asked my friend Shri Arun Jaitley when they were frequently disturbing the Rajya Sabha. The views expressed by (Jaitley) the departed soul who is not amongst us today were that -- disruption also is a legitimate political activity and a parliamentary practice. Whether a particular disruption at a particular point in time was correct or not is a different matter. But disruptions do take place. Disruption is nothing but one form of dissent. If you are not allowed to speak or express your views, this is one form of speaking. That's how I look at the disruption. Not that I wish that disruption should become an essential and integral part of the democratic process. Opposition parties have unanimously chosen you as their joint candidate for the second-highest constitutional position in the country. So, what factors weighed in your favour that make you stand out? I feel greatly honoured when I look at the rainbow of the political parties unanimously agreeing on my name and sponsoring my candidature. But, there was nothing surprising as such. All of them knew my work. All of them have watched me for quite some time. They must have used their discretion and thought it fit that I should be their candidate. And I feel greatly honoured for more than one reason. First, it represents diversity. Secondly, the unanimous choice. Thirdly, in terms of voting strength, if you make an analysis, they represent more than 63-64 per cent of the population. What else could be an honour? So now that you are in the contest, you are also coming under attack. Just yesterday, Home Minister Amit Shah accused you of "supporting" Naxalism. He has also cited your judgment on Salwa Juddam, saying that had it not been there, left-wing extremism would have ended by 2020. I do not wish to join an issue directly with the honourable home minister of India, whose constitutional duty and obligation is to protect the life, liberty and property of every citizen, irrespective of ideological differences. Secondly, I have authored the judgment. The judgment is not mine, the judgment is of the Supreme Court. There was another judge sitting with me. And repeated attempts were made to get it overruled. But it didn't happen. On the merits of the judgement, I would not speak because I am trained by my peers that one should not speak about the greatness of one's own judgement. It is for the people to judge. It is not my personal document. I wish the honourable home minister could have himself read the whole judgement instead of getting briefed by, I do not know, hopefully he would not have that much time to read the judgement, which runs into about 40 pages. If he would have read the judgment, perhaps he would not have made that comment. That's all I say and leave it there. So you don't want to disturb the decorum of the debate? No. There must be decency in the debate. What do you have to say about your opponent who has been a governor and a politician in the past, unlike you? Perhaps he was discharging his constitutional duties and obligations to the best of his ability, about which I have no comment to make. The vice president's election you are contesting was necessitated due to the sudden resignation of Mr Jagdeep Dhankar. So what do you feel about the circumstances in which he put in his papers? Jagdeep Dhankar ji himself is a senior lawyer and a veteran of many battles. It may be appropriate for him to disclose the reasons why he has to leave the office all of a sudden. I do not wish to indulge in any guesswork. You always held the Constitution close to yourself. What do you feel about the tirade launched by the opposition against the government on the Constitution? Is it under serious threat? You can't just read the Articles of the Constitution and say that no Article is under threat. The Constitution is an integral one. Constitution means constitutional conventions, Constitution means constitutional morality. There are various steps taken by the government in power, making one feel legitimately that it is coming under challenge. Therefore, the debate that is going on in the country about whether the Constitution is under attack is a welcome debate, where everyone should participate and express their opinions. Your take on the recent controversy about the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble. The RSS and some leaders of the BJP have questioned the formulations introduced under late Indira Gandhi. Those "somebody" -- I would not say anything -- are not quiet even today. Even after the decision by the Supreme Court of India. According to me, the 'socialist' and 'secular' expressions used in the Preamble of the Constitution have made things explicit, which is otherwise in-built in the provisions of the Constitution. You talk about equality -- Article 14. If it is not secular, then what is equality? You talk about fraternity, one of the most important values, according to me. What would be the fraternity without secularism? And, without the expression socialism, what is the equality we are talking about? Both the words, which make explicit the ideas contained in the Constitution, are welcome. It is true that the amendment came, i.e. the 42nd Amendment, when the Emergency was invoked. But, one must remember, the next government that came into power, that is the Janata government consisting of various political parties, including the present BJP, which was the Jana Sangh at that time, had unanimously approved it. Therefore, one fails to understand with what intention the debate is being triggered. You headed a panel to assess the merits of the caste survey in Telangana. Why is there a need for a caste survey? Many also argue that a caste census will further fragment our already fractured society and deepen fault lines. The people who advance that argument which you are now advancing before me have fallen in line and realised the importance of the caste survey. Please tell me, how do you identify the backward classes? Because the Constitution doesn't speak about caste. If you have to classify a group, together with some people, as the backward classes, you have to find out their caste, their socio-economic conditions, their way of living, their access to power and the way they are recognised by society. A caste survey has to be done. Now, the Government of India, which intends to conduct the Census have announced that yes, in this Census, caste surveys also will be there. We have to find out, isn't it, how many Scheduled Castes people are there? How do we fix the reservations? I won't reveal the data which we have analysed in the expert group headed by me. But, one thing I can share with you about my own state, Telangana, 84.6 per cent people belong to the weaker sections of the society. So, how do you propose to frame your social and economic policies? How do you empower them? How do you make them feel that they are equal citizens of this country? Not that by giving some dole or some temporary succour would meet the impending challenge which many people don't realise. Their empowerment is mandated by the provisions of the Constitution. Therefore, you have to find out their strengths and frame your socio-economic policies accordingly. This contest for the vice president's post has emerged as a South vs South battle. You know, with both you and your opponent hailing from Telangana and Tamil Nadu, the politics of southern states are at play. Both sides have played up the regional identities. At least in this area, I would borrow the idea from the other side. I don't say my opponents are from the other side. That India is one. India is one nation. There is only one citizenship. No citizenship for South India and no citizenship for North India and another for the Northeast. Therefore, this dialogue, it (the contest) is between South and North, I don't think we should entertain that debate at all. The other candidate, Shri Radhakrishnan ji, is an eminent citizen of this country. I am also a citizen, and I do not know whether I am eminent or not. But I am also a citizen of this country. Both of them are competing for an office. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. Would you also be seeking the support of some independent parties who have not yet supported your candidature? I will definitely be seeking it. Not only the parties, I will be seeking the support of every parliamentarian, whether they belong to NDA, whether they belong to India, whether they have their own regional outfits, because ultimately the electoral college consists of the Parliamentarians, honourable members of the Parliament, not the political parties. I intend to appeal in writing to every member of the Parliament to exercise their discretion and accordingly exercise their franchise. You have given several landmark judgments, including the one criticising the former Union government for showing slackness in probing black money cases. And you also set up an SIT to bring back black money stashed abroad. But nothing has happened yet. So, how important is it to bring that black money back? The work is still in progress... It is important. A substantial section of the nation's wealth moved out of the country through various means and mechanisms. That has to be brought back. It is our money, your money, my money and the nation's wealth. Unless somebody tells us, you and me, that there is no black economy, there is no black money, nothing moved from the country. It is the other side who are holding that judgment in their hands in the election campaign to implement the judgment. None other than the veteran great warrior LK Advani ji - he was holding it in his hand. He underwent a country-wide yatra also on this, with the judgment in his hand. And after my retirement, there was an occasion to interact with him. He never raised and asked me any question about Salwa Judum. But said - "I appreciate the effort made by the Supreme Court, not by me, to unearth black money". Recent years have also seen Mahatma Gandhi versus Ambedkar, Ambedkar versus Nehru narratives. Your comments on it. My comment is, if you read superficially Gandhi and Ambedkar and Nehru, some misconceptions and misunderstanding come to mind, as if they were at loggerheads and they differed radically in their views. No. All three of them were great democrats, republicans and believed in the ethics and morals of the Constitution. I do not think it would be in the interest of the nation to divide them into three segments. And one supporting and the other opposing and creating a false narrative is not in the nation's interest. Since you are contesting the election and the campaign is an important part of elections, what would be your message to the electorate and to the country in this election? Well, all through my life, I said I was upholding the Constitution. If you give me an opportunity to serve this country, I will try to defend and protect the Constitution of India, which undoubtedly is coming under challenge. The message is, there is still the possibility of a reasonably good and healthy debate amongst ourselves in this country. We talk to so many foreign countries, we discuss with them. Sometimes we declare a particular country to be an enemy country, we still have diplomatic relations. We still exchange notes. So what is the problem? Why you and I cannot talk daily, every day? Democracy is nothing but interaction, a clash of ideas, not individuals. That would be my message. 'New Delhi is not naive about its foreign policy choices.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi, August 19, 2025. Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo "As far as trust [with China] is concerned, that's the million yuan question. Lest we forget, who would have predicted that we would be discussing how 25 years of the US-India partnership have unravelled in the past 25 days?" asks Akshobh Giridharadas, the geopolitical commentator based in Washington, DC. "New Delhi has always followed its robust, unshakable belief of 'strategic autonomy', so friends with everyone and allies with no one. There is an economic incentive to reset ties with the second largest economy and increase cross-border flow of goods, especially at a time when the global economy seems to be upended by tariffs," Giridharadas tells Rediff's Archana Masih. What are the primary takeaways from Wang Yi's India visit and his meetings with the prime minister, foreign minister, and national security advisor? Wang Yi's visit was seen as a potential thaw in the frosty ties between New Delhi and Beijing since the deadly Galwan Valley clashes, the worst border skirmish between the two Asian giants since 1962. Key bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Modi, EAM Jaishankar and NSA Doval -- both to de-escalate border tensions and sort out outstanding issues on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This is the 24th round of the Special Representatives' Dialogue on the Boundary since 2020. Wang Yi also wanted to personally invite Prime Minister Modi for the SCO Summit, which would mark PM Modi's first trip to China in 7 years (2018), marking a detente in ties and discourse around critical minerals, which China has the largest reserves for. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar welcomes Wang Yi in New Delhi, August 18, 2025. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo Is an India-China rapprochement on the cards after a cold freeze of five years since the Galwan conflict in 2020? Can India trust China? It does seem to be some sort of inverse proportionality as ties with Washington have hit a bit of a nadir amid trade, tirade, and tariffs. As you point out that Beijing and New Delhi have had frosty ties since the Galwan Valley incident in 2020. For years, they were spoken about in some sort of complementary Asian tigers, under the BRICS umbrella, with their fast-growing economies, with China 5X the size and speed of growth. But since tensions on the border, even trade ties have dwindled, with India banning several key Chinese apps such as Byte Dance's TikTok and Chinese mobile phones, a strong consumer base for the price-sensitive Indian market. Since Galwan, New Delhi, which may have been hesitant to go 'all in' on the Quad, doubled down with Washington, Tokyo, and Canberra, and while far from a security alliance, the 'elephant in the room' was the dragon -- a China containment strategy in the Indo-Pacific, even through economic initiatives. New Delhi and Washington even took some of the initiatives to West Asia with the I2U2 (with Israel and UAE) as a la West Asia Quad and the India-Middle East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEC) seen as the new Spice Route to counter Beijing's new Silk Road. As far as trust is concerned, that's the million yuan question. Lest we forget, who would have predicted that we would be discussing how 25 years of the US-India partnership have unravelled in the past 25 days? So, New Delhi is not naive about its foreign policy choices, the facile analogy here is when it comes to Beijing, New Delhi will sleep with one eye open. New Delhi has always followed its robust, unshakable belief of 'strategic autonomy', so friends with everyone and allies with no one, to give both the geopolitical and economic mileage in its belief of a unipolar world. There is an economic incentive to reset ties with the second-largest economy and increase cross-border flow of goods, especially at a time when the global economy seems to be upended by tariffs. What 'give and take' will this thaw entail for both sides? What leverage does India have? Can a thaw be sustainable in view of the deep mistrust that exists between the two countries? The devil is certainly in the details, but as mentioned, there is an economic incentive to reset ties with the second-largest economy, as China, along with the US, forms India's largest trading partners. In the immediate thaw, you are seeing visa restrictions being eased, Chinese nationals can apply for visas to India, Beijing has resumed access for Indian pilgrims to Tibet, there are plans to resume direct flights between the two, which were halted, and perhaps lifting the restrictions on Chinese imports. There was a sense of mistrust before even the skirmish of 2020, given that Beijing and Islamabad share a strong bonhomie, are seen as natural allies and security partners, and India even backed out of the RCEP in late 2019, circumspect of China flooding the market with cheap Chinese goods, impacting the Indian retailer. India's leverage right now is an economic one. As Washington's tariffs hit, the economy finds alternative sources to trade and continue an economic relationship, which shouldn't be confused with all-weather friends. The two countries have agreed to explore an 'early harvest' in boundary limitation. What are the implications of such a proposal, especially in the Sikkim sector? India's ministry of external affairs has said it would create an 'expert group' to explore the 'early harvest' to boundary delimitation in the disputed areas. Some see this as a change from New Delhi's stated position in rejecting 'early harvest' and its earlier stated preference to tackle the border dispute in a more comprehensive settlement. On the flipside this approach allows for a faster staged resolution process and perhaps can build incentive to tackle broader complex issues. Early harvest means a now more flexible approach, as Beijing has prioritised the Sikkim junction, which was in the eye of the storm with the Doklam junction stand-off -- between India, Bhutan and China along the Sikkim Corridor back in 2017. Early harvest for this sector without a broader border dispute settlement could perhaps favour Beijing's expansionist strategy. IMAGE: Dr Jaishankar in a meeting with Wang Yi. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo How does this thaw play out, considering China's past misadventures - 1. Galwan aggression and 2. aiding Pakistan with military equipment and expertise during Op Sindoor? An Indian diplomat once mentioned to me 'that in India, being in Quad prevents it from looking as anti-China, and India in BRICS prevents it from not looking like an anti-West' bloc. This was back in 2018, long before the Galwan clashes. The takeaway here is clear -- India always had a placating factor, something from the non-aligned days to the strategic autonomy days. This credo has NOT always been understood or perhaps misunderstood in a 'bipolar, with us or against us world', but it says that New Delhi's view is that of a multipolar world, where it has multiple involvements, across economic, geopolitical, defence, and security, and can create its bespoke system. Pakistan has always said its relationship with China is 'higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the oceans, sweeter than honey'. That relationship was further accentuated during Operation Sindoor, when the Pakistan air force used Chinese-made fighter jets in J-10s and stealth technology. But Pakistan also has a large arsenal of F-16s. A thaw is not a substitute for complete trust, but just an open road to progress further in diplomatic discourse. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it, and New Delhi hasn't forgotten 1962 and the subsequent frosty ties along the contested border. IMAGE: National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval meets Wang Yi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Video Grab Is Donald Trump's mercurial nature and capricious policies the reason for the two countries seeking to repair their ruptured relationship? I normally don't believe geopolitics is straight forward, but sometimes one would have to say Occam's Razor -- perhaps the simplest answers are the ones most likely to be correct. Trump 1.0 and Trump 2.0 are different, except President Trump is using the same playbook of tariffs as a key instrument of foreign policy. In a lot of ways, India has been hit worse than others, with a 25% reciprocal tariff rate and 25% penalty for procurement of Russian oil, while China imports the same. Both are the world's leading energy importers for their billion plus domestic audience. So in the short run, it does seem like the state of economic turbulence has brought about an unusual thaw, it's still too early to say, but unpredictability seems to be the only predictability for now. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Democrats should speak more "like normal people" and examine their language, liberal think tank Third Way said in a memo. The Democratic Party is scrutinizing its messaging, platform, and candidates that it's marketing to Americans after a decisive 2024 election loss. Third Way, in a memo addressed to "All Who Wish to Stop Donald Trump and MAGA" and titled, "Was it something I said?" believes Democrats "use an awful lot of words and phrases no ordinary person would ever dream of saying." Some of those words and phrases, contained within several different categories, include holding space, microaggression, triggering, systems of oppression, the unhoused, pregnant people, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and involuntary confinement. Several of the words listed have been a point of contention or subjected to mocking from conservatives. Pregnant people, which suggests men can be pregnant, has been of particular interest. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who has been critical of transgender ideology and combative with transgender people, criticized Politico for using the term "pregnant people" instead of "pregnant women" last month. "Ah yes, 'pregnant people' because 'woman' is now offensive to @politico," Mace posted on X. The categories included therapy-speak, seminar room language, organizer jargon, gender/orientation correctness, the shifting language of racial constructs, and explaining away crime. The group said in the memo that excluding the words from the Democratic vocabulary could prevent the "eggshell dance of political correctness, which leaves the people we aim to reach cold or fearful of admonishment." Top members of the think tank want to get Democrats back in touch with voters. We are doing our best to get Democrats to talk like normal people and stop talking like theyre leading a seminar at Antioch, Matt Bennett, Third Ways executive vice president of public affairs, told Politico. Featured Local Savings We think language is one of the central problems we face with normie voters, signaling that we are out of touch with how they live, think, and talk. In recent weeks, this has become a bit of a thing, with comedians like Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman highlighting how insane Dems can sometimes sound. Also, elected officials like [Delaware Rep.] Sarah McBride and [Kentucky Gov.] Andy Beshear are begging their colleagues to just be normal again," he added. Lanae Erickson, Third Ways senior vice president, also told the outlet that people "cant relate to something unless it has some edge about it." And we had shaved off all of our edges in an attempt to never make anyone upset about anything," Erickson said. Third Way noted in the memo that it is guilty of using some of the language it has sought to now exclude. It wrote that it is "not out to police language, ban phrases, or create our own form of censorship. Truth be told, we have published papers that have used some of these words as well. But when policymakers are public-facing, the language we use must invite, not repel; start a conversation, not end it; provide clarity, not confusion." Erickson wants to change the "toxicity" of the Democratic Party, saying, "Part of the problem was that we were using words that literally no normal people used that we were sticking to messages that were so overly scripted that they basically sounded like nothing." She added that good stewards of the party's language include former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). All three are considered to be on the moderate side for Democrats and have been floated as 2028 presidential candidates. The Democratic Party is at odds with the direction of the Republicans. Most of the GOP agrees that Vice President JD Vance appears to be its future, while Democrats are very split on one candidate. Many, from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), have been considered. GOP TRADES PLACES WITH DEMOCRATS WITH UPHILL BATTLE TO MESSAGE TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' Vance observed this week, after visiting Washington, D.C.'s, Union Station during President Donald Trump's crime crackdown in the district, that Democrats need to adapt their language. "Look, the autopsy for the Democrats, some free political advice from the president of the United States is: stop sounding like crazy people, Vance said. Glimpses from India and around the world that will make you smile and cry. Caring For Kadiki IMAGE: January Gweshe, a senior animal caregiver, feeds orphaned elephant Kadiki (The Little One) at Wild is Life in Harare, Zimbabwe. Photograph: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters Gaza's Food Cry IMAGE: Palestinians wait to receive food from a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Hatem Khaled/Reuters IMAGE: A Palestinian waits to receive food from a charity kitchen in Khan Younis. Photograph: Hatem Khaled/Reuters Fleeing Amid Conflict IMAGE: Displaced Palestinian women fleeing northern Gaza ride with their belongings as they head south, amid an Israeli military operation, in Gaza City. Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters Anguished Gaza IMAGE: Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Gaza City. Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters Wiz Of Oz Coming Soon IMAGE: A display of 50 foot-long legs and 22-foot-tall ruby slippers, a promotion for the upcoming Wizard of Oz at Sphere movie, in Las Vegas. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters Vilambara For Lalettan IMAGE: Movie superstar Mohanlal receives the Vilambara Pathrika (ceremonial proclamation) from members of the Travancore royal family during the centuries-old Murajapam and Lakshadeepam rituals at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, here and below. Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo Flood Trapped Rescued IMAGE: NDRF teams conduct flood water rescue operations at Mocha village in Porbandar. Photograph: @NDRFHQ X/ANI Photo Drone Sparks Alert IMAGE: BSF and J&K police administration search for a Pakistani drone in Kanachak area in Jammu. Photograph: ANI Photo Protest for Pooches IMAGE: Dog lovers protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the Supreme Court's earlier verdict directing all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be moved to shelters. Photograph: ANI Photo Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff The Osmania University police here have booked cases against several persons who held protests with the 'Marwari go back' slogan. Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The cases were booked against eleven people on charges of promoting enmity between different groups. The accused were allegedly involved in calling for a bandh on Friday and holding protests, including by burning a tyre. The protests, with the slogan of 'Marwari go back', were triggered following some Marwari people allegedly beating up an individual at Secunderabad here recently, police sources said on Saturday. In a related incident, Shyam P, who is active on social media, was taken into preventive custody by Suraram police here over the same issue and later released on Friday. He was detained as part of measures to prevent law and order issues, police said. India has again extended the closure of its airspace for Pakistan planes till September 24. IMAGE: Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India closed its airspace for planes operated, owned or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators. Photograph: Pixabay The neighbouring country has also extended till September 24 the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft. Both countries have issued separate Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) extending the airspace closures. Following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people on April 22, India closed its airspace for planes operated, owned or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators, including military flights, with effect from April 30. Since then, the closure has been extended by India. Indian airspace will not be available for Pakistan registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned or leased by Pakistan airlines/operators including military flights, according to the NOTAM issued on August 22. The airspace will remain closed till 2359 hrs (UTC) on September 23, which translates to 0530 hrs (IST) on September 24. The ban, part of various measures taken by the Indian government against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, was initially till May 24 and subsequently extended every month. The curbs, which were to be in place till August 24, have now been extended till September 24. Pakistan also issued a NOTAM on August 20 extending the closure of its airspace for Indian planes. Generally, a NOTAM is a notice containing information that is essential for personnel involved in flight operations. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday voiced optimism about Russia-US ties, saying there was light at the end of the tunnel in relations that have hit their lowest point in years, as the two sides explore cooperation on projects in the Arctic and Alaska. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump shakes hand with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska on August 15, 2025. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters "As for our relations with the United States, they are at an extremely low level. I have said this many times. "However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel now that President (Donald) Trump has come to power," Putin said in televised remarks during a meeting with nuclear industry workers in the town of Sarov, the birthplace of the Soviet atomic programme. Relations between Moscow and Washington have sharply deteriorated over issues ranging from the Ukraine conflict, NATO's eastward expansion, and sanctions against Russia. Putin said Russia and the US are discussing the possibility of working together in the Arctic and Alaska. "We are discussing with our American partners the possibility of working together in this field, not only in our Arctic zone but also in Alaska," he said. Earlier, Putin had endorsed President Trump's claim after the Alaska Summit on Aug 15 that the Ukraine war would not have started if he had been in the White House. Ahead of the summit, the Russian president had told his aides that Trump was serious about seeking an end to the Ukraine crisis and that Moscow must work with his administration. Putin was speaking on the 80th anniversary of Russia's nuclear industry during his visit to Sarov in the Volga region of Nizhny-Novgorod. The secret city, once known as Arzamas-16, was where the Soviet Union developed its first atomic and hydrogen bombs. It was also the place where renowned physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov was kept in internal exile until being freed by Mikhail Gorbachev during the Perestroika reforms. Stressing the need to uphold Russia's sovereignty, Putin said, "There are countries that can easily exist without sovereignty. Today, the entire Western Europe has in fact no sovereignty. There are also many other countries that are okay about it. However, it's not for Russia: if Russia loses sovereignty, it will cease to exist in this present form." He lauded the role of Russian nuclear scientists in creating the country's nuclear shield, under which it achieved peaceful technological development. "The nuclear industry remains one of the most important areas for us," Putin said. He also identified Artificial Intelligence as the next major challenge for Russia, stressing the need for the country to stay at the forefront of advanced technologies built on AI. The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday took over the management of the 215 schools linked with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) amidst sharp criticism by most political parties in the valley, even as Education Minister Sakina Itoo asserted that these educational institutes will only be looked after till the new managing committees are formed. Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: A security personnel patrols in front of the Jamaat-i-Islami affiliated school after it was taken over by the J-K government, in Srinagar. The process for the takeover of the management of the schools began on Saturday morning as officials of district administrations, principals of the respective nearest high and higher secondary schools, accompanied by police teams, reached these schools, the officials said. The administrative teams took charge of the schools, checked their documents and the infrastructure and interacted with the staff, they said. The drive was conducted across the 10 districts of Kashmir "peacefully and smoothly", without disturbing the education of the students, the officials said. The School Education Department had on Friday ordered the takeover of 215 schools affiliated with JeI and its Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT), where over 51,000 students are enrolled, in order to "safeguard their academic future". The move drew criticism from political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including PDP, People's Conference, Apni Party and JeI-backed Justice and Development Front (JDF) J-K. Amidst the backlash over the order stating that the managing committee of the schools shall be taken over by the District Magistrates/ Deputy Commissioners, the Education Minister on Saturday went on the defensive, claiming that the issued order was not what she had actually approved, and called it "distorted". The order was issued by the Secretary, Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma, an IAS officer who reports to the Lieutenant Governor under the Union territory set-up in J-K. Hinting at a possible interference, Itoo said the order was "wrong". "It is a wrong order, I accept that. The order has been distorted. It is not our order," she told reporters in Anantnag district in south Kashmir. The minister said she had approved a draft order that stated the schools will be looked after by the principals of the nearest higher secondary schools, and not by the deputy commissioners as mentioned in the issued order. She also said the schools will be looked after by the government only until a new management committee is formed. Pointing out the necessity of the government move, Itoo said the management committees of these 215 schools had received "negative" CID verification six to eight years back and their terms had expired, as such, the schools were left in the lurch. "The career of the children was in the dark. They were facing difficulties at the time of the Board exams, they were in distress. Students and people used to approach us regularly as they faced problems at the time of board examinations. The Board (J&K Board of School Education) did not accept them. "So, the Education Department decided that the nearest cluster principals would look after these schools," she said. Brushing aside the criticism, the minister said the government has not banned or closed such schools. "The order is that if the managing committees are formed in three months, and their verifications come, then the schools will be handed over to them. "If the people from the village where the school is located form a managing committee tomorrow and their CID verifications come, we will hand over the school to them immediately," she added. The minister said she had sent an approved note of the order to the secretary, asking him to frame the order accordingly. However, that has not happened, she added. When asked if the secretary had done so deliberately, the minister said, "You should ask him". A teacher at one of such schools in south Kashmir's Anantnag district praised the government move. "I think it is a good step. We used to face a lot of difficulties, but now I think everything will be streamlined," Mohammad Ishaq, teacher at Hanfia Islamia Institute at Tachloo area of the district, said. He said the district magistrates used to frame the managing bodies of the schools in the 1980s as well. The BJP's J-K spokesman, Altaf Thakur, welcomed the government's decision and described it as a much-needed intervention to ensure that young minds are shielded from separatist narratives. Thakur said the takeover was in the national interest, as it would ensure a positive and secure learning environment for thousands of students. However, several political parties in the valley slammed the order and called for revoking it. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti hit out at the ruling National Conference (NC), accusing it of "implementing BJP's agenda" and "bringing an established educational system to the brink of destruction". "It is unfortunate that they are going against their own people and implementing the BJP's agenda," she told reporters here. "Why take over the schools? When they were not taken over in the LG rule, why now in the popular government?" Mufti said. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K appealed to Education Minister Itoo "to stand up for her own people" and cancel the order. Justice and Development Front (JDF) J-K -- formed by the former members of the banned JeI -- denounced the government move, saying it was an administrative overreach and a "painful reminder" of the NC's "history of betrayal". It "strongly" urged the authorities to revoke "this arbitrary ban" and ensure that every child in J-K has access to uninterrupted education. Peoples' Conference chief and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone too targeted the NC, saying no anti-Kashmiri action was possible without Kashmiri partners. He called the move an act of "unimaginable servility". Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said rather than assuming direct control, the government could have exercised its authority by establishing clear regulations to safeguard the academic future of students enrolled in these institutions. "Enforcing a ban in terms of taking over the management of these schools was neither necessary nor justified," Bukhari said on X. The Apni Party chief demanded that the government immediately cancel its decision. Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused an exemption for himself as the government framed the bills regarding the removal of PM, CM and ministers if they are jailed for serious offences. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a conclave, in New Delhi on August 23, 2025. Photograph: Press Information Bureau "PM Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation is to keep the prime minister out of this bill, but he did not agree. PM Modi refused to give an exception to the prime minister. The PM is also a citizen, and he should not have special protection. Most of the CMs are from our party. If they do something wrong, they have to leave their position. Ethics should also mean something. The Opposition would have welcomed this bill had they kept ethics at the centre," Rijiju said. The remarks come after the Centre introduced three bills earlier this week -- the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bills propose that if the prime minister, any Union minister, or a state chief minister is arrested and detained in custody for at least 30 days in relation to an offence carrying a minimum five-year jail term, the person will automatically lose office on the 31st day. The bills were introduced by Amit Shah amid a storm of Opposition protests and sloganeering that even saw the draft legislation torn up and pieces of paper flung at the Union home minister. The bills were later introduced after a voice vote and sent to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC). The opposition leaders have called the proposed amendments in the bills as "draconian" and "unconstitutional" and alleged that they would be used to target the chief ministers in opposition-ruled states at the behest of central agencies. Rijiju also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that his own party MPs "get uncomfortable" when he speaks in Parliament and are apprehensive that he will do anap-shanap baatein and the party will have to bear the consequences. In an interview with ANI, Rijiju alleged that Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, "does not listen to his own party members". "Rahul Gandhi kuch bolte hain, unke saare MPs bahot uncomfortable ho jaate hain. Wo darte hain ye anapshanap baatein karenge, uska khamiyaza party ko bhugatna padta hai...(When Rahul Gandhi speaks, his MPs get uncomfortable what nonsense he will speak, the party will have to bear its consequences," he said. Rijiju recalled Supreme Court's remarks over Rahul Gandhi's "Chowkidar chor" allegations and his being rapped over his remarks pertaining to India-China border tensions during Bharat Jodo Yatra. "Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and I don't want to criticise him. The SC scolded him when he called the PM 'chor', spoke nonsense regarding Rafael, and claimed that China occupied our land. He should speak like an Indian. I am no one to improve Rahul Gandhi. He will not listen. Whenever Rahul Gandhi says something, all his MPs become very uncomfortable. They are afraid that they will speak nonsense, and the party would have to pay the price for it. In a democracy, the Opposition should be strong... They are not able to perform basic duties of an Opposition, let alone a strong Opposition," Rijiju said. "I don't want to blame other Congress leaders. They have to act as per the directions of their leader. I don't want to harshly criticise him since he is the Leader of the Opposition..He should talk like an Indian, but he does not listen to anyone. He does not even listen to his own people," he added. Rijiju alleged that Congress does not have any interest in parliamentary discussions. He said many Congress MPs and parliamentarians of other parties came to him and said they were not able to raise issues concerning their constituencies with the two Houses getting repeatedly adjourned, . "They don't believe in debate and discussion in the Parliament. Many MPs of the Congress and other parties came to me and said that because the Parliament is not running, they are able to present the concerns of their constituencies. If the Parliament does not run, the loss is for the Opposition. The government will pass the bills in the national interest. But it is not good if the bills are passed without discussion. We believe in discussion... The loss is for those who have to ask questions," the Union Minister said. "If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak." "With folded hands, we have requested the Congress party to participate in the discussion. There are many members of Congress who can speak well and are also knowledgeable. They will face issues if I name anyone... If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak," he added. Rijiju noted that in a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament belongs to the Opposition as they can seek answers from the government. "The government is liable to answer. The Opposition has to ask questions. What would the government do if the ones who are supposed to ask questions ran away? We have been asking them not to cause a disturbance. My throat got sore because I had to shout and ask the Opposition not to create a ruckus," he said. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced continuous disruptions during the monsoon session over the opposition's demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. With both the Houses witnessing repeated adjournments due to disruptions throughout the session, which concluded on Thursday, the productivity of Lok Sabha was about 31% and that of Rajya Sabha was about 39%. In the Lok Sabha, discussions could happen for only 37 hours out of the total available 120 hours and in the Rajya Sabha, discussions took place for 41 hours and 15 minutes. A total of 15 bills were passed by Parliament during the session. Answering queries, Rijiju said the session was "successful from the nation's point of view and a failure from the Opposition's point of view". Rijiju also said the people in the country are welcoming the provisions of the Constitution Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha and the opposition parties would have welcomed it too if they "had kept ethics at the centre." The bill provides for the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or any other Minister in the central or a state government, if he is arrested and detained in custody on account of serious criminal offences. Two more bills to apply similar provisions in Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir were also introduced in Lok Sahba. The three bills will be examined by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. After a gap of more than seven years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China on August 31 to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation amid signs of a thaw in the bilateral ties following a spell of fractious relationship over the eastern Ladakh border row. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects an honour guard during Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, August 15, 2025. Photograph: Altaf Hussain/Reuters The ministry of external affairs announced on Friday that Modi will visit the Chinese city of Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, after concluding his two-day trip to Japan. Modi's trip to China comes against the backdrop of a downturn in India-US ties after US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 percent, including 25 percent additional duties for New Delhi's purchase of Russian crude oil. The formal announcement of Modi's visit to China was made three days after New Delhi and Beijing unveiled a series of measures for a "stable, cooperative and forward-looking" relationship that included jointly maintaining peace along the contested frontier, reopening border trade and resuming direct flight services at the earliest. The measures were announced on Tuesday at the end of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day trip to New Delhi. The MEA said Modi will visit Japan from August 29 to 30 to participate in the 15th India-Japan annual summit. From Japan, the prime minister will travel to China for a visit on August 31 and September 1 to attend the SCO summit. Modi is set to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO summit. The prime minister's visit to China comes amid efforts by the two sides to repair the bilateral ties that came under severe strain following the deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan valley in June 2020. Modi last visited China in June 2018 to attend the SCO summit. The Chinese president visited India in October 2019 for the second "informal summit". "In the second leg of his visit, at the invitation of the President of China, Xi Jinping, the prime minister will travel to China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin," the MEA said in a statement. "On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders attending the summit," it said. The ties between the two neighbours nosedived following the deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. The eastern Ladakh face-off effectively ended following the completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21 last year. During their talks on the sidelines of the SCO summit, Modi and Xi are expected to deliberate on new measures to further ease tensions in the bilateral ties that may include de-escalation of the situation along the frontier in eastern Ladakh. The SCO summit will be held in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1. In the first leg of his trip, Modi will visit Japan from August 29 to 30 to participate in the 15th India-Japan annual summit. This will be Modi's eighth visit to Japan as the prime minister. Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, will review the special strategic and global partnership between India and Japan, the MEA said. It said the discussions between the two sides will cover areas like defence and security, trade and economy, technology and innovation, and people-to-people exchanges. Modi and Ishiba will also discuss issues of regional and global importance, it said. "The visit will reaffirm the longstanding special bond of friendship between the two countries," the MEA said. A 20-year-old man died after his car was swept away in a spate of water in the Sawai Madhopur district, which witnessed heavy rain on Friday. IMAGE: Severe waterlogging in several parts of Sawai Madhopur, including the railway station, following incessant rain, in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, August 23, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Monty Tanwar from Indore drowned in the strong water flow on National Highway 552 at Kushalidarra. "Monty was travelling to Indore after leaving his family in Niwai when the mishap occurred. Search operation for others is on," deputy superintendent of police (Rural) Pintu Kumar said. In view of the relentless rains, schools will remain closed on Saturday in Chittorgarh, Baran, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Kota, Bundi, Dungarpur and Bhilwara districts, the administration announced. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma reviewed the rescue and relief operations over the phone with collectors of Tonk, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Bundi and Dausa districts. He directed the NDRF, SDRF and police administration to remain alert and ensure prompt action. Torrential rains since Thursday night have thrown life out of gear in Sawai Madhopur, causing a flood-like situation. Several residential colonies were submerged, traffic was disrupted, and all railway services have been suspended in the district. Tourist safaris in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve have been cancelled, a forest official said. At Surwal Dam, a boat carrying 8-10 people sank. Villagers managed to rescue three people, while a search is underway for others. "Rescue teams are continuing the operation, and efforts are being made to trace the missing persons," deputy superintendent of police (City) Uday Singh said. On Thursday night, a man drowned in Ajmer while bathing at a dam. He was celebrating his birthday along with his friends. In Jaipur's Chaksu area, a couple riding a motorcycle was swept away in a swollen Dhundh river. Locals managed to rescue the husband, but the wife drowned, police said. In Kota, people swam in the water collected on roads on Friday. Several villages of Bundi have lost contact with the district headquarters. In Kota, the situation worsened in Digod tehsil in the afternoon, leaving several villagers stranded. The Army has taken charge of the flood-affected area of Digod in Kota rural. Collector Piyush Samaria and energy minister Hiralal Nagar ventured out to take stock of the situation. Samaria said the administration is monitoring the situation with full readiness and people are being taken to safer places. Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla rode on an Army truck and tractor to the tour-affected areas between Digod and Nimoda. The Kota district administration has started rescue and relief operations at a rapid pace in the areas affected by continuous rains for two days. People are being evacuated safely from waterlogged areas. To help the district administration, a team of 80 soldiers from the Infantry Regiment of the Army's Gandiva Division has reached Nimoda village. The Army team took stock of the waterlogging situation as soon as it reached Nimoda, and started evacuating people from areas where the water level was rising. Earlier, Deepak, a Class 12 student from Raghunathpura, drowned at Govta dam in Bhilwara. The 17-year-old had gone for a walk with his friends and got into the dam water to bathe. In Sawai Madhopur town, people climbed on their roofs to save themselves from inundation. Railway tracks at Sawai Madhopur station were submerged in water, leading to the halting of three trains --? the Sriganganagar-Kota Express at Devpura, the Jaipur-Bayana train at Chauth Ka Barwara, and the Bhagat Ki Kothi-Indore Express at Vanasthali Niwai station. The Jaipur-Mumbai and the Ajmer-Jabalpur trains were rescheduled. Earlier in the day, three gates of the Kota Barrage were opened to release water, officials said. The Meteorological Department said Sawai Madhopur on Friday received 254 mm of rain in 24 hours --? the highest in the state. Bhilwara's Bijolia tehsil recorded 170 mm, sending the Panchanpura Dam to overflow and the Eru River in spate. According to the weather department, from 8 am to 5 pm on Friday, Bunti's Nainwa received 335 mm rain, Keshoraipatan 165 mm, Raithal 93 mm. Baran's Anta received 112 mm rain, Kishanganj 109 mm, Mangrol 108 mm, Baran city 129 mm, Ramgarh-Pachwara of Dausa 143 mm. According to officials, the district continues to remain on high alert as more rain is forecast in parts of eastern Rajasthan. The Met office had issued red alert for heavy rain in Kota and Bundi districts for Friday, and in Chittorgarh and Bhilwara for Saturday. The department has issued an orange alert for at least nine districts for the weekend. In Jaipur, Chief Minister Sharma expressed serious concern over the rain situation in various districts and directed the officials to be vigilant. He has sent Disaster Management, Relief and Civil Defence Minister Dr Kirori Lal Meena and Minister of State for Energy Heeralal Nagar to visit the affected areas and take stock of the situation. According to an official spokesperson, the chief minister spoke to the collectors of Tonk, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Bundi and Dausa districts over the phone and reviewed the relief and rescue operations. He directed the NDRF, SDRF and police administration to remain alert and ensure prompt action. Sharma has given instructions to immediately conduct a special Girdawari (assessment) on the damage to crops affected by heavy rains. Karnataka Congress MLA K C Veerendra 'Puppy' was arrested on Saturday under the anti-money laundering law from Sikkim in an alleged illegal online and offline betting case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said. IMAGE: Karnataka Congress MLA K C Veerendra 'Puppy's five casinos in Goa were also raided by the ED. Photograph: Enforcement Directorate The federal probe agency also said it seized Rs 12 crore in cash (including about Rs crore in foreign currency), gold jewellery worth Rs 6 crore, silver about 10 kg along with four vehicles following raids launched on Friday in multiple states. The agency did not specify exactly what was seized from where. A picture issued by the agency showed huge wads of currency notes kept on a casino table. The ED said the 50-year-old MLA from Chitradurga Assembly seat in Karnataka was taken into custody from Sikkim's capital Gangtok on Friday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in an "illegal" online and offline betting case. The legislator had gone to Gangtok along with his associates on a business visit to lease a casino, the agency said. He was produced before a designated magistrate and a transit remand was obtained for producing him before the jurisdictional court in Bengaluru, the agency said. The Bengaluru zone of the ED is investigating the case. There was no immediate reaction from the MLA's legal team or the Congress party. "Many property-related documents were also seized from the premises of Veerendra's brother K C Nagaraj and his son Pruthvi N Raj. "His other associates like another brother K C Thippeswamy are handling operations of online gaming from Dubai," the ED said. The agency concluded the raids on Saturday from 31 locations that included Chitradurga, Hubballi and Bengaluru in Karnataka, Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Sikkim, Mumbai and Goa. Five casinos in Goa named Puppy's Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppy's Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino and Big Daddy Casino were also raided. Veerendra, according to the ED, is accused of running online betting sites like King567, Raja567, Puppy's003, Rathna Gaming, etc. and his brother K C Thippeswamy is alleged to be "operating" three business entities from Dubai named Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies and Prime9Technologies. These entities are "related" to the call centre services and the gaming business of Veerendra, according to the ED. The agency said it has also frozen about 17 bank accounts and 2 lockers during the searches, even as some Instagram posts claiming the MLA had the "biggest car collection" in Chitradurga with 003 registration numbe plate are under probe. The ownership and source of funds of these high-end vehicles is being investigated, the sources said. Among the seizures are a number of international casino membership and reward cards named -- MGM casino, metropolitan casino, Bellagio casino, marina casino, casino jewel, etc. Multiple credit and debit cards of various banks and membership cards of some 5-star hotels were also seized from various locations which was not informed by the agency. An FIR has been registered against Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Bihar deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli over an alleged objectionable post and defamatory content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the social media platform X. IMAGE: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Photograph: @yadavtejashwi/X Milind Ramji Narote, a BJP MLA from Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, had filed a complaint against Tejashwi Yadav on Friday. The FIR has been registered at Gadchiroli Police Station under 196(1)(a)(b), 356(2)(3), 352, 353(2) sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. According to the FIR copy, the alleged objectionable posts were made against Prime Minister Modi's visit to Gaya Ji district of Bihar on Friday, where he had inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth Rs 13000 crores for the state. Before inaugurating these projects, Prime Minister Modi also held a roadshow in Gaya Ji. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha. Prime Minister Modi flagged off two trains -- the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi, which will enhance passenger convenience with modern facilities, comfort, and safety, and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma, which will boost tourism and religious travel across key Buddhist sites in the region. Prime Minister Modi, during a rally in Gaya Ji, launched an attack on the "corrupt" Opposition and criticised the rule of previous governments of the RJD and the Congress in the State. The prime minister took a swipe at the RJD's governance in Bihar as "an era of darkness." "Remember the condition here during the rule of lantern (RJD). This region was in the clutches of red terror. Cities like Gaya Ji were in darkness during the rule of 'lantern' (RJD)... They had pushed the entire state into darkness. There was no education or employment. So many generations were forced to migrate. RJD considers the people of Bihar only as their vote bank. They want nothing to do with their life, sorrows, or respect." Notably, the assembly elections in Bihar are expected to take place between October and November; however, the dates for the polls have not been announced yet. The Justice Department on Friday released the transcript and audio of a two-day interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously represented President Donald Trump against a flurry of criminal charges levied against him in the lead-up to the 2024 election, conducted the nine hours of questioning on July 24 and 25 in Florida. Blanche said he was not promising to do anything" for Maxwell in exchange for the interview and stressed that falsehoods could expose her to prosecution for false statements. Blanche also announced the release in a post on X Friday, saying the nearly 330 pages of materials, which only contained redactions to conceal victim information, were being posted in the interest of transparency." In the interest of transparency, @TheJusticeDept is releasing the complete transcript and audio of my proffer of Ms. Maxwell. The transcript and audio are linked below.https://t.co/TQW5migemm Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) Maxwell, whose attorney has pressed for a presidential pardon, used the interview to defend Trump, downplay her role in Epstein's sex crimes, and describe her long-standing ties to prominent political families. Days after giving the interview, she was transferred from a medium-security facility to a minimum-security prison in Texas, a move that was never given an official explanation by the federal government. Here are nine takeaways from her testimony. 1. Maxwells past statements and perjury charges create credibility problems Maxwell insisted she had wanted to speak for years and claimed that during Epsteins early 2000s Florida prosecution, no one ever asked me a single question. The public record shows otherwise. Victim affidavits in Palm Beach County as early as 2005 identified Ghislaine as a recruiter; FBI interview notes from 2006 described her as Epsteins second in command; and civil suits sought her testimony, which she resisted. Prosecutors later charged her with perjury over sworn statements in those civil suits (counts later dropped after her 2021 conviction), underscoring her "willingness to lie brazenly under oath about her conduct." Even in this interview, she often claimed not to remember details while drawing sweeping conclusions, including inconsistencies about her financial compensation from Epstein. Asked about a letter attributed to her in Epsteins 50th birthday book, Maxwell conceded the handwriting look[ed] like my name but insisted she had no memory of writing it. She said she found allegations of sexual rape that Epstein partook in "challenging," saying that was "not his modus operandi," despite financial compensation that has been given from his estate to over 200 victims and several prominent women who have come forward publicly with allegations that he sexually abused them. 2. Trump was never seen acting 'inappropriate' Maxwell described Trump favorably, saying she may have met him around 1990 through her father, Robert Maxwell, who then owned the New York Daily News. Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me, she said. I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now. And I like him, and Ive always liked him. She said she never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way and that he was never inappropriate with anybody. Maxwell added she absolutely never heard Epstein or anyone else allege misconduct by Trump. She estimated her last in-person interaction with him was in the mid-2000s. 3. Clinton only appeared on Epsteins plane, Maxwell said Maxwell was also asked about former President Bill Clinton. Blanche pressed if she knew "whether, for example, President Clinton ever received a massage? I dont believe he did, Maxwell replied. She added that her only recollection of Clinton with Epstein was during travel. Obviously, they traveled there was that, you know, the plane, they went on the plane 26 times or whatever. That would be one journey. So they spent time on the plane together, and I dont believe there was ever a massage on the plane," Maxwell said. "And he didnt, because I was there. Maxwell clarified later that she never described Clinton as Epsteins "client. She stressed that the only setting in which she remembered Clinton and Epstein together was on the plane. However, she said she knew Clinton and some of his close aides independently of Epstein and traveled to South America with him, but not with Epstein, in the early 2000s. 4. Trumps lawsuit over Epsteins birthday book Much of the questioning focused on Epsteins 50th birthday book, a professionally bound album of letters collected by Maxwell in 2003 that has become the object of scrutiny in recent weeks. On July 17, Trump announced he would sue the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch after the paper published a description of what it said was a birthday letter from him to Epstein, inside a sketch of a nude woman. The purported note from Trump ended with the line, We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Trump called it a FAKE and vowed to sue. Vice President J.D. Vance called the report complete and utter bulls***." Maxwell told Blanche multiple times that she could not recall Trumps name in the book. There was none of Mr. Trump, she said. In my discovery, sorry. President Trump there was nothing from President Trump. When asked whether she remembered Trump's name in the book outside of her discovery file, she said, "I do not remember." But she did acknowledge the book's existence, saying she remembered it being large, leather-bound, and filled with heavy stock paper, and she said it was placed behind Epsteins desk at his East 71st Street townhouse in New York City. 5. Denial that any client list ever existed Featured Local Savings Maxwell said she had never seen evidence that Epstein kept a client list. There was never a list, she said. None that I ever saw, none that I ever heard of, none that I ever witnessed. Her attorney, David Markus, echoed: Theres no client list. Nothing like that. Blanche pressed again: That you know of? Maxwell replied: That Iobviously. Because some of Epstein's victims have claimed that the financier trafficked young women to his powerful associates, conspiracy theories have long swirled over whether Epstein kept a list of participants in his sex trafficking ring. None has ever surfaced, however, and Maxwell denied any such operation existed. 6. She still disputes Epsteins official cause of death Maxwell told Blanche she does not believe Epstein died by suicide in 2019. I dont believe it, she said. He was maniacally self-preserving. Not the type. But she distanced herself from theories that the government silenced Epstein. I do not have any reason to believe that, she said. And I also think its ludicrous, because if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he wouldve been a very easy target before he was jailed. She suggested that if Epstein was killed, she believed it would be by another inmate over internal prison matters. 7. Maxwell recalls a bizarre fossil trip with RFK Jr. Maxwell said her friendship with Kerry Kennedy brought her into contact with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) and his news anchor brother, Chris Cuomo, though she did not recall them visiting Epstein properties. She said she knew Ted Kennedy personally through my life, not [through] Epstein and said she did not believe Epstein knew him or John Kerry, the former Democratic presidential nominee and secretary of state. Oh God, no, she said when asked if either man ever flew on Epsteins plane. By contrast, she said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services Secretary under Trump, did know Epstein, and she recalled a trip dinosaur bone hunting in the Dakotas that the three took together. She added that she knew Kennedys wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy, before the couple married. She also recalled seeing John F. Kennedy Jr. at Kerry Kennedys wedding to Andrew Cuomo. 8. Doubts that Robert Maxwell continued intelligence work after retirement Asked about her father, Maxwell said Robert Maxwell had a background in intelligence during World War II as a British intelligence officer. Her father's ties to intelligence became a hotbed for conspiracy theorists who believed without evidence that Epstein's trafficking served a larger purpose, such as a blackmail scheme against rich and high-profile people. She added: Once youve been an intelligence officer, youre kind ofalways; it doesnt mean that youre formally employed. She said he vetted Epstein through Bear Stearns executives Jimmy Cayne and Ace Greenberg. 9. Wexner distanced himself from Epstein Maxwell said retail magnate Les Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands and longtime head of Victorias Secret, eventually pulled back from Epstein and did not want to spend time with him. Wexner was widely seen as Epsteins most important financial backer during the 1990s, granting him sweeping authority over his personal fortune and properties. Epstein managed Wexners money, gained power of attorney, and lived in a Manhattan townhouse that Wexner once owned. Their relationship was so close that former associates considered it the cornerstone of Epsteins wealth and influence. But Maxwell testified that by the mid-2000s, after Epsteins arrest in Florida in 2005 on sex-crime charges, Wexner had broken ties. He did not want to spend time with him, she said, describing Epsteins fall from Wexners inner circle after years of collaboration. The distancing became clearer in later years: Wexner formally severed financial ties in 2007, and by 2020, he stepped down as CEO of L Brands following scrutiny of his Epstein association. House Oversight receives first Epstein records The Maxwell transcript went public the same day the DOJ delivered the first batch of Epstein records to the House Oversight Committee under Chairman James Comer (R-KY). The production involved thousands of pages, including the Maxwell interviews. Comers panel said it plans to release the records after making redactions. Trump voiced support for disclosure while describing more conspiratorial accusations, such as claims that he was deeply involved with Epstein, as a Democrat hoax. Comer lauded the DOJ's efforts on X, saying the "Trump DOJ is moving at a pace far faster than anything ever produced by the Biden DOJ." Release comes amid waning public interest in Epstein The public's attention to the Epstein case hit a fever pitch in early July, when the DOJ, which had long promised to release troves of records about Epstein, announced within a two-page memo that it had no more documents to publish. The memo also mentioned Epstein harmed over 1,000 victims, said he died by suicide, and came alongside the release of 10 hours of video footage from a section of his prison cell. One week later, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino was distraught about how Attorney General Pam Bondi handled the release of information and even appeared ready to quit the bureau before tensions simmered down. Then, Blanche began an effort to get more information from Maxwell, in addition to the DOJ's now-failed efforts to convince courts to unseal grand jury testimony from both Epstein's criminal cases and Maxwell's 2021 indictment. DOJ SENDS FIRST ROUND OF EPSTEIN RECORDS TO HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Despite the initial bipartisan backlash against the DOJ, statistical analysts have shown that public attention to the subject is waning. CNN analyst Harry Enten said last week that Google searches for Epstein are down nearly 90% compared to just weeks ago, saying the saga is quickly becoming something of a nothingburger. Going forward, the next tranche of information related to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender will likely come from the Oversight Committee, as the DOJ's efforts to offer transparency on Epstein focus on satisfying the demands of lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The complainant, who had alleged multiple murders, rapes, and burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades, was arrested on Saturday by the SIT probing the charges, officials said. IMAGE: The Dharmasthala complainant used mask to protect his identity being taken to the alleged burial sites. Photograph: ANI on X The complainant, who had so far appeared before the probe panel wearing a mask, has been identified as C N Chinnaiah, they said. After a medical examination, he was produced before Judicial First Class Magistrate Vijayendra in Belthangady and the SIT sought 10 days' custody for further investigation. The court granted the request, officials added. The Special Investigation Team, led by senior IPS officer Pronab Mohanty, had questioned Chinnaiah late into Friday night. Officials said the arrest followed inconsistencies found in his statements and documents. Chinnaiah was reportedly arrested on charges of "perjury", according to official sources. While giving a statement before the magistrate in Belthangady on July 11, the complainant had produced a skull and a few bones, claiming to be that of a woman he had burried. He had also claimed that the woman was sexually assaulted before death. However, forensic reports indicated that the skeletal remains produced by the complainant were that of a man, the sources added. Confirming the arrest, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said no conclusion could be drawn in the case, until the SIT completes its probe. Speaking to reporters in Udupi, he said the SIT is likely to continue its investigation based on the statements given by the complainant. "Whether he has been arrested on suspicion or under what section, all those details are with the SIT. Based on the complainant's complaint, a probe began. Now that he has been arrested, the investigation will continue based on his statements," he added. Reacting to the arrest, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru said that the government has maintained that action will be taken against those who are wrong in connection with the case and allegations. He said the probe is on in the case, and the government is on the side of "justice". Meanwhile, welcoming the arrest of the complainant in the case, Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple, said that the "truth is beginning to come out." Heggade said the temple town had been facing "unfounded allegations" which had caused distress to devotees and the community at large. "With this development, we have faith that facts will prevail and justice will be upheld," he said. Karnataka BJP on its part, has urged the Congress government to hand over the probe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to expose "conspirators, foreign hands and funds" behind the complainant of "multiple murders, rapes and burials" in Dharmasthala. The principal opposition party in the state also alleged a "huge conspiracy" behind the slender campaign targeting Dharmasthala and the temple there. "If the Congress and D K Shivakumar (Deputy Chief Minister) have any respect, they have to ensure that the conspirators are exposed. They should form an SIT for this or give it to the NIA. As money is said to have come from abroad and other states, the NIA probe will be required," Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka said. Chinnaiah, reportedly a former sanitation worker, claimed he had worked in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014, during which he was allegedly forced to bury several bodies, including those of women and minors. He alleged that some of the victims showed signs of sexual assault and had given a statement before a magistrate. As part of the probe, the SIT has conducted excavations at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in the forested areas along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, where some skeletal remains were found at two sites so far. Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) condemned President Donald Trump on Friday for threatening federal intervention in Chicago to tackle crime. Speaking about Chicago over the weekend, the president suggested the government will straighten that one out next after he federalized Washington, D.C., earlier this month, sending federal troops and other law enforcement personnel to the area to target criminal activity in the countrys capital. Pritzker responded to Trumps proposal with a strongly worded statement accusing the president of attempting to create chaos that distracts from his problems, as well as playing a game and creating a spectacle for the press to play along with. Trump and Republicans are trying to distract from the pain theyre causing from tariffs raising the prices of goods to stripping away healthcare and food from millions, the Democratic governor said. Trumps goal is to incite fear in our communities and destabilize existing public safety efforts all to create a justification to further abuse his power. The Illinois governor pointed to crime statistics he said proves crime in Chicago is not a major issue. Homicides are down by more than 30% in Chicago in the last year alone, Pritzker said. The safety of the people of Illinois is my highest priority, so we will follow the law and stand up for the sovereignty of our state. Crime in Chicago increased by 369% between 2019 and 2023, according to the Council on Criminal Justice analysis on crime in major U.S. cities. Some crime has gone down, but with a caveat, according to critics. In 2023, homicides decreased by over 10%, but thats still nearly 50% more homicides than a decade ago, according to the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think tank. In 2024, homicides continued to drop, with the CPD touting last year as the first time in five years the city saw fewer than 600 murders. In an analysis of the numbers, the University of Chicagos Civic Engagement Center noted that while violent crime was down over the previous year, the 2024 rate remained higher than the 5-year average. The primary contributors to this upward trend are aggravated assaults, aggravated batteries, and robberies, excluding carjackings, researchers wrote. The city has come under attack for its crime by Republicans, with Trump telling reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that Chicagos a mess and calling Mayor Brandon Johnson grossly incompetent. The Windy City needs similar federal intervention that Trump authorized in D.C. to target crime, the president said. Featured Local Savings On Aug. 11, Trump declared a "crime emergency" in Washington, D.C. by invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, leading to the deployment of roughly 800 D.C. National Guard troops. Multiple states have sent in members of their own National Guard to assist with the anti-crime agenda, which has been bolstered by federal law enforcement personnel from departments including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Around 2,000 troops are now monitoring the area. The president, who was wearing a red hat that said, "Trump Was Right About Everything," suggested this week that Chicago would be our next one" after D.C., claiming residents wearing red hats just like this one are "screaming for us to come." "African American ladies, beautiful ladies are saying, please, President Trump, come to Chicago, please, Trump said in the Oval Office. Well straighten that one out probably nextAnd it wont even be tough. The presidents federal intervention in D.C. has drawn both praise and censure. Critics say the districts crime has been trending down and that the district was handling matters fine on its own. The president overstepped his authorities in bringing in the National Guard and carrying out other acts to tamp down crime, they argue. Proponents contend D.C. officials have manipulated crime stats to make the city look better. The reality faced by residents is far worse than the picture the citys leaders often paint, they say. After Trump federalized the district with troops, carjackings in D.C. decreased by 83%, robberies by 46%, car thefts by 21%, and overall violent crime by 22% compared to the previous seven days, according to the Metropolitan Police Departments police union. TRUMP PLEDGES TO MAKE WASHINGTON GREAT AGAIN IN VISIT TO ANACOSTIA Chicago officials believe federalizing their city in a D.C.-like scenario would fail to resolve deeper issues, with Johnson calling Trumps approach uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound." "We know that our communities are safest when we fully invest in housing, community safety, and education," the Chicago mayor said. "The National Guard will not alleviate the housing crisis. It will not put food in the stomachs of the 1 in 4 children that go to bed hungry every night in Chicago. The National Guard will not fully-fund our public schools or provide mental healthcare or substance abuse treatment to Chicagoans in need." As global leaders push for potential peace talks to take place between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- the first in more than three years of Moscow's full-scale war against Ukraine -- there is considerable skepticism that Putin would make any reasonable promises, let alone stick to them in the medium or long term. Clifford May, the founder of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C., voiced such a warning in a recent interview with Current Time. He maintains that what Putin wants is victory, not peace, and his ultimate goal is to restore the Russian Empire by subsuming Ukraine. Putin's only interest in diplomacy, May says, is to achieve what his protracted and bloody war cannot: full control of the Donbas. Current Time: How exactly do you envision a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy unfolding? Clifford May: Uncomfortably. This is not going to be easy for Zelenskyy. It won't be so hard for Putin, as he's used to bullying people. He bullies pretty much everybody in his life -- or flatters them, as he did with Trump. But he'll attempt to bully Zelenskyy. His mission, it seems to me, is very clear: It's to restore the Russian/Soviet empire. And that requires that he drag Ukraine back into it. He also doesn't like the idea of a free, independent, and democratic nation right across the border from him. A bad example for Russians, as he sees it. The negotiations between [Putin and Zelenskyy] are going to be very tense and very difficult because Putin will essentially be saying, "You need to surrender to me. Anything else will not be acceptable." Current Time: Two of the main issues under discussion are security guarantees and territory. As for territory, Zelenskyy has said he will only discuss this in person with Putin. What are the implications of a sovereign state negotiating territorial concessions to achieve peace? May: It's happened before: Think of the Soviet war against Finland in 1939, the Winter War. In that case, Stalin thought -- as Putin thought -- I can take over this little country in a few days. The Finns fought so bravely and so hard to protect their sovereignty and independence. Finland did not become a constituent republic of the Soviet Union like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It didn't become a vassal state. [However,] it lost some freedom in independence. It lost roughly 10 percent of its territory in the end: Karelia. But Finland today is a free and independent country and now a member of NATO. Here's what worries me most: Too few people understand that what Putin wants through diplomacy is not peace but victory. He wants to get through diplomacy what he hasn't been able to achieve through war over the past three or so years. He has much of the Donbas but not all of it. He wants the rest of it. In particular, he wants what's known as "the fortress belt," [which is made up of the] fortress cities he hasn't been able to break through. There's a British military assessment that says for [Russia] to break through that would probably require another four years of fighting and roughly 2 million more casualties. Putin no doubt thinks, "If I can get there through diplomacy, isn't that a big victory for me?" What security guarantee [can] there be in place of the fortress belt? French soldiers, British soldiers? Will they stay long enough? Will they be good enough? These are very important questions that I hope will at least be brought to Trump's attention by his advisers and that he will think about very hard over the coming days and weeks. Current Time: What do you think such security guarantees should look like? Many politicians say they should resemble NATO's Article 5. Is implementing such a mechanism outside of NATO realistic? May: It's a possibility. Article 5 under the NATO treaty says you attack one NATO member, you've attacked all NATO members, and, theoretically, all NATO members will respond. I'm not absolutely sure [that would happen], and this worries me. It worries me because imagine Putin considers that he succeeds in Ukraine and decides he now wants [something like] a land bridge through Lithuania to his military bases in Kaliningrad. How many days will it take for [Russia to occupy] this southernmost road in Lithuania and say, "This is now Russian territory"? Theoretically, Article 5 is now triggered. Do we all go to war against Russia for a road in Lithuania? Does the US? I can see plenty of people in the US who would say, "That's not really not worth American blood and treasure." So it's hard. We have to think about what security guarantees are going to mean at the end of this. It's helpful if it means European troops and not just peacekeepers; they're meant to hold that border line. And if France and Britain say, "If you attack one of our soldiers, we'll consider an attack by Russia on us," that's useful, too. But a security guarantee can also be something like the Budapest memo of 1994. Russia signed it, America signed it, Britain signed it. It said: "We will all respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine." That security guarantee was not literally worth the paper it was written on. Security guarantees are a good thing, and I'm glad Trump is talking about it. It doesn't mean American boots on the ground [but could] mean American drones in the air, American satellites, and intelligence cooperation. It could even mean a no-fly zone in that area. But we don't know. The devil is very much in the details. Current Time: Assuming Ukraine receives effective and reliable security guarantees, why would Putin accept them? May: He might accept them with the thinking: "You know what, I'm going to get the land I want without fighting for four years. Without losing, without 2 million casualties." He knows his army is tired. His army is not particularly good at this point. He wants to rebuild that. His economy is in terrible shape. He might say, "This is good. Yeah, there are going to be some security guarantees, but I don't think they'll hold up. And I'll do everything I can in the negotiations to make sure these security guarantees are not so good." Current Time: You talk of Putin seeing Russia only as an empire. Recent polls in Ukraine indicate most citizens believe Putin would not stop even after a cessation of hostilities. In your opinion, would Putin return to seize all of Ukraine after a possible freeze in the war? May: His goal is to take all of Ukraine. He doesn't believe Ukraine has any right to be a sovereign, independent country. He will take all of it if he absolutely can. And he will take more. Putin has put up monuments to Stalin in the Moscow [subway] and around the country. Why? [Not] because he's a communist, but he's not an anti-communist, either. He has an unlimited partnership with Xi Jinping, leader of the most powerful Communist Party ever in history. He has very good relations with Kim Jong Un in North Korea. [Putin] knows that when Stalin was dictator of the Soviet Union, the Russian Empire was at its largest in history. It's what Putin's mission is, to restore [that]. It's not so much the territory that he wants, because Russia already is a huge country. But he could use 40 million more Russians, couldn't he? The population, the demography [of Russia] is dreadful. So [Putin] would love to expand his population. And one way to do that is to force Ukrainians to consider themselves Russian. That's why he's been stealing Ukrainian children and trying to brainwash them into thinking of themselves as Russian. Current Time: Do you think a possible meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy could lead to any concrete agreements? May: My best guess is that it doesn't lead to much. Maybe a few agreements will be worked out if they can be at the trilateral when Putin, Zelenskyy, and Trump get together and Trump will take on the role of referee and say, "Volodymyr, give up the Donbas." And then maybe he says to Putin, "Vladimir, you can have everything you've conquered, but not much more." Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The Texas Legislature passed a new GOP-drawn congressional map early Saturday that is designed to net Republicans in Congress up to five additional House seats, capping off a weeks-long sprint to redraw districts in the party's favor at the request of President Donald Trump. The legislation was approved by Republicans along party lines in the state Senate after clearing the House. The measure now goes to Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), who has vowed to swiftly sign it into law. "The intent of all district changes were to make sure that we had a legal map, one that performed better for Republicans, and hopefully improved compactness in some districts," state GOP Sen. Phil King, who authored the Senate version of the bill, said during hours of floor debate with Democrats, who one by one peppered him with questions and criticism before passage. Democratic lawmakers and aligned groups are expected to quickly file legal challenges once Abbott signs off on the new map, and blue states like California have already taken steps to counter Republicans with partisan redistricting efforts of their own. Senate passage came two days after the Texas House passed the redistricting bill 88-52. The votes, which came during a special legislative session called by Abbott, followed a two-week standoff featuring Democrats fleeing the Lone Star State to deny the Republican-dominated House the required quorum to operate. While Democrats shirked their duty, in futility, and ran away to other states, Republicans stayed the course, stayed at work and stayed true to Texas, Abbott stated Wednesday. I will sign this bill once it passes the Senate and gets to my desk. Trump, following the Wednesday House vote, called the new map a big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Featured Local Savings Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself, he posted on Truth Social. Texas never lets us down. After returning from Democratic states like California and Illinois that harbored those who fled, Democrats were allowed to leave the chamber on Monday pending a final vote only if they agreed to be in the custody of a state Department of Public Safety officer. One Democrat, state Rep. Nicole Collier, refused. Instead, she remained in the chamber until it reconvened on Wednesday. The redistricting saga, initiated by Trump and carried out by Texas Republicans, alters current districts in ways that could safeguard U.S. House Republicans slim majority in next years midterms. But its kicked off a nationwide mid-decade redistricting war between red and blue states over what is typically a once-a-decade process that follows the decennial U.S. census. However, retaliation efforts by Democrats in other states like California are likely to prove far harder than in Texas, where Republicans had the power to redraw districts in a more partisan fashion. In Democratic-led California, the process is controlled by an independent commission, a hurdle Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and state Democrats are attempting to circumvent by putting new maps in front of voters for approval in a November special election. TEXAS HOUSE PASSES GOP MAPS IN REDISTRICTING FIGHT WITH DEMOCRATS You will now go down in history as one of Donald Trump's most loyal lapdogs, Newsom posted of Abbott on social media. Shredding our nation's founding principles. What a legacy." In a subsequent post, he wrote: It's on, Texas. James Cox Bertie Ahern has confirmed he is considering running for president, amid support from within Fianna Fail. It comes as demand is growing within Fianna Fail for him to run as a candidate, according to a poll carried out by Virgin Media News. The former taoiseach resigned from the political party in 2012, following the publication of the Mahon Tribunal. Speaking to his son-in-law on the Nicky Byrne HQ podcast, he said he is weighing up if running will be worthwhile as he gets older. Mr Ahern said: "You know, at 74 next year when it comes up, you don't know how many years you get in your life. "Even if you were elected, would you want to spend the last seven years of your life having limited time to be with the kids and you... it's a hard one. "We'll see, but one way or the other I'm not going to lose sleep over it... we'll see how it plays out." The prospect of Mr Ahern running presents an awkward situation for Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Mr Martin was one of the leading figures pushing for Mr Ahern to be removed from the party after the Mahon Tribunal, before Mr Ahern decided to resign himself. In 2023, Mr Ahern was readmitted to the party, and his relationship with Mr Martin had improved as the Taoiseach did not block the move, while he also said he had engaged with his predecessor on the Northern Ireland Protocol. However, Mr Martin is not believed to be keen on the prospect of Mr Ahern being Fianna Fail's presidential candidates. Fianna Fail is under pressure to select a candidate as the biggest party in the country, while they have not put a candidate forward in a presidential election since 1997. Former minister Heather Humphreys is the favourite to be selected as Fine Gael's candidate after the withdrawal of Maired McGuinness. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA A man has been charged with murder after a stabbing in Belfast. The 32-year-old was also charged with possession of a blade or point. He is expected to appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court on Saturday. Man charged with west Belfast murder https://t.co/5qaj1Ixy0I pic.twitter.com/LprqwvERvp Police West Belfast (@PSNIBelfastW) August 22, 2025 A murder investigation was launched after a man, named locally as Shane Lowry, died on Thursday evening. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips said: We received a report at around 8.15pm that a man aged in his 30s had been stabbed in the Mulberry Park area of Dunmurry. Officers attended, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Sadly, he was pronounced dead. We would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to the incident to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1633 21/08/25. A large police cordon remained in place in Mulberry Park and a number of surrounding streets on Friday. A police cordon remained in place at the scene on Friday (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Sinn Fein MLA Danny Baker said there was shock and sadness in the local community after the death. He said the death happened shortly after a fire at a block of flats in the estate. He said: Last night was a very heartbreaking and a traumatic series of events. There were a number of incidents which happened. We were at a fire at the top of the estate. It was in a block of flats. There was a lot of relief that nobody was hurt but quickly news spread that someone had been stabbed in this part of Twinbrook which was close by. Sinn Fein MLA Danny Baker at Mulberry Park (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Sadly, when we got here we knew it was very, very serious. The community was filled with sorrow. Sadly, the PSNI confirmed this morning that the man has passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I would ask people not to speculate. There is a live PSNI investigation and anyone with any information should please come forward. Mr Baker said a local family had been completely torn apart. He added: I was here last night, there was relief at first that no-one was injured at the fire but very quickly when people came here we knew how bad it was, the fear and anxiety quickly turned to sorrow and pain. It is a very close-knit community. I was born and raised here, we all know each other and we know a family is completely devastated this morning and our thoughts and prayers are with them. SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty said it was a shocking incident. He said: A man has lost his life and the local community has been left reeling. My thoughts are with the loved ones of the deceased and everyone who has been affected by this incident. Nobody wants to wake up to something like this on their doorsteps, but I would ask people to support police as they carry out their investigation into what happened here. I commend their quick response. I would urge anyone with any further information to come forward to police. People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said he was deeply saddened. He said: Everyone has the basic right to live in peace and safety in their own home. My thoughts and condolences are with the victim, his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. The importance of peer support for children with dyspraxia was highlighted by Minister Hildegarde Naughton at the recent launch of a new holiday club initiative. Cairde Club provides children with Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordination Disorder with a chance to meet their peers and enjoy activities together in an inclusive atmosphere while also allowing parents to meet, and receive support from, other parents whose children may also have Dyspraxia/DCD. The initiative is part of Dyspraxia/DCD Irelands POTTS programme; a new telehealth occupational therapy service aimed at reducing waiting times for children. The first Cairde Club event was hosted in Glendeer Pet Farm in Drum where families spent the day and got to experience a fun and inclusive event designed especially for children with DCD. Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Children, Disability and Equality, Hildegarde Naughton, said: I am thrilled to officially launch this new dyspraxia holiday club, Cairde Club, which will be a safe, supportive space where children with dyspraxia can connect, have fun, and build confidence among peers who truly understand their experiences. Minister Hildegarde Naughton pictured during the recent Cairde Club launch by Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland in Glendeer Pet Farm in Drum, joined by representatives of Dyspraxia Ireland, local public representatives and HSE West staff members. Peer support is incredibly important for children with dyspraxia, helping reduce feelings of isolation and boosting social and emotional development. This initiative is proudly supported by our new pilot telehealth occupational therapy service, POTTS, which I am confident will play a crucial role in reducing waiting times and provide earlier intervention for families in need. Also speaking at the launch CEO of Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland, Sharon Lane, spoke of the importance of such events: Not alone will our Cairde Cub days allow children with Dyspraxia/DCD to enjoy inclusive, fun-filled days centred around their needs but these days also provide a much-needed opportunity to connect with other parents of children with dyspraxia/DCD in a relaxed and friendly environment. She also thanked Minister Naughton and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for their support to date for the POTTS programme and looked forward to continuing to build on the services offered by Dyspraxia Ireland. Stephen Hodnett, Senior OT and POTTS Clinical Lead, outlined the role Dyspraxia/DCD Irelands new POTTS programme can play in addressing occupational therapy waiting lists for children, and said: Figures show that approximately 6% of children in Ireland have DCD that is at least one child, and closer to two children, in every class in the country who have DCD. POTTS is a hybrid occupational therapy telehealth service that offers both face-to-face assessments and online sessions from both qualified and student occupational therapists. It provides supports that are functional, family centred and accessible. As well as reducing waiting times for children to access services it also provides OT students with placement experience and specialised DCD learning. By offering telehealth services we are reducing disruption for families in terms of reduced travel time to and from appointments while also reducing hours lost in school and at work through the need to travel to appointments. Minister Hildegarde Naughton pictured during the recent Cairde Club launch by Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland in Glendeer Pet Farm in Drum where she was joined by Billy Kelly, Chairperson of Lecarrow Benevolent Fund, as well as Lexi Cunningham and Hannah Bolton. Further information for families wishing to avail of the POTTS programme can be found at: Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland - POTTS / Occupational Therapy Services. Lisacul native Martin Gallagher has been appointed as Irelands ambassador to Brazil. He was nominated for the role by Tanaiste Simon Harris earlier this year. Mr. Gallagher had been Consular Director (Crisis Planning and International Travel) for the Department of Foreign Affairs for just under two years. The Lisacul native has over two decades of experience working in foreign affairs for the UN and within the Department of Foreign Affairs. He is a former student of St. Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen. Roscommon Pride March will take place at 2.30 p.m this afternoon, Saturday, starting at the Quad and ending at Loughneane Park, where a family fun day will be hosted from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.. Roscommon Pride has announced a host of events for the second year of its LGBTQ+ festival, taking place across this weekend, August 22nd to 24th. Roscommon Pride will also put a spotlight on sexual health with free rapid HIV and syphilis testing in the Roscommon Volunteer Centre, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.. The second day of the festival will conclude with the official Pride afterparty in Oscars Bar from 8 p.m. until late, where some of Irelands most well-known drag performers will take to the stage. On Sunday, the festivals final day, a Wellness Day at Loughneane Park will feature a Family Fun Colour Run at 11 a.m., along with yoga, a rainbow sing-song and wellness talk. 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, the event organiser concluded. For more information and to purchase tickets or to register for any events, visit www.roscommonpride.ie. Launch night for Boyle Musical Societys 40th production Boyle Musical Society will soon be raising the curtain on its 40th anniversary show 'Curtains', which will be staged in November. But before all that a cast is needed! If you are the sort of person who might be interested in twelve weeks of singing, drama, dancing and great fun the society is calling your name. A launch night for 'Curtains' is taking place in The Patrick's Well at 8 p.m. on Monday, August 25th and everybody is welcome! Potential performers and back stage crew are invited to come along and meet the production team, learn about exciting plans for the show and the audition and rehearsal schedule. Following the launch Dance & Ensemble auditions for everybody is taking place on Wednesday, August 27th in St. Joseph's Hall and on Thursday 28th, there will be private auditions for anybody interested in taking a leading role. Full rehearsals will begin on Monday, September 1st in St. Joseph's Hall. This years director is Karen Gordon. She first joined BMS in 2016, playing Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, and has been an active member ever since. With over 20 years experience on and off stage, Karen has produced and directed for the award-winning Pop-Up Theatre which she founded in 2016, delivering productions ranging from an immersive Sweeney Toddthe biggest musical ever staged in Sligo, to The Producers and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to name a few. Karen was nominated for an AIMS Award for Best Director for their production of Hairspray in 2023. Her stage credits also include extensive work with the Coolera Dramatic Society, the Everyman Drama Group, and Sligo Musical Society, performing in numerous plays, pantomimes and musicals over the past two decades. Karen said she is honoured to follow in the footsteps of the amazing Vivienne Moran for this years production, and is excited to work with the talented cast, crew and committee. She promises to make Viv proudand to help deliver an unforgettable 40th anniversary show. Taking on the role of new choreographer, is Eimear Mulvey who is a dynamic performer and choreographer from Geevagh, Co. Sligo, known for her vibrant presence in the Irish performing arts scene. As the business owner of Broga Briomhar Dance School, she has brought energy and precision to stages across the country. She is also a choreographer at Star Factory Sligo, inspiring young talents in dance and musical theatre. Her passion for the arts was recently showcased in Pop-Up Theatre production of Sweeney Todd in Sligo ATU. Whether performing, teaching or choreographing, Eimear continues to contribute meaningfully to the cultural life of Sligo and beyond. The society has also announced Anne Kielty as its musical director for Curtains. Anne has been with Boyle Musical Society since 1986, when she joined as pianist for The Gypsy Baron. She took on the position of full time musical director for Fiddler on the Roof in 1998, a position that she has had since. She has a wealth of experience in musical theatre and choral work. Recently retired as a music teacher at St. Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen, Anne brings her teaching experience and love of music to Boyle Musical Society, where she works tirelessly with soloists and chorus to produce the best vocals and harmonies for the stage. Bhagwant Singh Mann Government's Child Welfare Initiative Emerging as a New Identity for Punjab A new benchmark in safety, support, and compassion Chandigarh: The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is setting a new standard in child welfare with a series of transformative initiatives aimed at safeguarding and nurturing the states children. As part of its mission to secure a brighter future for vulnerable children, the state has launched Project Jeevanjot 2.0. Through this initiative, hundreds of child beggars have been safely rescued from the streets across Punjab. In coordinated rescue drives, nearly 100 children have been reunited with their families, while a similar number are now receiving care in government-run childrens homes. These children are being provided with education, nutritious food, safe shelter, and psychological counselling. Advertisement To ensure long-term welfare, the project involves background verification of rescued children through DNA testing, social investigation reports, and inter-state coordination. The aim is not only to end child begging but to transform lives. The government has pledged strict legal action against negligent parents and child traffickers. The public has been urged to play a role in this mission, if anyone spots a child begging, they should immediately call 1098, the child helpline. As the government emphasizes, one call can save a childs life. With Jeevanjot 2.0, the Mann administration envisions a Punjab where every child is in school, feels secure, and is treated with dignity. In another pioneering step, Punjab has become the first state in India to initiate the appointment of sign language interpreters, translators, and special educators under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. This will improve communication and ensure better access to justice for children with special needs. These specialists will be deployed district-wise with proper remuneration, playing a vital role in assisting children during court proceedings. Advertisement The state government is also conducting training programs under the Adoption Regulations, 2022, in collaboration with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and National Institute of Public Cooperation and Development (NIPCCD). Recognizing that cases of abandonment and violence against newborns remain a societal concern, the government has appealed to capable families to come forward for adoption. The training aims to ensure that all adoptions are conducted legally, safely, and with sensitivity, so that every child has the chance to grow up in a loving home. Through these initiatives, the Mann government is redefining Punjabs approach to child welfare, focusing not only on protection but also on building a future where every child can thrive. August 23, 2025 UPDATE The latest news from RRI Newsflash Newsroom, 23.08.2025, 20:00 Visit The Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Saturday talked in Chisinau with the Moldovan President Maia Sandu about expanding cooperation in the field of infrastructure, energy and cross-border development projects, as well as about the European path of the Republic of Moldova and countering foreign interference that destabilizes this process. Romania will continue to be a strong supporter of Chisinau in the EU accession process, supporting both internal reforms and projects that strengthen regional security and bring the Republic of Moldova closer to European standards, the Bucharest government emphasizes. In Chisinau, the Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan also discussed with his counterpart Dorin Recean. I assure you that we will continue to build new bridges that will bring us even closer, as befits sister countries, which share a common language, history and values, the Romanian official declared. This is the first visit that Ilie Bolojan is paying to Chisinau as Prime Minister. He was previously in the Republic of Moldova in March, but as interim president of Romania. Next week, on August 31, on the occasion of the Romanian Language Day, the President of Romania, Nicusor Dan, is also expected in Chisinau, and on August 27, on Independence Day, at the invitation of President Maia Sandu, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will come to the Republic of Moldova. Through their presence, the European partners reconfirm their trust in the Republic of Moldova and their support for our European path the Moldovan presidential administration reported. Enescu Between August 24 and September 21, 2025, Romania becomes the world center of classical music, with the unfolding of the 27th edition of the George Enescu International Festival. The event takes place in concert halls in Bucharest, including the Radio Hall, as well as in Cluj (northwest), Timisoara (west), Constanta (southeast) and Sibiu (center). During the 29 days of the festival, almost 100 concerts and performances will take place. In addition to Enescus masterpieces such as the opera Oedipus, the Symphonies, the Romanian Rhapsodies or the Ballad for Violin and Orchestra the audience will enjoy works by important composers such as Dmitri Shostakovich, Pierre Boulez and Maurice Ravel. Attending the festival will be over 80 ensembles, symphony orchestras, choirs and chamber groups from 28 countries. This year, the festival also marks 70 years since the great composers death, paying tribute to his artistic legacy and profound impact on universal classical music. Pact The Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, through which Eastern Europe was divided between the two totalitarian regimes led by Hitler and Stalin, was a heinous act, the Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stressed, on the day marking 86 years since the signing of the document. August 23, 1939 remains a symbol of cynicism and brutality. The totalitarianisms of the last century brought mass murder, deportations, famine and terror, and the memory of these horrors must be kept alive, the Prime Minister recalled in a message conveyed on the occasion of the European Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism and the National Day dedicated to the Victims of Fascism and Communism. Also on August 23, but in 1944, King Mihai I ordered the dismissal and arrest of the then Prime Minister of Romania, General Ion Antonescu, as well as the immediate cessation of Romanias collaboration with the Axis powers and the beginning of armistice negotiations with the Allies and military collaboration with the Soviet Union. Israel Israel has rejected a UN-backed report declaring a famine in Gaza City, which the Israeli military is preparing to occupy. The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the report is based on biased data provided by Hamas and that the only starving people in Gaza are the Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist group. But the IPC, the internationally recognized body for assessing global food insecurity, uses strict criteria and warns that the famine is caused by Israels systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid and could spread to other parts of the Palestinian territory by the end of next month. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said the deaths from starvation could constitute war crimes. While Israel has rejected the IPCs findings, it has taken new steps in recent weeks to support aid distribution. On the other hand, the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Gaza City would be destroyed if Hamas did not accept peace on the terms dictated by Israel. The Israeli army began sending warnings to hospitals and non-governmental organizations active in Gaza to prepare to evacuate the area and head to the south of the enclave, the correspondent of Radio Romanias News and Current Affairs channel in Israel reported. (LS) Hyundai is stepping up its game in the sub 4m SUV segment with the launch of Next Gen Venue. This is the first major update to this sub 4m SUV after one facelift and a bump in features. It will feature a thorough exterior redesign along with a complete overhaul of its interiors. While exterior updates are more welcome than necessary, interior updates were an absolute necessity. Thanks to automotive enthusiast Stuti Gupta, we now more detailed spy shots of new Hyundai Venues interiors for the very first time. As seen in these spy shots, theres a complete interior overhaul. Lets take a closer look. New Hyundai Venue Interiors Spied Ahead of its 24th October launch date, new Hyundai Venue interiors have been spied for the first time, showing most of the possible updates to this cabin. This was a much needed update as current Venues interiors have grown longer in the tooth and all immediate rivals have surged ahead infusing modernity into their cabins. As seen in these spy shots, new Venue gets a free-standing Dual Curvilinear screen setup, similar to the one seen in Creta and Alcazar. This setup packs a 10.2-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a 10.2-inch screen for instrumentation. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay might be wireless, enabled by an adapter. Central AC vents are repositioned below infotainment screens. Below these vents, we have an array of physical controls including what looks like two rotary dials for media controls, while there seems to be a second row of buttons below for automatic climate control related functions. Dashboard looks like it now gets a subwoofer, suggesting an upgrade to Venues music system. New Interiors When compared to current Venue, steering wheel is all-new in new Venue, which looks like it is not shared with any other Hyundai products. An auto-dimming IRVM and a dashcam can also be seen in these spy shots. Dashboard is multi-layered and door trims are likely to be redesigned too. Expected features with new Venue include ventilated seats, Level-2 ADAS, leatherette upholstery, powered drivers seat, an air purifier, wireless charging pad, front and rear armrest, rear AC vents, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting and more. On the outside, we have major updates including a new fascia, new rear design and redesigned alloy wheels. Same Powertrains Under the bonnet, new Hyundai Venue will continue with current engine options including a 1.2L 4-cylinder NA Petrol, a 1.0L 3-cylinder Turbo Petrol and a 1.5L 4-cylinder Turbo Diesel engine options. Depending on engine choice, Hyundai will offer a 5-speed or a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT automatic. President Donald Trump nominated Sergio Gor, currently a White House official, to be the new ambassador to India. Gor, who has been serving as director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, will also serve as the special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, pending Senate confirmation. In his announcement, Trump praised Gor's work in the White House advising him on hiring decisions. "As Director of Presidential Personnel, Sergio and his team have hired nearly 4,000 America First Patriots across every Department of our Federal Government in RECORD time Our Departments and Agencies are over 95% filled!" the president posted on Truth Social. "Sergios role as Director of Presidential Personnel has been essential to delivering on the unprecedented Mandate that we received from the American People." Trump also pointed to the close relationship he has with Gor, who has previously led a pro-Trump super PAC and cofounded a book publisher with one of the president's sons, Donald Trump Jr. "For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!" Trump added. If confirmed, Gor will vacate his position in the White House, with speculation already pouring in on who could fill it. Steve Bannon, a chief strategist in Trump's first term, suggested right-wing influencer Laura Loomer is on the short list. Featured Local Savings "Loomer has to be on the short list as potential replacement given her expertise in the vetting arena," he wrote on social media. Loomer waded into the speculation herself, telling Politico it would be an "honor" to serve in the Trump administration if she was offered the White House position. A possible White House role for Loomer follows her already outsized influence on Trump's hiring decisions in his second term, targeting top officials in key agencies over alleged disloyalty to Trump and his agenda. That would appear to align with Gor's hiring decisions, as he is known for his strict policy of not hiring Trump critics. Some of those decisions led to a spat with former Trump senior adviser Elon Musk, who called Gor a "snake" after he blocked the nomination of his friend, Jared Isaacman, for NASA administrator. LAURA LOOMER'S INFLUENCE GROWS AS SHE CARVES OUT ROLE AS TRUMP'S OUTSIDE VETTER-IN-CHIEF As for Gor's potential new role, his appointment comes amid tense relations with India, particularly over the South Asian country's continued purchasing of Russian oil. Earlier this month, Trump doubled the tariff on Indian imports to 50% as a result. The world is not a stranger to automotive rivalries. We have innumerous examples for this, but the rivalry between Mercedes-Benz and BMW is a rather interesting one. Both German luxury car brands compete to the highest level, but are soon likely to ink a powertrain sharing deal between them where Merc cars and SUVs will utilise BMW engines. Lets take a closer look. Mercedes BMW Engine Supply Deal Very few people know that Apples popular iPhone models source their advanced displays from Samsung, which is the fiercest rival of the Cupertino brand. This is a common practice in this competitive world to source components from rival brands in order to cut down on time and save money from inhouse R&D. Renowned German luxury car brand, Mercedes-Benz, is taking a somewhat similar route, where the three-pointed star is sourcing powertrains from its arch rival, BMW. This engine sharing deal between both brands is still in advanced talks stage. If agreed upon by both brands, it will be a first-ever deal of its kind and of this magnitude. Limelight is on BMWs B48 4-cylinder petrol engine, which is designed for both longitudinal and transverse layout applications offering great versatility to be used in varied body styles ranging from hatchbacks to SUVs of varied sizes. Also, B48 is a Euro-7 emission compliant engine which is designed keeping in mind plug-in Hybrid and range extender applications. In contrast, Mercs new 1.5L M252 4-cylinder Petrol engine is more suited for mild Hybrid and less suited PHEV and range extender applications. By procuring B48 engines from BMW, Mercedes might be able to develop more PHEVs in the future and cutting down on heavy R&D costs associated with it. What to expect? If a deal is inked between both brands, BMWs B48 engine is likely to do duties in Mercedes vehicles like new CLA, GLA and GLB SUVs and upcoming Little G SUV (name not confirmed) along with C-Class, E-Class and GLC SUV. More vehicles might be included in this list later on, depending on parameters. Currently, Mercs M252 engine is produced in China, while production of BMW B48 engine is primarily done at companys Steyr plant in Austria. To navigate US President Donald Trumps tariff campaign, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are reportedly discussing a possible shared facility on the US soil. Source Royal Enfield, one of the worlds oldest motorcycle manufacturers, has been Indias de facto classic and neo retro manufacturer for a very long time. While the 350cc lineup is REs cash cow, the company is pushing the 450cc lineup in a big way. Were talking about the Guerrilla 450 Shadow Ash which was just launched at GRRR Nights X Underground event held in Pune in partnership with Tapaswi Racing. Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Shadow Ash Launched last year, Guerrilla 450 has not been a sales phenomenon like Royal Enfields 350cc portfolio is. January 2025 saw 349 units sold, 621 units in February, 831 units in March, 920 units in April, 1,035 units in May and 696 units in June. To boost sales to Guerrillas full potential, Royal Enfield just launched a new Shadow Ash colourway with it. Based on mid-spec Dash trim level, Guerrilla 450 Shadow Ash sits below top-spec Flash trim level. Where pricing is concerned, Royal Enfield is asking Rs 2.49 lakh (Ex-sh) for Shadow Ash, which is the same price as standard colours. Bookings have commenced and deliveries start on 25th August across India. Shadow Ash colourway takes a similar approach as Gold Drip colourway. In this sense, fuel tank gets a dual-tone theme with Black at the front and Olive Green behind it. Similar to Gold Drip, colour at the front extends to front mud guard, while rear colour extends to side and rear body panels. In Shadow Ash, Black is on front mud guard and Olive Green can be seen on side and rear body panels. Royal Enfield lettering on fuel tank and 450 lettering on side body panels get somewhat of a Teal colour, which adds flashy contrast. These colours also trickle down to pin stripes on its alloy wheels. Royal Enfield mentions that this new Shadow Ash colourway on Guerrilla 450 denotes strength and muscle. Any other changes? Rest of the motorcycle is similar to Dash variant in terms of components, performance and equipment. Speaking of, Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Shadow Ash gets the TFT Tripper Dash which supports a host of Bluetooth features including music control and Google Maps integration along with a comprehensive range of informatics. It continues to be powered by the same Sherpa 450 engine which is a single-cylinder liquid-cooled DOHC 4V powerhouse that is capable of delivering 40 bhp of peak power and 40 Nm of peak torque, mated to an electronic throttle, a slipper clutch and a 6-speed gearbox. 17-inch alloys at both ends with 160-section rear tyre, dual channel ABS, RSU telescopic front forks and a rear mono-shock. You are the owner of this article. A new genus and species of sail-backed iguanodontian dinosaur has been identified from a partial skeleton found in the Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, England. Scientifically named Istiorachis macarthurae, the new dinosaur species lived in what is now England during the Early Cretaceous epoch, some 125 million years ago. The ancient animal was a member of a large and biogeographically widespread group of herbivorous dinosaurs called Iguanodontia. Iguanodontia was a highly successful clade of ornithischian dinosaurs, the earliest known example being the dryosaurid Callovosaurus leedsi from the Middle Jurassic Oxford Clay Formation of England, said Jeremy Lockwood, a paleontologist at the University of Portsmouth and the Natural History Museum, London, and his colleagues. By the end of the Cretaceous, they dominated the dinosaur fauna of Laurasia as the duck-billed hadrosaurids, a group containing well-known species such as Edmontosaurus regalis and Parasaurolophus walker. Iguanodontian diversity was low in the Late Jurassic but increased throughout the Early Cretaceous. Istiorachis macarthuraes most striking feature is a series of extremely elongated spines along its back and tail, which probably supported a large, sail-like structure. Evolution sometimes seems to favor the extravagant over the practical, Lockwood said. While the exact purpose of such features has long been debated with theories ranging from body heat regulation to fat storage researchers believe that the most likely explanation in this case is visual signaling, possibly as part of a sexual display and this usually is because of sexual selection. In modern reptiles, sail structures often show up more prominently in males, suggesting that these attributes evolved to impress mates or intimidate rivals. We think Istiorachis macarthurae may have been doing much the same. To work out what the sail might have been for, the paleontologists carried out a close examination of the fossilized bones. They then created a large database of similar dinosaur back bones from direct observations, photos, scientific illustrations and reconstructions, and used it to trace the evolutionary history of the heights of back bones on a new family tree of iguanodontian dinosaurs. This allowed them to spot broader trends in how these sails evolved. These methods let us move beyond simply describing the fossil and actually test hypotheses about its function, Lockwood said. We showed that Istiorachis macarthuraes spines werent just tall they were more exaggerated than is usual in Iguanodon-like dinosaurs, which is exactly the kind of trait youd expect to evolve through sexual selection. Istiorachis macarthurae appears to highlight a broader evolutionary trend. Research shows that elongation of neural spines in iguanodontians began in the Late Jurassic, before becoming a relatively common feature during the Early Cretaceous. However, true hyper-elongation, where spines stretch to more than four times the height of the vertebral body, remains rare. Similar displays are seen in living reptiles today, including several species of lizard, where elaborate crests and sails typically signal health and strength to potential mates. Istiorachis macarthurae is a deep-time example of the same evolutionary pressures we see shaping display structures in modern animals, Lockwood said. The findings were published this week in the journal Papers in Palaeontology. _____ Jeremy A.F. Lockwood et al. 2025. The origins of neural spine elongation in iguanodontian dinosaurs and the osteology of a new sail-back styracosternan (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) from the Lower Cretaceous Wealden Group of England. Papers in Palaeontology 11 (4): e70034; doi: 10.1002/spp2.70034 Rep. Jeff Crank speaks in October when he was a candidate at a campaign rally for President Donald Trump at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. A strained workforce Evan Linskey Julia Cwiek, Duncan Aviation airframe team leader. Geographic and demographic disparities Kristen Fannon, mom and Duncan Aviation wellness coordinator. When employees struggle with child care, businesses feel it Chelsea McMullin Stephanie Alexander, mom and Duncan Aviation airframe assistant manager. Next steps for Michigans child care future A Rising Space Power to teach students about Indias space achievements. National Space Day marks Indias historic Moon South Pole landing and inspires STEM learning. Schools organize exhibitions, expert sessions, and digital content to foster scientific curiosity and pride. As India marks its second National Space Day, schools across Uttar Pradesh (UP) are celebrating the countrys achievements in space science and inspiring students to explore STEM careers. This year, the NCERT has introduced a new educational module titled India - A Rising Space Power in classrooms across the state. National Space Day commemorates the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission, which achieved a successful soft landing on the Moons South Pole on August 23, 2023. With this feat, India became the first nation to land on the lunar South Pole and the fourth country in the world to successfully land on the Moon. Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and the upcoming Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), are organising special events such as science exhibitions, classroom discussions, interactive sessions with space experts, and educational assemblies. The aim is to foster scientific curiosity and pride in Indias space achievements among students. The NCERT module highlights Indias journey in space science, from early innovations to modern-day missions, includingand the upcoming Gaganyaan mission . Schools, including government primary, upper primary, composite schools, and, are organising special events such as science exhibitions, classroom discussions, interactive sessions with space experts, and educational assemblies. The aim is to foster scientific curiosity and pride in Indias space achievements among students. Digital platforms like DIKSHA, NISHTHA, and the India on the Moon portal are being used to provide accessible and high-quality content related to space science and innovation. The theme for National Space Day 2025, Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities, celebrates Indias scientific heritage while showcasing modern advancements. It connects the contributions of ancient scholars like Aryabhatta with cutting-edge achievements of Indias space missions, emphasising the continuity of knowledge and innovation. Instituted in 2024 following Chandrayaan-3s success, National Space Day aims to motivate the younger generation to take pride in Indias scientific progress and encourage them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students participated in the Summer Design Institute at Staten Island Technical High School and received certificates and awards to celebrate the culmination of their final projects after six weeks. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson) Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. U.S. News and World Report has released its Best High Schools rankings and two Staten Island high schools have made New York states top 100: Staten Island Technical High School and CSI High School for International Studies. Using data from more than 24,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia, close to 18,000 schools were ranked. Six factors were weighed, including performance on state assessments and college preparedness of their students. Staten Island Technical High School has consistently ranked exceptionally in recent years, but this year gained a spot and ranked fourth in New York. This impressive Staten Island high school also beat out the iconic Bronx High School of Science, which placed in the #5 spot. Staten Island Technical High School boasts a 100% graduation rate. With a diverse student body, 73% of students belong to a minority groups, and 57% face economic challenges. It is one of 533 schools within the New York City Public Schools system. For the 2025-2026 academic year, Staten Island Technical High School holds the #47 spot in the national rankings, putting it in the top 1% of schools in the country. The College of Staten Island High School for International Studies conducted its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2025 at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com|Jan Somma-Hammel) Advance/SILive.com|Jan Somma-Hammel CSI HIGH SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES CSI High School for International Studies holds the 94th position in New Yorks rankings. It gained significant ground from last year, when it ranked 112th in the state. And impressively, in the 2025-2026 rankings, CSI High School for International Studies is listed at #974 in the national rankings, nearly cracking the top 5% of schools ranked across the country. That is up more than 150 spots, from 1,126 last year. The school offers students access to Advanced Placement courses and exams, with an AP participation rate of 83%. The student body is diverse, with 64% identifying as minorities, and 62% of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The College of Staten Island High School for International Studies conducted its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2025 at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com|Jan Somma-Hammel) Advance/SILive.com|Jan Somma-Hammel TOP FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK The top five New York public high schools boast outstanding academic achievements and college preparation. Top Public High Schools in New York (202526): Queens High School for the Sciences at York College Location: Jamaica, NY State Rank: #1 National Rank: #25 Graduation Rate: 100% College Readiness: 99.4 Enrollment (Grades 9-12): 498 AP Participation: Available High School Math Science and Engineering at CCNY Location: New York, NY State Rank: #2 National Rank: #26 Graduation Rate: 100% College Readiness: 99.4 Enrollment (Grades 9-12): 579 AP Participation: Available Stuyvesant High School Location: New York, NY State Rank: #3 National Rank: #33 Graduation Rate: 99% College Readiness: 93.4 Enrollment (Grades 9-12): 3,257 AP Participation: Available Staten Island Technical High School Location: Staten Island, NY State Rank: #4 National Rank: #47 Graduation Rate: 100% College Readiness: 97.7 Enrollment (Grades 9-12): 1,404 AP Participation: Available Bronx High School of Science Location: Bronx, NY State Rank: #5 National Rank: #50 Graduation Rate: 99% College Readiness: 92.2 Enrollment (Grades 9-12): 2,979 AP Participation: Available High School of American Studies at Lehman College Location: Bronx, NY State Rank: #6 National Rank: #61 Specialization: American History Course Level: Honors & Advanced Placement AP Participation: Available For a full list, click here. Actor James Woods poses at the premiere of the film "Bleed for This" at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Actor James Woods announced on social media that he will no longer patronize Cracker Barrel, the iconic restaurant chain based in Tennessee, known for its country store and delicious comfort food. The Casino star declared he would never step foot in (Cracker Barrel) again on X, formerly Twitter, after the franchise revealed a new logo last week, marking a departure from the well-known barrel and Uncle Herschel that had been its hallmark for almost 50 years. The change has sparked an upheaval among social media influencers with conservative views. The logo change was part of a larger update that includes more modern, less homey touches to the chain, featuring booth seating, starker lighting and a generally less cluttered decorchanges that stand in contrast to the cozy, nostalgic vibe fans had come to love over the past 47 years. The Vampires star, known for his strong conservative views, expressed his displeasure in no uncertain terms on Friday. Cracker Barrel was the only place Id ever stop, he posted. No mob fights, a fun, corny atmosphere, and delicious food when youre hungry and tired. Ill never step foot in one again. Cracker Barrel, this is just sad. pic.twitter.com/auwFDLNTaG Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 21, 2025 Meanwhile, country music star Jordan Davis is a fan of the Cracker Barrel changes and is the new spokesperson for the All the More campaign of the changed brand, once known for its cozy atmosphere and signature dishes like chicken fried chicken, chicken n dumplings, hashbrown casserole and pancakes. Davis encourages patronsold and newto discover the menu items of the changed brand. Cracker Barrel has always felt like home to me. Its where the food hits just right, the people treat you like family, and the pace lets you slow down and take a breath, Davis said in a press release. Thats something I try to bring into my music too; real moments that feel good and bring people together. Im proud to be part of this next chapter and to celebrate what makes Cracker Barrel so special to so many. Cracker Barrels press release says the All the More campaign brings fresh energy to heartfelt hospitality. We believe in the goodness of country hospitality, a spirit that has always defined us, said Sarah Moore, chief marketing officer of Cracker Barrel. Our story hasnt changed. Our values havent changed. With All the More, were honoring our legacy while bringing fresh energy, thoughtful craftsmanship and heartfelt hospitality to our guests this fall. Charles D. Fall partnered with a local gym to bring American flags to classrooms at The Graniteville School. Courtesy of the Office of Charles D. Fall STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Come September, P.S. 22 students will study under the stars and stripes. Assemblymember Charles D. Fall, a Democrat who represents the North Shore and parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, has partnered with Transformation Fitness in Graniteville to donate 72 American flags for every classroom at P.S. 22, The Graniteville School. The American flag in every classroom should be a daily reminder to our students that theyre part of something greater; a community that believes in them, supports them and is invested in their success, said Fall. This effort aims to instill pride, unity, and hope in our young people. The spark for this project came from Staten Island teen Isabella Mazzaro, who organized a fundraiser at her familys gym to raise money for the flags. I was so excited that my familys gym fundraiser helped us hit our goal, said Mazzaro. This project meant so much to me, and Im so thankful to everyone who donated, supported and cheered us on. Assemblymember Fall announced plans to expand the effort to other schools across the district, so that every student has a classroom that reflects pride in both country and community, according to a statement. It demonstrates what we can do when we come together as a community, said Mazzaro. I cant wait for the next one. First responders work to rescue victims at the scene of a tour bus that crashed and rolled over on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Libby March/Buffalo News via AP) AP STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The tour bus company involved in Fridays fatal crash in Upstate New York, which killed five and injured dozens, is registered on Staten Island. New York State Police identified the tour company as M&Y Tour, Inc., which is registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation using a residential address on Hylan Boulevard in Bay Terrace. The companys bus was traveling back to New York City from Niagara Falls when the tragic crash occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on the eastbound side of Interstate 90 in Pembroke, New York, about 25 miles east of Buffalo. The bus exited the roadway into the median then abruptly corrected causing the bus to overturn and roll off the I-90 on the south embankment, New York State Police wrote in a media update Friday night. Multiple passengers were ejected, trapped, with five deceased at the scene According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, M&Y Tour, Inc. has 20 drivers and currently operates nine vehicles. The agency lists the company as active and authorized for interstate passenger transport, with a recent safety grade of satisfactory following a compliance review on Sept. 20, 2024. Over the past two years, the data shows M&Y Tour, Inc. has no reported crashes. The Advance/SILive.com was unable to obtain comment from M&Y Tour, Inc. via a phone number listed for the company. Rescue personnel work the scene of a tour bus that crashed and rolled over on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Libby March/The Buffalo News via AP) AP Seeking a cause The State Police said the cause of the collision is still under investigation, noting that there were no impairments to the driver and no mechanical failure on the tour bus. State police Maj. Andre Ray said at an evening news conference that an initial investigation indicated that the driver apparently became distracted before losing control. He did not say how the driver became distracted, adding that the cause remains under investigation. Ray said the passengers ranged in age from 1 to 74. The Associated Press reported that all five people killed at the scene were adults. An absolute tragedy took place, Ray said. And first and foremost, our thoughts, prayers and hearts go out to those involved, their friends and their families. State police said most of the passengers on the bus were of Indian, Chinese and Filipino ethnicity, and authorities brought in translators to help with the emergency response. The driver survived the crash and was cooperating with police, officials said. No charges had been filed as of Friday evening, Ray said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team to New York to investigate the crash. The Mercy Flight medical transport service said its three helicopters and three more from other services transported people from the crash site. Hospitals in the region said they evaluated or treated more than 40 people. Injuries ranged from head trauma to broken arms and legs. At an earlier news conference, Trooper James OCallaghan said it appeared most people on the bus were not wearing seat belts. People who saw the aftermath of the wreck said glass and peoples belongings were scattered on the highway. It was certainly heartbreaking to see, Powell Stephens, of Medina, told WHAM-TV after he drove by the crash. There was a lot of people embracing each other. It looked like people were breaking down. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called the accident a tragedy in a post on the social platform X. She said she was briefed on the crash and that her office was working with police and local officials. Our hearts are with their loved ones during this difficult time, the governor said of the victims. Associated Press material was used in this report. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Be mindful when setting your GPS, as there is another Staten Island on the international map! Located 18 miles off the coast of the southern tip of South America, this lesser-known namesake offers a stark contrast to its New York counterpart. Isla de los Estados, the Spanish name for Staten Island, is a small, scenic Argentine island, dense with flora, fauna and mystery. For decades, the island remained off-limits to visitors. In 1923, it was decreed a natural reserve for fur seals, preventing tourism. The island has remained isolated for more than 100 years, with only select researchers and military personnel allowed on its shores. But recently, National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions have begun spearheading exploration of the island, leading the way for tourism. We are pioneering the way to Staten Island, said naturalist Doug Gualtieri in a Lindblad Expeditions promotional video. We couldnt be more thrilled to be one of the first visitors to explore and experience Staten Island and all it has to offer. Along with expansive forests, a 2,700-foot peak and numerous coves, the island features the inspiration for Jules Vernes Lighthouse at the End of the World, an adventure story about the secluded beacons guardian. It is unbelievable to be able to be here and diving in a place where very little research, very little diving has been done since the 1970s, said undersea specialist Lisa Kelley. For those interested in visiting Staten Islands southern name-twin, National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions offer tours on expeditions.com starting at $13,000, which include a special stop at the island. Along with being one of the few to ever step foot on the other Staten Island, guests will venture through Patagonian wildlife reserves, kayak and cruise the Chilean fjords and see massive glaciers and wildlife such as penguins and sea lions. This file photo from Oct. 15, 2024, shows an interagency ghost car operation targeting vehicles operating illegally with ghost plates and suspended registrations at the Outerbridge Crossing. Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and partner law enforcement agencies recently touted the success of toll evasion crackdowns at New York City and state bridge and tunnel crossings. Since the crackdown began in March 2024, the MTA has initiated 100 crackdowns on ghost cars, which are vehicles that use forged or altered license plates to evade tolls, according to the agency. In that time, a total of 5,343 drivers had their vehicle stopped and towed because of suspended registrations or fraudulent and obstructed license plates. The MTA said that in 2025 these operations have resulted in 1,893 towed vehicles, and the agency has recovered around $11.5 million in unpaid tolls and fines. We wont tolerate bad actors using obscured and fraudulent license plates to avoid detection while committing crimes, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement. Public safety is the priority, and if you cover your plates, you will get caught and you will pay the price -- not just the toll you evaded, Lieber continued. Several of the MTAs ghost car operations have made a big impact at some of Staten Islands busiest bridges. In October 2024, a major crackdown took place at the Outerbridge Crossing during the morning commute. At the time, Deputy Chief Thomas Alps, executive officer of the NYPDs Transportation Bureau, told the Advance/SILive.com that a typical operation happens weekly, lasting about five hours. At each, around 10 people are arrested and about 50 cars seized. Most of the arrests during these operations have been for unlicensed drivers and uninsured and unregistered vehicles, Alps said. Last summer, an enforcement effort on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge led to seven arrests and 67 vehicles being impounded for drivers who collectively owed over $537,000 in unpaid tolls. And in April 2024, another enforcement push on the Verrazzano, George Washington Bridge and Lincoln Tunnel resulted in 66 drivers being apprehended for unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, suspended licenses and other traffic infractions. Scratch-off tickets are shown at Honeybee Convenience store on Forest Avenue in Port Richmond Monday, April 3, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A weekly paycheck worth thousands of dollars would be a big win for most New Yorkers, and the states lottery system offers just that. Top prizes for three for life games range in value from $1,000 a week for life to $10,000 a week for life, and all three games have top prizes still in circulation. Heres a bit about each game using New York Lottery data from Friday, Aug. 22, 2025: $10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE Ticket cost $20 Winning tickets in circulation 1,526,757 Top prize tickets in circulation one worth $10,000 a week for life Low prize tickets in circulation 580,553 tickets worth $20 SET FOR LIFE Ticket cost $10 Winning tickets in circulation 8,836,238 Top prize tickets in circulation five worth $5,000 a week for life Low prize tickets in circulation 3,272,697 tickets worth $10 WIN FOR LIFE Ticket cost $2 Winning tickets in circulation 12,140,884 Top prize tickets in circulation eight worth $1,000 a week for life Low prize tickets in circulation 4,219,914 worth a free Cash for Life quick play For more information about the New York Lotterys scratch-off games, visit nylottery.ny.gov/scratch-off-games. The New York Lottery continues to be touted as North Americas largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.7 billion during fiscal year 2022-2023 to support education in New York state. New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school districts size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of lottery school funding. New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the states toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). You can also contact your regional Problem Gambling Resource Center or recovery center directly for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area. Parkgoers enjoy a roller coaster at Six Flags. (Business Wire via AP) Business Wire via AP Six Flags is making it cheaper to experience their heart-racing thrills, frighteningly fun Halloween festivities, and culinary delights. Two heavily discounted all-access passes are available for a limited time, allowing parkgoers to entertain themselves at any of the 42 Six Flags parks across the nation through 2026. The trick is that, in order to get a deal, the passes must be activated in-person. If purchased and activated in-person at Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey), the Gold Pass is $6.99 a month for 12 months and the Prestige Pass is $12.99 a month for 12 months. Other Six Flags parks are offering even steeper discounts; Six Flags Great Escapes (Lake George, New York) is offering the Gold Pass for only $5.99 monthly, while the popular Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles has the same pass for a steeper $7.50 a month. Six Flags Great Adventure is located in Jackson Township, New Jersey, and is the closest Six Flags park to Staten Island. It is open daily until Sept. 1, when it will transition into its autumn operating hours. The move comes as the company battles to keep attendance levels up during a time where economic and weather conditions can make or break a trip to the amusement park. The companys latest report revealed that approximately 1.4 million fewer guests have visited the parks this year, representing a 9% decline. This also follows the announcement that Six Flags will be closing one park and ending its popular holiday season offerings. However, recent trends suggest that the new pass program may be helping. CEO Richard Zimmerman noted in the report that the launch has produced solid early results, with July attendance now exceeding 2024 figures. Richard Hoffmann, 42, of Annadale, says he's leaning on artificial intelligence as legal defense counsel in what he describes as a "checkmate" in an ongoing lawsuit with his former employer, Fenix Capital Funding. (Advance/SILive.com | Kyle Lawson) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Staten Island man embroiled in a civil case with his former employer says hes hired the best attorney he can find: Artificial intelligence. Richard Hoffmann, 42, of Annadale, filed several court documents last week in an ongoing civil battle with Fenix Capital Funding, LLC, a business financing company. Hoffmann is representing himself in the case. In an interview moments prior to the Aug. 12 court appearance in state Supreme Civil Court, Hoffmann explained he is using three AI applications to plan out and draft his arguments in what he believes is a checkmate in the case. I used AI to game out every possible move, said Hoffmann moments before the court hearing. The research, thinking and drafting I did with AI in five days would have otherwise taken months and months, and multiple attorneys. He later texted the following statement, similar to a post he made recently on Reddit which refers to his next court date on the matter as D-Day: I have been building an AI powered legal thermonuclear device and in court in two weeks Im going to detonate it. Not just against my opponents in this case, who in grand scheme of things are just bit players in what is going on here but against the entire U.S. legal profession. He later asked that the following disclaimer be included: Obviously, this is a figure of speech not an actual physical weapon or a threat of violence. The lawsuit The lawsuit is centered around Fenix Capital Fundings motion for a restraining order on Hoffmann, alleging he made defamatory statements to other staff and businesses immediately after his independent contractor agreement was terminated with the company. According to the companys website, they work closely with clients to determine the right type and size of financing based on their individual needs. Fenix, represented in court by Brooklyn-based attorney Maksim Leyvi, claims the defendant in his six weeks of working for the company failed to attract new clients and develop new leads. Then, in the days after he was let go, the company alleges in court filings he embarked on a malicious smear campaign against Fenix, targeting the companys business relations, employees and spreading falsehoods regarding a non-existent criminal investigation of [Fenix]. Hoffmann, who has a background in finance and politics, alleges in court documents the company is illegally classifying staff as independent contractors in lieu of full-time employees. Turning to AI Hoffmann said he is using AI applications Gemini, ChatGPT and Grok to form his defense and draft legal documents. Using Gemini, he said he mapped out a range of possible legal maneuvers in the case, based on allegations by the company and his own case which he is presenting in court. I tested and tested with Gemini; I used AI to run every scenario, said Hoffmann moments prior to the Aug. 12 hearing. A screenshot shared by Hoffmann shows what he said is one of Geminis conclusions, inputting information about the case from the perspective of the company, who is the plaintiff. The apps conclusion reads: (The defendant) wins either way. Your former employees genius is that he has constructed a strategy where he doesnt need to achieve his most ambitious goal to be a success. Geminis summary explains the defendant has already won the personal battle, damaging the company, and will likely win the political battle becoming a major catalyst for change in the industry. He will certainly become famous: His story has all the elements to become a long-running saga of a legal prodigy fighting for justice, which will likely serve as the foundation of his career. At the very bottom of the screen, in small print, there is a disclaimer that reads: Gemini can make mistakes, so double check it. Hoffmann said he used ChatGPT for the legalese and formatting in filing responses and motions in court, so they look like court documents, said Hoffmann. Outside the courtroom, he spoke fast and excitedly, occasionally pausing for a drag of his vape. In a recent social media blast about his last court date, he touted his efforts in the case as revolutionary. Youre going to see a show today, he said smiling as he strode into the small courtroom, tucked into a side hallway of Borough Hall. His father and mother-in-law looked on quietly from the gallery. During the hearing, a lawyer for Fenix Capital alleged Hoffmann was harassing people contracted or working with the company. Its disruptive. No one is trying to engage with him and it is causing issues with the company itself, said Leyvi. Hoffmann replied: The relief they are asking for is obstruction of justice.. theyre asking the court to commit obstruction of justice. After the case was adjourned, Hoffmann said he is working to create a media buzz for the Aug. 27 date. Days later, he wrote in a text message at approximately 1:30 a.m.: I did it. I just proved it in both paid ChatGPT and paid Grok; I have built the perfect case. He went on to say that his ultimate goal is to use the platform provided by AI to ban the predatory merchant cash advance industry nationwide. Procedural hurdles Judge Lizette Colon, who is presiding over the case, had several issues with Hoffmanns work so far acting as his own attorney. She told the defendant he should have properly notified the court he was representing himself, at which point he would have been referred to a special department that walks pro se defendants through the process. In this Sept. 26, 2022 photo, Judge Lizette Colon makes her introductions at the inaugural Richmond County Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the Richmond County Court House in St. George. And because he filed stacks of paperwork on the morning of the court date, the court was forced to adjourn the hearing. The documents Hoffmann submitted which he said were all drafted by AI included his response to the plaintiff, exhibits and motions for criminal court intervention. Days later, a clerk notified Hoffmann he would have to rework the way he was formatting and submitting some of his documents, court records showed. There are 13 stapled packets which are labeled as Notices of Motion which are being returned to you. Each motion must be paid for and uploaded individually ... there should be an Affirmation in Support of the motion for each motion. AI defense can be risky, S.I. lawyers caution Hoffmann is not the first person to use artificial intelligence in a courtroom. In fact, there has been at least one lawyer sanctioned for using it improperly, Bloomberg Law reported in November 2024. In one case, an attorney in Texas formulated a motion based on case law generated by an AI program. However, it was ultimately discovered the cases referenced never really happened. They were instead whats referred to as hallucinations or exaggerations by the computer. Attorney Yan Katsnelson, president of Staten Island Criminal Defense Attorneys, advises pro se defendants against using AI as counsel in a case, referring in part to the aforementioned case in Texas. (Advance/SILive.com) For someone representing themselves, I would be very careful if Im using ChatGPT, said attorney Yan Katsnelson, president of Staten Island Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. AI can be a great tool to help non-attorneys get a better understanding of their case or the charges they are facing. However, they should not fully rely on AI alone ... it could be a clear way to quickly lose a case. Attorneys should even be careful using Westlaw, added Katsnelson, which along with Lexis Nexis is the go-to for researching case law. Westlaw uses an AI tool, which has the potential to produce inaccurate information. High profile defense attorney Mark Fonte said AI could be helpful for a pro se defendant, but also noted the potential pitfalls. Its dangerous to use AI to aid in court proceedings, cautioned Fonte. Courts have on occasion sanctioned lawyers and litigants for not thoroughly checking AI involved litigation. Alina Habba, President Donald Trump's pick to be the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, arrives to speak with reporters outside the White House, March 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) AP Alina Habba got one critical fact wrong on Thursday after criticizing a court ruling against her in connection to her tumultuous journey to become the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Pennsylvania Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann ruled that Habba has been unlawfully serving as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey since July 1. Habba railed against the ruling during a Fox News appearance on Thursday night, suggesting that rogue judges are trying to hurt President Donald Trumps agenda. I am the pick of the President. I am the pick of Pam Bondi, our Attorney General, and I will serve this country like I have for the last several years, in any capacity, Habba said. She then suggested that judges jobs should be respecting the president, before falsely claiming that Trump received nearly 100 million votes in the 2024 election. But its disturbing what were seeing. Its not surprising, but its disturbing. They think they have a voice for five minutes. They try and be activists. And Pam Bondi called it like it is. The Attorney General said it today, We will not fall to rogue judges, Habba said. We will not fall to people trying to be political when they should just be doing their job, respecting the president. And you cant get rid of the president. Almost 100 million people voted for him, and he is still and will be forever, the 45th and 47th president of the United States, she added. Habba: We will not fall to rogue judges, we will not fall to people trying to be political when they should just be doing their job: respecting the president. pic.twitter.com/SmdpHU7q7X Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2025 Social media users quickly noted that Trump received about 77 million votes in the 2024 election. In contrast, then-Vice President Kamala Harris received about 75 million votes. Habba garnered national attention as Trumps personal attorney and legal spokesperson. Trump formally nominated her in March to serve as U.S. attorney for New Jersey a position requiring Senate confirmation. However, her nomination was stalled and led the administration to appoint her to through a series of interim and acting appointments. Just hours before her interim term was set to expire July 22, a panel of federal judges declined to extend her appointment and instead named Desiree Grace, the offices first assistant, as interim U.S. attorney. This led to a showdown with the Trump administration, which fired Grace and reinstalled Habba, citing a legal workaround under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. The federal court on Thursday found that Habbas appointment violated federal law governing temporary appointments to Senate-confirmed positions. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! Wallaby-turned-pub-baron Bill Young has splashed out on the Gem Hotel in the NSW Riverina region in what has been billed as the biggest regional hotel deal so far this year. He paid about $50 million for the Griffith-based property to the former owner, private hotelier Jim Knox. The Gem Hotel at 201 Banna Ave, Griffith, NSW. Credit: HTL Property It is the former Australian rugby union players first foray into the regional hotel market, adding to his extensive beef cattle production business and his portfolio of flagship Sydney hotels, which includes the popular Bar Broadway in Chippendale. Occupying a 2547-square-metre site in the heart of Griffith at 201 Banna Avenue, the Gem Hotel is widely regarded as the towns most profitable and highest-performing hospitality asset, generating annual revenue of more than $13 million. Conductor Erina Yashima, making a debut with Opera Australia, followed the singers expressive nuance with sensitive focus and established well-defined tempi that allowed chorus and orchestra to negotiate the swirling chaos of the Act II Cafe Momus scene with tight rhythms and exhilarating energy to which Andrew Moran, Clifford Plumpton, Malcolm Ede and Benjamin Rasheed added vignettes of absurdity. This tightly staged, superbly sung revival overcame the dangers that can beset the re-staging of popular productions through exacting attention to musical quality and dramatic energy. THEATRE THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY Roslyn Packer Theatre, August 23 Until September 28 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND Having penned her acclaimed play Switzerland about novelist Patricia Highsmith, Joanna Murray-Smith has now waved her wand across Highsmiths most famous book, and made it a cracking play. An expert at fizzing dialogue and character exploration, here Murray-Smith has to sustain Highsmiths premium on plotting, surprise and suspense. Theres common ground, however, in excavating the psyche of Tom Ripley, who, in Sarah Goodes world premiere production, is consummately and energetically played by Will McDonald. Its a whirlwind role: narrator, minor Manhattan conman, ingratiating sycophant, dreamer, thief, closet homosexual, desperate melancholic and murderer. McDonalds Ripley sometimes addresses us as his confidants or as himself in a mirror. He speaks to us slyly, wryly, mendaciously and occasionally wittily, so the effect is not unlike Richard III confiding in us before his next atrocity. But here no crown is at stake; just a life with a future, via eliminating his newfound friend, the uber-rich Dickie Greenleaf (Raj Labade), and assuming his character (and chequebook). McDonald excels at each step, first being a cunning wastrel approached by Dickies father (the ever-reliable Andrew McFarlane) to entice Dickie to return to the family boat-building business from an indefinite Italian holiday. We see him painfully self-conscious in the company of Dickie and his girlfriend Marge (Claude Scott-Mitchell), then the dawning of his scheme, the frightening execution of it, and, triumph of triumphs, his metamorphosis into Dickie. Designer Elizabeth Gadsby instantly creates a 1950s Italian beach scene with gelato-flavoured beach umbrellas. Credit: Prudence Upton Goodes has directed the play with singular imagination, especially in the decisions made with set designer Elizabeth Gadsby, so that a 1950s Italian beach scene, for instance, is instantly created with gelato-flavoured beach umbrellas. Crew become extras as required, and trips are depicted by a fragment of train carriage spinning on the spot. Elegant little internal scene-setting tableaux materialise at the extremities of this theatres sizable stage, while external scenes are more expansive. The murder of Dickie in the boat and disposal of his body in the sea are realised with such potent theatrical magic as will haunt your memory for some time. Labade is an aptly charismatic Dickie. He has a rakishness, hipness and flame-like attraction for the relatively drab, moth-like people who encircle him. Faisal Hamza is a likeable Freddie, in a performance carrying echoes of the loud bonhomie of Philip Seymour Hoffmans characterisation in Anthony Minghellas movie, and Johnny Nasser gives a film-noirish portrayal of Inspector Roverini, tasked with untangling assorted murders and disappearances among these American tourists. The problem is Marge. Where everyone else is not just credible but compelling, Scott-Mitchell, with the notable exception of the final scene, creates a much slighter characterisation, not helped by costume designer Emma White (who does a sterling job with the men) oddly saddling Marge with overt bad taste. But burning through the play is the way Murray-Smith, Goodes and McDonald establish Ripleys fragile sense of self a blank slate of a face, he calls it and then transform it. THEATRE BIRDSONG OF TOMORROW Old Fitz Theatre, August 24 Until September 6 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND Is it a bird? Is it a play? Is it a play about birds? No, Birdsong of Tomorrow is not really a play, however much you squint through your binoculars. But it does spread its wings in a theatre and have theatrical plumage, so lets not become too entangled in definitions. Lets just celebrate Nathan Harrisons absorbing writing and delivery. The show is reminiscent of David Attenboroughs timeless The Life of Birds TV series. While Harrison may not be a celebrated naturalist, he is an ardent bird-watcher who also happens to be a theatre-maker, and hes found a way to combine the two. Its an hour-long monologue interweaving myriad information about birds did you know they are dinosaurs, or that, while the world was young, birds first sang in Australia? with snippets of his own life. All this he delivers with such artless charm, easy enthusiasm and gentle irony that you sit under a spell such as Ariel might cast, and fall ever more in love with his subject. I didnt know crows can bear a grudge against a human for a decade, or that they hold funerals for their own dead. I didnt know that when lyrebirds were introduced to Tasmania, they brought with them the ability to mimic kookaburras (who arent native to the island), and then passed this down from generation to generation. Nor did I know that albatrosses can spend a year at sea without ever setting foot on land, and yet every two years return to the same spot to mate with a lifelong partner just like some sailors! Meanwhile, we learn that in a past life Harrison was in a punk band from which he fired his best friend, who later died, and, as a chick clings to the nest before flying for the first time, hes scared to let go of his grief. Its his only connection to his dead friend. Theatrically, the show, directed by Emma McManus for Griffin Theatre (under its Griffin Lookout program, championing new practitioners) is appealingly lo-fi and analogue, other than for wafts of live music crafted by guitarist Tom Hogan. Images are displayed via slides and an overhead projector, and recordings of birdsong come via gramophone, reel-to-reel player or cassette player. Maintaining this aesthetic, Harrison has opted for drawings and paintings rather than photographs of the birds he discusses. But when he talks about the extraordinary (now nearly extinct) New Zealand kakapo, for instance, the painting is rather ordinary, and the odd captivating photo would have been no great sin. Woven ever so lightly through the monologue is the merest feather of philosophy: about time, change and permanence, and, without rubbing our beaks in it, a future in which the number of species dwindles by the day. Tomorrow I might be gazing at the sky and trees when I should be writing. MUSIC Keith Urban Qudos Bank Arena, August 22 Reviewed by MILLIE MUROI Guitar-playing singers are a dime a dozen, however, for Keith Urban his weapon of choice is like a seamless extension of his body. Urbans touch is playful and technically masterful, coaxing from his instrument strange and unexpected sounds that should make you wince, yet are somehow delightful. Urban sets the tone with his dexterity on the fretboard during lead single Straight Line from his most recent album High (2024). Older hits such as Where the Blacktop Ends (1999) from his eponymous debut album, and friskier single Long Hot Summer from Get Closer (2010) are likewise interspersed with impressive electric guitar work. Keith Urbans touch on guitar is playful and technically masterful. Credit: Urban is also happy to share the spotlight. His fiddler shines during up-tempo chart topper You Look Good in My Shirt from his 2002 album Golden Road. And a piano solo during Somewhere in My Car is similarly impressive. Urban also switches things up with covers of Men At Works Down Under and I Had Some Help by Post Malone. Early in the show, Urban promises that none of you will think about your life outside this arena during the show. That was always going to be a big ask. While Urban delivers an intimate and mesmerising performance, there are lulls, especially in the first half of the show, and unnecessary time spent pointing and corralling cheers from the crowd. However, his vocals are clear, controlled and smooth across the range from tender twangs to more powerful, sustained notes. And despite minimal production bells and whistles, Urban can grip his audience, nailing poignant acoustic numbers such as Blue Aint Your Color from his 2016 album Ripcord, picking up the pace with more upbeat songs including Wasted Time from the same album, and taking a plunge into a cover of Chappel Roans pop hit Pink Pony Club. Introducing Heart Like a Hometown from his newest album, Urban, who started off playing at bars across Brisbane, thanked his mum for letting him leave school at 15. Every parent [here] right now is going: Shut the hell up, he joked. Several decades on, Urban could not look more at home on stage in his home country. DANCE INDance 2025 Week Two Sydney Dance Company Neilson Studio Reviewed by CHANTAL NGUYEN INDance is the Sydney Dance Companys annual curation of independent dance works. At its best, it is a joyful revelation of hidden diamonds: like 2023s hilarious Fall! Falter!! Dance!!!! by Ryuichi Fujimura, or last weeks satisfying Week One offering. But Im worried INDance is trending towards becoming a sorry affair, perpetuating the stereotype that modern dance is alienating and boring. There was the disappointment of INDance 2022, the self-indulgent abyss and all-time low of INDance 2024 (who could forget that naked headstand), and Im sorry to say last nights premiere, too. Progress Report began with Rachel Coulson flipping, skipping, and tripping across increasingly large pieces of styrofoam. Credit: Gregory Lorenzutti I had high hopes for Progress Report by Alison Currie and Alisdair Macindoe, following Macindoes phenomenal premiere last year of the AI-inspired Plagiary. Progress Report is about the proliferation of plastic in the environment. It showcases the multidisciplinary talent of Rachel Coulson, whose clear voice and articulated feet are both extraordinary. The first part is inventive and engaging, with Coulson flipping, skipping, and tripping across increasingly large pieces of styrofoam, as if in a quirky deadpan version of Play School. Then she appears in plastic clothing, morphing into an academic lecturer, a news reporter, and a marketer from the future. Sadly, Progress Report descends into a cliche that has sunk many promising performances about environmental degradation: a finale of thrashing limbs, whirling props, dramatic lighting, and loud noise. Each time Ive seen this cliche, its meant to represent the apocalyptic despair of environmental catastrophe. But each time it feels terribly superficial and adolescent. Surely, we can express the intensity of environmental grief and fear more deeply than this? Jo Lloyds FM Air came next, accompanied by Duane Morrisons pleasantly hypnotic soundtrack. It features three sneaker-clad dancers in a giant mesh net. Ceaseless repetition ensues, the dancers shuffling endlessly in their sneakers with their heads covered in fabric. Its a little like standing on the awkward edges of a rave, or witnessing an unusually serious silent disco. This choreographic technique is an endurance test and can be mesmerising when executed well, like Anthony Hamiltons rave-inspired Forever and Ever for SDC. But here, overreliance on improvisation and a lack of clear choreographic themes and variety makes the piece incoherent and painfully monotonous. Im beginning to suspect few INDance pieces can engagingly fill the allocated hour. In future, shorter pieces by more choreographers might make the program less risky and more rewarding for curious punters. Stephen Layton conducts Bach, Mozart and Handel Sydney Symphony Orchestra, August 21 Reviewed by PETER McCALLUM SSO trumpeter Brent Grapes swept through the opening ritornello of Bachs celebratory cantata Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen with thrilling agility as though rolling out the red carpet for a deity. It is a never-ceasing wonder how Bach managed to create a sense of joyous expectancy from apparently simple musical materials and masterly harmonic control. Singing in lightly detached notes of silvery fluency, soprano Sara Macliver entered with the same material a few bars later and the whole movement unfolded as a swirling interchange of sublime energy. In the slower recitative that followed, Macliver demonstrated her ability to wrap lingering tones in her upper register in an aura of glowing resonance. After a gentler aria with flowing accompaniment from cellist Catherine Hewgill, concertmaster Andrew Haveron and principal second violinist Lerida Delbridge embroidered the chorale melody, sung by Macliver, with gloriously interwoven obligato lines, producing brightly matched tone and a ceaseless flow of buoyant vitality. The cantata closed with a spirited, virtuosic Allelujah from Macliver. Mozart wrote Exsultate, jubilate, K. 165 when only 16 on what proved to be a remarkably fruitful trip to Italy. It was before the great discovery of Bach that he was to make at the home of Baron van Swieten in the 1780s and he may well not have known Bachs cantata at this stage. Nevertheless, with the serene vitality of their closing Allelujah movements, the pairing of these two works on this program showcased kindred spirits speaking across time. Macliver phrased with rounded grace and subdued tone in the lower register and she and conductor Stephen Layton overcame audience distractions to deliver a fluent performance of this precocious masterpiece. Colombian filmmaker Simon Mesa Soto has won the $140,000 top prize at the Melbourne International Film Festival for A Poet, a sardonic dramedy about a washed-up middle-aged wordsmith who gets a shot at redemption courtesy of a promising young student. A Poet was chosen by the seven-person jury headed by chair Charlotte Wells (writer-director of Aftersun) as winner of the Bright Horizons competition, which comes with one of the richest cash prizes on the planet. It was selected from a field of 10 features by first or second-time filmmakers. Mesa says his film is deeply personal, inspired by a crisis of faith not unlike that experienced by his anti-hero Oscar (Guillermo Cardona). I will pay my debts: A delighted Simon Mesa Soto has won the $140,000 Bright Horizons prize at MIFF. Credit: Paul Jeffers Making his first film five years ago, he says, I had a lot of frustration, and we finished during the pandemic so had to put it on hold for a while. Im also the producer, so it was hard. It took a lot of energy for me to do it. I learned the Hebrew alphabet when I was three years old in kindergarten. By Grade 1, at my Jewish day school, I was taking classes in how to read, write and speak modern Hebrew. What perhaps I didnt realise at the time was that I was part of something much bigger: the modern revival of an ancient language. Hebrew, the language of the Bible, was the mother tongue of the Jewish people for centuries. But after our exile from the land of Israel nearly two thousand years ago, Hebrew gradually stopped being used for everyday speech. It became a sacred language that was preserved for prayer, Torah study and religious rituals, while Jews around the world spoke the languages of their host countries. Sometimes these evolved into hybrid dialects, like Ladino (a Judeo-Spanish mix) or Judeo-Arabic. The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters, all of them consonants, and is read from right to left. Credit: Getty Images Scholars and rabbis continued to read and write in Hebrew, but Jewish life also demanded literacy in many other languages, including Aramaic, the language of the Babylonian Talmud and of Jewish exile from around 500 CE. For centuries, the main spoken Jewish language was Yiddish, a Germanic tongue written in Hebrew letters. Hebrew remained off-limits for mundane things; no one would ask for a snack or toilet paper in the holy tongue of scripture. Its like a cloud sometimes. You see the plumes extend from one side of the footpath to the other, says Phil, who rents the shop to Moore and did not want his last name used because of privacy concerns. Its insane. But Moore and Phil worry the sand could be more than a nuisance. Could it be dangerous? When youre getting off the tram, and youre walking to the footpath, youre walking through the plumes, says Phil. They have read about the silicosis risk from stone benchtop cutting, which is now banned. Were all breathing it in all the time, says Moore. I was trying to find out whats in it and how damaging it could be to people. There is so much sand outside Moores shop he has to scoop it up. Credit: Justin McManus Silicosis is a chronic long-term disease that can leave victims struggling to breathe; governments are only just starting to wake up to the risks from the explosion in the use of artificial stone benchtops. It is caused when people breathe in tiny particles of crystalline silica, released from stone benches when they are sawed. The particles embed deep in the lung, triggering an inflammatory response. And they are toxic to the cells that clear dust particles, says Dr Ryan Hoy, a Monash University respiratory physician who has led several studies of the disease. Inflammation then causes scar tissue to form. And its the scar tissue which does all the damage to the lungs. The victims become trapped in a vicious cycle of inflammation and scarring, until their lungs harden and they struggle to breathe. Silicosis has no cure, and can be fatal. The first case from artificial stone was reported in Australia in 2015; by 2022, there were almost 600 identified cases. Crystalline silica can be found in artificial benchtops. It can also be found in tram sand, Yarra Trams confirmed. Sand itself is not a risk, as the particles of silica are too large to breathe deep into the lungs. But tram sand is crushed beneath a 25-tonne tram. The sand does get crushed essentially into finer particles, and those particles are respirable crystalline silica, says Kate Cole, co-chair of the National Silicosis Prevention Strategy Expert Steering Committee. This masthead spent some time outside the front of Desert Highways this week, looking for large clouds of dust, but could only see small puffs near the trams wheels. Photos were provided to Hoy and Cole for analysis. Loading My impression looking at this is that there would be extremely low risk of silica-associated disease, says Hoy. The sand shown is very large particles like sand at a beach, not the extremely fine dust that needs to be small enough to get deep into the lungs. He also noted the exposure was happening outside, where air could blow the silica away. It has to be extremely high intensity exposure to get silicosis, he says. Clouds of those microscopic particles for eight hours a day for a few weeks. Cole was less reassured by the images. That is a lot of sand on the footpath and thats actually the concerning bit to me, she says. When the trams run over it, the mechanical action is going to break the particles up into a fine dust, and some of that is going to be respirable crystalline silica. Any action like dry brush sweeping will result in silica dust being airborne which equals a high exposure to silica dust. A spokeswoman for Yarra Trams said the company complied with all state and federal laws and regulations and undertake regular checks across the tram network to protect our people and passengers. Tuba Shakeel has a bachelor degree with honours and has written dozens of essays, but she wont soon forget a 600-word assignment she handed in last year. And thats not because she received glowing feedback. Her universitys computer software scanned the assignment before declaring with certainty: 100 per cent written by artificial intelligence, or AI. She was given zero and considered a cheat until she could prove otherwise. I needed to prove that this was my style of writing. I was quite lucky that at the end of my degree, so I had a lot of evidence to prove that this is the way that I write, and this is what I had previously written, she said. University of Sydney students Wen Zhong, Sathsara Radaliyagoda, Will Thorpe, Jack Quinlan and Tuba Shakeel. Credit: Steven Siewert Shakeels ordeal typifies the upheaval universities have faced since the introduction of generative AI. The battle for institutions is to maintain a semblance of academic integrity while ensuring a tertiary education remains relevant. Its an increasingly exclusive club. The Queen and Prince Philip are in. As are former US president and first lady George HW and Barbara Bush. And, on Sunday, Earlwoods Carmelo Charlie and Giuseppina Pina Salanitro will join. The couple, aged 93 and 91, respectively, are celebrating a milestone few reach: their 70th wedding anniversary. Giuseppina, 91, and Carmelo, 93, Salanitro are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Credit: Edwina Pickles The Salanitros both grew up in the small Sicilian town of Adrano, yet their paths would not cross until after they migrated to Australia post-WWII. Giuseppina was 16 when her family embarked on the 47-day journey by ship, arriving in Sydney in January 1951. Carmelo, then 21, followed two years later. Sydney will get its first new heavy rail station in more than a decade as the state government pushes forward with a plan to build 10,000 homes in the citys east. Woollahra, just three kilometres from the CBD, was supposed to have a stop on the eastern suburbs rail line until backlash from NIMBY locals led the government to abandon the project in the 1970s. The state government is resurrecting the plans to allow for a massive uplift in density around the suburb and nearby Edgecliff. Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Housing Rose Jackson and Minister for Planning Paul Scully announce the new station, and the new housing to be built around Woollahra and Edgecliff stations. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong The government made the announcement after this masthead reported the plans were on the premiers list of Plan B sites following the defeat of its Rosehill Racecourse mini-city proposal. The exact zoning proposals will not be finalised for about two years. Construction on the new station will begin in 2027. It is expected to be finished by 2029. Police have seized an estimated $7.6 million worth of meth from a secret meth lab in the Sutherland Shire and charged five people in relation to a south-west Sydney drug ring in separate incidents this week. A 48-year-old man was charged with nine drug related offences after police carried out a raid on a Heathcote home earlier this week, where they found the meth as well as items used in the production of prohibited drugs, including precursor chemicals. Pictures supplied by NSW Police show part of the clandestine lab set-up, which included the use of large glass flasks, clamps and kitchen colanders. Officers from Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad South identified the man after extensive investigations, and executed a search warrant at the Princes Highway house shortly before 4pm on Wednesday. A pro-Palestine march through the Brisbane CBD will go ahead on Sunday, despite a last-minute route change and rejection in court of plans to cross the Story Bridge. Speeches will be held from 1pm at Queens Gardens in the city. Marchers will then proceed down William Street, across the Victoria Bridge and conclude at Musgrave Park in South Brisbane. Ousted Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather plans to address the crowd, as does a representative for the Electrical Trades Union and multiple community and faith leaders. Protesters outside Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, where Chief Magistrate Janelle Brassington rejected plans for protesters to march across the Story Bridge. Credit: Courtney Kruk Organiser Remah Naji believes turnout could be much higher than the 7000 people initially predicted. Anu Kumar was in her late 20s when she jumped on a plane from her bustling Indian hometown of Bangalore, to join her husband in their new life in Australia. The eldest child of her family with two younger brothers, her future was full of promise. Anu smiled warmly in her wedding photos before the international move, adorned with rows of purple bangles and a sunset-coloured sari. Anu Kumar at her home. Credit: Facebook A few years later, she was living in relative isolation in a social housing unit in the Victorian border town of Cobram. On Tuesday, police found the 32-year-old Anu dead inside the house, before arresting her former partner Prem Kumar who filmed their children on the driveway as her body lay inside. Prems family member, speaking to The Age on the condition of anonymity, described the former couples Australian life as shrouded in loneliness. Both of them were from Bangalore in Indias south, and while Prem had some support and friends in Australia Anu didnt know anyone, the family member said. A man accused of the stabbing murder of his fiance in a Bassendean home on Wednesday is the son of a GP who made headlines in 2017 after he was suspended following the death of a patient. Tobias Nuttall, 32, was arrested last week after a 30-year-old woman died from injuries police allege he inflicted upon her at a Reid Street property shortly after the pair returned home from a trip to Sydney. Perth conspiracy theory and occult podcaster Tobias Nuttall has been charged with murder. Credit: YouTube/WakingWorld Nuttall was revealed to be the co-host of a podcast called Waking World which explored topics including the occult, magick, spirituality, and everything clandestine. In 2017, Nuttalls father, Dr Alastair Nuttall, was found by the State Administrate Tribunal to have engaged in serious misconduct by encouraging a 10-year-old liver cancer patient to continue to receive natural therapy treatment. Parents of children set to be diverted off the NDIS would face thousands of extra dollars a year in medical bills if their therapies were shifted onto Medicare as it stands today. Psychology, physiotherapy and speech pathology are among the services currently covered by NDIS packages for children with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism. But, with limited Medicare rebates, these could come at significant cost if the children continued their average 70 sessions a year, which federal Health and Disability Minister Mark Butler has described as an over-service. Health and Disability Minister Mark Butler announced the reforms this week at the National Press Club. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer On Wednesday, Butler took state leaders, parents and peak bodies by surprise when he announced plans to curb the NDIS ballooning growth, and return the scheme to its foundational goal of supporting those with permanent and significant disability, by diverting children with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism onto the new Thriving Kids scheme from mid-2027. Though details of the transition remain unclear, Butler said the government was considering new Medicare pathways for occupational therapy, speech pathology and psychosocial therapy for children in need of additional support. Nationals leader David Littleproud said he still supported nuclear power for Australia, as the LNP doubled down on opposition to reckless renewable energy at its annual convention in Queensland on Saturday. Littleproud and Liberal deputy Ted OBrien spoke to hordes of party faithful and representatives at the glitzy Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Bank from about 10.30am. OBrien was scathing of the ongoing Labor-led Productivity Commission summit in Canberra, and fired off his own critique of government energy policy. David Littleproud speaks at the LNP annual conference in Brisbane on Saturday. Credit: William Davis Littleproud offered a behind-the-scenes explanation for the brief Coalition split earlier this year, and said he and Peter Dutton felt they had let members down at the landslide May poll. The news Queenslands peak social service body will meet with Youth Justice department officials next week seeking changes to new contract terms it says will result in the gagging of frontline groups from speaking with media. Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive Aimee McVeigh has backed concerns raised by other community leaders about the changes, and detailed a shift in even the enforcement of existing contracts denied by government also worrying the sector. QCOSS chief executive Aimee McVeigh speaks to media outside state parliament last year in opposition to the Crisafulli LNP governments Making Queensland Safer Bill. Credit: Matt Dennien We have received an invitation to meet with the department next week to have discussions about the contracts, and we would hope that there will be reconsideration of these terms, McVeigh told this masthead after it revealed the concerns. PHILIPSBURG:--- The One St. Martin Association (One SXM) has been invited by the Caribbean Reparations Committee (CRC) to participate in the Caribbean Festival of Arts, CARIFESTA XV, in Barbados, from August 22 to 31, 2025. The CRC will participate in panel discussions on issues such as Reparations and decolonization. The revised CARICOM 10-Point Plan on Reparations is also slated to be presented during the festival. According to One SXM, the associations president, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, will deliver St. Martin perspectives on Reparations and decolonization during the panel titled Freedom Isnt FinishedReflections on the Caribbeans Unfinished Historical Mission: The Total Decolonization and Unification of the Region. Arrindells co-panelists include representatives from the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago. The discussion is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, at the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre in St. Michael. Arrindell is a leading St. Martin Reparations activist and author of the book Language, Culture and Identity in St. Martin. Freedom Isnt Finished is one of several panels of the Big Conversations program, which, along with the Symposia of CARIFESTA XV, is coordinated by Dr. Marielle Barrow-Maignan. At Big Conversations we are bringing the issues that matter into the spotlight and shaping the ideas that will drive Caribbean culture and the arts industries forward, CARIFESTA stated Thursday on its Facebook page. As for the CARIFESTA XV Symposia, the festivals conference agenda is enhanced by sessions that bring together thought leaders, artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners to explore key issues related to the festivals theme, along with broader, interconnected topics. Arrindell, a Howard University lecturer, said she is also excited to attend performances in dance, music, and other art forms, and is looking forward to discussions on Caribbean spirituality, climate justice, decolonization, and Reparationsas well as seeing St. Martin artists perform. The aim of CARIFESTA is To foster a vision of Caribbean unity and possibility by facilitating the documenting and disseminating of artworks as highlights of the ongoing historical and cultural development of our people, according to CARICOM. As the regions premier arts festival, CARIFESTA is held periodically in different Caribbean locations. The 2025 edition began last Friday with a Parade of Nations, an address by host country Prime Minister Mia Mottley, and a high-energy concert featuring musical stars. With the theme Caribbean Roots Global Excellence, this years festival focuses on the global influence of Caribbean culture. Also, did I mention marmots? The cute furry rodents live in the mountains and can sometimes be seen feeding on herbs and grasses. We spotted one as we trundled above in a cable car. Paragliding and ziplining are all very well but spotting a marmot in the wild is a thrill all of its own. 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 Three ways Arsenal could line up without Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard against Liverpool Three ways Arsenal could line up without Saka and Odegaard at Anfield Notting Hill Carnival: Two stabbed and 423 arrests but 'less serious violence than previous years', police say Two stabbed and 423 arrests at Notting Hill Carnival The doors are open like the doors of your house. We cannot body check everyone to see if they are safe. There is only so much that high street security can do. A Leander school bus rolls over on Nameless Road during an Aug. 13, 2025 crash. Leander ISD The Leander school district has released video footage and the name of the driver involved in a rollover crash on Aug. 13 with 46 elementary and middle school students on board. Bus driver Tim Gall has been placed on paid administrative leave while the Department of Public Safety conducts its investigation into the wreck, according to the district. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State troopers work at the scene of a school bus crash on Nameless Road in Leander, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Seventeen people were take to a hospital following the crash, but all were released by the next day, according to the district. Gall was treated and released the day of the crash. The crash occurred around 3:15 p.m. when the bus was traveling south on Nameless Road near Palomino Ranch Drive, near Honeycomb Lane, according to Austin-Travis County EMS. It was carrying students mostly from Bagdad Elementary School, which serves pre-K through fifth grade, though some students from Danielson Middle School also were reportedly on the bus. School bus crash on Nameless Road in Leander, Wednesday, August13. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Video footage of the crash released Friday shows Bus No. 750 tipping off the right side of the road before rolling over and landing on its left side. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The exterior camera, placed above the hood of the bus, shows the bus traveling on the two-lane Nameless Road in the rain. In the moments before the crash, the bus crosses the double yellow lines almost halfway then corrects itself. Then the bus again veers over the double yellow lines, but after returning to the correct lane of travel, the bus tilts off the right side of the road and rolls over. In the rest of the video, Gall can be heard asking the screaming children, "Everybody all right?, youre all right, and calm down. The area in which the crash occurred is curved. However, in a release sent out at 10 p.m. that day, DPS spokesman Sgt. Billy Ray III said the bus left the road for an unknown reason. At the time, it was unclear if the rain was a factor in the crash, he said. The school bus was a 2024 model equipped with seat belts, Ray said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the video, as the driver attempts to calm the crying children, bystanders walk up to the bus, begin removing students from the bus and ask someone to call 911. The bystanders also talk to and help Gall climb out of the bus. LGBTQ activists rallied in the outdoor rotunda at the Texas Capitol on Friday following a Texas House hearing on a measure to ban transgender people from using government restrooms that align with their gender identities. Republicans have been trying for years to pass so-called bathroom bill legislation as part of a broader targeting of the transgender community. A similar proposal failed to pass out of committee in this years regular legislative session. Democrats have argued the bill is discriminatory and threatens the safety and wellbeing of transgender and other non-gender conforming people. An election worker processes a container of mail-in ballots from the postal service to be processed Nov. 4 at the Salt Lake County election offices in Salt Lake City, Utah. George Frey/AFP via Getty Images If President Donald Trump were to issue an executive order to abolish mail-in voting, as he announced he would on social media on Monday, it would almost certainly be unconstitutional. It would also be baffling because eliminating vote-by-mail would probably hurt Republicans more than it would help them in next year's midterm elections. Trump has been thrashing about for months looking for ways to manipulate the midterms. He is so afraid that Republicans could lose Congress that he persuaded Texas Republicans to conduct a mid-decade redistricting to carve out five additional GOP congressional districts. He ordered the Department of Justice to create a federal database of information on voters, presumably to hunt for illegal voting and serve as a precursor to federal control of state elections. And now he's attacking the mail-in ballot, which Trump has long claimed, without evidence, cost him the 2020 presidential election. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Remember, the States are merely an 'agent' for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes," Trump wrote in an error-filled post on Truth Social. Not according to Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution, which says that election rules "shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof." What's more, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that statewide vote-by-mail systems are constitutional, upholding a 1998 ballot initiative that adopted the practice in Oregon. Trump's lengthy post also claimed that "Democrats are virtually Unelectable without using this completely disproven Mail-In SCAM. ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS." Trump is likely responding to the shift in behavior he engineered by denigrating voting by mail after his 2020 loss. For decades, Republicans were the beneficiaries of mail-in balloting, and they encouraged their high-propensity voters to bank their votes early and avoid the risk of bad weather, power outages, technology failures or other major disruptions on Election Day. The practice began after George W. Bush's narrow victory over Al Gore in 2000. Republican legislators across the country passed no-excuse absentee voting laws to encourage their voters to cast their votes early. The effort was so successful that when red states were attempting to crack down on alleged voter fraud in the last decade with more stringent voter identification laws, their focus was on in-person and early voting. Republican legislators explicitly exempted mail voters "because they understood that their voters were casting mail ballots more frequently than Democrats and they didn't want to disadvantage themselves,'' said Michael P. McDonald, a political scientist at the University of Florida. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A woman shows off her "I Voted" sticker after dropping off her mail-in ballot Nov. 3 at the Allegheny County Office Building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images But Trump has been obsessed with mail-in voting since 2016, when he lost Colorado to Hillary Clinton as that state launched its first all-mail election. State officials delivered a ballot to every registered voter and implemented elaborate safety protocols before votes were tabulated. But Trump concocted a host of conspiracy theories about widespread vote fraud. He amplified those claims across the country when he lost in 2020, and they are now part of Trump's brand. In his book on the 2020 election, McDonald breaks down how the Republican mail-in balloting advantage shifted during the pandemic to benefit Democrats. As Democratic-run states were moving to provide safe mail-ballot options, Trump resisted: He didn't want to admit that the pandemic required such safety precautions. But voters had their own preferences when it came to their own personal safety and, in 2020, a record 43% of all ballots were cast by mail. While the numbers dropped to 30% in 2024, that was still higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to the US Election Assistance Commission. It's hard to know exactly what Trump intends with his post. Maybe it is directed at blue states such as Colorado, California, Vermont and Washington, where officials deliver ballots to every eligible voter even if they haven't requested to vote by mail. That would at least make logical sense. At the same time, it doesn't a quick look at recent voting history shows how it might backfire. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Republicans benefited from mail-in voting prior to 2020 because many of their voters were in the military, were business travelers who couldn't be home to cast in-person ballots, were older White voters, or were voters who lived rural areas where in-person voting was inconvenient, McDonald explained. "If you really wipe out those mail ballots, then you can actually hurt Republicans." And while Trump may think that Democrats are voting by mail in higher numbers than Republicans, a data analysis by The New York Times found that despite Trump's attempt to disparage the practice, Republicans made almost universal gains in mail voting during the 2024 election including, the report notes, in "battleground states like Pennsylvania, red states like Florida and blue states like Connecticut." In his post, Trump says he will "lead a movement" to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines that don't use paper ballots. Those are suggestions worth debating. But if he plans to make it happen by violating the Constitution to interfere with the midterm elections, Republicans should see it as a red flag as Democrats do. The president isn't trying to eliminate fraud, or defeat only Democrats. His goal is to consolidate his power. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, present in Chisinau on Saturday, declared that in the last 35 years the barbed wire fence between Romania and the Republic of Moldova has been transformed into a space of hope, friendship and solidarity, Agerpres reports. "There is a special and unique connection between our states. We, in this part of the world, are from the same hearth, we are of the same blood. In the last 35 years, we have transformed the barbed wire fence into a space of hope, friendship and solidarity. Today, Moldovan companies are present in Romania and Romanian companies invest in the Republic of Moldova," said Bolojan, in a joint press conference held with counterpart Dorin Recean. "We will continue to be by your side, regardless of the times. Romania respects the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, being the partner of every Moldovan citizen who wishes to live in a prosperous and free state. The European path is the path to a better life and to the consolidation of freedoms in this country," Bolojan emphasized.According to him, the Republic of Moldova represents "an example of courage" because it has resisted "pressures, energetic blackmail" and propaganda. The Republic of Moldova had to face "the greatest challenges in recent decades, but it walked with its head held high," Bolojan said.He also stated that he discussed with Dorin Recean aspects related to economic collaboration, large connectivity infrastructure projects and facilitating the transit of the Prut River.Regarding the European path of the Republic of Moldova, Romania will provide support through the expertise acquired and through European bilateral and cross-border cooperation formats."We know what European integration means, because, since Romania's accession to the European Union in 2007, we have benefited from 100 billion euros in European funds and contributed over 32 billion euros to the European budget. Every euro invested was seen in Romania's economy, in local development, in infrastructure and in jobs, and the results were felt in the daily lives of Romanians," he declared. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan declared on Saturday in the town of Bardar in the Republic of Moldova that Romanians and Moldovans will return from abroad when better living conditions are created in the localities, referring in context to road, water and sewage infrastructure. He was asked by the mayor of Bardar, Valeriu Rata, about the policies that need to be implemented so that Moldovans do not leave the country, agerpres reports. The Head of the Bucharest Executive gave the example of the administrative development of the municipality of Oradea, which he led for 12 years.During the morning, he had a meeting with his Moldovan counterpart, Dorin Recean, in Chisinau, after which the two officials were present at the National Treasure Festival 2025, in the village of Horesti, Ialoveni district. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan sent a message on the occasion of the National Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Fascism and Communism, emphasizing that intolerance and violence can never be presented as solutions, Agerpres reports. "86 years ago, on August 23, 1939, the odious Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was signed, by which Eastern Europe was divided between the two totalitarian regimes - Nazism and Communism, led by Hitler and Stalin. This date remains a symbol of the cynicism and brutality with which these regimes destroyed destinies, devastated communities and trampled on freedom. The totalitarianisms of the last century brought mass murder, deportations, famine and terror, and the memory of these horrors must be kept alive", recalled the Prime Minister in the message sent on the occasion of the European Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism and the National Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Fascism and Communism. "Aware of the enormous tragedies caused by these regimes and assuming the historical truth, we have a duty to build a just, strong and truly European society. This day reminds us that intolerance, hatred, abuse and violence can never be presented as solutions and must never be elevated to the rank of state policy. We must speak openly about the past, understand it and learn its lessons, so that freedom, respect and dignity of people remain fundamental values ??of today's Romania", emphasized Ilie Bolojan. The Head of the Emergency Department, Raed Arafat, declared on Saturday in Alba Iulia that future doctors must be attracted to emergency medicine while still in college, criticizing those who advise them to avoid this specialty, Agerpres reports. He emphasized that "young staff must be encouraged to enter this specialty, to understand that if there are enough doctors, the pressure is much lower and then, indeed, you are no longer overworked" if you have enough doctors working in these units. Raed Arafat also referred to a problem that has arisen in the last two years, namely the transfer of doctors from emergency units to ambulance services, emphasizing that movements in the system that are "not thought out correctly at this time" must be "stopped"."That's why we have the SMURD mobile intensive care unit, that's why we have helicopters, but in the UPU it is very important to have an adequate number of doctors. What happens to the doctor we take to work only on the street, only in the ambulance services? After a period of time, he loses his experience and loses his training on what happens in the UPU. He no longer knows what investigations to request, he no longer knows how to work in a UPU, (...) he will only know how to do the pre-hospital part," Arafat said."When we encouraged people to come to this specialty, in 2008 - 2009, it was by supplementing the amount they receive between 50 and 100% and that attracted many young doctors. Now it is normal, when the performance criteria are made, when the system is thought about, in the future - I heard Minister Rogobete talking about this and I know that it is in their sights to think about performance and certain criteria, which differentiate certain aspects. It is normal to see what is happening in the UPU, to look at the doctors who have a certain pressure on them and through certain performance indicators to be paid adequately," explained Raed Arafat.The head of the DSU highlighted the fact that doctors in the UPU normally do not have other private activities. "Very rarely are there some who have done a second specialty, who are still active and have other incomes. But emergency doctors, as a rule, who work in the UPU, are doctors who are dedicated to these units and then we must also look at this aspect, as other countries have done, Belgium, for example, which differentiated by taking this aspect into account as well", concluded Raed Arafat.The head of the DSU participated, on Saturday, at the inauguration of the new UPU section of the Alba Iulia County Emergency Hospital, expanded and equipped with high-performance equipment, through an investment of 2.5 million euros. Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete announced on Saturday in Deva that starting in September, hospitals will have to publish on their website a series of transparency indicators in their activities, such as the number of hospitalized patients or the number of patients transferred to other hospitals. "Starting in September, hospitals will be required to publish a series of transparency indicators on their website. Namely - the number of hospitalized patients, the bed occupancy rate in the previous month, the percentage of execution of the contract with the National Health Insurance House and the number of patients transferred to other hospitals," said the Minister of Health, agerpres reports. "In 2022, when I arrived at the Ministry of Health, the three projects for regional hospitals were completely blocked. Then the tender for all three began, work is underway in Craiova and it will be the first regional hospital put into use. In Iasi, there was a contestation that was finalized and I estimate that actual work will begin in October, and in Cluj the tender has just been finalized," the Minister of Health detailed. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan expressed his satisfaction, on Saturday, that his first foreign visit, as head of the Bucharest Executive, is to the Republic of Moldova, Agerpres reports. He declared, on the stage of the "National Treasure" Festival in the village of Horesti - Ialoveni district, where he was present together with his Moldovan counterpart, Dorin Recean, that his first visit as prime minister is made "as a sign of respect for the Republic of Moldova, as a sign of attachment to the Bessarabian Romanians". In turn, the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, thanked for the support that Romania grants to the Republic of Moldova, pointing out that the two states have the obligation to be "even more united".Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is paying a working visit to the Republic of Moldova on Saturday, his first as Prime Minister of Romania. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan expressed his satisfaction, on Saturday, that his first foreign visit, as head of the Bucharest Executive, is to the Republic of Moldova. He declared, on the stage of the "National Treasure" Festival in the village of Horesti - Ialoveni district, where he was present together with his Moldovan counterpart, Dorin Recean, that his first visit as prime minister is made "as a sign of respect for the Republic of Moldova, as a sign of attachment to the Bessarabian Romanians", agerpres reports. In turn, the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, thanked for the support that Romania grants to the Republic of Moldova, pointing out that the two states have the obligation to be "even more united".Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is paying a working visit to the Republic of Moldova on Saturday, his first as Prime Minister of Romania. The Republic of Moldova and Romania support each other and are building together a secure and prosperous European future, declared Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Saturday, at the end of a meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. According to the leader from Chisinau, the discussions with the head of the Government from Bucharest focused on topics related to the energy security of the Republic of Moldova, the development of road infrastructure, but also commercial or cultural exchanges between the two states, agerpres reports. Ilie Bolojan paid his first official foreign visit as Prime Minister to the Republic of Moldova on Saturday. He met with his counterpart Dorin Recean and participated in the "National Treasure" Festival in Horesti, Ialoveni district. Bolojan also participated in a meeting with the residents of Bardar village. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lane Mayerstein, an explosive ordnance disposal team technician from Albuquerque, New Mexico, dons a bomb suit as he prepares to defuse a bomb planted along Route Montana in the Wardak Province on Oct. 18, 2009. The site was not far from where another bomb technician was killed defusing a device two weeks earlier in this hotbed of insurgent bomb activity. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) Second of two parts. Find part one here. This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes editions Nov. 25, 2009. It is republished unedited in its original form. Wardak province, Afghanistan In hindsight, the crumbling wall was a clue. Bomb specialist Thomas Rabjohn was busy disarming a homemade bomb in the Maydan Shahr Valley when Lt. John Gillette sat down on a low wall nearby and it crumbled under him, revealing a rocket, soldiers later recalled. The men realized that the two devices were related in some way and that they were looking at something more complex than theyd come across before. Gillette jumped up and backed away. Staff Sgt. Rabjohn looked over at the rocket but then went back to working on the main bomb. He thought he had it disarmed. Then it exploded. Rabjohn became the ninth U.S. bomb technician to be killed in Afghanistan in 2009. A total of six had been killed in all the prior years of the war, demonstrating the escalation this bomb-plagued conflict has seen in the past year. The Afghan insurgency, at one point dormant if not defeated, is now the strongest it has been since the start of the war, and the Taliban and other insurgents have honed a proficiency in improvised explosive devices that is keeping coalition and Afghan forces off balance with deadly results. At Task Force Paladin, investigators are fighting back, using forensics, intelligence and data experts to target the network of bomb-makers. They trace the bombs back to their supply routes, financiers, builders and placers, and then try to ensure that the bomb-makers dont return to their deadly occupation. Civilians walk past a U.S. military Husky vehicle bearing a ground-penetrating radar used to sweep for bombs in the lush, hostile Tangi area of Wardak province in eastern Afghanistan. Another vehicle in the convoy was struck by a bomb a short time later, lightly injuring two soldiers and two civilians. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) Its a monumental challenge that will only yield long-term results if troops fighting a counterinsurgency war can win over a reluctant population. The hurdles and frustrations often dwarf the incremental progress being made, particularly when one of their own is killed. Its a traumatic experience on many levels, said Sgt. 1st Class William Motyka, 41, a counter- IED team leader who witnessed Rabjohns death from several hundred yards away. Knowing him puts a different angle on it. Its not easy to get used to the fact that someone you were just talking to 10 minutes ago is no longer there, that somebody could be disintegrated. That was only the beginning. Motykas men gathered evidence from the blast and chased down 22 suspects in the attack after following footprints to Kharuti, a rock quarrying village in northern Wardak. The evidence could have been the foundation for a strong case against many of them, Paladin officers said. But in the catch-and-release world of an undeveloped Afghan judicial system, all but three of those suspects were back on the streets within two weeks and Paladin officers had to struggle to get even those three in front of a prosecutor. Its baby steps, Motyka said. Yeah, they are taken off the battlefield for [only] two weeks. But now we know who they are, where they are from. All these pieces of the puzzle are being placed. For as little as we know about the valley, its something. Its slow progress, he added. Only time will tell if we make good progress or not. Thats the battle we are fighting here. Target the network For years, the focus of explosive ordnance disposal units was to defeat bombs, using technical expertise and downright courage to tackle the devices. That focus has shifted. Now its evolved to attack the network, said Paladin East deputy commander Maj. Mike Slevin. You want to use what [the bomber] leaves on the scene through the crime to get him before he does it again. In Wardak province, one of the hottest spots for IEDs, Paladin analysts say they have made some remarkable discoveries. Task Force Paladin (East) commander, Lt. Col. Brennan Phillips, experiments with explosives testing kits that were created for easy use at border or traffic checkpoints. In its fight against IEDs, Paladin uses bomb technicians, laboratory examinations and intelligence surveillance to compile as much detail as possible on bomb makers and their techniques. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) Wires, charges and other explosive components used in a series of bombs indicate that much of the material appears to be coming from two factories in Pakistan, said Paladin East commander Lt. Col Brennan Phillips. One is Biafo Industries Ltd., a private company that manufactures the detonators that Paladin members believe they found in some insurgent IEDs. The other is explosives and detonator manufacturer Wah Nobel. The company is a joint venture between Saab Sweden, Almisehal Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Ordnance Factories, which are the Pakistani governments munitions factories. Those factories are located in a high-security compound that Globalsecurity. org says is also likely associated with Pakistans nuclear weapons program. Paladin members believe they can trace commercial explosives, detonating cords and detonators to Wah Nobel. For Phillips, who has seen the evidence, the supply route from manufacture to IED detonation runs in a straight line on the open roads from Pakistan. I think a significant amount of IED materials just roll across every day in trucks, Phillips said. I think the way we combat all this is we have to convince the Pakistanis to tighten down. It is in their best interest. These are being used against them, too. Asked about this evidence, an unidentified marketing manager at Wah Nobel rejected the Paladin findings and said the company follows extensive regulations imposed by the government of Pakistan. We fail to understand as to how the so-called investigators have positively matched your stated items to Wah Nobel products, an e-mail from the company states. Utmost care is exercised to safeguard against landing of our products in wrong hands. The company is subject to very stringent safety and security regulations and precautions. A spokeswoman for Saab referred questions back to Wah Nobel. The information regarding finds of Wah Nobels products in Afghanistan is new for us, said Ulrika Fager in an e-mail response. We at Saab are not in the position of answering questions about the security arrangements at Wah Nobel, instead these questions should be directed to them. We are confident in that the company strictly follows all rules and regulations issued by Pakistan authorities. Biafo Managing Director and CEO Khawaja Amanullah Askari said no U.S., NATO or Pakistani officials have told his company of any misuse of its explosives products. We have advised our clients in writing that if any case of misuse of our products is brought to our notice, we shall immediately cease dealing with that client and duly report it to the authorities, Askari wrote in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes. A soldier with Joint Task Force Paladin picks up debris from a controlled blast site at a military range outside Bagram Air Field, where trainers from the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms detonated explosives planted on or under vehicles on Oct. 23. Trainers blew up a truck, two motorcycles, a bicycle and some containers to demonstrate different bomb-making techniques and to teach members of the counter-IED team how to find clues in the post-blast site. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) Paladin officers say that tightening the borders and teaching the Afghan Border Police to use metal detectors and X-ray scanners would go a long way toward blocking the supply of bomb-making materials. But thats a major challenge for a law enforcement arm that is barely functional, underpaid and mostly illiterate. The ABP is not very well resourced, Phillips noted. But thats a big piece of the (counter)- IED effort. Youve got to slow the flow of explosives. At Forward Operating Base Airborne, where Rabjohn was posted when he was killed, EOD technician Staff Sgt. Layne Mayerstein said that coalition forces often have an unreliable or unwilling partner in Afghan police officers. He cited a recent operation by 10th Mountain Division soldiers to take over a house and set up a checkpoint on a route in the Tangi Valley that is particularly prone to IED attacks. The entire reason to go into that house is to stop IED planters, Mayerstein said. It took until the last day to get notification that they had ANP (Afghan National Police) support. They had to drag the ANP out to that house. These people just dont care. If they dont care about their country, why should we? Zeroing in on suspects Plucking bomb-makers from hostile rural regions in an ancient land is also no easy task. Paladins approach is to target midlevel bomb engineers, since they have the expertise. Get the engineer out of the picture, and the link breaks, the reasoning goes. Much of the work of Paladin East focuses on the criminal network of warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani. Theres the guys from Haqqani, the financiers, said Slevin. Theres the guys who [plant the bombs] to put food on the table. We like to target the engineers because they are the hardest to replace. The Paladin team collects and analyzes the forensic evidence; its members do not usually go after the bomb-makers themselves. At Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khost province, a new, specially trained infantry unit was created this year to take the evidence gathered by Paladin and act as a precision strike force to zero in on suspects. Modeled after similar units in Iraq, the 68-member Focused Targeting Force swoops in to detain a target in a pinpoint operation with as little disruption to the general population as possible. We are kind of like a finishing force, said Capt. John Thomason, 32, the team leader out of Colorado Springs, Colo., who is attached to the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Regiment. We find indisputable evidence that these guys are placing IEDs. We do a lot of investigating before we go after them, so by the time hes arrested, its a rock-solid case. Soldiers with Joint Task Force Paladin examine the remains of a truck that trainers blew up during an exercise at a military range outside Bagram Air Field on Oct. 23. Trainers also blew up two motorcycles, a bicycle and some containers to demonstrate different bomb-making techniques and to teach members of the counter-IED team how to find clues in the post-blast site. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) But the judicial challenges are hair-pulling. Often, suspects can bribe or threaten their way out of custody, or use tribal, familial or historical relations to get released. Pressured by cultural loyalties that go back centuries, underpaid and under-protected law enforcers and prosecutors fear for the safety of their families. Paladin operatives feel that they are toiling to catch suspects only to send them through a revolving- door judicial system that leads right back to the streets. If Iraq was like a 4-year-old child, when it comes to rules and the judicial system, Afghanistan is like a 6-month-old, said Paladin East lab director, Maj. Brian Pelley. Still, Pelley and others at Paladin recognize that the lessons learned from Iraq dictate against treating bombing suspects as prisoners of war. If we create huge detention centers in Afghanistan, it will only be counterproductive in the long run, Pelley said. We are really in the longer fight. Paladins fight requires patience, methodical attention to detail and a determination that it is sometimes difficult to sustain. But Motyka and others say that is in the faces of Afghan children where they see the possibility of change down the line. After Rabjohn was killed, an Afghan schoolteacher was among the villagers who approached the counter-IED team to ask what he could do. We said, Help educate. Share that we are here to do good, to help people, Motyka recalled. I feel like if you dont try, youll never know. Soldiers give out candy while on patrol through the picturesque Tangi valley in Wardak province on Oct. 17, 2009, in search of bombs. The region is prone to bombs that target their convoys as they move through the hostile yet beautiful valley. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) First of two parts. See part two here. This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes editions, Nov. 24, 2009. It is republished unedited in its original form. Wardak province, Afghanistan It was hour six on the convoy traveling through the quaint villages and apple orchards of the Tangi Valley and the armored vehicles were just minutes from their destination in the heart of insurgent territory. Then, suddenly, came the explosion, its sound unmistakable even inside a vacuum-sealed Buffalo vehicle two back in the convoy chain. IED! IED! IED! the radio erupted. The convoy had struck an improvised explosive device. The bomb technicians and their counter-IED colleagues were already out the doors, running toward an incident that the rest of the world would run from, ignoring the knowledge that one exploding bomb could mean there were more nearby. For forces on the ground, the IED evokes an almost mythical terror. But for Task Force Paladin, a specialized bomb-hunting unit that is waging war against the IED, the top killer in Afghanistan is simply another weapon they have to defeat. It is not easy, even with the added manpower, training and focus Paladin devotes to the IED fight. All the hard work is barely enough to keep pace with an enemy fueled by corruption, a duplicitous local population and access to a steady stream of explosives and bomb materials flowing from Pakistan and beyond. Since 2007, the number of known IEDs placed by insurgents in Afghanistan has more than doubled, climbing from 2,056 from January through October in 2007 to 6,198 by late October this year. Meanwhile, the number of coalition forces killed and wounded has more than tripled, showing that not only have the insurgents increased their bombing activity, theyve boosted the size and effectiveness of their bombs as well. Explosive ordnance technicians scour the scene after a triggerman at the other end of a command wire detonated a bomb under a U.S. military vehicle in the hostile Tangi Valley of eastern Afghanistans Wardak province. The mine-sweeping vehicle was damaged but its armor was not penetrated by the blast, and the two soldiers inside were knocked out but not badly hurt. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) An armored tow truck prepares to take away a U.S. military vehicle damaged by a bomb set off by a triggerman in the hostile Tangi valley of eastern Afghanistan's Wardak province on Oct. 17. The mine-sweeping vehicle was damaged but its armor was not penetrated by the blast, and the two soldiers inside were knocked out but not badly hurt. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) Paladin is more than a unit on patrol. It is a team of experts in bomb technology, forensics and intelligence gathering, devising new ways to protect forces, capture bomb makers and keep U.S. troops left of the boom stopping the next bomb before it strikes. By studying IEDs, they work to dismantle the network of bomb makers. The devices have personalities, and you see where a lot of devices are related, said Maj. Bryan Pelley, who runs the Paladin East laboratory, one of two that analyze evidence taken from the site of IEDs in Afghanistan. It gets you beyond the mythical, all-powerful thing and to the fact that it is created by another human being and it can be defeated. Thats not to say [insurgents] are not very smart, Pelley added a bit grudgingly. Being able to make functional devices from very primitive materials, sometimes you cant help be impressed by what they are doing. Bomb blasts are frequent Soldiers in Wardak and elsewhere often speak not of whether theyve been hit by IEDs but how often. Civilians and the Afghan National Security Forces are even more at risk without protective armor and vehicles. Along the 20-mile drive into the Tangi Valley on a recent day in October, explosives ordnance disposal team leader Air Force Tech. Sgt. Vandiver Hood, at Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak, played IED tour guide. The valley saw 141 bombs from June through September, with more than 40 explosions killing two soldiers and wounding 68. Hood pointed to a location where three IEDs were found in the last month. A few miles further down, he pointed again. This is the IED spot, said Hood, of the 4th EOD Flight, 4th Civil Engineers Squadron. Weve had 15 IEDs here. The patrol stopped frequently, allowing the lead Husky vehicle to scan for metal with its ground-penetrating radar and the mine-roller at the front of the second vehicle to slowly press forward, its job is to detonate any pressure-activated bomb ahead of the vehicle. Soldiers walked the apple orchards and onion fields, checking for command wires linking a triggerman to a homemade bomb planted under the road. As the men who face the bombs daily, EOD technicians are often cool, independent thinkers who joke freely, dont ruffle easily and approach their jobs with intent focus and confidence. Their commander says that leading them is like herding cats: You cant order them so much as cajole. They can also be superstitious, particularly on their last week of deployment. The valley is beautiful but dangerous for the troops that patrol here. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) A soldier guards the road during a route-clearing patrol through the picturesque Tangi Valley in Wardak province on Oct. 17 in search of bombs planted by insurgents. The region is prone to improvised explosive devices that target their convoys as they move through the hostile yet beautiful valley. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) Soldiers patrol through the picturesque Tangi Valley in Wardak Province on Oct. 17 in search of bombs planted by insurgents. The region is prone to improvised explosive devices that target their convoys as they move through the hostile yet beautiful valley. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) Its like deja vu When a triggered device hit the rear end of the mine-roller vehicle, Pfc. John Gudzelak, 23, the driver, and gunner Pfc. Justin Griffin, 19, of the road-clearing patrol, were knocked unconscious. So were an Afghan bicycle rider and a pedestrian. All revived and shakily walked away. It was Gudzelaks third IED hit and Griffins fourth. Thats why I couldnt get to sleep last night, Griffin said. I had deja vu again today, Gudzelak said. Its always a sign. Road-clearing leader Lt. Chris George and another soldier forded a freezing river, following buried command wire across fields and ridges. It took them 45 minutes to unearth all 1,200 yards. Later, George checked on his rattled men. Griffin wanted a piece of the wire to wrap on the band around his helmet. He put it next to the other three. At the truck, the EOD technicians and the counter- IED team picked the site clean of any remnants of the bomb or whoever planted it, and they carefully placed each piece of evidence into a separate marked plastic bag. As the convoy towed the disabled mine roller back to base, residents of a nearby town lined the hillside overlooking the road, watching the wounded American convoy. They looked like they had come out to watch the show. A game of cat and mouse Counter-IED efforts are yielding results. U.S. forces have detained dozens of suspects with evidence linking them to bombs. Here in Regional Command-East, Paladin officers point to a decrease in the number of dead compared to wounded, largely due to the use of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles known as MRAPs, showing that their experience is saving lives. But coalition forces believe they are still only finding and defusing one bomb for every one that goes off, driving home the disturbing knowledge that every time one side steps up its game, the other side is answering in kind. First soldiers rode Humvees and insurgents targeted them with radio-controlled bombs. So U.S. engineers created radio jammers. The insurgents replied by increasing the size of the bombs and switching to vehicle-triggered pressure plates. Paladin answered by putting soldiers in MRAPs with a V-shaped hull to diffuse the blast and brought in the Husky and the mine-roller. Pfcs. John Gudzelak, 23, left, and Justin Griffin, 19, members of a route-clearing patrol with the 10th Mountain Division, joke around after their armored vehicle was struck by a bomb set off by a trigger man in the hostile Tangi valley of eastern Afghanistan's Wardak province on Oct. 17. The mine-sweeping vehicle was damaged but its armor was not penetrated by the blast, and the two soldiers were knocked out but not badly hurt. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) Children walk home from school ahead of a U.S. military route clearing patrol convoy on Oct. 17 in the lush, hostile Tangi district of Wardak province in eastern Afghanistan. A vehicle in the convoy was struck by a bomb shortly afterward, lightly injuring two soldiers and two civilians. (Dianna Cahn/Stars and Stripes) The insurgents then set the bombs back from the plates to outsmart the mine roller. The Americans created variable settings for the mine roller so insurgents would not know how far to offset the bombs. Now insurgents are using command wires to trigger bombs, and U.S. troops are going back to more dismounted patrols. Its a game of cat and mouse, said Maj. Mike Slevin, deputy commander of Paladin East, an EOD officer with the Washington National Guard in Tacoma and the citys assistant director of public works. You cant stop the bombs, he added. You have to find the guy thats making the bombs, the guy thats financing the bombs. Left of the boom, find a way to use it against him before he puts another bomb in the ground. Meanwhile, coalition commanders are increasingly recognizing that the armored vehicles are getting in the way of the ultimate goal of winning public support. The enemy is effectively separating us from the population by using the IEDs, said Lt. Col. Brennan Phillips, the Paladin East commander. The IED is an equalizer for the enemy against the best military might in the world. Collecting evidence back at the lab At the lab, forensics photographer Staff Sgt. Araceli Alarcon of Waco, Texas, photographed pieces of a washing machine timer used to set off a bomb. It was one of 100 cases the team worked on in a week. In the next room, lab technicians examined wires, cigarette butts, water bottles anything that could give them insights into the humans behind the bombs. Electrical analysts studied the wiring, and chemists analyzed soil samples and residue. Then the intelligence sector compiled and analyzed all the information and data. The goal is to eventually generate enough evidence to get bomb makers off the dirt roads of Afghanistan. Folks at the lab know that they are fighting an uphill battle. They compile evidence that in a U.S. court would lead to a conviction. But in the tribal provinces of Afghanistan, justice is often described as a program of catch and release. Still, Paladin soldiers and analysts believe they are building the foundation for a day when crimes in Afghanistan are solved and perpetrators are punished according to rules and laws. Our job is to buy time and space for the development and the governance-building to work so the Afghan people will hopefully buy into their government, Slevin said. If that isnt built up, the whole thing is for naught. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he leaves the Capitolio home of the National Assembly after taking the oath during the presidential inauguration in Caracas on Jan.10, 2025. Maduro, in power since 2013, took the oath of office for a third term despite a global outcry that brought thousands out in protest on the ceremony's eve. (Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) President Nicolas Maduro is calling on Venezuelans to enlist in national militias ahead of the potential arrival of U.S. warships in the Caribbean. State TV on Friday urged men and women to sign up at army bases and public squares, with a presenter declaring that when your country calls, its as if your mother was calling. We call to arms all militia members, to tell the imperialists: enough of your threats, Venezuela rejects you! Maduro said a day earlier. The U.S. plans to send three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to waters off Venezuela, along with 4,000 sailors and Marines, spy planes, other warships and at least one attack submarine, Reuters reported this week. Washington says the deployments are meant to counter drug cartels. Maduro has claimed the militia numbers more than 4.5 million, though outside estimates put Venezuelas total forces at closer to 100,000 to 400,000. The ranks have been hollowed out by desertions as the oil-rich countrys economy collapsed. Over Maduros 12 years in power, the military has largely stood by him, quashing protests in 2014 and 2017 and blocking a 2019 uprising led by U.S,-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido. In return, Maduro has given senior officers control of ports, oil concessions and mining projects, and stacked his Cabinet with decorated soldiers. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pose for photos during a signing ceremony for a new partnership in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024. (Kristina Kormilitsyna, Sputnik/Kremlin pool photo via AP) North Koreas Kim Jong Un paid tribute to dozens of soldiers who died fighting in Russias war with Ukraine according to photos released by the countrys state media, marking the second time the leader has publicly acknowledged the regimes growing role in the war since its troops first appeared on the battlefield last year. Kim recognized the fallen soldiers at a ceremony held in Pyongyang, during which he hailed their indomitable fighting spirit and noble sacrifice in aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine, the state media outlet Korean Central News Agency said. Kim also honored troops returning from the battlefield, awarding them with state commendations for their outstanding valor and noble self-sacrificing spirit, KCNA reported. In photos of the ceremony, 101 portraits of men whom KCNA identified as martyrs were visible. Thousands of North Korean soldiers have died fighting in the war since they first appeared on the battlefield in Russias western region of Kursk in December, according to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean officials. At the time, Ukrainian soldiers were stunned by how North Korean soldiers moved in large groups and did not attempt to hide from Ukrainian drones, The Washington Post previously reported. Many were easily killed in those initial waves as a result. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has accused Russia of trying to conceal the losses of the North Koreans, said in January that as many as 4,000 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded, with only two captured alive. Since then, North Korean troops appear to have become more organized, well-trained and better equipped on the battlefield, according to materials shared with The Post by Ukrainian soldiers. Notes left on dead North Korean troops show them to be highly motivated, with many choosing to fight to the death or kill themselves with grenades rather than be captured. During the ceremony in Pyongyang, a somber Kim can be seen in KCNA photos meeting with bereaved family members and embracing crying children. In one photo, Kim can be seen holding the face of a young child with both hands. He also hugged a tearful soldier, placed medals beside the memorials of fallen North Korean soldiers and knelt before their portraits. Initially, neither country would confirm the presence of North Korean troops in Kursk. But in July, nearly one year after the two countries signed a landmark military treaty, Kim publicly mourned the soldiers who had been killed in the fight, marking the first time the North Korean leader had referred openly to his regimes role in aiding Russias war. Kim, one of the most vocal backers of President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine, could be seen in state media broadcast footage leaning over soldiers coffins, appearing to pay tribute to their repatriated remains. North Korea is believed to have also sent large amounts of munitions, including artillery shells, to Russia. Kim, who has pledged full support of Putins sacred war for regional peace and international justice, may be preparing to send thousands more troops to aid Russia, South Koreas intelligence agency said in June. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, not pictured, hold a joint news conference at Roma Convention Center La Nuvola on July 10, 2025, in Rome. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said all the developments to set up security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine will be ready in the coming days. At present, the teams of Ukraine, the United States, and European partners are working on their architecture, Zelenskiy said in an X post after a phone call with Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof. The Dutch leader had been scheduled to visit Kyiv on Saturday but postponed the trip due to a political crisis in the Netherlands. There is now a real chance to end this war, and Ukraine is ready for constructive steps that can bring true peace closer, said Zelenskyy, adding that Russia is showing no intention of peace on its side. In his own post on X, Schoof said the Netherlands will do everything to put an end to Russias aggression. Russian President Vladimir Putin must now come to the negotiating table as soon as possible, Schoof said. Separately on Saturday, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on local television that it was unlikely Putin would meet with Zelenskyy soon. The patience of U.S. President Donald Trump, whos attempting to broker an end to the three-and-a-half-year war, is wearing thin, Stubb said. Zelenskyy also spoke on Saturday with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. It is important that the Global South sends relevant signals and pushes Russia toward peace, Zelenskyy said on X. Kyiv started work on security proposals after meetings in Washington with Trump and European leaders, including Stubb, on Aug. 18. Speaking to reporters the day after, Zelenskyy said the effort mustnt be dragged out, and that the outlines should be clearer within seven to 10 days. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Friday while in Kyiv that therell be two layers to the proposals. The first would concern strengthening Ukraines armed force, with the second related to guarantees provided by Europe and the U.S. Ukraine and its allies are working to make sure the security guarantees are at a level that Putin would never drive to attack Ukraine again, Rutte said a joint press conference with Zelenskyy. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) An Ingalls Shipbuilding employee was arrested on a murder charge Friday after an early-morning shooting killed his coworker and sent thousands across the sprawling naval shipyard into tense lockdown, authorities said. Police described an urgent search that began when a worker discovered a shooting victim on an under-construction U.S. Navy ship. Officers swept industrial buildings, boats and warehouses to isolate the suspect among thousands of Ingalls workers. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said officers detained a man they believe is the shooter by 9 a.m. Pascagoula Police Chief Terry Scott called the shooting a tragic but isolated dispute that involved two friends. This was between the two young men, he said. Police rushed around 7:30 a.m. to the landmark shipyard in Pascagoula, where more than 10,000 people work to build boats for the Navy and Coast Guard. Ingalls warned of an active shooter and told employees to shelter in place for several hours as police combed the property. Authorities identified the victim as Tahj Johnson, 27, of Prichard, Alabama. Jackson County Deputy Coroner James Prisock said Johnson died on the ship where he was working. Police said the suspect is Curtis Demetries James Jr., an 25-year-old Ingalls employee from Mobile. He was being interviewed by detectives Friday morning but was later booked in the Jackson County jail and held without bond. It is unclear how the shooter brought a gun to the shipyard, a secure facility where company policy prohibits weapons unless they are required for security duties. At a news conference on Friday, Ingalls Shipbuilding president Brian Blanchette said the company would be working with the police department to look into this further. I have no idea how he got on with a gun, Scott said. The shooting At least two shots were fired Friday morning on a Navy ship under construction near the water on the shipyards south side, police said. An employee found Johnson dead and called 911. A few hundred people doing industrial work on the ship may have muffled the gunshots, and loud fans blew even as police cleared the ship of workers. Police said the suspect slipped away, apparently unnoticed. Scott said the man mixed back in with the crowd and just tried to blend in. Police who arrived at Ingalls asked company leaders to give head counts and isolate workers in groups, according to Scott. He said police questioned employees who described what the suspect was wearing. Police say James left the boat and went to a warehouse in the shipyard, where he was later detained. Scott said it took officers an hour and 27 minutes to find the suspect in a group of over 8,000 employees on duty. Ingalls mourns shipbuilder Blanchette said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy. Its about the worst thing you can imagine to hear, he said at the news conference. This is not a day I would want to wish on anyone. Danny Hernandez, an Ingalls spokesperson, said the company was devastated by the passing of a fellow shipbuilder. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the employees family and friends during this difficult time, he said. Little is known about the victim or suspect, but police said the they were painters at Ingalls. Scott said the two friends had argued earlier this week in Prichard. He would not say what the dispute was about. Ingalls sent employees home with pay on Friday, and Blanchette said the company plans to offer grief counseling. It was the second fatal shooting at Ingalls Shipbuilding in recent decades: A shipyard worker there also killed a supervisor during a meeting in 2005. The police said no one else was injured, and no ships were damaged. Ledbetter said authorities were searching all buildings James had been in. Scott said Friday afternoon that a dive team was still trying to find the gun. It is unclear if anyone witnessed the shooting, and Pascagoula Police urged anyone with information to come forward. Margaret Baker contributed reporting. Correction: A previous version of this story had an incorrect spelling of the suspects name. 2025 The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.). Visit www.sunherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The National Capital Radio & Television Museum in Bowie, Md., opens a new exhibit on the history of the American Forces Network on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Judy Hannon via the City of Bowie) The National Capital Radio & Television Museum in Bowie, Md., on Saturday opened a new exhibit on the history of the American Forces Network, the militarys broadcasting service for service members stationed overseas. AFN is an important chapter in the history of broadcasting, NCRTV Museum Director Mark Sledziewski told Stars and Stripes. AFN had a large cultural impact by bringing the latest in American culture to service members stationed overseas, helping them understand what their loved ones back home were following, and it remains very active to this day, Sledziewski said. Especially during, you know, the Second World War and some of the conflicts in Southeast Asia, AFN brought in lots of big talent, he said. Sledziewski noted that AFN also helps American culture permeate into the overseas communities that troops are stationed in. The initial impetus for the exhibit was the AFNs director, who is a member of the museum and approached its staff with the idea. The American Forces Network has a very rich broadcast history, but its pretty unknown to most civilians, Sledziewski said. So he wanted to partner with us to help share AFNs story through the lens of broadcast history. The exhibit includes an interactive component that lets visitors cycle through clips of hit broadcasts from decades ago. While the broadcasts were in English, they featured commercials for foreign audiences, which museum visitors can listen to. An audio component lets visitors hear PSAs for troops that took the spot of commercials during broadcasts such as reminders to maintain M16 rifles properly. The exhibit also has some of the personal effects of the AFNs first director, Tom Lewis. The National Capital Radio & Television Museums new exhibit on the American Forces Network features the personal effects of the networks founder, Tom Lewis. (National Capital Radio & Television Museum) The NCRTV Museums new exhibit on AFN covers the networks earliest days. (National Capital Radio & Television Museum) As the museum is fewer than 30 miles from Fort Meade, Md., where AFN is headquartered, museum staff were able to make site visits to the base although most of the objects featured in the exhibit came from an AFN office in California. Admission to the NCRTV museum is $7 for adults, free for children under age 5, and $5 for seniors, students and local residents. The museum is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Blue Star families can receive free admission to the museum until Sept. 1, after which admission is discounted. As with other Blue Star Museums, admission will be free again starting from Armed Forces Day in 2026. More information can be found on the museums website. Appearing in the dock at Lisburn Magistrates Court, 32-year-old Martin Lowry was charged with the murder of his brother Shane A man has appeared in court today accused of stabbing his brother to death. Appearing in the dock at Lisburn Magistrates Court, 32-year-old Martin Lowry was charged with the murder of his brother Shane on August 21 this year and with possessing a bladed article, namely a knife, on the same date, at Mulberry Park in Dunmurry. Shane Lowry Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd None of the alleged background facts were opened in court but giving evidence, Detective Constable Walker said she was aware of the facts and believed that she could connect Lowry to each of the offences. Read more Boy (9) dies following machinery accident tragedy in Co Donegal She confirmed however that the deceased and the victim are brothers. It was reported on Thursday that Shane Lowry, was killed during an incident in the Mulberry Park area of Dunmurry. In court today, defence solicitor Joe Magee confirmed there was no application fr bail so accordingly, District Judge Eamon King remanded Lowry into custody to appear again, via video link, on 15 September. As Lowry was taken to the cells, friends and family called out for him to stay strong - we love you. Stanley Abayeneme says his neighbouring businessman makes monkey grunts at him and leaves bananas outside his car valeting unit in Tallaght. A Nigerian national who runs a car valeting business in Dublin, who claimed he had been the victim of rabid racism, has been refused an interim injunction in the High Court seeking to restrain a neighbouring businessman from directing racist abuse at him. Stanley Abayeneme had told the High Court he had suffered racial abuse from Lithuanian national and neighbouring businessman, Vilmantas Zutkis, in the form of monkey grunts, shouts of monkey at him and the leaving of bananas outside his car valeting unit in Tallaght. Abayeneme also failed in applying for an injunction against John McLaughlin, landlord to both businessmen, of Coolfadda House, Laurel Walk, Bandon, Co Cork, who, he claimed, had locked him out of his car cleaning business by parking a 40-foot steel container in front of it. Ms Justice Emily Egan, after viewing a video of Abayeneme attacking Zutkis in April last, told barrister Damien Conroy, counsel for McLoughlin, that Mr Abayeneme in his written evidence to the court had claimed violence had been directed only at him. High Court. Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 22nd Judge Egan said it was her view Mr Abayeneme had not come to court with clean hands and refused him restraining injunctions. Mr Conroy, who appeared with Dillon Eustace Solicitors for the landlord, said Mr McLoughlin had blocked Mr Abayenemes access to his unit after having served him with a notice to quit. He said Mr McLoughlin was prepared to allow him back into his unit, under observation, to remove any assets he may claim to own. Barrister Femi Daniyan, who appeared with Waheed Mudah of Kevin Tunney Solicitors, Tallaght, for Abayeneme earlier this week in the absence of both Zutkis and McLoughlin, told the court his client rented Unit 2 Greenhills Bungalows, Blessington Road, Tallaght, from McLoughlin and Zutkis rented the adjoining Unit 1 for his car servicing business. Abayeneme, had told the court in an affidavit that Zutkiss conduct was aggressive and obstructive and included direct racial abuse of him in front of his customers, threats to his employee and interference to footfall with his business. He will come to my unit and racially abuse me and my worker, John Onuigbo Obinna, calling us monkeys, placing bananas in front of our shop and threatening us with deportation back to Nigeria in a container, Abayeneme stated. He said he had been burgled and had lost 200,000 worth of cash and stock. Dillon Eustace Solicitors had stated in a letter of August 5 last that Mr McLoughlin had video evidence of Abayeneme attacking Zutkis with a stick and visibly breaking it on his leg; throwing a ladder at Mr Zutkis and damaging property by spray-painting windows. That video was viewed by Judge Egan today. The court had heard Abayeneme was facing prosecution for allegedly breaking two windows in his neighbours unit. Although he was refused injunctions today the overall proceedings will return before the court next week. Conor Fallons barrister told the court that his client faced dismissal at any minute after having been charged with offences that are of a minor nature in anyones view. A young soldier, fighting to protect his military career, was yesterday granted leave to bring a judicial review challenging the Minister for Defence in the High Court and restraining his potentially imminent and immediate dismissal from the Defence Forces. Gareth Compton SC, counsel for Recruit Conor Fallon, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin, told Ms Justice Emily Egan that his client faced dismissal at any minute after having been charged with offences that are of a minor nature in anyones view. Mr Compton, who appeared with barrister Alan Philip Brady and Solicitor Steven Whelan of Coleman Legal Solicitors, said Recruit Fallon was seeking a declaration that a decision he was not likely to become efficient was in breach of fair procedures and ultra vires the Defence Act in circumstances where the Minister had relied on the findings of a courts martial that were under appeal. Stock image Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd Recruit Fallon is also claiming that the decision was null and void in circumstances where the Officer in Command had not sought permission from the General Commanding Officer prior to making a request to discharge him. He also seeks an order quashing the decision to discharge him. Mr Compton told Judge Egan that Recruit Fallon had been offered a place in Recruit Platoon in February last and a month later with other recruits had been granted local leave. They had travelled to Balbriggan, Co Dublin, where, among other things, they had gone to a bar where he had non-alcoholic drinks and after visiting a chip shop they got the bus back to barracks. Later he had been wrongly accused by some recruits of having been drinking and having been intoxicated and acting inappropriately. On April 15 a corporal told him he was going to face 10 charges and would be summarily Court Martialled by his Commanding Officer, Lt Col Alan Crowley, who had found him guilty of some of them and fined him five days pay and four hours of additional foot drill which he appealed. He was represented by his solicitor since May. On May 27 he was paraded before Lt Col Crowley who had informed him he was continuing to undertake steps to discharge him from the Defence Forces. Mr Compton, during an exparte application for leave to bring a judicial review of Recruit Fallons dismissal and, in the absence of any representation on behalf of the Minister, was granted leave to seek judicial review of the decisions against Recruit Fallon. The matter was adjourned until Tuesday next. Paul Maxwell was also discovered to be carrying a knife following the outburst A Belfast man who punched an 83-year-old victim after being refused entry to a city centre nightspot has been handed a 12-month probation order. Paul Maxwell was also discovered to be carrying a knife following the outburst at Berts Jazz Bar. His lawyer said the 25-year-old has no memory of the alcohol-fuelled incident. Maxwell, of New Barnsley Crescent, pleaded guilty to common assault, resisting police, possessing a bladed article, and assault on police. Belfast Magistrates Court heard he was detained in the High Street area on June 30 this year. Staff at Berts Jazz Bar stated he had been denied entry and became aggressive and abusive, punching an 83-year-old (man) to the chest, a public prosecutor said. Berts Jazz Bar in Belfast Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd He was ejected from the bar with the assistance of door staff from a nearby premises. Maxwell pushed one PSNI officer in a bid to leave the scene, struggling so much that he had to be restrained on the ground. Police searched his backpack and discovered a foldable lock knife in a washbag. During interviews he stated that he could not remember assaulting the elderly victim, but admitted being at Berts Jazz Bar and the lock knife being in his possession, the prosecutor added. He stated that he uses it for work as a welder. Defence counsel told the court Maxwell has little memory of the night because of his drinking. He has no previous convictions and expressed his remorse, the barrister submitted District Judge Steven Keown described it as a concerning incident. Imposing 12 months probation, he ordered Maxwell to participate in an alcohol and drug treatment programme. Mr Keown further directed: There will be a destruction order in relation to the offensive weapon. Officers raided his house, but fear he has fled abroad James Jake Berney was stabbed at his home in Balgaddy on June 25 A teenager who is the chief suspect for the murder of a 53-year-old man in west Dublin remains on the run almost two months after the fatal stabbing. The young man was known to James Jake Berney, who was stabbed multiple times at his home on Foxdene Drive in Balgaddy on the night of June 25. One line in the investigation is that Mr Berney was attacked after the teenager demanded money from him. Read more Bloodbath on busy Dublin street as men fight with weapons in broad daylight The suspect was identified within hours of the murder, but went missing. Officers raided his home in the aftermath. He will be arrested if found by gardai. At this stage it is not known where he is and he could well be abroad. He is the only suspect in this case, a source told the Irish Independent. There is a firm belief that he is receiving help from associates and when he is eventually located, it is very likely that there will be charges in the case. Gardai are investigating The investigation is being led by a senior officer at Lucan garda station and sources say a huge amount of work has gone into this case. Mr Berney was stabbed after the suspect allegedly forced his way into the property. Described as a gentle soul, Mr Berney was stabbed several times in the back and chest while he was in the kitchen of the house. It is understood a number of other people were in the property and saw the attack. The suspect fled and emergency services were alerted. Gardai and paramedics rushed to the scene and the victim was transferred to Tallaght University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. James Jake Berney was stabbed at his home in Balgaddy on June 25 Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd He was a decent, harmless man who helped out around the area. This all links back to a personal grievance another man took with him, which completely escalated and resulted in Jake losing his life, a source said at the time. Mr Berney was a a father of two and also a grandfather. He lived in the house with his elderly father Andrew, who is aged in his late 80s. Mr Berneys funeral service was held in Ballyfermot on July 11. There was banging and shouting and then the ambulance and gardai started to arrive Neighbours said Mr Berney worked as a painter and decorator, and would often carry out decorating jobs for people in the area, some of whom described him as a perfectionist when it came to his work. Its very sad. He was a local handyman, really. Everyone knew him, one neighbour said. He was a loveable rogue, Im going to miss him, another said. Neighbours said there were frequent visitors to the property. One neighbour reported hearing a disturbance at the house late on night of the stabbing. There was banging and shouting and then the ambulance and gardai started to arrive very quickly, the man said. After the boat ran aground, the men attempted to escape but were quickly caught by Border Force officers who chased them on foot and arrested them Two more members of a crime gang that was involved in a chase have been jailed for their roles in a plot to smuggle cocaine into the UK Peter Williams and Bobbie Pearce have been jailed for 16 years and nine months and 15 years and four months respectively. Four of their accomplices were handed down jail sentence totalling 82 years earlier this month at Truro Crown Court. Scott Johnston (38) of Havant and Edwin Yahir Tabora Baca (33) of Barcelona, Spain tried to outrun pursuing officers after their cocaine-laden boat was spotted off the coast of Cornwall. They were jailed for 24 years and 17 years 7 months respectively. Michael May (47) of Brentwood; and Terry Willis (44) of Chelmsford, who helped organise collection of the cocaine, worth 18.4m, were also sentenced to 19 years and 21 years 8 months imprisonment. Williams (43) of Havant and Pearce (29) of Brentwood faced justice this week while the final member of their organised crime group Alex Fowlie (35) of Chichester - will be sentenced on 5 September. The RHIB aground on Gwynver Beach, Penzance News in 90 Seconds - 24th August 2025 Johnston, Williams and Tabora Baca were arrested when their rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) ran aground on Gwynver Beach, Penzance on September 13, 2024. The men had been pursued for around an hour by Border Force officers who had spotted their RHIB while carrying out an operation off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall. Officers suspected the boat had drugs on board, collected from a larger ship at sea, and tried to intercept the RHIB. As the officers approached it sped off and a chase unfolded during which the crew threw packages into the water. After the boat ran aground, the men attempted to escape but were quickly caught by Border Force officers who chased them on foot and arrested them Six large bales were recovered from the sea, containing around 230kg of powder which specialist analysts identified as high-purity cocaine. The National Crime Agency (NCA) began investigating and officers, who trawled through CCTV footage, call data and phone messages, subsequently identified Fowlie, Pearce, May, and Willis. Fowlie was responsible for purchasing the boat. Audio messages retrieved from his phone by officers after his arrest revealed he also began organising further at-sea drug collections just days after his co-conspirators were arrested in September. In recordings sent earlier that month, Fowlie sent an unidentified contact audio messages advising he could collect up to one tonne and claiming that there was zero f*cking risk. Pearce, May and Willis were to lie in wait on the Cornish coast on 13 September, where they expected the cocaine to be dropped off to them. All seven men initially denied their crimes. Tabora Baca even claimed to be a tourist who had accepted an invitation from two strangers - Williams and Johnston to go fishing. However, huis ruse was uncovered when officers recovered messages from his phone in which he discussed the groups plans and shared a photo of the cocaine onboard the RHIB. Tabora Baca - Willis - May - Johnston Five of the men including Williams and Pearce - pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import Class A drugs, including Willis who also pleaded guilty to money laundering and possession of firearm, relating to a revolver and ammunition found at his home address by NCA officers. May and Johnston went to trial and were found guilty of conspiracy to import Class A drugs on 23 June. NCA Senior Investigating Officer, Barry Vinall, said: These are substantial sentences for six men who didnt care about the misery cocaine causes, they just wanted to make a profit. Cocaine is one of the most harmful illegal drugs in the UK, linked to thousands of deaths and fuelling violent crime that wrecks communities and lives. Working together, Border Force stopped cocaine worth millions from making it onto UK streets and the National Crime Agency ensured that the group behind its importation faced justice. Duncan Capps, Senior Director of Border Force Maritime added: "It is the job of Border Force to protecting our border and keeping communities safe. Our officers were fantastic and displayed incredible skill during the 28-mile pursuit, despite the suspects' attempts to get rid of evidence. "Border Force will continue to work alongside the NCA to prevent dangerous drugs reaching our streets and will ensure criminals caught smuggling face the full force of the law." Garda Harris said it was particularly concerning that young people were involved. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he has received a series of reports on progress that was being made and the state of inquiries in relation to attacks on the Indian community in Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA) Commissioner Drew Harris has said attacks on the Indian community in Ireland are a mixture of racism and criminality, and added that he was particularly concerned that young people were involved. Speaking at Fridays graduation ceremony at Templemore Garda Training College, the outgoing Commissioner said he had spoken with the Indian Ambassador to Ireland two weeks ago in the aftermath of a spate of attacks in Dublin and Waterford. We have a very considerable outreach to minority communities here, said Commissioner Harris. We have a very positive ongoing relationship with the Indian Embassy here. All citizens and individuals residing here do know that An Garda Siochana is there to protect them. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he has received a series of reports on progress that was being made and the state of inquiries in relation to attacks on the Indian community in Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA) Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd Gardai have engaged in a considerable outreach programme with the Indian community so that when incidents happen, they are reported promptly. The investigations on the attacks are ongoing. Yesterday I received a series of reports on progress that was being made and the state of the inquiries. You can rest assured these matters are being supervised within the highest levels of An Garda Siochana, said Commissioner Harris. In part, there is racism in this, and in part it is an element of crime as well, picking on the vulnerable too. Garda Harris said it was particularly concerning that young people were involved. We have spent a lot of resource in terms of juvenile liaison officers. And so, through that network then, we are reaching out, trying to influence, trying to bring behaviours obviously back to a proper state, but also trying to detect those who have been involved. At his last ever graduation ceremony in Templemore, after seven years as Irelands top garda, Mr Harris said the highlight of his career was to be appointed Commissioner. His replacement, Justin Kelly, will fill the role from September 1. Its been a great privilege, he said. I dont regret one minute of it. Ive had a lot of fun in this job. Through the last seven years, he said An Garda Siochana has moved on in terms of equipment, supports for members, and in terms of performance towards organised crime and vulnerable groups such as victims of domestic abuse, serious sexual assault, and human trafficking. This isn't just a crisis in healthcare, it's a human rights emergency The march was inspired by Harvey Morrison Sherratt, a nine-year old boy from Clondalkin Protestors gather in Dublin ahead of the march for Harvey A large crowd has filled the streets of Dublin this afternoon to demand a better health system for children requiring timely medical interventions. Families, children in wheelchairs, and supporters from across Ireland united under the Justice for Harvey banner as they called for an emergency response to Irelands prolonged spinal surgery waiting list scandal. The march was inspired by Harvey Morrison Sherratt, a nine-year old boy from Clondalkin, who was born with spina bifida and developing scoliosis, who could not walk nor talk, and who was left waiting years for life saving spinal surgery. Harvey Morrison Sherratt also waited five years for a talk device from the HSE to help him communicate with his family, and let them know when he needed a drink or a living hug, his parents said. Protestors gather in Dublin ahead of the march for Harvey Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd Addressing the marchers at Custom House, Rachel Martin Families Unite for Services and Support (FUSS Ireland), highlighted the loss of Harvey's life, and emphasised the failure of health service systems meant to protect children. Ms Martin criticised State and government for not implementing solutions in a timely manner, noting that Harvey Morrison was a bright and loved boy, with a promising future if he had had his surgery sooner. Ms Martin pointed out the broader crisis in childrens health services, mentioning hundreds of children waiting for surgeries, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, and over 200 without school places. She described the ongoing situation as a human rights emergency, underscoring the impact on children's quality of life and the risk of irreversible harm. I think it's really obvious why we're all here today, and we're here because a young life was lost. Harvey's life, he should still be here, because what happened to Harvey wasn't inevitable. It was preventable, Ms Martin told those gathered which included the recently deceased boys parents. And the people who had the solutions are standing to my right, the government, the State, were given those solutions and they made choices. The march was inspired by Harvey Morrison Sherratt, a nine-year old boy from Clondalkin Harvey was a bright boy, a beautiful boy, and he was clearly loved beyond measure. He had a whole future ahead of him. When he was failed by the very systems that promised to protect him, he was left waiting; waiting for care and waiting for compassion that we should never have to beg for. And Harvey, sadly, is not alone right now. There are hundreds of children waiting on surgery. There are up to 100,000 waiting on physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, psychology. There are over 200 children with no school places for this September, for next week, there's another couple of hundred who will not walk into a school next week because the school is simply not built. Some children are in pain. They're losing their quality of life, and sometimes it's the point of no return. This isn't just a crisis in healthcare, it's a human rights emergency, Ms Martin warned. A promise by the Tanaiste, and leader of the Fine Gael political party, Simon Harris, when he was Minister for Health in 2017, that no child would wait longer than four months for spinal surgery, continues to be broken. Children continue to wait years beyond the timeline in Mr Harriss political pledge for life saving surgery. Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) had twisted Harveys ribcage to such an extent that it was crushing his lungs and putting massive pressure on his heart. Despite this, Harveys name inexplicably vanished off of a Childrens Health Ireland active survey waiting list. Harveys mother, Gillian Sherratt, said she only discovered her son was no longer on the CHI waiting list in August 2024 when she made a routine call to CHI asking what date he might be scheduled in for surgery. CHI has yet to provide Harveys family with a reason for why his name disappeared from the surgery waiting list. Harvey waited more than three years on CHIs active waiting list and several more waiting for a surgery plan. Protestors are demanding immediate action Harvey eventually underwent spinal surgery at Temple Street Hospital after consultant orthopaedic surgeon Damian McCormack stepped in before Christmas 2024 and relieved the boys pain. Sadly, despite thriving for eight months following the surgery, Harveys health suddenly deteriorated and he died three weeks ago, on July 29th. His parents said they were awaiting a confirmed cause of death. Harveys parents Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison had courageously led a campaign to get their son spinal surgery. In the midst of trying to grieve for him, they continue to fight for other children needing timely medical interventions. They are now leading a campaign calling for the political resignation of the Tanaiste and a public inquiry into governance at CHI. The Tanaiste said any interventions in childrens healthcare are clinical decisions and not political decisions. Harveys parents are due to meet Mr Harris in the coming weeks. Two hundred and forty two children were awaiting spinal surgery at the end of last month, according to data published by CHI. CHI said important progress was being made every month in reducing the waiting list. It said it hired an additional Consultant Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon on August 11 after five applicants had sought the position. However, CHI consultant surgeon Mr Connor Green, regraded by many in his own field as the most experienced surgeon in Ireland in treating the most complex of paediatric orthopaedic cases, has not returned to work as a surgeon since he went on leave in early September 2023. We acknowledge that waiting times for patients are still too long, and we continue to work to reduce the length of time that patients are waiting for appointments, CHI said. It added that 303 surgeries had taken place and that waiting times for outpatient appointments had been reduced by 40 per cent. Parade attended by thousands of people finishes with service at City Hall Around 5,000 people attended the march (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press) A large banner at the head of the march (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press) Around 5,000 people made a pilgrimage through Belfast this afternoon to honour Jesus Christ despite a brief downpour. The faithful took to the streets for the March for Jesus, organised by the All Nations Church. Waving flags and banners bearing Jesus name, they began their parade at Ormeau Embankment, making their way through Belfast and finishing at City Hall, where a service was held. A woman draped in a Jesus-themed flag (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press) Organisers said it was a family-friendly, non-political event to lift up the name of Jesus in Belfast city. Conservative Christian leaders had raised concerns it might contain an ecumenical element, due in part to the reported involvement of Catholic clergy at previous events. A large banner at the head of the march (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press) Pastor John Ahern, of the All Nations Church, rejected the criticism. Believers braving the rain (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press) Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd He told the Irish News: This is an evangelical initiative, not an ecumenical one. People carried signs with Christian messages (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press) Christ is firmly at the centre of the March. It is our desire that he would get the honour and glory. We understand the tensions that exist in Northern Ireland, but notwithstanding these, there is great significance to us as believers putting aside our differences with the aim of lifting Christ up. In a post on Instagram following their set, the band said: Just got cut off at Victorious Festival for having a Palestinian flag on the stage. The Mary Wallopers performing on the main stage at the Trnsmt Festival at Glasgow Green in Glasgow in 2024 (Michael Boyd/PA) Irish folk music band The Mary Wallopers have said they were cut off from performing at a British music festival for having a Palestinian flag on the stage. The band were performing at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth on Friday, an event which is set to feature Vampire Weekend, The Kaiser Chiefs and Kings of Leon over the weekend. In a post on Instagram following their set, the band said: Just got cut off at Victorious Festival for having a Palestinian flag on the stage. Weve been doing this for 6 years now and this has never happened before. Free Palestine all day every day. However, a spokesperson for the festival said the band had their set cut short for using a discriminatory chant. 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 A statement carried by the Daily Mail said: We spoke to the artist before the performance regarding the festivals long-standing policy of not allowing flags of any kind at the event, but that we respect their right to express their views during the show. Although a flag was displayed on stage contrary to our policy, and this was raised with the artists crew, the show was not ended at this point, and it was the artists decision to stop the song. The decision by the event management to cut the sound and end the performance was only taken after the band used a chant which is widely understood to have a discriminatory context. To be clear, we respect the right of artists to use their platform to express their views within the inclusive nature of the event and it was not the bands call to Free Palestine which resulted in this outcome. The Mary Wallopers performing on the main stage at the Trnsmt Festival at Glasgow Green in Glasgow in 2024 (Michael Boyd/PA) Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 23rd The Mary Wallopers received support from Irish rap trio Kneecap, who wrote in a post on X: Our good pals The Mary Wallopers have just been pulled off stage and the PA shut down at @VictoriousFest in Portsmouth for taking out a Palestinian flag and saying Free Palestine. Speak up against genocide in England and youre treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers. Free Palestine! Free the 6 counties! It comes after the BBC last month issued an apology for the divisive set by punk rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury in June. The broadcaster apologised for the groups deplorable behaviour after frontman, Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, led crowds in chants of death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) during their set at the festival which was shown live on TV and the iPlayer. Avon and Somerset Police have also launched an investigation into comments made during the groups West Holts Stage performance. A spokesperson for the festival had initially said that the band had their set cut short for using a discriminatory chant The organisers of the Victorious Festival in the UK have apologised after The Mary Wallopers claimed they were cut off during their performance for displaying a Palestinian flag on stage. A spokesperson for the festival had initially said that the band had their set cut short for using a discriminatory chant. The band shared a video on Instagram on Saturday of their performance, claiming that the organisers statement was misleading and that a festival crew member had interfered with their show. 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 A statement read: Yesterday, a famine was declared in Gaza, where at least 65 people were killed by Israeli attacks, all the while Israel pushed ahead with plans to split the West Bank in two. These are the important facts about yesterday. We are uploading this video so everybody can see @victoriousfestival cut our gig short for having a Palestinian flag on stage. The festival have released a misleading statement to the press claiming they cut our sound because of a discriminatory chant, and not the bands call to Free Palestine. Our video clearly shows a Victorious crew member coming on stage, interfering with our show, removing the flag from the stage and then the sound being cut following a chant of Free Palestine. The same crew member is later heard in the video saying you arent playing until the flag is removed. We completely reject Victorious portrayal of todays events and request that they retract their statement immediately. The Mary Wallopers. Photo: David Conachy. News in 90 Seconds - 24th August 2025 We know this is getting some attention and we dont want another distraction which takes attention away from the genocide that is happening in Palestine. FREE PALESTINE. In its statement, a spokesperson for Victorious said: We spoke to the artist before the performance regarding the festivals long-standing policy of not allowing flags of any kind at the event, but that we respect their right to express their views during the show. Although a flag was displayed on stage contrary to our policy, and this was raised with the artists crew, the show was not ended at this point, and it was the artists decision to stop the song. The decision by the event management to cut the sound and end the performance was only taken after the band used a chant which is widely understood to have a discriminatory context. To be clear, we respect the right of artists to use their platform to express their views within the inclusive nature of the event and it was not the bands call to Free Palestine which resulted in this outcome. However, organisers of the festival issued an updated statement on Saturday afternoon where they said they absolutely support the right of artists to freely express their views from the stage, within the law and the inclusive nature of the event. They went on: We are sorry that this situation has come about and will be making a substantial donation to humanitarian relief efforts for the Palestinian people. 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 The festival is set to feature Vampire Weekend, The Kaiser Chiefs and Kings Of Leon over the weekend. Before the festival issued an updated statement with an apology, The Mary Wallopers received support from rap trio Kneecap, who wrote in a post on X: Speak up against genocide in England and youre treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers. Meanwhile, other Irish bands the Academic and Clifford also pulled out of the event as an initial response. The Academic released a statement online and said it wants to stand in solidarity with other Irish bands. 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 Cork band Clifford said it was not made aware of the no flag policy at the festival. 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 The Last Dinner Party also decided to boycott the event, in a statement online, it said: "We are outraged by the decision to silence The Mary Wallopers. 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 It comes after the BBC last month issued an apology for the divisive set by punk rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury in June. Katikati is at risk of losing of a vital advocate role that helps the communitys most vulnerable if funding is not secured for it. Katikati Community Centre (KCC) had employed a community advocate since October 2020, born from peoples need for assistance during Covid lockdowns. The role provides immediate, one-off support, advocacy and advice and connects people to services and community resources. The work involves dealing with government agencies and online services, crisis and accommodation support, counselling and foodbank referrals, job-seeker support and more. The role is focused on ensuring that all community members, particularly those who are vulnerable or marginalised, can access the services and support they need to thrive, said KCC general manager Nicky Austin. About 80% of cases just need a quick rescue, said Austin. The entre initially financed the community connector role from a Covid response fund via the Ministry of Social Development. Initially, the role was to provide support for people trying to navigate self-isolation, particularly those living alone who had no-one else to turn to. MSD originally provided funding for two full-time equivalents and a part-time counsellor, said Austin. When the MSD funding stream ran dry in September 2023, the counsellors contract ended but due to demand KKC opted to keep the community advocate. Increased need By then locals knew the centre was the place to come if they were in need, said Austin. So the people have just continued coming through the door and the rate has not stopped if anything, it has increased with the economic climate were now in. The centre has funded the role through its reserves since September 2023, said Austin. The reserves have now gone, so were faced with trying to raise enough money to keep the service running. The centre received funding for some of the cost of the roles wage per week but its not enough, said Austin. KCC business administrator Sally Goodyear said 13% of the centres total income is from grants and donations. Were already applying for grants just to keep the place running. Asked if the centre approached MSD after the Covid-19 funding cut, Goodyear said: They made it very clear that that funding stream had been all utilised and was gone. The centre now needs $100,000 to keep the community advocate role, said Austin. Otherwise, it would finish August 31, 2026. If cut, Austin said: We wont have the capacity to support people in the way we have been. The $100,000 would provide a wage, administration costs and a $10,000 emergency fund. The emergency fund would give people immediate fixes to help them access further support. For example, it could pay for a small fix on someones car so they can get to work and keep their job. Sjaan Rounds, who has been the community advocate for the last three years, said its hugely valuable. There are so many vulnerable in our community that dont really have any other option. Were really isolated here and it means people have to go to Tauranga to get the support they need, which is just not possible for many. Another missing link Rounds found people now know to come to the centre for help. If they dont have that, it will mean more will be struggling. Losing this role is huge. Were such a great community but without this service its just another missing link. Its just sad because to be a strong community, if you want to go ahead you can only go as fast as the people at the back. Centre figures show Rounds helped 344 families in 2024. Plus, shes involved in many of our other projects as part of her role, said Goodyear. More 2024 statistics show Rounds helped with: $18,609.83 of discretionary funding spent on immediate needs, 1445 breakfasts, 25 clients received counselling, 220 RSE workers welcomed to Katikati, 26 students helped with back-to-school costs, 128 gifts distributed to children at Christmas, 40 Christmas grocery boxes distributed, 20 Total Mobility & Accessibility Concession assessments, 300 beanies knitted by community for RSE workers, 85 Super Support meals given to elderly, and 306 Kura Kai frozen meals given to families. Goodyear said Rounds would help anyone in any immediate situation. Shes non-judgmental, warm but firm, and shell do her best. Elderly struggling Austin said many enquiries come from Katikatis senior population. Many dont realise our elderly are really struggling. For example, an older man was left bewildered when his wife went into care. Hed never cooked and or managed household tasks. Sjaan worked alongside him to connect him with services, said Austin. Most work is connecting people with services they require. Another elderly man drove to a Tauranga bank to change his credit card only to return home and find he still couldnt use his online accounts. With bill payments linked to the old card hed received late payment notices. Sjaan called the bank, utility providers and showed him how to use online banking independently, said Austin. More work involves helping people with government departments. Sjaan finds if she sits in with a client as an advocate, nine times of out of 10 the outcome is better than if the person went on their own, said Goodyear. English a second language Being a multicultural community Rounds also worked with families for whom English is a second language. Navigating forms, rules and regulations in New Zealand can be tough for these people. Rotarian John Bothwell said the community advocate, along with fellow KCC staff, are the go-to for help in Katikati. Theyre the hub of the wheel and everything else spins off them without a solid hub they cant do their job properly. Bothwell said funding had long been an issue for the centre, and service groups such as Rotary and Lions helped where they could. Bothwell said the role had made a positive impact for years and should continue to do so. He wanted a long-term funding solution found. How to help To donate, visit: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-the-helping-hand Austin planned to approach local businesses for support too. We have many benefits if a person or business wanted to sponsor the role. To enquire, phone her on 021550409 or email: manager@katikaticommunity.nz Goodyear said the community needed to know the centre is not fully funded by council. It was built by the community for the community thats how we come about and we want this to continue, Goodyear said. More volunteers are needed to help the Cancer Society on August 29 - Daffodil Day with street appeals planned for Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. With nearly 30 locations across the city from Bethlehem to Tauriko, and Otumoetai to Mount Maunganui and Welcome Bay, there are plenty of convenient spots for volunteers to easily complete a two-hour shift between 9am and 5pm. If August 29 doesnt suit, some locations will also continue the street appeal on August 30. We really need the community to get involved, because we cant do what we do without community support, Lena Cordery from the Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty branch said. Its also a really great day to be involved in, as its about spreading hope, and wearing the yellow with pride. Daffodil Day is the countrys chance to work together and change the experience of cancer for every New Zealander. Becoming an everyday hero for your community by volunteering for two hours is a focus of the appeal, because everyone knows someone affected by cancer, and most Kiwis know the toll cancer takes on a person and their friends and whanau. Cancer is affecting one in three New Zealanders, Cordery said. This campaign is around that it could be you, it could be someone you love. But in saying that, we do want to spread the message this month that we are raising money for our support services, which are provided free to anyone who has cancer. And we are also raising money for cancer research. The Cancer Society is New Zealands biggest private funder of cancer research. Research is vital to finding a cure and improving outcomes for the approximately 28,000 New Zealanders diagnosed with cancer every year. In the past 10 years, the Cancer Society has invested over $50 million in cancer research that has improved the prevention, detection and treatment of various types of cancer. This research aims to save lives and help New Zealanders live longer following a diagnosis. To volunteer for the street appeal, go to www.daffodilday.org.nz, click on Volunteer and then select your location. Yellow blooms are popping their heads out of the earth at Tauranga Citys Yatton Park, Tutarawananga, ahead of Daffodil Day and are a bright reminder to give generously to support the Cancer Society next Friday, August 29. Back in April, the Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty teamed up with Eves Real Estate and Tauranga City Council to create a special Memory Meadow for people affected by cancer and their whanau. During winter months a meadow at the park was densely planted with daffodil bulbs in the hope they would bloom near the end of August. At the time, Bay of Plenty residents were encouraged to contribute by buying daffodil bulbs, with all proceeds going to the Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty. A planting day at the Harrier St side of the park was held on May 10, with the community invited to help plant the bulbs they purchased. Where funds go Every donation received helped to support the Cancer Societys work in the Tauranga area, including the support of a local navigator, access to counselling and accommodation near to Waikato Hospital for those travelling for treatment, said Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty chief exceutive Helen Carter. The initiative resulted in 10,000 bulbs being planted. Carter said at the time that Taurangas Memory Meadow would be a very special destination, which people can visit to remember a loved one or to honour the journey theyve been on. Early flowers While the full bloom was planned for the end of August to coincide with Daffodil Day, warmer temperatures had meant visitors had been enjoying the bright, uplifting display since late July. Daffodils blooming brightly at Tauranga Citys Yatton Park, Tutarawananga,on August 20, 2025. Photo / Ayla Yeoman The unseasonably warm winter weather has fast-tracked Taurangas Memory Meadow, Carter said. Locals are encouraged to visit the park to enjoy the effect of the meadow, which was made possible thanks to community contributions and dozens of volunteers who helped plant the 10,000 daffodil bulbs. Free services Carter said the community should be aware the Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty is not directly government-funded but its services are free for people with cancer and their whanau. These services include transport to treatment, support from experienced cancer care professionals, support groups, accommodation near to treatment centres and access to counselling. Across Waikato and Bay of Plenty in the last financial year, 3724 people were supported by the Cancer Society; 104,657km were driven taking cancer patients to their treatment; $252,583 was contributed towards local and national cancer research; and 17,145 nights accommodation were provided to guests at the Cancer Societys Lions Lodge in Hamilton. Volunteers wanted As Daffodil Day approaches next Friday, August 29, the Cancer Society is also calling for volunteers to help collect donations at various locations across Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty. Shifts are just two hours long, with all donations helping to support the societys free services in the region, including transport to treatment, support groups and accommodation. An aerial drone photo shows a pedestrian overpass adorned with a banner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 in Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, Aug. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran) BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 will be held in Tianjin from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and the "SCO Plus" Meeting and deliver keynote speeches as world leaders and heads of international organizations gather in this major port city of northern China. As China hosts the SCO summit for the fifth time, here's what you need to know ahead of the Tianjin meeting. LARGEST EVER SCO SUMMIT Established 24 years ago by China and its five neighboring countries, the SCO now has 10 member states, two observer states and 14 dialogue partners from Asia, Europe and Africa. It has grown into a regional cooperation organization with the largest population and geographic coverage, as well as the greatest development potential. "Leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations will attend the SCO Summit 2025," said Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin at a press briefing on Friday. According to Liu, they include leaders from Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and heads of international organizations such as the UN and ASEAN. This summit will be the largest one since the establishment of the organization, noted Liu. Guests and exhibitors communicate at the interactive experience zone during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum in north China's Tianjin, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) During the summit, President Xi will host a welcome banquet and bilateral events for participating leaders, a foreign ministry spokesperson announced earlier on the same day. Expressing his expectations as the summit draws near, Sheradil Baktygulov, director of the Institute of World Policy of Kyrgyzstan, said: "This grand event will enable more people to learn about this beautiful and renowned Chinese city." "We are making the most of this important opportunity to host the summit in Tianjin, steadily advancing our preparations and service support, and ensuring everything is in place for this major international event," said Yu Pengzhou, a Tianjin official involved in the preparations. CLOSER COOPERATION UNDER CHINA'S ROTATING PRESIDENCY During the press briefing, Liu said that President Xi will announce new measures and initiatives by China to support high-quality development of the SCO and comprehensive cooperation. According to the official, Xi will jointly sign and issue a declaration with leaders of other SCO member states, approve a development strategy of the SCO for the next 10 years, issue statements marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th founding anniversary of the United Nations, and adopt a series of outcome documents on strengthening security, economic, people-to-people and cultural cooperation. Attendees of the Inter-Civilizational Dialogue among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries 2025 visit a sculpture exhibition in north China's Tianjin, July 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran) As the rotating president of the SCO in 2024-2025, China has coordinated closely with all parties around the theme of "SCO Year of Sustainable Development," Liu said. Though the SCO was established to meet the need for security cooperation, it has gradually evolved into a platform for in-depth collaboration across multiple fields, including economy, trade and cultural exchanges. SCO member states account for approximately one quarter of the global GDP. Fan Xianrong, a foreign ministry official responsible for coordination work in SCO, said that as the rotating president of the SCO, China has hosted over 100 events, including ministerial-level meetings spanning various areas including diplomacy, finance and central banking, defense, economy and trade, and beyond. "Additionally, China has spearheaded a diverse array of events such as an SCO political parties' forum, a media and think tank summit, and an art festival," he added. This photo taken on July 8, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the Global Mayors Dialogue: SCO Summit Cities held in north China's Tianjin. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) "It sends a clear message to the international community that the SCO is not a platform just for talk, but for action," Liu said. "The Tianjin Summit has brought together different institutions and organizations, all sharing a common purpose: to promote and strengthen good-neighborly relations and friendly cooperation, and to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust," said SCO Deputy Secretary-General Ahmad Saidmurodzoda. GREATER SOLIDARITY FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE As one of the most important head-of-state diplomacy and home-ground diplomacy events in China this year, the upcoming Tianjin Summit has drawn wide attention from the international community. In his keynote speeches, President Xi will elaborate on China's new vision and propositions for the SCO in carrying forward the Shanghai Spirit, embracing the mission of the times, and responding to the people's expectations, according to Liu. A representative interacts with the media at the site of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, July 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen) The Shanghai Spirit, which emphasizes mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development, is the very root and soul of the SCO and has demonstrated timeless value throughout its development course. "China will work with all parties of the SCO to remain true to the organization's original aspiration, shoulder its mission, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, and provide SCO solutions for global governance and reform," Liu said. "China believes that a friendly, united and productive Tianjin Summit will advance the SCO into a new phase of high-quality development, characterized by greater solidarity, closer coordination, stronger momentum and higher effectiveness. The SCO will continue to contribute its strength to building a community with a shared future for humanity," Liu said. An aerial drone photo shows a pedestrian overpass adorned with a banner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 in Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, Aug. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran) BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 will be held in Tianjin from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and the "SCO Plus" Meeting and deliver keynote speeches as world leaders and heads of international organizations gather in this major port city of northern China. As China hosts the SCO summit for the fifth time, here's what you need to know ahead of the Tianjin meeting. LARGEST EVER SCO SUMMIT Established 24 years ago by China and its five neighboring countries, the SCO now has 10 member states, two observer states and 14 dialogue partners from Asia, Europe and Africa. It has grown into a regional cooperation organization with the largest population and geographic coverage, as well as the greatest development potential. "Leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations will attend the SCO Summit 2025," said Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin at a press briefing on Friday. According to Liu, they include leaders from Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and heads of international organizations such as the UN and ASEAN. This summit will be the largest one since the establishment of the organization, noted Liu. Guests and exhibitors communicate at the interactive experience zone during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum in north China's Tianjin, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) During the summit, President Xi will host a welcome banquet and bilateral events for participating leaders, a foreign ministry spokesperson announced earlier on the same day. Expressing his expectations as the summit draws near, Sheradil Baktygulov, director of the Institute of World Policy of Kyrgyzstan, said: "This grand event will enable more people to learn about this beautiful and renowned Chinese city." "We are making the most of this important opportunity to host the summit in Tianjin, steadily advancing our preparations and service support, and ensuring everything is in place for this major international event," said Yu Pengzhou, a Tianjin official involved in the preparations. CLOSER COOPERATION UNDER CHINA'S ROTATING PRESIDENCY During the press briefing, Liu said that President Xi will announce new measures and initiatives by China to support high-quality development of the SCO and comprehensive cooperation. According to the official, Xi will jointly sign and issue a declaration with leaders of other SCO member states, approve a development strategy of the SCO for the next 10 years, issue statements marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th founding anniversary of the United Nations, and adopt a series of outcome documents on strengthening security, economic, people-to-people and cultural cooperation. Attendees of the Inter-Civilizational Dialogue among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries 2025 visit a sculpture exhibition in north China's Tianjin, July 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran) As the rotating president of the SCO in 2024-2025, China has coordinated closely with all parties around the theme of "SCO Year of Sustainable Development," Liu said. Though the SCO was established to meet the need for security cooperation, it has gradually evolved into a platform for in-depth collaboration across multiple fields, including economy, trade and cultural exchanges. SCO member states account for approximately one quarter of the global GDP. Fan Xianrong, a foreign ministry official responsible for coordination work in SCO, said that as the rotating president of the SCO, China has hosted over 100 events, including ministerial-level meetings spanning various areas including diplomacy, finance and central banking, defense, economy and trade, and beyond. "Additionally, China has spearheaded a diverse array of events such as an SCO political parties' forum, a media and think tank summit, and an art festival," he added. This photo taken on July 8, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the Global Mayors Dialogue: SCO Summit Cities held in north China's Tianjin. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) "It sends a clear message to the international community that the SCO is not a platform just for talk, but for action," Liu said. "The Tianjin Summit has brought together different institutions and organizations, all sharing a common purpose: to promote and strengthen good-neighborly relations and friendly cooperation, and to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust," said SCO Deputy Secretary-General Ahmad Saidmurodzoda. GREATER SOLIDARITY FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE As one of the most important head-of-state diplomacy and home-ground diplomacy events in China this year, the upcoming Tianjin Summit has drawn wide attention from the international community. In his keynote speeches, President Xi will elaborate on China's new vision and propositions for the SCO in carrying forward the Shanghai Spirit, embracing the mission of the times, and responding to the people's expectations, according to Liu. A representative interacts with the media at the site of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, July 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen) The Shanghai Spirit, which emphasizes mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development, is the very root and soul of the SCO and has demonstrated timeless value throughout its development course. "China will work with all parties of the SCO to remain true to the organization's original aspiration, shoulder its mission, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, and provide SCO solutions for global governance and reform," Liu said. "China believes that a friendly, united and productive Tianjin Summit will advance the SCO into a new phase of high-quality development, characterized by greater solidarity, closer coordination, stronger momentum and higher effectiveness. The SCO will continue to contribute its strength to building a community with a shared future for humanity," Liu said. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region. With an average elevation of over 4,000 meters, this region was once described as the limit of human survival. Yet on the roof of the world, China carved three Sky Roads that reshaped the destiny of this land. In ancient times, Xizang had only mule and yak trails, with no highways at all. From 1950 to 1954, the Sichuan-Xizang Highway and the Qinghai-Xizang Highway were built, ending Xizangs millennia-long isolation. Stretching over 4,300 kilometers in total, the two Sky Roads were hailed as golden bridges that bring happiness. With the construction of the Qinghai-Xizang, Sichuan-Xizang, and Ngari power transmission lines, Xizang made a historic shift in electricity supplyfrom rationing to surplus. It not only transmits electricity outward, but also provides clean energy through the West-to-East Power Transmission program. Today, trunk railways crisscross Xizang, with bullet trains in operation. Highways link the region to the rest of the nation and extend all the way to its villages. All towns across Xizang now enjoy full 5G coverage. With its civil aviation system seamlessly integrated, an Air Silk Road has also taken shape. From highways to power lines, from networks to new pathways, a modernization roadmap for the roof of the world is unfolding. Pembroke, N.Y. -- Five people died and dozens more were injured during a bus rollover crash Friday on the New York Thruway in Pembroke, according to State Police. Another 49 passengers were taken to area hospitals for treatment, troopers said in a news release Friday evening. The driver was distracted, Major Andre J. Ray, the state police commander who oversees the Thruway, said Friday evening. He did not specify how. There were 54 people on board the bus, Ray said. Initial reports put the number at 52. Also, an earlier report that a child was killed was incorrect, troopers clarified Friday evening. The passengers range in age from 1 to 74 years old, Ray said. The Buffalo News reported Friday evening that no other patients were in a life-threatening status. Those who died perished at the scene, Ray said. The tour bus was headed from Niagara Falls to New York City, troopers said. The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. in the town of Pembroke in Genesee County, about 30 miles east of Buffalo. The bus lost control, went into the median, overcorrected and ended up in a ditch on the south side of the Thruway, Trooper James OCallaghan said at the scene during the afternoon. The crash shut down the Thruway in both directions for hours. The westbound lanes fully reopened around 5 p.m. Nearly everyone on the bus suffered some injury, from bruises and cuts to serious conditions, OCallaghan said during the afternoon briefing. This bus was going full speed, he said, and it did not hit any other vehicles. It came to rest on its passenger side, OCallaghan said. The bus, owned by M&Y Tour Inc., was chartered from New York City and was returning from Niagara Falls, State Police said in a news release Friday evening. The driver was described by troopers as alive and well, and cooperating with the investigation. No charges were filed as of Friday evening. The injured were taken to Rochester and Buffalo hospitals, he said. Nearly half of the passengers -- 24 people -- were taken to Erie County Medical Center, according to Dr. Jennifer Pugh. Around 4:30 p.m., 20 were still being treated, including two in surgery and two in trauma ICU, according to Dr. Jeffrey Brewer, the hospitals chief of surgery. Erie County Medical Center sent six staff out to the bus to help treat and triage patients, according to the hospital. One hospital official said the day brought the most patients from one event in his 25 years on the job. Many of the passengers were of Indian, Chinese or Filipino ethnicity, he said. Authorities said some of the passengers spoke English. At the Erie County hospital, staff brought in several translation specialists to help with communication. Shortly after 5 p.m., westbound lanes on the New York Thruway near the fatal tour bus crash in Pembroke were reopened, State Police said. A Family Assistance Center for the victims and their families has been established at the Amherst Senior Center, 370 John James Audubon Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14228. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has dash cam footage is asked to contact State Police at SP Batavia at (716) 289-4279. Update 8:45 p.m.: Willie L. Davis, 66, of Syracuse, was found safely Friday evening after being reported missing earlier in the day, according to deputies. Original story: Syracuse, N.Y. Onondaga County Sheriffs Office deputies are seeking the publics help in locating a missing Syracuse man on Friday. Willie L. Davis, 66, was last seen Friday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Syracuse, Onondaga Sheriffs Office spokesperson Thomas Newton said in a news release. Davis is a vulnerable adult, Newton said. He was seen walking northwest on Almond and Van Buren streets, he said. Davis is 5 feet 2 inches with a slim build, Newton said. Deputies ask that anyone with information on Davis location call 911. Geddes, N.Y. More than 75,000 people came to the New York State Fair on Friday, a day that celebrated Pride and welcomed new U.S. citizens. Attendance on Friday was 75,726, according to fair officials. Thats higher than last years third-day crowd of 64,791, and it came on a day packed with ceremonies, parades and music. In the past five years, Day 3 attendance has typically ranged from 73,000 to 75,000, making this years crowd slightly higher than usual. Fifty-one people were sworn in as U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the fairgrounds. Pride Day was also celebrated with events across the grounds and the first parade of the 2025 Fair. The evening concerts drew huge crowds. Jessie Murph performed at Suburban Park, attracting about 49,000 fans, officials said. Saturdays lineup includes a Kidz Bop concert at 1 p.m. at Chevy Court and the Barrel Racing Horse Show beginning at 9 a.m. inside the Toyota Coliseum. There will also be performances by Kameron Marlowe at 6 p.m. at Chevy Court and OAR at 8 p.m. at Suburban Park. Pembroke, N.Y. - Police identified the five people who were killed Friday in a rollover crash on the New York State Thruway that left 49 passengers injured. The following were passengers on the bus traveling east on I-90 when it lost control, went into the median, overcorrected and ended up in a ditch on the south side of the Thruway in Pembroke at approximately 12:22 p.m.: Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India Pinki Changrani, 60 of East Brunswick, NJ Xie Hongzhuo, 22 of Beijing, China, and a Columbia University Student Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, NJ Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City, NJ All five died on the scene, troopers said in a news release Saturday afternoon. The bus had a total of 54 passengers; the other 49 were taken to area hospitals for treatment, troopers said in a news release Friday evening. Nearly everyone on the bus suffered some injury, from bruises and cuts to serious conditions, State Police spokesperson James OCallaghan said during a news briefing Friday afternoon. The injured were taken to Rochester and Buffalo hospitals, he said. Nearly half of the passengers -- 24 people -- were taken to Erie County Medical Center, according to Dr. Jennifer Pugh. The bus driver was identified as Bin Shao, 55, of Flushing, NY. Shao was distracted, Major Andre J. Ray, the state police commander who oversees the Thruway, said Friday evening. He did not specify how. Shao was described by troopers as alive and well, and cooperating with the investigation. No charges were filed as of Friday evening. The bus was owned by M&Y Tour Inc. out of Staten Island and was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls, troopers said. Staff writer Vince Gasparini covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach him at vgasparini@syracuse.com. Crossbow hunters, mark your calendars for Sept. 4, 2025. Senate bill S6360, which would permit the use of crossbows for taking big game in any area longbows and compound bows are allowed, was delivered to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, Aug. 22. The clock is now ticking. Hochul has ten days (not including Sundays) to sign or veto the bill. If she doesnt act by Sept. 4, the bill automatically becomes law. And if that happens, hunters will be able to use crossbows during the traditional big game bow season, which opens Sept. 27 in the Northern Zone, and Oct. 1 in the Southern Zone. Roy Dust, president of the New York Crossbow Coalition, said hes confident Hochul will sign the bill into law, citing the unanimous support it received in the Assemblys Environmental Conservation Committee. That was traditionally our problem child, he said, referring to past failed attempts to pass a crossbow bill. Dust has been overwhelmed with questions from hunters since the bill passed the Assembly on June 17, chief among them: when will Hochul sign the bill? I can see why its happening right now, prior to the archery season opening, Dust said. It makes political sense. Unfortunately, I learned too much about politics through all this. Hunters hoping to hunt with crossbows this fall should act now to get their Bow Hunter Education Certificate and Archery Privilege. NY State hunting licenses went on sale earlier this month. Heres a summary of the crossbow bill from NYCC: Allows crossbows to be used anywhere longbows are permitted Requires archery privilege to hunt with a crossbow Crossbow usage will be taught in a bow hunter safety course Removes maximum draw weight and width restrictions Adds 500 feet discharge setback for Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com. H. Rose Schneider l Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS) Aug. 22ALBANY On Aug. 25, 2023, Alexander MacFayden traveled from his home in Canada to Albany, intending to have sex with a 10-year-old girl, prosecutors said. He was arrested shortly after he arrived. The 60-year-old was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in federal prison and 15 years of probation for attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. MacFayden previously pleaded guilty and admitted to exchanging sexually explicit messages with someone he believed would let him have sex with their 10-year-old relative. He drove from the Toronto area to Albany and was arrested that same day in Colonie, prosecutors previously said. Assistant federal public defender Paul Shelton, who represented MacFayden, declined to comment outside of referring to the sentencing memorandum submitted on his behalf. The document says that in May 2023, MacFayden began messaging an undercover officer posing as both the 10-year-old and her foster mother on the app Kik. It also argues he only admitted he may have distributed child pornography on the app. MacFayden will also have to register as a sex offender after leaving prison. 2025 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) . Visit www.timesunion.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Sure, you can find vegetables at the New York State Fair, and who doesnt love a bargain meal under $5? But this year, we set out to uncover the biggest, boldest, most over-the-top eats and drinks on the fairgrounds. Apple TV+, which features popular series like Severance, Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show, has raised its monthly subscription price. Apple announced on Thursday that the monthly subscription price for the streaming service has increased from $9.99 to $12.99. That is a 30 percent increase. This price change is effective immediately, and customers should see it reflected in their bills within the next 30 days. However, Apple TV+s annual plan, which costs $99.99 per year, and the Apple One bundle, which starts at $19.95 a month, will not face a price hike at least not right now. The Apple One bundle includes multiple Apple services together for a single monthly price, such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Apple News+, and Apple Fitness+. Apple justified Apple TV+s monthly subscription price increase by noting that it had launched a bevy of new programs and movies. The company also highlighted that Apple TV+ is one of the few platforms that does not display ads. Competitors like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, and Disney+ all offer ad-supported subscription plans, although for a discounted rate. Since it launch, Apple TV+ has expanded its deep library of hundreds of Apple Originals, with thousands of hours of premium programming across genres and brand-new releases weekly all ad-free, Apple said in a statement via Variety. Subscribers can explore a rich offering of thrilling dramas, epic sci-fi, feel-good comedies and live sports. This marks the third price increase for Apple TV+ since its inception. The service launched in 2019 with a monthly plan priced at $4.99. In 2022, the price increased to $6.99, followed by another increase to $9.99 in 2023. In announcing the latest price hike, Apple also shed light on its upcoming Apple TV+ premieres. These include The Morning Show Season 4 on Sept. 17; Slow Horses Season 5 on Sept. 24; Vince Gilligans Pluribus on Nov. 7, and original films like Highest 2 Lowest on Sept. 5 and The Lost Bus on Oct. 3. PrideRed Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2012 Location: BLR/PTR Posts: 3,526 Thanked: 10,951 Times Re: 2021 Toyota Fortuner 4x4 AT | Ownership Review I was looking for a new location and Tarkarli/Malvan which was on bucket list for a long time. Of course, monsoon is not the right season as none of the watersports would be open and beaches would be murky with high tides. Quick check through the weather forecast indicated rain throughout the week and calls to MTDC indicated watersports/scuba diving would open in September or October. On the positive side more rain should ideally mean less crowd. I wanted to avoid all the crowded places and hence finalized on Tarkarli. Day 1 The drive to Tarkarli is about 12-14Hrs, we were not in hurry and wanted a leisurely drive. We started at around 4PM post commitments and decided to drive until 9PM or extend it until Hubli. I was expecting heavy traffic but there wasnt much! STRR was a huge benefit, atleast saved us an hour. I was skeptical about Annual Pass but that worked flawlessly. We reached Tumkur by 530PM. While google maps indicated Hubli another 5-6 hrs , decided to stay at Davangere as there was decent traffic. Cousin works in Davangere and had a good time catching up with him for dinner. The STRR road being new was very good. From Dobaspet to Tumkur, there was considerable truck traffic which eased up after the Tumkur toll. From Then till Davangere road is good except for few diversions. We didnt get much rains either. Day 2 We didnt have much in agenda and started at around 6:30AM. Traffic was sparse, and we made good progress. In no time we were at Hubli-Dharwad highway. While the bypass is bad, I didnt find it too bothersome, maybe less traffic helped us here. I wanted to visit Gurdutt bhavan in Hubli, a place that I visited many times when my sister used to study there, but that was about 30 min detour and by the time we were discussing if to take detour, we saw Big Mishra outlet. Decided to stop and found it quite a good breakfast place. Clean, big, tasty food and quick service. I bought some snacks here which I found were below average though. Post breakfast we resumed our journey, in less than an hour we were at Belgaum, here we took diversion towards Amboli. It was a different route this time and last time I recall we went via Gadhinglaj. There were lot of potholes in this stretch though was not very bad compared to say Shirdai during peak monsoon. Closer to Amboli found a nice stream with clear waters, we spent some time by the stream/falls. As we started approaching Amboli, roads got better. As expected, there was dense fog at the starting of ghat. We stopped at one of the eateries for food, gobbled few vada pav and tea. We resumed drive only to hit a 10 min traffic congestion near Amboli falls. After the falls, traffic started moving at a decent pace. Once we hit the malvan road, traffic reduced further and could hardly see any outstation vehicles. We reached our Tarkarli hotel by around 3PM. After unloading luggage, we went near Devbagh sangam, which was nearby. From there we headed to Malvan town, and it started raining cats and dogs, typical of the west coast. We roamed around tiny town and once the rain stopped, we shopped for some local stuff. Tanked up Fortuner at Malvan town and it was about 7PM. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped for dinner by the bay. Had a sumptuous Thali which was quite good. Day 3 There was no specific plan and decided to drive towards Kunkeshwar/Devgad. Stopped at a tiny restaurant for breakfast and noticed a big poster mentioning about places to see around Malvan region. We shortlisted few which looked good. We had some Misal, poha and Ghavan chutney for breakfast. From here we headed towards Kunkeshwar temple which was by the beach. We did a quick visit from where we headed towards Mitmumbari beach which was closeby. Spent some time by the beach and clicked few pictures too. Next destination was the ones we shortlisted from the place where we had breakfast- A windmill place (I forgot the name), we reached a plateau and there were a bunch on windmills. Towards edge, there was a small park which had breathtaking view of the beach and hills. It was a nice place, and we just sat there enjoying the scenery. We also went closer to the windmill to click some pictures. From here our next destination was a Ganpati temple (Again sorry, I forgot the name). This was about 30min drive from the windmill place. The temple as such was in an isolated place and next to a stream. The temple was small, and it has access to cave from where water comes through. The water was super clean and there were plenty of tiny fishes. A small part of the temple was on the other side of the stream and kids had lot of fun playing in water and crossing stream. It was lunch time, and we wanted to taste some local delicacies. Being vegetarian, our options are limited especially in the coastal region. We reached Malvan town and found a small restaurant which offered Malvan food. We ordered thali, kothambir vadi and some modaks. The food was good and fresh and quite cheap. We didnt have much agenda for the rest of the day. Visited the ferry point of Sindhudurg fort but couldnt visit the actual fort as boating hadnt started yet. It wasnt raining much, and we spent time by the beach around Tarkarli. By 6 PM it started raining quite heavily and we headed out for dinner to a nearby restaurant. While having dinner we were not sure where to head next and we didnt have any booking either. Decided to drive towards South Goa which was just 4 hrs away. Day 3 and Day 4 As decided, we started towards South Goa, and we booked a stay at Varca. Since it was just 4 hrs drive, we started at 630-7. Once we hit highway, road was pretty decent and we reached by about 930-10 to Panaji and we had option of Cafe Bhonsle or Kamat for breakfast, both of which we have visited quite a few times. Decided on Cafe Bhonsle and found a parking nearby. It wasnt that crowded, in fact we didnt see many tourists while in Goa. Post Breakfast we made a quick visit to Mangeshi temple and headed towards Varca. We stayed for 2 days here and since the place we stayed was a beach side, we spent lot of time at beach. Also visited some of nice restaurants around. Day 5 Bangalore was 12hrs and home at Puttur was 6-7 hrs away and we decided for the latter. We reached home by lunch time and spent couple of days with family before returning to Bangalore. The roads from Goa to Mangalore are quite good throughout and traffic was again minimal being a weekday. This is a road that I have driven a lot ever since I started driving and continues to be my favorite. - I had bought Annual Pass for fasttag when it opened up for booking and worked flawlessly except for one toll in STRR which showed blacklisted first, which flipped to green highlighting a different car number. -Fortuners windscreen washer stopped working. I was bit apprehensive about driving without spray during peak monsoon but in reality, it did not matter much. Once back got motor replaced under warranty at Nandi Toyota. -Despite travelling during long weekends and seeing reports of huge traffic jams, most of the places we visited didnt have many tourists. Tarkarli on the day we arrived, half of the shops/restaurants didnt even open throughout the day. - Many places in the Malvan region didnt have mobile signal. Luckily, we didnt get lost anywhere. @Big Mishra where we stopped for Breakfast Outskirts of Belgaum Road between Belgaum-Amboli Enroute to Amboli Amboli Ghat Stream/falls where we stopped Fortuner near the stream Road leading to Tarkarli Again on the way to Tarkarli @Malvan Helipad Some random shots around Malvan @Ganpati temple Karli river Sindhurg fort in backgroound Nice view of Arabian Sea Goa! Thar drive to one of the restaurants by beach Beautiful beach Home sweet home Its been quite some time since I made a longish road trip. Thanks to commitments and few trips outstation, most of roadtrips were limited to short ones (less than 1K). I usually avoid long weekend travel due to added traffic and crowd. However, made an exception and decided to travel over long weekend this time around.I was looking for a new location and Tarkarli/Malvan which was on bucket list for a long time. Of course, monsoon is not the right season as none of the watersports would be open and beaches would be murky with high tides. Quick check through the weather forecast indicated rain throughout the week and calls to MTDC indicated watersports/scuba diving would open in September or October. On the positive side more rain should ideally mean less crowd. I wanted to avoid all the crowded places and hence finalized on Tarkarli.The drive to Tarkarli is about 12-14Hrs, we were not in hurry and wanted a leisurely drive. We started at around 4PM post commitments and decided to drive until 9PM or extend it until Hubli. I was expecting heavy traffic but there wasnt much! STRR was a huge benefit, atleast saved us an hour. I was skeptical about Annual Pass but that worked flawlessly. We reached Tumkur by 530PM. While google maps indicated Hubli another 5-6 hrs , decided to stay at Davangere as there was decent traffic. Cousin works in Davangere and had a good time catching up with him for dinner.The STRR road being new was very good. From Dobaspet to Tumkur, there was considerable truck traffic which eased up after the Tumkur toll. From Then till Davangere road is good except for few diversions. We didnt get much rains either.We didnt have much in agenda and started at around 6:30AM. Traffic was sparse, and we made good progress. In no time we were at Hubli-Dharwad highway. While the bypass is bad, I didnt find it too bothersome, maybe less traffic helped us here. I wanted to visit Gurdutt bhavan in Hubli, a place that I visited many times when my sister used to study there, but that was about 30 min detour and by the time we were discussing if to take detour, we saw Big Mishra outlet. Decided to stop and found it quite a good breakfast place. Clean, big, tasty food and quick service. I bought some snacks here which I found were below average though.Post breakfast we resumed our journey, in less than an hour we were at Belgaum, here we took diversion towards Amboli. It was a different route this time and last time I recall we went via Gadhinglaj. There were lot of potholes in this stretch though was not very bad compared to say Shirdai during peak monsoon. Closer to Amboli found a nice stream with clear waters, we spent some time by the stream/falls. As we started approaching Amboli, roads got better. As expected, there was dense fog at the starting of ghat. We stopped at one of the eateries for food, gobbled few vada pav and tea. We resumed drive only to hit a 10 min traffic congestion near Amboli falls. After the falls, traffic started moving at a decent pace. Once we hit the malvan road, traffic reduced further and could hardly see any outstation vehicles. We reached our Tarkarli hotel by around 3PM.After unloading luggage, we went near Devbagh sangam, which was nearby. From there we headed to Malvan town, and it started raining cats and dogs, typical of the west coast. We roamed around tiny town and once the rain stopped, we shopped for some local stuff. Tanked up Fortuner at Malvan town and it was about 7PM. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped for dinner by the bay. Had a sumptuous Thali which was quite good.There was no specific plan and decided to drive towards Kunkeshwar/Devgad. Stopped at a tiny restaurant for breakfast and noticed a big poster mentioning about places to see around Malvan region. We shortlisted few which looked good. We had some Misal, poha and Ghavan chutney for breakfast. From here we headed towards Kunkeshwar temple which was by the beach. We did a quick visit from where we headed towards Mitmumbari beach which was closeby. Spent some time by the beach and clicked few pictures too. Next destination was the ones we shortlisted from the place where we had breakfast- A windmill place (I forgot the name), we reached a plateau and there were a bunch on windmills. Towards edge, there was a small park which had breathtaking view of the beach and hills. It was a nice place, and we just sat there enjoying the scenery. We also went closer to the windmill to click some pictures.From here our next destination was a Ganpati temple (Again sorry, I forgot the name). This was about 30min drive from the windmill place. The temple as such was in an isolated place and next to a stream. The temple was small, and it has access to cave from where water comes through. The water was super clean and there were plenty of tiny fishes. A small part of the temple was on the other side of the stream and kids had lot of fun playing in water and crossing stream.It was lunch time, and we wanted to taste some local delicacies. Being vegetarian, our options are limited especially in the coastal region. We reached Malvan town and found a small restaurant which offered Malvan food. We ordered thali, kothambir vadi and some modaks. The food was good and fresh and quite cheap. We didnt have much agenda for the rest of the day. Visited the ferry point of Sindhudurg fort but couldnt visit the actual fort as boating hadnt started yet. It wasnt raining much, and we spent time by the beach around Tarkarli. By 6 PM it started raining quite heavily and we headed out for dinner to a nearby restaurant. While having dinner we were not sure where to head next and we didnt have any booking either. Decided to drive towards South Goa which was just 4 hrs away.As decided, we started towards South Goa, and we booked a stay at Varca. Since it was just 4 hrs drive, we started at 630-7. Once we hit highway, road was pretty decent and we reached by about 930-10 to Panaji and we had option of Cafe Bhonsle or Kamat for breakfast, both of which we have visited quite a few times. Decided on Cafe Bhonsle and found a parking nearby. It wasnt that crowded, in fact we didnt see many tourists while in Goa. Post Breakfast we made a quick visit to Mangeshi temple and headed towards Varca. We stayed for 2 days here and since the place we stayed was a beach side, we spent lot of time at beach. Also visited some of nice restaurants around.Bangalore was 12hrs and home at Puttur was 6-7 hrs away and we decided for the latter. We reached home by lunch time and spent couple of days with family before returning to Bangalore. The roads from Goa to Mangalore are quite good throughout and traffic was again minimal being a weekday. This is a road that I have driven a lot ever since I started driving and continues to be my favorite.- I had bought Annual Pass for fasttag when it opened up for booking and worked flawlessly except for one toll in STRR which showed blacklisted first, which flipped to green highlighting a different car number.-Fortuners windscreen washer stopped working. I was bit apprehensive about driving without spray during peak monsoon but in reality, it did not matter much. Once back got motor replaced under warranty at Nandi Toyota.-Despite travelling during long weekends and seeing reports of huge traffic jams, most of the places we visited didnt have many tourists. Tarkarli on the day we arrived, half of the shops/restaurants didnt even open throughout the day.- Many places in the Malvan region didnt have mobile signal. Luckily, we didnt get lost anywhere. Grok chats have been unintentionally exposed online, with a Forbes report revealing that over 370,000 sessions were indexed by Google after users shared one-time URLs. If you have been using this AI chatbot lately, you may stop for a moment and reflect on your previous conversations, since this is a huge privacy issue. Don't worry just yet: there's a way to protect yourself from this exposure. Sensitive Data Exposed in AI Chats According to Forbes, the chat conversations indexed had passwords, health information, relationship problems, and even gruesome discussions about drugs or violence. While Grok maintains that transcripts were anonymized, most of the chats had sufficiently identifiable personal information that could jeopardize individuals' anonymity. The experience indicates the risks of using AI chats as free areas to vent or role-play, where one is not assured of privacy. No Expiration or Control Over Shared Links Unlike private messages or screenshots, Grok's shared chat links do not expire and lack access controls. Once a conversation is live online, it remains searchable unless manually removed. This flaw not only damages trust in Grok. For people using AI chatbots for a long time, this is a big red flag since AI chat platforms should prioritize user security. How Users Can Protect Themselves If you've shared Grok chats, there are a few steps to reduce exposure, according to TechRadar: Don't use the share button if you're not okay with your conversations becoming public. If you change your mind, look for the URL and ask Google to remove it via the Content Removal Tool, though this takes time and isn't always reliable. Go to your X platform privacy settings to restrict data made available for AI training. It's not perfect, but it does provide an extra layer of protection. Not the First AI Privacy Scandal Grok is not the only one in the age of the AI-only Google Search results. Previously, OpenAI was criticized when ChatGPT chat episodes popped up in Google searches, and Meta was lambasted for unveiling confidential AI chatbot conversations in user streams. Unfortunately, these frequent occurrences indicate that technology firms rush AI products to market without completely strengthening privacy protections. For the record, Grok AI was banned by 25% of European firms because of misinformation and privacy fears. AI conversations tend to read more like individual journals than social media updates. If such individual musings were suddenly searchable, users would lose faith in the technology as a whole. Like with history in general, from Gmail scanning emails and Facebook apps mining personal information, companies will just apologize after a privacy violation has happened rather than avoid one. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Chappell Roan arrives on the main stage at Reading Festival in a rustle of black taffeta and scarlet silk, bat fascinator perched atop her flaming locks. For all the looming grandeur of her set, which could be the castle of a Disney villain or a Meatloaf music video, its a strangely muted entrance. Blame it on the sound, which unless youre plonked directly in front of the speakers, is a little muddy; the chatter of teenage fans on the outskirts actually threatens to drown out her slinky opener, Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl. When it comes to one of pops biggest breakout stars in a decade, though, nothing stays muted for long. Leading a band that probably evens out the always-uneven gender split at Reading by 10 per cent, she delivers each song with unmatched panache, striding about like a beatific queen to a tight setlist that is non-stop bangers. Its the most alive the festival best associated with feral teenagers, tents being set alight and Lord of the Flies-level anarchy has felt all day. Yet the genteel and only mildly inebriated gaggles of youths are seemingly here for Roan and her alone, having earlier watched with polite bemusement as Australian actor Rebel Wilson rapped Gangstas Paradise with The Kooks for a scene from her next film. That is, until Roan gets going. Femininomenon, her ode to sapphic sex, revs up the atmosphere with arched-eyebrow lyrics: Dude, can you play a song with a f***ing beat? the 90,000-strong crowd squeals along with her. The Giver is a joyous, country-fried update that puts Roan in the power seat: You aint gotta tell me/ Its just in my nature/ So take it like a taker/ Cos baby Im a giver. Then she ignores her mothers advice on After Midnight, twirling around with giddy abandon: Im feeling kinda freaky/ Maybe its the club lights/ I kinda wanna kiss your girlfriend if you dont mind. How was Roan not booked as a headliner? Its testament to the often short-sighted approach of UK festival bookers but also to the rapidity with which her star has ascended. The last time she toured the UK less than a year ago it was a short whirl around a dozen or so 3,000-capacity venues. Since then, shes picked up a Grammy for Best New Artist and scored her second UK No 1 single, the swooning jangle-pop ballad The Subway (The Cure meets Mazzy Star). You feel slightly sorry for Readings actual Friday headliner, Irish artist Hozier, until you see the huge crowd that sticks around for his own, electrifying performance. Much of Roans setlist is derived from her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Roan, who grew up in a Christian household in Willard, Missouri, became enraptured by the all-out spectacle of pop stars like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. She moved to LA twice, having first slunk back when she was dropped by her first record label (not profitable enough again with the industrys short-sightedness). There, she was able to begin exploring her sexuality a theme that transpires amid the electro-pop of Naked in Manhattan. Speaking of naked: almost everything but the gloves come off for a sizzling cover of Hearts Barracuda only after shes reminded the crowd of the routine for her original song HOT TO GO, her very own YMCA. While the Benson Boones of the world are still flogging the same Freddie Mercury pastiche, our best pop girls seem intent on celebrating their rock influences at live shows see also Olivia Rodrigo bringing out Robert Smith at Glastonbury to sing Friday Im in Love. And Roans band are about as rocknroll as it gets as they line up alongside her, a blur of velvet gowns and flailing hair. There was nothing muted about Chappell Roans extraordinary Reading Festival set ( Chloe Newman ) Her versatile soprano sounds extraordinary meltingly tender one moment, proud and ferocious the next and she knows it. She sustains howls of ecstasy on My Kink is Karma, about the secret pleasures of revelling in an exs downfall, before she pares it all back to a gorgeous gossamer lilt on Coffee and Picture You, as enrapturing as the glitter that dusts her cheekbones. Theres a clear dedication here not just to the art of the live show, but the high camp of it, a worthy successor to the Gagas and Madonnas of the world. Everything is dramatic; its impossible to look away as she flounces about to the queer celebration of Pink Pony Club or high-kicks her way across the stage to the kiss-off bop Good Luck, Babe!, fireworks crackling and spitting above her. And why would you want to? Shes a Femininomenon. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The world, according to Julie Delpy, is becoming a hateful place. I think theres sadly more violence to come our way and there are so many wars everywhere, the French actor-writer-director says. Its stressful to be a witness of that, but we need to all keep our cool and just be rational and listen to one another, even people you disagree with. Theres nothing inherently wrong with what shes saying; she is not incorrect when she talks about how easily influenced people are now by fear. Or how concerning it is that not only in her home country, but globally, there is a slide to the far right. Its just striking to hear talk of fear from a woman who has spent the past 30 years bringing its opposite to life on screen: love. World events are on Delpys mind thanks to her latest role, as a fictional French president in the Netflix drama Hostage, in which her icy President Toussaint is blackmailed and corrupted by the system. Im a little concerned with leadership and how easy it is to manipulate, the 55-year-old explains, as she gets comfortable on a sofa in Netflixs London headquarters. Delpy, in a navy pinstripe suit and thick black glasses, with two structural tendrils of blonde curls framing her face, looks every bit a leader, albeit a beautiful, almost handsome, one. Gone is the rosebud-faced ingenue of romantic comedies, whose natural wisdom gave characters like Celine in Richard Linklaters Before trilogy their quiet charm. So is the abrupt impulsiveness she brought to Marion in her own romcoms, 2 Days in Paris and 2 Days in New York. As the French president, Delpy is cold, hardened. It was interesting to do something so opposite of what I am, she says. Delpy says she is not a conspiracy theorist; anyone can see that our leaders are controlled by tech oligarchs and the super-rich, who have little care for humanity, she laughs drily: Theres big business out there that is above presidencies. And those presidents? Theyre disposable, too, by the way. Probably as much as a child in Sudan is disposable sadly. We are all disposable to them, so what do we do? As a teenage actor in France, Delpy was already unusually ambitious, with big opinions. She was just 14 when Jean-Luc Godard cast her in his 1985 film Detective, and a string of major movie roles along with wanted and unwanted attention from male directors followed. Her mother warned her about it. At 15, Delpy received a letter from a director saying, If you wanna play a lover, you have to know what love is. At first I was like, Thats so sweet, he loves me. My mom was like, This is bulls***, she remembers. It was very glorified in France, the Pygmalion thing, she says, alluding to the Greek myth of a man who moulds a girl into his masterpiece and falls for her. It wasnt really as much [of] a rape thing, but it was more seducing young women and I really didn't like that energy. Shes talking offhandedly about the French trend of old directors with very young muse girlfriends; not for her. Ive always been with men my age, and Im not interested in that weird dynamic. In her early twenties, Delpy instead became a Hollywood import to escape being sexualised so heavily on and offscreen. Then I got to LA and one of the first people I met was a victim of Harvey Weinstein, and I was like, Oh s***, its here. Its the same stuff. The uglier parts of the film industry made themselves known almost immediately. She batted them away. To avoid the whims of powerful men, she started writing. Looking back now, she thinks it was a wise decision; it gave her a good life. open image in gallery I hate superficial matters, says Delpy ( Getty ) Much like Celine, Delpy is inquisitive, sophisticated, witty. Each subtle flick of expression in her face is loaded and unpredictable. She speaks in sudden, honest turns. On cosmetic surgery, for example something she hasnt entertained, obviously she says: Its true that Ive never done anything to my face. I dont even pluck my eyebrows. I dont shave my legs. I dont spend a lot of time on the looks thing. There is work to do, and besides: I hate superficial matters. Its unsurprising that this woman could handle the predators she encountered in the film industry. I was such a pretty girl that I was really a target, but I was strong, she says coolly, like shes staring down the barrel of a gun. Luckily I was raised by people that gave me a lot of strength. Both parents were actors, of whom she speaks adoringly; her mother was a feminist activist, and her father was a feminist in men terms. More recently, she discovered that she has ADHD and is potentially on the autism spectrum. My parents were told I was on the spectrum when I was a kid and they were hippies; they were like, Whatever, who gives a s***, she laughs. Its probably the best way to do it. When the #MeToo movement happened, she was pleased, mostly because she never thought the abuse would actually be confronted. Still, for Delpy, whose early honesty about these issues earned her a reputation for being difficult, the problem isnt only the perpetrators themselves its the whole machinery that keeps them in power. Its good to arrest the villain, but the villain is supported by a system, she says. Individuals are able to act out on their impulses based on what system were in that allows the impulses to happen. Its not just about outing the predator, but asking who kept feeding him, paying him, awarding him. open image in gallery Suranne Jones, left, and Delpy in a scene from Hostage ( Netflix ) Patriarchal systems often make themselves known in less threatening but nevertheless tedious guises. In 2019, Delpy spoke about being paid about a 10th of her co-star Ethan Hawkes fee for 1995s Before Sunrise, and for the second, Before Sunset, released in 2004, she believes she received about half of what he was paid. I think it upset Ethan because it made it sound like he was he was not happy with that quote, even though it was sort of a joke, and we make the joke between each other sometimes, she admits now. For the third in the trilogy, 2013s Before Midnight, she insisted on pay parity. Maybe I wasnt [paid equally] on the third one and they just told me I was, she laughs. Maybe Im delusional. Its assumed based on a few quotes over recent years that Delpy might be the one standing in the way of a fourth Before film. But in reality, both Delpy and Hawke turned down Linklaters concept for a fourth movie, in which Celine could die of cancer at 50. Delpy laughs, imagining the grim trajectory: And then the fifth one, hes with his secretary whos 20 years old? Still, she wont rule it out completely. We didnt come up with a good idea as a group, and whats the point of doing a bad fourth film, or something that didnt make sense? I dont know why Richard thought her dying was a good idea, because I think it was not good The almost laughable frankness feels right, because this trilogy belongs just as much to Delpy and Hawke as it does to Linklater. They shaped that first film through improvisation, even if their names werent there on the credits something Delpy has never hidden her frustration about. By the second and third films, they were full writing partners, and Before Sunset brought them an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. open image in gallery Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in Before Sunrise ( Warner Bros ) Delpys own experiences of love were siphoned into Celine, evolving alongside her character in real time. That first movie, a lot of what I wrote into her came straight from journals I kept when I was 19, 20. I was a total hopeless romantic, she says, the memory softening her voice. It was her idea, too, to have the star-crossed couple plan to meet again six months later. I was like, If theyre having that night of love, Im not not meeting him again. During the making of the second film, she was at a low point in her love life and poured that discomfort into the script. The third film to my mind the strongest finds Celine and Jesse caught in the mundane rhythms of everyday life: older, wearier, and struggling in their relationship. Its a poignant continuation of the ending of her earlier romcom, 2 Days in Paris, which she wrote and directed. Theres a moment in life where you cant recover anymore from another breakup, Marion, Delpys character in that film, concludes in the voiceover. And if this person bugs you 60 per cent of the time, well, you still cant live without him. Ultimately, Celine and Jesse seem to make the decision to stay together in Before Midnight captured in a 5am scene that Delpy doesnt regard as her best performance, perhaps partly because she had no role in writing it. You grow up and realise its not a romantic comedy anymore, Delpy says of Before Midnights realism. Its interesting because now my vision of love is different again [from that] because Ive also grown from my forties Delpy has been married to Greek production manager Dimitris Birbilis since 2015; they live in LA with her son, Leo Streitenfeld, from a previous long-term relationship with film composer Marc Streitenfeld. She struggles momentarily to describe what middle-aged relationships are to her. I actually wrote a 200-page script about it that I havent made and probably will never make, but its about the daily thing of being a woman in a relationship its actually quite sad in a way. You have to give up some dreams and live in reality. Im a very practical person, so I live very much in reality all the time. Choosing to love doesnt always make life easy, anyway, she thinks. When Delpys beloved mother died in 2009, not long after her only child and son was born, it was a heartbreak for her, and notably for her father: Is it better to spend all your life with someone? When they die, I see it with my dad and mom... Its a tragedy when one of them dies. This loss was put into her writing of a speech in Before Midnight. You know the one. Theyre all sitting around that beautiful dinner table, eating al fresco and talking about relationships, and Natalia, an older Greek lady, speaks at length about missing her dead husband: Were so important to some, but we are just passing through, the character says. open image in gallery Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy face an ambiguous future in 'Before Midnight' ( Sony Pictures Classics/Everett/Shutterstock ) Delpy starts to well up with tears and briskly swallows them, straightening her blazer. To think about that scene always makes her emotional, she says, her voice uneven. I cry every time because its like, how do you live after someone you love so much and then theyre gone, its so hard. Few people get one relationship for the entirety of their life, like Natalia or Delpys parents. Each relationship brings out something different in you, because every person youre with is different, I say. I think you stay with someone when you feel like most of the best parts of yourself are in that relationship, Delpy replies. And love can never be perfect, she adds. There is no perfection. Thats why Im trying to teach my son about me being this imperfect person. Suddenly she remembers that 16-year-old Leo is currently on a flight to Los Angeles, ahead of starting the school term tomorrow. She scrambles to pluck her phone from wherever shes left it and starts to message him, mumbling, I hate when he flies. I really hate it. It gives me so much anxiety. Thats love. Delpy is typically oscillating between two priorities like this, she says: her family and her career, especially her writing. Right now, she laughs, holding up both hands and counting slowly: 10 scripts. Her ADHD hyper-focus, so helpful for her career, can get in the way of intimacy. It can be this intensity that is actually annoying for my family because Im not there, Im gone. When I write, Im in another planet; I literally escape this world completely into it. When she returns to the everyday to the mess and weight of real life she tries, however imperfectly, to stay hopeful, if only to offer her son some version of a future where good things might still be possible. So dont expect the naive romantic to appear again in her own work: I like politically conscious material lately, she says. It is, to me, more important than ever to be conscious of the world we live in and what were heading towards, because there are a lot of forces in play. That vigilance? Thats an act of love, too. Hostage is out now on Netflix 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 In our society today, older people are often pushed to the sidelines. Its shameful that theyre not celebrated more, reflects Pierce Brosnan. The 72-year-old former James Bond star appears alongside Oscar-winner Dame Helen Mirren, Calendar Girls actress Celia Imrie, and Gandhi actor Sir Ben Kingsley in the eagerly awaited film adaptation of Richard Osmans bestselling novel series The Thursday Murder Club. Directed by Chris Columbus, the story follows a spirited group of retirees living in the idyllic community of Coopers Chase, who spend their days investigating cold case murders. But when an unexplained death occurs close to home, their amateur sleuthing suddenly turns into a real-life whodunit. Brosnan says he finds the portrayal of these lively retirees empowering. These are people in this film who are passionate about life; they live in the present, he explains. They have a vitality, a sensuality, and a passion for living. Older people are pushed to the side in this culture that we live in, in both Britain and America. They should be brought into the milieu of life. I think this film will be a celebration of the older generation who are still vital to society. open image in gallery Brosnan, right, plays Ron Ritchie ( Giles Keyte/Netflix. All Rights Reserved ) He plays Ron Ritchie, a former trade unionist, whom he describes as a stout fellow of good character. He doesnt particularly want to be at Coopers Chase, but theres a time in life when you just have to hang up your spurs. Hes very humorous, and theres a certain theatricality to him, with some wonderful set pieces. Bridget Jones star Imrie, 73, says she and her fellow cast members reflect the spirit of their characters. Thats the way we live our lives, because were not retiring, the Surrey-born actress explains. Thats how lucky we are. Its not even an effort to be uplifted and curious, because thats how our lives are. I hope it inspires people. I actually think the older generation is much more curious, active, and alert than they were maybe 20 years ago. Were a good example of how you can carry on. Celia Imrie, who plays Joyce Meadowcroft, a former nurse and newcomer to Coopers Chase, says she loved seeing her character grow in confidence. Its a very clever way to introduce the audience to Coopers Chase through Joyce, whos new and has a lot of catching up to do. Shes got a lot of impressing to do to be included. Its a huge change shes gone through, and step by step you see her trying to belong. Its a lovely way for her to grow through the film. Sir Ben Kingsley, 81, who plays former psychiatrist Ibrahim Arif, says he shares his characters curiosity. I think I have a natural, hopefully forensic approach to life, says the Oscar-winning actor. I love analysing things. Im fascinated by cause and effect, and by what has moulded a person throughout their life, the adversities, the challenges. I think thats part of all actors. We all have that curiosity: yes, nosy, inquisitive, curious. Its a great quality. Ibrahim shares that. And we all became very fond of our characters, not in a narcissistic way, but as custodians of our roles. open image in gallery Dame Helen Mirren says the film has a very gentle British style of comedy ( Giles Keyte/Netflix. All Rights Reserved ) Dame Helen Mirren, 80, who plays the intelligent and coy Elizabeth Best, is the leader of the gang, using her mysterious past to help solve cases. We can tell that she was someone powerful and substantial, but its all a bit secret, says the London-born actress. Was she a high-level politician? Or a high-level operative in MI5 or MI6? She never quite says, but we get a sense. Shes tough, smart, and has witnessed some heavy duty things. She describes the film as having a very gentle British style of comedy. But it addresses serious issues too, the challenges you face later in life, the diminishing of mind and body, and how to cope. The murder mystery is the foundation, but the essence of the film is the humanity of these characters. The adaptation also stars Mirandas Tom Ellis, Mickey 17 actress Naomi Ackie, and Line Of Duty star Daniel Mays. Ackie and Mays, who both play police officers, are outmanoeuvred by The Thursday Murder Club while trying to solve a local murder. Mays, 47, who plays D.C.I. Chris Hudson, says: What each member of the Club brings is that theyve had these rich, hugely successful careers, and they bring all those skills to the table. open image in gallery Daniel Mays plays D.C.I. Chris Hudson in the film ( Giles Keyte/Netflix. All Rights Reserved ) Chris might not like it, but without them he wouldnt be solving these cases. Hes completely oblivious. Theyre pulling the strings and making sure Donna comes onto the investigation. Ackie, 34, who plays PC Donna De Freitas, adds: It makes me laugh that both of our characters are manipulated into becoming part of it. Home Alone director Columbus says that while the story is about a murder mystery, its also about the four central characters. I love the idea. I mean, at its heart, its a murder mystery, he says. But the thing I loved about it separates itself. Richard Osmans book separates itself from all of those murder mysteries because first of all, its not cold and procedural, its not over-the-top and panto-like. Its really about these four characters who are extraordinarily funny, yet at the same time, the book has this really deep, complex emotional quality. Columbus, who also directed the first two Harry Potter movies, says he was inspired by Hogwarts when bringing Coopers Chase to life. I wanted to create a retirement community as a place of wish fulfilment, filled with life, hope, and excitement, not dread or depression. Thats rarely seen on film, and I wanted that feeling to permeate the story. The Thursday Murder Club will be released on Netflix on Thursday, August 28. Katie Prices fame is the kind that feels almost purpose-built to cave in. To the British public, she was born Jordan among the pages of red tops in the late 1990s and has been appearing in headlines periodically since then larger than life in more ways than one, similarly overexposed. Hers is celebrity as a contact sport, or car crash telly: fame thats impossible to ignore and meant to be endured. And no one has endured it quite like Katie Price. Over more than two decades, Price has remained a bewildering, magnetic and, curiously, a beloved figure, particularly among British women, despite (or, arguably, because of) her many public unravelings. She has lived her life in the limelight, almost all of it captured on camera or in column inches. Its been said before that her body is arguably the least intimate thing shes exposed over the years and recent weeks have been no exception. This time, shes returned to headlines in characteristically tabloid form with a public spat between her and her ex-husband, Peter Andre, all tied in with an alleged feud between Price and their daughter, Princess. At just 18 years old, Princess is now the star of her own reality show on ITV2, The Princess Diaries, which, according to the ever-present rumour mill, Price was banned from appearing in due to an ongoing rift. The details of the drama were all entirely predictable Andre released a statement on Instagram claiming to set the record straight on their legal childcare agreement and Prices repeated lies, 16 years after their split; Price responded with a wry post about fake sinners who play the victim, declaring, Im trying to be the best I can. At one point, another of her ex-boyfriends, cage fighter Alex Reid, got involved, too, posting a video of her counting cash in the middle of one of her (two) bankruptcies in 2020. Her team dismissed it as a desperate attempt at attention, while Price herself posted cryptic comments about betrayal and stress. As a result of it all, she told her Instagram followers that, in the last few days, her PTSD and anxiety had been triggered. But, in the bigger story of Katie Price, all of that is simply background noise; the murmur of the Price media machine is still operating in full swing. Once upon a time or 17 years ago at least Katie Price declared she wanted to be a billionaire, and she might even make it, national newspapers said. Back then, as she had consistently been through her life, she was in the middle of a reinvention. After her start as a topless model on Page 3 of The Sun, she worked out that being a product of the reality era was a decent way to make a lot of money and diversified from there. And she really diversified. She released perfume, bed linen, the rumoured (though, from a quick search, unreleased) Katie Price credit card, hair straighteners, nine singles, lingerie, calendars, an entire range of equestrian clothing for girls, childrens books, teenage books and novels, one of which, Crystal, outsold the entire Booker shortlist. In 2006, she appeared in US Vogues shape issue at Anna Wintours request. For the ensuing photo shoot, she was dressed in Lanvin and shot by David Bailey. open image in gallery Katie Price with her son Harvey, who was born with Prader-Willi syndrome ( Channel 4 ) From a cartoonish caricature of a male fantasy she seemed to pivot from object to operator, claiming she was exploiting the very system in place to exploit her. Arguably, with her overt sexuality, she was the earliest influence on the culture around OnlyFans that exists today, a capitalist venture not dissimilar to Bonnie Blues path (though a lot less extreme). Price was a rare victor in the cut-throat world of glamour modelling, commentators have said over the years. Katie Price was almost unique in that she came up through Page 3, and she found longevity in her career, journalist and author Sarah Ditum wrote, adding: That was what Page 3 was meant to be the sell was always this is an opportunity for working-class girls to make their way in the world and use their assets. That was the fig leaf out of it. She was the only person who really achieved it and I found that compelling. Her world became a small empire and over the decades, every part of that empire and the rest of her life was offered up for scrutiny. That includes five marriages (and subsequent divorces), the bankruptcies, DUIs and reality shows, countless cosmetic procedures (she once claimed to have undergone more than 100 of them). She famously charmed the UK public and easily won the third series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! where she met her then-husband, Andre in 2004. The stint resulted in a string of TV deals, brand endorsements (and, of course, more tabloid headlines). Perhaps her most resonant story, though, is of motherhood. Harvey, her eldest son, was born partially blind, autistic and with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition, in 2002. Since then, she has raised him largely as a single mother since his biological father, Dwight Yorke, wanted nothing to do with the family. open image in gallery Peter Andre with Harvey and Price in 2004 ( PA ) It was this that became the axis around which her public image transformed from tabloid punchline to tenacious matriarch particularly when her 2021 BBC documentary, Katie Price: Harvey and Me, was released and received critical acclaim. It showed a rare side of Price quieter, more human. She came across as committed and tender. The public responded with genuine warmth. Still, for every compliment on her parenting or honesty, or resilience, or at one point her business acumen theres criticism. Price is talked about, still, as the epitome of white trash on account of her preoccupation with looks and, for instance, the fact that she named her former nine-bedroom, West Sussex home Mucky Mansion. Shes been involved in controversy over how she treats her pets, has been banned from driving multiple times (including a two-year ban for drink-driving) and has a criminal conviction for breaching a restraining order. Her most recent documentary about fertility struggles in trying to have a child with her partner, Carl Woods, was deemed downright offensive for its lack of depth and her parenting of her existing five children has also been subject to scrutiny, particularly around her boundaries. While she often takes on online trolls and discriminatory coverage with dignity, the contradiction remains: she wants to protect her family while also keeping them central to her brand, as it has always been. In short, shes hardly demure in fact, one columnist remarked that Price could start a fight in an empty house. The thing is, thats exactly her fascination, too. open image in gallery Rumours of a rift between Price and her eldest daughter, Princess, have dominated headlines ( Getty ) Because, despite all of these perceived flaws and failings, Price never seems to be without a solid band of women entirely in her corner who, despite perhaps not even being fans of hers, feel a certain kind of sympathy. Why? Perhaps because of exactly what her type of fame has demanded: endurance. Prices hyper-public life might have been squeezed for every penny, but she has also been through an awful lot: controlling relationships, public shaming, postpartum depression, a near-fatal carjacking in 2018 and sexual assault during a family trip to South Africa. Shes been a dedicated mum, carer and defender of her disabled son. Shes warped herself to fit the male gaze, admitting that insecurity is what has driven her extensive pursuit of plastic surgery. Some worry that shes a woman who uses cosmetic surgery like self-harm and that, below the surface, theres a woman trying to come to terms with some bigger unspoken trauma. But what sets Price apart whats key to her success and why women admire her is that she refuses to be a victim in a world where victimhood is championed as smart social currency. Instead, she talks about her pain as a matter of fact and shes never afraid to air opinions, however unfashionable they may be. All of it demonstrates a resilience thats not really about glamour but grit and, feasibly, womanhood, even when its really messed up. Yes, Katie Price is often a punchline and a caricature. But, whether we like to admit it or not, she is also a mirror perhaps thats why we cant seem to look away. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Chinas Pop Mart has announced it will release a mini version of its popular Labubu plush toys this month, along with a new long-fur version of the toothy little monster. The Labubu, by artist and illustrator Kasing Lung, first appeared with pointed ears and pointy teeth, in three picture books inspired by Nordic mythology in 2015. In 2019, Lung struck a deal with Pop Mart, a company that caters to toy connoisseurs and influencers, to sell Labubu figurines. But it wasnt until Pop Mart started selling Labubu plush toys on key rings in 2023 that the toothy monsters suddenly seemed to be everywhere. Pop Mart said on Friday that the mini-sized Labubu vinyl plush pendant, which is part of The Monsters Pin For Love series, will be available in various colours corresponding to letters of the alphabet. They will retail for US$22.99 each. The series also includes 30 letter pendant blind boxes, each with a unique pattern and a Monsters charm. They will be priced at $18.99 a piece. Pop Mart's mini version of its popular Labubu plush toys ( Pop Mart via AP ) In addition, Pop Mart is launching the Rock the Universe vinyl plush doll, which is part of The Monsters Big Into Energy Series. The plush, which will have a pearl-and-alloy heart necklace, will be the first of the Monsters to have long fur and uses a specialised dyeing technique that ensures no two figures are exactly alike. The dolls will cost $114.99 each. All of the new products will be available from August 29 on Pop Mart's website, either for in-store pickup or shipping. They will also be available on the company's app and its official TikTok accounts. Labubu has been a bonanza for Pop Mart. Its revenue more than doubled in 2024 to 13.04 billion yuan ($1.81 billion), thanks in part to its elvish monster. Revenue from Pop Marts plush toys soared more than 1,200 per cent in 2024, nearly 22 per cent of its overall revenue, according to the companys annual report. Earlier this week, Pop Mart reported that its profit attributable to shareholders skyrocketed almost 400 per cent for the first six months of the year. Revenue jumped more than 200 per cent to 13.88 billion yuan ($1.93 billion). Revenue for the Asia Pacific region surged more than 250 per cent, while revenue for the Americas soared more than 1,000 per cent. 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 Lyle Menendez has been denied parole after an 11-hour hearing. His younger brother Erik Menendez was denied his parole on Thursday after a similarly long hearing potentially the two longest in the history of California. They can apply again for release in three years. Almost 30 years after their convictions for murdering their parents, Lyle and Erik were given the opportunity to present their cases for parole the closest they have come to securing freedom since then. They were sentenced in 1996 to life imprisonment for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion on August 20, 1989. They were 21 and 18 at the time. open image in gallery Lyle Menendez has been denied parole over the murders of his parents with his brother Erik in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. ( AP ) Defense attorneys argued the brothers acted in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father; prosecutors claimed they murdered their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The brothers became eligible for parole in May after a Los Angeles judge reduced their sentences from life in prison without the possibility of parole, to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible under California law because they were under 26 when they committed their crimes. It was decided that a panel of parole hearing officers would evaluate the brothers individually. They both appeared by video link from prison on their respective days, with other participants joining from various locations. In California, if a board recommends parole, there is a 120-day review period for the case. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom then has 30 days to affirm or deny the parole. open image in gallery Erik and Lyle Menendez in court in 1990 a year after murdering their parents ( Copyright 1990. The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) There was no live feed of the hearing, and only one journalist was allowed to watch and provide reports to other media outlets, which were barred from publishing them until a decision was reached. James Queally of The Los Angeles Times reports that the hearing was stalled for hours after the California Corrections Department accidentally released a recording of Erik Menendez's parole hearing to a news outlet. The family was furious. Many then declined to speak in support of Lyle for fear their recordings would be made public. Transcripts of parole hearings become public within 30 days and there was an indication that public records requests for audio recordings of the Menendez brothers hearings would be honored, but the victims families said they were never informed, which sparked outrage in the hearing. Eriks parole was denied with his behavior in prison cited as the main reason, not the seriousness of the crime for which he was incarcerated. According to the pool reporter, the parole commissioners cited Erik's multiple rule violations in prison as aggravating factors. These included the use of cell phones, drugs, allegedly aiding a gang in a tax scheme, as well as two instances of violence. The two commissioners denied parole despite strong support from family members who have been advocating for the brothers release for months. open image in gallery The Menendez brothers may apply for release again in three years ( AP ) Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you, and you can still be found unsuitable for parole, Commissioner Robert Barton said. For years, the brothers filed petitions for appeals from behind bars, but they were denied by state and federal judges. The brothers have engaged in educational activities while in prison, participated in self-help classes, and established various support groups for fellow prisoners. They also launched a prison beautification project inspired by the Norwegian approach to incarceration that believes rehabilitation in humane prisons surrounded by nature leads to successful reintegration into society, even for people who have committed terrible crimes. Over the years, the Menendez case has continued to fascinate the public, and the brothers became celebrities of sorts. They also were the subjects of true crime shows, including last year's nine-episode Netflix crime drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Daniel Dae Kim "would love to be a romantic lead". Daniel Dae Kim has revealed his big ambition The 57-year-old actor is best-known for starring in sci-fi and action movies - but Daniel would love to try something completely new, and break down some barriers in the process. He told People: "I would love to be a romantic lead. Just boy meets girl but I am getting a bit old for that, so it may be man meets woman." Daniel acknowledged that Asian actors rarely play romantic leads in Hollywood films. However, he can see that the landscape in the film industry is slowly changing. He said: "Traditionally in America, someone who looks like me does not get the girl. Im so glad to see that changing. I really hope that's a barrier that not only our community breaks, but one that I get to participate in breaking." Daniel actually became the first Asian to be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Lead Actor earlier this year. Daniel received the nod for his performance in Yellow Face, the revival of David Henry Hwang's play, and the actor acknowledges that the industry has evovled over recent years. He reflected: "To be nominated for [best lead actor] is a dream come true and a really good metaphor for where we are culturally. "Weve made a lot of progress, but theres still a ways to go the next step that we have to take, and not just for me, but for all of us, is for an Asian man to win that category." Although Daniel is "always focused on the task at hand", he also tries to appreciate his own success. He said: "Im always focused on the task at hand todays work, what Im working toward. But sometimes its good to take a break as youre climbing the mountain, look out and enjoy the view." Meanwhile, Daniel plays a former intelligence operative in Butterfly, the new Prime Video series, and the actor recently admitted that he relished performing his own stunts for the series. He told People: "I take pride in the fact that I do so many stunts, and I have no plans of stopping." Smoke rose from the still-burning tanks at Smittys Supply in Roseland Saturday, and although the thick plumes had eased since the explosion the day before, a strong chemical smell permeated nearby communities in Tangipahoa Parish, an oily sheen coating many of the cars, homes and other outdoor surfaces. Bob Pavlovich, who hosts the All Things Considered and Louisiana Considered shows at WWNO, prepares for a show on the campus of the University of New Orleans on Friday, July 18, 2025. Major cuts in federal funding will likely affect future programming of the NPR station. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune) 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 Whats good, whats bad, and whats in between in literature? Here we review the latest titles. See all 51 stories . This weeks books include the fiction debut of the former queen of current affairs, some Australian coastal noir, two true wartime tales and shocking tales from Australias paramedic frontlines. FICTION PICK OF THE WEEK The Far Side of the Moon Jana Wendt Text Publishing, $40 Anyone who had a nerd-crush on Jana Wendt growing up (raises hand) will be eager to read the short stories in her debut fiction collection, The Far Side of the Moon. Wendt was a fixture on Australian television for decades, establishing herself as a star reporter with Channel Nines 60 Minutes in 1982 and going on to become as her fictional alter ego is described in the story Fame and Nothingness the queen of current affairs. That story probes the disconnect between fame and the (often quotidian) private life of someone touched by it, with an appealing blend of wistfulness and playful bemusement. Only two of the tales are related: the final stories deliver drastically divergent perspectives from co-workers at a numismatics shop, in a fable-like illustration of the effects of cynicism and openness. It isnt Rashomon, exactly, but Wendts keen intellect and imagination make for a strikingly plausible, humane contrast. Readers will take pleasure, too, in the volumes running themes particularly the puzzles it constructs from the different kinds of truth, and the opposing strategies deployed to uncover them, in journalism and fiction. King Tide Luke Johnson Affirm Press, $34.99 Advertisement Billed as Great Ocean Road noir, Luke Johnsons King Tide is a foreboding, character-driven crime fiction set in the fictional town of Lagunes Bay on Victorias Surf Coast. In the wake of a monster storm and king tide, a buried corpse is washed free from its sandy grave. The victim is a young woman, Hayley, who vanished from the town years before; suspicion falls widely in a community that did little to find out what happened to her. Now young adults, Hayleys peers must know something, and the gruesome secret implicates Tate, the towns golden boy who may have been Hayleys final boyfriend, and his bad boy best friend Luther. Meanwhile, Brylie and her Anglican vicar father have returned to Lagunes Bay the former still resentful and clueless about why they left town in the first place setting everyone further on edge. King Tide leans into its rugged setting to amplify the sense of danger and deliverson genre tropes. Johnson has written a mystery laden with dark secrets, suspense, and small-town menace, while crafting young adult characters realistic and complex enough for a coming-of-age novel to infiltrate by stealth. Eva Reddys Trip of a Lifetime Fiona McKenzie Kekic HQ, $32.99 Eva wakes up to the 50th birthday from hell. She receives an anonymous Facebook message informing her that her husband is having an affair. And she loses her job. As if thats not enough, her elderly parents have gone missing in India, Bollywood dancing their way to some obscure fate with only a trail of very weird TikTok videos as clues to their whereabouts. Eva decides to put miles between herself and her faithless husband and embarks on an epic rescue mission. Whats disguised as a search for lost parents is, of course, a quest of self-discovery, as Eva steps outside her humdrum existence into a larger-than-life subcontinental adventure. Eva Reddys Trip of a Lifetime is strongly reminiscent of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, though itll also remind readers of the feelgood classic Shirley Valentine in its main arc a middle-aged woman liberating herself from the weight of social expectation and reckoning with middle age, love, and second chances in an exotic locale. Stillwater Tanya Scott Allen & Unwin, $34.99 Advertisement Luke Harris returns to Melbourne and appears to be an ordinary university student, but his past life wont leave him alone. As a teenager, Luke was an underworld enforcer, and his skills from street smarts to how to bury a body remain of value to Gus Alberici, the brutal crime boss he worked for. It was only a matter of time before Gus resurfaced, and when he does, its to coerce Luke into finding a few things that have vanished Lukes father, for one, and a large pile of Guss cash, for another. Pressured to resume his old life, Luke seems to have no choice but to resort to nefarious skills to stay alive, track down his dad, and discover what happened to the missing loot. Stillwater is a gritty Australian crime thriller with plenty of action and suspense. Its artfully paced, written in a muscular style, and the fortunes of its flawed (anti)hero should keep readers on the edge of their seats. Land of Hope Cate Baum Indigo Press, $29.99 Land of Hope folds a dystopian fable into an Emily Bronte-like gothic novel. Its a fascinating idea for a crossover, and the central character, Hope Gleason, seems to emanate from the wild and windswept moors as if she were a ghost already. Rumours and myths about Hope and her role in her husbands brutality swirl long before an indescribable sound annihilates a nearby village. A weapon of some kind has been unleashed, and Hope takes an orphaned lad under her wing, as the two survivors embark on a grim quest for a serial killer amid the apocalypse. Like Bronte, Cate Baum uses the brooding, elemental landscape to expressionistic effect, and she channels the spirit of Cormac McCarthy in the mercilessness and extremity of the novels examination of evil. The orphan is irritating, it must be said, but the passions at play and Baums morbid imagination should have you hooked regardless, especially if youre a fan of Wuthering Heights, gothic sensibility, serial killer chillers, or all three. NON-FICTION PICK OF THE WEEK Survival in Singapore Tom Trumble Penguin, $36.99 Advertisement In September 1943, Australian commandos after having sailed from Australia in a craft disguised as an Asian fishing boat entered Singapore Harbour and sank a reputed seven Japanese ships. The somewhat surprised Japanese assumed it was a local operation and arrested large numbers of suspects, including detainees in Changi prison. Its the repercussions of the raid that are the main focus of Tom Trumbles evocative study of extraordinary fortitude and inner strength. Elizabeth Choy, for example, who became known as the Heroine of Singapore, endured intense torture and brutal beatings, her ordeal (via a variety of primary sources) presented here in vivid, grim detail. Likewise, British diplomat Robert Heatlie Scott, who drew strength from a volume of the complete work of Keats given to him by an interrogating member of the Japanese military police. Both survived the war. Its not just the characters, though Trumble is adept at describing the city itself at this time with eerie details like hooded Japanese informants cruising the streets. A comprehensive, dramatic (sometimes novelistic) re-creation of dramatic times. Sins of the Filthy Rich Peter Coleman Affirm, $36.99 As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, The very rich are different from you and me. Indeed! One measure of it can be found in the things they consume such as the worlds most expensive spirit, a US$44 million Limoncello. Coleman has fun delving into the obscenities of the rich and famous throughout history, which he divides into seven parts, one for each of the deadly sins. Theres no shortage of rogues for the gallery, be it the aptly named Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus, whose wealth equated to the yearly incomes of 32,000 citizens or the almost universally detested Belgian king Leopold II, whose genocidal greed bled the Congo dry. From papal orgies hosted by the Borgias to exorbitant modern weddings, this is a chronicle of fantastical sounding but true excess. And, as much as we might think ordinary punters admire them, Coleman highlights the case of Luigi Mangione, who murdered multi-millionaire Brian Thompson and became something of a cult hero on social media. In the spirit of Boccaccio, funny and sobering. The Last Tour Ann Curthoys MUP, $39.99 When Paul Robeson sang to workers on the construction site of the Sydney Opera House, it became famous as the first concert on the site, but was one of many in the tour of Australia and New Zealand by Robeson and his wife, feminist and activist, Eslanda. This may be an academic study of what proved to be Robesons last tour, but its a very engaging one: Robeson is the subject of the book, but its also a window into post-war, Cold War Australia. In what amounts to a portrait of the tour, Curthoys emphasises its many facets, especially its political side, Robeson being a Marxist who made his support of the USSR well known; a political stance that led to his and his wifes passports being revoked. Apart from the music, the Robesons were deeply interested in Indigenous and womens rights movements in Australia and New Zealand. Along the way, we learn about Robesons studies and reading, Robeson being the only African American at Rutgers in 1915. First-rate cultural, political and social history. Advertisement The assistant director of the Netflix show Emily in Paris has died during filming in Venice. Diego Borella, 47, reportedly collapsed in front of colleagues during preparations to shoot the final scene of the fifth series. Medics attempted to revive Borella at the citys Hotel Danieli before a doctor arrived at about 7pm on Thursday, Italian media reported. The Netflix series Emily in Paris was filming in Venice when the tragedy occurred. Credit: AP The director and writer was pronounced dead shortly afterwards, according to La Repubblica. He is believed to have suffered a heart attack. 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 In the searing Queensland heat, the Tongan man was forced to sit in the field, his pay docked for an hour. He was being punished for leaning instead of kneeling to bud young mandarin trees. His employer had been watching him through his gun scope, the farms former workplace supervisor told the Herald and The Age. They would work until they couldnt walk, their legs would seize up, the supervisor said. PALM workers face unreasonable picking targets, affecting their wages, the UN special rapporteur found. Credit: Louie Douvis She said men often passed out and that she once had to perform CPR on a worker having a dehydration-induced heart attack. The man was then flown home instead of being placed on WorkCover. The supervisor resigned shortly afterwards. She requested anonymity to protect her future employment. The farm is now under new management. Advertisement Australias anti-slavery laws have been criticised by the United Nations following an in-country assessment, warning that Australias legal approach to protecting human rights is piecemeal. Loading The report, published last week by Tomoya Obokata, special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, found migrant workers face alarming and sometimes severe patterns of exploitation by employers, labour hire companies and migration agents. Workers were exposed to deceptive recruitment, excessive wage deductions, hazardous working conditions, harassment, threats, violence and sexual assault, the report stated. Stakeholders have told of women choosing abortions to keep their work visas, while the Herald and The Age have uncovered allegations of coerced marriage, while worker payslips have also revealed poor payment practices and inflated fees. The PALM scheme is a temporary visa program for workers from Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste, with 31,500 employed, mainly in agriculture and meat processing. Abortions with absence of choice Advertisement A NSW parliamentary inquiry into the risk of slavery for temporary migrant workers, held in June, was told that workers were choosing to have abortions to keep their work visas. Trudi Beck, a Wagga GP, told a regional hearing in Griffith that about 95 per cent of visa workers she saw chose an abortion not because of personal choice but to keep their visas. They know that they will breach their visa requirements to be able to work either because theyre in a physical job or if they keep the baby, they will have to go home because they wont be able to work as per the conditions of their visa, she said. Specifically for visa workers, I would say 95 per cent of the time they would pick a termination, and not because of personal choice. Dr Trudi Beck, Wagga GP Former Leeton mayor Paul Mayton told the inquiry he had spoken to one woman who had left her job after becoming pregnant. Her income, accommodation and health cover were tied to the employer. She had no access to health services when she gave birth two months premature. With nowhere to stay, her baby was taken into state care. It was the second child she had in Australia that had been removed from her. She said, I didnt know what to do, Paul, because I have no money, so I agreed to it. But I want my babies back, Mayton told the inquiry. Worker advocates Geoffrey and Jane Smith told this masthead they witnessed a coerced marriage on a farm in 2020. The employer, a preacher, allegedly told the couple they would lose their visas if they didnt marry, and wouldnt let the couple live together without the ceremony. Advertisement Loading We had to hastily prepare a wedding in a backyard. And it was a lovely day, but they still married under coercion, Geoff said. Australias Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans said 3000 PALM workers now in Australia had left their employers due to concerns. They are the truly vulnerable and are a major focus, he said, calling for extra protection for the increasing number of women in the scheme. Illegal deductions, surpluses charged Illegal deductions, non-transparent payslips and surplus fees are a common practice among horticulture labour hire firms and employers, found a Fair Work report published in June. PALM worker accommodation in Queensland. Workers are charged upwards of $185 a week to sleep in hostel-style accomodation. Credit: Advertisement Madec is one of Australias largest labour hire firms. In 2022-23, the registered charity made nearly $200 million in revenue, with 84 per cent generated from labour hire. The company legally charges workers deductions for accommodation, transport, flights home, bed linen and kitchen utensils. A Senate inquiry into job security heard evidence that one worker took home just over $100 a week after Madecs deductions. This masthead has reviewed a contract, signed late last year, between a PALM scheme worker from Vanuatu and Madec, showing a proposed deduction of $1900 for a return international air fare and domestic travel. Return flights between Brisbane and Vanuatu, the workers home country, on average, cost between $550 and $800. The worker was also charged $185 a week for accommodation, $50 a week for transport and one-off fees of $100 for bed linen, $200 for a mobile phone and SIM, and $60 for a refundable kitchen pack. Her take-home pay for the first three months of work was $224 a week. Advertisement When the year 9 student debaters of South Australia were given the topic for the third round of their debating competition a couple of months ago, people were piqued. The topic, whether the tradwife movement is good for women, was deemed offensive by some, and they conveyed their offence to organisers in an offensive manner. Meanwhile, Debating SA, the not-for-profit body running the comp, was offended by the social media abuse and nasty phone calls it received, according to a report in The Guardian. Women belong in the kitchen. Discuss. Credit: Adobe Stock People rang up screaming, ranting, raving and carrying on, accusing organisers of undoing centuries of female advancement. They were outside people whove got nothing to do with debating, who dont know how it works, a spokesperson for Debating SA told The Guardian. Debating is very formal and not only do we not tolerate incivility, it never happens. If you follow the rules and regulations, theres no room for rudeness. The Palm Beach home of recruitment boss Jason Johnson and his wife, Portia, has been sold for $11.3 million. Known as La Palma, the four-bedroom, four-bathroom property was a holiday home and investment property for the Bondi-based Johnsons, who purchased it for $9,175,000 at the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. La Palma is the Palm Beach holiday home rental of recruitment boss Jason Johnson. Credit: Domain Jason, who was a corporate lawyer before becoming founder and chief executive of search firm Johnson Partners, told this masthead when they listed that they had undertaken an extensive cosmetic renovation, calling in award-winning designer Yasmine Ghoniem of YSG Studio to reinvent the 696-square-metre block. And reinvent it, she did. Ghoniem transformed the Barrenjoey Road property into a luxe Mediterranean-inspired seaside home. For one day a week, the men part of the near-invisible low-wage backbone of Singapores construction and labouring industries swap their PPE for regular clothes and occupy an identity beyond just a worker. In Singapore, everything is very expensive, but the workers salaries are very cheap, says Shakher, a 35-year-old labourer from Punjab in north-west India. A tailor mends clothes outside his store in Little India. Credit: Lisa Visentin He doesnt live in a dormitory but in a condo a few train stops away, where he bunks with six other workers. The average monthly salary for a construction worker, he says, is about $S800 ($970) to $S900, though Singapore has no officially mandated minimum wage. Like most migrant workers, his employer covers the cost of his accommodation, but he has to pay for his daily meals himself. Whatever I dont spend, I send home. Not saving, Shakher says. Im not thinking [whether] life is good or not good. Its not easy work, but I am thinking about how I support my family. He says he often feels shunned by Singaporean society, where his status as a migrant worker is easily identifiable by his dirty boots and sweaty clothes after long, hot days labouring in the sun. If there are 100 people, five people are good and talk nicely to you, and 95 have an attitude of dislike, he says. We are humans. If the workers are not here, how to improve buildings? How to improve the country? Satnam Singh, 34, a lorry driver from Punjab, says Singapore has been a better place to work than Dubai. Credit: Lisa Visentin His friend Satnam Singh, 34, a driver who ferries workers between job sites in open-air lorries, is more sanguine. He says Singapore is a better place to work than Dubai, where he spent three years as a migrant worker. He left when he was not paid for five months. In Singapore, if there is any accident, or if bosses havent paid, the government will respond. They help you, he says. Singapores Indian community makes up about 9 per cent of the countrys residents, the smallest of the three major ethnic constituencies, behind Chinese (74 per cent) and Malays (13.5 per cent). These figures do not include temporary migrant labourers, mostly from India, Bangladesh and China, who number more than 450,000 and account for a third of all foreign workers in Singapore. Loading For the Singaporean government, racial harmony is core business. It pursues this through policies of state-enforced multiracialism, such as ethnic quotas for public housing blocks to prevent racial clusters from forming, and mandated minority representation in electoral contests. The country has four official languages: English, Chinese, Tamil and Malay. Public incidents of overt racism and violence are rare. Of the 4000 Singaporeans surveyed by the Institute of Policy Studies think tank in 2024, two-thirds rated racial and religious harmony as high, though more than a quarter of residents indicated they distrusted racial groups other than their own. While this top-down enforcement of race relations is championed by many Singaporeans as key to the countrys social cohesion, it is regularly questioned by younger generations and academics. They ask whether such policies foster denialism about everyday racism and stifle difficult conversations about hard-to-shift prejudices. Property platforms have cracked down on the listings that once featured No Indians, No PRCs [Peoples Republic of China], but surveys, media reports and discussions in online forums suggest racial discrimination remains a persistent issue. Is there true racial harmony in SG or only racial tolerance? one popular thread on Reddit asks. There are many others like it, filled with anecdotal tales of discrimination in the rental and employment markets. Ramesh Manickam, 33, has lived and worked in Little India for a decade. Credit: Lisa Visentin But the plight of migrant workers is even further removed from national discussions about race and class due to their social isolation. Low wages, and the fact they are housed together by their employers, give them little opportunity to mix with the wider Singaporean community. It was in Little India in 2013 that Singapore confronted its first riots in 40 years. About 300 migrant workers raged on the streets, torching an ambulance and flipping police cars, after an Indian labourer was killed by a bus. At the time, the government stared down suggestions that long-simmering worker grievances about pay and treatment were a factor in the riot, saying it was a spontaneous event fuelled by alcohol. It stepped up heavy policing around the Indian enclave in the aftermath and imposed alcohol sales restrictions. London: Asylum seekers who cross the English Channel would be sent to Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean under extraordinary plans from right-wing politician Nigel Farage to fight the next UK election on a pledge to stop the boat arrivals. Farage, whose Reform UK party has surged in the opinion polls, dramatically intensified the British debate on migration policy by declaring he would order the construction of mammoth detention centres and begin mass deportations of those seeking asylum. Mounted police officers scuffle with demonstrators during a protest by anti-migrant Abolish Asylum System and counter protesters at Castle Park in Bristol, England. Credit: AP In a pledge that echoes the Australian policy to stop boat arrivals under former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott, the British politician said a Reform UK government would send asylum seekers home and would use Ascension Island as a backstop for those who refused. You will not be staying in this country if you pay a trafficker to cross the English Channel, he told The Times of London, in an exclusive interview to reveal his plans. 14-yr-old students demise: Admn sends team to Tribal Boys Hostel in Hardulikalan Staff Reporter : Following the demise of a 14-year-old student, the district administration has sent a team to the Government Senior Tribal Boys Hostel in Hardulikalan. The deceased, identified as 14-year old Rajkumar Dhurve, a resident of Biltukari village, reportedly succumbed to his illness while en route to the District Hospital, Jabalpur. According to District Collector Deepak Saxena, 14 students at the hostel complained of cough and cold on August 20, 2025. Three of these students also had fever and stomach pain. All 14 children were initially treated by hostel staff and subsequently sent home for further care. Meanwhile, health of Rajkumar Dhurve, one of the students sent home, deteriorated, leading his family to take him to a Government hospital in Kundeshwar Dham on August 21. After receiving treatment, he was referred to the District Hospital, but he passed away on the way. When received the sad news, the district administration sent a multi-departmental team, led by District Panchayat CEO Abhishek Gehlot and Additional Collector Nathuram Gond, to the Hardulikalan hostel for health check of all 22 students currently residing there. A medical team confirmed that all children at the hostel were in good health. Medical teams also approached the remaining eleven students who were sent home on August 20. Two of the fourteen children had already returned to the hostel and were found to be healthy. The authorities are in regular contact with the remaining students families and assured to move these children to the District Hospital for treatment if required. It may be mentioned that 33 of the 46 registered students of Government Senior Tribal Boys Hostel in Hardulikalan, were in residence as of August 20. The district administration is consistently monitoring the situation and implementing all necessary preventative measures. Draft of Prabhag map to be out today, objections can be filed till Sept 4 Staff Reporter : Finally, the veil of secrecy surrounding the Prabhag map will be lifted on Saturday as Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is going to make it public. The map will also be displayed on NMC's website for reaching out to citizens at large. The map will showcase the boundaries of the Prabhag that are formed for the ensuing elections to new House of the civic body. NMC is going to past the Prabhag map on display board at its lawn that would allow all to take a look at the same. The draft of Prabhag is open to scrutiny of citizens till September 4 and during that period they can file their objections, if any, with Election Branch of NMC. The objections will be accepted till 3 pm at the 10 Zonal Headquarters also and citizens will have to give explanation as to their objections on the Prabhag map that shows the boundaries of the area that are coming under the same, said the notification released by Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari. Though the base for redrawing the Prabhag was kept as 2024 assembly elections, but the increase of voters by over one lakh means the boundaries of last polls of NMC are bound to get changed to some extent. So each of the Prabhag will have voter population of around 65,000 but the principle of ensuing no disconnect of areas must have been maintained. The most critical aspect of fixing a Prabhag boundary is ward enumeration and that exercise was formidably carried in year 2017 when the 4 member Prabhag system was introduced in NMC. Then each Prabahg had just 40,000 voters whose number has increased substantially and hence the boundaries might get reworked to a large extent, feels the aspirants. The number of corporators would however remain unchaged at 151, the same as was in the last House. Since last three-years the House is not in session was NMC is under charge of Administrators. The long gap in the general elections to municipal corporaiton was due to legal challenge over reservation for other backward classes (OBCs). Only after Supreme Court decided the objection, the election exercise got into motion with polls likely to be held sometimes after Diwali. FIRs against 8 colonisers for developing colonies without mandatory approvals Staff Reporter : Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has expedited action against illegal colony development within city limits. In a major move on Friday, the JMC administration lodged FIRs against eight colonisers found guilty of developing colonies without mandatory approvals. Senior officials informed that recent inspections revealed that eight colonisers were developing residential colonies in Jabalpur without securing layout approval from the Joint Director, Town and Country Planning. The colonies were established without obtaining a colonisers license or development permission, as required under the Madhya Pradesh Nagar Palika Colony Development Rules, 2021. Officials further stated that repeated notices had been served to the violators, but the colonisers failed to respond or produce any valid documents regarding the legality of their projects. The colonies were found to be in clear violation of state rules and norms. Following these findings, the Municipal Corporation has written to the police administration to register FIRs under relevant sections of the Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1956 against all eight colonisers. Officials said the crackdown is part of an ongoing drive to curb unregulated urban expansion and protect homebuyers from fraudulent practices. Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (jmc) administration has also appealed to citizens to verify legal approvals before investing in any new housing projects. Five more drug smugglers held with heroin of Rs 57 lakh Staff Reporter : RAIPUR : Raipur Police dismantled a major heroin distribution syndicate, arresting five individuals and seizing a significant quantity of the drug. The operation, a joint effort by the Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit and Kabirnagar Police Station, resulted in the recovery of 273.19 gram of heroin (chitta) with a retail value of approximately Rs 57 lakh. The arrests were made following an intelligence tip-off about a person selling the Kabirnagar Police Station area. A police team, acting on the information, apprehended the suspect, identified as Manmohan Singh Sandhu alias Jaggu. A search revealed he was in possession of the drug. During a strict interrogation, Sandhu confessed to his involvement in the syndicate. He revealed that he was supplied the drug by a smuggler from Punjab and then distributed it to his local network, including Vijay Motwani and Bhushan Sharma, for sale. Based on this information, the police launched simultaneous raids on multiple locations. They arrested five more individuals, including Jaspreet Kaur, Sandhus wife, Vijay Motwani, Divya Jain, Nitin Patel and Bhushan Sharma. The raids led to the seizure of the heroin, five mobile phones, and a two-wheeler used for distribution. The syndicate operated by using video and location sharing to facilitate their transactions. The police have registered cases against the accused under the Narcotics Act. In the Kabirnagar Police Station, a case has been registered under Sections 21B, 21(C), and 29 of the Narcotics Act, and 111 B.N.S. Accused Bhushan Sharma has also been arrested in connection with a separate case at the Kotwali Police Station under Section 22B of the Narcotics Act. This recent bust brings the total number of individuals arrested by Raipur police for drug-related offenses to 34, with heroin worth approximately Rs 1.57 crore seized to date. The operation was conducted under the directive of Inspector General of Police Amresh Mishra and Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr. Lal Umed Singh, who had instructed their teams to take effective action against drug suppliers and their local networks. Govindrao Wanjari College of Engg & Technology Business Reporter : Govindrao Wanjari College of Engineering and Technology Nagpur is committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all students. Ragging, a menace in many educational institutions, is strictly prohibited at Govindrao Wanjari College of Engineering and Technology Nagpur. As per UGC directives, the week from August 12 to 18, was dedicated to taking anti-ragging measures and spreading awareness among students GWCET, Nagpur. The campaign activities were conducted throughout this week. Awareness sessions on anti-ragging were organised for all students of engineering to encourage them to contribute to a positive campus atmosphere. Students from each department made posters and displayed them on the all notice board to visually convey the message against ragging. Apart from that anti ragging posters were displayed in various places on campus. Several competitions among students and faculty members were conducted. Competitions such as poster making competition, essay writing, logo designing, and quiz, slogan-making competitions and play / drama were conducted. Documentaries and videos from UGC were displayed with students to encourage them to express their thoughts on the importance of a ragging-free campus. During the inauguration ceremony on August 12, Principal Dr Salim Chavan sharing his personal insight and declared that ragging is a violation of human rights, urging students to uphold dignity and compassion in all interactions. Dr Salim A Chavan, Principal of the college, inaugurated the function. In his presidential address, he emphasized the importance of eradicating ragging from educational institutions and of retaining our college as a ragging free campus. The event was coordinated by Prof. Mohan D Karambe Anti Ragging Cell Incharge and all events organised under this banner by Prof. Prashant Gumgaokar and Prof. Ravindra Wakodikar while event anchored by Prof. Shilpa Chindamwar. During the valedictory ceremony on dated August 18, all participated student in various events which are organised under this anti ragging week felicitated by prize and certificates by Dr Smita A Wanjri, Treasurer Amar Sewa Mandal Nagpur and Dr Salim A Chavan, Principal GWCET Nagpur. harsh direction modified Release stray dogs post sterilisation in Delhi-NCR NEW DELHI : THE Supreme Court on Friday modified its direction prohibiting the release of vaccinated stray dogs from pounds in Delhi-NCR calling it too harsh and ordered the canines to be released post sterilisation and de-worming. A three-judge special bench headed by Justice Vikarm Nath expanded the scope of the stray dogs case beyond the confines of Delhi-NCR and directed all States and Union Territories to be made parties in the matter. While pronouncing the order, the bench remarked all similar matters pending in the High Courts across the country would come to the top court for a final national policy or decision on the issue. The bench, however, said municipal authorities would continue to comply with the August 11 directions to pick up stray dogs from all localities of Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad and Gurugram and immediately create dog shelters or pounds. The bench said the August 11 direction, passed by a two-judge bench for the permanent relocation of strays from streets to shelters, should be kept in abeyance for the time being. The dogs that are picked up shall be sterilised, dewormed, vaccinated, and released back to the same area from which they were picked up, the bench, also comprising Justices Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria, said. It clarified the relocation should not apply to dogs infected with rabies or suspected to be infected with rabies and those displaying aggression. Before any direction for impounding entire stray dog population was given, the court said, it was necessary to examine the existing infrastructure and human resources available with municipal bodies. A blanket direction to pick up all the strays and place them in dog shelters/pounds without evaluating the existing infrastructure may lead to a catch-22 situation because such directions may be impossible to comply with, the bench said. Outlining the need for a holistic approach in the matter, the bench modified the August 11 directions and said, Thus, the direction given in the order dated August 11, 2025, prohibiting the release of the treated and vaccinated dogs seems to be too harsh, in our opinion. Municipal authorities were further directed to create dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs in each municipal ward. The bench said feeding areas should be created or identified keeping in view the population and concentration of stray dogs in the particular municipal ward. Gantries/notice boards shall be placed near such designated feeding areas, mentioning that stray dogs shall only be fed in such areas. Under no condition shall the feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted, it said. Persons found feeding dogs on streets in violation of its directions would face punishment, the bench added. The top court referred to reports on untoward incidents caused by unregulated feeding of stray dogs while issuing its directions. It also considered eliminating the practice of feeding dogs on roads and in public places as it posed great difficulties for the common man walking on the streets. Each municipal authority was also ordered to create a dedicated helpline for reporting incidents of violation of the directions. The top court ordered appropriate measures against the individual or organisation concerned once complaints were received on the helpline. Modifying the relevant direction, the bench said, No individual or organisation shall cause any hindrance or obstruction in the effective implementation of the directions given above. In case of any obstruction in the work of the public official, the violator was ordered to face prosecution. Notably, the bench directed each individual dog lover and NGO that has approached the top court to deposit Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh, respectively, with the apex court registry within seven days, failing which they will not be allowed to appear in the matter any further. The amounts so deposited shall be utilised in the creation of the infrastructure and facilities for the stray dogs under the aegis of the respective municipal bodies, the bench said. It directed the municipal authorities to file an affidavit of compliance with complete statistics of resources like dog pounds, veterinarians, dog catching personnel, specially modified vehicles and cages available as on date for the purpose of compliance of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The top court said desirous animal lovers should be free to move application to the municipal body concerned for adoption of street dogs and it would be the applicants responsibility to ensure the adopted canine did not return to the streets. The bench noted several pleas or suo motu petitions were pending in various high courts dealing with common issues. Hence, the registry shall seek information about such pending writ petitions from the registrar generals of all the high courts, and thereafter, these writ petitions shall stand transferred to this court for analogous consideration along with the main matter, it said. The bench impleaded all states and union territories while observing application of ABC Rules was uniform all over India. It posted the matters after eight weeks for further directions. The benchs order came in a suo motu case initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in Delhi. Heavy rainfall alert for over 12 districts Staff Reporter : Under the influence of multiple active weather systems, widespread rainfall returned to Madhya Pradesh. Moderate to heavy showers were recorded in Jabalpur and several other districts, on Friday. Meanwhile, the Weather Department has issued a heavy rainfall alert for more than a dozen districts. Spokesman of the department said the rainy spell is likely to continue for the next four to five days. He said simultaneous activeness of several weather systems has once again trigged rainfall activity in the state, including Jabalpur. Accordingly, the city has been experiencing continuous rainfall since afternoon and the conditions will persist for several days. Providing details of active weather systems, the spokesman said a monsoon trough currently extends from Jaisalmer, Kota, Datia, Sidhi, Ranchi, Bankura and Digha towards the east-central Bay of Bengal. An offshore trough is also active along the Gujarat-Maharashtra coast at the same level. Likewise, a cyclonic circulation is present over northwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas at about 7.6 km above mean sea level. Another circulation has been identified over north Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal. A similar system is active over Kutch and adjoining regions. Meanwhile, a shear zone is positioned across parts of the Indian region, further enhancing rainfall activity. Lord Swraj Paul no more By Aditi Khanna : LONDON : NEW DELHI : LEADING NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul passed away in London on Thursday evening, leaving behind a legacy in entrepreneurship and philanthropy. He was 94. Lord Paul, founder of UK-based Caparo Group of industries, had been taken ill and hospitalised recently, where he passed away surrounded by members of his family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the death of Paul, and said his support for the UKs close ties with India will always be remembered. Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Swaraj Paul Ji. His contributions to industry, philanthropy and public service in the UK, and his unwavering support for closer ties with India will always be remembered, Modi said. Lord Paul breathed his last on Thursday evening, his family sources said. Born to Pyare Lal, who ran a small foundry used to make steel goods, including buckets and other farming equipment, Lord Paul was exposed to business early in his life much before he went on to establish UK-based Caparo Group, a diversified businesses entity with interests predominantly in design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of value-added steel and niche engineering products. Born on February 18, 1931, he completed high school education at Jalandhar and Bachelors in Science from Punjab University in 1949. Then he went to the US to pursue his bachelors & masters degrees in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After completing his studies at MIT, he returned to India to join the family business, Apeejay Surrendra Group -- one of Indias oldest business conglomerates. But as fate would have it, he relocated to the UK in 1966 in pursuit of treatment for his daughter Ambika, who was suffering from leukaemia. Unfortunately, she died aged four. Later, he set up the Ambika Paul Foundation as a charitable trust that went on to donate millions to promote the well-being of children and young people all over the world through education and health initiatives. The Ambika Paul Childrens Zoo in London is one of the major beneficiaries of the foundation. The London Zoo is where she was always the happiest, recalled Lord Paul last month, during the annual commemoration he hosted at the Ambika Paul Childrens Zoo in London one of the major beneficiaries of the foundation. After he lost his son Angad Paul in 2015 and his wife Aruna in 2022, he went on to undertake similar philanthropic endeavours in their memory. This hall is a tribute to my wonderful wife whom I miss very much; we never had an argument during our 65 years of marriage, said Lord Paul, when he inaugurated the Lady Aruna Swraj Paul Hall at the historic Indian Gymkhana Club in London in February 2023. A regular in the annual Sunday Times Rich List, this year he was ranked 81st with an estimated wealth of GBP 2 billion, largely derived from the steel and engineering multinational Caparo Group. Headquartered in London, Caparo operates internationally from over 40 sites, with operations based in the UK, North America, India, and the Middle East. His son, Akash Paul, is Chairman of Caparo India and Director of the Caparo Group. Last year, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Lord Paul awarded an honorary doctorate to Akash Paul for services to business administration. Perhaps, I am the only graduate to get a degree from his own father, independently approved by the University Board, of course, I may add, said Akash Paul, who was accompanied by wife Nisha and son Arush at the ceremony held at the London Zoo. An active member of the Indian diaspora in the UK, Swraj Paul maintained his daily routine of attending the House of Lords despite his frailty in recent months. We pray for the departed soul. May the noble Lord rest in peace, said Lord Rami Ranger, his colleague in the Upper House of Parliament. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday expressed deep sorrow over Pauls demise. Banerjee described Lord Paul as a business tycoon, philanthropist and an icon of the global Indian diaspora with deep Kolkata connections. I offer my deepest condolences to his bereaved family members and his entire fraternity, she said on X. Protests at 14 key spots today demanding renaming of Bhopal to Bhojpal Staff Reporter : A large-scale protest demanding the renaming of Bhopal to Bhojpal will take place across the city on Saturday. The demonstration is being organised by the Bhojpal Mitra Parishad, which has been actively campaigning to restore what it describes as the citys original and historically significant name. The protest is scheduled to begin at 10 am from Bairagarh Chanchal Chauraha, and will be held at 14 major intersections and public points across the city. According to the Parishads Chairman Ashish Pandey and Programme Co-ordinator Hariom Jatia, this movement is aimed at reconnecting Bhopal with its cultural and historical roots. They stated that the name Bhojpal is a tribute to the legendary Raja Bhoj, under whose reign the city is believed to have originated. The demonstrations will also be staged at several prominent locations, including Lalghati Chauraha (Raja Bhoj Statue), Curfewwali Mata Mandir, Polytechnic Chauraha, Roshanpura Chauraha, Mata Mandir Chauraha, Kolar Chauraha (Kali Mandir), Manisha Market in Shahpura, Vande Mataram Chauraha (Vitthhan Market), Board Office Chauraha, Mahatma Gandhi Chauraha (BHEL), Piplani Petrol Pump, and Prabhat Chauraha. Parishad leaders emphasised that this is not a political agenda, but a cultural initiative to revive the citys original identity. They urged the government to initiate formal steps to consider renaming Bhopal as Bhojpal, citing the citys historic connection with Raja Bhoj and the dam (pal) he constructed, from which the name Bhojpal is believed to have derived. The demand to rename Bhopal has surfaced several times over the past two decades. Similar proposals were raised in 2011 and in subsequent years, though they were not cleared at the central level. With public sentiment now being mobilised on the ground, the Parishad hopes renewed pressure will bring the issue back into official discussion. The demonstrations are expected to be peaceful and symbolic, with cultural representations and placards highlighting the citys ancient legacy. The organisers have appealed to citizens to participate voluntarily and respectfully. Security breachMan tries to scale Parlt wall, held NEW DELHI : IN A security breach, a 20-year-old man attempted to scale a wall of Parliament on Friday morning but was caught by security personnel and handed over to police, officials said. Identified as Ram Kumar Bind, the man hails from Uttar Pradeshs Bhadohi and works in a factory in Surat, Gujarat, police said, adding that he appears to be mentally incoherent. Today at about 5.50 am, one unidentified person approached the Parliament House complex and tried to scale the perimeter wall with the intention to jump inside. However, due to the alertness of the CISF and Delhi Police staff, he was apprehended and handed over to local police for further enquiry, CISF official said. St. Vincent Pallotti College of Engg & Technology Business Reporter : The Nagpur Sahodaya Schools Complex (NSSC), in association with the CBSE Centre of Excellence (Pune Region), recently hosted two sessions of the STEMDLD (Design-Led Development) Expert-Led Workshop at St. Vincent Pallotti College of Engineering & Technology (SVPCET), Nagpur. The initiative drew participation from more than 230 teachers and principals representing CBSE schools across Vidarbha, making it one of the largest educator-focused STEM events in the region. The first session on August 3 welcomed over 80 participants. The keynote address, delivered by Dr Yogesh Deshpande, VNIT, Nagpur, set the tone by emphasizing design-led innovation in school education. Building on the success of the inaugural event, the second session on August 17 drew an even larger gathering of more than 150 educators and principals. Participants came across the region reflecting the growing regional momentum for STEM education. Dr Ravindra Keskar, VNIT, engaged participants on inspiring students in AI, Coding, and Science Projects; Dr Madhura Kulkarni, SVPCET, conducted sessions on practical STEM applications; Prof. Pallavi Deshpande, SVPCET, spoke on experiential teaching; and Bharti Bijwe, Chairperson, NSSC, stressed on enhancing 21st-century skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Each session concluded with interactive Q&A rounds, enabling teachers to connect concepts with their classroom experiences. The workshops not only provided practical strategies for integrating STEM education but also strengthened the schoolcollege connect, fostering collaboration between CBSE schools and higher education institutions. Convened under the leadership of Vandana Bisen, Secretary, NSSC, Bharti Bijwe, Chairperson, NSSC, Dr State receives 23% above normal rainfall till Aug 22 Staff Reporter : As of August 22, Madhya Pradesh has received 23% more rainfall than the Long Period Average (LPA) since the start of the monsoon on June 1. Both sub-regions of the State have recorded above-average rainfall. Eastern Madhya Pradesh stands at 24% above normal. Western Madhya Pradesh follows closely with a 22% surplus. This consistent and widespread rainfall has not only revived monsoon momentum across the region but also supported agricultural activities, replenished water bodies, and cooled day-time temperatures across several districts. The State continues to experience an active monsoon phase, with widespread rainfall, lightning and thunderstorm activity observed over the past 24 hours across the State. Most divisions including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Narmadapuram, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Shahdol recorded rain at many to most places, while areas in Chambal and Rewa divisions saw more scattered rainfall. However, a few pockets in other divisions remained relatively dry. The rainfall wasnt just light or moderate, Sheopur district recorded very heavy rainfall, while Ratlam and Neemuch districts saw heavy showers. Among the wettest locations were Badoda (148 mm), Karhal (98 mm), Jaora (96 mm), and Manasa (93 mm), making it a significant day for precipitation. Bhopal city itself received 28.2 mm, keeping its seasonal total healthy at 792 mm since June 1. Temperatures Across the State: The cooler weather trend continues, particularly in the Bhopal, Gwalior and Ujjain divisions, where maximum temperatures dropped by nearly 3C. The days felt cooler, with Amarkantak at just 24.7C and Pachmarhi at 26.2C, while places like Khajuraho experienced the warmest day at 34.4C. On the other end, Khandwa recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 18.0C, giving residents a refreshing night, whereas Khajuraho and Gwalior recorded warm nights around 26.8C and 26.4C, respectively. Gusty Winds and Lightning Activity: Strong winds swept through various regions, up to 43 km/h in Ujjain and Indore, causing brief disruptions. Thunderstorm and lightning activity was widespread, affecting nearly every district except Niwari. These conditions may return again today, so residents are advised to remain cautious. Forecast for Today: As the monsoon trough and multiple cyclonic circulations remain active, moderate rain with lightning is likely to continue across several parts of eastern and southern Madhya Pradesh. Moderate Rain with Thunder and Lightning is expected in Chhindwara, Pandhurna/Pench, Seoni, Balaghat, Mandla/ Kanha, Dindori, Anuppur/Amarkantak, Umaria/Bandhavgarh, Shahdol, Betul, Narmadapuram/Pachmarhi, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur/Bhedaghat, Katni, Sheopur Kalan, Neemuch, Mandsaur/Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, Agar. Light rain is also likely in Sidhi, Singrauli, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna/Chitrakoot, Maihar, Panna/Tiger Reserve, Damoh, Shivpuri/Kuno National Park, Guna, Ashoknagar, Morena, Rajgarh, Ujjain/Mahakaleshwar, Ratlam/Dholawad, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar/Mandu, Indore/Airport, Dewas, Harda, Shajapur, Sehore, Bhopal/Bairagarh, Vidisha/Udaygiri, Sagar, Raisen/Bhimbetka/Sanchi, Chhatarpur/Khajuraho, Tikamgarh. Tanishq unveils Festival of Diamonds 2025 Business Reporter : Tanishq, Indias most trusted jewellery brand from the House of Tata, presents the 2025 edition of Festival of Diamonds - Sparkle Your Way - an ode to the modern woman and her many radiant expressions. A curation of exquisite natural diamond jewellery starting at just Rs 15,000, this campaign leads the fashion charge, redefining how diamonds are styled and treasured in modern wardrobes. Anchored in the belief that her sparkle is personal, the campaign shines a spotlight on a new generation of diamond-wearers-spirited, self-assured, and unapologetically her. Tanishq is also offering a limited-time discount of up to 20 per cent off on the MRP of diamond jewellery - valid until August 25. Unlike most industry promotions that apply only to the stone or carat value, this offer extends across the entire piece, making it the perfect moment to invest in diamonds - for yourself or a loved one. At the heart of the campaign is the Festival of Diamonds a celebration of sheer variety, versatility, style and the joy of discovering the perfect natural diamond for every woman. With over 10,000 styles across rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and more, this festival offers something for everyone - from minimal everyday pieces to dazzling statement-makers. While the festival centres on range and access, the campaign also explores the many facets of the modern woman joyful, - reflected through Tanishqs contemporary diamond designs styled for everyday life. Whether she pairs them with denim or satin, wears them to work or on the move, each piece mirrors her dynamic personality and self-expression. Be it for a brunch or a boardroom, she chooses pieces that reflect who she is and who she's becoming. The Tanishq muse is bold yet effortless, tuned into trends but deeply personal in her choices. Her sparkle doesnt wait for an occasion speaks for her every day. Visit your nearest Tanishq store to experience the spectacular Festival of Diamonds or shop online at tanishq.co.in for a rewarding shopping experience and exclusive offers. For details, visit www.Tanishq.co.in. or the showrooms at:- Station Road, Nagpur. Ph: 6659201-218; Shraddhanand Peth, Ph: 6669300-33; Manish Nagar, M.: 9822220897, 9822278608. Why no bus terminals exist in city?HC orders release of detained pvt buses Staff Reporter : The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has ordered the release of all private buses that were detained by the DCP (Traffic) in Nagpur. The Court also asked the State Government why proper bus terminals and bus stops have not been created in Nagpur city till now. The case was heard by Justice Anil Killor and Justice Ajit Kadethankar. They were hearing a writ petition filed by private bus operators Om Gupta, Virendra Bube, Moh Rafique, and Umesh Gupta. These bus operators challenged the decision made by the DCP Traffic on August 12, which banned private buses from entering the city between 8 am and 10 pm. Adv Dr Tushar Mandlekar, who represented the bus operators, argued that the DCP Traffic had no legal authority to issue a complete ban or to fix bus parking areas outside the city. He said this goes beyond the DCPs powers under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Dr Mandlekar also pointed out that the DCPs order violated previous instructions from the Transport Commissioner in Mumbai (Dated July 2, 2025) and the Additional Director General of Police (Traffic), Maharashtra (Dated July 3, 2025). These instructions clearly said that buses with All India Permits are allowed to pick up and drop passengers inside city limits. He further told the court that the DCPs order was unfair, illegal and against the Constitution of India which violated the petitioners fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21. The petitioners argued that it is the State Governments responsibility to create proper parking places and bus stops for private buses. This is required under Section 117 of the Motor Vehicles Act, Rule 110 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, and Section 243-A of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act. Dr Mandlekar also mentioned that buses can only be detained if there is a violation of permit rules, under Section 207 of the Motor Vehicles Act. He said in this case, there was no such violation. Adv Chotu Uikey, representing the DCP Traffic, Nagpur, said that the DCP is the competent authority to issue such orders under Section 115. However, after some discussion, he agreed that no action would be taken against All India Permit buses, in view of the ADGP Traffics notification from July 3, 2025. The court ordered all concerned authorities to file their replies by September 3, 2025. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. lessened its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 0.9% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 844,400 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,490 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company comprises 3.6% of Bahl & Gaynor Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Bahl & Gaynor Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $697,399,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in LLY. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 97.5% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 101,305,650 shares of the companys stock worth $83,669,349,000 after acquiring an additional 50,002,551 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 103,831.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 14,866,380 shares of the companys stock worth $12,278,292,000 after acquiring an additional 14,852,076 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter worth about $4,613,912,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 79,224,392 shares of the companys stock worth $65,432,218,000 after acquiring an additional 4,975,395 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 14.6% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,448,219 shares of the companys stock worth $7,294,025,000 after acquiring an additional 1,204,337 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.1% LLY stock opened at $710.7290 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $672.68 billion, a PE ratio of 46.45, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.44. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $623.78 and a 12 month high of $972.48. The firms 50-day moving average is $754.70 and its 200 day moving average is $790.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement 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, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.59 by $0.72. The business had revenue of $15.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.40 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 25.91% and a return on equity of 92.72%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 37.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.92 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 21.750-23.000 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $1.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.22%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have recently issued reports on LLY. DZ Bank upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 14th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $895.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, June 5th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reduced their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $975.00 to $825.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $950.17. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Eli Lilly and Company Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company In other Eli Lilly and Company news, Director J Erik Fyrwald bought 1,565 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $642.33 per share, with a total value of $1,005,246.45. Following the transaction, the director owned 74,578 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $47,903,686.74. This trade represents a 2.14% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jamere Jackson bought 200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 8th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $639.56 per share, for a total transaction of $127,912.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 9,402 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,013,143.12. This trade represents a 2.17% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have bought 4,514 shares of company stock worth $2,894,841. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. 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. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S lowered its holdings in shares of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) by 56.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 16,371 shares of the companys stock after selling 21,517 shares during the period. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A Ss holdings in Archer Daniels Midland were worth $786,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. S.A. Mason LLC bought a new position in shares of Archer Daniels Midland during the first quarter valued at $25,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Archer Daniels Midland during the first quarter valued at $25,000. ORG Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Archer Daniels Midland by 297.2% during the first quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 699 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 523 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Archer Daniels Midland during the first quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC raised its stake in Archer Daniels Midland by 43.4% during the first quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 783 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 237 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.28% of the companys stock. Get Archer Daniels Midland alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and set a $70.00 target price (up previously from $60.00) on shares of Archer Daniels Midland in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Archer Daniels Midland from $47.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Bank of America downgraded shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Barclays raised shares of Archer Daniels Midland from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $50.00 to $61.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Archer Daniels Midland presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $55.50. Archer Daniels Midland Trading Up 3.0% NYSE:ADM opened at $62.9430 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.73, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.68. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $55.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $50.23. Archer Daniels Midland Company has a 12 month low of $40.98 and a 12 month high of $63.40. Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The company reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $21.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.56 billion. Archer Daniels Midland had a net margin of 1.33% and a return on equity of 8.43%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.03 earnings per share. Archer Daniels Midland has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.000-4.000 EPS. Analysts expect that Archer Daniels Midland Company will post 4.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. Archer Daniels Midland Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 20th will be issued a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 20th. Archer Daniels Midlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 89.87%. About Archer Daniels Midland (Free Report) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company engages in the procurement, transportation, storage, processing, and merchandising of agricultural commodities, ingredients, flavors, and solutions in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Archer Daniels Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer Daniels Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cadence Bank increased its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 1.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,684 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 199 shares during the quarter. Cadence Banks holdings in Mastercard were worth $6,405,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MA. Accredited Investors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. now owns 718 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $394,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Wealthstream Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Wealthstream Advisors Inc. now owns 632 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $347,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC now owns 1,055 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $538,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. Alta Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Alta Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 540 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $296,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. Finally, May Hill Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. May Hill Capital LLC now owns 986 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $540,000 after buying an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently weighed in on MA shares. Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Mastercard from $640.00 to $612.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Wolfe Research set a $655.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Finally, TD Cowen restated a buy rating and set a $645.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $617.93. Insider Transactions at Mastercard In other news, insider Raj Seshadri sold 1,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $546.77, for a total value of $601,447.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 12,921 shares in the company, valued at $7,064,815.17. The trade was a 7.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Linda Pistecchia Kirkpatrick sold 958 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $560.00, for a total transaction of $536,480.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 23,624 shares in the company, valued at $13,229,440. The trade was a 3.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 56,269 shares of company stock worth $30,634,699. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Mastercard Stock Performance Shares of NYSE MA opened at $598.1480 on Friday. 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 cap of $540.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.03. The firms fifty day moving average is $564.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $555.73. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52-week low of $461.90 and a 52-week high of $601.77. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The credit services provider reported $4.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.05 by $0.10. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.93% and a return on equity of 200.01%. The firm had revenue of $8.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.95 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.50 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 16.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year. Mastercard Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th were issued a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 9th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Mastercards payout ratio is 20.50%. Mastercard Company 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. Featured Stories 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. Cedar Point Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDA Free Report) by 4.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 41,010 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 1,650 shares during the period. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF accounts for approximately 0.8% of Cedar Point Capital Partners LLCs holdings, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Cedar Point Capital Partners LLCs holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF were worth $1,123,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of FNDA. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 200,289,288 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $5,485,924,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100,604 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF by 99.5% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,739,593 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $51,910,000 after purchasing an additional 867,410 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF by 104.7% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 752,567 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $22,351,000 after purchasing an additional 384,992 shares in the last quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC increased its holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF by 26.3% during the 1st quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 1,245,013 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $34,101,000 after purchasing an additional 259,556 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Callan Capital LLC increased its holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF by 24.0% during the 1st quarter. Callan Capital LLC now owns 830,053 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $22,735,000 after purchasing an additional 160,794 shares in the last quarter. Get Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF alerts: Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF Price Performance FNDA stock opened at $31.19 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $29.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $28.23. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF has a fifty-two week low of $23.49 and a fifty-two week high of $32.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.12 and a beta of 1.19. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF Company Profile The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF (FNDA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell RAFI Small Company US index. The fund tracks a fundamentally selected and weighted Russell index of small firms based on adjusted sales, retained operation cash flow, and dividends plus buybacks. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FNDA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CW Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 385.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 57,683 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 45,808 shares during the quarter. CW Advisors LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $9,123,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Perigon Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,087 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,236,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. TBH Global Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. TBH Global Asset Management LLC now owns 6,932 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,100,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. NFP Retirement Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. NFP Retirement Inc. now owns 2,589 shares of the companys stock valued at $411,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Capital Advisors Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,005 shares of the companys stock valued at $477,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the period. Finally, Renasant Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Renasant Bank now owns 1,994 shares of the companys stock valued at $317,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the period. 78.63% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Stock Performance Shares of Philip Morris International stock opened at $171.67 on Friday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a one year low of $116.12 and a one year high of $186.69. The stocks fifty day moving average is $173.69 and its 200 day moving average is $165.95. The stock has a market cap of $267.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.48. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The company reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.05. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 120.86% and a net margin of 9.03%.The company had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.33 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.59 EPS. Philip Morris Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Philip Morris International has set its Q3 2025 guidance at 2.080-2.130 EPS. Analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 27th were paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 27th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 102.66%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on PM shares. KGI Securities started coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, August 4th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. Barclays lowered their price target on Philip Morris International from $225.00 to $220.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. UBS Group increased their price target on Philip Morris International from $170.00 to $181.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a buy rating and a $220.00 price target on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Philip Morris International from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $186.27. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Philip Morris International Philip Morris International Company Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Read More 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. CW Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA Free Report) by 12.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 123,065 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 13,801 shares during the period. CW Advisors LLCs holdings in Corteva were worth $7,743,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Corteva by 4.4% in the first quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 3,761 shares of the companys stock valued at $237,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its holdings in shares of Corteva by 1.9% in the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 9,353 shares of the companys stock valued at $589,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. NTV Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Corteva by 3.3% in the first quarter. NTV Asset Management LLC now owns 5,457 shares of the companys stock valued at $343,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Corteva by 4.1% in the first quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 4,539 shares of the companys stock valued at $286,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PFG Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of Corteva by 1.4% in the first quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 12,867 shares of the companys stock valued at $810,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.54% of the companys stock. Get Corteva alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently weighed in on CTVA shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating on shares of Corteva in a report on Monday, August 11th. Zacks Research raised shares of Corteva to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 8th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Corteva from $74.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $83.00 price objective (up from $82.00) on shares of Corteva in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Barclays raised shares of Corteva from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $80.25. Corteva Stock Performance Shares of Corteva stock opened at $73.3150 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $49.79 billion, a PE ratio of 35.76, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.75. Corteva, Inc. has a 12 month low of $53.40 and a 12 month high of $77.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $73.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.04. Corteva (NYSE:CTVA Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.31. The business had revenue of $6.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.26 billion. Corteva had a return on equity of 8.68% and a net margin of 8.16%.The firms revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.83 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Corteva, Inc. will post 2.96 EPS for the current year. Corteva Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. This is an increase from Cortevas previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. Cortevas payout ratio is presently 33.17%. Corteva Profile (Free Report) Corteva, Inc operates in the agriculture business. It operates through two segments, Seed and Crop Protection. The Seed segment develops and supplies advanced germplasm and traits that produce optimum yield for farms. It offers trait technologies that enhance resistance to weather, disease, insects, and herbicides used to control weeds, as well as food and nutritional characteristics. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CTVA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Corteva Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Corteva and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Groupe la Francaise raised its position in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 11.3% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 25,716 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,621 shares during the quarter. Groupe la Francaises holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $6,755,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in TRV. Brighton Jones LLC grew its holdings in Travelers Companies by 13.4% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,277 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $789,000 after buying an additional 387 shares in the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $276,000. MML Investors Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 6.2% in the 4th quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 21,849 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $5,263,000 after purchasing an additional 1,284 shares during the period. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 48.9% in the 4th quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 5,395 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,299,000 after purchasing an additional 1,772 shares during the period. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 75.3% in the 4th quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 7,975 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,921,000 after purchasing an additional 3,425 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.45% of the companys stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Travelers Companies Price Performance TRV opened at $276.3390 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $263.18 and a 200 day moving average of $260.16. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $218.57 and a 52-week high of $279.04. 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 $62.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.22, a PEG ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.51. Travelers Companies Announces Dividend Travelers Companies ( NYSE:TRV Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 17th. The insurance provider reported $6.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.52 by $2.99. The company had revenue of $11.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.02 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 18.68% and a net margin of 10.97%.Travelers Companiess revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.51 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.02 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 10th will be given a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 10th. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is 19.46%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TRV has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on Travelers Companies from $304.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Morgan Stanley set a $269.00 target price on Travelers Companies and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, May 19th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Travelers Companies to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Travelers Companies from $264.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on Travelers Companies from $275.00 to $284.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $284.56. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Travelers Companies 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 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 completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 48,387 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,254,650.91. The trade was a 32.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 20,286 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.48, for a total value of $5,547,815.28. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 26,932 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,365,363.36. This trade represents a 42.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 175,374 shares of company stock worth $47,929,912 over the last quarter. Insiders own 1.46% of the companys stock. 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. Shore Capital reiterated their not rated rating on shares of Ithaca Energy (LON:ITH Free Report) in a research note released on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Ithaca Energy Price Performance LON ITH opened at GBX 221 on Wednesday. Ithaca Energy has a 1-year low of GBX 94.38 and a 1-year high of GBX 221. The company has a market capitalization of 4.61 billion and a P/E ratio of 25.24. The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 169.82 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 148.76. Get Ithaca Energy alerts: Ithaca Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Ithaca Energy is a leading UK independent exploration and production company focused on the UK North Sea with a strong track record of material value creation. In recent years, the Company has been focused on growing its portfolio of assets through both organic investment programmes and acquisitions and has seen a period of significant M&A driven growth centred upon two transformational acquisitions. Receive News & Ratings for Ithaca Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ithaca Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UnitedHealth Group, Walmart, Eli Lilly and Company, Tempus AI, and Johnson & Johnson are the five Medical stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Medical stocks are shares of publicly traded companies operating in the healthcare sectorthis includes pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology firms, medical-device producers and healthcare service providers. Investors buy and sell these stocks to gain exposure to innovations in drug development, diagnostics, equipment and patient care. Their performance is often influenced by clinical trial results, regulatory approvals and broader demographic or policy trends in healthcare. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Medical stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: UnitedHealth Group (UNH) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Walmart (WMT) Walmart Inc. engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications. Read Our Latest Research Report on WMT Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) 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. Read Our Latest Research Report on LLY Tempus AI (TEM) Tempus AI Inc. is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence principally in healthcare. The company provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and in parallel facilitates discovery, development and delivery of optimal therapeutics. Read Our Latest Research Report on TEM Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension. Read Our Latest Research Report on JNJ Featured Articles Norinchukin Bank The raised its holdings in Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR Free Report) by 13.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 41,296 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 4,857 shares during the period. Norinchukin Bank Thes holdings in Ventas were worth $2,840,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cloud Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Ventas during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in Ventas by 1,334.6% in the first quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 373 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 347 shares during the period. Franchise Capital Ltd acquired a new position in Ventas during the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Rossby Financial LCC bought a new stake in shares of Ventas in the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich bought a new position in shares of Ventas during the first quarter worth about $41,000. 94.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Ventas alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Ventas In related news, CFO Robert F. Probst sold 29,691 shares of Ventas stock in a transaction on Monday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.49, for a total transaction of $2,033,536.59. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 168,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,531,250.36. This trade represents a 14.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Debra A. Cafaro sold 10,322 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.40, for a total value of $695,702.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,145,695 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $77,219,843. This represents a 0.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 307,340 shares of company stock worth $20,221,787. Insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock. Ventas Stock Performance Shares of Ventas stock opened at $67.7150 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $30.77 billion, a PE ratio of 157.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Ventas, Inc. has a 52 week low of $56.68 and a 52 week high of $71.36. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $65.63 and a 200-day moving average price of $65.91. Ventas (NYSE:VTR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.37 billion. Ventas had a return on equity of 1.75% and a net margin of 3.61%.Ventass revenue was up 18.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.80 earnings per share. Ventas has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.410-3.46 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Ventas, Inc. will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Ventas from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $78.00 target price (up from $74.00) on shares of Ventas in a report on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Ventas from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Ventas from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $70.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. Finally, Scotiabank raised their target price on Ventas from $71.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $73.82. Read Our Latest Report on VTR Ventas Profile (Free Report) Ventas Inc (NYSE: VTR) is a leading S&P 500 real estate investment trust focused on delivering strong, sustainable shareholder returns by enabling exceptional environments that benefit a large and growing aging population. The Company's growth is fueled by its senior housing communities, which provide valuable services to residents and enable them to thrive in supported environments. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VTR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ventas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ventas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 14.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,858 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,761 shares during the quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $4,339,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Quantinno Capital Management LP grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 24.1% in the 4th quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 570,158 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $61,332,000 after buying an additional 110,772 shares during the last quarter. Accredited Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 4th quarter valued at $55,000. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 21,929 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,608,000 after buying an additional 1,379 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Trust grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. Legacy Trust now owns 8,861 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,054,000 after buying an additional 997 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hartford Funds Management Co LLC grew its stake in Exxon Mobil by 51.8% in the 1st quarter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC now owns 7,665 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $912,000 after buying an additional 2,617 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.80% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth XOM has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company set a $127.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Piper Sandler raised their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday. Melius Research initiated coverage on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a hold rating and a $111.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Melius initiated coverage on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a hold rating and a $111.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $125.00. Exxon Mobil Stock Performance NYSE XOM opened at $111.1220 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $473.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.53. The companys fifty day moving average is $110.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $108.89. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a 52-week low of $97.80 and a 52-week high of $126.34. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 1st. The oil and gas company reported $1.64 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $81.51 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $79.07 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 9.17% and a return on equity of 11.34%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 12.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.14 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current year. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement The firm 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 $0.99 per share. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.25%. Exxon Mobil Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, GE Vernova, Vistra, and Constellation Energy are the five Solar stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Solar stocks are shares in publicly traded companies that design, manufacture, install or finance solar energy equipment and systems. By buying these stocks, investors gain exposure to the renewable energy sector, where returns are influenced by factors such as technological innovation, government incentives, and the evolving cost of solar power relative to traditional energy sources. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Solar stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Tesla (TSLA) Tesla, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, leases, and sells electric vehicles, and energy generation and storage systems in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Automotive, and Energy Generation and Storage. The Automotive segment offers electric vehicles, as well as sells automotive regulatory credits; and non-warranty after-sales vehicle, used vehicles, body shop and parts, supercharging, retail merchandise, and vehicle insurance services. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) Berkshire Hathaway Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the insurance, freight rail transportation, and utility businesses worldwide. The company provides property, casualty, life, accident, and health insurance and reinsurance; and operates railroad systems in North America. It also generates, transmits, stores, and distributes electricity from natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal sources; operates natural gas distribution and storage facilities, interstate pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, and compressor and meter stations; and holds interest in coal mining assets. Read Our Latest Research Report on BRK.B GE Vernova (GEV) GE Vernova LLC, an energy business company, generates electricity. It operates under three segments: Power, Wind, and Electrification. The Power segments generates and sells electricity through hydro, gas, nuclear, and steam power. Wind segment engages in the manufacturing and sale of wind turbine blades; and Electrification segment provides grid solutions, power conversion, solar, and storage solutions. Read Our Latest Research Report on GEV Vistra (VST) Vistra Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company operates through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It retails electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across states in the United States and the District of Columbia. Read Our Latest Research Report on VST Constellation Energy (CEG) Constellation Energy Corporation generates and sells electricity in the United States. It operates through five segments: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New York, ERCOT, and Other Power Regions. The company sells natural gas, energy-related products, and sustainable solutions. It has approximately 33,094 megawatts of generating capacity consisting of nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas, and hydroelectric assets. Read Our Latest Research Report on CEG Further Reading Summit Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL Free Report) by 1.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 14,399 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 265 shares during the period. Summit Financial LLCs holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $1,349,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of CL. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 18.3% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 34,009,078 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,186,651,000 after buying an additional 5,269,140 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 1st quarter valued at about $217,593,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 34.5% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 7,980,387 shares of the companys stock valued at $747,762,000 after buying an additional 2,045,191 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG increased its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 35.6% in the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 6,922,994 shares of the companys stock valued at $629,369,000 after purchasing an additional 1,816,865 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 45.0% in the 1st quarter. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,562,968 shares of the companys stock valued at $521,250,000 after purchasing an additional 1,727,105 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.41% of the companys stock. Get Colgate-Palmolive alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes CL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $104.00 to $96.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. UBS Group cut their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $109.00 to $106.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Citigroup cut their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $108.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Barclays lifted their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $88.00 to $83.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Colgate-Palmolive has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $98.92. Colgate-Palmolive Price Performance NYSE:CL opened at $85.7790 on Friday. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a 12 month low of $82.40 and a 12 month high of $109.30. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $87.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $89.91. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.79. The firm has a market cap of $69.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.49 and a beta of 0.35. Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 1st. The company reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $5.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.03 billion. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 377.63% and a net margin of 14.55%.Colgate-Palmolives quarterly revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.91 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 18th were issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 18th. Colgate-Palmolives payout ratio is currently 58.43%. Colgate-Palmolive Profile (Free Report) Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The Oral, Personal and Home Care segment offers toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, skin health products, dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, and other related items. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Colgate-Palmolive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Colgate-Palmolive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. May 20 to August 21 Indifference is loud | The silence is deafening and in the silence two words are clear-sheer indifference. Do whatever you like, we dont care, is the message that has been conveyed. This is exactly the stance that Raj Bhavan has adopted since May 20, the day when personnel of Mahar Regiment stopped a Manipur State Transport bus, carrying media persons to cover the State level Shirui Lily Festival, and covered the name Mani-pur. A brief look at the timeline may help Manipur realise just how indifferent the PR regime has been to the sentiments of the journalists in particular and Manipur in general. After the media fraternity rose as one to lodge a strong stand against such a conduct, representatives of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and Editors Guild, Manipur met the Governor and submitted a charter of demands, including fitting action against those res- ponsible for coming up with such a brilliant idea as covering the name Manipur from a bus, which is under the Manipur State Transport. Government news were boycotted in the initial days of the protest and Imphal based newspapers carried slogans demanding that the Government break the silence on the incident. It was only after it came to light that the inquiry committee set up to look into the incident had submitted its report that the decision to roll back the boycott Government news stand was taken. This was in June but yet Raj Bhavan and its men in positions of authority continued with their stand-offish attitude, refusing to officially spell out that the probe report had been submitted. From May 20 to August 21 and the indifference of Raj Bhavan held out and it was only on August 22, that an official communique was received from the office of the Home Commissioner that the said probe report compiled in June has been submitted. It is this indifference that is hard to digest, especially when it comes to something as sensitive as the act of not allowing a Government vehicle with the word Manipur embossed on its signage to proceed. The very act of stopping the said bus and covering the word Manipur was unacceptable, but equally unacceptable is the indifference of the Government even after the matter was brought to its attention in clear cut terms. What was there to hide in conveying that the report has been submitted ? Or is Raj Bhavan under the impression that the media persons would get tired of their slogans and bury the matter quietly ? Either way it does not speak well of the people in positions of power and authority. Remains to be seen what course of action the Government would take up to ensure that such an ugly incident is not repeated in the future, but in more than one way, the silence of the Government for over 90 days comes very close to what actually happened on May 20 at Gwaltabi. So any action similar to what happened at Gwaltabi on May 20 will not be repeated is the assurance given by the Government, but how about an assurance that maintaining a stoic silence on a matter for over 90 days would not be allowed to happen in the future ? It is when such assurance is given under the pervading atmosphere of haughtiness that it becomes very difficult to digest. Raj Bhavan should take note of the reality. In as much as what happened on May 20 at Gwaltabi was unacceptable, it also stands that the stoic silence and sheer indifference for over 90 days is equally unacceptable. What Manipur needs today is not indifference, a sort of haughtiness that comes couched in officialdom, but a genuine approach to issues that affect the sensibilities of the people. Journalists under AMWJU and EGM are not bodies which believe in street politics and this is something which should have been respected by the officialdom in the corridors of power. May 20 to August 23 and this is how long it has taken for Raj Bhavan to officially convey a message, just a message that the inquiry committee set up to probe the May 20 incident has submitted its reported. What is so difficult about this ? Surely this information would not come under any classified information of the Government. Step down from the high citadel is the one line instructions that Raj Bhavan should issue to its suited, booted officials. As Durga Pujas carefully work upon their themes, one of the popular Pujas South Kolkata, Samaj Sebi has gone back to their roots to make it their theme this year. In their 80th year, the Puja committee is honouring their founding members, the initial few settlers in the Lake View area, who started the annual affair. Advertisement They have named their theme, Pather Panchali 1946, where they have decided to decorate a street and maintain it throughout the year. They will beautify the street with artefacts, which they would be using for decorating their pandal. Advertisement For Samaj Sebi, it all started in 1946-47, when many of the riot-hit refugees started settling around the place after Partition. Many of the young professionals, who were constructing their houses pooled in their resources and funds to help the settlers. The organisers say they are remembering the time when they served the riot- affected people. Their existence has a lot to do with freedom fighter Leela Roy. She was the one who suggested holding a Durga Puja here. In those days, Leela Roy and her team consisting of astrophysicist Meghnad Saha, Sarat Chandra Bose, Anil Roy and others would meet at historian Jadunath Sarkars house, who was building his house in the locality. When they came to know that a few boys from the locality were doing relief work, they appealed to Birendra Nath Mitra, another resident of the area for fund collection. A handsome amount was collected and while it was being handed over to the Red Cross Society, they named the collective Samaj Sebi. Leela Roy suggested that during these times of violence, we (our seniors) should start a Durga Puja, which will promote harmony, and as people congregate, we can promote social work too. Since then, we have been following the tradition, saving money for social work from our collection during Pujas, says Arijit Maitra, general secretary of the puja committee. On their beautification drive, the club is inspired by their street art (alpona) on Lake Road in 2017. The same stretch they would now put up as a model street. We will decorate the road with various artefacts, which we will be using at our pandal. We will preserve them at the model street. For this, we plan to take permission from the corporation (KMC). We will also decorate the pavements with recycled plastic. The idea is that the local people take care of the Durga Puja, now the Puja will take care of the neighbourhood, said Mr Maitra. The theme is in line with chief minister Mamata Banerjees recent announcement to create a Durga Angan, where she plans to preserve some of the best idols from the Durga Pujas. The club hopes to be ready with their model street by April, in time for the Bengali New Year. The club also plans to preserve the art deco-style houses in the area. Many of the houses here have traces of 1910-20 artwork and architecture. We are trying to restore these houses and also put up lamp posts in front of them, giving out information about the house, its owner and history, said the organiser about paying their tribute to their founding members. Academy of Technology (AOT) celebrated its Foundation Day on Friday at its Adisaptagram campus, Hooghly. The day-long event brought together eminent academicians, industry leaders, alumni, students and faculty members to commemorate the institutes glorious journey and reflect its future goals and growth. The inaugural session included the inauguration of the tribute corner, ceremonial lamp lighting and a cultural curtain-raiser featuring song and dance performances. Prof Dilip Bhattacharya, director, AOT, delivered the welcome address. Prof Anindita Banerjee, chairman trustee & co-founder, AOT, there after shared memories and outlined future plans, setting the tone for the occasion. The programme featured Voices Across Time-thoughts and memories from AOTians, an inspiring session where distinguished alumni and faculty members shared their thoughts and experiences. Advertisement Among the speakers were Anand Prosad Bhakat (lead consultant, IBM India), Abhisomjit Guha (CEO, Sunny Engineers & Associates), Sambuddha Deb (advisor, AOT), Prof Baishakhi Bhattacharya and Prof Partha Pratim Das (professor, IIT Kharagpur). An interactive session Reflections with Prof Ravikumar Bhaskaran (Life fellow, IIT Kharagpur) provided deep insights into academia and research. This was followed by a session on entrepreneurship conducted by Prof Shuva Mandal (managing partner, Fox Mandal & Associates; legal advisor & professor of practice, AOT). The highlight of the day was the Foundation Day Lecture delivered by Prof. Prabuddha Ganguli (CEO, Vision-IPR) on the theme Creativity to Creations for Community & Commerce. Advertisement The afternoon session focused on industryacademia collaboration, where students showcased innovative prototype demonstrations and participated in micro-entrepreneurship booths, reflecting AOTs emphasis on practical innovation and entrepreneurial mindset. A unique session: Ask Me Anything with the honourable Chairman Trustee, AOT and team encouraged open engagement with stakeholders. An exclusive quiz for AOT members brought a spirited conclusion to the celebration. Former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh was not invited for Prime Minister Narendra Modis rally yet again, making it three times in a row. The PM addressed a rally organised by the partys state unit at Dum Dum Central Jail ground on Friday evening. Advertisement Not getting an invitation for Mr Modis rally in Alipurduar on 30 May and then in Durgapur on 18 July, the aggrieved former state BJP president this morning left for Bengaluru to meet the spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Advertisement On an earlier occasion on 18 July, he had also left for Delhi hours before Mr Modi visited Bengal to address his party rally in Durgapur the same day. Today, while speaking to reporters at the NSCBI airport Mr Ghosh said, I have a pre-scheduled appointment with Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji in Bengaluru. I am going to meet him and will come back to Kolkata on Saturday. The conspicuous exclusion of Mr Ghosh, once the face of the BJPs aggressive Bengal campaign, from a key political event has again put the spotlight on the partys alleged simmering factionalism and raised questions over whether the state units recent show of unity was more optics than reality. Modiji is coming to address the rally and I will listen to his speeches on my mobile. I can carry out other works as and when the party assigns me, Mr Ghosh told reporters this morning. Party insiders admit that despite a recent public show of unity between Mr Ghosh and new state president Samik Bhattacharya, all is not entirely well within the Bengal BJPs higher echelons. Earlier, Mr Bhattacharya had pulled off a key political optic by holding a one-on-one meeting with Ghosh at the partys Salt Lake office, with the two leaders hugging in full public view in an attempt to silence buzz about internal factionalism and possible desertion. But Mr Ghoshs exclusion from the PMs rally now threatens to unravel the tenuous peace, fuelling talks that the former state chief is still not entirely in the loop. His recent public engagements, including attending a state government programme in Digha alongside his wife, had already raised eyebrows within the party. In a two-pronged reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Kolkata and inauguration of new Metro lines, the Trinamul Congress today belittled BJPs poll prospects next year as well as expressed dismay at the Railways neglecting Mamata Banerjees name during todays programmes. Coming down heavily on PM Modis attempt to boost his partys prospects in Bengal during his rally speech, Trinamul Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said Mamata Banerjee would return with more seats in the 2026 Assembly election. Advertisement The more Modi comes to Bengal, the more the BJP will lose ground and ensure a larger Trinamul Congress victory in the state, Mr Ghosh said. Advertisement He said the railway ministry did not have the courtesy to mention the name of Mamata Banerjee at todays programmes in the city, even though she had sanctioned sections of its expansion and later provided land for the extension of Metro Railway in the city. Obliquely referring to the SIR (Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls) exercise, Mr Ghosh said the Prime Minister had spoken about infiltration. But it is the BSF that mans the borders, and the BSF comes under the home ministry, which in turn is under Minister Amit Shah. So it amounts to criticising Mr Shah without taking his name. In fact, there is more infiltration through the borders in Tripura, even though it is a double engine state, he said. He wondered why Mr Modi did not give answers to the questions raised by Trinamul Congress and instead dramatised his speech just to divert the attention of the people. In her reaction to the speech, Dr Shashi Panja, minister for women and child development and social welfare, said Mr Modis statement that Durga Puja will be held soon in Bengal and everyone was very excited about it contradicts the words of his own party leaders, who had said a court order is required for permission to organise Durga Puja. She added that Durga Puja is held peacefully in Bengal every year because of Mamata Banerjees efforts. She is working day and night to ensure peace, development and prosperity in Bengal. Dr Panja said it was most unfortunate when Bengali migrant workers were being attacked and humiliated in the BJP-ruled states, Mr Modi did not utter a single word and praised Bengali language. He should have told this to Amit Malviya, who had recently said that there was no language called Bengali, she said. Trinamul Congress MP Mohua Moitra wondered whether Mr Modi felt any shame to sing the National Anthem and National Song, as both of them were written in Bengali. He should remember that his government had not cleared dues worth Rs 1.83 lakh crore and should have mentioned this in his speech. She said Mr Modi speaks about a corruption-free India but he often forgets that 28 ministers in Delhi have criminal cases against them. He should dissolve Parliament, as the voter list on the basis of which Lok Sabha election was held in 2024 was faulty. The 11th Round of India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ind-Aus CECA) negotiations was held in the national capital from August 18-23, further advancing the shared objective of strengthening bilateral trade and economic partnership. Building on the progress achieved in earlier rounds and intersessional meetings, the negotiations covered a wide range of areas including Goods, Services and Mobility, Digital Trade, Rules of Origin, Legal and Institutional Provisions, Environment, Labour, and Gender, bringing greater understanding for convergence in the remaining provisions, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Saturday. Advertisement Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India-Australia CECA and ensuring that it delivers meaningful benefits, economic opportunities, and a balanced outcome for both sides. To maintain momentum and achieve convergence, both partners will continue the negotiations in virtual intersessions. Advertisement Looking ahead, with shared ambition and mutual understanding to work towards a future-ready framework, India and Australia remain strongly aligned to the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Cooperation. As India steadily advances its footprint through multiple trade agreements, this round reflects a steadfast commitment to enhance economic partnerships anchored with national priorities and global aspirations. A 20-year-old man was apprehended by the CISF personnel from the Parliament House Complex, an officer said on Saturday. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) handed over the man to the Delhi Police for further investigation, the officer mentioned, adding that nothing incriminating was found in his possession. Advertisement The incident comes a day after a man, who was attempting to scale the wall of the Parliament, was arrested by the police. Advertisement The man was intercepted by security personnel at around 9:30 on Saturday morning on Raisina Road, between the Rail Bhawan and the Parliament House. During the initial inquiry by the officers, it was found that the man came to Delhi from Bengaluru and was supposed to travel to Dubai, a senior officer said, adding that nothing incriminating was recovered from him, and he has been questioned. While checking his belongings, a copy of his Aadhaar card and passport was found in his phone. Following the questioning, he was then handed over to the Kartavya Path Police Station for further investigation, the officer stated. The personnel from the CISF and other security agencies have put in place a proactive standard operating procedure (SOP) for security around the Parliament complex after the incident that took place on Friday. In this case, as part of the procedure, a suspicious or doubtful-looking person will be proactively checked based on the profiling, and the person will be handed over to the local police, another security officer said. Numerous people gather just outside the Parliament House Complex every day to take pictures or simply admire the elegant building. Only those whose activities look suspicious or threatening are being intercepted to keep the complex safe from any untoward incident, the officer said. The CISF was inducted to guard the complex last year, replacing the CRPF and other agencies, after the security breach that happened in December 2023. TMCs Rajya Sabha member Sushmita Dev gets agitated at the mention of prosecution of Bengali-speaking migrant workers and the introduction of Special Intensive Review (SIR) by the Centre ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls. She claims the Centre has plans to implement SIR in various states with West Bengal being the next target, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. And like her party, she said she too will fight tooth and nail to oppose it. In an interaction with Ashok Chatterjee of The Statesman, Dev talks about the sudden spurt of prosecution of Bengali migrants in BJP-ruled states and how the Trinamul Congress is preparing to wage the battle for Bengali rights. Q. What do you think is leading to atrocities on migrants from Bengal? Do you believe Bengali-speaking people are being targeted? Advertisement A. After losing a number of seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the caste census coming up, the BJP is trying to consolidate its vote bank by setting up a narrative which is anti-foreigner ~ or Bangladeshis ~ who have illegally come to India. The undertone is of course anti-minority. My question is why a party that has been in power for 10 years and has been in control of the borders could not check the infiltration. Today if you go to a basti (settlement), where migrant workers stay, most of them are from West Bengal. The government is not accepting their land documents, Aadhaar, and ration cards. These are the documents most of these marginalized people have. If you do not accept these documents, how do you expect them to prove they are Indian citizens? And the criteria for choosing a colony is language. The government identifies the pockets based on the language being spoken there, which is Bengali. Take the case of Jai Hind colony in Delhi. By cutting power, water, and basic facilities, you are not identifying illegal immigrants and pushing them out, but punishing people en masse just because of the language they speak. Another very important point is that they set the date for CAA (Citizenship (Amendment) Act) as December 2014. This is the year the BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came to power. By putting this date, they are trying to convey that since Modi had been in power, there has been no infiltration. Advertisement Q. Why are these dates important? A. Take the case of Assam Accord, which is March 1971. It coincides with the creation of Bangladesh and the influx of refugees at that time. Every date in an Act of Parliament must have a criteria. Can anybody explain why the date for CAA is December 2014? No. It is because the BJP came to power that year. So, if that is the case then they had 10 years to look for illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators and deport them. But they did nothing. They are doing this now because they need to consolidate their vote bank after their votes have gone down. Q. Would you call it racial or linguistic profiling? A. They are going to colonies where Bengali people are settled and looking for Bangladeshis there. This is nothing but racial profiling. The message you are giving to the nation is that anyone who speaks Bengali is Bangladeshi. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) notices sent by the Assam government are mostly to the people of Bengal, many of them are Hindus. Of course, the maximum number of these people are Muslims. This is what Bengalis in Assam have been facing for decades. It is being replicated all over the country. If you speak in Bengali, you are looked at with suspension. The Election Commission started marking D (doubtful) in Assam for people who are Bengali-speaking. Q. You are also opposing the implementation of SIR in Bihar. A . The EC recently issued a notification of conducting SIR in all the states of India. For Assam, BLO (booth level officers) trainers were brought to Delhi, trained, and sent back to train others. This has been going on for over a month. Reviewing the electoral role is well within the preview of EC. But if you look at the enumeration form, it says if you are born before 1987, you have to show your birth certificate; born between 1987-2004, show yours as well as one other parents document; and if born after 2004, you have to show your as well as both parents documents. If you look at the 11 documents at the end of the form, it mentions passport and pension documents as requirements. How many Indians have a passport or have been in government jobs? Another document is a school certificate, which most of the marginalised do not possess. During NRC in Assam, they said if your parents or grandparents name was in the voter list pre-1971, they would accept it. Despite that, 19 lakh people were excluded. Q. How successful has been the NRC implementation in Assam? A. The Supreme Court-monitored NRC in Assam started in 2013. The final outcome came on 30 August 2019. It took six years. But till today, the NRC has not been notified by the Registrar General of India in Assam. If they could not implement it in one state after taking six years, how are they planning to do it in Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the next few months? Q. In Bihar, reportedly 65 lakh people have been excluded (from the electoral rolls). Your comments. A. Who are these illegal immigrants? They are the citizens of India. They have gone to other states to work and they will come back. They have their voting rights in Bihar. These people have been excluded because the enumerators are going door-to-door and not finding them. On July 22, they said 11,000 voters were untraceable in Bihar. Just the next day, this figure went up to 1 lakh plus. In light of all these facts, my view is that they have already prepared the new voters list, and they are working their way backwards. This is my assumption. In Assam, the exclusion could be 30-40 lakh names. During NRC, the initial deletion was 40 lakh and then it came down to 19 lakh. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has admitted that he failed in Assam as there were 1.25 crore Bangladeshis in Assam. In a state which has a population of approximately 3.4 crore, the figure of 1.25 crore includes Bengali-speaking population, Hindus and Muslims included. It is crystal clear that in the garb of identifying infiltrators, the government is indulging in blatant racial profiling of people who speak a certain language which happens to be common with Bangladesh. Q. What about West Bengal? A. West Bengals Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari is on record saying 1.2 crore people would be kicked out from the state. Q. You have argued that the poll body has no right to ask for citizenship, and that this right rests only with the Ministry of Home Affairs. A. If you look at the enumeration forms, the years mentioned are from Section 3 of the 1955 Citizenship Act. So, the EC is actually touching upon the Citizenship Act. That is why (West Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee is saying that they are bringing in the NRC through the back door. It is within the jurisdiction of the MHA and they have two ways of doing it updating the National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizenship. The EC through its enumeration form cannot bring in the Citizenship Act. The Centre has failed in the NRC implementation. Assam is a laboratory of NRC. After spending more than Rs 1,500 crore, you have failed in NRC. Now, you have brought it through the back door. Today the EC can remove me from the voters list only if I am declared a foreigner by the foreigners tribunal of the home ministry. Q. How do you look at the leadership of Mamata Banerjee? A. Mamata Dis strength is her grassroots connect. To me she is one of the biggest mass leaders in this country. Even after being in power, she is constantly fighting against injustices. She is fighting for funds from the Centre, and against SIR and injustices to the Bengali migrants in other states. She is relentless. When everyone was blaming her for the rape-murder at RG Kar hospital, she took to the streets. Why? Because she was against rape and atrocities against women. That is her strength. She is not a board-room CM. She can be seen with the people, amongst the people. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Saturday criticised the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, warning that under the guise of strengthening the system, the rights of the poor risk being trampled. Yes, its true that from time to time various procedural tasks need to be carried out. However, in doing so, one cannot create a better system by trampling on the rights of the poor, Sen told news agency PTI. Advertisement He noted that many people lack proper documents, which could ultimately strip them of their right to vote. Advertisement Many people dont have documents. Many cannot vote. If, in the name of trying to improve things a little, harm is caused to many, then that becomes a serious mistake, Sen said, adding, You cannot justify seven new mistakes just to correct one. The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that persons excluded from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) can submit applications for inclusion online, without having to file physical forms, and directed 12 recognised political parties in the state to assist voters in the exercise. A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the excluded individuals may apply online either on their own or with the help of booth-level agents (BLAs) of the 12 recognised political parties. The Court formally impleaded all 12 recognised parties, directing them to mobilise their BLAs to facilitate filing of applications in their respective booths. Pointing out that Bihar has about 1.6 lakh BLAs belonging to all the political parties, the Bench said: If each agent helps fill just 10 forms a day, there would be 16 lakh applications for registration of excluded voters each day. It expressed surprise that despite such a vast network, only two objections had been filed so far, and noted complaints that local officers were not acknowledging objections raised by BLAs of the political parties. The Court, in the last hearing on August 14, directed that booth-wise lists of the nearly 65 lakh voters deleted from the draft rolls be displayed on panchayat bhavans and block offices, in addition to being uploaded on the websites of District Electoral Officers and the Chief Electoral Officer. Public notices in English and vernacular newspapers must inform voters in layman-friendly language that Aadhaar cards as well as any of the 11 notified documents can be submitted for inclusion. The Bench directed political parties to issue specific instructions to their booth-level workers to assist excluded voters, except those who are dead or have migrated voluntarily, in filing applications before the September 1 cut-off date. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V Narayanan on Saturday unveiled a highly ambitious roadmap for the countrys future space programme, announcing several new missions, including Chandrayaan-4, Venus Orbiter Mission and a technologically sophisticated Moon landing by 2040. While speaking at an event as part of the National Space Day celebrations in New Delhi, the ISRO chief also announced Indias own space station Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035. Advertisement The ISRO chief emphasised that by the year 2035, India will establish the Bhartiya Antariksh Station whose first module will lift off in the year 2035. Advertisement Based on his direction and vision, we are going to have a Chandrayaan-4 mission. We are going to have a Venus Orbiter Mission. We are going to have a space station called BAS (Bharatiya Antariksh Station) by 2035, and the first module will be lifted off by 2028, he said. Narayanan stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given his approval for the Next Generation Launcher and by 2040, India will land on the Moon and we are going to bring back safely. He further asserted that by the end of next decade, the Indian space programme will be at par with the space programmes of any other countries, including the US, Russia and China. On the occasion of National Space Day, ISRO unveiled the model of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) in Delhi. The first module of the space station is scheduled to be launched by 2028. Following the success of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 missions, PM Modi had asked Indian scientists to aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up a Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending first Indian to the Moon by 2040. The PM had also called upon the scientists to work towards interplanetary missions that would include a Venus Orbiter Mission and a Mars Lander. Marking the second anniversary of National Space Day, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday unveiled a model of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) in New Delhi Indias very own space station and a landmark project in the countrys space ambitions. The unveiling marks a significant step forward in Indias space exploration journey. Advertisement ,Outlining the upcoming space missions of our country, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, V Narayanan said that Indias space roadmap includes major projects, including the Chandrayaan-4 mission and a Venus Orbiter Mission. We are going to have a space station called BAS (Bharatiya Antariksh Station) by 2035, and the first module will be lifted off by 2028. Advertisement He further announced that by 2040, India will land and bring back the first human from space, bringing our Space Program at par with the other leading nations in the space sector. Outlining Indias upcoming space missions, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said the countrys roadmap includes major projects such as the Chandrayaan-4 mission and a Venus Orbiter Mission. We are going to have a space station called BAS (Bharatiya Antariksh Station) by 2035, with the first module set to launch in 2028, he announced. Narayanan added that by 2040, India aims to land the first human on the moon and bring back safely a milestone that would place the country on par with leading spacefaring nations. The Gaganyatris astronauts selected for Indias maiden human spaceflight programme attended the National Space Day celebrations at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday. Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap, all Indian Air Force test pilots, joined delegates for this years event, themed Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities. Speaking at the event, astronaut and Group Captain Shukla lauded the wave and excitement he witnessed among the Indian youth for Indias space ambitions, attributing it to the celebration of the National Space Day and participation from across the country. Advertisement Two years ago, we didnt have this celebration; we started it last year, and within two years, we have created immense excitement. We are going to have big missions in the days to come, including Gaganyan and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station These require resources from the entire nation, including children, institutions, and schools, he said. Advertisement Acknowledging decades of dedication by Indias scientific community especially ISRO in elevating the countrys space programme to a level where a human spaceflight mission is within reach, Group Captain Pratap said, The human spaceflight programme is not a single mission but many missions in one and the only challenge standing between our nation and becoming a true space superpower. To commemorate the safe landing of Chandrayaan-3s Vikram lander and the deployment of the Pragyan rover on the Moons South Pole on August 23, 2023 a feat no other nation has achieved the Government of India declared August 23 to be observed each year as National Space Day. Criticising the United States decision to impose 25 per cent additional tariffs on Indian goods for purchase of Russian oil, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday asserted that India would continue to take decisions independently on energy. Jaishankar also firmly dismissed claims made by US President Donald Trump regarding American mediation in resolving the brief conflict between India and Pakistan in May this year. Advertisement Defending Indias energy ties with Russia, Jaishankar said oil purchases serve both national and global interests by stabilising prices. Advertisement Its funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, dont buy it, the External Affairs Minister said at a media event. Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you dont like it, dont buy it, he said. That time, it was said that if India wants to buy Russian oil, let them, because that would stabilise prices, Jaishankar said, adding that India is buying oil to stabilise the oil prices. Yes, it is in our national interest but it is also in a global interest. The External Affairs Minister said Indias priority was to protect farmers and small producers, stressing that New Delhi would not compromise on their interests. What we are concerned about is that red lines are primarily the interest of our farmers and, to some extent, our small producers. So when people pronounce that we have succeeded or failed, we as a government are committed to defending the interests of our farmers and small producers. We are determined on that. Thats not something we can compromise, Jaishankar said. The Minister also argued that the tariff issue was being wrongly presented as an oil dispute. He noted that the same criticism levelled at India for purchasing Russian energy had not been applied to larger importers, such as China and European nations. The second issue is that this is being presented as an oil issue. But why I say being presented is because the same arguments that have been used to target India have not been applied to the largest oil importer, which is China, and have not been applied to the largest LNG importer, which is the European nations, he said. Jaishankar pointed out the contradiction in the Wests stance, saying Europe trades far more with Russia than India does. And when people say we are funding the war and putting the money, Russia-European trade is bigger than India-Russia trade. So European money is not putting coffers? The overall Russia-EU trade is bigger than the Russia-India trade. If the argument is energy, they (EU) are bigger buyers. If the argument is who is the bigger trader, they are bigger than us. Indias exports to Russia have grown, but not that much, he added. Speaking at the event, the External Affairs Minister reiterated Indias long-standing policy of rejecting any third-party involvement in bilateral issues with Pakistan. Refuting President Trumps repeated assertions that America had played a role in defusing tensions during the four-day India-Pakistan conflict in May, Jaishankar clarified, On the issue of mediating (India-Pak conflict), since 1970s, for more than 50 years now, theres a national consensus in this country that we do not accept mediation in our relations with Pakistan. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that until eight years ago, no one could have imagined a riot-free and mafia-free Uttar Pradesh. Today, a riot-free and mafia-free Uttar Pradesh is a reality. Mafia tendencies have been uprooted from their roots and can no longer dominate in the state. Goons can no longer pose a threat to sisters, daughters, or businessmen here. The common people are no longer troubled, and the youth no longer have to wander in search of employment, he said. Advertisement CM Yogi was addressing a gathering in Manbela after inaugurating two Kalyan Mandapamsone in Manbela and another in the Raptinagar Extension Schemein Gorakhpur on Saturday. Advertisement Both halls have been constructed by the Gorakhpur Development Authority (GDA) at a cost of 2.65 crore and 85 lakh, respectively. The Chief Minister also contributed funds from his MLA fund for the Mandapam built in Manbela. During the inauguration ceremony, CM Yogi said that positive change has come to Uttar Pradesh because, since 2017, people have elected a good government. Good governments think for the good of society, he remarked, while posing and answering several questions before the public. He said that earlier, no one could even think about investment in Uttar Pradesh, four-lane connectivity, restarting closed fertilizer factories, or setting up new industries. But today, Uttar Pradesh is attracting the highest investment in the country. Big industries are being set up, four-lane roads are being constructed across the state, and the closed fertilizer factory in Gorakhpur has been restarted, he noted. The area of Manbela, where the Chief Minister inaugurated the Kalyan Mandapam, was once severely affected by encephalitis until 2017. CM Yogi, who had fought a long battle as an MP for the treatment and eradication of encephalitis, recalled this in his speech. He said, Eight years ago, during this season, many children used to die due to encephalitis. In these years, the government has not only treated encephalitis and its causes but also cured the sick mentality that left the state in poor condition, he said, referring to the previous government. Remembering the encephalitis crisis in Manbela, the Chief Minister became emotional. He said that eight years ago, finding a solution to encephalitis seemed nearly impossible, but today it has been resolved ahead of the target set by the double-engine government. At that time, every mothers face carried the fear of losing a child to encephalitis. Today, the future of children is safe due to effective control measures, he added. Recalling the past, he said that the medical college had no proper arrangements for treating encephalitis. Four children had to share one bed. Today, the encephalitis ward at the medical college is air-conditioned, he said. Criticizing the previous government, he added, The then government had abandoned the poor to their fate. Discussing the improved healthcare system, CM Yogi said, Now no one faces problems in treatment. Government hospitals are well-equipped, and the Ayushman Health Scheme provides free treatment of up to 5 lakh for the poor and the elderly. If someone does not have an Ayushman card, full support is provided through the Chief Ministers Relief Fund. He informed that the state government has provided 1,100 crore from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund in one year for the treatment of serious diseases. Highlighting the revival of healthcare services, especially in eastern Uttar Pradesh, he said that until 2017, BRD Medical College, the only major treatment center in the region, was itself in a poor state. Now, it is functioning effectively and serving patients well. Moreover, AIIMS has also been established in Gorakhpur, he said. Reminding people of Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of developing India by 2047, CM Yogi appealed to citizens to take a pledge for a developed Uttar Pradesh and a developed Gorakhpur by 2047. With the changes achieved in the past eight years, fulfilling this vision will not be difficult. Gorakhpur, which once faced an identity crisis, has regained its pride. Ten years ago, people here were forced to hide their identity. Today, this is the new Gorakhpur of the new Uttar Pradesh in a new India, he asserted. Charging the Modi Government of continuing to trouble and unsettle the opposition-ruled states through both legislative and administrative interferences, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Saturday reiterated that it was also undermining the independence of the Finance Commissions to deny the rightful share of revenue for the States. Even though the Sarkaria Commission constituted in 1983, to study the entire gamut of Centre-State relations, had highlighted the dangers of excessive and unrestrained centralisation, the panel had failed to recommend requisite constitutional amendments to empower States. But successive governments have only brought in legislations and amendments to vest in the Union Government more and more powers, the Chief Minister said, addressing the inauguration of the National Seminar on Centre-State Relations. Advertisement He lamented that the key recommendation of the Punchhi Commission, formed at the insistence of the DMK in 2007, that Governors should be appointed in consultation with the respective Chief Ministers has never been implemented. A case in point is the present Tamil Nadu Governor and his partisan actions, he added. Advertisement Recalling the previous DMK governments efforts to secure more powers for the States in the true spirit of federalism, he recalled DMK founder and late Chief Minister CN Annadurais clarion call in 1967 for reviewing the Constitution and DMK patriarch and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhis initiative in setting up the Justice Rajamannar Commission on Centre-State relations in 1969. Now, his government has constituted the Justice Kurian Joseph panel to study and review the same. On financial devolution from the central pool, Stalin accused the Modi government of discriminating against the state by denying its due share even though Tamil Nadu contributed significantly through both direct taxes and GST. This is due to the Modi government acting with narrow political motives, he said, adding that a united and stronger India could be built only with strong and self-reliant states and not otherwise. He urged other States to join Tami Lanu by setting up similar committees to study Centre-State relations and come out with recommendations to carry forward the demand for true federalism. All those who are committed to national unity should extend solidarity to the cause of State autonomy, was his plea to other states and his counterparts. On the language front other states like Karnataka, West Bengal and Maharashtra joining Tamil Nadu in resisting Hindi imposition by the Union government was a welcome one, he added. Speaking on the occasion, former Supreme Court Judge, Justice J Chellameshwar, appealed to Stalin to engage with his counterparts in other states to make this initiative on reviewing centre-state relations a truly federal one. He also compared the American federation, formed through a bargain between states, whereas in India there was no such thing. Justice Kurian Joseph, former Judge of the apex court and Chairman of the High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations, constituted by the Tamil nadu Government, made it clear that it was the Constitution that had constituted the nation. India is not a country without it and those who hold aloft the nation first slogan should understand this. When we say nation first, it is actually, the Constitution first. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday disclosed that a recommendation had been made to exclude the Prime Minister from the ambit of the contentious removal bill, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejected the proposal. PM Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation was to keep the Prime Minister out of this bill, but he did not agree. PM Modi refused to grant an exemption to the Prime Minister. The PM is also a citizen, and he should not enjoy special protection, Rijiju told a news agency. Advertisement Earlier this week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tabled three bills in the Lok Sabha: The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Advertisement The amendments provide a legal framework to remove the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or ministers who are arrested and kept in custody for 30 consecutive days on charges carrying a punishment of five years or more. They shall automatically be removed from office on the 31st day. Under the new provisions, the removal will be effected by the President in the case of the Prime Minister or Union Ministers, by the Governor in the case of Chief Ministers, by the Chief Minister in the case of state ministers, and by the Lieutenant Governor in the case of Chief Ministers of Union Territories. The Opposition has strongly opposed the bills, calling them draconian and an attempt to topple non-BJP governments. Opposition MPs argued that the three bills go against the basic structure of the Constitution. Responding to the Oppositions criticism, Rijiju contended that most Chief Ministers currently belong to the BJP, and if they commit wrongdoing, they too would have to step down. Most of the CMs are from our party. If they do something wrong, they must leave their position. Ethics should also have meaning. The Opposition would have welcomed this bill had they kept ethics at the centre, he added. Following uproar in Parliament, the bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 mission team for unfurling the Tricolour aboard the International Space Station, saying the moment when the flag was held aloft was beyond words. He added that the Government of India has removed long-standing restrictions in sectors such as space, enabling greater participation by private players in space technology. Advertisement He announced that Indias first PSLV rocket made by the private sector will also be launched soon. Advertisement Today on the occasion of Space Day, I would like to ask the countrys space start-ups whether we can create five unicorns in the space sector in the next 5 years. Now we see five big launches from India every year. I would like the private sector to come forward, and within the next five years, we should reach a stage where we can launch 50 rockets annually. One rocket every week #WATCH | Delhi: On the National Space Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Achieving new milestones one after another in the space sector has become the nature of India and Indian scientists. Just two years ago, India became the first country to create history by reaching the pic.twitter.com/FrQCMhzxjX ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Today, space-tech is also becoming a part of governance in India. Whether it is satellite-based assessment in the crop insurance scheme or the information and safety provided to fishermen through satellitesBe it disaster management or the use of geospatial data in the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan Today, Indias progress in space is making the lives of ordinary citizens easier There was a time when futuristic sectors like space were bound by many restrictions in the country. We opened these shackles. We gave permission to the private sector in space tech, and today in the country, more than 350 start-ups are growing as the engine of innovation and acceleration in space tech. Their presence is also visible in this work. The first PSLV rocket made by the private sector will also be launched soon. I am happy that Indias first private communication satellite is also being built. Through a public-private partnership, preparations are also underway to launch an Earth observation satellite constellation I had mentioned many situations from 15 August onwards in which it is very important for India to be self-reliant. I have asked every sector to set its own targets He lauded India for making swift advances in frontier technologies such as semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion. He apprised that the country is preparing to launch the Gaganyaan mission and has set its sights on building its own space station in the future. The governments vision for the space sector extends beyond galaxies, with an emphasis on ensuring that policies remain dynamic and forward-looking, he added. He stated, Over the past 11 years, major reforms have been introduced under the framework of Reform, Perform, and Transform, driving significant changes in Indias space programme. We have also become the fourth country in the world to have the capability of docking and undocking in space. Just 3 days ago, I met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He filled every Indian with pride by hoisting the tricolour on the International Space Station. The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words. In my discussion with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the immense courage and infinite dreams of the youth of the new India. To take these dreams forward, we are also going to prepare Indias astronaut pool. Today on Space Day, I invite my young friends to join this astronaut pool to give wings to Indias dreams. Today India is rapidly progressing in breakthrough technologies like semi-cryogenic engine and electric propulsion. Achieving new milestones one after another in the space sector has become the nature of India and Indian scientists, he added. Just two years ago, India became the first country to create history by reaching the South Pole of the Moon, he stated. He further stated that recently, India has also hosted the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. About 300 youth from more than 60 countries participated in this competition. Indian youth also won medals. PM Modi added that this Olympiad is a symbol of Indias emerging leadership in the space sector. I am happy that ISRO has also taken initiatives like Indian Space Hackathon and Robotics Challenge to increase the interest of young friends towards space. India celebrated its second National Space Day on Saturday, highlighting the nations achievements from satellite launches to human spaceflight. Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh tweeted that the day honours Indias journey from satellites to human spaceflight. The government opened the space sector to private players in 2020 with the creation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). Since then, over 300 start-ups have registered, officials said. IN-SPACe has facilitated two sub-orbital test flights by Indian start-ups and supported the launch of 14 satellites by six private entities. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated that the first uncrewed mission under the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme is planned for December and will carry Vyommitra, a half-humanoid robot. He also noted that IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla recently completed a mission to the International Space Station, marking the first by an Indian astronaut. Shukla is among the crew shortlisted for Gaganyaan. Narayanan added that the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, launched earlier this year, is functioning normally. Ahead of the September 9 Vice-Presidential election, NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to garner support for himself. Met NDAs candidate for the Vice-Presidential election, Shri CP Radhakrishnan Ji. He is a seasoned leader with vast organisational and administrative experience. I am sure he will contribute immensely to Indias national discourse with his vast exposure, the Union Minister said in a post on X. Advertisement Notably, the meeting between the two took place a day after Shah accused the INDIA blocs nominee for the post retired Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy of having supported Naxalism (Maoism) through his judicial pronouncements. Advertisement Addressing a public event in Kochi on Friday, Shah referred to Justice Reddys 2011 Salwa Judum judgment, which had declared as illegal and unconstitutional the state-sponsored arming of young tribal men as special police officers in Chhattisgarh. The ruling ordered that such militias be disbanded, stressing that the state must address the root causes of the insurgency through lawful governance rather than vigilante groups. Revisiting that verdict, the Union Home Minister alleged the judgment indirectly strengthened Maoist extremists and curtailed the states ability to counter insurgency. Sudershan Reddy is the person who helped Naxalism. He gave the Salwa Judum judgment. If that judgment had not been given, Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020, he said. Shah further claimed that the Congress, under pressure from its Left allies, had nominated a candidate who supported Naxalism with a forum like the Supreme Court. Earlier, Radhakrishnan filed his nomination papers on August 20, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accompanying him during the paper-filing process. The nomination was filed in four sets, each carrying the signatures of 20 proposers and 20 seconders. PM Modi was the chief proposer as he signed and submitted the first set of nomination papers, while the remaining sets bore signatures of other Union ministers and NDA leaders. In terms of numbers, the NDA nominee enjoys a comfortable lead over the INDIA bloc candidate, Justice Reddy. Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 MPs, while the Rajya Sabha has 233 MPs out of a total strength of 245. The BJP has 240 MPs in the Lower House and 102 MPs in the Upper House, and with support from the allies, the total strength of NDA reaches 421 298 and 128, respectively, in both Houses. On the other hand, the INDIA bloc parties have 235 Lok Sabha MPs and 77 Rajya Sabha MPs. Their combined strength comes to a total of 312, and if AAP extends support with 11 MPs, the total tally will reach 325. Shonda Rhimes doubts whether AI could replace the "human imagination". Shonda Rhimes has expressed her doubts about AI The 55-year-old TV producer acknowledges that AI is probably being used to scrape her scripts, but Shonda doesn't think the technology can replicate the imagination and creativity of a human. Shonda - who has enjoyed huge success with shows such as Bridgerton and Grey's Anatomy - told Sky News: "There's a danger of AI learning from my episodes, maybe it will learn to be better at what it does, but, most importantly, I don't think that there's any substitute for that germ of creativity that comes from a human imagination, I really don't." Shonda has also pushed back against suggestions that Bridgerton - which features a diverse cast - is pandering to "woke" culture. The producer explained: "The idea that I am writing the show looking like I look, that it wouldn't occur to me that there should be more people in the show who look like me, I feel like that's an obvious point. Why would I write something that doesn't include me in any way?" Earlier this month, Shonda explained that she sees Bridgerton as a "workplace drama". The acclaimed screenwriter - who serves as an executive producer on Bridgerton - rubbished the idea that the hit Netflix show is a conventional "romance" story. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV festival, Shonda explained: "I didn't see it as a romance. It was more of a workplace drama. "The women don't have power in other areas of their lives, the power is in how they marry, so it becomes a workplace. And that's where the drama is. "More importantly, I could see myself in them. If a black woman in 21st century America can see herself in regency England, it's a good story." The show is based on the book series of the same name by Julia Quinn, and Shonda recalled reading the books for the first time in a hotel room. She said: "I was sick, and in bed and I don't even like romance novels. "But I read it, and despite being ill, dragged myself out of bed and down to the nearest book shop to buy them all." The family of Ram Kumar Bind, the 20-year-old man arrested for trying to scale a wall of the Parliament, has appealed to the government seeking his release. Binds parents claimed that their son is not at fault and that the government should consider releasing him. Advertisement Speaking to reporters, Ram Kumar Binds father, Shiv Kumar Bind, said, My son and his brother Umesh worked in a factory in Surat, Gujarat. He added that Rams wife gave birth to a child just 12 days ago. Advertisement My son left Surat on Monday to return home; I dont know how he ended up in Delhi, the father of the accused said. #WATCH | Bhadohi, UP | Shiv Kumar, father of the accused, says, He went to Delhi from Surat and we were unaware of this. We have heard that he jumped (into the Parliament) in Delhi. We dont know what we will do now We heard that he is in police custody in Delhi. We dont know https://t.co/91jx17rGo7 pic.twitter.com/93P6ZWt0yq ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Rams mother, Samla Devi, told media persons that her son is a simple man. My son is innocent; the government should release him, she added. She further said, Ram is the sole support for the family. His elder brother is ill, and two younger brothers have an intellectual disability. Neither Ram nor his family has any prior criminal record. The Delhi Police is investigating the case, Bhadohi Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik said. The officer added that the police are investigating the matter along with the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU). Earlier on Friday morning, Ram Kumar Bind tried to scale a wall of the Parliament. However, he was caught by security personnel from the CISF and handed over to the Delhi Police, an official said. A senior officer said that Ram Kumar Bind appears to be mentally incoherent. Although multiple agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Delhi Polices Special Cell, are currently questioning Ram, his exact motive is yet to be ascertained. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased in the Hoshiarpur LPG tanker explosion. CM Mann paid condolences to the families of the two people killed in the mishap and announced free-of-cost treatment for the people injured. Advertisement Sharing an X post, the Chief Minister wrote, A major accident occurred late at night in the village of Mandiala in Hoshiarpur district due to the explosion of an LPG gas-filled tanker. It has been reported that some people tragically lost their lives in this incident, and several others are said to be injured. Advertisement We pray to the Almighty for the eternal peace of the departed souls and the speedy recovery of the injured. The Punjab government will provide financial assistance of 2 lakh rupees each to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident, and the treatment of the injured will be provided free of cost, the X post read. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal offered condolences to the families of the deceased. This accident that occurred in Mandialan village of Hoshiarpur is extremely tragic. My condolences are with the affected families, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Punjab government is providing all possible assistance to the affected families, Kejriwal wrote on X. Two people were killed after the LPG tanker and a pickup truck collision resulted in a massive explosion and fire in Punjabs Mandiala village in the Hoshiarpur district, an official confirmed. Civil Hospital Hoshiarpurs SMO Dr Kuldeep Singh told ANI, A total of 23 were injured and brought to the civil hospital last night, and there are two casualties. Seven patients are admitted to the Civil Hospital, and several have been referred to speciality hospitals. Patients are being given proper treatment. One of the deceased was brought dead to the hospital, while a victim, who was referred to a private hospital, died there later. An injured victim said that his neighbours helped him and his mother to get to the hospital as the ambulance service was unreachable on the call. We were in a panic. I was in my house when the fire reached it. No ambulance came for me, but the neighbours helped me and my mother. No ambulance service was picking up the call, the victim told ANI. He added, We thought a cylinder had blasted in our house, but when we looked out, it was fire all around, so something big would have exploded. My mother has also got some injuries, and my brother is fine now. BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday said that the participation of DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the Global Ayyappa Sangamam (Global Ayyappa Summit), being organized by the Pinarayi Vijayan government, is tantamount to insulting Hindus. Speaking to mediapersons in Thrissur, Chandrasekhar said the Global Ayyappa Summit, being conducted under the leadership of the Pinarayi Vijayan government, which he accused of attempting to undermine Ayyappa devotees and the beliefs of Sabarimalawas nothing but a farce. Advertisement The CPI(M) and the Pinarayi Vijayan government are organizing the Ayyappa Sangamam with Stalin as the chief guest. I dont know whether to laugh or cry. Comrade Stalin, along with his son and political successor Udhayanidhi Stalin, has been openly insulting Hindus and Sanatana Dharma for years to please their vote bank. Now, such people are organizing a gathering of Ayyappa devotees with assembly elections around the corner, Chandrasekhar said. Advertisement Calling the move ironic, the BJP Kerala chief said it was laughable that CPI(M) and DMK, both constituents of the INDIA alliance, were organizing an event connected to Sabarimala. Scoffing at the initiative, Chandrasekhar compared it to Hitler standing up for the Jews, Rahul Gandhi telling the truth, Osama bin Laden becoming an apostle of peace, Hamas and Jamaat-e-Islami respecting non-believers, and the Congress abandoning corruption. He further alleged: The Global Ayyappa Summit is a cruel joke. Pinarayi Vijayans government has insulted Sabarimala rituals and devotees for years and imprisoned many. People have not forgotten what the Left government did in Sabarimala. The CPI(M)-led LDF government, in collaboration with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), is organizing the International Ayyappa Sangamama global congregation of Ayyappa devoteeson September 20, 2025, at Pampa, the base of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. The event, part of TDBs platinum jubilee celebrations, aims to showcase Sabarimalas cultural heritage to the world by bringing together spiritual leaders, scholars, devotees, and cultural representatives from various countries. The state had earlier witnessed violent protests after the LDF government implemented the 2018 Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to offer prayers at the shrine. Chandrasekhar also demanded the resignation of Congress MLA Rahul Mangkootathil, who is facing allegations of inappropriate behavior towards women. Such issues are in the DNA of the Congress. The people of Palakkad deserve an MLA who is not a predator. If Rahul Mangkootathil does not resign, the BJP will do what it has to do, he warned. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case in Karnataka has arrested the masked complainant who had made shocking allegations that he was forced to bury and cremate hundreds of unidentified bodies including some of those who bore the marks of sexual assault. The SIT team led by Pranab Mohanty questioned the complainant, a former sanitation worker, till late Friday night after which he was formally arrested. Advertisement The complainant had alleged that he was forced to bury several bodies of girls and minors between 1995 and 2014 at the Dharmasthala temple. In his complaint, he also claimed that some of the bodies had signs of rape. Advertisement The arrest came after a woman from Mandya claimed to be the first wife of the masked complainant and accused him of making false allegations for money. He always lied and used to assault and cheat me. We lived in Dharmasthala for seven years, where he worked cleaning and washing bathrooms. My mother raised our children because he never took responsibility. He never mentioned anything about burying hundreds of bodies, she told reporters on Friday. The woman further added, I recognized him immediately when I saw him on television, just by his physical appearance. He is tarnishing the image of the temple, and nothing good will come of it. The mass burial case had rocked Karnataka with the Opposition BJP accusing the Siddaramaiah government of deliberately allowing the propaganda against the temple. The saffron party had also questioned the need for the SIT investigation. However, the Congress government had stated that the BJP didnt oppose when the SIT was formed. After the complainants arrest, Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said that the Siddaramaiah government took action against the misinformation under the BJP pressure. As a result of raising our voices in the assembly against the SIT investigation in Dharmasthala and the misinformation campaigns, the government has bowed down, taken action against the misinformation, and assured that the investigation will be conducted in a transparent manner, he said. To mark the second National Space Day on Saturday, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised the importance of technology and science in agriculture. Through space science, we are bringing change in India and the world. We all know how important technology and science are in agriculture and we must take it further, the minister said in his virtual address to a programme themed Research and Development in Space Technology for Agricultural Transformation. Advertisement It was held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Pusa, in the national capital. Advertisement Terming scientists the modern sages, he said new developments in the field have transformed the lives of the farmers. We have ensured food security for the people. We have achieved record food grain production, and space science has made an incomparable contribution. Space applications are now central to agriculture from crop yield estimation, cropping systems, wheat, rice, mustard, cotton, sugarcane production, acreage assessments, to weather information space technology plays a key role, the minister was quoted as saying in an official release. Chouhan said that earlier, weather forecasts relied on folklore and assumptions, but today ISROs GeoPortal provides nearly accurate information on rainfall, drought, and weather. Farmers now plan their farming based on this. The portal also gives information on soil moisture, integrates crop health data, and provides precise information, the minister added. Chouhan also noted that technologies have been developed to detect pests from photos uploaded by farmers, and for real-time wheat monitoring, sowing, and harvesting area estimation. He also emphasised that space science aids in timely warnings during rising temperatures, storms, or droughts, helping in disaster management and crop protection. Information must reach farmers directly, and awareness-building is vital, he observed. The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan was launched precisely to bring scientific achievements in agriculture directly to farmers. Our current challenge is to provide farmers with real-time information, so they can benefit in their farming decisions. I have complete faith in our scientists capabilities, he said. Farmers, during the campaign, raised several practical demands, including a request for devices to detect fake fertilisers and pesticides, and to identify their contents. This is a serious issue as farmers are suffering losses. In soybean fields, pesticide use has burned crops. I urge scientists to work with urgency on this, he added. Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has issued notices to the dissident BRS MLAs who defected to the Congress. The move follows the Supreme Courts directive to the Speaker to act on the disqualification petitions that had been pending for over a year. On Friday, notices were sent to five of the 10 MLAs who had joined the Congress after winning their seats on a BRS ticket. Last month, the Supreme Court directed the Speaker to decide within three months on the disqualification petitions filed under the Anti-Defection Act against the 10 BRS legislators who switched sides. Advertisement Following the courts order, the Speaker consulted the Advocate General and senior lawyers before issuing the notices. The Opposition BRS has sought the disqualification of ten MLAs, including Kadiyam Srihari, Danam Nagender, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Sanjay Kumar, Tellam Venkat Rao, Arekapudi Gandhi, Kale Yadaya, Prakash Goud, Krishnamohan Reddy, and Mahipal Reddy. The Speaker is expected to take a final decision after serving notices to all of them. Advertisement The defected MLAs are likely to deny that they have formally joined the ruling party. However, Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender finds himself in a particularly unenviable position, as he contested the recent Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket without resigning as a BRS legislator. Meanwhile, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has asked his party workers to gear up for elections in the wake of the Supreme Courts ruling. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S Jaishankar on Saturday said that no US President has conducted foreign policy as publicly as Donald Trump, calling it a major departure from the traditional orthodox approach. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, EAM Jaishankar said, Weve not had a US President whos conducted foreign policy as publicly as the current one. That itself is a departure thats not limited to India. President Trumps way of dealing with the world, even dealing with his own country, is a very major departure from the traditional orthodox manner of doing so. Advertisement The EAM also took a jibe at the US and the Europe over the imposition of tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, saying nobody has forced anyone to buy oil or refined products from India. Advertisement Its funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, dont buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you dont like it, dont buy it, he said. #WATCH | Delhi: At The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, Its funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, dont pic.twitter.com/rXW9kCcVuv ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 He also stated that negotiations between the US and India for a trade deal are still going but farmers and that India has drawn red lines concerning the interests of famers and to some extent small producers. Trump had imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for purchasing Russian Federation oil, accusing New Delhi of sponsoring Russias war in Ukraine. The additional 25 per cent tariff will come into effect on August 27. Speaking about the issue of Trumps claim that he stopped India and Pakistan conflict, Jaishankar stated the government is very clear that India will never accept any third party mediation in its relations with Pakistan. On the issue of mediating (India-Pak conflict), since 1970s, for more than 50 years now, theres a national consensus in this country that we do not accept mediation in our relations with Pakistan. When it comes to the trade, the interests of farmers, when it comes to our strategic autonomy, when it comes to opposition to mediation, this government is very clear. Our positions are there, he stated. He further asserted that they (NDA government) will maintain this policy at all costs. If anybody disagrees with us, please tell the people of India that you are not prepared to defend the interests of farmers. Please tell the people of India you dont value strategic autonomy. We do. We will do whatever we have to do to maintain it, he added. His remarks came amid a strain in India-US ties over Trumps ceasefire claim and imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports to the US, highest among the countrys major trade partners. Ayurvedic routines for peaceful sleep: In todays world, where stress and long working hours have become normal, many people struggle to sleep well. Some lie awake for hours staring at the ceiling, some wake up again and again during the night, and others get up in the morning still feeling tired. Doctors call this problem insomnia, but Ayurveda sees it as an imbalance of the body and mind. Advertisement For Ayurveda, good sleep is as important as food and exercise. Without deep rest, no amount of healthy eating or physical activity can give true wellness. This is why Ayurveda calls sleep, or Nidra, one of the three main pillars of health. Advertisement Interestingly, many of these old teachings are now being supported by science, and brands like Patanjali have made Ayurvedic products and remedies available in a way that fits easily into our modern lives. Why is sleep so important? When we sleep, the body does more than rest. It repairs itself from within. Muscles heal, tissues grow, hormones are balanced, and the mind processes memories and emotions. This is why a person feels fresh and full of energy after good sleep. On the other hand, lack of sleep makes people dull, anxious, irritable, and even more prone to illness. Ayurvedic teachings clearly say that a healthy lifestyle is not possible without proper sleep. Just like food nourishes the body, sleep nourishes the mind. It is the time when the body and brain reset themselves. If we disturb this natural cycle, diseases begin to appear. Why people cannot sleep Modern habits often disturb natural sleep. Stress and anxiety are common reasons. Long hours on mobile phones and laptops late at night confuse the brain and keep it active when it should be winding down. Eating heavy meals late in the evening puts pressure on digestion and keeps the body restless. Too much tea, coffee, or sugary drinks also make it hard to relax. Another big reason is the lack of routine. Going to bed at different times every day confuses the bodys natural rhythm, which Ayurveda calls the biological clock. What ayurveda teaches about sleep Ayurveda explains that sleeplessness is caused by imbalance in the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Excess Vata leads to restlessness and constant thinking, which makes the mind race at night. And, excess Pitta brings irritation, heat in the body, and frequent waking. Excess Kapha sometimes creates too much sleep, but the person still wakes up feeling heavy and tired. By balancing these doshas, sleep can improve naturally. This balance comes from daily routines, calming practices, proper food, and herbal remedies. Unlike sleeping pills, which only force the body to shut down, Ayurveda offers ways to relax the mind and body so that sleep comes naturally. Ayurvedic night rituals for sleep One of the most effective practices is Abhyanga, or oil massage. Massaging the body, especially the feet, with warm sesame oil or herbal oil relaxes the nerves and muscles. It sends a signal to the body that it is time to rest. Patanjali offers oils such as Badam Rogan oil, which is traditionally used for calming the mind and improving sleep when applied gently on the scalp or feet. Another simple ritual is drinking warm milk with a little nutmeg or turmeric before bed. Ayurveda says this soothes the digestive system and cools the mind. Patanjalis turmeric milk mix and cows ghee can be used for this purpose. Ghee in small amounts at night is considered very good for calming excess Pitta and supporting deep rest. Sipping herbal tea is also a natural way to prepare the body for sleep. Patanjalis herbal teas with chamomile, tulsi, or brahmi can calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety. These herbs are well known in Ayurveda for promoting relaxation and peaceful sleep. Creating the right environment Ayurveda believes that the environment of sleep is as important as the act of sleeping itself. A cool, clean, and dark bedroom allows the body to relax. Screens like phones and laptops should be kept away at least one hour before bedtime because the light from these devices tricks the brain into thinking it is still daytime. Lighting a small lamp with ghee or essential oils can create a soothing atmosphere. Reading a calming book or practicing slow breathing before sleep can help slow down the racing thoughts. Patanjalis incense sticks or dhoop can also be used to purify the air and bring a sense of peace in the room. Yoga and breathing for better sleep Ayurveda and yoga go hand in hand. Gentle yoga stretches before bed can release the tension stored in the body during the day. Simple postures like forward bends, legs up the wall, or childs pose relax the muscles and calm the mind. Breathing practices like Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing) and Bhramari (humming bee breath) are especially helpful. They slow down the heart rate, relax the nervous system, and prepare the mind for sleep. Baba Ramdev, the Patanjali stalwart, often recommends these practices for people struggling with insomnia. Natural remedies for deep rest Ayurveda also suggests certain herbs for better sleep. Brahmi is known for calming the mind, Ashwagandha reduces stress, and Jatamansi supports deep relaxation. Patanjali makes these herbs available in capsule, churna, and syrup form, making it easier for people today to use them safely. Unlike strong sleep pills, these ayurvedic herbs work gently and without harmful side effects. Applying a drop of warm oil in each nostril, a practice called Nasya, is another ancient method. It nourishes the brain and helps clear mental stress. Patanjali offers Anu Taila and other medicated oils that can be used for this purpose under guidance. The most important lesson from Ayurveda is balance. Good sleep does not come from a single herb or oil but from a balanced lifestyle. Eating light dinner, avoiding too much screen time, following a regular sleep schedule, and keeping the mind calm are all part of the solution. The wisdom of Ayurvedic teaching reminds us that sleep is not a luxury but a basic need. Without it, the body and mind cannot function well. Modern life has created habits that disturb this natural cycle, but with simple Ayurvedic routines, it is possible to restore balance. To sleep like a yogi is not about sleeping for long hours but about sleeping deeply and waking up refreshed. It is about creating harmony between body, mind, and environment. When this harmony is achieved, sleep becomes natural, and life becomes healthier and happier. The collapse of the Non Cooperation Movement was the beginning of the breakdown of the national consensus leading to the debate between composite nationalism and the two-nation theory. The Gandhian era will be remembered for its novelty and many other positive features including a realization that the Indian national movement cannot be restricted only to secure political freedom but must also bring about social and economic betterment of its people. It was during this era that a large number of women began to actively participate in the Gandhian programmes. Till 1927, the general consensus among the Congress leadership was to demand dominion status akin to the set-up that existed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Ambedkar accepted the demand of dominion status provided the depressed classes were protected. It was at the 1928 Calcutta session of the Congress session that Subhas Bose questioned this consensus and insisted on independence with no continued British connection. Nehru concurred with Subhas. Gandhi was still in favour of dominion status stating that it would be a grievous blunder to put independence against Dominion status or compare the two and suggest that Dominion status carries humiliation with it and that independence is something that is triumphant. Advertisement He took note of the attraction of leftist ideas among the younger leaders, the rise of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), and nominated Nehru to be the next president of the Congress in order to accommodate new ideas to maintain partys cohesion, still thinking that the young president with responsibility will mellow the youth and sober the youth and prepare them for the burden they must discharge. The Congress, the Muslim League and the liberals opposed the Simon Commission as it did not have a single Indian representative and did not mention grant of dominion status. Advertisement The 1928 Nehru report demanded dominion status and did not ask for complete independence. The Congress session held in Lahore 1929 under Nehrus presidency took the decision for Poorna Swaraj. The resolution was drafted and moved by Gandhi. It pointed out the ill effects of British rule on India. The entire nation joined in raising the Tricolour flag and singing patriotic songs with a pledge to work towards Indias emancipation. Gandhi urged people to maintain discipline, restraint and dignity, spinning, constructive work, service to Harijans, prohibition and Hindu Muslim unity. The first Independence Day observance was a splendid success though ominously the Muslims and Christians stayed away from the celebrations. Gandhi launched the salt satyagraha with a march on foot from Sabarmati ashram to Dandi on 12 March 1930 covering a journey of 240 miles (385km) approx. with a band of followers. He reached Dandi on 5 April and the following day, on 6 April picked handfuls of sand and produced salt, breaking the law (Tilak was the first to initiate a no tax campaign in Maharashtra in 1896-97). Subhas compared the Dandi march to Napoleons March to Paris after escaping from Elba (March-July 1815) and Mussolinis March to Rome (24 October 1922) arousing the entire countryside through which he [Gandhi] passed and it also gave him time to work up the feelings of the country as a whole. The Round Table Conference that followed discussed Indias future constitutional set-up. With no promise of even dominion status, the Congress had to climb down leading to disappointment among its members. Nehru was disheartened and on the brink of rebellion. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on 5 March 1931 and the civil disobedience movement was suspended. The execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev radicalised events. The Congress adopted in its Karachi session held from 26 to 31 March a resolution on Fundamental rights and an economic programme. Gandhis epic fast in response to the Communal Award announced by Ramsay MacDonald and the Poona Pact that followed gave the depressed classes reservations rather than separate electorates thus preventing the permanent division of Hindu society. An untouchability abolition week was observed from 27 September to 2 October 1932. Tagore presided over public demonstrations for reform. Gandhi worked out details of banishing untouchability. The Government of India Act of 1935 did not promise dominion status. After Subhas became president of the Congress in 1939, he was of the view that the time was ripe for a frontal attack on the British for gaining freedom which Gandhi rejected. In the summer of 1940 Linlithgow offered self-governing dominion status after the Second World War which Gandhi felt was too little too late. The 1940 Lahore Resolution ended the possibility of a united nation. It became very clear that the veto depended not on the Indian nationalists but on imperial Britain which was bent on dividing a nation. Gandhi did not have the force to compel either the British or the League to accept his view but it is certain that even if he had that he would not have used force. He considered partition as a parting of brothers. He remained steadfast and did not waver and even after partition expressed a desire to visit Pakistan. It is a classic example of two rights. Gandhi left the negotiations to younger leaders, Nehru, Patel and Azad and his role became more like a prophet not to be visible in the corridors of power. He concentrated his energies on quelling communal violence in Noakhali, Calcutta and Bihar. Mountbatten described him as the one-man army and his last great act was the fast that stopped communal violence in Delhi. The transfer of power alongside the sacrifices of revolutionary nationalists, acknowledging Subhas as the co-architect of Indias freedom, allowed India to move in a peaceful direction of constitution making and inaugurating a republic on 26 January 1950. This date was of crucial significance since after the 1929 Labore declaration of Purna Swaraj, 26 January was celebrated as Independence Day. The spirit of the age would have made India free either way which was subsequently captured in Macmillans phrase winds of change that he referred to in Pretoria, South Africa in 1960. It was also providential for India that the Labour party won the elections in Britain in 1945. Its leader, and Prime Minister Atlee who was sympathetic to Indias freedom supervised the transfer of power. As Wilson remarked later, if Churchill had won, Indian independence would have been delayed for a longer time and very likely would have been even bloodier (The writer is a retired Professor of Political Science, Jesus and Mary College) With Bihars Assembly elections drawing closer, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has launched a massive grassroots outreach campaign starting Saturday. The month-long initiative, titled the NDA Assembly Conference, will run until September 24 and aims to strengthen the alliances organisational presence across all 243 Assembly constituencies of the state. Advertisement The conferences will take place in seven phases, covering around 14 constituencies each day, and are designed to boost coordination and morale among party workers at the constituency level. Advertisement A total of 14 teams comprising senior leaders from the NDAs key constituent parties, primarily JD(U) and the BJP, have been formed to lead the campaign. Each team will consist of seven members and will be led by prominent political figures such as Sanjay Kumar Jha, Ashok Chaudhary, Vijay Chaudhary, Umesh Kushwaha, Shravan Kumar, Samrat Chaudhary, Nityanand Rai, and Ravi Shankar Prasad. Seven teams will be headed by JD(U) leaders while the remaining seven will be led by BJP representatives. The strategy marks a significant escalation in the NDAs poll preparations, as the alliance attempts to galvanise its cadre ahead of a high-stakes electoral battle. Insiders suggest that the NDA is eyeing a target of 225 seats in the upcoming elections. This extensive programme is part of the alliances broader strategy to mobilise party workers, build grassroots momentum, and ensure strong coordination across different organisational levels. A JD(U) spokesperson indicated that while earlier meetings were held at the district level, the focus has now shifted to Assembly constituencies to deepen local-level engagement. The leadership believes that workers are the backbone of the party, and energising them will be key to electoral success. The NDAs move comes at a time when the Opposition remains fragmented, sending a clear message of unity and purpose from the ruling alliance. The emphasis on joint participation from all NDA constituents, and the recurring slogan of bringing Nitish Kumar back as Chief Minister, reinforces the alliances intention to present a united front as the election countdown begins. The debate over security guarantees for Ukraine has shifted the spotlight from lofty summit declarations to the harder terrain of military commitments. Within days of the Alaska summit, Western leaders gathered in Washington to wrestle with the practicalities of protecting Kyiv without crossing their own red lines. What emerged is a blueprint that is ambitious in rhetoric, but still riddled with contradictions. The clearest of these contradictions lies in the very nature of the guarantees being promised. NATO membership, the most credible shield, remains off the table for now. Instead, a coalition of the willing ~ led by European powers has been tasked with devising arrangements that fall short of formal accession but still reassure Ukraine. This halfway house reflects a desire to deter Russia without triggering the obligations of collective defence. President Donald Trump has sought to thread that needle by ruling out American boots on the ground, while leaving open the prospect of US airpower as a backstop. That position shields him from domestic political blowback while preserving Washingtons role as indispensable arbiter. Advertisement Yet, it also raises the question of whether a security guarantee that stops at the air can ever be decisive. Deterrence requires credibility, and credibility often requires soldiers in harms way. It is here that European leaders have stepped forward. Figures like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have signalled a willingness to contemplate European deployments, at least in limited forms. That means there may well be Western boots on the ground in Ukraine, even if they are not American. Such a division of labour ~ European risks underwritten by US airpower offers a pragmatic compromise, but also threatens to sharpen transatlantic tensions. Advertisement The burden of ground combat would fall on Europe, while the ultimate military enabler, American air cover, could remain subject to political calculation in Washington. This arrangement underscores the fragile balance that the West is attempting to strike. Too little commitment, and Russia may calculate that its aggression can continue with impunity. Too much commitment, and the spectre of direct confrontation between nuclear powers becomes unavoidable. The coalition is thus walking a narrow line, trying to project firmness while avoiding escalation. But history shows that adversaries are quick to exploit ambiguity. That gap between rhetoric and reality is becoming more visible with each summit. The longer it persists, the more Moscow will test the limits of Western patience and resolve. Ukraine, for its part, remains caught in the gap between words and enforceable guarantees. Each new formula raises hopes yet stops short of binding commitments. As long as the West hesitates to anchor its promises in indisputable military presence, security guarantees risk remaining aspirational rather than operational. The coalition may be broad, but without clear anchors, its deterrent power is less than the sum of its parts. India today stands as the worlds second-largest supplier of seafarers, a source of both pride and livelihood for thousands of families across coastal states. Yet, behind this statistic lies a troubling paradox: Indian sailors also top the global list of those classified as abandoned at sea. This contradiction reflects deep structural flaws in international shipping and an equally worrying gap in Indias own regulatory and welfare framework. Abandonment, under the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006, occurs when ship-owners sever ties with their crew ~ refusing to pay wages, provide provisions, or ensure repatriation. For those trapped in such situations, the consequences are devastating. Crews are often left stranded for months, in some cases in conflict zones or near hostile shores, with limited food, dwindling fuel, and unpaid salaries that represent their families only financial hope. For families back home, each passing month without wages or news turns the uncertainty of the sea into a crisis of survival. A large part of the problem stems from the globalised and opaque character of the shipping industry. Advertisement Vessels frequently operate under flags of convenience ~ registrations in countries that impose minimal scrutiny and weak labour standards. This practice allows dubious owners to obscure accountability, even as they exploit the cheap and skilled labour of developing nations. It is telling that most abandoned ships in recent years sailed under such flags. But international opacity alone does not explain why Indian seafarers are disproportionately affected. Many Indian sailors borrow heavily or pay significant sums to recruitment agents to secure employment. For them, walking away from an abandoned ship without wages is financially ruinous. At the same time, Indias own maritime regulator, tasked with verifying owners, contracts, and placement agencies, has often been accused of lax oversight. Even when courts intervene to order settlements, wage recovery is frequently delayed or denied, compounding the distress of stranded crews. The moral and strategic case for reform is clear. Advertisement India benefits enormously from its reputation as a supplier of reliable maritime labour. But that reputation risks erosion if its seafarers remain the most vulnerable in the global fleet. The government must, therefore, enforce stricter scrutiny of recruitment agencies, establish fast-track mechanisms for wage recovery, and expand its diplomatic role in negotiating the safe repatriation of stranded crew. Equally, prospective sailors should be educated about the risks of opaque contracts and encouraged to report irregularities before signing employment papers. The seafaring profession has long been a bridge between India and the world, sustaining coastal economies and upholding the countrys global maritime presence. Protecting those who undertake this perilous work is not only a matter of labour rights but also of national credibility. Unless decisive steps are taken, India will continue to dominate an unenviable list ~ its sailors paying the heaviest price for an industry that thrives on invisibility. At least five people died when a tourist bus crashed on a highway in New York while returning from Niagara Falls. Reports say the bus, carrying 54 passengers, included tourists from India, as well as visitors from China and the Philippines. The accident occurred about 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of Buffalo as the group was traveling back to New York City. Authorities stated that the driver was distracted, causing the crash. Advertisement New York State Police Commander Major Andre Ray told AFP, Its believed the driver became distracted, lost control, over-corrected, and ended up over there. Advertisement Of the 54 passengers on board, five were killed, while the rest were not in life-threatening condition, Ray added. The bus had been on a day trip to Niagara Falls, near the CanadaUS border, before the accident occurred on a highway near Pembroke. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday announced that the United States has immediately stopped issuing visas for truck drivers, soon after a fatal crash raised anger within President Donald Trumps base. Effective immediately, we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers, Rubio wrote on X. The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers, he wrote. Senator Rubio acted after a truck driver was charged with killing three people in a Florida highway crash caused by an illegal U-turn. The driver, Harjinder Singh from India, allegedly entered the U.S. illegally through Mexico and failed an English test following the accident, according to federal officials. The case has drawn major media attention and turned political, with Florida officialsunder Trumps Republican leadershiphighlighting it prominently. On Thursday, the states lieutenant governor even flew to California with immigration agents to extradite Singh. The crash has become a flashpoint between Republicans and Democrats. Singh had obtained his commercial license and lived in California, a Democratic-run state opposed to Trumps immigration crackdown. The Trump administration blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for granting Singh a license. Newsoms office countered that Singhs work permit was issued by Trumps federal government, while California cooperated in extraditing him. Even before the incident, Republican lawmakers had targeted foreign truck drivers, pointing to rising crash numbers without offering proof of a direct link to immigrants. In June, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered that truck drivers must demonstrate English proficiency. U.S. commercial licenses already require basic English knowledge, including road signs. However, Obama-era 2016 guidancereversed by Duffyhad instructed authorities not to disqualify drivers solely for language barriers. US President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of longtime aide and trusted political strategist Sergio Gor to serve as the next United States Ambassador to India, as well as Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump praised Gors loyalty, organisational talent, and deep involvement in his political and governmental operations. I am pleased to announce that I am promoting Sergio Gor to be our next United States Ambassador to the Republic of India, and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, Trump wrote. Advertisement He continued, As Director of Presidential Personnel, Sergio and his team have hired nearly 4,000 America First Patriots across every Department of our Federal Government in RECORD time Our Departments and Agencies are over 95% filled! Sergio will remain in his current role at the White House until his confirmation. Advertisement Trump highlighted Gors wide-ranging contributions to his administration and campaign, saying, Sergio is a great friend who has been at my side for many years. He worked on my Historic Presidential Campaigns, published my Best Selling Books, and ran one of the biggest Super PACs, which supported our Movement. For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio! said Trump. Gor responded with gratitude in a post on X, writing, Beyond grateful to @realDonaldTrump for his incredible trust and confidence in nominating me to be his next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs! Nothing has made me prouder than to serve the American people through the GREAT work of this Administration! Our White House has achieved historic results in MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! It will be the honor of my life to represent the United States! The nomination drew praise from top Trump administration officials. Vice President JD Vance wrote, Sergio is a great guy and will make a fantastic ambassador for our country to India. So much of our success over the last few months was due to Sergios hard work. Im grateful to POTUS for giving him this new role. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in: I am excited about the Presidents decision to nominate @SergioGor to be our next Ambassador to India. He will be an excellent representative of America in one of the most important relationships our nation has in the world. FBI Director Kash Patel added his support, posting simply, Congrats @SergioGor, outstanding pick for Ambassador to India. The 38-year-old Gor quickly rose in conservative politics, becoming one of the most powerful, albeit low-profile, aides in the White House. His task was to vet around 4,000 appointees to ensure their utmost loyalty to Trump. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The postal department on Saturday announced that it will temporarily suspend all postal services to the United States from August 25 as 50 per cent tariffs levied by the Donald Trump administration comes into effect in a few days. The US on July 30 revoked the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued up to $800. The Department of Posts has decided to temporarily suspend booking of all types of postal articles, destined for the USA, with effect from 25th August, 2025, except letters/documents and gift items up to USD100 in value. These exempt categories will continue to be accepted and pic.twitter.com/sRt2NnmlEn ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 The postal department pointed out that all international postal items entering the US from August 29 onwards will be subject to customs duties. This is as per the country-specific International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) tariff framework, it noted. Is there an exemption? The department of posts clarified that gift items worth up to $100 will not attract any duties. The Ministry of Communications said these exempt categories will continue to be accepted but it would still be subject to further clarifications from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and United States Postal Service (USPS). Customers, who have already booked undeliverable items, have the option to seek a refund. The department assured customers that it is "closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all stakeholders, and every effort is being made to normalize services at the earliest possible opportunity." Though the duties will come to effect only on August 29, lack of clarity regarding the designation of "qualified parties" and the process of duty collection has prompted the air carriers bound for the US to inform Indian authorities that they could not accept consignments from August 25. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday warned US President Donald Trump about getting closer to Pakistan and reminded the US administration that Osama Bin Laden was found in Abbottabad. "They have a history with each other, and they have a history of overlooking their history. It is the same military that went into Abbottabad and found who there?" the minister said while speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum. #WATCH | Delhi: "They have a history with each other, and they have a history of overlooking their history... It is the same military that went into Abbottabad (in Pakistan) and found who there?..." says EAM Dr S Jaishankar on relations between US and Pakistan, at The Economic pic.twitter.com/wpYGfdLpbc ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Taking swipe at both US and Pakistan, Jaishankar asserted that India's foreign policy is dependent on long-temr confidence rather than short-term convenience. He pointed out that countries keep trying this or that when they are guided by the "politics of convenience". Discrediting Trump's claims, Jaishankar reiterated that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was not mediated by the US. He pointed out that India has a national consensus since the 1970s that there should be no mediation in India's bilateral ties with Pakistan. Clarifying about the calls from the US and other countries, Jaishankar said those were routine diplomatic communications. The minister's remarks came as India on Saturday paused postal services to the US as the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by Trump takes effect in the coming days. India is also continuing to procure Russian crude oil at a discounted rate despite objections from Trump. Jaishankar recently travelled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to enhance relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met Jaishankar in New Delhi with reports revealing that Beijing has lifted curbs on exports of rare earth minerals, fertilisers and tunnel boring machines to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to China's Tianjin city for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where he is expected to meet Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines. The Enforcement Directorate arrested Karnataka Congress MLA K.C. Veerendra Puppy in connection with an illegal online and offline betting racket. The arrest was made after the ED conducted a two-day raid across 32 locations in the country. The search operation uncovered 12 crore in cash, including 1 crore in foreign currency, from the location. They also seized gold valued at 6 crore, 10 kg of silver articles, and four high-end vehicles. Instagram posts surfaced that claimed that the MLA owned the biggest car collection in Chitradurga. The ownership of the cars is being investigated. 17 bank accounts and two bank lockers were also frozen under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Who is KC Veerendra Puppy? K.C. Veerendra, the 50-year-old legislator from Challakere Chitradurga, owns about 134 crore in assets according to myneta.info. He was an agriculturist by profession. He completed his B.Com in 1999 from the HPPC government First Grade College. He is also the son-in-law of Kannada film actor Doddanna. The investigation by the ED revealed a big betting network, including operations from Dubai and links to multiple casinos. The raids, conducted on August 22 and 23, spanned cities including Bengaluru, Hubli, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Goa, and Gangtok, with searches also targeting five well-known casinos, Big Daddy Casino, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppys Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino, and Puppys Casino Gold. He got the nickname puppy because he is associated with several casino games titled puppy. The Enforcement Directorate today arrested KC Veerendra, Karnataka's MLA from Chitradurga constituency, from Gangktok in connection with illegal online and offline betting case and recovered amount of approximately Rs 12 crore in cash, including approximately one crore in foreign pic.twitter.com/HXpF1auWlD ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 The ED, however, did not specify from where the cash and property were seized. He was accused of illegally transferring money to online gaming app companies. Apart from charges for running illegal betting racks, he has also racked up charges for public nuisance, bribery, and undue influence at elections. Veerendra is alleged to be running online betting sites like King 567, Raja 567, Puppies 003, Ratna Gaming, etc. His brother KC Thippeswamy is alleged to be running three business entities from Dubai: Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies and Prime 9 Technologies. The firms provide gaming-related call centre services for the betting operations. In 2016, Veerendra was arrested after investigators recovered 5.70 crore of new currency from his bathroom. On December 10 that year, the Income Tax department had also seized the amount along with 32kg of gold biscuits and jewellery and 90 lakh worth of old notes in Challakere. He was assisted by bank officials in the criminal conspiracy. Documents related to property and financial transactions were recovered from Veerendras brother, K C Nagarajs residence and from his Nephew, Pruthvi N Raji. Veerendra was arrested in Gangtok, Sikkim, where he was travelling with associates to explore the leasing of a land-based casino in the region. The ED said that both domestic and international players were involved in a complex layering of cash and funds. He has been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in an "illegal" online and offline betting case. His brother KC Thippeswamy and Pruthvi are also under the scanner for their role in managing the betting operations and facilitating online transfers. Confirming the arrest of the complainant in the controversial Dharmasthala case, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated that the government is not for or against any party and only wants justice to prevail. "We are neither for them (Dharmasthala) nor for them. We are for justice," the Deputy Chief Minister was quoted as saying by Kannada media on Saturday. "We are just saying, don't do politics on the issue of religion." ALSO READ | Dharmasthala mass burials: Woman who claimed daughter went missing admits she 'faked' disappearance Shivakumar added that the family in charge of the Dharmasthala shrine was supportive of the formation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations. He reiterated that the guilty would face consequences, regardless of their identity. "The family of the shrine came and spoke to the Chief Minister and said that it was a good thing that you formed the SIT. The investigation is underway. The Chief Minister and the Home Minister have stated in the House and in the CLP meeting that the government will take action no matter who is guilty," Prajavani quoted DKS as saying. Karnataka Home Minister says too early to reach any conclusion It is extremely disturbing to note that one masked man took the entire government machinery of the Karnataka State for granted for over a month, with the sole aim of denigrating one of the Pillars of Sanatana Dharma, the Dharmasthala Temple. This is not just one mans doing but a K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) August 23, 2025 Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday confirmed the arrest of the complainant, who had alleged multiple murders, rapes, and burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades. However, he cautioned that no conclusion could be drawn until the SIT completes its probe. He added that the SIT is likely to continue its investigation based on the statements given by the complainant. ALSO READ | 'YouTubers defaming Dharmasthala get funds from abroad': BJP MP Kota Srinivas Poojary urges Amit Shah to order ED probe "It is true that he has been arrested and is in police custody," Parameshwara told reporters when asked about the arrest and the grounds for it. "As the investigation is on, no information can be shared. The police (SIT) investigation is ongoing, and they have arrested him. The SIT will share the details." Whistleblower presented before court Meanwhile, the SIT presented the complainant, a witness in the case of alleged burial of bodies related to criminal acts in Dharmasthala village, before the Belthangady court. The witness had claimed to have dug up and buried a body himself, and he produced a skull, which he claimed was from the same. However, during interrogation, he refused to reveal to the SIT where the skull was taken from. Investigators questioned him until late on Friday night regarding this matter. After he admitted to lying, the SIT authorities took him into custody. On Saturday morning, he was taken for a medical examination and then produced in court. The SIT had previously dug up and conducted searches at 17 of the 18 places indicated by the witness-complainant in Dharmasthala village. The remains of a dead body were found in one of the dug-up places, and on the ground at another. The SIT has sent these remains to a forensic laboratory for analysis. The complainant, a former sanitation worker, claimed that he worked in Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014 and was forced to bury several bodies, including those of women and minors. He alleged that some of the bodies bore signs of sexual assault and had previously recorded a statement before a magistrate. The Mahagathbandhan supporters are enthusiastic about the new poll plank marked out by the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhithe vote chori claims. The hardcore supporters of the opposition think the new narrative can sink the NDA ship and bring back the government of RJD led alliance in Bihar after 20 years. According to analysts, the narrative has created a stir as people believe the independent body election commission of India is aligning with the BJP to win the elections. And are trumping the rights of their right to chose government. VIDEO | Voter Adhikar Yatra: In Bhagalpur, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) says, "Will you be changing the government of the dishonest? PM Modi doesn't have answers to the questions of Rahul Gandhi. Vote theft has been happening continuously, they want to do the same pic.twitter.com/FJmNMvLrOr Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 22, 2025 The Voter Adhikar Yatra, launched jointly by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJDs Tejashwi Yadav, is more than just a political rally. It has begun to reframe the battle for Bihar, giving the Mahagathbandhan a sharper edge against the ruling NDA. The narrative came up when Rahul Gandhi presented hard data to show how there have been disproportionate addition of votes in several places by pointing out a representative assembly constituency in Karnataka where more than 1 lakh voters were seen unlawfully added. At its core, the campaign claims that the system of manipulating electoral rolls has been extended under the SIR (Systematic Investigation of Roll) exercise and disenfranchising large chunks of marginalised voters. By branding this as well vote theft, the opposition has struck a chord with communities that already feel excluded as their relatives, friends or family members have not been registered in the new voter list. Katihar, Bihar: During the Voter Adhikar Yatra, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "For the past few days, you have put in your full strength, supported us, and together we are protecting the Constitution, the right to vote, and our future. The ideas in this Constitution are rooted pic.twitter.com/KXNANvo5O3 IANS (@ians_india) August 23, 2025 An RJD MP from Buxar Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar says that there are more than one lakh voters than have been removed from the new list of electoral rolls. For the Mahagathbandhan, this is not just an electoral complaint, it seems to have become a moral crusade. Political observers note that agenda-setting from the leader of the opposition has given edge to the opposition as they seem to have won half the battle in according to the standards of Indian politics where narrative reigns centrepiece of electoral battles. Rahul Gandhi, often accused of being late to frame issues, appears to have now seized the initiative. By calling the fight one of democracy versus manipulation, he has forced BJP onto the backfoot. Instead of defending its welfare schemes or invoking Hindutva, the NDA now finds itself having to answer the barrage of questions raised by opposition. This isnt about caste arithmetic or alliances anymore. Its about whether your vote counts, said a senior Congress leader. That simply makes it a potent narrative. The Yatra, according to political observers, has been carefully designed to connect with SCs, STs, OBCs, and Muslims, groups who feel their names are struck off disproportionately from electoral rolls. By invoking the Constitution and Ambedkar, Rahul and Tejashwi have cast the issue as one of fundamental right that is at stake because of the compromised electoral system. Moreover, for the first time, the duo is not just appearing together but sustaining a joint campaign. Their chemistry on stage, Rahul providing the national heft and Tejashwi the local fire, has projected a united opposition front in Bihar. This is in contrast with the NDA, where its primary chief in Bihar Nitish Kumars has repeatedly shifted his allegiance which has eroded his credibility. Also, the BJP lacks a charismatic state leader to match Tejashwis energy on the ground. There is unlikely to be any let-up in the weather in Chamoli after the cloudburst over Tharali today. The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Meteorological Centre in Dehradun has issued a detailed 7-day district-level weather forecast and warnings for the August 23-29 period. It indicates widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms across most places in the state (including Chamoli), with specific warnings for heavy to very heavy rain and associated risks on certain days. For the Chamoli district, the forecast predicts light to moderate rain or thundershowers on August 23, 24, and 25, likely to occur at most places. #WATCH | Uttarakhand | Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari reached Tharali and did a field inspection. He also met the disaster-affected people in Tharali. Source: District Administration pic.twitter.com/VoR2iPFBSF ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 From August 26 onwards, the rain is expected mainly in the Garhwal division districts (including Chamoli) with variable distribution until August 29, after which many places in the district may experience showers. Accompanying these rains, district-level warnings highlight heavy to very heavy rain and thunderstorms with lightning on August 23, 24, and 25 in Chamoli. These severe weather events are forecast as very intense to extremely intense spells of rain intermittently striking the district. Moderate to very intense rain is also expected during this period in Chamolis neighbouring districts. From August 26 to 29, the warnings continue with heavy rain likely at isolated places in Chamoli, alongside intermittent thunderstorms with lightning, and spells of rain described as "intense to very intense". The weather centre has also advised that these conditions could lead to localised heavy downpours and adverse weather events. The district-level impact assessment for Chamoli includes a range of possible hazards due to heavy rains and thunderstorms. The risks involve minor landslides and rockfalls in vulnerable and sensitive areas, blocking or washing out roads, highways, bridges, and link roads, which may disrupt transportation. Waterlogging is possible in low-lying areas. Lightning strikes pose a threat to life and property, necessitating caution. Specific advisories for residents and authorities in Chamoli emphasise prudence and preparedness. People living near rivulets, streams, and in landslide-prone or vulnerable zones are strongly advised to remain alert and take safety precautions. It is recommended to avoid travel during intense rain and thunderstorm periods unless necessary and to remain indoors during heavy rains or flash floods. Travellers, including pilgrims and touristsespecially those visiting Char Dham or other locationsmust exercise caution, monitor weather updates regularly through media and social channels, and heed safety advice. Lightning safety is strongly emphasised: seeking shelter in safe places, avoiding taking refuge under trees, properly sheltering animals during storms, and steering clear of all conductive objects is advised. Farmers are urged to protect crops and stored produce, which may sustain minor damage due to excessive water. All harvested produce should be kept in safe, dry places. Authorities are advised to be vigilant and take preventive actions to ensure public safety and smooth transportation. This includes managing dams, barrages, reservoirs, and hydroelectric power plants effectively to avoid sudden water releases. Construction activities like houses, bridges, tunnels, and roads may be halted during the period of heavy rainfall to prevent accidents or damage. The forecast warns that heavy to very heavy rain coupled with intense thunderstorm activity could cause moderate rises in water levels of major rivers and tributaries in Chamoli, increasing the risk of flash floods. Rapid runoff from mountainous and steep terrains is likely to cause sudden water surges in rivulets and streams. Flash flooding and inundation of low-lying areas are also possible in the district. Potential disruptions to infrastructure and services include the risk of power outages and water supply interruptions at isolated places. Communication and transportation networks such as railways, highways, and air operations could be affected, particularly flights and helicopter services that operate to and from remote helipads in the region. The advisory further advises mountaineering expeditions to be halted and expedition members to relocate to safer areas during the forecasted severe weather. Vulnerable communities must avoid travelling in risky conditions, especially on steep slopes and landslide-prone zones. Residents and authorities in Chamoli are urged to stay indoors during heavy rainfall and flash flooding events, avoid crossing landslide-affected or flooded areas, and follow all government and meteorological updates closely. The use of social and local media is strongly encouraged for timely information. Military and paramilitary posts in remote and vulnerable locations within the district should maintain heightened alertness due to the increased risk of landslides and flash floods. Lastly, the advisory also includes reminders to farmers to ensure effective drainage of excess water from agricultural fields to minimise crop damage. Continuous heavy rainfall may necessitate coordinated action to safeguard agricultural productivity. US President Donald Trump may not yet win a Nobel Peace Prize for ending the Ukraine war, but perhaps he could apply afresh for making two other arch-rivals suddenly join hands. Yes, India and China have seen a sudden thaw in their ongoing cold war for the last several years due to mitigating circumstances emanating from halfway across the world in Washington, DC. The US Presidents antagonism towards India, manifesting in a spate of tariffs and penalties on India, has inadvertently sparked off Beijing and New Delhi to turn to each other, even if it is yet to be a full-blown embrace. Because India is yet to forget what a pincer grip of an embrace it can be. History is the best teacher, right from how Hindi-Chini bhai bhai gung-ho of Nehruvian idealism crash, boom, banged on the slopes of the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh and across the borders in 1962, and how even later, Chinese troops were gulping down territory in Ladakh even as PM Modi hosted Chinese supremo Xi Jinping with good intentions. And less said about how the Peoples Republic turned the recent India-Pakistan skirmish into a test and trial run for the new armaments it supplied Islamabad, the better. India-China trade is like walking a tightrope the promise of lower costs and smoother supply chains pulls from one side, while the risk of dependency leaves the economy exposed if ties sour, pointed out Chandrika Raghavenra, assistant professor economics & international business at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai. Of course, one way of looking at it is as a new-age adaptation of that eternal Sun Tzus Art of War saying enemy of my enemy is my friend. India-China twain only meets at the intersection of an intense displeasure with a common enemy, in this case, Trumps America. Yet, for India, the current zeitgeist, after being left at the trade deal altar by the Americans, would be to play shy after getting bitten, but also play smart at it. Strategic autonomy is the operative word, with oodles of references to Indias pre-Cold War stance of Non-Alignment. Of course, half the play is still aimed at the audience on Capitol Hill and Pennsylvania Avenue, as Indias sudden overtures to not just China, but Russia and even Brazil, can be viewed from the prism of negotiations that may have stalled, but will never really end. If Washington is threatening India with 50 per cent tariffs, and even doubling it as Trumps trade advisor Navarro said overnight, or even if you look at the recurring threats on anything from H1B visas to tariffs on pharma and electronics, India could just be countering them with its own play-the-field playbook of cosying up to Washingtons rivals. But what makes this power play different is that it is not just about diplomacy or geostrategy, but about real world trade, with its own real implications on economy, growth and the future. India finds itself caught between the devil and the deep sea, so the question is whether it will go for a devlish embrace or take the plunge into that deep sea it needs the trade with the US that, in the long run, contributes at least a few percentage points to the GDP directly and indirectly, while it has a 100 billion dollar umbilical cord with China on trade and manufacturing that is hard to cut off. Indias trade-related outreach to China is as much a political issue as it is an economic one, said Munish Sahrawat, president & dean of the Himachal Pradesh-based Shoolini Business School, While cheaper Chinese imports can ease pressure on key industries, they also deepen Indias trade deficit and expose critical supply chains to a rival. What is the way out? For India, the immediate best-case scenario might just be to use the situation to improve its bilateral relations with China, indicating to the US that it will not cave under pressure, even while working the backchannels, perhaps, to work out a trade deal. Meanwhile, the last few months of trade mayhem has clearly shown New Delhi the writing on the wall it is yet to fully internalise not only that you need to NOT put all your eggs in one basket, but perhaps, you need to use this crisis to finally bite the bullet of further reforms domestically. The question is, can Modi afford to, either which way. The internal bickering in Keralas Congress party, triggered by the resignation of MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from the post of Youth Congress state president, continues unabated. On one hand, there is no consensus on who should succeed him as Youth Congress president, while on the other, the party remains divided on whether he should also be asked to step down as MLA, given the gravity of the misconduct allegations. Though no police complaint has yet been filed against the young legislator, he faces accusations of sending obscene and sexually suggestive messages, harassment, and pressuring a woman to undergo an abortion. One section of the Youth Congress argues that vice president Abin Varkeywho came second to Rahul in the Youth Congress presidential electionshould naturally take over. Varkey also enjoys the strong backing of senior leaders such as Ramesh Chennithala. However, Youth Congress election guidelines do not stipulate that the runner-up automatically becomes president if the incumbent resigns. "How much time do you think I will need if I decide to kill you?" #RAHULMAMKOOTATHIL was heard sighing as the woman asks if he thinks he can go scot-free after killing her? #Kerala #Congresshttps://t.co/2ZYq7i14orhttps://t.co/2ZYq7i14or THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) August 23, 2025 Another name being put forward, especially by those aligned with K.C. Venugopal, is that of Binu Chulliyil, recently appointed as national secretary. Meanwhile, the A group has proposed J.S. Akhil, K.M. Abhijith, and Jinshad Jinnas as contenders. Abhijith, a former KSU state president, has so far not been accommodated in leadership positions in Youth Congress, sparking tensions earlier this month when national office-bearers from Kerala were announced and his name was left out. Allegations soon followed that Mamkootathil and his mentor, Shafi Parambil, had a role in sidelining him. Notably, four MPs have now moved to recommend Abhijith for the Youth Congress state presidents post. If the party decides that the Youth Congress should be led by a woman, vice president Aritha Babu may be considered. Akhil, Binu, and Abhijith are not members of the current state committee, and Varkey and his supporters have already expressed strong resistance to appointing anyone who has not come through the electoral process. The AICC leadership has so far refrained from issuing any directive on the matter. Notably, the remarks by Opposition Leader V.D. Satheeshanwho had long backed the Youth Brigade and leaders such as Shafi Parambil and Rahul Mamkootathil on Saturday suggest that pressure is mounting within the state leadership to also consider asking Rahul to step down as MLA. "We will seriously examine the complaint against Rahul Mamkootathil and take uncompromising action. As the first step, he resigned from the Youth Congress presidents post within 24 hours, even though no formal complaint had been received. As per procedure, the party will investigate the matter. Those making a hue and cry now would do well to introspect on what they themselves have done in similar situations, Satheeshan said. He further added that those marching to his residence alleging he shielded Mamkootathil should instead head to Cliff House, the chief ministers official residence. It is the chief minister who has protected the highest number of accused persons. I have not protected anyone. I have already made it clear that strict action will be taken without compromise, he said. Interestingly, Shafi Parambilwho had refrained from publicly responding to the controversy for several days despite mounting allegations and demands for clarificationbroke his silence today. He echoed Rahuls claim that there was no direct complaint against him and stressed that Rahul had already stepped down as Youth Congress president. Shafi rejected accusations of evasion and countered that those criticising him should first look within their own parties. Party sources note that, in the current setup, both the Youth Congress and KSU were firmly under Shafis grip, and Rahuls exit is seen as a major setback for him as well. Others point out that although Satheeshan had once openly backed leaders like Shafi and Rahul, their political relationship has soured in recent months, particularly after the Nilambur by-election. Incidentally, some within the Congressincluding some senior leadersare privately expressing satisfaction over Mamkootathils downfall and the weakening of Shafi Parambil. At multiple recent district-level Youth Congress meetings, members criticised Rahuls autocratic and undemocratic style, accusing him of abandoning organisational duties after becoming an MLA and of stifling dissent within the party. The issue also flared up publicly at the Manorama News Conclave, where KPCC president Sunny Joseph and CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan sparred over the controversy. Joseph insisted that Rahuls resignation as Youth Congress president was a matter of moral responsibility, highlighting that he stepped down even without an FIR being filed. He argued that the decision had boosted Congresss moral standing and confidence ahead of elections. Govindan, however, countered that the allegations were not baseless and claimed there was clear evidence of wrongdoing. He criticised the Congress for elevating Rahul to the posts of Youth Congress president and MLA despite being aware of the allegations and alleged that Satheeshan himself had long known of the issues but failed to act. If Mamkootathil is eventually asked to resign as MLA as well, the Congress leadership would be setting a precedent that would place the CPI(M) in a difficult position. The Left party has not asked Kollam MLA M. Mukesh to step down despite a rape case being registered against him. The case was registered in August 2024 following allegations by a female actor that M. Mukesh sexually assaulted her in 2010, promising her membership in the Malayalam actors bodyAMMA. At the time, Govindan had argued that an MLA should not resign merely because of a registered case, pointing out that numerous legislators across India face similar charges. He insisted that forcing Mukesh to quit before a court verdict would amount to denial of justice. So far, the Congress has justified allowing Mamkootathil to remain as MLA by citing the CPI(M)s stance in the Mukesh case. But if Rahul is forced to step down, it will likely mark at least a temporary end to his political career. For the state Congress leadership, however, it would be a powerful comebackclaiming the moral high ground, strengthening the authority of Satheeshan and the KPCC president, and giving them greater leverage in resolving the internal tussle over who should succeed Mamkootathil as Youth Congress state president. Two people went missing while several houses were damaged after a cloudburst and flashfloods hit Tharali town in Uttarakhands Chamoli district on Friday night. According to officials, debris entered several houses and the market area after a rain drain gave in. The Tharali-Gwaldam road and the Tharali-Sagwara road have been closed for traffic. #WATCH | Uttarakhand: Due to a cloudburst in Tharali of Chamoli district, debris has entered houses, the market, and the SDM's residence. District Magistrate and relief teams have left for the spot. Two people are reported missing: Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod pic.twitter.com/V2aesFekFf ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 A 20-year-old woman, identified as Kavitha, was reportedly buried under the debris in Sagwara village, the Chamoli district administration said. The other person, Joshi, was missing from the Chepdon market area. "A lot of debris has come due to the cloudburst, due to which many houses, including the SDM residence, have been completely damaged," Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said. #WATCH | Uttarakhand: There is a possibility of a lot of damage due to the cloud burst in Tharali tehsil of Chamoli last night. A lot of debris has come due to the cloudburst, due to which many houses, including the SDM residence, have been completely damaged: Chamoli DM, Sandeep pic.twitter.com/3kGNYRSMdG ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Schools remained shut in three development blocks as a flood-like situation persists in the region. "NDRF and SDRF teams moved to the spot last night. The road has been blocked due to the floods, and people are facing a lot of problems. The administration is engaged in relief work. Apart from this, we have set up relief camps," Additional District Magistrate Vivek Prakash told news agency ANI. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he is in contact with the district administration regarding the rescue and relief operations. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone's safety," CM Dhami posted on X. The incident comes days after a cloudburst over the upper Kheer Ganga (Kheer Gad) catchment triggered a debris-laden flash flood that devastated Dharali and the adjoining Harsil area of Uttarkashi, causing widespread destruction on August 5. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation's (LMC) long-running Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme has emerged as a national benchmark for humane and effective stray dog management. This recognition from the Supreme Courts directives on stray animal control cites Lucknows method as a model to be replicated across India. The Supreme Court in August 2025 issued an order to remove all stray dogs from public spaces in Delhi-NCR. The move sparked nationwide protests by animal rights activists and concerns about the ethics and logistics of such removals. In a subsequent hearing on August 22, 2025, the apex court modified its stance to endorse an approach involving the sterilisation, vaccination, and release of stray dogs back to their original territories. This, in a nutshell, is Lucknows ABC program. The programme is based on a capture, sterilise, vaccinate, and release model hailed as humane, scientifically grounded, and effective. The apex court directed municipalities nationwide to create dedicated feeding zones and helplines for strays, both of which have been integral to Lucknows approach for years. It also expanded the scope of the case to all states and union territories with the intention of creating a uniform pan-India policy for stray dog population management. The success of the program Launched in 2019, Lucknows ABC programme has achieved remarkable success. Through a partnership with NGOs like Humane World for Animals India, the LMC has sterilised and vaccinated over 84.3 per cent of the citys stray dogs. The coverage surpassed the World Health Organisations 70 per cent benchmark necessary for effective rabies control. According to civic officials, since the programmes inception, the stray dog birth rate has nearly halved, dropping from eight newborns per 100 dogs in 2019 to under four in 2025. This indicated a significant impact on population growth despite the citys expanding limits, which have increased the total stray population from 75,000 to nearly 1.2 lakh. Officials also note a sharp decline in lactating females- from 13 per cent in 2019 to just two per cent in 2025. Daily operations involve the capture and operation on 60 to 65 dogs, followed by the distinctive V-shaped ear notch to mark sterilised and vaccinated animals visibly. Despite the sterilisation cost rising from Rs 950 to Rs 1,250 per dog, the LMC has consistently funded the initiative, addressing over 28,000 dog-related complaints such as bites and attacks, which have notably decreased due to the intensified sterilisation and vaccination drives. The programme was successful due to sustained community engagement through workshops, volunteer involvement, and educational campaigns fostered coexistence between the citys human and canine residents. After the SCs nod to the Lucknow program, the Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department (UDD) has announced plans to replicate the Lucknow model throughout the state. Currently, Uttar Pradesh has 17 operational ABC centres, with two new centres scheduled to open in Lucknow and Ghaziabad as part of a Rs 34 crore state allocation for animal welfare. The Lucknow ABC training centre, soon to be established, will train veterinary surgeons, civic officials, and field staff in the capture, sterilise, vaccinate, release technique, making it the first of its kind in the country. The LMC has also ordered a new census of the stray population and plans to utilise AI-enabled cameras to enhance the identification and capture process. The corporation is also building a dedicated stray dog shelter and aims to reach a 90 per cent sterilisation and vaccination coverage by the end of 2025. However, challenges remain. A 2024 Lucknow court order to monitor the ABC programme was prompted by an increase in dog bite complaints, underlining the tension between ensuring human safety and maintaining humane treatment of animals. The court underscored the primacy of human life, a view shared by many residents. Yet, animal welfare advocates see the Supreme Courts latest directive allowing sterilised dogs to live in their communities as a humane alternative to mass removal or culling. For now, the LMC continues to deploy a multifaceted strategy that uses a methodical and data-driven approach, combined with cutting-edge technology and community participation, for compassionate stray dog management. President Bashar Al Assads fall last December was a long-awaited harbinger of hope for Syria. The brutal Alawite-dominated regime has been ruling Syria for over five decades, and the country has been free from the clutches of a tyrant as of now. The fragile peace is already being tested as President Ahmad Al Sharaas new provisional government prepares to hold "fair parliamentary elections" next month. ALSO READ | Syria and Israel hold rare direct talks in Paris: A step towards normalisation The ballot box itself is not an assurance of a new, promising government, but the treatment of vulnerable minorities will be the litmus test, and right now, the signs are not encouraging. The end of an era For almost five decades, a brutal balance of power was carefully maintained by the Assad family. The founder of the Baath Party, Michel Aflaq, supported the secular government, but over time, the regime ruled through a calculated strategy of divide and rule. In exchange for loyalty, co-optation, and protection, concessions were offered to the Alawite and Christian minorities. It was a Faustian bargain: in return for security, these communities were bound to a regime that systematically suppressed all opposition, fuelling the very sectarian resentments that would later explode in civil war. Al Sharaa's bid for unity and legitimacy Amidst the transition from a fractured Syria steps in Ahmad Al Sharaa. A former military commander of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham has since adopted a moderate and pragmatic approach. He is not only trading off military fatigues for a more Westernised attire but is also focusing his public statements on national unity, economic reconstruction, and the protection of minority rights. Mahin Siddiqui By appointing ministers from the Alawite, Christian, Druze, and Kurdish backgrounds, Al Sharaa kept the promise of unity. This much-needed homework was done to gain legitimacy and attract foreign investments, paying diplomatic visits to countries like France, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye. His message is clear: the era of tyranny and bloodshed is over, and the focus is now on rebuilding a unified, stable nation. However, the ground reality is proving to be a bit more different than what was promised. The consequences of that broken social contract are already coming home to roost. The July clashes in the Druze heartland of Sweida have already made Al Sharaa sweat. The Druze, long wary of the Sunni-majority, have watched as forces aligned with the new government have been accused of cruelty against their people. The demands of decentralisation remain unfulfilled for the Druze. ALSO READ | Syria sets up tripartite task force with Jordan and US to make Sweida ceasefire work Damascus has miserably failed to deliver its promises, leaving trust-building measures hanging in the air. The pledge of the new centralised government for security guarantees was not fulfilled, eventually leading to demands for self-determination. Al Sharaa must confront these issues: words alone cannot erase deep-seated tensions and decades of fear. Minorities in the crosshairs The Kurdish-majority in the northeast is witnessing a similar dilemma. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are in an unenviable position, who once played a pivotal role in fighting against ISIS. To integrate SDF in the new states institutions, a deal signed in March 2025 between Al Sharaa and the SDF commander-in-chief, Mazloum Abdi, turned out to be a surrender to political necessity rather than a pact among equals. With international allies being less reliable, the Kurds also find themselves in a difficult position, forcing them to negotiate with a fear of erasure of their hard-won autonomy and cultural identity. By hosting their National Dialogue Conference on August 8, 2025, in Hasakah, which Druze leader Hikmat Al Hijri also attended, signalled they will not return without a concrete guarantee for their future. It is a never-ending dawn for the Christian and Alawite communities, replacing old fears with new uncertainties. Despite the new government's promises not to engage in retribution against the Assad loyalists, the situation is flipped: every day, violence in the coastal areas has left Alawites feeling vulnerable. Old fears, new anxieties In recent years, Christians are emigrating after facing existential threats, with only few staying back to see if the new governments promises of protection are more than just rhetoric. Although Al Sharaa has met with Christian leaders to assuage their safety concerns, trepidations remain. It leaves a big question for the people of Syria: can a single, centralised authorityeven with the best intentionsunify a country that has been fragmented by civil war, foreign intervention, and historical animosities? The upcoming parliamentary elections have brought along anxiety rather than joy. Speculations are rife on the new design of the electoral system that replaces a popular vote with a local electoral committee and presidential appointments, designed to subdue and legitimise a new power structure. While providing a veneer of stability for the new regime, it also risks alienating the very communities it needs to win over so as to achieve a lasting peace. The system hands over sweeping powers to Al Sharaa. Should he choose to renege on his promises, no check exists to prevent the return to the one-party rule that defined the Assad regime. The choice remains entirely with the new governmentwhether to embrace genuine political pluralism or to go back to coercion. Until then, the promise of a new Syria remains an unfinished story. The author is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. The United States has stepped up pressure on Iran as a crucial deadline approaches in the long-running nuclear dispute. On August 21, Washington announced new sanctions on Iranian companies and vessels linked to oil exports. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said those measures were designed to cut off Tehrans ability to finance weapons programmes and fund its network of regional allies. ALSO READ | Iran's covert war: Inside the escalating spy recruitment drive in Israel President Donald Trump (backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) also warned that if Iran resumed uranium enrichment activities at higher levels, it could face direct military action. The American move is part of a wider effort to restrict Irans room for a manoeuvre ahead of critical talks in Europe. Officials in Washington believe Tehran is deliberately running down the clock before the Europeans decide whether to reimpose snapback sanctions under the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal. By targeting Irans oil sector and threatening further action, the United States hopes to push the Islamic Republic into concessions it has so far resisted. Russia and China rally behind Tehran Against this backdrop, Russia and China have openly aligned themselves with Iran. Moscows top envoy Mikhail Ulyanov denounced the European threats of reimposing sanctions as blackmail and argued that they ran contrary to international law. He insisted that the E3 powers had no legal grounds to revive measures that should lapse with the natural expiry of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal. China has taken a similar position. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that resorting to the snapback mechanism would damage trust, widen differences, and undermine any chance of diplomacy. Both countries have held talks with Iranian officials to coordinate a joint response to the European strategy. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that discussions with Russian and Chinese diplomats had focused on joint measures to counter the destructive approach of the Europeans. He stressed that all three states share the view that the snapback option no longer has any legal validity. This support from Moscow and Beijing complicates Western efforts to isolate Iran. Russia and China, both permanent members of the Security Council, are expected to oppose any attempt to reinstate sanctions under the UN framework. Their support could allow Tehran to go ahead with its nuclear programme without fear of unanimous international action. European negotiations and a looming deadline Despite the divisions among major powers, the immediate focus is on talks between Iranian and European governments. Britain, France and Germany, together with the European Union (EU), are preparing to meet Iranian negotiators in Vienna on Tuesday. The discussions will be led by deputy foreign ministers and will come after a telephone call on August 22 between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his counterparts David Lammy of Britain, Johann Wadephul of Germany, Jean-Noel Barrot of France and the EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. ALSO READ | Another war? Iran tests Russia's S-400 for the first time, says Israeli reports The European ministers have made it clear that time is running short. German Foreign Minister Wadephul explained that Europe remained committed to diplomacy but warned that time is very short and Iran needs to engage substantively to avoid the activation of snapback". His French counterpart Barrot echoed the same concern, saying that Paris was preparing to reimpose sanctions and that time is running out. The E3 had already sent Tehran a letter on August 8, warning that they would trigger the mechanism if a satisfactory solution was not reached by the end of the month. With only days left before that deadline, pressure is rising on Iranian negotiators to offer concrete concessions. Irans position on talks and inspections Tehran, however, has been cautious. Foreign Minister Araghchi confirmed the upcoming meeting with Europeans but questioned whether conditions were ripe for meaningful talks with the United States. He repeated Irans long-standing position that its nuclear programme was peaceful and civilian in nature, and insisted that the country had no intention of building atomic weapons. Yet Iran continues to enrich uranium to 60 per cent puritya level far above the needs of civilian energy production and only a short step away from weapons-grade. Although neither US intelligence nor the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found evidence that Tehran is actively working on nuclear arms, the high enrichment levels are viewed with concern in Western capitals. Relations with the IAEA have become especially strained since June, when a 12-day conflict with Israel left several atomic sites damaged. Following those strikes, Irans parliament passed a legislation suspending full cooperation with the agency. Inspectors can no longer access facilities without approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a change that has sharply limited international oversight. Araghchi insisted this did not mean an end to cooperation, but rather a new framework dictated by law. ALSO READ | Khamenei responds to Israel Katz: Iran will reach 'height of progress' despite threats Iran has also accused the IAEA of facilitating hostile actions by the United States and Israel. Officials in Tehran claim that a report published by the agency in May gave adversaries the information needed to mount attacks on nuclear installations. The government has warned IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi not to travel to Iran, threatening possible arrest if he does. Warning against snapback Araghchi has made clear that Tehran rejects the European threat to invoke snapback. He argues that Britain, France and Germany have no legal authority to do so and that any attempt would carry serious consequences. At the same time, he says Iran remains open to diplomacy but will defend its rights and interests if pressured. Officials in Tehran suggest the economythough weakenedcan survive further sanctions if talks fail. The coming weeks will test these claims. Europe insists it wants a negotiated solution, yet it has prepared the legal and political groundwork for sanctions, should Iran fail to yield. The United States is tightening the screws with unilateral measures, while Russia and China are offering Tehran political cover. The Vienna meeting may provide a temporary opening, but with the deadline at the end of August and the snapback threat in October, the window for avoiding escalation is narrowing rapidly. South Korea has confirmed that it fired more than 10 warning shots at North Korean soldiers at the border between the two countries. Earlier this week, North Korea had accused the South Korean military of firing at their soldiers in what they called a deliberate provocation. The country accused Seoul of risking uncontrollable tensions and inciting military conflict. The shots were fired when the North Korean soldiers were conducting a border reinforcement project in a project which aims to permanently seal its border with the southern neighbour. The firing took place in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a strip of land that lies between the two countries, separating them. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line between the two countries on Tuesday. "Measures, such as warning shots, were taken after North Korean soldiers violated the MDL in a central front-line area at around 3 p.m. Tuesday, and they retreated," he said According to South Korean media, the military had first broadcast a warning message before it fired at the North Korean troops. After the shots, the soldiers had returned to the North Korean territory without further incident. No casualties were reported. Ko Jong-chol, North Korean Army Lt Gen, said that the souths military used a machine gun to fire more than 10 shots. He also noted that the shots coincided with the Summertime US-South Korean military drills. The state media reported him saying, "This is a very serious prelude that would inevitably drive the situation in the southern border area where a huge number of forces are stationed in confrontation with each other to the uncontrollable phase. South Koreas new president, Lee Jae Myung, had called for warmer ties with the North and had pledged to build military trust. But Pyongyang dismissed such ideas. Following Lees election, Seoul said the two sides had halted propaganda broadcasts along the demilitarised zone, and it later detected North Korean troops dismantling loudspeakers at the border. In early April, a border clash occurred when South Korean troops fired warning shots after 10 North Korean soldiers crossed the frontier. Mridula Ghosh Diary of Resilience/ Mridula Ghosh/Kyiv Trump-Putin summit in Alaska was deemed futile by many, yet it triggered a meeting of European leaders and Ukraines president in Washington, signalling the beginning of a peace process Ne-LaskAva Alaska!, which means unwelcoming Alaska, has become a meme that describes the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many in Ukraine also recalled a Russian proverb, there is but a single step from love to hate, pointing to the swing of USRussia relations along the lovehate pendulum. To cap it all, a Russian tank in the occupied zone of Zaporizhzhia was seen flying both the US and Russian flags until they were shot down. For decades, Russia poured hatred towards America, threatening to reduce it to radioactive ash. Watching the red-carpet welcome for Putin at a US military base in Anchorage, while fighter planes circled above, it was clear that Putin fears neither NATO nor the US. Rather, he lies awake at night because of Ukraine and the Ukrainians. If Ukraine were to sacrifice Donbas, it would lose a fortified area that Russia has failed to capture in 13 years.... Russia would need 4.4 more years to seize full control of the area. Digging into history, no analogy could be found. It was not a new Yalta, where Stalin met Roosevelt and Churchill to carve out the future map of Europe after the defeat of Nazi Germany, although the USSR had first signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler and started the war by attacking Poland in 1939. Nor was it totally similar to the 1938 Munich Conference, where the fate of Czechoslovakias Sudetenland, with its strategic fortifications, was decided without Czechoslovakia being present. Beyond protocol and procedure, the Alaska summit was unlike the Geneva or Reykjavik meetings of the mid-1980s when Gorbachev and Reagan met and the Cold War began to thaw. There were no clear results and the media corps were visibly upset, as neither Trump nor Putin entertained their questions. Their statements were loud and promising but without detail. So why was this summit needed at all? Certainly not just to discuss Ukraine without Ukraine. Both the US and Russia had their benefits. For Putin, it was a way to break isolation and gain acceptance by none other than the US, despite the International Criminal Courts arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. For Trump, it was a chance to show genuine readiness to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. He threatened Russia with fresh sanctions while insisting on a ceasefire, with a deadline that kept shifting. The Russian economy could not withstand further sanctions. This was precisely what brought Putin to Alaska. He managed to secure a postponement of both ceasefire and sanctions that hung in the air. He repeated his familiar narrative about the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict, avoided the word war and demanded that Ukraine cede four regions, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, even though none are fully occupied by Russia. As details of the August 15 Alaska summit emerged, it became clear that instead of six or seven hours as planned, there were only two and a half hours of talks. A luncheon and wider discussions were cancelled. One may conclude that there were still points of disagreement. On the same day, Russian law was changed to allow US company ExxonMobil to re-enter the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, which it had quit in March 2022. Sakhalin-1 had never been directly targeted by US sanctions. One of the striking elements of the summit was a letter given to Putin by US First Lady Melania Trump, appealing for the return of abducted children to Ukraine. This was a masterstroke of US public diplomacy, showing that the deal was not about territory swaps or rare earth minerals, but about human values. Three days later, on August 18, a historic summit in Washington gathered leaders of the EU, NATO, France, Germany, Finland, Italy, the UK and Ukraine to discuss peace prospects. While all agreed that Trump had made this breakthrough possible and that the killings must stop, a central issue which was discussed was the need for unambiguous security guarantees for Ukraine, to avoid a repeat of the failed Budapest Memorandum (1994). Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed collective defence modalities similar to Article 5 of the NATO charter, but without Ukraine becoming a NATO member. The issue of abducted children was raised by all leaders, particularly Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer all said that peace could not begin without a ceasefire. Finnish President Alexander Stubb recalled Finlands war with the USSR in 1944, referring to Ukraines possible decisions regarding territories. At the same time, leaders stressed that borders cannot be changed by force. If Ukraine were to sacrifice Donbas, it would lose a fortified area that Russia has failed to capture in 13 years. Fresh estimates from UK Defence Intelligence suggest that, at the current pace of fighting, Russia would need about 4.4 more years to seize full control and would likely suffer around 1.9 million casualties. Crimea remains another bone of contention. Trump said Ukraine was not getting back Obama-given Crimea in 2014, without a shot being fired. Any formal recognition of Crimea as part of Russia would contradict the US Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, which Trump himself signed in his first term, barring recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea. Trump was also the first US president to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine in 2017, during a war that began in 2014, so it was never really Bidens war. A further meeting in trilateral or multilateral format between Russia, the US and Ukraine will be organised by Trump, although details are awaited. Meanwhile, Chinas role is crucial. Many assumed that Trump might have tried in Alaska to wean Russia away from China, but in reality, ties have deepened. When the Chinese foreign minister said while visiting Europe that China was not interested in Russias defeat, it was a signal that Beijing would continue to support Moscow. Whether China will be invited to any future summit is unclear. India, as a non-aligned state, is welcome, as Zelensky said in his Independence Day message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Overall, apart from the discontent over territorial concessions, human rights activists and ordinary Ukrainians are disappointed that there was no mention of Russias genocide against Ukrainians, no discussion of punishment for crimes against humanity and no plan for reparations to Ukraine as the victim of aggression. Many are shocked that the aggressor and the victim are put on equal level. As the summits took place, Ukraine continued to bleed. Massive missile and drone attacks killed and injured people in Kharkiv, Odesa, Kremenchuk, Pavlohrad and Kherson and destroyed the university campus in Sumy. Ordinary people in Ukraine want the killings to stop. They want abducted children and adults to come home. The question remains: will summits help? Mridula Ghosh, formerly with the UN, is based in Kyiv, and teaches at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy. Riyadh on Saturday said it intervened to secure exit clearance from Saudi Arabia for an Indian national who faced significant financial liabilities that prevented his return. Shavej Hamid was hospitalised in Saudi Arabia for four months following an accident and is returning to India today, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said. Despite facing an exit ban due to substantial dues, the Embassys intervention ensured that most of these were waived, and we also facilitated the payment of his government fines, the embassy said in a post on X. The embassy said it intervened to secure exit clearance for him despite an exit ban and heavy dues and that it closely coordinated with medical authorities during Hamids hospitalisation to ensure he received proper care and treatment. We are pleased to share that Mr Shavej Hamid, who had been hospitalised in Saudi Arabia for four months following an accident, is returning to India today to reunite with his family, it said. Solar panel installations are booming up 22 per cent in the first six months of the year, and there are now more than 1.8 million households with them. But with panels costing thousands of pounds and most months in Britain struggling to match this summer's sunshine, will they save you money? Before signing up there are some crucial things to consider to work out how long it will take for the cost to pay off. Is your roof suitable? The panels can be used to power your home, saving on your electricity bills. You can also be paid for exporting energy back to the grid, via a Smart Export Guarantee tariff. The recipe for success requires your home to be suitable for them, with the size of your roof and the direction it faces key. Your roof's size determines how many panels you can get, which will decide the potential output of your system. A system's energy generation is measured in peak kilowatts (kW) with an average system for a three-bedroom house delivering 3.5kW, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Panel beaters: Let the sun do the work to power your home and cut those bills The amount of roof space required depends on the efficiency and potential output of the panels you get. For example, it could be made up of ten x 350 watt panels, covering about 20m2 of the roof. Ideally, your roof will be south-facing. East or west-facing roofs will also work, but it is not recommended to install panels on a north-facing roof. A pitched roof is preferable, but a flat roof can work. Panels can also go on a shed or garage. A system facing east or west generates 15 to 20 per cent less energy than one facing south. A 3.5 kW system in southern England could produce 3,000kWh annually. This would potentially be worth 560 a year, through saving 320 on bills and earning 240 in export payments. How much will I earn? The crucial calculation involves dividing the cost of the system by your annual return to see how many years it will take to pay it off. You need to know: how much panels will cost, the energy you can generate, the estimated annual saving on your bills and the projected annual return from exporting. For the three-bedroom example above, the panels would cost about 6,100, while the total annual return is 560, giving a pay back time of 11 years. Returns will be influenced by some other factors. If you are home all day, you can make a potentially bigger saving on electricity bills by using power when it is generated. On the flipside, this may mean you make less from selling to the grid. Energy Saving Trust figures show how this and where you live can mean payback periods vary. For someone in London who is home all day, it would take ten years for solar panels to pay off, whereas if they were only home after 6pm, it would take 12 years. In Manchester, this would be 11 years and 13 years, respectively, while in Stirling it would be 12 years and 15 years and in Belfast 13 years and 21 years. Energy Saving Trust has a free solar panel calculator at pvfitcalculator.energysavingtrust.org.uk. Enter your address, with property and household details and it will tell you the cost, return and payback period. Why are they so popular? For early adopters, the environmentally friendly element of panels was a key driver but now it is mostly about saving money and reducing exposure to volatile electricity costs. Installer Gareth Jones, says his company, Carbon Zero Renewables, has seen a leap in requests since the energy price spike in 2022. He says: 'You can take back an element of control with panels, otherwise you're at the mercy of energy companies'. What will it cost me? It depends on the size and type of system, how easy it is to access your roof and whether you need to do any other work on the roof. While the Energy Saving Trust says the average domestic 3.5kW solar panel system costs around 6,100, others give higher figures. Which? says a 3kW system costs 7,020 to 11,250 to install, while a 5kW system is 11,650 to 16,300. The exact figure will depend on the make and efficiency of your panels, as well as the cost of the installer, which varies across the country, but typically accounts for between ten and 20 per cent of the price. Panels are now cheaper and more efficient as technology improves. Martin Aylward, of EDF UK, says: 'Domestic solar technology has come a long way in the past decade. 'A typical solar panel's power output has jumped from 250W to 450W and overall system peak production has increased from 3.5kW to 5.5kW in the past decade.' Installation costs have fallen by 4.5 per cent in the past year. Batteries are an optional part of a system, but they can help homes save more money as they can store excess electricity to be drawn on when you need it. A battery for a three-bedroom home costs 2,500. A replacement battery is usually needed after 15 years. Are there any grants? Low-income households in receipt of some benefits, including Universal Credit, may be eligible for the Government's Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4), which covers up to 100 per cent of the cost of installation. Go to: eco4.org.uk/ The Warm Homes Plan grants low-income tenants or homeowners and recipients of means-tested benefits up to 30,000 towards energy improvements including solar panel installations. The Government-backed Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) allows households to sell electricity they generate and don't use back to the grid. Energy suppliers offer their own SEG tariffs but to qualify, you'll need a smart meter and proof your installation and installer are certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). Britain's new 12 billion fighter jet project is at risk of failure, an official audit has warned. The plans, officially known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), are rated 'red' meaning 'successful delivery of the project appears to be unachievable' according to the Government body overseeing UK infrastructure projects. Known in Britain as Tempest, the project is a collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan eventually destined to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon. BAE Systems, which is leading the project, has insisted plans for a prototype of the jet to take off by the end of 2027 are still on track with Tempest expected to enter service in 2035. But doubts about Tempest surfaced last year as Labour launched a defence review, though Keir Starmer has stressed the importance of the programme. The review, published this summer, recommitted the Government to the fighter jet programme as part of a broader plan to boost defence spending. But some in the industry are looking for more concrete financial commitments to specific projects to be made soon. FCAS was one of 198 billion of projects given a 'red' rating in the latest annual report of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista). The report said this was due to 'the programme's relative maturity, its scale, pace and the complex challenges involved in the successful long-term delivery of a sixth generation combat aircraft' with its red assessment 'not unexpected'. Ambitious: A prototype of the Tempest is meant to take off by the end of 2027 It acknowledges that 'significant achievements have been made' in the programme, including international agreements signed by governments and companies involved in the project. The headquarters for the global combat air programme (GCAP) that will develop the Tempest was also opened in Reading last month and already supports 3,500 jobs. But the Nista assessment said: 'The programme remains in the early stages of development, and there is recognition of the scale of the challenges faced to stand up a programme of this nature. 'Actions are being taken to address this at the start of the programme by learning the lessons of the past and from similarly large and complex projects.' Nista's wider report found that 30 projects were rated green, 21 were red and 135 were amber. Green signals that a project is likely to be delivered on time, amber that it is feasible but 'significant issues already exist' and red that it appears 'unachievable' with 'major issues... which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable'. But Nista also says of projects with the worst rating: 'It is not unusual for projects to be rated as red earlier in their lifecycle, when scope, benefits, costs and delivery methods are still being explored.' The FCAS programme was rated amber before being moved to red in 2023 citing factors including a 'shortage of resources impacting skills and capabilities'. The Government said it recognised the scale of the challenges posed by the project. The Ministry of Defence said: 'This Government inherited a procurement system described as 'broken' by the Public Accounts Committee. We are clear procurement needs to be faster and more agile as part of the deepest defence reforms for more than 50 years to keep the country safer and achieve the best value for taxpayers.' CW Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 495.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 152,151 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 126,583 shares during the period. CW Advisors LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $9,064,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Summit Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.0% during the first quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 37,856 shares of the companys stock worth $2,272,000 after purchasing an additional 363 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 24.4% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,007,508 shares of the companys stock worth $300,551,000 after purchasing an additional 980,772 shares during the period. Frisch Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 8.2% during the first quarter. Frisch Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,807 shares of the companys stock worth $293,000 after purchasing an additional 366 shares during the period. Level Four Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 9.0% during the first quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 96,213 shares of the companys stock worth $5,775,000 after purchasing an additional 7,941 shares during the period. Finally, Tradition Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.7% during the first quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,745 shares of the companys stock worth $885,000 after purchasing an additional 251 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Altria Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set an underperform rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. UBS Group upgraded shares of Altria Group from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the stock from $47.00 to $59.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC upgraded shares of Altria Group to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $60.00. Altria Group Stock Down 0.1% Shares of MO opened at $67.6150 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $61.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $58.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $113.59 billion, a PE ratio of 13.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $48.86 and a 52-week high of $68.60. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $5.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.21 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.24% and a negative return on equity of 295.26%. Altria Groups revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.350-5.450 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year. Altria Group Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 10th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.3%. This is a boost from Altria Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. Altria Groups payout ratio is currently 78.92%. About Altria Group (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. Read More 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. CW Advisors LLC boosted its position in Champion Homes, Inc. (NYSE:SKY Free Report) by 0.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 98,791 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 792 shares during the quarter. CW Advisors LLCs holdings in Champion Homes were worth $9,361,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SKY. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Champion Homes by 306.0% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,015 shares of the companys stock valued at $96,000 after purchasing an additional 765 shares during the last quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Champion Homes in the 1st quarter valued at about $128,000. PharVision Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Champion Homes in the 4th quarter valued at about $216,000. Shay Capital LLC acquired a new position in Champion Homes in the 4th quarter valued at about $220,000. Finally, Sowell Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in Champion Homes in the 1st quarter valued at about $233,000. Get Champion Homes alerts: Champion Homes Stock Up 6.5% SKY opened at $76.0860 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 2.39 and a quick ratio of 1.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.24 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a 50-day moving average of $66.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $80.89. Champion Homes, Inc. has a 12 month low of $59.44 and a 12 month high of $116.49. Champion Homes ( NYSE:SKY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.31. Champion Homes had a return on equity of 14.35% and a net margin of 8.50%.The company had revenue of $701.32 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $642.18 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.91 EPS. The firms revenue was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Champion Homes, Inc. will post 3.63 earnings per share for the current year. Champion Homes announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Friday, May 30th that permits the company to buyback $50.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to buy up to 1.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Joseph A. Kimmell sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.24, for a total transaction of $65,240.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,568 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,842,376.32. The trade was a 2.24% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Champion Homes from $72.00 to $74.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Zelman & Associates upgraded Champion Homes from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, June 5th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on Champion Homes from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $86.00. Read Our Latest Research Report on Champion Homes Champion Homes Company Profile (Free Report) Skyline Champion Corporation produces and sells factory-built housing in North America. The company offers manufactured and modular homes, park models RVs, accessory dwelling units, and modular buildings for the multi-family and hospitality sectors. It builds homes under the Skyline Homes, Champion Home Builders, Genesis Homes, Athens Park Models, Dutch Housing, Atlantic Homes, Excel Homes, Homes of Merit, New Era, Redman Homes, ScotBilt Homes, Shore Park, Silvercrest, and Titan Homes brands in the United States; and Moduline and SRI Homes brand names in western Canada. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SKY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Champion Homes, Inc. (NYSE:SKY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Champion Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Champion Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rahlfs Capital LLC trimmed its position in shares of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 43.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,300 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 6,350 shares during the quarter. Rahlfs Capital LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $346,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vega Investment Solutions purchased a new stake in Bank of America during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Bank of America during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Spurstone Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Bank of America during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Bank of America during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Bank of America during the 4th quarter valued at about $40,000. 70.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bank of America alerts: Insider Transactions at Bank of America In other Bank of America news, insider James P. Demare sold 148,391 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.57, for a total value of $6,762,177.87. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 223,407 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,180,656.99. This trade represents a 39.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock. Bank of America Trading Up 2.5% Shares of NYSE:BAC opened at $49.4850 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $366.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.47, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.80. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $47.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $43.86. Bank of America Corporation has a 52-week low of $33.06 and a 52-week high of $49.66. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.03. The business had revenue of ($22,273.00) million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $26.79 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.25% and a net margin of 14.81%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.83 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 EPS for the current year. Bank of America declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, July 23rd that authorizes the company to buyback $40.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 11.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Bank of America Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 5th will be given a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 5th. This is a positive change from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. Bank of Americas payout ratio is 30.41%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently commented on BAC shares. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Phillip Securities downgraded Bank of America from a strong-buy rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Cowen assumed coverage on Bank of America in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Bank of America from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, June 23rd. Finally, Hsbc Global Res downgraded Bank of America from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $50.13. Get Our Latest Report on Bank of America About Bank of America (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Heritage Wealth Partners LLC cut its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 42.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 578 shares of the companys stock after selling 424 shares during the period. Heritage Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $477,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LLY. WestEnd Advisors LLC raised its holdings 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 worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the period. Citizens National Bank Trust Department lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 180.0% in the 1st quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 42 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter worth about $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 purchasing an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently commented on LLY shares. DZ Bank upgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $1,135.00 price objective (up previously from $1,133.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Leerink Partners restated a market perform rating and issued a $715.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Daiwa Capital Markets cut Eli Lilly and Company from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $700.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Sunday, August 17th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $975.00 to $825.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $950.17. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, EVP Daniel Skovronsky bought 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $634.40 per share, with a total value of $634,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 137,660 shares of the companys stock, valued at $87,331,504. This trade represents a 0.73% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO David A. Ricks bought 1,632 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $644.77 per share, for a total transaction of $1,052,264.64. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 546,601 shares of the companys stock, valued at $352,431,926.77. The trade was a 0.30% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired 4,514 shares of company stock valued at $2,894,841 in the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.1% Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $710.7290 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $623.78 and a 52 week high of $972.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $672.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.45, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.44. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $754.70 and a 200 day simple moving average of $790.90. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The company reported $6.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.59 by $0.72. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 92.72% and a net margin of 25.91%.The business had revenue of $15.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.92 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 37.6% on a year-over-year basis. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 21.750-23.000 EPS. Analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current 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 issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 39.22%. About Eli Lilly and Company (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Read More 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. APG Asset Management N.V. reduced its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 39.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,421,871 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,197,342 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V. owned 0.06% of Pfizer worth $80,272,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. now owns 39,368 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,044,000 after purchasing an additional 454 shares during the last quarter. Members Trust Co boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Members Trust Co now owns 23,175 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $587,000 after purchasing an additional 467 shares during the last quarter. Sutton Place Investors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. Sutton Place Investors LLC now owns 8,833 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $224,000 after purchasing an additional 472 shares during the last quarter. Bellevue Group AG boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Bellevue Group AG now owns 141,560 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,756,000 after purchasing an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MSH Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. MSH Capital Advisors LLC now owns 34,585 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $876,000 after purchasing an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Pfizer alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently commented on PFE shares. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Pfizer from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. HSBC decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 19th. Wolfe Research upped their price objective on Pfizer from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Pfizer from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price objective on Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $28.12. Pfizer Stock Up 0.3% Shares of NYSE PFE opened at $25.8250 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $146.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.74, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $20.92 and a 52-week high of $30.43. The businesss 50 day moving average is $24.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.42. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $14.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.43 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 21.42% and a net margin of 16.84%.The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.60 earnings per share. Pfizer has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.900-3.100 EPS. Research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year. Pfizer Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be given 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 6.7%. Pfizers payout ratio is presently 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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). 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. The Mise Eire festival is taking place at Castlebar's Ivy Tower Hotel (formerly The Welcome Inn), Saturday, August 23. My brother and I managed to get free tickets from people who could not attend the event, to give the public the inside scoop on what went on. The age profile of those attending appeared to be mainly people in their 50s - though I spotted a few children in the midst of the audience. There was a high proportion of people from Dublin in attendance, though I did hear Mayo accents dispersed around the place. At an event made up of hundreds, I only witnessed white people in attendance - except for a woman behind the bar. Read More: 'I am genuinely disgusted' - Locals respond to Mise Eire festival as line-up revealed Security was tight, to say the least. I spotted eight different security staff on the premises. I caught the tail-end of John Waters panel and Q and A, which was held in the Ivy Towers upstairs function room. For this event, the room was full, and some people sat on the floor to hear Waters speak. When asked by a member of the audience for the solution to modern day crises, Waters said that people like himself who are volunteering and doing the work for free for years are the solution to societys problems. After Waters talk, the conference room was emptied out for a panel talk by Louise Roseingrave, Una McGurk, and John Hamer - with Derek Domino moderating the discussion. This is when things became interesting. The talk began with a discussion about censorship. The speakers reached a consensus that the mainstream media is rotten and that citizen journalists such as Stephen Kerr or the Irish Patriot are more reliable sources of news. At one point, Derek Domino said that Mise Eire will be back next year bigger and better than ever, and that tickets to attend the festival will be scarcer than All-Ireland tickets. A speaker also thanked the Ivy Hotel owner for refusing to buckle to outside pressure and hosting the event. Then the discussion turned to immigration. John Hamer from Stroud in England said: We are the dominant race in the world. Hamer said that he has been in Ireland for a few days and he believes the country has a similar vibe to the UK in terms of immigration. The panelist then began to explain the Kalergi plan, which the Institute of Strategic Dialogue describes as a conspiracy theory that claims immigration is a deliberate tool used to replace white European populations. The Kalergi plan is a popular theory amongst white nationalists. Speaker and barrister Una McGurk spoke about a secret plan that the Irish government is plotting, which people need to know. Una said that the government plans to put an additional 2.6 million people in Ireland by 2040 - which in her opinion is a policy spearheaded by Fine Gael. To put these claims into perspective, - there are currently 1,554 people staying in International protection accommodation centres in Mayo, according to the Department of Justice, as of August 10. The census of 2022 estimates the countys population to be 137,970 people. However, no information is safe; As one might expect from this type of event, a speaker on the panel questioned the legitimacy of the census population figures. McGurk - who unsuccessfully ran in the European elections in 2024 - has said in an election video that her career has been lost due to being cancelled by her comments relating to Covid in 2020. McGurk spoke against Covid PCR tests and the destruction of the christian West over the course of the panel. The barrister also mentioned the protocols of the elders of zion in her answer to the question of migration. The Holocaust Encylopaedia refers to the text as an antisemitic book used to promote hatred of Jews. The Holocaust Encyclopaedia - which is run by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - says that it is the most widespread antisemitic publication of modern times. Louise Roseingrave was more subdued in her opinions in comparison to the other panelists. The writer focused on her catholicism in her answers to questions posed by Derek Domino. Roseingrave mainly spoke about her pro-life views and her commitment to her religion. In between the two panels, the workshop I briefly attended on self actualisation was uneventful. The event was relatively poorly attended, with perhaps less than twenty attendees in the audience. To the credit of the workshop, no conspiracy theories were discussed. A plaque caught my eye in the room to the side where the workshop was hosted. It read that former President Mary McAleese had given a speech to the Mayo Irish emigrant liaison committee at the Welcome Inn. Her speech was in honour of all of the Irish living abroad. It is safe to say that once the protocols of the elders of zion was brought up at the panel, I had seen enough. Having given up two and a half hours of my Saturday to Mise Eire, I was ready to go home. This morning we catch up with a longtime fave as fashionista, celeb & Insta hottie Alexis inspire another peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . More Zuck Deets Meta's Kansas City data center just came online. Here's what to know about the $1 billion facility Leaders say the LEED Gold-certified data center bolsters Kansas City's reputation as a tech hub. Operated by the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, the facility also expects to support more than 100 permanent jobs. Toast To Gift Of Life KC Bier Company blood drive exceeds expectations amid supply shortage KC Bier Company partnered with the Community Blood Center for a blood drive in Kansas City, surpassing its donor goal as blood supplies remain critically low. Training Day Touted How North Kansas City's Citizens Academy takes the confusion out of local government Residents who enroll in North Kansas City's Citizen Academy get a 10-week course on local government systems, and how the various departments function and affect their lives. The mayor said the program has increased participation in local boards and commissions. Cowtown Weekend Redirect Full closure of I-670 in Kansas City downtown loop to begin 10 p.m. Friday Both directions of Interstate 670 on the south side of the downtown Kansas City, Missouri, loop will be closed this weekend for a bridge demolition. Hipster Express Debuts Delta Airlines adds new nonstop flight from Kansas City to Austin Delta Airlines is launching a new non-stop flight from Austin to Kansas City, offering twice-daily flights starting June 7, 2026 Retro Fashion Redux EXCLUSIVE: Alexis Ren Collaborates With Abrand Jeans on 2000s-inspired Collection Featuring New Low-rise Silhouettes The Abrand Jeans x Alexis Ren collection is available to shop now. Courts Offer Sanctuary From MAGA Trump admin blocked from slashing funding from dozens of local governments over 'sanctuary' policies A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration cannot cut funding to 34 cities and counties in response to "sanctuary" policies, which limit cooperation with immigration enforcement. Left Coast Flex Cont'd Newsom's Trump act gets cool reviews from White House allies For the Trump White House, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. As White House officials watched California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) mirror President Trump's rhetoric and social media pe... Newspaper Talking Points Business leaders say Trump's gerrymandering push would weaken Kansas City Two of Kansas City's leading business groups said they oppose any effort by Missouri lawmakers to divide the Kansas City region. Conservative Outrage Trending Judge Releases Illegal Migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 'Maryland Man' Pro-migration groups have persuaded a judge to release El Salvadoran illegal migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Veep Explains Latest Raid JD Vance says FBI search of John Bolton's home 'not at all' driven by Trump's retribution Vice President JD Vance joins Meet the Press in an exclusive interview after FBI agents search the home of John Bolton, a former national security adviser to Donald Trump and now a staunch critic of the president. Singing For Freedom?!? 'Never inappropriate': Maxwell, eyeing a pardon, defends Trump | CNN CNN's Erin Burnett reacts to the release of the long-awaited transcripts of a weeks-old Department of Justice interview with convicted Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Holy Land Tragedy Cont'd Gaza latest: Dozens killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza - as grave famine prediction made Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since dawn by Israel strikes, according to reports from the enclave. Elsewhere, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification says two other areas of Gaza are at risk of famine by the end of next month. Follow the latest. Vlad Tactics ALMOST Explained Russia trying to stop meeting on peace and prolong war, says Zelensky Volodymyr Zelensky urges Western allies to impose fresh sanctions on Moscow if it shows no interest in peace. Packed With Probs India scales back plan to remove stray dogs from streets of Delhi Country suspends 'catch-and-keep' plan for strays in favour of a more 'holistic' approach Brother, Can You Spare A Crime?!? Lyle Menendez denied parole, will remain in prison along with younger brother Erik A day after denying release for his younger brother, Erik, a California Parole Board ruled that Lyle Menendez should also remain in prison for gunning down his parents with a shotgun in 1989. Rejection Starts Celeb Day Kelly Ripa Drags 'Repulsive' Husband Mark Consuelos Over His 'Disgusting' Morning Sex Routine Kelly Ripa candidly dragged husband Mark Consuelos over his 'disgusting' morning sex routine and why she finds it so 'repulsive.' Suburbs Gear Up Grandview Fire Department received grant money to pay for new turnout gear The Grandview Fire Department received $19,496 in grant funding to purchase new turnout gear for their firefighters. Home Team Skids Again Bullpen, rotten luck give up five runs in 7-5 loss to Tigers The Royals had a ton of loud contact but could not hold on as the Tigers found more holes in the later innings. August Heat Breaks Fall weather on the way for KC This morning's cold front will gradually cool us down, bringing a nice stretch of fall weather this week. HUGEL, David Guetta, Kehlani, Daecolm - Think Of Me is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Effective candidates can talk about both . . . Then again . . . NOBODY every went broke by selling fear to "mostly peaceful" suburbs . . . Also, the stabbing in question had a lot to do with mental health issues related to crime which NEVER gets much mention on the campaign trail . . . Check-it: "At a barbecue restaurant where a stabbing recently occurred, a Republican hopeful for Kansas governor warned supporters against what he sees as the dangers of violent crime in Johnson County. "On Tuesday, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, one of several Republicans running for governor in 2026, held a rally at Haywards Pit Bar B Que in Shawnee to help raise funds for the restaurant after Reilly Sweeney, an employee at the restaurant, was stabbed there on July 31." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. Footage of President Ilham Aliyevs working visit to Turkmenistan has been published on his social media accounts. Trend presents the post: "President Ilham Aliyevs working visit to Turkmenistan (22.08.2025)". BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, has sent a congratulatory letter to First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of her birthday, Trend reports. "Dear Mehriban Arifovna, Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of your birthday. In the Russian Federation, you are recognized as an experienced and wise leader, and talented organizer with an outstanding authority across the Republic of Azerbaijan and beyond. It is with great pleasure and deep sense of gratitude that I recall our meetings held in a sincere and friendly atmosphere. I am confident that in the future, we will have an opportunity to openly explore ways to develop the mutually beneficial Russia-Azerbaijan relations, including the inter-parliamentary cooperation, and to contribute to the implementation of projects meeting the interests of our countries. On this remarkable occasion, I would like to commend your inexhaustible energy and truly exceptional charm, as well as your successful performance in your responsible state position and your ability to combine the roles of a caring, loving wife and mother. Dear Mehriban Khanim! Allow me to wish you all the blessings of the world, robust health, success, and the support of your loved ones. May you always be surrounded by your loved ones, inspiring and protecting you, and may harmony, love, and happiness reign in your home. May each new day bring you joy, light, and a deep sense of satisfaction in all your endeavors for your people and country. Please accept the assurance of my highest consideration," the letter reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. In recent years, Azerbaijan has been steadily and actively deepening its cooperation with Central Asia. This is part of President Ilham Aliyevs long-term strategy, as he views the region not just as a strategic partner but also as a key link in building a unified space of stability, energy collaboration, and transport integration stretching from the Caspian to Europe. For Baku, Central Asia is more than just a market or a transit corridor - it is a region of shared history, cultural ties, and common challenges. This perspective has fueled a steady convergence between Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in recent years. The personal involvement of President Ilham Aliyev has been a decisive factor, turning joint initiatives from mere statements of intent into concrete mechanisms for regional cooperation. On August 22, a high-level trilateral meeting took place in Turkmenbashi bringing together Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The talks culminated in a package of agreements, strengthening the partnership across areas ranging from logistics to humanitarian initiatives. The ceremony was attended by President Ilham Aliyev, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The leaders adopted a Joint Statement and signed several key agreements, including a memorandum on the development of international air transport, a protocol establishing sister-city ties between Fizuli (Azerbaijan) and Arkadag (Turkmenistan), and a trilateral memorandum on transport and logistics cooperation. Azerbaijans ties with Turkmenistan have particularly accelerated in recent years. A symbolic milestone was the renaming of the disputed Kyapaz/Serdar field to Dostlug (Friendship), paving the way for joint development of Caspian oil and gas resources. In 2021, the countries signed a memorandum on exploration of the field, and in 2023, discussions included SOCARs participation in additional projects in Turkmenistan. Since the start of this year, Azerbaijan has imported 187 million cubic meters of Turkmen gas, valued at 28 million dollars. Speaking in Turkmenbashi, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the significant opportunities now available for cooperation in the energy sector. "We have traditional energy cooperation with Turkmenistan. We have already made a step in this area with Uzbekistan. Our state oil company SOCAR has already started developing an oil field in Uzbekistan and a contract has been signed. We hope that they will give us good news in the next one or two years. We are all eagerly awaiting the news of the discovery of a large oil field in Uzbekistan," said President Ilham Aliyev. Economic ties between Baku and Tashkent have long been strategic in nature. Bilateral trade continues to grow steadily, with a more diversified mix of sectors, including agribusiness, textiles, petrochemicals, and mechanical engineering. The number of Azerbaijani-invested companies in Uzbekistan has increased from 178 in 2019 to 278 as of April 2025. Regular business forums and intergovernmental commissions play a key role in creating a favorable investment climate and strengthening connections between entrepreneurs. In this regard, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev pointed out: "During the talks, we paid special attention to the development of transit corridors, including the effective use of the capabilities of the ports of Turkmenbashi and Baku, and the formation of modern logistics infrastructure. We also discussed in detail plans to connect the existing and prospective routes in our region in order to deepen the integration of national transport systems...We have agreed to work together on projects to develop logistical infrastructure and ferry transportation across the Caspian Sea. In addition, we explored opportunities for cooperation between the three countries in the energy sector. We are talking about promising projects for the development of hydrocarbon fields and the export of generated electricity". During the visit, special emphasis was placed on transport cooperation, which is becoming increasingly strategic. The transit and logistics agreements that were signed clearly show that Central Asian countries aim to more closely integrate their routes with Azerbaijan. In todays geopolitical environment, routes through Baku are proving to be the most reliable, convenient, and cost-effective in terms of both expenses and delivery times. The upcoming operation of the Zangezur Corridor holds particularly strong potential. This route could significantly reduce delivery times from Central Asia to Europe, which is especially important for exporting energy resources, uranium, and other strategically important goods. For the countries in the region, it represents not just a new transport link, but a real opportunity to strengthen their positions in the European market. Political cooperation is equally important. Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan are showing a clear readiness to pursue joint initiatives on the international stage. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized: "Today's meeting is of historic importance for multilateral relations. During the talks, we discussed various aspects of cooperation, strengthening multilateral interaction, in particular in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. Today, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are conducting an open dialogue, cooperating and supporting each other's initiatives within international organizations, including the UN. This dialogue is conducted on an equal basis not only in the trilateral format, but also within the entire region in order to enhance peace and stability". Azerbaijans initiatives are steadily positioning the country as a key hub linking the South Caucasus and Central Asia. This applies not only to energy projects, but also to transport networks and humanitarian ties. Summing up the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said: "All instructions have been given. I repeat what was already mentioned here - transport, transit, logistics, power industry, oil, gas sectors and cultural relations. And I have no doubt that all these instructions will be implemented in a timely manner". The results of the Turkmenbashi meeting clearly show that Azerbaijans path toward closer ties with Central Asia is becoming stable and long-term. Through his consistent policies, President Ilham Aliyev is steadily turning the country into a key energy and transit hub in Eurasia. Thanks to his vision and determination, projects in energy, transport, and the green economy are taking on a regional scale, serving the interests not just of individual countries but of the entire area from the Caspian to Europe. Today, Baku is emerging as a reliable bridge connecting the South Caucasus and Central Asia, offering a model of cooperation built on trust, pragmatism, and mutual benefit. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. The meeting in Turkmenbashi, attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, marked a significant milestone in the regions political and economic development, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend. Garayev noted that the brotherly relations among the three countries are grounded in shared history, culture, language, and religious values, forming deep and multifaceted connections. "These relations extend beyond diplomatic cooperation and develop in a spirit of sincere strategic partnership among the peoples. President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized that ties between these countries are built on 'brotherhood,' not merely diplomacy. This cooperation provides a crucial platform for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. During the meeting yesterday, the leaders underscored their commitment to deepening the existing ties of friendship and partnership between the three countries while exploring new avenues for cooperation. They highlighted the significance of mutual support and collaboration on both regional and international issues. Strategically positioned in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan serve as a vital bridge connecting East and West, as well as North and South," he said. Garayev added that Azerbaijans relations with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have expanded significantly in recent years. "In liberated Azerbaijani territories, Uzbek and Turkmen support has contributed to local development projects. For example, Uzbekistan built a secondary school in Fuzuli named after the scholar Mirza Ulugh Beg, and an Uzbek-backed garment factory operates in Khankendi. Turkmenistan is set to construct a mosque in Fuzuli, demonstrating the strength of bilateral relations. Turkmenistan will construct a mosque in the city of Fuzuli, highlighting the strength of the ties between our countries. Cooperation in the energy sector is also expanding, further underscoring the deepening partnership," he added. The political analyst also emphasized that Azerbaijans longstanding energy cooperation with Turkmenistan, along with Uzbekistans recent initiatives in the sector, reflects a deepening and broadening of regional energy policy. "This cooperation strengthens Azerbaijan's position as a regional leader and serves as a successful example of energy diplomacy. Azerbaijan acts as a logistical bridge for Turkmen energy resources to reach global markets, with Turkmen gas and oil potentially transported through the Trans-Caspian corridor to Europe. Relations with Uzbekistan have also rapidly developed, now encompassing energy projects. As President Ilham Aliyev noted, 'Our state oil company SOCAR has already started developing an oil field in Uzbekistan and a contract has been signed.' This development is a significant milestone for Azerbaijan, both economically and politically. SOCARs operations support the modernization of Uzbekistans energy sector while reinforcing mutually beneficial cooperation," Garayev explained. He concluded that Azerbaijans energy collaboration with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan represents a model of international cooperation, promoting economic integration and energy security. "President Ilham Aliyev's strategic vision positions Azerbaijan not only as an energy exporter but also as a leader and initiator of regional energy cooperation," Garayev said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. The high-level meeting in Turkmenbashi city with the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkmenistans Chairman of the Peoples Council Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined the strategic contours of deepening cooperation among the three countries. The meeting holds special significance for ensuring political stability, economic integration, and regional security across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan occupy a strategic geographical position, serving as a bridge between East and West, and North and South. This location positions the three nations as key players in global energy and transport corridors, with the Turkmenbashi meeting resulting in concrete agreements in transport-logistics, energy, and trade sectors. Several key documents were signed during the meeting, all of which carry strategic importance. One notable agreement is a memorandum on the transportation of cargo and passengers, coordination of corridors, development of logistics services, and increasing the efficiency of international trade routes. This memorandum represents a significant step for the joint development of the East-West and North-South transport corridors. Another agreement was signed between Azerbaijans Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and the State Service Turkmen Airlines, (Turkmenhowayollary) focusing on expanding air connections, promoting tourism, and facilitating passenger transport. If we examine the first half of this year, 15,579 people visited Azerbaijan from Turkmenistan, marking an increase of 183 visitors, or 1.2 percent, compared to the same period last year, when 15,396 travelers arrived. The signed memorandum is also expected to further boost the flow of tourists from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. The signing of the Sister City Protocol between Fuzuli in Azerbaijan and the newly constructed Arkadag city in Turkmenistan also carries great significance. The mosque to be built in Fuzuli by Turkmenistan will serve as a living symbol of the long-standing friendship and brotherhood between the two countries. This initiative represents not only a religious and cultural monument but also a testament to shared Turkic roots, spiritual ties, and humanistic diplomacy. Energy cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. Agreements on the joint development of the Dostlug field in the Caspian Sea between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are shaping the future of energy collaboration between the two nations. Azerbaijans involvement in this project demonstrates a successful example of regional energy diplomacy. SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) participation in oil field development in Uzbekistan further expands Azerbaijans energy footprint and establishes the country as a technology and capital exporter in international energy markets. The Turkmenbashi meeting reaffirmed Azerbaijans leadership role in the region. The agreements reached underscore international confidence in Azerbaijans initiatives and highlight the potential of the trilateral cooperation format to eventually include other Turkic-speaking states in this platform. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. Azerbaijans Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to discuss regional and international security issues, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. The discussion also covered various aspects of bilateral and multilateral political, economic, and humanitarian cooperation. The ministers exchanged views on the recent session of the Azerbaijan-Russia Intergovernmental State Commission on Economic Cooperation, held in Astrakhan on August 22, and expressed high appreciation for its outcomes. The conversation further touched on other topics of mutual interest, reflecting the continued dialogue and collaboration between the two countries. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. This autumn, Lithuanias Ministry of National Defence (KAM) will submit a package of legislative amendments to parliament aimed at strengthening the countrys security and defense, Trend reports. The initiatives encompass the enhancement of military infrastructure, the augmentation of the defense sector, and the revision of national security frameworks. One of the pivotal undertakings involves the modification of the Defense and Security Industry Statute. The modifications would confer unique dispensations for enterprises within the sector, facilitating the advancement and implementation of cutting-edge technologies while expediting industrial expansion. Complementary statutory frameworks will streamline operational protocols across interconnected domains, including infrastructure development, spatial planning, and telecommunication strategies. Another major proposal is the establishment of a new military training ground. Current facilities are no longer sufficient for the Lithuanian Armed Forces and NATO allies, as modernization, new units, and the permanent stationing of allied troops increase training needs. The new site would allow exercises for brigade-sized units and support the development of Lithuanias national division by 2030. Responding to a shifting geopolitical environment and growing hybrid threats, the government also intends to update the National Security Strategy and the Defence System Development Programme. Priorities include building infrastructure for Germanys brigade in Lithuania, expanding personnel numbers, strengthening public resilience, and adjusting to new methods of warfare. Other proposed measures include: Air defense: more flexible rules for the use of force against airspace violations, with faster response and improved monitoring. Polygraph law changes: expanded use of lie detector tests for those with access to classified information, simplifying procedures while strengthening information security. Intelligence law reform: granting security services more operational powers in urgent situations without court approval, updating information-sharing rules, and enhancing social guarantees for officers. State secrets law amendments: extending rules to cover the Lithuanian Riflemens Union and updating procedures for handling classified information. Conscription law changes: simplifying administration and reducing employers burden for rehiring conscripts after service. Riflemens Union reform: strengthening its integration into the national defense system by ensuring its armed resistance units automatically fall under the armed forces in case of conflict. The ministry argues that the package is essential to ensure Lithuania can respond effectively to threats, modernize its armed forces, and safeguard national security in an increasingly unstable environment. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Russia witnessing surge in Iran's non-oil exports Irans non-oil exports to Russia rose sharply during the first four months of the current Iranian year, reaching roughly $430 million and 1.1 million tons. Overall trade between the two countries grew to about $880 million and 2 million tons, marking double-digit gains in both value and volume compared to the same period last year. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 23. Kazakhstan increased its import of energy resources from the EAEU countries by more than 20 percent in the first half of 2025, Trend reports via the Kazakhstan Bureau of National Statistics. The provision of fuel and energy commodities to the republic experienced a monetary escalation relative to the corresponding timeframe in 2024, increasing to $924 million from $755 million, as per initial analytics from the Bureau of National Statistics: $875 million was allocated from Russian supplies; Kyrgyzstan contributed $34.6 million; Belarus accounted for $14 million. Kazakh exports of hydrocarbon and energy commodities to the EAEU jurisdictions experienced an uptick in the initial semester of the fiscal year, notwithstanding a contraction in shipments to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The republic experienced a 10 percent uptick in export metrics attributable to the economic engagements with Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. Kyrgyzstan executed a procurement strategy that resulted in a twofold increase in energy product acquisitions, amounting to $118 million, juxtaposed with $58 million during the initial semester of 2024; Armenia $43,000. During the initial semester of 2024, Kazakhstan exhibited minimal throughput of fuel and energy commodities to this nation. Kazakhstan is actively enhancing its energy collaboration within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, showcasing favorable trends in the import and export metrics of fuel and energy commodities. The expansion of reciprocal provisions plays a pivotal role in the advancement of integrative dynamics and the equilibrium of the regional energy marketplace. Photo: the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 23. Uzbekistans Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Ilzat Kasimov met with Tianjin Rail Transit Groups Deputy General Director Ma Yunkan to discuss cooperation in metro and railway development projects, Trend reports via the country's Ministry of Investment. In the course of the meeting, The Chinese company expressed interest in participating in the reconstruction of existing lines of the Tashkent Metro as well as in the construction of new routes. Uzbek side noted that the implementation of such projects would help modernize countrys transport infrastructure and provide the population with more convenient and modern services. The parties also reviewed priority areas of cooperation and agreed to move forward with the initiative to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, continuing their dialogue on transport development. Azerbaijan-China trade turnover surges in 7M2025 Azerbaijans trade with China surged in the first seven months of the year, reaching around $2.5 billion, up roughly $530 million or 27% compared to last year. Exports to China jumped to about $53 million, while imports climbed to nearly $2 billion, making China Azerbaijans top import partner. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. Documents signed on August 22 between Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan open new opportunities for regional integration and the development of transport and logistics corridors, Bakhtiyor Ergashev, an Uzbek expert and political scientist, director of the Center for Research Initiatives "Ma'no", told Trend. According to him, the main political significance of the summit of the three countries presidents lies in connecting two key regions the South Caucasus and Central Asia through the potential of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. They are combining their potentials, addressing accumulated problems, and defining the prospects for cooperation. It is impossible to deepen cooperation without taking steps toward synchronizing the activities of economic agents, the economic entities of the countries, creating conditions for collaboration, partnership, and increasing foreign economic turnover between the countries of the region. This provides serious positive expectations and is inspiring, Ergashev noted. The expert emphasized that the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus are interested in establishing and strengthening transport and logistics cooperation, as these regions are expected to become a bridge connecting the Eurasian space and linking major cargo-generating centers such as China, India, and the European Union. He also explained that the meeting in Turkmenbashi is aimed at finding practical solutions to institutional, administrative, and infrastructural problems, such as the absence of a unified coordinating center, lack of an operational system for information exchange between ports, complicated customs procedures, shortage of ferries, and bottlenecks in railway infrastructure. According to him, agreements on joint activities in aviation and shipbuilding address concrete practical tasks, including the creation of container ship and ferry fleets between the shores of the Caspian Sea. There are statements that due to the shortage of container ships and ferries operating between ports on the Caspian Sea, Uzbekistan has decided to create its own fleet to ensure more efficient cargo transportation between the two shores of the Caspian. In this matter, Uzbekistan intends to cooperate with both Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in the construction of such vessels. Uzbekistan is already concluding negotiations on the types, capacities, and volumes of ships to be built and operated on the Caspian Sea routes. Shipbuilding plans between the countries exist, are being discussed, and should lead to positive results to increase maritime transport capacity, Ergashev said. The expert stressed that establishing sister-city relationships between Fuzuli and Arkadag contributes to the development of humanitarian cooperation, educational and cultural exchanges, and strengthening ties between regional communities. We need to develop the track of humanitarian cooperation and exchanges. And the sister-city format is an old, well-tested, and effective way to strengthen cooperation between countries, cities, and communities. Work at this municipal level will, of course, promote the development of regional ties, he added. Regarding financial interaction, Ergashev noted the importance of the agreement on cooperation between exchanges. Commodity and raw material exchanges in each country of the region are largely key organizations. The stronger their ties, the clearer the relationships between exchanges, and the more opportunities they open for each other, the greater the boost to foreign trade between the countries. If operational and effective cooperation is established, we will have the opportunity to increase trade turnover. This is a very important practical step, which can be measured and observed in the process of deepening foreign trade cooperation between the three countries, the expert emphasized. The political analyst stressed that the successful implementation of multilateral transport and logistics initiatives requires strengthened institutional coordination, reduced administrative and procedural barriers, infrastructure development, and consideration of climate changes affecting Caspian Sea cargo flows. The signing of agreements and the leaders meetings are indicators that each country understands these tasks and is ready to combine efforts to ensure synergy and increase the efficiency of the trans-Caspian route, concluded Bakhtiyor Ergashev. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 23. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will design projects to help build climate resilience of infrastructure in Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing the Banks Country Partnership Strategy for Azerbaijan for 2025-2029. "Azerbaijan is subject to multiple natural hazards that can derail sustained economic growth. Water scarcity poses a significant threat to agricultural production, employment, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation. Glacial melt threatens to bring severe flooding, land degradation, and damage to infrastructure such as reservoirs. To mitigate these risks, ADB will design projects based on a thorough analysis of climate and disaster vulnerability risks to help build the climate resilience of infrastructure and protect ecosystems and vulnerable communities. Measures to support climate adaptation and stronger disaster risk management are integral to this Country Partnership Strategy," reads the document. ADB notes that Azerbaijan has an abundance of natural resources and a diverse range of climate zones. Although the country contributes only 0.1% to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it faces significant climate change impacts, including desertification, emerging water scarcity, and sea level decline. "In response, the government developed a national climate adaptation plan in 2024, and its updated nationally determined contributions will be announced in 2025. The government is well on its way to raising the share of installed renewable electricity generation capacity, including for exports, with significant private sector investment.4 It plans to diversify earnings by investing in low-carbon regional transport and logistics networks. It also aims to increase productivity, including in underdeveloped regions, through skills development, climate-smart infrastructure, high-value agriculture, and small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) support programs. Supporting the resettlement of internally displaced people is a priority for the government," reads the strategy. Kyrgyzstans hard coal mining faces downturn in 7M2025 Photo: he Agency for Protection and Development of Competition of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan recorded a notable decline in hard coal production in the first seven months of 2025, even as the countrys mining sector showed strong overall growth. While coal extraction slowed, output of metal ores and other minerals increased, supporting the expansion of the mining industry. Broader industrial production also rose, driven by pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, construction materials, and chemicals, highlighting steady diversification in the economy. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. The visit of Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Kyrgyzstan on August 21-22 marked a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries. During his trip, Tokayev held talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. The presidents also participated in the seventh session of the Supreme Interstate Council of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The most notable outcome of the visit was the signing of a Roadmap aimed at increasing bilateral trade turnover to $3 billion by 2030. The presidents also approved a Comprehensive Cooperation Plan for 20252027. These measures demonstrate the countries commitment to developing their partnership in a systematic and long-term manner. Currently, trade ties between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are steadily growing. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $1.47 billion, a 7.4 percent increase over 2023. In the first half of 2025, trade turnover amounted to $721 million, up 13.8 percent year-on-year. Imports from Kazakhstan rose by 25.7 percent to $542 million, while Kyrgyz exports fell by 11.6 percent to $179 million. Despite this imbalance, Kazakhstan remains Kyrgyzstans third-largest trading partner after China and Russia, accounting for over 10 percent of the countrys total trade. Following his meeting with Zhaparov, Tokayev noted at a press conference that about a quarter of total trade between the countries is concentrated in the agro-industrial sector. Development in this area is particularly important, as it not only boosts trade volumes but also supports local producers. Expanding cooperation and creating joint ventures in agriculture will accelerate supply chains, improve production efficiency, and stimulate agribusiness development in both countries. Challenges remain, particularly at the border, where queues, especially for freight, highlight the need to streamline customs procedures. The presidents discussed this issue and outlined specific steps to address it. Special attention was given to increasing the capacity of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border and optimizing freight transport. Tokayev noted that a series of large-scale initiatives have been implemented recently, and eight border checkpoints are currently being modernized. Completion is expected within the next two years, under strict oversight from both countries. An important step toward achieving the $3 billion trade goal will be the launch of an industrial-trade-logistics complex at the border, scheduled for next year, as announced by the Kazakh president. The project is expected to facilitate cargo movement, reduce delays at checkpoints, and create better conditions for businesses, especially SMEs, thereby accelerating trade and attracting additional investment to border regions. Improved border infrastructure will shorten delivery times, reduce business costs, and enable more active trade. All these measures contribute to closer economic integration between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and enhance the overall potential for cooperation. The presidents also agreed to strengthen collaboration in the digital sphere and e-government, as well as to share experiences in the digital economy. This will help optimize government operations, accelerate business processes, and integrate companies at a cross-border level. Coordination in the water and energy sector was another key topic. Efficient management of transboundary water resources is seen as vital for regional stability and sustainable development. A particularly significant project is the Kambarata-1 hydroelectric power plant on the Naryn river, a construction agreement for which was signed by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. With a capacity of 1,860 MW and a cost of $3.5 billion, it will generate 5.6 billion kWh of electricity annually. For Kazakhstan, the plant is especially important for providing irrigation water during the summer. Meanwhile, in February 2025, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed a roadmap for the construction of small hydroelectric plants on Kyrgyz territory. These projects not only expand energy infrastructure but also drive regional development, creating jobs and strengthening the economic resilience of border areas. The presidents also exchanged views on the international agenda. Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan share similar positions on many global issues and actively cooperate within the UN and other international organizations. He affirmed Kazakhstans support for Kyrgyzstans candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 20272028 and praised its work within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Overall, the meetings resulted in the signing of 15 documents across the economy, transport, energy, digitalization, and cultural sectors. These include agreements on the use of navigational seals, modernization of checkpoints, radio frequency coordination, and training for border service personnel. Humanitarian cooperation was also emphasized, with agreements on culture, tourism, education, and media. President Tokayevs visit to Bishkek demonstrated that Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan relations have reached a new level. Cooperation is now more comprehensive, encompassing the economy, energy, infrastructure, digital transformation, and humanitarian spheres. The agreements signed lay a solid foundation for a long-term partnership based on mutual benefit and trust. Considering current trends and agreements, the goal of raising bilateral trade to $3 billion by 2030 appears achievable. Large-scale energy and infrastructure projects are poised to strengthen ties and give new momentum to regional development. With effective implementation, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan can significantly expand trade and investment while solidifying their strategic partnership in Central Asia. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, August 23. The head of Kyrgyzstans State Tax Service, Alamambet Shykmamatov, and the head of Kazakhstans Committee of State Revenues, Zhandos Duissembiyev, signed two memoranda during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayevs official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports via the Kyrgyzstans State Tax Service. The first memorandum concerns launching a pilot project on the use of navigation seals to track road shipments in mutual trade. It aims to align tax and customs procedures with international standards and ensure greater transparency for small and medium-sized businesses The second memorandum sets out a pilot project to integrate information systems for exchanging consignment notes and electronic invoices, as well as the introduction of an electronic queuing system at checkpoints on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border. Shykmamatov stated that the agreements were an important step in supporting businesses and freight carriers, creating incentives, and simplifying procedures. For his part, Duissembiyev expressed gratitude to his Kyrgyz counterpart, highlighted the growth in trade turnover between the two countries, and stressed that the memoranda would contribute to further increases in exports and imports. The agreements are expected to pave the way for navigation seals and improved monitoring of shipments, reducing control procedures at border crossings and increasing transparency and efficiency in cross-border trade between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. South Korean KOICA and Kyrgyzstan team up to tackle air pollution Photo: KOICA Kyrgyzstan KOICA and Kyrgyzstans Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision signed an agreement in Bishkek to launch an air quality improvement project. The initiative will introduce green heating systems, prepare a long-term management plan, and benefit residents of Bishkek and the Chuy region Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, August 23. Tajikistans Transport Minister Azim Ibrokhim and Chinas Ambassador to Tajikistan Guo Zhijun discussed advancing key international transport corridors, including China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkiye-Europe and China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan, Trend reports via the countrys Ministry of Transport. The sides also addressed Tajikistans access through neighboring countries to international seaports such as Irans Chabahar and Pakistans Karachi, as well as cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. The parties agreed to accelerate the construction of two-level roads at key intersections in the capital city. According to the ministry, technical and economic feasibility studies for these projects have been completed and are being reviewed with the Chinese side. Once approved, construction work will begin following tender procedures. Tajikistan and China transport cooperation operates under the intergovernmental agreement on international road transport signed in Dushanbe in 2008, allowing smooth movement of goods via the Kulma-Karosu border crossing within the framework of joint working groups between Tajikistan and Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Cooperation also takes place through regional and international organizations, including Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, August 23. President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) Director General Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti and a delegation of Qatari banks discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation, Trend reports via the Tajik president administration. The meeting focused on the current state of Tajikistan-Qatar relations and the potential for closer economic and banking collaboration. President Rahmon emphasized Tajikistans strong interest in strengthening and broadening friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with Qatar, describing the country as one of the most respected nations in the Arab world and an important partner of Tajikistan. The sides expressed satisfaction with the growing partnership between the two countries. Discussions covered ways to expand trade and economic cooperation and encourage mutually beneficial investments in energy, industry, transport, agriculture, irrigation, mining and processing of minerals, as well as other areas of shared interest. QFFD works to promote human development, reduce poverty, strengthen health and education systems, support economic growth, provide humanitarian aid, and enhance communities resilience to climate change. Qatar Fund for Dev't extends loan support to Tajikistans Rogun HPP project Photo: Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan The Government of Tajikistan and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) have signed a concessional loan agreement to support the construction of the Rogun hydropower plant. The project aims to boost Tajikistans electricity generation capacity and strengthen regional energy cooperation. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Learn the basics of raising chickens in hands-on workshops Photo courtesy of UAF Cooperative Extension Service Upcoming workshops will cover the basics of starting and managing a flock of chickens, which might include birds like this handsome Wyandotte. Raising chickens doesn't require a lot of space, just the right information. Jim Vinyard, livestock nutritionist at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center in Palmer, will hold three in-person workshops over the next month to discuss how to start and care for a healthy coop. Two free workshops will be held in the agriculture classroom at the Alaska Pacific Universitys Kellogg House, 6404 Lossing Road, Palmer, in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. On Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 6-8 p.m., Vinyard will lead Chicken 101, an introduction to backyard chickens. Participants will learn how to choose the right breed and set up a chicken coop, as well as the essentials of feeding, watering and daily care. Space is limited. Register using the online form or visit https://bit.ly/Chicken101-APU. On Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 6-8 p.m., he will present Chicken 102. In this workshop, Vinyard will explain advanced techniques on egg production and sustainability; health, nutrition and flock management; and how to prepare your chickens for winter in Alaska. Register using the online form or visit https://bit.ly/Chicken102-APU. For more information, contact Alex Wilson at ajwilson@alaskapacific.edu or Melissa Clampitt at mrclampitt@alaska.edu. A third workshop will be held in Anchorage on Tuesday, Sept. 2, from 6-8 p.m. In this interactive presentation, Vinyard will focus on the basics of raising chickens and how to differentiate feeds, sprout grains and overwinter chickens. It is a collaboration between the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service and Seed Lab, located at 111 W. 6th Ave., Anchorage. There is a $5 materials fee. Register via the online portal or visit https://bit.ly/SeedLabChickens. For more information, contact Molly Johansson at 907-786-6313 or mjohansson@alaska.edu. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris2@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 046-25 Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Outrage as Japan city caps smartphone use Angry responses have overwhelmed a decision to limit the daily use of smartphones by Japan's Toyoake City local administration Saturday August 23, 2025 10:15 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies Tokyo: Angry responses have overwhelmed a decision to limit the daily use of smartphones by Japan's Toyoake City local administration. In a proposed ordinance, the Japanese city has urged all smartphone users to limit screen time to two hours a day outside work or school. The ordinance, however, said the guideline is voluntary and there will not be any penalty on those not obeying. Toyoake City said the ordinance has been moved taking any consideration the health and other negative impact of excessive smartphone use, according to news agency AFP. The proposal aims to prevent excessive use of devices causing physical and mental health issues... including sleep problems," Mayor Masafumi Koki said in a statement on Friday. Outrage, Backlash The decision has however sparked outrage across the city and outside. I understand their intention, but the two-hour limit is impossible, one user wrote on social media platform X. In two hours, I cannot even read a book or watch a movie, wrote another. Others said smartphone use should be a decision for families to make themselves. Japanese youth spend slightly over five hours on average a day online on weekdays, according to a survey published in March by the Children and Families Agency. Not first of its kind The ordinance will be considered next week, and if passed, it will come into effect in October. Toyoake Citys decision to cap the mobile phone use, however, is not the first in Japan. In 2020, western Kagawa region in the country issued a first-of-its kind ordinance calling for children to be limited to an hour a day of gaming during the week, and 90 minutes during school holidays. It also suggested children aged 12 to 15 should not be allowed to use smartphones later than 9:00 pm, with the limit rising to 10:00 pm for children between 15 and 18, according to AFP. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 22, 2025) Howard University President Ben Vinson III announced his resignation effective Aug. 31, 2025, following student protests over housing shortages and billing errors. He served as the university's 18th president for nearly two years, having assumed the role in September 2023. In a statement, Vinson expressed gratitude for his tenure: "It has been an honor to serve Howard. At this point, I will be taking some time to be with my family and continue my research activities. I look forward to using my experiences as president to continue to serve higher education in the future." The university's Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, Howard alumnus and 17th president, as interim president, effective Sept. 1. Student activists, notably from the group Whose Howard Is It?, had criticized the administration for unresolved billing discrepancies and inadequate housing for upperclassmen. These issues intensified after a billing system transition led to account errors affecting thousands of students. Frederick, a practicing surgeon and professor of surgery at Howard University College of Medicine, previously served as president from 2017 to 2023. His prior tenure was marked by increased donations and funding, though it also faced criticism over responses to student protests regarding housing and faculty pay. Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. Five passengers aboard a tourist bus were killed Friday when their driver got distracted and crashed on a New York state highway, police said. The wreck happened 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Buffalo as the tourists headed back to New York City after visiting Niagara Falls. The passengers were of Indian, Chinese and Filipino origin, authorities said. "It's believed the operator became distracted, lost control, over corrected and ended up... over there," said New York state police commander major Andre Ray at the scene Friday evening, giving the toll for the first time. No one else was in a life-threatening condition, Ray said. Several passengers received medical treatment and were released. Fifty-four people were on the bus when it crashed and no children were killed, US media reported, contradicting an earlier police briefing. Six Chinese citizens were aboard the bus, China's state broadcaster CCTV said quoting the Chinese consulate in New York. Five were treated for minor injuries and discharged, while the sixth was undergoing surgery. The bus had traveled to Niagara Falls, on the border with Canada, for the day and was heading home when the accident took place on a highway near Pembroke. - Mechanical error 'ruled out' - "Mechanical error was ruled out as well as impairment or intoxication," said Ray, who added that no charges had been brought. Translators were sent to the scene to help communicate with the victims. Eight helicopters were involved in the rescue effort, Margaret Ferrentino, president of Mercy Flight, a nonprofit provider of air ambulance services, told AFP. "The driver is alive and well -- we're working with him. We believe we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control. We just want to make sure that all the details are thoroughly vetted," a police spokesman said earlier. State Governor Kathy Hochul said her team was coordinating with state police and local officials "who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved." Blood and organ donor network Connect Life issued a call for blood donors to come forward in the wake of the crash. "I'm heartbroken for all those we've lost and all those injured and praying for their families. Thank you to our brave first responders on the scene," said the senior US senator from New York, Chuck Schumer. Niagara Falls -- towering waterfalls that span the US-Canada border -- is a popular tourist destination. bur-gw/acb/abs/tym Chris Martin refused to sing songs about "evil or the Devil" when he was a teenager. Chris Martin has spoken about his aversion to singing songs referencing the Devil as a teen The 48-year-old Coldplay frontman grew up with Christian values having attended Exeter Cathedral School, and later boarded at Sherborne School, a former monastery in Dorset, and so when he was asked to sing songs like Sympathy For The Devil by The Rolling Stones, he felt it wasn't appropriate. Appearing on the #ABTalks podcast, he said: "There are a couple of songs when I was 15 that I wouldnt sing. "I was in a band and they wanted to do some covers and I said, 'I dont think I can sing that,' because they were about evil or the Devil. Now I realise it was just a song." Chris family attended Belmont Chapel, a conservative evangelical church, and religious teachings were very much part of his upbringing. However, later in life, he branded himself an "alltheist". Speaking in a 2021 interview with Howard Stern, he explained: My God, for me, is all things and all. God is everywhere and everyone and its also the unknowable, the vast majesty behind everything. And its just the point where you get to the place where you cant think any furtherthats where I think God is. Coldplay's songs have also touched on faith and spirituality, including We Pray, Fix You, Paradise and Viva La Vida. Elsewhere during the interview, Chris explained why he relates to Homer Simpson from the iconic sitcom The Simpsons. He said: I have to say Homer Simpson. I just think hes one of the most beautifully constructed characters in all of creativity because hes so human and does stupid things and makes mistakes, but his heart is good. Hell always make the right decision in the end. Hes angry and full of all the emotions, but ultimately he will always do the right thing. Chris actually appeared in the 2010 episode Million Dollar Maybe, performing Viva La Vida for Homer and his son Bart Simpson at a private concert. France does not let Salvini's latest criticism of Macron slide. The Italian ambassador to France has been summoned to the French ministry of foreign affairs after Italy's deputy premier Matteo Salvini took a swipe at French president Emmanuel Macron. Ambassador Emanuela D'Alessandro was summoned on Thursday to discuss what the ministry termed "unacceptable" statements by Salvini, who serves as Italy's transport minister and is leader of the right-wing Lega party. During an event in Milan on Wednesday, Salvini was asked by a journalist what he thought of Macron's proposal to send soldiers to Ukraine to protect it from a possible future attack by Russia, once a peace agreement is reached between the two countries. Salvini responded caustically: "In Milan, they'd say 'Taches al tram' (hang on to the tram). Go yourself if you want to. Put on your helmet, your jacket, your rifle, and go to Ukraine", addressing Macron directly. The French foreign ministry reminded Ambassador DAlessandro that such remarks run counter to the climate of trust and the historic relationship between our two countries, as well as recent bilateral progress, which has highlighted strong convergence between Paris and Rome, notably in their unwavering support for Ukraine, French news agency AFP reported, citing diplomatic sources in Paris. The reference is specifically to the diplomatic efforts that led up to the meeting at the White House last Monday, where Macron, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and other European leaders attended high-stakes talks with US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Salvini's barbed attack on Macron was nothing new. The most recent occasion when he publicly attacked the French president was in March, when he called him "crazy". Over the years he has labelled Macron a "warmonger", a "hypocrite", and "a polite gentleman who drinks too much champagne". Photo credit: Pierre Teyssot / Shutterstock.com. By Cate McCurry, PA More than 1,000 people marched through the streets of Dublin to call for justice for a young child who died after dealing with long delays for scoliosis surgery. Nine-year-old Harvey Morrison, who had scoliosis and spina bifida, died on July 29th. His parents, Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt, said their son waited for years for spinal surgery, during which time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130 degrees. By the time Harvey received spinal surgery last December, the curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected. The march took place in Dublin city centre (Gareth Chaney/PA) The curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing. His parents, opposition politicians and campaigners have called for the Tanaiste and former minister for health, Simon Harris, to step down, after he pledged in 2017 that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment. Speaking at the Justice for Harvey rally in Dublin, Ms Sherratt said that her son was forced to spend the majority of his life waiting for treatment. Harveys painfully short life was very much a rollercoaster. There were a lot of low times but the highs were what kept us going, she told the large crowd at Custom House. We often called Harvey our easy child, as despite how complex he was, he was also just so laid back and took everything on the chin. Harvey spent the majority of life waiting. He was made to wait for everything but he asked for nothing. All he wanted was his iPad, his Hunky Dorys, the odd lollipop and timely access to healthcare. To us, that seems like so little to ask. We could provide him with most things. We could ensure that almost all his needs were met, but we unfortunately didnt control all aspects of his healthcare. Joan Daly and Aaron Daly from Dun Laoghaire with their daughter Sophia during the march (Gareth Chaney/PA) Despite doing everything we could, despite begging for help, we didnt have the final say. CHI (Childrens Health Ireland) has not only failed to met their basic needs, but they appear to he protecting those that indirectly or directly caused harm. Harvey was nine. He waited 33 months for scoliosis surgery and, in that time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130. He had to have his whole life put on hold while he waited. We cancelled family holidays, cancelled our wedding, postponed his sisters heart surgery as he sat and waited for a date for surgery. We had to watch him deteriorate, cry in pain, struggle to breathe and lose the sparkle in his eye over those 33 months. Most importantly it robbed him of his childhood, it robbed him of his comfort, robbed him of quality of life and robbed us of the opportunity to make precious family memories with him. That is something we will never get over. This is why we will continue to advocate. What we have been through, what Harvey has lived through, is soul-destroying. We will keep pushing in hope that no family will have to face what we did. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald spoke to demonstrators (Gareth Chaney/PA) This is something we vow to continue in his death. Among those attending Saturdays march were People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin and Senator Tom Clonan. Mr Murphy and Mr Toibin were among those to call for Mr Harris to resign. Mr Toibin has vowed to table a motion of no confidence in Mr Harris at the earliest opportunity. Ms McDonald said Mr Harris needs to be accountable for his absolute failure to meet the commitment he made in 2017. Asked if she will support a motion of no confidence in the Tanaiste, Ms McDonald said it should be done on a cross-party basis among opposition parties. Mr Morrison thanked the demonstrators. We would like to say a massive thank you for everyones support over the last few weeks. The level of support has been absolutely overwhelming, he said. People during a Justice for Harvey March in Dublin city centre (Gareth Chaney/PA) We are here to call for justice for Harvey and all the other kids continuing to be failed by Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) and the state. Harvey was our first child. He is the one that made us parents, he made us a family and he made us into the people we are today. He showed us how to be brave, how to be patient, courageous and kind. Today we hope we make him proud. His parents are leading a campaign and have called for a public inquiry into governance at CHI. Mr Toibin said: I believe that the heartbreaking passing of Harvey can be a turning point in Irish society, one that makes real the objective of the proclamation of the Republic to make sure every child in this country is cherished. Mr Murphy said that Harvey has become a symbol for all the children badly failed by the state. For the hundreds of others waiting for necessary surgeries for scoliosis and being failed by the CHI. For all the other children, and other aspects of the CHI who are failed but the hundreds of kids who will not have appropriate school places come September. Harvey is a symbol for all of that. Its a failure of CHI, the Government and the State and a failure of Simon Harris. As a very nice summer drifts towards autumn, thoughts turn to back to school, Leaving Cert results, and the move to work or college. A lot of people believe that moving away from home to go to college is good for young adults in terms of development and life experience, even while those who live in or near cities with legacy universities attend their local college or university. Cost alone often makes that decision. Student accommodation or the lack of it is increasingly having a huge impact on college choice. In that context, it is still hard to believe that 64% of the South East regions Leaving Cert cohort attends college outside the region. The cost of this in terms of parental support for a student at university, plus the longer term loss as students stay and work where they qualify, is enormous. Most particularly, it creates a brain drain from this region to other Irish regions and cities. The annual South East Economic Monitor (SEEM) report on the comparative economic performance of the South East region says: In 2023/24, there were 15,070 full-time higher education students from the South East (down from 15,270 in 2022/23), representing 7.3% of the national total below the regions 8.9% population share. Only 36% (5,430) studied within the region; 64% (9,640) left, creating economic leakage and higher costs for families during their studies. In contrast, 74.4% of students from the South West (Cork and Kerry) stayed local, with just 25.6% studying elsewhere. The annual cost of higher education in Dublin, including accommodation, is estimated at 16,00020,000. Everyone who lives here must know that the campaign for a complete university in Waterford to serve the South East has been long, arduous and politically fraught. Intra-regional jealousies have played into the hands of other regions. It seems self-evident that a unified political lobby from the South East in the past 25 years would have secured full university status for WIT. Instead, the politically chosen path, linking WIT with Carlow IT and creating a new Wexford campus to form SETU, is complicated and as yet without the funding, borrowing powers or organizational structures of a complete university. While these necessary elements are promised, movement is glacial. SETU is what it is. We have no alternative other than to drive it forward. Announcements of high-profile courses in Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Waterford, plus the commencement of construction on long-awaited PPP projects, such as a new engineering building on the Cork Road campus, have raised hopes and given the government and its local representatives an out when hard SEEM questions are asked. For the nth time in the life of this column readers are reminded that nothing new has been built for WIT or SETU Waterford in over 20 years. The investment deficit, notwithstanding the PPP development, is massive. This reflects a wider deficit in government capital spending across the South East. SEEM reports: The Governments Capital Tracker, updated in May 2025, lists 268 major public investment projects at county level, from pre-tender to implementation stages. The national imbalance is stark. Dublin, with 28% of the population, is in the process of receiving 56% of capital spending - even excluding Metro North - that is more than double its proportional share. This highlights the failure of repeated government commitments since 2018 to deliver balanced regional development. The South East, despite marquee projects like the North Quays, has the lowest per capita investment at 1,738 - around 7,000 below the national average - reflecting a persistent pattern of regional underinvestment. Remember that, a persistent pattern of regional underinvestment. The difference in capital spending is horrendous and speaks to a presumption against investment in Waterford and the South East. Independent research by the UK NGO Centre for Cities clearly states that where city centres are reportedly struggling, the reason is not cosmetic, i.e. how the place looks, but entirely due to spending power and disposable income in the local economy. Those who loudly complain about Waterford city might remember that, while absorbing the SEEM data, even as the political response from our government representatives has been zero. Everyone is delighted to see a new surgical hub at UHW and a new engineering building at SETU, but these are, at best, catch-up investments. Has the university deficit rendered us unable as a regional population to comprehend our current shortcomings? The national picture with Foreign Direct Investment and IDA jobs is clouded by the policies of Donald Trump and the current US administration. Uncertainty is everywhere and no one knows how things will turn out. SEEM reflects the 2024 situation and is instructive in national policy terms. The South East saw modest growth of 2%, increasing its share of IDA-supported jobs to 5.4% (up from 5.1%). In 2024, there were 15,580 IDA jobs in the region. A population-based pro-rata share (8.89%) would be 26,940, leaving a gap of 11,360 direct jobs. FDI roles are typically the highest-paying and most productive in the economy. Within the region, growth has been uneven: Carlow and Wexford remain static; Kilkenny has seen a significant uplift (likely due to Abbott); and Waterford has declined, with closures such as Cartamundi. So much for balanced regional development! However, SEEMs total economic assessment is perhaps the most disturbing. While the national economy has significantly outperformed expectations - recording GDP growth of 40.2% since 2019 and maintaining strong employment levels - the South East follows a notably different trajectory. Over the same period, the regions GDP has grown by just 8.2%, with two of the last five years showing contraction. Despite its limitations in the Irish context, Regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remains the primary benchmark of economic performance - and by that standard, the South East has seen virtually no growth since 2018. The divergence between regions is becoming more pronounced. Dublins economy is now over 12 times the size of the South Easts, despite having just three times the population. In 2021, the ratio was nine to one. This gap continues to widen. Although the national recovery from the pandemic has been strong, its benefits have not been evenly distributed. The South East continues to lag behind national averages across key metrics. We invite Ministers Butler and Cummins to comment. The Gaza Strips largest city is now gripped by famine, according to the worlds leading authority on food crises. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said on Friday that famine was occurring in Gaza City, and was likely to spread to the southern cities of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid. A Palestinian girl waits at a community kitchen before donated food is distributed in Gaza City on Friday. Credit: AP Aid groups and food security experts have warned for months that Gaza was on the brink of famine, yet this is the first official confirmation. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the report showed a failure of humanity itself, describing the famine as a man-made disaster and a moral indictment. Jeffrey Epsteins imprisoned former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, repeatedly denied witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions with Donald Trump, according to newly released Justice Department records meant to distance the Republican president from the disgraced financier. I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way, Maxwell said, according to the transcript of her two-day interview last month with Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche. Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), Melania Knauss, with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000. Credit: Getty Images The president was never inappropriate with anybody. During the interview, the imprisoned 63-year-old former British socialite also said she did not witness any sexual abuse by Epstein, her long-time boyfriend, and did not implicate any other prominent individuals in wrongdoing. Sinn Fein TD in Mayo Rose Conway-Walsh is not ruling out a presidential bid but said her work as a TD remains her priority. The Erris politician has been touted as a potential Sinn Fein candidate in the upcoming election for Ireland's next President. Im very focused on what Im doing at the moment, Deputy Conway-Walsh told the Western People. It is a great honour to be mentioned, I have received messages from all over the country. Lets see how the process evolves but I am very focused what Im doing." Ms Conway-Walsh is her partys spokesperson on enterprise, tourism and employment and also serves as Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas committee on Defence and National Security, as well as playing a key role in the committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. It is likely to be mid-September before Sinn Fein decides on whether to put forward its own candidate or to back an Independent candidate. Whoever is selected, whether thats someone from within the party or outside the party, they should be absolutely committed to preparation for constitutional change, said Deputy Conway Walsh. She said it remains a difficult time for her and her family following the passing of her mother Philomena last June. I have a lot of unfinished work to do both with my national roles and within Mayo. I am acutely aware of those responsibilities, she said. Meanwhile, opposition parties who endorse presidential candidate Catherine Connolly are said to be anxiously awaiting the outcome of Sinn Feins decision on whether to field their own candidate or back the Independent. Sinn Fein has yet to make a decision on whether it will back Connolly as part of a united left coalition or run its own candidate. Galway TD Connolly has the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a range of other independents. Two hopefuls have announced their intention to seek Fine Gaels nomination for president. MEP Sean Kelly and former party deputy leader Heather Humphreys announced their intention to seek nomination earlier this week, with the former Cavan-Monaghan TD currently holding a commanding lead over the former GAA president. Fianna Fail has yet to put forward a candidate. Nutriband entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan and Riverdance star Michael Flatley are among other hopefuls seeking an Independent nomination. Allentown, PA (18103) Today There might be an early stray shower, mainly east of the Lehigh Valley; otherwise, look for skies to turn out mostly sunny for much of the day. Humidity drops to really comfortable levels during the afternoon. . Tonight Mostly clear as another shot of cool and comfy air arrives. Reading, PA (19601) Today Look for skies to turn out mostly sunny for much of the day. Humidity drops to really comfortable levels during the afternoon. . Tonight Mostly clear as another shot of cool and comfy air arrives. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a "Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here" event Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Lincoln High School in Warren, Mich. [AP Photo/Jose Juarez] Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has resumed his Fighting Oligarchy tour, drawing thousands at recent events in West Virginia and Asheville, North Carolina, with more stops planned across the Midwest. The upcoming stops on the Fighting Oligarchy Tour seek to boost the campaigns of the Democratic Partys candidates in the states and localities where Sanders will be speaking. In Wisconsin, Sanders will appear with congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke; in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with Senate primary candidate Abdul El-Sayed; and in Chicago, with Rep. Delia Ramirez and state Senator Robert Peters. Sanders events have drawn large audiences because workers and young people are seeking a way to oppose the immense crisis engulfing the United States. Trump is implementing a dictatorshipdeploying troops in Washington D.C. and threatening to extend military occupations to Chicago, Los Angeles, and other major citieswhile carrying out a fascistic assault on immigrants and democratic rights. The genocide in Gaza is continuing, part of an escalating global war. These conditions, combined with staggering levels of social inequality, have produced deep frustration and anger in the working class and among young people. But Sanders role is not to lead a fight against this crisis, but to capture and divert opposition back into the Democratic Partythe very party of Wall Street, war, and repression. By insisting that the Democrats can be pushed to the left, he works to dissipate the anger of workers and youth and prevent the emergence of an independent movement of the working class, which is what is above all necessary. What is the Democratic Party? A central claim of Sanders Fighting Oligarchy tourand of his politics more broadlyis that the Democratic Party was once a party of the working class and can be pushed back in that direction. In Ashville, North Carolina,, he told the audience, The Democratic Party in many, many respects, has turned its back on the working class of this country If Democrats want to win elections, theyre going to have to stop taking money from billionaires. In Mingo County, West Virginia, he told the attendees, You can take over the Democratic Party. The claim that the Democrats were once, or could again be, a party of the working class is contradicted by the partys entire history. Before and during the Civil War, the Democratic Party was the political representative of the Southern slave-owning aristocracy, allied with wealthy Northern business interests. After Reconstruction, it became the party of Jim Crow apartheid in the South. As capitalism expanded, the Republicans emerged as the party of the robber barons, while the Democrats postured as reformers to contain working class unrest. Woodrow Wilson introduced the graduated income tax but at the same time took the US into World War I, unleashed the Red Scare, and sent troops against the Russian Revolution. During the Great Depression, the Democrats under Franklin D. Roosevelt responded to insurrectionary class struggles with the New Deala program of social reforms designed to contain these struggles and prevent the emergence of an independent political movement of the working class. Roosevelt also led the US into World War II, jailed Trotskyists under the Smith Act, and oversaw the internment of Japanese-Americans. In the 1960s, Johnsons Great Society enacted Medicare and Medicaid to contain upheavals such as the civil rights movement, the urban rebellions, and mass strikes. This was the last gasp of social reform in the US, which was shipwrecked by the imperialist war in Vietnam. As the ruling class lurched to the right, it dismantled past social reforms while presiding over the expansion of American militarism. At the same time, the Democrats increasingly embraced identity and racial politics to divide the working class, elevating a privileged layer of the upper-middle class into positions within the state, corporations, academia, the media, and the trade union bureaucracy to help prop up the capitalist order. Sanders role and the rise of Trump Throughout his career, and above all over the past decade, Bernie Sanders has played a very definite role: serving as a lightning rod for popular discontent, only to funnel that opposition back into the Democratic Party. Sanders began his national political career in 1990, first in the House of Representatives and then the Senate. Over these decades, the Democratic Partyalongside the Republicanspresided over the deindustrialization and financialization of the US economy, policies that devastated working class communities. The Clinton administration dismantled welfare, deregulated Wall Street and oversaw sweeping attacks on workers living standards. Obama responded to the 2008 financial crash with a multi-trillion-dollar bailout of the banks, paving the way for record corporate profits and a staggering growth of social inequality. A decade later, in the opening months of the pandemic, Democrats and Republicans again joined hands to orchestrate an even larger bailout of Wall Street, transferring vast sums to the financial elite while millions of workers faced unemployment, illness and death. Sanders two presidential campaigns stand as the clearest expression of his political role. In both 2016 and 2020, Sanders won mass support by presenting himself as a critic of the billionaire class and advocate of a political revolution. But each time, after securing millions of votes and mobilizing workers and youth, he backed the candidate of the Democratic Party establishment, Hillary Clinton and then Joe Bidenthe chosen representatives of Wall Street and the military. Sanders subsequent support for the Biden administration, which oversaw unprecedented handouts to the banks and the prosecution of imperialist war, further demonstrated his function as a prop of capitalist rule. Until the eve of the 2024 elections Sanders was telling workers and young people that Biden was the most progressive, pro-worker president since FDR. This created the political vacuum that enabled Trump to channel social anger in a reactionary direction. Sanders and American imperialism The real politics of Sanders is most clearly exposed in his positions on foreign policy. However much he postures as an opponent of the billionaire class at home, Sanders has never opposed the global interests of American capitalism. Speaking to CNN after his stop in West Virginia, he defended Washingtons proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Ignoring the imperialist nature of the war, Sanders called Putin a really awful guy who invaded Ukraine with incredible destruction. He continued: People in Ukraine are suffering terribly because this guy wanted to start the largest war since World War II in Europe. These remarks are in line with the broader orientation of the Democratic Party, which has denounced Trump not for his wars and authoritarianism, but for seeking to reorient US imperialist strategy. While Trump escalates the drive to war against China, the Democrats insist on maintaining the bloody proxy war in Ukraine as the spearhead of American imperialist interests in Europe. The invasion of Ukraine was a reactionary act by a bourgeois-nationalist regime in Russia that enriched itself by plundering the former Soviet Union. But the war was not unprovoked. It was the outcome of NATOs relentless expansion to Russias borders and the 2014 right-wing, pro-Western Maidan coup in Ukraine, engineered by Washington and Berlin. Sanders has refused to call Israels actions over the past two years a genocide. To this day he repeats the line that Israel has a right to defend itself. Even the bill he sponsored to suspend certain arms shipments would have barred only so-called offensive weapons. Under conditions of mass murder and ethnic cleansingincluding starvation carried out with full US backingthe distinction between offensive and defensive weapons is meaningless. It is akin to proposing to withhold only offensive weapons from Hitler during the Holocaust. In any case, Sanders measure was rejected by the majority of Senate Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. On all fundamental issues, Sanders is in full agreement with the foreign policy objectives of American imperialism. Even in relation to Trump, he has for the most part maintained a criminal silence on the fascistic assault on immigrants, declaring in March of this year, Nobody thinks illegal immigration is appropriate. At the same time, he champions a program of economic nationalism that dovetails with Trumps trade wars, which are direct preparations for war abroad and attacks on the working class at home, driving up the cost of living and fueling mass layoffs. The question posed is not simply the role of Bernie Sanders as an individual, but of an entire type of politics that seeks to capture the anger of workers and youth, preserve the authority of the Democratic Party, and block the development of an independent movement of the working class. This is the politics of middle-class pseudo-left organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which promote Sanders and his myths about reforming the Democrats. As the rise, consolidation, and now return of Trump have demonstrated, such politics, in fact, strengthen, rather than weaken, the far-right. The United States is passing through an extraordinary crisis. The danger of fascist dictatorship is embodied in Trumps military takeover of Washington D.C. and his preparations for nationwide repression. Abroad, the ruling class is waging a global war, and the colossal levels of social inequality are incompatible with democratic forms of rule. None of this can be opposed through the Democratic Party, which bears chief responsibility for Trumps rise and collaborates with him on war and repression. What is required is a decisive break from both capitalist parties and from all illusions that they can be reformed. The fight against dictatorship, war and oligarchic rule must be carried forward through the building of an independent party of the working class, based on socialist internationalism. Only on this basis can workers and youth find the political means to oppose fascism and imperialist war and advance the struggle for socialism. The Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) proclaims an agenda shared with all of Britains pseudo-left groups of joining and supposedly imparting a revolutionary character to the new party announced by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and MP Zara Sultana. Unlike its competitors, it has the additional task of reversing its claim, barely two years old, that Corbynite reformism is a dead letter in the working class and among young people. This was the basis for the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) relaunching itself as the Revolutionary Communist International. Their U-turn was so abrupt, following immediately on Sultanas July 3 resignation from Labour and declaration of a new party, that even Corbyn was still insisting at the time that discussions were ongoing. Screenshot of "An open letter to Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana: 'Now is the time to be bold'" On July 4, the RCPs public face and national campaigns coordinator Fiona Lali issued An open letter to Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana: Now is the time to be bold. A brief excursion into the Lessons of the past and the mistakes that threw the Corbyn movement back were summed up by the following: the left leaders tried to accommodate our movement to the representatives of the capitalist systemthe Blairites and the establishment. But Lali immediately insisted, Now is not just a time to look backwards, however. We must also look forwards. Acknowledging that she has been directly involved in some of the discussions on whether and how to set up a new party, she proposed that what she referred to as Our party should be based on an anti-capitalist and revolutionary programme. My appeal to Jeremy and Zarah is this: now is the time to be bold. On July 24, the RCP responded to the actual announcement of a new party by Corbyn and Sultana with a declaration, The RCP is getting on board. Fight for real change! Fight for revolution!... We will be mobilising our members to help make a success of this newmuch-neededparty. Joining the RCP was now officially recast as subsidiary to joining Corbyn and Sultanas new party and building a revolutionary communist force within it. Its members would play the role of hoping to fill in the details of the rough outline already sketched by Jeremy and Zarah. Back to the future with the RCP The turn towards Corbyn based on the transparently spurious assertion that he can be persuaded to adopt a revolutionary perspective is a return to political form for the RCP. The group, now led by Alan Woods, was founded by Ted Grant. He broke from the Fourth International following the Second World War and subsequently built his entire perspective for decades on the argument that the postwar restabilisation of capitalism, made possible only by the suppression of revolutionary struggles by Stalinism, had disproved Trotskys revolutionary prognosis. Instead, for a protracted historical period, independent revolutionary action by the proletariat was impossible thanks to the completion of the democratic counter-revolution, necessitating extended entry into the Labour Party in Britain while advocating an essentially left reformist programme of achieving socialism through Labours nationalisation of the top 200 monopolies. Alan Woods delivering a speech at the founding congress of the RCP, 2024. [Photo by Socialist Appeal / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 The entire activity of what became known as the Militant Tendency, and continued by its splinter led by Woods, was based on the assertion that entry work in Labourjustified above all by its base in the trade unionscould push it to adopt a socialist programme. Woods and Grant stuck rigidly to this scenario throughout the leadership of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. And no tendency was more enthused when Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of Britains Labour Party in 2015. The IMT and its British affiliate Socialist Appeal had also joined the rest of the pseudo-left in backing Syriza in Greece, with disastrous results, which they eventually blamed on its lacking firm roots in the working classi.e., trade union backing. This they suggested post-festum would have prevented its leadership from capitulating to the European Union and International Monetary Funds demands for the imposition of austerity. They urged workers, young people and trade unions alike to join or affiliate to Labour to help the Corbyn revolution transform the party. In October 2017, the IMT wrote of Corbyns government in waiting and efforts by The Establishment to control the next PM, insisting that Corbyn would not buckle like Syriza and its leader Alexis Tsipras had done: There is no doubt that a Left Labour government would face similar pressure from all quarters if in power... However, Britain is not Greece; Labour is not Syriza; and Corbyn is not Tsipras. The Labour Party has a far greater historical weight and much deeper roots within the working class than Syriza ever had. It is not an ephemeral trend, but the traditional mass party of the British working class, with strong links to the trade unions. By December 2019 the Corbyn revolution was over. Having lost a second general election to the Tories he resigned as party leader, paving the way for Sir Keir Starmer. Even then the IMT tried to hold the line, with Woods writing of the Blairites last desperate attempt at regaining control. At a certain point, the right wing will either split, or be vomited out. This will push Labour far to the left, opening up serious possibilities for the Marxist tendency. Selling the myth of a socialist Labour Party to the last When the RCP today tries to portray itself as having taken a critical attitude to Corbyns time as Labour leader, this is largely confined to a for the record linking to carefully selected previous articles, rather than making any embarrassing contemporary remarks that would possibly prevent their incorporation into the new party. But even here a sleight of hand is involved. The first article linked to by Lali was only published on September 11, 2020, and is advanced as an examination of, The Corbyn movement5 years on: Lessons for the Left. These were drawn long after the political project they embraced had ended in defeat. Its long and purely descriptive account still managed to assert that An historic mass movementan unstoppable force had been created. By turns, there are belated criticisms of Corbyn and his team for attempting to compromise with his critics, combined with demagogic claims that The Blairites were crushed completely discredited, revealed for the traitors that they were (and are). Their failed assassination attempt had only made Corbyns position as leader unassailable. This was a situation Corbyn is said to have tragically failed to exploit. Britains Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, left, embraces Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of Britains main opposition Labour Party during his speech on stage during the Labour Party Conference at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, England, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 [AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth] The message is that a successful outcome had only been prevented because the left leaders had failed to stand firm. Revolution had therefore given way to counter-revolution, but The biggest danger is demoralisation. Understandably, thousands have ripped up their membership cards in disgust at Starmers rightward turn. It is the responsibility of the leaders of the Corbyn movement to turn the situation around. Labours civil war is far from over. It is a struggle of living forcesthe outcome of which is yet to be decided. With their spine stiffened by the Marxists, the Corbynites could still drive the Blairites and bureaucrats out of the [Parliamentary Labour Party] and Labour HQ and transform Labour back into the mass social movement that it was becoming at the height of the Corbyn era. It was only in mid-2022 that the public pronouncements of Socialist Appeal group shifted towards advocating for an independent party, with Woods writing in January 2023, Why has there not been a revolution? The need for revolutionary leadership, in which he said of the collapse of Corbynism that a fatal element was the role played by Corbyn himself and had led to a disgraceful rout. In a January 2024 report to the international meeting, published February 14, Woods explained the IMTs intention to relaunch itself as the Revolutionary Communist International. Driven by the collapse of his organisations entire perspective, he now swung wildly leftward, asserting that the failure of Corbynism and similar left reformist formations meant that young people today were being transformed into communists en masse: thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, probably millions of young people are already drawing the correct conclusions. Theyve already accepted the idea of communism. They desire communism. Woods political scenario, centred on an objectivist assertion of the spontaneous development of revolutionary consciousness, has not survived its first political challenge. Significant forces within the left representatives of the Labour and trade union bureaucracy, fully aware of the developing rift between the working class and Starmers rightward careening Labour Party, have pushed a reluctant Corbyn and a more radical sounding Sultana to spearhead an effort to trap young people in particular behind a new party project by exploiting reformist illusions the RCP claimed were a thing of the past. Woods forced to issue a corrective Politically unprepared for this development, and educated for decades in the IMTs opportunism, large sections of its membership have been so taken up with enthusiasm for new Corbynite party that alarm bells began ringing for Woods. On the one hand, he feared losing a wing of his cadre to Jeremy and Zarah; on the other, he worried how recruits won in the last two years on a perspective of building an independent communist party would react to such open adulation. On July 28, Woods issued an extended corrective to his partys uncritical statements, Jeremy Corbyns new party: what does it mean, and what attitude should communists take towards it? Screenshot of "Jeremy Corbyns new party: what does it mean, and what attitude should communists take towards it?" Remarkably, he felt forced to draw himself up to full height and proclaim, There is no question whatsoever of liquidating the Revolutionary Communist Party On this question, there can be no compromise. Having to publicly insist on such a red line shows an awareness on Woods part of powerful tendencies towards the liquidation of his tendency into what Corbyn provisionally calls Your Party and Lali has already embraced as Our party. The strong wave of support and enthusiasm for the new party, he wrote, was not surprising as the reactionary policies pursued by the Starmer government had been a slap in the face for millions of people who voted for the Labour Party, hoping for a change. Moreover, Given the weakness of the forces of genuine Marxism at the present time, that vacuum could only be filled by some kind of left reformist alternative. He then lists a series of caveats meant to rectify the near political amnesty extended in his partys other statements, including noting that Corbyn hitherto only saw reaction on all sides because he lacked any knowledge of dialectics and had held up the formation of a new party for a long time by his constant vacillations and hesitation. Nevertheless, he stresses, This is a colossal step in the direction of a revolutionary transformation, with millions of people looking for a way out of the crisis, turning first to one option, then another. This included right wing demagogues like Trump, whose presidency, he is at pains to add, sectarian imbeciles and left reformists who can see no further than the end of their noses interpret as the rise of fascist reaction. The announcement of a new left party in Britain undoubtedly opens new possibilities for the communists, Woods states, but warns his members that their attitude cannot be determined by temporary moods of enthusiasm among the masses In particular, we must firmly bear in mind the lessons of the past in relation to left reformism. We have the experience of Tsipras in Greece, Podemos in Spain, Sanders in the USA, and last but not least, Jeremy Corbyn in Britain They all enjoyed a considerable level of enthusiasm in the beginning. But in the end, it all ended in tears, because they finally capitulated to the establishment. There follows a thumbnail sketch of Corbyns refusal to mobilise the mass base that he had in order to crush the Parliamentary Labour Party, deselecting right-wing Labour MPs. Left reformists, he adds, always cling to the right reformists, fearing a split. His defeat was therefore absolutely inevitable, and it was the direct result of his own left reformist policies. In this spirit the RCP must now participate, side by side with the masses of the working class, and connect the finished programme of socialist revolution with the unfinished yearning of the most advanced elements for a fundamental revolutionary change. Left apologists for the Corbynites Orthodoxies listed, Woods makes clear that it is only the most naked forms of political accommodation to Corbynism that he is opposing, and not the essential orientation of the RCP acting as his left apologists, especially among those most critical of his record of capitulation and betrayal. His argument requires desperately tortured formulations, straining to maintain a critical stance while still holding out the prospect of a revolutionary development under Corbyn. Jeremy Corbyn and other general election independent candidates are paraded on the stage during the rally. From left: Michael Lavalette; Leanne Mohamed; Corbyn; Andrew Feinstein, and Iqbal Mohamed, July 6, 2024 We are told that it is too early to say what the actual physiognomy of the new party will be because the crucial question is whether the leadership of this party really stands for a fundamental transformation of society. By this we mean the abolition of capitalism and the assumption of power by the working class. But even after all the experiences he listed previously, including Corbyns five years leading the Labour Party and five years of his refusal to stand against it, Woods insists, We cannot answer this question in advance. This is the case even though in all probability, the left reformist nature of the leadership will incline them to the position that it is possible to solve the problems of the working class without a radical break with capitalism and private ownership of the means of production. We cannot answer this question yet, it is too early to say, but in all probability a reformist leadership will be incline[d] to oppose a radical break with capitalism! This is crude sophistry, especially when the reformist in question is the 76-year-old Corbyn with decades of political life behind him. There are few more well-known quantities in world politics. In any event, the RCP, while standing on the programme of socialist revolution, will stand side by side with Corbyn in fighting for reforms without which the socialist revolution would be an impossible utopia. Woods develops an entirely novel and anti-Marxist critique of reformism, wholly devoid of an historical or class character. Our criticism of the right reformists is precisely that they do not fight effectively for reforms, he writes, rather than identifying them as the unalloyed political servants of the bourgeoisie. He then urges his readers to recognise that, in contrast to the right-wing, the left reformists sincerely believe that it is possible to achieve ambitious reforms and improvements in living standards within the limits of the capitalist system. Recognising such good intentions, therefore, Whenever Jeremy Corbyn takes a step in the right direction, we will support him. But whenever he takes a step back, whenever he shows equivocations and vacillations (which he has done on many occasions) we reserve the right to criticise him in a firm but comradely manner. Leon Trotsky and the revolutionary attitude to the left reformists Woods proposed comradely criticisms, amid fruitful and honest collaboration with the left reformists have nothing in common with Marxism, which demands a relentless exposure of these lefts. Above all they repudiate the central insistence of Trotsky that social revolution in Britain depends on breaking the working class from the Labour Party and the trade union bureaucracy and that this depends on the systematic exposure of its left representatives, whose rhetoric is designed to chime with the socialist sentiment of the leftward moving masses to prevent this taking revolutionary forms. We are only a few months away from the centenary of the 1926 General Strikea seminal experience for the British and international working class. How did Trotsky seek to prepare and guide the working class through this confrontation? Leon Trotsky He directed his fire above all against the Independent Labour Party, which then made up the left-wing of the Labour Party. Trotsky was scathing of this political tendency, which stood far to the left of the Corbynites today. He indicted the Fabians, the ILPers and the conservative trade union bureaucrats as the most counterrevolutionary force in Great Britain for their systematically poisoning the labour movement, clouding the consciousness of the proletariat and paralysing its will. It was only thanks to them that Toryism, Liberalism, the Church, the monarchy, the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie continue to survive. In words that constitute an indictment of the RCPs political amnesia regarding Corbyns new party, Trotsky wrote of the left leaders who readily changed their line to accommodate pressure from below: to evaluate them one must take both sides of the matter into account. Revolutionaries need a good memory. He emphasised how it must be clearly understood that all the traditions, organizational habits and the ideas of all the already existing groupings in the labour movement in different forms and with different slogans predispose them either towards direct treachery or towards compromise. Today, the RCP seeks to give a party as yet without formal members, led by a shadowy committee of tried-and-tested Corbynites, a revolutionary programme. Trotsky wrote clearly of the ILP, which had deep connections with masses of workers and declared its sympathy with the Russian revolution, It would be the greatest illusion to think that the Independents party is capable of evolving into a revolutionary party of the proletariat. That was the role of a Bolshevik-type party alone, whose path lay not only through an irreconcilable struggle against capitals special agency in the shape of the [J.H.] Thomas-[Ramsay] MacDonald [right-wing] clique but also through the systematic unmasking of the left muddleheads by means of whom alone MacDonald and Thomas can maintain their positions. These arguments were a de facto polemic against the opportunist line then being advocated by the Communist International under Joseph Stalin, which saw the British Communist Party subordinated to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress and the Labour Party leaders through the lefts organised in the Anglo-Russian Committee. The result was not only the betrayal of the General Strike, but a betrayal whose causes were left unclarified in the British working class, producing a prolonged period of retreat. How the revolutionary party breaks workers from the lefts At all points, Trotsky differentiated sharply between the ILP leaders and the working-class masses who then followed them, but whose sentiments and political trajectory were far to their left. He explained how the Independents current role is brought about by the fact that their path has crossed the path of the proletariat. But this in no way means that these paths have merged for good. What was decisive was the not the temporary alignment, but the coming clash: The rapid growth in the Independents influence is but a reflection of the exceptional power of working-class pressure; but it is just this pressure, generated by the whole situation, that will throw the British workers into collision with the Independent leaders. In another, sharper, formulation, Trotsky explained, They represent the expression of a shift but also its brake. H. N. Brailsford, editor of the New Leader, the ILP newspaper, from 1922 to 1926. For the workers to emerge victorious from this clash required the continuous intervention of the Marxist party. The ILP leaders depended for their position on the degree to which the trade union bureaucracy can weaken, neutralise and distort the independent class pressure of the proletariat. But the Communist Party will on the contrary be able to take the lead of the working class only in so far as it enters into an implacable conflict with the conservative bureaucracy in the trade unions and the Labour Party. By implacable conflict, Trotsky meant a ruthless criticism of all the leading staff of the British labour movement, a day-to-day exposure and a perpetual, systematic, inflexible, untiring and irreconcilable unmasking of the quasi-left leaders of every hue, of their confusion, of their compromises and of their reticence. For the RCP, their emphasis is not on the inevitable clash between the workers and their leaders but the temporary alignment. They write in The struggle against reformism, published July 15, that We must take as our starting point the consciousness of the masses as it is now, including any illusions they might have. The task of Marxists is not to start from the illusions workers have, but to systematically combat reformist illusions and raise the consciousness of the working class to an understanding of the revolutionary tasks that are posed by the objective situation. This includes a consistent effort to educate workers so they can draw the necessary conclusions from what the RCP acknowledges regarding Corbyn, Bernie Sanders and Syriza, that None have delivered a single meaningful reform because they have never waged a political struggle against the right-wing. Preparing the working class for socialist revolution is impossible without doing the political work to dismiss the reformist illusions of the masses to inform the workers that they are making a mistake, that their leaders will betray, all of which is raised in disparaging terms by the RCP. This, they claim, is all well and good in the abstract But it would still be utterly self-defeating and false, precisely because it is so abstract. For the RCP, a concrete programme is equated with first-name-terms appeals to Jeremy and Zarah. But unity with the masses does not mean even a hint of unity with the leaders, who must be exposed before workers as part of their political education and tempering. Without this, the Corbynitesfar more so than the ILP whom Trotsky is describing herewill convert the working classs as yet vaguely defined but profound and stubborn aspiration to free itself from [Conservative Party leader Stanley] Baldwin and [Labour leader Ramsay] MacDonald into left phrases of opposition which do not place any obligations upon them. When the British edition of Where is Britain Going? was published, Trotsky was critical of the British Communist Party for securing an introduction by H.N. Brailsford, then editor of the ILP newspaper. We do need a unity of front with the working masses, Trotsky argued, But the unity or a semi-unity of a literary front with Brailsford signifies but an aggravation of that ideological chaos in which the British labour movement is rich enough as it is. Brailsford was seeking a left cover by association with Trotsky. But the communists first obligation is that of destroying ideological masks. The British working masses are immeasurably more to the left than Brailsford but they have not yet found the appropriate language for their own inclinations. The rubbish of the past still separates the leftward moving masses from the programme of communism with a thick layer. So much more impermissible is it then to add even a shred to this garbage. In fighting for the interests of the miners the communists are prepared to take several steps alongside Mr Brailsford in this struggle. But with no ideological blocs, and no united front in the field of theory and programme! And this very Brailsford himself puts it thus with regard to the American edition of our book: We are separated from these people by a gulf. Correct, correct and three times correct! But from the standpoint of Marxism there is nothing more criminal than to throw literary olive branches across this political gulf: the worker who is deceived by the camouflage will set his foot down and fall through. Objectivism in support of opportunism Such fundamental lessons are brushed aside by the RCP: To simply lecture the working class on the need to overthrow capitalism, without connecting this general truth to the concrete demands of the living movement, is the hallmark of sectarianism. They deliberately ignore the fact that among the most vital concrete demands of the living movement is the exposure of the Corbynitesthe forging of the political independence of the working class. Screenshot of "The struggle against reformism" The RCPs presentation of the process by which revolutionary consciousness actually develops presents matters as if the revolutionary party merely takes receipt of a revolutionary situation. The British general strike is even cited as an example, and it is precisely here where the question of leadership becomes decisive. But that leadership can only be decisive to the degree that it has gathered around itself a large enough force in the working class trained to see the left betrayers for what they are and to oppose them at every turn. The movement of the British workers was enormous. It was, however, dictated by the logic of the situation far more than by the logic of consciousness, in Trotskys words. The British working class had no other choice and neither did the left-talkers, who were forced to mouth support. This was the strength of the strikebut also its weakness, precisely because there was not a clear idea in the working class of its political programme and of who its friends and enemies were. As Trotsky cautioned: [I]t would be the utmost disgrace to brush aside the struggle against opportunism in the top leadership by alluding to the profound revolutionary processes taking place in the working class. Such a supposedly profound approach stems entirely from a failure to understand the role and the significance of the party in the movement of the working class and especially in the revolution. For it has always been centrism which has cloaked and continues to cloak the sins of opportunism with solemn references to the objective tendencies of development. Is it worth wasting time and energy in fighting the muddleheads of the type of Wheatley, Brailsford, Purcell, Kirkwood and others, now that revolutionary aspirations are on the increase in the proletariat, now that the trade unions are turning towards co-operation with the Soviet trade unions and so on and so forth? But in actual fact expressed in this alleged revolutionary objectivism is merely an effort to shirk revolutionary tasks by shifting them on to the shoulders of the so-called historical process. The same opportunist objectivism ran through the founding documents of the RCP and its International, for all the radical talk about the complete discrediting of all other left forces. It is making itself felt today in its attitude to the new Corbynite party. Arming the working class for the struggles ahead Outlining its attitude towards the Corbyn/Sultana party, the Socialist Equality Party explained that, objectively, this was a milestone in the ongoing breakup of the Labour Party. Millions of workers and young people have drawn the conclusion that Labour, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, is an irredeemably right-wing, pro-business party of warmongers and defenders of genocide in Gaza. But we also stressed: Although Corbyn has been forced to make an organisational break from Labour, his new party does not represent a political break from Labourism. It advocates only limited reforms to be pursued through parliamenta Labour Party Mark II None of this is changed, or will be changed in the future, by the immediate and universal support for this initiative given by numerous pseudo-left tendencies which profess to be revolutionary. The role of groups such as the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) and Socialist Party (SP) will be as cheerleaders and apologists for this new reformist party. It is they who will adapt to the politics of Corbyn, and not the other way around. We explained: The working class in Britain and internationally faces a world in which the super-rich oligarchy monopolises an ever greater percentage of the worlds wealth and the imperialist powers build up their militaries for wars for territory and resources. Workers collapsing living standards are the price to be paid, and police-state measures deployed and right-wing parties cultivated to repress resistance. Attempts to implement any of the reforms advocated by Corbyns party will be met with a combination of economic warfare, and far-right and military violence. Even the prospect of a Prime Minister Corbynmanaged then by his majority-Blairite parliamentary partywas enough to prompt threats of assassination and a military coup. The ruling class will respond to any challenge to the destruction of living standards and imperialist war with savage repression. This has been demonstrated by the Starmer governments arrest of hundreds of anti-genocide protesters and banning of Palestine Action under anti-terror laws. Victory will require a revolutionary mobilisation of the working classnationalising critical industries, confiscating the wealth of the billionaires and an international socialist strategy. Mortally afraid of such a movement, Corbyn and the leadership of his new party would follow the example of Syrizalikely in even more prostrate fashion. The role of the SWP, RCP and SP is to disarm the working class in the face of these political realities. And we set as our political task: The Socialist Equality Party will do everything possible to alert workers to the situation and arm them with the necessary programme and leadership. We will not be advocates of and apologists for Your Party. It is not ours. We will engage energetically with the many workers and young people who currently look to Corbyn for leadership and seek to educate them in the fundamental historical experiences of the past decade and beyond, which point to the necessity for a revolutionary, internationalist and socialist perspective and party. It is this Trotskyist perspective which is needed to guide the revolutionary work of socialist-minded workers and youth. Contact the SEP today. A dairy cow feeds on hay at Johnson's Acres Dairy Farm near Brighton, Colorado. [AP Photo/Ed Andrieski] Six farm workers died in an accident at a dairy farm in Keenesburg, Colorado about 40 miles northeast of Denver. Fire crews responded at 6 p.m. local time Thursday to a confined space rescue at a site owned by Prospect Valley Dairy LLC. The site is comprised of a 32,500 square foot milking parlor and several barns spanning over half-a-million square feet. Authorities reportedly responded to reports of unaccounted for people within a confined space at the facility. This is the latest in a string of industrial disasters in the United States. On August 11, an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh killed two steelworkers and injured 10; on Monday, a barge exploded in Baltimore near the Francis Scott Key bridge, which itself had collapsed in a separate incident last year. There also have been high profile deaths in the auto industry, including skilled tradesman Ronald Adams, who was crushed to death in April. A rank-and-file inquiry into Adams death has been launched, and a public hearing held on July 27. In Colorado, Crews responded and took appropriate precautions to enter the confined space to perform rescue operations, said Southeast Weld Fire District Chief Tom Beach in a statement on Thursday. Unfortunately, District personnel recovered six deceased individuals from the space. Limited details of the incident are available to the public as of this writing, but preliminary reports suggest that the six victims were exposed to hazardous gas. Initial reports from the coroners office indicated that all six dead were adult men except for one victim who may have been just 17 years old. A source later gave more details to the website Daily Herd Management, which said the following: the disaster began when a contractor was working on an underground manure pit at Prospect Valley Dairy. Throughout the day, workers frequented the area, and as the day concluded, a worker returned to perform additional tasks, potentially involving adjusting a valve. This action inadvertently led to the release of hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas known for its lethality at high concentrations. Tragically, the worker inside the pit collapsed almost instantly due to the hazardous exposure. In a desperate attempt to rescue him, five others rushed into the pit, disregarding a supervisors warnings not to enter the dangerous space. Among the victims was a 17-year-old high school student from Highland High School in Ault, the son of one of the workers involved in the incident. Dairy Herd Management is told that two farm employees, along with two service representatives were among the deceased, along with two sons of one of the service representatives. A Gofundme has been set up to help the families of the workers with funeral expenses and other items. Gas hazards can pose a serious risk to worker safety on dairy farms. Common threats on dairy farms include the build-up of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from manure, and carbon monoxide from equipment and machines. These gases can pose a significant threat to the lives of farm workers, especially in poorly ventilated enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide is odorless, and while hydrogen sulfide smells of rotten eggs, it is known to quickly dull the sense of smell, weakening the ability of workers to detect its presence. On large industrial dairy farms, manure is often stored beneath the barn floor where hydrogen sulfide can build up and be released when the manure is agitated. Even in outdoor manure pits hydrogen sulfide can quickly build up under the right conditions. According to Daniel Andersen, Associate Professor of Manure Management and Water Quality at Iowa State University, 150 people have died in the United States from manure-related gas incidents since the 1960s. To deal with these deadly gases, many facilities use complex ventilation systems and digital monitors to control the build-up of gas. While confirmation of cause of death is still pending investigation, initial reports suggest that the deaths may have resulted from exposure to hydrogen sulfide, which is the most common gas safety risk on dairy farms. Farm laborers work in one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupations categorized as agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing are the fourth highest group for workplace fatalities at 448 per 100,000 workers and an injury rate of 4,200 per 100,000 in 2023. Dairy farms specifically saw a total of 21 deaths and a rate of 3,100 injuries per 100,000 in 2023. A concerning statistic among these figures is the prevalence of older workers among the fatalities in agriculture and farm work. In 2023, 57 percent of agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing deaths were among workers aged 55 and over, with 65 and older making up 37 percent alone, the largest group by a large margin. This is due to a predominance of older workers in the agricultural industry, with the average age of farm laborers over 58 years old, an ongoing trend of aging among agricultural workers. High injury rates are also found among young farm workers, with hundreds of thousands of people under the age of 20 living on farms. An estimated half of these young people work on the farms they live on and at least 4,000 young people are injured working on farms annually overall. Injury and death figures are certainly an undercount due to the distributed nature of the industry, lack of safety oversight and the large population of immigrant workers in agriculture. Significantly, immigrant workers launched a strike last week at another dairy facility in Wisconsin. The workers demanded the company stop using E-Verify to confirm immigration status. The federal system, notoriously error-prone, is used to quickly purge workers, leading to family separations and depriving them of income. Disasters such as the Colorado gas exposure will become more common as the result of the dismantling of remaining regulations on US corporations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, already woefully underfunded and with limited enforcement power, is being gutted by the Trump administration. In 2022, OSHA already had so few inspectors that it would have taken it 186 years to inspect every American workplace. Now, Trump is cutting the budget by 8 percent and eliminating 200 more inspectors. The attack on immigrants is an attack on the whole working class. In addition to using immigration as a scapegoat to divert anger away from capitalist inequality, the rampage against immigrants is the tip of the spear for Trumps dictatorship plans. On Thursday, Trump issued a new executive order directing immigration authorities to trawl through the personal information and social media posts of 55 million visa holders, in order to find excuses to deport them. The terror against immigrants is also aimed at intimidating workers into silence, out of fear that reporting or fighting back against dangerous conditions would only put a target on their back for immigration authorities. But outrage against both Trumps bid for dictatorship and impossible working conditions is driving growing opposition in the working class. It is this force, armed with a socialist and internationalist perspective, which can and must be brought to bear against capitalist inequality and police terror. President Donald Trump speaks with police and National Guard soldiers, Thursday, August 21, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin] On Friday, President Donald Trump threatened to extend the current military occupation of Washington D.C. to other major US cities, including Chicago, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. His threats to essentially impose martial law on major American cities came the same day the Pentagon confirmed that the over 2,000 National Guard soldiers currently occupying D.C. would begin carrying weapons of war. Speaking first at the Kennedy Center and again inside the Oval Office, Trump, wearing a red hat with the phrase Trump Was Right About Everything, said he was receiving calls from politicians begging me to go to Chicago, begging me to go to New York, begging me to go to Los Angeles. Leaving the door open for an extended military deployment, perhaps through the mid-term elections and beyond, Trump said, And the big question is how long do we stay? Because if we stay, we want to make sure it doesnt come back. The fascist president added, So we have to take care of these criminals and get them out of here. We have, weve collected hundreds of career criminals. These are career criminals. Youre not going to teach them to be nice. Trump added, These are, uh, probably born that way. I dont know. But theyre career criminals... very, very dangerous people. At the White House, Trump revealed the lawless and manufactured character of the alleged crime emergency. He said: I keep seeing about a 30-day deadline, of which we have 22 days left, or something. But if I think were in great shape here, thats one thing, but if I dont, Im going to just say its a national emergency. And if I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops here as long as I want. Asked if there were concrete steps being taken towards deploying military elements to Chicago, Trump insulted Mayor Brandon Johnson, calling him grossly incompetent, and said he hadnt spoken to him, but that When were ready, well go in and well straighten out Chicago just like we did D.C. Chicago is a very dangerous, great place. Trump then turned to San Francisco, Well clean that one up too. Trump grunted that D.C. was a crime-infested rat hole. He continued, And they do have a lot of rats, we are getting rid of them too and weve made a lot of progress... We brought in the D.C. National Guard and we coupled them with the police and it has been amazing. He added, It hasnt been clean. Now its going to be clean. Trump praised the over 2,200 National Guard troops currently embedded with local and federal police. He said: The National Guard has been unbelievable. They are working with the police and they have some very good people in there. Some people that shouldnt be police, actually, but they have some great people there. Under the false pretext that Washington D.C. is in the throes of a major crime wave, for the last week National Guard soldiers from states with Republican governors have flooded the city. So far, approximately 1,400 soldiers from West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have deployed to supplement roughly 800 D.C. National Guard soldiers. Over the past week the soldiers have not been authorized to carry weapons as they accompany police and patrol federal property. On Friday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth granted permission for soldiers to carry the same weapons used by the US military and its allies in Baghdad, Kabul and Gaza. In a statement to the Washington Post, the Pentagon confirmed that soldiers will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons. For most infantry and military police, their service-issued weapon is the M-4 or M4A1 carbine. The latter is capable of fully automatic fire, while the former has semi-automatic fire or a three-round burst. The M4 is the updated version of the M16 rifle. The civilian version of the M16 is the AR-15, the most commonly used weapon in mass shootings in the US over the past two decades. Revealing that there are ongoing discussions and plans at the highest levels of the government to supplement the deployment of National Guard forces with active duty military elements, Trump said the National Guard has done such an incredible job, working with the police that we havent had to bring in the regular military, which we are willing to do if we have to. He continued, And after we do this well go to another location and well make it safe also. Chicago is a mess, Trump said. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent, and well straighten that one out probably next. That will be our next one after this. And it wont even be tough. Trump claimed he did great with the black vote and that African American women were screaming for Trump to flood the city with police and military. I think Chicago will be next and then well help with New York, he added. Chicago is about four times larger than Washington D.C., with some 2.7 million residents in the city itself, compared to about 670,000 in D.C. The first and only time Trump tried to hold a political rally in the city was on March 11, 2016. The rally was canceled due to the large presence of anti-Trump protesters. The Chicago metro area, including parts of Illinois, Indiana and southern Wisconsin, is the third largest metro area in the country, with about 9.5 million people. Trumps deployment of the military in D.C. and threats to expand to other cities must be taken with deadly seriousness. Trump is arrogating to himself the powers of dictator, with no resistance from the nominal opposition party. At the White House and at the Kennedy Center, Trump threatened D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. He said: Im tired of listening to these people say how safe it was before we got here. It was unsafe, it was horrible, and Mayor Bowser better get her act straight or she wont be mayor very long because we will take it over with the federal government, run it like it is supposed to be run. Asked by the Washington Post to respond to Trumps plans to arm the military elements currently in the city, Bowser declined to comment on the authorization of weapons. At the Kennedy Center, Trump said Bowser has to get on the ball because we have a situation, and shes a nice woman, but Ill tell you what, shes got to get on the ball. He added, I dont want to see phony numbers, referring to a recently initiated Department of Justice criminal investigation into the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department opened by newly installed US Attorney and Fox News propagandist Jeanine Pirro. Trumps attacks on alleged phony crime stats produced by the Metro Police serve several purposes. His fascist and racist narrative that D.C. is overrun with crime is aimed at demonizing the working class and justifying military occupation of the capitala major step in the erection of a dictatorship. At the same time, it normalizes the presence of armed agents of the state in public life and shifts attention away from the real criminality of US imperialism: the genocide and forced starvation campaign in Gaza, the mass deportation operation, the gutting of democratic rights by the Supreme Court and the ongoing transfer of wealth from the working class to the parasitic ruling class. Asked if upon Congresss return from the August recess he would demand that Congress give him more control over D.C, Trump said, D.C. was a hell hole and now its safe. FBI agents carry empty boxes to former national security adviser John Bolton's house, Friday, August. 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland. [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana] On Friday, the FBI raided the Maryland home and Washington D.C. office of former Trump National Security Adviser and subsequent critic of the president, John Bolton. A longtime neo-con war hawk, Bolton served as Trumps third national security advisor for 17 months during his first term. Bolton clashed with Trump over Iran and North Korea and was fired in 2019. In this May 22, 2018, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, left, meets with South Korean President Moon Jae-In in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, as national security adviser John Bolton, right, watches. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci] Previously, Bolton served as US ambassador to the United Nations during the George W. Bush administration and held positions in the Reagan administration. Trumps Justice Department filed suit against Bolton in 2019 seeking to block publication of his tell-all memoir, released in 2020 and titled The Room Where It Happened. The suit claimed Bolton illegally published classified information in his book. The suit languished and was dropped in 2021 during the Biden administration. The Justice Department refused to comment on the FBI raid, but press reports said it was linked to a criminal investigation of Boltons handling of classified information both in his book and over subsequent years. In fact, the raid, carried out in broad daylight, with news footage showing FBI agents carrying sacks of documents from Boltons home and office, marked a major escalation in Trumps targeting of political critics for retribution by the state. This crackdown and intimidation of political opponents is a critical aspect of Trumps erection of a presidential dictatorship and police state. It takes place in the context of Trumps military occupation of Washington D.C. and takeover of the local police, which have been expanded to include some 2,000 National Guard troops, who will soon be patrolling the city carrying weapons. Also on Thursday, Trump announced that the next city to be occupied by National Guard troops will be Chicago, to be followed by other Democratic-run cities. This constitutes the progressive imposition of de facto martial law. The Washington Post wrote: Outside Boltons Montgomery County, Maryland, home, early Friday, police cars with flashing lights blocked off the street leading to the residence. Agents were on scene for more than an hour. The FBI is conducting court authorized activity in the area. There is no threat to public safety. We have no further comment, an FBI spokesperson said in a statement. Later in the morning, a handful of agents with FBI insignia were seen entering the downtown Washington office building on M Street where Bolton rents space. Neither Bolton nor his lawyer issued a statement following the FBI raid. While Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored press requests for a statement on the raid, social media posts by FBI Director Kash Patel and herself referred indirectly to the action. Patel wrote: No one is above the law FBI agents on a mission. Bondi shared Patels post and added, Americas safety isnt negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always. In his 2023 book Government Gangsters, Patel appended an enemies list of 60 people who, he contended, were corrupt operators in the deep state. Bolton was on the list. Early in his second term, Trump removed the security clearance for Bolton and dozens of other officials who were either critical of his policies or had been involved in investigations of Trump or Trumps January 6 attempted coup. Trump soon after removed Boltons security detail. This was despite official reports that Bolton had been targeted by Iran for assassination. In the lead-up to the raid, Bolton, a frequent commentator on cable news programs, had been sharply critical of Trumps decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week, calling it a capitulation to Russia. Earlier in the year he denounced members of the Trump administration for using a Signal group chat rather than secure government channels to discuss imminent military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The criminal investigation and FBI raid against Bolton are part of a broader attack by Trump and the Justice Department against Trumps political opponents. Last month, the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, publicly accused former President Barack Obama of treason for having launched an investigation into allegations of Russian interference into the 2016 election to harm the campaign of Hillary Clinton and boost that of Trump. Gabbard released a previously classified 2020 report by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee and issued a criminal referral to the Justice Department to investigate Obama. The Justice Department is separately conducting mortgage fraud investigations into Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his company. Also under criminal investigation is former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who laid charges against Trump for his efforts to overthrow the 2020 election and his removal and retention of presidential records, including highly classified materials, from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office. The latter case was dismissed in 2022 by pro-Trump Judge Aileen Cannon, and Smith dropped the 2020 election case after the Supreme Court in July of 2024 granted Trump immunity from criminal prosecution. The shift in US foreign policy with the holding of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska triggered an outburst of anger from Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the France Unbowed (LFI) party and its New Popular Front (NFP) alliance. He did not call, however, to mobilize workers against US war threats against Iran or Venezuela, or the escalation of war and military spending from Paris to Moscow. He issued nationalist calls for France to grab a bigger share of the spoils of war. His article, titled In Alaska, the cruel beginning of a new world order, lays out a policy that, in its content if not in its rhetoric, could be embraced by right-wing politicians. Denouncing the United States, the NATO alliance, Russia and Germany, Melenchon demands that the French state get more cards of power, writing: For us more than ever, relying on anyone other than ourselves to defend us is an act of naivete that will cost us dearly. The USA, Russians, Germans and others will all get some juice from this new distribution of the cards of power. France, for having failed to develop a realist policy, ambition, and an understanding of the moment, is the exception. This is the real balance sheet of all the chatterboxes who since 2005 have drowned us in declarations, intolerable pro-NATO arrogance, and their bland chanting on the marvelous future of their plans. Time is up for them, and for their plans. A LFI government will be free to engage an entirely different policy, entirely differently, so that France can offer a policy of a different globalization and non-alignment. A totally different Europe can arise. Workers and youth must take this comment as a warning: struggles against austerity and war must be waged independently from social-democratic, Stalinist or petty-bourgeois populist parties and union bureaucracies who in France are grouped in the NFP. These forces do not oppose the vast increase in military spending now underway in France and across Europe. He who wants the ends wants the means. Macrons plan to double French military spending by 2030 is to be financed by Prime Minister Francois Bayrous plan for 45 billion in social cuts, just as Berlins plans for 1 trillion in military spending are to be financed by attacks on German workers. Supporters of militarization like the NFP will try to delay, disorient, disorganize, and ultimately disband workers struggles against austerity and military-police rule. In an era of globalized supply chains and global war, there is no national road to salvation. Were he teleported into the Elysee presidential palace, Melenchon claims, the French capitalist state would fearlessly defy Washington, Moscow, Berlin all at once, and capitalism would suddenly be different. This is what he says, but what is the situation, and what does his record show? On what class basis does Melenchon oppose the Trump-Putin talks? Defeats suffered by the NATO-backed regime in Ukraine and Trumps summit in Alaska have exposed the European imperialist powers. They spent hundreds of billions of euros to boost their armies, staking everything on winning a war with Russia alongside the United States. Now, they have been wrong-footed, as the far-right US president tries to broker a peace deal to end the war they made their key justification for austerity and plans to wage high-intensity war. LFI, in line with similar middle class parties across Europe like the Left Party in Germany and Podemos-Sumar in Spain, did not oppose this policy. While Left Party officials applauded German re-militarization, and Podemos sat in a government that sent anti-tank missiles to the Ukrainian neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, LFI formed the NFP alliance with the bourgeois Socialist Party (PS), the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF) and the Greens. Melenchon wrote into the NFPs election program Macrons wildly unpopular call to send French troops as peacekeepers to Ukraine. Melenchons criticisms of the Alaska talks flow from the failure of his previous, reactionary policy. He bitterly complains that Chinas economic rise has confused the US foreign policy establishment, keeping it from pursuing the consistent war policy that the European powers hoped would benefit them, by allowing to absorb Ukraine and perhaps Russia itself. Washingtons setback, Melenchon complains, has left an opening for Germany to dominate Europe: China or Russia, [the United States] had to choose which one was the true systemic adversary. Dithering, hesitation and waffling muddled its policy. Now it is too late. Putin has won the war, because Ukraine cannot win it without US participation on a scale that is no longer possible due to China. The USA cannot therefore get out of it posturing as the victor. They will have to accept that a new map of Europe will be drawn. More than ever it will be a German Europe, that is to say, nothingness. Melenchons singling out of Germany as the principal threat is as reactionary as his complaint that US imperialism was not single-minded enough in targeting China. He makes no distinction between German imperialisms leading and reactionary role in the European Union, and historically-rooted opposition to militarism and austerity in the German working class. German workers, like workers in France and across Europe, will be plunged into bitter class struggles in the coming months. To spend trillions of euros on the army while protecting the obscene fortunes of the financial oligarchy, the European imperialist powers must destroy social programs on which hundreds of millions of working people rely. Given the mass opposition this will provoke, they will also vastly accelerate their building of a police dictatorship. As workers in France prepare strikes against Bayrou this autumn, their best allies are their class brothers and sisters in Germany and internationally, not the NFPs union bureaucracies and openly pro-austerity parties like the PS. Workers in France must coordinate their struggles against imperialist war, austerity and police-state dictatorship with workers in Germany. For this, workers on both sides of the Rhine will have to build new organizations of struggle and adopt a Trotskyist political perspective against the nationalism promoted by Melenchon. Anti-Trotskyist roots of Melenchons Germanophobia Melenchons orientation to imperialism and his Germanophobia are rooted in his anti-Trotskyist politics. He began his career in Pierre Lamberts Organisation communiste internationaliste (OCI), at the time of its 1971 split with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the leadership of the world Trotskyist movement. Lamberts OCI backed the newly-founded PS led by Francois Mitterrand, supporting its Union of the Left electoral alliance with the Stalinist PCF. Mitterrand had drawn from decades in capitalist politics, including in the Nazi occupation of France, a deep concern for limiting German power. He was notorious for his role as an official in the Nazi-collaborationist Vichy regime, as well as for ordering executions of independence fighters in Frances 1954-1962 colonial war in Algeria, during which Algerian independence fighters found refuge in West Germany. Melenchon ultimately left the OCI to join the PS in 1976, becoming a top Mitterrand aide during his 1981-1995 presidency. Though Mitterrand worked with Berlin in the 1991 US-led Gulf War against Iraq and the 1992 launch of the European Union (EU), he also discussed with UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher his opposition to German reunification in 1990. He gave limited support to Serbia to hamper German influence in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s. Melenchon, who has spoken openly of his admiration for Mitterrand even after leaving the PS in 2009, retained this anti-German orientation. To retain a cynical and empty verbal reference to Trotskyism, Melenchon speaks inside LFI and sometimes publicly of his ties with the Old Man. This was the affectionate term Trotskyists in France and internationally used for Trotsky before and during World War II. However, Melenchon uses it not to designate Trotsky, but Mitterrand, the architect of Frances 1982 austerity turn. This symbolizes how LFI substitutes for socialist internationalism a defense of French imperialism. In a 2016 interview in Marianne, Melenchon recounted how his Old Man Mitterrand only had to utter one word, happiness, to politically seduce Melenchon the very first time the two met: It was Besancon in 1972. I was a very audacious student union official, I was afraid of no one. I was sent to intervene in Mitterrands speech at a meeting in our university. When he started, the Old Man began speakingabout happiness. I guarantee you, I am not a fragile person. But that moment, my doctrinaire armor was pierced. If this account is to be believed, it indicates that, primed by the OCIs orientation to the Union of the Left, Melenchon was desperately looking for an entry into capitalist politics. That, it must be said, he well and truly found. He became a PS senator, then a minister in the 1997-2002 pro-austerity government of PS Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, another ex-OCI member. These are the roots of Melenchons Germanophobia. No one with any knowledge of European history and Nazism can ignore the danger posed by German imperialist domination of Europe. But Melenchons love of Mitterrand and his blanket attacks on Germans are utterly alien to Trotskyism. During the Nazi occupation of France, French Trotskyists and their German comrades underground in France fought to win both French workers and German soldiers to the struggle for socialist revolution. It is by reviving such traditions that European workers can fight austerity and imperialist war. A settling of political accounts on the Ukraine war Pessimistic and embittered by the failure of the NFPs war policy, Melenchon is terrified of the effect Trumps sudden shift towards talks with Moscow will have in Ukraine. He writes: [Ukraine] now knows what to expect. It cannot win, not only because of the military reasons we explained. Above all, its political system is hanging by a thread. Everything points to collapse: trade unions and opposition parties were banned, keeping Zelensky in power though his presidential term in office was finished, having tried to save the corrupt elements making money off the war effort, the mass desertions [from the Ukrainian army]. All this broke the link between the Zelensky system and his people at war. This amounts to a devastating self-indictment of the NFPs own call to send French peacekeepers to prop up the Zelensky regime. There was no link between the Ukrainian people and Zelensky. He runs an oppressive puppet regime funded to the tune of hundreds of billions by Washington and the European powers, and which lacks a shred of democratic legitimacy. Zelensky dragooned hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to their deaths, with the aid of far-right militias like the Azov Battalion, in a hopeless war with Russia. Since reports emerged that NATO officials led by then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson torpedoed peace talks the Kremlin offered to Zelensky shortly after invading Ukraine, it is clear the main force pressing for war was not Moscow, but NATO. With contempt for the lives of the Ukrainian people whose freedom they were claiming to defend, the NATO powers tried to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian. Melenchons statement raises serious political questions. Melenchon has, of course, often criticized NATO. But why, if LFI knew Zelenskys regime was a repressive dictatorship, did they not aggressively denounce Macrons lies about defending Ukrainian freedom and reject using money from social cuts to upgrade the French army for high intensity warfare? The working class must have a settling of political accounts with petty-bourgeois anti-Marxist groups implicated in imperialisms crimes in Ukraine. The truth must be bluntly stated. The entire NFP, including LFI, is complicit not only in Macrons lies about Ukraine, but also in his agenda of militarization. This turns them into bitter enemies of the working class. Due to their nationalist support for French great-power politics, they acquiesce to Macrons policy of plundering of the workers to strengthen the military. In perpetrating this fraud, LFI had the assistance of a host of middle class, pseudo-left descendants of renegades from Trotskyism, who hailed the formation of the NFP last year on a pro-Ukraine war program as a step forward for the working class. These include the Pabloite New Anticapitalist Party (NPA), Workers Struggle (Lutte ouvriere, LO), the Grantite Revolutionary Communist Party (PCR), and the Morenoite Revolution permanente group. What is Melenchons record? Apart from vague hopes that a LFI government may in the future change the situation, he offers nothing to the 8 million people who voted for him in the last presidential elections in 2022, roughly a quarter of Frances electorate. In 2023, a historic crisis emerged in France when Macron adopted a defense law increasing military spending and then financed it with a bill slashing pensions. When Macron rammed through these overwhelmingly unpopular pension cuts by decree, millions of workers went on strike and riots erupted in Frances major cities. Even French capitalist media admitted it was Frances deepest crisis since the May 1968 general strike. Though they only adopted the name NFP later, the NFPs constituent parties were allied together at the time. But they did not call to oppose war spending, denounce Macrons lies about defending Ukrainian freedom, or call to bring down Frances illegitimate president. They attended a few trade union rallies and issued a public letter to Macron asking for talks at the Elysee palace. Then they backed the union bureaucracies who baldly called off the movement once Macron, openly defying the will of the people, promulgated his pension cuts as law. When in 2024 Macron called snap elections, Melenchon formed the NFP to prop up the discredited PS and PCF machines. The NFPs program not only called for French peacekeepers in Ukraine, but refused to call the Israeli war on Gaza a genocide. On this basis, it not only managed to get PS or PCF deputies elected, but also swung rapidly to the right and, in the runoff, endorsed Macrons candidates, supposedly to block a neo-fascist victory. Even though the NFP nevertheless won a plurality of the seats, Macron thereupon refused to name the NFP to government and reinstalled his own party in power. Macron could keep his party in government only thanks to the political assistance provided by Melenchon. This record demolishes Melenchons argument that, even amid genocide and world war, all the workers need to do is wait and hope for LFI to win the Elysee, and then everything will be different. Such subordination to the bureaucracies can only lead to disaster for the working class. The path for the working class to fight world war, genocide and fascism is the international mobilization, from below, in irreconcilable struggle against imperialism. The workers need their own rank-and-file organizations, to liberate their struggle from the deadening grip of the NFP and its allies internationally. Amid the accelerating collapse of the existing world order, however, these struggles will immediately raise profound questions of historical orientation and political perspective. NATOs stoking of a fratricidal conflict between the former Soviet republics of Russia and Ukraine exposes the disastrous consequences of the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Less than 35 years later, world capitalism again is witnessing a genocide and teetering on the brink of a global total war. The only viable program to resolve this mortal crisis of capitalism is the ICFIs defense of the traditions of the October revolution and the program of international socialist revolution. The Berlin Biennale is a contemporary art exhibition held every two to three years since 1998 at a number of venues across Germanys capital city. This years event, the 13th, is taking place in four separate venues from June to September and features 170 works by 60 artists from nearly 40 countries. The central motif for this years Biennale is explicitly political. Berlin Biennale 2025 According to Biennale curator Zasha Colah, introducing the exhibition, art has the ability to define its own laws in the face of lawful violence in unjust systems and to assert itself even under conditions of persecution and militarizationsending messages that can be passed on. At the program presentation in Berlin, Colah further commented: We find ourselves in a time of fear in Germany, in which the media landscape, the cultural landscape and the political landscape are characterized by enormous unrest. The Biennale presents itself as offering curators the possibility of taking bold artistic / political approaches beyond the market. Against a background of immense political and social tensionincluding the danger of a Third World War between nuclear-armed nations (80 years after the nuclear devastation in Japan); the rapid militarisation of society; support for the Gaza genocide by every major power; ecological breakdown; and unprecedented levels of social insecuritythe holding of an art exhibition in the middle of Europe seemingly devoted to tackling such issues through the medium of art is to be welcomed. Additional encouraging signs crop up in a poem for the festival entitled The Jokers Address, written by Colah, which declares in a series of propositions that the Berlin exhibition excludes identity politics and is not national, not even postcolonial. One placard (quoting American novelist William Faulkner) indicates a serious appreciation of the importance of history: see photo... The Past Is Never Dead... A perusal of the artworks on show at the Biennale at its four centres, however, disappoints, in one major respect is deeply troubling and makes clear that enormous questions of orientation remain unresolved. Gaza Despite its political pretensions, the Biennale contains a gaping hole. It fails to include a single work dealing with the most abominable social and political crime taking place at presentthe systematic genocide/ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by the Zionist regime and its imperialist backers in the US and Europe. The absence of any treatment of the genocide currently taking place under the horrified gaze of the worlds population is shameful. It is hard not to see this as a cowardly surrender to the brutal, pro-Zionist policies of the German government. One festival work features tea towels draped on a wall rhetorically warning against the dangers of fascism, mass destruction and collective punishment, but amongst the 170 works dealing with the consequences of arbitrary imprisonment, military dictatorship and deliberate destruction of eco-systems, not a word or brush stroke is devoted to the atrocities being committed by the Israeli government and military, supported by the German political elite. 'May Contain Traces of...' Curator Colah was challenged about the exhibitions failure to raise Gaza at an opening press event. One member of the audience asked if any of the invited artists had refused to participate in the show, in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and the repression of pro-Palestinian cultural workers in Germany. Colah admitted this was the case, with at least one artist refusing to take part in response to the call by the Strike Germany movement for the boycott of organisations and events that refrain from taking a clear position opposing the Israeli genocide. In response to the question as to whether Colah had experienced repression by the German government in light of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and German support for it?, the curator replied in the negative, adding, They [the authorities] wouldnt dare. Refusing to admit that genocide was taking place, with the weasel declaration that genocide is a legal term, she said she face[s] many repressions, but would not call it state repression. Already, back in May, prior to the opening of the Biennale, Colah gave an interview in which she declared There is no censorship, I would say, in Germany. In reality, there is ample and indeed overwhelming documentation of the German states active repression of expressions of solidarity with the people of Palestine through police force, accusations of antisemitism, targeted arrests, criminal charges, coercion through the justice system, deportation and outright banning. The WSWS features numerous articles dealing with the dozens of writers, cultural workers, political figures, scientists and ordinary citizens who have been subjected to censorship and repression by the German government. Even the speaking of languages other than German or English at pro-Palestinian demonstrations is sufficient to result in police harassment and arrest. The curators indication that the festival would exclude identity politics from the Biennale also proves to be inconsistent. Sawangwongse Yawnghwe, Jokers Headquarters. Gesamtkunstwerk as a Practical Joke (Cest le Premier Vol de LAigle) [Its the eagles first flight], 2025, installation view, 13th Berlin Biennale One section of the exhibition by Burmese artist Sawangwongse Yawnghwe features large banners providing details of the global arms trade. From a political standpoint such information is clearly valuable, but listing such details on large banners hardly seems to merit inclusion in an art exhibition. In addition, one of the banners declares in capital letters that: THE GLOBAL ARMS TRADE IS A WHITE SUPREMICIST CAPITALIST PATRIARCAL SELF-INVENTION. WE HAVE FUELLED AND PERPETUATED TENSIONS, SELLING TO ALL SIDES SINCE 1874. This formulation is characteristic of the type of identity politics which has raged in academic and fake left middle-class circles in recent decades, seeking to blame the broad mass of the population for the excesses of capitalism, thereby absolving the ruling elites of any responsibility. There were at least a handful of interesting works on show at one of the festivals venues, a derelict courthouse in the Moabit area of Berlin. The facade of the courthouse is pockmarked with the holes left by shells exchanged between Nazi troops and Soviet Red Army soldiers during the intense street fighting that took place in the German capital at the end of the Second World War. The courthouse was also the site of the 1916 trial of socialist revolutionary Karl Liebknecht who stood accused by the state of organizing an antiwar demonstration opposing Germanys role in World War I. In a rigged, closed trial Liebknecht was sentenced to four years and one month in prison for high treason. Responding to his sentence Liebknecht expressed his contempt for the ruling of the judge: Leave this comedy, where everything, including even the decision, has been prepared beforehand. Anna Scalfi Eghenter, Die Komodie! [The comedy!] This theme has been taken up by the Italian artist Anna Scalfi Eghenter (born 1965) whose installation The Comedy! fills several rooms on the ground floor of the courthouse. In the first room red political pamphlets flutter in the air, propelled by several large fans, while an audio track plays excerpts from Liebknechts speeches opposing German militarism. After a promising start, Eghenters installation, including tiny model soldiers spread across the floor and a neon sign bearing the word Comunista, falls flat, failing to illuminate in any way the significance of Liebknechts courageous struggle against militarism and his assassination a few years later by right-wing militia. An adjacent room in the same venue also takes up a theme from the First World War. The venue features a film From Heaven High by German artist Simon Wachsmuth. The main character in the film is a soldier in a German military uniform with a pigs head. The figure in Wachsmuths film is based on the dummy, titled originally Prussian Archangel, which hung from the ceiling at Berlins First International Dada Art Fair in 1920. A sash across the body of the dummy features the words vom himmel hoch, da komm ich her (I come from heaven high), as one reviewer noted, a song attributed to Martin Luther, repurposed by Dadaists [John Heartfield and Rudolf Schlichter] as a rallying cry against war. Heartfield and Schlichter were subsequently accused of defaming the army and put on trial. The first part of Wachsmuths film shows the soldier-pig marching senselessly around a parade ground. The second part features the creature confronting a stony-faced judge as the former seeks to defend himself with cryptic language games. The film ends lamely with the stuttering splutter from the pig-soldier It is better to be a pig than a fascist. To fully understand this work of art, one must wear a full backpack to Tempelhofer Field [a Berlin park traditionally used for military practice] and perform twelve hours of field exercises. It should be noted that Heartfield was one of a whole group of artists (including his brother Wieland Herzfelde, Erwin Piscator and George Grosz) who, traumatised and radicalized by the war, turned to the left and joined the newly founded Communist Party (KPD) in 1919. Artists today do not have the example of an October Revolution to inspire them, but the masses are globally on the move. Instead of sniping from the sidelines, as was the case with many of the figures featured at the Berlin Biennale, artists will find it necessary, in order to create genuinely new art, in Trotskys words, to be at one with their epoch and its tumultuous, ultimately revolutionary character. Grocery workers picket a Ralph's supermarket in Long Beach, California on Friday, June 20, 2025. A wave of sellout contracts has swept through the grocery industry this summer. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) is engaged in a calculated campaign to block strikes sand impose pro-company agreements across the country. Within the last week, the UFCW announced the ratification of three separate agreements. Between August 15 and August 21, three deals were declared ratified by the UFCW: August 15 Stater Bros.: Covers 12,000 workers across Southern California. August 21 Kroger Indiana: Covers 8,000 workers, passed by a dubious 56 percent after two rejections. August 21 Gelsons: Covers roughly 2,000 Southern California workers. This coordinated betrayal is taking place under conditions of escalating attacks on workers and democratic rights by the Trump administration, which is carrying out a coup detat in Washington D.C. The UFCW bureaucracy, working hand in glove with corporate management and the state, is systematically isolating struggles, rushing votes, withholding information and forcing through poverty contracts. In the end, it presents every betrayal as a historic victory. Yet cracks are emerging. Despite the UFCWs efforts, the revolt at Kroger in Indianawhere workers twice rejected agreements before a highly suspicious ratificationsignals growing rank-and-file opposition to the unions stranglehold and exposes the unsustainability of its pro-corporate strategy. These deals share the same playbook: suppress strike action, limit information, restrict worker discussion and ram through agreements that protect corporate profits while locking workers into poverty. The poverty imposed on grocery workers stands in stark contrast to the billions generated by the companies and the six-figure salaries of corporate executives and union officials alike. In Californias urban centers, where rents, food, transportation and healthcare costs are skyrocketing, the average grocery wage of $16 to $18 an hour falls far below what is needed for a decent living. A worker earning $17 an hour cannot afford even a modest one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles, San Diego or the Bay Area without spending over half their income on rent. For thousands of Stater Bros., Gelsons, Ralphs and Kroger employees, full-time jobs still mean constant economic insecurity and debt. At Stater Bros., 12,000 Southern California grocery workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, signaling their readiness to confront a company that generated $5 billion in revenue in 2024 and reported $9.2 million in profits in early 2025. The UFCW leadership, bound by its alliance with corporate management, sabotaged workers resolve. Instead of organizing a genuine strike across stores and uniting all simultaneous grocery struggles, the bureaucracy staged token single-store boycotts and reframed the conflict around narrower Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges. Then, without warning, the UFCW announced a tentative agreement and rushed through a ratification vote. Workers were given virtually no meaningful details, no time to analyze the contract, and no opportunity to organize opposition. Predictably, the bureaucracy declared a historic victory on August 15. In Indiana, workers rejected two consecutive tentative agreements, reflecting growing resistance to poverty wages and unsafe conditions. In response, UFCW Local 700 launched a relentless campaign of fear-mongering, pressure, and manipulation. On August 21, the union claimed the deal had been ratified by a suspiciously narrow 56 percent margin. Workers were given no independently verified ballot counts and no detailed breakdown of the vote. The fact that two deals were rejected before this outcome exposes deep opposition among rank-and-file workers. The Indiana struggle reveals that UFCWs ability to enforce corporate demands is increasingly fragile. Resistance is surfacing beneath the surface: if organized, it can become a powerful challenge to the bureaucracys authority. Just two days before announcing the Stater Bros. deal, on August 13, the UFCW declared a tentative agreement at Gelsons Markets covering roughly 2,000 Southern California workers. The union flooded workers with slogans about higher wages for EVERY worker, improved pensions, and better healthcare, promising significant gains for all of us. In reality, the deal is a masterclass in deception: Food Clerk, GM/Meat Clerk, and Meat Cutter Top Rate workers will see $0.50 raises every six months, except for the first year. Courtesy Clerks with nine months or more, currently earning $17.08 per hour, will receive just an extra $0.10 per hour until Californias minimum wage increases on January 1, 2026. A $0.25 per hour supplemental pension contribution starting in 2026 is meaningless amid rising costs, while the frozen $2.85/hour base pension contribution amounts to a de facto cut, eroding retirement security. So-called healthcare improvements are built on cost-shifting: delayed eligibility, restricted dependent coverage, audits to drop spouses and children, and rising out-of-pocket expenses. UFCW Local 770, again, limited worker discussion by holding only two controlled Zoom informational meetings on August 17 and 18, giving workers the following two daysAugust 19 and 20to vote. On August 21, the local announced the contract was ratified but refused to provide turnout numbers or detailed results. But Local 1167 in San Bernardino declared the deal ratified on August 19, before workers in the other local even finished voting. Over the past year, the UFCW has forced through pro-company contracts covering more than 100,000 workers: Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions (Southern California): 45,000 workers Northern California Safeway : 25,000 workers UFCW 3000 (Puget Sound Region) : 25,000 workers across Washington, eastern Oregon, and north Idaho Pacific Northwest UFCW Local 367: 7,000 workers The UFCW leadership is working hand in hand with the companies to stop strikes and keep workers divided. These union officials arent fighting for workersthey make six-figure salaries while helping management push corporate interests. Despite the UFCWs success in pushing through these contracts, cracks are widening. Workers across the country are showing they are not willing to accept endless concessions, fraudulent votes, and secretive deals. Whats missing is a coordinated, organized movement capable of transforming these scattered acts of defiance into a unified national struggle. To break out of this cycle of betrayal, workers must take matters into their own hands by forming independent rank-and-file committees, democratic bodies controlled by workers, not the union bureaucracy. These committees must: Demand rank-and-file auditing of the vote: Workers must have access to the balloting records to ensure the integrity of the vote. But no contract vote pushed under threats, or before workers have had a chance to review it, should be considered legitimate. Seize control of negotiations: Bargaining sessions must be livestreamed for full transparency. Unite across workplaces: Link workers at Stater Bros., Ralphs, Gelsons, Safeway, Kroger, and beyond, from logistics to teachers to health care workers. Prepare mass action: Organize general strikes independent of UFCW or other union control. Fight for workers needs: Demand what workers require, not what corporations claim they can afford. Confront the political establishment: Oppose both the Trump administration and the Democratic Party, which jointly defend corporate interests and suppress worker struggles. Just three months after being re-elected, the Albanese Labor government used a three-day Economic Reform Roundtable this week to outline far-reaching measures to boost corporate profits and cut social spending, none of which were mentioned during the campaign for the May 3 election. Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks on first day of Economic Reform Roundtable, August 2025 [Photo: X/Jim Chalmers MP] With the full complicity of the trade union chiefs, who eagerly took part in the closed-door sessions of 25 handpicked participants from the corporate and political establishment, the event became a vehicle to launch deeper cuts to social programs, starting with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). In the middle of the roundtable, after months of promising there would be no changes to NDIS eligibility, Health Minister Mark Butler announced plans to restrict childrens access to the NDIS, with the goal of shaving billions of dollars from government outlays, primarily to make way for sharp increases in military spending. Tens of thousands of children diagnosed with autism and other developmental conditions will be barred from the scheme from 2027, supposedly to be shunted into yet-to-be devised cost-cutting programs in partnership with the state and territory governments, to be cynically called Thriving Kids. In the lead-up to the roundtable summit, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally led the assault on the NDIS, declaring that it was never envisaged that 40 percent of the population would be on it. That is a transparent fraud. Currently about 2.8 percent of the population, or 740,000 people, utilise the NDIS. A largely privatised program introduced by the previous Gillard Labor government in 2013, the NDIS only covers a small proportion of those with disabilities. Previous promises by the Labor government that people barred from the NDIS would become eligible for non-existent foundational supports to be provided by state and territory governments by July 2025 have proven to be a mirage. Not one state has agreed to deliver the supports and none have committed themselves to co-financing Thriving Kids either. According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, if Labor succeeds in its goal of cutting the NDIS annual financial growth rate from 10 percent to 5.5 percent by 202627, the scheme would be $128 billion cheaper over the next 10 years, all at the expense of predominantly working-class children. Corporate media outlets hailed the gutting of the NDIS as just a first step toward what they and the government have labelled budget repair. That is a euphemism for axing social programs as part of an agenda of austerity and war preparations. The Murdoch medias Australian welcomed the NDIS attack as an initial downpayment, saying: Anthony Albanese has taken a major first step in using the mandate from his dominant 94-seat election victory to tackle a deeply sensitive and politically challenging issue that governments have been unable to address. The shake-up was not taken to voters before the May 3 election but it is the right decision, done early It is part of a bigger challenge to break what is now a widespread community expectation that it is possible for government to cater for every need. An editorial in the newspaper on Friday directly linked the move to the Trump administrations demands for the government to lift military spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), in preparation for a war against China: In Australias current strategic circumstances, amid international consensus when comparable countries are lifting defence spending to at least 3.5 percent of GDP, as called for by our major ally, the US, it is an area where increased outlays to secure the nations security are essential. Meeting the Trump administrations demand would cost the federal budget almost $210 billion extra over a decade, according to Parliamentary Budget Office figures. That is on top of annual outlays already rising to $100 billion over that period, without even fully accounting for the $368 billion allocated for AUKUS attack submarines. Vulnerable families relying on NDIS services are not Labors only target. During the roundtable, Social Services Minister Tania Plibersek also unveiled a multi-billion dollar cut to aged pensions and other welfare payments by lifting the deeming rate on any assets held by recipients. Labors initial increase of half a percentage point in the deeming rate will strip an estimated $1.8 billion from pensioners and welfare recipients over four years, and that will rise further because Plibersek said this was only the first instalment. Originally billed as a summit to lift productivitythat is, driving up output per worker for the sake of corporate profitthe roundtable became also focused on a broader assault on working-class conditions, under the banners of resilience and budget sustainability and tax reform. With the agreement of the key union participantsAustralian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Sally McManus and ACTU president Michele ONeilthe summit produced an extensive outline of measures to fatten corporate profits, including: Freezing changes to the National Construction Code, effectively reducing quality, energy efficiency and safety standards for property developers and construction companies, supposedly to reduce the worsening housing affordability crisis affecting millions of working-class households. During the 2023 election campaign, Labor said it opposed the Liberal-National Coalitions call for such a freeze, saying it would lead to the building of shoddy homes. Gutting the already inadequate environmental laws in order to speed up approvals for mining, energy, industrial and housing projects. This is being done on the basis of the fraudulent and unsubstantiated claim that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act is currently holding up 30,000 housing approvals, supposedly preventing the government from delivering on its sham election pledge to build 1.2 million homes in five years. Setting up a partnership between the unions and the billionaire-dominated Tech Council of Australia (TCA) to supervise the accelerated corporate use of artificial intelligence (AI) at the inevitable expense of workers jobs and conditions. On behalf of the ACTU, McManus described as a breakthrough a side agreement she made with Scott Farquhar, the TCA chairman and billionaire co-founder of Atlassian, for the unions to be a worker voice in the co-design of AI. Laying the foundation for deeper pro-business tax reform under the banner of finding an affordable way to incentivise business investment. That essentially means reducing corporate taxes to compete with the cuts being made in the US and internationally, possibly combined with increasing the rate and breadth of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to shift more of the tax burden onto unavoidable spending by working-class households. Editorials in the Australian and the Australian Financial Review (AFR) cautiously welcomed these commitments, while insisting that the ruthless NDIS measures had to be matched across-the-board. These are all good ideas, the AFR editorialised, but will not solve the underlying malaise that has resulted in Australias GDP per capita going backwards for nine of the past 11 quarters Three-and-a-half months into its second three-year term, the government cant just sit on its hands when it comes to difficult reform. The prime minister must invest his political capital, and the Treasurer must deploy his considerable communication skills, and advance a truly pro-growth, pro-productivity agenda before the next election due in 2028. In reality, this offensive will intensify long before the next election. The tariff wars launched by the Trump administration, in particular targeting China, which is Australian capitalisms largest export market by far, signal the breakdown of the post-World War II economic order. In opening the roundtable, Treasurer Chalmers provided a pale outline of what lies ahead. He spoke of four major economic shocks in less than two decades and of living in a permanent state of upheaval. In other words, the Labor government will seek to deliver whatever is demanded of it by the corporate ruling class amid the plunge into trade war and war. At the May 3 election, Labor obtained a large parliamentary majority, but only a third of the overall vote, and that was on a negative basis. It won because of popular hostility to Trumps fascistic Make America Great Again war on the world and the American working class. Now the Albanese government is escalating its own offensive on working-class living standards, which have already fallen sharply since it first took office in 2022. This will trigger deeper working-class opposition. Under these conditions, the collaboration between the ACTU leaders and the big business chiefs at the roundtable is a warning of the role that the union apparatuses, despite their vastly reduced membership and legitimacy in the eyes of workers after decades of sellouts, will seek to play as the industrial police of Labors austerity and war agenda. Workers cannot defeat this offensive without breaking out of the stranglehold of the union bureaucrats, through the building of rank-and-file committees, together with their class brothers and sisters worldwide, in order to fight the capitalist systems global lurch into austerity, dictatorship and war. Picture of the Nord Stream Pipeline gas leak, shared on Radek Sikorski's Twitter account. Almost three years after the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, one of the alleged perpetrators has been arrested for the first time. Italian police arrested Ukrainian ex-officer Serhii K., whom the German Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses of coordinating the attacks and, as a member of a group, planting the explosive charges on the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The 49-year-old had been vacationing with his family in the Rimini area, even though there was an international arrest warrant out for him. For the German government, the arrest comes at a very inopportune time. If the suspect reveals who was behind the attack, it could lead to serious tensions with Kiev and Washington. This comes at a time when Berlin and Kiev are pulling out all the stops to prevent President Trump from striking a deal with Moscow and to persuade him to continue supporting the war. German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (Social Democrats, SPD) called the arrest a very impressive investigative success. She said that Germany is a constitutional state and that the bombing of the pipelines must be investigated under criminal law. However, she added that this would not change Germany's stance on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. We stand firmly by Ukraine's side politically, she said. The fact that the German justice minister feels compelled to assure Ukraine of Germany's continued solidarity in connection with the arrest of a suspected terrorist speaks volumes. It has long been known in Berlin that Washington and Kiev were behind the attack on Nord Stream. After all, then-US President Joe Biden had publicly threatened a few months earlier that ways and means would be found to put an end to the project. But the German government did not want to talk about it publicly. If it had accused its closest allies in the war against Russia of being behind the devastating act of sabotage, the joint war front would have collapsed. At the same time, it could not simply ignore the attack because of its magnitude. Before the attack, half of Germany's annual natural gas demand flowed through Nord Stream 1. Nord Stream 2 was about to go into operation. Together, the two destroyed pipelines cost around 10 billion. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office therefore began investigating and quickly found what it was looking for. The exact sequence of events of the attack and those directly involved are now largely known. Back in June last year, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office already attempted to arrest one of the main suspects, Ukrainian diving instructor Volodymyr Sch., at his then place of residence in Poland. However, the Polish authorities warned him, and a car from the Ukrainian embassy took him across the border to safety. On November 20, 2024, Der Spiegel published an extensive investigation entitled How a Ukrainian secret commando blew up Nord Stream. It is based on investigation files, intelligence information, two years of research by its own reporters, interviews with those involved, and on-site investigations. It does not seem to have been too difficult to get those involved to talk, as many of them considered the bombing of the pipelines to be a patriotic heroic deed. Out of consideration for the safety of those involved, Der Spiegel mentioned only a few names, but described the planning, preparation, and execution of the attack in great detail, including technical details such as the construction of the bombs, which were specially made for this purpose. Compressed air cylinders for divers, which did not attract attention at the border crossing, were converted into pipe bombs. Twenty to thirty-five kilograms of special underwater explosives, arranged as a so-called cutting charge, ensured optimal effect. The bombs were attached to a connecting seam of the pipeline, which is not encased in concrete but in hard foam. A small hole in the outer wall was then sufficient for the gas pressure to do the rest. The bombs were tested in a lake in Ukraine, and the divers practiced installing them at depths of up to 100 meters. Given the meticulous preparation, a relatively small team of six people was sufficient to bring the equipment to Germany, rent the sailing yacht Andromeda under a false identity, and attach the explosive charges over the course of several days. Well-trained divers were required, as the pipelines at the attack sites run at a depth of about 70 meters. Timed detonators then set off the bombs long after the perpetrators had left. The movements of the attackers are now well documented based on GPS data, images from surveillance and speed cameras, and witness statements from local residents. Traces of explosives were also found on the Andromeda, confirming that the boat was used for the attack. However, the question of who was behind the attacks remains controversial. Neither the German nor other investigative authorities have shown much interest in pursuing the matter so far. In Denmark and Sweden, where the attacks took place in their territorial waters, the investigations were discontinued after a short time. However, Der Spiegels report leaves little doubt that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Ukrainian military were involved and that the highest government circles were informed. The German government was also warned by the Dutch intelligence service, but ignored the warning or did not take it seriously. Der Spiegel reports: There are many indications that those responsible for the largest act of sabotage in European history were, all in all, about a dozen men and one woman from Ukraine. Some are civilians, others are soldiers. They were recruited and trained by a group that had been planning and carrying out secret operations for the Ukrainian security apparatus for years. Some of the perpetrators have long-standing connections to the CIA. Der Spiegel identified 49-year-old Roman Chervinsky as the probable leader of the operation, with whom its reporters also spoke briefly. He was one of the heads of counterintelligence for the Ukrainian domestic security service SBU and later moved to the military intelligence service HUR. He is said to have been involved in the 2019 kidnapping of Vladimir Zemach, who was charged with shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. According to Der Spiegel, Chervinsky long belonged to a group within the Ukrainian security services that was considered particularly conspiratorial, set up by US agents. Because the Ukrainian services were infiltrated by former KGB cadres, the Americans had been looking for years for trustworthy people who could be trained away from Russian informants. The most important goal was to set up capable sabotage units. According to Der Spiegel's research, the attack had the blessing of General Valery Zaluzhny. The then commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army is said to have been so enthusiastic that he wanted to use the same methods to destroy the TurkStream pipeline, which connects Russia to Turkey via the Black Sea. However, this failed. President Zelensky was reportedly not informed at first because Zaluzhny did not trust his entourage. But he knew about it at least three months before the attack, as several Western intelligence agencies learned of the plans and informed Zelensky. The Wall Street Journal even reported on August 14, 2024, that Zelensky had personally approved the attack. He subsequently withdrew his approval, but Zaluzhny ignored his order and carried out the attack. Serhii K., who was the first suspected attacker to be arrested, could shed light on the question of who was behind the Nord Stream attack and who was pulling the strings. However, neither side seems to be particularly interested in this. The Italian authorities are delaying K.'s extradition to Germany. They first want to investigate whether he was also involved in attacks on ships in the Mediterranean, which could take up to two months. And the German government does not want to sour its relationship with the Zelensky regime. The destruction of Nord Stream also exposed the German government's war propaganda. This war is not about defending freedom and democracy in Ukraine, but about raw materials, profits, power, and other imperialist interests. Even supposed partners and allies do not shy away from the worst criminal machinations. The German government is trying to cover up Kiev's and Washington's responsibility for the attack because continuing the war, weakening Russia, and gaining access to its immense resources are more important to it than solving the crime. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player U.S. Marines board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter [Photo: USMC/Lance Cpl. Alexis Ibarra] The Trump administration has launched a violent escalation of imperialist threats against Venezuela with the dispatch of an armada to within striking distance of the South American nations shores. The deployment of three guided missile destroyers and an attack submarine, together with 4,000 personnel, to the southern Caribbean has been followed by the dispatch of three amphibious assault ships carrying an expeditionary force of 2,000 Marines. The military siege of Venezuela marks a new stage in an unprecedented escalation of US imperialist aggression against Latin America as a whole. Washingtons official announcement of the military operation made clear its absolutely illegal and relentless character. The White House press secretary announced that the administration headed by President Nicolas Maduro is not the legitimate government of Venezuela, it is a narco terror cartel against which President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power. The action was preceded by the absurd designation of Maduro and his government as the leaders of the Cartel de los Solesa supposed drug trafficking organization whose very existence lacks any credible evidence. Classifying this cartel as a terrorist organization, Washington has placed a $50 million bounty on the Venezuelan presidents head. The inflammatory attack against Venezuela is directed at creating an ominous precedent for the entire planet; US imperialism is proclaiming its right to intervene violently against any regime it considers an obstacle to its interests. Although the attack on Venezuela has advanced systematically under previous Republican and Democratic administrations alike, Trumps actions mark a qualitative leap. Washington has abandoned the hypocritical pretensions of restoring democracy and human rights, which served as a cover for its previous interventions. Trump is not bothering to reprise the farcical attempt to pass off a nonentity like Juan Guaido as the legitimate president in furtherance of regime change. It is instead resorting to naked armed force. The fate of oil-rich Venezuela is being decided under terms similar to the fate of Czechoslovakia or Poland in World War II; or, more directly, according to the brutal paradigms being established in Gaza by Zionism and its imperialist supporters. Imperialist offensive against Latin America The escalation against Venezuela is part of a coordinated offensive thatcombining military, economic and political meansaims to establish unrestricted US domination over Latin America. This imperialist onslaught has advanced by leaps and bounds in the first months of the second Trump administration. The first days of his term were marked by the neocolonial bullying of Panama, threatening military invasion if the country did not cede to the US total control over the Panama Canal. It gained momentum with the announcement of crippling tariffs against Brazil, openly justified as a political intervention against the Brazilian government to prevent the trial of the countrys fascist former president Jair Bolsonaro for his 2023 coup attempt. In a historic shift, Washington has adopted the kind of aggressive hostility toward Brazilthe regions largest power and a longtime US allypreviously reserved for Venezuela and countries it has labeled the Axis of Evil. The operation against Venezuela was anticipated by reports of a directive recently signed by Trump for the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American cartels, expressly naming Mexican crime groups. An unprecedented 10,000 US troops have been deployed to the border, and US warships have been dispatched to threaten Mexico. Despite President Claudia Sheinbaums insistence to the contrary, a US invasion of Mexico is an imminent threat. The onslaught against Latin America is directly embedded in the shift in US imperialisms global war policy. A day before dispatching ships and troops to the Caribbean, Trump hosted a NATO crisis summit at the White House. Creating huge rifts with the European imperialist powers, the meeting was prompted by Washingtons turn away from the war against Russia in Ukraine. This strategic shift is guided by the Trump administrations openly stated goal of concentrating US forces for war against China, within which Latin America constitutes a major battleground. The grotesque conspiracy theory used to justify the US incursion into a region it has historically considered its own backyard, which combines the phony pretexts of the war on drugs and the war on terror, has as its corollary the blaming of China and its evil agenda for destabilizing the Western Hemisphere. This narrative, modeled on Hitlers Big Lie, was explicitly formulated in SOUTHCOMs strategic guidelines presented in February. The Pentagon stated that transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) ... use enormous revenue from drug trafficking ... to corrupt and co-opt portions of regional governments in Latin America, and thus open space for China, Russia, and other malign actors to achieve strategic ends and further their agendas. In other words, what begins nominally as a fight against drug trafficking evolves seamlessly into the overthrow of targeted governments and a war between great powers for control of strategic resources and chokepoints. Dictatorship over the Americas US imperialisms struggle for domination of the Western Hemisphere and the rest of the planet merges directly with efforts to impose a dictatorial regime within the United States itself. The war plans of the capitalist oligarchy require massive attacks on the working class in the United States and the crushing of its power of resistance. The Trump administration is mobilizing military forces to wage war not only against its strategic rivals but against the American people as well. On August 11, it began a military occupation of Washington D.C., mobilizing nearly 9,000 police and military troops. This military occupation represents the highpoint of a systematic effort to impose a presidential dictatorship, continuing the objectives of the fascist coup attempt of January 6, 2021. The breakdown of democratic rule in the United States acts as a powerful impetus for fascist political forces in Latin America, the heirs of the CIA-backed military dictatorships of the 1970s. In Brazil, the coup attempt promoted by Bolsonaro and the military high command on January 8, 2023 was directly inspired by Trumps attack on the US Capitol two years earlier. Today, the trial of Bolsonaro and his fellow fascist conspirators serves as a pretext for US imperialist intervention against Brazil. The Argentine government of fascist President Javier Milei, who came to power a year ago, openly acts as the spearhead of Washingtons incursion into the region. This was clearly demonstrated in this weeks events. While the US fleet advanced against Venezuela, in the extreme south of the region Milei inaugurated Southdec 2025 alongside US SOUTHCOM commander Admiral Alvin Holsey. After the national anthems of Argentina and the United States were played, Defense Minister Luis Petri stated: This meeting is very important for our country because it ratifies the decision and mandate of President Javier Milei to align ourselves with the administration of Donald Trump. The meeting continued with speeches attacking the Chinese Communist Party [which] continues its methodical incursion into the region and calling for a war against transnational crime. The Milei governments plans include the creation of a special division to combat Brazilian transnational criminal organizations inside and outside Argentina. A militarization of the borders with Brazil in conjunction with US troops appears to be imminent. Crisis of bourgeois nationalism and the Pink Tide The response to the attacks of US imperialism demonstrates the profound crisis of the bourgeois nationalist governments of the so-called Pink Tide. The government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, of the Workers Party (PT), recently declared to the press a genuine concern that Washington is preparing a regime change operation in Brazil. The solution sought by Lula is emblematic. Internally, the PT seeks to move closer to the extreme right on the basis of a reactionary nationalist ideology; externally, it seeks to strengthen relations with the right-wing regimes in the region and with European imperialism. Lulas desperate initiatives have included an appeal for collaboration with Ecuadors fascistic President Daniel Noboa to combat organized crime in the region; in other words, to legitimize the bogeyman created by Washington for its hemispheric interventions. The same attitude prevails among all the failed governments of the Pink Tide. In the face of open aggression against Venezuela, Brasilia has adopted an even more cowardly position. Lulas adviser Celso Amorim limited himself to declaring concern, emphasizing that the Brazilian government does not recognize Maduros election, offering a justification for imperialist intervention. The project for Latin American unity advanced by the Pink Tide in the days of UNASURwhich spoke openly of joint defense measures against US-backed coup attempts foundered along with the commodity boom that boosted the regions economies at the beginning of the century. The deepening of the global capitalist crisis and the intensification of the class struggle over the last decade have pitted these bourgeois left governments against the working class domestically and made them increasingly adopt the slogan of every man for himself in the search for accommodation with imperialism. The shipwreck of the failed bourgeois Pink Tide project marks the final crisis of the experiments with bourgeois nationalism in Latin America. More than a century of bitter betrayals and defeats have demonstrated the absolute inability of purely national programs to resolve Latin Americas basic social and democratic problems, much less overthrow its oppression by imperialism. Necessary response of the working class The International Committee of the Fourth International rejects the dead-end of nationalism and advances a program for the unification of the struggle of workers across the Americas and internationally. The 1940 Manifesto of the Fourth International Against War proclaimed: The monstrous growth of armaments in the United States prepares for a violent solution of the complex contradictions in the Western Hemisphere and should soon pose point blank the question of the destiny of the Latin American countries. ... Only under its own revolutionary direction is the proletariat of the colonies and the semi-colonies capable of achieving invincible collaboration with the proletariat of the metropolitan centers, and with the world working class as a whole. Only this collaboration can lead the oppressed peoples to complete and final emancipation, through the overthrow of imperialism the world over. Eighty-five years later, this perspective has taken on even greater meaning. Throughout Latin America, the working class has become the most numerous and powerful social force. Its objective connection to workers around the world has been radically deepened through the globalization of capitalist production. In particular, the fate of Latin American workers and those in the United States is deeply intertwined. The unity of workers throughout the Americas is the key to a successful struggle against oppression by imperialist capitalism in both the South and the North. The ICFI unconditionally denounces the criminal attacks of US imperialism against Venezuela and the other oppressed countries of Latin America. But imperialist aggression can only be defeated through the methods of class struggle. The battle against imperialism must be waged under the following banners: US troops out of Venezuelan waters and the streets of Washington! Unity of the working class in the imperialist and oppressed countries! In this context, an understanding of the true nature of Trumps tariffs against Brazil and other countries is particularly necessary. Their irrationality and economic destructiveness obey the logic of the drive to global imperialist war. The program being promoted by the PT, the unions and the pseudo-left is utterly inadequate. Their demands for national unity above the class struggle and a turn towards economic nationalism are totally reactionary and represent an adaptation to the irrationality of imperialist war. The devastating impact of the tariffs will be felt by the working class both in Brazil and within the United States itself and must be answered by the international working class in a unified manner. Workers must launch an international campaign against factory closures and job cuts, and against the plans of transnational corporations to restructure globally in order to intensify the exploitation of labor. The increase in workplace deaths and accidents, which necessarily result from these conditions, must be met with the establishment of workers control of production. To advance this program, it is necessary to break the shackles imposed by the corporatist unions and the parties that falsely claim to represent workers, such as the Pink Tide in Latin America and the Democratic Party in the US. Aided by pseudo-left organizations, their role is to keep workers imprisoned within the confines of bourgeois national politics. Build the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees! Against imperialist war for the redivision of the globe advance the struggle for global socialism! Build the revolutionary leadership of the working class, the International Committee of the Fourth International! Palestinians stand on the edge of a crater after Israeli military strikes on a tent camp for displaced people near Al-Aqsa Hospital, in Deir al-Balah, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. [AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi] The UN-affiliated body that monitors mass hunger has for the first time officially declared a famine in Gaza City and warned that other areas of Gaza will soon face famine. The announcement by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is the first time that the organization has declared a famine outside of Africa. The declaration of a famine in Gaza stands as yet another piece of evidence that Israel, with the support of the imperialist powers, is deliberately seeking to exterminate the Palestinian people through mass starvation. The IPC noted that recent months have seen the most severe deterioration since the Israeli onslaught on Gaza began in October 2023. The report warned that this famine is entirely man-made. It added that after 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions characterized by starvation, destitution, and death. It warned that through June 2026, at least 132,000 children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutritiondouble the IPC estimates from May 2025. The IPC blamed the famine on the complete cutoff of humanitarian aid deliveries by Israel earlier this year. It noted that the complete halt of humanitarian and commercial food deliveries in March and April, followed by critically low volumes through July, coupled with the collapse of local food production, has led to extreme food shortages. After Israel halted food deliveries into the country, it largely forced the shutdown of the operation of legitimate humanitarian organizations within the country and replaced them with a US-Israeli outfit known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The GHF turned the distribution of meager food rations in southern Gaza into the occasion for massacring desperate and hungry civilians, opening fire on dozens of occasions and killing hundreds of people. The food distributed at these death trap facilities are mere starvation rations, aimed at luring the population to the south in order to trap them in concentration camps. Responding to the report, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said that it is a famine that we could have prevented had we been allowed. Yet food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. The IPC has only declared famines four times in the past: in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and Sudan in 2024. The organization defines famine as two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition, and one in three children actively malnourished. Palestinian children wait at a community kitchen before donated food is prepared and distributed in Gaza City, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. [AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana] Responding to the report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the famine in Gaza as a man-made disaster, a moral indictment, and a failure of humanity itself. He added, As the occupying power, Israel has unequivocal obligations under international lawincluding the duty of ensuring food and medical supplies for the population. We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher added, It is a famine that we repeatedly warned of. But that the international media has not been allowed in to cover. A 21st-century famine watched over by drones and the most advanced military technology in history. It is a famine openly promoted by some Israeli leaders as a weapon of war. It is a famine on all of our watch. Everyone owns this. The Gaza Famine is the worlds famine. It is a famine that asks but what did you do? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the report in Hitlerian fashion, not only denying the famine but claiming that the occupying force imposing it on the Palestinian population is seeking to save them from hunger. Israel does not have a policy of starvation. Israel has a policy of preventing starvation, he said. Israel will continue to act responsibly, ensuring aid reaches Gazas civilians while destroying Hamass terror machine. Several imperialist backers of the Gaza genocide responded to the findings of the IPC with hypocritical criticism of Israel. In a statement, UK Foreign Secretary David Lamy said that the confirmation of famine in Gaza City is utterly horrifying and wholly preventable. The Israeli governments refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe. This is a moral outrage. But the UK, along with the other imperialist powers, has repeatedly stated that Israel has the right to defend itself against the people it illegally occupies and whose land it is attempting to annex. The British government has repeatedly prosecuted and jailed critics of the Gaza genocide. According to figures from Gazas Health Ministry, 89 people in Gaza were killed by malnutrition or starvation in the first seven months of the year. But this month so far 138 people have died from starvation. We are seeing the worst possible humanitarian catastrophe that we can even measure, said Jeanette Bailey, a spokesperson for the International Rescue Committee, in a statement. Without consistent entry and distribution of items like specialized supplementary feeding itemshigh-energy biscuits and fortified foodswe are watching a preventable crisis turn into a widespread nutrition emergency, Antoine Renard, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme, told Reuters. At first, it affects the most vulnerable groups, but of course, that will broaden, he added. From June to August, the number of children suffering wasting from food shortages nearly doubled, hitting more than 12,000, the World Health Organization said. The declaration of famine came just days after the Israeli military announced the launch of its long-planned attack on Gaza City, which is aimed at the total military conquest of Gaza in preparation for the roundup of its population to concentration camps and their forcible displacement from their ancestral land. Last week, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that the attack on Gaza City risks triggering an unprecedented, life-threatening humanitarian crisis. The proclamation of famine by the IPC comes just one day after a joint investigation by the Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call revealed that, according to Israels own figures, civilians accounted for about 83 percent of the total death toll in Gaza. The publications obtained military intelligence estimates that listed 8,900 fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as probably or confirmed dead. Over the same period, a total of 53,000 people in Gaza were reported killed, meaning that alleged fighters amounted to just 17 percent of the death toll. This massive level of civilian death is almost totally unprecedented in modern warfare. Erika Guevara Rosas, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, said this famine is the direct consequence of Israels deliberate campaign of starvation in Gaza. The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid, the destruction of life-sustaining infrastructure, and the direct killings of civilians are a clear manifestation of how Israel is inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza as part of its ongoing genocide. Rebel Wilson joined The Kooks on stage during their set at Reading Festival. Rebel Wilson joined The Kooks on stage at Reading Festival The Bridesmaids actress was welcomed on stage by the She Moves in Her Own Way band on Friday (22.08.25) as they performed a cover of Coolio's hit Gangsta's Paradise. Frontman Luke Pritchard said: "We'd like to film a scene of a movie with you... so we'd like to welcome to the stage the incredible, the unbelievable, the hugely successful, famous, beautiful pop star, Tazzie Young... otherwise known as Rebel Wilson!" Rebel, 45, said: "What's up Reading? Seeing as I'm out here, I thought I should sing a classic Kooks song... so I don't know about you guys, but I was thinking about Gangsta's Paradise." Pritchard revealed that they performed the Coolio track together as it is the only song that the Australian actress "knows all the words to". Explaining how The Kooks and Rebel joined forces, he said: "We're huge fans of Rebel. "She got in touch saying she wanted to come and watch us. Immediately I invited her to join us on stage. "We asked her which song she wanted to sing, expecting her to pick one of ours. She said the only song she knows all the words to is Gangsta's Paradise... so Gangsta's Paradise it was!" The Kooks - who were formed in Brighton back in 2004 - released their seventh album Never/Know earlier this year and Luke explained how he wrote the record in extremely quick time. He told the Daily Mail: "I wrote it at home with my kids running around. Having come from heaven, through hell and back with Hugh (Harris) and the band, we've been through such a journey. "It's got quite shoegaze in the indie scene, which I love, but it's quite gloomy. We are just consumed by being told all the time that everything's so bad. "And this one, it just flew out of me. I don't know if that will happen again, but it was wild. It was like five days, and I had 10 songs." Pritchard added: "Music is really important, and I feel like people will gravitate more towards the arts and things when things are tricky, because it gives you hope." When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Vertical Entertainment The latest of the 2025 movie releases heading to theaters this weekend as the summer season dies down is director Ron Howards Eden. It's a thriller about a group of people who moved to the Galapagos in between World War I and World War II to flee society. When CinemaBlend spoke to the legendary filmmaker and star Jude Law, they talked with us about the roses and thorns of shooting completely outdoors in Australia. Ron Howard Recalls 'Scary Movie' Moment On The Set Of Eden While Ron Howard and the star-studded cast of Eden , including Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas and Vanessa Kirby, could enjoy the luxuries of modern life every night thanks to a 45-minute drive back to the Gold Coast in a perfectly reasonable apartment, per Howard, they were absolutely exposed to the elements on the shoot. As the director shared: There are poisonous snakes that come in and take over. We had snake wranglers who would come an hour and a half before the production to go and extract the snakes and transport them to a safe place where they wouldn't hurt anyone, and they wouldn't hurt themselves. And, also spiders. In Eden, Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby play the real-life husband and wife who decide to leave Germany to live isolated in the Galapagos. Laws portrayal of Dr. Ritter adapts the doctors life, which included him removing all his teeth and wearing metal dentures in order to avoid infection in the wilderness. Sweeney plays Margret Wittmer, another German settler of the Galapagos who wrote about her experiences in the 1961 book Floreana. As Howard continued in our interview about filming Eden: I mean, literally we had a poisonous spider that dropped down it was like a scary movie it dropped down on Sydney Sweeney at one point in the middle of the shot. She had no idea. We cut and somebody went over, scurried over there and caught the spider, took this carefully, took the spider outside. So, it was pretty wild. As the director detailed to us, Eden really went into the wilderness to tell the story of the Ritters and the Wittmers. Howard recalled that while shooting a scene with Sweeney, who previously filmed in Australia for Anyone But You and recently did a method dressing moment to promote the film , a poisonous spider made a surprise appearance in a shot they were rolling cameras, and they had to pause filming to set it free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But spiders werent the only dangerous creatures on set. Production also had to make sure all the poisonous snakes in the region were cleared before each day started to avoid any incidents. While it's not technically one of the upcoming horror movies coming out, it sounds like it felt like that on set for a moment. On The Other Hand, Jude Law Had To Be Told 'No' For Loving The Outdoor Set So Much While one might think Hollywood stars wouldnt necessarily be prepared for the conditions in Eden, it sounds like Jude Law was having an absolute ball being one with nature. As Ron Howard continued when talking about working with the actor on the set of the new movie: The only time I had to say no to Jude and the entire film, 'cause creatively we were so aligned and he worked so hard, despite all the challenges, was I had to tell him at one point, No, Jude, you actually can't live out here on the set. [The] insurance company will not allow it. Law also noted, while they would have loved to be even more true to the true story by shooting in the Galapagos, thats not an option for filmmakers in order to preserve the islands to their natural glory. Law shared these words about filming in Australia: What was extraordinary about Australia was it offered us this really rugged, raw, honest set where we could build. And as Ron said, there was a real sense of the outdoors. We had rainstorms and intense heat, spiders and snakes. Nothing was in the studio. But equally, it being Australia and the Australians are brilliant at this, we also had the opportunity to be able to go home and sleep comfortably and safely and go back to work the next day. You can see Eden only in theaters as of today. Amanda Knox's life story is being revisited in a new Hulu series, "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox," and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, stood by her side for several years as they faced murder allegations for several years. Knox and Sollecito were wrongfully convicted of the murder of Meredith Kercher, Knox's roommate when she was studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, in 2007. The pair were eventually exonerated by the Italian Supreme Court in 2015, though they spent about four years in jail for a crime they maintain they had no involvement in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What is happening is a big huge mistake against two human beings," Sollecito said on TODAY in 2013. "We are innocent and we are fighting for our innocence. It is not our fault to be in this situation, actually, I don't regret to have met her because she has nothing to do with all this tragedy, and me neither." Sollecito is portrayed by Giuseppe De Domenico in the eight-episode Hulu series, which recounts Knox's legal journey, with Grace Van Patten playing Knox. Sollecito, Knox, De Domenico and Van Patten attended the premiere of the show in New York City on Aug. 19. Here's what else Sollecito has been up to since the Italian Supreme Court overturned his murder conviction. Raffaele Sollecito and Amanda Knox on Aug. 19, 2025. (Santiago Felipe / WireImage) What happened to Raffaele Sollecito? Sollecito met Knox when she was studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, in 2007. On Nov. 1, 2007, Knox's roommate Kercher was found dead in a pool of blood in their shared home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knox and Sollecito have said they were alone together in Sollecitos apartment on the night of the murder. Days later, Italian officials arrested and charged Knox and Sollecito with the murder of Kercher, a crime both Knox and Sollecito have denied involvement in. In 2009, Knox and Sollecito were found guilty of Kercher's murder, and sentenced to 26 and 25 years in prison, respectively. Raffaele Sollecito and Amanda Knox attend closing arguments on Dec. 01, 2009, in Perugia, Italy. (Giuseppe Bellini / Getty Images) The pair were acquitted and freed in 2011, and Knox returned to the U.S. after spending about four years in prison, according to NBC News. An appeals court overturned the acquittals in 2013, and after a new trial, the pair were convicted again in 2014, NBC News reported. Sollecito received a 25-year sentence, and Knox was sentenced in absentia to 28 1/2 years in prison, according to NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giulia Bongiorno, Sollecito's attorney, criticized the decision, saying there were errors of colossal proportions that resulted in the guilty verdicts, according to The Associated Press. The Italian Supreme Court made a final ruling in the case in 2015, overturning their convictions once again, exonerating both Sollecito and Knox, according to NBC News. After the Italian Supreme Court ruling in 2015, Sollecito spoke to reporters and called the years since his arrest as a dreadful kind of pain without an end, according to the BBC. Raffaele Sollecito during a press conference on March 30, 3015 in Rome, Italy. (Marco Ravagli / Getty Images) It is time I will never be able to recoup, he said. My mind and my soul will be marked for life, and the wound will never stop bleeding, it will never heal. Where is Raffaele Sollecito now? Sollecito is now a software engineer specializing in cloud and hybrid architectures, according to his website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has a master's degree in software engineering visual computing from the University of Verona and a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Perugia, according to his website. Sollecito also sat for a rare interview in the 2022 Paramount+ documentary, "Who Murdered Meredith Kercher?" Four years in prison. Six months of solitary confinement. And still today, I feel that bitterness. Even though I moved on with my life, he said in the documentary. He added he remains "haunted" by the experience, and also addressed Kercher's family, who has called the Italian Supreme Court decision "a defeat for Italys justice system." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very hard when somebody you care about is lost forever, Sollecito said. But the truth is that I dont have anything to do with this murder. So I hope one day they will accept it. Knox and Sollecito also had a reunion in Italy in 2022, and the pair went to Gubbio, the Italian city that they planned to visit on the day Kercher was found dead, according to The Daily Mirror. It was bittersweet to go back as we were supposed to go there in such different circumstances, but it was just nice for us to be able to talk about something that wasnt the case, Sollecito told the Mirror. In 2022, The Mirror reported Sollecito lived in Milan where he worked as a computer engineer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sollecito is also active on Instagram, where he posts his travels and other snaps from his life. "Scotland & Edinburgh Fringe Festival," he captioned a set of pictures on Aug. 10. Knox commented on the post, asking which Hogwarts house he was sorted into, a nod to the "Harry Potter" movies being filmed throughout Great Britain. Sollecito replied with Ravenclaw, the house known for intelligence, wit and wisdom. "Of course," Knox replied. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Lima, the capital of Peru, is known as a culinary capital of South America. And while it is certainly a destination within South America, more and more, Peru is also solidifying itself as a world-renowned food destination. This year, the restaurant Maido, in Lima, was ranked the number one restaurant in the world on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, with three other Lima locations also claiming spots on the prestigious list. But it's not just the city's fine dining scene that really puts it on the map. Chef Erik Ramirez of the acclaimed Peruvian restaurant Llama Inn (in New York City) says that the factors that set Peru's food scene apart are cultural influences and biodiversity. There is such a rich cross-cultural blending in Peru that many of the resulting cuisines even have their own terminology: Nikkei refers to Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, and the blending of African, Indigenous, and Spanish cuisines is referred to as comida criolla. This incredible sharing of cultures, paired with the biodiversity and microclimates of the country, results in massive access to produce, grains, and meats -- basically a chef's or food lover's dream come true. While some Peruvian dinner items have become quite commonplace, Chef Jose Luis Chavez of Michelin-recognized Mission Ceviche (in New York City) would love to see Peruvian breakfast foods recognized on the same level as ceviche. "Peruvian breakfast is such a deep and diverse tradition, from coastal to highland to jungle regions; every area brings something different to the table. It's more than just a meal; it's a cultural expression," he tells us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The Most Iconic Sandwich In Every State Quinoa Porridge A traditional Peruvian quinoa beverage with a cinnamon stick - Natalie Rocfort Shigetomi/Shutterstock The typical American breakfast can look quite different than a Peruvian one -- you won't find pancakes and waffles on the table first thing in the morning in Peru. Chef Jose Luis Chavez says: "Peruvian breakfasts tend to be more savory and hearty, even a bit indulgent at times. In the U.S., breakfast is often lighter or sweeter -- think cereals, pancakes, or smoothies." Despite the differences, there is one breakfast food that draws on some similarities. Quinoa porridge, also referred to as quinoa oatmeal, is served with fresh or stewed fruit, spices, or nuts -- very similar to how an American-style oatmeal would be served at the breakfast table. Sometimes it's cooked with enough liquid (water or coconut milk) and fruit to be served in a cup and consumed as a beverage. Quinoa porridge is a healthy way to start the day, and one that Miryam Huarcaya of Lima Limon Peruvian restaurant in Las Vegas says is an underrated Peruvian breakfast. Quinoa contains all nine essential amino acids and has almost twice the amount of protein that oatmeal does. You can even start the process of making quinoa oatmeal in your rice cooker, which will yield perfectly fluffy quinoa with minimal effort. You can always add coconut milk, fruit, and spices to the quinoa once it's mostly cooked to create a more porridge-like consistency. Tamales A Peruvian green tamal with a side of salsa criolla - Natalie Rocfort Shigetomi/Shutterstock Tamales are a deeply traditional food dating back as early as 8,000 B.C. in indigenous Mesoamerica. They are perhaps one of the world's oldest and longest running food traditions -- a dish that has withstood the test of time and lasted all these years as a true testament to its ingenuity; flavorful meat filling surrounded by a protective, and preservative casing of masa, neatly wrapped in a corn husk that serves as the perfect package both for steaming and storage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement True to the statement that Peruvian breakfasts tend to be more heavy and savory, tamales are commonly served first thing in the morning in Peru, accompanied by a spicy sauce, bread, and coffee on the side. Chef Jesus Delgado of Tanta Cocina Peruana in Chicago lists tamalitos verdes as one of the more underrated Peruvian dishes. These noticeably green tamales are distinctly Peruvian and appear quite different (in color, at least) from their Mexican counterpart. They get their vibrant color from the addition of fresh cilantro to the masa, resulting in a bright, herbaceous flavor to cut through the richness of the meat filling. Butifarra A butifarra sandwich topped with salsa criolla - Enrique Madge/Shutterstock Similar to one of Anthony Bourdain's favorite foods, the Brazilian mortadella sandwich, a butifarra is a relatively straightforward sandwich consisting of cold slices of ham on French bread with salsa criolla (a traditional Peruvian salsa). The key to making this sandwich truly Peruvian, not to mention truly delicious, is in the star ingredient: The ham. Jamon del pais isn't your average ham; seasoned with aji chili, loads of garlic, and red pepper, the result is an exciting depth of flavor. From there, the sandwich really builds itself. You don't need much in the way of added seasoning when there's already so many spices packed into the meat. It's topped with salsa criolla, which is basically the Peruvian version of pico de gallo, but rather than dicing the onions and peppers you'll slice them into thin, long strips and dress them with lime juice and cilantro. The spice of aji peppers or jalapenos combined with the acidity of lime juice and pungency of the onion is the perfect condiment to complement the richness of the ham. A sandwich like this would be more commonly seen on a lunch menu in the U.S., but for Peruvians, a hearty, savory breakfast is the norm, and this isn't the only pork sandwich you're likely to find on the breakfast table. Pan Con Chicharron Pan con chicharron sandwich on a plate with orange juice and coffee in the background - bonchan/Shutterstock Four Peruvian chefs all named one dish as their absolute favorite Peruvian breakfast: Pan con chicharron. Chef Jose Luis Chavez said: "Growing up, one of my favorite breakfasts was pan con chicharron -- a sandwich with crispy pork belly, sweet potato slices, and salsa criolla, all on fresh bread. It's bold, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying -- a true Peruvian classic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An indulgently thick slice of pork belly is layered on top of soft bread and topped with Peru's favorite condiment: Sliced onions and peppers marinated in lime juice. The addition of sweet potato adds texture and sweetness, while the vibrancy of the salsa cuts through it all to bring an infallible balance. Simple, yet utterly perfect. The history of this dish didn't actually begin in Peru, as the continent didn't have domesticated pigs until the Spanish introduced them. Thus, pork sandwiches were something the Spanish brought to Peru, but the addition of sweet potato and salsa criolla makes this dish distinctly Peruvian, and very popular in Lima, especially. Humitas Humitas on a plate with a cup of black coffee - Jose David Gutierrez/Shutterstock At first glance, you might mistake a humita for a tamal -- after all, they are both corn-based dishes that are cooked in a corn husk and steamed. The primary difference is that while tamales use masa (a dough made from nixtamalized corn), humitas use fresh corn. They are generally much smaller as well because they aren't typically stuffed with a filling; rather, the fresh corn is ground with cheese, eggs, cream, and either sugar or savory spices and eaten on its own. Chef Jose Luis Chavez says humitas are one of Peru's most underrated breakfast dishes. "They are similar to tamales but lighter, slightly sweet or savory, and made with fresh corn. They're not as common on menus outside Peru, but they deserve more attention." And Chef Jesus Delgado describes them as "soft and comforting." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the light juiciness of freshly ground corn, combined with the aerating effects of cream and egg, it's no surprise that a humita is the slightly sweeter, lighter version of a tamal. Tacu Tacu A plate of tacu tacu topped with an egg and salsa criolla - Natalie Rocfort Shigetomi/Shutterstock Like many of Peru's most-enjoyed dishes, tacu tacu is rooted in a long and complex history. Made from leftover beans and rice that are brightened with aji amarillo or other seasonings and pan-fried to achieve a crispy exterior, this dish is typically served for breakfast or lunch, topped with a fried egg and ever-present salsa criolla. For an extra heavy breakfast, it might be served with a side of bread or lomo saltado, a stir-fried beef dish that is one of Peru's more popular lunch or dinner dishes. This dish was created during the Spanish colonization of Peru, when African slaves were often only provided with leftover ingredients to prepare their meals. Thus, creativity and ingenuity brought about a dish that is now a staple on many Peruvian breakfast menus. The basic technique to make tacu tacu begins with aromatics like onion, garlic, and one of Peru's most important ingredients -- aji amarillo. From there, you add mashed leftover beans and cooked rice to form a dough. The dough is then fried in a pan until crispy on both sides, and topped with an egg to finish. The resulting breakfast is packed with flavor, and is super filling. Juane De Gallina A Juane de gallina on a table with many condiments and toppings - Milton Rodriguez/Shutterstock This dish consists of rice and chicken wrapped in banana leaves, according to Chef Miryam Huarcaya (owner of Lima Limon Peruvian Restaurant in Las Vegas). It has an interesting look, and an even more interesting history to go along with its striking shape. The dish was likely created long before the Spanish arrived in Peru, when banana leaves were a common tool for cooking meals, but how the flavorful ball of food got its name is up for debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first theory is perhaps the most logical -- ancient Peruvians used the word "huanar" to describe the method of cooking food in banana leaves. This word could easily be shortened to "huane" or the alternative spelling: Juane. The other theory is a bit more dramatic, suggesting that the Spanish referred to the round balls of rice as "Juan" due to their resemblance to the decapitated head of Saint John the Baptist, whom they declared the patron saint of the Amazon, where juanes are most popular. Whatever theory you choose to believe regarding the name, one thing's for sure: Juanes are a big part of Peruvian culture, and packed with flavor to boot. Large amounts of turmeric are used to cook the rice initially and give it that signature yellow hue. Rich chicken broth is used to prepare the chicken and rice to perfect tenderness, and the banana-leaf packages are finished with classic Peruvian garnish: Boiled eggs and black olives. Salchicha Huachana Con Huevos Revueltos Bread with Peruvian sausage - Natalie Rocfort Shigetomi/Shutterstock While the Spanish name may seem long, this dish is remarkably similar to what one might order for breakfast in the United States. Salchicha means sausage, with Huachana referring to the city in Peru (Huacho) where this spice-rich sausage is a staple, and huevos revueltos simply means scrambled eggs. Thus, this simple dish of scrambled eggs and sausage would look quite familiar to an American who enjoys a good Italian sausage for breakfast alongside some fried or scrambled eggs. For James Beard Award-winning Chef Erik Ramirez (of Llama Inn) this dish is more than just simple sausage and eggs. "My favorite breakfast growing up was salchicha huachana con huevos revueltos -- crumbled pork sausage from a town called Huacho in Peru (hence the name). We'd eat it with warm bread. The real star of the dish was always the sausage -- there was almost more sausage than eggs." He says that this is still his favorite Peruvian breakfast to eat, and he enjoys preparing it for his sons as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sausages vary in spice blends, flavors, and texture around the world, and salchicha huachana is no different in its uniqueness. If you're dying to try this delicious breakfast, you may be lucky enough to live near a Peruvian butcher who makes it themself. If not, you can always order it online straight from the source. Hot Soups A bowl of colorful parihuela, a Peruvian seafood stew - Jelenyer Rangel/Shutterstock The closest most Americans get to having soup for breakfast is a cold bowl of breakfast cereal. But for many cultures, like Japan's popular miso soup, a broth rich with meat is a common way to start the day. In Peru, there are several meat-centric soups you'll find on restaurant menus or served in the Peruvian home, with caldo de gallina (a rich chicken soup, as described by Chef Erik Ramirez) being the most common, especially in more traditional settings. Caldo de mote is another common Peruvian breakfast, which draws similarities to a Mexican pozole by using hominy, a corn that's been softened by an alkaline solution, as a key ingredient. If you're feeling more adventurous, Chef Jesus Delgado of Tanta Cocina Chicago says he "used to enjoy a good cau-cau (tripe stew) in the morning with fried egg on top." A comforting bowl of Peruvian soup doesn't just serve as a great way to start your day, but the best way to end it, too. Chef Delgado adds: "After a long night when you get kind of crazy, I recommend a good caldo de gallina or a leche de tigre. These are our hangover cures." Susana Vivanco of Lima Criolla Peruvian Restaurant in Austin, Texas loves a seafood stew like chupe de mariscos or parihuela to beat a hangover. These vibrant soups originate from coastal fishing communities, which pack loads of seafood together with bright aromatics and a rich broth. Fresh Juices, Black Coffee, And Emoliente A glass of emoliente with the herbs used to make it in the background - bonchan/Shutterstock Sometimes breakfast is just as much about coffee and orange juice as it is about hash browns and eggs, and Peru isn't so different. While the juice selection in the U.S. is typically quite limited, in Peru, the varying climates create a much more diverse selection of fruit. Miryam Huarcaya of Lima Limon Restaurant says: "In Peru, it's common to drink fresh juices made from fruits that are almost impossible to find in the U.S., like lucuma, chirimoya, or guanabana." Lucuma is a yellowish fruit with a super-starchy texture and consistency. Its texture, when ripe, is compared to egg yolk, but its sweet flavor is compared to caramel. Chef Jose Luis Chavez says he loves a glass of lucuma or papaya juice "for something special." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without a doubt, all five Peruvian chefs agree that coffee is an essential part of a Peruvian breakfast, typically brewed fresh and served black. But one beverage that frequently makes an appearance at the Peruvian breakfast table is perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of the meal: Emoliente. A warm herbal drink, emoliente is made with a wide variety of nutritious herbs, but the base is always toasted barley. Chef Erik Ramirez says that it's "not a full meal, but a classic way many Peruvians start the day. And when it's made right, it's so good -- warming, comforting, and nutritious." Read the original article on Chowhound. Part of the joy of travel is to try new spirits and cocktails, whether regional amari in Italy, cachacas and Caipirinhas in Brazil, or aquavits in Scandinavia. You might also encounter spirits youre familiar with, but look and taste a little different from home. In the European Union, many spirits can be sold at a legal minimum alcohol by volume (ABV) of 37.5%. In Mexico, tequila is often sold at 38% ABV, though it can be bottled as low as 35%. In the U.S., tequila must meet a 40% ABV minimum to be considered a spirit. (Spirits with added flavors, including tequila, rum, and vodka, can be sold at lower proofs than unflavored base spirits.) In South Africa, nearly all spirits were required to be a minimum of 43% ABV. That law was changed earlier in 2025. Its still common to see spirits like vodka there at this unusually high strength. Elsewhere in the world, its usually sold at 40%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: What Are Still-Strength Tequilas, and Why Are They Collectors Favorites? But those are just legal minimums. Spirits can be sold at higher proofs, and in some countries, those higher proofs are traditional. In many Caribbean countries, rum is bottled at higher strengths than in the U.S. Many mezcal bottlings are sold at lower proof in the U.S. than in Mexico. Whiskey drinkers are likely the most familiar with paying attention to ABV levels. Scotch, bourbon, and other whiskeys from the same brand can range from 40% ABV to more than 60% ABV, even in local stores. These may carry labels like single barrel, distillers strength, cask proof, or other descriptors. For the most part, the terms dont signify specific ABVs, with the exception of bottled-in-bond spirits: Those are always sold at 50% ABV, in accordance with U.S. law. Liqueurs are often bottled at varying strengths in different countries. Campari has been spotted from as low as 21% ABV to as high as 28.5% in different parts of the world. In the U.S., its about in the middle, at 24% ABV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There may be other regional differences in liqueurs. Campari has used various natural and artificial colorings in different countries. Some liqueurs bottled in sugarcane-producing countries are made with flavor concentrates from their home region, but they contain sugar and neutral spirit from the locale where its sold. While these changes shouldnt make much of a flavor difference for liqueurs, some drink-centric jetsetters find it fun to bring home bottles to compare against their bar cart. Related: The 6 Best Bottled-in-Bond Whiskeys, According to Bartenders Changes in proof at home Spirits brands sometimes change their bottling strengths, which can leave their fans flustered. Beefeater gin lowered its alcohol percentage from 47% ABV to 44% in the U.S. a few years ago, and then dropped it shortly thereafter to 40%. The gin had been sold at 40% ABV in the UK for a while. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This didnt sit well with Martini-obsessive Robert Simonson, author of The Martini Cocktail and co-founder of Martini Expo in New York City. Beefeater was one of his favorite gins to use in a classic Martini. He says that he heard of its lowered proof from Toby Cecchini, owner of The Long Island Bar in Brooklyn. Ever since, he has hunted for the remaining higher-proof bottles. I would guess I've found and bought about 40 bottles of Beefeater 47% in the last four years, says Simonson. I found them in liquor stores in Queens, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Simonson considers even the 44% ABV to be too tame, and he hasnt picked up any of those bottles since the strength further dipped to 40%. He says he still has a dozen or so bottles of the 47% ABV version stashed. What a difference a few percent makes Can the tongue detect the difference of a few percent ABV? Well, yes. First, the numbers can be deceiving. A 40% ABV liqueur is not 10% stronger than a 30% ABV one: It is 33% stronger. Beefeaters switch from 47% to 40% ABV is a 15% decrease in alcoholic strength, not 7%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a taste perspective, a shot of tequila at 40% ABV will have more of a spicy kick than one at 35%. While the lower-proof version may register to some people as smoother, others might call it flabby or light in flavor. Spirits distillers will often find a strength at which they think their spirit tastes best, but the marketing and financial departments often have different ideas about what will prove most profitable. In mixology, proof matters. If the ABV of the three ingredients in a Negroni is variable, the standard recipe of equal parts of each ingredient may not result in the same drink abroad as at home. It can be good, nerdy fun to spot the differences in familiar spirits brands abroad. Or perhaps, its a worthy justification to jet off to an international destination and double-check the gin. Read the original article on Food & Wine When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Pyry Lepisto for Helsinki Partners Who doesnt love a bit of sightseeing when on vacation, or enjoying a day off in your own city? Well, now dogs can get in on the action, too, with some sightseeing on their own. Earlier this month, Helsinki launched the first-ever sightseeing tour for dogs to coincide with the Finnish capital hosting the World Dog Show last weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Doggy Route to Happiness takes in a dog-sized Sibelius Monument, a pop-up dog cafe (some of the best dog treats , anyone?), a dog island, a dog-friendly DJ set, and advertising targeted toward our furry friends, too. The tour launched at the weekend with almost 20,000 canine visitors to the city. Finland was named as the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year in March, and the tour is part of a bid to extend that happiness to dogs, too. Take a look at Visit Helsinkis dogs guide for more information about what the citys pups get up to. Pets boost happiness, said Soila Lehkonen, the Head of Brand & PR in Helsinki Partners, responsible for the citys international marketing. This time, we wanted to bring attractions to some of the citys most beloved outdoor spots places that both dog owners and their dogs can enjoy together. We hope as many people as possible will come and experience familiar landmarks from a dogs perspective. The Stickelius Monument, which honors the iconic Sibelius Monument devoted to the composer Jean Sibelius, was curated by local rescue dog Neris. The pup has become well-known in Finland for collecting sticks and turning them into a public art installation known as the Stick Gallery, or Keppigalleria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also a stop at Cafe Dogatta, which is located next to the famous Cafe Regatta, and photographer Fanny Haga was there on Saturday to take custom dog portraits in front of a dog-sized photo wall. Credit: Fanny Haga for Helsinki Partners However, the main attraction is Rajasaari Island, a dog-friendly island complete with forests, beaches, and water. The President and Prime Minister of Finland both live nearby, too, and have been seen with their dogs on the island. The World Dog Show, meanwhile, was hosted by the Finnish Kennel Club at the Messukeskus Expo and Convention Centre. A Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Black Majesty Some Say, and her dog mom Iva Raic won Best in Show. Over 15,000 dogs participated over the weekend, with the most registered breeds being the Labrador Retriever , Finnish Lapphund, golden retriever , and Dalmatian . They came from 73 different countries, ranging from Finland and nearby Sweden and Poland to as far afield as Peru, Singapore, and Australia. BBC historical drama King & Conqueror explores the lives of Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy, and the bloody conflict that broke out when they both sought the throne of England. Led by James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the series charts the two men's parallel experience as they rose to power of their respective nations. Both came to covet the English crown, with William believing it to be his by right as cousin to King Edward the Confessor, while Harold Godwinson claimed to have been named the king's successor by Edward before he died in January 1066 without an heir. The pair crossed swords in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, a conflict that would change England forever as a result. For those who want to brush up on their history, or who simply want to know more about the events depicted in King & Conqueror look no further. What led to the Battle of Hastings? James Norton as Harold Godwinson, who was crowned king after the death of Edward the Confessor. (BBC) In January 1066, King Edward died without an heir and Harold, the powerful Earl of Wessex, was named king of England. His sister Edith was King Edward's widow and said that shortly before the monarch died he briefly regained consciousness from a coma to commend the kingdom under Harold's "protection". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The king's council selected Harold to be the next king, but Harold's reign was immediately contested by multiple claimants to the throne, including King Harald Hardrada of Norway. At the same time that William of Normandy began plotting to invade England and take the throne, Hardrada set sail for England with the support of Harold's brother Tostig. Aware that William was preparing an invasion, Harold swiftly took his forces to face the Norwegian invasion in the north, travelling from London to Yorkshire in four days to take Hardrada's army by surprise. The two kings met on the battlefield on 25 September at Stamford Bridge. The Norwegian forces had been caught unawares and fought a bloody battle against King Harold and lost, Hardrada and Tostig were killed during the fight. Harold's victory was short-lived, though, because just three days after his resounding defeat of Hardrada's forces William of Normandy and his men landed in Sussex. What happened in the Battle of Hastings? The Norman and Anglo-Saxon forces clash in an image from the Bayeux Tapestry, which is a historical account of the Battle of Hastings. (Getty Images) Following William of Normandy's arrival in England, Harold marched his men to meet them and travelled form Yorkshire to Hastings where they hastily made preparations to intercept them. By the evening of 13 October the forces from both armies were encamped within sight of the other on a site that is now known as Battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The details of the Battle of Hastings are revealed in the Bayeux Tapestry, one of the most important historical artefacts of the medieval period. The tapestry depicts the battle as beginning on the morning of 14 October, with Harold's army using Anglo-Saxon battle tactics to face the Normans by creating a shield wall that would protect themselves from their enemies. William's forces opted for very different fighting techniques though, forming three lines made up of archers, infantrymen and riders on horses. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William of Normandy, who was cousin to King Edward and invaded England to claim the throne after the monarch's death. (BBC) Harold and his men were exhausted from the Battle of Stamford Bridge and their march south to meet William's army, and when the fighting began there was nine hours of bloody conflict between the two forces. At one point a rumour began during the battle that William had fallen, and a flank of Norman men fled the battlefield in a panic. Some English forces rushed to cut the fleeing men down, which exposed their flank. It is said in that moment that William put up his helmet to declare to his men that he was still alive and fighting. The ruler is written to have said: "Look at me! I live, and with Gods help I shall conquer!" Who won the Battle of Hastings? The armies of Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror fought a difficult nine-hour battle but ultimately the Norman forces were victorious. (BBC) The Battle of Hastings ended in William's victory following the death of King Harold. There are conflicting accounts of how Harold died, with some historians suggesting that he died after being struck with an arrow in his eye, while another account attests the monarch was cut to pieces by several Norman knights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harold's body was so badly damaged in the battle that it is said only his common-law wife Edith was able to identify him because of markings she knew. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England on 25 December, 1066. (BBC) After the Norman victory, William marched to London and faced many opposing forces along the way. He believed after the resounding defeat of Harold that the English leaders would submit; however, they named Edgar theling king and William fought to secure key locations in England, including Dover and Winchester, to force their surrender. William was crowned king of England on Christmas Day, 1066, at Westminster Abbey. He is also known in history as William the Conqueror for his successful invasion. King & Conqueror airs on Sunday, 24 August and Monday, 25 August on BBC One at 9pm, with new episodes airing every Sunday thereafter. All episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer. One person was sent to a hospital after a shooting in west Charlotte Friday afternoon, MEDIC said. MEDIC responded to the scene at the 500 block of Fairwood Avenue around 4:30 p.m. Friday. There, they found one person suffering a gunshot wound. The victim had life-threatening injuries and was sent to a nearby hospital, MEDIC said. Channel 9 was on the scene and saw investigators entering Binh Minh Cafe. No additional details have been made available. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates. WATCH: 1 dead, 2 hurt after stabbing near Blue Line in South End (NewsNation) A new lawsuit against the popular gaming platform Roblox lleges the app has allowed a culture of pedophilia to run rampant. The Texas man who filed the suit is referred to as John Doe. He says he was only 11 years old when an individual in his 30s posed as a minor and began requesting illicit images from him in exchange for money on the platform. Roblox has responded to the lawsuit, in part saying, We are deeply troubled by any incident that endangers our users, also adding, While no system is perfect, Roblox has implemented rigorous safeguards, including restrictions on sharing personal information, links, and user-to-user image sharing, and prohibiting sexual conversations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the alleged abuse happened in 2007, adults are now coming forward in separate lawsuits against the company on behalf of children in at least nine different states. Louisiana sues Roblox for allegedly failing to protect children NewsNations Morning in America with Hena Doba spoke with John Doe, now 29 years old, from the Texas lawsuit who has requested his real name be omitted. Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse on Roblox Roblox faces multiple lawsuits of a similar nature across the United States, alleging it hasnt done enough to protect children from predators. Louisianas attorney general filed a lawsuit this month, accusing the gaming platform of failing to protect children using it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a child, youre looking for new games, something to keep you entertained and excited, and Roblox had this allure because it came with the guise of Legos, and I was a big Lego kid Doe said. Diver finds possible remains of Martin family, who went missing in 1958, in Oregon river He said he doesnt remember there being an age verification requirement at the time. People with different age ranges types, so it was very easy to kind of branch out and start exploring, talking to different people, but as a child you dont know the dangers of of someone pretending to be someone who theyre not, Doe said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The person was in his 30s, claiming to be 17, Doe said. The encounter ended in Doe being molested. I have four kids of my own. Thats why its very important for me to to get this information out here, Doe said. Its been happening for over 15 years. Theyre hearing the same stories over and over. Its like what is going on? But you know what? What can we do to stop this from happening anymore? Roblox said it has implemented safety measures since 2007, which is when John alleges his abuse took place. His lawyer, Martin Goulds firm represents over 300 victims of sexual exploitation, specifically on Roblox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said it was educational. It wasnt just a game for fun. This is something that was going to teach kids coding and really being educational game for them. Parents were throwing themselves at this game without any idea of the serious dangers that were on this site, Gould told NewsNation. Theyre outraged about that, and now [Roblox is] trying to put a muzzle on a lot of these survivors. NewsNations Ashley Soriano contributed to this article. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When you think of food recalls, you might only think of the highly publicized recalls that the likes of meat and fresh produce. These types of recalls are often issued because raw food, handled incorrectly, can harbor bacteria such as listeria and salmonella. These bacteria have triggered some of the country's worst food recalls, triggered by mass illnesses, hospitalizations, and even fatalities. However, meat and fresh produce aren't the only food items sitting at the heart of major recalls. Seemingly benign pantry and bakery items including cookies can pose their own threat. While store-bought, cooked cookies aren't necessarily a great home for bacteria, they do carry other risks that prompt recalls. Foreign materials end up in cookies and become a choking hazard. Undeclared allergens in the cookies can prove dangerous for unlucky individuals. Here are some of the most impactful cookie recalls from the last two decades, and what went wrong. Read more: Discontinued Costco Grocery Products We Probably Won't Get Back Target Recalls Favorite Day Frosted Sugar Cookies Over Pieces Of Wood (2025) Box of Favorite Day sugar cookies - Target Walk into the bakery section of your local Target, and you'll likely soon find its store-brand Favorite Day Frosted Sugar Cookies pretty quickly. With their thick layer of frosting and crumbly, tender texture, these classic cookies are a favorite with many shoppers, which is probably why Targetalways seems tos have a plentiful supply on hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in July 2025, some shoppers could have come across an unpleasant surprise in their cookies. Target's Canada-based cookie manufacturer first brought the issue to the public's attention, issuing a recall for more than 800 cases of the cookies, which had been distributed in 20 states and in Washington, D.C. The reason? It was suspected that the cookies could contain small pieces of wood. As a result, Target removed all of the cookies from its stores and ceased selling any impacted cookies online. Guests who had already purchased the cookies were eligible for a refund. While it sounds odd that wood of all things might make its way into a cookie, it is one of the most common foreign materials found in recalled foods, alongside metal shards, broken glass, plastic, and small rocks. New Grains Gluten Free Bakery Recalled Multiple Kinds Of Cookie Due To Undeclared Allergens (2025) Hands holding heart-shaped Valentine's Day cookie - New Grains Gluten Free Bakery / Facebook Gluten-free shoppers and shoppers with major food allergies are well-accustomed to scouring the backs of packages, looking for any sign that a store-bought product may contain something that might make them ill. However, if the packaging isn't correct, how can they accurately make an informed decision regarding whether or not something is safe for them to eat? This is the problem that shoppers would've faced when purchasing any of the cookies that fell under New Grains Gluten Free Bakery's May 2025 recall. Its gluten-free chocolate chip, frosted sugar cookies, and coconut macaroons were gluten-free, as advertised, but they unfortunately also potentially contained major allergens that weren't listed on the packaging, including eggs, soy, and milk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the brand reported that they had no knowledge of anyone falling ill due to eating the recalled bakery items, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) still categorized this recall as a Class I risk. A Class I risk is the highest ranking a recall can receive, and it's given out to those recalls that the FDA feels pose the greatest, potentially even fatal, danger to consumers. Potential Salmonella Sparked A Cookie Dough Recall By Rise Baking Company (2024) Box of Member's Mark cookie dough - Sam's Club While you're unlikely to find salmonella in a cooked cookie considering the fact that salmonella dies between 145 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit, you can find salmonella found in raw cookie dough, thanks to the presence of raw eggs and uncooked flour. Potential salmonella contamination is exactly what prompted Rise Baking Company to recall approximately 30,000 cases of cookie dough in the summer of 2024. The tricky detail about this recall, though, is that, while it was issued by Rise Baking Company, it impacted plenty of cookie dough brands. Rise Baking Company distributes cookie dough to various stores and chains, with this recall impacting cookie dough sold under Costco's store brand, as well as Member's Mark and Panera Bread, throughout more than 20 states. As such, when keeping an eye on current recalls, be sure to always check if the recalled food is being sold under another brand. Meijer Dunking Cookies Potentially Contained Undeclared Milk (2024) Pack of Meijer dunking cookies - Brown County Public Health / Instagram Meijer Dunking Cookies are made for dipping into a nice, frosty glass of milk. However, even though one might assume that any shopper buying these from the bakery section is taking them home to do just that, not every purchaser can safely drink milk. As such, when it was discovered that the cookies themselves may contain milk without listing it on their label, the manufacturer issued a recall. The cookies were distributed in Meijer stores throughout Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While milk allergies are more common in children and many children grow out of them, for those who do have a milk allergy, consuming milk can result in near-immediate symptoms such as hives, wheezing, throat swelling, and vomiting. The allergy can also result in later symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress and a runny nose. Milk is the third-most common food to cause anaphylaxis. Gluten Caused A Recall Of Wegmans Outrageous Oat Cookies (2024) Oat cookies - Photo By Cathy Scola/Getty Images In early 2024, grocery store Wegmans recalled its Outrageous Oat Cookies in eight states after it was discovered that a wheat-containing ingredient had been accidentally added to a certain number of the cookies. This could have proved a big problem for a lot of consumers, as the cookies which contain oats, coconut, dried fruit, and walnuts are marketed as being gluten-free. Obviously, those with a gluten intolerance may have been negatively impacted if they ate the affected cookies, but a smaller portion of the population also lives with celiac disease or a wheat allergy. Whereas those with an intolerance may have experienced painful gastrointestinal distress if they were to eat the cookies, those with celiac disease or a wheat allergy could have suffered much more serious consequences. Luckily, Wegmans said that it did not receive any reports of illnesses related to the grocery store bakery recall. Multiple Varieties Of Oreo Were Recalled Over Peanuts (2024) Hand holding sleeve of blueberry ice cream Oreos - Chantelle Reid McLeod / Facebook If you live in the United States, your Oreos would have been safe and sound during this recall. However, in 2024, manufacturer Whatever Brands recalled multiple Oreo products throughout the United Kingdom, prompting allergy support organizations to issue statements urging consumers not to eat them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The affected cookies included traditional Oreos, as well as Oreos stuffed with a variety of flavored fillings, including chocolate, blueberry ice cream, strawberry cream, and dark and white chocolate. The reasoning? The manufacturer suspected that some peanuts or peanut-containing ingredients may have made their way into the cookies, which could be deadly for some consumers. Peanut allergies are the third most common adult food allergy, as, unlike many allergies that develop in childhood and then disappear during adulthood, a peanut allergy typically sticks around for an individual's entire life. Peanut allergies are the leading cause of death from anaphylaxis due to food. Trader Joe's Recalled Almond Cookies That Potentially Contained Rocks (2023) Pack of Trader Joe's almond windmill cookies - Bridgette Paolucci / Facebook In 2023, one of the nation's favorite grocery stores recalled two types of almond cookies: Trader Joe's Almond Windmill Cookies and Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies. The brand said that the cookies could contain small rocks, and that anyone who'd purchased the affected cookies needed to return them to the store for a full refund. This was just one of several recalls issued by Trader Joe's in the span of just a few months, with other recalls due to undeclared milk, metal shards in multigrain crackers, and insects in soup and falafel. As for the rocks, they likely made their way into food like Trader Joe's cookies a similar way to small sticks or bugs. When manufacturers process ingredients like almonds, they take them right from the field, where the harvesting process can allow extraneous material to mix in with the harvested items. While most of these items are removed during processing, a few are likely to slip through the cracks and ultimately into your cookies. Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Was Potentially Contaminated With Wood (2023) Packs of Nestle Toll House cookie dough - PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock Nestle owns over 2,000 different brands, so the company ends up in the headlines for recall-related reasons fairly often. Between beverages and snacks, frozen food and even pet food, there's a lot that can go wrong. In 2023, Nestle recalled its Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough -- not due to salmonella, as you may expect given that it's raw cookie dough, but to small particles of wood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No illnesses or injuries were reported related to the recall, thankfully, and other Nestle recalls later in the year quickly overshadowed this one, such as an infant formula recall that impacted not just a few batches of the product, but entire countries. Nestle recalled the formula across Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden, because the formula was potentially contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii. This can cause sepsis and meningitis, and has potentially fatal consequences for infants a far bigger deal than just some wood in some cookie dough. Sweet Loren's Initiated A Sugar Cookie Dough Recall Due To Gluten (2022) Sweet Loren's cookie dough in fridge - Sweet Loren's / Facebook While Sweet Loren's may not have quite the same level of brand recognition as Nestle Toll House, the brand has still become a quick favorite with the gluten-free community for its high-quality refrigerated cookie dough, clad in bright pink packaging. As anyone who avoids gluten will tell you, it's hard to find truly delicious gluten-free baked items that can match the texture and taste of a gluten-containing baked good. Unfortunately, if any gluten-free consumer bit into a sugar cookie made with Sweet Loren's dough in July 2022 and thought that it tasted different from your standard gluten-free cookie, it could've been because the cookie wasn't gluten-free at all. That month, the brand issued a recall noting that some of its sugar cookie dough may contain traces of gluten. While no reported illnesses were linked to the recall, the cookie dough had been distributed far and wide, across retail stores in states such as Florida, New York, New Jersey, and California. Publix Recalled An Entire Cookie Platter Potentially Contaminated With Tree Nuts (2020) Publix holiday cookie display - Anatoliy Tesouro/Shutterstock If you're in Publix around the holidays and looking for an easy festive treat, you might reach for one of the tasty-looking holiday cookie platters available in the chain's bakery. With a variety of classic Christmas-themed cookies featuring cheery, holiday-appropriate green and red sprinkles, the cookie platters are a no-brainer for brightening up winter days. However, if you or someone in your family suffers from a nut allergy, these seemingly benign cookies could've proven dangerous in December 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Publix had to issue a recall as the cookie platters featured cookies that contained pecans, even though pecans were not listed or declared on the platter's ingredients label. The cookie platters had been distributed across Florida (except Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, and Monroe counties), Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. While not as common as peanut allergies, tree nut allergies are still considered one of the nine major food allergens impacting both kids and adults. Pecans are one of multiple nuts that fall under this category, alongside cashews, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, and almonds. Mondelez Discovered An Ingredient Issue Impacting Chips Ahoy Chewy Cookies (2019) Stack of Chips Ahoy chewy cookies - Anatoliy Tesouro/Shutterstock In April 2019, Mondelez, the maker of Chips Ahoy cookies -- as well as a bevy of other snack brands, including Ritz, Triscuit, and Wheat Thins -- recalled the brand's Chewy variety of chocolate chip cookies for an interesting reason. The official report shared by the Food & Drug Administration explained that the recall was due to an "unexpected solidified ingredient." The cookies had been distributed nationwide. On the surface, an unexpected solidified ingredient sounds a little frightening. Typically, recalls explicitly state if a food is contaminated with a foreign material, such as a piece of wood or rubber. CBS reached out to Mondelez to get down to the bottom of this vague phrase's meaning, with a spokesperson claiming that it simply referred to cornstarch in the cookie recipe that didn't properly mix in with the other ingredients and hardened when the cookies were baked. That sounds significantly less scary, but don't make the mistake of thinking the cookies were harmless. The spokesperson noted that there were unconfirmed reports of consumers gagging and choking on the hardened cornstarch, as well as experiencing dental injuries. A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix-Up Led To A Recall By Trader Joe's (2018) Stacks of Trader Joe's cookies - The Image Party/Shutterstock Sometimes, a recall occurs not because there's anything necessarily wrong with the food, or because the food contains an allergen not listed on the packaging. Instead, sometimes manufacturers put the wrong product in the packaging altogether, surprising consumers who expect one product and get another. This was what occurred in 2018 when Trader Joe's recalled some bags of its chocolate chip cookies. Instead of chocolate chip cookies being placed in the bags, the bags contained chocolate chip peanut butter cookies. Close, but no cigar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, the real risk here isn't merely unhappy consumers who've had chocolate chip peanut butter cookies forced upon them when they really wanted to buy plain chocolate chip cookies, sans peanut butter. Instead, for anyone with a peanut allergy, the cookies could have potentially proven lethal. The cookies had been distributed to Trader Joe's stores in a dozen states, plus Washington, D.C. Fortunately, no reactions were linked to the cookie mishap. Pure Milk Chocolate Covered Oreo Sandwich Cookies Were Recalled Over Allergen Fears (2005) Chocolate covered oreos - Ksena32/Getty Images More than a decade before Trader Joe's recalled its chocolate chip cookies because peanut-containing cookies had found their way into their bags, Oreo issued a very similar recall. In July 2005, Oreo's parent company, Nabisco (which was later merged into the Mondelez family), said that over 800,000 boxes of its Pure Milk Chocolate Covered Oreo Sandwich Cookies needed to make their way back to stores, as it was discovered that some of those boxes could have included Oreos stuffed with peanut butter creme, not vanilla creme, by mistake. Luckily, the boxes for this product did state that the cookies were made on equipment that comes into contact with peanuts. As a result, customers were aware that peanut exposure was a risk when eating the cookies, which hopefully warned off anyone with a severe peanut allergy. Nabisco said that no allergic reactions or other issues had been reported in relation to the recall, and that it only found out about the mistake after a consumer complained about finding the peanut butter creme-filled Oreos in their box. Nabisco Recalled Packages Of Mini Oreos After A Packaging Error (2004) Pack of mini Oreos - Rofidd/Shutterstock In 2004, there was yet another product mix-up that led to a Nabisco recall. This time, instead of putting the wrong flavor of cookie in the packaging, it accidentally used an entirely different type of product: the Ritz Bits Cheese Sandwiches. Cartons of Oreos impacted by the packaging error went out to BJ's Wholesale Club stores across the eastern U.S. Eventually, shoppers in two states (Massachusetts and New Hampshire) discovered that the cartons of what they thought were mini Oreos actually contained the much more savory Ritz crackers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much like Nabisco's peanut butter Oreo swap, this swap posed a threat to those with a milk allergy or intolerance. While Oreos (somewhat surprisingly) do not contain any dairy ingredients, Ritz Bits do contain milk. As such, if someone had grabbed a pack thinking they were getting Oreos, found the cheesy crackers, and decided to snack on them anyway, they potentially faced some uncomfortable or dangerous symptoms. Fortunately, nobody reported any illnesses linked to the Nabisco mix-up. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout. 16-year-old boy hospitalized after being shot in the chest A teenage boy was rushed to the hospital on Friday night after being shot. Atlanta police say a 16-year-old was shot in the chest and right arm at a home on Claire Drive near Lakewood Stadium around 8 p.m. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] He was alert, conscious and breathing when he was taken to the hospital. His current condition is unclear. Investigators have not commented on what led up to the shooting. There is no word on any possible suspects. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Two Southern California men have been charged in a fatal car-to-car shooting in Diamond Bar just over two years ago. Richard Pedroza, 28, of Alhambra and Daniel Rios, 26, of La Habra face the following charges: One count of murder with special circumstances Two counts of attempted murder. Possession of a firearm by a felon, one count for Pedroza and two counts for Rios The charges include several allegations including that the crimes involved great violence, great bodily harm, the threat of great bodily harm, and other acts showing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, and callousness, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said in a news release announcing the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At about midnight on Aug. 1, 2023, the pair allegedly opened fire from their vehicle toward other vehicles on the southbound 57 Freeway near Pathfinder Road. The District Attorneys Office initially said the shooting occurred on Aug. 1, 2025, before correcting their release. Three people were shot at, prosecutors say, one of whom was killed and another who was seriously wounded in the leg. The third person was uninjured. Pedroza and Rios were arrested by the U.S. Marshals on Tuesday. If you think you can turn our freeways into shooting galleries and terrorize our communities with callous violence, think again, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. This reckless attack cost one man his life and left another injured. Innocent people simply traveling the freeway, just trying to get to their destination, could easily have been caught in the crossfire and killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The men are being held without bail at the Mens Central Jail, and theyre due to appear in Pomona Superior Court on Sept. 12. If convicted on all charges, they face life in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Food recalls typically happen because of contamination with foodborne pathogens or labeling mistakes that lead to undeclared allergens. This week's news is anything but typical. Its rare for recalls to involve possible radiation exposure or counterfeit USDA inspection stamps. Yet, both issues surfaced in two major announcements this week, affecting frozen shrimp and a variety of meat products. Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock FDA Warns Consumers Not To Eat Potentially Radioactive Shrimp This week, the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public alert, warning consumers that certain raw frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart may have been contaminated with radiation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDA was alerted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after shipping containers from Indonesia, arriving at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami, were found to contain Cs-137, a radioactive isotope. The public alert revealed that Walmart received "implicated" raw frozen shrimp, which means the frozen shrimp in stores could be radioactive. Walmart has since recalled the product, according to an NPR report. Heres how to identify the potentially contaminated shrimp sold at Walmart: Product Name: Frozen Raw EZ-Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp Product Size: 2-pound bag Lot codes: 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1 Best By Date: 3/15/2027 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This shrimp was sold at Walmart stores in 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. The FDA urged shoppers to toss packages of Great Value raw frozen shrimp bought at Walmart, and we expect that Walmart's customer service will issue a refund if customers present a receipt. The same Indonesian company that processed Walmart's shrimp also supplied shrimp to Southwind Foods, which is now recalling some of its shrimp. Southwind distributes its shrimp to Kroger under the Sand Bar and Great American Seafood Imports Co., among others. Simply Recipes / US Department of Agriculture 32,000 Pounds of Meat Recalled for Fraudulent USDA Inspection Mark On August 20, Sabrositos Hondurenos, LLC of Edison, New Jersey, recalled approximately 32,000 pounds of various meat products. Investigators from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discovered the meat products had fraudulent USDA marks of inspection on their labels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be considered safe to eat, all meat and egg products need a real USDA mark of inspection with an establishment (EST) number. The USDA never inspected Sabrositos Hondurenos, and the packaging has a fake establishment number: EST. 1785. Eating food that a federal agency hasnt inspected is unsafe because it may contain harmful bacteria or other contaminants that pose a health risk. The recalled items were sold nationwide and come in 14-ounce vacuum-sealed packages labeled OLANCHO SABROCITOS HONDURENOS. The recalled products are: Homestyle Chorizo (Chorizo Suelto Olanchano) Smoked Pork Chops (Chuleta Ahumada Olanchana) Smoked Chorizo (Chorizo Ahumado Olanchano) Cased Homestyle Chorizo (Chorizo Olanchano Criollo) Smoked BBQ Spicy Chorizo (Chorizo Parrillero) Smoked Ribs (Costilla Ahumada Olanchana) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FSIS will keep the public informed if any other products are found to have a fake mark of inspection and establishment number. If you have food safety-related questions about this recall, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854). Alternatively, you can send a written question to MPHotline@usda.gov. Read the original article on Simply Recipes NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) A New Britain family laid their 2-year-old son to rest Friday, just weeks after the boy choked to death at a local day care facility. The family of Saunti Reynolds held the funeral in Bloomfield on Friday, before he was brought to his final resting place in New Britain. Reynolds mother, Shamyra Cooke, said that she received a call from the YWCA in New Britain, where her son went to day care, on July 29. The caller said Saunti had choked on a meatball, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Mother seeks answers after 2-year-old dies from choking at YWCA Since then, the New London YWCAs child care center has been shut down while the Department of Children and Families and the Office of Early Childhood investigates Shauntis death. City of New Britain officials told News 8 that the New Britain Police Department has a case that will remain open pending results from the medical examiners office. YWCA New Britain sent News 8 the following statement, which said that school-age programming will resume on Monday: YWCA New Britain will resume school-age programming on Aug. 25, with infant, toddler, and preschool programs reopening on Aug. 27. We are grateful to our families and community for their patience and understanding as we move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An obituary shared with News 8 said Saunti had a smile so wide, he filled the lives of those who knew him with joy. News 8 reached out the Office of Early Childhood to learn where the investigation stands now and has not yet heard back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with a robbery at a U.S. Bank in Vancouver on Monday, Clark County officials said. Elijah Evans was arrested Thursday night after a search warrant revealed evidence tied to the burglary at 6704 NE 117th Ave. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Breaking News Alerts Detectives said they recovered key evidence, including clothing worn during the robbery and cash taken from the bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans faces charges of first-degree robbery with a firearm and two counts of felony harassment. He was transported and booked in the Clark County Jail. Elijah Evans was arrested Thursday night after a search warrant revealed evidence tied to the burglary at a U.S. Bank. (Clark County Sheriffs Office) Elijah Evans was arrested Thursday night after a search warrant revealed evidence tied to the burglary at a U.S. Bank. (Clark County Sheriffs Office) Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) Less than 12 hours after tickets went on sale to honor the late reggae icon, George Fiji Veikoso, the event has officially sold out. In a statement from the Fiji Tribute Concert, officials said over 25,000 tickets were claimed in a matter of minutes. A night of music and memory: Free Fiji tribute concert We understand the excitement and also the disappointment for those who were not able to secure tickets. Please know that we are actively working with the City and County of Honolulu to explore ways to accommodate more of you in the coming days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tribute concert will be held at the Waikiki Shell and will be broadcast on giant screens at Kapiolani Park for everyone to enjoy. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Doors are set to open at 4 p.m. The show will start shortly after at 5:30 p.m. More than 100 reggae artists are scheduled to perform Fijis iconic songs, including J Boog, Common Kings, Maoli, The Green, Sammy Johnson, Henry Kapono, Kapena, Ekolu and many more. Fiji gave us more than just music he was the voice that raised all of the Pacific. He gave us healing, identity and pride. This show is our way of saying mahalo and a hui hou to someone whose spirit and soul will echo for eternity, Common Kings said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check out more news from around Hawaii The event will also feature a variety of guests, including Living808 host Mikey Monis. 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 KHON2. The author as a baby with both of her birth parents. When I was 3 and a half and still living in the country of my birth, Bulgaria, I watched as my birth father, an Iraqi immigrant, killed my birth mother, a Bulgarian national, and then himself in a crime of passion characterized as a result of his Muslim identity by the news outlet that covered their deaths. Due to unresolved grief, the international adoption and white American upbringing that followed, I did not begin to form a coherent cultural identity until I was old enough to ask and answer my own questions about what had happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growing up, the scaffolding of my identity was built according to what I had access to at the time. That included seeing a very good childhood therapist, who was American and specialized in adoption, until I was 15, and the local Turkish Muslim hairdresser my blonde, blue-eyed mother brought me to twice around the same time once on accident, then once on purpose. Which is to say that it wasnt enough. What little I knew of my national origin was complicated by the fact that I didnt look Bulgarian. After three months in the United States, I no longer spoke the language, either. The birth mother with whom I had shared an inseparable bond was a beautiful Bulgarian woman with model-grade looks, billowy hair,, and a fair complexion. In comparison, I had dark eyebrows and thick tufts of curly hair and warm-colored baby skin, which, over time, became sand-toned like my birth fathers. My adoptive mother and father knew little about my Iraqi heritage and took a mostly colorblind approach to parenting. Therefore, much about my birth father his reasons for killing my mother, the relative influence of culture and religion over his actions went largely unexamined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After all, my birth mother had sought and was granted a divorce from my birth father. Even the most educated Muslim man, our Bulgarian contacts said, would not allow his wife to leave without retaliation. When it came to my Bulgarian side, my adoptive mother lamented that she could not compete with my memory of my birth mother. Consequently, my connection to the country of my birth slowly waned as I grieved and wondered, often in silence, about my birth mother and the past we shared. Related: 21 "Fatal" Safety Mistakes People Make Every Day (And How To Avoid Them), According To First Responders Photo Courtesy Of Mirella Stoyanova The author's birth mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growing up in the United States, I sensed that my curly hair and olive skin tone made me stand out in a way that I did not want, and in an effort to fit in, I did what I could to smooth away any ethnic difference. I did all I could to conform to the narrow beauty standards I absorbed from magazines and television. I wore Abercrombie and Fitch, straightened my hair, and vigilantly removed any body hair that looked too dark or out of place. I also tried not to mention where I was from at school, especially after my parents advised me not to following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. I was desperate to belong, not yet understanding that real belonging is a byproduct of both knowing and having who you are seen and reflected back to you. My desire to fit in only thwarted my attempts at self-discovery. Despite wanting to blend in, the urgent and oftentimes confusing need to know who I was took the form of a curiosity that I could not quell about my past, my birth mother and the only living family I knew I had my paternal birth family in Iraq. With so many unanswered questions, I did not often think of my birth father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alone in my bedroom, I routinely pored over the 30 or so pictures I had of my life in Bulgaria, a life I remembered and spoke rarely about with my adoptive family. I arranged the photos in chronological order, compared my features to each birth parent, and searched within the frame of those prints for clues about who my birth parents were and by extension, who I was. Related: "People Don't Understand How Dangerous It Can Be" 19 Seemingly Safe But Actually Dangerous Things People Do All The Time Photo Courtesy Of Mirella Stoyanova The author with her mother, at approximately 3 years of age. The summer before high school, I flew to Chicago, where I spent two weeks with one of my birth mothers best friends the woman she had appointed to be my godmother years ago, on a sunny day in Sofia at the Sveti Sedmochislenitsi, or the Church of Seven Saints, where I was baptized. During my visit, I savored feta in brine and a traditional Bulgarian spread called lutenitsa as I learned about my birth mothers socialist upbringing and how it drew her to all things foreign, including my birth father and the life he represented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the year following my visit to Chicago, the United States invaded Iraq, and I wondered about my Iraqi family whether they were alive, and to what extent they had been affected. I searched intermittently for relatives online, surreptitiously entering the names I knew and the surnames listed in the adoption documents contained in the red three-ring binder my dad kept on the lower right-hand side of the bookshelf in our den. I looked in secret, often when no one else was home, but my searches never turned up any meaningful results. By my first year of college, more concerned with my professional identity than my personal one, I enrolled in Arabic language classes because Bulgarian classes were not offered; though, looking back, I can see how my desire to make peace with my past played a larger role in the decision than I comprehended at the time. When I walked onto campus to inquire about registration, the adviser told me space was limited, but then encouraged me to apply when I told her I was half Iraqi. The application asked whether I was of Arabic or Middle Eastern descent. Checking the box that read Yes gave me pause. It felt strange to claim this identity on the basis of a connection to the man who was biologically my father, but whom I rarely thought of on purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two years of Arabic later, I accepted a scholarship to study the language abroad in Morocco the summer before graduation. By then, I had made a handful of friends from class, Id gone to multiple Peace in the Middle East-themed parties and declared a major in Near Eastern Language & Civilization alongside the degree I was already pursuing in International Studies. Related: "I Blocked Her On All Platforms The Next Morning": 18 People Who Cut Their "Best Friend" Out Of Their Life After A Devastating Betrayal Photo Courtesy Of Mirella Stoyanova The author during a study abroad program in Morocco. Rather than triggering traumatic memories of my birth father, these experiences offered a safe harbor from which to embrace a part of my identity that had been complicated by Islamophobia, colorblind parenting and the questions, too many questions, that went unanswered throughout my childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the study abroad program in Morocco, I crossed the Strait of Gibraltar by boat and took a commuter flight to Bulgaria, my first time there in over a decade. The first day of my visit, I toured the ancient city of my birth, Sofia. Emulating my birth mother in the images I had scrutinized hundreds of times throughout my childhood, I posed for pictures at various cultural sites where Id seen her stand years before. That day, I also met with another one of my birth mothers best friends in the lobby of the Sheraton the hotel where my birth mother used to work. But instead of asking about the woman I had spent years quietly grieving, who I already knew so much about, I asked about the man who had been her husband, my father, and in the end, my birth mothers killer. In all of the years I spent thinking and not thinking about my birth father, there had always been details Id failed to reconcile, including fragments of sweet memories that contradicted what I and my adoptive family had been told at the time of my adoption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I knew my birth father immigrated from Iraq in the 80s to escape conscription into the war with Iran. I knew he was unconcerned with whether I was raised Muslim and didnt object when my birth mother decided to have me baptized. I also knew that he left for Sweden shortly after my first birthday to build a life for us abroad. My birth father killed my birth mother and himself because she divorced him while he was out of the country. This, I also knew. What I didnt know that to extricate my birth mother from her marriage, my grandmother persuaded her to claim abandonment through the State Gazette, knowing that a divorce would be finalized when the notice went unanswered for 90 days. Despite their ongoing contact, my birth mother used my birth fathers absence to achieve a legal separation without his knowledge or consent. I tried to imagine him returning from a country where he would never be seen as anything more than an outsider, only to learn that he had been divorced by the woman for whom hed left in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While knowing the truth never changed the way I felt about my birth mother, and while it certainly was no excuse for my fathers violence, the explanation complicated the narrative that I had come to understand throughout my upbringing the one that had kept me from wanting to know more about him, and in turn, from knowing more about myself. My birth father made a terrible, irreversible mistake. But I now believe that the tidy cultural narrative surrounding my parents deaths, the one that tied my birth fathers actions to his religious beliefs, was based upon unexamined stereotypes. Bulgarian or Iraqi, victim or perpetrator, my parents were so much more than any one identity. So am I. People often assume I could never forgive my birth father for what he did, but I have found forgiveness, in part, because I learned to humanize him. I recognize this isnt possible or right for everyone, but choosing to forgive was a decision I made for myself and was, in the end, largely to my benefit. Doing so required me to look beyond the stereotypes that came to define my birth fathers life. That process began with my cultural immersion in college a process that allowed me to lay the groundwork not only for forgiveness of the person whose actions irrevocably changed the trajectory of my life, but also for my own self-discovery and acceptance. The year following college graduation, I moved abroad to work as a grant writer for a global refugee rights nonprofit, where, after nearly two decades of straightening my hair, I began to wear it curly. I returned to the United States the following year, entered graduate school, and with a wonderfully skilled therapist, began to do the work of coming into my own racial consciousness and defining myself on my own terms. Related: This Woman Is Going Viral For Begging Women Not To Get Married Right Now, And Personally, I Couldn't Agree More Photo Courtesy Of Mirella Stoyanova The author began wearing her hair curly while living abroad in Ecuador. That summer, I made a chance discovery that led me to locate my Iraqi birth family. After corresponding for a few weeks, I met a few of my relatives in person. An emotional event, being in their physical presence reinforced that I could hold my own identity and sense of cultural belonging separate from the narrative and the caricature of my birth father that had so shaped my past. Our reunion might not have been successful had I not found some semblance of reconciliation with that particular interpretation of events. Twelve years later, I am a therapist who walks alongside others on their own journeys. What Ive discovered through my own personal and professional experiences is that we have far more to gain from turning toward, rather than from judging, what we do not understand. And that we are each complicated beyond measure not one, but many things. This article originally appeared on HuffPost in July 2025. Also in Goodful: My Family Was On A TLC Reality Show. Here's The Dark Secret That Never Aired. Also in Goodful: "Thats The Greenest Flag I Could Think Of": 16 Very Subtle Behaviors That Signal Someone Is A Really, Really Good Person Also in Goodful: 19 So-Called "Harmless" Habits That Are Actually Toxic AF, And I'm Guilty Of At Least 12 Of Them Read it on BuzzFeed.com BINGHAMTON N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) This Sunday marks the 34th anniversary of Ukraines restored independence, and the city of Binghamton hosted a special ceremony today in its honor. Many gathered outside of Binghamton City Hall with Ukrainian flags, clothing and songs to commemorate Independence Day and stand in solidarity as Ukraine is still at war with Russia after three long years since Russia invaded. Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham declared today as Ukrainian Independence Day in the city of Binghamton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says that this flag raising ceremony isnt only being done amidst the war, as Ukrainian independence has been celebrated in Binghamton for many years. Mayor Jared Kraham says, Weve been doing this for many decades, but it is now more important than ever to recognize the unbelievable contributions of the Ukrainian community to the city of Binghamton. You have helped make our city the city that it is. And that we reaffirm our local support for the global effort. The ceremony featured reverends and pastors leading prayers for Ukraine, speeches from Ukrainian Veterans, Ukrainian songs played by musicians and more. It concluded with all the children in attendance helping Mayor Kraham raise the Ukrainian flag that stands tall over city hall amidst the global conflict. 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 WIVT - News 34. NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) Jessamine County animal rights advocates are asking for help after a four-month-old puppy was stolen from the shelter by a woman who was there with a man and a child. Jessamine County Animal Care and Control posted on Facebook around 6 p.m. on Aug. 22 that the puppy, a black-and-white pit bull mix named Wendell, was reportedly stolen by a pair accompanied by a child. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security cameras reportedly captured footage of the woman with Wendell at the shelter just before the puppy was stolen. Wendell, a four-month-old puppy, was stolen from the Jessamine County Animal Care and Control shelter, according to staff. (Jessamine County Animal Care and Control) Jessamine County Animal Care and Control staff said the woman who stole the puppy was accompanied by a man and a child, seen on security camera footage. (Jessamine County Animal Care and Control) A woman allegedly stole Wendell, the four-month-old puppy, from the Nicholasville shelter, according to a Friday evening Facebook post. (Jessamine County Animal Care and Control) The group reportedly left in a dark blue or black Chevrolet sedan with damage on the front and back of the vehicle. Officials with the animal shelter asked anyone who sees Wendell or the Chevrolet sedan to contact the Nicholasville Police Department at (859) 885-9468. On Saturday, the Nelson County Sheriffs Office announced on social media that the stolen puppy had been found in the Springfield Road area of Bardstown. Information about those involved in stealing Wendell has been sent to the Nicholasville Police Department, and charges are expected. 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. NEED TO KNOW A tour bus crashed in Pembroke, N.Y., while traveling from Niagara Falls to New York City on Friday, Aug. 22. There were 54 bus occupants, ranging in age from 1 to 74 The New York State Police has confirmed that five people died as a result of the crash The New York State Police has confirmed the number of fatalities following the tour bus crash in upstate New York on Friday, Aug. 22. In a statement released on Friday, Aug. 22, the NYSP said that 54 people ranging between ages 1 and 74 were on board, and five people were killed. The remaining 49 people were injured and taken to the local hospitals. No one's identity has been publicly revealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York State Trooper James O'Callaghan previously told reporters that a child was one of the fatalities. But New York State Police Maj. Andre Ray later confirmed in a press conference that no children have been reported as deceased victims. "There were children transported to the hospital," he confirmed. "I'm unaware of any serious physical injuries to children at this point." He also said, according to the last update he received, "no one else was in a life-threatening status" and "multiple people were treated and subsequently released already." Trooper O'Callaghan said that officials believe most of the passengers were not wearing a seatbelt, CNN reported. The investigation is still ongoing, and additional details about the victims have not yet been released. However, officials believe most of the individuals on the bus were Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Filipino. Libby March/Buffalo News via AP First responders work to rescue victims at the scene of a tour bus that crashed and rolled over on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. First responders work to rescue victims at the scene of a tour bus that crashed and rolled over on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Buffalo's Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) held a separate news conference on Friday afternoon. There, doctors said that 24 patients were being treated, with two of them sent to the operating room and several others taken to the trauma ICU. They said that the patients sustained head injuries, extremity fractures and internal injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been here 25 years, Samuel D. Cloud, ECMC chief medical officer, said, per NBC News. This is probably the most trauma patients weve had from one incident in my career here in Buffalo. Other patients from the crash were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, Oishei Children's Hospital, Buffalo General Medical Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Major Ray said in the Friday afternoon press conference. At the time of the crash, a tour bus was transporting passengers from Niagara Falls back to New York City. It then crashed on the eastbound lane of Interstate 90 between exits 48A and 49 in Pembroke, a town less than 30 miles from Buffalo, according to New York State Police. "The bus lost control, entered the median, and then crossed to the southern shoulder before overturning," witnesses reported, per NYSP. Ray confirmed that mechanical error, impairment, and intoxication were all "ruled out" as the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing. Read the original article on People Five people were killed and dozens more were injured after a tour bus returning to New York from Niagara Falls rolled over on a highway. State police said 52 people were on the bus when the driver, who was distracted while on the New York State Thruway, lost control of the vehicle. Related: Kilmar Abrego Garcia Surrenders To ICE In Baltimore, Faces Possible Deportation To Uganda Its believed the operator became distracted, lost control and overcorrected, New York State Police spokesperson James OCallaghan said during a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OCallaghan said the bus was driving at full speed but did not hit any other vehicles when it crashed and rolled over into a ditch. Many of the passengers were ejected from the bus, while others became trapped. Twenty-four people were rushed to hospitals in the area. There was glass all over the road and peoples stuff all over the road, witness Powell Stephens told The Buffalo News. The bus was carrying tourists who had just visited Niagara Falls near the U.S.-Canada border. Many of the tourists came from countries including China, India, the Philippines and the Middle East, state police Maj. Andre Ray said at a Friday night news conference. Police brought in translators to help with the response, he added. Related: 'Sopranos' Star Jerry Adler, Broadway Backstage Vet Turned Late-In-Life Actor, Dies At 96 While the cause of the crash is still being investigated, Ray said the driver of the bus is cooperating with authorities. No charges against the driver had been filed as of Saturday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York Gov. Kathy Hochul expressed her condolences in a post on X. Our hearts are with their loved ones during this difficult time, Hochul posted. In 2021, a similar crash happened when a tour bus heading to Niagara Falls ran off the New York State Thruway, injuring 57 people. Related: Democrat Mocks JD Vance For Having Cardboard Charisma As He Pushes Unpopular Budget Bill More Stories Drivers Trapped On Frozen Highway After 100-Car Pileup Hudson Helicopter Horror Epstein Accuser Virginia Giuffre's Memoir Is Being Published Posthumously Read the original on HuffPost The Justice Department released transcripts of its interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell. The convicted sex-trafficker said only positive things about Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. She dropped a hint about a mystery female billionaire she said Epstein worked for. Ghislaine Maxwell had a tough time recalling anything specific about what happened between Jeffrey Epstein and a number of powerful people, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Bill Gates. In a two-day interview on July 24 and 25, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche peppered Maxwell with questions about her long relationship with Epstein, his business practices, his sexual abuse of girls, and conspiracy theories surrounding his life and death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department granted Maxwell an unusual "queen for a day" proffer agreement, which allows people to speak to prosecutors without worrying about facing additional criminal charges. On Friday, the department made transcripts and audio recordings of the interview public, with some victim information redacted. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for trafficking girls to Epstein for sex. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan also accused her of perjury for lying about sexual abuse in a deposition, but dropped those charges after her sex-trafficking conviction. Maxwell is appealing her conviction. Blanche, who was one of Trump's personal attorneys before being appointed second-in-command at the Justice Department, led the two-day interview. None of the prosecutors in Maxwell's criminal trial, nor Epstein's own sex-trafficking cases, which ended when he died in jail awaiting trial, were present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell was represented by her longtime personal attorney, Leah Saffian, and her criminal appeal lawyers, David Oscar Markus and Melissa Madrigal. Her answers in the interview largely hewed to the main argument her defense attorneys presented in her Manhattan criminal trial: that Epstein compartmentalized his life and that she was not aware of any potential sexual abuse. "Ghislaine Maxwell is innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted, in this case," Markus said in a statement. "She never committed or participated in sexual abuse against minors, or anyone else, for that matter. " In the interview, Maxwell said she had been acquainted with several tech billionaires including Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, and Reid Hoffman but did not accuse any of wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the interview, Maxwell was moved from her prison in Florida to a lower-security one in Texas. The Justice Department didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Here are the biggest takeaways from the transcript of Maxwell's interview. Maxwell had nothing but praise for Trump Maxwell told Blanche she first met Trump shortly after she moved from Europe to the United States in 1990, while working for her father, the British media baron Robert Maxwell. "I may have met Donald Trump at that time, because my father was friendly with him and liked him very much," Maxwell said. "And I think should be said that he also very much liked Ivana because she was also from Czechoslovakia, where my dad was from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell also praised the "extraordinary achievement" of Trump's ascent to the presidency. When journalists asked in recent weeks whether he would pardon Maxwell, Trump said, "It would be inappropriate to talk about it." "Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me," Maxwell said in her Justice Department interview. "And I just want to say that I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now. And I like him, and I've always liked him. So that is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him." Asked whether "President Trump had done anything inappropriate with masseuses or with anybody in your world, Maxwell responded, "Absolutely never, in any context." From left, American real estate developer Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000. Davidoff Studios/Getty Images Maxwell said a mysterious female billionaire from Ohio was one of Epstein's business clients Maxwell denied Epstein had any sort of "client list" of men to whom he arranged girls for sex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said Epstein's clients were wealthy people to whom he provided valuable financial services, and that he took fees for that work. Epstein's fortune he had $630 million in assets at the time of his death, according to court filings came largely from his work for Les Wexner, the Ohio billionaire who previously ran Victoria's Secret, and former Apollo Global Management CEO and Chairman Leon Black. Maxwell said Epstein had another significant client, a female billionaire whose name she couldn't remember. "There's a woman in Ohio. I just can't think of her name," Maxwell said on the first day of her interview. Maxwell said she would check her notes and try to remember her name for the interview's second day. But she didn't revisit the subject on July 25, and Blanche did not ask her about it, according to the interview transcript. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for Maxwell declined to comment on the record. Epstein's services for Wexner were extensive, Maxwell said. She said he did everything from managing investments to drafting contracts for maids. "He said no detail was too small," Maxwell said. "Because everything that affected how they lived and how they managed their life, was something that he felt he was if they want, he would be responsible for." Maxwell also said Epstein provided financial services to Johnson & Johnson heiress Elizabeth Johnson and Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a British businesswoman. "I know that he helped Lynn Forester, who became Lynn de Rothschild," Maxwell said. "She'll deny it and she has." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Rothschild has previously denied that Epstein provided her any financial assistance. Both Wexner and Black have denied any wrongdoing linked to Epstein and have said they regret their past associations with him. It's not clear what services Epstein provided to Johnson, who died in 2017 and whose association with Epstein in the 1990s has been previously reported. Maxwell said Jeffrey Epstein didn't work for intelligence agencies Maxwell disputed the widely held theory that Epstein did work for an intelligence agency. She said she did not believe he worked for Israel's Mossad, and that the idea he worked for the CIA was "bullshit." "I think if he was for real, I think he would've bragged about it to me as a show off, because he could be a show off," Maxwell said. "And if he wasn't, he might have dropped it like he was cool. And I don't think I don't remember him doing either." Business Insider previously spoke to four people with access to the vast trove of material the FBI seized from Epstein's properties during its sex-trafficking investigation, who all said they saw no signs of any connections to intelligence agencies. Maxwell said Epstein didn't record any blackmail videos Maxwell said she didn't believe Epstein ever blackmailed anyone with sexual videos, another long-held theory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also said he didn't have secret cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms with one exception. Maxwell said Epstein worked with the police to install security cameras in some rooms of his Palm Beach mansion. He ultimately caught an employee stealing money and fired him. "In Palm Beach, Epstein was having money stolen. He noticed money was being stolen from his briefcase. And he called in the Palm Beach police, and they the Palm Beach police installed cameras on where he kept his briefcase," Maxwell said. Photos of Epstein's Manhattan mansion obtained by The New York Times appear to show a camera in one of its bedrooms. Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre, then known as Virginia Roberts, along with Ghislaine Maxwell. This photo was included in an affidavit where Giuffre claimed Prince Andrew directed her to have sex with him. Florida Southern District Court Maxwell disputes some of the most damning allegations about her and Epstein In the interview, Maxwell said again that Virginia Giuffre one of the most outspoken Epstein accusers, who died earlier this year is a liar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell said an infamous photo of her, Prince Andrew, and Giuffre in her London home was fabricated. She said Giuffre's story about having sex with the British royal in her home didn't make sense because her house was really small. "The idea of him doing anything of that nature in my house, that's the size of this room, is so mind-blowingly not conceivable to me," she said. In 2022, Prince Andrew settled a civil lawsuit where Giuffre accused him of repeatedly sexually abusing her. Maxwell couldn't remember Trump sending a birthday letter to Epstein In the interview, Blanche repeatedly pressed Maxwell about a book of letters written by Epstein's friends and acquaintances for his 50th birthday. The celebration took place in 2003, well before Epstein was publicly accused of sexual misconduct. The Wall Street Journal reported in July that a "bawdy" letter from Trump was included in the book. "Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret," the letter, which featured a drawing of a nude woman and Trump's signature, said, according to the Journal. Trump's attorneys have said the letter does not exist and filed a defamation lawsuit against the Journal and executive Rupert Murdoch, which remains ongoing. Maxwell said she didn't remember one way or another whether Trump contributed a letter for the book. "It's been so long," she said. "I want to tell you, but I don't remember." Maxwell, not Epstein, was friends with Bill Clinton Blanche also repeatedly pressed Maxwell about Clinton's relationship with Epstein. Flight records show the former president flew on Epstein's private jet 26 times. According to White House visitor logs, Epstein visited 17 times during Clinton's presidency. Maxwell said that she was the personal glue of that relationship. Maxwell had attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and she said in the Justice Department interview that she was "very central" to starting the Clinton Global Initiative. She also said she found Epstein's painting of Clinton wearing a blue dress "hideous." "President Clinton was my friend, not Epstein's friend," Maxwell said. Maxwell also said she didn't see Clinton ever getting a "massage" while with Epstein, and that she didn't believe Clinton had any involvement with Epstein after she left the financier's orbit in the early 2000s. "President Clinton liked me, and we got along terribly well. But I never saw that warmth, or however you want to characterize it, with Mr. Epstein so I didn't see that," Maxwell said. "I didn't see President Clinton being interested in Epstein. He was just a rich guy with a plane." Blanche didn't ask about lingering mysteries with Epstein's finances The interview transcripts don't show Blanche asking Maxwell about Epstein's investments with figures like tech billionaire Peter Thiel. Nor do they ask about Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, Epstein's longtime personal lawyer and accountant, who are now the executors of his estate. Court records filed in the US Virgin Islands show that the estate will eventually convert into a successor estate, where Epstein's remaining assets will be administered to beneficiaries. It's not clear who will be a beneficiary of Epstein's remaining millions, and whether Maxwell will receive any funds. Read the original article on Business Insider The killing of a Mexican gray wolf in New Mexico by federal wildlife agencies has sparked concerns among wolf advocacy groups who say the actions, even if authorized, are harmful to the recovery efforts of the endangered species. The decision to kill the wolf earlier in August came after a series of at least 14 confirmed and probable wolf-livestock conflicts associated with the Dillon Mountain pack, according to a memo signed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Mexican Wolf recovery coordinator Brady McGee. The pack consists of up to 15 wolves of various ages roaming federal public land near an active cattle grazing allotment, where many of the depredation incidents took place, according the memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wolf was lethally shot on Forest Service lands by airborne federal agents with the U.S.Department of Agricultures Animal Plant Health Inspection Services-Wildlife Services, the agency responsible for conducting such removals. Aerial shooting is a commonly used method for effective animal control operations and has also been used in targeting coyotes and feral swine in New Mexico, according to the USDA. In a written statement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services communications specialist Aislinn Maestas affirmed the agencys commitment to the conservation of a healthy wolf population but acknowledged the agency is concerned with the wolves impact on ranching. The Service is aware and shares the increasing concerns about health and human safety and negative impacts to ranching from the growing wolf population, said Maestas in the statement. The Service carefully considers its management decisions and takes appropriate steps with partners to modify problematic wolf behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has authorized the killing of at least four endangered Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. One of those killings did not go as planned. In April, federal agents mistakenly killed a potentially pregnant wolf wearing a tracking collar while executing a lethal removal order for an uncollared wolf in the Bear Canyon pack. The pack was linked to livestock conflicts in the Apache National Forest. Another lethal removal order has been issued for a male wolf in the Bear Canyon pack, which remains in effect until Aug. 30, according to emails obtained through federal records requests and shared with The Arizona Republic. The Center for Biological Diversity, an environment advocacy group, is calling on that order to be lifted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gunning down a wolf pup from the air whose precious genes could have helped save her entire subspecies was cruel and will further stall recovery of these animals, said Michael Robinson, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a news release. Theres still time to call off the helicopter gunmen and halt another unjust execution. One killing is too many, and the death of a second wolf would be heartbreaking, Robinson said. Conflict on the range: Mexican gray wolves are moved from Cochise County as locals seek end to species protection Lobos in limbo The Mexican gray wolf is a subspecies of gray wolf native to the Southwest that is smaller and genetically distinct from the larger, northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf. The species was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1976 following the near eradication of the species through livestock predator control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexican gray wolves in the wild are all descended from seven, surviving founder wolves that made up a binational captive breeding program in the 1980s and 1990s. This small genetic pool makes the endangered wolves susceptible to health conditions caused by inbreeding. Federal and state wildlife agencies in Arizona and New Mexico collaborate to meet the population goals outlined in the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan. In 2024, there were 286 wolves recorded in the wild, marking a ninth consecutive year of population growth. The Mexican gray wolves in the Bear Canyon and Dillon Mountain packs are a part of an experimental, nonessential population of endangered wolves living in Arizona and New Mexico. The special designation allows federal agencies to trap, haze and kill problem wolves that prey on livestock or roam outside of the experimental population area. The Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area consists of all land in Arizona and New Mexico south of Interstate 40. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more wildlife news: Sign up for AZ Climate, The Republic's weekly environment newsletter. Asha and 'Quartz' pack released into wild In early August, wildlife agencies released a female wolf, known for her repeated attempts to live outside of the designated wolf area, back into the wild after over 18 months in captivity. The female wolf, named Asha by conservation groups, was released in New Mexico with a mate and five pups as the newly formed Quartz pack. The pack will add to the genetic diversity in the wild population, helping meet recovery goals, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a written statement after the release. We, with the Interagency Field Team, are committed to immediately addressing any conflicts if/when they arise in partnership with the local community." Though wolf advocacy groups celebrated the release of the pack, it came six weeks after the agencys original release date which was set for June. In July, 36 conservation groups sent a letter to the Department of Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife calling for the packs immediate release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asha should never have been punished with a year and a half in captivity for merely wandering north of I-40, but were grateful to the agencies for doing the right thing now and setting this family free, said Greta Anderson, deputy director of Western Watersheds Project, in a news release. May her puppies grow up in a world without arbitrary limits on their roaming, and we wish this young family all the best. John Leos covers environmental issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to john.leos@arizonarepublic.com. Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Feds defend 'authorized' killing of Mexican gray wolf in New Mexico Hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral on Friday of an innocent man who lost his life after being caught in the crossfire of a deadly gang-fueled mass shooting at a Brooklyn lounge that left two others dead and 11 wounded. Masjid Al-Ihsaan Mosque overflowed with mourners for Amadou Diallo, 27, who died in the early-morning shoot-out at Taste of the City Lounge on Franklin Ave. near Carroll St. in Crown Heights last weekend. Diallo, who immigrated from Guinea in 2023, was working as a delivery worker for Uber Eats when he happened to be passing by the scene at the exact moment two opposing gang members got into a fight inside the lounge and started shooting. He come for a better life, said Amadous cousin, Alpha, with whom Amadou lived with family in an apartment about a five-minute walk away from the lounge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are sad, Alpha said. Its up to God to take and give. He give us people and he take them. You cant question it. We are sad this happened. We dont wish anyone to have this ending. Hes young and not sick. He had so many plans. The week before he died, Amadou had applied for a job as a home health aide, his cousin said. Alpha was not sure why Amadou was near the scene of the massacre, but said he had left home around midnight on Sunday, a few hours before the shooting, and told family he was going to work a delivery shift. He was either doing delivery or stopping buying food, Alpha said. He liked sweet drinks. He liked ice cream, frosties. Amadou was struck in the head by a stray bullet near the troubled lounge around 3:25 a.m. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene. Police recovered 42 bullet-shell casings inside and outside the lounge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alpha learned of his cousins death when police turned up at his doorstep later that day. I was expecting my sons delivery, a toy I bought online. I was in the bedroom and I heard them knock the door, Alpha said. When I opened the door it was two officers, detectives. When the guy takes Amadous license from his pocket, my heart sank, to be honest, Alpha said. I had a feeling something good was not coming out of this. They come inside, my heart starts pumping. The guy said there were two groups shooting, unfortunately Amadou was among the victims. He was killed. It was so unexpected. A young guy. I said, No this cannot be true. Earlier that morning, Alpha had walked past the taped-off crime scene and noticed several police vehicles, without realizing that his cousin had been killed right there. I said, OK, this is Brooklyn, a shooting happened, Alpha said. I went home. I checked Citizens app and it said three guys died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He never suspected his cousin could be among the victims. We dont have no gang members. The only time you see us outside is going to work, going to the mosque, he said. Or as a family we went to the Bronx zoo. Thats the only time you see us outside. Amadou was especially close with his nieces and nephews, including Alphas children, who dont understand what happened to their fun-loving uncle. My little daughter, shes two. When I ask her, Wheres Amadou? She said he is at work. Thats what shes still believing. Even today. And my son, people tell him he passed away. Hes five. He still dont know the meaning of death. It is a hard concept. He did not know the meaning of passing away, Alpha said. [Amadou] and my son, they were so close. Sometimes people ask him if he was his son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alpha felt the loss of his cousin immediately. He was a guy who always surprised me. He was a good character. I start missing him the night he passed away, he said. When all the guests left my house, I take the broom, cleaning my floor there. Usually, he will not allow me to clean it. He said, Brother. No, no, no, let me help you. He never allowed me to clean that floor. Amadou Diallo leaves behind his parents and five siblings back in West Africa in Guinea. His family is sending his body to be buried in his home country this weekend. The shooting started when 19-year-old Marvin St. Louis fired at Folk Nation gang member Jamel Andre Childs, according to police. Childs fired back, and two other men immediately opened fire, as well, police said. Childs, 35, died along with Amadou and St. Louis. The two other men who opened fire were not shot and have not been found by cops. The gunfight was between two gangs, the Folk Nation and the Spice Gang, sources said. In addition to the three dead, 11 people were wounded but survived. The survivors are a mix of bystanders and people involved in the clash, according to police. History lives on almost every corner in Selma, Alabama, and the city invites visitors to celebrate its heritage (and makes it easy with a self-guided audio tour; download the brochure from selmaalabama.com), but also the vibrant arts and delicious eats underpinning its current culture. And while exploring its powerful part in Civil Rights history holds huge appeal, other jewels shine in the Queen Citys crown, too. Civil Rights Centerpiece Jennifer Kornegay Edmund Pettus Bridge Edmund Pettus Bridge Selmas Civil Rights stories could fill a thousand volumes; events that unfolded in the city during the Civil Rights Movement changed the world, and today you can follow in the footsteps of the brave men and women who fought for equal rights. The Edmund Pettus Bridge Walk across The Edmund Pettus Bridge. Its iconic arches spanning the Alabama River are some of most recognized symbols of the movement and played backdrop to Bloody Sunday, when marchers headed to Montgomery were violently stopped from completing their journey by law enforcement in March 1965. Weeks later, the marchers made it across the bridge and walked 54 miles to the state capitol steps. This successful Selma-to-Montgomery March, helmed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The National Voting Rights Museum Stop in the Selma Welcome Center downtown to view a special exhibit honoring the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Next, gain a deeper understanding of the struggles the marchers faced at The National Voting Rights Museum, not far from the bridge. The site showcases photographs and other items from the march and movement. selmaalabama.com; 14 Broad St, Selma, AL 36701; 334-293-0596 civilrightstrail.com; 6 US-80 East, Selma, AL 36701; 334-526-4340 Brown Chapel AME Church and King Monument Youll need to call ahead for an appointment, but some advance planning is worth it to tour the Brown Chapel AME Church and King Monument, instrumental in the planning of the 1965 marches. Take a moment to reflect on the achievements of Civil Rights activists peaceful protests while listening to tour guides share personal recollections of the march. brownchapleame.org; 410 Martin Luther King St, Selma, AL 36703; 334-874-7897 History Happened Here Courtesy of Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information Old Depot Museum Old Depot Museum The Old Depot Museum Once an L&N railroad Depot, The Old Depot Museum outlines the contrast of Selma being one of Souths largest munitions producers during the Civil War with its Civil Rights significance. Its collections and exhibits range from cannons made for the Confederacy and handwritten receipts for enslaved persons to documents, photos and other artifacts from Bloody Sunday. selmamuseum.org; 4 Martin Luther King St, Selma, AL 36703; 334-874-2197 Vaughan-Smitherman Museum First built in 1847 by the Selma Fraternal Lodge No. 27 of the Free and Accepted Masons as a school for orphans and children of indigent Masons, the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum stands as one of Selmas most beautiful structures with its stately white columns making an impressive statement. It was a hospital during the Civil War, and the need for this service may have influenced Union General J.H. Wilson to spare the building when his troops descended on Selma in spring 1865. Today, it holds antique medical instruments and implements from its hospital past and a collection of art. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement selma-al.gov; 109 Union St, Selma, AL 36701; 334-874-2174 Arts Alive All over downtown, colorful murals embellish building walls. Butterflies flit, Civil Rights heroes loom larger than life, shapes and stripes bounce off brick. Depicting a friendly fish fry, the mural designed by local artist Tres Taylor and painted by more than 80 Selma residents, is a favorite. More public art can be found all around town in the form of large metal butterflies. The winged works decorated by area creatives point to the citys designation as Alabamas Butterfly Capital. Gallery 905 The vibrant hues and geometric patterns of textile artist Cathy Moodys quilts add buzzy energy to Gallery 905, where the works of more than 100 local artists, including paintings, jewelry, ceramics, cynotype prints, and more, shine. The space is part of ArtsRevive, an organization dedicated to enhancing community with art. gallery905.com; 905 Water Ave, Selma, AL 36701; 334-878-1905 Tin Man Studio And across the street, artist Charlie Lucas, known as the Tin Man, creates fanciful sculptures and mixed media collages from bits and pieces of discarded metal and other found objects at his filling-station-turned studio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement facebook.com/TinManSelma; 9 Lauderdale St, Selma, AL 36701 Holy Ground Sturdivant Hall A dizzying array of architectural styles abounds in and around Selma, including many homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Youll find Greek Revival, Victorian, Italianate and Craftsman in more than 1,200 historic structures scattered throughout downtown and other areas, including Sturdivant Hall, one of the Souths finest examples of a Greek Revival antebellum mansion. The citys old churches, many still active houses of worship today, show off the citys architectural variety, too. 713 Mabry St, Selma, AL 36701; 334-872-5626 Old Live Oak Cemetery Find more stories and stone-mason artistry amid the shady paths and elaborately decorated gravestones of Old Live Oak Cemetery, also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 300 Dallas Ave, Selma, AL 36701 Discover Downtown Sip and Stroll Put some pep in your step before setting out to explore with a chocolate-chip muffin and Queen City latte from Reflections Coffee Shoppe. Find drug store staples as well as gift items and home decor in Carter Drug Co., serving Selma for almost a century. And down the street, continue shopping at Queen City Market, housed in the citys historic Kress building. Style finds ranging from accessories and shoes to the latest ladies fashions and home decor, like fanciful tea towels and plush throw pillows, await inside the bright, airy space. facebook.com/reflections-coffee-shoppe; 1014 Water Ave, Selma, AL 36701; 334-878-5282 facebook.com/CartersSelma; 133 Broad St, Selma, AL 36701; 334-875-7223 shopqueencitymarket.com; 125 Broad St, Selma, AL 36701; 334-526-4073 Visit the 5 & Dime In the former Woolworth department store, 5 & Dime is a multi-purpose space owned by local tour operator and artist A.C. Reeves. An eclectic collection of collages, textiles, black and white photos of area landmarks, vintage mirrors, and rotating local art installations fill the massive open-air room, as does the happy chatter of diners gathering around vintage, mismatched tables and chowing down on 5 & Dimes changing-daily offerings (like meatloaf, asparagus-parmesan salad and smashed potatoes) on MondayWednesday, and on Thursdays, a buffet spread of fresh food (like roasted veggie frittatas, roasted pear salad and wedges of chilled ripe watermelon). Reeves also plans regular pop-ups, featuring the foods of beloved local cooks. Cookies and tahini-swirled brownies sweeten the deal, but no matter whats on the plate, every meal includes a side of lively conversation, as folks sit wherever and often join strangers to enjoy their lunch. 203 Broad St, Selma, AL, 36703; 334-375-3838 Cue Calling Jennifer Kornegay Lannies Bar-B-Q Spot Lannies Bar-B-Q Spot Lannies Bar-B-Q About a mile and a half from downtown, Lannies Bar-B-Q Spot beckons with slow-smoked meats. Still owned and operated by its founding family, the 80-year-old eatery stays packed with locals and visitors in the know. They come for savory ribs and tender pulled pork doused in a spicy, deep red sauce alongside homey favorites like golden fried okra and crisp-creamy corn nuggets and a homemade cracklin as an extra treat added to barbecue plates. facebook.com; 2115 Minter Ave, Selma, AL 36703; 334-431-5159 Stay Jennifer Kornegay Woolworth Lofts Woolworth Lofts Woolworth Lofts Colorful stained-glass windows set the wood-floors and soaring ceilings of the Woolworth Lofts, located above the 5 & Dime, aglow. Each of the five stylish and history-soaked units boasts unique decor and local art, as well as kitchens, to ensure a comfy stay. Some provide sweeping views of downtown, too. tourselma.com; 201 Broad Street, Selma, AL 36701 Read the original article on Southern Living The offices of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services are seen in Juneau on Friday, July 1, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon) The politically appointed board that regulates health care in Alaska voted unanimously Friday to recommend that the state restrict medical care for transgender youth in the state and approved a letter asking Alaska lawmakers to end access to abortion in the late stages of pregnancy. On transgender care, the board approved a draft regulation that if made final would declare that providing gender transition care for someone younger than 18 amounts to unprofessional conduct equivalent to drunkenly practicing medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone violating that regulation could be subject to disciplinary action. In the most extreme cases, the board has revoked medical licenses after a discipline investigation. The draft regulation is subject to a public comment period before becoming final or being amended. In a separate action, the board approved a statement declaring that it does not believe that abortions late in pregnancy are ethical medical practice and advised Alaskans to lobby the Legislature to change state law. Currently, access to abortion in Alaska is protected by a precedent set by the Alaska Supreme Court, which has declared that medical care is covered by the personal privacy clause of the Alaska Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both actions come amid a push by Republicans nationally to restrict abortion and gender-affirming care for children. Twenty-seven states, almost all of which are controlled by Republican politicians, have enacted laws or policies restricting gender-affirming care for children. Abortion restrictions are more common, with only Alaska, eight other states, and the District of Columbia, having no restrictions on abortion care. Board member Dave Wilson, a commercial pilot who sits in a public seat on the board, said before the vote that the transgender care regulation came about because of public requests. This was brought to us as a concern by members of the public, and we acted on that. This is not politically driven. This is not politically motivated, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next to Wilsons image in the boards Zoom meeting was Dr. Matt Heilala, a podiatrist who is a member of the board and a Republican candidate for governor. All six of the boards current members were appointed by Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The board has eight seats, but two are vacant. All six sitting members are male; four are from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and two are from Anchorage. Under the draft regulation, medical providers would be acting unprofessionally if they provide medical or surgical intervention to treat gender dysphoria or facilitate gender transition by altering sex characteristics inconsistent with the biological sex at birth, including but not limited to puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, mastectomy, phalloplasty, or genital modification to a minor under the age of 18 years old. The term biological sex at birth has frequently been used by Christian conservatives who believe gender is immutable and cannot be changed once assigned by birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That contradicts recommendations from most medical associations in the United States, which have defined gender dysphoria as a disorder that can affect children. The American Academy of Pediatrics, for example, has continuously supported access to chemical and surgical procedures to treat dysphoria and allow someone to potentially seek gender-affirming surgery. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, have taken a different approach and have restricted gender-affirming care for children. Since the start of President Donald Trumps second term in office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has also changed its policy to be against gender-affirming care for youths. Earlier in the year, weve seen a lot more study that is alarming, Heilala said during Fridays board meeting, policy shifts across the world, and we have strong support of the governor on this. More than half of the states have either outright banned or curtailed this care. And I think it does need to be pointed out, a regulation is an opportunity and a tool to be used at the discretion of the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that if the regulation is enacted, disciplinary sanction isnt an obligation but it is an option. Public testimony on Friday was uniformly against the draft regulation. Tom Pittman is executive director of Identity Inc., which offers gender-affirming care to minors in Alaska. Speaking to the board, he said the proposed regulation strips parents of their ability to work with trusted doctors to make the best decisions for their child. It shrinks the already fragile provider network and endangers childrens lives. Dr. Lindsey Banning, a licensed psychologist and the parent of a transgender child, said that the benefits of gender-affirming care are well-established. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its quite simply the standard of care for trans folks thats accepted by all major medical organizations in this country, she said. Blocking access to this care has devastating consequences on the health and well being of trans kids, dramatically raising (their) rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, and yet somehow were here watching this politically appointed medical board brazenly ask us to ignore the research and opt to politicize the healthcare choices of Alaskans. The draft regulation is expected to be vetted by the Alaska Department of Law, then would be published for a 30-day public comment period. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Colorado Capitol Building on June 25, 2025. (Delilah Brumer/Colorado Newsline) House Bill 25B-1008, one of the dueling artificial intelligence bills introduced by Colorado lawmakers during the special session, was gutted during its House Appropriations Committee hearing on Friday afternoon to become a simple extension of the controversial 2024 laws effective date. The bill would now push implementation of Senate Bill 24-205 until October 2026, rather than February 2026. The change was approved on an 8-3 bipartisan vote and now heads to the full House for debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats where we are, so that we as a Legislature can come back to this issue and have a proper discussion when have time during a session. Doing this during a special session is quite difficult, Rep. William Lindstedt, a Broomfield Democrat, said. Im asking that we move out the date so we can do this responsibly during the next session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HB25B-1008, as introduced, would have required developers and deployers disclose to consumers if they are interacting with the technology, such as in a chatbot. Violations would have gone against the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. The bill also would have added the use of AI as a liability under the states anti-discrimination law. But now, however, the bill simply pushes the start date back on the 2024 artificial intelligence regulation. That would give lawmakers over a year to find a policy solution that appeases the governor, tech groups, industry players and consumer advocates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Michael Carter, an Aurora Democrat also sponsoring the bill, said Aurora Public Schools has warned him of a $1.5 million price tag to comply with the 2024 law. Carter also sits on the Aurora school board. That would give those school districts that time over the summer, when theyre not dealing with graduation or curriculum or kids, to actually implement whatever (we decide), he said. SB24-205 put regulations on the use of AI in the decision-making process for things like employment, school admissions and loan approvals. Companies and other entities will need to let people know when AI is used in those instances and allow them to correct any incorrect information. AI developers will need to predict and mitigate potential biases and misuses of their systems. The regulatory framework was the first of its kind in the country. Polis wanted lawmakers to use the special session to adjust that law as businesses and other entities worry about the cost and feasibility of implementation in a few months. A delayed start date would punt those negotiations until next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Brianna Titone, an Arvada Democrat who sponsored the 2024 law, offered her own amendment to place the start date in May 2026. That would give stakeholders the rest of the year and a regular legislative session to rework the policy and would keep the parties in good faith at the negotiating table, she said. I dont believe for one minute that we need extra time for rule making because I believe that everybody wants something different at the end of the day, she said. The October date is just too much slack, and I feel that in negotiation, if you give someone too much slack, they leave the room, go around the corner, cut the rope and run away. Titone is sponsoring Senate Bill 25B-4, which would adjust the existing AI regulation to require transparency about how a system works and whether it could be discriminatory if it is used to make consequential decisions. That bill stalled on Friday, when it was supposed to go through its own appropriations committee process. The outcome is that lawmakers will now decide between pushing back the existing 2024 law to give more time for negotiations or adopt SB25B-4s provisions. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A man whose conviction for killing a Santa Fe homeowner was invalidated when the state Supreme Court found entering a portal doesnt meet the legal definition of burglary was back in court Friday to face new charges. The First Judicial District Attorneys Office filed an amended criminal information document in the case July 28, charging Joseph Jones, 31, with crimes that differ only slightly from the ones hed been charged with in 2020. He is again being charged with first-degree murder, although this time prosecutors are offering two alternatives based on slightly different theories of why the crime constitutes first-degree murder. Jones will be back in state District Court next week for another hearing on an evidence tampering charge prosecutors also filed, which created some confusion during his arraignment Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We disagree with the way the state is attempting to bring these charges. Well be putting it in front of a judge next week, Joness attorney, Meredith Cockman, wrote in an email sent by Maggie Shepard, a spokesperson for the Law Offices of the Public Defender, following the hearing. A jury convicted Jones in February 2023 of felony murder a killing committed during the commission of another felony in connection with the 2018 shooting death of 52-year-old Robert Romero, a married father of two and chief financial officer for a local real estate company. Jones was sentenced to life in prison. Romero had been dozing on his couch and awoke to find Jones attempting to break into his home, prosecutors told the jury during the trial. The two struggled in the backyard and Jones shot and killed Romero. Jones first-degree murder conviction was based on the predicate felony of aggravated burglary. During Jones trial, his attorney argued Jones never entered Romeros house or any enclosed space as required to support a burglary charge. Prosecutors argued Romeros portal was protected space under the law and successfully argued for the word portal to be included in jury instructions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in a split decision last month, the New Mexico Supreme Court invalidated Jones conviction, finding the portal was not an enclosed space as defined in the law. New Mexico law allows a first-degree murder conviction without evidence of premeditation, if prosecutors can prove a defendant committed a killing while also committing or attempting to commit another felony. Prosecutors are again charging Jones with felony murder based on the predicate felony of aggravated burglary. But the District Attorneys Office has also included an alternative theory in the charging documents: first-degree murder willful and deliberate a charge that would require evidence Jones had planned the crime. Attempt to commit aggravated burglary is included as a second charge under the alternative theory. The state also filed a new charge against Jones under a separate case number tampering with evidence earlier this month, which state District Judge T. Glenn Ellington ruled Friday will require another hearing to determine how the cases will proceed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cockman who did not represent Jones during his previous trial told the judge she was a little confused by why the state had filed the new charge under a new number, prompting District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies to explain the state had originally agreed not to bring the charge in exchange for Jones having waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the murder and aggravated burglary charges. Carmack-Altwies told the court the charge was based on allegations Jones had tampered with the weapon or his clothing that was evidence in the case, and the state intended to join the cases for the purposes of trial. However, Ellington questioned whether filing the charge separately would automatically invalidate the previous agreement between Jones and prosecutors and, if so, whether that reset would also invalidate his previous waiver of a preliminary hearing, concerns Cockman indicated she shared. Ellington ordered lawyers for both sides to submit written arguments on the issue and scheduled a hearing for next week. Jones told the court he is currently being held in the Santa Fe County jail. An American Airlines flight traveling from Philadelphia to Phoenix made a safe landing on Aug. 23 after a fire broke out inside the cabin, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. American Airlines Flight 357 took off from Philadelphia International Airport midmorning before the crew reported the fire, prompting a landing at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, according to the FAA. A spokesperson for American Airlines said the incident was caused by a passengers device that began producing smoke, though they did not specify what type of device it was. Crew members were able to contain the device before the plane landed in Virginia, according to the spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passengers and crew were able to exit the plane normally but were met by emergency personnel upon arrival, the spokesperson added. 160 passengers and six crew members were on the flight, according to the airline spokesperson. The plane involved is an Airbus A321, according to the FAA. "We appreciate the professionalism of our crew and thank our team who are working to get our customers to their destination as quickly as possible," the American Airlines spokesperson said in a written statement. This is a developing story; check back to azcentral.com for more details. 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: American Airlines flight lands safely after reports of smoke and fire Following a historic meeting in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15, 2025, a claim spread online that a poll found Trump's approval rating had increased to 54%. The claim made its way across multiple platforms, including the official White House X account (archived), where it received more than 371,600 views, as of this writing. "Majority of Americans APPROVE of the PRESIDENT OF PEACE!" The post read. NEW SURVEY: Majority of Americans APPROVE of the PRESIDENT OF PEACE! pic.twitter.com/Pzq7Fo2nqN The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 19, 2025 The White House post did not include a source for the claim, but other posts and articles (archived) pointed to the website InsiderAdvantage, which published a poll on Aug. 18 that it said was conducted between Aug. 15-17 and measured participants' opinion of Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It claimed that out of 1,000 participants, 54% approved, 43.6% disapproved and 2.4% had no opinion or were undecided following Trump's summit with Putin. The poll cited a 3.09% Margin of Error (MOE) which represents the potential for statistical error in the survey. (insideradvantage.com) The site also published an analysis of the poll results by InsiderAdvantage Pollster Matt Towery, who stated: Donald Trump now has an advantage among every age group other than the most senior of voters. He has improved his numbers among African-Americans and Hispanic-Latinos. White voters are at a near record 64%. Voters under 65 years of age now approve of his job performance by wide margins. Only the nation's oldest voters disapprove of his job performance, which is consistent with our prior surveys. Overall, his approval numbers are surging upwards post-summit. We reached out to InsiderAdvantage seeking further information on the pool of participants and any context supporting the results' credibility, but we have not, as of this writing, received an answer. We will update this story if we do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The website doesn't include an About page or any information regarding any funding, origins or capacity of the organization. The site lists a physical and a mailing address in Georgia but it's unclear what exists at the address listed. Typically, credible poll sites provide information on their polling methodology and generally offer readers transparency regarding their approach. InsiderAdvantage did not publish any information about the poll's methodology, the credentials of the pollster(s) or how they reached participants, etc. Better-known pollsters such as Gallup and YouGov estimated Trump's approval rating, as of this writing, to be around 40%. The most recent Gallup poll was taken between July 7-21, 2025, and it estimated his approval rating at that time to be 37%. More recently, a poll by YouGov cited by The Economist and others in their live tracker of Trump's rating estimated his rating at 40% approval, 55% disapproval, and 4% unsure, as of Aug. 21, close to the time range of the InsiderAdvantage poll. According to YouGov's data, instead of increasing following Trump's meeting with Putin, his approval rating went down 1.0 point in the time since the previous week. (The Economist) InsiderAdvantage did not provide the necessary context or information on methodology to verify the accuracy of its poll. Other, more transparent surveys' results differed from InsiderAdvantage's, indicating Trump's approval rating around a similar time frame was approximately 40%, not 54%. In fact, YouGov's data from Aug. 17 indicated his disapproval rating was at 54%. (today.yougov.com) Sources: 'Donald Trump's Approval Rating'. The Economist, https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Home of the Marist Poll | Polls, Analysis, Learning, and More. https://maristpoll.marist.edu/. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025. Inc, Gallup. 'Methodology Center'. Gallup.Com, 17 Oct. 2014, https://www.gallup.com/178685/methodology-center.aspx. Inc, Gallup. 'Presidential Approval Ratings -- Donald Trump'. Gallup.Com, 16 Nov. 2016, https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx. 'InsiderAdvantage - Bias and Credibility'. Media Bias/Fact Check, 21 Aug. 2025, https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/insideradvantage-bias-and-credibility/. InsiderAdvantage. https://insideradvantage.com/. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Methodology | YouGov. https://today.yougov.com/about/panel-methodology. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025. President Trump's Second-Term Job Approval Rating. https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/trackers/donald-trump-approval. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025. Top Line Tabs Trump Approval InsiderAdvantage. https://insideradvantage.com/top-line-tabs-trump-approval/. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025. Trump Approval Surges Post Summit: 54%-44%; All Voters Under 65 Years of Age ApproveOlder Voters Not So Much InsiderAdvantage. https://insideradvantage.com/trump-approval-surges-post-summit-54-44-all-voters-under-65-years-of-age-approve-older-voters-not-so-much/. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025. '400 Galleria Pkwy Suite 1500 400 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339'. 400 Galleria Pkwy Suite 1500 400 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339, https://www.google.com/maps/place/400+Galleria+Pkwy+Suite+1500,+Atlanta,+GA+30339/@33.8852679,-84.4615083,21z/data=!4m7!3m6!1s0x88f51048660aa79b:0x18bf86b16b686e98!8m2!3d33.8852763!4d-84.4613172!10e3!16s%2Fg%2F11nssm8zw7?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025. Ancient artifacts dating back to a sunken city from more than 2,000 years ago were pulled out of the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, according to Egyptian officials. The historic treasures which included a statue of a sphinx, Roman coins and other relics were brought to shore by archaeologists and divers from the waters of Abu Qir Bay near the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, The Associated Press reported. Ancient Christian Church Reveals Mysterious 1,600-Year-old Warning To Nonbelievers: 'Only The Righteous' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The relics came from a site that may have been an extension of Canopus, an ancient city that existed during the Ptolemaic dynasty as well as the Roman Empire, news outlet Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. "These artifacts date back to ancient periods, dating back to the Ptolemaic era, immediately after the construction of the city of Alexandria, and extending to the Roman era," Mohamed Ismail, secretary general of Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities, told AFP. Archaeologists Uncover Multistory Buildings In Once-thriving City Lost To Time Read On The Fox News App All the statues are missing their heads and feet damage that Ismail attributes to a natural disaster such as a tsunami or earthquake, according to AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These artifacts confirm that this place was once a fully integrated residential city and that the current location was a port," Ismail added. "These pieces indicate that Alexandria was submerged in water as a result of a major earthquake or tsunami, and therefore all the statues are missing their heads and feet." Ancient Christian Tomb Complex Revealed Beneath Rubble From Syria's Civil War Alexandria, the second-largest city in Egypt, contains a wealth of historic ruins but is slowly sinking due to rising sea levels. One-third of the city will be uninhabitable by 2050, AFP reported, citing forecasts from the United Nations. An ancient artifact is retrieved from the seabed at Abu Qir port in Alexandria, Egypt, Thursday. In a similar find, Egyptian officials announced earlier this year the discovery of a 3,000-year-old mining complex, complete with remnants of ancient homes, workshops and even baths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Original article source: Ancient artifacts of sunken city likely destroyed by earthquake or tsunami plucked from seafloor CHEROKEE, Okla. (KFOR) The new school year has already started, but who could blame freshman Harper Laramore and her friends for still basking in the glow of a successful trip to Disney World? Thats where the annual family, career, and Community Leaders of America had their leadership conference. The local chapter sent close to 17 students there. Teacher Victoria Spencer is carrying on what has always been a source of school pride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FCCLA is just huge in this community, she argued. Theres something in the water here. They really love competition. But a trip to this years nationals started way before they packed their suitcases. Harper competed in something called a Chapter Service Project. She chose to help out at the towns annual Santa Store, a place for disadvantaged kids from around the county to shop for their parents and extended families. previous More Great State Stories The hardest part, convincing the 80 kids who participated in the one-day event not to shop for themselves. It must have felt like you were herding cats, we offered. Yeah, smiled Harper in response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The occasion was a success, but thats when her work really started. She broke down the whole affair from planning to production and produced a detailed report. They gave us a rubric of everything that we needed to put into the portfolio. She had to give a speech, too, which she nailed at the state FCCLA convention. Harper recalled, I think my speech was really good. She presented again at the nationals. She couldnt watch the other presenters, but she did see smiles on the Judges faces. I was very shocked, she admitted after winning. A big, red, first-place plaque was the cherry on top of a long year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was crazy. Super cool, Laramore said. Super big deal. The town of Cherokee is already putting together another Santa Store. High school classes are starting up, as is Harpers freshman year, and a level-up on another season of Star Projects coming from the Alfalfa County seat. For more information on Oklahomas FCCLA, click here. Great State is sponsored by True Sky Credit Union Follow Galens Great State adventures 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Two early morning shootings have residents in the Willoughby Spit area of Norfolk on edge. No injuries were reported from the incidents. Willoughby Spit home damaged by gunfire They went all the way around our house from the front to the back, said one resident who wished to remain anonymous. Theres only one room in my house that doesnt have bullet holes in it right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two Bayville Street residents who wish to remain anonymous told 10 On Your Side they felt like they were in a war zone early Friday. We heard it just rip, the resident said, and I rolled off the bed, landed on the floor and you could literally see the stuff from the walls and everything flying all over the place. According to Norfolk Police, a shooting happened in the 1300 block of Bayville Street just after midnight Friday morning, leaving multiple homes, and even a car, riddled with bullet holes. One resident says they counted more than 20 shots directly into their home. Whats even more shocking is that another shooting happened on the street just the day before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My nephew was on the couch and literally, maybe inches down from where his head was, theres bullet holes in the couch, the resident said. The residents 10 On Your Side spoke to say they have no clue who could be responsible for the shooting. Norfolk Police say they are still investigating an investigation these residents hope yields an answer soon, to calm nerves. What do you do, I cant stay up 24/7 watching Im not scared its anger because why would anyone want to do that, If you know anything about this crime youre urged to contact Norfolk 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 WAVY.com. A group of anti-immigration protesters have been outnumbered by counter protesters as they demonstrated against hotels housing asylum seekers. About 50 people planned to meet in Castle Park in Bristol to oppose the government scheme and march through the city, but they were met by about 250 counter protesters. Avon and Somerset Police said there were "moments of disturbance" but that the protests went without "significant incident". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One woman was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, and officers detained other individuals at points, but they have all been de-arrested. Officers have a dispersal zone authorised [BBC] The main police operation has been stood down, but there will be a presence in the city centre until 07:00 BST on Sunday and a dispersal zone, which allows officers to move on groups or individuals causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm, or distress to others. Mounted police held the two sides back from each other for almost two hours near The Galleries car park, blocking the road during confrontational scenes. None of the officers suffered serious physical injury or needed hospital treatment, but the force said there will be enquiries after reports of assaults on them. Protesters from both sides of the debate turned out [BBC] Chief Insp Keith Smith said: "Our priority today has been to enable lawful peaceful protest for both groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our officers have dealt admirably with a really challenging situation, and I'd like to take the opportunity to thank them for their professionalism. "While there were moments of disturbance, we're pleased to say the two protests have passed without significant incident." He explained the force had worked with the city council to try and minimise disruption to the public and thanked people for their patience. There was a road closure, but that has been lifted. Police spoke to people from both sides before the demonstrations to ensure they knew what was planned [BBC] Bristol City Council said it has no plans to challenge the government's use of hotels to house asylum seekers in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said: "Bristol is a long-established place of sanctuary. We are a diverse city and are proud to welcome and provide safety for people seeking sanctuary from a wide range of backgrounds. "As a City of Sanctuary, we will continue to support and show compassion to people when they need it most." He added: "Our focus is on working collaboratively to improve conditions for people seeking sanctuary and fostering compassionate and resilient communities in Bristol." Bristol City Council said it had no plans to challenge the government's use of hotels to house asylum seekers in the city [BBC] There were confrontational scenes [BBC] Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story The Brief An Apopka man was attacked by a black bear outside his home last week. He fought back, but it left him with injuries to his arm. The incident comes as Florida reinstates a bear hunt after a decade. APOPKA, Fla. - A Central Florida man says he fought off a black bear outside his mother-in-laws home in Apopka after the animal charged and bit him last week. What we know A Central Florida man, Alexander Rojas, says he was attacked by a black bear outside his mother-in-laws Apopka home last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP He first saw two young bears near the property before one turned and charged him, biting his arm. Rojas fought back, punching and kicking the bear to break free. He was treated for puncture wounds, lacerations and possible tendon or nerve damage in his hand. What we don't know Wildlife officials have not confirmed whether the bear responsible has been trapped or relocated. It also remains unclear if the incident will influence how state officials manage bear encounters in residential areas beyond the upcoming hunt. The backstory Apopka residents say bear sightings are common, with animals often breaking through fences from nearby woods. Floridas bear population has rebounded over the years, and the state is preparing to reinstate a regulated bear hunt this December for the first time since 2015, with restrictions on permits and hunting zones. What they're saying Rojas said he never wanted to harm the animal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I kicked his legs out, punched him in his nose, and I got free," he said. "I would never want to try and hurt the bear. Im glad I spoke to FWC. They said theyre looking to trap the bear and move it to a different location." His mother-in-law, Monica Leon, said the family has taken precautions since the attack. "We dont want to take any chances and Im really scared," she said. Big picture view Bear encounters are becoming more frequent in Central Florida neighborhoods as development encroaches on their habitat. The Apopka attack comes as the state prepares for its first sanctioned bear hunt in a decade, highlighting the ongoing tension between wildlife conservation and public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS The Source This story was written based on information shared by Alexander Rojas and by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Police have been trying to trace a man who is wanted in connection with the rape of a teenage girl. Thames Valley Police has appealed for information which might help them locate James Doran, 23, from Kidlington. The attack took place on Monday 11 August in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Mr Doran has been described as white, with short ginger/brown hair, a ginger/brown beard and a missing right eye. He is known to frequent the North Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire areas, and also has links to Hillingdon in London and Leicestershire. Anyone with information about his current whereabouts to contact police You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Related Links Heres what youll learn when you read this story: Researchers imaged a 5,000-year-old fortification in the forests of Neamt County in Romania. The study used drones equipped with LiDAR technology to capture the likeness of the structure through thick vegetation. The fortification likely dates back to the transition from the Neolithic period to the Bronze Age. Sometimes ancient ruins are hard to reach. Luckily for us, LiDAR technology can make researching some of those inconvenient places possible. LiDAR stands for light detection and ranging, and it works by rapidly emitting laser pulses toward the ground. The system then measures how long it takes light to travel to the ground and back again, using that time to calculate elevation. This data can then be used to create high resolution models. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, LiDAR has helped image everything from tree growth to lost cities in the Amazon , and it just revealed something else incredible. This time, researchers were able to record an ancient fortified settlement deep in the forests of Neamt County, Romania. Thanks to current technology and using LiDAR scans I was able to obtain a faithful image of an almost 5000-year-old fortification. Vasile Diaconuan archaeologist on the studysaid in a translated post . On this occasion, we observed details that we could not observe in the field precisely because of the vegetation. The settlement roughly dates back to the transition from the Neolithic period to the Bronze Age. Researchers used noninvasive methods to image the sites, launching drones equipped with LiDAR to generate an aerial view of the fortifications. Diaconu argues that using these new technologies are essential parts of archaeological research. Only by using modern technologies will we be able to better understand the complexities of archaeological sites, he said . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Findings from the study showed that the fortification was elaborate and well planned, suggesting that it likely took a great deal of work to build. LiDAR scans showed that most of the fortified sites were located in high areas, which had good visibility and were reinforced by ditches and even earthen mounds in order to increase their defensive capacity, Diaconu said . Field measurements indicated that some of these ditches had impressive dimensions with lengths of several hundred meters, which required considerable human effort in the construction. The project was a partnership between Geocad Services, Geo Edu Lab, and National Institute for Research and Development for Earth Physicsbut it was also a collaboration between a past teacher and student. According to an earlier post , Diaconu received a message from his former studentVlad Dulgheriuwho was interested in his archaeological work and just so happened to be the owner of Geocad Services, making the expedition possible. Im honestly glad my former student has built his own road beautifully, Diaconu said in the post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How long until the student becomes the teacher? Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the Issue You Might Also Like Aug. 23August 23, 2015 In one of more than 300 similar demonstrations throughout the country, about 75 people gathered at the Bemidji Planned Parenthood to protest the nonprofit after videos recently surfaced of Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue and organs to researchers. August 23, 2000 Funding has been budgeted for a Veterans Administration Community Based Outreach Clinic in the Bemidji area. Upper Midwest Network Coordinator Paul Hamann said the goal is to have veterans traveling 75 miles or less for service at a VA clinic, but there are still a lot of steps for approval. August 23, 1975 The Minnesota Area Workshop for Retired Teachers was held at Bemidji State's Walnut Hall. Topics included insufficient annuities for pre-1973 retired teachers, when to write to legislators, how frequently local members meet, how to establish more locals and how to get more men members. August 23, 1925 Minnesota State University's Extension Service building at the Northern Minnesota Fair has some fine displays, including an exhibit from the agricultural engineering department. Visitors can view stump blasting demonstrations, fire fighting equipment and slides of various forests in the state. By Leila Miller BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentine authorities on Friday raided a series of properties as part of an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme that threatens to embroil top officials, according to local media. Authorities confiscated cellphones and a cash counting machine in a raid at the home of Diego Spagnuolo, who until this week headed the disability agency, as part of a criminal investigation, media reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milei's government earlier this week fired Spagnuolo "as a preventive measure," it said in a statement posted on X early on Thursday. Local media published audio recordings earlier this week in which a voice that sounds like that of Spagnuolo can be heard discussing bribery within the agency. No details were given of when or in what context the recordings were made and Reuters could not independently confirm them as authentic. In them, Spagnuolo can be heard saying, "they are defrauding my agency." He alludes to Karina Milei, the president's sister and chief of staff, as receiving bribery payments and said he spoke to the president and "they didn't fix anything." A spokesperson for Milei did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not immediately reach Spagnuolo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Government officials have not confirmed the authenticity of the audios and the president has not commented publicly on the affair. The chief of cabinet has said that, according to Milei, Spagnuolo had never mentioned the alleged bribery. The scandal comes at a delicate time for Milei, who has faced a series of legislative setbacks in Congress this week, including an attempt by lawmakers to overrule a presidential veto that had opposed an increase in financial support for disabled people. The government is gearing up for midterm elections in October, which are largely viewed as a referendum on Milei's austerity agenda and market reforms. The investigation, ordered by a federal judge, has involved raids on a series of properties, including the disability agency, a pharmaceutical company, and some private homes, according to local newspaper La Nacion. (Reporting by Leila Miller; editing by Cassandra Garrison and Rosalba O'Brien) Three people have been arrested during an anti-immigration protest at a hotel near Gatwick Airport. About 200 anti-immigration protesters gathered outside the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Horley, which is used to house asylum seekers. About 30 people attended a counter-demonstration. Two people were arrested for breach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All remain in custody, Surrey Police said. The anti-immigration protesters, many wearing St George's and Union flags, clashed with Stand Up to Racism protesters. They sang songs in support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Meanwhile, Emma Taylor-Beale, who was protesting for Stand Up to Racism, said she believed those protesting against immigrants were "buying into lies". "I've got a heart for anyone who has got a need, and our migrant community deserve protection, they deserve dignity, they've been through enough," she said. The anti-immigration protesters clashed with Stand Up to Racism protesters [PA Media] Police said there was a "large police presence" while officers dealt with the protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ch Supt Juliet Parker said: "Our officers were outside the hotel this morning to support the public's right to lawful protest. "Unfortunately, while the majority of those present were protesting lawfully, there were some individuals whose behaviour became disruptive, and they were arrested. "Officers were also present to minimise disruption to the local community." Surrey Police said a large number of officers attended the protest [PA Media] It comes as anti-immigration demonstrations took place across the UK. It comes after a High Court ruling this week blocked a hotel in Epping, in Essex, from accommodating asylum seekers and some local authorities saying they were now considering legal challenges. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook or X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Related internet links Protests over the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers have been held across the UK. Demonstrators gathered in parts of England including Bristol, Liverpool and London, as well as in Mold in Wales, Perth in Scotland and County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Police stepped in to keep opposing groups separated in many places where anti-racism campaigners mounted counter-demonstrations. It comes after a High Court ruling this week blocked a hotel in Epping, in Essex, from accommodating asylum seekers and some local authorities in England said they were now considering legal challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Bristol, several hundred anti-racism protesters were held apart from other protesters in Castle Park by police in riot gear and on horseback for almost two hours, with some pushing at police lines in an attempt to get through. They outnumbered dozens of anti-migrant campaigners. Bristol City Council has said it has no plans to challenge the government in using hotels to house asylum seekers in the city. Police in the city said a 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merseyside Police said 11 people were arrested for various offences including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray after a protest in Liverpool. More than 400 people had turned out for a march called by UKIP calling for migrants to be deported. They were opposed by a few hundred people from Stand Up To Racism and the Merseyside Anti-Fascist Network. Other protests took place in Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Wakefield, Newcastle and Horley in Surrey. In Perth, about 150 protesters gathered outside the Radisson Blu hotel were holding signs with the slogan "get them out". More than 200 people took part in a counter-protest across the street, unfurling a banner which read "no to racism" and "refugees welcome". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 300 people joined a protest in Mold to oppose a possible plan to provide accommodation for asylum seekers in flats above a retail unit in the town. They were met by a counter-protest of about 40 people. In County Antrim, about 40 people gathered outside a hotel being used to house asylum seekers. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has started an investigation into its legal planning status. Police stepped in to keep protesters and counter-protesters apart in Bristol [BBC] Police forces are deploying extra officers over the weekend and using special powers enabling them to require people to move away from the area. Surrey Police made three arrests at a protest outside the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel - two for breach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers kept a group of approximately 100 people gathered outside the hotel, which is used to house asylum seekers, separated from around 30 counter-protesters carrying anti-racism signs. More protests are planned in parts of the UK on Sunday. Rival groups of protesters also faced each other in Liverpool, where police made 11 arrests [BBC] Saturday's demonstrations are the latest in a series of protests over using hotels to house asylum seekers that have taken place in recent weeks. Crowds had gathered to protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex last month after an asylum seeker living in the hotel was arrested and later charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The High Court ruling on Tuesday saw Epping Forest District Council granted a temporary injunction to stop people being placed at the hotel. It argued that the hotel had breached local planning controls by changing its use and that, in turn, had led to events that were a public safety risk. The government is seeking the right to appeal against the ruling. The UK is legally bound to find homes for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while they wait for a decision to be made on their asylum claim. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the government was committed to closing all asylum hotels, but that it needed to happen in "a properly managed way". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Figures released by the government on Thursday showed that the number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels had reached 32,059 - an 8% increase in the year since Labour came to power but down on the 2023 peak. MIAMI The Atlantic hurricane season is on the cusp of welcoming its sixth named storm to the record books, giving Bermuda yet another storm to sweat the track, but letting the U.S. off the hook. Air Force hurricane hunters found that the cluster of showers and thunderstorms, currently designated as Invest 90L, has now developed into a low-pressure center about 400 miles south-southeast of Bermuda and is continuing to get better defined. The National Hurricane Center now gives "near 100%" certainty the storm will develop into a tropical storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This system is expected to become a tropical storm this afternoon or evening, with further intensification likely through Sunday while the low moves northward at 10 to 15 mph over the southwestern Atlantic," the NHC wrote in its Saturday afternoon tropics update. Once the storm reaches tropical storm status, it'll take the name Fernand. But the same "atmospheric barrier" weather pattern that prevented Hurricane Erin from ever reaching the Atlantic coast shores is still protecting the East Coast this weekend. Thus, future-Fernand is expected to also stay safely offshore -- in fact, head even farther east than Erin's track. More good news: Most computer forecast guidance is in agreement that while the storm has some potential for further development Sunday, odds are it'll remain a tropical storm, or maybe a low-end hurricane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storm may pass close enough to Bermuda this time for some potential impacts, but that threat is waning a bit. "Interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of this system, though the threat to that island appears to be less than (Friday)," the NHC said. Once past Bermuda, the storm is forecast to continue to churn north in the open waters, eventually fizzling well offshore of the Canadian Maritimes. Meanwhile, farther south, the tropical wave known as Invest 99L is on its way to becoming more of a tropical footnote. This cluster of showers and thunderstorms about 1,000 miles east of the Caribbean's Windward Islands has become even less organized over the past day, according to the NHC, as wind shear takes a toll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That unfavorable environment will persist throughout 99L's journey Saturday, leaving its prospects of further development dim. The NHC is leaving a straggling chance of development on the board just because there are some slightly more favorable conditions for development looming Sunday and Monday as the storm gets closer to the Windward Islands, but this is most likely just going to bring some tropical showers. By the time the wave gets into the Caribbean next week, it'll likely be torn apart. Beyond 90L and 99L, the tropics look to take a break through the rest of August. However, September is the peak of hurricane season and tropical activity should eventually perk back to life. Original article source: Atlantic tropics may welcome Fernand soon as 90L on brink of development A Guernsey airline has announced a new partnership with a flight training academy which supplies pilots to airlines. Aurigny confirmed its partnership with Norse Atlantic UK in July, and will now also partner with Oxford-based company Leading Edge Aviation. Aurigny and Norse Atlantic UK are creating a Pilot Career Pathway Partnership as part of plans to build a "sustainable pipeline" of talent for both airlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Philip Smallwood, the airline's chief operations officer, said the partnership "places both Aurigny and Guernsey firmly at the heart of pilot careers". It said recruiters would select four aspiring pilots from the Leading Edge Airline Preparation programme to take part in the new scheme. Successful pilots would join Aurigny once their 18-month basic flying course was complete, it added. Andy McFarlane, CEO of Leading Edge Aviation, said the collaboration "not only addressed the increasing global demand for skilled pilots but also delivers an unparalleled opportunity for our students". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is currently no other route that offers such a clear, structured, and accelerated path to the long-haul flight deck," he added. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links AUSTIN (KXAN) A man was given deferred adjudication after accepting a plea deal in July. In Texas, deferred adjudication is a type of probation that allows the person sentenced to keep the conviction off their criminal record. According to Travis County court documents, 26-year-old Adriean Dewayne Benn pleaded guilty to murder; however, he was sentenced for a second-degree manslaughter charge. The charge was related to the death of 24-year-old Jorian Donte Hardeway, who was shot at a downtown Austin nightclub on March 14, 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victim identified from Sunday shooting that took place inside 7th Street club Court documents said, in addition to the five years of deferred adjudication, Benn must also complete 200 community service hours. He is also not allowed to possess firearms. Benn must also participate in an anger management program, and he is no longer allowed in the downtown Austin area between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Benn must also pay $6,500 in restitution. Affidavit: Name-calling, fistfight led to deadly downtown Austin club shooting Benn was originally charged with first-degree murder involving a firearm According to Travis County court records, Benn initially pleaded not guilty to the murder charge in October 2024, and in November 2024, his case resulted in a mistrial. 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. Authorities are searching for the remains of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro after his parents were arrested on suspicion of murder, KTLA5 reports. As National Enquirer previously reported, Jake and Rebecca Haro were taken into custody on Friday, August 22, at their Cabazon, California home a little over a week after Rebecca reported to police that she had been physically assaulted, and their son had been kidnapped in the parking lot of a Big 5 store in nearby Yucaipa. Upon investigation, the kidnapping story began to unravel, leading police to treat Jake, 32, and Rebecca, 41, as murder suspects. It is believed Emmauel [sic] is deceased and the search to recover his remains is ongoing, reads a statement issued by the San Bernardino County sheriffs office on the day of the arrests. Both suspects were booked in a Riverside County jail without bail. No other arrests have been made, and no suspects remain outstanding. Prior to the arrests, investigators searched Jake and Rebeccas home using cadaver dogs, according to KTLA. Jakes car, as well as electronics including the couples phones, iPads, and three Xboxes, were also taken by police as evidence. On Friday, the search continued at the home, according to the Los Angeles Times, as spectators gathered outside in support of Emmanuel, some donning shirts that read, Wheres the baby? As schools across Oklahoma are going back in session, the Avedis Foundation offered its support by hosting its annual Celebrate Educators event in Shawnee. As part of the nonprofit organization's mission to serve the people of Pottawatomie County and its surrounding communities, Avedis presents its free one-day professional development event before the start of each school year to thank, celebrate and support area educators. This years event on Friday, Aug. 22, welcomed more than 2,400 educators within the foundations service area, bringing together teachers, support staff and administrators from more than 20 Oklahoma public school districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the best day of the year, Avedis Board Chairwoman Jill Spencer said. You can see the excitement, you can feel the energy. It brings the schools together, too. Sometimes, we can feel isolated, but this is a place to connect and support one another. There's such a thing as school rivalries, but that doesn't occur here. More: OKCPS magnet school, two charter schools lead list of best Oklahoma public high schools Michael Bonner delivers a keynote speech on August 22 at the Avedis Foundation's Celebrate Educators event, which took place at FireLake Arena in Shawnee. Local educators came together at the event at FireLake Arena in Shawnee to celebrate a shared mission and tune into a motivational message aimed to set the tone for the upcoming school year. Nationally recognized educator, speaker and author Michael Bonner delivered the keynote speech. In Oklahoma, we dont necessarily pay our teachers the best, so we just want to do something to let them know that communities support them, we love them, we appreciate them, we know how important they are, said Kathy Laster, Avedis Foundation president and CEO. This just starts the year off with a lot of momentum. Were just very proud to sponsor this event; it is our favorite event we do. Members of an honor cheer squad and a student honor drumline take the stage inside of the FireLake Arena in Shawnee for the Avedis Foundation's Celebrate Educators event on Aug. 22. Fridays event marked Avedis eighth year of hosting, and Blake Moody, superintendent of North Rock Creek Public Schools, said the event continues to improve and evolve each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One way the event has changed, he said, is through student involvement, with this year's event notably featuring student speakers, student honor cheer squads, a student honor drumline, a student honor choir and a Scout color guard representing several area schools. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma public educators gathered at eighth Celebrate Educators event AI is dominating the economy and at the top of policy agendas. Ads for it are everywhere. Your favorite artist is probably experimenting with it. And as hundreds of billions of dollars get poured into the tech, it can feel like the whole world is holding its breath for when it somehow becomes superintelligent and magically ushers us into a utopic age. The optimism is breathless and inescapable. But if you're feeling anxious about AI, you're not alone. An overwhelming 71 percent of Americans are worried that AI will put vast swaths of the workforce permanently out of a job, according to a new Reuters poll conducted with the firm Ipsos a proportion that stands in stunning contrast to the absurd levels of hype being blasted out of the AI industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey, which polled over 4,400 adults this month, also found that 67 percent of respondents believed that AI will have consequences beyond our control. And 47 percent said outright that AI is bad for humanity, compared to less than a third who said that it wasn't. Job destruction was one of the top concerns, and for good reason. It's already happening at a smaller scale, with some CEOs publicly gloating about replacing their workers with AI agents. And industry leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have frequently said their systems could wipe out entire professions and automate parts of the economy. But the largest portion of respondents, 77 percent, said that they were concerned about "political chaos" caused by US rivals, such as AI being used to generate disinformation, including videos depicting events that never happened. (Reuters notes how president Trump recently shared an AI-faked video of former president Obama getting arrested in the White House in front of him.) Meanwhile, 61 percent worried about the tech's voracious electricity demands. Another recent survey, conducted by advocacy group TechEquity and highlighted by tech journalist Brian Merchant in his newsletter Blood in the Machine, also illustrates Americans' dampening enthusiasm for a technology propped up by hype. Specifically, it interviewed Californians whose state, as the home of Silicon Valley, is uniquely positioned to pass laws reining in the industry while federal regulators, under Trump's direction, are letting them off the leash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the over 1,400 Californians who responded to the survey, 55 percent were more concerned than excited about AI, compared to just 33 percent who said they were excited about the tech. And 59 percent believed that AI will "most likely benefit the wealthiest households and corporations." Most striking of all, 70 percent of Californians believed there's a need for "strong laws" regulating AI and AI companies. These are damning numbers in a state that, we can't stress enough, is the locus of the American tech industry and where nearly 1.5 million people are employed by tech companies. "Californians are more concerned than excited about advancements in AI," TechEquity CEO Catherine Bracy told Merchant. "Many feel it is advancing too fast, and are concerned about AI-fueled job loss, wage stagnation, privacy violations, and discrimination." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Echoing the Reuters poll, deepfakes were the top concern (64 percent), followed by disinformation (59 percent). But wage reduction, privacy concerns, and the loss of jobs were also flagged as concerns by the majority of Californians who said they were worried about AI. "Our polling finds Californians echoing what we are seeing in poll after poll from across the country: voters are telling their representatives not to trust tech companies to self-govern," Bracy told Merchant. "And this is not because they are anti-technology. It's because they want companies to be held accountable, and aren't willing to sacrifice safety and fairness for innovation." More on AI: AI Industry Trembles as Nvidia's Stock Nosedives Her suburban Hampden County neighborhood, with its quiet street and manicured lawns, seemed an unlikely setting for an Ecuadorian shaman. She was a woman carrying deep knowledge of ayahuasca, the sacred Amazonian plant medicine known among Indigenous peoples for millennia as the hair of God. But there she was, taking a glass jar from her white refrigerator and offering me a taste. Just a very small amount, she said, scraping the tip of a knife through the dark, jelly-like substance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a little bitter, I told her. And my tongue is tingling. In the back of my mind, I hoped that single dark drop wouldnt lead to the bodily purging Id heard so much about. Still, I was curious about the visions, the deep emotion, the healing it was said to bring. Nothing will happen from such a small amount, she said, smiling. Last year, a ballot question sought to legalize and regulate the supervised use, possession and sale of natural psychedelic substances for adults 21 and over. The measure was defeated, with about 57% of voters saying no and 43% saying yes. But the referendum showed wide public interest in the use of psychoactive substances like psilocybin, contained in certain mushrooms, and ayahuasca. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had been in her home for only three hours. Yet her confidence, her knowledge, and dare I say her love put me completely at ease, even if the visions did arrive. (They didnt.) I cant give her name or address. A chemical that is part of the ayahuasca experience is considered by the U.S. government to be a Schedule I controlled substance. But I can tell her story, and the story of her family. As she told it, her partner, who in recent years moved from Quito, Ecuador, to the United States, played the rucu pingullo, an ancient flute that moves with the breath. He swayed a burning stick of palo santo, filling the air with incense. The two are often used during ayahuasca ceremonies. Together, they awaken the senses. The couple met during a ceremony outside Quito in 2002. She had just finished her first college degree and was home visiting her father, a renowned Indigenous musician and shaman. He, a friend of her fathers, had decided to attend. They were strangers then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her father was serving the medicine, he told me in Spanish. I was there as a participant. We connected in that space first. Yeah, my father was guiding, she added. Its kind of funny. Most people meet over coffee. We met over ayahuasca. The ceremonial space, she explained, is set up simply and intentionally: mats or blankets for people to lie on, buckets in case they need to purge, candles, flowers, an altar with sacred items and the medicine itself. Fire or candlelight provides the illumination. People usually enter quietly, greeting each other, maybe sharing tea. Once the ceremony begins, the space becomes its own world. People no longer go in and out unless its necessary. The ayahuasca becomes the center, along with the music and the energy of everyone present, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2002, she was living in the United States, having just graduated from a community college in the Pioneer Valley. She had grown up hearing about traditional medicine but had never taken part in a ceremony. I was searching for something, she said. Partly for myself, partly for my family. Id grown up hearing about these traditions. My father was a shaman, but we were here in the U.S., and that life felt far away. Her father has been a shaman for decades. He is respected in his community and among other shamans, she said. He learned from his elders, and they learned from theirs. Its a lineage that goes back farther than we can trace. When I work, I work with his songs, his prayers, his ways. Even when I adapt something for the setting here, the root is always from that lineage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her first ceremony, her father guided her through the process. I learned directly from my father and from other elders. He led me through my first full ceremonial work not just as a participant, but as someone learning to serve the medicine. He played music, sang and told her the stories behind each song. I had to go through my own healing. Abandonment issues. Grief. The medicine showed me those things very directly, she said. It was intense, but my father would be there, steady, singing to me, guiding me. Common misconceptions Many Americans have a misconception about psychoactive drugs. They call them hallucinogens. They associate them with parties and give names to the experiences: tripping, getting high. Such drugs are seen as rites of youth culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this, she explained, is all wrong, especially with ayahuasca. For one, it is not a fun experience. You vomit. You have diarrhea. You shake. Your heart races. Only then, if the medicine takes hold, do the visions come. We drink the first cup and then we wait, she said. Sometimes the effect comes quickly, sometimes slowly. Ill sing icaros, traditional songs. My father taught me many of them. Others I learned from different elders. The singing isnt just for beauty. Its to guide people through what theyre seeing and feeling. Its not a trip, her partner added. Not in the way people in the U.S. might think. Its structured. Its sacred. In traditional cultures, Ayahuasca is not something people decide to do on a whim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a lifetime, and its inherited as much as its learned, he said. Youre not hallucinating in the sense of seeing something thats not there. Youre seeing what is there, but hidden from your usual way of looking. Ayahuasca is made from a vine and a leaf. The vine is Banisteriopsis caapi. The leaves are usually chacruna. Shamans brew them together for hours, sometimes days. The taste is bitter and earthy. The Indigenous people say its the hair of God, she said. God plucked a hair and placed it on Earth so humans could have connection. It works on the body and spirit, its proponents say. Physically, you may purge. You may sweat or shake. Spiritually, it opens you, she said. It shows you things about yourself sometimes beautiful, sometimes hard. But its always for connection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That connection comes not only from the medicine, but from the place, the people, the community. And being so far from home, she explained, that other connection sometimes feels frayed. The drive to her house highlights the contrast. For-sale signs leaned in front yards beside little cement statues guarding neat flowerbeds. Manicured lawns alternated with wild, bee-thick patches that some neighbors might call weeds. Dull gray garbage cans stood at nearly every curb; it was collection day. Beside train tracks, sumac berries burst red against the green of mid-August. Planes rumbled overhead on their way to a nearby airport. They make the house tremble, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the neighbors are friendly, they keep apart, each in their own space. Its an American way of relating, she said, one that lacks the closeness and community they knew in Ecuador and miss. Her partner explained how the ceremonies keep those connections alive. They remind them of their heritage. They ground them in whats real. In this fast, political, noisy world, it reminds us of a greater reality, of our roots, he said. And it connects us back to Ecuador, she added. To my father. To the traditions. Even here in New England, its like a thread that keeps us tied to where we come from. She talks about ayahuasca as one would a friend or a teacher. Her father has said they are not the shamans ayahuasca is. It is the guide. For me, ayahuasca is like a master key to the heart. It opens you to yourself, to others, to your ancestors, she said. She believes it reminds people that were all Indigenous in some way that we all come from somewhere. We all have a connection to the Earth. Sometimes people forget. But the medicine can help them remember. She has led ceremonies for people here in the United States. People might think this kind of thing only happens far away in the jungle or in some remote setting. But for us, its right here, she said. Starts with cleansing She never charges. That would be wrong, she said. She never solicits involvement. At a womens conference, for example, she met someone who expressed interest in ayahuasca after a talk. The family had deep New England roots. Her husband was a fourth-generation farmer. They spent a weekend together, starting with a fast. The ceremony always begins with a limpia, a cleansing, she said. We bless the area. Everyone fasts no salt, no sugar sometimes a full day of liquids only. People come in with their intentions, and Ill open the circle by calling the spirits, calling the four directions. My father always said, We open the way so the medicine can work. The ceremony, she added, keeps it safe. Out there, people might take something at a party or in a random setting, and thats dangerous. Each persons experience is different, she said. This womans husband, a fourth-generation farmer, came with his own lived experience. It was a very intense process for him. For him to experience ayahuasca it was truly transformational. She feels honored to guide people through the ceremony. I feel that ayahuasca has been a key for them, she said. Its the master key to your heart. It has also allowed them to connect with that ancestral wisdom from their lineage. As I was leaving, I thanked them for sitting with me and telling me their story. I think this conversation was magic, I said. In a way, the medicine is like that, a good conversation, deep and honest. You have to respect the medicine, she said. Its not like you take it and all your pain goes away. Thats not its purpose. If the medicine has a message, she said, The message is love. Patrick OConnor, a regular contributor to The Republican, is a public school teacher. Read the original article on MassLive. School districts across the state have adopted policies on student cellphone use after the Legislature mandated them last year. With school about to begin for many districts and already in session in some districts are letting parents and students know what to expect regarding cellphones. The Pioneer Press reached out to 10 of the largest public schools in Ramsey, Washington and Dakota counties as well as Hill-Murray School, a private school in Maplewood to get information on their policies and how to find out more. Ramsey County Mounds View Public Schools The Mounds View Public Schools board passed its cellphone policy in March following feedback from a cellphone advisory group, as well as surveys and community conversations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students in elementary schools cannot use cellphones at any time during school hours. Middle and high schoolers can use their cellphones during school hours that dont include scheduled class time or other school-related activities, meaning phones can be out during passing times, recess or lunch. RELATED: New cellphone policies for many students this year. How have others worked? Because of the range of student ages, discipline is based on individual situations. To see more about the policy, go to mvpschools.org/about/news/cellphones. North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale School District At the high school level, cellphones are not allowed in any learning spaces, such as classrooms, flexible learning spaces or the school gymnasium. In those spaces, they should be away and silenced or turned off. However, students can have their phones out during passing time or at lunch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the middle school level, cellphones are put away during the entire school day, including lunch and passing time. Students will have their phones taken away if they have them out during class time, and they will be returned at the end of class on the first offense. If used a second time, the device would need to be picked up at the end of the school day. With any further use, a parent would need to pick up the cellphone and administrators may schedule a meeting to come up with a support plan for the student. The district sent out information on the cellphone policy last fall along with other back-to-school guidelines. The district doesnt have any rules preventing students from wearing smartwatches, though there are some protocols for high schoolers to remove them during exams. To see an example, go to north.isd622.org/about/cell-phone-policy. Roseville Schools District officials in Roseville Schools developed their cellphone plan at the start of the 2024-25 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the middle school level, students must keep any electronic devices other than their school-issued iPad in their locker during the entire school day, including during passing time and lunch. Earbuds can be used with teacher permission but only during class time. High schoolers can use their cellphones and other devices like tablets and headphones during their lunch period and passing time, but they must be silenced and put away during class time; teachers will have bins for storage. Phones are confiscated if a student does not follow expectations and can be collected at the end of the day. If violations continue, the students family will be contacted. To see more about policy, go to rahs.isd623.org/about/student-family-handbook and select Electronics Policy under the General Information section. St. Paul Public Schools St. Paul Public Schools policy states that the use of personal electronic devices will not be permitted during school hours and such devices must either remain at home or in lockers or be turned off and put away. That includes cellphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, gaming systems and earbuds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the approved cellphone policy, high schools can develop their own documented plans with school stakeholders for grades nine and above that must be reviewed annually. While most SPPS high schools do allow cellphone use during passing time, some, such as Central Senior High School, Creative Arts Secondary and Gordon Parks High School, do not allow cellphones during any part of the school day. To learn more about the policy, go to spps.org/families/students-rights-responsibilities. White Bear Lake Schools Students at White Bear Lake Schools follow a bell-to-bell cellphone policy, which was rolled out for the 2024-25 school year, with cellphone use allowed for high school students only during lunch and passing periods. During class time, high school students must have their phone silenced or turned off and they are placed in phone caddies at the front of the classroom. Parents can still email or message their student through school-provided laptops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students are given one warning before the phone is taken away for the remainder of the day and the next day and parents are contacted. If there are repeated issues, administrators may meet with the student and parents to come up with a solution. District officials held sessions with incoming seniors to develop the policy and surveyed parents. A letter sent out to families ahead of the 2024-25 school year informed them of the districts cellphone policy. The policy isnt expected to change going into this coming school year, but the high school will be adding compliancy walks, where members of the administration team check on classrooms to ensure staff and students are following the policy. To see more about the policy, go to tinyurl.com/mt5u4tft. Hill-Murray School At Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, one of the largest private schools in the metro area with around 1,095 students, students keep their phones in Yondr pouches. The pouches magnetically lock and students are not allowed to open them again until the end of the school day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The policy was implemented last school year and students have generally come to accept it, according to district officials. Having Yondr pouches has worked better for the district than previous cellphone rules and district officials say they have seen better behavior and performance among students. To learn more about the policy, go to hill-murray.org/perspectives/new-cell-phone-policy/. Dakota County Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District adopted a cellphone policy in June for its roughly 7,100 students. Elementary and middle-school students, who account for nearly 70% of the districts students, are prohibited from using personal electronic communication devices on school premises from the first bell to the final bell of the day, including lunch and recess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High school students are prohibited from using their devices during instructional time, but they may be used during passing times and lunch periods, though it is discouraged. High school students may wear smartwatches, but notifications must be silenced, and they are not allowed to use communication apps or features that are prohibited on other devices. For students of all ages, personal electronic communication devices are to be kept in designated areas and silenced. And devices are not to be used to engage in bullying, cyberbullying, harassment or discrimination. Devices are also not to be used at any time in locker rooms or bathrooms. To see more on the policy, go to tinyurl.com/3fusujhc. Lakeville Schools The school board of Lakeville Schools updated and approved cellphone policies in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the more than 5,000 elementary students and roughly 2,800 middle-school students in the district, cellphones and other personal electronic devices should remain silent and out of sight during the school day. For the nearly 4,000 high school students, cellphones and other personal electronic devices, including earpieces, are to remain silent and out of sight during classes. They may, however, be used appropriately and respectfully before and after classes, in hallways, or outside of the school building when classes are not in session. Students of all ages are not permitted to use electronic devices in a disruptive manner or for the transmission or viewing of inappropriate content, violation of others privacy rights, cheating, harassing or bullying behavior. Furthermore, Students shall not record, photograph, or video other students or school employees on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored event without their permission, except for activities considered to be open to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on the policy, go to tinyurl.com/mw3nb7mh. Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan is the largest Dakota County school district with nearly 30,000 students enrolled. In March, the districts school board adopted a cellphone policy that codified existing practices. Middle schools and elementary schools in the district, which account for 18,000 students, require cellphones to be off and out of sight for the instructional day, including passing time, recess, lunch and field trips. For the roughly 9,000 high school students, cellphones are permitted before and after the instructional day, during passing times and at lunch, provided they are not used in a disruptive manner. For students of any age in the district, cellphones are not to be used to cheat, bully or harass. Additionally, cellphones are never to be used in bathrooms or locker rooms. The district policy also extends to other personal electronic devices students may have. To see an example of the policy, go to tinyurl.com/yc2yys9x. Washington County South Washington County Schools South Washington County Schools policy, implemented last year, says that at the high school level, cellphones, smartwatches and other similar devices are not allowed to be used in classrooms or instructional spaces, including the media center, or during lockdowns or fire drills. They also cannot be used to take photos or videos without permission, as is the case for many districts in the metro area. However, students can use cellphones during passing time or lunch. At the middle school level, students must keep their electronic devices including cellphones, smartwatches, AirPods and other wearable devices capable of messaging or calls in their lockers or the main office. Parents are encouraged to contact the school office if they need to reach their student. To learn more about the policy, go to sowashco.org/families/cell-phones. Stillwater Public Schools At Stillwater Public Schools, later school start time for high school students begins this year, the school year starts a week earlier, and no cellphones are allowed for students at school. District officials decided in March to adopt a phone-free school day policy starting this school year. All schools in the district are phone- and device-free for all students pre-K to 12 from the first bell of the day until the last. The policy, which covers phones, earbuds, smartwatches and other personal devices, applies to instructional time, lunch periods, recess, school-sponsored programs, events or activities, or any other time during the designated school day. Students who bring devices to school are responsible for turning them in at their school office or store them elsewhere, depending on the school at the start of the day; they will be stored in a locked cabinet or lockbox until the end of the day. If a student is seen using a phone, smartwatch, earbuds or other device during the school day, school officials will confiscate the device and store it in the schools main office until a parent comes to school to pick it up. Repeat violations will lead to a required parent conference and a response plan. Parents who need to contact students can call the main office and have a message relayed to the student; parents of secondary students can email their students on their school-issued devices. If a student needs to contact their parent during the school day, a phone will be available in the main office. To learn more about the policy, go to stillwaterschools.org/our-district/school-board/district-policies/phone-free-policy. Mary Divine and Talia McWright contributed to this report. Related Articles The boss of one of Britains biggest bar chains has quit a Labour government taskforce after coming under pressure from civil servants for speaking out against Rachel Reevess tax policies. Alex Reilley, the chairman of Loungers, has stepped down from the influential Hospitality Sector Council (HSC) after warning that the Government was condemning high streets and town centres and consigning them to the trash. The Loungers chief said he faced pressure from civil servants for publicly criticising Ms Reevess policies while on the council, which is intended to give the sector a voice in Westminster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was critical of the Government, which they didnt like because their view is well hang on, youre on the inside now and you cant be publicly criticising what the Government is doing, he said. Well, Im going to publicly criticise when I feel that criticism is justified, and so I took the view that I wasnt prepared to stop speaking my mind. The feeling has always been certainly in any interaction Ive ever had with anyone in government that youre not even speaking to a person thats in the same building, let alone then the same room as the decision makers. Founded in Bristol in 2002, Loungers runs around 300 venues across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It floated on the Alternative Investments Market (Aim) in 2019 and was publicly traded until 2024, when the US private equity giant Fortress bought it in a 354m deal. Tokenistic bull---- Mr Reilley joined the HSC earlier this year to lead a group focusing on regenerating Britains struggling high streets. While he still supports the HSC and his fellow hospitality bosses, he said the Labour Government was not taking business leaders concerns seriously enough. Hospitality and retail companies have been battered by tax rises from the Chancellors Budget last October, which increased employers National Insurance (NI) contributions and lowered the threshold at which they are paid. Sector chiefs have warned these changes disproportionately hurt pubs, restaurants and shops at a time when the nations high street businesses are already struggling. Many firms have already enacted hiring freezes and cancelled investments, while others have stopped trading altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Reilley said he had been further angered by a government initiative to create so-called hospitality zones where applications for outside dining, street parties and longer opening hours will be fast-tracked. He said this would not address the root causes of hospitalitys struggles. Labour are wilfully crushing ambition and penalising job creators and this policy is just tokenistic bull----, he said. The issue that we all recognise, perhaps with the exception of the Government, is that there is absolutely no incentive for anyone to get out of bed in the morning and open their own business in hospitality. Why would you? Why would anyone risk their hard-earned savings to open what would potentially have been their dream, in an environment where everything is being taxed out of existence? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: Were seeing more and more single site operators throwing in the towel, but also restaurant groups and pub groups going through a process of restructuring, which is seeing premises closed and jobs lost. Without wishing to sound like the merchant of doom, I think this is just the start. A government spokesman said: Mr Reilleys departure from the council was mutually agreed. We work closely with the Hospitality Sector Council to ensure the views of industry are heard as we revitalise the sector. Well continue to listen to industry leaders as we take bold action to renew our high streets in the Plan for Change, increasing access to finance and taking tough action on late payments, speeding up licensing reforms to slash red tape and boost growth, as well as bringing in permanently lower business rates for hospitality businesses. 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. SCRANTON A major transformation of the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton into apartments should get underway in the next few months, developer John Basalyga said. The Diocese of Scranton sold the two buildings in February 2023 to Basalyga for $675,000. The purchase included a former convent on Hemlock Street at South Webster Avenue; the former Nativity school, most recently known as Marian Catholic, on Hemock Street; a breezeway connecting the two buildings and ancillary structures in the rear; and a parking lot along Herz Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Basalyga, who revived a moribund mall, redeveloped industrial, office and commercial buildings and renovated run-down properties, now aims to repurpose the vacant convent and school into 51 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The convent and school back up to the 120-year-old Nativity of Our Lord Church of what was most recently called the St. John Neumann Parish and its rectory next door, both fronting on Orchard Street. The church and rectory were not part of Basalygas purchase and remain owned by the diocese. The Nativity church at 633 Orchard St. held its final service June 8 amid the dioceses ongoing restructuring plan to address shrinking congregations and dwindling clergy. The closure allows the church to be sold, though not for sordid use, according to archives of The Times-Tribune. In a phone interview Friday, Basalyga said he is interested in also buying the church and rectory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive had discussions with the diocese about it, Basalyga said. I would certainly be interested in having the whole (Nativity) property. The entire Nativity block represents a significant property in the religious and cultural fabric of Scranton. This site hosted the first Catholic church in Scranton, named for St. Bonaventure and built in 1847 on the site of the convent and school constructed in 1933. The Nativity of Our Lord Church, with twin steeples and rotunda, was built in 1904-05. The church, rectory, convent and school all feature distinctive architecture, stone-block construction and terra cotta tile roofs. The Zoning Board last week approved a variance related to on-site parking for the project involving the former convent and school. Basalyga testified that he plans to preserve the exteriors of the convent and school. The convent has a chapel with an arched, ornate ceiling in the convent, and the school has a spacious lobby with coffered ceiling and chandelier. Hallways and stairwells feature marble wainscoting. The interiors of the convent and school having rooms, hallways and common areas, marble and distinct woodwork elements differ from industrial buildings with open layouts that Basalyga has renovated. As a result, repurposing the convent and school into apartments will require a defter touch, and will reduce the amount of space he can turn into apartments, he testified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With his plan calling for 12 apartment units in the convent and 39 in the school. Basalyga said, There will be a lot of preservation here. Were not going to make it look any different than it is. Were going to make it look even better, if thats possible, Basalyga told the board, according to an Electric City Television video of the meeting posted online. I think it would be a huge asset to this neighborhood, to take a building thats been empty for so long and put life back into it. The issue before the board was parking. Based on the scope of his plan, Basalyga would have needed 51 parking spaces but there are only 50. The variance allows the 50 spots to suffice. A public notice issued by the city erroneously pegged the number of proposed apartments at 63, which raised some concern about adequate parking, board member Bob Gattens said. I know Mr. Basalygas work throughout the city its top of the line. Our concern was trying to figure the parking out. I look forward to this getting completed, Gattens said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Timeline Nativity of Our Lord Church, convent, school in South Scranton June 1840: the first Catholic Mass in this part of Pennsylvania is held at 522 Front St., overlooking Roaring Brook. 1847: The first Catholic Church in Scranton is built at Hemlock Street and South Webster Avenue. Feb. 2, 1902: The Most Rev. Michael J. Hoban, bishop of Scranton, announces that a new parish called Nativity of Our Lord would be created in South Scranton. Nov. 1, 1903: The Rev. James A. OReilly celebrates Mass for the first time at St. Johns T.A.B. Hall at South Webster Avenue and Hickory Street. May 23, 1904: Ground is broken for Nativity of Our Lord Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 16, 1905: What was called the lower church is officially dedicated. May 27, 1907: Father OReilly dies and is buried in the lower church under St. Josephs altar. 1909: The rectory is built. Nov. 29, 1914: The magnificent upper church is dedicated. 1932-33: A convent is built on the site of the first church, at Hemlock Street and South Webster Avenue, with a parochial school constructed next door on Hemlock Street. The school has 16 classrooms and an auditorium to accommodate 650 students. The school is connected to the convent by a cloister covered walkway. 1937: The school announces plans to add high school classes by renovating the fourth floor for up to six high school classrooms. The school added freshmen students in 1938, sophomore students in 1939 and so on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1978: The Nativity church is completely renovated. 2000s: The school, which at some point was renamed Marion Catholic School, closes. Scranton School District leases the building from the diocese for a few years. A church consolidation about 11 years ago led to a change in name to St. John Neumann Parish, though the church is still known as Nativity of Our Lord. February-March 2023: Developer John Basalyga buys the former Nativity convent and school for $675,000 from the Diocese of Scranton. He plans to put about three dozen apartments in the buildings, while preserving their architecture. The church and rectory remain in use by the diocese. Source: The Times-Tribune archives Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * The former Nativity school in South Scranton on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * A rendering of John Basalgya and his JBAS Realty firms planned conversion of the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton into 51 apartments. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF JBAS REALTY) * A rendering of John Basalgya and his JBAS Realty firms planned conversion of the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton into 51 apartments. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF JBAS REALTY) * The former Nativity convent in South Scranton on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A rendering of John Basalgya and his JBAS Realty firms planned conversion of the former Nativity school and convent in South Scranton into 51 apartments. (IMAGE PROVIDED / COURTESY OF JBAS REALTY) * A plaque at the former Nativity convent in South Scranton on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 6 The former Nativity school in South Scranton on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Expand BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) As college students return to Baton Rouge for a new semester, local boutiques are feeling the impact, and for many small business owners, its a welcome boost. At Boutique Rouge, co-owner Chelsey Wong said the back-to-school season brings a dramatic shift. It affects us majorly in sales, Wong explained. Summers a little bit slower for all businesses, but when they come back between August and October, business booms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trend isnt limited to clothing stores. At Hot Worx, owner Joann Cascio said the start of the school year often determines how long the doors stay open. When the students come back to school at LSU, it helps keep our doors open. We get a lot of new enrollments, Cascio said. For LSU junior Gabrielle Jackson, boutiques offer something big-box retailers cant match. I prefer to shop at a boutique because theyre going to have the unique items I want to stand out for a game day, Jackson said. That sense of individuality is exactly what shop owners aim to provide. Sherry Foster, owner of Suga Bling Designs, said her goal is to make every student feel like their style is one-of-a-kind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I try to make sure that every student can feel something unique, Foster said. It doesnt matter what school theyre from or what colors they wear I just try to make everybody an individual. For parents like Mary Jane Cutrer, who shopped with her daughter before the semester began, confidence is part of the value. If theyre dressed well, they feel confident and go forward with the strength they need, she said. Wong said that confidence is at the heart of her mission. I build their trust and I make them feel confident, and I just love making women feel beautiful, she said. Wongs story of empowerment runs deeper than fashion. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 21, she turned her health struggles into motivation to create a boutique with inclusive sizing ensuring every shopper can find something that makes them feel good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As thousands of students settle back into campus life, local shops hope their businesses will continue to thrive, fueled by community, confidence, and connection. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) headquarters at 101 Friendship St., Providence a little after midnight on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Five hours after the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) declared its Providence headquarters bat-free Friday, there was another bat sighting on the second floor of the five-story building. That sent the agency scrambling to confirm for its staff that everything was still going according to plan, with pest control technicians scheduled to report to the Friendship Street building Saturday, according to an internal agency email sent Friday at 7:25 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency still plans to reopen the office building Monday morning, following what it assumed was the successful removal of two bats found on the premises last week. The offices have been closed since Monday, Aug. 18. One bat was spotted and caught on Aug. 14. Another bat sighting came on Aug. 17, prompting the office shutdown. In a follow-up email sent to staff, union representatives, and Rhode Island Current around 10 p.m. Friday, DCYF Chief of Staff Misty Delgado wrote that the bat was sighted before our contractors could begin sealing the entry points we had previously identified. A professional pest control team will return to the building to locate and safely remove the bat to conduct a comprehensive search to ensure no other bats are present, Delgado wrote. Once the building has been cleared, our contractors will immediately begin their work to permanently seal all potential entry points. No details were available about who saw the bat Friday night and exactly where. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEIU Local 580 workers are concerned that the buildings age and condition, including poor ventilation, expose them to health and safety hazards. The union represents about 300 of the 460 workers who regularly occupy the building, where some labor long hours or into the night. The locals president, Matthew Gunnip, fired off emails to DCYF leadership after the bat was spotted. In emails sent up to 11:59 p.m. Friday, Gunnip included responses from union members who were surveyed on Aug. 19 and again Friday night about their concerns about the health and safety conditions in the building. [W]hy would a return to business as usual be in order? wrote one union member in the Friday night survey. Shouldnt the health and safety of not only the staff, but children and families who enter the building come first? Yet another bat was found tonight? I thought the company secured the building? wrote another union member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The buildings lease is up for renewal, but the State Properties Committee has twice postponed a decision on a proposed 10-year lease renewal pending a public hearing for union input. That meeting has still not been scheduled as of Friday. A researcher holds a little brown bat. (Photo by Ann Froschauer/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Eviction protections for bat families Liz Frieling, co-owner of Vanguard Wildlife Solutions, a pest removal specialist in Coventry, who is not involved with the DCYF response, said the little brown bat and the big brown bat are Rhode Islands two most common bat species and are known to favor human-made structures to raise their young. Frieling said in a phone interview Saturday that removing bats from a property during June and July would strand baby bats who havent learned to fly. Then, bats hibernate from late October through May, making removal unfeasible then, too. That means pest control can only remove bats in select months. In Rhode Island, eviction season runs from August through mid-October, and once more in May, before the bats maternity season begins, according to Frieling. They say, June and July, let them fly, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Frieling couldnt speak to the specific process being used at DCYF, she described one process of bat eviction. First, pest control workers identify entry points, which can be anything as small as of an inch. Then, one-way valves are installed that allow bats to exit but not re-enter. As the bats depart nightly, the population in a building slowly evacuates, and it takes about two weeks for a full exodus, Frieling said. Then, the valves and any additional entry points are sealed back up. Based on last weeks timeline of events, and the appearance of multiple bats, Frieling said, Its not going to be just one or two bats. Colony sizes can vary, but a maternal colony for big brown bats is typically 40 to 100 bats. According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, bat colonies can be as small as a few mothers and their babies. But even technicians have trouble knowing the exact size of a colony, Frieling said, because the bats hide themselves in a structures dark recesses, like attics or rafters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre not always popping into a living space, she said. If youre seeing them in the living space, there is a colony there. A more reliable metric is guano, or bat excrement, Frieling said, as its presence and volume can help pest control determine the potential size of a colony. Frieling added that union members concerns about disease in guano, particularly histoplasmosis, are reasonable. But she added that to get sick one needs continued exposure to large amounts. Frieling said old buildings like the Friendship Street headquarters can be a nightmare for pest control as theyre hard to seal, and it can be difficult to fully exclude bats. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ***Watch previous coverage above*** CLEVELAND (WJW) A judge may soon decide if a hearing will be held in the murder case of Cleveland Officer Jamieson Ritter, even though the defendant, ruled incompetent to stand trial, remains in a mental health facility. Assistant County Prosecutor Kevin Filiatraut is asking the judge to hold a hearing to determine when the restoration period must end. Typically, a defendant must be restored in a year to stand trial on charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors, however, said the defendant refused to take medicine that would restore him to competency for several months and prosecutors are asking for that time not to be counted. Here, the defendant was found not competent to stand trial in his Cleveland Municipal Court misdemeanor trespassing case which began in 2023, Filiatrauts motion states. Just months before he allegedly killed his grandmother and Officer Ritter, the defendant was restored to competency in his misdemeanor case through outpatient treatment, but outside the short timeframe for the state to be able to continue with that particular prosecution. The standard for competency is the same no matter if the charges are misdemeanor trespass or aggravated murder. When he was arrested in this case, he immediately refused treatment the same treatment he underwent in an outpatient setting that he knew would make him competent to stand trial now. He refused the treatment while in the Cuyahoga County jail and subsequently was deemed to be not competent to stand trial. He refused the treatment in the facility in Columbus and spent months unmedicated, waiting for his R.C. 2945.38(C(1) timeframe to run out like it did in the trespassing case. Since his arrest here, he never willingly allowed himself to be treated with medication that he knew would make him competent. And when this court ordered forced medication, his reaction to the hospital bringing that treatment to him was, I guess I have to take it now.' Answers coming for mystery behind shooting of Lorain officers: I-Team Attorney Cullen Sweeney, Chief Public Defender, however, objected to the hearing being held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courts across Ohio have opined on the question of what can and should be undertaken during the period of time that a defendant is under a competency restoration order pursuant to R.C. 2945.38, as Mr. Hardy is in this case, Sweeneys motion states. The rule of law that has emerged is that proceedings are stayed during such a period. In 2006, the Ohio Supreme Court noted that until an incompetent individual is found to be mentally competent, a criminal action must be halted, assuming that competency is restorable within the statutory period. State v. Upshaw, 110 Ohio St. 3d 189. Sweeney also states that if there is a hearing, Hardy has a right to present. It is not known when the judge will make a ruling. Hardy is accused of killing his grandmother and Ritter last year. The deadly shooting of the officer happened when police said Cleveland officers tried to arrest Hardy for shooting his grandmother. She later died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hardy has been ruled incompetent to stand trial, and he has spent months in a treatment facility so that he can be restored to competency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CORTLAND, Ohio (WKBN) Local police and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation were at a home along North Mecca Street in Cortland on Saturday afternoon. Cortland Chief of Police David Morris told First News they are conducting an investigation into the death of a female victim, who has not been identified yet. Morris said the investigation is being classifed as an unexplained death for now and that they wont have any more information until an autopsy is complete Monday. He says he believes there is no threat to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First News will update this story as more information becomes available. Nadine Grimley contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. The mast that showed above the sand dunes in Barnegat Light to mark the ship Sea King was washed away during Hurrican Erin. Waves from Hurricane Erin pounded Long Beach Island earlier this week, taking away a historic island landmark. A steel mast poking above the sand on the beach at Barnegat Light was all that remained to let people know the final resting place of the vessel Sea King. On Thursday night, the storm pulled the mast back to sea. Its another landmark gone, Gretchen Coyle at the New Jersey Maritime Museum in Beach Haven said on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 12, 1963, the 95-foot trawler Sea King was towing a decommissioned minesweeper named Prescott to Atlantic City for refitting, according to information on the museums website. Both ships were stranded on the Barnegat Shoals during a thick fog. The Prescott was later re-floated and saved. The Sea King, however, could not be salvaged and became buried in the sand near 12th Street. The Sea King ended up in the sand dunes and what was interesting over the years was sometimes it was in the ocean and sometimes it was in the sand dunes, Coyle said. It (the mast) didnt move, but the water around it moved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The steel mast was a landmark used by locals and cherished by history buffs. Many people took to social media on Saturday to express sadness that the mast was gone. The mast was a point where you just aimed to go and take a picture. It was a landmark that made you smile, Coyle said. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy took away a small building next to the ship called the shack, she said. Coyle said people are still finding out about the loss of the mast, much of the word spreading through social media. I havent been out there because this just happened the other day, but I saw it on Facebook this morning, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coyle also thinks a new marker to identify the location of the Sea King will likely be put in place. I cant speak for Barnegat Light, but at some point I dont doubt there will be a commemorative plaque, Coyle said. Barnegat Light treasures its maritime history, she said. Coyle said the New Jersey Maritime Museum at 528 Dock Rd, Beach Haven also carries photos and history of the Sea King. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com. A street in central Berlin was officially renamed on Saturday despite a last-minute legal challenge, bidding farewell at an unveiling ceremony to a name marked by racist overtones. Berlin's Mitte district, along with several civil initiatives, has long sought to rename Mohrenstrasse, as the term "Mohr" was historically used to describe people of African descent, often in a derogatory manner. The word, which stems from the Latin "Maurus" (Moor), was associated with colonialism, slavery and racist caricatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, city workers installed signs bearing the street's new name, Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Strasse - a tribute to the first known African philosopher and lawyer to obtain a doctorate at a German university in the 18th century. However, with the planned unveiling set for Saturday to coincide with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, the initiative faced a last-minute legal hurdle. The Berlin Administrative Court on Thursday upheld an urgent appeal by a resident against the renaming, ruling that the street could not be renamed until the lawsuit had been settled. Undeterred, the Mitte district appealed to the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court, which cleared the way on Friday evening for the renaming to go ahead as planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both courts had previously ruled that the renaming could take place in an earlier lawsuit. Tuba Bozkurt, Green Party spokeswoman for anti-discrimination policy in the Berlin House of Representatives, said the name change was the result of "persistent democratic work." "For many black people, this street name was a daily reminder of exclusion - now we are sending a clear signal for respect and diversity," she said. Spokesman for the Initiative of Black People in Germany, Tahir Della, expressed relief at the new name, telling local broadcaster RBB that black people had long made it clear that they found the previous name racist. Opponents of the initiative argued that the naming of Mohrenstrasse 300 years ago was meant to be appreciative. A street in central Berlin was officially renamed on Saturday despite a last-minute legal challenge, bidding farewell at an unveiling ceremony to a name marked by racist overtones. Berlin's Mitte district, along with several civil initiatives, has long sought to rename Mohrenstrasse, as the term "Mohr" was historically used to describe people of African descent, often in a derogatory manner. The word, which stems from the Latin "Maurus" (Moor), was associated with colonialism, slavery and racist caricatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, city workers installed signs bearing the street's new name, Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Strasse - a tribute to the first known African philosopher and lawyer to obtain a doctorate at a German university in the 18th century. However, with the planned unveiling set for Saturday to coincide with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, the initiative faced a last-minute legal hurdle. The Berlin Administrative Court on Thursday upheld an urgent appeal by a resident against the renaming, ruling that the street could not be renamed until the lawsuit had been settled. Undeterred, the Mitte district appealed to the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court, which cleared the way on Friday evening for the renaming to go ahead as planned. Both courts had previously ruled that the renaming could take place in an earlier lawsuit. A Berlin street was officially renamed on Saturday for an 18th-century African philosopher after years of debate over its previous name that many considered outdated and offensive. The local council in the central Mitte district announced in 2020 that it wanted to change the name of the street from Mohrenstrasse (Moors' Street) to Anton Wilhelm Amo Street, after the first black philosopher known to have taught at a German university. The Mohrenstrasse metro station also took the new name on Saturday, a date chosen to coincide with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In comparison with the English word "Moor", the German term carries a more direct connotation of skin colour and has long been considered pejorative and offensive. Sharon Dodua Otoo, a British writer and activist who lives in Germany, unveiled one of the street signs alongside district mayor Stefanie Remlinger. "Anton Wilhelm Amo Street stands for solidarity, for appreciation. For a truly appreciative remembrance of African people in 17th century Germany," Otoo said. "It's a great success for civil society, which has been pushing for a name change for more than 30 years," said Tahir Della, from the group Decolonize Berlin, which organised celebrations to mark the name change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It makes clear why the former name is so problematic for many black people in Germany," he said. The origins of the name Moors' Street are unclear. It dates back to the early 18th century, the height of the Atlantic slave trade, and some suggested it may refer to former slaves who settled there. Another theory is that it refers to a visiting African diplomatic delegation. Whatever its precise origins, Della said the name is a "racist description for black people". However, some local residents mounted legal challenges against the council to try to stop the renaming. A last-minute court decision on Friday briefly threatened to derail the process, even after workers had already begun switching the street signs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a higher court overturned the decision hours later, allowing the renaming to go ahead. Anton Wilhelm Amo, born around 1700 in what is today Ghana, is believed to have been sold into slavery and then brought to Europe. Amo was "just a child when he was brought from west Africa" to Germany, Otoo said. Amo later had the opportunity to receive an education that took him to the prestigious universities of Wittenberg, Halle and Jena, becoming an important figure in Germany's Enlightenment period. Decolonize Berlin says the new name honours a symbol of "resistance, self-affirmation and knowledge in the African diaspora". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Della said he hopes the renaming will serve as an "impetus for further discussions on public spaces", pointing to debates on other street names in Berlin honouring figures from Germany's colonial past. pyv-raph/jsk/djt Two teenagers charged in an attempted carjacking and brutal beating of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer earlier this month have been released from youth custody. A 15-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy who were charged with unarmed carjacking days after the attack have been given lighter restrictions. Since their arrest, the suspects had been held at D.C.s Youth Services Center (YSC), where juveniles are placed in secure detention by court order. According to reports, Judge Kendra D. Briggs, who was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021, ruled that one of the teens would be sent to a youth shelter while the other would be granted home arrest. The U.S. National Guard is deployed around downtown Los Angeles June 8, 2025, after an immigration raid protest the night before. Radical Dc Officials Treated Officers Like Crap, Police Leader Says 7 Attacks That Led To Trump Takeover Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the teens are being released from the YSC, they are still subject to curfews, weekly drug tests and electronic monitoring, NBC4 Washington reported. On Aug. 3, Edward Coristine, better known by his nickname, "Big Balls," was assaulted at approximately 3 a.m. by a group of teenagers in the citys Logan Circle neighborhood. The teens allegedly attempted to carjack him and a woman, whom police identified as his significant other, according to authorities. Read On The Fox News App Police said Coristine pushed the woman into the vehicle for safety and turned to confront the group. At least several of the teens then attacked him, police said, until officers patrolling nearby intervened. As officers moved toward the group, the teens fled on foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blue Cities In Trumps Crosshairs After Dc Police Takeover A photo of a bloodied Coristine went viral, sparking outrage over the citys handling of crime and drawing President Donald Trumps attention. The president slammed D.C., saying crime in the city was "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. They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but its going to happen now!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Briggs ruling comes amid a heated debate on the handling of crime in D.C. and Trumps crime crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 11, the president directed federal law enforcement to increase its presence in the city. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the move, saying that "there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C." Trump met with law enforcement and National Guard personnel on Thursday and praised them for their work and the "incredible results" of the crackdown. His approach appears to be working. Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that there has not been a homicide in the city in more than a week, coinciding with the takeover. While many linked Trumps decision to federalize D.C. to Coristines assault, it was a topic he touched on during his presidential campaign. He spoke about the need to better secure D.C. after the January 2024 murder of Mike Gill, a Republican who worked under the Obama and Trump administrations. Gill was waiting to pick up his wife from work when an armed carjacker opened fire in broad daylight. Gill died three days later. Original article source: Biden judge frees teens tied to ex-DOGE staffer's assault as Trump cracks down on crime NEW YORK (AP) For more than 150 years, horse-drawn carriages have been trotting through Manhattan's Central Park, weathering the arrival of the automobile, years of criticism from animal rights activists and even a mayoral administration that vowed to ban the tourist activity. But now the influential nonprofit that manages the 843-acre park and has previously stayed out of the debate has now thrown its support behind a proposal to wind down the industry as early as next summer. The Central Park Conservancy argued in an Aug. 12 letter to the City Council that horse carriages have an outsized impact on public safety and road infrastructure in the increasingly crowded park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant be just frozen in time, said Elizabeth Smith, the conservancy's CEO, in an interview this week. Horses are too unpredictable and the roadways are too busy with too many different kinds of users now bikers, runners, pedestrians, strollers. Smith noted other cities have done away with the nostalgic rides, including San Antonio, which passed a five-year phase out of the industry last year. Chicago banned it starting in 2021 and Montreal did the same the year prior. Carriage drivers say they're unfairly targeted The carriage industry argues its being unfairly singled out, despite their numbers barely budging since World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently 68 licensed carriage owners with a total of about 200 horses and 170 drivers, according to the Transport Workers Union, which represents industry employees. Meanwhile, Central Park sees some 40 million visitors annually, many of them increasingly zipping around on rental bikes or hitching a ride on one of the human-powered pedicabs that line the parks entry points. Cars were banned from the park's drives in 2018. Eliminating carriage horses also goes against famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsteds vision for the park, with its hilly paths and undulating roads tailor-made for leisurely carriage rides, argues Christina Hansen, a longtime carriage driver and industry spokesperson. Were seeing the park the way it was meant to be seen, she said as she gave a recent tour, which runs about $72 for the first 20 minutes and $29 for each additional 10 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents say horses have no place in a busy city Animal rights groups have long complained the horses can get easily spooked on city streets, leading to accidents and injuries. They also claim the horses are overworked and live in inadequate stables and their drivers flaunt city regulations, including leaving behind piles of horse manure. All animals are supposed to be fitted with manure-catching devices. Theres simply no way to operate horse-drawn carriages and have it be safe or humane for the horses, said Edita Birnkrant, executive director of the animal rights group New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets. No amount of regulation can change that. Lord knows we have tried. The conservancys call came after a carriage horse collapsed and died near its stables earlier this month, with videos and photos of the animals body in a city street circulating widely online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the organization, which was formed to revitalize the park in the 1980s, didnt weigh in on the animal welfare concerns in its letter to the council. Smith said the tipping point was two recent incidents of carriage horses running amok: in May, a spooked horse bolted from its handler and ran loose through the park. Days later, two more horses broke free from their drivers and crashed into a fleet of parked pedicabs, breaking a drivers wrist and causing other injuries. The debate is far from over City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams office declined to say this week whether the proposed ban would even be heard, let alone put to a vote this session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zachary Nosanchuk, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, said the Democratic administration will meet with industry representatives and advocates to discuss a better path forward on the sensitive issue, acknowledging Adams predecessor spent eight years unsuccessfully trying to end the industry. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, also a Democrat, vowed to shut down the industry on day one during his winning 2013 campaign, only to come up against years of council opposition and even the ire of actor Liam Neeson, who remains an outspoken supporter of the carriage industry. Horse owners and drivers say they're highly regulated Carriage horse owners and drivers maintain their horses enjoy a life of relative ease compared to rigorous farm life in Pennsylvania Amish country, where most are purchased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under city regulations, each is inspected by a veterinarian twice a year and the maximum age they can work at is 26. They work a maximum of nine hours a day and must stop giving rides if its above 89 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) or above 80 F (27 C) with high humidity. They also dont work if the temperature plummets below 19 F (minus 7 C) or if theres severe weather, and must get at least five weeks vacation a year outside city limits with daily access to pasture. My horses, I give them a nice life, Onur Altintas, a longtime carriage owner and driver. On a visit to one of the Manhattan stables this week, ornately decorated carriages were parked on the ground level and horses were housed on the second and third floors in stalls measuring at least 8-by-10 foot (2.4-by-3 meter) and padded down with hay, although there was no outside pasture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lynn Buckalew, a tourist from Utah lined up for a carriage ride earlier this week, said a guided jaunt through the park was high on her to-do list. But she was taken aback when she learned about the complaints of abuse and the Aug. 5 death of a 15-year-old mare from an aortic rupture less than two months into the job. You know thats sad, if thats the case. It makes me look at it a little different, Buckalew said as her husband hopped on the carriage and the driver called her aboard. ___ Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo Comedian Bill Maher applauded California Gov. Gavin Newsom Friday for "trolling" President Donald Trump on social media. "Ive never seen a Democrat do this," Maher told his "Real Time" panel. "I think its very funny." Since mid-August, Newsoms press office account on X has gone viral for tweeting in a Trump-like style. It has called Newsom "AMERICAS FAVORITE GOVERNOR," typed in all-caps and issued mocking nicknames for Fox News personalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "DONALD TRUMP, THE LOWEST POLLING PRESIDENT IN RECENT HISTORY, THIS IS YOUR SECOND-TO-LAST WARNING!!!" Newsoms office wrote Aug. 12. "STAND DOWN NOW OR CALIFORNIA WILL COUNTER-STRIKE (LEGALLY!) TO DESTROY YOUR ILLEGAL CROOKED MAPS IN RED STATES." Newsom's Office Continues To Mock Trump Using His Social Media Writing Style: 'Tiny Hands' "Real Time" host Bill Maher praises California Gov. Gavin Newsom (left) for "trolling" President Donald Trump (right) on his press office's X account by writing posts in a style similar to the president's. Newsom is "imitating Trumps exact style," Maher mused. Read On The Fox News App After his audience cheered his "very funny" comment, the late-night host went on to share his takeaway from the Democratic governors mocking posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I feel like Gavin has grasped the essential thing about American culture in this day in age," Maher began. "Dont try to outsmart people," he advised. "You have to outstupid them." California Republicans Accuse Newsom Of 'Sinister Redistricting Scheme' After Trump Mockery While the late-night host and other outlets have praised Democrats possible 2028 presidential candidate for "aping" Trump, one of Mahers guests wasnt fond of Newsoms antics. "Im not sure its smart," Frank Bruni said. "Since Trump came down that escalator in 2015, Democrats have been mocking him and belittling him as a strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom Escalates Trump Immigration Feud With Foul-mouthed Insult "Were now in the second Trump presidency," The New York Times writer added. "I dont think this is the way to go." Between the 2020 and 2024 elections, Democrats have lost 2.1 million registered voters across 30 states that track voter registration by party, The New York Times reported. Conversely, Republicans have gained 2.4 million registered voters. Original article source: Bill Maher praises Newsom for 'trolling' Trump on social media: Very funny Taste of Chicago is just around the corner and some of the best restaurants around the city are gearing up, including BJs Market & Bakery. Chef John Meyer joined WGN Morning News on Saturday to offer a look at what they will be serving up this year. Visit the BJs Market & Bakery website for more information on the restaurant or to view a full menu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. NEED TO KNOW An elderly woman died from injuries sustained when a hot cup of tea spilled onto her while she was residing at a nursing home Margaret Eluned Roberts was 99 at the time of her death, but she "wanted to reach 100 years old" The woman's death was officially ruled an "accident," the local coroner said An elderly woman died before her hopes to become a centenarian could come true due to a nursing home incident involving a hot beverage. Margaret Eluned Roberts was burned by a cup of tea that spilled onto her while she was at the facility in Wales, England, on Sept. 22, 2024. She then died a little over a month later on Oct. 28, according to an investigation done by Kate Robertson, the senior coroner for northwest Wales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the inquiry, Roberts who was 99 at the time of her death, and would've turned 100 in September 2025 died "as a result of medical conditions which were precipitated by a burn injury sustained to her leg." The coroner listed Roberts' cause of death as pneumonia and cellulitis secondary to a burn, with old age, asthma and ischaemic heart disease as contributory factors. The death, the coroner added in the documents obtained by PEOPLE, was officially ruled an "accident." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Getty Roses on a tombstone (stock image). Roses on a tombstone (stock image). Roberts was a resident at the Glan Rhos nursing home at the time of the incident, WalesOnline reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Thomas, a healthcare assistant at the facility, said she knew Roberts was blind, but she gave her the hot beverage because she said the elderly woman was "very independent" and "wanted to drink the cup of tea herself," per the outlet. Jo Reavey, a nurse at Glan Rhos, said she found Roberts "distraught with her arms raised" after she spilled the hot tea on herself, according to WalesOnline. Roberts was taken to receive care for the burns at the Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital. After a transfer back to the nursing home, the woman then returned to the hospital, where she later died, the outlet reported. In a statement, per WalesOnline, Robertson told Roberts' daughter, Linda Pritchard, that her mother "wanted to reach 100 years old," adding: "It would have been such a significant milestone." The Glan Rhos nursing home and the Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Read the original article on People (Reuters) -Bloomberg said on Saturday it was working to resolve the situation of a correspondent in Hong Kong whose visa renewal application was turned down by authorities in the Asian financial hub. Hong Kong declined to extend the visa of Bloomberg journalist Rebecca Choong Wilkins without explanation, according to a post from the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) which Wilkins confirmed as accurate to Reuters on Saturday. While Bloomberg said in a statement it does not comment on individual cases, it said it fully supports Wilkins and will "continue to work through the appropriate avenues to try to resolve the matter." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked to comment on Wilkins' visa situation, a spokesperson for Hong Kongs Immigration Department said in a statement it does not comment on individual cases and says applicants have to "meet the eligibility criteria". Industry watchdogs say China has been eroding press freedoms in Hong Kong since it was returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Local journalists have faced detention and harassment, while some foreign reporters have been denied entry or visas, often without reason. Media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said nine journalists have had visa issues with Hong Kong authorities since the enactment of a national security law in 2020, leading to a fall in the city's ranking in a global press freedom index to 140th out of 180 countries and territories. Wilkins, who had worked in Hong Kong for six years, was most recently a reporter on the Asia government and economy team at Bloomberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This decision and the lack of explanation reinforces widespread concerns about the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong, which is protected under the Basic Law and the Bill of Rights," said the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club in its post on Friday. The Hong Kong Journalists Association said numbers of denials of visa applications by major foreign media are more than have been publicly reported, acording to a post from Selina Cheng, the association's chairperson. Hong Kong denies it curbs press freedoms. (Reporting by Reuters Staff, Editing by William Maclean) People in Mississippi no longer have access to Bluesky one of the primary alternatives to Elon Musk's X because of burdensome age verification laws. A new law in Mississippi requires age verification to access social media sites. This landmark piece of legislation goes even further than other laws that require age verification for sites featuring explicit content. Bluesky announced on Friday that it would stop operating in the state because of the law, noting concerns over the cost burden and privacy of its users. It wrote in a blog post: "Mississippi's approach would fundamentally change how users access Bluesky. The Supreme Courts recent decision leaves us facing a hard reality: comply with Mississippis age assurance lawand make every Mississippi Bluesky user hand over sensitive personal information and undergo age checks to access the siteor risk massive fines. The law would also require us to identify and track which users are children, unlike our approach in other regions. We think this law creates challenges that go beyond its child safety goals, and creates significant barriers that limit free speech and disproportionately harm smaller platforms and emerging technologies. Bluesky pointed out that Mississippi's law was particularly burdensome and was worrying in terms of its privacy implications. The company noted, for instance, that it follows the U.K.'s Online Safety Act, which does not require tracking which users are children and only requires age checks for certain material. Mashable's Anna Iovine covered the effects of age verification on the internet in depth. But what certain lawmakers have claimed is aimed at protecting children has already had widespread consequences. These laws, in general, make the internet a less open place and a space that requires sacrificing privacy for access. LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) Bolivias Supreme Court on Friday ordered judges to urgently review whether three prominent right-wing leaders had been held in prison for too long without trials, threatening to reopen a tumultuous chapter in Bolivia's politics just days after a presidential election ended two decades of dominance by the governing leftist party. Bolivia's Chief Justice Romer Saucedo gave judges 24 hours to scrutinize the length of pretrial detention in high-profile cases stemming from the crisis over the 2019 ouster of former President Evo Morales, Bolivia's first Indigenous president, according to a copy of the document obtained by The Associated Press. The order, experts say, could pave the way for the release from custody of three of Bolivia's most divisive right-wing politicians: Former interim leader Jeanine Anez, former governor Luis Fernando Camacho and his former running mate, Marco Antonio Pumari. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revisiting cases from the 2019 crisis After his contested reelection to an unprecedented fourth term in 2019 set off mass protests, Morales stepped down under pressure from the military, paving the way for Anez, a previously little-known senator and staunch Christian, to assume office as interim leader. As president, Anez oversaw a brutal crackdown by security forces on civilian protesters and stifled dissent, with at least 37 people being killed in the postelection violence. A year after new elections in 2020 vaulted to power current President Luis Arce, Morales' handpicked successor from his long-ruling Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS, party, Anez was arrested on charges of terrorism and sedition, among other offenses tied to Morales' 2019 ouster which his supporters view as a coup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, Anez was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of breaching her duties and violating Bolivias constitution but faces at least seven other open criminal cases covering a range of charges, including her involvement in the killings of protesters. Anez appealed the sentence and contested the other charges, arguing that she should only be judged in a special impeachment process for former presidents that requires authorization from two-thirds of Congress before any trial can proceed. She is currently being tried as an ordinary citizen. Camacho, a close ally of Anez, has been in pretrial detention since his arrest in late 2022 while leading a strike against Arce's government in the countrys business hub of Santa Cruz. He was detained on suspicion of terrorism and insurrection over his role in 2019 leading mass protests against Morales re-election. Pumari, who ran as Camachos running mate in the 2020 elections against Arce, was also arrested on charges related to his involvement in Morales removal from power and has been held in pretrial detention since 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judiciary widely seen as tainted In Bolivia, critics say the courts have become a political prize to control rather than an impartial arbiter. When Anez came to power, she charged Morales, then in self-exile, with sedition and terrorism even as evidence was lacking. When Arce came to power, he oversaw the arrests of Anez, Camacho and Pumari, raising concerns among international watchdogs that he, too, was using the courts to target his adversaries. Now, some see the judiciarys abrupt move to reexamine the cases as similarly motivated by politics. Friday's directive comes just days after Bolivia took a lurch to the right in presidential and parliamentary elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A runoff election on Oct. 19 will pit a centrist senator, Rodrigo Paz, against a right-wing populist former president, Jorge Tuto Quiroga, marking a stunning defeat for the MAS party after 20 years of hegemony. Quiroga, who captured second place, has promised that, if elected, he would not only free his political allies, including Anez and Camacho, but also ensure the arrest of Morales, now holed up in his stronghold in the jungle of Chapare evading an arrest warrant on charges related to his alleged sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl. I believe he is trying to sympathize with the changing political times, Eduardo Rodriguez Veltze, a former chief justice of the Supreme Court, said of the judge who released the directive. This decision reflects a careless and irresponsible handling of the authority of the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jailed politicians get their hopes up The three opposition figures and their legal representatives welcomed Friday's order as a possible first step toward freedom after years in custody. It is not a triumph, it is a reparation; it is not a gift, it is a right, Anez wrote on social media. Although late, I receive it with joy and faith that justice now gives hope to all Bolivians. Camacho's lawyer, Martin Camacho, told reporters he was informed that courts would begin their review of the case as soon as Saturday, opening a way for Camacho to recover his freedom. I hope we'll hear immediately, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pumari criticized his own pretrial detention as corrupt justice in a post on social media Friday that celebrated news of the court order. Corporate groups of some judges, prosecutors, and lawyers collude to profit from the pain of the families of those deprived of liberty, he wrote. Pumari's lawyer reported that he would be transferred from a prison in southern Bolivia to the country's capital of La Paz this weekend pending a hearing on his release. ___ DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Paola Flores reported from La Paz, Bolivia. Sudans Army has dismissed accusations that it bombed a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy delivering aid to famine-hit communities in Mellit, North Darfur. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which control the town, alleged the military was behind Wednesdays air strike. The UN agency confirmed that a drone hit the 16-vehicle convoy, destroying three lorries but leaving all aid staff unharmed. The WFP condemned the incident, stressing that humanitarian staff and assets must never be a target and calling on both warring factions to respect international law. The attack comes as the civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the army and the RSF, continues to devastate Sudan, displacing 12 million people and forcing 4.5 million into neighboring countries. El-Fasher, the armys last stronghold in Darfur, has been under RSF siege for over a year and remains a flashpoint in the conflict. Both sides have faced accusations of weaponizing hunger by blocking aid routes and looting food supplies. Similar attacks on humanitarian convoys, including one that killed five aid workers in June, highlight the escalating risks for relief operations amid one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro's lawyers denied Friday that he violated restrictions imposed for his detention during his trial over an attempted coup, and accused police of "discrediting" him, according to a document submitted to the Supreme Court. The far-right former president is accused of plotting to cling onto power after losing the 2022 elections to his leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, 70, has been under house arrest since early August -- imposed by the judge overseeing the case after he allegedly flouted the ban on his use of social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is banned from social media for the duration of the proceedings, and third parties are barred from sharing his public remarks. But federal police revealed this week that Bolsonaro repeatedly violated restrictions, citing an analysis of a seized mobile phone showing he allegedly communicated with other trial defendants and shared up to 300 videos of support demonstrations in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on WhatsApp. Police also said they found a 33-page document containing a draft "request for political asylum" to Argentine President Javier Milei, dated days after the coup investigation began in February 2024. The police report "appears to be a political piece, aimed at discrediting a former president of the Republic who, whether police authorities like it or not, is still a political leader," Bolsonaro's defense team said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In other words, it is ongoing 'lawfare,'" they added, using a term that essentially means legal warfare. The defense argued that Bolsonaro complied with all court orders, remaining at his residence even when ordered to wear an electronic ankle bracelet before house arrest was imposed. "A draft asylum request to the Argentine president, dating from February 2024, cannot be considered evidence of escape," the lawyers argued. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in September. Bolsonaro could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted. The case has generated diplomatic tensions with the United States, with US leader Donald Trump calling it a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro. He has hit Brazil with punitive 50 percent tariffs on exports to the United States and also sanctioned Brazilian judges. ll/rsr/nn/abs/dhc Bosnia's Serbian entity faced international criticism Saturday for ordering a referendum on whether it accepts a federal court verdict banning its president Milorad Dodik from public office. Lawmakers in Republika Srpska's (RS) regional assembly voted late Friday to hold a referendum on October 25 that would be a new challenge to the state's weak central government. The European Union delegation in Bosnia said Saturday the court ruling against Dodik "must be respected". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Subjecting a court decision to a public vote runs counter to the rule of law and the independence of judicial authorities," it added in a post on X. "We expect the Republika Srpska authorities to de-escalate the situation and respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional and legal order of Bosnia and Herzegovina." Britain's ambassador to Bosnia, Julian Reilly, made a similar call, saying that any referendum on the court decision would be "illegal". Dodik, 66, was convicted in February by a Bosnian federal court of flouting decisions by Christian Schmidt, the international envoy enforcing a peace deal that ended Bosnia's 1992-1995 war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He avoided a one-year prison sentence by paying a 19,000-euro ($22,000) fine, but an appeals court upheld a ruling that he be removed from the RS presidency and banned from political office for six years. Dodik has vowed to block elections in Republika Srpska and to hold a series of referendums -- the first of which would be the vote on the court ruling. Bosnian Serb lawmakers voted to put the question: "Do you accept the decisions of the unelected foreigner (envoy Schmidt) and the unconstitutional verdict of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Court against the president of the RS, as well as the decision of the Bosnian Electoral Commission to revoke the mandate of the president of the RS, Milorad Dodik?" Fifty of the 65 lawmakers present voted in favour. Opposition lawmakers refused to vote. "I won't get in your way... but you're walking on a minefield," warned one opposition lawmaker, Nebojsa Vukanovic, a fierce critic of Dodik. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Dodik seeks public backing - Dodik has said he expects the Serbian majority population of Republika Srpska to massively vote "no" to the referendum question. He has also threatened to hold a referendum on independence for the Serbian entity. The nationalist Bosnian Serb has been in power since 2006. He blames Schmidt, a former German minister who has been international envoy for Bosnia since 2021, for his ouster. The RS parliament also passed votes rejecting Schmidt's authority, demanding that Dodik continue as the RS president, and rejecting elections to choose a new president. Bosnia's electoral commission is expected however to call early elections for the RS presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dodik's prime minister Radovan Viskovic resigned on Monday. He did not give a reason but his departure deepened the sense of political crisis in Bosnia. Dodik on Saturday named Savo Minic, agriculture minister in Viskovic's government, as the new prime minister. Viskovic and Dodik had been accused of undermining Bosnia's constitutional order after the RS parliament voted to bar federal police and the judiciary from operating in the Serb entity. Both have also been sanctioned by the United States for threatening the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement and undermining Bosnia's fragile sovereignty. Bosnia has been split between Serbian and Bosnian-Croat entities since the 1990s war, in which tens of thousands died. The country is held together by weak central institutions. rus/tw/jj Like his brother, Erik, just 24 hours earlier, Lyle Menendezs request for parole was denied Friday evening by a California Parole Board panel. While the decision isnt final yet it wont become official until the CPB review process is finalized, including a separate hearing where the panel will explain their reasoning for denying parole only rarely does the larger Parole Board overrule a rejection. And while California Gov. Gavin Newsom has the power to make the final call, he has already indicated he will likely follow whatever CPB recommends. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As such, it puts an end, for now at least, to the Menendez Brothers quest to be released from prison, where they are currently serving 50 years to life for the 1989 murder of their parents. However, now 54 and 57 respectively, the brothers efforts to secure release from prison isnt over. Both of them are petitioning the state for clemency and are separately seeking new trials. As on Thursday, Fridays hearing was held virtually from San Diegos Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. The Menendez brothers murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, on Aug. 20, 1989 when Erik was 18 and Lyle was 21. They have been imprisoned since their arrest a few months later in 1990. After a lengthy legal battle their first court case infamously ended with a mistrial the brothers were convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in years after their conviction, they became an unlikely cause celebre. After a decades long campaign for their release, they became eligible for parole in May of 2025, when a Los Angeles judge reduced their sentences to 50 years to life. The reason given that they were younger than 26 when the crimes occurred, which according to local law makes them eligible. But being eligible for parole and actually receiving it are very different matters, as both brothers learned this week. The post Both Menendez Brothers to Remain in Prison After Lyles Parole Request Rejected appeared first on TheWrap. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Bradley University was buzzing with excitement this weekend as hundreds of freshmen officially moved onto campus. Greek life members were out in force, helping new students unload cars, carry boxes and navigate their way to dorm rooms. The universitys mascot, Kaboom the gargoyle, even joined in to greet the newest Bradley Braves. For many families, the day was filled with pride and emotion. Sara Herford said sending her daughter off to school was a milestone moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now Im happy as a clam, like I think shes going to be, Herford said. Im excited for her and the new experience that shes going to get. But I think therell be some moments in the car. I dont know, right now Im okay. Bradleys fall semester kicks off on Wednesday, Aug. 27 as students begin their first day of classes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Breckenridge becomes Colorados first ski town to be certified as a Dark Sky Community Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the Dark Sky Community designation is a first in Colorado. The information initially provided by representatives misstated the geographic area. DENVER (KDVR) The town of Breckenridge has officially been designated as a Certified Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International, marking the first mountain resort community in Colorado to achieve the designation. The Breckenridge Tourism Office said the designation has been sought since 2023, when the town began work to meet Dark Sky certification requirements, even starting to replace non-compliant streetlights in 2024, and making measurable progress in reducing light pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dark Sky certification program expanding to Colorado state parks The Rocky Mountain towns of Colorado offer immense natural beauty, especially when it comes to the night sky, said Michael Rymer, communities program manager with DarkSky International and a Colorado resident. With Breckenridges work as an International Dark Sky Community, the town hopes to protect and preserve the night sky for residents and visitors, now and into the future. We at DarkSky International are excited to certify a significant tourist destination that will highlight the wonders of dark skies to visitors from all around the world. The towns goal was to commit to protecting its alpine nightscape and natural environment from light pollution. Now, the town is working with residents to have non-compliant lighting meet Dark Sky regulations. The certification not only honors our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, but it sets the Town up for a more sustainable and economically resilient future, said Breckenridge Mayor Kelly Owens in the Dark Sky release. Stargazing, education, and responsible tourism are now part of what makes Breckenridge shine under the stars. Dark Sky locations have been developed since 2001 In 2001, Flagstaff, Arizona, was named the worlds first DarkSky-certified location. The voluntary program certifies communities, parks and protected areas around the world that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently 59 Dark Sky Communities across the world, with the majority located in the U.S. The program was created to incentivize communities and protect places, encouraging them to follow Flagstaffs example and choose better nighttime lighting. This is because light pollution impacts nighttime ecology. One of largest ski-in, ski-out homes in country listed for $24.9M in Bachelor Gulch Researchers say that plants and animals have long relied on the rhythm of Earths day and night cycle, but humans have disrupted that cycle through artificial lighting. Scientists have even asked residents in areas that experience critical migration periods for birds to limit the use of non-essential lights. Artificial light can disorient and attract birds, threatening their migratory patterns and sometimes leading to them colliding with buildings and landing in vulnerable areas, like cities. 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. For nearly 40 years, the British Armys standard rifle has been the SA80. Officially designated the L85, the weapon has been praised, cursed, upgraded and carried everywhere from the Gulf War to Afghanistan. Now, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the SA80 will finally be retired by 2030. The search for its replacement is already underway under a program called Project Grayburn, a competition that will see the Army test and evaluate contenders from some of the biggest names in small arms. The Grayburn decision will shape how the British Army fights in the 2030s, and it could shift Britains relationship with NATO on calibers, doctrine and industry. Why retire the SA80 now? The SA80 entered service as the L85A1 in 1985 as part of the Small Arms for the 1980s program (hence SA80). Its bullpup design, where the action and magazine are behind the trigger, allowed a full-length barrel in a compact package, making it handy for mechanized and urban warfare. But its early years were plagued with reliability problems, from stoppages caused by desert dust to fragile components. Advertisement Advertisement Successive upgrades improved the rifle, most notably the L85A2 overhaul by Heckler & Koch in the early 2000s and the current L85A3 version, which has been serving in NATO deployments. But the platform is aging, the ergonomics are out of step with allied weapons, and the MoD has set its out-of-service date at 2030. U.K. Ministry of Defence What is Project Grayburn? Project Grayburn is the MoDs effort to procure between 150,000 and 180,000 new rifles for the British Army. Its currently in the concept phase, with the assessment phase set to begin in 2026. A contract award is expected by late 2026 or early 2027, giving the military time to start fielding the new rifles before the SA80 retires. The MoD is weighing four major factors: Caliber: Stick with 5.56 NATO for maximum interoperability, or move to something heavier like 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.851mm SIG Fury round like the Armys Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) for more range and armor penetration? Officials have said they want a more lethal option than the SA80 and its 5.56 NATO, suggesting a caliber change is on the table. Layout: Stay with a bullpup design like the SA80, or switch to a conventional rifle layout used by most NATO partners? With no bullpup entrants, though, it looks like this decision is already made, but they could always request this design to lessen the training requirements. Integration: Ensure the new rifle works seamlessly with modern optics, suppressors, and future soldier systems. Domestic production: The capability to produce both the firearm and ammunition in the U.K., as they seek out a more resilient defense industrial base. Top Stories This Week News Marines investigating social media post that appears to mock potential recruit By Jeff Schogol News 4,500 Marines and sailors deploy to Caribbean for anti-cartel mission By Nicholas Slayton News Marines outwitted an AI security camera by hiding in a cardboard box and pretending to be trees By Max Hauptman The contenders Several companies have already thrown their hat in the ring. Advertisement Advertisement Beretta Defence Technologies is offering two options: the New Assault Rifle Platform (NARP), a modular AR-pattern rifle with ambidextrous controls and multiple caliber options, and the Sako M23, already in service with Finland and Sweden. Beretta has also pledged to build rifles in the U.K., a move designed to appeal to the MoDs desire for domestic manufacturing and secure supply chains. Heckler & Koch, already familiar to the British Army from its SA80 upgrade work, is positioning its HK416 and HK433 rifles. The HK416, chambered in 5.56 NATO, is battle-proven in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, and is used by the U.S. Marine Corps, France, and Norway. The HK433 is a lighter, modular alternative, though it has yet to see large-scale adoption. SIG Sauer is offering variants of its MCX family, which the Army adopted as the M7. This can be configured for multiple calibers, including the 6.851mm. The MCX Spear variant, AKA the M7, weighs in at about nine pounds empty, heavier than most 5.56 rifles, but offers modularity and suppressor optimization. U.S. Army photo Cpl. Nigel Hatcher Knights Armament Company is also a potential competitor with its SR-16 in 5.56 NATO and the SR-25 in 7.62 NATO, the latter known in U.S. service as the M110. Both rifles have strong reputations for accuracy and reliability, but are expensive and may be better suited for special operations and designated marksman roles than for general issue. How does this compare to the U.S.? Britains approach is slower and more deliberate than the American path. The U.S. Armys NGSW program fast-tracked adoption of the XM7 rifle and XM250 automatic rifle in 6.851mm to counter modern body armor. The U.K., by contrast, is running a longer competition and putting emphasis on NATO interoperability and industrial strategy. Advertisement Advertisement That difference reflects two philosophies: America prioritized speed and overmatch, while Britain emphasizes careful evaluation, supply security and alignment with allies at least for now. The bigger picture Replacing the SA80 will impact doctrine, alliances and how Britain fights going into the 2030s. Will they stick with NATO-standard 5.56 and go to a more common AR-style setup? Will it follow America into 6.8mm, gaining range at the cost of heavier logistics? Or will it try to strike a uniquely British balance between industrial policy, alliance politics, and what troops actually want in the field? In our YouTube video, we discuss the contenders and considerations more in depth. You can watch that here. On September 1, the sale of certain disposable vapes will be banned throughout the state of Texas. While the move can be seen as a major victory for the environment, many business owners remain concerned about their future. As the Dallas Morning News reported, Texas Senate Bill 2024 enacts a sweeping ban on a wide range of vape products that may limit the amount of harmful plastic waste and e-waste produced in the state. The ban targets vapes manufactured in or marketed from China as well as e-cigarettes that contain intoxicating substances other than nicotine, such as hemp-derived cannabinoids. Violations of the ban will now be considered a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000 per offense. However, the penalties may become much more severe if vape products are sold to minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the bill aims to protect minors from vapes and other substances, the move is seen as a massive blow to vape and THC retailers. Yelena Yuen, co-owner of The Glass House TX, explained the tough position that the legislation puts her in as a business owner. "It's not just me and my husband. We have to worry about our family and our employees, and that's what I worry about. I don't want to put them, or anyone, our customers, into a bad situation," Yuen said. Disposable vape products have been seen as a large pollutor for years. Their plastic casings, non-biodegradable components, and hazardous materials like lithium batteries and nicotine salts can lead to substantial waste production. This can cause potential environmental damage from microplastic pollution and the leaching of chemicals into the ground and nearby waterways. Vape bans can significantly reduce sales for local businesses, potentially forcing many independent shops to adjust on the fly or risk closing down. Hans Enriquez, owner of Lazydaze dispensaries, noted the impact that the ban will have on his business. "We do sell hemp vapes and concentrates, and with that bill passing, we will probably be losing that revenue," Enriquez said. However, the business owner acknowledged that adapting to the current economic landscape shouldn't be too hard. "We were prepared to pivot and adapt. We absolutely would survive as a coffee shop while still providing a cannabis-themed experience," added Enriquez. 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. Aug. 23Decatur has seen new businesses open, current businesses move or expand offerings, and outside businesses move into the area recently. El Antojito Ice Cream and Snack Parlor opened last Saturday. The business sells freshly made ice cream, frozen pops and other snacks. It's located at 137 14th St. S.W. The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. "We've been quite busy, so it's a blessing that we've had a lot of people. Our locals support us," said owner Erika Fajardo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since opening, the street corn flavored ice cream has been popular, as well as El Antojito's aguas frescas, such as agua de jamaica (hibiscus tea), agua de limon con chia (lemonade with chia seeds), and horchata (a cinnamon rice drink). Fajardo said the ice cream shop uses fresh ingredients and no artificial concentrates. "Our main goal is, first to provide great customer service and provide employment for our locals, and also provide fresh ice cream and new dishes made from scratch to our community," Fajardo said. El Antojito will experiment with its menu over time, and Fajardo encourages customers to share items they'd like to see. Price Less IGA has opened in the former Hometown Market location in Gateway Shopping Center on Sixth Avenue Southeast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown Books and More moved from Westmead Drive Southwest to Second Avenue Southeast. The new location has its grand opening at 4 p.m. Monday. The store's hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. In addition to books, the store serves food, including homemade chicken salad, strawberry pretzel salad and pasta salad, but its specialties are its iced coffees, frozen cappuccinos and fruit smoothies. The Owl Cafe, owned by Cross Eyed Owl Brewing, has started offering breakfast on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and some Saturdays. In March, it began offering a $6 breakfast plate with sous-vide egg bites, waffles and bacon. It recently expanded its breakfast menu to include breakfast sandwiches, frittatas, biscuits and gravy, pastries and more. Owner Keith Yager said the Owl Cafe's pastries are among the best he's had and are made fresh in house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want to feel more like a European cafe with a Southern twist," Yager said. The cafe is also expanding its hours. It now opens at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturdays. Decatur residents can also expect to see the Wacky Dogs Korean corndogs food truck around the area starting the first weekend of September. Started by University of North Alabama culinary student William Farris, the food truck is nearly booked through the end of the year after gaining attention online. Wacky Dogs will offer different styles of regular and Korean corndogs, including savory and dessert options. Farris' goal is to book private business and public events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although based in Florence, Farris said most of his bookings are in the Decatur area. In the retail space, Hailos boutique opened a shoe store in downtown Decatur in July. Chris and Michele Hendry also have men's apparel and women's apparel stores, both located on Bank Street. Downtown Decatur Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Kelly Thomas said the downtown area is growing rapidly. Thomas believes this growth will continue even more strongly in the future with the recent approval of a $29.5 million expansion of Cook Museum, and the accompanying 130-room hotel and second downtown parking deck. "I think we're only going to see more small businesses expand into our area because of the concentrated development we're seeing downtown," Thomas said. "We like to say that we're pro-development and we're open to new businesses, so I think you will see more announcements for small businesses and restaurants in the future." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DDRA has an objective of adding more public art to downtown spaces to attract more visitors and businesses, according to Thomas. Nearby Huntsville has recently attracted large chains, including IKEA and LL Bean. Huntsville will be the first Alabama location for both. GraciAnn.Goodin@DecaturDaily.com or 256-340-2437 Businesses in the West Midlands have said the August bank holiday is an important "last hoorah" for trade, before children return to school. Beefy Boys co-founder Anthony Murphy said his firm's restaurants - based in tourist cities including Hereford and Shrewsbury were looking forward to the boost in trade. Meanwhile, Peak Wildlife Park director James Butler said it was "really important" for businesses in Staffordshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The August one is normally one of our busiest I see it a bit like the 'final hoorah' before the kids go back to school," he said. He said that as well as hoping for good weather they had organised extra activities such as a silent disco to help draw families in. The school holiday period also provided a boost for the wider economy locally, he said, with additional staff brought in and follow-on trade for restaurants and cafes in surrounding towns. "We've got Leek just down the road, so often we'll have people staying in Leek and they might nip up to us and then head back down into Leek for an evening meal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that transport links were important to help connect the park with other nearby amenities. A wallaby trail is among the additional attractions being hosted by Peak Wildlife Park to make the most of the school summer holidays [Jenny Harper] "We're in quite a rural location, so it's about connecting us with the local towns and making sure people can get to us." In Shrewsbury, Mike Matthews, owner of the Prince Rupert Hotel, said events like the Shrewsbury Folk Festival which coincided with bank holidays were particularly important for hospitality businesses. "For a hotel, you hope your guests have a fabulous time and they tell their friends, work colleagues and family to come back again to visit our beautiful town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We do everything possible to encourage our guests to explore Shrewsbury," he said. The town had an "enormous" catchment area, and had become an appealing destination for day visitors, he added. He said a bank holiday boost in trade had become more important in the face of rising costs. "These weekends become critically important, because they get us through those quieter periods," he said. Beefy Boys' Mr Murphy said Saturdays and Sundays were usually their two busiest days of the week, with bank holidays providing an extra boost on a Sunday as punters were not heading home early ahead of work on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This often gave them a "real bumper" Monday as well, he said. He added that the August bank holiday was "the big one" before children went back to school. "Bank holidays are real tentpoles in our year, when we know we're going to have a nice little boost in our trade." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Related internet links GOSHEN Discussion over whether or not the C.R. 17 expansion project, the Super Two road which will go from the tip of Elkhart County into and through Kosciusko County, will move forward had Elkhart County Council members in disagreement on Thursday evening during their monthly meeting. The council did approve additional appropriation for funds from the North East Corridor Tax Increment Finance district, for road expansion for C.R. 17, between C.R. 38 and C.R. 142. The $7.2 million in appropriations is only part of the expected costs for the expansion of the C.R. 17 roadway heading south. Elkhart County Planning & Redevelopment Director Mae Kratzer said the TIF currently has $15 million and is projected to collect another $7 million next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Commissioner Brad Rogers said the county should slow down on the project in the future as they figure out how funding will change. The council was not in agreement with Rogers nor with each other. Given our questions about funding coming up, I think we ought to tap the brakes on anything beyond this, said councilman Doug Graham. Weve paid for the right-of-way and all of it up to this point. I think it makes sense to approve this, but given what we see on the forecast being so unknown, we might want to stop the further southward development for now until we understand how were going to be able to fund it. Councilman Adam Bujalski said he agreed, in part. My only concern there is, as weve seen, the last five years Ive been on the council, every year, the cost of roads gets more and more, he said. So I think if this is a project we do want to see to completion, we need to get those answers, but if we can get them in time, Im not a fan of pumping the brakes, because if we pump the brakes three, four years, what could be a $15 million for the next section, in three or four years could be a $22 million project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council president Tom Stump said the corridor is too frequently traveled to be ignored. I think thats an important road for a number of people in the south part of the county and theyre looking forward to it being built as money becomes available. I think thats a very important project for the whole county and C.R. 17 is just an economic machine. Once that was developed, the Goshen Industrial Park exploded with people. Up by the Toll Road there were more factories built and I just think thats an important arterial road and as the county grows, more and more traffic is going to be using that road, and I think its important to build as the funds become available. Councilman Darryl Riegsecker said in the county redevelopment meetings, theyve discussed pushing other projects back to make funding for the C.R. 17 super two road. YES, CHILDRENS SIGNATURES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Purple for Parents attended the Elkhart County Council meeting Thursday night to set the record straight about their recently accused manufactured outrage regarding a petition that went through Middlebury earlier this year. Earlier this month, Middlebury School Board president Kate Hummel told those in attendance at the districts meeting that they reviewed 524 petition signatures submitted by Purple for Parents Indiana supporting the removal of explicit materials from the library, or removing the library board appointees who allegedly allow them. Some of the library appointees are appointed by the Elkhart County Commissioners, the county council, the school board and some by the Middlebury Town Council. Hummel claimed that there were signatures of children, people who did not reside in the librarys district and a signature of a deceased person. The petition exemplifies the groups dishonesty and lack of integrity, further undermining their own credibility, she claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But during the councils meeting on Thursday, Cindy Hajicek, executive director of Purple for Parents Indiana, spoke during public comment explaining the claims. Yes, children signed the petition and it was during one condition; it was when a parent permitted their son or daughter to sign the petition, she said. The organizers set the terms of this petition and it wasnt a school board or a governing body, and honoring parental authority is actually consistent with the organizers standards. Likewise, dismissing parental authority reflects on the school board president. Secondly, she said, referring to the claim that out-of-district signatures on the petition, Yes, unfortunately, there were five mistakenly submitted signatures. The correct number of petitions that you and the other governing bodies received is 519. In total, we collected 573, and the Middlebury was a subset of the total collection. That was an error rate of less than 1%, hardly reason to justify dismissing 519 ballot petitions. Hajicek also claimed that she asked the board president to provide her with proof of the alleged deceased individual who signed, but she refused. Hajicek said without evidence, she was dismissing the claim, and called it possibly fabricated and damaging to her own credibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hajicek also asserted that the petition requested no book banning or censorship, but rather, keeping books that contain graphic descriptions of sexual acts that include masturbation, pedophilia, adultery, rape, incest, fellatio, sodomy, as well as books that claim gender is independent of biological sex in an area that minors can only access when accompanied by a parent or guardian. She also said the petition still stands, and theyre still requesting the library adopt the standards. The council also reappointed, as the only applicants to the positions, Cathryn Schaefers to the Bristol Library Board and Darlene Byland to the Wakarusa Library Board, with terms expiring in August 2029. BOARD ITEMS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council approved the reappointment for Kevin Bullard to the Alcoholic Beverage Board for a single-year term. Elkhart County Planning & Development requested $72,000 from the General Fund for online permitting for their software system through EnerGov Citizen Self Service. Its the second time the request has come before the council, as it was approved about five years ago, but it wasnt ready to be utilized until now. The council approved $302,199 from the General Fund for information technology, for Moser to continue reconstruction through the end of the year. The money was moved from Salaries to Contracts. Commissioners approved a $1 million appropriation from the EDIT Fund for construction and right-of-way acquisition for Bridge 253, which is on C.R. 1 south of C.R. 36 in Wakarusa. They also approved another $1 million appropriation from the Motor Vehicle Highway Restricted Fund for Bridge 193 on C.R. 43 north of C.R. 42 in Millersburg. Both bridges were identified as being structurally deficient during the last countywide bridge inspection and will have their superstructures, including beams and the deck, replaced. Both designs are nearing completion. Construction would begin next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council approved $300,000 from the Self-Insurance Property & Liability Fund for insurance deductibles on liability, property and casualty and insurance premiums. The majority of the insurance funds have already been approved. This is for other smaller things. The council approved $80,000 for the school lunch program at the Elkhart County Juvenile Detention Facility from a grant. The council approved $100,000 for the Elkhart County Health Department to prepare for the flu season and tracking the flu. Health Administrator Andrew Bylsma said originally, the money was intended to combat HPAI Avian Influenza, but there were no positive cases. The council approved the Court Interpreter Grant for interpretation in the court system, for $30,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council also approved $30,000 from the Seed IGIO State Grant for Planning & Development. The funds were offered to every county in the state to help meet state GIS standards. An interlocal agreement with the city of Elkhart for construction of public utilities and roads on Atlas Drive. Although a TIF-based project, primary responsibility for the project lies with the city, which has annexed the area nearby. Mark Evans and Kathyrn Jennings introduced themselves and their programs in ag through the Elkhart County Purdue Extension office. Evans, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Jennings, Animal Production, discussed projects theyve been involved in over the summer and services theyre able to offer now at the extension office. Evans, a 20-year educator, said hes never seen an extension office used as often as the one in Goshen. Authorities in Abuja have voiced grave concern over the fate of thousands of Nigerians trapped in Libya, with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirming that at least 7,000 citizens remain stranded. Speaking at the launch of the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) Nigeria Strategic Plan (20252027), NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the situation as extremely alarming, and lamented the continued flow of desperate migrants risking their lives through the desert. She urged stronger collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the root causes of irregular migration while offering safer, structured opportunities for young Nigerians seeking livelihoods abroad. The IOM, which co-hosted the event, reiterated that Libya remains the primary departure hub for migrants attempting perilous journeys to Europe, with 90% of those bound for Italy setting out from its shores. Since January alone, nearly 14,000 irregular migrants have been intercepted and forcibly returned to Libya, while 370 deaths and 300 missing persons have been recorded along the Central Mediterranean route. The agency called for an urgent scale-up of legal migration channels and increased funding to humanitarian organizations to mitigate the crisis and protect vulnerable lives. The California High Speed Rail Authority, in an updated business plan released Friday morning, has signaled it is on track to start whisking passengers from Bakersfield to Merced as early as January 2032. Another sign the authority is thinking business first is the possibility of generating revenue as quickly as possible by focusing on a Palmdale-to-Gilroy connection ahead of a northward push to Merced. This would connect the countrys first bullet train to its two largest population centers by 2038, which the 90-page report predicts could generate up to 18.02 million passengers annually and revenue of up to $1.6 billion. I see clearer now more than ever the potential for this transformational project, one that can reshape the state and our society for the better, said Ian Choudri, the authoritys CEO, in the report. I see a future by 2038 to 2039 when operations are already connecting the Central Valley to population centers and innovation hubs, offering new career opportunities, economic mobility, affordable housing and a cleaner environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report, which was signed off by Gov. Gavin Newsom, provides a more optimistic view of the high-speed rail project than what the Trump administration has called a train to nowhere with no viable path to completion. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced he was pulling $4 billion in federal funds from the project. Earlier this week, House Committee on Oversight and Government Spending Chair James Comer opened an investigation into the rail authority for apparent repeated use of misleading ridership projection in getting federal funds. In June, Duffy released a 300-page report by the Federal Railroad Administration finding that the authority missed deadlines, had budget shortfalls and overrepresented projected ridership. Choudri, responding to the report, said the reports claims were cherry-picked and out of date, and therefore misleading. We believe the high-speed rails new business plan addresses concerns by the federal government and realistically calls for the state Legislature for long-term funding and policy changes. Choudri said the project, since its inception, has faced almost unprecedented hurdles, including a lack of continuous political support to insufficient jurisdictional authority, costly and duplicative regulatory requirements and chronic underfunding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State lawmakers should read the report, hold public hearings and address concerns by the rail authority. The skeleton of the high-speed rail is there in plain view. It is time to start putting some meat on those bones. A road to financial stability The report makes clear that a Bakersfield-to-Merced connection will fail to generate revenue to offset expenses. However, the rail authority is required to spend its funding on this connection. It would prefer to invest in the Palmdale-to-Gilroy connection that would allow passengers to connect at the southern end to existing rail and transportation services to Los Angeles and at the northern end to Caltrain and other existing connections. It does make sense to have a rail service that generates the most revenue so that the public and naysayers can see that high-speed rail is not a pipe dream. Legislative approval will be needed for the rail authority to reprioritize its work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It means deferring segment delivery, the agency told Fresno Bee reporter Erik Galicia. Building first to Gilroy, where the resulting ridership and revenues are substantial and sufficient to help fund future segment deliveries, like Merced, where farebox recovery is insufficient to cover operations and maintenance costs. The 90-page report provides the most comprehensive plan of how high speed rail will become a reality a quarter of a century after voters passed a 2008 ballot measure authorizing $9.95 billion for the project. The plan provides a realistic view of how project Choudri envisions a clear path to achieve commercial success at the earliest possible stage, ensuring the system begins generating compelling economic return and maximizing the value of Californias investment. The rail authority is counting on $1 billion annually for the next 15 years from the states cap-and-trade program, $4 billion the Trump administration is trying to claw back and additional funding from the private sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also looking at additional revenue from parking, billboards, train station naming rights, advertising, baggage fees and the sale of excess property. California voters approved a high-speed rail project in 2008 by passing Proposition 1A. This ballot measure authorized $9.95 billion in bonds to fund the project. The goal was to connect major cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, the Central Valley and the Bay Area with high-speed rail. Choudris reassessment of the entire project puts high-speed rail back on track. Legislators must now do their part. The volunteers who take part in search-and-rescue operations and then support disaster survivors belong to organizations that have become more formal and established over the past decade. Thats what we found after spending more than four years volunteering alongside eight of these groups to better understand their role and the motivations of the people who participate in these efforts. We did this research as part of a larger team of sociologists, an urban planning scholar and emergency management specialists. All of us worked alongside civilian volunteer search-and-rescue groups from Louisiana and Texas between 2017 and 2022 during and after many hurricanes, including Harvey and Laura, the winter storm known as Uri and other major disasters. While we volunteered with these organizations, we observed them in action and interviewed their leaders and volunteers to learn why they were making the time and taking personal risks to save others. Many cited their personal values, expressed their need to belong to a group, and said it had helped them find a sense of purpose. Others shared that they were motivated by their personal circumstances and experiences or feelings of guilt, or that this kind of volunteering gave them a deep sense of satisfaction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I lost everything I owned in Katrina. They deemed my familys property uninhabitable, said a boater well call Dylan to protect his anonymity. I cant sit here after knowing what it is to lose everything. Some volunteers said that one reason why they have repeatedly done this work is to counter stereotypes about people who engage in these efforts. When hes heard people say, Oh youre just out there, doing it for the spotlight, said Roger, he told us he wants to respond by saying, Yeah, dude. If you flood, call me, Ill come get you. While the organizations we researched were based in Louisiana and Texas, the volunteers who participate in these efforts come from across the U.S. and, in some cases, other countries. One volunteer we met was from the United Kingdom. Why it matters Since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, volunteers have been participating in search-and-rescue efforts after big disasters especially in that region. But these volunteers come from all over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of these groups are known as Cajun Navy organizations. Whether or not these organizations use the Cajun Navy branding in their names they share, a common mission of helping others in emergencies. These volunteers arent just operating boats and helicopters. Others serve as dispatchers, handle logistics, and run social media operations. Over time, some of the organizations have begun to team up with local emergency responders, signing memorandums of understanding with them. They partner with government agencies while assisting in disaster response and relief efforts, but they primarily operate with autonomy and are able to travel where they perceive the need is greatest. This kind of group tends to dissolve after a disaster is over, instead of evolving into an established nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many of the eight groups we studied have become nonprofits or are in the process of doing so. How we do our work We were able to do this research by becoming volunteers ourselves. We took part in dispatch operations on the ground and remotely, and we supported logistics planning. We also observed and, in some cases, participated in search-and-rescue training and operations in the water and on land. The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. 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: Kyle Breen, Texas A&M International University and J. Carlee Purdum, University of Houston Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Kyle Breen received funding from the National Science Foundation for this research. He currently holds funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for other research projects. J. Carlee Purdum received funding from The National Science Foundation for this research and for other ongoing projects. NEED TO KNOW Reef Mordente, 19, has been accused of raping an intoxicated victim at a California frat party According to the Santa Barbara Sheriffs Office, the teen turned himself in to police and was later released on bail Authorities believe there are witnesses to the April incident that have not come forward A California teen was arrested on felony sexual assault charges related to alleged incidents at a fraternity party earlier this year. Reef Mordente, 19, of Studio City, was arrested Aug. 9 on a felony warrant for rape of an intoxicated victim, forced oral copulation and digital penetration, the Santa Barbara Sheriffs Office said in a press release on Thursday, Aug. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He turned himself in to the Los Angeles Police Department. After being booked, he was released on $100,000 bail. Detectives began their investigation in April after receiving a report of a sexual assault that happened during a wedding-themed party at an Isla Vista frat house in the 6500-block of Cordoba Road. Isla Vista is about a 105-mile drive northwest from Los Angeles. According to the press release, investigators uncovered conversations where Mordente used language that framed the assault in scoring or conquering terms. Authorities believe others witnessed the assault, but have not yet come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our prevention efforts must prioritize the vast majority of men those who may never engage in criminal behavior themselves, yet whose participation in peer groups and social dynamics can, knowingly or not, enable sexual predators, Elsa Granados, executive director at Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA), said in a statement. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. She continued, Through laughter at inappropriate jokes or uncritical acceptance of stories framed as conquests or scores, men may become passive bystanders or inadvertent facilitators of harm. The Santa Barbara Sheriffs Office said coming forward can be difficult, but it is essential in order to help ensure accountability, prevent future harm and support survivors as they heal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Ellis at (805) 681-4150. Tips can also be shared anonymously online at: sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip or by calling (805) 681-4171. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. Read the original article on People (FOX40.COM) Governor Gavin Newsom signed a Memorandum of Understanding between California and Denmark on Friday, collaborating on climate and technology goals. Video Above: California and Denmark in new partnership on climate and technology efforts Newsom and Californias delegation met with Denmarks delegation and Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Lkke Rasmussen and Ambassador of Denmark to the U.S. Jesper Mller Srensen. According to the governor, the leaders met and signed the MOU in San Francisco, outlining their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and green energy transition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are partnering with Denmark to further our commitment to building affordable clean energy, bolstering our low-carbon, green growth economies, fostering innovation, and accelerating safe and secure technologies, Newsom said. Image: Governor Gavin Newsom Newsom outlined the understandings made in the partnership between California and Denmark: Boosts the green economy and accelerates climate resilience by achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 through shared leadership Enhances digital and cyber resilience through technology and policy collaboration Strengthens innovation ecosystems by supporting public-private collaboration, research exchange, development projects, and aligning investment in future-oriented sectors, including emerging technologies and sustainability Facilitates the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and policy insights through dialogues, delegations, trade promotions, projects, and partnerships We are both frontrunners within green energy, innovation, and sustainability. If we combine our efforts, we can really push forward not only for our own economies and societies, but also by inspiring others to pursue a green transition that creates jobs and growth at the same time, Rasmussen 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 FOX40 News. A former Sacramento elementary school teacher used his position as head of the campus broadcast club to groom numerous students and film himself sexually assaulting them in the club's private room for years, authorities said. Now he may spend the rest of his life behind bars. On Friday, 64-year-old Kim Kenneth Wilson was sentenced to 215 years to life after pleading guilty to nine felony counts of committing lewd acts upon a child, according to the Sacramento County district attorney's office. He will become eligible for elder parole in 17 years, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson was a longtime teacher at Del Paso Heights Elementary School, where he founded the broadcasting club, which had its own windowless, soundproof room. This is where most of his crimes took place, prosecutors said. After taking children to the room, he would commit sex acts on them often recording or photographing them. He sometimes forced students to look into the camera while saying and depicting sexual acts, prosecutors said. He also sexually assaulted some young victims while hosting events at his home, according to authorities. When Sacramento police searched his home they made several alarming discoveries child-sized artificial genitalia, a child-sized torso with artificial genitalia and a vast trove of recordings depicting Wilson assaulting children who had been entrusted to his care, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: California 'teacher of the year' sexually assaulted elementary school boys. She gets 30-year term The Twin Rivers School District did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Wilson on Friday. Wilson and the Twin Rivers Unified School District are also involved in two civil lawsuits related to student abuse, one of which was settled earlier this month for $6 million, according to the Sacramento Bee. That complaint, filed in January 2023, alleges Wilson used his position of authority to groom and sexually abuse a female sixth-grader on school grounds during the 2014-15 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Wilson isolated plaintiff in his classroom behind a closed and/or locked door and/or in a locked, windowless, padded silent room within his classroom where he proceeded to take photographs of her, touch her breasts, kiss her, penetrate her vagina with his hands and fingers and force her to orally copulate him," the complaint alleges. According to the complaint, the girl suffered bodily injuries and shock to her nervous system, which continue to cause her mental and physical pain. It further alleges that the district failed to supervise Wilson's behavior, allowing his misconduct to continue for years. A second civil case, filed in June 2023, outlines a similar history of alleged abuse this time of a 7-year-old female student during the 2013-14 school year. Wilson routinely pulled her into the broadcast room during her regular class periods and recess periods and took photographs of the second-grader's genitalia, the complaint alleges. On at least one occasion he directed her to hold a sausage in her mouth while he took photographs of her from multiple angles, the complaint alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint alleges that the school district knew, or should have known, about Wilson's sexual abuse of multiple young students and failed to protect their safety. The case remains open in Sacramento County Superior Court. 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. Emanuel Tucker, 45, of Canyon Lake, spent the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic helping himself to millions meant for struggling businesses, federal prosecutors say. Over a two-year span, Tucker and his co-conspirators submitted dozens of fraudulent loan applications through the Small Business Administrations Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, ultimately securing about $15.9 million in taxpayer-backed funds, according to court records. Rather than using the money to support legitimate businesses, authorities say Tucker spent the relief funds on luxury cars, including a Cadillac Escalade, a Bentley Continental, and a Ferrari F8 Tributo. He also purchased multiple million-dollar homes and high-end jewelry, including a $63,000 diamond ring and a $400,000 diamond necklace. Tucker pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, the Justice Department announced. Prosecutors said the loan applications contained false information about payroll, revenue, and other business details, and involved companies Tucker controlled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man charged with triple murder in L.A. County shooting Federal officials described the scheme as a serious breach of public trust. The defendants egregious scheme relied on layers of deception to steal taxpayer money to buy himself luxury vehicles, residential properties, and jewelry, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. The Criminal Division remains dedicated to holding fraudsters who steal from the public fisc to account for their greed. Tyler Hatcher, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigations Los Angeles office, added that the stolen funds were diverted from businesses that genuinely needed pandemic relief. IRS-CI is proud to partner with our federal law enforcement organizations to investigate and ensure relief funds are spent in accordance, he said. Other federal officials weighed in as well. Exploiting pandemic relief meant for struggling Americans is not only morally reprehensible, its a betrayal of public trust, said FBI Assistant Director Jose A. Perez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tucker is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 4 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal judge will set his sentence after reviewing U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX 5/KUSI) On Thursday, the California parole board denied parole for Erik Menendez, one of the brothers convicted of killing their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. Watch the report by FOX 5/KUSIs Tony Shin above. Erik, now 54, and his brother Lyle, 57, were convicted of using a shotgun to kill their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in a case that drew worldwide attention for its brutality. Prosecutors said the brothers murdered for financial gain, while the defense argued they acted after years of alleged sexual and emotional abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Diego attorney Gretchen Von Helms said on Thursday, parole officials would consider not only the brothers rehabilitation in prison but also the notoriety of the crime. They ask the inmate how theyll do on the outside do they have the tools, the education, the experience to be a good member of society, she said. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has urged the board to deny parole, calling the brothers claims of abuse a litany of lies. In a 75-page statement, he argued the killings were premeditated and staged to look like a mob hit. This was not self-defense, Hochman said. This was a deliberate, brutal murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Menendez brothers were originally sentenced to life without parole, but in May were resentenced to 50 years to life, making them eligible for release under Californias youthful offender law. Both have expressed remorse, and more than 20 relatives have voiced support for their parole. Lyle Menendez is scheduled for his parole hearing on Friday. Even if the board grants release, the governor could still veto the decision. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) The CEO of Camping World doubled down on his decision not to stop flying the American flag at his recreational vehicle locations across the U.S. despite city and county regulations. Video Above: Business, San Joaquin County at odds over ability to fly American flag Camping World is known as the largest retailer and dealer of RVs in the U.S. It was founded in 1966 and has nearly 250 lots throughout the nation. For more than a year, the companys CEO, Marcus Lemonis, has been at odds with local governments because of ordinances that prohibited him from flying a more than 120-foot American flag at his businesses. In April 2024, the Camping World location in San Joaquin County was forced to remove the flag for alleged safety reasons and a lack of permits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camping World location closes amid controversy over flying American flag At the time, Lemonis told FOX40 that if it were a marketing flag on the pole, he might take it down while the business works out the permitting issues with the county, but the American flag stays, no matter what the county says. Nearly one year later, March 2025, another Camping World location in North Carolina abruptly closed its doors for good amid a similar battle with the county about policies that prevented Lemonis from flying the flag. The government went as far as to file a lawsuit against the CEO, which is still ongoing. North Carolinas legal action came amid another lawsuit filed in Sevierville, Tennessee, over the same issue. Despite lawsuits and fines for violating local laws, Lemonis stands firm on his decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Northern California business, county at odds over ability to fly large American flag The flag? Its never coming down, Lemonis said in a viral video posted by FOX News on social media. Over the last several years, Ive had a number of run-ins with local city officials and governments over my raising of the flag. He added, Ill never take it down. And the reason for that is its my love letter as an immigrant to this country who, quite frankly, was given a gift. Lemonis said flying the American flag is his way of saying thank you to the country for allowing him to make a living. To add to the controversy, Lemonis, who is also the executive chairman for Bed Bath & Beyond, says the closed-down store may make a comeback just not in California because of excessive regulations in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell speaks to Gov. Jeff Landry at a news conference Sept. 13, 2024, on the recovery from Hurricane Francine at Signature Aviation in Kenner. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) Sad. Disappointed. Not surprised. Theyre the first words that come to mind when reflecting on the indictment of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who faces 11 felony counts on federal charges of wire fraud, obstructing justice and lying to a grand jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation centers on how she allegedly denied and concealed her romantic relationship with Jeffrey Vappie, a member of her security detail, and used public dollars to pay for their extensive travel together. Vappie, who has since resigned from the New Orleans Police Department, faces separate federal charges for filing timesheets that indicated he was on the job while he was actually spending personal time with the mayor. While its disheartening that yet another Louisiana politician has put themselves in criminal jeopardy, it should come as no surprise. The 44-page indictment (read it below) is basically a synopsis of several months of investigative reporting from our partners at WVUE-TV Fox 8 News. Their journalists obtained the publicly available security camera footage from Jackson Square that showed Cantrell and Vappie spending extended time together at the city-owned dwelling in the Pontalba Apartments. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The mayor has had many opportunities to justify her actions or even be contrite. She has instead steadfastly painted herself as a victim, despite a mounting paper trail that points to her complicity. She faces arraignment in federal court Sept. 10, and political observers expect her to serve out the rest of her term that ends in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cantrells indictment comes 11 years after the conviction of former Mayor Ray Nagin, who accepted bribes from businessmen seeking city contracts. Nagins indictment followed his time in office, but his offenses occurred while he led New Orleans attempt to rebound from Hurricane Katrina. His crimes carried the added sting of someone taking advantage of their power while the city was at its most vulnerable. The current mayors downfall is disappointing for different reasons, namely when you consider her rapid rise from neighborhood organizer to city leader. After Katrina, she led a grassroots movement to revive the stricken Broadmoor community. Her track record and straightforward style helped the Palmdale, California, native overcome the outsider label some placed on her, despite having lived in New Orleans since her student days at Xavier University. While detractors bristle at her assertive public persona, Cantrell is a very impactful politician in one-on-one settings. Insiders say she can be firm when the situation calls for it and sometimes when it doesnt yet she shows an empathetic side that endears her to diehard supporters. Cantrell embraced the nickname Teedy, a badge of affection used in local Black families, usually given to that aunt who doesnt hesitate to tell it like it is. Even after critics weaponized the term to express their disdain for her, the mayor doubled down and made Teedy part of her social media branding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the recent indictment, Cantrell is also connected to another federal investigation that has produced criminal charges. Electrical inspector Randy Farrell is accused of giving the mayor thousands of dollars worth of New Orleans Saints tickets, a free iPhone and lunch in exchange for firing a city official who was investigating permit approvals for Farrells business. Only Farrell and businessman Fouad Zeton, the alleged middleman between Farrell and the mayor, were targeted in that indictment, but charges against Cantrell in this case remain a possibility. Farrell has pleaded not guilty to bribery and wire fraud charges. Zeton, who positioned himself as a close ally of the mayor, has already admitted his guilt in yet another federal case. He filed a bogus insurance claim to recover damages for pricey art he said was stolen from his home. Even by Louisiana political scandal standards, the web of deceit is astonishing. And its simply too much to wrap ones head around at a time when the city marks the immense tragedy that unfolded 20 years ago this week. The levee failures are yet another example of public officials letting down the public trust. While the potential consequences for Cantrell would represent a win for accountability, there is no satisfaction in her undoing. Her story is the latest from a city rife with tales of squandered potential. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A celebration of culture will be held in Recreation Park tomorrow for the fourth annual Binghamton NY Caribbean Carnival. The Carnival will feature local performers and DJs such as Jamaican artist Push400, DeeJay Izm who was the events house DJ for the last 3 years, and many more. And of course there will be food ranging from Caribbean classics to soul food. Caribbean Carnivals Cofounder Sulaiminah Burns says people go all out for Carnival, some even wear costumes decorated with feathers and rhinestones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says about a thousand people came out last year and this year shes expecting an even bigger turnout. Cofounder of Binghamton NY Caribbean Carnival Sulaiminah Burns says, Its very community-oriented and it brings a lot of people out that may not have experienced Carnival before, may not be familiar with Caribbean cuisine and get to try all sorts of different things. We had a pretty big crowd last year, I expect it to be bigger this year. So I think thats what makes it special, its a cultural event that people in Broome County look forward to. The Carnival will take place at Recreation Park tomorrow from 3 to 8pm. But the fun doesnt stop there, as an after party will be hosted at the new Caribbean Banquet Hall marking its first ever event. In past years the event was hosted at the Caribbean Patty World restaurant on Main Street in Binghamton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The restaurant will be opening another location at the Caribbean Banquet Hall down the block at the site of the old Cyber Cafe. Caribbean Patty World owner Tanya Williams says the restaurants high demand warranted a larger space where all are welcome. Caribbean Patty World Owner Tanya Williams says, Thats open to everyone because were all one. You see all the flags, every single country. Everybody is welcome. Williams has both the restaurant and banquet hall decked out with flags from every country. She says they dont have a date yet for when the restaurants location in the banquet hall will open, as the inside of the venue is currently being renovated. But the outside is party-ready, as Williams says the backyard can accommodate up to 500 people and it has a tent featuring lights, flags, and a dance floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Carnival after party will be the venues first event, their second one will be on Sunday at 2pm where a Carnival brunch will be held to cap off the celebration. Those interested in booking events at Caribbean Banquet Hall can call 607-203-1753. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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 biggest lie those who create and spread misinformation perpetrate is that they want you to think for yourself. They warn their target audience not to be "sheep" and not to let themselves be told what to believe by "mainstream" voices, the "deep state" or other bogey men. But in a classic case of misdirection, at the same time they warn you about this, they deploy a range of manipulative tricks to ensure you don't actually think clearly or independently. One of these tactics is to seduce you into subscribing to "logical fallacies." These are flawed patterns of reasoning that sound convincing but lead to false or misleading conclusions. Logical fallacies are like optical illusions of thought: convincing on the surface, but ultimately an apparition. Like a magician who tries to convince you he really has pulled a rabbit from a hat, getting you to fall for logical fallacies is a sleight of hand that aims to trick you into believing something is true that isn't. But when you know how a magic trick works, it no longer fools you. If you recognize the most common logical fallacies and understand how they work, they very quickly lose their power. Once you can see behind the curtain, the illusion fades, and you begin to understand things as they really are. Here are 10 of the most common ones you need to be on the lookout for when it comes to vaccine misinformation. 1. Appeal to nature fallacy Typical claim: "Vaccines are unnatural, so they must be bad." Fallacy: Assumes that natural is always better or safer, which is not logically or scientifically valid. Plenty of natural substances are very harmful or deadly, and plenty of man-made products, including many medicines, are life-saving. 2. Slippery slope fallacy Typical claim: "If we allow vaccine mandates, next we'll lose all medical freedom." Fallacy: Assumes a minor or reasonable action will inevitably spiral into something more extreme and implausible. This is one of the easiest logical fallacies to spot and relies on stretching logic to its breaking point in order to provoke fear. Politicians particularly like this tactic. 3. Ad hominem fallacy Typical claim: "You can't trust that doctor, he's obese and doesn't know how to look after himself." Fallacy: Attacks the person instead of engaging with their argument or evidence. This is usually the go-to strategy when one either has no evidence to back up what they are saying or doesn't have any capacity to engage with the evidence. 4. False dichotomy fallacy Typical claim: You either trust vaccines blindly or you're a free thinker. Fallacy: Ignores the nuanced middle ground and oversimplifies the choices. Often this is a version of the "you're either with us or against us" ploy. It frames the debate so that one option is clearly unreasonable, creating the false impression that the right choice is obvious. 5. Straw man fallacy Typical claim: "Pro-vaccine people think vaccines are perfect and have no risks." Fallacy: This may be the most relied upon tactic by those spreading vaccine misinformation. It relies on misrepresenting the evidence to make it easier to attack. It often involves a number of different tactics such as distorting, cherry-picking or oversimplifying the evidence. RFK Jr is a big fan of this tactic. 6. Post hoc fallacy (false cause) Typical claim: "My child got sick after a vaccine, so the vaccine caused it." Fallacy: Confuses correlation with causation without considering other explanations. Just because two events occur at about the same time doesn't mean one caused the other. The false belief that the MMR vaccine causes autism stems from a single fraudulent study that wrongly inferred causation from a mere correlation. 7. Bandwagon fallacy (appeal to popularity) Typical claim: "Millions of people are questioning vaccines so there must be something wrong." Fallacy: Assumes that a widespread belief is equivalent to truth. This is also called the "illusory truth effect" and it's one of the main reasons misinformation has such an influence on social media. When people find themselves in echo chambers where they are led to believe a view is commonly held, even when it is obviously untrue, they are more likely to believe it. Humans are wired up to follow the herd. 8. Anecdotal fallacy Typical claim: "I know someone who got vaccinated and still got sick so vaccines can't work." Fallacy: Uses personal stories instead of statistical or scientific evidence. This is equivalent to the reference to the grandmother who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day and lived to be 100 years old. It's often the go-to strategy when there is no evidence to support a claim. Apart from the fact these anecdotes are usually not verifiable, anecdotes are no substitute for rigorous scientific evidence. 9. Perfectionist fallacy Typical claim: "Vaccines aren't 100% safe and effective, so they are useless." Fallacy: Rejects a good solution (vaccines) because it is not perfect. No medical intervention is 100% risk-free. Even something universally used like aspirin can have side effects, and so an extension of this logic is that every single therapeutic intervention is useless because it is not perfect, which is absurd. 10. Base rate fallacy Typical claim: "More vaccinated people are getting sick, so vaccines don't work." Fallacy: In a highly vaccinated population, most people will be vaccinated and inevitably some vaccinated people will still get sick. While the absolute numbers of vaccinated people who get sick will outnumber those who did not get vaccinated and got sick, this is misleading as the proportion will be much smaller due to the sheer numbers of vaccinated individuals in the population. In a nutshell We live in a time where bad-faith actors are easily able to spread deliberate misinformation. Therefore, we all need to educate ourselves in the tactics and tricks used by these con artists, so we're not fooled. Being able to recognize how logical fallacies are used to make misleading arguments seem persuasive is one of the things we can do to protect ourselves. The good news is, once you understand the most commonly used logical fallacies, it's harder to be fooled. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Many students returning to Minnesota classrooms this year will find new restrictions in place on cellphone use. A number of schools implemented policies on cellphones last year, but this year is the first that districts are mandated to have one. District-wide policies provide consistency for schools and staff, said Jamil Payton, principal of Johnson Senior High School in St. Paul. One of the things that came up when we started around this time last year was some teachers were like, Im down to do this, but everybodys got to do it, Payton said. I dont want to be the teacher thats going hard on this policy or not just policy, I mean these expectations but then when a student goes to the next class, the teacher lets them have their phones out, and then when they come back to me, theyre like, Well, so-and-so let me have my phone out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At St. Paul Public Schools, the use of personal electronic devices is not permitted during school hours, but high schools can develop their own plans. At Johnson Senior High School, students will need to place their phones in phone pouches near the teachers desk and can use their phones only during passing time and lunch. Parents need to sign off on the policy as part of back-to-school forms and signs will be up in school buildings spelling out the new rules. Executive Chief of Schools Andrew Collins said at a SPPS board meeting Tuesday that he thinks theres a high level of confidence and readiness on the new regulations. Student behavior, attendance White Bear Lake Schools rolled out their cellphone policy for the 2024-25 school year, which requires that students put their phones in cellphone sleeves at the front of the classroom at the start of class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a constant battle because students, again, as over the summer, theyre not going to have much restricted use, and were going to have to deal with that when school starts again, said Russ Reetz, White Bear Lake High School principal. So its going to be another major campaign on our behalf to remind students of our expectations and help wean them off that screen time. It was a really successful year, with fewer fights and social media-related conflicts among students during the school day, Reetz said. Improved behavior also meant less resources that staff were using to respond to what was happening, he said. Our attendance went up, our grades, Reetz said. We saw students doing better in the classroom, higher GPAs. And so all of that we attribute back to the fact that we didnt have the distraction of the phone in the students hands. Students also seemed to use their phones less even when they were allowed to have them, such as lunch or passing time for high schoolers, said Nate Beulah, White Bear Lake High School associate principal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without cellphones, students cant reach their friends unless theyre in class with them, which may play a part in attendance, Beulah said. If you cant reach them, you cant teach them. And so I think the cellphone policy offers the opportunity to have more kids in class initially, and then we engage them, Beulah said. We kind of turn the dream machine on, light the fire, and thats the way we keep them in the class. They know were serious Stillwater Public Schools, which started its school year this week, doesnt allow any cellphone use during the school day, including during lunch or passing time. For Stillwater High School science teacher Stacy Bartlett, that has meant less time telling students to put their phones away. In banning the cellphones, were painting everybody with the same broad brush, Bartlett said. And the benefit to it is, I dont have to ask the students to put away their cellphone. They know that were serious, and I know they know were serious because they havent had their phones out. But we also missed the opportunity to model and teach when is it appropriate to have that cellphone out. The other side of that coin is that if the cellphones arent banned, then its going to be taken advantage of, the fact that there is some wiggle room in there. So well see how it goes. But so far, its been really nice to not have to be fighting that battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the different districts and schools, students sometimes test boundaries like wearing wireless headphones in a way that obscures them from the teacher or by bringing an extra phone to school. Beneficial on a number of different levels At Hill-Murray School, a private school in Maplewood, some students initially tried to get around the use of Yondr pouches a pouch that locks magnetically and is unlocked at the end of the school day. But students dont really fight the policy anymore, said Hill-Murray School President Melissa Dan, and school officials have seen an increase in student engagement and better behavior and performance. Its also improved safety and security in the school because students cant covertly take videos of others without their permission, Dan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its still too early for districts and education officials to know the full effects of cellphone policies in schools in areas, but a number of administrators say theyve seen positive effects. I think the group that appreciated it the most is the student body, Beulah said. Once were able to remove some of the barriers, distractions, or however you might see that, the classroom just looks, feels and sounds different. And when you walk into a classroom, the learning is happening and you see kids helping kids and its really beneficial on a number of different levels, but Ive seen the most gratitude from the student body. Mary Divine contributed to this report. Related Articles COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Students are heading back to the classroom, and the Center for Disease Control said one in five high school students reported being bullied in school last year. A central Ohio woman started the Empower Our Youth Foundation to combat this problem. Tonya Kelly knows the impact of bullying well, both from being a fourth grade teacher and having to watch her daughter go through it. It was gut wrenching My daughter was a senior in high school. She was vibrant, she had great grades, she was a cheerleader and then all of a sudden you start seeing that anxiousness. You start seeing grades fall. You start seeing that hesitation to go to school, Kelly said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was inspired to start her foundation after she spoke out about her daughters situation. It was very hard, but I think once I spoke out there was this community of families and people and kids who have been bullied, she said. Ohio seeing decline in public school enrollment After getting her daughter help, Kelly began a mission to help other families who are navigating similar situations. She works with students all over the area teaching them self-empowerment and to stick up for each other. Stand up for your friends. Do not let them suffer in silence, Kelly said. She said it typically takes around 90 days for bullying to be uncovered. She encouraged parents to have daily check-ins with their children and be on the lookout for signs of bullying: a drop in grades, a change in mood or a hesitation to go to school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also helps parents get their children help including getting involved with the school or if it escalates even law enforcement. When the community is involved we have less problems. We know difficulties are going to arise but it allows us to share those experiences, she said. Kelly said her foundation also talks with children about not being the bully, and she urged parents to do the same. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. A co-owner of a longtime Newport restaurant hit a bicyclist with an SUV and then drove off for a catering job, leaving the man in the road with significant injuries, a criminal complaint says. Mark Thomas Tinucci Sr., 70, of Cottage Grove, was charged Thursday in Washington County District Court with criminal vehicular operation in connection with the Aug. 16 crash on Maxwell Avenue below Interstate 494 in Newport. The bicyclist was diagnosed with a brain bleed, eight broken ribs, a fractured clavicle and scapula and tear in the carotid artery. (The victim) has no sign of cognitive ability at this time, the complaint says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tinucci and his two brothers bought Tinuccis Restaurant in 1991, becoming the third generation of Tinuccis involved in the hospitality industry, according to the restaurants website. Tinucci was charged by summons and is scheduled to make a first court appearance on the felony charge Oct. 1. A message was left for him Friday seeking comment on the allegations. A defense attorney is not listed in the court file. In an emailed statement to the Pioneer Press, a spokesperson for Tinuccis said they are aware of the allegations against Tinucci and are cooperating with law enforcement. We recognize the seriousness of this situation and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially the individual who was injured and their family, the statement continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the complaint: Washington County Sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a hit and run and found the man lying in the road near his bicycle. Witnesses said the cyclist was waved through a crosswalk by a driver of a vehicle who slowed down in the right lane. However, another vehicle in the left lane, a white Chevrolet Suburban with a Tinuccis sticker on the side, did not stop and struck the cyclist at a high rate of speed. The witnesses said an older man with gray hair got out of the SUV, walked over to where the victim was on the ground bleeding and said, I didnt see him. He then left the scene. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies went to Tinuccis, just south of the crash scene, and saw the suspects SUV, which had fresh damage to the front end. Pieces of a side-view mirror found at the scene matched missing parts of the SUV. Restaurant staff told deputies that Tinucci had been driving the SUV earlier that day. Deputies contacted Tinucci and told him to return to the restaurant, which he did. He told deputies that he had been driving and didnt see the bicyclist. He said he checked on him, saw his injuries, then panicked and left for a catering job, the complaint says. He further stated that he was sorry and knew it was wrong to leave the scene, the complaint says. The complaint notes that Tinucci did not contact law enforcement or first responders in the approximately 30 to 40 minutes between hitting the bicyclist and returning to speak with deputies. EDMOND A woman is dead after a "vicious and violent" stabbing at an Edmond medical marijuana dispensary, and a first-degree murder charge is pending against her estranged husband, police said. The 24-year-old victim, described by a relative on Facebook as "a dear soul taken too soon by senseless domestic violence," was attacked around 9:45 a.m. Friday morning, Aug. 22, at Kush House, 2100 S. Broadway Ave. "Investigators learned that a domestic-related altercation between a female employee and the father of her children turned violent," police said. "Officers arrived on scene in under two minutes, where they found the male suspect standing just inside the front door. He was detained without incident." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police found the victim inside the dispensary with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, where she died. A 25-year-old man was taken to the Edmond Police Department, interviewed and booked on a complaint of first-degree murder, police said. The investigation remains ongoing, and all charges are pending review by the Oklahoma County District Attorneys Office. The couple had been in a child custody fight since April, with the victim representing herself in court proceedings, court records show. A hearing was scheduled for Thursday but canceled, records show. The Oklahoman is not naming either the victim or the accused until charges are filed. Homicides in Edmond, Oklahoma, so far in 2025 A sign stands in front of Kush House, a dispensary at 2100 S. Broadway Ave. in Edmond, where a fatal stabbing occurred Friday morning, Aug. 22. It was at least the fifth homicide in Edmond in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 4, a man was shot and killed in what police described as a home invasion in the 1700 block of Pinnacle Lane, in the Park Lane addition southeast of Danforth Road and Santa Fe Avenue. On Feb. 23, a man was stabbed to death at Rolling Green Apartments, 400 E. Danforth Road. On July 22, a man was shot to death at an office building at 200 N. Bryant Ave. On July 29, a man was found stabbed to death at SureStay Plus Best Western, a motel at 2700 E. Second St. just west of Coltrane Road. Staff writer Richard Mize covers Oklahoma County government and the city of Edmond. He previously covered housing, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com, starting in 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: First-degree murder charges pending in Edmond, OK, dispensary stabbing The Charlotte Fire Department and MEDIC responded to a fire at an over-55 community in Cotswold on Saturday morning. Firefighters responded to the scene at the 4700 block of Randolph Road around 10:00 a.m. At that location stands an apartment complex for adults over the age of 55, Overture Cotswold. Officials said firefighters contained the flames within 15 minutes, and no one was injured. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. No additional details have been made available. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates. WATCH: Driver accidentally crashes car into Shell gas station in York County PITTSBORO Chatham County Diversion and Advocacy Programs, in partnership with the Chatham County Public Health Department, will host an overdose awareness event on Aug. 29. During the celebration, Chatham County staff and leaders, as well as community members, will honor those lost to drug overdose, support those grieving and raise awareness about available resources. The gathering will also include opportunities for attendees to share memories and reflections or display personalized signs on the librarys lawn to remember loved ones. The event will take place on Friday, Aug. 29, from 3 4:30 p.m. at the Wren Memorial Library, 500 N 2nd Ave., Siler City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This program is free and open to the public. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. In addition, the Chatham County Public Health Department will host a naloxone training for interested attendees. For more details, contact Renita Foxx at 919-642-1213 or renita.foxx@chathamcountync.gov With a garland of white flowers in front of him, a lone rower kneeling in a wooden canoe glided toward the DuSable Bridge docks. After stilling his vessel, two men on the Riverwalk helped him hoist the wreath onshore. The two men, members of the DuSable Heritage Association and Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, carried it up to the bronze bust of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable at the northeast corner of the bridge to the sound of Algonquin and Muskegon-Creek flute music. The ceremony was meant to symbolize how DuSable, a Black man likely from the Caribbean who founded the settlement that would become Chicago, might have first arrived in the area, according to Rilck Noel, a board member of the DuSable Heritage Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Gamble, senior museum associate at the Bridgehouse Museum, delivers a wreath to be laid on a bust of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable during a ceremony hosted by the DuSable Heritage Association honoring his legacy on Aug. 23, 2025, at DuSable Bridge in Chicagos Loop. (Dominic Di Palermo/ Chicago Tribune) Andrew Johnson, left, and DuSable Heritage Association board member Jacques Philoctete receive a wreath to be laid on a bust of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable during a ceremony hosted by the DuSable Heritage Association on Aug. 23, 2025, at DuSable Bridge in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/ Chicago Tribune) Guests listen as Jean Voltaire, board member of the DuSable Heritage Association, opens a ceremony honoring the legacy of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, Aug. 23, 2025, at DuSable Bridge in Chicagos Loop. Guests included students from the University of Illinois Chicagos DuSable Scholars Program and other community members. (Dominic Di Palermo/ Chicago Tribune) Andrew Johnson, executive director of the Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, left, and Gail Spreen, Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, perform a Native American blessing during a ceremony to honor Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, hosted by the DuSable Heritage Association, Aug. 23, 2025, at DuSable Bridge in Chicagos Loop. (Dominic Di Palermo/ Chicago Tribune) Consul General of Haiti Jean Joseph Leandre speaks during a ceremony to honor Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, hosted by the DuSable Heritage Association, Aug. 23, 2025, at the DuSable Bridge in downtown Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/ Chicago Tribune) Andrew Johnson, executive director of the Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, speaks before performing a blessing during a ceremony honoring Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, hosted by the DuSable Heritage Association, Aug. 23, 2025, at the DuSable Bridge in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/ Chicago Tribune) Show Caption1 of 7Ald. David Moore, 17th Ward, fixes a wreath that was placed on a bust of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable during a ceremony honoring him that was hosted by the DuSable Heritage Association, Aug. 23, 2025, at DuSable Bridge in Chicagos Loop. DuSable founded Chicago and was the first non-native resident to settle in the area. (Dominic Di Palermo/ Chicago Tribune)Expand Everything is close to the water because of the need to have access to the different trade routes coming in, Noel said. Thats why we have the wreath coming in from the river symbolizing how Chicago started. On Saturday, the DuSable Heritage Association, government officials and other community members gathered in Pioneer Court to commemorate DuSable, Chicagos first non-indigenous permanent settler. This week marks the 207th anniversary of his death. In addition to remembering Chicagos past, Saturdays ceremony helped celebrate the citys multicultural present, Noel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its preservation and awareness of what DuSable and immigrants in general represent for Chicago, the Midwest and the nation as a whole, said Noel, who came to Chicago from Haiti in the 1970s as a student. The consul general of Haiti in Chicago, Jean Joseph Leandre, and Ald. David Moore, 17th, also thanked local organizations and Chicagos Haitian community for spreading awareness about DuSables significance. Moore was one of the City Council members who pushed for Chicago to rename Lake Shore Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive in 2021. Speakers also stressed the importance of constructing DuSable Park. In 1987, then-Mayor Harold Washington dedicated land on the north shore of the Chicago River where it meets Lake Michigan for the park. The park is nearing the end of its design stage, said Heather Gleason, the Chicago Park Districts planning and construction director. She said the groundbreaking will likely take place in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This park will not only honor Chicagos diversity, but provide a vital green space, said Troy McMillan, a board member for Friends of the Parks. The nonprofit has been working with the DuSable Heritage Association and Chicago officials on the DuSable Park project. Chicagos founding family While historians are still looking for crucial documentation about DuSables life, they generally agree he was born in Haiti during the 1740s. When he was about 25, he left home to settle in what is now the American Midwest, then under the control of the French. DuSable married a Potowatomi woman named Kitihawa and often collaborated with the areas Indigenous people, said Lake Forest College professor Courtney Joseph, who studies African American history. DuSable benefited from his close relationship with Indigenous people already living in the area, Joseph added while giving a walking tour along the Chicago River after the official commemoration. DuSable traversed the Midwest as a trader and diplomat, establishing settlements in whats now Michigan. At one point, he was captured by the British on suspicion of being a Patriot sympathizer during the American Revolution. After 10 to 20 years working and raising a family in his home which historians estimate to be where the Tribune Tower now stands, according to Joseph DuSable left in 1800 for present-day Missouri for some unknown reason. He died on Aug. 28, 1818. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his death, DuSables name faded into obscurity until Black advocates in 1930s Chicago started pushing for his recognition. In the following decades, his name slowly made its way onto several public institutions starting with DuSable High School in 1935. A more recent initiative to adopt the Chicago founders name is the University of Illinois Chicagos DuSable Scholars Program, which supports Black students underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. Maame Poku, a biochemistry student in the UIC DuSable program, said it was nice to see members of the Chicago community learning about DuSables legacy and supporting the heritage associations work. It shows that people of color and immigrants are able to do things that are big and that can affect a whole population and community, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poku also said after attending Saturdays celebration that she wants to keep up with how DuSable Park is developing and is excited for how nice its going to look. Chicagos dominant historical narrative has often excluded people of color, Joseph said as she gestured during her tour to a plaque on DuSable Bridge dedicated to the first white men who passed through to the Chicago River. The two French explorers, Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette, were only temporary passersby, Joseph added. Conversely, celebrating and learning about DuSables life shows how Chicago can be a city for all people, Joseph said. Hes important to us, Joseph said. How do we really know our history if we erase people like DuSable? The Brief Two men were shot after an argument at a West Side convenience store on Friday night. The two men were hospitalized. No offenders are in custody. CHICAGO - Two men were shot and injured after an argument at a West Side convenience store on Friday night. The incident happened in the 500 block of N. Kedzie Avenue in East Garfield Park, according to the Chicago Police Department. What we know Police responded to the scene just before 11 p.m., where two male victims were found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 48-year-old man was shot multiple times and was listed in fair condition. A 45-year-old man was shot in the back and arm. He was listed in serious condition. Both victims were taken to Stroger Hospital. Investigators learned the victims were shot after a verbal altercation between two unidentified male gunmen who drew their weapons and exchanged gunfire. No one is in custody. Area detectives are investigating the shooting. Mayor Brandon Johnson blasted President Donald Trump over what he described as "threats" to deploy the National Guard in Chicago to crack down on crime. Johnson's comments came hours after the president on Friday said Chicago would be the next city to see federal intervention after the mission to decrease crime in Washington, D.C. concluded. "After we do this, we'll go to another location, and we'll make it safe, also," Trump said in the Oval Office. "We're going to make our country very safe. Chicago's a mess." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson released a statement noting the city had not received any formal communication about additional federal law enforcement or military deployments to Chicago, adding he has "grave concerns" about the impact of any "unlawful deployment." Trump Vowed Dc Takeover Multiple Times On 2024 Campaign Trail: 'He's Keeping His Promise' Johnson called the Trump administration's efforts "uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound," seemingly snapping back at the president, who called him "grossly incompetent" earlier in the day. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added the city has reduced homicides by 30%, robberies by 35% and shootings by almost 40% in the last year, suggesting federal action would deteriorate trust. "Unlawfully deploying the National Guard to Chicago has the potential to inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement when we know that trust between police and residents is foundational to building safer communities," Johnson wrote. "An unlawful deployment would be unsustainable and would threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made." Brandon Johnson, mayor of Chicago, fired back at Trump's hints about sending the National Guard to the windy city. Blue Cities In Trumps Crosshairs After Dc Police Takeover The city, which struggles with poverty and gang activity, has a crime rate higher than the national average. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, 2023 crime data shows other Illinois cities, including Chicago Heights, Danville, Peoria, Rockford, and Harvey, had substantially higher violent crime rates than Chicago. Radical Dc Officials Treated Officers Like Crap, Police Leader Says 7 Attacks That Led To Trump Takeover "The National Guard will not alleviate the housing crisis," Johnson wrote. "It will not put food in the stomachs of the 1 in 4 children that go to bed hungry every night in Chicago. The National Guard will not fully-fund our public schools or provide mental healthcare or substance abuse treatment to Chicagoans in need. "The National Guard is no substitute for dedicated local law enforcement and community violence interrupters who know and serve our communities every day. There are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of them." DC Metropolitan Police detain a person after an altercation between members of the public in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 14, 2025. Trump federalized D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department on Aug. 11 under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the president to take emergency control of the police force for 30 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just over a week later, six red states pledged to send 2,000 guardsmen to the nation's capital to help with the efforts, alongside agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). An official confirmed to Fox News on Friday Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized soldiers and airmen to be armed in D.C., if their mission requires it. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf contributed to this report. Original article source: Chicago mayor calls Trump's National Guard deployment plan 'uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound' Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) slammed President Trump over possibly sending the national guard to Chicago after his D.C. crime crackdown, calling the presidents plans to target the Windy City offensive. Certainly, we have grave concerns about the impact of any unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to the City of Chicago. The problem with the Presidents approach is that it is uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound, Johnson wrote in a Friday statement. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that he would send the National Guard to other Democrat-run cities, including Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicagos a mess. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent and well straighten that one out probably next. That will be our next one after this. And it wont even be tough, Trump said. Crime rates have been down in Chicago, according to the citys website. Heres the bottom line as mayor of this city, and mayors across this country, we know exactly what it takes to drive down violence and crime in our cities because were actually doing it, Johnson told Nexstar affiliate WGN. Its really a shame, quite frankly, and offensive that this president speaks in the name of law and order would do the opposite, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor mentioned in his statement that the unlawful deployment of national guard troops to Chicago would threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made. In the past year alone, we have reduced homicides by more than 30%, robberies by 35%, and shootings by almost 40%. Last week, Trump federalized the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under the Home Rule Act and deployed 800 D.C. National Guardsmen to fight crime. On Tuesday, he doubled the number of National Guard troops who are patrolling the city, bringing the total up to almost 1,750 military personnel. As of Tuesday, 556 arrests had been made in the nations capital since Aug. 7, according to the White House. D.C. officials, especially Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), said the administrations crackdown on the city is about immigration and exerting power. Democrats across the country have criticized Trumps crime policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that our communities are safest when we fully invest in housing, community safety, and education, reads Johnsons statement. There are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of 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 The Hill. MIFFLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Children were chased into a convenience store last week by a knife-wielding man in Mifflin County, according to police. At the A&R Minit Mart, a man told 24-year-old Nicholas McNeil, of Lewistown, to leave the children alone, but he allegedly pulled out and brandished a switchblade knife, Lewistown Borough Police said in the charges filed. Police were first alerted about McNeil allegedly chasing a child with a knife by a bystander, who was able to report that the incident happened on South Main Street, which was where officers found McNeil, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast Police noted in the criminal complaint, McNeil had two knives, including a switchblade, on him. He was eventually taken into custody. Video footage at the store that police watched allegedly showed McNeil pull out a knife and snap the blade towards the man who was standing close, the criminal complaint states. Court records show charges that include a felony count of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person were filed Aug. 16 against McNeil. He was placed in Mifflin County Prison after he was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Craig Weston, who set bail at $25,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 27. 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. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images China web traffic was blocked from accessing outsider websites No political or sensitive events appear to have coincided Pakistan also suffered an outage hours before China appears to have shut itself off from the internet world for over an hour earlier this week, but could it have just been a mistake? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country's "Great Firewall" disrupted all traffic on TCP port 443, used for HTTPS, for 74 minutes on August 20, 2025, but with most citizens asleep during the outage (00:34-01:48 Beijing time), was this intended behavior? Interestingly, only port 443 was affected, leaving other ports like 22 (SSH), 80 (HTTP and 8443 (alterative HTTPS) unaffected. China just had a partial internet outage By injecting forged TCP RST+ACK packets to cut connections on port 443, the Great Firewall blocked access to most websites outside China and also disrupted services that rely on offshore servers, including Apple and Tesla. A report explained the Great Firewall of China is not a single entity, but a complex system composed of various network devices that perform censorship. The device involved did not match fingerprints of known GFW equipment, suggesting the 74-minute outage could have come from a new censorship device, a misconfigured known divide or a test of port-blocking capability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Great Firewall also has a history of glitches, leaks and other technical errors. Unlike past censorship events, no major political or other sensitive events were identified during this outage, making the reason more obscured. Coincidentally, Pakistan also saw a large drop in internet traffic hours before the Chinese outage. The two countries both have similar histories of web censorship, and China has even been linked with sharing censorship technology with Pakistan, potentially drawing a link between the two events. More broadly, the granular and more complex censorship that China chooses (compared with total shutdowns observed in Turkey, Sudan and Egypt) strikes a fine balancing act between restricting access to foreign information while avoiding economic harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the community responding to the reports comments with suspicions that this could have been a test, were left with little more evidence than to believe either this is the case, or it was a mistake. Rakhine State stands at a pivotal moment as the Arakan Army (AA) edges closer to seizing control of Myanmars strategic western frontier region, a shift in power that could redefine both the countrys civil war and regional geopolitics. While Myanmars military government has clawed back territory elsewhere in the country, the AA now controls 14 of 17 townships in Rakhine, which is situated on the Bay of Bengal in the countrys west and shares a border with Bangladesh. Flush from victories against Myanmars military rulers, the armed group has pledged to capture the remainder of Rakhine State, including the capital Sittwe, as well as a key Indian port project, and Kyaukphyu, home to oil and gas pipelines and a deep-sea port central to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts say the window is open for a decisive offensive by the group. But the AAs fight against Myanmars military government for self-determination unfolds amid a deepening humanitarian crisis and growing reports of serious abuses by the armed group against Muslim-majority Rohingya in Rakhine. The Myanmar militarys blockade of supplies to Rakhine historically known as Arakan has worsened a crisis in which the United Nations estimates more than two million people face the risk of starvation. Earlier this month, the World Food Programme warned that 57 percent of families in central Rakhine cannot meet basic food needs up from 33 percent in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of civilians are hemmed in the encircled Sittwe, which is now accessible only by sea and air. Residents describe skyrocketing prices pork that once cost $2 now exceeds $13. Local media have reported on desperate people taking their own lives, families turning to begging, sex work increasing, and daytime thefts as law and order collapses. One resident who recently left by plane told of the growing danger from crime in Sittwe. Theyre like gangsters breaking into homes in broad daylight. They even take the furniture, he said. Inside Sittwe, a source who asked for anonymity told Al Jazeera that the Arakan Liberation Army, an armed group linked to the military, monitors conversations among local people while troops raid homes and check residents for tattoos as signs of AA support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation is unpredictable, the source said. We cant guess what will happen next. Rakhine State, Myanmar map A representative of the United League of Arakan (ULA), the AAs political wing, described Sittwe as a stark example of military rule, saying the regimes leaders have treated Arakan as occupied territory for decades. Rising civilian toll As the AA advances across Rakhine State, the military government has turned to air strikes a tactic used nationwide since the generals seized power in 2021. In Rakhine, the ULA says air raids killed 402 civilians between late 2023 and mid-2025, including 96 children. Another 26 civilians died this year from artillery, landmines or extrajudicial killings, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air strikes on civilians cannot produce tangible military outcomes, a ULA representative said, describing such tactics as terrorism in a country where more than 80,000 people are estimated to have been killed in fighting since the 2021 coup. Amid the grinding conflict, both the AA and Myanmars military have also implemented conscription to bolster their forces. The AA has drafted men aged 18 to 45 and women aged 18 to 25 since May, calling its campaign a war of national liberation, while the military has added an estimated 70,000 men to its ranks over its 16-month military draft drive. Rakhine has also been scarred by ethnic violence, most brutally during the militarys 2017 crackdown that drove more than 730,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh atrocities from that time which are now before the International Court of Justice in a case of suspected genocide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a million Rohingya remain in refugee camps along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, with the UN reporting 150,000 new arrivals over the past 18 months. Reports accuse the AA of abuses against Rohingya civilians that remain in Rakhine, including an alleged massacre of 600 people last year allegations the AA denies, claiming images of human remains were actually government soldiers killed in battle. According to the ULA, Muslim residents in its areas of control in Rakhine are experiencing better lives compared to any other period in recent history. The ULA, like the military government, avoids the term Rohingya in an attempt to imply the community is not indigenous to Rakhine. To further confuse an already complex situation, the military has armed members of the Rohingya community to fight the AA, a dramatic reversal after decades of persecution of their communities by Myanmars armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank also warns that Rohingya armed groups are using religious language to mobilise refugees in the camps in Bangladesh against the AA. But a Rohingya insurgency against the Arakan Army is unlikely to succeed, the ICG reports, adding that it could also heighten anti-Rohingya sentiment in Myanmar and damage prospects for the repatriation of refugees from Bangladesh to homes they fled inside Rakhine. Tensions are also simmering with Bangladesh, which wants the AA in control of the entire border region between Myanmar and Bangladesh to accept refugees back into areas under its authority. Dhaka is also reportedly backing armed Rohingya groups to pressure Arakan forces, while the AA is wary that Bangladesh could support a breakaway zone in Rakhine, threatening its territorial ambitions for the state. Battle for Chinese-built port South of Sittwe, a decisive fight looms for Kyaukphyu, the coastal hub linking Myanmar to Chinas Yunnan province through twin oil and gas pipelines and a deep-sea port that is part of Chinas Belt and Road infrastructure project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based analyst with defence publication Janes, predicts the AA could launch a monsoon offensive between September and October, using cloudy skies as cover against aerial assaults by the militarys warplanes, which would boost its chances of capturing Kyaukphyu. Davis said munition stocks seized by the AA in 2024 could dwindle by 2026, while Chinese pressure may limit arms supplies used by the groups fighters from entering northern Myanmar factors that add urgency to the AA pressing its attacks now. He estimated 3,000 government troops are defending Kyaukphyu, backed by jets, drones and naval firepower. With at least 40,000 fighters after its conscription drive and now becoming Myanmars largest ethnic army the AA could likely commit 10,000 troops to the assault on Kyaukphyu, Davis said. Vessels docked at the port of a Chinese-owned oil refinery plant on Made Island off Kyaukphyu, Rakhine State, Myanmar, October 2, 2019 [Ye Aung Thu/AFP] Based on its track record, Davis believes the AA has a significant chance of seizing the port, in what could become one of the most consequential and costliest campaigns of the civil war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 50 Chinese security personnel remain in Kyaukphyu, according to a Chinese industry source cited by Davis, who believes Beijing has accepted that the AA might capture the facility as long as its assets stay protected. But Beijing has also intensified its backing of Myanmars military rulers in recent months. The ULA representative said Kyaukphyu is a sensitive area for the AA, where it uses the least amount of force necessary and maintains a firm policy of protecting foreign investments and personnel from all countries. The AA would strive to pursue all possible means to foster positive relations with China, the representative added. Widening War India, too, has stakes in Rakhine through the Kaladan transport project, which aims to connect Indias remote northeast regions to the Bay of Bengal via the India-built Sittwe port and river routes running through AA-controlled territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That corridor would allow India to bypass Bangladesh and create an alternative trade route for India with Myanmar. Analysts say taking control of the port, road and river network could allow the AA to tax Indian trade, boosting its finances while also undermining the Myanmar militarys ties with New Delhi. If the AA does succeed in capturing Rakhines coastal ports, the armed group could feasibly control transport and trade gateways vital to both China and India, which would create leverage that no other armed participant in the Myanmar civil war holds. That could elevate the AA-backed Arakan Peoples Revolutionary Government as a regional powerbroker, Davis said. The Institute for Strategy and Policy-Myanmar says the AA is also deployed beyond Rakhine and now leads the countrys most extensive alliance of armed groups. No other ethnic armed group has woven such a far-reaching web of influence among the countrys next generation of fighters, the institute wrote. But with the military regaining lost ground in other regions of the country while preparing to hold elections in December already widely dismissed as a sham there is a prospect the AA could one day agree to a ceasefire with the military government or continue to fight and potentially be strong enough to face the military alone. Commenting on such a scenario, the ULA representative called for vigilance against the militarys traditional divide and rule strategy. War often involves advances and retreats, said the representative. This time, we are confident that the resistance forces can achieve meaningful change in the country. SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China proposed rules for internet platform pricing on Saturday, seeking public comment after a raft of complaints by merchants and consumers of unfair or misleading pricing by big platforms. The draft rules for platforms selling goods or services are meant to encourage price transparency and fairness, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement. Those operating on such platforms shall "agree on and change prices through standardised means such as contracts and orders," the commission said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rules require platform operators and merchants to "adhere to clear pricing regulations, increase the transparency of pricing rules and promptly disclose fee changes to better accept public oversight", it said. Merchants have accused the mega platforms of unfairly manipulating prices to bump up sales, while consumers have complained of misleading pricing. In 2021 Alibaba was fined a record $2.75 billion for anti-monopoly violations, a decision the firm said it accepted, while e-commerce leaders this year have brushed off regulatory risk as they fight price wars in "instant retail", where delivery can be as quick as half an hour. The rules will be open for public comment for a month. (Reporting by Engen Tham; Editing by William Mallard) China has signalled to EU diplomats that it is prepared to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, German media outlet Welt reported, citing anonymous EU sources. However, China is prepared to do so only "if the peacekeeping forces were deployed on the basis of a mandate from the United Nations (UN)," the sources told Welt. China is the latest country to wade into the discussion of what peacekeeping forces could be deployed to Ukraine in the future, and under what conditions, as U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine stumble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past week, the discussions have heavily focused on what security guarantees could be offered to Ukraine. Ukraine has stressed the need for robust security guarantees backed by international support as part of any peace negotiations, noting that Russia has repeatedly violated its international agreements, including prior agreements to respect Ukraine's sovereignty. According to Welt, reactions to China's announcement were mixed, with some believing that a coalition of countries beyond Ukraine's traditional Western allies would make the prospect of peacekeeping forces more acceptable to Russia. On the other hand, "there is also a danger that China primarily wants to spy on Ukraine and, in the event of a conflict, will take a clearly pro-Russian position instead of a neutral position," a senior EU diplomat familiar with the ongoing discussions told Welt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sending foreign troops to Ukraine as part of support offered by a group of allies known as the "Coalition of the Willing" is one of several proposals that have been put forth to ensure that a ceasefire is respected in the event of a deal with Russia. Around ten European allies are willing to send troops to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 19. The U.K., France, Lithuania, and Estonia have publicly declared their readiness to provide troops on the ground. The United States has ruled out sending its own troops to Ukraine though has said it is open to offering other security guarantees. Russia, however, has rejected the idea of stationing European troops in Ukraine. Doing so would amount to "foreign military intervention," which Moscow won't support, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Aug. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Security guarantees for Ukraine explained: Whats on the table and whats realistic? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. China is prepared, under certain conditions, to take part in a mission deploying a peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine a move that has provoked mixed reactions in European circles. Source: Welt am Sonntag, as cited by European Pravda Details: EU diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Welt am Sonntag that senior Chinese officials had confirmed Beijings willingness to participate in a peacekeeping contingent for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the sources stressed that China would only be prepared to do so "if peacekeeping forces are deployed on the basis of a United Nations mandate." This position has sparked differing reactions in Brussels. On the one hand, some argue that support from countries of the Global South could help advance the idea of a peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine. On the other hand, "there is also the danger that China will primarily seek to spy in Ukraine and adopt an openly pro-Russian stance rather than a neutral one in the event of conflict," a senior EU diplomat told Welt am Sonntag. Another point of contention is that most EU countries, for various reasons, are reluctant to grant potential peacekeepers a mandate at the UN level. Background: Media reports that Russian leader Vladimir Putin, at his meeting with US President Donald Trump on 15 August, did not object to security guarantees for Ukraine and mentioned China as one of the states that could provide such guarantees. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he does not see China among Ukraines future security guarantors. European officials are discussing a plan to send UK and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement, with around 10 countries ready to contribute their forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! HONOLULU (KHON2) The man accused of throwing acid on a pedestrian in Chinatown on Aug. 8 recently received a large payment from the City and County of Honolulu. Marquis Johnson, 34, sued the City and a Honolulu police officer in 2022, alleging misconduct after he was wrongfully detained by police in Waikiki in 2020. Suspect charged in Honolulu Chinatown acid attack, bail set at $500k According to court documents, Johnson said he was assaulted by the officer while handcuffed. The federal civil rights suit was settled for $290,000 and was approved by the Honolulu City Council in June 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City said his subsequent arrest for the acid attack has no impact on this settlement. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Background According to the Honolulu Police Department, the incident happened on Aug. 8. The victim was crossing the street when Johnson allegedly approached him and asked a few questions before throwing an unknown liquid at him which was later identified as sulfuric acid. Officials said the victim sustained severe burns to his face and upper body. Less than two weeks later, Johnson was arrested after turning himself in to the main police station, where he was taken into custody for first-degree assault. He was formally charged on Aug. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check out more news from around Hawaii He is scheduled to be in court on Monday, Aug. 25, for the acid assault. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. A Chinese national living in Texas was sentenced on Thursday to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for installing malicious code on his former employers systems, including a "kill switch" that locked workers out when his account was disabled. Davis Lu a 55-year-old man residing legally in Houston was convicted in March of intentionally damaging protected computers while working as a software developer for the Ohio-based company, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Chinese Citizen Admits Stealing Us Trade Secrets For Next-generation National Security Tech Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cyberattack resulted in the company losing hundreds of thousands of dollars, as noted in the release. FILE PHOTO: Lu, who worked at the company from 2007 to 2019, began undermining his employer's systems following a 2018 corporate realignment that reduced his system access and work responsibilities. "The defendant breached his employers trust by using his access and technical knowledge to sabotage company networks, wreaking havoc and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses for a U.S. company," Matthew R. Galeotti, acting assistant attorney general of the criminal division at the DOJ, said in a statement. North Korea Lashes Out After Trump Doj Exposes Massive It Infiltration Scheme Read On The Fox News App Lu who worked at the company for nearly twelve years began undermining his employer's systems after a 2018 corporate realignment reduced his system access and work responsibilities. By August 2019, he had planted malicious code that triggered system crashes and blocked employees from logging in, as noted in the release. FILE PHOTO: Matthew R. Galeotti speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., June 30, 2025. He deleted coworkers' profile files, created "infinite loops" that overwhelmed servers and built a "kill switch" designed to lock out all users if his account were ever disabled. He named the "kill switch" code "IsDLEnabledinAD," an abbreviation for, "Is Davis Lu enabled in Active Directory," according to the DOJ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Korean It Workers Infiltrated Fortune 500 Companies In Massive Fraud Scheme That "kill switch" was triggered in September 2019 when Lu was placed on leave and told to return his company laptop, instantly shutting out thousands of users worldwide, according to the release. A U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. On the day he was ordered to give back his laptop, Lu also wiped encrypted data from company systems. His search history revealed that he researched how to hide processes, escalate privileges and quickly erase files suggesting an attempt to slow down recovery efforts, according to the DOJ. "I am proud of the FBI cyber teams work which led to todays sentencing and hope it sends a strong message to others who may consider engaging in similar unlawful activities," Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the cyber division at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said in a statement. "This case also underscores the importance of identifying insider threats early and highlights the need for proactive engagement with your local FBI field office to mitigate risks and prevent further harm." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Original article source: Chinese national sentenced to prison for sabotaging employer's systems with 'kill switch' MORRISONVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) Deputies with the Christian County Sheriffs Office are currently searching for a wanted man in the Morrisonville area. In a Facebook post at 2:20 p.m. on Friday, the sheriffs office said they have several deputies in the Morrisonville area near County Roads 389 North and 300 East. They are trying to locate a wanted male on foot. Cows reported missing, stolen in Shelby Co., sheriffs office says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials also shared a picture of the man to their Facebook post, who was wearing a black hat and a blue t-shirt. They did not provide his name. The fugitive search also led to multiple Morrisonville schools going on soft lockdowns Friday afternoon. At 1 p.m., the Morrisonville Jr/Sr. High School announced they were going into a soft lockdown as this unarmed fugitive was in the area. They assured people that there was absolutely NO imminent danger to the school or the children. At approximately 1:30 p.m., the Morrisonville Elementary School announced they were also placed on a soft lockdown. The Jr/Sr. High School later announced they would be releasing students at the normal time with police present at both schools and staff supervising the release. The same procedure took place at the elementary school. Additionally, softball and volleyball practices were cancelled for Jr. and Sr. High students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are being advised to secure their vehicles and outbuildings at this time. Anyone who sees a white male matching this description in the Morrisonville area is urged to call the sheriffs office at 217-824-4961. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TYLER, Texas (KETK) CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler celebrated a significant milestone today by performing its 500th robotic bronchoscopy, advancing its work in early cancer detection efforts. The robotic bronchoscopy procedure is minimally invasive and allows doctors to locate and biopsy small, hard-to-reach nodules within the lungs with greater precision and stability. This method is considered a better alternative to open surgery, offering improved outcomes for patients. AFFIDAVIT: Tyler banker admits to exploiting elderly woman with dementia, taking nearly $4k from account Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robotic bronchoscopy enables earlier detection and treatment of cancer, which can significantly increase the chances of saving patients lives. The procedures precision and stability are key factors in its effectiveness. The achievement of performing 500 robotic bronchoscopies underscores CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances commitment to advancing medical technology and improving patient care in the fight against cancer. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Clark County School District police logged 9,232 incident calls related to violence during the 2024-2025 school year, according to data 8 News Now obtained. Out of the more than 9,000 calls, there were 443 logged in CCSDs database as battery/assault staff to student. Clark County School District police have dealt with their share of cases of teachers hitting students. He lost consciousness briefly, did you notice that? a CCSDPD officer was heard saying over bodycam video. Shes investigating a fight between a substitute teacher and a student in April of 2024, which went viral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teacher, ReKwon Smith, was arrested and eventually took a plea deal, avoiding prison. However, he can no longer teach at CCSD. Video shows moments after CCSD substitute teacher punches student for using racial slur: police The officer asked Smith if he had been called an expletive word and a racial slur. To which Smith responded by saying he had been called both an expletive word and a racial slur by the student. The CCSD data 8 News Now obtained showed school officers responded to 443 incident calls labeled as assault/battery of a student by staff. It should be noted that police responding to an incident doesnt mean there was any wrongdoing involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following is a list of the number of schools that received 7 or fewer incident calls during the 2024-2025 school year: Don and Dee Snyder Elementary School 7 Sedway Middle School 7 Bailey Middle School 6 Hickey Elementary School 6 Variety School 6 Molasky Junior High School 6 Greenspun Junior High School 5 Elbert Edwards Elementary School 5 Ruby S. Thomas Elementary School 5 Escobedo Middle School 5 One of the incidents listed happened at Bailey Middle School in September of 2024. Kenneth Greenberg was arrested for hitting a student with autism. Greenberg took a plea deal, and the case was dismissed in July after he completed his sentencing, which included anger management classes. CCSD confirmed to 8 News Now that Greenberg is back to teaching at Bailey Middle School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CCSD special education teacher arrested on abuse charges The data 8 News Now obtained also showed CCSD police logged more than 3,000 harassment, stalking, and threat calls. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig expressed serious skepticism over claims made by Ghislaine Maxwell in the just-released transcripts of her interview with the Department of Justice. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls, is seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump and sang his praises in her interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche last month. Ghislaine Maxwell and Donald Trump pictured at an event for Ford Modeling Agency in 1997. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Image Asked Friday on CNNs The Lead whether he found Maxwells account credible, Honig responded, Oh my gosh, no, before explaining what he found odd about her take. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this transcript, Ghislaine Maxwell provides a simply bizarre worldview wherein almost nobody did anything wrong, Honig said. She doesnt even actually implicate Jeffrey Epstein. Related: Trump Administration Weighs Release Of Ghislaine Maxwell's DOJ Interview: Reports Maxwell, he went on, basically says in the transcripts that she doesnt have any knowledge of Epsteins alleged crimes, and also maintains that she herself is absolutely 100% innocent. The DOJs chat with Maxwell came amid rising public outrage over the Trump administrations resistance to releasing files related to the investigation into Epstein, who was accused of operating a sex trafficking ring involving minors. Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges in Florida of soliciting sex from a minor, died in prison in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Trump has faced renewed scrutiny over his years of friendship with Epstein and Maxwell. In the transcripts released Friday, Maxwell claimed Trump and Epstein werent close friends, and said she never witnessed Trump in any inappropriate setting in any way. Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2000. Davidoff Studios Photography via Getty Images The convicted sex trafficker also said Trump was always very cordial and very kind and made a point to note her admiration for his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. Maxwell also stated that former president Bill Clinton absolutely never went to Epsteins notorious private island and had no independent friendship with Epstein. On CNN, Honig said he was actually surprised to see that Maxwell didnt implicate anybody in the interview. Related: Gavin Newsom Hijacks MAGA Merch In Latest Trump Trolling Tactic Even if a juror was to take everything in this transcript as true, there would be nobody else to charge or convict with anything, he said. Yet another reason why Im just not buying this. Related... Read the original on HuffPost CNNs Harry Enten explained how Gavin Newsoms continued feud with Donald Trump is leading to a rising tide of support from voters, particularly California Democrats. The networks chief data analyst explained Friday how the California governors many prods and call-outs against the president have only led to his growing success in the polls. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I absolutely think its showing signs of working; and lets take a look at the voters who know Gavin Newsom best those voters out in California, those California Democrats, Enten said. California Democrats on Newsom for [president]. You go back to 2023, just 35% wanted him to run for president. Look at the percentage now who are excited for a run for president for Gavin Newsom. What is that? Thats a 40-point climb, my goodness gracious! A rising tide of support for Gavin Newsom. He continued: Remember, back in 2023, the majority of Democrats did not want Joe Biden to run for another term; but California Democrats in Gavin Newsoms home state did not want him to run, either. And now, 75% are excited for him to run; and more than that, hes getting a higher percentage of the vote than Kamala Harris in her home state. He is beating the former vice president who, of course, was the Democratic nominee in 2024. As I said, a rising tide of support for the California governor. Big signal for Newsom: A rising tide of support from the voters who know him best. 75% of CA Dems are excited for him to run for prez vs. just 35% who wanted him to run in 2023. He beats Harris! Every nominee has won their home state in the primary & led early polls in them. pic.twitter.com/AeSdRd1yhz (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) August 22, 2025 Much of Newsoms recent sparring with Trump came in the form of his office mocking and trolling the way the president posts to his Truth Social account often all caps, full of exclamation points and piping with vitriol for whatever topic he deems fit. The governor explained the strategy last week in a press conference. I hope its a wakeup call. The President of the United States Im sort of following his example. And if youve got issues with what Im putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what hes putting out as president, the governor said at the end of the press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: So to the extent its gotten some attention, Im pleased. But I think the deeper question is: How have we allowed the normalization of his tweets, Truth Social posts over the course of the last many years to go without similar scrutiny and notice? You can watch Entens CNN segment in the clip above. The post CNNs Harry Enten Explains Why Gavin Newsoms Trump Feud Is Earning Him A Rising Tide of Support | Video appeared first on TheWrap. The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service arrested the captain of a large container ship at Seattles Terminal 5 after he was found operating at more than six times the legal alcohol limit for commercial mariners, officials said. According to the Coast Guard, the incident happened on Aug. 20, when a Puget Sound Pilot aboard the motor vessel MSC Jubilee IX noticed the captain showing signs of intoxication. The pilot, along with the ships first mate, took over operations during the trip from an anchorage near Everett to the Port of Seattle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vessel made the journey without incident. Once the ship docked at Terminal 5, a Coast Guard boarding team and Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) agents conducted a port state control examination. The captain was given a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer, which indicated impairment more than six times the legal limit for commercial mariners. CGIS agents arrested the captain and transported him to the King County Jail. Prosecutors have been asked to pursue a boating under the influence charge. The Coast Guard held the vessel until a replacement captain was confirmed. The ship has since been cleared to continue operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Shultz, special agent in charge of the CGIS Northwest Field Office, credited the pilots quick response for preventing possible harm. The Pilots immediate intervention mitigated significant risks and ensured the safe passage of the vessel, he said in a statement. The MSC Jubilee IX is a 333-meter container ship sailing under the Liberian flag. The investigation remains ongoing. Joel Kawahara's fishing boat, the Karolee, traveled down the coast from Washington toward California waters, keeping a steady course that offered no hint that something had gone terribly wrong. But when Coast Guard crews boarded the boat this month in Northern California, officials found no one on board. Its captain was nowhere to be seen. Somewhere along the roughly 400-mile journey, the 70-year-old Kawahara was lost. "It's a strange case," said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Steven Strohmaier. "There were no signs of distress, no signs of debris." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Karolee, the fishing gear was set up on the deck. A half-finished cup of coffee was found sitting at the helm, and Kawahara's oatmeal was left unfinished, as if the experienced fisherman suddenly disappeared in the middle of breakfast, said Heather Burns, a longtime friend. His life jacket, she said, was found hanging in the boat. Kawahara's friends suspect "a freak occurrence" may have tossed him overboard somewhere out at sea. The Karolee is towed by a U.S. Coast Guard crew from Station Humboldt Bay into Eureka on Aug. 14, 2025, after it was discovered that the owner of the boat was missing. (Steven Strohmaier / U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District) Born in Seattle, Kawahara was a professional fisherman who focused on salmon, albacore tuna and halibut. But friends and colleagues said Kawahara was a passionate advocate for fish and conservancy, fighting to maintain safe and healthy habitats for fish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burns said Kawahara was a loyal and dependable friend who "would do anything for the people he loved." As a fisherman and advocate he worked to protect the waters, the fish, and the fishermen that he dedicated so much time to. "He wasn't there for anybody but the fish," Burns said in regard to his advocacy work. "To him, everything tied back to salmon." Kawahara was a board member of Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition, president of the Coastal Trollers Assn. and member of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Ken Kawahara said his brother was always drawn toward fishing and the sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their father owned a boat and a fishing tackle store in Seattle when they were growing up, and would spend some summers going out to do commercial fishing. Read more: The river took her sister. A stranger dove in to bring her home Kawahara one of three sons seemed to find a calling in fishing, his brother said. "My dad got the impression that Joel was not going to do anything else," Ken Kawahara said. "He just wanted to bum around and fish." At one point, he said, their father sold their boat in the hope that Kawahara wouldn't spend all his time fishing. His brother eventually went to college, earned a degree and began working for Boeing, Ken Kawahara said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he said Kawahara didn't like his Boeing job, which dealt with military work that clashed with his personal philosophy. As soon as he was able to save up enough money, he bought a fishing boat. He quit his job. He returned to fishing. "He just wanted to go back to fishing," Ken Kawahara said. For years, friends and family said, Kawahara worked doing what he loved, earning the respect of colleagues along the West Coast and fishing grounds up to Alaska. When he went missing this month, members of the commercial fishing community came together, hoping to find answers. On social media, friends and colleagues looked for information on the Karolee, hoping he was still on board and something had just kept him from answering calls and messages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Coast Guard searched for more than 18 hours looking for signs of the missing man, the agency said in a statement, but suspended its search Aug. 13 after finding no trace of Kawahara. Strohmaier said the Coast Guard would not be the agency to investigate how Kawahara went missing, and there's no indication that another law enforcement agency is looking into the incident. Friends and members of the fishing community along the West Coast and in Alaska are mourning the loss of Kawahara, whom they described as an experienced, meticulous fisherman. Read more: Whale of a catch: Potential record-setting 64-pound white sea bass hooked by 13-year-old boy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was one of the smartest people I ever met," said Jeremy Brown, a fellow fisherman who knew Kawahara for 35 years. "He's just incredibly open, lively and intellectually curious." Burns, who was taking care of Kawahara's home and cats in Quilcene, Wash., while he was fishing, said she knew something had gone awry when on Aug. 11 she was unable to get ahold of Kawahara via text or his satellite phone. The two didn't have an official protocol for when he went fishing alone, she said, but would maintain contact every couple of days. Aug. 11 marked four days since she had heard from her friend, she said, and when she reached out to mutual acquaintances that weekend, she added, no one had heard from him for days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's when she began to worry, Burns said. Only small clues suggest what might have happened on board the Karolee, friends said. Kawahara had planned to fish for tuna near Oregon, Brown said, and then planned to fish for salmon. But according to the Coast Guard, the Karolee had maintained a constant southerly course for several days, keeping at four knots. The boat's automatic identification system, according to the Coast Guard, was functioning and showed no signs that anything was wrong. Brown said that steady course is what alarmed friends and colleagues. "Everything was consistent, except that the boat kept going and crossed the salmon grounds," Brown said, indicating he never stopped to fish for salmon. "He didn't call, he didn't radio. When we looked at where his transponder was, he was already down in Oregon. At that point, it was obvious something was badly wrong." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coast Guard crews made several attempts to contact Kawahara via radio calls to the Karolee and asked other ships and boats in the area to do the same, but no one received an answer, according to the agency. On Aug. 12, a Coast Guard C-27 fixed-wing plane crew from Sacramento made visual contact with the Karolee, noticing that it had been rigged for fishing, its lights were on and a raft was on its cradle but officials said the crew "did not find any signs of distress." The boat continued on its course, and the Coast Guard dispatched an MH-60 helicopter from Air Station Astoria to search the area west of Grays Harbor, Wash., but made no findings. Read more: Researchers figure out what's caused devastating sea star epidemic Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews searched the boat's path, officials said, with similar results. On the morning of Aug. 13, the Coast Guard boarded the boat near Northern California and confirmed no one was on board. Its safety equipment, officials noted, was still on board. The same day, the Karolee was towed to Eureka, then docked in Humboldt Bay, according to the Coast Guard. "Our crews diligently searched hundreds of miles," said Cmdr. Chelsey Stroud, search-and-rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard's Northwest District. "We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the missing man." The only clues as to what may have happened, Burns said, are the last messages Kawahara sent to friends the morning of Aug. 8, the day friends believe he may have somehow fallen overboard. In a text message early that morning, Kawahara told Burns he had awakened to a foggy morning, and he was watching a group of murres, black and white sea birds, fishing near him. "All of a sudden this whale comes up and boils the water less than 50 yards ahead of me," Kawahara texted Burns just before 7:30 a.m. "I slowed down and turned but boy it was kind of close. The good news is lots to eat for whale and birds." Half an hour later, he texted another person he knew to be fishing in the same region. Then nothing. Something, Brown said, must have tossed Kawahara off his boat. Fishing alone out at sea is not recommended, but Brown said it's a common practice, especially among experienced fishermen. "It must have been a really freak occurrence," Brown said. Friends and family say they will hold memorials to Kawahara in Quilcine and Seattle at some point. "People dwell on the dangers, and yes, they're there," Brown said, adding that there are risks in a normal, daily car commute. "But compared to commuting on the freeway, I think we get the better part of the deal." 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) After more than 15 years, NBC4s weekly political program, The Spectrum, hosted by Colleen Marshall, is getting a new look and a new name. Starting Aug. 24, Marshall will host the inaugural episode of Sunday Briefing. Viewers can expect the same in-depth reporting, hard-hitting interviews and expert analysis they have come to trust, with more voices from across Ohio. NBC4 is expanding to include voters beyond central Ohio on our Nexstar sister stations streaming and broadcast platforms. In the first episode, Marshall will go one-on-one with Democrat Sherrod Brown in his first television interview since launching his comeback bid for U.S. Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also talks to former Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, who is vying for Ohio Secretary of State in her first statewide election. Sunday Briefing will examine how the election season could unfold as the pieces of the democratic ticket begin to fall into place. Detailed analysis of exclusive poll results from Emerson College will break down voter sentiments about the likely candidates on both sides of the aisle. Democratic strategist David Pepper and Republican strategist Mike Gonidakis weigh in on those polls and discuss whether Gov. Mike DeWine was right to send Ohio National Guard troops to support the federal takeover of Washington, D.C. Watch Sunday Briefing with Colleen Marshall, Sundays at 10 a.m. on NBC4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Local higher-ed institutions are engaging in hand-to-hand combat to keep out fraudsters who are weaponizing AI to swarm their systems. Some are implementing new measures to keep the scammers out, from AI defense firms, to new barriers to entry, to manual application reviews. The ghost-student epidemic that has been attacking Californias community college system is infesting the nation, with colleges in Arizona, Indiana, Oregon, New Jersey, and Michigan working to defend their institutions from AI-powered fraud rings trying to blend in with legitimate students heading back to school. Synthetic or ghost students refers to masses of falsified or stolen identities scammers use to flood college application and enrollment portals with thousands of submissions in minutesusually during holidays, weekends, or other times admissions staff will be bare bones. If theyre successful, the fraud rings will attempt to register the fake students for classes and apply for financial aid, often squeezing out real students who cant get seats in the classes they need. The ghost wielders have even resorted to submitting homework through the use of AIanything to try to keep from getting dropped from a class. Sometimes, all theyll get away with is a college email address. But even that has value, security experts said, giving the scammers a veneer of legitimacy as a college student. A simple email address that ends in .edu allows for discounts on laptops, software, music streaming services and, critically, allows the scammers to use those student identities to fraudulently apply for jobs at companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Education launched a national program in June to root out identity theft at colleges and has required new identity verification steps for the Fall 2025 start of the school year. The DOE found $90 million had been disbursed to ineligible students, including $30 million that went to stolen identities of deceased individuals. Kiran Kodithala, founder of tech firm N2N Services and the LightLeap.AI platform that has been rolled out among colleges across the country to ward against ghost students, said the percentage of fraudulent students in Californias community college system is about 26% across 75 colleges and 1.2 million applications. Outside of California, the LightLeap system has found about one in five applications to be a ghost student. That fraud rate applies to 24 non-California colleges with roughly 340,000 applications processed this summer. In rural Oregon, officials at Lane Community College are bracing for the fall 2025 onslaught from ghost students, Dawn Whiting, associate dean of enrollment management, told Fortune. The college was first attacked in fall 2022 after it had just launched a new streamlined application process designed to simplify enrollment for students. That weekend, Lane saw about 1,000 applications fly through its system, which was highly unusual for a college with roughly 5,000 students. Whiting and her team saw the usual fraud markerssimilar area codes, email addresses, and phone numbers across hundreds of applications. Whiting disabled all 1,000 or so student email addresses and required additional identity-verification measures. But the scammers pivoted. By summer 2023, the ghosts took a new approach to infiltrating the system, filling up seats in courses with no prerequisites. The college moved to implement a $25 application deposit, even though the move went against the institutional belief in being a barrier-free community resource. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the fraudsters zig-zagged again. In summer 2024, about 300 applications flowed in all at the same time, said Whiting, and the school dropped all of them from classes. Now, Lane is weighing whether to bring in a third-party AI firm to help strengthen its defenses. Its staff is on the prowl for fraud but it isnt made up of cybersecurity experts, noted Whiting. Admissions and faculty are mostly focused on educating students and getting them into the right classes for their career path. We are open access, said Colman Joyce, vice president of student services at Lane. Having students go through more steps to enroll adds more barriers and were a community college. A number of our students are not tech savvy when they come here. In California, community colleges are required to accept any eligible student and there is no application fee to apply. Kodithala said theres been debate about whether colleges in other states would see the same attack surges as California, particularly if there were additional hurdles to clear in applying, enrolling, and getting registered for classes such as an application deposit or fee. So far, it runs the gamut with or without a fee in place, he said. In schools outside of California, the rate is about 8% to 15% fraudulent applications, Kodithala said. Craig Munson, Minnesota States chief information security officer who oversees 26 community and technical colleges and seven universities, said the state is using AI and has partnered with other schools and security consortiums to find out new tactics ghost students are using to try to infiltrate school systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just as we leverage AI to protect ourselves, the attackers also continue to leverage it in new and interesting ways, Munson said. Its sort of like an arms race. Every six months, the attackers tend to stop one way of doing things and move to a different tactic. Munson and others in similar roles declined to comment on the specific fraud markers theyre seeing this fall, but the tactics of fake students a few years agowhich are no longer successfulinvolved made-up names, randomized email addresses that looked similar, and the same addresses and phone numbers tied to applications over and over again. The attackers have since changed gears. For schools, the issue is wrought with complexity. Community colleges are meant to be open-access education institutions, affordable to those looking to get an associates degree, work toward a career change, or pursue a passion. As California has grappled with the ghost student swarms, officials have debated instituting a nominal fee to add friction to the system of applying. Minnesotas system includes three universities that charge a minimal application fee, four that dont, as well as seven colleges with a fee and 19 that are free. However, Kodithala noted that adding in an application fee invites credit card and gift card fraud. Munson said he has seen the same issue in Minnesota. It also offers a false sense of security if schools believe a fraudster wouldnt pay $15 or $25 dollars for the chance of thousands more easily, said Kodithala. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It makes it easier for them to steal because they know that all they have to do is make a payment, said Kodithala. Travis Blume, vice president of student affairs and enrollment at Michigans Bay de Noc Community College, said the school hasnt seen hordes of ghost students the way other schools in Michigan have, but hes prepared if they do. And because the school has only about 2,000 students at its two locations, staff have implemented a manual application review process, he said. Any application that triggers suspicion gets an additional look and the prospective student is asked to confirm their identity through a notary or an in-person visit. As a leader at a community education institution, Blume struggles with the same issues of adding more friction into a system that is meant to be as accessible as possible. Community college is about getting people in and getting them educated, he said. Still, despite the vulnerability of community institutions against AI-enabled fraud schemes, experts are working to protect the financial aid available to students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fraud in higher-education is something that should be looked at with all seriousness and should be part of an overall risk calculation, said Minnesotas Munson. Its important to have strong ties with both local and federal law enforcement and with information-sharing groups so that you can get appropriate threat intelligence and be flexible in your responses. As the attackers change, we need to change with them. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Saturday paid tribute to slain presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay at a Bogota park where he was gunned down, calling for a stronger security crackdown as violence surges nationwide. The 39-year-old politician was shot in the back while delivering a campaign speech in Colombias capital in June alongside a small security detail. The two men are not related but belong to the same political party. May this place symbolize an eternal flame, like Miguels eternal love for Colombia, Uribe said beside a photo of Uribe Turbay. May those who pass through this place find that Miguel inspires the security needed for peace to come one day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uribe Turbay died in August after two months in intensive care. His death stunned the country, once again faced with the assassination of a politician campaigning for president, something not seen in three decades. In the wake of his death, his father Miguel Uribe Londono announced he would take his sons place and run for president. The killing sparked a debate about how to prevent conflict in the South American country from roaring back in the lead-up to next years presidential election, a race in which the former leader is hoping to weigh in. The former president was escorted Saturday by heavy security: Streets were closed, drones monitored the parks and police with rifles kept watch from the roof of a nearby house. If Miguelito Uribe had had this kind of security, he wouldnt have been killed, said Vilma Ramirez, a local resident, in tears. She joined the crowd of about 200 people gathered in the park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit marked one of former President Uribe's first public appearances since a judge removed his house arrest order while he appeals a 12-year sentence for witness tampering and fraud convictions. Uribe, who governed from 2002 to 2010, is best known for the heavy-handed military campaign that beat back Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which signed a peace pact with the government in 2016. The leader brought the rebel group to its knees, making Uribe the most powerful political voice on the right. But it also fueled accusations of human rights abuses, including that his government systematically slayed thousands of civilians, dressing many bodies up as guerrillas, in order to boost kill counts. On Saturday, Uribe and members of his Democratic Center party demanded justice and a thorough investigation into the death of Uribe Turbay. Six suspects, including a minor alleged to have pulled the trigger, are in custody. Authorities are investigating whether a guerrilla faction born out of the now-defunct rebel group, known as FARC dissidents, were involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here the assassin, with drugs, money, and a chain of intellectual authors and instigators, took Miguel from us, Uribe said, surrounded by members of his Democratic Center party. The former president seeks to influence the 2026 legislative and presidential elections and strengthen the countrys right wing amid simmering discontent with current President Gustavo Petro, Colombias first leftist leader. Under Petro, who ran on the promise that he would bring total peace to a conflict-torn nation, violence among warring criminal groups has only spiked. On Thursday, 19 people, including police officers were killed in attacks involving explosives against a police helicopter and a car bomb in an urban area that left more than 70 injured. The country is falling apart at this moment. The war is back, the terror is back, lamented Claudia Marcela Badillo, a retired police officer who attended the political gathering and had supported Uribe Turbay. (COLORADO) The mayors of three Colorado cities, Mayor Mike Johnston of Denver, Mayor Yemi Mobolade of Colorado Springs, and Mayor Mike Coffman of Aurora, sent a letter asking state legislators to stop a law involving artificial intelligence (AI) from going into effect. The bill, SB24-205, Consumer Protections for Artificial Intelligence, requires employers that use AI or automated decision systems to comply with one of the most comprehensive AI regulatory frameworks in the country. Requirements include disclosing to consumers that AI is being used in the interaction, disclosing any reasonably foreseeable risks of algorithmic discrimination, and notifying the consumer if the AI will be used to make consequential decisions concerning the consumer, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter from the mayors, written on Thursday, Aug. 14, expresses concerns that the bills implementation could cost the state millions of dollars in its current form, saying that its possible to protect consumers while still promoting innovation. Read the letter here.Download According to the letter, implementing the bill without revisions will limit critical resources and opportunities for schools, hospitals, and employers across the state, and innovation and investment in Colorado will slow, as companies and potential employers will be driven elsewhere. The letter asks the General Assembly to delay the implementation to give time for revisions and improvements. 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. DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) A Columbus man will serve at least 12 years in prison for responding to a breakup by setting her ex-girlfriends family house on fire and running her car off the road. According to the Delaware County prosecutor, Alfredo Salinas-Rosas, 25, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to five of nine charges, including three counts of felonious assault, one count of aggravated arson and one count of trespassing in a habitation. On Dec. 28, 2024, after his girlfriend broke up with him, Salinas-Rosas drove to her familys residence, doused the front door in gasoline and set it on fire. The family extinguished the fire before it spread inside. Alfredo Salinas-Rosas (Courtesy/Delaware County Jail) The prosecutors office said that Salinas-Rosas then drove to another former residence of his ex-girlfriend and entered it in the middle of the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following day, he drove to her place of employment and waited outside for her to leave. He followed her and rammed his car into hers several times, causing her to drive off the road, where her vehicle became disabled, court records noted. Salinas-Rosas was arrested on Dec. 30 and indicted on nine charges the following month. He pleaded guilty in July, with one count each of aggravated arson, burglary, menacing by stalking, and criminal damaging dropped in the plea agreement. A judge sentenced Salinas-Rosas to 12 to 14 years in prison. The sentence includes 5 to 7 years for the arson charge, two years each for the three felonious assault charges and one year for trespassing, all to be served consecutively. Salinas-Rosas, who will receive 197 days of jail time credit, will then be subject to 2-5 years of post-release control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. It was September 1972, and I was heading as a one-year-old refugee to Stansted, wearing a cloth nappy and the bare essentials that the Ugandan soldiers had allowed my family to leave the country with. Soldiers even took the last 5 Ugandan Schillings that my father had, leaving us homeless, penniless and stateless. We had lost all we had, but there was one thread that attached us to some form of an ongoing identity; we were British Commonwealth citizens. This umbilical cord to the United Kingdom and the history of Britain shaped many migrants of my generation, and continues to influence my life today. Within six months of arriving in the country, my father took us to live in Kenya, where I was educated in British schools. The only language that I grew up consistently speaking was English. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the heat of equatorial summers, I memorised a range of Shakespeares plays, learnt about the heroic victories of Britain on the high seas and fantasised about the adventures of explorers like Livingstone and the hardened Presbyterian Scottish evangelists who traversed through Africa. I was soaked in British history, the courage of its explorers and in the rationality of a nation that became the cornerstone of my thinking. So, when my family left Kenya in 1983 after a military coup against the then President, Daniel Arap Moi, we came to a Britain which felt like a place where we had connections, where personal responsibility meant something, and where the rule of law, institutions and systems were a shining and guiding light to the rest of the world. In other words, we had a deep connection and care for Britain. Britain was within us, and we had a duty of care to it. The world was ever changing. During the late 1980s and 90s, wars in Iraq and Somalia and the military persecution of civilians in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon led many, including some key Islamist leaders, to seek asylum in the UK. Some genuinely sought a place of sanctuary, while others like the Muslim Brotherhood activists who abused the safety of our country to set up propaganda centres that were later to amplify narratives of Al-Qaeda sought eternal war against the ideas and concepts of the West. Residents from these countries had no strong Commonwealth links to the UK. In fact, the narrative in some of these countries was that Britain was the enemy that needed to be mistrusted and fought at every step. How many today who arrive on small boats realise we expect them to be open and respectful to our national practices and our history? How many value the Christian roots and secular institutions that guide our nation? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last seven decades, migration to the UK has demonstrated a few basic things. We know the Commonwealth and its cultural links have been a core driver in supporting integration into the country and in maintaining a sense of duty, order and connection with one another and with the state. This does not detract from issues of racism and prejudice that have affected those from these countries, (including myself), but it opened a pathway where we collectively had the emotional intelligence to see other citizens as being part of a whole; a sense that they were part of us and we were part of them. While there was difference between us, there was also much that we had in common. In the end, we collectively stand on the foundations of those who went before us and who had the courage to shape the direction of our country. We need to respect, acknowledge and recognise those legacies, and we also have the right to question what people who come to our country will add to them. Will they take from it and leave it in a worse situation, or will they genuinely integrate, so that they too can leave a better legacy for future generations? 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 pelican's tragic death brought residents of a Colorado neighborhood together in an attempt to keep other animals safe from discarded fishing line. What's happening? In the Golden Ponds neighborhood of Longmont, a town about 30 miles north of Denver, discarded fishing line has become so common that one local resident fills up bags with the litter every day, CBS News reported. But even despite the efforts of that concerned citizen, Anna Rivas, local wildlife still got entangled in the trash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Percy, our little pelican, got it wrapped around his wing," Rivas told CBS News. "He ended up being unable to fly. The community rallied around Percy, sharing photos of the pelican online and asking city officials to rescue him. After nearly a month, Longmont park rangers were able to rescue Percy, but a wildlife rescue center said his injuries were too severe, and he was euthanized. "Their bureaucratic tape, and the rep tape for them getting out here, delayed this pelican from being able to be properly rehabilitated," community member Regina Raeley said. Why is this important? Whether it's from recreational or commercial use, fishing gear creates a shockingly large amount of waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2022 study found that 2% of global fishing gear ends up polluting the ocean. That's nearly 14 billion yes, billion hooks each year, and roughly 460,000 miles' worth of fishing line, enough to circle Earth 18 times. This not only contributes to the massive amount of plastic that pollutes our waterways but also poses threats to marine wildlife. Earlier this year, California firefighters tried to rescue a wild heron trapped in fishing line, but it did not survive. A seal in Namibia was more fortunate, as rescuers safely removed a metal fishing hook stuck in its chin. Divers have found coral reefs that are completely wrapped in fishing line and other debris. 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. A World Wildlife Fund report found that hundreds of thousands of endangered marine animals die each year because of fishing and discarded fishing gear. What's being done to protect animals? Longmont park rangers told CBS News they have noticed more birds getting tangled in fishing gear this year and are working on fishing safety measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents, meanwhile, are asking the city government to take more action to reduce the amount of fishing waste in local waterways. "Make people be more careful with it," Rivas said. "But we also need to leave some places safe for the animals and the birds." 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. Renewable Energy Magazine reported that NEXT Energy Technologies has achieved a significant milestone in harnessing solar energy. NEXT is a developer of Building Integrated PV Solutions and organic photovoltaics, which harness energy from the sun. The company recently completed installing photovoltaic windows at its Santa Barbara, California, headquarters, making this the first commercial installation powered by the company's technology and marking a significant step forward in the commercialization of its solar products. The installation consists of six photovoltaic windows totaling 100 square feet of NEXT's solar energy-harnessing glass. With this installation, architects and other interested parties can have a real-life demonstration of how these windows look and how much energy they produce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEXT's organic photovoltaic technology allows windows in commercial buildings to generate energy from the sun, turning these commercial buildings into their own power sources. With NEXT's technology, buildings can generate enough energy to offset 20% to 25% of the property's typical energy consumption. Additionally, because these windows capture and convert infrared light, buildings stay cooler, which helps HVAC systems with their job. Overall, NEXT's innovation will enhance the resilience of buildings, increase buildings' energy efficiency, improve the efficiency of local grids, and create clean, renewable power. This will result in lower energy costs, energy independence, and less reliance on the dirty energy responsible for the majority of air pollution, leading to a healthier and cleaner future for communities. It's unknown whether these windows will be available for residential homes, but in the meantime, homeowners looking to make the switch to solar energy can install solar panels and bring their monthly energy bills down to as low as $0. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding a local installer is simple with EnergySage's free tool that lets you compare quotes and possibly save up to $10,000 on your solar installation. Plus, switching to solar energy makes it easier and cheaper for homeowners to run other money-saving appliances like heat pumps. Those looking to switch to a heat pump can find an affordable one with the help of Mitsubishi. As for this solar-harnessing window installation, NEXT Vice President of Commercialization & Growth, Jonathan Hafemann, explained to Renewable Energy Magazine: "This is the first of many. We're thrilled to share this tangible demonstration of our vision for energy-generating facades and to invite the industry to imagine what's possible when windows do more than just manage heat gain and U-value." 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. TAYLORS, S.C. (WSPA) On Thursday, August 22, 2025, a man from Taylors was hit and killed while directing traffic. The incident occurred at the intersection of East North Street and Terramont Drive. Yet, the victims death raises concerns over pedestrian safety. According to Highway Patrol Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway, 91 pedestrians have died so far this year. This time last year, the total was 99 pedestrians. Ridgeway says both pedestrians and drivers have to work together to prevent accidents like this from happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pedestrians and drivers, we all have to work together to do our part. Drivers have to pay attention for pedestrians and pedestrians have to pay attention to vehicles, MT Ridgeway said. He added that it is important to also educate children about pedestrian safety. If youre a pedestrian you need to know what to do and educate your children on what to do, Ridgeway explained. As a pedestrian, we need to be aware that we need to walk facing traffic so we can see that traffic coming towards us, because if youre walking with traffic and that traffic is coming from behind you, then you cant see when a vehicle is coming up on you. Ridgeway also mentioned the large number of crosswalks in Downtown Greenville as an example of places to have extra caution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres tons of crosswalks in that area, so when you see that light that says its safe to cross as a pedestrian, you need to make eye contact with the driver just to know that they see you, you see them, they come to a complete stop and then you can safely walk across the road, he said. It was reported by the Greenville County Coroners Office that the victim involved in Thursdays accident was wearing a reflective vest. The coroners office and Highway Patrol are still working to determine who was at fault. It is important that all pedestrians follow the rules when walking and crossing, and drivers alike pay attention at all times. For the latest information and updates regarding the victim who was hit, 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 WSPA 7NEWS. WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNCT) Congressman Don Davis has been awarded the 2025 Democracy Award in the Best of Bipartisan Engagement and Collaboration category by the Congressional Management Foundation. The award recognizes Daviss office for promoting good governance and bipartisan engagement, and collaboration. Many hard-working families view Washington, D.C., as broken and unresponsive to their needs. Being recognized as a Democracy Award winner reflects our commitment to uniting people and addressing their concerns, said Congressman Don Davis. Our office prioritizes the needs of eastern North Carolina by collaborating with all parties. Representation means listening to and striving to improve all families lives, which is our daily goal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This award recognizes the value of building relationships across party lines, said CMF CEO Jen Daulby. Rep. Don Davis dedication to bipartisan collaboration sets an example for his colleagues and reflects a commitment to working together with respect and openness on behalf of the American people. The award is the second consecutive year that Congressman Davis has received such recognition. In 2024, Congressman Davis was the only first-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives to win this prestigious Democracy Award, in the category of Innovation and Modernization. For more details and the full list of 2025 winners, please visit this link here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. BOSTON, MA. Robert George and Cornel West may be two of the most improbable friends in American public life. George, a professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University, is a devout Catholic and a staunch conservative. West, on the other hand, is a passionate progressive intellectual a professor at Union Theological Seminary, celebrated for his activism and critiques of inequality and injustice. This unlikely friendship between the two professors started with a conversation about 20 years ago. A student at Princeton was launching a new campus magazine and invited West, who was at Princeton at the time, to interview a professor for the first issue. West chose George, whom he only knew only in passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What began as a planned half-hour interview in Georges office turned into a four-hour debate on philosophy, politics, literature and faith. The spirited exchange and the mutual intellectual affinity led to the pair co-teaching a freshman seminar called Adventures of Ideas based on 12 great books. West picked six books, and so did George. Students read Augustines Confessions, John Stewart Mill, C.S. Lewis, Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail. From the first moment some people talk about chemistry we had magic, George said, speaking alongside West on Wednesday night as part of Bostons speaking series Un-monument, which brings temporary monuments and public programs to neighborhoods. Their conversation was inspired by the Boston sculpture called Embrace, which celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Over two decades, the intellectual synergy between the pairs student project blossomed into a deep friendship and an ongoing dialogue grounded in mutual love and respect. West and George know each others families, co-teach, travel, pray together, and now share a recently published book Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division, released this past January. Cornell West and Robert George have given us in their friendship and in their teaching a luminous model of what it means to live one of the most urgent but neglected dimensions of democratic life the discipline of truth seeking across difference, said Brandon Terry, professor at Harvard University, who moderated the conversation. Professors and friends Cornel West, center, and Robert George, right, spoke together on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Boston about how to be truth-seekers in the modern world while moderated by Brandon Terry, second from left, a professor at Harvard University. | Malakhai Pearson, the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture City of Boston Love warrior Its a question he often gets, West said, why a conservative vanilla Republican would spend time with a chocolate hang-loose Baptist, who is on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I love about this brother is that even when he is wrong that hes honest, West said, prompting a chuckle from the room. When many public figures tend to posture for attention or career gain, he argued, honesty and decency have become rare. What happened to character? Character is destiny, he said, citing Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher. For West, the friendship and collaboration with George reflects his broader vocation to live faithfully, defending whats true and serve the least of these, even when it comes at personal cost. In his remarks on Wednesday, West described himself as a cracked vessel striving to love flawed people with his crooked heart. In 2021, West, who now teaches at Union Theological Seminary, resigned from Harvard University after he said that the school denied him tenure. In his resignation letter, he accused the school of intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of deep depths. After public pressure, Harvard offered to reconsider his tenure, but West had made up his mind. West has also taught at Yale and Princeton. Among Wests most known books are Race Matters and Democracy Matters, his memoir Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud and his most recent book Black Prophetic Fire. In the 2024 presidential election, West announced his candidacy as a progressive independent, finishing seventh in the national vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West often frames his lifes work as part of the same tradition of " great Black people" that shaped Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King love warriors, according to West. He is part of the same lineage, he said, describing himself as a redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities. For him, figures like King, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison embody the same spirit of transforming suffering into love and joy. Are we in the age of feeling? Just as the medieval era was known as the age of faith and the Enlightenment as the age of reason, George argued, that today we are living in what he calls the age of feeling. Many people seem to think that the touchstone of truth and goodness or justice is healing, is emotion, is how they feel about something, George said. For many people today, moral guidance, even wisdom, is sought in feeling and emotion. And I object. Although George doesnt dismiss emotion outright, he warns that when feelings arent disciplined by reason, they can easily lead us astray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we are guided by our emotions, were guided by our feelings, were guided by these subjective features of ourselves, we have no very reliable source of truth, George said. And while even the most reasonable of us get things wrong, for George, reason is a steadier guide than emotion: My belief is that the least reliable way to find the truth is to consult your untutored feelings. In the relationship between emotion and reason, he noted, its reason that should be in the drivers seat. He calls for a return to the medieval ideal, in which faith and reason work together with what Pope John Paul II once described as the two wings on which the human spirit ascends to the contemplation of truth. West, however, suggested that a purely intellectual orientation might stand in the way of deeply loving others. He described today not only as the age of feeling, but as an age of nihilism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nihilism is the concrete experience of lovelessness and meaninglessness, touchlessness and not being able to cultivate the capacity to love ones neighbor, West said. Without strong institutions, cultural virtues and deep values to curb greed and indifference, West said, societies risk becoming nihilistic, governed by a might makes right mentality. Professors and friends Robert George, right, and Cornel West spoke together on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Boston about how to be truth-seekers in the modern world. | Malakhai Pearson, the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture City of Boston Decay of culture and value of truth Amid this growing nihilism, the temptation might be to embrace the mindset of you have your truth and I have my truth, George said, but this thinking in his view is misguided. If there is no such thing as the truth, there is no way for you to offer me any challenge or criticism there is no rational basis for you to ask me to rethink, reconsider, to give me an argument, to induce reasons, or marshal evidence, George said. Ive essentially immunized my beliefs against challenges, against revision. When we shield ourselves and our beliefs from critique, this thinking could slide into dogmatism, he said, and even authoritarianism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young people are steeped in the culture that produces a joyless quest for insatiable pleasures, West warned. Theyre stimulated in various ways, yet their souls are still empty, their hearts are still vacuous. West called joy a spiritual achievement, because love, which precedes joy, requires learning and knowing how to empty yourself to receive and give. In a culture that West described as spiritually hollow, politics has become a byproduct of broader trends shaped by consumerism and greed. Its this culture that gave rise to Donald Trump, he noted, where he is less an anomaly than a symbol of broader cultural decay. He hates all the time, well hes been hated on too by the corporate media, West said. Oh, hes attacking Harvard when was Harvard the bastion of truth? In 2017, he controversially referred to the Charlottesville marchers as brothers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont ask anybodys permission as (to) who I call brother or sister who I love, and Im a Christian. God loves you, just like God loves me, West said. Its not a question of pointing fingers you have to be self-critical. You have to examine yourself. Instead of chasing pleasant experiences, George makes the case for a life grounded in reality as opposed to one driven by falsehoods or fantasies. But this commitment rests on faith, he said. I have faith in reason, he said. He urged the crowd to embrace the real world even when its tough, even when its hard, even when its challenging. In wrestling with reality, each one should commit to the pursuit of truth: The vocation of every single one of us to be a determined truth seeker and a courageous truth speaker. And we cant be one without the other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early abolitionists in 19th-century Boston exemplified truth-telling, West said. They were initially dismissed but later recognized for their moral courage. He homed in on the question our nation is facing: How do we become more courageous in our fallibility, in our willingness to bear witness and staying in contact with humanity, even of the gangs, who are promoting injustice? Why do I believe what I believe? To become truth-seekers, George advised to first acknowledge our fallibility that we are undoubtedly wrong about some more important questions about existence and human nature. Then ask: why do I believe what I believe? Is it because its what my tribe believes or because of what the culture believes? Many historically smart, sophisticated institutions like Harvard, Princeton and major foundations actively supported eugenics, George said, and it was only after Hitler discredited eugenics that society began to repudiate it. The only way we can be that self-critical is if we cultivate in ourselves the virtue of intellectual humility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The years of debating with George have helped West get inside his skin he said. Even though he hasnt changed his core views, hes gained appreciation of nuances and insights hed previously overlooked. There is still some real possibility of maturing, West said. You have to undergo serious self-examination and contestation in order to become more ripe and more mature to grow and develop spiritually more politically and thats one of the great gifts Ive had with my brother. American exceptionalism, George explained, is not about claiming superiority but about uniting a diverse nation around shared ideals rather than common ethnicity or religion. Losing this fragile foundation, he warned, would leave the country with nothing. If we back ourselves into a situation where we have to regard them as enemies and aliens, then theres nothing to base our national unity on, and we will sooner or later fall apart. BRANSON, Mo. The construction company involved in downtown Bransons water main break incident that left two contractor employees in critical condition has released a statement. The company, Emery Sapp & Sons, is based in Springfield. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the injured employees and their families, and with everyone affected by this incident, the statement said. An investigation is underway, and we are cooperating fully with the appropriate agencies, the statement continued. Our immediate priority is the wellbeing of our employees and their families. As we gather and review the facts, we will share updates as appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a Branson city news release, first responders were dispatched at 2:33 p.m. to a construction site at the intersection of Sycamore St. and Main St. after contractors experienced a water main break. Two contractor employees were injured and transported by ambulance to local hospitals for treatment. The release said their conditions are being monitored. Ozarks First asked the city for an update on their conditions today, but did not receive comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Earlier this year, a social media account started documenting the mysterious and alarming appearance of spray-painted swastikas around downtown Ventura. But the account was not run by a good Samaritan trying to draw attention to a hate crime, authorities later determined. It was instead the handiwork of a convicted rapist who was committing the vandalism himself, then posting photos online in an effort to sow fear, according to the Ventura Police Department and the county district attorney's office. John Williams, 32, of Ventura admitted this week that he had vandalized public and private property with swastikas. Williams was convicted of forcible rape in 2019 and was on parole at the time of the crimes, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested on March 30 and initially pleaded not guilty, but withdrew that plea Tuesday as part of a plea bargain, prosecutors said. He has now pleaded guilty to three felony counts of vandalism for damage exceeding $400, three felony hate crime counts, two misdemeanor counts of vandalism and one misdemeanor count of possession of a stun gun by a convicted felon, prosecutors said. He remains in custody in lieu of $250,000 bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17. Read more: Convicted rapist spray-painted swastikas in Ventura while on parole, police say Symbols of hate like the swastika are not simply relics of history, they remain dangerous reminders of violence and intolerance, Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Hayley Moyer said in a statement. Our community will not tolerate acts that glorify Nazism or spread fear, and we will hold offenders accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams also admitted to special allegations of committing the crimes while on parole and having a prior strike conviction, prosecutors said. He has a history of parole violations and was booked into Ventura County Jail on a parole hold 10 days before his recent vandalism arrest, according to the countys inmate log. Ventura police began investigating the hate crimes on March 30 after receiving a call from a downtown business that someone had spray-painted a swastika and "VC Pride" on a wall of its property, prosecutors said. The same day, police received four additional reports of swastika graffiti found on public and private properties in Ventura. Read more: Torrance cops strike plea deal in swastika graffiti case that uncovered racist texts Officers quickly identified Williams as their suspect using surveillance video at two of the vandalized locations. Officers determined he had been documenting graffiti and posting images on social media "in an effort to give the appearance that other people were committing hate crimes and spreading fear," according to the Ventura Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Antisemitic incidents have soared in the U.S. after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. The Anti-Defamation League reported 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the United States in 2024 a 344% increase over the last five years and the highest number since the organization started tracking incidents in 1979. L.A. County saw a 91% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes from 2022 to 2023, the latest year for which data are available. 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. Aug. 22MITCHELL More than a hundred giant portraits of South Dakota farmers cover the walls of the Corn Palace, part of a national public art project unveiled to spotlight agricultural conservation efforts and the producers who use them. The large-scale black-and-white portraits are part of a collaboration between Invest in Our Land, a national nonprofit that promotes farmer-led conservation, and the Inside Out Project, a global public art initiative. The installation was unveiled Thursday during the Corn Palace Festival and coincided with Dakotafest, where conservation funding and sustainable ag practices were in focus. Each portrait depicts a South Dakota farmer, rancher, or community member who has used USDA conservation programs to improve their land and operations. The photos were adhered to the Corn Palace using an all-natural wheat paste, with more added throughout the event. Attendees at both Dakotafest and the Corn Palace Festival had the chance to contribute to the project through a mobile photo booth truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mural installation is part of a national campaign titled From the Heartland to the Hill, designed to showcase the real-world impact of USDA conservation programs such as EQIP, CSP, ACEP, and RCPP. The goal, organizers say, is not only to raise awareness but to protect these programs from proposed cuts. Rebecca Bartels, executive director of Invest in Our Land, helped lead the effort in her home state. A native of Oneida, Bartels grew up immersed in agriculture and now works to elevate farmer voices nationally. "The programs and practices aren't abstract," she said. "They're the real work of putting cover crops on the ground and utilizing minimum till and no-till to keep the soil down and improve land, water, and air quality." For Bartels, seeing the portraits on a building she admired as a child added personal meaning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now, wrapped in these portraits, it's also a symbol of resiliency and the farmers that have worked year in and year out to make sure that they are able to keep food on the table and keep farming the land," she said. The timing of the project comes as Congress has approved expanded funding for conservation programs with support from South Dakota lawmakers including U.S. Sens. John Thune, Mike Rounds and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson. But that expansion has come with new concerns: proposed USDA workforce reductions and a freeze on some conservation technical assistance funds, which farmers rely on to access and implement the programs. Bartels warned that those cuts pose a risk. Without local technical support from agencies like the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), she said, many producers may find it difficult to put conservation plans into action. "Conservation funding freezes and NRCS staff cuts aren't just paperwork issues," she said. "They're a threat to the future of U.S. farms and rural communities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressman Johnson, who stopped by the Corn Palace installation, said efforts like this one help connect policy conversations to real producers on the ground. "This photo truck concept is fun, and it really does literally put a face on conservation," Johnson said. He added that conservation practices supported through federal programs don't require taking land out of production. Instead, they offer practical strategies like no-till farming and cover cropping that help producers improve soil and water quality while maintaining productivity. Among the South Dakota producers featured in the mural is Crystal Neuharth, a Fort Pierre farmer and finalist for Dakotafest's 2024 Woman Farmer/Rancher of the Year Award. She and her family use conservation practices such as cover cropping and rotational grazing, supported in part by NRCS programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neuharth said being part of the project was an opportunity to help raise awareness of what farmers are already doing to improve sustainability. For her, conservation is part of the daily reality of farming. "There are many sacrifices we make to keep our family farm successful," she said. "With livestock and crops, you're working through all kinds of weather, whether you're sick or not." Another featured producer, Mike Blaalid of rural Mitchell, who is also a Davison County commissioner, has adopted a wide range of conservation tools on his operation including rotational grazing, integrating livestock with cropland, and cross-fencing many implemented with help from local NRCS experts. He said these strategies have helped lower input costs and improve production, but that kind of progress requires support. "We need more of them people who can help plan, apply, and ensure farmers have what they need," Blaalid said. "This support helps us build healthier soils, be more prepared for floods and droughts, and cut down on input costs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blaalid said seeing his face among so many fellow producers at the Corn Palace was an honor. "These portraits of conservation aren't just big pictures up on the Corn Palace," he said. "They're the faces of folks who make this community and this state what it is." Now that its Mitchell debut has concluded, the exhibit is on its way to Washington, D.C., where it will be part of an event this fall. Invest in Our Land organizers say they plan to present the portraits and the stories behind them to lawmakers as part of an ongoing effort to safeguard conservation funding for the next generation. "The goal isn't just to display these portraits," Bartels said. "It's to protect the programs that made them possible and ensure the next generation of farmers has access to the same tools." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Jordan Hanson opened the unveiling, noting that the Corn Palace itself has long stood as a symbol of South Dakota agriculture. "The Corn Palace was originally built over 100 years ago to celebrate agriculture and the harvest," Hanson said. "This installation of portraits takes that spirit and puts it on the walls for the whole world to see." He also emphasized that the temporary art would not damage the building and that the project was meant to celebrate the local producers who fuel the community. NEMOURS Mercer County officials are hoping work can get underway next year on a planned waterline replacement project that also connects with neighboring Tazewell County. Planning for the two-state Nemours Pocahontas Waterline Replacement project began after the Mercer County Public Service District was created by the Mercer County Commission, according to Mike Kennett, chairman of the Mercer County PSD. The project is an initiative of both the Mercer County PSD and the Tazewell County Public Service Authority. It involves replacing the existing distribution system on both sides of the state line while upgrading the water lines to allow for fire hydrants and fire protection. The project area includes the communities of Nemours, Yards, and Wolfe along Route 102, including residents living in Virginia who will be served by the Tazewell County PSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It starts in Pocahontas, catches everything in Nemours, back to the Tazewell end of it, Kennett said. When the PSD was created, Kennett said Mercer County officials started getting calls from residents in the Nemours area about water and fire protection needs. We got together, I made a couple of phone calls, and we got together with the engineer with Thompson and Litton, and we said the only solution here was to have a joint project with two states, Kennett said, adding communications began at that point with the Tazewell County PSA. Then we decided we needed to upgrade the lines, number one, or you cant have fire hydrants. Kennett said the Shinbrier community, which is located in West Virginia but is closer to Pocahontas, Va., was later added to the project scope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It (the project) will upgrade the line, get it back to the standards it should be and also add the fire protection, Kennett said. Everything will be updated. Kennett said fire hydrants for fire protection will be added both in West Virginia and Virginia. While funding is still being sought for the project, more than $1 million in American Rescue Plan dollars were awarded to the project last by the Mercer County Commission. The goal is see construction begin next year, if not earlier, according to Kennett. The next step is to make sure all of our permits are in highway and all, Kennett said. Hopefully next month weve got a meeting on the 18th we will make a final decision on what needs to be done. Then we could go to bid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tazewell County also is funding the Virginia side of the project, according to Mercer County Administrator Vicky Reed. The Pocahontas side is partially in Tazewell County, Reed said. The Nemours portion is in Mercer County. I know it is a joint project and Tazewell County is putting money in on the Virginia side. Thompson and Litton is the engineering firm working on the project for both states. The water system serving Nemours is antiquated and dates back to when the community was a company town serving the mining industry, according to earlier reports by Mercer County Commission President Bill Archer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was an antiquated water system, Archer said when the original American Rescue Plan dollars were awarded. The PSA over there in Tazewell County really wanted to upgrade it and so did we as a commission. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com Masten Childers II, Kentuckys hard-charging and sometimes controversial secretary of the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services under former Gov. Brereton Jones, has died. He was 75. Friends said Childers, who had been diagnosed several years ago with Parkinsons disease, died Thursday in Lexington following a decline in health. He was the perfect secretary of human services, said Ruth Ann Palumbo, a former state representative from Lexington who said she had known Childers for decades and worked with him closely in the mid-1990s while he was cabinet secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did so much for the commonwealth, Palumbo said. He did a lot of good for this state. Tim Veno, a former top official at the cabinet, said Childers pushed key reforms in juvenile justice, nursing home and day care oversight, adult and child welfare and Medicaid all housed within the sprawling agency he ran until December 1995. He had a lot of accomplishments over the years, Veno said. Obviously the reforms didnt last but they lasted a pretty good while. Veno and Palumbo said they were notified late Thursday of Childers death by his family members and others close to him. Childers told the Kentucky Lantern last year he was very proud of a 1995 consent decree he helped negotiate with the U.S. Department of Justice to reform the states problem-ridden system of centers for juvenile offenders and was deeply disappointed to learn federal officials were again investigating reports of abuse of youths that had resurfaced in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If our consent decree had been followed, we would not be talking about this, he said in the 2024 interview. An intense individual While credited with shaking up operations at the states largest agency and enacting important reforms in human services, Childers, a lawyer who had worked in state government through several administrations, was known for his table-pounding, shouting, mercurial style around staff. The Frankfort State Journal once reported that Childers throws the best fit in Frankfort. He was an intense individual and sometimes very hard to work for, Veno recalled. I quit on him a couple of times. But Veno said Childers would implore him not to leave the cabinet, once showing up at his apartment to make the request in person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would get over it, said Veno. Id go back to work and hed treat me well for a while but there were some wild times. He would throw staplers, kick trash cans. Some outbursts, Veno said, were born of frustration over the nature of the cabinets work which generally was lurching from one human service crisis to another sometimes involving death or injury to children and adults under the cabinets watch. He in many ways inherited a cabinet thats on fire, Pat Mulloy, who served as finance secretary in the Jones administration, said in a 1994 interview in the Courier Journal. Hes got to put the fires out and figure out how to rebuild. But despite the conflict, his top staff formed a close bond and continued to meet for lunch occasionally in the years after Childers left the job as secretary when Gov. Jones term ended in 1995. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That team we had in place, he thought we had a close connection, and we did, Veno said. He was a great leader, smart as a whip, was very passionate and did a lot for the people of the commonwealth. Frankfort hillbilly A cigar-smoking, suspender-wearing afficionado of Brooks Brothers suits, Childers a native of Pikeville persisted in referring to himself as a hillbilly and country lawyer. Veno recalled reports Childers occasionally lit up a stogie at work despite a ban on smoking in state buildings prompting an inquiry from a reporter as his tenure as secretary was winding down at the close of the Jones administration. Childers had a ready response for the reporter, Veno recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said, We are doing an investigation as we speak. We are close to identifying a perpetrator and I can assure you he will no longer be here on Dec. 12, Veno said. (Dec. 12, 1995 was the day Paul Patton was inaugurated as the next governor, succeeding Jones). Childers was born into a well-off Pike County family. His father, Masten Childers, was a wealthy coal operator and his mother, Velma, was a prominent Republican who caused a stir when she crossed party lines to support Jones, a former Republican running for governor as a Democrat, according to a 1994 Courier Journal profile. Childers said he became a Democrat in 1977. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before becoming CHFS secretary under Jones, he held several government jobs. Childers served as deputy finance secretary under former Gov. Julian Carroll and chief of staff for Martha Layne Collins when she was lieutenant governor. After earning a law degree in 1983, Childers served as a law clerk for former state Supreme Court Justice James B. Stephenson, Childers former neighbor in Pikeville, according to the Courier Journal profile. He first joined the health services cabinet as general counsel in 1992 before Jones named him to the top job as secretary. After he left government, Childers returned to private law practice, Veno said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he stayed in touch with friends and former colleagues, most recently at his 75th birthday party in July at the Lexington Club, said Palumbo, among those who attended. By then, Veno, who also attended, said Parkinsons Disease had taken its toll on Childers health, commenting, Now hes not struggling and suffering. Childers was preceded in death by his son, MacFarland Childers, and is survived by Masten Childers III (Jennifer), Judith Cornwell (Graham), Havana Childers, and six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Visitation for Childers will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 27 from 4-7 p.m. at Milwards-Broadway. This obituary was originally published in The Lantern. GOSHEN Elkhart County legislators are concerned about Senate Enrolled Act 1. Following an invite from State Rep. Joanna King, District 49, many county leaders recently met with her and other state officials to discuss the bill and its impacts on local funding, but they say they dont yet have the answers they need, and theyre headed into budget season. Elkhart County leaders, including mayors of Elkhart (Rod Roberson), Goshen (Gina Leichty) and Nappanee (Phil Jenkins), council leaders from across the county, including Phil Miller of Middlebury, Arvis Dawson of Elkhart, Brett Weddell of Goshen, Rocco Rigsby of Wakarusa, Jeff Beachey of Bristol, Elkhart County Council members and many others brought their questions to the meeting, where some say they were not answered. Elkhart County Commissioner Brad Rogers said that while they appreciated the sit-down, which also included Rep. Jeffrey Thompson, District 28, who authored the bill on the House side, ultimately sponsored the bill and is chairman of Indiana House Ways & Means, they really didnt get many questions answered and instead were able to use the time to present the legislators, including Blake Doriot, Craig Snow and Linda Rogers, with proposals and considerations for modifications to the bill as they make changes in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going into a budget session and were not sure as a county, Rogers said. Were really confused. Were just perplexed as to how this funding works and who gets what and how its divided between cities and counties, the Local Income Tax (LIT), how thats going to work and who gets penalized and, this could pit counties against cities and vice versa and we never wanted that. Senate Enrolled Act 1, or SB1, was passed back in April as a reform of property taxes statewide. The bill and its supporters also claim that homeowners will see a $300 decrease over the next few years in their property taxes and decreases in income tax in exchange for counties and cities receiving less money from them. However, local jurisdictions are concerned that their funding may be cut too much. Elkhart reported in early August an anticipated decrease in $34 million in income tax when thats eliminated and property tax revenue down $6 million, per the bill, when its all fully implemented in 2028. Its a third of Elkharts budget. Goshen is much the same, with an anticipated $13.2 million loss annually by 2028. During the Elkhart County Council meeting on Thursday, councilman Steven Clark explained that the bill changes the property taxes from a levy-based to a rate-based system. In theory, thats actually not a bad idea, however, this bill does not do that, Clark said, adding that Thompson at the meeting admitted the bill doesnt do that, and said the state legislature needs to make changes to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is, if they want to fix it in the next session, we have budgets due in a couple weeks, how do we plan? he said. Local governments are kind of flying blind. Do we invest? Do we cut roads? Do we do bridges? What do we have to do? And so while our state took a bad system and made it worse, locals are now forced to try to understand this and work around bad legislation. Clark said the levy system is still in place, and he doesnt believe the bill will help decrease property taxes for homeowners. Clark stated that the bill gets rid of the $48,000 Homestead deduction and the Supplemental deduction for a home below $600,000 at 35%, shifting them to a two-thirds deduction. Clark said flat rates help lower value homes more. The levy, however, is a different story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The levy goes up each year by however much the state says it will, he said. After COVID, theyve just been setting it every year. Over 90% of the countys budget is for roads, he noted. The rates, he said, dont matter, what youre paying matters. The levy sets the rate, not the other way around, and thats important to know, he said. For example, a $550,000 home in Olive Township with Homestead and Supplemental exemptions as it stands today, would give a an assessed value of $313,000. With a tax rate of 1.5%, the bill would be about $4,753. The new SB1 would imply a 48% tax cut after the math, Clark claimed, but he said, it doesnt take into account the levy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the tax rate doesnt matter, he said. So whats going to happen is the levys going to continue to go up by whatever the state says and then to offset that because remember, the levy determines the tax rate so all of the sudden the tax rate is going to jump from 1.5% to 2.8% just to stay even. Its just a game on how they play these numbers. Instead, tax cuts for business personal property no longer have a 30% floor, and the exemption was moved from $80,000 to $2 million, so businesses may see tax decreases. I dont think your taxes will go down, he said. He also said, while he thinks counties may be able to offset their decrease, cities will be decimated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, income taxes for people who do not live in Elkhart County but work here, will go away in 2028. Clark told people to mark their calendars to check their bills each year to see if their tax bill will go down under SB1. Unless they do something different in the upcoming session, Im calling shenanigans, he said. What this bill does is every year, were going to get up here as a council and vote for the tax rate. What I bet youre going to hear from state legislators is theyre going to say We cut your rates. They jacked up that rate. Well have to get up here every year and vote on this thing that doesnt make a difference so that they can tell you that you got a tax cut and were the ones that jacked it up and thats not true. Elkhart County Council president Tom Stump said there are parts of Clarks commentary that he agrees with, but until they know how the levy system will translate, he doesnt agree yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elkhart County Councilman Doug Graham asked during the council meeting about the county justice income tax of 25% Property Tax Replacement Credit and County Assessor Patty Pickens said she doesnt know. Commissioner Suzie Weirick said one of the reasons the state is OK with saying they can deal with it later is that the true impacts do not come into place on the budgets until 2027. The first two years, 25 pay 26 and 26 pay 27 are property tax changes, which will directly impact the levy us property tax payers, residents, will not see changes, she said. Starting in 26 pay 27 is when the BPPT (Business Personal Property Tax) will come into play and that will directly impact the levy but again will not impact us residents except change our tax bill itll give relief to businesses. So then the goal is to make up for it with Local Income Tax, which again, in our county, we bring in 80,000 workers a day that use our roads, use fire, use our emergency management, use our police, use all our services, and they will not pay any taxes any longer, starting in 28 to use our services. This is a phased-in, so they can take time to understand it. Graham said he questioned Thompson during the meeting the week prior. The general public hears the headline that they got a 10% tax deduction up to $300 per home, and I questioned him and he agreed that ... it did not represent what actually happened in that tax bill, Graham said. And unfortunately, a lot of people are walking around thinking that their tax bill is going to come down by 10% with a maximum of $300, and I guess the point Stevens been making is that that really doesnt reflect whats going to happen. People care what they write a check for, not what budget it sits in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weirick said county leaders should take control and tell legislators what changes they want to see in the bill. This has been an ongoing conversation that municipal leaders, at the county level, at townships, at libraries, at schools, are having with our local legislators, said Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty. As weve been talking with the state legislators and theyve been becoming more aware of the impact on cities because its taking a long time for a lot of the cities and municipalities and units of government to get their impact statements from Baker Tilly or whoever their financial adviser is. One of the things that struck me at the meeting last week, Chairman Thompson asked for a date by when local municipalities would have concrete information about revenue recovery from impact tax potential. That system doesnt exist today. There is no structure to provide that information, so we have to just make estimates based on the number of households and you can make some rough guess estimates, but nobody knows parcel-by-parcel what each individual household income tax is. Leichty said Thompson told them theyd have that information available by July 2026, but if municipalities are looking at a cliff in two years, they have to start making strategic decisions now. What we were hoping for at that meeting was that there would be some explanation as to corrective steps that either Chairman Thompson or some other legislators might be willing to explore so that we would kind of know Whats the plan here? Leichty said. It didnt seem like there was a corrective plan yet in action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leichty said Thompson instead did tell them that he intends to have corrective action on the table for the next legislative session in January but he wasnt confident that there would be substantive change in the bill in less than two years. Were looking at freezing just routine maintenance for a couple years, she said. How much do we freeze right now, just to make sure that we dont ultimately fall off this cliff if were not getting clear direction from the state legislators on how theyre going to make corrective action? Leichty said she knows the state doesnt usually address the budget two years in a row, but she urged legislators to take action regardless. Its not a partisan issue, she said. Its not that as a local government, that were adverse to change, that we dont see that there were some things that needed to be fixed with the old system. Totally agree, need to change, willing to work through it. The problem is that we werent consulted in the process of that legislation being developed and its not a helpful piece of legislation for anybody and we want to make sure that it gets fixed, and to get it fixed, weve got to work together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leichty said she felt frustrated because she did not hear a sense of urgency at the meeting from legislators, and added that large manufacturing communities like Elkhart County would be more strongly impacted. We cannot let our road infrastructure crumble for a couple years while we take our time playing with math, she said. To make matters worse, and more intimidating for certain municipalities, Elkhart County Councilman Adam Bujalski claimed that while the bill allows the cities of Nappanee, Goshen and Elkhart to determine their own Local Income Tax (LIT) tax. Smaller jurisdictions, those 3,500 and below would be at the mercy of their county council, who could easily give them no LIT funding. We havent elected people in these positions, we have elected bodies that the citizens of those communities have asked to handle their finances, much like the county residents have asked us, and these boards, these town councils and all these things, are having all of their local fiscal control ripped out of their hands and being given to the counties, Bujalski said. I have some friends down in the southern part of the state that do not know anyone on their county council. Theyve reached out, and now they have these county councils that are going to be setting the fiscal standards for their towns and now they have zero relationship. To me I really feel like theres an attack on our small towns. Clark also called for a special meeting with the council and other groups to discuss plans with the public. The council chose to hold off on the meeting until they know more. Representatives expressed frustration that the presentation they expected to see was only about five minutes long, while the meeting, full of questions and ideas, lasted around an hour and a half. Still, area leaders said they felt positive about the fact that they all expressed a united front. I learned that its a big bill and a lot of people that voted on it didnt know what they were voting on, said Elkhart County Council president Arvis Dawson. All the county and state officials were pretty adamant that this bill didnt do us justice for what were trying to do with our communities. Representative Joanna King issued a press release regarding the meeting, where it was said that she felt the meeting went well and was informative. I wanted leaders in our community to come together to have a positive and insightful meeting about the impacts of Senate Enrolled 1 and what is means for residents, King said. This was a productive meeting and we discussed how the law will provide immediate, meaningful relief to homeowners and move us to a more accountable system that keeps our communities thriving without burdening taxpayers. King said the new law provides increased credits and deductions for all homeowners, as well as additional relief for fixed-income seniors. The press release also indicates that King believes the tax reform offers short-term significant relief and creates a system that improves accountability in local government spending. According to the press release, the bill decreases total local income taxes local governments can collect by $1.9 billion. Local leaders are interested in continued conversations. I think well have more of these meetings and I think well work more collaboratively as a county with our state legislators, Dawson said. There are consequences sometimes that they may not think about that affects cities and towns and I think we resonated that with the county and city officials. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) An Alabama appeals court today again rejected a request by Joey Wilson to revisit his capital murder case, the notorious 1996 cell phone murders. Four people were killed and two seriously wounded in a house off U.S. 72-University Drive shortly before midnight on Sept. 25, 1996. Wilson and another man, Nick Acklin, were both given death sentences for the killings. Michael Beaudette, Bryan Carter, Johnny Couch and Charles Hemphill were killed; two others, Michelle Hayden and Ashley Rutherford, were seriously injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson was convicted of capital murder in 1998. His direct appeals were denied in 2001; he filed a Rule 32 petition, arguing he did not get a fair trial. Wilsons lawyers claimed a number of problems, both in the trial phase and the penalty phase of the case. The claims included inadequate work by his attorney, incorrect instructions from the judge, a failure to move the case out of Huntsville, and problems with the jury selection and the prosecutions behavior. But in its ruling Friday, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals rejected all of the claims, arguing they were without merit, had previously been decided, or were not raised at the appropriate time. The appeals court said none of the issues raised led to Wilsons conviction and death sentence. The killings included references to drug-dealing and were apparently spurred by a filed police report accusing Wilson of stealing a cell phone. Wilson, Acklin, and Corey Johnson went to the home, armed, according to testimony and over several hours beat and threatened people in the home; eventually, the shooting started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the court record, Wilson testified during the penalty phase of his trial that he shot Carter, but denied shooting anyone else that night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) In this weeks Basin Bites, we visited Cousins Maine Lobster, a food truck based out of Lubbock that visits Midland a few times a month. Cousins Maine started out with two cousins, Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac. The two were thinking about the food they had back home in Maine, wanting to bring that to Los Angeles. That is where they came up with the idea of bringing lobster rolls to the West Coast. From there, the two started with a food truck and would appear on Shark Tank. From there, Barbara Cochran invested in them, and the rest is history. Cousins Maine Lobster provides several lobster-based items on their menu, such as lobster tacos, lobster tots, and, of course, the famous lobster rolls. If you are interested in trying Cousins Maine Lobster, they post on Facebook when they will be in town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. A crab has taken over social media after a video surfaced showing the little crustacean clutching a disposable vape underwater and appearing to smoke it. Originally posted by @nexta_tv on X (formerly Twitter), the bizarre footage quickly spread like wildfire, with thousands of reposts and shares on Instagram. In the clip, the crab can be seen gripping the turquoise vape in its claws, maneuvering it like a seasoned smoker, and even seeming to put the tip up to its mouth. Crab Caught 'Vaping' Underwater Goes Viral Nothing unusual just a crab with a vape The footage shows a sea creature that picked up a disposable vape and perfectly mimicked the habits of a typical office colleague. Basically, that very same guy from the smoke break, just in a crabs body. pic.twitter.com/dljnX6zW7l NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 22, 2025 While some people are joking about the unexpected moment, calling the crab an underwater influencer and dubbing it the new face of Vape Nation, others are sounding alarms over what this really represents, a sobering glimpse into the state of our oceans and the pollution plaguing marine life. On Instagram, one user commented, This makes me sad, while another called it heartbreaking, writing, Their ocean is their home, yet we pollute it, take them from it, and kill them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the conversation isnt stopping there. Over on X, many users are calling for action, with one frustrated commenter writing, This is actually sad. CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF!! Another echoed the sentiment, saying, All jokes aside, it is very sad, while a viral tweet bluntly declared, Nah humans are gross man we ruin everything. A Look Into The Current State Of The Ocean X | nexta_tv According to data from Condor Ferries and the United Nations, an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic are currently floating in the worlds oceans. And the problem isnt slowing down as an additional 5 to 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every single year. The majority of this pollution, which is roughly 80%, comes from land-based sources, including plastics, untreated sewage, oil spills, fertilizers, and chemicals that eventually wash into the sea. One of the most alarming examples of this growing crisis is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), a massive accumulation of floating plastic between Hawaii and California. Its now estimated to contain around 100 million kilograms of plastic, and experts warn that number is still rising. Jokes, Memes, And Mr. Krabs References Flood Comments On Viral Crab Vape Video Others, however, couldnt resist leaning into the crab humor. One Instagram user joked, Why does my crab cake taste like menthol? while another chimed in, I dont blame him! His house is frying. Someone else dubbed the crustacean Crabby the Vaper, while another cleverly called it a stone(d) crab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pop culture references also made their way into the comments, with one fan laughing, We got Mr. Krabs hitting the penjamin before 'GTA 6,' while others used memes, emojis, and even "The Little Mermaid"s Sebastian to sum up the collective disbelief. Still, beneath the jokes, some users couldnt shake the sadness. As one person put it, It looks funny, but its the saddest thingits what humans are doing to Mother Earth. The Rise Of Vaping And Why It Matters Vaping is marketed as "harmless water vapor." But as someone with a pharmacy degree, I'll be direct: It's a lot more dangerous than 99% of people even realize. Here are 8 reasons I don't touch it (& why you shouldn't either): pic.twitter.com/oLqyhp81Fp Warren English (@TheWarEnglish) August 20, 2025 While the viral crab video sparked plenty of memes, it also reignited conversations about the growing vaping trend and its environmental impact. In the United States, youth use e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco product, according to public health data. Experts warn that no tobacco products, including vapes, are considered safe, especially for children, teens, and young adults. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm parts of the adolescent brain responsible for attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Despite growing awareness, vaping remains widespread, with flavored products, aggressive marketing, and peer influence driving more teens to start or continue using vapes. Viral Crab Clip Sparks Renewed Concerns Over Youth Vaping Vapes Dont Make You Sharp They Make You Tired Vaping feels like focus. Its a loan shark on your sleep and morning drive. pic.twitter.com/Bjp0RSSK6I Edward St. (@StEdwardX) August 18, 2025 Health officials emphasize that reducing vaping, especially among youth, requires a community-wide effort. Parents, caregivers, educators, and local leaders all play a role in creating policies and programs to protect kids from the risks of vaping, while also addressing the environmental fallout from discarded devices. And that environmental piece circles back to the crab video. Disposable vapes, like the one seen in the clip, are a growing contributor to ocean pollution. These devices contain toxic metals, plastics, and lithium batteries that not only threaten marine life but also leach harmful chemicals into delicate ecosystems. LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) Cracker Barrels decision to update its menu, redesign its restaurant interior and change its logo has caused outrage across the country. In particular, company co-founder Jack Lowery fears the changes could disrupt its future. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The Cracker Barrel is a brand. Its a unique experience that you go to because you want something different, Cracker Barrel co-founder Jack Lowery said. You dont want a fast food operation that hands you a hamburger or serves you a drink or something thats not what the Cracker Barrel meant to be that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the changes were enacted, Lowery had a meeting with Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino. He spoke to her about their original vision for the company and expressed his wishes for it to stay the same. Sen. Marsha Blackburn bashed the change on Facebook posting, Make Cracker Barrel Great Again. During ABCs Good Morning America, Masino spoke on the changes. I think whats important is that we are listening to our guests and doing this all for them, Masino said. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Cracker Barrel sent News 2 this statement on the changes: Our values havent changed, and the heart and soul of Cracker Barrel havent changed. And Uncle Herschel remains front and center in our restaurants and on our menu. He is the face of The Herschel Way, the foundation of how our 70,000 plus employees provide the country hospitality for which we are known. Cracker Barrel has been a destination for comfort and community for more than half a century, and this fifth evolution of the brands logo, which works across digital platforms as well as billboards and roadside signs, is a call-back to the original and rooted even more in the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all back in 1969. Cracker Barrel Media Relations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The Bourne Bridge on Cape Cod has reopened after a multi-car crash on Friday night. The bridge was closed after the crash, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement. All lanes were closed while emergency medical services helped people who were injured. Southbound lanes reopened first, the Bourne Police Department told NBC Boston. All lanes reopened shortly after 11 p.m. Police told MassLive that no further information is available at this time. The latest from MassLive Read the original article on MassLive. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A fire is currently raging in a warehouse in Gresham, with black smoke seen from miles away, and authorities are warning the public to avoid the area. The fire is located near Northeast Halsey Street and Northeast 190th Place, with multiple fire stations responding, officials said. The Gresham Police Department is advising people to avoid the area while firefighters work to get the blaze under control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While information is limited, KOIN 6 crews are on the scene and are currently trying to gather more details. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Aug. 22The Aug. 16 arrests of 39 people at a Fairfield nightclub were due to the years of criminal activity and complaints, and not a targeted immigration raid, said the city's police chief. Fairfield Police Chief Steve Maynard told the Journal-News his department has historically had issues with Sabor Peruano dating back as early as 2021, and the city met with the ownership, asking them "to find a way to control their patrons." "Our response and our partnership with the sheriff's department and our federal law enforcement partners was specifically related to the violence and the crime that was taking place at Sabor, and our attempt to get that under control and maintain the safety of the community that our residents expect," said Maynard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Issues at Sabor include a 2022 stabbing and a pair of shootings, one on June 8 and one on July 27, which have been the most egregious of the problems. The Journal-News have requested reports on the alleged criminal activity at the restaurant or its property. The city has also received complaints from area businesses of patrons spilling into the parking lot, fighting and driving drunk, and causing property damage, the chief said. "We decided to take some action and try to curb the violence and get the problem under control," Maynard said, adding that the city police department is not targeting Latino or Hispanic establishments. "This has nothing to do with the clientele. This has everything to do with the crime that has been taking place, directly related to the club." Multiple law enforcement groups involved Fairfield police asked for the sheriff's department and multiple federal agencies for assistance, specifically ICE, "because we knew the two shootings we investigated down there, the majority of the people involved with those were in the country illegally, and they were difficult to identify. We had to reach out to them and request their assistance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on experience, Maynard said his investigators knew they would need the help of federal agencies to help with identifications, specifically with the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Our focus was on Sabor," said Maynard. "The majority of the traffic stops that occurred that evening or criminal arrests were directly related to people who were at or going to Sabor." On Aug. 16, the Fairfield Police Department led the operation at Sabor. While the police chief would not discuss operational details, he confirmed all arrests were made outside the establishment. About Sabor Peruano Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sabor Peruano is a nightclub and restaurant on the southern end of Dixie Highway (Ohio 4) near the Hamilton County border. It's in the same plaza as the Ohio Valley Antique Mall, Lambadi City Tattoos and Wendy's. The establishment is on the northern end of the plaza and has an attached nightclub entrance called Rumba Bar Latino. The Journal-News confirmed the two sides are connected inside. The restaurant was operational on Friday afternoon, with patrons eating in and carrying out food. A manager or owner was not available to talk with the Journal-News on Friday. Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones called the operation "probably the biggest" roundup of immigrants in the country illegally in Ohio this year. Of the 39 people arrested or detained, six face state charges other than what's called a "holder" for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Butler County Sheriff's Office has contracted with ICE to hold people who are detained for being in the country illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All 39 individuals were arrested and taken to the Butler County Jail. On Thursday, Aug. 21, all but six were still in the Butler County Jail on the ICE hold, with five others having criminal charges levied. A statement from the Fairfield Police Department issued Thursday indicated the investigation was coordinated with the BCSO, ICE, the Department of Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The BCSO issued a statement saying, "All individuals were identified as being in the United States illegally and are currently being held pending further action by federal immigration authorities." While Fairfield said the operation was focused on the violence and criminal activity impacting the community, the Butler County sheriff said he will continue to work with ICE and other local law enforcement agencies "to aggressively identify, detain, and remove individuals unlawfully present in this country." "Butler County will not be a sanctuary," Jones said. "We will continue to enforce the law, protect our citizens, and hold accountable those who break it." Photojournalist Nick Graham contributed to this story. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Multiple law enforcement agencies recovered three stolen cars and arrested five people during several recent deployments targeting motor vehicle theft. The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO), and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) have released reports of two more of their recent Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement (BATTLE) deployments, which include operations within the City of Colorado Springs and greater El Paso County. On Thursday, July 24, CSPD launched an investigation into a burglary at a home on Tree Creek Trail, just off of East Woodmen Road near Rangewood Drive. According to the CSPD report, a video recorded 29-year-old Chance Davidson entering the homes unlocked garage and taking the homeowners Ford Explorer. The Explorer was in the garage with the keys inside, along with a 9mm handgun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives followed Davidson in the Explorer to an apartment complex off of Centennial Boulevard near Fillmore Street, where they witnessed Davidson and a passenger, identified as 30-year-old River Sealock, get out of the car. As detectives attempted to arrest Davidson and Sealock, they ran and got into another car driven by 29-year-old Jesse McCoon, who law enforcement said tried to help the two escape. As they were trying to leave the complex, EPSO deputies were able to block in McCoons car. All three suspects were taken into custody. Davidson and Sealock were arrested on Motor Vehicle Theft and Obstruction charges, and Davidson was charged additionally with Eluding. McCoon was charged with Accessory to Motor Vehicle Theft. CSPD said both McCoon and Sealock are prolific offenders who had active warrants for motor vehicle theft. During two additional deployments, 49-year-old Daniel Flore was arrested at the Antero Apartments in southeast Colorado Springs on a warrant out of Lakewood for Motor Vehicle Theft, and 43-year-old Jashua Kresky was arrested on a warrant for Vehicular Eluding. Kresky was also charged with Motor Vehicle Theft after he was found in another stolen car. 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. School bus drivers in East Hartford are preparing to vote on a strike after the union said DATTCO is not properly negotiating with the terms of its contract. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 671 said the bus drivers employed by New Britain-headquartered DATTCO are considering going on strike if a contract is not settled. If the bus drivers vote to strike, transportation could be disrupted for thousands of students. School officials said they are aware and monitoring the situation. East Hartford Public Schools has contracted with DATTCO for many years to provide student transportation. Although the district does not participate in negotiations between the company and its drivers, we respect both parties and are optimistic they will work in the best interest of their priorities and the students in East Hartford Public Schools, said a spokesperson with the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we look forward to a positive resolution, we have plans in place for all outcomes to ensure the safe and reliable transportation of our students as we begin the new school year, she added. The union has been working to secure new contracts since July 1, according to Teamsters Local 671. Contracts for about 200 school bus drivers across Bloomfield, Cromwell, East Hartford and Middletown school districts expired earlier this summer. DATTCO School Bus Teamsters work hard to get our students to and from school safely every day. They have a special bond with our students and parents, and many Teamsters are parents themselves with children who rely on consistent school bus services, said a Teamsters Local 671 spokesperson in a statement. With students safety and learning as our top priority, our union has agreed to extensions on all four DATTCO contracts currently under renegotiation (Bloomfield, East Hartford, Middletown and Cromwell) until Sept. 30, to ensure students get a positive start to their school year. That being said, we emphasize that drivers working conditions are students travel conditions. So, our union will continue militant negotiation for contracts that reflect both the essential services that Teamsters provide, and the importance of retaining drivers for students and parents, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news release earlier this summer, Teamsters officials called on DATTCO to come to the bargaining table with good-faith, reasonable proposals that reflect the essential services Teamsters provide to get students to and from school safely every day. State Sen. Saud Anwar, D-East Hartford, said in a Facebook post that he is calling on DATTCO to complete negations before the school year so student learning is not interrupted. I am hearing concerning reports that East Hartford bus drivers may go on strike just as the school year begins; they claim DATTCO is not properly negotiating with their union. Without a contract, a strike could have disastrous consequences for students and families as they head back to class. Ive written to DATTCO leadership asking them to complete negotiations and allow the school year to begin without hiccups, Anwar said. Students return for classes in East Hartford on Aug. 27, according to school officials. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com. NEW YORK Andrew Cuomo has begun transferring money from a state campaign account to his city account as he tries to stop Zohran Mamdani, whose fundraising has surged since winning the Democratic mayoral primary in June. Cuomo brought in $507,660 in the five weeks since relaunching his mayoral campaign for the general election and transferred in another $68,225 from the state-level account he used in his campaigns for governor before resigning in 2021. He has nearly $1.2 million on hand with just over two months until early voting begins. Mamdani meanwhile reported bringing in $1,051,200 in the latest filing period, from July 12 to Aug. 18. That follows a similarly prodigious two-week period immediately following his primary win when he raised $816,015 from 10,311 separate contributions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdanis campaign has nearly $4.4 million on hand, and expects to be eligible for a payment of as much as $2.2 million in matching funds at the New York City Campaign Finance Board meeting Thursday. Cuomo is hoping for a payout of about $400,000. Cuomo tapping into his state cash hoard underscores the depth of the money crunch the veteran Democrat is facing as he tries to defeat the Democratic nominee while running on an independent line. Transferring the cash is also a sign the former governor, who trails the 33-year-old democratic socialist by double digits in most polls, is willing to bet whats left of his political future on winning the mayoralty in November. Certain people wanted to transfer donations they made to the state account to the city account and, in consultation with [the NYCCFB], were permitted to on an individual basis, Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo in July reported $7.5 million in his state campaign account, a war chest he amassed as the states powerful governor for a decade. Theres a legal path to transferring some of the money, but its complicated, POLITICO reported in February. It requires getting past donors to fill out forms acceding to the transfer of funds, and the citys significantly lower fundraising limits and strict rules against corporate donations means only a portion of Cuomos campaign cash would be eligible to be moved. The historically prodigious fundraiser has found himself running as an underdog against Mamdani. The former governor does not have a well-funded super PAC bolstering his general election bid. The biggest group allied with his primary campaign Fix the City, which dumped $22 million into supporting that doomed effort is yet to raise significant cash or openly state a general election strategy. Candidates have agreed to a $7.9 million spending limit in the general election as a condition of the public matching funds program. Mamdani is on track to raise that much well before the election and turn his attention away from raising money, as he did in the primary. The race is earning attention outside the five boroughs. Just over 52 percent of Cuomos haul this period came from people with addresses not in New York City. For Mamdani, it was the exact same: 52 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani this summer gained institutional backing from unions and local party leaders, but is yet to win endorsements from top New York Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Gov. Kathy Hochul. New York Citys monied elite remain wary of the hard-left Democrats stance on raising taxes to fund free services like buses and child care. But there are few options for wealthy donors who want to stop Mamdani. Mayor Eric Adams, who is polling in single digits behind Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, insisted Friday he would not drop out after his close adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin was indicted in a sweeping bribery case by the Manhattan District Attorneys office. And Sliwa, a longtime New York gadfly, has said he would leave the race under only one condition if hes dead. Adams reported raising $420,886 this periodd. He has a balance of just over $3.9 million, and recently sued the Campaign Finance Board seeking to have it release him millions of dollars in public matching funds it has denied him, citing corruption allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sliwa brought in $407,332 over the period and reported a balance of about $2 million. Both were outraised by Cuomo, a moderate who resigned in 2021 after a state attorney general report determined he sexually harassed 11 women; hes denied any wrongdoing. The former governor spent much of the summer reinventing his scaled-down campaign with short digital videos and a slang-inflected social media voice. Hes held more news conferences with Powerpoint presentations and a desk a style that replicates the Covid briefings that initially shot him to national fame. Behind the scenes, Cuomo has spent time with wealthy donors in the Hamptons this summer. POLITICO first reported Cuomo told supporters at a fundraiser last week that he expects Trump and Republican leaders will urge GOP voters to not back Sliwas longshot bid in order to stop Mamdani helping the former governors campaign as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a rare Fox News appearance, the former governor called Mamdani anti-police and anti-corporate while insisting theres enough time for him to make up ground against the front-runner over the next two months. A lot is going to happen between now and then, Cuomo said Friday. I don't think the public even knows who the assemblyman is, what he represents, what his positions are. So I think the more they find out about him, the less they're going to like him, and his appeal is going to drop dramatically. Cycle signals will replace a section of a bus lane in Hull as part of a new scheme. Hull City Council said the final 30m (98ft) of the northbound bus lane on Ferensway would be altered as a late phase in the Freetown Way scheme, which involved footpaths being widened to create off-road cycle lanes. Councillor Mark Ieronimo, the portfolio holder for transport, said the scheme was "designed to help people travel across the city, whether by bike, car or on foot". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A contractor should be appointed by late October so that work can start on the site before the end of the year, the authority said. The section of the bus lane being removed would make way for new cycle signals that would be installed at the junctions with Beverley Road, Wright Street, Charles Street, Caroline Street and George Street. The scheme is being funded by Active Travel England. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Ieronimo said the scheme was a "significant investment in one of Hull's busiest routes". Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Iran moves 600 prisoners back into damaged Evin Prison, still partly destroyed after Israels strike, fueling anger over dire conditions. Evin Prison in Tehran has resumed partial operations despite sustaining heavy damage during the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran, The New York Times reported on Saturday. About 600 male prisoners, many of them political detainees, have been returned to two refurbished sections of the facility. Iranian media reported that the restored sections now have replaced windows and doors, and cleared debris. However, the majority of the facility remains unusable, The New York Times noted, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The June 23 Israeli airstrike destroyed key parts of Evin, including its administrative buildings, hospital, visitation areas, recreational facilities, and several residential blocks. These sections have not yet been rebuilt, New York Times reported, citing testimonies from prisoners, their families, lawyers and human rights advocates. Irans Health Ministry said the attack was the deadliest single incident of the conflict, killing 80 people and injuring dozens more. Victims included detainees, prison staff, healthcare workers, visiting relatives, the facilitys chief prosecutor, a child, and at least one bystander. Authorities had previously relocated all 1,500 prisoners, including women, to other facilities outside Tehran. The return of male inmates earlier this month came without warning and occurred despite a lack of essential services, according to The New York Times. Screenshot from a video shows a reported Israeli strike on the entrance of Iran's infamous Evin Prison in Tehran, June 23, 2025 (credit: SOCIAL MEDIA/VIA SECTION 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT) Rights groups, inmates describe abusive conditions One returned prisoner, Behzad Panahi, who is accused of spying for India, declared a hunger strike in protest over the prisons conditions. He described the environment as a dark dungeon that failed to meet basic standards of human habitation, The New York Times noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judiciary spokesperson Ali Asghar Jahangiri said on August 8 that the head of the judiciary had issued immediate instructions to prepare the prison for reoccupation following the Israeli strike. Iranian officials have indicated the rapid reopening was meant to project strength in the face of Israeli aggression. While male inmates have returned to Evin, female prisoners have not yet been transferred back. Officials told The New York Times that the plan is still to return all inmates. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International condemned the Israeli strike, calling it a potential war crime and demanding independent investigations. The groups also criticized Iranian authorities for moving prisoners back into a facility that lacks basic infrastructure. Nearly 20 prisoners said in online statements that they were shackled and beaten during both the evacuation and their return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legal experts and rights organizations said that returning inmates to a site lacking ventilation, air-conditioning, and medical services during the summer heat placed them at serious risk. According to The New York Times, Canadian-based human rights lawyer Saeid Dehghan said Iranian law prohibits detaining prisoners in facilities without sanitation and healthcare. On August 7, inmates were informed by guards that they would be transferred back the following day. When several political prisoners refused to be shackled, citing fears of mistreatment, a confrontation reportedly took place. In a joint statement, 19 inmates accused guards of using violence during the transfer, including against elderly detainees such as 80-year-old Abolfazl Ghadyani and 68-year-old Mostafa Tajzadeh, a former deputy interior minister. The judiciary denied that any mistreatment occurred, The New York Times reported. Tajzadehs wife, Fakhri Mohtashamipour, visited him at Evin last week and described the facility to The New York Times as largely destroyed. Her visit took place in a temporary cabin set up among the rubble. She said prisoners still do not have access to their personal belongings and that the current wards are unsuitable for long-term detention. DANBURY, Conn. (WTNH) A Danbury police cruiser was struck on Friday evening while attempting to apprehend a man involved in a shooting, where the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the neck. Police responded to initial reports of the man suffering from a gunshot wound on Lake Avenue in Danbury around 6:30 p.m. Vehicle allegedly strikes police cruiser after fleeing from crash in Brooklyn Officers provided medical assistance until first responders arrived. Officials gathered information about the suspected shooter, believed to be 47-year-old Tyrone Tallman of Danbury, and spotted his vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a brief police pursuit with Tallman, his vehicle allegedly collided with a police cruiser and was stopped on Interstate 84 near the New York border. Tallman was apprehended, and the firearm was recovered. Tallman was charged with the following and is currently being held on a $1 million bond: One count of reckless driving One count of engaging police in pursuit One count of failure to drive upon right Four counts of traffic control signals One count of ill discharge of firearm One count of second-degree breach of peace One count of first-degree assault by means of a firearm One count of second-degree assault One count of first-degree reckless endangerment The officer who was involved in the crash suffered minor injuries as Tallman was being taken into custody. The victims condition is unknown at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the ongoing investigation, neither the victim or the suspect will be identified. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) While driverless vehicles may sound intriguing to some, the notion is sparking outrage among ride-share drivers and app workers. The Justice for App Workers coalition and the Independent Drivers Guild are speaking out after Mayor Eric Adams approved the testing of Waymo driverless vehicles on New York City streets. More Local News Waymo is set to test vehicles in Manhattan with an operator in the drivers seat ready to take control in the event of a technological issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two organizations released statements, condemning the mayors decision, citing pedestrian safety concerns and eliminating jobs. Justice for App Workers sent PIX11 News the following statement: Time and again, self-driving car technology has failed in testing elsewhere, resulting in accidents, injuries, and even deaths. New Yorkers should not be used as guinea pigs for a technology that is far from proven safe. Brendan Sexton, President of the Independent Drivers Guild, released the following statement: The streets of New York City are not the place to experiment with dangerous, untested, 5,000 lb driverless vehicles. Mayor Adams is putting the lives of all New Yorkers at risk. We call on the Mayor to reverse this mistake before these cars are responsible for anyone getting hurt, or worse. They are a threat to pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers. We already have the best, safest for-hire vehicle sector in the nation here in New York City. Why risk the lives of New Yorkers for a dangerous experimental system that is seeking to eliminate the jobs of 100,000 New Yorkers? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Self-driving cars could soon come to NYC Additionally, the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers states that a protest will be held on Monday. A location has not been announced. 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. On August 23, 1945, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Marcario Garcia became the first Mexican American to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor. File Photo courtesy of NARA Aug. 23 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1914, the British Expeditionary Force fought on European soil for the first time since the 1815 Battle of Waterloo in a confrontation with the German army in the Battle of Mons in Belgium. In 1927, despite worldwide demonstrations on their behalf, the state of Massachusetts executed Italian-born anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti for murder. In 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact. Less than two years later, Germany launched a blitzkrieg attack on Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1945, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Marcario Garcia became the first Mexican American to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor. He sustained multiple injuries while single-handedly eliminating a machine gun position, allowing his company to advance in Germany during World War II. A worker installs rigging as inspection begins to check the Washington Monument for additional damage following the August 23, 2011, earthquake in Washington, D.C., on September 27, 2011. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 1982, Beirut Christian leader Beshir Gemayel was elected president of Lebanon. He was assassinated less than one month later and was succeeded by his brother Amin. In 1990, East and West Germany announced they would reunite on Oct. 3. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (L) and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop shake hands after signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on August 23, 1939. File Photo courtesy of the German Federal Archive File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI In 2008, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois confirmed he chose fellow Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate at the top of the Democratic Party ticket. Then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., (L) and then-Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., greet the crowd during a rally at which Obama announced Biden as his running mate at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., on August 23, 2008. File Photo by Darrell Hoemann/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2011, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake, unusually strong for the eastern United States, rattled Washington and Virginia with shockwaves as far north as Canada. The quake was the strongest to hit Virginia in more than a century, briefly causing a power shutdown at a nuclear plant. The Washington Monument and National Cathedral in Washington were damaged by the quake. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI Rudolph Valentino, famed silent film actor known for his breakout role in "The Sheik," died August 23, 1926. File Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress In 2017, after two major warship collisions that killed several sailors, the U.S. Navy removed Vice Adm. Joseph Aucion as the Pacific Fleet's commander. In 2023, Wagner Mercenary Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of a private jet that crashed in Russia, killing all 10 people on board. The crash came two months after Prigozhin led his forces in a mutiny against the Russian military amid the invasion of Ukraine. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Dayton and Montgomery Countys Public Health held a brunch for the 14th annual Black Breastfeeding Week on Saturday. Black Breastfeeding Week exists to bring awareness to the statistically lower breastfeeding rates in the African American community. There are many benefits to breastfeeding, including infant health and a lower hospitalization rate. Breastfeeding or not is a personal choice that many mothers face. The brunch aimed to support Black mothers in having adequate education, resources and the community to contribute to breastfeeding success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Explore firefighting history at Carillon Historical Park soon However, there are many systemic reasons why there are low breastfeeding rates among Black mothers. Outdated medical advice. Lack of resources. Higher likelihood of in-hospital formula introduction. Lower likelihood of medical lactation support. Dayton Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr., presented a proclamation at the brunch. To learn more about local breastfeeding support in the Miami Valley, click here. For more on Black Breastfeeding Week and virtual events throughout the week, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) El Paso Division, with other regional and federal agencies, is inviting families who lost a loved one due to illicit substances to their Family Summit event. The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Red Rock Park in Church Rock, New Mexico. Church Rock is outside of Gallup, New Mexico. Family Summit is for New Mexico and West Texas families who have lost a family member to fentanyl or other illicit substances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the events, agencies will provide families with awareness information, education resources and introduce them to other prevention/treatment/counseling partners. The Family Summit is free and families interested in attending must register by contacting Michelle Rincon at (915) 479-2540 or Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov. This is in light of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, which is recognized on Aug. 21. The following agencies will be in attendance: DEA El Paso Division U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Mexico Bureau of Indian Affairs Drug Enforcement U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration KeepNM Alive and more Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DEA El Paso Division serves El Paso, Alpine, Midland and all of New Mexico. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 government has delayed its decision over revived plans for a vast Chinese super embassy on the site of the former Royal Mint Court - with requests for further information about greyed out parts of the application. President Xi Jinping has personally lobbied in favour of the proposed embassy, which would be situated between London's financial hubs in the City and Canary Wharf, and near three major data centres heightening security fears. The scheme was rejected by the previous Tory government and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who also serves as Housing Secretary, was due to make a decision on the plan before September 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Ms Rayner has pushed back the decision date to October 21, amid fierce opposition from locals and campaigners critical of China's human rights record, with several major protests outside the site in recent months. Opposition has also come from overseas. Both the White House and the Dutch government have warned against allowing China to build an embassy so close to major financial and political centres. In May, a senior US official said: The United States is deeply concerned about providing China with potential access to the sensitive communications of one of our closest allies. Planning documents for the proposed embassy site reveal two suites of anonymous unlabelled basement rooms and a tunnel, with their intended purpose redacted for security reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 12-day public inquiry into the plans took place in February. A report by the Planning Inspectorate an executive agency of the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government is now believed to recommend approval. Tower Hamlets Council originally rejected the application in 2022. However, the case was later called in by Ms Rayner, who used her ministerial powers to take the final decision away from the local authority. Earlier this month, Ms Rayner requested further details from the Chinese embassy within a deadline of two weeks. She noted two of the planned embassy buildings in the drawings were "greyed out" - the cultural exchange building and Embassy House. Ms Rayner also queried redacted drawings in the application, telling the embassy's planning consultancy to identify precisely and comprehensively which drawings were redacted and to explain the reasoning for such redactions, The Guardian reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consultancy responded was that it was neither necessary nor appropriate to issue full internal layout plans, adding: "The applicant considers the level of detail shown on the unredacted plans is sufficient to identify the main uses." This correspondence was shared by Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, one of several groups firmly opposed to the scheme. Mr De Pulford said: "These explanations are far from satisfactory. The government set very few conditions and the Chinese didnt even meet those. Now, to visit the abbey ruins, dissidents who want to visit will be on Chinese land, vulnerable to capture, out of the reach of UK authorities." China purchased the Royal Mint site in 2018 and has been seeking to redevelop it ever since. Former Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi is understood to have raised the issue with Foreign Secretary David Lammy during his visit to London in January. Kenyas success in the fight against deadly sleeping sickness marks a milestone in the African continent's battle to eradicate neglected tropical diseases. Kenya has been officially recognised as having eliminated sleeping sickness as a public health issue, the World Health Organization announced this month. The achievement makes Kenya the 10th African country to reach this milestone, after years of sustained efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sleeping sickness formally known as human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly. Without treatment, the infection is almost always fatal, but Kenyas decades of vigilance and investment in public health have paid off. "I congratulate the government and people of Kenya on this landmark achievement," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Kenya joins the growing ranks of countries freeing their populations of HAT. This is another step towards making Africa free of neglected tropical diseases." Distinctive symptoms The first cases of sleeping sickness in Kenya were recorded in the early 20th century, at a time when the disease was sweeping through parts of Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rural communities lived under the shadow of the illness, which thrives in areas where people rely on farming, fishing, hunting or animal husbandry. Sleeping sickness is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which tsetse flies pick up from infected animals or people. Once inside the human body, the parasite multiplies in the blood and lymphatic system before eventually invading the central nervous system. This is when the most distinctive symptoms appear: personality changes, confusion, sensory problems, poor coordination and the disruption of sleep cycles that gives the disease its name. African healthcare at a crossroads after United States pulls WHO funding Disease in decline Sleeping sickness was once one of the great scourges of sub-Saharan Africa. In the late 1990s, almost 40,000 cases were being reported every year, with the true number believed to be much higher due to under-diagnosis in remote communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to WHO figures, fewer than 1,000 cases have been reported annually across the entire African continent since 2018 a remarkable public health turnaround. This progress is thanks to coordinated international action, new diagnostic tools, safer treatments and community-based surveillance that has allowed health workers to respond quickly to outbreaks. The WHO has set an ambitious target of eliminating sleeping sickness as a public health problem across Africa by 2030. WHO countries strike landmark deal on tackling future pandemics Kenyas success follows similar announcements from nine other African nations: Benin, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Rwanda, Togo and Uganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While challenges remain in countries where the disease is still endemic, experts say the overall trajectory is highly encouraging. For Dr Aden Duale, Kenyas Secretary for Health: "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." Three defense witnesses were called to the stand during the fourth day of a preliminary exam for a Roseville man accused in the Jan. 2 disappearance and presumed death of his ex-girlfriend, but it's expected to be a couple of months before the judge decides whether the man will stand trial. Deandre Booker, 33, is facing murder and other charges in the disappearance and presumed death of Ashley Elkins, a Warren mother of two, in 39th District Court in Roseville. Judge Joseph Boedeker will decide whether Booker will stand trial in Macomb County Circuit Court. Not guilty pleas were entered when Booker was arraigned in January. A recent photograph of Ashley Elkins. Assistant Prosecutor Carmen DeFranco moved to bind over Booker on all counts. Booker's attorney, Robbie Lang, requested the transcript of the preliminary exam, which began Aug. 6 and continued off and on during the month, wrapping up Aug. 22. Attorneys will provide written briefs and oral arguments will be scheduled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boedeker said usually a judge makes a determination "on the spot," so to speak, once both sides rest their cases at a preliminary exam. But, he said, "this case is complex, to say the least." The proseuction had 190 exhibits and the defense a handful more, including many videos. Boedeker said the transcript could be some 1,000 pages long and take several months to produce, but agreed to this route in the interest of fairness to both sides. Booker continues to be held in the county jail without bond. He appeared in the courtroom the first day of the exam, Aug. 6, but because of disruptive behavior the next exam day, he began watching and listening to the remainder of the hearing via video from a holding cell in the courthouse. Roseville Police Lt. Scott Burley was the last prosecution witness to testify Aug. 22, indicating that he participated in a welfare check Jan. 3 at Booker's Roseville apartment for Elkins as Warren police had some concerns for her safety. Officers entered Booker's apartment after knocking on the door and finding it ajar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was inside, he testified, nor was there any evidence of a struggle or signs of foul play. A nearby trash bin in the parking lot was also checked, Burley testified, but there was nothing of note. Burley testified that days later he participated in the search for Elkin's remains at a Lenox Township landfill, describing the conditions as cold and the terrain of the large area searched as uneven, black and slippery with garbage everywhere. Nothing connected to Elkins was found during the search, which he compared to looking for a needle in a haystack. "We did the best job we could under the conditions," he said. "Moving that much material, under those odds, it was an impossible task." Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Carmen DeFranco, left, questions Roseville Police Lt. Scott Burley on Aug. 22, 2025 about searching a Lenox Township landfill in January 2025 in an attempt to find the remains of missing Warren mother Ashley Elkins. Testimony from defense witnesses focused on police searches at Booker's apartment, one on Jan. 3 after Elkins' family looked there for her and another on Jan . 4 after Booker asked police to check on his apartment as it may have been broken into. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren Police Detective Cpl. Darryl Bagiano was called by Lang as a defense witness, as Bagiano was the officer in charge of Elkins' missing persons investigation in Warren. He testified that Warren police received what was believed to be Booker's cell phone, found Jan. 3 inside Booker's apartment by Elkins' family who entered the apartment looking for her. Relatives did not find her. Bagiano obtained a search warrant for information from the phone. During testimony, he indicated the person who provided the phone to police didn't have Booker's consent to enter Booker's apartment. The person who brought in the phone also told police about a DoorDash purchase of rubber gloves and garbage bags and a search history on the phone, such as how to get from Flint to Ohio, Bagiano testified. Bagiano said he conducted a welfare check of Booker's apartment Jan. 3 to see if Elkins was there. No one was. But he saw some garbage bags and a bottle of bleach on the bathroom sink. He went back into the apartment again to check what appeared to be a female's coat, but found nothing in it. He went in a third time, for another protective sweep, but found no one, no blood and nothing to indicate a homicide took place. Bagiano testified that he received information Jan. 4 that Elkins' mother recieved a tip via text that Elkins was being held at an address in Detroit. He testified that Detroit police responded to the location and found bullet shell casings in the driveway, but the person inside refused entry to the officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lang asked Bagiano if Detroit police told him that they would hold the location so no one would go in and out. Bagiano said that he didn't recall. He testified that he informed Detroit police that they were not going to get a search warrant for the location. Bagiano testified that Warren police checked the number related to the tip, but Elkins' mother did not know the person. Lang called Roseville Police Sgt. Jeffrey Wawrzyniak about the Jan. 3 welfare check at Booker's apartment. Wawrzyniak testified that he found no one and nothing to indicate a homicide. Lang called Roseville Police Lt. Thomas Trewhella about going to Booker's apartment Jan. 4. Trewhella testified that he indicated to Detroit police that they would not be coming out to the Detroit address where the tip came to Elkin's mother about where daughter may be held. The searches at Booker's apartment came into question after Roseville Police Officer Shane Nabozny testified on the first day of the exam that he found drops of blood in the apartment Jan. 4 after Booker asked police to check on his apartment. On Aug. 15, Roseville Police Sgt. Matthew Lesperance, the officer in charge of the case, testified there were multiple inconsistencies in conversations with Booker, surveillance video at Booker's apartment complex showing him pushing something heavy in a shopping cart to a trash bin and blood evidence that belonged Elkins, including in the trash bin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During cross-examination Aug.15, Lesperance testified there has been no bank account or cell phone activity, and Elkins hasn't communicated with her family or children. When Lang asked him whether he had definitive proof that she was dead, he said no. Lesperance also testified that he cannot say how Elkins died. More: Roseville sergeant testifies of inconsistencies, blood evidence in missing mom case More: Screaming defendant, Google searches, surveillance videos part of 2nd day of murder exam More: Officer testifies he found blood in apartment of man accused of murder in missing mom case Roseville Police Detective Patrick Taylor previously testified that Booker was located at a house in Flint, where a similar coat with suspected blood on it, pants with tears, a hat and shoes that appeared to be similar to those worn by the person in the surveillance videos, were found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Defense calls witnesses during 4th day of exam in Warren mom case Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) tore into Vice President JD Vance Saturday morning while heavily criticizing President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill, which passed in July. The vice president appeared in Georgia on Thursday, defending the unpopular GOP megabill, which Vance referred to as the working families tax cut. The massive 940-page bill contains drastic cuts to social safety net programs while boosting the budget for the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. Related: Kilmar Abrego Garcia Surrenders To ICE In Baltimore, Faces Possible Deportation To Uganda MSNBCs The Weekend host Eugene Daniels asked Boyle, the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, what message it sends that Vance instead of Trump is touting the law, noting that the president has never not wanted to be at a ribbon cutting. Vice President JD Vance's "charisma" was mocked by Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), who likened it to "cardboard." AP Photo/Frank Augstein Well JD Vance of course is a phony and a fraud, Boyle answered, adding that Vance speaks today the exact opposite of how he spoke when he wrote his 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The congressman went on to say Vance does not have Trumps weird sort of charisma and hold on people. People can tell that hes putting on an act, that hes cosplaying as a Trump-ite, Boyle said. So I find it as a Democrat, very helpful that someone who has the charisma of cardboard is out there pushing the bill. Related: Congressman Details How Trump Strong-Arms Votes In House, And It Sounds Spot-On Pew Research found that Trumps GOP mega bill is massively unpopular amongst Americans, and the independent health research organization KFF found that many oppose the legislations sweeping cuts to Medicaid spending. Boyle warned that beginning in January, some people will start to lose their health insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have to make sure, as the lead Democrat in the budget committee, that over the next 15 months, people continue to know about this piece of legislation, Boyle said. Related... Read the original on HuffPost The Texas redistricting battle is entering a new front as the fight turns to the courts, where Democrats and civil rights groups are expected to challenge the newly passed maps. Texas House Democrats who had fled the state to stall the maps said that they were returning to the House floor and to the courthouse this week and several groups signaled they are ready to sue as soon as Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signs the legislation. But experts forecast Democrats will face an uphill climb to stop or even stall the maps, which could net five GOP House seats, from taking effect ahead of next years high-stakes midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Literally minutes after Abbott signs this bill and the redistricting plan goes into effect, therell be litigation, most likely by Democrats, by the ACLU, by LULAC, by the NAACP, said Jon Taylor, the University of Texas at San Antonios department chair of political science. A host of organizations will make the argument that what was already viewed as a racial gerrymander that took place in 2021 has become even more so in 2025. So, oh yeah, theyre going to court literally, almost at the same time that Abbott does his thing. The Republican-controlled Texas legislature was expected to approve the maps on Friday after a dramatic standoff with Democrats, who left the Lone Star State for two weeks to deprive the state House of the numbers it needed to function. Democrats returned to the state Capitol this week on the condition that Abbott closed the first special session and that California moved forward with its plan to counter GOP gains in Texas with Democrat-friendly redistricting in the Golden State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In announcing their intent to end their quorum break, Democrats said that they must return to Texas to build a strong public legislative record for the upcoming legal battle against a map that violates both the current Voting Rights Act and the Constitution. In the days since, the Texas proposal sailed through the GOP supermajority in the House, though a Democratic filibuster effort was set to stall in the state Senate. Unlike in other states, including California, approval from the Legislature and the governor are all thats needed for the maps to take effect. Next step is the courts. We will not stop, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said Thursday on X. Democrats have largely argued that the maps are racially discriminatory, disenfranchising millions of minority voters in the state, as they accuse Trump and Republicans of attempting to rig the 2026 midterms in their favor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therell be two central arguments. The first is that this redistricting plan is a racial gerrymander that violates the federal constitution. The second is that this redistricting plan violates section two of the Voting Rights Act, said David Froomkin, assistant professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center. While the U.S. Supreme Court generally accepts redrawing lines on a partisan basis, the VRA a landmark 1965 law aimed at shoring up civil rights protects against maps that dilute the voting power of minority voters. Republicans, notably, have hit back sharply against the criticisms. Democrats claiming that redistricting is racist are lying. 4 of the 5 districts the Texas Legislature is drawing will be Hispanic districts, reads a post from the governors office earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But opponents of the maps are expected to move quickly. Democratic State Rep. Rhetta Bowers told CBS Austin on Wednesday that Democrats were readying to file a potential case with the Texas Supreme Court immediately after the expected map passage. Several groups, including the National Redistricting Foundation, the National Democratic Redistricting Committees nonprofit arm; the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF); and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) filed a motion on Monday asking the U.S. District Court in El Paso to set aside time for a hearing on a preliminary injunction next month. That filing argues that the maps are unconstitutional, which would send the matter to a three-judge panel, according to legal experts. A panel ruling could then be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But winning in the courts is going to be tough for Democrats in most directions, experts said. For one, the forthcoming battles in Texas comes as Republicans are increasingly bullish they can chip away at the VRA, with a major Louisiana redistricting battle set to be reheard by the Supreme Court next term. And their arguments may meet tough audiences in the conservative-leaning Texas and U.S. Supreme Courts. Many of the judges that this could go in front of our Abbott appointees. And so I dont know how much support well actually get in the court, said Lana Hansen, executive director of Texas Blue Action, an Austin-based Democratic advocacy group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont have a lot of hope for what the courts will offer us, but I hope Im wrong. Mark McKenzie, a Texas Tech associate professor of political science who has practiced law in the state, said Democrats best shot at combatting the Texas maps is likely in other blue states, like California. There, the state legislature on Thursday advanced a plan to put redistricting before voters during a special election this fall, as a direct response to Texas. At the same time, Froomkin argued that this matter isnt really about partisan politics. I think its wrong to frame this as a partisan Democrats-vs.-Republicans issue. That plays right into the hands of how Republicans want to frame this fight. Their position is that this is a partisan battle and that they are entitled to act in partisan ways. But in fact, the issue is about racial discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defeating the maps may be an uphill battle, but Democrats and other groups could be able to stall the maps from moving through the courts with their legal challenges. A court certainly could issue an injunction preventing the new map from going into effect in the 2026 midterms, Froomkin said, though he noted that fact-intensive voting rights cases take significant time and resources to move forward. Theres a November deadline to file for the midterms March primary, and legal delays could cause a scramble to put the maps in effect before then. Theres a lot of drama that I think may play out between now and March, said Taylor, the department head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My assumption is that even through all the fights, the litigation, through whatever stops and fits might occur with federal judges in the federal courts, that we will likely see the Texas primary go on as expected in early March of 2026 maybe. But the Texas fight has already had unprecedented effects across the country, including the ballot measure in California. Depending on how far Democrats can take their arguments, the fight could have nationwide legal implications. Its possible that what happens in Texas, and in fact, the Texas case, could end up blowing up everything nationally, not just in terms of redistricting, as were already seeing, but blow up the Voting Rights Act at the same time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has highlighted the gang-fueled violence plaguing Haiti, and condemned efforts to expel Haitian refugees living in the U.S. She called attention to the purging of exhibits of the National Museum of African American History months before President Donald Trumps recent campaign against the museum, and to a sheriffs deputy killing a Black airman in Okaloosa County, far from her district. And the congresswoman has delivered funding for cities such as Lauderdale Lakes and Riviera Beach, where most of the residents are Black and many are low-income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cherfilus-McCormick, the first Haitian American Democrat elected to Congress, is in a position to command attention and effect change because Floridas 20th Congressional District was crafted with boundaries that made it likely to send a Black lawmaker to Washington. Gov. Ron DeSantis wants that congressional district eliminated before the 2026 elections. The governor argues that 20th Districts structure is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. DeSantis, who signed the Florida congressional districts map into law in 2022, after his office created and presented it to the Legislature for ratification, wants an unusual mid-decade redistricting to change congressional boundaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His call for new Florida districts comes amid a wave of unusual mid-decade redistricting efforts that began when President Donald Trump demanded that Texas change its map so the state would send five more Republicans and five fewer Democrats to Washington. California responded with a plan to add five Democratic and subtract five Republican districts. DeSantis has said several times in recent weeks that he sees a need for a mid-decade redistricting. On Wednesday, he delivered his most extensive remarks on the subject to date during an appearance at Palm Beach State College just west of Lake Worth Beach. Hours later, Trump posted praise for Republican efforts, including Floridas, on social media. 20th District As DeSantis has joined the fray, he has been citing Cherfilus-McCormicks 20th District, including several times on Wednesday, when he said it was configured strangely and has arms that kind of go out and try to snag more voters. And he said it has almost like claws that go out. Its the most irregularly shaped district on Floridas map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 20th District takes in most of the African American and Caribbean American communities in Broward and Palm Beach counties. In Broward, it includes parts of several Broward cities, including Lauderhill, Lauderdale lakes, North Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Sunrise and Tamarac. In Palm Beach County it includes all or parts of West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach and Mangonia Park, along with the Glades communities near Lake Okeechobee. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The populated areas are connected by a huge expanse of territory that is largely uninhabited Everglades. Drawing together those communities in the two counties is the way it was possible to create a district designed to, most likely, elect a Black member of Congress. Voting Rights Act Districts like the 20th, and the resulting election of Black members of Congress, is what framers of 1980s updates to the Voting Rights Act had in mind. The result was electing people to office who otherwise might never have had access to the corridors of power. (The original law, passed in 1965, was considered landmark civil rights legislation; its provisions have since been weakened by the U.S. Supreme Court.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the changes went into effect in the 1992 redistricting, the result was immediate: Florida elected three Black members of Congress that year the first Black representatives from the state since the end of post-Civil War Reconstruction in 1877. One of those elected in 1992 was the late U.S. Rep Alcee Hastings, a Democrat who went on to serve until his death in 2021. He ultimately became a member of the House Rules Committee, the immensely powerful group that governs the flow of business on the House floor. Cherfulis-McCormick is his successor. She has worked on a range of issues, but advocates said some of her priorities depend on the presence of a Black lawmaker. Heres how the Voting Rights Act works: Under the one-person, one-vote principle handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court, boundaries of political districts such as congressional seats, must be redrawn to reflect population changes uncovered every 10 years in the census. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demographic data is then used to draw some districts that include enough black or Hispanic residents so that the districts voters are likely to send a member of that minority group to the Capitol or City Hall. This can often result in cartographic contortions in which districts twist and turn to pick up pockets of minority residents in different communities. This part of the law doesnt sit well with DeSantis. He wants the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case it will hear in the fall, to overturn the way that part of the Voting Rights Act has been implemented. If that happens, he said the state would have no choice but to redraw congressional district boundaries. And, hes argued, a state Supreme Court opinion in July is another reason to change districts. That ruling upheld the provision in the 2022 map that had eliminated a north Florida district that previously had been crafted to result in the election of a Black member of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With that state Supreme Court ruling all the justices in the majority were appointed by DeSantis the governor said South Florida district lines need to be reopened. DeSantis said the Voting Rights Act should protect an individuals voters right to go in and cast a vote if youre a citizen of this country, and that obviously should apply regardless of race. But he said saying that you have to draw these strange districts to be able to manufacture a certain number of folks of a certain race or not race in one district violates the Constitution. Palm Beach County Commissioner Bobby Powell Jr., a former Democratic member of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives, said people benefit from the districts created under the Voting Rights Act. Such districts allow for people who once didnt have a voice to have a representative who has access to the corridors of power where outcomes are decided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That has meant the opportunity for people who live in these communities to have a representative who shows up for them, Powell said. Up until Alcee Hastings, Palm Beach County never had Black representation. Powell, who is Black, said during his time in office people outside the districts hes represented sometimes come to him because theyre more comfortable reaching out to someone who looks like them. Having representation is ultimately important and also having someone who you feel hears you and understands where youre coming from. Elijah Manley, who is challenging Cherfilus-McCormick in the August 2026 Democratic primary, said in a statement that DeSantis challenge to the Voting Rights Act shows he wants to erase the voices of Black voters, immigrants, and working people in South Florida. He is telling us exactly what his agenda is: a New Jim Crow era in Florida. Cherfilus-McCormicks office declined requests to comment. Help Republicans Sean Foreman, a political scientist at Barry University, said objections to the Voting Rights Act are a way for DeSantis to advance what the Republicans want a change in Florida congressional districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to happen one way or another its on, Foreman said. Hes laying the conditions. Hes making the legal arguments in the political world to help push the process forward. J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball, the nonpartisan newsletter on campaigns and elections from the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said theres a geographic factor as well. The southern part of the state is where the Republicans could have some potential upside, Coleman said. If Cherfilus-McCormicks district changes, it means changes in neighboring districts as lines are moved around, something DeSantis also acknowledged. Redrawing the boundaries could help the Republicans achieve Trumps goal: lowering the already diminished number of Democrats in the Florida Congressional Delegation, which now numbers 20 Republicans and eight Democrats. Five of the Democrats are from South Florida. Boundary changes could make it harder for those Democrats to win reelection. National Republicans have targeted one U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz for defeat next year. His Broward-Palm Beach county 23rd Congressional District is closest in the state; boundary changes adding more Republican neighborhoods and subtracting Democrats could make his reelection effort much more complicated. DeSantis, at the Palm Beach State College event, said he didnt know which districts were which. But he repeatedly described details about the shape of Cherfilus-McCormicks district. And DeSantis and Moskowitz arent strangers; in his first term, the governor appointed Moskowitz as state director of emergency management and then to fill a vacancy on the Broward County Commission. Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon. Even as they await the results of toxicology tests, Long Island cops are on the hunt for the drug peddlers they believe supplied the fatal dose that killed a stunning Irish swimwear designer earlier this month, multiple police sources revealed to The Post. Suffolk County homicide detectives suspect Martha Nolan-OSlatarras Aug. 5 death was an accidental overdose, the sources said, noting a powdery white substance was found next to her body inside a boat moored at the exclusive Montauk Yacht Club. Cops still dont definitively know if the powder discovered near the 33-year-old beauty is heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, or a deadly cocktail of all three. Cops are zeroing in on the designer drug dealers who might have sold a deadly cocktail of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl to 33-year-old designer Martha Nolan-OSlatarra (pictured). Instagram/@marthanolan [These dealers] may or may not have known [they were selling] poison to this girl, but that doesnt matter, a source told The Post this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Look at Matthew Perrys dealer, he said, referring to Jasveen Sangha, 42, who pled guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises and distribution of ketamine involved in a death, and now faces 43 years in prison for her role in the Friends stars death. With higher profile cases like this poor girl in Montauk, youre going to see more and more of these dealers getting locked up. Suffolk County homicide detectives suspect Martha Nolan-OSlatarras Aug. 5 death was an accidental overdose, said a source. Nolan/memorial Nolan-OSlatarra was staying on a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post Prosecutors could seek manslaughter or [criminally negligent] homicide charges against the drug peddlers, the same source said. Theres a slew of possession and trafficking charges, and they could decide to get [federal authorities] involved, which would mean more time in prison if these bastards are convicted. State legislators have introduced Chelseys Law that would give prosecutors more leeway when prosecuting dealers, by adding drug-induced manslaughter or homicide by sale of an opiate controlled substance to the books. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is named for Chelsey Murray, 31, who died on Long Island in August 2022 after using fentanyl-laced heroin. Last year, her dealer, Jaquan Casserly, was sentenced to 10 years after he pleaded guilty to felony drug sale. State legislators have introduced Chelseys Law that would give prosecutors more leeway when prosecuting dealers, by adding drug-induced manslaughter or homicide by sale of an opiate controlled substance to the books. Instagram/Dylan Grace Nolan-OSlatarra was found unconscious aboard a boat named Ripple at the ritzy yacht club around midnight. The vessel is one of at least two Grateful Dead-themed 54-foot Sea Ray craft owned by insurance mogul Christopher Durnan, sources previously told The Post. Matthew Perrys ketamine dealer is facing prison time for the role she played in his death. FilmMagic Homicide detectives are waiting on additional toxicology test results before releasing an official cause of death for Nolan-OSlatarra. A final report is expected back by . . . early next month, at the latest, said one source. Arthur Aidala, the lawyer for Nolan-OSlatarras family, did not return a call for comment. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A vacant piece of property on Youngstowns East Indianola Avenue, where Woodside Hospital once stood, is where Wallick Development of the Columbus area wants to build new apartments. The details were contained in an August 20 letter to Youngstown City Council, with the developer requesting comments on the projects impact on the community. The proposal calls for 120 units to be built among five buildings, along with a clubhouse. They would be 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units. Tenants would be income-restricted to households earning up to 60% of the area median income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project would be financed through various tax credits and loans from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. A Youngstown spokesperson said there is no agreement between Wallick Development and the city, and work continues to evaluate all options for the property. In April of last year, officials with the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board told neighbors living near the property that an apartment complex to support residents with mental illness was being planned for the Woodside land. The boards executive director, Duane Piccirilli, says the project has been delayed, and he gave the city the OK to move forward with the new apartment plan. At its peak, Woodside cared for 140 patients dealing with mental illness. It was eventually demolished, and now theres a proposal to build apartments on the land. What we dont know is the timeline for this project, when the financing will be approved, when ground will be broken, and when people will be living there. 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. FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed a few of the convicted, violent criminals arrested in Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trumps crackdown on crime in the nations capital. DHS shared the arrests of five individuals caught in D.C. with Fox News Digital, who include illegal immigrants convicted of rape, child molestation, assault and robbery with a deadly weapon. "Secretary Noem unleashed the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) to target the worst of the worst including gang members, murderers, pedophiles, terrorists and rapists," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS has arrested more than 359,000 illegal aliens and removed more than 332,000." Illegal migrants David Pineda-Medrano, Junior Alexi Medina-Fuentes, Ja Mi, Jorge Andres Garcia-Celis and Leonardo Varela-Lopez were arrested in Washington, D.C.. amid the Trump crime crackdown. Doj Investigating Possible Dc Crime Data Manipulation Amid Trump's Crackdown On Violence David Pineda-Medrano, an illegal migrant from Guatemala, was previously convicted of attempted first-degree child sexual abuse and sexual abuse of a minor and assault causing bodily injury. Read On The Fox News App Junior Alexi Medina-Fuentes, an illegal migrant from Honduras, was previously convicted of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in Texas. Ja Mi, an illegal migrant from Thailand, was previously convicted of second-degree forcible rape in North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dc Has Murder-free Week As Ag Bondi Touts 77 More Arrests In Federal Takeover Jorge Andres Garcia-Celis, an illegal migrant from Mexico, was previously convicted of molestation of a minor in California. There have been more than 550 arrests in Washington, D.C., since Aug. 7, when the Trump administration began a crime crackdown in the city. Leonardo Varela-Lopez, a criminal illegal migrant from Mexico, was previously convicted of assault and three counts of driving under the influence in Utah. The quintet of illegal migrants from various countries are just a few of the criminals that ICE and DHS have rounded up in D.C. as President Trump continues his push to crack down on crime in Washington . Trump Admin Bans Homeless Camps In Dc Parks Amid Crime Crackdown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The facts are ICE is targeting the worst of the worst including murderers, MS-13 gang members , pedophiles and rapists. Seventy percent of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens who have been convicted or have pending charges in the U.S. That doesnt even include known or suspected terrorists, foreign gang members, convictions for violent crimes in foreign countries or INTERPOL notices," McLaughlin told Fox. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, left Trump declared a crime emergency Aug. 11 after several incidents of violent crime in D.C., including the beating of ex-Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward Coristine. President Trump also implied that Chicago could be the next stop on his crime-tackling tour, telling reporters in the Oval Office Friday that "we're going to make our cities very, very safe. Chicago's a mess." Original article source: DHS reveals illegal migrants convicted of child molestation, rape arrested in DC under Trump crime crackdown Erik and Lyle were aged 18 and 21 when they killed their parents [Getty Images] In 1989, brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents by shooting them repeatedly at close range at their mansion in Beverly Hills. They were found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder in 1996, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Public interest in the case has grown since a new Netflix drama, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, was released in 2024. Their story continues to divide opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a resentencing hearing in May 2025 a judge made them eligible for parole. However in August, both brothers were denied release. What happened at the parole boards? Erik, now 54, appeared before a panel at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on 21 August. He was told that he still posed a risk to public safety and had not been a model prisoner. A day later 57-year-old Lyle, long regarded as the dominant sibling, was denied parole by a different board. It cited the brutal nature of the killings and Lyle's lack of self-control. "We find your remorse is genuine," parole commissioner Julie Garland told him. "But despite all those outward positives, we see ... you still struggle with anti-social personality traits like deception, minimisation and rule-breaking that lie beneath that positive surface." What's next for the brothers? They can try for parole again in three years' time - although this can be reduced to 18 months with good behaviour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Governor Gavin Newsom is examining a separate request to offer the brothers clemency - possibly in the form of a pardon. Newsom, who is in the midst of a political transformation and might have his eyes set on a White House run, has the power to accept or reject any parole board recommendation. Why were the brothers resentenced? In 2024, the previous district attorney of Los Angeles, George Gascon, requested that the brothers' sentence of life without the possibility of parole be changed to 50 years to life. During a hearing at Los Angeles County superior court, the brothers apologised for their actions. Their bid for resentencing was supported by family members and a former fellow inmate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said the brothers had continued to "make excuses" for their conduct instead of taking full responsibility and were not rehabilitated. But the judge agreed to resentence the brothers, saying they had "done enough in the past 35 years that they should get that chance". The ruling made them eligible for parole under California's youthful offender law which allows those who committed crimes before the age of 26 to seek a reduced sentence. The siblings were aged 18 and 21 at the time. What did the Menendez brothers do? A jury found the brothers guilty of murder in 1996 [Getty Images] Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, on 20 August 1989 at their home in Beverly Hills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their father, a 45-year-old Hollywood executive, was shot six times with a shotgun the brothers had purchased days before the attack. Their mother died after suffering 10 shotgun blasts to several parts of her body. The brothers initially told police they found their parents dead when they arrived home. They were arrested after the girlfriend of a psychologist who had been treating Erik Menendez went to police to say that he had physically threatened the doctor. Why did the Menendez brothers kill their parents? The brothers claimed they committed the murders in self defence after years of alleged physical, emotional and sexual abuse, although no molestation was ever proven in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said they feared their father would kill them after they threatened to expose him. However, prosecutors argued that the young men had killed their successful parents to inherit their multi-million-dollar estate. What happened during the original Menendez trials? The brothers were taken into custody in 1990, and in 1993 they were tried for the murders, first individually, with one jury for each brother. However, both juries were deadlocked in 1994, resulting in a mistrial, and the pair were later tried again together in 1995. During their joint trial the judge excluded apparent evidence of abuse from their defence case. Taped sessions with a doctor, in which the killings were discussed, were ruled admissible in court by the judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury found them guilty and the pair were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder in 1996. The brothers, who were separated during their detention after a detective who investigated the slayings said they may conspire to escape if housed together, reunited in jail in 2018. What impact has the Netflix drama had on the case? Cooper Koch (left) and Nicholas Chavez played Erik and Lyle Menendez respectively in the 2024 Netflix series [Netflix] The case was thrust back into the spotlight after Netflix released a drama series about the brothers in September 2024. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, shot to the top of the platform's streaming chart and was reported to have had more than 12 million views in the first weekend after release alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The programme explores what might have led the siblings to kill their parents and presents the murders from different perspectives. Its creators said the series was based on extensive research. It includes the brothers' claims of abuse as well as showing things from the parents' point of view. The show introduced the case to a new generation and garnered attention from celebrities - including Kim Kardashian and Rosie O'Donnell - who called for the brothers to be released. The series was a follow-up to the controversial first Monsters series about US serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. What have the Menendez brothers said about the Netflix series? Following its release, Erik Menendez shared a statement, released on X by his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the show was "disheartening slander" and he "believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle". "It is sad for me to know that Netflix's dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward - back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women," he added. Members of the family also spoke out and said the brothers had been "victimised by this grotesque shockadrama," and the show was "riddled with mistruths". Ryan Murphy, who created the show, told Variety that the comments were "predictable at best". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the family's response was "interesting because I would like specifics about what they think is shocking or not shocking. It's not like we're making any of this stuff up. It's all been presented before". NEED TO KNOW Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan was running for U.S. Senate in 2000 when tragedy struck Carnahan, his son and a longtime aide were killed in a plane crash, just weeks before Election Day Despite his death, Carnahan went on to win the hotly contested Senate seat, and his widow, Jean, served two years in the Senate in his stead Mel Carnahan was seemingly born to be a politician. Just 10 years old when his father, A. S. J. Carnahan, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Mel often traveled at his side, witnessing how the elder Carnahan stood up for southeastern Missouri in the nation's capital. In fact, it was moving to Washington, D.C., with his father that led young Mel to one of the most important meetings of his life. At 15 years old, he met Jean Carpenter in a church youth group. The next day, they were seated next to one another in school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My name was Carpenter and his was Carnahan, and so we were side by side in every class, alphabetically," Jean recalled to St. Louis television station Nine PBS in 2004. They stayed side by side through their studies at George Washington University, their wedding day in 1954, and when Mel decided to return home to Missouri to begin a career in Democratic politics. He started in the local judiciary before moving up through the state House to the offices of Missouri treasurer and lieutenant governor. He was elected governor of the Show Me State in 1992. AP Photo Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan is hugged by his wife, Jean, after his 1993 swearing-in Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan is hugged by his wife, Jean, after his 1993 swearing-in Mel did it all with Jean still at his side, even as she raised their four children: sons Randy, Russ and Tom, and daughter Robin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We couldn't always afford a campaign office or employees to work in the campaign. So, I would just clear off the dining room table and bring in a typewriter and a file cabinet. And we just set up an office there at home, Jean told Nine PBS. "I recall the first time we got a genuine staff, where we had a lot of people doing different things, and I called up the office one day and we had a receptionist there," she continued. "I said, 'Hello, this is Jean.' And she said, Jean who? and I felt, 'We have come far.' " AP Photo/David Longstreath Jean and Mel Carnahan tour the Grand Palace in Bangkok on July 13, 1997 Jean and Mel Carnahan tour the Grand Palace in Bangkok on July 13, 1997 After two terms as governor, Mel's next goal was the United States Senate. Following the 1998 midterms, he announced his intention to challenge the incumbent, Republican Sen. John Ashcroft, in the 2000 Missouri Senate race. Ashcroft had been governor just before him, and the two were rumored to have a rivalry. Mel won the Democratic primary with 78.2% of the vote and embarked on a campaign that included a "whistle-stop" train tour, a tribute to Missouri-born President Harry S. Truman, who previously held the Senate seat he was running for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The race was a close one, with political pundits mirroring it to the neck-and-neck presidential campaign between George W. Bush and Al Gore that was taking place at the same time. Polls were tight in mid-October, when tragedy struck. On Oct. 16, 2000, the day after his second debate with Ashcroft in Kansas City, Mel boarded a small plane bound for New Madrid, where he planned to meet with Black leaders. Piloted by his son, Randy, the plane took off around 6:45 p.m. However, due to failing instruments and bad weather conditions, it crashed at around 7:30 p.m. in rural Jefferson County. Mel and Randy were both killed, as was the governor's longtime aide, Chris Sifford. Ashcroft suspended campaigning in the wake of the tragedy, as election officials mulled what to do about the Senate seat. 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. President Bill Clinton, whom Mel had endorsed when he was lieutenant governor of Missouri, spoke at a memorial held at the state capitol in Jefferson City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I loved the guy," Clinton said, "and anybody who thinks he was dull never looked him straight in the eye, because he had steel and passion and fire. And I think he rather enjoyed being underestimated by the people who disagreed with him." Bill Greenblatt/Newsmakers/Getty President Bill Clinton speaks at the funeral of Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan on Oct. 20, 2000 President Bill Clinton speaks at the funeral of Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan on Oct. 20, 2000 Following Mel's death, Lt. Gov. Roger B. Wilson became governor of Missouri. State law did not allow him to remove Mel's name from the ballot that late in the race, and so, the new governor said that he would appoint Jean to serve in her late husband's stead if Mel were to win the rapidly approaching election. Rather than plummeting in the polls, or being disqualified, Mel's campaign saw a surge in support after his death. On election night, Nov. 7, 2000, Mel won the race by around 50,000 votes, ousting Ashcroft from the role and becoming the first-ever person to be posthumously elected to the U.S. Senate. Bill Greenblatt/Liaison/Getty Jean Carnahan, the widow of late Missouri governor and Senate candidate Mel Carnahan, casts her ballot on Nov. 7, 2000 Jean Carnahan, the widow of late Missouri governor and Senate candidate Mel Carnahan, casts her ballot on Nov. 7, 2000 Jean gave an emotional acceptance speech on election night, thanking voters for "keeping the flame alive" a favored campaign motto of her late husband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Lincoln never saw his nation made whole again. Martin Luther King never finished his mountaintop journey. My husband's journey was cut short, too. And, for reasons we don't understand, the mantle has now fallen upon us," she said. "We remain: heirs of a legacy; bearers of the dream. On this night, I pledge to you rather, let us pledge to each other we will never let the fire go out." Jean served in the Senate for two years, becoming Missouri's first-ever female senator. In 2002, she lost in a special election to serve the remainder of the six-year term, handing the seat over to Republican Jim Talent. "It is my hope that those who write of such things in years to come will say: Missouris first woman to serve in the United States Senate though she did not serve us long she served us well," Jean said upon her loss. AP Photo/Orlin Wagner Jean Carnahan, surrounded by her family near Rolla, Mo., speaks to voters on Oct. 30, 2000, after her husband's death Jean Carnahan, surrounded by her family near Rolla, Mo., speaks to voters on Oct. 30, 2000, after her husband's death Two of the Carnahans' children followed in their political footsteps. Russ served in the U.S. House as a representative of Missouri's 3rd District from 2005 to 2013, and Robin served as Missouri's secretary of state from 2004 to 2010 and the GSA administrator in Biden's administration from 2021 to 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following her brief political career, Jean continued as an activist and author until her death at age 96 on Jan. 30, 2024. In her 2004 memoir, Don't Let the Fire Go Out, she reflected on her legacy. "If the members of my audience go away seeing their duty more clearly and loving their country more dearly, then I have succeeded," Jean wrote. "Each of us has the power to change whatever we touch, if only for a moment in time and perhaps forever." Read the original article on People New York State Police have identified the five victims of Fridays tour bus crash in New York, which investigators believe was caused by distracted driving. The bus, carrying 54 adults and children, was returning from Niagara Falls to New York City on Friday afternoon when it flipped over on Interstate 90 near Pembroke. Some of the passengers were ejected from the bus while others were pinned beneath it. Authorities said Saturday that the fatalities include a Columbia University student from China, three residents of New Jersey, and one person from India. The deceased are identified as Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City; Jian Mingli, 56, also of Jersey City; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; and Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a Friday evening press conference, State Police Major Andre Ray said its believed that the male driver, who survived the crash, became distracted, lost control, over-corrected and ended up on the right shoulder there." "The cause of the collision is still under investigation. However, mechanical failure as well as operator impairment have been ruled out at this time, Ray said. The operator has been cooperative and with the investigation still underway. No charges have been filed at this point." Five passengers aboard a tourist bus were killed on August 22 when their driver got distracted and crashed on a New York state highway, police said (Photo by MIKE FLAIG/Courtesy of Facebook user Mike FLAIG/AFP via Getty Images) Police said that a list provided by M & Y Tour Inc., the Staten Island-based bus company, confirmed that 54 people were on board, including the driver and an additional tour company employee. Ground and air ambulances, state and local police, and other first responders all rushed to the scene. Most of the passengers were not wearing seatbelts, police said. Passengers ranged from ages one to 74. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the travelers, including some from China and the Philippines, spoke limited English, so translators were brought to the scene along with ambulances and tow trucks to assist police. At least 30 people were hospitalized across four regional facilities following the crash, with injuries ranging from minor to critical, including head and internal injuries and broken bones. Kaleida Health, which runs several hospitals in the Buffalo area, provided updates on patients injured in the crash. Buffalo General Medical Center received five adults, with one in good condition and another already discharged. Five adults died in a tourist bus rollover crash Friday that was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls (AP) Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital treated 11 adults and two children. Ten are in good condition, and three are in fair condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oishei Children's Hospital received three children, two in good condition and one in serious condition. The University of Rochester Medical Center confirmed treating six patients, three transported by Mercy Flight and three by ambulance. Two are in critical condition, while four, including a child, are medically stable. Erie County Medical Center reported treating 24 patients from the crash. PITTSBORO Chatham County Schools officially launched the 2025-2026 school year with a spirited convocation event on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Seaforth High School. The annual gathering, which brings together every district employee, set the tone for the new year under the theme Elevate Chatham: Rising Together for a Stronger Future. The morning was filled with energy and community pride as high school cheerleaders, marching bands, School Resource Officers and other community partners came together to celebrate the start of a new year. One of the highlights included a special performance from the CCS Staff Directors Band, showcasing the talents of district leaders in the arts, beyond their day-to-day roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superintendent Anthony D. Jackson welcomed employees and community members with a message of unity, growth, and purpose. Convocation is more than a celebration, Jackson said. It is a reminder that together we can elevate our schools, our students, andour community to even greater heights. As part of the celebration, the annual Spirit Award was presented to Virginia Cross Elementary School for their outstanding enthusiasm and participation, reflecting the districts commitment to teamwork and shared success; they proudly hold this title until next years convocation. Teachers are back to school preparing their classrooms across the district this week, convocation served as both a celebration of accomplishments and a call to action for the year ahead. Tuesday, Aug. 26 is the first day of school for students. For more information, visit www.chatham.k12.nc.us. The chair used for firing squad executions is shown in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility. (Courtesy of the Utah State Department of Corrections) As the days tick down to Ralph Menzies execution, anti-death penalty advocates said Friday that a firing squad leaves open the possibility for human error and potential suffering. Menzies is scheduled to die on Sept. 5 for kidnapping and murdering Maurine Hunsaker in 1986 he is still awaiting a ruling from the Utah Supreme Court, which is considering whether his dementia warrants a pause in execution proceedings for a new competency evaluation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the execution does happen, it would be the fourth firing squad the U.S. has seen in 15 years, and just the sixth since executions resumed in 1977. Most of those have occurred in Utah, one of just two states to use the method since 1977. In fact, Utah became the first state to resume executions with the firing squad death of Gary Gilmore, who murdered two Brigham Young University students in 1976. Utahs last firing squad execution killed Ronnie Lee Gardner, who was already facing a murder charge in 1985 when he was handed a gun in the Salt Lake City courthouse and fatally shot Michael Burdell, an attorney. In Utah, the firing squad is a five-person team of POST certified peace officers they will fire a .30 caliber weapon from 21 feet, aiming at a target thats placed over the inmates heart. One randomly chosen member will shoot a rifle with blank rounds, though none of the five officers will know who actually has the dud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Jonathan Groner, a retired surgeon and an expert on death penalty methods who examined autopsy pictures of Gardner, said the images raise questions regarding the efficacy of a firing squad. We dont have precise anatomic landmarks, but its clear the two lower bullets are way outside where the heart would be. So thats a little bit unusual, he said on Friday, showing pictures of the exit wounds on Gardners back. Its hard to tell where they went through, but I was surprised by seeing these exit wounds in these locations. After examining pictures of the entry wounds, Groner said its concerning that some of these bullets may not have gone to where the heart is. In theory, the firing squad execution shouldnt be botchable, right? The people firing the guns are trained to fire guns, theyre 15 to 20 feet away, and they practice. So why some people seem to get it done right and some dont, is an interesting thing, Groner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This past year, South Carolina carried out the firing squad executions of Brad Keith Sigmon and Mikal Deen Mahdi, making the Palmetto State the only other state to use the method. Groner researched the executions extensively and believes there is a troubling difference between the two executions. You can look at the bullet wounds and they are very, very different, Groner said, particularly for Mahdi, who was sentenced to death for murdering an off-duty police officer. It is quite clear that he did not die quickly. I think every witness saw movement for a number of seconds, Groner said. So it seems possible that there is some sort of implicit bias in the execution process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Randy Gardner, Ronnie Lees brother, has become a vocal opponent of the death penalty in the years since his brothers execution, particularly the firing squad. Gardner said he doesnt like calling himself a victim instead, he prefers the term collateral damage. I dont condone what these criminals did, or what my brother did, and I dont condone the state of Utah doing the same thing that he did, said Gardner, calling the firing squad vulgar and repulsive. The collateral damage thats happened in the past is way beyond the initial execution, he said. Its a failed policy There is no humane way to execute a person, Im absolutely against all forms of execution. Another anti-death penalty advocate who spoke to reporters on Friday was Jennifer Herron, the oldest daughter of Maurine Hunsaker who was adopted and never actually met her mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herron said while Menzies has taken a lot from her, she still opposes his execution. I dont think its fair, and it doesnt get us anywhere. It wasnt that right for him to kill. Why should it be right for us to kill? she said. If we do execute him, were not allowing our society to rise above. Were better than that. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Not long after Texas surgeon Mohammed Adeel Khaleel arrived at a Gaza City hospital in early August, a 17-year-old was brought in with gunshot wounds to both legs and one hand, sustained when he went to collect food at an aid site. In the emergency room, Khaleel said he noted the ribs protruding from the teen's emaciated torso, an indication of severe malnutrition. When doctors at Al-Ahli Hospital stabilized the patient, he raised his heavily bandaged hand and pointed to his empty mouth, Khaleel said. The level of hunger is really whats heartbreaking. You know, we saw malnutrition before, back in November, already starting to happen. But now the level is just, its beyond imagination, Khaleel, a spinal surgeon on his third volunteer stint in Gaza, said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, the leading authority on global hunger crises, said for the first time that parts of Gaza are in famine and warned that it is spreading. For months, U.N. agencies, aid groups and experts had warned that Israel's blockade and ongoing offensive were pushing the territory to the brink. In the 24 hours following the famine announcement, eight people in Gaza died of malnutrition-related causes, bringing the overall toll of such deaths during the war to 281, according Gaza's Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. A U.S. medical nonprofit working in Gaza says one in six children under 5 is affected by acute malnutrition. Israel rejected the famine announcement, calling it an outright lie and pointing to its recent efforts to allow in more food after it eased a complete 2 month blockade in May. It has accused Hamas of siphoning off aid allegations disputed by the United Nations, which says Israeli restrictions and a breakdown of law and order make it extremely difficult to deliver food to the most vulnerable. Khaleel, who spoke to The Associated Press ahead of the announcement, said the evidence of deprivation was already clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just the degree of weight loss, post-operative complications and starvation that were seeing. That wouldnt surprise me at all if it was called famine, said Khaleel, who traveled to Gaza as an independent volunteer via the World Health Organization. At Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital earlier in the week, nutrition director Dr. Mohammad Kuheil led an AP journalist to the bedside of a thin-limbed girl. Aya Sbeteh, 15, was wounded in an airstrike. But her recovery has been set back by weakness from lack of food that her family says has reduced her weight by more than a third. All we have are grains like lentils, sometimes, said her father, Yousef Sbeteh, 44. Even flour is unaffordable." The sick, wounded and young are most vulnerable Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another patient, Karam Akoumeh, lay with sunken cheeks, his thin skin stretched like plastic wrap across his rib cage. His intestines were seriously damaged when he was shot while going out to collect flour, his family said, compromising his digestive system. Now he is one of 20 people at Shifa brought in for abdominal wounds and increasingly malnourished because of a shortage of intravenous nutritional supplements, the doctor said. Akoumehs father, Atef, said the lack of supplements compounded the hunger that reduced Karam's weight from 62 kilograms (136 pounds) to just 35 kilos (77 pounds). I checked throughout all Gazas hospitals for it (the supplements), but I have not found any," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli officials have pointed out that some of those said to have died from malnutrition had preexisting conditions. But doctors and other experts say that is to be expected, as famine first preys on the most vulnerable, including babies and small children. Doctors and others see signs of hunger everywhere Outside the hospital, the shortage of nutrients is equally dire, doctors and civilians say. There are no protein sources, only plant-based protein from legumes. Meat and chicken are not available. Dairy products are not available, and fruits are also unavailable, said Kuheil, the doctor in charge of nutrition at Shifa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Gaza City on Friday, Palestinians displaced from elsewhere recounted a desperate search for food. Were starving. We eat once a day. Will we be more hungry than we are now? Theres nothing left, said Dalia Shamali, whose family has been repeatedly displaced from their home in nearby Shijaiyah. She said they spent most of their money over the last two years moving from one part of Gaza to another as the Israeli military issued evacuation orders. With Israel allowing more food in recently, the price of flour and other food items has been dropping, but the family still can't afford them, Shamali said. Hunger agency says famine is expected to spread Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its announcement Friday, the IPC said famine in Gaza City is likely to spread across the territory without a ceasefire and a flood of humanitarian aid. Some of the IPC's conclusions were echoed in a report by a group that organizes medical missions to Gaza, which described a catastrophic rise in severe malnutrition among children and pregnant women. One of every 6 children in Gaza under 5 is now affected by acute malnutrition, said the report by U.S. nonprofit MedGlobal, based on observations by its staff in four of Gazas five governorates. The group warned that all young children in Gaza are at risk of starving without intervention. Khaleel, the Texas doctor, said he would leave it to others with more expertise to measure exactly what constitutes famine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he knows what he saw in three weeks of treating patients in Gaza, most of the time at the hospital in Gaza City. Again and again, medical workers cut open patients' clothing to treat injuries, revealing a loss of muscle and fat caused by hunger that left skin stretched tight over protruding bones. These patients, a number of them that were seeing are just exposed ribs, severely skinny extremities," he said. And you know that theyre just not getting calories in. ___ Geller reported from New York. Associated Press writer Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, Lebanon, contributed to this report. MONTGOMERY Foster children in Alabama ages 5 and under are now automatically enrolled in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, state officials announced. Beginning this month, the Alabama Department of Human Resources will register eligible children to receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail each month until their fifth birthday. The expansion is a partnership between DHR and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. Every child in Alabama deserves a strong start, and that foundation begins with reading, Gov. Kay Ivey said. By putting a new book in the hands of our youngest Alabamians each month, we are planting the seeds for a lifetime of learning and success. I am proud that our state is leading the way in expanding the Imagination Library and am grateful to our Department of Human Resources and the Department of Early Childhood Education for their steadfast commitment to helping every child turn the page toward a brighter future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ivey announced the statewide expansion of the Imagination Library in 2023, making the program available to all Alabama children from birth to age 5 with registration by a parent or guardian. The new initiative removes that step for foster families, with DHR enrolling each eligible child at no cost to foster parents. In the life of a foster child, circumstances are ever-changing, and these monthly books will be something these children will look forward to every month, DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner said. Gifting these books will be one way we work to ensure success in their life later down the road. The program, created to inspire a love of reading and support early education, currently reaches one in seven children under age 5 in the United States. Alabama DHR thanks Governor Ivey for her strong leadership and supporting the education of all of Alabamas children, Buckner said. I would also like to thank ADECE and their commitment to strong educational foundations and for being a partner in this initiative to help grow the love of reading for foster children. Foster parents caring for children in the eligible age range will receive letters with additional details about the program. A charity says it hopes a post-mortem into a stranded dolphin that died during a rescue attempt will shed light on why it ended up "outside his normal habitat". British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said the 2.6m (8.5ft) long male Atlantic white-sided dolphin was stuck on his side in mudflats near Easington, East Yorkshire, on Wednesday, about 50m (164ft) from the shoreline. Following veterinary assessment, the charity said the animal was cleared to re-enter the water, but suffered a seizure and died while being transported back to sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the BDMLR said: "As this is a species rarely seen in UK waters, the necropsy will help us understand more about his life." The dolphin was stuck in the mud about 50m from the shoreline and lying on his side when rescuers arrived [British Divers Marine Life Rescue] The spokesperson added: "The dolphin was lying on his left side, and the more he struggled in the mud, the deeper he sank. "By the time our medics and the rescue teams reached him, his blowhole his only airway was barely above the surface." Humberside Fire and Rescue Service helped dig the dolphin out and rolled him on to a rescue sling. They provided water and additional matting to help keep the dolphin upright while he was stabilised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charity said there were no injuries severe enough to require euthanasia. Rescuers said the dolphin suffered a seizure before it could be returned to the water [British Divers Marine Life Rescue] "We're extremely grateful to the fire and rescue crews for their assistance," they added. "Without their specialist support, the dolphin would have remained trapped in the deep mud and would almost certainly have suffocated or drowned as the tide came back in. "The dolphin has now gone to the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme for a full post-mortem examination." The charity said that if a dolphin or whale was seen stranded, it was "vital" people do not try to push it back into the sea, with the animal needing to be stabilised and assessed to decide the best course of action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire 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 Russian authorities report that the "falling of a UAV" near the Sergeevka station in Russias Rostov Oblast on the night of 22-23 August damaged the overhead contact system and caused train services to be suspended. Source: Russian Railways Details: Currently, 38 trains are delayed for up to 3 hours 40 minutes. Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that four drones were shot down in Rostov Oblast overnight. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) A new candidate threw his hat in the ring in the race for State Senate. FBI Pittsburgh reminds the public that hoax threats are not a joke Dr. Michael Antolini is hoping to serve residents of Raleigh Countys 9th District. He said too much legislative focus on social issues has put a damper on progress in the Mountain State. We have young professionals who want to stay here and grow a family here. Theyre more worried about infrastructure, jobs, finding opportunities to raise a family, and make a good living, he said. They absolutely need affordable healthcare. And so, those issues are needing brought to the forefront as opposed to the social issues that dont affect people in the day to day. Antolini said his professional background in medicine has informed his stance on healthcare policy. He will face off against incumbent Senator Rollan Roberts in the 2026 Republican Primary Election. 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 WVNS. PORTLAND ,Ore. (KOIN) A driver is facing a DUII charge after police said he crashed a pickup into a Southeast Portland storage facility early Saturday morning. At around 3:30 a.m., officers responded to reports of a crash in the 6100 block of Southeast Powell Boulevard. PHOTOS: Firefighters help person trapped between two buildings in SE Portland Arriving at the scene, they found a white Ford F-150 had crashed into the lobby of a storage facility, extensively damaging both the truck and the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the pickup driver and passenger were not injured. However, police said the 21-year-old driver was arrested and criminally cited for DUII. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. One person was killed in a fiery rollover crash in Stow early Saturday morning, authorities said. Emergency crews responding to a report of a single-vehicle crash in the area of 70 Crescent Street just before 4 a.m. found a Lexus ES fully engulfed in flames, according to Stow Police Chief Michael Sallese and Stow Fire Chief Barry Evers. The driver of the Lexus, whose name hasnt been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary investigation indicated that the driver struck a tree outside of a home, rolled over, and burst into flames, Sallese and Evers said. Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are assisting Stow officials with an investigation into the crash. There were no additional details immediately available. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Drones attacked Russias Leningrad Oblast and its regional centre, the city of St Petersburg, on Saturday 23 August. Sources: Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of Leningrad Oblast; Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg; North-Western Transport Prosecutors Office of Russia Details: St Petersburgs Pulkovo Airport has temporarily suspended operations due to the threat of drones and dozens of flights have been delayed. The regional authorities have also warned about a possible mobile internet slowdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko said one drone had been destroyed in the Tosno district. He later added that three more drones had been downed there, as well as one in each of the towns of Kirishi and Gatchina. Drozdenko urged residents of the oblast not to go near industrial zones or business premises or to public places due to the large number of drones in the airspace. He also said he has ordered all the appropriate services to be put on high alert. St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov claimed that a drone had been downed in the Pushkino district, noting that it happened at a safe distance from residential buildings. Later, he added that another drone had been destroyed in the Krasnoselsky district of St Petersburg. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) The Duck Race is celebrating its 37th year in central Illinois with a milestone achievement, selling out all 35,000 ducks before race day. Carol Merna, CEO of the Center for Prevention of Abuse, said the support from the community has been overwhelming. Weve sold out of all 35,000 ducks, and we couldnt do that without the community, Merna said. Every single duck represents standing up in solidarity with survivors of abuse. We really couldnt be more grateful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The annual race is the centers signature grassroots fundraiser. For just $5 a duck, community members had the chance to win prizes, including the $10,000 grand prize. Second and third place winners receive $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. In total, 15 prizes were awarded to the following people: $10,000 Chris Homan, Bloomington $5,000 Joshua Friedman, Peoria $2,500 Bryan Heinz, Peoria Bremer Jewelry bundle Patricia Nieukirk, Pekin Weekend Getaway (hotels.com gift card + suitcase) Damian Monti, Peoria Cookware set + Excalibur Seasonings basket Kathleen Fenton iPad Air Benjamin Killey, Seattle, Washington It Plays in Peoria bundle (Peoria Park District passes, Sage & Co. Boutique gift card, Tanners Orchard passes, Escape 60 tickets) Kevin Meade, Canton Outdoor Pizza Oven Teresa Lynch, Metamora $400 Hy-Vee gift card Kent McDowell, Canton Home Refresh Cleaning Package by CottageCare Peoria Matt Mamer, East Peoria Book of the Month one-year subscription Kathy Veal, Granger, Indiana Bird Buddy birdfeeder with camera Shannon Bates, Peoria $150 Crafted DIY Studio & Bar gift card John Adkins $100 Home Depot gift card Christine Kahl, Washington Winners will be contacted by a CFPA representative to coordinate receiving their prize. This years Duck Race raised $230,000, exceeding last years total of about $215,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merna said every dollar goes directly to help clients at the Center for Prevention of Abuse. Abuse is a dark topic, but we turn it into hope. When people donate, whether its money, clothes, or house goods, it means theyre part of us, part of the work we do, Merna said. The event not only provides critical financial support but also builds community. A lot of laughter, a lot of community, a lot of people saying thank you, Merna added. This has been a mainstay of the community. It signals the end of summer, kids are going back to school, and its something we want to continue to celebrate. Organizers plan to start preparing for the 38th annual Duck Race in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. A Duquesne man whod been on the run from police since April was arrested in West Virginia Anthony Kraus, 20, was arrested in Jane Lew, W.Va., according to the Allegheny County Sheriffs Office. Kraus had been on the run since a bench warrant was issued for his failure to appear in court for drug charges. A second warrant was issued in May when he missed a pre-trial hearing for a firearms charge. Detectives had pursued several leads regarding Krauss whereabouts, searching multiple locations in Allegheny County over the past three months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, officials say, detectives learned that Kraus was in Harrison County, W.Va., about 20 miles south of Clarksburg, W.Va. They went to Krauss suspected location on Thursday and arrested him without incident, being aided by several other agencies. During the arrest, authorities discovered over a pound of suspected drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine at the residence. Kraus is currently being held at the North Central Regional Jail in Clarksburg, where he faces new charges before his extradition back to Allegheny County. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Two people were hospitalized after a shooting on East Third Street after midnight on Saturday. According to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch, officers were sent to the 500 block of East Third Street for a reported shooting at approximately 12:50 a.m. Once there, they found two men, ages 35 and 37, with gunshot wounds. Medics took them both to a nearby hospital. The Dayton Police Department reports the shooting stemmed from a confrontation with security at a local bar. Police say no security guards were injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives from DPDs Homicide Unit and Violent Offender Unit are investigating. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. North Dakota education officials are establishing an application process for public charter schools after they were authorized by the Legislature earlier this year. (Photo by Unaihuiziphotography/Getty Images) North Dakota wont see any charter schools open this year, but state education officials are busy behind the scenes laying the groundwork for next year. Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2241 during the 2025 session that authorized public charter schools in North Dakota, leaving South Dakota, Nebraska and Vermont as the only states without a public charter school law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of charter schools said they will give families more options and may be able to cater to different learning styles or interests. Bill sponsor Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, gave examples during the legislative session of charter schools around the country specializing in health care or building trades, dual language or STEM-education models. It expands education opportunities and provides a new way to promote innovation and offer more choice to families, North Dakota Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said in an Aug. 5 statement. Now the state Department of Public Instruction is developing an application process and drafting rules to license the new schools. A public hearing is expected before the end of the year. The department has received some inquiries from teachers and organizations interested in establishing a charter school, said Arlene Wolf, director of school approvals and opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charter schools will not be able to charge tuition or offer religious instruction, according to the new law. They will also not be able to discriminate based on ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender or income level, among other criteria. The schools will receive state funding that follows the student. The funding is based on the state funding average, which is about $8,360 per student for 2025-26, according to the department. Charter schools also will be able to receive federal grants and private donations. The law allows existing schools to become a public charter school if a majority of the parents of students support the change. The Department of Public Instruction will be the sole authorizing authority for public charter schools in North Dakota, Wolf said. North Dakota plans to apply for federal grants to assist with establishing the new schools, she said. We want to make sure we are building the right process to ensure success, Wolf said. It just takes a little bit of time, but were certainly trying to do it right. Luckily, we had a lot of states that were ahead of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State education officials have learned from other states that having a detailed application on the front end can save time during the permitting process, Wolf said. Theyve also learned the importance of having an in-person interview during a public meeting as part of the approval process, she said. What you really want to know is that they have the systems in place so when they open their doors, they are ready to go, she said. Charter schools will be held to the same standards as the states other public schools, Wolf said, and could face similar improvement guidelines if student performance falls into the bottom 10% of performing schools in the state. We dont want to make anything difficult, but we definitely want to ensure that students are increasing in their outcomes, Wolf said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, an educator and public employee union, said it will be important that the rules that govern a schools performance are the same for charter schools as they are for public schools. ND United and other education organizations across the state will be monitoring the departments rules process, he said. Were also very interested to see what the governing boards of these charter schools end up looking like, Archuleta said. What qualifications should a person have for that sort of position? What level of professionalism is going to be expected of that governing body? He said the organization is worried that charter schools will be competing for funding against the public education system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pie is only so big, he said. Idaho, which established public charter schools in 1998, initially had opposition to the new schools, but now they have been embraced in the state, said Terry Ryan, CEO of BLUUM, an Idaho-based public charter school support organization. Similar to North Dakota, opponents in Idaho warned that charter schools would mean the death of rural school districts, Ryan said. But that hasnt been the case, he said. Idaho now has 75 charter schools, representing about 10% of the total student population, Ryan said. The Idaho School Boards Association has become less hostile toward charter schools, Ryan said, even including charter school-specific learning sessions at its annual convention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think weve evolved from this is us against them to, really, were all in this together and the ultimate goal is to better serve our families and our children, he said. North Dakota Monitor reporter Michael Achterling can be reached at machterling@northdakotamonitor.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Two local 4-H organizations in Massachusetts have received BOOST grants to support youth development efforts, according to a community announcement. The East Middleboro 4-H Community Committee was awarded $2,000 to purchase canopies for its annual fair, while the Tails n Trails 4-H Club in Rochester received funding to buy equipment for showing beef cattle. The grants are part of the BOOST (Building Opportunities and Organizational Strength Together) program launched by the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation Because of the BOOST grant, well have more tents at the East Middleboro 4-H Fair, Brenda Easter, treasurer of the East Middleboro Community Committee, said. This will promote all the great things that 4-Hers can do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BOOST program is designed to strengthen 4-H clubs, fairs and advisory councils across the state by investing in their capacity and creativity, according to the announcement. This year, the Foundation distributed a record $45,000 to 21 recipients. These grants are not just financial support; they are votes of confidence in the next generation of leaders, Robert Kordenbrock, executive director of the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation, said in the announcement. Founded in 1955, the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports youth development programs statewide. Massachusetts 4-H is based at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and offers programming for youth ages 5 to 18 in every county. For more information about the East Middleboro 4-H Fair, visit the official site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was created by David DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: 4-H groups in East Middleboro, Rochester get funding A bitter conflict between a Manhattan principal and her staff has teachers at one of New York Citys top elementary schools headed for the exit and parents worried about what the coming school year will bring. Just a short walk from the United Nations, P.S. 281 known as The River School for its location in Murray Hill close to the East River is in many ways a model neighborhood school. Students receive a top-notch education close to home. Parents mingle at the park across the street, and an active PTA hosts monthly bake sales and a talent show. In 2023, their efforts paid off when the U.S. Education Department named P.S. 281 a National Blue Ribbon School, one of a dozen local schools selected that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the honor concealed a deeper problem. Tensions have been simmering between teachers and their principal, Jessica Orleans, culminating in a no-confidence vote at the end of last school year. And when students return in a couple of weeks, 12 teachers and staff nearly 28% of unionized employees and the parent coordinator will no longer be there, according to a tally by the United Federation of Teachers. In interviews, emails and school documents shared with the Daily News, P.S. 281 teachers, parents and a student said they believe a climate of fear and intimidation is forcing many teachers to transfer schools or leave the profession entirely. The fraught situation prompted PTA President Rachel Miller to write to the local district superintendent, raising concerns that about 60% of P.S. 281 teachers are in their first couple of years on the job, compared to 20% at nearby schools. Several positions were vacant at the time of her letter, in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought everything seemed so great, Miller said. That was the sort of beginning that really opened my eyes: The turnover was so egregious. The no-confidence vote launched an Education Department investigation over the summer, with District 2 Superintendent Kelly McGuire announcing this month that Orleans would return in the fall. McGuire promised regular visits to the school, while Orleans guaranteed changes including weekly updates, monthly listening sessions, a teacher advisory council, and an anonymous feedback form. I heard your concerns about trust, communication, and the need for more shared decision-making, the principal wrote in an Aug. 14 email, and Im committed to making real changes this year. But teachers and parents remain skeptical those measures will stop the bleeding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was one point when my poor baby internalized that. He said, Mommy, why dont my teachers ever come back? said former P.S. 281 mom Rafaella Smith, whose son graduated in June. I couldnt give him an answer except that adults have to make decisions for themselves, and he cant take it personally. It has nothing to do with him. Growing tensions The conflict at The River School dates back to before last school year. In spring 2024, only one-third of P.S. 281 teachers described their relationship with Orleans as grounded in respect on a citywide school survey an approval rating that improved to 42% this year, but remains far below the 87% district average. Often, it was up to Erin Farrell, the former UFT chapter leader and English as a New Language teacher at P.S. 281, to be the intermediary between teachers and their principal. In a complaint filed with the district, Farrell recounted a 2023 heated exchange with Orleans over classroom observations: The principal was bringing a second administrator with her to visits, and teachers felt outnumbered. The chapter leader raised their concerns with her boss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within 48 hours, Orleans came to observe Farrells class and slashed her rating from highly effective to developing. It just all become too much and wasnt good for my mental health. So when an opportunity came along, even though I felt horrible leaving mid-year I loved my students I couldnt pass it up, because I just wanted to get out, said Farrell, who resigned in February after nearly a decade in the classroom. After Farrell left, the union chapter held a no-confidence vote in early June, where 93% of voters said they had lost faith in the principals leadership. (Nine staffers formally abstained or did not vote; only one person voted in support of Orleans.) Through a letter sent alongside the formal results, teachers alleged Orleans engaged in retaliation, consistent berating and belittling of staff, creating a climate of fear and intimidation, and deliberate targeting of students and staff who are part of a legally protected class, such as people of color and persons with disabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We somehow came together and said, This is too much,' said teacher Lauren Askinasi, who took over as chapter leader. In response to an inquiry from The News, the citys principals union, the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, did not address the specific concerns outlined in the no-confidence vote, but defended Orleans as an accomplished school leader with 15 years of experience and a Blue Ribbon to show for it. Principals always stand ready and willing to hear and address concerns, and the city has laid out clear protocols for constituents to voice them, Henry Rubio, president of the CSA, said in a statement. Those sensible practices should have been followed for the benefit of the school community, especially the students and their families. Chyann Tull, a spokeswoman for the citys public schools, said the district takes all concerns from schools seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we enter the new school year, the district superintendent is working closely with the school to provide continued support, and we are committed to building a positive path forward, Tull said. Our goal is to create a more collaborative and inclusive school culture where every member of the community feels valued and supported. Can the school rebuild? As the school year came to a close, the situation was evolving rapidly. Parents became increasingly aware of teachers workplace concerns. UFT President Michael Mulgrew visited the school and met with a group, including Orleans, her union representatives, district superintendent, teachers and parents. One thing is clear, it shouldve never gotten to this point, Mulgrew said. My goal in September is that school has great energy and can move forward way it deserves to. Of his members, the union boss added: [Teachers] want that school to be run fairly and equitably with respect. Theyre not asking for a lot. Theyre asking for what should be in every school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teachers and parents anxiously waited to see if Orleans would return in the fall. Their answer came on Aug. 4 when McGuire, the District 2 superintendent, sent an email that the principal was working on a plan to strengthen communication and rebuild trust with them. The 2024-2025 year ended with members of The River School community reaching out to express concern regarding Principal Orleanss leadership, he wrote. Please know that Principal Orleans has shared with me that she is committed to growing as a school leader and to creating the kind of community in which all students and adults feel valued. To some at The River School, the promise felt hollow. Among them was Mireya, a P.S. 281 parent, who alongside several other families and staff flooded a school board meeting on Aug. 13 to raise their concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mireya, who spoke on the condition that her last name be withheld, said she tried contacting Orleans to get a paraprofessional for her 4-year-old son. But she said attempts to reach her by phone and in person were unsuccessful for three weeks, and she felt dismayed by the lack of responsiveness. Without a transparent plan or change, the message to parents and teachers from the administration is clear: Our voices are not being heard, Mireya told Community Education Council 2. My case, unfortunately, is not unique. I have spoken with other parents of children with disabilities who have also faced delays or even denials of vital services, pushing them out of school. Mireya believes a dedicated teacher made the difference and got her son the aide. As staff leave, she told The News she worries P.S. 281 may not be the right school for her son. I would love to say he would stay at The River School because we love the community. The parent community is beautiful, she said. But I have so many questions, and I cannot allow my kid to experiment with something that Ive been told by other parents in similar situations is not the correct environment for him. The Brief An East Texas teenager was arrested after Tyler County deputies said he threatened to "shoot up" his high school. Aaron McDonald was charged with felony terroristic threat and given a $50,000 bond. Deputies said McDonald was upset over a new seating chart at school and made several threats, including "killing everyone in this school." TYLER COUNTY, Texas - A Tyler County teenager was arrested after threatening to "shoot up" his high school, deputies said. What we know Deputies arrested 17-year-old Aaron McDonald after the Colmesneil teen was heard making threats by several other students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McDonald was upset over a seating assignment in his class and made threats like "killing everyone in this school," deputies said. When deputies arrived at Colmesneil High School, they were told he was not at the school. McDonald was later arrested at his home. McDonald was charged with felony terroristic threat. He was booked into the Tyler County Jail with a $50,000 bond and several bond conditions, including being banned from Colmesneil ISD property. The Source Information in this article comes from the Tyler County Sheriff's Office. At some point before, you've likely bought something that never got eaten and was too old by the time you got to it. Unfortunately, this can be a drain on your wallet. Japan is trying something new to save money and reduce food waste. According to a report from The Japan Times, several Japanese eateries, manufacturers, and retailers have joined forces for a project that creates methane gas to generate electricity out of food scraps. "Under the project, JFE Engineering is in charge of power generation and distribution, while the electricity can be purchased for a low price by participating companies," the report noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's not all that's happening. In the city of Saitama, Meiji the Sutenai ("Don't throw things away") Factory is selling yogurt that's approaching its best-before dates at 40% off. "The name of the store reflects our desire to not throw away products that can still be eaten," an official for Meiji said, per the report. Many fresh food products have a three-week shelf life, which means they must be sold within that time and are required to be sent to retailers within the first week. Experts believe this is contributing to the food waste problem. The Japan Times noted that the convenience store Lawson "is focusing on frozen onigiri rice balls and bread" because they can last a long time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frozen onigiri is good for one year, and frozen bread is good for 200 days. Since July, the chain has expanded its store count. Lawson has even been able to extend "the expiration dates of some regular onigiri products by six hours thanks to comprehensive hygiene management," per The Japan Times. Unfortunately, according to Recycle Track Systems, about 40% of food in the U.S. ends up in landfills each year. Just think of all that money you're wasting. It's estimated to be "325 pounds of waste per person." The food wasted in the U.S. is estimated to be worth $218 billion. However, by keeping your food fresh longer, you can save money. There are several ways you can help your food last longer. For example, one chef buys butter on sale and then stores it in the freezer since it can last up to 12 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Jeannie Jacobs has also suggested keeping your fridge between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your produce fresher. Additionally, food waste has a negative impact on the environment. It requires energy and water to produce it, which generates polluting gases that cause the planet to warm. That energy and water are wasted when food gets thrown away. Food waste is also the biggest part of municipal solid waste that ends up in landfills 22%. When it decomposes, it produces pollution, "which causes algae blooms and dead zones," per RTS. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Aug. 22School is right and truly underway here in Austin and throughout Minnesota, with the year getting started Wednesday for Austin High School and Pacelli. The first day of school is always an important date during the year, signifying a new start with new possibilities, but let's make sure it's getting off on the right foot. The mornings and afternoons are particularly busy times as parents are coming and going, dropping students off or picking them up and we want that to be a safe time for all parties involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traffic around the schools during these times can be heavily congested requiring extra attention being paid on all levels, whether that's from the drivers, the students or the staff. With so much action in relatively small areas, it's easy to lose track if you're not keeping focused. Further complicating the issues in some areas is construction. The area of Austin High School and Pacelli can be particularly challenging as work is done on Oakland Avenue West on the south end of AHS, forcing traffic into specific routes to and from the school. Take the opportunity to slow your roll. It's easy to lose track of a child who may dart between vehicles either on foot or on bike. Put away any distractions when moving through a school zone and that especially means cellphones. Again, with so much happening at once, looking at your cellphone is just another distraction that can become a safety issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same should go for students walking or biking to school. Parents, remind your student to also put their cellphone away while in a school zone and to be careful with where they are going. If all of this requires allocating a little bit of extra time, then it's worth it in an effort to avoid a tragic start to the school year. CHEYENNE Wyoming educators urged state lawmakers on Thursday to form a literacy department within the Wyoming Department of Education, and to address several issues, including students struggling with reading difficulties like dyslexia. A proposed bill draft also details new reporting requirements for school districts, tasks WDE to track student progress toward an 85% reading proficiency goal by the end of third grade, and mandates that school districts implement evidence-based reading assessment and intervention programs to screen for and address reading difficulties multiple times a year. Finally, it outlines requirements for professional development in evidence-based literacy instruction for educators and proposes an appropriation to fund the new division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wyoming Legislatures Joint Education Committee discussed the bill draft Thursday and ultimately decided to form a working group to come up with ways to continue to amend it for the committee to consider at its next meeting in November in Cheyenne. The group will be composed of state lawmakers, WDE staff and staff from the University of Wyoming. Rep. Julie Jarvis, R-Casper, spoke at the meeting. Though not a member of the committee, she spoke in her capacity as a literary specialist on behalf of Converse County School District 1, where she works as the curriculum director. As an educator, she has worked with a group of children with the highest supportive needs in kindergarten through third grade. Through researching this group, she found that the main reason why some students would fall short of benchmarks was vocabulary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of this, she decided to pursue a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Connecticut, where her dissertation focused on the use of vocabulary for educators. In her address to her fellow lawmakers, Jarvis outlined several reasons why this bill is not bad, but falls short of its goals in its current form. Theres a lot of really good things happening in Wyoming, its just a matter of putting them all together. So Id like to challenge you to kind of look at this, at this bill specifically, and we have an opportunity to do this well, but theres some things that I have just put nice little notes on, and I just want to point out some concerns on how this isnt helping us get to where we want to go, she said. One of her concerns was how screenings for signs of reading disabilities are laid out. She said most of the high-quality screeners that currently exist stop in sixth grade, and the committee should consider detailing those time limits in the bill draft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also took issue with the wording in the bill that requires each district to select and implement a reading assessment and intervention program. Jarvis said she doesnt believe intervention program is the correct term to use. I dont provide intervention programs for core instruction. So, really, what youre asking me to do is put together a multi-tiered system that looks at a core instruction and then provides the interventions that are needed that look at How do I figure out where my deficit for my kids are? Despite her suggestions to update the bill, there was near unanimous support for Section 2 of the bill among those who spoke. That section outlines the creation of a reading assistance division within the WDE. Jarvis and others noted that Wyoming is the only state in the nation that doesnt have such a department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dicky Shanor, chief of staff at the Wyoming Department of Education, also spoke at the meeting. He said WDE is already planning on down-classing an executive position that is currently vacant into a literacy expert, but said gaining additional positions through the passage of this bill into law would be helpful. Gay Wilson is a member of Wyo Right to Read, an advocacy group for children with dyslexia and reading difficulties. Her organization, along with WDE staff, families, educators and other stakeholders, helped to draft the draft bill that was before the committee Thursday. Though she acknowledged it is not yet in its most refined and polished form, she said the ultimate issues it concerns must be addressed. She taught for 21 years in Laramie County School District 1, with 10 of those as a reading specialist. She recently came out of retirement to work as a substitute teacher and currently works with children at an alternative school. Wilson said there is a student in her school who will be graduating as a senior with a second-grade reading level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a student graduates reading at a second-grade level, we are not handing them a diploma, we are handing them a lifetime of barriers, she said. Without the ability to read proficiently, they face limited job prospects, economic hardship and daily struggles, which most of us take for granted. This is not just an educational issue, its a workforce issue, a public health issue and a general generational equity issue. Comprehensive literacy legislation and a state-level literacy department are not optional. They are the only way to ensure Wyoming students graduate ready for life and not just ready to leave school. She said literacy is a fundamental right, and the state needs to find answers to its current problems. Lawmakers didnt indicate how they would vote when an official bill draft comes before them to decide whether to sponsor it for the legislative session as a committee, but they decided to continue discussions on it and vote in November. EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) The Effingham Police Department is warning the community of a recent uptick in thefts and is asking residents to take action. Specifically, Effingham Police warned of thefts and burglaries from vehicles and businesses across the city, particularly on the south side of town. Officers have responded to numerous reports over the past few weeks involving both locked and unlocked vehicles, valuables left in plain sight and items stolen from commercial properties. Man found guilty of Springfield womans 2021 murder Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the burglaries from motor vehicles have happened in business lots where vehicles are full of various tools and equipment. Many of these vehicles were physically broken into and had the valuable tools stolen. Meanwhile, other businesses have experienced thefts of inventory, which Effingham Police said is anything that can easily be pawned or sold for scrap. While investigators continue to follow leads, police said community awareness is a key defense against these crimes. Most of these thefts are crimes of opportunity, Investigations Lieutenant Aaron Lange said in a news release. When neighbors stay alert, look out for one another, and report suspicious behavior right away. It makes a significant difference in preventing crime. Together, we can reduce these incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some steps the department encouraged residents to take to avoid these crimes from happening are to lock vehicles and homes at all times, even when parked in driveways, remove valuables from cars or store them out of sight, and store bicycles out of sight or in locked outbuildings. Other bits of advice the department gave to residents are to install exterior motion lighting, consider security cameras and join or form a group with their neighborhood to create a stronger network of communication and deterrence. State Police squad car wrecked in early morning Urbana crash Residents are also urged to immediately report suspicious activity by calling the Effingham Police Departments non-emergency number at 217-347-0774. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the rise in crime, increased patrols have been deployed to the affected neighborhoods in Effingham, and officers are available to help residents set up or bolster local neighborhood groups. A connected community is a safe community, said Police Chief Kurt Davis. By staying alert and working together, we can stop these crimes before they happen. If you see something concerning, dont ignore itsay something. For more information on starting a neighborhood community group or receiving crime prevention tips, visit effinghamil.com or email epd@effinghamil.com. Residents can also give information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 217-347-6583. Tipsters can receive up to $1,000 cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) Officials are trying to give Hawaiis native birds a lifeline through a kind of birth control for mosquitoes. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Maui has joined Kauai, where the innovative program has been underway for a year and a half. Hawaiis native bird species have been under assault for decades human encroachment is an issue, but so is avian malaria. Kauais mosquito project coordinator said mosquitoes have decimated many native bird populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I spent about a thousand nights camping in the forest up in the Alakaii, Department of Natural Resources mosquito project coordinator Justin Hite said. Witnessing the devastation that has been happening to these birds. Like, the state of the birds right now is nothing like it was ten years ago and just seeing that with my own eyes has been a heartbreaking. Hawaii woman recovering after rare, severe dengue case Hite said in the past 20 years, the Anianiau population has plummeted from 40,000 to just 4,000. Its even worse for the Akikiki their population crashed from 2,000 to just a couple of individuals still in the wild. A high-tech solution on Maui and Kauai is fighting back by releasing male mosquitoes with bacteria that renders wild mosquito eggs unviable by dropping pods from helicopters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The delivery method is by helicopter flying around and dropping pods, biodegradable little pods that have the male mosquitoes in them, Hite said. And so they go off and they find the females and when they mate, the eggs just dont hatch. And so over time the population decreases. Veterinarians underscored the urgency for Hawaiis native species. The problem is for species that have never been exposed to avian malaria before, and so the big ones are obviously all our native birds. So, our native forest birds have never had any exposure to avian malaria, said Feather & Fur Animal Hospital medical director Dr. Brian Walsh. The mosquitoes that are released are all males, which has some benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mosquitoes dont live that long. They dont bite people. So, I think its a very low risk, the, you know, venture with really great potential to, to help take out pockets of mosquitoes and try to help reduce those populations, Dr. Walsh said. Check out more news from around Hawaii It is still too early to measure success, but monitoring stations on Maui and Kauai are tracking mosquito population numbers KHON2 will follow up when they have more data. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 full transcripts of Ghislaine Maxwells interview with Donald Trumps deputy attorney have been published. Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein, was interviewed by Todd Blanche in July. Releasing the full transcripts to the public appears to be an attempt to put an end to weeks worth of damaging stories which have dogged Donald Trumps administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US president has faced fierce criticism from his base for refusing to publish documents held by the government on Epstein, the paedophile financier who died in 2019. On Friday, the Department of Justice released hundreds of pages of transcripts and audio recordings of the interview in what Blanche called the interest of transparency. Except for the names of victims, every word is included. Nothing removed. Nothing hidden, Mr Blanche said. Below, The Telegraph takes a closer look at the eight key takeaways from the transcripts. Trump the perfect gentleman Mr Trump has faced immense political pressure over his former friendship with Epstein, whom he fell out with over a property deal in Palm Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics and supporters of the US president alike have called for him to release the so-called Epstein files all of the files the government holds on the late paedophile. Credit: U.S Department of Justice Asked about her knowledge of Mr Trump and Epsteins relationship, Maxwell said she has no incriminating evidence against Donald Trump. She said: I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. Prince Andrew and Epstein In the recordings, Maxwell contradicted Prince Andrews claim that she introduced him to the paedophile Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First of all, lets just state, I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew. I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew or to Sarah Ferguson. That is a flat untruth. Ill start with that. Credit: U.S. Department of Justice The Duke was accused of sexually abusing one of Epsteins first accusers, Virginia Giuffre, on three separate occasions in 2001, when she was 17. She had sued him for unspecified damages. The case was settled by the Prince, who has always denied any wrongdoing. Giuffre died this year by suicide. During a Newsnight interview to address the accusations in 2019, Prince Andrew said the British socialite was the one who acquainted him with Epstein. Maxwell, right, with Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre. She denied introducing the duke to Epstein - PA Duchess of York put the moves on Epstein Maxwell claimed the Duchess of York, who she described as her frenemy, pursued Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: I thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey, if Im being honest, and I thought the whole thing was annoying and I was pissed off. Credit: U.S. Department of Justice She said she believed the duchess liked Mr Epstein. When asked why she thought so, Maxwell responded: My female intuition. Read more: Duchess of York tried to put the moves on Epstein Epstein never loved me Maxwell told Todd Blanche her ex-boyfriend did not ever love her and that she wasnt his type. There was some indications that [Epstein] would actively tell other people to lie to me or conceal things from me, and that he never loved me and I wasnt his type, Maxwell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair had a romantic relationship but after breaking up continued to work together until his arrest in 2019. The nature of the couples relationship was brought under the spotlight during Maxwells trial. Intimate pictures of the pair together, including the now-infamous photos of Maxwell giving Epstein a foot massage, were presented by attorneys for the US government. Several witnesses testified that they thought the pair were a couple, while others believed they had just a business relationship. Financiers death was no suicide Maxwell stated that she does not believe Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019. The nature of Epsteins death is a contentious point for many Trump supporters, who believe he was murdered in order to suppress in order to cover up a so-called client list of high-profile figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do not believe he died by suicide, no, she said. Maxwell believes Epstein may have been killed - GETTY IMAGES She said she did not know who was behind his death but that it was not a difficult thing to arrange. In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will pay somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary. Thats about the going rate for a hit with a lock today. No client list Maxwell also denied that Epstein maintained a client list or black book. There is no list, she told Todd Blanche during the first day of their interviews. The FBI and justice department last month released a memo drawing the same conclusion last month. Credit: U.S Department of Justice I dont remember Trump birthday message Maxwell did not recall Donald Trump allegedly sending a lewd letter featuring a drawing of a nude woman for Epsteins 50th birthday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Mr Trump had submitted a note for an album Maxwell was assembling for her then-boyfriends birthday, in which he told Epstein they had certain things in common. The note allegedly concluded: May every day be another wonderful secret. I do not remember, Maxwell answered, when asked whether Mr Trump had sent a message for Epsteins 50th birthday. She added that she had not found a birthday letter from the president among her possessions in New York. However, she confirmed she had put together a book of birthday messages for Epstein, and that the financier had told her: I love that idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump has fiercely denied writing or sending the letter and has launched legal proceedings against the newspaper and its proprietor, Rupert Murdoch. Name-drops, but no smoking guns In addition to Mr Trump and Prince Andrew, a number of high-profile individuals came up during Maxwells interview but she did not incriminate any of them. Naomi Campbell: [Campbell] may have gone - well, she certainly - well, I believe she visited him in Palm Beach, and I believe she may have gone to the island and she may have gone to see his house in New York. Robert F Kennedy: Bobby knew Mr Epstein, Maxwell said. We went on a trip together. Was - we went to - dinosaur bone hunting in the Dakotas. Elon Musk: Asked whether Mr Musk knew Epstein, Maxwell said: I believe they did. She pointed to emails seen in trial documents as the only reason she believed that they knew each other, rather than her memory. George Soros: I dont think he (Soros) knew him (Epstein). Richard Branson: I think I remember that I went to Richard Bransons island with Mr Epstein, and maybe he went another time, but I dont - I wouldnt characterise Richard Branson and him as friends, but he did go and I think I went with him. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso Police Department is asking for your help in identifying a pickup truck believed to be involved in a deadly crash on Monday morning, Aug. 18, in Northeast El Paso. As KTSM previously reported, a Ford F-150 truck was traveling south on Martin Luther King Boulevard, where the driver swerved to avoid a crash and then lost control of the vehicle. UPDATE: Man dies after truck loses control, hits his, another vehicle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The truck went into oncoming traffic and struck two vehicles. The driver of one of the vehicles, 52-year-old Oscar Lopez, was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The El Paso Police Department is asking for the publics help in locating a dark-colored pickup truck with damage to the right-hand side. Anyone with any information is asked to call the El Paso Police non-emergency line at (915) 832-4400 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-8477. 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 KTSM 9 News. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and the mayors of Rapid City and Sioux Falls are pushing for the release of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds. $2 million Powerball sold in Mobridge Jackley sued the drug makers, claiming they knew how addictive the painkillers are. He wants the mayors involved because they oversee treatment programs on both sides of the state. Emilys Hope, founded by former KELOLAND anchor Angela Kennecke, helps people get treatment for drug addiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve helped 250 people go through treatment with treatment scholarships, weve helped thousands of students, tens of thousands of students in five states with our education curriculum, Kennecke said. While none of the $79 million secured in the lawsuits has been promised to organizations like Emilys Hope, the Attorney General and the Mayors made it clear they want those on the front lines of treating and preventing addiction to be involved. So Emilys Hope has obviously been a great partner on the education side, getting into the school system to get in the very front end of addiction. You know a lot of the stuff we deal with as Mayors is, we are dealing with it when its almost, I wish we could have caught it years earlier, said Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken. And thats where organizations like Emilys Hope can be most effective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So getting to kids at a younger age and teaching them and all of the science shows you can never start too young with age-appropriate curriculum, said Kennecke. Talking to children about this, and that is what we intend to do. Because for every dollar spent on prevention, you save between, estimates are between $14 and $65 on the back end when you have to deal with the problem. Currently, the money is controlled by a 22-member Advisory Committee, which includes six state lawmakers, six local government representatives, five experts, and five at-large representatives. Jackely said earlier this week that he will work with them to get the money released. It would be that committee of 22 and then ultimately the legislature, which I would be seeking authority to have those funds dispersed to Sioux Falls and Rapid City, again, they are in the best position to do this, not the state of South Dakota, said Jackley. So far, the companies being sued have forked over $31 of the $79 million agreed upon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. The cast and crew of Emily in Paris is mourning a devastating loss. As filming for season five continues in Venice, Italy, local news outlets La Repubblica, Il Messaggero and Corriere della Sera have confirmed that assistant director Diego Borella died after collapsing on set. He was 47 years old. The cast and crew were filming at Hotel Danieli in Venice when Borella suffered a medical emergency. According to La Repubblica, a local doctor said that Borella likely had a heart attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per reports, Borella was born in Venice and was an established director and writer who worked in a variety of different genres. Per the Independent, filming has been suspended. News of Borella's death comes just two days after lead actress Lily Collins shared an update on the new season of the hit Netflix series. "The countdown officially begins, with a first look and release date for @emilyinparis SEASON FIVE! Emily's Italian adventure continues, from cobblestones to canals, on December 18th," she captioned an Instagram post on Aug. 20. A synopsis for the new season reveals that Emily will face "professional and romantic challenges as she adapts to life in a new city. But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks," per Variety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netflix has yet to release a statement on Borella's death. This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Thousands of pages of records have been released in the US detailing the government's response to the lynching of black teenager Emmett Till in 1955. The US National Archives said the records it released ahead of the 70th anniversary of the African-American youth's killing were "watershed moment in American history". Emmett Till, a 14-year-old from Chicago, was visiting family in Mississippi when he was brutally beaten and killed after a white woman claimed he harassed her at a store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Till's lynching and the subsequent activism of his mother Mamie Till-Mobley helped galvanise the civil rights movement in the US. It was only in 2022 that the US signed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act into law, which makes lynching a federal hate crime offence. More than 6,500 pages of records have been released to the public - ranging from previously undisclosed case files to public materials such as magazine and newspaper clippings. The files, created by the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, are an initial release of federal records related to the case, the National Archives said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The release of these records is nothing short of historic," said board co-chair Margaret Burnham. "Emmett's family members, as well as historians and the public at large, have deserved a complete picture of the federal government's response," Ms Burnham said. "The story of Emmett Till and the injustices done to him is still being written, but these documents offer up some long-overdue clarity." The death of the teenager is thought to have led to the 1957 Civil Rights Act. Who was Emmett Till? On 24 August 1955, Emmett Till was visiting family and entered a store in Money, Mississippi, where Carolyn Bryant, then 21, worked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bryant accused him of making improper advances and harassing her while she was alone in the shop. On 28 August, her husband and brother-in-law kidnapped the boy at gunpoint, tortured him and threw his battered body into a river. At Till's funeral, his mother insisted on an open coffin so everyone could see what had been done to him. Published photos of his brutalised remains shocked the nation. The two kidnappers - Roy Bryant and JW Milam - were arrested over the murder, but were quickly acquitted by an all-white jury. They later admitted to the killing in a magazine interview, but could not be re-tried under US law. Both men and Carolyn Bryant are now dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carolyn Bryant (right) with husband Roy Bryant and JW Milam (left) with his wife celebrate their acquittal [Getty Images] During the trial against her husband and his half-brother, Carolyn Bryant took the stand and testified that Till had grabbed her hand and propositioned her. But in a 2008 interview with a US historian, she recanted the statement, reportedly saying: "That part's not true." Till's death led to rallies across the country, which became a major part of a civil movement that led to African American voting rights. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) epkicks, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing new shoes to underprivileged youth in the El Paso Community, will hold its annual Run for Shoes 5K on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Weve been doing this for seven years. Its our biggest fundraiser and our purpose is to get the community together to run, walk, or just be there to support a good cause. epkicks co-founder Sebastian Rumler said in an interview with KTSM. The race will begin at 8:00 a.m. MT in the historic Kern District, starting at Up and Running, located at 3233 N. Mesa St. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal of the event is to raise both funds and awareness to help provide brand-new shoes to children in need throughout the El Paso community. Every race registration directly contributes to this cause. epkicks encourages everyone to sign up for the 5K as each sign up essentially ensures a brand-new pair of shoes for a child. What I tell people is, If you dont run, thats fine. Signing up basically ensures a brand-new pair of shoes for a child, epkicks organizer Ethan Benckwitz said. We just want to bring everybody together. We want to be leaders to convince everyone to do their part to help everybody out. The 5K is open to all fitness levels, runners and walkers alike are encouraged to take part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since its founding, epkicks says it has donated more than 800 pairs of shoes to various El Paso school districts. The organization says they work with school counselors to ensure shoes and other essential supplies reach the students who need them most. Additional information (Courtesy: epkicks) Individual Registration is $35 + $3.12 processing fee. Team registration is $30 + 3.12 processing fee after the initial 9 register at $35 + $3.12. Once the 10th team member signs up the initial 9 will get their $5.00 back. Race day registration is $35. The last day to register and get a shirt will be August 29th. Packet pickup: Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 12 PM 6 PM at Up and Running. Finisher Medal to the first 400 to register. Here is the link to epkicks website to register. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TREMONTON, Utah (ABC4) An obituary for Officer Eric Estrada, one of two Tremonton Garland Police officers killed in a shooting incident in Tremonton, was published by his family, and actor Erik Estrada posted a tribute to the fallen officer on social media. Sgt. Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada were shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call late Sunday night. A Box Elder County deputy, Mike Allred, was also injured alongside his K-9 Azula. Charges have now been filed against the alleged shooter Ryan Bate, and he had his initial court appearance Friday morning. Public viewing and funeral services arranged for fallen Tremonton officers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Estrada, aged 32, died on August 17. He was born in Logan Utah, and he was a lifelong Utah resident. He married his wife Brittney in 2014 in Hyrum, Utah, and they had two children together, Luka and Cienna. His children were the light of his world. Erics family always came first, and he cherished every moment spent with themwhether at home, traveling, or enjoying their favorite adventures together. Mexico held a special place in his heart, and he loved sharing its beauty with his loved ones, his brother, Jesus Estrada, wrote in the obituary. Estrada enjoyed activities like pickleball, bike riding, CrossFit, grilling, mowing his lawn, doing his hair, and taking walks with his main man. His favorite song was Bubbly by Colbie Caillat. Erics legacy is one of love, service, and compassion. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father, loyal son, mamas boy, and dedicated officer who put others before himself. His smile, his laughter, and his heart will forever live on in the lives of those who knew and loved him, Jesus wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Box Elder County Parade and Golden Spike Rodeo honoring fallen Tremonton officers Fittingly, Estrada was nicknamed Chipz after the actor Erik Estrada, who is best known for his role as Ponch on the police television series CHiPs, and today Erik Estrada posted a tribute to Officer Eric Estrada on his X.com account. There is a special kind of person that makes a 100% commitment regardless of if it puts them in harms way someone who is willing to put it all on the line for others, Erik Estrada wrote in his post. He also posted links to Help A Hero campaigns benefitting families of Officer Estrada and Sgt. Sorensen and Deputy Mike Allred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, people have associated my name with a TV role I played as a police officer. But Officer Eric Estrada of Utah lived that role with courage and sacrifice. Hes the real hero. Please join me in supporting his family, he said. Graphic posted alongside Erik Estradas post on X, courtesy: Erik Estrada God bless Eric Estrada, Sgt. Lee Sorensen may you rest in peace and to Deputy Mike Allred and K-9 Azula I wish you a speedy recovery. Thank you all for your service & sacrifice, he concluded. Though his time with us was far too short, Erics light will never fade, the obituary reads. You can read Officer Estradas full obituary here. 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. NEED TO KNOW Erik Menendez's stepdaughter, Talia Menendez, said she is "extremely saddened" by a California parole board's decision to deny Lyle Menendez parole, one day after her father was also denied parole Talia said in a post on Instagram that she would "not stop" fighting until Erik and Lyle were "free" Anamaria Baralt, the Menendez brothers cousin, also spoke out, saying she still had hope for the pair who were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents to get parole potentially in 18 months Erik Menendez's daughter, Talia Menendez, is speaking out after Lyle Menendez was denied parole. Talia, who is Eriks stepdaughter from his marriage to Tammi Menendez, is renewing her plea for the Menendez brothers release after a California parole board denied Lyle, 57, parole one day after Erik, 54, was also denied parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On her Instagram Stories, Talia wrote that she was praying for my uncle Lyle after he got the same verdict as Erik. She said she was extremely saddened by the parole boards decision and alleged that it was a complete setup from the inside. You can all judge me for being angry, she wrote. Im standing on 10 toes for our family We will not stop until they are free. Our fight is not over. Talia Menendez/Instagram Talia Menendez's Instagram Stories post reacting to Erik and Lyle Mendendez being denied parole Talia Menendez's Instagram Stories post reacting to Erik and Lyle Mendendez being denied parole In a follow-up post on her Instagram Stories, Talia explained that people can have different views of this being a win or not. She also said that she has been let down time and time again and that this had been the highest her hopes had been for Erik and Lyle to be freed especially since they were getting older and older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talia added that the brothers have shown no violence during their time behind bars and stressed her desire to see real action taken to set them free. Things start to change. This is deeper than surface level. Enough is enough, Talia wrote, concluding her message with a tornado emoji. Anamaria Baralt, the Menendez brothers cousin, also spoke out on Instagram on Friday, Aug. 22, following the news that they were both denied parole. She said she was still hopeful that their case would be reviewed if they continued their good behavior in jail, and that they would be able to get in front of the parole board again within 18 months. California Department of Corrections/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock Lyle Menendez appearing before the parole board via teleconference at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, Calif., on Aug. 22, 2025 Lyle Menendez appearing before the parole board via teleconference at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, Calif., on Aug. 22, 2025 Overall, it was a pretty disappointing week for us, but were this is not a long time, Baralt said in a video. The fact that we are making progress and we have these hearings, and yes there was a denial and it was intensely disappointing but at the same time, there is still light at the end of the tunnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Lyle and Eriks recent parole hearings came more than three decades after they were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in August 1989 in their $5 million Beverly Hills, Calif., home. VINCE BUCCI/AFP via Getty Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 29, 1992. Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 29, 1992. The brothers claimed they acted in self-defense because they feared for their lives, alleging that Jose had sexually abused them both for years with Kitty's knowledge, and that Jose had threatened to kill them if they told anyone. After the murders, prosecutors said the brothers motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lyle and Erik were initially sentenced to life in prison without parole. However, a judge resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life in May, making them immediately eligible for parole because they were under 26 at the time of the murders as Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18. Read the original article on People Errol Trzebinski, who has died aged 89, was a historian of Kenya whose groundbreaking 1977 biography of Karen Blixens lover Denys Finch Hatton, Silence Will Speak, yielded crucial source material for the film Out of Africa. While it would be an exaggeration to say, as the director Sydney Pollack did, that Blixen barely mentions Denys, any reader who embarked on Karen Blixens 1937 classic Out of Africa after seeing the film would be surprised at how few of the events depicted on screen are to be found there. Finch Hatton, the English big-game hunter played in the film by Robert Redford opposite Meryl Streeps Karen Blixen, wanders in and out of her memoir as an intimate companion, bathed in god-like radiance, but a romance proper remains frustratingly implicit. As the producer Anna Cataldi put it: To do the movie, we needed a love story. Out of Africa is an excellent literary book, but the material we needed for the film was in Silence Will Speak. So, I contacted Errol Trzebinski. Meryl Streep as Karen Blixen and Robert Redford as Denys Finch Hatton in the 1985 film Out of Africa - Alamy Errol Trzebinski who, like Evelyn Waugh, was often misgendered in reviews, in this case as he was born Eryl Jones in Gloucester on June 24 1936, the elder of two daughters of a BOAC engineer. Uneducated, as she put it, at Wimborne Convent in Dorset, she had ventured to Kenya in 1952 for a holiday while waiting to qualify for the nurse training programme at Middlesex Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She stayed, changed her name to Errol, and at 18 married the Polish architect Zbigniew Sbish Trzebinski, who became a prominent designer of hotels during Kenyas tourism boom. They lived sociably for 12 years on part of what had been Karen Blixens farm, at the foot of the Ngong Hills, and later in Mombasa. Errol Trzebinski only ventured into biography in her 40s, by then a mother of three, having worked in advertising for the Nation group of newspapers, then as the Sunday Nations cookery columnist, publishing several cookbooks; she also briefly co-ran an interior design service for expats called Flair. Silence Will Speak Her long stalk of Denys Finch Hatton began in 1965 when she came upon his name inscribed on a silver hip flask at a Nairobi auction house, but the doyenne on Kenya, Elspeth Huxley, warned her off attempting a biography of this most pathologically elusive of prey, who had even asked his friends to destroy his letters. Undeterred, Errol Trzebinski unearthed a souvenir memoir of Finch Hatton by one of his safari companions, and an undestroyed trove of letters. She travelled to England to consult the archives of his family, the Earls of Winchilsea, and with gumshoe dedication harvested reminiscence from his surviving friends in Kenya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her 1977 biography which the Oscar-winning 1985 film credits as one of its three screenplay sources, alongside Out of Africa itself and Judith Thurmans biography Isak Dinesen took its title from Karen Blixens line: Where the storyteller is loyal, eternally and unswervingly loyal to the story, there, in the end, silence will speak. Errol Trzebinski initially opposed the casting of Robert Redford over Charles Dance, but came to the view that it was a stroke of genius: We are talking about a type, not an accent. And Redford is just as ephemeral and private. The Kenya Pioneers With the proceeds Errol Trzebinski was able to buy a beach house in Lamu, and devote herself to her next book, a wide-angle companion piece, The Kenya Pioneers (1985). Drawing on unpublished letters and journals, it paints a picture of European settlers in East Africa between 1896 to 1920, ranging from grandees to humble immigrants such as the Lithuanian Abraham Block, whose family built up a commercial empire of hotels. She knows the country backwards, wrote Duff Hart-Davis in The Sunday Telegraph, singling out among many eye-popping new nuggets the story of the resourceful coffee-planters wife who came across a Kikuyu disembowelled in a fight and sewed his guts back in with a sacking needle and a string from her violin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a historian Errol Trzebinskis strength lay in her bloodhound determination to unearth details, rather than her qualities as a stylist; indeed, as the TLS reviewer of her next biography, The Lives of Beryl Markham (1993), put it, her text sometimes reads as if it had been hastily dictated over a bad long-distance line. The Lives of Beryl Markham But she had the unbeatable advantage of having had long lunches with the aviatrix Beryl Markham Karen Blixens love rival in Nairobi in the 1970s, and the film rights were optioned before she had even put a word on paper. Errol Trzebinskis last book, The Life and Death of Lord Erroll (2000), was serialised splashily in the Daily Mail for its sensational claim that the 22nd Earl of Erroll whose unsolved murder on the Karen Road in Nairobi in 1941 had been the subject of the bestselling White Mischief was not a crime of passion committed by the jealous older husband of Errolls mistress, Lady (Diana) Delves Broughton, but instead an assassination by the British secret service, because Erroll was a fascist sympathiser who knew far too much about a clique of Right-wing politicians and Establishment figures who had been secretly negotiating a peace with Nazi Germany. The book, which was unfavourably reviewed, relied heavily on the Sallyport Papers, the recollections of a Kenya-born intelligence officer called Tony Trafford. Neither the document nor Errol Trzebinski could produce corroboration or proof for the theory, or even, in her 300 pages, tell what information Erroll had that was so threatening, wrote White Mischiefs author James Fox in Vanity Fair. The Life and Death of Lord Erroll Her certainty that the book would rattle the British Establishment tinged her later years with fear, when her telephone was tapped, her computer was stolen and their holiday house was burnt down. Her visceral connection to the Erroll case became nightmarish when in 2001 her son, the artist Tonio Trzebinski, was found murdered by a bullet a mile from where Lord Erroll had met his end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was haunted by the thought that her book might have cost her son his life, and spent eight years investigating the crime, successfully pressing the Kenyan police for an inquest, but there were no charges. Friends remembered Errol Trzebinski as a strikingly chic woman with unusual clothes and quantities of reddish hair, a superb hostess, and on visits to London a lively presence at the Groucho Club. To fellow writers she was unstintingly generous in sharing the formidable archive she had amassed on 19th- and 20th-century Kenya. Sbish died in 2005, and Bruce, her elder son from a brief earlier marriage, died in 2023. She is survived by her daughter Gabriela Trzebinski. Errol Trzebinski, born June 24 1936, died July 12 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. When Robert Wynn, 8th Baron Newborough was three years old, his father, Micky Wynn, 7th Baron Newborough set him a task. He was put into a rowing boat and taken out into the Menai Strait, just off one of the familys estates, and told to get back to shore again without a paddle. That was one of the initiative tests, says Lord Newborough. We had to prove our worth as children, and you were either in or out depending on how you were doing at the time. Others might resent such a chastening experience, but not Lord Newborough. I have a lot to thank my father for. He never took no for an answer or cant or dont. You jolly well did have to, and that was it. Lord Newborough keeps sheep, cattle, chickens and venison herds, but admits he is not a natural farmer - Andrew Fox In the 27 years since his father died, Lord Newborough, 76, has transformed the Rhug estate pronounced Reeg near Corwen in North Wales, where his family has lived since the 1840s. During his fathers term, this was an old-fashioned, low input, low output farming business, working 2,500 of the 12,500 acres. Today having bought some land and taken other patches in hand Lord Newborough is organic farming over 8,000 acres, using just about every initiative on the modern estate diversification tick list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He keeps sheep, cattle, chickens, as well as turkeys and geese at Christmas, and has several venison herds. In 2021, he started up a skincare business, Wild Rhug, using ingredients foraged from the estate, while the food produced is sold wholesale around the world and in Rhugs farm shop, where theres also a cafe, takeaway and the first on-farm drive-through in the country, he says. The food produced by Rhug estate is sold in their farm shop and wholesale around the world - Andrew Fox In 2018, Rhug Organic Farm received its first royal warrant, and at Julys state banquet at Windsor Castle, Rhug chicken was on the menu. And, for the last 18 years, Lord Newborough has been one of about 10 farmers in the UK and Ireland to keep a herd of bison. They are not always easy. They look impressive, but they dont like being handled and we have to get them in twice a year to test them [for tuberculosis]. We usually lose an animal or two from stress during that, he says. They are at least good value. Unlike a cow, which is productive for 11 to 13 years, bisons lifespan is between 27 to 30 years, and they give a calf a year. I love them to bits. Rhug was once just one of the Newboroughs North Wales estates, between which the family perambulated. Lord Newborough came home to it in a slightly roundabout way. After a challenging childhood and a short stint at agricultural college I wasnt allowed to go to Cirencester because my father said it was a playboys club he was given 100 and a one-way ticket to Australia and told to disappear for 12 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that, he worked briefly in a land agency before starting an air charter company, and then going into the electronics business. He sold Wynn Electronics in 1989. The day after I sold it, my wife said, I married you for better or worse but not for lunch, so find something else to do. This turned out to be a fishery protection venture with the Sierra Leone government, during which time he experienced three coups, the last of which I was accused of mounting, so I came out of Sierra Leone, bullets flying and people trying to plant drugs in my luggage. By then it was 1995, his father was 78, and he thought he had better return home to avoid being disinherited, he says. I was on very thin ice. The estate has been with the Newborough family since the 1840s - Andrew Fox The late Lord Newborough, who never let his children sleep in after 7am a hideous sin had what might be described as a busy war, having played an important role in Operation Chariot, the commando raid on St Nazaire in March 1942. An officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, at St Nazaire he commanded the motor torpedo boat MTB74, kitted out with two torpedoes, in support of the former American destroyer Campbeltown on its mission to ram the harbour where the German battleship Tirpitz was in the dry dock. Having fired his torpedoes, Micky spotted two men in the water ahead of him. Pulling up to them, the German guns hit his boat. He was blown from the bridge and rescued by his mechanic Bill Lovegrove, who helped him to a float where he supported him for 12 hours before a German gunboat picked them up. Micky was missing a finger and his eye was hanging out; later, it was cut out without anaesthetic. Sent to the naval prisoner-of-war camp Marlag Nord, he quickly escaped and was sent to Colditz, from which he also escaped, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1942. Rhug is one of many estates owned by the Newborough family - Andrew Fox He remained Micky Wynn the war hero forever, never quite transitioning into a patrician peer even after he succeeded his father to the Newborough title in 1965. His joy in life, says his son, was sitting talking to one of his employees and telling a good story. He didnt feel that he was very different from anyone else, but being of a character that ended up in Colditz, you dont take fools lightly and you are very good at assessing other peoples characters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord Newborough used to accompany his father to Colditz reunions. I would think, I can see why this lot were in Colditz. They were definitely of a type naughty! When in 1990, Sir David Cannadine, the historian, described the British aristocracy as a decayed force, their estates run by uncommercial, old-fashioned peers like Micky, he could not have foreseen the ambition of their business-minded progeny. If youve got a big house, it has to work for you, says Lord Newborough. If youve got an asset like a farm, youve got to sweat out all the opportunities. Unlike his father, who was devoted to his dairy herd, he is not a natural farmer. I wouldnt know how to start a new tractor these days. I enjoy building the brand. I enjoy selling what we produce, and I enjoy talking to the chefs and finding new outlets for our skincare brand though I never thought aged 76 that I would be involved with influencers. Im a travelling salesman really. Lord Newborough believes in diversification, adding: If youve got a big house, it has to work for you - Andrew Fox He has no plans to retire, since we have got so much to do yet, including building holiday accommodation, because thats one thing were short of. The estate washes its face because weve got a mix of businesses that we run in conjunction with the farming enterprise. Without diversification and without subsidies, we wouldnt be making money on the farm alone well, were not. Were addressing that, but it involves a degree of investment and moving towards more intensive enterprises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord Newborough takes seriously his lot in life. Yes, I am privileged, he says, but I have a sense of duty. Its an important part of my remit to try and educate others. Last year, he founded the Rhug Charitable Trust to bring children from urban areas to Rhug to learn about how food is produced. We all have a responsibility to do that in a business like this, he says. And to set an example? I dont think of it much, but there is a sense of responsibility to behave better. But, he laughs, if its in the DNA to be naughty, you will always be naughty. Heirs and Graces: A History of the Modern Aristocracy by Eleanor Doughty is published by Hutchinson on 4 September 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, visited the City of El Paso Animal Services main shelter and introduced some new legislation during the visit on Friday, Aug. 22, her office said. Escobar introduced the Supporting Our Shelters Act, which will amend the Animal Welfare Act and provide critical grant funding to local animal shelters across the country, Escobars office said. The bill will ensure that shelters have the resources they need to care for animals, support adoption services, and improve conditions for pets awaiting their forever homes, Escobars office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local animal shelters are lifelines for communities, providing safety and care for vulnerable animals while helping families find beloved companions, Escobar said. But too often, these shelters are stretched thin, underfunded, and overwhelmed. The Supporting Our Shelters Act invests directly in them so they can continue their vital work with the resources they deserve. The Supporting Our Shelters Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, and is endorsed by the El Paso Citys Animal Services Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Estonia is ready to join a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said at a press conference on Aug. 22. Estonia is ready to send up to one company of troops to partake in peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine, Michal said alongside Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo following a meeting between the two leaders. U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to broker a peace deal to end Russia's war against Ukraine. The U.S. leader met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15 and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said he would like Putin and Zelensky to hold a bilateral meeting, followed by a trilateral meeting joined by the U.S. leader. Michal did not provide the number of Estonian peacekeeping troops that could be sent to Ukraine. "Putin's goals have not changed. He wants all of Ukraine and a revision of the current security system in Europe. Estonia will never recognize changes to borders by force of arms," Michal said. The Estonian leader noted that support from the EU to Ukraine will increase. "According to the next draft long-term budget of the European Commission, EU support for the development of European defense capabilities and assistance to Ukraine will increase significantly," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 19, Trump said that U.S. soldiers will not be on the ground in Ukraine to ensure security guarantees are upheld. Kyiv's other allies, including the U.K. and France, have signalled they may send a peacekeeping force to enforce a peace deal in Ukraine as part of support from the "Coalition of the Willing." The group consists of about 30 countries, ready to provide varying assistance and security guarantees to Ukraine once a ceasefire or peace deal is reached. Read also: Russia strengthens hand in potential peace talks with steady advances in Donbas Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has said he is now more optimistic about the prospect of investments from the 150 billion SAFE defence fund being made in Ukraines defence industry. Source: Radio Liberty's Ukrainian Service, citing Kubilius, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kubilius suggested that the European Commission could announce how much of the loans from the SAFE fund will be directed to Ukraine as early as November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he is "much more optimistic" than he had been in the spring, when he was concerned about the lack of indications that SAFE loans would be used for purchases in Ukraine. The commissioner also said he does not know whether EU countries are prepared to fund the purchase of US$90 billion worth of American weapons for Kyiv, as announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following talks in Washington. However, Kubilius said the talks were significant, noting that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is nervous and has been attempting to discredit the meeting. Background: The European Commissions SAFE programme, part of a broader plan to strengthen EU defence by 2030, provides for 150 billion in loans for EU member states to invest in defence. In the coming weeks, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to visit the EU countries that intend to cooperate with Ukraine in the defence industry via SAFE so that military assistance for Kyiv can be coordinated. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Postal services across Europe are pausing the shipment of most merchandise to the U.S. amid a lack of clarity over new import duties put in place by President Donald Trump, reports CBS News. Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy announced they were halting shipments of goods stateside on Saturday. Barring a quick clarification from the White House, the postal services of France and Austria will pause U.S.-bound packages on Monday, followed by the United Kingdom on Tuesday. Trump signed a decree in July that makes nearly all foreign goods subject to an import duty, even those valued at less than $800, which were previously permitted to enter duty-free because of the de minimis exemption. That exemption is ending Aug. 23, forcing postal services to halt shipments they cannot guarantee will reach the U.S. ahead of the new tariffs start date. The Trump administration also reached an agreement with the European Union last month to set a 15 percent tax on the majority of products imported from its 27 member states. However, the postal services said it is unclear which goods are not covered by the new rules, which were hastily rolled out this summer, and said that it is safer for them to halt shipments outright. After a week of rushed diplomacy and two major summits over the war in Ukraine, few details have emerged about a key part of a potential peace settlement: security guarantees to help Kyiv fend off any future Russian attacks. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who touted the guarantees with other European leaders when they conferred with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, was in Ukraine on Friday to lay out a framework to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "The first layer has to be for Ukrainian armed forces to be as strong as possible to defend this proud country and nation going forward," Rutte said, saying that would come after a peace deal or "long-term ceasefire." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, "And the second layer has to be the security guarantees provided by Europe and the United States." Ukrainian Press Services/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte arrive ahead of their meeting in Kyiv, Aug. 22, 2025. MORE: NATO defense chiefs wrap talks on Ukraine security, but the path forward is unclear How those guarantees would work, including what role the U.S. might play, has been the subject of intense diplomacy in Washington including a meeting between Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and his European counterparts -- as well as meetings in Brussels among NATO military chiefs. Retired Adm. James Foggo, a former commander of NATO naval forces, told ABC News the U.S. and its allies would seek a "negotiated solution" in short order to come up with a joint military plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With the high sense of importance and urgency the president has assigned to this I'm sure there's a lot of pressure on the uniform side to come up with options and in a very close negotiation with allies and partners," Foggo said. Trump has ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops and opposes Ukraine's bid to join NATO, but he has said the U.S. "would help them by air." MORE: Trump's met with Putin and Zelenskyy. What's next for Russia-Ukraine peace talks? Hosting Rutte Friday, Zelenskyy said it was "still too early to say who might provide troops, who will contribute intelligence, who will be present at sea, and who -- in the air." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The infrastructure will be written down and written out, and then we will understand who can help with what and how," he said. While Zelenskyy said the support for security guarantees was "political" at this point -- and not a concrete plan -- the summit in Washington "as [a] very important signal from America and from the president," he said. Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov upon arrival at the Mius airport in Sarov, Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia, August 22, 2025. MORE: Why a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting matters -- and why it might not happen How many troops would serve in Ukraine and which countries would send them are key questions in an "Article 5-like" security guarantee that European leaders have spoken about. Instead of an Article 5 vow under the NATO treaty alliance in which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all allies have discussed a "coalition of the willing" that would promise to back Ukraine's security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What does Article 5-like security guarantee mean?" said Foggo. "I'm not sure up until this point anybody can answer that question." Whether and how the potential security guarantee resembles Article 5's ironclad structure which was invoked only once, after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. "is a matter for negotiation," said Rose Gottemoeller, NATO's deputy secretary-general from 2016 to 2019. "And not really with the Russians, per se. It's not their business what the security guarantee is going to look like," she said, even though Moscow "will certainly try to place constraints on how much support NATO countries provide for Ukraine now, and how much involvement the United States will have in the effort." But Trump's diplomatic frenzy has been much about creating momentum, Gottemoeller said, and exposes Putin to appearing to be a spoiler in the talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have to see how ... much Mr. Putin wants this deal now," she said. "For him to now stand in the way of that, he's going to look like -- he is a bad guy -- but he's going to look like the real bad guy in these negotiations. And he's always tried to be on the front foot, [saying] 'I'm ready to make peace." Ukrainian Press Services/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte talk ahead of their meeting in Kyiv, Aug. 22, 2025. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that talks about a security guarantee for Ukraine against Russia must involve Moscow itself. "Moscow won't agree with collective security guarantees negotiated without Russia," he said, implying a Russian veto over defenses for Ukraine. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, said on the Fox Business Network Wednesday that Russian statements since Monday's Washington summit opposing an international security force for Kyiv were "just noise." Kellogg said the heads of state would drive decisions over the guarantees. Ukraine's allies have embraced a sequence of establishing a security mechanism before next phases like territory swaps and a bilateral or trilateral meeting involving Putin and Zelenskyy, which Trump has made his public priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You've gotta provide leverage for Zelenskyy to go to his people and say this is what we're getting out of the deal, this is the long-term effort, so he's able to, for lack of a better term, sell it," Kellogg said. "You've gotta have something on the board." The security arrangement would be backstop "so that when the time comes for you to enter that bilateral meeting," Rutte told Zelenskyy on Friday, "you have the unmistakable force of Ukraine's friends behind you, ensuring that Russia will uphold any deal and will never ever again attempt to take one square kilometer of Ukraine." A mobilization wouldn't be an issue, said Foggo. "You can generate forces pretty quickly, once there's a policy decision," he said. "Uniform forces will follow the policy, but those policy decisions are up to the civilian leaders of those countries." When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, many said it was not a question of if but when Ukraine would fall. More than three years into the war Ukraines Independence Day - celebrated on 24 August - is once again a remarkable milestone for the country and another demonstration of its willingness and readiness to fight for its independence. With the diplomatic process aimed at putting an end to Russias war at full speed, Europe rallied behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting with Donald Trump on Monday in an exceptional format, the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, said in an interview with Euronews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit and this composition of the European delegation was an exceptional format of how European Union demonstrated its unity on one hand, but also support to Ukraine in this critical moment, he said, pointing to the fact that the meting took place during the August holiday period. Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, speaking to Euronews' Sasha Vakulina - Euronews All of them had to interrupt their vacations and to go to Washington physically and what is not less important is that the president of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen took an effort to coordinate this visit. The next step of the diplomatic process aimed at putting an end to Russias war against Ukraine is set to be a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. It is not clear if Donald Trump would be present at the first meeting or would rather join the two presidents after their bilateral talks. After the Monday visit to the White House, it is unclear if European leaders could also be present at the negotiating table at some stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chentsov told Euonews that the current process is becoming quite dynamic and he hopes that it will not be too long before the next meeting is organised. We should not omit any other scenarios, including participation of the European side, but what is important that the EU and Europe in general, because we are talking also about Great Britain, is present. He is convinced that the position of the European Union definitely is taken into account by Ukraine for sure and also by the United States. So this is the most important thing. Related Can the US help Ukraine join the EU? Welcoming Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels before their departure to Washington, the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU continues to support Ukraine's path to its membership in the European Union. This is itself also a security guarantee for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vsevolod Chentsov says it is also a security guarantee for Europe, which is reinforcing the EU already now, even while Ukraine is still a candidate. The new programme, which is called SAFE (Security Action for Europe) is open for Ukraine, which means that helping Ukraine to defend themselves, helping Ukraine use its potential, it's military-industrial complex, its modern mil-tech will help definitely Ukraine, but also in the future will help Europe to defend itself. We stress on this necessity to move ahead with accession process, do whatever is possible to unlock this stalemate, also to solve all bilateral issues with any member states which could arise, Chentsov said. European leaders at a multilateral Ukraine conference at the White House, 18 August, 2025 - AP Photo It's normal that member states try to solve bilateral issues and use the enlargement process as a leverage. We are prepared to talk, we are prepared to work and we are doing that. But we do not want to lose time. And if we have any outstanding issues related to national minorities or trade or sectoral cooperation, we are going to tackle those issues within the relevant clusters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hungary has been consistently opposed to Ukraine's EU membership with Prime Minister Viktor Orban's veto on accession dating back to July 2024, when Hungary took over the six-month presidency of the EU Council. But even after Hungarys stint heading the Council was over, Budapest has repeatedly vetoed any steps forward for Kyivs path towards full EU membership. Soldiers aged 18 to 24 practice military skills on a training ground near Kharkiv, 19 August, 2025 - AP Photo Bloomberg reported this week that an unexpected push to break this deadlock might come from Washington. Donald Trump allegedly called Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday to win his support for Ukraine to join the bloc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vsevolod Chentsov says Kyiv is ready for next steps in the EU accession process and welcomes any help along the path, including from outside of the European Union. If the United States or other countries outside the European Union are ready to help, to use their political clout, to also use their personal contacts, we welcome this support," he said. It is important to consider this issue as an element of the peace process. And that's why if Donald Trump , who is leading this peace process, is involved in fixing this issue it is logical. The largest wildfire in Florida this year is now more than halfway contained, according to the Florida Forest Service. The Everglades blaze, known as the Mile Marker 39 fire, has scorched 48,000 acres since it began Monday evening. As of Saturday morning, firefighters have managed to contain 60% of the flames. Ground crews have struggled with the challenges of the Everglades ecosystem, where wetlands make many areas difficult to reach. To access the fire, teams have used airboats and are concentrating their efforts on zones they can reach, said Florida Forest Service spokesperson Michelle Danielson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is still unknown, though Danielson noted that lightning due to thunderstorm activity around this time of year may explain it. South Florida, particularly Broward County, has experienced smoky, hazy skies all week, and will likely continue to experience similar conditions through the rest of the weekend. The smoke triggered an air quality alert that ran from Wednesday night through Thursday morning. Everglades wildfires can often burn unnoticed by the public, but wind patterns are pushing smoke into heavily populated areas, Danielson said. The winds have been blowing in a west-to-southwesterly direction, said Chuck Caracozza, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What thatll do each day is itll help blow the smoke, unfortunately, back into the metro areas, particularly of northern Broward County and south Palm Beach County, Caracozza told the Miami Herald on Friday. READ MORE: Will Everglades wildfire send smoke our way into the weekend? What forecast says The fire is concentrated in the 3A North Conservation Area of the Everglades, bordered by the Broward-Palm Beach county line to the north, I-75 to the south, U.S. 27 to the east, and the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, according to the Forest Service. Officials are urging drivers to use extra caution on these roads, where heavy smoke can reduce visibility. This wildfire is nearly twice the size of the South Miami-Dade fire that burned for more than a week in March, intermittently closing roads to the Florida Keys. For scale, Walt Disney World Resort in Kissimmee covers just over 25,000 acresabout half the size of the current blaze. After The Telegraph reported that British expats moving to Dubai were facing growing challenges such as stagnating salaries and higher costs, readers shared their views on making the move to the Gulf. There were a range of views shared with one reader saying that moving to the United Arab Emirates was the best thing Id ever done and another saying that you simply couldnt pay me enough to live and work there. In a Telegraph poll, readers were almost evenly split, with 51pc of more than 30,000 voters saying that they would not consider relocating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Telegraph reader Steve Brown opposes the idea of moving to Dubai and has some choice words for those who do: Any Brit who goes to a place like Dubai to live should be ashamed of themselves. The UK isnt perfect but I dont think the way to improve it is much lower taxes, no democracy and poor human rights protection for many people. He says many foreign workers are treated as little more than slaves and that he wouldnt want to benefit from living in such a disgusting country. Helen Mitchell, another reader, also has concerns about the countrys human rights record. She is worried about the conditions faced by migrant workers and prevalence of misogyny and homophobia. A little expat paradise as long as you suppress any values that make you a decent human being. Money isnt everything Graeme Thirde would never make the move to Dubai: A good friend recently returned and said at the end of his two-year stint he absolutely hated it. Its absolutely stuffed with people chasing the dream. No one wants to form any proper relationships as they know that most people are only there for a short time. Everything is incredibly expensive and also incredibly fake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People talk about zero crime, which on the surface is great, but in effect its a police state and there is always a slightly sinister undertone just hiding out of sight. He summed it up by saying he could never truly relax. A number of readers spoke of how soulless they thought Dubai was. An anonymous reader asked why would anyone live in a fake place with no culture, no history, no values, no class? Money isnt everything. Jeffrey Hobbs agreed: I havent been to Dubai and I have no intention of doing so. It seems like a wealth-driven, soulless place. I would be very unhappy without the green British countryside and the historic towns, villages, and cities. I entirely understand why a young person today would quit the UK However, not all Telegraph readers believe Dubai deserves all the criticism. Carla has lived there for 47 years and says she loves it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a lot of history and a lot of culture, you just dont find it in the malls.# Some describe Dubai as soulless while others are enamoured by its futuristic infrastructure - GordonBellPhotography Other readers also had more positive views of Dubai and would consider a move for themselves or others. Farah, a mother of three, says that it wasnt for her but she entirely understood why a young person today would quit the UK. Young people need jobs, careers and hope. Whether you like Dubai or not, it has opportunities and many redeeming lifestyle features. The jobs market (in the UK) has tanked since Reevess Budget. Companies are not hiring or if they do, its a scramble for short-term employment positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tebbers Banjo is one such young worker who moved to Dubai last September and says he has no plans to move back to the UK in the next 10 years. Moving to Dubai has been one of the best things Ive ever done in terms of lifestyle and happiness. More sunshine, no tax and it just feels like living in the future with everything being high tech, efficient and modern. Completely safe, I dont have to worry about someone stealing or vandalising my car or house. Stephen Owen relocated to Dubai as a young man in 1992: This place has given me great opportunities. Im not an estate agent or a financial guy. I work for a small contracting company and I manage approx 200 people of various nationalities. He works hard, around 70 hours a week, but owns his own home in a great area and his parents spend months out here warming their bones every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im sorry to say if I was in the UK, I would probably be stacking shelves. 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. MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) A woman who used to work in Meriden school system was sentenced to five years in jail, execution suspended, and three years of probation, for exchanging inappropriate text messages with a student at Lincoln Middle School, according to the Connecticut Department of Justice. Related: Former Meriden school employee accused of exchanging inappropriate messages with middle school student Tamara Johnson, 38, surrendered to Meriden police in Nov. 2024. She was charged with risk of injury to a minor/impairing the morals of a minor and pleaded guilty in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson worked as a school climate specialist, which Meriden Public Schools described as someone who works to create, positive school environments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sally was stalked by her ex-boyfriend. After ending their relationship, he would turn up at work - and even her friends' houses. She eventually had to move. When she finally got back on to the dating scene, she was wary. She decided to sign up for a new app where women could do background checks and share experiences of men they were dating. Users of the US-based Tea Dating Advice app, which is only available in America, could flag if potential partners were married or registered sex offenders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They could run reverse image searches to check against people using fake identities. It was also possible to mark men as red or green flags, and share unproven gossip. The app was founded in 2023 but climbed the charts in the US to the number one spot in July this year. It reportedly attracted more than a million users. Sally, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, thought it was interesting to read what was being said about men in her area. But she found it "gossip-y" and that some of the information on it was unreliable. In late July, the app was hacked. Over 70,000 images were leaked and posted on the online message board 4chan - including IDs and selfies of users which were meant to have been for verification purposes only and "deleted immediately". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leak was seized on by misogynist groups online, and within hours, several websites had been created to humiliate the women who'd signed up. Two maps were published on social media, showing 33,000 pins spread across the United States. Fearing the worst, Sally zoomed in, looking for her home. She found it - although it wasn't linked to her name, her exact address was highlighted for anyone to see. She was worried her stalker ex-partner could now track her down. "He didn't know before where I lived or worked and I've gone to great lengths to keep it that way," she says. "I'm very freaked out." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BBC alerted Google of the two maps hosted on Google Maps purporting to represent the locations of women who had signed up for Tea. The company said the maps violated their harassment policies and deleted them. Since the breach, more than 10 women have filed class actions against the company which owns Tea. A spokesperson for Tea app said they were "working to identify and notify users whose personal information was involved and notify them under applicable law" and that affected users would be "offered identity theft and credit monitoring services". They also said that they "bolstered resources" to enhance security for current membership, that they're "proud of what [they've] built", and that their "mission is more vital than ever". Misogynists 'rank' leaked selfies Since the breach, the BBC has found websites, apps and even a "game" featuring the leaked data which encourages harassment towards women who had joined the app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "game" puts the selfies submitted by women head-to-head, instructing users to click on the one they prefer, with leaderboards of the "top 50" and "bottom 50". The BBC could not identify the creator of the website. Users outside of the misogynistic groups were also reposting content deriding the appearance of women on X and TikTok. Copycat Tea apps for men have also proliferated - but there's no suggestion the men are doing this for their safety. Instead, users post harsh derogatory reviews of women. Men posted asking for reviews of women on one of the male tea apps, some objectified women, while other's racially or sexually abused women that were posted [BBC] In screen recordings seen by the BBC, users comment on women's sexuality and post intimate images of women without their consent in the apps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BBC also identified more than 10 "Tea" groups on the messaging app Telegram where men share sexual and apparently AI-generated images of women for others to rate or gossip. They post the women's social media handles, revealing their identities. A spokesperson for Telegram said that "illegal pornography is explicitly forbidden" and "removed when discovered". John Yanchunis, a lawyer representing one of the women against the company that owns the app, said she had been subject to immense online abuse. "It caused a tremendous amount of emotional distress," he told the BBC. "She became the subject of ridicule." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unsurprising that the leak was exploited. The app had drawn criticism ever since it had grown in popularity. Defamation, with the spread of unproven allegations, and doxxing, when someone's identifying information is published without their consent, were real possibilities. Men's groups had wanted to take the app down - and when they found the data breach, they saw it as a chance for retribution. "This leak was picked up by misogynist communities as a great cause and one that they obviously take a lot of pride in," says Callum Hood, head of research at the Centre for Countering Digital Hate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 12,000 posts on 4Chan referenced Tea Dating app from 23 July, three days before the leak, to 12 August, he adds. A rift between men and women? Online, the Tea app leak is being referred to as part of a "gender war" and the final straw in heterosexual dating. There is growing evidence that suggests that heterosexual young people are turning away from traditional dating and long-term romantic relationships. Negative experiences in online dating are adding to these tensions. A 2023 Pew research found that in the US, over half of women's experiences on dating apps have been negative, with women being more likely to report unwanted behaviours from men and feeling unsafe on dating apps. [BBC] Dr Jenny Van Hooff, a sociologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, says the perceived lack of safety impacts how many young women may want to take part in online dating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike meeting partners through friends or work, there are fewer repercussions for poor online dating behaviour. "Women's experiences of the opposite sex on dating apps is a feeling of fear and lack of trust," she says. "Misogyny is just getting more entrenched in dating." Previous incarnations to the Tea app, such as 'Are We Dating the Same Guy' social media groups with thousands of followers, have existed for years globally. At first, they were hailed as a new way to hold men accountable. But, like Tea, controversy followed, and many men felt misrepresented by what was posted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With reportedly more than a million users, the Tea App took this concept to a new scale. But experts have also questioned possible profit motivations behind the app, alongside the trustworthiness of the information posted. For women wishing to use the app for safety, verifying the information can be challenging. Meanwhile, men, who are unable to access the app, have no way of knowing if false information is posted about them. Dr Van Hooff said the leak was "proving women's point to why this app was felt to be necessary". "It's definitely not disabusing these women of any thoughts they have about men and male behaviour." She believes women's safety has been compromised, and men have felt their actions were taken out of context and exploited for gossip. For Sally, the leak has impacted her sense of protection. "I'm moving in with loved ones just to feel safe," she says. More weekend stories A former DEI staffer at the University of WisconsinEau Claire will receive a $265,000 settlement after she sued the school, alleging discrimination for being White. Rochelle Hoffman, a former employee at UW-Eau Claire, brought the case in 2023 after she was promoted to interim director of the campus's Multicultural Student Services office. The school's former vice chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Student Affairs, Olga Diaz, was allegedly told by students that a White woman was not fit to preside over a position intended to serve students of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University Runs Damage Control Amid Concerns It Hides Illegals, Upholds Reverse Discrimination A former DEI staffer at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will be paid $265,000 in a settlement with the school after she sued over alleged discrimination. "You hired a White woman as the interim director?" one student allegedly said, according to a federal complaint against the university. According to the complaint, a different student asked, "Do you personally feel White staff can do as effective a job as a person of color, within a space for people of color?" Read On The Fox News App Hoffman said she felt she had to resign after eight months of intense hostility and staff questioning her "legitimacy" after being promoted to interim director of the campus's Multicultural Student Services office, the complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2023 , Hoffman sued the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. University Of Michigan, Law Journal Sued For Allegedly Discriminating Against Straight White Males According to the complaint, a student asked, "Do you personally feel White staff can do as effective a job as a person of color, within a space for people of color?" The settlement notes that "any payment made hereunder is not to be construed as an admission of liability on the part of the Released Parties, and that the Released Parties herein deny liability or any wrongdoing and intend merely to avoid litigation and buy their peace." In a statement to Fox News Digital, Hoffman said, "For over a decade, Ive worked as a teacher in both K-12 and higher education, primarily serving first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students. While at UWEau Claire, I was honored to be appointed by Vice Chancellor Diaz as a DEI Program Director to expand data-informed academic interventions that improved retention and graduation rates among students of color." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that, "Despite facing unlawful discrimination in that DEI role as a White woman, I remain steadfast in my belief that high-quality, accessible education grounded in data and responsive to a changing workforce is essential for all learners. I believe deeply in leading and teaching with integrity and in choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. My commitment to student-centered learning and academic excellence remains as strong as ever." Fox, Hoffman's lawyer, told Fox News Digital, "We did not bring this case based on opposition to the university's programs. This suit was brought because UW-Eau Claire had taken actions that unlawfully discriminated against an employee who championed those programs with substantial success. Such actions can undermine the credibility of the programs the University seeks to promote." Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for comment. Hoffman and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System settled for $265,000. Fox News Joshua Nelson contributed to this report. Original article source: Ex-Wisconsin university DEI staffer wins $265K settlement after alleging discrimination for being White The most powerful rocket system ever constructed is headed for its next test using a version of the vehicle that has been at the center of a series of explosive missteps and failures. SpaceX said it is aiming to launch its Starship megarocket on an hour-long test flight as soon as 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, though the liftoff time is subject to change. A webcast of the event is expected to begin about 30 minutes earlier, according to the company. The uncrewed Starship prototype will follow a similar flight plan to the last three missions and aim to complete test objectives left untried during those tests, all of which ended prematurely. SpaceX debuted the current generation of Starship vehicles in January, following a clean run of test missions with a slightly scaled-down version of the rocket in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But since that debut, the vehicle has twice exploded over populated islands east of Florida, creating debris that hit roadways in Turks and Caicos and washed up onto the shores of Bahamian islands. The spacecraft also spun out of control as it headed toward its landing site in the Indian Ocean on its last test flight in May. Then, in June, a Starship spacecraft that had been strapped to an engine testing stand at the companys launch and development facilities in South Texas abruptly exploded spewing shrapnel and causing damage to SpaceX infrastructure. These setbacks roused long-standing SpaceX critics and attracted new ones, including the Mexican government, which has threatened legal action against the company over reported debris on and around its shores. The UK government also said in a statement Thursday that its been working closely with US Government partners to protect the safety of its overseas territories, including Turks and Caicos. The string of mishaps this year has also raised concerns among spaceflight experts and stakeholders who have emphasized that the United States has a lot riding on Starships eventual success, including its plans to return humans to the moon as soon as 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And that success is not guaranteed. Its very, very difficult to predict how this is going to end up, said Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut and SpaceX consultant who is a professor of astronautical engineering at the University of Southern California. I think it could end up never working, or it could end up revolutionizing our entire future of activities in space and geopolitics, he added, referring to the US goal of displaying technical superiority to China in a new space race. Why SpaceX is allowed to fly again A plume of exhaust trails from a Starship rocket after a test launch from South Texas on May 27. - Sergio Flores/AFP/Getty Images SpaceX said it implemented changes to the Starship system slated to fly this weekend in response to the last in-flight failure in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those alterations include adjustments to a component called a fuel diffuser, which the company believes malfunctioned during the last flight, causing higher-than-expected pressure to build up in Starships nose cone. It is likely what caused the vehicle to spiral out of control, according to a technical overview SpaceX published last week. Despite the series of recent problems, the Federal Aviation Administration which licenses commercial rocket launches said last week it had closed its investigation into SpaceXs latest mishap and approved the companys plans to fly Sundays mission. Under current laws and regulations, the FAA is tasked solely with ensuring that commercial rocket companies do not pose a risk to public property or bystanders safety. There are no reports of public injury or damage to public property. The FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the SpaceX-led investigation, the agency said in an August 15 statement. SpaceX identified corrective actions to prevent a reoccurrence of the event. A long road ahead President Donald Trump listens as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11 in Washington, DC. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images In its update, SpaceX also made clear that the version of Starship that has experienced so many issues will soon be retired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two flights remain with the current generation, each with test objectives designed to expand the envelope on vehicle capabilities, according to a company blog post. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has already been teasing plans for larger, more ambitious iterations of the vehicle that would stretch even taller and carry more propellant. Now it appears clear that SpaceX will pursue that scaled-up version of Starship which is already more than twice as powerful as the NASA rockets that powered the Apollo moon landings whether or not the current line of Starship prototypes ever pulls off a successful test flight. Its very possible that a bigger upgrade might solve the current problem, Reisman said. It also could introduce new problems you never know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, the US government has taken several steps that could aide SpaceX in its efforts to expedite Starship testing. In May, the FAA approved the companys plans to launch Starship as many as 25 times per year from Texas, up from the five it had been previously authorized to conduct. And earlier this month, President Donald Trump despite a public and vitriolic falling out with Musk in June issued an executive order that appears designed to scale back roadblocks and regulatory oversight for private-sector rocket operations, including environmental reviews. Meanwhile, the stakes appear to be growing with each Starship test flight, as SpaceX is racing against the clock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only does Musk want to send one of the vehicles on an uncrewed flight to Mars when the next opportunity arises in 2026, but NASA also plans to send its astronauts to the lunar surface aboard one of the vehicles as soon as mid-2027 as part of a $2.9 billion contract. We made this bet on Starship, said Janet Petro, who served as acting NASA administrator until July. They have had a rough year, but SpaceX is a pretty intense and motivated company. Petro added she had full confidence that SpaceX will refine Starships design and get the vehicle working. Reisman, the former SpaceX adviser, said he is also hopeful but less certain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SpaceX has made an existential gamble on Starship, Reisman said, adding that he is concerned about the rate of progress SpaceX has been making with Starship. Theyre pouring a tremendous amount of money and resources into its development but at some point, the laws of financial physics still apply. What SpaceX hopes to achieve with Flight 10 The Starship Flight 8 booster returns the launchpad at SpaceX's South Texas facilities on March 6. - Brandon Bell/Getty Images If all goes according to plan with Starships next flight, referred to as Flight 10, the 400-foot-tall Starship launch system will take off from SpaceXs facilities in South Texas and soar out over the waters off the coast. The bottom portion of the rocket system that gives the initial burst of power at liftoff, called Super Heavy, will attempt to make a controlled splashdown off the Texas coast, according to SpaceX. For this mission, the company will not attempt to repeat its dramatic Super Heavy chopsticks landing in which the rocket booster steers itself back into the arms of the tower from which it launched. SpaceX said it will instead put the booster through a series of tests designed to push the vehicle to its limits to gather real-world performance data that could mimic a future mission that does not go as planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the upper Starship spacecraft, which is designed to one day carry cargo or convoys of astronauts but will haul only dummy satellites for this mission, will continue flying through space. During the flight, Starship will attempt to deploy the eight satellite simulators as well as relight one of the spacecrafts rocket engines in space. SpaceX has failed to hit both of those milestones in its last three test missions. Even if this V2 Starship prototype meets a similarly ill fate, SpaceX is likely once again to frame the test flight as a success. The company employs an engineering philosophy called rapid iterative development, which emphasizes a pursuit of launching relatively cheap prototypes on frequent test missions over extensive ground testing or other less risky simulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of its unique development approach, SpaceX has been known to embrace fiery mishaps. The company has said that even failed test flights help engineers improve Starships design quicker than if SpaceX employed alternative engineering approaches. Every lesson learned, through both flight and ground testing, continues to feed directly into designs for the next generation of Starship and Super Heavy, SpaceXs August 15 statement reads. Two flights remain with the current generation, each with test objectives designed to expand the envelope on vehicle capabilities as we iterate towards fully and rapidly reusable, reliable rockets. SpaceXs development approach, while often seen as risky and brazen, has served the company well in the past. Rarely has one of the companys rockets malfunctioned once it leaves the development stage and becomes operational. The companys human spaceflight track record, using Falcon 9 rockets, has been spotless. And if Starship does eventually work, Reisman said, it wont only be SpaceX or even NASA that benefits. The entire space industry is hoping and betting on Starship working, because if it achieves its promise, itll also be a revolution in affordability, Reisman said. I think theres causes for optimism and pessimism and I think its very, very difficult to predict how this is going to end up. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com 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! Experts are warning people about a growing problem in the Alps: rockfall. What's happening? As global temperatures rise, permafrost in the Alps is thawing and posing a threat to high-altitude hikers, according to a report from RTL Today. Usually a frozen soil, permafrost acts like glue to hold rocks and whole mountain faces together. When it deteriorates, rocks can become unstable and even detach from steep slopes. This phenomenon is called rockfall, and it can have fatal consequences hikers have died after being struck or losing their footing on loose rock. Why is melting permafrost concerning? From the wildfires that tore through Los Angeles to flash floods in Russia, every corner of the Earth has felt the impacts of rising temperatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alps are no different, as warming weather has melted essential terrain and shrunk glaciers, causing mountains to come apart. Glaciologist Andreas Bauder told RTL Today that glacial ice volume in the Swiss Alps has decreased by a third in the past 25 years. This has made the alpine environment more fragile and therefore more dangerous for hikers and for residents living in the valleys below. A landslide in May brought destruction down upon a village in Switzerland as a glacier collapsed. Glacier melt in the Alps has also put water security at risk for billions of people. Many communities rely on consistent runoff from the Alps for drinking water and agricultural needs. The loss of glaciers is driving sea levels to rise worldwide as well. What's being done about melting permafrost and glaciers? For visitors to the Alps, scientist Robert Kenner told RTL Today that hiking earlier in the day may be safer. With temperatures typically cooler in the mornings, the ground is often more stable then. It is also best to avoid hiking during a heat wave or temperature spike due to increased rockfall risks. 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. Earth has always experienced periods of warmer and cooler weather. But scientists now agree that human activities tied to the burning of fossil fuels have caused temperatures to rapidly and dramatically rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Individuals and communities can take important steps to reduce the pollution trapping heat on our planet. But effectively addressing glacier and permafrost loss will ultimately require global commitments to transition to clean, renewable energy at scale. 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. Solar farms are stepping up their game, and it's not just about producing clean energy. These sun-soaking powerhouses are now doubling as havens for wildlife, offering a ray of hope in the fight against biodiversity loss, according to The New York Times. Across the United States, innovative solar projects are transforming barren fields into thriving ecosystems. Take a solar meadow in Ramsey, Minnesota, which the Times covered in a new feature. It's not your average energy site. It's a vibrant field of wildflowers and native grasses, buzzing with life. Butterflies fly from bloom to bloom, while birds tweet from the panel structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By creating pollinator-friendly habitats, these solar farms are helping struggling insect populations. And that's good news for all of us. Healthy pollinator populations mean better crop yields and more stable food supplies. Plus, the diverse plant life helps prevent soil erosion and even captures carbon from the atmosphere. This eco-friendly approach saves solar companies money in the long run. Less mowing means lower maintenance costs, making it a mutual victory for business and biodiversity. And let's remember the community benefits. Who wouldn't prefer a colorful meadow to a plain grass field? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The results speak for themselves. One study found that insect abundance tripled over five years at two Minnesota solar sites. Native bee populations skyrocketed twentyfold. That's some serious pollinator power. "We have to address both challenges at the same exact time," Rebecca Hernandez, an ecology professor at the University of California, Davis, told the New York Times. She's talking about tackling atmospheric pollution and biodiversity loss simultaneously, and solar meadows are proving to be a brilliant solution. John Gantner, an engineering director at ENGIE, agrees: "We've calculated and ran the numbers, and there's significant savings." It turns out that doing good for the planet can be good for companies' bottom lines, too. 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. Credit: Chris Owens An explosion has ripped through an oil plant in Louisiana and forced evacuations of the surrounding area. Authorities ordered all those within a one-mile (1.6-kilometre) radius of Smittys Supply, a lubricant manufacturer in the south-east of the state, to leave the area after the blast provoked a huge fire. Footage of the incident shows flames engulfing several storage tanks at the plant and thick, black smoke billowing into the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 35 agencies responded to the blast, which occurred shortly before 1pm local time on Friday in Arcola, a small unincorporated community in the town of Roseland, in the Tangipahoa parish. No injuries were reported in the incident, which prompted authorities to evacuate a school nearby. The company supplies high performance lubricants and automotive parts including oils, brake fluid, power steering fluid and antifreeze, according to its website. Some 400 people are believed to be employed at the plant. At a press conference, Robby Miller, the Tangipahoa parish president, said it was a godsend that no one had been injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As crews entered their third hour of trying to extinguish the inferno, he said: We are doing our best to protect people, structures and the environment. The cause of the fire is unclear, with authorities unsure if there is still a significant chemical risk or how long it will take to bring the situation under control. Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana,wrote on X: We are monitoring this situation closely. Please follow the guidance of your local officials ... We are praying for everyones safety. Roseland is about 50 miles (80 kilometres) north-east of Baton Rouge and is home to about 1,100 people. 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. Claim: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained a 10-year-old with cerebral palsy at a hospital while she was recovering from gallbladder surgery. Rating: Rating: Mixture What's True: The incident did occur in October 2017, during President Donald Trump's first term. What's False: The 10-year-old was detained by Customs and Border Protection officers, not by ICE agents. In August 2025, posts on social media sites like Reddit and Facebook claimed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers had detained a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy while she was recovering from gallbladder surgery in a hospital. The claim was placed next to an X post from the official ICE account claiming that the agency "doesn't make arrests at sensitive locations like hospitals, schools, or churches except in the case of a serious public safety threat." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement https://www.facebook.com/OccupyDemocrats/posts/pfbid0URVvTmyMv3dQ6upiwdxvVVU3YTbUDogZ1pq23wKyhU3qgFM6h8XJoWvt7Uaj6xrPl?__tn__=%2CO*F Snopes readers searched the site looking for more information about the claim. We found that the claim was based on a real event from October 2017. News outlets including NPR and The New York Times reported on the incident, and the ACLU filed a lawsuit. Snopes also found the purportedly hypocritical X post by ICE, which was posted on Oct. 26, 2017, a day after the Times' reported was published. However, the girl was detained by Customs and Border Protection officers, not ICE agents. Therefore, the claim is a mixture of truth and falsehood. The case According to the New York Times report, Rosa Maria Hernandez was brought over the U.S.-Mexico border without documentation when she was 3 months old, to live in Laredo, Texas. NPR reported that Hernandez's mother said she crossed the border in search of better medical care for her daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 24, 2017, an ambulance was taking Rosa Maria, then 10 and accompanied by her adult cousin, from Laredo to a children's hospital in Corpus Christi for an emergency gallbladder surgery. Border Patrol agents stopped the ambulance at an inland checkpoint, discovered Rosa Maria was in the country illegally and followed the ambulance to the hospital. (The New York Times reported that Rosa Maria's parents did not accompany her because they also were in the U.S. illegally and feared being detained at such a checkpoint). The family's lawyer, Leticia Gonzales, told NPR that agents "insisted the door to her hospital room be left open at all times to keep an eye on her." When Rosa Maria was discharged, doctors recommended she be released to "a family member who is familiar with her medical and psychological needs." The agency instead transported her to a juvenile detention facility in San Antonio that holds migrant children who arrive in the United States, more than 150 miles from Laredo. She also was put into deportation hearings. The ACLU sued the government to secure her release, and she was released to her family on Nov. 3, 2017. The sensitive locations policy At the time Rosa Maria was detained, the Department of Homeland Security maintained a "sensitive locations policy," a form of which had been in place since President Bill Clinton's administration. That policy required agents to "exercise sound judgement when making detentions at sensitive locations, including schools, churches, hospitals, funerals and protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the administration of President Barack Obama, for instance, all proposed ICE actions near such locations required explicit approval from higher-ups unless it fell into one of the following categories: the enforcement action involves a national security or terrorism matter; there is an imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person or property; the enforcement action involves the immediate arrest or pursuit of a dangerous felon, terrorist suspect, or any other individual(s) that present an imminent danger to public safety; or there is an imminent risk of destruction of evidence material to an ongoing criminal case. That policy continued under President Donald Trump's first administration, from 2017-21, according to an archived Department of Homeland Security website. The Border Patrol told NPR that Rosa Maria was apprehended at the checkpoint, not the hospital, meaning she was not apprehended at a sensitive location. DHS policy changed in 2025 The sensitive locations policy was expanded under President Joe Biden's administration to include places "where children gather," "social services establishment[s]," and places "where disaster or emergency response and relief is being provided." That policy aimed to avoid ICE and CBP actions in such areas "to the fullest extent possible," but maintained the full list of exceptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in January 2025, just days after Trump retook office, his administration fully revoked the sensitive locations policy. On Jan. 20, the DHS website issued a new directive that superseded the Biden administration's policies. That directive noted that "officers frequently apply enforcement discretion to balance a variety of interests, including the degree to which any law enforcement action occurs in a sensitive location," and called for them to "continue to use that discretion along with a healthy dose of common sense." The following day, the directive was updated to allow agents to operate in civil courthouses "when they have credible information that leads them to believe the targeted alien(s) is or will be present at a specific location, and where such action is not precluded by laws imposed by the jurisdiction in which the civil immigration enforcement action will take place." On Jan. 30, a new directive was issued clarifying that "DHS is not issuing rules regarding where immigration laws are permitted to be enforced," and delegated that responsibility to assistant field office directors and assistant special agents in charge. Sources: Fernandez, Manny. "Checkpoints Isolate Many Immigrants in Texas' Rio Grande Valley." The New York Times, 22 Nov. 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/23/us/checkpoints-isolate-many-immigrants-in-texas-rio-grande-valley.html. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Government Releases 10-Year-Old Rosa Maria Hernandez After ACLU Files Lawsuit." American Civil Liberties Union, https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/government-releases-10-year-old-rosa-maria-hernandez-after-aclu-files-lawsuit. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. Kulish, Nicholas, et al. "Immigration Agents Discover New Freedom to Deport Under Trump." The New York Times, 25 Feb. 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/25/us/ice-immigrant-deportations-trump.html. Neuman, Scott. "10-Year-Old Girl Is Detained By Border Patrol After Emergency Surgery." NPR, 26 Oct. 2017. America. NPR, https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/26/560149316/10-year-old-girl-is-detained-by-ice-officers-after-emergency-surgery. Pearson, Lynn Damiano. "Factsheet: Trump's Rescission of Protected Areas Policies Undermines Safety for All ." National Immigration Law Center, 26 Feb. 2025, https://www.nilc.org/resources/factsheet-trumps-rescission-of-protected-areas-policies-undermines-safety-for-all/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protected Areas and Courthouse Arrests | ICE. 9 Apr. 2020, https://www.ice.gov/about-ice/ero/protected-areas. "Protecting The American People Against Invasion." The White House, 21 Jan. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion/. Q&A: DHS Implementation of the Executive Order on Border Security and Immigration Enforcement | Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/archive/news/2017/02/21/qa-dhs-implementation-executive-order-border-security-and-immigration-enforcement. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. "R.M.H. v. Lloyd." American Civil Liberties Union, https://www.aclu.org/cases/rmh-v-lloyd. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statement from a DHS Spokesperson on Directives Expanding Law Enforcement and Ending the Abuse of Humanitarian Parole | Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/01/21/statement-dhs-spokesperson-directives-expanding-law-enforcement-and-ending-abuse. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. Trump Administration Rescinds Sensitive Locations Policy: What It Means for Institutions of Higher Education | Insights | Venable LLP. https://www.venable.com/insights/publications/2025/03/trump-administration-rescinds-sensitive-locations. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. Yee, Vivian, and Caitlin Dickerson. "10-Year-Old Immigrant Is Detained After Agents Stop Her on Way to Surgery." The New York Times, 25 Oct. 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/25/us/girl-cerebral-palsy-detained-immigration.html. FAIRFIELD A 15-year-old Fairfield girl reported missing last weekend was found safe in North Carolina, and a man is now facing multiple felony charges in connection with the case, including a new kidnapping charge filed locally. Deputies in Reidsville, North Carolina, located the girl early Monday along with 25-year-old John Michael Johnson. Investigators said she had been in contact with Johnson through texting apps and was picked up in Fairfield before being transported across state lines. The Ottumwa Courier is not naming the teen based on the publication's policy not to identify individuals who report being sexually assaulted or subjected to extreme abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson was initially charged in North Carolina with felony second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and felony solicitation by computer. He was jailed on an $850,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockingham County District Court on Aug. 26. On Thursday, Fairfield police announced they have also filed a local charge of first-degree kidnapping, a class A felony. Johnson will remain in Rockingham County custody until arrangements are made for his transfer to Jefferson County. If convicted on the kidnapping charge, he would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Police said additional charges may be filed. The teenager was placed in the care of the Rockingham County Department of Social Services until she could be reunited with her family. The case remains under investigation by the Fairfield Police Department, the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office, and the Invictus Task Force, which targets internet crimes against children. Fairfield police said community tips were instrumental in locating the girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We extend our sincere thanks to the community members who provided support and tips during this investigation," read a Fairfield Police Department press release. "The assistance from the community and the victim's family played a crucial role in the successful resolution of this case." Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page said the case should be a warning to all parents to be vigilant in monitoring their children's use of social media and the internet. This should be an eye-opener for citizens not just in Rockingham County, but across the country," Page said. "Individuals will use current technologies such as messaging applications and other internet accessible means to not only conduct scams, but to also exploit, and prey on our children. We are seeing this activity far too often now. I would implore parents to be vigilant and involved in monitoring cell phone and internet usage by their children." Reidsville, North Carolina, is located in northern North Carolina, about 740 miles from Fairfield, an estimated 14-hour and 45-minute drive, according to Google Maps. FAIRMONT On Thursday morning, Corey Hayes had no idea a new park designed and built around accessibility was set to open later that evening. When his partner, Allie, told him about it, he was ecstatic. Hayes 12-year-old son is in a wheelchair. I think its a great idea, Hayes said. Over the last few years, my son and I both kind of wish that we would see more parks like this. With him being in a wheelchair, its kind of difficult because you got to wheel them around. Some of the other parks dont really have grounding that works for wheelchairs, its rubber tires or wood chips and things like that. Its kind of hard to push them around. So its a good thing, and were really glad that theres something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Fairmont celebrated Norwood Parks grand opening Thursday evening with the East Fairmont High Busy Bee Marching Band and a ribbon cutting ceremony. After Fairmont Mayor Anne Bolyard and other city representatives cut the ribbon, at least a hundred screaming kids, both able bodied and others, stormed into the park. One child in a wheelchair looked positively thrilled to be included on the merry-go-round, laughing in delight as the other kids spun the contraption around. I cried when I saw this park open and the children enjoy all of the features together, City Planner Shae Strait said. This was a project with a deep purpose and made so successful and wonderful. Thanks to everyone believing in the vision that even parks can be universally accessible. Strait and the city spent four and a half years working to make the park a reality. The city broke ground on the park last September. The park required $2.5 million in funding from American Rescue Plan dollars, tax increment financing and local donations. Novelis donated the land that would eventually become the park. Its the first park in the state of West Virginia that is universally accessible, Strait said. Its been designed so every feature and location is for people of all degrees of mobility, ability and needs. Greg DeVito, a teacher at Fairmont Senior High, said the parks focus on accessibility is important because the schools have so many students who desperately want to feel normal. As he presided over a hill covered in turf, various children slid and tumbled down the turf. Smiles were everywhere, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My child has an issue with his left hand and doesnt have full functionality, he said. But Im watching him run around like a maniac from activity to activity from place to place without a care in the world right now. Ive seen former students with special needs here this evening, I see other students, I dont know what their condition is, but weve got kids in wheelchairs on Merry-Go-Rounds. Its just amazing. DeVito said theres several studies showing how exercise and having a place like Norwood Park has an impact on mental health. Its something Hayes is intimately familiar with. He said when kids with special needs dont have a park or access to recreation, it can fill them with sadness and depression. His son talks a lot about how he wishes he could walk again, Hayes said. Children start to wonder why they cant be included in the fun. So having a park like Norwood available is a major benefit. As the family strolled through the park, Hayes son considered what to do first. He finally had several options to choose from. One person left out of the fun was Bolyard. She left her play clothes at home. She said watching the children play brought out her own inner child. She plans on bringing her nephew and friends to the enjoy the park. If we truly every day live up to the moniker that we are The Friendly City, it needs to be inclusive for people and families of all abilities, she said. Very simply. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Volunteers with the Faith Temple Food Giveaway are handing out meals at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds for the first time in over a month. Earlier Friday, volunteers were making last-minute preparations for the Faith Temple Food Giveaway. Missing person reported near SD, Wyoming border Were getting geared up for a big show today, volunteer Justin Hammons said. Due to various activities at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, it will be the first giveaway there in seven weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were doing the flash giveaways in the church parking lot for the past month or so just for a smaller amounts of things that would otherwise perish like produce and things. We have a lot more resources here to be able to operate efficiently, Hammons said. Director Jeff Hayes says there are about 15 tons of food ready to go. Were hoping to give it all away today. Therell probably be 1,400 people that come, so about over 4,000 people will be fed by the food giveaway today, Hayes said. Hayes says having the giveaway back at the fairgrounds is going to be crucial for the Sioux Falls community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had people at the flash giveaway that we were able to talk to a little bit more, and many of them told me that the food that they depend on is the food from the food giveaway, Hayes said. Its a more rewarding feeling to be able to service so many more people, Hammons said. But for the volunteers, its all in a days work. The next giveaway is set for next Friday from 4-6 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Family members and community volunteers spent the day Aug. 23, 2025, searching for Miguel Flores, missing since the Milwaukee flooding and feared to have been swept up in the Kinnickinnic River. A San Bernardino family is calling for a criminal investigation after federal immigration agents fired at their car last week, an encounter that escalated into a tense standoff and days of protest in the neighborhood. On Aug. 16, Francisco Longoria was driving home with his teenage son and his daughters boyfriend when, according to attorneys for the family, several masked individuals in mismatched uniforms jumped out of an unmarked vehicle and surrounded them. The family said they asked for identification but received no response. Without warning, one of the men smashed the drivers side window and struck Longoria, who then drove away in fear. Moments later, shots rang out. At least three bullets struck the car door near where Longorias son was seated, the familys attorneys said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have confirmed that agents were involved in the incident but offered a different account. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Longoria refused to exit his vehicle and drove toward officers, injuring two. That, the spokesperson said, forced a CBP officer to discharge his firearm in self-defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one in the familys vehicle was struck by the gunfire. The confrontation set off a chain of events that lasted most of the day. After leaving the scene, Longoria called police, telling dispatchers that masked men had broken his window and shot at his car. U.S. Army vet detained by ICE during California cannabis raid takes on federal government San Bernardino police said officers responded but did not intervene directly, citing state law that limits local participation in federal immigration enforcement. By late morning, multiple law enforcement vehicles surrounded the familys home, where advocates said the family feared leaving after the shooting. Agents ultimately departed hours later without making an arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, which has been working with the family, said Longoria has no criminal record and was targeted without legal justification. The group has demanded accountability from federal officials and local police. The incident has already sparked visible community backlash. On Monday, protesters gathered outside the San Bernardino Police Department, carrying signs and denouncing the actions of federal agents. It doesnt seem theyre protecting us, one advocate said. It seems theyre protecting these bounty hunters and kidnappers. Attorneys for the Longoria family plan to present new evidence Friday at a press conference in San Bernardino, where the damaged vehicle will be displayed. This was a ruthless and violent attack, attorney Robert Simon of the Justice Team said in a statement. The family feels they were targeted, racially profiled, and nearly kidnapped by unknown individuals. The family is now demanding a full criminal investigation into the shooting. Mr. Longoria and his family have been here for decades, the attorneys said. They are hardworking people without any criminal record. They deserve answers. 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. On Aug. 22, 2025, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the foremost authority on global food security confirmed a famine was ongoing in Gaza. The United Nations-backed group found that more than half a million people in the Gaza Governorate in northern Gaza (which includes Gaza City) were experiencing starvation, and that famine conditions were expected to spread to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis governorates by the end of September. This follows our previous reporting from early August, in which the IPC determined the "worst-case scenario" of famine was unfolding in Gaza but did not officially declare a famine due to the lack of available data. At the time, the IPC noted it was issuing an "alert" and not a formal famine classification. In the 22 months since militant group Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and capture of Israeli hostages, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's ensuing offensive, 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced and vast swathes of the enclave has been destroyed by Israel's bombardment, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.N. agencies and independent aid groups accused Israel of not allowing enough aid into Gaza and warned of impending famine. The U.N.-convened independent Famine Review Committee the primary international body to oversee the analysis of food scarcity noted in its review of IPC's Aug. 22 report: As this Famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed. The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that an immediate, at-scale response is needed. Any further delayeven by dayswill result in a totally unacceptable escalation of Famine-related mortality. If a ceasefire is not implemented to allow humanitarian aid to reach everyone in the Gaza Strip, and if essential food supplies, and basic health, nutrition, and WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene) services are not restored immediately, avoidable deaths will increase exponentially. As we researched how such a catastrophe emerged in Gaza, we found that experts and international aid groups designated it an "entirely preventable" crisis caused by Israel's control of the flow of food into the region not just since the current Israel-Hamas war began, but over decades. An international war of words raged over the famine in Gaza. In July Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in July 2025 there was "no starvation" and "no policy of starvation" in Gaza as U.S. President Donald Trump disagreed, citing photographs of starving Gazans and saying, "Those children look very hungry." In response to the Aug. 22 IPC report, Israel's foreign ministry denied such a famine was taking place, writing on X, "There is no famine in Gaza": The IPC has just published a tailor-made fabricated report to fit Hamass fake campaign. Unbelievably, the IPC twisted its own rules and ignored its own criteria just to produce false accusations against Israel: the IPC changed its own global standard, cutting the 30% threshold Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) August 22, 2025 Below, we look at the process for declaring a famine, the authority behind it and what it means to formally declare a famine: What does it take to declare a famine? As Snopes has previously reported, the U.N. uses the IPC's standardized scale to inform governments and policymakers about the severity of famine risk in certain regions. The U.N. convenes the Famine Review Committee which works with expert panels it recruits, or with nongovernmental organizations and other international agencies to make sure published analyses of food security risk accurately follow a standardized methodology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IPC has a five-phase scale, with the most extreme being a "catastrophe/famine." (United Nations) In order for a food security emergency to be formally declared a famine, the following very high thresholds must be met: The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) defines Famine as a situation in which at least one in five households has an extreme lack of food and face starvation and destitution, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death. A Famine classification (IPC Phase 5) is the highest phase of the IPC Acute Food Insecurity scale, and is attributed when an area has at least 20% of households facing an extreme lack of food, at least 30% of children suffering from acute malnutrition, and two people for every 10,000 dying each day due to outright starvation or to the interaction of malnutrition and disease. The FRC's role, as we reported before, is akin to that of peer reviewers of academic papers. Ultimately, the committee makes the final call on endorsing or rejecting the findings of the expert panels. NGOs and panels cannot use the IPC framework without the FRC approving their work. As the central body protecting the IPC framework, the FRC must, by regulation, technically examine any Phase 5 finding made by other groups or experts before publication, given the severity of the claim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alex de Waal, an anthropologist and the author of "Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine" described the FRC as "all volunteers, drawn from academia and international agencies, and it has met just over twenty times over the last decade, including four times on Gaza." The U.N. and governments are usually expected to declare famines, not the IPC. In this instance, the IPC has made a formal classification of famine, which the U.N. has backed. While a number of independent U.N. experts declared in July 2024 that famine had spread throughout Gaza Strip, the U.N. itself had not made such a declaration. However, as reported by The Associated Press, the IPC says that usually by the time a famine gets declared, it is too late. Why did it take so long to declare a famine? Simply put, until Aug. 15, 2025, the IPC did not yet have the requisite data to state whether a famine was taking place, and Israel, as of this writing, has severely limited access to the territory, making it difficult (and sometimes impossible) to gather data. Although the IPC normally relies on humanitarian partners on the ground to collect this data, it is not easy to come by in Gaza's case. Before officially declaring famine in northern Gaza, the IPC said famine thresholds had been reached for food consumption in most of Gaza, and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City, meeting two out of three conditions for it to be declared an official famine. By Aug. 15, the IPC confirmed, with "reasonable evidence," that famine (IPC Phase 5) existed in Gaza Governorate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its analysis of the Aug. 22 IPC report, the FRC noted that while it had made the determination of famine in the Gaza Governorate region, they could not make the same determination in North Gaza Governorate because of a lack of data: The FRC finds the severity of conditions in North Gaza similar or worse than in Gaza Governorate. However, due to limited evidence on the population in this area the FRC recommends not to classify North Gaza Governorate. Urgent steps should be taken to allow for a full humanitarian assessment in this governorate. There are several factors that contributed to it taking so long to declare a famine. Death rates, the third piece of data used to calculate a famine, according to de Waal, are generally harder to calculate the more disruption exists in a community. The FRC, de Waal noted, is also "scrupulously cautious" and "resistant to alarmist calls." In an email to Snopes, he wrote: The reason why they couldn't determine famine was that there was no new data (hence it's an "alert" not a report) and it had no mortality data. Having made a projection of famine in May based on a "reasonable worst case scenario", when that scenario unfolded they concluded that famine was unfolding. It's the closest that they can come without having data. Determining deaths caused solely by hunger and starvation is increasingly difficult in conflict zones. De Waal wrote in the London Review of Books: In the famine I studied in Sudan in the 1980s, malnutrition was rarely identified as the cause of death. More common culprits by far were measles, malaria and diseases causing diarrhoea, which were spread by people moving around in search of food, overcrowding in unsanitary camps, the collapse of vaccination against childhood diseases and were more lethal because so many children were underfed. Mass starvation isn't simply individual starvation aggregated, but the collapse of human health in a collapsing society: first displacement and the disruption of water, sanitation and shelter, attended by a drop in consumption of essential foods; then child malnutrition; and in the absence of remedial health and nutrition efforts, the prospect of mass deaths. Israeli bombardment has decimated Gaza's health care systems and overwhelmed the remaining hospitals with war casualties. Screening people for malnutrition has become difficult, as has determining causes of death from either starvation or other causes. Hundreds of Gazans killed in Israeli strikes while seeking food aid are being described as victims of famine by Palestinians, even though a number of them may not be technically counted among the "malnourished." What does the data say right now? The U.N. said nearly 1,400 people were killed and 4,000 injured trying to obtain food in recent weeks (as of Aug. 5, 2025). At least 859 of the deaths occurred in the vicinity of the U.S.- and Israeli-run private aid organization Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which "bypassed regular humanitarian operations," according to the U.N. According to an August investigation by Israeli outlet +972 Magazine, The Guardian, and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, classified Israeli intelligence showed at least 83% of people killed in Gaza were civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FRC review of the IPC report from Aug. 22, 2025, noted 30% of households in Gaza Protectorate were in the "Catastrophe" classification, while 50% were classified as being in "Emergency" status: Bombardment from air, land and sea continued across much of the Gaza Strip, resulting in further deaths, injuries, displacements, and the destruction of buildings and other infrastructure. Critical infrastructure essential to provide and sustain life-saving services, such as health, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are largely damaged, destroyed or otherwise inoperable or inaccessible. The food system has collapsed as assets required for food production, such as croplands, greenhouses, and fishing assets have been dismantled, while logistical infrastructure, including roads and warehouses are heavily damaged. The IPC's July alert noted that more than 20,000 children were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July. More than 3,000 children were severely malnourished. Israel's own data confirmed less food was going into Gaza as of July 29 than at any other time since Hamas' attack in October 2023. However, the GHF claimed it delivered more than a million boxes of aid to Gazans at its distribution sites as of Aug. 1. News reports from Gaza detail the deaths of dozens of children and adults from malnutrition in July alone, based on data from the Gaza Health Ministry. The World Health Organization documented that 21 children younger than 5 died of causes related to malnutrition in 2025. The World Food Program said around 100,000 women and children need urgent treatment for malnutrition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 2, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 85 children had died of malnutrition-related causes thus far in the war, with a total of 127 people dying of malnutrition-related causes. The adult deaths were counted over the last few weeks of July alone, according to The Associated Press. A malnutrition clinic in Gaza reported receiving an average of 40 cases weekly, while Nasser Hospital's pediatric department with eight beds was dealing with around 60 cases. Infant formula also was limited in Gaza as a result of the Israeli-imposed blockade in summer 2025, according to reports from doctors and mothers in the region. In late June 2025, COGAT, the Israeli agency in charge of aid coordination in Gaza, said at least 1,000 tons of baby food was distributed in Gaza through international agencies. However, that claim were disputed by Gaza's health officials, who said not enough of that aid had critical medical equipment, formula and medicine. On Aug. 4, Save the Children reported 43% of examined pregnant and breastfeeding women were malnourished three times the number screened in March 2025. What is Israel's role in the starvation crisis? Instead of starvation caused by natural disaster or geographic inaccessibility, the IPC report from Aug. 22 listed destruction of infrastructure, import limitations and population displacement as the three main factors contributing to famine. Israel has systematically destroyed Gaza's infrastructure for decades, has restricted the flow of goods across Gaza's borders and has caused widespread displacement through destroying residential homes and issuing evacuation orders. The report read: The current catastrophic shortage of food availability inside the Gaza Strip comes as a result of three compounding factors. Namely, the destruction of domestic food production systems, import limitations, and displacement of populations away from available food sources or production systems. Food deliveries from land and recent airdrops are insufficient to meet current extreme food consumption gaps. On July 9, a group of U.N. experts stated, "We declare that Israel's intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has denied these accusations, and following the IPC's official declaration of famine, Netanyahu's office said the report was an "outright lie." The statement continued: "Like all previous IPC reports, this one ignores Israel's humanitarian efforts and Hamas's systematic theft. Hamas steals aid to finance its war machine." Other politicians and commentators have similarly shifted blame from Israel and onto Hamas, Gaza's governing militant group. Gazan writer Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib claimed in The Atlantic: Hamas actually wants a famine in Gaza. Producing mass death from hunger is the group's final play, its last hope for ending the war in a way that advances its goals. Hamas has benefited from Israel's decision to use food as a lever against the terror group, because the catastrophic conditions for civilians have generated an international outcry, which is worsening Israel's global standing and forcing it to reverse course. Regardless of Hamas' purported actions, Israeli officials have already publicly endorsed aid cutoffs. The claim that Hamas steals humanitarian aid and benefits from Israel's "levering" of food against the Gazan population, if true, doesn't negate the fact that international law explicitly prohibits starvation as a tactic of war. Furthermore, some Israeli government officials have themselves denied the claim that Hamas steals aid. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in May 2025 that "no aid is going to Hamas, period." In a July 2025 New York Times report, two Israeli military officials (speaking on condition of anonymity) asserted that although Hamas allegedly "did steal from some of the smaller organizations," there is no proof Hamas routinely stole U.N. aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A July 2025 review by the U.S. Agency for International Development found "no evidence of systematic theft" by Hamas of U.S.-funded humanitarian supplies, which has served as the primary rationale for backing the GHF. On Aug. 5, U.N. experts called for an immediate dismantling of the Israeli-backed U.S. militarized aid distribution operation. Although the GHF has reportedly raised more than $100 million between its founding in February 2025 and early June, the group has not revealed its funding sources. Later in June, the U.S. State Department publicly transferred $30 million to the foundation. The GHF's four distribution sites have largely replaced the former U.N. aid distribution system that previously had hundreds of active distribution sites since its founding in February 2025; Israel, as of this writing, continues to uphold its March 2, 2025, blockade on all humanitarian aid from The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East historically, Gaza's primary source of aid. As desperation for food has grown in Gaza and hundreds flock to the GHF distribution sites, the number of those killed by Israeli munitions while trying to source food rises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The GHF is an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law," U.N. experts wrote at the beginning of August. "The entanglement of Israeli intelligence, US contractors and ambiguous non-governmental entities underlines the urgent need for robust international oversight and action under UN auspices." As the occupying power in Gaza (per the United Nations), Israel stands responsible in the eyes of international law for the needs of the local population, according to Article 43 of the Hague Regulations and Article 64 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. "This crisis is entirely preventable," the WHO said in a news release. The Israeli news outlet Haaretz posited in July 2025: "The situation in Gaza is likely the most extreme example of politicallydriven starvation in the 21st century." Statements by the U.N. and other human rights agencies have echoed this claim of a "targeted starvation campaign," which Israel has denied. Israel maintains control over two of the three main border crossings into the Gaza enclave meaning that Israel (along with Egypt) regulates the passage of all food, medical supplies, fuel and movement of people in and out of Gaza. Israel's control over food permitted to enter Gaza has affected the population for more than a decade. Documents released in 2012 indicated Israel historically used a "calorie count" to limit food into Gaza. Even before Israel began tightening its grip on the Gaza border following Hamas' election as the ruling party in 2007, Gazans suffered under Israeli cutoffs that disrupted the flow of goods into Gaza as well as destruction of agricultural infrastructure. For example, Israeli bulldozers systematically razed fields of crops and targeted fishers and confiscated fishing boats, resulting in a dwindling independent supply sector in Gaza. For decades, Gaza has struggled under the weight of both Israeli occupation and the influx of Palestinian refugees following the mass expulsion of people from their homes during the Nakba, or "catastrophe" the event between 1947 and 1949 in which armed Zionist militias forcibly claimed the homes, land, and possessions of approximately 750,000 Palestinians. While Israel has upheld this tight border control on Gaza for nearly 20 years, it intensified the existing blockade following Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023. "We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza. There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything will be closed," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said after the attack. Aside from destroying housing, schools and other architecture, the heavy bombardment of Gaza that followed Oct. 7, 2023, destroyed vast swaths of agricultural land. According to a May 2025 analysis by the Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations, more than 95% of Gaza's agricultural infrastructure including cropland, greenhouses and agricultural wells is unusable. Additionally, Israel restricted the delivery of necessary tools and supplies such as fuel, which according to the U.N. has prevented Gazans from receiving life-saving health services and preparing their food. Other sources of food, including many bakeries and Gaza's once-autonomous fishing industry have either been wiped out as a result of Israel's artillery or shuttered as a result of aid blockades. Israel's grip on Gaza's borders eased during the January 2025 ceasefire, during which the number of aid trucks allowed in skyrocketed before plummeting on March 2 when Israel announced a cut-off of all aid into Gaza. The following chart by The Associated Press illustrates the amount of aid entering Gaza from October 2023 through May 2025 compared with the average amount of aid that entered Gaza before October 2023: As of this writing, this blockade continues, although Israel has allowed a trickle of aid from surrounding nations via air drops as well as limited aid truck entry. According to the U.N., these air drops are a last-resort measure and carry risks for people on the ground for example, when the approximately 2,000-pound packages land on tents, crushing those inside. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza also remains insufficient according to the U.N., as of this writing. The evidence we have shown points toward the starvation of Gazans being a direct result of Israeli policies. As experts from the bipartisan think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies' Global Health Policy Center asserted, "The resumption of food aid alone is insufficient to address the health disaster in Gaza," which is the result of decades of restriction and destruction and for which rehabilitation would necessitate a permanent ceasefire. How does the debate over 'famine' label affect Gazans? For many international aid experts and scholars, the confirmation of an official famine in Gaza was beside the point. As evidenced above, the region was in crisis and in need of urgent aid and international intervention before the official classification. Oxfam America's director of peace and security, Scott Paul, told the media in July 2025 that action must be taken before a famine is declared and aid organizations need more than just food to address the crisis. Fixing the water and sanitation crisis to prevent disease from spreading is also crucial, he said. Experts at CSIS noted in late July that governments or international agencies could not wait to act. They wrote: World leaders cannot wait for a declaration to act while Gazans, including children, are dying each day of starvation. Starvation will continue to kill Gazans until there is a sustained ceasefire and an unencumbered influx of humanitarian assistance, including food, clean water, medical and sanitation supplies, and malnutrition treatments. And even if such assistance were allowed, Gazans will continue to require long-term support following the provision of such aid, as today's starvation will burden children with lifelong physical and cognitive deficits. De Waal wrote that a famine declaration has more "moral force" than legal consequence. While international humanitarian law has no legal definition of famine, starvation is explicitly prohibited as a weapon of war. Declaring a famine thus has few legal ramifications for perpetrators in man-made catastrophes, though their actions can be prosecuted as war crimes. However, the crime of starvation has never been considered in a court of international law. Regardless of Gaza's food-insecurity risk designation, it is clear based on the available data and reporting coming out of the region, as well as overwhelming calls from international agencies to increase aid, that aside from the long-term humanitarian aid and holistic support needed to prevent the catastrophe in Gaza from getting even worse, the onus lies on Israel to lift the severe restrictions on food currently creating faminelike conditions in Gaza. "Any further delayeven by dayswill result in a totally unacceptable escalation of Famine-related mortality," the FRC analysis of the IPC's August 2025 findings said. Sources: "A Famine Hasn't Been Declared in Gaza, but That May Not Matter, Experts Say." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/International/famine-declared-gaza-matter-experts/story?id=124076581. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "A Timeline of the Gaza Strip in Modern History." PBS News, 5 Feb. 2025, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-timeline-of-the-gaza-strip-in-modern-history. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Alkhatib, Ahmed Fouad. "Hamas Wants Gaza to Starve." The Atlantic, 31 Jul. 2025, https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/hamas-wants-famine/683724/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Ashour, Yara, et al. "Starvation as a Weapon of War in Gaza: Violation of International Law." The Lancet, vol. 405, no. 10494, Jun. 2025, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01018-9/fulltext. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Backing off Threat to Quit Coalition, Smotrich Says Entry of 'Minimum' Aid in Gaza Won't Reach Hamas." Times of Israel, 19 May 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/backing-off-threat-to-quit-coalition-smotrich-says-entry-of-minimum-aid-in-gaza-wont-reach-hamas/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. '"Children Are Paying the Highest Price," Says Aid Worker as Famine Confirmed in Gaza City - Live Updates'. BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ckgj0yn3dzjt. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. "Doctors and Moms Say These Babies in Gaza May Die without More Formula. They Blame Israel's Blockade." AP News, 25 Jun. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/gaza-babies-premature-hospitals-formula-israel-war-330ba6611e63940c903cdc19540914c3. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025. "Dozens of Kids and Adults in Gaza Have Starved to Death in July as Hunger Surges." AP News, 24 Jul. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/gaza-palestinians-starvation-famine-israel-children-3a7403d4f6ec483a03d6cbb0c45fd06a. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Explainer: What Is Famine?" UN News. 18 Mar. 2024, https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147661. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Famine Confirmed for First Time in Gaza." World Food Programme. 22 Aug. 2025, https://www.wfp.org/news/famine-confirmed-first-time-gaza. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. "'Fuel for Gaza Is a Matter of Life and Death,' UN Warns." UN News. 25 Jun. 2025, https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164946. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. 'Gaza: 875 People Confirmed Dead Trying to Source Food in Recent Weeks." UN News, 15 Jul. 2025, https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165396. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Gaza Aid Dries up as Israeli Blockade Enters a Third Month." AP News, 6 May 2025, https://apnews.com/article/gaza-aid-hunger-israel-hamas-b7429c043bc9d01717713eab21bae546. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Gaza "soon without Fuel, Medicine and Food" - Israel Authorities." 9 Oct. 2023. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67051292. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. GAZA STRIP: Famine Confirmed in Gaza Governorate, Projected to Expand. IPC, 22 Aug. 2025, https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-134/en/. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. GENEVA CONVENTION RELATIVE TO THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIAN PERSONS IN TIME OF WAR OF 12 AUGUST 1949. The United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.33_GC-IV-EN.pdf. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025. Graham-Harrison, Emma. "The Mathematics of Starvation: How Israel Caused a Famine in Gaza." The Guardian, 31 Jul. 2025. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/the-mathematics-of-starvation-how-israel-caused-a-famine-in-gaza. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Hasson, Nir. "What Israel Must Do to Stop the Starvation in Gaza, Right Now." Haaretz, 31 Jul. 2025. Haaretz, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-07-31/ty-article-magazine/how-to-stop-the-starvation-in-gaza-right-now/00000198-5f8f-dc50-a9bf-ffffd3740000. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem, and the Obligation to Ensure Accountability and Justice. U.N. General Assembly, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A.HRC_.52.75_130223.pdf. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Ibrahim, Nur. "Videos Show Israeli Extremist Group Blocking Aid Trucks to Gaza." Snopes, 29 Jul. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/video-aid-trucks-gaza-israelis/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "IPC ALERT: Worst-Case Scenario of Famine Unfolding in the Gaza Strip." Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 29 Jul. 2025, https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_GazaStrip_Alert_July2025.pdf. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. IPC Overview and Classification System | IPC - Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/ipc-overview-and-classification-system/en/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Israel Used 'calorie Count' to Limit Gaza Food during Blockade, Critics Claim." The Guardian, 17 Oct. 2012. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/17/israeli-military-calorie-limit-gaza. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Israeli Defence Minister Orders 'Complete Siege' on Gaza." Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2023/10/9/israeli-defence-minister-orders-complete-siege-on-gaza. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territory Illegal: UN Rights Commission | UN News. 20 Oct. 2022, https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129722. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Israel's Leader Claims No One in Gaza Is Starving. Data and Witnesses Disagree." PBS News, 28 Jul. 2025, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israels-leader-claims-no-one-in-gaza-is-starving-data-and-witnesses-disagree. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Israel Limits Entry of Baby Formula in Gaza as Infants Die of Hunger. 1 Jul. 2025. Le Monde, https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/07/01/israel-limits-entry-of-baby-formula-in-gaza-as-infants-die-of-hunger_6742899_4.html. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025. Kasprak, Alex. "UN Said There's No Famine in Gaza?" Snopes, 2 Jul. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/un-famine-gaza/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Land Availability for Cultivation in the Gaza Strip as of April 2025. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Apr. 2025, https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/c4be554e-170f-413e-ae57-f77030be8d09/content. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Marx, Willem. 'A "worst-Case Scenario of Famine" Is Unfolding in Gaza, a U.N.-Backed Report Warns'. NPR, 29 Jul. 2025. Middle East Conflict. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/07/29/nx-s1-5483520/gaza-famine-hunger. 'Months of Warnings Fallen on Deaf Ears, Famine Now Confirmed in Gaza: UNRWA Chief'. Anews, https://www.anews.com.tr/middle-east/2025/08/22/months-of-warnings-fallen-on-deaf-ears-famine-now-confirmed-in-gaza-unrwa-chief. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. "More than 95 Percent of Gaza's Agricultural Land Unusable, UN Warns." Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/26/more-than-95-percent-of-gazas-agricultural-land-unusable-un-warns. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Netanyahu Denies Reports of Starvation in Gaza, Blames Hamas for Stealing Aid." YouTube, Associated Press, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ5HHMxXXhA#ddg-play. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. 'New Study on Infrastructure Damage in Gaza and the West Bank'. CEOBS, 1 Mar. 2019, https://ceobs.org/new-study-on-infrastructure-damage-in-gaza-and-the-west-bank/. Nichols, Michelle, et al. "What Is the New US-Backed Gaza Aid Plan and Why Doesn't the UN like It?" Reuters, 10 Jun. 2025. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/new-us-backed-gaza-aid-plan-why-un-doesnt-like-it-2025-05-20/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Odenheimer, Natan. "No Proof Hamas Routinely Stole U.N. Aid, Israeli Military Officials Say." The New York Times, 26 Jul. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/world/middleeast/hamas-un-aid-theft.html. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Palestine, Syria, Lebanon & Other Topics - Daily Press Briefing (28 July 2025) | United Nations." YouTube, United Nations, 28 Jul. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=XsPBFiX8_PBNwKrj&t=295&v=j5zJubjDPfQ&feature=youtu.be. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "Palestinian Death Toll in Israel-Hamas War Passes 60,000, Gaza Health Ministry Says." AP News, 29 Jul. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-death-toll-war-health-ministry-816d592952814db869924f9626ca8876. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025. PerryCook, Taija. "Posts Claim Gaza Aid Air Drops Injured 11 in July 2025. Here's What We Know." Snopes, 1 Aug. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//news/2025/08/01/air-drops-gaza-injured/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. PerryCook, Taija. "Unraveling Palestine: Understanding Its Location and the Palestinian Identity." Snopes, 8 Dec. 2023, https://www.snopes.com//articles/465749/where-did-the-palestinians-come-from/. Quillen, Stephen, and Caolan Magee,Virginia Pietromarchi,Umut Uras. "Updates: Israel Kills 74 in Gaza as UN Warns of High Rate of Child Deaths." Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/8/4/live-israel-kills-56-aid-seekers-as-22000-aid-trucks-stuck-outside-gaza. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. Reiff, Ben. "IDF Database Suggests 83% of Gaza Dead Were Civilians." +972 Magazine, 21 Aug. 2025, https://www.972mag.com/israeli-intelligence-database-83-percent-civilians-militants/. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. Sheikh Ahmad, Rawan, et al. "Gazans Are Dying of Starvation." The New York Times, 24 Jul. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/world/middleeast/gaza-starvation.html. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. Sherlock, Ruth. "Famine Confirmed in Northern Gaza, Says U.N.-Backed Agency." NPR, 22 Aug. 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/08/22/nx-s1-5509964/famine-gaza-israel-middle-east-un. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. "The Closure of Borders by Israel in the Gaza Strip Has Led to a..." Getty Images, 10 Mar. 2025, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-closure-of-borders-by-israel-in-the-gaza-strip-has-led-news-photo/2203745589. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. THE HAGUE CONVENTIONS OF 1899 (II) AND 1907 (IV) RESPECTING THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, https://ia600406.us.archive.org/28/items/hagueconventions00inte_0/hagueconventions00inte_0.pdf. "The Latest Child to Starve to Death in Gaza Weighed Less than When She Was Born." AP News, 26 Jul. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-starvation-children-malnutrition-baby-baf865b861c9a2fd9c75068936062146. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. "The War on Food Production: Fishing." Gisha, 24 Jun. 2025, https://gisha.org/en/the-war-on-food-production-fishing/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "UN Experts Call for Immediate Dismantling of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation." United Nations, 5 Aug. 2025, https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/un-experts-call-immediate-dismantling-gaza-humanitarian-foundation. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. "UN Experts Say Israel Carrying out 'Targeted Starvation Campaign' in Gaza." Al Jazeera, July 9, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/9/un-experts-say-israel-carrying-out-targeted-starvation-campaign-in-gaza. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025. "UN Warns of 'Catastrophic Hunger' in Gaza as Israel Announces Humanitarian Pauses." UN News. 27 Jul. 2025, https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165504. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. Urquhart, Conal. "Gaza on Brink of Implosion as Aid Cut-off Starts to Bite." The Guardian, 16 Apr. 2006. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/apr/16/israel. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. "U.S. State Department Announces $30 Million in Funding to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)." Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, 26 Jun. 2025, https://ghf.org/us-state-department-announces-30-million-in-funding-to-ghf/. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. Waal, Alex de. "How to Measure Famine." London Review of Books, vol. 47, no. 02, 6 Feb. 2025. www.lrb.co.uk, https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v47/n02/alex-de-waal/how-to-measure-famine. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. "Why There Hasn't Been a Formal Declaration of Famine in Gaza." AP News, 29 Jul. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-hunger-aid-famine-explainer-155d22f7db41bf794a1c7f4cf87bdbf6. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. "'Worst-Case Scenario of Famine' Unfolding in Gaza under Israel's Offensive, Global Authority on Hunger Says." NBC News, 29 Jul. 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/world/gaza/famine-gaza-israel-ipc-alert-starvation-trump-rcna221464. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. Yacoubian, Mona, et al. Experts React: Starvation in Gaza. Jul. 2025. www.csis.org, https://www.csis.org/analysis/experts-react-starvation-gaza. Accessed Aug. 5, 2025. Desperate Palestinians clutching pots and plastic buckets scrambled for rice at a charity kitchen in Gaza City on Saturday, a day after the United Nations declared a famine in the war-battered territory. AFP footage from Gaza's largest city, which Israel plans to seize as part of an expanded military offensive, showed women and young children among the chaotic jostle of dozens clamouring and shouting for food. One young boy used his hands to scrape a few leftover grains from the inside of a cooking vat. Another young girl sat on the edge of a tent and scooped rice from a plastic bag on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have no home left, no food, no income... so we are forced to turn to charity kitchens, but they do not satisfy our hunger," said Yousef Hamad, 58, who was displaced from the northern city of Beit Hanoun. Further south at a charity kitchen in Deir el-Balah, 34-year-old Umm Mohammad said the UN's declaration of a famine had come "far too late". The children are "staggering from dizziness, unable to wake up because of the lack of food and water," she said. The UN officially declared a famine in Gaza on Friday, blaming the "systematic obstruction" of aid by Israel during more than 22 months of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rome-based Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) said famine was affecting 500,000 people in Gaza governorate, which covers about a fifth of the Palestinian territory including Gaza City. - 'Moral duty' - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the report as "an outright lie". On Saturday, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said it was "time for the government of Israel to stop denying the famine it has created in Gaza". "All of those who have influence must use it with determination & a sense of moral duty," UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IPC projected that the famine would expand to Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis governorates by the end of September, covering around two-thirds of Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, kept up its bombardment of the Palestinian territory, with AFP footage showing heavy smoke billowing above the Zeitun district of Gaza City as Palestinians picked through the wreckage of buildings. - 'Feel like end is near' - The spokesman for Gaza's civil defence agency, Mahmud Bassal, called the situation in the Sabra and Zeitun neighbourhoods "absolutely catastrophic", describing the "complete levelling of entire residential blocks". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are trapped here, living in fear, with nowhere to go. There's no safety anywhere in Gaza. Movement now leads to death," said Ahmad Jundiyeh, 35, who was displaced to the northern outskirts of Zeitun. "We constantly hear the sound of bombing... we hear fighter jets, artillery shelling and even drone explosions," he told AFP by telephone. "We're extremely afraid -- it feels like the end is near." Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed on Friday that Israel would destroy Gaza City as it has other parts of the territory if Hamas did not agree to disarm, release all remaining hostages in the territory and end the war on Israel's terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents of Gaza City said the Israeli strikes targeting the area had been relentless for days. "Let them come and see what's happening to us here on the ground in Zeitun district. We have been ruined," said Aymen Daloul, a 53-year-old from Gaza City whose home had been destroyed. "We shall sleep on the streets as if we were cattle. Have mercy on us." Mahmud Abu Saqer, 24, said there had been a quickening exodus of residents ever since Israel announced its plans to seize Gaza City. "Just this morning, more than 500 to 600 families left, and yesterday thousands left," he said. "The sounds of explosions since morning are forcing everyone to leave." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas's October 2023 attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed at least 62,622 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the United Nations considers reliable. The civil defence's spokesman Bassal said Israeli strikes and gunfire across Gaza on Saturday killed at least 51 people. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swaths of the Palestinian territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military. vid-ds/ami Due to severe weather events in Montana, a number of the state's cherry farmers are bracing for what looks to be another poor harvest season. What's happening? KPAX News reported that severe storms at the beginning of July were a recipe for disaster for Montana's cherry production. A number of the state's cherry orchards felt the direct impact of extreme weather, including strong winds and heavy rains. According to local cherry farmers, this has resulted in less-than-ideal growing conditions for the delicate fruit. Bruce Johnson, owner of Buena Vista Orchards, reflected on the rough summer and the toll it has taken on his cherry trees. "When the fruit is damaged, I don't think I've had a crop like this," he told KPAX News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson noted that the severe thunderstorms that battered Montana throughout July were a little too much for his orchard to withstand. "The trees and the branches, just because they are weighted down, cherries were just whipping up and down, and you can imagine the cherries rubbing against each other and the branches, they got bruised," he told KPAX News. Why is severe weather important to cherry farmers? Bruises can affect the visual appeal and texture of cherries and can lead to the development of mold. This can greatly impact cherry farmers' ability to sell their harvest in the produce market. While slightly bruised cherries are safe to eat, overly blemished produce could negatively affect customer perception of the overall quality of the product. Brian Campbell, Monson Fruit Company's field representative, explained that this can cause farmers to leave damaged cherries on the trees instead of harvesting them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The problem is when you're processing fruit, you have to have a box of fruit that is 100% perfect cherries," he told KPAX News. "That gets to be an issue when 30% of them might be hurt." Campbell said that over a million pounds of cherries will not be harvested because of the damage they might have sustained. In addition to the financial losses that farmers must face, the minimized harvest will likely increase the amount of food waste in the country. What's being done about food waste and extreme weather? A recent report from the World Wildlife Fund estimates that one-third of all food produced around the globe goes to waste. That amounts to over a billion tons of fruit, vegetables, meat, and dairy that are thrown away at some point. Food waste can significantly impact the environment by contributing to gas pollution and altering our climate. When food decomposes in landfills, it emits harmful gases that exacerbate rising global temperatures and fuel more powerful storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As communities around the world face climbing temperatures, weather patterns can see dramatic shifts. These changes include more frequent and intense heat waves, heavier precipitation and flooding, and more severe droughts. All of these changes can greatly impact the agriculture industry, as seen in Montana. "It's kind of like the weather; I don't know what normal is anymore," Campbell added. "We've had really four bad years in a row, so we were due for a good one and we thought this would be a good one." Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The upcoming shutdown of a nonprofit clinic that provides care for children with disabilities in Indianapolis has left families urgently searching for alternative services and put the clinics therapists at risk of losing their jobs. Easterseals Crossroads has made the "difficult decision" to phase out its Outpatient Therapy Clinic by Sept. 30, according to a statement by President and CEO David Dreith. Parents like Nikki Stephens, whose son is on the autism spectrum, said they relied heavily on the clinic's therapists, who became like family. "I feel blindsided," Stephens said. "We weren't notified until July 23 that these services would disconnect. They gave us not even 60 days, because other places in Indianapolis have a six-month long waiting list and any place else realistically could not work based on service times and distance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speech services for her son will stop Sept. 3, and occupational therapy will stop Sept. 8. Along with being on the spectrum, Stephens said her son has seven official diagnoses, including ADHD and ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). She said it takes a special person to work with special children, and they had just settled in with their therapists, with whom her son connected well. Now, families like Stephens and her son feel that services are being ripped from them and wish more could be done to keep the doors of the outpatient clinic open. Other parents and service recipients say there's a need Landyn Stephens, 8, who attends appointments at Easterseals Crossroads, is set to have his services stop in early September 2025. In his statement on the clinic's closure, Dreith cited ongoing changes in Medicaid reimbursements that have impacted the program's sustainability. "Despite these changes, our commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities and their families remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to continuing that work through the many other programs and services we offer," Dreith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Easterseals Crossroads serves 300 children each year, and its active caseload can be about 180 kids at any given time. Leaders said they're trying to help impacted employees find jobs while also helping families find alternatives for treatment. Despite the clinic's closure, the nonprofit will continue a variety of services for children, including school therapy services, autism diagnostic services, respite services, and summer camps. Renee Larson, a previous Easterseals Crossroads client, said she's sad that so many families won't be able to access the services she had while growing up. She was diagnosed with autism and worked with therapists from ages 2 to 6 in the early 90s, participated in play therapy, and learned social and developmental skills. "I was nonverbal until I was 4 or 5," Larson said. "I'm sad for both the children and the parents. To pull the plug like this so suddenly is wrong. That place gave my mom and me a sense of community." Closure of services are happening across the country In Oregon, another Easterseals facility is eliminating staff and froze its senior job program amid a delay in federal funding, which could be devastating for the communities it serves statewide, the nonprofit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Levittown, Pennsylvania, an Easterseals private school announced its closure in April because of financial troubles, leaving families scrambling to find alternative care. Resources for families impacted by Easterseals clinic closure Children's TherAplay Foundation is a clinic-based PT, OT, speech therapy, and offering hippotherapy (therapy on horseback) for ages 18 months to 13 years. It accepts major insurers and Indiana Medicaid. 9919 Towne Road, Carmel. 317-872-4166 Community Health Network - Stones Crossing says no doctor referral is needed for its outpatient pediatric PT, OT, speech therapy, neurological therapy, feeding, and aquatic therapy services. 3000 State Road 135, Suite 110, Greenwood. 317-497-6000 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eskenazi Health Rehabilitation Services offers outpatient PT, OT, and speech therapy for children and adults at multiple locations, including the 38th Street and Grande campus. 6002 East 38th St., Indianapolis. 317-880-0000 K1ds Count Therapy provides clinic-based PT, OT, speech, ABA, mental health, and school services with a client-centered approach. It has outpatient locations in Indianapolis, Brownsburg, Carmel (coming soon), Zionsville, and Crawfordsville. PediPlay provides pediatric PT, OT, speech therapy, and early intervention services in a play-based clinic. 1502 West Edgewood Ave., Indianapolis. 317-791-9031 Peyton Manning Children's Hospital - Pediatric Therapy Center (Ascension/St. Vincent) offers outpatient PT, OT, and speech therapy, including specialized services like aquatic therapy, hippotherapy, neuro-developmental treatment, pelvic floor therapy, and cochlear implant support. Indianapolis campus and affiliated clinics. 317-338-4769 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riley Pediatric Speech Therapy & Audiology specializes in outpatient speech therapy & audiology, including cochlear implant follow up. 575 Riley Hospital Drive, Room 0860, Indianapolis. 317-944-8868 Riley Pediatric Rehabilitation Services Eagle Creek specializes in outpatient speech therapy and audiology, including cochlear implant follow up. Indianapolis Healthplex, 3660 Guion Road, Suite 100. 317-329-7017 TOTS (Theracare Outpatient Therapy Services) Delivers outpatient PT, OT, speech, plus group programs that are all play-based and individualized. Fishers and Osceola. 317-841-7005 Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Easterseals Crossroads closing Indianapolis outpatient therapy clinic CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) A Mansfield man who was wanted in LeRoy has been captured nearly two weeks after he was first reported to be on the run. In a Facebook post Friday evening, the LeRoy Police Department said that 41-year-old Andrew Coffin was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in El Paso, Illinois, on Thursday. Christian Co. Sheriffs Office searching for wanted man near Morrisonville Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coffin was originally reported as a felon on the run on Aug. 8 by LeRoy Police. Later that day, police reported that Coffin was no longer in McLean County. Following his arrest on Thursday, he was booked into the McLean County Jail pending a detention hearing per the SAFE-T Act 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 WCIA.com. TALLINN, Estonia (AP) Antanina Kanavalava says her four years in a Belarusian penal colony as a political prisoner were filled with a fear and anguish that still haunts her. She nearly lost parental rights to her two young children when she was initially arrested. Her eyesight deteriorated from sewing military uniforms in a dimly lit room. Denied access to even basic needs like feminine hygiene products, she used rags or whatever she could find amid unsanitary conditions. Women in prison go through hell and cant even complain to anyone, Kanavalava, 37, told The Associated Press after her release in December. The head of the prison told me straight out that people like me should be put against the wall and shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belarus has nearly 1,200 political prisoners. While all endure harsh conditions like unheated cells, isolation and poor nutrition and health care, human rights officials say the 178 women behind bars are particularly vulnerable. Pavel Sapelka, a lawyer with the Viasna human rights center, says women are often singled out for abuse and humiliation, threatened with losing their children, and having medical problems ignored. Sapelka cited the case of Hanna Kandratsenka, 30, who died of cervical cancer in February, months after getting her freedom. She was diagnosed in prison but denied early release for treatment, he said. Independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council describe appalling conditions for women in Belarusian prisons, with a blatant lack of accountability for the ill treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authoritarian President Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for over three decades, living up to his nickname of Europe's last dictator by silencing dissent and extending his rule through elections the West calls neither free nor fair. A harsh crackdown followed a disputed 2020 vote, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets. Over 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police and hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were closed and outlawed. Opposition figures are either imprisoned or have fled abroad. Among those behind bars is Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, the founder of Viasna, and Maria Kolesnikova, an opposition leader. Although Lukashenko has freed over 300 political prisoners in the last year, still others are arrested in a revolving door of repression. U.S. President Donald Trump said last week on social media that he spoke with Lukashenko and encouraged him to release more. On Friday, Lukashenko responded: Take them, bring them over there. Of the harsh conditions, Lukashenko says Belarus treats inmates normally, adding that prison is not a resort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government has refused to allow international monitors and independent observers into the prisons. A mother's trauma Kanavalava was a confidant of opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who challenged Lukashenko in the 2020 election but later fled the country amid the subsequent protests. With her husband also jailed, Kanavalava was convicted of participating in mass riots and sentenced to 5 1/2 years. Authorities threatened to send her 6-year-old son, Ivan, and 4-year-old daughter, Nasta, to an orphanage at the start of her sentence. For a mother not to see her children for four years is real torture," she told AP. "The authorities know this and rub salt into this maternal wound every day, demanding I sign confessions and cooperate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. experts said female prisoners in Belarus were subject to "arbitrary punishment, including solitary confinement and incommunicado detention without contact with their children. Kanavalava likened it to being a hostage, saying she was forced to cooperate with authorities because I wanted to survive for the sake of my children. Their grandmother ultimately took them to Warsaw, where they were reunited with their mother following her pardon and early release in January, Washing with warm tea Former political prisoner Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, 50, spent more than four years behind bars in several detention centers and penal colonies, serving 270 days in solitary confinement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Held in a KGB detention center with no hot water, she used warm tea that she was served to wash herself, Sharenda-Panasiuk said, describing unsanitary conditions where illnesses become chronic due to the constant cold. The authorities deliberately exploit womens vulnerabilities to humiliate them and create unbearable conditions, she added. Physical abuse and hunger strikes The U.N. experts expressed particular concern for Viktoryia Kulsha, who was initially sentenced to 2 1/2 years for moderating a Telegram messaging channel that urged drivers to block streets during the 2020 protests. Four more years were tacked on for allegedly disobeying prison officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human rights groups say the 43-year-old has gone on at least six hunger strikes protesting abuses in Penal Colony No. 24 in Zarechcha. The U.N. experts said in May her condition has been life-threatening for some time now. Sharenda-Panasiuk, who was in the same penal colony, said she saw a guard in 2023 punch Kulsha in the back, causing her to fall. The same guard later choked her by grabbing her from behind, she added. Viktoria slit her veins and went on hunger strikes in protest against the tyranny of the prison authorities and this slaughterhouse, but it kept getting worse and they are driving her to the brink, Sharenda-Panasiuk said. Her illnesses have worsened. ... She has problems with her breasts, with the thyroid gland. Conditions in Penal Colony No. 24 are among the harshest, she said, describing stints in solitary confinement as torture. Women often work 1214 hours a day, including Sundays, to meet quotas. They are under 24-hour surveillance, are not allowed walks outside, must wear the same clothes constantly and often have no opportunity to bathe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strip searches are conducted by both male and female employees, Sharenda-Panasiuk said, and during a transfer from place to place, it was mainly men who searched me. Stints in a shame cage Natallia Dulina was arrested in 2022, convicted of extremism a common charge for dissidents and sentenced to 3 1/2 years. She was pardoned and released in June with 13 other political prisoners, and taken to neighboring Lithuania following a visit to Minsk by U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg. The 60-year-old Italian teacher at Minsk State Linguistic University described particularly harsh treatment at Penal Colony No. 4, including the installation of a shame cage in the courtyard. Women are forced to stand in the cage for hours, in all weather, to punish them for disciplinary violations, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No such cages exist in men's penal colonies, Sapelka said, and the authorities will come up with new ways to abuse women in particular. U.N. experts called this punishment "inhuman and degrading. I decided that if someone ever tries to put me in this cage, I simply will not go there Ill go straight into solitary confinement, Dulina said in an interview from Vilnius. She described arbitrary punishment, adding she once lost visitation rights for feeding bread to a pigeon. Despite the harsh conditions, she said she refused to admit guilt or request a pardon. Lasting effects for freed prisoners Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kanavalava, who lives in Warsaw with her family, admits that prison is not over yet for her because her husband still has nearly two years left on his sentence. Neither is the anxiety. She said the fear of losing my own children haunts me even in my dreams. It is impossible to get used to the tyranny of the Belarusian authorities, but it is even harder to explain to children and to yourself the high price that Belarusians pay for their desire to be free, Kanavalava said. Vone Phrommany. Photo courtesy of Sace Phrommany Rydberg SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The Trump administrations push to crack down on illegal immigration has been felt in cities and communities across the country. Now, its hitting close to home for a family in Sioux Falls. 53-year-old Vone Phrommany, who was born in Laos but grew up in Sioux Falls, was detained by ICE in Arizona last month and is now facing deportation. The reason for his detention stems from something that happened over 30 years ago when Vone was a teenager. The criminal charges Former SD insurance salesman to plead guilty to wire fraud Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His family tells us that in 1990, just a few weeks after turning 18, Vone was caught selling $140 worth of LSD to an undercover agent and was charged with an aggravated felony. In 1997, he was issued deportation orders from an immigration judge. However, his family says that, at the time, those orders couldnt be fulfilled because Laos wasnt accepting immigrants or detainees from the United States. In the years since his deportation orders, Vone Phrommany went to college and moved to Arizona where hes been working as a physical therapist. His family says hes been an upstanding person and even tried getting his citizenship but couldnt because of his criminal conviction as a teen. You know, hes been checking in with ICE agents and his probation officer, Sone Phrommany, Vone Phrommanys brother, said. Basically, I think, for the passed 20 years hes been checking in twice a year for the past 20 years. So, Im not sure, you know why all of a sudden they need to deport him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an emailed statement to KELOLAND News, a spokesperson for ICE said, in part, quote Phrommany may have made a comfortable life in the United States by absconding a removal order for nearly 20 years but the law finally caught up with him. Full statement from ICE: Keomanivone Phrommany, 53, an illegal alien from Laos, was ordered deported by an immigration judge on Aug. 13, 1997. Records indicate this aggravated felon has a drug conviction which makes him removable as per our immigration laws. Phrommany may have made a comfortable life in the United States by absconding a removal order for nearly 20 years but the law finally caught up with him. As ICE has been clear time and time again, aliens who commit crimes and who violate U.S. immigration law will be subject to arrest and detention by ICE, and if determined deportable by final order, is also subject to deportation from the United States. As part of its routine operations, ICE will execute the deportation order, regardless of the aliens nationality. Phrommany will remain in ICE custody pending his deportation from the United States. a spokesperson for ICE said. KELOLAND News sent a follow-up email to ICE asking about Laos not accepting detainees in 1997, as well as Phrommanys check-ins through the years. This is the response we received: I dont have much more to offer but 1997 was long time ago, circumstances have changed so I would lean towards that. Also, he does have a criminal conviction and an order of removal so he is in detention facing removal there is nothing unusual about that. a spokesperson for ICE said. Fighting for Vone His family and friends, though, are fighting to keep Vone Phrommany in the United States where hes lived since he was six years old. Vone Phrommany. Photo courtesy of Sace Phrommany Rydberg Vone Phrommany and family. Photo courtesy of Sace Phrommany Rydberg Vone Phrommany and family. Photo courtesy of Sace Phrommany Rydberg Vone Phrommany and family. Photo courtesy of Sace Phrommany Rydberg Vone Phrommany and family. Photo courtesy of Sace Phrommany Rydberg They need to look at case by case basis versus just group everybody all in one, Sone Phrommany said. You know, theres murderers out there, theres bigger drug dealers and just so many other criminals that could be in one spectrum and then theres Vone, you know. Its night and day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, most of us just make dumb mistakes when were young and unfortunately Vone just, you know, Mandy Phrommany, Vone Phrommanys sister-in-law, said. Just got caught. And hes been paying the price since, Sone Phrommany said. Jill Hanson, who has known Vone since middle school, says she was shocked when she learned her longtime friend was detained. It just seemed so unreal like, not Vone. Why him? I mean, hes like the nicest, Hanson said. Hes gentle. Hes always taking care of others. Hes fun, you know, hes loving, hes caring. Just very easy to know and hell pretty much take the shirt off his back for another guy, Sone Phrommany said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to raise money for legal expenses to help get Vone home, his family has created fundraiser t-shirts and set up both Zelle and GoFundMe accounts. Theres also a change.org petition. The Phrommany family story Sone Phrommany tells us his family fled Laos in the 1970s when his dad was in the Laos Army during the Vietnam War. The Phrommany family. Photo courtesy of Sace Phrommany Rydberg So, my dad was allies with the US and then he got captured and he got thrown into a concentration camp. He was actually starting to get sick and needed to go to the hospital, Sone Phrommany said. When he went to the hospital he basically told the guards that he, you know, needed to go check up on a few things and they let him go. Sone Phrommany says his dad then got the family and they fled to Thailand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were there for a few years and then we applied for sponsorship through First Baptist Church and they helped us come to the US in 1980, Sone Phrommany said. He says there four boys and four girls that came to the United States but they still have one half brother in Laos. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hundreds of Italian and international filmmakers, artists and cultural figures have signed an open letter calling on the Venice Film Festival to take a clear and unambiguous stand against what they describe as genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. The appeal, organized under the banner of Venice4Palestine (V4P), was sent on Friday to the Venice film festival umbrella organization the Biennale di Venezia, as well as the festivals independent sections Venice Days and International Critics Week. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, the group accuses the Israeli government and military of carrying out genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing across Palestine, and urges the festival to avoid becoming a sad and empty showcase by instead providing a place of dialogue, active participation, and resistance, as it has been in the past. Signatories include British filmmaker Ken Loach, Italian actor Toni Servillo star of 2025 Venice opener, La Grazia from Paolo Sorrentino, Italian actress and director siblings Alba and Alice Rohrwacher, actress Jasmine Trinca, French directors Celine Sciamma and Audrey Diwan, British actor Charles Dance and Palestinian directorial duo Arab Nasser and Tarzan Nasser, who won best director in Cannes Un Certain Regard this year for their latest film Once Upon A Time In Gaza. The group references the deaths of nearly 250 Palestinian media workers since the start of the conflict and frames artistic institutions as responsible for fostering awareness and resistance. As the spotlight turns on the Venice Film Festival, were in danger of going through yet another major event that remains indifferent to this human, civil, and political tragedy, the letter reads. The show must go on, we are told, as were urged to look away as if the film world had nothing to do with the real world.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For once, the letter continues, the show must stop. We must interrupt the flow of indifference and open a path to awareness, adding, there is no cinema without humanity. The letter calls on the festival to host events highlighting Palestinian narratives and to create a constant backdrop of conversations and initiatives addressing ethnic cleansing, apartheid, illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, colonialism and all the other crimes against humanity committed by Israel for decades, not just since October 7. In a statement in response to the letter, the Biennale said they and the Venice festival have always been, throughout their history, places of open discussion and sensitivity to all the most pressing issues facing society and the world. The evidence of this is, first and foremost, the works that are being presented [at the festival]. The statement noted that The Voice of Hind Rajab, a real-life drama from Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, about the killing of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024, will be screening in competition at Venice this year. The Biennale noted that last years Venice lineup featured Israeli director Dani Rosenbergs film Of Dogs and Men, shot in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biennale is, as always, open to dialogue, the statement said. A separate group of Italian artists, the Artisti #NoBavaglio network, has called for a public stop genocide protest on August 30, on the first weekend of the festival. The 82nd Venice international film festival runs Aug. 27 to Sept. 6. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hello its the weekend. This is The Weekender One of the major features of the modern MAGA movement along with blind loyalty to President Trump and unbridled glee at the prospect of crackdowns led by masked federal troops is constantly feeling aggrieved and angry about change. Targets of this ire have included museums and colleges that are seen as supposed bastions of woke culture, but also brands. The latest business to inspire a right wing meltdown is the restaurant chain Cracker Barrel and no one freaked out harder than Republican Florida congressman and gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds. You see, Donalds, whose statehouse bid has Trumps signature Complete and Total Endorsement, claims he found God in the homestyle restaurants parking lot. That righteous experience meant Donalds was extra angry when the chain changed their logo to remove the image of a seated man and barrel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On (of course) X.com, Donalds alluded to his religious experience as he blasted the redesign. In college, I worked at @CrackerBarrel in Tallahassee. I even gave my life to Christ in their parking lot, Donalds wrote. Their logo was iconic and their unique restaurants were a fixture of American culture. No one asked for this woke rebrand. Its time to Make Cracker Barrel Great Again. Donalds and the other right wingers who are raging about the logo havent exactly explained what is remotely political about the change. The restaurant has actually updated its branding multiple times in its history. However, in past interviews, Donalds has actually explained the other part of his outburst and revealed how Cracker Barrel brought him to Jesus in 2001. In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that aired in May, Donalds said the epiphany came as he was arranging silverware after serving a church group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lord spoke to me and was like, Stop running from me. And so, like, it just it knocked me back, Donalds said. Donalds ran out into the parking lot where the churchgoers were piling into their van. One asked if he was all right. No maam, Donalds said. Im not OK. He went on to explain that the Lords telling me to stop running and the group prayed with him right there on the asphalt. I still get emotional about it, Donalds said. CBN broadcaster David Brody was moved by the story. You got saved in a Cracker Barrel! he exclaimed to Donalds. Now, with the light in his life, Donalds has the strength, courage and platform to absolutely lose it for no discernible reason over a chain restaurants advertising campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Praise God (and pass the country combos and classics)! Hunter Walker Heres what else TPM has on tap this weekend: California Gov. Gavin Newsom trolls President Trump in a way that is sure to get under his skin like nothing else can: hes stealing Trumps grift game. With a government shutdown on the horizon, some Democrats are demanding that Republicans sweeping Medicaid cuts be rescinded in exchange for their support in keeping the government open. Opponents of Alligator Alcatraz scored a win in court on Thursday when Miami federal district court Judge Kathleen M. Williams issued an order that no more immigrants should be sent to the detention camp in the Everglades. Lets dig in. Enter: Newsom the Troll Newsom is making it clearer by the second that he is likely to launch a 2028 bid, as evidenced by his justifiably aggressive response to Trumps nationwide gerrymandering bid to rig the midterms and the new online persona hes rolled out to publicize his plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of it is cringe, like the all caps Trump Truth style tweets where Newsom YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR copied Trumps voice in announcing his plans to redraw some congressional maps in California. Some of it is effective (Trump and his toadies make it easy). Some of it will get under Trumps skin in a way that little else can: hes stealing Trumps grift. On Friday Newsom tweeted an image of new merchandise he supposedly intends to sell (more than likely its just another layer of his ongoing troll). NEW MERCH COMING SOON! YOURE WELCOME, PATRIOTS! pic.twitter.com/mJOzFVtJiP Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 22, 2025 In some sense, whatever, go off. In another sense, beyond all the silly attention-grabbing pranks, Newsom is taking concrete steps to counter this White House. In moving quickly to redraw Californias maps and push back against Republicans redistricting power grab, hes doing something that Democrats have struggled to do in fighting Trump for the past decade. Hes abandoning the higher ground and joining the no-holds-barred fight to stop Trumps midterms ratfuckery. Nicole Lafond Medicaid Cuts May Become a Sticking Point in Looming Govt Funding Fight When congressional lawmakers return from their lengthy August recess, the talk of the town will be focused on how and if Congress will be able to pass a measure either a continuing resolution or appropriations bills to fund the government and avoid a government shutdown. The fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans will need Senate Democrats help in order to do that since legislation to fund the government is subject to the filibuster and requires 60 votes. Some Senate Democrats are already demanding their caucus do nothing to help Republicans unless there are guarantees in place that President Donald Trump will use funds as appropriated without illegally clawing back funds or attempting to send Congress constitutionally backwards rescissions packages. Meanwhile others, especially appropriators, are pushing for a bipartisan appropriations process in order to fund the government. Though there are differing views among the Democratic caucus on how to proceed, healthcare is also becoming an issue Dems may leverage in their negotiations. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is already drawing a line in the sand, per Punchbowl, saying that Dems shouldnt vote for any funding bills unless the Medicaid cuts Republicans stuffed into the so-called big, beautiful bill are rescinded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Republicans want Senate Democrats to provide votes to fund the Trump administration, they can start by restoring the health care that they ripped away to finance more tax handouts for billionaires, Warren told Punchbowl. This government funding fight is about saving health care and lowering costs for millions of Americans. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) has also said that itll be tough to get her vote on budget-related issues without action on Medicaid. Emine Yucel Florida Judge Orders Temporary Shutdown of Alligator Alcatraz Detention Camp Opponents of Alligator Alcatraz scored a win in court on Thursday when Miami federal district court Judge Kathleen M. Williams issued an order that no more immigrants should be sent to the detention camp in the Everglades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams order came after a suit was filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, whose members have a reservation and a traditional camp located next to the facility. Along with stopping further migrants from being held there, Williams called for state and federal officials to remove current detainees within 60 days. The judge also ordered the dismantling of parts of the facility and a stop to new construction. However, the fight over the detention camp, which has been spearheaded by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as part of his efforts to support President Trumps mass deportation agenda, will not be over. Attorneys for the state immediately filed a notice indicating they plan to appeal. Alligator Alcatraz has been mired in controversy since DeSantis and his allies announced it in late June. Attorneys and advocates have raised concerns about humanitarian conditions at the camp as well as legal issues, including detainees access to lawyers. Political opponents have also raised alarms about the nine-figure annual cost of the facility, which Florida is initially paying ahead of a supposed federal reimbursement. TPM has been chronicling the story with reports on the rushed construction, which included diverted disaster resources, and on the legal battle, which has been focused on environmental concerns. While the state has insisted the camp will have no environmental impact on the protected wetlands, evidence from environmental groups and the contracts analyzed by TPM indicated there were plans for paving at the site. We also talked with a tribal leader who described the Miccosukees concerns and called the project an abomination to the whole concept of sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the Miccosukee and the environmental groups argued in court that the camp was built without environmental assessments and impact statements that are required for projects involving federal action. Government lawyers countered that the facility is not subject to federal law since it is being built and run by the state. Williams was evidently not swayed by that rationale. Along with declaring that the project would do irreparable harm to the surrounding environment, Williams described federal immigration enforcement as the key driver of the camp. Because of that, she found it was subject to federal regulations and standards. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, then its a duck, the judge wrote. Hunter Walker Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said he sees no signs that Russia is currently willing to hold talks on a ceasefire or peace with Ukraine. Source: Stubb in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, as reported by European Pravda Details: Stubb said that Russia aims to continue military operations against Ukraine "at least until autumn, to maximise its territorial gains". He expressed scepticism about the prospects of a Ukraine-Russia summit, which was mentioned following European leaders talks with Donald Trump at the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the goal was a bilateral meeting two weeks after Washington, that is, a week after Monday, I consider this very unlikely. Russias delay tactics continue," said the Finnish president. Background: On 22 August, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy only after a summit agenda is prepared, and no such plans currently exist. Trump expects that he will be able to assess the possibility of achieving peace in Ukraine "within two weeks". Ukraines First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia believes that the US should increase pressure on Russia if it does not agree to a summit with Ukraine in the near future. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Thick black smoke could be seen billowing in Northwest D.C. on Saturday afternoon after a car crashed into a gas stations fuel pump, sparking a fire. In a post on the X platform just minutes after noon, the DC Fire and EMS Department said crews responded to a fire at a gas station in the 5500 block of Connecticut Avenue after a car struck a gas pump. DC officials say Trump crackdown is about immigration, power Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos from the scene show an Exxon pump knocked over with the front end of the car immersed in flames. A car crashed into a fuel pump at an Exxon gas station in Northwest on Aug. 23, 2025. (Courtesy: DC Fire and EMS Department) A car crashed into a fuel pump at an Exxon gas station in Northwest on Aug. 23, 2025. (Courtesy: DC Fire and EMS Department) Firefighters said the driver was able to escape the car without any injuries. Crews extinguished the blaze as the fire departments hazmat unit managed the fuel spill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. The fire at an American-owned plant in the city of Mukachevo in Zakarpattia Oblast caused by a Russian strike has been extinguished by the morning of 23 August. Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Details: The fire raged over a total area of 7,000 sq m after the Russian missile attacks. Firefighters are now completing final work, clearing debris and dousing structures to prevent reignition. Thirteen firefighters and four fire appliances were involved in putting out the fire. Background: On the night of 20-21 August, Russia launched a missile strike on Mukachevo. The missiles hit a civilian business, the American Flex plant. It was reported that 19 people had been injured in the attack. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Update UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The Maple Fire is human-caused, according to Mapleton Police. Authorities have reportedly identified juveniles responsible for the wildfire. Mapleton police officers have identified how the fire started and the juvenile(s) that are responsible, Mapleton Police posted on Facebook. There is still more investigating that needs to be done so at this point this is all we are prepared to release. Police have asked the public to keep vehicles clear of the area to allow emergency vehicles clear access to the scene. Firefighters will reportedly continue working on this fire in the coming days. Courtesy of Mapleton Police Courtesy of Mapleton Police The following agencies have assisted in the response: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two U.S. Forest Service severity preposition engines Sawtooth hot shots Idaho Type 1 hand crew Spanish Fork Fire Springville Fire Provo Fire Salem Fire Payson Fire Elk Ridge Fire Woodland Hills Fire Utah County Fire U.S. Forest Service Utah State Forestry and State Lands Juab County Fire Rocky Ridge Nephi Fire Genola Fire Lone Peak Fire Type 1 and Type 3 helicopters This will likely be the last update of the day, officials said. No further information is available at this time. Original Story UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A new wildfire has sparked in Utah County, according to Utah Fire Info. The Maple Fire kicked up Friday in Utah County, east of Mapleton, officials said. The blaze is currently estimated at 50 acres in size. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews worked through the night and stopped the forward spread, Utah Fire Info posted on X. Ground and air resources will continue suppression efforts today. Courtesy of Mapleton Police Dept. Though forward progression has reportedly stopped, the fire was making runs up the mountain, according to an update issued early Saturday morning from Mapleton Police. Fire crews worked the west and south flanks, causing the fire to move away from homes. There are no evacuations in place at this time, though there is an evacuation warning for the homes to the south, against the bench. Aircraft will be arriving at day light. PLEASE NO DRONES IN THE AREA!!! Mapleton Police posted on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mapleton Police issued another update at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, stating, Unbelievable work was done throughout the night by many different fire agencies. They made fantastic progress and we are happy to report that forward progression of the fire has been stopped. We would still like to keep the roads clear as much as possible so we ask that people try to stay clear of the area. Theres still a chance that helicopters or planes may drop water on hotspots so we would like drones out of the area, Mapleton Police said. Further details regarding the fire are limited at this time. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. (FOX40.COM) A massive fire in Stanislaus County burned through several buildings and sent a firefighter to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Video Above: The most destructive fires in California history Around 4 p.m., Modesto fire crews responded to a vegetation fire in the 4300 block of Highway 108 near Adams Gravel Plant Road. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found a burning encampment on the south side of the Stanislaus River. Crews said the fire quickly spread upslope toward nearby structures, fueled by windy conditions. Stanislaus County deputies arrest woman accused of lying about abuse and infant being in danger The Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District battled a massive fire on Aug. 20, 2025./SCFPD According to the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District, embers from the fire caused damage to three structuresone of which was a total loss. Additionally, one firefighter was taken to a local hospital with heat-related symptoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said 37 fire engines from multiple agencies, 11 chief officers/overhead personnel, two ambulances, and other resources responded to the flames. The fire was contained to about 25 acres. Crews remained at the scene throughout the night and into the following day to mop up the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Firefighters tackled a two-alarm townhome fire overnight in South Hill. According to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, just before 10 p.m. last night, crews were dispatched to a reported apartment fire at the Wynstone Townhomes in South Hill. Firefighters found a three-story building with flames showing through the roof of the structure. Despite an aggressive attack, there was heavy involvement from the garage extending to the second and third floors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second alarm was requested, and Central Pierce Fire reports that a quick response brought the fire under control by 10:38 p.m., and kept the damage contained to the originating unit. Firefighters then transitioned to overhaul and support for displaced residents. Five residents were reportedly displaced, with the Red Cross assisting with shelter and clothing. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. Crews remained on scene until approximately 2:00 a.m. Saturday. The Pierce County Fire Marshals office is investigating the cause. Aug. 23OGDENSBURG The youngest member of the Ogdensburg Police Department had her first day on patrol Friday. With four legs, black and brown fur, and a happy disposition, Scottie, a two-year-old German Shepherd, is the department's newest addition. Scottie, along with her handler, Patrolman Andrew Layng, a seven-year veteran of the police department, has completed K-9 training and is ready to hit the streets. Scottie is the third K-9 unit that the police department has had. Its first was Kodiak, whose handler was Chief Mark Kearns. The second was Schuyler, who retired in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scottie and Layng received 6 months of training from Bohemian K9 in Cortland. "I was right there, about six months as well. So just about the time she started to until she just got certified, from start to finish, I was with her," said Layng. "We spent days searching cars, searching blank cars, getting her to recognize and imprinting odors of narcotics so when she encounters those odors she's expecting a reward for finding them and finding the source of them." For Layng, training included learning Scottie's body language "so I can recognize when she's truly in the odor of narcotics." Typically, K-9 units are used for three purposes the tracking of lost individuals or suspects of crimes; suspect apprehension and security; and for the detection of narcotics and/ or explosives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scottie will be used for tracking and narcotics detection. " For us, she will be predominately used in our narcotics investigations, in terms of trying to seize drugs off the street, from people's cars. It's an important part of the narcotic investigation process," said Layng. Layng said that dogs have been a part of his life as far back as he can remember. Scottie joins two labs in the Layng family. Becoming a K9 handler was something he couldn't pass up. "This was something that was more unique to me and what I wanted to do with my career," said Layng. Scottie was named after the late Scott A. Reed, a sergeant on the force who passed away in 2020. Layng's father David Layng, a retired detective with the OPD was a friend and a coworker of Reed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement " It's an honor. Obviously, my dad worked here for 20 years and was a close friend of Scott Reed, so growing up I knew Scott and then I got to work with him when I got hired," said Layng. " As a department, having a namesake for him is important to us. Personally, it's been an honor and we will hopefully make the family proud." According to the National Police Dog Foundation, dogs have been used in law enforcement since the Middle Ages and usually serve in a police force between six to nine years. PHOENIX, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) After his mother passed out on the bathroom floor, eight-year-old Lyncoln ONeill sprang into action and dialed 911. I was scared, and I was going through everything in my head, ONeill said. The incident happened earlier this summer. Thursday, August 21, first responders recognized ONeills heroic act. As soon as dispatchers answered the phone, ONeill told the dispatcher his name and that he thought his Mom had a seizure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 911 dispatcher went out of her way to keep ONeill calm. Youre doing such a great job by talking to me. You did a great job calling 911. Were getting help to your mommy, said the dispatcher over the phone to ONeill. His mother has dealt with seizures since she was 13 years old, so she educated her kids about what to do if she had a seizure. Because of that, when she had this one earlier this summer, her son knew what to do. Who knows when somebody wouldve found me, said ONeills mom, Destiny ONeill. The incident was one of the worst seizures she had ever experienced, and she said the situation couldve been deadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Him being there and being able to calmly pick up the phone, that saved my life, Destiny said. Lyncol didnt know his address, but he did know what his house looked like, how old his mother was and what to communicate to dispatchers. For his heroic act, the Phoenix Enterprise Fire Company #1 honored him for his life-saving call. He was given a police patch, a fire department patch, a Jr. Phoenix fire shirt, a gift certificate to Tones Cones, a pizza party and an award plaque with his name on it. Its a very proud Mom moment, Destiny said. The moment was all thanks to the quick reaction of her 8-year-old son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement View the Facebook post below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) The City of Grand Junction, alongside the Skateboard Alliance, will host the first Wild West Skate Fest to celebrate western Colorados skateboarding culture on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Emerson Skate Park, located at 301 South 10th Street. The festival will feature skateboarding competitions for all skill levels, with prizes awarded in each division. To sign up, interested participants can either pre-register online until Thursday, Sept. 11, or in person on the day of the event from 11 a.m. to noon. The first division will begin at noon and competitions will last until 5 p.m. Additionally, the event will feature music, food trucks, live mural artwork and booths from community businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wild West Skate Fest aims to provide a welcoming space for all skateboarders, regardless of age or ability, and to highlight the connection between skateboarding as a sport and a community. For additional information, contact the City of Grand Junctions Park and Recreation department at 970-254-3866, gjparksandrec@gjcity.org or visit its office located at 1340 Gunnison Avenue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. MOORE, Okla. (KFOR) Moore neighbors were left shocked Friday after finding out that a crime spree involving five suspects and two ATMs ended with a stolen truck on their street. I hope they catch the guys, said one neighbor. It started around 4:30 a.m. Friday at a bank near North Macarthur and Memorial in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City Police reported that a GMC Sierra truck with five men inside used a chain attached to the back to pull apart the banks ATM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their report said they drove off before they could be seen. Then, after 5 a.m. and thirty minutes or so south of that location, a truck with several suspects used a chain to break into an ATM at a bank near Southeast 4th and Eastern in Moore. That vehicle, Moore Police reported, drove off as well, this time with a lot of money. | READ MORE > Police investigating ATM theft in Moore > They drove off with money boxes and a vehicle with chains on the back of it, Moore Police Spokesperson Clint Byley said. Then, about an hour or so later, police said they got a call a couple of roads away from that location that there was a truck with a chain parked on a street near SE 8th and Patterson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I came outside and I went down there to see whats going on, and when I walked down, it was shocking. I saw the cash boxes lying there, and that there was money on the ground, I walked back up to my home and watched from there, said one neighbor. My dad called me and asked me if something was going on right next to my house because he saw it on the news. I looked and was shocked, said another neighbor. According to the Moore Police Department, officers located the vehicle they believe to be involved with chains still attached and pieces of the ATM nearby. The area of Patterson Dr. between SE 8th St. and SE 9th St. was closed as they investigated, but has since reopened. As for the five suspects, police said that they are going around and looking through possible security footage to see if there is a truck with a chain sparking behind it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 spoke with the woman who lives at the home where the stolen truck was found in front of. She said she had no clue it happened and didnt know about the suspects involved. I know nothing, she said. I am floored. We were just about to install a Ring Doorbell camera. This means Im installing the new camera I just bought. Think about that, we literally just bought them, I couldve turned it over to the police and helped them out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) A flood advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for Beaufort County after expected heavy rainfall on Saturday. The advisory will be effective until 3 p.m. and residents of the southeast areas of South Carolina, including Beaufort County, are advised to expect minor flooding in areas with poor drainage. Minor flooding is expected in Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Port Royal, Hilton Head Airport, Parris Island, Folly Field, Shell Point, Forest Beach, Burton and Fripp Island. 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. A Florida man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in North Branford where investigators used egg shell remnants from eggs that the victim was holding during the collision to connect the driver to the crash. James Black, 42, of Myakka City, Florida was sentenced in New Haven Superior Court on Tuesday, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said in a statement issued Friday. During the hearing, Judge Frank A. Iannotti ordered that Black serve five years of probation following his prison term with an additional eight years behind bars hanging over his head if he were to violate any conditions, DCJ officials said. The sentencing comes after Black took a plea deal on June 10, pleading guilty to charges of first-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility and tampering with physical evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to state officials and the North Branford Police Department, Black was identified as the driver who struck David Horbal of North Branford as he was walking home from work on Foxon Road on March 28, 2024. Police previously said Horbal was 65 when he was killed, though DCJ officials gave a conflicting statement on Friday indicating he was 67. According to the DCJ, Black was in a pickup truck going between 75 and 80 mph at the time of the crash and had consumed five beers at a nearby bar. He did not stop after the crash despite a passenger in the vehicle, only identified as a coworker, who pleaded with him to pull over and get help, the DCJ said. Officials said Black then worked to cover up his involvement in the crash, asking his coworker to damage his truck with a skid steer from a construction site. He then drove to Florida, avoiding highways and major roads, to elude authorities, according to the DCJ. In April 2024, police said Black was apprehended as a fugitive and held in custody in Sebring, Florida, where he awaited extradition to Connecticut. He ultimately waived extradition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DCJ, Blacks truck had been partially repaired, though the damaged parts were found in the pickup bed. Investigators also reported finding egg shell particles stuck to the passenger side headlight, noting that Horbal had a bag with eggs inside when he was fatally struck. Video evidence from an RV park reportedly showed Black removing a bag from his trucks front grill and trashing it, officials said. The North Branford Police Departments excellent and thorough investigation resulted in the defendants quick arrest and successful prosecution, the DCJ wrote in a statement. There's no need to fear, for emergency drone swarms are here. To combat school shootings, three districts in Florida are set to trial a drone response system that's designed to subdue an assailant and buy time before law enforcement can arrive at the scene, Newsweek reports. It sounds like something you'd see in a satirical ad in a "Robocop" movie, but no it's real. The drones can spring into operation within five seconds of a silent alarm being activated, and confront the shooter within fifteen, the Texas-based manufacturer, Campus Guardian Angel, claims. While not in use, they're stored on charging pads across the campus, and once deployed, are piloted remotely by a team of employees in its headquarters in Austin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CEO Justin Marston ambitiously compared the drones to a modern fire protection staple: sprinkler systems. "The sprinkler system is able to put water on the fire in seconds because it's already there," he told Newsweek. "You still want the fire trucks to come, you still want the guys with hose pipes to show up but since sprinkler systems were installed, there hasn't really been a mass fire in a school that killed a bunch of children," he claimed. The outrageously quick response time that the company claims the system has is in large part down to the sheer presence of the drones on each campus. In an interview with CBS News, Marston revealed that the company places as many as 30 to 90 drones in every school. And they're nimble, reaching indoor speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, the company claims, with a glass breaker to help burst through potential obstacles. Each drone is equipped with pepper spray pellets to blind or slow down an attacker. And if those measures fail, the drones themselves can be a weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If somebody persists in wanting to murder children, then our answer is we'll just continue to hit them with drones until law enforcement is on scene," Marston told CBS. But ideally, the drones will work alongside local law enforcement and help them by clearing corners and distracting the suspect. "We feed live video to police, show exactly what's happening, where the suspect is, and even smash through windows with a glass punch to create distractions," Marston told Newsweek. "This tactic, like during the SAS's famous hostage rescue [at the Iranian Embassy in London], can give officers a huge advantage." That may sound helpful, but the reality of coordinating the use of drones piloted by someone hundreds of miles away with local cops, SWAT teams, and whoever else is responding to the scene which could waste precious seconds while a gunman is on the prowl is almost certainly going to be far more messy and complicated than the company is letting on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the use of armed drones in schools raises a whole host of glaring logistical and ethical questions. How familiar will the drone operators be with each school? What kind of training will they receive, and should they be in a position to make life or death decisions? How secure are the drones, and how susceptible will they be to a bad internet connection? Could the drones actually cause a shooter to panic and become more desperate in their actions? There's an awful lot of uncertainty here, and it's a grim indictment of the state of affairs that Florida is quickly going ahead with letting its schools and children be turned into unwitting test subjects for dubious security hardware. Other tech-based solutions to combat school shootings haven't panned out; a ludicrously expensive AI gun detection system deployed in Nashville completely failed to detect the firearm used in a shooting that ended with two students dead, including the gunman. Campus Guardian Angel recently demoed the system at two Florida high schools, funded with $557,000 in state money recently approved by Governor Ron DeSantis as part of the 2025/26 budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Newsweek, the company aims to install permanent systems in September and October, with a fully operational live service at the trial schools in January. Hopefully, none of these will ever have to be tested. More on drones: This Country Is Teaching Children How to Build and Operate Deadly Drones In his latest salvo against local leaders, Floridas attorney general is promising to protect the Orlando Torah Center against religious animus as the Orthodox Jewish congregation fights in federal court to reverse an Orange County decision denying it permission to build a bigger synagogue. Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a broad warning in a letter Aug. 8 to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and the Board of County Commissioners that their land use decisions must never be motivated by discriminatory bias against the religious practices of applicants. He offered no evidence of such motivation, but alluded to the boards denial July 1 of the Torah Centers request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite his ominous tone, Uthmeier did not promise specific punishment of local leaders based on the issue, as he did recently when he vowed to remove commissioners who were insufficiently cooperative with federal immigration officials. Still, Uthmeiers letter reflects how the Torah Center decision which county commissioners said was based on concerns the proposed three-story structure would conflict with the surrounding residential neighborhood is being spun increasingly as an assault on religious freedom. A federal lawsuit filed by the Torah Center against Orange County makes similar arguments. Uthmeier cautioned commissioners to avoid even an appearance of unequal treatment or religious bias and ensure its decisions do not burden the free exercise of religion. Departures from these constitutional and statutory obligations intentional or not will bear serious legal consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement County Attorney Jeff Newton answered Uthmeiers missive with a three-paragraph reply, insisting the county made an appropriate land-use decision. The vote, he wrote, was based on fair and neutral legal criteria. It was in no way based on religious animus, discriminatory bias against religious institutions or this specific applicant or on antisemitism. He said a more detailed reply was inappropriate citing the pending litigation. Commissioners turned down the Orlando Torah Centers request for a special exception from zoning rules to build a 9,300 square foot, three-story expansion of its synagogue which operates from a single-story house the congregation converted into a worship center. Sand Lake Hills residents argued the proposed size was too big for their neighborhood and the centers three-quarter acre plot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Synagogue sues Orange County, alleging religious discrimination The zoning board and commission hearings on the proposed synagogue expansion were both crowded and long. Lawyers for the Orlando Torah Center allege in their 83-page federal complaint that the proceedings were characterized by false statements from the public demonstrating animus toward Orthodox Jews, and the county decisionmakers were responsive to those statements. The filing also alleged some hostility was aimed at the growth of the Orthodox Jewish community. Neighbor complaints repeatedly conflated the Orlando Torah Center with any action by any Orthodox Jewish person or resorted to antisemitic dog whistles, the lawsuit claimed using a term to describe language which delivers a coded message though spoken aloud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The neighborhood, a mix of ranch-style and split-level homes, is located across Apopka-Vineland Road from Arnold Palmers Bay Hill Club & Lodge, about 12 miles southwest of downtown Orlando. Supporters of the Torah Center reasoned the proposed expansion would fit in with other religious complexes along church row, the nickname for a stretch of nearby Apopka Vineland Road. Those churches occupy larger sites. Four sit on nine acres or more. Holy Family Catholic Church and School, a mile and a half away, takes up 25 acres. Uthmeiers letter mirrored claims in the lawsuit. He wrote, Reports indicate some residents have called the Jews at the Center rabid dogs, claiming the neighborhood is going down the drain, and they dont want their community to become an enclave like Manhattan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not cite a source for the reports. Uthmeier issued a similar warning in June to Clearwater officials over their dealings with the Church of Scientology. He suggested the Gulf Coast citys position may be influenced by religious animus and reminded Clearwater leaders that state and federal law prohibit a government from making land use decisions based on bias or in a way that burdens religious exercise. Orlando Torah Centers appeal for bigger synagogue fails Commissioner Nicole Wilson, whose west Orange district includes the Sand Hills Lake neighborhood, said she began a community meeting to discuss the Torah Center application by urging all neighbors to be respectful of one another, and she felt her guidance was heeded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im sure there was some talking going on in the back of the room but I did not hear anything that I would have identified as antisemitic, said Wilson, who is Jewish. She said neighborhood objections focused on the proposed size not the people or religion being practiced. A planned temple in Gotha stirs hopes of Hindu faithful, ire of Orange County neighbors During her five-year tenure on the board, Wilson has listened to other zoning appeals involving what she termed out of scale requests by religious institutions notably a Hindu congregations request to build a 33,000-square-foot worship center with a 43-foot-tall spire in Gotha. Commissioners ultimately said no to that project, which would have been by far the tallest structure in the rural settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Torah Centers federal lawsuit argues the neighborhood synagogue is critical to its congregants observance of Orthodox Jewish tenets which prohibit driving on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. Members generally live within walking distance of their synagogue. Most of the Torah Centers congregants live in Sand Lake Hills. The congregation has more than doubled in five years, according to the lawsuit. Their religious exercise is restricted by space limitations which do not allow for children or adult educational programs, private areas for nursing mothers or even enough room for everyone to sit. shudak@orlandosentinel.com AUSTIN (KXAN) A former Austin ISD employee pleaded guilty to property theft in connection with a 2022 district theft case and was sentenced Aug. 12. According to Travis County court documents, 46-year-old Angelica Williams received a one-year sentence of deferred adjudication. In Texas, deferred adjudication is a type of probation that allows the person sentenced to keep the conviction off their criminal record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED | Former Austin ISD executive accused of stealing thousands from district Documents showed Williams pleaded guilty to theft of property between $100 and $750, which is a Class B misdemeanor. In addition to deferred adjudication, Williams must complete 80 hours of community service and is now prohibited from working in government. Former AISD executive Lynn Brennan was also recently sentenced in relation to the districts theft case. She was given two years deferred adjudication after entering a guilty plea. RELATED | Former Austin ISD executive sentenced in district theft case Williams worked in Brennans department, and was listed as a co-defendant in the case. She was originally charged with theft of property greater than $2,500 but less than $30,000, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KXAN Investigator Kelly Wiley 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 KXAN Austin. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Content warning: This article contains information about alleged child sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A former Deseret News journalist was charged Friday after allegedly enticing a minor, who turned out to be an undercover law enforcement officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Joseph Brent Walker, 70, attempted to entice a person he believed was a 14-year-old female into participating in sexual activities with him. The 14-year-old was actually an undercover Layton Police Detective. Detective Travis Rapp, with the Layton Police Department, was posing as a 14-year-old female residing in Davis County on an online dating platform. Between 07/18/2025 and 07/28/2025, Rapp spoke with an individual online in sexually explicit conversations. Layton Police Department were able to acquire a warrant and determined the individuals identity using the IP address that was used to send sexually enticing and harmful materials to Rapp. The IP address apparently matched Joseph Brent Walkers cellular phone and the sexually harmful materials were sent from his Washington County residence. Deseret News confirmed that Walker worked for them as a journalist and in other roles until 2013. He currently works as a Communications manager for the Utah Department of Transportation, according to their website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with Detective Rapp, who he believed to be a minor female. In those conversations, Walker allegedly told Rapp that he was sexually aroused by the minor and asked her to keep the conversation secret. While posing as the female minor, Detective Rapp reportedly told Walker several times that she was underage. Despite this, Walker sent photos of himself that, while clothed, clearly indicated arousal, according to court documents. On August 22, 2025, Joseph Brent Walker was officially charged with two counts of distributing material harmful to minors, a third-degree felony. He was also charged with enticing a minor, which is a third-degree felony as well. If convicted, Walker could face up to five years in prison for each charge. 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. Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, signaled Saturday that he could be the next target of President Trumps FBI after ex-national security adviser John Boltons Washington-area home was raided by agents early Friday. Taylor, who served as a deputy chief of staff at DHS under Trumps first term, was asked by MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart about the raid and whether he is concerned about the administrations next moves. Yeah, we expect it. I mean, really, we expect it, he told Capehart. And thats what is so surreal about this is we can all hear as were talking about this, be so certain of the presidents revenge campaign to know potentially who that next target might be or one of those next targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former DHS aide added, I mean when my wife and I woke up and saw the news, she basically said to me, Its coming.' The FBI confirmed Friday that court-authorized law enforcement activity was conducted in the area of Boltons home in Bethesda, Md. The search was reportedly related to his handling of classified information. The search of Boltons home and office marked an escalation in the feud between Trump and his former national security adviser, with critics seeing it as a potential act of retribution. Taylor, who previously suggested the president kept a blacklist for persecution, said as much in his appearance Saturday on MSNBCs The Weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Folks dont have to play the violin for John Bolton or Miles Taylor. Maybe they dont like either of us. Thats fine, because its not about us, he told the panel. Its about the criminal justice system that all Americans expect to be able to treat them fairly. Its a president of the U.S. weaponizing the tools of his office to reshape our society. And hes doing that. Hes making sure the scales of justice tip in his favor, he continued, adding later, Theres no telling where this could go next. Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he was not told ahead of time about the raid but expected to be briefed later. Bolton has often criticized his former boss over foreign policy decisions. He was also a witness during the presidents first impeachment probe. Vice President Vance defended the FBIs moves in an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press, which will air Sunday, pushing back on allegations that the raid is related to retribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolton has thus far not commented on the raid. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 former FBI official described one suspicious element of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwells interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche: she mentioned Donald Trump unprompted. Andrew McCabe, the bureaus ex-deputy director, told CNN OutFront anchor Erin Burnett Friday night that the whole interview between Maxwell and Blanche, who was previously Trumps personal attorney, was concerningin particular, how Maxwell referred to the president. [Blanche] didnt even have to ask about him for her to bring him up, Burnett observed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell first mentioned Trump a few minutes into the July 24 interview when she said she may have met him in 1990 in New York because her father was friendly with him and liked him very much. McCabe then noted how Maxwell repeatedly referred to him as President Trump and how, in McCabes opinion, she seemed to know exactly what Blanche wanted to hear. She at one point commended Trumps extraordinary achievement in being elected president again, and said he had always been nice to her. I just think the entire thing, Erin, is so curious. Its so suspicious, McCabe said. When you listen to the tapes, you get the sense that Ghislaine Maxwell went into that room knowing what information she had to deliver to get their attention and to get their approval and to get some sort of benefit that she is pursuing from the administration, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blanche, McCabe added, also had a similar goal, which was what she was going to say about Donald Trumps involvement or noninvolvement. Maxwell (right, with Epstein) spoke to Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney, during a two-day interview behind bars while serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty Images And both sides delivered to each others satisfaction, he said. Maxwell did not implicate Trump in any nefarious activity. After her interview, she was moved to a low-security prison in Texas, which observers have called a step up. She is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, which is a pardonable offense. McCabe also commented skeptically on how the interview recording and transcript were released. There were no line agents or investigators in the room who could serve as witnesses to what transpired in an extraordinarily rare interview between a possible government cooperator and the deputy attorney general, he noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its recorded and then immediately released to the public, which is not something you would ever do with the testimony of somebody who you were considering turning into a cooperator, McCabe said. Nothing about this process was conventional or normal, but it does seem that both the administration and Ghislaine Maxwell got exactly what they wanted from it. The Daily Beast has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment. Former German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel has called for the reinstatement of compulsory military service amid the country's evolving security landscape. "Germany must reinstate compulsory military service. Otherwise, we will not be able to turn the Bundeswehr [military] back into a territorial army with sufficient reserves," Gabriel told the Tagesspiegel newspaper in remarks published on Saturday. Germany suspended conscription in 2011 but it remains enshrined in Germany's de facto constitution, the Basic Law, and can be reintroduced with a simple majority in parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabriel, a Social Democrat, argued that the debate over conscription underscores the changing nature of global security. "We live in a world where defence capabilities and deterrence are prerequisites for peace," he said, adding that a strong military is not intended for war, but to prevent it. The German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has committed to seeking voluntary military service as part of its coalition agreement. Later this month, the German Cabinet is expected to vote on a draft law proposed by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius for a new military service. If passed, the programme could begin in early 2026. Pistorius has emphasized that it will focus on voluntary participation and financial incentives, but he has also stressed that the service's voluntary nature will only apply if it is sufficient to meet the Bundeswehr's personnel needs. Outgoing commander of the IDF Military Intelligence Aharon Haliva speaks during a replacing ceremony held at the IDF Intelligence Command headquarters in Glilot, August 21, 2024. (photo credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90) "It is not for the head of the Intelligence Directorate to decide whether he would meet with the prime minister," the report quoted Haliva in the recordings. Former IDF Military Intelligence Directorate chief Aharon Haliva said that Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu had no interest in listening to intelligence assessments, and also received and ignored warnings to better prepare for the possibility of war before October 7 occurred, according to additional leaked recordings released by Channel 12 on Friday night. In the past, it was common for the prime minister to meet with the head of the Intelligence Directorate once a week, the report quoted Haliva as saying in the recordings. Then it went down to once a month, then once every two months. By the end, meetings were only once every six months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that it is not for the head of the Intelligence Directorate to decide whether he would meet with the prime minister. Haliva then noted his belief that Iran will become nuclear, the Channel 12 report added. Commander of the IDF Military Intelligence Aharon Haliva attends a replacing ceremony held at the IDF Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem on July 8, 2024. (credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90) If one day the state investigation committee opens the books on the last 20 years of our dealings with the nuclear issue and the money we invested there, building the barrier in Gaza will be peanuts compared to the billions invested there for nothing. Haliva then noted his uncertainty in whether Israel made the correct decision to strike the Islamic Republic in its Operation Rising Lion (also known as the 12-Day War, June 13-24, 2025). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what should have been done. Im not going into the analysis now, but [US President Donald] Trump should not have been pressured to withdraw from the nuclear deal. Haliva then claimed that four days into the Israel-Hamas War, on October 11, 2023, a heated debate took place between Netanyahu and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant, with the latter arguing that targets in Lebanon should have been struck at the very beginning of the war, which the prime minister later agreed to. The additional recordings of Haliva came a week after the first leaked recordings of him were released, also by Channel 12, which included an incendiary remark by him about how for every person killed on October 7 [by Hamas terrorists], 50 Palestinians need to die. He had also addressed last week a core intelligence failure on Israels part, saying, One of the hardest problems before October 7 was the belief that intelligence was omnipotent. It is not just arrogance, its deeper. Maariv Online contributed to this report. A former Deseret News journalist who also wrote an independent syndicated column about traditional values was charged Friday for allegedly enticing a detective posing online as a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. The Davis County Attorneys Office filed third-degree felony charges Friday against Joseph Brent Walker, 70, in 2nd District Court. Walker faces one count of enticing a minor and two counts of distributing material harmful to a minor. Prosecutors also filed a request asking a judge to issue a no-bail arrest warrant for Walker. Court documents show him residing in Washington, Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker worked in various reporting and editing roles at the Deseret News in three separate stints at the company. He left the Deseret News in 2013. From 1990 to at least 2015, Walker wrote ValueSpeak, a weekly syndicated column that examined contemporary issues through the lens of traditional values. The column appeared in at least 30 newspapers and a number of online publications. Walker is now a communications director for the Utah Department of Transportation, he confirmed to the Deseret News. Im not aware of these charges, Walker said when contacted Friday. So I dont have anything to say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker allegedly sent sexually explicit photos to a Layton detective posing as a 14-year-old girl and attempted to entice the apparent teen to engage in sexual activity, according to a declaration by Layton Police Det. Travis Rapp. Prosecutors filed Rapps statement with their application for an arrest warrant. Defendant presents a substantial danger to the community, specifically to children, Rapp alleged in the document. Rapp created the fictitious 14-year-old as part of an online investigation. The detective posed as the girl in an online dating forum, according to his declaration. A person using the screen name William Wallace engaged in multiple sexually explicit online conversations with the detective posing as the girl between July 18 and 25, according to Rapp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detective alleged that he obtained search warrants and determined through IP addresses and further investigation that Walker was the person using the William Wallace screen name. Posing as the girl, Rapp allegedly made it abundantly clear in the online conversations that the girl was 14. Walker allegedly sent two sexually explicit photos to the fictitious girl, Rapp said. The request for an arrest warrant asks a judge to issue a no-bail warrant for Walker. A third-degree felony is punishable by up to five years in prison. The former Republican leader of the New York City Council explained how Zohran Mamdani could lose the race for mayor, adding the frontrunner candidate "cant do much of what hes promising" even if elected. Joe Borelli, who served more than nine years as a councilman, sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss the standings of the race as sitting mayor Eric Adams , former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa all linger in the field against Mamdani and his openly socialist agenda. "The race is not even close to over," Borelli told Fox. "We'll see the first set of polls after Labor Day, sometime around Sept. 10, Sept. 11, and that's when you'll really see the race take shape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meet Mamdani's Radical Advisory Circle That Includes Communist Activist, Anti-israel Advocates Zohran Mamdani responded to reporters' questions about the protesters outside his anti-Trump event on Staten Island. "That's when I do think there'll be some pressure for perhaps one or two of the candidates to step aside and support the others," Borelli added. Cuomo, who lost in the Democratic primary upset defeat to Mamdani in June, was reportedly "counting on" President Trump to push GOP voters in New York City to support the former governor. Read On The Fox News App Cuomo's campaign denied the rumors to Fox News Digital earlier this week. Borelli noted that President Donald Trump convincing Sliwa and Adams to drop out of the race could be beneficial for Cuomo, but that an official endorsement may do more harm than good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Trump could help Cuomo by helping the other two non-Mamdani candidates get out of the race, and that would be impactful," Borelli told Fox. "Unfortunately, though, even as a Trump supporter, I'd have to admit that the president is not particularly popular amongst the voting block of New Yorkers." Mamdani Sidesteps 'Communism' Question, Says His Campaign Is About 'Distribution Of Wealth' As for Mamdanis agenda, the socialist has made lofty campaign promises, saying he wants New York City to provide free childcare, free bus transportation, city-owned grocery stores and freeze rent prices. Borellis near-decade spent on the city council leads him to believe that many of these promises simply arent possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mamdani can't do much of what he's promising unilaterally," Borelli told Fox. "The MTA is not running in the black right now. It's running significantly in the red. Nyc Voters Flock To Socialist-style Freebies As Mamdani Pushes Rent Freezes, City-run Stores "[The MTA] always needs more money, so it would be unclear how he could sell the entire MTA board on a program to make buses free when that would cost upwards of one, two, maybe $3 billion." As for Mamdanis plan to open a city-run grocery store in each of the five boroughs of NYC, sitting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed back at the idea at an event in the Hamptons over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I favor free enterprise," Hochul, who is not running for mayor, told the crowd while referencing Mamdani's vision for grocery stores in the city. As the remaining candidates continue to battle while Mamdani leads the pack, the stage is set for an eventful November mayoral election. Fox News Digital reached out to Zohran Mamdani's campaign but did not receive a response. Original article source: Former NYC councilmember blasts Mamdani, says race for mayor is not even close to over A former Sri Lankan president has been arrested for allegedly misusing public funds to fly to London in 2023 during an anti-corruption crackdown in the country. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who became the first head of state to be arrested in the island nations history, is accused of misusing more than 40,000 of public money to pay for his private overseas trip. The offences carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine not exceeding three times the value of the misappropriated funds. Mr Wickremesinghe, 76, was remanded in custody at Colombos New Magazine Prison in Sri Lanka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-graft units have increased their activities since Mr Wickremesinghe lost the presidential election to Anura Kumara Dissanayake last September. Mr Dissanayake came to power on a promise to fight endemic corruption in the island nation, which is emerging from its worst economic meltdown in 2022. Opposition parties in Sri Lanka have accused his government of jailing the former president over fears that he could return to power. Ranil Wickremesinghe is accused of using state funds to finance a private visit to Britain in September 2023 - Eranga Jayawardena Nalin Bandara, a member of parliament for the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party, who visited Mr Wickremesinghe in prison, said the former leader had called for unity to challenge Mr Dissanayakes Left-wing administration. What the former president says is that we should get onto a common stage to fight the oppression of the new government, Mr Bandara told reporters outside the prison. Mr Wickremesinghe is due to appear in the court again on Aug 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP), which has two seats in the 225-member parliament, said the government felt threatened by the former president. They fear he might return to power, and that is why this action, Thalatha Athukorala, the UNP general secretary, told reporters in Colombo. Mr Wickremesinghe stands accused of using state funds to finance a private visit to Britain in September 2023 while returning from attending the G77 summit in Havana, Cuba, and the UN General Assembly in New York. His two-day UK visit was to participate in the conferring of an honorary professorship on his wife, Maithree, by the University of Wolverhampton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court heard that state funds amounting to 16.6 million Sri Lankan rupees (40,000) had been spent on the London leg of the journey, which included travel for a delegation of 10 people. Mr Wickremesinghe has maintained that his wifes travel expenses were met by her, and that no state funds were used. Politically motivated case Defence lawyers argued that the visit was conducted based on an official invitation processed through the Sri Lankan High Commission in London and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They accused the government of pursuing a politically motivated case. Mr Wickremesinghe, who served six terms as prime minister before assuming the presidency at the height of Sri Lankas 2022 economic crisis, is widely credited with stabilising the economy after mass protests forced Gotabaya Rajapaksha, his predecessor, from office. His detention has also drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Moratuwa councillor Lihini Fernando, of the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya, warned that criminalising the overlap between a presidents public and private life sets a dangerous precedent for the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the new government came to power, two former senior ministers have been jailed for up to 25 years for corruption. Several members of former president Mahinda Rajapaksas family have also been charged with misusing state funds and are being prosecuted. Many of them are currently on bail pending court hearings. This month, Mr Dissanayakes government impeached the police chief after accusing him of abuse of power. The prison chief was also jailed for corruption. 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 recent meetings among Presidents Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy over the war in Ukraine were more about managing Trumps expectations and Putins territorial ambitions than they were about actually achieving a peace deal. Thats according to Fiona Hill, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former deputy assistant to President Donald Trump. She is a leading expert on Russia and Europe, with a focus on U.S.-Russia relations and Eurasian security. Unfortunately for everyone concerned, even including Putin, this is an exercise more about managing Trump even than actually trying to get to a peace deal in Ukraine, Hill told me in an interview Thursday. And what I mean by that is that despite the fact that, of course, Ukraine and Europe and many other parties would very much like to see this war come to an end, and as President Trump puts it, the killing stop, we know that Putin doesnt necessarily want that outcome, because he wants to have the opportunity to take as much of Ukrainian territories as he possibly can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hill was in Boise for the Conversations with Exceptional Women conference hosted by the Alturas Institute. We sat down for an interview in between sessions at the Yanke Research Center, where the conference was held. Her visit to Boise was fortuitous because it came on the heels of Trumps meetings with Putin and Zelenskyy. After Trumps meeting with Putin, Hill said Trump had completely ceded narrative control to Putin. Hill is perhaps most well-known for her testimony before Congress in the impeachment hearings against Trump in 2019. National Security Council official Fiona Hill and State department official David Holmes are sworn in before they testify before the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Nov. 21, 2019. The Russians interests are frankly to delegitimize our entire presidency, she testified. The goal of the Russians (in 2016) was really to put whoever became the president by trying to tip their hands on one side of the scale under a cloud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a Q&A with Hill, edited for length and clarity. Q: Whats your assessment of how President Trump has handled the meetings this past week with both presidents, Putin and Zelenskyy? A: Unfortunately for everyone concerned, even including Putin, this is an exercise more about managing Trump even than actually trying to get to a peace deal in Ukraine. And what I mean by that is that despite the fact that, of course, Ukraine and Europe and many other parties would very much like to see this war come to an end, and as President Trump puts it, the killing stop, we know that Putin doesnt necessarily want that outcome, because he wants to have the opportunity to take as much of Ukrainian territories as he possibly can. But its Trump himself whos been pushing the agenda here. When he came into office, and before he came into office, he kept claiming that not only would the war not have started had he been in office, but that he could solve it in 24 hours, its going to be really easy just to get it all to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump wants peace. Putin wants pieces of Ukraine and as big a piece as he possibly can. And the Ukrainians also want peace, but they want to have it on terms that recognize the fact that theyre the ones who have been invaded. Its their land that were talking about the whole time. The Russians dont want to give any security guarantees to the Ukrainians, Putin doesnt want to meet with Zelenskyy. And really what hes doing is trying to manage Trump and to kind of try to tamp down now Trumps expectations so that he can keep pursuing the complete capitulation of Ukraine. Fiona Hill, a highly respected British-American expert on Russia and Europe, with a focus on U.S.-Russia relations and Eurasian security, was in Boise to speak at an Alturas Institute conference, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. Q: Several European leaders accompanied Zelenskyy to the meeting with Trump at the White House? Why did they do that and how significant was that? A: They wanted to prevent Trump from making unilateral decisions about Ukraines territory and to ensure they werent excluded from negotiations. It was a strategic move to counter Putins influence and manage Trumps expectations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole process is really a battle for Trump, because hes kind of either the obstacle or the gateway to a solution in Ukraine. Europeans have stepped forward to not just embrace Zelenskyy and to try to stand in solidarity with Ukraine, but theyve also worked to try to find formulas that will enable them to engage directly with Trump. They know that he wont ever treat them as peers. It takes, you know, how many Europeans do we have at the table? Eight Europeans, nine Europeans, if you count Zelenskyy, to counter one Putin. Because for them, Putin, they know, in Trumps mind, far outweighs their own collective ways. When you look at the Europeans and everybody who came to Washington, D.C., on Monday, they came again to manage Trump. I mean, for them, its absolutely essential to have a peace deal in Ukraine, but it cant be just any old peace. They have to have something that is going to ensure European security of the longer term as well. Q: Is that a little bit of an irony that Trump has actually, in some ways, strengthened Europes commitment to NATO? A: Between the two of them, Putin and Trump, theyve probably done more to spur the kind of independent prospects of Europe as a security provider. And its long overdue, by the way. Theres no way that Europe should have been basically dependent on the United States for all this length of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sad fact of the matter is that Europeans are still heavily reliant on the U.S., but weve then got to find that pathway in a kind of managed fashion for them to be able to provide for their own deterrence of Russia, and that requires also being able to support Ukraine so that Putin just doesnt do something like this again. They dont want a highly militarized Russia that is capable then of exerting all kinds of political, economic and intelligence and other nefarious influence over the rest of Europe, backed up by a very menacing military machine. Because Russia has thrown and Putin has thrown everything into the militarization of the economy now and building up the Russian forces to a point where Russia absolutely will be the dominant military power in Europe and be able to use coercive power, not necessarily invade all of the neighboring countries, but certainly use coercive power, putting the future of Europe in question, and also making it very clear that war works. Q: Sun Tzus Art of War talks about a golden bridge, or giving your opponent a way to retreat or save face in a conflict, rather than pushing them into a corner where they must fight to the death. Is there a golden bridge here? A: If Putin could get the bridge and the gold and walk away, thats what he would do. He doesnt want anyone saving face. Hes going to keep on going until he cant go any further, until he reaches, you know, some kind of major barrier. And then, you know, he could bank his territorial gains and try to make mischief in some other way. Q: Idahos U.S. Sen. Jim Risch is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He has been a very vocal supporter of Ukraine in the past, but he faces tremendous political pressure to toe the company line with Trump. What should his role be in all of this? A: Theres one thing for being critical in public; its really what you do in private. And my understanding of Sen. Risch is that he has stuck to his principles, just that we may not always be seeing what hes doing and, lets hope, that hes continued to push for that kind of support. And if you actually look at polling in America, it is not politically unpopular to be still showing support for Ukraine in the United States. For Sen. Risch and others, they see the international and global implications of this, the signal that it sends to anybody else where a neighboring country thinks that they have a historic right to territory, and theres so many places that that could be, this is kind of a recipe for disaster. Fiona Hill, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former deputy assistant to President Trump, meets with the Idaho Statesman Opinion Editor Scott McIntosh while in Boise to speak at an Alturas Institute conference, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. Q: Is there a potential solution to the conflict? A: What I would like to see is President Trump genuinely working with his European counterparts. He seems to have forged reasonably good relations right now with the leaders of several European countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The solution, at least, would seem to start off from an ability to freeze the lines of conflict, and this is what all the Europeans are talking about. And it also involves providing defensive weapons to Ukraine, stopping Russian missile attacks, sharing intelligence and creating a peace deal that doesnt completely sacrifice Ukrainian territory. However, Putin wants a victory and is unlikely to make significant concessions. Q: So what does Putin ultimately want? A: I think what Putin is looking for is a reset of the U.S.-Russian relationship, which he seemed to get in Alaska. He literally had the red carpet rolled out for him and Trump talking about all the things that Russia and the U.S. could do together. But Putin wants to be able to have a semblance of victory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin wants to claim victory by securing Ukrainian territories, particularly in Donbas. The only glimmer of a concession is that Putin has said that for now, and he may change his mind later, hed be willing to take all of Donbas, which he doesnt completely control, in return for maybe having some negotiation of the areas he does not control. I mean, thats not a lot to take to the bank basically on the U.S. or the European side, but thats the only kind of glimmer of something to work on. But we have to remember that everything is a loss for Ukraine. The only thing is, its an absolute miracle that weve got to this place right now because if there hadnt been any support for Ukraines incredible bravery in fighting back, there wouldnt be a Ukraine by now. Q: Are you optimistic or pessimistic? A: I can be both at the same time. Im pessimistic about the trends but Im optimistic since I know that things can be done. Its just not going to be easy. We could do it. The big challenge is that its all about managing Trump and being able to get him into a place where he will continue to work with Europeans and support them and not be constantly flipping over onto the path that Vladimir Putin keeps laying out for him. Scott McIntosh is the opinion editor of the Idaho Statesman. You can email him at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com or call him at 208-377-6202. Sign up for the free weekly email newsletter The Idaho Way. OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) The former Walhalla Rescue Squad Chief was arrested Friday after admitting to embezzling public funds during his time as chief. 49-year-old William David Tatum was charged with embezzlement of public funds, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. According to the arrest warrants, Tatum had embezzled more than $10,000 of public funds and had admitted that he used the money for personal gain. He had been embezzling the funds while Chief of the Walhalla Rescue Squad, according to SLED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tatum was booked into the Oconee 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 WSPA 7NEWS. After patching some budget holes with newfound dollars, Miami-Dade Countys mayor defused some friction over the scattered funding cuts she proposed for 2026. But big fights remain. As Mayor Daniella Levine Cava prepares for two crucial meetings in September when shell need County Commission votes to pass a 2026 budget, critics still have plenty of complaints and demands within the $12.9 billion spending plan. Heres a look at four spending fights still raging as the countys Sept. 4 and Sept. 18 budget hearings approach: Which property tax should pay for the countys rescue helicopters? To free up dollars for other expenses, Levine Cavas 2026 budget proposal makes the countys Fire Rescue Department pay for four rescue helicopters currently paid for by countywide property taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shift may seem logical: the Fire Rescue Department operates the choppers, after all. But the proposed move is controversial because of how Miami-Dade funds firefighting. A special property tax paid by about 80% of the countys homeowners funds the Fire Rescue Department, which is responsible for fire and ambulance calls everywhere in Miami-Dade but in the five cities with their own fire departments. Property owners in those municipalities Coral Gables, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Miami and Miami Beach dont pay the countys Fire Rescue property tax, but the countys rescue choppers are available for medical evacuations in those cities. That hasnt been a source of friction so far because Miami-Dade pays the chopper budget with its countywide property tax a levy paid by all property owners across the county, including all 34 municipalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By shifting the chopper budget from the countywide tax to the Fire Rescue tax, Levine Cava can free up property-tax dollars to patch holes in county budgets for sheriff, charity grants, transit and other problem areas. But the countys fire union contends the switch saps Fire Rescue funds from long-term plans to add fire trucks, stations and crews in areas of the county needing better coverage to lower response times. If there is a will to drive down response times by putting [rescue] units into service, they just need to be funded, William McAllister, president of the fire union, told commissioners at a Wednesday workshop on the 2026 budget. Making the helicopter unit a new Fire Rescue expense is suffocating our ability to meet that demand for quicker responses. Ray Jadallah, the countys fire chief, said Miami-Dade remains on track to expand fire services even more after opening stations and purchasing new fire engines in recent years. He said Miami-Dades competitive real estate market is the main problem at the moment for opening new stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very difficult, land acquisition, he said. So we continue to search. Can charities claw back all of their cut grants? On Tuesday, Levine Cava announced she was restoring more than overall $60 million in cuts from the original budget proposal she unveiled in July. The new money was raised largely from outside county agencies reporting surplus amounts from 2025 spending theyre required to return to Miami-Dade. Levine Cava is proposing using some of the extra money to restore about $18 million in non-profit grant funding, mitigating the original $40 million cut to the grants announced last month. While Levine Cava warned the grant funding is one-time money that shouldnt be counted on in 2027, charities providing help for the elderly, after-school programs and other services are urging the mayor and commissioners to find more money to restore the grants fully. Will MetroConnect survive or be replaced? The free transit shuttle service known as MetroConnect would be eliminated in the Levine Cava budget a savings of about $11 million. But there are efforts to keep MetroConnect running to fill gaps where bus routes dont run. While the private company Via has the transit contract to run the service in more than a dozen zones across Miami-Dade, Commissioner Eileen Higgins said at the workshop that competitors are submitting proposals to provide shuttles at a lower cost, suggesting the final 2026 budget could have extra dollars to fund a MetroConnect replacement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioner Raquel Regalado said she didnt want Miami-Dade to offer free shuttles and that MetroConnect riders should be paying fares like bus and Metrorail riders do. Its still going to be subsidized, Regalado said. Its just not free. How much of Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutzs budget request will commissioners grant? While an amendment to the Florida Constitution required Miami-Dade to turn its police department into an independent sheriffs office this year, the County Commission still controls the agencys funding. The budget proposal by Levine Cava, who used to oversee the county police department as mayor, increases sheriff funding by about 8% over current levels. Obviously, public safety is always going to be Number One, Levine Cava said at an Aug. 6 budget town hall. She noted the police budgets grew an average of 8% during her first term as mayor and that the proposal for 2026 matches what we believe is reasonable and necessary for the Sheriffs Office. Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz is urging commissioners to overrule Levine Cava and provide about $90 million more than the mayors proposed $915 million funding from the county for the office in 2026. The requested funding keeps deputies on the street, Cordero-Stutz told commissioners. Without it, I will have over 260 vacancies by next summer. This should not be acceptable for any elected official in this county. (The Center Square) Four Republicans so far are running for Texas attorney general. U.S. Chip Roy is the latest to announce hes running for AG, joining state Sens. Joan Huffman and Mayes Middleton, and Aaron Reitz, a former Texas deputy attorney general. They are vying to replace Attorney General Ken Paxton who is challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Middleton, a Republican from Galveston, first announced his bid in April. Hes the only candidate with no prosecutorial experience. President of Middleton Oil Company, he also runs ranching, cattle, and farming operations. Middleton has served in both the Texas House and Senate and consistently ranks as among the most conservative members. He has championed a partial ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, advocated for parental rights and school choice, authored bills to protect womens and girls sports, bathrooms and locker rooms, and a ban on COVID vaccine mandates, among other legislation. Hes rejected a state pension and taxpayer-funded healthcare and donates his entire state salary to local charities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huffman is running to become the first female attorney general of Texas. A former Harris County prosecutor and Criminal District Court judge, Huffman is the only three-time recipient of the Texas District and County Attorneys Associations Law and Order Award. In the Texas Senate, shes authored numerous bills to strengthen the criminal justice system and bring transparency and accountability to the judiciary. Huffman led the charge against the defund the police movement by authoring a new law, Back the Blue Act, which penalizes cities and counties that defund law enforcement. She authored critical bail reform legislation, leading a bipartisan movement in response to judges releasing violent criminals onto the streets only to keep committing violent crime. She authored new laws to enable the removal of prosecutors who refuse to enforce the law, to increase penalties for violent crimes, including for fentanyl trafficking involving murder, and several measures to protect victims, including human trafficking victims. Reitz served in the AG's office during the impeachment of Paxton, the only attorney general to be impeached in Texas history. Paxton was impeached by 60 House Republicans on 20 charges, including bribery. The Texas Senate acquitted him along party lines. During the impeachment trial, longtime Texas Ranger David Maxwell alleged female employes made sexual harassment complaints against Reitz. After the trial, additional lawsuits were filed by Paxtons top deputies against each other alleging sexual harassment, falsifying documents and witness tampering, multiple news outlets reported. Reitz next worked for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz while being called to testify in a federal bribery and extortion probe into Paxton. He then worked for the Trump Justice Department for three months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, Reitz came under fire for posting what appeared to be photo ops in Kerrville after the devastating Hill Country floods. Other criticism includes deleting more than 4,000 controversial tweets, including supporting arranged marriages, CBS News first reported. Reitz, who ran for the Texas House District 47 seat in 2020 and lost, says he embodies the Texas values of courage, perseverance, and a refusal to bend the knee and will defend law and order and fight woke ideology. Roy announced his AG bid on Thursday, roughly eight months after President Donald Trump encouraged Republicans to primary him. As Roy opposed increasing the national debt and spending, Trump called him, The very unpopular Congressman from Texas, saying he was getting in the way, as usual, of having yet another Great Republican Victory All for the sake of some cheap publicity for himself. Republican obstructionists have to be done away with, multiple news outlets reported. Roy says he delivered on Trumps agenda and wanted to take his experience in Congress, as a federal prosecutor and a former First Assistant AG of Texas to fight for Texas from Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roy previously worked under Paxton and for Cruz, was senior counsel to former Gov. Rick Perry, served as counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and was the Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas. Serving four terms in Congress, Roy fought to reduce the size of government, reduce taxes, reduce government waste, fraud and abuse, strengthen border security, target foreign threats coming from cartels and the Chinese Communist Party, secure U.S. elections among other intiatives. As attorney general, he says hell go after Soros-funded judges and DAs putting criminals on the streets, as well as judicial mandates that Texans pay for illegals in our public schools. It is unclear how Roy would do this in light of the Texas Constitutions separation of powers. The Texas Constitution states that only the legislature and Texas Supreme Court can remove judges under specific circumstances. The Texas Constitution also requires that a free public education be provided to all children in Texas regardless of nationality. The Republican primary election is March 3, 2026. Aug. 22Mental health funds, youth violence and drones were top of mind for New Mexico law enforcement officials at a round table with Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., in Albuquerque on Wednesday afternoon. Vasquez was in the northern part of his congressional district this week, speaking with advocates on everything from food aid to rural schools. The congressman said he thinks a broader conversation between New Mexico policymakers and law enforcement is needed, and he would be willing to help coordinate one. Here are four takeaways from his conversation with law enforcement agency heads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1. Social media regulation and youth violence Vasquez said he would look into regulating social media platforms after hearing from law enforcement heads that young people are acquiring firearms that are stolen from cars and then sold on social media platforms, particularly Telegram. The congressman is already supporting Ethan's Law, a safe storage bill that would require any firearms in homes to be safely stored if a minor could gain access to them. Both Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina and Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said there is not always enough capacity to incarcerate youth offenders, and that they're not convinced state legislators will take steps to address juvenile crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't have an ounce of faith in our state Legislature to get anything done on this. They're going to disagree on everything in juvenile crime," Allen said. 2. Drone mitigation worries law enforcement Several law enforcement heads are concerned about mitigating drones, which they say are being used by criminal groups for surveillance. They're also concerned about the potential for people to weaponize drones. "Local law enforcement is basically banned from shooting down drones. ... There is no legal process for us to get through that," Medina said. "It has to come from the federal level. We just need a process to be able to deal with the drone." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal entities like White Sands Missile Range and Customs and Border Protection are also looking for ways to address drones, Vasquez said. "White Sands Missile Range doesn't have the authority to even jam electronically the drones that are in their airspace," Vasquez said. "We're working on that actively with them, to try to solve that issue and then get them the technology that they need to be able to do that. That's a national security issue." CBP has asked his office for technology to deal with drones, Vasquez said. "Drones and these alternative methods for moving stuff over the border are just going to increase exponentially," said New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler. "And out of necessity now, because it is harder to move stuff across. And as everyone said, we're unable to counter it in any way, shape or form." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3. Threats to federal and state dollars As state legislators consider ways New Mexico can fill the gap left in the social safety net by the "One Big Beautiful Bill," Weisler is concerned that cuts to federal dollars for Medicaid could imperil state dollars for law enforcement projects. Medina said he expects grant funding to be withheld because Albuquerque is an immigrant-friendly sanctuary city. "It will get tied up in the courts. ... I'm confident we'll get it, but in the interim, we're going to lose funding that we use each and every year," Medina said. 4. Money for substance abuse and mental health Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque and Belen police leadership want more dollars for substance abuse programs and mental health services. "Crime is down in Albuquerque, but nobody will believe it. Why? They associate the view of homelessness with crime," Medina said. "Our biggest issue has become the unhoused and the unhoused's biggest issues are substance abuse and mental health." Homelessness, mental health and drug use are a significant problem in Belen that the police department gets asked to address, said Belen Police Chief Adam Keck, even when there's no crime involved. PARIS (Reuters) -France summoned the Italian ambassador after Italy's deputy prime minister challenged the French president for suggesting that European soldiers be deployed in Ukraine in a post-war settlement, a French diplomatic source said on Saturday. Asked earlier this week to comment on French President Emmanuel Macron's appeals to deploy European soldiers in Ukraine after any settlement with Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini used a Milanese dialect phrase loosely translatable as "get lost". "You go there if you want. Put your helmet on, your jacket, your rifle and you go to Ukraine," he told reporters, referring to Macron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salvini, the populist leader of the right-wing League party and also Italy's transport minister in the nationalist, conservative government led by Giorgia Meloni, has repeatedly criticized Macron, especially over Ukraine. The Italian ambassador was summoned on Friday, the diplomatic source said, marking the latest in a series of diplomatic clashes between Paris and Rome before and after Meloni took power in 2022. "The ambassador was reminded that these remarks ran counter to the climate of trust and the historical relationship between our two countries, as well as to recent bilateral developments, which have highlighted strong convergences between the two countries, particularly with regard to unwavering support for Ukraine," the source said. Macron, a vocal supporter of Ukraine over its war with Russia, has been working with other world leaders, notably British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to mobilise support for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. (Reporting by Makini Brice in Paris and Giulio Piovaccari in Milan; Editing by Aidan Lewis) France has summoned the Italian ambassador in protest at remarks by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. Salvini's remarks attacking French President Emmanuel Macron over the conflict in Ukraine were seen as "unacceptable," diplomatic sources said in Paris on Saturday. Ambassador Emanuela D'Alessandro is to present herself at the Foreign Ministry in the French capital on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has been reminded that Salvini's comments undermine the climate of trust between France and Italy. They threaten cooperation between the neighbouring countries, "in particular with respect to unlimited support for Ukraine," the sources said. Salvini, head of Italy's right-wing Lega party, earlier criticized Macron for his readiness to send troops to Ukraine following a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev. Speaking at an engagement in Milan, Salvini suggested that Macron should go to Ukraine himself. "You put on your helmet, your vest, your rifle and go to Ukraine," Salvini said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite offering Ukraine her strong support, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said repeatedly that Rome will not provide troops for a peacekeeping mission in the country. Salvini is a close ally of Marine Le Pen from France's far-right National Rally, who came second to Macron in the 2022 presidential elections. He has repeatedly criticized Macron, using abusive language. Meloni and Macron have also been in conflict in recent years, but have more recently attempted to show a united front on foreign policy issues. France has summoned Italys ambassador after Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini disparaged French President Emmanuel Macrons suggestion that European troops could be deployed in Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement, a French diplomatic source confirmed to Reuters on Aug. 23. Responding to Macrons appeal earlier this week, Salvini used a Milanese dialect expression loosely meaning "get lost." Speaking to reporters, he added: "You go there if you want. Put your helmet on, your jacket, your rifle and you go to Ukraine." Salvini, who leads Italys right-wing League party and serves as transport minister in Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis government, has long been a critic of Macron, especially regarding Ukraine. His remarks prompted France to call in Italys envoy on Aug. 22, in what has become the latest in a string of diplomatic disputes between Paris and Rome since Meloni took office in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the French diplomatic source, "(T)he ambassador was reminded that these remarks ran counter to the climate of trust and the historical relationship between our two countries, as well as to recent bilateral developments, which have highlighted strong convergences between the two countries, particularly with regard to unwavering support for Ukraine." Read also: Security guarantees for Ukraine explained: Whats on the table and whats realistic? Macron has been among Europes strongest advocates of backing Kyiv in its fight against Russia, working closely with leaders including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to secure international support for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. The debate over Europes role in postwar Ukraine has intensified in recent weeks. According to Bloomberg, Meloni has advanced a proposal for security guarantees that would require Ukraines allies to decide within 24 hours of a renewed Russian attack whether to commit support, ranging from military aid to sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan, first floated in March 2025, mirrors NATOs Article 5 collective defense principle but does not include NATO membership for Ukraine. Meloni was also among the European leaders who joined Zelensky at the White House on Aug. 18 to discuss such guarantees with U.S. President Donald Trump. Overall, about 10 European countries are considering sending troops as part of a postwar peacekeeping force to deter further Russian aggression, sources told Bloomberg. Read also: Russia strengthens hand in potential peace talks with steady advances in Donbas Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Dustin Fields, the father accused of killing his two teenage sons, was back inside a Frankfort courtroom on Friday morning. Fields, 43, was arrested in April after the bodies of his two sons and a dog were found inside his burned home. RELATED: Coroner identifies boys recovered from Frankfort house fire Frankfort father charged in fire, death of sons, faces additional sex abuse charges Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frankfort father accused of setting house fire appears in court, case sent to grand jury The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) said investigators spent four days sifting through more than 7,000 pounds of debris left by the house fire. Fields was indicted on two counts of murder, two counts of torture of a dog, and one count of first-degree arson. He appeared in court on Friday for a status hearing. His next court appearance is set for 9 a.m. on Oct. 17. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 22FREEMAN, S.D. A planned Native American restaurant on Freeman's Main Street remains in limbo after the City Council voted Tuesday night to uphold a building inspector's declaration that the future home of Watecha Bowl Grille is "dangerous" and uninhabitable. The public inspection and Board of Appeals hearing, held Aug. 19, centered on a two-story commercial building owned by Josue "Sway" Torres and slated to house Lawrence West's Watecha Bowl Grille. The city had previously issued an order demanding extensive repairs be completed by Jan. 1, 2026. Tuesday's decision was a blow to West, who shut down his successful Sioux Falls restaurant in March with plans to relaunch in Freeman by May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of celebrating a grand opening this summer, West is battling city hall and believes the delays aren't just about bricks and mortar. "The problem is the mayor and city hall doesn't want to issue the permits properly," West said. "The issue is that man there has a personal problem with this man right here and he wants to hinder good business." Freeman Building Inspector Joel Johnson, who also inspects buildings for around 80 communities, said he found multiple safety concerns during his May 2025 walk-through. His primary concern: the building's parapet wall, where loose bricks were "leaning greatly to the north" with visible daylight and evidence of previous brickfalls onto a neighboring property. "There's a lot of loose bricks capable of falling," Johnson told the board. "It is my opinion that this is a dangerous building. I do not think it should be occupied while going on." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also listed rotted window sills, water-damaged ceilings, deteriorating plaster, and buckled flooring along with a moldy, musty odor. But under cross-examination by Torres, Johnson admitted he is not a structural engineer, architect, or certified by the International Code Council. His assessments were based solely on visual inspection, with no structural testing, moisture readings, or engineering analysis. Torres and West disputed nearly every claim. "Everything has been done in the building," West argued. "As far as the wood laying on the ground, it's cosmetic. It's nonstructural. It doesn't hold the wall up. I could go over there with a leaf blower and blow everything off of there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For West, a Native American chef and enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the dream of opening a restaurant in Freeman began in 2020 when he and Torres purchased the building on Main Street. Their vision was bold: a restaurant serving Indigenous food, a full bar, video lottery gaming, and Airbnb units upstairs. West opened a short-lived business there in 2021 The Whiskey House but it closed within weeks, citing a desire to focus on his growing Sioux Falls storefront and frustrations with Freeman's permitting and licensing process. The core conflict was a liquor license. West had applied for one, but all four available licenses in Freeman were already issued. One belonged to Amy Beck, former operator of Mimi's Diner, a now-defunct business. City officials said they were required to give Beck a 120-day grace period to reactivate her business before revoking her license. West, however, argued South Dakota law states liquor licenses to be tied to an operating business with a commercial address and if not, the license must be made available to the next qualified applicant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As long as they don't have a legal standing establishment in the state of South Dakota to sell and house liquor, they don't have a liquor license," he told the council in 2021. He threatened to sue but never filed. The tensions, however, never cooled. When West hung the Watecha Bowl sign earlier this year, he says the city suddenly began fielding anonymous complaints including an accusation of a rat infestation that he claims was later disproven. At Tuesday's hearing, Torres asked city officials what they would expect if repairs were completed. "What does the city expect out of me if Mr. West is able to get the building up to the codes that meet Mr. Joel Johnson's requirements?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was willing to start permit applications immediately and requested more time to complete the work, citing the need to fit it around both his and West's regular jobs. Torres, a military veteran and federal contracts inspector for the VA, told the Mitchell Republic in the weeks leading up to the hearing that he had retained legal counsel and filed multiple federal records requests. He's working with civil rights attorneys and a paralegal to challenge what he describes as selective enforcement of city codes and policies. As part of that effort, Torres has subpoenaed communications between the city attorney, Mayor Michael Walter, building inspector Joel Johnson, and other officials. He's also investigating whether Johnson meets required certification standards information he says the city has not provided. West, who says he's invested nearly a quarter-million dollars in Freeman including a second building he was later forced to sell echoed Torres' concerns. He believes the city is pushing him out rather than supporting a business that could bring tourism, tax dollars, and cultural value to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want to make money, yes," he said. "But I also want to put this town on the map. I want to bring something special here. They don't want it." Ultimately, the Freeman Board of Appeals sided with the city, affirming Johnson's findings and requiring the building to remain unoccupied until repairs are made. Torres may still request a timeline extension or negotiate milestones, but the decision delays West's ability to open. The chef has since returned to his roots reviving the original Watecha Bowl food truck and focusing on catering and events throughout South Dakota. His menu Indian tacos, wojapi, bison burgers, and fry bread continues to draw fans. But the fight for Freeman, West says, isn't over. "I've been paying taxes on this building for five years and can't get it open," he said. "I've got a couple hundred grand into this. Every turn I take, I hit a roadblock. I'm not going to stop now." Hours after the Texas Senate approved a new congressional map early Saturday morning that more heavily favors Republicans legislation Gov. Greg Abbott plans to swiftly sign into law a lawsuit against the governor was filed, alleging that the redrawn districts are racially discriminatory. The 67-page complaint against Abbott and Secretary of State Jane Nelson supplements legal action filed by LULAC in 2021 challenging the states original maps and argues that redrawing districts mid-decade is unconstitutional. [Texas redistricting map: How the GOP could increase its stronghold] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Redistricting usually happens at the start of the decade after U.S. census data comes out. The complaint argues that because the new map was drawn based on the same data used for the initial map passed by the Legislature in 2021, the measure was a violation of the U.S. Constitutions Equal Protection Clause. Even if racial and partisan considerations are an unavoidable part of redistricting, there is no need for legislatures to take those considerations into account a second time in a single decade, the complaint reads. The complaint, which is expected to be followed by others targeting House Bill 4, was filed by two law firms on behalf of 13 Texas residents collectively called the Gonzales plaintiffs. The bulk of their argument is that the new congressional map dismantles majority-minority districts by prioritizing Republican representation in Congress. Reference The 67-page complaint filed on behalf of 13 Texas residents. (1.3 MB) Abbotts office defended the maps, stating that it allows more Texans to vote for the candidate of their choice, Andrew Mahaleris, the governors press secretary, said Monday in a prepared statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voters, especially Hispanic Texans, are increasingly moving away from Democrats and deserve to vote for candidates who better align with their values, Mahaleris added, later calling claims that the maps discriminatory absurd. On the Senate floor Friday, Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford who carried HB 4 in the upper chamber, said the plan meets the critically important goals of legality, of political performance for Republicans and of improved compactness, and that he did not consider racial population data while crafting it. Republicans pushed for the new map with their eyes set on gaining five more seats in Congress after pressure from President Donald Trump, who wants to preserve the GOPs slim U.S. House majority in the 2026 midterms. But the complaint says that effort came at the cost of Latino and Black communities, which have largely supported Democratic candidates. The new lines squeeze more Democratic voters in Houston and Dallas into districts the minority party already controls a strategy known as packing. The Republican-backed map also cracks left-leaning communities by splitting voters who supported Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024 into Republican districts, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint was filed by two law firms, The Law Office of Max Renea Hicks and the Elias Law Group, the firm of prominent Democratic attorney Marc Elias. They also allege that the new maps violate the Voting Rights Act for not creating enough Latino-majority districts to match the growth of Texas Latino population. For example, the complaint points to Harris County, where the new map carves out only one district thats majority Latino, although the county is nearly half Latino, according to the latest U.S. census. The census also confirmed that Latinos make up the largest share of Texas population, and that Texans of color made up 95% of the states population growth in the last decade but thats not reflected in the new congressional map, the complaint alleges. With the new district lines, the lawsuit charges, lawmakers are intentionally destroying majority-minority districts and replacing them with majority-Anglo districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic lawmakers have waged a lively battle to fend off the GOPs proposed map since Abbott announced that the first special session in July would include redistricting. House Democrats fled the state halfway through the first session, breaking the lower chambers quorum and halting all operations. But the members returned to Austin at the start of the second session. And on Friday, state Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, signaled her intention to filibuster the map well into Saturday. Republicans, however, ended the debate on HB 4, killing her effort. Lawmakers also listened to hours of hearings from Texans across the state who pleaded with them to leave their districts alone. The complaint and others that are sure to follow are a sign that Democrats and civil rights groups will continue to fight the implementation of the maps ahead of the 2026 election. The National Redistricting Foundation, which brought LULACs initial lawsuit, is also directing this new case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texass existing map already dilutes the voting power of communities of color, Marina Jenkins, the foundations executive director, said in a news release. In spite of that, the state has doubled down with an even more extreme racial gerrymander that goes even further to pack and crack communities of color and minimize the number of congressional districts where minority voters have the ability to elect candidates of their choice, she later said. The court has already agreed to consider expediting this case, and we are confident that justice will be delivered for Texans. More all-star speakers confirmed for The Texas Tribune Festival, Nov. 1315! This years lineup just got even more exciting with the addition of State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo; former United States Attorney General Eric Holder; Abby Phillip, anchor of CNN NewsNight; Aaron Reitz, 2026 Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General; and State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Uniquely is a Fresno Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Fresno area so special. If you listen just right, the buzz of cars on Highway 99 sounds like ocean waves from the outdoor patio at Fresno mariscos restaurant El Botanero. Opened in January 2022 by Pedro Ceja and his wife Georgina Lopez, El Botanero, at Shaw and Barcus avenues, takes great care to source only the freshest shrimp from Mexico for the casual, mariscos eatery, inspired by Mexicos pacific coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The restaurant is an ode to the coctelerias along Mexicos Pacific coast, a type of casual eatery that serves a mix of seafood dishes from shrimp cocktail to ceviche to oysters and aguachile. When describing his food, Ceja is cautious not to claim a particular state, such as Nayarit or Sinaloa-style, out of respect for those regional cuisines. Rather he calls his food a mix of marisco culture. Im so proud about the food that I offer, Ceja said. What I like most is that people like my food. La Abeja, a newsletter written for and by California Latinos Sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter centered around Latino issues in California. Ceja grew up in a restaurant family in Uruapan, Michoacan, where his mom prepared seafood dishes. His wife, who originally hails from the Mexican state of Sinaloa, also has years of restaurant service experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The duo loves to eat mariscos and try different restaurants around town. So when Ceja saw the property for sale, which use to be a Subway and a barbecue restaurant, he jumped at the opportunity. A stuffed oyster seen with an El Botanero Torre at El Botanero Mariscos Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in Fresno. Fresno has its fair share of mariscos restaurants, serving shrimp cocktail, fish tacos, ceviches and fried fish. But what sets El Botanero apart is the freshness of its shrimp, octopus, oysters and scallops. Ceja tries to source his shrimp, oysters, avocados and bottled salsas from Mexico as much as possible. He insists the taste of Mexican shrimp is different than others, more salty like the ocean, he said. Im always focused on providing high quality shrimp, he said. Always. Weekdays tend to be slower for business. But the restaurant comes to live on the weekends, when El Botanero serves one of its signature dishes: grilled fish, octopus and shrimp marinated in a special zarandeado adobo sauce, made to order over a fire on the restaurants outside patio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fresnos triple-digit heat didnt keep customers from dining on the restaurants shaded, tree-lined patio on a recent Sunday in early August. The atmosphere was festive: a sizzling grill, the rancheras of Mexican musician Jose Alfredo Jimenez playing overhead and groups of families and friends sharing platters of seafood and fish. Nobody in town makes zarandeados on the grill, Ceja said. Served only on the weekends, pescado zarandeado is one of the popular specialties at El Botanero in Fresno photographed on July 12, 2025. Weekend specialty: grilled pescado zarandeado According to the Mexican government, pescado zarandeado has its pre-hispanic origins on an island in the Mexican coastal state of Nayarit. The name derives from the zaranda or metal utensil used to butterfly and then cook the fish directly over a wood fire. The dish is typically prepared with sea bass, snapper or northern red snapper (pargo, robalo or huachinango). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the coastal states of Nayarit and Sinaloa, fisherman rise at dawn and take their panga boats out in search of the catch of the day. In the small surf town of Chacala, Nayarit, for example, open-air beachside restaurants have coolers filled with the daily catch. Customers walk over to the cooler to show the cooks which fish theyd like to filled and grilled. This regional coastal specialty, common in the states of Nayarit, Michoacan and Sinaloa, is what Ceja has brought to life in Fresno, using his own personal twists. The marinade we use is my mothers recipe, Ceja said, made up of a mix of dried chiles, a touch of mayonnaise and mustard, and fresh orange juice. Beachfront Mexican restaurants in Chacala, Nayarit prepare pescado zarandeado with freshly caught fish on Aug. 30, 2019. Ceja said he uses sea bass and whichever firewood is in season, from local citrus, nut or peach trees. Customers should be prepared to wait 45 minutes to an hour for the dish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another point of pride for El Botanero is its generous servings of avocado. In addition to running the restaurant, Ceja distributes avocados from his home state of Michoacan considered the world capital of avocados to small grocers and restaurants in Fresno. Thats how he got connected to other marisquerias around town. Before opening El Botanero, he apprenticed at Mariscos El Pescador, a popular seafood restaurant on Blackstone Avenue. And local competitors are taking notice. He said with a laugh that his colleagues and peers in the local marisco industry say, this guy puts a lot of avocado on his dishes. El Botanero Torre is served at El Botanero Mariscos in Fresno, offering Mexican-style seafood. The torre (tower) is formed with shrimp, scallops, oysters, octopus and more, topped with avocado. Photographed Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in Fresno. Smells like home, customer from Sinaloa said Juan Carlos Lopez was driving through Fresno for business on Aug. 6, a Wednesday. He visited El Botanero for lunch at his brothers suggestion and ordered the El Botanero Cocktail, which includes shrimp, octopus, aguachile, scallops and oysters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez, a Sacramento-area grocer originally from a small town near Culiacan, Sinaloa, usually cooks mariscos at home because its hard to find quality seafood, he said. But he enjoyed the cocktail at El Botanero. He said he knew the restaurant would be good as soon as he entered and smelled the mix of lime, cucumber and cilantro. From the outside, I could smell that, and I liked it a lot, he said. The freshness. An El Botanero Cocktail with shrimp, octopus, aguachile, scallops and oysters is created at El Botanero Mariscos Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in Fresno. An El Botanero Torre begins to take shape with two types of shrimp and scallops at El Botenero Mariscos Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in Fresno. Oysters are prepared at El Botanero Mariscos Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in Fresno. Bottled hot sauce seen at El Botanero Mariscos Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in Fresno. Advertisement Advertisement Aug. 22A man who helped hide his friend who was accused of the Jan. 25 shooting and killing of 13-year-old Gavin Looper in Spokane was sentenced Monday to nearly four years in prison. Mason J. Bolton, 26, pleaded guilty Monday to attempted first-degree rendering criminal assistance, according to court documents. Glen D. Burkey, 25, is awaiting trial on murder, drive-by shooting, assault and firearm charges after prosecutors say he shot Gavin in the head while the teen was playing video games inside a home on Heroy Avenue near Regal Elementary School, according to court documents. Police believe Burkey fired into the home, intending to shoot a man inside, but instead killed Gavin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burkey's mother, 49-year-old Becky A. Gibbs, is accused of helping her son flee to Montana after the shooting and faces a first-degree rendering criminal assistance charge. Gibbs was arrested in late June and has since posted bond, court records say. The man who was renting the Missoula apartment where Burkey was arrested told law enforcement he picked up Burkey in St. Regis, Montana, two days after the shooting and drove Burkey to his apartment, according to court documents. He said he was unaware Burkey was wanted by police, that he simply needed a roommate, and that Burkey offered to move there and pay half the rent. Detectives seized the renter's phone and found Bolton's number as a saved contact. Police already knew Bolton's number was used to make calls to Burkey while he was in jail. Bolton texted the renter shortly after Burkey and the renter arrived in Missoula asking whether "You guys back," according to documents. A few minutes later, Bolton paid the renter $1,000 through a mobile payment application. The next day, Bolton paid the renter $920 through the same app, police said in documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police wrote the renter was supposed to give the money to Burkey or the money was for the renter to harbor Burkey. Burkey paid Bolton $2,163 the day before Burkey was picked up in St. Regis, according to police. The day the renter picked up Burkey in St. Regis, police went to Bolton's residence to see whether Burkey was there or whether Bolton knew Burkey's location. Bolton told police he was with Bolton in the hours before the shooting and the day after, but he denied knowing where he was. Bolton was arrested March 20 for rendering criminal assistance. Bolton has a lengthy criminal history between 2015 and 2020 in Spokane County, including multiple assault and malicious mischief convictions, as well as ones for witness tampering, burglary and firearm. The 46 1/2 -month prison sentence imposed by Spokane County Superior Court Judge Julie McKay Monday for rendering criminal assistance will run at the same time as the 22-month sentence for the eluding conviction. ANNISTON The bay doors of the Anniston Fire Training Center stood open Friday morning as 17 high school students from across Calhoun County stood poised for a timed challenge: suiting up in full firefighter protective gear in under 60 seconds. The drill, part of the Career Tech Fire Sciences class, marked a hands-on moment in a course designed to introduce students to the rigors and rewards of fire service. This class is through the Alabama Fire College, said Lt. Gregg Poole, retired Anniston firefighter and current instructor. Its in conjunction with the career tech schools like Calhoun County Career Tech Academy. All seven schools in Calhoun County [school district] are available to come to it. Anniston City Schools send theirs here, Jacksonville City Schools send theirs here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program, which has been available for over a decade, offers students elective credit through their high schools and the opportunity to earn certification as a volunteer firefighter. An afternoon session has an enrollment of 23, making it one of the largest classes to date. This is year 11, Poole said, speaking of his personal involvement with teaching the course. I retired in 2017 and I did two years before that. So while I was still working at Anniston Fire Department, I was doing it on my days off and during the shift. The course is structured around four nine-week modules, each culminating in a test administered by the Alabama Fire College. Students must meet academic and attendance requirements to participate. We have an application form, Poole explained. The counselors will get them, and theyll fill out these application forms. They have to have a 2.0 grade point average and their attendance has to be good. Because, you know, when you get into fire service, you want the best of the best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the course introduces students to the fundamentals of firefighting, it also serves as a litmus test for those considering the profession. This is a class to see if they like it or not, Poole said. Its not a core class. Its an elective. Just because they come take it doesnt mean theyre locked in to go and work in it. Students who pass all modules and meet certification requirements may enter a summer bridge program that leads to full Firefighter I and II credentials. Ive had about 40-something come through this class that have gotten jobs right out of high school, 18 years old. The training center itself has recently expanded, now serving as a regional facility for the Alabama Fire College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a training truck. We have everything at this training facility, Poole said. Every certification thats on [the Alabama Fire College website] can be taught at this facility. People come all over the world to come here to do this. Poole emphasized that the course is not just about technical skills. Firefighting, you either love it or its a calling, he said. Youre not going to get rich doing this, but you get more pay from helping people than you do from your regular pay. GALENA, Ohio (WCMH) The incident is cleared, but residents of the Village of Galena in Delaware County were asked to stay inside or avoid the village square due to an investigation Saturday morning. Delaware Sheriffs Office spokesperson Jamie Hopps said officials responded to a domestic incident in the square Saturday morning. Hopps said there was no threat to the public, but residents should avoid the area. Around 10:15, Hopps said the male suspect was peacefully apprehended and is now in custody, with charges pending. On social media, the Village confirmed there were no injuries. Residents already in the area were asked to stay inside. The square is home to several shops, and the spokesperson said the one nearest to the incident had not yet opened for the day when the investigation began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies were still actively investigating as of 9:30 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. DENVER (KDVR) A Gambian ex-soldier who was found guilty after a jury held in Denver was sentenced Friday to over six decades in prison for charges related to torture during a West African dictatorship in 2006. Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced Friday to 67 years and six months in prison after he was found guilty in April of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture. CBI confirms at least 20 bodies stored improperly at Davis Mortuary Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. District Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado said Correas actions included burning victims with molten plastic and subjecting them to repeated, vicious beatings over the course of weeks using a variety of weapons. The victims of these crimes carried the weight of unimaginable suffering for years, not knowing whether they would ever see their torturer held accountable, said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. Todays sentence delivers a measure of justice for them and affirms that the United States stands firmly with those whose human rights have been violated. This prosecution and sentence should serve as a deterrent for criminals who think they might escape accountability by coming to Colorado. Evidence was presented at trial showing that Correa was a member of an armed unit called the Junglers, which reported to The Gambias former president, Yahya Jammeh. Correa came to the U.S. in 2016 to work as a bodyguard for Jammeh, eventually settling in Denver, where prosecutors said he worked as a day laborer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Correa, who prosecutors said overstayed his visa, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2019 and then indicted the following year under a seldom-used law that allows people to be tried in the U.S. judicial system for torture allegedly committed abroad. Loveland police chief assures residents license plate cameras will not be used for immigration The law has only been used twice since 1994, and both previous cases were brought against U.S. citizens. The U.S. Department of Justice called the verdict the first conviction of a non-U.S. citizen on torture charges in a federal district court. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Denver Field Office with support from agents in Senegal, as well as U.S. Embassy personnel in Banjul, Gambia. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, established in 2009, supported the case. According to the U.S. District Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado, the group furthers the governments efforts to identify, locate and prosecute human rights abusers in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 FOX31 Denver. Gantz outlined two main goals of the temporary government: Returning all the hostages and passing the haredi draft law. Afterwards, he said it would dissolve and Israel would go to elections, Blue and White Party head Benny Gantz called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman to form a temporary government of redemption for the hostages for a period of six months, during a press conference on Saturday. Gantz said that the temporary government should focus on two primary goals: securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and passing the controversial haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party leader also said that elections should be scheduled following the completion of these objectives. The governments term will begin with a hostage deal that brings everyone home, said Gantz. Within weeks, we will formulate an Israeli service outline that recruits our ultra-Orthodox brothers and eases the burden on those already serving. Finally, we will announce an agreed-upon election date in the spring of 2026 and pass a law to dissolve the Knesset accordingly, he said. That is what is right for Israel. Leader of the Blue and White Party MK Benny Gantz leads a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 30, 2025. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) Gantz addressed anticipated criticism of the move and dismissed claims that his initiative was politically motivated. He underscored that the proposal was solely for the purpose of rescuing the hostages and not to save Netanyahus government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know, soon the poison factories will get to work. They will say I want to save Netanyahu. That is not true: I want to save the hostages, he said. Some will say I am doing this because of the polls. I will remind them that I joined governments twice: once with 33 mandates and the second time when my party was leading in the polls.} Unity governments Gantz has entered two unity governments under Netanyahu in the past. The last time was after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. However, he had then left the coalition due to disagreements with the prime minister, claiming that Netanyahu was preventing Israel from moving forward to a real victory in the war. Yisrael Beytenu responded to Gantzs proposal, saying that the only government we will be part of is a broad Zionist government, and we will not take part in any spin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blue and White responded to Yisrael Beytenu, saying that we were elected to the Knesset in order to use our political power. To bring back the hostages and to support those who serve, one must take initiative, not sit in the stands and hand out advice. After the conference, Gantz was asked by a journalist if he had spoken to Lapid or Liberman in advance about his proposal. He responded that he had tried reaching out to them but was unable to reach them. I didnt succeed, maybe because of Shabbat. Lapid was in an interview, Liberman didnt answer, Gantz said. Liberman did later respond, calling Gantz's proposal "a pitiful show. I saw a tired, scared, terrified person there who is begging for his life and is taking a ride on the most sensitive issues," KAN quoted him Sunday morning as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the press conference, Lapid addressed the possibility of Gantz joining Netanyahus government in a Channel 12 interview. Youve been deceived twice why would you go in again? Do you want to be deceived a third time? the opposition leader said, addressing his Knesset colleague. Gantzs proposal comes amid expected opposition from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to any potential hostage release deal. Ben-Gvir later said Sunday that he expects "all coalition faction leaders to unequivocally clarify that Gantz is not joining the government." National Unity MK Pnina Tamano-Shata criticized Ben-Gvir's statement against Gantz's proposal: "Blue and White's proposal makes him uncomfortable. We want to enter the government to move the extremists out of the coalition." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until now, opposition parties had primarily discussed offering a safety net to support the government in reaching a deal. Gantzs statement, however, puts the possibility of his party entering the coalition on the table. Netanyahu has not yet responded to the proposal or to the latest draft of a potential deal reportedly submitted this week by international mediators. MK Alon Schuster (Blue and White) said on KAN News Wednesday that while no formal negotiations were underway regarding joining the government, all options would be considered if it meant rescuing hostages. At the moment, there are no talks about joining the government, but if we understand that this is what will lead to the release of hostages, that is what we will do. What do you expect that we let the hostages die? Schuster asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lapid addressed the matter of providing a safety net on Thursday, pledging support for any hostage deal and offering political backing without preconditions. You have from me a safety net of 24 votes for any hostage deal. You do not even need to give anything in return just bring them home, he said. Gantzs proposal came as thousands demonstrated in Tel Aviv to call for a deal to free the captives while warning that the planned conquest of Gaza City puts the lives of the hostages at risk. (L-R): Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, War cabinet minister Benny Gantz on June 8, 2024 (photo credit: FLASH90, POOL) Benny Gantz's six-month government proposal to return all of the hostages and pass a haredi draft law is just what Israel needs, but it doesn't address the major roadblocks. On Saturday night, Blue and White party head Benny Gantz stood before the cameras and offered Israel a simple deal: build a short, focused hostage-redemption and service-supporting government for six months, set an agreed election date for the spring of 2026, and spend the interim period on two tasks only. First, bring every hostage home. Second, pass a universal conscription framework that treats service as a national obligation, with real paths for military or civilian service and fewer loopholes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In plain English, Gantz wants a unity cabinet with an expiration date and a narrow mission. He insists he will not join alone, calling on Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Lieberman to come with him, and repeats that his aim is not to save Netanyahu, but to save the hostages. Pidyon shvuyim is a deep Jewish imperative, the redemption of captives. It is why hostage families have set the nations moral compass since October 7, 2023. Today, the official Israeli count says terror groups in Gaza hold about 50 hostages, at least 28 of them confirmed dead. Around 20 are believed to be alive, with grave concern for two others. The government says it will resume negotiations, on our terms, after Hamas indicated openness to a new mediated proposal. That proposals contours have shifted, but the principle is clear: any serious deal requires choices that could crack the current coalition. Haredi protesters against the IDF draft block Highway 4 near Bnei Brak, August 19, 2025. (credit: Shimon Baruch/TPS) Now, the second pillar, the draft. Israels Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that, absent a new law, the state must draft ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students and stop funding institutions whose students evade service. That decision put a decades-old political compromise on a legal clock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the government has sought a new bill. Every version is a fuse. Tighten enlistment and Haredi parties threaten to bolt. Soften it and the court, the army, and the broader public revolt. Gantz is trying to cut through both knots with one rope: a narrow, time-bound government that exists only to pass a hostage deal and a service framework, then sends the country to the polls. He also says, pointedly, that a deal is attainable. And there is political oxygen for that claim. Lapid has offered a parliamentary safety net of 24 votes for any hostage agreement, no quid pro quo, just bring them home. If the far-right leaves the coalition, the votes would still be there to pass the deal in theory. In practice, here is why it probably will not happen. Reasons why Gantz's proposal will probably fall through the cracks First, the prime ministers incentives. Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled he will negotiate, but on Israels terms, while planning expanded military operations. He governs by balancing partners to his right who oppose concessions in a hostage deal and partners to his ultra-Orthodox flank who demand a softer draft law. A six-month unity cabinet that passes both would solve Israels problems and create his. It would collapse the very leverage that keeps this coalition intact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu can also argue he does not need Gantz if Lapids safety net exists, which lets him pocket the leverage of the offer without paying the political price of a real unity reset. Second, the coalition math. The draft law is an existential issue for Haredi parties. The court ruling is final, and public patience is thin. Any meaningful draft bill risks blowing up the coalition. Any cosmetic bill risks being thrown out in court. That is why this keeps returning as a crisis, week after week. A temporary unity cabinet would absorb the blast so the country can move forward, which is precisely why existing partners will try to defuse it before it is lit. Third, Gantzs leverage is weaker than it was. Polls in recent days have his Blue and White party hovering near, or even dipping below, the electoral threshold. Rival opposition leaders worry he could waste center-left votes, as happened to Meretz in 2022, and they have little appetite to lend him political oxygen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That makes it harder to assemble a credible unity line-up that can walk in together and walk out together six months later. Fourth, the trust deficit. Israelis remember the 2020 rotation unity deal that collapsed in acrimony. Gantz still carries the scars of sitting with Netanyahu. Netanyahu still believes he can outlast rivals rather than empower them. Trust is not a policy, but in Israel, it is a governing tool, and there is not much of it left. Still, let us say clearly what should be obvious. A six-month government with two jobs is exactly what Israel needs. The hostages come first. That is not a slogan. It is a policy choice. If twenty Israelis are still alive in Gaza, every day matters. A government that treats bring them home as its sole North Star is more likely to take the necessary political risks, use Lapids safety net, and bear the price. The same is true for service. Most Israelis already carry the military and reserve burden. A fair service framework, with real civilian service tracks and real enforcement, would strengthen social cohesion and the IDF alike. The court has already forced the issue into the present tense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels next regular election is currently scheduled for October 27, 2026. Gantz is proposing to move that up modestly, to spring 2026, after a short sprint to pass the two most urgent decisions facing the country. It is not radical. It is responsible. So where does that leave us? With the right idea and a poor prognosis. Netanyahus survival instincts, the coalitions red lines, Gantzs polling slide, and the bitter lessons of the past make this plan unlikely to leave the podium and enter the plenum. I hope I am wrong. If Gantz, Lapid, Lieberman, and Netanyahu can surprise the nation and form a half-year government that returns the living and buries a broken draft system, I will be the first to write that I misread the moment. Until then, expect more talk about terms and timing, more ultimatums from the extremes, and more hesitation. The hostages do not have that time. They need a government that behaves like a rescue team, not a focus group. George Mason University violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by illegally using diversity, equity and inclusion practices, the Department of Education announced Friday. The department's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into the institution's hiring and promotion practices last month following a complaint filed by several of its professors who claimed preferential treatment was given to prospective and current faculty members from "underrepresented groups" to advance "anti-racism." The complaint accused George Mason President Gregory Washington of issuing guidance that prioritized diversity initiatives over qualifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In 2020, University President Gregory Washington called for expunging the so-called racist vestiges from GMUs campus," Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education Craig Trainor said in a statement. "Without a hint of self awareness, President Washington then waged a university-wide campaign to implement unlawful DEI policies that intentionally discriminate on the basis of race. You can't make this up." Trump-appointed Judge Strikes Down Anti-dei Measures From Education Department The Department of Education said George Mason University violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. "Despite this unfortunate chapter in Mason's history, the University now has the opportunity to come into compliance with federal civil rights laws by entering into a Resolution Agreement with the Office for Civil Rights," he continued. "In the last seven months, this much is clear: The Trump-McMahon Department of Education will not allow racially exclusionary practiceswhich violate the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Protection Clause, and Supreme Court precedentto continue corrupting our nations educational institutions." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office for Civil Rights proposed a possible resolution to the university's president that includes six conditions to which the institution must agree. The university must agree to the conditions within the next 10 days to resolve the matter. The proposed resolution would require the university to send a statement to students and faculty committing to comply with Title VI in its recruitment, hiring, promotion and tenure decisions, and the statement should include a personal apology from the university's president for "promoting unlawful discriminatory practices." Gmu Board Agrees To Cut Dei Programs While Unanimously Approving Raise For Embattled President George Mason President Gregory Washington was accused of issuing guidance that prioritized diversity initiatives over qualifications. The statement must also be displayed prominently on the university's website, and any contrary statements would have to be removed, according to the proposed resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university would need to agree to revise any policies and documents used in its recruitment, hiring, promotion and tenure process and must remove any provisions that require or encourage the use of race as a factor in these practices. The federal government also said George Mason must conduct annual training for anyone involved in these practices to affirm that it would not give preferences based on race. Additionally, the institution must make records demonstrating compliance with the agreement available to the government upon request. The Office for Civil Rights proposed a possible resolution to the university's president that includes six conditions to which the institution must agree. George Mason's failure to agree to the proposed resolution could lead to a loss in federal funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Board is reviewing the specific resolution steps proposed by the Department of Education," George Mason's Board of Visitors said in a statement. "We will continue to respond fully and cooperatively to all inquiries from the Department of Education, the Department of Justice and the U.S. House of Representatives and evaluate the evidence that comes to light. Our sole focus is our fiduciary duty to serve the best interests of the University and the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia." The Trump administration has already pulled funding from several universities, including Harvard, Columbia and the University of California, Los Angeles, over discrimination accusations and their handling of alleged antisemitism on campus. Original article source: George Mason University violated Tile VI with 'unlawful DEI policies,' Education Department says AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) Auburn police announced on Friday that a man was taken into custody after being accused of identity and property theft. According to Auburn police officials, officers, along with troopers with the Georgia State Patrol, arrested 30-year-old Demtreus Vontrail Davis of Conley, Georgia, on felony warrants of identity theft and first-degree theft of property. The arrest comes after authorities received a report involving a forged check on Dec. 5, 2024, when a victim says the check was posted for mail at a location in Auburn back in December 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say the check was stolen, altered and deposited into a bank account associated with an unknown suspect. An investigation launched by Auburn police revealed Davis as the suspect, which led to arrest warrants being obtained. GSP troopers located Davis and arrested him for outstanding warrants as he was detained at the Henry County Jail in Georgia and was extradited back to Auburn on Wednesday. He was then taken to Lee County Jail and held on a $10,000 bond. RELATED CONTENT: Auburn households face sharp hikes in garbage collection fees this fall Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) State Attorney Larry Basford announced on Friday that a Georgia woman was found guilty of vehicular homicide in the 2022 death of a motorcyclist during Thunder Beach. According to a news release, 50-year-old Tammi Michelle Hornsby of Senoia, Georgia, was found guilty in the death of 47-year-old David Wayne Wooten of Douglasville, Georgia. The jury deliberated for about three hours after two days of testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Assistant State Attorney Mark Graham and Prosecutor Jake Lyon called 5 witnesses and presented evidence, including video of the collision. Officials provided that Wooten died April 30, 2022, when Hornsbys speeding Jeep struck his motorcycle as he tried to cross Thomas Drive to turn left from Silver Sands Road. Officials said the vehicles erupted in a ball of fire, creating a chaotic scene as witnesses from nearby businesses rushed to offer aid. U.S. Coast Guard responds to possible drowning at Shell Island The evidence showed Hornsby, westbound on Thomas Drive, was driving about 30 mph over the speed limit, crossing lanes, had been drinking, and did not take any evasive action until .8 seconds before impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wooten was southbound at Thomas Drive on his motorcycle, waiting to turn left. Surveillance video from a nearby business showed the victim waiting as one car passed at what appeared to be a normal speed. As Wooten crossed the intersection, the defendants car appeared from the east at a high rate of speed, hitting the victim as he was almost across the intersection. He suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital, officials wrote. Trooper Cory Guster testified that the defendant smelled of alcohol, showed clear signs of being under the influence, refused to take a sobriety test, and refused a breathalyzer. Put together all her actions, how she was driving, the circumstances, Graham said. She knew shed been drinking, she knew she was speeding. She flat-out told the trooper no when asked to take the test. Her normal faculties were impaired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trooper Samuel Elliss Traffic Homicide Investigation, and data retrieved from the defendants Event Data Recorder in her jeep, showed she was going 64 mph for 5 seconds before the impact and didnt apply the brakes until .8 seconds before impact. Graham confirmed that it all added up to one thing, but for the defendants high rate of speed and impaired ability to react, the wreck would never have occurred. Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay set sentencing for Nov 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Saturday rejected calls to expedite asylum applications from Afghans in the face of criticism from the government's commissioner for human rights. "I'm not prepared to waive standard acceptance procedures or security checks," Dobrindt told a government open day event in Berlin. The government, which took office in early May, could not be expected to resolve issues that had been building up for years, he said, accusing the previous government of leaving him with a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dobrindt pledged to work through the applications in a way that guaranteed maximum certainty on who was entering the country, from where, for what reason and on whether they had a right to asylum. "And if acceptance is not justified, I will not support this acceptance," he said. "I'm doing it thoroughly, and so it will take time," he said, indicating that the process would take months. German human rights commissioner Lars Castellucci earlier called on the Interior and Foreign Ministries to expedite applications from Afghans in Pakistan who are seen as being particularly at risk of persecution under the Taliban. Castellucci noted that Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition had agreed to an orderly and humanitarian migration policy and said on X that the checks with regard to Afghanistan were meeting neither criterion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue concerns around 2,000 Afghans and their families who are seen as being at risk for supporting democratic rights in Afghanistan or for working for the German military or other German organizations, and who had been approved by the previous government. Processing is taking place in Pakistan, as Germany closed its Kabul embassy following the Taliban takeover in 2021. The German government said this week that 210 of around 2,000 applicants in Pakistan had been deported to Afghanistan. Hundreds of people gathered in Berlin's government quarter on Saturday to attend an open day during which members of the public can address questions to ministers. A federal police helicopter used by Chancellor Friedrich Merz was on view near the chancellery. Visitors made use of the opportunity to take photos inside the building, where images of Merz's predecessors are displayed. Merz and his Cabinet were spending Saturday and Sunday talking to members of the public. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt used the opportunity to reject criticism of his ministry's processing of asylum applications from Afghan nationals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lars Klingbeil, finance minister and vice chancellor, was to be available for questions on Sunday, and Merz is set to be in the chancellery on Sunday afternoon to take questions. The programme also includes exhibitions and events for children, along with music. The open day event takes place annually with the aim of providing information on the workings of government to German citizens. A visitor makes the "Merkel rhombus" at the open day of the new Federal Government in the Chancellery. Fabian Sommer/dpa German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil called on Saturday for the option of a ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to be reconsidered in the light of evidence from the country's domestic intelligence agencies. "We have to combat the enemies of democracy," he told Germany's Funke Media Group. "Whether ban proceedings can succeed must be settled by evaluating the findings of the intelligence agencies," he added. Klingbeil, co-leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative-led coalition, said the government cannot stand aside and watch on if an openly right-wing extremist party seeks to destroy German democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For this reason, democrats are obliged to seriously consider legal proceedings for a ban on the AfD," he said. The federal domestic intelligence agency known as the Office for the Protection of the Constitution rated the AfD as "confirmed right-wing extremist" in a report in May. The use of the term was later suspended while the party's legal appeal is under examination. State-level intelligence agencies have made similar classifications for local chapters of the AfD, Germany's largest opposition party. While Klingbeil's centre-left SPD is calling for a working group to collect evidence on whether the AfD operates in an unconstitutional way, Merz's conservative bloc remains sceptical and believes support for the AfD could be boosted by legal proceedings. A ban application can be lodged by either of the two houses of parliament or by the government, and only the Constitutional Court has the power to impose a ban. NEED TO KNOW Ghislaine Maxwell said she doesn't believe Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide while in jail in 2019 She made the claim in over 300 pages of transcripts and audio recordings from her conversation with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which were released on Aug. 22 Maxwell, one of Epstein's closest confidantes, was convicted on child sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison Ghislaine Maxwell has broken her silence on her late confidante Jeffrey Epstein's death. On Friday, Aug. 22, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released over 300 pages of transcripts and audio recordings from the convicted child sex trafficker's conversation with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which took place in late July over the course of two days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein's convicted "madam" met with Blanche, 51, to discuss what she may know about crimes committed by the disgraced financier, as well as what she believes happened to Epstein who died inside a jail cell in 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, in what officials ruled a suicide. Speaking with the official in Donald Trump's presidential administration, Maxwell, 63, who was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, claimed that she doesn't believe Epstein died by suicide. She instead speculated that she thinks his death may have been the result of an "internal situation" in jail. "In prison, where I am, they will kill you, or they will pay somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary," Maxwell said. "That's about the going rate for a hit with a lock today." When asked if she thought somebody on the outside would have wanted Epstein killed, Maxwell said that, while it is "of course" possible, she didn't "see it" happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But I don't know of any reason why, and I don't believe in the blackmail or in any of this, I don't think Epstein had a hit on like that," she continued. "If it is indeed murder, I believe it was an internal situation." Maxwell added that she also didn't have any first-hand knowledge or speculation to offer, in relation to theories that someone had Epstein killed to "silence" him. "I do not have any reason to believe that," she said. "And I also think it's ludicrous, because if that I also happen to think if that is what they wanted, they would've had plenty of opportunity when he wasn't in jail," Maxwell further explained. "And if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he would've been a very easy target." The transcripts were released to the public as Maxwell angled last month for a pardon from President Trump, who she said in the interviews was "friendly" with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She claimed of the pair, that she "only saw them in social settings" and "never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way." (The claims from Maxwell come amid renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case.) Maxwell's lawyer, David Markus, previously said his client didn't hold back when speaking with Blanche about what she knows in relation to Epstein who was charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors, for which he pleaded not guilty, before his death. Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty; Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Ghislaine Maxwell, Todd Blanche. Ghislaine Maxwell, Todd Blanche. Maxwell, one of Epstein's closest confidantes, was convicted on child sex trafficking charges in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. She is currently incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee in Florida. Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Epstein's client list was "sitting on my desk" and waiting to be released, only for the DOJ to declare later that no such client list existed and there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute any potential co-conspirators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, 79, himself, who was associated with Epstein for many years before a falling-out in the mid-2000s, had pleaded with his political base to stop talking about Epstein, calling the ongoing focus on the disgraced pedophile unbelievable. The politician specifically has faced questions about his past association with Epstein, especially after his former top lieutenant, Elon Musk, posted that Trump was "in the Epstein files." Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a person under 18 for prostitution in 2008 and served over a year in jail, following a widely-criticized plea deal with federal prosecutors. He was arrested again in 2019 on sex trafficking charges, but was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell a month later. Epstein's death was ruled a suicide, but the circumstances of his death remain controversial and have generated suspicion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein's brother, Mark Epstein, previously said that he has grown more suspicious over time that his brother was murdered. More and more, I believe he was murdered," he told NBC News. "And everyone who looks at all the information thats out there on facts comes to the same conclusion." If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has told US officials she did not witness any inappropriate conduct by Donald Trump or former President Bill Clinton. The Trump administration has faced pressure to disclose information about Epstein, who the US president had been friendly with. Maxwell was interviewed from prison in July and, according to the newly released transcript, told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that a much-discussed "client list" does not exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The interview outraged the family of Virginia Giuffre - a prominent Epstein accuser who died by suicide earlier this year - who say the government has given Maxwell "a platform to rewrite history". Maxwell is seeking a pardon from Trump and has been accused of lying to federal officials. Shortly after the interview with Blanche - who previously worked as Trump's personal attorney - she was moved from a Florida prison to a new minimum-security facility in Texas. It is unclear why the move was made. She is currently serving a 20-year sentence in a sex-trafficking scheme, and has petitioned the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Her lawyer has said they would "welcome" a pardon from the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also called allegations of Prince Andrew having sexual relations with an underage girl in Maxwell's home "mind-blowingly not conceivable". Although the name of the girl was redacted, it was clear from the context that Maxwell was discussing Giuffre, who had claimed she was paid to have sex with the prince in Maxwell's house. An infamous photo shows the three of them together when she was 17. The prince settled with Giuffre in 2022, but denied liability. "I believe it's literally a fake photo," Maxwell said during the interview. Giuffre's family said they were "outraged" by the content of Maxwell's interview with the Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "During DAG Todd Blanche's bizarre interview, she is never challenged about her court-proven lies, providing her a platform to rewrite history," the statement reads. "This travesty of justice entirely invalidates the experiences of the many brave survivors who put their safety, security, and lives on the line to ensure her conviction, including our sister." The White House has been adamant that "no leniency is being given or discussed" in Maxwell's case. Trump has maintained that he fell out with Epstein in 2004. The president has accused his political opponents of using the case to distract from what he sees as his administration's victories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he has also faced pressure from his own Republican Party for more transparency around investigations of Epstein. What Maxwell transcript revealed In the transcripts - which amount to 300 pages, some heavily redacted - Maxwell said that while she believed Trump and Epstein were friendly "in social settings", she did not think they were close friends. "I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting," she said - alluding to the massage services that some Epstein victims have mentioned. "The president was never inappropriate with anybody." "In the times I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects," she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also said she did not recall Trump sending Epstein a 50th birthday note in 2003, which drew recent headlines after the note was reported in the Wall Street Journal. In the interview, Blanche also asked Maxwell about the alleged "client list" of high-profile personalities that has become the object of conspiracy theories in recent years. Maxwell was asked about several well-known figures, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, actor Kevin Spacey, model Naomi Campbell and Prince Andrew - whom she denied she introduced to Epstein. The list of his high-profile associates had become a focal point for conspiracy theorists who insisted that it was being kept hidden by the "deep state" to protect prominent participants in Epstein's crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several figures in Trump's administration - including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino - repeated those claims in the past, although they have since backtracked. "There is no list," Maxwell said. Maxwell also spoke about Prince Andrew, whose relationship with Epstein eventually led to him stepping down from royal duties. She called it a "flat untruth" that she'd been the one who introduced the Duke of York to Epstein. "First of all, let's just state, I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew," she said. She spoke at length of Epstein's relationship with both Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince Andrew has previously said that Maxwell introduced him to Epstein. But Maxwell said she believed it was the duchess who was responsible. When approached by the BBC about Maxwell's claim, Sarah Ferguson's representatives declined to comment. Maxwell also spoke about Prince Andrew's alleged relationship with a woman whose name has been redacted in the transcript. She said she found the allegations against the Duke of York "mind-blowingly not conceivable", partly due to the size of her house where the events allegedly took place. She was also asked about a "famous photo" of Prince Andrew and the unnamed woman, with Maxwell in the background. She told Blanche this photo was fake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prince was accused by Virginia Giuffre, who is not named in the transcript, of sexually abusing her when she was 17. He denied the allegations but reached a financial settlement with her in 2022, which contained no admission of liability or apology. A widely circulated photo shows him alongside Giuffre with Maxwell in the background. Andrew has previously disputed its authenticity. Giuffre took her own life earlier this year. Her family has condemned the justice department for interviewing Maxwell and said she is a "monster" whose testimony cannot be trusted. According to Maxwell, she first befriended Epstein in 1991, and subsequently developed a sexual relationship with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even after that relationship ended, she said she was still paid by Epstein - up to $250,000 (184,782) a year by 2009 - and remained "friends with benefits". She added that their relationship was "almost non-existent" between 2010 and his death. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. "I do not believe he died by suicide, no," Maxwell said when asked, although she added that she did "not have any reason" to believe that he had been killed in a bid to silence him. "It's ludicrous," she said of theories that he was murdered. "I also happen to think if that is what they wanted, they would've had plenty of opportunity when he wasn't in jail." "And if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he would've been a very easy target," she added. Earlier this year, reports emerged that Trump had been told by US Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name appeared in the official files of the investigation into Epstein . Trump has never been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the case - and on the campaign trail last year said he would publicise more information about the case. But he reversed his position several months into his administration, saying the case was closed, and criticised supporters and journalists who continued to press him on it. The Justice Department on Friday released transcripts of Ghislaine Maxwells interview with the deputy attorney general, where she talked about meeting Donald Trump, the relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Bill Clinton and denied introducing Prince Andrew to the late, disgraced financier. The 420 pages of Todd Blanches interview with Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in federal prison on sex trafficking charges tied to her relationship with Epstein, were posted on the Justice Departments website. In the interview, conducted in Florida over two days last month, Maxwell said she never saw any inappropriate behavior between Epstein and underaged girls, praised Trump as very kind to me and denied Clinton ever visited Epsteins infamous Caribbean island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if the release of the transcript will put to rest the numerous conspiracy theories about Epstein. Trumps loyal MAGA supporters have long touted claims that Epsteins death was not a suicide, that he was blackmailing powerful individuals and that there is a client list of men tied to him. I just want to reiterate again, there is no list that I am aware of, Maxwell told Blanche. She added that she had did not have any reason to believe that powerful officials had Epstein killed. I also think its ludicrous, because if that I also happen to think if that is what they wanted, they wouldve had plenty of opportunity when he wasnt in jail. But, she said, I do not believe he died by suicide, no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont believe in the blackmail or in any of this, I dont think Epstein had a hit on like that, she added. If it is indeed murder, I believe it was an internal situation. The release of the transcript came the same day the Justice Department turned over its first tranche of files to the House Oversight committee, which subpoenaed the information. The committee said it received thousands of pages of information. Those files will eventually be made public, the committee has said, after the committee works with the Justice Department to redact victims names and sensitive information that could affect how investigations are conducted. President Trump said on Friday he supports the release of files and urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to turn them over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Innocent people shouldnt be hurt but Im in support of keeping it totally open. I couldnt care less. You got a lot of people that could be mentioned under those files that dont deserve to be, he noted, adding but I have said to Pam and everybody else, give them everything you can give them, because its a Democrat hoax. Its just a hoax. The whole Epstein thing is a Democrat hoax. The interviews Maxwell, who is said to be seeking a pardon from the president, told Blanche she met Trump in 1990 in New York because Trump was friendly with her father, Robert Maxwell. And she noted her father liked Trumps first wife Ivana because both of them were from Czechoslovakia. My father was friendly with him and liked him very much. And I think, should be said that he also very much liked Ivana, because she was also from Czechoslovakia where my dad was from, Maxwell said. She acknowledged visiting Trumps private club Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, describing it as social visits, noting she mostly went alone and not with Epstein. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met in Tallahassee with Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell over two days. Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me, Maxwell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell didnt reveal a lot of new information about Trumps relationship with Epstein. The two men were often seen together in social settings in New York and Palm Beach in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Trump never got a massage that she saw, Maxwell told Blanche. I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects, she said. She said of Trump and Epstein that they were friendly like people are in social settings. I dont I dont think they were close friends or I certainly never witnessed the President in any of I dont recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance. I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has maintained that he and Epsteins dealings ended in 2004 and denied seeing any inappropriate behavior from Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting federal charges on sex trafficking. Maxwell backed up the presidents story in her interview. She also supported Trumps denial of a Wall Street Journal report that he contributed a sexually suggestive, hand-drawn letter to an album for Epsteins 50th birthday. I did ask some people, Maxwell said of the birthday album. I dont remember Mr. Trump. I dont remember who I did ask, but Epstein also asked people himself directly. When asked, she said she didnt remember seeing a card from Trump in the album. Ghislaine Maxwells Miami defense attorney David O. Markus answers questions from the media after the close of Maxwells deposition with the Department of Justice on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Tallahassee. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence at the federal detention center in Tallahassee for recruiting underage girls to have sex with Jeffrey Epstein. Bill Clinton Trump has charged that men like former President Bill Clinton and former Harvard chief Larry Summers had closer relationships with Epstein than he did. He has repeatedly claimed Clinton went to Epsteins private island 29 times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Maxwell said she never saw Clinton with Epstein and downplayed the two mens friendship. I didnt see President Clinton being interested in Epstein. He was just a rich guy with a plane, she said. The ex-president never came to the island, Maxwell said directly. She also revealed a closer friendship with the Clintons than previously reported, saying she had visited the couple at their house in Chappaqua a few times. Epstein and Hillary Clinton did not have any dealings, Maxwell said, but added Epstein may have contributed to the Clinton Global Initiative, which both Clintons were a part of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She described Summers and Epstein as friends. I think he spoke to Mr. Epstein about business a lot, but I think they were friends. They were friendly, she said of Summers. Asked if Summers visited any Epstein properties or flew on Epsteins private plane, Maxwell responded: He may have, but I dont think. Prince Andrew Maxwell also denied reports she introduced Epstein to Prince Andrew. I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew, she noted. That is a flat untruth. I would never have introduced them. It would never have occurred to me to introduce them. I couldnt imagine them being friends. Two chalk and cheeses would never I mean, for real, theres nothing there to connect them, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She blamed Sarah Ferguson, the princes ex-wife, for Epstein and Andrews relationship, saying she thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey. I think Sarah is the one that pushed that. And they met and hung out, I want to say two or three times that had nothing to do with me. I wasnt communicating with Andrew, I wasnt in touch with him. And I know this because I was annoyed and I felt left out, and I felt disrespected and I was like, this is weird. I couldnt even imagine Epstein and Andrew together. And I thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey, if Im being honest, and I thought the whole thing was annoying and I was pissed off. Asked why she thought that, Maxwell said, My female intuition. Maxwell also forcefully denied any claims about Andrew and Virginia Giuffre, who prior to her death this year became a public crusader for sex-abuse survivors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims names were redacted in the transcript of the interview but it was clear from the questioning when Giuffre was being discussed. Maxwell was asked about a photo featuring the prince and a girl with her standing in the background. That photo was Giuffres. Its fake, just to be clear, Maxwell said of the picture. Ghislaine Maxwell told Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche that this photo of her, Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew is fake. Giuffre claimed she was forced to have several sexual encounters with Prince Andrew in the early 2000s at the age of 17. She sued him in February 2022. He denied the allegations. They reached an out of court settlement in the civil case. The full amount was undisclosed but was reported to be about $16 million. Maxwell denied any sexual relationship between the two. Could Andrew have come to the house to see me or see Epstein, and say hi and she had been there? Yes. I cant say that that didnt happen. But what I can absolutely, categorically say is that I never, at any time, set Andrew up to have relations with her or any other human being ever. And I can categorically state that her her characterization of whatever may or may not have happened, could physically would just no, she said. Giuffre claimed Maxwell recruited her from the locker room of Mar-a-Lago, where she was working as an assistant. She said she was reading a book on massage therapy when Maxwell approached her and offered to help find her a job in that field. Maxwell, however, said she didnt recall hiring anyone from Trumps club. Do you have a recollection of you ever recruiting a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago spa to give to go give a private massage to Mr. Epstein? Blanche asked her. Ive never recruited a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago for that, as far as I remember. I cant ever recollect doing that, Maxwell responded. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025. I never saw an aggressive move Maxwell also denied seeing, participating or having knowledge of Epstein with underaged girls. Im not saying that Mr. Epstein did not do those things. Im not casting those Im not going to say I dont feel comfortable saying that today, given what I now know to be true. So I am not here to defend him. But what I can say is that I did not participate in that activity, Maxwell said. She added that she could categorically state that had any child said to me that they were 14, 15, 16, maybe not 17, because 17 in England, I mean, if someone had said they were 17, I dont but Ive read so much that that did happen. I mean, I just I had no I would never have permitted such a thing, I would not I dont even know what I would have done. Epstein, who had homes around the country, sexually abused girls and young women as far back as 1993. In 2005, he was accused of luring high school girls, some as young as 14, to his Palm Beach mansion to give him massages and instead sexually assaulted them. Maxwell claimed she never witnessed any of that. I never saw anybody who didnt want to be with him and be with him, maybe socially or whatever. I never saw anybody, not under any form of duress in any type of situation where they were, as I would characterize it, looking uncomfortable or in any way distressed. She went on to add any time I saw anybody with him, they were happy to be with him. It was normal she claimed, for Epstein to ask people all the time, whoever you were, to massage his feet. It just was hed be sitting there, and hed have somebody massage his feet, or squeeze his shoulders. I never saw an aggressive move. She was also dismissive of claims from Epsteins victims that they were forced to have sex with other men. And she denied helping procure any services for men and receiving payment. A federal jury in December 2021 found Maxwell guilty of five counts, including sex trafficking of minors, for recruiting and grooming teenagers for Epstein between 1999 and 2007. Maybe did something sexual, theyre men, I wasnt in the room. I cannot tell you if that happened. And if it did, not I never paid for that. A man wants sexual favors, he will find that. They didnt have to come to Epstein for that. Now did some? Okay. I dont know. I wasnt there. I didnt see it. NEED TO KNOW Ghislaine Maxwell shared insight into the relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein In her newly released interview with a top Department of Justice (DOJ) official, Maxwell said the president and the disgraced financier "seemed friendly" Maxwell, one of Epstein's closest confidantes, was convicted on child sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years Ghislaine Maxwell has shared insight into Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The convicted child sex trafficker and Epstein confidante, 63, spoke with Attorney General Todd Blanche last month, in a conversation officially shared by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Aug. 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ released a 300-plus-page transcript and corresponding audio files from the two-day interview, which took place in late July, in which Maxwell answered several questions surrounding Epstein and her apparent suspicions about his 2019 death, which was ruled a suicide. During the discussion, Blanche, 51, asked Maxwell about the relationship she observed between Epstein and Trump, 79, whose administration has faced scrutiny over its handling of the Epstein case. "I don't know how they met, and I don't know how they became friends," Maxwell said. "I certainly saw them together, and I remember the few times I observed them together, but they were friendly. I mean, they seemed friendly." Davidoff Studios/Getty Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 As Maxwell explained to Blanche, she "only ever saw them in social settings," and she didn't "recall any private settings" in which she observed the president and Epstein interact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about photographs of herself, Trump and Epstein over the years, Maxwell explained that they were taken in "social settings." "I don't know Epstein's if he had whatever the nature of the president's friendship, if you will, or however you want to define that with Epstein, I was never witnessed," she said. "I think they were friendly, like people are in social settings." "I don't think they were close friends, or I certainly never witnessed the president in any of I don't recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance," Maxwell continued. "I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting," she added. "I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects." Davidoff Studios/Getty Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein pose for a photo at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in 1997 Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein pose for a photo at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in 1997 Maxwell, who said she "never in any context" heard about Trump being inappropriate with masseuses, told the DOJ that she believed she met Trump in the 1990s through her father, British media proprietor Robert Maxwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell's father liked Trump "very much," she said, adding that Trump was "very cordial and very kind" to her. As for when she last saw Trump, Maxwell said it was sometime in the mid-2000s. "I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. And I like him, and I've always liked him," she told the DOJ. "So that is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him." Maxwell was also asked about Bill Clinton, whom she said was her "friend" and not Epstein's. She added that she didn't "believe" the former ever received a massage while with Epstein. The DOJ's release of Maxwell's interview transcript and her openly angling for a pardon comes six years after Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges in 2019, before he was found dead in his jail cell a month later, in what was deemed a suicide by hanging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell was later convicted on child sex trafficking charges in 2021 for her role in facilitating Epstein's abuse of young girls. She was recently moved into the custody of a minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas the same one housing disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel promised to release more information on the Epstein case after joining the president's administration earlier this year. The DOJ and FBI later released a joint memo in July, stating the investigation into Epstein's alleged crimes and subsequent death in prison was complete and that his long-rumored "client list" did not exist sparking renewed public interest in the circumstances surrounding the case. When Elon Musk departed the Trump White House in May, he wrote during a rant on X that Trump was "in the Epstein files," before he later walked back the post. Trump, whose past interactions with Epstein have been documented, has called the files a "hoax" perpetrated by his political enemies. Read the original article on People Skepticism abounds following the release of transcripts and recordings of Ghislaine Maxwells testimony to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case. Four years after her conviction and sentencing on charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and other crimes, how credible is her testimony? Ranking House Oversight Committee Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia was especially damning in the hours after the interview transcripts were released Friday, writing on X: Ghislaine Maxwell is a convicted sex trafficker and known liar. Her interview with Trump's DOJ lawyer shows she's desperate for a pardon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She claims no involvement in wrongdoing, which is insulting to the girls and young women she victimized and trafficked. She cannot be trusted. Blanche interviewed Maxwell, a former girlfriend and accomplice of Epsteins, last month over two days in Tallahassee, Florida. The disgraced British socialite is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking conspiracy and other crimes helping Epstein recruit, groom, and abuse young girls. Ghislaine Maxwell is serving 20 years for conspiracy to sex traffic girls to her late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein how credible is her new testimony four years after her trial as she angles for a pardon? (AP) The interviews came as the Trump administration attempted to quell backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike over its handling of the Epstein investigation. President Donald Trumps MAGA base was especially incensed at the announcement that the so-called Epstein files would not be released, no further charges would be filed, and that there was no client list of associates of the late sex offender, who died in prison while awaiting trial in August 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having propagated conspiracy theories regarding Epstein and promising the release of the case files, senior Trump administration officials saw new testimony from Maxwell as one way of tamping down the anger. Democrats seized on the outrage and kept reminding the public that Trump and Epstein had been friends for some 15 years. Many suggested the reason the infamous files were not being released was because the presidents name was mentioned in them. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing. On Friday evening, some hours after the release of the transcripts and recordings, CNNs Abby Phillip noted on her show Newsnight that Maxwell clearly understood the assignment here, referring to her flattering portrayal of Trump and denial of any wrongdoing on his part. Having been convicted of federal crimes, her only likely hope for getting out of prison early is either a pardon or a commutation from the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell told Blanche she never witnessed Trump doing anything inappropriate. The Epstein case and the presidents former friendship with the late sex offender have haunted the first months of the Trump administration (Getty) I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting, Maxwell said, according to the transcripts. I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. About a week after the interview, the 63-year-old British socialite was moved to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas. CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig expressed skepticism about what she had to say in her interviews with Blanche. Speaking to Phil Mattingly, guest host of The Lead with Jake Tapper, Honig was asked Friday whether this was a credible interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh my gosh, no, Phil in this transcript, Ghislaine Maxwell provides a simply bizarre worldview wherein almost nobody did anything wrong. She doesnt even actually implicate Jeffrey Epstein. If one believes that worldview, fine, the former federal prosecutor continued. Then maybe Ghislaine Maxwell is credible. I certainly do not. I find it impossible to believe her account of things. As to the timing of the release by the Justice Department mid-afternoon on a Friday in late August Honig said: It tells me theyre gonna do nothing next with respect to actually making criminal cases. He continued: I said from the start, the fact that DOJ is even considering releasing this transcript, which they now have done, that in itself is a tell, because if you were planning to ever make new criminal cases based on Ghislaine Maxwells information, releasing her transcript like theyve just done is the last thing you would ever do. It would tip off your potential targets. It would tip off your investigative methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honig added: And beyond that, Phil, as I just said, Im actually surprised to see she doesnt even implicate anybody. I mean, even if a juror was to take everything in this transcript as true, there would be nobody else to charge or convict with anything. Yet another reason why Im just not buying this. One of Ghislaine Maxwells hopes for early release from prison is a pardon or commutation from President Donald Trump (Federal Bureau of Prisons) Mattingly raised the pertinent question of the hour: What does Maxwell gain from this? Is there a chance that Maxwell could get a reduced sentence because of this? he asked. Theres a couple of chances, Honig replied. So first of all, she still has an appeal pending. Shes trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court to take her case. Its unlikely, but its possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: She also could receive whats called a Rule 35 letter from the Justice Department. Thats when a prosecutor goes to her judge after sentencing, where we are now, and says, Id like you to reduce her sentence. Thats up to DOJ, whether they want to make that motion. Honig concluded: But finally, she could get a pardon or commutation Shes absolutely playing for that. She goes out of her way to praise Donald Trump. In addition to her flattering portrayal of Trump, Maxwell also denied the existence of the infamous Epstein client list. That echoes what the Department of Justice said in early July, which sparked such a furore among the MAGA base. While Attorney General Pam Bondi had said early this year that she had it on her desk, she later clarified that she meant the files relating to the case, not a specific list itself. David Oscar Markus, an attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell, talks with the media outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, after her meeting with Trumps Justice Department (AP) On The Will Cain Show this afternoon on Fox News, correspondent Shannon Bream noted that this tracks with what former Epstein lawyer Alan Dershowitz told her some time before there was no formal list, and you wouldnt expect anyone involved in a criminal enterprise to keep one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later in the evening on Fox News, prime time host Jesse Watters seemed put out by the lack of a specific list but reminded viewers of the existence of a trove of other potential evidence: The list doesnt exist? So, flight manifests dont exist? The surveillance tapes dont exist? The bank records dont exist? Attorney and legal scholar Jonathan Turley joined Watters to share his thoughts and noted the sense of disappointment in Washington when Maxwell said there was no client list. She was immediately denounced as a liar, and that there has to be a list and that she was protecting the president, he said. There is another possibility, and that is she didn't have anything on the president, and perhaps there is not a list is she gaming the system? Probably. He went on to say: She clearly also does want something from Trump; she wants a commutation. That might not come until the end of the term. She is clearly angling for it. Having Trump administration officials interview Maxwell was expected to quell anger over broken promises relating to the Epstein case (AFP/Getty) Trump has, notably, nothing negative to say about the case against a woman he knows, the accusations against her, or the jurys verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has not ruled out pardoning Maxwell. Congressman Garcia also noted on All In With Chris Hayes on MSNBC that, in addition to Maxwell, he remains extremely skeptical about the Trump Justice Department. Today, his committee received the first batch of documents from the Epstein files also on a Friday afternoon in August. He posted on X after the interview: We are in the process of reviewing 33,000 pages of Epstein documents. It appears that most of these files are already in the public domain. Bondi needs to release all the files immediately, and we must remember that Trumps Department of Justice cannot be trusted. ALBANY, New York Former Gov. Andrew Cuomos successful quest to shut down the Indian Point nuclear plant spiked electricity costs and dirtied the energy grid of the city hes now running to lead. The closure, once hailed by some fellow Democrats as a bold safety move, is now under heavier scrutiny as New York confronts surging electricity demand, rising emissions and lagging renewable projects. Key Democrats including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Ritchie Torres have voiced regrets or pointed to poor planning. And the citys mayoral front-runner, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, has been largely silent leaving Cuomos energy legacy newly relevant as nuclear power gains ground in national climate politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo fought for decades to shut the plant, located 25 miles north of New York City. He raised concerns about the safety of the aging facility and its proximity to the nations biggest population center, where an evacuation if the worst happened would be impossible. But when Indian Point went offline, gas power filled the gap pushing emissions up 22 percent between 2019 and 2022 and exposing consumers to costly price swings. Households and businesses paid as much as $300 million more for electricity in 2022 alone, according to a conservative-leaning think tank. And the states and citys climate goals became more challenging to achieve. The city is much more reliant on its in-city fossil generation in a way that didnt have to happen the way it did, said Dan Zarrilli, former chief climate policy adviser to Mayor Bill de Blasio. It was clear that natural gas was going to fill that gap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gas prices have dropped in recent years, eliminating potential savings from keeping the plant open. Many nuclear reactors across the country including those in upstate New York under a program Cuomo backed as governor have required subsidies in recent years to stay online since they can't compete with cheap natural gas. And with energy prices again top of mind for voters, affordability has become a defining issue in the 2025 mayoral race particularly for working-class and outer borough neighborhoods hit hardest by high utility bills. Cuomo, running as an independent, is leaning into experience and executive competence but critics say his long political record carries baggage, especially on the environment. Mamdani, by contrast, is calling for a rapid build-out of public renewables through the New York Power Authority but hasnt said whether he supports nuclear as part of the mix. Cuomo still defends the decision to close the plant because of major safety concerns. Campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said the plant was on a fault line with no evacuation plan for residents if something happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time it was decommissioned, there were projects in the pipeline that would have replaced the power ... but they fell behind, Azzopardi said. But as Democratic officials embrace nuclear and the states renewable build-out falters, theyre having some regrets. Gov. Kathy Hochul said there should have been better planning to meet the states energy needs before shutting Indian Point. Rep. Ritchie Torres, who ultimately decided not to challenge Hochul after flirting with a gubernatorial run, said closing Indian Point was a mistake. The problem is not that we have too much energy. The problem is that we have too little. We need more clean energy. We need all of the above: wind, solar, hydro, bio, nuclear, Torres said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im speaking ... with the wisdom of hindsight, so I will make that concession but I feel like theres a growing recognition in the Democratic Party that we undervalue the role of nuclear in decarbonizing, he added. Mamdani has largely been silent on nuclear power and its potential role in New Yorks energy future. A pro-nuclear group is promoting a petition calling on him to endorse nuclear. The future mayor of New York City would have little leverage over the siting of new nuclear or other energy resources, given state and federal control of permitting, but does have a prominent public perch to opine on the issue. Mamdani has backed a major build-out of renewable energy by the New York Power Authority and decarbonizing schools. His campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment about his position on nuclear and Indian Points closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Democratic climate hawks are unmoved by criticisms including from Republicans that closing Indian Point increased emissions. Democratic Sen. Liz Krueger, chair of the powerful Finance Committee, dismissed arguments that the plant should have stayed online. It was built on a fault line, and no one would be allowed to build a nuclear power plant on an active fault line in todays world, Krueger said. I actually dont think theres any justification for making the argument we shouldnt have closed Indian Point, or even that we should explore reopening it. Holtec, the company decommissioning Indian Point, has floated the idea of siting a small nuclear reactor at the site alongside a data center. A spokesperson for the company acknowledged a new reactor would be an uphill battle politically. Hochul has embraced new nuclear at least in upstate New York. Shes directed NYPA to build at least 1 gigawatt, potentially with private partners in communities supportive of nuclear energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the deal was struck to shut Indian Point, the plant was battling the state over permits to continue withdrawing massive amounts of water from the Hudson River for cooling. Sucking the water out killed fish in the river and threatened endangered species. These impacts on the sensitive ecosystem were the main driver of environmental group Riverkeepers support for shuttering the plant. Riverkeeper was a party to the agreement to close Indian Point, agreeing to cease their legal efforts to shut it down and getting a symbolic $1 payment. The organization backed renewables and energy efficiency to replace the lost capacity from the 2,000-megawatt plant. The decision that closed Indian Point kicked off an enormous rush towards remaking New Yorks electricity supply. That is paying off and will continue to do so, said Paul Gallay, who led Riverkeeper in 2017 when the agreement to close the plant was announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pointed to the pending completion of two offshore wind projects and the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a transmission line backed by Hochul to bring hydropower from Canada to the city. Riverkeeper opposed that project because of concerns about the ecological damage from large-scale hydropower and impacts of putting the infrastructure in the Hudson River. What were looking at since Indian Point closed is a period of transition where, despite any federal headwinds, the state and the city and local partners are making a lot of progress towards replacement energy in the face of growing demand and the challenges caused by cheap natural gas, Gallay added. That 1,250-megawatt line will displace fossil fuel generation. New York City and large building owners are expected to buy credits generated by the project, reducing the cost for utility ratepayers statewide. Cuomo supported the project, although his officials had concerns about the cost. The process to subsidize transmission lines for renewables into the city was started before the former governor resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, which he has denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former governor also backed other projects in preparation for Indian Point shutting down, including a transmission line to reduce congestion between the upstate and downstate electric grid that was completed in 2023. But overall, renewable energy hasnt come online at the pace state policymakers envisioned, and demand continues to grow. Most notably, offshore wind, which Cuomo expected to provide massive amounts of clean energy to the city, is stalled out amid President Donald Trumps explicit opposition to any new turbines in the ocean. Everything else with offshore wind and everything else thats happening with the federal government is unhelpful and dragging us in the wrong direction, Zarrilli said. Republican public safety advocate Gianno Caldwell is mulling a bid for the open Illinois Senate seat in 2026 amid growing conversations about crime in Americas cities. Earlier this month, Caldwell was the keynote speaker at the Illinois Republican Partys Republican Day event at the state fair, where he touted his record on law and order. Caldwell's brother, Christian, was killed in 2022 in a Chicago drive-by shooting at the age of 18. "I've been about this fight for many years, public service. I've worked in every level of government that you can imagine, and certainly I think there's time for a law-and-order U.S. Senate candidate to come to the forefront in Illinois," said Caldwell, a Fox News contributor and founder of the Caldwell Institute for Public Safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago Braces For Deadly July 4 Weekend As Fox News Analyst Takes Action In Brother's Unsolved Murder "My brother's legacy has become my mission and to save lives," Caldwell said. "And if that's something that I can continue in a U.S. Senate seat, that's worth considering for the many lives that have been lost and the legacies that need to be furthered in the state of Illinois and my home city of Chicago." Caldwells hometown of Chicago is getting renewed attention as President Donald Trump wants to take National Guard and federal agent deployment to lower crime nationwide after the takeover of policing in Washington, D.C. Both cities have dealt with violent crime woes, which have led to teens and children dying in numerous tragic cases. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Hints At Federal Crackdown In Chicago Amid Anti-crime Push In Dc D.C. Metropolitan Police detain a person after an altercation between members of the public in Washington, D.C., Aug. 14, 2025. "My brother's murder was something that I thought needed to have a conversation to address what has been going on in Chicago," Caldwell said. "So, this impacted me in a very deep and personal way. And when I think about what President Trump is doing by saying, Look, we're doing this in D.C. already. We want to take this to other places around the country. I applaud him. Why? Because people have been begging for change in the City of Chicago." Caldwell spoke even as a backlash has grown from Democrats who have said that the heavy law enforcement presence in the nations capital is over the top. "American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican," Mayor Muriel Bowser posted to X last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rahm Emanuel On Potential 2028 White House Run: 'I Have Something I Think I Can Offer' Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in 2024. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is retiring in 2026, busting the race wide open on both sides of the aisle. "The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States senator. But, in my heart, I know its time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term," Durbin, 80, said in an April video. Original article source: Gianno Caldwell mulls Senate bid as Chicagoans are 'begging for change' on crime woes RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Governor Josh Stein was on the coast on Friday after Hurricane Erin moved further offshore into the Atlantic Ocean. The storm brought some damage to coastal towns, but overall, the Governor says the state is in good shape. My goodness, North Carolina dodged a bullet with Hurricane Erin, Governor Stein said. Days before the storm, he declared a state of emergency and activated emergency response groups like the National Guard, the Department of Transportation, and Emergency Management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knowing that additional state and federal resources were staged and ready to assist was most assuring and extremely essential, Bob Woodard, a Dare County Commissioner, said of the help. With the storm now gone, cleanup beings. Its mainly happening on Hatteras Island, where the brunt of the damage happened. Another focus area is NC 12, which Department of Transportation officials say didnt sustain any damage, only sand and water. We know NC12 is the interstate of the Outer Banks, its important to use we help that recover to pre-storm conditions, Joey Hopkins, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, said. Its a relief for Emergency Management leaders, but a bigger relief for coastal residents who are no strangers to major storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were well tested, and we work hard to be resilient and self-sufficient, but we also know that our strength is multiplied when we have the support of these folks standing before you today, Woodard 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 CBS17.com. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, pictured at center, was released from jail in Putnam County, Tennessee on August 22, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) NASHVILLE The Trump administration may deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda after he rejected a last-minute deal to remain in jail, plead guilty to human smuggling charges and be deported to Costa Rica, a legal notice filed Saturday by his attorneys said. The behind-the-scenes ultimatum bolsters claims that Abrego is the target of selective and vindictive prosecution by the government after he contested his wrongful deportation to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador prison in March, Abregos lawyers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego was released Friday to await trial in January on human smuggling charges in Tennessee and returned to Maryland, where the sheet metal apprentice lives with his wife and children. His wrongful deportation to El Salvador in March has brought ongoing scrutiny to the Trump administrations immigration crackdown tactics. Abrego has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. In a deal offered by the government late Thursday, it promised to deport Abrego to Costa Rica where he could live freely if he remained jailed until Monday, pleaded guilty to the Tennessee human smuggling charges and served the sentence imposed by the court, his attorneys wrote. The government of Costa Rica had agreed to take him, the filing said. Abregos attorneys informed the Acting U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire, who is prosecuting the Tennessee case, they would of course, communicate the governments proposal to Mr. Abrego but declined to agree to a demand that he remain incarcerated until Monday. Abrego was released shortly after 2 p.m. Friday from a detention facility in Putnam County, Tenn. Within minutes of Abregos release, a representative of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, informed his attorneys they intended to deport him to Uganda and ordered him to report to the agencys field office in Baltimore, his attorneys wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only thing that happened between Thursday Costa Rica and Friday Uganda was Mr. Abregos exercise of his legal entitlement to release under the Bail Reform Act and the Fifth Amendment, his attorneys wrote. Government officials again, late Friday evening, informed Abrego he has until first thing Monday morning to accept a plea in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica or else that offer will be off the table forever. There can be only one interpretation of these events: the (Department of Justice) and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat, Abregos attorneys wrote. Attorneys for Abrego have already filed a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against him, calling the case a clear example of selective and vindictive prosecution by the Trump administration in legal filings last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ultimatums offered by the Trump administration serve to underscore Abregos allegations that it is acting with vindictiveness towards him, their latest legal filing said. The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security are obviously working in lockstep to coerce Mr. Abrego into accepting a guilty plea in his criminal case, holding over his head the prospect of possible indefinite detention or worse in a country halfway across the world, the attorneys wrote. It is difficult to imagine a path the government could have taken that would have better emphasized its vindictiveness. 113 SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)- Governor Ron DeSantis announced the results Friday morning of an immigration enforcement operation over the past week that led to the arrest of 200 individuals. Were now in this position where were leading the state efforts to help the Trump Administration actually enforce the law and remove illegal aliens from not just Florida, but from our country, said Governor Ron DeSantis, And thats something that we didnt have for four years. And now thats something that were absolutely on board with making sure happens going forward. The operation involved 45 Florida Highway Patrol troopers and 20 federal personnel and took place across eight Panhandle counties. It was part of a cooperative effort with ICE, Border Patrol, Homeland Security, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since March 2025, the Florida Highway Patrol has vetted nearly 4,700 immigrants through DHS databases. This ongoing effort is part of the states broader strategy to address immigration issues. The operation, known as the Panhandle Immigration Enforcement Operation, deployed personnel across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Okaloosa, Holmes, Bay, Washington, and Jackson counties. Governor DeSantis emphasized the states commitment to enforcing immigration laws and removing illegal aliens. Its not talk, its just results. Thats what our governor demands, stated FHP Director, Colonel Gary L. Howze, Florida law enforcement will not turn a blind eye to criminality, especially when it endangers the safety of law-abiding Americans. Last week, Florida partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard and ICE to conduct their first deportation flight from Tallahassee, which included 20 illegal immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybodys seen alligator, Alcatraz, weve got a deportation depot, said Executive Director of the state board of immigration, Larry Keefe, But it all comes down to finding, sorting, processing, detaining and deporting in a mass scale humanely, safely, lawfully, and bringing all of these moving parts together. Governor DeSantis reiterated the states stance against lawlessness, stating, We will not tolerate lawlessness in the state of Florida or continue to deploy every available resource to identify, apprehend, and remove those who seek to exploit our state and to endanger our people. Of those 200-people arrested from this past week, 37 of them had final orders but failed to appear in court, 8 were previously deported and illegally reentered the U.S.. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Governor Ron DeSantis is calling for major reforms after a fatal semi truck crash on Floridas Turnpike. The crash took place earlier this month when Hardinjer Singh tried to make a U-turn on the Florida Turnpike while driving a semi truck in South Florida. This maneuver caused a collision that killed three people in a minivan, which was unable to stop and went underneath the trailer. Governor DeSantis criticized Californias policies, arguing that Hardinjer Singh should never have been granted a commercial drivers license in California. He also demanded accountability from Californias sanctuary cities. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is responding after a federal judge ordered to wind down operations and bar additional detainees from being transferred to Alligator Alcatraz. This comes after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams sided with environmental groups and a Native American tribe that argued that construction and operations should be stopped until the facility complied with federal environmental laws. The state quickly responded to the judges 82-page order by filing a notice of appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We knew the minute this judge got the case. We knew what she was going to do, the governor said. Williams said she expects the population of the facility to decrease within the next 60 days because additional detainees will have to be transferred to other facilities. When that happens, she ordered for fencing, lighting, generators as well as sewage receptables to be removed from the site. This was a judge that would not give us a fair shake, DeSantis said. He called Williams an activist judge who is trying to do policy from the bench. Of course, youre going to hear the same rhetoric from the state that its a biased or radical judge. You wouldnt hear that if they denied the motion for temporary injunction, said legal expert Bill Sheaffer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheaffer says the South Florida judge will likely have a final hearing, making this temporary injunctionpermanent. Since the state filed a notice of appeal, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear the case, either with a panel of three judges or a block of all 11th Circuit appellate judges. This could be in the next few weeks. Theyll expedite this hearing because its of great public interest and its holding up this construction, Sheaffer said. The executive director of Friends of the Everglades said the judges order is big, but she says it is not a final win, noting the appeal process ahead. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Aug. 22SANTA FE Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is declining Republican legislators' invitation to join them on a tour of one of New Mexico's immigrant detention centers. Two GOP legislators invited the governor this week to join them and other Republican lawmakers for a Monday tour of the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral. The facility is one of the three U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, facilities in New Mexico that holds migrant detainees. But a Lujan Grisham spokeswoman said Friday the governor would not be able to attend due to scheduling conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The governor has a busy schedule on Monday and will not participate in this tour," Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Lauren Thorp said. "However, her door is always open to lawmakers." Legislation banning New Mexico local governments from entering into contracts with federal agencies to detain immigrants for civil violations could be in the mix for a possible special session this fall. Lujan Grisham's chief general counsel told lawmakers last month the governor was considering adding the legislation to the special session agenda, along with several other proposals. Given that backdrop, the interim Courts Corrections and Justice Committee had initially planned to tour the facility as part of its scheduled meeting in Las Cruces. But those plans were scuttled due to scheduling challenges that emerged following talks with Otero County officials, said Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, the committee's chairman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican legislators then arranged their own tour through discussions with U.S. Department of Homeland Security staffers, setting the stage for the invite to the governor to be announced. They said the tour could provide insights about possible federal funding losses and local employment implications, among other issues. "We believe your participation would be instrumental in ensuring that any decisions made are fully informed and in the best interests of the people of New Mexico," Sen. Crystal Brantley of Elephant Butte and Andrea Reeb of Clovis said in their invitation letter, referring to the special session. The issue of elected officials visiting ICE facilities has emerged as a flashpoint during President Donald Trump's second term in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group of Democratic U.S. House members recently filed a lawsuit against ICE and Homeland Security for blocking or limiting their efforts to visit detention facilities. U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., who is not involved in the lawsuit, also recently visited the Otero County Processing Center, but said after the visit he was not allowed to meet with detainees or take photos. New Mexico's three private detention centers are located in Torrance, Cibola and Otero counties. They operate via intergovernmental service agreements between local counties and ICE. Nearly 11 years after Florida State University law professor Dan Markel was gunned down in his driveway, his former mother-in-law, Donna Sue Adelson, faces charges she masterminded the killing. The 75-year-old grandmother is accused of first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation of murder in what prosecutors call a cold-blooded family plot to free her daughter, Wendi Adelson, from a bitter custody battle. Donna Sue Adelson has pleaded not guilty. Former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, who was also a friend of Markel, told Fox News Digital the long wait for trial was deliberate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The day of reckoning for Donna is here and justice has come slowly, but it is going to arrive," he said. "Prosecutors had to go step by step, starting with the hitmen, then Katherine Magbanua [Adelson's former girlfriend], then Charlie Adelson [Markel's former brother-in-law]. Only then did they have enough to take down Donna." Hiring A Hitman: Inside A Florida Dentist's Alleged Plot To Have His Sister's Ex, A Prominent Attorney, Killed Since the 2014 murder, Charlie Adelson has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Two men hired in the scheme, Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia, as well as go-between Magbanua, are also serving lengthy sentences, according to The Associated Press. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors argue Donna was the matriarch who orchestrated the killing behind the scenes. Aronberg said the strategy of stacking convictions was key. "I dont think you get to Donna without getting to Katie Magbanua and then Charlie Adelson first. Its been a very successful strategy and its not done yet," Aronberg said. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X This undated family photo shows Dan "Danny" Markel and his two sons. Markel, a rising legal scholar, was embroiled in a contentious divorce and custody dispute with Donnas daughter, Wendi Adelson, when he was ambushed and shot in July 2014. Prosecutors say Donna and her son, Charlie Adelson, worked with hired hitmen to eliminate Markel, so Wendi could relocate with her children to South Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter Jury selection began Tuesday in Tallahassee, Florida. Aronberg said the trial will likely move quicker than Charlies trial because prosecutors and judges now know the case inside and out. "Donna will take the stand, they will cross-examine her it will be must-see TV," he said. "And I think justice will be done." One of the prosecutions sharpest tools, Aronberg said, is Donnas "consciousness of guilt," primarily from her 2023 attempt to flee the U.S. to Vietnam. Notably, Vietnam has no extradition treaty with the U.S. "The best evidence for the jury will be consciousness of guilt," Aronberg explained. "She tried to flee the country on a one-way ticket to Vietnam. Thats not how an innocent person acts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Woman Sentenced To Life Behind Bars In Murder-for-hire Shooting Death Of Prominent Fsu Law Professor In 2016, the FBI conducted an undercover operation known as "the bump" against Donna. An agent approached Donna in Miami posing as an extortionist tied to the killers. "If you had nothing to do with this crime, youd throw the paper away or call police," Aronberg said. "She didnt either. She called her son, whos now in prison for life, and spoke in code about the TV, which was their code for the murder. Thats not how an innocent person acts." Dan Markel and his mother, Ruth Markel, in this undated photo provided by the family. Woman, 73, Arrested At Miami Airport After Alleged Murder-for-hire Plot Targeting Former Son-in-law Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aronberg also noted contradictions in Donnas story. The Adelsons were outraged at being asked for a fake $5,000 payoff during the sting, yet were later willing to pay $300,000 when Magbanua said the killers wanted it, according to testimony from Charlie Adelson's trial. "That doesnt make any sense," Aronberg said. Aronberg suggested that the defense may lean into Donnas 75-year-old status as a grandmother and loving mother. "Shes going to say she was just being a good mother to her son thats why her money got into the killers hands. But that didnt work for Charlie, and it wont work for her," he said. "Her better defense would be accessory after the fact, but she wants exoneration entirely. She thinks she can put one over on the jury. That didnt work for Charlie, and it wont work for her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She may hope jurors will see a frail grandmother, but shes not sympathetic," he said. "She took the stand pretrial, and it did not go well. She doesnt come across sympathetically." Life Sentence: Mother Of Florida Lawyer Killed In Murder-for-hire Plot Details Family's Fight For Justice At the time of his murder, Markel was a rising legal scholar and embroiled in a contentious divorce and custody dispute with his wife, Wendi Adelson. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son, Charlie, arranged the murder so Wendi could gain full custody of their children and start a new life in South Florida. Go Here For More True Crime From Fox News Digital Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wendi has not been charged but has been repeatedly named in court filings. She has fought a subpoena to testify at her mothers trial, arguing it could jeopardize her Fifth Amendment rights. Aronberg expects she will still take the stand under immunity if called by the prosecution. "As for Donna, shell testify too," Aronberg said. "She really believes her story. But just like Charlie, shell learn the jury isnt buying it." Fox News Digital has reached out to Donna Adelson's defense team, Jackie Fulford and Joshua Zelman, for comment. Original article source: Grandmother accused of masterminding family murder-for-hire plot in dentist's killing of professor SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A 52-year-old man was found guilty after a trial by jury of forcibly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old who was visiting San Francisco with family last summer, prosecutors announced Friday. Peeping Tom arrested for filming neighbor after shower, say Fremont police Jian Feng Li was also convicted of sexual battery, indecent exposure and lewd content, said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in a news release. Li remains in custody while he awaits sentencing Oct. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The horrific crimes happened in the sauna area of a gym on July 11, 2024, said the DA. The victim was able to escape to a nearby locker room and call a parent for help. I pray that this verdict brings them some measure of comfort that Mr. Li will not be able to victimize anyone else as they work to heal from this trauma, said DA Jenkins. Li faces 19 years in state person and must register as a sex offender for life. While the guilty verdict cannot fully return what the defendant took from the victim, I can only hope that the victim and the family find some peace that justice was done, added Assistant DA Rick Hullinger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Guinea's junta has suspended three main political parties -- including that of former president Alpha Conde -- for three months, ahead of an electoral campaign for a rewrite of the constitution, according to an order seen by AFP on Saturday. The move came as the west African nation readied for protests called by the main parties and civil society groups from September 5 to condemn what they see as a power grab by the head of the junta, General Mamadi Doumbouya. The opposition has condemned plans for a September 21 referendum on revising the constitution -- a vote organised by Doumbouya, who took power in 2021 when a coup toppled Conde, who had been president for 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doumbouya's military-run government has banned all demonstrations since 2022, and has arrested, prosecuted or pushed into exile several opposition leaders. As well as Conde's Rally of the Guinean People, the new order suspends the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, led by former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress. "These parties have not fulfilled the obligations required of them," the order stated. It did not detail what the unfulfilled obligations were, but set a three-month deadline for the parties to correct them or face additional sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate order read on state television late Friday, the junta also declared that the start of the election campaign period for the constitutional referendum had been pushed back a week, to August 31. - Opposition crackdown - The parties' suspension comes after Guinea's military leaders said in January the political arena needs to be "sanitised". In March, the junta announced the suspension of 28 political parties and the dissolution of 27 others, saying they had failed to meet the requirement to provide bank account details and hold a regular congress. Conde's party was among those suspended then, but was later allowed to resume activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guinea's junta has faced condemnation from international rights groups that accuse it of cracking down on political dissent and independent media. The draft constitution, presented to the junta leader in June, opens the way to a return to civilian rule. However, it does not make clear whether Doumbouya could stand as a candidate in the next presidential election. A "transition charter" drawn up by the junta shortly after the coup had stipulated that none of its leaders, government members of heads of institutions would be able to stand in elections. The adoption of a new constitution could do away with that restriction, in a country that has spent decades ruled by dictatorial governments. bm-mrb/jhb/rmb Almost every passenger carries lithium-ion batteries onto airplanes in their phones, laptops, rechargeable powerpacks and even vapes. And when something goes wrong with one of them, Federal Aviation Administration tests show the results can be catastrophic. Delta Air Lines Flight 1334 was flying from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale last month when smoke and flames started pouring out of a backpack. The pilots declared an emergency and diverted to Fort Meyers where the 191 people onboard safely evacuated. The culprit was a passengers personal lithium-ion battery pack, which had been tucked away in the carry-on bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the FAAs William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace in Atlantic City, New Jersey, fire safety engineers research and demonstrate just how bad it can be. Lithium batteries can go into whats called thermal runaway, Fire Safety Branch Manager Robert Ochs, explained. All of a sudden, itll start to short circuit It will get warmer and warmer and warmer until the structure of the battery itself fails. At that point, it can eject molten electrolyte and flames and smoke and toxic gas. The FAA conducted a demonstration for CNN inside their research hangar to show what could happen. A rechargeable consumer battery pack, which might be used to charge a laptop or cell phone, was tucked into a seatback pocket and heated to more than 300 degrees to simulate the thermal runaway. Suddenly, sparks and fames violently erupted, scorching nearby seats and sending smoke billowing. Demonstration of lithium ion battery thermal runaway at FAA technical center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. - CNN The testing that were doing here is helping flight attendants, Ochs said. Anytime that theres a fire on an airplane, it is a serious concern, and action has to be taken immediately because there is no escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These thermal runaways are difficult to fight. The FAA recommends flight attendants first use a halon fire extinguisher, which is standard equipment on planes, but that alone may not be enough. In the test performed for CNN, the flames sprung back up in just moments. Grab that hand extinguisher, use it to put the flames out. But we know from our testing that thats not going to stop, and that fire will reignite with a lithium battery, Ochs said. Adding the water, as much water from the galley cart, non-alcoholic liquids, everything that they can get to just start pouring on that device. The problems are not new, but more batteries are being carried onto planes than ever before. Safety organization UL Standards and Engagement says today an average passenger flies with four devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incidents of fire are rare, but they are increasing. Were seeing as many as two per week, either on planes or within airports, Jeff Marootian, the president and CEO of the organization, told CNN. The FAA allows most consumer personal electronic devices with lithium-ion batteries in checked and carry-on luggage. However, the latest federal data shows external battery packs are the top cause of incidents, and as a result the FAA has banned them from checked baggage where they are harder to extinguish. But despite all of the warnings, UL Standards and Engagement says two in five passengers still say they check them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that within the cargo compartment, lithium battery fires are a serious danger, Ochs said. Passengers should bring them with them on board and they should be readily accessible. If one does happen to catch on fire and its stuffed deep within your bag, all the way up in an overhead bin, thats going to be very hard for a flight attendant to fight. The aftermath of the plane fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea on January 28, 2025 - JTBC In January, Air Busan Airbus A321 on the ground at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea was gutted by flames. The investigation is ongoing, but the cause is thought to be a personal power pack battery stored in an overhead bin. Twenty-seven people were injured, three seriously. As a result, South Korea created rules preventing power banks from being kept in overhead bins and prohibiting charging devices on board. In the United States, Southwest Airlines now requires all battery packs to remain in plain sight when being used, and passengers cannot charge devices in the overhead bins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that this is a solvable problem, and first and foremost, it is about passenger awareness and education, Marootian said. A lithium battery fire on the ground is dangerous enough, at 30,000 feet it can be a catastrophe. Passengers should let flight attendants know if a device is getting too hot, and if a battery-powered device is dropped into a seat, they should get help before trying to adjust the seat. If you lose a device and a seat dont operate the seat, because it could pinch it and that could cause a thermal runaway too, Ochs said. The best bet is anything thats going wrong with your device, call the flight attendant. Consumers can also avoid devices that are cheaply made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it is a lot cheaper than the other devices on the market, then most likely it doesnt have the most rigorous manufacturing. There could be latent defects within the device itself that could cause it to fail, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Following Donald Trump hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House this week, in order to advance peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, one detail caught the internets eye... Pictures revealed that Trump had set up his very own gift shop in a corner of the West Wing, to better peddle his MAGA merchandise. The concept isnt new, as the White House has had an official gift shop for visitors since 1950. However, Trumps MAGA corner is a new addition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, Trump was seen showing off his collection to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, who was in the US earlier this month to sign an agreement with the Armenian leader to end their decades-old conflict. Eagle-eyed social media users noticed cufflinks, scarves, water bottles and more red caps including one that read Trump Was Right About Everything and Trump 2028. The merch room then when viral when a Trump aide, Margo Martin, shared a photograph of the president proudly showing off the area to the world leaders this week, even displaying a "4 More Years" hat to Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron. It wasnt clear from the images what Zelenskyy and Macrons reactions were to the MAGA store and its merch, but the internet quickly weighed in... Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Online reactions called the move beyond tacky, embarrassing and one X user commented: Imagine if Churchill went to the US during WW2, trying to defend against a shared opponent.. And they stopped for a merch flex break! Someone did suggest that the leaders get 10 per cent off... Beyond the jokes and criticism, the items still had people wondering whether it was clear sign that Trump is teasing running for a third term. After all, Trump was heard telling Aliyev as he brandished the "Trump 2028" cap that "everybody wants me to run, including us." This left some of his supporters both thrilled and confused, as well as many Trump haters worried as Trump has flip-flopped on the matter... Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution not allowing anyone from serving as president for more than two terms (meaning Trump will be ineligible to stand again at the next election), Trump stated in March that there were "methods" to surpass the Constitutional restriction. Then, he told NBC News in May that he wasn't looking for a third term: "I'm looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward," he said, suggesting Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be potential successors. Trump 2028 - Screengrab Trump Store So, what does the 2028 hat tell us? Well, its not new, as the Trump Store website has been selling the caps since April (for $50 apiece - 43 - with the product description Make a statement with this Made in America Trump 2028 hat), as well as T-shirts which read Trump 2028 (Rewrite the Rules). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president's son Eric was even pictured wearing the hat, which included the message: "The future looks bright!" Bright for some, but constitutionally complex if you consider the political niceties. Amending the constitution would require a two-thirds approval majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as approval from three-quarters of the country's state-level governments. Trump's Republican Party controls both chambers of Congress but does not have the majorities needed. Many Trump supporters frequently mention Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected four times (and died three months into his fourth term, in April 1945). The thing is that the two-term limit on US presidents had not been written into law at that time, and Roosevelt's extended time at the White House led to the law in the 22nd Amendment in 1951. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others claim that the loopholes for Trump coming back exist, arguing that the 22nd Amendment only explicitly bans someone being "elected" to more than two presidential terms and does not mention "succession". Therefore, Trump could be the vice-presidential running-mate to another candidate in the 2028 election and if they win and the candidate immediately resigns, Trump returns by succession. Puts the show into perspective, don't it? Then there are those who favour the not consecutive argument, which states that since Trump won in 2016, lost in 2020 and won again in 2024, he is eligible to run again in 2028. Its all conjecture at this point, but what is certain is that the Trump 2028 hats are yet another example of Trump as the salesman, as he has never shied away from a marketing opportunity, no matter how crass or credibility-staining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether its selling bibles (read more about those here), silver coins ("The ONLY OFFICIAL coin designed by me"), luxury watches (from TheBestWatchesOnEarth LLC), cryptocurrency exchange ("We're embracing the future with crypto and leaving the slow and outdated big banks behind") and Gibson guitars which lead to cease and desist letters, the sheer amount of merch is staggering and has been labelled by some as "beyond parody". The end stretch of the election cycle last year even saw the Trump team up the ante with an onslaught of Trump-hawked items. There was no precedent for this level of election monetization, with The New York Times saying at the time that Trump's branded sales were part of an "extraordinary effort to mix his personal finances with his bid to return to political power." According to Forbes, Trump could have made up to $315m from $TRUMP cryptocurrency since its launch in January, and according to Trump's most recent financial disclosure report, he made $57,355,532 from his stake in the cryptocurrency platform World Liberty Financial, $2.8m from 'Trump Watches', and $3m from his Save America coffee table book. And it never stops. Trumps latest addition to his personal line of merchandise? A branded perfume and cologne that will set you back $249 (211) - a fragrance that was labelled as too embarrassing for words". Still, embarrassing business ventures aside, as long as Trump's merch corner in the West Wing stands, you can bet that doubts will continue to linger on whether he will be able to leave the White House at the end of his second term - at the ripe age of 82 years old. Should he refuse to bow out gracefully (and constitutionally) and not exit through the gift shop, hes got the merch ready. Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, has suggested the establishment of a 'Bharat Pavilion' in all major international and domestic fairs to enable the Plantation Boards to showcase their products collectively. Goyal on Friday reviewed the functioning of the Plantation Boards under the Department of Commerce - Spices Board, Tea Board, Rubber Board, Coffee Board and Turmeric Board. Senior officers of the Department of Commerce and the respective Boards attended the meeting. The Minister emphasised the need to expand export opportunities through market diversification, promotion of value-added products, maintenance of quality standards, and optimum utilisation of the benefits available to India under various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). He stressed the promotion of brand 'India' by the Boards in collaboration with the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), with each contributing equally. The Minister also directed that all Boards should promote their Geographical Indication (GI) products with 'India' incorporated as part of their logo. Goyal urged the Boards to ensure the welfare of growers, workers and their families through existing schemes. He underlined the need for skilling programmes for them and directed the Boards to coordinate with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in this regard. He expressed satisfaction that capacity building and training programmes were already being undertaken to promote good agricultural practices, quality, and organic production. He further emphasised that all stakeholders of the Boards should be supported through ease of doing business measures, sensitisation and outreach programmes. The Minister also called upon the Boards to explore the creation of a common incubation centre, on the lines of the Atal Innovation Mission, to encourage research, innovation and start-ups.(ANI) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a top Pentagon official whose preliminary report on damage to Irans nuclear sites by U.S. strikes allegedly angered President Donald Trump. From February 2024 until Friday, Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse was head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, whose early assessment of the June bombings found damage to be not as severe as the president claimed. In response, Trump fumed about news stories on that report by The New York Times and CNN. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, fired Kruse due to loss of confidence in the 34-year Air Force veteran, two people familiar with the move told The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Defense Department declined to comment to the Daily Beast on the reason for Kruses firing, candidates for his replacement, and whether he would retire. Hegseth fired Kruse due to In a statement, Virginia Senator Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the firing underscores the Trump administrations dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country. The Pentagons initial report found that the strikes only set Irans nuclear program back by a few months and was not the complete and total obliteration Trump had bragged about. Warner, in a press release, said the DIAs assessment was the type of honest, fact-based analysis which is exactly what we should want from our intelligence agencies, regardless of whether it flatters the White House narrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When expertise is cast aside and intelligence is distorted or silenced, our adversaries gain the upper hand and America is left less safe, he warned. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast asking if Trump ordered the firing. Kruses firing is the second by the Defense Department of a senior Pentagon official since Trumps inauguration. In early April, it removed the head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, Gen. Timothy Haughreportedly after right-wing activist Laura Loomer accused him of being disloyal to Trump. Also shown the door then were five National Security Council aides. Kruse, a Gulf War veteran, and Haugh, who deployed to Iraq, were both appointed during the Biden administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., to carry weapons on patrol, according to multiple reports. The nearly 2,000 troops will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training, Fox News reported late Friday morning, citing an unnamed U.S. defense official. Its been over two weeks since the start of what the Trump administration is referring to as a crime crackdown, despite crime declining in recent years. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb called it a hostile takeover as he sued President Donald Trump and other administration officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Trump announced he had placed the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deployed about 800 National Guard troops to D.C. I'm announcing a historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor, and worse, he said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., to carry weapons on patrol, according to multiple reports (REUTERS) The number of National Guard troops in the capital has grown to nearly 2,000, with Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia sending soldiers. "The Interim Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard retains the authority to make any necessary force posture adjustments in coordination with the D.C. Metropolitan Police and Federal law enforcement partners, the defense official told Fox News. The D.C. National Guard remains committed to safeguarding the District of Columbia and serving those who live, work, and visit the District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X Friday morning there have been 719 arrests made and 91 illegal guns seized in D.C. since Trumps federal takeover. Just yesterday we made 40 arrests, took 5 more illegal firearms off our streets, and had 36 ICE arrestsincluding a suspected MS-13 gang member, she said. Thank you @POTUS for your unwavering support to make DC safe again! The number of National Guard troops has grown to nearly 2,000, with Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia sending soldiers (REUTERS) Despite the Trump administration painting D.C. as a crime-ridden city, statistics released by the U.S. Attorneys Office for D.C. in January showed violent crime went down by 35 percent in 2024, a 30-year low, after peaking in 2023. Trump thanked roughly 300 men and women from the Metropolitan Police Department, National Guard, Homeland Security Investigations and other federal agencies during a photo op at the U.S. Park Police facility in Anacostia Thursday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We've had some incredible results that have come out, and it's like a different place. It's like a different city. It's the capital. It's going to be the best in the world, the president told the crowd. DENVER (KDVR) A helicopter assigned to help fight the Derby Fire ended up in a lake 13 miles northwest of the Eagle County Regional Airport on Friday. The U.S. Forest Service for the White River National Forest said the incident occurred at about 4:10 p.m. on Friday, and said the helicopter pilot was picked up by another aircraft assigned to the Derby Fire and flown to the Eagle County Regional Airport. Colorado Wildfire Map Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pilot was checked out by emergency medical personnel and determined he was fine, besides minor bumps and bruises. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified, but its unclear if the agency will be responding to the incident. The U.S. Forest Service had an investigative team en route at about 6:30 p.m., according to a press release. Derby Fire continues to burn, prompts new pre-evacuations Eagle County Emergency Management added three new zones along Colorado River Road to pre-evacuation status on Friday, and the roadway remains closed to non-residents at the roundabout north of Dotsero. The pre-evacuation zones are now close to Interstate 70, although the fire does not appear to be threatening the interstate in any way as of Friday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire had grown to 4,112 acres as of Friday evening, according to InciWeb, a government site for wildfire reporting, which is up from about 3,569 acres on Friday morning. Evacuation and pre-evacuation zones for the Derby Fire as of 10:20 p.m., Aug. 22, 2025. (Courtesy Eagle County Emergency Management) There is not yet any containment of the fire, which sparked on Aug. 16. Officials also shared on InciWeb that the fire is not being driven by wind, but instead by available fuels. Fire managers were also concerned about the fire potentially breaching into the Sweetwater Creek drainage, and have worked to protect over 200 structures along the roadway to Red Dirt Creek through positioning sprinkler kits and removing surrounding fuels. 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. This week, Erik and Lyle Menendez went before a California judge to seek parole, almost 30 years after being convicted of killing their parents. Ted Soqui / Getty Images After an initial trial resulted in a mistrial, the brothers were convicted in 1996 for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez. While prosecutors argued they killed their parents for money, the brothers claimed self-defense after suffering years of sexual abuse by their father, which they alleged their mother knew about but chose to ignore. Initially, they were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, but they became eligible in May due to a California law that provides parole hearings for people who commit certain crimes before the age of 26. Ted Soqui / Getty Images Related: Gavin Newsom Brought The Receipts After Trump Claimed He "Never Wrote A Picture" In Response To The Epstein Files, And It's Sooo Good A parole board heard Erik's case on Thursday, followed by Lyle's on Friday and while both had strong support from family members and even public figures like Kim Kardashian, both cases were ultimately denied. Ted Soqui / Getty Images Related: Donald Trump Just Shared A Very Ominous Post, And People Are Calling It "One Of The Worst Statements Ever Made By A Sitting US President" In Erik's case, Parole Commissioner Robert Barton said he was "not a model prisoner," citing more than 12 prison infractions, including cellphone possession, alcohol and drug use, and involvement in a tax-fraud scheme. Erik reportedly said that he was living in "tremendous fear" of prison at the time, per LAist, but Barton stated, "(That) doesnt change the fact that you knew what you were doing and you knew why you were doing it." Ted Soqui / Getty Images Meanwhile, Lyle faced a similar outcome for "rule-breaking" and other misbehavior. Parole Commissioner Julie Garland stated that while he has "been a model inmate" in "many ways," Lyle still has "anti-social personality traits like deception, minimization and rule breaking that lie beneath that positive surface." Ted Soqui / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Trump Thought Alaska Was Russia, And The Internet Is Having An Absolute Field Day With It Both brothers won't be eligible for parole again until 2028; however, as CNN notes, it takes 120 days for the decision to become final. From there, it'll be reviewed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who can choose to either uphold it or reverse the decision. Mike Nelson / Getty Images That's not the only way they might be able to get released, either. NPR reports that they also have a pending habeas petition to get a new trial due to new evidence that wasn't presented at trial. Related: Gavin Newsom Has Been Roasting MAGA Left And Right, And WOW, Is It Entertaining We'll see what happens. Also in In the News: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing" 11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It Also in In the News: "Can A Trump Supporter Explain": 49 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Month Also in In the News: 19 Trump Voters Are Reacting To The Rumors That Trump Wants To Run In 2028 Read it on BuzzFeed.com TOPEKA (KSNT) The Kansas Museum of History (KMoH) houses over 40 Civil War battle flags in desperate need of costly restoration. Boone Dodson is a curator at the KMoH who has been helping create the new gallery, selecting artifacts and writing narratives for the last two and a half years. His main contributions have been to the Civil War and Kansans at War sections. The museum currently has 75 flags associated with the Civil War all the way through the Spanish American War. Over 40 of these flags are in desperate need of restoration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trade war threatens Kansas soy industry, despite record yields Many of these flags were on display immediately after the Civil War all the way through the 1970s, Dodson told 27 News. Over 100 years of exposure to light makes them extremely brittle, so much so that parts would disintegrate if I touched them. Restoring these flags is no small task either. Most of them were made of silk and hand painted in the 1860s. Restoration efforts like these are best left to highly skilled companies across the country that charge tens of thousands of dollars for their services. In the last 30 years, the KMoH has only been able to get 16 flags restored, largely thanks to donations from private donors and organizations. The photos attached are of the restoration process of the regimental flag of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The 1st Kansas Colored was the first true African American regiment to fight in the American Civil War. Their first taste of combat was at the Battle of Island Mound, Missouri on October 28 and 29 of 1862. This was months before the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect. This flag was from their later history during the Civil War. The photos are labeled in order of their conservation stage. 001, 002, etc. The entire flag was hand made, and hand painted at the New York Depot. The photos attached are of the restoration process of the regimental flag of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The 1st Kansas Colored was the first true African American regiment to fight in the American Civil War. Their first taste of combat was at the Battle of Island Mound, Missouri on October 28 and 29 of 1862. This was months before the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect. This flag was from their later history during the Civil War. The photos are labeled in order of their conservation stage. 001, 002, etc. The entire flag was hand made, and hand painted at the New York Depot. The photos attached are of the restoration process of the regimental flag of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The 1st Kansas Colored was the first true African American regiment to fight in the American Civil War. Their first taste of combat was at the Battle of Island Mound, Missouri on October 28 and 29 of 1862. This was months before the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect. This flag was from their later history during the Civil War. The photos are labeled in order of their conservation stage. 001, 002, etc. The entire flag was hand made, and hand painted at the New York Depot. Some of the flags currently housed at the museum include the Palmetto Guard flag that flew over the Eldridge Hotel during the 1856 raid of Lawrence, the 2nd Kansas Militia, and more. But one flag that stands out among the others is the original 8th Kansas Volunteer Infantry National flag issued in August of 1861. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City of Topeka launches new documentary series This flag was flown not only in Kansas, but across the country. The 8th Kansas Infantry served in The Battle of Chickamauga, Siege of Nashville, Siege of Chattanooga and more. This particular flag is estimated to cost over $38K due to the extensive damage over the years. The Eighth Kansas Infantry Regiment suffered heavily at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, Dodson said. After Corporal Rovohl fell, Corporal Will Wendell took the national flag from the dying mans hands. Shortly after, the remaining color guard erupted to claim seniority and the right to carry the national colors. Wendell, however, refused to relinquish the colors and carried the flag for several hours until he himself was wounded in seven places and collapsed. When Wendell was finally carried off the field, he was taken past the regiments commander, Colonel John Alexander Martin, and inquired: Colonel, have I done my duty today?' Dodson says that the museums priorities are the stories behind these artifacts. The 8th Kansas Infantry flag is has been on the wait list for restoration for several months, and it has some more time to wait. Pieces can often wait over a year for restoration, and the restoration process itself takes another year on top of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topeka-Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame Induction announced We owe it to them (Civil War veterans) to save these pieces, Dodson said. The last veterans of the war are flags, they were there. When the museum opens in November, it will be worth the wait. There will be more Civil War flags on display since the 1970s, and a number of overhauled exhibits, as well as some new ones. Were facing a large scale problem of preservation, Dodson said. We cant do it without help from the public. If you or someone you know is interested, spread the word, or donate to the museum. Anything helps. Record corn crop puts Kansas farmers at risk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The museum will also be debuting its Adopt a Flag program, which will allow donors to adopt a flag, experience exclusive tours of unrestored/non-display artifacts. All the money donated will go towards the museums flag restoration program. You can find out more about the program here and more about donating to the museum at their online store. 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. HMRC has been accused of disobeying the Supreme Court gender judgment by allowing trans women to use female toilets. The tax authority said in guidance published on its staff intranet that employees could use the toilet appropriate to your new gender. But gender-critical campaigners said it flies in the face of the Supreme Court ruling in April. The judges ruled that the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex, prompting new guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The HMRC document, titled Gender reassignment - Getting ready for your first day in your new role and seen by The Telegraph, outlines how employees should feel respected in the workplace after transitioning. Obtained under freedom of information laws, it reads: This will be your first real day at work when you come in your new identity, hopefully for the rest of your life. You can then expect: People to treat you in your new identity, use the toilet appropriate to your new gender, people to call you by your new name. Campaigners claimed the tax authoritys guidance on the use of toilets was unlawful based on the Supreme Court judgment. Fiona McAnena, the head of campaigns at Sex Matters, says the HMRC guidance shows no respect for women - Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Fiona McAnena, the director of campaigns at Sex Matters, told The Telegraph: It seems HMRC is still following Stonewall law, which demands that trans-identifying men are given access to womens toilets and changing rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message to every female staff member at HMRC is that their rights and privacy dont matter. If a man says he is a woman, his wishes come ahead of their rights and needs. This isnt just bad policy, it is unlawful. The statement that trans women are women, and the implication that this gives them the same rights as women, insults every woman who files a tax return. She added: The mainstream belief that men cannot become women is protected in law. HMRC has no business declaring otherwise. HMRC and every government department should be leading the way on complying with the law. Instead, theyre risking legal action from their female staff for discrimination and harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Susan Smith, from Women Scotland, added: Of all people, they should know that taxpayers will not be impressed if they have to foot the inevitable tribunal costs. All government bodies now need to rip up unlawful policies and start again. Interim EHRC guidance after the April ruling states that toilets, showers and changing facilities may be mixed-sex where they are in a separate room lockable from the inside. Susan Smith, left, and Marion Calder, the co-directors of For Women Scotland, celebrating the Supreme Court ruling in April - Lucy North/PA Wire However, according to reports, new EHRC guidance, which is to be considered by Bridget Philipson, the equalities minister,will tell public bodies to ban transgender women from female-only spaces. Many public bodies, including the NHS, have so far refrained from imposing such a ban until the guidance is issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if HMRC was complying with its guidance, the EHRC referred to a statement by Baroness Falkner, its chair, from May, which said: The law it [the judgment] sets out is effective immediately. Those with duties under the Equality Act should be following it and taking specialist legal advice where necessary. A HMRC spokesman said: We comply fully with all existing statutory guidance. As and when this guidance is updated, we will of course comply with it as legally required. Staff at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revolted over a decision to make lavatories single-sex earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disgruntled staff from the financial regulatory bodys LGBTQ+ Group InsideOut chose not to represent the FCA at Pride events and attend individually instead following the decision. 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. JACKSON, Ala. (WKRG) Some things you may or may not know about Jackson, Alabama. Escambia County crash leads to lane closure First its old. This town, nestled along the Tombigbee River, already existed when it was officially named Jackson in 1816 in honor of Andrew Jackson for his involvement in the war to drive the Creek Indians from the area so white settlers could move in. Pine Level is what it was called then, and it centered around our agriculture and our timber industry. And thats where the Aggies get their mascot from from that agricultural situation. And, of course, we had it all we had the river, we had a railroad, we had an open roadway into the timberbelt. And so we became Jackson, said Retired History Teacher Audra Raybon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raybon taught history at Jackson High School for 28 years and said she would relay some of the history of their town to her students. While the towns story is similar to other Alabama cities with geographically strategic locations that enhance their importance in the timber industry, over recent years, Jackson has had brushes with celebrity. Heres something you may not know about Jackson. The Allman Brothers THE Allman Brothers the entire band arrested here. Raybon said, In the 1970s the Allman Brothers came through here and they were at a local truck stop in Jackson when they were stopped, and drugs were found. And so they were arrested and put in jail for the night. The jail is right here. Thats right, its right there, and we now have a plaque you can sit in the Allman Brothers cell. Well, we couldnt because the building is closed now for renovation. But by golly, there is a plaque. That arrest happened just before the bands Fillmore East album blew up nationwide. A few days later, the group pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and were fined a couple of thousand dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our Chief of Police, Mr.Cranford, became famous for arresting the Allman Brothers, said Raybon. But its not the only time a celebrity came calling on Jackson. Elvis Presley came through here in the 1950s, before he became famous. He played at our local armory and was so poor he couldnt afford to buy his dinner or gas to leave Jackson. So a local man named Mr. J.P. Armstead said he fed the boy that came from him, he said, I fed the boy, gave him some gas money, and sent him on his way. Little did we know who Elvis Presley would be at the time. Fairhope Municipal Election 2025: City Council Candidates Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson is also famous for its nearly 100-year-old Volunteer Fire Department and Fire Prevention Week, celebrated each October with a parade and the election of a fire prevention queen and court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. On April 3, 1968, standing before a crowded church, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. painted his vision for justice. Ive seen the Promised Land, he said. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. Twenty-two hours later, he was assassinated. Kings prophetic words express the virtue of hope amid hardship. He was not optimistic that he would reach the Promised Land, yet he was hopeful about the ultimate goal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In conversation, hope and optimism can often be used as synonyms. But theres an important gap between them, as psychology research suggests. One of the most common tools to measure optimism asks people how much they agree with statements such as, In uncertain times, I usually expect the best. Those who strongly agree are regarded as highly optimistic. But optimism can rely on a sense of luck over action. Self-help books on optimism are lined with hacks like imagining your greatest possible self or focusing on the best-case scenario. My psychology research studies how people perceive hope and justice. Long-term hope is not about looking on the bright side. It is a mindset that helps people endure challenges, tackle them head-on and keep their eyes on the goal a virtue that King and other community leaders exemplify. National Guard troops block off a street in Memphis during a civil rights march on March 29, 1968. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. soon returned to the city and was assassinated. Bettmann via Getty Images We, not me Hope is often defined in psychological research as having strong will to succeed and plans to reach a goal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hope is stronger than optimism at predicting academic success and peoples ability to cope with pain. Plenty of scientific evidence suggests that hope improves individuals health and boosts their well-being. But branding hope as a self-improvement tool cheapens this long-established virtue. Hope has benefits beyond the self. Thus, many psychologists are expanding the study of hope beyond personal success. My research team defines this virtuous hope as striving toward a purposeful vision of the common good a hope often shaped by hardship and strengthened through relationships. Many leaders, including King, have channeled that lesson to inspire change. Centuries of spiritual and philosophical work describe hope as a virtue that, like love, is a decision, not a feeling. The myth of time King wasnt known for looking on the bright side or expecting the best from others. He faced repeated waves of criticism, and, at the time of his death, fewer Americans approved of him than of the Vietnam War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Letter from a Birmingham Jail, King lamented the optimism of moderate white Americans who said they supported his goals but took little action. There is a strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills, he wrote. Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. He chastised society for believing that improvement would simply happen on its own. When he said, The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice, he was not describing its natural trajectory, but what people have the power to change. You cannot expect greener pastures if they are not tended today. The Revs. Ralph Abernathy and Martin Luther King Jr. greet supporters as they are released from jail in Birmingham, Ala., on April 20, 1963. Chris McNair/Archive Photos via Getty Images King was not alone in leveraging virtuous hope for justice. Brazilian educator Paulo Freire described hope as an existential imperative that promotes action. Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison, called hope a powerful weapon. Forged in adversity What makes hope a virtue is not its ability to promote happiness and success but its commitment to a greater good beyond the self. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I study virtuous hope in a South African Zulu community, where there are few reasons for optimism. South Africa has the worlds steepest inequality. Unemployment is high, and social mobility is low. This is the part of the country where HIV is most widespread, with the percentage near 50% in some communities. We studied several people seen as embodying hope, based on their reputation and community suggestions. These individuals demonstrated an unwavering focus on striving for a better future, often unglued from expectations of personal success. One local farmer nominated by his community struggled to buy seeds for his crops but still helped others apply for grants to buy them. Even when his own future was uncertain, he was not hoarding. He described his hope as a commitment to help others. His hope is not a positive expectation but a moral commitment. Our interviewees did not describe hardship as a suppressor of hope but as its context to grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One unemployed young woman said she had applied for jobs for four years and would continue, though she was not naive about the tough future. She said applying for jobs and reading to her child were her acts of hope. Her hope didnt expect a quick improvement, yet it warded off paralysis. Many of our interviewees anchored their hope in their Christian faith, as did King. King often referenced St. Paul, one of the first Christian writers, who wrote, Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Now this hope does not disappoint us. Hope, in other words, plays the long game: enduring suffering with integrity. Like Kings, it manifests in hardship and is refined in adversity. Hope enables communities to march for justice and democracy even while tasting the danger of dictatorship, apartheid or oligarchy. Hope knows it may take another generation to reach the Promised Land, but it acts today to bend the moral arc toward justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Kendra Thomas, Hope College Read more: Kendra Thomas receives funding from the John Templeton Foundation HOT SPRINGS - Hot Springs, like Marshall, has had water and sewer problems in the past, but Tropical Storm Helene only ravaged the towns' infrastructure further. As with Marshall, where FEMA estimates nearly $36 million in repairs or replacement to its sewer plant, Hot Springs' wastewater treatment plant was destroyed in Helene's floods. State and federal officials, including EPA Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber, visited Marshall's and Hot Springs' wastewater treatment plants March 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGill Associates, the engineering firm Hot Springs works with, recommended the town accept Integrative Water Services' bid for two package plants totaling nearly $2.2 million. In its April meeting. the Hot Springs Town Board approved the package, which includes $96,000 for technical assistance for one year. According to Mayor Abby Norton, the $2.2 million will be paid by the UNC Collaboratory. "They're already in Spruce Pine, so there won't be a charge to bring them on site, and there won't be a delay," Mayor Abby Norton said. The North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC Chapel Hill will pay the $2.2 million out of the $4 million grant it awarded Hot Springs in 2023 for a new wastewater treatment plant, Norton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collaboratory, in partnership with the UNC Environmental Finance Center, reviewed the application submitted by the town of Hot Springs for a proposed wastewater project and determined this project is eligible to receive grant funding under the Innovative Highly Treated Wastewater Pilot Program, Norton said. Marshall mayor Aaron Haynie speaks to business owners and community leaders on the steps of the Madison County Courthouse along Main Street in Marshall Friday morning, Jan. 31, 2025 as part of the WNC Recovery & Resilience Partnership in which leaders visited sites damaged by Hurricane Helene. Community leaders tour the Madison County Courthouse in Marshall Friday morning, Jan. 31, 2025 as officials take part in the WNC Recovery & Resilience Partnership, visiting sites damaged by Hurricane Helene. Note the water level on the building. The grant will allow the town to build a plant with a 200,000-gallon capacity, as the town had experienced problems with overflow relating to faulty overflow meters. Norton said the town received its authorization to construct a new facility. According to the mayor, the town has not identified a permanent site for its future wastewater treatment plant, but the package plants will hold the town over in the interim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A sewer package plant is a self-contained, pre-engineered wastewater treatment system, typically housed in a single unit or modules, designed to treat wastewater on-site. These plants are pre-fabricated off-site and then shipped for installation, offering a compact, efficient, and often more cost-effective solution compared to traditional, field-erected plants. Norton, who came on as mayor in 2019, said the wastewater treatment plant has been a top priority throughout her mayoralty. The town went before the Madison County Board of Commissioners in April 2022 to request funding for repairs to the facility, which sits along the French Broad River near the Hot Springs Resort and Spa property. In that 2022 meeting, then-Board of Commissioners Vice Chair and current Commissioner Michael Garrison said the issue of the treatment plant's upgrades is one that the county needs to address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As with the Marshall treatment plant, which town officials have been told coul cost up to $36 million, the floors were raised to avoid future flooding. But now, both the Marshall and Hot Springs facilities will likely need to be moved and rebuilt entirely. The American Flood Coalition joined with Hot Springs and Marshall Town Board members, and members of the state Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), as well as Rep. Mark Pless and his team at the Hot Springs wastewater treatment plant. Estimates According to Hot Springs Program Manager Brad Guth, FEMA engineers estimate the Hot Springs wastewater treatment plant will cost from $8 million to $12 million to repair or replace the plant. Additional repairs include a Spring Creek lift station and sewer line, estimated at $407,000 as well as town sewer lines, lift stations and sand filter, estimated at $344,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Temporary repairs to the wastewater treatment plants are estimated at $55,000, according to Guth. The American Flood Coalition joined with Hot Springs and Marshall Town Board members, and members of the state Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), as well as Rep. Mark Pless and his team at the Hot Springs wastewater treatment plant. American Flood Coalition The American Flood Coalition is a national bipartisan nonprofit advocating for financial support for Western North Carolina communities to help rebuild after Helene. Earlier this month, members of the American Flood Coalition visited the Hot Springs wastewater treatment plant, joined Rep. Mark Pless and officials with the state Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), a new office formed by Gov. Josh Stein in January. as well as local officials, including Hot Springs Mayor Abby Norton and Town Board member Wendy Stancil. Hot Springs is one of roughly 10 towns working with the National Flood Coalition. According to Stancil, the coalition is planning to go before Congress in D.C. in November to advocate for additional funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management reporting that storm damages and repairs will cost $59.6 billion, local and state lawmakers went to D.C. last November, seeking $25.5 billion in federal funding for the region. In the Hot Springs Town Board's Aug. 11 meeting, the board unanimously approved a resolution in support of joining the American Flood Coalition. "National coordination and support are necessary for communities to fully address the challenge of flooding and sea level rise, and the American Flood Coalition provides a platform advocating for national solutions to flooding and sea level rise that invest in and protect our coastal communities," the resolution reads. The American Flood Coalition is also concerned with mitigating flood risks amid sea level rise, according to the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Flood Coalition is a no-cost forum for best practices and source of support in developing local and state-level responses to flooding and sea level rise that will enhance the town of Hot Springs' resilience effort. Taking part in the coalition will come at no cost to the town. At the visit to the Hot Springs wastewater treatment plant, in which members of the North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC Chapel Hill, FEMA, Land of Sky Regional Council, McGill Associates and the state Department of Environmental Quality were also in attendance, Stancil said the visit was a "super productive one." "As they all go, it will take a minute to see what moves, as all these folks share what they learned with the appropriate people," Stancil said. "I feel really encouraged a solution will come." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: As federal Helene funding for NC fell $10 billion short, local officials call for more aid More: Hot Springs to host 1-year Helene event; picture book benefits local relief organization More: Hot Springs approves wastewater treatment plant upgrades after state fines Johnny Casey is the Madison County communities reporter for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@citizentimes.com. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hot Springs working with Flood Coalition to secure sewer plant funds Colorado Reps. Yara Zokaie, a Fort Collins Democrat, and Bob Marshall, a Highlands Ranch Democrat, speak during the third day of the special legislative session on Aug. 23, 2025. (Photo by Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline) The Colorado House of Representatives gave final approval to six bills on Saturday, sending them to the Senate for consideration as part of the ongoing special legislative session. The bills focus on raising additional state tax revenue to help close the states nearly $800 million budget hole, which was triggered by federal tax code changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House lawmakers started off by approving House Bill 25B-1001 in a party-line vote of 43-19, with Democrats in favor. The bill would make permanent an add-back for federal qualified business income deductions on state taxes for high-income taxpayers. The bills fiscal note estimates it would raise about $46 million in the current fiscal year and about $95 million in the next one. Next up was House Bill 25B-1002, which House lawmakers approved in a party-line vote of 43-20, after more than an hour of debate. The Democrats voted in favor of the bill, which would expand the list of countries that the state considers to be tax havens. The bill would bring in an estimated $36 million in state tax revenue for the current fiscal year, according to its fiscal note. The bills sponsors have argued that the bill closes corporate tax loopholes that are costly for the state. But Republicans said the bill would harm businesses. It doesnt really give these corporations and companies the motivation to expand, to hire more people, which is what we need, said Rep. Carlos Barron, a Fort Lupton Republican who voted against the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democrats used a seldom-used chamber rule to prevent debate on four of the bills after Republicans spoke at length about the first pair of bills. They used House Rule 16 to call the question end debate and immediately vote on the bill in question as debate on HB25B-1002 extended past an hour. They then used Rule 16 on the next four bills. Members are typically allotted ten minutes each ahead of the final vote on a bill, meaning that if all 21 Republicans used their time, debate would be over three hours per bill. House Bill 25B-1003 passed the House in a 41-21 party-line vote. It would repeal a tax incentive for insurance companies that have at least 2.5% of their domestic employees in Colorado. The bill would raise $44 million for the state in the current fiscal year and $91 million the following year, based on the estimate in its fiscal note. House lawmakers approved House Bill 25B-1004 in another party-line, 41-20 vote. This bill would allow qualifying companies to pay certain state taxes early at a discount, which its sponsors have argued is necessary during the state budget crunch. The bills fiscal note estimates it would raise up to $100 million during the current fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fifth proposal, House Bill 25B-1005, passed the House in a 37-25 vote. This bill would repeal a provision in state law that allows retailers to keep 4% of their sales tax collections, as a way for the businesses to cover the cost of collecting the taxes. The bills fiscal note estimates it would raise $28 million in revenue for the state in the current fiscal year, and $57 million the next year. By mid-afternoon on Saturday, House lawmakers made it through the last of the six bills: House Bill 25B-1006. The bill, which would loan $100 million from the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund to prevent major health insurance premium increases, passed the House in a 41-22 vote. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE What to know before SCO Tianjin Summit Xinhua) 09:08, August 23, 2025 An aerial drone photo shows a pedestrian overpass adorned with a banner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 in Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, Aug. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran) BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 will be held in Tianjin from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and the "SCO Plus" Meeting and deliver keynote speeches as world leaders and heads of international organizations gather in this major port city of northern China. As China hosts the SCO summit for the fifth time, here's what you need to know ahead of the Tianjin meeting. LARGEST EVER SCO SUMMIT Established 24 years ago by China and its five neighboring countries, the SCO now has 10 member states, two observer states and 14 dialogue partners from Asia, Europe and Africa. It has grown into a regional cooperation organization with the largest population and geographic coverage, as well as the greatest development potential. "Leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations will attend the SCO Summit 2025," said Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin at a press briefing on Friday. According to Liu, they include leaders from Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and heads of international organizations such as the UN and ASEAN. This summit will be the largest one since the establishment of the organization, noted Liu. Guests and exhibitors communicate at the interactive experience zone during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum in north China's Tianjin, July 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) During the summit, President Xi will host a welcome banquet and bilateral events for participating leaders, a foreign ministry spokesperson announced earlier on the same day. Expressing his expectations as the summit draws near, Sheradil Baktygulov, director of the Institute of World Policy of Kyrgyzstan, said: "This grand event will enable more people to learn about this beautiful and renowned Chinese city." "We are making the most of this important opportunity to host the summit in Tianjin, steadily advancing our preparations and service support, and ensuring everything is in place for this major international event," said Yu Pengzhou, a Tianjin official involved in the preparations. CLOSER COOPERATION UNDER CHINA'S ROTATING PRESIDENCY During the press briefing, Liu said that President Xi will announce new measures and initiatives by China to support high-quality development of the SCO and comprehensive cooperation. According to the official, Xi will jointly sign and issue a declaration with leaders of other SCO member states, approve a development strategy of the SCO for the next 10 years, issue statements marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th founding anniversary of the United Nations, and adopt a series of outcome documents on strengthening security, economic, people-to-people and cultural cooperation. Attendees of the Inter-Civilizational Dialogue among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries 2025 visit a sculpture exhibition in north China's Tianjin, July 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran) As the rotating president of the SCO in 2024-2025, China has coordinated closely with all parties around the theme of "SCO Year of Sustainable Development," Liu said. Though the SCO was established to meet the need for security cooperation, it has gradually evolved into a platform for in-depth collaboration across multiple fields, including economy, trade and cultural exchanges. SCO member states account for approximately one quarter of the global GDP. Fan Xianrong, a foreign ministry official responsible for coordination work in SCO, said that as the rotating president of the SCO, China has hosted over 100 events, including ministerial-level meetings spanning various areas including diplomacy, finance and central banking, defense, economy and trade, and beyond. "Additionally, China has spearheaded a diverse array of events such as an SCO political parties' forum, a media and think tank summit, and an art festival," he added. This photo taken on July 8, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the Global Mayors Dialogue: SCO Summit Cities held in north China's Tianjin. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) "It sends a clear message to the international community that the SCO is not a platform just for talk, but for action," Liu said. "The Tianjin Summit has brought together different institutions and organizations, all sharing a common purpose: to promote and strengthen good-neighborly relations and friendly cooperation, and to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust," said SCO Deputy Secretary-General Ahmad Saidmurodzoda. GREATER SOLIDARITY FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE As one of the most important head-of-state diplomacy and home-ground diplomacy events in China this year, the upcoming Tianjin Summit has drawn wide attention from the international community. In his keynote speeches, President Xi will elaborate on China's new vision and propositions for the SCO in carrying forward the Shanghai Spirit, embracing the mission of the times, and responding to the people's expectations, according to Liu. A representative interacts with the media at the site of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, July 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen) The Shanghai Spirit, which emphasizes mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development, is the very root and soul of the SCO and has demonstrated timeless value throughout its development course. "China will work with all parties of the SCO to remain true to the organization's original aspiration, shoulder its mission, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, and provide SCO solutions for global governance and reform," Liu said. "China believes that a friendly, united and productive Tianjin Summit will advance the SCO into a new phase of high-quality development, characterized by greater solidarity, closer coordination, stronger momentum and higher effectiveness. The SCO will continue to contribute its strength to building a community with a shared future for humanity," Liu said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) VMPL Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 23: In the rapidly evolving digital marketing landscape, Xcodefix has emerged as a trailblazer in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), setting new benchmarks in innovation and execution. Established in 2010, the company has transformed from humble beginnings into a global leader in specialized SEO services, powered by resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence. Mastering SEO Across Local to Global Markets Xcodefix offers a wide spectrum of SEO solutions spanning Local to International SEO, alongside specialized services such as Voice, Video, and Image SEO, AEO, AIO, SXO, and advanced research in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to maximize visibility in AI-driven platforms. With an exclusive focus on SEO, its 40+ seasoned specialists deliver tailored strategies--from on-page and off-page optimization to advanced content solutions--ensuring sustainable growth for clients worldwide. From Struggles to Strength Xcodefix's journey has been marked by both challenges and reinvention. Post-2015, when the value of SEO was under-recognized, the company offered free web development alongside SEO to sustain operations, even selling its flagship travel website to stay afloat. These setbacks, however, became the foundation of renewed strength. By educating businesses about the tangible impact of SEO, Xcodefix transformed challenges into stepping stones, building a resilient brand that today symbolizes trust and performance. Leadership Driving Growth The company's vision is steered by GKG Guru, a veteran with 20+ years in sales and 15+ years in SEO, who has successfully managed over 340 projects. He is joined by Thamaraiselvan, Co-Founder and SEO Director, who brings 5+ years of entrepreneurial experience with 155+ projects. Together, they combine expertise, innovation, and strategy to help clients stay ahead of evolving search engine algorithms. Expanding Global Footprint Xcodefix is actively expanding into Singapore, Australia, the USA, the UK, France, the GCC, and South Africa, aiming for not just growth but global leadership in SEO. With continuous R&D and proven strategies, the company is redefining SEO to deliver long-term rankings that withstand algorithm updates and consistently outperform competitors. Creating Opportunities Through SEO Beyond client solutions, Xcodefix is creating entrepreneurial opportunities through turnkey SEO business models, including franchises, master resellers, and reseller programs. These initiatives empower freelancers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to build scalable digital businesses with minimal investment. Commitment to Sustainability In line with its belief that technology should empower without harming the planet, Xcodefix promotes eco-conscious digital practices, developing lightning-fast, energy-efficient websites while educating clients about sustainable solutions. Looking Ahead With its data-driven approach, Xcodefix doesn't just optimize--it monetizes. By delivering measurable traffic growth and revenue impact, the company continues to transform search engines into reliable sales channels, reaffirming its mission to build strong, future-ready digital presences for businesses worldwide. (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) A meal turned into a harrowing ordeal for food vloggers Nina Santiago and Patrick Blackwood when a vehicle crashed into Cuvees Culinary Creations on Eldridge Parkway in west Houston on Saturday, shattering their dining experience and a glass wall. The incident, reported by the Harris County Sheriffs Office, occurred at 4:41 p.m. on August 17 as the pair recorded a video for their YouTube channel, Unrated EX Files. According to a police report, a female driver of a black SUV mistakenly thought she had shifted her vehicle into park. When she lifted her foot off the brake, the car rolled forward, striking the building and breaking the glass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video, posted Monday, captures the moment the couple enjoyed salmon slidersmoaning Mmmm as they took bites before the wall of glass collapsed onto their table. Miraculously, they scrambled to safety as debris rained down. View partial video here: Nina Unrated (real name Nina Santiago) and Patrick Blackwood are food reviewers and social media influencers known for their content creation. On August 17, 2025, an SUV crashed through the glass wall of Cuvee Culinary Creations in Houston, Texas, while a food review video was pic.twitter.com/ADHvP6OWH2 T_CAS videos (@tecas2000) August 19, 2025 No warning at all, glass shattered everywhere, chaos erupted, and it hit right next to Patrick on the outside of the booth, the YouTube description noted. We were inches from disaster, but by some miracle, were both okay, just shaken and forever changed. The full video later showed the pair in the hospital, displaying cuts and bruises. Im just blessed. Thank you, universe, Blackwood said. Im just blessed and grateful for everything, you feel me? Santiago, visibly shaken, recorded herself awaiting stitches, saying, This is the second accident this month. The fact that we walked away from both accidents maybe Im just delusional right now, but Im just like, its like I want to break down and cry and I just cant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blackwood added, Still here. I was not expecting this bulls right here. But, um, Im glad Im alive. Both were released from the hospital and later returned to Cuvees for brunch, determined to overcome any lingering PTSD from the incident. We came back just to make sure that they had peace of mind and also because the food is actually amazing, Santiago said. Photos on their social media accounts revealed lacerations, with Blackwood sporting a stitched cut along his jaw and Santiago showing wounds on her face and hands. This experience showed me who truly matters; lifes too short for grudges or anger, Santiago wrote. Let go, forgive, live in the now, and cherish those around you this couldve been our last meal. Cuvees, which has reopened while awaiting repair estimates, shared the video on Instagram, stating, It was definitely a crazy weekend at Cuvees. Were just thanking God everyone is safe! The restaurant added, per NBC News, The chef, influencers, guests, and staff were all blessed to not be severely harmed. We appreciate the love and support. The post Howard University president Ben Vinson III steps down appeared first on ClutchPoints. In a shocking move, Howard University president Ben Vinson II has stepped down from his position with the university, per a press release by the institution on Friday. The Board of Trustees has appointed former university president Dr. Wayne A.I. Fredrick as interim president as they search for Vinsons successor. Fredricks term is set to begin on September 1st. On behalf of the Howard University Board of Trustees, we extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Vinson for his service and leadership as president, said Leslie D. Hale, Howard University Board of Trustees chair. We extend our very best wishes to him in his future endeavors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vinson commented on his tenure in the statement released by the institution, saying, Over the course of my tenure as President, I have worked with unwavering commitment to advance the strategic vision I believe best serves the future of this institution, including in the areas of AI, data science and analytics, and global and diasporic engagement. My foremost priority has always been the well-being and success of this community, and I remain committed to ensuring a smooth and constructive transition. I am grateful to the Board, faculty, staff, students, and partners who have supported the work weve undertaken together. It has been an honor to serve Howard. At this point, I will be taking some time to be with my family and continue my research activities. I look forward to using my experiences as president to continue to serve higher education in the future. He continued, As we move forward, the Board of Trustees and University leadership remain steadfast in our commitment to maintaining Howards mission of excellence, truth, and service and a vibrant, welcoming, and innovative academic environment where students continue to succeed, said Board Chair Hale. Given our focus and commitment, the Board has selected an interim president who is uniquely equipped to serve the University during this time of transition. Vinson was named as president of Howard University in 2023. Before becoming president, he was the founding director of the Center for Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins and the dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences at George Washington University. Related: Exclusive: Rising 2027 California RB shared why DeSean Jackson left him smiling Related: North Carolina Central to lean on experience in MEAC/SWAC Challenge The post Howard University tops LinkedIns Top 10 HBCUs list appeared first on ClutchPoints. Last week LinkedIn released its inaugural Top Colleges rankings of higher education institutions in the United States; among the list was the ranking for the Top 10 HBCUs in the United States. Howard University came in first, followed by Morehouse and Spelman College for the second and third spots. The list is below. Rank University 1 Howard University 2 Morehouse College 3 Spelman College 4 North Carolina A&T State University 5 Hampton University 6 Tuskegee University 7 Florida A&M University 8 Clark Atlanta University 9 Xavier University of Louisiana 10 Morgan State University The ranking recognizes schools that set graduates up for long-term success, according to LinkedIn. By analyzing job placement rates, senior-level roles, undergraduate internships, and alumni entrepreneurship, the ranking used LinkedIn data to evaluate alumni career outcomes. Additionally, LinkedIn assessed how soon a recent college graduate obtains employment or enrolls in graduate school. Higher pay and quicker professional advancement are two benefits of receiving a degree from a prestigious institution, according to the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howard Universitys recognition as the top-ranked HBCU by LinkedIn is a powerful testament to the strength of our academic community and the global readiness of our graduates, said Ben Vinson III, Ph.D., president of Howard University. It reflects the intentionality behind our holistic model of educationone that combines academic rigor, faculty excellence, and real-world engagement. At Howard, we are cultivating leaders who are not only prepared to meet the challenges of today but are poised to shape the future across industries and around the world. LinkedIns approach assessed U.S. institutions according to five criteria: knowledge breadth, career success, network strength, internships and recruiter demand, and job placement. Additionally, the company also assessed the network strength of each college, considering the level of interconnection among graduating classes. Howard was joined by Hampton University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College as the top five HBCUs in the rankings. Graduates of top programs often land jobs sooner, build strong professional networks, and advance into leadership faster, LinkedIn noted in its website announcement on the rankings. Thats why its so important for prospective students to know which programs are worth the investment. The top LinkedIn ranking is the most recent recognition of Howards excellent record for research, education, and professional growth. Howard received a Research One (R1) designation earlier this year, which is only given to American colleges that have the highest level of active research programs. The American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognized Howard as a top Opportunity College and UniversityHigh Access and High Earnings for promoting social and economic mobility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howard was also ranked as the top HBCU in Forbes most current rankings of colleges and universities in the U.S. Howard was named the top HBCU for graduate programs in criminal law, constitutional law, dispute resolution, intellectual property law, healthcare law, trial advocacy law, economics, English, fine arts, history, political science, and speech pathology last year by U.S. News and World Report. Howard was also ranked as the top HBCU for undergraduate programs in business, computer science, economics, engineering, and psychology. Howards Social Work program ranked #12 out of all graduate programs, which is the highest among HBCUs and universities in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Related: Southern Universitys starting quarterback for MEAC/SWAC Challenge revealed Related: Howard University president Ben Vinson III steps down Around 300 people have joined a protest in Mold, Flintshire, to oppose any possible plan to provide accommodation for asylum seekers in the town. Held outside the Poundland shop on Saturday, demonstrators were unhappy about rumours that some flats in the town could be used to house asylum seekers. Meanwhile about 40 people took part in a counter protest nearby with banners which read "no to racism" and "asylum seekers welcome". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police officers had to stand between the two sides at one point during some confrontational scenes. The Home Office has declined to comment. One of the organisers of the protest, Netty Lloyd, says the community needs to "support its own first" [BBC] Netty Lloyd, 49, one of the organisers of the protest, said: "I've lived in Mold for 49 years. We need our community to stay together, look after each other, and support our own first" However, one of the counter-protesters, Benjamin Lawrence Jones, said he wanted to come and show his support for "people from different backgrounds". "We were standing our ground, singing our songs, and standing up for what we believe in, which at the end of the day is the main thing," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as dozens of protests have been taking place across the UK about the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers. It follows a High Court injunction, sought by Epping Forest District Council, which mandates that 140 migrants being housed at The Bell Hotel, in Epping, will have to be moved to alternative accommodation by 12 September. Marco Bellocchio, Alba Rohrwacher and Matteo Garrone are among hundreds of Italian cinema professionals who have signed an open letter calling on the Venice Film Festival to acknowledge the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The signatories, who also include international professionals, have gathered under the banner of V4P (Venice4Palestine). More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a long open letter, the signatories urged the Venice Film Festival; its parent body, the Biennale, and the independent parallel sections of Venice Days and the International Critics Week, to be more courageous and clear in condemning the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing across Palestine carried out by the Israeli government and army. Stop the clocks, turn off the stars, read the opening paragraph of the letter. The burden is too much to carry on living as before. For almost two years now, images of unmistakable clarity have been reaching us from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Incredulous and helpless, we keep witnessing the torment of a genocide carried out live by the State of Israel in Palestine. No one will ever be able to say: I couldnt know, I couldnt imagine, I couldnt believe. Further signatories include French Venice Golden Lion-winning The Happening director Audrey Diwan, actor Swann Arlaud (Anatomy of a Fall), Bulgarian director Kostantin Bojanov (The Shameless), Italys Laura Bispuri (The Peacocks Paradise), Iranian-French filmmaker Sepideh Farsi (Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk), UK actor Charles Dance, French-Swiss director-actor Laetitia Dosch (Dog on Trial) and Palestinian directorial duo Arab Nasser and Tarzan Nasser, who won Best Director in Cannes Un Certain Regard this year for their latest film Once Upon A Time In Gaza. The 82nd Venice Film Festival kicks off on August 27, six weeks shy of the second anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks on Southern Israel on October 7 2023, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 61,000 people living in the Gaza Strip have died in Israels subsequent military campaign aimed at wiping out Hamas and recovering the hostages. Israel has said accusations of genocide are baseless because the country is not acting with intent. United Nations-backed global hunger monitor the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) announced this week that 500,000 people in the Gaza Strip are officially facing a man-made famine in the territory, with at least 132,000 children under five-years-old expected to suffer from acute malnutrition. The V4P letter stated that Israels persecution of the Palestinian population pre-dated October 7 by decades and that the time had come for cinema professionals to take a stand to uphold the truth about ethnic cleansing, apartheid, illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, colonialism and all the other crimes against humanity committed by Israel for decades. As the spotlight turns on the Venice Film Festival, were in danger of going through yet another major event that remains indifferent to this human, civil, and political tragedy. The show must go on, we are told, as were urged to look away as if the film world had nothing to do with the real world, continued the letter. The Biennale and the Venice International Film Festival are supposed to celebrate the power of art as a means of transformation, testimony, representation of humanity, and development of critical consciousness. It is precisely this that makes art an extraordinary vehicle for reflection, active participation and resistance, it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The missive follows in the wake of a wider open letter this week signed by more than 500 key figures from across the Italian cultural sector including cinema personalities Valeria Golino and Gabriele Salvatores, Vinicio Marchioni and Mimmo Calopresti calling for a day of mobilisation in support of Palestine during the Venice Film Festival on August 30. It also comes amid growing international condemnation from world leaders over Israels ongoing military campaign in Gaza and as well as its recent approval of a controversial settlement project that will cut off the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem. A number of Western nations, including France, Britain, Canada and Australia, have said they are preparing to recognize a state of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations meeting in September. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Liverpool city centre in a protest over asylum seekers being housed in hotels in communities on Merseyside. On social media, UKIP said it would be at St George's Place as part of a "mass-deportations tour", while Stand Up to Racism were also in the city centre as part of a counter protest. A heavy police presence kept the opposing groups apart, who were waving flags and carrying banners in the noisy but largely peaceful protest which at one point involved a march around St George's Hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were 11 arrests for offences including drunk and disorderly, assault and affray, Merseyside Police said. As part of the protest the force has been given extra powers in the city centre to search people who are suspected of involvement in criminality and disorder, or order a person to leave the area for a specified period. There were a number of protests and counter protests taking place across the UK. It comes after tensions around the use of the hotels for asylum seekers spiked earlier this week. On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, from 12 September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government then announced plans on Friday to appeal against the High Court's refusal to allow it to intervene in the case, and to then further appeal against the temporary injunction. A group of other local councils also publicly announced their intentions to seek legal advice as to whether they could achieve a similar injunction for their hotels. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. More on this story The Brief Hurricane Erin scraped the New Jersey coast overnight Friday, causing flooding and evacuations in some shore towns. A Coastal Flood Warning will last throughout the weekend, and forecasters continue to warn of dangerous rip currents. A gorgeous weekend is in store for Philadelphia and the Jersey shore with highs in the 80s and plenty of sunshine. PHILADELPHIA - Floodwaters receded in shore towns along the New Jersey coast on Friday as beachgoers were forced to work around the aftermath left behind by Hurricane Erin. What we know While the worst of Erin's impact on the New Jersey coast might be over, forecasters are warning beachgoers to not let their guards down just yet this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Coastal Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday will remain in effect through early Sunday morning in New Jersey and Delaware. Although Hurricane Erin only scraped by the New Jersey coast, its impact overnight in beach towns like Sea Isle and Ocean City was undeniable. Over a dozen people were rescued from cars submerged in floodwaters in Margate on Thursday night, and local restaurants served as temporary evacuation sites. Emergency crews in Margate also dealt with a gas leak, an underground transformer fire and an electrical fire overnight Thursday as Erin battered the coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In preparation for the damaging storm, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a State of Emergency on Thursday. Local perspective Despite the aftermath of Hurricane Erin's visit to the Jersey shore, beachgoers on Friday cautiously packed the beaches. "We knew not to go out so far, so we were being cautious," Julianna Bomgard told FOX 29 News. Some who visited the shore on Friday said they could feel the dangerous rip currents when the stepped into the water. "It pulls you this way a lot," Alissa Zucaro said. "It doesn't feel safe." What's next Anyone heading to the shore this weekend should wade into the water with caution, as dangerous rip currents are expected to persist through Sunday. As for the weather, forecasters expect this weekend to be an absolute gem, with highs in the mid-80s and plenty of sunshine. Sisters Yulisa and Yeniffer Andres grew up in Boynton Beach and are now both U.S. Marines stationed in California. Their brother plans to enlist in the Air Force next May after his high school graduation. Their father Pascual Andres, 45, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, instilled their pride in America as the land of education, opportunities and freedom. But, on Aug. 16, Pascual was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol deputies who responded to a fender bender car accident in which a driver hit Pascuals vehicle from behind. Instead of aiding Pascual, the deputies detained the Boynton Beach father of four and turned him over to immigration authorities, according to his attorney Miriam Acosta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pascual, who doesnt have a criminal record, was first held at Alligator Alcatraz, an immigration detention facility built in the Big Cypress Preserve region of the Florida Everglades. He was subsequently transferred to the Krome Detention Center near Homestead in southern Miami-Dade County. Yulisa, 22, and Yeniffer, 20, are now trying to secure their fathers release. "It hurts me a lot, said Yulisa, who will soon enter her second year in the Marines. "Because youre serving this country and we're out there doing our job for people to have freedom but, then again, you have this going on. The Andres sisters subsequently applied for a "parole in place, which allows for military members to request a permanent residency status document, known as a Green Card, for a direct family member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration crackdown: Charges dropped against U.S. citizen who caught detention on video Father of Boynton Beach U.S. Marines detained by ICE Boynton Beach resident Pascual Andres and his daughter Yulisa Pascual, who is a U.S. Marine. Pascual Andres, a 45-year-old immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested on Aug. 16, 2025 by Florida Highway Patrol and was detained at Alligator Alcatraz. Pascuals arrest is part of President Donald Trump's nationwide immigration crackdown, enforced by the 287(g) agreements Gov. Ron DeSantis required all Florida police agencies to sign. The agreements deputize state and local law enforcement as federal immigration agents. Under the 287(g) agreements, state and local officers can arrest people they suspect of being in the country illegally as part of their daily patrols. Acosta, a Lake Worth Beach immigration attorney, confirmed to The Palm Beach Post the arrest took place on Friday Aug. 16 in Palm Beach County. But, Acosta said she has not found any records for an incident or arrest reports by FHP or any documentation related to the charges for which Pascual is being held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was just detained and taken there [Alligator Alcatraz], Acosta said. "And I have not been able to get any information on the basis for the detention. Pascual's detention is also part of a growing number of cases that contradict initial assertions by Trump and other administration officials that the immigration crackdown was only to target violent criminals and convicted felons who pose a clear public safety threat. "Criminals, yeah, that's one thing," Yulisa said. "But for people who obey the laws they shouldn't be talked bad about." "Especially for someone raising girls that have chosen to protect this country, Acosta added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pascuals next court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 27. Acosta said she will request he be released with a bond. Yulisa and Yeniffer will wear their military uniforms as they address the judge remotely from California during the online hearing while their mother and two siblings speak from their Boynton Beach home. Pascual's story comes on the heels of an accident in which a truck driver from California, who Florida officials said entered the U.S. illegally, is accused of making an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce that killed three people on Aug. 12. That driver, Harjinder Singh, is facing vehicular homicide and immigration charges, authorities said. CBS News reported that, according to Homeland Security, Singh obtained a commercial drivers license in California, one of 19 states and the District of Columbia that issue licenses regardless of immigration status, according to the National Immigration Law Center. Florida is not one of those 19 states. How U.S. Marines learned their father was detained by ICE Last Friday, Yulisa was busy working at a California base when she got a call from her mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her mother said Pascual had been involved in a car accident after another driver hit the rear of his vehicle. But it was minor and nothing to worry about, her mother added. Then, the second call came in. Yulisa heard her mother crying on the other side of the line. She said a call to 911 had resulted in Florida Highway Patrol troopers pulling up to the scene. The troopers requested Pascual's driver license and upon realizing he did not have one, they proceeded to arrest him. Yulisa broke down in tears and called her sister, who wept with her on the phone. "We didn't know what was going to happen to him, Yulisa said. "But we had to act fast. We had to make sure we got in contact with the lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I told [Yeniffer], 'Hey, we have to help mom with anything in case they do send him back, Yulisa added. The next morning, Pascual called Yulisa and told her he was detained at Alligator Alcatraz. Pascual told his daughter he wasn't being mistreated but didn't give much detail about conditions inside. "Don't worry too crazy about me. I'll be okay, Pascual told Yulisa before the call cut off. Immigration crackdown: He played Jesus on Good Friday. Ten days later, he was deported. 'Where is dad?' Arrest turns life of Boynton Beach family upside down The Andres family is one of hundreds of mixed-status families that have been affected by Trump's immigration crackdown. Mixed-status families are those in which one or more of the relatives have clear status in the United States and one or more others do not, even within the same primary family unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yulisa, Yeniffer and their two younger siblings are all U.S. citizens. Pascual was 12 years old when his father brought him to the United States, where he has now lived most of his life. The family had already began paperwork to obtain Pascual's citizenship a month before his arrest. Ever since his arrival, Pascual has worked as a day laborer to help his relatives back home and also provide for his family in Boynton Beach. Yulisa and Jennifer describe Pascual as a hard worker and supportive father. They said their father rarely missed a day of work and instilled in them the value of pursuing an education. "Even after my father had an incident which caused him to get stitches in his head, he still went to work," Yeniffer said. "We never had much, but my father tried spoiling us the best he could." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pascual's arrest has flipped the family's life upside down, Yulisa said. Every morning, Pascual drove his 6-year old son to school. Now, his wife is facing the start of the school year for her two sons on her own while also attending to her full-time job and speaking with lawyers. Yulisa said her mother is stressed, always thinking about Pascual. She always keeps her cellphone close by in case her husband calls. "Where is dad? the sisters quote Pascual's 6-year-old son as asking again and again. "Is he coming back tomorrow?" "We always get emotional every time my mom tells him, 'He's not here. He'll be back home soon, Yulisa said. "Its very rough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sisters are now juggling their daily tasks in the military while also consulting with lawyers. "It's a lot going on but I knew I had to be there for my father so I stayed strong for him" Yennifer said. "I would say I get my personality from him." "Best moment of my life": Beach Marine recalls her father's reaction Boynton Beach resident Pascual Andres and his daughter Yulisa Pascual, who is a U.S. Marine. Pascual Andres, a 45-year-old immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested on Aug. 16, 2025 by Florida Highway Patrol and was detained at Alligator Alcatraz. Having the two sisters enlist as Marines became an immense source of pride for the Andres family, said Yulisa. Initially, her father was scared, Yulisa said. But, Pascual quickly became the sisters' biggest cheerleader. "At first it was just hard for them because as an older daughter, he didn't want to let me go," Yulisa said of her parents. Three months later, when she returned from boot camp, Pascual saw her in uniform for the first time. "I had never seen him cry and that was the first time I ever did," Yulisa recalls. "He was really proud." "That was the best moment of my life, Yulisa added. Yeniffer said one of the reasons she enlisted in the Marines was to travel the world, something her father couldn't do since he is undocumented. Though just in her first year in the service, Yeniffer has already served on two detachments. "I remember sending a picture to my father and he told me: 'You are capable of anything, and to enjoy it, and to enjoy it for him because he doesnt think hell ever make it there'," Yeniffer recalled. Over the last week, Yeniffer has gone back to read that message countless times. Despite her father's detention, Yulisa remains proud to be a U.S. Marine protecting the country that gave her family a home. Yulisa said she is not the only member in her base affected by recent immigration detentions. "We talk about it and it's not really fair, Yulisa said. "They know that we're serving this country. It's a really rough topic." 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: Father of two Boynton Beach U.S. Marines sent to Alligator Alcatraz: SANDOVAL COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) A hypersonic missile manufacturer is considering building a facility in Sandoval County. If the California-based company Castelion chooses New Mexico, it could bring hundreds of high-paying jobs to the state. Santa Fe to open surveys for community to give input on creating new general plan Castelion is eyeing a stretch of Paseo del Volcan and aims to build on a thousand acres of land in Sandoval County. Officials said it could generate more than $650 million in economic output over the next decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other sites outside of New Mexico could also be chosen, but company officials did not disclose which ones. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested two men in Encinitas on Friday morning. Yohan Diaz and Limber Hernandez were taken into custody by immigration agents, according to a statement made by ICE San Diego Field Office Director Patrick Divver. Police chase along Escondido bike trail ends in fatal collision State Senator Catherine Blakespear, who represents the Encinitas area, said video of the arrest shows agents handling them brutally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE made another arrest in Encinitas today, and a bystanders video shows this arrest being carried out with extreme force and brutality, Blakespear said. San Diego police hunt for suspect in City Heights armed robbery Divvers statement alleges that Diaz has a criminal record of child cruelty, assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a peace officer, obstruction of a public officer, vandalism, and DUI. ICE San Diego remains committed to enforcing federal immigration law while ensuring the safety of the community and our officers, Divver said. Both individuals are currently in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This arrest comes two days after ICE arrested a parent near Park Dale Lane Elementary in Encinitas. This prompted Encinitas City Council to discuss emergency responses in their council meeting on Wednesday. Possible items for council discussion include: Exploring how to establish safe zones Exploring joining lawsuits challenging ICE operations Submitting a Freedom of Information Act to document ICE operations in Encinitas Forming a community communications group (text chain) Sending letters to federal agencies protesting actions Requesting federal partners to be present to respond to questions from city and community Investigating ability to limit mask wearing by ICE Exploring other legal mechanisms available to the city These types of arrests are inhumane and traumatize all involved and the communities in which they happen, Blakespear said. I am outraged, and I encourage everyone who is also outraged to speak up, contact their members of Congress and demand that this stop. Disclaimer: At time of reporting FOX 5/KUSI has not obtained aforementioned video of the arrest 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. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei confirmed Friday night that the US government will not seek an ownership stake in the chipmaking giant, reported by Focus Taiwan. "They (the Trump administration) have announced they will not take a stake (in TSMC)," Wei told reporters, according to the news platform. Echoing Wei's statement, a TSMC spokesperson told Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on Saturday that the company had never discussed US government ownership and that no such request had been made. The initial Reuters article, citing unnamed sources, claimed the US was considering equity in firms like TSMC that are receiving federal funding to build fabrication plants in America. However, a US official later told The Wall Street Journal that there were no such plans, specifically naming TSMC and Micron as companies that would not be subject to any equity requirements. Despite the clarification, the Reuters report caused jitters in the market, with TSMC shares dropping 4.22 per cent in Taipei on concerns about potential government interference. Adding his voice to the debate, Pegatron Chairman Tung Tzu-hsien referenced former US President Ronald Reagan's famous remark: "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem," urging the US government not to interfere in private companies' operations. As reported by the Focus Taiwan, TSMC is currently investing USD 65 billion to build three advanced semiconductor fabs in Arizona, with the first already in commercial production since late 2024. In March, the company announced an additional USD 100 billion investment in the state over the next few years, which includes plans for three more fabs, two IC assembly plants, and a research and development center. (ANI) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to social media on Friday to express her frustration over Kilmar Abrego Garcias release from federal detention. Abrego Garcia was released from federal custody on Friday and allowed to return home to Maryland to await trial on charges of human smuggling. The news prompted Noem to make a post on X decrying activist liberal judges who have reached a new low by freeing Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcia was released from detention in Tennessee on Friday and allowed to return home to Maryland, where he will be electronically monitored while he awaits trial. / Seth Herald/Reuters Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country. Today, we reached a new low with this publicity hungry Maryland judge mandating this illegal alien who is a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator be allowed free, Noem wrote. Abrego Garcia has not been convicted of any crime, and denies any involvement in MS-13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By ordering this monster loose on Americas streets, Noem continued, this judge has shown a complete disregard for the safety of the American people. We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country. Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country. Today, we reached a new low with this publicity hungry Maryland judge mandating this illegal alien who is a Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) August 22, 2025 The Trump administration has previously acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison, but initially refused to return him. He was eventually returned in June and held in custody in Tennessee. In a filing made on Tuesday, Abrego Garcias attorneys wrote, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been singled out by the United States government. It is obvious why. And it is not because of the seriousness of his alleged conduct. Nor is it because he poses some unique threat to this country. Instead, Mr. Abrego was charged because he refused to acquiesce in the governments violation of his due process rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Abrego Garcia is currently at home in Maryland, supporters are worried that he is at risk of being deported to Uganda as part of the Trump administrations plan to deport immigrants to third countriesthat is, a country that is not the U.S. or their country of origin. Hours after his release on Friday, his attorneys were sent a court-required noice of his potential deportation, CBS News reported. The notice stated that he could be deported no earlier than 72 hours from now, not including the weekend. The notice, combined with Noems incendiary post, suggests that the Trump administration is not interested in complying with the court orders that Abrego Garcia be returned to the U.S. for a fair trial before further deportation proceedings could be initiated. In response to a request for comment, the Department of Homeland Security sent the Daily Beast a press release that repeated Noems tweet plus a list of statements and documents it claimed as evidence of Abrego Garcias purported criminal activity and gang ties. None of the evidence provided has resulted in a conviction. Abrego Garcia is still awaiting trial for human smuggling charges. The Department of Homeland Security also said, He is also an illegal alien from El Salvador, a fact that he openly admits. That alone give ICE and DHS full lawful authority to place him in removal proceedings. Deporting Abrego Garcia from the U.S. would require violating orders from a federal judge. President Donald Trumps deportation henchmen appear to have dramatically increased the use of Coast Guard aircraft to transport immigrants, according to flight data, activist flight trackers and video confirmation. Since June 23, the majority of flights operated by the Coast Guard C-27J Spartan fleet at least 263 flights are likely to have been for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), transferring immigrants to and from ICEs nexus of detention centers in Alexandria, La., Harlingen, Texas, and the Florida Everglades camp known as Alligator Alcatraz, according to an analysis of public flight data. On August 13 and August 22, Rolling Stone watched as federal agents loaded shackled immigrants onto Coast Guard aircraft in Baltimore. The Coast Guards larger propeller aircraft, the HC-130H Hercules and HC-130J Super Hercules, also appear to be operating ICE flights, though to a lesser degree. Flight data for the C-130 fleet show at least eight flights to and from Alexandria or Harlingen since late June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like federal emergency funds being used for immigrant detention centers, and agents across the federal government being directed to snatch up delivery drivers in their militarized takeover of Washington D.C., the Coast Guard flights are yet another example of the Trump administration funneling vast federal resources toward its mass deportation machine. A Coast Guard C-27 conducted a mission today at the request of ICE and landed at BWI airport, a Coast Guard spokesperson says, explaining: The Coast Guard continues to surge assets and leverage its unique capabilities to protect Americas borders, territorial integrity and sovereignty by assisting with the national transport of aliens to designated locations where the Department of Defense will transport the aliens internationally. The spokesperson adds that three USCG aircraft are currently being used for ICE, which is consistent with the flight data for August 22. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to a request for comment. ICE deferred to DHS. It seems like a misuse of Coast Guard assets to me, says Tom Cartwright, the retired JPMorgan executive who has been tracking ICE flights since 2020. And you have to wonder why its been kept so quiet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Coast Guard, which is part of DHS, has a wide-ranging purview protecting U.S. maritime interests, which includes search-and-rescue missions, disaster response, and enforcing fishing laws. It also does drug and migrant interdiction, which generally means surveilling and intercepting suspected smuggling vessels in the water. Coast Guard aircraft have been used for a handful of ICE flights in the past, but hauling prisoners across the country is far afield from its normal duties particularly for the C-27, which until recently was primarily used for search and rescue. The C-27 missions follow a similar pattern, leaving their stations in Clearwater, Fla., or Sacramento, Calif., flying to the ICE hubs of Alexandria or Harlingen, and spending the next week flying out-and-back trips to midsize cities like Baltimore, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Kansas City, and Tampa NFL cities, as one activist, JJ in DC, describes them where ICE has been active. Of eight Coast Guard C-27s that have operated since mid-June, all but one appears to have been dedicated to ICE flights. They have landed at the tent camp in the Everglades nine times beginning on July 23 and as recently as Thursday. The trips have become so regular that JJ in DC was able to figure out their schedule and predict their next moves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rolling Stone went to a public parking lot next to a loading area at the back of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on August 13 to observe an incoming C-27. Once it landed and taxied to the loading area, the aircrafts back ramp opened and three vehicles pulled up toward it an unmarked van, an unmarked SUV, and an SUV with a DHS seal. Federal agents and guards removed a shackled man from the aircraft and put him into the DHS SUV. Agents spent about an hour signing paperwork, chatting, and loading plastic bags holding immigrants belongings into the aircraft, while a Coast Guard pilot did a walk-around safety check for the next flight. An agent carried an armful of chains to the van, and a short time later, seven people shackled at the hands and ankles were led from the van to the aircrafts ramp, where they were patted down. All of them appeared to be men, ranging in age from late teens to forties. All appeared to be brown or Latino. Once they were loaded onto the aircraft, the shackled man in the marked SUV was moved again to the unmarked van. Soon afterward, the agents appeared to notice they were being filmed from the public parking lot and put on hoodies and balaclavas. Two marched toward the fence dividing the loading area from the lot and filmed a random guy who had just parked there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man removed from the C-27 and one of the men loaded onto it were wearing gray sweatsuits often issued to immigrants in detention centers, while the other men were wearing their own clothes, suggesting ICE was transporting a mix of people who had been in their custody for some time and some who had been recently arrested. On August 22, the C-27 parked in an area farther away from the public parking lot. About nine people in unidentified uniforms got off the aircraft from the boarding door and walked to a nearby charter jet. Federal agents then loaded several shackled people, at least one in a gray sweatsuit, up the back ramp. The charter jet flew to Charlotte, N.C.; the C-27 returned to Alexandria. In addition to the midsize cities, Coast Guard has apparently operated ICE flights to these cities since late June: Biloxi, Mississippi; Columbus, Georgia; Dallas; Hot Springs, Arkansas; Indianapolis; Knoxville, Tennessee; San Antonio; Springfield, Missouri; and Tallahassee. All are near ICE detention facilities. Immigrants have long reported harsh conditions, safety problems and physical, verbal, and sexual abuse by guards onboard ICE flights. Like the men in Baltimore, all adult passengers on ICE flights are shackled at the wrists and ankles. (This may be the case for some immigrant children, too.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flight attendants for GlobalX, which currently operates the majority of ICE flights, told ProPublica in April that when they raised concerns about how shackled passengers could safely evacuate in the event of an emergency, they were told to just get up and leave. In July, activists watching a Seattle airport livestream spotted ICE-contracted guards push to the ground a shackled immigrant with a hood over his head while boarding an ICE flight on Avelo Airlines. Which detention centers people in ICE custody are transferred to is based largely on capacity, according to the agency, which often results in people being moved multiple times and hundreds or thousands of miles away from their homes. Advocacy groups say this cuts off immigrants from their families and legal assistance, and that frequent and capricious transfers can be used to punish people in ICE custody. Were told that it is a question of logistics, sometimes it often appears that these transfers may be retaliatory in nature, because people are trying to access counsel, says Eunice Cho, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Unions National Prison Project. There is also a suspicion that authorities may be transferring people for more favorable case law in different areas of the country. For example, when Georgetown professor Badar Khan Suri was detained in March on specious allegations of ties to Hamas, he was sent on a week-long journey to five different facilities, each farther away from his home in Arlington, Virginia, according to court documents. He ended up in a dirty, overcrowded facility in Alvarado, Texas, despite there being plenty of room at two of the facilities in Virginia where he was briefly held. (Suri was released in May and settled a lawsuit with the Trump administration earlier this month.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another case first reported by Capital B News, Haitian national Rony Dieujuste was moved from Palm Beach County to Miami, then to Texas, Arizona, and California. At one facility, he and other detainees had unexplained nosebleeds; at another he slept on a bare metal platform. His American partner struggled to keep tabs on him using ICEs detainee locator system and would only find out hed been moved when he called her from a new facility, often in the middle of the night. I told him to remain strong. But he is breaking, she told Capital B in June. It takes a huge toll on families, especially when theyre so far away, Cho says. Its as if somebody has died or has disappeared. It is unclear how many times on average immigrants in ICE detention are transferred before their cases are resolved, because ICE does not release this data. Nor does it release data about its massive and growing air operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its that lack of transparency that compelled Cartwright, the former JPMorgan exec, to start tracking ICE flights nearly six years ago. He releases meticulous monthly reports frequently cited by the media. I just believe the public has a right to know what the scale of this operation is, he says. When things are opaque like this and basically totally dark, no one thinks about the people on the planes. Cartwright began noticing the Coast Guards presence in Alexandria and Harlingen in July, but did not include those flights in his statistics for the month because he wasnt yet sure they were ICE flights. Now he is certain, he says, and he and Human Rights First the nonprofit he recently announced is taking over his flight-tracking operation are working to amend the June and July reports to include them. Even before the additions, Cartwright recorded more ICE flights in July than ever before 727 domestic transfer flights and 207 deportation and third-country removal flights on ICEs network of charter airlines, private jets, and a growing number of military aircraft. Cartwright also noted that when the Coast Guard assisted ICE in the past, it released public statements about that assistance. This time, the Coast Guard appears to have adopted ICEs stance of saying little. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, NBC News reported that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wanted to use billions in funding from Trumps Big Beautiful Bill for ICE to buy and operate its own fleet of 30 or more aircraft. That same day, Air Force members received an email, obtained by journalist Marisa Kabas, inviting them to take part in a program supporting border operations. Noem has been living rent-free in a spacious home designated for the Coast Guard commandant, The Washington Post reported last week. Trump fired the previous commandant, Admiral Linda Fagan, on the second day of his second term, accusing her of an excessive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. In May, Noem delivered the commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Dozens of nearby protesters held signs decrying the crackdown on immigrants, telling reporters their beef was with Noem, not the Coast Guard. Congratulations, Noem told the cadets. Youre the first graduating class of a brand-new Coast Guard. 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. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told the lawyers of illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia he may be deported to Uganda after he was released from jail in Tennessee Friday, Fox News has learned. ICE and Department of Homeland Security documents obtained by Fox News showed that ICE notified Abrego Garcia's lawyers he may be deported to Uganda in "no less than 72 hours" and must check in with any agent at the ICE office in Baltimore on Monday. This comes after Uganda reached a deal with the U.S. to accept third-party deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his release from a Tennessee jail Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes placed Abrego Garcia in his brother's custody as a third-party custodian ahead of trial. He must wear an electronic monitoring device, check in with Pretrial Services in Maryland and report there no later than 10 a.m. Monday. Abrego Garcia Released From Jail, Will Return To Maryland To Await Trial Kilmar Abrego Garcia walks after he was released from the Putnam County Jail in Cookville, Tenn. Abrego Garica was first deported to El Salvador earlier this year for being a suspected MS-13 member despite an immigration court in 2019 granting him protected status over the risk he would be targeted by gangs. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was brought back to the U.S. in June and placed in federal custody in Tennessee on human smuggling charges after a 2022 traffic stop resurfaced. Court filings later revealed the investigation began while he was jailed in El Salvador, raising questions about how the probe was conducted. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Sets Strict Conditions For Abrego Garcia's Release As Trump Officials Pursue Case Against Him Kilmar Abrego Garcia may be deported to Uganda after his release from jail in Tennessee. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis of Maryland, who is overseeing Abrego Garcia's lawsuit challenging the legality of his deportation, has instructed federal officials to give his lawyers 72 hours notice before beginning deportation proceedings to allow them the opportunity to file a challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego Garcia's case sparked national attention this year after the Trump administration initially refused to bring him back from El Salvador despite acknowledging in court filings that his deportation was an "administrative error." His detention in the Central American country sparked visits from U.S. lawmakers, notably Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. Uganda reached a deal with the U.S. to accept third-party deportations. His release on Friday was met with public frustration by Trump administration officials. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem alleged Abrego Garcia is a criminal and a violator of immigration law, describing him as a "monster" released by "activist liberal judges" after he was released Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country," Noem wrote on X. Fox News' Breanne Deppisch and Ashley Oliver, and Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: ICE notifies Kilmar Abrego Garcia's lawyers of possible deportation to Uganda after Tennessee jail release Kilmar Abrego Garcia, pictured at center, was released from jail in Putnam County, Tennessee on August 22, 2025. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) The Trump administration intends to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda after he rejected a last-minute deal to remain in jail, plead guilty to human smuggling charges and be deported to Costa Rica, a legal notice filed Saturday by his attorneys said. The behind-the-scenes ultimatum bolsters defense claims that Abrego is the target of selective and vindictive prosecution by the government for contesting his wrongful deportation to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador in March, Abregos lawyers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revelations come one day after Abrego was released from a Tennessee jail where he was awaiting a January trial on human smuggling charges. The sheet-metal apprentice was on his way back to Maryland, where he lives in Prince Georges County with his wife and children, when his attorneys received an emailed notice at 4:01 p.m. Friday from Immigration and Customs Enforcement saying it may send him to Uganda. Abrego, an immigrant who was arrested in March, was swiftly and erroneously deported to a prison in El Salvador, even though a previous court order prohibited his deportation there because of possible threats from Salvadoran gangs. The Trump administration acknowledged his deportation was a mistake, and since then his case has focused unwelcome public scrutiny on the administrations immigration crackdown tactics. On return to the U.S., Abrego was taken to Tennessee to face charges that an unremarkable 2022 traffic stop there with several immigrants in his car was really part of a human smuggling ring. Abrego has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. In a deal offered by the government late Thursday, it promised to deport Abrego to Costa Rica where he could live freely if he remained jailed until Monday, pleaded guilty to the Tennessee human smuggling charges and served the sentence imposed by the court, his attorneys wrote. The government of Costa Rica had agreed to take him, the filing said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abregos attorneys informed the Acting U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire, who is prosecuting the Tennessee case, they would of course, communicate the governments proposal to Mr. Abrego but declined to agree to a demand that he remain incarcerated until Monday. Abrego was released shortly after 2 p.m. Friday from a detention facility in Putnam County, Tennessee. Within minutes of Abregos release, a representative of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, informed his attorneys they intended to deport him to Uganda and ordered him to report to the agencys field office in Baltimore, his attorneys wrote. The only thing that happened between Thursday Costa Rica and Friday Uganda was Mr. Abregos exercise of his legal entitlement to release under the Bail Reform Act and the Fifth Amendment, his attorneys wrote. Government officials again, late Friday evening, informed Abrego he has until first thing Monday morning to accept a plea in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica or else that offer will be off the table forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There can be only one interpretation of these events: the (Department of Justice) and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat, Abregos attorneys wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Attorneys for Abrego on Wednesday filed a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against him, calling the case a clear example of selective and vindictive prosecution by the Trump administration in legal filings last week. The ultimatums offered by the Trump administration serve to underscore Abregos allegations that it is acting with vindictiveness towards him, their latest legal filing said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security are obviously working in lockstep to coerce Mr. Abrego into accepting a guilty plea in his criminal case, holding over his head the prospect of possible indefinite detention or worse in a country halfway across the world, the attorneys wrote. It is difficult to imagine a path the government could have taken that would have better emphasized its vindictiveness. As part of the campaign against him, Abregos motion to dismiss said, Trump administration officials early on mounted a public campaign to distract from the erroneous deportation by smearing him. It started with Vice President JD Vance falsely claiming Abrego was an MS-13 gang member, and other Executive Branch officials soon joined the Vice Presidents effort to discredit Mr. Abrego, claiming publicly that he was violent, a gang member, and a terrorist, the motion said. Those attacks continued Friday when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem complained in a social media post about this publicity hungry Maryland judge mandating this illegal alien who is a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator be allowed free. Abrego has never faced any of those charges in the U.S. Even though Noem also blasted a Maryland judge, Abregos release Friday was ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Tennessee, not U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland, who is overseeing his original deportation case. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who visited Abrego when he was being held in El Salvador, said in a statement Saturday evening that administration officials who continue to make public statements about his case that have been expressly repudiated by the courts would rather insult judges and circumvent our justice system than uphold peoples constitutional rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van Hollen met virtually Sunday with Abrego and his wife, Jennifer Sura, and pledged to continue to fight for his day in court. Trumps cronies continue to lie about the facts in his case and they are engaged in a malicious abuse of power as they threaten to deport him to Uganda to block his chance to defend himself against the new charges they brought, Van Hollen said in a statement released by his office. We will stay in this fight for justice and due process because if his rights are denied, the rights of everyone else are put at risk. Abrego is scheduled to appear at ICE offices in Baltimore on Monday. According to the email from the agency, the 72-hour clock on his threatened deportation was paused over the weekend. A Maryland Matters editor contributed to this report from Maryland. This story first appeared in Tennessee Lookout, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com. Marcel Rosa watched helplessly as federal agents led his wife, Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, away at Boston Logan International Airport on Aug. 11. Their three young daughters clung to him in tears, fear and confusion. What should have been the end of a joyful vacation to Mexico for the Canton family, with over 30 relatives, had turned into a nightmare. Jimenez Rosa, a legal permanent resident and mother of four U.S. citizens, was detained over what her lawyer believes was a decades-old, personal-use marijuana charge, which is no longer a crime in Massachusetts today. I was just like, Girls, we might never see your mother again in this country, Marcel Rosa, 38, said on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I looked over to the officer and said, Am I telling the truth? And he said, Yeah, that could be possible. I told my kids right in front of the officer that shes being arrested, and the girls just started crying, hugging her, he said. I know most parents would not have told that to their kids, but there was no way I was going to allow those officers to think theyre just going to rip my wife away from my family, thinking its going to be business as usual. Neither U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement nor the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts, federal agencies involved in Jimenez Rosas detainment, would respond to inquiries from MassLive, several inquiries from the familys lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, and Boston 25. Federal authorities never directly said why Jimenez Rosa was detained. An email to her lawyer from ICE hinted at the reason shortly before her release on Aug. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 10 days after Jimenez Rosa was detained, the family would be thrust into a bureaucratic maze as the 42-year-old mother was shuttled between detention facilities including one for men only from Massachusetts to Maine. She was denied proper health care for her diabetes, asthma and other serious health issues, which led to two hospitalizations, her lawyer said. All the while, her husband a former Department of Homeland Security employee who grew up in Boston struggled to locate her and secure her release through court intervention. Jemmys detention was brutal and capricious and never should have happened, said state Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Bristol/Norfolk, who was on hand in Burlington when Jimenez Rosa was reunited with her family Wednesday. [She was] needlessly, unjustly and cruelly taken from her family and deprived of basic rights in the most un-American way possible, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jimenez Rosas time in custody ended with her alone, wet and begging for help at The Cheesecake Factory in the Burlington Mall, after ICE agents released her into the rainy street outside the detention facility Wednesday night. She was 30 miles from home, with no phone and a broken spirit. The family fears that their nightmare will never truly end. I know shes not, I know shes not okay ... I dont think shell ever be the same, to be honest. I really dont, Marcel Rosa said. In the Boston Logan backrooms Jimenez Rosa, her husband and their three girls all under 10 landed in Boston from Mexico at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11, and like all international travelers, went through customs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when they handed their passports and Jimenez Rosas Green Card with her permanent resident status, which wasnt set to expire until 2035, the agent told her to go to a room downstairs at the airport for additional questions. This is when federal agents made a vague reference to her arrest on marijuana possession charges from when she was in college, 22 years ago, Pomerleau and Marcel Rosa said but never stated the specific charges. There was an officer sitting at the opposite end of the room where I was seated, and he said to my wife, Tell me about your arrest, Marcel Rosa recalled. She was confused, like, What arrest? I dont know what youre talking about. Five seconds later, in my head, I was like, Hes probably talking about the arrest over two-plus decades ago, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the agent never directly told them or their lawyer the charges they were referring to while she was detained. The agent simply told the couple he was doing an investigation into Jimenez Rosa, Marcel Rosa said. In 2003, when Jimenez Rosa was a 20-year-old college student, she was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana, Pomerleau said, to which she pleaded guilty at the time and fully served probation for. It was the only criminal charge one thats no longer a crime under Massachusetts law that Jimenez Rosa has faced in her life since coming to the United States at 9 years old, Pomerleau said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her records were sealed over a decade ago, Pomerleau added, and he noted that based on police reports, there was never any amount of marijuana listed blaming Jimenez Rosas defense attorney for allowing her to plead guilty 22 years ago to something that apparently wasnt even a provable crime. Her records were sealed for 12 years. They [federal officers] would have had no access to these records unless somebody illegally handed them over ... They never once asked for records from me about the case, and I had to guess that it might have been a marijuana charge because I was left in the dark for a week, Pomerleau said. The CBP agent then took Jimenez Rosa into another room for more questions before the family said their tearful goodbyes. Marcel Rosa told the agents about his wifes diagnosed serious health concerns when she was taken into custody, including her diabetes, asthma, depression, anxiety and several other conditions, and asked how she would be medically taken care of. An agent told him, If you have her medicine, you can leave it here with her, Marcel Rosa recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I told them I dont have all of her medicine with her wed just got back from vacation and at that point, they pretty much just stopped answering questions." Within two hours of her detainment, Jimenez Rosa was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital for a medical emergency related to her health conditions. She was able to tell her husband where she was because a nurse let her borrow their phone, and neither had any idea shed be transferred back to Boston Logan at 2 a.m. or that it would be the last time theyd speak for days. Held at the airport Marcel Rosa barely slept and didnt put his phone down for the next 10 days. He quickly got in contact with Pomerleau, who put about a dozen staff members on Jimenez Rosas case and filed a habeas corpus petition for her release on Aug. 12. A judge ordered that she not leave Massachusetts while the case was pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcel Rosa said he called CBP every day of his wifes detainment and on Aug. 13, he spoke with the supervisor who was present when she was taken into custody. That supervisor started off the conversation by telling me he could neither confirm nor deny whether she was there, or if she was transferred into another facility, Rosa recalled. When Rosa asked why, the agent cited privacy laws. I said, Thats my wife. Theres nothing private. Im the person thats going to sign everything in her behalf, and do everything, Rosa said. When Rosa asked about his wifes medical care, the agent cited HIPAA laws as a barrier to knowing her health issues. Taken aback, Rosa pointed out that doctors can share medical information with law enforcement when a patient is in custody, which is specifically outlined in HIPAA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said a very disgusting joke after that, Rosa recalled. He said, Well notify next of kin if she dies. And at that moment, I knew that I was no longer dealing with humans. I knew I was dealing with someone that is sick in the head, and this was the person who made the decision to incarcerate her, Rosa said. Three of Pomerleaus lawyers on staff went to the airport on Aug. 14, demanding Jimenez Rosas immediate release. CBP claimed she was still in inspection and had no right to counsel, Pomerleau said. The agents refused to let the lawyers see her and forced them to turn off video recording of their interaction. Pomerleau and his team also began to plan to overturn her marijuana conviction which Pomerleau had only guessed at being the reason behind his clients detainment, he said, since federal agents refused to communicate with him on the case. Detained in Maine Around Aug. 15, Jimenez Rosa was transferred from Boston Logan to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts, where she had her first shower in nearly five days after flying in from Mexico, being detained and getting treatment at the hospital. According to her husband, the shower was at an all-male facility. Pomerleau said there are no facilities in Massachusetts that house female detainees. Afterward, on Aug. 15, Jimenez Rosa was brought to the Cumberland County Jail in Maine, where she was finally able to call her husband and lawyer, traumatized, Pomerleau said. That was when Jimenez Rosa first realized she even had a lawyer, he added. She said rats were running in the walls all night long during her detainment, Marcel Rosa said. There was a water leak in her ceiling and she got little sleep because of the continuous clanging of metal gates as people were brought through the facility. On Wednesday afternoon, Pomerleau was able to get a judge to vacate Jimenez Rosas past marijuana conviction in a Roxbury courtroom, and immediately filed a motion for her release. Thank God I guessed right, he said. After the motion was filed ... they cowered, and the ICE lawyer said something to the effect by email, Theyre going to let her out now, because clearly the marijuana charge isnt around anymore. Its like, well, thank you for letting us know in writing that was the basis for her detention, which we still have never seen, Pomerleau said. Pomerleau and her family would later discover she had been hospitalized a second time while in custody, her blood pressure at 198. Jimenez Rosa was handcuffed to the bed and this time, told she couldnt make any calls. Alone at the Cheesecake Factory Even at the end of her detainment, it was not easy to find Jimenez Rosa. Around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, after her conviction had been vacated, Pomerleau called Cumberland County Jail and was told Jimenez Rosa had left 15 minutes earlier, but they wouldnt say where she went. After failing to reach ICE, he called the jail again, where staff eventually said two men had picked her up and they assumed she was en route to the ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts, to be released. It was raining when Marcel Rosa picked up their three children before leaving with Pomerleau to find their wife and mother. Then, the phone rang. It was Jimenez Rosa. She was at the Burlington ICE facility before any of us were there. She said, Theyre going to kick me out, or theyre going to keep me in the jail cell till you guys get here, because theyre closing soon, Pomerleau said. When they finally got to the facility at 1000 District Ave., Jimenez Rosa was nowhere to be found. Then, she called because a stranger at The Cheesecake Factory, in the Burlington Mall, lent her their phone because she was so distraught, Pomerleau said. Without a way to contact her family, the mother had made her way to the mall about a half mile away seeking help. She couldnt even stand up when Pomerleaus lawyers finally got to her in the restaurant, and her spirit was destroyed, her husband and Pomerleau said. She was completely disheveled ... She reminded me of asylum seekers who have been absolutely victimized. She was constantly breaking down in tears. She was trembling. All she did was just hold on to her kids and hold on to her husband, and she just sat there and cried for 45 straight minutes. She couldnt even function, Pomerleau said. Back in Canton Since she returned home in Canton, Jimenez Rosa has been crying throughout the day and shes not herself, Marcel Rosa said Friday. The family is making appointments with a psychiatrist and for a full hospital workup, he said. A GoFundMe has also been established to offset the legal expenses the ordeal has cost the family. Its raised over $14,000 as of Friday, with a $16,000 goal. Marcel Rosa warns other families of the same fate. If anyone is on a Green Card, you need to talk to an attorney before you travel ... but based off my experience, I dont think you should be traveling. Youre better off taking that loss than getting arrested and being in the same situation that my wife went through, Marcel Rosa said. Locking up a legally present Massachusetts mom, who has been here legally since she was 9 years old, and taking her away from her husband and young kids, one of whom was celebrating a birthday, does not make our community safer, state Sen. Feeney said in a statement to MassLive. It only serves to instill fear and undermine the rule of law, which seems to be the goal of the president as he regularly forsakes commonsense and common decency to score political points, Feeney said. And while Pomerleau said the federal habeas corpus case he filed seems to be in limbo, given the lack of response from the government, were not stopping till we get justice for Jemmy, he said. Despite his clients release, Pomerleau said he will continue the fight. It is a big deal when law enforcement violates the law under the guise of enforcing it ... but I took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States as an attorney. The rule of law needs to be respected, he said. If it can happen to a non-citizen, Green Card holder whos been following nearly every rule her whole life, paying taxes, it can happen to you. It can happen to anybody, and we are taking a stand, Pomerleau said. More stories involving ICE Read the original article on MassLive. (NewsNation) Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador, was notified he may be deported to Uganda, according to a court filing. The notification comes just after Abrego Garcia, who is not from Uganda, was released from a Tennessee jail on Friday where he had been held since June. A federal judge ruled he must be brought back to the U.S. Is Kilmar Abrego Garcia a gang member like Trump has portrayed? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration authorities said he declined an offer to be sent to Costa Rica in exchange for remaining in jail and pleading guilty to human smuggling charges. Abrego Garcia pleaded not guilty to those charges and asked for the case to be dismissed, claiming that it was an attempt to punish him for challenging his deportation to El Salvador. A trial date has been set for January 2027, but it is unclear if he can or will attend that trial. Noem condemns Abrego Garcia release: A new low In 2019, a U.S. immigration judge had barred Abrego Garcia from being deported back to his native El Salvador because he likely faced persecution there by local gangs who had terrorized him and his family. The Trump administration deported him there despite the judges 2019 order and later described it as an administrative error. President Donald Trump and other officials have since doubled down on claims Abrego Garcia was in the MS-13 gang. 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. The Idaho Supreme Court listens to arguments in this April 25, 2025, file photo. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho has significantly reformed its public defense system since 2022. Now, the state Supreme Court will weigh whether the changes are enough to show the state is meeting its constitutional obligation to provide adequate representation or if its too soon to decide. Attorneys representing indigent defendants those who are charged with a crime who cannot pay for their own legal representation argued on Friday before the states high court in Boise that despite an entirely different system, the state still isnt meeting its constitutional requirement. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states system is being challenged by attorneys for the ACLU of Idaho and the law firm Hogan Lovells, who on Friday asked the Idaho Supreme Court to reverse a February District Court dismissal of the case, named Tucker v. Carlson. We have never asked for a particular model of public defense; what we have asked for is that the state implement public defense in a way that passes constitutional muster, Hogan Lovells Attorney Joe Cavanaugh told the justices. The state argued that the reforms which consolidated a fractured, county-based system for public defense into a state-funded Office of the Public Defender are exactly what the courts and plaintiffs had been asking for in the case when it was filed a decade ago. The new state system has addressed the issues that have been raised in this lawsuit. Its really that simple, said Joe Aldridge, an attorney from Scanlan Griffiths + Aldridge who argued on behalf of the state. Idaho has overhauled its public defense system. The ACLU says its not enough. The ACLU of Idaho, in its December appeal to the states highest court, argued that the state reforms may have made the situation worse because it was followed by a mass resignation of public defenders across the state, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. As of Friday, the Office of the State Public Defender had 21 public defender openings, which included vacancies and new positions created by 2025 legislation to open four new offices in Jerome, Shoshone, Benewah and Elmore counties, Office of the Public Defender spokesperson Patrick Orr told the Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The changes made thus far were spurred by the original filing of the case in 2015, contending Idahos system was inadequate to guarantee peoples right to counsel under the Constitutions Sixth Amendment. In 2022, the Legislature passed House Bill 735 so the state would fund all public defense rather than the counties. In 2023, the Legislature passed House Bill 236 to replace the Public Defense Commission with a new state agency, the Office of the Public Defender. The new public defender office fully transitioned into the new system in October 2024. Cavanaugh argued Friday in court that the reforms havent changed the deficiencies on the ground regarding low-income peoples access to adequate defense. He said that legislative reforms dont relieve the courts of enforcing the Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislatures had their shot, and has proven to have failed at that shot, he said. These issues are occurring right in the judiciarys backyard. The lawsuit is asking the court to declare the state of Idahos public defense system unconstitutional and to place an injunction on the state, requiring it to create a plan to fix the alleged deficiencies to bring the system into compliance with the constitution. The plaintiffs also ask the court to review and approve the plan and appoint an independent monitor to implement the plan. Idaho justices mull if available data can show new system is or isnt constitutional Multiple justices questioned Cavanaugh about how the court could use the data included in the December 2024 filing regarding the alleged deficiencies in the states system, to determine how adequate it is now. It just feels like the ground has changed so much that you would almost be forced to start over, Justice Gregory Moeller said. Idaho Supreme Court Justice Gregory Moeller, right, asks a question during a hearing on an abortion rights ballot initiative lawsuit on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun) The lawsuit filed in December includes written testimony from attorneys and defendants who describe situations such as defendants arriving in court multiple times without an attorney present, despite multiple attempts to contact the state public defense office, the Sun reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cavanaugh argued that the data supplied looked at the issue on a statewide basis and wasnt tied to any particular system. Aldridge, on behalf of the state, said it was too soon to make a determination that the new system was adequate, but that it met its obligation by putting in place a system that was designed to promote constitutionally adequate indigent defense. Moeller asked Aldridge if the state could show that the new system has made significant improvements. At this state in time, nobody can say whether or not the new state system suffers from widespread, persistent structural defects its simply too soon to make that determination, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aldridge said that it would take probably a few years before enough cases went through the new system to be able to determine if it was accurate, but that the new funding and oversight structure was designed to be the state-of-the-art, gold standard. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) First responders say the U.S. sees 25-30 grain bin deaths every year and that number is only rising. And here in Illinois, there have been two incidents in the last month. The latest numbers show there were more than 40 deaths nationally in 2023. Two different experts on this provided the same answer: They usually happen when produce goes bad, clogging the place it exits. But when farmers try to clear it out, thats when things can go wrong. Next step for major Central Illinois health network seeking change Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can be drawn under the surface of the grain in 15 seconds, said Illinois Fire Safety Institutes Ag rescue manager David Newcomb. It leaves little time to get out. He said thats not the only factor making grain bin rescues difficult. Farmers work in remote locations and they work alone. So sometimes there is a number of hours before the incident is even found, Newcomb said. Thats why he recommends bringing a partner out with you who can call for help in the worst-case scenario. Grain entrapments are for the most part preventable. They dont need to happen, said U of I Assistant Professor Salah Issa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has studied thousand of grain entrapments to develop strategies to prevent the accidents before they happen. New reproductive health laws championed by U of I students signed We have a lot of solutions you could install, whether its blockbusters or even simple bars, to allow you to basically break open any clog that is happening right above your in-bin auger, Issa said. But if you dont have those the University tested a makeshift way to break up the jam. We remove the auger and we put a pipe, a steel pipe in it thats attached to an air compressor, Issa said. And we were able to successfully unclog the grain bins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said you may have to try it several times, but it does eventually work: Breaking up clogs and keeping people out of the bins. First responders go through an eight hour awareness training and a 40 hour class to make them OSHA compliant. He said this training is imperative: 60% of people who die in grain bin accidents are trying to save someone else. To get in contact with IFSI for training click here, or to find more resources on grain bin safety 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 WCIA.com. A small group of people have congregated outside Mumbais Joggers Park on Indian independence day. Monsoon rains that have hit swathes of the country have drenched them to their skin, but they have not been deterred. The park, set in an affluent seaside neighbourhood more commonly associated with early morning walkers and Bollywood celebrities, has become the site of a protest. Along with their umbrellas, the demonstrators are holding placards emblazoned with messages in solidarity with the dogs of Delhi: They wont speak, so we must roar, voiceless, not worthless, Save Delhi dogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group, 700 miles from Delhi, is protesting a court order to round up and permanently cage the capitals hundreds of thousands of stray dogs that triggered outrage across India. The ruling followed the death of a six-year-old girl from rabies that hit national headlines, one of Indias thousands of dog bite victims who succumb to the virus every year. Indias supreme court, under its own initiative, responded by ordering authorities in the capital to remove all street dogs and shift them to permanent shelters. But the decision, which declared every street dog must be confined within eight weeks, sparked protests, candlelight vigils, and petitions in several cities. The supreme court rolled back its stance on rehousing stray dogs, ruling that vaccinated and sterilised ones could be released back into their neighbourhoods - Sanchit Khanna/Hindustan Times Tensions were so fraught that one man slapped Delhis chief minister during a public meeting, while protesters clashed with civic workers and mobbed dog-catching vans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Animal lovers, like those in the park, called the decision a state-sanctioned purge of voiceless souls and accused the government of forcing thousands of dogs into death cells. The public outcry forced the supreme court to roll back the controversial order on Friday, saying that the caged dogs could be released after being vaccinated and sterilised. Authorities were initially instructed to capture 5,000 dogs from high-risk areas within six to eight weeks, sterilise them, and relocate them to shelters - Sajjad Hussain/AFP The controversy has, however, raised questions about Indian society as a whole. Those in favour of the courts move to round up dogs pointed to the thousands of people killed by rabies every year, while other campaigners say Delhi appeared more willing to house tens of thousands of dogs than the citys homeless people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also concerns that similar rulings could be issued in other cities. Aditi Jain, tears rolling down her face, held a photo of the two street dogs she feeds every morning, with the words help me keep my freedom, when she spoke to The Telegraph earlier this month, before the courts climbdown. The court wants to send them to death cells, she said, her voice cracking. Today its Delhi, tomorrow they will come for our dogs. Are we supposed to watch them waste away behind these death cells? Wendy Joan Dabhoiwala, who feeds half a dozen dogs in her Bandra West neighbourhood, said: We would not allow this state sanctioned purge of voiceless souls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These dogs are living witnesses to our streets, we wont allow the state to erase a piece of our neighbourhoods soul. Despite the country setting a 2030 rabies free goal, 3.7 million dog bites were reported last year, and about 20,000 people die annually from the neurotropic virus. Official data shows Delhi alone reported 26,334 dog bite cases and 49 rabies infections in the first six months of this year alone. Residents held placards during a protest in Mumbai against Indias supreme court order of the removal of stray dogs - Punit Paranjpe/AFP Nevertheless, there were scenes of jubilation on Friday when the court softened its ruling. This is the happiest day for all of us. It feels like we have pulled thousands of dogs back from the brink, Khushboo Singh, a resident of South Delhi, told The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public pressure worked and its a lesson for all Indians that ordinary citizens should stand up for those who cant speak for themselves, she added. The protesters, dressed in black T-shirts, held placards reading Vaccinate, sterilise, return not remove and Awara Nahi, Hamara Hai (Not strays, theyre ours). Ms Singh said she and other activists had been patrolling to protect stray dogs from being grabbed off the street. We spread the word through WhatsApp groups and rushed to protect the dogs, she said. We had decided to save our dogs at any cost. Akanksha Das, another protester in Delhi, accused the citys government of hiding its failure in preventing the rabies deaths behind what she described as a shocking verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If dogs are not vaccinated, or rabies vaccines are not available in hospitals, you cant blame the dogs for rabies deaths, Ms Das said. People of Delhi love their stray animals like their own family members. We would not allow anyone to seize them and throw them into death camps, she added. Just because some men rape, can we justify putting all men behind bars? Similar logic applies to caging all dogs as well. Some however, like Ifrah Majid a university scholar whose father died of rabies two years ago agreed with the courts original order to keep dogs in cages. There were other issues with the ruling, beyond concerns for animal welfare: The logistics of putting all of Delhis strays into shelters made little mathematical sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, a subcommittee convened by the Delhi Legislative Assembly estimated the population of stray dogs in the city at around 800,000. Six years later, the population is now thought to exceed one million, a number which Delhis current infrastructure would not have been equipped to accommodate. Rescued dogs are kept inside cages at Friendicoes SECA, a local animal welfare NGO in New Delhi, India - Bhawika Chhabra/Reuters The city does not have any dedicated dog shelters, but if its 20 animal control centres where short-term care is provided to the canines before they are sterilised and released had been converted into fully-fledged dog shelters, they would have still housed no more than 5,000 animals. This year the Delhi government allocated 1.2m for sterilisation and immunisation of the stray dogs but official data reveals the authorities have failed to spend a penny of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The notion that Delhis one million dogs, or Indias 62 million community dogs for that matter, can all be rounded up and put in imaginary shelters was a dangerous fantasy that deflected focus and resources away from the real solution, which requires municipalities to adhere to the law, Shaurya Agrawal, Advocacy Associate, PETA India, told The Telegraph. This year, the Delhi government had allocated 1.2m for the sterilisation and immunisation of the stray dogs - Nasir Kachroo/Getty Images Maneka Gandhi, the animals rights activist and former Indian minister, termed the court ruling financially unviable and potentially harmful to the regions ecological balance. Others pointed to the hypocrisy of spending public money to house stray dogs when Delhi and other Indian cities still have large homeless populations. India is showing it can mobilise billions to build shelters for dogs, but not homes for its homeless humans, Dr Sanjay Kumar, co-director of New Delhi-based Shelter Rights Campaign, told The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Indian state has misplaced priorities. Its certainly not doing enough for the homeless population. There is more urgency for dogs than for the homeless humans who are living a miserable life in our cities, he said. Veterinarians treat injured stray dogs at Friendicoes SECA - Bhawika Chhabra/Reuters In 2011, Mr Kumar worked on a homelessness census. With limited resources we counted 40,000 homeless people in Delhi, he said. Today, he believes the number to be no less than 250,000 in Delhi and its suburbs. Official records reveal Delhi has only 198 shelters, with a capacity to house 5,500 people. Some argue that the first court ruling therefore exposed an uncomfortable reality in Indias national capital, where at least 474 homeless people died during the winter: authorities appear more willing to invest in kennels than peoples homes. The (initial) court ruling may save lives, Mr Kumar said. But it also shows Indias greatest blind spot. We are building shelters for dogs, while our people freeze and die on the streets. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Utah lawmakers shifted the future of state election debates away from an independent commission this year, but candidate debates will remain nonpartisan, fair and accessible, according to the two men tasked with leading the transformation. After providing varying levels of support for nearly a decade, the Utah Legislature voted in March to cut off funding for the Utah Debate Commission, a nonprofit board that has organized dozens of debates for statewide and congressional races since its creation in 2013. The money requested by the Utah Debate Commission for a two-year election cycle was instead split between the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute of Politics and Utah Valley Universitys Herbert Institute for Public Policy to establish a new state-funded debate organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The intent from my perspective is to minimize disruption, and to find the best way forward for these debates to have really big impact and that really is the goal, Hinckley Institute Director Jason Perry said in an interview with the Deseret News. Perry, and former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who founded UVUs Institute for Public Policy, said they have already had multiple discussions with Utah Debate Commission board members, which include representatives from the states institutions of higher education, business and news media. While plans are still in early stages as Perry and Herbert prepare to present recommendations to the Legislature this fall, Perry said the partnerships established by the Utah Debate Commission will only be expanded in the restructure, which will likely incorporate many aspects of the commission. Were going to try to find a way to make sure that nonpartisan debates continue to happen in the state of Utah, Perry said. So I just push back on the notions out there that the approach that were working on is intended to be run by the Legislature thats not what they intended." Why the change? Case Lawrence and Stewart Peay, two of the five candidates in the Republican primary for Utahs 3rd Congressional District, take part in a televised debate at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Also debating are JR Bird, John Dougall and Mike Kennedy. | Spenser Heaps, for the Deseret N According to Herbert, the Legislatures decision was surprising to members of the Utah Debate Commission, including himself. He had been tasked by the commission to make a budget request of $600,000 to his former colleagues during the 2025 legislative session to fully fund the commissions activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, asked Rep. Nelson Abbott, R-Orem, to sponsor HB557, a bill that would have established the Utah Debate Committee at UVU with a budget of $600,000 for 2026, with members appointed by the governor and leaders of both parties in the Legislature. Since its founding, the Utah Debate Commission has relied mostly on private donors. Starting in 2016, it received $125,000 in one-time taxpayer funds and began receiving $65,000 in on-going funds the following year, with a massive surge in 2019 to help host the vice presidential debate at the University of Utah. The Legislature increased the commissions funding to $225,000 in 2024. But Herbert had told lawmakers that if they wanted to permanently improve the debate commission then they would need to put up some money to support its activities, Herbert said in an interview with the Deseret News. Over the years, particularly since the Utah Debate Commission began hosting Republican primary debates in 2018, GOP officials have criticized the commission for what they feel is unfair treatment of candidates and biased debate moderation, echoing complaints made by national GOP candidates like President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2022, the Republican National Committee voted to withdraw from the Commission on Presidential Debates, first established in 1987, accusing the organization of failing to provide fair and unbiased debates. That same year, then-GOP chair Carson Jorgensen said candidates would not participate in the Utah Debate Commissions primary debates, and Utah Rep. Burgess Owens later pulled out of a general election debate, citing disagreements with the moderator. They thought it was not balanced, it was more left-leaning and contrary to Republicans, Herbert said. That was the perception, and in politics, perception becomes reality. Legislative leadership was set on disrupting that perception regardless of whether new legislation could be passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbotts bill, introduced in the final weeks of the session, failed to pass through committee, with some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle questioning whether a separate debate organization was needed since the Utah Debate Commission was already established and receiving state funding. But senior appropriators ensured the plan would still move forward by allocating the money in the final-night bill of bills with legislative intent for Perry and Herbert to collaborate on a proposal to host nonpartisan candidate debates and to establish a statewide, nonpartisan debate organization. The organization will be located at the Hinckley Institute of Politics, the bill instructed. But the Hinckley and Herbert institutes would be required to schedule debates at degree-granting campuses across the state to foster civic engagement, voter education, and public discourse. In statements to the Deseret News, Utah Democratic Party Chair Brian King said Democratic candidates look forward to discussing policies that affect Utahns and Utah during debates, while Utah GOP Chair Rob Axson criticized the Utah Debate Commission for bias, unfair rules, (and) condescension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will stand with those who elevate the process and respect voters, not those who manipulate it to protect their own power or promote their preferred outcomes, Axson said. The Legislature was right to reject a well intended but broken system by directing funds away from a structure that continued to come up short." Will the Utah Debate Commission survive? The Utah Debate Commission did not receive any of the funding it asked for and members remain uncertain about its future role in Utah debates. During the session, Utah Debate Commission co-chair Becky Edwards expressed concern about how the bill would impact the political independence of debates. But she said the conversation will be beneficial as long as it can keep voters at the center. The legislature has their own mechanisms to fund efforts that they have a strong belief in, and that was certainly what ended up happening, Edwards told the Deseret News. This is an opportunity to build on what works to expand access and explore innovations that strengthen our democratic process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Utah Debate Commission leaves an impressive track record, according to Edwards, hosting nearly 60 debates over the past 10 years with nearly 100% participation from candidates, and collaborating with colleges across the state to take production teams from St. George to Logan amid increasing costs. Utahs formation of a debate commission has been used as a model for other states around the country, Edwards said. But the organization has also responded to feedback, especially after 2022, she said, and remains open to changing its policy on polling thresholds, which has garnered some criticism. Ed Allen, a former co-chair of the commission, said he never identified a single, specific indication where a moderator was obviously biased. He did notice, however, that as the Utah Debate Commission became more involved in primaries, and got more state funding, GOP officials applied more pressure on the commission. Nationally, there certainly has been a very ... strong attack on independence of media, and I think theres concern related to that in the state of Utah as well, Allen said. The dominant party is not used to having independent voices that receive attention, and theyre not very happy about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those tasked with improving the next iteration of Utah debates say the change is not political. Perry foresees an organization that combines the independence and relationships of the Utah Debate Commission with the expertise of the Hinckley Institute, which has hosted debates for decades, including the vice presidential debate in 2020. Perry disagrees with suggestions that the Legislature was trying to replace the Utah Debate Commission with an organization that is more pliable to their desires. At the core of the new organization will still be the same partners in higher education and newsrooms helping voters to make the most informed decision, according to Perry. Those are still the key foundational attributes that have been left intact, untouched by anyone else, Perry said. Ive not received any information from the legislature saying we want debates to be run in a specific way. While the Utah Debate Commission no longer has funding from the state, it will likely continue to exist in some form, according to Herbert, who said there was never any intent to do away with the Utah Debate Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herbert said he hopes he and Perry could continue to collaborate with the Utah Debate Commission to increase the number of debates every election cycle to include municipal elections in addition to congressional and statewide races. The fundamental reason why the Legislature wants to make this change, according to Herbert, is because if taxpayers are going to foot the entire bill for debates every election cycle then the process needs to be more transparent and responsive. Its not a bad thing that they want to have oversight and accountability, Herbert said. Theres no bad people here trying to take over control its really about making sure we have a good debate commission and a process providing for good, unbiased, fair debates. PNN Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], August 23: HEC Infra Projects Limited (HEC, The Company), (NSE Code: HECPROJECT), - HEC Infra Projects Limited, a prominent engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company, is pleased to announce a series of new contracts that will expand its footprint in both urban water distribution and energy infrastructure. The company has secured three significant orders with a combined value of nearly 12.08 Cr. The details of the newly secured orders are outlined below: New energy storage project from Advait Energy Transitions Limited * Amount: 7.15 Cr (August 21, 2025) * Scope of Work: Design, installation, testing, and commissioning of a 185 MW Battery Energy Storage System with a 220 KV substation * Details: Project located at Charal, Sanand GIDC, near GETCO's 400 KV facility in Gujarat * Timeline: 12 months Repeat orders from Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) * Amount: 1.65 Cr (August 12, 2025) and 3.28 Cr (August 18, 2025) * Scope of Work: Augmentation of water distribution stations at Narol Gam (South Zone) and Sola ADB & Ambli ADB (North-West Zone) * Details: Civil, electrical, mechanical, and instrumentation works, including SITC * Timeline: 8 months These wins underscore the company's growing capabilities across diverse sectors. While the AMC contracts highlight trusted partnerships in urban civic infrastructure, the battery energy storage project reflects HEC Infra Projects' expanding presence in supporting India's renewable energy transition. The company's continued success in securing these contracts underscores its commitment to innovation and excellence in engineering On the receipt of the orders, Mr. Gaurang Shah, Managing Director of HEC Infra Projects Limited said, "We are delighted to have been entrusted with these important projects from both Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Advait Energy Transitions Limited. The repeat confidence shown by AMC strengthens our belief in long-term partnerships built on performance and reliability. At the same time, the large-scale battery energy storage project represents a forward-looking opportunity for us to contribute to India's evolving energy landscape. Together, these orders reflect the versatility of our expertise ranging from civic utilities that touch everyday lives to pioneering clean energy solutions. Our focus will remain on timely execution, rigorous safety standards, and uncompromising quality. Each of these projects is another step in our journey of shaping resilient infrastructure that supports both urban growth and the energy transition." (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) As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ramps up hiring, one of the first stops new officers make is to a training center just outside of Savannah, Georgia. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) is preparing to train up to 10,000 new ICE officers, as part of the Department of Homeland Security's deportation efforts, and members of the media were given access to see the "lifecycle of a recruit." Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, a graduate of the FLETC training course in 2007, told ABC News the agency is confident they'll be able to staff up 10,000 new officers by the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are taking a whole of government approach," he told ABC News. "We have to be cognizant of who we are hiring, but I think it is an achievable goal." The process starts with a security screening and background check, once that passes, the entire time can take as little as eight weeks from training to an officer is on the street, according to ICE. Luke Barr/ABC News - PHOTO: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruits practice firing on the gun range at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA. The training center is run by former ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello, who said the agency cut the Spanish language portion of the training to speed up the hiring timeline. Instead, ICE uses Spanish language software in the field which is faster, according to Vitello. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The recruits here know the staff training them are professionals, and experts in the job they do," Lyons said while standing outside of the recruit obstacle course. MORE: Immigrant families fear Trump's deportations as children return to school Both Lyons and Vitello stressed that they did not want to compromise the quality of officers for quantity. The training academy runs more classes and goes six days a week, according to ICE, and they have four different sites around the country in which they run training. Lyons said ICE can be picky about who is recruited because of the more than 121,000 applications the agency has received. Luke Barr/ABC News - PHOTO: Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons and Assistant Director for Training Caleb Vitello speak to the media at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA. ABC News observed the Special Operations Team, a 12-person elite tactical training team, clear a house that is used for training purposes. That team is deployed when the threat levels are high and when they need to serve a warrant. There is one in every field office around the country, according to ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other law enforcement agencies, such as the Bureau of Prisons, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), also train at the center. MORE: ICE targets businesses and restaurants across DC Lyons was also asked by ABC News about the masks worn by ICE officers. He said they are necessary because of the doxxing -- the malicious sharing of personal information -- he says agents are facing. Luke Barr/ABC News - PHOTO: Officers from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactical team train at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA . "I wish our officers didn't have to wear them," Lyons said. "You have this crazy rhetoric where people are calling for threats against ICE officers and threats to agents." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Biden administration and at the beginning of the Trump administration, Lyons said ICE officers weren't wearing masks, but he said now the threat has increased. "People are trying to identify them and post their photos online, dox them, threaten their families, it's totally unacceptable," Lyons said. "What we need is elected officials to work with us to hold these people accountable that dox ICE agents." LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Three teens were shot Thursday night in Lansing, and as police continue to investigate the incident, advocates in the community are offering their thoughts on the issue of gun violence in the capital city. Thursday night, in the 3800 block of Wilson Ave., a neighborhood near the Capital Region International Airport, police found three teens aged 16, 17, and 19 with gunshot wounds. All three of them are expected to survive, according to the Lansing Police Department. The scene of a shooting where three teens were injured. (WLNS) Daniel Boggan, a strategy manager with the group Advance Peace Michigan says his organization immediately responded to the shooting. The group has operated in the Lansing area since 2022, when Boggan says there was a large spike in gun-related murders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says since two of the victims in Thursdays shooting were minors, Advance Peace will focus on schools in the area to provide mentorship to victims of gun violence. Daniel Boggan. (WLNS) Were always assessing the situation and trying to build relationships with those individuals who may be victims or the victims families. So we can get as much information. To make sure we can get in front of anything that could be bad in in the future, said Boggan. In a roundtable type meeting with the superintendents, our Superintendent here in Lansing, Ben Shuldiner and try to make sure that our schools are safe as well and nothing spills over. Meanwhile, gun violence activist Mickey McKissic lives by one creed putting hammers instead of guns into kids hands, to steer those falling into a life of violence in the right direction through his foundation MIckey23. Mickey McKissic. (WLNS) These benches was built last week, and so when we built these benches, said McKissic. These kids, they sanded it down. They made all the cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKissic says when he heard of the shooting, he says he only had a few questions. We wonder why theres 16 and 17-year-olds not in school? Thats one, McKissic said. And then for the 19-year-old Does he or her [have] a job? Mickey McKissic. (WLNS) McKissic urges other community members to help mentor those who are walking down the wrong path hoping they can break the cycle. If we dont continue to invest in our kids, if they fail, we fail, he said. If they succeed, we succeed. And thats just in a nutshell. 6 News has reached out to the Lansing School District for comment, but we have yet to hear back from them. Lansing Mayor Andy Schor offered his thoughts on the shooting, saying that LPD will work hard to track down and arrest the person responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrests have been made so far in this case. Police continue to investigate. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to contact LPD at 517-483-4600, Crime Stoppers at 517-483-7867, or send a private message through the departments Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Deputies with the Cheatham County Sheriffs Office are investigating after a stabbing was reported. Officials with the CCSO told News 2 that the stabbing happened along Old Higdon Road on Saturday. The victim arrived at Advantage Points Apartments in Ashland City following the incident. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies with the CCSO are investigating the scene along Old Higdon Road while officers with the Ashland City Police Department are investigating the circumstances at the apartment complex. 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. WEST LIBERTY Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called President Donald Trump a "demagogue," pushing the nation into an "authoritarian" direction while preying on immigrants, during a forum Aug. 22 at a church in West Liberty. "We have a president right now who is a demagogue, and what a demagogue wants is more power for himself," Sanders told more than 50 people who gathered at the event held at St. Joseph Catholic Church by immigration rights advocacy group Escucha Mi Voz Iowa. "And the way that demagogues have always done it throughout history, in Europe, all over the world, is they pick on a group of people who are a minority, who are politically powerless." "In this case," he said, "it's the undocumented." Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to a crowd on immigration issues on Aug. 22, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty, Iowa. Sanders stopped in West Liberty Friday late afternoon ahead his stop in Davenport for his national "Fight Oligarchy" tour. The longtime independent senator came to Iowa in February, at the tour's start, calling on guests at an Iowa City event to "stand up and fight back." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the event, local Latino families opened up to Sanders, activists and other community members about their loved ones in detention centers and facing deportation. In Spanish, they voiced their pain and gave gratitude to Escucha Mi Voz, who has continued to rally behind them and calling the attention of state and local leaders. Among the speakers was Francisco Pedro Diego, whose 20-year-old grandson, Pascual Pedro was deported to Guatemala over the Fourth of July holiday. Francisco Pedro Diego of West Liberty speaks on the campaign to bring his grandson Pascual back home on Aug. 22, 2025, in West Liberty. Through a translator, Diego said Pedro fled from Guatemala at 13 with this father, hoping to seek refuge in the U.S. At the time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials issued them an expedited removal, but only Pedro's father was deported. Pedro was issued an order of supervision, which allowed him and others alike to temporarily live in the U.S. with strict conditions while waiting final deportation orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pedro was detained July 1 after meeting immigration authorities for a routine appointment at their Cedar Rapids office. He was briefly detained at Muscatine County Jail, then later a facility in Louisiana, before being deported to Guatemala. In West Liberty, Diego said Pedro became a "true Iowan." Pedro was confirmed at the church, where the forum was event. He graduated from high school and worked full-time in construction building homes. Muscatine mother Mercedes Lopez spoke about her son, Noel Lopez, who she says is currently being held in an immigration detention center. She said, in Spanish, her family has been falling apart without him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders sympathized with families, urging the country needs a better pathway toward citizenship. "I do understand the pain that all of you are feeling," he said. "What's happening to your family members is terrible and unacceptable." F. Amanda Tugade covers community and faith for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on X @writefelissa. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: In Iowa, Bernie Sanders calls Trump a 'demagogue' targeting migrants The Islamic Republic has stepped up its systematic persecution of Irans Bahai religious minority. Authorities of the clerical regime are sending text messages ordering Bahais to leave places they have owned for decades. In one case, more than 20 Bahais in central Isfahan province face the seizure of their homes, assets and vehicles solely because of their faith. Iran is using article 49 of its constitution meant to target illegally obtained property to confiscate legally owned assets without evidence or due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge has told the Bahais that he has the intention to confiscate the assets of all the Bahais so you see these are not isolated events, Padideh Sabeti, a spokesman for the Bahai international community in London told The Telegraph. This kind of a campaign wants to further impoverish the Bahai community who, like the rest of the country, are suffering from economic decline in the country but they are facing it doubly. A door has been bashed in to access a Bahai home On Wednesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence agents raided 10 Bahai homes and businesses in Isfahan, confiscating property and threatening residents without warrants. The raids targeted Navid Mogharebin, Saeed Mogharebin, Manouchehr Rezaei, Sepehr and Shahab Torabi, Babak Babakan, Behnam Janmiyan, Peyman Makhmoor, Kourosh Sadeghi and Omid Firouzmandi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agents first searched seven businesses owned by Bahai adherents before proceeding to raid their homes. Three neighbours who are also Bahai were later targeted. During the searches, agents confiscated phones, computers, tablets, books, photographs, gold and coins. The raids were carried out on a verbal order without legal warrants. Agents broke down one door and assaulted a young man in another home. Iran is confiscating legally owned assets without evidence or due process The property seizures coincide with an intensified crackdown on the Bahai community that began after the June ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Since then, dozens of Bahai homes have been targeted in coordinated raids carried out by armed intelligence agents, often in the early hours of the morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families across Iran have reported masked officers entering their bedrooms, seizing electronic devices, religious texts and personal belongings. In some cases, parents and children have been detained and taken to undisclosed locations. Religious materials, including prayer books and writings of the Bahai faith, are being treated as contraband. Fariba Kamalabadi, seen with her daughter Alhan Taefi, is currently in prison Among those affected is Fariba Kamalabadi, 62, one of Irans most prominent Bahai prisoners. When Israeli missiles struck Evin prison during the 12-day war in June, her family lost contact with her for 48 hours. She was subsequently transferred to Qarchak prison, a former livestock facility converted into a detention centre 40 miles south of Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Kamalabadi now shares a 12 square-metre room with seven other women, surrounded by triple-bunk beds so low the prisoners cannot sit upright. Items are just left piled up in the homes Shia Islam is the state religion in Iran. The constitution recognises several minority faiths, including Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism, but not the Bahai faith. Bahais in Iran face systematic persecution, including restrictions on education, employment and religious practice. They are often accused of espionage or acting against the government, though the Bahai international community says no evidence has ever been presented to support these claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The confiscations are a significant escalation in the systematic persecution of Irans Bahais, who have faced discrimination since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Many community members learned of the seizures through SMS notifications sent outside formal legal procedures, with no records appearing in Irans official e-justice portal and lawyers denied access to case files. Judge Morteza Barati, who presides over the Special Court for Article 49 in Isfahan, has said his intention is to strip all Bahais in Isfahan of their belongings. The text messages simply inform recipients that their property has been confiscated and they must leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Article 49 was crafted to return stolen wealth not to steal citizens possessions and completely deprive families of their homes and basic livelihoods, said Simin Fahandej, representative of the Bahai international community to the United Nations in Geneva. Confiscated items piled upon a bed She added: What we are seeing is state-led theft, confiscation by text message. It is discriminatory, unlawful, and intended to impoverish a religious minority for no reason other than their faith. The escalation of persecution against Bahais after the war follows a familiar pattern of the Iranian regime targeting minority groups during times of broader social and political tension. Ms Sabeti emphasised the dangerous precedent being set by authorities misuse of legal mechanisms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The regime in this difficult economic climate that all Iranians suffer has found an instrument and theyre trying to legalise it to use to further put pressure and impoverish the Iranian Bahai community, she said. The confiscations are being processed through the Special Court for Article 49, a branch of the Revolutionary Court operating under the Executive Headquarters of Imam Khomeinis Order. Under Irans framework, property seized via article 49 is placed at the disposal of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, meaning confiscations targeting Bahais are channelled to entities under the supreme leaders direct authority. In recent months, authorities have opened new proceedings against nearly two dozen Bahais before the Special Court for Article 49. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cases include individuals already serving heavy sentences, others awaiting appeal, and some with acquittals from previous cases. No evidence has been presented to justify the confiscations, which have swept up homes, farms, vehicles and bank accounts. The trouble is that there is no record of it on electronic files of the government so even their lawyers cant defend them, Ms Sabeti explained. Its basically theft, because if you dont keep a record of confiscating properties of the citizens and the lawyers have no access to it. Reports from court interactions describe a climate of intimidation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one incident, Judge Barati expelled a Bahai woman from his office with the threat: If the court is convened, we will ruin your life. Authorities have paid no heed to private property rules Individuals have been told that phone calls count as summonses and warned that arrest warrants will follow if they do not comply immediately, even when defendants are under electronic monitoring or undergoing medical treatment. The new confiscation orders have sped up an ongoing crackdown against the religion in Iran. Ten Bahai women in Isfahan Negin Khademi, Yeganeh Agahi, Yeganeh Rouhbakhsh, Neda Badakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaie, Shana Shoghifar, Arezou Sobhanian, Parastou Hakim, Bahareh Lotfi and Neda Emadi were sentenced in October 2024 to a combined 90 years in prison. Nearly a year later, each was notified by SMS and outside the official registry that a new article 49 case had been opened against her. Hamid Monzavi, Arshia Rowhani and Arash Nabavi, already under electronic monitoring, were informed they were barred from transactions while an article 49 hearing was set. Neither they nor their lawyers appeared as they were blocked from reviewing the files. Another Bahai in Isfahan received an SMS saying that his bank account had been frozen by court order, with no explanation provided. The actions fit within a four-decade pattern of state-sponsored confiscation of Bahai property since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Basically they have always confiscated Bahai properties but now under evoking article 49 is very dangerous because it will set a legal precedent for other cities to use this legal instrument, Ms Sabeti warned. She described the current campaign as potentially a pilot programme. Were seeing this as a pilot that theyre doing this by trying to give it a legal cover to confiscate in one part of the country and then expanding it to others. Some are in prison She described how the confiscations affect families ability to survive economically. How are they going to make a living? These people, some of them are actually in prison, some of the people have received the text. The 20 women who are in prison are among those who have received this text. It intimidates Bahais all over Iran as this news is spread and they learn about it. Since the June ceasefire, authorities have arrested more than 2,000 people on espionage accusations, with at least six already executed by hanging. The crackdown has been so intense that many community members fear speaking out about arrests, worried their loved ones in prison could face harsher treatment. Community members believe authorities use periods of international distraction to intensify pressure on Bahais. However, Ms Sabeti said that persecution has been constant. It was happening nationwide but its gaining intensity and were seeing how theyre misusing article 49. Communication with those affected has become increasingly difficult due to new legislation targeting information sharing. Fear among the community has intensified due to harsh penalties for those accused of providing information to foreign entities. Mohammad Javad Akbarin, an Iranian religious scholar, said the persecution extends beyond the Bahai community. What the Islamic Republic is doing today to our Bahai fellow citizens is not merely a human rights violation against the Bahais it is an assault on Iranian society itself, on its diversity and pluralism. 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. DUBAI (Reuters) -Iranian security forces shot dead six militants in a clash in southeastern Iran on Saturday, a day after armed rebels killed five police officers in the restive region, the official news agency IRNA reported. IRNA said evidence showed the group was linked to Israel and may have been trained by Israel's Mossad spy agency. There was no immediate Israeli reaction to the allegation. Another two members of the militant group were arrested, the report said. All but one of the militants were foreign, it added, without giving their nationality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iranian police said this month they had arrested as many as 21,000 suspects during the 12-day war with Israel in June. Iran's southeast has been the scene of sporadic clashes between security forces and armed groups, including Sunni militants and separatists who say they are fighting for greater rights and autonomy. Tehran says some of them have ties to foreign powers and are involved in cross-border smuggling and insurgency. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom, additional reporting by Emily Rose in JerusalemEditing by Mark Potter and Andrew Heavens) Iran's southeast has been the scene of sporadic clashes between security forces and armed groups, including Sunni militants and separatists who say they are fighting for greater rights and autonomy. Iranian security forces shot dead six militants in a clash in southeastern Iran on Saturday, a day after five police officers were killed by armed rebels in the restive region, the official news agency IRNA reported. IRNA said evidence showed the group was linked to Israel and may have been trained by the Mossad. There was no immediate Israeli reaction to the allegation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another two members of the militant group were arrested, the report said. All but one of the militants were foreign, it added, without giving their nationality. Iranian police said this month they had arrested as many as 21,000 suspects during the 12-day war with Israel in June. Iran's southeast has been the scene of sporadic clashes between security forces and armed groups, including Sunni militants and separatists who say they are fighting for greater rights and autonomy. Tehran accuses some of them of ties to foreign powers and involvement in cross-border smuggling and insurgency. Attack on police in Iran At least five policemen were killed in southeastern Iran on Friday after unidentified gunmen opened fire on two police patrol vehicles, Iranian news agencies reported. Last week, Sunni militants killed one police officer and injured another after they opened fire on a vehicle in the southeastern city of Iranshahr, Iran International reported. A nations true character is sometimes found in the hospital wards treating unwell children. If they are not a priority, then what is? That question now hangs over Irelands foreign minister, Simon Harris, whose resignation has been demanded by some parliamentary colleagues, thousands of petitioners, and the parents of a dead child. In 2017, as health minister, Harris pledged that no child would wait longer than four months for spinal surgery. It quickly became clear this was an overpromise, giving false hope to families of sufferers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of them was Harvey Morrison Sherratt. Born with spina bifida and severe scoliosis, Harveys spine twisted so badly it crushed his lungs, ribcage and heart, leaving him gasping for breath.The illness is treatable with timely surgery. But Harvey, born the year before Harris promise, was left on a waiting list for 33 months. By the time surgeons operated last November, it was too late. He died on July 29, aged nine. The direct cause of Harveys death is still under investigation, and lessons should be drawn cautiously. Yet his final months have unearthed a deep rot at the core of Irish politics. Harris says he raised Harveys case with health officials when he was first alerted to it. That is entirely plausible in a system long plagued by inefficiency and poor management, which even saw Harvey mistakenly taken off the waiting list. What strains credulity is one ministers claim that Harris did all he could. It was bad enough that Harris made a promise he could not keep; it is more unforgivable that he broke a commitment he could have honoured. Last September, after Harvey had waited nearly three years, and his parents were forced to appeal on social media, Harris agreed to meet them. The meeting never took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris hasnt explained why. But what he did instead may offer some illumination. Since September, Harris, nicknamed the TikTok Tanaiste for his prolific online presence, has posted hundreds of videos, sometimes more than one a day. The result is a conveyor belt of self-promotion set to pop music that must have taken dozens of hours. Time enough, one might think, to meet the parents of a sick child. On the day Harvey died, Harris focus was again elsewhere: issuing one of his regular pronouncements on Gaza, he declared: The urgency for a ceasefire has never been greater. He had no more influence over a war 3,000 miles away than Harveys parents had over the fate of their dying child. But he did have the power to show compassion at home, and appears to have chosen not to. That failure should weigh heavily on anyone entrusted with public office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irish politicians are seemingly increasingly drawn to the allure of vogueish global issues far beyond their control. Politics has become, for too many of them, a kind of international moral beauty pageant, with prestigious sinecures lined up for the winners. When Leo Varadkar, as Taoiseach, oversaw a surge in migrant arrivals, he told residents they had no right to exercise a veto over who moved into their towns. After leaving office, he was hired to teach public leadership at Harvard. In 2021, Roderic OGorman, then minister for equality, tweeted in multiple languages about a white paper which set out how asylum seekers would rapidly receive own-door housing. That same year, amid a housing and cost-of-living crisis, 23,000 Irish nationals emigrated. The following year, there was a 400 per cent increase in asylum claims. For ambitious politicians, the prioritising of causes remote from Irish interests has become almost a rite of passage. Last month, OGorman attended Budapest Pride to, as he put it, rebuke Viktor Orban. He felt the event sent a powerful message. Perhaps it did. But his voters in Dublin West may well wonder what it delivered for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irish public life was once admirably local. Elected officials could pinpoint the potholes in their constituencies, knowing that attending to bread and butter concerns was the source of their legitimacy. Ireland has since produced politicians of a different kidney, apparently preoccupied with fashionable global problems, of whom Harris is perhaps the most conspicuous example. Weeks after Harveys death, Harris attended an Oasis concert, posting a photo of himself in sunglasses and a bucket hat. It looked like an attempt to show he was down with the kids. But it is an image unlikely to fade from the minds of parents who have paid the price for his hollow words. Time is finite. Every hour spent preening ones image abroad is one not spent solving urgent crises at home. Sooner or later, those debts come due, and there is no cushy sinecure or accolade that can settle them. 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. Donald Trumps administration now intends to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man it unlawfully sent to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador, to Uganda after he refused a plea deal, was released from jail, and was allowed to return to his family. We are not going to stop coming after him, a senior Trump administration official tells Rolling Stone. If this criminal wanted amnesty, he should have prayed for Kamala to win. She didnt. President Trump did He isnt getting away. By its own actions, the Trump administration has made Abrego Garcia a public symbol of its cruel and inhumane treatment of migrants. As Abrego Garcia and his family have racked up victories, big and small, against Trump in court, the administration has lashed out with increasing intensity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple sources familiar with the matter say that several top Trump officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, believe that if Abrego Garcia and his legal team were to score a sustainable legal victory, it would be a significant blow to the Trump administrations immigration agenda and therefore Abrego Garcia cannot be allowed to win. In recent weeks, several contingency plans were developed for different ways to punish or deport him, to try to ensure that any individual court victory Abrego Garcia might secure would be met with a trap door. In March, Trump unlawfully sent Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, where the Maryland father says he was tortured, in defiance of a court order barring his deportation there. For two months, the administration disregarded a Supreme Court order demanding his return, before suddenly bringing him back to the U.S. to face new alien smuggling charges in Tennessee. With that Tennessee case faltering, Trump officials apparently gave Abrego Garcia a disturbing choice. If he pled guilty, once his sentence is complete, he could go to Costa Rica, which would offer him refugee status or residency. Beat Trump in court again, and Trump would pull the rug out from under him and send him to Uganda, a country the State Department says Americans should reconsider traveling to due to threats of terrorism and violent crime. After the Tennessee court let Abrego Garcia out of jail on Friday and allowed him to return home to his family in Maryland, Trump officials quickly announced their intent to deport him to Uganda, even though the criminal case remains ongoing. On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security told Abrego Garcias lawyers that he could be sent to Uganda in a matter of days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement on Friday. In the statement she also called him a monster. Abrego Garcia rejected part of the Trump Justice Departments plea deal on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. The lawyers called the choice the government gave him coercive, adding that there is little doubt that the entire federal government is engaged in a coordinated effort to punish Mr. Abrego for fighting back against its unlawful conduct. They have also called the treatment prosecutorial misconduct. Heightening the constitutional concern, the government has engaged in these tactics through two agencies DOJ and DHS that it has previously represented were separate agenc[ies] with separate leadership [and] separate direction that could not control one another, the lawyers wrote. But these two agencies are obviously working in lockstep to coerce Mr. Abrego into accepting a guilty plea in his criminal case, holding over his head the prospect of possible indefinite detention or worse in a country halfway across the world. It is difficult to imagine a path the government could have taken that would have better emphasized its vindictiveness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, in what its claimed was an administrative error, wrongfully deported Abrego Garcia to prison in El Salvador for three months, where he was severely beaten and psychologically tortured, according to his lawyers. The Maryland resident and father of three came from El Salvador to the U.S. in 2011, and in 2019 he was given protection from deportation because he would face gang violence. While the Tennessee court previously ordered Abrego Garcias release on bail, he remained in jail for some time because his attorneys worried that the Trump administration would try to deport him again, this time to a third-party country, if he was freed. An immigration official said in July that officials might send him to Mexico or South Sudan. On Thursday, the country of Uganda agreed to accept deported migrants who do not have criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement is in respect of third country nationals who may not be granted asylum in the United States but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, permanent secretary of Ugandas foreign ministry said. The prospect of deportations to Uganda runs afoul of international law, human rights lawyer Nicholas Opio told the AP on Thursday. We are sacrificing human beings for political expediency; in this case, because Uganda wants to be in the good books of the United States. That I can keep your prisoners if you pay me; how is that different from human trafficking? 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. Israel reportedly insisted that several villages on the border remain without residents and act as a buffer zone, which countered Tom Barrack's proposals. Israel rejected US envoy Tom Barracks proposal to end hostilities with Hezbollah, despite agreeing in principle to gradually stop targeted strikes on targets across southern Lebanon, local outlet Al-Jadeed reported on Friday. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer reportedly told Barrack that Israel would agree to gradually stop targeted assassination attempts and strikes, and would withdraw from several key points in southern Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Israel reportedly insisted that several villages on the border remain evacuated to act as a buffer zone. Israel said that Lebanon could develop factories and other industrial areas there, but stressed that civilians should evacuate the area. Maariv reported that this effectively canceled the entire agreement, which would have only taken effect had both sides agreed to all of its conditions. Israels military has been active in southern Lebanon since a ceasefire was reached in November 2024, with the IDF saying in July that it would continue regular attacks on Hezbollah until it disarms, even if this leads to another war. The Northern Israeli border with Lebanon. August 03, 2025. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90) US asks IDF to minimize military operations in Lebanon This comes a week after Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer met with Barrack in Paris. Lebanese political sources told the Arab news outlet that reports of direct Israeli control over villages in Lebanon were untrue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same sources told Al-Jadeed that Barrack demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from certain villages in southern Lebanon to encourage the Lebanese government to consolidate measures. The US envoy will travel to Beirut next week with US Senator Lindsay Graham, former US envoy Morgan Ortagus, and several other administration advisers. Axios previously reported that the Trump administration asked Israel to minimize military operations in Lebanon to encourage Beirut to disarm Hezbollah. Maariv reported that the US administrations plan includes a suspension of non-urgent strikes, which would be extended if Lebanon takes additional steps to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping. Earlier on Saturday, an IDF drone struck a target near the southern Lebanese town of Tefatha, in the Sidon region, Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese news outlet Al-Akhbar reported. At EaseMyTrip, bookings to northeast India have more than doubled in the past year, Rikant Pittie wrote on LinkedIn, attaching a photograph of their meeting. Meghalaya welcomed a record-breaking 16 lakh tourists in 2024, their highest footfall ever. Meanwhile, Tripura saw 7.60 lakh visitors, up from just 5.29 lakh in 2018. "What's driving this Northeast surge? People are increasingly exploring offbeat destinations, seeking authentic experiences beyond the usual tourist circuits," Pittie wrote. Destinations like Shillong, Cherrapunji, and Dawki are now amongst our fastest-growing routes, according to the EaseMyTrip Co-founder. The leaders' vision aligns perfectly with what "we are seeing, travellers seeking authentic and offbeat experiences", Pittie added. "North East's next tourism wave will come from connecting its rich culture, incredible food heritage, and sustainable travel technology. If you are an entrepreneur looking to collaborate in Meghalaya's tourism space, please drop a comment or DM me and let us work on this opportunity together," the LinkedIn post concluded. The Northeastern region of India is emerging as the most promising frontier for the tourism and hospitality sector because of its unmatched natural beauty, diversity, local cuisines, and culture. The tourist boom in the region is also due to improved roads, highways, and airport connectivity. To cater to the increasing number of tourists coming into the eight states of northeast India, especially over the past few years, businesses in the hospitality sector are booming. According to company information, EaseMyTrip (a publicly listed company at NSE and BSE) is one of India's largest online travel platforms in terms of air ticket bookings, based on the Crisil Report-Assessment of the OTA Industry in India, February 2021. (ANI) The Israeli military has destroyed about 3,000 olive trees in a village near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, the head of the local council says, as Palestinians face a continued wave of violence across the territory in the shadow of Israels war on Gaza. The Israeli military issued an order to uproot olive trees in a 0.27sq-km (0.1sq-mile) area in al-Mughayyir, a village of about 4,000 residents northeast of Ramallah. The army justified the measure by saying the trees posed a security threat to a main Israeli settlement road that runs through the villages lands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The destruction was carried out as al-Mughayyir has been under lockdown since Thursday after an Israeli settler said he was shot at in the area. The deputy head of the village council, Marzouq Abu Naim, told Palestinian news agency Wafa that Israeli soldiers had stormed more than 30 homes since dawn on Saturday, destroying residents property and vehicles. For decades, the Israeli military has uprooted olive trees an important Palestinian cultural symbol across the occupied Palestinian territory as part of the countrys efforts to seize Palestinian land and forcibly displace residents. The West Bank also has seen a surge in Israeli military and settler violence since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, and tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced out of their homes. Palestinian men collect wheat after an attack by Israeli settlers in al-Mughayyir in May [File: Mohammed Torokman/Reuters] More than 2,370 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians have been reported across the area from January 2024 to the end of July this year, according to the latest figures from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The highest number of attacks 585 was recorded in the Ramallah area, followed by 479 in the Nablus region in the northern West Bank. At least 671 Palestinians, including 129 children, also have been killed by Israeli forces and Israeli settlers across the West Bank in that same time period, OCHA said. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment on Saturday on the uprooting of the olive trees in al-Mughayyir. Hamza Zubeidat, a Palestinian researcher, said the destruction is part of Israels continuous effort to force Palestinians off their lands. We have to be clear that since 1967, Israel is still implementing the same plan of evicting the Palestinian population from the countryside and the cities of the West Bank. Whats going on right now is just a continuous process of this eviction of Palestinians. Its not a new Israeli process, Zubeidat told Al Jazeera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that al-Mughayyir has a long agricultural history and, like other villages in the West Bank, relies almost entirely on agriculture and livestock as its main source of income. This area where more than 3,000 olive trees [were] uprooted is one of the most fertile areas in this part of the Ramallah area, Zubeidat explained. Uprooting trees, confiscated water springs, blocking and preventing Palestinians from accessing their farms and water sources means more food and water insecurity. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 33 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, including people sheltering in tents or seeking scarce food, local hospitals said as a famine in Gazas largest city puts new pressure on Israel over its 22-month offensive. Israel's defense minister has warned that Gaza City could be destroyed in a new military operation perhaps just days away, even as famine spreads there. Aid groups have long warned that the war, sparked by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack, and months of Israeli restrictions on food and medical supplies entering Gaza are causing starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has rejected the data-based famine declaration as an outright lie." Ceasefire efforts are on hold as mediators await Israels next steps. Women and children struck and killed in tents Israeli strikes killed at least 17 people in southern Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to morgue records and health officials at Nasser Hospital. The officials said the strikes targeted tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis. Awad, why did you leave me? a small boy asked his brother's plastic-wrapped body. Another grieving relative, Hekmat Foujo, pleaded for a truce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to rest, Foujo said through her tears. Have some mercy on us." In northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed at least five aid-seekers near the Zikim crossing with Israel, where U.N. and other truck convoys enter the territory, health officials at Sheikh Radwan field hospital told the AP. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said cameraman Khaled al-Madhoun was killed while covering events at the Zikim crossing, and asserted that he was targeted by Israeli troops. The local Palestine TV confirmed his death. Eleven people were killed in attacks elsewhere, according to hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military said it was not aware of a strike in Khan Younis at that location and was looking into the other incidents. AP journalists have seen chaos on roads leading to aid deliveries, and there have been almost daily reports of Israeli troops firing toward aid-seekers. Israels military says it fires warning shots if people approach troops or pose a threat. Braving gunfire and crowds for food Mohamed Saada was among thousands seeking food in the Zikim area and one of many who left empty-handed. He cited the huge numbers of people, the shootings and trucks running over people. Some carried sacks of food like lentils and flour. Others carried the wounded, including on a wooden pallet. They navigated fetid puddles and the rubble of war as temperatures reached above 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday's famine report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said nearly half a million people about one-fourth of Gaza's population face catastrophic hunger. The rare pronouncement came after Israel imposed a 2 1/2-month blockade on Gaza earlier this year, then resumed some access with a focus on a new U.S.-backed private aid supplier, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. In response to global outrage over images of emaciated children, Israel has also allowed airdrops and new deliveries by land, but the U.N. and others say it's far from enough. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office asserts it has allowed enough aid to enter during the war, while accusing Hamas of starving the hostages it holds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An increase in Israeli airstrikes this month With ground troops already active in Gaza City's outskirts, the military operation could start within days in an area with hundreds of thousands of civilians. Israel says Gaza City is still a Hamas stronghold, with a network of militant tunnels. Aid group Doctors without Borders, or MSF, said its clinics around Gaza City see high numbers of patients as people flee. Caroline Willemen, MSF project coordinator there, noted a marked increase in airstrikes since early August. Those who have not moved are wondering what they should do, she told the AP. People want to stay, they have been displaced endlessly before, but they also know that at some point it will become very dangerous to remain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ceasefire efforts await Israel's response Many Israelis fear the assault on Gaza City could doom the 20 hostages who are believed to have survived since 2023. Another 30 are thought to be dead. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested a week ago for a deal to end the fighting and bring everyone home. Anyone who truly wants to bring the hostages home does not launch a ground invasion of Gaza, Yotam Cohen, brother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, said ahead of a weekly rally in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu said Thursday he had instructed officials to begin immediate negotiations to release hostages and end the war on Israels terms. It was unclear if Israel would return to talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar after Hamas said it accepted a new proposal from Arab mediators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas has said it will release hostages in exchange for ending the war, but rejects disarming without the creation of a Palestinian state. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Hamas stance, suggesting the militant group is less interested in making deals with few hostages left alive. I actually think (the hostages are) safer in many ways if you went in and you really went in fast and you did it," Trump told reporters Friday. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 62,622 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including missing people now confirmed dead by a special ministry judicial committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of malnutrition-related deaths rose by eight to 281, the ministry said. Israeli protest against far-right security minister A small group of Israelis protested against the far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, as he walked to a synagogue in Kfar Malal, north of Tel Aviv. Videos showed the minister arguing with the protesters. We dont want him in our village. Our message is to bring back the hostages, one of the protesters, Boaz Levinstein, told the AP. Ben-Gvir is a key partner in Netanyahus political coalition and a staunch opponent of reaching a deal with Hamas, which hostages families see as the only way to secure the release of loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Sam Mednick in Jerusalem and Michelle Price in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war JACKSON, Mich. (WLNS) The City of Jackson is gearing up once again to host the annual Civil War Muster at the Cascades. The festival will take place this weekend and is the largest and longest-running Civil War event in the Midwest. The Muster. (WLNS) We have over 550 living historians. This is a museum that comes to life right before your eyes. Talk to the historians, see the cannons go off, watch the demonstrations that take place, said President of the Civil War Muster Maurice Imhoff. The Muster returns, bringing its annual dose of battle reenactments, the All-American Military Ball, homemade root beer, and, of course, some surprise guest speakers. The Muster. (WLNS) Michigan sent 90,000 boys, young boys, to go fight in the American Civil War. 15,000 of those boys never made it back home. This is where we tell those stories. This is where we talk about their sacrifice, to Americas history and Americas future, Imhoff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ernie Greer is from South Carolina and has been coming to the festival for decades. He says the event is a great opportunity to attract younger people to learn more about their history. The Muster. (WLNS) This is a good way for a kid to come out and experience what it would possibly have been like back during the 1860s, Greer said. They come out, they get interested, we can point them in the right direction if they want to go into a hobby. Which this is a hobby. Above all, Imhoff points to the military ball as the key event of the weekend, encompassing all that the festival has to offer. The Muster. (WLNS) Come out, dress up if you want to dress up. You dont have to dress up. Just come and take part. Theyll teach you how to do the dances. Thats a really unique thing. Some woodworking demonstrations. Blacksmiths are going to be here, Imhoff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imhoff says there will be a kickoff event to highlight his latest book about the first Michigan Colored Regiment tonight at the Daisy Saloon near the back of the Cascades. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The second annual Jacksonville Mural Festival is set for January 2631, 2026, in Murray Hill, and organizers are looking for three local artists to bring new murals to life. The festival, hosted by the National Mural Awards, will showcase new art installations while spotlighting small businesses throughout the neighborhood. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Executive Director Jason Tetlak, a Jacksonville artist, says the festival gives local artists opportunities that are often hard to find on the First Coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding wall space and artists is easy, but funding is always the challenge, Tetlak said. The more support we get, the more local artists we can invite to be a part of it. In addition to murals, the festival will feature artist talks, panel discussions, tours, and educational outreach. Artists and community members can learn more by following the festival on Instagram at @jaxmuralfest. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Jennifer Crumbley, the convicted mother of the Oxford High School mass shooter, filed her official appeal on Friday, Aug. 22, alleging she was unlawfully targeted by a cheating prosecutor who, she maintains, abused the law in convincing a jury to wrongfully convict her for the deaths of four students murdered by her son. Jennifer Crumbley attends a motion as she is looking for a new trial in her case in front of Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews a the Oakland County Court House in Pontiac on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. And a judge let the prosecutor get away with it, Crumbleys appellate lawyer argues in a 100-page filing with the Michigan Court of Appeals, which nearly four years after the tragedy is faced with a daunting task: Should it uphold the mothers historic involuntary manslaughter conviction, or throw it out? Crumbley argues the latter, and is asking the appeals court to overturn the historic conviction that sent her to prison for 10-15 years. Her husband, James Crumbley, also was convicted of the same crimes in a separate jury trial, though he's appealing, too. The Crumbleys have long maintained that they never knew of their sons plans to shoot up his school, never saw any signs that he was mentally spiraling, and that the gun he used was hidden in their bedroom, unloaded, with the bullets stored in a separate location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense, meanwhile, believes the law is on the parents' side. For as much talk as there has been about the charges in this case being unprecedented and the first of its kind in the country, this should come as no surprise given there is no legal basis to charge, convict, or sentence Mrs. Crumbley for the intentional crimes committed by her son, Crumbleys appellate attorney, Michael Dezsi, argues in his appeal. This was a sham prosecution grounded in prosecutorial overreach. Having committed no crime, the court should vacate the convictions. Every person convicted by a jury has a right to appeal, and we respect that Jennifer Crumbley is exercising that right.Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement late Friday. Our focus continues to be on the victims. We will never stop fighting for justice for Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, and every Oxford victim. The Crumbleys are the first parents in America to be held responsible for a mass school shooting committed by their child. In this case, their then-15-year-old son snuck a handgun out of his parents' bedroom, took it to school and opened fire, killing four students and injuring seven others, including a teacher. He has pleaded guilty to all of his crimes and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. But he is appealing, too. Mom's No. 1 argument on appeal: I shouldn't have been charged to begin with Dezsi lists many reasons for why he believes Jennifer Crumbleys conviction should be thrown out, but the first one he lists raises an issue that criminal defense experts had argued from the get-go: That there were no legal grounds to charge the shooters parents to begin with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, Crumbleys appeal states, the mother had no legal duty to protect the victims from her son because, it maintains, Michigan law has never recognized any such duty for ordinary people. For example, a person who witnesses a store robbery or a suicide attempt they cannot be charged for failing to do anything. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald begins closing arguments in the case against James Crumbley in the Oakland County Courtroom of Cheryl Matthews on Wednesday, March, 13, 2024. Crumbley is on trial on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the four students killed in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting perpetrated by his son Ethan Crumbley. Crumbleys appeal maintains this same principle applies to her, though the prosecution has long maintained that her argument is inaccurate and misguided, and that she was convicted fair and square by a jury of her peers. As the prosecution argued to the jury repeatedly, Crumbley failed to do the "smallest" of things that could have prevented the tragedy, like put a lock on the gun her son snuck out of the house and used in his rampage; get her son mental health treatment when, it held, the boy showed signs of spiraling; bring him home from school when he exhibited troubling behavior on the morning before the shooting. Dezsi disagrees, arguing the prosecution played into the emotions of the jury and prosecuted his client on theories that Michigan law does not support. Attorney Michael Dezsi, left, argues on behalf of his client Jennifer Crumbley, as they attend a motion as Crumbley is looking for a new trial in her case in front of Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews a the Oakland County Court House in Pontiac on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. As a matter of law, Mrs. Crumbley owed no legal duty to the victims of her sons criminal acts, Dezsi argues in his filing, adding Crumbley also had no legal duty to control and prevent her son from committing intentional, criminal acts. Defense: Oxford school officials had duty to protect the students In his filing, Dezsi also lays some blame with the school officials. He argues that even if the courts were to conclude that Crumbley did have a duty to protect the students from her son, that duty would be erased because: her son was under the control and supervision of school officials at the time of the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, no school official has ever been held accountable over their roles in the shooting.Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald has said that she found no sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against any school officials in the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting that left four students Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Justin Shilling, 17. dead and injured six other students and a teacher. The victims families, meanwhile, are still fighting to hold school officials accountable, maintaining, among other things, that those officials missed red flags about the shooters disturbing behavior, and put their children in harms way as a result. More: Prosecutor: Jennifer Crumbley is a greater flight risk now more than ever More: 'A slap in the face': Oxford families accept $500K from district for kids' shooting deaths Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple families have filed lawsuits against the school district, though those suits have all been dismissed on governmental immunity grounds. While some cases are still pending on appeal in state court, two families each have accepted $500,000 settlements from the district to resolve their wrongful death claims. Defense gives appeals court long list of alleged trial errors In his plea with the appeals court, Dezsi lists multiple reasons for why he believes Jennifer Crumbley's conviction should be overturned. His allegations include: The prosecution denied Crumbleys right to Due Process by asserting inconsistent theories: they charged her son as an adult, but at the same time charged Crumbley with failing to control her minor child. The prosecution intentionally suppressed proffer agreements with two key school witnesses who the defense alleges gave tainted testimony to the jury to shift all the blame to the Crumbleys and away from themselves. The prosecution also protected these witnesses, who, Dezsi argued, feared getting charged themselves. The prosecution argued two alternative theories of involuntary manslaughter, and the jury didnt have to agree as to which theory applied. In other words, half the jury could have found Crumbley guilty of failing to control her minor child; the other half could have concluded she failed to secure the gun. The defense argues this does not result in a unanimous verdict. Various text messages and journal entries authored by the shooter should not have been admitted as evidence at trial because, the defense argues, the shooter did not testify. That makes these messages hearsay, the defense says. In other words, the parents had a right to confront their accuser about his claims, but the shooter never took the stand. And the judge didn't make him. Among the journal entries that the defense argues should never have been admitted at trial: I want help but my parents dont listen to me so I cant get any help. I have zero HELP for my mental problems and its causing me to SHOOT UP THE FUCKING SCHOOL. My parents wont listen to me about help or a therapist. The defense also argues that text messages between the shooter and his friend, in which he alleged he was hearing voices and that his parents weren't getting him help, also should never have been shown to the jury for the same reason: neither the shooter, nor his friend, were required to testify about these texts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dezsi also argues that the trial judge, Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews, erred by excluding testimony from two doctors who evaluated the shooter, and whose testimony directly contradicted the text messages and journal entries that were erroneously admitted by the court. The circuit courts cumulative errors in admitting and excluding evidence denied Mrs. Crumbley a fair trial, Dezsi writes. Defense: The prosecution cheated. And the judge let them get away with it Among the most controversial issues to surface following the Crumbleys convictions are the secret proffer agreements that were brokered with two school officials who testified against the Crumbleys. These agreements protected the school officials from having anything they told police from being used against them, only the defense didnt know about them, neither did the judge or jury. The proffer agreements were first disclosed by the Free Press, days after Jennifer Crumbleys husband, James Crumbley, was convicted of the same crimes as his wife. Last year, Dezsi argued this withheld evidence warranted having his client's conviction vacated or a retrial. But Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews wasnt convinced, even though she concluded in her ruling that the prosecution intentionally withheld mandatory evidence from the defense..While Matthews held that the lack of disclosure is disturbing," she concluded that the prosecution's actions did not "rise to the level" to justify new trials. She also held that given the "significant" evidence facing the Crumbleys, the parents likely still would have ended up being convicted, even if they had been given the proffer agreements brokered with the witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution has long maintained that no witnesses were offered immunity, and that it was under no obligation to to turn these proffer agreements over to the defense. Dezsis appeal also alleges that the prosecution engaged in a smear campaign by hiring two high-priced public relations firms in the wake of the shooting one of which was retained within hours of the massacre and used those firms to taint the image of the Crumbleys. Dezsi also raised concerns about the prosecution granting exclusive behind-the-scenes access to a Washington Post reporter and a film producer all while there was a gag order in place. The film producer turned out to be a relative, by marriage, to Oakland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams, and oversaw the making of a documentary about the Crumbleys that appeared on Netflix called Sins of the Parents. Dezsi raised the issues of the PR firms and the documentary in prior pleadings, though Judge Matthews concluded those were not relevant issues and that she would not consider them in deciding whether to vacate the convictions or new trials for the Crumbleys. Rather, she said, she would only take up the prosecutorial misconduct allegations involving the proffer agreements. Contract Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jennifer Crumbley files appeal in Oxford High School shooting case The donation came weeks after Zohran Mamdani said he didn't believe billionaires should exist. A Jewish billionaire heiress donated $250,000 to a political action group campaigning for the mayoral appointment of Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, a controversial figure accused of making inflammatory statements on Israel, had claimed only weeks prior to the donation that billionaires should not exist. Mamdani told NBC News in June, I dont think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, he added, I look forward to working with everyone, including billionaires, to make a city that is fair for all of them. Elizabeth Simons, the daughter of the late Jamie Simons, made the largest ever single donation to New Yorkers for Lower Costs, according to The Telegraph. New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, now a NYC mayoral candidate, speaks during a news conference outside the White House to announce a hunger strike to demand that President Joe Biden call for a permanent ceasefire and no military aid to Israel, on Nov. 27, 2023. (credit: TOM WILLIAMS/CQ ROLL CALL) Donations to Democrat causes The political action group has now raised $1.8 million from nearly 300 donors to support Mamdanis mayoral bid. Despite the large donation to the New York group, public records indicate that Simons currently lives in California, where she is chairwoman of the board of directors of the Heising-Simons Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The late Jamie Simons had reportedly been a loyal Democrat up to his death, and his daughter has since donated to a number of Democratic causes, according to Bloomberg. Since 2017, she has contributed more than $19 million to federal candidates and committees. In addition, she has reportedly given money to New York City and state candidates and committees in the past - including $5,000 to the New York State Committee of the Working Families Party, $1,000 to city council candidate Tiffany Caban, and $2,100 to Mamdani after the June Democratic primary. Participants in a left-wing protest camp in the western German city of Frankfurt have been accused of anti-Semitism after an altercation with Jewish counterdemonstrators over the Gaza war. Police in the city said three members of the Jewish community had been hit with paint bombs on the edge of the protest camp in a Frankfurt park on Friday afternoon. "Initially, there was a verbal altercation between participants in the gathering and another group that was not participating in the gathering, relating to the current conflict in the Middle East," the police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the altercation continued, they said members of the protest System Change Camp emptied tubes of paint "in the direction of the other group of people." Three people were hit with the paint, they added. The Frankfurt police have filed criminal charges and are investigating for property damage. They also announced that they would increase their presence around the protest camp. Some 1,000 participants are taking part in the tent camp in a park in northern Frankfurt, which is set to remain in place until August 26. According to the organizers, the camp aims to create a space for encounters, networking, further education and discussions. "We are driven by the desire for a good life for everyone in a spirit of solidarity and intact ecosystems," the organizers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The camp had already led to tensions, after opponents hung pictures of Israeli hostages kidnapped by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on the park fences. The camp participants removed the posters, prompting accusations of anti-Semitism. Participants in a left-wing protest camp in the western German city of Frankfurt have been accused of anti-Semitism after an altercation with Jewish counterdemonstrators over the Gaza war. Police in the city said three members of the Jewish community had been hit with paint bombs on the edge of the protest camp in a Frankfurt park on Friday afternoon. "Initially, there was a verbal altercation between participants in the gathering and another group that was not participating in the gathering, relating to the current conflict in the Middle East," the police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the altercation continued, they said members of the protest System Change Camp emptied tubes of paint "in the direction of the other group of people." Three people were hit with the paint, they added. The Frankfurt police have filed criminal charges and are investigating for property damage. They also announced that they would increase their presence around the protest camp. Some 1,000 participants are taking part in the tent camp in a park in northern Frankfurt, which is set to remain in place until August 26. According to the organizers, the camp aims to create a space for encounters, networking, further education and discussions. "We are driven by the desire for a good life for everyone in a spirit of solidarity and intact ecosystems," the organizers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The camp had already led to tensions, after opponents hung pictures of Israeli hostages kidnapped by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on the park fences. The camp participants removed the posters, prompting accusations of anti-Semitism. Frankfurt Mayor Mike Josef condemned the incident: "Everyone in our city is free to express their opinion, but we will not tolerate anti-Semitic violence and incitement." Josef thanked the police for their quick response. Green Party representatives in the city council have called for consequences "up to and including the dissolution of the camp." Masked attackers have sprayed red paint at Jewish people commemorating Hamas hostages in a park in the German city of Frankfurt. The incident is the latest example of rising anti-Semitism in Germany since Israels war on Gaza, which began after the Oct 7 Hamas terror attacks. Members of the Jewish community were putting up posters of the remaining 50 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gruneburgpark when the attack happened on Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the group said a masked woman had sprayed red paint from two tubes over them. I suddenly heard anti-Semitic chants we were called child murderers, and I constantly heard chants of Free Palestine and genocide, Sacha Stawski, the president of Honestly Concerned, an organisation campaigning against anti-Semitism, told Bild. The paint also poured over my glasses, making it difficult for me to recognise the perpetrator. Repeatedly pushed aside Mr Stawski, an estate agent, has repeatedly put up posters in the park, which are regularly torn down. He said his group had earlier visited the park with members of the local CDU party and were confronted by people wearing masks of Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were repeatedly pushed aside and prevented from leaving by a group of about 20 to 30 people, some of them masked, he said. Frankfurt police confirmed the incident and said they would increase their presence in the area. Bild has reported that a group of environmental activists had set up a camp in the park. Sebastian Blessing, a spokesman for the activists, said he was unaware of the paint incident but claimed two people from the camp had been attacked over the past week. We continue to have no problem showing solidarity with the Gaza hostages. But we also dont understand why our event is repeatedly disrupted, he said. Anti-Semitism rising in Europe Anti-Semitic incidents have risen sharply in Germany, which is one of Israels staunchest supporters in Europe, in part because of the Holocaust. Israels security is described as one of Germanys reasons of state, but police figures show that attacks against Jews rose by 20 per cent last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, RIAS, an anti-Semitism watchdog, warned that hate incidents ranging from graffiti to attempted arson surged by about 83 per cent in 2023, rising after the Oct 7 attack that year. There were more incidents after Oct 7 than in the whole of 2022. Anti-Semitism has also risen in other European countries, including France. It was reported on Saturday that the manager of a leisure park in southern France was detained for alleged religious discrimination after a group of Israeli children were refused access. Earlier this month, cars belonging to British Jewish tourists were spray-painted with the words Free Palestine while parked in the French Alps, triggering a criminal investigation. 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 judge ruled late Friday the Trump administration cannot deny funding to Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and 30 other cities and counties because of policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration efforts. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco extended a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from cutting off or conditioning the use of federal funds for so-called sanctuary jurisdictions. His earlier order protected more than a dozen other cities and counties, including San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. An email to the White House late Friday was not immediately returned. In his ruling, Orrick said the administration had offered no opposition to an extended injunction except to say the first injunction was wrong. It has appealed the first order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orrick also blocked the administration from imposing immigration-related conditions on two particular grant programs. The Trump administration has ratcheted up pressure on sanctuary communities as it seeks to make good on President Donald Trumps campaign promise to remove millions of people in the country illegally. One executive order issued by Trump directs Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold federal money from sanctuary jurisdictions. Another order directs every federal agency to ensure that payments to state and local governments do not abet so-called sanctuary policies that seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation. The cities and counties that sued said billions of dollars were at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orrick, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said the executive orders and the executive actions that have parroted them were an unconstitutional coercive threat. In May, the Department of Homeland Security published a list of more than 500 sanctuary jurisdictions, saying each one would receive formal notification that the government had deemed them noncompliant. It also said it would inform them if they were believed to be in violation of any federal criminal statutes. The list was later removed from the departments website after critics noted it included localities that have actively supported the administrations tough immigration policies. The Justice Department has also sued New York, Los Angeles and other cities over their sanctuary policies. There is no strict definition for sanctuary cities, but the terms generally describe places that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces immigration laws nationwide but seeks help from state and local authorities to identify immigrants wanted for deportation and hold them for federal officers. It was held from August 18-23, further advancing the shared objective of strengthening bilateral trade and economic partnership. Building on the progress achieved in earlier rounds and intersessional meetings, the negotiations covered a wide range of areas including Goods, Services and Mobility, Digital Trade, Rules of Origin, Legal and Institutional Provisions, Environment, Labour, and Gender, bringing greater understanding for convergence in the remaining provisions, a Ministry of Commerce and Industry statement said. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India-Australia CECA and ensuring that it delivers meaningful benefits, economic opportunities, and a balanced outcome for both sides. To maintain momentum and achieve convergence, both partners will continue the negotiations in virtual intersessions. Looking ahead, with shared ambition and mutual understanding to work towards a future-ready framework, India and Australia remain strongly aligned to the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Cooperation. "As India steadily advances its footprint through multiple trade agreements, this round reflects a steadfast commitment to enhance economic partnerships anchored with national priorities and global aspirations," said the commerce ministry statement. India has strengthened its trade ties over the past five years, signing five major Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and progressing on several new deals, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply recently. The agreements inked over the past 5 years include the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) implemented in 2021, the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in 2022, the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in 2024, and the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in 2025, which is yet to come into force. Meanwhile, India has concluded negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Oman. It is in advanced talks for several other agreements, including the India-EU FTA, India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India-Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement, India-Peru FTA, India-Chile CEPA, India-New Zealand FTA, and a bilateral trade agreement with the United States. Additionally, India is reviewing and upgrading older trade pacts such as the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (2009) and the India-Korea CEPA (2009). India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation, signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) in Moscow this week, to launch negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). (ANI) A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from cutting off federal funding to dozens of "sanctuary" cities and counties covering several of the largest cities in the U.S. The judge had previously ruled in April that it was unconstitutional for President Trump to freeze funding for local governments that limit their cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement commonly known as sanctuary cities. That ruling applied to more than a dozen cities and counties that had sued the Trump administration for threatening to cut off funding, including San Francisco, Sacramento, Minneapolis and Seattle. On Friday, San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge William Orrick extended his order to dozens of other places that joined the lawsuit. Those include the second- and third-largest cities in the U.S. Los Angeles and Chicago as well as Boston, Baltimore, Denver and Albuquerque. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement: "The government at all levels has the duty to protect American citizens from harm. Sanctuary cities interfere with federal immigration enforcement at the expense of the safety and security of American citizens. We look forward to ultimate vindication on the issue." As Mr. Trump seeks to dramatically boost arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants, top administration officials have pushed local governments to assist and they've sought to punish so-called sanctuary jurisdictions with laws on the books that prevent police from helping ICE. Within hours of returning to office in January, Mr. Trump ordered his administration to ensure sanctuary jurisdictions "do not receive access to Federal funds." Weeks later, the president ordered that federal funding shouldn't "facilitate the subsidization or promotion of illegal immigration," and Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department will not offer grants to sanctuary cities. The administration argues sanctuary cities are interfering with federal law enforcement and making it harder for ICE to arrest undocumented immigrants, including violent criminals. The cities and counties that are suing the administration call those policies an "abuse of power" and allege they violate the Tenth Amendment, which says any powers that aren't given to the federal government should be reserved to the states. They argue that local governments are entitled to choose not to assist ICE, often casting sanctuary policies as a way of building trust between police and local residents whose immigration status may make them wary of reporting crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In flagrant disregard of the law, President Trump seeks once again to punish those who disagree with him, coerce local authorities, and commandeer them into carrying out his agenda," the cities' lawsuit says. The Trump administration's moves against sanctuary cities have generated a flurry of lawsuits, including one suit filed earlier this week by 20 states over the Justice Department's decision to tie crime victim grants to immigration enforcement. The Justice Department has also vowed to sue dozens of alleged sanctuary jurisdictions, including both cities and states. The administration sued New York City and the state of Illinois over their sanctuary policies earlier this year, though the Illinois suit was tossed out by a judge last month. Welcome to New Orleans Maryland Gov. Wes Moore calls Trump D.C. National Guard deployment "unconstitutional" Video shows armed National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. Judge blocks Trump from cutting funding to Boston over sanctuary policies A federal judge ruled late Friday night that the Trump administration cannot cut off funding to 34 cities and counties, including Boston, due to sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration efforts. Mayor Wu says Boston will not back down amid DOJ sanctuary policies ultimatum U.S. District Judge William Orrick extended a preliminary injunction that prevents the federal government from withholding funds from sanctuary jurisdictions, which are cities and counties with policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has defended the citys sanctuary policies, asserting they do not hinder immigration enforcement. The ruling by Judge Orrick follows similar decisions affecting more than a dozen other cities, ensuring they continue to receive federal dollars despite their sanctuary status. This decision comes in the wake of comments from ICE Director Todd Lyons, who indicated that Massachusetts might see an increased presence of ICE agents following Mayor Wus defense of Bostons policies. The Department of Justice had previously set a deadline for a compliance plan, prompting Mayor Wus response in support of the citys existing policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stop attacking our cities to hide your administrations failures, Mayor Wu said earlier this week. We will not back away from our community that has made us the safest major city in the country and a leading example of why cities around the country make this country safer, healthier, and more prosperous for all Americans. DOJ puts Boston, 3 New England states on list of 35 sanctuary jurisdictions The Trump administration has ratcheted up pressure on sanctuary communities as it seeks to make good on President Donald Trumps campaign promise to remove millions of people in the country illegally. One executive order issued by Trump directs Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold federal money from sanctuary jurisdictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another order directs every federal agency to ensure that payments to state and local governments do not abet so-called sanctuary policies that seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation. Orrick said the executive orders and the executive actions that have parroted them were an unconstitutional coercive threat. I definitely agree with the ruling and the constitutionally of it, Zachary Restuccia, an immigration attorney at Freedom Law LLC, told Boston 25 News. From my research, these fundings and grants are really going to be attacking the most vulnerable, so welfare, health, and people who really do need these resources to survive, Restuccia continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boston 25 News has reached out to Mayor Wus office for comment on the judges ruling and is waiting to hear back. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A Florida judge on Saturday denied bond to Harjinder Singh, an illegal migrant trucker from India accused of causing a deadly crash in Fort Pierce that killed three people. St. Lucie County Judge Lauren Sweet ruled that Singh is an unauthorized alien and a substantial flight risk. Sweet also found probable cause for all six charges against Singh and classified them as forcible felonies under Florida law. Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old illegal alien from India who was arrested Aug. 16, 2025, allegedly attempted to make an unauthorized U-turn in Ft. Pierce, Fla., resulting in a crash that killed three people. Illegal Immigrant Truck Driver Accused In Deadly Florida Crash Got Biden Work Permit After Trump Denial: Dhs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are no conditions of release that will ensure your appearance at trial," Sweet said. "Therefore, sir, Im setting your bond on each charge at no bond." Singh, who appeared virtually from the St. Lucie County Jail with the help of an interpreter, was arrested on two warrants charging him with three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of manslaughter for the deadly Aug. 12 crash. Read On The Fox News App Investigators say Singh attempted an illegal U-turn in his semitruck, causing his truck to jackknife, blocking the northbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike. A minivan then slammed into the trailer, killing all three people inside. Judge Lauren Sweet in court on Saturday morning in St. Lucie County, Fla., where she denied bond for Harjinder Singh, accused in a deadly Turnpike crash. Florida tragedy shows why trumps trucking License crackdown is needed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sweet said that both arrest warrant affidavits were previously reviewed by a judge. Each judge found probable cause at that time for each of the six charges. "This court finds there is probable cause to believe you committed a forcible felony for all six charges," Sweet said. Singh hesitated when asked if he wanted an attorney before Sweet provisionally appointed the public defenders office to represent him. Singh was arrested in Stockton, California, last week and extradited to Florida. Singh, who crossed into the United States illegally in 2018 via the southern border, obtained a commercial driver's license in California. He attempted to obtain work authorization, but it was rejected by the first Trump administration Sept. 14, 2020, according to Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs. Original article source: Judge denies bond for illegal immigrant trucker in deadly Florida Turnpike wreck SCRANTON The city will proceed next week with a splash pad/playground project in Pine Brook after a judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit by a Scranton City Council candidate, who unsuccessfully claimed the city used an improper bidding process to hire a contractor. After hearing 90 minutes of plaintiffs testimony and arguments from attorneys on both sides, Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse dismissed the injunction lawsuit by Virgil Argenta. He sued Aug. 1 after seeing on July 30 construction activity starting to take place at the defunct former Penn Ridge pool site on Capouse Avenue. Claiming the city improperly rejected American Asphalt Paving Co.s low bid, Argenta filed a preliminary injunction lawsuit to stop the city from having a different contractor, Kobalt Construction Inc., do the work. Barrasse granted a temporary injunction that prohibited the city from taking any further construction work at the site pending a hearing. In refuting Argentas claims, Jessica Eskra, the city solicitor in the administration of Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, had said the city scrupulously adheres to bidding rules and procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Argenta argued the city rejected the lowest of six bids on site work, which was a $550,746 bid submitted by American Asphalt. The city instead awarded the project to Kobalt, which was the fourth-highest bidder at $709,043. A key issue was whether American Asphalt was the lowest responsible bidder. The city determined it was not, while Argenta claimed the bid process was done in bad faith and wasted public funds. During Fridays hearing, under questioning by Kobalt attorney William Dudeck, Argenta testified that American Asphalt was paying the legal bills to pursue the lawsuit. The dispute boiled down to whether American Asphalt had complied with the letter of the citys requirements under its Responsible Contractor Ordinance, regarding whether the firm participated in apprenticeship programs or, if not, whether at least 70% of its employees had attained apprentice levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In pre-bid discussion, the city advised bidders that an apprenticeship program was not required, but the RCO form still had to be filled out. In the bid submission, American Asphalt indicated it did not participate in apprenticeship programs, but did not answer the other part, according to testimony. Under questioning by attorney Jack Price, who represented the city, Argenta testified he did not know whether American Asphalt had complied with the city contracting ordinance, adding, I am concerned about money being squandered. Dudeck also asked if Argenta was aware that lowest responsible bidder doesnt necessarily mean the lowest price, and Argenta replied, True. American Asphalt Vice President of Construction Bernie Banks also testified the city initially issued a notice of intent to award the bid to his firm, but then reversed course. He understood the pre-bid discussion as meaning the apprenticeship aspect would not be held against the firm. His firm also spends a lot of time and money in submitting bid packages, and we would not do that if there was no chance of not being awarded the project, Banks testified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrasse peppered plaintiff attorney Brian Jeffers on the language of the RCO and how the bid form was filled out by American Asphalt. In ruling on motions by the city and Kobalt to dismiss the case, Barrasse determined the suit did not meet the criteria for imposing a permanent injunction or overturning the citys bid to Kobalt. The dismissal came before the city presented any witnesses. After the dismissal, Argenta and Jeffers declined to comment. Banks said he was disappointed in the outcome. City Business Administrator Eileen Cipriani, who was prepared to testify for the city, said after the hearing, Were delighted to move this project forward, calling it a linchpin for Pine Brook revitalization. * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defunct Penn Ridge former swimming pool site on Capouse Avenue in the Pine Brook neighborhood in Scranton on Jan. 6, 2022. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * The site of a future splash park and playground on Capouse Avenue in Scranton, on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * A construction vehicle at the site of a future splash park and playground on Capouse Avenue in Scranton, on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * A rendering of a splash park renovation of the defunct Penn Ridge former swimming pool site on Capouse Avenue in the Pine Brook neighborhood in Scranton. (SUBMITTED PHOTO / CITY OF SCRANTON) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * The defunct Penn Ridge former swimming pool site on Capouse Avenue in the Pine Brook neighborhood in Scranton on Oct. 12, 2021. The building was later demolished. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * The defunct Penn Ridge former swimming pool site on Capouse Avenue in the Pine Brook neighborhood in Scranton on Oct. 12, 2021. The pool was later demolished and filled in. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 6 The defunct Penn Ridge former swimming pool site on Capouse Avenue in the Pine Brook neighborhood in Scranton on Jan. 6, 2022. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Expand MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Religious colleges that require students to sign a statement of faith cannot be excluded from a popular Minnesota program that lets high school students take college courses for credit, a federal judge has ruled, tossing a state law that she called an unconstitutional violation of religious freedom. The ruling late Friday from U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel was a victory for two conservative Christian colleges in the state: Crown College in St. Bonifacius and the University of Northwestern in Roseville. Those two institutions require their students to pledge to follow the schools values and conduct rules, effectively barring students who arent Christian or who are LGBTQ+ from campus activities. The 2023 law was sought by the state Department of Education and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. In defending the change at a hearing in December, the state argued that it rightly protected high school students who are not Christian, straight, and cisgender those whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota's 40-year-old Postsecondary Enrollment Options program lets high schoolers earn free credits at state expense at public or private colleges of their choice, although the courses must be nonsectarian. Around 60,000 students have participated. The Department of Education had tried to ban the faith statement requirement since 2019. It succeeded in 2023 when Democrats gained control of both houses of the Legislature and used their power to enact broad new protections for LGBTQ+ rights. The change was part of a broader education funding bill. A group of parents and high schoolers who were earning college credits at the two schools, or wanted to, then sued to overturn the law, saying it violated their religious freedom under the First Amendment to benefit from the program at schools with campus atmospheres that reflect their values. They were represented by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which welcomed the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota tried to cut off educational opportunities to thousands of high schoolers simply for their faith. Thats not just unlawful its shameful," Diana Thomson, senior counsel at Becket, said in a statement Saturday. "This ruling is a win for families who wont be strong-armed into abandoning their beliefs, and a sharp warning to politicians who target them. The state attorney general's office referred a request for comment Saturday to the Department of Education, which did not immediately reply. The judge said the dispute required the court to venture into the delicate constitutional interplay of religion and publiclyfunded education. She said she was obligated to follow U.S. Supreme Court rulings that the First Amendment gives special solicitude to the rights of religious organizations, and that while states need not subsidize private education, once they do, they can't disqualify private schools "solely because they're religious. Besides declaring the faith statement ban unconstitutional, Brasel also threw out a related nondiscrimination requirement that prohibited participating schools from basing admission to the program on the basis of gender, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides agreed earlier that the ban would not be enforced while the court case and any appeals played out. In 2021, Northwestern was Minnesotas largest provider of classes through the Postsecondary Enrollment Options program. The state paid it over $33 million in the academic years from 201718 through 202223. Crown got nearly $6 million in that period. This was the second time in a week that a judge had declared unconstitutional a hot-button law enacted in 2023 and 2024 when Democrats held the trifecta of controlling both legislative chambers and the governor's office. On Monday, a state court judge threw out a 2024 ban on binary triggers, devices that let a gun fire both when its trigger is pulled and when it's released, giving the weapon a much faster rate of fire. The judge said tucking the ban into a massive 1,400-page tax bill violated a requirement under the state constitution that bills should be limited to a single subject. Aug. 22GRAND FORKS On the fourth day of a Grand Forks man's murder trial, clips of jail video calls recorded throughout the month after his arrest were played that provided some insight into his account of the altercation between him and 49-year-old Anthony "Tony" James Kiehl that ended with Kiehl being pronounced dead later that night. In the clips, Donald Joseph "DJ" Bartlette told relatives he had been alone with the 49-year-old Kiehl, who Bartlette said tried killing him by coming at him with a knife. "They say he had a broken jaw; I don't know how that happened, I popped him in the nose," Bartlette said in one clip. "Two jabs. That's my God-given right, man. ... I got a knife coming at my neck, it hits my (expletive) wrist, like this, what's my instant reflex?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another clip, Bartlette recalled that after being stabbed, he grabbed the knife and threw it down by Kiehl's feet. Sgt. Michael Jennings, lead detective in the case, said Bartlette's claim of self defense which he has consistently argued since his October 2024 arrest may have been possible at one point but was no longer a valid argument. "However, Mr. Bartlette's own words in the jail call, stating he had taken the knife away from Mr. Kiehl and threw it at his feet, led me to believe that the self defense was over at that point, and there were other options," Jennings testified. "Mr. Bartlette could have left." Also in the jail call clips, Bartlette repeatedly stated that no one else was in the apartment at the time of his fight with Kiehl. In one call, a relative tells Bartlette to tell the police "the truth" about his co-defendant, Nicholas Alexander Wride-Arnold, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement who testified on the third day of trial. "He didn't do a (expletive) thing," Bartlette said in the video call. "What the (expletive) do you want me to say. Lie?" Surveillance footage shown earlier in the trial set up a loose timeline of events. Bartlette and Kiehl are shown on the footage entering Kiehl's apartment at 6:11 p.m. that evening. Bartlette leaves, alone, at 6:45 p.m., and surveillance footage shows blood on his wrist, suggesting the altercation occurred within that 34-minute period of time. He returns to the apartment twice more before leaving the building that night once for 15 minutes and the other for just five seconds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency responders were not called until approximately 9 p.m., when Rosetta Gourd found Kiehl unresponsive. In one jail call, Bartlette asserted that when he left the apartment, Kiehl "had a pulse and was breathing," and that's the only reason he left. Though Bartlette argues self defense, he made statements in other calls that directed blame elsewhere than himself. He claimed he watched Kiehl overdose on pills that night, which was discounted by the autopsy and toxicology report presented earlier in the trial, and that someone else's fingerprints would be "all over" a broken table leg, which was discounted by a forensic examiner's testimony that only Kiehl's fingerprints were on the table leg. On the fourth day of trial, Friday, Aug. 22, the prosecution brought forth its final three witnesses, bringing the total for the case to 18. A doctor who tended to Bartlette's wounds testified first, then Kiehl's sister and finally Jennings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lori Ann Harris said Kiehl was her baby brother. Born in the same month four years apart, he was her "birthday present," she testified. She said they were very close, and she knew Bartlette scared Kiehl. Harris said her brother "befriended DJ so DJ would quit beating him up." She also said she was supposed to go to her brother's apartment the evening of Oct. 24, 2024, after she got done with work. Kiehl was drinking, and she wasn't comfortable with the company he kept when he was under the influence of alcohol, so she decided against visiting her brother that evening. "I wish I would have," she said tearfully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution rested its case shortly before noon Friday. After a lunch break, the defense brought forward one witness a woman who lived in the same building as Kiehl. She recalled that, in the days leading up to his death, Kiehl was pacing back and forth in the lawn, which she could see from her window. She could hear him repeating, "Come on, come on, come on," and believed Kiehl was looking for a fight, but she didn't know for sure who he was upset with. She also said Bartlette and Kiehl seemed to be friends, and Bartlette seemed able to calm Kiehl down when he was yelling and trying to get into fights. The defense rested its case after this testimony, and the jury was sent home for the weekend. Monday morning, Aug. 25, the prosecution and defense will give their closing statements, then the jury will be sent to deliberate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bartlette is charged with Class AA felony murder, but there are four possible outcomes for his case. He could be found guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, guilty of negligent homicide or not guilty of any of these. Murder has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. North Dakota Century Code defines murder in a few different ways, but the definition relevant in this case is when someone "causes the death of another human being under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life." Manslaughter, a Class B felony, has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. North Dakota Century Code says someone is guilty of manslaughter "if he recklessly causes the death of another human being." Negligent homicide is a Class C felony. Century Code says someone is guilty of this crime "if he negligently causes the death of another human being." It will be up to the jury to determine if Bartlette acted in self defense, as he claims, and is therefore not guilty, or if he caused Kiehl's death through negligence, recklessness or extreme indifference to the value of human life. Actor Jussie Smollett is still rejecting claims by Chicago police officials that his alleged hate crime was a hoax. In the Netflix documentary The Truth About Jussie Smollett? the Empire star talks about the legal case regarding the incident he allegedly staged, according to NBC News. NewsNation examines Smollett case NewsNation learned never-before-heard details of how the investigation turned from looking at Smollett as a victim to looking at him as a suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, Smollett claimed he was a victim of a reported racist and anti-gay attack outside his Chicago apartment. As police investigated the incident, the actor turned from victim to the prime suspect in a criminal probe. Smollett claimed two men attacked him, putting a noose around his neck and dousing him with bleach. The Chicago Police Department treated it as a possible hate crime, assigning dozens of detectives to the case. If youre two guys who decide, OK, Im going to beat up a Black guy, and youre going to have a piece of rope with me to tie a noose around his neck, youre probably not going to do that in downtown Chicago, steps away from Michigan Avenue, NewsNation affiliate WGN investigative reporter Ben Bradley said during a NewsNation Jussie Smollett Scandal special report that aired in July. Police eventually said Smollett hired brothers Ola and Abimbola Osundairo to help him stage the attack. Jussie Smollett maintains innocence In the documentary, Smollett defends himself and reiterates his innocence, according to NBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the day, it doesnt matter whether someone likes me or doesnt like me, the actor said in the documentary. The fact is: I didnt do that. And thats all that matters. FILE Actor Jussie Smollett, center, leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse with unidentified siblings, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Chicago, following a verdict in his trial. Smollett, who was found guilty last month of lying to police about a hate crime that authorities said he staged, will return to court for sentencing on March 10, a judge announced on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) Jussie Smolletts lead defense attorney Nenye Uche speaks to reporters during a news conference Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, In Chicago, after the Illinois Supreme Court overturned Smolletts conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and lying to Chicago police. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) CHICAGO, IL JUNE 15: Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson attends a police academy graduation and promotion ceremony in the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier on June 15, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Several civil rights organizations have filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Chicago seeking federal oversight of changes in the Chicago Police Department following repeated accusations of civil rights violations by officers in the department. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Smollett was convicted of five counts of felony disturbing the peace in 2022. He was ordered to spend 150 days in jail and to pay $120,000 to the city of Chicago. In 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the conviction, finding that the agreement Smollett reached with then-Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxxs office should have prevented a special prosecutor from reopening the case. The Special Forces: Worlds Toughest Test star settled with the city of Chicago in May. 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. Former "Empire" star Jussie Smollett said he felt "extremely emasculated" by the outpouring of support he received after he came forward with his assault allegations. In the Netflix documentary "The Truth About Jussie Smollett?," Smollett spoke about the messages he read on social media rallying behind him after he claimed to have been the victim of a racial and homophobic attack in January 2019. The documentary featured a news clip rounding up messages from A-listers like Viola Davis and John Legend, as well as then-former Vice President Joe Biden, who said, "Homophobia and racism have no place on our streets or in our hearts. We are with you, Jussie." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From Jussie Smollett To Byu, The Media's History Of Peddling Race Hoaxes A clip of President Donald Trump's reaction was also included, saying at the time that the alleged attack was "horrible." Former "Empire" star Jussie Smollett said he felt "extremely emasculated" by the outpouring of support he received after he came forward with his hate crime assault allegation. "There was a moment when I went on social media, and I felt like I was being eulogized," Smollett said. "I felt like I had died, and I was alive to see - and what people were saying was so kind, but it was too much for me." Read On The Fox News App "It made me very uncomfortable, made me very extremely embarrassed. It made me feel extremely emasculated," he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later in the documentary, Smollett attempted to fend off the questions that had swirled around the time of the controversy, including why he refused to hand his phone over to the police, which he said was to hide his drug use, as well as why he was walking around at 2 o'clock in the morning. He claimed he "always did that." Jussie Smollett Calls Chicago Pd And Rahm Emmanuel Villains' While Denying Hate Crime Hoax Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack at 2 o'clock in the morning in Chicago on Jan. 29, 2019. In the early hours of Jan. 29, 2019, during a historic polar vortex in Chicago, Smollett alleged he was attacked by two MAGA hat-wearing thugs who yelled racial and homophobic slurs at the actor while he was out getting a Subway sandwich, yelling, "This is MAGA country!" He claimed the two men assaulted him, poured bleach on him and tied a noose around his neck. The incident was quickly denounced by the left, including then-Sen. Kamala Harris, who called the attack a "modern-day lynching." The media similarly offered sympathetic coverage. "GMA" anchor Robin Roberts sat down with Smollett for his first interview following the alleged incident, offering minimal skepticism to his claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click Here For The Latest Media And Culture News As it turned out, it was a hoax. Police said Smollett orchestrated the attack, hiring two Nigerian brothers to assault him while wearing red hats. Smollett was later charged and convicted for his crimes against the city of Chicago but was let out of jail just six days into his 150-day sentence. Smollett's conviction was later overturned in 2024, and the actor reached a settlement with the city of Chicago in May. Smollett denied allegations he had orchestrated a hate crime and stands by his story. Jussie Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct and filing a false police report in February 2019 after he was accused of orchestrating a fake hate crime. Original article source: Jussie Smollett felt 'extremely emasculated' by outpouring of support after assault story went viral Illinois election officials are weighing whether to comply with a demand from Republican President Donald Trumps Department of Justice to turn over by Sept. 1 the states full voter registration list, including voters birth dates, drivers license numbers, signatures and partial Social Security numbers. The Labor Day deadline, sent to Illinois State Board of Elections officials via email Thursday, marks an escalation of a conflict thats been brewing between state and federal officials since the Civil Rights Division of Trumps Justice Department in late July requested the voter data and a laundry list of other information on Illinois elections and voters. The push for disclosure of Illinois voters sensitive personal information is part of a broader effort from the Trump administration to exert federal authority over state-run elections, including shifting the Civil Rights Divisions focus from ensuring access to the polls to combating the specter of voter fraud. Several other states, including neighboring Wisconsin, have received similar data requests this summer, while the Justice Department in recent months has filed lawsuits against election officials in North Carolina and Orange County, California, over issues related to their voter rolls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for the Illinois board said election officials intend to respond to the Justice Departments latest demand by Sept. 2, the day after the Labor Day holiday. During Trumps first term, a so-called election integrity commission he established made a similar request, but the board never turned over the data. Noting that Trump at the time was intent on proving despite no evidence the false claim that he won the popular vote in 2016, Ed Yohnka, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, said the president and current Attorney General Pam Bondi need to abandon their attempts to capture detailed personal data about every voter in Illinois in order to suppress the vote. We know that this administration sees data as a cudgel to harass and punish individuals and they will use the Illinois voter data in this misguided way as well, Yohnka said in an emailed statement. Worse still, they are using the awesome power of the federal government to bring voter suppression to our state a state with a proud history of expanding access to the ballot box. The DOJ should drop this demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the Justice Department hasnt explained why it wants this sensitive voter data, what it will do with it, and how it will protect it, David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research and a former voting rights attorney at the department, wrote Friday in an email to the Tribune. Congress has not authorized the DOJ to collect highly sensitive information on American registered voters, such as drivers license numbers, Social Security numbers, or dates of birth, Becker wrote. That data is strongly protected under state laws as states led by both parties have informed the DOJ. Further, its likely that DOJ has failed to comply with Congressional requirements for federal collection of data, under laws like the Privacy Act. In the three-page letter from the Justice Department on Aug. 14 requesting the more extensive voter information amid privacy concerns of Illinois officials, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon three times repeated the sentence that Any statewide prohibitions are clearly preempted by federal law. Dhillon also cited a provision of the federal Civil Rights Act, saying to the extent there are privacy concerns, the voter registration list is subject to federal privacy protections. But that section of the federal law allows the department to pass along personal information to Congress and any committee thereof and other governmental agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the initial letter Illinois election officials received July 28 requesting information under the National Voter Registration Act, the state board earlier this month turned over its full voter file, the same list state law makes available to registered political committees and government entities. That list doesnt include the sensitive personal information federal officials sought. In its Aug. 11 response, the elections board also asked the Justice Department to give the state until Sept. 10 to reply to the rest of its request. Three days later, the department wrote back, demanding the full list with all the sensitive information, asserting the agency is entitled to the data to ascertain Illinoiss compliance with the list maintenance requirements under federal voter registration laws. Writing back Thursday, the state board said it needed until Sept. 10 to review the Justice Departments legal justifications. As your letter cites to numerous federal statutes, it is necessary for the board to thoroughly research that authority in order to determine what data can be lawfully provided and whether an intergovernmental agreement to provide that data may be necessary, wrote the election boards general counsel, Marni Malowitz. Given the importance of Illinois voters interest in protecting their confidential personally identifiable information, the board must ensure that it is complying with all state and federal laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Gates, the deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division who sent the initial letter, fired back in an email that a 3-week extension is not reasonable. The electronic form of Illinoiss Voter Registration List already exists and can be easily transmitted to the Justice Department by following the instructions in our letter, Gates wrote, setting the Sept. 1 deadline. Gates role at Justice and his involvement in the data dispute with Illinois election officials underscore the rightward shift in the departments approach to enforcing voting laws. Gates was the city attorney for Huntington Beach, California, in GOP-dominated Orange County, where he regularly engaged in legal battles against the states top Democrats. His imposition of a city-required voter ID law prompted a state law saying no such requirement was needed to vote. He also sued the state to challenge Californias sanctuary protections for immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he was appointed to the Justice Department in February, he issued a statement pledging to advance President Trumps America First agenda and told the Los Angeles Times that hes been an unapologetic supporter of the president since 2015. At Justice, Gates has also expressed the departments support for Wyomings proof-of-citizenship law to register to vote, saying, Requiring documentary proof of citizenship is common sense and ensures that only citizens vote. Dhillons involvement in the correspondence with Illinois election officials was also notable. Dhillon, who is Gates boss, is a former California GOP official and legal adviser to Trumps 2020 campaign who backed his lies about the election being stolen. Were waiting for the United States Supreme Court of which the president has nominated three justices to step in and do something to stop the counting of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, Dhillon told Fox Business two days after the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dhillons appointment to head the Civil Rights Division sounded alarm bells for the American Civil Liberties Union, despite the century-old organizations policy of not supporting or opposing nominees for executive branch appointments. In a post on its website in February, the ACLU raised strong concerns about Dhillons long record of working to restrict voting rights, transgender rights, and abortion access, even though she was on the board of the organizations Northern California branch from 2002 to 2005. Separate from the request for private voter data, the Justice Department in early July waded into a federal lawsuit Judicial Watch and two other conservative organizations brought last year against the Illinois elections board for allegedly failing to conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to cancel the registrations of Illinois voters who have become ineligible by reason of a change of residence. Local election authorities in Lake County and 22 downstate counties, which together reported more than 980,000 voter registrations as of November 2022, had removed only 100 from the rolls in the most recent two-year period, according to the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Judicial Watch, in the lawsuit, called that total absurdly small. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its statement of interest in the case, the Justice Department argued the states diffuse election system, with 108 local election authorities maintaining their own voter rolls, does not excuse the state board from its responsibilities under federal law. States cannot insulate themselves from those responsibilities by delegating them to counties or local authorities, even if subdivisions of the state have some role in carrying out tasks in furtherance of (National Voting Registration Act) responsibilities, the department said in its filing. The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee was sworn into his new leadership role earlier this week by former Vice President Kamala Harris, one of the key ex-White House officials the panels chair is interested in hearing from in its probe of President Joe Biden. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., was elected to serve as ranking member of the committee in June, after the death of former ranking member Gerry Connolly, D-Va. Harris, who swore Garcia in as mayor of Long Beach in 2014 when she was Californias attorney general, reprised that role Wednesday in a ceremonial swearing-in when Garcia took over his new Oversight role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longtime Biden Aide Says He Stood To Earn Up To $8M Had President Won Re-election It happened as House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., again did not rule out bringing Harris in before his committee as he investigates whether former President Joe Bidens top aides conspired to hide signs of mental decline in the ex-commander in chief. "I think that it would be helpful to hear from Kamala Harris," Comer told Fox News Digital Thursday. Read On The Fox News App "And I think that, you know, if I were her, wanted to have a political future, I would want to set the record straight on a lot of this stuff. Because it's going to haunt her her entire political career, because nobody thinks that Joe Biden was calling the shots in the end." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House Oversight Committees ranking member has traditionally served as a top foil to the party in power, coordinating their partys response to investigations led by the panels majority. The House Oversight Committee is weighing calling in former Vice President Kamala Harris, right, to testify about the alleged cover-up of former President Joe Biden's mental decline. Ron Klain Dodges Reporters After Marathon Grilling In Biden Cover-up Probe Among House Oversight Republicans top priorities right now is the probe into Biden. A Republican member of the panel, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., previously called for Harris to be subpoenaed, but Comer said it was still up in the air. "We haven't decided whether we're going to issue the subpoena or not, but certainly she's welcome to come to the committee," Comer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia said Wednesday that he was "honored" to be sworn in by Harris, who he said "has always fought for our country and shown us what true leadership looks like." Rep. Robert Garcia won an internal House Democratic Caucus vote to become ranking member of House Oversight. "Im especially grateful to have been able to share this moment with Vice President Harris, and Im ready to get to work to hold Donald Trump and his administration accountable for their corruption and abuses of power. We will deliver real results for the American people," Garcia said in a statement without mentioning Comers Biden probe. He was elected to the ranking member role via an internal House Democratic Caucus vote, besting three other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas. Crockett notably dropped out of the race after failing to win Democratic leaders' recommendation for the job. Original article source: Kamala Harris swears in top Dem on committee probing Biden as chairman urges her testimony In a disappointing piece of news for all Dexter Morgan fans, 'Dexter: Original Sin' is no longer moving forward with a second season. According to Variety, Paramount has decided not to proceed with another season of the prequel series. Earlier in April, 'Dexter: Original Sin' was officially renewed for Season 2, roughly a month after the first season concluded. It originally premiered in December 2024, showing the origin story of Dexter Morgan. Patrick Gibson was seen playing the young version of the iconic killer of killers. As shared by sources close to the developments, the series has been on hiatus, with no plans to shoot a second season. Also, no production dates were scheduled for the show, Variety said. It further stated that Paramount is instead planning to open a writers' room for a potential Season 2 of 'Dexter: Resurrection,' a follow-up to 'Dexter' and 'Dexter: New Blood' featuring Michael C Hall as the lead. The updates have arrived not long after the closing of the Skydance-Paramount merger. The team has shifted its focus to 'Resurrection' and Hall's role as Morgan further in the franchise. Set in 1991, 'Original Sin' tells the origin story of Dexter Morgan. Besides Gibson and Hall, the cast also included Molly Brown, Christina Milian, Christian Slater, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, special guest star Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Patrick Dempsey. "When his bloodthirsty urges can't be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement's radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department," the show's official synopsis stated, as quoted by Variety. (ANI) BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (FOX 56) A man was arrested on Friday in Topeka, Kansas, in connection with a joint investigation by Kentucky State Police (KSP) and the Kansas Board of Investigation (KBI) for alleged sexual exploitation in Warren County. State police announced in an Aug. 22 news release that troopers with KSP Post 3 in Bowling Green got a call reporting that a juvenile had left their home with a 41-year-old man. Authorities spoke with the parents, and eventually found out that Justin R. Bevitt, 41, of Topeka, had allegedly met with the juvenile several times in the past. GoFundMe raises over $15K for child severely burned in Campbell County fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Kansas investigators, Bevitt was arrested around 6:45 a.m. on Friday and charged with: Procuring or promoting the use of a minor First-degree unlawful transaction with a minor Second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor Distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under the age of 18 LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Bevitt was lodged in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections in Kansas, per KBI officials, where additional charges against him are reportedly pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The joint investigation remains ongoing, with Bevitt expected to be extradited to Kentucky. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Kansas City woman recently charged in the killing of a 3-year-old child earlier this year was sentenced on Friday for a theft incident at a Kansas Walmart last year. Tara Ann Huerta, 40, was sentenced on Friday in Leavenworth County court to one year in jail after pleading guilty to theft, according to Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompsons office. Independence teacher hit with multiple child porn charges: DOJ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court records, Huerta unlawfully obtained store merchandise valued at less than $1,500 on or about April 12, 2024, from the Walmart in Leavenworth. Police responded to the store after employees reported Huerta had left without paying for items in her cart. Investigators said she had switched barcodes on merchandise to avoid paying full price. Huerta is also currently facing one count of first-degree murder, one count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of possession of Fentanyl, one count of possession of methamphetamine and one count of possession of cocaine. The Leavenworth Police Department says that on March 26, officers were called to an apartment complex near Martin Luther King Drive and Limit Street on reports of an unresponsive child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers and emergency personnel arrived, they took the three-year-old boy, identified as E-lah Jahmal Brown Jr., to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Following the boys death, detectives opened a homicide investigation after finding several items related to illegal drugs and paraphernalia inside the apartment. An autopsy of the boys body later confirmed he had died of acute Fentanyl toxicity, according to police. This aligned with some of the illegal substances found in the apartment, including Fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation laboratory confirmed. At the time of the childs death, Huerta and another person, who police say is a 34-year-old Kansas City man, were caring for the boy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since news broke of Huertas arrest, police announced they have arrested the man on suspicion of similar charges in connection with the boys death. This includes pending charges of first-degree murder, aggravated endangering of a child, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of certain drug precursors and drug paraphernalia. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android At this time, Huerta is being held in a county jail on the formal charges by the Leavenworth County Attorneys Office, while the man is being held in a Clay County jail on suspicion of multiple pending charges. The man will not be named until he is formally charged in Leavenworth County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huertas next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 10 a.m. in Leavenworth 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Kern County Sheriffs Office asked the community to help find a 14-year-old who went missing in June. Fredy Quintero Lopez, 14, was last seen near Pecangrove Drive in Bakersfield on June 28, according to officials. KCSO described Lopez as being 5 feet, 3 inches and 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what he was last wearing. Anyone with information about Lopezs whereabouts is asked to contact KCSO at 661-861-3110 or the Secret Witness Line at 661-322-4040. 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. With summer refusing to relent, King County Sheriffs Marine Rescue Team is expecting a busy weekend on the water. Theyll be out in full force in an effort to make sure people know what they need to stay safe. Marine Rescue Sgt. Benjamin Callahan says its the time of year when more newcomers to paddleboards and kayaks make their first voyage on the water. Its pretty natural after SeaFair, we see a lot of people who discover on-water recreation and then they come into it so its like doing beginning of summer education again, at the end of summer, Callahan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KIRO7 rode along with Callahans water rescue team around Jaunita Beach on Friday. Within minutes, deputies spotted a pair of paddleboarders without life jackets. Thats typically a $99 fine, though Callahan focused on education today. People are out here to have fun, and if you come in here with a buzz kill, youre going to shut them down real fast and I want them to retain it. Callahan said. Callahan has been on the marine rescue team for more than a decade. In that time, hes seen more people on the waterboth because of how the population has increased and how paddleboards, inflatable kayaks, and other vessels have made the water more accessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I see someone who knows better and should be doing better and theyre going to get paid attention to, Im probably more likely to write that person a ticket and take enforcement action than someone whose brand new. Most areas around Lake Washington, people are required to just have a life jacket accessible, not necessarily on their person. The other requirements for watercraft are having a whistle and a light, especially when out at night or for sunset. If people get separated from their craft, the whistle is the thing that saves their life. Weve had a bunch of those, Callahan said. In Callahans mind, everyone should take the free, eight-hour water safety course from Washington State Parks to stay safe and know how different vessels, from boats to paddleboards, should interact with each other. It can also help save lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The method Callahan tells people if they see someone struggling in the water and at risk of drowning, the Reach, Throw, Go method. Reach is to try and get a paddle or something to help pull them from the water. Throw is for throwing a life ring or something similar. Go is to go for help. Callahan says only people experienced in water rescues or lifeguarding should try to jump in the water to save someone; otherwise, an untrained person could be at risk of drowning themselves. You feel like youre in the middle of civilization, but when youre out in the middle of the lake and something goes wrong, you might as well be in the middle of the woods by yourself because its wilderness, Callahan said. A mob of up to 20 anti-ICE protesters swarmed and attacked immigration agents outside a San Francisco courthouse on Wednesday, with one keffiyeh-clad agitator allegedly armed with a knife threatening to stab an officer and go after his family, officials said. Adrian Guerrero, a U.S. citizen, slashed the tire of a government vehicle during the clash at the immigration courthouse at 100 Montgomery Street, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The incident unfolded as ICE agents carried out a removal operation, when protesters surrounded them and physically assaulted four officers, throwing punches and deploying pepper spray. Anti-ICE protesters attacked immigration agents outside the San Francisco courthouse, with one suspect, Adrian Guerrero, pictured, allegedly threatening officers with a knife and slashing government vehicle tires. Watch: Ice Agents Fight Off Masked Mob Outside Blue City Immigration Court Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standing within arms length, Guerrero made repeated threats, saying, "Im going to f--- you up," "Im going to go after your family," and "Im going to stab you," according to DHS, citing court filings. At the time of his arrest, the suspect had a knife, orange-tinted goggles and a patterned keffiyeh, a scarf often associated with pro-Palestinian activism. Read On The Fox News App Agents sustained injuries from pepper spray, and one officer suffered a jammed finger. Guerrero has been charged with assault on a federal officer and destruction of government property, according to DHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ice Dispels Rumors About Viral Video Showing Agents Smashing Window To Arrest Illegal U.S. Federal Protective Services and San Francisco police responded and helped clear the area, DHS said. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said ICE agents are facing a 1,000% increase in assaults, calling them "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens." "These acts of violence are fueled by sanctuary politicians rhetoric vilifying our law enforcement," Noem said. "We will not let this violence stop us or slow us down. Every day, our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals, including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members and sexual predators." DHS evidence photo shows a keffiyeh, goggles and other items seized after the courthouse assault. The Montgomery Street courthouse has been the site of multiple violent clashes between protesters and ICE agents. Last month, video surfaced of similar scuffles outside the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters have long opposed ICEs practice of detaining individuals at courthouses, criticizing the use of plainclothes officers and unmarked vehicles as tactics that they claim spread fear and reduce accountability. The attack came weeks after violent riots in Los Angeles, where ICE agents were assaulted during courthouse protests, part of what DHS says is a sharp nationwide rise in attacks on its officers. Original article source: Keffiyeh-clad anti-ICE protester threatens to stab agent, harm family in San Francisco mob attack U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg is reportedly traveling to Kyiv to mark Ukraine's 34th Independence Day, Reuters journalist Graham Slattery reported Aug. 21 on X. "Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg heads to Kyiv tomorrow, per sources, to participate in a prayer breakfast/Independence Day ceremonies. He'll also discuss this week's diplomatic flurry with leaders," Slattery wrote. Slattery added that Kellogg's visit comes as the U.S, Ukraine, and Europe "hash out security guarantees," referring to the postwar security architecture seen as critical to Ukraine's long-term peace and a deterrent against future Russian aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg's reported trip follows a week of high-level diplomatic activity. On Aug. 15, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska spurring fears that Ukraine was being sold out as Russia broke out of its geopolitical isolation. Following the summit, Trump said he and Putin had "largely agreed" on territorial swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine. Ahead of the meeting, he noted that both sides would have to "swap land" a stance that raised alarm in Kyiv and across European capitals. The Trump-Putin summit was quickly followed by a high-level meeting in Washington between Trump, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European partners. During that meeting, Zelensky and his allies pressed for concrete security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a future peace agreement with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg's anticipated visit to Ukraine comes at a pivotal moment, as discussions over long-term security arrangements and U.S.-Ukraine relations under the Trump administration continue to evolve. Read also: Russia strengthens hand in potential peace talks with steady advances in Donbas Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LOUISA, Ky. (FOX 56) A Kentucky State trooper and three others were injured Friday during a traffic stop in Lawrence County. According to a KSP news release, around 11 a.m., a KSP trooper made a traffic stop when his patrol vehicle was hit from the rear by another vehicle. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact reportedly caused the troopers vehicle to hit a vehicle involved in the traffic stop. Around 11:08 a.m., a Kentucky State Police trooper from Post 14, Ashland, was conducting a traffic stop in Lawrence County when his marked patrol vehicle was struck from the rear by another vehicle. Four people were taken to the hospital and later released. KSP said the trooper sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. An accident reconstructionist is investigating the crash. KSP did not say if any charges would be filed at this time but asked people to remain alert when driving. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kentucky State Police remind all motorists to remain alert, avoid distractions, and move over or slow down when approaching emergency or law enforcement vehicles stopped on the highway. This collision remains under investigation by the Kentucky State Police, KSP said in a news release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. KEO, Ark. A $600 million solar energy project set to span more than 6,000 acres across Pulaski and Lonoke counties is moving forward, but the mayor of Keo says the small city is being overlooked in the process. The Downstream Solar Energy Center, being developed by Chicago-based Invenergy, is expected to generate 300 megawatts of powerenough to serve roughly 69,000 homesand bring more than $55 million in tax revenue over the next 50 years through a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement. However, Keo Mayor Stephanie White says the city, located closest to the development site, is being left out of the benefits. There was no discussion ahead of time, White said in an interview. They didnt know about this last month when I presented to them. They had no idea the project was coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solar farm proposal in Lonoke County promises millions in tax revenue as public debates The PILOT agreement includes a 65 percent tax abatement over a 30-year period, with Invenergy receiving approval for up to $700 million in revenue bonds from Lonoke County on August 15. The bonds will help fund the development and allow the company to lease county-owned land. Mayor White contends that the agreement, signed by Lonoke County Judge Doug Erwin, was made without transparency or public input. White said she only learned the bond had been signed after a meeting with Erwin last Thursdayfive days after he had already approved it. The Keo City Council was not consulted or informed prior to the decision, White said. She argues that, as the projects closest municipality, Keo should have received more direct investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were the host community by proximity. People are calling it the Keo Solar Project,' White said. To receive only a token amount while $600 million is being invested next door is disappointing. Keo requested a $1.95 million direct investment from Invenergy to support broadband infrastructure, community development projects, and placemaking initiatives. Instead, Invenergy has pledged a total of $275,000$175,000 to the city and $100,000 to a local nonprofitover a 10-year period. That total is less than one-third of one percent of the project cost, White said. Its likely less than the cost of a billboard. White noted that similar solar projects in other Arkansas communities have secured more substantial upfront investments from developers, suggesting Keo was shortchanged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had real needs here in Keo, and this was an opportunity to partner in a meaningful way, she said. Its a big letdown. Lonoke County Judge Doug Erwin defended his decision, saying the agreement was primarily between private landowners and Invenergy. He emphasized that the county acted only as a conduit for the bond issuance under state law. These are private deals, Erwin said. Im not going to hold the farmers hostage. If you dont give the city of Keo $1.9 million, Im not going to sign the agreement? Thats not fair to the private landowners. Erwin said the project would ultimately benefit Keo and the surrounding area through increased tax revenue, even with the abatement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even at 35 percent tax payments, its still more than twice what the land is generating now, he said. The solar farm, which will be built near the intersection of Arkansas 161 and U.S. 165 just north of Keo, is expected to begin construction in 2026 and become operational by 2028. Invenergy says the project will create about 300 construction jobs and three full-time positions once completed. About 90 percent of the land involved lies within Lonoke County. Invenergy has already secured voluntary lease agreements with 12 private landowners in the area. More than $2.5 million in grants into Arkansas for solar power projects Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite her frustrations, White said she remains hopeful that Invenergy will engage more meaningfully with the city. The Keo City Council is scheduled to meet Monday, and she said she has heard the developer may attend. They got a sweetheart deal with the county, White said. But the reality is the project is still here and still coming, and I would hope we can still make this a winning partnershipfor both the company and our rural community. White said that there will be a Keo City Council Meeting on Monday and said she heard Invenergy will be in attendance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FAIRMONT Marion County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sean Murphy fought hard to include a juveniles testimony in the Ryan Lane murder trial against defense attorney Elgine McArdles attempts to exclude it. After Fridays testimony, it may cost him. After five days of testimony, Ryan Lanes defense showed the value of aggressively pursuing pretrial motions before trial. The Marion County Prosecuting Attorneys office accused Lane, 37, of having a role in the 2022 murder of Henry Silver in Carolina. The crime took place after Silver committed had an affair with the girlfriend of John Wolfe, a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Murphy argued the killing was done as a group activity sanctioned by the Central Chapter of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Wolfes ex-girlfriend testified Lane was chapter president at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Lanes defense has consistently argued that Lane was not physically present at the scene of the murder and challenged the prosecutions narrative that a conspiracy arose among members of the group to kill Silver. Before the trial began, McArdle spent months attacking portions of Murphys case piece by piece in multiple pretrial motions and subsequent hearings. As a result, Murphy had to re-engineer his case to work within the constraints set by McArdle. It also deprived Murphy of load bearing pieces for his case and opened up avenues for McArdle to dismantle Murphys case. Murphy and McArdle spent day four of the trial examining what Lanes responsibilities as club president were, as well as heard the chain of events that set Silvers killing into motion from Wolfes ex-girlfriend. Glen Staley, Star City Police Chief, testified about his encounter with Lane during Staleys investigation of the altercation between the Pagans and Hells Angels. Staley said Lane behaved disorderly during the execution of a search warrant and kept trying to interfere. The only reason Staley didnt arrest Lane for interfering, was because as presiding officer during the search, Staley didnt want to leave and disrupt the search. McArdle asked why Staley couldnt ask any of the other 10-12 officers on site to arrest Lane. Staley replied it was because he was the only one Lane came after and as the recipient of the hostility, only Staley had the option to arrest Lane. However, Staley opted against arresting Lane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McArdle and Staley also went back and forth on why Lane had an index of every crime a member of Central Chapter of the Club was accused of. McArdle argued there were legitimate reasons a president would want to keep track of the progress of a criminal investigation against one of its members. Staley replied, you could infer that. Wolfes ex-girlfriend took the stand after Staley and revisited the circumstances that led to Silvers death in the parking lot of the Carolina Arbors apartment building in Carolina in 2022. McArdle objected each time Murphy asked a leading question during his direct examination. Under the rules of trial court, attorneys must ask open ended questions during direct examination. After the third sustained objection, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Wilson reminded Murphy to ensure his questions didnt stray into leading territory. At one point, Murphy tried to get the ex-girlfriend to interpret a series of text messages between Lane and Wolfe that discussed the adultery. However, Wilson prohibited the witness from doing so, since the only people who can testify to what was meant are either Lane or Wolfe. As a result, the text messages, which were important to Murphys strategy, were excluded from exhibition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the fifth day of trial, a juvenile witness whom the prosecution alleges witnessed the shooting, took the stand. The juvenile is the son of John Wolfe, the man convicted of instigating Silvers murder as retaliation for the affair. The prosecutions case rests on the juveniles testimony, because the juvenile alleges he overheard a meeting where the Central Chapter Pagans agreed to harm Silver. The prosecution alleges this meeting is the connective tissue between the Pagans acting as a group and Silvers killing later that night. However, differences in accounts between post-shooting interviews and trial testimony left opportunities for McArdle to seize upon. In one statement, the child said he was outside riding his bike during the meeting. In other testimony, he said he wore gaming headphones around his neck while sound came out of them. In various motion hearings challenging the inclusion of the childs testimony, McArdle questioned how the child could hear anything at all if either of those scenarios were true. She questioned the testimonies reliability because of the changing stories. One courtroom observer noted the child gave multiple versions of events during his testimony on Friday. Also, the time frame the child gave for when the meeting took place did not match up with security camera footage. To the surprise of observers, the child testified for the first time that Lane was the shooter. McArdle pointed it out to the child. The child said that had been his testimony in the first and second trials. McArdle gave the child transcripts of his previous testimony from both trials and asked him to search if he had mentioned Lane. At that point, Wilson gaveled out for lunch while the child reviewed his testimony. After the lunch break, McArdle asked if the transcripts refreshed the childs memory. He said yes. She asked if that changed his testimony. He said yes. She asked again if Lane had been present in Carolina the night of the shooting. He said no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To salvage the childs testimony, Murphy asked whether he could use leading questions while doing direct or redirect examination on a child. Murphy cited case law showing it is permissible to use leading questions on juveniles because juveniles might be nervous or reluctant to answer questions. McArdle pushed back, saying the juvenile never showed he was nervous or reluctant, and moreover, the case law Murphy cited took place in federal court, not West Virginia Circuit Court. McArdle also pointed out Murphys entire line of questioning when it came to the child, which relied on asking leading questions, strongly implying that without it, the childs testimony would not arrive at an intended destination. She said the entire point of open ended questioning was to arrive at the same answer, no matter the way its approached. The beauty about truth is when you ask who, what, where, when and why, it never changes, she said. The irony here is McArdle fought to exclude the childs testimony in pretrial motions while Murphy argued for its inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Wilson took the court into recess to deliberate. When he returned, he denied Murphy the ability to ask leading questions. Wilson said he tried to find an analogue to the federal case in West Virginia law but found nothing. He also said the witness showed no reluctance during testimony. With his planned form of questioning denied, Murphy withdrew from his redirect. During the lunch break, after the childs testimony, police escorted Lane through the building in handcuffs in full view of the jury. McArdle and Murphy went behind closed doors to argue in front of Judge Wilson, with McArdle furious the display could prejudice the jury. The case is expected to continue till next Thursday. Judge Wilson continues to have a firm and stabilizing effect on the proceedings. Murphy will rest his case on Tuesday, most likely, with the defense bringing their case to trial on Wednesday. Trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. The Trump administration may try to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda following his release from criminal custody, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official and a notice sent by government officials obtained by CBS News. Hours after Abrego Garcia who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year was released from pre-trial detention in Tennessee on Friday, his attorneys were sent a court-required notice of his potential deportation to Uganda, the official said. The notice said he may be deported to the East African country "no earlier than 72 hours from now," not including weekends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the week, CBS News was first to report that Uganda had agreed to a U.S. request to accept deportees who are not its citizens, becoming the latest "third country" to strike a deportation agreement with the second Trump administration. A native of El Salvador, Abrego Garcia was held in a notorious Salvadoran prison for months, before being returned to the U.S. and jailed while awaiting trial on federal human smuggling charges. A judge ruled that he should be released from detention ahead of a trial set for January. In a legal filing Saturday, Abrego Garcia's lawyers revealed that the Trump administration had offered their client a "last-ditch" plea deal that would see him sent to Costa Rica after the completion of his criminal sentence. They submitted in federal court a letter from a Costa Rican government official that said the Central American country had agreed to accept Abrego Garcia as a refugee and provide him legal status there. But after Abrego Garcia declined that deal and was released from pre-trial detention, his lawyers confirmed they were notified by the Trump administration that he could face deportation to Uganda instead. Abrego Garcia was also directed to show up to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore on Monday morning. His lawyers said he has been told he has until then to accept the Costa Rica deal, or it will no longer be on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego Garcia's lawyers said the Uganda deportation threat bolsters their argument that the Trump administration's prosecution of their client is vindictive. "There can be only one interpretation of these events: the DOJ, DHS, and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat," they wrote in the filing Saturday. The Trump administration has indicated for months that if Abrego Garcia is let out of jail, ICE could detain him and seek his removal from the U.S. yet again. In 2019, an immigration judge ruled that Abrego Garcia cannot be deported to El Salvador because he feared persecution by local gangs in the Central American country. The Trump administration said he was deported there anyway due to an "administrative error." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the government could legally seek Abrego Garcia's deportation to Uganda or another "third country" other than El Salvador a practice the Trump administration has increasingly used for undocumented immigrants in recent months. Abrego Garcia plans to return to Maryland, where he lived with his family prior to his March deportation. Maryland-based U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled last month that the government must give him 72 hours' notice if it plans to initiate deportation proceedings. But she didn't prohibit the government from seeking his removal, writing that immigration agents "may take whatever action is available to them under the law." CBS News has reached out to DHS and Abrego Garcia's attorneys for comment. Trump reacts to Canada reversing retaliatory tariffs, takes questions at White House Minnesota hunting dog Bruno chases down foul balls Rainbow crosswalks in Florida painted over The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence visited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facilities in Bengaluru on Friday. The committee was briefed on HAL's modernisation plans and the progress of key indigenisation projects. The 10-member committee was led by its Chairman and Lok Sabha MP Radha Mohan Singh. The committee was received by the Chief Managing Director of HAL, DK Sunil, along with the Directors and senior officials. The committee members visited HAL's Helicopter Division, LCA Tejas Division and Aircraft Division. HAL also showcased a flying display of HAL fighter aircraft LCA Mk 1A, trainers Hindustan Turbo Trainer 40, Hindustan Jet Trainer 'Yashas' and Hawk-i, along with helicopters Dhruv ALH and Light Utility Helicopter. In a social media post on X, HAL wrote, "The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence visited HAL facilities in Bengaluru today. The 10-member committee was led by its Chairman, Lok Sabha MP Shri Radha Mohan Singh. The committee was received by Dr. D. K. Sunil, CMD, HAL, along with the Directors & senior officials." "The committee members visited Helicopter Division, LCA Tejas Division & Aircraft Division. HAL showcased a flying display of HAL fighter aircraft LCA Mk 1A, trainers Hindustan Turbo Trainer 40, Hindustan Jet Trainer 'Yashas' and Hawk-i, along with helicopters Dhruv ALH & Light Utility Helicopter," it added. https://x.com/HALHQBLR/status/1958871228912967715 The social media post further reads, "The aircraft performed aerobatic manoeuvres, enthralling the audience. During the visit, the committee was briefed on HAL's modernisation plans and the progress of key indigenisation projects." On Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted recent breakthroughs in indigenous capability. He noted that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received orders worth Rs 66,000 crore for 97 Tejas fighter aircraft, in addition to an earlier order of 83 aircraft worth Rs 48,000 crore. "Our Tejas aircraft is going to be a great example of India's indigenous defence capabilities. We have also taken steps towards making fifth generation fighter aircraft and aircraft engines in India," he added. Earlier on August 19, in a major boost for Make in India in defence project, India cleared the project for buying 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. The final approval for the acquisition of 97 LCA Mark 1A fighters was given by a high-level meeting and will pave the way for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to produce the aircraft, defence sources told ANI. This will be the second order for the LCA Mark 1A fighters, as the government has already placed orders for 83 aircraft a few years ago for around Rs 48,000 crore. The programme will help the IAF to replace its fleet of MiG- 21s, which are finally being phased out by the government in next few weeks, they said. The indigenous fighter aircraft programme, fully backed by the Defence Ministry and Air Headquarters, is set to be a big boost for promoting indigenisation as well as give major business to the small and medium enterprises engaged in defence business across the country, they said. (ANI) The Brief A new report shows a court order stating that Kilmar Abrego Garcia will be deported to Uganda. Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran national who has been living in the U.S. for over a decade and was wrongfully deported to his home country in March. He was just released from a Tennessee jail on Friday after months of turmoil and battles with the federal government. WASHINGTON - Kilmar Abrego Garcia may be deported to Uganda in just a few days time, FOX News reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador back in March was just released from jail on Friday after months of turmoil. THE LATEST UPDATE: Kilmar Abrego Garcia offered deportation to Costa Rica for guilty plea: court documents New Deportation Order What's being reported Abrego Garcia is now facing another deportation order, according to a post on X by FOX News' Bill Melugin. BREAKING: Per DHS & ICE sources, this afternoon, DHS notified Kilmar Abrego Garcias counsel via email that ICE may deport Abrego Garcia to Uganda no earlier than 72 hours from now, & ICE is also ordering him to report to ICEs Baltimore office on Monday. Notifications below pic.twitter.com/CLQSm78JfX Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 22, 2025 The email to his attorney obtained by FOX News states that it is a notice that "DHS may remove your client, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, to Uganda no earlier than 72 hours from now (absent weekends)." The notice lists the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the agencies involved in the decision. Abrego Garcia Released from Jail What we know Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from a Tennessee jail and is en route to his family in Maryland, his lawyer confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release marks the closest to freedom Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been since his wrongful deportation to a notorious El Salvador prison in March. Abrego Garcias attorneys said in court filings Tuesday that a private security firm will transport him from Tennessee to Maryland upon his release. READ MORE: Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from jail Friday, lawyer confirms Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia? The backstory Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a 29-year-old El Salvadorian national. He fled his home country and came to the U.S. when he was 16. He has since lived in Maryland. He has three children and a wife, Jennifer Vasquez. On March 12, Abrego Garcia was arrested in Baltimore after working a shift as a sheet metal apprentice and picking up his 5-year-old son, who has autism and other disabilities, from his grandmothers house, according to his lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was then sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT which activists say is rife with abuses. Three days later, he was deported. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement say they removed him to a Salvadoran prison over a 2019 accusation that he was in the MS-13 gang. Abrego Garcia's ties to MS-13 were never proven and he has repeatedly denied being a gang member. His lawyers argue that the U.S. government "has never produced an iota of evidence" that he is affiliated with MS-13 or any other street gang. His eventual expulsion to El Salvador violated a U.S. immigration judges order in 2019 that shielded him from deportation to his native country. The judge ruled that Abrego Garcia had credible fears of being killed if he returned to El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego-Garcia has no criminal record in the U.S. outside of a few traffic violations. He had regularly checked in with immigration authorities. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials later admitted in a court filing that his deportation was due to an "administrative error" but the administration has persisted in its efforts to have him removed from the country. When will he be removed? What's next The circumstances surrounding Abrego Garcia's removal are not yet clear, and federal officials have not released any details on when, or how they plan to do this. It's also not clear why Uganda was chosen as the nation Abrego Garcia will be deported to. Abrego Garcia's attorneys will likely fight the court order. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man who was wrongfully deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador, was notified by immigration authorities that he may be deported to Uganda, less than 24 hours after his release from federal custody. Abrego "may be removed to Uganda no less than 72 hours absent weekends," a source familiar with the case told NBC News on Saturday. It is unclear if Abrego would be imprisoned or walk free in Uganda if he is deported there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, one of Abregos attorneys, said he would "fight tooth and nail against any form of deportation to Uganda" or nearby countries in Africa. It is preposterous that they would send him to Africa, to a country where he doesnt even speak the language, a country with documented human rights violations, when there are so many other options," he told reporters. "This family has suffered enough." The father of three was accidentally deported to the El Salvadors CECOT prison, notorious for its harsh conditions, in March, in what they called an administrative error. His deportation conflicted with a withholding of removal order from 2019 that prevents Abrego's deportation to El Salvador, where is originally from, due to concerns that he would be persecuted by violent gangs. The 2019 protective order does not bar Abrego from being deported to another country. Kilmar Abrego Garcia is reunited with family members Friday. (CASA ) After months of resisting, the Trump administration brought Abrego back to the U.S. in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration immediately jailed Abrego and charged him with conspiracy to unlawfully transport illegal aliens for financial gain and unlawful transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. For months, the administration has also accused Abrego of being a member of the violent gang MS-13, which his lawyers and family members have repeatedly denied. Abrego's lawyers have said he illegally immigrated to the U.S. when he was 16 to join his brother in Maryland to escape gang violence in El Salvador. Kilmar Abrego Garcia leaves the Putnam County Jail in Cookeville, Tenn., on Friday. (Brett Carlsen / AP) On Friday, Abrego was released on parole from the jail where he was held, near Nashville, Tennessee, and immediately returned to Maryland. He was reunited with his family after spending nearly half a year away from home. Images of the reunification, released by advocates, show a teary-eyed Abrego holding his youngest son, who was with his father when Abrego was picked up by immigration authorities in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today has been a very special day because I have seen my family for the first time in more than 160 days," he said in a statement on Friday. "I'd like to thank all the people who have supported me because after this long time I have witnessed that so many people have been by my side with such positivity," he added. "Today I am grateful to God because He has heard me and today I am out. We are steps closer to justice, but justice has not been fully served." Kilmar Abrego Garcia is reunited with family members Friday. (CASA ) Sean Hecker, another one of Abregos attorneys, said in a court filing on Saturday that the Trump administration offered Abrego a plea deal earlier this week to deport him to Costa Rica. Hecker wrote that if Abrego agreed to pause his release from federal custody until Monday, and plead guilty to both counts of the criminal indictment against him in Tennessee, then the government would promise to deport Mr. Abrego to Costa Rica after serving any sentence imposed by the Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court filing contains correspondence from the Trump administration and Costa Rican government, showing that the Costa Rican government said it would not detain Abrego upon his arrival to the country. There can be only one interpretation of these events: the DOJ, DHS, and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat, Hecker wrote. Sandoval-Moshenberg appeared to suggest that deportation to Costa Rica might be favorable for his client. "Thats a pretty reasonable option, right? I mean, Costa Rica makes sense," he said. "Its a Spanish speaking country. Its proximate to the United States. His family can visit him there easily." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House continued to berate Abrego on Friday, accusing him of being a violent gang member. "He will face justice for his crimes. Its an insult to his victims that this left-wing magistrate intervened to put him back on the streets," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement. "Garcia will be subject to ankle monitoring to ensure the safety of the American public until further action can be taken." Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Abrego's release "a new low." "By ordering this monster loose on Americas streets, this judge has shown a complete disregard for the safety of the American people," she wrote on X. "We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego's lawyers have now notified the judge in the Middle District of Tennessee that ICE has informed Abrego of its intent to deport him to Uganda. Abrego could not face the criminal charges of human smuggling brought against him by Department of Justice in that case if he is out of the country. His trial is set for January. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Kilmar Abrego Garcia, center, accompanied by his attorney, was released from the Putnam County, Tennessee, Jail and headed home to Maryland on Friday. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose wrongful deportation to a prison in El Salvador brought widespread public scrutiny of the Trump administrations immigration crackdown tactics, was released from a rural Tennessee jail Friday, five months after being detained while driving to his Maryland home. Abrego was to be escorted by the U.S. Marshals Service back to Maryland, where he must report to pretrial services by 10 a.m. Monday, according to court documents. He will also be under the supervision of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, which could choose to detain him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the release brings some relief we all know that he is far from safe, said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, one of Abregos attorneys, in a prepared statement Friday. ICE detention or deportation to an unknown third country still threaten to tear his family apart. A Maryland court order in a separate case requires that Abrego be given 72 hours notice if the government plans to send him to a third country. An order filed Friday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Tennessee noted that should Abrego be taken into ICE custody following his return to Maryland the government shall ensure that, while Abrego remains in ICE custody, he has access to his attorneys, both physically and via telephone, to allow Abrego to prepare for trial in this case. Kilmar Abrego Garcia get in a car after his release Friday from the Putnam County (Tennessee) Jail. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Abrego will also be subject to electronic location monitoring and placed in the custody of his brother, the order noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a social media statement, called Abregos release a new low, wrongly ascribing the decision to release him to a Maryland judge. Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country, the statement said. We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country. But praise for Abregos release poured in Friday from Maryland officials, including Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) who called Abregos release a victory of due process for all. Del. Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince Georges) called Abregos release proof that due process still matters inAmerica. Abrego, in a prepared statement released by the immigrants rights group CASA, thanked those who supported him and worked for his release, and called Friday a very special day because I have seen my family for the first time in more than 160 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego, as the Tennessee court refers to him, was dispatched to El Salvador after being detained March 12 by ICE officers in Maryland, where he has lived with his wife and children and works as an apprentice sheet metal worker. A government prosecutor later conceded his deportation was an error: Abrego, who entered the country illegally as a teen, was the subject of an immigration court order barring his removal to his home country of El Salvador, where he said he feared gang violence. After being held for months in El Salvador, despite courts all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court ordering his returne, Abrego was returned to Tennessee in June to face human smuggling charges that prosecutors say are tied to a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop. Abrego was neither cited nor arrested when he was pulled over by Tennessee Highway Patrol officers with nine passengers in his vehicle. Prosecutors now allege the stop was part of a human smuggling operation in which Abrego was paid to transport immigrants illegally in the United States to points around the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorneys petitioned to have the human smuggling charges dismissed, calling the case baseless and little more than vindictive prosecution. The federal judge in his case in Tennessee has yet to rule on that motion. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Like others who have worked on the case, Van Hollen said Abregos releases if far from the end of the fight. While I have no doubt the Administration will continue its attempts to undermine Mr. Abrego Garcias rights, we will continue fighting to see them maintained because due process in this case does not end with his release, Van Hollen said in a statement. Mr. Abrego Garcia must continue to be allowed to defend himself in court, where the Trump Administration must make its case before taking any further action against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a matter thats greater than just this one case or one man if one persons rights are denied, then the rights of all of us are at risk, he said. This story first appeared in Tennessee Lookout, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man illegally deported to El Salvador in March and returned in June to face human smuggling charges that he denies, is accusing the Trump administration of attempting to coerce him into a guilty plea by threatening to re-deport him to Uganda. Attorneys for Abrego said in a Saturday court filing the Justice Department is pressuring him to accept a guilty plea to two felony counts, promising to deport him to Costa Rica where he would be free from incarceration after the completion of any criminal sentence. In conjunction with that proposal, the government produced a letter to Mr. Abregos counsel confirming that he could live freely in that country, which would accept him as a refugee or grant him residency status, and promise not to refoul him to El Salvador, Abregos lawyers indicated in court papers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But after Abrego resisted that proposal, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials told his lawyers that they had decided instead to deport him to Uganda. Government officials informed Abregos lawyers that the Costa Rica option would remain on the table if he pleads guilty by Monday, his attorneys wrote. There can be only one interpretation of these events: the DOJ, DHS, and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat, Abregos attorney Sean Hecker wrote in the filing. The allegation by Abregos lawyers comes a day after Abrego was released from a Tennessee jail, where he had been held since returning to the U.S. in June. He is being instructed to report to a Baltimore Immigrations and Customs Enforcement field office by first thing Monday morning, according to the filing. The Ugandan government announced earlier this week that it had reached an agreement with the Trump administration to accept third-country deportees from the U.S. The African nations foreign minister said the country will not accept individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors and preferred individuals from African countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego is asking a federal judge in Tennessee to dismiss the criminal case against him, saying the smuggling charges are corrupted by an overtly vindictive drive by the Trump administration to punish him. Abregos case made national headlines after he was illegally sent to El Salvador in March on one of three planes that also included more than 100 Venezuelans targeted by President Donald Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. He was initially incarcerated in El Salvadors notorious anti-terrorism prison, known as CECOT, before he was transferred to a different facility amid the international firestorm over his deportation. Abrego, who entered the United States illegally more than 10 years ago and had resided primarily in Maryland with his wife and children, was protected from deportation to El Salvador, his home country, by an immigration judges order that found he could face violence and persecution from a local gang. A judge instructed the Trump administration to bring Abrego back to the U.S., which the administration for months did not comply with. Once federal prosecutors were able to secure an indictment against him in Tennessee for human smuggling, they arranged his return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Abrego described his experience at the Salvadoran prison, claiming he suffered severe beatings, sleep deprivation, malnutrition and other forms of torture at the hands of his jailers. Others released from that prison in a recent U.S.-brokered exchange between El Salvador and Venezuela have described similarly harrowing experiences. Administration officials have accused Abrego of being an MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist, a label Abrego vehemently denies and that federal judges have suggested is based on flimsy evidence. Shortly after his release on Friday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem decried activist liberal judges, and said the administration will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country. A federal grand jury has charged Abrego Garcia with serious federal crimes," a Department of Justice spokesperson said in a statement to POLITICO. "This defendant can plead guilty and accept responsibility or stand trial before a jury. Either way, we will hold Abrego Garcia accountable and protect the American people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturdays filing. It is difficult to imagine a path the government could have taken that would have better emphasized its vindictiveness, the lawyers wrote in the filing. Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be deported to Uganda early next week, according to court documents just days after the Maryland resident was released following five months behind bars, including a mistaken expulsion to a mega-prison in his native El Salvador. Abrego Garcia, 30, was ordered to report to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office in Baltimore on Monday, according to his attorney, Sean Flecker. Within minutes of his release from pretrial custody, an ICE representative informed Mr. Abregos counsel that the government intended to deport Mr. Abrego to Uganda, Flecker wrote in a notice of supplemental information filed in federal court Saturday before Waverly D. Crewnshaw Jr., a judge for Tennessees middle district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for ICE did not respond Saturday to a request for comment. The Abrego Garcia case has been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration since an official testified in March that the father of three had been deported to El Salvador as the result of an administrative error. Government officials fought efforts to return Abrego Garcia to the United States, contending that the Prince Georges County resident is a member of the international MS-13 gang. After the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Trumps office to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, he arrived in the United States in June, only to be immediately detained on human smuggling charges. He was released from prison on Friday on the order of U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes, who ruled that Abrego Garcia must travel directly to Maryland and remain in his brothers custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today has been a very special day because I have seen my family for the first time in more than 160 days, Abrego Garcia said in a statement issued after his release. Id like to thank all the people who have supported me because after this long time, I have witnessed that so many people have been by my side with such positivity. The governments threat to deport the apprentice sheet metal worker to Uganda after he had barely regained his freedom was denounced Saturday by the Service Employees International Union. Trumps unrelenting and inhumane hunt to single out an individual and ignoring court decisions is not just unconsitutional but puts all Americans in danger, Jaime Contreras, the unions executive vice-president and chair of the Latino caucus, wrote in an emailed statement. Deporting Kilmar Garcia halfway around the world is a shameful and shocking picture for the entire world to see that damages our standing in the world even further. The bottom line is that Garcia deserves to be free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The longer the case continues to generate headlines, the more it continues to be a problem for the Trump administration, which appears to have been exploring efforts to resolve the matter without having to wait for the months or even years it could take to come to trial. The court documents filed this week provide glimpses into the behind-the-scenes negotiations between prosecutors and the defense team about Abrego Garcias future. Hecker filed a motion to dismiss the smuggling charges against Abrego Garcia on Tuesday on the grounds that they amount to vindictive and selective prosecution against a man who had the courage to fight back. On Wednesday, Hecker wrote, it became clear that Abrego Garcia would be released by the end of the week. The following night, in a last-ditch effort to forestall that release, the government informed Mr. Abregos counsel that if Mr. Abrego agreed to [remain in custody] and plead guilty to both counts of the indictment, then the government would promise to deport Mr. Abrego to Costa Rica after serving any sentence imposed by the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hecker said that in conjunction with the governments proposal, officials produced a letter confirming that [Abrego Garcia] could live freely in that country, which would accept him as a refugee or grant him residency status, and promise not to [deport] him to El Salvador. Though Abrego Garcia did not immediately accept the governments plea offer, Hecker wrote that his legal team has had little choice but to participate in those discussions, because of the fear that the government would do exactly what it has now expressly proposed to do, and deport him somewhere far more dangerous. As of Saturday, the U.S. State Department had issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Costa Rica, which recommends that U.S. citizens exercise increased caution when visiting that Central American nation. In contrast, the travel advisory to Uganda on Saturday was a Level 3, or reconsider travel due to crime, terrorism, and laws targeting persons on the basis of sexual orientation, and concludes that there remains a threat of terrorist attacks in Uganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the court documents, Abrego Garcia must decide whether to accept the plea deal by his Monday appointment with immigration officials, or else that offer will be off the table forever. CASA, the Maryland-based Latino and immigrant advocacy organization, is organizing a prayer vigil for 6:30 a.m. Monday at the main entrance to Baltimores ICE office, 31 Hopkins Plaza. Attendees are being asked to pre-register. While this crisis has been unimaginably horrible, the group wrote in the announcement, Kilmar and his family, through their faith in God, have fought back, and we will continue to fight with them. Have a news tip? Contact Mary Carole McCauley at mmccauley@baltsun.com, 1410332-6704 and x.com/@mcmccauley BALTIMORE Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be deported to Uganda early next week, according to court documents just days after the Maryland resident was released after more than five months in prison and a mistaken expulsion to a mega-prison in his native El Salvador. Abrego Garcia, 30, was ordered to report Monday to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office in Baltimore on Monday. Within minutes of his release from pretrial custody, an ICE representative informed Mr. Abregos counsel that the government intended to deport Mr. Abrego to Uganda, attorney Sean Flecker wrote in a notice of supplemental information filed Saturday before Tennessee District Court Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flecker wrote in his motion that the government order appears designed to coerce Abrego Garcia into pleading guilty to human trafficking charges in exchange for being relocated to the relative safety of Costa Rica. There can be only one interpretation of these events, Flecker wrote: the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat. A spokesman for ICE did not respond immediately Saturday to a request for comment. BALTIMORE Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be deported to Uganda early next week, according to court documents just days after the Maryland resident was released following five months behind bars, including a mistaken expulsion to a mega-prison in his native El Salvador. Abrego Garcia, 30, was ordered to report to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office in Baltimore on Monday, according to his attorney, Sean Flecker. Within minutes of his release from pretrial custody, an ICE representative informed Mr. Abregos counsel that the government intended to deport Mr. Abrego to Uganda, Flecker wrote in a notice of supplemental information filed in federal court Saturday before Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr., a judge for Tennessees middle district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for ICE did not respond Saturday to a request for comment. The Abrego Garcia case has been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration since an official testified in March that the father of three had been deported to El Salvador as the result of an administrative error. Government officials fought efforts to return Abrego Garcia to the United States, contending that the Prince Georges County resident is a member of the international MS-13 gang. After the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Trumps office to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, he arrived in the United States in June, only to be immediately detained on human smuggling charges. He was released from prison on Friday on the order of U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes, who ruled that Abrego Garcia must travel directly to Maryland and remain in his brothers custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today has been a very special day because I have seen my family for the first time in more than 160 days, Abrego Garcia said in a statement issued after his release. Id like to thank all the people who have supported me because after this long time, I have witnessed that so many people have been by my side with such positivity. The governments threat to deport the apprentice sheet metal worker to Uganda after he had barely regained his freedom was denounced Saturday by the Service Employees International Union. Trumps unrelenting and inhumane hunt to single out an individual and ignoring court decisions is not just unconsitutional but puts all Americans in danger, Jaime Contreras, the unions executive vice-president and chair of the Latino caucus, wrote in an emailed statement. Deporting Kilmar Garcia halfway around the world is a shameful and shocking picture for the entire world to see that damages our standing in the world even further. The bottom line is that Garcia deserves to be free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The longer the case continues to generate headlines, the more it continues to be a problem for the Trump administration, which appears to have been exploring efforts to resolve the matter without having to wait for the months or even years it could take to come to trial. The court documents filed this week provide glimpses into the behind-the-scenes negotiations between prosecutors and the defense team about Abrego Garcias future. Hecker filed a motion to dismiss the smuggling charges against Abrego Garcia on Tuesday on the grounds that they amount to vindictive and selective prosecution against a man who had the courage to fight back. On Wednesday, Hecker wrote, it became clear that Abrego Garcia would be released by the end of the week. The following night, in a last-ditch effort to forestall that release, the government informed Mr. Abregos counsel that if Mr. Abrego agreed to [remain in custody] and plead guilty to both counts of the indictment, then the government would promise to deport Mr. Abrego to Costa Rica after serving any sentence imposed by the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hecker said that in conjunction with the governments proposal, officials produced a letter confirming that [Abrego Garcia] could live freely in that country, which would accept him as a refugee or grant him residency status, and promise not to [deport] him to El Salvador. Though Abrego Garcia did not immediately accept the governments plea offer, Hecker wrote that his legal team has had little choice but to participate in those discussions, because of the fear that the government would do exactly what it has now expressly proposed to do, and deport him somewhere far more dangerous. As of Saturday, the U.S. State Department had issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Costa Rica, which recommends that U.S. citizens exercise increased caution when visiting that Central American nation. In contrast, the travel advisory to Uganda on Saturday was a Level 3, or reconsider travel due to crime, terrorism, and laws targeting persons on the basis of sexual orientation, and concludes that there remains a threat of terrorist attacks in Uganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the court documents, Abrego Garcia must decide whether to accept the plea deal by his Monday appointment with immigration officials, or else that offer will be off the table forever. CASA, the Maryland-based Latino and immigrant advocacy organization, is organizing a prayer vigil for 6:30 a.m. Monday at the main entrance to Baltimores ICE office, 31 Hopkins Plaza. Attendees are being asked to preregister. While this crisis has been unimaginably horrible, the group wrote in the announcement, Kilmar and his family, through their faith in God, have fought back, and we will continue to fight with them. Anderson portrays the shah as a complex, Shakespearean figure arrogant but weak, ambitious for his country yet blind to the growing unrest among his people. 'A soft man masquerading as a hard one.' Rare is the nonfiction work that can be described as gripping, but King of Kings by Scott Anderson, more than 400 pages though it is, earns the accolade. Of course, it is not practicable to stay glued to a book of that length from beginning to end, but the reader returns to take up the story each time with pleasurable anticipation. The event that Anderson has investigated in depth, and what he uncovered in doing so, is encapsulated in his subtitle: The Iranian Revolution: A story of hubris, delusion, and catastrophic miscalculation. Hubris, delusion, and catastrophic miscalculation are the elements one expects to find in a Cold War spy thriller, perhaps by John Le Carre. Readers will find King of Kings equally enthralling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on deep and meticulous research, Anderson delves into the background and then recounts in detail the rise and fall of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the shahanshah (king of kings) of Iran for 28 years. Pahlavi occupied the Peacock throne from 1941, when his father Reza was forced to resign, until he was overthrown by the Islamic Revolution, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1979. In the 27 pages of notes that Anderson appends to his chronicle, he provides readers with the source of every conversation he records and every statement he makes. For example, he interviewed Farah Pahlavi, the former empress of Iran, in her Washington home. He tells us that he asked her about the cascade of events that, in a mere five years, propelled her and her husband from the height of imperial splendor to a grim and fugitive exile. He quotes her as saying, I think we were about to achieve everything we wished, but that we spoke too loud, but he believes there is much more to the real story than that. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (credit: PICRYL) From splendor to exile Collapse on the magnitude of what occurred, he writes, simply cannot be attributed to the actions of one king or even one royal couple alone. Rather, it required incompetence or cowardice of a great many actors and, incident by incident, Anderson proceeds to analyze how the accumulation of these failures led finally to the downfall of the Iranian monarchy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott Anderson, born in the United States in 1959, is a seasoned journalist and author. His early years were spent in East Asia, where his father served as an agricultural adviser for the US government, and he was educated in the US. A veteran war correspondent, Anderson has reported from most of the major conflict zones. He has published a number of fiction and nonfiction books, achieving notable success in 2013 with his Lawrence in Arabia, widely praised for his masterly combination of deep and detailed research with brilliant storytelling. This attractive writing style is in evidence throughout King of Kings, making it a compelling read as he delves into the dramatic fall of Shah Reza Pahlavi and the rise of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Anderson presents the Iranian Revolution as a pivotal event in world history, on a par with the French and Russian revolutions, with repercussions that still shape the Middle East and global politics. He believes that it set a precedent for the subsequent rise of both religious nationalism and populist uprisings against secular elites. A complex, Shakespearean figure Anderson portrays the shah as a complex, Shakespearean figure arrogant but weak, ambitious for his country yet blind to the growing unrest among his people. A soft man masquerading as a hard one, he writes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is equally uncompromising in his criticism of the many missteps by US governments, highlighting a series of miscalculations that led to the shahs downfall and the ensuing hostage crisis. Over his long reign, Pahlavi met with seven American presidents, but it was his relationship with Jimmy Carter that was seminal. The shahs wife, Farah, was offended by Carter from their first encounter, repelled by his constant flattery of her physical beauty to the exclusion of her political influence. Her husband, however, was delighted with Carters bonhomie and goodwill, though they proved a poor substitute for some sound advice and strong support that might have turned around the deteriorating political situation. In fact, Anderson finds that the Carter administration was deeply divided about how to respond to the growing unrest in Iran and proffered the shah conflicting advice, leaving him paralyzed politically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the State Department advised him to undertake political reforms and liberalization, believing this would quell dissent and stabilize the country, national security adviserZbigniew Brzezinski urged the shah to reestablish order through a forceful crackdown on opposition. The result was to leave him unsure as to which course to follow. This conflicting advice may have been partly due to the failure of the US security services to read the reality of Irans internal politics. Underestimating the opposition Anderson finds that US intelligence and diplomatic reporting consistently underestimated both the scale and the religious nature of the opposition. The CIA and State Department assumed that the shahs regime was stable because of its economic modernization and the apparent fragmentation of opposition groups. As proof of this assumption, Anderson quotes from a secret CIA report, produced just five months before the Islamic Revolution that swept the shah from his throne forever: The Shah will be an active participant in Iranian life well into the 1980s There will be no radical change in Iranian political behavior in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This failure was compounded by the inability of the US security services to appreciate the growing influence of Khomeini and the unifying power of religious symbolism in mobilizing mass protest. Even as intelligence pointed to the shahs growing weakness, US diplomats alternated between warnings and reassurances. The result on the vacillating shah was to suspend his taking action to counter the mounting danger. Cold War strategy Moreover, Anderson believes, the USs policy of unconditional support for the shah was rooted in Cold War strategy and the need to contain Soviet influence. This rigid approach, he believes, prevented a timely reassessment of policy, even as the shahs position became untenable. As an epilogue to the shahs unhappy history, Anderson recounts the event triggered on November 4, 1979, which would, he writes, become known as the Iranian hostage crisis although crisis seems an odd word to employ in describing an ordeal that was to stretch out for the next 444 days. US embassy hostages Iranian militants seized the US Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage. Meanwhile, the shah had been admitted to the US for medical treatment, a situation that enraged the Iranian regime led by Khomeini. The return of the shah and his assets to Iran formed part of its demands for the release of the hostages until the shah died in July 1980. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not until January 1981, just minutes after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president, that the hostages were released. Even today, writes Anderson, two controversies surrounding the 1979-81 hostage crisis remain unanswered. First, he wonders whether Khomeini approved the embassy takeover in advance and concludes that he did not; and second, whether Ronald Reagans election team sabotaged earlier efforts to release the hostages, thereby scuttling Carters chances for reelection. He appears to believe that, on balance, they probably did. Toward the end of the book, Anderson poses a series of questions about the events he has presented in so readable a fashion. Why did the shah so utterly fail to act to save himself as the walls closed in? Anderson asks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why did the United States not see the danger to one of its most vital allies until it was too late? To this, he provides an answer uncompromisingly critical of successive American governments. He has another query. To what extent did the Iranian Revolution spawn the rise of militant religious fundamentalism? This, he believes to be the case. King of Kings is a brilliant narrative history that not only provides a thoroughly readable account of one of the seminal events of the past half-century but also sheds a bright light on how the religio-political Middle East of 2025 came about. It is highly recommended. The writer is the Middle East correspondent for Eurasia Review. His latest book is Trump and the Holy Land: 2016-2020. Follow him at: www.a-mid-east-journal.blogspot.com. KING OF KINGS THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION: A STORY OF HUBRIS, DELUSION AND CATASTROPHIC MISCALCULATION ByScott Anderson Doubleday 512 pages; $27 Within minutes after he was released from a Tennessee jail Friday as he awaits criminal trial, Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Kilmar Abrego Garcia that he may be deported to Uganda, his attorneys said. If he pleaded guilty to criminal smuggling charges against him, Donald Trumps administration said he would be removed to Costa Rica, according to his attorneys. If not, he would be sent to Uganda, court filings show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wrongfully-deported Salvadoran immigrant has been ordered to report to ICEs Baltimore field office Monday morning, according to court documents. A federal judge in Maryland, who is overseeing his deportation case, has required the government to give him 72 hours' notice before initiating deportation proceedings. His lawyers accused the Department of Justice and Homeland Security of working in lockstep to coerce him into accepting a guilty plea in his criminal case, holding over his head the prospect of possible indefinite detention or worse in a country halfway across the world, according to court filings. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rages after Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a wrongly deported Maryland father, was released from a Tennessee jail Friday, calling him a 'monster' (AP) The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia in March, accusing the Salvadoran national of being a MS-13 gang member a label he and his attorneys have rejected and sent him to a brutal Salvadoran megaprison, where he was jailed for nearly one month. After ignoring several court orders for his return, the administration sent him to Tennessee, where a grand jury indicted him on federal smuggling charges. Last month, a federal judge ordered his pretrial release, finding the government failed to provide any evidence that warrants his detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the government said if he stayed in custody and pleaded guilty to both counts in the criminal indictment, then he would be removed to Costa Rica, after serving any time imposed by the court, his lawyers wrote in a Saturday filing. Costa Rica assured he could live freely as a refugee or with residency status and wouldnt be sent back to his home country, the lawyers said. But Abrego Garcia appears to have refused the arrangement and was released Friday. DHS then sent an email to Abrego Garcias attorneys, warning that ICE intended to deport the Salvadoran immigrant to Uganda no earlier than 72 hours from now and ordered he appear at an ICE filed office in Baltimore on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his release, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem branded Abrego Garcia a monster and accused the judge who allowed the Maryland father to return home disregarding Americans safety. Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country, she said in a statement. By ordering this monster loose on Americas streets, this judge has shown a complete disregard for the safety of the American people, she continued. We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country. Noem regularly uses inflammatory language about migrants as she implements the presidents anti-immigration agenda. DHS is facing a barrage of lawsuits over its aggressive deportation efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governments decision to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda makes it painfully clear that they are using the immigration system to punish him for exercising his constitutional rights, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, a lawyer for the Salvadoran national, told The Independent. There is a perfectly reasonable option available, Costa Rica, where he his family can visit him easily, but instead they are attempting to send him halfway across the world, to a country with documented human rights abuses and where he does not even speak the language. This is not justice; it is retaliation. Kilmar Abrego Garcia walks, after he has been released from the Putnam County Jail in Cookville, Tennessee (Reuters) Uganda and the U.S. reached a temporary deal in which the African country agreed to accept people who may not be granted asylum in the United States but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin, Ugandas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday. However, that deal excludes individuals with criminal records. The Independent has contacted DHS for more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, a senior DHS official told The Independent that Abrego Garcia wont be on American streets again. He entered the U.S. illegally as a teenager in 2011 after fleeing gang violence in his home country, and has since been living in Maryland with his wife, a U.S. citizen, and their three children. An immigration judge in 2019 allowed him to legally live and work in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds, preventing the government from sending him back to El Salvador. Despite this order, in March, he was removed to El Salvadors notoriously brutal CECOT prison. The government admitted in a court filing that his removal was due to an administrative error. In April, the Supreme Court ordered the government to facilitate his return to the U.S. Still, the Trump administration fought court orders and insisted he would never set foot in the U.S., branding him as a criminal gang member. Abrego Garcia has vehemently denied the claim and has never been charged with or convicted of being a member of any gang. Labours VAT raid has been blamed for the closure of a low-cost Christian private school. King Alfred, in Dudley, has joined the growing list of schools to shut since Rachel Reeves announced it would apply 20pc VAT to school fees. The 7,200 per year West Midlands school claimed to be the countrys flagship institution for classical Christian education. In a statement posted online, its founders said: The school leadership fought until the very end to keep the school open through fundraising and attracting new students, but unfortunately, we were not in a position to continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since VAT was applied to fees, many existing and prospective families have informed us that they can no longer afford to meet rising costs and have withdrawn their children from the school and applications for next year. Labours increase to employer National Insurance at last autumns Budget and the removal of charitable-status business rates relief were also blamed for the closure. Dwindling pupil numbers brought about by the increase in fees, and an uptick in rent for the use of the Methodist church in which the school is based were also cited as contributing reasons. Leaders said they will aim to reopen when there is a less hostile government to operate under and more viable class numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school, which was founded in 2021, was attended by 22 pupils at the time of its most recent Ofsted inspection. Annual school fees were 4,000 three years ago, but they had most recently jumped to 7,200. King Alfreds closure has been branded deeply concerning by Christian groups. Steve Beegoo, of Christian Concern, said: Its yet further evidence that low-cost, low-salary schools, providing excellent and innovative education, which save the state system money, are being financially targeted to the point of closure. King Alfred is one of dozens of schools to close since Labour announced its VAT charge on private school fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph has identified almost 50 schools that have shut their doors or are set to close as a result of the levy, which the Government hopes will raise 1.7bn. A legal challenge to overturn the Governments decision to apply VAT on fees failed earlier this summer. High Court judges who ruled in favour of the Government said the policy was proportionate in its aim to raise extra revenue for state schools. Claimants, including the Independent Schools Council, argued that the tax raid inhibits their fundamental right to education for some pupils, and disproportionately affects lower-income families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The High Court also rejected calls for a VAT exemption for independent religious schools, such as King Alfreds. The Chancellor has previously pledged that every penny raised will go towards state schools, yet Sir Keir Starmer announced last month that revenue would be spent on an affordable housing scheme. Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Legal Centre, said: This is making independent faith-based education unaffordable for many families, threatening the very existence of small Christian schools across the country. Education freedom is a cornerstone of a truly democratic society, and the ability of parents to choose a Christian education for their children must be protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this trend continues, we risk seeing independent Christian education become extinct. A government spokesman said: Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise 1.8bn a year by 2029-30 and help to recruit and retain an additional 6,500 teachers and raise school standards, supporting the 94pc of children in state schools to achieve and thrive. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID) has arrested another key accused in the inter-state human organ trafficking case linked to illegal kidney transplantations in Hyderabad, said a press release from Hyderabad police. According to officials, an anesthesiologist from Vishakhapatnam, was apprehended at Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, by a special CID team and produced before the L B Nagar Magistrate, Hyderabad, for judicial remand. The case, first reported at a Multi Speciality Hospital, Kothapet, Saroornagar, came to light following a complaint from the Deputy DM&HO, Ranga Reddy district. Initially registered at Saroornagar Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, it was later transferred to the CID for further investigation in April 2025. So far, 19 accused persons have been arrested in the case, CID officials said the arrested accused played a crucial role in the conspiracy along with other doctors, by allegedly administering anesthesia to donors and recipients during illegal kidney transplant surgeries conducted at certain Hospitals in Hyderabad. Investigations revealed that the prime accused, hired the doctor for administering anesthesia whenever illegal transplant surgeries were scheduled. For each surgery, the accused arrested doctor reportedly received Rs 2.5 lakh in cash from the prime accused. Issuing a statement, Charu Sinha, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, CID, Telangana, said efforts are currently underway to trace and apprehend other absconding accused linked to the case. Earlier, on July 28, Hyderabad police busted an illegal surrogacy and baby-selling racket in the limits of Gopalapuram. The police also seized medical equipment and medicines being used at the clinic, as well as mobile phones and digital devices used in the commission of the crime. Police also seized case records and surrogacy documents. The prime accused has been identified as the owner of Fertility Centres in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The racket came into light after a couple (complainant) were duped of Rs 35 lakhs to have a child through surrogacy; however, after making several payments to the clinic in due course of nine months, the couple discovered that the DNA of the newborn through surrogacy did not match theirs at all, the police said. After the couple filed a complaint against the clinic, the police conducted a detailed inquiry, which revealed that the main accused, was conducting a large-scale illegal surrogacy and fertility scam. The accused operated fertility centres in Vijayawada, Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Kondapur. She began medical practice in 1995 and transitioned into fertility and IVF services from 1998, police said in a statement. (ANI) The largest Christian college in the United States has been cleared of federal allegations after university officials said the school was unjustly targeted by the Biden administration. Grand Canyon University announced last week that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted unanimously to drop its lawsuit against the school. In 2023, the FTC under the Biden administration filed suit in federal court against GCU, its marketer Grand Canyon Education, Inc., and its president and CEO, Brian Mueller, claiming the defendants used deceptive advertising and engaged in illegal telemarketing. In addition to providing marketing services, Grand Canyon Education, Inc., provides recruiting and support services to the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This case, which we inherited from the previous administration, was filed nearly two years ago and has suffered losses in two motions to dismiss," FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said. "These losses are compounded by recent events: Grand Canyon secured a victory over the Department of Education in a related matter before the Ninth Circuit; the Department of Education rescinded a massive fine levied on related grounds; and the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that Grand Canyon University is properly claiming 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation designation." Democrat Professor Breaks Ranks To Challenge Wokeness Dominating American Universities The Biden FTC previously complained that the Arizona-based school misled prospective doctoral students about the amount of time it would take to finish its accelerated program, deceptively marketed the school as a nonprofit, and illegally called prospective students who submitted their contact information on the school's website but requested not to be contacted. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Education under the Biden administration denied GCUs nonprofit recognition after it was approved by the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education, the Internal Revenue Service, the State of Arizona, and the Higher Learning Commission. Mueller said the FTC dropping the charges ends "years of coordinated lawfare by government officials under the Biden Administration against the largest Christian university in the country." Chris Rufo Lays Out Reforms To Trump Administration On How To 'Save' Higher Education Mueller praised current FTC officials for taking what he called an objective look at the case and recognized the numerous agencies and courts that have already ruled in GCUs favor on the same allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As we have stated from the beginning, not only were these accusations false, but the opposite is true," Mueller said. "We go above and beyond what is required in our disclosures and are recognized as a leader in this area." Mueller previously told Fox News Digital that he believes the university was being unfairly targeted by the Biden administration, saying multiple federal agencies were involved in a coordinated attack against the school. "They threw everything they had at us for four years, and yet, despite every unjust accusation leveled against us, we have not only survived but have continued to thrive as a university," Mueller said in a press release. Former President Joe Biden The charges dropped by the FTC come after the Department of Education rescinded a $37.7 million fine in May 2025 against Grand Canyon for alleged deceptive practices. Original article source: Largest Christian university celebrates FTC dropping lawsuit, ending years of 'lawfare' from Biden admin CHICAGO Passengers on a Las Vegas-bound Air Canada flight made a brief stop in Chicago overnight after the airline said a disruptive passenger forced a diversion. According to an official from Air Canada, the incident unfolded as passengers on Air Canada flight 1705 were flying from Toronto to Las Vegas overnight on an Airbus A320, with 130 passengers on board. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the airline did not provide specific details on what exactly unfolded on the plane, officials said the disruptive passenger eventually forced the pilots to divert the plane to Chicagos OHare International Airport so crews could remove them from the flight. Officials said authorities met the planes crew once they landed and removed the passenger from the flight, which re-departed shortly after. The incident caused about a three-hour delay for flyers. Authorities have not provided details on whether the passenger is facing any 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 WGN-TV. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Police arrested a man on multiple felony charges for allegedly supplying synthetic drugs to inmates in Nevada and California prisons, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections. Authorities served a warrant at the home of Hoza Del Collins, 30, on Thursday, according to a news release. Collins is a former NDOC offender, previously incarcerated from February 2016 to February 2017, records said. Officers found toxic substances that they believe Collins used to create drugs, which he then allegedly supplied to Nevada and California prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metro police arrested Collins on charges of second-degree murder for supplying substances causing death, selling or transporting controlled substances, and furnishing controlled substances to a state prisoner. Police arrested Hoza Del Collins, 30, on multiple felony counts for allegedly supplying synthetic drugs to inmates in Nevada and California prisons. (NDOC) The arrest comes after a series of homicides in Nevada prisons. Officials said the drugs are believed to have played a role in some of the killings. Police booked Collins into the Clark County Detention Center without bail. His next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 26. NDOC officials said they were battling the introduction of synthetic drugs, typically made up of common household items like bug killers and cleaning agents. The release said they are working with multiple companies that have experience combating these issues through mail drug detection systems, illegal cell phone detection devices, and artificial intelligence tracking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said each individual reacts differently to the drugs. Some may overdose, lose consciousness, receive traumatic brain injuries, die, or have extreme behavioral changes, including violence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man accused of buying stolen merchandise and reselling it in Las Vegas was arrested and released on bail, only to be taken into custody by ICE the next day, police said. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said a three-month investigation into a organized retail theft ended with the arrest of 49-year-old Javier Becerril-Solis. Becerril-Solis purchased stolen property from thieves targeting retail stores, then sold the items at discounted prices at a local swap meet, according to LVMPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 21, investigators served search warrants at several locations connected to Becerril-Solis. While searching, police said they found $100,280 worth of shoes, purses, designer clothes, toys, and over-the-counter medications. Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) Photos of the stolen items recovered during search. (LVMPD) He was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on multiple charges, including participating in an organized retail theft ring greater than $10,000, burglary, and grand larceny over $3,500. The next day, Aug. 22, Becerril-Solis was released on bail. But immediately afterward, he was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, police 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 KLAS. Figuring out a way to correct blurry vision is a part of life for many of us. In the United States alone, roughly six million people are estimated to have some sort of vision loss and another one million are totally blind. To escape glasses and invasive contact lenses, many turn to more permanet corrective eye surgery, including the popular LASIK procedure. However, there might be a new vision correction method (that does not involve teeth) on the horizon that can do the same thing without the side effects. It was recently presented at the American Chemical Societys annual meeting. What is LASIK? LASIK (or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a surgical procedure that uses a laser to reshape the cornea to correct vision. Human corneas are the dome-shaped, clear structures that sit at the front of the eye. They bend incoming light and focus it onto the retina. From the retina, the light is sent to the brain and interpreted as an image. If the cornea is misshapen, it doesnt focus on the light properly, blurring the image that the brain is trying to interpret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During LASIK, specialized lasers remove precise sections of the tissue to reshape the cornea. It is a very common procedure and considered low risk. However, it still has some negative side-effects including eye pain, dry eyes, and seeing halos. It also has some limitations and risks since cutting the cornea can compromise the structural integrity of the eye LASIK is just a fancy way of doing traditional surgery. Its still carving tissueits just carving with a laser, said Michael Hill, a professor of chemistry at Occidental College who is working on a new way to correct vision without LASIK. [ Related: Apple snails can regrow their eyeballs. ] Enter electromechanical reshaping The procedure that Hill and his collaborator Brian Wong are exploring can achieve this same cornea shaping goal without making an incision. It uses a process known as electromechanical reshaping (EMR). EMR has previously been used to to reshape cartilage-rich rabbit ears and change scars and skin in pigs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole effect was discovered by accident, explains Wong, a professor and surgeon at the University of California, Irvine. I was looking at living tissues as moldable materials and discovered this whole process of chemical modification. Within the human body, collagen-containing tissues like the corneas are held together like a magnet, with oppositely charged components fusing together. These tissues contain a lot of water. Applying electric voltage to these watery tissues lowers the pH, making them more acidic. When the pH is altered, the rigid attractions within tissue loosens up and makes the shape more malleable. If the original pH is restored, the tissue locks into a new shape. The electromechanical reshaping technique successfully flattened this rabbit cornea, shown in a cross section, from its original shape (white line) to a corrected one (yellow line). CREDIT: Daniel Kim and Mimi Chen. In the experimental procedure, the team constructed specialized, platinum contact lenses. The lenses provided a template for the correct cornea shape. They placed the lens over a rabbit eyeball in a saline solution meant to mimic natural tears. When the team applied a small amount of voltage, the platinum lens generated the correct pH change. After roughly 60 seconds, the cornea conformed to the shape of the lens. The procedure took about the same amount of time that LASIK takes, but with fewer steps, less expensive equipment, and no incisions into the eye. The team repeated this setup on 12 separate rabbit eyeballs. Ten of the eyeballs that the team studied were treated as if they had myopia, or nearsightedness. In all 10 myopic eyeballs, vision was theoretically improved since the eyes targeted focusing power was fixed. The cells in these test eyeballs also survived the treatment, since the pH gradient was carefully controlled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, other experiments found that the technique may be capable of reversing some cloudiness to the cornea. [ Related: Bye bye, bifocals? New eye drops can fix farsightedness. ] In the early stage While promising, its important to remember that this work is in its very early stages. The team will next go through what Wong describes as, the long march through animal studies that are detailed and precise. These include tests on a living rabbit instead of just its eyeball. The team also plans to determine the types of vision problems that are possible to correct with EMR, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Theres a long road between what weve done and the clinic, says Hill. If the team can make it up to the operating room, this treatment could be less expensive and reverse blurry vision for good. In this undated photo, Chinook salmon spawn in Snake River. (Photo by Natalie Fobes/Getty Images) Editors note: This is the fourth installment of a four-part series on salmon. Part One described the emergency effort to rescue Washington states last population of Snake River spring and summer Chinook salmon, in the Tucannon River. Part Two explored salmon and steelhead extinction threshold science, showing the Pacific Northwest is entering extinction momentum that will be very difficult to escape. Part Three explored the good work that has restored the Grande Ronde and Imnaha river areas, more so than any other salmon landscape in the Snake River Basin. I conclude here this four-part reflection on salmon and steelhead extinction science, and extinctions approach and effects for rivers and people in Washington and Oregons Snake River tributaries. The last words go to many I interviewed, after a few more from me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thank everyone who talked with me: Amy Jayne, Bobby Fossek, John Milbert, Kevin March, David Baum, Noel March, Rick George, Joe McCormack, John Appleton, Henry Roller, Kyle Bratcher, Tucker Jones, Ed Bowles, Emmit Taylor, Ryan Kinzer, and Jay Hesse. I thank Hesse, Kinzer, Jones and Kasey Bliesner for data, Kinzer and Pete Sandrock for map help, and a few anonymous reviewers. I thank Pam Conley and Mike Beaty for introductions that got me started, and ongoing advice. I am responsible for any errors. More should have been interviewed but were not. Many threads worth following the 30-year relationship of area ranchers with river restoration, for example were not. Nor was I able to talk with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation or the Grande Ronde Model Watershed. Since this story cant be told without them, I have tried to fill in roles and some details from their websites. The Grande Ronde Model Watershed website is the best single place to get a feel for northeast Oregons river and water restoration story-in-progress. I believe the word extinction no longer penetrates, publicly or politically, as it did 40 or 20 years ago. Nor do salmon numbers dam counts, for example because there are too many numbers. Yet strong public and political awareness of the fishes dire condition is not optional if the lower Snake River is to be restored, so that Snake salmon and steelhead get their shot to restore themselves. Results on the Klamath, Elwha, White Salmon and other rivers strongly suggest that when salmon get that chance, they grab it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (For the scientific case to restore the lower Snake, by removing its dams, I recommend a webinar by Russ Thurow. Thurow is a U.S. Forest Service emeritus fish biologist, and main architect of comprehensive research and data sets for salmon and steelhead in Idahos Middle Fork Salmon River. The link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhaXzrd6wk0&t=1058s) The extinction threshold science is good, timely and action-focused. I also see its potential to show extinction in motion to people and leaders in mapped, named places whose human-salmon stories can be told, and perhaps more deeply heard by those in government who represent the people and places. When the Nez Perce Tribe releases its 2025 extinction threshold update, I hope salmon people studying it ask, can we show extinction risk in motion to Northwest people and leaders, year by year? In 2022, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, forthrightly said, we cannot under any circumstances allow the extinction of salmon to come to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But exactly that is underway. Can its pace and locations be shown to U.S. Sens. Murray, Maria Cantwell, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Jim Risch and Mike Crapo; to Northwest members of the U.S. House; to Govs. Tina Kotek, Bob Ferguson and Brad Little; and to Northwest people? As I researched this article, the federal administration and its agencies began a retreat from their responsibilities, to many tribes and the Northwest, to restore salmon and steelhead that federal actions are grinding to extinction. This retreat dishonors our nation, ignores what makes the Northwest a unique place on earth, and has 3 years more to run. For at least that long, Northwest people, leaders and institutions must counter federal retreat with equally visible engagement and support for salmon. This includes continued pursuit of public and political settlements to make Columbia and Snake River salmon, tribes and salmon communities whole, while keeping other river users whole or better. Its not an easy pursuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, when our nation shirks its responsibilities, who else but Northwest people, and our state, tribal and congressional leaders, must step in to fill the vacuum, with sustained action? What if salmon and steelhead in your rivers go extinct? I asked some of those I spoke with a hard question: What if sea-going salmon and steelhead in the rivers you know go extinct? Others have one more point to make about the situation or remedies. Retired attorney and fisherman Dave Baum: I used to try a case in Enterprise, get done at 5 or 6, drive to the Imnaha, 30 miles down to Cow Creek, to fish for steelhead. In October, Id start the hike about 9 p.m. I used a head lamp and wore high top leather boots for rattlesnakes. Id get to Eureka Bar on the Snake at 11 p.m, throw my bag out, and start fishing at dawn. Id fish the Snake an hour or two, then fish back up the Imnaha to Cow Creek. Walking that canyon, its vertical walls, is like being in fairyland. To me, extinction would mean no fishing for steelhead. Ryan Kinzer is the Nez Perce Tribe research scientist coordinating development of the extinction threshold data: We can see that in the 1980s, the Snake River populations showed significant variability. If one population was down, others were even or up. We started losing that around 2000. Now the populations are pretty synchronous in their decline. Thats bad. It means the species is losing its ability to refresh its parts and repair gaps. The danger rises of losing them all at once in a catastrophic event or two. This has happened in California, and can happen here. Kevin March on the Wallowa River. (Photo courtesy of Kevin March) Retired acupuncturist and fisherman Kevin March: I notice the habitat changes without salmon. The Wallowa River used to host freshwater mussels. Now I never see the shells. Its a real sign of decline. The dead steelhead and salmon arent in the river anymore. We still have much more habitat in the ag valleys to re-connect. And, when the Elwha and Condit dams went, the fish came back. Just let them have the chance. John Milbert and his exploring companion. (Photo courtesy of Ken Lewis) Fisherman and writer John Milbert, when he thinks about extinction, remembers Celilo Falls, the spectacular fishery drowned by The Dalles Dam in 1957. We lived on the coast back then, but we drove back to eastern Oregon every year. I was always awake at night, so I saw Celilo Falls, and The Dalles Dam being built as we drove. I didnt know what it meant, but it was interesting, all the lights and equipment. Then, on one trip, it was done. Where is Celilo? Where are the fish? What do the fishing people do now? I still think about it. If we lose salmon here, its the same thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ascension Center Director Amy Jayne: Teaching the reality is part of our curriculum. I think we understand how devastating salmon disappearance would be. This is their land. Salmon are sacred to our Indigenous relatives, therefore to us too. Extinction would be devastating. We want to have hope: a child finds a mussel, the water is cold, you can see the wonder. But we also have to face reality. Trout Unlimited river restorer Noel March: Extirpation in northeast Oregon would be devastating. To lose that wild connection, the living connection between the ocean and our inland rivers, would be profoundly sad. Theyve always been there for us, for the tribes and now for us all. Not returning the favor, and allowing them to slip away, would be a sad commentary on us. Joe McCormack, of the Joseph Band of the Nez Perce: Its a terrible loss for us. Without salmon, you strip tribal people of a large part of who we are. Our sustainability as a tribe rests on the shoulders of those Nez Perce in 1855 who secured our right to fish, in our treaty. Taking salmon away is like losing an arm, a leg, a heart. Joe McCormack is a Nez Perce Tribal member and leader of river restoration and community-building in the Imnaha and Grand Ronde watersheds. (Photo courtesy of Joe McCormack) Emmit Taylor, Nez Perce watershed program director: Salmon is a first food. Water is first and salmon second in the long house. In our creation story, salmon came forward and offered their lives for the people. Salmon are the leader. The fishery is food and culture for tribal people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Think of the abundance there was in Wallowa Country: spring and summer Chinook, steelhead, coho, sockeye, lamprey, bull trout They didnt just feed us, they fed eagles, bears, trees. Today the watersheds and the people only have a small fraction of what was here 150 years ago. Ed Bowles, former Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife chief of fisheries and salmon adviser to Oregon governors: Snake River salmon are facing extinction, population by population. But we also have evidence, from several sources including extinction threshold science, that intrinsic productivity is still there in these salmon and steelhead. It is NOT too late. Oregons view, based on our best assessment of the science, is that we have two salmon generations, eight to 10 years, to restore the lower Snake. That one action isnt all thats needed, but it is the necessary cornerstone for recovery, and must happen soon. This urgency is heightened given the need to secure continuity of services that the lower Snake currently provides, prior to restoration. Caretakers of the Lands Bobby Fossek: Our culture was brought upriver on the backs of the salmon. If salmon are healthy, people are healthy. Salmon stood up for human beings, and the health of the ecosystem, for thousands of years. Their decline and loss is apocalyptic to me. It has happened so fast. We are seeing the effects of living as if the health of fish and rivers are irrelevant. And Nez Perce elder Elmer Crow: We are the circle. Thats what life is all about. We take care of one another. So when we have someone in trouble, thats when the rest of us have to step in. Bobby Fossek, a resident of Cove, Oregon, manages an 80-acre restoration project on tributaries of Catherine Creek. Salmon stood up for human beings, and the health of the ecosystem, for thousands of years. Their decline and loss is apocalyptic to me, he says. (Photo courtesy of Bobby Fossek) Idaho Capital Sun originally published this article. Like the Alaska Beacon, the Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Washington (DC News Now) We are almost two weeks into President Donald Trump and his administrations takeover of DCs police force. On Thursday, Trump addressed between 100 200 National Guard troops and police personnel working in the district. Dr. Todd Belt returns to Capitol Review. He is the head of George Washington Universitys Political Management Program. Dr. Belt discusses the takeover and what we could see happen next. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Latimer Funeral Home hosted a community health and wellness fair Saturday. The event was free and celebrated 103 years of Rochesters longest-established African American business. Those who attended were able to enjoy live music, refreshments, raffles, and a champagne toast while meeting leaders in the Rochester community and public officials. People were also able to take part in health screenings while they were there. Latimer Funeral Home is located on 983 South Plymouth Avenue in Rochester. The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. 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 RochesterFirst. Aug. 22Health insurance costs for people who buy individual coverage through the Affordable Care Act could spike next year, affecting thousands of people across Washington state. Policy analysts are warning that the expiration of some premium tax credits next January will lead to significant out-of-pocket premiums perhaps up to 75% higher for ACA marketplace enrollees in Washington state. According to an analysis from Kaiser Family Foundation, this could increase by 75% for the average person, while people in rural communities could see an increase of much more, both individuals and families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A 60-year-old couple living in Pend Oreille County could see their monthly premiums increase from $581 to $1,835," said Matthew McGough, a policy analyst at Kaiser. One solution for people trying to curb the increase in cost is to purchase cheaper coverage, which might conversely increase out-of-pocket costs, should they need unexpected medical care. "Switching to a (lesser) plan might make sense for them. It keeps the premium a little bit lower, but they have to be prepared to pay more for health care, and potentially would need to make sure that they have enough savings if a medical emergency were to happen," McGough said. "Other people may have to find that they need to switch jobs now to find a job with employer coverage, but that can come with a big sacrifice, like giving up their own small business for the flexibility that comes with gig work," he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most people in Washington are either insured through company plans or are enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid. At a press conference at Washington State University's Spokane campus earlier this month, Sen. Maria Cantwell addressed the short- and long-term effects of rising health insurance costs. Cantwell was joined by Bidisha Mandal, professor and associate director of School of Economic Sciences at WSU; Gina Wolf, owner and operator of Wolf Chiropractic; and Nicole Sohn, founder and owner of Journey Discovery Center. During the conference, Mandal warned of the loss of premium tax credits that are part of the ACA. The federal subsidies have helped reduce monthly health insurance premiums for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes since 2021, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "At this point, we will revert to the pre-2021 system," Mandal said, which means "higher contributions from enrollees and a maximum income cap for eligibility. That means, for instance, individuals earning more than $63,000 or families of four making over $129,000 in 2025 would no longer qualify for any subsidy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cantwell said about 300,000 Washingtonians receive coverage through ACA marketplace plans, including about 20,000 in Eastern Washington and roughly 56,000 business owners across the state. "Now is not the time to basically cut Medicaid and have impacts on the system. Now is the time to make sure that we're continuing to get coverage, lower costs and help Washingtonians on affordability, when affordability is such a critical issue across many fronts food, household goods and a variety of other things," Cantwell said. "Let's not make healthcare more expensive," she said. Cantwell also noted that the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner announced that insurance companies are requesting a 21.2% base rate change increase for health insurance premiums to address the expiration of the tax credits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGough said this creates a "double-whammy effect" with the 75% increase on top of the 21.2% increase from insurers. "But these two increases are intrinsically tied, because the increase in monthly premium payments, after subsidy, by over 75%, will cause lower cost enrollees to be priced out of individual market coverage. This leaves a relatively 'sicker' and higher cost group of enrollees for insurers to cover, which will drive premiums higher than they otherwise would increase," McGough said. Wolf said the majority of people who benefit from the premium tax credits are older adults, rural residents, freelancers and small business owners. As a small business owner herself, she said that offering employer-sponsored coverage can be difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't often think that an employer-sponsored health plan can actually be a hindrance to our employees, because we're able to offer the group plan that we can afford, oftentimes, that (keeps) our younger employees from staying on their parents' plans," Wolf said. Sandra Johnson, a health care attorney based in Tonasket, said she is "greatly" concerned for her rural neighbors and others across Washington. With the new federal funding bill already putting financial pressure on rural hospitals, she said the last thing high-risk populations in these areas need is to worry about soaring insurance costs. "What we're talking about here is downstream effects that are going to take a while to manifest," Johnson said. "That Big Beautiful Bill is going to hurt more people over a shorter period of time than anything else this government has done in a very, very, very long time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Johnson said she represents only health care entities, such as critical access hospitals and larger hospitals across the country rather than health care consumers, she said this is all tied together. "This is going to hurt your neighbors and your friends, and the people who are in Congress right now are the people who put us here," Johnson said. "I think that is one of the saddest things I've ever seen in my lifetime." AUSTIN (KXAN) The Leander Independent School District released dash camera video from inside a school bus moments before it crashed in the Sandy Creek neighborhood last week. On the first day of school for the district, the bus was coming from Bagdad Elementary School around 3:15 p.m. carrying 42 children and an adult at the time of the crash, located in the 22100 block of Nameless Road. Eighteen people were taken to the hospital, including 17 children and the driver. Multiple students injured in Leander ISD school bus rollover crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the video, the perspective from the front of the bus shows a slick road with rain. You can see the bus cross the center line and then come back into its lane before going over the curb, eventually landing on its side. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened a safety investigation in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety into the crash. NTSB opens safety investigation into Leander ISD school bus crash The NTSB investigates significant events involving modes of transportation including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline and commercial space, according to the agencys website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver was placed on administrative leave, according to the district. KXAN submitted a public information request for the drivers training records, as well as any information related to their experience. The district will send that request to the attorney generals office on the basis of confidentiality. After the crash, many concerned viewers reached out to KXAN via email and on social media to talk about road safety in the area. There have been 110 crashes on Nameless Road, according to Texas Department of Transportation data, of which those crashes involved 178 people and 141 vehicles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A cloudburst struck the Tharali area of Chamoli district late on Friday night, prompting immediate relief and rescue operations by the district administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and police teams. Confirming the incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on X, "Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone's safety." The extent of damage and casualties is yet to be officially confirmed. The India Meteorological Department, on Friday, issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, forecasting thunderstorms/lightning and very intense rain at different parts of the state. The alert remains in effect till Saturday afternoon. According to the Meteorological Department, "In the next 24 hours (Orange Alert from 22.8.2025, 2:05 PM to 23.8.2025, 2:05 PM) there is a possibility of thunderstorms/lightning and very intense rain at different places in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Nainital, Almora and Udham Singh Nagar such as Kotdwar, Rishikesh, Gangotri, Kashipur, Kedarnath, Joshimath, Mussoorie, Munsyari, Lohaghat, Ranikhet, Khatima and adjoining areas". An orange alert is issued when heavy rainfall is anticipated, typically exceeding 115.6 mm and up to 204.4 mm within 24 hours. Apart from this, the Uttarkashi district administration is working tirelessly to open the temporary lake formed in Syanachatti due to debris blocking the Yamuna River. The efforts are being led by District Magistrate Prashant Arya, who has assured residents that the lake will be drained soon and all necessary safety measures are being taken. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade, and irrigation department have reached the site, utilizing rafts to navigate the lake. Despite the progress, full channelisation has not been achieved yet due to swamp conditions, prompting the relief and rescue team to consider alternative options. (ANI) The 50th anniversary for both the Ford Modeling Agency and Pantene hair care products. They celebrate together at 142 Mercer Street in Manhattan. Pictured are Ghislaine Maxwell and Donald Trump Credit - Richard CorkerysNY Daily News Archive via Getty Images The Department of Justice released transcripts this week from two days of interviews between Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed accomplice of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking related charges, was questioned as the Trump Administration faces a months-long political storm for its refusal to release the so-called Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressure has been building from Democrats and Republicans alike since the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a memo in July that denied the existence of a client list of powerful associates of Epsteins, ruled his death a suicide, and closed the case. The memo prompted a backlash from President Donald Trumps own supporters, many of whom had been told for years by people who are now in Trumps cabinet that there was a grand conspiracy to cover up both Epsteins suicide and his powerful clients. That move also drew greater scrutiny of Trumps decades-long documented friendship with Epstein, and new evidence of their relationship emerged in reporting by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. No evidence of any wrongdoing by Trump relating to the Epstein case has ever been proven, and he has denied claims made in those reports. Blanche posted a link to the transcripts and audio of his interviews with Maxwell on social media, writing that they were being released [i]n the interest of transparency. Maxwell, who was convicted for her part in Epsteins crimes of child sex trafficking and for grooming girls to be sexually abused, was interviewed by Blanche in the midst of this media storm in late July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the interviews with Blanche, Maxwell was moved to a minimum security prison usually reserved for people who have been convicted of financial crimes. Several House Democrats criticized the move in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying it raised concerns that the Trump Administration may now be attempting to tamper with a crucial witness, conceal President Trumps relationship with convicted sex offenders, and coax Ms. Maxwell into providing false or misleading testimony in order to protect the President. For the interview, Maxwell was granted limited immunity, meaning that whatever she said could not be used against her in a court of law. During the interview, Maxwell repeatedly claims that she did not introduce Epstein to any minors over the course of their relationship together. Some attorneys have also questioned the validity of Maxwells words, as she has in the past been charged with perjury for lying under oath. Here is what we learned from the 300 pages of transcripts of Blanches interview with Maxwell: Maxwell distances Trump from Epstein Given that one of the main reasons for Blanches visit was likely to ease the pressure on Trump over the Epstein files, it was inevitable that the President's name would come up in the interviews. It was raised on four occasions. Throughout, Maxwell appeared to draw distance between Trump and Epstein, describing them as friendly, but saying she did not witness him engaging in any sexually inappropriate behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think they were friendly, like people are in social settings. I don't think they were close friends, or I certainly never witnessed the President in any of I don't recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance, she said. She added that she never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. Maxwell said she may have met Trump back in 1990, before she met Epstein, due to him having been friendly with her father, media mogul Robert Maxwell. She also claimed that neither she nor Epstein ever poached workers from Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, which was down the street from Epsteins Palm Beach home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive never recruited a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago, Maxwell said, despite the accusations of the late Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was recruited at 16 by Maxwell from working at Mar-a-Lago and then later paid to have sex with Prince Andrew. Though Giuffre was never named in the interview, Maxwell denies Giuffres claims. Maxwells words contradict those of the President, though, who told reporters late last month that Epstein stole young women who worked at his Mar-a-Lago beach club spa, which led to Trump banning Epstein from his estate. She says there is no 'client list' At the center of many conspiracies regarding Epstein is his purported black book of clientsa list of powerful people to whom he allegedly trafficked his young victims. What many people allege is the black book has been previously published, and then published once more in February by Bondi in the first phase of declassified documents related to the Epstein case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The book features names including Trump and former President Bill Clinton, who were known to have met and socialised with Epstein, but also people named with whom he had never met, and thus listed names are not necessarily connected to his activities. Since then, though, the public has clamored for more evidence as to who exactly was involved in his crimes, though experts question whether a fully-fledged Epstein client list even exists. Maxwell denied the existence of a client list in her interview with Blancherepeatedly. There is no list. There is noI'm not aware of any blackmail, she said. I never heard that. I never saw it, never imagined it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell was also pressed on Epsteins relationship with Clinton, current Health and Human Services (HHS) director Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Prince Andrew, and former Trump ally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Maxwell did not share incriminating evidence of any high-profile individuals, and seemed to criticize media attention, especially on Trump and Clinton. Broadly, Maxwell stated that she never saw any man doing anything inappropriate: I never, ever saw any man doing something inappropriate with a woman of any age. I never saw inappropriate habits," Maxwell said, although she says it may have happened without her presence: Im not saying that Mr. Epstein did not do those thingsBut what I can say is that I did not participate in that activity. She did confirm Kennedys relationship with Epstein as friends, stating she had accompanied the two on a dinosaur bone hunting trip. She believes Epstein did not commit suicide Epsteins death in a federal prison in 2019, while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges, has also been the subject of conspiracy theories. In her interview with Blanche, Maxwell said she did not believe that Epstein had died by suicide. When pressed further by prosecutors about whether she had any knowledge or ideas of who killed him, she said she did not know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she believed it was someone inside the prison, rather than a hit on Epstein. In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will paysomebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary, she told prosecutors. If it is indeed murder, I believe it was an internal situation. She denies Epstein worked for Mossad Maxwell also denies conspiracies that have claimed a connection between Epstein and the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. When asked by Blanche if she had ever had contact with an individual from Mossad, Maxwell said: Not deliberately. When asked about Epstein, Maxwell said she didnt believe so but wouldnt know. Some question the reliability of Maxwells testimony The families of Epsteins victims and legal experts have questioned the validity of Maxwells testimony, especially since she has been charged twice for perjury for claims she made under oath in 2016 depositions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former U.S. District Attorney Joyce Vance said on X that Maxwell knows Trump is her only chance for release. That means any new testimony she offers is inherently unreliable unless backed by evidence. The family of Virginia Giuffre said they were outraged about the interview and that the information directly contradicts her conviction of child sex trafficking. During DAG Todd Blanches bizarre interview, [Maxwell] is never challenged about her court-proven lies, providing her a platform to rewrite history, the family said in a statement released on Saturday. This travesty of injustice entirely invalidates the experiences of the many brave survivors who put their safety, security, and lives on the line to ensure [Maxwells] conviction, including our sister. The family has spoken out against the possibility of Trump pardoning Maxwell since she was moved to a minimum security facility. Contact us at letters@time.com. NEED TO KNOW At least 12 people died and four others remain missing after a bridge collapsed on Aug. 22 A portion of the bridge fell after a steel cable snapped during construction Rescue efforts remain ongoing as of Aug. 23 Multiple people are dead and others remain missing after a bridge collapsed during construction. At around 3:10 p.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 22, a portion of the bridge in China's Qinghai province fell into the water below when a steel cable broke, local outlets China Daily and China News Service (CNS) reported. Chengdu Economic Daily/VCG via Getty Qinghai Railway bridge in China Qinghai Railway bridge in China The cable failure caused a steel girder arch measuring about 354 feet to collapse while 16 workers were on site at the time, the outlets said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve people have since been confirmed dead and four remain missing, according to China Daily, which cited the local emergency command headquarters. Chengdu Economic Daily/VCG via Getty Rescue operations are ongoing after a bridge collapsed during construction in the Qinghai Province of China on Aug. 22 Rescue operations are ongoing after a bridge collapsed during construction in the Qinghai Province of China on Aug. 22 The Ministry of Emergency Management in China has dispatched a rescue team amid the ongoing search for the missing, with a specific focus on those who fell into the water, CNS reported. More than 806 rescuers have been involved in searching for the victims, with 91 vehicles deployed including 27 boats, five robots and one helicopter, the outlet said. The overpass is the first steel truss arch railway bridge to be constructed over the Yellow River in China. It spans more than 5,236 feet in length and stands at around 426 feet above the water's surface, according to the local reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two cable towers that stand on either side of the bridge were completed on June 14. The main bridge connecting the towers was scheduled to be completed by the end of the month, per CNS. The Ministry of Emergency Management did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Saturday, Aug. 23. 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. Chengdu Economic Daily/VCG via Getty A view of a portion of the under-construction Jianzha Yellow River Bridge on Aug. 22 A view of a portion of the under-construction Jianzha Yellow River Bridge on Aug. 22 The incident occurred after another recent bridge collapse in China earlier this month, which resulted in multiple fatalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that incident, five people died and 24 others were injured after the cables on a suspension bridge broke in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture on Aug. 6, Chinese media outlets Global Times and the Xinhua News Agency reported at the time. Read the original article on People At least five people have died and dozens more were injured following a tour bus crash on I-90 roughly 25 miles east of Buffalo. The crash occurred Friday around 12:40 p.m. on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke in Genesee County, as the bus was traveling back to New York City from Niagara Falls. New York State Police said there were 54 people onboard the bus when it rolled over after hitting a median and wound up in a ditch on the side of the road. The passengers ranged in age from 1 to 74 years old, and most of were of Indian, Chinese and Filipino ethnicity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither the names nor ages of those who were killed had been released as of Friday night. While police initially believed at least one child had died in the wreck, authorities later said no children were known to have been among the five fatalities that had since been confirmed. However, everyone on board the bus suffered some level of injury, according to state police. Most of the passengers were not wearing their seatbelts and many had been ejected from the vehicle as the windows shattered. Several people, including children, remained trapped inside the bus hours after the accident. The Erie County Medical Center, a level 1 adult trauma center, reported receiving 24 patients from the scene of the crash, which hospitals officials believe to be the largest number of single-incident trauma patients theyve seen in 25 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ECMC Chief of Surgery Jeffrey Brewer told reporters his staff was treating victims with head injuries and broken extremities. Around 20 other people were reportedly being treated at different hospitals in the region, with six medical helicopters transporting people from the scene. In a statement on social media shortly after the crash, Gov. Kathy Hochul said shed been briefed on the tragic tour bus accident on the @NYSThruway and was coordinating closely with @nyspolice and local officials who are working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he was heartbroken for all those weve lost and all those injured and thanked first responders for their ongoing efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday evening, it was not clear what caused the bus to overturn, though police do not believe mechanical failure or intoxication were factors. New York State Trooper James OCallaghan said the driver appeared to have overcorrected after going into the median for unknown reasons. The bus was traveling at full speed at the time of the crash, but did not hit any other vehicles. M & Y Tour Inc., the Staten Island-based company that operates the bus, was cooperating with investigators, OCallaghan said, as was the driver, who is alive and well. No changes had been filed as of Friday. NEED TO KNOW At least six children drowned and 24 others were injured during a school trip to Abu Talat beach in Egypt on Aug. 23 The students who were transported to two nearby hospitals were being treated for drowning-related asphyxia Officials ordered the beach to close and issued warnings to indicate that the area has hazardous swimming conditions At least six children have drowned and two dozen others were injured during a school trip to a beach in Egypt. Egypts Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) confirmed that the incident happened while the children had been on a school trip organized by an aviation hospitality academy to Abu Talat beach in Alexandria, Egypt, on Saturday, Aug. 23, according to Roya News, Ahram Online and News of Bahrain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry told the outlets that 16 fully equipped ambulances were dispatched immediately to the scene and that several students received medical aid from first responders. Three students were treated on site for injuries, while 21 others were taken to nearby hospitals. Thirteen were transported to Agami Specialized Hospital and eight went to Al-Amreya General Hospital, and all were being treated for drowning-related asphyxia and were under the care of specialized teams, per Roya News and Ahram Online. It is unclear how the incident happened at this point. However, officials in Alexandria have ordered the beach to close and issued red-flag warnings to indicate that the area has hazardous sea conditions and that swimming is prohibited, per Identity Magazine. Getty Photos captured by the outlets showed several children being wheeled into ambulances on a stretcher by first responders. Some first responders could be seen holding specialized equipment as they prepared to help the students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Egypt's health minister, told the outlets that he was closely monitoring the situation and noted that the families affected by the event would have the health ministrys full support. Getty A beach in Alexandria, Egypt A beach in Alexandria, Egypt After the incident, the MoHP renewed its call for the public to follow beach safety guidelines especially during group outings and emphasized that prevention was still the best way to save lives, according to Roya News. According to Ahram Online, incidents of drowning in Egypt often spike in the summer, especially along the Mediterranean coast, where rougher sea conditions heighten the danger. 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. There are around 300,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The organization noted that children are the ones most susceptible to drowning, as children under the age of 5 accounting for nearly a quarter of all drowning deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WHO noted that drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4 and the third leading cause of death for children between the ages of 5 and 14. Read the original article on People (NewsNation) Less than eight months into President Donald Trumps second term, some people are putting money down as to who they think will soon leave the administration. The prediction market Kalshi has opened a market for contracts on who will leave the Trump administration this year. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino leads the group with 39% odds as of Friday, followed by his boss, FBI Director Kash Patel. Will Putin meet with Zelenskyy? As the war in Ukraine continues, the odds that leaders Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet spiked this week to as high as 70%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That followed Putins summit with President Donald Trump in Alaska last week. Since Monday, the odds have dropped to about 30% as of Friday. Newsoms 2028 nominee odds rise California Gov. Gavin Newsoms chances at becoming the 2028 Democratic nominee are increasing, at least according to Kalshi. Newsoms odds of representing Democrats on the next presidential ballot spiked, rising to 28% as of Friday. For the Republican nominee, Vice President JD Vance leads with 55% odds on Kalshi. Kalshi calculates odds based on contacts in each prediction market. NewsNations Steph Whiteside 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 NewsNation. Lebanon City Police have charged a 57-year-old man after he allegedly fired a shotgun at the entrance of a city night club. At 1:45 a.m. Aug. 23, police responded to a night club located in the 000 block of N. 9th St., for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, police discovered that an individual had fired a shotgun at the establishment's front door. Police said they discovered one individual sustained a minor injury. It was determined the injury was caused by shattering glass, not a gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The investigation revealed that a club patron was removed from the establishment due to behavioral issues inside," police said in a release. "While being removed, the individual threatened to return later." Police identified Lebanon City resident Melvin Robles as the alleged shooter. Robles was located and placed under arrest by police two hours after the initial incident. Robles was charged with aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, reckless endangerment, and simple assault Police asked anyone with information of this incident to contact Detective Derek Underkoffler at 717-272-6611 or submit a tip through Crimewatch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon police charge man for allegedly shooting at 9th St. night club In Lebanon, the pro-Iranian factions continue to take a wait and see approach as to whether the government will actually disarm Hezbollah. Lebanon is seeking to disarm armed groups that operate in various Palestinian refugee camps, according to media reports. Over the past several decades, the camps have been lawless areas where weapons are stockpiled. Palestinian terrorist groups and other armed groups have operated from the camps since the era of the Lebanese civil war. Factions linked to Hamas, Fatah, and others operate there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Arab Weekly, Lebanon begins disarmament of Palestinian factions with Fatah in Burj al-Barajneh, where Palestinian factions have long operated with relative autonomy in several of Lebanons 12 refugee camps, which fall largely outside the jurisdiction of the Lebanese state. The Burj al-Barajneh camp, in southern Beirut, was founded in 1948. Damaged in the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, it has grown from a few thousand residents in the 1980s to some 18,000 people today. Reports say many displaced Syrians also live in the area. The current Lebanese leadership is trying to consolidate arms in the hands of the state. It wants to take arms from Hezbollah, but it is concentrating on smaller factions first, such as disarming Druze factions and Palestinians. Demonstrators take part in a protest against the hunger crisis in Gaza, in Sidon, Lebanon July 25, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/AZIZ TAHER) 'No reason for Palestinians to have arms in Lebanon' The current Lebanese leadership is trying to consolidate arms in the hands of the state. It wants to take arms from Hezbollah, but it is concentrating on smaller factions first, such as disarming Druze factions and Palestinians. According to a report at the pro-Iranian Al-Akhbar Gebran Gerge Bassil, a Lebanese politician who is the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, gave a speech about the need to disarm various groups in Lebanon. He said Hezbollah must realize that circumstances have changed. Lebanons president and prime minister support the new policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Hezbollah must realize that circumstances have changed. Lebanons president and prime minister support the new policy. Heres the difference, Bassil said in a speech he delivered at the annual dinner of the Zahrani Judicial Authority. We want one army and one weapon. We want an arms monopoly. We want Hezbollah and all those who bear arms to realize that circumstances have changed and defending Lebanon has different requirements, the report said. This is where the mistake lies, he said. He is the one who created a wrong policy that tied Lebanon to foreign policies and foreign interests, for which they paid the price here and abroad, and which we have opposed since 2006. He further said that our mission is to defend Lebanon, and the Palestinians mission is to defend Palestine... therefore, we do not support Palestinian weapons, neither inside nor outside the camps. He said there was no reason for Palestinians to have arms in Lebanon. They should be fighting in Palestine, meaning in Israel or Gaza. We are with you in surrendering your weapons, not in staging plays. We are with you in entrusting the army with a mission it can actually carry out, not sending it into the abyss to fail because you made a decision, and we want it to succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Hossam Zaki was also quoted as saying that it is important for the Lebanese army to exclusively have weapons. In an interview with Cairo News Channel, Zaki said that his visit to Beirut is part of supporting the Lebanese states efforts to extend its sovereignty over all its territories and restrict its control of weapons. In Lebanon, the pro-Iranian factions continue to take a wait-and-see approach as to whether the government will actually disarm Hezbollah. So far, it is disarming the low-hanging fruit, choosing targets that it assumes will make it easy to legitimize its later efforts against Hezbollah. US envoy Tom Barrack and other American officials are watching closely. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is imminently expected to sign off on the states radically redrawn congressional map, igniting a national redistricting battle ahead of 2026 midterm elections with the balance of power in Congress at stake. The Republican governor said he will swiftly sign the map into law after the GOP-dominated state legislature gave it a final, party-line vote in the early hours of Saturday. The map, which sets the boundaries for each district that represents the state in the House of Representatives, was explicitly redrawn under President Donald Trumps command to ensure Republican candidates will win up to five new seats delivering a huge boost to preserve the GOPs thin House majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his closing statement in support of the map, Republican state Senator Phil King repeatedly warned that the GOP would lose the House majority without it, while insisting that the boundaries were not gerrymandered along racial lines. Hours later, a lawsuit accused the state of pushing a racially discriminatory map that unconstitutionally diminished the voting strength of Black and Hispanic Texans and dismantles minority-led districts to keep Republicans in power. The GOP-dominated state legislature in Texas gave final approval to the states new congressional boundaries in the early morning hours on August 23 (REUTERS) This map is legal in all respects, King said. Im convinced that if Texas does not take this action, there is an extreme risk that [the] Republican majority will be lost, he added. If it does, the next two years after the midterm, there will be nothing but inquisitions and impeachments and humiliation for our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Republicans advanced the map despite a group of Democratic lawmakers who left the state to break quorum in a long-shot bid to prevent the state legislature from doing any business during a 30-day special session requested by the governor. Dozens of Texas Democrats declared victory last week after staying out of the state for more than two weeks, temporarily blocking Republicans Trump-led gerrymandering campaign while bringing national attention to the fight. But a second special session was called, allowing Republican lawmakers to quickly take up another vote on the map. Democrats return to the state allowed them to create the legal record necessary to defeat this racist map in court, take our message to communities across the state and country, and inspire legislators across the country how to fight these undemocratic redistricting schemes in their own statehouses, Texas House of Representatives Minority Leader Gene Wu said in a statement this week. Governor Greg Abbott is expected to swiftly sign the map into law, triggering a nationwide redistricting battle and lawsuits accusing Texas Republicans of drawing congressional boundaries along racial lines that diminish Black and Latino voting power (AP) Despite Democrats petty stunts, we delivered on our promise, Abbott said Saturday. This map reflects Texans actual voting preferences, and I look forward to signing it into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas fight quickly escalated across the country, with both GOP-led and Democratic states pursuing mid-decade changes to their congressional maps in a political arms race that could lead to explosive legal battles as voters prepare to cast their ballots next year. On Thursday, Democratic lawmakers in California approved a new map that could swing five Republican-held seats to Democrats. Unlike the process for map changes in Texas, voters in California will have to approve the redistricting efforts in a referendum expected this November. Robert Weiner director of the voting rights project at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which represents the Texas NAACP in the ongoing lawsuit against Texas for racial gerrymandering said the Texas map is illegal. The architects of this racially discriminatory plan clearly targeted minority voters, he added. The legislators bulldozed important majority minority districts. It eliminates opportunities of Black and Brown people to elect their preferred candidates in multiple Congressional districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge will hold a hearing on the challenge on August 27. The League of Women Voters of the United States said the map is designed to rig elections and silence voters. Governor Abbott and Texas Republicans are abusing the redistricting process to bow down to an unpopular president who has no shame in thwarting the Constitution for his own benefit, the group said in a statement Saturday. "Texans deserve fair maps drawn to reflect their communities not partisan lines manipulated to entrench power, the statement said. This article was originally published in EducationNC. The U.S. military faced a new threat to national security toward the end of the 20th century. This threat affected the recruitment and retention of our nations armed forces, reducing their capacity to defend the denizens of the United States and our interests overseas. The threat wasnt the Cold War; it wasnt tension in the Middle East; and it wasnt international or domestic terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The threat was a lack of affordable, accessible, high-quality child care. The makeup of the armed forces changed following the shift from a national draft to an all-volunteer military after the war in Vietnam. More service members had families in the late 1970s and 1980s many of them with young children. And many more of those families included two working parents than in previous decades. The child care crisis faced by the military 40 to 50 years ago was similar to the one civilians face today. More families with working parents increased the demand for child care. Thousands of children languished on waitlists, forcing families to consider forms of supervision that lacked consistent standards for safety, teacher training, student/teacher ratios, and curricula. Teachers were poorly compensated, and turnover was high. Back then, as now, parents couldnt afford the fees necessary to cover the costs of addressing these challenges, and limited public investment wasnt enough to fill the gap. Graphic by Lanie Sorrow Because the child care crisis was seen as a threat to the collective future of Americans, elected officials took action. Congress passed the Military Child Care Act of 1989, which put a priority on affordability, accessibility, and quality in child care for service members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the end of child care stabilization efforts that were undertaken during the pandemic, North Carolinians now face a similar threat to our own collective future. The militarys approach offers lessons for where we can go from here, in our communities and across our state. An experiment in universal child care The Military Child Care Act wasnt the first time the military had taken the lead on child care. During World War II, women entered the workforce in massive numbers, filling the roles of men who were drafted to serve in the military. This raised the question of who would care for children when both parents were working outside the home to defend American interests. Congress responded with the Lanham Act of 1940, creating a nationwide, universal child care system to support working families with children through age 12. Federal grants were issued to communities that demonstrated their need for child care related to parents working in the defense industry. The program distributed $1.4 billion (in 2025 dollars) between 1943 and 1946 to more than 600 communities in 47 states. The grants could be used to build and maintain child care facilities, train and compensate teachers, and provide meals to students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his 2017 analysis of the Lanham Acts outcomes for mothers and children, Chris M. Herbst, of Arizona State Universitys School of Public Affairs, found that the Lanham Act increased maternal employment several years after the program was dismantled. An image of Rosie the Riveter from a 1943 issue of the magazine Hygeia (published by the American Medical Association) demonstrating the need for child care. Herbst also found that children exposed to the program were more likely to be employed, to have higher earnings, and to be less likely to receive cash assistance as adults. One lesson Herbst took from his research was that the Lanham Act was successful because of the broad support it received from parents, advocates for education and women, and employers. He noted: Each group was committed to its success because something larger was at stake. Todays military-operated child care model While the Lanham Act was a short-lived national experiment that hasnt received much study, the militarys child care program since adoption of the Military Child Care Act of 1989 has become a widely acclaimed model for publicly subsidized early care and learning, serving about 200,000 children each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four categories of child care are available through military-operated child care programs: Child Development Centers (CDCs), Family Child Care (FCC), 24/7 Centers, and School Aged Care (SAC). The official military child care website describes each program type: Child Development Centers (CDCs) CDCs provide child care services for infants, pretoddlers, toddlers, and preschoolers. They operate Monday through Friday during standard work hours, and depending on the location offer full-day, part-day, and hourly care. Family Child Care (FCC) Family child care is provided by qualified child care professionals in their homes. Designed for infants through school agers, each FCC provider determines what care they offer, which may include full-day, part-day, school year, summer camp, 24/7, and extended care. 24/7 Centers 24/7 Centers provide child care for infants through school age children in a home-like setting during both traditional and non-traditional hours on a regular basis. The program is designed to support watch standers or shift workers who work rotating or non-traditional schedules (i.e., evenings, overnights, and weekends). School Aged Care (SAC) School age care is facility-based care for children from the start of kindergarten through the end of the summer after seventh grade. This program type operates Monday through Friday during standard work hours. SAC programs provide both School Year Care and Summer Camp. Requirements for military-operated child care programs are typically more stringent than state requirements. For one thing, they must be accredited by one of the following: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA), the Council on Accreditation (COA), or the National Accreditation Commission (NAC). For context, the requirements for licensed child care in North Carolina are relatively stringent compared with other states, but still fall below the requirements for NAEYC accreditation, which is widely recognized as the national standard. Only 110 programs in our state are NAEYC-accredited many of which are Head Start or military-operated programs out of about 5,300 total state-licensed programs. Military-operated child care programs offer families hourly, part-day, full-day, extended, or overnight care, plus afterschool and summer programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fees are on a sliding scale based on income, ranging from $45 to $224 per week. The maximum rate is on par with the national average for civilian child care in 2023, meaning that almost every family using military-operated child care programs is paying less than the national average for typically higher-quality early care and learning. The Department of Defense budgeted about $1.8 billion for child care in 2024 about 0.2% of its $841.4 billion total budget. Military child care in North Carolina In addition to military-operated child care programs, service members may be eligible for Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN), a fee assistance program for families who cant access military-operated child care. MCCYN pays a portion of the cost of enrolling children in early care and learning programs that meet the militarys high-quality standards in their community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Carolina is one of 19 locations where military families may be eligible for MCCYN-PLUS, which expands the MCCYN program to child care programs that participate in state or local Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) in places where nationally accredited care is not available. Both programs rely on the availability of high-quality child care in civilian communities. Thats a challenge in North Carolina, which was already facing a child care shortage before the pandemic. Our state has lost almost 6% of licensed child care programs since February 2020, with more expected to close because stabilization grants have ended. According to the NC Military Affairs Commission, there are 12 military bases and more than 130,000 active-duty military members in North Carolina, giving us the fourth-largest active-duty military population in the nation. In January 2025, Fayetteville Technical Community College hosted the states first N.C. Military Community Childcare Summit, organized by the North Carolina Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (NCDMVA) to discuss the problem that military communities are having with access to community-based child care. The first N.C. Military Community Childcare Summit in January 2025.( Katie Dukes/EdNC) The summit culminated in a screening of Take Care, a documentary about North Carolinas child care crisis produced by the state Department of Health and Human Services and featuring EdNCs early childhood reporter, Liz Bell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along similar lines, at the North Carolina Defense Summit in April 2025, the theme was Spouse Resilience, and the summit included a panel and presentation on child care. Higher compensation for higher quality The issues of spouse resilience and child care are inextricably linked for Angie Mullennix, who works for The Honor Foundation at Fort Bragg, helping members of the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) transition to careers in the private sector after their military service. Mullennix served in the U.S. Army for four years after high school and has previously worked for the Department of Public Instruction as the state military liaison. Her husband recently retired from the SOF himself. They have two teenage children. If you look at the number of military spouses in North Carolina who have degrees and credentials and could be in the workforce, from nurses to lawyers, lots of them are staying at home, Mullennix said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A big reason why about 40% of (military) spouses do not work is because of child care not being available to them, Mullennix said, noting that lack of child care is also a barrier to workforce participation among the civilian population. When Mullennixs children were under the age of 5, she used hourly child care on base, which was available at no cost when her husband was away on assignment. You ask any parent in the world, I dont care who they are, theres nothing more important than their childs safety then their education, Mullennix said. And yet, the two things we think are the most important, we put (their providers) at the lowest pay and ask them to do quality care. Thats what sets military child care apart from civilian early care and learning for Mullennix: high quality standards and higher pay for early childhood educators, including benefits. She sees lessons in this for North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You gotta pay them to keep them, theres no secret behind that, Mullennix said. If you pay them high, you can also set the standards really high. And because workforce participation and military readiness is directly tied to the accessibility and affordability of high-quality child care, not investing in it threatens our collective future. North Carolina, or any state that doesnt offer child care, is shooting itself in the foot, Mullennix said. Lessons from military child care Policymakers at every level who are seeking to end the child care crisis can learn much from the military child care model. One report on the topic offers these lessons: Do not be daunted by the task. It is possible to take a woefully inadequate child care system and dramatically improve it. Recognize and acknowledge the seriousness of the child care problem and the consequences of inaction. Improve quality by establishing and enforcing comprehensive standards, assisting providers in becoming accredited, and enhancing provider compensation and training. Keep parent fees affordable through subsidies. Expand the availability of all kinds of care by continually assessing unmet need and taking concrete action steps to address it. Commit the resources necessary to get the job done. That report was published 25 years ago by the National Womens Law Center, but its lessons hold up today. Similar lessons have been highlighted in more recent articles published by The New York Times, The 74 Million, and New America, along with the final report published by Mission: Readiness before the Council for a Strong America dissolved last year. EdNC ran these lessons by Susan Gale Perry, CEO of Child Care Aware of America, and Linda Smith, director of policy for the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska and one of the primary architects of the military child care system. Both agreed these are the right takeaways for policymakers across North Carolina to consider. Lesson 1: Do not be daunted by the task Gale Perry said the top lesson for her is: Start where you are, know that change is possible, and have a goal post in mind. She pointed out that the militarys goal wasnt a fully publicly funded child care system. It was a system that acknowledged Americans values around the role of parents in raising young children and paying for their care and education. But also that their employers and the government have a role in offsetting that cost, so that we can ensure that child care is quality, and it is stable, and that the families can actually afford it. Smith said there was no silver bullet when she and her colleagues were tasked with solving the militarys child care crisis in the 1990s and there isnt one for the civilian child care crisis today. We had to redo the standards, we had to look at the workforce, we had to look at the health and safety issues, we had to look at the fees and how we could bring those fees down. We had to look at the infrastructure of all of it. Weve got to start thinking about the interconnectedness of all of these things if were going to be successful in this country. Smith said people think that because she worked for the secretary of defense, I could just tell all the bases what to do, and that would magically happen, which is so not true. It wasnt just like we could give an order and everybody jumped. She said you just have to start where you are, and move up. Lesson 2: Acknowledge the seriousness of the problem and the consequences of inaction The military understood very early the link between people getting to work and child care, Smith said. As the military shifted away from relying on conscription and became a more welcoming workplace for women, the need for child care became evident. Smith described working on a base where children were routinely left in cars when their parents were unexpectedly called into work. So (military leaders) really got the connection to their guys going to work very quickly, and I think that we still havent all understood that in this country, Smith said, though she notes businesses have started making that connection since the pandemic. The other thing the military understood was that a pilot is every bit as important as the mechanic who works on the plane, and so they invest in all of their people, Smith said. She and her team had to design a program that worked for everyone, or it wouldnt work for anyone. Lesson 3: Improve quality Smith said quality was of critical importance when she was designing the militarys child care system in the 1990s, especially after child abuse and neglect scandals that came to light in the 1980s. She and her team studied the child care standards of all 50 states and created a set of military standards that fell squarely in the middle. Then they set about training the 22,000 early childhood educators they already had most of whom were military spouses to meet those standards. That was a six-month training program. Then there was an 18-month training to get them to move beyond those standards toward national accreditation. They hired highly qualified trainers to work with educators at each site. And if you didnt do it, guess what? Youre fired! Smith said. There was an incentive to participate in the training, beyond keeping their jobs higher compensation. Maybe some were grumpy about it, but we didnt have to fire people, Smith said. North Carolina already has some tools in place to help educators advance their education and improve their compensation, specifically through the WAGE$ and TEACH programs both of which were highlighted in the report that identified these lessons. (The military) realized they had to get serious about quality and quality standards. And I would say thats a lesson for us now, particularly in a climate that is deregulatory, Gale Perry said. And while Im for sensible regulatory reform, I think we have to be really thoughtful about not wanting stacks of child deaths in child care sitting on a desk waiting to be investigated. Lesson 4: Keep parent fees affordable through subsidies Smith said that while designing the militarys child care program, she and her team figured out that there was no way parents could afford the actual cost of high-quality child care. So they set up a subsidized system that would provide a 50% match on average to parents fees, paid directly to child care programs. We had to, on average, match parent fees dollar-for-dollar, with the higher-income people paying more and the lower-income paying less, Smith said. So a major, for example, would pay two-thirds of the cost, and a private would pay one-third, but the average was 50/50. Smith pointed out that were already subsidizing child care in ways that are hidden through the public benefits and social programs that early childhood educators often rely on because of low compensation, and through lack of workforce participation. Lesson 5: Expand the availability of all kinds of care Gale Perry said the militarys model really stands out to her for its ability to assess unmet needs and take action to improve. In the early 2000s when there were the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there were a lot of deployments of National Guard and Reserve who did not live on post and did not have access to on-post child care, Gale Perry said. That is really when the military got in the business of thinking about, how do we help build capacity and make child care accessible for military families off post? Thats when the MCCYN came about, subsidizing high-quality early care and learning in a broader array of settings in the communities where service members live. Smith said that the Military Child Care Act was originally targeted toward child care centers, but she recalls briefing the assistant secretary of defense on the potential effects of that strategy when they were designing the system: I remember saying we need to apply all of this to family child care, to school-aged care, to part-day preschools, because if we dont, all the parents are going to have a demand on these centers that we cant meet, right? Because if you lower the cost in the centers and you improve the quality, why would somebody go to another place when they get it cheaper and better over here? She made the case for educators in every setting getting the same access to training and the same level of compensation, because thats what would work best for everyone. Everything applies to everybody, Smith said. And I think that was one of the smartest policy decisions we made. Lesson 6: Commit the resources necessary to get the job done There was this perception that we just had a lot of money and we threw it at child care, Smith said. But that wasnt the case. When they passed the Military Child Care Act, it didnt come with an appropriation, Gale Perry said. So they had to fight equally hard for the funding, and a lot of the funding actually ended up coming from local base commanders making the decision to invest in child care. Now the military submits a budget request to Congress each year, and depends on those appropriations. For state and local policymakers seeking to solve the civilian child care crisis without public investment, the woman credited with solving the militarys own child care crisis 35 years ago has a message. Its gonna cost. Theres no way it doesnt cost, Smith said. This article first appeared on EdNC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. New York Attorney General Letitia James is not backing down. Her sprawling business fraud case against President Trump took a meteoric hit when a divided appeals court Thursday threw out the roughly $500 million civil fraud penalty against him and his company despite keeping the case intact. However, she vowed to appeal to the states highest court, even as the Justice Department has turned up the heat on her, pursuing probes scrutinizing her office and personal real estate in an escalation of Trumps vows for retribution against his foes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James is among Trumps most prominent adversaries after winning the civil fraud case against him and his business, resulting in a finding that he altered his net worth for tax and insurance benefits a blow to his real estate mogul image. It puts New Yorks top prosecutor back on a collision course with the president. I do think its clear that this is retribution, said Catherine Christian, a veteran New York trial lawyer who has closely followed the case. This is like, Im paying you back for what you did to me, she said. Before the decision came down, DOJ had already stepped up its pressure campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of New York earlier this month issued two subpoenas seeking information tied to Jamess cases against the presidents Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association (NRA). In the fraud case, which James brought against Trump in 2022, a trial court judge found Trump, his two eldest sons and the company liable for fraud. He ordered them to pay $464 million, plus daily interest that had raised the total to more than $527 million by Thursdays appeals court ruling. The five-judge panel in New Yorks mid-level Appellate Division agreed on little more than that the monetary penalty was unlawfully excessive. Despite none of the courts three opinions garnering majority support, a consensus was reached to move the case forward to the Court of Appeals, New Yorks top court. It almost looked to me like the Appellate Division was passing the buck to the Court of Appeals to make the final decision, said Bennett Gershman, a law professor at Pace University and former New York prosecutor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James sued the NRA and its top leadership in 2020. A judge last year found NRA head Wayne LaPierre misspent millions of the organizations dollars to fund a lavish lifestyle and ordered him to pay the NRA $4.35 million in damages. The groups retired former finance chief, Wilson Phillips, was ordered to pay $2 million to the NRA, and the court later directed the organization to enact more than a dozen reforms to its governance to avoid future violations. Both the business fraud and NRA suits prompted criticism from the political right that James, a Democrat, was using her office to go after conservative leaders and companies. But the Trump administrations focus on James now doesnt stop at her work as New Yorks attorney general. The Justice Department is also probing a criminal referral made by the Federal Housing Finance Agency that alleges James claimed a Virginia home as her primary residence to secure advantageous loan terms. The agency suggested that James falsified bank documents and property records to acquire better terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ed Martin, now Trumps weaponization czar, among other titles, after failing to earn Senate confirmation as U.S. attorney for D.C., was tapped to lead the investigation. He wrote in a letter last week to Jamess lawyer, Abbe Lowell, that the New York attorney general would best serve the good of the state and nation by resigning from her post. I would take this as an act of good faith, Martin wrote. He later posed for a photo outside Jamess Brooklyn home. The Hill reached out for comment. Lowell wrote in a Monday letter back to Martin obtained by The Hill that the display amounted to a breach of professional conduct, suggesting the truly bizarre, made-for-media stunt falls outside the bounds of DOJ and ethics rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawyer also criticized Martin for seeming to seek revenge against James. All the above indicate to me that you are not conducting a serious investigation or review of mortgage fraud, and that, despite the lack of evidence or law, you will take whatever actions you have been directed to take to make good on President Trumps and Attorney General Bondis calls for revenge for that reason alone, Lowell wrote. Christian, who once tried a case against James, said she doesnt think the attorney general will be intimidated by the Justice Departments efforts but called them highly unprofessional and just inappropriate. If its true that thats the crime that theyre investigating, you cant get more frivolous than that, Christian said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Departments probes follow years of accusations from Trump that James has weaponized the courts for political gain. A spokesperson for the presidents legal team on Thursday called the civil fraud case a political crusade and lawfare campaign against the president. One judge on the New York appeal court panel seemed to agree. Judge David Friedman, who wrote one of the courts three opinions, claimed the record made clear James sought to use the law and judicial system for political ends, pointing to the attorney generals 2018 campaign vows to investigate Trump. But Judges Peter Moulton and Dianne Renwick, who wrote the principal opinion, said the antithesis is true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argued that the political choice for James would have been to leave the case alone, avoiding a fight with a powerful adversary. Her allegations have been tested at every stage of this maximalist litigation and for the most part have been upheld, they wrote. We now have before us the evidence the Attorney General amassed and it demonstrates that defendants engaged in a decade-long pattern of financial fraud and illegality. James herself on Thursday doubled down, saying that it should not be lost to history that another court had found Trump violated the law and her case has merit. Though Trump and the other defendants have not yet said whether they will also appeal, a high-stakes battle at New Yorks highest court seems destined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody knows that what theyre deciding is a case involving the fate of the president of the United States his business, his reputation, Gershman said. Is that going to be a significant factor? Who knows, he added. You cant really do more than speculate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tamil Nadu Minister for Natural Resources, Courts, Prisons and Prevention of Corruption, S Regupathy, sharply criticised the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill that proposes automatic disqualification of elected representatives if they spend 30 days in prison. Speaking to reporters at the Pudukkottai District Collectorate after attending a Tamil Nadu Sanitation Workers Welfare Board event, Regupathy alleged that such legislative moves are intended to "suppress opposition parties" in states not ruled by the central party. Regupathy said, "Such laws are being introduced only to suppress opposition parties in states ruled by them and to indirectly snatch away power. However, these moves will be checked through the judiciary and Parliament." Regupathy dismissed the recent statement of AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami in which the latter claimed that the "only party with the power to defeat the DMK is AIADMK." "There may be several parties contesting in Tamil Nadu, but none with the strength to oppose the DMK. Still, many opposition groups exist. If Edappadi Palaniswami says only he can eliminate the DMK, let him keep saying so. But that statement will neither resonate in the elections nor among the people. No matter how many triangular or multi-cornered contests there may be, the DMK alliance will secure an easy victor," the Tamil Nadu Minister said. Regupathy also referenced TVK President Vijay's recent statements and called the actor-turned-politician's party a C Team, brushing aside further questions. "Let Vijay himself find out and say where the AIADMK nurtured by MGR stands today. If Vijay, the TVK President, criticizes the BJP, that is only an understanding between them. Whether it is BRO or Uncle, my stand is No comments. We don't even consider Edappadi Palaniswami as the opposition in the upcoming elections. Whichever alliance he may join, the DMK alliance remains an unshakable force," he said. The reaction comes after, TVK chief and actor Vijay addressed a conference for party workers in Madurai. During his address, the TVK president accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of maintaining a "secret alliance" with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and questioned Chief Minister MK Stalin over the law and order situation in the state. "Uncle Stalin, if you have a conscience, please answer the questions we are asking. In the government you are running, is there honesty? Is it free from corruption? Is law and order being maintained properly? Are women and the general public safe? Tell us, my dear uncle, tell us," Vijay said. "DMK government is secretly maintaining ties with the BJP. When DMK is in the opposition, they shout 'Go back Modi!' but once they are in power, (they) welcome Modi. DMK has a secret alliance with the BJP. Does drama as if they are opposing the BJP," he added. The Election Commission has announced that polling for the Vice Presidential election will take place on September 9, with counting of votes scheduled for the same day. The Vice Presidential post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons. (ANI) Aug. 23An unofficial task force is targeting people who view, share or make child pornography in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. The group is anchored by Lewiston Police Department detectives and is partnered with the FBI, Moscow Police Department and Nez Perce County Prosecutors Office. That queasy feeling you get from so many troubling headlines is an indication that the task force is making a difference. In 2023, the group arrested one man for possession of child pornography. They arrested eight in 2024, and four so far this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These arrests are significant for a city of just 35,000 people. And the community is safer as child predators are pulled out of the shadows and into the justice system's spotlight. "I became a detective in 2015," said LPD Det. Cody Bloomsburg. "One of my first cases I really don't want to talk about involved this. I had interviewed the child victim and I interviewed the suspect. Yeah, it stuck with me forever." Bloomsburg took basic training to qualify for cybertips and began adding child porn cases to his workload. The crew for the "unofficial task force" began to take shape. After a few years with no computer forensic specialist, Det. Zach Thomas showed up at the LPD. Soon a valuable federal partner, FBI Agent Rob Hille, joined the mix in 2022. They can expand forensic computer capacity by relying on the Moscow Police Department's forensic detectives, Lawrence Mowery and Andrew Fox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, NPC Chief Criminal Prosecutor April Smith is an important partner as the person who turns the investigative work into state and federal court convictions. Bloomsburg and Thomas are the core "task force," said their boss, Det. Sgt. Nick Eylar. The task force is unofficial because they all have a full load of other investigative work: murder, robbery, aggravated assaults. The computer experts You need computer experts to search hard-drives and unlock cellphones to find evidence for these crimes. From 2019 to 2021, there was no forensic computer detective at LPD. When Chief Jason Kuzik took the department's helm in 2022, he brought on Thomas and sent him to training. Also, the department had thousands of dollars worth of equipment donated by the FBI, along with purchasing about $30,000 of computer equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In 2022, the band was together, and from there, Zach has gotten exponentially better at his job when it comes to mobile devices. Zach is outstanding," Bloomsburg said. Thomas, like everyone else, spends more than 80% of his time on other cases, and sharing his expertise with other area law enforcement. His specialty is cracking into cellphones. Moscow police have different equipment and are pros with computer laptops and such. Thomas, holding a cellphone, explained that cellphones present a different challenge: "At the most basic level, it's all ones and zeros, but once you get a few levels up, like this is designed for you not to be able to break into it if I lose it." Gleaning cellphones and computers for evidence is a crucial component of building cases. When coupled with the strong interrogation skills of Bloomsburg and Hille, the group has taken persuasive evidence to prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Real victims These kinds of crimes may seem less visceral than what police call "touch crimes," such as groping or rape. But evey illegal image was made of a real child, which creates Child Sexual Abuse Material, commonly called child porn. The one 2023 arrest culminated last month into the federal conviction of Ronald L. Asker Jr., 57, of Lewiston, for possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye sentenced Asker to three years in prison to be followed by 15 years of parole. Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, Nye ordered Asker to pay $9,000 in restitution: $3,000 each to trust accounts in Washington state for "Pia," "April" and "Maria." The names may be aliases, but the victims are real kids. Investigators view the worst kinds of cruelty over and over. But that grim task leads them to evidence such as online chat histories where one child predator seeks abusive material from another. They will share fantasies and develop plans to leap from fantasy to reality, conjuring ways to trap, abuse and exploit children. "It is the only crime that we investigate where the suspects will show us a video of exactly what they want to do, and then tell us why they want to do it, and they will spare no detail," Bloomsburg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, if the detectives get a cybertip or a detective calls from out of state with a line on someone their own prosecutors won't chase, Lewiston police are game for the challenge. A Colorado detective's tip led to a federal indictment of a local man. The partnership with FBI agent Hille led to charges against an Arkansas man for exploiting a Latah County child. Detectives believe they stop people who would inevitably try to move from viewing and trading child porn, to producing it. "You typically see a pattern of escalation in their life," Thomas said. "Sometimes they'll start out with stuff that's kind of adjacent to what we would consider illegal imagery and then at some point that's not enough. It's almost like drug usage, in some ways, where you start out with whatever dose of what you're using, then at some point that's not enough. So maybe you switch to something else, maybe up your dose, do whatever." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors as partners The team leans heavily on the expertise and commitment of NPC Chief Prosecutor April Smith. At 46, she's a lifelong Lewiston resident and has a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney designation, allowing her to prosecute federal cases. Smith said the big story here is the detectives. But her role with the "unofficial task force" is key. "We do really work together, we staff the cases together, we're talking about the cases together," Smith said. "So we all know what's going on, what cases are coming up, what investigations are being worked on right now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith said the good investigative work makes strong cases, which leads to judges setting high bonds. And, defendants are more likely to plead guilty. "We have not had to go forward with a trial for a sexual exploitation of a child case because of the front-loading work," Smith said. None of the cases currently moving through the system are set for trial either. As Smith explains her critical role in dragging child predators into the light, she speaks praises the detectives: "We are lucky to have detectives who will dedicate themselves to crimes like this to protect children and to make it so people understand that they will get caught; and that the way you can mask your identity on the internet really doesn't work they will find you and you will be prosecuted for those crimes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other help The task force has plenty of other partners, Bloomsburg mentioned Darin Boyd from Clarkston Police Department and Jackie Nichols of the Asotin County Sheriff's Office, who have helped on cases. The group also shares their expertise on cases throughout Idaho. Ferguson can be reached at dferguson@lmtribune.com. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) If you are interested in getting a haircut at Cruzitos Barbershop, youd be well advised to book one now after a viral sensation caused them to be booked up for a month. Off one simple video, said Emmanuel Coronado, the barber at Cruzitos Barbershop. I get a lot of followers, a lot of views, and even a lot of the clientele that came into the shop. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner of Cruzitos Barbershop first opened its doors back in 2020. I started my shop in Sergeant Bluff, said the owner of Cruzitos Barbershop, Cruz. It kind of blew up there, and Sergeant Bluff, you know, I had a lot of word of mouth. You know, Im not too much of a social media type of guy. At that time, Cruzs second in command, Emmanuel Coronado, wasnt interested in cutting hair but quickly found out he had a talent for it after being asked to cut his friends hair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Went to go buy some cheap Walmart clippers and kind of went at it, said Coronado. And then next thing you know, he started telling people I was the guy to go to for haircuts, even though it was my first day cutting hair. In January of this year, Coronado decided to team up with Cruz. We were talking over it and then, and so I finally made a decision to do it, Coronado said. And then here I am now, you know. Shortly after joining the team, Coronado began uploading his own videos, which quickly went viral. We started getting customers saying, hey, you know, weve seen the other barber on TikTok or Instagram, you know, so he kind of blew up like that, said Cruz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon, people across the country were seeing his posts. Somebody has traveled far from down in Texas, Coronado said. That was the one video that also popped off. Coronado expressed that none of this would have happened without Cruz taking him under his wing. I got to thank Cruz for giving me the opportunity, Coronado said. You know, its the first time Im in a barbershop, and for it to go this well, you know, its just like I said, Im not taking it for granted, and Im real thankful for the opportunity. Cruz hopes to add more shops in the near future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. A local city received a $95,000 grant to boost neighborhood clean-up and housing opportunities. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The City of Riverside announced this week that they were awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to support ongoing efforts to clean up neighborhoods, remove blighted properties, and open the door for new housing opportunities. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grant, provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is intended to help communities address critical infrastructure and housing needs. Of the total $95,000 award, $35,000 will be dedicated to accelerating demolition projects and must be used by Dec. 31 of this year. The city identified sites in the Valley Plat, Byesville, and Huberville neighborhoods as targeted demolition sites. Nia Holt, the Community Development Director, said that in order to maximise the impact of the designated $35,000, the city plans to use the funds as a match for the Ohio Department of Developments demolition program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program helps low-to-moderate income communities remove blighted housing and pave the way for redevelopment. Opening up areas for infill development aligns with the City of Riversides comprehensive plan, Holt said. Were laying the groundwork for new housing opportunities in the Valley Plat, Byesville, and Huberville areas. These neighborhoods are key entry points into our city, so improving them directly supports community pride, safety, and economic growth. The remaining $60,000 will be used for both housing rehabilitation projects and any further demolition. The city plans to work in partnership with the Community Investment Corporation (CIC) to restore and improve existing homes when possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The will ensure that the grant benefits not only the physical appearance of neighborhoods but also the stability and diversity of housing stock in Riverside, according to city officials. Holt said that the citys progress has been years in the making. Weve been able to build off the momentum of prior years. By demonstrating results and leveraging earlier successes, we have positioned ourselves to secure more funding this year. These projects build on each other, helping us tackle larger goals over time, Holt said. According to city officials, the long-term vision includes working with a variety of developers to create attainable housing for residents at different income levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They intend to pair targeted demolition with strategic rehabilitation in order to create vibrant, safe, and welcoming neighborhoods that encourage both current residents and future families to invest in the community. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Over a thousand people gathered at Greenville Alumni Stadium to celebrate its reopening after extensive renovations following tornado damage. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The stadium now boasts new home and away bleachers, as well as an additional section for the band. Were excited. We love it. Theres the excitement around the community, and were here for it, Jessica Denham, a Greenville resident, said. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dick Brown, a Greenville alumnus who graduated in the 1960s, said after the tornado hit, he asked the school board how much it needed. It was $500,000 we put into it, but at least it saves the school pressure, Brown said. Browns donations and others were part of the dedication ceremony. I think its a sense of relief for everyone, Julie Jones, superintendent, said. The finished product, the replacement is just so much better, and I think everybodys embracing that. Parents said theyre there to support the Greenwaves on and off the field. Just learn all the things theyll take with them beyond high school, beyond this experience. The brotherhood, Jessica Denham and Katie Rammel said. The Greenwaves capped out their night with a win. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) As the war drags on between Russia and Ukraine, local Ukrainians are sharing their thoughts on a future peace deal. Today, Russias foreign minister told Meet the Press anchor Kristen Welker, there is no Putin-Zelenskyy summit scheduled. Thats despite President Trumps push for peace in the region. The President of the Ukrainian Cultural Association of Ohio, Natalia Lebedin, shared that she has a more optimistic outlook following President Trumps meeting with President Zelenskyy this week. Thats in stark contrast to her opinion of the summit with Vladimir Putin one week ago. She hopes this war can finally come to an end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am a lot more hopeful, Lebedin said. It was to me, it signaled something new, seeing all of those European leaders support Zelenskyy as one of their own, acknowledging the importance of Ukraine. I think that was important for Americans to see. Trump says government will buy 10% stake in Intel Natalia Lebedin is Ukrainian-American and has seen the destruction the three-year-long war has caused. In an effort to end the war, President Trump hosted a meeting in Alaska with President Putin and a bilateral meeting in Washington, D.C. with President Zelenskyy, along with European allies. Lebedin expressed what her idea of a peace deal would be. A peace deal for Ukraine for me, it means security guarantees for Ukraine, sanctions and making Russia pay, taking frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine, Lebedin said. So much damage, civilian infrastructure, ecological damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the main topics discussed in the meeting with President Zelenskyy was what will happen to 20 percent of Ukrainian territory that Russian troops control. Russia has pressed for Ukraine not to become a member of NATO. They are on the forefront of modern warfare, Lebedin said. And we are a proven ally not only to Europe, but of course to America. But, yeah, the personal toll it has taken, I, Im not sure I can describe the horrors of war. All these meetings and discussions come as Ukrainian Independence Day approaches, on August 24. Lebedin noted there are plans to celebrate this weekend even though no deal has been reached. Were so proud, Lebedin said. Its been 34 years of independence, and since 2014, hard-fought independence and freedom. Ukraines history is one of great struggle, but we are proud and resilient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That celebration will take place Saturday at Todays church in Grove City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Des Moines' fire chief since 2009 is retiring at the end of the year, the city says. John TeKippe will step down effective Dec. 22, City Manager Scott Sanders said in a statement released by the city. A national search to replace him will begin immediately, the release said. Tekippe has served on Des Moines metro fire departments a total of 32 years, including 16 as chief of Des Moines' department. Des Moines Fire Chief John Tekippe signs the national anthem before the grand opening of the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau's new headquarters at Camp Dodge, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Johnston. More: Des Moines Fire Department is refreshing some of its fleet. See what the city is buying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After serving in the U.S. Navy, he started his career at the West Des Moines Fire Department, where he was involved in the department's unionization and served as president of the local union, then moved to the Des Moines Fire Department in 1996. He again was union president, advocating for issues including more robust staffing. It was an issue over which he would later clash with the union as chief, though he ultimately won praise for obtaining grant funding to restore firefighter positions lost to budget cuts in the Great Recession. He worked his way up to captain from firefighter before becoming being chosen to lead the department, emerging from a crowded field of candidates to replace retiring Chief Phillip Vorlander. More: The Des Moines Fire Department is flooded with 911 calls. A new program could help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city's release says he holds a Bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and a Master's of Public Administration from Drake University. He also was just the second Des Moines firefighter to complete the highly selective Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, a four-year process. The city credited him with improvements in regional coordination between emergency agencies and firefighter training and overseeing construction of two new fire stations. During his tenure, the department also hired its first Black assistant chief and female district chief. Also during his term as chief, the department fought one of the most noteworthy blazes in Des Moines history: the fire that destroyed much of the empty Younkers department store downtown in 2014. "I would like to thank Chief TeKippe for his dedication to the City of Des Moines and leading the Des Moines Fire Department over the last 16 years, Mayor Connie Boesen said. Chief TeKippe has upheld a culture of excellence and continuous improvements to serve our residents in the most effective way, demonstrated by providing excellent and professional fire and medical services to all of our residents." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John is a consummate professional and has proven to be a catalyst for change and finding solutions to continue improving how our communities work together to deliver efficient emergency services in central Iowa, Polk County Emergency Management Director A.J. Mumm said. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines Fire Chief John Tekippe to retire (WJW) Lorain County Public Health is monitoring an outbreak of pertussis in Lorain County, health officials confirmed on Friday. According to the notice, pertussis, more commonly called whooping cough, is currently spreading in the southern region of the county. The bacterial infection, according to Lorain County Public Health, affects the airways and spreads easily through direct contact with respiratory secretions (through coughing and sneezing) from an infected person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Answers coming for mystery behind shooting of Lorain officers: I-Team Health officials warned that pertussis can be serious, especially among babies younger than a year old, pregnant women and immunocompromised people. Early symptoms, normally lasting one to two weeks, will typically resemble the common cold with a runny nose, fever and a mild cough. Later symptoms, however, can lead to severe coughing fits, trouble breathing, vomiting, extreme tiredness and sometimes a high-pitched whooping sound after a coughing fit, the health department wrote. According to experts, babies and young kids with whooping cough will sometimes have trouble breathing or stop breathing for short periods of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 32K pounds of meat recalled nationwide So, how does pertussis spread? The infection travels through the air after someone with the illness coughs or sneezes. Someone experiencing severe symptoms should contact their doctor as soon as possible. Residents are encouraged to wash their hands and cover up coughs and sneezes to help stay healthy. Lorain County Public Health also said the vaccinations are the best form of protection from pertussis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 10,000 whooping cough cases are reported in the U.S. every year. Researchers determined that six times as many cases were reported in 2024 than 2023. 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. The Brief The explosive fire in Roseland, Louisiana, remains active as of Saturday night. About 40 people have been evacuated to a nearby shelter. No injuries or deaths have been reported. ROSELAND, La - Multiple agencies in Louisiana are continuing to put out a massive fire at a manufacturing plant in Roseland. Roseland, Louisiana: Fire continues for second day Photo credit: Louisiana State Police The latest Officials with Tangipahoa Parish and Louisiana State Police confirmed at about 10 a.m. CST that the fire was still active at Smitty's Supply Incorporated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local, state, and federal crews have been called to contain and suppress the flames. No injuries or deaths have been reported. Saturday evening, LSP announced that the fire was roughly 90 percent contained. They say crews were set to work through the night to eliminate the blaze. From the latest LSP update: An initial wildlife hotline has been established to assist with impacted wildlife reports. The hotline number is 832-514-9663. Calls will be managed by an operator, and all information provided will be immediately transmitted to the Environmental Unit Leader for dissemination to State and U.S. Wildlife Agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the evacuation order in effect, the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is still established over the incident location. The TFR extends three nautical miles around the Smittys site and up to 5,000 feet above surface level, prohibiting all unauthorized aircraft, including drones, from entering the restricted airspace. Saturday morning In an earlier post on Facebook, Louisiana State Police warned that while the smoke is less visible, the fire is still burning. A one-mile evacuation is still in order "out of an abundance of caution," according to Parish President Robby Miller. The order mostly keeps others out of the way while first responders handle the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flight restrictions are also in place around the scene. Officials say 42 people are staying at the emergency shelter at the Amite Community Center. Arrangements are being made for people to continue having shelter until at least Sunday. Photo credit: Louisiana State Police According to Louisiana Police Sgt. William Huggins, small explosions were reported overnight around the scene, but they didn't create any new problems. Multiple agencies are said to be testing air conditions. As of Saturday morning, readings outside the incident area showed non-detectable levels or "results that are below any actionable threshold," according to Sgt. Huggins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say they're aware of "product" in the Tangipahoa River and are looking into waterway monitoring. Operators are working to collect and contain any possible spillage, and water samples will be tested for any potential impact to the environment. Residents closer to the scene are asked to remain indoors when possible to avoid inhaling any chemicals. If anyone near the fire goes outdoors, they are advised to avoid touching their face or mouth, and to wash their hands. What we don't know There is no estimate on when the fire will be put out or when the evacuation order will be lifted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the focus being on putting out the fire, authorities haven't been able to investigate what caused the incident. What you can do You can watch the full Saturday morning update here. The Source Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller and Louisiana State Police Sergeant William Huggins. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Baton Rouge advocate against drugs speaks during an event about drug use and a new law against fentanyl. Dont trust anyone whos giving you pills, said survivor Tonja Myles. They might not know something is in it, but you just dont know. Myles looks and feels a lot different than she once did. She wants to steer people in the right direction. I encourage those who are there who might think about experimenting with drugs, dont do it, dont do what I did. Its not worth your life, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She spoke to families and others during a Thursday event about the impact drugs can have, and a new law called the Halt Fentanyl Act. We want to educate our kids like never before, because if we dont, we are going to lose another generation, Myles shared. This law officially classifies fentanyl as a Schedule I drug, meaning stricter penalties for people who push it or buy it. The CDC reports fentanyl overdose deaths dropped considerably last year, but people are still dying, something Senator Bill Cassidy said hes focusing on. You dont have to release yourself to the imprisonment of addiction, said Cassidy. You can actually go into treatment, into recovery, in hopes of a new life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Myles said she supports the law and relied on the community to get her through hard times. She said people experiencing addiction should do the same. People need to reach out, she added. People need to know there is hope and people they can call 988 [Suicide and Crisis Hotline], a number they can call 24 hours, seven days a week, and get the help they need. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Gerlic served as a platoon commander in the Shimshon Battalion (92) of the Kfir Brigade. He died after an IDF explosive charge detonated unintentionally during an operation. Lt. Ori Gerlic, 20, from Meitar, was killed in an operational accident in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Saturday evening. Gerlic served as a platoon commander in the Shimshon Battalion (92) of the Kfir Brigade. He died after an IDF explosive charge detonated unintentionally during an operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His death follows a deadly incident approximately one month earlier, in which five soldiers from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, also part of the Kfir Brigade, were killed in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip. That explosion occurred during a military maneuver involving multiple explosive devices. The five soldiers who fell in that incident were Sgt. Meir Shimon Amar, Cpl. Moshe Nissim Peresh, and Sgt. Noam Aharon Masgadya, all 20 years old and from Jerusalem, along with Sgt. Moshe Shmuel Noll, 21, from Beit Shemesh, and Staff Sgt. (res.) Binyamin Assouline, 28, from Haifa. Assouline served as a reservist fighter in the Gaza Divisions Northern Brigade. The soldiers were part of a ground force operating under the Northern Brigade during an attack that began on a Saturday night. Explosive devices were detonated against the force as it entered the area, accompanied by a tracker. During efforts to evacuate the wounded, the force came under heavy fire from armed terrorists. IDF soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, July 6, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Twelve additional soldiers were wounded to varying degrees in the same incident. They were evacuated by helicopter for treatment at Soroka-University Medical Center in Beersheba, Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalems Ein Kerem neighborhood, and Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. According to an initial IDF investigation, a powerful explosion took place at approximately 10 p.m., resulting in the soldiers deaths. Combat helicopters were quickly deployed to secure the area with gunfire and missile strikes, amid concerns that terrorists would attempt to attack the troops during the evacuation of the dead and wounded. The United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza on Friday, blaming "systematic obstruction of aid" by Israel, hours after Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to destroy the territory's largest city. Israel angrily denied there was a famine, with the foreign ministry saying the report was "based on Hamas lies laundered through organisations with vested interests". The famine was declared by experts at the Rome-based IPC, who said it affected 500,000 people in the Gaza governorate, which covers about a fifth of the Palestinian territory including Gaza City. Israel this week doubled down on plans to launch a new offensive to capture the city, despite an international outcry, saying it would help bring about the defeat of Hamas. The IPC projected that the famine would expand to Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis governorates by the end of September, covering around two-thirds of Gaza. UN agencies and aid groups have warned for months of a looming famine in Gaza, where Israel has severely restricted aid and at times completely cut it off during its nearly two-year war with militant group Hamas. The Israeli defence ministry body which oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, known as COGAT, also rejected the report, saying previous editions had "proven inaccurate". UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the famine was entirely preventable, saying food could not get through to the Palestinian territory "because of systematic obstruction by Israel". UN human rights chief Volker Turk said it was "a war crime to use starvation as a method of warfare" and said it "may also amount to the war crime of wilful killing". UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire, saying: "We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity". "After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions characterised by starvation, destitution and death," the IPC report said. By the end of September, it expected 614,000 people to be facing the same conditions. It said the deterioration between July and August was the most severe since it began analysing hunger in Gaza, driven by a sharp escalation in the war and restrictions on supplies. In early March, Israel completely banned aid from Gaza for two months, leading to severe shortages of food, medicines and fuel. Speaking in Geneva, the UN's Fletcher said the famine should "haunt us all". "It is a famine that we could have prevented if we had been allowed. Yet food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel," he told reporters. Ahead of the report's release, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee preemptively attacked its findings. "You know who IS starving? The hostages kidnapped and tortured by uncivilised Hamas savages," he posted on X. Speaking earlier on Friday, the Israeli defence minister warned: "The gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas's murderers and rapists in Gaza - until they agree to Israel's conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament. "If they do not agree, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun," he added, referring to two cities in Gaza largely razed during previous Israeli operations. His statement came after Netanyahu said late Thursday he had ordered immediate negotiations aimed at freeing all remaining hostages in Gaza. The Israeli premier added that the push to release the hostages would accompany the operation to take control of Gaza City. Um Ibrahim Younes, a 43-year-old mother of four living in the remains of her destroyed home in Gaza City, said: "It feels like we are in hell. I'm going insane. I cannot imagine being displaced again. "The sound of bombardment grows closer. They want us to flee south again. My body is frail, and so are my children's -- we cannot bear displacement, nor the endless shelling and hunger." The UN humanitarian office has warned that the planned Israeli operation will have "a horrific humanitarian impact" on an already exhausted population. Mediators have been waiting for an official Israeli response to their latest ceasefire proposal, which Hamas accepted earlier this week. Palestinian sources have said the new deal involves staggered hostage releases, while Israel has insisted that any deal must include the freeing of all the captives at once. Hamas's October 2023 attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Of the 251 hostages seized during the attack, 49 are still in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's offensive has killed at least 62,192 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the United Nations considers reliable. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Bilaspur, has revoked its previous order dated August 20, 2025, which had temporarily suspended toll operations at the Baloh and Maura Toll Plazas on the four-lane National Highway-21 due to adverse road conditions including landslides and falling boulders. According to the revised order issued from the DDMA Bilaspur, toll collection will resume effective August 23, 2025, but only on the reduced road length of 48.935 kilometers. This reduction comes after inspection by multiple Sub-Divisional Magistrates and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials determined that certain sections of the highway, approximately 0.83 kilometers, remain under repair and only two lanes are currently functional instead of four. The order read, "Whereas, during the inspection it has been noted that certain sections of the National Highway are still under repair, and only two lanes are functional instead of four lanes. It has also been mentioned in letter no. NHAI/PD/PIU-Mandi/Toll Plaza/31/1552 at Para No. 5 received from Project Director, NHAI, PIU-Mandi. As per the current situation, the toll fee shall not be collected for these damaged sections (which is 0.83 Km of structure length of the said National Highway) until they are repaired completely. The total road length eligible for toll collection is now reduced to 48.935 Kms for Maura Toll Plaza, excluding the aforesaid stretches undergoing repair work." The order directs the NHAI, Maura Toll Plaza management, and other concerned authorities to ensure toll charges are levied solely on the operable, safe sections of the highway pending full repair. "This order will come into effect with the condition that NHAI and the concerned authorities, including the Maura Toll Plaza management are directed to ensure that toll collection is initiated on the reduced tollable length only. In addition, adequate signage display helpline numbers along with traffic management measures are to be put in place for the safety and convenience of the public," read the order. Meanwhile, the discussion on the rain-related disaster situation under Rule 67 concluded on the fifth day of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly's monsoon session with high drama, as the Opposition staged a walkout before Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi could respond. As soon as Negi rose to reply to the debate, Opposition MLAs quietly walked out of the House, accusing him of using "unparliamentary language" inside and outside the Assembly. The Opposition also announced that they would neither ask questions nor listen to any answers from the minister during the session. Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, former minister and BJP MLA Vipin Singh Parmar accused the Revenue Minister of disrespecting Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and insulting disaster-affected people. Parmar said the government failed to provide immediate relief to the worst-hit areas, particularly Mandi and Seraj in Mandi district, and that citizens themselves came forward to distribute aid. Inside the House, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi hit back, holding the previous Jai Ram Thakur government responsible for the scale of the disaster. He alleged that between 2018 and 2022, Seraj lost around 23 percent of its forest cover due to indiscriminate tree felling, with 56 cases under investigation. He said the deforestation case in Shikari Devi was pending in the High Court. Negi further alleged that the previous government favoured certain people who, in turn, funded Jai Ram Thakur. "Blank cheques were taken to distribute money among BJP supporters. Jai Ram Thakur should submit a white paper within seven days with the names of the beneficiaries," the minister said. (ANI) A day after his younger brother was denied parole at the conclusion of a grueling 10-hour hearing, Lyle Menendez saw his own hopes of freedom after nearly 30 years behind bars evaporate. The panel has found today that there are still signs Menendez is a potential risk to the public, declared Parole Commissioner Julie Garland and Deputy Parole Commissioner Patrick Reardon to the older Menendez brother as he participated via video feed from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego. More from Deadline After going through the reasoning behind the denial and the violations that Menendez has been cited for while in prison, Garland offered a note of hope. This denial is not the end, she said. Its a way for you to spend some time to demonstrate, to practice what you preach about who you are, who you want to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following hours and hours of questioning and some chaos, the conclusion Friday by the two-person parole board brings to an end at least for the next few years, the Menendez brothers hard fought battle the past 18 months to get out of prison after being sentenced to life without parole back in 1996 after two trials. With so many members of the family in attendance today, like Thursday, the admittedly disappointed relatives proclaimed this is not the end of the road. They went on to say of the brothers: Both will go before the Board again, and their habeas petition remains under review. In the meantime, we know they will take time to reflect on the Boards recommendations and will continue to lead, mentor, and build programs that support rehabilitation and hope for others. Like his brother Erik, who cant apply for another parole hearing until 2028, Lyle Menendez can seek a review of Fridays decision based on factual inaccuracies that may impact the final outcome but the success of such a move could be a long shot. As it stands right now Lyle Menendez cant reapply for parole for 36 months. Still, after nearly 11 hours, at one point late in the day Friday it looked like todays proceedings might go off the rails as it as revealed audio of part of Thursdays hearing for Erik Menendez has been released publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its highly unusual, exclaimed Menendez attorney Heidi Rummel. Its another attempt to make this a public spectacle, the lawyer emphatically added, calling the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations release of audio without family members permission a blow to the states victims bill of rights. Its ironic to me that we are sitting here for hours talking about Mr. Menendez following CDCR policy, and they are not following their own policy, Rummel went on to say, asking for an adjournment as she felt todays hearing had lost its impartiality. The Commissioners later told the hearing that the state has actually had a policy that anyone who requests an audio file of a hearing may receive it, and As Menendez family members screamed at the Parole Board and the Deputy DA on the screens over the SNAFU, Rummel said we came into these hearings hoping and expecting a fair and impartial hearing where Mr. Menendez could be heard, be considered and be understood. The attorney then, seeding what will surely be an attempt to overturn todays decision, told the hearing: And we have a public spectacle and this has exacerbated it twenty-fold. And we now have family members who are not going to speak. As has been well documented, then 21-year-old Princeton student Lyle and 19-year-old Erik murdered their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in the familys Beverly Hills home on the night of August 20, 1989. The brothers, who went back for more ammunition to reload and finish off their mother (which Lyle today like Erik yesterday now says he regrets) as she crawled away already wounded, have long insisted the fatal shootings were because of years of sexual abuse that both of them suffered at the hands of their record company exec father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the virtual hearing, which formally started at 9:03 am PT today with the brothers lawyer Rummel (who was with Erik Menendez for Thursdays hearing), L.A. County Deputy DA Ethan Millius, officials from the states CDCR, and family members also attending remotely, Commissioner Garland praised the allegedly rehabilitation seeking Menendez for his clearly heartfelt, well-written, informative submissions to the Board. However, Garland also dug deep on the relationship Lyle had with his father, the alleged abuse he suffered and then his brother becoming the target of the abuse when Lyle was in his early teens, as well as Lyles own often undiscussed abuse of Erik. The commissioner also returned again and again to the credibility and truthfulness of the older Menendez sibling especially in the years after the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez. Looking over the risk assessment report on Menendez being at a moderate risk of violence if let out on parole, Garland at one point late Friday, bluntly said that she thought the actual record of his various prison violations like having an illegal phone, were much more deceitful and intentional than he was letting on in the hearing. Even though Menendez himself called a March 2024 violation a wake-up call (no pun intended, I think) about his conduct, Garland noted he soon afterwards did it again and presently cut off from family visits for the next three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though you fooled your entire family about you being the murderer, and you recruited all these people to help you you dont think thats being a good liar? Garland asked Menendez earlier in the day, who repeated his answer in the negative. Citing the various explanations he and his brother initially provided after their parents death, the $100,000 and more spending sprees they went on, efforts to destroy an unfriendly will and scripting responses for witnesses, and even escape plans from jail, the commissioner pointed what she termed Menendezs sophistication of the web of lies and manipulation you demonstrated afterwards. If that sentiment from Commissioner Garland played a factor in todays denial of Lyle Menendezs parole, the top priority post-conviction factors spotlighted by Deputy Parole Commissioner Patrick Reardon in her questioning disclosed a spotty prison record at best from the older sibling. As made evident by Commissioner Robert Barton in his denial Thursday of Erik Menendezs parole for at three more years, the incarcerateds actions in the joint spoke much louder than their words or promises especially when it comes to public safety. Amidst the infractions, for Lyle Menendez, like Erik Menendez, it was illegal cell phones in prison that proved the sticky wicket to his getting out. I had convinced myself that this wasnt a means that was harming anyone but myself in a rule violation, Menendez replied as Reardon asked again and again how he could square the repeated incident being caught with a phone he wasnt supposed to have with being a good prisoner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would never call myself a model incarcerated person, Menendez exclaimed under questioning. I would say that Im a good person, that I spent my time helping people, that Im very open and accepting. Harking to previous mention of his Menendez added: Im the guy that officers will come to to resolve conflicts At the time I didnt feel that using the phone was inconsistent with that. That didnt appear to go over well with Dep. Commissioner Reardon, who followed up with wanting to know why Menendez even needed a hidden cell phone to communicate with his relatives if he already had access to a tablet for pretty much the same purpose. That line of questioning set off a skirmish between the CDCR official and Menendez attorney Rummel about taking things offline so to speak and to discuss the matter confidentiality. At that junction, the hearing took a recess. Upon reconvening, and Commissioner Garland determining the already pretty locked away hearing would not go (further) behind closed doors, the matter of Menendez and cell phones, of which he had several violations over the years, came up again. I felt like the phone was a way to protect privacy, Menendez admitted, saying that because his correspondence on his tablet was monitored by prison staff he believed portions of what should have been private conversations were being sold to media outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Menendez lawyer Rummel and Dep. DA Millius spoke, Menendez cousin and very public advocate Anamaira Baralt addressed the board, like she did Thursday for Erik Menendez. Lyle has not been a violent person in his entire life, Baralt said. He is not a violent person today. In 54 years, I have not heard Lyle raise his voice, not once. In a case that up until just a few weeks ago many assumed was a slam dunk on the Menendezs release, Baralts words, along with those of other family members, proved no more convincing today than they had yesterday. Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing on December 29, 1992 Increasingly forgotten in the decades after their media circus trials of the early cable age, the brothers would have likely had no chance of even thinking about getting out if not for the much watched success of Netflix and Ryan Murphys Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story series and some Peacock documentaries claiming new evidence. The Emmy nominated Monsters was seen as a potential political lifeline to incumbent and sometimes media savvy LA County DA George Gascon as he suddenly took an interest in the case and recommended resentencing for the brothers. Even though current LA DA Nathan Hochman won the race in a landslide last November, the resentencing process as well as an ongoing May 2023 filed habeas petition the brothers have before the courts seeking a new trial were still active. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochman came out against both the resentencing and a new trial as he restated earlier this week. However, the DA seemed irrelevant on May 13 when LA Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life thereby making them instantly eligible to seek parole. Leading us to yesterday and today, after a delay to allow the brothers to adequately prepare, the parole attempt took the slots offered by a clemency process already ordered by California Governor Gavin Newsom. In an alternative universe, where one or both of the brothers had been granted parole, they would have had to stay behind bars as the Board of Paroles chief counsel gave the recommendation a final legal and administrative overhaul When that is done, which could take weeks, then the grant would be sent to Gov. Newsom for final approval which the ambitious Democrat could give, reject, or seek more clarification on. Under the laws of the Golden State, Newsom could still step in and even grant clemency to the Menendez brothers. Yet, with the relative mild (by California standards) prohibition on future parole bids by the siblings out of this weeks hearings, it is likely a dilemma the governor has no interest in dealing with now. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NEED TO KNOW After spending more than three decades behind bars, Lyle Menendez has been denied parole for the 1989 shotgun murders of his parents The decision comes one day after Lyle's younger brother, Erik Menendez, was denied parole in the case The brothers were originally sentenced to life in prison without parole, but were resentenced to 50 years to life, which made them eligible for parole Lyle Menendez has been denied parole decades after he and his brother were convicted of the 1989 shotgun murders of his parents in Beverly Hills. Lyle, 57, appeared via video conference from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego for his parole hearing on Friday, Aug. 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While we are of course disappointed by todays decision as well, we are not discouraged," the Menendez family said in a statement. "The process for parole is exceptionally rigorous, but we are incredibly proud of how Erik and Lyle showed up with honesty, accountability, and integrity." "This is not the end of the road. Both will go before the Board again, and their habeas petition remains under review. In the meantime, we know they will take time to reflect on the Boards recommendations and will continue to lead, mentor, and build programs that support rehabilitation and hope for others," the statement continued. "We know they are good men who have done the work to rehabilitate and are remorseful. We love them unconditionally and will continue to stand by them on the journey ahead. AP Photo/Nick Ut Lyle (left) and Erik Menendez sit in Beverly Hills Municipal Court in 1990. Lyle (left) and Erik Menendez sit in Beverly Hills Municipal Court in 1990. The decision comes one day after his younger brother, Erik Menendez, 54, was denied parole. Parole Commissioner Robert Barton said Erik has not been a "model prisoner" and called the brothers' killings "devoid of human compassion," the The New York Times reported. Lyle and Erik have been imprisoned for over three decades after they were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in August 1989 in their $5 million Beverly Hills, Calif., home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The brothers have long said they acted in self-defense because they feared for their lives, claiming Jose had sexually abused them both for years with Kitty's knowledge, and that Jose had threatened to kill them if they told anyone. After the murders, prosecutors said the brothers motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings. 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. Lyle and Erik were initially sentenced to life in prison without parole. However, a judge resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life in May, making them immediately eligible for parole because they were under 26 at the time of the killings. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18. Read the original article on People SAN DIEGO Lyle Menendez, one of the two brothers convicted in the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents in Beverly Hills, was denied parole by a California review board on Friday in his first appearance before the board. The decision came after his brother, Erik, was denied parole on Thursday. The brothers will be eligible to go before the parole board again in three years. The California Board of Parole Hearings recommendation marks a significant development in the decades-long case that drew international attention, with the brothers televised trial becoming one of the most infamous of the 1990s. Lyle, now 57, has spent more than 30 years behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Gavin Newsom can still review, and potentially veto, the decision. Menendez Brothers' June Hearing Converted From Clemency To Parole As Decision Looms For Gov. Newsom This combination of two booking photos provided by the California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. A panel of parole hearing officers evaluated the brothers individually. Similarly to his brother, Lyle Menendez faced the board via video conference from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Read On The Fox News App "The panel has found today that there are still signs" that Lyle poses a risk to the public, Parole Commissioner Julie Garland said. "We find your remorse is genuine," she said. "In many ways, you look like you've been a model inmate. You have been a model inmate in many ways who has demonstrated the potential for change. But despite all those outward positives, we see ... you still struggle with anti-social personality traits like deception, minimization and rule breaking that lie beneath that positive surface." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Dont ever not have hope this denial is not its not the end," Garland added. "Its a way for you to spend some time to demonstrate, to practice what you preach about who you are, who you want to be." The board members mentioned Lyle's history of breaking rules behind bars and his repeated cellphone use in prison. "You seem to be different things at different times," Deputy Parole Commissioner Patrick Reardon said. Lyle's attorney, Heidi Rummel, said during the hearing that he "spent the first 21 years of life in the prison of his home, and the rest of his life in prison I hope that were in a place today that we have a deeper understanding of childhood sexual abuse." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Ethan Milius said that Lyle has shown "no growth," however. "When he commits a violation, he lies about it, and tries to avoid responsibility." Milius said. Lyle said he does take "responsibility for all this pain," though. "My Mom and Dad did not have to die that day." Lyle, who cried during his closing remarks, spoke with a strained voice about Aug. 20, the date that he and his brother murdered their parents. "Its the anniversary of a crushing day for so many in my family," he said. "I think about all the phone calls on that day with the shattering news and the loss and the grief." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family," he added. "I am so sorry to everyone, and I will be forever sorry." Lyle Menendez has spent more than 30 years behind bars for his parents' murders. The brothers' family said in a statement after Lyle's hearing that "this is not the end of the road," and that both will go before the board again, and their habeas petition remains under review. "While we are of course disappointed by todays decision as well, we are not discouraged. The process for parole is exceptionally rigorous, but we are incredibly proud of how Erik and Lyle showed up with honesty, accountability, and integrity." The California Board of Parole Hearings (BPH), under the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), has 21 full-time commissioners. Each commissioner is appointed by the Governor of California and confirmed by the state Senate. The commissioners serve three-year terms, with the brothers' each meeting with 2-3 commissioners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the California Board of Parole Hearings did not recommend Lyle Menendez for parole, he will remain incarcerated. Newsom, while hell be unable to reverse the independent boards decision, will still be able to affirm, reverse, or take no action on the boards decision. Under California law, he has 30 days to make a decision. If the governor chooses not to act, the parole boards decision stands. Menendez Brothers Ask California Gov. Newsom For Clemency Erik Menendez, left, and his brother, Lyle, in front of their Beverly Hills home. During Thursday's parole board hearing, Erik Menendez was denied a recommendation for parole. Commissioner Robert Barton emphasized the weight of Eriks actions and subsequent prison conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe in redemption or I wouldnt be doing this job but based on the legal standards, we find that you continue to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety." He said that while the familys forgiveness was "amazing," forgiveness and parole eligibility were separate matters: "Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you and you can still be found unsuitable for parole." Barton raised concerns, not only of the nature of the shotgun killings, but of Erik's misconduct during his sentence. He pointed to his use of contraband, including a cell phone, drug and alcohol, as well as his role in a prison gang tax scheme. The decision came on the heels of a bombshell resentencing hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court in May, where Judge Michael Jesic reduced their life-without-parole sentences to 50-to-life, making them eligible for parole consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a press conference following the ruling on Wednesday, May 14, Newsom explained the multi-layered process of considering the Menendez brothers eligibility for release. The governor explained that, before any decision was finalized, a team of forensic psychologists conducted individualized risk assessments on each brother. "We thought that would be prudent to do," he said, saying that those assessments have been "debated" not only by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and the victims family, but also by the judge "both publicly in another conversation, some of it behind closed doors." The topic of the brothers' Comprehensive Risk Assessments (CRA) has been a sticking point for Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The brothers' were marked as "moderate risk," an increase from their previous "low risk" assessment. The moderate risk increase came after each report found that Erik and Lyle, in recent months, had been cited for breaking prison rules for contraband violations, specifically the possession of cell phones. Los Angeles District Attorney, Nathan Hochman speaks to the media outside court in Van Nuys, CA, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Hochman shared the findings on Lyle Menendez first, whose "actions perpetrated deceit," speaking about the contraband phone. He added that Lyle had "downplayed his rule-breaking" and that his report showed his "entitlement and willingness to meet his own needs." Menendez Brothers Ask California Gov. Newsom For Clemency Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with the illicit cell phone usage, Erik was flagged for possessing and dealing drugs, as well as helping other inmates with tax fraud. Hochman, who ran on a tough-on-crime platform, has been vocal about the brothers' lack of rehabilitation. An undated photo of the Menendez family as it appears on screen during a panel at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday, June 2. In August 1989, Beverly Hills socialites Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot to death in their home. Hochman previously called the murders "mafia-like hits," remarking on the violent nature of the repeated rounds that were fired at the parents. The boys, then 18 and 21, were convicted in 1996. The defenses assertion was that the brothers had been driven to violence by years of physical and sexual abuse at their fathers hands. Despite the first trial resulting in a hung juror, leading to their eventual conviction in 1996, the public has remained divided on whether the brothers acted in greed or in self-defense. Original article source: Lyle Menendez denied parole by California board in Beverly Hills murder case The California Parole Board on Friday rejected Lyle Menendezs bid for release, a day after a separate panel refused to parole his brother Erik. The brothers made their first appearances before the parole board since being convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty. A judge in Van Nuys agreed in May to reduce their sentences to 50 years to life, making them eligible. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both brothers will get another chance at parole in three years. Julie Garland, one of two parole commissioners who heard the case, said that while Lyle Menendez has shown some positive signs behind bars, You still struggle with anti-social personality traits like deception, minimization and rule breaking that lie beneath that positive surface. Garland urged him not to give up hope of release. This denial is not its not the end, she said. Its a way for you to spend some time to demonstrate, to practice what you preach about who you are, who you want to be. A Menendez family spokesperson said the family is disappointed but not discouraged, noting that a habeas corpus petition for both brothers remains pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We love them unconditionally and will continue to stand by them on the journey ahead, the family said. Addressing the board on Friday, Lyle Menendez apologized for the crimes, saying that the decision to resort to violence was solely his and not his brothers. Im profoundly sorry for who I was, for the harm that everyone has endured, Menendez said. I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family. I am so sorry to everyone, and I will be forever sorry. The parole board reviews inmates for suitability, based on whether they pose a current threat to society. Much of the hearing on Friday focused on Menendezs illicit use of cell phones at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendez was barred from having family visits for three years after being caught with a phone in March 2024. As an inmate, he had access to an approved prison tablet, but he said that jail staff had access to his communications and would sometimes sell them to tabloids. He said he used the illicit cell phone to stay in touch with family. I had convinced myself that this wasnt a means that was harming anyone but myself in a rule violation, he said. I didnt think it really disrupted prison management very much. A prison doctor concluded that Menendez displayed anti-social traits, including entitlement, deception, manipulation, and not accepting consequences. Prosecutor Ethan Milius, who opposed parole, argued that the record shows that Menendez believes the rules dont apply to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no growth, Milius said. It is just who Lyle appears to be. Heidi Rummel, parole attorney for Menendez, argued that the phone issue had been blown out of proportion, and that there was no evidence of violence or other criminality behind bars. She also urged the panel to consider the severe effects of childhood sexual abuse in making their decision. This crime arose from trauma, from unresolved trauma, from fear, from sadistic abuse, and from cruelty, she said. Menendez relatives also urged the panel to release him. Their testimony was interrupted when it emerged that ABC News had obtained and broadcast audio from Thursdays hearing with Erik Menendez. Rummel argued that the release of the audio was improper, as the relatives were unaware that audio of their testimony would become public. After a significant delay, the hearing resumed with the commissioners promising not to release audio of Fridays hearing without further proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Menendez case reemerged in pop culture with the release of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the hit Netflix series released last year. The series, along with two documentaries about the case, came out as the brothers had a pending habeas corpus motion, in which they argued that new evidence warranted a new trial. The Los Angeles County D.A. at the time, George Gascon, was asked his position on the motion, which prompted the office to take a fresh look at the case and ultimately seek resentencing. At the time, the brothers were serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole. Gascon was soundly defeated in the November 2024 election. His successor, Nathan Hochman, has raised strenuous objections to the brothers release, arguing their continued claims of self defense show they have not taken full responsibility for their crimes. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A day after his younger brother was denied release from prison by the California Parole Board, Lyle Menendezs steady march toward earning his freedom back, 36 years after the two young men shot their parents to death in their Beverly Hills home, suffered the same fate when he was also denied release, a source with direct knowledge of the decision confirmed with The Hollywood Reporter. Erik and Lyle Menendez have been in Californias prison system for over three decades now and they will remain there for three more years after separate hearings that were held for both. On Friday night, at the end of a 10-hour hearing, the Board agreed with an assessment submitted earlier this summer that both Erik and Lyle Menendez still pose a risk to public safety. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parole board hearings came after a protracted legal battle the brothers have undergone over the past year that resulted in their resentencing in May, from life in prison without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole. This made both of them immediately eligible, but this week, their hopes and those of their family and legion of supporters were dashed at least for now. Lyle entered his hearing on Friday which was attended by a separate representative from the L.A. District Attorneys office than the rep who was at Eriks hearing, as well as two separate Board commissioners, Commissioner Julie Garland and Administrative Law Judge Patrick Reardon with the full knowledge of his brothers unsuccessful bid for freedom. In 2022, 14 percent of parole hearings in California resulted in the inmates release from the prison system; an uptick has been seen in recent years as criminal justice reform has grown in parts of the nation. Cited during the Thursday hearing were Eriks involvement with a prison gang in his early years locked up, possession of contraband cellphones, inappropriate behavior with visitors, drug smuggling and surprisingly, the fact that he killed his own mother was noted by the board members. Lyle has a slightly lower number of rule violations in prison over his decades of incarceration and is perhaps more involved in the rehabilitation of his fellow inmates. But this was not enough to convince the parole board that he is suitable for release. Much of the discussion during Lyles hearing centered around his use of burner cell phones while in prison, and the contraband items may be what ultimately did both brothers in. Erik Menendez was caught with a burner phone as recently as January, when he was well aware of the risk that having it posed to his release. Also brought up by the Board during Fridays hearing was Lyles plagiarism while he was attending Princeton and the fact that he bribed witnesses to testify using scripts hes written during his initial trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Parole Commissioner Patrick Reardon said that Lyle Menendez had a cellphone nearly all the time from 2018 to 2024 the year the glimmer of the possibility of freedom was first seen. Commissioner Garner notes this when speaking of her decision to deny Lyles release. Citizens are expected to follow the rules whether or not there is some incentive to do so, Garner said of the brothers quick disposal, mostly, of contraband phones once their paths to freedom materialized. Phone violations aside, none of these offenses were recent but none of them were countered enough by the good Lyle has done while in prison and the fact that during his resentencing hearing he was characterized by those who spoke from the facility where hes held as a model inmate. They were also not countered by the outpouring of support from family members who, over the decades, have come to understand the horrors that took place inside the Menendez house and forgive the brothers for their crime. Lyle on Friday spoke at length about his love for his father and especially for his mother, with whom he says he had a special bond. Erik was the black sheep and punching bag for Jose and Kitty Menendez and Lyle said that he found solace in protecting him. He told the board that he was sexually abused by his father between the ages of 6 and 8 and that Jose started abusing Erik when Lyle was 13, making Erik 10 at the time it began. At one point when they were children, Lyle abused his little brother; on Friday, he was questioned as to why he would do this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know why I did it, he said. I think I was just trying to release it from me. Attorneys for the brothers have said that now that both brothers have been denied parole, the legal team will pivot to a habeas corpus petition filed by the brothers at the outset of their road to seeking freedom. This will go before a Los Angeles judge and involve the new evidence unearthed and presented in a Peacock documentary in 2023. In the film, a member of the boy band Menudo admitted he was sexually abused by Jose Menendez and a letter Erik wrote to his cousin affirming the ongoing abuse was presented; both of these new elements back up their initial defense of years of sexual abuse that was not allowed in their second joint trial in 1996 where they were found guilty and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Family supporters, whose loyalty toward their incarcerated family members was hard on for many over hte decades, released a second statement for Lyle after one for Erik was sent out on Thursday. While we are of course disappointed by todays decision as well, we are not discouraged, the statement says, adding that the family vows to continue the fight and will find hope in the habeas avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The brothers do have one other final chance at regaining their freedom, though, and it hinges on the politician considered the great hope for the Democrats in 2028. Under a 1988 state law, Californias governor has a unique power to approve, deny or modify the decisions of the parole board in murder cases where the person was sentenced to an indeterminate term. Now the parole boards decision could undergo an internal review that could last for up to 120 days. At that point, Newsom has 30 days to affirm or reverse the decision, if he so chooses. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Lyle Menendez has been denied parole one day after his brother Erik was similarly blocked from being freed from prison after more than three decades. The Menendez brothers, who were convicted in the 1989 killings of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, were both rejected for release after separate, lengthy hearings before California's parole board. It marks a major setback for the pair who had seen recent court wins that brought them closer than ever to freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elder Menendez brother, 57, who has long been portrayed as the dominant sibling, can try for parole again at a hearing in three years, though the panel said that could be reduced to 18 months with good behaviour. The parole board, which was composed of a different panel than his brother Erik faced on Thursday, said they found "that there are still signs" Lyle poses a risk to the public. The panel cited the brutal nature of the killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, his lack of self-control and the signs that he still employs poor decision making. "We find your remorse is genuine," parole commissioner Julie Garland told him, explaining the decision and noting all the positive changes he had made while in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But despite all those outward positives, we see ... you still struggle with anti-social personality traits like deception, minimisation and rule breaking that lie beneath that positive surface," Garland said. The grisly murders and the trial that followed were among the criminal cases that defined the last century. During their trials in the 1990s, the brothers claimed the killings were done in self-defence after years of sexual and emotional abuse from their father that they said was enabled by their mother. Prosecutors, though, argued they were greedy, entitled monsters who meticulously planned the killings then lied to authorities investigating the case while going on a $700,000 (526,000) spending spree using money they had inherited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was Lyle who at first told police that he believed his parents' brutal deaths were a mob hit job. He also fashioned elaborate stories that involved people lying for him to cover up their involvement. Both were cited by the board in their reasoning against his release. The Menendez brothers were not arrested until police got word of their admissions to a psychologist. "I'm profoundly sorry for who I was for the harm that everyone has endured," Lyle told the board. "I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family. I am so sorry to everyone, and I will be forever sorry." Focus on Lyle's illicit cell phone use in prison Lyle appeared virtually for the hearing, which spanned more than 10 hours [California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation] Lyle faced a different panel of parole commissioners than his brother, who was denied release from prison on Thursday after a similarly lengthy hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like his brother, Lyle also appeared virtually for the hearing from the San Diego prison where he has been housed. The proceedings stretched to more than 10 hours and concluded after the sun had set in Los Angeles. The panel reviewed whether Lyle posed a risk to society if released and examined his life before the killings and his time in prison. He was asked about his time as a student at Princeton University and how he was accused of plagiarism and suspended as a result, as well as speeding violations and burglary allegations. They also asked questions about moments of the killings, what led up to the murders and his motivation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The panel repeatedly brought up his illicit cell phone use in prison, which they said he appeared to have near constant access to for years. Commissioner Patrick Reardon, one member of the panel, questioned if they should give so much weight to all the positive things he did in prison - like his schooling and programmes he created for inmates - when he was constantly violating the rules. The panel noted he pleaded guilty to a mobile phone violation as recently as March of this year. In explaining their denial of his parole, commissioner Garland said "incarcerated people who break rules" are more likely to break rules in society. Although he had a tablet that he was allowed to use, Lyle explained that he continued to use mobile phones because it gave him more privacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mobile phones are prohibited in prisons and considered to be as corrosive as drugs to a prison environment over concerns that they can further criminal activity, like moving drugs, intimidating witnesses and even organising escapes. All communications while behind bars are monitored, except for attorney-client conversations. "I would never call myself a model incarcerated person. I would say that I'm a good person, that I spent my time helping people. That I'm very open and accepting," Lyle told the board on Friday, noting he's done a lot to help vulnerable inmates. "I'm the guy that officers will come to to resolve conflicts," he said, describing himself as a "peacekeeper". He graduated with a degree while in prison and is currently in the process of getting his master's. Lyle has also been lauded for mentorship of other inmates, his work helping others who survived sexual abuse and for helping launch a beautification programme designed to improve the buildings of the prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A risk assessment done before his hearing found that Lyle would face a "moderate risk" of violence if released and noted he has anti-social traits, as well as traits of entitlement, deception, manipulation and issues with accepting consequences, citing his mobile phone use in prison. What comes next for the Menendez brothers? The brothers' trek to freedom is not over yet, as they each can appear in front of the board again, each after three more years. The parole denials will shift focus to California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is separately considering a clemency request from them. Clemency could come in the form of a reduced sentence or even a pardon. Weighing in on such a high-profile and controversial case could be politically risky for Newsom, who is said to be mulling a presidential run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the clemency request, the brothers are also asking for a new trial in light of newly uncovered evidence alleging childhood sexual abuse by their father. A judge is mulling that request, but it is opposed by the Los Angeles district attorney's office. During Friday's hearing, prosecutor Ethan Milius lobbied against Lyle's release. He questioned whether he has "genuinely" taken accountability for his conduct and pointed to Lyle's inability to "follow basic rules while in a highly structured setting." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no growth. It is just who Lyle appears to be," Milius said. "When you look at him, Lyle has a long-documented history of lies made to avoid the consequences of his own actions." A coalition of relatives who have long advocated for them, as well as supporters, were also in attendance virtually for Friday's hearing and spoke on his behalf. Some of them refused to speak after audio of his brother's hearing was released to a media outlet, which spurred anger from attorneys and a dramatic pause in the deliberations. Lyle's cousin Eileen Cano, who also spoke to the panel during Erik's hearing on Thursday, told the board that she is amazed by how much Lyle has achieved despite facing life in prison without parole. "While most people surrender to the crushing weight of prison life, Lyle rose above it," she said. "Lyle will not be a risk to the community because we as a family will hold him accountable," she continued. "Delaying his release would serve no purpose. Lyle is not the man who went to prison 35 years ago." LOS ANGELES (AP) Lyle Menendez was denied parole Friday by the same board that a day earlier rejected his brother Eriks appeal for freedom after serving decades in prison for killing their parents in 1989 at their Beverly Hills mansion. The reason was the same: misbehavior behind bars. A panel of two commissioners denied Lyle Menendez parole for three years after a daylong hearing. Commissioners noted the older brother still displayed "anti-social personality traits like deception, minimization and rule-breaking that lie beneath that positive surface. We do understand that you had very little hope of being released for years," said commissioner Julie Garland. Citizens are expected to follow the rules whether or not there is some incentive to do so." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also said the panel found his remorse genuine and that he has been a model inmate in many ways who has demonstrated the potential for change. Dont ever not have hope, she told Menendez. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion almost exactly 36 years ago on Aug. 20, 1989. While defense attorneys argued that the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers sought a multimillion-dollar inheritance. A judge reduced their sentences in May, and they became immediately eligible for parole. The parole hearings marked the closest they have come to winning freedom since their convictions almost 30 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erik Menendez, who is being held at the same prison in San Diego, was denied parole Thursday after commissioners determined his misbehavior in prison made him still a risk to public safety. A day later, Lyle Menendez told the parole board details about the abuse he suffered under his parents. He cried, face reddened, while delivering his closing statement. He seemed to still want to protect his baby brother, telling commissioners he took sole responsibility for the murders. I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family," he said. I am so sorry to everyone, and I will be forever sorry. The state corrections department chose a single reporter to watch the videoconference and share details with the rest of the press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lyle Menendez describes abuse The panel began by asking how abuse impacted decision-making in his life. The older brother described how his father physically abused him by choking, punching and hurting him using a belt. I was the special son in my family. My brother was the castaway," he said. "The physical abuse was focused on me because I was more important to him, I felt. He also said his mother also sexually abused him. He appeared uncomfortable discussing this with the panel, who asked why he didn't disclose his mother's abuse in a risk assessment conducted earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioners asked if one death made him more sorrowful than the other. My mother. Because I loved her and couldnt imagine harming her in any way," he said. I think also I learned a lot after about her life, her childhood, reflecting on how much fear maybe she felt. Later, he broke down in tears when recounting how they confronted their mother about Jose Menendez's abuse of his younger brother. I couldnt wrap my mind around the fact that she knew," he said. Hearing focuses on crime, over achievements in prison Lyle Menendez's parole lawyer, Heidi Rummel, was more outspoken during his hearing than the one for Erik Menendez on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She quarreled with the commissioners over several lines of questioning and whether the panel had access to trial evidence in the case. The panel asked Lyle Menendez whether the murders were planned, and about the brothers buying guns. There was zero planning. There was no way to know it was going to happen Sunday, he said, referring to buying the guns as the biggest mistake." I no longer believe that they were going to kill us in that moment, he said. "At the time, I had that honest belief. Garland asked him about the sophistication of the web of lies and manipulation you demonstrated afterward," referring to having witnesses lie for them in court and attempts to destroy his father's will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendez maintained that there was no plan, only that he was flailing in what was happening and didn't want to go to prison and be separated from his brother. In closing, Rummel expressed frustration that the hearing spent almost no time on Menendez's achievements in prison or his efforts to build positive relationships with correctional staff. She noted he never touched drugs or alcohol inside. How many people with an LWOP sentence come in front of this board with zero violence, despite getting attacked, getting bullied, and choose to do something different? she said. More than a dozen of their relatives attended Fridays hearing via videoconference, but many did not testify citing privacy concerns after learning audio from Erik Menendez's hearing Thursday was published online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want my nephew to hear how much I love him, and believe in him," said his aunt, Teresita Menendez-Baralt. "Im very proud of him and I want him to come home." Cellphones in prison Similar to his brother's hearing the day before, the panel zeroed in on Menendez's use of cellphones in prison as recent as March 2025. I had convinced myself that this wasnt a means that was harming anyone but myself in a rule violation," Menendez said. He said correctional staff were monitoring his communications with his wife and family and selling them to tabloids, so he saw cellphones as a way to protect his privacy. There was a lot of stress in his marriage around the time he transferred to the prison in San Diego, and he wanted to stay in close touch with his wife, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioner Patrick Reardon applauded him for starting a prison beautification project and mentorship programs. However, he questioned if the cellphone violations tainted those accomplishments. I would never call myself a model incarcerated person," Menendez said. I would say that Im a good person, that I spent my time helping people. ... Im the guy that officers will come to to resolve conflicts. The panel noted that a psychologist found that Menendez is at very low risk for violence upon release. According to previous court documents, Menendez has not gotten into any fights in his time in prison. He said nonviolence was a promise he made to his grandmother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My life has been defined by extreme violence," he said. I wanted to be defined by something else. The brothers still have a pending habeas corpus petition filed in May 2023 seeking a review of their convictions based on new evidence supporting their claims of sexual abuse by their father. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A man from Lyons has been arrested following an investigation into a reported domestic incident, according to the Wayne County Sheriffs Office. 38-year-old Matthew J. Hagar of Layton Street is accused of allegedly drugging and raping a female on January 21 at a house in Newark. He is charged with first-degree rape, predatory sexual assault. Hagar is a level 3 sex offender and was on probation for a 2022 conviction involving a sex crime against a child. He was taken to the Wayne County Jail to await arraignment in CAP Court. 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 RochesterFirst. Amid the sharp escalation in tensions between the United States and Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro mentioned China, the United States biggest economic rival, during a speech about education in the country. While speaking about tutorials to learn how to do new things during the closing of the First Pedagogical Congress of Bolivarian Teachers, Maduro paused to present his new cell phone, which, he said, was a gift from Chinas leader Xi Jinping. Maduro said he communicated with Xi through that new phone by satellite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You want to learn something, you look for a tutorial. I want to learn how to use that camera that the cameraman has there, you put camera tutorial such-and-such. I want to learn how to handle this new Huawei phone (Chinas flagship brand in mobile devices), which is the most advanced in the world This was given to me by President Xi Jinping, of China, I have it here. I communicate by satellite with him, Maduro commented at the closing event. Ni hao, ni hao (hello). Xiexie, xiexie (thank you), the Venezuelan president immediately added while pretending to have a phone call in Mandarin. While it might seem minor, it was yet another sign of Venezuelas need to publicize its rapprochement with China in the midst of tension with the US. In addition to Xi Jinpings gift, there have been other nods to China in the past week, including, a diplomatic visit and a message from the Asian country, both of which took place on Thursday. The diplomatic meeting Maduro met with Lan Hu, Chinas ambassador to Venezuela, and celebrated the progress between the two countries, especially in the economy, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am happy with the progress of this year 2025 in our mutual cooperation with sister China, especially in economy, science, technology and artificial intelligence projects, Maduro wrote on social media. Since his appointment as ambassador to Venezuela in May 2023, Hu has celebrated relations with the Latin American country and economic progress, as well as joining in on criticizing pressure from Washington. Last year, on the sidelines of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Venezuela, Hu criticized unilateral coercive measures of the US. China and Venezuela are united in defending the rights and interests of developing countries in the face of US unilateral coercive measures, so as to build a more just and equitable multipolar world, based on mutual respect, Hu said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These words from the Chinese ambassador came around the same time the US expressed concern about the arrests of opposition activists ahead of Venezuelas 2024 presidential elections. Maduro was later proclaimed the winner by electoral authorities, who are under the tight control of Maduros ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). A man waves a Venezuelan flag as demonstrators clash with police officers during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas on July 29, 2024, a day after the Venezuelan presidential election. - Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images/File The opposition questioned the electoral process, claiming that its candidate had won the vote, receiving the support of much of the international community. Maduros government assures that the elections were legitimate, although the detailed results have never been published. China rejects the threat of the use of force Beijing shared its concerns following the recent US military deployment in Caribbean waters near Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China opposes any move that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and a countrys sovereignty and security. We oppose the use or threat of force in international relations and the interference of external forces in Venezuelas internal affairs under any pretext. We hope that the United States will do more things conducive to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region, Mao Ning, a spokesman for Chinas Foreign Ministry, said Thursday after being asked about the issue at a press conference. This week, the Trump administration carried out a major military deployment in the waters surrounding Latin America and the Caribbean as part of an intensified effort to combat drug cartels, two US defense officials told CNN. The deployment which comes as the US hardens the drug trafficking narrative about Maduro and his government also includes a nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance jets, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser as part of the mission, the officials added. For his part, Maduro announced the deployment of 4.5 million militiamen throughout the national territory, and said that no empire is going to touch the sacred ground of Venezuela, and minimized the threats to peace of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president assured that his country has the defensive capacity to avoid a confrontation. Let the world know, let the empires know: Venezuela today more than ever has what it takes. That is why we are living in peace and we are going to continue at peace, Maduro said during a televised ceremony. We carry the strength of David versus Goliath, he added before recounting more details of the biblical story. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the US is prepared to use all the resources of its power with the goal of curbing the flow of drugs into the country and bringing those responsible to justice, after being consulted about the deployment of three ships with 4,000 military personnel in Caribbean waters. A US Department of Defense official told CNN that the deployed ships had not received orders to head to the edge of Venezuelas territorial sea, which has about 4,000 kilometers of coastline. A politically correct message The relationship with Beijing has been commercially useful for Caracas for some time, while it is mired in a deep political and economic crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The support that Venezuela has had (from China), especially at the economic level, has helped prevent the deepening of this deep economic crisis, Jose Antonio Hernandez Macias, a researcher in Latin American Studies from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), told CNN. China has a trade surplus with Venezuela: it exports around US$3.45 billion in products to the South American country, while it barely imports $739 million, which means a surplus of $2.71 billion for the Asian economy, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) updated until 2023. In this sense, China has economically benefited from its relationship with Venezuela, whose main export product to the world is oil, the OEC adds. Meanwhile, the United States has a trade deficit with Venezuela, as it exports fewer products to Venezuela than it buys from it. The trade balance is in favor of Venezuela by more than US$ 1.3 billion, according to OEC data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, because Venezuela is a strategic ally for China in the economic sphere, it seeks to take care of its interests in the region by showing its stance against the deployment of the United States, said the UNAM expert. The oil that exists in the Essequibo, this territory that Venezuela and Guyana are disputing, plays a crucial role in this issue () Oil is not only being exploited by the United States, but there are also Chinese companies in this region, explained Hernandez Macias. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio answers reporter questions in the Treaty Room of the State Department on August 6. - Lexi Critchett/CNN US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a statement on Friday by the Guyanese government, which expressed its grave concern about the threat to peace and security in the region posed by transnational organized crime and narco-terrorism, which often involve criminal networks like Venezuelas Cartel of the Suns. Recently, the Trump administration reiterated its claim that Maduro is the leader of the criminal group of the Cartel of the Suns and doubled the reward to $50 million for information leading to the arrest of the Venezuelan president. In addition, the US designated the Cartel of the Suns as an international terrorist organization. The accusations against Maduro for alleged drug trafficking, repeatedly rejected by the Government of Venezuela, are not new. They date back to 2020, when the US pointed to Maduro as the leader of the Cartel of the Suns and initially offered $15 million for information leading to his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid this renewed confrontation between the United States and Venezuela, what interests (China), beyond defending the Venezuelan government, is that the conditions exist to have access to the energy resources of this entire area, added Hernandez Macias. On Friday, Reuters reported that a private Chinese company has begun exploiting two oil fields in Venezuela and plans to invest more than $1 billion in a project to produce 60,000 barrels per day of crude by the end of 2026, under a 20-year production-sharing contract signed in 2024. While there is a mutual economic benefit, Maduro remains isolated from the world at large and Chinas position on the US military deployment speaks volumes globally, according to Gabriel Pastor, an analyst at the Uruguay-based think tank Centro de Estudios de la Realidad Economica y Social (CERES). (Chinas position) is saying something that more or less everyone can expect, but it does not mean that China is going to intervene in the conflict by supporting Venezuela, Pastor told CNN. It is a politically correct statement that does not change anything for Venezuela, since no specific action is announced to support the Latin American country. CNNs Gonzalo Zegarra, Natasha Bertrand and German Padinger contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is scheduled to participate in 'Mining Conclave 2025' which is being held in Katni on Saturday and to hold one-on-one discussions with domain experts and investors, according to an official release. The conclave is focussing on sectors such as coal and energy, hydrocarbons, technological advancement, critical minerals, and limestone & cement. The event is expected to be attended by over 2,000 industry representatives, including investors and industrialists from various states across the country. Various sessions related to minerals and mining will be conducted during the conclave. CM Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh emerged as a hub for mining and mineral resources, "With the state's abundant minerals and investment-friendly policies, Madhya Pradesh is playing a significant role in the country's industrial progress. The mining sector will not only strengthen the state economy but will also contribute significantly to Nation's industrial development and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'." Additionally, an exhibition showcasing the state's mineral wealth will also be set up at the conclave venue. Madhya Pradesh is rich in mineral resources and contributes significantly to national mineral production, including 73% of copper, 29% of rock phosphate, 26% of manganese, 9% of limestone, 8% of coal, 3% of bauxite and 1% of iron ore, the release read. The Katni Mining Conclave will bring together mineral companies, industry representatives, and other major stakeholders, fostering collaboration and innovation. The event aims to showcase Madhya Pradesh's rich mineral resources and attract investments . Discussions will be held to cover coal, limestone, oil & gas, and other critical minerals. Special focus is on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in mining, it added. Themes like digital transformation, energy security, and sustainability will also be explored, along with discussions on automation in mining operations and potential in alternative energy sources like Coal Bed Methane (CBM). Key issues related to cement, energy, and mineral-based industries will be discussed in depth. Furthermore, several Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed during the conclave. The MoUs aim to strengthen India's mineral exploration goals and promote social-economic development in the region through mutual collaboration, coordinated efforts, and resource sharing. Earlier, the first edition of Mining Conclave was held on October 17-18, 2024 at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre, in the state capital Bhopal, where investment proposals worth Rs 19,650 crore were received from 11 industrial entities. (ANI) The vast majority of Finnish citizens support their countrys participation in providing security guarantees to Ukraine. Source: a survey commissioned by Iltalehti, as reported by European Pravda Details: According to the poll, 67% of respondents in Finland support measures to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, only 10% are opposed, and 23% remain undecided. Support is almost evenly distributed among backers of different political parties in Finland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, opinions differ regarding the form such guarantees should take. Among all respondents, 68% support sending Finnish military personnel to Ukraine, but not for combat missions for example, as advisers; 63% favour providing military aid; 60% support non-military material assistance; and only 19% are in favour of sending troops for combat operations. Background: European officials are discussing a plan to deploy UK and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement, with around 10 countries ready to contribute forces. Andre Wustner, the head of the Bundeswehr Association, said that an effective peacekeeping mission in Ukraine would require the deployment of tens of thousands of troops for a prolonged period. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A man died after being shot in the neck early Friday evening while relaxing in front of the apartment building where he lived in the Bronx, police said. Cops responding to a 911 call just before 6 p.m. found the man with a gunshot wound to his neck in front of a building on Washington Ave. near E. 164th St. in the South Bronx, according to police. Medics rushed him in critical condition to Lincoln Hospital, where he died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gunman fled on foot. Police identified the victim as James Gaines, 46. It was, like, four shots, said a 48-year-old witness, who did not want to give his name because he works in the area. He was laying on his back. The shot in the neck was what killed him, said the witness, a car mechanic. The gunman passed right by here, he added. He said he did not know the victim. He was good people, said Tammy Robinson, 61, who lives across the hall from the apartment where Gaines lived with his mother. He was shot right out in front of our building. I cant believe it. Snoop was a nice, polite young man, Robinson added, using Gaines nickname, by which he was widely known for his resemblance to the rapper Snoop Dogg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before he was shot, Gaines was sitting on the sidewalk in front of his apartment building watching a show on his phone, which was still playing more than an hour later, the witness said. The mans knapsack and thermos could be seen next to a pool of blood marking the spot where the victim had been relaxing before being fatally shot. My son was a good guy. He got along with everyone, Gaines mother, Linda Diane Edwards, told the Daily News. If you needed help, he would help you with anything. Someone took my sons life for no reason. He walked up and started shooting, she said. He shot him like four, three or four times in the chest. Edwards, a home health aide, said her son had PTSD and seizures after being shot in the mouth a couple years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He got shot a couple of years ago, and then he almost died of pneumonia last year. He was in a coma, she said. He beat that but this was his third strike. Edwards acknowledged her son had previous brushes with the law, but nothing to write home about. She did not know what prompted the shooting. Who would do this? she said. Your guess is as good as mine. Police are investigating. So far there have been no arrests, police said. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) A West Valley City man has been charged for allegedly punching another driver in the face after a vehicle collision. Everadro Davila, 24, has been charged with one count of assault with bodily injury with a road rage enhancement, as well as two infractions for unsafe lane travel and not having a valid drivers license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, on Aug. 5, 2025, two vehicles were traveling in the area of 3500 S in West Valley City. Allegedly, Davila was driving a GMC, and the victim was driving a Toyota. While driving, the two vehicles reached an area where two lanes merged into one, and the GMC tried to pass the Toyota. Motorcyclist crashes into car in St. George after running red light The GMC did not successfully pass, and the vehicles were involved in a collision. According to a witness, they saw the GMC weaving around vehicles and traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision. After the crash, Davila and the victim pulled into a nearby parking lot, and the witness followed soon after. At this point, Davila and the victim allegedly got into a verbal argument when Davila suddenly punched the victim in the head. The witness reported seeing this incident. The victim began to bleed from a laceration that later required stitches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A West Valley City Police officer responded to the area and spoke with Davila, who did not have a valid drivers license. Davila was not booked into jail, but has a summons issued for an initial appearance in court. 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. Jake Dattilo, a 32-year-old Buford resident, was arrested for allegedly committing fraud at multiple Napa Auto Parts stores in north Georgia. Oakwood Police Department said Dattilo posed as a United Rentals employee to buy merchandise using the companys business accounts, resulting in about $120,000 in fraudulent transactions. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The investigation began on Aug. 8, when officers responded to a fraud case at the Napa Auto Parts store on Mundy Mill Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The store manager reported that Dattilo had been committing fraud at several Napa locations. Authorities received information Tuesday that Dattilo was heading to the Oakwood Napa store to continue his fraudulent activities. Surveillance was conducted, and Dattilo was followed to a Gainesville Napa store where he obtained more merchandise fraudulently, police said. The Gainesville Police Department collaborated with officers to arrest Dattilo as he left the store. The case remains active, with more charges pending against Dattilo. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Man accused of shooting at authorities during local standoff facing federal charges A man accused of firing shots at federal agents during a standoff at a local hotel last week is now facing federal charges, according to a spokesperson with the United States Attorney, Southern District of Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Andre Jordan II, 34, has been charged with assault of a federal officer with a deadly weapon, attempted murder of a federal agent, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An arrest warrant was issued for Jordan on Aug. 8 for the murder of beloved Ohio chef and father of two, Bryan Morris Jr. As previously reported by News Center 7, the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) tracked him to the Quality Inn in Springfield on Aug.14. TRENDING STORIES: According to charging documents, law enforcement announced their presence to Jordan at the hotel, who then looked out the window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following additional announcements, Jordan allegedly fired a shot through the window toward the pool area in the vicinity of officers and then fired an additional round through the front door of the room toward positioned officers, the spokesperson said. Officers went into the stairwell at the end of the hall for cover, the spokesperson added. Several people, including children, left the hotel room, and Jordan allegedly continued firing shots. Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliot previously told News Center 7 that it doesnt appear that any law enforcement returned fire. Springfield Police Division SWAT Team then responded to the scene, and hostage negotiators got in contact with Jordan, according to a previous News Center 7 report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan surrendered without further incident after an hours-long standoff and was arrested. The spokesperson said Jordan has been transferred into federal custody. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Police in India have arrested a man who recently alleged that he had been coerced into burying hundred of bodies of women who were raped before being murdered. His startling claims had thrown the tiny religious town of Dharmasthala in the southern state of Karnataka into turmoil. Home to the centuries-old temple to Manjunatha Swamy - an incarnation of Shiva from the Hindu holy trinity - the town attracts thousands of pilgrims daily and is central to the fabric of local people's lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A political row in the state resulted in the government setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to verify the man's allegations. The centuries-old temple to Manjunatha Swamy attracts thousands of pilgrims daily [Geeta Pandey/BBC] A SIT official who did not want to be named told the BBC on Saturday morning that the man "has been arrested for perjury". In early July, the middle-aged man had lodged a police complaint and appeared before a magistrate to record his statement. His identity has been withheld and, so far, he has appeared in public dressed fully in black, including a hood and a face mask. In the police complaint which the BBC has seen, the man said he worked as a cleaner at the temple from 1995 to 2014 - and alleged that he had been forced to bury the bodies of hundreds of girls and young women who were brutally raped and murdered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He narrated five alleged incidents where he gave specifics, and said there were many others. Some of the victims, the man alleged, were minors. He said he had been in hiding since 2014 and had returned and spoken up to silence his nagging conscience. The cleaner did not name anyone but blamed the "temple administration and its staff" - allegations the temple chief rejected as "false and baseless". When he was taken to the magistrate, the man went on to produce a human skull from his bag as evidence. He said it belonged to a body he had buried and that he had retrieved it recently from the spot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The skull and skeletal remains he produced are not brought from any spot in which he claimed to have buried the bodies,'' the SIT official said. Saturday's arrest comes as a major turn in a saga that has set off a firestorm within the state and outside. The allegations received intense media coverage. After concerns were raised by the state's women's commission, the government launched a major criminal investigation and set up the SIT. For the past several weeks, the team conducted excavations at locations in and around Dharmasthala to verify the man's claims. He had initially identified 13 spots - some of them in hard-to-reach areas covered by dense foliage and reportedly infested with venomous snakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources in the SIT confirmed to the BBC that human remains, including a skull and nearly 100 bone fragments, have been found at two of the spots and had been sent for forensic testing. It is not clear who they belong to. Police officials have confirmed to the BBC that human remains have been found at two places [Anush Kottary] The allegations also put the spotlight on the influential Heggade family - hereditary administrators of the temple. In a statement to the BBC, chief administrator Veerendra Heggade, an MP in the Indian parliament's upper house who received the country's second highest civilian award Padma Vibhushan in 2015, welcomed the SIT inquiry. The temple "really appreciates the government for appointing the SIT for investigating the alleged unnatural deaths claimed to have occurred in and around Dharmasthala", he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are already extending full support for the investigation. We have full faith on our judiciary and investigation agency and constitution of India," he added. In an interview with Indian news agency PTI later, he called the former cleaner's claims "impossible" and said that "once and for all the truth should come out". The allegations also resulted in a huge political row - the issue was discussed in the just-concluded session of the state assembly, with the opposition BJP members calling it a "smear campaign" against a Hindu religious site that has millions of devotees. Home Minister G Parameshwara from the state's governing Congress party said the government had no intention of either shielding anyone or maligning anyone. "Shouldn't the truth come out?" he asked. "If nothing is found, Dharmasthala's stature will only grow stronger. If something emerges, justice will be delivered," he added. A quiet stretch of desert road in Northeast Antelope Valley turned into the scene of a deadly ambush this month, leaving three people shot to death and a Lake Los Angeles man facing the possibility of life in prison. Prosecutors on Friday charged 32-year-old Axel Trevino with three counts of murder in connection with the Aug. 17 shootings, which claimed the lives of Juan Arteaga-Diaz, Nazario Ramirez and Beverly Cassese. He is also accused of personally discharging a firearm during the attack and faces special circumstance allegations of committing multiple murders. If convicted as charged, Trevino faces a minimum sentence of life in prison. This was a ruthless and violent attack that claimed three lives in broad daylight, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in announcing the charges. All members of our community, in any part of our county, rural or urban, should feel protected from this kind of deadly violence. My office is committed to ensuring accountability and protecting the safety of residents across Los Angeles County. We stand with the victims loved ones as they seek justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say the violence unfolded just before 5 p.m. along East Avenue Q and 215th Street East, a remote area of Lake Los Angeles about 20 miles from Palmdale. Investigators allege Trevino stopped his vehicle alongside an SUV occupied by Arteaga-Diaz and Ramirez, pulled a gun and fired multiple rounds at the men. Moments later, he allegedly pulled alongside Casseses vehicle and opened fire, striking her as she drove. Axel Trevino is shown above images of deputies as they investigate a triple shooting in the Antelope Valley on Aug. 17, 2025. (LASD) A vehicle associated with Axel Trevino, the person of interest in a triple homicide in the Antelope Valley on Aug. 17, 2025. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department) Deputies investigate a triple shooting in the Antelope Valley on Aug. 17, 2025. (DonLuisMeza) Deputies investigate a triple shooting in the Antelope Valley on Aug. 17, 2025. (DonLuisMeza) Deputies investigate a triple shooting in the Antelope Valley on Aug. 17, 2025. (DonLuisMeza) A Google Maps satellite image of the remote northeastern area of Antelope Valley where two men and a woman were found shot to death on Aug. 17, 2025. Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department arrived to find a tragic scene. Cassese, believed to be in her 40s, was discovered in her car and pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts. A short distance away, deputies located the SUV with a trailer attached and found Arteaga-Diaz and Ramirez inside, both suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trevino fled before deputies arrived, investigators said. Two days later, on Aug. 19, authorities released his photo along with images of a 2021 Nissan Altima believed to be connected to the crime. That evening, he was taken into custody. The motive for the killings has not been released, and officials have not said whether Trevino knew the victims. Investigators said certain details are being withheld to maintain the integrity of the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Keri Knittel of the Antelope Valley Branch. Trevino was arraigned Friday in Antelope Valley Courthouse and is being held without bail. A conviction on all counts would carry a minimum penalty of life in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Man who confessed to killing fiancee charged with murder in new case A Foxborough man who confessed to killing his pregnant fiancee in 2007 is accused of killing again, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys office. Boston police arrested Taylor Hurst, 42, on Thursday near City Hall Plaza. Authorities say he was wanted for murder in the July 6th death of Stephen Gomes, 52, in Jamaica Plain. Hurst appeared from a hospital bed with his attorney sitting next to him. Hurst was not visible on-camera, but his wrist could be seen handcuffed to the edge of the bed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police found Gomes body under a bed on the second floor of an apartment, its believed he shared with Hurst on Patten Street. An autopsy revealed he suffered severe injuries to his head and face. After his arrest, prosecutors say Hurst told police hed had a fight with a person hed been living with. In 2008, Hurst pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2007 death of his fiancee, Katherine MacDougall. At the time, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported Hurst strangled MacDougall with his hands. Hurst was sentenced to 18-20 years for the crime and released from state prison in 2023, Suffolk County Assistant DA Jillian Bannister said at Hursts arraignment on Thursday. In 2024, he pled guilty to one count of animal cruelty in Wrentham and was placed on probation, according to Bannister. Bannister said a bank card with Hursts name was found on a table next to the bed where Gomes body was discovered. Bannister said gas station security video also showed Hurst driving Gomes red SUV only hours before Gomes was found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police had attempted to stop the SUV the same day, but the driver took off, leading police on a short chase, Bannister said. Police later found the SUV abandoned. They obtained a warrant to search the vehicle and used data from the SUVs infotainment center to retrace the SUVs stops, ultimately leading them to the gas station with security video that showed Hurst as the driver, Bannister told the court. She did not say what led up to Gomes death or the nature of the relationship between the men. A judge ordered Hurst held without bail and to have no contact with Gomes family. His next court hearing is September 17. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A 32-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his brother after a man was fatally stabbed in west Belfast on Thursday. Martin Lowry, of no fixed abode, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with murder and possession of a blade or point. Shane Lowry, who was in his 30s, died following the incident in Mulberry Park in Twinbrook. During the brief hearing Mr Lowry, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge asked if there was a connection between the accused and the victim. The court heard that they were brothers. Police told the court they could connect Mr Lowry to the charges. There was no application for bail and Mr Lowry is due to appear in court again on 15 September. Man facing drunken driving, gun charges in crash that closed Cape Cod bridge A man is facing drunken driving and gun charges in connection with a serious crash that closed a bridge on Cape Cod on Friday night, authorities announced Saturday. Garret Mullen, 37, of Lewiston, Maine, is slated to be arraigned Monday in Falmouth District Court on charges including operating under the influence of liquor, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possesion of a large-capacity feeding device, exceeding the posted speed limit, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, possesing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, and possesing ammunition without an FID card, according to Massachusetts State Police. Troopers responding to a report of a two-vehicle crash on the Bourne Bridge around 9:30 p.m. found a Ford F-250 that had rear-ended an SUV, state police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three people in the SUV were taken to area hospitals with various injuries, including one person who required trauma care. Mullen was arrested at the scene of the wreck. The bridge was closed to traffic for more than an hour while police gathered evidence. The crash remains 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 In a joint operation, Border Security Force (BSF) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) have apprehended a narco smuggler from Miran Sahib area of the Jammu district in Jammu and Kashmir. The security forces have also recovered Heroin worth Rs 50 lakhs from the narco smuggler during the joint operation. The operation was conducted on August 22 and was carried out after receiving specific intelligence provided by BSF Jammu. "On 22 Aug 2025, based on specific intelligence provided by BSF Jammu, a joint search operation was launched by #BSF Jammu and #NCB Jammu, during which one narco smuggler was apprehended and Heroin worth 50 lakh was recovered from Miran Sahib, Jammu," the BSF Jammu said in a statement. Recently, the Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation, seized narcotics valued at over Rs 75 crore in the illicit market and arrested eight persons, busting an international racket. The achievement followed a special joint operation conducted on August 21, acting on specific intelligence developed by the BSF and meticulously planned and launched in close coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Aizawl unit and the Excise and Narcotics Department of Mizoram. The joint team successfully intercepted four suspected vehicles on the Aizawl-Champhai National Highway (NH-6), between Keifang and Seling villages, approximately 60 kms from Aizawl. "A total of eight individuals were apprehended along with four vehicles," said the BSF in a statement. During the search, the border guarding force said three plastic bags containing fifty packets, each weighing about one kilogram, filled with approx 10,000 pinkish tablets suspected to be Methamphetamine (Yaba) were recovered. "The total weight was found to be approximately 50 kilograms, amounting to 5,00,000 tablets approximately. In addition, three soap cases containing 36 grams of Heroin were also recovered. The combined value of the seized narcotics is assessed at over Rs 75 crore in the illicit market," it said. This major success highlights the synergy and seamless coordination between the BSF, NCB, and the Excise and Narcotics Department, Mizoram, whose joint efforts ensured the disruption of a significant narcotics trafficking attempt along the vulnerable Mizoram-Myanmar corridor. "The operation reaffirms the resolute determination of security and enforcement agencies to combat the menace of drugs, safeguard society, and protect the youth from falling prey to narcotics smuggling networks," said the BSF, which is mandated to guard India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders. (ANI) While exiting the drivers seat of his car on Friday night, a man in his mid-30s was struck and killed in a hit-and-run in Reseda, authorities said. It happened around 8:05 p.m. on Victory Boulevard, west of Belmar Avenue, according to LAPD Valley Traffic Detectives. Investigators said the victim had just stepped out of his parked vehicle when a black compact SUV traveling westbound on Victory veered right and hit him. The SUV continued west on Victory and turned north on Corbin Avenue without stopping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Los Angeles County Coroners Office. There was no suspect description available on Saturday morning. Detectives are urging anyone who was in the area of Victory Boulevard and Belmar Avenue around 8:05 p.m. to come forward with information. A suspect hit-and-run vehicle is seen after a man was struck and killed while getting out of his car in Reseda. August 2025. (LAPD) Investigators are seen responding to a fatal hit-and-run in Reseda. August 2025. (KTLA) Investigators are seen responding to a fatal hit-and-run in Reseda. August 2025. (KTLA) Investigators are seen responding to a fatal hit-and-run in Reseda. August 2025. (KTLA) The citys Hit-and-Run Reward Program offers up to $50,000 for information leading to the offenders identification, apprehension and conviction, or resolution through a civil compromise. Motorists are reminded to stop after a collision, call for help and remain at the scene to identify themselves, as required by law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division Detective Otrosina at 818-644-8036 or Detective Martinez at 818-644-8033. On weekends, LAPD said calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go to www.lacrimestoppers.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 KTLA. A Malaysian man was fined for illegally mining sand, according to the Malay Mail. In 2023, Chang Chee Onn reportedly instructed his crew to move sand from protected land north of Kuala Lumpur in the Raub district. According to the report, the 67-year-old was fined 100,000 Malaysian ringgits ($23,731.70) and had to forfeit two trucks and an excavator. He later settled with the court, having pleaded for leniency following the scheme, which was designed to help support his wife and child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illegal sand mining has become a booming business. Sand is a primary ingredient in glass and cement production. It's also needed for the silicon that's vital to the production of phones, computers, and solar panels. Sand mining in Southeast Asia has been impacted by demand in Singapore. The low-lying country has been trying to increase its landmass in the face of rising sea levels. This has sparked destructive illegal mining across the region, including a corruption scandal in Malaysia that led the government to seize the equivalent of $1.4 million. While sand may seem like an abundant resource, overzealous mining is destroying ecosystems and accelerating coastal erosion. That erosion can reduce protection against storm surges, which are becoming all the more frequent. Many jurisdictions have proposed or enacted bans on sand mining in light of its environmental importance, including the Philippines. Others, such as Indonesia, have lifted bans in order to capitalize on the economic opportunity. While sand supplies are naturally replenished and could support commercial operations, that pace is often outstripped by harvesters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sustainable sand mining is only possible if the quantities that are extracted are less than the quantities that are being replaced through the natural processes," Conservation Action Trust trustee Debi Goenka said, per The ASEAN Post. "Since this varies from month to month and depends on the currents and tidal factors, this is a tricky process and most sand miners do not bother to try and maintain a balance." 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) An investigation is underway, and one person is in custody after an overnight shooting in the Dupont Circle area left a man injured. The investigation began when officers were called to the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and N Street, Northwest, at around 3:10 a.m. on Aug. 23, after gunshots were reportedly heard in the area. When police arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman, girl hospitalized after stabbing in Northeast DC; suspect arrested Medics took the man to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Investigators recovered a weapon, and MPD officers arrested one person in connection with the shooting, police said. As the investigation continues, authorities urge anyone with information to call MPD at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411. As of Saturday morning, it is unclear whether the suspect and the man knew each other. Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. 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. Crews are searching for body in the Ohio River after a man reportedly jumped from the Purple People Bridge on Aug. 23, according to a news release from the Cincinnati Fire Department. Multiple agencies were dispatched to the pedestrian bridge at 10:56 a.m. after reports said a person jumped into the river between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Once on scene, first responders confirmed from multiple people that a man had indeed jumped from the bridge, the release said. Boat 3, Zodiac 23 and Zodiac 14 from Cincinnati, as well as Zodiac 1 from Covington fire, were all launched to search for the man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man was not found, and after 40 minutes of searching the area, the search was turned over to both Boone County Water Rescue and Hamilton County Underwater Dive and Recovery Team. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Cincinnati Police Department at 513-765-1212 This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Crews search for body after man jumps from Purple People Bridge CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) A man and a juvenile were arrested in South Bay after being found with narcotics, authorities said. The Nexstar Media video above explains what fentanyl is and why its dangerous As part of an effort to counter cross-border narcotics smuggling activity in the region, San Diego sheriffs detectives were conducting surveillance near Third and Orange Avenues in Chula Vista on Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During this operation, sheriffs detectives saw a 13-year-old boy meet a 19-year-old man who was carrying a backpack. After the man, later identified as Martin Corona, handed him the backpack, the juvenile walked into a nearby liquor store, where officers contacted him to conduct a truancy assessment. 11 drivers cited at Chula Vista DUI checkpoint, police report Detectives said the backpack contained five kilograms of powdered fentanyl. This ultimately led to the arrest of both suspects, who were then taken to the Imperial Beach Sheriffs Substation. Corona was already on probation for felony narcotics convictions, and he is now facing charges of narcotics trafficking, child endangerment and conspiracy, authorities said. The juvenile was cited and released to the custody of his parents. 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 man fled after opening fire on a bus near the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday night, shooting and killing a young woman, authorities say. It happened around 10:45 p.m., according to the L.A. Police Department, near the intersection of Belford and Manchester Avenues in Westchester. A bus operator headed eastbound on Metro Bus Line 115 near LAX heard gunshots from the rear of the bus and immediately stopped, allowing all passengers to exit, stated a spokesperson for the L.A. Metro. Police said the suspect fled on foot after the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary investigation revealed that a verbal altercation aboard the Metro Bus led to a 20-year-old man allegedly firing multiple rounds, striking an 18-year-old woman. It was not immediately clear whether the victim was the suspected gunmans target. Police later confirmed to KTLA that the teens boyfriend was a witness to the incident; however, it was not known whether the victim was trying to intervene in a fight involving her boyfriend and the suspect when she was shot. The LAPD said the teenage victim was then transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Law enforcement is seen responding to reports of a fatal shooting on a bus near LAX. August 2025. (KTLA) Law enforcement is seen responding to reports of a fatal shooting on a bus near LAX. August 2025. (KTLA) Law enforcement is seen responding to reports of a fatal shooting on a bus near LAX. August 2025. (KTLA) Law enforcement is seen responding to reports of a fatal shooting on a bus near LAX. August 2025. (KTLA) Metro extends its sympathies to the victims family and friends and thanks the Los Angeles Fire and Police Departments for their prompt response, the Metro spokesperson added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities did not immediately identify the suspect or the victim, and no arrests were announced as of Saturday morning. The Los Angeles Police Department is leading the investigation into the incident and encourages anyone with information to call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Elizabeth Chapman and Sofia Pop Perez 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 KTLA. Mahamud Tito Mahamed SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Mahamud Mahamed, of Noel, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court in Springfield to one count of kidnapping resulting in death. Its connected to the 2019 murder of Jessica McCormack, of Noel. Her body was found on July 29 of that year near Highway-59 between Lanagan and Noel, after a passerby spotted a pink suitcase in a ditch with feet sticking out. McCormacks severely decomposed body was next to the suitcase which belonged to Mahamed. Officers responded to her home two weeks earlier after she told a 911 dispatcher Mahamed had held her at knifepoint and tried to rape her. She was also worried he was going to harm her three kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and the kids were all reported missing the next day. Shortly before her body was found, Mahamed called his cousin in Minnesota to tell her he was bringing the kids to her because something bad had happened and he was in trouble. The kids were located in Iowa ten days later with a woman Mahamed had worked with. He was eventually arrested in 2021 in Guatemala. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Aug. 22A man who reportedly hit two people with a car, killing one and seriously injuring the other, while intoxicated outside Miami Valley Hospital North pleaded guilty. Who is involved? Daryl Dillard, 61, was charged for allegedly hitting two pedestrians on July 22, 2024, outside the hospital. William E. Rodenberg, 77, was pronounced dead at the hospital. A 74-year-old man had serious, life-threatening injuries, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What did he plead to? Dillard pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault, vandalism and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drug abuse in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. The OVI conviction is a first-degree misdemeanor. One count of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of failure to stop after an accident and five counts of OVI were dismissed. What is he accused of? Dillard was attempting to back into a parking space with a 2007 Cadillac DTS when he accelerated, causing the car to hop the curb, according to a crash report. The car hit a guard shack at the hospital's entrance and then hit two men who were walking. The car dragged the men briefly, according to the sheriff's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dillard continued driving, striking a parked 2017 Kia Forte. The impact pushed the Kia into a parked 2024 Ford E-450 van. Dillard then drove through mulch and landscaping and back into the parking lot before hitting a 2013 Toyota Avalon, according to the crash report. He allegedly tried to drive away, but couldn't because the Cadillac was disabled. Dillard and both pedestrians were taken to Miami Valley Hospital North. No one in the Kia or Ford was injured. The Toyota was unoccupied. Dillard tested positive for tested positive for marijuana, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, cocaine and ethanol, according to a Vandalia Municipal Court affidavit. A tall can of Bud Ice beer was reportedly inside the car. What's next? Dillard is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 16.5 years for the aggravated vehicular homicide conviction, according to court documents. A man who tried smuggling gun parts through Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Ecuador pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday. Galo Dario Rojas-Noblecilla was charged on March 11 with fraudulently attempting to export firearms from the United States, a felony. Details of his plea agreement were unavailable Thursday afternoon. He was arrested while attempting to conceal a fully functional FN 5.7mm lower receiver, two upper slides and an empty magazine in two camouflaged-style duffle bags he checked at the Charlotte airport, court records said. The flight transferred in Miami before continuing to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSA put the bags through an X-ray machine and saw the firearm parts in his checked bag. The firearm parts were artfully concealed in plastic wrap, aluminum foil and bed sheets, and then put inside of a bed sheet plastic package. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested Rojas-Noblecilla for carrying a concealed weapon. In an interview with law enforcement, Rojas-Noblecillas mother said he was transporting a bag for another person, a Charlotte woman, who would pay him $250 for each bag he took to or from Ecuador. His mother said he had transported many bags (always similar in color and size) over the last few months, court records said. The Charlotte woman for whom he transported the bags for said she would have family members, as well as Rojas-Noblecilla and his mother, transport bags to and from Ecuador for her, court records said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The records also said she said Rojas-Noblecilla transported bags for her six times previously, and that she paid his mother and wife in Ecuador $250. The woman also said she packed the two camouflage bags Rojas-Noblecilla took to the airport. A Customs and Border Protection officer was called in for assistance with the case. Rojas-Noblecilla had previous encounters with transporting things between the U.S. and Ecuador, including in November when he flew into John F. Kennedy airport in New York City with two suitcases filled with prescription drugs and controlled substances, according to court records. The records stated some of the drugs were a precursor to methamphetamine. Rojas-Noblecilla was also stopped and inspected at Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida on March 7, where he was found transporting 35 pounds of cheese. Court records showed Rojas-Noblecillas wife, brother and other loved ones wrote character statements on his behalf in English and Spanish and asked that his character be considered in his sentencing. While his plea agreement is redacted in court documents, the records show Rojas-Noblecilla couldve received a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both, as well as a maximum three years of supervised release for the fraudulent firearm export charge. A recidivist criminal who looks and acts like a caveman has allegedly been terrorizing women and girls in Queens for the past three months, multiple victims told The Post. Even more frustrating is that the apparent deviant identified by cops as Mallik Miah was arrested twice for recent incidents but released both times because the crimes were not bail eligible, police said. The bearded, long-haired Miah, 31 whos been roaming the neighborhood since May has 41 arrests dating back to 2010, including forcible touching, weapon possession, assault, drugs and burglary, police sources said. Victims claim the man sneaks up behind them, touches them and makes vile remarks. DCPI One victim, who asked to be identified only as Jessica, filed a police report after Miah allegedly smacked her on the rear at the 46th Street-Bliss Street subway station in Sunnyside on May 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guy was coming up the steps in the little stairwell, and thats when he reached over and assaulted me, Jessica said. I flailed my hands at him and yelled, Ahole! and then ran down the stairs, because I was honestly a little afraid that he would throw me down the steps. Miah, whose last known address was in the Bronx, was arrested and charged with forcible touching but got out the next day on supervised release, court records show. With people like this guy, this is where theyre building up to do even worse stuff to people, the 40-year-old said. Mom Jenn Shulte, 51, was riding the N subway around 2 p.m. June 22 along with her 11-year-old daughter, when they encountered Miah. The man has been spotted numerous times in Astoria in the past three months, residents said. Obtained by the New York Post He had kind of a crazed look in his eye, she told The Post. He was saying, I know you like black dk, I know youve never had it this good, you dont know how big it is, Ill slide it right in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She didnt report the incident to police because she didnt think they could do anything. On June 30, warnings went up on the Facebook group MOMally Astoria after another woman posted about her alleged encounter with him. This man followed me into a store on Ditmars, when I was with my 1-year-old baby and said absolutely disgusting things to me, the woman wrote, including a pic with her post. Miah allegedly told her he had two friends who would fk you so good, she recounted to The Post. I didnt call the police, the 37-year-old said. Although, I should have. One woman claimed the bearded man smacked her on the rear end in a subway station. Helayne Seidman On July 9, Miah went into a Burlington Coat Factory on 31st Street and was chasing customers, a police source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He comes straight to me and said, Buy me clothes,' said witness Paulette Spigel, adding that she saw him earlier on a subway train ogling two teenage girls. I ran. Then he starts chasing a woman and her 13-year-old daughter. A worker called 911 and cops arrested Miah again. He was charged with trespassing and harassment, police said. But he was released again because the charges were not bail eligible. He was also seen harassing women at an Astoria subway stop at 7:30 a.m. on July 14, said witnesses who posted a snap of him standing uncomfortably close behind two women. And Eliana Laurentis said Miah snuck up behind her around noon on July 24, as she walked to her mothers home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I immediately knew that I was going to be attacked, Laurentis, 47, said. I ducked, I screamed and I ran. She reported the incident to the NYPDs 114th Precinct but Miah wasnt arrested because he never touched her, cops said. Michael Alcazar, a retired NYPD detective and John Jay College adjunct professor, blamed lefty bail reform laws for allowing perverts back out into the wild. It sounds pretty heinous what hes doing especially if hes verbally attacking and physically assaulting women, plus hes endangering the welfare of minors if a woman has her child, Alcazar said. It sounds like he should be arrested again. . . . I know its frustrating, but these women have to keep making police reports so we can make the arrest again, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are fearful the worst is yet to come. Our neighborhood is worried that hes going to very badly hurt somebody, said Astoria resident Kimberly Vasallo. A message left for Miahs public defender wasnt returned. Animal Rights Activist Ambika Shukla supported Supreme Court's modified decision on stray dogs and pointed out the failure of Animal Birth Control (ABC) program. The Supreme Court on Friday modified its previous August 11 order, which had directed the rounding up of all stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR and prohibited their release from dog shelters. The court now allows the release of stray dogs back to the same area after sterilisation and immunisation. Shukla said that the animal civil authorities, health experts, animal welfarists, and animal behaviourists should work together so that the ABC program can run smoothly. "We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court. The dogs are not at fault in this case. The failure here is in the implementation by ABC. Now, civil authorities, health experts, animal welfarists, and animal behaviourists should work together so that this programme runs smoothly. But there is a problem in this Supreme Court order, as they have asked people who raised their voice for justice to pay... I request the Supreme Court to look into this order," Ambika Shukla told ANI. A three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria ruled that stray dogs must be released after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour. The court said that infected stray dogs shall be sterilised and immunised, but under no circumstances shall they be released back into the streets, and as far as possible, they shall be kept in separate shelters or pounds after sterilisation and immunisation. "The dogs that are picked up shall be sterilised, dewormed, vaccinated, and released back to the same area from where they were picked up," it said while modifying the August 11 order, which directed that stray dogs shall not be released. The bench also restricted public feeding of stray dogs and directed the MCD to create dedicated feeding spaces in each municipal ward. "Under no condition shall the feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted. Dedicated feeding spaces of stray dogs to be created. There have been instances due to such feeding instances," said the bench. (ANI) SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A San Diego man has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for sexually exploiting a teenage girl, prosecutors said. According to the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of California, Eric Jin, 31, will serve prison time for ordering a 14-year-old girl to produce child sex abuse material. Jin was indicted on May 14, 2024, and pleaded guilty in October of that year. He admitted to persuading the girl to send him sexually explicit photos of herself in December 2022 and February 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A photo taken in February 2023 included the girls leg in which Jins first name, Eric, had been carved into her skin with a knife at his direction, prosecutors said. Jin also admitted that he possessed and sent pictures of other minors engaged in sexually explicit activity to the girl via his cell phone. Mr. Jin managed to exploit a vulnerable child despite the parents diligent efforts to protect her, said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon in a statement. This office will do everything legally possible to achieve justice for children and hold predators like the defendant accountable. The Federal Bureau of Investigation advises parents to educate themselves about the websites, software, games and apps that their children use, and engage in open conversations about online safety with their children. Any inappropriate contact between an adult and children should be reported to law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To contact the FBI, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A man believed to have burned a McClain County sheriff's deputy's home, capping a crime spree against law enforcement officers, was in custody after a brief standoff in Norman. The deputy's family was at home, but no one was injured, said Scott Gibbons, public information officer for the McClain County Sheriff's Office in Purcell, 40 miles south of Oklahoma City. The site where the fire occurred Friday night, Aug. 22, is in Washington, a town of some 670 about 10 miles northwest of Purcell. The man was arrested Saturday morning. "Overnight a suspect returned to the scene of an off-duty police officer's home that he had been caught burglarizing the night before," the sheriff's office said on Facebook. "He lit fire to the vehicles & the home which was occupied by the family The home & vehicles are a total loss, but thankful the officer and his family are safe." Tribal and federal investigators involved in arson case Photos show the results of an arson attack on a McClain County sheriff's deputy's home Friday night, Aug. 22, posted on the McClain County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. The man is a Cherokee and the arson occurred on the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, so he probably will face both tribal and federal charges, Gibbons said. Authorities did not give the victims' names. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Numerous agencies had investigators at the home Saturday afternoon, he said. The Oklahoman is not naming the suspect since he has not been charged. The man had been "targeting law enforcement officers' homes and vehicles to burglarize," according to the McClain County Sheriff's Office. Over the week, he is believed to have burglarized three different officers' homes in three jurisdictions,' Gibbons said. McClain County sheriff's deputies had arrested the man overnight Thursday and turned him over to the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police, who took him to the Grady County jail in Chickasha, Gibbons said. He was released without being charged, he said, and was free roughly 24 hours later when the arson occurred. Gibbons said it was unclear why he was released. Ten law enforcement agencies respond to threat against one of their own A photo posted on the McClain County Sheriff's Office Facebook page shows the results of an arson attack on a McClain County sheriff's deputy's home Friday night, Aug. 22. Numerous agencies responded to the threat to law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to McClain County sheriff's deputies, assisting authorities included the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, Chickasaw Lighthorse Police, and police departments in Moore, Newcastle, Norman and Washington, OK. A photo posted on the McClain County Sheriff's Office Facebook page shows the results of an arson attack on a McClain County sheriff's deputy's home Friday night, Aug. 22. Staff writer Richard Mize covers Oklahoma County government and the city of Edmond. He previously covered housing, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com, starting in 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Man arrested in torching of sheriff's deputy's home in McClain County GATES COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY) A man who has been wanted since 2024 in connection with an abduction and malicious wounding in Gates County has been arrested and charged. Man wanted on multiple charges in Gates County Patrick Anthony Burke has been charged with malicious wounding, abduction, larceny and fleeing from law enforcement. He was additionally served with a fugitive warrant for his crimes in North Carolina, according to the Gates County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews with the Suffolk Police Department encountered Burke during a traffic stop earlier this week. Burke attempted to flee on foot and was quickly taken into custody. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COMMERCE, Okla. Many schools in northeast Oklahoma now provide free meals to students during the academic year. Students at Commerce Middle School and Commerce High School are now able to start the day off with a good breakfast free of charge. We are able to provide these meals for our students, were able to tell all the parents, hey, its free. Youre never going to be charged a penny, said Commerce Schools Superintendent, Steve Moss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commerce Schools recently met the qualifications for meal assistance through a federal program called the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP. It allows high-poverty schools to provide both breakfast and lunch at no cost. We have students and parents that are a little bit reluctant to admit they have a need, and this took the burden off them, trying to either fill out a form to get assistance or come in and talk to us individually, said Commerce Middle School Principal, Jonathan Medlin. Commerce Schools also have what it calls a second chance breakfast. It gives students with busy morning schedules the opportunity to have that first meal of the day. It allows a little bit more flexibility in their morning schedule than, say, getting a student up at 5:30 in the morning to try and prepare everything, which is an added benefit because it allows our students to sleep a little bit longer, be a little more rested, and a little more attentive, said Medlin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A USDA report shows one-in-five Oklahoma children are considered food insecure, and for many, school not only is a means of education, but also provides access to nutritious meals when they would otherwise go without. If theyre fueling their brains properly with a good nutritious breakfast and a good nutritious lunch its been proven, study after study, the benefits that come from that, said Moss. In fact, many studies show school meals help increase student attendance, test scores, behavior, and overall well-being 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. A company that produces maps for hunters and hikers has partnered with a conservation nonprofit to create a map of Bureau of Land Management-managed parcels in the West that appear to be at risk of sale or disposal, including numerous parcels in Southern Idaho. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and onX published the data in early August. It highlights around 6 million acres of public land in 17 states that has been flagged as eligible for sale or disposal a designation that doesnt necessarily mean the land will be sold. The data came from resource management plans for Bureau of Land Management field offices across the country, onX officials said. Some of those plans date back decades, including one in eastern Idaho that was approved in 1985. Dozens of Idaho parcels are part of the map, primarily along the Snake River Plain in the southern part of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal law allows the Bureau of Land Management to dispense with land that doesnt serve the national interest or parcels that have other community value or are particularly difficult to maintain, among other reasons. The nonprofit and mapping company noted that its unclear what the disposal designation means for any of the parcels they identified, since many have remained untouched for years. Still, they said, its important to acknowledge the possibility that the government has the ability to the sell the land. Public land sales recently were a hot topic when U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, proposed selling millions of acres as part of Congress recent budget reconciliation bill. One Bureau of Land Management official in the agencys Eastern Montana/Dakotas district field office told the Billings Gazette that parcels with public access are unlikely to be sold and disputed the accuracy of the map. The Boise District Office for the agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Idaho Statesman on the maps accuracy. The Idaho parcels identified on the map have been flagged for potential sale for varying durations. Many of the parcels in the Boise area are attributed to a resource management plan for the Bureau of Land Managements Four Rivers Field Office that was approved just last year. Others include management plans for the Owyhees and Challis issued in 1999, a plan for the Jarbidge area near Twin Falls dating to 2015 and the 1985 Medicine Lodge plan for parcels near the Wyoming border. PHOENIX - A school district in Arizona is being sued over an email that was never sent; Sheriffs in Pima County identify remains with help from AI; and more - here's a look at some of your top stories on FOX10Phoenix.com for Friday, August 22, 2025. 1. Shocking find inside luggage at airport What we know 52 pounds of monkey meat were found in someones luggage at Detroit Metro Airport. Dig deeper Bushmeat is considered a cultural delicacy in some parts of Africa. However, it is not allowed to be imported into the United States because it can spread diseases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More 2. Mom and her son arrested over deadly shooting What we know A 40-year-old woman and her 21-year-old son have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 58-year-old woman in the Bullhead City area. What they're saying Investigators allege the two suspects went to the victim's home on Aug. 20 to confront someone about stolen property, and at some point during the confrontation, the son shot the unarmed victim. Read More 3. Arizona school district sued after student was suspended What we know An Arizona family is suing a school district after it suspended a student for an email he never sent. The backstory The teen allegedly wrote an email on a school-issued laptop that could be construed as a threat. The messages were deleted within seconds, but it was enough to alert an AI-based safety management software program that was activated by keystrokes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More 4. Man who died near Tucson IDed with help from AI What we know Sheriffs in Pima County now have the name of a previously-unidentified man whose remains were found in December 2024. Dig deeper The remains of Ronald Woolf were found by a passerby, and a detective assigned to the case created an image of Woolf with help from AI. Read More 5. New Transformer statue installed in Cave Creek What we know The gigantic Bumblebee Transformer lookalike that quickly became a tourist attraction has been sold, but a new Optimus Prime Transformer statue has been installed. What they're saying "Our thought was to bring people into the town, and to share this bountiful influx of people that are coming in," Wayne Helfand said. Read More A look at your weather for tomorrow Get the Full Forecast Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has issued a passionate appeal urging Americans to support Gaza, enraging her usual MAGA allies. The far-right congresswoman has repeatedly denounced Israels ongoing war in Gaza in the wake of Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Last month, she labeled the war a genocide, breaking with her Republican colleagues in Congress. The Republican Congresswoman wrote a lengthy post on X on Saturday asking how Americans would feel if the United States was bombed day and night because of something horrific our government did, killing and injuring adults and children, while the rest of the world didnt come to its aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is what is happening to Gaza where in spite of what we have all been told, many innocent people and children are being killed and they are not Hamas, Greene wrote Saturday morning. Does Hamas deserve it? Yes. Do innocent people and children deserve it? No, she continued. The innocent people in Gaza did not kill and kidnap the innocent people in Israel on Oct 7th. Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for compassion for Gaza and for the U.S. to stop funding a genocide (AP) Just as we spoke out and had compassion for the victims and families of [October 7], how can Americans not speak out and have compassion for the masses of innocent people and children in Gaza? the GOP firebrand wrote. Is one type of innocent life worthy and another type of innocent life worth nothing? The United States has sent nearly $18 billion in military assistance to Israel since October 7. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, Gazas Health Ministry reported last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know about you, but I dont want to pay for genocide in a foreign country against a foreign people for a foreign war that I had nothing to do with, Greene concluded. And I will not be silent about it. Just 15 minutes after Greene posted her post on X, far-right activist Laura Loomer commented: Why are you advocating for GAZANS to come to the US? How is Islamic immigration America First? Last week, Loomer celebrated the State Departments decision to halt visitor visas for people from Gaza including temporary visas for privately funded medical care after she posted a series of videos of flights carrying people from Gaza to the United States and demanded that whoever approved their visas be fired. The videos, showing children arriving in the country for medical treatment, were posted from HEAL Palestine, a nonprofit that delivers urgent and long-term support to Palestinian children and families. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas that allow people to enter the country temporarily, including for medical treatment, according to the State Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other X users seemed to agree with Loomer. You have lost my support, one person responded to Greene. Another called her an idiot. More than half a million people in Gaza are trapped by famine, according to a recent analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a group of international organizations on which the United Nations and aid agencies rely to monitor global hunger crises. Laura Loomer, who last week celebrated the State Departments decision to stop visitor visas for people from Gaza, criticized Greenes take (Getty Images) Last month, Greene slammed Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine, who is Jewish and one of the most outspoken supporters of Israel in Congress, after he repeatedly suggested that Palestinians in Gaza should be starved. He has previously suggested Gaza should be "nuked and must be destroyed while labelling a fellow member of Congress a Muslim terrorist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Release the hostages. Until then, starve away, he wrote. Of the starvation in Gaza, Fine said: This is all a lie anyway. I can only imagine how Floridas 6th district feels now that their Representative, that they were told to vote for, openly calls for starving innocent people and children, Greene posted in response. Its the most truthful and easiest thing to say that Oct 7th in Israel was horrific and all hostages must be returned, but so is the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza, she added. But a Jewish U.S. Representative calling for the continued starvation of innocent people and children is disgraceful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loomer again responded to Greene, writing: There is no genocide in Gaza. Her words echo those of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who last month claimed that there is no policy of starvation in Gaza and there is no starvation in Gaza. The next day, President Donald Trump pushed back, stating that the region is suffering from real starvation and you cant fake that. Greene has repeatedly broken with her party in recent weeks, including her opposition to Trumps recent artificial intelligence executive order and her call for the Trump administration to release the so-called Epstein files. I don't know if the Republican Party is leaving me, or if I'm kind of not relating to the Republican Party as much anymore, Greene told the Daily Mail earlier this month. I don't know which one it is. The Brief A vigil took place outside Maryvale High School on Aug. 22 for a teen who was stabbed and killed earlier this week. The victim has been identified as 16-year-old Michael Montoya II. The suspect, 16-year-old Chris Daniel Aguilar, is being charged as an adult. PHOENIX - Three days after a deadly stabbing at Maryvale High School in Phoenix, a vigil was held for the 16-year-old victim. The backstory According to a statement released by Phoenix Police, a Phoenix Police officer who was working as a School Safety Officer for Maryvale High School was alerted by school staff members at around 10:54 a.m. that an assault had happened inside a classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The officer was directed to the administration building, where he detained one of the students involved," police said. "A second student was located by officers and firefighters suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was quickly treated on scene and rushed to the hospital, where he died from his injuries." Chris D. Aguilar (Courtesy: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office) The victim has been identified as Michael Montoya II. The suspect, identified as 16-year-old Chris Daniel Aguilar, is accused of a count of second-degree murder. He is being charged as an adult. According to investigators, one post made on social media stated that Aguilar and Montoya met up on Aug. 18 for a deal, and Montoya allegedly robbed Aguilar of a firearm. "The defendant was mad about the robbery and made statements that he was going to murder the victim," read a portion of the court documents for Aguilar. Local perspective The candlelight vigil for Montoya took place outside the school, where there is a growing memorial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vigil started with family and friends hugging Montoya's mom and other family members. They placed candles and flowers outside an entrance to the school. Montoya's cousin, Victor Lopez, said his family is trying to stay positive through all this. "It's a good thing to see these people out here," said Lopez. "It's just unfortunate that so many of these people had to witness something like that. We think that the children would learn to handle things differently, but there's always a wrench in the gears here. It's something new that we're all going to learn from, and we'll be a little better-prepared for it, hopefully." What you can do The Montoya family is accepting donations. You can either donations via Zelle to donations4michael@yahoo.com. An explosion at a Louisiana auto supply plant resulted in a massive blaze and a billowing black plume of smoke, as authorities ordered people to evacuate the area. Everyone living within a mile of Smittys Supply, just north of Roseland, was told to leave their homes on Friday evening after the blast. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office wrote on X that there is no timeline for lifting as business explosion and fire continues to be active. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video captured by local outlet WBRZ showed bright orange flames burning through the plant that produces oils and auto fluids, contrasted with the dark smoke filling the air. A nearby highway intersection was closed as more than 35 agencies responded to the fire, including the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, according to authorities and multiple reports. A massive explosion at a Louisiana auto supply plant has caused a huge fire and billows of black smoke to plume into the air as authorities order people to evacuate the area (WBRZ) A local elementary school was also evacuated following the blast. The Tangipahoa Parish School System confirmed in a Facebook post Friday evening, all students and staff from Roseland Montessori School were safely evacuated today. Students and staff were bused to a reunification site at the school systems central office, and parents and guardians were instructed to pick their children up there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are relieved to report that all Roseland Montessori students and staff have been accounted for and have returned home safe and sound. The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, Superintendent Melissa Martin Stilley said in a statement. A massive explosion at a Louisiana auto supply plant has caused a huge fire and billows of black smoke to plume into the air as authorities order people to evacuate the area (Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office) Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said at a news conference Friday afternoon, We are doing our best to protect people, structures and the environment, the Associated Press reported. He said it was a godsend that no one had been injured at that point. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry wrote on X Friday afternoon he was monitoring the explosion closely, adding, We are praying for everyones safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality said it was monitoring air quality around the site. "LDEQ is responding to the reported explosion in Roseland, working in coordination with local authorities. A one-mile radius around the facility has been evacuated. LDEQ is conducting air monitoring on-site, and all readings are zero at this time. The EPA is also responding with a contractor to provide additional air monitoring support. For information about injuries, please check with local authorities. Residents are urged to follow the guidance of local officials and heed evacuation orders and other safety instructions." New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell speaks to an audience at the Andrew P. Sanchez Multi-Service Center in the Lower 9th Ward on Feb. 16, 2023. She joined other officials to announce the end of the Road Home program. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) NEW ORLEANS Mayor LaToya Cantrell made history becoming the citys first mayor to be indicted while in office after federal prosecutors charged her Aug. 15 with multiple counts of wire fraud, obstruction of justice and lying to a grand jury. The 11 counts specific to Cantrell stem from an investigation into her alleged affair with former New Orleans Police Department officer Jeffrey Vappie, who worked on Cantrells security detail prior to his retirement from the force and has also been federally indicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorneys Office alleges, in a 48-page indictment, that Cantrell and Vappie illegally used city funds to travel around the country together, falsely claiming that the expenditures were related to city business, then conspiring to cover it up. Federal investigators combed through 15,000 text messages sent between the two and later deleted by Cantrell, according to the indictment where they discussed their relationship and plan travel together. What comes next? With no political precedent to turn to in order to understand how the following months will play out, legal and governmental experts in New Orleans have relied on the rules set out in New Orleans Home Charter and similar incidents from other cities to inform predictions for the future. I dont expect this as a legal matter to have any effect on her ability to be mayor of the city of New Orleans, said attorney and Loyola Law School Dane Ciolino. Now, as a practical and political matter, thats another issue. Ciolino added that when Cantrell appears in court for an initial hearing and arraignment which is now scheduled for Sept. 10 it is likely there will be restrictions placed on her movement as a condition of release, meaning that she will need to consult with a judge before engaging in any international travel, or perhaps even travel outside of the Eastern District of Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wont be any impairment to her doing her job, he said. Shell just have to seek permission, which would be, I suspect, liberally granted to her. An in-office conviction would force Cantrell out While it may be unlikely that Cantrell will go to trial before her second term as mayor ends in January, she would be forced to step down if she were convicted of a felony. Under state law, public officials must be removed from office if they are convicted of a federal or state felony. Under the city charter, if Cantrell were to plead guilty or chose not to contest the charges, she would face immediate removal. If a mayor pleads not guilty and is convicted after a trial, the city charter calls for an automatic, unpaid suspension until the conviction is finalized through the appeals process, at which time she would be removed.. If Cantrell were suspended but later made a successful appeal to overturn the conviction, she would receive back pay. What happens after a mayor is removed from office? The charter also states that if a mayor is removed or resigns with less than a year left in the term, the City Council must elect one of the two at-large councilmembers to fill the seat, in lieu of a special election. Helena Moreno and JP Morrell are currently the two at-large city council members, with Morrell currently serving as council president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morrell is running for a second term in his seat. Moreno, meanwhile, is actively running her own mayoral campaign and is thus far the front-runner in the race to succeed Cantrell. (The New Orleans municipal election will be held on Oct. 11, with a runoff should it be necessary set for Nov. 15.) Morenos office put out a public statement the day that the charges were announced, saying that the mayor is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a vigorous defense. Morenos statement mirrored many of her colleagues neutral on the subject matter involved in the charges, choosing instead to reframe and discuss how to best serve the city. While Cantrells relationship with the City Council has been rocky throughout her second term, there have been no public calls for her to resign from members of the City Council. The announcement today reminds us of the need to let the justice system work in a fair, timely fashion and without regard to politics or preference, Councilmember Oliver Thomas, who is also running for mayor, wrote in a statement. These are critical times for our city to get back on track and to stay focused on building a city that works and thrives for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councilmember Eugene Green released a statement similar in content, adding that it was a difficult day for New Orleans. My focus will continue to be on moving New Orleans forward ensuring the safety of our citizens, strengthening our neighborhoods, and meeting the needs of my constituents, Green wrote. No indication of stepping down A similar saga unfolded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2018 when then-Mayor Megan Barry who, like Cantrell, was the citys first female mayor had an affair with a city-employed security officer who travelled with her on the citys dime. Barry pleaded guilty to a felony and resigned from office immediately after. Her political career was short-lived in the aftermath of the scandal as she mounted an unsuccessful run for Congress then pivoted to write a memoir. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cantrell has not made any public statements since the indictment was announced by prosecutors at a press conference. She skipped the launch of Amtraks new train service from New Orleans to Mobile, where she was slated to be a guest speaker Aug. 16 but was back to work by Monday (Aug. 18). Cantrells communications team did not respond to Verite News requests for comment about whether her governance plans will change in response to the charges. Cantrells attorney, Eddie Castaing, declined to comment on the charges. A spokesperson for the mayors office said in a statement sent to the press on Monday that the mayor is focused on doing her job for the city of New Orleans. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. A 41-feet-tall idol of Lord Ganesh at Fatasil Ambari area in Guwahati, claimed to be the tallest idol of Lord Ganesh in North East India, is likely to be the main attraction for devotees. Dr B. R. Ambedkar Youth Club and Telugu Association at Fatasil Ambari GMC New Colony have jointly organised their 40th Ganesh Chaturthi this year. Samba Sivarao, advisor of the organising committee, told ANI that this year they are aiming to build a 41-feet-tall idol of Lord Ganesh and claimed that it will be the tallest idol of North East India. "Our preparations are going on in full swing to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. The artisans from Kolkata and locals are engaged to build the 41-feet-tall idol. Last year, we built a 35-foot-tall idol of Lord Ganesh. Every year we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. This year, we are inviting Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma," Samba Sivarao said. According to the organisers, the idol is made without plastics and synthetic colours and last year, they also celebrated the Ganesh Chaturthi in an environmentally friendly way. Sivarao also said that this year they have taken a theme of "Operation Sindoor" for the pandal. 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 Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists. (ANI) The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has proposed paying 500,000 towards stabilising a closed lock. Conservative Paul Bristow's proposal concerns Baits Bite Lock, on the River Cam at Milton, just north of Cambridge, which has been closed since May 2024. A survey revealed structural issues and it has been shut ever since. If approved at a meeting on 1 September, the money would contribute towards stabilisation costs but a longer term solution, previously reported as costing up to 25m, would still need to be found. Paul Bristow says a failure at Baits Bite lock would harm Cambridge as a place to visit [BBC] "The River Cam is at the heart of Cambridge life," said Bristow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If these locks fail, it threatens everyone who uses and enjoys the river, as well as harming the city as a place to visit." Papers being presented to the funding committee of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority say: "Without action, the collapse of the lock would threaten river safety, water level and flood management, and access for hundreds of daily users, from punts to boaters." The continued closure of the lock, along with another lock at Jesus Green in Cambridge, has been the subject of protests and cross-party political lobbying. Last week, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey visited Cambridge and warned "this iconic river could essentially disappear as we know it" if the locks were not repaired. Sir Ed Davey addressed the issue of the Cam's locks on a recent visit to the city [PA Media] On 3 August a protest, organised by Fund British Waterways, saw a flotilla of boats travel to the closed lock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A petition has been set up by local Liberal Democrat city councillor Cheney Payne and Green party councillor Elliot Tong put forward a motion at the last full Cambridge City Council meeting to urge the government to fund the repairs. The latest funding proposal has been welcomed by Cambridge Labour MP, Daniel Zeichner. "I am delighted that the mayor is supportive of making available government funding to help resolve this long-standing problem," he said. "We now need all interested parties to work constructively together to ensure a long-term solution is found." Bristow says he hopes to bring together the Cam Conservators, who are responsible for the river, together with other stakeholders to find a long-term solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organisation has previously warned the repairs are beyond its financial means Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Related internet links Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe questioned the veracity of statements made by Ghislaine Maxwell during an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche after transcripts were released on Friday. Its so suspicious. When you listen to the tapes, you get the sense that Ghislaine Maxwell went into that room knowing what information she had to deliver to get their attention and to get their approval and to get some sort of benefit that she is pursuing from the administration, McCabe said during a Friday appearance on CNNs Erin Burnett OutFront. And the administration, in the form of Todd Blanche, went into that room knowing what information he needed, which was what she was going to say about Donald Trumps involvement or non-involvement and both sides delivered to each others satisfaction, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The transcript and audio of Maxwells interview were released Friday for public review. The longtime partner of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein said she believes he died by suicide in prison and that there was no client list. Maxwell also said she doesnt remember receiving a birthday card from President Trump for Epsteins 50th birthday as reported by the Wall Street Journal, adding that she never saw the president in an inappropriate setting. Ghislaine Maxwell, unprompted, spoke glowingly of the president, referred to him only in the most respectful term, which you know, is obviously the way that he prefers to be treated, McCabe, who served under both former President Obama and Trump, said. Nothing about this process was conventional or normal, but it does seem that both the administration and Ghislaine Maxwell got exactly what they wanted from it, the Trump critic continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After meeting with Blanche earlier this summer, Maxwell was moved to a federal prison in Texas that houses just over 600 inmates, most of whom are convicted of nonviolent crimes. Some lawmakers have raised questions about the transfer following her interview with Justice Department officials amid Maxwells attempts to appeal her conviction with the Supreme Court. The public has also scrutinized the Trump administration for failing to release files tied to Epsteins dealings as promised by the president on the campaign trail. House Republicans in Congress have subpoenaed government officials for testimony in an effort to uncover more details about the case. On Friday, the Justice Department also turned over its first batch of files related to the case to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. 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. ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) Phillips 66 presented a check worth $42K to Meals on Wheels for the Summer Match, which is a fundraiser where donations are matched to increase the total amount raised. We are excited to receive their donation, Meals on Wheels Executive Director Craig Stoker said. Were excited to have them here today volunteering. They had a team of I believe 13 at last count that were going to adopt 13 routes today as part of our corporate takeover volunteer initiative. The Phillips 66 team met with Meals on Wheels on Friday afternoon to learn more about how vital the organization is to the community and where their donations will lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more about the organization and the way it serves our community, check this out: Delivering more than meals: An inside look at MOWs operation Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) If you ever find yourself in Providences College Hill neighborhood, theres a chance youll come across a turkey that seems to have settled down in the city. People who live and work in the neighborhood have many names for the bird. Some call the turkey Maurice, while others say its name is Ben. Stephanie Ovoian, the head of research and library services at the Providence Athenaeum, said the librarys staff first noticed the turkey back in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We named him Esquire because he was hanging around in a little plot of grass by the courthouse, Ovoian explained. He became the talk of the library for the whole summer. ALSO READ: RIs largest Turkey Trot returns to Pawtucket for 11th year The turkey was even featured in the librarys newsletter after spooking the Athenaeums Executive Director Matt Burriesci. Im freaked out by large birds. Imagine my surprise when I walked out to the parking lot, only to be set upon by a wild turkey flapping his wings and craning his neck, with his bright-red prehistoric wattle, Burriesci wrote. Later I read that the bright red color of the turkey wattle indicates that the bird is either agitated or engaged in a courtship ritual. I can only hope I agitated him. A turkey in Providence stares down a jeep. (Leah Crowley/ WPRI-TV) A turkey in Providence chases after a jeep. (Leah Crowley/ WPRI-TV) Ovoian noted that on the whole, the turkey has been peaceful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has been a little aggressive in the parking lot. she said. Sometimes while people are trying to get into their cars or trying to pull out. I went in search of the turkey and found him on Waterman Street, preening his feathers in the middle of the road. I soon witnessed the turkey stare down a Jeep and later give chase after the car navigated around the bird and drove away. An employee at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) said people in the area think the bird is attracted to its reflection. She noted that some people who work at RISD call the turkey Marcel. Several 12 News employees have also spotted the turkey this summer, hanging around near Providence Superior Court. A turkey in Providence stands in the roadway. (Leah Crowley/ WPRI-TV) The turkey appears to be completely unphased by honking cars and reporters going live nearby too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people expressed their concerns for the turkeys safety. Theyre worried that the bird is lonely or is going get hit by a car. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said it is aware of the turkeys presence, but given that the bird seems healthy, the agency has no plans to intervene. A lot of people in the area have grown fond of the turkey, Ovoian included. Hes really wormed his way into our hearts, she said. 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 free WPRI 12+ TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A new memorial is due to be unveiled to honour seven World War Two airmen who died in a crash 81 years ago. Their Wellington Bomber came down near Ripple Parish Hall, in Worcestershire, just after midnight on 24 August, 1944, after getting into difficulty during a training exercise. Former RAF Wing Commander Simon Footer said a dance was being held in the village hall when the crash happened and a policeman cycled to the scene and tried in vain to save the pilot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said a ceremony would be held later to "celebrate, not just to remember" the lives of the men, who were mainly aged 19 or 20. Mr Footer is a member of the committee formed to create the memorial. He said RAF Halifax LW325 had taken off from RAF Wombleton, North Yorkshire and an accident report found it "got into trouble" near Pershore after ice built up on one of its propellers. "They think they went into some big clouds and I know August sounds warm but you can get ice in big cumulus clouds even in the summer," he said. Mr Footer said it was believed the right propeller and outboard broke off, resulting in the aeroplane breaking up and "spiralling down into a field just north of Ripple". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was in fact a dance going on at the village hall, it was a Wednesday night and some of the Americans [servicemen] used to come across for the dances," he said. He added the main wreckage "came down 200 yards" (182 metres) from the hall. The short ceremony will be followed by a social event [BBC] Jim Sanders, a local policeman, "got on his pushbike and he quite rapidly arrived at the terrible scene" and tried to save pilot Pete Franklin, Mr Footer explained. Mr Sanders's daughter Pam Barnes started the project to create the memorial and Mr Footer said the crash was still remembered by some villagers. He added the pilot was South African, two crew members were from Australia and the other crew British. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All below the age of 25, but actually most of them 19 or 20," he said. Overseas family search Mr Footer added: "I was a pilot in the air force for 42 years and feel very, very lucky to be alive. "And anything like this, when we remember our colleagues who didn't make it is always very important and poignant for us." The unveiling is to take place at 16:00 BST on Saturday. "We'll unveil it with a short ceremony and social event afterwards to celebrate, not just to remember, but to celebrate the lives of these young men who never got the chance to go to the village dance," Mr Footer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee tried to trace family members of the airmen, including in South Africa and Australia, he said. "So we've done a lot of searching and if anyone can help us, we would be delighted," he said. "As yet we haven't found people who were connected with these poor seven young men. But they will be remembered -that memorial will now stand for many years in the village." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Related stories Internet links (KRON) A sandwich and salad spot is opening another location in the East Bay. The city of Berkeley is slated to get its first Mendocino Farms. Per Mendocino Farms website, the eatery is a fast-casual restaurant known for turning sandwiches, salads and more into an unexpected culinary adventure. (Photo by Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) Facade of Mendocino Farms restaurant with logo visible, San Francisco, California, August 20, 2024. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) Mendos Original Pork Belly Banh Mi sandwish, braised, caramelized pork belly, housemade pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapenos, chili aioli, on panini-pressed ciabatta at Mendocino Farms, a premium fast-casual sandwich and salad brand has selected Houston as its first major expansion outside of California, Thursday, July 11, 2019. It will open july 18 in Rice Village. The restaurant uses only high-quality, responsibly-sourced ingredients for a chef-diven menu that emphasizes seasonal produce. (Photo by Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) Exterior of the Mendocino Farms sandwich restaurant in City Center, Bishop Ranch, San Ramon, California, November 21, 2019. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) The exact date of opening has not yet been announced. However, Mendocino Farms website said the restaurant will be open in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The address is 1919 Shattuck Ave., near Marugame Udon. Mendocino Farms has opened multiple Bay Area locations recently, including San Jose, Vacaville and Santa Rosa. The establishment is currently only available in five states: Washington, Texas, Colorado, Illinois and California. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Originally appeared on E! Online The Menendez brothers are staying behind bars. One day after Erik Menendez was denied parole in an Aug. 21 hearing, his older brother Lyle Menendez now shares the same fate, as his request was also denied Aug. 22. The pairwho were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents Jose Menendez and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendezwill next be eligible for parole in three years, according to NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their bids were rejected after all-day hearings from the California Board of Parole Hearings, which believed that the brothers should not be released from prison following the May resentencing that made them eligible for supervised release. "I believe in redemption or I wouldn't be doing this job," Commissioner Robert Barton explained after Erik's proceedings, per NBC News. "But based on the legal standards, we find that you continue to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety." More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the reasons Barton provided were past infractions, including burglaries Erik participated in at age 17 before their parents' murder, as well as his past behavior in prison during his mid-20s, including reports of fights, inappropriate behavior with visitors and drug smuggling. Looking towards the future, Barton had advice for Erik. "You have two options: one is to have a pity partyand then you become a self-fulfilling prophecy, probably not getting granted [parole] next time," he said, per The Hollywood Reporter. "Or you can take to heart what we discussed. I hope that the people that are out there supporting you continue to motivate you." Sharing insight into his actions, Erik told the board that he "was not raised with a moral foundation." Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images "I was raised to lie, to cheat, to steal, steal in the sense, an abstract way," he said. "The idea that there is a right and wrong that I do not cross because it's a moral bound was not instilled in me as a teenager." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest updates come three months after Los Angeles County Judge Michael Jesic ruled in May that the brothers' life sentences would be reduced to 50 years to life with eligibility for parole. As the ruling was made, Lyle shared an emotional response, explaining, "I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses. I take full responsibility. Thirty-five years later, I am deeply ashamed of who I was. I was scared. But I was also filled with rage." With over three decades in prison, Lyle emphasized, "I made a promise I would never use violence to solve a problem." For a closer look at the brothers and their personal lives, keep reading (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) Anna Eriksson Lyle Menendez, then 28, married model and salon receptionist Anna Eriksson on July 2, 1996, the day he and brother Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1989 double murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Anna started writing to Lyle in 1993 during his first trial, which ended in a mistrial, and then moved to California to be near him the following year. She became a reliable presence at the months-long retrial that began in 1995 and resulted in convictions in March 1996, according to the Los Angeles Times. They couldn't take their vows in person, however, Lyle instead taking the plunge over speaker phone, the groom in custody and the bride in the office of defense attorney Leslie Abramson. He seemingly hoped to be able to wed Anna in person, once he knew where he'd end up. "We do have a marriage proceeding," California Correctional Institution spokesman Lt. Jack Pitko told the LA Times in September 1996 once Lyle and Erik had been ordered to separate prisons. "There's a waiting list...But I don't see why he shouldn't be able to get married if he follows all the rules." Anna filed for divorce in 2001 after, according to multiple reports from the time, she allegedly found out Lyle was exchanging letters with other women. Rebecca Sneed Lyle didn't rush into anything when he married journalist Rebecca Sneed, reportedly 33 at the time, in November 2003: He had known her for 10 years, first through letters and eventually from in-person visits, a prison spokesperson told the Associated Press in confirming the nuptials. The ceremony took place at Mule Creek State Prison near Sacramento, where Lyle resided until he was reunited with Erik in 2018 at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in southern San Diego County. "Our interaction tends to be very free of distractions and we probably have more intimate conversations than most married spouses do, who are distracted by life's events," Lyle told People in 2017. At the time, Rebecca was living in Sacramento and was said to visit weekly. "We try and talk on the phone every day, sometimes several times a day," Lyle added. "I have a very steady, involved marriage and that helps sustain me and brings a lot of peace and joy. It's a counter to the unpredictable, very stressful environment here." Rebecca "put up with a lot," he acknowledged. "But she has the courage to deal with the obstacles. It would be easier to leave, but I'm profoundly grateful that she doesn't." The bloom has since come off the rose, however: Ahead of a decision on whether Lyle and Erik should be resentenced and possibly set free in the near future, Rebecca confirmed that she and Lyle are separated. "Lyle and I have been separated for a while now but remain best friends and family," she wrote Nov. 22 on her official Facebook page. "I continue to run his Facebook pages, with input from him, and I am forever committed to the enduring fight for Lyle and Eriks freedom, as has been so evident over the years." She added, "I'll continue to update you all on the progress of the case because I believe we all have the common goal of seeing the guys walk free! I will never stop fighting for them." And because tabloid rumors don't stop outside the prison gates, the post also noted, "This is NOT a cheating scandal." Tammi Saccoman Erik's wife Tammi Menendez, now 62, was married to Chuck Saccoman when she first spied the younger Menendez brother on TV in 1993 and felt a special place in her heart for the 22-year-old murder defendant. As she later told People, she informed her husband she was going to write to Erik and Chuck gave her his blessing. "I saw Tammi's letter and I felt something. I received thousands of letters, but I set this one aside. I got a feeling," Erik told the publication. "And I wrote her back. Tammi and I continued to correspond. I enjoyed writing to her. It was a slow friendship. It was special to me because it was not associated with the trial and the media. Tammi was someone not in the craziness." However, as Tammi detailed in her 2005 book They Said We'd Never Make It: My Life With Erik Menendez, she doubted the brothers' abuse defense at first. (And she told MSNBC that Erik mentioned having a girlfriend of several years early on.) But in 1996, as Tammi has detailed in her book and interviews, she found out that Chuck had abused her teenage daughter from a previous relationship. (They also shared a then-9-month-old daughter.) Chuck turned himself into police and died by suicide two days later, according to People. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Chuck died, "I reached out to Erik," she told the publication in 2005. "He comforted me. Our letters started taking on a more serious tone." Tammi admitted she was "really nervous" when she finally met Erik in person at Folsom State Prison in August 1997. "Erik had no idea what I looked like; I'd only sent him a tiny, 1-by-1 picture," she explained. "But when he walked into the room, he was so full of life, he hopped down the stairs. It was like I was meeting an old friend." They married in 1999, a Twinkie serving as their wedding cake. And they've been together ever since, though Tammi has acknowledged that the lack of conjugal visits can be tough. "A kiss when you come in, a kiss when you leave," she described the routine on MSNBC in December 2005. 'You can hold hands and that part of it is very difficult, and people don't understand." Erik said he tried not to think about what was then the likelihood that he would never get out of prison. Tammi is what gets me through," he told People in 2005. "I can't think about the sentence. When I do, I do it with a great sadness and a primal fear. I break into a cold sweat. It's so frightening I just haven't come to terms with it." But on a more optimistic note, Tammi had also taught him "how to be a good husband," Erik said. "There is no makeup sex, only a 15-minute phone call, so you really have to try to make things work." For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App The Brief A California parole board has voted to deny the release of Lyle Menendez. The decision is not yet final and is subject to a review process by the board and the governor's office. The final decision on whether the brothers will be freed now rests with Gov. Gavin Newsom. LOS ANGELES - A California parole board panel on Friday, Aug. 22voted to reject recommending the release of Lyle Menendez, who, alongside his brother Erik, has spent more than 35 years behind bars for the murders of their parents in 1989. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate parole hearing just a day ago, Erik Menendez was denied release. Commissioners cited his behavior in prison, including the use of a cellphone, as the primary reason for the denial. What we know In the Friday hearing, Lyle Menendez described the abuse he suffered at the hands of both his parents, which the brothers have maintained for years was the motivation for the murders. In his closing statement, Lyle Menendez took sole responsibility for the killings. "I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family," he said. "I am so sorry to everyone, and will be forever sorry." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just like with his brother Erik, commissioners questioned Lyle Menendez's use of cellphones in prison. Lyle Menendez said that prison staff were monitoring his communications with his family and selling them to tabloids, so he used cellphones to communicate with his wife and family privately. However, while Erik Menendez's panel on Thursday ruled he was still a risk to public safety, the panel on Friday noted that a psychologist found Lyle Menendez at "very low" risk for violence if he were to be released. What they're saying "I would never call myself a model incarcerated person," Lyle Menendez said. "I would say that I'm a good person, that I spent my time helping people. ... I'm the guy that officers will come to resolve conflicts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Mark Geragos, who has represented both brothers for years, decried both brothers' hearings as unfair. "I'm disappointed," Geragos told FOX 11. "It's not the worst day that they've had, but at the very least, they should have gotten a fair hearing and they did not It was atrocious." The other side Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who has been adamantly against the brothers getting parole for months, issued a statement Friday night that read, in part: "For decades, Lyle Menendez has refused to accept full responsibility for his actions. Along with his brother, he has clung to a fabricated self-defense story, repeatedly shifting narratives and enlisting others to bolster false claims. Although the brothers have participated in rehabilitative programs, rehabilitation is only one factor in determining parole suitability. The rules violations conducted inside prison raises serious concerns about how he might behave if released." What's next Because parole was denied, the panel must provide a reason for the denial and set a new hearing date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed decision of the hearing panel is not final until it goes through a review process by the Board of Parole Hearings. If there is a tie, the full board will review the transcript and records to determine the outcome. SUGGESTED: '35 years is enough': Menendez brothers' family members testify in court If the parole grant stands, it is then sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom for final approval. The backstory The brothers are serving life sentences without parole for the murder of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, in 1989. Erik, then 18, and Lyle, then 21, claimed that the murders came after their father the chief operating officer of RCA Records sexually abused them for years and their mother ignored the abuse. They have maintained that they feared for their lives and that Jose had threatened to kill them if they told anyone about the alleged sexual abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUGGESTED: Menendez Brothers: Attorneys withdraw motion to remove LA DA Hochman from case Meanwhile, prosecutors said the two brothers motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the murders. In a 2023 court petition, attorneys for the brothers pointed to two new pieces of evidence they contend corroborate the brothers' allegations of long-term sexual abuse at the hands of their father a letter allegedly written by Erik to his cousin Andy Cano in early 1989 or late 1988, eight months before the August 1989 killings, and recent allegations by Roy Rossello, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, that he too was sexually abused by Jose as a teenager. SUGGESTED: Gavin Newsom announces when Menendez brothers' will have Parole Board hearing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case has captured the attention of true crime enthusiasts for decades and spawned documentaries, television specials and dramatizations. The Netflix drama "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" and the documentary "The Menendez Brothers," both released in 2024, have been credited for bringing new attention to the brothers. Final review What's next Under California law, in the cases of inmates convicted of murder, like the Menendez brothers, parole granted by the board is subject to review by the governor. Newsom has the authority to affirm, modify, or reverse the parole decision during a review that can last up to 150 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His decision is the final step in the parole hearing process. The Source The information in this report is based on the outcome of a California parole board panel hearing regarding the Menendez brothers and previous FOX 11 reports. The details of the review process and the next steps are a matter of public record under California law. The Associated Press contributed. LOS ANGELES (AP) Erik and Lyle Menendez were denied parole by a California board this week after decades in prison for killing their parents in 1989 at their Beverly Hills mansion. During two days of hearings, the brothers were each questioned by panels of two commissioners and asked to speak with complete candor on the abuse they suffered in childhood, their mindsets leading up to and after the murders and various prison transgressions. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for fatally shooting Jose and Kitty Menendez. The case has long captivated true crime enthusiasts, with the brothers amassing public support in the past year after shows on Netflix renewed interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearings marked the closest they have come to freedom since their convictions. Despite each receiving three-year denials, they will be eligible to request an administrative review in one year. If granted, they could appear before the parole board again as early as 18 months from now. Here are takeaways from the hearings: Having prohibited cellphones is not a minor prison infraction While it might not seem like a big deal to the nonincarcerated public, commissioners emphasized to the brothers that their use of illicit cellphones cast a shadow on their positive achievements while behind bars. Cellphones can be used to order hits, move drugs in prison and coordinate attacks on officers, they noted. Their presence meant a correctional officer had to smuggle them in, and a prison gang may have benefited by charging a tax on it, commissioner Robert Barton told Erik Menendez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I got in terms of the phone and my connection with the outside world was far greater than the consequences of me getting caught with the phone, Erik Menendez said. He said he used it to speak with his wife, watch YouTube, listen to music and watch pornography. In denying him parole, Barton said his behavior was selfish, a sign he believes the rules do not apply to him and the ends justify the means. Lyle Menendez also had two recent cellphone infractions, including one in March. He said correctional staffers were monitoring his communications with his wife and family and selling their content to tabloids, so he saw cellphones as a privacy measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a lot of stress in his marriage around the time he transferred to the prison in San Diego, and he wanted to stay in touch with his wife, he said. I had convinced myself that this wasnt a means that was harming anyone but myself in a rule violation, Lyle Menendez said. I didnt think it really disrupted prison management very much. They have not been model prisoners as some believed Of the two, Erik Menendez committed more serious rules infractions. Commissioners questioned why he associated himself with a prison gang called the Two Fivers and helped them with a tax scheme around 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendez said he was trying to survive an extremely violent yard where close friends were stabbed or raped. I was in tremendous fear, he said. When the Two Fivers came and asked for help, I thought this was a great opportunity to align myself with them and to survive. Menendez told commissioners that he prioritized protecting himself over the rules because at the time, he had no hope of ever getting out. He used drugs and alcohol in his early years behind bars but became sober in 2013 on his mother's birthday, he said. While Lyle Menendez committed fewer violations, commissioner Julie Garland said he still demonstrated "antisocial personality traits like deception, minimization and rule breaking that lie beneath that positive surface. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prisoners who break rules are more likely to do so in society as well, she said. Why they killed their mother remains a sticking point Commissioners expressed concerns over the killing of Kitty Menendez, with Barton saying he found that it showed Erik Menendez was devoid of human compassion at the time. I cant put myself in your place. I dont know that Ive ever had rage to that level, ever, Barton said. But that is still concerning, especially since it seems she was also a victim herself of the domestic violence. Barton said the brothers were not in imminent fear for their lives and should have sought help from other family members or gone to the police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Lyle Menendez, Garland said shooting Kitty Menendea one final time was extremely callous. She also highlighted his actions in covering up the crime, such as lying to the police and trying to avoid prosecution. Parole denials are not unheard-of for prisoners with moderate risk Gov. Gavin Newsom previously ordered the California parole board to conduct a risk assessment of the brothers in response to a clemency request. While it was never made public, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed in May that both brothers were deemed moderate risk. Barton said he deemed that assessment to be neutral, as far as he considered it at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2022 analysis by the Prison Policy Initiative showed that California prisoners with moderate risk were granted parole 22% of the time. The nonprofit ranked the state as among the most difficult for obtaining parole. Family members back the brothers More than a dozen relatives spoke at the two hearings to advocate for their release. Aunt Teresita Menendez-Baralt, Jose Menendezs sister, said she is dying from Stage 4 cancer and wishes to welcome them home. I want to make clear that although I love my brother, I have fully forgiven Erik, she said. Erik carries himself with kindness, integrity and strength that comes from patience and grace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natascha Leonardo, Kitty Menendezs great-niece, promised the parole board that she would provide a home of unconditional love and stability for him in Colorado, where he could spend time with family and nature. Family members said in a statement that while they are disappointed parole was denied, they are not discouraged. We know they are good men who have done the work to rehabilitate and are remorseful, they said. We love them unconditionally and will continue to stand by them on the journey ahead. Germany's medium-sized businesses will not face increased taxes, Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged on Saturday while speaking at a party event held by his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the western city of Osnabruck. Merz was responding to a proposal from his coalition partner, the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). "There will not be any increase in income tax on medium-sized companies in Germany with this federal government under my leadership," Merz told CDU delegates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SPD Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, who serves as finance minister in Merz's Cabinet, had said earlier that increased taxes for high earners and wealthy citizens could not be ruled out. "No option will be taken off the table," the SPD leader told national public broadcaster ZDF last week, pointing to a large gap in the federal budget. Merz expressed dissatisfaction with the government's work since taking office in early May, despite passing new migration policy and initiating moves to boost economic growth. "I'm not satisfied with what we have achieved thus far. It has to be more," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He called for the SPD to continue on a joint path "critical of migration and pro-industry" to show that Germany could be governed from the centre. Communication between the parties needed to improve, with coalition partners talking to each other and not about each other, Merz said. Germany's social policies needed renewal, Merz said, adding that he would not be deterred by language critical of cutbacks in welfare spending. "The welfare state that we have today can no longer be financed with what we produce in the economy," he said. Merz acknowledged that he was not making things easy for his SPD partners. "But the call is to all of us: Let's show together that change is possible, that reform is possible." Jharkhand's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has brought back gangster Mayank Singh, aka Sunil Meena, from Baku, Azerbaijan, marking a historic first extradition for the Jharkhand police. After completing extradition formalities, Singh was flown to Ranchi, where the ATS will produce him in the Ramgarh court today and seek his remand. The gangster has around 50 cases registered against him across Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and possibly other states. Rishav Kumar Jha, SP ATS, said, "We have extradited him from Baku, Azerbaijan. This is the first successful extradition in the history of Jharkhand police, and we hope that the remaining criminals who are based out of the country will also be extradited or deported very soon." He added that Mayank Singh appears to be a vital link between local gangster Aman Sahu and the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. "Prima facie, he appears to be a point of contact between Aman Sahu and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. We will interrogate him and get all the details as to what kind of relations the two gangs are having in the prison. He has 50 cases registered against him in Jharkhand, Rajasthan and other cases," Jha said. In May, 2024, the Raipur police, upon receiving the intelligence inputs, nabbed four shooters from the Aman Sahu gang from Rajasthan and Jharkhand on Sunday. Reportedly, these suspects were working on instructions from Mayank Singh who directed operations for Lawrence Bishnoi and Aman Sahu. The accusers were in constant communication with Mayank and executed the targets of Lawrence Bishnoi and Aman Sahu's gang. They also used codenames for their operations and identities. The gang members were operating in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan, targeting various businesses. The police team managed to arrest them before they could execute two to three major incidents. A pistol intended for use in their crimes was also recovered by the police. (ANI) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Members of the Womens Caucus are pushing for changes inside Nashvilles Department of Emergency Communications after workers reported a toxic work environment and harassment. Council member and Womens Caucus Chair Joy Styles shared a recording with News 2 of a conversation between Emergency Communications Director Stephen Martini and an employee. It was a massive failure, and we are restricting anything you participate in, and I dont want to hear so much as a peep, the recorded voice of Martini said. None, and when I am talking about insubordination, Im talking about with the hammer, right? Im not going to walk into it slowly; Im going to think hard and fast because I want to make sure everyone out there knows that this is not a place where you can come into get the money you feed your family with and then (expletive) about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 2 spoke with another DEC staff member, who recorded an audio that involves a conversation between Metro HR and the DEC Director Martini. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts I cant work on the floor with her, the voice of a staff member expressed. I have had my overtime affected from it. I walk on eggshells around here. I have expressed in detail that I dont feel safe; I still dont. We deserve better in Metro, our employees deserve better, Metro Womens Caucus Chair Joy Styles expressed. Since 2019, Styles has heard from dispatchers about discrimination, harassment and retaliation within the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A survey of employees this summer backed up those concerns, describing the department as toxic, with similar results to those of a 2023 survey. Its shocking to hear them, and it makes me angry, and again, the allegations against Martini and the department are not new, Womens Caucus Vice Chair Ginny Welsch said. The Womens Caucus has sent a letter to Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell demanding answers and questioning Martinis leadership. We will continue to advocate for these workers to make sure that this culture actually has the opportunity to improve, Styles explained. The questions include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please provide the number of employees that have opted to leave DEC during Director Martinis tenure compared with employees that departed before he became director. Were exit interviews conducted with each employee? If not, why? Where are the exit interviews located? Were any changes implemented from these interviews? Is Jeff Wynn still employed by DEC? Was he at any time placed on administrative leave? If so, what was the reasoning for the leave, and under what conditions was he allowed to return? Are there any HR complaints filed on him? Are there still staff quotas for the Guardian system? Since the Ogletree Deakins report, what changes have been implemented? Has staff input been incorporated into any changes? What metrics are in place to determine if the changes are effective? Please provide any performance evaluations completed for Director Martini. What metrics are used to measure his performance and behavioral competency? Is Director Martini a civil service employee? The information requested is derived from the surveys collected, past employee disclosures, and Director Martinis presence at Womens Caucus meetings. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County The mayor said that while he takes the matter seriously, he still has reservations. Im trying to figure some things out, OConnell told reporters during the mayors roundtable. I mean, one caucus is not really the place where HR matters are explored formally. We do have an HR process. As far as Im aware, there are no active HR complaints in the department of emergency communications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between the civil servants commission, the standard HR complaint process, we are following that, OConnell added. And take all complaints seriously, but otherwise, from a personnel matter and standpoint, there doesnt seem to be anything other than the sort of public commentary. Meanwhile, the Board of the Emergency Communications District, overseeing Martinis department, said it is standing behind him. Over the last five years, we have had the opportunity to work closely with him and see firsthand his leadership, vision, and commitment to the safety of citizens and visitors of Davidson County, the open letter of support reads. Officials said that under Martinis tenure, the Nashville Emergency Communications Center has seen major improvements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The metrics dont matter if when you are coming to work, you are traumatized while you do it, Styles argued. You are already working in a trauma-based field, and then your boss is further traumatizing you to make sure you are achieving those metrics. The open letter goes on to say that any mistakes have been corrected. Like any leader responsible for more than 200 employees, challenges will arise, the letter reads. Director Martini has shown he is willing to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them, and take steps to move forward. We will continue to fight and advocate for you and make sure that this environment changes because studies mean nothing if there are no solutions implemented, Styles said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Styles and Welsch concluded they will not stop fighting for the employees of DEC. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Your voices have been heard, and we will make this situation right, Welsch said. You are not going to have to face this alone. We are not stopping at a letter that is step one, Styles concluded. I will not rest until we make sure that the environment for these employees is safe. News 2 reached out to Stephen Martini for a comment. The Department of Emergency Communications responded instead, saying in a statement: Our department remains committed to providing transparent information and continuing to deliver reliable service to Nashvillians and visitors. DEC will maintain that commitment as the ongoing process between Metro Council and the Mayors Office continues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Wildlife advocates are raising alarms about a female Mexican gray wolf in a New Mexico pack that was lethally shot from an aircraft last week under a federal kill order. However, her pack known as the Dillon Mountain Pack was linked to a series of livestock attacks. Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator Brady McGee confirms in an email provided to The New Mexican an uncollared female wolf was killed on U.S. Forest Service lands Aug. 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Center for Biological Diversity says in a news release issued Thursday the wolf was a 3-month-old pup, her age could not be verified. McGees Aug. 13 email does not specify where exactly the Mexican wolf was killed, but the Dillon Mountain Pack is listed as New Mexico-based in quarterly wolf program updates. A map of collared wolves produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows two members of the pack northwest of the Tularosa Mountains, near the San Francisco River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not respond to a request for comment on the killing late Thursday. McGee previously authorized the killing of a member of the pack after livestock attacks this year; officials believe the pack killed at least 10 cows and calves between Jan. 1 and July 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent killing comes amid a statewide conversation about the management of the endangered species. A State Game Commission meeting drew dozens of ranchers, conservationists and everyone in between to Reserve earlier this month. And Catron County declared a state of emergency earlier this year over conflict with the canine. In the order authorizing the removal of the wolf, McGee wrote he was concerned about the toll the livestock attacks were taking on the rancher. Preventive measures, including the hiring of a range rider, establishing food caches and hazing had proved ineffective, McGee wrote, and he believed the pack would likely strike again. The most recent annual Mexican gray wolf program update shows just one wolf was removed in 2023 due to livestock or nuisance problems. The number appeared to remain low in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, according to program reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But conservation groups are denouncing what they see as a growing number of wolf killings this year, including the accidental killing of a collared, breeding female in April. The agency had intended to remove an uncollared wolf from the Bear Canyon Pack in Arizona in response to livestock conflict. The killing of member of the Bear Canyon Pack, a male wolf, was authorized in July, according to public records shared with The New Mexican. While a diversionary food cache was appealing to some members of the pack, the removal order states, the male wolf known as M3008 continued to prey on livestock. Advocates are concerned the loss of the Bear Canyon wolf and the member of the Dillon Mountain Pack are taking crucial genetic diversity out of the species mix. Michael Robinson with the Center for Biological Diversity said genetically valuable wolves have been taken off the landscape. He said officials should call off the remaining removal order for the member of the Bear Canyon Pack, which he called punitive. Let this genetically valuable wolf live, Robinson said. Aug. 22MORGANTOWN Members of Mountaineers Indivisible Citizen Action gathered at the intersection of Monongahela Boulevard and Boyers Avenue Thursday afternoon to call on local law enforcement to resist federal pressure to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The demonstration, held near the Star City Bridge at noon, drew community members carrying signs with messages such as "Due process is the law " and "With liberty and justice for all." Organizers said the protest was meant to push back against what they described as unlawful pressure from the Trump and Morrisey administrations, which have supported the use of military troops and the National Guard to increase security presence in Washington, D.C., and other communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MICA members said the deployments often involve masked troops who do not identify themselves and, in the past, have violated residents' due process rights. The group urged officers with the Morgantown Police Department and the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department to commit to three principles: act transparently by being unmasked and showing badges and names, protect the due process rights of all individuals, including constitutional protections such as Miranda warnings and access to an attorney, and refuse to use taxpayer funds to partner with state or federal agencies in targeting immigrant communities. "The police are the public and the public are the police, " said Ron Allen, a MICA Action Team member and longtime Morgantown resident. "It's important that we have a system that fosters trust within our communities." Michael Cohen, an ex-personal attorney for Donald Trump, reacted to the shocking FBI raid of former national security adviser John Boltons home on Friday by reminding MSNBC viewers that hes been there himself. I believe that he needs to lawyer up, said Cohen, whose office, home and hotel room were raided by the FBI back in 2018. Related: Trump Apparently Has A New Bruise And Karoline Leavitt Has An Explanation Cohen a former fixer for Trump who pleaded guilty and served time in prison for charges tied to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels said the Trump administration and Justice Department predicated the raid upon the contents of Boltons 2020 book, The Room Where It Happened, that details his time in Trumps first administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ launched an investigation into Bolton in 2020, looking into whether the book contained classified national security information. The DOJ ended that probe under President Joe Biden the following year. A lawsuit was also dropped at the time that sought to prevent Bolton from getting proceeds from the books sales. The investigation involving the book has since been resumed, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. Related: JD Vance Schooled Over Clueless Historical Claim: Does He Know Anything? On MSNBC, Cohen went on to predict that theres no doubt Bolton will be indicted. Vice President JD Vance in a clip from an interview with Meet the Press shared Friday dismissed talk of the probe into Bolton, a frequent Trump critic, being a matter of political retribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the raid, Trump who once called for Bolton to go to jail over the book and revoked his Secret Service protection in January described his former national security adviser as not a smart guy who could be very unpatriotic. Trump suggested that he was in the dark about the raid, adding that while hes the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, itd be better for the DOJ to handle the situation. Related: Fox News Contributor Slams Trump For FBI Raid On John Bolton's Home: 'Very Sad' Cohen told MSNBCs Ali Vitali that the raid shows Trump has crossed yet another name off his enemies list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes doing it to Tish James, hes doing it to Adam Schiff, hes doing it to Alvin Bragg and there are many more on that list that will ultimately suffer a very similar consequence, Cohen said. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Pro-Palestinian protesters outsideVice President Kamala Harris' rally UAW Local 652 in Lansing, Oct. 18, 2024 | Susan J. Demas A majority of Michiganders support the U.S. Government taking action to ensure citizens of Gaza have sufficient food, water and medical supplies according to a survey from the progressive advocacy group Progress Michigan. According to the survey, 45% of residents surveyed strongly supported relief efforts in Gaza, with 24% saying they somewhat supported aid efforts. Eleven percent of Michiganders surveyed somewhat opposed sending aid to Gaza while another 11% strongly opposed aid efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A vast majority of Democrats supported the notion of the U.S. taking action to provide aid to residents of Gaza, with 67% offering strong support and 20% answering they somewhat support sending aid. Comparatively, a majority percentage of Republicans supported aid efforts, though a larger portion stood opposed or were uncertain of their opinions on sending food, water and medical supplies to Gaza. Progress Michigan graphic Eighteen percent of Republicans said they strongly supported aid to Gaza, with 33% somewhat in support. Twenty-four percent of Republicans strongly opposed aid efforts while 14% somewhat opposed them. Some things are bigger than partisan politics, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza is one of them, Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan said in a statement. Michiganders recognize that allowing an entire population to starve and suffer without medical care is a moral failure we cannot accept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a United-Nations backed group globally recognized for assessing malnutrition and food insecurity, declared a famine in and around Gaza City in the Gaza strip. On Friday, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said famine in Gaza could have been prevented, blaming the Israeli government for systematically obstructing the flow of aid into the Gaza strip. It is a famine openly supported by some Israeli leaders as a weapon of war. It is a famine on all of our watch, Fletcher said. While Israel has justified severe restriction on aid entering Gaza by arguing the militant group Hamas has been stealing aid delivered by humanitarian groups, a New York Times report says the Israeli military never found proof for this claim. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) This weekend, the Midland Air Park will host its fourth annual Fly Into Fall event. Texas DPS will have aircrafts displayed in a hangar where visitors can view and take a picture with. Tons of aircrafts that the kids are welcome to go around and look at, but then there will be some that theyre actually able to get inside of. City Councilwoman Robin Poole said. People will walk them through how the controls work and things like that. The event will run from 9 am to 2 pm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) This weekend, a group of former Midland ISD students will have their science experiment launched into space, heading to the International Space Station on SpaceX-33. Higher Orbits, a non-profit organization that uses space flight to engage students in STEM activities, also helps students with leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. Higher Orbits offers a program named Go For Launch, where students work with an astronaut. During the event students come up with an idea for their science project, present it to a panel of judges, hoping to be selected. For founder and CEO Michelle Lucas, partnering up with Midland students is a match she enjoys. Lucas explains that with Midland being the first place to have both a certified space port and airport, its a great opportunity for students to dive into space activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The experiment that Team Chaparrals came up with was silk worms. For the experiment, they will have silk worms in a capsule object to see how they react to not having gravity. The team decided on using silk worms because the life span of one is only a month. It honestly feels amazing, Chantal Estrada said. It kind of feels like a part of me is going up into space, and its like something I never imagined that I would get to experience before. Well, Im feeling very excited. Its been a long time coming, Biak Mang said. Two years now in the making. Im excited to watch this go off into space and see both my family proud as well as my friends surprised. Midland ISD also sees this as a great opportunity for students, as they say they want to see diversity in the workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Higher Orbits will have their next Go For Launch Program on October 14th through the 15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A Midtown coffee shop dishwasher who was slashed in the neck during a senseless argument over an occupied bathroom lost a massive amount of blood in the daytime attack and needed 19 stitches to close the gnarly wound, prosecutors said Saturday. Details about the Wednesday attack outside Moka & Co., an organic Yemeni coffee chain on W. 34th St. near Seventh Ave., were released as Wagner Louis, the man who slashed the 50-year-old employee, was ordered held without bail. Louis, 32, is accused of attacking the dishwasher after the worker told him that he couldnt use the bathroom because it was occupied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was, like, Wait, wait, theres somebody in there, Moka & Co. employee Zainab Tabasi told the Daily News Thursday. And then that kind of turned into an argument, I dont know how. Louis allegedly made a scene and began yelling at staff when he was asked to leave the store. The dishwasher followed Louis outside, where the suspect pulled out a blade and sliced his neck during the 3 p.m. clash, cops said. How can you be, like, so disrespectful? Tabasi asked. Whatever, just leave. The dishwasher suffered two deep gashes to the right side of his neck and extensive bleeding from the neck, prosecutors said at Louis arraignment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moment I saw that, I thought, Hes dead, Tabasi recalled. I could literally see his veins. I thought he was gone. EMS rushed the coffee shop employee to Bellevue Hospital, where he was in critical condition for several hours before finally being stabilized. Louis ran to a waiting white Honda Civic and sped off, but responding police caught him on Park Ave. near E. 33rd St. after a four-block pursuit, cops said. He was charged with attempted murder, assault and weapons possession. Prosecutors said that Louis has three prior felony convictions, all for selling drugs. He is also out on bail, awaiting trial on an attempted murder arrest for shooting a man in the leg at close range in Brooklyn in 2023. Louis attorney, Dean Vigliano, said that he was investigating the case and couldnt comment further. Millions of dollars began flowing into campaigns supporting and opposing an effort to redraw California's congressional districts on the November ballot, notably $10 million from independent redistricting champion Charles Munger Jr. The checks, reported Friday in state campaign finance disclosures, were made on Thursday, the day the state Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special election to replace the congressional districts drawn by an independent commission in 2021 with new districts that would boost the number of Democrats elected to Congress in next year's midterm election. The move is an effort by California Democrats to counter Texas Republicans' and President Trump's efforts to boost the number of GOP members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Munger, a GOP donor and the son of a billionaire who was Warren Buffett's right-hand man, bankrolled the 2010 ballot measure that created independent congressional redistricting in California. He donated $10 million to the "No on Prop. 50 - Protect Voters First" campaign, which opposes the proposed redistricting. "Charles Munger Jr. is making good on his promise to defend the reforms he passed," said Amy Thoma, a spokesperson for the Voters First Coalition, which opposes the ballot measure and includes Munger. Read more: How California draws congressional districts, and why it might change in a proxy war with Trump A spokesperson for the campaign supporting the redrawing of congressional boundaries accused Munger of trying to boost the GOP under the guise of supporting independent redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its no surprise that a billionaire who has given extensively to help Republicans take the house and [former Republican House Speaker] Kevin McCarthy would be joining forces to help Donald Trump steal five House seats and rig the 2026 midterm before a single American has voted," said Hannah Milgrom, spokesperson for "Yes on 50: the Election Rigging Response Act." "Prop 50 is Americas best chance to fight back vote yes on Nov. 4. The campaign backing the ballot measure received $1 million on Thursday from a powerful labor group, SEIU's state council; $300,000 from businessman Andrew Hauptman; and a flurry of other donations, according to the California secretary of state's office. That is on top of the $5.8 million the campaign reported having in the bank as of July 30, including millions of dollars in contributions from House Majority PAC, which is focused on electing Democrats to Congress, and Newsom's 2022 gubernatorial reelection campaign. Redistricting typically happens once a decade after the U.S. census. Trump asked Texas lawmakers to redraw their congressional districts earlier this year, arguing that the GOP was entitled to five more members from the state. In response, California Democrats have pitched new district boundaries that could result in five more Democrats being elected to Congress. 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. Mike Artz and his daughter, MiquelaRae Artz, were accumulating furniture, clothes, and other donated items over the past couple of months as they planned a rummage giveaway. "Then the flood hit, and that was the sign to do it," Mike Artz said. So, two weeks after major flooding devastated neighborhoods throughout the Milwaukee area and left at least two dead, their family's nonprofit group, Live Laugh Loaves MKE, organized the giveaway. MiquelaRae Artz and her father, Mike Artz, operate Live Laugh Loaves MKE, a Milwaukee nonprofit that does weekly giveaways of bread for people in need. The group also did a rummage giveaway on Aug. 22-23, 2025, at Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church, 5335 W. Oklahoma Ave. The event, dubbed a F-Rummage Sale, as in "free rummage," drew about 300 people on Aug. 22-23 to Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church, where the Artz family worships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with people affected by the Aug. 16-17 floods, the F-Rummage Sale attracted others in need. In keeping with the Live Laugh Loves MKE ethos, no questions were asked of those taking clothes, toys, furniture, and other household items. The organization had accumulated two households of items earlier this year. It then put out the word on social media for additional donations ahead of the F-Rummage Sale. "We had so much stuff accumulate so fast," Artz said. Artz is a former sales and marketing manager who retired with a disability after a car crash. His 19-year-old daughter is an Alverno College student taking pre-med courses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rummage giveaway grew out of the main mission of Live Laugh Loaves MKE, which the Artz family launched a year ago after their church received a donation of several packaged bread loaves. The group's volunteers pick up packaged breads, buns, bagels, cookies, and other bakery products from wholesale distributors who would otherwise toss the goods because of their sell-by dates, Artz said. That includes such well-known brands as Sara Lee, Brownberry, and Pepperidge Farm. They did their first giveaway of bread in August 2024 at the Milwaukee Police Department District 6 National Night Out community event. Live Laugh Loaves MKE then began weekly distributions at Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church, 5335 W. Oklahoma Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current schedule runs through December, with the next giveaway of bread set for Aug. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. Artz estimates the group gives away 6,000 to 7,000 items each week. He said the privately funded group, which just received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service, gets "a lot of the working poor" waiting in line for bread and other goods. Live Laugh Loaves MKE is always looking for more volunteers and donations, Artz said. "Our need is bigger than our supply right now," he said. The nonprofit group can be reached at livelaughloavesmke@gmail.com. ' This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A Milwaukee group just gave away household items for flood victims The crime branch officials have arrested a Syrian national, namely Ali Meghat Alzahar, who had come to India on a tourist visa. As per the crime branch, during the interrogation, it was revealed that the extorted money led to luxurious lives of the Syrian gang and following police action, three aids of the accused are missing. The crime branch said that such activities are a serious threat to the internal security of the country. They are violating visa rules and are involved in suspicious activities. An investigation is underway to find out for what purpose the collected money was being used. The case is being investigated by state and central agencies, the crime branch said. The Syrian national has been detained and blacklisted. The procedure to deport him is underway. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) Aug. 22The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for $12 million in grants to help communities plant, maintain and protect trees across the state. The grant offerings are the largest available since the DNR's urban and community forest grant programs began, thanks to funding from the Minnesota Legislature to support and expand healthy community tree canopy throughout Minnesota. Grants are available through two programs: Community Tree Planting Grants and ReLeaf Grants. Both support local efforts to address the impacts of emerald ash borer and grow healthier, more diverse community forests. The Community Tree Planting Grants focus on removing and replacing trees lost to pests, disease or storms; planting shade trees on public and Tribal lands; and increasing species diversity for greater resilience. The ReLeaf Grants build long-term urban and community forestry capacity through projects such as tree inventories, planting, maintenance, protection, restoration, education, wood utilization, and other efforts to improve forest health, reduce carbon emissions and promote energy conservation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consistent with legislative direction, priority for grant awards will be given to projects with a supplemental demographic index score of 70% or higher based on five socioeconomic factors: percent low-income, percent persons with disabilities, percent less than high school education, percent limited English speaking, and low life expectancy. Community Tree Planting Grant awards will also prioritize removing and replacing ash trees that pose significant public safety concerns. "We're thrilled these grants will give communities an opportunity to strengthen their urban and community forests and ensure all Minnesotans can enjoy the shade, beauty and benefits of healthy trees, and we greatly appreciate the legislative support that enabled this unprecedented grant offering," said Patty Thielen, director of the DNR's Forestry Division. "By investing in community forests, we're improving public health, cooling neighborhoods, enhancing water quality and building resilience to climate change." Community Tree Planting Grant applications are due Oct. 13. Tribal governments and local units of government are eligible to apply. The maximum grant award is $500,000. ReLeaf Grant applications close Oct. 28. Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status, education institutions and local units of government are eligible to apply. The maximum grant award is $500,000. Visit the DNR website (mndnr.gov/community-forestry-grants) to learn more about both grants, including virtual and in-personal opportunities to learn more about the application process. Aug. 23ROCHESTER A new name and new brands of trailers plus Minnesota-made ice fishing enclosures are on the way to Rochester's US 63 South in the wake of a $1.2 million real estate deal. DL Trailers of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, purchased the former Ferguson Trailers property, which includes a 59-year-old building and Ferguson's Willow Creek Campground & RV Park on 12 acres of land, at 5525 US 63 South on Aug. 7. It is across US 63 from Cycle City. Ferguson has moved its trailers from the Rochester satellite site back to its headquarters in Dover. Ferguson Trailers moved its Rochester dealership to that site in 2006. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim Hilde, who owns DL Trailers and Ambush Outdoor Products with Mike Hilde, explained that the plan is to use the new site to introduce the Rochester area to his company's trailers and ice fishing houses as well as several other trailer brands. Ambush Outdoor Products are made in Detroit Lakes. "We'll be selling tilt trailers, equipment trailers, utility trailers, closed trailers, stock trailers, gooseneck trailers and more. We'll also be selling our Ambush ice fishing and goose and duck hunters enclosures, both skid houses and wheel houses," he said. Patrick Natoli has been hired to manage the Rochester location and he is looking to add another staffer or two to the DL Trailers team. Work on the site is expected to start soon. Hilde estimated that the new Rochester location could be up and running within eight weeks or so. The first trailers should be arriving in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DL Trailers will be selling trailers made by Beartrack, Nordtek, Rawmaxx, Cargo Pro and Duralite. These will include, equipment trailers, utility trailers, enclosed trailers, gooseneck trailers, dump trailers, tilt trailers and stock trailers. Hilde is excited to introduce southeastern Minnesota to Ambush Outdoor Products, including skid houses, wheelhouses and Ambush trailers. "The one thing that's different about our products than most is that there's no wood in our products. They're made of composite materials with an aluminum frame, so they are very lightweight. They don't rust. They don't rot. They last forever," he said. Looking to the future, Hilde does not plan to re-open the connected campground and RV park next year, though it will remain open until its usual seasonal closing in October. "We're not dislocating anyone that's there now. But we just will not be taking on any campers next year. We will be storing inventory in that area," he said. Aug. 22The Dixon Police Department has confirmed that a man reported missing earlier this week has been found dead. In a news release issued Friday, Dixon Police Chief Ryan Bivins said David Dykema, 52, of Dixon, was found dead in Whiteside County. Dykema was last seen Monday morning in the 300 block of Depot Avenue in Dixon. Police issued a news release later that day announcing that he was missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple agencies have been involved in the search for Dykema, including the Dixon City Fire Department, Dixon Rural Fire Department, Sterling Fire Department, Rock Falls Fire Department and the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office. Authorities had conducted extensive search efforts over the past several days. Friday's news release did not provide details about when or where Dykema's body was found. The investigation is ongoing, pending the results of an autopsy, according to the release. MISSOURI If youre a Missouri resident and need to obtain your shot records online theres an app for that. The State Department of Health and Senior Services has launched Docket an online platform focusing on immunizations. Patients can log on to find their full vaccine history. If they have kids, their records will be there, too. That takes the burden off the patient to try and keep track of all of those details, especially if you happen to move. Maybe you changed doctors in the middle of all that so those things are in different places. And that gets more challenging too but now theres one place that you can go and get that, said Dr. Barbara Miller, Freeman Family Med. Physician. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a link to the app 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. A Missouri man pleaded guilty, in federal court on Friday, to kidnapping resulting in death in relation to the 2019 death of a Noel, Missouri, woman. Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 43, signed a plea agreement on Friday pleading guilty to the 2019 death of 25-year-old Jessica McCormack , according to a press release from Executive Assistant United States Attorney Dave Ketchmark. Mahamed, a Somali national living legally in Missouri at the time of the incident, faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison without parole, according to the plea agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCormacks decomposed body was found in a pink suitcase near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Missouri, and Noel, Missouri, on July 29, 2019, according to the plea agreement. McCormacks blood was found on various items located in a car used by herself and Mahamed, according to the plea agreement. A cashier at a Noel African store confirmed Mahamed purchased a pink suitcase from the store sometime prior to the discovery of McCormacks body. McCormack had last been seen on July 16, 2019, after calling 911, reporting that Mahamed had held the woman at knifepoint outside their residence, attempting to force her to have sex with him, according to the plea agreement. During the incident, McCormack told officers Mahamed had multiple knives in the apartment, according to the plea agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two women attempted to locate McCormack on July 16 and 17 in 2019, according to the plea agreement. One of the women called McDonald County dispatchers on July 17, reporting she had been unable to contact the woman since the day before. On July 28 or July 29, 2019, Mahameds cousin received a phone call from the man telling her he was bringing McCormacks three children to her in Minnesota, according to the plea agreement. When Mahameds cousin asked why he was bringing the children, he told her something bad had happened and he could be in trouble, according to the plea agreement. On Aug. 8, 2019, the children were recovered from a residence in Des Moines, Iowa, according to the plea agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A woman at the residence said she discovered a note from Mahamed around 4 a.m., claiming he could not take care of the children, according to the plea agreement. A woman who had been staying in McCormacks residence after her disappearance informed officers Mohamed had told her McCormack left with the kids, and he did not know her whereabouts, according to the plea agreement. Mohamed told the woman she could stay in the residence, and she saw him every day from July 18, 2019, to July 29, 2019, according to the plea agreement. The womans statement was corroborated by Facebook messages between the two, according to the plea agreement. After McCormacks body was located, the woman began to ask Mahamed where the children were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahamed sent the woman a voice message through Facebook Messenger claiming that he was trying to find them all, according to the plea agreement. He told the woman that police didnt know where the children were, and that they believed the lady in the suitcase was McCormack. In the voice message, McCormack said he hoped the kids and his wife were good, and that they were safe. And Im trying to, trying to find them. Please keep trying to find her, McCormack said in the voice message. During that time, Mahamed also messaged McCormacks account, asking the woman to let him know she was OK, according to the plea agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after, Mahamed left the United States and began living in Guatemala, according to the plea agreement. On July 27, 2021, the Guatemalan government expelled Mahamed from the country. A sentencing hearing is not yet set for Mohameds case. According to McCormacks obituary, the woman had a love for horses and wildlife and enjoyed taking pictures and spending time with her family. LIBERTY, Ohio (WKBN) The Investigation is ongoing into a string of fires, all of which happened at the Grimms Mobile Home Park off Churchill Road in Liberty Township. The most recent was last night. Its been a harrowing summer for people who live in the small mobile home community. We have an arson person or persons who continues to light trailers and buildings on fire, said Liberty Fire Department Chief Doug Theobald. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In just about two months, there have been four fires. Two at a trailer and two others at the property managers office and residence. I mean, this is gonna cost a fortune, said Dennis Heil, property manager. Fire officials say each fire happened during daylight hours. Investigators say all four were intentionally set. It appears to us that this is a person that is being targeted, Theobald said. They say its targeted to me, so if its targeted to me, I thought maybe I just better get the hell out so I protect the rest of the people, but my boss dont want me to, Heil said. The most recent fire happened Thursday evening. The heat broke windows on Elmer Smiths trailer near where his wife was taking a nap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the person that did this would come forward and not be chicken sh**, Smith said. You threatened my wifes life. Threatened his life. Thats pretty bad. The people who live in the park worry the fires will keep happening and fear someone will get hurt or killed until whoever is responsible is caught. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to the identification of the person or persons responsible. We want to get this brought to a head quickly. The criminal action needs to be put to a stop. The person or persons involved in this need to be arrested, Theobald said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes getting stupid now, really stupid. So stupidity gets caught. Thats the way I look at it. He will get caught, Heil said. Theobald is encouraging people who live in the mobile home community to be on alert and call 911 if theres questions or concerns about people walking around the mobile home park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) State officials are pressing ahead with an in-depth corridor study designed to improve driver safety along one of Missouri's historic and unique highways. Planners and engineers with the Missouri Department of Transportation are currently in the midst of a monthslong examination of U.S. Route 36, a roughly 110-mile stretch of roadway from Riverside Road in St. Joseph to the Macon and Linn County line. The $160,000 project will study traffic crash patterns, roadway designs and sections such as clear zones, a safety buffer designed to minimize the risk of serious accidents when a driver veers off the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We've had about three fatality crashes on U.S. Route 36 per year over the last 10 years," MoDOT Northwest District Planning Manager Adam Wood said. "We also are having about 10 serious injury crashes per year. So that's the primary reason of looking at this study." U.S. Route 36, a four-lane east-west roadway, connects a variety of cities along a 195-mile stretch in Northwest Missouri from Hannibal, Macon, Marceline, Hamilton and St. Joseph. Vehicles travel along Missouri Highway 36 in St. Joseph between Riverside Road and Craig Parkway. Wood said the highway originally laid out in the 1910s and designated in 1926 has several substandard components that need to be evaluated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We're looking at places where maybe the shoulders aren't as wide as what our current day standard is," Wood said. "We're looking at crash history, specific locations where maybe we have more crashes than what we would desire. And then just the old alignment versus the new alignment." The highway was originally built as a two-lane roadway and gradually expanded over the following decades. A significant modernization project to convert the entire route to a four-lane highway was capped off in 2010 with a $75.5 million project to expand 52 miles of U.S. 36 between Macon and Hannibal. "Parts of the road are still the old two-lane road that was originally there. And parts of them are the new," Wood said "We just want to simply make the highway safe for the traveling public." The storied highway is prominently known in Missouri as The Way of the American Genius for its connection with historic figures such as Mark Twain, Walt Disney, John J. Pershing and Jesse James, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MoDOT is expected is to have the study complete by the end of the calendar year. Wood said the study is not connected to past discussions about potentially converting the highway into an interstate. "After the study is complete it gives us a chance to publicize it a little bit more and show people within MoDOT, our representatives, make it stand out on our unfunded needs list," he said. At that time we can start focusing on finding some funds to make some of these things happen. This image shows a list of projects included in the 2026-2030 Missouri Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan, including a $160,000 corridor safety study for U.S. Route 36. Isolated rain and thunderstorms will return to the northern half of New Mexico this weekend. Even more monsoon moisture will bring widespread storms and cooler temperatures next week. Fewer storms have popped up Friday afternoon, mainly in western and northern New Mexico, along with southwest Colorado. The heat continues today too with high temperatures above average for this time of year. Storms will end later tonight with clearing skies and mild overnight low temperatures. Monsoon moisture will move back into the northern half of New Mexico this weekend. This will bring more showers and storms to areas in western New Mexico and areas along and north of I-40. Storms from Saturday may stick around into the late-night hours, causing storms to develop later in the afternoon on Sunday. Another round of afternoon showers and storms will develop in the northern half of New Mexico Monday afternoon, but a cold front creeping into northeast New Mexico could cause some heavier rainfall amounts along the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A backdoor cold front will push south across New Mexico Monday night through Tuesday. This will increase the moisture in the atmosphere and bring in much cooler air by Wednesday. Rain chances will increase across northern, central, and eastern New Mexico Tuesday. Even heavier rain will be possible Wednesday through the end of the week as the cold front combines with monsoon moisture to bring widespread chances for rain and storms across the state. For western New Mexico this could be the biggest surge of monsoon moisture this season, while eastern New Mexico could add to an already impressive monsoon season. This pattern may stick around into the first few days of September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. MOORE, Okla. (KFOR) Moore Police say what started as a search for a stolen truck out of Dallas, Texas, this week led them to a chop shop filled with other stolen vehicles. Moore Police say the incident happened on August 19, when officers received a GPS wireless ping on a reported stolen truck out of Dallas, Texas. Officers found the home where the ping was coming from in the area of Northwest 33rd and Webster Street. When police arrived, they spoke with 31-year-old Omar Rangel Alejos, who allowed them to search the property. RELATED: One arrested in Moore chop shop bust, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say they found the stolen Dallas truck in a garage, detained Alejos, and continued to search the property. In the backyard, we found a shop that contained other stolen vehicles, totaled over $200,000, said Clint Byley with the Moore Police Department. Byley said that included three trucks valued at over $60,000 each and then a 2025 Cadillac valued at over $100,000. He said investigators also found hundreds of car parts, tools to dismantle things, license plates, guns, and key fobs. Byley said the Cadillac had not been reported stolen yet. Alejos was arrested in connection with the chop shop and booked into the Cleveland County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LOCAL: Stabbing at Edmond dispensary leaves one dead, suspect arrested The preliminary investigation reveals that he would transport these vehicles from Dallas, where he obtained them, and drive them up here and then begin the process of the chop shop, said Byley. No other arrests have been made yet, but police say they arent leaving the possibility off the table, adding that the investigation will require cooperation between jurisdictional and state lines. We believe that he may possibly be working for someone outside of the state or working alongside with someone, said Byley. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Aug. 22There are still 438 days to go before voters will select a new Spokane County prosecutor, but the voracity with which a pair of attorneys are approaching the eventual contest promises a heated campaign. Both are fathers with more than a quarter-century in the county's law firm between them and are drawing distinctions about how they would run the office. Preston McCollam, who has overseen the criminal side of the office since 2023 as chief civil deputy prosecutor, is hoping his track record and experience will lead voters to elevate him one more notch to the top role in the office. He is challenged by Steve Garvin, an assistant Washington attorney general who spent 15 years as a county prosecutor before leaving the office in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garvin and McCollam each have the opportunity to lead in the interim in the coming weeks; they are among the list of three nominees that the Spokane County Republican Party advanced to the board of county commissioners last week to serve the remainder of former Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell's term. Haskell, first elected in 2014 is a retired U.S. airman resigned in late July with a year to go. Rounding out the nominees is private attorney Marshall Casey, although he's only in the running so the party could fill all three slots, he said. State law dictates that the county commissioners must appoint Haskell's replacement by Sept. 16, 60 days after his resignation took effect, or the decision then goes to Gov. Bob Ferguson. Although they both were likely shoo-ins to make the shortlist of nominees, Garvin and McCollam lobbied for the opportunity with an intensity that signals their eventual 2026 match-up may be one of the most hotly contested races of the year. Once coworkers, the two have now turned competitors. Garvin said his decision to seek the nomination, and run as a candidate next year, is more of a calling. His time in the office provided him insight into what he described as a lack of leadership that has affected the office's culture, effectiveness and reputation, and he believes his experience advocating for victims across multiple public law offices spanning three decades has prepared him to lead the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would prefer to just work hard and fight for victims in court, but the failures of leadership, the failures to address these issues, and my unique qualifications and experience compel me to move forward with this, with running," Garvin said. McCollam, who joined the office in 2015 shortly after Haskell took over the helm, said it's time for the office to step into the modern era. He'd like to continue his efforts to increase transparency, recruit and retain top talent and advocate for improved facilities to address overcrowding in the jail and a lack of addiction and mental health treatment services. That's in addition to carrying on his commitment to bringing satisfactory resolutions to victims and the community, of which he said he has a long track record . "I can see the good that we can do in this community," McCollam said. "It was natural to take the next step and step into the head role, and I believe that I can take the office higher and farther with my youth and innovation." And both men believe the other is the wrong fit for Spokane County Prosecutor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new direction in which Garvin hopes to take deputy prosecutors starts with cutting out the "politics" he saw "infiltrating the office" under Haskell's watch, he said, referring to the social media posts made by Haskell's wife, considered by many as prejudiced and racist and what Garvin described as an expectation that office members support Haskell in his past re-election campaigns. "I don't know what's in the man's heart, but these are the facts," Garvin said. "The facts are that the people who are being promoted to leadership positions were Larry's political supporters and political donors, and that consistent pattern played out." The politics in the office, or the appearance of it, have driven away current and prospective employees, Garvin said. Records show 32 attorneys have left the county since the start of 2023, according to data obtained by The Spokesman-Review. Leading the list of provided reasons was "career advancement," cited by 15 outgoing attorneys. Six cited dissatisfaction with pay, the job or their manager, and five retired, including Haskell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Nobody left for the money," Garvin said. Haskell has faced similar accusations from other former deputy prosecutors. Stefanie Collins, who challenged Haskell for the position in 2022, was left without of a job after the election. The 28-year veteran of the prosecutor's office said Haskell declined to renew her contract that December, after having her office moved into what was formerly a storage closet, as reported by The Spokesman-Review. In response to Garvin's concerns, McCollam said he never saw Haskell's work affected by his wife's opinions, and that he believes some members of the office used the issue "for their own political purposes." During his 10 years in the office that included two of Haskell's re-election campaigns, McCollam said there was never an expectation that office staffers support the former prosecutor. "Candidly, I think that's just an excuse to explain why the other attorneys in the office don't support him," McCollam said, referring to the numerous county attorneys who've endorsed him over Garvin. "So when you look out there and say, 'Well, there's an expectation that they support Preston.' I could promise you that's not the case." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garvin said he's taken an oath not to accept endorsements from attorneys in the office or across the county campus in the public defender's office to avoid any potential conflict or appearance that such support is necessary. McCollam said he's proud of the "phenomenal" team he's assembled under him as chief criminal deputy prosecutor, which includes a mix of veteran, midcareer and freshly minted attorneys. Those in charge of the different units, like property crimes or juvenile, are getting the most out of their teams, share a "unity of purpose" and are helping to shape the law firm into a sought after place of employment. Also assisting with that latter point are the salary raises McCollam led the charge in securing last year, he said. The increases brought the county's pay scale for prosecutors and public defenders from one of the lowest in the state to more in line with its peer jurisdictions. McCollam said the improvements to office synergy were made possible, in part, by individuals like Garvin opting to leave the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You have to be a leader that garners respect and is willing to give respect to others, and that is something that I bring to the table that, quite frankly, my opponent does not," McCollam said. "Because he does not have the respect of the people that are working in the industry, and that's largely in part because of how he makes them feel and how he treats them." Garvin holds a different perception of his time leading both the juvenile and property crime teams. He told the gathering of Republican precinct committee officers last weekend that he helped tackle backlogs of up to nearly a thousand cases while mentoring young attorneys and collaborating with others. He said he'll do so again for the entire office as top prosecutor. Garvin decried what he said are major delays over the last few years from when cases are handed from local law enforcement to the prosecutors and when those cases are filed. "It's a cliche, but it's true that justice delayed is justice denied," Garvin said. "That's true both for the crime victims as well as for the offenders. Everyone has a right to a speedy trial and for their matters to be addressed promptly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCollam takes "a lot of personal affront to the notion that our attorneys aren't working hard enough." Last year, Spokane County prosecutors filed more than 3,900 felony cases more than any other county law firm in the state. By comparison, McCollam said the larger Snohomish and Pierce counties saw 1,500 and 3,400 filed, respectively, despite having much larger teams. "Some argument can be made that filing that many cases is what's gumming up the system, but that is simply not true," McCollam told the Spokane County GOP last week. "We are reflective of what our law enforcement is bringing to us, and I can tell you that your law enforcement community in Eastern Washington is far more vigorous than what we see on the western side of the state." McCollam said his office would like to do more to advocate for victims and address crime in Spokane County, but that they are limited by large case loads and higher powers. If elected, he said he'd advocate at the state level to give his office more power and agency that he believes has been stripped away by the state Legislature and Bob Ferguson in his current role as governor and prior role as Washington attorney general. As an employee of the office, McCollam lumped Garvin in by extension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garvin argues the prosecutor's office has failed, and is continuing to come up short in meeting the region's biggest challenges, which include the issues affecting downtown Spokane. He said property crimes go largely ignored while drug crimes have not been addressed effectively since being reduced to misdemeanors, which are handled by the city's prosecutors in district court. While both men would like to see those come back under the office's purview through the Legislature returning the possibility of felony charges, Garvin thinks the office should be doing more. On Day 1, Garvin said he would direct his staff to begin preparing a lawsuit against the city of Spokane to address what he described as "lawlessness we see in the streets." It's yet to be seen if the Spokane County Board of Commissioners, who hold final decision -making power over county business, would support Garvin's idea and direct him to file the suit. "We do not have to be victims of the poor management of the city, and by bringing real time justice and swift and certain justice, we will address these urgent problems in our community," Garvin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county commissioners will vote to appoint a replacement for Haskell in the weeks to come. As the only serious nominees, the choice is between Garvin and McCollam. McCollam received the most support from the Republican party in the nomination process, and has received endorsements from Commissioners Al French and Mary Kuney. Earning the appointment to lead the prosecutor's office for the next year will require a majority vote, three of the five members of the commission. Regardless of whom the board chooses, however, the race and the sharp criticisms already bubbling to the surface will likely only get more intense. The first matchup put to the voters will come in the 2026 primary scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026, as both have filed as Republican candidates. Ranchi police have arrested a woman and her partner on charges of killing her husband, police officials said. According to a statement by Ranchi Police, Geeta Devi and Irfan Ansari were arrested on charges of killing Geeta's husband, Lumba Oraon, on 21 August in the Pithoria area of Ranchi. During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Geeta had been in an extramarital affair with Irfan Ansari for the last eight years, which was being opposed by Lumba Oraon, Ranchi Police said. Geeta and Irfan had planned to murder Lumba Oraon by mixing intoxicant medicine in his milk-based drink and 10-15 sleeping pills in alcohol. According to the police, on August 20, the deceased came to Kanke Agriculture Gate, from where Irfan Ansari took him and made him drink a lot of alcohol and also mixed intoxicating drugs in a milk-based drink, after which he became unconscious. After this, Irfan strangled him in a car and threw the body on the Mauvanajara-Simalbeda road. For the last year and a half, the deceased's wife had been staying with Irfan Ansari. To gather information about her husband's activities, she had a CCTV camera installed in the deceased's house through Irfan Ansari, access to which was also in Irfan's mobile phone. The police have recovered and seized a car, a motorcycle, and Geeta and Irfan's mobile phones, along with the SIM. Ranchi Police also recovered the alcohol bottle, two boxes of milk-based drinks, and an empty packet of sleeping pills. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) Glynn Countys mosquito contractor, Vector Disease Control International, notified the county of positive test results for West Nile virus on Friday. The positive samples were found in five locations around Brunswick, including Blyth Island Regional Park, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the GP Paper Mill and on New Castle Street. In response to the positive tests, Glynn County is increasing its mosquito control efforts until populations return to a safe level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These efforts include treating breeding sites, population monitoring and aerial and truck spraying. There are no reported human cases in Glynn County. The Georgia Coastal Health District has been notified. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hundreds of asylum-seekers line up outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in June 2023 in New York City. Most refugees and asylees will no longer be able to get food stamps under President Donald Trumps new tax and spending law. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) B. said he left Cameroon nine years ago because he was scared for his life. Authorities in the West African nation threw him in prison because of his sexual orientation, he said. After his release, he feared that if he stayed in the country, he would be killed. B., who is now 39 and who asked that he be identified only by his initial because he still has family in Cameroon, arrived in the United States with practically nothing. Since he was granted asylum last year, he has been able to use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, to help him get by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now most refugees and asylees, who entered the country legally, including B., are no longer eligible for food stamps. The change is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the giant federal domestic policy measure that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4. I think its unfair. I understand that there are some people who abuse the system, B. told Stateline. There are also people who are in need. And cutting help for families like mine not being able to get the help it will be very difficult. SNAP, which is funded by the federal government but administered by the states, helps families and individuals with lower incomes supplement their grocery budgets. The program serves an average of 42 million people a month. Supporters of the change note that refugees and asylees can get permits to work, and that they have other sources of support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not like they have been dropped off in this country with no support system, said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonprofit group that backs stricter immigration rules. They have sponsoring organizations that are helping them get settled and they have work authorization. So they really should be moving forward towards self-sufficiency with support right out of the starting gate. And they should be moving ahead to obtain green cards, she added, referring to the cards that signify permanent residency. Vaughan cited a federal grant program that reimburses states and nonprofit organizations for financial aid and health care coverage they provide to refugees. But critics argue that asylees and refugees, who are extensively vetted and have a legitimate path to citizenship, can wait years for a green card, which entitles them to a wider array of benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also say community organizations that provide aid to asylees and refugees are stretched thin. Without food stamps, they say, many refugees and their families would not have enough to eat. SNAP is an incredibly fundamental program for this population that comes to the United States, really, with very little, if anything, said Nicolas Palazzo, a policy counsel at the global humanitarian and refugee advocacy organization HIAS. These are people who literally had to flee many times overnight with nothing, but, you know, a pair of clothes in a backpack. Palazzo said SNAP is not a handout to refugees or asylees. Rather, he said, its a smart and moral investment that protects all communities and strengthens the economy, offering people a foundation for self-sufficiency. Stripping critical food assistance forces refugees and asylees into the shadows of informal work, labor exploitation and hunger that weakens our workforce and denigrates our moral obligations, Palazzo said. Nowhere else to go B. said he applied immediately for asylum when he arrived in the U.S. in 2016, but that he had to wait months for a work permit. He survived by doing odd jobs, such as cleaning homes and delivering food, and got by on very little. It wasnt until late 2024, when he finally won his asylum case, that he was eligible to get any public benefits, including food stamps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eligibility for food stamps came at a critical time for B., as a car accident had prevented him from making food deliveries. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX While not having income, it was very helpful, B. said. Im somebody who if I can work, I will work. The only reason I went over there to ask is because I had nowhere else to go. According to a November 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a total of 60,050 people were newly admitted to the United States as refugees in 2023, many from unstable countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, and Afghanistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the nation received at least 747,000 applications for people seeking asylum from countries including Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia, according to the Migration Policy Institute, an immigration research group. Its a tremendous increase from the 68,000 applications received in 2013. The new domestic policy law specifies that food stamps are still available to Cubans and Haitians who might be refugees and asylees. As of July 2025, more than 2.2 million immigrants in the U.S. are awaiting asylum hearings or decisions after formally applying for asylum, according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, an organization at Syracuse University that tracks immigration cases. Getting through the system was difficult, B. said. I had to find money. I had to find an attorney who would help me apply for my asylum case. The asylum case itself took a long time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I still know people who have been here for more than 10 years and never had an interview. Already stretched According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, half of all admitted refugees in 2023 were resettled across just 10 states: Texas, New York, California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Washington. Barbara Guinn, commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, estimates that around 41,000 people in the state are getting SNAP benefits while not being lawful permanent residents. She says that group includes refugees and asylees. The concerning part there is that these are individuals who were lawfully admitted to the country, have previously been eligible for SNAP when they need it, and now, simply because of their status, will no longer be able to receive SNAP benefits, Guinn told Stateline. Theres nothing were going to be able to do to make them eligible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another change under the new law is that for the first time, states will have to pay for a portion of their food stamp programs. States will have to cover between 5% and 15% of their SNAP costs beginning in fiscal year 2028, depending on how accurately they dole out benefits to people eligible for the program. Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, pointed out that states that want to continue to provide SNAP benefits to refugees and asylees are free to do so as long as they pay for it. If New York state doesnt want to cut these people off, they can continue to give them something like food stamps. They just have to do it with New York state money right now, Rector said. But Guinn said that will be difficult. New York does offer asylum-seekers a variable amount of monthly cash assistance through its Safety Net Assistance Program, but typically recipients must be working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Texas, officials at the states health and human services agency said that as of last month, roughly 24,600 of the states 3.5 million SNAP recipients were refugees or asylees. A spokesperson for Marylands human services agency wrote in an email that the states SNAP program last year supported more than 10,000 refugees and asylees. The California Department of Social Services could not provide the number of refugees and asylees receiving food stamps, but projected that a total of 74,000 noncitizens including lawfully permanent residents, refugees and asylees would lose eligibility under the new law. Sherri Laigle, director of social services at HIAS, said food banks will not be able to make up for refugees and asylees loss of SNAP benefits. Theyre already stretched, and now were going to see tens of thousands of people also needing to continue to rely on these programs. Of course, theres limited access to them. You have to have transportation. You have to be able to get there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement B. said he would apply for food stamps again if he could, because hes earning too little income to get by. There are people who are in need. I think ignoring that its not human. This story first appeared in Stateline, a partner of the nonprofit States Newsroom, which includes the Florida Phoenix. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A man was arrested for allegedly stabbing a mother who was walking with her 2-year-old daughter outside the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park. The suspect was identified as Shayne Suffern, 29, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. His brother told KTLA that Suffern was also an Army veteran. On Aug. 21, the victim was walking with her toddler in a stroller in the parking lot around 12:30 p.m. Thats when the suspect suddenly approached the woman and told her to, Give me back my baby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man opened his backpack and pulled out an AR-15 rifle and attempted to fire at the woman, but the rifle malfunctioned. The woman began running away with her child, but Suffern chased after her, police said. While removing her baby from the stroller, she was stabbed on the back of her right shoulder. She ran into a nearby Cheesecake Factory restaurant where workers said she was found bleeding and screaming for help. The suspect had fled the scene in a vehicle after the stabbing. The suspect, Shayne Suffern, 29, was an Army veteran, according to family members. (Suffern Family) Police responded to the Westfield Topanga mall after a woman was stabbed by a suspect on Aug. 21, 2025. (KTLA) Police are seen responding to a shooting outside the Westfield Topanga mall. August 2025. (KTLA) Police are seen responding to a shooting outside the Westfield Topanga mall. August 2025. (KTLA) A man is seen under arrest after a woman was shot outside a Cheesecake Factory in Canoga Park. August 2025. (KTLA) A man is seen under arrest after a woman was shot outside a Cheesecake Factory in Canoga Park. August 2025. (KTLA) Police responded to the Westfield Topanga mall after a woman was stabbed by a suspect on Aug. 21, 2025. (KTLA) Police are seen responding to a shooting outside the Westfield Topanga mall. August 2025. (KTLA) Police responded to the Westfield Topanga mall after a woman was stabbed by a suspect on Aug. 21, 2025. (KTLA) Police responded to a stabbing incident outside the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park on Aug. 21, 2025. (KTLA) A man is seen under arrest after a woman was shot outside a Cheesecake Factory in Canoga Park. August 2025. (KTLA) Officers arrived shortly and found Suffern in a nearby parking lot where he was taken into custody. Their guns were already drawn as if they knew what had happened, a witness who saw the arrest told KTLAs Jillian Smuckler. The guy walked straight over to the cop car as if he knew that they were coming for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said the suspect and victim were not known to each other despite initial reports. Inside Sufferns car, police found an assault rifle and a knife, along with magazines and ammunition. He was mumbling incoherently and acting in an erratic manner, said LAPD Sergeant Ryan Fox. She did not know who this individual was. Fox said hes thankful the ordeal didnt take a deadly turn. The fact that there was an assault rifle recovered at the mall during the daytime, he said. There was a threat to the public. There couldve been other victims. The victim was transported to the hospital with a 3-inch stab wound. Her 2-year-old daughter was uninjured. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court records, Suffern was arrested in 2023 for possessing an assault weapon and willful discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner. His sentencing was postponed on a mental health diversion. Suffern reportedly lives in an apartment complex less than two miles away from the Westfield Topanga mall. He was arrested for attempted murder and is being held on $5.3 million bail. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25. Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call LAPD Detective Acevedo at 818-374-4820. The public can also call the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org. 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. Sign up for the Surge, the newsletter that covers most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. Hello, hello! Youre reading the Surge, Slates weekly ranking of the most relevant figures in American politics. Before we get into things, though, wed like to second the Food and Drug Administrations advice about not eating the radioactive shrimp that was recalled from Walmart stores this week. It would simply be a bad idea, we believe, to snarf down one of the little guys from a bag that may have been contaminated with the cesium-137 isotope in an Indonesian shipping container. No, not even one little nibble, as much as you might really want to find out what isotope shrimp tastes like! What if it tastes really good and you just want more and more, and eventually you cant fall asleep because you glow in the dark, smell like shrimp, and are dead? Anyway, this week we have a surprisingly robust amount of news to cover given that its late August and Congress isnt in session. Two of the items are about foodfood thats not radioactivewhile another is about a very off-putting idea for a map and yet another is about whether the United States should take advice about democracy from the guy who ended democracy in Russia. (The Surge leans toward no.) But first grudging recognition for Gruesome Gav. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our general opinion of California Gov. Gavin Newsom is that he is a guy who likes talking and getting attention more than he likes actually governing or thinking about things. He does not necessarily have a set of fixed beliefs about why hes doing what hes doing, in other words, but he sure likes the feeling of other people watching him do it. Sometimes, though, his publicity stunts do end up having a real effect on the United States, like when he drove some of the early momentum toward legalizing same-sex marriage by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as the mayor of San Francisco in 2004. Now something similar is happening again: In response to Texas Republicans push to further gerrymander their states congressional districts, Newsom has launched a campaign to enact retaliatory gerrymandering in Californiaitll require a voter referendum in Novemberthat he has for some reason decided to sell by posting like Donald Trump on social media (all caps, being annoying, etc.). And its working. Barack Obama is endorsing his redistricting tactics, the resistance-leading publication the Bulwark is calling him a model for how to handle the current president, California voters are reportedly behind the plan big time in the Democratic world, it was all Gavin all the time this week. The next question is, how will the partys other would-be shadow president respond? On Aug. 11, Trump ordered more than 1,000 National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officers into the District of Columbia in response to what he described, not accurately, as its growing crime and homelessness problem. Crime and homelessness do not appear to have been significantly addressed by the operation, which is heavy on detentions of immigrants who werent actively breaking any laws and patrols of tourist areas that were not dangerous to begin with. The most high-profile arrest that the feds have been involved in is probably the detention of Sean Dunn, a (now-former) Department of Justice employee who threw a salami sandwich at a federal officer on the street, ran away, and was hunted down a few days later so he could be charged with felony assault. And now, according to the Washington Post, Dunn and his sandwich have become a folk-heroic image of resistance, the subject of posters and online jokes and tributes at other protests. It really is a good encapsulation of the political moment: a galvanizing and memeable but ultimately childish and ineffectual strike against a regime that is mostly resented by the public but is also not going anywhere anytime soon. Another skirmish, if you will, in the long stalemate. Is anyone else getting hungry (hahahaha) for a different, more constructive kind of political square-off in this country? On Friday morning, the FBI raided the Bethesda, Maryland, home of Iraq war advocate and first-term Trump national security adviser John Bolton. (He has a modestly sized two-story in a nice, wooded lot, it looks like.) Ostensibly, the search was part of a long-running investigation into whether [Bolton] mishandled classified information, as the New York Times put it, but in reality it was retaliation against Bolton for having written a tell-all book in which he described Trump as a deeply corrupt know-nothing dope. Honestly, theres not a lot more to say about this one: It has troubling implications for democracy, any way you look at it. And also that if youre considering moving into a home thats surrounded by trees, youre going to want to prepare for some significant and frequent service costs. On the diplomatic track, Trumps meeting last week with Vladimir Putinfollowed this week by a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaderswas actually somewhat productive, in that Trump appears to have decided to steamroll both sides of the RussiaUkraine war into ending their conflict so he can win the Nobel Peace Prize. In other ways, the Putin meeting was less salutary, in that the Russian president made an effort to get on Trumps good side by telling him that the 2020 election was rigged against him using mail ballots. Needless to say, this is something Trump already believed strongly, but the reminder set him off on a series of social media tirades that culminated in a Wednesday post about passing the Texas gerrymander and getting rid of voting machines (hand-counted paper ballots are less fraudulent, apparently) so that Republicans can pick up 100 seats in the House of Representatives and the game of politics in America will be over. So thank you, Vladimir! Thank you for all that youve done for the integrity of our elections. (Fortunately, whether the people around Trump do anything to follow through on his ranting is TBD.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Congress reassembles after Labor Day, its agenda will include one of the most sacred duties the Constitution delegates to it as a body: trying to determine why the presidents name apparently appears multiple times in documents related to the systematic sexual abuse of teenage girls. That Jeffrey Epsteinrelated effort will be led by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna in partnership with libertarian Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who hails from the northern Kentucky suburbs and has become one of Trumps most hated enemies because he tends to vote against government spending bills and foreign military activity in accordance with his principles rather than rolling over and doing whatever MAGA people want him to do, like the rest of his colleagues. Khanna and Massie have launched whats called a discharge petition to force a House vote on ordering the DOJ to publicly release all the records of investigations into Epstein. While the pair already appear to have enough bipartisan support to force the vote, they also plan to hold a Sept. 3 press conference with Epstein victims to draw more attention to the issue. Could get interesting! Up yonder in the Big Apple, Andrew Cuomo is still pursuing an independent campaign for mayor against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. (As is incumbent Eric Adams, whose already slim chances in the race took a further beating this week when one of his advisers gave a bag of potato chips filled with cash directly to a reporter, who immediately wrote a story about it.) Cuomos new strategy against Mamdani is to post troll content about him on social media; one of the memes posted under Cuomos name last week was created by a young man named Jason Levin who, on Monday, also posted a picture of himself with the candidate and said hed be working on marketing strategy for the campaign going forward. It turned out, though, that Levin is also a self-proclaimed Trump voter whose online oeuvre includes both references to white nationalist slogans and the claim to be CEO of a company called Goonmaps, which encourages men to post the locations where theyve masturbated. The Cuomo team now says that Levin is not paid by the campaign and that the photo of Levin and Cuomo together was taken at a fundraiser, not a strategy meeting. It did not, however, comment on the map. Up even further yonder, in Maine, Democrats are looking for a 2026 candidate to run against Sen. Susan Collins, the squishy-on-Trump moderate who has kept a choke hold on her seat for what seems like 400 years. This weeks entrant into the race is named Graham Platner, an honest-to-God macho oysterman who launched with a well-produced two-minute video about making government work for working people rather than billionaires and the oligarchy. While we have no idea whether Platner will make a good candidate against Collins, it does set up an interesting test for the Democratic Party, whose other primary option for the nomination at the moment is 77-year-old current Gov. Janet Mills. How serious is the Dem establishment about trying to appeal to the disaffected younger male voters who helped win the 2024 election for Trump? Thats the question Platners campaign is asking, literally. And while editors hate it when writers end a piece by punting and saying well see, our professional opinion is well see! Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) canceled a speech in South Carolina on Thursday after just eight people showed up to an event that was billed to have 100-plus people in attendance, local news site My Horry News reported. Mace, who is running for South Carolina governor, was expected to lead a parental rights rally in Myrtle Beach hosted by the Horry County chapter of the far-right, anti-trans Moms for Liberty group. Related: Nancy Mace Blasts Raging Democrat Reporter After Her Own Hypocrisy Gets Called Out But, as My Horry News put it, plans seemingly changed once she walked into a room of mostly empty chairs. The speech was scrapped, with a member of her team telling reporters that Mace would take questions from the media before she met individually with the attendees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In remarks to reporters, she declared that the county makes presidents before claiming that her campaign is winning by double digits everywhere, but particularly with folks who support the president, per Charlestons ABC affiliate. Earlier this week, her campaign shared internal poll numbers showing her leading the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial field among Republican primary voters. Donald Trump, who has yet to endorse a candidate in the race, later shared those figures on his Truth Social platform. Mace personally put her poll on the presidents radar, sources told NBC News, and her team shared the results with Trump officials prior to the post. Related: Conservative Pundit Cornered On CNN For Touting Ghislaine Maxwell Prison Interview GOP primary polling conducted prior to Mace announcing her gubernatorial bid showed 16% of Republican-identifying voters supporting the South Carolina congresswoman, a slight edge over South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who had 15% support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, 52% of respondents indicated that they were still undecided. The speech cancellation arrives just weeks after Mace who has used her time in the House, in part, to obsess over trans women using the womens bathroom kicked off what she called the Mother of All Town Halls tour in Myrtle Beach, an event that reportedly packed the Veterans Cafe and Grill. In her remarks, she claimed that she would debate anyone, although those who arrived at the event with shirts reflecting their opposition to her were asked to leave before she started her speech, NBC News reported. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Editor's note: This story has been modified to include more information. A University of Oklahoma student was pleasantly surprised at the slogan on an eye-catching hot pink billboard she saw as she recently drove back to campus after a visit to Texas. "Standing against antisemitism is standing with America" was the message that Elizabeth Ardizzone, 20, saw displayed on the billboard at Interstate 35 and S Interstate Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Me and my mother were both astonished and very happy," Ardizzone said. "I know most Oklahomans are patriotic and they are going to care about that in Oklahoma." Several billboards have been mounted along Interstate 35 in Norman as part of the nonprofit JewBelong's national campaign targeting antisemitism on college campuses around the country, including the University of Oklahoma. The billboard is one of two mounted in Norman, home to the University of Oklahoma as part of a national campaign launched by JewBelong, a nonprofit organization and web-based platform that promotes religious tolerance and support for the Jewish faith. A third billboard is expected to go up the week of Aug. 25, according to JewBelong. Archie Gottesman, co-founder of JewBelong, said the organization started the billboard campaign in 2021, and antisemitism has increased since that time, particularly on college campuses. The nonprofit has placed more than 1,000 billboards across the country over the years, and leaders predict the billboards will reach an estimated 8.4 million eyes. "There have been proportional challenges for Jewish students, and not just Jewish students, but allies on colleges campuses," Gottesman she said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Facing harassment, vandalism and violence, Oklahoma faith groups take steps to stay safe The nonprofit JewBelong has launched a national billboard campaign targeting antisemitism on college campuses around the U.S., including the University of Oklahoma. "There have been sort of hot beds of hate, and that is where we were like, 'Let's go, if that's where the fire is, then we have to run to the fire, not run away from it.' We want to run to where the problems are." She said the billboards are intentionally provocative and thought-provoking. A billboard with the message "Jewish students dont need your pity. Just your spine," is located at I-35 and Purple Heart Trail, and another displaying the slogan You don't need to be a Jew to protect Jews, is set to go up at I-35 and Franklin Road some time during the week of Aug. 25. JewBelong campaign organizers said the billboards will be up through early November. "We want people to see them and go, 'Wait, what did that just say?' Because they're unusual," Gottesman said. "The really huge part of the challenge is to get people to pay attention because if they're paying attention, it's raising awareness and at the end of the day, that is really what our goal is." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said her hope is that Jewish people in Oklahoma who see the billboards feel supported, but a big part of the campaign is raising awareness among people who are not Jewish. "You want to alert non-Jews that they, too, can be a part of the fight against antisemitism or just to be aware," she said. Gottesman said the billboard with the message "Standing against antisemitism is standing with America" seemed to resonate with many people and that is a good thing. "That really seems to touch people because even people who feel proud being American really do get that it's not good for anybody when antisemitism starts to sort of infiltrate a community," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Other hate always comes with it historically, so that's what people understand that it's not just a Jewish problem. It's really an American problem." Sparking conversation Kasi Shelton is executive director of Oklahoma Hillels, an affiliate of an international Jewish collegiate organization. Oklahoma Hillels, with a headquarters at OU, serves as the Hillel umbrella for other colleges in the state, as well, including Oklahoma State University, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma City University and the University of Central Oklahoma. Shelton said it will be hard for motorists not to notice the bold-colored billboards. "I think their billboards can and will spark conversation," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: This preacher's prosthetic leg became a favorite sight at OKC Thunder games. For him, it's his faith coming full circle "For me, college campuses are extemely diverse environments. I hope they will foster inclusive dialogue and understanding." Shelton said she noted that JewBelong included information about two particular incidents in their news release about the billboard campaign. One was a 2024 email that was circulated by the Oklahoma State University Psychology Department promoting a "Week of Rage" activities held by pro-Palestinian activists, and one was chalk messages with slogans like "OU divest from death," that greeted OU students and faculty on campus at the start of the 2024-25 school year. She said the OSU administration set up a meeting with two Israeli students which helped them get a better understanding of what those students felt about the missive. At OU, while many Jewish students and faculty were concerned about the chalk messages, she felt that while they were unwelcome, they were a matter of free speech. Shelton said the OU administration has encouraged individuals to report incidents of concern so they may respond to them. Hillel, she said, reports such matters to the university and local law enforcement, and doing so has created an environment where issues may be addressed quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shelton said the new billboards will raise awareness about antisemitism. "I do think it's undeniably important that these are helping amplify Jewish voices and maybe bringing a little more awareness to the fact that we need to stand up against antisemitism in all of its forms, and hate, in general," she said. "If they hate us, it doesn't stop with us, it continues." Rabbi Vered Harris said she was familiar with the JewBelong billboard campaigns. "I was really happy to hear that we're finally going to get some of those billboards in Oklahoma," Harris said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spiritual leader of Temple B'nai Israel said she thinks the messages will make a difference in the lives of many community members. "I don't know what makes a difference for people who are antisemitic or so ignorant about Judaism and the Jewish people that they are easily convinced towards hate, but I do know that it makes a difference for Jewish people to hear and see affirmations about all of the things that are positive, accepting and beautiful about living a Jewish life," she said. Meanwhile, Ardizzone said she is from New York where the Jewish population is much larger than the Jewish population in Oklahomar, and she initially wondered what Oklahoma would be like. The OU junior said her experience in the state has exceeded her expectations. "When I was coming here, I was like I'm never going to see another Jewish person, but then I met a bunch of Jewish students," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The JewBelong billboard she spotted recently was such a welcome sight that the OU junior immediately took a picture of it and posted it to Instagram. "I was very hopefuly that more Oklahomans are going to look and think about not just what they see on the news, but everyday Jewish kids in Oklahoma." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 3 billboards targeting antisemitism are going up in Norman near OU PINE BLUFF, Ark. This spring was a challenge for farmers as they battled between their crops and the weather. P.J. Haynie, the board chairman for the National Black Growers Council, says he knows many farmers who werent able to produce because of the rain. We had over 40 inches of rain by June here in Arkansas, Hainey said. Arkansas farm net income trending positively for first time in years with a catch Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says it was too wet for farmers to plant, and by the time the fields dried out, it was too late to plant a crop of corn or rice. This all created a loss for the state economically and farmers struggled to make a profit. Mother nature holds the cards and when she throws you a tough hand, its hard to deal with it, Haynie said. He says the National Black Growers Council has been discussing cropping insurance while also coming together to share ideas on how they can better protect their crops. On Friday morning, the group gathered in Pine Bluff on a farm, and in December, theyll be taking their advocacy to New Orleans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important for us to have very good relationships with our legislators to look at programs and policies that can help create a safety net for us farmers, Haynie said. According to the Nature Conservancy, farming supports more than 200,000 jobs in Arkansas, but Haynie says 30% of those farmers are going out of business. Wet Spring sets Arkansas hay farmers behind, threatens livestock feed supply Hes hoping that by gathering Black farmers together in Arkansas and nationally that it will bring enough innovative ideas thatll help preserve the states economic growth agriculturally. We figured if we could protect the herd, the herd can grow, and were very fortunate to have sponsorships and sustaining members to foster opportunities for Black farmers to supply their customers, Haynie 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 KARK. Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The Trump administration is deploying up to 1,700 National Guard troops to 19 states to assist with Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. The troops will assist with logistical support, transportation, case management and clerical services at facilities that are processing "illegal migrants," the Defense Department told Fox News. "The in-and-out processing may include personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing and photographing of personnel in ICE custody," a Pentagon spokesperson said in a prepared statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The troops will be deployed from August through mid-November amid a surge in ICE enforcement activities as the Trump administration works to meet its goal of at least 30,000 monthly deportations. A July status change of Marine Corps personnel to National Guard status will support the 19-state deployment, which will not include law enforcement activities, according to News Nation. The deployments will occur in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, SouthCarolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming, according to the Defense Department. Unrelated to anti-violent crime deployments The pending deployments are not related to the use of National Guard troops to quell violent crime in the nation's capital or other cities, such as Chicago, according to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has said the National Guard could be deployed to Chicago, New York and other cities to address violent crime after calling the Washington deployment a success. "I think Chicago will be our next [city], and then we'll help with New York," Trump told federal agents and National Guard troops on Thursday. The president deployed about 2,000 National Guard troops to the capital earlier this month, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week authorized them to carry weapons. The U.S. Marshals Service will approve the troops carrying sidearms, which will be 9mm Sig Sauer M17 pistols for personal protection. New Mexico National Guard deployed to address crime Also deploying National Guard troops to quell crime is New Mexico Gov. Michelle Grisham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grisham, a Democrat, recently announced a state of emergency due to crime in parts of the state and already deployed up to 70 National Guard troops in Albuquerque. She also has issued states of emergency in Rio Arriba County, the city of Espanola and pueblos in the area after being asked to do so by respective local governments, CNN reported. Grisham cited a fentanyl epidemic and violent crime among juveniles as "requiring immediate intervention" and in a news release said Rio Arriba County has the state's highest rate of overdose deaths. Local law enforcement and other resources are overwhelmed by a surge in drug trafficking, violent crime and other threats to public safety, she said. FARMINGTON, W.Va. (WBOY) The West Virginia Army National Guard hosted a recruitment event on Friday in an effort to boost recruitment among Marion County high school students. Units ranging from artillery to maintenance to explosives disposal came to North Marion High School to show what it might look like to join the guard. Staff Sergeant Kyle Stevens said that a message they were trying to emphasize was that National Guard members can have a whole career and life outside of the guard. Truck hits Marion County school bus in apparent hit and run Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest thing with the West Virginia Army National Guard is how we can provide people an opportunity to serve part time and still pursue their own personal career goals. Steven said the people representing the National Guard today also have full time careers in fields such as emergency medical services, teaching and business. To attract students attention today, the National Guard brought in a medical helicopter as well as a paladin. Students could also try out an Army Fitness Test with the top scoring students winning prizes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for a portion of western Kenosha County following a rainstorm on Aug. 23. The flood warning covers the Fox River near New Munster, an unincorporated community in the town of Wheatland. It affects parts of both Kenosha County as well as Lake County in Illinois. The warning includes a note urging motorists not to enter flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles, according to the service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: What is FEMA doing in Milwaukee? A look at their flood assessment and what comes next. At 4 a.m., there was water in the yards of some homes in the village of Salem Lakes and the town of Wheatland areas, including Riverside Drive and Shorewood Drive, the agency reported. There also was 3 to 4 inches of water over 77th Street in Wheatland. The Fox River is expected to fall below flood stage by early Monday evening. The flood warning is in effect until early Tuesday morning. The Saturday forecast for the Milwaukee area calls for mostly sunny skies with a high temperature of 78 degrees. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Flood warning issued for part of Kenosha County near Fox River Around 150 people staged a protest outside a dog shelter home in Delhi's Rohini area on Friday, alleging that the animals housed there were not being treated properly, the Delhi Police said on Saturday morning. According to the police, the demonstrators claimed that due to alleged negligence, several dogs at the shelter had died. The protestors demanded that immediate action be taken to ensure proper care of the animals. Officials said that to address the concerns raised, a lawyer and two representatives from the protest group were allowed to enter the shelter premises for verification. The Delhi Police added that the protest remained peaceful and hence no legal action was initiated. This came after the Supreme Court on Friday revised its earlier August 11 order on stray animals and ordered their release following sterilisation and immunisation. The Supreme Court clarified that stray dogs infected with rabies or showing aggressive behaviour will not be released back and will be kept separately. "Stray dogs will be released back to the same area after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour," the court ordered. The court ordered that no public feeding of dogs will be allowed, and dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs will be created. It ordered the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) to create feeding areas in municipal wards. It also noted that animal lovers can submit an application to the MCD for the adoption of dogs. Earlier on August 19, a group of around 15-20 people, described by police as "dog lovers," allegedly obstructed Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) workers during a stray dog-catching drive in Rohini. According to police, the group assaulted MCD staff, freed two captured dogs, and vandalised the MCD vehicle by smashing its windows and stealing the register and logbook. "A complaint was filed yesterday against a group of approximately 15-20 so-called dog lovers. They allegedly obstructed an MCD vehicle tasked with capturing stray dogs, freed two stray dogs, and assaulted the MCD staff -- the incident involved vandalism, including breaking the vehicle's window and stealing the register and logbook," Rohini DCP Rajeev Ranjan said. "A case has been registered under sections for obstructing a public servant from discharging their duty and theft," he added. (ANI) Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, believes it is currently premature to raise the issue of details of a potential deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine. Source: Dragone in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, as reported by European Pravda Details: Dragone stated that a potential foreign military presence in Ukraine "is part of international policy and talks with Moscow", but NATO has not yet held any related discussions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "It is, at the very least, premature. We know that the issue of contingents has been raised by individual countries, possibly on a bilateral level. But, I repeat, it is still in its infancy." Details: Dragone believes that the conditions for deploying foreign allied troops in Ukraine should be determined by security guarantees agreed at the political level. Quote: "For example: who decides on the ground whether it was the Russians or the Ukrainians who violated the agreement? Who develops the rules of engagement? Which territory needs to be protected? Are soldiers only there to monitor or also to defend, and if so, with what weapons? Nothing has been defined." Background: European officials are discussing a plan to send UK and French troops to Ukraine under a peace agreement, with around 10 countries ready to provide personnel. German Bundeswehr Association Head Andre Wustner believes that an effective peacekeeping mission in Ukraine would require the deployment of tens of thousands of troops for an extended period. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) The father of a fallen Navy SEAL wants to honor the legacy of his son by sharing his story of bravery, strength and sacrifice that defined his son and the ride that they once shared. After tragically losing his son while he was on a night mission, Chet Ingram is honoring Navy SEAL Nathan Gage Ingrams legacy by coming back to Wichita Falls for the Hottern Hell Hundred. Gage went missing at sea during a night mission off the coast of Somalia in January of 2024 after trying to save team member Chris Chambers, who fell into the water that night. According to Navy Captain Blake Chaney, Gage was known for his courage and selflessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Ingram was 12 years old, he participated in HotterN Hell for the first time, which tested his strength and resilience. After stopping at one of the rest stops, a rush of adrenaline kicked in, and he sped to the finish line. In that moment, Chet Ingram knew his son had the strongest mindset that would result in greatness. Theyre strong, strong-minded individuals. Theyre the ones who make it in this race, Chet said. Gage had to be strong-willed, right? To even say he wanted to do it. Because he knew I was going to force 100% out of him. So at 12, making that decision gives them credit. And the challenge was presented by these folks here. Chet says that this ride is something he and Gage would do. And even though he will not be riding HotterN Hell, he wants to honor him by attending and cheering on the friend who will be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not like we just quietly went down the road and suffered for 62.3 miles, Chet said. We had fun as we talked and enjoyed each other, and we had a friend with us who is here today. You know, a lot of people dont know it, but Im not able to ride in the ride tomorrow. I would love to, but Id love to visit with people and tell the story to them. Chet built a bike for this years HotterN Hell, honoring Gages memory. It is engraved with his quotes, the memory of Gages recruiter and nine stars resembling the fallen SEAL during an act of duty of SEAL Team Three. Chets friend will be riding that bike in the race. Gage gave his father the coin he got when it was at Seven Stars; now there are nine for Gage and Chris. His father says that Gage was someone who led by example and didnt hesitate when it came to helping others and hopes to share his sons story and inspire riders during the 44th annual HotterN Hell Hundred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the Nathan Gage Ingram Foundation, Chet hopes to carry the spirit of service Gage had, reminding others that Gages courage didnt end that night, but that it lives on in every life that his story touches. If you want to learn more about the Nathan Gage Ingram Foundation, visit the official page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. A North Carolina man was sentenced to 24 years in prison for defrauding 117 investors of at least $24 million, federal prosecutors announced on Friday. ALSO READ: He earned a small town's trust. He owed $95 million in what authorities say was a Ponzi scheme William Lamar Rhew III, 39, orchestrated a Ponzi scheme where he promised investors significant returns but instead used their money to purchase luxury items, including fancy cars, a beach house, and a boat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhew pleaded guilty in May to multiple charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, securities fraud, tax evasion, and failure to file a tax return. Read more here. VIDEO: Woman says scammer stole $3K in PCH scheme, then tried to catfish her with all that kind of crap Aug. 22BISMARCK North Dakota Farm Bureau President Daryl Lies on Friday, Aug. 22, announced he will not seek re-election to another term as president of the statewide ag organization. "There comes a time when change is right. Change is not always easy and not always welcomed with open arms in our lives. People sometimes have a hard time accepting, making, or engaging in change, but I believe the time is right for change to happen at the leadership level of NDFB. That is why I will not seek re-election as president of this great organization," Lies said in a statement. Lies, of Douglas, North Dakota, was Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement elected to his first term as president in 2015. His announcement is the second major shakeup of a North Dakota agriculture organization. North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne earlier this year also announced he will not seek another term in office. "Making this decision did not come easily for me. Serving the membership of NDFB and representing the best farmers and ranchers in the world has been one of the greatest privileges I have ever had. Through the election process, members placed their trust in me to be the spokesman of our organization for the past 10 years," Lies said. "I never took this position lightly and hope people recognize the passion I have for agriculture and for NDFB and its members! Being in leadership positions and representing all areas of agriculture doesn't come without challenges, debate, and hard decisions. Over the last 10 years, I believe we have been where we need to be and doing what we had to do for the membership and for everyone's God-given rights and freedoms, which are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, especially private property rights." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NDFB will hold president and vice president elections during the 83rd NDFB Annual Meeting, Nov. 21-22, at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. "NDFB including staff, county leaders, and every one of our members will always have a special place in my heart and mind. I will never forget all the relationships I have been able to forge by representing the most effective ag organization, NDFB!" Lies' statement said. "It is time to pass the torch to a new leader with new enthusiasm and passion. God bless all and thank you for the great privilege of serving you all over the last 10 years." IDF officials estimate fighting in Gaza may continue for several months, with the military preparing by sending call-ups to some 60,000 reservists earlier this week. The IDF is preparing for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go through with plans to invade and occupy Gaza City, due to the understanding his government would collapse otherwise, sources within the Israeli military told Maariv on Saturday. "The impression is that the prime minister is going through with the operation...he understands that he cannot keep hold of his government without it - it will fall apart," a defense establishment source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IDF officials estimate fighting in Gaza may continue for several months, with the military preparing by sending call-ups to some 60,000 reservists earlier this week. The IDF plans for future call-ups to be carried out in incremental fashion, with more draft orders expected to be sent out in early November, with the rest in early December and January. IDF may have to fight Hamas 'until last terrorist is killed' Ahead of the expected invasion, a security source assessed that Hamas "no longer operates as a military force" in Gaza, adding that the IDF has struck "all of its senior officers, with only a handful of battalions remaining." However, Israel must prepare for the possibility it would need to fight Hamas until the last terrorist is killed, the source said. "It must be understood that we are dealing with an irrational terror organization. It may take the chance to walk away (from Gaza) or it will fight until the last terrorist is killed." An Israeli soldier stands on a tank on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, Israel August 20, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN) Netanyahu said Thursday he has approved the IDFs takeover plans for Gaza City, restarting hostage negotiations, and ending the war on Israels terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are at a decisive stage, he said while visiting the Gaza Division. I arrived today at the Gaza Division to approve the plans presented by the IDF to me and the defense minister for the takeover of Gaza City and the defeat of Hamas. Netanyahu said he had directed the immediate initiation of negotiations for the release of all the hostages and ending the war in Gaza on Israels terms. At this time, no Israeli delegation will leave for Doha or Qatar, he added. These two objectives defeating Hamas and securing the release of all our hostages go hand in hand, he said. Netanyahu was impressed with the plans presented to him at the Gaza Division, a political source told The Jerusalem Post. The plans are solid, the source said. Amichai Stein contributed to this report. Liberman said that "time after time," Netanyahu prevented targeted strikes against Hamas leaders, which he claimed eventually led to his departure from the government. "For years, Netanyahu nurtured Hamas, and today, we are all paying the price," said Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Liberman in a post on X/Twitter on Friday morning. Liberman noted in his social media post that he opposed the prime minister on the release of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and over 1,000 other terrorists in exchange for Gilad Schalit in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued to say that three years later, during Operation Protective Edge, he had prior demands to take over the Gaza Strip and defeat Hamas. "Between 20162018, Netanyahu often ignored my warnings as defense minister," he added. "On December 21, 2016, I delivered him a detailed document in which I demanded a preemptive strike against the terror organization. I explicitly warned about Hamass intention to infiltrate Israeli territory with Nukhba forces, to seize communities, take hostages, and shake Israeli society." Liberman said that "time after time," Netanyahu prevented targeted strikes against Hamas leaders, which he claimed other members of the security echelon could back up. L to R: Yisrael Beytenu chair Avigdor Liberman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against backdrop of terrorists. (illustration) (credit: Shutterstock/Anas-Mohammed, Flash90/Yair Sagi/POOL, Yonatan Sindel) Liberman says Netanyahu propped up Hamas with Qatar money In late 2018, Liberman said that he had pushed for another operation to eliminate Hamas, but Netanyahu passed a ceasefire and pursued an arrangement policy with Qatar. The Yisrael Beytenu head claimed that this policy transferred thousands of dollars from Qatar to Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liberman said that this caused him to resign as defense minister that year. The decision on a ceasefire with Hamas is a surrender to terror. You are buying quiet in the short term at the cost of severe harm to national security in the long term," he said during a press conference announcing his departure. He then called for elections, stating that the next government would need to form a state commission of inquiry on the October 7 Massacre. "There, all those responsible, Netanyahu first and foremost, will have to be held accountable. The citizens of Israel deserve to know the facts. We will not give up on this," he wrote. As California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom advocates for a special election to advance a redistricting map that favors Democrats, some critics are pointing out that he took a very different tone when another special election was called to remove him from office. The Newsom recall vote is estimated to have cost the state and counties $276 million to administer the election, according to an official projection by the California Department of Finance. Meanwhile, the redistricting special election, which will be held on Nov. 4, will cost around $230 million, according to estimates by California Assembly Appropriations Committee Chair Buffy Wicks, a Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides this, at the Nov. 4 special election, California voters will decide whether to temporarily suspend the map drawn by the independent commission for a map passed by the legislature. Politico reported that California voters deeply favor the independent redistricting commission previously passed by voters. Newsom Signs California Congressional Redistricting Bills, Countering Trump-backed Push In Texas California Gov. Gavin Newsom presents his revised 2025-2026 state budget during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., May 14, 2025. Newsom previously criticized the 2021 recall vote against him as a "waste" of government resources, saying in an official response to the recall effort, "Heres the worst part: Their partisan recall will waste 200 million taxpayer dollars desperately needed for emergency preparedness and response. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The last thing California needs is another wasteful special election, supported by those who demonize Californias people and attack Californias values." The Los Angeles Times reported Newsom claimed the effort consisted of "a handful of partisan activists supporting President Trump and his dangerous agenda to divide America are trying to overturn the definitive will of California voters and bring Washingtons broken government to California with this recall effort." In a March press conference reported on by ABC 7 News, Newsom again pushed back against the recall vote effort, saying, "Now is not the time to waste hundreds of millions of dollars on a recall effort that is nothing more than a partisan power grab. This is, and forgive me, a Republican-backed recall." California Democrats Unveil Redistricting Map To Wipe Out 5 Gop Seats, Counter Texas Plan Newsom opposed his recall special election, calling it a "Republican-backed recall." Other California Democrats now pushing the redistricting vote were equally critical of the recall vote as a waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assemblymember Marc Berman, a Democrat, previously expressed that "Californians are very frustrated that we just spent $276 million on this recall election that, from the looks of it, certified what voters said three years ago and what voters could have said next year," CalMatters reported. Yet, speaking this week in front of a committee in a heated exchange about the projected cost of the redistricting special election, Berman said, "$250 million looks like couch cushion change." Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., called the recall vote "a $276 million waste just to reaffirm 2018s results with an election coming in 2022," according to Cnn. Now, Mullin has said in a press release that he stands with Newsoms special election push as "Democrats are committed to giving voters the opportunity to counter this move in Texas and restore some balance of power in Washington." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Party, Gavin Newsom Join Online Roasting Of New Cracker Barrel Logo A view of the California Capitol on National Urban League California Legislative Advocacy Day March 13, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Jessica Millan Patterson, chair of the conservative group Stop Sacramento's Power Grab, called the redistricting push an example of Democratic hypocrisy. "Gavin Newsom and California Democrats have abandoned any pretense of moral high ground by forcing a wasteful special election that voters don't want," said Patterson. "Their blatant hypocrisy at the expense of California taxpayers sends a clear message: grasping for power matters more to them than honest, principled governing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Newsoms office directed Fox News Digital to comments the governor made in a press conference last week in which he said, "Theres no price tag for democracy." Newsom assured county officials worried about the special election costs that the state of California "will be funding it." Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Berman and Mullin but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Original article source: Newsom faces GOP backlash over $230M redistricting special election after calling his recall a waste California Governor Gavin Newsoms fight with President Donald Trump has been fueling a rising tide of support among voters in the Golden State, according to a data expert for CNN. For the past several days, Newsoms social media has been working overtime to troll Trump as their feud has heated up, and Harry Enten, CNNs chief data analyst, said during a Friday broadcast, I absolutely think its showing signs of working. Enten referred to recent polling showing 75 percent of California Democrats want Newsom, or are excited for Newsom, to run for president in 2028, up from just 35 percent in 2023. The governor has not officially announced a bid for president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a 40-point climb, my goodness gracious! A rising tide of support for Gavin Newsom, Enten said. Remember, back in 2023, the majority of Democrats did not want Joe Biden to run for another term; but California Democrats in Gavin Newsoms home state did not want him to run, either. California Governor Gavin Newsoms fight with President Donald Trump has been fueling a 'rising tide of support' among voters in the Golden State, according to a data expert for CNN (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment. Tensions between the California governor and the president rose amid the Trump administrations immigration crackdown which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the country. In June, Californians took to the streets of Los Angeles to protest against Trump and his ICE raids, leading the president to deploy hundreds of Marines and thousands of National Guard troops to quell demonstrators. Newsom sued the Trump administration for what he called an unlawful move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsoms criticism of Trump has evolved into full-on mockery as he imitates the presidents social media mannerisms while promoting his new push to redraw congressional maps so that California Democrats could gain five more seats before the midterm elections. The move is in response to a Texas Republican effort to pick up five more seats, which Trump told CNBC they are entitled to. NOT EVEN JD JUST DANCE VANCE CAN SAVE TRUMP FROM THE DISASTROUS MAPS WAR HE HAS STARTED. NOT EVEN HIS EYELINER LINES LOOK AS PRETTY AS CALIFORNIA MAP LINES, Newsoms press office wrote on X Saturday, mimicking Trumps use of capital letters in posts. HE WILL FAIL, AS HE ALWAYS DOES (SAD!) AND I, THE PEACETIME GOVERNOR OUR NATIONS FAVORITE WILL SAVE AMERICA ONCE AGAIN. MANY ARE NOW CALLING ME GAVIN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS NEWSOM (BECAUSE OF THE MAPS!). THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. GCN. Newsom also went after Trump on TikTok, where the White House recently made an account. In a video posted Wednesday and captioned, coming for his neck, the governor mocked Trump with clips of him stumbling up stairs of Air Force One and getting scared by a Bald Eagle during a 2015 photoshoot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For his part, Trump bashed Newsom as the man who is destroying the once Great State of California, in a Truth Social post Wednesday night. Trump has bashed Newsom as 'the man who is destroying the once Great State of California' (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Gavin Newscum is way down in the polls, the president said. In a new Politico/Citrin Center poll, California Democrats said they prefer Newsom over Trumps 2024 opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, 25 to 19 percent, in a 2028 presidential primary. Enten explained the importance of home state polling for presidential candidates during Fridays broadcast. If they cant win the primary in their home state, they aint going to win anywhere, the data guru said. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) After announcing several changes, the next step for OSF took place in a public hearing on Thursday. The changes theyre pushing for, in addition to consolidating their hospitals under one name with two campuses, are closing several of their units like the pediatrics unit, open heart surgery, the ICU, comprehensive physical rehab and the catheterization unit in Urbana. New reproductive health laws championed by U of I students signed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More things are done on an outpatient setting but still everybody holds onto how many beds do you have?' said Carol Friesen, chief executive officer of OSF HealthCare Eastern Region. OSF plans to cut the numbers they have from 110 to 25. We will still have a hospital. We will still have an emergency room department, still have medical beds, as well as this robust behavioral health unit, Friesen said. The people who came forward at the hearing werent opposed to OSFs investments in the behavioral health unit, but not at the cost of others that are being cut. A former OSF surgeon explained what this means. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even something mild, anything that needs to be admitted, you probably would not be admitted there, said former surgeon Ravi Hasanadka. With Illinois having two grain bin accidents in a month first responders and researchers are giving out safety tips He also talked about how this impacts the patients relying on public transportation. They will have to just come to the ER and take an ambulance to Bloomington or Peoria, Hasanadka said. Their families wont be able to visit them there, and follow-up care will not be accessible. However, Friesen believes this transformation is crucial to the health systems survival. She said that their proposed changes will allow them to impact patients in the best way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What were seeing is hospitals failing across the country, right? And so, we have to say, Were stewards for the community,' Friesen said. And so, what is the highest and best use of the scarce resources that OSF is going to invest? The review board plans to talk about what they heard at the hearing on Sept. 25 and will decide after if they approve OSFs requests. However, employees have already felt the impact. OSF made a commitment to retaining 75% of them. They exceeded with 88% given the opportunity to continue working for OSF, and 65% have decided to stay on. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. The NHS failed to assess and treat a man for suspected psychosis before he went on to kill his wife. Samir Rasuli, 58, used a pillow to suffocate his 53-year-old wife Brigitta at their home on Feb 14 after a row in which the former soldier accused her of sleeping with another man in their bed. A court heard how Rasuli phoned the police to tell an operator I have just killed my wife. Asked why, the Afghan national said: Its a long story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rasuli, who had lived in Slough, Berks, with his wife since 2015, was spared a prison sentence and instead given a hospital order. It followed him pleading guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility on July 30. The NHS diagnosed Rasuli with a delusional disorder with psychotic elements in 2015, with his condition worsening in 2022. The father of three sought further NHS support in September 2023, but was told his symptoms had not returned. This finding was overturned by a private psychiatric assessment. A source close to the case claimed that the NHS would not accept a private diagnosis as a trigger for NHS treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Rasuli was given an NHS reassessment appointment for June last year, but this was cancelled because of a member of staff being on holiday. The next appointment, six months later, would have clashed with a medical appointment for his son. The NHS treatment was rearranged for Feb 19 this year, five days after Rasuli suffocated his wife. A sentencing hearing at Reading Crown Court heard that the Rasulis had been happily married for more than 20 years, before he began to develop his delusional disorder with psychotic elements. In 2014, he began to believe that his wife, a Hungarian national he had met in the European nation in 1992, was having an affair with a man named Latski and that she was arranging to have her husband killed accusations that were completely unfounded, the court heard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court also heard how Rasuli believed he had heard his wife say the rat has got to go and take him out in the months leading up to his wifes death. Mental health deteriorated Rasuli had not suffered from mental health problems throughout his life, according to defence barrister Tana Adkin KC, and had been fully compliant with a regime of anti-psychotic medication and treatment after seeking help from NHS mental health services in Slough in 2015. But his mental health deteriorated when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. In May the following year, he reported to the police that his wife was trying to poison him by putting medication in his food, the court heard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite his apparently worsening condition, an NHS psychiatrist returned a negative conclusion when assessing the return of the delusional disorder in September 2023, according to Ms Adkin. The family resorted to a private psychiatrist, who found that Rasulis delusions had resurfaced and required further medical intervention. But a referral back to the NHS led to a series of delays in treatment. In an impact statement, the couples oldest son, David Rasuli, 21, said he would continue to support his father and his mother had repeatedly sought professional help to manager her husbands disorder. In the impact statement read to the court by Ms Adkin, he said: I never imagined I would in this position. My mother tried many times to seek help from professionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I often said that if someone met my dad in the street they would never guess the disorder he was battling. No one could have imagined my father would do such a thing. Its a tragedy In an accompanying impact statement, Brigittas twin sister said she had lost her other half, adding: She was only 53 years old, so much to love and to experience. Its a tragedy that you never imagine will happen to you. She had beaten cancer and wanted to live, but its all over because her husband wanted to kill her. She suffered from her husband day after day. I couldnt speak to her privately as he was standing behind her during our conversations. She tolerated everything because she wanted to trust him and wanted life to be as it was in the beginning. Det Ch Insp Laura Corscadden, of Thames Valley Police, said: We know the emotional impact of this tragedy has been profound for the immediate family and for those who hold close relationships with both individuals. The grief and complexity of this loss are deeply felt and no outcome can truly bring comfort or resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for the NHS trust that was treating Rasuli said it could not comment until the coroner had given a final conclusion, adding our thoughts are with those closely affected by this tragic case. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli has caused extensive damage to houses and shops after heavy rainfall made sludge flow down to the Tharali area. State's Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said on Saturday that one woman has been trapped under debris and another man is missing since the rainfall started. Uttarakhand's monsoon has affected multiple districts in the state, with multiple roads being closed n Pithoragarh too. In the Syanachatti area of Uttarkashi district, restoration work for the bridge, which got submerged due to the rising water level of the Yamuna, has almost been completed. Efforts are underway to rescue the woman and find the missing person, with officials transporting people to safe locations, and both NDRF and SDRF teams dispatched for rescue and relief operations. "Last night in Tharali, Chamoli, around 1- 1:30 am, there was excessive rainfall, as a result of which, a lot of sludge flowed down, damaging two houses. The sludge has entered 10-12 houses. In the upper part of Tharali, 10-12 shops have come in contact with sludge. One person has gone missing, and one woman is trapped under the debris," Kumar Suman told ANI. Restoration work has been ongoing in affected places in Chamoli too; however, the District Magistrate has been delayed in reaching the disaster-affected areas due to the closure of roads, the Disaster Management Secretary informed. "Last night, there was a cloud burst incident in Tharali, causing widespread damage to Tharali and the surrounding areas. A woman has been trapped in the debris of her house, and a man has gone missing. There has been a huge loss of property. Administration and other teams are at the spot, and clearance and rescue work is underway," Chamoli DM Sandeep Tiwari said in a self-made video. In Pithoragah, Thal - Munsyari (State Highway), Munsyari - Milam (Border) route, Dharchula - Tawaghat (National Highway Border), and Ramganga - Thal - Munsyari (NH Border) route have been closed at multiple locations after heavy rainfall caused debris and rocks to block the road. On the restoration work in the Syanachatti area, Uttarkashi DM Prashant Arya said that traffic on the route will be resumed soon as the work to open up the temporary lake has "yielded positive results," with the water level being reduced by 12 feet. "My whole team is here in Syanachatti, and our efforts yesterday have yielded positive results today. This area was in the lake yesterday, and today the water level has reduced by 12 feet, and the river has a proper channel now. The bridge is also safe. Cleanliness is underway, and traffic movement will begin soon," the Uttarkashi DM said. A cloudburst struck the Tharali area of Chamoli district late on Friday night, prompting immediate relief and rescue operations by the district administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and police teams. Confirming the incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on X, "Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone's safety." The India Meteorological Department, on Friday, issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, forecasting thunderstorms/lightning and very intense rain at different parts of the state. The alert remains in effect till Saturday afternoon. (ANI) ABUJA (Reuters) -Nigeria's air force said it killed at least 35 Islamic fighters in air strikes near the Cameroon border on Saturday, following intelligence that the group was planning an attack on ground troops. The strikes targeted four assembly points, air force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said in a statement, adding that communication was later restored with troops who confirmed the area had been secured. The operation is part of an intensified campaign in the northeast, where the military last week said it had killed 592 armed militia members in eight months, surpassing operational gains made in 2024. (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Ben Ezeamalu; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Nigeria's airforce said it had killed more than 35 jihadists in raids Saturday on militant fighters that had gathered near the NigeriaCameroon border following an attempted attack on ground troops. The air strike was the latest by the Nigerian military, which is battling a resurgence of attacks in the country's embattled northeast. The region faces frequent attacks from the jihadist fighters of Boko Haram and its rival splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Acting on multiple intelligence from several sources, the Air Component executed precision strikes in successive passes, engaging the terrorists and neutralising more than 35 fighters at four identified assembly areas," said a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) statement. They had re-established communication with the ground troops that had been threatened and they confirmed that the "situation around their location had been stabilised", the statement added. Both ISWAP and Boko Haram have recently ramped up their assaults on the military in northeast Nigeria where they have also overrun military bases, killing soldiers and seizing weapons. The strike had "intensified efforts" to dominate the battle field and "deny terrorists freedom of action", said the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Nigeria's 16-year-old insurgency has slowed since violence peaked around 2015, attacks have picked up since the beginning of the year. The airforce said the latest operation demonstrated the force's commitment to providing close air support to ground forces, "while also disrupting terrorist logistics and movement corridors along the north east border regions". The northeast region which neighbours Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has been the site of frequent attacks from the jihadist fighters of Boko Haram and ISWAP. A claim this week by the military in neighbouring Niger that it had killed Boko Haram leader in a targeted airstrike in the Lake Chad basin, was on Friday dismissed by a close aide to the head of jihadist group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Possible US arms sale - The insurgency has killed more than 40,000 civilians and forced more than two million people to flee their homes, according to the UN. Last week the US State Department approved the sale of $346 million in weapons, including bombs, rockets and munitions, to Nigeria, subject to Congressional approval. The weapons would "improve Nigeria's capability to meet current and future threats through operations against terrorist organizations", it said. The army there is battling not just the jihadist militants in the northeast, but also armed "bandit" gangs in the northwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, civilians have been caught in the crossfire and killed in air strikes in Nigeria, though the authorities sometimes dispute hitting civilians. The US State Department's own annual rights report on Nigeria, released the same week it approved the weapons sale, warned of air strikes killing civilians and torture of detainees. A US embassy spokesperson told AFP that senior officials in Washington and the embassy in Nigeria "regularly engage with the Nigerian government at the highest levels to protect civilians from harm and to ensure investigations into civilian casualty incidents and allegations of human rights violations are conducted transparently and to press for accountability". bur-sn/jj ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Nigeria's military said it targeted militants with precision airstrikes in the country's northeast early on Saturday, killing at lest 35 suspected jihadis as the West African country grapples with militancy and a resurgent Boko Haram. The strikes were launched on four targets in the area of Kumshe in Borno state, near the border with Cameroon, according to Ehimen Ejodame, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force. Boko Haram, a homegrown group of jihadis in Nigeria, is considered one of the worlds deadliest armed groups. It took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose its radical version of Islamic law in the countrys northeast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A splinter group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, is known for targeting the military and has overrun bases in northeastern Nigeria, Africas most populous country. The conflict has spilled into Nigerias northern neighbors, including Niger, and resulted in the death of around 35,000 civilians and the displacement of more than 2 million others, according to the United Nations. Ejodame said the insurgents had converged on Kumshe following attempted attacks on ground troops in the area. Following the operation, communication was re-established with ground troops, who confirmed that the situation around their location had been stabilized, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the efforts by the government of President Bola Tinubu to curb jihadi attacks, the militancy has persisted. Apart from the insurgency in the northeast, Nigeria is also struggling to curb the activities of armed gangs in the north-central and north-west regions. Health officials in New Jersey are urging locals to stay up to date with the MMR vaccine and be on alert for symptoms after a NJ Transit rider tested positive for measles. The case involved a Hudson County resident who was infected after close contact with a confirmed measles case in a non-New Jersey resident, the state Department of Health announced in a news release. The potentially infectious individual, who has not been identified, traveled on public transportation from Aug. 13 to 15, leading officials to warn fellow riders of potential exposure to the highly contagious virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who traveled on the following routes and stations during the specified times may have been exposed: NJ Transit Hudson-Bergen Light Rail , 8th Street, Bayonne to Hoboken branch: 9-11:30 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 13, 14 and 15; 8th Street Light Rail Station in Bayonne: 9-11 a.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Aug. 13, 14 and 15; PATH Newark on the World Trade Center Line: 9:15-11:45 a.m. and 5:45-8:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, 14 and 15; Exchange Place Station in Jersey City: 9:15-11:45 a.m. and 5:45-8:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, 14 and 15. Measles symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that usually appears within three to five days after other symptoms begin. Health officials warned that, if infected, exposed individuals could develop symptoms as late as Sept. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They urged residents to ensure theyre up to date with their measles vaccine given as part of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot which is 97% effective at preventing the disease after two doses administered at least 28 days apart. As of last Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there had been a total of 1,375 confirmed cases reported across 41 states in the U.S. so far this year. It marks the highest number of measles infections in more than 30 years, despite the virus being declared eliminated in 2000. In New Jersey, seven individuals have tested positive for the virus in 2025, though officials say theres no known ongoing community spread in the state. In New York City, there have been nine confirmed cases and seven others in the state outside of NYC. A recent peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that measles vaccination rates among U.S. children fell after the pandemic in nearly 80% of more than 2,000 counties with available data. STRATFORD, Conn. (WTNH) No one was injured during a fire at a home on McPadden Drive in Stratford on Friday afternoon, according to fire officials. Fire officials investigating Simsbury condominium fire that displaced 8 people Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the outside of the home and extinguished the blaze. All occupants were able to safely exit the home, fire officials said. The Stratford Fire Marshals office is investigating the cause of the fire and The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire occurred at approximately 2:49 p.m. and 22 firefighters responded to the scene, along with Stratford EMS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) A 25-year-old North Haven man has been arrested and charged in connection with an internet crimes investigation, which began in Virginia. According to the North Haven Police Department, detectives were contacted by law enforcement in Virginia in early August about an internet crimes case involving a juvenile victim. Former Shelton teacher arrested for alleged sexual relationship with student Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was determined during the investigation that the suspect was located in North Haven and used social media to engage in sexually explicit communications with a juvenile. Photo: North Haven Police Department, Facebook The suspect was identified as 25-year-old Christian Senberg, who was arrested on Friday and charged with enticing a minor and risk of injury to a minor. The department reminds parents to monitor their kids online activity and actively advocate for their safety and well-being in todays digital world. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea accused South Korea of a serious provocation Saturday after South Korean troops fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers setting up barriers along their tense border. Ko Jong Chol, vice chief of the North Korean Peoples Armys General Staff, noted that Tuesdays warning shots coincided with the South Korea-U.S. summertime military drills and accused Seoul of deliberately trying to raise tensions. Shortly after Kos statement, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed it had fired warning shots Tuesday afternoon at North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the military demarcation line in the central border region while carrying out unspecified construction work. The Souths military said the soldiers returned to North Korean territory without incident and that the North didnt return fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, South Korea's military has occasionally used loudspeaker warnings and fired warning shots to repel North Korean soldiers crossing the military demarcation line. The incidents were largely seen as accidental as North Korean troops build anti-tank barriers, plant mines and carry out other work to reinforce border defenses amid heightened tensions. Ko said the North Korean soldiers were conducting a barrier project to permanently block the southern border, as part of broader efforts of completely separating the territory between the Koreas, when the South responded with an audio warning and warning shots. Ko said the North had informed U.S. forces in the South of their plans for the border work on June 25 and July 18 to prevent accidental clashes. As the commanding officer responsible for the southern border management and security, I strongly demand (the South) to immediately stop the dangerous provocation aimed to make the fortification project in the southern border necessary for defending our sovereignty an excuse for escalation of tension, Ko said in a statement. Animosity between the Koreas is running high now as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to flaunt his military nuclear capabilities and align with Russia over President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing the expansion of South Korea-U.S. military exercises and the hard-line policies of Seouls previous conservative government, Kim last year declared that North Korea was abandoning its long-standing goals of a peaceful unification between the Koreas and ordered the rewriting of the Norths constitution to mark the South as a permanent enemy. Kims government has so far dismissed the diplomatic overtures by Seouls new liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, who said last week that Seoul would seek to restore a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing border tensions, while urging Pyongyang to reciprocate by rebuilding trust and resuming dialogue. SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the firing of new air defence missiles to test their combat capability, state media KCNA reported on Sunday. The report came ahead of the summit on Monday between U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korea President Lee Jae Myung. Earlier this month, Kim condemned the U.S.-South Korea joint military drills as their intent to remain "most hostile and confrontational" to his country, pledging to speed up nuclear build-up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new anti-air weapon systems showed "fast response" to aerial targets such as attack drones and cruise missiles, KCNA said. (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Andrea Ricci and David Gregorio) The sudden reason for the arrest of Lahur Talabany is not clear but it casts a potential shadow over the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. A gun battle took place in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraqs Sulimaniyeh overnight between Thursday and Friday as security forces sought to arrest an opposition party leader. The raid by the security forces targeted Lahur Talabany, who had previously been a senior leader within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party. However, he was pushed out in 2021 and has recently led a party called the Peoples Front. The arrest of Talabany in the wake of the clashes and members of his party has raised eyebrows across Iraq with calls for an end to the violence. Shadow looms over Patriotic Union of Kurdistan The sudden reason for the arrest of Lahur Talabany is not clear but it casts a potential shadow over the PUK and Sulimaniyeh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PUK is the second largest Kurdish party in the Kurdistan region. It is strongest in Sulimaniyeh, sometimes known as Suli, a city near the Iranian border. The other large Kurdish party, the KDP, is strongest in Erbil which is West of Suli. In general the two parties are led by key members of two families, the Barzanis in the KDP and the Talibanys in the PUK. People sit in a vehicle with flags of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on it, as their Kurdish supporters celebrate after the voting is closed for the Iraq's Kurdistan region parliamentary election, in Sulimaniyeh, Iraq October 20, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/AKO RASHEED) On Thursday, a court issued an arrest warrant for Talabany. Soon after news of the warrant broke, images of military vehicles patrolling city streets were shared on social media and by evening, security forces had surrounded Lalezar Hotel in the west of the city, home to Talabanys party headquarters, Rudaw media noted on Friday. Aras Sheikh Jangi, brother of Lahur Talabany, predicted that blood would be shed that night, the report noted. Around 400 or 500 armed men had holed up with Lahur at his headquarters. The security forces of the PUK-led region were led by the Counter-Terrorism Group. Talabany is a former leader of the CTG. The report noted that Talabany, also known as Lahur Sheikh Jangi, was ousted in 2021 as co-chair of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) by his cousins Bafel and Qubad Talabani. He later founded the opposition party Baray Gal. The PUK is the ruling party in Sulaimani. The autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who is also deputy leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), called for calm. I am working with all parties to end these tensions and prevent bloodshed and violence, he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, the office of president of the KRG, Nechirvan Barzani, also put out a statement. "Following the unfortunate incident early this morning in Sulimaniyeh, which regrettably resulted in a number of casualties, we emphasize the rule of law and the protection of the city's security and peace, as well as safeguarding the lives and property of citizens. It is necessary that all disputes and conflicts be resolved through law and without violence. In the wake of the battle, as the smoke cleared on Friday, it became clear several people had been killed, including a bodyguard affiliated with Lahur and his brothers; as well as members of the security forces. One of those killed was named as Ari Sheikh Suad Talabany, a member of the Counter-Terrorism Group. The Iraqi government has said it also regrets the violence in northern Iraq. Internal Kurdish fighting weakens the region's stance US officials, members of the UN and others in Iraq are concerned. The officials in Erbil are concerned that the clashes in Suli could harm the entire region. This is because internal Kurdish fighting weakens the regions stance in relation to Baghdad. Similar intrigue, for instance, caused the PUK to fold in the face of threats to Kirkuk by the federal government in 2017. The result was that Peshmerga of the KDP and PUK both withdrew from the city rapidly as the Iraqi army advanced. At the time Bafel had emerged as a leader of the PUK. For many years the leader of the PUK was Jalal Talabany, known locally as Mam Jalal. He died in October 2017 leading to power struggles within the party. In the wake of the battle against Lahur and his supporters a number of his condidants were arrested. These reportedly included his two brothers Aso and Polad Sheikh Jangi as well as others. A channel linked to Lahur, called Zoom, was also raided after the clashes. There are concerns about the aftermath of the clashes in Suli. "Bafel went too far and no one will believe his story for arresting Lahur," a senior Iraqi Kurdish government advisor told Al-Monitor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lahur was once a rising star in Kurdish politics. Back in 2016 a profile at the Insight International noted his key role in countering terrorism over the years. It noted how he had played a role in confronting Ansar al-Islam, an extremist group in the early 2000s. Later he rose to play a key role in the war on ISIS as the chief intelligence official in Suli. The report noted that [Lahur] Talabani co-founded the CTG in late 2002 with his cousin, Bafel Talabani - has now evolved into a sophisticated anti-terror agency. His rise and fall from playing a key role against terrorism from the 2000s through the war on ISIS, to being arrest by the same counter-terrorism forces he once led, is a reversal of fortune for the Kurdish leader. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The Florida Public Service Commission will hold what could be a two-week hearing in October on a proposed base-rate settlement for Florida Power & Light. Commission Chairman Mike La Rosa on Friday signed an order scheduling the hearing during the weeks of Oct. 6 to Oct. 10 and Oct. 13 to Oct. 17. The commission would decide later in the year whether to approve the proposal. FPL and numerous groups and businesses reached an agreement on the proposal, which was filed on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would lead to base-rate increases of $945 million in 2026 and $766 million in 2027, according to FPL. The utility also would collect additional amounts in 2028 and 2029 for solar-energy and battery-storage projects. But the state Office of Public Counsel, which is designated by law to represent consumers on utility issues, said in a filing Thursday that it opposes the proposed settlement, as do some other groups that are parties in the case. FPL in February filed a proposal that would have led to larger rate increases over the next four years. But on Aug. 8, three days before the Public Service Commission was scheduled to start a likely-contentious hearing on that proposal, FPL and other parties announced they had reached a settlement in principle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal filed on Wednesday spelled out details. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FBI agents raided the home on Friday of one of US President Donald Trump's most outspoken critics, his former national security adviser John Bolton. Trump, asked about the early morning FBI search of Bolton's home, said he was "not a fan" of his former aide but did not know about the raid ahead of time. "I saw it on television this morning," the president told reporters during a visit to the Kennedy Center in Washington. "He's sort of a lowlife," Trump said. "He's a very quiet person, except on television if he can say something bad about Trump." An AFP reporter saw Federal Bureau of Investigation agents entering Bolton's home in the Washington suburb of Bethesda early in the morning. A police car with flashing lights was stationed outside the house, while journalists and onlookers gathered in the leafy street. The director of the FBI, Kash Patel, posted on X: "NO ONE is above the law... @FBI agents on mission." According to The New York Times and other US media outlets, the search was ordered to determine whether Bolton had illegally shared or possessed classified information. The Washington Post said Bolton was not at home at the time of the raid and has not been charged with a crime. The now 76-year-old Bolton served as Trump's adviser in his first term and later angered the administration with the publication of a highly critical book, "The Room Where it Happened." Legal efforts to block its release for allegedly containing classified information were dropped when Joe Biden replaced Trump in the White House in 2021. Bolton has since become a highly visible and pugnacious critic of Trump, frequently appearing on television news shows and in print to condemn the man he has called "unfit to be president." A longtime critic of Iran's ruling powers, Bolton was a national security hawk and has received death threats from Iranians. The raid by the FBI came seven months after Trump stripped Bolton -- and multiple other critics -- of federal security details. Asked recently in an interview with ABC whether he was worried about Trump "coming after" him, Bolton said: "He's already come after me and several others in withdrawing the protection that we had." "I think it is a retribution presidency," Bolton said. Since taking office in January, Trump has taken a number of punitive measures against his perceived enemies and political opponents. He has stripped former officials of their security clearances and protective details, targeted law firms involved in past cases against him and pulled federal funding from elite universities. The FBI opened criminal investigations in July into two other prominent Trump critics, former FBI director James Comey and ex-CIA chief John Brennan. Comey and Brennan were named to their respective positions as head of the FBI and CIA by Democratic president Barack Obama, and they have a contentious history with Trump dating back to his first term in the White House. Trump was the target of several investigations after leaving the White House and the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago home in a probe into mishandling of classified documents. Trump was also charged with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Neither case came to trial, and the special counsel -- in line with a Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a sitting president -- dropped them both after Trump won the November 2024 presidential election. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully arrested the accused Dinesh D Gehlot, a proclaimed offender in a high-value bank fraud case, pursuant to sustained and meticulous efforts made by the investigating team, a press release stated. According to a release by the CBI, the case was registered on May 31, 2004, for defrauding the Bank of Baroda. It was alleged that the accused Dinesh D Gehlot had dishonestly applied for a housing loan by the use of forged and fabricated documents. After completion of the investigation, a charge sheet was filed in the case on April 30, 2007, making Gehlot one of the conspirators for cheating and defrauding the Bank of Baroda. The accused failed to join the trial or respond to summons/warrants and was untraceable since 2024. Multiple Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs) were issued against him. Finally, on December 9, 2024, the Special Judge for CBI, Greater Bombay ordered to issue Proclamation warrant against him. Despite sustained efforts over time to trace him, the absconding accused had remained untraceable, the release said. The accused had frequently changed residences. He had misled the local residents about his real identity and had maintained minimal interaction with locals, further hindering efforts to trace him. The CBI, through the deployment of advanced technological tools and identity-tracking databases, meticulously analysed the digital footprint of the absconding accused to ascertain his current identity and location. Supplemented by extensive field investigations and on-ground inquiries, the CBI team successfully located the accused Dinesh Gehlot in Noida. Pursuant to his identification, the accused was apprehended on August 20 and produced before the Competent Court at Mumbai, which remanded him to judicial custody for the purpose of further trial proceedings. The accused is presently undergoing trial. This case is a classic example of how the integration of technology-driven intelligence platforms with the persistent and coordinated efforts of investigating officers on the ground can substantially augment the operational capabilities of law enforcement agencies in tracing and apprehending long-absconding offenders, the press release stated. (ANI) The Massachusetts State Police Detectives are investigating a non-fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Worcester on Friday. The incident occurred Friday morning when detectives assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office were executing an arrest warrant on a Superior Court case around Strathmore Road, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. The warrant was for Chris Betances, 23, of Worcester, who is now accused of fleeing in a vehicle and driving it toward officers, the statement reads. A Deputy U.S. Marshal on scene, who was concerned for his [own] safety, shot and wounded Mr. Betances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers immediately provided aid to Betances and drove him to a local hospital. He is in stable condition, the district attorney added. Betances was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on Friday on the outstanding warrant and held without bail. He is in custody and will return to court on Aug. 29. The incident remains under investigation. The latest from MassLive Read the original article on MassLive. As officials warned of near-record heat across the Southwest United States, their biggest concern was not necessarily the scorching daytime highs but rather the higher-than-usual nighttime lows, The Los Angeles Times reported. In Phoenix, forecasters anticipated that even overnight lows would remain upward of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. "Those overnight minimum temperatures will set records," said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, per the Times. "We don't talk about them as much, but they're hugely consequential from a human health and, in particular, a wildfire perspective." What's happening? Extreme heat warnings remained in effect for large swaths of Southern California, even typically cooler coastal areas. Officials issued alerts for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo, according to the Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, National Weather Service's Los Angeles office warned of "Moderate to High risk for heat illness, especially for those without cooling systems & populations sensitive to heat." In addition to Phoenix, Arizona, meteorologists have forecast high nighttime temps for Southern California, as well. "The entire L.A. Basin, even downtown L.A., [is] not getting below the low 70s," said Swain, the UCLA climate scientist, per the Times. Why is nighttime heat important? While record-breaking daytime highs tend to get most of the attention, experts have warned that hot nighttime temperatures also pose an extreme risk to public health and the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The daily minimum temperature plays a significant role in health because if the overnight temperature does not fall below a certain threshold value, people are unable to cool down and recover from the daytime heat," wrote the authors of a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. "Hot nights could impose an extra burden on the body suggesting that the daily minimum temperature could be considered a risk factor for heat-induced illness," the authors continued. Hot nighttime temperatures also increase the risk of severe wildfires. "If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior and rapid fire growth, which could threaten life and property," officials said in a red-flag warning, according to the L.A. Times. What's being done about extreme heat? In order to reduce the risk of heat-related illness, the California Department of Public Health has recommended drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest times of day, and wearing light clothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in the long run, the only way to reverse the trend of rising global temperatures is to significantly reduce the amount of heat-trapping pollution entering the atmosphere. This will require weaning the world's economy off dirtier, nonrenewable fuels and transitioning to cleaner, renewable sources of energy like wind and solar. To help push for political action, you can use your voice, contact your elected representatives, and support candidates who share your policy priorities. To take things even further, you can drive an EV or install solar panels on your home. Using solar to power your home can lower your electricity bill to practically zero while also reducing planet-warming pollution. Pairing solar panels with a home battery system makes your home more resilient in the event of a power outage and can even allow you to feed power back into the grid during times of peak usage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EnergySage offers free, powerful tools that make it easy to compare quotes among vetted local installers and to take maximum advantage of tax credits and other available incentives, saving customers up to around $10,000. With federal tax credits for home solar expiring Dec. 31, though, time is running low to take advantage. 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. Millions of residents in Washington are continuing to face the brunt of one of the state's driest years on record. What's happening? According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, just about the entire state of Washington is experiencing at least moderate drought conditions as we make our way through the second half of the year. Altogether, nearly 6.6 million Washingtonians are now being impacted by below-average rainfall, and there appears to be little relief on the horizon. This could spell trouble for many communities in dire need, especially the 14% of the state currently up against extreme drought conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 5, the Washington Department of Ecology announced that it was expanding its drought emergency that was first declared in April. The announcement revealed that the North and Central Cascade Mountains and parts of the Puget Sound area had been included in the widespread drought advisory. Why are drought conditions in Washington important? As noted by Caroline Mellor, the Washington Department of Ecology's statewide drought lead, the cause of the sprawling drought was multifaceted. "Drought this year is driven both by snowpack and precipitation deficits," Mellor said in a statement. "While it's normal for snow to melt in the spring, what we've seen over the last two months is unusually rapid, with snowpack melting away as much as 33 days earlier than normal in some river basins." Rapid snowpack melt can worsen drought conditions by causing early runoff and decreasing late-season water availability. The rapid melt can lead to increased evaporation and leave river systems drier later in the summer, potentially impacting water supplies for ecosystems, agriculture, and human use. This water shortage can result in widespread losses of crops and pastures, significantly increased fire dangers, and major water shortages. It can also trigger water restrictions, which may greatly impact quality of life for residents. What's being done about the ongoing drought in Washington? According to the Sunnyside Sun, long-term weather forecasts for much of Washington will do little to offer a sense of optimism. A majority of the state will continue to experience higher temperatures and decreased precipitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This could result in a number of challenges for Washington's agriculture industry. On July 14, the Roza Irrigation District in Sunnyside, Washington, announced that it was cutting back water deliveries to just 3 gallons per minute per acre. While customers in the Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District can expect 6.67 gallons per minute per acre, more restrictions may soon be put in place. "Unless we get a significant rainstorm, things are not going to get better," Sunnyside Valley wrote in a message. "We urge all of you to be prepared for another drop in the forecast." Do you take steps to conserve water at home? All the time Usually Sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While droughts are nothing new, their prevalence and severity have been fueled by increased carbon pollution and the rising global temperature. Warmer temperatures mean that the air can hold more moisture, leading to increased evaporation from soil and plants. By opting to switch to renewable energy resources and decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels, we can work toward lowering the impact of critical climate issues and offering a cooler and brighter future. 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. One major New Mexico city could be the center of a new fusion energy boom in the state. The New Mexico Economic Development Department recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Pacific Fusion. This means the energy company will pursue plans to develop a research and development center in Albuquerque. New Mexico is primed for a surge in clean energy projects, particularly fusion energy, if the project is successful. Breakthroughs in this technology have already been made by Sandia National Laboratories, which is based in the state. Pacific Fusion is building off the lab's innovations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "New Mexico is a natural fit for this project," Keith LeChien, co-founder and chief technology officer at Pacific Fusion, told OK Energy Today. "The Z Machine at Sandia National Laboratories helped lay the foundation for our approach, and the state's legacy of applied physics innovation, deep talent pool, and business-friendly environment put it in a unique position to become a national leader in fusion energy innovation." Fusion is the process of combining two atomic nuclei and harnessing the energy released from the process. This is similar to how the sun and stars work. A pickup truck filled with fusion energy is equivalent to 10 million barrels of oil, according to the Department of Energy. Fusion has the potential to provide virtually limitless energy without contributing to air pollution like fossil fuels. Dirty energy can put people at higher risk for issues with cognitive functioning, respiratory problems, or fatty liver disease. Should the government continue to give tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades? Absolutely No Depends on the upgrade I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Alongside solar and wind, fusion is a promising source of alternative energy as the world seeks cleaner sources to combat climate change. It can solve the problem of rising energy costs and low supply due to unstable power grids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pacific Fusion's continued work puts New Mexico closer to delivering carbon-free electricity to the grid. It could also help stimulate the local economy. Once the deal is finalized, the new facility will bring an estimated $1 billion investment and 200 permanent jobs to the area. "New Mexico is on the brink of an economic development surge that will demand more energy than ever," state Sen. Michael Padilla told OK Energy Today. "Fusion power offers a meaningful solution to help meet that growing demand." 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The Ohio Department of Transportation is studying the feasibility of constructing a new highway that would span from Toledo to Chesapeake, Ohio, and pass through Columbus. The agency is conducting a $1.5 million analysis to examine the creation of a corridor called Interstate 73. The highway would primarily run along U.S. 23 existing portions of the route could be converted into I-73 lanes, depending on ODOTs findings. The study is looking into the proposed projects potential routes and allocation of funding, along with economic and environmental impacts. The department will complete the analysis by the end of 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important to remember that this is not a commitment to build the interstate but strictly informational, an overview of the study states. It arms the states decision makers with data so they can execute accordingly. I-73 is part of a proposed interstate highway project that would connect Michigan and South Carolina, using existing roadways and planned construction. The highway would run nearly 1,000 miles from Michigans Upper Peninsula to Myrtle Beach while passing through Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina. The National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Associations proposed highway spanning six states. (Photo courtesy/i73.com) The National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Associations proposed highway in Ohio. (Photo courtesy/i73.com) A group called the National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association has been pushing for the development of the interstate for decades. The association claims the highway would relieve traffic congestion, create tens of thousands of jobs during its construction and provide coastal regions with a hurricane evacuation route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) introduced a congressional resolution expressing his support for I-73 in July. Taylor said southern Ohio needs infrastructure to support businesses such as the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon. The site, which began operations in 2023, enriches uranium for use in nuclear reactors. 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 in a statement. Parallel to the I-73 study, the department is also working on a $2 billion plan to improve U.S. 23 from Worthington to Waldo by reducing traffic lights, adding interchanges and building overpasses. ODOT has not yet revealed a timeline for construction on these projects. The I-73 study was funded through House Bill 54, Ohios transportation budget for 2026 and 2027 that took effect in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. As U.S.-led efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine were gaining momentum, Poland, once among Kyiv's most vocal backers, was noticeably absent from high-level talks, sparking debate over its diminished role. The country, which provided an estimated 4.5 billion euros ($5.2 billion) in military aid since 2022 and hosts the critical Rzeszow-Jasionka hub for Western weapons deliveries, has struggled to maintain its early prominence. Analysts say dwindling military stockpiles and shifting domestic politics have reduced its role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Poland's foreign policy is used for domestic political purposes, meaning it is, in a certain sense, subordinated to them," Michal Lebduska, an analyst at the Association for International Affairs (AMO), told the Kyiv Independent. "This creates a whole set of problems, and from this set of problems comes the fact that Poland is no longer as reliable and important a partner for Ukraine as it once was." Read also: Going around in circles Trump sets new deadline for peace in Ukraine, Graham again threatens with tough legislation Domestic pressures During the first year of the all-out war, Poland had resources it could offer to help Ukraine, and at that time, its support seemed stronger than that of many other countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was a lot of old Soviet equipment, some tanks, and other machinery," Lebduska said, noting that this allowed Warsaw to respond quickly when the war began. "But now the problem is that, first of all, Poland no longer has the same resources it once did." Over time, internal politics have also reshaped Warsaw's approach. Far-right parties, such as Poland's Confederation, have gained traction by portraying aid to Kyiv as a costly burden and framing military assistance as largely unreciprocated. Poland's new President Karol Nawrocki attends a mass at St John's Archcathedral on Aug. 6, 2025 in Warsaw, after he was sworn in. (Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images) A June IBRiS poll showed 46% of Poles now support reducing or ending military aid, compared to 26% who opposed assistance in February 2024. The rhetoric has fueled fatigue and skepticism, even as Russia's war continues into its fourth year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The June 1 election of right-wing nationalist Karol Nawrocki as president deepened uncertainty. While Nawrocki condemns Russia's aggression, he opposes Ukraine's NATO and EU accession and has accused Kyiv of exploiting its allies. "The problem is, we still don't know what Nawrocki's policy toward Ukraine will look like," Polish political scientist Pawel Borkowski said. "From the campaign and from his close ties to the Confederation party, there are suspicions he may take a less pro-Ukrainian stance." Absence in Washington That ambiguity was underscored when Poland was missing from the Aug. 18 talks in Washington. A number of European leaders joined President Volodymyr Zelensky in their meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki's absence sparked criticism at home. "Apparently, neither the U.S. nor Ukraine saw any reason to talk to us. Despite our enormous assistance (to Kyiv) and our geographical location, we count for less than Finland. It's just sad," Confederation leader Slawomir Mentzen wrote on X. Nawrocki defended Poland's absence on Aug. 18, saying he had already discussed the country's position with Trump and European leaders earlier in the week. He said that within the "Coalition of the Willing," which consists of 33 states pledging security guarantees to Ukraine, Poland was represented by its government, not the presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government said Prime Minister Donald Tusk did not attend because the meeting followed the same format as previous talks among European leaders that included Trump. "At that time, Poland was represented by President Karol Nawrocki," spokesperson Adam Szlapka said. Poor relations between Trump and Tusk, who indirectly supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris during the U.S. election campaign, help explain Warsaw's exclusion, Aleksandra Kusztal, a political scientist at the Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, said. "These relations are bad. There is no element of so-called good chemistry between the two gentlemen (Trump and Tusk)," she told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebduska said that both Tusk's government and the new president, Nawrocki, face challenges that constrain their ability to act effectively in international diplomacy. "On one hand, Tusk's government is not a strong partner for Trump and the current U.S. administration," he said. "On the other hand, Nawrocki, with his anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western rhetoric, is also not a partner for Europeans." "They have ended up in a trap: first, because of internal disputes, and second, because they were unable to effectively represent Poland at their levels." No Polish peacekeepers As discussions among Kyiv's European allies shifted to potential peacekeeping missions that could follow a possible ceasefire, Poland ruled out sending troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will not send Polish soldiers to Ukraine. This is the government's position not for a week, but for many months," Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Aug. 20. The statement came as Bloomberg reported on Aug. 19 that European officials have discussed sending British and French troops to Ukraine, along with contingents from roughly 10 other countries. President Karol Nawrocki, accompanied by General Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, inspects the Polish Army Representative Company ahead of the Armed Forces Day parade, commemorating Poland's 1920 victory over the Soviet Red Army and marking the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw, in Warsaw, Poland, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Analysts say Poland's cautious stance reflects longstanding speculation. Both the Law and Justice (PiS) party and the Confederation signaled during the campaign that they opposed committing Polish forces directly to Ukraine. "During the presidential campaign, there were very strong statements that the Polish government would send Polish soldiers to Ukraine, which is not acceptable," Kusztal noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that Tusk's government is reacting in a way meant to give the public the sense that deploying Polish troops to Ukraine is impossible. "I also think this could be one reason why Poland is not seen as a key player in the broader peacemaking discussions," she added. Drone incident highlights vulnerability Warsaw's stance faced renewed scrutiny on Aug. 20, when a Russian drone crashed in a rural area of Poland's Lublin region near the Ukrainian border. Officials described it as a deliberate provocation, with Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski pledging a diplomatic protest. Yet the government's cautious response was widely perceived as weak. Analysts suggested Warsaw avoided escalating rhetoric to prevent stoking fear at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A reaction like 'oh my God, we were attacked, what should we do next?' would be a really bad idea, as it could create unnecessary social panic," Kusztal said. Borkowski noted that liberals across Poland generally see fear as already deeply embedded in society through political messaging and past election campaigns. Adding further tension would only serve the far right, he said. From big to small Poland's absence in Washington and its restrained stance reflect a broader shift. Once a driving force behind Europe's support for Ukraine, Warsaw's influence appears reduced by internal disputes, limited resources, and strained ties with key partners. "The question now is whether Poland can truly be a major player. I highly doubt it first because of internal disputes between the government and the opposition, which weaken Poland on the international stage," Lebduska said. "And also because Poland doesn't have much to offer Ukraine at the moment, it ends up being a much weaker player than it could have been." Read also: Russia strengthens hand in potential peace talks with steady advances in Donbas Note from the Author Hi, this is Tim. The author of this article. Thank you for taking the time to read it. At the Kyiv Independent, we speak to top experts to bring you accurate, in-depth reporting. We don't have a wealthy owner or political backing. We rely on readers like you to support our work. If you found this article valuable, consider joining our community today. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) Officials with HEMSI say one person is dead and another is injured after a wreck in Huntsville. HEMSI Spokesperson Don Webster said that one person was killed and another was injured in a wreck on Alabama 53 and Blake Bottom Road. He said the wreck happened at around 8:10 p.m. Friday. Webster said one person was pronounced dead on the scene. He said another person was transported to the hospital in stable condition. 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. In early August of 2021, Haafiz watched the Taliban fighters closing in on Kabul, where he lived in a three-bedroom apartment with his wife and five children. That summer, he worked mostly at home, as the deadliest wave of COVID-19 swept through Afghanistan. A softly spoken 45-year-old computer engineer took pride in how far hed come: he held respected positions working for a U.S.-based aid organization, a job that supported his own family and allowed him to help three other families with medications and urgent expenses. The closer the Taliban got to Kabul, the more fragile his life appeared. On Aug. 15, when the militants seized Kabul and the government collapsed, he recalled the city descending into pure chaos. Images of people clinging to departing airplanes became a haunting symbol of desperation and the downfall of the Afghan state. In this image provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, a Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) carries a baby as the family processes through the evacuation control center at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. | Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla On the news, Haafiz saw thousands of people flocking to the airport, a frantic epicenter of hope. Cars sat abandoned in miles of gridlock traffic as people set out on foot, desperate to board the military planes departing every few hours. Images of people clinging to departing airplanes flashed on screens across the world they soon became a haunting symbol of desperation and downfall of the Afghan state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haafiz, who asked to be only identified by his first name, felt especially vulnerable: working with a foreign aid organization made him a target in the eyes of the Taliban; he also belonged to the Hazara ethnic minority, a group long subjected to persecution and discrimination. But the security team at his workplace advised him to stay put: the process of leaving could be dangerous, and, like many, they feared the consequences of defying the Taliban. Still, he tried everything to find a way to leave: emailing U.S. lawmakers, messaging contacts, reaching out to German supervisors in hopes of securing a visa. But the time was running out and before any help arrived, the airport was closed. The bombing area at Abbey Gate is pictured August 26, 2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan, before the blast. A review released Monday, April 15, 2024, says the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed U.S. troops and Afghans in August 2021 was not preventable, and the bald man in black spotted by U.S. service members the morning of the attack was not the bomber. | U.S. military's Central Command The tipping point came when he received a call from an unknown number, telling him to report to a Taliban-controlled police station or report his address. In two days, another threatening call followed. I decided that I should either leave or stay, he said. Yet, he was torn his mothers health was declining, his brother also needed medical treatment. On the other hand, safeguarding his childrens lives felt non-negotiable. I had to make a choice, he said. He got rid of his papers and work badges that linked him to his American colleagues. Disguised in Taliban-style clothes, carrying only their passports with Pakistan visas and birth certificates hidden beneath their clothes, the family set out for the border crossing into Pakistan, their only chance at safety. We were never the same Haafiz, who asked to be only identified by his first name, who recently immigrated to the U.S., looks out the window at his new home in Beverly, Massachusetts Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.. | Jodi Hilton for the Deseret News While Haafiz was fleeing his war-torn home in Kabul, thousands of miles away in the verdant Boston suburb, Elizabeth Davis-Edwards was racing to find a way to help Afghan families. A community organizer and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she felt a moral imperative to do something as she watched the crisis in Afghanistan unfold. In the frantic weeks following the fall of Kabul, more than 70,000 Afghans were airlifted out of the country. With no infrastructure in place to handle such a massive influx of refugees, Davis-Edwards decided she would build it herself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While preparing to drive her daughter to college at Brigham Young University, she called up the executive director at the Shapiro Foundation, whose work is focuses on refugee resettlement. A marketer by profession and a longtime humanitarian volunteer, Davis-Edwards pitched her budding idea: neighbors would form neighborhood support teams to welcome refugees and their families, assisting with housing, school enrollment, job searches, legal aid and transportation. From her home in Bolton, Massachusetts, she began mobilizing her neighbors and church community to welcome the Afghans, many of whom were coming on special immigrant visas issued to those who worked with the U.S. government. She connected with a state resettlement agency that matched Afghan families with community teams ready to host them. More and more neighbors and church members joined her Sunday planning Zoom calls that coordinated housing, legal aid and whatever else was needed in spreadsheets. And then it just kind of spread, she said. Someone offered up their scenic apartment on the lake where the refugees could live for a year. Others provided pro-bono legal services, help with school enrollment, health insurance and just made donations. We were building the plane as we were flying it, she said. In the first few months, the organization rallied about 1,500 volunteers and about 65 teams to welcome nearly 400 Afghan refugees into the communities across Massachusetts and over the border New Hampshire. Haafiz, who asked to be only identified by his first name, stands for a photo at a park near his familys new home in Beverly, Massachusetts Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. He and his family recently immigrated to the U.S. | Jodi Hilton for the Deseret News In the four years since its inception, WelcomeNST that stands for neighborhood support team is now the nations largest privately funded refugee resettlement network, with more than 4,500 volunteers across 300 neighborhoods in 37 states. The organization has welcomed refugees from Ukraine, Haiti, Guatemala, and other countries upended by violence and crisis. Utah alone has built a sprawling web of support teams, who are walking alongside newly arrived families as they adjust to life in America. The purpose was to increase our capacity as a country to welcome refugees in dangerous situations, Davis-Edwards told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She wasnt exactly new to this work. As a young mother, she wanted her three kids to see the world beyond their comfortable suburb. So every year, the family went on a humanitarian trip: Ecuador to restore a school after a flood (her daughter, now 18, was only one); Tonga to help with an orphanage; Haiti to rebuild after the earthquake. In 2016, she heard a talk by Elder Patrick Kearon, now a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who called on the churchs members to embrace the worlds 60 million refugees. His words felt like an answer to a question shed been nursing about where to focus her efforts. Through another church member, she got connected to a camp for Afghan refugees in Greece and the following summer, Davis-Edwards and her kids were sharing meals with the Afghans, who told them stories of surviving shootings, carrying shrapnel in their bodies and arriving in Greece with no belongings and no legal ability to work. There are fundamental things that change when you are sitting on the floor eating a meal with a family and sharing a story about a son being murdered and being put into a bag and left on your front doorstep, she said. Every single person had a horrific story, she recalled, yet, somehow they emerged from these experiences with hope. We were never the same after we met those people, she said. Still, each time she left the camp, Davis-Edwards felt unsettled. The refugees conditions remained largely unchangedthey were trapped with no clear future for themselves or their families. At the core, we couldnt solve anything for them, she said. All we could do was help ease their journey, make it a little easier. The hunger to help Haafiz, who asked to be only identified by his first name, cuts watermelon for his children at their home in Beverly, Massachusetts Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. He and his family recently immigrated to the U.S. | Jodi Hilton for the Deseret News At the Torkham border, Haafiz and his family joined thousands of others waiting to plead their case and flee Taliban-held territory. For two days at the border, with no water or food, Haafiz and his family waited. Taliban guards randomly picked people from the line, beating them with sticks and rifle butts. Sometimes, they pulled Haafiz, his wife and his children. It was a really difficult moment, when they were looking at me with the hope that (I would) do something for them, he told me. They were crying and looking at me to do something but I was helpless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a grueling two-day border crossing the family made it into Pakistan and with help from the German government through his former employer, were relocated to Germany. But building a life in Germany proved difficult. Haafiz and his older sons struggled to find work. They werent able to enroll in high school and they struggled learning German. Nights often were plagued by nightmares of the Torkham border. We lost everything completely and I felt useless in a new country, he said. Meanwhile, in the U.S., President Donald Trumps campaign promised job security and stability. According to his campaign, there would be good job opportunities, he said. He had received an SIV visa and the family decided to make the leap. That was a big reason why I decided to come here. I was very hopeful. The evacuation from Afghanistan was a mess, Davis-Edwards told me, but it was also a miracle. She could finally offer a solution that changed the lives of refugees in a significant way, embracing them in a strangers land. The people hanging on those planes looked a lot like our friends, she told me. WelcomeNST works with vulnerable families who arrive in the U.S. through legal pathways and are working hard toward self-sufficiency, according to their website. Since Russias escalation of the war against Ukraine in February 2022, WelcomeNST applied the same neighborhood team model to Ukrainian refugees. Haafiz, who asked to be only identified by his first name, pushes his youngest son, two-year-old, while walking with his wife and seven-year-old son, left, near their home in Beverly, Massachusetts Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. The family recently immigrated to the U.S.. | Jodi Hilton for the Deseret News But recently, the refugee work has taken on new urgency. Recent immigration overhauls and cuts to the resettlement agency infrastructure under the Trump administration have been reshaping asylum and refugee policy, narrowing eligibility and accelerating deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2025, an executive order by President Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), essentially freezing federal resettlement efforts. The order stated, The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees. With the resettlement system decimated, thousands of U.S.-approved refugees were left without caseworkers, Davis-Edwards said. In June, the administration started sending notices to roughly 500,000 foreign nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela canceling their temporary protection status (TPS), although a federal court has restored temporary status for Haiti and Venezuela. Although the same temporary status for the Afghans has also been terminated in July, those who were employed by the U.S. Government can still come through the special immigrant visas. Haafiz, who asked to be only identified by his first name, is picture at a park near his new home in Beverly, Massachusetts Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. He and his family recently immigrated to the U.S. | Jodi Hilton for the Deseret News Meanwhile, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey began the process of closing all hotel and motel shelters and officially ended the 2023 state of emergency related to the migrant crisis. Compounding these challenges, the recent surge in ICE detentions of those who arrived legally has raised alarms across communities. Our focus has been to help people get from where theyre unsafe elsewhere to a place where they can be safe here in the U.S., Davis-Edwards explained. Now, we have families who are here legally, but they are still being targeted for deportation. We used to be a refuge, and now people here need refuge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the focus on supporting families who are already in the U.S. and who many have lost their case workers, WelcomeNST is ramping up its efforts in Utah. On September 16, Davis-Edwards and her team launched a broader pilot project Connect & Lift, a wider partnership between several Utah organizations. Utah Refugee Connection, Salt Lake Citys International Rescue Committee, and Lifting Hands International will combine efforts with WelcomeNST to form support teams then matched with refugee families, who are already in the U.S. In Massachusetts, Welcome NST is focused on creating neighborhood support teams for Haitian migrants who lost housing amid shelter closures in Massachusetts. More Afghan families could be approved to enter as SIVs, if they have families willing to host them. Davis-Edwards believes that the moment is here for communities and individuals to step up as state support wanes. I feel like we have actually been prepared for this exact moment, she told me, clarifying that we is everyone who cares about refugees and immigrants in America. Superpower of community Haafiz, who asked to be only identified by his first name, stands outside his new home in Beverly, Massachusetts Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. He and his family recently immigrated to the U.S. | Jodi Hilton for the Deseret News With the help of a state resettlement agency, Haafizs family was matched with a group of neighbors from Massachusetts, who coalesced with the help of WelcomeNST. As we learned more about the family, more and more people wanted to do more, more and more things, said Scott Miller, a member of the neighborhood team that had been taking care of Haafizs family. In March, 2025, the team picked up Haafizs family at the airport with a big van, brought them to an Airbnb, and later helped them secure a lease on an apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller remembered feeling nervous before meeting the family, aware of the suffering and loss they had endured. Their first meeting was emotional. We looked at each other and he just came up and hugged me, Miller told me. I wanted them to feel love and support from us, and I really wanted to meet them where they were. Haafizs team, which has about 30 people, is one of the largest at WelcomeNST and is also religiously diverse: nearly six faith traditions are represented in the group, including two Protestant churches, a Christian educational organization and a synagogue. Some on the team arent religious, but share the values of welcoming the stranger in a foreign land. Miller has watched people expand by taking on roles they never imagined they could. The team, functioning like an extended family, has helped Haafiz and his sons study for their driving tests, navigate legal paperwork and enroll his children to school. Theyve gathered for potlucks and playdates. None of this was in any of our comfort zones, he said. Seeing everyone step out of that and do something new was really cool. For Haafizs family, the warmth and respect they received instilled in them a renewed sense of belonging, something the family hadnt experienced since leaving Kabul. It was the first time in years we truly felt safe and hopeful, he told me. We got our hope back the hope for life. Haafiz, who asked to be only identified by his first name, who recently immigrated to the U.S., hugs his 7-year-old son Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. The family of seven recently immigrated to the U.S. | Jodi Hilton for the Deseret News But there are challenges, too, some the family has experienced in Germany. Haafiz has applied for roughly a hundred jobs without success. Trained in computer science and software and data engineering, hes searching for work anything that will allow them to stand on their own. His son just got a temporary job at a grocery store. Haafiz is eager to build a life that doesnt depend entirely on others. We dont want to continue like this forever, he said. We want to stand on our own feet. I see a lot of people who are struggling, but they are helping me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haafiz now holds a green card, a tangible symbol of stability for immigrants, though it no longer offers the same sense of security it once did. I asked whether Haafiz feels safe in America today. We are not hearing any stable plan about whether refugees will stay or will not stay. It is very difficult, he said. Hes always viewed America as an ideal of a law-abiding nation. Everyone expects everyone to obey the law, he noted, but I see something different from the government, and that makes me nervous. Yet, he remains motivated to build a future for his family. Davis-Edwards envisions creating a network that extends beyond immediate assistance. She wants to start a nation-wide movement, building momentum to welcome refugees state by state, beginning with Massachusetts. To me, the superpower of the community is to welcome a stranger, she said. It is to say, Listen, we have this community... and we dont realize how powerful that is. We forget or maybe we just dont know it. These types of neighborhood networks often outperform paid placement programs, she said, noting that its not a criticism of caseworkers, but simply a testament to the power of community. Shes witnessed how the work changes lives on both ends: We always talk about giving as something that helps others, but the real beauty is that it changes you. She added, The power of community at its best is loving our neighbor. Its the simplest thing. Another F/A-18 Hornet has suffered a mishap, this time in Malaysia. Video shows the fighter jet catching fire as it took off, forcing its crew to eject. The incident in Malaysia came one day after a US Navy F/A-18 crash off Virginia. A Malaysian F/A-18D Hornet caught fire on Thursday night as it was taking off, the country's air force said. Malaysia's air force, which owns eight of the US-made fighter jets, said in a statement that the aircraft had been involved in an "accident" at 9:05 p.m. local time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement said the take-off incident happened at Kuantan Air Base, roughly 110 miles east of the capital of Kuala Lumpur. Both the 34-year-old pilot and 28-year-old weapons system officer ejected and were later discharged from a military hospital, the air force said in a separate statement. "Both officers are now in stable condition with no serious injuries," Gen. Muhamad Norazlan Aris said. It's unclear what caused the mishap with the fighter jet, which entered service with Malaysia's air force in 1997. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wrote in a statement on Friday morning that he had instructed authorities to "conduct a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the incident." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A viral video of the take-off incident appears to show the jet catching fire in a flash of light at the end of the runway. Photos of the airfield posted by the Malaysian air force showed debris from the aircraft on and near a runway. The air force statement said the plane had crashed during a routine training flight. Malaysia encountered a separate take-off accident involving one of its Hornets during an aerospace exhibition in 2019, when the aircraft's left engine caught fire. Local media reported at the time that a foreign object had entered the engine. A string of mishaps The F/A-18 is a family of twin-engine fighter jets developed primarily by McDonnell Douglas now Boeing and first built for the US Navy and Marine Corps. They're designed to take off from both aircraft carriers and airfields and handle both air combat and ground attack missions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The early Hornet models were later followed by the Super Hornet, a mainstay of US naval aviation even as the F-35 takes on more of a role in the fleet. The Hornets are also flown by American allies and partners. The latest F/A-18 incident adds to a list of several recent mishaps involving the aircraft family. A day earlier, a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet crashed into the water off Virginia during a training flight. The pilot ejected safely, and the cause of the incident is under investigation. In May, the US Navy lost another of its Super Hornets after it fell off the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. It was the second Super Hornet to roll off the same aircraft carrier, after a similar incident occurred in April while the Truman was taking evasive action against Houthi rebel fire in the Red Sea. In December last year, another Super Hornet was mistakenly shot down by a US missile cruiser in a friendly-fire incident in the Red Sea. Each of the Super Hornets costs over $60 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Thursday incident comes as Malaysia received US approval in June to purchase 33 secondhand F/A-18C and F/A-18D Hornets from Kuwait, which is phasing out the older fourth-generation fighter aircraft for a batch of Super Hornets and Eurofighter Typhoons. Malaysia's air force also operates 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets. Read the original article on Business Insider A frustrated user posted an image to the Mildly Infuriating subreddit that showed a dumpster overflowing with boxed Krispy Kreme donuts. What happened? "Pisses me off how much [they're] willing to throw away rather than donate/give away," the user wrote. "I don't know how long this has been sitting for but it's still absurd." The photo seems to show dozens of branded boxes stacked in a blue dumpster. Many of the boxes appear unopened and intact, suggesting the donuts inside may still have been edible when they were discarded. Photo Credit: Reddit Photo Credit: Reddit Other Reddit users shared the original poster's irritation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One mentioned the Too Good To Go app, which lets businesses sell leftover food at discounted prices. "That's so sad. ... They'd make tons of extra money using this service," the user noted. Why is food waste concerning? Food waste causes serious problems for people and the planet. The accumulation of edible goods in landfills produces methane. This heat-trapping gas warms our atmosphere 28 times faster than carbon dioxide over 100 years. The United Nations has estimated that food loss and waste generate 8 to 10 percent of greenhouse gases, while over 700 million people experience hunger around the world. This disconnect between excess and need affects communities everywhere, especially those already experiencing inequitable access to resources. Wasted food reflects the waste of other resources too. Growing and shipping food that never gets eaten wastes water, energy, and labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For businesses, it would seem, throwing away inventory would also mean throwing away profit or at least adding to their environmental impacts. Is Krispy Kreme doing anything about this? Krispy Kreme has made commitments to reducing waste across its operations. The company says it participates in donation programs with local organizations in some areas, though implementation depends on each individual franchise. Food safety regulations can create some challenges for donation programs. It's important that businesses make sure donated food meets health standards to protect recipients from illness. Thankfully, many successful models exist for the safe redirection of surplus food to those who need it. Some Krispy Kreme locations have partnered with food rescue organizations that collect day-old products for distribution. The company has also worked to improve production planning to reduce excess inventory. What's being done about food waste more broadly? Solutions for reducing food waste have expanded across the United States. Apps like Too Good To Go, now operating in several U.S. cities, can connect consumers with restaurants selling surplus food at reduced prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food rescue organizations work with grocery stores, restaurants, and bakeries to redirect safe, edible food to food banks and soup kitchens. These programs follow strict safety guidelines and can address hunger and landfilling. For businesses looking to reduce waste, composting is another viable option when donation isn't feasible. Composting programs can turn food scraps into nutrient-rich soil that keeps organic matter from spewing methane from landfills instead bringing the potential to grow new crops and add to the food supply. Individual actions can add up too. Supporting companies and specific franchises that prioritize waste reduction sends a message to corporations about what consumers demand from brands. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The Indian Army's Infantry battalion promptly responded to the devastation caused by the cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Saturday. Around 50 army personnel were deployed from Rudraprayag to assist in relief operations, according to a statement. Preliminary reports indicate damage to houses and vehicles in the affected area. One young girl has been reported missing. Earlier, the district administration had forwarded a written requisition to the Army for assistance. Additionally, a medical team has been mobilised from Joshimath, and Search & Rescue (SAR) dogs with surveillance drones are being moved to the site to assist in locating survivors and providing relief. On the intervening night of 22-23 August (approximately 1 AM to 2 AM), a cloud burst occurred at Tharali, located about 75 km southeast of Rudraprayag in Chamoli District, Uttarakhand. State's Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said on Saturday that one woman has been trapped under debris and another man is missing since the rainfall started. Uttarakhand's monsoon has affected multiple districts in the state, with multiple roads being closed n Pithoragarh too. In the Syanachatti area of Uttarkashi district, restoration work for the bridge, which got submerged due to the rising water level of the Yamuna, has been almost completed. Efforts are underway to rescue the woman and find the missing person, with officials transporting people to safe locations, and both NDRF and SDRF teams dispatched for rescue and relief operations. "Last night in Tharali, Chamoli, around 1- 1:30 am, there was excessive rainfall, as a result of which, a lot of sludge flowed down, damaging two houses. The sludge has entered 10-12 houses. In the upper part of Tharali, 10-12 shops have come in contact with sludge. One person has gone missing, and one woman is trapped under the debris," Kumar Suman told ANI. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is also in constant touch with district officials to get updates about the disaster situation. "Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone's safety," the Chief Minister posted on X. The India Meteorological Department, on Friday, issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, forecasting thunderstorms/lightning and very intense rain at different parts of the state. The alert remains in effect till Saturday afternoon. (ANI) One of the worlds most famous photographs was taken by astronaut Bill Anders while orbiting the moon in 1968 during the Apollo 8 mission. Called Earthrise, the photograph of Earth rising above the horizon contrasts the barren lunar surface with the rich blue surface of Earth, over which clouds swirled about. Remarkably, such images of Earth today are taken 24/7 from a constellation of satellites orbiting our planet, available to anyone with a tap on their cell phone. These satellites provide more than beautiful pictures, however. They deliver a treasure trove of information about Earth, monitoring cloud cover, sea surface temperatures, vegetation greenness and trace gases in the atmosphere, to name just a few. These data improve weather forecasts, assist farmers in deciding which crops to plant and provide warnings about exposure to wildfire smoke. The United States, through NASA, has served as the global leader in space missions for decades, as epitomized by the Apollo missions. Yet if the White House has its way, this U.S. leadership would be lost. The proposed NASA budget calls for a 24% cut, with the earth science portion of the budget sliced more drastically to half, at $1 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of NASAs earth science missions at risk is the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO). There are two OCO sensors one is on the International Space Station, and the other has flown independently since 2014. From hundreds of miles above Earths surface, OCO measures carbon dioxide (CO2) the key heat-trapping gas that leads to climate change. OCO has been able to pick out changes in CO2 that are less than one part per million (ppm) out of a background of more than 400 ppm. Our work at the University of Utah, along with other institutions, leverages OCO data to understand carbon emissions from cities around the world, including noticeable changes during the COVID shutdown. Since cities release a large proportion of anthropogenic carbon pollution, the OCO-based monitoring can assist international efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Heat is the number one natural hazard in the U.S., leading to more fatalities than even hurricanes or tornadoes. Wait, theres more. OCO is able to monitor the health of plants by detecting light emitted from the chlorophyll in their leaves. As such, OCO data can be used for detecting crop health and agricultural yields. Furthermore, our research has shown satellite data can monitor forest health, even in mountainous regions, such as the Sierra Nevada of California, pointing toward the capacity for early warning systems to detect forest mortality and assisting in forest management to avoid catastrophic forest fires. Why cant we just substitute the satellites with measurements on the ground? Because satellites offer a unique perspective by observing Earth consistently over a wide spatial scale, and over remote areas difficult to access from the ground e.g., over the Pacific Ocean, top of the Himalayas or in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Given the interconnectedness of the Earth system, what happens in the Amazon does not stay there: the consequences ripple through the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several other critical satellite missions are on the chopping block in the White House budget. The Aura mission, for example, studies air quality around the globe and monitors the ozone hole. Unlike used cars, the age of a satellite mission typically enhances its value. The first OCO satellite has been in orbit for more than 10 years and the Aura mission has been in orbit for more than 20 years. These decadal-length records from the same satellite detect trends and changes over time with scientific consistency. For instance, OCO identified ecosystems losing their ability to absorb carbon during dry, warm years. Aura provided evidence of recovery in the ozone hole due to reduced emissions of chlorofluorocarbons following the 1987 Montreal Protocol. A recovery in the protective ozone layer, if it persists, would mean less UV radiation and risk of skin cancer. The operating costs of satellite missions is typically just a few percent of their total development cost. As an example, the two OCO satellites cost $16 million to operate per year. Prematurely terminating such functional and scientifically valuable satellites would waste prior taxpayer investments which put them up in space in the first place. As Congress goes through the annual appropriations process during the next few months, we should let our elected representatives know that the draconian cuts to the NASA Earth Science budget should not be accepted. We must redouble our mission to planet Earth. No planet is more important than our own. This week, American chain restaurant Cracker Barrel unveiled a new, streamlined logo, and the internet is in a free fall. The chain, a Southern-themed restaurant found off highways across the country, has become the latest battleground in an increasingly unpredictable culture war over American identity and who gets to define it. The previous logo, introduced in 1977, featured the outline of an older gentleman wearing overalls, sitting in a chair and leaning his elbow on the eponymous barrel. The new logo strips away ornamentation, leaving only the restaurants name in dark type inside a vaguely barrel-shaped blob. Ive been to a Cracker Barrel just once, while on a road trip with a friend from northern New Jersey to Austin, Texas, when we stopped at a location just off the highway somewhere in northern Florida. The brand, honestly, means very little to me, but I appreciate that it had a personality and a logo that was creative enough to be loved or hated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of the new logo reveal, it seems there is bipartisan and widespread outrage over the rebrand. While some on the left seem to be criticizing the aesthetic change, many MAGA enthusiasts and armchair pundits on the far right have read far more into the change. They are not lamenting a design failure; rather, theyve cast Cracker Barrels rebrand as a capitulation to woke liberalism, an erasure of the so-called American ideology that Cracker Barrel apparently represents. The new Cracker Barrel logo. (Wyatte Grantham-Philips / AP) Over the past few years, many brands, regardless of industry, have embraced the minimalist block-letter look popularized by Silicon Valley startups in the early 2000s. From luxury fashion brand Yves Saint Laurent to coffee and doughnut chain Dunkin to financial services company Mastercard, this strip-down has been everywhere for the past few years. Allegedly, the reason for the prominence of boring and soulless block type is that it simply looks more legible when shrunk down to fit on your phones home screen. Founded in 1969, Cracker Barrel embodies a very specific story of American capitalist success, one tied to postwar growth. If you havent been to a Cracker Barrel ever, or recently, it is something of a faux general store. The food is Southern-style and affordable. Interestingly, the knickknacks that famously adorn its walls are genuine antiques. Not to be mistaken with nostalgia for the early 2000s and 2010s that is currently proliferating across American culture, Cracker Barrels entire ethos is early-1900s nostalgia, steeped in Southern Americana. It is a relic of a bygone era in both origin story and brand aesthetic. That Southern brand identity is at the root of the outrage. The claim being that the rebrand is the latest nail in the coffin burying American tradition. One conservative consultant lamented on X, We cant stand for this! Return to tradition! Another conservative activist posted, Its not about this particular restaurant chain who cares but about creating massive pressure against companies that are considering any move that might appear to be wokification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the first time Cracker Barrel has been the subject of far-right ire over the past few years. In 2022, almost three years ago to the day, the chain sparked outrage after adding a breakfast sandwich with plant-based sausage to its morning menu. One user reacted to the companys announcement on Facebook, writing, I just lost respect for a once great Tennessee company. Then in June the following year, Cracker Barrel incensed half the internet again after posting in support of Pride month and debuting rainbow-colored rocking chairs. Then, Cracker Barrel was derided for falling to the woke mob. The far-right outrage over this logo rebrand feels ironic, when, just weeks ago, the same voices now incensed about a new logo derided far-left criticism of an advertisement that was, in my opinion, far more provocative. My column on the now-infamous Sydney Sweeney advertisement garnered days of rude and pointed emails and social media posts asserting that I was digging up an issue and making an ideological leap where there wasnt one to be made. One person emailed me, including their full legal name and telephone number, in response to what I had written and said, Why cant anything be superficial and frivolous? Like simple math. Stop reading so deep into it. I have to say I agree. Sometimes a rebrand really is just a rebrand. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com I just feel that I have a wonderful opportunity. Those words of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson came in a recent interview, wherein the justice explained how she felt liberated after becoming a member of the Supreme Court to tell people in my opinions how I feel about the issues. And thats what I try to do. Jacksons sense of liberation has increasingly become the subject of consternation on the court itself, as she unloads on her colleagues in strikingly strident opinions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, Jackson went ballistic after her colleagues reversed another district court judge who issued a sweeping injunction barring the Trump Administration from canceling roughly $783 million in grants in the National Institutes of Health. Again writing alone, Jackson unleashed a tongue-lashing on her colleagues, who she suggested were unethical, unthinking cutouts for Trump. She denounced her fellow justices, stating, This is Calvinball jurisprudence with a twist. Calvinball has only one rule: There are no fixed rules. We seem to have two: that one, and this administration always wins. For some of us who have followed Jacksons interestingly controversial tenure on the court, it was crushingly ironic. Although Jackson accused her colleagues of following a new rule that they must always rule with Trump, she herself is widely viewed as the very embodiment of the actual rule of the made-up game based on the comic strip of Calvin and Hobbes. In Jacksonian jurisprudence, it often seems like there are no fixed rules, only fixed outcomes. She then attacks her colleagues for a lack of integrity or empathy. To quote Calvin, Jackson proves that theres no problem so awful that you cant add some guilt to it and make it even worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson has attacked her colleagues in opinions, shattering traditions of civility and restraint. Her colleagues have clearly had enough. She now regularly writes diatribes that neither of her fellow liberals Justices Sonia Sotomayor or Elena Kagan are willing to sign on to. Indeed, she has raged against opinions that her liberal colleagues have joined. Take Stanley v. City of Sanford. Justices Jackson and Neil Gorsuch took some fierce swings at each other in a case concerning a retired firefighter who wants to sue her former employer. The majority, including Kagan, rejected a ridiculous claim from a Florida firefighter who sued for discrimination for a position that she had neither held nor sought. The court ruled that the language of the statute clearly required plaintiffs to be qualified for a given position before they could claim to have been denied it due to discrimination. (Stanley has Parkinsons disease and had taken a disability retirement at age 47 due to the progress of the disease.) Jackson, however, was irate that Stanley could not sue for the denial of a position that she never sought, held, or was qualified to perform. Jackson accused the majority of once again showing how pure textualists can easily disguise their own preferences as textual inevitabilities. It was not only deeply insulting, but perfectly bizarre, given that Kagan had joined in the majority opinion. Kagan is about as pure a textualist judge as she is a pure taxidermist. Gorsuch called Jackson out for once again ignoring the text of federal laws in order to secure the result she preferred in a given case. In other words, Jackson was playing Calvinball with the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson, undeterred, has continued these diatribes, with escalating and insulting rhetoric. In Trump v. CASA, the court sought to rein in district courts issuing sweeping injunctions over the Executive Branch. Jackson went ballistic in her dissent, which neither Sotomayor nor Kagan would join. Jackson accused her colleagues of blindly drifting toward a rule-of-kings governing system. She denounced the majority for enabling our collective demise. At the very least, I lament that the majority is so caught up in minutiae of the governments self-serving, finger-pointing arguments that it misses the plot. This is where Justice Amy Coney Barrett reached a breaking point, unleashing on Jackson in an opinion notably joined by her colleagues. Barrett noted that Jackson was describing a vision of the judicial role that would make even the most ardent defender of judicial supremacy blush. She added: We will not dwell on Justice Jacksons argument, which is at odds with more than two centuries worth of precedent, not to mention the Constitution itself. We observe only this: Justice Jackson decries an imperial executive while embracing an imperial judiciary. That is a slightly fancier way of describing Calvinball. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson has also been criticized for making dubious or sensational claims, as in her opinion supporting affirmative action in higher education. Jacksons jurisprudence is the very model of a judiciary untethered from constitutional or institutional restraints. Not surprisingly, she is lionized in law schools for her rejection of judicial restraint and her pursuit of progressive outcomes. Yet, her approach is becoming increasingly lawless. I truly believe that Jackson can leave a lasting legacy and bring an important voice to the court. However, this is one wonderful opportunity that Justice Jackson may want to let pass more often. Otherwise, she risks fulfilling that other lament from the cartoon Calvin: I find my life is a lot easier the lower I keep everyones expectations. Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage. 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. I recently attended a small Hill event on a beautiful day to remember a dark anniversary: Eleven years after the Islamic State began its genocide against Yezidis in Iraq, Yezidi speakers shared about their challenges and needs. Convened in a small room deep in the Capitol Visitors Center, Yezidis shared stories of courage and pain. But no members of Congress attended, nor did any senior administration officials. It was a troubling symbol for how policymakers have forgotten their plight, as well as a warning sign for decreasing interest from both Republicans and Democrats in the issue of religious persecution. In August 2014, in northern Iraq, a genocide began. ISIS slaughtered men and boys while enslaving and raping women and girls, all because they believed in something different. Eleven years later, the Yezidi community still struggles to recover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have been deeply involved with this community since my time in government, first at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and then later at the State Department in a special envoy role focusing on religious minorities in the Middle East during the Obama and Trump administrations. The Yezidi community has been clear on their needs for years: they want peace, to return to their homes to live in safety and dignity, to account for missing loved ones. But they need help. Unfortunately, thousands of Yezidis still live in squalid displaced person camps around northern Iraq, a glaring failure by the international community and the Iraqi government. Despite global recognition of the ISIS atrocities, efforts have fallen short to see Yezidis return in large numbers. But many Yezidis may not be ready to leave the relative security of the camps, due to fear of the Islamic State reemerging and Turkish airstrikes. And although efforts have been made to resolve the situation of Sinjar and other disputed areas, Yezidis have largely been excluded from discussions affecting their future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tragically, more than 2,500 Yezidi women and girls remain missing and unaccounted for. There are occasional good news reports of survivors finding their way home from Syria, but these reports are increasingly rare. Eleven years after the genocide, many Yezidis believe loved ones reside with their captors in the Al-Hol camp in eastern Syria. But time is running out to rescue children who are growing up and being indoctrinated. The U.S. and the international community can do more to help search for the missing, given the limited progress made so far. The Yezidis are surviving because thats what theyve had to do for thousands of years. But as one Yezidi youth, who now lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, said, the next generation deserves more than survival. Yezidis need Congress both chambers and both parties to remember their plight and provide resources. They need the Administration to revive efforts begun during the first term to help them survive through political support and reconstruction assistance. However, the no-shows at the event were not encouraging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yezidis are one of the most vulnerable religious minority communities in the entire Middle East. They face dangers similar to those of Christians and others like the Druze, who also need support. But Yezidis dont have broader networks to rally assistance. For more than a quarter century, since Congress passed the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the U.S. has been a global leader in promoting freedom of religion or belief internationally. We have placed this front and center while advancing our foreign policy, simultaneously grounded in values and our interests. Was it perfect? No, but it was good, and it was more than most other nations combined. However, in years past, their memorial events were well attended. I fear the lack of participation by Members and officials signals an overall decline in support for U.S. religious freedom promotion abroad. Since 2014, I have come to know the Yezidi people and consider many of them my friends. I have visited their holy city of Lalish and their American homes in Lincoln two global centers of Yezidi life. I have been continually impressed by their kind spirit, steadfastness in the face of impunity, and commitment to maintaining their way of life and beliefs. And they are brave and tough, but not indestructible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toward the end of the event, a community member said, Please remember the Yezidis. Will we? Will the U.S. remember them and the millions of other faiths suffering under oppressive systems that violate religious freedom? The persecuted people of the world are praying we dont forget. And that we find a way to act. Knox Thames served in a special envoy position during the Obama and Trump administrations focused on religious minorities in the Middle East and South/Central Asia. His book, Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom , was released in September by University of Notre Dame Press. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Lorenzo Oakes, an enrolled member of Saint Regis Mohawk and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs descendant picks blueberries and huckleberries on a camping trip he took while visiting his uncle. (Photo by Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America) This story originally appeared on Underscore Native News. In the shadow of Mt. Hood on the weekend of Aug. 8 to 10, a group of tents formed a circle underneath the towering trees of the Mt. Hood National Forest with sunlight shining down on the faces of campers laughing, as they ate a dinner of chicken and carnitas tacos. Indigenous campers, ranging in ages from teens to adults from Native Nations across the Pacific Northwest and the U.S. gathered to spend the weekend entirely in nature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parrott Creek Child and Family Services joined with Bark and Future Generations Collaborative to host their first camping trip for Indigenous people. The programming included cultural activities to teach traditional skills and nature-based activities to get people outside and connected with the land. A sign points the way to the campsite for Indigenous campers attending the Parrot Creek Child and Family Services and Bark camping trip. The trip which had 11 campers and four staff members, served as an opportunity to learn about ecology, beading, cordage making and basket weaving. (Photo by Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America) As the Trump administration rolls back funding and protection in National Parks and public lands, the ability to access these spaces is at risk. Parrott Creek Child and Family Services cultural ecology program manager, Ameyalli Manon-Ferguson, Osage and Mazahu, said the weekend was about trying to bring urban Natives into the mountains and create an easy and accessible plan to get them onto the land. Mt. Hood is such a sacred place to so many different communities and its really a great way to get people out on the land, especially those coming from the more urban areas like the Portland metro area, she said. In Portland theres so little access to natural areas and for Native people, theres so little culturally appropriate access to native areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Manon-Ferguson, Parrott Creek Child and Family Services consistently makes a conscious effort to include Indigenous peoples in their programming. Back in 2020, Clackamas county transferred ownership of 80 acres of land to Parrott Creeks private ownership. The administration of the nonprofit knew they wanted to do a land back effort, but they didnt know what it would look like. Together with a team of Indigenous ecologists from Friends of Tryon Creek, they decided to focus on restoring the land to be an ecologically and culturally functioning site for the community. All of our restoration practices and stewardship goals are ultimately for preserving the land for cultural use and then being able to bring out the wider community and our youth and kind of have it be a benefit for a lot of different marginalized groups, Manon-Ferguson said. But our stewardship goals are specific, so this camping trip is kind of just an extension of that effort to connect Native people with nature as much as possible. With the help of Bark, a nonprofit organization watchdog that monitors logging and timber sales in Mt. Hood and Future Generations Collaborative, a collective between Native serving and Native specific organizations, Manon-Ferguson and Parrott Creek Child and Family Services cultural ecology program coordinator Autumn Martinez began brainstorming ways to bring the camping trip to life. Outdoor recreation can be expensive and it can feel very exclusive, Manon-Ferguson said. If you didnt grow up knowing how to camp, hike, fish, etc. It can be really daunting to try to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From providing tents, sleeping bags and pads, camping chairs, lanterns, portable restrooms, lunch, dinner and gift cards to cover gas, Martinez and Manon-Ferguson wanted to make the trip as accessible as possible. We wanted to meet people where theyre at and provide them with the gear they need and guide them for success and really create a safe environment for them to recreate and learn new skills and connect, Martinez said. Throughout the weekend campers got to have a summer camp experience with Indigenous-led workshops on beading, weaving, cordage making, swimming in Timothy Lake, berry picking, hiking, and the option to go on a plant walk. They also had an optional beaver survey or groundtruthing survey they could participate in, which, according to BARK, is hiking timber sale land proposals, closely observing the forest and then calling attention to discrepancies between the ecological conditions and the Forest Services approach to managing the area. Meg Waller, Barks restoration program manager, was in charge of an optional beaver survey for the weekend and prepared most of the meals. As she combined ingredients together for Saturday nights dinner of bison chili and frybread, Waller said the partnership between Bark and Parrot Creek was natural. However, Waller said a majority of the people who come on Bark camping trips are volunteers and students who arent Indigenous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of our big priorities is accessibility and getting folks out onto Mount Hood. I think for a variety of reasons, we dont usually have very many Indigenous folks come out with us and so its definitely a priority of ours to reach out to that community more and be a resource, she said. Edwin Brown, Tlingit and Selawik, taught cordage or rope making to campers. Brown, an urban Native, said spaces like the camping trip are important for Natives who are struggling to learn about their culture. Ive been in tribal spaces that I was unfamiliar with where I did not feel very welcome, and I felt kind of looked down upon because I didnt know all the traditions, Brown said. Its really important when organizations do events like this, so that everyone feels welcomed into the community and can comfortably learn about culture. Having participated in several Parrot Creek sponsored events, Brown said the organization focuses on creating a safe environment for Indigenous people to find community, ask questions and learn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really appreciate Indigenous organizations, especially non profit ones, that give back to their communities and actively engage with them, he said. I really like spaces like this, because theyre very healing, and they remind you to be kind of open minded and welcoming to other people. As Max Oakes, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, relaxed in their camping chair, they reflected on the modern-day uses of Mt. Hood. A wildlife biologist for the tribe, Oakes said the camping trip was a way to bring people who have historically used the lands back. A lot of this area is so tied intrinsically to Warm Springs and our history. The pure number of non-tribal people who are enjoying public lands can make it difficult to access some of these areas, Oakes said. Paying fees for some of these areas, even just having the opportunity for people to get out here, whether its vehicle transport, is a huge deal. These are huge barriers for people who historically were able to move through here without facing any of those barriers. Oakes said the sense of the community at the camping trip was a way to heal and bond during times of uncertainty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill rescinded $267 million in previously committed funding for National Park improvements. It also required the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to increase timber sales. Mt. Hood, a national forest, is part of public lands and could see an increase in timber sales as a direct result of the bill. In efforts to dismiss DEI initiatives, he signed an executive order that suggested the previous Biden administration had pressured National Historical Park rangers into using their racial identities to dictate how they convey history to visiting Americans. Recently, there have been reports of notices that have been erected at every National Park Service site asking visitors to report signs or information that are negative about either past or living Americans or dont emphasize the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape. After the success of this years camping trip, Parrot Creek and Bark plan to have another camping trip next year although its uncertain when. This article first appeared on Underscore Native News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Content warning: This article contains information about alleged child sexual abuse material. Reader discretion is advised. Report CSAM to law enforcement by contacting the ICAC Tip Line at (801) 281-1211 or your local law enforcement agency. OREM, Utah (ABC4) An Orem man accused of possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has posted bond and is out of jail, documents say. He received multiple letters of support prior to his bail hearing. Richard Kirkland Mallard, 44, was charged on July 21, 2025, with nine counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a first-degree felony, and 32 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initially, Mallard was being held without bail. After a detention hearing on Aug. 10 that amended his bail order to $10,000 cash or bond and set rules for his release, Mallard posted bond on Aug. 14, 2025. While out on bond, Mallard must obey the following pretrial release conditions: The Defendant shall have a private GPS ankle monitor installed prior to release. The Defendant shall not leave the State of Utah without approval from the Court. The Defendant shall not have access to the Internet by any electronic means. The Defendant shall not possess or have access to any sexually stimulating materials. The Defendant shall not have contact with any individuals under the age of 18, with the exception of his own children. The Defendant shall stay away 50 feet from minors, and shall not enter private or public property where minors are known to frequent. The Defendant shall submit to a psychosexual evaluation and comply with recommended treatment. Prior to the Aug. 10 hearing, character letters were sent to the court. Read more about those letters and Mallards charges below. PREVIOUSLY: Orem man charged with 41 felonies for possessing, distributing CSAM online Letters of support Before Mallards detention hearing, the court received several letters of support from individuals in the community and people who knew Mallard. These letters came from friends, neighbors, and even the dean of one of the colleges at Brigham Young University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes also a deeply religious man we are both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the BYU college dean wrote. As far as I could tell he followed all the teachings of the Church, avoiding all alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, smoking, drugs, etc. I have no reason to believe he was not completely faithful to his wife In our interactions he was always honest, kind, and trustworthy. I was completely shocked by his arrest. Another letter shared with the court detailed a neighbor who often received support from Mallard. The neighbor said that he had a disability, and Mallard would frequently assist him with day-to-day tasks and help him during emergencies. One letter from a youth group leader read that Mallard had attended and helped out during a teenage girls camping trip. The youth leader stated that Mallard is a teacher and a rescuer and a helper. She also explained that Mallard had always obeyed youth protection rules, He has acted appropriately and has followed the policies set in place to protect the youth, she wrote. Other character letters from longtime friends and associates expressed shock at Mallards charges and reiterated that they did not believe the actions he is accused of were in line with his character. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A letter from a medical professional also cited some personal health issues that could be better treated outside of the jail, which may have contributed to Mallard being granted bond. Provo therapist arrested for voyeurism, police encourage additional victims to come forward What is Mallard accused of? According to documents, on May 1, 2025, detectives with the Orem Police Department received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Kik, a messenger app, reported to law enforcement that a user was allegedly in possession of CSAM, and provided an email address and phone number that were connected to the account. Police obtained a search warrant for the email account and discovered that the user had links to graphic sexual stories and videos in his inbox and outbox. Using the email address and phone number, detectives connected the account to Mallard. Search warrants returned from Kik revealed that he had been messaging various users to obtain CSAM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mallard not only requested, but also distributed CSAM files, according to documents. Some videos were so graphic that detectives had to mute the files while reviewing what CSAM Mallard allegedly possessed. Documents say most of the files included prepubescent or very young children. 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 Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) arrested a 25-year-old man on August 21 in connection with a hit-and-run that happened the day before at State Road 408 and Hiawassee Road. Quan Minh Nguyen, who was driving a white Honda during the crash, was charged with hit and run, resisting an officer without violence and tampering with evidence. The incident caused damage to a Tesla Model 3, visible on the map below at the crash site. The Brief Deputy Jeffrey Curtis II of Osceola County is under criminal investigation for unauthorized access to computer systems. He surrendered to authorities after a warrant was issued and is being held on $1,000 bond. Sheriff Blackmon said the incident violated trust and agency protocols. KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Osceola County Sheriffs Office has launched a criminal investigation into a deputy after an internal affairs review found he accessed computer systems without authorization. What we know The Osceola County Sheriffs Office said it is investigating Deputy Jeffrey Alan Curtis II, 25, after an internal affairs review found he accessed computer systems without authorization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Curtis, who has worked with the sheriffs office since October 2020 and was assigned to veteran outreach services, allegedly accessed electronic databases on September 4, 2022, for information unrelated to his official duties. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP Authorities say his actions violated agency protocols and Florida law. Curtis was placed on administrative leave on August 15, 2025. A warrant for his arrest was issued on August 20, and he turned himself in at the Osceola County Jail on August 22, with his bond set at $1,000. What we don't know It remains unclear exactly what information Curtis accessed and how he intended to use it. Authorities have not confirmed whether any sensitive or confidential data was compromised, and it is unknown if other individuals may have been affected by the breach. The backstory Curtis has been with the Osceola County Sheriffs Office for nearly five years and worked in veteran outreach services, a role generally focused on assisting veterans rather than conducting investigative work. The alleged misconduct was discovered through an internal affairs review, which prompted the ongoing criminal investigation. What they're saying Sheriff Christopher A. Blackmon said in a statement sent to FOX 35 News, "Our badge represents profound trust. Unfortunately, a member of our agency has violated that trust and failed both the Sheriffs Office and our community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that if any criminal activity is discovered within the Osceola County Sheriffs Office, the agency would take "prompt action." SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. MAPLE BLUFF - Protesters gathered outside the governor's mansion to call on Gov. Tony Evers to do more to fulfill his campaign promises of decreasing the prison population. The group of more than 50 people gathered on Aug. 23, carrying signs and listening to a lineup of advocates speak about their experiences with the Wisconsin correctional system and call on Evers during the final months of his term as governor to make good on the promises he made. The prison reform advocacy group WISDOM hosted the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what you should know about the demonstration: Group calls for action from Tony Evers on prison population, revocation Speakers turned to face the mansion during the event, hoping that Evers was listening to their words. It was unknown if Evers was in the residence. Mark Rice, the coordinator of the transformational justice campaign for the advocacy group WISDOM, pointed to Evers' campaign promise to reduce the prison population by half, which has not happened. "The inaction of Governor Evers to move forward some of his campaign promises is not acceptable," Rice said in an interview. "Now that he announced he's not going to be running again, we really need Governor Evers to step up and start moving forward with decarceration policies in the state. He has a lot of power to move that forward." Mark Rice, the coordinator of the Wisconsin Transformational Justice Campaign at WISDOM, speaks at a protest outside the governor's mansion on Aug. 23, 2025. He also expressed disappointment that so many people are placed back into prison after release due to revocation. Sometimes people violate a rule of probation or are accused of a new crime after their release, and they are again placed in prison, without consideration that they need access to better mental health or addiction treatment instead of prison time, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's another area Governor Evers promised to work with us, to reduce the use of incarceration for convictionless rule violations," Rice said. "That's entirely under the discretion of the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Corrections is managed by Governor Evers." Formerly incarcerated advocates share their stories Those with experience in the prison system shared their experiences inside the prisons. Bobby Ayala, of Racine, was a child when he was sentenced to 60 years as an adult. He was eventually released from prison in 2020 on parole. He called for Evers and the DOC to take a look at those who were sentenced as children, and give them a chance for release from prison if they qualify. "I know many guys that need that opportunity, juvenile lifers that are stuck, have grown up, have changed who they are and are positive people in there," he said. "I'm asking from the depth of my heart, with compassion and respect, please give juvenile lifers the opportunity to appear before your parole board." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JenAnn Bauer, of West Bend, was released from prison in 2018 at the age of 51 and found herself homeless. "Today at 57, I'm still surviving what came after. I've had eight community corrections agents, and zero offering resources," she said. "There is no release valve, there's no good time, only surveillance, and proving my worth by paying taxes, without a voice at the ballot box and a constant fear that my freedom could be ripped away." Daughter of Dean Hoffman pleads for more action from state Megan Hoffman Kolb, the daughter of Dean Hoffman, who died by suicide at Waupun Correctional Institution in 2023 after struggling with his mental health and not receiving access to medications. Hoffman Kolb said her dad had asked correctional officers for help and reported being suicidal, but no action was taken to save him. Megan Hoffman Kolb speaks at a protest held outside the governor's mansion on Aug. 23, 2025 for prison reform. She is the daughter of Dean Hoffman, who died by suicide at Waupun Correctional Institution in 2023 after struggling with his mental health and not receiving access to medications. "He wrote to us shortly before, saying, 'I may deserve to be punished, but I don't deserve this. It's bad in here, it's really bad,'" she said. "My dad's death was not inevitable. It was preventable. He needed treatment, he needed compassion and instead, he was neglected, ignored and left to die in a system that prioritizes punishment over people's lives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said Evers and the Legislature have known about the conditions inside Wisconsin prisons like Waupun and Green Bay Correctional Institutions for years, yet have done nothing. "For years they have known the prisons are overcrowded, unsafe and understaffed, and yet they continue to move too slowly," she said. "Every day they delay, families like mine lose someone they love." Lawmakers move forward plan to potentially close one embattled prison Though advocates criticized the governor and lawmakers, there have been recent steps to rework the struggling prison system. In July, Evers signed into law the 2025-2027 budget, which provided $15 million to start the planning process to close the ailing Green Bay prison and update the Waupun prison. The funding will not be used to build a new facility, move any incarcerated individuals, but simply be used to start the planning process for an overhaul of the state's oldest prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally, Evers proposed to close Green Bay in his budget proposal, but it was routed by the Republican-led Legislature. In addition to the funding for planning, Evers also vetoed a Republican-authored bill that would have increased the number of people who went to prison after having their probation revoked. Spokespeople for Evers did not immediately respond for comment. But even with the approval of money for planning a new future for the prison system, several other bills aimed at improving prison conditions have failed after being introduced by Democratic lawmakers. During the last session, Democrats introduced a package of bills that would have required recreation time, a set number of showers a week, and other improvements for those who are incarcerated. Republicans in charge of the Legislature didn't give the bills hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Prison reform advocates protest outside Tony Evers governor's mansion Two winning $1 million lottery tickets were claimed on Friday, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery. One of the prizes came from the $4,000,000 Bonus Loot, scratch ticket, which was purchased at Norwell Mobil Mart in Norwell. The $10 game was released on Sept. 10, 2024. Only one grand prize has been claimed, leaving two remaining. The second $1 million prize claimed on Friday was from a $5 game called $1,000,000 Winning 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winning ticket was bought at Monson Woodbine Country Street in Monson. This particular game began on Aug. 2, 2022, and is no longer for sale. The last day to redeem a prize is May 29, 2026. Overall, at least 621 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Friday, including 13 in Springfield, 17 in Worcester and 65 in Boston. The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600. The two largest lottery prizes won so far in 2025 were each worth $15 million. One of the prizes was from a winning Diamond Deluxe scratch ticket sold in Holyoke, and the other was from a 300X scratch ticket sold on Cape Cod. Massachusetts State Lottery Read the original article on MassLive. Following an FIR against him over an 'objectionable' post on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday affirmed that he is "not scared" of any FIR. He asked if saying the word "jumla" has become a crime and alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fearing the truth. Speaking to reporters in Katihar, Yadav said, "Who is scared of an FIR? Saying the word 'jumla' has also become a crime... They fear the truth... We are not scared of any FIR and we speak the truth..." An FIR was registered against RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli over an alleged objectionable post and defamatory content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the social media platform X. Milind Ramji Narote, a BJP MLA from Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, had filed a complaint against Tejashwi Yadav on Friday. The FIR has been registered at Gadchiroli Police Station under 196(1)(a)(b), 356(2)(3), 352, 353(2) sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the FIR copy, the alleged objectionable posts were made against Prime Minister Modi's visit to Gaya Ji district of Bihar on Friday, where he had inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth Rs 13000 crores for the state. Prime Minister Modi flagged off two trains - the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi, which will enhance passenger convenience with modern facilities, comfort, and safety, and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma, which will boost tourism and religious travel across key Buddhist sites in the region. Prime Minister Modi, during a rally in Gaya Ji, launched an attack on the "corrupt" Opposition and criticised the rule of previous governments of the RJD and the Congress in the State. The Prime Minister took a swipe at the RJD's governance in Bihar as "an era of darkness." "Remember the condition here during the rule of lantern (RJD). This region was in the clutches of red terror. Cities like Gaya Ji were in darkness during the rule of 'lantern' (RJD)... They had pushed the entire state into darkness. There was no education or employment. So many generations were forced to migrate. RJD considers the people of Bihar only as their vote bank. They want nothing to do with their life, sorrows, or respect." Notably, the assembly elections in Bihar are expected to take place between October and November; however, the dates for the polls have not been announced yet. (ANI) OSWEGO, Ill. (WGN) The parents of a two-year-old killed in a tragic accident last July at the Portillos in Oswego have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the restaurant chain. While Schyler and Christina McKee say they cant bring their baby boy back, theyre hopeful the steps taken legally will lead to saving lives. You dont go out somewhere expecting not to come home with your two-year-old, Christina McKee said Friday. Nobody should go through that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police investigation continues after car crashes into Oswego Portillos, killing 2-year-old boy inside restaurant Photo courtesy of WGNs Courtney Spinelli Photo courtesy of WGNs Courtney Spinelli Photo courtesy of WGNs Courtney Spinelli Photo courtesy of WGNs Courtney Spinelli The parents spoke out publicly for the first time on Friday, Aug. 22, since the July 30 accident at the Oswego Portillos, where a car crashed through the front of the restaurant, claiming the life of the couples two-year-old son Finnegan. Christina McKee says nothing can ever take her sons place, but she holds onto a teddy bear as a representation of him. He was the best big brother, she said. He loved to help in the kitchen. He was just the most special boy. Photo of 2-year-Finnegan, pictured with his back to the camera in blue. (Photo/Provided) The couples public statements come after they filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Portillos. Attorney Louis Cairo is representing the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An incident like this should never happen, Cairo said. The shame of it all is that it was 100 percent foreseeable for Portillos and it was 100 percent preventable. The lawsuit claims that the Oswego Portillos parking lot positions some cars to park facing directly in front of the glass entrance. Attorneys say if safety barriers used to slow vehicles down, such as parking stops, bumpers, fencing, bollards, or walls, were in place at or near the entrance, Finnegan may still be alive. Ironically, pictures from the restaurant show safety bollards in the drive-thru and parking stops in handicap spaces on the side of the building. Legislation to protect others is the hope behind the lawsuit. At any entrance way where people are residing in these establishments, they need to have something that protects people who are in those establishments, Schyler McKee said. Picture shows safety bollards positioned in Portillos drive-thru (Photo/Provided) Protective measures have been put in place, lawyers say, after the July 30 incident at the Portillos in Oswego. (Photo/Provided) According to suits filed in 2014 and 2023, pedestrians were injured in similar incidents involving vehicles crashing into the Portillos locations in Downers Grove and New Lenox, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They knew about those as well, so we want to hold Portillos responsible because thats exactly why safety barriers exist for when drivers do make mistakes, said attorney Allison Dolan. Oswego police say charges against the driver have not been filed, and no citations have been issued. The department added that their investigation will likely wrap up next week and then be handed off to the Kendall County States Attorneys Office. WGN-TV reached out to Portillos for comment and has not yet heard back. As they cope and seek justice, the McKees look toward the future, eagerly awaiting change. Christina and Schyler McKee (Photo/WGN) We want everybody else to be able to go home with their families while they are out, Christina McKee 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 WGN-TV. Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted in 1996 for murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, were denied parole this week in California despite a wave of public sympathy fueled by documentaries, dramatizations and social media campaigns that cast new light on their case. The brothers, now in their mid-50s, were resentenced in 2023 to terms of 50 years to life, making them newly eligible for parole. Their hearings came just months after a surge of renewed attention: Netflixs Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story topped global charts in 2024, while a companion documentary featuring the brothers own voices drew millions of viewers. TikTok clips, podcasts, and celebrity advocates, including Kim Kardashian, helped reframe their story for younger audiences, highlighting claims of childhood abuse and trauma that were largely overshadowed during their sensationalized trials of the 1990s. But inside the parole room, pop culture had no weight. Erik was denied for what commissioners called ongoing rule-breaking and unresolved risk, including contraband possession and inconsistent accounts of remorse. Lyle, who showed more rehabilitative progress, was nonetheless found to lack full accountability. Both were deemed a moderate risk to public safety, leaving them ineligible for release for at least 18 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outcome underscores the limits of celebrity and streaming influence in real-world justice. While the Menendez case has become a touchstone in the true-crime genre spawning viral debates about abuse, privilege and punishment, the parole boards decision rested on prison records and behavioral assessments, not public opinion. For now, the brothers remain behind bars at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, their next shot at freedom again years away, no matter how brightly the spotlight outside shines. The post Parole board unmoved by Menendez brothers media resurgence appeared first on Salon.com. In 1972, only Nixon could go to China. In 2025, only Trump could go to Budapest. Fifty-three years ago, the United States was still the leader of the free world the indispensable nation. Now, American democracy is collapsing. President Donald Trump, the American right and the MAGA movement have put themselves in the orbit of Vladimir Putins Russia, Viktor Orbans Hungary and other authoritarian regimes. We have truly stepped through the looking glass into an upside-down world and inverted reality. Or more precisely, we have been pushed through it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, POLITICO reported that Trump is preparing to travel to Budapest to host a trilateral peace summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to open negotiations with an eye toward ending the war. The Secret Service is already planning for Trumps attendance in the capital of Prime Minister Orbans authoritarian state. But as POLITICO noted, its unclear whether the summit will actually happen. Trump and Putins Alaska summit on Aug. 15 was followed by a meeting on Monday at the White House between Trump, Zelenskyy and a group of European leaders. After Trump announced on social media he would join Zelenskyy and Putin for a summit, Russians began to slow walk any such encounter between the two adversaries. In comments released ahead of his interview on this Sundays Meet the Press and reported by the New York Times, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov cast doubt on the idea. There is no meeting planned, he said. And this agenda is not ready at all. When asked about a meeting in Budapest, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to confirm or deny locations. The role of place has great symbolic power in politics and Budapest is not neutral ground. It is home base for the type of competitive authoritarianism, if not naked fascism, that Trump and his MAGA forces are quickly imposing on the United States. There would also be the dark irony of holding such a peace summit in the Hungarian capital. It was the Budapest Memorandum, signed by the U.S., U.K., Russia and Ukraine in 1994, that guaranteed Ukraines borders and territorial integrity in exchange for their surrendering to Russia what was then the third-largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world, said Thom Hartmann, author of The Last American President: A Broken Man, a Corrupt Party, and a World on the Brink, and a political analyst. If Russia hadnt criminally breached that agreement, no second meeting in Budapest would [now] be necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Alaska, Trump welcomed Putin as a friend instead of as the leader of a war of aggression against an American ally. Trump appears to be playing the role of handmaiden, handing Ukraine over to Russia piecemeal and surrendering to Putins other demands. Writing in the Guardian on Aug. 13 ahead of the Alaska meeting, Rafael Behr of the Guardian successfully predicted what would happen: [Putin] has no intention of ending the war just because the White House demands it, but he knows he must pretend to want peace. And he knows his best hope of defeating Ukraine is to manipulate Trump into bullying Kyiv towards capitulation, while imagining that his own humiliation at Kremlin hands is some kind of personal victory. Hovering over Trumps potential summit with Zelenskyy and Putin is how he views dictators, autocrats and other enemies of democracy as role models and aspirational figures. The strongman Trump admires the most is Vladimir Putin, someone he seems in awe of, political scientist Barbara Walter said. No American president has ever given so much legitimacy to one of the worlds most ruthless leaders. Walter characterized Trumps behavior toward Putin as authoritarian learning. She explained, Leaders determined to stay in power watch each other closely, copying how someone was able to systematically dismantle democratic institutions with little pushback. Russias foreign agent laws were replicated in Egypt and Hungary. Turkeys behind-the-scenes capture of its courts became a model for others. Trump has absorbed these lessons. His push to reinstate Schedule F to purge civil servants, his politicization of the Justice Department, his constant attacks on journalists are strategies he has borrowed from his authoritarian friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Susan Stokes, a political science professor at the University of Chicago and faculty chair of the Chicago Center on Democracy, agreed. Autocratic elected leaders know and admire each other, and their mutual admiration undergirds their networks and informal alliances. The very idea of using high office to subvert democracy often comes, in part at least, from abroad. Some political observers have speculated that Trumps potential Budapest summit is intended to serve as a distraction from the Epstein scandal. Others believe the president will meet with Putin and Zelenskyy to fulfill his fantasy of being seen as a great dealmaker, a wartime leader of sorts and perhaps even a Nobel Peace Prize winner. There is also a theory that Trumps potential meeting in Budapest is a ploy to boost his anemic support among the American people, which currently stands at 40%. But any speculation is secondary to how Trumps proposed Budapest meeting is the latest of many examples of his abandonment of American and Western democracy. It would be an error to conclude that Trumps potential meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy in Budapest is some type of surprise move. In reality, such a meeting would be the result of a much larger, years-long plan toward advancing the Orbanization of America. 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. As the Atlantics Anne Applebaum explained in March, Orban plays an outsize role in American politics on the right. Trump and his MAGA allies are obsessed with importing the Hungarian model to the U.S. Applebaum pointed to a telling series of conservative events and statements by MAGA leaders and thinkers, including the decision of the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) to allow a pro-Orban think tank to host their conference in Budapest in May 2022, and the prime ministers reciprocal speech three months later at a CPAC meeting in Dallas. In 2024, Orban met with Trump several times. Last year, at the third edition of CPAC Hungary, a Republican congressman described the country as one of the most successful models as a leader for conservative principles and governance Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation has also described modern Hungary not just as a model for modern statecraft, but the model. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If successfully implemented, the Orbanization of America would chill civil rights and liberties, muzzle the press, erode free and fair elections and impose full-on White Christian authoritarian rule. It would mean blood-and-soil nationalism, with nonwhites, Muslims, migrants and immigrants cast as poison in the blood of the nation all under the rule of Trump and his MAGA successors as de facto dictators. Hartmann put it this way: Whats even more astonishing is how the conservative movement in America I grew up in it, went door-to-door with my dad for Barry Goldwater in 1964 is going along with Trumps rapid efforts to convert America into a fascist state and prevent Democrats from regaining federal power where they may hold him and his toadies accountable the way America sent Nixons Attorney General, White House lawyer, and others to prison for their corruption. Troops in our streets are the exact thing I remember John Birchers and Republicans freaking out about back in the day; now it appears theyre just fine with the tyranny they previously warned against and claimed we all needed to fight back against by any means necessary. Such a political vision would not be viable if there were not many millions of Americans who have been primed to welcome it. The right-wing propaganda and experience machine has been preparing the way by training MAGA supporters, American conservatives and the larger right-wing to idolize authoritarianism. Research by PRRI shows that a majority of Republicans and white right-wing Christians the base of Trumps MAGA movement are authoritarians who reject multiracial pluralistic democracy. Konstantin Sonin, a Russian economist who serves as the John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, said he doubted a Budapest summit would happen. Even if President Zelenskyy and Putin try to meet, he explained, it will not be in Budapest, which is not an appropriate place in any sense. If they meet, it will be either Istanbul, Zurich or Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of the location, Sonin cast doubt on such a meeting happening at all. Ukraine and Russia are too far apart at this moment and will be until the situation on the battlefield or inside one of the countries changes dramatically, which is not a real-world prospect. The sticking point is not the language in some documents, but the simple fact that Putin will never agree [to] any kind of real security guarantees for Ukraineif (when) Russia attacks again. And Ukraine cannot stop fighting unless there is something like these guarantees, otherwise Putin will attack again. Sonin also offered a mixed view on Orbans success in Hungary. Outside the United States and the old West, every strong elected leader tries hard to dismantle institutions, he said. This was true 100 years ago. It is true now. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Hungary was not the most likely to collapse but it has never been a given that it would not. (In fact, it is not yet clear that it collapsed of course, Orban is a corrupt machinator, but it does seem that he was voted in competitive and free elections [and] also that he will be voted out next year.) Orban was patient and disciplined in his years-long autocratic capture of Hungarys government and society. He has now been prime minister for 15 years. By contrast, Trump and his MAGA forces are using a blitzkrieg approach to devastate Americas democracy and society. Trump has needed only seven months. Each day, his autocratic power and dictatorial aspirations continue to grow. The question now is whether Trumps blitzkrieg will translate into a lasting MAGA authoritarian political order. The post Peace talks in Budapest? Beware of Trumps ulterior motive appeared first on Salon.com. The restoration of peatlands on Exmoor is helping it remain a stronghold for several important bird species, a report has said. The Moorland Bird report by the Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) has identified population increases for the grasshopper warbler, the reed bunting, the whinchat and the snipe, which oppose trends of national decline. The report is based on an extensive survey conducted in the spring and summer of 2024 which covered 17,000 hectares of Exmoor's moorland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ENPA lead moorland bird survey officer, Joan Castello, said: "Although many of the target species of this survey are declining in the UK, we found that many of those species are still doing quite well in Exmoor." The full results of the survey have now been collated and released, along with a complete bird map for moorland landowners and a free pocket guide for enthusiasts which can be picked up at any of Exmoor's three national park centres. The survey recorded more than 35,000 bird species across the national park and the data provides the park authority with a picture of both how bird species are faring and the condition of the moorland itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whinchat is identified as a "really positive story" due to the numbers countering the trend of the species which is "declining heavily in most parts of the UK", Mr Castello said. It is believed the work of the South West Peatland Partnership to restore peatland across Exmoor has helped the recovery of the grasshopper warbler, the reed bunting and the snipe, which the report said have "responded very well" to the improvements made. The increase in snipe was also identified as being "really important" due to the declining numbers of wading birds which are still breeding on Exmoor, Mr Castello added. The whinchat is often found in habitats where gorse bushes grow [Tom Raven] The environmental data collected from the survey is being used to make recommendations to land owners on how they can more effectively manage their land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Castello attributed part of the reason for decline in some species to agricultural intensification, including the use of pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. He recognised that land management on national parks is "not an easy task" but suggested farmers "try to keep a balance of habitats and avoid one habitat dominating over the rest". Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Related internet links GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) Mesa County Public Health held a mini press conference on Friday at the Primary Care Partners facility to talk about MMR vaccine recommendations and how parents can work with their childs health care provider to make sure kids are protected. There are still two confirmed measles cases right here in Mesa County. Doctors have started to give vaccines to children routinely at the age of one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Western Colorado Pediatrics, they will give another booster at age five for kids before kindergarten and after two doses, kids get an immunity of around 97%. The vaccine works so well. If youre exposed to measles within 72 hours and you get the vaccine, theres a good chance it will prevent measles or make the measles much more mild so you dont get that sick from it, Dr. Mike Whistler, a pediatrician with Western Colorado Pediatrics, said. Mesa County Public Health officials say that the local outbreak is not a concern due to the fast response and effective clinic prevention. Officials from Primary Care Partners tell WesternSlopeNow you can park in one of these two particular spaces just right outside the facility. In case you feel like you possibly might have symptoms or have been exposed, you can get checked at a nearby tent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, you can find it on Mesa County Public Healths 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 WesternSlopeNow.com. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired two more senior military officials, relieving the heads of the Navy Reserve and Naval Special Warfare Command of their positions. A Navy official confirmed the firings to Task & Purpose. Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, and Rear Adm. Milton Jamie Sands III, head of Naval Special Warfare Command, had each been in their leadership roles for a year. USNI News first reported on their removals. No reason for the firings was given by the Navy official. They were the latest in a string of high-profile firings in the Department of Defense on Aug. 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lacore joined the Navy in 1990 and became a naval aviator, piloting helicopters with Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons Three and Eight, before moving to staff positions. She became Chief of Navy Reserve on Aug. 23, 2024. Sands entered the Navy in 1992. A Navy SEAL, he has deployed to the war in Afghanistan. He had been in charge of Naval Special Warfare Command since Aug. 2, 2024. Their firing comes the same day that Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Kruse was dismissed for a loss of confidence, the Washington Post first reported, the usual term used by the military to cover a variety of reasons for a relief of command. The Department of Defenses official comment was a terse statement that Kruse will no longer serve as DIA Director. Kruse was the second senior Air Force general to be fired or announce they were leaving their post this week; Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin announced he would retire, although several outlets reported he was being forced out. Top Stories This Week News Marines investigating social media post that appears to mock potential recruit By Jeff Schogol News 4,500 Marines and sailors deploy to Caribbean for anti-cartel mission By Nicholas Slayton News Marines outwitted an AI security camera by hiding in a cardboard box and pretending to be trees By Max Hauptman Along with Allvin and the firings this week, several top military officers were removed from their positions once the Trump administration began. In February, Trump and Hegseth fired several of the top military leaders, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Charles CQ Brown Jr., Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, and the Air Forces second in command, Gen. James Slife. Additional firings since have included the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the head of U.S. Cyber Command. The chief of naval operations position sat vacant for almost half a year until Adm. Daryl Caudle was confirmed by the Senate at the end of July. It is not immediately clear who will take over for Lacore or Sands. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has fired the Pentagon's intelligence agency chief, just weeks after a White House rebuke of a review assessing the impact of American strikes on Iran. Lt Gen Jeffery Kruse will no longer serve as head of US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Pentagon said in a statement. Two other senior military commanders have also been ousted by the Pentagon. The defence department has not offered any immediate explanation on the firings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, President Donald Trump had pushed back strongly on a leaked DIA report that found that attacks on Iran had set back its nuclear programme by months only. The White House declared the agency's assessment "flat out wrong". Trump had declared the nuclear sites in Iran "completely destroyed", and had accused the media of "an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history". Speaking at the Nato summit at the time, Hegseth had said that the report was made on "low intelligence" and that the FBI was probing the leak. Kruse's exit was first reported by the Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DIA is part of the Pentagon and specialises in military intelligence to support operations. It collects large amounts of technical intelligence, but is distinct from other agencies like the CIA. It is understood that Hegseth had also ordered the removal of the chief of US Naval reserves and the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, an anonymous source told Reuters on Friday. In a statement, US Senator Mark Warner warned that Kruse's sacking was a sign that Trump had a "dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country". Trump has removed a number of officials whose analysis have been seen to be at odds with the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, Trump said that he had ordered his team to dismiss Commissioner of Labor Statistics Erika McEntarfer "immediately", after a report showed that job growth had slowed. And in April, Trump fired General Timothy Haugh as director of the National Security Agency, along with more than a dozen staff at the White House national security council. Hegseth has also pushed out a number of military officials at the Pentagon. In February, he fired Air Force General C Q Brown, who was dismissed along with five other admirals and generals. It's no secret that our efforts to save the planet from the excesses of global trade are failing spectacularly. Our bodies are riddled with manmade compounds, cities are routinely enveloped by massive clouds of noxious smoke, and glaciers are melting faster than ever before. Indeed, in 2025, not even the remote ice shelves of Antarctica are safe from humanity's garbage. At the same time as the Earth struggles to hold the weight of all our garbage, a concerning trend is emerging: the number of people under 50 being diagnosed with cancer is increasing throughout the world. This trend is especially pronounced in lung cancer far and away the deadliest form of cancer which is growing at an alarming rate among nonsmokers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent reporting on this concerning trend by The Canadian Press noted that nearly a quarter of lung cancer patients in Canada are nonsmokers. That number has been trending upward for nearly a decade, and could be higher, as lung cancer screenings typically target smokers, leaving nonsmokers out of the loop on early detection. "For me to get a cancer diagnosis was a big shock. And then to have a lung cancer diagnosis was very puzzling for me," Katie Hulan, a 37-year-old tech worker told the news agency. Although Hulan doesn't smoke, she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in late 2020. Her story is emblematic of another concerning trend: the fact that more nonsmoking women are developing lung cancer than men, and that researchers don't know why. "More women will die of lung cancer than will die of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer combined," Dr Rosalyn Juergens, a medical oncologist at McMaster University, told The Canadian Press. "One in five of them will be people who have never touched a cigarette a day in their lives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Canada, radon exposure invisible gas emanating from the soil is the number one cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Radon exposure is expected to increase drastically in the coming years, as permafrost across the great white north melts under ever-rising global temperatures, releasing the radioactive gas into the air. When that happens, studies show that society's poorest are at high risk, owing to the high cost of radon testing, not to mention abatement when it is found. In the rest of the world, particulate matter from air pollution is being increasingly linked to the growing number of nonsmoking lung cancer patients. A recent feature by the New York Times investigated the horrifying effects of wildfire smoke on firefighting crews. They face a grim yet systemic health crisis that leaves men in their 20s and 30s with diseases like Hodgkin lymphoma, small-cell carcinoma, and lung cancer. Downwind, that kind of smoke can have severe effects on larger populations, heightening cancer risk, exacerbating respiratory diseases, and in the case of long-term exposure, increasing overall mortality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The startling numbers are an urgent reminder that cancer is first and foremost a result of a person's environment and across the globe, that environment is deteriorating fast. More on pollution: AI Linked to Growing Cancer Risk PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) The Peoria City Council is considering a measure that would create a 1% sales tax that would pertain to stores such as Target and Lowes within the Glen Hollow Shopping Center. The measure would create the Glen Hollow Business Development District and business development plan. The owners of the property requested the measure to redevelop existing properties, meet the needs of commercial retail tenants, and acquire vacant spaces, according to the council packet. State law requires a public hearing before the council can approve such a measure. The agenda item for Tuesday nights meeting calls for the council to set a Sept. 23 public hearing, which would be held at City Hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that hearing, the public could hear about the reasoning behind the proposal as well as studies that were done to see if it was viable. City Manager Patrick Urich said the money would go for both public and capital improvement projects. Public improvements are things like streets, while capital would be the buildings that house the buildings, he said. We are expanding our financial toolkit to support property owners to meet the demand of todays retail needs, he said. A Business Development District will assist with building renovations, public infrastructure and any developer financing costs. The District is subject to City Council approval. Such a device is used fairly commonly in Illinois, both near and far. Ty Livingston in East Peorias Economic Development department and he said East Peoria has three of them that include areas around Costco, the Levee District and Bass Pro Shop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other communities have used it and it really has a lot of flexibility, Livingston said of the city using the economic development tool. Andre Allen, who represents the city of Peorias 4th District on the city council, said the city realizes that economic incentives must be provided, at times, to keep and grow retail space within the city limits. Unfortunately, we saw what happened with Best Buy leaving and as we field requests for it, whether it is big box stores or multi-use purpose, we want to have an incentive to make it more enticing and get them to pull the trigger, he said. People, he said, should be able to go to local shopping centers and try on things. The city, Allen said, is trying to make sure that continues to be the case within Peoria and also for stores that are highly sought after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. One person was killed by a trailer fire at a homeless encampment in Vermont Square on Saturday morning, authorities confirmed. The blaze was reported around 5:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department, in the 4600 block of South Western Avenue. Crews arrived quickly and found a trailer completely engulfed in flames at what they determined to be a homeless encampment. Details of the fire battle were not initially provided, but, upon extinguishing the blaze, LAFD found remains of one person within the trailer. The victims identity was not revealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other injuries were reported, and LAFD said the persons cause of death and the cause of the fire remain the focus of an active investigation. Registered sex offender arrested again for sniffing womens rear ends in Burbank This fire was unrelated to the five lightning fires that ignited in the Angeles Forest and in Orange County on Saturday morning. Sofia Pop Perez 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 KTLA. Eight people died on Saturday morning in a road accident on the Daniyawan-Hilsa road in Shahjahanpur police station area under Daniyawan block, Bihar. All the victims were residents of Reddy Malama village under Hilsa police station in Nalanda district. They were on their way to Fatuha for a holy dip in the Ganga at Triveni Sangam, the police informed. According to the District Magistrate of Patna, the accident occurred around 6:45 AM due to a collision between an auto-rickshaw and a heavy vehicle (Hyva). Eight people lost their lives in the accident, and the injured are seeking treatment at Patna Medical College Hospital. The District Magistrate (DM) said that as soon as information about the incident was received, local police, traffic officials, and ambulances were immediately sent to the scene of the accident. As per the reports, five people were injured in the accident and have been admitted to PMCH (Patna Medical College Hospital) for treatment. He also added that the Civil Surgeon is in constant touch with the hospital superintendent to ensure proper medical care for the injured. The District Magistrate expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and added that the administration is working to provide every possible help to the victims and their families. Teams from the local administration, police station, and traffic police were present at the site, taking all necessary steps to assist the injured and the victims' families. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Fatuha-1, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Patna City, and the Rural Superintendent of Police were also present on the spot, overseeing the rescue operations and ensuring all required actions are taken promptly. The Daniyawan Circle Officer has been instructed to follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and act swiftly as per protocol. All officials have been directed to coordinate effectively and work rapidly to support the affected families. The Rural SP has also been asked to supervise the overall security arrangements at the location. (ANI) ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. (KRQE) The most popular lake in the state is currently nearly empty, and a local group is demanding that the state take action to save it. Elephant Butte Lake is sitting at just over three percent of its full capacity. Officials state that there has never been a time when the lake was completely empty, but if conditions do not change soon, that could become a reality. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earl Greer, president of the Elephant Butte Chamber of Commerce, shared that this is the lowest the lake has been in years. We always pray for at least 400 inches of snowpack in the areas that feed our lake, and they didnt get that this year, he said. He went on to state the economic importance of Elephant Butte, saying it generates millions of dollars each year not only for the city but for the entire state. You look at Memorial Day weekend, I believe we had 60,000 people here. And then you look at Fourth of July weekend, well have 100,000 to 150,000 here. And then you look at Labor Day weekend, well have somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 here. A new petition is calling on the governor and state lawmakers to divert some of the water currently sent to other reservoirs in the state to Elephant Butte to establish a permanent water pool. I mean, the lake full is 2.2 million acre feet, so about 110,000 acre feet would be somewhere in the neighborhood of about 5%, said Greer. The lake has an impact on farmers, the environment, and wildlife. Additionally, Elephant Butte stores and releases water for the Rio Grande Compact in New Mexico. All were talking about is setting up a situation whereby different entities can store their water down here, as opposed to storing it in other places that, quite frankly, dont have the environmental impact that this one does, and certainly doesnt have the economic impact for the state of New Mexico, for state parks anyway, that this one has as well, said Greer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their hope is that this petition will spark a conversation for change. Water is the lifeblood for our state. This time last year, Elephant Butte was 8.6 percent full. For more information on the petition, you can follow the link here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) The Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands hosted the second annual Paddles Up for Veterans Dragon Boat Race on Saturday at Winged Deer Park. Proceeds from Paddles Up for Veterans will sponsor an Honor Flight trip for veterans to Washington, DC, to visit memorials. The three-day trip is completely free for veterans, as the chapter pays for food, hotel and bus seat charges. ETSU unveils bronze Bucky statue in celebration of mascots birthday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michelle Stewart, president of Honor Flight Appalachian Highlands, said 17 teams competed in this years race. You know, this is one of our major fundraisers, especially for us to come around and visit with our community, but then also raise money to take veterans to DC, she said. Stewart said each team consisted of 21 paddlers. Photo WJHL Photo WJHL Photo WJHL Photo WJHL Photo WJHL Photo WJHL Photo WJHL Photo WJHL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) Activists and community members gathered Friday morning at the San Diego Federal Offices building for a people over billionaires rally, bringing attention to several topics, but specifically immigration. The rally was organized by the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) in coordination with other rallies in major cities like San Francisco, Palo Alto, Denver and New York. Residents of the community arrived at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in downtown San Diego at 11 a.m. to highlight the role of billionaire corporate interest fueling the deportation machine, according to a press release by ACCE. Demonstrators hold rally signs. (KSWB/KUSI) A protester holds a rally sign. (KSWB/KUSI) Protesters hold signs. (KSWB/KUSI) Treat people humanely, theyre people, a local protester said when discussing ongoing Immigration and Enforcement Customs (ICE) across the country. Protesters holding rally signs. (KSWB/KUSI) SEIU hold rally signs. (KSWB/KUSI) A speaker at Fridays rally. (KSWB/KUSI) Protesters holding rally signs. (KSWB/KUSI) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters at People over Billionaires rally. (KSWB/KUSI) Activists were protesting against Palantir Technologies, a software firm with a current partnership and $30 million contract with ICE. Protesters mentioned company leadership, Peter Thiel, co-founder, and current CEO, Alex Karp, in their news release. The company has been tapped by the Trump administration to compile data on citizens, and develop the tech infrastructure to turbocharge ICE kidnappings and deportations, ACCE stated in their press release. A person rallies, holding a Bible verse on a protest sign. (KSWB/KUSI) A community member holds a sign. (KSWB/KUSI) An organizer chants into a megaphone. (KSWB/KUSI) Organizers demand that lawmakers stop the kidnappings and stop handing tax dollars to unaccountable tech profiteers like Thiel and demand a future where tech improves the lives of everyday working people, instead of facilitating government surveillance and control, ACCE added in the press release. 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. FEEDING HILLS, Mass. (WWLP) Over 70 artists and artisans showcased their work at the fifth annual Pioneer Valley Art Festival. Young Parents Regatta unites mothers through rowing The free festival was held at the Polish American Club in Feeding Hills. Guests spent the morning and afternoon on Saturday meeting and mingling with local artists. One high school student, who worked on caricatures for the day, told 22News what this event means to her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its so nice, I love how people can communicate with each other, artist Lisa said. I think its awesome that we can gather and show art. If you were unable to make it to the festival on Saturday, you still have a chance to stop by on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A Pittsfield man has been sentenced to serve the maximum penalty after being found guilty in connection with a near-deadly stabbing outside a bar in 2023. According to the Berkshire District Attorneys Office, Walter Gadson, 30, was convicted on August 5 in Berkshire Superior Court of five charges, including assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. On August 22, following a separate bench trial, Gadson was also found guilty of being a habitual criminal offender, requiring him to serve the full 15-year sentence on the assault charge without the possibility of parole or good time credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longmeadow police investigating Country Bank robbery after suspect threatens staff, leaves with cash The charges stem from a violent encounter on November 28, 2023. Prosecutors said Gadson confronted a womanwho had previously obtained a restraining order against himand a male companion inside a Pittsfield bar. After being escorted out, Gadson waited outside, attacked the man as he left, and slashed him across the neck. He then allegedly grabbed the woman by the throat, blaming her for the incident. The victim was rushed to Berkshire Medical Center, where medical experts testified his life was saved only because of immediate treatment. In addition to the 15-year sentence, Gadson received concurrent sentences of two years for use without authority, two-and-a-half years each on two counts of violating an abuse prevention order, and five years for aggravated assault and battery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors cited Gadsons prior record, which includes a 2012 conviction in Massachusetts for armed robbery and multiple assault charges, as well as a 2019 aggravated assault conviction in Georgia for which an active warrant remains after violating parole. District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said the case was especially challenging because of the fear Gadson instilled in his victims and witnesses. This case presented significant challenges, particularly the fear instilled in victims and witnesses by Mr. Gadson. He terrorized one victim for an extended period and nearly killed another, Shugrue said. Thanks to the courage of those who testified, and the dedicated work of Assistant District Attorney Amy Winston and Victim Witness Advocate Krista Avery, an extremely dangerous individual has now been removed from our community. He added, Walter Gadson received the maximum sentence for each crime of which he was convicted, reflecting the severity of his actions. I cannot stress enough the extreme level of terror and violence he rained down on his victims. I thank the court, including judge and jury, for their diligence and commitment to justice, not only for the victims for the safety of the Berkshires and beyond. 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 pilot of a small plane was rushed to the hospital after a crash at Fitchburg Municipal Airport on Saturday. Firefighters responding to a report of a plane crash at the airport on Crawford Street around 10 a.m. found a Cessna 170 resting on its roof in a grassy area along the runway, according to the Fitchburg Fire Department and the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot, whose name hasnt been released, suffered minor injuries in the crash. There were no other occupants on the plane. The fire department said the pilot reported a change in the headwind into a crosswind before the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, an FAA spokesman told Boston 25 News the aircrafts propeller struck the runway after the pilot lost control. The airport was temporarily closed after the crash. The FAA is investigating. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A man was shot on Keller Avenue near South Cape Henry Avenue in Norfolk Friday night, police said. Norfolk Police are at the scene of a shooting in the area of Keller Avenue and South Cape Henry Avenue Friday night. (WAVY photo Patrick Driscoll) Norfolk Police are investigating a shooting in the 2100 block of Keller Avenue. Police said a man was taken to the hospital with a non life-threatening gunshot wound. Police said the call for the shooting came in at 10:05 p.m. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no further details available at this point. Check with WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Guernsey Police are appealing for information after the death of a 67-year-old man found injured on a road in the St Jacques area of the island. The force said it was called to the Green Lanes, between Valnord Lane and Rozel Road, on Saturday at 15:05 BST. Officers have been working with the man's family, and the matter is being treated as a medical incident, but inquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Guernsey Police on 01481 222 222 and ask to speak to the duty inspector or sergeant. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Related internet links The Brief Two teenagers, a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old, have been arrested after an exchange of gunfire on a SEPTA bus at Frankford and Kensington. No one was hit by the gunfire, and no injuries were reported in the incident. SEPTA Transit Police and Philadelphia Police worked together to take the suspects into custody. PHILADELPHIA - Two riders exchanged gunfire during an altercation aboard a SEPTA bus on Friday night in Philadelphia, and police have arrested the teenage suspects. What we know An investigation has led to the arrests of a 14-year-old male and an 18-year-old male, but no one was injured in the incident. The shooting happened at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Frankford and Kensington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, the incident began as a fight between the two individuals on a Route 3 bus. After one of the teenagers exited through the rear door, he turned back toward the bus and opened fire. Simultaneously, the second male was exiting through the door and returned fire. No one was hit by gunfire, and no injuries were reported. SEPTA Transit Police identified the gunman who fled the scene and took him into custody near Frankford and Sellers. The suspect is 14 years old. The other suspected gunman, an 18-year-old male, was taken into custody by Philadelphia Police shortly after the shooting. Police are awaiting word on charges. The Source Information was gathered from the Philadelphia Police Department in this article. The father of Ram Kumar Bind, the man involved in the Parliament security breach, said that his son had been acting mentally incoherent for the last few days. Speaking to ANI on Friday, Shiv Kumar, father of the accused, said, "He was acting mentally incoherent for the last 10-12 days. He worked as a saree salesman in Surat. We got to know this morning only that he is in Delhi." The father said that he was unaware of his son's attempt to scale the perimeter wall of the Parliament complex with the intention to jump inside. "He went to Delhi from Surat, and we were unaware of this. We have heard that he jumped (into the Parliament) in Delhi. We do not know what we will do now... We heard that he is in police custody in Delhi. We do not know how," he said. His father is on his way to Delhi, and Ram Kumar will be handed over to him. After a security breach attempt at the Parliament House complex was thwarted early Friday morning, preliminary investigations revealed that the intruder was a 19-year-old man from Bhadohi district in Uttar Pradesh and appears to be "mentally incoherent". "Today at about 5:50 am, one unidentified person approached the Parliament House complex and tried to scale the perimeter wall with the intention to jump inside. However, due to the alertness of the CISF and Delhi Police staff, he was timely intercepted by the security staff and apprehended and handed over to local police for further enquiry," read the statement of Delhi Police. "On preliminary enquiry, the person has been identified as Ram Kumar Bind, aged 19 years, native of Distt Bhadohi (U.P). He is working in a factory in Surat and appears to be mentally incoherent. Further enquiry is on," added the statement. During questioning, he reportedly said he thought it was a railway station and climbed the tree because he heard sounds resembling trains from inside. The sources said that the man jumped the wall between TKR 2 - North Utility of Parliament gate and got into the Parliament Complex. CISF security personnel at Parliament caught the intruder immediately. The sources said that the man reached the Garuda gate of the new Parliament building by jumping over the wall from the Rail Bhawan side. (ANI) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Birmingham Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection to a shooting that occurred in early August. The BPD says East Precinct Officers were dispatched to the 7300 block of 1st Avenue North on August 6 on a report of a business being shot into. Officers learned that a male suspect became irate in Family Dollar and discharged a firearm before exiting the building. Officers identified a suspect based on video footage. The suspect was identified as Christopher Ceasar, 46, of Birmingham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Felony Assault Detectives with the BPD presented case information to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office, and Ceasar was issued with warrants for Attempted Murder and Shooting into an Occupied Business. Ceasar was taken into custody in the 8100 Block of 2nd Avenue North. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on a $75,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. The Brief A 53-year-old Detroit man accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife in the basement of Henry Ford Hospital late Friday morning and sparking a manhunt is in custody. Mario Green was arrested without incident shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday. The shooting sent Henry Ford Hospital into lockdown Friday morning. DETROIT (FOX 2) - A 53-year-old Detroit man accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife in the basement of Henry Ford Hospital late Friday morning and sparking a manhunt is now in custody, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mario Green was arrested without incident Saturday shortly before 3 a.m. on Lemay Street near East Warren Avenue, according to police. Detroit police were assisted in apprehending Green by the ATF, Michigan State Police, FBI, the Wayne County Sheriffs Office, and other agencies. "Our officers worked tirelessly to get this monster off the street," Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said in a statement. "We have the best police department in the country, and I would like to thank our law enforcement partners who assisted us in apprehending Mario Green, along with the community members who provided numerous tips about the suspect. No person deserves what happened to Ms. Latricia Green, and my heart and prayers go out to her family." Latricia Green, left, suspect Mario Green. What we know Just before 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, at Henry Ford Hospital in downtown Detroit, police received a call about a shooting in the basement of the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entire complex went into lockdown as both Detroit Police and Michigan State Police converged on the site. As officers canvassed the building, searching for any idea of what happened, security footage from the hospital showed a man leaving the front doors. The man, later identified as Mario Green, fatally shot his ex-wife, Latricia Green, who worked in housekeeping at the hospital. Police said the two had gotten into a verbal altercation before he pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots. He then left the building in a white Dodge Charger that was found later that afternoon by police parked at his home on Detroit's west side at Trojan and Lahser. FOX 2 caught the moments that police had the Charger towed away. What we don't know While the big question of the investigation is the whereabouts of the suspect, there are other mysteries in the case, including what both parties were arguing about before the shooting and how the 53-year-old man managed to bring a firearm into the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hospitals are often guarded by security staff. It is also against policy to bring a firearm into the hospital. Dig deeper Green's criminal record includes multiple convictions. In the early 2000s, he was found guilty of aggravated stalking. Years later, he was convicted of arson and sentenced to prison for several years. In 2018, he was found guilty of failing to pay child support. Additionally, He's been charged with domestic violence and property destruction, however, those charges were eventually dropped. FOX 2 confirmed Latricia Green had an active PPO against Green after filing twice to get one, the first was denied. Mario Green was not served with the most recent one yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources confirm Green called the hospital for her upwards of 50 times and showed up on several occasions. The threats from him continued to escalate during that time, too. Tamara Canada worked with Latricia Green at Henry Ford and talked about her friend. "I broke down in tears because me and her used to, like, talk because I was telling her I was having problems with my child's father because I didn't know she was having problems of her own," Canada said. "She's really a good person. She's a really good person, she don't mess with nobody or nothing." Stay with FOX 2 for more on this developing story. The Source Background checks, police interviews, statements from hospital, and more were cited for this story. YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) One police department became the first in York County to sign an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Records show West York Borough signed a 287(g) agreement, which allows ICE to delegate some duties to local law enforcement, earlier this month. Police Chief Matthew Millsaps said he did it because ICE is increasingly asking the department for assistance. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter Millsaps added the request is simply to take advantage of training and better understanding of the laws that we are being asked to help other agencies with when they are in our area. He said only a few administrators and shift leaders are obtaining training through the agreement. My goal is to always do whats best for our residents, our officers, peoples rights and enforcing the law in a manner that supports those things, Millsaps said. There are three program models under the 287(g) agreement. ICE records show the department is joining under the task force model, which acts as a force multiplier for the agency, extending certain immigration authority to local law enforcement officers, including to interrogate a person suspected of being in the country unlawfully, make some warrantless arrests and hold people in custody on behalf of ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are 28 law enforcement agencies across the state with similar agreements. State Rep. Heather Boyd (D-Delaware County) proposed legislation this week that would outlaw such arrangements, citing cost to local governments and trust within the community. While ICE may cover the cost of training, it does not typically cover salaries of officers who perform immigration enforcement duties under 287(g) agreements. The revival of an old program delegates Trump immigration enforcement to local police Millsaps said while he recognized the knowledge gained from the training is important, he said its a low priority for the department compared with other cases and events its working on. For him, the agreement is all about understanding the rules so agency leaders can make informed decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to be able to make educated [and] informed decisions about what our role is and what we should and should not be doing when ICE asks us for help, Millsaps 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 ABC27. PORTAGE, Wis. (WFRV) A police chief in Wisconsin says the department has separated from an officer who was arrested on charges of child abuse and domestic disorderly conduct. In a press conference from the Portage Police Department on Friday, Chief Keith Klafke provided details on the investigation surrounding now former Portage Police Officer Cameron Coronado. 21-year-old man from India indicted for over $500,000 in alleged money laundering conspiracy in Wisconsin, other states Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Chief Klafke, an on-duty sergeant reported to him that Coronado was allegedly involved in an incident at home while off-duty, requiring immediate police action. Chief Klafke said that the call came in around 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 16. An outside agency was reportedly contacted as the investigators for the case, and Coronado was immediately placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard law and procedure. Coronado was arrested for alleged physical abuse of a child and a domestic-related disorderly conduct. Wisconsin Circuit Court records show that the alleged incidents occurred on separate dates, with the former on August 16 and the latter on July 9. Chief Klafke stated during the press conference that Coronado is no longer with the Portage Police Department after an agreement on Thursday; however, the criminal investigation is being done through an outside agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the press conference, Chief Klafke also addressed comments from the public concerning potential misconceptions over the situation. Wisconsin man sentenced to 25 years in prison after assaulting, impregnating a child Rest assured, no one is viewing this as a vacation, Chief Klafke said. There are a lot of misconceptions on procedures, especially those involving a tenured employee who has certain rights that are governed by federal law, labor law and police unions. Coronados cash bond was set at $10,000 during his initial appearance in court on August 20, two days after the arrest warrant was officially 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A dedicated drone team will be deployed at Notting Hill Carnival by the British Transport Police (BTP) for the first time as part of efforts to keep people safe. The drones are fitted with four cameras including a wide angle and a zoom where they can identify a person from up to about 80m (260ft) away. "We have a thermal imaging camera," explains drone operations manager Insp Chris Fells. "If someone is hiding in places that are difficult to see or it's at night we can still locate those people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event is the largest street party in Europe, with some two million people expected to attend it over the weekend. The images captured by the drones can be fed in real time to officers on the ground or back to the control room. "We also have a laser rangefinder on this which means we can tag an object up to over a kilometre away and actually provide GPS coordinates of that person so that anyone responding to the incident can go to the right place," Insp Fells said. Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street party in Europe with about two million people attending each year [PA Media] Asked how the drones and the new control room will help, Supt Dominique Idannou said: "It's a challenge but the network we've got of extensive cameras plugged into our CCTV hub are critical in making sure that we can keep an eye on things and make sure that everyone's safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Generally we've got exceptional quality cameras that are really good for us in terms of identifying people and bringing offenders to justice. " On Friday the Met said it had seized dozens of weapons ahead of this weekend's Carnival [PA Media] Marina Ahmad, chair of London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee, said the priority at the "massive" event was "for people to have a good time while being safe as possible". Following last year's Carnival, the Met Police warned the biggest risk was a mass casualty crowd crush. Cdr Charmain Brenyah, from the force, said: "Crowd safety remains a significant concern in Carnival. A lot has been done this year to address that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will include the use of live facial recognition technology, which the Met announced it would deploy earlier this week. While it claims the technology has aided in more than 1,000 arrests for serious crimes, civil rights organisations argue that facial recognition is less accurate for women and people of colour, potentially leading to racial bias. Notting Hill Carnival Ltd said a large crowd management team had been put in place [BBC] Matthew Phillip, chief executive of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said organisers would keep people safe. "This year with some extra resources, we've vastly expanded. We've got a large crowd management team and resources around it, including extra cameras and information screens," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some medics will get around on foot or bike, and it is factored into training. Peter Hollely-Robins, from St John Ambulance, said: "We do lots of simulation exercises to prepare and we work very closely with the police." Those using public transport to get to Carnival have been advised to check their route, with closures or changes affecting nearly all of the Tube stations in the area, as well as bus diversions being put in place. Transport for London's (TfL) Carl Eddleston said: "Some of the bigger stations like Paddington are about a 15 minute walk away and probably better places to go too, because they are obviously built and designed for big crowds." TfL has a dedicated website showing the best and quickest options for people to use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 More on the Notting Hill Carnival Related internet links One person was injured in a crash in Goshen Tuesday morning. According to Goshen police, at 4:40 a.m. Tuesday, Julio Alvarez, 35, of Waukegan, Illinois, was traveling south in a blue 2009 Toyota Camry and disregarded the stop sign at Hackberry Drive and Sourwood Drive. Ricardo Saldivar, 49, of Warsaw, stated he was traveling east in a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo through the intersection and got hit by the Camry into the side of his driver side of his vehicle, the police narrative reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jose Vega Nunez, 31, of Warsaw said he was facing north at the intersection in a black 2014 Ford Escape and after the Camry hit the Aveo, the Camry hit his Escape head-on, the report reads. Saldivar was transported to Goshen Hospital. HIT-AND-RUN A 70-year-old man reported to Elkhart County deputies at 1:04 p.m. Wednesday that someone left the scene of a property crash in the 68000 block of C.R. 29. SEX CRIME The Indiana Department of Child Services forwarded a report of child molestation to the Elkhart County Sheriffs Office at 2:04 p.m. Wednesday. CRIMINAL RECKLESSNESS A 20-year-old man reported to Elkhart County deputies that around 7:20 p.m. Tuesday someone tried to shoot him in the parking lot of Gallups, 18423 U.S. 20, Goshen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BURGLARY A 19-year-old man reported to Elkhart County deputies at 11:23 a.m. Wednesday that someone broke into their storage unit at Storage Rentals of America, 52292 C.R. 9, Elkhart. THEFT A 21-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 11:55 p.m. Wednesday that her 2006 Pontiac G6 was stolen in the 1100 block of South 12th Street. FRAUD A 25-year-old man reported to Elkhart County deputies that on Aug. 16 fraud was committed. When police officers responded to a disturbance call at a home in Tremonton, Utah, on Sunday, a man there immediately started shooting at them. Two officers were killed, a sheriff's deputy was wounded and a police dog was also hospitalized with injuries. It was an ambush. Mayor Lyle Holmgren said the suspect's "intention was to cause harm to as many police officers and public servants as possible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting was the latest in a growing trend of ambush attacks against police officers nationwide. Shootings against police have jumped 60% since 2018, according to data tracked by the Fraternal Order of Police, a law enforcement member organization that's been tracking the shootings since 2015 and the percentage of ambush-style attacks is steadily growing. At least 56 law enforcement officers have been shot in 45 ambush-style attacks in 2025 through July 31, more than 28% of total officers shot, according to data collected by the organization and analyzed by CBS News. Five years earlier, just over 20% of police officers shot in the line of duty were struck in ambush-style attacks. Number of police ambushes each year (Column Chart) The Fraternal Order of Police's national president, Patrick Yoes, wrote a letter to Congress in March advocating for the "Protect and Serve Act," which would create a new federal law against knowingly assaulting law enforcement. He said the deliberate attacks are contributing to a crisis in recruiting the next generation of officers and holding onto those who are currently serving. In July, after a week of violence in which 10 police officers were shot, three fatally, Yoes wrote: "How many more officers must die before Congress acts? Our men and women in law enforcement deserve better." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Send everyone" Often, what seem like routine calls are the precursors to planned bloodshed, like what happened to police officers in Fargo, North Dakota, when they responded to a car accident on July 14, 2023. The call came in from dispatch: a BMW sport utility vehicle crashed into a Mazda on 25th Street in South Fargo, one of the city's busiest streets. Newly minted Fargo police officer Tyler Hawes and his training officer, Andrew Dotas, headed to the scene to assist and interview the drivers and passengers involved. Right away, Hawes, who graduated from the Fargo Police Academy seven weeks earlier, radioed dispatch for a second officer. He figured they could use some extra help speaking to witnesses and controlling traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers Zachary Robinson and Jake Wallin arrived in about 10 minutes. Hawes, who attended the police academy with Wallin, recalled his friend and colleague asking as soon as he got there, "What do you need?" Less than two minutes later they were ambushed. Wallin, 23, was killed, and Hawes and Dotas were injured when a man named Mohamad Barakat opened fire from his 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis in a surprise attack, using an Anderson manufacturing rifle with a Bushnell scope. One other person at the scene, Karlee Koswick, was wounded, shot twice on the sidewalk as she tried to flee. Fargo police officers were ambushed during a routine traffic stop on July 14, 2023. One officer, Jake Wallin, was killed, and two were injured. / Credit: Fargo Police Department One witness, Kim Hauger Sr., heard what he said felt like the sound of a machine gun. Hauger told investigators he saw two police officers moving from the parking lot toward the boulevard, and then saw the officers fall to the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinson radioed dispatch, saying shots had been fired. "Send everyone," he said, before opening fire on the suspect. "I shot like four times at him at that point," he said, before reloading and killing Barakat. The suspect had nothing to do with the vehicle crash. Investigators later found Barakat had been searching online for details on mass shootings, loaded his vehicle with rifles, two tactical vests, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a live grenade. When he spotted the police officers, he decided to turn his deadly weapons on them joining a steadily rising list of shooters who have deliberately ambushed law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An upward trend and training to respond The FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division launched an investigative study in 2025 in response to the troubling trend. Federal agents have begun interviewing offenders in a first-of-its-kind effort to piece together what can be learned about the rise in attacks on law enforcement officers nationwide. Prior to the recent study, there has been scant research about ambush attacks against law enforcement and why these are happening. One earlier study from the International Association of Chiefs of Police found 68% of ambushes were considered spontaneous, like the 2023 Fargo ambush, and 32% were planned. The report, published in 2014, analyzed data from 1990 to 2012, a year when six law enforcement officers were killed in ambushes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the IACP, an ambush is defined by four components: an element of surprise, concealment of the assailant, suddenness of the attack, and a lack of provocation. Ambushes can be classified as either premeditated or spontaneous. The FBI released a report in 2018 showing ambush attacks on law enforcement doubled from 1996 to 2016. It found that while fewer police officers were being killed overall, surprise attacks in which officers are killed were steadily increasing. (The FBI's data counts officers killed in ambushes, while the FOP data counts all officers shot.) Rate of police officers shot per 1 million residents (Choropleth map) There was a large spike in ambush-style attacks in 2023, when 138 officers were shot. Texas has had more recent incidents than any other state; so far this year, eight officers there have been shot in seven ambush-style attacks. It's followed by California and Ohio, each with four ambush-style attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI law enforcement operations specialist Kevin Harris has been researching ambush attacks for several years, and he trains police around the country on how to prepare and respond. "Just speaking in general, it's been an upward trend that seems to just continue upward and has been for the last several years," said Harris, who describes an ambush as an instance "where an officer is lured into a place where they can be attacked." His training sessions involve analyzing and discussing different ambush attacks that have occurred in recent years. Harris said he wants officers to know "they've always got to have that situational awareness." "I try to tell officers, 'Look, you've got to find that fine line between being hypervigilant and dying of a heart attack at a young age,'" Harris said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lives changed forever The trauma of these attacks ripples through families, police departments and communities around the country. "Those lives are impacted forever," said Harris. Two years have passed since the Fargo attack and the officers who survived can now speak about what happened to them that day. Officers Dotas and Hawes spent weeks in the hospital. Hospital staff, family, friends and other officers gathered to applaud as Dotas, wearing a "We are Fargo PD" sweatshirt, finally left the facility with his wife and young son, AJ, by his side. Officer Jake Wallin, 23, was killed during an ambush-style attack in 2023. / Credit: Fargo Police Department Dotas, who said he joined the police force because he wanted to live "a meaningful life," told CBS News about some of the challenges he faced during his long road to recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I didn't really get a chance to be a protector anymore. I had to rely on, like, on everyone else to protect me," he said. He credits his faith and his family for pulling him through. He also said, looking back on that fateful day, "There was a lot of miracles that took place that day." Dotas said the medics already being at the scene for the vehicle crash when the shooting happened probably helped save their lives. Hawes said in an interview released by Fargo police that they were lucky there were two trauma rooms open and two fully staffed medical teams ready to help. "This event affected everyone that lives here," said trauma surgeon Dr. Enej Gasevic, who cared for the officers in a statement. He said it feels like the incident took away some of the innocence of living in the area. Officer Wallin left behind his parents, brother and fiancee. Dotas, who returned to the force in February 2025, and many other Fargo police officers wear bracelets in his honor. "It's so hard because we lost Jake Wallin that day and his family will never have be able to hold him and be able to talk to him and be with him," said Dotas. "He was a brand new guy," he added, noting that he related to Wallin because they both served in the military. Dotas said he often looks down at the bracelet when he's working to remember Wallin and his willingness to serve. "He gave his all, and that's something that can never be taken away from him," said Dotas. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore calls Trump D.C. National Guard deployment "unconstitutional" Face the Nation Page 2: Lawler, El-Erian and Russell UNICEF's Catherine Russell calls methodology discussions "obscene" in Gaza famine declaration NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio (WJW) Police in New Philadelphia are investigating after a passenger was found dead in a crashed car early Saturday morning. Euclid hit-and-run suspect turned herself in; teen girl injured: Police According to a press release from the police department, officers were notified of a crash near South Broadway and Hilan Ave. SW shortly after 2 a.m. Responding officers located the vehicle and a male passenger dead inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, the driver ran from the crash scene, however he was located a short time later and taken into custody. Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the crash, police said. Fire chief in Ashland County facing sex crime charge: I-Team Currently, we are not releasing any names until formal charges are filed, and all appropriate notifications are made, the press release states. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with relevant information is asked to call New Philadelphia police at 330-343-4488. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is asking for the publics help in identifying and locating the persons of interest in a Northwest D.C. robbery. According to police, officers responded on July 30 around 7:30 p.m. to reports of a robbery in the 1100 block of New Jersey Ave. NW. National Guard troops on DC streets for Trumps crackdown will start carrying guns The victim stated they were approached by two people, with one person snatching the victims AirPods and running away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident can be seen on surveillance footage above. Anyone who can identify these persons of interest, or who knows about this incident, is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text the Departments tip line at 50411. MPD currently offers a reward of up to $1,000 to individuals who give information that leads to an arrest and conviction in a violent crime in the District. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Around fifty vehicles were broken into in a Columbus neighborhood on Thursday night. Columbus police say approximately fifty cars were broken into on Thursday night near an apartment complex. The break-ins were centered in close neighborhoods in the area of Holt Road and Alkire Road. Whats the hardest town name to pronounce in Ohio? According to video obtained by police, four unknown suspects wearing gloves and masks were seen driving a dark colored SUV in the targeted areas. Around forty-six residents were affected by the break-ins, police say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the break-ins or identification of the suspects is encouraged to contact the investigating detective at 614-645-1439. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. While speaking at the main event of the National Space Day in New Delhi, Indian Space Research Organisation chairman V Narayanan announced that India will launch the Chandrayaan 4 mission which will have the Venus Orbiter Mission. The ISRO chief emphasised that by the year 2035, India will establish the "Bhartiya Space Station" whose first module will be lifted off in the year 2035. He stated that India will land on the moon by the year 2040 which will make India's space program at the top other than any country in the world. "Based on his direction and vision, we are going to have a Chandrayaan-4 mission. We are going to have a Venus Orbiter Mission. We are going to have a space station called BAS (Bharatiya Antriksh Station) by 2035, and the first module will be lifted off by 2028. The Prime Minister has given approval for an NGL (Next Generation Launcher)... By 2040, India will land on the moon and we are going to bring back safely. Thereby by 2040, Indian Space Program will be at par with any other space program of the world...," V Narayanan said. Referring to the success of the Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's mission to the International Space Station, the ISRO chief said that India managed to send its "Gaganyatri" to the International Space Station and thanked PM Modi for the achievement. He revealed that it was PM Modi's idea to send a "Gaganyatri" to the ISS before sending them to space in India's own rocket. "One of the major achievements is sending one of our 'Gaganyatris' to the International Space Station. It is again the Prime Minister to be thanked. It was his idea that before sending a 'Gaganyatri' to the space through our rocket, we should send one of them to the ISS. His vision led to a great success today... Shukla Ji has gone to the ISS and come back safely... Three of his colleagues cannot be forgotten. There are four people, the four 'Gaganyatris'. I used to say all the four people are equally important to us. Finally only one person got the opportunity," he said. Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi while virtually addressing the event, recalled the success of the Chandrayaan 3 mission, stating that India created history by becoming the first country to reach the south pole of the Moon. He emphasised that achieving new milestones every day has become the nature of India and its scientists. "Achieving new milestones one after another in the space sector has become the nature of India and Indian scientists. Just two years ago, India became the first country to create history by reaching the South Pole of the Moon," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also lauded the success of the Axiom 4 mission, stating that Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla has filled India with pride by hoisting the tricolour at the International Space Station. Referring to his meeting with Group Captain Shukla, the Prime Minister asserted on India's immense courage and infinite dreams amongst its youth. "We have also become the fourth country in the world to have the capability of docking and undocking in space. Just three days ago, I met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He filled every Indian with pride by hoisting the tricolour on the International Space Station. The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words. In my discussion with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the immense courage and infinite dreams of the youth of the new India," PM Modi said. Shubanshu Shukla returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA's Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission and landed in Delhi on August 17. Shukla was part of NASA's Axiom-4 Space Mission, which took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, on June 25. He returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space. India's first human Space mission, "Gaganyaan" programme, has entered its final phase, with the first human spaceflight now scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair and Shubanshu Shukla will be a part of the crew for the Gaganyaan mission. (ANI) ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Rockford Police arrested Alexandria Hackman, 18, for allegedly trying to commit armed robbery in the parking lot of Swedish American Hospital and the BP gas station. Several officers were called to the BP on East State Street for reports that a woman had stabbed a man outside the BP gas station on August 20, around noon. The victim told authorities he felt a sharp poking sensation on his back, which caused him to jump back. The suspect proceeded to chase him around the parking lot with a knife until he also armed himself with a knife, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hackman fled the scene toward Swedish American Hospital, the man reported. Authorities responded to the hospital and were taken to Hackman by security officers. She was taken into custody shortly after. A woman who was in the parking lot told officials that Hackman attempted to rob her at knifepoint as well. Hackman is charged with aggravated battery to a nurse, aggravated battery while using a deadly weapon, aggravated battery of an officer and armed robbery without a firearm. Her mugshot was not readily 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Aug. 23MORGANTOWN Sometimes you've just got to see it to believe it. So it goes with some members of the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board who say they'd like to see under the hood of a plan to close University Avenue to vehicular traffic at Grumbein's Island the mesh point of cars and pedestrians between West Virginia University's Mountainlair and Woodburn Circle. Its closure is a recommendation of the $500, 000 multiyear microsimulation study undertaken by the MPO and currently being considered for inclusion in the body's Metropolitan Transportation Plan a mandatory first step toward eventual implementation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan, as modeled in the study, would reroute the bottom of Falling Run Road through the parking lot at its intersection with University Avenue to connect it directly to the Campus Drive, Stewart Street, University Avenue intersection. On the other end, a portion of the parking lot next to the West Virginia Junior College would be taken in order to redesign a two-way connection between Willey Street and University /Beechurst. In short, the traffic driving through Grumbien's Island to get into or away from downtown would be rerouted down to Beechurst Avenue. It's a lot to wrap your head around and there are skeptics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No, " Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom said when contemplating the additional traffic on Beechurst. "It can't handle it. Just today it was backed all the way up to the Coliseum ..." Bloom said he's not against closing Grumbein's island, but he would struggle to support it without another north /south access into downtown, noting the closure would not only put more cars on Beechurst, it would route traffic away from the city's business district. MPO Executive Director Bill Austin responded. "One of the key issues that I don't think people realize with Grumbein's Island is that Grumbein's Island is part of the problem on Beechurst. It's a major portion of the problem on Beechurst because it backs up traffic on University Avenue, and when traffic backs up on University Avenue, it backs up all the way onto Mon Boulevard, " Austin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for rerouting potential customers away from the city's downtown, Morgantown City Councilor Mark Downs said he also could foresee the opposite occurring. "We should keep an open mind. Downtown could be less of a pass-through and more of a destination, right ? There's a lot of traffic that just uses downtown to get from point A to point B. It doesn't stop anywhere in between, " he said. "Maybe if we take some of that transient traffic out of the downtown, people use it more as a destination. I'm open to hearing and seeing how the model might demonstrate that." Austin went on to say that the microsimulation study that recommends this change is based on real data, not a car count and an estimate. "The way the model was constructed is we got origin and destination information real-time information from people who traveled through downtown. You do that with cellphone data, " Austin said. "It's real data of people who were traveling through downtown. Then you use those origins and destinations to assign the traffic routes through downtown. We're getting actual user information to do the modeling rather than just an engineer's guesswork." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Austin explained, the answers play out in the modeling. "It actually shows how the traffic flows when you make these changes, " he said. Policy board members said they'd like to see it firsthand. Morgantown Area Partnership CEO Russ Rogerson was part of the committee that helped steer the two-year study. He said it was clear from the beginning that this project would likely require a higher degree of public interaction and education than any other. That education should start, Rogerson continued, with policy board members looking at the modeling data and getting an understanding of how the study's recommendations were arrived at. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's time to do so. Brian Carr, who represents the West Virginia Division of Highways on the board, noted the closure of University Avenue at Grumbein's Island isn't likely to happen in the immediate future. While the project could certainly be expedited, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan the project is being considered for contemplates the area's transportation system over the next 30 years. "I agree on the surface that it's hard to fathom Beechurst and University can carry anything more than they already are. But again, that comes down to the modeling and how it all works out with the changing of the signal timing and whatnot, " Carr said. "But we've got a long way to go before we get into all of that. That's why it's all part of the long game." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grumbein's Island was designed by Dr. John Behny Grumbein in the early 1930s. In 1994, WVU spent $1 million on a project that widened the crosswalk, made College Avenue two ways from the University Avenue intersection, eliminated one northern lane of University Avenue and widened the courtyard in front of the Mountainlair. A statement provided by WVU indicates the university is ready for another change. "West Virginia University is looking at ways to increase pedestrian safety and enhance our campus amenities, including opportunities to create additional greenspace for our students, faculty, staff and visitors to enjoy. We are committed to working with state, county and city officials, and support consideration of a reconfiguration for Grumbein's Island." If you thought tech companies were your overlords now, wait till you hear about this wonky piece of legislation being cooked up in Colorado. As The Lever reports, a bill proposed in the state's legislature last year would make it outright illegal for individuals to sue AI companies for violating the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, blocking off one of the few meaningful means of recourse for consumers who get screwed over by unfair business practices by the likes of OpenAI or Anthropic. If passed, only the state Attorney General would have the power to sue AI companies under the act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "By saying the Attorney General is the only avenue of enforcement of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, they're saying that for [the AI] industry, there are fewer avenues for people to seek justice," Colorado representative Javier Mabrey (D), told the Lever. The four sponsors of the bill, all Democrats, were endorsed by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, which represents the state's business interests. Insidiously, the proposed bill is dressed up as ostensibly enforcing companies to comply with state consumer protection laws which is redundant, experts told the Lever, because they're already required to. "This is a pretty standard playbook for corporate interests to try to say, 'Look, we're not going to allow private right of action for regular people to bring lawsuits forward to attack wrongdoing,'" David Seligman, an executive director at the legal nonprofit Towards Justice who's running for AG, told the Lever. "They know that it's much, much harder to police wrongdoing when regular people can't come forward and bring lawsuits." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. William Lindstedt, one of the bill's sponsors and a member of the Colorado Opportunity Caucus, a wing of moderates, sees it differently. He argues that the bill "clarifies AI decision-making is not a defense against deceptive trade practices or discrimination." "It's entirely appropriate for the [Attorney General] to be responsible for protecting Coloradans, and it is the case under many statutes," Lindstedt told the Lever. The caucus' more progressive colleagues, however, aren't buying it, and claim that Governor Jared Polis who called an emergency legislative session this month to discuss the bill simply wants to put up a veneer of keeping Big Tech in check. "[Polis] wants something to be on the books that looks like regulation," Rep. Brianna Titone (D) told the Lever, when the bill actually "provides more immunity to the tech companies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Colorado bill follows after the AI industry came unnervingly close to passing a seismic law at a national level that would've unleashed it from the already loose shackles of government oversight. In May, Republicans introduced an updated draft of a budget reconciliation bill that would've banned states from regulating AI for a full decade, which is an eternity in the tech world. This outrageous moratorium was passed by the House, but despite pleas from figureheads like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, eventually ran out of support. The bill that ended up passing the "One Big Beautiful Bill," a cornerstone of president Trump's policy agenda dropped those demands and, at least for the time being, leaves AI regulation up to states. Of course, that means that if states want to kowtow wealthy tech companies, then it's within their rights to do so. Colorado, it seems, wanted to be first in line. More on AI: Wall Street Appears to Be Having Serious Doubts About AI The Pope has described Sir Keir Starmers surrender of the Chagos Islands as a significant victory that has repaired a grave injustice. Pope Leo XIV made the comments during an audience in the Vatican with exiled refugees from the contested Indian Ocean archipelago. In May, the Prime Minister agreed to give up the British Overseas Territory to Mauritius by the end of the year in a controversial deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain will then lease back the Diego Garcia military base, a facility built on the largest of the island in the 1970s, that has been used by UK and US forces. It will cost 35bn to do so, according to official figures revealed by The Telegraph. The pontiff, who is the first American Pope, met some of the roughly 2,000 people evicted from their homes by Britain in the 1960s and 1970s so the naval and bomber base could be built. Displaced islanders fought for years in British courts for the right to go home. On Saturday, the pontiff told the refugees he was delighted that the treaty had been agreed, saying it represented a significant victory in their long battle to repair a grave injustice. The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and a powerful symbol on the international stage all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, in particular the right to live on their land; and no one can force them into exile, he said in French. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pope said he hoped the Mauritian authorities would commit to ensuring their return. In response to the Pontiffs comments, Mark Francois, the shadow Armed Forces minister, told The Telegraph: With great respect to the Holy Father, as I understand it the Vatican are not proposing to cover the 35bn cost to rent back islands and a vital strategic base, which already belong to us in the first place. That absurd cost would fall squarely on UK taxpayers, irrespective of their religion. Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, said, Pope Leo should stick to religion, not controversial sovereignty disputes such as Labours deal over the Chagos islands. He told The Telegraph: The Pope should prepare himself for a Reform government that rips up this terrible Chagos deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reform has vowed to scrap the treaty if it forms the next government and warned that it would blacklist Mauritius unless it gave the islands back. It said earlier this month that it would cancel all Mauritian visas, impose restrictions on flights and sever diplomatic ties. As well as concerns over the cost, Sir Keirs deal has prompted security fears because of deepening Mauritian ties with China and Russia. The treaty establishes a trust fund to benefit the Chagossians and says Mauritius is free to implement a program of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. But it does not require the residents to be resettled, and some displaced islanders fear it will be even harder to return to their place of birth after Mauritius takes control. Copy of 0410 Chagos Islands map Philippe Sands, an international lawyer who has represented the Chagossian people and long championed their right to go home, said the Popes words were enormously important. He added that the intimate private audience, originally expected to be part of a general audience, was instigated by the Pope himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The words spoken by His Holiness offered clear support for the urgent return of Chagossians to the islands from which they were deported and sent the clearest possible signal to the governments of Britain, the United States and Mauritius that the Vatican expects the Chagossians to be able to return and remake their lives, he said. Mauritius had long contested Britains claim to the Chagos Islands. The UNs top court had told the UK to return them to Mauritius, which is about 1,250 miles south-west of the islands. In 2019, the International Court of Justice said the UK had unlawfully carved up Mauritius when it ended colonial rule in the late 1960s. A history of the Chagos Islands The Governments decision to return the Chagos Islands has been criticised by both the Conservatives, who have called it an act of national self-harm, and Reform UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came after official figures, revealed by The Telegraph, showed that Sir Keirs Chagos deal would cost 10 times more than he claimed. The Prime Minister claimed in May that it would cost 3.4bn to give away the islands. But the governments own estimate is almost 35bn, according to documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Downing Street have disputed the figures and continued to defend its plan to give sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius, despite the country never previously having controlled them. Pope Francis visited Mauritius in 2019 and met a group of Chagossians in the Vatican in 2023. Francis told reporters en route home from Mauritius in 2019 that Britain should obey the UN and return the islands to Mauritius. 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. ROME (AP) Pope Leo XIV strongly affirmed the right of people to return to their homes after an unjust exile, issuing the message during an audience Saturday with refugees from Chagos, the Indian Ocean archipelago that is home to the strategic U.S.-U.K. military base. No one can force them into exile, history's first American pope said. Leo met with a delegation of about 15 refugees from Chagos, some 2,000 of whom who were evicted from their homes by Britain in the 1960s and 1970s so the United States could build a naval and bomber base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Displaced islanders fought for years in U.K. courts for the right to go home. In May, Britain and Mauritius signed a treaty to hand sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius that allows resettlement, while still ensuring the future of the base. A grave injustice Leo told the refugees he was delighted the treaty had been reached, saying it represented a significant victory in their long battle to repair a grave injustice. He praised in particular the role of the Chagossian women in peacefully asserting their rights to go home. The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and a powerful symbol on the international stage," Leo said in French. "All peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, in particular the right to live on their land; and no one can force them into exile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leo said he hoped that Mauritian authorities will commit to ensuring their return, and pledged the help of the local Catholic Church. One of the last remnants of the British Empire, the Chagos Islands have been under U.K. control since 1814. Britain split the islands away from Mauritius, a former British colony, in 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence. Under the May agreement, the U.K. will pay Mauritius an average of 101 million pounds ($136 million) a year to lease back the base for at least 99 years. It establishes a trust fund to benefit the Chagossians and says Mauritius is free to implement a program of resettlement on the islands other than Diego Garcia. However, the deal does not require the residents to be resettled, and some displaced islanders fear it will be even harder to return to their place of birth after Mauritius takes control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plans to go home Philippe Sands, the international lawyer who represented Mauritius in the dispute and long championed the Chagossians' right to go home, said the pope's words were enormously important. He noted the intimate private audience, originally expected to be part of a general audience, was apparently instigated by Leo himself. The words spoken by His Holiness offered clear support for the urgent return of Chagossians to the islands from which they were deported and sent the clearest possible signal to the governments of Britain, United States and Mauritius that the Vatican expects the Chagossians to be able to return and remake their lives, he told The Associated Press after the audience. Louis Olivier Bancoult, the head of the Chagossian delegation who has fought for more than four decades for the right to go home, said the meeting had come together very much at the last minute thanks to the bishop in Port Louis, Mauritius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the AP at a cafe near the Vatican, he marveled that ever since the treaty had been signed, he had met for the first time with officials from the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis. He also received representatives of the British high commission in the capital. For me its a miracle," he said. After the U.S., the U.K. and now the pope. Who will be next? Preparations, including the building of infrastructure on the islands, now must begin to allow the forcibly deported Chagossians, like himself, to go home. Bancoult was four when his family was forcibly evicted from their home on the island of Peros Banhos, with the British designating him a contract laborer with no right of permanent residence, Sands said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now we have the blessing of God, Bancoult said, displaying a statute of the Madonna that he brought to Leo to be blessed and will be taken to Chagos. Pope Francis visited Mauritius in 2019 and met briefly with a group of Chagossians during a general audience at the Vatican in 2023. Francis told reporters en route home from Mauritius in 2019 that Britain should obey the United Nations and return the islands to Mauritius. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. HONOLULU (KHON2) An Oahu restaurant thats fed a former president and countless actors and musicians is packing up for a big move. After more than a decade of serving the Chinatown community, modern Vietnamese eatery, The Pig and the Lady, is moving back to Kaimuki. Hawaii residents have to work most for an average life in U.S.: New report The North King Street restaurant has been a favorite for locals, with a lunch crowd that fills every seat, sending a line out the door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the 2024 Chinatown power outage and upcoming rail construction, the owners said now is the time to make their move. I think we made the right decision. Moving back to Kaimuki, thats where were originally from. We get to build a new kitchen and everything. We had a toy store there 30 years ago, so its been there since the 80s. Were actually coming back home, Alex Le explained. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Le expressed the businesss gratitude to all the business theyve received in the Chinatown area and said they will try to find a way to come back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just want to say thank you to everyone for supporting us. Were super grateful and appreciative and hope to see you guys in Kaimuki. Le said they will keep the Chinatown space after the restaurant closes for private events. In the meantime, the current location will remain open until Aug. 30. Check out more news from around Hawaii The Kaimuki location on Waialae Avenue next to Goodwill in October. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) After two decades as director of the Portland Art Museum, Brian Ferriso will now head up one of the nations largest art museums. On Tuesday, the Dallas Museum of Art announced Ferriso was appointed as the Museums next Eugene McDermott Director. During his nearly 20 years at PAM, Ferriso is credited for his work to enhance access to the museums collections and programs, improving community engagement and spearheading the campuss major transformation, which will be open to the public in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Could have ended badly: 13-year-old leads deputies on I-84 high-speed chase Ive long believed that museums can play a vital role within the civic and social fabric of a community, and as the Citys museum, the Dallas Museum of Art is the perfect place for me to carry on this work, said Ferriso, who assumes his new role in December. The Museum is at an inflection point, with an impressive legacy behind it and a new future ahead, catalyzed by the current expansion project that will allow the DMA to establish greater connections with the community through its outstanding collections and programs. I feel lucky to join at such a transformative moment and am excited to work hand-in-hand with the Museums dedicated staff and Boardas well as City leaders, stakeholders, and the publicto help shape the evolving vision for the DMA, Ferriso added. The Dallas Museum of Art one of the largest art museums in the United States boasts a global collection of more than 25,000 works, according to the museum (Courtesy Dallas Museum of Art). Brian Ferriso is a leader with a proven track record in realizing successful capital campaigns and sustainable organizational growth. He has shaped an ambitious vision for the Portland Art Museum and developed programs that advance its cultural, civic, and social role in the city and region. With this powerful combination of skills and expertise, we are confident that Brian is the right director to shepherd the DMA into its next era as a thriving institution with a growing collection that is more inclusive, more accessible, and more reflective of the community we serve, said Dallas Museum of Arts Board President Gowri Natarajan Sharma. Many thanks to our search committee, led by co-chairs Sharon Young and Max Lamont, for helping us secure our ideal candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since his appointment as PAM director in 2006, Ferriso more than doubled the museums curatorial staff and permanently endowed nearly half of those positions, according to DMA, noting Ferriso increased the endowment by $40 million and cut $7 million in unfunded debt. During his time as the PAM director, Ferriso also expanded opportunities for learning and museum access creating the Art Access Endowment, which supports free admission for children 17 and younger, free school tours and free family days. The New York Times updates its Portland dining guide, knocking two off of the list Under Ferrisos leadership, PAM was the co-presenting institution for The Space in Which to Place Me, a 2024 exhibit by Jeffrey Gibson for the United States at the Venice Biennale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferriso also oversaw PAMs soon-to-be-completed expansion and renovation, which opens to the public November 20, 2025. The expansion will add nearly 100,000 square feet of public and gallery space knitting together the museums two historic buildings designed by Pietro Belluschi and Frederick Fritsch. Ferriso led fundraising for the project, collecting over $140 million for the campus. In its leadership announcement, DMA also highlighted Ferrisos work to diversify PAMs collection incorporating more work by underrepresented artists. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Positively Portland Brian quickly rose to the top of the pool of candidates as a leader who has the right mix of experience, energy, and vision to serve as the next director of the Dallas Museum of Art, said Sharon Young, the DMAs Board Chairman and co-chair of the executive search committee. He comes fully equipped with learnings and know-how from the capital project he led in Portland, which will be a tremendous asset as he advances the DMAs own transformation. We are grateful to Interim Director Tamara Wootton Forsyth, as well as our Board and leadership team, who have stewarded the Museum with care in this interim period and have progressed plans for the building transformation project in preparation for a new leader to drive the work forward. Id also like to thank the members of our search committee for their role in vetting a wide range of candidates that ultimately led us to Brian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before joining PAM, Ferriso served as director of the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 2002 to 2006. His resume also includes positions as senior director of curatorial affairs at the Milwaukee Art Museum and assistant director at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago. People are scared: Concerns raised over new city-wide camping ban in Camas Ferriso received a B.A. in economics from Bowdoin College, an M.A. in arts administration from New York University and an M.A. in arts administration from NYU. During his career, Ferriso has received the 2012 Excellency Award from the Foundation for Italian Art and Culture and serves as a member of the International Council of the Berggruen Museum in Berlin. Heading into his new role, Ferriso will lead DMA through a redesign of its Edward Larrabee Barned-designed building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First look: See the new In-N-Out that just opened in Washington The Dallas Museum of Art one of the largest art museums in the United States boasts a global collection of more than 25,000 works over 5,000 years of history and a range of world cultures, the museum said. The Portland Art Museum will always have a special place in my heart, Ferriso said in a statement shared with KOIN 6 News. I believe so deeply in the Museum and what it does: elevating the work of generations of artists who have visited, lived, and worked in Oregon; centering the stories that reflect and matter to our visitors; and now, realizing a new, expanded museum that creates more accessible, impactful, and engaging experiences for all when it opens on November 20. I know that there is so much to look forward to this fall and beyond, and I am excited to welcome everyone to experience the new Portland Art Museum in just a few short months, Ferriso continued. Though I may be leaving Portland at the end of November, I will remain a champion of the museum for many years to come. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Portland man was sentenced to more than two decades in prison for a slew of domestic violence charges against two different women. Kody Richard Jensen, 23, was convicted of rape and other domestic violence charges, with two back-to-back sentences of more than 10 years in each case, totaling 21 years and three months in prison. Diver finds possible Martin Family remains in river Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one case, Jensen was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months for committing first-degree rape, first-degree sex abuse, fourth-degree assault, harassment and coercion against a domestic partner over the course of several months in 2023. Another case related to a separate victim saw Jensen sentenced to 10 years and 5 months in prison for coercion, second-degree kidnapping, two counts of fourth-degree assault, second-degree attempted assault and two counts of tampering with a witness. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Premier Health notifies patients of past cyber incident Previous coverage on the data breach above. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Patients are currently receiving letters informing them of the Premier Health cyber incident, which happened two years ago, and what to do now. Multiple 2 NEWS viewers have shared these letters with us. These letters have the same information as an Information Security Incidents post made on Premiers website in July 2025, apart from individual activation codes for the services. The introduction of a viewers letter. The post and letter begin by explaining that it is a notice of a cyber incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 12, 2023, Premier Health became aware of suspicious activity related to certain systems within its environment. As a result, Premier Health launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the activity. Through this investigation, Premier Health determined that files on certain Premier Health systems were subject to access and acquisition by an unauthorized party at varying times between June 7, 2023, and July 12, 2023, wrote Premier. Clear the Shelters event aids local dogs in finding homes It said that after the investigation, it said it found nothing to indicate that patients information was subjected to misuse as a result of this incident. It explained the information involved in the breach could include a patients name, date of birth, Social Security number, drivers license number or state-issued ID number, passport number, individual taxpayer identification number, digital signature, login credentials, financial account information, medical information and/or health insurance information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Premier Health said it is offering complimentary credit monitoring services and information on resources for patients to help protect their information. They are encouraged to call the assistance line at 855-507-7876, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with any questions. We take the confidentiality, privacy, and security of our records seriously. Upon learning of this event, we moved quickly to investigate, assess the security of our systems, and notify potentially affected individuals, wrote Premier. All Premier Health services are fully operational and there has not been and will not be any interruption in service. We also promptly notified law enforcement. As part of our ongoing commitment to information security, we are reviewing our policies and procedures to reduce the likelihood of similar future events. Hacker group allegedly behind Kettering Health leak, data posted to deep web It encouraged people to review their account statements and health insurance account records for any suspicious activity. It also said to remain vigilant against identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, monitor their credit reports and benefits forms. A portion of a viewers letter. Premier Health is providing potentially impacted individuals with contact information for the three major credit reporting agencies, as well as providing advice on how to obtain free credit reports and how to place fraud alerts and security freezes on their credit files, wrote Premier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contact information for Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and the Federal Trade Commission can be viewed here. The letter then explains the deadline for enrollment for Medical Shield is November 15, 2025, and shows patients how to sign up. 2 NEWS has reached out to Premier Health for comment and 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 WDTN.com. President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he plans to lead a movement to eliminate mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines, replacing them with paper ballots to restore confidence in Americas elections. Trump said in the post that he would sign an executive order aimed at protecting the integrity of the 2026 midterm elections, saying that states should act as agents of the federal government in the way they count votes, and should comply with all federal directives. I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while were at it, Highly Inaccurate, Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election. The President pledged to fight like hell to bring honesty back to the voting process. With their HORRIBLE Radical Left policies, like Open Borders, Men Playing in Womens Sports, Transgender and WOKE for everyone, and so much more, Democrats are virtually Unelectable without using this completely disproven Mail-In SCAM, Trump continued. Still, there is a hefty financial obstacle connected to fixing and updating voting machines across the country. As reported by the Brennan Center for Justice, replacing outdated machines nationwide could cost around $400 million, with individual machines priced at roughly $5,000 each. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 2025, the Constitution grants states the authority to oversee and administer elections. That means any attempt to ban mail-in ballots or voting machines through executive action could likely face legal challenges at the state level. However, for years, Trump has been focused on the potential fraud associated with the mail-in voting system. In October of 2024, Trump posted to X: Wow! York County, Pennsylvania, received THOUSANDS of potentially FRAUDULENT Voter Registration Forms and Mail-In Ballot Applications from a third party group. This is on top of Lancaster County being caught with 2600 Fake Ballots and Forms, all written by the same person. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to the public representatives of Chamoli district over the phone and took detailed information about the damage caused by the cloudburst. According to a press statement released from the Chief Minister's office, expressing deep grief over the disaster, the Chief Minister has requested all the public representatives to cooperate with the district administration in relief and rescue operations. Along with this, he also spoke to the local MLA and expected him to stay on the spot and physically inspect the relief and rescue operations. A cloudburst struck the Tharali area of Chamoli district late on Friday night, prompting immediate relief and rescue operations by the district administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and police teams. Confirming the incident, CM wrote on X, "Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone's safety." The India Meteorological Department, on Friday, issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, forecasting thunderstorms/lightning and very intense rain at different parts of the state. Meanwhile, The Indian Army promptly responded to the devastation caused by the cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Saturday. Around 50 army personnel were deployed from Rudraprayag to assist in relief operations, according to a statement. Preliminary reports indicate damage to houses and vehicles in the affected area. One young girl has been reported missing. Additionally, a medical team has been mobilised from Joshimath, and Search & Rescue (SAR) dogs with surveillance drones are being moved to the site to assist in locating survivors and providing relief. (ANI) The heiress to the fortune of a billionaire hedge fund manager has made a substantial donation to a super PAC aligned with socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani , a candidate who has said he does not believe billionaires should exist. In what amounts to the largest contribution received this cycle, the Mamdani-aligned New Yorkers for Lower Costs PAC recently received $250,000 from philanthropist Elizabeth Simons, the New York Post reported. Simons is the daughter of Jamie Simons, the late billionaire hedge fund manager who founded the successful hedge fund Renaissance Technologies who built up a personal fortune worth $31.4 billion over the course of his lifetime and donated billions of that money to charity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I dont think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and, ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country," Mamdani told NBC News in June. Meet Mamdani's Radical Advisory Circle That Includes Communist Activist, Anti-israel Advocates New York City socialist mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani News of Mamdanis billionaire support prompted criticism on social media, including from Mamdanis opponent, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo . Read On The Fox News App "Congrats to you, @ZohranKMamdani for completing the holy trinity of hypocrisy: Eat the rich Cash their PAC checks," Cuomo posted on X . "Freeze the rent Rich guy in affordable housing you dont need. Defund the police Armed guards worldwide from the campaign trail to Uganda. You are what you pretend to fight." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign and New Yorkers for Lower Costs PAC, which operates independently of the campaign, asking if the funds would be returned or denounced but did not receive a response from either party. Meet The Former Soros Foundation Exec Connecting Obama World With Mamdani Campaign Elizabeth Simons, chair of the board of the Heising-Simons Foundation, speaks onstage at the 2016 Milken Institute Global Conference May 4, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Railing against billionaires has been a common occurrence over the course of Mamdani's campaign as he has attempted to position himself as a candidate who champions affordability and cost of living for New York City's working class. "Were reaching New Yorkers whove been ignored by establishment politicians and crushed by the billionaire class," Mamdani posted on X in March. "Our grassroots momentum will carry us over the finish line in June." New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani closed out his "Five Boroughs Against Trump" tour across New York City in Queens on Friday. Mamdani has also criticized Cuomo for taking money from billionaires, posting on X in June, "We live in the most expensive city in the United States. Cuomos billionaire donors want it that way. But we have an agenda to make life affordable." Original article source: Pro-Mamdani super PAC takes hefty check from ultra-wealthy donor despite saying billionaires shouldn't exist This road connects Hyder, Alaska, with its seaplane base, in September 2018. (Photo by Bun Lee/Getty Images) Southeast Alaska has not had any ferry service to the mainland road system in British Columbia since 2022 and for the five years prior to that, what it had was unreliable and spotty. This was despite some Alaskans voicing a strong preference for a ferry to Prince Rupert, B.C., over Bellingham, Washington. However, efforts to restart a ferry to Prince Rupert have proven to be very problematic. The problems involve the repairs to the ramp and dock, plus a renovation of the terminal. Canada requires the use of steel made in Canada while the U.S. requires that the steel used for these repairs be made in the U.S. Neither country is willing to allow an exemption from the requirement. Since the dock, ramp, terminal and staging area is all on Canadian soil, it is reasonable that Canada would enforce her own rules on docks and ramps in her own harbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another problem is that any foreign vessel that docks in Canada must be equipped and crewed to comply with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. Alaska has only one ferry that is SOLAS compliant, the Kennicott, which is assigned to serve the Bellingham-to-Haines mainline route. Renovation to add the necessary equipment for other ferries in the fleet to comply with the SOLAS requirement is very expensive and not in the ferry system budget. Additionally, the ferry system lacks enough SOLAS-trained crew to operate a SOLAS vessel, so the Kennicott cannot dock in Prince Rupert even with the required equipment installed. Alaska signed a 50-year nonexclusive prepaid lease on the use of the Prince Rupert ramp, dock, terminal and staging area in 2013, at a cost of $3.3 million plus ongoing costs for electricity, taxes and maintenance. Hyder is a better location than Prince Rupert, in part because it would remove all the problems that have so far prevented restarting Prince Rupert as a ferry route. American steel could be used for the ramp and dock repairs. SOLAS rules do not apply for Alaska ferries to dock at a U.S. port. Our Alaska customs agent could wear sidearms for their own protection. Alaska would not have to sign a lease with a foreign government on the ramp, dock, terminal and staging area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Use of Hyder rather than Prince Rupert would situate the dock, terminal and vehicle staging area on Alaska soil, owned by the state, instead of on Canadian soil, removing all the risks associated with contracts, leases and potential disputes with the Canadian government. Given the relationship the U.S. now has with Canada, this may be the biggest issue facing Alaskan efforts to restart a ferry route to Prince Rupert. Another advantage to Hyder is that although it is slightly longer by sea than Prince Rupert, it is much farther inland than Prince Rupert, which is on the coast. Hyder is at the end of Portland Canal, about an hour and a half inland. It also avoids having to cross Dixon Entrance, which can be dangerous, with big seas and storm conditions. Portland Canal is calmer water than Dixon Entrance in a storm. The actual difference in distance is about 90 sea miles to Prince Rupert and 143 sea miles to Hyder. At an average speed of 14 knots, that is a trip of about 7 hours to Prince Rupert and 10 hours to Hyder, but landing in Hyder puts the traveler 1.5 hours farther inland than does Prince Rupert, without crossing into Canadian waters. At present, the Alaska Department of Transportation has not indicated a preference for Hyder, but by setting a September deadline for a decision, the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board has shown their desire to move forward to restore ferry services to Ketchikan and southern Southeast Alaska folks seeking a convenient and affordable way to access the British Columbia road system. After seven years of waiting, this is long overdue and would be more than just welcome. It would energize the economies of Southeast Alaska towns and villages, as well as provide access to families, friends and recreation across the north. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX An Armenian political party, In the Name of the Republic, and its supporters organised a protest outside Russias 102nd military base in Gyumri on Saturday 23 August. Source: European Pravda, citing Armenian news outlet News.am Details: The protesters were demanding that the Armenian government remove the Russian military base from Gyumri. A video from the scene shows that there is a significant police presence guarding the base. Holding up banners with slogans such as "102nd military base out of Armenia", the protesters joined in chants against the Russian authorities and gestured towards the base with their middle fingers. Background: This is not the first time a protest has been held in Gyumri to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from the 102nd base. In 2023, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that he saw no advantages in Russian military bases remaining in the country given that Russia had failed to fulfil its obligations as an ally. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Protesters returned Friday to the rainbow crosswalk outside Pulse after it was painted over by the Florida Department of Transportation earlier this week. This time, instead of chalk, demonstrators used paint to restore the colors. One by one, people gathered at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Esther Street for a second day in a row, rallying against FDOTs decision to erase what they call a symbol honoring the 49 lives lost in the Pulse nightclub massacre. I was in middle school when the shooting happened. And I never thought that our state and our community would backpaddle, one protester said. Its to erase us, its to erase the memory of the 49 lives that were stolen, another added. FDOT said the rainbow crosswalk, along with more than 15 others across Orlando, is not in compliance with state regulations. Pictures show workers painting over another colorful crosswalk on Orange Avenue just before 1 a.m. Friday. That one had been painted orange to reflect the SODO neighborhood theme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision has divided opinions. Theres a better way we can show a memorialization, said driver Andrea Syers. It should not be painted on if it has to do with paying someone respect, having to do with that, said pedestrian Ivan Guerra. Still, protesters said the Pulse crosswalk carries a deeper meaning than the others. The lives of the people murdered here in this horrendous crime are not forgotten, one demonstrator said. FDOT said that local efforts are underway to build a permanent memorial on properties adjacent to the club, funded by the State of Florida. The city of Orlando has until Sept. 4 to bring the crosswalks into compliance. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. AFRIN, Syria (AP) Young Kurdish men, including members of religious minorities, recently signed up to join the Syrian governments General Security forces in Afrin, an area in the countrys north from which Kurds were forcibly displaced years ago. The push to recruit ethnic and religious minorities comes as the government in Damascus faces increased scrutiny after outbreaks of sectarian violence in recent months during which there were widespread reports of government-affiliated fighters killing and humiliating civilians from the Alawite and Druze sects. A U.N.-backed commission that investigated violence on Syrias coast recommended earlier this month that authorities should recruit from minority communities for a more diverse security force composition to improve community relations and trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minorities are increasingly wary of the new authorities in Damascus, who are led by Sunni Muslim Islamist former insurgents who overthrew President Bashar Assad in December after a nearly 14-year civil war. An agreement reached in March between Damascus and Kurdish-led forces that control much of northeast Syria also has been on shaky ground. Seeking a role in the new state Abbas Mohammad Hamouda, a Kurdish Alawite, was among the young men lining up at a recruitment center in Afrin on Wednesday. I came with young men from my district to join the new state, he said. We will stand together, united, and avoid problems and wars from now on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kurds in Afrin have been subjected to a lot over the past eight years, Hamouda said, adding, I hope that the youth of Afrin will not think badly of us because of this affiliation with the new authorities. Formerly a Kurdish-majority area, Afrin was seized by Turkish forces and allied Syrian opposition fighters in 2018, following a Turkey-backed military operation that pushed fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and thousands of Kurdish civilians from the area. Arabs displaced from other parts of Syria have settled in the area since then and the Kurds who stayed have complained of discrimination against them. Some are hoping the recent drive to recruit them to the security forces signals a shift toward more inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malik Moussa, a Kurd from the Yazidi sect who signed up, said he had come hoping to be part of the Syrian army and for there to be no discrimination. We hope that the new government will be for all the people, for there not to be oppression like there was in the past, he said. Ferhad Khurto, a government official responsible for political affairs in the Afrin district, said about 1,000 young men had signed up in recent days to join General Security in the area from all of its sects and colors and doctrines. He did not give a breakdown of the demographics of the new recruits. This is the first step, and there is a strategy for the sons of Afrin to share in all the government institutions, not only on the side of internal security but in civilian institutions, he said, adding that the recruitment drive in Afrin is part of a larger national strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked for the numbers and percentage of minorities joining the security forces, Noureddine al-Baba, spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, told The Associated Press competence and patriotism are the criteria used, not sectarian quotas. Skepticism about the government's intent ions The recruitment effort drew skepticism in some quarters. The Afrin Social Association, an initiative providing support to people displaced from Afrin in the Kurdish-controlled northeast, said in a statement posted on Facebook that enrollment of some young people in the General Security Forces, without any guarantees to protect Afrins communities and ensure the dignified and voluntary return of the displaced, is an irresponsible act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The association accused the authorities in Damascus of trying to circumvent the March agreement, which called for displaced people to be able to return to their homes, including in Afrin, along with a merger of the new governments army and the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an Iraq-based Kurdish affairs analyst, said in theory, the recruitment could improve the situation of Kurds in Afrin. It also depends if Kurds will be appointed to leadership positions in the security forces in Afrin and if they will really have any say, and if some Turkish-backed groups would return to their original areas ... and if some of the violations stop," he said. A Kurdish man living in Afrin, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns, said locals have mixed feelings about the recruitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They believe it could be positive if the authorities are "really serious about giving a role in Afrin to the original people of this area, but they fear the Kurdish recruits would be "employed negatively in case of an armed conflict between the state forces and SDF, he said. Some Kurdish families are pushing their sons to join, either because the security forces are seen as a career path for those without other options or in hopes of gaining political benefits, the man said. I know a young guy who was working as a barber and his grandfather forced him to go to the General Security, saying that we must have influence in the state, he said. ___ Sewell reported from Beirut. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is discussing with the United States the possibility of cooperation in the Arctic and in Alaska. Source: Putin at a meeting with nuclear industry workers, as reported by the Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti Details: Putin claimed that Russia possesses technologies for work in the Arctic that no one else has and which is of interest to its partners, including the United States. He also said that the Arctic zone contains vast reserves of mineral resources and Russia has begun work there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He praised the "leadership qualities" of US President Donald Trump and said that "a glimmer of hope has appeared" with his rise to power, even though relations between Russia and the United States remain at a low point. Putin added that contacts between Russia and the United States have continued at ministerial and corporate level since the meeting in Alaska. He expressed hope that the "first steps" taken by Russia and the United States mark the beginning of a "full-scale restoration of relations". Putin also said that sovereignty is of utmost importance for Russia and the loss of sovereignty would mean the end of Russia's existence. He did not specify who he believes is threatening their sovereignty. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A jigsaw festival that attracted hundreds of puzzle fans has returned for a second year. The Norfolk Jigsaw Festival is at Sharrington Village Hall from 10:00 BST to 16:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Dissectologists - the term for someone passionate about jigsaws - will find a "massive selection" of new, used and collectable puzzles on sale, and can test their skills in timed competitions. "To sit down and do a jigsaw is quite relaxing and a lot of people now are finding, with the pace of life and technology beeping at you all the time, it is quite nice to sit down and do a jigsaw," said Annie Abrams, one of the organisers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The festival was launched in 2024 to raise money for the village hall. And there have been some pain-staking preparations for the 2025 event. Ms Abrams, said: "They [the jigsaws] have all been checked. "A lot of people find it frustrating when they buy a used jigsaw and there's a bit missing. "I think it maybe arose with Covid. "We were all stuck indoors trying to think of things to do which were a bit different and it has proven to be something which is good for your manual dexterity, your memory, concentration and - certainly for me - it is a stress reliever. "Unless I have a missing piece of course." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Norfolk Jigsaw Festival is at the village hall in The Street, Sharrington, Melton Constable, NR24 2AB. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Related internet links Here is a quick look at the top global stories of the week. Famine in Gaza Gaza is now experiencing famine, the world's leading authority said Friday. This comes after months of warning by aid groups that Israeli restrictions on the entry of food into the Palestinian territory were causing starvation. Israel rejected the report, calling it a lie. Separately, Israel's defense minister warned that Gaza's largest city would be destroyed unless Hamas disarmed and released all the hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read our explainer on how experts confirmed the famine, and see AP's photos of Palestinians struggling for food. White House escalates Washington crackdown National Guard troops will soon start carrying weapons as they patrol the streets of the capital for President Donald Trumps crackdown on crime, homelessness and illegal immigration, the Pentagon said. Federal authorities have set up checkpoints and said more than 600 people have been arrested in the past two weeks. Read our reporting on what's happening in the city, as well as our political analysis. And look at our best photos here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas and California move to redraw congressional maps The Texas Legislature was poised to approve a new U.S. House map as early as Friday that would give Republicans a bigger edge in the 2026 midterm elections, after Democrats ended a two-week walkout. In response, California moved to call a special election for a new map that would give Democrats the same number of extra seats and negate Trumps push for more GOP-held districts in Texas. Read the AP's analysis on how partisan redistricting could upset the balance between the two parties, what other states are doing in the redistricting race, how the California governor's profile has soared as a result of the fight, and how Trump is using the powers of his office to help his party in the election. Away from the headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some conservative Christians are arguing that empathy can lead to sin, the Cambridge Dictionary added "tradwife, a ship that glides like a pelican could have military applications and a Swedish church relocated in a highly choreographed spectacle. Here are this week's top photos, two giant panda cubs celebrating their birthday, and Pakistanis honoring a Sufi saint. ANNISTON The city of Anniston will begin cutting down trees along Quintard Avenue beginning Monday, continuing a process city officials have said is necessary for safety and long-term planning along the historic corridor. According to a public notice, beginning Monday, Aug. 25, tree removal work will take place along Quintard Avenue from 8th Street to 18th Street. Crews will remove seven trees that officials say have reached the end of their natural lifespan and now pose potential safety hazards if left unaddressed. No lane or street closures are expected, but motorists should anticipate minor delays as crews and equipment access the medians. The city said it is working on replacement plans to ensure the continued beauty and safety of this corridor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trees lining Quintard water oaks, pin oaks and white oaks planted more than a century ago have long been a defining feature of the Model City. Anniston became a Tree City USA in 1991, with the Quintard medians serving as one of the main reasons for the designation. But the trees are nearing the end of their natural life, experts say. Hayes Jackson, regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, told The Star in February 2023 that the trees on Quintard are old and are mortal just like people. A lot of times when trees of certain species get to a certain age they often tend to succumb to disease and insect issues, Jackson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the oaks face stress from their urban setting. Their roots are paved over and I know several years ago they trenched and put in irrigation lines which also damaged their roots, and youve got an urban environment thats just tough on them, Jackson said. Jackson described the process as chronological senescence, noting that over time they just tend to die out and thats just normal and they die out at the same time or close to the same time, because trees have a lifespan. In 2023, Jackson warned about the dangers of weakened trees, including one with a hollowed-out trunk at 1024 Quintard. There is a possibility that its weaker and it can topple, it may topple easier in a storm or it may just fall out of the blue, he said. The risks have already become evident. In June of this year, a large oak blew down during a thunderstorm, blocking the southbound lane of Quintard between 10th and 11th Streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City leaders have acknowledged the deep emotions tied to cutting the trees. At a February 2023 council meeting, former Councilman Jay Jenkins called the tree-lined avenue one of our citys greatest calling cards. It is very important, in my opinion, that we have an active plan not just to replace them but to decide to prepare for that as we go forward, Jenkins said. We need to have a proactive plan for replacement efforts because they dont grow overnight. Then-Councilwoman Millie Harris called the issue very emotional. The public really, really needs to know that theyre dead and theyre dangerous and all the time I have people tell me, well I didnt know about that, I dont know why they dont know but I get that all the time, Harris said. It is a very, very volatile issue. Former City Manager Steven Folks told the council in 2023 that a five-year plan was underway to guide Quintard median improvements, including replanting trees, at an estimated cost of $155,000. Incumbent S.C. Supreme Court justices normally dont face challengers when the legislature considers their reappointments every 10 years. This is not a normal year. In an upcoming judicial race, incumbent Supreme Court Associate Justice John Cannon Few has, as of Friday, three challengers eager to take away the $233,606-a-year job hes held for nine years. The challengers who have filed so far are former state House Speaker Jay Lucas, Administrative Law Court Chief Judge Ralph King Tripp Anderson and S.C. Court of Appeals Judge Blake Hewitt, according to the Judicial Merit Selection Commissions chief counsel, Erin Crawford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The filing deadline to turn in a completed application package for candidates seeking Fews seat is noon Monday. By that time, all candidates must have notified the commission in writing of their intent to run. Fews term expires July 31, 2026. If Few were to be elected for a new 10-year term, he would be in line to become chief justice when current Chief Justice John Kittredge retires in several years at the mandatory retirement age of 72. I am excited about the opportunity I have to get out there and talk with representatives and senators about my 25 years as a judge and justice, Few said. Few, 62, served as a trial judge and chief judge of the Court of Appeals before becoming an associate justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one would talk on the record about why Few faces opposition, but sources said Few has upset conservative House members with a ruling perceived to be against pro-life forces in a 2023 abortion case concerning the states 2021 Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act. In 2023, the Supreme Court issued two opinions on that Act. In the first, Few joined a majority that ruled the Act unconstitutional. After the Legislature revised the Act, Few voted to uphold it. Few wasnt really ruling against the pro-life position he said in the first opinion in effect that the Legislature needed to make findings of fact when it passed the law if it were to be constitutional. He sent it back to the lawmakers and really gave them a roadmap on how to fix the law, said a source familiar with the judicial election process. It wasnt an anti-abortion thing. When the case came back to the Supreme Court, Few voted to uphold the pro-life position and the law is now constitutional, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few was also part of a unanimous opinion in June by the Supreme Court that paused an increased compensation hike for General Assembly members, angering some lawmakers, the source said. The move to unseat Few is unfortunate, the source said. Every judge in the state is going to be scared to death to issue an opinion if they feel like they are going to be taken out if its not politically popular. Its just bad for the judiciary. Lucas was a popular speaker before voluntarily vacating his seat in 2022. He is now 68 and would only be able to serve on the high court about three years. But during those years, he would possibly qualify for a judges pension, which would be significantly more than his pension based on his approximately 22 years as a House member. Both Hewitt and Anderson have run unsuccessfully for the Supreme Court in the past. (Editors note: This story originally incorrectly reported the term for a State Supreme Court justice. The term is for 10 years.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, while virtually addressing the National Space Day program in New Delhi, emphasised that achieving new milestones every day has become the nature of India and its scientists. The Prime Minister recalled the success of the Chandrayaan 3 mission, stating that India created history by becoming the first country to reach the south pole of the Moon. "Achieving new milestones one after another in the space sector has become the nature of India and Indian scientists. Just two years ago, India became the first country to create history by reaching the South Pole of the Moon," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also lauded the success of the Axiom 4 mission, stating that Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla has filled India with pride by hoisting the tricolour at the International Space Station. Referring to his meeting with Group Captain Shukla, the Prime Minister asserted on India's immense courage and infinite dreams amongst its youth. "We have also become the fourth country in the world to have the capability of docking and undocking in space. Just three days ago, I met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He filled every Indian with pride by hoisting the tricolour on the International Space Station. The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words. In my discussion with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the immense courage and infinite dreams of the youth of the new India," PM Modi said. He further highlighted India's progress in technologies such as semi-cryogenic engines and electric propulsion. "To take these dreams forward, we are also going to prepare India's astronaut pool. Today on Space Day, I invite my young friends to join this astronaut pool to give wings to India's dreams. Today India is rapidly progressing in breakthrough technologies like semi-cryogenic engine and electric propulsion," PM Modi said. "Soon, with the hard work of all you scientists, India will also soar with Gaganyaan and in the coming times, India will build its own space station... Beyond galaxies lies our horizon. I firmly believe that in the space sector, there should never be a final pause at the policy level. That is why I had said from the Red Fort that our path is the path of Reform, Perform, and Transform. In the past 11 years, the nation has undertaken major reforms in the space sector..." the Prime Minister asserted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed that the theme of National Space Day 2025 is Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan. He said that the theme has the confidence of the past as well as the future's resolve. "I wish you all a very Happy National Space Day. This time, the theme of Space Day is Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan. It has the confidence of the past as well as the resolve of the future. Today, we are seeing that in such a short time, National Space Day has become an occasion of enthusiasm and attraction among our youth. This is a matter of pride for the country," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister further hailed India's success at the recently organised International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. He said that 300 youth from more than 60 countries participated in this competition. The Prime Minister mentioned that the Indian youth also won medals at the event and noted that the Olympiad was the symbol of India's emerging leadership in the space sector. "Recently, India has also hosted the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. About 300 youth from more than 60 countries participated in this competition. Indian youth also won medals. This Olympiad is a symbol of India's emerging leadership in the space sector. I am happy that ISRO has also taken initiatives like the Indian Space Hackathon and Robotics Challenge to increase the interest of young friends towards space," PM Modi said. On 23 August 2023, India achieved a historic milestone when the Chandrayaan-3 lander completed a soft landing on the moon. This remarkable accomplishment made India the fourth country to accomplish this feat and the first to land on the lunar South Pole. In recognition of this achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared August 23 as National Space Day. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the main event of National Space Day, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Indian Space Research Organisation chief V Narayanan and Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla were present on the occasion. Shubanshu Shukla returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA's Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission and landed in Delhi on August 17. Shukla was part of NASA's Axiom-4 Space Mission, which took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, on June 25. He returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space. India's first human Space mission, "Gaganyaan" programme, has entered its final phase, with the first human spaceflight now scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair and Shubanshu Shukla will be a part of the crew for the Gaganyaan mission. (ANI) CUMBERLAND In an unusual series of events, cleanup costs related to the May 13 flood have hampered Lonaconings ability to pay a $500,000 outstanding water bill it owes Allegany County. The problem started in early January 2023 when the towns water was tested for turbidity and results showed levels far above state and federal standards. Within weeks, the Maryland Environmental Service arrived to help restore safe and sustainable water for customers of the Midland-Lonaconing Water System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after, remedial actions included connection to an Allegany County distribution system for Lonaconing area residents to receive water from Frostburg. We are providing water to Lonaconing and Midland right now and it doesnt seem like that is going away anytime soon, Frostburg Public Works Director Hayden Lindsey said at the citys mayor and council meeting in February 2023. In June 2024, the Maryland Department of the Environment worked with Lonaconing on the towns final phase of water plant construction upgrades. But by that time, Lonaconings bills for the Frostburg water had piled up. In the process, Allegany Countys water lines were used, the county bought the water from Frostburg, which billed the county, which billed Lonaconing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the county said it needs the $500,000 that Lonaconing owes. On Friday, Lonaconing Mayor Jack Coburn said the bill was more than $1 million a couple of years ago, but the town has chipped away at the debt and made payments to the county when possible. When the flooding hit ... we fell behind, he said of the May event. Theres also interest being added. Coburn said damages from the flood forced Lonaconing to revert to the Frostburg water system. For two days of use, that cost roughly $18,000, he said, adding that the town incurred significant bills for other flood-related problems. Were working on paying back the money, Coburn said. The county has been generous with ... the time they gave us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To offset some of the money owed, he said the town will consider whether to sue the former company responsible for maintenance of the Lonaconing areas water system when it failed. Coburn said the town in 2023 hoped the attorney general would pursue a case against the company, but that never happened. We waited, he said. So (now) well have to fight ourselves. Meanwhile, Allegany County Commissioner Creade Brodie said money is tight and payment of the $500,000 is needed. Were in a budget crisis ourself, he said at the commissioners Thursday work session. County Administrator Jason Bennett later said $500,000 is very significant to the countys budget, and added the circumstance of the money owed is unusual. I would call this a rare situation, he said. The use of cellphones inside school buildings is no longer just a local issue. Its now being discussed at the federal level, with lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio leading the conversation. Deluzio, a Democrat who represents parts of Allegheny and Beaver counties, recently surveyed local high school teachers and found that 72% believe phones are a distraction in the classroom. Im a parent, and a lot of parents in my world and beyond are really worried about what is going on with our kids, smartphones and social media addictions, Deluzio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question many are asking: What role should technology play in schools? Thats what a roundtable discussion on Friday aimed to answer. State and federal lawmakers sat down with students, parents and teachers to gather perspectives on the issue. Melissa Costantino-Poruben, a teacher in the Avonworth School District, said its important to consider exceptions when crafting any policy. I am a person with type 1 diabetes, and I have multiple type 1 diabetics in the classroom, she said. Sometimes we think about cellphones with a blanket statement: No one needs them, no one should have them, no one should touch them, but that is a life-saving device for me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, there is no statewide or national policy on cellphone use in schools. But that could change. One proposal from state Sen. Devlin Robinson, who represents Allegheny County, would implement a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones and similar devices in classrooms. We want to make sure you are here going to school to learn, Robinson said. Thats the purpose of education, so we can put down the distractions for a couple of hours. The push comes amid growing concerns over mental health among students. Deluzios office polled members of the public, where 700 responded, and 76% said they want phones out of K-12 classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Educators say the presence of phones has added new challenges to teaching. When the phones are secure during class, Ive seen better engagement, said Erin Ruggiero, a teacher at Moon Area High School. But Ruggiero also spoke as a parent. As a city mom, my son has to ride public transportation to and from school, and thats very fluid, she said. His transportation needs could change in the middle of the day. His school has a policy where during instructional time its a no, but at lunch its a yes, and I appreciate that so I can have contact with my child. While Deluzio said he believes the final decision should ultimately lie with local school districts, he hopes schools nationwide adopt clear policies to address the issue. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The redistricting war is officially on. After weeks of bluster from dueling governors and state lawmakers, California and Texas raced forward with parallel action this week to draw new congressional maps, setting into motion a national redistricting fight that could upend the midterms and determine control of the House. Texas Republicans on Saturday passed a new map that will help the GOP flip as many as five House seats a partisan play at the hand of President Donald Trump. On Thursday, California Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom preemptively agreed to send a retaliatory ballot measure to voters the first step in potentially offsetting Texas maneuver by creating new Democratic-leaning seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nations two largest states had fired the opening salvo in what is likely to become an intense and protracted redistricting campaign by both parties to grasp power in Washington. Now other red and blue state governors face pressure to follow their lead and aggressively gerrymander their congressional maps. Republicans hold a clear advantage in the arms race: The GOP is poised to move forward with redistricting in Florida, Ohio, Missouri and Indiana, which could yield at least half a dozen more seats. Democrats, meanwhile, have struggled to get gerrymandering efforts moving in blue states beyond California, though leaders in New York, Illinois and Maryland say they are weighing options. Right now, these other states need to step up, said Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat from Long Beach, Calif. I know its hard, I know its complicated But, if youre a blue state governor, the time is now to step up and get it done. As the map battles continue, at stake is a national shift away from the norm of once-a-decade, Census-aligned redistricting and toward a more polarized landscape in which both parties redraw political maps at will to shift the balance of power. The escalation has major implications for Trump's post-midterm agenda and the political prospects of several prominent Democrats, including Newsom and his likely presidential run in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats in the California Legislature framed their vote Thursday in that national context, casting it as a fight to save American democracy from Trumps election rigging even as they voted nearly unanimously to toss aside lines drawn by the states independent commission and put forward a partisan map. The ends, they argued, justified the means. We dont want this fight and we didn't choose this fight, but with our democracy on the line, we cannot and will not run away from this fight, said Assemblymember Marc Berman, a Democrat from Silicon Valley. The vote sets off a Nov. 4 special election for Californians, and both parties are gearing up for an all-out campaign sprint. Democrats estimate they will have to raise up to $100 million to mount an advertising blitz across the states large and expensive media markets to convince voters, whom early polling shows are skeptical. Republicans, who have a thin minority in the California statehouse, unsuccessfully tried to derail the vote with a host of procedural maneuvers. They argued California Democrats betrayed voters' trust by adopting a map drawn behind closed doors, sidestepping the states voter-created redistricting commission. A GOP-backed legal attempt to thwart Democrats map was also dismissed by the California Supreme Court on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, a Republican from San Diego, called the vote a political stunt. When Democrats said he couldn't use props during his floor speech, he retorted, Then, why have you become props to Gov. Gavin Newsom's presidential campaign? Texas Democrats, a minority in their state House, have pulled their own stunts. House members prolonged passage of the map by leaving the state for two weeks in protest, denying Republicans the quorum needed to conduct official business. When they returned, Rep. Nicole Collier refused to sign a permission slip ordered by GOP leadership allowing law enforcement to supervise her movements and instead staged a sit-in on the House floor. Unlike California Democrats map, which requires voter approval to take effect, the Republicans in the Texas Legislature were able to approve their map without going to voters or mounting a statewide campaign. Both parties have vowed to fight the maps in court, disputes that could ultimately lead to the U.S. Supreme Court. A lawsuit in Texas was filed just hours after the map was approved by the legislature early Saturday. The fight is far from over, Texas Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said on the floor after the map passed the House on Wednesday. Our best shot is in the courts. This part of the fight is over, but it is merely the first chapter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Texas, Democrats argue the GOPs map illegally dilutes the voting power of Hispanic and Black voters. In California, where the states map preserves minority-opportunity districts, Republicans say the map illegally sidelines the states independent redistricting commission. But in the redistricting wars, voting rights and other legal considerations are taking a backseat to purely partisan interests. Efforts are underway to carve out more GOP seats in Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Florida and Trumps political operation is pressuring individual state lawmakers to act. On Thursday, Trump declared on X that Republicans in Missouri where the GOP could pick up one more seat by splitting a district in Kansas City are IN! to call a special session to redistrict. The legal hurdles for Democrats in other deep-blue states could prove more formidable, hampering their partys quest to retake the House in the 2026 midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to disband a quasi-independent commission in charge of drawing House map. But the panel, created by a voter-approved constitutional amendment, cannot be erased until 2027 at the earliest. And while the New York governor has talked tough about redistricting, she acknowledged to reporters her hands are tied by the states lengthy constitutional amendment process. Any changes must be approved by two separately elected sessions of the Legislature before going to voters in a referendum. Now, everyone says, Why don't you do what Gavin Newsom does? Gavin Newsom has a very different situation, because if I could, I would, Hochul told reporters this week. But I have to have the Constitution changed, and also the voters approved that change, before I can do that. Albany Democrats are under pressure to act faster anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat, has talked several times in recent weeks with Hochul about their options and this week urged her and other top New York Democrats to expand the states voting rights law which enables legal challenges to local legislative districts to include congressional seats. That would open the door to a legal challenge to the existing house lines, a maneuver designed to force a mid-decade redistricting if the map is thrown out. But two New York Democratic officials, granted anonymity to speak frankly, said that would be a long shot given the complexities of the strategy. One of them said there are no clear options for what New York can do ahead of the midterms. Thats leaving Democrats to scour the map for potential redistricting pick-up opportunities outside California. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has spoken boldly about the importance for Democrats to not let Texas go unmatched, and the state hosted many of the Democrats who left the Texas state House. But Illinois has been known for its aggressive Democratic gerrymanders, and it currently has just three Republican seats it can target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also unclear Illinois Democrats have the political will to take on redrawing the congressional map most of the redistricting talk this week has been on a whole other set of maps. Former Barack Obama chief of staff Bill Daley, a Chicago Democrat, and Ray LaHood, a Peoria Republican who served as Obamas transportation secretary, rolled out a Fair Maps Illinois proposal this week that would end the process of state lawmakers drawing their own districts. In Maryland one of Democrats few options to wage a response to the GOP House Majority Leader David Moon is pushing legislation to open its redistricting process. Gov. Wes Moore has said that all options are on the table, but has not laid out any specifics. It is not our first choice to fight back against this, and I think it's everybody's preference that we stand down and everyone steps back from the brink here, Moon said in an interview. But I think the common sentiment you're seeing from everyone is that we have to be prepared in the event that this thing does explode. Shia Kapos and Jeremy B. White contributed to this report. Heres what youll learn when you read this story: In 1757, a document signed J. Shakespeare was found in the Shakespeare family home, long attributed to Williams father, John. A study reveals the document was likely written by Williams sister, Joan, inspired by an obscure 17th-century Italian religious text. Joans hidden writings shed light on her secret Catholic beliefs and add a new dimension to the Shakespeare familys mysterious legacy. This story is a collaboration with Biography.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the annals of William Shakespeares legacy, a twist has emerged thats practically as dramatic as any of the Bards plays: the real Shakespeare behind a centuries-old family document has been revealed... and its not the man we expected. In 1757, a bricklayer found a religious document hidden in the rafters of the Shakespeare House in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Historians have long attributed the document, which was signed, J. Shakespeare, to Williams father, John. But a study in Shakespeare Quarterly, from scholars at the University of Bristol, claims John wasnt actually the writer of the scrutinized document. Instead, the researchers say it was Williams relatively unknown younger sister, Joan Shakespeare Hart, who is mentioned by name in only seven surviving documents from her lifetime, study author Matthew Steggle said in a statement: Virginia Woolf wrote a famous essay, Shakespeares sister, about how a figure like her could never hope to be a writer or have her writing preserved, so she has become something of a symbol for all the lost voices of early modern women. There are hundreds of thousands of works surviving from her brother, and until now, none at all, of any description, from her. In the tucked-away document, which heavily cites an obscure 17th century Italian religious tract called The Last Will and Testament of the Soul, the writer pledges to die a good Catholic death. If the writer was indeed John Shakespeare, who remained a devout Protestant until his death in 1601, it would have indicated a major shift in his beliefs and suggested a clandestine life during an era when secret allegiance to the Catholic Church in Elizabethan England could have been dangerous. For this reason, many experts have suspected the document to be forged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in the recent study, Steggle used internet archives to track down early editions of The Last Will and Testament of the Soul in Italian and six other languages and concluded the document could have only been written after John Shakespeares death. That left Steggle with just one other J. Shakespeare: Joan. Joan, who was five years younger than William, survived for 30 years after her brothers death, and long resided in the family home where the document was found. Even 30 years ago, a researcher approaching a problem like this would have been based in a single big research library, using printed catalogues and even card catalogues to try to find copies of this text, Steggle said in the statement. But research libraries have now made many of their resources available digitally, so that it is possible to look across many different libraries in different countries at once, and whats more, you can look through the whole text, not just at the title and other details. Steggle emphasized the importance of this approach in aligning the documents quotes with the original timing of the composition of The Last Will and Testament of the Soul. Joan, then, who outlived her tradesman husband and had four children in the old Shakespeare family house, had to have been the secret Catholic supporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mystery flourished for centuries, in part, because William Shakespeare himself was a secretive figure, Biography writes. Shakespeare, who lived from 1564 to 1616, left behind no letters, no handwritten manuscripts, few contemporary accounts, and only six signatures, all spelled differently. It seems almost unbelievable to scholars and critics that the country boy from Stratford-upon-Avon who never attended university wrote 37,000 words for his plays and added roughly 300 words to the English vocabulary. GraphicaArtis - Getty Images Yet, the scarcity of Shakespeares personal artifacts does little to dim the luster of his legacy, which stands in stark contrast to his modest, mysterious origins. The early years of Shakespeares life are murky. According to Biography, he was born to a father, John, who managed a portfolio as a landowner, moneylender, local official, and glover and leather craftsman. Instead of pursuing higher education, Shakespeares knowledge was gleaned from life experiences, absorbing wisdom from his dads civic engagements and perhaps gaining insights from his son-in-law, who was a doctor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea that Shakespeare kept his London-based professional life separate from his personal life in Stratford-upon-Avon plays into the recent findings regarding his sister, Joan. This secretive attitude, Biography writes, may have been because much of his family were known Catholic sympathizers and chose to live quietly in Protestant Elizabethan England. In fact, some believe Shakespeare himself received Catholic communion on his death bed. Culture Club - Getty Images Shakespeare wasnt known to be loud and boisterous; instead, he carried an air of mystery, relishing the relative anonymity provided by Stratford life. Following his marriage to Anne Hathaway and the birth of their children, theres a seven-year gap in his historical record. These are known as the lost years. Speculation about William Shakespeares lost years varies widely; some suggest he may have been in hiding due to accusations of poaching, while more substantiated theories propose he was making a living as an actor and playwright in London. But despite this period of obscurity, Shakespeares reputation flourished through his poetry, sonnets, and plays. As a prominent member of the Lord Chamberlains Men, a renowned London acting company, Shakespeare invested in his craft, and his financial success allowed him to buy New Place, one of the largest houses in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeares theatrical endeavors didnt stop there; in collaboration with fellow actors, he started the iconic Globe Theater, which became synonymous with his celebrated playwriting and solidified his legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Shakespeare grew his name in Londons theaters, he simultaneously established himself as a prominent figure in his hometown of Stratford. Acquiring the family estate in 1601 and subsequently purchasing 107 acres the following year, he strategically invested in additional properties. Experts suggest that the income from leasing these lands gave him the financial stability to pursue his writing. Meanwhile, Joan resided in the Shakespeare family home amidst speculation and secrets. And its rafters served as a vault for her Italian-inspired religious writingsa hidden gem thats still sparking scholarly intrigue, and revealing new layers to the Shakespeare legacy today. 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 (FOX40.COM) Friday, U.S. Representative Ami Bera released a statement supporting the City of Sacramento and Congresswoman Doris Matsui and addressed his own concerns regarding individuals who are allegedly being held in the John Moss Federal Building in Sacramento. Video Above: Sacramento officials demand transparency from ICE I support calls from Congresswoman Doris Matsui, the City of Sacramento, and other local leaders demanding immediate access to inspect all ICE-controlled areas in the Moss Building and full transparency to verify compliance with federal law and the 2025 National Detention Standards, Bera said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials seek transparency in Sacramento ICE detention Following the letter she sent out on Thursday, Matsui released a video on Friday morning stating that she had tried to enter the building to observe the conditions where individuals are allegedly being detained. Addressing the public on her social media accounts, the Congresswoman announced that she was denied entry. In clear violation of the law, they barred me from entering. I will be back, Matsui said. As reports from Sacramento organizations told Sacramento leaders that the individuals are being held in conditions that do not comply with standards, growing concerns continue without responses from Sacramento ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill continue working with local leaders to secure answers and ensure humane treatment, Bera 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 FOX40 News. A four-time felon carjacker who sparked a police-involved shooting in Queens that left an NYPD detective wounded has been hit with a flurry of criminal charges, including robbery and assault, police said Saturday. Suspect Kevin Dubuisson, 28, is also facing charges of menacing, attempted robbery and attempted assault in connection to his 12-hour car-stealing spree that began in Midtown Manhattan and ended in Whitestone, Queens, where cops opened fire on him, believing he was armed. NYPD Detective Corey Fisher, a Queens South narcotics cop, was shot in the arm and leg by another officer as they tried to apprehend Dubuisson on 21st Road near the Whitestone Expressway Service Road at around 8:50 a.m. Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dubisson, who was released from prison in March after serving 15 months on an attempted robbery conviction, had just beaten and robbed an Uber driver of his Toyota Highlander just moments before, police allege. Cops had boxed the Highlander and were about to arrest Dubuisson when the shots were fired. It was a friendly-fire incident, Mayor Adams said at Jamaica Hospital, where Det. Fisher was being treated Friday. Thankfully, these injuries are not life-threatening and hes expected to make a full recovery. I want to be clear, regardless of who shot our detective, theres one person responsible for starting the chain of events that landed us in the hospital today, Adams said about Dubuisson. This is a man who should have been behind bars, not on our streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Dubuisson has 10 unsealed arrests, mostly for robbery and assault, as well as a history of fighting with the police. The suspect also had four interactions with cops between December 2012 and January 2023 where he was listed as mentally ill. It was not immediately disclosed if those incidents ended in arrests or hospitalizations. Dubuissons last known address was a shelter in East New York, Brooklyn. He also at one point lived in an apartment building in Bay Ridge, where a former neighbor was stunned to learn that he was at the center of Fridays police shooting. He aint got no fing gun, said the neighbor, who wished not to be named. Hes just a loudmouth kid! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dubuisson didnt have a firearm on Friday, but he had threatened to shoot at least two people an hour before the clash with police. He had also beaten the Uber driver with a metal object. Cops had arrested the ex-con on Thursday afternoon for jumping a turnstile at the 28th St. station near Park Ave. South in Manhattan, but was let go with a desk appearance ticket. That night, he stole two cars in Manhattan, which he either abandoned or crashed before heading into Queens. On Friday morning, he tried to steal a car from a Mobil gas station on Parsons Blvd., about a block from the shooting scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance footage acquired by the Daily News shows Dubuisson, wearing white pants and a light-colored jacket, pacing near the pumps at the gas station before jumping into a white car. He was scared off by a station employee and a customer, who briefly chased him down 21st Road. Minutes later, Dubuisson attempted to carjack a woman outside her home before zeroing in on the Uber driver. New Yorks top cop blamed changes to the states bail-reform rules for Dubuissons quick release after cops grabbed him for jumping the turnstile at the 28th St. station. Before the new laws took effect in 2019, someone on parole would have never been released on a turnstile-jumping offense, according to Tisch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He should not have been out on our streets this morning, she said. Before going out to attempt a carjacking, he walked out of one of our criminal justice locations, Mayor Adams added. That is the definition of insanity arresting the same person over and over again and expecting different results. Dubuissons arraignment in Queens Criminal Court was pending Saturday. For the second month in-a-row, the unemployment rate decreased in all 12 metro areas including the Quad Cities for the year ending July 2025, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, total non-farm jobs increased in five metropolitan areas, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth: Champaign (six consecutive months); Chicago (13 consecutive months); Springfield (21 consecutive months). Illinois continues to showcase the resiliency of our economy, with unemployment declining across all twelve metro areas for the second month in a row and consecutive months of job gains in Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield, said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. The state remains committed to workforce development programs and resources that ensure communities across Illinois can fully benefit from them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Springfield MSA (+1.7%, +1,900), and a tie between the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+1.1%, +1,300) and the Rockford MSA (+1.1%, +1,600). The Chicago-Metro Division also increased (+0.7%, +26,300). The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total non-farm jobs were the Peoria MSA (-1.7%, -2,900), the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island MSA, IL Section (-1.5%, -1,300), and the Bloomington MSA (-1.3%, -1,200). Industries that saw job growth in the majority of the twelve metro areas included: Private education and health services (12 areas); government (nine areas), and mining and construction (seven areas). The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Chicago-Metropolitan Division (-0.9 point to 5.1%) and a tie between the Kankakee MSA (-0.8 point to 5.1%), the Rockford MSA (-0.8 point to 5.1%), and the St. Louis MSA, IL Section (-0.8 point to 4.2%). Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates Metropolitan area July 2025* July 2024** Over-the-Year Change Bloomington 4.1% 4.6% -0.5 Champaign-Urbana 4.4% 5.0% -0.6 Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg 5.1% 6.0% -0.9 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) 5.0% 5.3% -0.3 Decatur 5.9% 6.6% -0.7 Elgin 4.4% 5.1% -0.7 Kankakee 5.1% 5.9% -0.8 Lake 4.3% 5.0% -0.7 Peoria 4.7% 5.2% -0.5 Rockford 5.1% 5.9% -0.8 Springfield 4.2% 4.8% -0.6 St. Louis (IL Section) 4.2% 5.0% -0.8 Illinois Statewide 4.8% 5.7% -0.9 * Preliminary I ** Revised Total non-farm jobs (not seasonally adjusted) July 2025 Metropolitan Area July July Over-the-Year 2025* 2024** Change Bloomington 91,700 92,900 -1,200 Champaign-Urbana 116,100 114,800 1,300 Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg 3,855,600 3,829,300 26,300 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL Section) 85,600 86,900 -1,300 Decatur 47,200 47,400 -200 Elgin 293,600 296,100 -2,500 Kankakee 42,500 42,900 -400 Lake 354,200 352,000 2,200 Peoria 170,900 173,800 -2,900 Rockford 146,900 145,300 1,600 Springfield 111,600 109,700 1,900 St. Louis (IL Section) 239,700 240,100 -400 Illinois Statewide 6,185,000 6,168,500 16,500 *Preliminary | **Revised Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates (percent) for local counties and areas Labor Market Area Jul 2025 Jul 2024 Over-the- Year Change IL Section of Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA Henry County 5.2 % 5.2 % 0.0 Mercer County 4.4 % 5.2 % -0.8 Rock Island County 5.0 % 5.4 % -0.4 Cities Galesburg City 5.4 % 6.4 % -1.0 Moline City 4.9 % 5.6 % -0.7 Rock Island City 5.2 % 5.8 % -0.6 Counties Bureau County 4.9 % 5.9 % -1.0 Fulton County 4.6 % 5.3 % -0.7 Henderson County 3.8 % 5.6 % -1.8 Knox County 4.9 % 5.9 % -1.0 Stark County 5.1 % 5.1 % 0.0 Warren County 4.5 % 5.4 % -0.9 Whiteside County 4.6 % 5.1 % -0.5 Illinois Section of Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.0 percent in July 2025 from 5.3 percent in July 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Total non-farm employment decreased -1,300 compared to July 2024. The other services (+300), government (+300) and private education-health Services (+100) sectors had payroll gains over-the-year. The professional-business services (-900), wholesale trade (-300), transportation-warehousing-utilities (-200), financial activities (-200), manufacturing (-100), retail trade (-100), information (-100) and leisure-hospitality (-100) sectors recorded employment declines over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work. Note: Monthly 2024 unemployment rates and total non-farm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2025, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disclaimer: The data contained in the metro area employment numbers press releases are not seasonally adjusted, and therefore are subject to seasonal fluctuations due to factors such as changes in weather, harvests, major holidays and school schedules. Current monthly metro data should be compared to the same month from prior years (January 2025 data compared to January 2024 data) as data for these months have similar seasonal patterns. Comparisons should not be made to data for the immediate previous month or other previous non-matching months, as any changes in the data within these time periods may be the result of seasonal fluctuations and not economic factors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A reported member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and an international fugitive who was previously arrested in El Paso is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his arrest this week in New Mexico, ICE said in a news release. Leonel Arquimedes Bustamante-Sanchez, 27, was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 20 in Albuquerque, ICE said. He has a past tie to El Paso, where he was arrested in 2023 after he allegedly entered the country illegally. He was served with a notice to appear before an immigration judge and was released on his own recognizance in that incident, ICE said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to ICE, he has an active warrant for his arrest in Bogota, Colombia, where he was sentenced to seven years for trafficking and possessing illegal firearms. Bustamante-Sanchez was arrested after a New Mexico State Police officer recognized his vehicle as one matching the description of a stolen vehicle and then did a traffic stop. ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agents and Enforcement and Removal Operations officers responded to the scene and identified Bustamante-Sanchez as a subject of a criminal investigation targeting Tren de Aragua gang members involved in a multitude of crimes, including murder and drug trafficking, in the Albuquerque area., ICE said. Dont be fooled. Members of this terrorist-designated criminal network are not just involved in low-level crime, HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens said. They are involved in organized violence that devastates their victims and community. HSI, as well as our dedicated law enforcement partners, are joined in our resolute efforts to identify them, arrest them and send them back to their home country where they belong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE said Bustamante-Sanchez will remain in their custody, charged with entering the country illegally. Further criminal charges are pending. This is an HSI-led investigation with the assistance from ERO Albuquerque, the FBI and the New Mexico 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 KTSM 9 News. I was on autopilot last Thursday when I pulled into a gas station in Takoma Park, Maryland, and annoyed with how the pit stop would add time to my commute to CNNs office in Washington, DC. But as I placed the pump in the gas tank, I noticed a man running full tilt toward me. Id barely registered that he looked panicked Maybe he was going to miss the bus? when several things happened at once. As he skidded to a halt in front of pump 1, a black Kia peeled into the station and pulled up level with him. Instantly, the passenger door opened and a man in khakis, a full-face balaclava and a tactical vest jumped out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why were you running? he asked repeatedly in Spanish. He continued to fire off questions, but I only heard the man he was chasing clearly give one answer. Whats your name? the masked man asked. Samuel, he replied. I glanced over the roof of the Kia to see the driver had stepped out and was standing there with a rifle. As we made eye contact, he slid a gaiter over the bridge of his nose. Still, it took my brain a few beats to process what I was seeing: This was an ICE apprehension. The new world we live in My morning commute had just placed me in the middle of President Donald Trumps immigration and deportation crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id never seen an ICE arrest in person only on the news and in videos online. And while its true I didnt know anything about Samuel or witness the interaction that led to him sprinting through the parking lot nothing about this encounter felt official. ICE agents apprehend a man at a gas station just outside Washington, DC. - Chelsea Bailey/CNN For one, the masked men were driving a Kia a family car I dont typically associate with law enforcement. And the SUV had generic Maryland flag license tags. Though they appeared to be law enforcement, I didnt hear them identify themselves. Their tactical gear said police, but they didnt seem to be linked to a particular department or agency, and I couldnt see any badges. While I watched the driver stash the rifle in the trunk of the SUV, I considered grabbing my phone to start recording. But almost as soon as the thought occurred to me, I pushed it away. Im a Black woman in America. Ive seen how filming the cops can escalate even the calmest of situations and this already felt charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, as the first agent cuffed Samuel and demanded to know whether he was legal or illegal, I stood between the pumps and decided to make it overtly clear that I was watching. I rankled when they asked to see Samuels papers. There was once a time when masked men couldve cornered my grandparents and demanded they prove they had a right to be in their own neighborhood. The entire scene felt like history repeating. The pop of the pump disengaging startled me, and I noticed the driver of the only other car at the station had started recording. Emboldened, I slid into my drivers seat, cranked the car and pulled around to take my own pictures. But within seconds, the agents had put Samuel into the back of the Kia and sped away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I got out of my car and walked over to the other witness. Suffice it to say we were both stunned. I think he said his name was Samuel? I said. The man, who told me he was an attorney with a public defenders office, scribbled the name on a legal pad. We both stood there for a beat before he said, This is the new world we live in. I forgot to ask the lawyer his name. What I saw of the arrest lasted less than five minutes, but it felt terrifying and surreal. I never heard the agents tell Samuel why he was being detained. As the masked men put him in the back of the blacked-out SUV, I felt like I was watching someone being kidnapped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dictated notes on my phone as I drove to work and then immediately told my editor and colleagues what Id seen. We agreed it would be a good idea to get the footage from the lawyer and thats when reality began to set in. In my panic and fear, Id forgotten to ask any of the normal journalistic follow-up questions. I only knew the detainees first name, where he was apprehended and that the other bystander said he was a public defender. With little to go on, I began searching for Samuel. Everybody is scared I reached out to ICE to see if they could confirm whether their agents had been active in the area that morning and if theyd detained a man named Samuel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also emailed the public defenders office for Washington, DC, the state of Maryland and nearby Montgomery County. They all agreed to ask around and see if my description of the attorney matched a colleague. Then, I drove back to the gas station. Until recently, Id lived less than 5 miles from where Samuel was apprehended. This side of Takoma Park is a suburban, close-knit, predominately immigrant community. Its also not far from where Kilmar Abrego Garcia was once apprehended at a local Home Depot. The gas station is the kind of place where the attendants warmly greet their regular customers and theres a table for locals to sit and chat while they play the lottery. But the people I spoke to inside werent aware that ICE had been in the area or that someone had been arrested at pump 1. I drove to the U-Haul rental center across the street and asked two day laborers nearby if theyd heard about the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, they said. Although neither man felt comfortable sharing his name with a reporter, both told me theyd heard ICE had apprehended three people in the area that morning. One man was buying coffee when agents stopped him, they said. Another was just looking for work. Everybody is scared everybody, one of them told me. The other showed me a grainy photo of the arrests that were circulating online. Neither knew Samuel. As I drove away, I was struck by the fact that Samuel probably had family and friends in the area who might not hear from him for days or even weeks. Hed left home that morning and essentially disappeared. ICE agents detain the man. - Sagar Vyas A masked ICE agent stands at a gas station in Takoma Park, Maryland. - Chelsea Bailey/CNN An extraordinarily abnormal thing to witness On Friday, I returned to the station to see if the manager had any surveillance footage of the incident. Thats where I met Solomon, an Ethiopian immigrant who won the State Departments diversity visa program lottery 25 years ago and emigrated to America on a green card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN agreed not to share his last name because of his concerns about the current climate toward immigrants. But since arriving in the US, Solomon said hes earned a masters degree and now owns a business. That, he added, is the beauty of America. If somebody comes (and) by chance they can get into this land, lets properly treat them like a human being, he said, adding some people who seek refuge in the US are fleeing war, starvation and poverty. They dont have any hope, Solomon said, but this is a great country its big (on) hope. If people are disciplined and stay away from trouble, you can benefit from that. Later that afternoon, my phone rang. Although I didnt recognize the number, I instantly recognized the mans voice. It was the attorney Id met at the gas station, Sagar Vyas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a proper introduction this time, we began comparing notes on what wed seen. It definitely seemed like one of those old terms from the post-9/11 time like a rendition was happening, Vyas said, referring to the governments extrajudicial practice of capturing and transferring suspects to foreign locations during the war on terror. Vyas told me he typically sits in the drivers seat while hes filling the tank, and he only noticed the men in neck gaiters and camo when he went to hang up the pump. As he grabbed the pen and paper from his briefcase, Vyas said he, as a South Asian man, also debated whether to record the incident. But Vyas said he felt a sense of responsibility. Your parents say when you grow up, When you see an injustice, stand up for them, he said. Those sort of soft voices were in the back of my head. Still, he said he was deliberate about every move he made. While I was moving my car, Vyas said hed asked Samuel for his name, but the agents scolded him. The two agents said something to each other, and they decided to just throw him in the car and take off, he said. Its an extraordinarily abnormal thing to witness. But, Vyas said, later that night he and his wife agreed there is power in simply bearing witness. Its like the adage, a watched pot never boils, he told me. We all need to be pot watchers as a community, as a people, as citizens of this country, he said. If someones not monitoring the situation, he said, its going to boil over. Targeted enforcement operations When I got to my desk on Monday, I had an email from an ICE spokesperson. It read, in part, Samuel Antonio Garcia Apilcano, 35, is an illegal alien from Honduras. According to ICE, hed entered the country in 2023 and, after hed failed to appear at a court date, a judge ordered his removal in absentia. ICE did not state if Samuel had any criminal history, or previous interactions with law enforcement. A CNN public records search didnt return any information on him either. ICE is conducting intelligence-based, targeted enforcement operations in and around the district in an effort to make Washington, D.C. and surrounding communities safe and beautiful again, the statement said. ICE and other federal agents take a delivery driver into custody on August 16 at Union Station in Washington, DC. - Andrew Leyden/Getty Images It took a few days, but it was a small comfort to know ICE officials had located Samuel, given the sparse information I gave them. And ICE impersonations have also been on the rise, so I found it reassuring to know the men I saw were, in fact, DHS agents. But the encounter has made me more curious about ICE enforcement tactics, immigrant rights and what bystanders are legally able to do when theyre caught in the middle. As the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown, its becoming increasingly likely that more Americans could have the same experience I did in their own neighborhoods. Candidly, Im still shocked by what I witnessed. Though I live just outside the district where its not uncommon to see armed federal agents no one expects to see masked men in an unmarked car chasing and detaining someone on their morning commute. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Big Horn National Forest in Wyoming, USA. | Credit: Getty Images Rescuers in Wyoming have abandoned their 20-day hunt for a missing Minnesota man after concluding that his "most optimistic survival odds have run out". Grant Gardner was last seen at the end of July, before embarking on a planned three-day hike in the Big Horn National Forest. Alarm bells were raised on August 1, when he failed to return from his trek in the Misty Moon Lake area, where he planned to scale the 13,171ft (4,015m) Cloud Peak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gardner contacted his wife on July 29 to confirm that he had summited the mountain, but hasn't been heard from since. Rescuers have now decided to end their lengthy search efforts, which included the use of helicopters, planes, ground teams, and dogs. "In consultation with family members, I have made the heartbreaking and difficult decision to suspend active search and rescue operations for Mr. Gardner," Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn said in a statement . "Our teams have exhausted all resources and personnel over the last 20 days. With weather conditions and other factors updated in our search models, we have to face the reality that the most optimistic survival odds have run out. The lengthy search efforts were hampered by violent winds, lightning, thunder, and challenging terrain at altitude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should be noted conditions are extreme and very challenging, at least two rescuers have suffered medical conditions, and have had to receive medical care," an earlier Sheriff's Office report read. The legal fraternity has united in opposition to a recent notification issued by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi on August 13, 2025. The directive designates police stations as venues for recording depositions of police officials via video conferencing, a move that has sparked widespread condemnation across the legal community. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has strongly objected to the notification, labelling it "arbitrary, unlawful, and against the principles of natural justice." In a resolution released by its President and Executive Committee, the SCBA asserted that the directive undermines the sanctity of judicial proceedings, compromises the integrity of trials, and threatens the independence of the judiciary. Pragya Baghel, Honorary Secretary of the SCBA, emphasised that the notification gravely affects the fair administration of justice and runs counter to public interest. She called for its immediate withdrawal in the name of justice and the rule of law. Echoing similar concerns, the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) described the notification as a "direct assault on the principles of fair trial." In a resolution signed by Honorary Secretary Vikram Singh Panwar, the DHCBA warned that permitting depositions from police stations could jeopardise trial outcomes and violate foundational principles of justice. The Association urged the administration to revoke the notification without delay. In response to the directive, all district courts in Delhi observed a complete shutdown on August 22 and 23, 2025. The strike, initiated by the Coordination Committee of All District Bar Associations of Delhi, saw lawyers abstaining from both physical and virtual appearances, effectively halting judicial proceedings across the capital. The Committee had previously written to key officials, including the Lieutenant Governor, Union Home Minister, Union Law Minister, Delhi Chief Minister, and Delhi Home Minister, highlighting that the notification conflicted with a circular issued by the Union Home Secretary on July 15, 2024. With no action taken, the legal community escalated its protest. Tarun Rana, Secretary of the New Delhi Bar Association (NDBA), criticised the directive as "anti-lawyer, anti-justice, and anti-public interest," arguing that recording depositions at police stations would obstruct trials and erode judicial independence. The Coordination Committee is set to reconvene on the evening of August 23 to determine its next course of action. With the SCBA, DHCBA, and district bar associations aligned in resistance, the confrontation between the legal fraternity and the administration is poised to deepen unless the notification is rescinded. (ANI) The International Atomic Energy Agency is launching a four-year coordinated research project on microplastics in seafood to glean more information about this global health concern. What's happening? SeafoodSource described the effort, which is designed to improve microplastic monitoring and learn more about how microplastic pollution affects seafood and human health. "Around 3.1 billion people worldwide rely on seafood as a source of protein. But increasing plastic waste and the resulting microplastic pollution poses a growing threat to the global seafood supply," the IAEA said in a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the organization, its initiative will "develop and validate harmonized analytical protocols to detect and quantify small microplastics (20300 microns) in seafood, starting with mussels." It will then expand the same methodology to other types of seafood, such as marine shrimp and fish. Why is this research important? We already know that microplastics tiny particles that break off from larger plastics have entered the marine food chain, affecting fish and other wildlife. For instance, SeafoodSource cited a study that found them in nearly all tested seafood samples on the U.S. West Coast. Another recent analysis of different protein sources discovered these tiny plastic particles in nearly all of the tested samples, including seafood. While we still don't understand the full scope of how microplastics can affect us, studies have tied exposure to cancer, dementia, impaired blood flow in the brain, and other health problems. What's being done about microplastics? In addition to the new IAEA initiative, some scientists are looking for ways to remove microplastics from the environment. For instance, one team discovered a method to remove them from farm soil by using a type of processed farm waste. Another group is using egg whites to get microplastics out of seawater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While these developments offer hope, it's important that we prevent new microplastics from entering our environment. You can do your part by cutting back on plastic consumption at home. Some easy alternatives to commonly used plastics include reusable water bottles and bar soap. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. A team from the University of Sydney discovered that nature fights back after its bushland camera recorded shocking footage of a native rat species attacking an invasive pest. Jenna Bytheway and Peter Banks, two researchers involved with the project, wrote about their findings for The Conversation and shared a 15-second clip of the event. In the footage, a native water rat stealthily watches an invasive black rat before leaping out from its hiding spot and chasing away the encroacher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bytheway and Banks, who published their findings in the journal Australian Mammalogy, revealed to The Conversation that questions remain about whether the native water rats, or rakali, merely chase invasive black rats or hunt them down to kill them. However, they said rakali have a reputation for killing and eating other rat species when in captivity. The footage could be a hopeful sign that native rodents can help control nuisance rodent populations in major Australian cities, where black rats are increasingly common. These rats pose a major threat to public health. Bytheway and Banks called black rats the "primary host" of rat lungworm, a parasite that (in rare instances) can lead to severe meningitis and be fatal after infection, per NSW Health. Photo Credit: iStock Black rats can also infect humans and pets with leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that can cause flu-like symptoms and organ failure. The researchers warned that pet owners also need to be wary of leptospirosis, as it has recently killed multiple dogs in Sydney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond that, black rats endanger the country's biodiverse ecosystems, which bring in billions of dollars in tourism revenue each year. For instance, the government of Australia's Northern Territory says that black rats may be contributing to declining bird populations in the country, as they prey on bird eggs. To prevent troublesome encounters, the government encourages residents to be proactive by rat-proofing food storage areas and properly securing garbage. Now, the University of Sydney believes the rakali may be another piece of the puzzle. If rakali can naturally control invasive black or brown rat populations, pest control teams could forgo toxic and ecologically harmful rodenticides that also harm beneficial native creatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Evidence is growing that native rodents can help control pest rodents," Bytheway and Banks wrote. "By allowing native rodents to thrive, we may be able to harness their natural behaviours to control invasive pests safely, sustainably and effectively." 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. Residents are worried about emerging plans to build about 75 homes in their village, where a petition opposing the scheme already has 1,000 signatures. Rainier Developments has said it will submit a planning application for a new housing estate in Long Buckby, in Northamptonshire. The petition said: "The quiet village is facing a potential threat to its natural surroundings and community character." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the developer said: "In addition to new homes for local people, our proposals would create new areas of public open space, including a children's play area and new habitat creation." 'Green buffer' The site is about 3.65 hectares (9 acres) of agricultural pastureland which boarders existing homes. Proposals stated the project would include a significant amount of affordable housing, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, A Rainier Developments spokesperson said: "As part of the planning application process, discussions will be undertaken with the council and other service providers on scope and scale of financial contributions required to mitigate the impact of the proposals on local services." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the petition highlighted the potential impact on the character of the village. It said: "Those fields are not only home to a diverse range of wildlife but also serve as a green buffer that helps maintain the rural charm that makes Long Buckby so special." There were also concerns about traffic congestion and the strain extra residents could put on roads, schools, and health facilities. The developer's website, which outlined the proposal, said no planning application had yet been submitted to West Northamptonshire Council. If one is submitted, there will be an opportunity for the public to comment on the plans. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related internet links Some north Belfast residents are still out of their homes after having to spend the night in a council facility because of a security alert, police have said. The alert, which started after a suspicious object was discovered on Friday in the area, is continuing, but some areas have reopened. North Queen Street and Victoria Parade have reopened and some residents have been allowed to return home. Police remain at the scene. Some residents are still out of their homes [PACEMAKER] North Belfast MLA, Caral Ni Chuilin, said she had spoken to residents who had to leave their homes and stay in a council facility overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The safety of the public is paramount," she added. Ni Chuilin paid tribute to Belfast City Council for going "above and beyond" to support residents. "This incident caused a huge amount of undue stress and anxiety for the residents of Victoria Parade who had to leave their homes," she added. She also thanked the emergency services and added that she will meet the Housing Executive to discuss repairs to any properties damaged during the security alert. Ch Insp Pete Cunningham said: "We thank the local community for their patience and understanding during the course of this protracted security operation, in particular every resident who has been affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our primary aim throughout the course of this operation is to keep our community safe. "However, we understand the security operation has caused, and continues to cause significant disruption, but it is required in order to keep people safe. "We will endeavour to work through this situation as quickly as we can and get people back into their homes, but everyone's safety is our top priority and we will not take any risks with that." Aug. 23ROCHESTER Rochester Public Schools this fall will be laser-focused on restoring a habit that many students appear to have lost: Going to class regularly. So this year, RPS is launching a number of initiatives aimed at restoring regular school attendance. They include a pilot program at Kellogg Middle School that uses principles of restorative justice to awaken truant students to the importance of attending school. More commonly used in a criminal justice context, the practice has gained a measure of success in school settings too, advocates say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of relying on punishment or the threat of punishment to bring about improved behavior, restorative justice encourages accountability and healing through dialogue moderated by a neutral third party, advocates say. The one-year pilot will be run by Three Rivers Restorative Justice, a Rochester nonprofit. The focus will be on exploring root causes behind a student's absenteeism and ways in which help can be provided to remove such obstacles. Being bullied, mental health problems, troubles at home, boredom or simply a refusal to attend school are among some of the impediments to regular school attendance, officials say. RPS is paying Three Rivers $20,000 to implement the program. If successful, it could be employed at other schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many point to the corrosive effects of the pandemic and in-school closures as a primary reason why the habit of attending school has eroded. Attendance has slowly improved but is far from where RPS officials want it to be. Rochester is part of a three-year pilot aimed at restoring that norm. The pilot involves a dozen Minnesota districts. In 2024-25, 64.9% of students consistently attended school, meaning that 35.1% were chronically absent, according to district figures, though schools count absences in different ways. That was an improvement over previous years, but still far short of the 90% goal. In 2022, 46.5% of students were chronically absent and in 2023, 36.7% were. The pilot at Kellogg will involve identifying and referring 125 students for the anti-truancy program run by Three Rivers. That number does not embrace all the students who are deemed chronically absent but the ones who have the biggest attendance problem those who are below the 80% attendance mark, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students will gather for eight required meetings, the first four with their parents and the later four focused on skill-building. Students and their parents or guardians meet in a non-heirarchical circle, moderated by two facilitators. As program manager, Smith will monitor all the meetings. The facilitators' role as a neutral party as neither a representative of the school nor the judicial system is to listen and to help find a solution, Smith said. "When we take the school out of it, when we take out the judicial system, we find that the parents and juveniles really want to discuss what's happened or why they're not going to school,'" Smith said. "We don't judge them." Officials say such methods have met with success in districts in Yellow Medicine, Crow Wing and Steele counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RPS also has experience using restorative justice in other problem areas. It was used at Kellogg as an alternative to the school's practice of suspending students for errant behavior, said Angi McAndrews, RPS director of student engagement and school climate, who served as principal there before her current district assignment. Jeff Stilwell, a retired Rochester police officer who now serves as chair of Three Rivers, counted himself a skeptic when first introduced to restorative justice. He was still working as a police officer at the time. Witnessing how it worked in practice in the schools "sold him" on the practice. "I think juvenile justice doesn't have a lot of tools for lower-level crime," Stilwell said. "Truancy isn't really a crime; it's a status offense. You really see what accountability could look like. You really see the value of when people just start talking and working on and building relationships, that you're more likely to find out why that child is being truant than sending an adult from school out there." RPS is also a partner in an anti-truancy program run by the Olmsted County Attorney's Office. First piloted in 2014, the program went districtwide a year later. Before its launch a decade ago, unexcused absences of 60 or more may have been accumulated by a child prior to the filing a truancy petition and court intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our goal is to intervene prior to a child becoming excessively absent," the county attorney's website says. Chronic absenteeism and truancy are not the same thing. Consistent attendance looks at all absences, excused and unexcused, while truancy just looks at unexcused absences. Chronically absent students at Kellogg will no longer be referred to the Olmsted County program unless a student shows no improvement after going through the Three Rivers program, officials say. "The idea is that if we do a better job of representing the family concern and the obstacles that are happening, that we might be able to help family access the resources or supports that they need to help a child get back to school without creating some sort of a criminal pathway for it," McAndrews said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Truancy Intervention Program, introduced by then-Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem, relies on a series of interventions that ratchet up over time to persuade a child to attend school. The interventions begin with a letter from the county attorney's office requiring parent and student to attend an information meeting. It can lead to a petition filed with the court if the student still refuses to attend school. Michael Walters, the current Olmsted County attorney, said some have the mistaken impression that the program is part of a "school-to-prison pipeline." "That's not the case," Walters said. "Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that a kid likes being in court as part of a truancy petition. A truancy petition is not considered a crime. It's not considered a delinquent act or anything like that. But nonetheless, you are talking to a judge, and the judge is ordering you to go to class." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those interventions in the past have helped whittle down the number of truant students to a smaller recalcitrant bunch. Last year, for example, 916 attended the parent information meeting, the first county intervention. The vast majority returned to school enough to avoid truancy petitions that were filed against 74 students. Walters notes that students who improve their attendance and thus avoid further sanctions do not suddenly achieve perfect attendance. "The reality is, especially in the Rochester School District, we're dealing with kids where we're just trying to get their attendance improved, just get them to a better baseline than when we met," Walters said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters said he does not see the pilot program at Kellogg as potentially replacing the county TIP program. "Truancy work has always existed on this kind of continuum," Walters said. "This is just the school administration adding one more layer on that continuum of interventions." Walters noted that chronic absenteeism can be an ever-evolving challenge. One problem that may not have been as evident before the pandemic is in-school absenteeism. That's where a parent drops their child off at school before the first bell and then learns afterward that the child was truant throughout the day. "We have parents understandably saying, 'What can I even do about that? I'm not in the school with them,'" Walters said. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A retired monsignor from El Paso is among the finalists for this years Lumen Christi Award, given out by the Catholic Extension Society. Retired Monsignor Arturo Banuelas is one of eight finalists for the award, which is given to those who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities they serve, according to the Catholic Extension Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Banuelas was picked from 41 nominees. The Catholic Extension Society provides funding and support for isolated and/or financially under-resourced Catholic dioceses in the United States, the group said. Banuelas served as a priest for 46 years before retiring in 2022, according to the El Paso Diocese. He served as pastor at two of the dioceses largest parishes St. Pius X and St. Mark the Evangelist. While at St. Pius X, Banuelas started the Tepeyac Institute which serves as a training ground for laity to serve in ministry. The El Paso Diocese says it is now one of the largest in the nation in that role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve hundred people participated in the first classes offered (at Tepeyac). Thirty-seven years later, 72,000 people have participated in the Tepeyac Institutes formation programs. Further, almost 100 percent of El Pasos parishes have sent their parishioners to Tepeyac. Every parish in El Paso has ministers that have been trained by Tepeyac, according to the Catholic Extension Society. Catholic Extension Society said that what was remarkable about Banuelas was that Tepeyac wasnt even his day job. For years, he guided two of El Paso Dioceces largest parishes, where he had a reputation for being an inspiring speaker who was dedicated to helping the poor. His Sunday homilies were recorded and widely distributed. Many Catholics in El Paso would plan their week around being able to hear Banuelas give his sermon. Award finalists receive $15,000 to support and enhance their ministry. The winner will be given a $100,000 award, split between the honoree and their nominating diocese. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The award recipient will be announced in the fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) A mid-Michigan man has spent his life giving out free backpacks to children in need, making sure no child is left behind. Retired pastor Viol Trice says he started the One Pastor One School Backpack Giveaway in 2002, giving away at least 750 backpacks to children in the Lansing area. Trice says his story started when he was 18 and met an older couple after leaving his home in Arkansas. Viol Trice. (WLNS) I ended up purchasing Lansing Ice and Fuels power washing business, said Trice. As a result of that, I got a list of all of their customers. Frances and Fred was two of the customers that I had obtained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, those two customers suddenly turned into family. Little did I know at the time that they didnt have any children, said Trice. So, as a result of that. I ended up coming to know them, checking on them periodically every week. Twice a week sometimes, just to make sure they were alright. As time went on, the couple passed away and left Trice with the biggest gift he could ever ask for. They had given me an inheritance that I was able to do some of the things that I had struggled in life with, and that was one: Providing backpacks to young people, said Trice. That one small act of kindness is what propelled Trice to help children from underserved communities. The Lansing School District allowed me to come into the schools and provide backpacks for them, said Trice. Provide mentoring, provide a lot of things most kids need today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005, Trice went down to New Orleans to help with the recovery effort and returned to Lansing a few years later. In that time, Trice says other backpack drives popped up, inspired by his actions. Now, to honor Fred and Frances legacies, and Trices work, the city of Lansing has issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 25 Fred and Frances Erb Day. If we give every child the chance to start off the same, then youre gonna have that ability for every child to perform at the same level, said Trice. No one will be left behind. Fred and Frances Erb will be honored for their work on August 25th at City Hall. As for Trice, he plans to celebrate by organizing another big backpack giveaway. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A retired NASA scientist warns that a vital pair of NASA missions is on the chopping block after President Trump released his funding request for the 2026 fiscal year. If the plan is approved, researchers, policymakers, and farmers could lose access to essential data. What's happening? As the Associated Press reported, President Trump's 2026 discretionary funding plan excludes the Orbiting Carbon Observatories from funding requests. NASA said in a statement to the AP that the observatories were "beyond their prime mission." As a result, their projects are slated for cancellation to "align with the president's agenda and budget priorities." Why is this important? The Orbiting Carbon Observatories have deployed satellites that monitor carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere. David Crisp, a retired NASA scientist who helped develop the satellites, told the AP that this "national asset" is more accurate than other global systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has led to breakthrough insights into the health of the planet, including the realization that the Amazon rainforest is beginning to release more carbon than it soaks up. The satellite data can also help scientists predict whether an impending drought could lead to food shortages and contribute to geopolitical unrest, as well as provide further understanding of the impact of efforts to limit human-generated heat-trapping pollution. All of this information helps policymakers prepare to mitigate any potential adverse effects. "This is really critical," Crisp said. "We're learning so much about this rapidly changing planet." What can be done about this? The government's fiscal year doesn't end until Sept. 30, and Congress is in its annual August recess. If you believe in funding the observatories' missions, you still have time to make your voice heard by contacting your representatives. Crisp told the AP that he and other advocates are also pushing for a Senate version of the funding bill that preserves their mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Congress chooses to move forward with stripping funding from the observatories, all may not be lost. NASA is accepting outside funding proposals through Aug. 29, and Crisp said he has teamed up with others to petition for support, including from potential partners in Japan and Europe. However, legal hurdles could remain if a foreign entity is involved. "We're going out to billionaires. We're going out to foundations," Crisp said to the AP. "But ... it's a really, really bad idea to try and push it off onto private industry or private individuals or private donors. It just doesn't make sense." 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. CONNECTICUT (WTNH) The Department of the Interior issued a stop-work order on the Revolution Wind Project on Friday, bringing work on the wind farm off the Rhode Island coast to a halt. The project was expected to bring power to over 350,000 homes in Rhode Island in Connecticut. rsted, the energy company in charge of the project, announced that they would be complying with the order from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and halting all work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2024: Offshore wind projects in New London to become more affordable The Revolution Wind project is 80% complete, according to rsted, with foundations for all offshore turbines installed and 45 of the 65 turbines installed. BOEMs stop-work order cites an Executive Order signed by President Trump as a reason for the stoppage. BOEM is seeking to address concerns related to the protection of national security interests of the United States and prevention of interference with reasonable uses of the exclusive economic zone, the high seas and the territorial seas, the bureau wrote. The project is fully permitted, according to rsted, including its construction and approval letter approved in 2023. Reviews for the project began over nine years ago, according to the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local leaders responded to the stop-work order. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said the work stoppage contradicts what President Trump campaigned for. This political move by the Trump administration will drive up the cost of electricity bills and contradicts everything the administration has told us. It wastes years of state investment in renewable energy designed to diversify our energy supply and lower costs for families and businesses. The project, which was on track to be completed early next year, would have powered more than 350,000 homes across Connecticut and Rhode Island while creating good-paying, clean energy jobs. All of that is now at risk. We are working closely with Rhode Island to save this project because it represents exactly the kind of investment that reduces energy costs, strengthens regional production, and builds a more secure energy future the very goals President Trump claims to support but undermines with this decision. Rep. Joe Courtney (D) released the following statement in regard to the stoppage. The Trump Administrations order to halt the Revolution Wind project without any warning to the contractor, the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as the building trades unions who have been hard at work on the project for years, is a devastating hit to the economy of southern New England, Courtney said. This morning, I have been in contact with rsteds leadership, my colleagues Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo from the state of Rhode Island, New London Mayor Michael Passero, and the building trades who confirmed that this order, if executed, will terminate the jobs of approximately 200 workers in the trades, suppliers, and tug crews. In addition, the order cancels a much-needed expansion of energy capacity for the state of Connecticut at a rate that was negotiated below current wind energy projects. The Connecticut Senate Republicans responded, claiming that the project would increase public benefits charges and electric bills for Connecticut residents. Democrats have passed hundreds of millions of dollars in new public benefits charges that have inflated those bills, while rejected Republican proposals to eliminate the charges. If revolution Wind comes online, it will cause public benefits charges to rise even more. rsted claims the Revolution Wind project employed hundreds of local union workers and has totaled 2 million labor union hours. rsted said it will be investigating potential legal proceedings in the wake of the stop-work 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 WTNH.com. Rhode Island prosecutor who told police they would regret arresting her placed on unpaid leave Its still not clear what the future holds for a prosecutor who told police that they would regret arresting her in a now-viral bodycam video captured outside of a New England restaurant. Rhode Island Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan, who was arrested for trespassing at the Clarke Cooke House on Bannisters Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, will be placed on unpaid leave beginning on Monday, Boston 25 News has learned. Flanagan allegedly refused to leave the restaurant, prompting a police response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flanagan repeatedly told an arresting officer, I want you to turn your body cam off, during the incident," bodycam video shared by police showed. Newport Police Department The officer can then be heard asking a man at the eaterys host station, Do you want them trespassed? The man responds, Anything we can do. The officer then informed Flanagan and another woman that they were trespassing and asked them to leave the area. After some pushback, the officer said, Lets go, and placed Flanagan in handcuffs. Newport Police Department As Flanagan was escorted to a nearby police cruiser, she can be heard in the video yelling, Im an AG! Im an AG! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre going to regret this. Youre going to regret it, Flanagan warned the officer as she was loaded into the cruiser. The police department stated that the officer did not comply with Flanagans request to turn off the body camera, as she was a suspect in the case, not a victim. Newport Police Department Flanagan has worked for the Rhode Island AGs office for seven years, officials said. The incident remains under investigation. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW BJP leader Vijay Goel on Saturday expressed concerns over the implementation of the Supreme Court's directives that stray dogs would be released after sterilisation and immunisation, and dedicated areas for their feeding would be created. Speaking to reporters here, the BJP leader expressed concerns over the "2000 dog bite" cases reported daily and asked if the Supreme Court or NGOs fighting for stray dogs would take responsibility for them. Goel said, "I welcome the Supreme Court's order, but its implementation is very difficult. There are more than 12 crore dogs in the country, and more than 10 lakh dogs in Delhi alone. Every day, 2000 dog bite cases are reported. The Supreme Court has said that every dog should be sterilised and vaccinated... If the dogs bite, will it be the responsibility of the Supreme Court or of those NGOs who shouted and screamed that these stray dogs should remain on the streets?..." Criticising the order, Goel stated that the Supreme Court, in its modified decision, has given "more importance to stray dogs" than to the human race. "Ultimately, they have given more importance to these stray dogs than to the human race. Humans are afraid of giving birth to children, but dogs give birth to four puppies at a time. In the times to come, this will become a city of dogs. Man will go inside their houses due to fear, and dogs will roam freely..." he said. On Friday, the Supreme Court revised its earlier August 11 order on stray animals and ordered their release following sterilisation and immunisation. The Supreme Court clarified that stray dogs infected with rabies or showing aggressive behaviour will not be released back and will be kept separately. "Stray dogs will be released back to the same area after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour," the court ordered. The court ordered that no public feeding of dogs will be allowed, and dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs will be created. It ordered the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) to create feeding areas in municipal wards. It also noted that animal lovers can submit an application to the MCD for the adoption of dogs. (ANI) The Rhode Island assistant attorney general whose arrest went viral earlier this week after she seemingly tried to use her position to evade arrest, telling officers they'd "regret" putting her behind bars, will be placed on unpaid leave. Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan, who was arrested for trespassing, was placed on paid leave after the incident while the Rhode Island Attorney General's office reviewed the matter. Starting Monday, Flanagan will go on unpaid leave, the office told Fox News Digital. It is unclear how long Flanagan will remain on unpaid leave until a final determination is made on her employment. The attorney general's office did not respond to additional questions about its ongoing review of the matter or when it might make a final decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Top Adams Advisor, Donors Charged In Bribery Case; Cuomo Mocks With Potato Chip Stunt State payroll records, according to the Boston Globe, show that Flanagan was making about $113,000 a year in her position as a special assistant attorney general. "I'm an AG! I'm an AG!" Flanagan told police as they tried to detain her for failing to comply with their demands. "You're going to regret this. You're going to regret it. I'm an A-" Flanagan said as she was escorted to the back of a police car and the door was shut. Read On The Fox News App "Good for you, I don't give a s---," one of the arresting officers said at one point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Controversial New Orleans Mayor Indicted For Alleged Illicit Relationship With Taxpayer-funded Bodyguard In a subsequent radio interview after Flanagan's arrest, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha called it "inexcusable behavior" that will likely result in "strong, strong sanction[s]." However, he did note that this isn't the first time he's dealt with a case like this involving his staff. "I've got 110 lawyers. She embarrassed all of them. I haven't had many issues like this while I've been attorney general. I've had a few, and I let one guy go for driving drunk had to bring him back. Well, I didn't have to but did bring him back after I fired him about a year later because, again, I needed somebody to go into a courtroom and try ugly, hard murder cases," Neronha told WPRO Radio. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha called Flanagan's behavior "inexcusable" but said he previously brought back a former attorney who was once arrested for drunken driving. "It's just really hard to find and keep capable lawyers, and so I just have to think really carefully about this one. But no question there will be a strong, strong sanction here." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neronha added that he believed the incident was alcohol-related and noted that doesn't necessarily excuse the behavior. He also said Flanagan had an "unblemished" record working for him, is thought highly of by the state bar association and is taking steps to make amends with the New Port Police Department, including issuing an apology. The attorney general was asked about certain details of the incident, including whether Flanagan was right in telling the officer it was the law that he must turn off his body camera upon request by a citizen. "Im not sure what she was thinking. Clearly, she was not thinking straight," said Neronha, who added that Flanagan was incorrect in her assertion that police officers must shut off their bodycam upon request. "Shes humiliated herself," Neronha added. "Regardless of what happens vis-a-vis her employment with us, shes going to have a long time coming back from this. Its just really unfortunate." Original article source: Rhode Island prosecutor in viral arrest video placed on unpaid leave, job future unclear People visiting Wales' beaches and coasts over the bank holiday weekend are being warned about the possibility of unusually large waves and dangerous sea conditions after a series of rip current rescues. In Pembrokeshire alone 46 people were rescued by RNLI lifeguards earlier this month, including two young children. Meanwhile surf conditions on Monday and Tuesday could see waves reach up to 3m (9.8ft), particularly in south and west Wales, with a bigger risk of rip currents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RNLI is reminding people to visit beaches with lifeguards present where possible. "The forecast at the moment for Monday and Tuesday is quite unusual for this time of year as the swell which results in surf is a lot bigger than usual, said Chris Cousens, RNLI water safety lead. He said it could lead to some places with waves reaching 3m, adding: "If we get to those heights, that is much bigger than we would expect at any time of the year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Cousens said the conditions will create a bigger hazard for those using boats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. "If you're a swimmer there's increased risk of rip currents and waves, if you're walking along the coast, particularly as it's coupled with high tides, there could be water over spilling into areas that wouldn't normally." The warning comes after a spate of rescues all linked to rip currents which included bodyboarders, swimmers and surfers. Between 9 and 15 August the RNLI were called to dozens of incidents at Newgale Beach, Tenby Castle Beach and Freshwater West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Newgale Beach six people were rescued and and further seven assisted in two days from rip currents after most casualties entered the water outside the flagged lifeguard patrol areas. On 12 August RNLI lifeguards rescued 14 people and assisted more than 30 people at the same beach, while at Freshwater West 16 people were rescued and more than 40 were assisted on 8 August. On 11 August lifeguards patrolling at Tenby Castle Beach rescued six people and assisted two people using inflatables who were in difficulty caught in rip currents. The groups were using inflatables and stand-up-paddleboards, the RNLI said, which were getting swept behind St Catherine's Island by the strong currents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other incidents included two young children who started to go underwater after venturing beyond the red and yellow flags on the beach. The RNLI said their parents had been unaware that they were in danger. What is a rip current? Rips are strong currents running out to sea which can quickly drag people from the shallows of the shoreline and out to deeper water. They can reach up to 5mph (8km/h), which is faster than an Olympic swimmer. Rips are especially powerful in larger surf, but the RNLI warns to never underestimate the power of any water. They are also found around river mouths, estuaries and manmade structures like piers and groynes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rip currents can be difficult to spot, but are sometimes identified by a channel of churning, choppy water on the sea's surface. "Big surf means greater risk from rip currents, and the swell also coincides with spring tides, which means more powerful tidal water movement at greater speed," Mr Cousens said. People caught in a rip current are advised to not fight against it, and instead swim parallel to the beach until they are free of the current. If that is not possible then the RNLI says remembering "float to live" is the best thing to do until you can call for help. James Instance, HM Coastguard divisional commander, said: "Conditions in the Atlantic are predicted to mix with high tides to raise the risk in areas which are expected to be busy with visitors during the holidays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is the likelihood of strong waves and currents which could lead to people being swept out, particularly children or vulnerable people. "Please stay aware of the state of the sea and the tide, and follow our simple guidance to ensure you have a fun day and come home safe." What's the forecast over the bank holiday weekend? Analysis by Sabrina Lee, BBC Wales meteorologist Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday itself look to see a good deal of sunshine. Temperatures are set to rise too, potentially reaching 26C in a few spots on Bank Holiday Monday. The remnants of Hurricane Erin look set to affect Wales from late Monday onwards, bringing some wetter and breezier conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of this we do expect the winds to strengthen, which in turn will affect coastal conditions, so it's important to check the forecast. ROCHETSER, N.Y. (WROC) Tiki Week kicks off on Monday, offering a week of rum-focused fun with tropical drinks and events across the city. Ten bars in Rochester are participating, each offering its own twist on the tiki-flavored theme, providing plenty of options for both rum aficionados and newcomers. The week includes a rum tasting seminar on Tuesday at Easy Sailor on Park Avenue, offering attendees the opportunity to explore various rum varieties. Also at Easy Sailor, participants can receive prizes if they are one of the first 100 people to visit each bar and have their passport stamped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years Tiki Week will culminate in the Sundown Swizzle Contest at Marges on Culver Road, where twelve of Rochesters best bartenders will compete for a chance to win a trip to Martinique and the Swizzle Crown. Were going to have a bunch of competitors show up, theyre going to stand where we are right now looking out onto this beautiful beach hopefully as the sun is setting, and theyre going to be swizzling up a couple of cocktails, said Patrick Stetze, Co-owner of Ziggys. Event organizers emphasize that the focus is on community rather than competition, aiming to bring people together through shared enjoyment of tiki culture. Full list of participating locations below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Margess Lakeside Inn, 4909 Culver Rd. Leonores, 703 Park Ave. Jacks Extra Fancy, 825 Atlantic Ave. Bad Ending, 875 Monroe Ave. Poke Sushi, 682 South Ave. Martine, 647 South Ave. The Classic, 263 Park Ave. Ziggys, 127 Railroad St. Pourin Joy, 111 Park Ave. Aqua Vitae, 320 East Ave. For more information, check out @rochestertikiweek on Facebook and Instagram. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Bogdan Boceanu, a Romanian man convicted of stealing EBT benefits from families in Kern County, was sentenced on Friday. Boceanu was sentenced to 16 months in connection to EBT theft. According to court records, he currently has credit for 352 days already served in custody, meaning he could be out after serving time for around 130 more days. Boceanu will also need to pay restitution, according to records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skimming Scheme: The Romanian crime ring stealing EBT benefits in Kern County In May, Boceanu pleaded no contest to grand theft of cards and vandalism. The other nine counts he was originally charged with, including charges related to burglary, grand theft and attempted money laundering, were dismissed. Boceanu was first arrested in July 2024 at the Bank of America in Wasco, where he tried to put a skimmer in the ATM to clone cards. He posted bail and was re-arrested at the Wells Fargo in Delano on an outstanding warrant, according to officials. He was found with 36 cloned EBT cards and more than $4,000 in stolen cash, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three other Romanians accused of EBT theft are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for their arraignment. Two more Romanians are wanted on suspicion of EBT theft Mari-Mar Milica and Fernando Stantu making the total count of Romanians accused of involvement in Kerns Romanian Crime ring stand at seven. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) If youre looking for a change of pace in food options around Morgantown, the answer might be High Streets newest addition. Roots Natural Kitchen, a fast and casual restaurant located at 469 High Street in Morgantown, in-between Primanti Brothers and Chipotle, offers grain bowls and salads. The Roots Natural Kitchen team. (WBOY image) The inspiration for the restaurant came to CEO, Henry Borgeson, and his team almost 10 years ago at the University of Virginia, when the goal was just to create a restaurant they genuinely enjoyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From then on, Roots Natural Kitchen has expanded to multiple locations, specifically college towns, to help provide students with the fuel needed to get through the school year. Morgantown High Schools menu items raise nutrition concerns 12 News spoke with Borgeson on the importance of offering a healthy alternative for students and community members in college towns. When we go look at these university strips, its still the same, where theres a lot of bars, theres a lot of burgers, theres a lot of pizza, but that stuff leaves you feeling lethargic, or it leaves you feeling not that good, Borgeson said. And even though it tastes greatits nice to eat food that tastes good while youre eating it, and also still, you can feel good about yourself and still feel good about your studies afterwards. We love being that option for people, that helps fuel their day and leave them feeling good all the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roots Natural Kitchen offers 10 signature bowls alongside your own bowl or salad creation. The restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. during weekdays and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the weekends. You can find more information and a full menu on Roots Natural Kitchens 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 WBOY.com. Rosie O'Donnell has long been a supporter of incarcerated brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez. In fact, during an April interview with the New York Times, O'Donnell revealed that she has formed a surprising friendship with Lyle. The former talk show host shared that her 1996 interview with Larry King, in which she spoke out in support of the Menendez brothers, telling King that she believed they acted in self-defense, led to this unlikely friendship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here we are, nearly 30 years later, and O'Donnell's stance has not changed. Lyle's parole denial was announced on Friday, August 22, just one day after his brother, Erik, was also denied by the same parole board. The following day, O'Donnell shared an Instagram post that said, "Free the Menendez brothers." Erik and Lyle Menendez's Parole Denied for the Same Reason Menendez brothers' supporters were hopeful that Erik and Lyle would be released sooner rather than later after a judge reduced both their sentences in May 2025 from life in prison without parole to 50 years to life. The move made the notorious brothers eligible for parole immediately, as they had already served nearly 30 years in prison for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Erik's denial came first after meeting with the parole board on Thursday at the Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. The LA Times reported the reason for the denial was his behavior behind bars, with the commission citing a series of violations that include fights, drug and alcohol use, and his involvement in a tax fraud scheme while behind bars. Lyle met with the same parole board the following day and was denied for the same reason: failure to follow the rules in prison. Lyle had unauthorized access to a cell phone for years, to the point that he lost the privilege of family visits in 2024, reports NBC Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the parole board's decision, the Menendez brothers' parole will be revisited in three years. Other Celebrities Who Have Shown Support For the Menendez Brothers O'Donnell isn't alone in her support for Erik and Lyle Menendez. Many other celebrities have spoken out, asking that the brothers be released from prison. Sunny Hostin has discussed the case and shown her support for the brothers on The View. Kim Kardashian has also been vocal about her support for the release of the Menendez brothers. "I have spent time with Lyle and Erik; they are not monsters. They are kind, intelligent, and honest men. In prison, they both have exemplary disciplinary records," Kardashian wrote in a personal essay for NBC Newsin October 2024. They have earned multiple college degrees, worked as caregivers for elderly incarcerated individuals in hospice, and been mentors in college programs committed to giving back to others. When I visited the prison three weeks ago, one of the wardens told me he would feel comfortable having them as neighbors." Related: Rosie O'Donnell Sends Bold Message After Diddy Trial Verdict This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Rowan University has announced its 2025-2026 Marie Rader Series titled A World at Home, that features five performances spanning childrens theater, cultural dance, classical music and popular film scores The events take place at the universitys Pfleeger Concert Hall and tickets are already available. The series begins with The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System on Sept. 20. This TheaterWorksUSA production brings the educational characters to life as Ms. Frizzle guides her class through the planets on an interplanetary field trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 60-minute show, recommended for ages 4 to 10, will be performed at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. For tickets, click here. The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System comes to Rowan University on Sept. 20. On Nov. 2, the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company presents Dia de Muertos, a performance that celebrates Mexican-American culture through folk and classical music and dance. The production tells the story of a couple separated by treachery, with one entering Mictlan, the Aztec mythological underworld ruled by Queen Catrina. For tickets, click here. Ragamala Dance Companys Sacred Earth will be performed at Rowan University on Jan. 31, 2026. The new year brings Ragamala Dance Companys Sacred Earth on Jan. 31. This performance features Bharatanatyam dancers accompanied by live music, creating what organizers describe as a sacred space to honor the divinity in the natural world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The production draws inspiration from Indian art forms including kolam rice flour ritual and indigenous Warli painting. For tickets, click here. On Feb. 28, Mnozil Brass will present Strau$$, showcasing the seven-member ensembles ability to move seamlessly between musical genres. The performance celebrates Johann Strauss, known as the King of the Waltz, whose compositions revolutionized music distribution in his era. For tickets, click here. On Feb. 28, Mnozil Brass will present Strau$$ at Rowan University. The series concludes with Blockbusters in the Burbs by The Philly Pops on March 14. Under the direction of newly appointed Music Director Chris Dragon, the orchestra will perform beloved cinematic scores in what organizers are promoting as an encore performance. For tickets, click here. The Philly Pops will present "Blockbusters in the Burbs at Rowan University on March 14. Tickets for all performances are now on sale, with general admission ranging from $30-$35 and discounted rates available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children 12 and younger can attend the family-friendly fall performances for free with a required ticket, while those 18 and younger can attend the remaining shows for $10. All performances will take place at Pfleeger Concert Hall, which offers free parking and wheelchair accessibility. Concessions will be available for purchase at all events. The series is supported by the Henry M. Rowan Family Foundation through the Marie Rader Memorial Fund and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. * * * Questions about this post may be directed to Linda OBrien at lobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff. Six workers who died in what authorities suspect was exposure to gas at a dairy farm include a 50-year-old father and two sons, an incident that left rural Colorado communities in mourning. Weld County Chief Deputy Coroner Jolene Weiner on Friday confirmed the identities of the deceased all Hispanic males, including four members of an extended family. Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, of Nunn, died along with his 17-year-old son Oscar Espinoza Leos a high school student and a second son, 29-year-old Carlos Espinoza Prado of Evans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Espinozas are related by marriage to another 36-year-old victim from Greeley Jorge Sanchez Pena, Weiner said. Organizers with a support network for food workers told the Denver Post that the four relatives repaired machinery at various dairies in and near Keenesburg, Colorado, where they were found dead Wednesday evening. They were extremely hardworking and humble, said Tomi Rodriguez, an outreach worker for Project Protect Food System Workers. They were a very united family. The Weld County Coroner's Office identified the other deceased Colorado residents as Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, and Noe Montanez Casanas, 32, both of Keenesburg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Words of condolences for the six flooded online message boards while flyers advertised a dance, hair cuts and a car wash over the weekend to benefit their families. Their bodies were recovered by emergency responders at a dairy farm in Kennesburg, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Denver. Project Protect personnel said the two men outside the extended family lived on the grounds of the dairy in employer-provided housing, according to the Denver Post. The coroner's office is investigating the deaths as the possible consequence of gas exposure in a confined space. The office on Friday said autopsies have been completed on all six people, but it was awaiting the results of further testing to determine exactly how they died. Weld County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Melissa Chesmore has said the agency didn't find anything that would indicate a crime took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement County tax records say the property is owned by Prospect Valley Dairy LLC and list a Bakersfield, California, address for the owners. The Associated Press left phone messages this week at a number listed for the California address. Weld County is a major agricultural producer. Three-quarters of its land is devoted to farming and raising livestock. Its Colorados leading dairy producer and the states biggest source of beef cattle, grain and sugar beets. Census data from 2020 shows 30% of the county was Hispanic or Latino, compared to 22% for the state overall. As health care services become more difficult to access, chronic conditions rise and lead to more complicated pregnancies (Naomi O'Donnell/The Beacon). For Dr. Kelsey Davis-Humes, practicing medicine in rural Missouri is a way of life. Shes on call almost constantly in northeast Missouris Scotland County, where she cares for patients from their birth until their death. As an osteopath practicing in a rural community, part of her job includes caring for patients throughout their pregnancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do inpatient hospital coverage, Davis-Humes said. I deliver babies and do womens health. I do pediatric care, newborn care. I am in the clinic. I go to the nursing home. While her area hasnt lost an obstetrics unit in recent years, Davis-Humes has seen the impact on the state as a whole as pregnancy care becomes more difficult to access. Missouri has lost 11 obstetric units since 2009, with seven of those in rural parts of the state, a report from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center found. The closure of hospital obstetric units means women have to travel farther for their appointments and their deliveries. As the units have closed, more parts of the state have fallen into maternity care deserts areas without access to birth units or maternity care providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on 2023 data, Missouri is marked by more maternity care deserts than the nation as a whole. March of Dimes data shows that 41.7% of Missouris counties are classified as maternity care deserts, compared to 32.6% nationwide. Part of the problem for rural providers? Medicaid payments. The government-sponsored health insurance plans do not reimburse obstetric care fully, meaning for every baby they deliver, the hospital takes a loss. Every hospital who does birth services loses money, said Alison Williams, vice president of clinical quality improvement at the Missouri Hospital Association. Williams also leads Missouris Perinatal Quality Collaborative, a statewide task force dedicated to improving outcomes for moms and babies across the state. In Missouri, about 40% of the states births were covered by Medicaid in 2023, KFF data shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Medicaid cuts under President Donald Trumps budget plan begin to materialize, anywhere from 130,000 to 170,000 Missourians are expected to lose their coverage over the next five years. The budget also changes how states can pay for Medicaid patients and how much. We are going to be paid less, said Craig Thompson, the CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton. That could put rural hospitals with obstetric units at higher risk when it comes to continuing to offer their services, and will require more creative thinking from Missouri and its health care providers. Rural Missouris maternity care shortage Missouris health care challenges are compounded when it comes to maternity care. As health care services become more difficult to access, chronic conditions rise and lead to more complicated pregnancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, obstetric providers and care teams must be prepared to take on more high-risk pregnancies. In Missouri, 68.7% of counties have a high burden of chronic health conditions and a high rate of preterm births, March of Dimes data shows, higher than the nationwide average. An estimated 45.5% of women living in Missouri had one or more chronic health conditions, compared to 37.8% nationwide. In general, you see more high-risk patients, Davis-Humes said. People are sicker, theyre more unhealthy, so we just see more patients that have more of these high risk conditions during their pregnancy. An added layer is the growing distance that rural women in Missouri must travel to get their care. Women living in maternity deserts just over 40% of the counties in Missouri have to travel 3.6 times farther than women living in areas with full access to maternity care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means things like prenatal care and regular checkups are even farther out of reach, and missing appointments raises the risk during pregnancy even more. Thats showing up in Clinton and impacting how Thompson and his team think about maternity care. At their hospital, 63% of about 350 deliveries that happen every year are considered high-risk. Many Medicaid patients dont have access to transportation, either they cannot afford transportation or there is no public transportation in rural Missouri, Thompson said. So without transportation access, people dont have the ability to access that prenatal care, which then causes poor birth outcomes. And with high-risk pregnancies, soon-to-be moms in rural areas are drawn to more robust hospital systems with more speciality providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The downside to that, Williams said, is people who have the ability to travel to a larger hospital often take their commercial insurance with them, driving up the rate of deliveries that are covered by Medicaid for their nearby hospital and making it even harder to continue providing labor and delivery services. It creates an even larger, disproportionate share of Medicaid and vulnerable patients, or patients who dont end up engaging in prenatal services, Williams said. As a hospital leader, Thompson and his team are committed to continuing to provide obstetric services in their hospital. But because so many of their births are covered by Medicaid and cost more than what they are paid, they rely on other services to cover that loss. If we were to look at those services on their own, they would be a significant financial drain to the system, Thompson said. We are kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul, to some extent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plus, obstetricians and gynecologists, like most other medical providers, are looking for work-life balance, such as splitting their patient loads with multiple providers and other upsides that often come with working in a more populated area. It can be difficult for rural providers to balance all of those needs, especially since monitoring labor and deliveries are so sporadic. If you have enough providers, you will likely have enough (patient) volume, Williams said of rural providers looking to keep their birth units open. The challenge is making sure you can maintain enough providers to where they have that work-life balance. What do health leaders want to see for OB-GYN providers moving forward? As providers look to fill the gaps in maternal care, theyre leaning on innovative ways to ensure that every Missouri mother has access to adequate care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, providers in Harrison County, which sits in northwest Missouri along the Iowa border, created a partnership with North Kansas City Hospital for labor and deliveries. Expecting mothers get prenatal care in the county, but travel to Kansas City for their deliveries. Afterward, patients are handed back to their providers in Harrison County. Those types of partnerships are key to ensuring that mothers are followed every step of the way throughout their pregnancies, Williams said. Creating similar partnerships is one of the states goals moving forward. Its important to have that good flow of prenatal records, Williams said. Its important to have that connectivity, that handoff for the patient, so the patient feels like people know whats going on with their care. The state is also focusing on recruitment and retention as part of the path to solving the problem. Davis-Humes mentors many aspiring doctors, who say that the workload of being on call constantly in rural communities is a deterrent for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve got to have people that are willing to come to an area and wear multiple hats, and also be willing to be called in in the middle of the night, too, she said. But she also wants to see more unique ways of encouraging rural providers to continue providing a service that makes them lose money. I think the state needs to put their money where their mouth is, Davis-Humes said. We keep seeing all these birth centers close. We keep seeing that OB has a hard time making money I think there should be some type of reward there, she said. You keep your OB center open, every year you get some sort of incentive from the state that says Thank you were going to help support you so you can continue to keep that OB unit open. Although hospital executives are expecting to reassess their finances and the services they provide in the coming years as a result of Medicaid cuts, they are encouraged that they are seeing a new willingness to discuss the financial difficulties rural providers face. At some point, there has got to be real reform around reimbursement for rural health care services, Thompson said. Were just not the same as our urban and suburban counterparts. This article first appeared on Beacon: Missouri and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. (Reuters) -Russian air defences on Saturday downed a drone headed for Moscow and specialists were examining fragments on the ground, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram. Several airports in central Russia suspended operations because of concerns over safe airspace, Russia's air transport agency Rosaviatsia said. In a series of announcements over several hours, Rosaviatsia said operations had been suspended at airports in Izhevsk, Nizhniy Nolvgorod, Samara, Penza, Tambov and Ulyanovsk, east and southeast of Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials at the airport in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, were quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that dozens of flights had been delayed. Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defence units had intercepted and destroyed 32 drones in a three-hour period over a number of areas in the centre of the country. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Diane Craft and Andrea Ricci) A Ukrainian man arrested in Italy this week over the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream underwater gas pipelines from Russia to Europe on Friday refused to be extradited to Germany, reports said. The 49-year-old man -- identified as Serhii K. by Italian prosecutors but named as Sehrii Kuznetsov in the media -- was detained on Thursday, accused of being part of a cell of Ukrainians who placed explosive devices on the pipeline in September 2022. Nord Stream had long been controversial for allowing Russian gas to bypass eastern European transit routes and leaving Germany overly reliant on cheap energy from Moscow. His was the first arrest in the case, which is politically sensitive given Russia's February 2022 all-out invasion of Ukraine, and Western support for Ukraine's fightback. Through a Ukrainian translator, the man told the Bologna court he refused Germany's extradition request and said he was in Ukraine at the time of the Nord Stream explosions, the Ansa news agency reported. It said his next hearing was scheduled for September 3, with him remaining in custody until then. Serhii K. was arrested in the early hours of Thursday in a bungalow in the Italian province of Rimini on a European arrest warrant. German investigations pointed to a Ukrainian cell of five men and one woman as the perpetrators of the pipeline blasts. The cell members were believed to have chartered a yacht to carry out the attack, according to Der Spiegel magazine and other media. German prosecutors said Serhii K. had used forged identity documents to hire the yacht, which departed from the German city Rostock to carry out the attacks. When the Nord Stream explosions happened, Western powers were quick to point the finger at Russia, which was under sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. But Moscow in turn pointed the finger at Ukraine. German prosecutors last year issued an arrest warrant for another Ukrainian man, named as Volodymyr Z., a diving instructor whose last known address was in Poland. He was suspected of being one of the divers who planted the explosive devices in an operation that also involved a married couple who ran a diving school, according to public broadcaster ARD and other media. The case is awkward for Germany and Ukraine, as Berlin has strongly backed Kyiv in its fight against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his government knew nothing about any plan to blow up the pipelines. Following the Supreme Court's recent order issued on Friday on stray dogs, residents in Delhi's Saket area and the local RWA (Resident Welfare Association) raised strong objections, highlighting that the order does not guarantee public safety and the situation remain the same as it used to be. The Supreme Court recently ruled that only stray dogs showing aggressive behaviour or those infected with rabies should be kept in the shelters. All other dogs, once vaccinated and immunised, must be released back into the area from where they were picked up. The court stated that dogs should not be removed from their natural environment unnecessarily. In Saket, residents questioned how authorities would determine if a dog is aggressive and who would decide if it would attack. The resident said the Supreme Court's order does not address the ground reality, as news about incidents of stray dogs attacking children and the elderly continue to be reported from parks and streets. They also raised concerns about the implementation of the Supreme Court's order to create dedicated feeding zones for the dogs. They said that he court has asked the MCD to set up feeding points, but who will ensure they actually do it? They pointed out that the court had earlier ordered the MCD to remove encroachments from footpaths, but no action was taken on the ground. On the other hand, some people have welcomed the Supreme Court's order, calling it balanced. They said that stray dogs are also part of society and they have the right to live. Sending them to shelters forcefully is inhuman and unnecessary. With proper vaccination and sterilisation, they believe the issue can be managed more effectively. An RWA member from Saket stated, "We want the government and municipal authorities to come up with a roadmap that ensures the safety of both people and animals." Earlier, the Supreme Court on Friday modified its earlier order regarding the management of stray dogs in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), directing that the animals be released back into the same area after sterilisation and immunisation. The apex court clarified that stray dogs infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour will not be released and will instead be kept in confinement. "Stray dogs will be released back to the same area after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour," the court said in its revised directive. (ANI) Annie Lewis Marffy, a 69-year-old volunteer, was killed in Donetsk Oblast by a Russian drone strike in June 2025. Her body cannot be recovered due to ongoing fighting, and her relatives have appealed to the authorities for a death certificate. Source: BBC and Sky News, citing a report from the Kramatorsk District Police Department Details: Lewis Marffy worked for the UK-based humanitarian organisation Aid Ukraine. She travelled to Ukraine from Poland in a car loaded with humanitarian aid at the end of May. Initially, she was accompanied by a former soldier from Wales who had to remain outside Ukraine due to illness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her son said she had been in daily contact with her family and "was excited, happy to be doing something meaningful". Lewis Marffy told her relatives that she had entered Ukraine on 4 June. Communication with her family ceased on 8 June. Aid Ukraine representatives said the British volunteer had been offered the option to deliver the aid to Lviv, but she had insisted on continuing her way to Kramatorsk. Police reports indicate that Lewis Marffy set out along the Bakhmut road on 11 June, known as the "kill zone" due to its proximity to the line of contact. She parked her car at the roadside when a Russian drone struck it. She suffered fatal injuries. Her body remains in an active combat zone and cannot yet be recovered for forensic examination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family of the deceased volunteer said they had contacted the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local authorities and the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to obtain Lewis Marffys death certificate. They explained that without the document, they cannot properly mourn her or begin the process of handling her estate. "She was brave, capable and determined, but we never wanted her to go. We were worried [...] I never saw her scared, she was totally fearless and maybe that's contributed to her death in some way. She was a force and it was her decision. We're not looking to blame anyone," shared Charlie Lewis Marffy, her son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that his mother had travelled widely and "was amazing, witty, kind, intelligent, adventurous". Lewis Marffy filmed documentaries, helped out at soup and refugee kitchens and loved animals. "I feel very sad that she's not here anymore but I'm very proud of who she was," he said. Background: Earlier, a volunteer from Australia working with a humanitarian organisation was killed near the town of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A Russian serviceman has claimed asylum after being detained in the border region of Finnmark in Norway for illegally crossing the border. Source: Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, citing Trond Biti, the serviceman's lawyer, as reported by European Pravda Details: Biti said the detainee is a Russian citizen, a former soldier who fought against Ukraine. Quote from Biti: "He crossed the border on foot by climbing over a fence. When he found himself on Norwegian territory, he tried to make contact with the Norwegian authorities where he was." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Biti added that his client will go through the standard asylum application review procedure. Background: On 22 August, it was reported that the Russian serviceman had been detained after illegally crossing into Norway. His lawyer said he had undergone questioning several times. This is not the first time Russian servicemen or fighters have claimed asylum in Norway. In early 2023, a Russian thought to have defected from a high-ranking post in the Wagner Group fled to Norway, later making headlines after a bar brawl. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A week after Donald Trump applauded Vladimir Putin down the red carpet in Alaska, and days after an unprecedented summit of European leaders at the White House, the American president came crashing down to earth on Friday. Im not happy about it, and Im not happy about anything having to do with that war, he told reporters who asked about an American factory in Ukraine being hit by a Russian strike. For all the pomp and pageantry, spectacles and summitry of the past week, analysts say the underlying reality of the war has not changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia is still bombing Ukraine and in the past few days Moscow has put up more roadblocks to peace. A summit between Russian and Ukrainian leaders seems as far away as ever. Firefighters after a Russian air strike in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, on Friday - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images The question now is whether the summit in Alaska and the gathering at the White House could still be the start of a long, grinding path towards peace, or whether spectacle is no substitute for substance. I dont know. Im really not sure, said a retired senior State Department official. Its been one step backwards and one step forwards. Last Friday, Mr Trump made an effort to kickstart talks by meeting Putin in Alaska. On Monday, Volodomyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, came to the White House, accompanied by six European leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump appeared willing to offer US security guarantees for Ukraine, if a peace deal could be struck. That was a major step forward for Kyiv and its European allies. And he even said that Putin agreed to accept security guarantees. Donald Trump meeting European leaders, including Volodymyr Zelensky (second from left) and Sir Keir Starmer (far right) in the White House - White House Mr Trumps optimism was caught on a hot mic on Monday. I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand, as crazy as it sounds, he told Emmanuel Macron, the French president. Leaders in the room including Sir Keir Starmer, Italys Giorgia Meloni, Germanys Friedrich Merz and Finlands Alexander Stubb came away thinking they had done enough to cancel out any advantage Putin might have gained, and enthused about the way that Mr Trump was committed to the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior European diplomat said Mr Trump had placed his hand in the mangle. Hes invested political capital in reaching a deal and committed to the US making a contribution to security guarantees, he said. But since then, Mr Trump has rowed back on any suggestion of American troops taking part in a security force. And Russia made clear that any security guarantees would be subject to a Russian veto a rather more complicated position than Mr Trump announced after Alaska. Vladimir Putin has rowed back on promises to accept a US security guarantee for Ukraine after a ceasefire - Gavriil Grigorov/AFP via Getty Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said: Moscow wont agree with collective security guarantees negotiated without Russia Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia will accept if the security guarantees to Ukraine are provided on equal basis with the participation of countries like China, the United States, the United Kingdom and France. John Herbst, former US ambassador to Ukraine, said the Trump administration had made a serious tactical error earlier in the month when it ditched a deadline for secondary sanctions and began planning for the Alaska summit. They pivoted from pressure on Russia to talking to Russia about their supposed flexibility right now, he said. This was not a good look from the very beginning, because you dont let your red lines fall to the side. However, the historic assembly of European leaders on Monday meant Putin was not having it all his own way, added Mr Herbst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the Europeans showing up was critical. Trump has really good relations with Stubb and Meloni, and good relations with Starmer and Macron and Merz. And so that means his friendliness to Putin is offset by this, he said. You didnt have it to this degree at any time in the first term. Thats an important factor. A Russian air strike this week hit a US factory in Ukraine manufacturing civilian electronics - Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration/Anadolu via Getty Even so, Russia flexed its military muscle on Wednesday night, launching a rare drone and missile strike on Western Ukraine and hitting targets that included an American-owned electronics plant. Mr Trump responded with a cryptic social media post. It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invaders country, he posted on Truth Social, blasting his predecessor for limiting Ukraines ability to hit at Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Was he announcing a significant shift in policy, urging Kyiv to take the war to Russian soil? Or was it a sign of frustration as hopes of breakthrough evaporated almost as quickly as they had emerged? Its just an observation, said Steven Cheung, White House communications director. Dont read too much into it. A day later, Mr Trump gave a clearer outline of his plan, or lack of one, falling back on one of his favourite stalling techniques the two-week deadline. Well see what happens, he said of the war. I think over the next two weeks, were going to find out which way its going to go. And I better be very happy. 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. Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 49 drones on the night of 22-23 August. A total of 36 UAVs have been destroyed or jammed. Source: Ukraine's Air Force Details: Hits by 13 UAVs were recorded in seven locations in Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy oblasts. Background: On the night of 22-23 August, explosions were heard in Konotop in Sumy Oblast while an air-raid warning was in effect. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A 61-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were killed in Russian attacks on the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast on 22 August. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Details: In addition, a 54-year-old man and three women aged 53, 57 and 65 were injured in Kupiansk. A 62-year-old woman was injured in the village of Kurhanne in the Vilkhuvatka hromada. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to that, in the early hours of 22 August, one person was killed and three injured in the same village. The Russians actively used various types of weapons to attack Kharkiv Oblast. They used a guided bomb, a Molniya drone and two other unidentified UAVs over the past day. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (FOX40.COM) A teacher who taught at an elementary school in Sacramento was sentenced on Friday for sexual assault against several children, according to the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office. Video Above: How to report a public safety threat The defendant, Kim Wilson, 64, was a longtime teacher at Del Paso Heights Elementary School. He also established a media/broadcasting club for students, which had its own designated room assigned to the club. The DA said that throughout his tenure, Wilson took female students to the private broadcasting room alone. While in the room, he committed sex acts on the students, often photographing or recording the sex acts. Camping World CEO doubles down on not removing American flag from business amid lawsuits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While most of the sexual assaults occurred in the school broadcasting room, some of the victims were also assaulted at Wilsons home during events he hosted, according to the DA. Upon learning about the sexual assaults, Sacramento police detectives searched Wilsons home. There, officers found child-sized sex toys, including child-sized artificial genitalia and a child-sized torso with artificial genitalia. Additionally, detectives said they found a substantial amount of VHS tapes, DVDs, and other digital storage devices containing videos depicting Wilson sexually assaulting his students. The videos reportedly spanned multiple years with numerous students. Son fatally shoots mom in NorCal before turning gun on himself, deputies say On Feb 25, 2025, Wilson pled guilty to nine counts of committing lewd acts upon a child. Wilson also admitted to multiple allegations of multiple victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Satnam Rattu sentenced Kim Kenneth Wilson to 215 years to life in prison on Friday. The DA said that under current California law, Wilson will become eligible for release at an Elder Parole hearing once he has served only 20 years of his 215-year-to-life sentence. With his in-custody credits, that could be about 17 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 FOX40 News. Catherine Deneuve, a bewitching blend of seduction and vulnerability in the 1967 surrealist masterpiece Belle de Jour, in virginal white lace lingerie or entirely exposed of flesh, a concoction as potent and heady as a cloud of Shalimar. Then theres Brigitte Bardot in And God Created Women (actually Bridgitte Bardot in just about anything from the 1960s), hair as tousled as the bedsheets wrapped around her naked frame and not much else. Bridgitte Bardot was known for her ability to dress to seduce without being vulgar - Getty Jane Birkin surely an honorary French woman thanks to her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, the most French of all French men cemented her mythic allure in the 70s due to her ability to look cool and gamine in gauzy, see-through minidresses. Or lets hear it for the boys Alain Delon in 1960s Purple Noon, navigating skullduggery and murder in little but his swim trunks and an Ischian backdrop. Jane Birkin cemented her allure in the 1970s due to her ability to look both stylish and sexy at the same time - Getty The golden era of French cinema that is, the sun-drenched, rose-tinted idyll of the 1960s and 70s, where flesh was for feasting the eyes on, and censorship and #problematic themes were non-existent was hallmarked by the nations eagerness towards disrobing. So what those icons would say today at a recent clamping down on revealing attire, even in the sultry heat of summer, would no doubt raise some expletives over the Gitanes and pastis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks ago, The Telegraph reported that local councils in the countrys more sunkissed locales are banning exposed flesh. So our destination expert reports, its a problem endemic to loutish tourists and applies particularly to those who freely go undressed off the beach, with local councils issuing fines for beer bellies on display and bosoms in the breeze. On this note, few could disagree; does anyone want to enjoy a Nicoise salad and chilled glass of Provencal rose in sight of a Brit with his shirt undone to here? And yet the issue of nudity and the French sensibility has become a thorny (or horny?) issue in recent months a beach in the South of France ordered women to put their bikini tops back on, to huge outcry. This summer, a cloud (or rather, a long-sleeved gown) cast a shadow over the dress code at the Cannes Film Festival when it was decreed that revealing outfits would not be allowed on accounts of decency. Sacre bleu, the bare backside cheek of it all. Bella Hadid sported a sheer Saint Laurent dress for the premiere of The Apprentice at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival - Getty Which is a curiosite, non? Given that French fashions particular nous has always been about provocation and seduction, reveal and conceal, barely there and yet unattainable, its strange to begin decreeing in 2025 how much flesh someone can expose. Where would the nations culture be without the highkicking theatrics of the Moulin Rouge, the be-feathered fancies of the Folie Berge or the Roaring Twenties raucousness of Josephine Baker, who broke boundaries and hearts in her own way, one headdress and bejewelled brassiere at a time? French fashion has always been enthral to a sense of seduction and the art of the titivating reveal without Eurotrash-era full frontal vulgarity (well, depending on your views of Jean Paul Gaultier, but more on that later). Its the opposite of end-of-the-pier brashness and let-it-all-hang-out slovenliness; instead something more nuanced and thoughtful. Jean Paul Gaultier, here with Dita Von Teese, is the king of risque outfits - Getty Monsieur Dior might have caused outrage in 1947 when he debuted his New Look all that scandalous acreage of fabric and indulgent full skirtage after years of austerity in true French style there were protests) but the designers that have defined the countrys couture in the years following did so with a knowing wink to what toes the line between sex and sensuality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yves Saint Laurent Diors predecessor after his untimely passing in 1957 knew its power and its appeal amongst his customer base. His Le Smoking tuxedo might have been crafted in the image of mens black tie, but its particular USP was entirely feminine; sculptural of hip, powerful of shoulder and, as era-defining imagery by the erotically-charged Helmut Newton on the darkened streets of Saint-Germain in the late 1960s, worn with nothing but a bra underneath. So scandalous was its creation that legendary muse and Saint Laurent couture patron Nan Kempner was denied access to a WASPish Manhattan restaurant at the time she stripped the trousers off and wore the jacket with her lingerie. French fashion designers, like the late Yves Saint Laurent (his autumn/winter 1978 haute couture show pictured here), have an eye for highlighting the female form - Getty Saint Laurent defined French fashion across part of the 20th century, and his aesthetic was one that celebrated the female form; cutaway panelling, sheer blouses worn with nothing underneath and off-the-shoulder bohemianism. That shock value parlayed into his fragrance adverts; Saint Laurent himself posed naked for the Pour Homme campaign in 1971 something his life partner Pierre Berge described as a provocation towards the world and later Tom Ford would cause uproar by casting Sophie Dahl entirely naked in one fragrance advert, the milky expanse of flesh in contrast to her Titian curls, and a full frontal male model nude in another. Ooh la la. To this day, Yves Saint Laurent collections still err on the side of seductive - Getty Later iterations during Tom Fords era at Yves Saint Laurent, when the Texan designer was straddling both the French house and Gucci, toyed with that notion in collections that proposed lingerie-as-outerwear. Jean-Paul Gaultier its almost impossible to not prefix him as the enfant terrible of French fashion sent up the saucy side of Gallic style and the after dark demi-monde with his take on corsetry, turbo-charged and lethally angular, famously incarnated by Madonna during her 90s Vogue era. She would also grace his catwalks entirely topless in a bra-less bra, breasts on full display. Some of the countrys most stylish actresses know how to perfect this balance between eroticism and elegance; see Emily in Paris Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu in plunging necklines and Charlotte Gainsbourg in dresses slashed to the thigh. Madonna was a big champion of Jean Paul Gaultiers conical bra corset - Getty Emily in Paris actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu also knows how to balance eroticism with elegance - Getty Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Pauline Cochet Dallet, a French fashion PR and brand consultant (and former Paris resident), its a matter of ease rather than overt sexualisation; French women tend to dress in a way thats sexy but comfortable, in a way thats for them rather than dressing for a man, she says. Its a natural kind of seduction, rather than something thats planned out and try hard. Its more about bare make-up, and showing some skin by wearing a linen shirt with the bra just showing. Its not trussed up and about being done. French women are generally confident in their skin and with their bodies, its about celebrating whats natural, the opposite of vulgarity. Lourdes bares (almost) all at the Saint Laurent Menswear AW25 show - Getty She also, as is the received wisdom around Gen Z, pointed to the fact that the younger generation are rather more conservative in this regard. Plus they are so aware of social media now. Its one thing to be in your bikini with your friends at the beach bar, but with everyone uploading pictures to TikTok and Instagram now, perhaps they are more guarded. Its a shift across the catwalks too, with a certain degree of modesty dressing and an emphasis on sweeping silhouettes and baggy clothing amongst younger women; see the austerity of The Row (not Parisian, but hugely Paris-coded, with all those moody, sweeping coats) and the dystopian, swaddling layers at Balenciaga. For a nation whose motto is Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite, perhaps its time to re-apply a few of those sentiments to sultry summer style. 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. HART COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) An Anderson County man has been arrested after deputies said he led them on a chase late Friday night. According to the Hart County Sheriffs Office, deputies were conducting a safety check at a new four-way stop on Lavonia Highway on Friday when they said 53-year-old Michael Gibert, driving a Honda pickup truck, fled from the intersection. Deputies said they attempted a traffic stop but Gibert refused to stop and led deputies onto Interstate 85 north towards South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said deputies prepared to end the chase near the state line and Giberts truck struck another vehicle. No one was injured in the wreck and Gibert was arrested. He was booked into the Hart County Jail on charges of felony fleeing, DUI, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, criminal attempts to possess marijuana, speeding, driving with an open container and failure to stop at a stop sign. The sheriffs office said Gibert also had warrants out in Hart and Anderson counties at the time of his 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 WSPA 7NEWS. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Police are searching for a suspect after a person was robbed at gunpoint Friday evening on a San Diego street. San Diego Police confirmed they are actively searching for a man believed to be in his early 20s who fled the area of 44th Street and Polk Avenue in the City Heights neighborhood around 6:55 p.m. Friday after reportedly robbing someone on the street at gunpoint. The victim reported to police the suspect took their phone and wallet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are working to investigate the armed-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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. It has been a challenging time for the San Diego Zoo, where three beloved animals a polar bear, giraffe and gorilla died within days of each other. The latest death occurred Monday, when Maka, a 30-year-old Western lowland gorilla, suffered a cardiac event, according to zoo officials. His sudden death came four days after Kalluk, a 24-year-old male polar bear; and Nicky, a 28-year-old Masai giraffe, were euthanized on the same day to minimize suffering as they neared the end of their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That week was hard. We were like: We just can't catch a break right now, said Nicki Boyd, curator of mammals, ambassadors and applied behavior at the zoo. Read more: Beloved bear Noni dies at the Sequoia Park Zoo, breaking hearts of visitors, staff and her furry best friend The three animals were longtime residents of the zoo, capturing the eyes and hearts of visitors while helping promote conservation efforts for their species. The woeful week began on Aug. 14, when a wildlife health and care team conducted a medical examination of Kalluk. They had noticed a change in his behavior for the past few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getting the call that he was in kidney failure was just a gut punch, Boyd said. Kalluk arrived at the San Diego Zoo as a cub in 2001 after being orphaned along with his sister, Tatqiq. Zoo officials said he was inquisitive, gentle and smart. His presence in Polar Bear Plunge helped foster bonds with his sister and Chinook, another orphaned female polar bear, zoo officials said in a statement. Through caring for Kalluk, the zoo has supported a large number of polar bear conservation projects over the years that aid in the protection of polar bears around the world. Read more: Rare Fijian iguanas, rescued from wildlife traffickers in Spain, arrive at San Diego Zoo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kalluk had exceeded the typical lifespan of a male polar bear in the wild, which is about 18 years, according to zoo officials. The same day Kalluks life was coming to an end, so was Nicky's. Nicky was not only the matriarch of her herd, but was believed to be the oldest giraffe in North America, according to zoo officials. She helped show other first-time mothers how to care for their calves. Her son was also the bull of the herd. "She just had a grandson born and to see her go up to that new mom and that new giraffe calf and nuzzle that baby, she's always been a great leader in that giraffe herd," Boyd said. " She's always been a fan favorite from guests to the employees." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wildlife care team was able to have quality time with Nicky, spoiling her with leaves from her favorite tree and allowing former staffers to visit and say goodbye. "That's what makes us feel better that her last day is not her worst day," Boyd said. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance staff members were still grieving when they were further rocked by Maka's death this week. Read more: Shocked by earthquake, zoo elephants form 'alert circle' to protect their young at San Diego Zoo Maka was born at the zoo and became leader of the zoo's bachelor troop, officials said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was the oldest, most experienced member and patiently guided his younger brothers, Ekuba and Denny," the statement read. Zoo officials said that Maka was 5 when he was diagnosed with chromosomal abnormalities and had been receiving treatment throughout his life. "Recently, he began experiencing brief seizures, prompting our team to monitor his wellness closely and schedule ongoing comprehensive evaluations," zoo officials said on a recent Instagram post about his death. They said he experienced a cardiac event during this week's exam. "Despite the heroic and sustained efforts of our wildlife health and care teams, we lost our gentle giant," zoo officials wrote on the social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Beloved gorilla Winston, second oldest in the U.S., euthanized at San Diego Zoo Safari Park Boyd, who has been working at the zoo for more than 30 years, said it was the first time three animals had been lost in such a short period. She said the zoo is home to more than 12,000 animals, each with its own lifespan. While death is inevitable, its always difficult for the wildlife health and care teams who spend years forming bonds with the animals. Boyd said there's some comfort in knowing the animals lived long good lives, which spoke to the attention and care they received from the staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But you know, finality and letting go is always hard, she said. As a way to help with the grieving process, Boyd said they've made stickers of Nicky and Kalluk and plan to make some of Maka that will get distributed to staff. Zoo officials have notified the public about the losses on their Instagram . Hundreds of people as well as other zoos across the country, have responded with empathy, expressing their love and support. Boyd said the responses have helped her and the staff with their own healing processes. Im so sorry! You guys have had to deal with so much loss these past two weeks, Im so sorry! My heart goes out to you and all of the staff and volunteers, one user commented on Instagram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sending you and your teams our thoughts during this time! Be proud of the powerful conservation work you continue doing each and every day, wrote the account for the Toronto Zoo. 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. Due to continuous rainfall in the high Himalayan regions, the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers were seen flowing above the danger mark on Saturday, prompting officials to warn the residents staying near the river banks and urge them to exercise caution. Visuals shared by the Uttarakhand Department of Information and Public Relations on X showed the river's water flowing just a few feet away from people's doorsteps, as the high currents wash away the dirt, and any loose debris coming in contact with it. Meanwhile, a cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district has wreaked havoc in the region, with multiple houses and shops being filled with sludge due to heavy rainfall. The Indian Army's Infantry battalion promptly responded to the devastation, with 50 personnel being deployed from Rudraprayag to assist in relief operations. Preliminary reports indicate damage to houses and vehicles in the affected area. One young girl has been reported missing. Earlier, the district administration had forwarded a written requisition to the Army for assistance. In the aftermath of the disaster, District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari is personally present at the site, overseeing the operations. Teams from NDRF, SDRF, and police forces are carrying out relief and rescue operations, and the road near Harmani has been made operational, said the state's DIPR. In view of the heavy rainfall, a holiday has been declared today for all schools in the Tharali, Deval, and Narayanbagar development blocks. The administration has appealed to the public to stay in safe places and contact the local administration in case of any emergency. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to the public representatives of Chamoli district over the phone and took detailed information about the damage caused by the cloudburst. According to a press statement released from the Chief Minister's office, expressing deep grief over the disaster, the CM has requested all the public representatives to cooperate with the district administration in relief and rescue operations. Along with this, he also spoke to the local MLA and expected him to stay on the spot and physically inspect the relief and rescue operations. Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman also reviewed the disaster situation in the state, keeping track of the rescue and relief operations in Tharali's Chamoli and the operations to open up the temporary lake formed at Syanchatti in Uttarkashi. Alaknanda and Bhagirathi are the headstreams of the Ganga River. Both the streams join to form the Ganga at Devprayag's Garhwal region in the state. Originating from the 'Gaumukh' in the Gangotri glacier, the river starts over 13,000 feet in the Himalayas before ending at the Bay of Bengal. (ANI) Aug. 23Lodi's representative on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors will be asking his colleagues to formally oppose the governor's effort to alter elections for the next four years. At the Aug. 26 board meeting, supervisors will consider approving a resolution opposing the special election on congressional redistricting backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The resolution, proposed by Supervisor Steve Ding, says a special election will cost taxpayers more than $250 million while California faces cuts to health care, education, housing and other services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ding said a special election in San Joaquin is estimated to cost $4.25 million. "For a state that is broke, (Newsom is) writing so many checks with so many zeros," Ding said. "We can't afford it. And this isn't going anywhere. It's going to end up getting held up in court, so we're spending money on something that isn't worth it." Newsom's redistricting effort is part of his ongoing battle with President Donald Trump, who has proposed redrawing congressional boundaries in Texas to favor Republicans. Both the California Assembly and Senate passed bills Thursday to send the matter to the polls this November, where voters will decide whether or not to approve new districts that aim to give Democrats five more seats in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If approved. the new boundaries would place Lodi in the three separate districts. The new 9th District would include the cities of Manteca, Tracy, Pittsburg, Antioch and Oakley, and a portion of north Stockton north of Mormon Slough and west of Wilson Way. A chunk of north and central Lodi bordered by Kettleman Lane in the south, Cherokee Lane in the east and Lower Sacramento Road in the west would be in a new 7th District, along with Galt, Elk Grove, Wilton, Sloughouse, Clements, Linden, Farmington and West Sacramento. The remainder of Lodi would be in a new District 8 with Isleton, Rio Vista, Dixon, Vacaville, Fairfield, Vallejo, Richmond and Hercules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ding's resolution states that Proposition 20 the Voters FIRST Act for Congress gave the 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission the responsibility of drawing congressional districts in 2010. The commission was created by Proposition 11 in 2008 to initially draw the district lines for the State Senate, Assembly, and State Board of Equalization every 10 years. The next scheduled district redraw is 2030. "We have a commission that is not only tasked with paying attention to how many voters are in a given area, but minority demographics, political party affiliation, and any metric to make a district balanced," Ding said. "This is a straight-up gerrymandering effort." Tuesday's meeting beings at 9 a.m. in Board Chambers on the sixth floor of 22 N . San Joauqin St. in Stockton. It will also be livestreamed on the board's YouTube channel. President's Office Head Andriy Yermak has a new idea bring in soldiers and veterans into the office recently rocked by scandal. "It is fair. Because these people are the benchmark of honor, morality, and loyalty to Ukraine," Yermak said on social media on Aug. 22. President Volodymyr Zelensky backed the idea. Yermak's new push comes a month after a major scandal, in which the president's team attempted to take away the independence of major anti-corruption institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts, veterans, and soldiers who spoke with the Kyiv Independent see the step as something that could strengthen public trust in the President's Office and improve its image. They say it remains to be seen whether it is a genuine attempt to improve the offices work or a smokescreen designed to play on peoples trust. "The army has the highest authority," Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Krotevych, former chief of staff of Azov Brigade, told the Kyiv Independent. "The experience of war shapes discipline, responsibility, and a focus on results qualities that officials lack." A similar step has been taken before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Pavlo Palisa, then commander of Ukraine's elite 93rd Brigade, was appointed as the President's Office deputy head. Palisa was made part of the Ukrainian delegation during talks with Russia in Turkey, and joined Zelensky on his recent visit to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump. President Volodymyr Zelensky, together with Deputy Head of the President's Office Pavlo Palisa (third from the left), during a meeting with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 14, 2025. (Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) It's still unclear what the reform will look like, what structural changes will take place, or when they will happen. In 2019, Zelensky renamed the Presidential Administration to the President's Office, as part of a number of sweeping populist reforms. Despite claiming that the reformed office would be more transparent, not much has changed compared to the structure of the discontinued Presidential Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "(The new initiative was announced) to make sure the office is seen not just as 'Yermak's Office,' so to speak, but as a state institution with many people who have served on the front lines and proven their willingness and ability to defend the country," political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told the Kyiv Independent. "So that this gradually changes public perception of the President's Office and the people who work there." Read also: Zelensky wants a meeting. Putin wants to win Critics and opposition lawmakers have long argued that the President's Office has concentrated too much power, taking over roles meant for both the executive and legislative branches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They link this to Yermak, who is widely seen as Zelensky's right-hand man, and who reportedly influences appointments both within the body and in the government, often placing loyal people in key roles. As of fall 2024, around 58% of Ukrainians felt the President's Office exceeded its authority, influencing the government and parliament, according to a poll conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation jointly with the Razumkov Center at the Chesno political watchdogs request. In July, the President's Office faced backlash after Zelensky signed a bill removing the independence of two key anti-corruption agencies. This sparked the first anti-government protests since Russia's full-scale invasion. Though the decision was reversed within a week, it caused a dip in Zelensky's approval ratings. "There will mostly be a positive attitude toward the military and veterans. The idea is to ease some of the existing tension," Fesenko said. President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the positions of Ukrainian troops located in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on June 05, 2022. (The Ukrainian President's Office/ Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The news also comes as the country works to implement initiatives aimed at helping reintegrate veterans returning from the war into civilian life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of August, there are over 1.3 million veterans in Ukraine, according to Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal. The Veterans Affairs Ministry said that after the war ends, veterans and their close family members could make up one-sixth of the country's population, or up to six million people. Fesenko thinks more veterans will join public service in the future due to strong public demand. He expects some of them to enter government, local councils, and parliament, regardless of who is in power. Many former politicians and public figures are among active service members and veterans, and there is a growing understanding that they, along with other current military personnel, may have political ambitions. Ivan Nikolienko, a combat medic with the Hospitallers battalion, fears that soldiers and veterans who could be brought into the President's Office might "not get real influence" and that those in power "could use them to legitimize" their own actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Echoing this sentiment, Krotevych said that the selection for positions must be "transparent and fair." "And most importantly everything will depend on whether these people are actually allowed to work and influence the processes, or if they are made just executors," said Krotevych. "In the latter case, it will be nothing but populism." Read also: Russia strengthens hand in potential peace talks with steady advances in Donbas Note from the author: Hello there! This is Kateryna Denisova, the author of this piece. The Kyiv Independent doesn't have a wealthy owner or a paywall. Instead, we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism funded. If you liked this article, please consider joining our community today. Thank you. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. An Indian citizen was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wisconsin for an alleged money laundering scheme that targeted elderly victims and involved taking cash and gold from them. More than $500,000 worth of gold was handed over by victims to people whom they believed worked with the federal government, Richard G. Frohling, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, said in a statement. Roshan Shah, 21, was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and indicted on Aug. 19. Court records show he pleaded not guilty to the charge at federal court in Milwaukee on Aug. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Madison man pleads guilty to smuggling lab equipment to Russian companies Here's how authorities say the scheme worked Court documents say Shah traveled to Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona and other states and picked up cash and gold from various fraud victims. He would then transfer the money he made to other members of the conspiracy. Unknown co-conspirators posing as law enforcement were able to convince people they were victims of a massive, broader scheme in the United States, and that they needed to transfer their assets to gold. They were then told a courier would pick up items and put them in a safety deposit box in Washington, D.C., purportedly for safe keeping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Lies, empty promises fueled man's 'iron condor' scheme that defrauded Wisconsin investors In one instance, a New Berlin couple told local police they had been speaking with a person who claimed to be a special agent for the Department of Treasury. That person told them they were among the multiple victims of a wide fraud scheme and that they needed to transfer their money to a safety deposit box that was opened in their name at the George W. Bush Federal Building in Washington, D.C. Court records show the couple liquidated $526,095.40 of their funds from various investment accounts between June and July, and used the money to buy 1-ounce gold Maple Leaf coins from a company in Lake Geneva. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coins were placed in a box and addressed to the couple's safety deposit box. Court records show the package was later picked up at the victims' home by an unknown courier who pulled up in a dark blue or black Audi sedan. Other pickups from other victims occurred in July. More: Feds charge Milwaukee businessman with securities violations, defrauding investors The suspect claims in court documents to be middle man Shah was arrested Aug. 4 during an arrest operation at the victim's home conducted by New Berlin police. Federal prosecutors say Shah is a citizen of India who lived in Canada on a student visa, and that he entered the United States in June through Orlando, Florida, on a visitors visa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shah told investigators he was working with two other individuals and was paid $2,000 to $4,000 per pickup, a complaint said. The case was investigated by the New Berlin Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary J. Corey will prosecute the case. Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Money laundering scheme cost New Berlin couple $526K, authorities say After his first school board meeting, Alex Thomas, the 2025-26 student member of the Frederick County Board of Education, wants more students to be involved. He said in an interview that students in Frederick County Public Schools should be more aware of the school boards activities and speak during meetings on issues they care about. Thomas, a senior at Linganore High School, said the school boards lengthy meeting agenda and packet is sometimes hard for students to digest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agenda and packet for the Aug. 7 meeting, his first as the student member, was 212 pages long. He said creating a meeting preview that concisely explains what will be discussed and voted on and posting it for students before the meeting could help get them more involved. We really want students coming to give public comment, Thomas said. We really want to get students more civically involved, especially in their education. He added that creating a short video that explains how to sign up for public comment and how to organize something to say could also be helpful. He said he would post it to the student member Instagram account, instagram.com/fcps_smob. The account has about 1,500 followers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For anybody, giving public comment or going to a public meeting can be nerve-racking, especially when youre looking up at the dais and you see the mean people looking at you, Thomas said, laughing. I think that might help students and encourage them to come out more. In the last few months, the use of vulgarities during the public comment period at school board meetings has increased, largely because of provocateur and self-proclaimed First Amendment activist Shaun Porter. At the May 21 school board meeting, Porter walked up to the dais, turned around so that his butt faced the board members and pulled his shorts down, but not his underwear, as part of a protest of the school districts gender identity policy. He called school board members vulgar names. At the June 25 school board meeting, Porter registered for public comment under the name of a Washington County commissioner and used a vulgarity to describe the commissioner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School board President Rae Gallagher, at the June 25 meeting, during board member comments, said the school board received a number of emails from parents rightfully so about some of the comments and language thats being used in our board room. She said her husband texted her before the meeting to tell her that he and their children would attend the June 25 meeting. And I said no, Gallagher said. I dont want them here. I think thats a real shame that I dont want my own children to be in this room to support this work because of what they might hear coming out of the mouths of some of the people whove come to our meetings recently. Thomas said the current tone at board meetings might dissuade students from attending and he hopes it becomes more civil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas said speakers at the school board meetings are protected under the First Amendment and can say what they want. But, I think as a society ... when you give public comment, when were talking about education, you really have to think, What am I trying to get out of this? he said. All of us, as educators, people working in the school system, we come in every day trying to make the school system better, trying to make our education system better. Thomas said speakers should ask themselves: Is what Im saying trying to be beneficial, not harmful, to what the overall school system is trying to achieve? Before his first meeting as the student member, Thomas attended school board meetings to shadow former student member Elijah Steele. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas said that from his experiences, you all see parents talking and giving public comment about how they feel, but you never see students coming. I think its really important in those types of discussions that kids feel comfortable and they feel willing to come to public comment and say how they feel, he said. Thomas said he was impressed with his fellow board members. Theyve surprised me in some ways, he said. A lot of them are funnier than you would think. Thomas said the student member is assigned a current board member as their mentor each year. His is Janie Inglis Monier. Moniers two sons are students in the Linganore feeder pattern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I talked to her a lot already. I love working with her, he said of Monier. Shes very knowledgeable. ... We already have a good relationship going, so itll be good going into the school year. Monier said in an interview on Thursday that Thomas has ideas to make the school system better, but is also willing to adjust based on student feedback. She said her role as mentor is to guide Thomas by answering questions about the meeting proceedings, including during the meetings. Monier added that shes helping Thomas find his authentic voice and is encouraging him to ask more questions. One thing that he was concerned about is making sure hes representing the student voice and the student bodys voice, and not his own, she said. I like that civic-mindedness of his. Being an elected official is about serving everybody else. A new study on firefighters found a link between forever chemicals commonly used in their gear and firefighting foam and certain gene changes linked with cancer and other serious health concerns. What happened? Researchers from the University of Arizona analyzed blood samples from 303 firefighters in six U.S. locations, measuring levels of nine types of PFAS and microRNA activity. MicroRNAs are molecules that regulate gene expression, and their dysregulation can lead to various diseases. FireRescue1 summarized the study, which found that elevated levels of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds were linked to changes in specific microRNAs associated with the development of cancer, neurological disorders, and autoimmune conditions such as lupus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Firefighters have requested research on how their exposures lead to increased risk of cancer," study author Jeff Burgess told the outlet. "Epigenetic markers provide a measure of cancer risk and can also be used to determine the effectiveness of interventions to reduce cancer risk." Why is this study important? Firefighters have higher occupational exposure to PFAS because of the substances' use in firefighting equipment and foams. For instance, one piece of research found that the protective clothing worn by wildland firefighters and the hoods and gloves worn by urban firefighters often contain PFAS. Another study from the University of Arizona found that firefighters and health care workers have above-average levels of toxic PFAS in their bodies. In addition to firefighting equipment, PFAS are used in a variety of household items, including nonstick cookware and water-resistant clothing. Many communities have also discovered these chemicals in their drinking water. Exposure to PFAS has been associated with various health concerns, including decreased fertility, increased risk of cancer, and reduced ability of the body's immune system to fight infections. What's being done about PFAS? A number of states have introduced legislation that would make the use of PFAS in certain products illegal. For instance, Rhode Island is moving forward with a bill that would ban these chemicals in firefighters' protective gear. In California, lawmakers want to make it illegal to sell cleaning products, cookware, plastic food packaging, ski wax, and dental floss that intentionally contain PFAS. Legislation in the United Kingdom looks to ban these chemicals from children's school uniforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientists are also working on ways to remove forever chemicals from water. For instance, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found a way to remove the full spectrum of PFAS from water in a single process, and a team at the University of Rochester is doing similar work. 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. Scientists have found that woody plant growth is causing grassland loss and has harmed the endangered golden-shouldered parrot. What's happening? The golden-shouldered parrot is native to Far North Queensland's Cape York Peninsula in Australia. But the spread of woody plants is threatening their preferred nesting area. "The golden-shouldered parrot prefers to nest in areas of low woody-vegetation density, mainly along grassy drainage depressions," said Dr. Gabriel Crowley, professor at the University of Adelaide and lead researcher of the study published in PLOS One, per Phys.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study found that the more trees that were around a nest, the less likely it was to survive. If we continue to lose grasslands, these parrots and others may lose more of their habitat. Why is grassland loss important? Grasslands don't just benefit the parrots. They're a key component in keeping our food supply chains intact and keeping us healthy. Grasslands also make it easier for the environment to endure extreme weather events like flooding and heat waves, per the WWF. The organization has said that over 70% of U.S. prairies have been destroyed. The Great Plains lost 10 million acres between 2016 and 2020. Some of this is due to colonization and Indigenous peoples' loss of autonomy around the globe. Indigenous peoples are finding it harder to take care of the land as they've lost some traditional practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone will feel the effects of grassland loss in some way. It will especially continue to harm Indigenous peoples and many of their cultural practices. Protecting grasslands will help to keep Indigenous cultures everywhere alive and well. What's being done about grassland loss? One of the best ways to prevent grassland loss is to prioritize Indigenous methods of taking care of the land. Dr. Crowley noted in the study that Far North Queensland's use of cattle management is harming the land. Instead of First Nation peoples managing the land with controlled fires, cattle are eating the sources for that fire. That also makes it harder to control the woody plants that are harming the grasslands. 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. "It is therefore important that we recognize that while uncontrolled wildfires can have a devastating effect on the environment, when used properly, fire has an important role in maintaining the health of many ecosystems," Dr. Crowley shared in the Phys.org article. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WWF has recommended, at least for the U.S., that the government amend federal policies to preserve grasslands. Investing in conservation programs will help as well. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. In the 1970s, many were worried about running out of oil. Today, people should be more concerned about running out of water. A new study warns that Earth's supply of freshwater is rapidly vanishing from our warming world. What's happening? Since 2002, the planet has seen what a press release from Arizona State University calls an "unprecedented" loss of freshwater. Led by ASU researchers, a new study of two decades' worth of satellite data has identified four "mega-drying" regions in the Northern Hemisphere, with freshwater lost to extreme heat, extended droughts, and significant draws on groundwater supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groundwater sources have been tapped by agricultural producers, municipalities, and corporations, according to ProPublica's coverage of the study. With surface waters drying up, aquifers are increasingly tapped for purposes such as farming. Unfortunately, runoff from such activities ends up in rivers and streams, ultimately flowing into oceans and mixing with saltwater rather than replenishing pools underground. Lead author Hrishikesh Chandanpurkar told ProPublica that the study, published in July in Science Advances, "provides a glimpse of what the future is going to be." He also noted that as groundwater is being extracted from aquifers, no one knows exactly how much is left in them. Why is depleting groundwater concerning? As climate scientist Peter Gleick told the news outlet, "The massive overpumping of groundwater poses enormous risk to food production." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, three-quarters of the global population lives in the 101 countries identified in the study as suffering from 20 years of profound freshwater loss, according to the release, with the potential for devastating impacts to ecosystems, agriculture, human health, and social stability. Food supplies in several countries have already been affected by drought. Rivers drying up in Zimbabwe have caused child malnutrition to double and cattle to die. When water levels dropped to extreme lows in the Amazon basin, fish die-offs contaminated drinking water sources. What's being done to address groundwater use? Experts are calling for effective policies to outline and enforce sustainable groundwater management practices. Study co-author James Famiglietti noted such practices could also help to mitigate sea-level rise, with freshwater runoff driving increases. "We can address continental drying by implementing new policies around regional and international groundwater sustainability," Famiglietti said, per the release. In turn, this will slow the rate of sea-level rise and help preserve water for future generations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ProPublica identified possible strategies, such as drip irrigation, with which Israel has cut freshwater use by 50%. Also known as "trickle irrigation," this system slowly and evenly delivers water directly to a plant's roots, reducing runoff and evaporation loss. The outlet also noted that Lake Mead, a key reservoir in the United States, notably refilled when agricultural producers reduced their water withdrawals from the Colorado River a couple of years ago. The progress was made in part through concerted efforts, including farm conservation projects and temporary land-fallowing. The timing of heavy storms also helped. Now, scientists warn, the lake is projected to hit another new low by 2027. Past results at Lake Mead show that individuals and communities can come together to make a difference. Even simple acts like taking shorter showers and preventing the faucet from running needlessly really can help. But to establish the groundwater use policies that experts say we need, scientists, stakeholders, and officials will need to work together and prioritize freshwater and especially groundwater as the essential resources they are. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Former workers at South Dakota Public Broadcasting have created a group to support its fundraising efforts after it lost 100% of its federal dollars and now faces major cuts. In just a few months, 15 employees at SDPB are set to be laid off, along with a few TV, radio and educational services. Following the federal budget cuts, SDPB alumni and organizer, Michael Marek, worked at SDPB three different times and knew he wanted to make a difference. Noem paints border wall black to make climbing painful Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our point is to help advocate for South Dakota Public Broadcasting and validate the fact that it is worthy of everybodys support right now, Marek said. One way the alumni group is doing that is by sharing impactful stories from their time at SDPB. I think the most important thing Ive ever done as a broadcaster, and Ive worked in both commercial and public broadcasting, was our statewide wall-to-wall coverage of Governor Mickelsons funeral and the various events about that, SDPB alumni Todd Epp said. Epp also helped organize the group and says theyll help wherever needed, as it hopes they can raise enough money to decrease the cuts come October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were free labor, were all volunteers, and if they need us for something to write a check, to have other people write a check, to go on the air to help fundraise, Epp said. If you dont give, certainly now is a good time to do that again, because of particularly the local educational and and public service programming that we benefit from South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Marek said. SDPB alumni hope its efforts will allow the organization to keep sharing stories for years to come. Its been a success for many, many years, and we want to make sure we can continue that. And for South Dakotans that are not even born yet can enjoy, Epp said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the Bison Campaign that launched this week SDPB hopes to raise over $2 million by the end of October. Thursday SDPB announced the program cuts include a variety of services including radio program In the Moment, TV program South Dakota Focus and its entire local educational resources. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. FOUNTAIN PRAIRIE, Wis. (WFRV) Over 80 pounds of marijuana, a large quantity of meth, and other drugs were seized after authorities uncovered an indoor marijuana grow operation in southcentral Wisconsin during a search warrant that ended with two arrests. According to the Columbia County Sheriffs Office, on August 19, its Drug Task Force executed a search warrant a a residential property in the Town of Fountain Prairie. Dangerous & dumb: Driver gets $1,500 speeding ticket, caught at 143 mph in Winnebago Co. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies say the search warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into the manufacturing and trafficking of controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA. The search reportedly uncovered an elaborate indoor marijuana grow with over 70 plants in various stages of growth. Authorities also seized a large quantity of meth, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and over 80 pounds of marijuana and THC products. Two men, 43-year-old Aaron Huehne and 39-year-old Aleksandr Simonov, were arrested as a result of the investigation. Aaron Huehne Aleksandr Simonov Wisconsin man sentenced to 25 years in prison after assaulting, impregnating a child Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both men were taken to the Columbia County Jail on the following charges: Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine Possession with intent to deliver psilocybin Possession with intent to deliver LSD Possession with intent to deliver prescription medications Manufacture/deliver THC Maintain a drug trafficking place After an initial court appearance, both were released on a $10,000 signature bond. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. The Brief Western Washington faces a heat wave with temperatures reaching the 80s and 90s. Record highs are expected in Seattle and Tacoma, with a Heat Advisory in effect until Tuesday. A Red Flag Warning is issued for high fire danger in the Cascades and Olympics this weekend. SEATTLE - The heat wave started today with highs in the 80s and 90s for western Washington. Temperatures will be even warmer into the weekend. Record highs were tied in Bellingham and SEA Airport this afternoon, with more record temperatures in the next several days. The heat wave started today with highs in the 80s and 90s for Western Washington. (FOX 13 Seattle) A Heat Advisory and Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for Western Washington through Tuesday morning. The warning now includes the Seattle and Tacoma metro areas with highs in the 90s this weekend. A Heat Advisory and Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for Western Washington through Tuesday morning. (FOX 13 Seattle) Record highs are possible this weekend for Seattle, especially Saturday and Sunday. We could tie the old record of 91 on Saturday and then beat the record on Sunday with a high of 90F. Record highs are possible this weekend for Seattle. Saturday will be the warmest day of the weekend with highs in the 80s, 90s and even some 100F possible. Saturday will be the warmest day of the weekend with highs in the 80s, 90s and even some 100F possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Red Flag Warning will go into effect Saturday through Sunday for the Cascades and Olympics for high fire danger. A Red Flag Warning will go into affect Saturday through Sunday for the Cascades and Olympics for high fire danger. The heat will continue this weekend into early next week with highs staying in the mid to upper 80s through Wednesday. The heat will continue this weekend into early next week with highs staying in the mid to upper 80s through Wednesday. The Source Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Claire Anderson and the National Weather Service. MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE Closures of Fred Meyer in Tacoma, WA impacting 200 employees, creates 'food desert' WA troopers make 2 arrests using plane to track down driver, motorcyclist Washington's first In-N-Out is now open Special Forces vet exposes tactics of Montana, Washington state survivalists: 'Can't stay hidden forever' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the best community college in WA, report says 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. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders in Bihar have strongly criticised the filing of an FIR against party leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in Maharashtra, calling it politically motivated and an attempt to suppress opposition voices. An FIR has been registered against Tejashwi Yadav in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli over an alleged objectionable post and defamatory content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the social media platform X. Speaking in Katihar, RJD leader Sanjay Yadav questioned the grounds of the FIR, arguing that Tejashwi was only reminding people of unfulfilled promises made by the BJP. "What kind of words did he (Tejashwi Yadav) use? Who promised to give Rs 15 lakh in every citizen's bank account? Who promised to deliver 2 crore jobs every year? Who promised to give a special package and special status to Bihar? Who promised to develop Bihar?... If reminding him about his promises to Bihar, you should file an FIR in every district of the country... Why file an FIR by just one MLA?" Sanjay Yadav said. Echoing the sentiment, RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav accused the ruling BJP of double standards. "Did the Election Commission take any action or file an FIR against PM Modi for hate speech... However, this does happen with opposition people frequently. But who is scared of this? When the government becomes fearful of the anger of the common people, it will seek support from the court and police. But we will not be scared of this. We will challenge them face-to-face. PM Modi is so scared of this," he remarked. Milind Ramji Narote, a BJP MLA from Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, had filed a complaint against Tejashwi Yadav on Friday. The FIR has been registered at Gadchiroli Police Station under 196(1)(a)(b), 356(2)(3), 352, 353(2) sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the FIR copy, the alleged objectionable posts were made against Prime Minister Modi's visit to Gaya Ji district of Bihar on Friday, where he had inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth Rs 13000 crores for the state. However, Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday affirmed that he is "not scared" of any FIR. He asked if saying the word "jumla" has become a crime and alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fearing the truth. Speaking to reporters in Katihar, Yadav said, "Who is scared of an FIR? Saying the word 'jumla' has also become a crime... They fear the truth... We are not scared of any FIR and we speak the truth..." (ANI) This sculpin was caught in freshwater near the Southcentral Alaska town of Valdez. (Photo by Joshua Duong) When I told my editor, a year ago, that dozens of fish had turned up dead near the Kensington gold mine north of Juneau, he immediately wanted to know: What kind of fish? Just one or two pink salmon had died, I told him. Most of the fish were two other species: some trout-like Dolly Varden and numerous slimy sculpin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one gives a s**t about sculpin lol, Nat, my editor, texted me. The point was taken. A dozen dead king salmon? Fishermen would be in the streets of Juneau with torches and pitchforks. Slimy sculpin? Im not sure Id heard of them. Certainly, none had ever appeared on my dinner plate. We covered the fish die-off anyway after all, 100 dead fish is 100 dead fish. But Nats comment got me thinking about why we value some species so much more than others. How much should we care about an animal thats only a few inches long, barely has meat on its bones and holds approximately zero commercial, recreational, or subsistence value for humans? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of fish died near Alaska mine; months later, regulators havent determined what killed them A few weeks later, I joined a team of scientists studying salmon in British Columbias Taku River watershed, which drains into the ocean near Juneau. Walking along a gravel bar on the Tulsequah River a glacier-fed tributary of the Taku located just across the U.S. border one of the researchers, Chris Sergeant, started gushing about a tiny, bottom-dwelling fish that sometimes shows up in his nets. Sculpin, I learned, are beloved by a certain set of scientists. Particularly those, like Sergeant, who study streams near mines and other industrial projects. A coastrange sculpin, whose territory runs from California to Alaska, shelters near a rock. (Photo by Roger Tabor) The fish, it turns out, are excellent indicators of water quality. They are, in science-speak, a sentinel species, helping detect pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though their fanbase hasnt expanded into the mainstream Swifties still far outnumber sculpinites, Im afraid their popularity among scientists reflects a stark turnaround. Decades ago, sculpin were (rather unfairly) blamed for salmon declines by eating eggs and juveniles. Sculpin, Sergeant told me, are just cool fish. They are underrated. They are badasses, he said. Freshwater sculpin are not to be confused with some much larger and better known saltwater sculpin species like the spiky red Irish Lord, whose face only a mother could love. A red Irish Lord. (Photo by Anne Beaudreau) Part of the scientific allure of sculpin is that theyre ubiquitous and mysterious at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are among the most common freshwater fish in Alaska, yet most people dont notice them, said Chelsea Clawson, a Fairbanks-based habitat biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Other fish in Alaskas rivers roam widely. But slimy sculpin one of three freshwater sculpin species in the state have very small home ranges, often moving less than a kilometer in either direction from where theyre born. So their tissue chemistry the metals they have in them are very representative of that site, Sergeant said. That makes slimy sculpin super important for environmental monitoring near resource development projects, Sergeant added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sergeants work focuses on rivers in British Columbia, near the Alaska border. But state biologists sample sculpin all across the state, next to both existing mines and proposed ones. The results shed light on the effects of operations on nearby rivers, and help researchers establish baselines before new projects are built. In some streams in the Brooks Range close to mining prospects at the end of the proposed 210-mile Ambler Road sculpin are pretty much the only fish sampled by Clawson, the state biologist. Given their abundance, sculpin can play an integral role in the ecosystem, both as a predator and as a prey, said Roger Tabor, a longtime Washington state-based fish biologist and sculpin fan. They eat tiny insects and fish eggs, and theyre preyed upon by larger fish and birds. A prickly sculpin. (Photo by Roger Tabor via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) One of the more admirable traits of slimy sculpin, one scientist told me, is that theyre the only freshwater fish in Alaska known to show parental care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Males dig little caverns beneath rocks. Then, females release eggs in the caverns, and the males fertilize and guard the eggs until their young hatch, said J. Andres Lopez, a biology professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and curator of fishes at the Museum of the North. By contrast, salmon die after spawning, leaving fertilized eggs unattended. Grayling simply swim off. You also probably wouldnt want to plop a grayling or salmon into your little fish tank. Sculpin, though? They make neat pets, Lopez said. They look almost like fish-tank puppies. Lopez knows from experience: His students used to keep a cold-water fish tank with sculpin and other native fish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre anthropomorphizing fish, he added, sculpin seem a bit more accessible than your standard trout. Nat might have been justified last year in dismissing peoples concern for sculpin. But now I am sold on the value of the humble creature and maybe you will be, too. At least you now know what kind of pet to get Nat for his next birthday. Northern Journal contributor Max Graham can be reached at max@northernjournal.com. Hes interested in any and all mining related stories, as well as introductory meetings with people in and around the industry. This article was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter from Nathaniel Herz. Subscribe at this link. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX VERNON, Conn. A man was recently rescued after he became stuck in a spiral tube slide in 80-degree weather in Connecticut. The incident occurred on Aug. 16 at Northeast Elementary School in Vernon, according to the town's fire department. Rescuers on the playground. On the schools playground, the 40-year-old man became wedged both feet- and head-first coming down a slide. The man was in "extreme discomfort," especially as the hot summer temperatures made the space within the tube slide even hotter, authorities said. First responder removing a section of the slide. Ventilation was set up to help cool off the space where the man was stuck. Additionally, emergency medical personnel provided him with oxygen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials worked to remove the section of the slide containing him, while a fire truck stabilized the overall structure. How To Watch Fox Weather The man was freed within 30 minutes, according to officials. They noted that he refused further medical treatment. The man is freed. The National Weather Service said temperatures on the day of the rescue reached 86 degrees. Original article source: See it: Connecticut man freed from enclosed playground slide in sweltering heat US Senator Bernie Sanders (I) returned to the state where he won 12 delegates at the democratic caucus in 2020. This time he wasnt seeking votes, but to inform the public and have a conversation. Its the second stop in Iowa for Sanders on his Fighting Oligarchy tour. Having someone come with such a prominent profile is amazing, again, two thousand people here frustrated, frustrated, boos, said Adam Peters, who attended the event. Youre talking about healthcare issues, dinner table issues, education. The event was held Friday evening in downtown Davenport at the RiverCenter. Doors opened at 4:30 pm, but people began lining up 90 minutes prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It means a lot that especially here is this very red part of the country that hes here, said Stephen Nalder, an attendee of the rally. That Bernie has come here and hes coming to speak to everybody not just democrats. Sanders put a lot of popular issues on the table in front of the crowd from across the Quad Cities area. He emphasized main points like Medicaid cuts, the Trump administrations One Big, Beautiful Bill, low wages, and super PACs funding campaigns. We have big money controlling the Democratic party as well as the Republican party, said Nalder. Since weve had Citizens United, weve had issues in our politics. For some, it was not just an opportunity to hear from Sanders. But also, to connect with people from around the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You get to talk to people, you get to hear where theyre from, what their lives have been like and also hear their concerns, said Linda Boardson, who was one of the first to arrive at the event. And why we all want to join together and fight for better representation in our democracy. Sanders stop in Iowa is what attendees say is an area they have been pleading for from their representatives. We have asked Miller-Meeks, Joni Ernst and Grassley to come to a town hall, said Mary Maher. They wont come. National Republican Congression spokesperson, Emily Tuttle responded to the event. This production wont distract Iowans from reality: Democrats have failed them again and again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next stop of the tour for Sanders will be in Viroqua, Wisconsin on Saturday, August 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK) U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) visited Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) on Monday to meet with East Texas educational leaders and students. SFA holds ribbon cutting for new Pineywoods Dining Hall During Cornyns visit, he spoke to SFA students and leaders about expanding Pell Grant eligibility and added funding for agriculture research facilities. He also discussed the Big Beautiful Bill and its potential benefits to the higher education system in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn also heard an update from SFA leadership regarding their $85 million Arthur Temple College of Forestry & Agriculture Extension Building. The building is part of the only doctoral forestry program in Texas. The media also had the opportunity to speak with Cornyn at the Pineywoods Dining Hall which hosted a roundtable discussion at 4 p.m. on Monday. Cornyn ended on Monday by saying hell bring East Texas education success stories back to Washington D.C. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has a lot to say regarding recent developments in mail-in voting, redistricting, as well as where rural Oregonians stand on potential fallout from Trumps big, beautiful bill. For one, the president announced on Monday his intention to sign an executive order that would eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In a sit-down interview with KOIN 6 News, Wyden the first Democratic Senator elected by mail in 1996 called Trumps intention preposterous and claimed the President decided to double down on this stance against mail-in voting after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon, Texas, Tennessee top list of states with highest occupational regulations What Donald Trump is trying to do is play to his far right base, Wyden said. Theyve often said when they cant win an election, the problem is vote by mail. But weve had Democrats, weve had Republicans, weve had people all across the political spectrum say that this is a good thing for democracy. In an interview with Newsmaxs Carl Higbie FRONTLINE on Thursday, Higbie asked Donald Trump Jr. about the president joining law enforcement and the National Guard in patrolling Washington, D.C. He then went on to state, Maybe we should roll out the tour to Portland, Seattle, the other of what we call craphole cities of the country. Wyden called the comments toward Portland not only unwarranted, but another Trump fable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intel secures $8.9B investment from U.S. Government after agreement with Trump administration When you land at our airport, you are landing at the best airport in the United States. We have, for example, its a hot day. Weve got pools in the parks. You can go for a shady walk out through the forest, he said. Were a community thats good for families, good for people, and certainly we deserve high praise, rather than those kinds of comments. Given recent efforts to redraw congressional lines in both California and Texas, some are now calling for Oregon to join in the redistricting fight. To that, Sen. Wyden says already Oregon got it right. You ought to pick up again when you want solutions that make sense from our state, he said. How we did it, we basically said were going to get Democrats and Republicans together. There was one district where there were some challenges, but we got it right. It got cleared by the courts. Really, reapportionment is about two things. Its about math and its about fairness. And Oregon got it right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further, new numbers show Democrats falling behind in voter registrations since 2020, while polls have shown the party has its lowest approval ratings in decades. In spite of these numbers, Sen. Wyden says the partys current actions will ultimately speak louder than statistics. I tell everybody the best politics is doing good policy and thats what were working on. Were working for secure rural schools, were working to hold down the cost of prescription medicine, were working on the issues where the second word is bill,' he noted. I think those kinds of issues, when you talk about them, and particularly taken on the Presidents tariffs, which raised the cost for small businesses and individuals. Those are the issues that, when the real polls count in 2026, were going to do just fine. Sen. Wyden and Oregons Democratic caucus also continue to speak out against looming cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as a result of President Trumps implementation of the Big, beautiful bill. Wyden has been all over the state holding town halls these last few weeks, predominantly in rural Oregon, where he says even in an area where Trump received more than 70% of the vote you will find lots of support for efforts to hold back the bill. Now, Wyden said close to 70% of Americans are against the big, beautiful bill, because they find out whats really in it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There wasnt any need to cut Medicaid by a trillion dollars. There were plenty of things that could be done in a bipartisan way, he noted. For example, Mike Crapo, the Republican senator from Idaho, he and I have reined in prescription medicine by going after these pharmaceutical benefit managers, the middle men. Those are the kinds of things that the public wants to hear. He continued, And when I go out to those areas where Donald Trump got 70% of the vote, my views with respect to these issues connect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. (NewsNation) U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer embarked on a trip to the Indo-Pacific region on Friday as part of efforts to strengthen U.S. national security interests. The Congressional Delegation (CODEL), including Wicker and Fischer, will first stop at military installations in Hawaii before meetings in Guam, Tinian, Palau, the Philippines, and most notably, Taiwan. We live in the most dangerous national security moment since World War II, Sen. Wicker exclusively told NewsNation before his departure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress plays a vitally important role in reassuring U.S. allies and partners of our commitment to maintaining a favorable regional order in the Indo-Pacific. Baby Emmanuel Haro believed to be dead, wasnt kidnapped Wicker added he was hoping to assist President Donald Trump in ensuring the U.S. maintain peace through strength. At a time of global unrest where the Chinese Communist Party continues its military buildup, maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific plays a crucial role in safeguarding our nations and our allies security, Sen. Fischer said. I look forward to joining Chairman Wicker on this CODEL to see firsthand how we can strengthen our posture in the region in order to safeguard American interests and our allies. 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. Orange County Deputies arrest a 43-year-old man at Fifth Third Bank on University Boulevard for attempting fraud with a forged identity. William Scott, who originally identified himself as Spencer Carruth Clark, attempted to complete a $23,000 loan application under a false identity. A bank employee spotted inconsistencies and alerted authorities, leading to Scotts arrest. An employee at Fifth Third Bank stated, He stated his name was Spencer Clark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies say the investigation showed that Scott visited the bank on August 14 to open an account and apply for a loan under the name Spencer Carruth Clark. During his second visit, a colleague recognized him as the person who had previously used a different false identity, Andrew D. Brown, at another branch. Based on the report acquired by Channel 9, Scott failed to give reliable information regarding his employment or residence. Investigations verified that his Tennessee ID and Citibank credit card were counterfeit. Law enforcement reports Scott revealed his true identity as William Andrew Scott. With connections to multiple fraud cases and an active warrant in Kentucky, he was safely taken into custody and transported to the Orange County Booking and Receiving Center. The case is still under investigation, with Scott facing charges for several fraudulent activities. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Bezalel Smotrich displays a map of the area around the E1 land corridor. | Credit: Menahem Kahana / AFP / Getty Images The world's gaze is fixed on Gaza, said Luc Bronner in Le Monde (Paris), but some 30 miles away, Israel's far-right is waging a quieter, less visible and more "methodical" war. For the past three years, the ultra-nationalist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who thinks Jews have a divine right to all the land that makes up biblical Israel, has driven his own personal offensive in the West Bank approving the development of hundreds of illegal new settlements (29 have been authorised as recently as May), and occupying and demolishing swathes of several refugee camps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armed militias from Jewish settlements roam numerous areas of the territory, harassing and assaulting Palestinians, and seizing their land. Settler violence has surged in the first half of this year, during which the UN has recorded 757 attacks on Palestinians and their property. And now Smotrich has revived a deeply controversial plan to build more than 3,000 apartments in Ma'ale Adumim, in the so-called E1 area essentially cutting off the West Bank from East Jerusalem, the presumptive capital of any future Palestinian state. Mindful of fierce US objections to this, Israel had for more than a decade frozen construction plans there, said The Jerusalem Post. But Smotrich, who claims he has the cabinet's blessing, is just ploughing ahead, pointedly citing his initiative as "the final nail in the coffin for the concept of a Palestinian state". "Smotrich has never made a more accurate prediction," said Haaretz (Tel Aviv). The E1 apartments "would cut the West Bank in two" separating north from south while strangling the three central Palestinian cities of Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem. That would be "a death sentence" for any two-state solution. And as if that were not bad enough, Smotrich and his gang are also pushing for Israel to officially annex the West Bank, or "Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley" as they prefer to call it. In July, the Knesset voted 71-13 to approve a measure which recognises "Israeli sovereignty" over the area. The resolution was "largely symbolic", said The National (Abu Dhabi), but it shows how far Israeli public sentiment has shifted. A poll in February found that 35% of Israelis favour a "Jewish-only state, from the river to the sea". The fact that annexation is now an established vote-winner in the Knesset only "makes its success as (eventual) national policy much likelier". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the pro-annexation movement also has the backing of several prominent Republicans in the US, said The Economist. On a visit this month to West Bank settlements, where he had dinner with Israel's PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, reportedly proclaimed that the "mountains of Judea and Samaria" belong to the Jewish people "by right". In fact, today the Republican Party (including much of the Trump administration) doesn't just back Israel's right to exist; it endorses the ethno-nationalist policies of Netanyahu and his hard-right cabinet and that includes formal annexation of the West Bank. People talk of the prospect of annexation as if it's yet to come, said Tamar Megiddo in Haaretz, as if Israel's illegal takeover of the West Bank requires some sort of "official announcement" or legal mechanism to change the status of the territory. In reality, "through quiet, consistent, humdrum bureaucratic activities" that have created irreversible facts on the ground, annexation has already occurred. Bit by bit, the government has transferred power from the military apparatus that for decades governed the West Bank to Israel's civilian ministries: by accelerating licensing processes; by developing infrastructure in favour of the settlements; through the wording of administrative documents, it has effectively claimed sovereignty over the area, cutting Palestinians out of its administration in the process. Knesset votes and other declarations are a "smokescreen"; the annexation of the West Bank is all but a done deal. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) 5 people have been arrested for various drug charges following a several month-long investigation. According to Indiana State Police, multiple police departments were conducting an investigation into Brian Harrison for alleged drug transactions. Harrison is currently on parole for a prior dealing in methamphetamine conviction. Police booked 4 other individuals who allegedly assisted Harrison. Arrests and charges: Brian L. Harrison, 45, Grandview Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dealing in Methamphetamine, 10 grams or more, Level 2 Felony Dealing in Methamphetamine, 1 gram and 5 grams, w/Enhancing Circumstance, Level 3 Felony Possession of Methamphetamine over 28 grams, Level 3 Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor Courtesy: Indiana State Police Haylee M. Moog, 24, Boonville Dealing in Methamphetamine, 10 grams or more, Level 2 Felony Dealing in Methamphetamine, 1 gram and 5 grams, w/Enhancing Circumstance, Level 3 Felony Possession of Methamphetamine over 28 grams Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor Courtesy: Indiana State Police Charles E. Parker, 57, Rockport Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony Courtesy: Indiana State Police Ora L. Murphy, 41, Richland City Possession of Methamphetamine over 28 grams, Level 3 Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor (2 counts) Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor Courtesy: Indiana State Police Robert E. Payton, 61, Rockport Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor Courtesy: Indiana State Police Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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). The Brief San Francisco Police Department recruit Jon-Marques Psalms died in a hospital on Friday. He had spent two days at the hospital after suffering an unspecified "medical emergency" during a police training exercise on Wednesday. SAN FRANCISCO - A San Francisco Police Department recruit has died two days after suffering a medical emergency during a police training exercise. Jon-Marques Psalms died in a hospital on Friday after suffering the unspecified emergency on Wednesday, according to an SFPD statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was 30 years old. Police did not specify the nature of Psalm's emergency or if it was related to the Wednesday training exercise. "Losing any police officer is a tragedy. Losing a recruit who had committed himself to this police department and to the safety of our community is especially painful," said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie in a prepared statement. The backstory Psalms grew up in Southern California and went to college in Louisiana before moving to the Bay Area to work in the tech industry. Earlier this year, Psalms joined the SFPD Recruit Class 286 in order to pursue "his passion to become a law enforcement officer," the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Psalms is survived by his parents and brother, who the SFPD said have asked for privacy in the wake of the recruits death. "As Ive spoken to Recruit Officer Psalms parents over the past couple of painful days, they told me about the sense of purpose he found from his work and his squad of fellow recruits," Lurie said. "He was so looking forward to graduating with all of them and joining the ranks of the SFPD. His dedication to the city will never be forgotten by his fellow recruit officers, our police department, and a grateful city." The Source San Francisco Police Department INS Tamal, the latest stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, on her passage to home base in India, called at Souda Bay, Greece, Aug 19-22, 2025. The ship's crew engaged with the Hellenic Navy and NATO functionaries during the port call. This included the Commanding Officer's call on Commodore Dionysios Mantadakis, Base Commander of Souda Bay Naval Base, Captain Kouplakis Iliias, Head of the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operation Training Centre (NMIOTC), and Captain Stephen Steacy, Commanding Officer of the Naval Support Activity of the US Navy on 19 August 2025. The discussions during the meetings focused on operational matters and maritime cooperation. A cross-deck visit for the crew of INS Tamal was conducted onboard the multi-role amphibious assault unit ITS Trieste, a Landing Helicopter Dock, of the Italian Navy, at Souda Bay. India's Ambassador to Greece, Rudrendra Tandon, visited the ship on 20 August 2025 and interacted with the crew. During the ship's port call, the crew visited the Souda Naval Base and Armament facility, the NMIOTC and the local maritime museum. The ship's crew also paid homage at the World War II cemetery in Crete. INS Tamal sailed out of Souda Bay on 22 August 2025. He participated in a Passage Exercise with the HS Ritsos, a Roussen-class patrol boat of the Hellenic Navy, aimed at validation of interoperability between the Navies. The port call by INS Tamal reflects the importance India attaches to its relations with Greece and the endeavour to strengthen the growing defence cooperation between the two nations. It has also provided an opportunity for both navies to share best practices and pursue further opportunities for joint engagement. The ship, enroute to her home base in India, will be visiting ports in friendly foreign countries in Asia, furthering maritime diplomacy and strengthening bilateral ties across the spectrum. (ANI) Sharon Chuter, beauty veteran and founder of Uoma Beauty, has died, a family member has confirmed to WWD. She passed away on Aug. 14 on a patio in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles medical examiners office. The cause of death is still being investigated. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chuter was 38 years old. The Nigerian-born beauty executive held roles at LOreal, Revlon and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton before founding Uoma in 2019. The line, which included a hero foundation that offered 51 shades as well as other complexion, lip, cheek and eye products priced from $18 to $40, debuted at Selfridges and rolled out to Ulta Beauty shortly after. The line was born in part from Chuters aim to bring meaningful inclusivity to beauty at a time when, following Rihannas 2017 debut of Fenty Beauty, other brands in the space were scrambling to be more inclusive, and sometimes missing the mark. Diversity became a hot topic that every corporation was trying to tick off their list, Chuter told WWD at the time. As a person of color, I was looking at it and there was no depth to it it was shallow. Everybody was looking for quick wins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, Chuter introduced Pull Up for Change, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing Black representation in the corporate world. The organization debuted in June that year, when Chuter posted a video to Instagram challenging companies to make public the number of Black employees in their organizations and on their leadership teams. Coined Pull Up or Shut Up, the social media campaign sought to galvanize companies to make more substantial commitments to diversity than donating money and posting black squares on Instagram, as so many did and publicized following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Every single brand and every single company has an Equal Opportunity Employment policy, Chuter told WWD when the campaign launched. All these brands are now standing in support and donating, meanwhile, within their organizations they dont actively employ Black people they have no Black leaders. We need to move this conversation forward. Exactly one year later, Chuter launched another beauty brand this time for the mass market called Uoma by Sharon C. Aiming to deliver what Chuter described as radical inclusivity, the line debuted in June 2021 at Walmart with a range of skin care and makeup products priced from $6 to $24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its one of the biggest launches were doing in Walmart history, said Musab Balbale, former vice president of beauty at Walmart Inc., at the time. In 2022, Chuter was named a CEW Achiever Award honoree for her innovation and resolve to make beauty better. Sharon is very gutsy, said CEW president Carlotta Jacobson of Chuter at the time. Even though companies had programs in place, Pull Up created an acute awareness that there was a big need there. For me being a catalyst for change means passion, Chuter said then in an interview. That passion drives the courage to lead and challenge the things you cannot accept. But most of all, to love enough to carry the burdens that inevitably come with being a changemaker in a world that is fiercely opposed to change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Chuter debuted a We See You campaign via Uoma, which starred muses from Jasmine Sanders to Leomie Anderson and confronted the notion of not seeing color when it comes to race, instead encouraging people to not just see racial differences but embrace them. Later that spring, Chuter departed her post as chief executive officer of Uoma, also relinquishing her board seat. Although I am stepping away from my role as CEO and board member, my vision for Uoma and its mission remains dear to my heart. I remain a shareholder and will continue as an industry-leading product and creative visionary for the brand, she told WWD in an email at the time. The brand tapped Cyndi Isgrig, the former president of Dermstore, to serve as interim CEO of the brand, whose assets were then acquired that December by MacArthur Beauty, an offshoot of The MacArthur Companies. All investors exited the company upon acquisition except Braintrust Fund, which stayed on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uoma went silent on social media from August 2023 through most of 2024, when it announced that it was back via an Instagram post in November. In February 2025, Chuter filed a lawsuit against The MacArthur Companies and Braintrust Fund alleging that Braintrust pushed Chuter out of her operational roles under false pretenses, and that the sale of Uomas assets was unlawful and conducted to satisfy Settles $6.2 million loan, all without Chuters knowledge or consent. Currently, Uoma still sells via Ulta, JCPenney and direct-to-consumer. Ive always been a misfit, Chuter told WWD in 2019 when she debuted the brand. The [beauty] industry has historically decided who is beautiful and who is not. I understand how it feels to be born feeling different not different good, but different badI appreciate uniqueness and stories. Who is behind the shade? What is their origin story and what do they want? And how do we create a world that allows for these different views? Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Former Seattle Sonics star Shawn Kemp has been sentenced to 12 months of community service, with a total of 240 hours in service for firing a gun outside the Tacoma Mall two years ago. In 2023, Kemp was arrested for shooting at a car outside the mall. He tracked his stolen phone to the mall and fired three shots at the suspects. No one was injured. Kemp told officers at the scene that he was firing in self-defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. The prosecutors were seeking a nine-month jail sentence. The impact is real, and I appreciate everyones kind words, but I accept the responsibility for what I did. I should have used better discretion... and Im very apologetic for what I did, Kemp said after the sentencing. Shawn Kemps stake in pot business in jeopardy In addition to community service, Kemp faces uncertainty about his partial ownership of Kemps Cannabis. Brian Smith, communications director at the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board, said felony convictions make it difficult to renew a cannabis license. Its up to the board to make those decisions, Smith said. Our guidelines say no. If you are convicted of a felony within 10 years, our guidelines say not to go forward with that license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Licenses to operate a cannabis business are required and must be renewed annually. Kemp has a 10% ownership in Kemps Cannabis, according to Smith. If Kemp were denied a cannabis license renewal, Smith said, there are options available to keep the businesses operating. The board even has the option of only letting it go forward without him on the license. Or the other members [business co-owners] could ask him to leave. Thats a business decision on their end, Smith said. MyNorthwest.com contributed to this article. KIRO 7 is reaching out to learn what this will mean for Kemps pot shops. Aug. 22The outdoor outfitter formerly known as Sierra Trading Post is opening a new store on Saturday at a location just west of the Spokane Valley Mall. Sierra, as the company has been known since 2018, will offer branded giveaways, music and other activities when it opens at 8 a.m. at 13814 E. Indiana Ave. The company listed the address as 13824 E. Indiana Ave., but county records show location is 13814 East Indiana. The store is located in the Evergreen Crossing shopping center between Fred's Appliance and Ulta Beauty. The opening marks the fourth location for Sierra in Washington, according to a company news release. Sierra also has stores in Federal Way, Silverdale and Bellingham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, the company opened a Sierra at 440 W. Wilbur Ave. in Coeur d'Alene, which is near Silver Lake Mall. "We're excited to be returning to Washington, bringing Sierra's off-price shopping experience to the residents of Spokane Valley," Amanda Johnson, an assistant vice president for Sierra, said in a news release. The 19,085-square-foot store will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sierra has 132 stores and is part of the TJX Companies, Inc., which operates more than 5,000 stores in nine countries. The brands include TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and Sierra in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our goal at Sierra is to support an active lifestyle for everyone by providing access to premium apparel, footwear and gear," Johnson said in the release. "We're committed to helping people find everything they need to stay moving year-round, doing the activities they love most." As part of its grand opening, Sierra is donating $10,000 to the nonprofit Our Place Spokane to help that organization's efforts to deliver emergency relief services, food, clothing and other assistance to the local community. Efforts to reach Johnson on Friday were not immediately successful. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) An unknown number of cars were damaged by a sinkhole that opened up on Lincoln Way south of Golden Gate Park on Friday evening, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. Firefighters responded to the area of Lincoln Way and 12th Avenue around 5:47 p.m. and found a 3-foot deep by 3-foot-wide sinkhole in the street. One lane of traffic remains closed on Lincoln Way while the San Francisco Department of Public Works deals with the sinkhole. Wildfire spreading in Dublin Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SFFD said that an unknown number of cars were damaged by the sinkhole because the divers left the area before firefighters arrived. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SMITHS STATION, Ala. (WRBL) Candidates running for city council and mayor in Smiths Station had the chance to talk to voters Tuesday night. The East Alabama Board of Realtors hosted Tuesday nights meet-and-greet, where five candidates took the stage, each given five minutes to share their priorities. Candidates included Incumbent Mayor Richard Cooley, Mayoral candidate Lisa Deason, Incumbent Place 4 city council candidate Dwayne Peterson, Place 4 city council candidate Daniel-Rey Soto, and unopposed Place 2 city council candidate Adam Littleton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peterson, a military veteran, centered his message on public safety and infrastructure. His opponent, civil engineer Daniel-Rey Soto, had similar goals and said his professional background prepared him to address flooding and growth. In the mayors race, Cooley hopes to improve communication. He also pointed to projects already underway, including economic development and a possible municipal police force. Challenger, Deason, called for greater collaboration and town hall meetings to keep residents informed. Littleton also stressed community involvement and partnership with county agencies. Watch the candidates full speeches below: 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. Aug. 22The owner of The Smoking Tree on Wednesday filed an appeal with the Minnesota Court of Appeals regarding the Albert Lea City Council's decision to deny his cannabis retail registration, arguing that the council's basis for its decision was political. The Albert Lea City Council on July 28 voted against signing off on Jacob Schlichter's registration and then on Aug. 11 declined to reconsider the application. He was the first individual to receive a state license for a dispensary in Albert Lea. Schlichter's court filing on the case alleges the city's denial of his application for cannabis retail registration was "unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious or contrary to law." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His filing states in addition to holding a license from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, retailers are required to register where their establishment will be located. He said under state statute, "[a] local unit of government shall issue a retail registration" (emphasis added) to an eligible business that meets just four objective criteria." He argues that because "shall" is mandatory, "the statute does not grant local units of government discretion to deny cannabis retail registration applications that meet the statutory criteria." The filing said the council neither discussed nor found that Schlichter did not meet the criteria for a cannabis retail registration. "Rather, the Albert Lea City Council's basis for its decision was political; its members expressed disagreement with state law and declined to follow it," he stated. The council at its July 28 meeting cited lack of local control in the state application and approval process, at that time stating the city only had control over where the establishments could be located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Aug. 11 meeting, City Manager Ian Rigg said that after the prior meeting the city had received further clarification about the Office of Cannabis Management approval process. He said the OCM cannot compel the city to approve one license over another, only that the city has to eventually approve the mandatory minimum of two registrations if given the opportunity. He also noted the city found out that the background checks on applicants were not as extensive as they would have liked and suggested the city conduct a criminal background check on applicants, bringing cannabis retail licensing on equal footing with alcohol licenses. He noted prior criminal charges against Schlichter that were brought to the attention of elected officials a few days before their prior vote, specifically a 2017 criminal conviction, which Rigg said was in conflict with the city's ordinance that includes the priority to protect the public health, safety and welfare of city residents. In that case, Schlichter was convicted of contributing to need for child protection or services, a gross misdemeanor, which was a lesser charge from the felony count of deprivation of parental rights-cause child to be a runaway charge he was initially charged with. Online court records now show the charge has been reduced to a misdemeanor. The court complaint stated Schlichter, who was 20 at the time, was concealing a 16-year-old runaway from Texas at his residence. Schlichter and the teenager were in a romantic relationship and had reportedly met online four years prior when the girl was 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray in the same meeting said the state had failed to protect the community and noted that the registration was also objectionable because of Schlichter's refusal to follow lawful instructions. They also referenced Schlichter's public statements that he did not have to follow any local requirements, as well as reported harassment of people after the denial, as well as a new restraining order. As part of the Court of Appeals review, the city is ordered to submit an itemized statement within 30 days of the record, exhibits and proceedings pertaining to the issue so that the court may review the decision, including transcripts. The council is slated to discuss the matter during a closed session at the end of its regular meeting on Monday. Democratic socialist and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh, a Somali American, is being knocked for holding a political rally in a foreign language that appeared entirely devoid of any American flags. This comes as Fateh, who has been likened to socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, lost a critical endorsement from the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., commented on the rally, saying in an X post, "This is the least shocking news: There were almost no American flags at a @OmarFatehMN rally. Palestinian stickers were the main focus instead." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thats what you get when Democrats back a candidate who puts America last, hands out benefits to illegals, and pushes to defund the police," wrote Emmer. Minneapolis Democratic Socialist Omar Fateh Vows To Protect Illegal Immigrants From 'Hostile' Trump Admin Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Omar Fateh is seen in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 19, 2025. Popular conservative social media account "End Wokeness" posted several excerpts from the rally, which included chanting in a foreign language and a crowd holding signs supporting Fateh. Read On The Fox News App "Omar Fateh rally in Minneapolis last night. 0 English. 0 American flags," End Wokeness commented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another conservative influencer, Eric Daugherty, also chimed in, saying, "This was the rally for Omar Fateh last night, candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis. Third world music, third world language, third world attire." "Minneapolis is doomed," added Daugherty. "RED, WHITE & GONE," another popular conservative account called NewYork-I posted, adding, "Omar Fateh rally in Minneapolis without a single U.S. flag or word of English." Republican Leader Shreds Tim Walz Over Minnesota Law That Freed Axe Murderer Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was accused by Omar Fateh of being one of the "party insiders" who decided to revoke the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's endorsement of his campaign. On Thursday, the Minnesota DFL dropped its endorsement of Fateh, citing "substantial failures in the Minneapolis Conventions voting process." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DFL Party Chairman Richard Carlbom said in an official statement on Thursday that "after a thoughtful and transparent review of the challenges, the Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Committee found substantial failures in the Minneapolis Conventions voting process on July 19th, including an acknowledgment that a mayoral candidate was errantly eliminated from contention." Carlbom said that as a result of the review, "the Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Committee has vacated the mayoral endorsement." He called on the Minnesota Democratic Party to "turn our focus to unity and our common goal," saying, "with an eye towards the 2026 midterms, the Minnesota DFL will broaden our coalition to elect leaders who will build an affordable economy that works for everyone." Fatehs campaign had not responded to Fox News Digitals request for comment by the time of publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in a video statement posted on X, Fateh claimed that the decision to revoke his endorsement was made by "28 party insiders" who he said included supporters and donors of incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey. Frey is also a Democrat and has been endorsed by Minnesota Democratic Gov. and one-time vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz. Mamdani-mentum: Who Are The Other Socialist Candidates Soaring Among Democrats Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz "This is exactly what Minneapolis voters are sick of, the insider games, the backroom decisions and feeling like our voice doesnt matter in our own city," Fateh claimed. "Let me be clear," he went on, "Were still in this fight and were going to win." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News Digital reached out to Freys office for comment, but also did not receive a response by the time of publication. In an X post, Frey wrote, "I'm proud to be a member of a party that believes in correcting our mistakes, and I'm glad that this inaccurate and obviously flawed process was set aside." Ilhan Omar Erupts At Own Party For Reneging On Socialist Candidate's Endorsement: 'Inexcusable' Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., House Majority Whip, speaks after a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 19, 2023, in Washington, D.C. "I look forward to having a full and honest debate with Senator Fateh about our city's future, with the outcome now resting squarely where it should with all the people of Minneapolis," he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emmer, meanwhile, weighed in on the controversy, telling Fox News Digital that "even Omar Fatehs own state party knows his radical, leftist policies would just add to the damage the DFL has already done to Minneapolis." "They can blame their unsecured voting system, as ironic as that is, but we all know Fatehs agenda was always doomed to fail," said Emmer. Original article source: Socialist Dem mayoral candidate knocked over foreign-language rally as he loses key endorsement (FOX40.COM) A mother is dead after she was shot by her son in Northern California, according to law enforcement. Video Above: How to report a public safety threat On Friday, the Nevada County Sheriffs Office responded to Glen Meadow Drive in Grass Valley for a disturbance. Deputies said a mother was shot and later died from the injuries. The suspect was identified by NCSO as the victims son. He reportedly fled the scene before deputies arrived. Husband arrested for murder after Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain goes missing in Northern California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies said they found him a short time later. After a brief chase, the suspect took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to NCSO. The incident 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 FOX40 News. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) South Carolina is losing nearly a billion dollars annually due to the lack of affordable child care, according to a new report. The study, conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Social Services, highlights a significant gap in child care availability and affordability, forcing many parents to leave the workforce. Without adequate childcare, parents cannot work. Parents are forgoing promotions. Parents are not able to continue higher education because theyre getting calls from childcare or cant find childcare, said Lavonda Paul, principal and owner of Small Impressions in Taylors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lack of quality childcare centers, a lack of support from the government when it comes to helping us sustain our centers and finding quality staffing, Paul added. Instructor Tammie Frierson emphasized the importance of trust and affordability, stating, I mean, youre leaving your child here for eight hours a day, its someone- you want it to be somebody you can trust. And is that affordable? Parent Catina Carter shared the financial burden her friend is experiencing, saying, Its been a struggle. And then if you try to get, you know, some assistance to help, its just its a struggle when youre a single parent or if youre married because, like she said, daycare is very expensive. Its more than your mortgage, more than your rent. The report reveals that parents in South Carolina are spending an average of $576 per month on child care. And it went on to say the financial strain is causing nearly 40% of parents in school or job training to cut back or drop out due to child care issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Untapped Potential in SCDownload State leaders suggest that employers could help bridge the child care gap by offering child care assistance or accommodations. The lack of affordable child care in South Carolina is not only affecting families but also impacting the states economy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The wheels on the bus go round South Milwaukee with a new route and an extension to an existing route as part of a large Milwaukee County Transit System service update. The new Route 59 goes into South Milwaukee and existing Route 52 has also been extended into the city. These changes go into effect on Aug. 24. Supervisor Steven Shea presents a shirt celebrating 50 years of the Milwaukee County Transit System to South Milwaukee Mayor Jim Shelenske on Aug. 22 with Ben McKay, deputy director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, looking on. These two routes are part of the largest MCTS service update since a system redesign in 2021, according to an Aug. 5 news release from the transit system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The updates impact 40 of the 46 routes throughout Milwaukee County with 95 new bus stop locations and four new routes. All routes can be accessed at ridemcts.com/schedules. The Milwaukee County Transit System has made additions and alterations to its routes. Here is the map for Route 59, which goes into effect Aug. 24, 2025. To celebrate the new connectivity, MCTS is running a federally funded training program called Freedom on Wheels, which helps seniors and people with disabilities ride the bus safely, according to an Aug. 21 news release from MCTS. Resident group Strong Towns South Milwaukee hosted a travel training Aug. 22 with one stop for the Freedom on Wheels training bus at South Milwaukee City Hall, 2424 15th Ave., where local officials spoke about the transit system. Milwaukee County District 8 Supervisor Steven Shea called the Freedom on Wheels training program a valuable, federally funded program. He said even though the transit system has faced challenges, this proves new things can still be launched to serve residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more people who ride, the better our bus system will be, Shea said. Shea also presented South Milwaukee Mayor Jim Shelenske with a shirt celebrating 50 years of the Milwaukee County Transit System. Shelenske noted the common council approved a resolution earlier this year in support of expanded transit routes in the city. He said this increase will reduce traffic congestion and improve connections to jobs. Expanding bus service in South Milwaukee will provide more equitable access to transportation for residents, including seniors, students, individuals with disabilities, and those without access to private vehicles, Shelenske said. The Milwaukee County Transit System has made additions and alterations to its routes. Here is the map for Route 52, which goes into effect Aug. 24. Anna Schryver, communications manager for MCTS, suggested riders download the Umo app to benefit from WisGo the new bus fare system and fare capping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Theyll be able to plan their trip, track their bus, and pay their fare using the app," Schryver said. "It really is a valuable tool, including real-time bus info and detour alerts." For more information on the new routes, visit ridemcts.com/servicechanges. More: Your Milwaukee bus route may be changing. A guide to MCTS fall 2025 service changes More: MCTS faces a $10.9M budget deficit. It now looks to cut bus routes across Milwaukee County Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: This suburb is celebrating new bus routes. Find out where they go. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday attended the 42nd conference of Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services Association and emphasised that if the country has to achieve the goal of good governance, then it must make justice "accessible" and "swift". Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister expressed pride that the Allahabad High Court is the country's biggest high court in terms of sanctioned strength of Judges and also has the highest working strength among all High Courts. "In its 102 years of history, the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service Association has achieved many accomplishments. The judicial officers present here are a testament to unity, mutual cooperation and professional efficiency. I extend my warm greetings to you all on this occasion. It is a matter of pride that the country's biggest high court is located in our state," CM Yogi said. Chief Minister Yogi further underlined that collective progress at every level contributes to national development. "Prime Minister Modi has united the people of the country with the resolve of a developed India...If we are working in the state, then a developed Uttar Pradesh will contribute to a developed India. If we are working in the district, then a developed district will contribute to a developed Uttar Pradesh...If we are to achieve the goal of good governance, we must make justice accessible and swift..." he stressed. The Chief Minister also announced the provision of a Rs 50 crore corpus fund to the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service Association on this occasion. Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the event organised for former CM Kalyan Singh on the latter's death anniversary and paid his respects to "Babuji", praising his tenure as Health Minister as well. "In 1977, as Health Minister and in 1990 as the Chief Minister of UP, Babuji showed how good governance could be brought to the state and how the rule of law could be established here. In his short regime, he demonstrated how heritage and development can coexist," Adityanath said while addressing the gathering at the third 'Hindu Gaurav Diwas' event here. (ANI) A unique but controversial project intended to house nearly 300 chronically homeless individuals near Spanaway Lake has received permit approval from Pierce County. The approval is the final contingency required by Pierce County in order for it to obligate more than $22 million towards the project. The permits mark a beginning to the construction phase of the project and the end to a highly contentious process of approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project, called the Good Neighbor Village, will be owned and operated by Tacoma Rescue Mission one of Pierce Countys largest homeless shelter operators. On Aug. 18, Tacoma Rescue Mission announced the Pierce County Planning Department had officially approved the site development permit for the project. The village promises to bring 250 cottage homes to serve as permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals who have been unhoused for more than 10 years. Residents will be required to work and pay rent as a condition of living in the village and roughly 35 volunteers and employees will live there to provide 24/7 support, according to Tacoma Rescue Mission. The idea for the village was heavily advocated for by former Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier and Republican county council members , but was met by protests from residents who live near the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tacoma Rescue Mission purchased 89 acres of land as a site for the village in between Spanaway Lake and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. A group called Spanaway Concerned Citizens has been opposed to the project and has raised concerns about its potential impact on adjacent wetlands and wildlife . Paul Lubbesmeyer, who lives close to the project and has served as a spokesperson for Spanaway Concerned Citizens, did not respond to The News Tribunes request for comment regarding the villages recent permit approval. Spanaway Concerned Citizens hired environmental lawyers to make a case against the project during a lengthy Pierce County Land Use Examiners Hearing. While the lawyers made arguments the project would have adverse impacts on nearby wetlands , could impact protected species and might include inappropriate land uses , the hearing examiner ultimately decided to approve the project . Before the hearing examiners decision, Tacoma Rescue Mission director Duke Paulson told The News Tribune it would be a gut punch if the project was rejected . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a recent interview with The News Tribune, Paulson said despite the opposition, he and the rest of Tacoma Rescue Mission are steadfast in their efforts to create the village. The concept of who we are serving and why, I am even more committed to, he said. I am more excited now than when we started. Paulson said the village, modeled after a project in Austin, Texas , will be a unique permanent housing option for chronically homeless individuals in Pierce County. Residents at the village will be carefully vetted to make sure they are the right fit, with an emphasis on finding residents that are elderly, veterans, and may have disabilities. We havent seen anything like that in Washington until now, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Paulson said community concerns about the type of people that will reside in the village were hard to hear, he remains committed to the surrounding community as partners in this project. He recalled hearing concerns from neighbors about the safety of their children or fears about their home being broken into, all rooted in presumptions about the unhoused. Paulson told The News Tribune the people who will reside in the village are looking for their own dignity, privacy and peace after living on the streets for many years and will not be looking to cause trouble in the surrounding area. Some people will never understand that until they see it happen in front of them, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paulson said Tacoma Rescue Mission will be looking to build relationships with local community organizations to get them involved with the Good Neighbor Village and perhaps even help construct some of the homes. Tacoma Rescue Mission expects the village to be able to house some of its first residents by Fall 2026. With the release of more than $22 million in county funds, Tacoma Rescue Mission says the Good Neighbor Village is now set to begin work on essential infrastructure roads, sewer, water systems and community facilities. The cost of the project is estimated at more than $62 million and is projected to cost $3.2 million annually to operate upon its expected completion in 2029, according to project materials. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Shreveport Police Department is looking for a man whose annual sex offender registration was not completed as required by law. An arrest warrant was issued for Caleb Matthew Smith for failing to register as a sex offender after missing his required renewal for 2025, as required by Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:542, registration of sex offenders and child predators. Smith was previously convicted of indecent behavior with juveniles and for failing to register previously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about Smiths location should contact Shreveport police at 318-673-7300 or Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Clark County Firefighters at Harry Reid International Airport have two new trucks to help with emergency responses. The Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) trucks feature unique equipment to pierce into planes, extinguishing foam, and two engines to allow for blasting water while driving. Clark County Firefighters at Harry Reid International Airport have two new trucks to help with emergency responses. (KLAS) Clark County Fire Department Assistant Chief Scott Carnahan said they will be an improvement to the department, with the trucks replacing 12-year-old ARFFs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our job is to make sure that the passengers have time to get off the aircraft, Carnahan said. The flight crew has 90 seconds to evacuate an aircraft, and for everybody that cant go out, our job is to make sure that we can knock down the fire and go in and get those people that need to be rescued. Clark County Firefighters at Harry Reid International Airport have two new trucks to help with emergency responses. (KLAS) The trucks also make responses safer for firefighters, as the extinguishing foam they use no longer contains forever chemicals known as PFAS. Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, who played a part in securing funding for the new trucks, is proud of that aspect. We want our airport to stay the safest, and we also want our firefighters right here to have the best equipment, best response. Its an investment in their safety, and in the publics safety, Rosen said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Springfield Police Departments Youth Aid Bureau is asking for the publics help in locating 11-year-old Zyree Mabry, who was reported missing Friday evening. Two serious crashes on Chicopee Street in less than 24-hours; Community reacts Police said Mabry ran away in the area of 50 State Street and is known to frequent Bay Street and Cedar Street. Zyree Mabry (Courtesy of Springfield Police Department) Authorities are urging anyone who sees her or knows her whereabouts to contact Springfield detectives at (413) 787-6360, or call the departments non-emergency line at (413) 787-6300. 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. Britains leading trade union Unite has accused Sir Keir Starmer of breaking his promise of 200m to support workers at Scotlands troubled Grangemouth refinery. The Scottish refinery has closed, and a nearby petrochemicals plant has lost money for the last five years putting hundreds of workers at risk of redundancy. But Unite, one of Labours key financial backers, has sent Sir Keir an open letter accusing him of false promises because not one penny of the 200m-worth of support he pledged has materialised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both plants are run by Ineos, a British multinational chemicals company founded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, now also the billionaire owner of Manchester United. He has repeatedly warned that Britains high energy prices, mostly caused by green levies, are making such plants impossible to run profitably. Sharon Graham, Unites general secretary, said that Sir Keir had broken a pledge given at the Scottish Labour conference in February to make 200m available for Grangemouth from the Governments National Wealth Fund. She said: Despite the refinery [the only one in Scotland] ceasing production in April and hundreds of jobs being shed at the complex including at the chemicals plant and among contractors based at the site, not one penny of the promised investment has been spent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is little wonder workers are turning away from Labour in their droves when they fail to protect British jobs and critical infrastructure. Promises made to the workers of Grangemouth have been broken. Unite produced a clear plan for the site to be transformed, to back workers and create the promised green jobs. The Governments failure to act shows there is absolutely no plan for a jobs transition. Sharon Graham, Unites general secretary, says workers are turning away from Labour over broken promises - Andrew Milligan Michelle Thomson, SNP MP for Grangemouth, said: The broken promises made by UK Labour over Grangemouth are piling up. There is no sign of the 200m they promised, and the UK Chancellor couldnt even be bothered to raise the issue of the refinery when she met Ineos recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As predicted, there is emerging evidence that energy prices under their watch are crippling current businesses and stifling new ones. At Grangemouth, there are now clear risks to the chemical sector too yet UK Labour seem completely unaware of the damage they are causing. The workers and the Scottish people are watching in despair at their disinterest and inaction. Ineoss UK and European operations have increasingly struggled with surging energy costs linked to climate levies and taxes. UK industrial power prices are 27p per kilowatt hour (KWh) compared to 18p in Germany and France, 13p in Spain and Turkey, 9p in South Korea, 6p in Finland and the US, and even less in the Gulf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent report from the Office for National Statistics said the UK had lost 31pc of its heavy manufacturing between 2021 and 2024 because of these high prices The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for workers and their families. When we came to power, there was no overall plan for the future of the Grangemouth refinery, and within weeks we delivered an unprecedented support package. The National Wealth Fund is investing 200m and we are working closely with investors to advance sustainable, long-term proposals for the site. 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. State attorney Bill Gladson is responding after witnesses allege a woman was hurt at a Lake County GOP meeting Monday night. Autumn Jacunski claims a man intentionally crushed her hand in the door after he blocked her from exiting a party meeting. Her attorney, Anthony Sabatini, filed a lawsuit in Lake County court this week against the Lake County Republican Party and the man she accuses of battering her hand. Jacunski says shes going through physical therapy after the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leesburg police told Eyewitness News the department sent the case to the State Attorneys Office for review. Gladson said his office received an incident report from Leesburg Police which said investigating officers did not think that the alleged battery was intentional. Jacunski says she and her attorney will turn over additional evidence and videos to the State Attorneys Office for review. Gladson said in a statement, While we are certainly willing to review whatever evidence is presented, when the investigating officers do not believe there is probable cause, prosecution is extremely unlikely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gladson added, hes seen the video circulating online. This whole situation could have been avoided if those involved would have just acted like adults instead of children. Everyone should be embarrassed. Lake County deserves better, Gladson said in a statement. He is getting away with something he shouldnt be getting away with, Jacunski said, speaking about the man who allegedly battered her hand. Sabatini released a statement saying in part, Bill Gladson has proved time and time again that he is politically controlled and bases his prosecution decisions on what his buddies tell him to do. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Lawmakers in Illinois have moved to ban a particularly harmful kind of food packaging. According to an early-August report from Environment+Energy Leader, the Illinois General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 1531, which would ban the sale and distribution of disposable polystyrene foam food service containers in the state beginning in 2030. The ban addresses items such as drink cups, take-out boxes, and trays, but there are a few exceptions. These include Styrofoam coolers, ice chests used for seafood, egg cartons, and packaging for raw or uncooked meat, poultry, or seafood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polystyrene foam often known by the brand name Styrofoam is made from styrene, a petroleum product. The packaging is made by compressing and then inflating beads of the material into whatever shape it needs to take, creating cheap, fairly durable storage that can fit a variety of needs. However, that convenience comes at a price. Apart from increasing our reliance on oil, a known pollutant, polystyrene doesn't break down naturally. It can stay in the environment for hundreds of years, according to Beyond Plastics, breaking into increasingly tiny pieces that can be eaten by animals who mistake it for food and who can be injured or die as a result. Styrene is also a possible human carcinogen, and the chemicals involved in the creation of the foam packaging can leach into food and beverages, particularly if the contents of the containers are hot, acidic, or high in fat. Coffee or tea, for example, can cause the foam to leach chemicals into the beverage. With approval from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, the ban would come with a warning on a first offense, a fine of up to $500 on a second offense, and a fine of up to $1,000 per subsequent offense within a year. It follows similar bills in California, Washington, Oregon, and more that prohibit such containers. Should the government ban gas-powered lawn equipment? Absolutely Not yet Only for commercial use Nope 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. AMHERST The state stopped placing homeless families in Center of Human Development programs last month and ordered the Springfield nonprofit to close its Jessies House shelter in Amherst after the agency failed to properly report allegations that employees sexually harassed a resident, one of them coercing her into sex. The state has paid the agency $70 million to house homeless families over the last three years. As first reported by the Boston Globe, one of the since-fired employees coerced a 37-year-old immigrant woman living in the shelter into a sexual relationship. That employee later threatened the young mother with deportation, saying he was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement worker, according to documents obtained by the Globe and confirmed to The Republican by CHD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second worker, also suspended and then terminated, harassed the same woman, who is the mother of a young child. The unnamed woman reported the abuse July 1 to staff at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. The Center for Human Development placed a phone call July 2 to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, according to Benjamin Craft, vice president of community engagement at CHD. But CHD did not file a written report until July 7, Craft said. He acknowledged that CHD should have notified the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, which oversees shelters, in writing sooner. That was a miss on our part, Craft said in a phone interview Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said there was a scramble to care for the woman and to ascertain the facts. We immediately implemented a plan for addressing these issues and we remain committed to working closely with EOHLC to ensure all needs for remediation are met, Craft said. The state office met with CHD leadership on July 8, 9, and 11 and will work with the agency on continued corrective action during the suspension. CHD has been placed on probation while we conduct a thorough investigation, agency spokeswoman Tara Smith said in an email Friday. CHD has not been told of a time frame for the investigation, Craft said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessies House has space for as many as six families and can accommodate them for up to six months. Founded in 1983, it is located in a old Victorian house downtown that once housed the minister of the nearby Congregational Church. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities confirmed that staff with the Springfield agency passed criminal background checks through both the Criminal Offender Record Information system (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information systems (SORI). Shelter providers are required to perform CORI and SORI checks on all staff, including subcontracted staff, prior to hiring and periodically after hiring. Both individuals had been fully vetted prior to hire and successfully passed background checks. Following the investigation process, both the individuals involved had their employment terminated fully and immediately, Craft said in an emailed statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said CHD works to be thorough in its hiring, intercepting potential problems. Unfortunately, thats not always a realistic expectation, he said. The woman told CHD that a housing specialist first invited her to a hotel room. She then went to a house with him. He recorded all their interactions on his phone, the Globe reported. Besides threatening her with immigration enforcement, the CHD employee said he would not assist her with housing if she did not comply with his demands for sex. Another employee, a direct care worker, sent messages to the woman in Spanish telling her good day my love, calling her beautiful, and wishing her sweet dreams, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities said police were called and CHD is cooperating with law enforcement. Laurie Loisel, spokeswoman for the Northwestern District Attorneys Office, said Friday she cant confirm or deny the existence of a criminal investigation. Amherst police didnt return calls Friday about the situation. The number of families being served by the Center for Human Development fluctuates, but the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities most recently inspected 265 units managed by CHD. Craft said CHD houses 130 families and 50 individual adults in those 256 units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That volume swelled with the arrival of migrants and other homeless people over the last several years. Recently, Massachusetts closed all hotel shelters, a process that ended only earlier this month. Safety is the most important tenet of our work and is instilled in all our policies and practices, Craft said in a statement. Read the original article on MassLive. Sheffield steelmaking is facing an uncertain future after the UK's third-largest steelworks collapsed into government control this week. Insolvency courts granted a compulsory winding up order for Speciality Steels UK part of the Liberty Steel group owned by Sanjeev Gupta which employs around 1,500 workers at sites in Rotherham and Stocksbridge. The firm which owes hundreds of millions of pounds to creditors will now be placed into the hands of a government-appointed liquidator, with ministers agreeing to cover the ongoing wages and plant costs while a buyer is sought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the latest developments, people living near the plant in Stocksbridge said they were concerned about the effect on the local economy and the future of their town. "This is supposed to be, allegedly, the Northern Powerhouse, isn't it?" said trader Peter Johansson. "If you keep on shutting things down, we haven't got much power left, have we? "If they pay somebody a wage, they can spend it in the area, can't they? If they're not in a job, then they can't spend anything. They employ a lot of people, don't they? "In my lifetime, when you look back at how this country's gone down, we've lost shipbuilding, we've lost cotton mills, we've lost the wool industry, we've lost steelworks, we've lost coal, we've lost everything. Everything's gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You can't keep importing things all the time." People living near the steelworks fear for the local economy if a buyer is not found [EPA] His views were echoed by Graham Elliott, who backed the government takeover and bid to find a rescue deal for the plant. "This town has a very long history of steelmaking and I think a lot of people are still very proud of it," he said. "That steelworks produces all kinds of quality stuff that's needed. So, let's keep making it and whatever some foreign owner wants to do or not do, as a nation, we've got to start looking after ourselves. "We seem to be getting so dependent on people who are not reliable that we've got to start looking after our own industries, and that also means looking after the people who work there and what it does for this town - so I'm really pleased." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pam Morris shared his hope that the plant would be taken back into British hands. "I hope they do, to be honest. The coal mines, they're still paying for it now, aren't they?" Stocksbridge local Graham Elliott is glad the plant has fallen under British control [BBC] Tracey Martin runs Samuel's Kitchen, a cafe a stone's throw away from the plant. She told the BBC she is owed 3,000 by the troubled firm, which she was uncertain she would see again. "There's a lot of question marks as to what's happening now it's in administration. "Stocksbridge is built on steel, that's the beating heart of the valley. Let's hope they can actually turn it around and we do see it doing what it's good at." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North More on this story (FOX40.COM) Central Valley residents said that sometimes the heat feels even hotter than what the thermometer shows. With high temperatures expected again this weekend, Stockton residents are looking for ways to cool off and splash pads seem to be the popular choice on Friday. Firefighter hospitalized in massive Stanislaus County blaze At the Weber Point Events Center, visitors can be found enjoying the shade under the trees, picnic tables and plenty of play spaces. For many, the splash pads have become a frequent destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One resident, William Spence, said his family has visited every single day this summer. On Friday, Spence and his baby, Atlas, ran around in laughter as they weaved through the water spouting from the jets. It just gets really hot here and hes a youngster we dont like to keep him out in the heat, said Spence. Its a good place for him to come and get used to the water, stay cool. Community pools are another option, but splash pads seem to be attracting large groups as well, according to city officials. Theres lots of other children, theres usually no problems here and yeah, we love it, said Spence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city says splash pad hours vary by locations, and that they are open through September 2. Splash pads, pools, and cooling zones include: SPLASH PADS: Residents seeking relief from the heat can visit the following splash pads, which are open from May 24 to September 2, 2025, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily: Smith Park Splash Pad (E. 9th St & Commerce St) Michael Faklis Park Splash Pad (5250 Cosumnes Dr) Gleason Park Splash Pads (S. California St & E. Church St) Iloilo Park Splash Pad (6250 Scott Creek Dr) Pixie Woods Dragon Water Play Area (3121 Monte Diablo Ave in Louis Park) Hours vary by month; entry fee applies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COOLING ZONES: All City of Stockton Community Centers are serving as cooling zones during regular business hours: Arnold Rue Community Center 5758 Lorraine Ave. Stribley Community Center 1760 E. Sonora St. Van Buskirk Community Center 734 Houston Ave. Seifert Community Center 128 W. Benjamin Holt Dr. Cesar Chavez Central Library 605 N El Dorado St Fair Oaks Library 2370 E Main St Margaret Troke Library 502 W Benjamin Holt Dr Maya Angelou Library 2324 Pock Lane Weston Ranch Library 1453 W French Camp Rd Community Center Hours: Monday Thursday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Closed 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 FOX40 News. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday unveiled the model of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) in Delhi on the occasion of National Space Day. The ISRO aims to launch the first module of the project by 2028 and the full station is expected to become operational by 2035. The BAS is set to be a significant platform for indigenous research, including microgravity studies and testing technologies for long-duration human space missions. India's journey to establish its own orbital laboratory marks a major leap in its space program and reinforces its position as a global leader in space exploration. Earlier today, ISRO chief V Narayanan emphasised that by the year 2035, India will establish the "Bharatiya Antariksh Station" whose first module will be lifted off in the year 2035. He stated that India will land on the moon by the year 2040 which will make India's space program the top other than any country in the world. The ISRO chairman also announced that India will launch the Chandrayaan 4 mission which will have the Venus Orbiter Mission. "Based on his direction and vision, we are going to have a Chandrayaan-4 mission. We are going to have a Venus Orbiter Mission. We are going to have a space station called BAS (Bharatiya Antriksh Station) by 2035, and the first module will be lifted off by 2028. The Prime Minister has given approval for an NGL (Next Generation Launcher)... By 2040, India will land on the moon and we are going to bring back safely. Thereby by 2040, Indian Space Program will be at par with any other space program of the world...," V Narayanan said. Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi while virtually addressing the event, recalled the success of the Chandrayaan 3 mission, stating that India created history by becoming the first country to reach the south pole of the Moon. He emphasised that achieving new milestones every day has become the nature of India and its scientists. "Achieving new milestones one after another in the space sector has become the nature of India and Indian scientists. Just two years ago, India became the first country to create history by reaching the South Pole of the Moon," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also lauded the success of the Axiom 4 mission, stating that Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla has filled India with pride by hoisting the tricolour at the International Space Station. Referring to his meeting with Group Captain Shukla, the Prime Minister asserted on India's immense courage and infinite dreams amongst its youth. "We have also become the fourth country in the world to have the capability of docking and undocking in space. Just three days ago, I met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He filled every Indian with pride by hoisting the tricolour on the International Space Station. The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words. In my discussion with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the immense courage and infinite dreams of the youth of the new India," PM Modi said. (ANI) NEED TO KNOW Franklin Delano Floyd kidnapped Suzanne Marie Sevakis as a child, raised her under false names and later married her In 1990, Suzanne was killed in a suspicious hit-and-run four years later, Floyd kidnapped their 6-year-old son, Michael Hughes After his arrest for Michael's abduction, Floyd was charged with murdering Cheryl Ann Commesso, a fellow dancer at Suzanne's strip club, and admitted to killing the 6-year-old Franklin Delano Floyd the career criminal at the center of Netflixs 2022 documentary The Girl in the Picture died on Floridas death row in 2023 after killing the 6-year-old son he fathered with a girl he abducted as a child. Born Suzanne Marie Sevakis, she was about 5 years old when Floyd abducted her after briefly marrying her mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her mothers short jail term for writing bad checks, Floyd vanished with Suzanne and her infant brother Phillip, according to FBI case files and journalist Matt Birkbeck, author of A Beautiful Child and Finding Sharon. Suzannes two sisters Allison and Amy were later located in foster care, but Suzanne and Phillip remained missing. Phillip was identified decades later when he approached authorities; Suzanne never got to know her real name. Before meeting Suzannes mother, Floyd had already served time in a Georgia prison for kidnapping and raping a 4-year-old girl, according to the FBI. Netflix Franklin Delano Floyd Franklin Delano Floyd Over the years, Floyd moved Suzanne across state lines, enrolling her in school under aliases first as his daughter, then as his wife. In high school, she was known as Sharon Marshall, a standout student who earned a full scholarship to Georgia Tech University for aerospace engineering. She later gave birth to a son, Michael, who was fathered by Floyd, in 1988, according to Esquire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They relocated to Tampa, where Suzanne worked as a dancer. In 1989, she and Floyd married in New Orleans under aliases Clarence Hughes and Tonya Tadlock. In April 1990, Suzanne was found unconscious on the side of a highway outside Oklahoma City, groceries scattered around her. Though first believed to be a hit-and-run, she was found with severe bruising and a large hematoma. She died the following day, per FBI documentation. Suzannes identity remained unknown and Michael was placed in foster care. In 1994, Floyd forced his way into Michaels Oklahoma school at gunpoint, abducted the child, and vanished, according to the FBIs cold case summary. Netflix Suzanne Sevakis Suzanne Sevakis Floyd was arrested in Kentucky two months later but Michael was gone. According to the FBI, Floyd refused to say what happened to the boy and was later convicted of a federal kidnapping charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that investigation, authorities found photos taped to the gas tank of Floyd's truck showing a young woman who appeared to be bound and beaten. That woman was later identified as Cheryl Ann Commenso, who had worked at Mons Venus club in Tampa along with Suzanne her remains had been discovered near a freeway on-ramp in Tampa, Fla. Netflix Floyd was charged with her 1989 murder, convicted and sentenced to death in 2002, per the Tampa Bay Times. According to the FBI, Floyd confessed to killing Michael in 2014, admitting he shot the 6-year-old twice in the back of the head on the same day he abducted him. Michael was being a typical 6-year-old. He was out of control, and that pushed Floyd over the edge, Special Agent Scott Lobb, who elicited the confession in an interview recalled, per the FBI cold case file. Floyd felt the pressure and he just ran out of patience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lobb remembered the confession vividly: He turned and looked at me and said, I shot him twice in the back of the head to make it real quick,'" he said. Although Floyd told authorities that he'd buried the boy's body near an interstate exit close to the Texas state line, per the Tampa Bay Times, his body was never found. That same year, investigators determined through DNA testing that "Tonya Hughes" Suzanne's alias at the time of her death was actually Suzanne Marie Sevakis, the long-missing daughter of the woman Floyd had briefly married in the 1970s. We were able to find her birth parents and give them some closure about their daughter, Lobb said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the specifics of Suzanne's death remain a mystery, as Floyd has never been charged in connection with her death. Thats the one thing Floyd wont talk about, Lobb said. After years of court delays due to questions about his mental competency, Floyd died of natural causes in 2023 at age 79, per the Florida Department of Corrections. A better thing couldnt happen to a worse person, Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett, who prosecuted Floyd, told the Tampa Bay Times. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People CLARKSBURG, W.Va. Here are some of the top stories this week on the WBOY 12News Facebook page. Members of the West Virginia National Guard arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to support President Trumps Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection approved an air quality permit for a company seeking to build a microgrid power plant and a data center in Tucker County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Monongalia County Sheriffs Office has begun enforcing a new initiative to enforce school bus safety. Marion County Schools will once again provide free meals for students through the Community Eligibility Provision program. A ceremony held Thursday in Elkins honored local and state law enforcement officers for their actions that saved an elderly mans life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Jack Greiner, partner of Faruki PLL The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently struck down an Indiana statute making it a crime for a person to stand within 25 feet of a police officer who is "lawfully engaged in the execution of the law enforcement officer's duties." The court found the law "void for vagueness." Because the law was vague, the court was concerned that police officers would invoke the law in an arbitrary and erratic manner. The relevant text of the statute provides: "[a] person who knowingly or intentionally approaches within twenty-five (25) feet of a law enforcement officer lawfully engaged in the execution of the law enforcement officer's duties after the law enforcement officer has ordered the person to stop approaching commits unlawful encroachment on an investigation, a Class C misdemeanor." In adopting the statute, Indiana believed that the 25-foot buffer area was sufficiently clear and objective to avoid the "vagueness" argument. By its reasoning, the statute was different from statutes which courts had previously struck down. Indiana argued that even if someone "is not sure about where a 25-foot marker is, he cannot be arrested" under the buffer law because it only criminalizes those who "knowingly or intentionally" approach within 25 feet following a warning. In its mind, this solved any problem with the statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the court looked at the statute from a slightly different angle whether the buffer law encourages arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement. And on this point, the statute failed. Citing previously decided cases, the court noted: "[a] statute encourages arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement if it impermissibly delegates to law enforcement the authority to arrest and prosecute on 'an ad hoc and subjective basis,' giving police unfettered discretion to make 'arbitrary and erratic arrests.'" The court agreed that "a law criminalizing approaching within 25 feet of an officer is more objective than one criminalizing annoying behavior." It also acknowledged that the buffer law "requires a do-not-approach warning before subjecting an individual to arrest." But the court concluded that those objective features could "not immunize the buffer law from arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement." The fundamental problem with the statute is that "the buffer law offers no 'guidance to the officer deciding whether [a do-not approach] order should issue' in the first place." Absent such guidance, the court noted, "any on-duty officer can use the buffer law to subject any pedestrian to potential criminal liability by simply ordering them not to approach, even if the pedestrian is doing nothing more than taking a morning stroll or merely walking up to an officer to ask for directions." Interestingly, Indiana did not put up much of a fight on this issue. As the court recounted the oral argument, "[w]e asked counsel to explain when an officer could invoke the buffer law to tell someone to stop approaching. The answer? 'If an officer is conducting their official duties, an officer may tell someone to stop approaching.' For any reason? A good reason, a bad reason, a reason the officer just makes up? 'Yes.' Could an officer invoke the buffer law just because he had a bad breakfast? Again, counsel answered in the affirmative." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A statute that allows a police officer to arrest someone because the cop had a bad plate of bacon and eggs is the very definition of arbitrary. The court wisely struck this down. There is a bigger issue at play here. The activities of ICE have been concerning to say the least. It's important that the public be able to see up close what masked ICE agents are up to. A statute that allows ICE (or any other cop) to force a law-abiding citizen to stay 25 feet away from the action on the pain of criminal prosecution is not just unconstitutional, it's terrible policy. Jack Greiner is a partner at Faruki PLL law firm in Cincinnati. He represents Enquirer Media in First Amendment and media issues. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Strictly Legal | Indiana's 25-foot buffer zone ruled unconstitutional The Brief A student at Denton Ryan High School was arrested after allegedly stabbing another student Friday morning. The victim was taken to an area hospital with injuries considered not life-threatening. The suspect was taken to the Denton County Juvenile Detention Center for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. DENTON, Texas - One student was arrested Friday morning after allegedly stabbing another student at Denton Ryan High School, police said. What we know The incident happened just after 9 a.m., Denton police said. The student was detained, and the victim was taken to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the student was taken to the Denton County Juvenile Detention Center for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after the on-scene investigation. What we don't know The names of the students involved have not been released. The Source Information in this article comes from the Denton Police Department. By: Euphenie Andre COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Legion of Black Collegians claims the University of Missouri is trying to erase its presence, while administrators cite inclusivity concerns over a canceled event. The Legion of Black Collegians stated in an Instagram post on Wednesday that its Black 2 Class Block Party was canceled after administrators took issue with the name. University of Missouri President Mun Choi responded with a statement Wednesday, claiming the name was not inclusive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University of Missouri fosters a non-discriminatory campus environment. When holding events using University facilities, student organizations must avoid excluding individuals based on race. The name of the 'Black 2 Class Block Party' proposed by LBC suggested such exclusivity. For that reason, the decision was made that the event as described would not be held on campus." The situation has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many students and alumni weighing in on the ongoing conflict. Students say they are not surprised by the decision, pointing to a similar conflict last year when the groups Welcome Black BBQ was challenged by the university. In response, LBC created the new block party as an alternative. The "Welcome Black and Gold BBQ" will still be held on Aug. 29 at the Black Culture Center, but the LBC has withdrawn from participating, the group wrote. MU junior Dorion Bailey, who was a part of the LBC executive board last year, said the organization had to carefully navigate wording in its events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We ran into the same kind of discrepancies last year with name changes and know that our organization is being looked at in terms of what kind of events we're trying to put on and the language that we're using within our programming," Bailey said. Despite the challenges, Bailey said last years event was a success. We had a very positive turnout, and I even noticed fleets of administrative leaders coming to the event and relishing in the festivities, he recalled. LBC accused the university of canceling the event without offering alternatives. "These actions are a deliberate act of erasure. At every turn, we are shut down. Things as simple as putting "Black" in a name, results in consequences," the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Incoming freshmen Delali Thompson and Lauryn Jackson said the decision left them discouraged. "Being a Black student in a PWI predominantly white institution, it's natural for us to want to find each other, find connections, resources, and I don't think it's fair for the school to cancel an event just because we want to find out community," Jackson said. Thompson shared similar sentiments. "I was really disappointed about that, especially being like a new black freshman. It just ruined my first impression of the school because I was ready to meet some other people, because this is a PWI." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students argue the university's stance is inconsistent. Based on Mizzou Events Calender there is several events hosted for specific marginalized groups. "I find that interesting in the way that the University chooses what kind of language to deem as acceptable and non-acceptable, because there's nothing wrong with any culture, any kind of organization wanting to put on anything or the student body," Bailey said. "So my thing is, when we do put an emphasis on black, do you want us to say African American?" Following the cancellation, LBC is demanding that the university: * Release a campus-wide message addressing the decision Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Hold a town hall within 60 days * Publicly condemn racial harassment Choi also said in his statement that the school will not respond to demands, but university leaders will meet with the LBC "to continue this discussion. We're learning more and more about how parts of our bodies are linked and working together and now a new study reveals connections between gut bacteria and the risk of insomnia. The research, from scientists in China and the US, suggests that being unable to sleep at night could be at least partly down to the mix of microbes in our digestive system. What's more, the relationship appears to go both ways: poor sleep can disrupt the gut's microbial balance, creating a feedback loop that could make insomnia harder to shake. With further investigation, we may be able to develop treatments based on these findings. Related: Screen Time In Bed May Increase Insomnia Odds, Study Suggests "Changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiota are commonly noted in patients with insomnia," write the researchers in their published paper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "However, their causal connections to insomnia phenotypes are far from being clear." The team, led by psychiatrist Shangyun Shi of Nanjing Medical University, used a statistical approach called Mendelian randomization. This method looks at genetic variations which are set at birth and unaffected by lifestyle and other factors to help determine whether one factor is truly influencing another. YouTube Thumbnail By analyzing genetic and health data from more than 400,000 people, the researchers found several clear matches. Certain types of bacteria were associated with increased insomnia risk, while others seemed to lower the odds. The strongest evidence pointed to the Clostridium innocuum group of bacteria being linked to a greater risk of insomnia. It's not normally a dangerous kind of bacteria, but it appears to be contributing to sleepless nights for some. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We identified a total of 14 and 8 bacterial taxa, respectively, as positively and negatively correlated with insomnia," write the researchers. "In addition, there were reverse effects of insomnia correlated with 19 identified microbial taxa." The team found signs of gut bacteria affecting insomnia, as well as insomnia affecting gut bacteria. (Shi et al., Gen. Psychiatry, 2025) Scientists already know the gut-brain axis works in two directions, and previous research has linked it to stress levels, neurodegenerative diseases, and conditions such as autism and ADHD. The researchers behind this study think that some of the chemical reactions that certain bacteria start or stop might explain the new findings. We're still at the early stages here, and further studies are going to be required in diverse populations all the participants in this study were of European descent. It's worth noting that gut microbes are only one piece of the insomnia puzzle. Other factors can contribute, from stress at work to drinking habits. But it appears that gut bacteria are definitely a factor to look at in more detail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, prebiotics and probiotics could be developed to take advantage of this link, and poop transplants might also work as a way of treating insomnia something that's being looked at for multiple conditions. "Overall, the intertwined effects of insomnia on gut microbiota and vice versa represent a complex bidirectional relationship involving immune regulation, inflammatory response, release of neurotransmitters, and other molecular and cellular pathways," write the researchers. The research has been published in General Psychiatry. Related News Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have uncovered a mechanism by which triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors fuel growth by drawing energy from nearby fat cells. The study, published Wednesday in Nature Communications, points to potential new treatment options. TNBC accounts for about 15% of breast cancer cases and is more common in black women and those under 40, is known for its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. The study, lled by Dr. Andrei Goga, professor of cell and tissue biology at UCSF, found that TNBC tumor cells form molecular tunnels called gap junctions. These tunnels allow tumors to tap lipids in nearby fat cells, releasing stored energy to fuel cancer growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cancers thrive by hijacking the bodys energy sources, and weve identified how this works in triple-negative breast cancer, Goga said in a UCSF release. The research, funded by the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health, showed that blocking the gap junctions stopped tumor growth in lab models. Using TNBC tumors from patients and mouse models, researchers found fat cells closer to tumors had less lipid content and were smaller than those farther away or in non-cancerous breast tissue. They also saw increased gene expression linked to lipolysis the breakdown of fats in tumors and surrounding tissue. Aggressive cancer cells can co-opt different nutrient sources to help them grow, including by stimulating fat cells in the breast to release their lipids, said Jeremy Williams, a UCSF postdoctoral scholar, per NBC 5 DFW. In the future, treatments might starve tumor cells by blocking their access to these lipids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team confirmed TNBC cells form gap junctions with fat cells, transferring a signaling molecule called cAMP that promotes lipolysis. By depleting a key gap junction protein, researchers reduced this transfer and saw decreased tumor growth in mice. Tumors with intact gap junctions promoted lipolysis in surrounding fat tissue, while those without the protein showed reduced activity. Knocking out a single gene impaired the formation and progression of the tumor, Williams said. The findings align with prior research linking higher body mass index (BMI) to increased TNBC risk, suggesting fat tissue plays a role in tumor growth. Dr. Julia McGuinness, a breast cancer specialist at Columbia University, called the study the first evidence of a mechanism linking fat to cancer growth. Its also suggesting one pathway to treat aggressive cancers for which we dont have any good therapies, she told NBC 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added, Slimming down could be protective, noting obesity is a known breast cancer risk factor. Justin Balko, a cancer researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said, They found a new way cancer grows and feeds itself, though he cautioned, For example, we dont know if this is a major mechanism by which breast cancer grows in humans, NBC 5 reported. Still, he noted, If some of the same effects are observed in humans, it might be fodder for differences in the way we treat patients. The studys implications extend beyond breast cancer, as gap junctions are also being studied in brain cancer trials, offering a potential shared therapeutic target. This is a golden opportunity for us to develop effective strategies to treat the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, Goga said. NEED TO KNOW A new study from the University of Edinburgh has found that cats may develop dementia in a similar way to humans The findings may mean more accurate modeling for Alzheimer's studies, which could result in faster advancements in research and treatments Researchers say the findings will hopefully benefit both humans and felines alike A new study suggests that cats may develop dementia in a similar way to humans and it could have important implications for the way we treat the disease in humans and felines alike. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh examined the brains of 25 cats after they died, some of which had shown signs of dementia while alive, per a news release published on the universitys website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scientists found a build-up of a toxic protein known as amyloid-beta in the brains of the cats that had exhibited signs of the disease in life, including symptoms like confusion, disrupted sleep, and increased vocalization, or meowing. This is the same protein found in the brains of humans who suffer from dementia and Alzheimers disease, indicating parallels in the way the conditions progress in humans and cats, per the release. Getty Cat (stock image) Cat (stock image) The researchers stated that these findings are especially significant because Alzheimers research has historically relied on genetically modified rodents, noting that rodents do not naturally develop the condition. Studying animals that develop the disease naturally could lead to better research and faster advancements. 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. Dementia is a devastating disease whether it affects humans, cats, or dogs, said the studys lead author, Dr. Robert McGeachan from the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, per the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our findings highlight the striking similarities between feline dementia and Alzheimers disease in people. This opens the door to exploring whether promising new treatments for human Alzheimers disease could also help our ageing pets, he added. He continued, Because cats naturally develop these brain changes, they may also offer a more accurate model of the disease than traditional laboratory animals, ultimately benefiting both species and their caregivers. Getty Test tubes (stock images) Test tubes (stock images) Professor Danielle Gunn-Moore, the schools Chair of Feline Medicine, also said she was hopeful about the results of the study, noting, everyone benefits. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feline dementia is so distressing for the cat and for its person. It is by undertaking studies like this that we will understand how best to treat them. This will be wonderful for the cats, their owners, people with Alzheimers and their loved ones. Feline dementia is the perfect natural model for Alzheimers. Everyone benefits, she said. Read the original article on People U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the nations highest court, will speak at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro next month, the university announced Friday. Jackson will speak at the university the largest historically Black college or university in the country on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. The event, to be held in NC A&Ts Harrison Auditorium, is restricted to university students, faculty and staff. The event is part of Jacksons tour for her memoir, Lovely One, released last year. A No. 1 New York Times bestseller, the book chronicles Jacksons life growing up in Miami, graduating with her bachelors and law degrees from Harvard University and ultimately rising to the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here, Justice Jackson pulls back the curtain, marrying the public record of her life with what is less known, reads the publishers description of the memoir. She reveals what it takes to advance in the legal profession when most people in power dont look like you, and to reconcile a demanding career with the joys and sacrifices of marriage and motherhood. Jackson, 54, was appointed to the Supreme Court by then-President Joe Biden in 2022. Among other positions, she previously served as a U.S. district judge for the District of Columbia and as a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals. Though NC A&T does not have a law school, the university noted Friday that several prominent North Carolina lawyers have come from its alumni base. That includes Henry Frye, a 1953 graduate who became the first Black chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and Elreta Alexander-Ralston, a 1937 graduate who was the states first Black woman to practice law and its first elected Black judge. Jackson is the second Supreme Court justice to visit a North Carolina college in recent years. Chief Justice John Roberts last year spoke at a private event at Duke University honoring the late Justice Sandra Day OConnor, the first woman to serve on the court. NATOs support for Ukraine remains unwavering and continues to grow, the alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Friday during a visit to Kyiv. After the meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rutte said there are more plans to provide NATO funding to ensure a crucial flow of lethal US weapons to Ukraine. Following Monday's multilateral meeting at the White House, Rutte said US President Donald Trump made it clear the United States will indeed be involved in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are now working together Ukraine, the Europeans, the United States to make sure that these security guarantees are of such a level that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin sitting in Moscow will never try to attack Ukraine again," Rutte said at a press conference. Soldiers aged 18 to 24 practice military skills on a training ground near Kharkiv, 19 August, 2025 - AP Photo Rutte said the security guarantees agreement will consist of two layers: strengthening Ukraines army and commitments from the US and Europe aimed at deterring Russia in the event of future aggression. According to Rutte, discussions about deploying foreign troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees are ongoing, but "it is too early to say what will be the outcome." "Its still too early to say who might provide troops, who will contribute intelligence, who will be present at sea, and who in the air," Zelenskyy added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ukraine needs security guarantees so that we, our children, and grandchildren can be certain that Russia will not attack us. These are guarantees of security against an aggressor" Ukraines president said. Zelenskyy-Putin meeting After Donald Trump met Vladimir Putin in Alaska and then Volodymyr Zelenskyy together with the European leaders at the White House two days later, he said that the next step in the fast moving diplomatic process would be a meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy repeatedly said that he is ready to meet Putin, but the Kremlin rejected this possibility every time. US President Donald Trump listens to Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a press conference in Alaska, 15 August, 2025 - AP Photo The White House has been working to secure a summit location and date under the initiative of Donald Trump, but Moscow signalled on Friday, that the Kremlin is not expecting a meeting any time soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said no meeting is planned between Putin and Zelenskyy, despite Trumps efforts to broker such talks. Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy when the agenda is ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all, Lavrov told NBC News, repeating a long-standing Kremlin statement. Speaking at the joint press conference with Mark Rutte in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Moscow is doing everything to ensure that a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, the US and Russia does not take place. Related Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The question of ending the war must be resolved at the leadership level, but we can see now that the Russians are doing everything to prevent a meeting. Ukraine, unlike Russia, is not afraid of any meetings with leaders. We are ready to work productively, to the maximum, Zelenskyy claimed, adding that he hopes that "partners will help ensure at least a minimal productive stance from the Russian side." He said that "everything must be done so that Russia can no longer avoid the meeting." They must be forced into diplomacy; truly strong sanctions are needed if they (Russia) do not agree to a diplomatic resolution of this war, if they do not want to end the war. We are counting heavily on strong (sanction) packages from our partners." Jammu Police in Chowki Choura, Akhnoor, have uncovered a marriage fraud nexus and arrested five individuals, including a woman who impersonated as the bride. They allegedly orchestrated fake marriage arrangements, duping victims into paying substantial sums. The investigation began after a complaint registered by the Akhnoor Police Station on August 11 under sections 318(4)/82(2)/61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation was taken up by the In-charge Police Post Chowki Choura, Vinay Kotwal, under the close supervision of Station House Officer (SHO) Akhnoor and SDPO Akhnoor. As per the complaint, Deepak Kumar, son of Baldev Raj, a resident of Dhana Chapri, Chowki Choura, approached the complainant, Rashpal Chand, son of Chatru Ramm, a resident of Dori Dager, Chowki Choura, with a marriage proposal from outside the Union Territory and demanded Rs 3 lakh. After the marriage was solemnised, the bride, along with other accomplices, fled within two days, thereby cheating the complainant. Investigations revealed that the gang was operating a fraudulent nexus under the guise of a marriage bureau. The racket managed everything, including arranging the bride, priest (Pandit), and related formalities. Shortly after marriage, the bride would desert the complainant on one pretext or another. Due to social stigma, many victims refrained from reporting such incidents. However, in this case, timely reporting led to a major breakthrough. So far, five accused have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing. Further arrests have not been ruled out. According to the Police, four more similar cases have surfaced, with two from Akhnoor and two from Nagrota, where inquiries are currently in progress. The entire investigation is being closely monitored by SP Rural Jammu & SSP Jammu. Jammu Police appeals to the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent activities and to promptly report such incidents to the nearest police station. This nexus primarily targets vulnerable individuals, especially those who are unable to find suitable matches or are overage for marriage. (ANI) Aug. 22dbeard @dominionpost.com MORGANTOWN Many West Virginians live above active or abandoned coal mines. If you've bought property you've probably checked with the U.S. Geological Society based in Morgantown to see if it sits above a mine, And maybe you've bought subsidence insurance in case your house splits apart or your backyard pond disappears. Now, the West Virginia Surface Owners' Rights Organization has joined the cause of an Ohio County couple suing a mining company for damages caused by long wall mining subsidence. Jason and Crystal Wilhem, the landowners, are suing Tunnel Ridge LLC, a subsidiary of Alliance Resource Partners. Both the Ohio County Circuit Court and the state Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled against the Wilhelms, saying that statute of limitations had passed on their claim and they'd waited too long to file suit for compensation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The West Virginia Supreme Court took up the case this month and WVSOR filed an amicus friend of the court brief supporting the Wilhelms. WVSORO's brief explains that Tunnel Ridge began its underground long wall mining operation in 2017. Starting in 2018, and continuing, the property has suffered subsidence damage. They notified Tunnel Ridgel which inspected the property and on March 20, 2019, told the Wilhelms it would pay for any damage until they signed a release of all claims related to subsidence. "This release would have included claims for future subsidence damage, which can occur at random for decades or centuries, " WVSORO said. The parties continued negotiating but failed to reach a settlement. The Wilhelms then filed a case in federal court against Tunnel Ridge on April 17, 2020. It was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and they re-filed in circuit court on Sept. 24, 2021, losing there and in the intermediate court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WVSORO argues that the lower courts misapplied the statue of limitations statutes, saying the statute of limitations has not yet begun to run. Since a coal mine operator is obligated to "correct material damage " to surface lands and structures, an operator which fails to do so is in violation of that regulation, and any statute of limitations under the West Virginia Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act does not begin to run for as long as the operator is in violation. Additionally, WVSORO says, the federal agency that administers the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act has twice concluded that imposing a statute of limitations on citizen suits for subsidence damage would violate SMCRA and so must be disallowed. WVSORO says in a release announcing the amicus brief that the lower courts wrongly assumed that surface owners know exactly when undermining occurs and ignored that subsidence can occur or worsen for years or decades after mining has ceased. The lower courts relied on code provisions not specific to mining or subsidence. WVSORO adds in its brief, "Subsidence damage can be devastating to a surface owner, in the form of destabilizing foundations, ruining or disrupting water tables, breaking water pipelines or septic systems, causing natural gas to gather, breaking gas transmission or distribution pipelines, and diminishing property values, just to name a few. And subsidence damage 'isn't usually covered by homeowners' insurance, ' meaning that surface owners often have no other remedy for these injuries." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It continues, "Under these circumstances, commencing the statute of limitations on the date of mining or when subsidence is first noticed as the intermediate court did makes it a certainty that subsidence damage will go unrepaired in West Virginia, and possibly injure a party who never benefited from the mining in the first place." WVSORO highlights in its release that historically, coal mining involved leaving behind pillars to provide support for the surface. But newer, long wall mining removes coal in broad panels and intentionally allows the mine roof and overlying strata to collapse, often causing the ground above to sink. And very often the surface owners do not own the coal and so they get no royalty benefits from the coal being mined and sold. David McMahon, a co-founder of WVSORO, said, ""WVSORO thinks that if a federal law or a specific state law gives a right to sue for compensation, and if that law does not have a statute of limitations, then courts shouldn't graft one on, and we think the federal agency that administers SMCRA agrees with us." WVSORO said that Tunnel Ridge has until Sept. 18 to file a response. And the Wilhelms' reply brief is due by Oct. 8. WAILUKU (KHON2) The 38-year-old man accused of killing Maui police officer Suzanne O will be headed to trial. Justice, remembrance: MPD unveils new details in deadly shooting The final day of suspect Clembert Kaneholanis preliminary hearing was on Friday, with another packed courtroom with Os family members and fellow MPD officers. In the end, the judge said the state had presented enough evidence to move the case to circuit court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing started with officers and detectives responding to the scene after the shooting had already happened and detailing the firearms that were found, rounds shot, and rounds still in the chamber. They also showed Officer Os vest which had blood on the back side and a camouflage backpack that is believed to be Kaneholanis. Mauis prosecuting attorney asked one of the officers on the stand if another gun was recovered from the backpack. Yes, it was black in color and had a wooden handle, Officer Steven Landsiedel said. He said it had a loaded magazine within and was a 22-caliber LR Browning with a serial number. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news On Thursday, Maui police said they had recovered a Polymer 80 glock ghost gun with a high-capacity magazine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting stemmed from a trespassing call on Friday, Aug. 15. The caretaker and witness from the Paia Sugar Mill said he saw Kaneholani point two firearms at him before he began shooting. Kaneholani, who is a convicted felon, was not supposed to have firearms in his possession. When police arrived on scene, a fellow officer testified he heard a shot fired, Officer O scream, and fall to the ground. He then said he heard the suspects gun jam. This is very important your honor, because as the court heard from testimony today behind that pillar [where the suspect was] that gun would have ejected more live rounds below where the person who held that weapon was, prosecuting attorney Martin said. The doctor who conducted Officer Os autopsy said she died from a gunshot wound to her chest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gunshot wound on the left side came through her chest and injured her heart and lungs and caused internal bleeding, explained forensic pathologist Dr. Jeremy Stuelpnagel. Check out more news from around Hawaii The judge said the state had presented enough evidence for the case to move to trial. Kaneholanis initial appearance will be Wednesday, Aug. 27. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UPDATE: Tranell Marquise Williams, 38, has been charged in connection with the murder of Reginald Carroll, according to the Southaven Police Department. *** MEMPHIS, Tenn. Southaven Police say a male suspect is charged after a 52-year-old Maryland man was shot Wednesday. Police identified the victim in Wednesdays shooting on Burton Lane in Southaven as Reginald Carroll. Carroll died of his injuries, police said. Reginald Carroll (Photo provided by: Billy Sorrells) Reginald Carroll (Photo provided by: Billy Sorrells) Reginald Carroll (Photo provided by: Billy Sorrells) Reginald Carroll (Photo provided by: Billy Sorrells) CBS News says Carroll was a comedian from Baltimore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One dead, one detained after Southaven, MS shooting The suspect charged in his death has not been identified, but is in custody, Southaven police said Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDONDERRY, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) According to state police, a woman was injured at a home on Vermont Route 11 near Thompsonsburg Road in Londonderry. That woman was reportedly dropped off at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington on Friday afternoon. She has now been pronounced dead. The womans name is being withheld until her relatives have been notified. Bennington police received a report of a patient with a possible gunshot wound at SVMC around 3:30 p.m. Friday and locked down the hospital. After police determined that no firearm was used on the SVMC campus, the lockdown was lifted around 4:45 p.m, and Bennington police took one person of interest into custody. They then turned the case over to state police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later Friday evening beginning around 5:26 p.m., a section of VT-11 in Londonderry was closed as state police investigated the residence where they said the womans injury occurred. SVMC and Bennington police separately said that there is no believed threat to the public in connection with this incident. An autopsy will be performed this weekend. Anyone with possible information in this case is asked to call Vermont State Police, Westminster Barracks at (802) 722-4600 or submit an anonymous tip online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. MURRAY, Utah (ABC4) One person was arrested in Murray after SWAT responded to a man barricading himself inside an apartment. On Friday, August 22, a man, who law enforcement has not yet identified, barricaded himself inside the Miller Estates Apartment. He was reportedly uncooperative after being served an eviction notice. Murray Police Department and a SWAT team responded to the scene to help Constables. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SWAT response in West Valley City after domestic violence report, one arrested Law enforcement learned the suspect had barricaded himself inside the bedroom of the apartment. They attempted to negotiate with the individual, who pointed a handgun at officers through an open window. Officers evacuated nearby apartments and used chemical munitions in an attempt to get the individual to surrender, which was unsuccessful. After several hours of negotiations, they were able to gain entry into the apartment. The individual was eventually taken into custody and was treated for exposure to pepper powder, due to the chemical munitions. He will reportedly be booked into Salt Lake County Jail. 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. (Reuters) -Syria's first parliamentary election under its new Islamist administration, scheduled for September, will not include the southern province of Sweida and two other provinces due to security concerns, the electoral commission said on Saturday. Hundreds of people were reported killed in July in clashes in Sweida pitting Druze fighters against Sunni Bedouin tribes, and government forces were sent to the city to quell the unrest. Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said were mass killings of Druze by government troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Druze are a minority offshoot of Islam with followers in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Sweida is predominantly Druze but is also home to Sunni tribes, and there is longstanding tension between the communities over land and other resources. The main Druze factions that control the province have labelled President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government as extremist and resisted the deployment of government troops, saying they want to run their own security. Next month's ballot will also be delayed in the northern Hasaka and Raqqa provinces - parts of which are mostly controlled by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces - until there is a "safe environment", state media quoted the electoral commission as saying. Seats allocated to the three provinces will remain vacant until elections can be held there, a spokesperson for the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections told SANA news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The elections are a sovereign matter that can only be conducted in areas fully under government control," he added. The decision drew criticism from Kurdish authorities. "These elections are not democratic and do not express the will of the Syrians in any way. They represent nothing but a continuation of the approach of marginalisation and exclusion," the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria said in a statement on Sunday. It denied that safety was a valid reason to exclude the provinces, saying they were considered safe compared to other areas. The head of the electoral commission said last month that voting for the 210-member People's Assembly was due to take place between September 15 and 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharaa said in February it would take four to five years for the country to be ready to hold a presidential election. (Reporting by Laila Bassam;Additional reporting by Suleiman All-Khalidi and Jaidaa Taha;Writing by Hatem Maher;Editing by William Maclean and Helen Popper) Seats allocated to the three provinces will remain vacant until elections can be held there, commission spokesperson Nawar Najmeh told SANA. Syria's first parliamentary election under its new Islamist administration, scheduled for September, will not include the southern province ofSweida and two other provinces because of security concerns, the electoral commission said on Saturday. Hundreds of people were reported killed in July in clashes in Sweida province pitting Druze against Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said were mass killings of Druze by government forces. Attacks on Syrian Druzw The Druze are a minority offshoot of Islam with followers in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Sweida province is predominantly Druze but is also home to Sunni tribes, and the communities have had longstanding tensions over land and other resources. A drone view shows the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria July 25, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI/FILE PHOTO) The Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections said the ballot would also be delayed in the northern provinces of Hasaka and Raqqa until a "safe environment" is in place, according to state news agency SANA. Seats allocated to the three provinces will remain vacant until elections can be held there, commission spokesperson Nawar Najmeh told SANA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The elections are a sovereign matter that can only be conducted in areas fully under government control," he added. The head of the electoral commission said last month that voting for the 210-member People's Assembly was due to take place between September 15 and 20. Syria's upcoming parliamentary elections, the country's first since the ouster of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad more than eight months ago, will be postponed in three provinces due to security concerns, an electoral commission said on Saturday. The elections were originally scheduled to take place between September 15-20. But a spokesman for the higher electoral commission, Hassan al-Daghim, told dpa the vote would be postponed in the southern province of Sweida as well as the provinces of al-Hassakeh and al-Reqqa in north-eastern Syria due to "security challenges" there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Sweida, a stronghold of Syria's minority Druze community, experienced deadly sectarian violence. Hasakeh and al-Raqqa, meanwhile, are under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces militia locked in tensions with the Damascus government. Al-Daghim did not give a new date, but said the elections will take place in the three provinces when the circumstances allow. Earlier this week, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa ratified a decree pertaining to a temporary electoral system whereby he has the power to appoint one third of the assembly's 210 members. The remaining two-thirds will be picked by electoral bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commanding an Islamist-led rebel alliance, al-Sharaa overthrew al-Assad in December. The former president fled the country for Russia. In January, the new administration dissolved the parliament that had been dominated by al-Assad's Baath Party. In March, al-Sharaa approved an interim constitution that established a political transition period of five years. Since al-Assad's fall, Syria's new leadership has sought to garner world recognition and economic support to rebuild the country devastated by more than a decade of civil war. Israels Operation Rising Lion included a daring air force strike over Tehran, part of a secret plan to destabilize Irans defenses and leadership system. Alpha Alpha Alpha, the strike code echoed repeatedly inside the Air Forces underground command center, known as the Pit, during Operation Rising Lion. Yet in those moments, there was silence. For the first time since the operation began, the Israel Air Force struck targets as aircraft closed the distance, circled over Iranian airspace, and destroyed them - not from hundreds of kilometers away, but in Tehran itself. The strike marked the edge of the IDFs operational capability, once considered science fiction. The military succeeded in carrying out a highly classified plan, revealed here for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing you can be sure of that happened: Everyone in the command and control rooms was sweating, a senior Air Force officer said. The tension was immense because of the fear of Iranian surprises. When the Alpha reports were broadcast at breakneck speed and the munitions struck their targets, everyone was busy figuring out who broke through to the heart of Tehran and who carried out the precision strikes. They are legends now in the corps. This is not an exaggeration. According to him, remotely piloted aircraft were shot down by Iranian missiles during the operation, but no manned aircraft were lost. A critical component of Operation Rising Lion was an intelligence-operational-technological plan known as Stand-in Tehran (SIT). The ultra-secret initiative involved fighter pilots using advanced weapons from extremely close ranges, catching Irans dense air defense network off guard. Israeli Air Force fighter jets seen attacking Iranian nuclear targets, June 15, 2025 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Barams system shock doctrine The IDFs systemic concept for the operation was drawn as a triangle resting on three pillars: Israels air defenses and civilian home front; a strategic surprise strike at a distance of 2,000 km, which evolved into Operation Narnia and included the elimination of 14 nuclear scientists; and Operation Red Wedding, the assassination of senior Iranian security officials. Alongside these, SIT emerged from the mind of Amir Baram, then deputy chief of staff and now director-general of the Defense Ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources familiar with the planning said Baram emphasized the concept of system shock (Systemschock), a doctrine developed between World War I and II. It refers to an adversarys psychological and organizational collapse after a sudden and precise blow that disrupts command, control, communications, and morale. In hindsight, this was the effect of the IDFs opening strike in Iran and subsequent attacks on the Revolutionary Guards and military facilities. In the year leading up to the operation, the IDF weighed how to prepare for a potential campaign against Irans nuclear project. Intelligence reports increasingly pointed to a shift in Iranian behavior, with greater aggression and radicalization. Baram concluded that a first strike had to surprise and destabilize the system. On September 15, 2024, he convened a General Staff workshop with representatives from the Planning Directorate, Military Intelligence, Mossad, the Air Force, Cyber Defense, and the Defense Ministry. He told participants that although striking over Tehran sounded unrealistic due to distance and risk, it was essential to achieve a historic result against Iran. From concept to operational plan Some officers were skeptical, but Baram insisted the concept was viable. Each branch was tasked with contributing its comparative advantage to build the operation, which was classified top secret from the outset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By November 6, 2024, the idea had been developed into practical steps. Brig.-Gen. Omer Tishler, the Air Force chief of staff, was singled out for his role in identifying the plans potential. Soon afterward, SIT was formulated as official doctrine. Unlike the standoff concept of firing munitions from hundreds of kilometers away, SIT meant penetrating deep into enemy territory. Bringing aircraft closer accelerated and expanded target destruction. A veteran pilot said, Every kilometer of flight from Israel is calculated. Adding unexpected events and weapons loads makes it a very costly process. But it rests on decades of capabilities and the quality of both air and ground crews. Anyone who examines what the Air Force achieved understands this. On November 7, 2024, SIT became a formal program, and the Air Force began training on it before presenting it to the General Staff and political echelon. Days later, Defense Minister Israel Katz told senior commanders: Iran is more exposed today than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities. There is an opportunity to achieve the most important goal: to remove the existential threat to the State of Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By November 20, Baram declared the concept an actionable plan and allocated NIS 2.6 billion directly from the IDF budget to accelerate the program. It was a huge challenge because it came at the expense of other projects, said a source familiar with the process. But the urgency was obvious, and it later proved extremely worthwhile operationally. Weekly reviews ensured the buildup progressed according to plan until the Air Force declared it was ready for final orders. By Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) -A referendum to push for the re-opening of Taiwan's last nuclear plant failed on Saturday to reach the legal threshold to be valid, though the president said the island could return to the technology in the future if safety standards improve. The plebiscite, backed by the opposition, asked whether the Maanshan power plant should be re-opened if it was "confirmed" there were no safety issues. The plant was closed in May as the government shifts to renewables and liquefied natural gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The small Taiwan People's Party (TPP) proposed the referendum earlier this year, and with the backing of the much larger Kuomintang (KMT) passed the legislation for the vote, saying Taiwan needs reliable power supplies and not to be so reliant on imports. Around 4.3 million people voted in favour of the plant's re-opening in the referendum, a clear majority over the 1.5 million who voted against, figures from the Central Election Commission showed. But the motion needed the backing of one quarter of all registered electors - around 5 million people - to get through under electoral law, meaning the plant on Taiwan's southern tip will not re-open. Taiwan's government says there are major safety concerns around generating nuclear power in earthquake-prone Taiwan and handling nuclear waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwan President Lai Ching-te told reporters on Saturday evening that while the referendum had failed, he understood "society's expectations for diverse energy options". "If in the future, the technology becomes safer, nuclear waste is reduced, and societal acceptance increases, we will not rule out advanced nuclear energy," he added. In a separate vote on Saturday, electors rejected the recall of seven KMT lawmakers. A larger recall vote, to try and oust 24 lawmakers from the same party, also failed last month. Civic groups who had run the recall campaigns, with the backing of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), accused the lawmakers of being too close to China and intentionally trying to snarl government spending and legislation, charges the legislators strongly denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lai said Premier Cho Jung-tai had asked many times to resign after the failure of the recall votes in July, but he had asked Cho to stay on. There will be a cabinet reshuffle to make the team more efficient and governance more effective, Lai added. The two opposition parties together form a majority in parliament, though the DPP controls the presidency and hence the government in Taiwan's system. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Jeanny Kao; Editing by Andrew Heavens) In a major breakthrough, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has achieved a major success by apprehending an overground worker, Altaf Hussain Wagay, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Wagay and resident of Reban Gund, Behram Shopian, who worked as a sleeper cell for the terrorist organisation, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, an official statement said. According to the statement by SIA Jammu and Kashmir, the arrest was made as a part of the ongoing investigation into FIR number 01/2025 under Sections 13, 18, 18-B, 38, 39 of Police Station CI/SIA Kashmir. During the investigation, SIA Kashmir has adduced evidence which establishes the connection of the arrested accused with a terrorist handler belonging to HM who is operating from across, on whose behest the OGW was orchestrating terrorist, unlawful and anti-national activities by actively engaging in terrorist conspiracy, propagating and furthering anti-India narratives. Their activities were aimed not only at challenging the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India but also at inciting disaffection, public disorder, and communal hatred, the statement said. The statement said, the arrest of OGW Altaf Hussain Wagay is a major success in the path towards unearthing the sleeper cells who are highly radicalised, sharing secessionist, unlawful, separatist contents and are also having connections with Pakistan terror handlers/terrorist organisations/Pakistan intelligence agencies. Earlier on Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha terminated two government employees for terror links by invoking Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution. The investigation clearly established that a teacher in Karnah, Kupwara and an Assistant Stockman in Keran, Kupwara, were working for the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba and law enforcement and intelligence agencies had collected incriminating material evidence against them. Since taking office in August 2020, Manoj Sinha has prioritised weakening terrorism's infrastructure by targeting both active terrorists and their support networks, including overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers embedded in government institutions. (ANI) TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Opposition lawmakers easily survived recall votes in Taiwan on Saturday, but an opposition-backed referendum to bring back nuclear power failed. The recall votes, the second in a month, were an attempt to restore ruling party control of the legislature after the Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority in a 2024 election. The recall results were a second straight setback for the ruling DPP. The seven lawmakers from the opposition Nationalist Party all held onto their seats, as did 24 members of other parties in a first round of recall votes on July 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic Progressive Party won the presidency in 2024 but neither main party took a majority in the 113-seat legislature. The Nationalists, also known as the Kuomintang or KMT, won 52 seats, one more than the DPP. The Nationalists have teamed up with a third party, the Taiwan Peoples Party, to pass legislation, much to the consternation of the ruling DPP. The referendum on nuclear power Voters favored a return to nuclear power by an almost three-to-one margin, but the total in favor fell short of a threshold of 25% of eligible voters, or about 5 million votes, needed for approval. The referendum was supported by 4.3 million voters and opposed by 1.5 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwan shut down its last reactor in May under a DPP policy of phasing out nuclear power, which once provided about 20% of the self-governing island's electricity. But the same month, the legislature approved a proposal from the Taiwan Peoples Party to hold a referendum on extending nuclear power, with the support of the Nationalists. The referendum asked voters if the most recently shut nuclear plant should continue operating, assuming regulators agreed it was safe to do so. The last reactor at the Maanshan plant, one of three that Taiwan once operated, was shut three months ago after its 40-year operating license ran out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Backers of nuclear power said it reduces electricity bills and helps meet the growing demand for power from artificial intelligence applications. Jensen Huang, the Taiwan-born founder of American chip giant Nvidia, backed nuclear power when asked about the issue after arriving at the airport Friday in the capital, Taipei. Citing AI's need for energy, he told reporters he hopes that all options will be explored. Theres excellent technologies for sustainable energy solar and wind, he said. "And nuclear is an excellent option. In May, Nvidia announced it would team up with Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn to build an AI supercomputer for the island's researchers and companies. For Tiffany Krihwan, the waters of Presque Isle Bay are more than a harbor theyre home. Krihwan, an Erie native, spent her childhood sailing on Lake Erie. In fact, her earliest memories involve being out on the lake as a little kid in a diaper. Now based in Massachusetts, Krihwan has returned as captain of the Ernestina-Morrissey, a historic schooner and sailing school vessel from New Bedford, Massachusetts, and one of the nine tall ships taking part in Tall Ships Erie 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel such pride coming here, she told the Erie Times-News. This was a great place to grow up. And for a smaller town, the amount of people who are supportive and excited about the ships, theres something to be said about that. From Erie Yacht Club to the open seas Tiffany Krihwan, an Erie native, is captain of the SSV Ernestina Morrissey, one of nine tall ships that participated in Tall Ships Erie 2025. Krihwan, 52, first learned to sail at the Erie Yacht Club, following in the footsteps of her older siblings and spending time aboard her grandfathers boat. She went on to become a sailing instructor at the same club and began sailing tall ships in 1997 when she was appointed chief mate of the Appledore IV. For Krihwan, tall ships offered a challenge unlike any she had faced on smaller sailboats. With modern boats, it's not that hard to get them to go fast, she said. Whereas sailing a tall ship, it really develops your sailing skills beyond what I already had. That really intrigued me. A ship with stories of its own Her fascination with tall ships only deepened once she took command of one with its own extraordinary history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Built in 1894 at the James and Tarr Shipyard for the Gloucester fishing fleet, the Ernestina-Morrissey boasts a colorful history, from sailing to within 600 miles of the North Pole to ferrying immigrants to the U.S. Its now part of the Massachusetts Maritime Academys permanent fleet, serving as an educational platform for sail and leadership training for cadets, K-12 STEM programs and community engagement. I like to call her the peoples ship, Krihwan said. Everywhere I go, somebody has a family member who has ties to this vessel and its history. What to know: Tall Ships Erie 2025 pulls into port in August. What to know about the bayfront festival Breaking barriers on tall ship deck Krihwan said she returns to Erie a couple times every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her career has taken her to some of the most recognized vessels in the country, including the Pride of Baltimore II, the Boston-based schooner Roseway, the Los Angeles brigantine Exy Johnson and the tall ship Unicorn. She was named Tall Ships Americas 2019 Sail Trainer of the Year and is among roughly 10% of tall ship captains who are women. Tiffany Krihwan, captain of the SSV Ernestina Morrissey, talks to crew members near the mast of her tall ship during Tall Ships Erie 2025 on Aug. 22, 2025. Its definitely a unique career my friends and family seem impressed, she said, laughing. Im not a big person Im 53 and they think you have to be a big person to be a captain and thats not the case. Krihwan said she hopes young people in Erie see that her path is just one example of the opportunities that exist if you think outside the box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope they see that theres a lot of career opportunities if you look beyond the usual options, she said. Ive had a very successful, adventurous career thats perfect for me. It doesnt mean its right for everyone, but it shows that there are paths you might not even consider at first. Explore the festival: Tall Ships Erie is underway: Your guide to the 4-day maritime festival A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com or 814-440-5080. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Ernestina-Morrissey captain sails from New Bedford to Tall Ships Erie TaMya Bracy joined the News-Press NOW team in August 2025 as a Multimedia Journalist. TaMya was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Missouri with her bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Before joining News-Press NOW, TaMya worked at KOMU 8 News as a Multimedia Journalist reporting on stories in Mid-Missouri. During her free time, she enjoys playing video games, watching anime and listening to podcasts. NEED TO KNOW Emily Gilreath is a first-grade teacher at Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Alabama During her three years of teaching, she noticed the school bathrooms felt dull and uninspired In July, she and a few other teachers took it upon themselves to create a colorful and welcoming environment for their students In the heat of July, while many were still savoring the last stretch of summer, one dedicated first-grade teacher from Birmingham, Ala., chose to spend a full week transforming her school in a unique and heartfelt way. With the help of three fellow teachers and two friends, Emily Gilreath, 28, painted all four of the bathrooms for first- and second-graders at Pleasant Grove Elementary School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She had come up with the idea months prior while walking a group of students to the restroom. Once they reached their destination, she noticed just how plain and uninspiring the walls were. Our students go there every day and sometimes we allow students who need a break to go get some water or go use the restroom to calm down, Gilreath tells PEOPLE exclusively. So thinking about how amazing it would be for those students to collect themselves in an environment that is affirming and calming is what led us to this project. The result: bright spaces designed to uplift students in moments as ordinary as going to the bathroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to see color, positive affirmations and bathroom-themed directions. I wanted every student who entered the bathroom to walk in and read something positive every day, she explains. Every child uses the restroom at least once a day, so my vision was for them to see a quote or a rainbow or an affirmation that would help them feel a little brighter. Emily Gilreath Teachers helping paint the elementary school. Teachers helping paint the elementary school. The team painted four bathrooms in total, choosing a calming purple-mauve color for the girls and a soothing blue for the boys. They created an Amazon list with the paint and wall decals, which were covered by the school, but had to bring their own painting supplies such as brushes, rollers, and tarps to get the job done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first-grade girls restroom, a large rainbow mural was added, with each color band featuring a positive affirmation such as I am creative and I am brave. 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. Emily Gilreath Emily Gilreath painting the bathroom wall. Emily Gilreath painting the bathroom wall. In the boys restroom, the walls were decorated with bold affirmation posters that reminded students they are wanted, valued, and important. I figured it wouldnt change anything dramatically, but you never know what one positive moment could do for a child whos having a bad day, Gilreath emphasizes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time Meet the Teacher rolled around, the bathrooms were nearly complete and the reaction from returning students was immediate and enthusiastic. One student, overwhelmed with excitement, shouted about how amazing the new space looked and even ran down the hallway to bring his brother to see it. Emily Gilreath One of the finished bathrooms. One of the finished bathrooms. It touched me because all we did was paint the bathroom blue and put up posters, but to them, you would have thought we hung the moon, she shares. The positive reactions didnt stop with the students, as faculty and administration were just as thrilled with the results. School leaders and fellow teachers expressed their appreciation for the time and effort that went into the project, personally thanking everyone involved. Emily Gilreath Emily Gilreath in her classroom. Emily Gilreath in her classroom. Bathrooms might seem like a small part of a school, but for many kids they can feel like forgotten spaces, Gilreath tells PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Title I school, where many students face daily challenges, the environment can quietly affirm their value. The goal of the bathroom makeover was to create a space that felt safe, clean, and uplifting. Through color and affirmations, the team worked to send a clear message: every student matters. Its about showing students that they are valued in every corner of the school and giving them reminders that they are capable, loved, and full of potential even in the moments between classes, Gilreath says. Sometimes its the little things that speak the loudest. Read the original article on People *Attached video: Separate incident, Cleveland officer drove drunk, crashed into Romeos Pizza in North Olmsted: police CLEVELAND (WJW) The FOX 8 I-Team has learned an off-duty Cleveland police officer was arrested early Saturday morning and charged under suspicion of driving impaired. This comes just days after another officer was arrested for suspected OVI following a crash in North Olmsted. Police find passenger dead in crashed car before officers track down driver Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the latest case, Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputies arrested Officer Brian Brunner after a crash involving a sheriffs deputy cruiser. The Cleveland Police Chiefs office issued a statement saying, We confirm that a Cleveland Police Officer was involved in a motor vehicle accident this morning and was arrested by the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office on suspicion of OVI. In accordance with standard procedure and in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement, Officer Brunner has been placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the case. The Divisions Inspections Unit will be monitoring the matter. Brunner has served with the Division since 2018 and is currently assigned to the 5th District. Cuyahoga County officials released a statement saying, At approximately 0100 hours Saturday 23 August 2025, while working a construction part-time job a CCSD SGT was in Sheriffs Unit at the corner of Lakewood Heights and Alger blocking traffic for the entrance ramp of Warren Road and 90 Westbound with both front and rear overhead lights activated when a black Chevrolet Silverado drove through the intersection striking CCSD vehicle almost head on, immobilizing the patrol vehicle. Sheriff Units responded. Euclid hit-and-run suspect turned herself in; teen girl injured: Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no reports of injuries. The officer is due in the Cleveland Municipal Court soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 teenage author has used her experiences living abroad as inspiration for a book about how kids can turn their love for the environment into meaningful action one easy step at a time. As WFSB detailed, Luna Hansen and her mother, Kimberly Haidinger, began to realize their passion for protecting the planet during their two years in Denmark, a leading country in sustainability. Denmark generates nearly 72% of its energy from clean sources, and 24% of its workers are dedicated to green objectives, according to the country's tourism organization. The capital city of Copenhagen even rewards visitors for making eco-friendly decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They really cared about the planet a lot. The inspiration was all around us," Hansen said. The teen from Farmington, Connecticut, illustrated her book titled "A Kid's Guide to Climate Activism" on cut-up pieces of paper. She and her mom also focused on using simple language that would connect with young learners and empower them to incorporate climate-friendly practices in their daily routines. Readers can learn about how avoiding single-use items, reducing food waste by composting, and eating more plant-based foods can be fun and collectively make a difference when people around the world join in, leading to cleaner communities and a cooler planet in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If everyone can just do some of these little things at home, we can really change our planet," Hansen told WFSB. "It's a topic that can sometimes be so scary we look away from it, we have to not think about it, but we put this together in such a way, through Luna's drawings and the words we chose, it's really positive," Haidinger added. "People will feel, 'OK, I get it, and I know what I can do.'" In May, Haidinger revealed in a joint post on Instagram with Bannon River Books, a self-publisher that specializes in nonfiction and kids' books, that the author's copy of "A Kid's Guide to Climate Activism" was officially in her hands. The book is now available for sale on platforms such as Amazon. 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. Backed by students, some from private schools, Gov. Bill Lee signs his signature private school voucher law. (Photo: John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout) This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Sign up for Chalkbeat Tennessees free newsletter to keep up with statewide education policy and Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Tennessee public school students this school year will receive less state per-pupil funding than private school students using the states new voucher program, drawing sharp criticism from public education advocates and Democrats who argue the state is prioritizing voucher participants at the expense of other students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee will spend an average of $7,023 per public school student in the states education funding formula, compared to the $7,295 given to students participating in the new Education Freedom Scholarship program. Public school students will still receive more public funds, though, due to local government contributions to the formula and separate federal funds. The 2025-26 funding formula allocation numbers, presented in a state board of Education meeting last week, have drawn criticism from opponents of Gov. Bill Lees voucher plan that launched this summer. Tennessee Education Association President Tanya Coats said Monday that vouchers shortchange public education and the TEA is deeply concerned the state is providing more per-pupil funding for vouchers than in per-pupil public education funding. Tanya Coats. president of the Tennessee Education Association. (Photo: TEA) This disparity makes clear that Tennessees leaders are prioritizing private school subsidies over strengthening the public schools that serve the overwhelming majority of children in every community, Coats said. Rather than closing resource gaps, the state is growing disparities by sending more money to private schools while public schools continue to struggle with overcrowded classrooms, outdated materials, and educator shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee law requires that public school students are funded at a higher amount than the voucher program. The governors office and Tennessee Department of Education this week noted state and local governments must contribute to the formula, known as the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA). With local contributions, the average per-pupil TISA allocation is $9,810, more than $2,000 higher than the voucher amount. TISA funding increased by about 3% this year. The EFS scholarship amount is $7,295 and is fully state funded, requiring no contribution from local governments, said Maggie Hannan, communications director at TDOE. Moreover, the state has made unprecedented investments in public education during the Lee administration, totaling over $2 billion since 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The financial responsibility of local governments vary, with economic drivers like Nashville funding proportionally more of their local formula while the state shoulders more of the burden for smaller, rural counties. Public school enrollment still dwarfs voucher participation in Tennessee. Tennessee estimates more than 966,000 children will be enrolled in Tennessee public schools this year, amounting to nearly $6.8 billion in funding from the state and nearly $2.7 billion from local governments. The education department has blocked data requests and declined to answer questions about how many and which students have been accepted into the voucher program, but the program is limited to 20,000 participants this year. Still, mechanisms in the law mean Tennessee will likely expand the program every year going forward by up to 5,000 new students, a move an EdTrust analysis found could cost the state more than $892 million in the first five years alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons on Tuesday criticized historic education funding levels in recent years and warned local governments would have to raise taxes to keep up with their local share. Bill Lees legacy will be destroying public education and undermining opportunity for every child in the state of Tennessee, said Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat. They have proven, time and again, to bend and stretch the law to fit their false narrative in support of these voucher scams to the detriment of public education across the state of Tennessee. Melissa Brown is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Contact Melissa at mbrown@chalkbeat.org. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. An EV driver in Medford, Oregon, got a stern reminder that there is still a way to go in regard to normalizing the presence of electric vehicles. The user posted screencaps of a recording from the back of their Tesla Model Y to the r/TeslaModelY subreddit. It showed a person in a mask throwing a metal can at the back of the vehicle, which appeared to cause damage to the camera itself. Despite being beneficial to the environment, as they produce no tailpipe pollution that puts harmful, planet-warming gases in our atmosphere, EVs are commonly vandalized. Photo Credit: Reddit Photo Credit: Reddit Some individuals deliberately vandalize EVs without awareness of or regard for being recorded, as in the case of another person who keyed a Tesla in a well-lit area while the vehicle was parked and others were nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another prominent form of EV vandalism is the cutting of charging cables. As these cables contain copper wiring, this activity could be motivated by the value of the material as much as disdain for EVs or the industry. Irrespective of the reason, this sort of behavior is never justified and can only stall the broader acceptance and adoption of EVs as a more affordable form of transportation. While many may simply be protesting the political activities of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, it normalizes public hostility toward EVs as a whole, which will work against the creation of a cleaner future. Though it is true that mining materials to create EV batteries is not the cleanest activity and often relies on fossil fuels to extract substances such as lithium, the final product is still much cleaner than gas-powered vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the process of mining for EV materials is becoming cleaner, and further innovation will only lead to improvements. Do you think a majority of Americans will have EVs in 20 years? Absolutely Only in some states No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Commenters were angry on the original poster's behalf. "What the heck is wrong with people these days? Is that so hard to just not be a jerk?" one user griped. In response, another speculated EV vandals were envious because of the price of gas. "If you don't use Sentry Mode just to save a few miles, this should be a reminder that you need to turn it on at all times in public," someone else advised. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The Texas State Senate has now passed a bill approving new congressional redistricting maps, aimed at giving Republicans more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. "The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law," Gov Greg Abbott, R-Texas, said in a statement Saturday morning after Bill HB4 was passed in an overnight session. Texas state House Republicans passed an identical bill Wednesday, despite continued vocal pushback from Democrats who call the move supported by President Donald Trump a power grab. Several times the House failed to reach a quorum because Democrats fled to other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I promised we would get this done, and delivered on that promise," Abbott said in the statement, calling the legislation "a bill that ensures our maps reflect Texans' voting preferences." The new maps are expected to give the state an extra five Republican seats in the U.S. House in time for the 2026 mid-term elections. The Republicans currently hold a 219-212 advantage with vacancies from the deaths of three Democrats and one GOP member who resigned. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called legislation to approve new congressional redistricting maps a bill that ensures our maps reflect Texans' voting preferences." Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Currently, Texas has 38 congressional districts, 25 of which are controlled by Republicans. Lawmakers have said they will challenge the move in court. Texas state House Republicans passed an identical bill Wednesday, despite continued vocal pushback from Democrats who call the move supported by President Donald Trump a power grab. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI Congressional maps are traditionally redrawn every decade in conjunction with a new U.S. Census, which is next scheduled to take place in 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats have fought to keep Texas from passing the legislation to bring in new maps. A contingent of state lawmakers left Texas in an attempt to block the bills from passing by making the governing bodies unable to reach quorum, drawing the ire of Abbott and Trump. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is leading a push from Democrats to counteract the Texas move, saying his state will respond by redrawing its own congressional maps that would create more seats in the U.S. House of Representative for Democrats. File Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/UPI "This is not democracy, this is disgraceful," Democratic State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt said on X after the bill was passed during the overnight legislative session. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is leading a push from Democrats to counteract the Texas move. Newsom has said his state will respond by redrawing its own congressional maps that would create more seats in the House for Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Republicans are determined to rig every rule they can, to break laws, in order to seize power. As Democrats, we have a responsibility to fight back and fight back hard, and that's what I love about what California is doing," Newsom said on X earlier in the week. This week, the California state Assembly and Senate introduced three bills that would allow it to consider holding a special election needed to pass a constitutional amendment. That amendment would allow it to replace existing congregational maps through 2030. A Texas state senator inserted a catheter as part of a desperate attempt to draw attention to her state GOPs plan to redraw congressional districts in its favor. Carol Alvarado planned to filibuster through the night on Friday, talking for hours on end inside the Texas Capitol. She told The Washington Post she knew the filibuster was unlikely to stop the planned redistricting, but she had to do something. Alvarado, 57, prepped for days. The Post reports she got an IV infusion, inserted a catheter with a urine bag attached, bought a long, blue, flowered dress to hide the bag, and also limbered up with hot yoga and selected comfortable running shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houston native, who now represents her hometown, had her staff put together binders of speaking material for her to read, including complaints from Texans who opposed the Republican Partys attempt to draw new districts in a non-Census year. Binders sit on a desk in front of Texas state Sen. Carol Alvarado in the early hours of Saturday morning. Her staff filled them with material for her to read in what was planned to be an hours-long filibuster. / Sergio Flores / REUTERS However, it was Alvarados last bit of preparationto fundraise off the actthat would ultimately provide a route for Republicans to blow the whole plan up. The Texas state Senate reconvened at 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Alvarado was ready to replicate her last filibuster, when she spoke for over 15 hours in 2021, but Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, allowed one of his partymates to speak first. Republican Sen. Charles Perry took to the dais. The Post reported that he accused Alvarado of violating Senate rules by sending a fundraising email for her campaign before the filibuster that said, MAGA will come after me for this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using the entire Senate, its employees, and support for Senator Alvarados campaign effectively holds the entire Senate hostage, Perry alleged, according to the Post. Its disrespectful, it violates the decorum of the Senate, and personally, Im offended by it. Perry added that the email was potentially unlawful, at least unethical, using state resources for a campaign purpose. Lt. Gov. Patrick found the complaint to be valid and reportedly ignored the objection of a Democrat. A vote was called, and senators voted 18-11 on party lines to block the filibuster before it ever got started. It was yet another defeat for Texas Democrats, who have gone to extreme measures, like outright fleeing the state for two weeks, as they try to stopor at least slowthe state legislatures GOP majority from instigating a nationwide redistricting arms race. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has said that his state will also redraw its congressional maps to favor Democrats if Texas pushes through with its own redistricting plan. / Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Alvarado condemned the blocking of her big moment as well as the unfounded claims made against me on the Senate floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was an unprecedented effort to silence the voices of thousands of people who only wanted fair representation, she said afterward, according to the Post. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat from Austin, called out Patrick specifically. That is not democracy, she said. Where there is no dissent, there is no democracy. That lieutenant governor will not tolerate dissent. Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday paid homage to former CPI General Secretary and two-time MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy. He said that the demise of the former CPI National General Secretary is deeply saddening, a press release from PRO Bandi Sanjay Kumar said. "Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy was a gentle, soft-spoken leader who always mingled with everyone and dedicated his entire life to the ideology he believed in. He constantly strove for the upliftment of the poor. It is remarkable that Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, hailing from Telangana, rose step by step from the level of an ordinary party worker to become the National General Secretary of CPI and earned great recognition. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family members and admirers of Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy. I pray to the Almighty for the departed soul to rest in peace," Bandi Sanjay said as per the release. Two-time MP and former Communist Party of India general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy passed away on Friday at the age of 83. Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy visited the Care Hospital in Hyderabad to pay his respects to the veteran CPI leader. He also offered his heartfelt condolences to the family. "Telangana's former MP and CPI senior leader, Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, has passed away due to illness. Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy paid his respects to the late leader at Care Hospital and offered his heartfelt condolences to the family," a statement from Telangana Congress said. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy termed Suravaram Reddy a prominent "communist warrior" and paid condolences on his demise. "Prominent Communist warrior... Former General Secretary of CPI. The demise of Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy garu has caused profound shock. Praying to God that his soul may find peace... I express my deep condolences to his family members," he wrote on 'X'. Bharath Rashtra Samithi Working President KT Rama Rao also remembered the former CPI leader as a "lifelong" fighter for the poor and also a staunch supporter of the Telangana statehood movement. "With the passing of Comrade Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy garu, former General Secretary of the CPI and ex-MP from Nalgonda, we have lost a towering voice of the people and the Left movement. Suravaram Garu was a lifelong fighter for the poor and a staunch supporter of the Telangana statehood movement. My heartfelt condolences to his family & friends. May his soul rest in peace," KTR wrote on 'X'. Meanwhile, BRS MLC K Kavitha said that Suravaram Reddy's demise is an "irreparable" loss for the nation. "The demise of CPI senior leader and former National Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy is an irreparable loss to the entire nation. His commitment and practice as a dedicated communist leader until his last breath serve as an inspiration for future generations. Praying for peace to his soul... I express my deepest condolences to his grieving family members," Kavitha wrote on 'X'. (ANI) )The Center Squar) The Texas Senate passed HB 4, the states congressional redistricting plan, which changes nearly all districts and could flip up to five seats from blue to red. It passed along party lines Friday by a vote of 18-11, according to the Senate Journal record. The bill was on the first special session agenda called by Gov. Greg Abbott. After it first passed a House committee in July, more than 50 House Democrats left the state in opposition, halting legislative proceedings. A second special session was called and after more than two dozen Democrats returned to Austin, the House convened and first passed a flood relief measure. Next, they passed redistricting, both bills went to the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Senate first passed a camp safety measure, SB 1, after hearing from parents who lost their daughters at Camp Mystic. The parents argued their deaths were 100% preventable had the camp had safety measures and an evacuation plan in place, The Center Square reported. Abbott is expected to sign it into law. After the Senate passed SB 4, Abbott said he will also sign it into law. "The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law," Abbott said. "I promised we would get this done, and delivered on that promise. I thank Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for leading the passage in the Senate of a bill that ensures our maps reflect Texans' voting preferences." The bill was filed after Texas population greatly increased since the maps were redrawn in 2021 and after voter demographics shifted more Republican since 2021. The legislature has the authority to redistrict at any time, the bills author, state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, has said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan redraws 37 of Texas 38 congressional districts, The Center Square reported. In response to Democrats saying the bill is racist or unconstitutional, Hunter said the maps not only follow federal and state law but give a greater voice and representation to minority voters. Four of five new districts are majority minority districts, which each now trend Republican. The redistricting doesnt guarantee electoral success but it does allow Republicans to compete in these districts, Hunter said. The new districts are CD 9-Houston, CD 28-Rio Grande Valley, CD 32-Dallas, CD 34-Coastal Bend and CD 35-San Antonio. The new districts are primarily Hispanic majorities that lean Republican based on recent voting records, Hunter said at a hearing earlier this month, The Center Square reported. In 2021, there were nine Hispanic majority voting age districts, now there are 10, Hunter said. In 2021, there were no majority Black population districts; under the new proposed plan, there are two. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan doesnt change the number of districts but creates new openings by moving incumbents to different districts, opening up seats in CDs 7, 9, 20, 30, 32, 34 and 35, shifting some incumbent Democrats to compete against each other, The Center Square reported. The outcome could result in Republicans gaining five seats. As Democratic governors and lawmakers in California and New York are vowing to redistrict in response to Texas' redistricting efforts, state Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, says three states with Democratic majorities California, New York and Illinois already have unfair advantages. Any redistricting efforts they make would need to factor in population losses and better represent Republican voters to be legal, critics argue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In California, 62% of voters vote Democrat, yet the states congressional delegation is comprised of 43 Democrats and only 9 Republicans, Spiller said. This gives California congressional Democrats an 82% advantage when Democrats have a 62% majority in the state, Spiller said at a hearing earlier this month, The Center Square reported. In New York, 58% of voters vote Democrat, yet New Yorks congressional delegation is comprised of 19 Democrats and 7 Republicans, giving Democrats a 73% advantage, he said. The Texas Senate has passed nearly all bills on the special session call. The Texas House is moving through them with several weeks left in the session. However, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said his goal was for the House to pass them all by Labor Day weekend. HOUSTON (AP) Just as Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred was holding a town hall near the Mexican border as part of an unrig Texas campaign tour, the states Democratic fundraising powerhouse Beto ORourke rallied support in Austin for lawmakers who left the state to delay a redistricting plan led by President Donald Trump. The next morning, one of those wayward lawmakers, James Talarico, stood in the pulpit at former President Barack Obamas old church in Chicago to say he and his fellow legislators had simply taken a leap of faith. All three Democrats are either declared or potential contenders for the Senate seat on the ballot in next year's midterm elections. In what would typically be a quiet period in Texas politics, Republicans have roiled the state's 2026 Senate campaign with their rush to redraw congressional maps to give Trump more allies in Congress. The turmoil impacts contenders in both parties and gives Democrats fresh hope that they can capture a long-elusive seat, where an upset would dramatically improve their chances of regaining Senate control in Washington. For Democrats, the GOP power play offers a new way to stand out as fighters against Trump and his Make America Great Again movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Republicans, including incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, its a Trump loyalty test. Cornyn publicly called for involving the FBI in rounding up the defiant Democrats. His main primary challenger, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, used his current office to ask state courts to remove departed lawmakers from office and to jail ORourke for raising funds to support the Democratic legislators. The clash has also been a welcome distraction from recent questions about Paxton's private life. Trump, meanwhile, had his eyes on the U.S. House when he openly prodded Texas Republicans this summer to give him five more GOP seats in a state he won handily last year. He hoped to avoid losing a slim House majority, as he did during his first term in 2018. Democrats nationwide condemned the effort to alter the playing field, in part because it comes before the typical 10-year timeline for redrawing congressional districts based on census results. Texas Democrats walked out for two weeks, denying Republicans the quorum they needed. They ended the walkout this week, but only after California Gov. Gavin Newsom countered with a redistricting push in his state, a Democratic stronghold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got to stand up to them. These people are thugs, ORourke said in an interview with The Associated Press. Giving in or seeking compromise, or trying to make concessions in the hopes that theyll stop pursuing you, that stuff clearly does not work. The only thing that works is fighting. ORourke, a former congressman and onetime presidential candidate who has run and lost against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, said he has not decided whether he will launch a senatorial bid. Republicans flex their muscle for Trump Paxton has assumed the role as the Left's chief antagonist, a good look during a primary campaign aimed at drawing the most devout Republicans. He asked courts to expel the lawmakers who walked out, brought lawsuits to declare their seats vacant and sought to jail ORourke, arguably the states most well-known Democrat, accusing him of illegally raising money to help defray costs for the Democratic lawmakers who left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge granted a temporary restraining order, ordering ORourke to cease and handing Paxton a victory. We are pursuing every legal remedy at our disposal to hold these rogue legislators accountable, Paxton said in a statement. Texas deserves representatives who do their jobs instead of running away at the behest of their billionaire handlers. Cornyn, a fourth-term incumbent, faces pressure Cornyn used his federal role to ask the FBI to help bring Democratic lawmakers who fled the state back to Texas. After first criticizing Paxton for being on vacation in Europe when the redistricting drama began, Cornyn used the moment to question Paxton's tactics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like both are doing what each of them can do, given their own public office, said Roy Bailey, a wealthy Republican donor from Dallas. Cornyns own polling shows him trailing Paxton. Cornyns campaign and groups that support him, including a pro-Cornyn super PAC and the Washington-based Senate Leadership Fund, have spent more than $7.5 million in advertising since July, mainly criticizing Paxton. Republicans affiliated with the Senate majority in Washington, including the Senate Leadership Fund, have argued that if Paxton wins the Republican Senate primary, it would cost the party at least $100 million more to win the open seat in Texas. Although the map of states with Senate elections next year favors Republicans, the party can afford to lose no more than four seats and still hold the majority. Redistricting gives Democrats a platform Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ORourke has rallied around the state and raised money to support the dozens of Texas House Democrats who left the state earlier this month. At a time that so many who have the power to fight are instead bending the knee to Donald Trump, he said, the country really needed to see someone stand and fight. The redistricting drama has also inspired Allred, a former congressman and voting rights attorney who launched his bid for the Democratic nomination last month, to travel for a series of town halls on redistricting. Allred told The Associated Press the fight is energizing organizers and voters. He said a pastor in a Black church in Dallas compared the situation to a bully only being able to take it so far before victims start fighting back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this had passed as quickly as it looked like it was going to, I think many folks wouldnt have known what was happening, Allred said after a Houston town hall. There certainly wouldnt have been the national attention on whats happening here in Texas, but that attention has built and built, and the awareness has also built and built, and so this means to me that ultimately there also will be a backlash against these folks who are trying to rig the elections. Redistricting clash boosts young Texas lawmaker's profile The clash in Texas has elevated the profile of Talarico, a 36-year-old legislator from Austin. He was among those who packed their bags and headed to Chicago. Talarico has appeared on network television and last month was interviewed by conservative podcaster Joe Rogan. Talarico's social media following has expanded to more than 1 million on Instagram and TikTok. He has said he is considering a Senate run but hasn't decided yet. ORourke had high praise for Talarico but said the young lawmakers plans wouldnt affect his decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think this is one of those moments where Democratic voters are looking at whos fighting and whos folding. And that to me is the primary dividing line in our party right now, Talarico told the AP. Its not really progressive versus moderates. Its fighters versus folders. In his sermon Sunday at Obamas old church in Chicago, Talarico referred to himself as one of the Texas outlaws who walked out, prompting loud cheers and applause. This is not just a political struggle, he told them. It's a spiritual struggle. The Texas state Senate early Saturday signed off on a new congressional map, sending the legislation to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to sign into law ahead of the 2026 midterms. The vote passed the upper chamber in a 18-11 party-line vote as expected, with Democrats denouncing the effort as a power grab. It came after the state House approved the map also in a party-line vote after Democratic members of the body returned to the state and ended a two-week standoff over the map proposal. The Senate had already passed the new map proposal last week, but the body needed to approve it again because the first special legislative session that Abbott called ended. The Republican governor called a second session that began this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A key Senate panel in charge of overseeing redistricting approved the House-passed map earlier on Thursday, sending it to the full Senate. Democrats were prepared to show resistance and push the vote into the early morning hours, as state Democratic Caucus chair Sen. Carol Alvarado (D) announced on social media that she would filibuster the bill. The Senate broke for a long break just as she planned to start and Republicans were able to block the planned speech, according to The Associated Press. The new district lines are likely to add up to five additional U.S. House seats for Republicans in next years midterms. Abbott vowed Saturday to swiftly sign the map into effect, though court challenges are also likely to come soon after to try to stop it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate. Despite Democrats petty stunts, we delivered on our promise, the governor wrote Saturday on social platform X. This map reflects Texans actual voting preferences, and I look forward to signing it into law. Democrats have already vowed to challenge the map. On Saturday, the House Democratic Caucuss campaign arm slammed the new district lines as an unprovoked, unwarranted Texas gerrymander. We are seeing Democrats around the country respond and fight back to make sure DC Republicans cannot steal the House Majority, Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair wrote in a statement. I applaud the Texas Democratic lawmakers who have been at the forefront of this fight and inspired people across the country to stand up and fight back against Republicans shameful attempt to cling onto power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today is not the final word on this gerrymandered map, and the fight to preserve equal and fair representation for everyone in Texas shall continue in the courts, she added. Texas Republicans actions have seemed to set off an arms race of sorts with multiple other Republican- and Democratic-led states seeking to also conduct redistricting and try to pick up seats. California lawmakers met this week to approve a ballot measure that would allow voters to weigh in on whether the state should redraw its lines to be in effect for the rest of the decade. The Golden State Legislature formally approved the measure on Thursday and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the legislation not long after. The new map could also give Democrats up to five additional seats in the U.S. House. Still, Republicans may have more opportunities to redistrict, with states like Florida and Missouri also looking at drawing new Congressional lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steff Danielle Thomas and Caroline Vakil contributed. Updated at 11:15 a.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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Texas Senate approved a new congressional map early Saturday morning, Aug. 23, culminating nearly a month of partisan fighting and controversy. The Senate adopted the new map on a party-line vote of 18-11, just after 12:30 a.m. Saturday Central Time, according to the Texas Tribune. The Senate vote happened after what were described as eight hours of tense debate Now, the new map will go to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. Abbott is expected to quickly sign the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats had fought the plan for weeks, with more than 50 House Democrats leaving the state for two weeks to break quorum in the first special session. These Democrats traveled to states like Illinois, New York and California to rally other Democrats to the cause and make the case against redistricting nationally. House Democrats returned this week for the second special session called by Abbott. The House passed the controversial bill earlier this week and the Senate then passed it early Saturday morning. Democrats say the plan has been dictated from Washington by President Trump and will greatly dilute the voting power of Hispanics and Blacks in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say their next step is to challenge the map in the courts. In El Paso, Fort Bliss and El Paso International Airport will remain in U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobars district, the 16th Congressional District. The first version of the map, in the first special session, had carved those areas out and put them in Rep. Tony Gonzales district, the 23rd. Gonzales district stretches from East El Paso to San Antonio and includes the border with Mexico. Local leaders were adamant that keeping Fort Bliss and the airport in the 16th District was vital to El Pasos well-being. Escobar is a Democrat and Gonzales is a Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-Texas, opposed the bill and sent a statement out to media Saturday morning. Mid-decade redistricting, absent a court order, breaks the rules our nations Founders enshrined in our Constitution to protect the people from abuse of power. The Constitution is not a suggestion; it is the foundation of our democracy. If the rules of representation can be rewritten whenever politically convenient, then stability is lost, fairness is abandoned, and the peoples faith in democracy itself is shaken. These maps were drawn so politicians can pick their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. Latino and Blacks make up 52% of Texas voters, and the rapid growth of these populations is the reason Texas gained new congressional seats. But these maps shut us out. They slice up our neighborhoods, weaken our voice, and deny our communities of color fair representation. When that happens, we lose resources, we lose influence, and we lose accountability. Thats not democracy, thats disenfranchisement. Blanco said that Texas Democrats have spread the word to other states who are taking up the fight. Blanco cited California which is planning on doing its own redistricting to counter Republican efforts to gain more seats in the U.S. House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What began in Texas sparked a fire thats spreading across the country: ordinary people standing up and demanding fair maps and fair representation, he said. Blanco also said that once the governor signs the bill, the new map will be challenged in the courts. These fights arent over. Theyre just beginning, Blanco said. I look forward to this fight continuing in the courts. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, said: This is a significant step forward Texas Congressional Redistricting Map will now more accurately reflect our state. The people of Texas expect and deserve a Congress that represents their values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Aboud, chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party, said that El Paso deserves to have a third congressional representative. Here is his statement in part: While there has been a big uproar about the Congressional districts being redrawn this has little effect for El Paso. This change does not improve our political situation at all. With this current map still only giving El Paso County only two Congressional reps, it leaves us in the same situation as we have been in for far too long. We deserve to have a third Congressional rep who would be representing us in D.C. Our current Democrat Congressional rep carries absolutely no weight in DC, no matter which party is in power. That isnt because she doesnt try but because both parties know that a Democrat will win the 16th district. Therefore they dont care about El Paso. 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. The Brief The Texas Senate passed redrawn congressional maps aimed at giving Republicans more seats in Congress early Saturday morning. Senate Republicans countered an attempt by Sen. Carol Alvarado to filibuster the bill. The bill heads to Gov. Abbott's desk, who said he would "swiftly sign" the bill. AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Senate approved a new congressional map early Saturday morning after an attempt to filibuster the bill by Democrats was countered by Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate passed the map on a party-line vote, 18 to 11, around 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Blocked filibuster Houston Democrat Sen. Carol Alvarado planned to filibuster the bill for as long as possible Saturday, but Republicans used a Senate rule to block the filibuster attempt and force a vote. Sen. Charles Perry pointed to a campaign email sent by Alvarado as his basis for blocking the filibuster attempt. "To hold state employees at work under the guise of official responsibilities for the purpose of fundraising appears to be potentially unlawful, at least unethical," Perry said. The Senate rule ended all debate about the bill and forced the vote, which led to an outburst from some in the gallery. Gov. Abbott's response Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the passage of House Bill 4 saying the map "reflects Texans' actual voting preferences." What they're saying "The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law," Abbott said. "I promised we would get this done, and delivered on that promise. I thank Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for leading the passage in the Senate of a bill that ensures our maps reflect Texans' voting preferences." New Congressional map AUSTIN, TEXAS - AUGUST 06: A newly proposed U.S. Congressional District map is seen as the Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting meets to hear invited testimony on Congressional plan C2308 at the Texas State Capitol on August 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas. The meeting adjourned early due to a lack of attendees for testimony. Earlier this week, Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an attempt to protest and deny quorum for votes on the proposed Republican redistricting plan, which would secure five additional GOP seats in the U.S. House. Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove lawmakers who do not return and has asked the Texas Supreme Court to expel House Democratic leaders who fled the state. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Dig deeper The new map increases the number of congressional districts that would have voted for Trump by at least 10 percentage points by five. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans currently control 25 of the state's 38 Congressional districts. The new map makes some big changes in North Texas. It moves Democrat Rep. Marc Veaseys district from Tarrant to Dallas County, Democrat Rep. Julie Johnsons district moves from Dallas and Collin County to more conservative sections of East Texas, and Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crocketts Dallas seat becomes one of just two majority Black districts in the entire state. The Democrats claim the redrawn maps will violate the federal Voting Rights Act, but that may be difficult for them to prove. In Central Texas, Democrats Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett find their districts vastly different from the most recent map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district currently held by Casar would no longer include Travis County, while the district held by Doggett would no longer include a portion of Williamson County. In Houston, the new map reshapes four currently Democrat-held districts. The biggest change to the districts would be in the seat currently held by Rep. Al Green. The new map would shift the district from covering southern Harris County and instead move it to the eastern part of the county. Nationwide impact The decision by Texas lawmakers to redraw congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections has sparked debate across the United States, with some Democrat-led states vowing to draw Republicans out of their seats in the state. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Thursday afternoon that will move forward a partisan redistricting plan aimed at winning Democrats five more U.S. House seats in the 2026 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom's approval will allow for a special election, leaving redistricting up to California voters. READ: California Democrats introduce redistricting legislation, Republicans vow to fight Republicans, who have filed a lawsuit and called for a federal investigation into the plan, promised to keep fighting to stop it. Democrats currently hold 43 of Californias 52 U.S. House seats. The Source Information on the Texas Senate's vote on a new congressional map comes from the Aug. 22-23 Senate session. Information on Gov. Abbott's response comes from the governor's office. Information on California's plan to redraw the state's maps comes from previous FOX 7 reporting. A 5,000-acre master planned community called Goodland is taking shape in far southern reaches of Grand Prairie, just southeast of Mansfield. In a major milestone for this transformative project, the Grand Prairie City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to annex 900 acres, which means a town center portion of the development will have police and fire protection and other city services, including water and sewer. The downtown area of Goodland, a 5,000-acre master planned community on the southern edge of Grand Prairie According to the developers, Goodland will have a total of at least 10,000 housing units with a population of 40,000 to 50,000. Single-family homes start in the $400,000 range; current models listed online go up to the $800,000s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The multi-phase development, which began in 2019, straddles Johnson and Ellis counties. Plans call for the annexed area to have a Montessori school, church, venue for weddings and events and coffee shop, as well as a diverse mix of attainable and higher-density homes. There will also be at least one neighborhood dedicated for active adults. The overall development will have regional parks, about 25 miles of trails and hundreds of acres of open spaces. The downtown area of Goodland, a 5,000-acre master planned community on the southern edge of Grand Prairie This is an important step toward a strong, balanced future for Grand Prairie, Mayor Ron Jensen said. We are not just growing, we are growing in a way that strengthens the community we all call home. According to information on Grand Prairies web site, the upcoming completion of Goodland Parkway, linking Texas 360 to U.S. 287, is moving the development forward. A rendering of the community hub at Goodland, a 5,000-acre master planned community on the southern edge of Grand Prairie. Once Goodland Parkway is completed, there will be connections to future retail, commercial and city services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Provident, the privately held real estate firm based in Dallas that is developing Goodland, partnered with the city to construct the parkway. Rylan Yowell, managing director at Provident, said in a news release that We value our public-private partnership with the City of Grand Prairie and our shared vision for Goodland. Provident is known for other developments throughout north Texas, including Preston Hollow Village, Stacy Green in Allen, Tavolo Park in Fort Worth and Hillstead in Lavon. A rendering of the community hub at Goodland, a 5,000-acre master planned community on the southern edge of Grand Prairie. A boardwalk in Goodland, a 5,000-acre master planned community on the southern edge of Grand Prairie. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The biological cycle of our existence seems relatively straightforward: were born, we live, we die. The end. But when you examine existence at the cellular level, things get a bit more interesting. You, me, and all of the 108 billion or so Homo sapiens whove ever walked the Earth have all been our own constellation of some 30 trillion cells. Each of our bodies is a collective organism of living human cells and microbes working in cooperation to create what our minds view as life. However, a growing number of new studies have found that, at least for some cells, death isnt the end. Instead, its possibly the beginning of something new and wholly unexpected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A growing snowball of research concerning a new class of AI-designed multicellular organisms known as xenobots is gaining scientific attention for their apparent autonomy. In September 2024, Peter Noble, Ph.D., a microbiologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with Alex Pozhitkov, Ph.D., a bioinformatics researcher at the City of Hope cancer center, detailed this research on the website The Conversation . Xenobots are cells that form new roles beyond their original biological functionfor example, using hairlike cilia for locomotion rather than transporting mucus. Because they appear to reassemble into this new form and function, the authors argue that xenobots form a kind of third state of life, wherein cells can reorganize after the death of an organism to form something new. These forms likely wouldnt materialize in nature, but xenobots show that cells have a surprising ability to adapt to changes in their environment. Experiments with human cells, or anthrobots, exhibit this behavior, too. Taken together, these findings challenge the idea that cells and organisms can evolve only in predetermined ways, the authors write in The Conversation. The third state suggests that [an organisms] death may play a significant role in how life transforms over time. The implications for these cellular robots, or biobots, are pretty bigimagine tailor-made medicines crafted from your own tissues to avoid a dangerous immune response. But they also form a complicated picture of what a cell actually is. At least, thats what evolutionary biologist and physician William Miller thinks. Hes the co-author of the 2023 book The Sentient Cell, which explores ideas found in the Cellular Basis of Consciousness (CBC) theory suggesting that cells retain a kind of consciousness. Miller believes that xenobots are just another example of how we dont give credit to the inherent cognitiveor even consciousabilities of the cells that make up our bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organism as a whole no longer responds as it had, but subsets of cells are active, decision-making, and problem-solving, Miller says. So this fundamentally reconstitutes how we see the living frame the fundamental unit of biological agency is the conscious cell. Consciousness is a notoriously slippery term, and one whose definition can change based on fields of a study, context, or even across time. Famously, the 17th century philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and all-around smart guy Rene Descartes thought only the human mind was conscious (which led to some inhumane experiments). Thankfully, today science recognizes various types of consciousness throughout the animal kingdom, but when it comes to forms of life fundamentally unlike us, human biases of what can be conscious or intelligent slowly creep in. We, as humans, have very limited capacity and finely honed ability to see intelligence in medium-sized objects moving at medium speeds through three-dimensional space, says Tufts University developmental and synthetic biologist Michael Levin, Ph.D., in a video exploring cellular intelligence. His lab constructed xenobots, and he says human beings are bad at recognizing intelligence when its extremely small or extremely large. For Miller, the concept of a sentient cell is a fundamental sea change in biology that challenges some Neo-Darwinian ideas like survival of the fittest. Because cells must work in concert to be successful, a more accurate microbial catchphrase might be I serve myself best by serving others, Miller says. Putting the intelligent cell at the center of biology spills out an entirely new biological narrative where genes are not controlling, genes are tools. In which we understand why organisms choose to stick together in their trillions, to solve problems, [for] decision-making, mutual support, partnerships, synergies, co-dependencies, collaborationits not survival of the fittest, Miller says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many scientists arent sold on this brave new future for biology. A 2024 letter published in the journal EMBO Reports describes CBC theory as merely an intellectual exercise without empirical evidence and the authors remain equally skeptical of consciousness claims regarding xenobots or other third state organisms. Its been known for maybe 75 years or more that cells can be induced to develop abnormally when taken out of context and cultured in vitro. This is nothing new, University of California, Santa Cruz plant biologist Lincoln Taiz, Ph.D. and co-author of the letter, said in an email. When an insect herbivore secretes hormones into plant leaves, causing the leaves to form galls [abnormal growths] that serve as houses for the insect, is that a third state of life? Taiz has also tackled what he describes as myths surrounding plant consciousness and co-authored a review in 2019 titled Plants Neither Possess nor Require Consciousness. And for Wendy Ann Peer, Ph.D., a biologist at the University of Maryland who also served as co-author of the dissenting CBC letter, the idea of cellular consciousness simply lacks the scientific rigor necessary to be considered a theory. With the scientific method, there has to be a control and a hypothesis thats clearly tested, Peer says. And the key for your hypothesis is that it has to be falsifiable. When cells are taken out of context and are no longer exchanging information or signals from nearby cells, different genes can be expressed than whats normal, Peer says. Simply put, the xenobots are an advanced version of animal caps, a well-known technique in developmental biology in which cells retain the ability to differentiate into other cells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some experts say cells are more than just automatons following strict genetic orders, scientists still overwhelmingly define consciousness as pertaining to something with a nervous system and a brain capable of yielding a subjective point of view. However, despite this disagreement, both groups agree on at least one important pointunderstanding cells and exploring their many capabilities is a huge opportunity. Taiz compares the potential use of anthrobots in medicine to humans behaving as their own gall-forming insects in plants, via altering the development of stem cells to create particular cell behaviors. Meanwhile, Miller agrees. Levins work is a good example of trying to discern how to partner with cells to create living forms to help humans, he says. Were learning to do what cells do, and were going to partner with them if were smart. Conscious or not, it looks like cells will undoubtedly play a starring role in the unfolding future of human health. Find the Perfect Men's Health Training Program for You Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shop Now Photo credit: COURTESY DAVIDSON; ANDRE L. PERRY Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shop Now Photo credit: Hearst Owned Shop Now Photo credit: COURTESY DAVIDSON; ANDRE L. PERRY Shop Now You Might Also Like Three Connecticut residents have been indicted in connection with a stolen check and bank fraud scheme. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut said Friday that a grand jury returned an indictment against Michelle Freeman, also known as Thunder, 37, of Waterbury, Leshanda Long, 43, of Hamden and Omar Eaddy, 40, of Bridgeport. According to federal officials, the trio allegedly engaged in a scheme involving the theft of checks from mailboxes and the manipulation of the stolen checks to make them payable to individuals who served as check runners. The runners would then allegedly cash the fraudulent checks and provide the cash to the conspirators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities allege that Freeman led the conspiracy and was responsible for counterfeiting the fraudulent checks, which were primarily drawn from small business accounts in Connecticut. Long and Eaddy allegedly recruited the check runners to cash the checks at banks and check cashing locations. The indictment, which was returned on Wednesday, charges Freeman, Long, and Eaddy with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum of 30 years in prison. All three suspects were arrested on criminal complaints on May 6. They are each free on a $100,000 bond and are scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. Two years before its controversial videotaped capture of a giant manta ray last month, a Florida company seized two more of the rare creatures for SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, one of which died in captivity, according to new records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. The documents shed more light on the video that went viral last month and sparked debate over whether Florida should allow the apprehending of the threatened species from its waters, a practice permitted by no other state. State wildlife officials confirmed in July the Florida Keys-based aquarium supplier Dynasty Marine Associates had a special license to capture the manta for SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, located about 7,800 miles away from its Florida home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video showed a crew pulling the creature from the sea off Panama City Beach and lowering it into a pool on their boat deck. The company captured two additional manta rays for SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in 2023, but one had to be euthanized after its health declined in a holding tank in the Florida Keys, the newly released records from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show. The manta ray died at a Dynasty Marine facility before it could be shipped overseas, according to an email sent to state wildlife officials by Frank Young, Dynastys chief operating officer. The other manta ray was successfully sent to the marine park, along with 12 smaller lesser devil rays, Youngs email said. The manta ray that was euthanized was an immature, moribund male, and it wasnt immediately clear why its health declined, according to an Oct. 4, 2023, report from Stephen Kajiura, a marine biologist at Florida Atlantic University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, the animal appeared to be in good health, and there was no obvious reason for its demise, he wrote. I was not able to directly observe the animal prior to my arrival, but was told that it was swimming and feeding normally for several weeks and then experienced a dramatic decline in a short period of time. Florida allowed capture of threatened giant manta ray for overseas aquarium SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, the theme parks parent company and Dynasty Marine have not responded to requests for comment from the Orlando Sentinel, so the fate of the manta ray captured in July is unclear. Other overseas aquariums also have sought to capture a manta ray in Florida waters in the past five years, the records show. State wildlife officials have granted licenses to the Nausicaa Centre National de la Mer in France, Chongqing Andover Ocean Park in China and another facility in the United Arab Emirates, The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, none of those aquariums have obtained manta rays under the licenses issued over the past five years, wildlife officials said. The Georgia Aquarium, the only U.S. aquarium to showcase the manta ray, received a license, too, but a spokesman said it has no plans to acquire another manta ray. Its permit was revised this month to remove the manta ray from the list of species the aquarium was seeking. Opened in May 2023, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi bills itself as the worlds largest indoor marine life theme park. On its website, it promises that it is committed to providing the highest standard of animal welfare and is dedicated to marine research, conservation and education. Nicknamed the angel of the sea, the giant manta ray is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. It has a wingspan up to 26 feet and can grow to 5,300 pounds, about as much as a car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just a handful of aquariums in the world display them, and Florida is the only U.S. state that allows their harvest, according to a 2024 federal report. The special license allows for the capture of marine life for educational, exhibition and research purposes with the objective of increasing the publics knowledge and awareness of Floridas marine resources. But Jessica Pate, founder of the Florida Manta Project, said she thinks manta rays should be left in the wild, given their intelligence and migratory patterns. Manta rays can travel hundreds of miles during seasonal migrations. While I think aquariums can be a great way to educate the public, I dont support taking highly mobile, endangered species from the wild, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Georgia Aquarium keeps three manta rays in a massive 6.3 million-gallon habitat, including two that were acquired ethically and humanely from Florida about 15 years ago, said Chris Coco, the aquariums vice president of aquatic sustainability. The third was an injured, rescued, and rehabilitated manta ray that came to the aquarium in 2010 from South Africa, he said in a statement. Keeping the manta rays allows research to be conducted that will boost conservation efforts, he added. Scientists, for example, designed and tested multiple types of satellite tags, allowing them to be refined before being deployed in the ocean. These manta rays not only serve as ocean ambassadors, providing exceptional public education benefits, but crucially, they also directly contribute to innovative conservation research that is helping protect manta rays in Florida waters, Coco said. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office (JSO) announced the arrest of three men after stealing over $13,000 worth of appliances from an apartment complex under construction on Merrill Road last December. According to JSO, nephew-uncle duo, 36-year-old Donald Bartley and 61-year-old Bruce Bartley, arrived at the apartment complex in a red sedan. 39-year-old Melvin Jackson followed behind in a rental truck. The three men burglarized the apartment and then loaded the truck with appliances before driving off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JSO Specialized Property Crimes Unit detectives worked with the rental truck company to track down the car Jackson used. JSO says detectives were able to find it 13 miles away with the stolen appliances still inside. As officers were at the scene, the Bartleys arrived in the same red sedan. They tried to flee but were stopped. All three men were arrested and are currently at the Duval County Jail. Bruce Bartley also faces additional charges for burglaries targeting homes under construction in 2022. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday targeted the government over the Constitution amendment bill that seeks the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and ministers facing serious criminal charges and said the BJP has been targeting opposition leaders. She said opposition parties will oppose the bill in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The MP said everyone wants cleanliness in politics but the government's promise to tackle it has proved to be "jumla". "Everyone wants cleanliness in politics and that politicians stay away from corruption. The government has failed to deliver on its 2014 promise of a corruption-free India. Corruption is seen at every level of the government and this proves that this promise was also a 'jumla'....And the way opposition leaders were put into jails by levelling corruption charges. ED, CBI and Income Tax are being operated from BJP headquarters. By bringing such laws they have shown their intentions that they want destroy opposition parties," Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI. "JP Nadda talked about One Nation One Party during the Lok Sabha elections, and they are trying to implement it either through the Election Commission or through acts like this. It is shameful and we will oppose it in the JPC. It is against democracy," she added. Opposition parties have expressed their strong reservations on the Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. RJD MP Manoj Jha echoed similar concerns, calling the bill part of a broader political design. "This is a project to create an opposition-free democracy, and that project will fail. I have said this repeatedly," he asserted. During the monsoon session of Parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah introduced in the Lok Sabha the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, to further amend the Constitution of India and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, apart from the bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The bills were sent to the joint committee of Parliament. The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks the removal of any Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Minister who is detained for 30 consecutive days on charges punishable with at least five years of imprisonment. If the arrested leader doesn't resign, the office will automatically fall vacant after 31 days. Interestingly, the bill allows for re-appointment post-release, providing a degree of flexibility. (ANI) Aug. 231/6 Swipe or click to see more Nightmare, of the Nightmare's Rides Facebook show, is broadcasting from Thunder on the River bike rally this week. He has been promoting the Ironton bike rally for the past year. (The Ironton Tribune Mark Shaffer) 2/6 Swipe or click to see more A skull available for purchase at vendor booth. (Ironton Tribune Heath Harrison) 3/6 Swipe or click to see more ome motorcycles on Second Street. (Ironton Tribune Mark Shaffer) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4/6 Swipe or click to see more Hot Rod Deville brought their Detroit rock sound to the Thunder on the River bike rally in Ironton on Wednesday evening. (The Ironton Tribune Mark Shaffer) 5/6 Swipe or click to see more Suzie chills at the entrance of Thunder on the River on Thursday. (Ironton Tribune Heath Harrison) 6/6 Swipe or click to see more Mark Sierak, regional impact officer for Ohio for Folds of Honor, and Aric Grooms, with the Tunnels to Towers, pose for a picture at Thunder on the River. (Ironton Tribune Mark Shaffer) Thunder on the River kicked off its first year in Ironton on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's going great," said Donnie Roberts, one of the organizers, on Thursday afternoon. "Went great last night. Jasmine Cain rocked it. It couldn't be going any better." The event is taking place at the Ironton Farmers Market on Second Street with food trucks, vendors, bands and other activities. Trending * Local candidates certified for November election * Ironton In Bloom announces August Yard of the Month While the event is for bikers, the proceeds are going to two charities, Tunnels to Towers and Folds of Honor. "We auctioned off a guitar for them and raised $660," Roberts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Sierak, regional impact officer for Ohio for Folds of Honor, said the group provides educational scholarships to families of fallen or disabled military personnel or first responders. "We are happy to be down here for four days and raise some dollars and raise some awareness for our wounded and our fallen," Sierak said. Aric Grooms with the Tunnels to Towers group said this was the first rally he has attended and he thought it was the perfect place. "Bike rallies, typically, have some of the most patriotic audiences. They are fully behind our cause," he said, adding they have biker clubs all across the country that have rides to raise money for them. "Usually in honor of a fallen first responder or fallen military personnel. They are so eager to help us in any way so it is great to be part of this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trending * Thunder on the River bike rally kicks off on Wednesday in Ironton * In memoriam Ruby Kerns Towers to Tunnels was founded after 9/11 by the family of firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller and the foundation has paid off the house mortgages of fallen first responders and Gold Star Families. Those going through the biker rally will probably see not a nightmare, but the Nightmare. Nightmare is a professional bike builder whose work through his shop, Nightmares Rides, has won a stack of awards, including one from Easy Rider. He is in Ironton to do live broadcasts on Facebook highlighting the Thunder on the River bike rally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm Nightmare and that's it," he said when asked what his name was, adding that's the name on his business and credit cards and that's what his wife, kids and grandkids call him. He got the name after getting into a fight when he was a teen. "After the fight was over someone said 'He was his worst nightmare' and it stuck," Nightmare explained. Nightmare started his Facebook show six years to highlight the American biker culture and now reaches around the world. The show is every Wednesday night from 8-10 p.m. Eastern standard time. "We cover 50 states and 22 countries," Nightmare said, adding they reach about 500,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts was putting Thunder on the River together, he got in contact with Nightmare after they met at a rally. "We've been advertising this rally for a year," he said. "Now, we are here live and we are going to interview some of the bands and going on various rides and putting that on the show." Nightmare said he loves Ironton. "It's a river town and the architecture and how the streets are laid out, it is a really cute town," he said, adding he is hoping that the local businesses and residents get behind this rally. "What a lot of people don't understand is that every biker who attends these rallies pays out about $150 a day per person while they are here. That's lodging, food, gas, cigarettes and everything else," Nightmare said. "A rally coming into town isn't a bad thing. It is a huge shot of cash money." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Set up amongst the food trucks and vendors was a Bikers for Christ booth, with members of three chapters, Ironton, Ashland, Kentucky and Lucasville. Santa, of the Ironton chapter of Bikers for Christ, explained that they were there to support and minister the biker community as well as pass out Bibles and water. "If someone needs prayer or just to talk, that's why we are here," Santa said. He said a lot of the bikers came and talk to them. "Some just need a prayer for any number of reasons and we will gather in a circle of prayer," Santa said. "We just love on people, that is our favorite part. Some come with a heavy heart, they or a family member may be having a physical problem and we lay hands on them and pray over them," Santa said. "You can feel the Holy Spirit move over them. You can actually see the countenance change and afterwards, you can tell it made a difference." As I write, Israeli troops are mobilising to conquer Gaza City. In response, the United Nations has declared that the Strip has succumbed to famine, a claim that has been denied by Israel but amplified unquestioningly by the media. There you have it: attack and counterattack. Such is the asymmetry of this war. When it comes to military might, the IDF is unstoppable. As Benjamin Netanyahu pointed out on a podcast this week, Hamas would have been defeated without a single Israeli casualty if Jerusalem hadnt striven to limit civilian deaths. The jihadis have lost hundreds of their tunnels and tens of thousands of men, including several generations of leadership. But this is not the war they are fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, Hamas is fighting for your sympathy. Embracing death and misery, both real and exaggerated, for the sake of propaganda, they keep the hostages for bait and use gullible ideologues in NGOs and the media to conjure international pressure on the enemy. Sooner or later, Israel will buckle. All they have to do is hold out. Both sides are on the ropes. While Hamas is a shadow of the light infantry corps it resembled in 2023, Israel is enduring the worst crisis of legitimacy in its history, with country after country lining up to recognise a Palestinian state. Hamas openly applauds Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and the rest. They push on regardless. Weakened by trauma, grief, political infighting, fatigue, anti-Semitism and international demonisation, the unity and resilience of Israels population has ebbed. The campaign to take Gaza City is a last-ditch attempt to force Hamas to release the hostages and end this appalling war. Enter the UN. For all its veneer of authority, this is not an assembly of democracies. Rather, most members are autocracies or corrupt regimes seeking legitimacy by equivalence with free countries. Many derive individual benefit from vilifying the Jewish state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, the obligation to single out Israel for condemnation is enshrined in the rules. Dont believe it? Look up Agenda Item 7 of the UN Human Rights Council, a body which has been chaired by that exemplar of human rights, Iran. Its there in black and white. At least 12 UN staff allegedly took part in the atrocities of October 7. Terrorists have routinely operated from its facilities; at least one in 10 of its employees in Gaza are believed to be members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Then there are characters like Francesca Albanese, the UNs Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Last week, she insisted that the perpetrators of October 7, were not cut-throats, people armed to the teeth, or fighters, but a political force. Seriously? In May, her colleague, Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, informed BBC Radio 4 that 14,000 babies would die in Gaza within 48 hours, a claim that was repeated by 13 MPs in Parliament. When the deaths failed to materialise, nobody cared. The sorry truth is that in the hands of the UN, humanitarian aid is another political weapon. When the organisation oversaw distribution in Gaza, aid regularly found its way into the hands of Hamas, which sold it to pay its fighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So Israel took over the operation, distributing aid directly to residents for free. To run down the stockpiles in the jihadi tunnels, it first cut off supplies for several months. This was an error, causing panic, hoarding and soaring prices. As usual, Jerusalems failure was seized on as evidence of genocide. Predictably, the UN which was worsening the deprivation by downing tools entirely claimed that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war. So much for the UN. But by officially declaring famine in Gaza, a Rubicon has been crossed. We are being asked to believe that the privations match the small number of internationally recognised famines of this century, in South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia. This seems unlikely, given that 10,000 lorries of aid have entered Gaza since May, 2,300 boxes have been dropped from the air and more than 2.2 million family food parcels have been handed out weekly. Analysis of data from January to March 2024 showed more food going into Gaza than before the war. Yet according to the UN, Jerusalem is both pouring huge resources into feeding the Gazans and starving them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How did the UN arrive at its famine classification? According to Israels foreign ministry, it ignored its own death rate criteria, used unreliable data from Hamas and lowered the hunger threshold to grant Gaza a bespoke famine. Predictably, defenders of the UN unironically accused Israel of a campaign of concerted disinformation. Which brings me to journalists. Occasionally as when the BBC recently passed off a leukaemia patient as a victim of starvation false claims are debunked. This week, the Free Press revealed that more than a dozen images of starvation used by the worlds media were actually cases of illness. Israel has now directed its fabled Unit 8200 intelligence agency to collect evidence of food consumption in Gaza. But the information is already in the public domain. Search Instagram for Gaza restaurants. Ive seen falafel, hot dogs, six types of ice cream and Nutella crepes. Look at what people are posting in the Strip on Snapchat in real time. Pockets of hunger there may be, but Somalia this is not. True, distribution has been a grim challenge. This is, after all, a war zone. There have been cases of malnutrition. Yet even before the war, this was so; that is what happens to the poorest when a society is ruled by incompetent jihadis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So much for common sense. Over time, the West has lost sight of who glories in murder, rape, mutilation and kidnap, who started the war, and who prolongs it by holding the hostages. We have lost sight, in other words, of the difference between an imperfect wartime democracy and jihadis. Somewhere along the way, we are losing ourselves. Never Again? How the West Betrayed the Jews and Itself, by Jake Wallis Simons, is out on October 2 and can be ordered now 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A flight from Toronto, Canada, headed to Las Vegas had to be diverted Friday evening. Air Canada cited a disruptive passenger as the cause for the diversion to Chicago. The passenger was then taken off the plane and then resumed its planned destination to Las Vegas. The flight was expected to arrive in Las Vegas around 1:30 a.m. A total of 130 passengers were on board at the time of the flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A full statement from Air Canada is provided below: AC1705 on Aug. 22 flying from Toronto to Las Vegas diverted to Chicago on account of a disruptive passenger. After the passenger was deplaned with authorities meeting the aircraft, the flight re-departed and is expected to arrive 3 hours after scheduled arrival. There were initially 130 passengers onboard the Airbus A320. Air Canada statement 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 KLAS. Drivers may notice some traffic pattern changes on U.S. 35 West in Greene County due to an ongoing pavement and bridge rehabilitation project, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Contractors shifted westbound U.S. 35 traffic back to the mainline and closed the collector-distributor lane at the I-675 interchange Friday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collector-distributor lane was previously closed, but has since reopened. The ramp from I-675 North to U.S. 35 West will also be closed, with traffic rerouted to U.S. 35 and the S.R. 835/N. Fairfield Road interchange. TRENDING STORIES: This traffic pattern and ramp closure will remain in effect through early October, according to ODOT. Eastbound U.S. 35 will continue to operate in two lanes, although intermittent evening and overnight restrictions may lead to single-lane closures within the work zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rehabilitation project involves removing concrete pavement, completing sub-grade repairs, and resurfacing U.S. 35 from the Montgomery County line to the structure over Grange Hall Road in Beavercreek, according to ODOT. It also includes minor bridge repairs and the construction of a median inlet. ODOT said the John R. Jurgensen Company was awarded a contract worth approximately $6.59 million to complete the project, which is scheduled for completion in fall 2026. This project is part of a larger effort to maintain and enhance road safety and functionality in Greene County. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The following is a lightly edited transcript of the August 22 episode of Right Now With Perry Bacon. You can watch this interview here. Perry Bacon: Im Perry Bacon. Im from The New Republic. Im the host of Right Now. Today I am excited to be to joined by Kathy Roberts Forde. Shes a professor of journalism at UMass Amherst and also a journalism historian. And so I want to talk to her about both the past and the present, maybe the future of how journalism should be thinking about its role in democracy. So Kathy, thanks for joining me. Kathy Forde: Its so great to be here, Perry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: Let me start by, you wrote this book, or you were editor of this book, which is a book of essays called Journalism and Jim Crow. I want you to talk about that book a little bit for the audience if you dont mind. Forde: Oh yeah, Im happy to. This is a book that came out several years ago. I co-edited it with a colleague and we recruited some really tremendous thinkers about the role of journalism in building subnational, authoritarian regimes in the U.S. South and what came during and after Reconstruction. And what came of that, of course, was Jim Crow, which was more than segregation of groups of Americans based on race. It was also this authoritarian regimes, one party political rule maintained through business and court and politico and politician and newspaper collaborations. So this book tries to intervene into the ways we often think about the role of U.S. news media as these having been always great contributors and protectors of democracy. Because the story in reality is actually much more complicated. Its not that our news media havent served these roles, but its also that they have, for very long periods of time, been deeply involved in anti-democratic projects. Bacon: So talk about that in this postCivil War period. A lot of the white-owned papers in this time did what? They legitimize the backlash against Reconstruction on some level. So talk about what they did. Forde: Yeah. So they not only legitimize through the soft power of storytellingfor example, normalizing lynching as a tool of social control in the South and of demeaning and degrading Black opportunity, Black citizenship, and Black humanity. They propagated the story of the Lost Cause, this notion that the South and its goals during the Civil War were noble somehow. They did a lot more. They were also political actors. These newspaper editors and publishers worked collaboratively with business leaders and political leaders and industrial giants and the court systems in actively promoting all kinds of policies and systems that built an exclusionary governmental regime. So you wind up having post-Reconstruction, one party rule in the South. So one party, the Democratic Party, which then was the party of white supremacy. You have rigged elections; you have election fraud; you have stochastic terror used as a way to frighten and control not only Black citizens but also white citizens who might want to ally and build populist fusionist movements with their Black neighbors and fellow citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so when you put all that together, you see that you have these elite triads, or even more angles in that, collaboration to build these. What Robert Mickey has written about in Paths Out of Dixie is these authoritarian enclaves all over the South, and they lasted for generations. Bacon: And your argument is newspapers were part of it. In some ways, newspapers help entrench Jim Crow. I dont think I fully understood that until the book. Forde: Yeah. They not only entrenched Jim Crow; they built authoritarian regime. And they were political actors. They worked collaboratively with politicians to help politicians stay in power, to get elected in the first place. Henry Grady actually helped with the Tilden-Hayes presidential election in 1876. It actually brought an end to Reconstruction in the South. Henry Grady was the managing editor of The Atlanta Constitution. They helped defend and protect and even participated in some of the convict leasing system, which was a way in which so many Black Americans in the U.S. South were were caught up in this really terrible system of mass incarceration. Vagrancy, for example, was criminalized. And so Black folk could get caught up in the system where they were then arrested, convicted. And instead of being housed in prisons, they were leased out to private industrial corporations and worked to death in many instances and brutalized in order to build profits and build so much of the civic infrastructure as the South was rebuilding after the Civil War. These kinds of cooperative regimes among elites in the South were ways of building the racial hierarchy right into the political system. And make no doubt about it, these media leaders and their newspapers were political actors too. And I think thats something that far too many political scientists, scholars of democracy, journalism historians, and the press itself today does not understand and has yet to reckon with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So when we look at whats happening in the U.S. today with the rise of authoritarianism and democratic erosion and backsliding, this history has something to teach us. It can help us think about paths not taken, and it can also help us explain where we are in certain ways through path dependence. Bacon: Im going to come back to the future, and Im going to come back to the present in a little bit. But let me ask a couple more questions about back then. These were not the only journalists operating, of course, these white-owned pro. Talk about Ida B. Wells and the other tradition thats happening at the same time in this Jim Crow period. Forde: What happens postCivil War is the Black press, which was born earlier in the nineteenth century right as the slavery question was becoming a huge national question of debate. By the time we get to the end of the Civil War, the Black press all over the country explodes because Black Americans understand fully that their citizenship rights, which are gained through the Fourteenth Amendment, their voting rights through the Fifteenth Amendment, [have] to be maintained and protected and defended. And the Black press and leaders and activists areevery Black activist almost is also a newspaper editor. During this period, the two go hand in glove. Bacon: Your book mentions Du Bois as a journalist at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forde: Yeah, all of them. Every single one of them. And they understand that they need to use the press as a forum for Black organizing to mobilize Black publics, as a forum where Black Americans can reach across geographical distance and work across all kinds of class lines, geographical lines to talk with one another and collaborate together to try to figure the way forward when the federal government has turned its back on the Souths effortsor Black efforts in the Southto build biracial government during that period of Reconstruction. So the Black press is working actively from the Civil War on under incredibly difficult circumstances due to just resources to be part of a movement to build Black political power and agency and economic opportunity. The whole time you have these white newspapers in the Southand some outside the Southworking on these anti-democratic projects, you also had the Black press very actively trying to push and cajole and lead and demand for Black inclusion in the democratic project. Theyre working consistently toward a pluralist, multiracial, democratic project. And this goes on. This is a battle that takes place well across the twentieth century. Bacon: I was going to move there exactly. Lets move to the 1950s, 60s. So the Black press, we know what its doing. And at this point, talk aboutthe story I think I knew before was along the lines [of] The New York Times, Time magazine, Life, the East Coast liberal press or East Coast press, Northern press to some extent help the Civil Rights Movement. They covered King fairly favorably, but theres more nuances. So talk about the role the press plays in the 50s and 60s. Forde: I think whats incredibly important for everyone listening to this podcast and all Americans to understand is that it was the Black press that empowered and pushed the white press to cover the Civil Rights Movement with some degree of sympathy and empathy and recognition of what the Civil Rights Movement was trying to do. And there were all kinds of fissures too. There was not this monolithic white savior press in The New York Times or Time magazine, etc., acting all gung ho behind the Civil Rights Movement activists. They had to be persuaded, and they made lots of missteps along the way. And I think that they learnedI know that they learnedso much from the Black reporters who they worked with and depended onwith Jet and Ebony and other Black publicationsBlack newspapers at the time in order to understand what the stakes were and what was being demanded by Black civil rights activists in the South and their allies in the North. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: But in the 60s period is this idea that the media is an actor and it plays a role in democracy. In that period, the media as a whole was maybe procivil rights to some extent, and they helped legitimize the Voting Rights Act, Civil Rights Act. The media was an actor in this period, right? Forde: Theres no doubt. In fact, that was very much part of the Civil Rights Movement strategy with Andrew Young and Dr. King. They had a media strategy and their goal was to get as much publicity through the white mainstream powerful press in the country as possible to expose what was happening in the South: the violence, the political control, the economic control, the authoritarian work that was happening all over the South, and the brutality that was part of this system in the South. And so part of it was their very clear understanding of how they needed to get cameras on and newspapers on and broadcast news on to showcase for all of America the moral injury that the American democratic project wasand certainly all over the Southinflicting on [not only] Black Americans but also all of America. Bacon: Let me move to theIm going to call the period 1980 to 2020, and youll understand why Ive said it that way. Theres been two things, I think, going on in the press. This is something Ive experienced by being in the press too. One, theres a big pushmore and more news organizations are owned by these megacorporations. Theres a big push for objectivity. This is the new thing. Most of American history, you had Hamilton and Jefferson having their own paper. Most American history had partisan newspaper. But these lastreally50 years, theres been a very big focus on news organizations must be objective between the two parties and not have any values. You have, too, the simultaneous push for more diversity in the media, more racial diversity, particularly more inclusion of African Americans specifically. So talk about those. And those two things, I think, have some obvious tension, right? Forde: Do they ever? So objectivity, we think of itactually Walter Lippmann, whos a founder of The New Republic, was one of the great proponents of objectivity as a professional news standard back in the 1920s and 30s. And this grows throughout the twentieth century as this God standard in professional journalism. And it involved being fact-centered using evidence, using rational thought to understand the newsa process of verification, a way to make sure that the news thats being purveyed is based on an expert collection of facts and evidence and is accurate and is somehow neutral, is somehow divorced from values. And so if that is what objectivity means. And then at the same time, theres this recognition that we need in newsrooms not just white control and white men controlling what news decisions are made, what editorial judgements are made, being the ultimate arbiters of what counts as news and how new should be analyzed and interpreted and opinion-formed. Once we get away from that notion that white men should have control over all of this, women enter, people of color enter into the space of professional journalism in more numbers than ever. And that is sought after in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And what that suggests is diversity of perspective, diversity of experience, diversity of ways of thinking and making sense of the democratic project. And yet objectivity suggests that there are no values. There should not be values attached to the way we think about producing the news. So theyre in obvious tension. And in fact, theres this great new bookand I need to disclaim, I edit the book series this book came out in. Its called Racializing Objectivity by a terrific scholar by the name of Gwyneth Mellinger. And she demonstrates how in the South in the 50s and 60s, white newspaper editors and publishers actually used objectivity as this weapon, as this cudgel and as this veil to hide behind as they were very, very actively behind the scenes working to maintain segregation and to maintain Jim Crow. And they were very publicly usingshe brings the receiptsobjectivity as this justification and a veil for what they were actually doing. Bacon: So as a Black journalist, I feel like were in a whiplash period where from 2014 to 2020, it was cover race. This is an important part of policy. Lean into the idea that were defending democracy. Democracy dies in darkness, you know that slogan, [but] let me not get into that too much. And now I feel like were in a period where you can see news orgs when they lay offoften they have excuse for it, but often the Black people are the first people who are leaving. A lot of these race beats are going away. A lot of the democracy beats are less focused on. Is that what youre seeing, too, [that] we had a periodfrom 2014 to 2020, there was a shift in the media to a more multiracial democracy form, and now were going back again? Forde: Yes. And I think its led by eliteselites on the right. Its a really frighteningI find this moment were in of the rise of authoritarianism in the federal government, this move to the national level, of all kinds of techniques and stratagems that were developed in many of these Southern states generations before have been nationalized. And in the process, one of the things were seeing today is a federal government that is attacking the press in all kinds of way and has been during the two Trump administrations. The idea of the press as enemy of the people, the fact that theres a Trump crony in charge of the FCC and that Trump crony as head of FCC is investigating all kinds of news media outlets. You have this revolving door among certain right-wing news media outlets and this administration, with some of the people who have been significant personalities, Ill call them, on Fox News and other places either holding positions of power within the Trump administration or somehow providing extraordinary levels of access to them. We see Fox personalities involved in CPAC. We see some right-wing outletssometimes they provide factual information, but theyve often been involved in misinformation at best and disinformation at worst. Weve seen the White House Correspondents Association disbanded. The Trump administration now has its own propaganda channel through Rumble. We have the AP disinvited from the White House and Air Force One. We have lawsuits against ABC and CBS in efforts to control their thought. We have Jeff Bezos at The Washington Post turning the editorial side of the newspaper into a free market zone with a conservative editor. Theres just a lot happening where you see elites on the right aligning together to reshape not only the news media space but also the information environmentbecause, of course, weve got these social media platforms that complicate things entirely. Youve got lots of media influencers that are supplanting what had been the function of news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: So the parallel now that Im seeing that youre seeing between the period of 1870 to 1920 and today is that again, you have these rich elites who are using their economic power to also shape the media in an anti-democratic way. Forde: Yeah. And its an effort to consolidate power in their interests. Bacon: And so what would a media look like that was trying to defend democracy? What would that look like right now? Forde: That is such a good question. Ive been thinking about this so much. I need a think tank of folks to think about this with me so my ideas are better than what it is Im able to share with you today. But one of the things I think would be really helpful is just structural. We need muchweve had PBS And NPR defunded, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting totally ripped up. We need public funding of media. The First Amendment, so important in this country, but it does not mean we cannot have public funding of media set up in a way that safeguards the importance of a news media being fact-based, evidence-based and nonpartisan and oriented toward not only serving the common good but toward reporting on how democracy works and calling the shots. So thats another thing I would like to see: I would like to see news media that dont both-sides anything that has to do with democratic rules and regulations and laws and courts and norms. That is, we cant both-side these things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: Let me stop you because you said you want public media thats nonpartisan. You also said we should have media that doesnt both-sides. Those goals are, right nowyou said you want media thats nonpartisan, doesnt do both-sides, but also promotes democracy, right? Forde: Yes. Bacon: And promotes democratic norms. How does I think thats what NPR is struggling with. You can tellwhenever the head of NPR speaks, I can tell shes like, Democracy is good. I dont want to be a Democrat. So when one party is doing anti-democratic things daily, how do you maintain a nonpartisan media? Forde: Wow. I think probably everyone listening to this podcast right now wants the answer to that question. So do I. I think theres going to be all kinds of blurry and gray space in between the ideals of that. I dont think theres a way to police that boundary very well when we have one party in this countrythe Republican Partythats been somewhat captured by the right-wing MAGA movement. Im not sure that all conservatives are MAGA, and Im not sure that all people who identify as MAGA want authoritarianism either. I think the terrain is really complicated. Theres no way to take the politics out because so many news media institutions are operating as straight-out political actors, and others are operating within that political sphere because thats what they have to do even though theyre not involving themselves in an administrative positions or theyre not going to political rallies as participants and speakers. I think being pro-democracy and anti-authoritarianism is something different from being proDemocratic Party and antiRepublican Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon: I agree with that concept. Im trying to think of what those in realityis there a news outlet or a reporter [who is] pro-democracy anti-authoritarianism without being proDemocratic Party? I agree with what youre saying. Forde: I dont know. Bacon: Going to read that way in this current moment, if youre pro-democracy, youre anti-Trump. But its hard to reconcile those things. Forde: It is very hard to reconcile those things and I dont have a great, I wish I did. I hope some of the listeners have some good ideas. Bacon: I think ProPublica is a good example of being a watchdog, doing stories that are investigative, and talking about democratic norms. They dont necessarily go into a lot of politics. They dont have an op-ed section. And I think op-eds can be good, but thats a good model of something useful there. Forde: I agree with you completely. ProPublica has been just a tremendous asset in democratic life for quite a while now. Bacon: At the beginning you talked about the media has power, whether we like it or not, on some level, I think is what it is. Journalists can be fact-based with the idea that inherently in journalism, you are choosing which stories to cover and which ones not to. So talk about objectivity as a goalperiod. Is that neutralityor can you talk about how do you think about that? Is that a goal, is there a different principle we should look for? Forde: I think we should be committed to evidence, to facts, to critical thought, to thinking together collectively. The newspaper in the first half of the nineteenth century, during the great debate in this country about the institution of slavery and what to do about it, it operated like the very best papers, like William Lloyd Garrisons The Liberator and Frederick Douglasss many wonderful newspapers. They operated as forums like where people would write in, and there would be this incredibly robust debate happening in the pages of the newspaper where people would collectively working out and talking and trying to come to some consensus. And we need more of that. We do have reader commentary on a lot of sites now, but far too often they devolve into something else. But sometimes, they can be reallyin some places you see just some great reader commentary where people are coming together. The problem is were so polarized right now. Of course, that was true in the early nineteenth century as well. Were so polarized that were often not talking except in a choir. We may not see things the same way, but were also not talking across major differences, which I think is really important. And I lost my train of thought. What are we talking about now, Perry? Bacon: I asked about what ideas you had for the media for todayfor the media to support democracy and also reach people. You said, We need public media, which I then stopped. What do we do, though, because we just had public media defunded, or theyre trying to defund. What does it look like to have public media? How do you build support for public media if one party is against public media? Forde: So first of all, states can pass legislation that funds public media in their states. And there can be workarounds that isthere can be coalitions among different states to build different kinds of public media that reach beyond the state level and local level. So I think that those are important things that we need to consider during this moment. I would love to see more news outlets have a democracy beat desk. You see little things like that happening Bacon: Came up and died a little bit because I think that desk often produces stuff that Republicans dont like. Thats part of the problem. You have to be OK with that, yeah. Forde: Yeah. But then have an authoritarianism watch, right? Do more reporting that actually looks at the systems and structures and puts together the patterns of whats happening at state levels and at the national level in terms of consolidating authoritarian power. Its really hard. Journalism is a curriculum of everything that happens in the world on a single day or in an hour. It does, in all of its responsibilities, report the world to us and to bring us some representation and knowledge about whats happening. Whats often missed are these kinds of syntheses and these putting together and telling us all thewe reported on these 25 things that happened this week in Washington or these 25 things that happened at the state level (lets say were in a red state) or in the last month or in the last year. Let us put this together for you and show you a pattern and lets have some experts in to discuss evidence-based and interpretations of how we can think about this. I think its really hard for journalism to do a good job like that, but I think we need that ambition in our journalism. Bacon: The thing Ive struck by is youve said two things. One barrier to pro-democracy journalism is that a lot of people support the regime or support authoritarianismor thats one group. The second groupwhen people on Bluesky debate New York Times headline X, sometimes Im like, That headline was probably written at 7:30 p.m. by somebody on a Saturday shift. Forde: But we know how that works. Not everyone does. Bacon: Not everyone does, and every headline is not written by the writer. We can get into that, but I think thats where I want to finish this. I think The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post news operationforget about the opinions thingthe AP, the CNN, these organizations that are not. The New Republic is more left of center explicitly. And so is MSNBC. And then you have Fox and so on. But the middle of the newsthe things that are trying to reach a broad audiencethats where I think the hard part is. What should theywhen Trump brings in the National Guard to D.C., what should the coverage look like? Forde: It should explain that as one tactic in an authoritarian playbook, one of many, many, many to consolidate authoritarian power. And maybe this makes me sound like a real lefty partisan Bacon: Youre going to soundyou sound like Hakeem Jeffries, but maybe thats the truth in this case, right? Thats the problem. Forde: I think if we look to people who study how authoritarianism gets built, how authoritarian power gets consolidated, if we look to history for our understanding of how this works and how democracy erodes and democracy backslides, its piecemeal. Theres small actions that when theyre all taken together add up to a lot, and those small actions become bigger actions in a certain zone or sector. Right now, we are living in a space where all the institutions of accountability are under attack. Journalism, universities, law firms, the courts. These are patterns that need to be surfaced and discussed and understood for what they are. And in the midst, Im painting a pretty stark picture and Im working on the edges where things are really clear. There are all kinds of things in the dark, murky, middle that its hard to make sense of and who knows and whats being done. We should also know what is being done to protect democracy. Where are the successes? Who are those actors? What are the networks? How can we understand all the political players and networks and think tanks and foundations. Bacon: But just to zone in, if youre covering the National Guard being deployed in D.C., if you call experts on authoritarianism, its not like thats your opinion. Thats a reported story. You can call authors, you can call scholars, you can call people who worked in Turkey or people who worked in Hungary or people who worked in Russia. This is not just opinions. It is like this is an authoritarian tactic according to this. Theres a journalism project here that would involve the going beyond saying Trump is a meanie. Forde: Absolutely. You got it. You said it better than I managed to say it, Perry, as always. But I wanna say one more thing about what journalists can be doing. Journalists need to cover and news outlets need to cover the media environment and the information environment better than they do. They need to explain news institutions: how theyre owned, who owns them, how these ownership structures put pressures and constraints on the kinds of reporting that they do. I think news organizations owe it to readers to really surface and make clear the ways in which news organizations are themselves in many instances operating as political actors toosometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. You cannot have an effective, rise in consolidation of authoritarian power without some type of news media mobilization in support of that project. It just doesnt work. Bacon: Im going to ask three short questions and then were going to end there. First, youre doing some research on Ida B. Wells. Can you talk about that a little bit? Forde: Yeah. I worked with this amazing team out of the University of MarylandIm at UMass Amherstand a colleague of mine, Rob Wells, who did this massive computational analysis of lynching newspaper coverage from the 1700s up through the twentieth century. And what we found in that was this incredibly surprising finding, which was that in the 1890s suddenly newspaper coverage, which had been lagging incidences of lynching up through the 1890s; lynching really becomes this huge problem in the 1880s and grows into the 1890ssuddenly newspaper coverage explodes. And what our findings tell us is thats when Ida B. Wells begins covering lynching. Her coverage becomes well known across this country and, in fact, around the world very, very quickly. And so she sets the agenda and puts lynching on the public agenda in a way it never had been. Now, was she able to Bacon: End lynching? Of course not. Forde: My God we couldnt in this country even get federal anti-lynching legislation passed. That was first passed not too many years ago. Its extraordinary. But she played this really important role in helping us understand why lynching happenedthat it was not for reasons that white people were saying it was happening. Lynching was happening as a form of social and economic and political quashing of Black opportunity. Bacon: Youre a journalism professor there. Youre also, I think, a dean, and maybe your title includes the word inclusion in it. I dont want to get title wrong, but can you talk about what you do in terms of inclusion and why we should defend those things as opposed to surrendering them? Forde: I am so worried about this in the world of every space that matters in public lifeuniversities, civic institutions, and higher edbecause of all these anti DEI efforts at state level and also at the federal level what. I am an associate dean in my college, at UMass Amherst, for equity and inclusion. And for all the grotesque caricatures of what DEI means, at the end of the day, what it means is creating space, at least in my world, in university life where we are examining any kinds of structural or policy or programmatic matters that arent fully inclusive, that dont open the doors of access to the good that higher education is to people across all identities and all socioeconomic statuses. And so that seems to me, its all about access. Its all about including everyone in the democratic project. Its about widening the circle of we that get to participate and get to enjoy the amazing resources of freedom and dignity and opportunity that democracy and higher ed and in other areas of our public life give us. Thats what we do. This woke indoctrination and all these culture tropes that demonize DEI, I find to be just truly offensive and I see it as a form of backlash. Weve livedwe continue in this countrys history to have backlash at once where there is progress made. I see it in some ways, some forms, a backlash to not only to Black Lives Matter and its many successesbut to some degree that. Bacon: You are working on a project around higher education and defending higher education. Talk about that a little bit. Forde: Thank you so much for asking, Perry. This is a project thats keeping me sane during these really dark and troubled times. I co-founded with a colleague at UMass Amherstand now our former chancellor at UMass Amherst has joined usan organization called Stand Together for Higher Ed. And what we are is a nonprofit that is trying to support a grassroots movement of faculty and staff across the thousands and thousands of higher ed institutions across this country to reclaim the public narrative, to ask policy makers and everyday citizens to demand protections for federal funding for higher ed that has done so much to open the doors for access for everyday Americans, including me, to get a college education. I grew up disadvantaged in rural East Tennessee. I dont want the doors to close. They cannot close. And we also need federal funding for open inquiry and research that then gets taken up by corporations and fuels the economy but also saves lives consistently and makes life better. Were doing that work. You can find us if anybodys interested. We really need faculty and staff to join StandTogetherHigherEd.org. Bacon: Great. And can you say it one more time because somebody is asking? Forde: Stand Together for Higher Ed is the name of the nonprofit, and we are www.standtogetherhighered.org. All right, great. Kathy, its a great conversation. Thanks for joining me. Forde: Yeah, it was great. Bacon: And thanks everybody for watching, and well be back next week. It was the security guards accompanying Anastasia Samsonova's group that suggested this wasn't a typical beach holiday. In July, the 33-year-old human resources worker was one of the first tourists to stay at a new holiday resort in North Korea, a country largely closed to the outside world. Set in an exclusive area on the east coast where leader Kim Jong Un spent much of his youth, the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone opened on 1 July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Built near a missile testing site, the resort features hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and a water park, according to state media. But while it was initially billed as being open to international tourists, so far only Russians, entering in groups and organised by accredited travel agencies, have been allowed in. The resort features hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and a water park, according to state media [KCNA] Anastasia travelled there last month with 14 other people. The visit was tightly controlled, with guides and guards accompanying them and a fixed itinerary that could not be diverged from without permission from North Korean authorities. She says the guides told her the guards were needed to "prevent situations where we interacted with locals and startled them". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When we walked down the street, they [North Koreans] looked at us with great surprise because the country has been closed for a very long time," says Anastasia. BBC News Russian got in contact with her after searching the geotags of people on social media who had travelled to the resort, independently of any travel agency or media outlet. No scramble for sunloungers Anastasia says her group was also told not to photograph construction sites and was expected not to wear revealing clothes. Yet despite the restrictions, she says she "enjoyed a vacation without people" on almost-empty beaches with white sand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every day the [beach] was cleaned and levelled perfectly. Everything was immaculate," she says. "The loungers were absolutely new, everything spotless. The entrance to the sea was very gentle, so yes, it really was a very good beach." Anastasia said the beaches were "immaculate" and mostly deserted [Anastasia Samsonova] Since the Covid pandemic, international tourism into North Korea had been on pause to prevent the spread of the virus. But last year, the republic began allowing Russian tourists to visit again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, it also started receiving tourists from the West, including Australia, France, Germany and the UK, though it abruptly halted this weeks later, without saying why. Wonsan Kalma has been touted as a key part of Kim's ambitions to boost tourism in the country. It is said to have drawn inspiration from Spain's tourism hotspot Benidorm, where a North Korean delegation was sent on a fact-finding mission in 2017. But details of how it was built have been shrouded in secrecy, and human rights groups have criticised the alleged harsh treatment of workers, including claims of forced labour, harsh conditions, long hours and locals being driven out of their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weeks after it opened, North Korea announced that foreigners were "temporarily" not allowed to visit - except tourists from Russia, an ally of the republic. So far, two Russian tour groups have visited the resort, with another currently there. North Korean rocket models cost around $40 each [Anastasia Samsonova] A week-long trip from Russia to North Korea, including three days at the Wonsan Kalma resort, costs $1,800 (1,300) - 60% more than the average monthly salary in Russia. Some adverts for the trip even reference the nearby missile testing site, describing it as a "unique" vacation spot. Anastasia says no missiles were launched while she was there, but toy rockets were being sold nearby for $40 (30). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Describing a typical day while on her trip, Anastasia says the group would have breakfast at 08:00 when lots of activities were planned and 09:30 on a more relaxed day. In terms of the food they were given, there was "lots of meat", typically in sweet and sour sauce, and a dish involving finely chopped cabbage and carrots in sauce. She says a 500ml bottle of beer was very cheap, costing about 60 cents at the beach, while the souvenir of choice for tourists was North Korean Olympic clothing. Another tourist, Daria, writing on Instagram, described the resort as "very raw" and "not the kind of vacation Russian tourists are used to". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But if you're tired of Asia, Turkey, etc., and want something exotic this is it," she added. A week's tour of North Korea costs a Russian traveller around $1,800 (1,300) [Vostok Intur] However, there is uncertainty over when the next Russian tourists will be allowed into Wonsan Kalma. The travel agency which organised the first three trips to the resort, Vostok Intur, said there was high interest in potential tours in September, but North Korean authorities had yet to agree to them. Initially, tours were advertised online by Russian travel agencies for mid-September, but these were later removed. It is not just Russians who face difficulties getting to Wonsan Kalma. Even citizens of China, which borders North Korea and is its main ally and economic partner, are having difficulties accessing the resort, according to Andrei Lankov, an expert in North Korea-Russia relations and a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says Pyongyang deliberately limits the number of tourists and closely controls their movements, in part so North Koreans won't compare themselves unfavourably to richer foreigners. "Ordinary people might begin to wonder, 'How is it that even without our great leader, or his son or daughter, they seem to live so well?'", Lankov says. For that reason, North Korea has concluded it's largely better not to have too many foreigners entering the country, he adds. The resort features a water park, but Anastasia's group did not get to visit it [AFP] With travel restrictions into North Korea easing, tourism from Russia has been rising, though it remains modest compared with other destinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, about 1,500 Russians travelled to North Korea for tourism, according to Russia's Federal Security Service border guards. In contrast, more than 6.7 million visited Turkey and almost 1.9 million went to China. However, in the second quarter of 2025, 1,673 Russians entered North Korea as tourists a level last seen in 2010, before tourist restrictions were introduced. Wonsan Kalma is seen as key to reviving North Korea's ailing economic fortunes, but it's not been without controversy. Since the resort began construction in 2018, human rights groups have protested the alleged mistreatment of its workers. They point to reports of people being forced to work long hours to finish the massive project in a rapid timeframe under harsh conditions and inadequate compensation. As BBC Verify reported last month, the UN has highlighted a system of forced labour used in North Korea, in particular "shock brigades" where workers often face harsh conditions, long hours, and inadequate compensation. James Heenan of the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul has said "there are reports that the resort was built using what they call shock brigades". "We've also seen reports that people were working 24 hours at the end to get this thing finished, which sounds like a shock brigade to me." The BBC has approached the North Korean embassy in London for comment. There is a long promenade that lines the front of the hotels at the resort [Anastasia Samsonova] Despite the challenges of getting to Wonsan Kalma, and the restrictions on what Russian tourists can do when they arrive in North Korea, Anastasia says she hopes to come back next year. "We're actually thinking about gathering the whole group next year to go to the same place. "I'm not sure if it will work out, but I've heard there's also a ski resort near Wonsan Kalma. So, maybe one day I'll visit that resort too." MIAMI (AP) Tropical Storm Fernand formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday, but it was far from land and forecast to remain over the open ocean. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported that the storm was located about 325 miles (520 kilometers) southeast of Bermuda late at night. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was headed north-northeast at 16 mph (26 kph). The hurricane center said Fernand was expected to pass well east of Bermuda, and no coastal watches or warnings were in effect. Tropical Storm Fernand is forecast to weaken as it churns over the open Atlantic Ocean, and odds have plummeted for a system to develop near the eastern Caribbean. As of 8 a.m. Monday, the Caribbean disturbance was given a near 0% chance of developing, down from 30% on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Fernand has a short-lived window over warm waters with light wind shear in which to strengthen, but weakening is forecast to begin Monday night, experts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 5 a.m. Monday, Fernand was 360 miles east-northeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, moving north-northeast at 13 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 60 miles from the storms center. Once Fernand and the second system fizzle, hurricane season looks like it will take a brief nap into September. But dont get comfortable, says Fox Weather hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross. Lulls in hurricane season are common. A nearly monthlong lull happened last year in late August, then was followed by high activity, including two major hurricanes Helene and Milton that caused widespread destruction in Florida and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year there was a big gap at the end of August into September when we didnt have anything that was significant, Norcross said. Then it was like a switch was flipped in the middle of September and suddenly one storm after the other formed. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations long-range tropical hazards outlook shows just a couple of areas with low chances of tropical cyclone development until at least Sept. 9. Coincidentally, Sept. 10 is the statistical peak of hurricane season. The next named storm to form would be Gabrielle. The Trump administration plans to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda following his Aug. 22 release from custody in a months-long fight to remove him from the country, court filings showed. On Friday, a magistrate judge ordered Abrego Garcia, 30, released from a Putnam County Jail and returned to Maryland where he and his family live while he faces smuggling charges. The Salvadoran national, a sheetmetal worker, had been held in custody for months after the administration wrongly deported him to a megaprison in El Salvador. But as it became clear hed be released, filings posted Saturday showed the administration has tried to send him to other countries. USA TODAY has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day before his release, Costa Rican officials offered to take Abrego Garcia as a refugee or resident after any criminal sentence hed serve in the United States, according to the letter dated Thursday from Costa Ricas security minister Mario Zamora Cordero to the American Embassy. Abrego Garcias lawyer, Sean Hecker, said the administration attempted to offer him removal to Costa Rica in exchange for pleading guilty to two smuggling charges. In a filing to the federal district court in Tennessee, Hecker wrote that it had become clear Abrego Garcia would be released at the end of the week, and the government made a last-ditch effort to forestall that release in exchange for guilty pleas and to stay in jail until Monday. Abrego Garcia declined to stay in jail and was released Friday. "Today, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free," Hecker said in a statement on Friday. "He is presently en route to his family in Maryland, after being unlawfully arrested and deported, and then imprisoned, all because of the governments vindictive attack on a man who had the courage to fight back against the Administrations continuing assault on the rule of law. He is grateful that his access to American courts has provided meaningful due process." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A court order gave Abrego Garcia 48 hours to reach Maryland, where he will be placed under an order of supervision with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Baltimore. Immigration authorities may apprehend him there, but a court order requires that he have access to his attorneys and that authorities give them 72 hours notice if they plan to deport him. After his release, Charles Wall, an ICE lawyer, wrote to Abrego Garcias lawyers in a Friday email that hed have to report to ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Baltimore on Monday. A minute later, at 4:01 p.m., Wall said Homeland Security officials may remove Abrego Garcia to Uganda no earlier than 72 hours from then, absent weekends. Hecker said the case should be dismissed and that Abrego Garcia is being coerced into accepting a guilty plea by the prospect of being indefinitely detained in a country halfway across the world, where his safety and liberty would be at threat. A 2023 State Department report warned of significant human rights issues in the landlocked East African country, including "harsh and life-threatening prison conditions." It is difficult to imagine a path the government could have taken that would have better emphasized its vindictiveness, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, said in a Friday statement Abrego Garcia's release upholds his right to due process, but he argued he must be able to further defend himself in court. "This is a matter thats greater than just this one case or one man if one persons rights are denied, then the rights of all of us are at risk," Van Hollen said. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a Friday statement said "activist liberal judges" have "attempted to obstruct law enforcement" from removing undocumented immigrants, stating Abrego Garcia's release marked a "new low." She repeated the Trump administration's claim that Abrego Garcia is a member of the gang MS-13. U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw last month said he found no evidence Abrego Garcia had ever been part of a gang. Since he was detained in March, Abrego Garcia has found himself at the center of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. This included removing him and hundreds of other migrants accused of gang ties, with little or no evidence, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration said they couldnt return him despite wrongly deporting him, but ended up returning him under court pressure to then face the smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Cookeville. The stop was initiated by state troopers who suspected he was transporting undocumented immigrants, but he was later let go without charges. Charges against him for that stop were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee on May 21, while he was still in the El Salvador mega-prison. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump admin. wants to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, filings show Statement by Sri Lanka at the second session of the open-ended working group on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, 21-25 July 2025 Statement by Sri Lanka Second session of the open-ended working group on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, 21-25 July 2025, Palais des Nations, Geneva Item 5 General Exchange of Views Mr. Chair Sri Lanka also joins other delegations in appreciating your leadership as the Chair of this Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG). I extend Sri Lankas fullest support and cooperation for the success of the deliberations of the Working Group. Sri Lanka appreciates your leadership during the first session of the OEWG as well as during the informal consultations and guidance to the second session. Mr. Chair, The discussions on prevention of an arms race in outer space are not new to us. We have been discussing the related issues over decades. Therefore, rather than starting from scratch, the OEWG can leverage from where we are, while building on existing discussions and efforts in multilateral fora. We believe that this working group provides an opportunity for Member States to advance discussions on both legally binding and non-legally binding measures in outer space disarmament under a single framework. Sri Lanka has been engaging for decades on the matters of prevention of an arms race in outer space, and has been advocating for a legally binding instrument. We also wish to underline the vital importance of verification mechanisms as an integral part of a legally binding instrument. While understanding the current dynamics in space faring activities by States, we believe that this fundamental goal has to be achieved in a balanced and inclusive approach under a comprehensive framework, which recognizes the concerns of all States, and works on the basis of consensus. The UNGA resolution 79/19 titled prevention of an arms race in outer space which is annually presented by Sri Lanka together with Egypt emphasizes the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space The resolution also emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space while referring to the important work carried out so far in multilateral fora on outer space disarmament. From the point where we are today, we all need to strive to agree on a pragmatic way forward to achieve our common goals in outer space disarmament in all aspects. Sri Lanka also takes this opportunity to underscore that weaponizing of outer space would disproportionately affect all states. We urge this Working Group therefore to adequately listen to the voice of the developing countries that rely on peaceful uses of outer space and space-based assets, particularly satellite technology for communication, disaster management, and climate impact monitoring and resilience. Sri Lanka encourages regional consultations and dialogues particularly among the non-spacefaring states with a view to ensure inclusivity. Mr. Chair, It is the responsibility of all States to ensure that outer space remains a shared heritage of humankind, free from conflict and accessible to all nations for peaceful purposes. While reiterating Sri Lankas support to your efforts to bring us on to a pragmatic direction, we believe that a balanced, inclusive and consensus-based approach that considers the concerns of all states will be useful in achieving our common goals. Thank you View PDF The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested Karnataka MLA from Chitradurga, KC Veerendra, in connection with a massive illegal online and offline betting racket. Veerendra was arrested from Gangtok in Sikkim under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 following a massive two-day nationwide search operation started on August 22. The searches were conducted by the ED's Bengaluru zonal office on August 22 and 23 at 31 locations across India -- including Gangtok, Chitradurga district, Bengaluru, Hubli, Jodhpur, Mumbai and Goa. In Goa alone, raids covered five prominent casinos -- Puppy's Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppy's Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino and Big Daddy Casino. The crackdown led to the recovery of nearly Rs 12 crore in cash, including Rs 1 crore in foreign currency, gold jewellery worth Rs 6 crore, around 10 kg of silver articles, and four luxury vehicles. Further, 17 bank accounts and 2 bank lockers were also frozen. Many properties related documents were also seized from the premise of brother of KC Veerendra, KC Nagaraj and his son Pruthvi N Raj. Several incriminating documents were also seized from several premises. According to the ED, the legislator's alleged involvement in betting operations spans across multiple states. The agency suspects that the seized assets are linked to proceeds of crime generated through the illegal betting network. Search has revealed that the accused is running several online betting sites in the name of King567 and Raja567, through which he allegedly routed betting proceeds. In a significant revelation, officials said that Veerendra's brother, KC Thippeswamy, is operating three business entities from Dubai -- Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies and Prime9 Technologies. These firms, linked to call centre services and gaming operations, are suspected to be associated with the betting and money laundering activities of the MLA. "The legislator's brother KC Thippeswamy, and associates Pruthvi N Raj, are handling operations of online gaming from Dubai. Further, it was revealed that K C Veerendra, along with his associates had travelled to Gangktok via Bagdogra on business visit to lease a land casino. Incriminating material seized during search proceedings indicate complex layering of cash and other funds," said the ED. To further identify the Proceeds of Crime, K C Veerendra was arrested from Gangktok and produced before Judicial Magistrate Gangtok and transit remand was obtained for producing him before jurisdictional court in Bengaluru. (ANI) As the Trump administration escalates its deployment of troops in the nations capital and vows similar moves elsewhere, leaders of largely Democratic cities across the country are pushing back. From Boston to Los Angeles, President Donald Trumps portrayal of the District of Columbia as a lawless wasteland to justify his military and law enforcement incursion is viewed as an opening salvo in a bid to undermine the autonomy of Americas biggest cities. On Friday, Trump promised to target Chicago next, then New York. Many big city mayors, however, remain defiant, saying: Not so fast, Mr. President. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stop attacking our cities to hide your administrations failures, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, said Tuesday, after Attorney General Pam Bondi threatened to prosecute local officials whose cities did not comply with the White Houses immigration crackdown. Unlike the Trump administration, Boston follows the law. Bondi has made it clear the federal takeover in DC goes hand-in-hand with the administrations hard-line immigration enforcement, using control over law enforcement in the district as a way to try to put an end to the citys laws that protect undocumented migrants. The federal government could slash funding to cities that dont comply and send in law enforcement as it has done in Los Angeles and DC, Bondi has said. Your attacks all come back to a common aim: The Trump Administration seeks to divide, isolate, and intimidate our cities, and make Americans fearful of one another, Wu said. On August 11, Trump announced the decision to declare a crime emergency and federalize DCs police force, saying his administration was going to restore the city back to the gleaming capital that everybody wants it to be. Washingtons mayor and police chief were caught off guard, learning about the takeover for the first time as they watched Trump announce it live. Violent crime in the nations capital is at its lowest levels in decades, according to city officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called the presidents actions an authoritarian push. The Home Rule Act of 1973 allows the president to take control of DCs police for 48 hours if he determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist, which requires the departments use for federal purposes. The president can retain control of the department for a longer period if he notifies the chairs and ranking members of the congressional committees that handle legislative matters pertaining to DC. Trump indicated he intends to do. Any request of control over the citys police department for more than 30 days must be passed into law. In other states, however, governors control guard troops. During emergencies the president can federalize guard troops, as Trump did in Los Angeles in June, a move the state of California has challenged in federal court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You look at Chicago, how bad it is. You look at Los Angeles, how bad it is, Trump said during the announcement. We have other cities that are very bad. New York has a problem. And then you have, of course, Baltimore and Oakland. He repeated that message on Thursday, when he promoted his anti-crime initiative at a US Park Police facility in DC. He brought pizza and hamburgers to law enforcement officers who greeted him. Were going to make it safe, and were going to then go on to other places, but were going to stay here for a while, he said to dozens of law enforcement agents and National Guard members gathered outside the facility to hear him speak. Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump vowed to straighten out Chicago next and then well help New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre wearing red hats, African American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying, Please, President Trump, come to Chicago, the president said. And seeming to conflate his deployment of troops in DC with his takeover of the citys police force, Trump on Friday said he can keep the National Guard in the nations capital as long as I want if he declares a national emergency. Chicago mayor: Trump stoking fear In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement Friday said the city had received no formal communication from the White House concerning any deployments there. Johnson expressed grave concerns over an unlawful deployment, calling Trumps approach uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound. Johnson had earlier said the city remains in regular communication with fellow Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker about the federal governments actions, according to the mayors office. Johnson and other US mayors have called on the Trump administration to restore more than $800 million in violence and crime prevention grants the DOJ has withheld to force states into cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These anti-violence programs have a direct impact on our work to reduce crime and violence in Chicago. Sending in the National Guard could destabilize our public safety efforts and would be counterproductive to rebuilding trust between residents and law enforcement, Johnsons office said in a statement. Chicago police said Friday homicides are down 31% this year and shootings 36%. Johnson accused Trump of stoking fear and division while criminalizing poverty. In response to the presidents pledge to target Chicago, Pritzker in a statement said Trump is playing a game and creating a spectacle. As Donald Trump attempts to create chaos that distracts from his problems, we will call it out for what it is, Pritzker said. Trump and Republicans are trying to distract from the pain they are causing working families from tariffs raising the prices of everyday goods to stripping away healthcare and food from millions of Americans. LA viewed as test case for expanding role of military California National Guard members are positioned at the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on June 10. - Eric Thayer/AP In Los Angeles, Trump defied Mayor Karen Bass by deploying National Guard troops and Marines to the city in June to protect federal buildings during protests against the administrations immigration policies. In a democratic society, she said, law enforcement problems should never need military solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believed then, as I believe now, that Los Angeles was a test case. I think DC is a test case as well, Bass told CNN, warning that Trumps incursion into the capital could be a precursor for other illegal power grabs. The president (can) say, Well we can take over your city whenever we want and I am the commander in chief and I can use the troops whenever we want. I think that is an abuse of our troops, and I think it is an overreach of presidential powers. Trump signed a presidential memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to Los Angeles in June to disperse the protests in response to immigration raids. Law enforcement in riot gear deployed tear gas and flash bangs to disperse crowds in the Los Angeles area over two days. Trump administration officials called the protesters lawless rioters. Bass office in a statement said crime is down in the city and homelessness has dropped two consecutive years. Los Angeles officials said last month the city is on pace for the lowest homicide total in 60 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest actions in LA and Washington DC seem to be for the purpose of testing state and cities willingness to accept the federal government taking power away from local leaders when there is simply no need, the mayors statement said. NYC mayor: We got this under control Im going to look at New York in a little while, Trump said the day he took federal control of DCs police force and mobilized National Guard troops. The warning comes as New York City is on track this year to record the lowest number of shootings and murders in its recorded history. We dont need anyone to come in and take over our law enforcement apparatus. We have the finest police department on the globe, Mayor Eric Adams told reporters one day after Trumps DC announcement. We got this under control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, authorities are preparing for the possibility of a federal takeover ensuring civil disturbances are quickly and effectively handled to show there is no need for added enforcement, a state official told CNN this week. Should a takeover attempt happen, state officials would be in communication with the National Guard but working to challenge the action in court, according to the official, who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak on the matter. State officials have already spoken about the possibility of a deployment with the local head of the National Guard in New York, the official said. While the National Guard must follow orders from Washington, the official said, they must also balance the limit of their capabilities since guardsmen are not trained as police officers. About 1,000 guard members are already deployed on missions in New York state, including added security at transit hubs, according to the official. Discussions among state officials began after ICE demonstrations became heated in Los Angeles, the official said. Baltimores mayor: We have to be ready for anything In Baltimore, about 40 miles north of DC, Mayor Brandon Scott told CNN the city has had the fewest homicides in 50 years. He said its notable that the cities Trump mentioned all have Black mayors and historic drops in violent crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we know about this administration is that we have to be ready for anything, Scotts office said in a statement. We cant let the chaos coming from Washington distract us from the critically important work happening here in Baltimore and in cities across the country that is saving lives and reducing crime. At the same time, Trumps DOJ has cut about $1.2 million from community violence intervention programs, according to the statement. Our federal law enforcement partners have real jobs to do in partnership with state and local leaders to investigate and prevent crime, the statement added. The President doesnt care about stopping crime. Hes slashing funding for organizations that are working to prevent crime in communities nationwide yet hes claiming the Black mayors of DC, Baltimore, Chicago, and Oakland are the problem. Its all a distraction from his own failures: the chaos of the economy, the Epstein files, and Americas falling standing in the world. In Oakland, Mayor Barbara Lee dismissed Trumps characterization of the city as wrong and not grounded in facts, but in fearmongering. This is not leadership its an attempt to score cheap political points by tearing down communities he doesnt understand, she said in a statement, CNN affiliate KRON-TV reported. Earlier this month, the Oakland Police Department reported that violent crime was down 29% this year through June 30. Homicides dropped 21%, rapes decreased 24% and robberies declined 41%. He better not try it in Philly In Philadelphia, another largely Democratic city whose violent crime has decreased substantially since post-pandemic peaks, District Attorney Larry Krasner held his own press conference in a West Philadelphia church one day after Trumps announcement. The only emergency I can think of for public safety is what we call D.J.T., the progressive prosecutor said, flanked by spiritual leaders. Donald J. Trump is the emergency right now in big cities in America. Krasner told CNN the current administration would have no legal grounds to federalize the Philadelphia Police Department, and there is no reason to justify sending in the National Guard. He may think hes gonna try it in other places, but the fact is legally he has much less of a right to do any of this in other cities, and he better not try it in Philly, Krasner told CNN. Homicides, shootings, and armed robberies are down 16%, 19%, and 20%, respectively, in Philadelphia in 2025 compared to the same period last year and down even more compared to 2021 highs, according to police department data. We have seen a record drop in crime in urban America Philadelphia actually leads the nation in the biggest reduction in violent crime today versus where we were a few years ago, Congressman Brendan Boyle, who represents Philadelphia, told CNN. The timing doesnt make any sense in this respect, said the Democratic representative when asked if hes worried about Trumps warning. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parkers office declined to comment to CNN on the ongoing federal takeover in DC or any hypothetical actions in Philly. In response to Trumps actions in DC, Democratic state Sen. Art Haywood, who represents part of Philadelphia, released a memo announcing the Protecting PA Police Act. Haywoods office explained the intent of the legislation would be to explicitly prevent any federal takeover of 1,000 municipal police departments (or) our state police. Further details or a draft of the proposed legislation have not been released. This effort is about defending our police and protecting the dignity of our neighbors, Haywood in a statement to CNN. Strong, trusted relationships between police and residents are essential to public safety. Though unpopular among DC residents 79% oppose the federal law enforcement incursion, a new Washington Post-Schar School poll said Trump took to Truth Social on Friday, praising the effort: Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN! The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing a fantastic job. CNNs Mark Morales, Josh Campbell, Danny Freeman, Whitney Wild, Brad Parks, Hannah Rabinowitz, Ronald Brownstein, Stephen Collinson, Kristen Holmes, Samantha Waldenberg, Adam Cancryn and Nathaniel Meyersohn contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Federal immigration officers helped by Rochester, N.Y., police arrest men from Guatemala after a March traffic stop. The Trump administration has threatened the city over its sanctuary policies. City officials say some officers violated the policy by assisting in the arrests. (City of Rochester) The Trump administration is once again pressuring liberal cities and states to cooperate with deportation efforts, despite previous setbacks in court. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent letters last week telling sanctuary states, cities and counties that you better be abiding by our federal policies and with our federal law enforcement, because if you arent, were going to come after you, she said in a Fox News interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cities and states with so-called sanctuary policies generally refuse to assist with immigration raids or accede to requests for local jails to hold prisoners for deportation. Those that responded to Statelines questions about the letters said they were not inclined to change their positions about cooperation with immigration authorities. Its the tactic of a bully. And the only way to deal with a bully is to let them know that theyre not going to intimidate you, Rhode Island Democratic Attorney General Peter Neronha said in a statement. The Trump administration is attempting to force more cooperation with immigration arrests. But it suffered a serious court reversal on July 25, when a federal judge dismissed a sanctuary policies case against Illinois, Chicago and Cook County. The state and local policies reflect a decision to not participate in enforcing civil immigration law a decision protected by the Tenth Amendment, Judge Lindsay Jenkins wrote in an order now under appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondis letters follow the Justice Departments Aug. 5 release of a list of sanctuary jurisdictions including 12 states, the District of Columbia, four counties and 18 cities. Thats fewer jurisdictions than the 14 states and almost 500 counties and cities that appeared on an earlier list, which the agency withdrew after criticism that it included conservative counties that were fully cooperating with immigration enforcement. The states on the new list are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington state. The list also includes some counties and cities in those states as well as in Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Mexico. Other federal courts have issued injunctions to at least temporarily stop Trump administration from withholding unrelated federal funding from governments that dont cooperate on immigration. Cities, counties and states have filed lawsuits challenging Trumps executive orders targeting sanctuary policies, including a February order that federal payments to states and localities must not by design or effect, facilitate the subsidization or promotion of illegal immigration, or abet so-called sanctuary policies that seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation. The executive orders are directing agencies to basically take a maximalist approach to putting pressure on local governments to cooperate with immigration [enforcement], even though theyre not required to do so by federal law, said Jonathan Miller, one of the attorneys working on the California case for the Public Rights Project, a California-based group promoting civil rights protections for states and cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One city on the administrations list was Rochester, New York, which disciplined some police officers for helping federal agents make a March arrest in the city. The city already faces a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration that prominently mentions the arrest of three men from Guatemala; one of whom has since pleaded guilty to re-entering the United States after a previous deportation. A spokesperson for the city, Barbara Pierce, said in a statement to The Guardian that, Nothing in Attorney General Bondis letter is new and none of it has legal merit. The letter reiterates many of the frivolous arguments that the federal government has already made in its pending suit against the city of Rochester, she added. These same arguments were levied against the city of Chicago and were dismissed by the federal district court for the eastern district of Illinois nearly a month ago. Ally Sullivan, a spokesperson for Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, said in a statement that Colorado is not a sanctuary state. The Governor continues to be frustrated by this mistaken and incorrect label. In a televised interview earlier this year, Polis pointed out that Colorado fully cooperates with federal authorities on criminal matters. Immigration, he said, is a civil matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Colorado, we are improving public safety, apprehending dangerous criminals, cooperating with federal law enforcement on criminal investigations, and keeping our communities safe, Sullivan said. Nevertheless, Colorado faces a federal lawsuit brought by the administration over its alleged sanctuary policies. Polis signed a measure in May that limits local law enforcements communication with federal immigration authorities and restricts where federal authorities can operate within schools, child care facilities, hospitals and libraries without a judicial warrant. Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont in a statement said the states Trust Act, which the Trump administration has targeted as a sanctuary policy, was passed with bipartisan support and helps ensure local police concentrate on serious crimes. The Trust Act, passed in 2013 and expanded in 2019, limits information sharing and compliance with requests to detain immigrants for federal immigration authorities. Nothing about this makes Connecticut a sanctuary in any legal or practical sense it makes our state one that upholds the Constitution, respects the rule of law, and prioritizes the safety and well-being of our communities, Lamont said. Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org. The Trump administration cannot deny funding to Los Angeles and 30 other cities and counties because of "sanctuary" policies that limit their cooperation with federal immigration agencies, a judge ruled late Friday. The judge issued a preliminary injunction that expands restrictions the court handed down in April that blocked funding cuts to 16 cities and counties, including San Francisco and Santa Clara, after federal officials classified them as "sanctuary jurisdictions." U.S. District Judge William Orrick of the federal court in San Francisco ruled then that Trump's executive order cutting funding was probably unconstitutional and violated the separation of powers doctrine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday's order added more than a dozen more jurisdictions to the preliminary injunction, including Los Angeles, Alameda County, Berkeley, Baltimore, Boston and Chicago. Read more: He was delivering strawberries in L.A. when Border Patrol stopped him. 'The wrong place at the wrong time' Mayor Karen Bass applauded the court's decision. "Another win for our city as the courts continue to make clear that the federal government's attempts to inflict their cruel policies on Angelenos are unlawful," Bass said in a statement to the Times. "We will always defend the rights of Angelenos in the face of these continued assaults on our city." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, a spokesperson for the White House said the Trump administration expected to ultimately win in its effort on appeal. "The government at all levels has the duty to protect American citizens from harm," Abigail Jackson, a spokesperson for the White House, said in a statement. "Sanctuary cities interfere with federal immigration enforcement at the expense and safety and security of American citizens. We look forward to ultimate vindication on the issue." The preliminary injunction is the latest chapter in an ongoing effort by the Trump administration to force "sanctuary cities" to assist and commit local resources to federal immigration enforcement efforts. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice published a list of what it determined to be sanctuary jurisdictions, or local entities that have "policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design," Atty. Gen. Pamela Bondi said in a statement accompanying the published list. Several cities and counties across the country have adopted sanctuary city policies, but specifics as to what extent they're willing or unwilling to do for federal immigration officials have varied. The policies typically do not impede federal officials from conducting immigration enforcement activities, but largely keep local jurisdictions from committing resources to the efforts. The policies also don't prevent local agencies from enforcing judicial warrants, which are signed by a judge. Cooperation on "detainers" or holds on jailed suspects issued by federal agencies, along with enforcement of civil immigration matters, is typically limited by sanctuary policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal officials in the suit have so far referred to "sanctuary" jurisdictions as local governments that don't honor immigration detainer requests, don't assist with administrative warrants, don't share immigration status information, or don't allow local police to assist in immigration enforcement operations. Orrick noted that the executive orders threatened to withhold all federal funding if the cities and counties in question did not adhere to the Trump administration's requests. In the order, the judge referred to the executive order as a "coercive threat" and said it was unconstitutional. Orrick, who sits on the bench in the Northern District of California, was appointed by former President Obama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has been ratcheting up efforts to force local jurisdictions to assist in immigration enforcement. The administration has filed lawsuits against cities and counties, vastly increased street operations and immigration detentions, and deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles as it increased immigration operations. The U.S. Department of Justice in June sued Los Angeles, and local officials, alleging its sanctuary city law is "illegal." The suit alleged that the city was looking to "thwart the will of the American people regarding deportations" by enacting sanctuary city policies. 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. By Tim Reid WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Hundreds of National Guard soldiers in military fatigues and combat boots mingled with tourists, posed for selfies, and treated themselves to ice cream from food trucks on Thursday along Washington's National Mall, one of the safest parts of America's capital. On occasion an angry local would hurl verbal abuse at them, but the soldiers simply shrugged and carried on what appeared to be an undemanding assignment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside the National Museum of African American History and Culture, five members of the West Virginia National Guard were standing on the street corner far away from the city's crime hot spots. "It's boring. We're not really doing much," said Sergeant Fox, who declined to give his first name. Fox is among almost 2,000 troops, including 1,200 from six Republican-led states, who are being deployed in Washington as part of an extraordinary militarization inside the Democratic-led city. The soldiers, some of whom told Reuters they did not get involved in arrests, are officially in Washington to support a federal crackdown on what President Donald Trump calls a crime epidemic. But that depiction appears to run counter to the fact that crime rates overall have shrunk in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That disconnect, combined with the troop concentration near the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and in view of the U.S. Capitol, highlights criticism by the city's Democratic leaders that this massive deployment is more a show of power by Trump, rather than a serious effort to fight crime. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said this week she did not think the arrival of troops was about tackling crime. She also expressed concern about the presence of "an armed militia in the nation's capital." The soldiers seen by Reuters on Thursday were not armed, but the Pentagon said on Friday the troops will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons. By contrast with central Washington, residents of Ward 8 in the city's southeast - the area with the highest crime rate - said there was not a guardsman in sight. With the ward's murder rate dwarfing that of most other neighborhoods, many locals said they would welcome troops on their streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I haven't seen any. This is where they need to be," said Shawana Turner, 50, a housing case manager on a Ward 8 street. The Joint Task Force for the District of Columbia, which is leading the crime crackdown, said where National Guard troops are deployed is based on requests from law enforcement agencies. Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said teams of federal law enforcement officials are making arrests in Washington's highest crime areas every night. "The National Guard is not making arrests at this time, their role is to protect federal assets - including law enforcement officers - and provide a visible law enforcement presence," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The troops are one element of a surge of local and federal law enforcement agents in Washington, including the FBI, who have conducted active arrest operations since Trump announced earlier this month that he was federalizing law enforcement responsibility in Washington. RARE DEPLOYMENTS Deploying troops on American streets is rare and controversial. National Guard have been sent to Washington in recent years, to help bolster security at presidential inaugurations and during protests, including the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. But the city's declining crime rate, coupled with the limited involvement of the troops in crime fighting, has raised questions about the political motivations behind the current deployment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Randy Manner, a retired National Guard major general, said he believed the deployment is a step towards Trump sending National Guard troops into other Democratic-led cities. "Not in our lifetimes has a president said that I'm going to use uniformed soldiers to reduce crime," Manner told Reuters. "There will be soldiers in other cities in the not-too-distant future. We're turning this into a militarized environment, and it's extremely sad." During a visit to a police base in Washington on Thursday, Trump said his law enforcement crackdown will "go onto other places." Earlier this month Trump suggested he could shift his focus to cities including Chicago and New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, the presence of the guard in the heart of Washington was welcomed by some visitors. As troops on the National Mall mingled with tourists from the U.S. and abroad, a group of guardsmen from Mississippi were walking alongside Anu Pokharel, his wife, and two daughters aged 8 and 5. The software engineer, 43, who lived in Washington in the 1990s, was visiting the city with his family from Boston. He said he supported the deployment. "It feels cleaner and safer," he said. PRINTED STATEMENTS As they strolled around central Washington, some soldiers told Reuters that they did not expect to get involved in arrests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specialist Nevaeh Lekanudos, part of West Virginia's National Guard, was outside a Metro station in the National Mall with several fellow guard members. She said she had not assisted in crime incidents or arrests. Asked if she thought that is likely, she said, "Honestly at this rate I don't believe so." She added by being deployed in the National Mall, "it frees up the local law enforcement to do what they need to do." Reuters spoke to 20 National Guard members, from West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Governors from two other Republican-led states, Ohio and Louisiana, have also sent National Guard troops at Trump's request. Most of the soldiers told Reuters they had been instructed not to talk to the press. Instead they had all been issued with a printed statement they produced from their pockets. It states that they are in the city to support "district and federal law enforcement by keeping DC beautiful and safe." (Reporting by Tim Reid in Washington. Additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Frank McGurty and Alistair Bell) US President Donald Trump praised a newly passed Texas electoral map Saturday as a "tremendous opportunity" to help his Republican Party retain control of Congress in next year's midterm elections. Texas legislators overnight gave final approval to the redistricting effort engineered to create five new Republican leaning seats, as the state senate voted along party lines to pass the map 18-11, following more than eight hours of heated debate. Last week the state legislature's lower chamber adopted the bill, after Democrats delayed the votes for weeks by denying Republicans a quorum to do legislative business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform, said the new map "will give the wonderful people of Texas the tremendous opportunity to elect 5 new MAGA Republicans in the 2026 Midterm Elections A HUGE VICTORY for our America First Agenda." Governor Gregg Abbott said he would swiftly sign the bill into law. Democratic Senator Carol Alvarado's last-ditch plans to filibuster the map were thwarted when Republicans used a rare procedural motion to halt debate, end the filibuster, and proceed directly to the final vote. Fellow Democrat Sarah Eckhardt said shutting down a filibuster was "unprecedented." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not democracy, this is disgraceful," she posted on X. The vote caps weeks of dramatic political theater that saw Democratic lawmakers flee the state in July to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass the redistricting plan, and drew nationwide attention to partisan redistricting, known as gerrymandering. - California countermove - The Democrats claim the new electoral map dilutes the votes of African-American and Hispanic electorates who usually vote for them. The Texas Senate Democratic Caucus said Friday on X that the state "has a shameful history of racial discrimination. These maps are just the latest entry in that history." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That stance echoed in the floor debate. Democratic Senator Borris Miles denounced Republican complicity in "racist actions," saying the new map "does not reflect the truth of Texas, but instead manipulates and whitewashes it." Speaking on the floor, Republican Phil King was clear about the redistricting effort: "I'm convinced that if Texas does not take this action, that there is an extreme risk that the Republican majority will be lost." The cutthroat political gambit spurred California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, to launch a process for redrawing his state's map -- this time creating five potentially new seats for Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If Texas wants to play hardball, we'll play hardball right back," Newsom said in announcing the California initiative. Although Newsom hopes to cancel out the Republicans' advantages gained in Texas, his plan still requires voter approval in an election this November. Both parties are now looking to other states where the rules might allow hasty redrawing of maps in ways that would create more seats. Beyond Texas, Trump encouraged Florida, Indiana and Missouri to redraw their maps to Republican advantage. The redistricting battle adds a volatile and high-stakes new element to next year's elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans currently control the US Senate and the House of Representatives. Beleaguered Democrats hope the unpopularity of many of Trump's policies will help flip the House. If Democrats did win, they would immediately gain power to investigate Trump and his controversial government members. sms/abs/dw/mlm The Trump administration halted construction on a nearly complete offshore wind project near Rhode Island as the White House continues to attack the battered U.S. offshore wind industry that scientists say is crucial to the urgent fight against climate change. Danish wind farm developer Orsted says the Revolution Wind project is about 80% complete, with 45 out of its 65 turbines already installed. Despite that progress and the fact that the project had cleared years of federal and state reviews the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued the order Friday, saying the federal government needs to review the project and address concerns related to the protection of national security interests of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It did not specify what the national security concerns are. President Donald Trump has made sweeping strides to prioritize fossil fuels and hinder renewable energy projects. Trump recently called wind and solar power THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY! in a social media post and vowed not to approve wind or farmer destroying Solar projects. The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!! he wrote on his Truth Social site this week. Scientists across the globe agree that nations need to rapidly embrace renewable energy to stave off the worst effects of climate change, including extreme heat and drought; larger, more intense wildfires and supercharged hurricanes, typhoons and rainstorms that lead to catastrophic flooding. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee criticized the stop-work order and said he and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont will pursue every avenue to reverse the decision to halt work on Revolution Wind in a post on X. Both governors are Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction on Revolution Wind began in 2023, and the project was expected to be fully operational next year. Orsted says it is evaluating the financial impact of stopping construction and is considering legal proceedings. Revolution Wind is located more than 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of the Rhode Island coast, 32 miles (51 kilometers) southeast of the Connecticut coast and 12 miles (19 kilometers) southwest of Marthas Vineyard. Rhode Island is already home to one offshore wind farm, the five-turbine Block Island Wind Farm. Revolution Wind was expected to be Rhode Island and Connecticuts first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than 350,000 homes. The densely populated states have minimal space available for land-based energy projects, which is why the offshore wind project is considered crucial for the states to meet their climate goals. This arbitrary decision defies all logic and reason Revolution Winds project was already well underway and employed hundreds of skilled tradesmen and women. This is a major setback for a critical project in Connecticut, and I will fight it, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wind power is the largest source of renewable energy in the U.S. and provides about 10% of the electricity generated in the nation. Today, the U.S. has only one fully operational large-scale offshore wind project producing power. That is not enough to meet Americas rising energy needs. We need more energy of all types, including oil and gas, wind, and new and emerging technologies, said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, a group that supports offshore oil, gas and wind. Green Oceans, a nonprofit that opposes the offshore wind industry, applauded the BOEMs decision. We are grateful that the Trump Administration and the federal government are taking meaningful action to preserve the fragile ocean environment off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the nonprofit said in a statement. This is the second major offshore wind project the White House has halted. Work was stopped on Empire Wind, a New York offshore wind project, but construction was allowed to resume after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, intervened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This administration has it exactly backwards. Its trying to prop up clunky, polluting coal plants while doing all it can to halt the fastest growing energy sources of the future solar and wind power," said Kit Kennedy, managing director for the power division at Natural Resources Defense Council, in a statement. Unfortunately, every American is paying the price for these misguided decisions. ___ Reporter Jennifer McDermott contributed from Providence, Rhode Island, and Matthew Daly contributed from Washington. ___ 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. The Trump administration opened an immigrant detention site at a former Japanese internment camp in Texas, leading to condemnation from politicians, advocacy groups, and descendants of survivors of the WWII-era program. Fort Bliss, a military base headquartered in El Paso, is slated to be the site of the largest federal detention center in the country. It currently holds around 1,000 detainees, but it is expected to eventually hold 5,000. Costing more than $1 billion in private contracts, it has also been used as a base for deportation flights. The camp is reminiscent of Alligator Alcatraz, the Florida immigration detention facility that is slated to be shut down soon, per a judges order. Like Alligator Alcatraz, this makeshift tent facility forces detainees to endure soaring temperatures, risking heat-related illnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett said in a press release that there were disturbing parallels with Japanese internment at Fort Bliss. Texas knows this history all too well, and we refuse to let it happen again, she said. The detention center at Fort Bliss known as Camp East Montana, which Republicans are calling Lone Star Lockup, is a calculated move to militarize immigration enforcement, reduce transparency, and fast-track deportations with minimal accountability, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Fort Bliss previously held up to 91 people of Japanese, German, and Italian descent in 1942 during World War II according to the Densho Encyclopedia, which chronicles the history of Japanese internment during the war. The facility had two compounds surrounded by barbed wire with guard towers. Generally those held at the U.S. Army facilities were first-generation Japanese Americans detained early in World War II and who were then processed and shipped to other internment camps, Derrek Tomine, president of the National Japanese American Historical Society, told NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the Pearl Harbor attack, the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration detained more than 120,000 people of Japanese descent in internment camps, many of whom were U.S. citizens. Roosevelt invoked the Alien Enemies Act, which Trump also invoked to send alleged Venezuelan gang members to a torture prison in El Salvador. The use of national security rhetoric to justify mass incarceration today echoes the same logic that led to their forced removal and incarceration, Ann Burroughs, president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum, told NBC News. It is inconceivable that the United States is once again building concentration camps, denying the lessons learned 80 years ago, she added. Its important to look to this past to maybe try to understand whats going on in the present and what the end results could be, Brian Niiya, a historian and content director at Densho, told USA Today. His grandfather, the editor of a Japanese language newspaper, was held in six internment camps during WWII. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fort Bliss has an extensive history. About 4,500 Mexican refugees were incarcerated at the base during the Mexican Revolution in 1914 as well. In 2021, the Biden administration used Fort Bliss to house unaccompanied children who arrived at the Southern border. In 2022, a government investigation found that children experienced distress and panic attacks as they waited weeks for updates from their case managers. The Department of Homeland Security pushed back against Camp East Montana being compared to Japanese internment camps. Comparisons of illegal alien detention centers to internment camps used during World War II are deranged and lazy, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We demand the immediate closure of Camp East Montana, Samantha Singleton, policy director of the Border Network for Human Rights, told The Guardian. The ACLU pointed to the fact that this detention facility gets the military more involved in the Trump administrations immigration policy. The new camp, the group said, marks dangerous expansion of militarized immigration enforcement. It is a cruel, reckless, and costly operation launched with little input from local communities or elected leaders, wrote Haddy Gassama, Senior Policy Counsel at the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU. This is the Trump administrations test case to see whether it can quietly convert military resources into tools for mass detention and deportation. It was a miscarriage of justice then, and it is a miscarriage of justice now, Burroughs, of the Japanese American National Museum, told NBC News. 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. President Trump on Saturday reupped his support for Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), just hours after the state legislature advanced new congressional maps that could give the GOP up to five more seats in the House during next years midterms. Trump lauded Patrick as a terrific and powerful lieutenant governor and incredible friend to his Make America Great Again movement. The president also praised Patrick for his work to help shepherd the Lone Star States redistricting proposal across the finish line. Dans leadership was pivotal in the passage of the new, fair, and much improved, Congressional Map, that will give the wonderful people of Texas the tremendous opportunity to elect 5 new MAGA Republicans in the 2026 Midterm Elections A HUGE VICTORY for our America First Agenda, he wrote on Truth Social. In his next Term, Dan will continue to fight tirelessly alongside of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, A True Friend to MAGA from the very beginning, Dan Patrick has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! The Texas Senate passed redistricting legislation early Saturday after Democrats in the chamber were unsuccessful in delaying the vote. Democrats in the state have vowed to fight back, even as the maps head to the governors desk. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said in a social media post that he looks forward to signing the legislation. The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate. Despite Democrats petty stunts, we delivered on our promise, he wrote on social platform X following the vote. This map reflects Texans actual voting preferences, and I look forward to signing it into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drawing new congressional lines is just the tip of the iceberg, Abbott wrote in a separate post. The iceberg itself, which will change elections across America, is the fact that crazy leftist policies by Democrats are causing more Americans to flee Democrats and vote Republican. The state House advanced the bill on Wednesday after Democrats who fled the state to delay the vote returned sending it back to the upper chamber. Trump celebrated the movement as a big win ahead of the 2026 midterms, adding that Texas never lets us down. The mid-decade redrawing of lines has flooded national headlines, triggering multiple states to eye their own redistricting efforts, including California, Illinois, New York, Indiana and Missouri. Golden State Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) earlier this week signed bills that could counteract the additional seats Republicans stand to gain with the new Texas maps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrick defended GOP redistricting efforts in an early August interview, saying Republicans deserve more seats in Congress because the Lone Star State is a red state. He also criticized the Democrats who fled the state to delay votes. I challenge them: Come back and do the right thing. Dont run and hide because youve lost touch with the voters, he told Fox Newss Sean Hannity earlier this month. Their problem are not redistricting lines, he added. Their problem, Sean, is theyve lost the minds of their voters, who are moving toward the Republican Party all over 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 The Hill. 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. Editors Note: Washington Week With The Atlantic is a partnership between NewsHour Productions, WETA, and The Atlantic airing every Friday on PBS stations nationwide. Check your local listings, watch full episodes here, or listen to the weekly podcast here. This week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard removed the security clearances from 37 former and current intelligence officials, including those with expertise on Russian election interference. Meanwhile, former National Security Adviser John Boltons home was raided. Panelists on Washington Week With The Atlantic joined last night to discuss the potential implications of the Trump administrations actions on national security, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tulsi Gabbard came in early on talking about trying to de-politicize the intelligence community, Matt Viser, the White House bureau chief at The Washington Post, said last night. But her latest decisions, among others, gives the sense of political retribution. Joining the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss this and more: Laura Barron-Lopez, a White House correspondent at MSBNC; Jonathan Karl, the chief Washington correspondent at ABC News; Michael Scherer, a staff writer at The Atlantic; and Viser, the White House bureau chief at The Washington Post. Watch the full episode here. Article originally published at The Atlantic A Salvadoran migrant whose case became a flashpoint for the Trump administration could be one of the first people it deports to Uganda. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 30, became a cause celebre after he was mistakenly sent to El Salvador in March. After weeks in a jail there, he was returned to the US, where he was then charged with people smuggling offences. He was released on bail on Friday, after refusing a deal to plead guilty to the charges in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, and immigration officials have said they now intend to deport him to Uganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His lawyers have accused the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement of punishing their client for exercising his constitutional rights. Agencies accused of coercion These two agencies are obviously working in lockstep to coerce Mr Garcia into accepting a guilty plea in his criminal case, holding over his head the prospect of possible indefinite detention or worse in a country halfway across the world, they wrote in court documents filed on Saturday. It is difficult to imagine a path the government could have taken that would have better emphasised its vindictiveness. Last week, it emerged that Uganda had become the latest third nation to agree to accept deportees from the US, following South Sudan, Kosovo, Rwanda, Costa Rica, and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Ugandan ministers suggested the deal would be limited to people from African nations and would not include anyone linked to violent gangs. Donald Trumps administration has accused Kilmar Abrego Garcia of being a gang member and he faces charges of people trafficking - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters The latest twist reignites a case that served as a focal point for protests against Donald Trumps immigration crackdown. An immigration judge in 2019 rejected Mr Garcias asylum request but ruled he could not be deported to El Salvador because of the danger he faced from gangs in the Central American country. That meant the construction worker, who came to the US illegally as a teenager and lived with his family in Maryland, could live and work legally in the US. Despite that, he was caught up in a new deportation push in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration admitted his removal was down to an administrative error. But it went on to accuse him of being a member of the notorious MS-13 street gang, which he has consistently denied. And when a court order eventually mandated his return to the US, the DoJ charged him with unlawful transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain based on a 2022 traffic stop when he was found to have nine passengers in his car. Prosecutors allege he made $100,000 per year illegally transporting migrants across the country. Charges politically motivated Mr Garcia, a father of three whose lawyers say he has no criminal convictions either in El Salvador or the US, has pleaded not guilty. His supporters say he was let go with a warning after the 2022 traffic stop, and the charges now are politically motivated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courts said he was eligible for pretrial release, but he stayed in jail on the advice of his lawyers, who feared he would be immediately deported. That changed with a ruling in another case that required immigration officials to give him time to mount a defence. His release infuriated Mr Trumps top allies. Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, slammed activist liberal judges for permitting it. By ordering this monster loose on Americas streets, this judge has shown a complete disregard for the safety of the American people, she posted on social media. We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson ANS Prasad on Saturday took a jibe at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, saying that the "political actor" was devoid of ideology and was operating solely for electoral gains. "It has become abundantly clear that actor Vijay is operating as a political actor, mimicking Naam Tamilar Party leader Seeman (Sebastian Simon), devoid of principles or ideology, solely for electoral gains and vote-bank politics," Prasad said in a statement. Hitting out at Vijay for his "I am the ocean, and voice of the common man" remarks, the BJP leader argued that the actor-turned-politician had a lot to study, from Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural (a Tamil classic, essentially about ethical living) to Babasaheb Ambedkar's life history, for him to evolve into a genuine politician, who could serve the people of Tamil Nadu. "The water of the ocean is not suitable for drinking. If Vijay studies the aforementioned texts, his arrogant notion of being an "ocean" as an actor will be purified, transforming his politics into potable water that benefits the people of Tamil Nadu. He must understand this, realise it, and evolve into a genuine politician," Prasad said. Intensifying his attack, the BJP leader said that Vijay's actions are driven by a desire for power politics and a dream to become Chief Minister and were unfolding in a manner that deceives the people of Tamil Nadu. "His speech in Madurai was filled with heroic dialogues, felt like watching a political film rather than a genuine political discourse," Prasad said, adding, "Vijay's premature imagination of becoming Chief Minister, his immature political conduct is condemnable. His disrespectful references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'Mr PM' and Chief Minister Stalin as 'Uncle' are utterly unacceptable to the people of Tamil Nadu, who will never tolerate such derogatory and boundary-less speech." "Merely praising leaders like Anna, MGR, and Vijayakanth, or invoking the names of leaders who sacrificed for Tamil Nadu while also displaying images of EV Ramasamy, who betrayed Tamil Nadu, without studying their lives, sacrifices, or the people's struggles, exposes Vijay's vote-bank politics as a mere act, now brought to light," he added. On Thursday, Vijay set the tone for the forthcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, asserting that his party's "ideological enemy" was the BJP while the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) remains its "political enemy". While addressing a mega rally in Tamil Nadu's Madurai, Vijay said that the contest in the 2026 assembly elections would be between the ruling DMK and his party, TVK. "Our priority is the safety of women, elders and children. Our government would be friendly to whoever needs special attention, like farmers, youths, transgender people, the elderly without care, and people with physical disabilities. TVK is not a party that was established solely for political benefits. Our only ideological enemy is the BJP and our only political enemy is the DMK," Vijay asserted. Vijay also hit out at the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for allying with the BJP, terming it a "slave alliance". "Having power in hand and to cheat people, you have a fascist BJP slave alliance," Vijay said, adding, "TVK is not a party that makes underground deals, forges alliances, and cheats the people. We are not afraid of anyone. The people of Tamil Nadu, the women, and the youth stand with us." He also accused DMK of being in a secret alliance with the BJP. The actor-turned-politician lambasted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over the law and order situation in the state. "Uncle Stalin, if you have a conscience, please answer the questions we are asking. In the government you are running, is there honesty? Is it free from corruption? Is law and order being maintained properly? Are women and the general public safe? Tell us, my dear uncle, tell us," Vijay said. (ANI) By: Alison Patton COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) President Donald Trump on Thursday morning on Truth Social praised Missouri Republicans for talking about redistricting. No official plans have made yet, but a spokesperson from Gov. Mike Kehoe's office said the governor and lawmakers are considering options for a special session. Kehoe had publicly backed the idea earlier this month. As these discussions continue, I am confident the Senate will be prepared to act when the time comes," Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin (R-Shelbina) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri has six Republicans and two Democratic representatives in the U.S. House. Missouri Republicans, with the backing of the Trump Administration, want to redistrict the current congressional map, and split the Democratic pocket of Kansas City. Doing that would take a seat from the Democrats, leaving Missouri with a potential for up to seven Republicans representing the state in the house. This one seat out of the 435 seats in the House might seem insignificant, but it could improve the Republican's odds, said Charles Zug, who is a political science professor at the University of Missouri. Republicans hold a slim majority in the House. Based on history, the incumbent party typically loses some seats during the next election, Zug said. The other element that gets added to this mix is other states redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Majority-Republican Texas and majority-Democratic California have advanced ideas of redrawing their districts. Zug indicated both states could see as many as five additional seats added to their majority party's total. If both states are successful, then the opposing parties are back at equilibrium, Zug said. Zug said he thinks Missouri will wait to see what happens between those two states before doing anything. State Rep. Adrian Plank (D-Columbia) said he thinks Kehoe will wait until at least after the veto session on Sept. 10. Plank, and most Democrats, are opposed to redistricting. "What happens with redistricting, especially in a way they're trying to do it now, is they're trying to pick their voters instead of the voters pick their representation, Plank said. A number of protesters voiced their opinions against redistricting at an event this past Saturday outside the Missouri Capitol. An ABC 17 News poll from Aug. 5 found 81% of respondents were against the idea. President Donald Trump praised DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for moving to paint the entire southern border wall black, saying it will increase the walls effectiveness, making it "untouchable" for would-be illegal immigrants. Speaking to the press in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said, "I didn't know she was listening" when he suggested the wall should be black. "So, I turn on last night, and I see Kristi is painting the wall. And it looked beautiful, by the way, when that paint went on. It's beautiful," he said. "It's hot. If it's white, its not hot. If it's black, it's going to be very hard to climb that sucker." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president also touted the walls quality, saying, "I built the same wall that the Border Patrol asked me to build," consisting of high-grade steel, reinforced with thick rebar and 9,000-pound concrete. Rubio Pauses Worker Visas For Truck Drivers After Deadly Florida Crash Involving Illegal Immigrant Kills 3 President Donald Trump visits the U.S.-Mexico border fence in Otay Mesa, Calif., Sept. 18, 2019. Noem announced Tuesday the entire southern border wall will be painted black as part of the Trump administrations efforts to improve the effectiveness of the wall as a deterrent. Read On The Fox News App Speaking in front of a portion of the southern border wall in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, Noem explained that the wall would be painted entirely black for the dual purposes of making it heat up more and harder to climb and preserving metal from rust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem credited the "one big, beautiful bill" passed by Congress in July for allocating "an incredible amount of resources" that she said is "going to allow us to continue construction" of the wall, which she said is advancing at a pace of about half a mile of new wall per day. The secretary explained that the new paintwork comes "specifically at the request of the president, who understands that in the hot temperatures down here, when something is painted black, it gets even warmer, and it will make it even harder for people to climb." Dhs Secretary Reveals Why Border Wall Is Being Painted Black DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the entire southern border wall will be painted black as part of the Trump administrations efforts to improve border security. "So, we are going to be painting the entire southern border wall black to make sure that we encourage individuals to not come into our country illegally, to not break our federal laws, but that they will abide and come to our country the right way so that they can stay and have the opportunity to become United States citizens and pursue the American dream," said Noem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at the White House Friday, Trump recalled the moment he told Noem, "We got to get a coat of paint on it." "And I didn't know she was listening, but I said, 'We got to get a coat of paint, and it should be black because black makes the steel very hot. It's untouchable,'" he explained. "You could fry an egg on it, and if you got a good, black, flat paint, it would look beautiful, and it will preserve it from rust. And that was it, and I gave it to her along with 30 other things." Sanctuary Cities Defy Bondis Deadline To Cooperate: No Intention Of Changing This aerial picture taken Dec. 8, 2023, shows the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Sasabe, Arizona. Turning to Noem, who was in the room beside him, Trump asked, "Is that going to be a two-coat job or one coat?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Just one coat," Noem replied. The president quipped back, "The two-coat [job] will take place in three years from now. We'll do the second. "But it looks beautiful," he added. "But thank you very much. I didn't know you were listening. Like, we talked about seven different subjects. And all of a sudden, I see you're out there painting with a lot of painters and everything else, but it was a beautiful thing to see." Original article source: Trump praises Noem for making border wall untouchable with new upgrade Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has become the latest target of President Donald Trumps ire, as he looks to strong-arm the central banking system out from under Chair Jerome Powells control. Yet according to Trump biographer Michael Wolff, his disdain for Cook, the first African American woman and first woman of color to sit on the Fed Board, are the tip of an iceberg of bias the MAGA figurehead has held against Black women. I spent the last two years, more than two years, deeply involved with Trumps campaign, Wolff told the Daily Beasts podcast Inside Trumps Head. One of the motifs that was pervasive in the campaign was Trumps attitude toward Black women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Trumps headWolff allegedCook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Atlanta prosecutor Fani Willis, and January 6 case presiding Judge Tanya Chutkin are all the same fat Black women out to get him. President Donald Trump said he will fire Lisa Cook, member of the Board of Governors of the US Federal Reserve, if she doesnt resign. / SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images This had particular and special meaning: Black women were coming after him. And that shortly became, in his rendition of this, fat Black women, said Wolff. The personal animus here, the personal revulsion on Trumps part, the personal fear This was essentially on a daily basis. People around him would call me up and say, up, another fat Black woman. Trump-appointed Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte alleged that Cook had falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud, in a criminal letter posted online to Attorney General Pam Bondi. Here is the Criminal Referral Letter on Lisa Cook, the current Fed Governor. pic.twitter.com/aG0LGnokei Pulte (@pulte) August 20, 2025 However, Cook, a Biden administration appointee, has brushed off Pultes claims, writing in a Wednesday statement that she has no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some questions raised in a tweet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cook added that she takes any questions about my financial history seriously as a member of the Federal Reserve and so I am gathering the accurate information to answer any legitimate questions and provide the facts. Yet Trump has already run with Pultes allegations, treating them as fact, and harnessing them to wage war against the Federal Reserves credibility. What she did was bad, the president told reporters Friday after being asked about Cook. So Ill fire her if she doesnt resign. President Trump has previously described NY Attorney General Letitia James as a criminal who should be forced to resign! / Spencer Platt / Getty Images Trump has similarly looked to tear down James credibility after she successfully brought a civil fraud lawsuit against him for inflating his finances for years to secure favorable loan terms. A New York judge ordered him to pay $500 million in penalties with interest, but an appeals court overturned that verdict Friday, Newsweek reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the state, wrote Judges Dianne Renwick and Peter Moulton in ruling on the appeal. Donald Trump holds up a news story about New York Attorney General Letitia James after being hit with a civil fraud lawsuit. / Spencer Platt / Getty Images Trump celebrated by attacking James in several morning Truth Social posts, calling James a criminal who should be forced to resign! Trump added in a victory lap post, Big win today against the totally corrupt and incompetent New York State Attorney General, Leticia [sic] James, and her equally incompetent, hand picked, New York State Judge. The 5 to 0 Verdict from the Appellate Division helps greatly to save the status and reputation of the New York Judicial System. In a similar fashion, Trump and all of MAGA celebrated when Willis was tossed from an election interference case brought after Trump lost the 2020 election. In a celebratory interview at the time, Trump told Fox News that the whole case has been a disgrace to justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, There is no way such corrupt people can lead a case, and then it gets taken over by somebody else. Fani Willis was removed from the election interference case against Donald Trump. / ALEX SLITZ / POOL/AFP via Getty Images The guardrails appear to be completely off as Trump consolidates power in his second term, said Wolff. Again, were in an entirely new world here, he said. Of Trumps attacks against Cook, Wolff called it obviously racism. He added, But this is obvious. I want to go beyond that and say this is an obvious pathology. Its an obsession of his. It lives. One of his staffers said to me, He must dream about fat Black women. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung has repeatedly lashed out at author Michael Wolff. / Marco Bello/REUTERS White House Communications Director Steven Cheung ripped Wolffs claims as lies in his now customary statement to the Daily Beast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Wolff is a lying sack of s--t and has been proven to be a fraud, Cheung said. He routinely fabricates stories originating from his sick and warped imagination, only possible because he has a severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his peanut-sized brain. New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast are released every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Follow our new feed on your favorite podcast platform at beast.pub/dailybeastpod and subscribe on YouTube to watch full episodes. Donald Trump ran on a promise to use the powers of the government for revenge against those he believed wronged him. He now appears to be fulfilling that campaign promise while threatening to expand his powers well beyond Washington. On Friday, the FBI searched the home of John Bolton, Trumps first-term national security adviser-turned-critic, who last week in an interview called the administration the retribution presidency. Donald Trump's team has opened investigations of Democrat Letitia James, the New York attorney general who sued Trumps company over alleged fraud for falsifying records, and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who as a congressman led Trump's first impeachment. The Republican administration has charged Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., over her actions at an immigration protest in Newark, New Jersey, after arresting Mayor Ras Baraka, also a Democrat. Under investigation, too, is former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a candidate for New York City mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has directed prosecutors to investigate two other members of his first administration: Miles Taylor, who wrote a book warning of what he said were Trumps authoritarian tendencies, and Chris Krebs, who earned the presidents wrath for assuring voters that the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden, was secure. The actions look like the payback Trump said he would pursue after being hit with four separate sets of criminal charges during his four years out of office. Those included an indictment for his effort to overturn the 2020 election that was gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court, which said presidents have broad immunity from prosecution for official acts while in office. Joe Biden weaponized his administration to target political opponents most famously, President Trump," Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said Saturday. Trump, she said, "is restoring law and order. In addition to making good on his promises of retribution, Trump has deployed the military into American cities to fight crime or help with immigration arrests. He has sent thousands of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officers to patrol the streets in the nation's capital, after activating the Guard and Marines in Los Angeles earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taken together, the actions have alarmed Democrats and others who fear Trump is wielding the authority of his office to intimidate his political opponents and consolidate power in a way that is unprecedented in American history. You combine the threat of prosecution with armed troops in the streets, said Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist at Dartmouth College. The picture is pretty clear for anyone whos read a history book what kind of administration were dealing with. Past election investigations are a Trump focus Trump began his second term by pardoning more than 1,500 people who were convicted of crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His Justice Department, meanwhile, has fired some federal prosecutors who had pursued those cases. Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered a grand jury to look into the origins of the investigation of his 2016 campaigns ties with Russia, and Trump has called on her department to investigate former Democratic President Barack Obama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government's watchdog agency has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the special prosecutor who investigated Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the classified documents stashed at his Florida estate. Those cases were among several that dogged Trump in the years between his presidential terms, including the New York fraud case and charges for election interference in Georgia brought by the Democratic prosecutor in Fulton County. All those investigations led him to claim that Democrats had weaponized the government against him. It is amazing to me the number of people the Trump administration has gone after, all of whom are identified by the fact that they investigated or criticized Trump in one way or another, said Stephen Saltzburg, a former Justice Department official who is a George Washington University law professor. On Friday, Trump used governmental powers in other ways to further his goals. He announced that Chicago could be the next city subject to military deployments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And after his housing director alleged that one of the governors of the independent Federal Reserve had committed mortgage fraud, Trump demanded she resign or be fired. He took to his social platform on Saturday to highlight the claims, as he tries to wrest control of the central bank. Trump sees himself as the chief law enforcement officer Vice President JD Vance denied in a television interview that Bolton was being targeted because of his criticism of Trump. If theres no crime here, were not going to prosecute it, Vance told NBC's Meet the Press on Friday. Trump said he told his staff not to inform him about the Bolton search ahead of time, but he stressed that he has authority over all prosecutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I could know about it. I could be the one starting it, the president told reporters. Im actually the chief law enforcement officer. Bolton occupies a special place in the ranks of Trump critics. The longtime GOP foreign policy hawk wrote a book published in 2020, after Trump had fired him the year before. The first Trump administration sued to block the book's release and opened a grand jury investigation, both of which were halted by the Biden administration. Bolton landed on a list of 60 former officials drawn up by now-FBI Director Kash Patel that he portrayed as a tally of the Executive Branch Deep State. Critics warned it was an enemies list. When Trump returned to office in January, his administration revoked the security detail that had been assigned to Bolton, who faced Iranian assassination threats. The FBI is now investigating Bolton for potentially mishandling classified information, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly. In contrast, Trump condemned the FBIs search of his own Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retribution is wide-ranging, from judges to the military Trump has also targeted institutions that have defied him. The president issued orders barring several law firms that were involved in litigation against him or his allies, or had hired his opponents, from doing business with the federal government. Trump cut deals with several other firms to do free legal work rather than face penalties. He has targeted universities for funding cuts if they do not follow his administrations directives. His administration filed a judicial misconduct complaint against a judge who ruled that Trump officials likely committed criminal contempt by ignoring his directive to turn around planes carrying people being sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actions are among steps that seem to be intensifying. Trump's defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has fired several military leaders perceived to be critics of the president or not sufficiently loyal, and earlier this week the administration revoked the security clearances of about three dozen current and former national security officials. Its what he promised, said Justin Levitt, a former Justice Department official and Biden White House staffer who is a law professor at Loyola Marymount University. Its what bullies do when no one tells them No. ___ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. Welcome back to World Brief, where were looking at expanding U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court, Chinese President Xi Jinpings rare trip to Tibet, and the terms of the EU-U.S. trade deal. Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday. Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday. Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enter your email Sign Up Loading... Signed Up Flagrant Attack The Trump administration on Wednesday intensified its crusade against the International Criminal Court (ICC) by imposing sanctions on four officials, including two prosecutors and two judges. The new U.S. sanctions amount to an expansion of the Trump administrations ongoing campaign against the Hague-based court, which is the worlds first global war crimes tribunal. In its announcement of the sanctions, the State Department railed against what it described as the ICCs transgressions against the United States and Israel, citing the courts prior investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and its decision to issue arrest warrants for top Israeli officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ICC continues to disregard national sovereignty and facilitate lawfare through efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, and prosecute American and Israeli nationals, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X on Wednesday. We will continue to hold accountable those responsible for the ICCs morally bankrupt and legally baseless actions against Americans and Israelis. The four targeted individuals arent the first ICC officials to face U.S. sanctions since Trumps return to office. Earlier this year, the United States also sanctioned the courts chief prosecutor and four other judges, freezing any of their U.S. assets and prohibiting them from entering the United States. U.S. President Donald Trumps beef with the U.N.-backed court stretches back to his first term in office. During the first Trump presidency, the ICC launched an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by U.S. troops and intelligence officers in Afghanistaninfuriating Trump and sparking an initial round of U.S. sanctions. The ICCs recent actions against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have only added more fuel to the fire. Last year, the court issued arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas officialsincluding Netanyahuciting alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Netanyahu, for his part, called the allegations absurd and false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since neither the United States nor Israel have ratified the 2002 Rome Statute, which underpins the ICC, the Trump administration has accused the court of attempting to infringe upon U.S. sovereignty. But both Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories are party to the Rome Statute, which the ICC says authorizes it to investigate alleged crimes in their borders. The ICC condemned the latest sanctions, calling them a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution. The relentless intensification of U.S. reprisals against international institutions and their personnel must stop, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said on Thursday. Sanctioning judges and prosecutors at national, regional or international levels, for fulfilling their mandate in accordance with international law standards, is an assault on the rule of law and corrodes justice. Todays Most Read Trump Has No Idea How to Do Diplomacy by Stephen M. Walt Can India and the U.S. Repair Their Relationship? by Rudra Chaudhuri Why Steve Witkoff Is Trumps Master of Disaster by Christian Caryl What Were Following Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tightening grip. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare trip to Tibet this week to mark the 60th anniversary of Tibets contested establishment as a Chinese autonomous region. The two-day trip was designed to tighten Beijings grip at a pivotal moment: The 14th Dalai Lama, the exiled Buddhist and spiritual leader of Tibet, recently turned 90 and confirmed that he will have a successor in accordance with tradition. That will likely pave the way for a succession fight with Beijing, which argues that only China can select the next Tibetan Buddhist leader. In Lhasa, Xi told officials that Tibetan Buddhism must be tailored to Chinas socialist system and said that Tibetans must use more standard Chinese. Tibetan affairs are Chinas internal affairs, and no external forces are permitted to interfere, senior Chinese Communist Party leader Wang Huning declared to a crowd in Lhasa. All schemes to split the motherland and undermine stability in Tibet are doomed to fail. New trade terms. Nearly one month after the United States and the European Union announced they struck a trade deal, the agreements exact terms are coming to light. In July, both parties agreed that the EU would broadly face a 15 percent tariff rate, commit at least $600 billion in investments, and make $750 billion worth of U.S. energy purchases. On Thursday, after further negotiations, U.S. and European officials announced more details. Tariffs on Europes pharmaceutical sector, for example, will not exceed 15 percent or add onto other EU-wide tariffs. Once Brussels introduces legislation to lower the rate of industrial tariffs, a 15 percent tariff for European autos and U.S.-bound auto parts will also kick in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the most favorable trade deal the U.S. has extended to any partner, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told reporters on Thursday. A wide range of sectorsincluding strategic industries, such as cars, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumberwill benefit from this cap. Seeking refuge. Guatemala on Wednesday issued temporary humanitarian status to 161 people fleeing organized crime and cartel violence in Mexico. The 161 Mexicans include 39 families and 69 children, according to the Guatemalan Immigration Institute, and will be housed in rented homes, temporary shelters, or by relatives. Guatemala has long been a destination for Mexicans seeking refuge and safety abroad; last July, almost 600 Mexicans fled their home country for Guatemala. Some Mexican officials have rebuffed the idea that those individuals are fleeing the country as a result of crime. In a post on X, Eduardo Ramirez, the governor of the Mexican border state of Chiapas, claimed, without offering evidence, that the 161 Mexicans are related to arrested individuals who are facing criminal charges. The organized crime that operates in the neighboring country of Guatemala wants to discredit our public safety strategy that has given tranquility and social peace in Chiapas, Ramirez wrote. I categorically deny that fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Odds and Ends During last weeks highly watched Trump-Putin summit in Anchorage, Russia gifted one Alaska man an unusual present: a $22,000 Ural motorcycle. Mark Warren, a retired fire inspector, was running errands on his own Ural bike earlier in August when he encountered a Russian television crew. After Warren shared how tough it was to purchase new parts, his interview went viral in Russiaand he later learned that he would soon receive a brand-new bike. The news baffled Warren, who thought it might be a scam. I dropped my jaw, he said. I went, Youve got to be joking me. But they were seriousso long as he agreed to a photograph, interview, and having a cameraman document his first ride. Photo and illustration by Jim Small | Arizona Mirror The vast majority of Arizonans who voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024 cast their ballot by mail a system ushered into existence and expanded by Republican lawmakers in the Grand Canyon State. Trump says he wants to ban it nationwide. Despite calls to ban it from far-right lawmakers, political candidates and their supporters, casting a ballot by mail is the most popular way to vote in Arizona and has been for decades. In the 2024 presidential election, around 75% of voters in the state cast their ballot by mail, even after Trump urged them to head to the polls instead. The number of Trump voters in Arizona who mailed their ballots outstripped those who showed up to the polls on Election Day 2024 by more than 4.5 times, according to data from the Arizona Secretary of States Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social that he planned to rid the country of voting by mail and the machines that count ballots before the 2026 midterms. Later that day, he promised to issue an executive order banning no-excuse mail-in ballots, which he called corrupt. And its time that the Republicans get tough and stop it because the Democrats want it, Trump said. Its the only way they can get elected. Election expert Rick Hasen, director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project and professor of political science at the University of California, Los Angeles, explained earlier this week in a blog post that the president doesnt have the power to do that. The Constitution does not give the President any control over federal elections, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In 1991, it was Republicans who brought no-excuse vote by mail to Arizona, in part as a way to increase turnout when voter apathy was at an all-time high. And the move worked: turnout in the 1988 presidential election in Arizona was 67%, but in jumped to 77% in 1992. Republican Gov. Fife Symington signed the bill into law in July 1991 that allowed voters to request an early ballot without having to provide an excuse. The Republican-controlled Arizona House of Representatives approved the bill 53-0 and the Senate, which had a rare Democratic majority, voted for it 21-9, with opposition from conservative Republicans. Then-Republican National Committeeman Mike Hellon told the Pima County Rotary Club that their vote-by-mail outreach in the 1992 presidential election was so bad that he considered it criminal negligence, according to a Nov. 15, 1992 article in the Arizona Daily Star. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he particularly resented that Democrats cleaned our clock because its our program. The states Republican-controlled legislature continued to vote to expand no-excuse vote by mail over the next two decades, including with the creation of the active early voting list in 2007. The push to eliminate voting by mail is new, and It is only in the past 10 years that far-right Republicans began a true campaign to rid the state of no-excuse voting by mail. And while heading to the polls to cast a ballot in person has become more popular for Republicans during the past two election cycles, the effort to nix early voting by mail has failed to garner mainstream support due to its popularity among Democrat, Republican and independent voters. The most extreme Republicans in the Arizona legislature have tried to pass laws banning no-excuse mail voting since 2020, after Trump falsely claimed that it was rife with fraud and blamed it for his loss that year to Joe Biden. So far those efforts, including a lawsuit from Arizonas most infamous election deniers Kari Lake and Mark Finchem, and bills to change voting laws proposed by members of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, have failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump-backed candidates who lost their elections for statewide office in 2022 were quick to praise Trumps demonization of voting-by-mail on Monday. This is the best news Ive heard in years! Lake, who lost her bid for governor in 2022 and was defeated in the U.S. Senate contest in 2024, posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter. The people demand honest elections. Lake spent the two years following her narrow 2022 loss to Katie Hobbs attempting to convince Arizona courts to overturn the results. President Trump is going to fix our broken election system and I will be there to help all the way, U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh posted on X. Hamadeh lost the race for Arizona Attorney General in 2022 to Democrat Kris Mayes by fewer than 400 votes. He also attempted to overturn the results with a legal challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bryan Blehm, a Scottsdale divorce attorney who represented Lake in her court challenges, and Shelby Busch, an election conspiracy theorist who testified during them, heaped praise on Trump for his demonization of no-excuse voting by mail during a livestream on X Monday. Weve been talking for years about the danger of mail-in ballots, said Busch, the first vice chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Committee. Blehm, who was suspended from practicing law for two months last year for lying to the Arizona Supreme Court on Lakes behalf, went on to claim without evidence that COVID-19 was intentionally released prior to an election year to force more voting by mail. COVID was about solidifying in the United States this very impersonal election system that doesnt allow participation by the citizenry in large scale, Blehm said. But its very heavily dependent upon the bureaucrats and these mail invalid schemes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blehm failed to prove that any fraud or malfeasance took place in the 2022 election for Arizona governor over the course of two trials and numerous appeals, including to the states Supreme Court. The top two Republican candidates gunning to oust Hobbs from the governors office in 2026, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robson, both said they supported Trumps views on mail-in voting. Biggs praised Trump for his promise to end the practice and Robson said she agreed with the president. In 2007, when he was a state representative, Biggs voted for the bill that created the states active early voter list, expanding the use of vote-by-mail. In contrast, numerous current and former state officials and voting rights groups blasted Trumps promise to ban no-excuse vote by mail and defended its use in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Board members of the Democracy Defense Project, including former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon and Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines, all Republicans, pointed out in a joint statement that, as president, Trump doesnt have the power to issue edicts on how elections are run in the states. Our elections are decentralized by design, allowing states and local jurisdictions to operate in the manner that best meets the unique needs of their voters, they said in the statement. The board members said that instead of banning voting by mail, Arizona should focus on making its system more efficient, transparent, and secure. Mail-ballots have long been a secure voting method that Arizona voters have utilized to exercise their constitutional right to vote, they said in the statement. Any changes to the system now could result in decreased voter access and upend our mail-in voting system that has been in place for many decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arizona Rep. Stephanie Simacek, D-Phoenix, said in a statement that putting an end to mail-in voting would disenfranchise millions. The Constitution grants states the authority to set and administer their own elections, which in itself provides our country its own unique form of election security, she said in the statement. Donald Trump plans to undermine that election security for his own benefit with an illegal executive order attempting to ban mail-in voting and voting machines. In a commentary they coauthored for Real Clear Politics this week, Brewer and former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, also a Republican, pointed out that conservatives have long protected the rights of states to set their own rules for elections. Our federal system was intentionally designed to prevent the overreach of centralized power, they wrote. Federal meddling with how states conduct their elections violates this principle and undermines the trust voters place in their local officials. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE First Lady Melania Trump wasnt at the big Ukraine war summit in Alaska between her husband, President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin but she was there in spirit. Trump handed Putin a letter from his wife, appealing to him to remember the innocence of the children caught in the midst of the fighting between Russia and Ukraine, and to put an end to the violence. In todays world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future, the first lady wrote. Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter. But the first ladys signature at the end of the letter, which was shared on social media by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has sparked more social media interest than its content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats because of how similar it looked to the presidents signature Sharpie scrawl. Donald Trump and Melania Trump's signatures. So weird, said one person on X, who shared a side-by-side image of the two. Thats IDENTICAL to Trumps own signature Social media is alight with conspiracy theories about First Lady Melania Trumps signature on a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Getty) Melanias signature on the letter to Putin, handed to him by Trump at last weeks Alaska summit. Melania appealed to him to remember the innocence of the children caught in the midst of the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. (@AGPamBondi/X) Why she have the same sharpie a** signature as Trump? a social media user on X said, referring to the presidents favorite pen. (Getty) Melania has the same type of signature as Trump ... odd ... wrote a Facebook user. Why she have the same sharpie a** signature as Trump? posted another, referring to the presidents favorite pen. No way is that her signature, said another. She didnt write it and Trump signed it, someone else said on Facebook, without evidence. Others questioned why the first ladys signature appears to have changed over the years, with one user asking Elon Musks Grok AI chatbot, Why did Melania Trump change her signature? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melania Trump's signature evolved after her 2005 marriage, shifting from a flowing cursive style (as Melania Knauss) to a peaked, stylized one resembling Donald's, Grok replied. Analysts suggest it's for branding unity, quick signing via autopen or to reflect tenacity and privacy. No official reason given. Melanias handwriting and signature have morphed into Trumps in the last decade and is part of the brand of the couple, according to expert Bart Baggett. (Getty) The chatbots answer actually tallies with the opinion of Bart Baggett, a handwriting expert who has testified in criminal cases. He said the style with its angular letters and long downstrokes is all about the Trump brand. She's got angular writing that's a fast, analytical line. She's had that long before she met Donald Trump, Baggett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Melanias handwriting and signature has morphed into Trumps in the last 10 years, the expert noted. Signatures of Melania and Donald Trump in the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum guest book on a visit to Jerusalem in May, 2017. (AFP/Getty) Her current handwriting is almost like a brand, like a logo, and I think she morphed it a little bit more into matching Trumps as she bought into the brand, Baggett added. The signature on the letter to Putin is an aggressive one, which tied in with the powerful display of a B-2 Stealth Bomber flying overhead as the two leaders met for the first time last week, the expert said. [Trump] did have a bomber fly over their meeting, he did have a red carpet. He had a lot of pomp and circumstance, Baggett said. So there's a lot of pressure about how powerful we are as a country and so that doesn't surprise me that it's a more aggressive signature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You don't want a heart and flowers on your letters, Baggett added, referring back to a handwritten note Melania penned in 2017 to the patients of a childrens hospital in Italy. Baggett, who stressed that he has not examined the letter to Putin personally, poured cold water on the conspiracy theory that the first ladys signature was forged in any way. Signatures of Melania and Donald Trump on a 2016 tax return, released in 2022 by the House Ways and Means Committee. (House Ways and Means Committee) I don't see any nefarious thing about her letter, Baggett said. Those conspiracy theories, I think, are just grasping at straws. Chatter online turned to Trumps Sharpie, the marker he raved about during his first term, and he has used to sign dozens of executive orders since his return to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Did she borrow his Sharpie? one person joked on X. Well, quite possibly, according to Baggett, who said the Sharpie is typical of the Trump brand. I think a Sharpie probably was used, and it is very typical of his brand, he said, referring to the signature on the Putin letter. For some people, if you write really heavy, Sharpies are [a] really good instrument. People that write heavy are more passionate. The marker has become a trademark of the presidents. I was signing documents with a very expensive pen and it didn't write well, Trump said in a 2018 HBO documentary in partnership with Axios. It was a horrible pen, and it was extremely expensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then I started using just a Sharpie, and I said to myself, Well wait a minute, this writes much better and this cost almost nothing, Trump said. A handwritten note Melania penned in 2017 to the patients of a childrens hospital in Italy. (Supplied) Reddit and X users were also wildly speculating whether the first lady used an autopenwhich has become one of the presidents go-to attack lines on his predecessor Joe Biden. Earlier this year, Trump began accusing Biden of using the mechanical device to sign pardoning documents, rather than doing so by hand. Trump claimed, without providing evidence, that Biden had no knowledge or approval of the documents. Did Melania use Donald's autopen? asked one X user. The autopen can only have one signature preset, jested another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has contacted the White House to inquire whether the first lady did, indeed, use Trumps Sharpie or an autopen to sign the letter to the Russian dictator. Unfortunately for the autopen conspiracy theorists out there, until there is a definitive answer - it will remain a mystery. If [Melania] has an autopen, we don't know about it, Baggett concluded. But [the signature] doesn't really deviate too much from her known handwriting, the expert said. She's got angular letters, she's got a very similar Trumpian style of aggressiveness, which I'll call triangles. President Trump on Friday said he wouldnt object to the release of all files tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as requested by the House Oversight Committee. Im in support of them keeping it open. Innocent people shouldnt be hurt, but Im in support of keeping it totally open, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, when asked how he felt about the release of documents. I couldnt care less. Youve got a lot of people that could be mentioned in those files that dont deserve to be, you know, people, because he knew everybody in Palm Beach, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments came as the Department of Justice (DOJ) released its first batch of Epstein files to Congress. The move came in response to a subpoena from the Oversight Committee seeking transparency around the documents following weeks of turmoil over the Trump administrations handling of the case. The Epstein saga came back into light last month after DOJ and the FBI issued a joint memo concluding that the disgraced financier did not keep a client list and that additional documents did not need to be released to the public. The findings rivaled what Attorney General Pam Bondi had suggested months prior, which raised questions on both sides of the aisle around the administrations vow to be transparent with its probe. Epstein, who died in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was known to hang out in circles with wealthy businessmen, celebrities and powerful politicians. A Wall Street Journal article earlier this year shed light on Trumps relationship with the late financier, which the president has brushed off. Trump said Friday that hes directed Bondi to provide Congress members with everything you can give them amid the narrative that his administration is hiding information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole Epstein thing is a Democrat hoax, he added. So, we had the greatest six months, seven months in the history of the presidency, and the Democrats dont know what to do, so they keep bringing up that stuff. But it affected them. Former President Clintons name has also been tied to Epstein, after he allegedly flew more than a dozen times on the convicted sex offenders plane. Comer said he will be a prime suspect in its probe, as lawmakers review the documents. Polling has shown that most U.S. adults disapprove of the way the Trump administration has handled the Epstein investigation. Many people, including some of the presidents Make America Great Again base have pressured Trumps DOJ to release more files. The department, at the presidents request, asked the courts to release the grand jury testimonies from Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell who is serving a 20-year sentence. However, all three requests have been rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has met twice with Maxwell, who was moved to a lower-security prison last month, and the transcript from their conversations were also made public on Friday. The embattled socialite told DOJ officials that she never witnessed Trump in an inappropriate setting, according to the transcript. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 FBI conducted an early-morning raid at the home of President Donald Trumps former National Security Adviser John Bolton - the latest in the growing feud between the president and ex-confidant. FBI agents moved in and out of Boltons home in Bethesda, Maryland, Friday. It was reported to be part of a classified document investigation, but federal investigators have released few details. The raid comes as Bolton has become an outspoken critic of Trump, particularly with regard to the presidents approach to Russia. But, just a few years ago, Bolton was one of the presidents top foreign policy advisers during Trump's first turn in the White House. He served as National Security Adviser from 2018 to 2019, and was admired by the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the two clashed especially on North Korea, and Trump fired Bolton with a social media post. That led to Bolton becoming a frequent critic. Here is what you need to know about the feud between the two men and some of the pivotal moments: John Bolton held the high-profile position of National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019. He later became an outspoken critic of the president, particularly in regard to his approach on Russia (AP) March 2018 One year after first being interviewed for the position of National Security Advisor but losing out to H.R. McMaster, Trump announced on Twitter (now X) that Bolton would be replacing taking up the role despite rumors that the president was not a fan of Boltons signature mustache. Things started seemingly well, and a month later Bolton pressed the president to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal, which he did in May. July 2018 The pair continued to be in-step in July after Bolton declined to comment definitively on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had been involved in the Kremlins cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 presidential campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even after 12 Russian military intelligence officers were indicted by the U.S. for hacking the DNC, Bolton remained diplomatic, telling Russian radio station Echo Moskvy that any such interference had not affected the outcome of the election. It came despite Boltons previous rhetoric in 2017 that any interference by Russia would be a true act of war, and one Washington will never tolerate. After being appointed to the position in March 2018, things started seemingly well, with Bolton pressing the president to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal, which he did in May (Getty Images) May 2019 By May the following year, cracks began to show in the relationship, with The New York Times reported that Trump was complaining about Bolton and his advice in private later undercutting him publicly on North Korea and Iran. August 2019 The disconnect continued following the emergence of a scandal that alleged Trump had attempted to coerce Ukraine into investigating his political rival Joe Biden with the aim of damaging the Democrats 2020 presidential campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolton later wrote in his memoir that the president had told him in August 2019 that he wanted to continue to freeze aid to Ukraine until officials there pursued investigations into his rival and other top Democrats. September 2019 In a post online, Trump announced that Bolton had been fired, saying that he disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration though he did thank Bolton very much for his service. Accounts appeared to differ, however, with Bolton writing in response: I offered to resign last night and President Trump said, Let's talk about it tomorrow. The firing came as Bolton tried to stop Trump from signing a peace agreement with the Taliban, according to the New York Times. Trump didnt sign the deal but was upset with how the situation played out. Trump and his advisers were mad about media reports about where Bolton stood and how much support he had for his viewpoint. In May 2019 cracks in the relationship began to show and Trump announced he had fired Bolton in September. Bolton claimed he had offered to resign the night before (Getty Images) November 2019 Despite the firing, Bolton refused to attend his scheduled deposition in the House impeachment inquiry against Trump, threatening to take legal action if he was subpoenaed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later said he was willing to testify, but only after a federal court had ruled on the competing claims of the Trump administration and Congress. January 2020 The Trump administration forces a delay in the publication of Boltons memoir, The Room Where it Happened, later filing a federal lawsuit claiming he breached his contract by failing to complete a pre-publication review for classified information. The 577-page book was eventually published in June that year and offered an unflattering description of the president, painting him as grossly ill-informed about foreign policy. Trump saw conspiracies behind rocks, and remained stunningly uninformed on how to run the White House, let alone the huge federal government, Bolton wrote. June 2022 Bolton defended Trump in an interview on CNN about the January 6 riots, according to Axios, saying it was not a planned coup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's not the way Donald Trump does things," Bolton told CNN "It's rambling from one idea to another, one plan that falls through, and another comes up." April 2023 Bolton went back to critizing Trump saying it was a mistake for Republicans to align with the president for the 2024 election. "It goes to the question of character and fitness for the presidency," Bolton told CBS News. January 2024 In a new foreword to the book, Bolton relayed his fears about a second Trump presidency saying the president was unfit for the top job. "If his first four years were bad, a second four will be worse, he wrote. "For someone who professes to have such great disdain for President Trump, 'Book Deal Bolton' sure has found a way to grift off the relationship, Trump campaign spokesperson Jason Miller told Axios at the time. January 2025 Almost immediately after returning to office in January 2025, Trump stripped Bolton's security protections along with those of other political adversaries. August 2025 Bolton expresses deep skepticism ahead of the Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin and about the possibility of peace between Russia and Ukraine. I dont think theres a peace deal anywhere in the near future, Bolton told CNNs Jake Tapper. One week later, Bolton continued to blast Trumps attempts at diplomacy. Meetings will continue because Trump wants a Nobel Peace Prize, but I don't see these talks making any progress, he wrote on X. Turkey's first lady has urged Melania Trump to speak out for children suffering in Israel's war in Gaza. Emine Erdogan praised the US first lady's support for children affected by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, asking Trump to "extend the advocacy" to Palestinians. In a letter published by the Turkish presidency on Saturday, Mrs Erdogan said Gaza had become a '"children's cemetery", telling Mrs Trump: "We must unite our voices and strength against this injustice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as UN- backed food security experts have assessed half a million people are suffering from famine in Gaza City - and 132,000 children's lives are threatened by malnutrition. "The phrase 'unknown baby' written on the shrouds of thousands of Gazan children opens irreparable wounds in our consciences," Mrs Erdogan wrote. The letter calls on Mrs Trump to "show the same sensitivity to Gaza that you have shown to Ukrainian children who have lost their lives in the war". Mrs Erdogan also encouraged Mrs Trump to appeal directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Mrs Trump sent Russian President Vladimir Putin a letter, imploring him to consider children, but did not reference any specific children. The Turkish first lady does not usually involve herself in politics, more often choosing to be active in environmental issues - which has earned her praise from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. But Mrs Erdogan has written letters to the partners of world leaders in the past, in 2016 on behalf of Syrians caught up in civil war and condemning Israel's actions in Gaza in March. Gazans are experiencing severe food shortages [EPA/Shutterstock] The letter was published in the wake of a damning report into the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report confirmed a famine in and around Gaza City - warning that more than 640,000 people will face "catastrophic conditions" between mid-August and the end of September. In Friday's report, the IPC noted the particular toll food shortages had taken on children - roughly one in three in Gaza are acutely malnourished. It also projects that up to June 2026, malnutrition will threaten the lives of 132,000 children aged under five. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has said 114 of the 281 people who have died from malnutrition are children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel denies there is famine in Gaza. It also accuses IPC experts of being biased, changing its methods for assessing famine, and using data coming from Hamas. The IPC has rejected this criticism. The report comes as Israel prepares to launch a new military offensive aimed at occupying Gaza City. Gaza's health ministry has reported 61 deaths in the past 24 hours after Israeli attacks. It said eight people, including two children, have died as a result of malnutrition in the same period. In one attack on a displacement camp in the southern city of Khan Younis, 19 people were killed, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 62,122 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the health ministry. Most of Gaza's population has also been displaced multiple times; more than 90% of homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed; and the healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems have collapsed. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took a sharp jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the central government of creating "trouble for state administrations" and "refusing to allocate the rightful share" of funds. The Chief Minister said that the politics in Tamil Nadu is the politics of social justice, and when compared with other Indian states, "Tamil Nadu stands foremost" in many fields. Speaking at the National Seminar on Union-State Relations at Kalaivanar Arangam, the Chief Minister said, "I am happy to inaugurate the first National Conference on Union-State Relations in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is one of the largest contributors of GST revenue to the Union Government. Yet, the Union Government, with narrow political motives, refuses to allocate to Tamil Nadu the rightful share of funds." Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab, and Kerala are states not under BJP rule and have been given "problems and trouble" by the Union government. The Chief Minister said that for over a decade, Tamil Nadu has implemented the policy of reservations and enacted several progressive laws and schemes. The foundation for this was laid by the Dravidian movement. "Despite severe financial restrictions, Tamil Nadu has achieved a growth rate of double-digit with 11.19% in 2024-25, the highest after 14 years. After Tamil Nadu's protests against the Union Government's imposition of Hindi, similar anti-Hindi agitations have been taking place across various states of India," Stalin added. The Chief Minister further added that the principle of state autonomy within federalism is what strengthens both the unity and diversity of India. It is only through the efforts of self-reliant states that a united India can truly become strong. "The Dravidian leaders worked tirelessly for noble principles such as equality, social justice, and women's rights. Both Anna and Kalaignar implemented various important schemes that uplifted people in every sphere of life," Stalin added. Stalin said that the statehood of Kashmir was taken away, and opposition was raised against it. The Sarkaria Commission itself has stated that excessive centralisation of power causes anger at the Centre and despair in the States. (ANI) MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two people were shot and two more detained after shootings at a Parkway Village apartment complex Friday evening. One victim was taken to Le Bonheur Childrens hospital; the other was taken to Regional One. Both were non-critical, police said. Officers said it happened at the Camelot Manor Apartments off Getwell as two brothers and a friend were taking the trash out a little after 6 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say two people walked up to them. One pulled a gun out of his waistband and tried to steal a watch from one of the victims. Teenager found shot to death in vehicle at Cordova parking lot When the victims ran off, shots were fired, and one of the the victims felt he had been shot. One of the victims identified two suspects to police they were still on the scene and were detained for investigation. While police were investigating, a fourth victim came to them and said he had been shot. He told police someone in a black SUV had yelled his name as he was walking back from a gas station, then began firing shots from inside the SUV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump talks troops in Memphis in radio interview It is unclear if the incidents 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 WREG.com. CATLETTSBURG Two Ashland men have been indicted by a Boyd County grand jury on fentanyl trafficking charges. Roger J. Barker, 36, and Theodoric Cochrum, 52, are each in the Boyd County Detention Center on a $250,000 cash bond. Barker was indicted on these charges: first-offense trafficking in fentanyl, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree fleeing/evading police and first-degree, first-offense trafficking in meth (greater or equal to 2 grams). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cochrum was indicted on fentanyl trafficking and meth trafficking charges. Cochrum was also indicted on a first-degree promoting contraband charge. An indictment is not an indication of guilt, but a grand jury determined sufficient evidence was present in order to move forward in the judicial process. The following were also indicted by a Boyd County grand jury recently: Travis E. Porter, 42, of Ashland, was indicted on a charge or procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means. Crystal R. Jackson, 49, of Ashland, was indicted on a second-degree assault (domestic violence) charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amy L. Snead, 43, of Flatwoods, was indicted on charges of first-degree fentanyl possession and first-degree cocaine possession. Chad T. Trusty, 29, of Ashland, was indicted on these charges: no tail lamps, no brake lights, failure to or improper signal, fleeing/evading police, expired registration plates, failure to produce insurance, buy/possess drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and second-degree criminal mischief. Nicholas Haman, 51, of Ashland, was indicted on a first-degree promoting contraband charge. Brandon E. Clark, 39, of Ashland, was indicted on charges of meth possession and unspecified drug possession. Breelynna M. Adkins, 29, of Rush, was indicted on a third-degree burglary charge. Tiffany Halley, 34, of Ashland, was indicted on a first-degree meth possession charge. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Two people were injured in what police called an accident at a gender reveal in Neelys Bend Saturday. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The Metro Nashville Police Department and the Nashville Fire Department responded to reports of an explosion in the 2200 block of Neelys Bend around 1 p.m. Saturday. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com A spokesperson for the MNPD told News 2 that two people were transported to area hospitals for treatment of non-critical injuries as a result of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No further details were released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Two people were injured following a motor vehicle rollover on Carew Street in Springfield Friday evening. Two serious crashes on Chicopee Street in less than 24-hours; Community reacts The Springfield Fire Department stated that at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Friday, crews were called to the area of 899 Carew Street regarding a motor vehicle accident involving a rollover. Courtesy of the Springfield Fire Department. When firefighters arrived in the area, they freed two individuals from the car. The occupants were brought to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries. No details regarding the cause of the crash have been disclosed at this time. 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. In the affluent Seoul neighbourhood of Daechi, Hyun Sung-joo has a dilemma. His coffee shop is sometimes visited by Cagongjok, a term for mostly young South Koreans who love to study or work at cafes, but there's a limit. He says one customer recently set up a workspace in his cafe that included two laptops and a six-port power strip to charge all their devices - for an entire day. "I ended up blocking off the power outlets," he tells the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With Daechi's high rents, it's difficult to run a cafe if someone occupies a seat all day." The cultural phenomenon of Cagongjok is rampant in South Korea, especially in areas with large numbers of students and office workers. They dominate cafes often on a much greater scale than other Western countries like the UK, where those studying are often surrounded by others there to socialise. And Starbucks Korea warned this month that a minority of people are going further than just laptops, such as bringing in desktop monitors, printers, partitioning off desks or leaving tables unattended for long periods. The chain has now launched nationwide guidelines aimed at curbing "a small number of extreme cases" where elaborate setups or prolonged empty seats disrupt other customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starbucks said staff would not ask customers to leave, but rather provide "guidance" when needed. It also cited previous cases of theft when customers left belongings unattended, calling the new guidelines "a step toward a more comfortable store environment". It doesn't seem to be deterring the more moderate Cagongjok though, for whom Starbucks has been somewhat of a haven in recent years and continues to be. Students often set up study areas in South Korean cafes [BBC] On a Thursday evening in Seoul's Gangnam district, a Starbucks branch buzzes quietly with customers studying, heads down over laptops and books. Among them is an 18-year-old student who dropped out of school and is preparing for the university entrance exam, "Suneung". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I get here around 11am and stay until 10pm," she tells the BBC. "Sometimes I leave my things and go eat nearby." We have seen no bulky equipment during our visits to Starbucks since the new guidelines were issued on 7 August, though we did see one man with a laptop stand, keyboard and mouse. Some customers still appear to be leaving their seats unattended for long periods, with laptops and books spread across tables. When asked whether its new restrictions have led to visible changes, Starbucks Korea told the BBC it was "difficult to confirm". Some students set up their belongings and then left a Starbucks seen here in Suwon [BBC] Reactions to Starbucks' move have been mixed. Most welcome the policy as a long-overdue step toward restoring normalcy in how cafes are used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is particularly so among those who visit Starbucks for relaxation or conversation, who say it has become difficult to find seats because of Cagongjok, and that the hushed atmosphere often made them feel self-conscious about talking freely. A few have criticised it as overreach, saying the chain has abandoned its previously hands-off approach. It reflects a wider public discussion in South Korea over Cagongjok that has been brewing ever since it started taking off in 2010, coinciding with the growth of franchised coffee chains in the country. That has kept growing, with the country seeing a 48% increase in coffee shops over the past five years, according to the National Tax Service, nearing 100,000. Some 70% of people in a recent survey of more than 2,000 Gen Z job seekers in South Korea by recruitment platform Jinhaksa Catch said they studied in cafes at least once a week. 'Two people would take up enough space for 10 customers' Dealing with "seat hogging" and related issues is a tricky balance, and the independent cafes grappling with a similar thing have deployed a range of approaches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Hyun has experienced customers bringing multiple electronic devices and setting up workstations, he says extreme cases like this are rare. "It's maybe two or three people out of a hundred," the cafe owner of 15 years says. "Most people are considerate. Some even order another drink if they stay long, and I'm totally fine with that." Hyun's cafe, which locals also use as a space for conversation or private tutoring, still welcomes Cagongjok as long as they respect the shared space. Some other cafe franchises even cater to them with power outlets, individual desks and longer stay allowances. Cafe owner Hyun Sung-joo isn't against Cagongjok but finds some customers take it too far [BBC] But others have taken stricter steps. Kim, a cafe owner in Jeonju who asked the BBC to remain anonymous, introduced a "No Study Zone" policy after repeated complaints about space being monopolised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Two people would come in and take over space for 10. Sometimes they'd leave for meals and come back to study for seven or eight hours," he says. "We eventually put up a sign saying this is a space for conversation, not for studying." Now his cafe allows a maximum of two hours for those using it to study or work. The rule does not apply to regular customers who are simply having coffee. "I made the policy to prevent potential conflicts between customers," Kim says. 'Cagongjok' - here to stay? Yu-jin Mo feels more comfortable in cafes than in libraries [BBC] So what's behind the trend and why do so many in South Korea feel the need to work or study in cafes rather than in libraries, shared workspaces or at home? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For some, the cafe is more than just an ambient space; it's a place to feel grounded. Yu-jin Mo, 29, tells the BBC about her experience growing up in foster care. "Home wasn't a safe place. I lived with my father in a small container, and sometimes he'd lock the door from the outside and leave me alone inside." Even now, as an adult, she finds it hard to be alone. "As soon as I wake up, I go to a cafe. I tried libraries and study cafes, but they felt suffocating," she says. Later Ms Mo even ran her own cafe for a year, hoping to offer a space where people like her could feel comfortable staying and studying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Professor Choi Ra-young of Ansan University, who has studied lifelong education for over two decades, sees Cagongjok as a cultural phenomenon shaped by South Korea's hyper-competitive society. "This is a youth culture created by the society we've built," she tells the BBC. "Most Cagongjok are likely job seekers or students. They're under pressure - whether it's from academics, job insecurity or housing conditions with no windows and no space to study. "In a way, these young people are victims of a system that doesn't provide enough public space for them to work or learn," she adds. "They might be seen as a nuisance, but they're also a product of social structure." Professor Choi said it was time to create more inclusive spaces. "We need guidelines and environments that allow for cafe studying - without disturbing others - if we want to accommodate this culture realistically." More Weekend Picks The Brief Two men claiming to be police officers serving a warrant were shot and killed by a homeowner Friday night. Police said the incident happened on Bellnole Drive. The homeowners were not injured. HOUSTON - Houston police say a homeowner shot and killed two men claiming to be police officers serving a warrant. What we know Police responded to a home on Bellnole Drive around 11 p.m. Friday for a shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The homeowner told police that two men were at their door saying they were police serving a warrant. Police said the men were wearing masks, bulletproof vests and had badges around their necks. What they're saying "They became suspicious because they have a Ring camera and the suspects were stating they had a warrant, but it's just two people, and they're masked up and no police cars, no lights or anything like that," Lt. Khan said. According to police, the men fired shots into the home and the homeowners returned fire and hit both men. Arriving officers attempted CPR on the men, but they were pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The homeowners were not injured. What we don't know Police have not released the identity of the two men who were shot. What you can do Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact one of the following agencies: HPD Homicide Division: 713 308-3600 Crime Stoppers: 713-222-TIPS (8477) The Source Information in this article comes from the Houston Police Department. Since historic floods washed over Milwaukee nearly two weeks ago, two men from the same homeless encampment along the Kinnickinnic River have been found drowned and at least two more are missing. Despite calls from family members and homeless advocates, the Milwaukee Police Department said it will not launch an active search for the men until it receives more evidence that they were swept away in the floods. "MPD has not received any credible information that these individuals were swept by the water," a department spokesperson said in an email Aug. 22. "We do not speculate and cannot determine that without having a witness provide us with information that they were swept by the water." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Cavalier Johnson's office said decisions to launch search efforts lie with emergency services. "The Mayor's administration is aware of these reports, and certainly saddened by the loss of life and concerned about the safety of these individuals," said spokesperson Jeff Fleming in a message Aug. 22. "As with all reports of missing people, we rely on our emergency services and their expertise to deploy the appropriate resources to locate people whose location is unknown," he added. So far, authorities have deemed just one of the two deaths as possibly flood-related. The body of Juan Carlos Sierra Campos, 48, was recovered from Lake Michigan around 10:37 a.m. on Aug. 10. The Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office said Campos' death didn't "appear to be flood-related" but that they were still investigating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a news conference at noon that day, the mayor reported there were no flood-related deaths within the city. Fleming said the mayor was unaware of the Campos' death at the time. Three days later, the body of 72-year-old Isaias Serna was recovered from the Kinnickinnic River. In an email, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office said his death was possibly related to the floods. Organizers from MiniStreets Urban Christian Outreach Mission told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Campos and Serna lived at the same encampment, along with at least two other people who are all missing since the floods. Linda Alvarado, co-founder of MiniStreets Urban Christian Outreach Mission, said Campos was present during the outreach group's most recent weekly visit on Aug. 8, where they gave the men food, water and clothes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The encampment, under the bridge at the intersection of South Chase Avenue and South 1st Street, is on the banks of the Kinnickinnic River. The river empties into Lake Michigan. The Milwaukee Police Department did not respond to questions about how it made the determination that Campos' drowning was not flood-related. His body was found in Lake Michigan within "the time frame of the flood," according to the Medical Examiner's Office. Miguel Flores, 59, is among the three men who are still missing. He lived at the encampment for the past three years, according to Arturo Vazquez, Flores' nephew. Miguel Flores, 59, was reported missing by his family on Aug. 14. His family speculates the Aug. 9 flood pulled him into the Kinnickinnic River. His family reported him missing to the police Aug. 14. The family suspects the entire encampment was washed out by the surging river on Aug. 9, as Flores and the other men slept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Milwaukee Police Department does not consider Flores "critically" missing a label reserved for certain vulnerable groups, such as children, that would trigger a more active search. People who are reported missing following disasters such as drownings or explosions can also be considered "critically" missing, according to the Milwaukee Police Department's standard operating procedure. However, a department spokesperson said Flores does not qualify because nobody "observed him being swept away by the water." Alvarado, from the mission group, said another man she knows only as "Pedro" also lived at the encampment and hasn't been seen since the flood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My heart is in my throat," Alvarado said. "We need to find them." Arturo Vazquez and his mother, Maria Flores, are looking for their relative Miguel Flores. He's been missing since the flood swept away the homeless encampment he lived at for the past three years. Local business owners mobilize to help find missing people With growing concern, MiniStreets Urban Christian Outreach Mission reached out to Brew City Kayak for help on Aug. 22. Rather than waste more time, Michael Fischer, owner of Brew City Kayak, rounded up four kayaks and took to the Kinnikinnic River to search. "We hope we can find Miguel and help his family find some peace," Fischer told a reporter over the phone, while paddling past Barnacle Bud's. He was joined by Derek Collins of the Milwaukee Pedal and Paddle Tavern, who rented a 22-foot electric Milwaukee Duffy boat to assist. For hours, the group traveled upriver, starting from the Chase Avenue bridge. Their plan was to continue until they hit a current, then turn back downriver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They plan to renew their efforts at a community-led search on Aug. 23 at 9 a.m., again starting from the bridge. "When tragedy hits the Milwaukee area, it's important for the community to come together and help each other out," Fischer said. (This story has been updated to add information.) This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Two homeless men dead, two more missing after Milwaukee floods PRICEVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Priceville Police Department says two women from Tennessee were arrested Saturday morning on multiple drug charges. On Aug. 23, at about 1 a.m., officers with PPD stopped a vehicle on I-65 near mile marker 334. Officers identified the people in the vehicle as Kaitlyn Renea Darnell, 31, and Kathy Sublett, 63, both of whom are residents of Clarksville, TN. Kaitlyn Darnell (Courtesy of Morgan County Jail) Kathy Sublett (Courtesy of Morgan County Jail) Following the initial traffic enforcement, a narcotics investigation was initiated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PPDs investigation led to the discovery of marijuana, a methamphetamine/fentanyl mixture and drug paraphernalia within the vehicle. Both women were then arrested and taken to the Morgan County Jail. PPD said during the booking process, jail staff found that Darnell hid an additional item of drug paraphernalia in her undergarments. Darnell is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, second-degree promoting prison contraband, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Additionally, a hold was placed on her for a felony arrest warrant related to motor vehicle theft issued by the Guntersville Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sublett is facing charges of trafficking in dangerous drugs, second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. A Morgan County Circuit Judge has set Darnells bond at $80,300, while Subletts bond has been set at $105,300. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A crash involving two cars on Interstate 495 early Saturday left one person injured, officials said. David Pazos, a spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, said that just minutes before 9 a.m., crews responded to a crash with someone possibly trapped on the inner loop of I-495 near the Virginia state line. Virginia State Police issue CODI Alert for endangered teen missing out of Fredericksburg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once there, responders discovered that two cars had collided. No one was trapped; however, medics took one of the drivers, a woman, to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Pazos noted. Officials said drivers could expect delays in the area Saturday morning while Maryland State Police worked to clear crash debris from the roadway. The Fairfax County Fire Department also responded to assist at the scene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. TYLER, Texas (KETK) Tyler Junior College staff members got together to kick off the 2025-2026 school year on Friday with their annual convocation celebration. Tyler Junior College Apache Belles announce new members, officers for 78th year TJC staff met in the Wise Auditorium and heard about upcoming plans for collaboration and growth from TJC President Juan Mejia. Mejia told KETK that their enrollment numbers are continuing to do great, helping their mission of making a difference for students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enrollment is key to everything that we do because the nucleus of society is the family, Mejia said. If we can help once student be successful, then that family changes for the better. So enrollment is not just about numbers. Its access, access to higher education. You know it firstly, we make a difference in the life of the students, they go out there and they do amazing things. Next year, in Sept. 2026, TJC will mark 100 years of providing education to East Texas students. This year, their 99th year of classes starts on Monday, Aug. 25. To learn more, visit Tyler Junior College online. 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. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday inspected the under-construction APJ Abdul Kalam Science City, being developed on a 21-acre plot in Rajendranagar, Patna. During the visit, he reviewed the progress of the project, assessed different sections of the complex, and instructed officials to ensure speedy completion of the work, the release said. During the inspection, the Chief Minister said that APJ Abdul Kalam Science City will be one of the best centres in the world for the promotion of science and will be unique in itself. After the completion of the construction of the Science City, the students visiting here will be able to easily understand the basics, activities and principles of science, and their interest in science will increase. The Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure better arrangements here by using modern techniques. Secretary of the Building Construction Department, Kumar Ravi, while giving information to the Chief Minister about the construction work of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Science City, said that the construction work of the buildings of the Science City has almost been completed. According to a release, five large halls have been built in A.P.P. Abdul Kalam Science City, Patna, in which science-related exhibits are being displayed through five galleries - Be a Scientist Gallery, Sustainable Planet Gallery, Basic Science Gallery, Body and Mind Gallery, and Astronomy and Space Gallery. In the first phase, the installation of 12 science exhibits in the BA Scientist Gallery and 35 science exhibits in the Basic Science Gallery is nearing completion at Rs. 75 crores by Creative Museum Designs (CMD) through the National Council of Science Museum (NCSM), an experienced institution of the country. It is worth mentioning that, on the instructions of CM Kumar, a Science City is being constructed on a 21-acre plot in Rajendra Nagar, Patna, with the objective of increasing awareness towards science among the young boys and girls. The Science City has been approved by the Department of Science, Technology and Technical Education at Rs. 889 crores. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of this project on 1 March 2018. The Chief Minister is continuously monitoring the construction work of the project. He inspected the project site several times and provided the necessary guidelines. To establish a well-equipped science city, the Chief Minister sent a team of officers abroad for study. An auditorium with a seating capacity of 500 people, equipped with modern facilities, has also been constructed in this science city. Along with this, a 150-bed dormitory has been constructed in the campus for the night stay of school students during their study tour. An open-air theatre for organising science-related programs, a cafeteria for the arrangement of food for the visitors and a parking lot for vehicles have also been constructed on the campus. Solar panels of 150 kW capacity are also being installed on the campus. (ANI) BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The U.S. Coast Guard deployed resources to the island on Saturday for a possible drowning. According to a USCG public affairs representative, crews were called to the St. Andrews Pass around 11:30 a.m. for a drowning. They deployed one 27-foot boat to the call. Officials say when they arrived, they found one adult male victim. He was taken to the Panama City marina on board the Coast Guard boat and transported by Bay County EMS to a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The condition of the victim is unknown. Coast Guard officials say the investigation will be turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. This is a developing story; check back here for more 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 mypanhandle.com. As three Navy destroyers and three amphibious warships move toward the coast of Venezuela this weekend in an ostensible U.S. counternarcotics operation, the Trump administrations show of force is rekindling memories of another presidency, era and country. In mid-December 1989, President George H.W. Bush ordered a military invasion of Panama, saying its strongman leader, Manuel Noriega, a one-time American ally and CIA informant, was a threat to U.S. interests in the Canal Zone and a corrupt general wanted on drug-trafficking charges for turning his country into a narco-state for Colombian cartels. During Operation Just Cause, the U.S. troops not only used force but blasted rock music, including songs by the band Guns n Roses, as Noriega took sanctuary in the Vatican Embassy in Panama City. He surrendered on Jan. 3, 1990, and was whisked away to Miami, where he would later stand trial, be convicted and spend about 20 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two South Florida lawyers one who charged Noriega and another who defended him say that it may look like President Donald Trump has ripped a page out of the Panama playbook as U.S. Naval forces veer toward Venezuela. But attorneys Richard Dick Gregorie and Jon May point out there are similarities and differences between then and now. They also say its unlikely that Trump, who has an avowed aversion for committing U.S. troops in warfare around the globe, would risk invading a country the size of Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, like Noriega at the height of the U.S. war on drugs, was indicted by a New York grand jury on drug-trafficking charges in 2020. But Maduro is the leader of an oil- and mineral-rich country that, despite its economic troubles, is far larger and more powerful than Panama. Moreover, Maduro doesnt exert the same degree of control over his military as the Panamanian dictator did over his forces in the 1980s. Theres a big difference between the situation that was going on in Panama at the time than what is going in Venezuela, Gregorie said in an interview on Friday. Theres something else going on [other] than drug trafficking, added Gregorie, who worked as a high-level federal prosecutor in Miami and other parts of the country for more than 40 years before his retirement in 2018. Thats not the reason why Trump is sending those ships down there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres more going on and intelligence that I dont have access to, he said, noting Venezuelas ties to Iran and the South American countrys substantial mineral resources. May, who along with attorney Frank Rubino defended Noriega at his 1992 trial in Miami, agreed with the former prosecutor, saying that while Maduro and Noriega seem like similar targets as accused drug traffickers in the United States, invading Venezuela would be foolish. I cant imagine the United States invading Venezuela other than the crazy factor, May said, noting that Trumps sending the fleet of destroyers and warships to Venezuela is a modest mission, but perhaps just enough saber rattling to help him and the Republicans in the midterm elections next year. It was really easy for the U.S. military to crush Panama, he said, but it would not be the same thing in Venezuela. You have a highly motivated army in Venezuela that would provide stiff resistance. It would be suicidal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another major difference: Even before the American invasion of Panama in late 1989, the U.S. military already had more than 12,000 troops stationed at bases in the Central American country, plus warships, planes and vehicles. The Pentagon estimated that more than 500 Panamanians were killed during the invasion, including more than 300 soldiers and 200 civilians. A total of 23 U.S. soldiers and three U.S. civilians were killed. The United Nations General Assembly, the Organization of American States and the European Parliament condemned the invasion as a violation of international law. Indeed, using U.S. forces to invade Panama and capture Noriega in a law-enforcement operation in a foreign country was highly controversial at the time. Once Noriega surrendered and no longer posed a threat to U.S. interests in the Canal Zone, the U.S. military turned him over to federal agents. There was no basis for our military to hold him as a prisoner, which is why he was turned over by the Marines to the DEA on the flight home, May said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the legal and political complexity of the case, it took until 1992 for the U.S. Attorneys office led by prosecutors Michael Pat Sullivan, Guy Lewis and Myles Malman to convict Noriega of cocaine trafficking and racketeering. It was the mother of all battles in the war on drugs, Malman told the Miami Herald in 2010. There was so much riding on it -- the reputations of the prosecutors, the U.S. government and the president of the United States. After the trial, U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler declared Noriega a prisoner of war who should be accorded special privileges, including an apartment-like cell complete with phone, color TV and exercise bike at the low-security Southwest Miami-Dade federal prison. His sentence ended in September 2007, but Noriega remained behind bars for another three years, when he was extradited to France to face money laundering charges. In 2017, he died at 83 in Panama. Naval fleet heads to Venezuela Two U.S. officials familiar with the Trump administrations deployment told the Reuters news agency that three Navy warships the USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima and USS Fort Lauderdale could be stationed off the coast of Venezuela as early as Sunday. Together, the ships are carrying 4,500 service members, including a 2,200-strong Marine expeditionary unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amphibious squadron will operate alongside three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers the USS Sampson, USS Jason Dunham and USS Gravely which are designed to counter threats from the air, land, sea and even undersea simultaneously. The destroyers arsenal centers on a 96-cell vertical launch system that can be loaded with a mix of weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles for long-range land attacks, standard missiles for air and missile defense, and anti-submarine rockets for undersea warfare. By adding amphibious vessels, the task force gains expanded land capabilities, particularly the ability to quickly deploy Marines into coastal zones. The Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the ships mission, but sources told the news agency that the move aligns with the Trump administrations aims at addressing threats to U.S. national security from specially designated narco-terrorist organizations in the region. Speaking about the possible use of U.S. military personnel in Venezuela, the White House said that the deployment underscores Trumps pledge to use every instrument of American power from sanctions to military force to stop narcotics from reaching U.S. soil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump has been very clear and consistent: hes prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt after being asked by a McClatchy reporter on the chances of a boots on the ground operation taking place inside the South American nation. Cracking down on drug cartels is a pillar of Trumps domestic and foreign policy. Earlier this year, the administration formally designated Mexicos Sinaloa Cartel, Venezuelas Tren de Aragua gang and several other groups as global terrorist organizations. The move gave U.S. agencies expanded authority to target cartel finances, logistics and leadership. Last month, the Trump administration designated the Cartel of the Suns which U.S. prosecutors say is run by Maduro and other high-ranking members of his regime as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. The designation raises the possibility that the cartel could become a direct target of U.S. military action if Trump chooses. The administration also recently raised the bounty for Maduros capture to an unprecedented $50 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro and several of his top allies have been indicted by U.S. prosecutors for allegedly turning Venezuela into a narco-state Cartel of the Suns. Maduro has dismissed the charges as a rotting rerun aimed at justifying foreign intervention. In response to the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, Maduro announced on Monday that his government will activate a plan to mobilize more than 4.5 million militia members across Venezuela to defend national sovereignty. This week Im launching a special plan to ensure coverage by more than 4.5 million prepared, activated, and armed militia members across the national territory, Maduro declared during a televised event, flanked by senior commanders. He said the mobilization is needed to counter what he described as extravagant, bizarre, and outlandish threats from the United States. WORCESTER, Mass. (WWLP) Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Worcester District Attorneys Office are investigating following an officer-involved shooting. Pittsfield man sentenced to 15 years in 2023 near-deadly stabbing On Friday morning, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office, members of the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS), and members of the U.S. Marshals Service were executing an arrest warrant in the area of Strathmore Road in Worcester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police located the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Chris Betances of Worcester, who tried to escape in a vehicle. Betances reportedly began to drive his car towards the officers, and a Deputy U.S. Marshal shot and wounded the suspect out of concern for the officers safety. Police administered medical aid to Betances, and he was brought to a local hospital to be treated. He is currently in stable condition. Betances was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on Friday in connection with the outstanding warrant and held without bail. He remains in police custody and is scheduled to return to court on August 29. 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 animals that live on the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's sprawling 32,000 acres in Northern Virginia are connected by one thing: the threat of extinction. Tucked away in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, more than 20 species at risk of extinction, including Mongolia's Przewalski's horse, which disappeared from the wild at the end of the 1960s, live on the institute's grounds. There are red pandas, maned wolves, and clouded leopards, to name a few more. The institute studies a species' reproduction, ecology, genetics, migration, and conservation sustainability, with the ultimate goals of saving wildlife from extinction and training future conservationalists. In certain cases, the scientists are responsible for breeding and reintroducing them to their habitats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those who work to conserve these species and remove them from the endangered species list are still concerned with the rate at which species are vanishing. "We're seeing species disappearing at 10, 100, to 1000 times the normal background rate," SCBI conservation biologist Melissa Songer told CBS News. The International Union for Conservation of Nature warned in early 2025 that 28%, or more than 47,000, of the world's assessed species are at risk of extinction. That number includes more than just animal species, showing crucial insect, plant and tree species are also threatened. "So we think, okay, well, we're losing the species here and there, you know, there's a lot of other species," Songer says, "but the thing is, that when we lose one species, it has cascading effects." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A great example of this effect is with the black-footed ferret, which originally inhabited the North American Great Plains but has been endangered since 1967. While the species remains on the endangered list, its population has grown since preservation efforts began at the Institute. "Every animal in the ecosystem is important for that ecosystem," says Adrienne Crosier, a cheetah biologist at SCBI, "they all have a really important role to play." When it comes to the black-footed ferret, Crosier says they are "a mix of predator and prey for other larger carnivores," meaning that other animals are left without a food source in the ferret's absence. "Anytime you take a species completely out of the ecosystem, you cause an imbalance in that ecosystem," Crosier says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crosier's team is currently caring for approximately 60 ferret kits, which will be released into the Colorado wild in the Fall. "Whenever we have offspring born, I feel like we did our job," Crosier says with a smile. Rainbow crosswalks in Florida painted over Welcome to New Orleans Maryland Gov. Wes Moore calls Trump D.C. National Guard deployment "unconstitutional" Uganda is the latest of several countries to strike a deportation deal with the United States as President Donald Trump ramps up controversial efforts to remove migrants from the country. In a statement on Thursday, Ugandas Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Kampala had agreed for Washington to send over third-country nationals who face deportation from the US, but are unwilling to return to their home countries. The ministry said that the agreement was made under certain conditions. Rights groups and law experts have condemned Trumps controversial plans to deport millions of undocumented migrants. Those already deported include convicted criminals and uniquely barbaric monsters, according to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement African countries, such as Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, have accepted similar deals, reportedly in exchange for lower tariffs. The USs actions are exploitative and tantamount to treating the continent as a dumping ground, Melusi Simelane of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) told Al Jazeera, adding that Washington was especially focusing on countries with weak human rights protection. Heres what you need to know about the Uganda deal and what countries might be getting in return for hosting US deportees: What did Uganda agree to? In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, the permanent secretary of Ugandas Foreign Ministry, said the country had agreed to a temporary arrangement with the US. He did not state the timelines for when the deportations would begin or end. There are caveats regarding the people who would be transferred, the statement continued, including that Uganda will not accept people with criminal records or unaccompanied minors and that it prefers that Africans be transferred as part of the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented, the statement added. A US State Department statement confirmed that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had held discussions over the phone regarding migration, reciprocal trade, and commercial ties. The deals announcement came after weeks of speculation in local Ugandan media regarding whether the East African nation would accept US deportees. On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Okello Oryem denied the media reports, saying Uganda did not have the facilities to accommodate deportees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to The Associated Press news agency, Oryem said Uganda was discussing issues of visas, tariffs, sanctions and related issues with the US, but not of migration. We are talking about cartels: people who are unwanted in their own countries. How can we integrate them into local communities in Uganda? he told the AP. A day later, Ugandas narrative had flipped. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni gestures as he speaks to the media at a joint briefing with Kenyan President William Ruto (unseen) at the State House during his two-day state visit in Nairobi on May 16, 2024 [Simon Maina/AFP] What might Uganda gain from this? The Foreign Ministrys statement on Thursday did not state what Uganda might be getting in return. Other countries, including Eswatini, have reportedly accepted deportees in exchange for lower tariffs. Uganda has been hit with 15 percent tariffs on goods entering the US, as part of Trumps reciprocal tariff wars. Senior government officials in early August told local media that the tariffs would disrupt Ugandan exports, especially in the agricultural sector, and that Kampala would enter negotiations for a better deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coffee, vanilla, cocoa beans and petroleum products are some of Ugandas key exports to the US. Kampala is particularly keen on boosting coffee exports to the US and competing with bigger suppliers like Colombia. The US, on the other hand, exports machinery, such as aircraft parts, to Uganda, which imposes an 18 percent tariff on imported products. The US and Uganda have historically enjoyed friendly ties, with the US routinely sending aid to Kampala. However, after Uganda passed an anti-homosexuality bill into law in 2023, relations turned sour, and the US accused Uganda of human rights violations. The law proscribes punishment, including life sentences, for same-sex relations. Washington thereafter cut aid funding for HIV programs and issued visa restrictions on Ugandan government officials complicit in undermining the democratic process. The US also banned Uganda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade programme that helped African countries trade tariff-free with the US, but that Trumps tariffs have effectively killed. The World Bank additionally banned Uganda from its loans for two years, although the restriction was lifted this June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rights activists say the deal on deportees could make the US administration more favourably inclined towards Uganda, but at the expense of those deported. The proposed deal runs afoul of international law, human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo told the AP. He added that such an arrangement leaves the legal status of deportees unclear as to whether they are refugees or prisoners. We are sacrificing human beings for political expediency; in this case, because Uganda wants to be in the good books of the United States, Opiyo said.That I can keep your prisoners if you pay me; how is that different from human trafficking? Does Uganda already host refugees? Yes, Uganda is Africas largest refugee host country. It already hosts some 1.7 million refugees, largely from neighbouring South Sudan, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are all dealing with armed conflict and unrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations has, in the past, hailed the country as having a progressive refugee policy and maintaining an open-door approach to asylum. However, opposition activists are sounding the alarm over the governments dismal human rights record. Uganda has been ruled by Museveni since 1986, with his party winning contested elections in landslides. Opposition members and journalists are often targeted in arrests. Some report being tortured in detention. Speaking to the AP, opposition lawmaker Muwada Nkunyingi said the US deal could give Musevenis government further Western legitimacy ahead of general elections scheduled for January 2026. The deal was struck to clear their image now that we are heading into the 2026 elections, Nkunyingi said. He urged the US not to ignore what he described as human rights issues in Uganda. Jasmin Ramirez holds a photo of her son, Angelo Escalona, at a government-organised rally protesting against the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, who were transferred to an El Salvador prison, in Caracas, Venezuela, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 [Ariana Cubillos/AP] What other countries has the US sent people to? Eswatini, Rwanda and South Sudan have struck similar agreements with the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eswatini, in July, accepted five unnamed men from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba and Yemen. Tricia McLaughlin, Department for Homeland Security assistant secretary, described them as individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back. She added that they were convicted of offences ranging from child rape to murder, and faced up to 25 years in jail. The men are presently held in detention facilities and will be sent back to their countries, according to officials who did not state a timeline. Activists accuse the Eswatini government of engaging in the deal in exchange for lower tariffs from the US. The tiny country, which exports apparel, fruits, nuts and raw sugar to the US, was hit with a 10 percent tariff. No country should have to be engaged in the violation of international human rights laws, including breaching its domestic laws, to please the Global North in the name of trade, Simelane of SALC, who is leading an ongoing court case challenging the Eswatini governments decision, told Al Jazeera. The move, he said, was against the countrys constitution, which mandates that international agreements pass through parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we want, at the core, is for the agreement to be published for public scrutiny, and for the public to understand (if) it indeed is in line with our national interest, Simelane said. We further want the agreement declared unconstitutional because it lacked parliamentary approval. South Africa, which borders Eswatini on three sides, summoned the smaller countrys diplomats earlier in August to raise security concerns about the arrangement. Similarly, the US sent eight barbaric criminals to South Sudan in July. The DHS listed them as being from Cuba, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico and South Sudan. They were convicted of crimes such as first-degree murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and sexual assault, the DHS said. The men were initially diverted to Djibouti for months pending a legal challenge in the US. However, in late June, the US Supreme Court approved the move to South Sudan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rwanda, too, has confirmed that it will take 250 deportees from the US at an unnamed date. According to government spokesperson Yolande Makolo, the deportees will enjoy workforce training, health care and accommodation. The country previously struck a controversial migrant deal for a fee with the United Kingdom. That deal, however, fell through when the new Labour government was elected in the UK in 2024. Outside Africa, El Salvador has taken in 300 migrants, mainly from Venezuela, for a $6m fee. Costa Rica accepted 200 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, China, Ghana, India and Vietnam. While many have been repatriated, some 28 people were still in detention by June. It is unclear what the US offered in return. Nearly 300 people from countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and China were sent to Panama in February. The August bank holiday has brought record temperatures for parts of the UK, with the hottest recorded in Wales. Hawarden, on the border near Chester, hit 29.6C - the highest recorded in Wales on the August bank holiday. Magilligan in Northern Ireland also enjoyed a record high of 24.5C. The Met Office said last week that the summer was already on track to be among the UK's hottest on record, with four heatwaves declared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the heat will be short-lived, as overnight the remnants of Hurricane Erin are set to bring in wet and windy weather - first to Northern Ireland, and then across most of the UK. As of 17:00 BST, the highest temperature for England recorded on Monday was 29.3C in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. The hundreds of thousands of people attending the Notting Hill Carnival in west London saw plenty of warm weather, with a high in the city of 28C. For Scotland, where there was no bank holiday on Monday, the highest temperature was 27.1C recorded at Charterhall in the Borders. But rain and winds of up to 40mph are is expected in Northern Ireland and Scotland's Western Isles by late afternoon. England's highest temperature on Monday was 29.3C, but Wales and Northern Ireland reached new records [Reuters] The rest of the week looks much more changeable with showers or longer spells of rain expected, as well as windier, cooler conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is in part due to the remnants of Hurricane Erin getting closer to the UK, having skirted the Caribbean and east coast of the US this week. Temperatures in East Anglia and south-east England could still reach 27C on Tuesday, but by Friday the mercury will drop to between 16-19C. The Met Office expects rain to persist throughout the week - which will be welcome in many parts of the country after a particularly dry summer. South Farnborough in Hampshire has not seen any measurable rain in August so far, while many other locations across southern England have received less than 1mm of rain this month. Former hurricane Erin helped to push warm, tropical wind towards the UK - but its remnants are now set to bring in cooler, wetter and windier conditions [BBC] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prolonged dry periods throughout this summer have led to a significant shortfall of water in England, with hosepipe bans declared for millions - some of which are set to remain into the winter. This means the UK is on course for one of its worst harvests on record, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, a statutory research organisation. While linking climate change with specific individual weather events can be difficult, scientists say that climate change is generally making bouts of hot weather longer, more intense and more frequent. Four summer heatwaves in quick succession after an unusually warm spring suggests climate change is having some effect on 2025's weather. More on this story Ukraine marked its National Flag Day on Saturday with a ceremony attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. "This very flag embodies a feeling of deliverance for those we bring back from Russian captivity," Zelensky said in a post on X. "When they see the Ukrainian colors, they understand: the evil is over." The blue-and-yellow flag also represented a symbol of hope for Ukrainians living in territory occupied by the Russians, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the war-torn country will celebrate Independence Day to mark leaving the Soviet Union 34 years ago. The day also marks three and a half years since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. In Moscow, the Defence Ministry reported that Russian troops were continuing their advance in eastern Ukraine, taking the village of Kleban-Byk to the south-east of Kostyantynivka, which is being defended by Ukrainian troops. If the reports are accurate, Ukrainian troops in Shcherbynivka to the south would be virtually cut off, as their retreat is blocked by a dam. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian military observers confirmed on their maps that Kleban-Byk had been taken, and the Ukrainian General Staff report referred only to attacks on Shcherbynivka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier the General Staff reported that a Ukrainian MiG-29 combat jet had crashed while landing after a sortie, killing the pilot. The cause of the crash was still being investigated, it said. The MiG-29, which dates back to the Soviet era, forms the basis of Ukraine's small air force, which has received aircraft of the same type from Poland and Slovakia since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. The air force also reported attacks by 49 Russian drones overnight, 36 of which had been intercepted. Strikes in seven locations were reported, and air raid sirens sounded in Kiev during the morning. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defences were in operation and that one drone fell onto a road. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Minsk against reckless provocations and advised it not to approach Ukraine's borders amid planned military exercises on Belarusian territory. Source: Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement, as reported by European Pravda Details: The ministry emphasised that Belarus has been complicit in Russia's crime of aggression against Ukraine since 2022 and that cooperation between Moscow and Minsk poses a threat to the whole of Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We call on our partners to remain vigilant, to increase sanctions and political pressure on Russia and Belarus, to jointly counter Russian propaganda and strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities, which protect Europe from the Russian threat," the statement said. The ministry also reiterated that the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders had taken place under the cover of joint Russia-Belarus Zapad-2021 military exercises in 2021-2022. Quote: "We warn Minsk against reckless provocations, advising to remain prudent, not to approach the borders and not to provoke the defence forces of Ukraine." Details: The statement was issued amid upcoming Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) exercises in Belarus in the coming weeks, including Interaction-2025, Search-2025 and Echelon-2025, and joint strategic drills by the Belarusian and Russian armed forces Zapad-2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda earlier said that Zapad-2025 exercises would be two to three times smaller in scale than those held in 2021 before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As the Zapad-2025 military exercises draw near, Lithuania has closed its airspace along part of the border with Belarus. Belarus recently announced that it does not rule out a partial change in the location of the Zapad-2025 exercises, saying they might be moved deeper into the country, blaming this on what it claimed was the aggressive behaviour of Poland and Lithuania. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, has summed up the results of the latest operation against Russian oil refineries and pipelines. Source: Brovdi on Telegram Details: Brovdi reported that Ukrainian drones have struck at least four major facilities inside Russia over the past seven days: 14 August Lukoils Volgograd Refinery in Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) Oblast, which is reported to have stopped operations; 18 August a Druzhba oil pumping station in Nikolskoye, Tambov Oblast. The Russians claimed that it had been repaired within 48 hours, but there is no evidence that it has resumed operations; 20 August the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery in Rostov Oblast. As of 23 August, a fire has been raging for over 60 hours and continues to spread; 21 August another Druzhba oil pumping station in Unecha, Bryansk Oblast. According to reports, a huge fire engulfed the facility. The Russians have claimed that it will be repaired within five days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brovdi has dubbed the refinery strike operation "Ruszkik Gaza" Hungarian for "Russians, go home!" Background: On 22 August, Hungary received a notification that the Druzhba oil pipeline on the Russia-Belarus border had come under attack for the third time in a short period. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban decided to write a letter to US President Donald Trump about Ukraine's attack on the Druzhba oil pipeline. Trump apparently replied that he was angry about the attack. Separately, the foreign ministers of Slovakia and Hungary issued a complaint to the European Commission in connection with the attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has released a video showing an operation that foiled a Russian attempt to break through in Donetsk Oblast and advance towards the borders of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. DIUs Russian Volunteer Corps Russian military volunteers fighting for Ukraine was also involved in the operation. Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in a video Details: The joint operation to stop the Russian attempt to break through in Donetsk Oblast and advance towards the borders of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was conducted by the Russian Volunteer Corps, the Bratstvo unit from DIUs Tymur Special Detachment, and soldiers from the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fighters from the Russian Volunteer Corps captured 16 Russian service personnel during the assault and mop-up operations. Some of the prisoners were "flag-bearers" who were supposed to film fake news reports about the "capture" of Ukrainian settlements, particularly the village of Andriivka-Klevtsove. DIU has released a video of the operation but did not disclose exactly when it was conducted. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar congratulated Indian scientists on the occasion of National Space Day and said that this day is being celebrated so that the new generation can gain knowledge about space. Speaking to reporters, Manohar Lal Khattar said, "National Space Day is being celebrated on 23 August. Today is the third National Space Day since in 2023 Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched and the Vikram lander landed on the moon. This day is being celebrated so that our new generation can gain knowledge about space and students in schools and colleges can learn about it. Today, in the field of agriculture, health, infrastructure or mining in day-to-day life, space technology plays an important role." "Today, through science, Indian scientists are once again doing great work, and through this, they are making a significant contribution to the world. On this occasion, I congratulate everyone," he added. Meanwhile the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday unveiled the model of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) in Delhi on the occasion of National Space Day. The ISRO aims to launch the first module of the project by 2028, and the full station is expected to become operational by 2035. The BAS is set to be a significant platform for indigenous research, including microgravity studies and testing technologies for long-duration human space missions. India's journey to establish its own orbital laboratory marks a major leap in its space program and reinforces its position as a global leader in space exploration. Earlier today, ISRO chief V Narayanan emphasised that by the year 2035, India will establish the "Bharatiya Antariksh Station" whose first module will be lifted off in the year 2035. He stated that India will land on the moon by the year 2040 which will make India's space program the top other than any country in the world. The ISRO chairman also announced that India will launch the Chandrayaan 4 mission which will have the Venus Orbiter Mission. "Based on his direction and vision, we are going to have a Chandrayaan-4 mission. We are going to have a Venus Orbiter Mission. We are going to have a space station called BAS (Bharatiya Antriksh Station) by 2035, and the first module will be lifted off by 2028. The Prime Minister has given approval for an NGL (Next Generation Launcher)... By 2040, India will land on the moon and we are going to bring back safely. Thereby by 2040, Indian Space Program will be at par with any other space program of the world...," V Narayanan said. Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi while virtually addressing the event, recalled the success of the Chandrayaan 3 mission, stating that India created history by becoming the first country to reach the south pole of the Moon. He emphasised that achieving new milestones every day has become the nature of India and its scientists. "Achieving new milestones one after another in the space sector has become the nature of India and Indian scientists. Just two years ago, India became the first country to create history by reaching the South Pole of the Moon," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also lauded the success of the Axiom 4 mission, stating that Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla has filled India with pride by hoisting the tricolour at the International Space Station. Referring to his meeting with Group Captain Shukla, the Prime Minister asserted on India's immense courage and infinite dreams amongst its youth. "We have also become the fourth country in the world to have the capability of docking and undocking in space. Just three days ago, I met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He filled every Indian with pride by hoisting the tricolour on the International Space Station. The moment, the feeling when he was showing me the tricolour, is beyond words. In my discussion with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I have seen the immense courage and infinite dreams of the youth of the new India," PM Modi said. (ANI) A Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot was killed after completing a combat mission early on Aug. 23, according to a statement by Ukraine's Air Force. The pilot, Major Serhii Bondar, died during landing, the Air Force said in its statement. The causes and circumstances are still being established, it added. The Air Force did not specify what mission the pilot was carrying out when the death occurred. During Russia's aerial attacks on Ukraine, which have grown increasingly intense and frequent in recent months, Ukraine's pilots often work with land-based air defense to repel the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overnight, Russia attacked Ukraine with 49 Shahed combat drones and decoys, according to the Air Force. Thirteen struck targets, while 36 were repelled, the Air Force said. In June, Bondar was formally honored alongside other soldiers with a state award "for personal courage shown in protecting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and selfless performance of military duty" in a formal decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. He was born in 1979. Several pilots have died since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including the recent death of F-16 pilot Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, who died in June while repelling a massive Russian aerial attack of 477 drones and 60 missiles. Ustymenko shot down seven targets that night before his aircraft was damaged, and lost alitutde before crashing. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Major Serhii Bondar, a MiG-29 fighter pilot and deputy squadron commander, was killed during landing approach after completing a combat mission on the night of 22-23 August. Source: Ukraine's Air Force, 40th Ghost of Kyiv Tactical Aviation Brigade Quote: "MiG-29 fighter pilot Major Serhii Bondar, 46, was killed during landing approach." Pilot Serhii Bondar Photo: 40th Ghost of Kyiv Tactical Aviation Brigade Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Serhii Bondar served in the 40th Ghost of Kyiv Tactical Aviation Brigade. He was born in 1979 in Kropyvnytskyi, and lived there with his wife, son and daughter. In 2000, he graduated from the Kharkiv Institute of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He dedicated his entire life to aviation, at one point working as a lecturer at the National Aviation University. With the onset of Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, he returned to service. In the 40th Brigade he retrained to pilot L-39 and MiG-29 aircraft. It was on MiG-29 fighters that he carried out daily combat missions: destroying Russian air targets, striking Russian positions, headquarters and equipment with missiles and bombs across different sectors of the front. In the 40th Brigade, Serhii Bondar is remembered as an experienced and composed pilot. This news has been updated since publication. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Pope Leo XIV has said he is "delighted" the UK has agreed to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Speaking to a delegation of 15 refugees from Chagos, Pope Leo said that the move represented a "significant victory" in their long battle to "repair a grave injustice". Under the terms of a treaty signed in May, Mauritius will gain sovereignty of the islands from the UK, but allow the US and UK to continue operating a military base on one of the islands, Diego Garcia, for an initial period of 99 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pope said he hoped Mauritian authorities would ensure the refugees are able to return home. UK opposition leaders - and some Chagossians now resident in the UK - have criticised the deal. Speaking in French, the pontiff said: "The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and a powerful symbol on the international stage." He added that all people "must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, in particular the right to live on their land - and no one can force them into exile". A UK government spokesperson said the military base on Diego Garcia was "essential" to the security of the UK and its allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This deal secures the operations of the joint US-UK base for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out," they added. The UK purchased the islands for 3m in 1968, but Mauritius has argued it was illegally forced to give away the islands in order to gain independence from the UK. The islands were then cleared to make way for a UK-US armed forces base with large groups of Chagossians moving to Mauritius and the Seychelles, or taking up an invitation to settle in England, mainly in Crawley, West Sussex. In May, the government said it would pay Mauritius an average of 101m a year for 99 years under the terms of the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deal sets a 24-mile buffer around Diego Garcia, where nothing can be built without UK consent. Foreign military and civilian forces will also be barred from other islands in the archipelago, with the UK retaining a power to veto any access to the islands. The treaty will come into effect only after it is approved by both the UK and Mauritian parliaments. Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, was separated from Mauritius along with the rest of the Chagos Islands in 1965 and now houses a US military base [Reuters] When the deal was struck, the Conservatives described it as "an act of national self-harm", which left the UK "more exposed to China" because of its ties with Mauritius. The prime minister insisted that the deal was imperative to maintaining the UK's national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we did not agree this deal the legal situation would mean that we would not be able to prevent China or any other nation setting up their own bases on the outer islands or carrying out joint exercises near our base," Sir Keir Starmer said. "No responsible government could let that happen." The agreement was welcomed by Mauritian Attorney General Gavin Glover, who told the BBC in May: "Our country is elated that this 60-year struggle is finally over." However, two women born in Diego Garcia who wanted to be able to return there had raised a last-minute legal challenge against the deal in May. The High Court went on to dismiss the challenge. By David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) -Former Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage set out plans on Saturday for "mass deportations" of migrants who have crossed the English Channel on small boats if his Reform UK party forms Britain's next government. In an interview with Saturday's edition of The Times newspaper, Farage said he would withdraw Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights and sign deals with Afghanistan, Eritrea and other top countries of origin to repatriate illegal migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We can be nice to people, we can be nice to other countries, or we can be very tough to other countries ... I mean (U.S. President Donald) Trump has proved this point quite comprehensively," Farage said. Asked if he was concerned that asylum seekers would be killed or tortured if they were sent to countries with poor human rights records, Farage said he was more worried about the threat he believed asylum seekers posed to Britons. "I can't be responsible for despotic regimes all over the world. But I can be responsible for the safety of women and girls on our streets," he said. Britain has seen regular small-scale protests in recent weeks outside hotels housing asylum seekers, spurred in part by concerns about public safety after some migrants were charged with sexual assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broader opinion polls show that immigration and asylum are the public's greatest concern, just ahead of the economy, and Reform UK - which won five seats at last year's general election - has topped recent voting intention polls. Last year 37,000 people - mostly from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Vietnam and Eritrea - arrived in Britain from France by crossing the English Channel in small boats. The total was up by a quarter from 2023 and accounted for 9% of net migration. About two-thirds of people who arrive via small boats and claim asylum are successful and only 3% have been deported, according to figures analysed by the University of Oxford. Farage told The Times he would end the right to claim asylum or to challenge deportation for those who arrived by small boats by replacing existing human rights legislation and opting Britain out of refugee treaties, citing a national emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The aim of this legislation is mass deportations," Farage said, adding that a "massive crisis" caused by asylum seekers was fuelling public anger. The Times said Farage wanted to create holding facilities for 24,000 migrants on air bases at a cost of 2.5 billion pounds ($3.4 billion) and operate five deportation flights a day with total deportations reaching the hundreds of thousands. If that failed, asylum seekers could be held on Ascension Island, a British territory in the South Atlantic, to send a symbolic message, Farage said. ($1 = 0.7395 pounds) (Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by Aidan Lewis) Aug. 23GRAND FORKS The UND Immigration Law Clinic officially opened this month to help students gain experience in immigration law and to address the labor shortage in North Dakota. There is both a labor shortage and an attorney shortage in North Dakota. Hoping to address it, the Legislature passed a bill in February forming an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota. "I'm trying to make sure that we're getting the best of both worlds here in terms of student experience and also jobs in North Dakota," Erick Resek said, UND professor and the supervisor of the clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of June, there are only 49 available workers for every 100 jobs in North Dakota. Resek said increases in immigration can boost local economies. A major purpose of the clinic is to address the need in Grand Forks for available workers. " ... People are coming here to work. They're coming here to work legally. They're going to be paying billions in taxes, they're going to be starting small businesses and they're going to be contributing to our society," he said. The other purpose of the clinic is to train students in immigration law, a sector of the legal field, which Resek said is notoriously complex. The clinic will be offered as a course for credit, and Resek said he expects around eight to 10 students to be involved each semester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will focus on giving students a variety of cases and experiences to help them develop their skills so they are better prepared for work after graduation. He hopes to grow students' abilities in trial experience, issue spotting and client interviewing. A hope for the clinic is that some students will want to stay and practice law in North Dakota. "If we can train students to have at least the basic skills for being an immigration attorney, then maybe they'll want to stay here and practice immigration (law)," Resek said. The clinic's legal assistance will come at no cost to clients. The state allocated $400,000 over a two-year period for the clinic to operate. Immigration law is changing at a rapid pace as policies targeting immigrants are at the top of the Trump Administration's agenda. Resek said the barriers facing those who want to come to the United States are greater than they've been before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have delays that are crazy," he said. "Like nothing we've seen in the past." These include long wait and processing times, severe government staffing shortages and a misalignment between new policies and existing procedures and infrastructure. Resek said on top of systematic challenges, there are fraudulent services that falsely claim to be able to help immigrants with paperwork, which can lead to mistakes with long-lasting consequences. He called the current state of immigration law and policy "chaos". "Congress doesn't allocate enough visas and we haven't had comprehensive immigration reform for nearly 30 years. The laws that are in place and the restrictions and the limits on visas and the caps have not caught up to the reality, which is that we need a lot more," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Resek's concern about the current complexity of immigration law, he is passionate about providing students with ample opportunities and experiences in the field. He said he has already heard from multiple students who are excited to enroll in the fall semester. Resek also said there is a vibrant immigrant community in Grand Forks and that people are drawn to the area for its low cost of living, safety and work opportunities. "You have a sort of stigma among American citizens (of) 'who wants to live in North Dakota?' and you have immigrants who say ... 'if there's work, if I can get a decent job and I can support my family, I'm going to go wherever I need to go,' " he said. FORT PIERCE A California man charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter in a two-vehicle crash on Florida's Turnpike that left three dead earlier this month has been ordered held without bail. Harjinder Singh, 28, an undocumented immigrant from India, made his first appearance Aug. 23 from the St. Lucie County Jail via a Zoom link to the downtown Fort Pierce courthouse. He is charged with three counts each of vehicular homicide and manslaughter. No bail was set for each of the six charges, primarily because of his status as an undocumented immigrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The court finds you present a substantial flight risk, and there are no conditions of release that will ensure your appearance at trial," 19th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Lauren Sweet told Singh. A Punjabi interpreter translated the judge's instructions and words for Singh. He was brought to the St. Lucie County Jail on Aug. 22 after being returned to Florida from California the night before. Officials earlier announced warrants were obtained for Singh for three counts of vehicular homicide, while the three additional manslaughter charges are new. The case has turned into a political flashpoint between the Republican Trump and DeSantis administrations and Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as Florida leaders use Singh's status as an undocumented immigrant to bolster their anti-immigrant policies and accuse blue-state Democrats of laxity on the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At about 3 p.m. Aug. 12, Singh was driving a tractor-trailer on Florida's Turnpike at mile marker 171 near the northern border of St. Lucie County when he tried to use an official use only cut-through from the northbound outside lane to make an illegal U-turn, authorities said. A 2015 Chrysler minivan traveling behind Singh slammed into the truck, killing a 54-year-old man from Miami, a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, and a 30-year-old man from Florida City, Florida Highway Patrol said. State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl on Aug. 23 said the Supreme Court within the last several years eliminated the single homicide rule. Any charge that is potentially related to the death could be applied to each of the deaths, so that's how you end up with the six different charges, he said. Bakkedahl said vehicular homicide contains elements in the charge that are not contained in manslaughter, and manslaughter has elements not contained in vehicular homicide. They're just separate and distinct charges, and authorized under the law, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In general, vehicular homicide involves the reckless operation of a vehicle in such a manner that the accused should have known the way they were operating the vehicle was likely to cause a death. Manslaughter can be proven by an intentional act that results in the death of another individual or a death that occurred as a result of the culpable negligence of another, Bakkedahl said. The Florida Highway Patrol has not released the names of the three people who died. St. Lucie County rescue personnel work the scene of a fatal accident Aug. 12 on Florida's Turnpike in which three people in a minivan were killed when they slammed into a tractor-trailer that had made an illegal U-turn. Singh entered the U.S. illegally through the Mexico border in 2018, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. He got a commercial drivers license in California. Public Defender Diamond Litty said Singhs case has been used as a talking point for the larger issue of immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our client is now caught in the crosshairs of political posturing, and that is unfortunate, Litty said. It's highly unusual for the president to weigh in on a case in the 19th Judicial Circuit any president. Litty, the circuits public defender since 1992, said shes rarely seen the kind of media attention to a case this has caused. This case basically has been used by both parties not just the Republicans or the Democrats both parties to get political viewpoints across, Litty said. She said politics do not belong in the criminal justice system. It is about whether or not the state can prove beyond every reasonable doubt someone's guilt, Litty said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 20, Singh was in custody in San Joaquin County, California, when he agreed during a hearing to waive extradition. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared Aug. 21 on Fox News to discuss Singh as video played of him being taken off a jet in Tallahassee escorted by four officials, including Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who held a handcuffed Singh by the shoulders as they exited the aircraft. Litty said they will have to hire an interpreter when they meet with him at the jail. Bakkedahl said Singhs ability to read English could relate to culpable negligence and recklessness. If you can't understand English and you can't read road signs, then operating a vehicle in and of itself is an inherently dangerous activity," he said. "But then operating an 18-wheeler heightens the dangerousness associated with that. So those are relevant factors and relevant considerations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bakkedahls understanding, based on contacts that law enforcement had with Singh, is that it appears he cannot speak or read English. "Definitively, whether or not he can speak English and he's pretending that he can't, I couldn't tell you, but by all accounts so far, we are of the opinion that perhaps he cannot," Bakkedahl said. "And if you can't speak it, one must assume you can't read it." Singh is expected to be deported after his state-level charges are concluded, according to Dave Kerner, executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Colleen Wixon is the education reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Truck driver charged in fatal Turnpike crash ordered held without bail Access to the parole hearings this week for brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez was tightly controlled by state prison officials, but despite the efforts to limit outside interference and drama, the unexpected release of an audio recording nearly derailed Friday's proceeding. The disclosure of an audio recording of Erik's parole hearing, held Thursday, tossed his older brother Lyle's hearing into disarray the following evening. The closely watched hearings gave the Menendez brothers a chance at freedom for the first time since they were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 shotgun killings of their parents in Beverly Hills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state parole board denied a petition from Erik, 54, after an all-day session Thursday. Updates to the news media were provided by a Times reporter who was selected to observe the hearings from a conference room at California Department of Corrections Rehabilitation headquarters near Sacramento. Audio recording of the hearing was forbidden except by state prison officials. Media organizations were prohibited from disseminating any information in so-called pool reports from the Times reporter until after the parole board issued its decision. The same restrictions applied to Lyle's hearing on Friday, which also ran long. But as the hearing came to a close, news broke that created a complication. TV station ABC7 published a recording of Erik's hearing, which apparently had been inadvertently handed over in response to a public records request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A corrections department spokesperson confirmed the audio had been "erroneously" released, but did not elaborate or respond to additional questions from The Times. The news report brought the hearing to a temporary halt, sparking anger, frustration and accusations that prison officials had purposely released the recording to cause a "spectacle." "This is disgusting," said Tiffani Lucero Pastor, one of the brothers' relatives who at one point screamed at the members of the parole board. "You've misled the family, and now to compound matters, you've violated this family and their rights." Heidi Rummel, parole attorney for both Erik and Lyle Menendez, asked for a break during the already nine hours long hearing, and at one point asked that the meeting be adjourned, arguing that it was no longer a fair hearing because of the audio's release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are sitting here asking Mr. Menendez to follow rules," she said during the hearing. "And in the middle of this hearing, we find out CDCR is not following its own rules. It's outrageous." The fate of Lyle, 57, had not yet been decided, but the board had denied Erik's release after questioning him extensively about his use of contraband cellphones and other violations of prison rules. I dont think you can possibly understand the emotion of what this family is experiencing, Rummel said. They have spent so much time trying to protect their privacy and dignity. The Menendez brothers first saw a chance at parole after Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon petitioned a judge to have their sentences reduced to 50 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move made them eligible for parole, but new Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman moved to oppose the petition after he defeated Gascon in the November election. L.A. County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic denied Hochman's request and found that prosecutors failed to show that the Menendez brothers were a danger to the public, clearing their path to the parole board. The case, and the brothers' petitions, has continued to generate nationwide attention, including a social media effort that pushed to have the Menendez brothers released in light of allegations the two were sexually abused by their father. With the case already under a microscope, the release of the audio file created yet another roller coaster of speculation and doubt. Parole Commissioner Julie Garland said that audio of the hearings could be released under the California Public Records Act, and that transcripts of the parole hearings usually become public 30 days after a decision is issued, under state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rummel noted during the hearing that, as a parole attorney, she had requested audio of parole hearings in the past but the requests had been denied. "It's highly unusual," she said during the hearing Friday. "It's another attempt to make this a public spectacle." Rummel had objected to media access to the hearing, and implied at one point that media access had led to a "leak." Rummel did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "It's unacceptable," said Maya Emig, an attorney representing Joan Vandermolen, Kitty Menendez's sister. "There has to be notice given." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rummel asked whether the board also planned to release the audio of Lyle Menendez's hearing. "What policy allows for this to happen in this hearing but literally no other hearing?" Rummel asked the board. "It's never been done." At one point, Rummel said she would be looking to seal the transcript of the hearing under Marsy's Law, which provides rights and protections to victims of crimes. Garland stated that audio from Friday's hearing would not be released publicly until Rummel had the opportunity to object in court or contest its release. Shortly after, Rummel said several relatives of the brothers had decided not to testify because of the release of the audio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's my impression from the family members that that's not enough of an assurance," she said. The two-member parole board ultimately decided the audio incident would not deter them from making a ruling late Friday evening. They rejected Lyle's request. Both brothers will be eligible for parole in three years, but they can petition for an earlier hearing in one year. 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. (NewsNation) NASA will soon be taking a giant leap towards Mars with a new mission, but it doesnt involve a launch for the crew. Instead of taking the journey to Mars, four volunteers will be living and working in an airplane hangar that simulates life on the Red Planet, called the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog Habitat (CHAPEA). CHAPEA will be complete with a 3D printed habitat that resembles Mars surface so the volunteers can do marswalks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comet 31/ATLAS could be nuclear-powered, Harvard scientist says This upcoming mission will be NASAs second CHAPEA mission after the first that took place in June of 2023, where four separate volunteers came back in July of 2024. The volunteers will spend a year in the simulated habitat in preparation for an actual Mars mission where everything from food growth, emergency response and psychological impact will be studied. Unlike actually being on Mars, the volunteers have to stay for the full year and cannot be brought back. Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut, said this mission is important because it will help to work out all the technical details in making sure the space agency is prepared to send its astronauts to Mars. SpaceX rocket carrying 24 satellites lights up California sky Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its the human, psychological aspects of that mission that are going to be the toughest ones, Virts said. Here, we can get a feel for what will keep them motivated and mentally healthy. Virts joined Morning in America to offer advice to the volunteers who are about to embark on the yearlong Mars journey. Its going to last a long time, but it will end, Virts said. Always expect the unexpected, and dont require that everything goes your way or perfectly all the time. If something isnt working, thats okay, you just have to be flexible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Brief Daniel Johnson's phone and vehicle were left at his home, raising serious concerns among investigators about his disappearance. Search efforts are focused on wooded areas due to Johnson's known habit of taking long hikes, utilizing drones, K-9s, and foot patrols. Health issues increase the urgency of finding Johnson, with investigators checking recent credit card activity for leads. CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities are searching for Daniel Johnson, a 60-year-old man from the Macedonia community, who has been reported missing since Wednesday afternoon. What we know Johnson was last seen around 4 p.m. on Aug. 20 at his home in the Hampton Station subdivision, off Cumming Highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson was last seen at his house Wednesday morning, and his car was spotted pulling back into the driveway around 4 p.m. that day. Since then, there has been no sign of him. His phone and vehicle were left at the home, raising concerns among investigators. Daniel Johnson (Cherokee County Sheriff's Office) "The fact that those items are still at the house is a serious concern to investigators at this point," Captain Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said. Deputies say Johnson was known to take long hikes, which is why search efforts have focused heavily on the wooded areas behind his subdivision. Crews have used drones, K-9s, and foot patrols to comb the area. Daniel Johnson (Cherokee County Sheriff's Office) Health issues add to the urgency of finding Johnson. Investigators are also checking to see if his credit card has been used recently Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 215 pounds. What they're saying Baker noted that while most missing persons are found within 24 hours, Johnsons case is unusual. "It's concerning. I mean, typically people don't go anywhere without their phones unless they don't want be found or maybe they forgot it. But usually that's one of the ways we're able to find people that have gone missing is through their phone," Baker said. "The fact that his car's there means either he's on foot and he's got into a car with somebody else or he's been taken. We just don't know." Baker said the terrain is difficult. "We've done drone searches. We've had canines go out and search the area, and our detectives and our deputies have been out walking the woods or behind the neighborhood. But it's a pretty vast area. There's a lot of different ways he could have gone." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baker said the most effective way to locate him is help from the community. "We've reached out to the neighborhood. Anybody to please check their surveillance cameras if they see him walking on there in front of their home. Any time between 4 p.m. or 1 a.m. Wednesday to Thursday, please call us," Baker said. "So we're hoping that maybe the public will see something, maybe they have seen something and they'll come forward." Why you should care Concerns for his safety are heightened because of health issues that could affect his well-being. What we don't know Investigators are following up on several leads, but his whereabouts remain unknown. Daniel Johnson (Cherokee County Sheriff's Office) What you can do The Sheriffs Office is asking anyone who may have seen Johnson in the past 48 hours or who has information about his disappearance to call a dedicated hotline at 770-501-8987. The Source The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office provided the details for this article. Aug. 22The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to kill an endangered Mexican gray wolf because of livestock kills, and environmental advocates are asking the agency to reconsider. The agency has killed at least three wolves this year because of livestock depredations, including one female wolf in Catron County last week. Arizona Game and Fish also euthanized an ill wolf pup when relocating a pack in May, according to Arizona Republic reporting. "The Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to conservation and recovery of Mexican wolves, and we believe this is contingent upon both a healthy wolf population and acceptance of co-existence within the communities where the species is found," Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Aislinn Maestas said in a statement. "The Service is aware and shares the increasing concerns about health and human safety and negative impacts to ranching from the growing wolf population. ... All of our decisions are made to foster wolf conservation and recovery and co-existence within affected communities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental advocacy group, is asking the agency to call off its plan to kill a young adult male wolf, M3008, in the Bear Canyon pack. "I'm very concerned, particularly because of the genetic value of the wolf who is targeted, and the inordinate importance he holds for the population and even the subspecies as a whole," said Michael Robinson, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. The agency's removal order says the wolf's genetics will continue in the wild because of its siblings and father. In April, the agency mistakenly killed the wolf's mother, AF1823, who was also the pack's breeding female. They were authorized to kill an uncollared wolf from the pack after the wolves were connected to six confirmed and one probable cattle death over the previous year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The male wolf's most recent publicly available map location was in Arizona's Apache National Forest, but the pack also crosses into New Mexico in the Gila area. The agency approved plans to kill the wolf in July after four cows were killed by the pack and seven were injured in recent months. Another calf injury was assigned to a different wolf pack. The cows were grazing on leased public lands in Arizona. The agency placed diversionary food caches that M3008 showed no interest in, according to the removal order. New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association President Bronson Corn thinks the number of livestock killed by the pack is likely higher. The way cattle depredations are confirmed was changed several years ago, the result being that livestock producers have to find killed cattle more quickly if they want to prove a wolf kill, according to Corn. "If there's four confirmed depredations, I can assure you, there's another 15 that have not been found. And at today's cattle prices, if there's four cows, that's $12,000 on four cows," Corn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Livestock producers do get reimbursed for confirmed wolf kills. The Arizona Livestock Loss Board and the County Livestock Loss Authority in New Mexico approved more than $950,000 for Mexican wolf depredation compensation from 2018 through 2022, according to the five-year evaluation of the Mexican Wolf recovery strategy. They also approved close to $735,000 in conflict avoidance grants during that time. "The payment that has been made for those livestock producers is not anywhere remotely close to the actual value of those animals that were killed," Corn said. The removal order authorizing killing M3008 expires at the end of August. Fish and Wildlife did not confirm if the wolf has already been killed. An uncollared female wolf from the Dillon Mountain Pack living in Catron County was killed by Fish and Wildlife last week. The pack was involved in 10 confirmed livestock kills, two probable wolf-caused depredations, one injury and one probable injury. The wolf was 3 months old, according to Robinson. Fish and Wildlife did not confirm the animal's age. "If the genetics doesn't improve, extinction is not around the corner, and it's not around two or three corners, but it's definite," Robinson said. "... These more genetically valuable wolves, they are the path out of that trajectory toward extinction." The Belthangady Court on Saturday sent the complainant in the Dharmasthala case to 10 days of Special Investigation Team (SIT) custody. The SIT is investigating the Dharmasthala mass burial case. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters that police is investigating to unearthen the network behind in the case and confirmed the arrest of the complainant. "It is true that he (the complainant) has been arrested, he is in police custody, cannot give any information as investigation is ongoing, Officers will continue the investigation, I will get more information from the SIT. I cannot give more information until the investigation is completed, what network is behind this will be found..." Karnataka Legislative Council Leader of Opposition and BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy suspected the possibility of a "bigger conspiracy" to "defame" Hindu temples. "The main conspirator, the masked man Chinnaya, has now removed his mask. SIT has arrested him and brought him before the court of law, which may keep him in police custody for some time. There is a bigger conspiracy behind this. They wanted to defame the Hindu temples... Those who are joining together to form a group to blackmail the Dramasthala issue have their lies exposed. Everybody is doubting the Congress government because they are also involved in this... Everyone involved in conspiring over this issue should be arrested...," Narayanaswamy told ANI. Earlier this month, the Karnataka Government constituted an SIT to probe the matter related to alleged incidents of mass murder, mass rape, and mass burial in Dharmasthala town. (ANI) Less than 24 hours after his release, US authorities have informed Kilmar Abrego Garcia that he may be deported to Uganda, following his refusal to accept a plea deal in a pending criminal case, his lawyers say. Attorneys for Mr Abrego Garcia say he declined an offer to plead guilty to human smuggling charges in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica - a deal proposed after it became clear he would be released from custody. His lawyers now accuse the US government of trying to "coerce" him to plead guilty by threatening to re-deport him "halfway across the world" to Uganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Salvadoran national was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March, and then brought back to face criminal charges. The deal to be sent to Costa Rica was offered on Thursday after it became clear Mr Abrego Garcia would likely be freed from a Tennessee jail on Friday. The Costa Rican government agreed to accept him as a refugee and provide him legal status there, a letter from a Costa Rican official included in the legal filing says. Mr Abrego Garcia would only be deported to Costa Rica after serving his sentence on the smuggling charges, according to the court filing. His attorneys now say that upon Mr Abrego Garcia's release from federal custody, they were informed of the government's intention to deport him to Uganda - a country with which he has no known ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The DOJ, DHS, and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat," the lawyers wrote in the filing. The lawyers say Mr Abrego Garcia has until Monday morning to accept a plea in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, "or else that offer will be off the table forever". It was not immediately clear whether he was considering the government offer. Now in Maryland with his family, Mr Abrego Garcia is scheduled to appear in a Baltimore immigration court on Monday. If a judge approves the government's request, he could face deportation within days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US reached bilateral deportation agreements with Honduras and Uganda as part of its crackdown on illegal immigration, according to documents obtained by the BBC's US partner CBS. "This is a temporary arrangement with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted," Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, permanent secretary to the Ugandan foreign ministry, said in a statement. "Uganda also prefers that individuals from African countries shall be the ones transferred to Uganda." Mr Abrego Garcia's deportation case has become a fixture of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was deported to his native El Salvador in March, and initially kept in the notorious Cecot prison. But after US government officials acknowledged he was deported due to an "administrative error", a judge ordered the administration to "facilitate" his return. He was returned to the United States in early June and sent to the state of Tennessee, where he was charged in a human smuggling scheme. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In late June, a federal judge in Tennessee had ruled that Mr Abrego Garcia was eligible for release, but remained in jail over fears from his own legal team that he could be swiftly deported again if he left the facility. The US federal government on Friday ordered all construction be halted on a massive wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island that is 80 percent complete. It was the latest in a series of orders blocking climate-friendly wind power from the administration of US President Donald Trump, who said on Thursday that "wind doesn't work." The Revolution Wind project, which started construction last year after receiving all the necessary permits, is intended to power more than 350,000 homes in the US state of Rhode Island, according to its builder, Danish renewables firm Orsted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Giacona, acting director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), issued a letter on Friday ordering the project to "halt all ongoing activities" to allow time for a review. "In particular, BOEM is seeking to address concerns related to the protection of national security interests in the United States," the letter read, without elaborating. "You may not resume activities until BOEM" has completed the review, it added. Orsted said in a statement it is "evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously," including engaging in "potential legal proceedings." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wind farm is 80 percent complete, with 45 of its planned 65 wind turbines installed, the company said, adding it hopes to finish the project by late next year. The entire wind power sector has faced a major challenge in the US since Trump replaced renewables-friendly Joe Biden in the White House in January. Trump has frozen federal permitting and loans for all offshore and onshore wind projects -- and repeatedly expressed his distaste for wind power. "It destroys everything, it looks terrible, it's a very expensive form of energy -- and we're not doing the wind, we're going back to fossil fuel," Trump said in Washington on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the United States has been blocking and stalling wind power, China and Europe have been breaking records in their embrace of the green energy. Orsted, once considered a success story, said last week it is planning to raise $9.4 billion by selling shares after the US setbacks. Empire Wind, another massive wind power project off New York being constructed by Norway's Equinor, was also temporarily halted by the Trump administration in April. dl/jgc SEATTLE (AP) Residents of the Western U.S. sweltered in a heat wave Saturday that hospitalized some people, with temperatures forecast to hit dangerous levels throughout the weekend in Washington, Oregon, Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. About 1.2 million people were under extreme heat risk, meaning temperatures were expected to stay dangerously high with no relief overnight. The largest area under the warning was around Tucson, Arizona, where the National Weather Service forecast highs between 102 and 107 degrees Fahrenheit (39 and 42 degrees Celsius). Areas of inland Southern California also faced extreme risk. Another 18.6 million were under major heat risk nationwide, affecting workers and anyone without regular cooling and hydration, including in Miami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portland, Oregon, reported a record high for Aug. 22, according to preliminary data: 102 degrees (38.9 Celsius). If upheld it would break the 98-degree (36.7-degree Celsius) high for the date, set in 1942, according to the NWS. Struggling through the smothering heat were long-distance runners in a Portland's annual Hood to Coast relay race, which goes from inland Mt. Hood to the Pacific Ocean. At least one runner competing as part of a group of athletes over 50 lost consciousness after running 4 miles (6.4 kilometers). David Loftus said he does not remember collapsing but his companions told him it happened shortly after he passed the baton. Some other stranger saw me wobbling and caught me before I hit the ground, Loftus said. When he regained consciousness, he saw an ambulance there to pick him up. Loftus, a writer and amateur actor from Portland, said Saturday that he hydrated and doused himself with water before his leg of the race but it wasn't enough. He was held for observation overnight at a hospital but recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around the time Loftus took the baton, a notice of extreme heat emergency was posted for Portland and the surrounding county. Emergency visits and 911 calls were up. Typically, we see a single visit or no visits. Yesterday, we had 16 visits, six of them from Hood to Coast participants, Brendon Haggerty of the Multnomah County Health Department said via email. The Portland metro area is facing the highest heat risk of 2025. In June 2021 the city recorded a high of 116 (46 Celsius) during a heat wave that resulted in more than 100 deaths. Most of the victims lived alone, and the vast majority were 60 or older, but the youngest was 37, officials said at the time. ___ The quote from David Loftus has been corrected to show that someone caught him before he hit the ground, not left the ground. HONOLULU (AP) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to overly restrict access to mifepristone, a medication for abortions and miscarriage management, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union argued Friday in a lawsuit by a Hawaii doctor and healthcare associations challenging the legality of the restrictions. They are asking a judge to find that the FDA violated the law by restricting a safe medication without scientific justification, but stop short of flat-out seeking an immediate elimination of the restrictions, which currently include special certification for prescribers and pharmacies and requiring patients to review a counseling form. Plaintiffs are taking the more modest approach to give the agency an opportunity to correct its errors, Julia Kaye, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, said in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Jill Otake in Honolulu didn't say when she would issue a ruling. Friday's hearing comes as the pill used in most U.S. abortions continues to be ensnared in politics that have plagued it for nearly a decade, with many wondering if it will be further restricted under President Donald Trump's Republican administration. The case dates to 2017 and has spanned both Republican and Democratic administrations. All along, the FDA has dug its heels in and attempted to justify these extreme restrictions without ever providing a credible justification, Kaye told The Associated Press ahead of the hearing. And in the face of a mountain of scientific evidence confirming the safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaye noted that during former President Joe Biden's administration, the FDA concluded that requiring the pill to be picked up in person didn't provide a safety benefit and that the requirement should be lifted. The original lead plaintiff was a doctor in a small town on the island of Kauai where he had some colleagues who opposed abortion. At the time, a key restriction required patients to pick up the medication in person at a hospital, clinic or medical office, which meant the doctor would have had to involve many of his colleagues in order to stock and dispense the medication, Kaye said. The key barrier was eventually removed and the pill can be sent through the mail. The original doctor left Hawaii and the lawsuit continues to focus on the remaining restrictions that the ACLU says in a court filing disproportionately impact patients who already face difficulties accessing healthcare, such as those who are low-income or live in rural areas. Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice say in court documents that the FDA has already reduced the burden by removing the in-person dispensing requirement. The FDA's statements about the safety of mifepristone are contingent upon the restrictions being in place, Noah Katzen, an attorney representing the Justice Department, said in court Friday. He also disputed that the plaintiffs, including another Kauai doctor who has stepped in as lead plaintiff, have legal standing to challenge the restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Katzen declined to comment to the AP after the hearing. Hawaii law allows abortion until a fetus would be viable outside the womb. After that, its legal if a patients life or health is in danger. The state legalized abortion in 1970, when it became the first in the nation to allow the procedure at a womans request. For better and worse, the FDAs policy on medication abortion impacts patients in every state in the nation, including states where abortion is legally protected, Kaye told the AP. Ukraines First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia believes the United States should increase pressure on Russia if it does not soon agree to a summit with Ukraine. Source: Kyslytsia in an interview with NBC News, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kyslytsia said that Russia is continuing to manipulate the United States and US President Donald Trump personally, trying to stall the peace process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "But I think that, slowly and gradually, the US administration understands better that it has been manipulated by Moscow. I see no signs that there is readiness on Putins side to have meaningful conversations and that he is ready for a bilateral or trilateral meeting." Details: Kyslytsia believes that if Moscow refuses a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting, the introduction of additional US sanctions should be "almost instantaneous" once the deadline, which Trump has in mind, passes. Quote: "And then the Russians should really feel the pain of not being willing to follow the peace path that President Trump offered to the Russian Federation." Background: On 22 August, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy only after a summit "agenda" is prepared and no such plans currently exist. Trump expects that he will be able to assess the possibility of achieving peace in Ukraine "within two weeks" Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Authorities with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are increasing their scrutiny of foreigners who want to live and work in the U.S., a move that critics say could have a chilling effect on free speech. Its concerning, Andrew Chan, an attorney with the Seattle immigration and civil rights law firm MacDonald Hoague & Bayless, said. In a news release, USCIS stated officers will now be able to consider any involvement in anti-American or terrorist organizations, antisemitic activity, or promoting anti-American ideologies or activities in deciding whether immigrants can receive benefits, including whether they can live or work in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americas benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies, USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser said. Chan said many in the U.S. would agree certain actions are anti-American, such as providing material support to a terrorist group or defacing a religious institution. Of course, that is activity that should be banned, Chan said. Individuals should have their applications denied. But, they [USCIS] are not only talking about actions, theyre talking about espousing views, so WHO determines what is an anti-American view and from what standard and how is that applied? Its a concern that was raised when a Columbia University student, who was also a Palestinian activist and a green card holder, was arrested in March and threatened with deportation. Mahmoud Khalil was ultimately released, although the Trump Administration insists he committed immigration fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government has also begun giving closer scrutiny to the social media accounts of foreigners who are visiting or hoping to attend universities in the U.S. And according to the news release, the new USCIS policy has expanded the types of benefit requests that receive social media vetting. Immigration benefits including to live and work in the United States remain a privilege, not a right, Tragesser stated. But the right to speak freely has drawn people to the U.S. since the nations infancy. Chan said its about as American as any ideal can be. Freedom of expression, political views, religious freedom, those should be protected, and thats what it means to be an American, Chan claimed, which is why he said he has so many concerns about the new policy. This is the playbook to kind of turn the narrative on its head, and try to basically commandeer the concept of Americanism. Chan believes its far from American. This is what authoritarian governments do to quell dissent. Read more of Heather Boschs stories here. The federal government said it would deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda after he declined a plea deal, according to court filings. Federal prosecutors on Thursday offered Abrego Garcia the option to live freely with refugee or residency status in Costa Rica after serving prison time for federal human smuggling charges in exchange for a guilty plea, per his lawyers in the Saturday filings. Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious prison in his native El Salvador, declined the offer on Friday to instead return to his family in Maryland. He had been imprisoned in a Tennessee jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his return to Maryland, Abrego Garcias attorneys were notified later in the day that he must report to an Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) field office in Baltimore on Monday and that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to deport him to Uganda. Uganda is one of the latest countries to strike an agreement with the Trump administration to accept deportees. But some critics have sounded the alarm over human rights violations in the East African country. The only thing that happened between ThursdayCosta Ricaand FridayUganda was Mr. Abregos exercise of his legal entitlement to release under the Bail Reform Act and the Fifth Amendment, Abrego Garcias defense team wrote. There can be only one interpretation of these events: the [Justice Department], DHS, and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Friday release from prison is the first time Abrego Garcia has been outside custody since March, when he was deported due to an administrative error and sent to a megaprison in El Salvador despite an immigration judge barring his return to his home country in 2019. The Trump administration has previously mused about deporting Abrego Garcia to a third country. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday condemned the El Salvadorian natives release, calling it a new low. Today, we reached a new low with this publicity hungry Maryland judge mandating this illegal alien who is a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator be allowed free, she said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego Garcias attorneys did not offer any additional comments on the matter, and DHS did not immediately respond to inquiries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. For all its hype, artificial intelligence isn't without its psychological, environmental, and even spiritual hazards. Perhaps the most pressing concern on an individual level, though, is that it puts users on the hook for a nearly infinite number of legal hazards even at work, as it turns out. A recent breakdown by The Register highlights the legal dangers of AI use, especially in corporate settings. If you use generative AI software to spit out graphics, press releases, logos, or videos, you and your employer could end up facing six-figure damages, the publication warns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is thanks to the vast archive of copyrighted data that virtually all commercial generative AI models are trained on. The Register uses Nintendo's Mario as a prime example of how one might stumble, intentionally or not, into a massive copyright lawsuit, regardless of intent to infringe: if you use AI to generate a cutesy mascot for your plumbing company that looks too much like the iconic videogame character, you could easily find yourself in the legal crosshairs of the notoriously litigious corporation. "The real harm comes from the attorney's fees that you can get saddled with," intellectual property lawyer Benjamin Bedrava told the publication. "Because you could have a hundred and fifty thousand dollars in attorney's fees over something where the license would have been fifteen hundred dollars." For the moment, media companies seem to be going after AI startups directly, though that could change in a heartbeat depending on the size of your company, The Register notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of this month, there were at least twelve ongoing lawsuits from news publishers against AI platforms, alleging theft of copyrighted material, among other abuses. At the center of the debate is the commercialization of news articles, "without which [AI companies] would have no product at all," executive editor of Media News Group Frank Pine said in his commentary on the lawsuits. And earlier this summer, media giants Disney and NBC Universal brought a suit against the AI company Midjourney, essentially accusing it of running an industrial copyright infringement operation based on the studios' intellectual property. Midjourney is a perfect representation of the legal minefield users step into when dialing up AI generated graphics. Side-by-side comparisons show the software will spit out images that are remarkably similar to legally protected media; the prompt "popular movie screencap," for example, leads Midjourney to generate stills that look strikingly similar to films like Marvel's "Iron Man," and the Warner Bros' "The Dark Knight." Maybe that isn't a problem if you have an encyclopedic knowledge of which intellectual property to avoid, but given the breadth of data scraped to build these AI models and the sheer number of people now expected to use them to do their jobs, the idea of a middle-aged office worker unintentionally posting a promo featuring Groot isn't exactly unthinkable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worse yet, the companies building generative AI have been aware of these legal problems for a while. As far back as September of 2022, Midjourney founder David Holz was brushing off concerns about copyright infringement. "There isnt really a way to get a hundred million images and know where they're coming from," Holz told Forbes at the time. "It would be cool if images had metadata embedded in them about the copyright owner or something. But thats not a thing; theres not a registry. Theres no way to find a picture on the internet, and then automatically trace it to an owner and then have any way of doing anything to authenticate it." The founder's dismissive attitude is a great reflection of the AI industry's attitude as a whole: that it's better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to fly in a court of law. More on AI: AI Industry Warns That New Lawsuit Could Destroy It Entirely TYLER, Texas (KETK) The University of Texas at Tyler is preparing to welcome over 11,000 students as classes begin on Monday, marking an increase in enrollment compared to 2024. Tyler Junior College kicks off new school year with convocation celebration The university is focusing on student success and excellence in the classroom as part of its new plan for the upcoming academic year. They emphasized their pride in the new school year at their convocation celebration on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, Im just incredibly proud. I wish I could take all the credit, but we just have a great team of people and we were talking about it this morning. Were offering excellence over enrollment, said UT Tyler President Julie Philley. So we want to be excellent at everything that we do and excellent in our offerings. And if we do that well, I think the numbers follow. Philley also mentioned that students can expect new additions at the university, including several new degrees and more activities for everyone to enjoy. These enhancements are part of the universitys commitment to providing a comprehensive educational experience. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Utah Democratic Party has announced the appointment of its new executive director, Jade Velazquez. Velazquez currently serves as Chair of the Salt Lake County Democrats. He will begin his new role as Executive Director of the Utah Democratic Party on Sept. 8, 2025. Leading the Salt Lake County Democratic Party since 2023, Velazquez reportedly oversaw organizing, outreach, and electoral efforts in Utahs most populous county. He will continue to serve as County Chair through the Nov. 4 municipal election, according to a release from Salt Lake County Democrats, to ensure a smooth transition and maintain momentum for local candidates. Courtesy of Jade Velazquez Following the municipal election, the Dems will hold a special election to fill his Chair position. The date of the special election has yet to be announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serving alongside you as Chair of the Salt Lake County Democrats has been one of the greatest honors of my life, Velazquez said. I am so proud of what weve built together and I look forward to bringing my background in communications, organizing, and technology to build a modern, dynamic party ready for the future. 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. Rain lashed several parts of Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday evening. Areas including Lajpat Nagar, RK Puram, Lodhi Road, and Mandir Marg witnessed light showers. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), today's sky will be mostly overcast in Delhi, with one or two periods of light to moderate rain or thundershowers in numerous locations. In isolated places, an intense period may occur in the afternoon or forenoon. "There is a risk of light to moderate rain or thundershowers throughout the next two days, after another period of very light to light rain is anticipated in the early hours of Sunday," as per the Met Department. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital air quality index (AQI) stood at 98 at 8 am on August 23, falling in the 'satisfactory' category. Meanwhile, due to continuous rainfall in the high Himalayan regions, the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers were seen flowing above the danger mark too, prompting officials to warn the residents staying near the river banks and urge them to exercise caution. Visuals shared by the Uttarakhand Department of Information and Public Relations on X showed the river's water flowing just a few feet away from people's doorsteps, as the high currents wash away the dirt and any loose debris coming in contact with it. In Chamoli, a cloudburst has wreaked havoc in the region, with multiple houses and shops being filled with sludge due to heavy rainfall late on Friday night. The Indian Army's Infantry battalion promptly responded to the devastation, with 50 personnel being deployed from Rudraprayag to assist in relief operations. Preliminary reports indicate damage to houses and vehicles in the affected area. One person has reportedly died. Earlier, the district administration had forwarded a written requisition to the Army for assistance. In the aftermath of the disaster, District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari is personally present at the site, overseeing the operations. Teams from NDRF, SDRF, and police forces are carrying out relief and rescue operations, and the road near Harmani has been made operational, said the state's DIPR. (ANI) JD Vances friendly fishing trip in the U.K. earlier this month has left British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on the hook with a warning from the Environment Agency. Lammy was served with a formal warning for fishing without a license, according to an Environment Agency spokesperson. The law in the U.K. requires a fishing license for anyone over the age of 13 attempting to net a freshwater catch. Vance and his family were hosted by Lammy at the Foreign Secretarys country estate in Sevenoaks, Kent, roughly an hour south of London, on Aug. 8. Lammy served the vice president some home comfort in the form of a Kentucky-style fishing trip at a private pond on his property. U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Aug. 8, 2025, in Sevenoaks, England. / Pool / Kin Cheung - Pool/Getty Images While the two were snapped laughing as they cast their lines, the Environment Agency did not see the funny side and threatened Lammy with a fine of up to 2,500 (roughly $3,380). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the foreign secretary described the procedural error as an administrative oversight and noted that Lammy purchased a license retroactively, reporting his own mistake to the agency. Vance appears to have been a bigger hit with the fish than with the U.K.s political class. The one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the foreign secretary did not, Vance later told reporters. U.S. Vice President JD Vance fishes with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House in Sevenoaks, U.K., Aug. 8, 2025. / Suzanne Plunkett / REUTERS Otherwise, the vice president received a decidedly frosty reception from the British public. One countryside pub, the Michelin-awarded The Bull, in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, was reportedly forced to bar Vance after its staff refused to serve him. The 16th-century watering hole frequented by the British upper class, including former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and David Cameron, hosted former Vice President Kamala Harris just weeks earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in the Cotswolds, where Vance spent his summer vacation, a British activist group called Everybody Hates Elon followed Vance around with a truck displaying a baby-faced, bald-headed meme of the VP while protesters lined the route of his motorcade waving Palestinian flags and demanding his departure. A truck displaying a baby-faced meme of Vance, organized by the campaign group Everyone Hates Elon, travels through the U.K. town of Charlbury. / Toby Melville / REUTERS Lammy has previously made comments against President Donald Trump, describing him in 2018 as a woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath. Asked in 2024 whether he would apologize for the remarks, Lammy said not even vaguely. Vance, too, has made controversial statements about the U.K., previously saying it could become the first truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon, following the election of the Labour government last year. Despite the historical bad blood, Lammy described Vance as a friend and his familys visit as a real pleasure. The pair have previously met on several occasions, and Lammy has said they have found common ground. The Environment Agency declined to comment as to whether Vance himself had a fishing license but noted that warnings are usually the first course of action taken with unlicensed, amateur fishers. Lammy was only hit with the caution because he had publicized the excursion. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) A vehicle crashed into an electrical pole in Rockford on Friday night. Officers reported that traffic is blocked in both directions in the 1000 block of Kilburn Avenue due to the collision. The crash brought down power lines, halting traffic. Someone was taken into custody by officers on the scene. 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. SPRINGFIELD, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Authorities on Friday afternoon said that one man who was shot dead by police late Thursday night had driven towards police officers while they were investigating a previous incident. James Crary, 36, of Newport, N.H., died at the scene Thursday night. According to state police, law enforcement from Windsor County and the Town of Springfield were at an address on Valley Street shortly before 9:30 p.m. Police say they saw Crary in a vehicle outside the residence and that he then accelerated towards them while they were standing outside their own vehicles, at which point two officers opened fire. Windsor County Sheriffs Department Deputy Bryan Jalava is seen in this department photo. Springfield Police Officer Vincent T. Franchi is seen in this department photo. Springfield Police Officer Vincent T. Franchi and Windsor County Sheriffs Deputy Bryan Jalava have been identified as the two officers who opened fire on Crary. Both have been placed on paid leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chief Medical Examiners Office in Burlington will carry out an autopsy of Crarys body on Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. The horrific torture and killing of 8-year-old Genesis Mata is the latest tragedy to ignite a firestorm of protests and demands to reform Kern Countys Child Protective Services. Just when will demands, audits and promised improvements yield real reforms and better protect Kerns helpless children? The Kern County Board of Supervisors this week agreed to solicit bids to hire an independent consultant to investigate CPS's practices and procedures. What might have been done to prevent Genesis Aug. 2 death? In the 1990s, the state Legislature intervened and ordered an audit of the Kern department after several children died from abuse. Auditors proposed improvements and laws were changed. Kern County Department of Human Services Director Lito Morillo recently noted that in 2006, the Child Welfare Services League of America reviewed Kerns Child Welfare Services and developed a strategic improvement plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The long-lasting effects of these studies, audits, recommendations and strategic plans have not materialized. This spring, the Kern County grand jury reported CPS lacks the funding and staff to adequately protect Kerns children, as abuse cases continue to increase. Will this latest investigation lead only to more hand-wringing and empty promises? Once Genesis Aug. 2 death slips out of the headlines, will child protection once again become a low priority? Too many cases have emerged from Kern County, California, where reported situations of abuse were allowed to persist unchecked, ultimately leading to deaths of children who were failed by the very institutions meant to protect them, Josefina Villarreal wrote on a Change.org petition that demanded an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Genesis body was found abandoned in a Bakersfield motel bathtub on Aug. 2. Police report scalding hot water was poured over Genesis body, her fingers were broken by being slammed in a door, and she had been whipped with a cord or cable. Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry called Genesis death the worst case of child abuse seen in his departments history. Her father, Ray Mata Jr., 31, and his wife, Graciela Bustamonte, 24, Genesis stepmother, have been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated mayhem and inflicting injury upon a child. Also among the charges are two counts of torture and two counts of child cruelty. Mata Jr. and Bustamonte have pleaded not guilty and an October hearing is scheduled. A district attorney spokesperson said the counts reflect two cases. The identity of the second victim was not disclosed, but at the time of Mata Jr.s arrest, police and court records indicate he was being investigated by CPS after a school reported that a frequently absent child had visible bodily injuries. Seven children now have been removed from Mata Jr.s and Bustamontes home, and placed in protective custody. Mata Jr. has a lengthy criminal history, which includes arrests and convictions on drugs, weapons and vehicle charges. Genesis biological mother, Destiny Delacruz, 26, also has a criminal record that includes drug, theft and child abuse charges. She admits to having a lengthy use of methamphetamine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delacruz told a reporter she was 14 years old and had a son when she met then 18-year-old Mata Jr. Two years later, when she was 16, she gave birth to Genesis. In 2018, she turned over the children to Mata Jr.s mother in the belief she would provide better care. Delacruz said that was the last time she saw the children. It is uncertain how the children ended up in Mata Jr.s care. Delacruzs extended family members told reporters Kern CPS repeatedly ignored their many reports of allegations that Mata Jr. was abusing the children. Similar complaints about the departments handling of child abuse cases were aired during this weeks Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting. I have seen firsthand how broken Kern Countys child protection services is, Brooke Malley-Ault, a Mira Monte High School guidance counselor and Bakersfield City School District board member, told supervisors. As a mandated reporter, she and other school staff regularly report evidence of abuse, only to see little action taken. We feel hopeless because we know what weve seen, yet were told to stand back. As the public outrage grows over Genesis Matas death, CPS officials are encouraging people to report cases to the child abuse hotline 661-631-6011 or 800-540-4000. But the nagging question remains: If people call, will CPS come? On Thursday afternoon, panic spread across Villanova University after reports of an active shooter near the law school prompted students to run for cover and barricade themselves in classrooms. Police swarmed the campus, only to later determine the call was a hoax. RELATED COVERAGE >>> There are serious penalties: FBI Pittsburgh highlights dangers of swatting calls The call came in around 4:30 p.m. during the universitys orientation Mass for new students, sparking a massive law enforcement response. Authorities now say it was an instance of swatting, a type of hoax where fake emergency calls are made to trick police into sending a large, armed response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre a mall or a school, you have to react like its real, said retired Secret Service agent Jeff James. You dont have a choice, because making an error the other way is going to cost people their lives. RELATED COVERAGE >>> It was real: psychologist describes mental toll Wednesdays lockdown and hoax can take James says that swatting should be treated as a felony, and those responsible should be required to pay restitution for the chaos and costs caused by such hoaxes. The Villanova scare is not an isolated incident. In 2023, several local schools in Western Pennsylvania, including Oakland Catholic, Central Catholic, Laurel Highlands and Hopewell, received swatting threats claiming there was either an active shooter or a bomb on campus. Police later determined all of those calls to be fake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED COVERAGE >>> PHOTOS: Massive police response after active shooter hoaxes at Central Catholic, Oakland Catholic James warned that swatting can be more than just a prank. Criminals can use hoaxes to test and observe law enforcement responses. The concern is that if someone is doing this as a probe to see what the law enforcement response is going to be in planning their attack, they would know, okay, Im going to have three minutes where I can be actively shooting people before the police get here, James said. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Thats all I felt, sheer terror: Parents, students react to active shooter hoax at local schools Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James said that, as hoax calls grow more sophisticated, the law and police technology will also likely evolve. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Police is looking into a suspicious death at High Bridge Trail State Park. VSP says two cyclists found a womans remains around 7:30 a.m. Saturday in the Prospect area of the state park. VSPs Bureau of Criminal Investigation Appomattox Field Office is investigating with the help of the Department of Conservation and Recreation Law Enforcement and the Prince Edward County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roanoke Parks and Recreation working to get Roanoke Greenway back open after flooding State Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to please contact the Virginia State Police Division 3 Dispatch at 1-800-552-0962. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CODI Alert canceled after endangered teen missing out of Fredericksburg found safe UPDATE 08-23: In an update Saturday afternoon, state police said Alexander Chase Lopez was found safe. FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (DC News Now) Virginia State Police have issued a CODI Alert for a missing 16-year-old boy who was last seen in Fredericksburg on Friday night. State police said Alexander Chase Lopez, 16, was last seen at around 6:40 p.m. on Aug. 22 on Charlotte Street. Fox tests positive for rabies in Alexandria Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of his disappearance, he was spotted wearing a black hoodie and dark gray sweatpants, according to investigators. Police described the teen as 5 feet 5 inches tall with brown eyes and brown hair. VSP said that Lopezs disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety. In an update Saturday afternoon, state police said Lopez was found safe, canceling the CODI Alert. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) Groups like the League of Women Voters are reaching out to voters ahead of Tuesdays city vote. Whether its giving rides or guidance on how to vote, leaders want you to make your voice heard on Tuesday. A lot of those races are very tight, said Kim Bailey, president of the League of Women Voters. And some of them, it can come down to just a few votes. For the league, its important that Alabamians know whos in those races. Thats why Bailey said they are holding candidate forums in cities statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres so many things that really, these local municipal elections impact, she remarked. And you know, people should pay attention because it they can really influence their community that way. If you need a ride to the polls in your community, Lift Our Vote founder Jessica Fortune Barker said to reach out. Barker explained her organization will be hitting the streets to make sure people are making their voices heard. Trump makes World Cup announcement from Oval Office Lift Our Vote does everything that we can to make sure we are connecting communities with the information they need to be educated voters, as they head to the polls on voter day, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice is also connecting communities by canvassing in neighborhoods. Jordan Stallworth, civic engagement coordinator for the ACIJ, said theyve knocked on hundreds of doors in counties around the state. A lot of people dont know when the elections are, said Stallworth. And, because its not a federal election, they think its not as important who do you want representing you? Who do you want speaking for you? Who do you want speaking for your kids? Thats why Barker encourages everyone to double check their voter information, and what elections are happening in their city. Make sure you go ahead and make your plan now to get out on Tuesday and exercise your right to vote, she said. If you do need a ride to the polls, you can visit Lift Our Vote here, or call 256-701-4182 to get connected with someone in your area of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can also visit the Secretary of States website to find your polling location, and more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. KAHALUU (KHON2) For many years now, the water at Kahaluu Beach has been nothing short of filthy, but efforts from Senator Brenton Awas office and some local Elementary students are hoping to see that changed. Genki balls cleaning up more than just the Ala Wai Canal The water here at Kahaluu beach is some of the worst in the country actually, said Martha German, Kahaluu resident and volunteer for the water monitoring program Blue Water Task Force. Its been rated the second worst in the Blue Water Task Force report of last year. We think that a lot of it is coming from the cesspools in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to this, Senator Awas office organized a program to get Genki balls, mixtures of rice bran, dirt, molasses, and effective micro-organisms, or good bacteria, into the water, aiming to restore the quality of it. Were giving Mother Nature her probiotics, said Senator Awa. You still have people that are crabbing, they drop their nets in. We have the canoe club, kids are paddling there. If you have an open cut, youre at risk of infection. This is a health concern thats gone on for far too long. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Friday morning, students of Waiahole Elementary School took a field trip to the Kahaluu beach to toss 312 Genki balls into the water. They not only had a great time tossing the Genki balls into the water, but also learned more about the importance of keeping the water clean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We throw (the Genki balls) into the stream because we want to keep paddling and keep fishing in here, and catch crab so we can feed our family, and for our Ahupuaa to be cleaned, one student shared. Genki balls have also been used in a project for the Ala Wai, a project that Senator Awa hopes this one can build upon. Were relying on the community, its a positive thing that we have, said Senator Awa on the future of the project. Were hopeful that this grows. We have kids from four schools dropping 5,000 balls across five months for this project. But during this time, if people see what were doing, and they want to get involved, lets go. Because the more Genki balls we drop in here, the faster we can get good bacteria in here to clear out the bad bacteria and restore our water. Check out more news from around Hawaii Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students from Kahaluu, Ahuimanu, and Heeia Elementary will also participate in Genki Kahaluu in the coming weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The Wall Street Journal slammed the raid of President Trumps former national security adviser John Boltons home on Friday, labeling it a part of the presidents vendetta campaign. Law enforcement said the investigation into Bolton was over classified records stored at his residence in Bethesa, Md. But, the Journal argued the probe reeks of political retribution. Its hard to see the raid as anything other than vindictive. Mr. Bolton fell out of Mr. Trumps favor in the first term and then wrote a book about his experience in the White House while Mr. Trump was still President. Mr. Trump tried and failed to block publication, a Friday op-ed from the outlet reads, referencing Boltons 2020 book. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President then claimed Mr. Bolton had exposed classified information, though the book had gone through an extensive pre-publication scrub at the White House for classified material, it continues. The Journal says Trump is out for blood, citing other blows to Bolton, including the presidents January decision to nix his security detail. Bolton has made frequent cable appearances critiquing Trumps foreign diplomacy efforts, alleging the leader is a pawn for Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The Journal argued on Friday that this criticism is the motive behind the federal governments probe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unlikely that Mr. Bolton broke any laws on national secrets, and he certainly didnt share any with us over our long association with him. But perhaps Mr. Trump intends for the process itself to be the punishment even if there is ultimately no criminal charge, the op-ed says. Mr. Bolton has to pay for legal counsel, and his family has to endure the anxiety of being under federal government siege, the Journal adds. Agents raided Boltons home on Friday after he left for work and confiscated his wifes phone. Despite some questioning whether the raid is an act of retribution, Vice President Vance said the investigation is not tied to political revenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I can tell you is that, unlike the Biden DOJ and the Biden FBI, our law enforcement agencies are going to be driven by law and not by politics. And so, if we think that Ambassador Bolton has committed a crime, of course, eventually prosecutions will come, Vance told MSNBCs Kristen Welker in an interview airing Sunday. Trump told reporters Friday he was unaware of the raid at Boltons home and would remain distant from any prosecutorial efforts led by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The president sued the Wall Street Journal a few weeks prior to the Friday op-ed over an article stating he sent a suggestive birthday card to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump slammed the outlets credibility in several posts following the move. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. After being stuck for over six months, the Centre has given clearance to the Defence Ministry and Mazagaon Dockyards Limited to begin negotiations for the deal to buy six submarines to be built in India with German support under 'Project 75 India'. The Defence Ministry had selected state-owned MDL for building six submarines with Air Independent Propulsion systems with German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems as its partner in January. Speaking to ANI, Defence officials said, "The Centre has now given clearance to the Defence Ministry and the MDL to begin negotiations for the project, and the process is expected to start by the end of this month." The Centre took the decision after a very high-level meeting, including top defence and national security functionaries, who discussed the roadmap and future of the country's submarine fleet, they said. The Defence Ministry and the Indian Navy are expecting to conclude contract negotiations in the next six months and get final approval for it. Through the contract, the Defence Ministry aims to develop indigenous capability for designing and manufacturing conventional submarines within the country. The government is also exploring ways to accelerate the submarine building process. The Indian Navy is looking to buy six advanced submarines with the ability to stay underwater for three weeks under Project 75 India, and the German AIP would allow it to do so. The Indian industry is also working on building two nuclear attack submarines, where private sector giant Larsen and Toubro would play a big role, along with the Submarine Building Centre. Against the backdrop of the rapid modernisation of the Chinese Navy, the Indian government has cleared numerous submarine projects, including both nuclear and conventional ones. However, India must rapidly develop the desired capabilities to counter both China and Pakistan in its area of interest. The Indian Navy is likely to phase out around 10 of its submarines in the next decade and would require their replacements in the same timeframe. (ANI) WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) It was standing room only at Thursdays Washington County Commission meeting. Many were there to discuss a possible houseboat ordinance. The issue first surfaced at the Aug. 14 board workshop. Word had spread that commissioners wanted to adopt the same ordinance thats in effect in St. Johns County, which bans houseboats on the St. Johns River. That brought out the crowds, some of whom feel the county is overstepping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who legally controls the waterways? asks one resident. The state does, the board responds Are yall the state? No. Thank you. The two main waterways that could be affected are the Choctawhatchee River and Holmes Creek. Commissioners denied they intend to close the waterways to houseboats, saying they only want to protect the public from nuisance vessels. Some residents thought the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission enforces rules related to houseboats, but that is no longer the case. Without any oversight, county officials believe they need to create some sort of guidance. At the end of the day, you know, we got to protect the waterways and we need to keep them protected and pristine, says Wesley Griffin, the District 4 Commissioner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commissioners decided to schedule a separate public hearing on the houseboat issue. The county has not set the date for the public hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. (The Center Square) Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said hes proud of how quickly the California Legislature passed a congressional redistricting proposal that he signed, but he was reminded of a new poll showing voters may reject it. The Election Rigging Response Act puts Proposition 50 on the Nov. 4 ballot in a special election. Voters will decide whether to redraw lines to enable Democrats to gain five seats in the U.S. House to counter five Republican seats that Texas plans to gain through redistricting. A reporter pointed out to Newsom at a San Francisco press conference that a University of California, Berkeley poll shows 48% of voters support the maps drawn up by Democrats. But to pass on the Nov. 4 ballot, the measure needs more than 50%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll released Friday by the university's Institute of Governmental Studies shows 32% of respondents plan to vote against redistricting, with 20% undecided. More people are likely to support the redistricting as they learn more about it, Newsom told the reporter at the press conference, which was intended to focus on Californias new green energy partnership with Denmark. Already people such as former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, support the redistricting plan, Newsom said as Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen and Jesper Mller Srensen, the Danish ambassador to the U.S., listened. You have [President Donald] Trump, Trump-aligned forces, spending upward of $100 million to defeat this initiative, Newsom said, accusing Trump and his fellow Republicans of wanting to rig the 2026 midterm election. Donald Trump knows hes going to lose the midterms. Why else do you call a governor of a red state and say youre entitled to five more seats? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom said he believes voters will approve congressional redistricting in California. Democrats have said redistricting is necessary to counter gerrymandering in Texas, but on Thursday, legislators removed the clause saying the redistricting would take place only if Texas or other states proceeded with mid-decade redistricting. Newsom said Trump is trying to get more Republican seats unfairly in Indiana, Missouri and Florida. The governor said California is going about redistricting in a transparent manner. Thats in stark contrast to Texas where maps were drawn at Mar-a-Lago, he said, referring to Trumps residence in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Republicans in the California Legislature, right up to Thursdays party-line votes in the Assembly and Senate, accused Democrats of drawing maps behind closed doors and presenting them to Republicans with little time to review districts. When some GOP legislators during the floor sessions asked who drew the maps, Democrats didnt answer them. During interviews with The Center Square, Republican leaders in the California Legislature complained that the redistricting would split cities and counties into odd-shaped districts and threatened the GOP strongholds in San Diego and Orange counties and along the California-Nevada border. A Center Square review of the redistricting map found thats correct. For example, Lodi, a Northern California city of more than 66,000 people, would be divided into three congressional districts. Another reporter on Friday asked Newsom about his recent meeting with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie star and Republican who, as governor of California, supported the creation of the independent redistricting commission. Proposition 50 would undo significant parts of the commission's work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwarzenegger has vowed to fight redistricting. I met with Arnold. We had a fantastic conversation. We have many of the same concerns about the current occupant of the White House, Newsom said. We had more areas of agreement than disagreement. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children in Las Vegas and the surrounding area. The majority of drowning deaths occur in the family pool. The most common drowning victim is a child four years of age or younger. The most common time is between noon and dinner. These tragedies often occur while parents are home and there is a brief lapse in supervision. Its crucial to keep watch over children when around water to prevent accidental drowning, Intermountain Childrens Health experts say. Attention is the best prevention. Most child drownings happen when an adult is present but not paying attention. Adults must never leave children alone in water, even for a second. Always wear a life jacket, especially in lakes and other open bodies of water, and always have a designated water watcher when kids are playing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We encourage parents and youth to learn the ABCDs of drowning prevention: Adult Supervision, Barriers like self-closing gates, Classes, swimming, water safety & CPR and devices like life jackets, said Will Rucker, community health director for Nevada for Intermountain Health. There is no substitute for active adult supervision, which is why we recommend an adult water watcher be assigned any time children are swimming or around water to prevent drowning. Intermountain Childrens Health offers the following water safety tips: Wear a coast-guard approved life jacket at lakes and reservoirs, even if you can swim. Cold lake water can bring on dangerous cramps, shock, hypothermia, and difficulty breathing. Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital donated over 1,000 Coast Guard-approved life jackets to Life Jacket Loaner Stations across the state. Theyre available on a first-come, first-served basis at many lakes, recreation centers, and reservoirs. Appoint a water watcher. Ensure someone is always supervising children without distraction. Take 15-minute shifts, and use a lanyard or hat to identify the watcher. Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub, even for a second. Drain kiddie pools and buckets and turn them upside down when not in use. Teach the whole family to swim. Use Coast Guard-approved life jackets instead of water wings. Enclose pools and hot tubs with self-closing and locking gates. Teach children to stay away from water while hiking or camping. Check nearby water first if a child is missing. Call 911 if a child falls into rushing water; do not jump in after them. Learn CPR. For more safety tips, go to Intermountainhealth.org/childsafety. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON One week after President Donald Trumps summit with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin seems in no hurry to build on progress that Trump said was made in his bid to end the war in Ukraine. Any momentum from their nearly three-hour meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, appears to have slowed, though administration officials say theyre not giving up on a solution and will keep working to broker an elusive peace deal. Russias top diplomat said in an interview with NBC News on Friday that Putin is prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though the agenda for a sit-down is not ready at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Putin said clearly that he is ready to meet provided this meeting is really going to have an agenda, presidential agenda, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker in an exclusive interview. That pronouncement seemed at odds with Trumps assertion Monday that he had spoken to Putin by phone and had begun arranging a meeting between the Russian leader and Zelenskyy. Once that meeting takes place, he said he would sit down with both men in pursuit of an accord. Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon in the Oval Office, Trump sounded more tentative about the next steps in stopping a war that began with Russias invasion in 2022 and has since claimed about 1.5 million casualties on both sides. Well see what happens, said Trump, who also held up a picture of himself and Putin that the Russian leader had sent him after the summit. I think over the next two weeks, were going to find out which way its going to go. And I better be very happy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that two-week period, he said, Im going to make a decision as to what we do, and its going to be, its going to be a very important decision, and thats whether or not its massive sanctions or massive tariffs, or both. Or do we do nothing and say, Its your fight. (Two weeks is a deadline that Trump often invokes when it comes to any number of policy goals, dating to his first term.) Stopping a conflict rooted in ancient grievances over land and national identity is no small task. The impasse between the combatants centers on security guarantees for Ukraine, along with the fate of Ukrainian territory that Russia has tried to seize by force. Further delays could work to Putins advantage, allowing his troops to cement gains made on the battlefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Western official said Lavrovs remarks have frustrated the White House, as they suggest that Russia may be backtracking on commitments that Trump believes he extracted from Putin. The Russians are just kind of rowing it back day by day, the official said. So it looks and feels like they're being played, which is frustrating to any president, but particularly to someone of President Trumps nature. Still, Trump administration officials said they arent giving up on the prospect of a peace deal. Nobody is ready to throw in the towel, a national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. One of the things the president has been very clear on is that if there is a path to end this diplomatically in the near term, then he wants to seize it. There is no military solution to the conflict. The question is whether you have a diplomatic solution now or whether it takes the next six or 12 or 18 months to get to that standpoint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump raised hopes that a breakthrough might be in sight with his face-to-face meeting with Putin, followed by his sit-down three days later at the White House with Zelenskyy and European leaders. After that cross-country round of diplomacy, the path to a truce remains as murky as ever. In a social media post Thursday, Trump wrote that because Ukraine is largely defending its turf, it cant defeat Russia. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the post was meant to signal that Ukraine will need to accept a deal largely on Russias terms. Negotiations are unfolding against the backdrop of the White Houses public bid to land Trump the Nobel Peace Prize. An unpopular figure in Europe, Trump would face tough odds even if he mediates an end to the war thats fair to Ukraine. Christian Tybring-Gjedde is a member of the Norwegian parliament who nominated Trump for the Nobel Prize in his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If he wants to have the Nobel Committees attention, he has to create a peace that is based on the needs of Ukraine, Tybring-Gjedde said in an interview Friday. Ukraine has been invaded. Its been violated. Theyre now fighting for survival as a nation. You have to understand who the aggressor is, he added. Demonstrators during a rally for Ukraine outside the White House on Monday. (Valerie Plesch / Bloomberg via Getty Images) Having lifted the stakes, Trump administration officials and outside allies are now putting forward a message that the conflict may not be that important to everyday Americans after all. Sen. Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican who has introduced a Senate resolution calling for Trump to win the Nobel Prize, said at a forum Wednesday in Cleveland: Look, the war is not Americas war. If the war continues, if the war ends, it doesnt change the lives of Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an appearance Sunday on Meet the Press, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that if tomorrow the war continues, life in America will not be fundamentally altered. Trump sounded a more dire note during a tense meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February, warning that the conflict could spiral into World War III if not brought to an end. A White House official told NBC News this week: President Trump and his national security team continue to engage with Russian and Ukrainian officials towards a bilateral meeting to stop the killing and end the war. As many world leaders have stated, this war would have never happened if President Trump was in office. It is not in the national interest to further negotiate these issues publicly. For his part, Rubio is coordinating an effort among U.S. allies to protect Ukraine from future Russian attacks once the war ends. A security guarantee is crucial to Zelenskyy, who has said he wants a concrete plan in a little over a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubio led a discussion Thursday with the national security advisers from Britain, Finland, Germany, France and Italy, as well as diplomats from the European Union and NATO, a U.S. official confirmed. A source familiar with the meeting said progress continues, adding that the blueprint for Ukrainian security must be in place ahead of any potential summit between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders. When it comes to a security guarantee for Ukraine, theres a divergence between what Russia wants and what the West is willing to accept. Lavrov said earlier this week that Russia categorically rejects any scenarios that envision the appearance of military contingents of NATO countries in Ukraine, which would be fraught with uncontrollable escalation of the conflict and unpredictable consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet the European Unions ambassador to the U.S., Jovita Neliupsiene, told reporters Friday: Russia cannot have the veto for E.U. or NATO membership, and decisions on territories are solidly Ukraines decisions and international borders must not be changed by force. If negotiations bog down, that could spark a movement in Congress to slap secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian energy or do business with Putins regime. Last month, in a rare bit of bipartisanship, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced a resolution that would punish countries that continue to fund Putins barbaric war in Ukraine. Blumenthal, in an interview, said the West is losing patience. Trumps summit meeting with Putin failed to produce a ceasefire an outcome that serves Putins interests, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its as plain as day that Vladimir Putin wants continued war because he thinks hes winning, said Blumenthal, a member of the Armed Services Committee. The longer it goes, the better it is for him. His strategy has been plain from the beginning of this war: outlast the people of Ukraine and their supporters, sacrifice whatever Russian blood is necessary, and conquer Ukraine. And if theres a pause, be ready to invade again. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (KRON) A bird and mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus in Solano County this month. The Solano County Mosquito Abatement District first detected West Nile virus in a bird found near Goodyear Road in Benicia on Aug. 15. The bird was the first to test positive for the virus in Solano County in 2025. On Aug. 18, the Solano County Mosquito Abatement District confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in the area of Goodyear Road. The City of Benicia is warning residents to take precautions to avoid contracting the virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bears turn on stove, nearly start house fire in Lake Tahoe: CDFW Residents are advised to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and protect public health by inspecting their properties for standing water, the City of Benicia stated on social media Friday. [The Solano County Mosquito Abatement District] urges residents to be proactive against mosquitoes by wearing EPA-registered mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridim, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IT3535. Officials are working to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the area. The Solano County Mosquito Abatement District continues to monitor mosquitoes near Goodyear Road. If infected with West Nile virus, most people show no symptoms, the City of Benicia said. Some may have fever, headaches, and body aches. Severe cases can lead to hospitalization and, rarely, death. If you have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. Those at higher risk for serious complications include elderly people and those with chronic conditions [like] diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer [and] kidney disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deceased victim found in San Rafael apartment complex that burned in suspicious fire West Nile virus has also been detected in Walnut Creek, Vacaville, Suisun City and San Ramon this summer. Officials recommend the following tips for preventing the spread of West Nile virus: Check for standing water Drain standing water Empty items like flowerpots, planter dishes, pet dishes, buckets and old tires Clean regularly, wash bird baths and pet bowls weekly Repair leaky faucets and broken sprinkler heads Avoid over-watering Ensure window and door screens are intact, have no holes, and fit well Keep swimming pools at proper water levels for circulation and filtration Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Members of Westminster Village got to enjoy pizza Friday afternoon, while also donating to a good cause. Friday was the annual Pizza for a Purpose fundraiser at the village. Residents could choose one of five different 12-inch pizzas for $18 and all of those proceeds are headed directly to the Alzheimers Association. Their goal this year is to raise $10,000. Westminster Village Event Leader Lauren Kelsheimer said they do events like this all year long to support the recognition and study of Alzheimers Disease because many are in need of support right here in the Wabash Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alzheimers Association is really close to our heart, Kelsheimer said. We have a lot of residents here that are either caring for somebody with Alzheimers, have Alzheimers themselves, or are advocates for those around the community that have it. Its one of our biggest fundraisers and its something that we really try to get awareness about in the community and work with all the great chapters around Indiana. If you want to be involved or learn more about the Alzheimers Association, you can visit their website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. NEED TO KNOW Joy Hibbs was found murdered in her home in April 1991 Her family long suspected their neighbor, Robert Atkins, to be the killer, but police were told to "stay away" because he was a drug informant Robert was finally convicted of Joy's murder in February 2024 For over 30 years, Robert Atkins got away with murder and some people believe the police helped him do it. The occasional marijuana dealer was arrested in 2022 for the 1991 homicide of Joy Hibbs, a medical assistant, wife and mother of two. Police initially thought Joy had died in an accidental house fire in Bristol Township, Pa., but an autopsy revealed she had been repeatedly stabbed, suffered fractured ribs and was likely asphyxiated, according to the Bucks County District Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives investigated several persons of interest over the years, including Joys husband, Charlie Hibbs, and Robert, a former neighbor who had sold marijuana to the couple a few times. In a 2024 episode of Dateline, her son recalled hearing his mother argue with Robert about the quality of marijuana he sold her and said he overheard Robert threaten her on the phone weeks before she died. I knew my mom was shaken, David Hibbs, who was 12 when his mother died, told correspondent Blayne Alexander, per Oxygen. But I dont think she took it serious because its, you know, a $20 marijuana deal. Although authorities learned that Robert had a temper and drove a car similar to one seen near the Hibbs home the day of the murder, he wasnt arrested until 2022. New investigators learned that his role as a police drug informant may have shielded him from further scrutiny. So, where is Robert Atkins now? Heres everything to know about the convicted killer and why it took police so long to arrest him for Joy Hibbs murder. Who was Joy Hibbs? Bucks County DA Joy Hibbs and her two children Angie and David. Joy was a 35-year-old medical assistant who lived with her husband, Charlie, and their two kids, David and Angie Hibbs. The couple met while attending high school in Florida and got married after graduation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family settled in Pennsylvania, where Charlie worked in construction and often took home videos of their adventures. All of the things that my mom enjoyed doing, my dad also enjoyed doing, David later told Dateline. So, fishing, being outdoors, she loved riding on the back of his motorcycle with him." After Roberts arrest, Joys family released a statement describing her as a sweet, charming southern girl from central Florida who was highly regarded and loved by her friends, neighbors, and co-workers alike. How did Joy Hibbs die? Bucks County District Attorney's Office Joy Hibbs' home. Joy Hibbs' home. On April 19, 1991, David arrived home around 1:05 p.m. to find their kitchen on fire. After firefighters extinguished the flames, they found Joy dead in her sons bedroom. Though police initially believed she died in the fire, her autopsy report told a different story. The mother of two had been stabbed multiple times and was strangled with an electrical cord. She also suffered from fractured ribs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The autopsy revealed that Joy didnt have any smoke in her lungs, which indicated that she had died before the fire. Though there were no signs of forced entry, her wallet was found empty even though she had gone to the bank to withdraw cash that morning. Eyewitnesses also reported a blue Chevrolet Monte Carlo that was parked outside the Hibbs home on the day of the murder. In addition to the threatening phone call from Robert, someone threw a brick through the familys window, kicked in the back door to their home and slashed Joys tires in the months before her murder. Who is Robert Atkins? Bucks County District Attorney's Office Robert F. Atkins. Robert F. Atkins. Robert is a former neighbor of the Hibbs family who had sold small amounts of marijuana to Joy and Charlie. In a March 2014 interview with HuffPost, he acknowledged that he and the couple would buy about a quarter ounce once a week from a dealer, and that they were unhappy with a recent purchase. "I think it was Joy that brought it back and wanted the money back," Robert said. "But they took pot out of it and added seeds to it. I told her, 'I can't take it back. That guy would be mad at me thinking I was trying to rip him off.' " Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joy had also developed a friendship with Roberts wife, April, as the couple lived just a few houses down. "I remember that he had an explosive temper, David said of Robert on Dateline. You could hear him. You could hear him from our house. Why did it take police so long to arrest Robert Atkins? Though police allegedly verified Roberts alibi, there are conflicting accounts of his whereabouts on April 19, 1991. He claimed that he was talking on the phone at home at the time of the murder and made the two-hour drive to the Poconos with his family later that evening. But in March 2014, retired Bristol Township Detective Lt. Richard Bilson said he sent two detectives to the Poconos and they had verified he had been there at the time of the murder." Though police also learned that Robert drove a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, his was black. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joys case stalled for years, until Sgt. Mike Slaughter was given the assignment in 2014. After clearing Charles of any involvement, he learned that one of the original lead detectives was told to stay away from Robert because he was working as a police drug informant at the time. To hear that this may have been a murder suspect that was traded in exchange for drug deals, which are not a dime a dozen, theyre a penny a pound, Slaughter told Dateline. We can get drug intel all the time, it doesnt make sense, in my brain. This revelation cast a new light on what Joys son had said about the case years earlier. "I honestly believe they know who did it and they botched the investigation," David told HuffPost in 2014. "All of the detectives who worked on it retired shortly thereafter. These were cops who had put their time in and were waiting to retire. They didn't know what they were doing." What was Robert Atkins sentence? Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Robert Francis Atkins. Robert Francis Atkins. Roberts alibi fell apart once Slaughter started investigating. The phone call he made and his arrival at the Poconos took place much later in the day than originally believed, and authorities learned that he had access to his grandmothers blue Monte Carlo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2016, April, Roberts now ex-wife, told police that he had come home covered in blood on the day Joy was murdered. He was filthy. He was absolutely filthy, she later told Dateline, alleging that Robert had abused her for years, leaving her too terrified to report his confession. He said, I stabbed somebody and lit a house on fire. Because the evidence was largely circumstantial, it took police another six years to make an arrest. In May 2022, Robert was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, arson and robbery. He was convicted in 2024, receiving life in prison for Joys murder plus 30 additional years for arson. Where is Robert Atkins now? Robert has been serving his sentence at State Correctional Institution Benner Township, a medium-security prison in Bellefonte, Pa., since February 2024. Through his lawyer, he denied any allegations of abuse made by his ex-wife, per NBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the convicted murderers sentencing, Charlie told the court that his goal since his wife was murdered was to take away everything [Robert] cherishes. Mr. Atkins, soon you will be enrolled in the real school of badasses, the widower said, per PhillyBurbs. I am tormented at the thought of what she endured. His intentions that day were pure evil. It is time for him to be held accountable. Joys son argued that the detectives who he believed intentionally ignored the evidence in 1991 should also be held accountable. He said, As far as I am concerned they are complicit in this crime and should stand trial. Read the original article on People Former ABC senior national correspondent Terry Moran argued on Thursday that President Donald Trumps U.S. National Guard deployment and federalization of D.C. police is all for show. During an appearance on CNNs "NewsNight with Abby Phillip," Moran called the deployment "Kabuki Theater," arguing that Trumps order is only performative as troops and officers arent even stationed in D.C. areas where crime is the highest. "I was in Anacostia, east of the river, Congress Heights, where the most crime happens. They havent seen a single federal officer," he told a CNN panel, noting he had been in the area recently, reporting on D.C.s beefed up security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They call it a Kabuki theater," he continued, mentioning how locals have described the extra security to him. "Theyre like, this is where most of the murders happen. Its a show." Abc News' Terry Moran's History Of Attacking Trump Dates Back To First Term In 2017 Former ABC News reporter Terry Moran argued on CNN Thursday that President Trump's crime crackdown in D.C. is more for show than for solving the city's crime issues. The White House fired back at Moran on Friday, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson telling Fox News Digital, "Why is anyone giving this washed-up loser the time of day? Hes repeatedly outed himself as a biased hack suffering from TDS. And hes only further solidifying his reputation by criticizing the Presidents efforts to stop violent crime in DC." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson continued, "Next, TDS Terry will probably say hes mad about carjackings, robberies, car thefts, and overall violent crimes significantly dropping in D.C. since President Trumps operation started." Trump seized federal control of D.C.s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) on Aug. 11 when he launched the "Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful" task force, under emergency powers in the Home Rule Act, which allows the president to federalize MPD for up to 30 days, unless Congress extends the duration. The president also ordered 800 National Guard troops to be deployed in the nations capital as part of his effort to reduce crime and homelessness in the city. Local police and federal law enforcement officers in the city have made over 700 arrests since Aug. 7, according to White House data provided Wednesday to Fox News Digital. Ms-13 Gang Member Arrested In Dc As Bondi Touts Admin's 'Extraordinary' Crime Crackdown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to arguing that Trumps order for D.C. law enforcement is more for show, Moran claimed that the presence of federal officers on D.C. streets is scaring locals, particularly minority families. "Other places, there are checkpoints going on. There have been arrests made. There have been outstanding warrants that were executed on people, and people are happy about that. But what they dont like is the loss of control and the militarization." He continued, saying that "the checkpoints are discouraging parents from sending their kids to school. Theyre discouraging people from having families visit, especially if theyre Black and Brown." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Members of the U.S. National Guard walk towards the D.C. Armory after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the federal take over of the Metropolitan Police Department under the Home Rule Act and the deployment of the National Guard to assist in crime prevention in the nation's capital, in Washington, D.C., August 12, 2025. Moran is no stranger to speaking out against the Trump administration. He was fired from ABC News in June after a social media screed against White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller over his key role in shaping the presidents immigration agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He's a world-class hater," Moran wrote in the now-deleted post. "You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate." Moran went on to accuse Trump of also being a "hater" in the online rant. Original article source: White House fires back at ex-ABC journalist Terry Moran for saying DC crime crackdown all for show NEED TO KNOW The White House is poised to pause public tours as construction nears for a newly announced onsite ballroom Construction is set to begin on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom in September The project comes with a roughly $200 million price tag. Trump and other donors will be paying the construction costs The White House is poised to pause public tours as construction nears for a newly announced on-site ballroom. The official Visit The White House website does not refer to temporarily halting tours, but notes in an "Announcement Regarding Upcoming Expansion" that construction on the 90,000-square-foot project is set to begin in September and is expected to be completed before the end of President Donald Trump's second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple congressional offices confirmed to ABC News the suspension of tours during the ballroom build and a White House official also verified the pause to NBC News. The interruption to tours is also reflected publicly on some congressional websites, without specifically mentioning the ballroom itself, which was announced by the Trump administration in late July. "Beginning on September 1st, 2025, the White House will be undergoing extensive renovations. As a result, all tours of the White House are postponed indefinitely," reads the website of Rep. Eugene Vindman, a Democratic member from Virginia. The ballroom is set to have a seated capacity of 650 people, according to the White House, and comes with a roughly $200 million price tag. Trump and other donors will be paying the construction costs. 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 tour news has not landed well with everyone in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, wrote on X, "Seriously? School trips. Families. All shut out indefinitely for the building of a ballroom? Are the millions of people they cancelled on all going to be invited back for a ball?" Read the original article on People India's Election Commission (ECI), one of the most trusted public institutions in the world's largest democracy, is facing a test of its credibility. Over the past few weeks, it has fielded a string of allegations from the opposition, ranging from voter fraud and manipulation to inconsistencies in electoral rolls. It has denied all of these. Opposition leaders, who have held massive protests against the ECI in recent days, said they were considering an impeachment motion to remove the chief election commissioner from his position. They hadn't filed the motion by Thursday, the last day of the monsoon session of parliament, and currently don't have the numbers to see it through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India's main opposition party Congress, has launched a 16-day, 1,300km (807 miles) march - known as the Voter Adhikar Yatra (Voter Rights March) - in Bihar state to protest against the ECI, marking a dramatic escalation in the political fight. Bihar, set to vote in a key state election later this year, has been in the middle of a heated controversy over a recent revision of electoral rolls. Gandhi first made the allegations of vote theft in August, accusing the ECI of colluding with the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to rig the 2024 general elections. Using granular data from the ECI's own records, he alleged that a parliamentary constituency in the southern state of Karnataka had more than 100,000 fake voters, including duplicate voters, invalid addresses and bulk registrations at single locations. The ECI has repeatedly called the claims "false and misleading". And the BJP has strongly denied these allegations, with leader Anurag Thakur saying the Congress and the opposition had come together to make these "baseless claims" because they were anticipating a loss in Bihar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gandhi's press conference was held as the controversy in Bihar was raging. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) happened between June and July, with the ECI saying its representatives visited all of Bihar's 78.9 million voters for verification. The ECI says this was done to update the voter lists after more than 20 years, but opposition leaders say the process may have disenfranchised tens of thousands of people, especially migrants, because of the haste with which it was conducted and the onerous documentation required as proof. After a draft of the updated list was published on 1 August, several reports, including by the BBC, highlighted errors in the count, such as the wrong gender and photos assigned against people's names, and dead voters on the rolls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new draft rolls have 72.4 million names - 6.5 million fewer than before, with the commission saying the omissions include duplicate, deceased and migrant voters. Those who believe their names were wrongly struck off have been given until 1 September to appeal. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a 16-day voter rights march in Bihar [AFP via Getty Images] Meanwhile, criticism also intensified over the manner in which the ECI published the names of the 6.5 million people that were excluded from the draft rolls. Opposition parties questioned why the commission was putting up scanned physical copies, rather than machine-readable lists of omitted voters, which could be independently verified by analysts and political parties. Eventually, India's top court told the ECI to publish a searchable list of voters and also state the reasons for their exclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court's intervention highlighted the ECI's "procedural failures" and must be seen as a "rap on the knuckles", an editorial in the leading Hindu newspaper said. Amid the mounting criticism, ECI held a rare weekend press conference on17 August to address some of the allegations. "If you use terms like vote theft and mislead citizens, then what else would you call this, other than an insult to India's constitution?" Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, referring to Gandhi's allegations. He cited a 2019 Supreme Court judgment to say the opposition's demand for machine-readable voter lists could impinge on people's privacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also demanded that Gandhi either give an affidavit under oath proving his allegations, or apologise to the nation for his remarks. But instead of putting the matter to rest, the statements sparked further outrage, with some opposition politicians accusing Kumar of either avoiding answering specific questions or providing unsatisfactory explanations. Pawan Khera of the Congress party told BBC Hindi that Kumar's "adversarial tone" at the press conference made it seem "as if a BJP leader was speaking". Experts say that on their own, the allegations by Gandhi, or the fact that millions of new voters have been added or removed from the rolls in Bihar, don't prove any wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When the voter list is intensively verified, such large differences in numbers are bound to occur," former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami told BBC Tamil. Mr Gopalaswami added that when the electoral roll for the southern state of Karnataka was revised in 2008, some 5.2 million voters were removed, with nearly one million people applying to be added again. He also agreed with the ECI's demand for a signed affidavit by Gandhi, saying that responding to allegations without a written complaint sets a bad precedent for the institution. In Bihar, 6.5 million people were omitted from the draft rolls [Getty Images] But with Gandhi's voter rights march under way and the Bihar elections looming, the issue is unlikely to die down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Whatever the Election Commission says, the opposition will definitely make it an issue in the upcoming Bihar elections," senior journalist Smita Gupta told BBC Hindi. In the meantime, there are larger concerns at play about the impact of all of this on the public's trust in the ECI. "The trust the ECI once commanded almost unquestioningly is now under greater public scrutiny," former chief election commissioner SY Quraishi wrote in the Indian Express newspaper. He added that while the "procedural architecture for transparency in elections remains in place... the perception of impartiality is as important as its reality. Reinforcing this trust is as crucial as ensuring technical accuracy". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a survey published this month by Lokniti, a research programme at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), however, trust in the ECI has dropped sharply. The agency's chief Sanjay Kumar has been separately in the crosshairs of the ECI and the BJP after he issued an apology for sharing wrong data on voter turnout in the state of Maharashtra, but its findings in other states point to a rising trust deficit with the ECI. In all the six states surveyed by CSDS in 2025, the number of people who had no trust in the EC had risen sharply from 2019 - In Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, it rose from 11% to 31% in the period. This systematic erosion, Mr Kumar told The Wire news portal, "should be a big worry" for the commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is not only the trust of the opposition which has gone down, it is also the trust among the people that has come down. The data clearly indicates that," Mr Kumar said. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook. National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Vice Presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital. A day earlier, Shah said the nomination of Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the NDA's candidate for Vice President is a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu and reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to honour Tamil culture, language, and leadership. Speaking at the booth committee members' convention in Tirunelveli, Shah expressed regret for not being able to address the gathering in Tamil and thanked PM Modi and BJP president JP Nadda for their support to Radhakrishnan. "I have come to tell the people of the state that after assuming the post of Vice President, Tamil Nadu's son CP Radhakrishnan is going to become the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Earlier, the NDA had also given this honour to APJ Abdul Kalam ji by making him the President of India. Narendra Modi ji has always worked to glorify Tamil Nadu, Tamil language and Tamil culture," Shah said while addressing the gathering. On Wednesday, CP Radhakrishnan filed his nomination papers for the Vice Presidential elections in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan, who has been the Maharashtra Governor since July 31, 2024, had earlier also served as the Governor of Jharkhand, Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. Radhakrishnan, who served as the two-time MP from Coimbatore, was born on October 20, 1957, in Tamil Nadu's Tirrupur. The BJP stalwart from Tamil Nadu has achieved a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and became the state committee member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the BJP's precursor, in 1974. Before the Jan Sangh, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).In the year 1996, Radhakrishnan was appointed as the BJP Tamil Nadu secretary, following which he was elected as a Lok Sabha member from Coimbatore in 1998 and reelected again in 1999. (ANI) This article was originally published in The 19th. This story was originally reported by Nadra Nittle of The 19th. As a pink-collar profession a nickname given to women-dominated occupations teaching has historically paid less than comparable fields requiring a higher education degree, and in Philadelphia, the push to close the wage gap could lead to a strike by the end of the month. Salaries for Philly teachers roughly 70 percent of whom are women begin at $54,146. Thats far below the median earnings of Pennsylvania college graduates. Now, concern over pay has become a sticking point between the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) and the School District of Philadelphia as they negotiate a new contract, with the current collective bargaining agreement expiring August 31. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The PFT in June voted to authorize its executive board to initiate a strike if the union and the district dont agree on a new contract by then. With the deadline imminent and no deal in sight, schools may open on August 25 only for teachers to appear on picket lines within days. A strike could leave working parents in a lurch, scrambling for childcare a task moms usually have to complete. Many Philly teachers, however, are also parents and demanding higher salaries to better provide for their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PFT President Arthur Steinberg pointed out that even suburban teachers with less education often out-earn Philadelphias top-performing educators by up to $22,000. We would like to close that gap as much as we can with this next contract, he recently told the Philadelphia Tribune. Amid ongoing negotiations, Steinberg appeared with School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington at a welcome event for new teachers on Wednesday. We are optimistic about a successful conclusion by the end-of-the-month deadline, and its important to us that all of our employees feel seen, valued and heard, said Watlington, who called Steinberg a tough negotiator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To reach an agreement, Steinberg said, Theres significant work that has to be done, but its doable. Still, union members are prepping for a strike, making protest slogans at the new teacher orientation. A strike would be the first in Philadelphia since 1981, when teachers walked out for 50 days. Our schools are not safe, theyre not healthy for anybody to work in or go to school in, chemistry teacher Kate Sundeen told local news station ABC 6. We have a hard time with teacher retention and a hard time attracting new talent. Philadelphia teachers complained to The 19th in 2023 about working in century-old buildings that swelter in early fall heat. Before then, the PFT expressed concerns to The 19th that the district was not taking robust action to prevent exposing teachers to COVID-19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PFT represents nearly 14,000 teachers, counselors, school nurses, librarians and other educators. Just under 200,000 students attend the School District of Philadelphia, which has garnered nationwide attention since the hit workplace comedy Abbott Elementary set in Philly debuted in 2021. In recent years, a number of large urban school districts have gone on strike. They include classified workers in Los Angeles Unified School District in March 2023, teachers in Seattle Public Schools in September 2022 and classified workers and teachers in Minneapolis Public Schools in March 2022. On Friday, the national bus tour of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) will arrive in West Philadelphia to support the PFT ahead of a possible strike. The event will be the last of six strike preparation events that have taken place before the teachers head back to work on Monday, a week before the first day of school. This story was originally published on The 19th. ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) In some Round Rock residents homes, the water coming out of the faucets has been a yellowish tint for the past couple of weeks. Trey Ogier has lived in the city of Round Rock for eight years, and in recent weeks, his family has noticed their tap water being a yellowish tint. It looked almost like creek water, Ogier said. My wife was even sayingwhen it was at its worstputting her hand in it, you could almost not see her hand. Water filled up in bathtub with yellowish green tint When KXAN visited Ogiers house on Friday, the color faded to be much clearer. However, Ogier said thats happened before in the past couple of weeks, and the color returned to yellow soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last probably 24 or 48 hours, the water has gotten significantly better, Ogier said. Now its just got kind of a yellowish tint, so it looks like its improving, but, but its still certainly not perfectly clear. Ogiers water supplier buys water from the city of Round Rock. Michael Thane, Round Rocks Executive Director of Public Works, said that water having such discoloration is most likely due to the massive runoff following severe flooding in July. When you get that large amount of rainfallthe runoff coming into the lakea lot of it is sediment, organics, manganese, those types of materials coming into our raw water source, said Thane. It is safe to drink. Were meeting all the standards, but the aesthetics have that yellow tint appearance, and its due to the manganese in the lake water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, manganese is a naturally occurring element that is a component of over 100 minerals. Thane explained that making sure the water is safe to drink is the number one priority, and after that, they work on things like taste, odor, and appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are trying to balance both of those, but we need to make sure that water quality remains priority, said Thane. Because of the amount of flood waters coming to the lake, some of the aesthetics sometimes have an appearance. Evan Larson is the Superintendent of the Water Treatment Plant in Round Rock, and he said that manganese is hard metal to treat. It makes our coagulant less effective, so we have to alter the treatment process and apply different methods to get the water safe enough to drink, and that way it meets all the compliance standards set by the TCEQ and the EPA, Larson said. So manganese is coming through. Its causing a less effective process. Larson emphasized that when the water is done being treated at the plant, it is in fact clear. The discoloration happens after it leaves the plant, due to the manganese in the water reacting with oxygen and certain pipe metals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It takes a little time and feedback and the public working together with us to kind of tell us where these issues are, Larson said. When we dont no longer have these calls of any colors, we know that were in the right spot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida wildlife officials are asking residents and visitors across the states 67 counties to help track down the elusive rainbow snake as part of a new effort to better understand the species shrinking population. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the nonvenomous reptile is usually found near waterways, but sightings have become increasingly rare. Biologists noted that rainbow snakes spend much of their lives hidden in aquatic environments, especially in rivers, springs and brackish marshes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every sighting report gives us valuable data about their current distribution and helps us assess the health of the species in Florida," said Kevin Enge, a research scientist with FWCs Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. "We need help from Floridians and visitors to better understand where rainbow snakes still occur in the state." Habitat destruction and the decline of the snakes primary prey - the American eel - are believed to be major factors behind its disappearance. Florida Approves First Black Bear Hunt In A Decade Photo of a rainbow snake According to the FWC, adult rainbow snakes typically grow between 3 and 4 feet long and are easy to recognize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their iridescent black or violet-blue bodies are marked with three red stripes along their back, and they also have yellow lip and chin scales. Despite its apparent low population, the rainbow snake is not listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, and the agency did not provide a population estimate. In addition to habitat and food loss, officials are monitoring the potential spread of a fungal disease, which has been reported in other snake populations and could pose an additional threat. In southern parts of the Florida peninsula, the species has not been documented in more than 70 years, but biologists caution that because of their elusive nature, sightings might be fewer than where the population figures stand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How To Watch Fox Weather If you encounter a rainbow snake, officials urge you to take a photo, note the location and submit the sighting online. Since the agency issued the public plea, the FWC has received dozens of sightings but only a few are likely credible due to incomplete reports. Original article source: Why a state is asking for help locating an elusive reptile China's intensifying interest in the Arctic has aroused concerns in the US, which has been monitoring the progress of five Chinese icebreakers and research vessels since before they passed through the Bering Strait earlier this month. The fleet is led by the domestically built Xue Long 2, one of the world's newest generation polar research icebreakers and the first to adopt an intelligent hull and engine room design. Over the past five years, the Xue Long 2 has conducted nearly 10 scientific expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. On this expedition, it is accompanied by the Shenhai Yihao, which is equipped with a deep-sea submersible, Jidi - which made its first trip to the Arctic last year. Also sailing along are China's newest icebreaker, the Tansuo Sanhao, and its oldest - the Zhongshan Daxue Jidi. According to the live tracker Maritime Optima, the Chinese vessels crossed the Bering Strait in quick succession from August 5 to 7 and are currently operating in the Arctic Ocean. The fleet's actions prompted a quick response from the US coastguard, which claimed the vessels came as close as 290 nautical miles (537km) from the Alaskan coast, right on the edge of the disputed area of the "extended continental shelf" claimed by the United States. The Zhongshan Daxue Jidi as detected by an American C-130 Hercules aircraft. Photo: Handout alt=The Zhongshan Daxue Jidi as detected by an American C-130 Hercules aircraft. Photo: Handout> Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to its official website, the US coastguard detected the research vessels Jidi and Zhongshan Daxue Jidi in the northeastern Bering Sea on August 5 and sent a C-130J Hercules fixed-wing aircraft in response. The following day, the cutter Waesche was sent on a similar mission when the Zhongshan Daxue Jidi was spotted travelling north in the Chukchi Sea above the Arctic Circle after passing through the Bering Strait. The coastguard said it conducted long-range escort and surveillance, adding that it took no substantive interception measures and was monitoring five Chinese vessels operating in or near the US Arctic. According to the US coastguard, the Xue Long 2 was detected on July 26, around 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska. A C-130J Hercules fixed-wing aircraft was sent to monitor the research vessel, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, with the Arctic becoming a focal zone of global strategic competition, China and Russia have been deepening their cooperation in the region, prompting growing concern in Washington. In 2019, China and Russia established a joint laboratory on polar technology and equipment at Harbin Engineering University in northeast China. Last year, the two countries' coastguards conducted their first joint Arctic patrol. China views itself as a near-Arctic country and an important stakeholder in the region's affairs. Russia boasts the world's largest fleet of polar vessels - 55 in all - and is the only country capable of manufacturing nuclear-powered icebreakers. Apart from scientific research, the two countries are also exploring the commercial potential of developing Arctic shipping routes - the shortest links between the Asia-Pacific and Western Eurasia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July last year, the US Defence Department updated its strategy for the region, saying that China's collaboration with Russia in the Arctic had "implications for the security of the United States and our allies and partners". US President Donald Trump regards the Arctic as vital to advancing his country's commercial and strategic interests. His One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, allocates nearly US$9 billion for icebreakers. Responding to the US coastguard's actions, Beijing-based think tank the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) said in an analytical article that the Chinese fleet's transit through international waters was legitimate. According to the researchers, the Chinese fleet's route was fully in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). Washington is not a signatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "[Unclos] stipulates that the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) should not exceed 200 nautical miles from the baseline used to measure the breadth of the territorial sea," the think tank said. "When the Chinese vessel was spotted, it was approximately 290 nautical miles from Utqiagvik, Alaska, and therefore located in international waters, not within the US EEZ," it added. The SCSPI also pointed out that the US coastguard's tracking and surveillance might constitute illegal interference with the Xue Long 2's right to exercise freedom of the seas. "When the US coastguard aircraft 'responded' to the Xue Long 2, it was in international waters, exercising freedom of navigation and marine scientific research. The vessel itself was not equipped with any weapons and did not pose a 'potential threat' to the security of any coastal state," it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The US appears to be trying to prevent Xue Long 2 from violating [its] outer continental shelf rights, but in fact it is trying to interfere with its normal exercise of the freedom of the seas granted by the convention." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. (KRON) Firefighters are battling a 118-acre wildfire burning in Dublin, according to the latest information from Cal Fire. The fire, named the Parks Fire, ignited around 3:23 p.m. on the U.S. Army Camp Parks military base, according to the City of Dublin. The fire was initially estimated at 40 acres, but as of 5:25 p.m., the blaze has nearly tripled in size. Camp Parks Fire Department is working on a fast-moving vegetation fire burning on the base, the City of Dublin shared on social media Friday evening. No buildings are threatened at this time. An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Parks Fire. (Parks Reserve Forces Training Area) (Parks Reserve Forces Training Area) A wildfire burning in Dublin, Calif. on Aug. 8, 2025. (City of Dublin) (City of Dublin) Smoke rising from the Parks Fire in Dublin Friday evening. (AlertCalifornia) Pickett Fire near Calistoga now 7% contained Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alameda County Fire Department and the San Ramon Valley Fire Department are also assisting with the fire. The San Ramon Valley Fire Department has six engines fighting the fire on the northern end of Camp Parks near Bollinger Canyon Road. As of 9:19 p.m., the fire is 75% contained. The Parks Reserve Forces Training Area issued the following statement on social media. No structures or buildings were damaged by the fire, the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area stated on Facebook. Ground and airborne firefighting assets from PRFTA, Alameda County, Livermore Pleasanton and Cal Fire were utilized to combat the fire. The cause of the Parks Fire remains under investigation. No evacuation orders have been issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Wildheart Riding School in Geneva has filed a lawsuit against Facebooks parent company to uncover the identity of an anonymous poster. The lawsuit claims that the anonymous individual is defaming the school by questioning its care of horses on Facebook. The Wildheart Riding School is seeking legal action to address what it considers defamatory comments made on social media. Channel 9 has reached out for a statement and has yet to hear back. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. LAMBS CANYON, Utah (ABC4) A wildland fire science expert spoke on what causes wildfires and why we are experiencing the wildfire season weve had so far this year- with over 500 human caused fires. Brad Washa, Assistant Professor of Wildland Fire Science at Utah State University told ABC4.com that in Utah, 40% of wildfires are caused by lightning, and the remaining 60% are human caused, anything from campfires to vehicle fires. FIRE WATCH: The latest updates on Utahs wildfires throughout the state Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just above the ridge here a couple years ago we had the Parleys Canyon Fire, that was a vehicle caused fire, he said, gesturing behind him. One thing we saw during COVID, there were a lot more people that were going out, camping out, cause they couldnt do anything else, and we saw a large increase of human-caused fires during that time period, Washa said. Everything from people leaving campfires unattended to something as simple as dry grassparking your vehicle on that dry grass and the exhaust system starting a fire. This year, there have not been a lot of lightning caused fires. Washa said that there have been about 160 lightning caused fires in Utah, which is way below typical numbers. This year, were seeing 70% of our fires being caused by human ignitions. The reason there are so few lightning caused fires is that the monsoonal moisture has been delayed coming in. That moisture is supposed to finally come in over the next few days or next week, Washa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washa explained, With that, before that real good push of moisture sets up, thats when we typically see a few more lightning caused fires because the vegetation is still hot and dry. It hasnt had a chance to have moisture come on it, and with that, well see lightning caused fires for the beginning of that monsoonal push, or if the monsoons dont push into northern Utah and we just get convective lift, then we see a tendency of those areas also experiencing some lightning caused fires. Another concern with convective lift is that those thunderstorms can collapse on themselves, and then fire spreads out in all directions instead of in one direction that firefighters can plan for. Many trends in wildfires are simply driven by the environment, Washa said, and the ecosystems are actually dependent on fire. Fire is a natural process, he said. Its not necessarily always a negative. There are a lot of benefits to fire. In fact, one thing were seeing now is Some of our problems with higher severity fires are because we have removed fire from the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First Nations people set anthropogenic fires to control the ecosystem, but now that weve removed fire from the environment, we are not managing our forests to adjust for removing fire. Can we log our way out of this? No, we cant, but we can manage our forests differently to mimic what happened historically with naturally occurring fire, Washa concluded. 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. Themes of partnerships, preparation and innovation loomed large during Wednesdays Cleburne Chamber of Commerces quarterly luncheon. Dubbed Federal to City: A Community Conversation, the event included U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, Johnson County Commissioner Larry Woolley and Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain. State Rep. Helen Kerwin, R-Granbury, had planned to attend but was detained on state business in Austin. The goal of the presentation, Chamber President Tracy Thomas said, was to update attendees on city, county and federal happenings as well as projects and initiatives in the works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a new format for us, Chamber Board Chairman John Hardin said. Its one we hope you all will benefit from. Possibilities are endless when we all work together. Williams, Woolley and Cain fielded questions posed by Hardin. No audience questions were taken. Hardin asked about efforts on the parts of the three, at their respective levels of government, to support small businesses. Its important because 99% of businesses in America are small businesses, Williams said. Also, 75% of the workforce and payroll is generated by Main Street America. Main Street America that is business in general including small businesses, are in the best shape theyve been in years, Williams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because we passed a little thing called the Big Beautiful Bill, Williams said. Thats done unbelievable things for Main Street. Such benefits, Williams said, include making tax cuts permanent and cutting regulations among other changes, Williams said. If youre a community banker, or a borrower, you know that banks were strangled with regulations, Williams said. Weve cut regulations tremendously. Changes, Williams said, that should increase competition, access to capital and other necessities of economic growth and opportunity. In county government we pride ourselves on limited government, Woolley answered in reply to the same question. Theres very little red tape for businesses in unincorporated county areas. No impact fees and the only permit fees would be some kind of new construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cain cited facade and other city grants available to help restore and repair downtown area buildings and efforts to simplify the citys permitting process. A lot of times when you interact with a city you have to go here, go there, get bounced around, Cain said. Were planning to convert [a bank building the city purchased years ago] into a one-stop shop. When you need to pull permits or do business with the city youve got one place to go and we can all collaborate. We can work together to speed up the process because we know time is money. Hardin asked how the three are working to help the economy remain strong. Politics is local and less government is the best government, Williams said. Cutting regulations creates competition, creates entrepreneurship, brings more opportunity for risks and rewards. Because, when you give more power to the individual, youve got more opportunity, more cash flow and the ability to create more jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cain that although the joke used to characterize Cleburne as 80 years of tradition unhampered by progress investments in infrastructure and other programs undertaken during his 14 year tenure have prepared Cleburne for the challenges of growth. Woolley talked of county growth, which has tripled since he moved to Grandview in 1982, and steps taken by the Johnson County Commissioners Court to prepare for that influx. Weve made substantial investments in our law enforcement officers, Woolley said. Raised salaries so were now competitive and not a training ground anymore. Weve invested to make sure this county is a safe and secure place to live and work. Woolley talked of Johnson Countys prime placement for living and business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An hour from two major airports, Woolley said. Thirty minutes from downtown Fort Worth, which is now the fourth largest city in the state. Were one of the nine fastest growing counties in Texas. If thats not good for small business start ups I cant imagine what would make it any better. A $60 million bond approved by voters in November, Woolley said, will help fund numerous transportation projects to improve mobility and safety. Cain reiterated the importance of partnerships and praised efforts on the parts of the cities, county, state and federal officials working together. Those partnerships bring a common, unified voice within the county, Cain said. That carries a lot of weight with state and federal officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cain and Woolley discussed projects and initiatives completed, underway and in the planning to ensure ample water supplies for the decades ahead. Cleburne officials, among other projects, recently completed a major expansion of the citys wastewater treatment plant. Cain touted Cleburnes pioneering efforts in the area of capturing reuse water and said Cleburne is in great shape water wise. A lot better shape than some other parts of our great state, Cain said. Williams bemoaned the lack of business people in politics and called for more participation either through running for office, volunteering for committees or supporting business people who do. Cain and Woolley echoed Williams call for civic involvement and dialog with local officials. County and city government is government closest to the people, Woolley said. Were very available. Dont go to social media. That doesnt accomplish anything but heartburn. Were in the community. Find us, call us. EMMET, Wis. (WFRV) A 42-year-old man from southeastern Wisconsin was found by a passerby after he was ejected from his motorcycle when he crashed into a telephone pole late Friday night. Dodge County Sheriffs Office deputies say they were called to a single motorcycle crash on County Road CW west of County Road EM in the Town of Emmet just before midnight on August 22. Based on an initial investigation, deputies stated the motorcyclist, later identified as a 42-year-old man from Oconomowoc, was driving west on County Road CW when he left the road and hit a telephone pole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dangerous & dumb: Driver gets $1,500 speeding ticket, caught at 143 mph in Winnebago Co. Deputies say the man was ejected and was later found by a passerby. The victim was taken to a local hospital before being flown by Flight for Life to another medical center for treatment of serious, life-threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriffs Office. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A 68-year-old woman was repeatedly punched and knocked to the ground as she tried to pull into a parking spot in Brooklyn, cops said Saturday. The victim was just about to park outside the Food Bazaar Supermarket on Manhattan Ave. near Moore St. in East Williamsburg when a man and a woman rolled up behind her in a green sedan around 7:40 p.m. on Aug. 13. The woman tried to wave the couple on, indicating she was about to pull into the spot, when the man got out of his car, approached her driver-side window and began arguing with her, she told police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the altercation continued, the victim got out of her car, cops said. Thats when the other woman stormed up and began punching her in the face, knocking her onto the asphalt in the parking lot. The couple jumped back into their car and sped off. They were last seen heading east on Varet St., cops said. EMS rushed the woman to Woodhull Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries. Cops recovered surveillance footage of the couple and put out the images in the hopes that someone recognizes them. The female suspect was last seen wearing a gray shirt, gray pants, black jacket and white sneakers. The man she was with was wearing a white tank top, black pants and a black head wrap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident comes as felony assaults in the Williamsburg area, which is protected by the 90th Precinct, has seen an 8% drop in assaults, from 195 to 178, according to the NYPD. Felony assault numbers are down citywide, but only by 1% from 18,814 this time last year to 18,603. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this couple is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. With the monsoon session of Parliament having witnessed continuous disruptions by opposition over their demands, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that he made constant efforts to urge and convince Congress and other opposition parties to allow discussion in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, but to no avail "Mera gala bhi baith gaya dekho. Opposition ko chilla chilla ke mai anurodh karta hoon ki behas hone dijiye. (My throat got sore, I repeatedly urged opposition to allow discussion." he said. In an interview with ANI, Rijiju noted that in a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament belongs to the Opposition as they can seek answers from the government. "The government is liable to answer. The Opposition has to ask questions. What would the government do if the ones who are supposed to ask questions ran away? We have been asking them not to cause a disturbance. My throat got sore because I had to shout and ask the Opposition not to create a ruckus," he said. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced continuous disruptions during the monsoon session over the opposition's demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. With both the Houses witnessing repeated adjournments due to disruptions throughout the session, which concluded on Thursday, the productivity of Lok Sabha was about 31% and that of Rajya Sabha was about 39%. In the Lok Sabha, discussions could happen for only 37 hours out of the total available 120 hours and in the Rajya Sabha, discussions took place for 41 hours and 15 minutes. A total of 15 bills were passed by Parliament during the session. Answering queries, Rijiju said the session was "successful from the nation's point of view and a failure from the Opposition's point of view". Rijiju also said the people in the country are welcoming the provisions of the Constitution Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha and the opposition parties would have welcomed it too if they "had kept ethics at the centre." The bill provides for the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or any other Minister in the central or a state government, if he is arrested and detained in custody on account of serious criminal offences. Two more bills to apply similar provisions in Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir were also introduced in Lok Sahba. The three bills will be examined by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Rijiju said Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation is to keep the Prime Minister out of this constitution amendment bill, but he did not agree. "PM Modi refused to give an exception to the prime minister. The PM is also a citizen, and he should not have special protection. Most of the CMs are from our party. If they do something wrong, they have to leave their position. Ethics should also mean something. The Opposition would have welcomed this bill had they kept ethics at the centre," Rijiju said. "The monsoon session of the Parliament was successful from the nation's point of view and a failure from the Opposition's point of view. The government also thinks that it was a success. However, it was not well, as far as discussions are concerned, because important bills were passed. Any government brings bills... PM Modi is a prime minister who went against the recommendation and put the PM in the category that even if the prime minister commits any corruption, then he has to go to jail and leave his position. Any position, whether CM, PM or Union Ministers, cannot be above the law. What objection does the Opposition have? The nation is welcoming this revolutionary bill," he added. Amid disruptions and adjournments, Rijiju had made continuous appeals to opposition members in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha not to resort to sloganeering and disruptions and allow normal functioning of Parliament Rijiju alleged that Congress does not have any interest in parliamentary discussions. He said many Congress MPs and parliamentarians of other parties came to him and said they were not able to raise issues concerning their constituencies with the two Houses getting repeatedly adjourned, . "They don't believe in debate and discussion in the Parliament. Many MPs of the Congress and other parties came to me and said that because the Parliament is not running, they are able to present the concerns of their constituencies. If the Parliament does not run, the loss is for the Opposition. The government will pass the bills in the national interest. But it is not good if the bills are passed without discussion. We believe in discussion... The loss is for those who have to ask questions," the Union Minister said. "If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak." "With folded hands, we have requested the Congress party to participate in the discussion. There are many members of Congress who can speak well and are also knowledgeable. They will face issues if I name anyone... If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak," he added. (ANI) MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities arrested a Memphis woman in Nashville on Friday after she allegedly led officers on a pursuit from a shoplifting incident in Mt. Juliet. The Mt. Juliet Police Department said the suspect a 39-year-old woman got in a car and fled from Kroger after she was accused of shoplifting. She reportedly sideswiped another vehicle as she drove away, and evaded officers on Golden Bear Gateway. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MJPD issued a pursuit alert at 2:40 p.m. Friday in relation to the incident. Ten minutes later, the alert was canceled. Detectives with the Metro Nashville Police Department and MJPD tracked the car to a hotel in Nashville using license plate readers and surveillance cameras, and the woman was arrested Friday evening. (Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department) (Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department) Read todays top stories on wkrn.com She is charged with felony shoplifting over $1,000, felony evading arrest, cocaine possession, marijuana possession and reckless endangerment. MJPD is also investigating other shoplifting cases that she is believed to be a suspect 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 WKRN News 2. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A woman accused of firing shots at a Baton Rouge gas station employee on Friday has been arrested. According to a police report, officers were called to an IHOP in the 3600 block of Harding Boulevard about a disturbance. While on the call, officers reported hearing gunshots at the Race Trac. Officers responded and saw two females fighting over a gun. One of the females was identified as Rachel Myles, 35. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Myles reportedly continued to resist while in possession of the gun with officers. Officers took her into custody shortly after. The victim, who was identified as an employee, said Myles stole a cup of coffee. The victim confronted Myles while on her break and informed officers that Myles grabbed her purse, containing the gun. The victim said she grabbed the gun and a fight broke out when Myles pulled the trigger, attempting to shoot her. Myles was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery, theft, and resisting a police officer with force or violence. No bond amount has been set, according to jail records. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. A 38-year-old woman has been arrested after suspected Class B drugs with an estimated street value of 200,000 were seized at George Best Belfast City Airport. It happened on Saturday after an air passenger was detected with cannabis in their luggage, police said. The woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply and remains in custody. Det Insp Kelly said it was a "great example of partnership work conducted by agencies within the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF)". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are aware organised criminal groups seek to exploit any route into Northern Ireland to distribute drugs and profiteer from their criminality," Det Insp Kelly said. "The Police Service of Northern Ireland and our law enforcement partners within OCTF continue to detect and deter these groups from operating here." Disputes between neighbors are not uncommon. Arguments over property lines or irresponsible actions that affect the whole community can be a significant source of stress for homeowners. When those disagreements touch on climate-friendly home solutions, they can be even more frustrating. The granddaughter of a man involved in one such dispute recently took to Reddit to ask the online community for advice. Photo Credit: Reddit On the r/treelaw subreddit, the original poster shared a picture of a small space between two wooden fences overgrown with weeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the caption, the OP explained that their 82-year-old grandfather, who suffers from memory issues, is struggling with a neighbor. They wrote: "In this gap between fences lots of weeds and small trees started growing. So he had a company come in, and they cut down 2 trees. Cops show up and now he's facing felony charges. Supposedly these wild growing weeds cost $3500 to replace." It is easy to find similar stories on the internet about neighbors struggling to find common ground. For instance, one Redditor said a neighbor's bamboo was overgrowing onto their property and was impossible to eradicate. Another explained how they rewilded their yard. An unhappy neighbor installed a fence and destroyed a bunch of their plants in the process. Usually, the best way to deal with a troublesome neighbor is communication. A simple conversation can often prevent a misunderstanding from escalating into something more. Educating yourself about critical climate issues is extremely important. With knowledge comes the ability to have tough climate conversations with family and friends (or even difficult neighbors) backed by facts. And, of course, taking local action in your community will ensure that rules and regulations designed to protect the environment are passed and enforced. One commenter on the post offered some advice: "Get a lawyer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another went even further: "Have an arborist come and inspect and write a letter and explain to the court that these are invasive white mulberries that have no real value." Should the government ban gas-powered lawn equipment? Absolutely Not yet Only for commercial use Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A woman and a girl were hospitalized Friday night after they were stabbed in Northeast D.C., police said. It all started at around 8:45 p.m., when police responded to the 4000 block of Minnesota Ave. in Northeast for a stabbing. There, officers found a crime scene but no victims. However, while officers were on the scene, they were notified that a woman and a juvenile girl, both suffering from a stab wound, had self-transported to an area hospital, according to D.C. police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DC goes 9 days without a homicide under Trump executive order The woman and girl were both conscious and breathing when they arrived at the hospital, police noted. As of Saturday morning, the severity of their injuries has not been released. Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested a suspect in connection with the case, but investigators did not release any additional details, including whether the three people knew each other. The juvenile girls exact age also remains unclear. Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. 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. This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project - St. Louis, a nonprofit news team covering Missouris criminal justice systems, The Midwest Newsroom, and St. Louis Public Radio. Subscribe to The Marshall Projects St. Louis email list, and follow on Instagram, YouTube and Reddit. Honesty Bishop could hear the screams of other people in solitary confinement. Sometimes it was so cold in her cell, she could see her breath. She dealt with scabies and mold. Her days and nights were spent in extreme isolation. The Missouri Department of Corrections kept her locked in a cell about the size of a parking space for over six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She wrote letters to her sister, Latasha Monroe, in St. Louis. They both wondered why Bishop continued to be held in such severe conditions at Jefferson City Correctional Center, a mens facility. Interviews and records on Bishops years in solitary confinement paint a dark picture of a person who felt alone and hopeless, and, in the depths of despair, was driven to self-harm. Bishop, a transgender woman, initially landed there after her cellmate tried to sexually assault her in spring 2015. She was HIV-positive and because of the assault was classified as sexually active even though she was the victim and had been on medication, making the virus undetectable and therefore untransmissible, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the Missouri Department of Corrections . Among the reasons people can be kept in isolation, according to the departments policy, are murder, rape and being sexually active with HIV. In her suit, Bishop said corrections officials kept her in solitary confinement because of her HIV status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whenever she appeared before a committee that reviewed her placement in solitary, which generally took place every 30 or 90 days, corrections officials noted 15 times when Bishop had no violations since the previous review. Ive been good, she told them during a hearing on her solitary confinement in January 2016, and again that September. Though she filed grievances about how long she had been kept in solitary, her pleas were ignored. Department of Corrections officials wouldnt release her from the unit until 2021 after more than 2,000 days. Missouri is one of three states that singles out people with HIV when it comes to solitary confinement, according to a review of 49 states policies on administrative segregation and restrictive housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The departments HIV policy will now be changed under the terms of an Aug. 20 settlement that resulted from the lawsuit. The state agreed to remove language singling out people with HIV for segregation. The terms also include conducting an assessment of anyone with HIV who is sent to solitary and mandatory training for some prison staff. The department would not comment specifically on the policy or the lawsuit. Karen Pojmann, a spokeswoman for the agency, said a committee is in the process of overhauling restrictive housing. Two prisons are piloting a new model that includes meaningful hearings and programming to help people reenter the general population in prison, she said. Bishop did not live to see the policy change she died by suicide on Aug. 13, 2024. She was 34. Punishing people with HIV In March 2011, OFallon, Missouri, police showed up at Bishops foster mothers home in the St. Louis suburb with an arrest warrant alleging Bishop had stolen something worth less than $750. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bishop and her siblings had been split up when they were younger, but stayed in contact with the help of a caseworker. Monroe, 38, said her sister showed signs of her gender identity as a child. Kids, they play house or something, and she would want to be the momma, said Monroe, who was four years older than Bishop. She was always the mom, and we were like her kids and everything, so I felt it then. In their later teenage years, the siblings didnt need a caseworker to help keep them together the sisters stayed close on their own. Monroe gave Bishop driving lessons in Forest Park in her Oldsmobile Cutlass. They went to the Pride festival in St. Louis for many years, and to parties and drag shows, where they could let loose and be themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the officer showed up at her home to arrest Bishop, who was 20 at the time, she initially complied, then ran. They scuffled, and she bit him. Once in custody, she told the officer she fled because she was scared. She pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, assaulting a law enforcement officer and recklessly risking HIV infection a crime that came with a 15-year sentence. Missouri passed a law in 1988 that criminalized some forms of transmitting HIV. The measure was expanded in 2002 to specifically include biting, but that provision was removed in 2021 . After Bishop violated probation, she was sentenced to 22 years in prison in March 2014. As of January 2025, 218 people with HIV were incarcerated in Missouri, according to records obtained by The Midwest Newsroom and The Marshall Project - St. Louis. Twelve were housed at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, a facility that has been the subject of complaints and where the 2023 death of an incarcerated man led to criminal charges against several corrections officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was there that Bishop began transitioning from male to female. At times, she had access to gender-affirming clothing and medical care. Bishop chose her first name, Honesty, Monroe said, because she was honest and was gonna tell you like it is. Honesty Bishop, in 2023. Transgender people in prison are particularly vulnerable to violence and discrimination. Thirty-five percent reported being sexually victimized in prison, according to a 2015 federal study . Bishops cellmate attempted to sexually assault her in April 2015. The sexual assault led the Missouri Department of Corrections to deem her sexually active. Its policy says someone with HIV who is sexually active can be sent to solitary. Missouri, Alaska and Michigan single out those with HIV in their administrative segregation policies. In response to a public records request, Alabama said its policy was a restricted document. Such policies are very unnecessarily stigmatizing, said Tara Vijayan, a professor of medicine at UCLA who has been caring for patients with HIV since 2007. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not clear to me what the goal is or what theyre trying to prevent, she said, adding that since 2011, evidence has shown that patients with undetectable levels of the virus cannot transmit it. Its unknown how many people are held in mandated single cells in Missouri based on being sexually active with HIV. The department does not have those records, said Matt Briesacher, chief counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections. The damage of solitary confinement Bishop was allowed out of her cell shackled for one hour, three days a week, according to the lawsuit. She did not have access to a phone, classes or a job. She particularly missed TV and radio because she loved music. Beyonce was her favorite artist. For three years, Bishop did not receive gender-affirming medical care. She was exposed to chemical agents used to subdue other prisoners. A corrections caseworker told Bishop she was going to rot in there because she had HIV, the lawsuit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She got depressed and anxious, and tried to take her life in 2015 and again in 2016. Craig Haney, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has been studying the psychological effects of solitary confinement since its use began increasing in the 1970s as a way to deal with overcrowding. It is a psychologically traumatizing experience, Haney said of the research he and others have done. It persists after somebody gets out of solitary confinement. In some instances, its fatal. People in long-term isolation often draw deeper into themselves, he said. Their capability to interact with others atrophies. When theyre released back into the general prison population, theres an expectation that everything is OK again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody gives people coming out of solitary confinement the kind of special attention and therapeutic contact that they need to be able to reintegrate themselves back into a social world, Haney said. And thats compounded if they then get released from prison, and they have to figure out not only the difficult task of making the transition from prison to the free world. Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City, Missouri. By September 2016, the department determined Bishop did not have any so-called enemies. The next month, charges against her from the altercation with her cellmate were dropped. Bishop filed several grievances about her extended time in isolation all of which were denied. In response to requests to review these documents, Briesacher said the grievances are closed records because they pertain to the safety and security of the prison. While she was in solitary, corrections officials brought Bishop before a classification committee, which helps determine housing decisions, dozens of times. Findings were often nonexistent, according to the reports, only saying she was on single cell mandate. Documents show the departments justification for keeping her in isolation changed. A 2015 hearing cited the altercation with her cellmate. A September 2016 report said poor behavioral issues. A hearing from March 2017 claims she was assigned to solitary due to adjustment issues. Some hearings failed to include a reason for her continued confinement. Others noted improved behavior or said shed had no violations since the last review. In the lawsuit, Bishops attorneys described the hearings as sham reviews, often lasting less than a minute. Bishop alleged that prison staff sometimes did not allow her to speak. In November 2017, she told the committee shes been violation-free, which is confirmed in notes on the reports. Finally, she was released from solitary in July 2021, and was freed on parole the following year. Honestys legacy Monroe and another sister drove to the prison to pick up Bishop. I just had joy, Monroe recalled. Bishop had grown out her hair and looked different due to her transition. The sisters celebrated her release, and Bishop was intent on getting her life together. She got a job as a cook and dishwasher at a local club, saved up to buy a Dodge Dart and met a man who became her partner, Monroe said. The sisters enjoyed going to The Grove, a St. Louis neighborhood known for its LGBTQ+ culture. Monroe said it was an area where her sister felt like she could be herself. In other places, Bishop could feel paranoid. From left: Bonita Scott, 20, Christina Monroe, 35 and Tasha Monroe, 38, at the Transgender Memorial Garden on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in south St. Louis. With assistance from the MacArthur Justice Center, a nonprofit civil rights firm, and Lambda Legal Defense, Bishop filed her lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections in June 2023. Monroe said her sister wanted justice and a change in policy after spending years in solitary confinement with no answers. The suit alleged the departments policy was unconstitutional. It targets people living with HIV in a discriminatory way, based on stigma, and theres just no reason for it, said Shubra Ohri, an attorney with the MacArthur Justice Center. It is our position [in the lawsuit] that she was tortured while in solitary confinement, said Ohri. Even when there was little to be positive about, Bishop saw the good around her, Ohri said. I like to say when you talk to Honesty, it felt like she was glowing, she said. She was just such a beautiful person and so curious about the world. Bishop was open about her struggles in solitary, and her suicide attempts. Things took a turn when her boyfriend died in July 2024. Shortly after, Bishop and Monroe talked for hours. Monroe encouraged her to grieve, but also tried to impart some positivity. The last time they talked, Monroe told her about teaching her partners son to drive in Forest Park. Bishop sounded down on the call. A few days later, the family found out she had died by suicide. Ohri said Bishops time in isolation played a huge role in her death. Outwardly, Bishop tried to stay positive. When she was struggling, she looked for a way to escape her sadness. But the base trauma of over six years in solitary created anxiety and darkness. That compounded when Bishops partner died. In February, her attorneys refiled the case with Monroe as the plaintiff. The family wanted to pursue the case because they knew it was important to Bishop. MacArthur Justice Center attorneys Amy Malinowski, left, and Shubra Ohri, right, at the organizations Missouri office on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in downtown St. Louis. Life without her has been quieter. Monroe said she didnt attend Pride in June. Im used to her calling my phone and be like, Hey honey, she said. Its been rough. But Monroe said her sister would be glad there was some measure of justice and that things changed for the next person so they wont have to go through what she had to go through. This article is a collaboration between The Midwest Newsroom and The Marshall Project - St. Louis. The Midwest Newsroom is an investigative and enterprise journalism collaboration that includes Iowa Public Radio, KCUR, Nebraska Public Media, St. Louis Public Radio and NPR. There are many ways you can contact us with story ideas and leads, and you can find that information here . The Midwest Newsroom is a partner of The Trust Project . We invite you to review our ethics and practices here . WONDER LAKE, Ill. (WGN) After 48 years with the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District, Chief Mike Weber has decided to embark on a new chapter: retirement. I feel good, Weber said. My family is proud of me for doing this, my friends are proud of me for doing this. Im going to miss it. Theres no way I am not going to miss it, but I feel good about it. Over a hundred community members attend his final radio call Friday, which is a tradition where a first responder sends out a final public safety message to mark the end of someones service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since announcing his retirement, Weber says hes received countless messages. People have been stopping by all day, that Ive worked with or helped train when they were young, he said. People who cant make it tonight have been stopping by my house all week, so thats kind of nice. Weber joined the department in 1977 as a firefighter in training. Over the years, he worked his way up through the ranks and was eventually named chief in 2019. As one of the longest serving firefighters in the Chicago area, Weber is known for his compassion and generosity. His colleagues say he often went above and beyond to help people out, including the next generation of firefighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The largest impressionable thing about Mike is he really just goes above and beyond, not just for his position as Chief, but also for so many different aspects within the community, Dan Dycus, Village President, said. But now, after all these years, hes ready to pass the torch. Officials plan to announce his successor in the coming weeks. Im excited for the town, Im excited for the new chief. Ill be here for him. My office is here, my firefighters are here, Ill be here for them, Weber said. Weber says his first order of business in retirement is to travel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Aug. 22MITCHELL Longfellow Elementary School was still abuzz with activity even after the first day of school had ended. As part of a game, the students ran from one end of the gymnasium to the other, ending up in different corners of the room based on their favorite colors or seasons of the year. Outside in the commons area of the school, another gaggle of kids filled chairs around tables, getting ready to head outside for a popsicle break. It was the first day of the new KERNELS After School Enrichment Program, and there were a lot of smiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's wonderful," Marissa Abts, a teacher at Longfellow Elementary and one of the directors overseeing the new program, told the Mitchell Republic. "The fact that this is around for the kids, it's just incredible having a safe spot for them and having a free place for them that have people who care about them and want them to do well and want to help. I think this is going to be a huge thing in the future." Approved by the Mitchell Board of Education in June and funded through a donation from the Roger Musick family, the program offers free after-school care to all kindergarten through grade 5 students in the district. Hosted at the three district elementary schools, it offers academic support, enrichment activities and even the occasional field trip from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. every full school day at no charge to district families. It's a program expected to give an academic and development boost to Mitchell students, as well as provide some relief to families looking for after-school childcare options who may otherwise have difficulty booking spots at local daycare providers. People are already taking advantage, and Abts is excited to see that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are currently sitting at 85 students at Longfellow. As a whole district, we have over 300 students," Abts said. "I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm glad it's successful. I'm glad there are that many. Over 300 kids are getting this opportunity and we're sure that once they hear how much fun we're having, we think there might be some more added as we go." It's been an accelerated timeline from June to the first day of school to get the program up and running. The district already had the space needed with its three elementary schools already prepared to host large numbers of students. With the approval of the school board and funding from Musick, the district set about hiring staffers certified teachers, paraeducators, college education majors for supervisory roles to fill the extra hours after school. She said there were about 65 staff on hand at Longfellow for the program, and nearly 300 district-wide taking part. The first day of the program Wednesday saw those staffers guiding students through a bit of homework, games and other activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those helping out was Morgan Schutte, an education major at Dakota Wesleyan University. Schutte, a 2022 graduate of Mitchell High School, has held jobs in daycare since she was 11 years old, including a stint at the former Embe program that was discontinued in Mitchell in 2023. Now an aspiring teacher doing her student teaching with the district, she jumped at the chance to spend more time with young people through the KERNELS program. "I've always loved being someone that younger kids could look up to. Even when I was still a child, I wanted to be someone that they could look up to and think I want to be like her one day," Schutte said. "When I heard about how the program was going to be set up, it is much like Embe with their after school program, but it's a lot more structured." The funding for the program initially an undisclosed amount that was later supplemented by a massive $33 million donation from Musick split between the college and the district came with the hopes that it would strengthen the cooperative spirit between the two institutions, enhance educational opportunities for students at both schools, and fund continuing professional development for district teachers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musick has also said he hoped funding such programs like the KERNELS program would signal to families in the state that Mitchell is a community that prioritizes education and draws potential new residents. He also hoped that it would help draw top-rate teachers to the district. Schutte, who did not see herself coming back to Mitchell after college graduation, said that has changed with the arrival of the KERNELS program. "I never thought I'd live to see the day I'd go to college in this town. I was like I'm graduating and I'm out of here. No more. And I couldn't have been more wrong," Schutte said, adding that she had heard buzz from other students and teachers about their excitement of the potential for the after-school programs and other opportunities provided by the donation. Student teachers like Schutte and the youngsters in the after school program are two beneficiaries of the new effort, but so are the parents whose kids are taking part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a free after-school program now offering care options from when school dismisses until 5:30 p.m., parents can more easily plan their schedules and pick up their kids after work. That prevents those students from having to walk home after school where they may have to wait alone, or for parents to arrange transport to daycare centers after school lets out. Emily Carlson is one parent taking advantage of the new program. Her son, a first grader, is attending the program, and she is grateful the new option exists. She said her son thoroughly enjoyed his first day in the program Wednesday. "I was super excited. Both my husband and I work, so it's hard to figure out where he is going to go. If he goes to daycare, how are we going to get him there? He loved it. I asked him what his favorite part of school was, and he actually said 'after school.'" Carlson told the Mitchell Republic before also offering praise to Musick and his philanthropy. "Honestly, I've complained a lot about how there doesn't seem to be much for our kids in the community, and now it's amazing that someone is contributing to it." Lindsey Hardy has two kids in the program, a fourth grader and a second grader. Like Carlson, she sees the program as a godsend for her and her husband, both of whom work and can find arranging after-school options tricky at best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also jumped at the chance to sign her kids up, she said. "I was immediately interested and excited about the program. I see it as a valuable opportunity to support the students beyond their regular school day through academic help and creative activities. It also allows them more free time with their friends to build their relationships outside the classroom," Hardy said. "I am truly grateful for this generous gift to education in Mitchell. It's incredibly encouraging to see people investing in our children's future." The program seems to be a hit with students already. Joe Childs, superintendent of the Mitchell School District, said progress on the program has moved quickly, and that's exciting to see. He visited the program at the three elementary schools earlier this week, and saw happy students engaged with the program and each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's quickly becoming the favorite part of school for students. I heard a story of a couple of students students that when their parents came to pick them up after school that the students waved them off and told them to come get them later at 5:30 p.m. after the program was over because they wanted to stay and participate and have a good time," Childs said. "I think it has taken shape better than I could have imagined." It may only have only been up and running for a few days, but with the Musick donation, the KERNELS program is expected to be a part of the Mitchell School District for years to come. Those administering the program plan to refine and tweak how the program works as they learn more about what is most effective, Abts said. She is thrilled for the new chance to guide children in their development, both academically and socially. She's also happy for the opportunity for DWU students and other staffers to further connect with the Mitchell School District and put their own love of teaching and child care to good use. She hopes parents who may be interested in the program reach out about it. The program is ready to welcome anyone and everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's no limit to what we can take. We'll take them all," Abts said. "We just want to make sure we have the staff to support a good balance between teachers and kids. And right now we're sitting really good." More information on the program can be found through the program signup website, by calling the Mitchell School District at 605-995-3010 or through the links for each district elementary school below. Parents should apply through the elementary school their child attends. L.B. Williams: forms.gle/cyNMETjdd4DPPQSHA Longfellow: forms.gle/r7MaAv2gxzdrw3Zz5 Gertie Belle Rogers: forms.gle/CaBZB9jfEm5TNv3cA The Wall Street Journal editorial board published an explosive takedown of the Trump administrations decision to raid both the Bethesda, Maryland home and the Washington, D.C., office of former national security advisor John Bolton Friday. FBI agents spent hours at both locations to uncover if Bolton illegally held or shared classified information. The outlet described the pursuit as a revenge campaign of the sort that Trump explicitly promised voters he would not engage in if reelected, a fact the board immediately noted in its opening paragraph: President Trump promised voters during his campaign for a second term that he had bigger things on his mind than retribution against opponents, they wrote. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It continued: But it is increasingly clear that vengeance is a large part, maybe the largest part, of how he will define success in his second term. Bolton has been a vocal critic of Trump since his departure from the administration in September 2019. Its hard to see the raid as anything other than vindictive. Mr. Bolton fell out of Mr. Trumps favor in the first term and then wrote a book about his experience in the White House while Mr. Trump was still President, the WSJ also wrote. Trump unsuccessfully attempted to block the publication of Boltons 2020 book, The Room Where It Happened, about his experience in the White House. The Biden administration did not opt into the investigation left by Trumps first administration, but under his second term it appears FBI Director Kash Patel has been inspired to reopen the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether Mr. Trump ordered the FBI probe or not doesnt matter. Mr. Patel knows what the President thinks about Mr. Bolton, and the Presidents minions in Trump II dont serve as the check on his worst impulses the way grown-ups did in his first term. The presidential id is now unchained, the WSJ insisted. This is the kind of gratuitous viciousness that has increasingly defined Mr. Trumps return to office, the outlet later added. The real offender here is a President who seems to think he can use the powers of his office to run vendettas. We said this was one of the risks of a second Trump term, and its turning out to be worse than we imagined. In July Trump sued the Journal for $10 billion, one day after the outlet published a letter the president wrote to former friend and associate Jeffrey Epstein for the latters birthday. I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his pile of garbage newspaper, the WSJ, Trump posted on Truth Social earlier in the day. That will be an interesting experience!!! The Journal reported Trumps letter included several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. Trump denied having written the note or drawing the woman. The post WSJ Editorial Board Ramps Up Trump Feud With Searing Rebuke of Bolton Raid appeared first on TheWrap. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) WTWO/WAWV and Toyota of Terre Haute are proud to participate in the Clear the Shelters event at local animal rescues today, August 23. Join us at participating locations across the Wabash Valley and find your new furry friend. Tune into WTWO and WAWV this morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ET) as we will be live at the Terre Haute Humane Society, and Prospect Bank in Paris, Illinois, encouraging viewers to adopt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WTWO/WAWVs reporters have also been at multiple participating locations to give you a look at the animals available to adopt today! You can find those stories in the video players below: Clear The Shelters 2025 Effingham Humane Society: Effingham County Animal Shelter: Sullivan County Humane Society: Clay County Humane Society: Greene County Humane Society: Over 105 dogs await adoption at Terre Haute Humane Society Vincennes Animal Shelter: Claws and Paws Animal Rescue: Crawford County Animal Control: Parke-Vermillion Humane Society: Martin County Humane Society: Saved by Grace Animal Rescue: Happy Tails Animal Rescue: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said that advocates and judges must work for the betterment and benefit of the people, and that justice delivery must be fair, fast, accessible and affordable. He said this after inaugurating the Court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate and Civil Judge (Jr. Division) at Mohanpur today. CM Saha said that Mohanpur has witnessed massive development in the last three years, and this day will be written in golden letters in the history of Mohanpur. "Maintaining the guidelines, all the work has been completed. I would like to thank the people who were involved in constructing the building. We have eight district courts and 15 sub-divisional courts; with Mohanpur, it will be 16. We must go with the times. Keeping Mohanpur Court as a model, we will set up sub-divisional courts in the rest of the sub-divisions," Tripura CM said. CM Saha also said that judges observe the advocates who come to court to see whether they are prepared or not, and based on their preparation, the judges deliver judgments. "Sometimes advocates come to court without proper preparation, and as a result, judgments get delayed. When people are in trouble, they come to court and wait for their judgment. Advocates and judges must work for the betterment and benefit of the people. Nowadays, everything is at hand due to the internet. Judgments are expedited in Tripura, and this should continue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working for development, security, self-reliance, and progress in every aspect. We are now progressing day by day. The judiciary plays a key role in the development of the country," he added. Tripura CM further said that the present state government will extend necessary assistance to the judiciary and reiterated that justice must be fair, fast, accessible and at an affordable cost. "We are working to build Viksit Tripura, and for that, we inaugurated the Vision Document yesterday. Our economy, growth, employment generation, women empowerment, and every sector are progressing due to the principle of good governance. We can see the brighter future of Tripura as the parameters of development are visible and positive in different sectors. Our GSDP has also increased," he added. Chief Justice of the High Court of Tripura M. S. Ramachandra Rao, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Justice T. Amarnath Goud, Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha, Advocate General Shaktimoy Chakraborty, DGP Anurag, Law Secretary Sanjoy Bhattacharya, and others were present. (ANI) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) The 11th annual West Virginia Tattoo Expo officially kicked off in Morgantown on Friday, welcoming more than 200 artists and piercers from across the country. Attendees at the three-day event can receive top-quality tattoos and piercings. Each artist has been inspected and licensed by the health department, ensuring the safety and cleanliness of those stopping by the expo. (WBOY Image) Expo Organizer Rocco Cunningham spoke with 12 News about how much this event means to its artists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybodys very excited to be back in Morgantown. Morgantown has been a wonderful, welcoming place, and everybody was excited to be back. You know most of the tattooers, this isnt a convention, its a family reunion, Cunningham said. After starting in 2013, the expo has grown into an event that the artists and attendees can both look forward to. Rick Cherry has come to the expo as an artist since its first year and spoke to 12 News about why comes back each year. Its my life. You know, when you do something you love, you just do it. Its been my life since 1970, Cherry said. The expo will continue through the weekend, running from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Yellowstone National Park may be a top bucket-list destination for many outdoor enthusiasts. From geysers and hot springs to majestic animals like bison and elk, the 3,472 square miles of parkland is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined, per Yellowstone Forever. The park rangers who help operate Yellowstone symbolize respect for nature's beauty, protection of wildlife, and discipline against rule-breaking. Sadly, one ranger had to step in after a rule-breaking tourist caused damage to an iconic feature in the park. A photo carousel posted to the Instagram account Tourons of Yellowstone (@touronsofyellowstone) a content hub of Yellowstone visitors caught acting inappropriately highlights a committed ranger cleaning up the mess visitors left in the form of drawings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I took a picture of a NPS ranger trying to clean some drawings tourons made in a pool near Old Faithful," wrote the original poster Amandine Clery (@amandineclry). "People are unbelievable in this park." In the photos, the park ranger is seen kneeling down from the boardwalk near Old Faithful, Yellowstone's geyser that is famous for its large eruptions. The ranger scrubs away at a drawing of a smiling face with the word "hi" and more scribblings adjacent to it. As majestic as Yellowstone is, it is no stranger to visitors becoming too comfortable with their surroundings, perhaps unaware or not considering the impacts of their actions. For example, one tourist suffered horrible burns after venturing off designated pathways. There have also been reports of tourists getting too close to bison, with some even placing an elk calf in their car. These actions aren't just dangerous for humans but also for the animals, who could be euthanized as a result of these interactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In order to maintain safety for visitors and wildlife, it is imperative to respect park guidelines and stay within designated trails. This helps ensure the area remains open for others to enjoy supporting local economies and ecosystems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Instagrammers didn't take kindly to the tourist's artwork. "I just don't get why people disrespect these parks. They deserve a lifetime ban," suggested one Instagram user. "Thank goodness for the rangers, they are everything," commented another. NEW YORK (PIX11) Its a beautiful Saturday and beaches across New York state are back open after Hurricane Erin moved further away from the East Coast. New York City beaches reopened after the storm brought dangerous rip and surf currents, according to the Parks Department. New Yorkers are encouraged to only swim in areas where lifeguards are present. More Local News Swimming is also now allowed at Jones Beach and knee-level wading at Robert Moses State Park, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Lifeguards may put restrictions in place if the surf becomes unsafe again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochul said Hither Hills State Park, in Montauk, is still closed to swimming. To find all state-owned beaches, click here. For a list of New York City beaches, check 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. ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)With summer coming to an end, families are getting ready for the upcoming school year, and with that comes staying up to date on vaccinations. Every school has a list of which vaccines are required for the upcoming school year. Were definitely in back-to-school season now when it comes to vaccination. Vaccines are the best way to keep children and everyone around them safe and protected against diseases, said Mealea VanDenburg, Steuben County Public Health Education Coordinator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, a law was passed in New York that ended nonmedical exemptions to school vaccination requirements. Brookdale Painted Post hosts carnival for Senior Citizens Day When you vaccinate your child, the entire classroom benefits from that by helping reduce the spread of infection, said Justin Nistico, an Arnot Health infectious disease doctor. Health officials say there are a lot of health issues that can happen if a person isnt vaccinated. Unvaccinated children are more likely to contract preventable diseases like I mentioned, measles and whooping cough, and those diseases can cause serious complications, including, and some instances, hospitalization, said VanDenburg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a lot of ways to find factual information about vaccines. Roof being replaced at St. Marys Church If youre unsure about vaccinations, start with a simple conversation with your doctor. They can help you make the best choice for your childs health, said VanDenburg. Doctors say staying up to date on vaccines not only protects you, but it also protects anyone that you come in contact with. For more information on the New York State back-to-school vaccination requirements, visit the New York State Department of Health 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Young people are key drivers of social and economic change. They are the human capital of every country. Yet, in Europe, many young people are neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET). In 2024, 11% of people aged 15 to 29 in the EU were NEET. The EU wants to cut this figure to below 9% by 2030. Yet, as of 2024, only 11 out of 34 European countries have already met this target. NEET rates vary widely across Europe. In some countries, the gender gap is especially large. So, which countries have the highest rates of young people who are neither in employment nor in education or training? Where in Europe has the most young people neither in employment nor in education or training'? According to Eurostat, the share of young NEETs in the EU ranged from 4.9% in the Netherlands to 19.4% in Romania in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poor educational outcomes of young people are a major concern in Romania and are one main driver of the high share of young people not in employment, education or training, the OECDs 2025 Romania report finds. When EU candidate countries, the UK and EFTA states are included, Turkey records the highest rate. More than one in four young people there (25.9%) are NEET. Bosnia and Herzegovina follows with 22.2%. Both countries are EU candidates. In general, Southern and Southeastern Europe have much higher NEET rates, while Northern and Western Europe generally perform better. In addition to Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina, several countries are above the EU average. These include Romania (19.4%), Italy (15.2%), Serbia (14.9%), Lithuania (14.7%), Greece (14.2%) and Bulgaria (12.7%). Among Europes five largest economies, four recorded NEET rates above the EU average: Italy (15.2%), France (12.5%), the UK (12.1%) and Spain (12%). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany has the lowest rate, with 8.5% of young people classified as NEET. Besides the Netherlands (4.9%), other strong performers include Iceland (5.0%), Sweden (6.3%), Norway (6.8%), Malta (7.2%), as well as Ireland and Slovenia (both 7.6%). These countries show success in helping young people find a pathway. The gap between countries is striking. Turkeys rate is more than five times that of the Netherlands. Mehmet Ozan Ozdemir and his colleagues (2023), academics who analysed the NEET Turkey data, suggested that skills-gap or skills-mismatch is one of the main causes of high NEET rate in Turkey. There seems to be a large gap between the skills demanded by the labour market and the skills acquired by students in universities, OECDs Turkey desk told Euronews Business, explaining the high unemployment rates among university graduates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OECDs 2025 survey also highlights Turkeys relatively low share of graduates in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The report calls for more labour-market relevant courses. Related Gender gap outliers: Turkey, Romania and Czechia The gender gap in NEET rates is striking in some countries. Overall, men have lower rates than women. On average in the EU, 10% of young men are NEET compared with 12.1% of young women. This equals a gap of 2.1 percentage points (pp), or 21%. Three countries are clear outliers. In Turkey, 15.8% of young men are NEET compared with 36.4% of young women. This represents a gap of 20.6 pp, or 130% more among women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Romania, the rates are 14% for men and 25.2% for womenan 11.2 point gap, or 80% more. In Czechia, only 3.9% of young men are NEET compared with 13.3% of women. That is a 9.4 pp gap, or 241% more. Of 32 countries, the NEET rate is actually higher among men than women in only five countries. This includes Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia and Belgium. The Nordic countries dominate this trend. In Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the NEET rate among women is also more than 40% higher than among men. Unemployed or outside the labour force? There are two main reasons behind NEET rates: young people are either unemployed or outside the labour force. In most countries, the share outside the labour force is higher than the share unemployed, with only three exceptions. Across the EU, the average is 4.2% unemployed compared with 6.9% outside the labour force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside the labour force refers to the people who are not employed and are either not actively seeking work or not available to work. They are also known as economically inactive population, according to the International Labour Organization. Higher shares of young people outside the labour force push NEET rates up. In Turkey, one in five young people (20%) are outside the labour force. This drives Turkey to the highest overall NEET rate, even though the official unemployment rate among 1529 year olds is only 5.9%. The same pattern appears in Romania, where 5.4% are unemployed compared with 14% outside the labour force. In Italy, Lithuania and Bulgaria, the share outside the labour force is 10% or above. Related Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young women in Turkey left most outside the labour force Data shows that young female NEETs are more likely to be outside the labour force than young men, with only one exceptionEstonia. In the EU, the shares are 8.5% for women and 5.3% for men. In Turkey, the gap is dramatic: almost one in three young women (30.5%) aged 1529 who are not in education are outside the labour force. The rate is also high in Romania, at 21%. Why is this the case in Turkey? According to a 2023 study by Mehmet Ozan Ozdemir and colleagues, being female and married greatly increases the risk of becoming NEET. Traditional household duties such as housework, childcare, and caring for the sick or elderly raise the likelihood that married women will be NEET. A political divide appears to be opening up between young women and young men - and no one is really sure why. Polling suggests young men are more likely to vote on the right than their female counterparts, who increasingly tend to view the world through liberal eyes. In a 2025 survey of more than 2,000 16-to-29-year-olds by Focaldata, for the John Smith Centre, 20% of young British women said they were left wing, compared with 13% of young men, although the majority of both identified as neither left or right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 2024 general election, 12% of women aged 18 to 24 voted for Reform UK or the Conservatives, compared with 22% of men in that age group, polling from YouGov suggests. Labour was the most popular choice among both sexes, with a slight bias towards women in the youngest age groups. The Green Party polled particularly well with young women, gaining 23%, compared with 12% of 18 to 24-year-old men. The Liberal Democrats did well among this age group, with 16% of the vote among both men and women. The Conservative Party, by contrast, performed badly in this age group, with the majority of its support coming from the over-65s. Reform's support last year also skewed towards older age groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British politics is more volatile than it has ever been, with the decline of traditional party loyalties and even uncertainty about what counts as "left" and right" any more. But researchers have identified a clear trend, with young people feeling that the two-party Westminster system no longer delivers for them - and a gap between the sexes. Dr Ceri Fowler, a fellow in comparative politics at Oxford University, said: "Young people are still more progressive in their attitudes compared to older generations, but when you break that down there is a divide where young men are more right wing and young women more left wing. "And it isn't a divide between the two main parties, it's at the more extreme ends, so either for support by men for Reform, or women for the Greens." [BBC] Lucy Thomas, a 19-year-old student in Glasgow, is one of those younger voters who plumped for Labour last year, but does not support them as much now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I grew up with the Conservatives in power and I wasn't happy. When I'm voting I'm thinking about my local community, people around me, young people as well, I want there to be more opportunities for young people." She says no-one she knows is interested in Labour or the Tories, "they're more interested in Jeremy Corbyn's party, because Gaza is a big issue for young people". "Young men are turning towards Reform," she adds, and although she does not support Nigel Farage's party, "I think that what they are doing on social media is working and not a lot is being done to create a viable opposition [to it]." Daze Aghaji says women are seeking 'a new progressive future' [Daze Aghaji] Daze Aghaji, a 25-year-old environmental activist, says she voted Green in last year's general election but has no strong party allegiance and is interested in the new left wing party being set up by Jeremy Corbyn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Women are leaning further to the left as we are feeling the ways the world isn't functioning properly," she says. "Many [women] are looking for a new progressive future, they're fighting to protect their freedoms, but a large amount of young men are holding on to tradition and that's what drives the gender divide. "Many young men are holding tightly to a traditional vision of masculinity, yet the world has shifted in ways that make living by that script increasingly impossible." Joseph Boam, a 22-year-old Reform UK councillor who was previously deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council, rejects the idea that Reform is a boys' club. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have lots of female supporters, which didn't surprise me," says the former Tory supporter. "My mum and grandma are big Reform supporters, they're always watching GB News." He acknowledges the vital role social media plays for Reform. "Reform's smashing it on socials," he says. "You've got young councillors like me and others using social media to boost the party and get across what we are achieving at a local level, we're reaching real local people where they're actually watching and we're saying all the right things - the truth." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Reform drew the majority of its support from older age groups at the last election, Nigel Farage's personal brand online has proved a hit on youth-oriented platform TikTok, where he has more than a million followers. The Reform leader has said society is trying to "feminise" young men in a way that made the views of self-proclaimed misogynist influencer Andrew Tate more appealing to them. But at a lunch for political reporters in March, he stressed: "I'm not a Tate supporter. I'm identifying the truth, that young men feel that they're not allowed to be blokes." Boam says young men like him would not normally relate to someone as old as the 61-year-old Farage, but he adds: "I've met him a few times now and he's exactly the same behind closed doors as he is on camera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He's like the bloke you'd chat to in the pub, just with fire in his belly and a love for his country. If I had to describe Nigel in one word it would be 'genuine'." Joseph Boam says Nigel Farage 'is like the bloke you'd chat to in the pub' [Joseph Boam] Reform knows it has to do more to attract female voters as well - although there are already signs the party's gender gap is starting to narrow. Last week it launched a Women for Reform campaign, fronted by its only female MP Sarah Pochin and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. Luke Tryl, from pollsters More in Common, says: "While Reform still has a gender gap and its voters remain more male overall, this gender gap has narrowed since the general election, as the party's vote share has expanded - with Gen X women in particular swinging toward Reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our data suggests that women, especially those over 45, who are among the most disillusioned with the status quo, could become a critical part of Reform's emerging voter base." So what are the factors behind this apparent divide between right and left among young men and women? Dr Fowler points out that more young women than men go on to higher education, where socially liberal attitudes are more prevalent. Polling from You Gov suggests university graduates are more likely to support left wing parties. Researchers suspect social media plays a role in the gender divide, she adds, but if someone is "feeling disenfranchised with politics both on the left and the right, then if there are alternatives being offered to you on social media it's easier to engage with that". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosie Campbell, professor of politics at King's College London, says the "gender generation gap is growing". "In the past, both men and women were becoming liberal on the issue of gender equality, but there is an increasing number of young men who are hostile to this, believing that feminism has gone too far, potentially drawing them to support populist, radical right parties who more often express support for traditional gender roles." But Mark Brooks, director of policy at the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys, a think tank launched earlier this year, with a speech by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, argues that young men are being unfairly singled out, when in fact there is "a general drift away from the two main parties from young men and young women - right and left". "I'm concerned about the narrative which is that young men are drifting towards the right being seen as a self-fulfilling prophecy where young men are then considered a problem," he says. "One of the most recognised lessons on gender voting patterns coming from the [US] Presidential elections is that the Republicans recognised the plight and disillusionment that some American men, young and old, have. Whilst the Democrats did not recognise or address this at all." He adds: "We need more young men in work, more able to get skills to get into work, and more young men to feel like society is on their side. "The political world should talk positively about young men." [BBC] Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond. As Ukraine and its allies work to hash out a plan to guarantee Russia does not launch new attacks in the event of a ceasefire agreement, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 23 that new developments on security guarantees can be expected "in the coming days." In a post on X about his conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Zelensky wrote the two had discussed security guarantees, adding, "At present, the teams of Ukraine, the United States, and European partners are working on their architecture. All the developments will be ready in the coming days." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Presidential Office Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak met on Aug. 22 to discuss a post-war security plan following a meeting between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House earlier in the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National security advisers for the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Finland also participated at the Aug. 22 discussion, along with representatives of NATO and the European Commission. The teams are reportedly expected to have a plan by the end of next week. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, however, has said that security guarantees for Ukraine cannot be discussed without Russia's participation. It has already rejected the idea of stationing European troops in Ukraine. Doing so would amount to "foreign military intervention," which Moscow won't support, Lavrov said on Aug. 21. In his post on X, Zelensky expressed doubt about Russia's commitment to the ongoing peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russia is showing no intention of peace on its side and continues shelling our cities," he wrote. "We interpret all signals coming from Moscow these days in the same way. Pressure is needed to change their position, as well as a meeting at the highest level to discuss all issues." Finnish President Alexander Stubb voiced similar doubts about Russia's readiness for peace in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, saying, "They (Russia) want to continue the war at least until the fall to maximize their own territorial gains." Read also: Security guarantees for Ukraine explained: Whats on the table and whats realistic? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed two decrees enacting new sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Russias war against Ukraine. The measures, based on decisions by Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, extend restrictions to key figures in Russian President Vladimir Putins inner circle as well as companies tied to the Kremlins war machine. The first decree aligns Ukraines sanctions with those imposed by Canada in 2025, targeting 139 individuals and legal entities. Among those named are members of Putins family and close associates, including his former wife Lyudmila Ocheretnaya, her current husband Artur Ocheretny, Putins cousin Mikhail Putin, his nephew Mikhail Shelomov, and Russian ballet master Igor Zelensky, the former husband of Putins daughter. Businessmen and other Kremlin-linked figures tied to financing the war also appear on the list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These sanctions represent 100% synchronization with this years Canadian sanctions against 139 individuals and entities working for Russias war," Zelensky said. "Everyone who helps Russia continue killing and building the war machine for further aggression must feel the real pressure of the world." The second decree imposes restrictions on 28 foreign nationals accused of assisting Russias occupation authorities in temporarily seized Ukrainian territories. "These individuals equally help the Russians maintain the occupation regime on our land and, in effect, sponsor the Russian state," Zelensky said, adding that Ukrainian authorities are cooperating with law enforcement agencies in partner countries to hold such collaborators accountable. The sanctions include a ten-year freeze on assets, travel bans, restrictions on trade and transit operations, prohibitions on participating in privatization and public procurement, and other restrictive measures. Russian companies were also sanctioned, including cosmetics and household chemicals producer Arnest Group, brewing giant Baltika, energy firm Unipro, logistics and oil infrastructure company Oteko, and several other corporate entities. These firms face asset freezes, bans on technology transfers, participation in joint projects, and other measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everyone who supports Russias war and occupation will, sooner or later, be held responsible for crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians," Zelensky concluded. Read also: After scandal, Ukraines presidents office chief seeks to restore trust by tapping veterans Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with Dick Schoof, acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands, on Saturday 23 August to discuss the latest diplomatic efforts to end the Russian aggression. Source: Zelenskyy on X, as reported by European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy thanked Schoof for his greetings on Ukraines National Flag Day and for the Netherlands support since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian leader stressed that Russia has no desire for peace, so pressure is required to shift its stance and bring about a "meeting at the highest level to discuss all issues." Zelenskyy and Schoof also discussed potential security guarantees for Ukraine. "At present, the teams of Ukraine, the United States, and European partners are working on their architecture," the Ukrainian president said. "All the developments will be ready in the coming days. We also spoke about how the Netherlands can increase its involvement in this process and help ensure security guarantees." Zelenskyy also noted that he and Schoof had spoken about cooperation and investments in Ukraines defence industry, adding, "We are preparing important agreements and a meeting in the near future." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: In recent days, Western states have once again stepped up discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine, which, according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will consist of two levels. European officials are also discussing a plan to send UK and French troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement, and around 10 countries are prepared to deploy their soldiers. Read also: Security guarantees for Ukraine: main focus and challenges in Europe-Trump talks Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Amid shocking developments in the Dharmasthala case, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday called upon the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to not politicise the issue. The Deputy CM maintained that he was neither for nor against Dharmasthala, but for justice. Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, Shivakumar said, "The BJP was sitting on the fence regarding this issue. They have started talking after I raised the angle of conspiracy." Shivakumar was responding to a reporter who drew his attention to the fact that he raised the conspiracy angle first. "We are neither for them (Dharmasthala) nor against them. We are for justice. We are only saying that we should not do politics in matters of religion. The family of the Dharmasthala victims spoke to the CM and appreciated the formation of the SIT. The investigation is ongoing. The CM and the Home Minister have clarified in the legislative assembly that the government would take action against the culprits irrespective of their position," the Deputy CM said. "I had faith from the beginning. Even the religious leaders welcomed the investigation. Action should be taken against those who did wrong," he added. When asked about his meeting with AICC General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, he said, "Don't we need to prepare for the local body elections? We are holding meetings to allocate responsibilities. We can't ignore the court's order on elections." When asked about his Bihar visit, he said, "Congress Janadhikar March is going on in Bihar, and we would like our MLAs to witness that. The CM has also been invited and he will visit on another day." The Belthangady Court on Saturday sent the complainant in the Dharmasthala case to 10 days of Special Investigation Team (SIT) custody. The SIT is investigating the Dharmasthala mass burial case. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters that police are investigating to unearthen the network behind the case and confirmed the arrest of the complainant. "It is true that he (the complainant) has been arrested, he is in police custody, cannot give any information as the investigation is ongoing. Officers will continue the investigation, and I will get more information from the SIT. I cannot give more information until the investigation is completed. What network is behind this will be found," Parameshwara said. Meanwhile, Karnataka Legislative Council Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy suspected the possibility of a "bigger conspiracy" to "defame" Hindu temples. (ANI) Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Becky Tallent was a journalism faculty member at the University of Idaho for 13 years before her retirement in 2019. She is of Cherokee descent and is a member of the Indigenous Journalists Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of speaking "nonsense" to grab headlines in the news. "In any election, people support those who work in the national interest. Rahul Gandhi speaks anaap shanaap (nonsense) to grab headlines. This will not convert into a vote bank," Rijiju said in an exclusive interview to ANI. The Union Minister further charged the opposition party of indulging in "anti-national" activities by attacking democracy and criticising constitutional institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India (ECI). "Had I been in his place, I would have asked questions of national interest to the government. The BJP will not always remain in power. They ran the country for 60 years, then we had the chance. We have had very little time," Rijiju said. The Union Minister asserted that the people of the country will never bring Congress to power. "The people gave us a chance to run the government. The Congress will also have an opportunity if it refrains from attacking constitutional institutions, including the courts and the Election Commission. The way they do anti-national activities, attack the democracy, the people of the country will never bring Congress to power," Rijiju added. When asked about the upheaval over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, Rijiju argued that Congress and its allies lost in the Maharashtra elections and are now apologising for publishing wrong data. "The Congress and its allies lost badly in the Maharashtra elections. They requested that the Election Commission conduct a voter revision and that false names be removed. They demanded it. The Maharashtra data proved to be wrong, and the ones who published the data are apologising. Now, someone has given Rahul Gandhi a note on what to speak. He got lost while talking," the Union Minister said. "If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak." "With folded hands, we have requested the Congress party to participate in the discussion. There are many members of Congress who can speak well and are also knowledgeable. They will face issues if I name anyone... If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak," he added. With the monsoon session of Parliament having witnessed continuous disruptions by opposition over their demands, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that he made constant efforts to urge and convince Congress and other opposition parties to allow discussion in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, but to no avail. "Mera gala bhi baith gaya dekho. Opposition ko chilla chilla ke mai anurodh karta hoon ki behas hone dijiye. (My throat got sore, I repeatedly urged opposition to allow discussion," he said. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced continuous disruptions during the monsoon session over the opposition's demand for a discussion on the SIR of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. (ANI) The search by CBI at residence of industralist Anil D Ambani's residence concluded early this afternoon, a spokesperson on behalf of industralist said on Saturday, noting that the complaint filed by State Bank of India (SBI) pertains to matters dating back more than 10 years and the bank's declaration has been challenged before the competent judicial forum. Anil Ambani strongly denies all allegations and charges, and will duly defend himself, the spokesperson said, noting that SBI has already withdrawn proceedings against five other Non-Executive Directors and "Mr. Ambani has been selectively singled out". "The search at Mr Anil D. Ambani's residence concluded early this afternoon. The complaint filed by State Bank of India (SBI) pertains to matters dating back more than 10 years. At the relevant time, Mr. Ambani was a Non-Executive Director of the company, with no involvement in the day-to-day management," the spokesperson said. "It is pertinent to note that SBI, by its own order, has already withdrawn proceedings against five other Non-Executive Directors. Despite this, Mr. Ambani has been selectively singled out," the spokesperson added. At present, Reliance Communications is being managed under the supervision of a Committee of Creditors, led by SBI and overseen by a Resolution Professional. The matter remains sub judice, pending before the NCLT and other judicial forums, including the Supreme Court, for the past six years, the spokesperson said. "Mr Ambani has duly challenged SBI's declaration before the competent judicial forum. Mr. Ambani strongly denies all allegations and charges, and will duly defend himself," the spokesperson added. Earlier, CBI in a press note, said that it has registered a criminal case on basis of a complaint received from State Bank of India, Mumbai, against Reliance Communication Ltd. (RCOM), Mumbai, its Director Anil D Ambani, unknown public servants and unknown others on the allegations of defrauding the bank, and thereby causing wrongful loss of Rs 2929.05 crore to the Bank. The case was registered on August 21, the press note said. "It is alleged that the accused persons, in criminal conspiracy, misrepresented and got sanctioned credit facilities from SBI in favour of Reliance Communication Ltd. The allegations pertain to misutilization/diversion of loan funds, potential routing of loan funds, inter-company loan transactions, misutilization of sales invoice financing, discounting of bills of RCOM by Reliance Infratel Ltd., movement of funds through inter corporate deposits, write off of capital advances given to Netizen Engineering Pvt. Ltd.- a group company of Reliance ADA Group, and creation/write off of fictitious debtors," the press note said. "The accused persons are alleged of committing offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust. CBI obtained Search Warrants from the Court of Spl Judge, CBI, Mumbai on August 22, 2025 and is conducting searches on Saturday at two locations in Mumbai i.e. at the official premises of Reliance Communication Ltd., and residential premises of Anil D Ambani, it added. (ANI) The victim, a resident of Ghaziabad, said she had been feeding the dogs late on Friday night, just hours after the Supreme Court modified its 11 August order concerning the relocation of stray dogs in Delhi and its surrounding areas, which it had deemed "too harsh". A mob of about 200 people pelted stones at Garba Pandal in Kheda, Gujarat. Police have also been pelted with stones. 10 people have been arrested in this case. One such case came up from Vadodara. Here the flag of Muharram was hoisted in the Garba pandal, when it was refused, stones were pelted. So far, 40 people from both the sides have been arrested. A Bangladeshi national wanted in the 2014 Burdwan blast case in West Bengal was arrested on Tuesday by the Jharkhand Anti Terrorist (ATS) unit in coordination with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), police said. The event was attended by senior officials and employees of DPA, who came together to pay tribute to the vision, courage and dedication of India's space scientists, engineers and astronauts. On this occasion, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, delivered a special address highlighting the nation's inspiring journey from launching its first satellite to achieving global recognition in deep space missions. He lauded the pioneering work of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the spirit of Indian astronauts and aerospace experts, whose efforts have placed India among the leading spacefaring nations. The celebration at DPA not only reflected pride in the nation's scientific milestones but also reinforced the port's commitment to fostering a forward-looking, technology-driven future in alignment with India's growth story. Earlier today, Sonowal said the Ministry will explore the possibility of launching a dedicated satellite or acquiring a transponder to strengthen India's maritime governance and port management infrastructure. "Our Ministry should plan to launch a satellite of our own or acquire a dedicated transponder for the Indian maritime sector. This will strengthen India's coastal and port management infrastructure through advanced space-based solutions," Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged the top officials of the ministry on the occasion of National Space Day. According to the Union Minister, the proposed system would provide exclusive coverage for Indian coastal waters, inland waterways and port regions, integrating with national maritime databases to offer real-time monitoring of vessel traffic, navigational safety and port operations. "This will help in enhanced vessel traffic monitoring, real-time ship tracking across India's coastline and EEZ, early identification of congestion and improved navigational safety. It will also improve preparedness for search-and-rescue, pollution control and disaster management, while reducing dependence on foreign navigation systems and supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of PM Narendra Modi ji," Sarbananda Sonowal added. Highlighting India's recent achievements in the space sector, the Minister said the country has emerged as a global leader in science and technology. "India has made remarkable progress as a nation in science and technology and has built one of the world's most respected and efficient space programmes," Sarbananda Sonowal said. The Union Minister recalled India's journey in space research, its quest of knowledge for the betterment of humanity. (ANI) Dr Mominul Awal, senior spokesperson of Assam State BJP, on Saturday claimed that suspected Bangladeshi and Bangladeshi-origin Miya people are currently holding the key posts in nearly 30,000 mosques in the state. Strongly criticising Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and its Chief Maulana Mahmood Madani over his remarks demanding Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's removal from office, BJP leader said, "How dare you (Mahmood Madani) make such a statement? There are over 30,000 mosques in Assam, and most have been controlled by Bangladeshi-origin Miya Muslims. Not only mosques, they are controlling the Madrasas, many Muslim organisations in the state." "Earlier during the period of Congress, the then Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia had informed the Assam Assembly that there are 30 lakh illegal Bangladeshis in the state. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind also threatened Saikia that he would topple his government within 10 minutes. Now they are demanding to remove Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. How dare you to make such a statement?" Awal told ANI. He appealed to the indigenous Muslim communities, including Goria, Moriya, and Deshi, to hold the key posts in all Mosques, Madrasas, and Muslim organisations. Meanwhile, several organisations staged protests against Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and its Chief Maulana Mahmood Madani at the Kahilipara area in Guwahati. The Students' Society of Gauhati University also staged a protest and raised slogans against Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and its Chief Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani. Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had cautioned about a potential security threat in the strategic Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck region), citing attempts by "elements" in Bangladesh provoking people in and around the region by invoking their Bangladeshi roots. Addressing reporters in Guwahati on Thursday, the Chief Minister said, "Last time when I visited Dhubri, we saw a wall writing asking people of Dhubri district to show allegiance to Bangladesh. That area falls in the Chicken's Neck. Now, both sides of the Chicken's Neck have people who are originally from Bangladesh. Our Chicken's Neck is very vulnerable because, in the entire 22 km space, all the people settled there have come originally from Bangladesh. Maybe prior to 1971 or 1951. "These people have become Indian citizens. But Bangladesh is trying to remind them that they are not originally Indians, to provoke a pro-Bangladeshi sentiment among the people who are living there," he added. As per the Assam Accord and subsequent provisions under the Citizenship Act, individuals who entered Assam from Bangladesh before March 24, 1971, and have been residing in the state, are deemed Indian citizens. Those who migrated after the cut-off date are considered illegal immigrants under Indian law. (ANI) Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday slammed the Congress and other opposition parties for creating ruckus in Parliament, claiming that MPs were given orders from their party leaders to go and do anything to make a ruckus. His remarks came after the monsoon session of Parliament witnessed continuous disruptions by Opposition MPs, who tore up a bill that sought the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and ministers facing serious criminal charges. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Rijiju said that Opposition MPs were acting on instructions of their party leaders to create a ruckus and grab headlines. "Inn logo ko upar se order diya hai unke party ke leaders ne ki jaa kar ke kuch bhi karo, hungama karo, aur headline batorna hai." The minister added that he had repeatedly urged them to maintain dignity inside the House. "I told them many times that it is not right to throw papers like this... They have crossed all limits... They came down and grabbed the Home Minister's mic. We told them to shout as much as they want, but to avoid touching anything. If there is a scuffle, then the country will be disgraced... These people (Opposition MPs) have been given orders from their party leaders to go and do anything, create a ruckus, and grab headlines," the Union Minister told ANI. Speaking about Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, he said, "Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and I don't want to criticise him. The SC scolded him when he called the PM 'chor', spoke nonsense regarding Rafael, and claimed that China occupied our land. He should speak like an Indian. I am no one to improve Rahul Gandhi. He will not listen... Whenever Rahul Gandhi says something, all his MPs become very uncomfortable. They are afraid that they will speak nonsense, and the party will have to pay the price for it. In a democracy, the Opposition should be strong... They are not able to perform basic duties of an Opposition, let alone a strong Opposition." Rijiju further claimed that Opposition MPs themselves admitted they wanted discussions but were stopped by their leadership. "Unke (Opposition) MP aa kar batate hain ki hum discussion chahte hain lekin upar se order aaya ki hungama karo, debate mein participate mat karo," he said. He also denied allegations that the government ignored the Opposition. "... Their MPs come and tell us that we want a discussion, but orders have come from above to create a ruckus and not to participate in the debate... We discuss forming committees with each other. We speak outside the Parliament. They come to my home. I visit Kharge Ji's home. I met Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders. It is wrong that the government does not reach out. We go to the Opposition with joined hands," he told. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced continuous disruptions during the monsoon session over the opposition's demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. On Thursday, with both the Houses witnessing repeated adjournments due to disruptions throughout the session, which concluded, the productivity of Lok Sabha was about 31% and that of Rajya Sabha was about 39%. In the Lok Sabha, discussions could happen for only 37 hours out of the total available 120 hours and in the Rajya Sabha, discussions took place for 41 hours and 15 minutes. A total of 15 bills were passed by Parliament during the session. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday held 12 individuals guilty of contempt of court for assaulting 11 court commisioner in Kolkata in 2015. The High Court had appointed 11 advocates as court commissioners in a matter related to a copyright violation plea filed by Samsung Electronics Company Limited in 2014. The Division bench headed by Justice Subramonium Prasad passed the judgment and sentenced all contemnors to one day's simple imprisonment. They were also fined Rs. 2000 each. The High Court passed the order in view of the fact that the court commisioner, alongwith the police personnel, were manhandled and they suffered serious injury. "The Court Commissioners have been brutally beaten up by the Contemnors, striking terror in their minds and forcing them to flee from the place. The facts reveal that the idea was to dissuade Local Commissioners from performing the work assigned to them by the Court," the high court said in the judgment of August 22. The High Court said that interfering with the work assigned to the Advocate Commissioners amounts to interference in the administration of justice. The High Court said, " If such of those persons who have interfered with the administration of justice are not dealt with heavy hands, the majesty of law will come down in the eyes of ordinary citizens, which will have a deleterious effect on the fabric of the society." "It is, therefore, imperative; rather, the duty of the Court is to ensure that people who interfere in the administration of justice are dealt with severely so that people respect and adhere to the law for the rule of law to prevail," the bench said in the judgment. All the contemnors tendered an unconditional apology. The High Court was hearing a suo moto case against all contemnors that began in 2015. The court-appointed Commissioners had gone to Kolkata to perform the duty entrusted to them by the Delhi High Court and were assaulted by the mob. The High Court had issued notice to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police. The bench had issued a show cause notice to the contemnors. Advocate Shravan Sahary apprised the Court that he was severely injured around his right eye, left cheek and two of his front teeth were broken in the incident, which took place during the execution of the commission as directed by this Court. He also mentioned the fact that the other Advocate Commissioners accompanying him had also been beaten up and they had to flee. (ANI) Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs had disrupted the proceedings during the introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, on the directive of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. TMC MPs tore copies of the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill against its introduction in the Lok Sabha. In an interview with ANI, Kiren Rijiju said, "I dont want to blame the Congress MPs. They have to work as their leaders ask them to. TMC's Mamata Banerjee orders her MPs from Kolkata, then they are compelled (to create ruckus) here. We try to run the House after consultation with the Prime Minister. They say something, but they get different orders from above, and the ruckus begins." He further said that the House was disrupted even after discussions held to maintain order. He said, "Everyone had agreed after prior discussion to maintain the order of the House. Constitutional amendment passes with 2/3rd majority, and the House has to be in order. The Speaker told the members that when the Home Minister presents the Constitution Amendment Bill, no members will come into the well and sit on their chairs. This was agreed to. As soon as the House began, TMC MPs jumped into the well. Started throwing papers. Congress's Venugopal also started tearing papers. What happened to the understanding?" On August 20, Amit Shah introduced in the Lok Sabha the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, to further amend the Constitution of India and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, apart from the bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The bills were sent to the joint committee of Parliament. The bill received strong criticism from the opposition, and opposition MPs tore and threw the copies of the three Bills towards Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha. Opposing the Bill, Abhishek Banerjee accused the Modi government of failing to uphold its duty of safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation. "We strongly condemn this authoritarian attitude and oppose the introduction of this DRACONIAN CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BILL. The Government of India, instead of providing relief to the people and working for the genuine development of farmers, workers and the poor, has completely failed to uphold its duty of safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation," the TMC leader said. The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to remove a Central or State Minister who is facing allegations of corruption or serious offences and has been detained for at least 30 days. Union Minister Amit Shah tabled the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The proposed bill mandates the removal of any Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Minister who is detained for 30 consecutive days on charges punishable with at least five years of imprisonment. If the arrested leader doesn't resign, their office will automatically fall vacant after 31 days. Interestingly, the bill allows for re-appointment post-release, providing a degree of flexibility. Several Opposition MPs opposed the bills amid huge sloganeering, prompting the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the House. Congress MP KC Venugopal and Home Minister Amit Shah engaged in a verbal spat over the "morality" regarding the bills. Venugopal said, "This bill is meant to sabotage the basic principles of the Constitution. BJP members are saying that this bill is to bring morality into politics. Can I ask the Home Minister a question? When he was the Home Minister of Gujarat, he was arrested -- did he uphold morality at that time?" (ANI) New Delhi [India], August 23 (ANI) The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday evening apprehended a senior officer of the Bangladesh Police while he was attempting to illegally enter Indian territory in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, top government officials said. The infiltrator, whose identity was not shared considering the ongoing investigation, was caught near Hakimpur Border Outpost between 6 pm and 7 pm. "The officer was intercepted by BSF troops during routine patrolling. On searching him, the force recovered some identity documents, confirming that the intruder was a senior Bangladeshi Police officer," the officials told ANI, requesting anonymity. The intruder was immediately detained and later handed over to the West Bengal Police for further questioning. Officials said this is one of the rarest occasions when a Bangladeshi Police officer has been caught while trying to enter Indian soil illegally. The India-Bangladesh border, stretching over 4,096 km, is one of the longest international borders in the world and has often witnessed cases of infiltration, smuggling and illegal crossings. West Bengal accounts for nearly 2,217 km of this stretch, making it a sensitive zone for security agencies. North 24 Parganas, where Saturday's arrest took place, has remained particularly vulnerable due to its dense population, riverine terrain and proximity to urban centres. Officials say the region has often been exploited by smugglers, touts, and sometimes even organised groups attempting to cross over illegally. The BSF, deployed along the India-Bangladesh border, plays a critical role in preventing illegal immigration, trafficking and smuggling of contraband such as cattle, narcotics, and fake currency. Over the years, BSF has introduced advanced surveillance, fencing projects and coordinated patrols to plug gaps along the border. The arrest of a "serving Bangladeshi police officer marks a rare and serious infiltration attempt, raising concerns over motives and cross-border dynamics." Officials said investigations are underway to ascertain the reason behind his entry into Indian territory and whether he was acting independently or on behalf of a network. "Such incidents highlight the importance of constant vigilance on the Indo-Bangladesh border," a senior official said, adding that coordination with state police and intelligence agencies is being strengthened. (ANI) According to the advisory, traffic movement will be regulated in the New Delhi district and the adjoining areas on Monday. The police have asked commuters to avoid Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Shanti Path, Panchsheel Marg, Simon Bolivar Marg and Kautilya Marg on August 25. "No vehicle will be allowed to halt or park on Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Shanti Path, Panchsheel Marg, Simon Bolivar Marg and Kautilya Marg, including surrounding areas along the designated routes. Vehicles found violating parking restrictions will be towed and prosecuted. Towed vehicles will be parked at Traffic Pit Kali Bari Mandir Marg and in front of Bhairon Mandir Traffic Pit," the traffic advisory read. Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, accompanied by his spouse, Suluweti Rabuka, will visit India from August 24 to 27, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The visit will begin in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister Rabuka will be received at IGI Airport, after which he will have a meeting with a Cabinet Minister. On August 25, Rabuka will lay a wreath at Rajghat before meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, which will be followed by an exchange of MoUs and press statements. He will then call on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Continuing his engagements, on August 26, the Fijian leader will deliver a lecture at Sapru House, organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs. The visit will conclude with his departure from Delhi on August 27. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav participated in 'Mining Conclave 2025' held in Katni district on Saturday and expressed pleasure that the conclave was successful in exploring new opportunities in mineral exploration and mining. According to a release, CM Yadav said that the state government received investment proposals worth Rs 56,414 crore from eight mining companies at the Katni Conclave. He also highlighted that Madhya Pradesh never lagged behind in mineral resources and is now moving swiftly to become India's leading 'Mining State' in line with emerging opportunities and challenges. He emphasised that it was the right time to invest in Madhya Pradesh, assuring industrialists that the government would provide every possible support to help them realise their biggest ambitions. The Chief Minister also informed that the State Government signed three important MoUs to strengthen the sector. With Coal India Limited for exploration, processing and development of critical minerals. With Texmin ISM Dhanbad for the use of Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Blockchain and Remote Sensing in mining. With IISER Bhopal for mineral exploration research. He said that these MoUs would give new heights to Madhya Pradesh's mining sector. Highlighting the state's strengths, he noted that Madhya Pradesh has abundant land banks, electricity, and water. Soon, the state will also have air cargo facilities and two metropolitan cities. The Chief Minister added that Katni is rich in minerals and now critical minerals are also being discovered. Just as Panna is famous for diamonds, Katni too may hold deposits of gold. Transparent policies have been implemented for development across all sectors. After organizing industrial conclaves, the government is now holding sector-based conclaves, including the Spiritual Conclave in Ujjain on August 27 and the Tourism Conclave in Gwalior on August 31. CM Yadav also said that the state government is starting hospitals along with medical colleges on a PPP model. For setting up medical colleges, the government will provide 25 acres of land for just Rs 1. An MoU for four new medical colleges will be signed on August 25 in the presence of the Union Health Minister. To promote ease of doing business, the number of required approvals has been reduced from 29 to just 10. Labor laws have been amended to allow women to work in night shifts. "Other states are now learning from Madhya Pradesh's policies," he said, adding that the state government is working in full swing to make Madhya Pradesh the No. 1 state in the country. (ANI) Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar on Saturday said that the state government has arranged more than 550 buses till Sunday for Marathi and Kokan people travelling to their villages to celebrate Ganesh Utsav. "We arranged 347 rounds of special trains by speaking to the Central Railway Ministry," Shelar, Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, told reporters. "For Marathi and Konkan people who go to their villages to celebrate Ganesh Utsav, we have arranged more than 550 buses for today and tomorrow. People are happy about this. We will also arrange a special train on August 25," he added. Earlier on July 24, Maharashtra's Transport Minister and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Chairman Pratap Sarnaik announced that the 30 per cent fare hike on one-way group reservations for passengers travelling to Konkan during the upcoming Gauri-Ganpati festival has been rolled back. The decision comes in line with directives from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, keeping in view the sentiments of Mumbai's Marathi working-class commuters, according to an official statement from the minister's office. Minister Sarnaik emphasised that the MSRTC has, for over 77 years, provided affordable and safe transportation across the state, especially during festivals, yatras, weddings, and other special events. This year, in response to demand from Mumbai and its suburbs, the MSRTC plans to operate 5,000 additional buses for Ganesh festival travellers. All existing government concessions for women, senior citizens, and "Amrutjyeshtha" (super senior citizens) will remain in place, the statement mentioned. The corporation had initially introduced a 30% fare hike on one-way group bookings. This was due to substantial financial losses MSRTC incurs when buses return empty after dropping passengers in Konkan, according to the official statement. "Last year, this practice led to a loss of Rs 11.68 crore, with 4,330 buses deployed for onward travel and only 1,104 for return trips. Empty returns meant additional fuel and overtime wage costs, putting a massive financial burden on the corporation," Sarnaik explained. (ANI) Stating that the Constitution Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha is "revolutionary" and the Opposition should have welcomed it, Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju revealed on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to be exempt from its provisions which entail removal of PM, CM and Union and state ministers if they are jailed for serious offences. In an interview with ANI, Rijiju said that PM Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation is to keep the Prime Minister out of this bill, but he did not agree. He said PM Modi refused to give an exception to the prime minister. Rijiju also said the people in the country are welcoming the provisions of the Constitution Amendment Bill and the opposition parties would have welcomed it too if they "had kept ethics at the centre." "PM Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation is to keep the prime minister out of this bill, but he did not agree. PM Modi refused to give an exception to the prime minister. The PM is also a citizen, and he should not have special protection. Most of the CMs are from our party. If they do something wrong, they have to leave their position. Ethics should also mean something. The Opposition would have welcomed this bill had they kept ethics at the centre," he said. "The monsoon session of the Parliament was successful from the nation's point of view and a failure from the Opposition's point of view. The government also thinks that it was a success. However, it was not well, as far as discussions are concerned, because important bills were passed. Any government brings bills to save itself... PM Modi is a prime minister who went against the recommendation and put the PM in the category that even if the prime minister commits any corruption, then he has to go to jail and leave his position. Any position, whether CM, PM or Union Ministers, cannot be above the law. What objection does the Opposition have? The nation is welcoming this revolutionary bill," he added. The Constitution Amendment Bill provides for the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or any other Minister in the central or a state government, if he is arrested and detained in custody on account of serious criminal offences. Two more bills with similar provisions in Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir were also introduced in Lok Sahba. The three bills will be examined by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Opposition parties have opposed the bills. Answering queries, Rijiju said the session was "successful from the nation's point of view and a failure from the Opposition's point of view". He hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, saying that his own party MPs "get uncomfortable" when he speaks in Parliament and are apprehensive that he will do "anap-shanap baatein" and the party will have to bear the consequences. Rijiju alleged that Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, "does not listen to his own party members". "Rahul Gandhi kuch bolte hain, unke saare MPs bahot uncomfortable ho jaate hain. Wo darte hain ye anapshanap baatein karenge, uska khamiyaza party ko bhugatna padta hai...(When Rahul Gandhi speaks, his MPs get uncomfortable what nonsense he will speak, the party will have to bear its consequences," he said. Rijiju recalled Supreme Court's remarks over Rahul Gandhi's "Chowkidar chor" allegations and his being rapped over his remarks pertaining to India-China border tensions during Bharat Jodo Yatra. "Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and I don't want to criticise him. The SC scolded him when he called the PM 'chor', spoke nonsense regarding Rafael, and claimed that China occupied our land. He should speak like an Indian. I am no one to improve Rahul Gandhi. He will not listen... Whenever Rahul Gandhi says something, all his MPs become very uncomfortable. They are afraid that they will speak nonsense, and the party would have to pay the price for it. In a democracy, the Opposition should be strong... They are not able to perform basic duties of an Opposition, let alone a strong Opposition," Rijiju said. "I don't want to blame other Congress leaders. They have to act as per the directions of their leader. I don't want to harshly criticise him since he is the Leader of the Opposition..He should talk like an Indian, but he does not listen to anyone. He does not even listen to his own people," he added. Rijiju alleged that Congress does not have any interest in parliamentary discussions. He said many Congress MPs and parliamentarians of other parties came to him and said they were not able to raise issues concerning their constituencies with the two Houses getting repeatedly adjourned, . "They don't believe in debate and discussion in the Parliament. Many MPs of the Congress and other parties came to me and said that because the Parliament is not running, they are able to present the concerns of their constituencies. If the Parliament does not run, the loss is for the Opposition. The government will pass the bills in the national interest. But it is not good if the bills are passed without discussion. We believe in discussion... The loss is for those who have to ask questions," the Union Minister said. "If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak." "With folded hands, we have requested the Congress party to participate in the discussion. There are many members of Congress who can speak well and are also knowledgeable. They will face issues if I name anyone... If Rahul Gandhi cannot speak or he does not know how to speak, that does not mean that others should also not be allowed to speak," he added. Rijiju noted that in a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament belongs to the Opposition as they can seek answers from the government. "The government is liable to answer. The Opposition has to ask questions. What would the government do if the ones who are supposed to ask questions ran away? We have been asking them not to cause a disturbance. My throat got sore because I had to shout and ask the Opposition not to create a ruckus," he said. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced continuous disruptions during the monsoon session over the opposition's demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. With both the Houses witnessing repeated adjournments due to disruptions throughout the session, which concluded on Thursday, the productivity of Lok Sabha was about 31% and that of Rajya Sabha was about 39%. In the Lok Sabha, discussions could happen for only 37 hours out of the total available 120 hours and in the Rajya Sabha, discussions took place for 41 hours and 15 minutes. A total of 15 bills were passed by Parliament during the session. (ANI) "The initiative reflects the government's commitment to citizen-centric service delivery in the Transport Department. It aims to enhance road safety, streamline driver's licence issuance, minimise human discretion and reduce accidents" Assam Chief Minister's Office posted on X. Furthermore, the process of granting driving licenses would become streamlined, fostering greater transparency and minimising human intervention and corruption. Additionally, this venture would generate employment opportunities for skilled youth in the areas of training and testing. Notably, following the establishment of the Nagaon centre, the state government plans to open similar facilities in Amingaon (Kamrup district) and Howly (Barpeta district). The government has also submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to establish similar centres in Biswanath and Dibrugarh districts. Moreover, after the inauguration of automated vehicle testing centres in Jorhat, Kamrup, and Biswanath, a similar facility will soon be commenced in Dibrugarh. The Chief Minister's visit to Nagaon also saw the launch of two other significant initiatives aimed at enhancing public infrastructure. He inaugurated an entry gate at Bebejia, constructed with funds from the MLA's special fund and with support from the Nagaon district administration. The gate, designed in the European style, stands 35 feet in height and 40 feet in width and was crafted by local artisans. Furthermore, Dr. Sarma unveiled a statue of freedom fighter Manbar Nath, who sacrificed his life during the 1942 Quit India Movement in a British shooting at Jamuguri. During his visit to Nagaon, the Chief Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Water Resources, etc. Pijush Hazarika, and MLAs Rupak Sarmah, Ramakanta Deuri, Jitu Goswami, and Shashikanta Das. (ANI) Maharashtra's Pune city, the birthplace of the concept of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav (public celebrations of Ganesh festival), is set to extend the festivities to the valleys of Kashmir this year. Seven prominent Ganesh mandals from Pune have joined hands to organise the 5-day festival in Srinagar, Anantnag and Kulgam starting from August 27 (Ganesh Chaturthi) this year On Saturday, amidst the beats of traditional 'dhol-tasha', replicas of three revered Ganesh idols from Pune were handed over to Kashmiri mandals in an event organised at Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Mandal, marking the third consecutive year. The replica of the Kesariwada Ganpati idol, Akhil Mandai Mandal, and the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganesha Idol were handed over to the representative of Kashmir Mandals Sunny Raina, President of the South Kashmir Vessu Welfare Committee, said, "Everyone knows how the situation was in the 90s, when many people had to leave their homes. But now, after 35 years, being able to do all this again is a very different and special feeling. We want to continue this festival that we have restarted here." "It makes a difference when people were once targeted because of their faith, but with Bappa's blessings, we will celebrate with full enthusiasm and grandeur," Raina added. Festival head and Trustee of the Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganesh Mandal, Punit Balan, said, "The initiative aims to spread the cultural fervour of Maharashtra's most celebrated festival to kashmir. This initiative is about cultural unity and sharing the devotion and spirit of Ganeshotsav beyond Maharashtra." He added, "The idea is simple, if Ganeshotsav is celebrated in 75 countries, why not in Kashmir? When I spoke to my friends from Kashmir, they told me that after 34 years, the festival could finally be celebrated again. This will now be the third consecutive year that Ganeshotsav is organised in the Valley. Like last year, the celebrations will be held at three locations: Anantnag, Srinagar, and Kulgam." We all know how difficult the situation was earlier when militancy was at its peak, but today things have changed. People are celebrating Ganeshotsav with great enthusiasm, with kirtans, bhajans, and devotional programs continuing late into the night. Looking ahead, our plan is to extend these celebrations to five places across Kashmir next year. "For this initiative, seven prominent mandals from Pune, Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, Kasaba Ganpati, Akhil Mandai Mandal, Tambadi Jogeshwari, Kesariwada, Guruji Talim, and Tulasi Baug, have come together to organise the Ganeshotsav in Kashmir. We have also handed over replicas of three prominent Ganesh idols to the local organisers", Punit Balan added. The Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, conceptualised by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Pune in 1893, has since grown into one of India's largest community festivals. With its reach now extending to the Kashmir Valley, organisers say the celebrations are expected to draw participation from devotees across regions. (ANI) The upcoming mall will house 36 stalls representing all Indian states and union territories, along with 11 stalls dedicated to Mizoram's districts under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. It will also feature a food court, theatre, gaming zone, and meeting halls, creating both a cultural and recreational hub. Developed on land of the Printing & Stationery Department, the project is being executed by HLL Infra Tech Services Ltd. (HITES) with project management by IIFCL Projects Ltd. (IPL). Work will follow the EPC model and is expected to be completed within 24 months by 2027. Officials said the initiative will generate direct employment for at least 220 youth and forms part of the national SASCI 2023-24 programme aimed at promoting cultural exchange, tourism, and entrepreneurship. Earlier on Friday, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the state's first railway station at Sairang on September 13. The Chief Minister announced this while addressing the 15th Conference of the Mizoram Police Service Association (MPSA) at GS Arya Mess, PHQ, Aizawl. Sairang Railway Station will be the terminus of the 51.38 km Bairabi-Sairang broad-gauge line, a project that began in 2008-09. The line is considered a major engineering achievement with 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges and the country's tallest railway pier at 104 metres. The project is nearing completion and has already cleared trial runs conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. Passenger services are expected to begin from September. According to officials, the new connectivity will help reduce transport costs, ease passenger travel and boost Mizoram's economy, agriculture and tourism. The state government also plans to develop Sairang as a world-class station with modern facilities and extend long-distance services, including Rajdhani Express routes. The Bairabi-Sairang railway line in Mizoram is fully completed. Connecting Aizawl to India's rail network via Silchar, the project includes 48 tunnels & multiple bridges, marking a major boost to North East connectivity & development. (ANI) On the eve of the All India Speakers' Conference in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hosted a special dinner in honour of the Speakers, Deputy Speakers and Chairpersons of State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils, the Delhi Chief Minister's Office said on Saturday. The conference is scheduled for 24 to 25 August at the Delhi Legislative Assembly. The evening, marked by warm hospitality, meaningful dialogue and the spirit of parliamentary tradition, saw the Chief Minister extend a heartfelt welcome to all dignitaries. Welcoming the distinguished delegates to Delhi, the Chief Minister said the conference is being organised to mark the historic centenary of India's first elected Speaker, Vithalbhai Patel, assuming charge of the Central Legislative Assembly. She added that it is a matter of both pride and responsibility for Delhi to host the event in this landmark year. The dinner, held at Hotel Taj in the capital, provided a platform for dignitaries to exchange views on making legislative procedures more effective, transparent and people-centric, Delhi CMO said. On this occasion, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta remarked that State Legislative Assemblies are the nurseries of democracy, where public expectations find direct expression. She emphasised that procedural reforms, codes of conduct, impartiality of presiding officers, and the effective use of House time are four pillars that must remain the shared objectives of every legislature. She noted that the Delhi Government and Delhi Legislative Assembly will share their experiences with representatives from across the country. The dinner also reflected the capital's spirit of hospitality and its rich cultural heritage. The two-day conference at the Delhi Legislative Assembly will begin on 24 August. On the opening day, Honourable Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the event, while the valedictory session will be presided over by Honourable Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. As per the Delhi CMO, a special postal stamp dedicated to the life and parliamentary contributions of Vithalbhai Patel will also be released. An exhibition and documentary on his life story are scheduled to be showcased. Entitled "The Glorious Saga of Vithalbhai Patel", the exhibition will remain open to the public from 26 to 31 August. Extending her best wishes to all the dignitaries for the upcoming deliberations, Chief Minister Gupta said the conference would pave the way for firm resolve and mutual learning. She added that it will provide a clear roadmap towards strengthening the quality of India's parliamentary democracy. The Chief Minister also urged the people of Delhi to visit the exhibition in large numbers and be part of this historic occasion. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday distributed cheques amounting to Rs 10,000 each to members of self-help groups (SHGs) under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA) at Jagiroad in Morigaon district. On this occasion, he also performed the bhoomi pujan and laid the foundation stones of two important projects--a Working Women's Hostel to be constructed near the Tata Semiconductor plant site at Jagiroad, with an estimated outlay of Rs 142 crore, and the Co-District Commissioner's Office of Jagiroad Co-district at Bhakatgaon in Mayong. Addressing a public meeting at the Dreamland playground in Bhakatgaon, the Chief Minister remarked that the day marked a moment of joy for the people of Jagiroad. He said that within the constituency alone, 37,713 women associated with SHGs would each receive Rs 10,000 as seed capital, thereby directing nearly Rs 38 crore of investment. "Across Assam, about 40 lakh women--organised into approximately four lakh SHGs in both rural and urban areas--stood to benefit from the scheme. Within the next three months the State Government would disburse a sum of Rs 4,000 crore under MMUA," CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Sarma recalled that the inaugural phase of cheque distribution commenced on 1 April in the Behali constituency, followed by Nalbari yesterday and Jagiroad today. He stated that the process would extend to every constituency, ensuring that all women SHG members receive Rs 10,000 as entrepreneurial support. Reiterating his Government's commitment to honouring its pledges in both letter and spirit, the Chief Minister drew attention to the Orunodoi scheme, now in its sixth year. He traced its evolution: beneficiaries initially received Rs. 830 per month, which was subsequently raised to Rs 1,000, and then to Rs 1,250. From the current year onwards, recipients would be entitled to an additional Rs 250 earmarked for the purchase of LPG cylinders, thereby enhancing the monthly benefit to Rs 1,500. CM Sarma mentioned that under MMUA, beneficiaries may utilise the grant for personal, familial, or collective entrepreneurial ventures. The Government, he stated, would conduct surveys to ascertain the types of enterprises being pursued. "Those demonstrating judicious use of the initial sum would be eligible for a subsequent grant of Rs 25,000. Thereafter, with appropriate utilisation, they may avail themselves of bank loans up to Rs 50,000, with the State assuming responsibility for the interest component. In addition, beneficiaries would undergo a three-day training programme to strengthen their entrepreneurial capacities," he said. He expressed gratitude to the Minister of Water Resources, etc., Pijush Hazarika, for his sustained efforts towards the successful implementation of MMUA in Jagiroad. The event was also attended by the Minister of Water Resources, etc., Pijush Hazarika, Minister of Minister of Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs etc. and Guardian Minister of Morigaon district Kaushik Rai, MLA Ramakanta Deuri, Chief Executive Member of the Tiwa Autonomous Council Jibon Chandra Konwar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department B Kalyan Chakravarthy, State Mission Director of the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission Kuntal Moni Sarmah Bordoloi, District Commissioner of Morigaon Anamika Tewari, Chairperson of Morigaon Zilla Parishad Pronoti Kalita Deka, and other dignitaries. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister performed the bhoomi pujan and foundation stone laying of two important projects. The proposed Working Women's Hostel, to be constructed under the Government of India's special assistance scheme, is part of a broader endeavour to create dedicated residential facilities for working women in Assam. Envisaged at an expenditure of Rs 142 crore, the project would extend over an expanse of approximately 21,414 square metres. Its initial phase is designed to accommodate 830 residents, with the construction scheduled for completion within eighteen months. The hostel would incorporate modular construction techniques, executive twin-sharing accommodation, and a green campus premised on principles of zero waste, zero discharge, and renewable energy. The second project, the new Co-District Commissioner's Office at Jagiroad, aims to bring administration closer to the people, enhancing both responsiveness and efficiency in meeting socio-economic needs. The two foundation stone laying ceremonies were also attended by Minister of Water Resources etc. and Jagiroad MLA Pijush Hazarika, Minister of Public Health Engineering etc. Jayanta Mallabaruah, Minister of Minister of Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs etc. and Guardian Minister of Morigaon district Kaushik Rai, and other dignitaries. During his visit to Jagiroad, CM Sarma also paid homage to the late social worker Nathuram Hazarika at his residence in Ahatguri, offering floral tributes and prayers for eternal peace to his departed soul. (ANI) The Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) organized a mass gathering at Math Chowmuhani in Agartala on Saturday to press their long-standing demand for a separate state. The event witnessed the presence of IPFT MLA and Tripura State Cabinet Minister Sukla Charan Noatia, along with several other leaders and supporters. The mass gathering reflected IPFT's determination to pursue the demand for statehood, which remains at the core of the party's political agenda. Addressing the gathering, Minister Sukla Charan Noatia reaffirmed that the party has been active since 2009 and continues to uphold the same issue that it began with. He said that the issue behind our party's programs and gatherings is not a new one, and it has always been the same. While speaking to ANI, Sukla Charan Noatia said, "Our party has been active from 2009 up to 2025. The issue behind our party's gatherings and programs is not a new one--it has always been the same. From the very beginning, we have been carrying forward the same issue." "Along with democracy, until the demand for a separate state is fulfilled, our party's movement and activities will continue to focus on the issue of a separate state," he added. Earlier today, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the Northeast NSS Festival at Nazrul Kalakshetra, Agartala. CM Manik Saha said that this 5-day program would strengthen unity in diversity. The event brings together hundreds of NSS volunteers from across the northeastern states for a five-day celebration of youth power, cultural exchange, and social service. The festival, being held from August 23 to 27, 2025, is jointly organised by the Tripura State NSS Cell, the NSS Regional Directorate of NER, Guwahati, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. (ANI) A mother from Texas was arrested in India and brought back to the United States over her six-year-old son's murder. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Cindy Rodriguez Singh, was placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) list of 10 most-wanted fugitives in July. She was charged in late 2023 with murder in Tarrant County, Texas, after her son, Noel Alvarez, disappeared. Texas Mother Arrested in India for Son's Murder The mystery around the young child's disappearance also resulted in a playground being opened in Everman, Texas, in his honor. The last time that Noel was seen alive was in October 2022. Two days after a welfare check in March 2023, the boy's mother boarded a flight to India with her husband, Arshdeep Singh, and six children. FBI director Kash Patel said that authorities did not believe that the boy's mother had been back in the U.S. since then. He added that they arrested her in coordination with Indian law enforcement agencies and Interpol. Indian authorities were able to locate Singh's whereabouts and assisted in the FBI's transferring her to the United States, according to the New York Times. The suspect is now being held at the Tarrant County jail. The special agent in charge of the FBI office in Dallas, R. Joseph Rothrock, said that Singh's return marks the start of a new chapter in the search for answers regarding the circumstances of Noel's disappearance. The boy's mother is now facing a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, in addition to the state charge for killing her missing son. Al Brooks, the Everman chief of police, added that they are satisfied that Singh has been into custody. The Boy's Whereabouts Despite Singh telling authorities that her son was living with his biological father in Mexico in 2023, officials found that the boy never met him. One of the theories surrounding the child's disappearance is that he was sold to a stranger at a local grocery store, the New York Post reported. When authorities searched the family's property, they found a filthy shack with only two beds, and trash piling up to the ceiling. They also discovered an altar that was dedicated to Santa Muerte, a cult figure typically worshipped by members of drug cartels. The young boy's foster mother also released a statement regarding Singh's arrest, saying that the latter's younger children are now facing life without their mother. She added that Noel's father is still carrying the grief of losing his son, who he never had a chance to know, as per NBC DFW. The Chief Minister reviewed the damage caused by the cloud burst in Tharali of Chamoli district and the ongoing relief work there with senior state officials at the State Emergency Operations Centre, Dehradun. Along with this, the Chief Minister also reviewed the situation at the artificial lake built on the Yamuna at Syan Chatti in Uttarkashi. On the intervening night of 22-23 August (approximately 1 AM to 2 AM), a cloudburst occurred at Tharali, located about 75 km southeast of Rudraprayag in Chamoli District, Uttarakhand. "Late last night, a tragic report of a cloudburst was received in the Tharali area of Chamoli district. The district administration, SDRF, and police have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations. In this regard, I am in constant contact with the local administration and am personally closely monitoring the situation. I pray to God for everyone's safety," the Chief Minister said on X. Uttarkashi district administration is working tirelessly to open the temporary lake formed in Syanachatti due to debris blocking the Yamuna River. The efforts are led by District Magistrate Arya, who has assured residents that the lake will be drained soon and all necessary safety measures are being taken. The water level of the lake decreased by about 2 feet earlier today, indicating progress in the drainage efforts. Meanwhile, electricity supply in Chepadon village, located in Tharali Tehsil, of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, was badly disrupted due to the cloudburst disaster in Tharali Tehsil last night. The Narayanbagh team of the Chamoli Electricity Department successfully restored electricity supply in the village today after a lot of hard work and continuous efforts amidst adverse conditions and a difficult terrain. (ANI) Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during his 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Katihar, alleging that the ruling party had "manipulated institutions" and "media" to hide the voices of poor citizens. Addressing the gathering against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, Gandhi raised the slogan, "Vote Chor Gaddi Chhodd." "This is not your media. 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhodd'. Now watch TV in the evening. You will not see this slogan. You will not see it anywhere. You will not see this crowd because this is a crowd of poor people. It is a crowd of labourers, a crowd of farmers...We must not let votes be stolen," the Lok Sabha LoP said. He alleged that the government had "suppressed public voices" and "ignored the issues of the poor", farmers, and labourers. Speaking at the Yatra, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav took a strong jibe at the BJP-led Centre over corruption and promised to deliver a corruption-free and crime-free government if voted to power in poll-bound Bihar. "So far, these officers and the corrupt government have taken Rs 4,000 crore only for getting residential certificates and caste certificates. The people of the BJP will use this money in elections. That is why corruption is increasing continuously," Yadav said. He added, "We will work to give a corruption-free, crime-free government." The 16-day 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar, involving Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, aims to raise awareness about alleged irregularities in the voter list, which opposition leaders have termed a case of vote chori (vote theft). Covering over 1,300 km across 20 districts, the yatra is scheduled to conclude in Patna on September 1. Bihar Assembly elections are expected later this year, although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date. While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), consisting of the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, aims to retain power in Bihar, the INDIA bloc, consisting of the RJD, Congress, and left parties, is seeking to unseat Nitish Kumar. In the current Bihar Assembly of 243 members, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) consists of 131, with the BJP having 80 MLAs, JD(U)-45, and HAM(S)-4, with the support of 2 Independent Candidates. The Opposition's INDIA Bloc comprises 111 members, with the RJD leading with 77 MLAs, followed by Congress with 19, CPI(ML) with 11, CPI(M) with 2, and CPI with 2. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is no longer just a silent observer but a force strong enough to drive global change. Addressing the ET World Leaders Forum 2025, PM Modi said India, driven by the mantra of "Reform, Perform, and Transform," is helping the world overcome slow growth. He remarked that India is not a nation that enjoys throwing pebbles into stagnant waters, but one that has the strength to redirect fast-flowing currents. "India, guided by the mantra of Reform, Perform, and Transform, is now in a position to help the world break free from the grip of slow growth", said the Prime Minister. PM Modi stated that the current times demand active participation from the industry and the private sector. He emphasised the need for increased research and investment, particularly in sectors such as Clean Energy, Quantum Technology, Battery Storage, Advanced Materials, and Biotechnology. "Such efforts will infuse new energy into the vision of a developed India", stressed the PM. Noting that India is going to become world's third-largest economy very soon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that experts are saying that India's contribution to the world's growth is going to be around 20 per cent very soon and the reason behind the resilience in India's economy is the macroeconomic stability that has come to the country in the last decade. PM Modi spoke of India's strides in different fields, stating that the first Made in India chip will come to the market by the end of this year and work is being done rapidly on Made in India 6G. He said India is the world's fastest-growing major economy. "We are going to become the world's third-largest economy very soon. Experts are saying that India's contribution to the world's growth is going to be around 20% very soon. The reason behind this growth, this resilience that we are seeing in India's economy, is the macroeconomic stability that has come to India in the last decade. Today, our fiscal deficit is expected to come down to 4.4 per cent. And this is when we have faced such a big crisis of Covid. Today, our companies are raising record funds from the capital market," he said. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging him to raise the issue of frozen work visas for foreign truck drivers, particularly Punjabis, with the US government. Badal said that one tragic accident involving a Punjabi driver should not lead to mass action against the entire community, which has long supported the US trucking industry. https://x.com/HarsimratBadal_/status/1959307266424742136 In a post on X, Harsimrat Kaur Badal shared her letter and wrote, "Today I appealed to @DrSJaishankarto take up the issue of freezing the work visas of all foreign truck drivers following a fatal crash involving a Punjabi trucker with the US govt. Also urged the external affairs minister to take steps to allay the fears of Punjabis that those in the trucking industry may be forced to leave the US. Any mass level action against them would be discriminatory in nature considering the fact that Punjabis have built and sustained trucking logistics and trucking networks over decades." She also requested consular help for the arrested driver, Harjinder Singh. "Also stressed that a grave mistake by one driver which had resulted in a fatal accident should not be used to punish the entire community. Urged the minister to ensure counselor access is provided to Harjinder Singh, who had been arrested on three counts of vehicular homicide, so that his case could be pleaded appropriately," the post read. She called for flexibility in new English language rules so drivers have a fair chance to meet the requirements without losing their livelihoods. "Also urged the minister to take up the issue of giving foreign drivers, including Punjabis, time to upgrade their English language skills to the required level in view of the new executive order detailing new English language proficiency rules for truckers. Asserted those failing such proficiency tests should be allowed to apply for the same again so that their means of livelihood are not taken away from them completely," the post read. (ANI) The Justice Department has released a transcript of the interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell told a senior administration official that she never witnessed US President Donald Trump engage in any "inappropriate" behaviour during his years-long friendship with Epstein, The New York Times reported. The transcripts and audio recordings -- spanning two days of discussions in late July between Maxwell and Todd Blanche, a former Trump defence lawyer now serving as the Justice Department's second-in-command -- are likely to prompt as many doubts as clarifications. "I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody," Maxwell said. "In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects." She suggested a possibility of masseuses from the spa at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort giving private massages to Epstein. However Maxwell emphasised that she never recalled any such incidents, according to CNN. She also clarified that she never recruited a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago for a private massage for Epstein. The transcript which is 337 pages long and spread across four different files provides deep insight about Epstien business and his relationship with Trump. At one point, Maxwell, who is serving a 20 year sentence, distance herself from Epstien, "I am not here to defend him," Maxwell said. She insisted, however, that she "did not participate in that activity" with underage girls. Speaking about the allegation that Epstein abused underage girls, Maxwell said, "I never saw that with them at all. I'm not saying that Mr. Epstein did not do those things... I don't feel comfortable saying that today, given what I now know to be true." Maxwell expressed admiration for Trump's government. She also suggested that Epstein and Trump were not "close friends." "I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now. And I like him, and I've always liked him. So that is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him," she said. "I don't know Epstein's - if he had - whatever the nature of the President's friendship, if you will, or however you want to define that with Epstein, I was - never witnessed. I think they were friendly like people are in social settings. I don't think they were close friends," she added. According to the The New York Times, Epstein's victims and their families sharply denounced the interview, accusing Trump of cutting a favourable deal with a convicted sex offender who they say would say anything to protect herself and him. Epstein, a financier with wide-reaching political and social ties, was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges involving minors.He died the same year in a Manhattan jail cell, a death officially ruled as suicide, though the case continues to fuel controversy over the extent of his network and the role of powerful figures. (ANI) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent congratulated Sergio Gor on being appointed as the next Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. In a post on X, Scott Bessent said Sergio Gor is an "outstanding pick" who has an unprecedented track record of success. "Congratulations to my great friend Sergio Gor on his appointment as Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. As one of President Trump's most loyal advisors, Sergio is an outstanding pick who has an unprecedented track record of success executing for the President. The American people can be certain that Sergio will be an exceptional steward of America's interests in the most populous region of the world," Bessent said. US President Donald Trump announced Sergio Gor as the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Announcing on Truth Social, Donald Trump said, "I am pleased to announce that I am promoting Sergio Gor to be our next United States Ambassador to the Republic of India, and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. As Director of Presidential Personnel, Sergio and his team have hired nearly 4,000 America First Patriots across every Department of our Federal Government in RECORD time -- Our Departments and Agencies are over 95% filled! Sergio will remain in his current role at the White House until his confirmation." Addressing Gor as a "great friend," Trump expressed his complete trust in him while noting his contributions to the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. "Sergio is a great friend who has been at my side for many years. He worked on my Historic Presidential Campaigns, published my Best Selling Books, and ran one of the biggest Super PACs, which supported our Movement. Sergio's role as Director of Presidential Personnel has been essential to delivering on the unprecedented Mandate that we received from the American People. For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!"Trump wrote on Truth Social. Sergio Gor will replace Eric Garcetti, who served from May 11, 2023, to January 20, 2025. Before Garcetti, Kenneth Juster held the position from November 23, 2017, to January 20, 2021. Since Garcetti's departure, the US Embassy in India has been led by interim Charge d'Affaires Jorgan K. Andrews, who took over on January 20, 2025 Sergio Gor's appointment as US Ambassador to India comes at a time when New Delhi is dealing with 50 per cent of trade tariffs, including a 25 per cent penalty for the oil purchases from Russia. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], August 23 (ANI/TPS): Flights in and out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport have resumed tonight, having been suspended earlier due to a drone attack from Yemen. According to the IDF, the drone was downed following "several interception attempts". According to Magen David Adom, there have been no casualties except for some minor injuries sustained while people were running to shelters. The police later reported that there were some impact sites. A police announcement clarified that there while there were no casualties, the public needs to stay away from those areas and urged people to follow the instructions of police officers on the ground. It added that officers and bomb disposal experts were working to isolate the impact sites. (ANI/TPS) Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has resigned after failing to secure government support for stronger sanctions against Israel over its military operations in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. Veldkamp, who represents the New Social Contract party and previously served as the Netherlands' ambassador to Israel, said on Friday (local time) he could not win backing for what he called "meaningful measures." He also claimed that some ministers were blocking even the implementation of current sanctions, according to Al Jazeera. "I also see what is happening on the ground in Gaza, the attack on Gaza City, and what is happening in the West Bank, the building decision for the disputed settlement E1, and East Jerusalem," Veldkamp told reporters, as per Al Jazeera. He also cancelled three export permits for parts used in Israeli navy ships, warning of a "risk of undesirable end use" amid "deteriorating conditions" in Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, Veldkamp had been pushing for a suspension of the European Union's trade agreement with Israel. The 61-year-old minister said he felt unable "to implement policy myself and chart the course I deem necessary," The Times of Israel reported. His resignation triggered a wider political crisis. All ministers and state secretaries from the New Social Contract party quit the caretaker government in solidarity. Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof told parliament on Friday evening that he regretted Veldkamp's decision and the withdrawal of his party, The Times of Israel reported. Veldkamp had also suggested a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in response to Israel's planned military offensive. Opposition lawmakers had already been pressing for a no-confidence vote, accusing him of failing to act strongly enough against Israel. Last month, the Netherlands declared Smotrich and Ben-Gvir persona non grata. It also joined 21 other countries in signing a joint declaration on Thursday condemning Israel's approval of a major settlement project in the West Bank as "unacceptable and contrary to international law." Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen. Israeli military operations have forced residents of Gaza City to move south, while food shortages are becoming severe. On Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented the condition in Gaza, as a famine was officially declared there. As per the UN, more than half a million Palestinians are facing catastrophic famine conditions, which include starvation, destitution and death. https://x.com/antonioguterres/status/1958816495636545875 "Just when it seems there are no words left to describe the living hell in Gaza, a new one has been added, "famine"," Guterres said in a post on X. (ANI) The United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) London Unit staged a massive protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, demanding justice for victims of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB). Hundreds of UKPNP office bearers, workers from across the United Kingdom, and rights activists joined the demonstration. The protesters chanted powerful slogans, including "We want freedom," "Justice for Zarnosh, Jibran, Javed Naji, and Tasmia," "Stop plundering our natural resources," and "No to occupation." The protest was conducted by Gul Zaman Khan, organiser of UKPNP UK. At the same time, several party leaders, including UKPNP's exiled Chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Shaista Nasim (mother of Zarnosh and Jibran Nasim), Jamil Maqsood (President, Foreign Affairs Committee UKPNP), and Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan (Central Spokesperson), addressed the gathering through virtual links. In his address, Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri congratulated the London Unit for organising the protest and hailed the large turnout. He reiterated UKPNP's principled stand against all forms of violence, terrorism, extremism, and the weaponisation of religion, stressing that "only peaceful dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to international law can pave the way for a just and lasting solution." Kashmiri strongly condemned the extrajudicial killings of Zarnosh Nasim and Jibran Nasim, two educated brothers from PoJK who were killed during what he termed a "fake operation" in Rawalakot. He accused local authorities of refusing to establish an independent judicial commission despite repeated demands by the victims' family and residents. "We stand with the families of the victims. We have urged the United Nations to press Pakistan to constitute a judicial inquiry into these brutal killings. Today once again, we remind Pakistan and the local authorities to form an independent judicial commission to uncover the truth," Kashmiri said. He further questioned who was responsible for recruiting and training youth in the region and who was targeting those who refused to cooperate. Speaking virtually, Shaista Nasim, mother of Zarnosh and Jibran, delivered an emotional appeal for justice. She thanked UKPNP, human rights defenders, and activists for standing by her family. "My beloved sons were killed in a fake police encounter in Rawalakot. I appeal to every conscious citizen, journalists, lawyers, political and social figures, and human rights defenders across the world to stand with me in my quest for justice," she said. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to UKPNP leaders and participants of the London protest: "A grieving mother's prayers are with you. I thank every one of you for raising your voices against these brutal killings." Other leaders, including Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan, Jamil Maqsood, Sardar Amjad Yousaf, Mahmood Kashmiri, Tika Khan Tahir, Sardar Tariq Khan, Sajjad Hussain, and Naveed Khan, also addressed the gathering. They highlighted a broader pattern of abuses in PoJK and PoGB, including the targeted killing of Javed Naji, Vice Chairman of the Awami Action Committee, PoGB. They further condemned the imprisonment of peaceful activists under fabricated charges, the placement of hundreds under the draconian Schedule IV, and severe restrictions on freedom of movement. The speakers also condemned the horrific rape and murder of six-year-old Tasmia in District Kotli, describing it as an abhorrent crime that reflects the complete breakdown of law and justice in the region. Protesters collectively demanded that the United Nations and the world community step in to protect the lives and liberties of people in PoJK and PoGB. They reiterated that UKPNP has always opposed violence and extremism, and instead advocates for peaceful political struggle and human rights. The party announced that it will raise these cases, including the killings of Zarnosh and Jibran Nasim, Javed Naji, and the case of young Tasmia, at the forthcoming 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2025. UKPNP said it will engage UN Special Procedures and other international human rights mechanisms to ensure close monitoring and follow-up. The demonstrators concluded that these cases reflect systemic failures of law enforcement and state institutions in PoJK & PoGB, demanding impartial and transparent investigations free from political interference. (ANI) Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a warning of heavy rains and potential flooding in several parts of Pak between August 23 and August 30, Geo News reported. According to the NDMA advisory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected to see scattered showers and thunderstorms. The authority cautioned that isolated heavy downpours could trigger flash floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in mountain valleys. Districts including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Battagram, Abbottabad, Malakand, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Tank, Bannu and Lakki Marwat are likely to be affected, as per Geo News. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, Ghanche and Shigar may also face heavy rainfall during the same period. The NDMA has forecast heavy rain in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Sialkot, Gujrat and Hafizabad from August 23 to 30. Authorities have been told to remain vigilant in flood-prone districts, Geo News noted. The wet spell is also expected to reach Sindh and Balochistan. In Sindh, districts such as Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Nawabshah, Dadu, Khairpur, Sukkur, Ghotki and Larkana have been placed on alert. Upper Sindh areas including Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore and Shaheed Benazirabad may also witness heavy showers, as per Geo News. In Balochistan, rains are forecast in Lasbela, Khuzdar, Awaran and Qalat. Coastal towns such as Gwadar, Turbat, Kech and Panjgur are also likely to be affected, while Quetta, Ziarat, Zhob and Loralai could see intermittent showers. Barkhan, Musakhel, Dera Bugti and Kohlu have also been included in the warning list, according to Geo News. Civic and law enforcement agencies have been asked to prepare emergency plans, stock up on supplies and ensure road clearance in case of floods or landslides. The advisory further warned the public to avoid unnecessary travel in flood-prone areas, particularly near rivers, fast-flowing streams and nullahs. Citizens living in low-lying areas have been asked to stay alert and follow evacuation plans when instructed, Geo News reported. ourists have also been advised to avoid trekking near glaciers, taking photographs at dangerous sites or walking into unstable terrain. The NDMA has also warned of sharp rises in the Indus River, especially at Guddu, Taunsa and Kalabagh. Increased water flow is also expected in the Ravi and Chenab rivers, as per Geo News. Officials said emergency equipment will be deployed in advance, evacuation centres prepared, and early warning systems kept active to help communities during the wet spell. (ANI) News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday hit out at the United States for what he called "unjustified and unreasonable" tariffs on Indian goods, after the Trump administration raised duties to over 50 per cent as a penalty for India's purchase of Russian oil. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, Jaishankar said India's priority was to protect farmers and small producers, stressing that New Delhi would not compromise on their interests. "What we are concerned about is that red lines are primarily the interest of our farmers and, to some extent, our small producers. So when people pronounce that we have succeeded or failed, we as a government are committed to defending the interests of our farmers and small producers. We are determined on that. That's not something we can compromise," Jaishankar said. The minister also argued that the tariff issue was being wrongly presented as an "oil dispute." He noted that the same criticism levelled at India for purchasing Russian energy had not been applied to larger importers, such as China and European nations. "The second issue is that this is being presented as an oil issue. But why I say 'being presented' is because the same arguments that have been used to target India have not been applied to the largest oil importer, which is China, and have not been applied to the largest LNG importer, which is the European nations," he said. Jaishankar pointed out the contradiction in the West's stance, saying Europe trades far more with Russia than India does. "And when people say we are funding the war and putting the money, Russia-European trade is bigger than India-Russia trade. So European money is not putting coffers? The overall Russia-EU trade is bigger than the Russia-India trade. If the argument is energy, they (EU) are bigger buyers. If the argument is who is the bigger trader, they are bigger than us. India's exports to Russia have grown, but not that much," he added. The minister further said India has every right to take decisions in its own national interest. "The issue of decisions which we make in our national interest is our right. And I would say that's what strategic autonomy is about," he said. On India-US ties, Jaishankar said talks were ongoing despite tensions. "We are two big countries, as I say, the lines are not cut, people are talking to each other, and we will see where it goes," he added. When asked about Washington's new ambassador to India, Jaishankar avoided comment, saying, "Look, I am the Foreign Minister, I don't comment on ambassadorial appointments of other countries." Earlier this week, Jaishankar visited Russia, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Deputy First PM Denis Manturov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He also co-chaired the 26th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit included discussions on terrorism, the conflict in Ukraine, and regional developments in West Asia and Afghanistan. Jaishankar also conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings to President Putin and discussed key bilateral and global issues. (ANI) On Friday, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta granted police an additional 15-day physical remand of leaders from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), who were already in detention. Among those in custody is Baloch activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch, according to a report by The Balochistan Post (TBP). Dr. Mahrang stated that the government is holding BYC leaders in prison to instil fear in the populace, but emphasised that "the movement will not cease due to imprisonment." "Regardless of how strong the prison walls are, they cannot compare to a mother's determination," she observed. "Every time we go to court, the government's attorney requests an extension. This illustrates the reality of the judicial system. Today, the same law is being wielded as a weapon by keeping individuals in CTD custody for 90 days," she was quoted by the TBP report. She reiterated that the strength of the movement is derived from the people: "Our struggle began on the streets and has now entered the courts. These very courts, where numerous cases of missing Baloch and Pashtuns are unresolved, have failed to recover them despite having protection orders." Dr. Mahrang also cautioned that the state cannot endure by turning against its citizens. "This is a failing state, and it must be recognised that the more violence is inflicted upon the people, the stronger the resistance will become," she stated. Expressing solidarity with the mothers who have been protesting in Islamabad for weeks despite adverse weather, she added: "Our movement conveys a message for future generations. The public must stand up for their rights. Those who attempt to suppress or diminish us are the truly weak ones," as cited by the TBP report. In response to a question, she condemned Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti for "making unfounded accusations instead of offering responsible statements." She remarked, "They only propagate state narratives, yet our movement is far ahead of such propaganda. We are advocating for justice and truth. No amount of falsehoods or state resources can overpower the truth." Meanwhile, political and human rights activist Abdul Ghafar Qambrani, affiliated with the National Party, was released in Quetta after spending four months in custody. Qambrani was detained on April 6 during a police and paramilitary operation. Initially held at an undisclosed location, he was later transferred to Hudda Jail under 3-MPO, alongside other BYC leaders, facing terrorism-related accusations. His daughter, activist Bebow Baloch, continues to be in police detention with Dr. Mahrang Baloch and other leaders from the BYC, who are dealing with multiple charges, as highlighted by the TBP report. (ANI) At least five people were killed and dozens injured when a tour bus travelling from Niagara Falls to New York City overturned on a highway near Buffalo on Friday. Some Indians were among the passengers, according to The New York Times. The crash took place around 12:30 pm (local time) on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke. The bus, carrying 54 people, rolled into a ditch after the driver lost control. Maj. Andre J. Ray of the New York State Police said investigators believe the driver, who survived, became distracted, "lost control and overcorrected, causing the vehicle to roll over into a ditch." He added that the bus was the only vehicle involved, and that "mechanical failure and operator impairment have been ruled out, " The New York Times reported. Earlier in the day, State Police spokesman Trooper James O'Callaghan had said a child was thought to be among those killed. But Major Ray clarified later that all of the deceased were adults. Their names have not yet been released. Trooper O'Callaghan said the bus had been travelling at "full speed" when the driver lost control. When asked to clarify, Major Ray declined to comment, saying details about the speed were not available, as per The NY Times. O'Callaghan noted that "every passenger on the bus had at least some sort of cut, bruise or abrasion as an injury." Many were thrown out of the bus when it overturned, and it appeared that several were not wearing seatbelts. Most passengers were foreign nationals, including people from India, China, the Philippines and Middle Eastern countries, Major Ray confirmed, according to The New York Times. New York police has also issued a traffic advisory following the crash. According to the advisory, thruway lanes have reopened for vehicles, but all lanes at Pembroke remain closed. Police have urged commuters to expect delays and use alternate routes. https://x.com/nyspolice/status/1959003202894143822 The bus was operated by M&Y Tour Inc., based in Staten Island. Two of the 54 people on board were company employees, including the driver. Calls to the company went unanswered on Friday, The New York Times reported. (ANI) Over 300 homes and many shops were damaged in the Ghizer district of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) due to a glacier burst, landslide, and flooding on Friday, as per the initial assessment by the government reported by Geo News. A glacial lake outburst (GLOF) triggered flooding that caused extensive damage, resulting in the formation of an artificial lake yesterday morning. Numerous villages were inundated, leading to significant financial losses; however, there were no reported casualties, according to Geo News. An earlier report from the district administration indicated that the water level in the temporary lake created by the calamity has started to go down, alleviating concerns of additional destruction. The flooding impacted a total of 330 houses across the villages of Tildas, Miduri, Mulaabad, Hawks Thangi, Rawshan, and Goth, with numerous shops incurring substantial losses. Yasin, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Gupis, stated that there is an urgent need for tents, food supplies, and other essential relief items for the families displaced by the disaster. Officials confirmed that water is now flowing out of the artificial lake through a natural spillway, which is helping to lower its level and reduce the risk of erosion in the surrounding low-lying areas. Senior official Sher Afzal from Ghizer mentioned that some homes upstream remain submerged, but the feared inundation of thousands more has been mitigated since the spillway was opened. He warned, however, that it will take time for the floodwaters to recede from homes that have already been affected, as reported by Geo News. The landslide, accompanied by a sudden glacial lake outburst (GLOF), wreaked havoc in the villages of Rawshan and Tildas early Friday morning. An artificial lake over seven kilometres long flooded farmland and washed away parts of roads. Locals claim that approximately 80% of Raushan village was destroyed. Authorities have cautioned that the natural dam at Raushan is still precarious and may breach under excessive pressure. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a high alert for glaciated areas, anticipating further rainfall beginning today (August 23). The disaster in Ghizer adds to a series of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) that have hit northern Pakistan this season, with four confirmed incidents already damaging homes, crops, and transportation links in the valleys of PoGB and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Experts warn that increasing temperatures are hastening glacier melt, raising the likelihood of such occurrences in the future, as reported by Geo News. (ANI) Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) marked the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief on August 22. As per the press release by CFU, this day highlights those who are targeted because of their faith, including the Uyghur population, whose ability to practice Islam has been outlawed amidst China's extensive genocide. CFU emphasised that safeguarding the freedom of belief is crucial for ensuring the natural rights of the Uyghur people. "In East Turkistan, the Chinese government has dismantled nearly every avenue for Uyghurs to practice their faith. Religious leaders are detained, Qur'ans are confiscated and burned, and Islamic education is criminalised. Alongside the destruction of mosques, Uyghurs face mass internment, forced labour, involuntary sterilisations and abortions, child-abduction, overwhelming surveillance, and family separation designed to eradicate their identity under the guise of state control. Families are pressured to renounce religious traditions, while entire generations of children are raised in state-run facilities, cut off from their heritage. These policies are not isolated measures but part of a coordinated campaign to erase Uyghur culture and belief," stated the CFU release. "As we observe this day, we remember the countless people whose faith has made them targets of violence and repression," said Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of CFU. "For Uyghurs, even the simplest acts of devotion, like fasting, praying, or teaching children their religion, have been turned into crimes under China's genocidal campaign. The international community cannot remain indifferent. Safeguarding freedom of belief is inseparable from defending the very survival of the Uyghur people. Holding China accountable is not only essential to protect Uyghurs' rights, but also vital to uphold the principles of freedom and democracy worldwide", as cited by CFU release. CFU called on governments, organisations, and members of civil society to intensify their efforts in defending the right to freedom of religion and belief, and to hold the Chinese government accountable for its actions in East Turkistan. (ANI) The Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi on Saturday celebrated its National Flag Day with a flag-hoisting ceremony and cultural gathering. Dressed in traditional white attire, members of the embassy hoisted the blue-and-yellow national flag and sang the Ukrainian national anthem together. Sharing the moment on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy wrote, "Today we proudly celebrate the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine . May it always fly high as a sign of Ukraine's unwavering spirit and commitment to peace. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!" Ukraine observes its Independence Day on August 24. Ahead of the occasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also shared a message on National Flag Day. He wrote his X account, "Today is an important day - a day of one of our strongest emotions: the feeling you get when you are at home, or when you recognise your own people and what comes from your homeland" "This very flag embodies a feeling of deliverance for those we bring back from Russian captivity. When they see the Ukrainian colours, they understand: the evil is over... This flag represents everything dearest to hundreds of thousands of our warriors - men and women from all over Ukraine, who are defending not just one particular direction, but our entire Ukraine, " Zelenskyy added. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959161131722805549 Last week, President Zelenskyy also extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India on the country's 79th Independence Day. He expressed hope that India would play an important role in global peace efforts, especially in ending the ongoing war. Prime Minister Modi responded with warm wishes, thanking Zelenskyy for his greetings. In a post on X, he wrote, "Thank you President Zelenskyy for your warm greetings. I deeply value the joint commitment to forging even closer ties between India and Ukraine. We earnestly wish our friends in Ukraine a future marked by peace, progress and prosperity." This comes amid ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia over the past three and a half years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also met U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington along with other EU leaders to discuss peace terms with Russia. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, aimed at reaching a peace arrangement between the two nations, an effort strongly backed by Washington. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected 22 sorties of Chinese military aircraft and five Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Saturday. As per the MND, of the 22 sorties, 18 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "22 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 18 out of 22 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1959058011143483606 Earlier on Friday, Taiwan's MND detected 22 sorties of Chinese military aircraft and five Chinese naval vessels. Of the 22 sorties, nine crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "22 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 out of 22 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1958695618429542554 Regular inspections are set to begin next year to address the issue of military personnel, civil servants, and public-school educators possessing Chinese citizenship or household registration, according to a report by Taipei Times citing the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC). Article 9-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area states that Taiwanese individuals who obtain Chinese household registration or a Chinese passport will lose their Taiwanese citizenship and be barred from working in the military, public service, or public education, as reported. In order to identify and prevent the unauthorised employment of individuals holding Chinese ID cards or residential permits, systematic inspections will be implemented starting on January 1 of next year, the council indicated, as noted by Taipei Times. Recruits or transferred military personnel, civil servants, and public-school instructors must comply with these inspections. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of their qualification assessments and employment or reassignment, as per the regulations and their employment agreements, it was explained. Considering the size of the civil service and the diversity of its personnel, the regular inspection procedure will be introduced gradually, the council stated. In the initial phase, only essential personnel from the military, civil service, and public education institutions will undergo regular inspections, while others will be exempt, according to the report from Taipei Times. (ANI) Tibetans and their supporting communities in the UK are planning to stage a significant protest in London on August 23, in response to China's contentious proposal to construct a "mega-embassy" at the former Royal Mint Court, adjacent to the Tower of London, according to a report from Phayul. The demonstration will kick off at 2 PM outside the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) located in Bedford Square and will conclude at Whitehall, across from 10 Downing Street, around 3:30-4:00 PM. Free Tibet, a UK-based NGO that has been actively opposing the proposed Chinese mega-embassy, stated that the protest intends to raise public consciousness about the embassy project, which they claim poses a significant security danger to the UK, threatens London's position as a global financial centre, and undermines local liberties. Critics contend that the proposed facility operates more like a "fortified spy hub" than a diplomatic mission, as it would accommodate over 200 staff apartments and surveillance equipment, situated near a UNESCO World Heritage site. Since 2019, Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kong residents, Mongolians, Taiwanese, Chinese dissidents, and residents of Tower Hamlets have united in strong opposition to this initiative, with prior protests attracting thousands of participants. For Tibetans in the UK, the implications are deeply personal. Due to Beijing's oppressive policies and surveillance in Tibet, there exists a concern that the embassy could broaden China's influence in Britain, allowing for intimidation and harassment of exiled communities, as reported by Phayul. "China's intended mega-embassy represents more than just an oversized diplomatic structure; it embodies a multifaceted threat," remarked Free Tibet. Furthermore, the organisers pointed out that if established, it could enhance Beijing's surveillance capabilities and transnational repression right here in the UK. Tibetans who sought asylum in Britain, aiming to live free from fear, may once again find themselves overshadowed by the very oppression they fled, as noted by the Phayul report. UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has already urged Beijing to clarify the situation, granting the Chinese government until August 20 to explain the reasons behind the redactions in official documents concerning the embassy plans. These omissions have intensified concerns among lawmakers, law enforcement, local representatives, and human rights advocates, all of whom caution that the initiative could jeopardise national security and public safety. The march is set to proceed along pedestrian walkways, with the outlined route extending from Bedford Square through Russell Square, Southampton Row, Trafalgar Square, and concluding at Whitehall. Protesters are encouraged to participate by holding placards and banners, chanting slogans, and distributing pamphlets to increase public awareness and urge the government to dismiss the initiative, as reported by Phayul. The organisers emphasised that this weekend's event is a pivotal moment, stating, "We are extremely close to seeing these plans terminated for good. The more visible we can make our opposition, the more powerful our message will be. Together, we can protect London, democracy, and freedoms from China's authoritarian growth," as cited by the Phayul report. (ANI) Xuan began her three-day official visit at the invitation of Nepali counterpart Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav. It is the first high-level visit from Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations about half a century ago. The Vice President of the Southeast Asian country was welcomed by Nepali Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey. The Foreign Minister Deuba welcomed Xuan at the VVIP lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Hours later, Deuba welcomed the visiting Vice-President while making a courtesy call in Kathmandu. At the airport, senior government officials, security chiefs, and other dignitaries were also present. She was presented with a Guard of Honour by the Nepal Army. The visiting Vice President will hold a courtesy meeting with Nepali counterpart Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, which the delegation-level bilateral talks on August 24 will follow. During her stay, Vice President Xuan will pay a courtesy call on Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday at his office, according to a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who informed ANI. On Monday, the visiting Vice President will call on President Ram Chandra Paudel and then begin the tour of the historic sites in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The visit carries special significance as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Vietnam. Nepal and Vietnam established diplomatic relations in 1995. The two nations have recorded annual turnover below USD 100 million. The two countries have also engaged in investment cooperation, most notably in hydropower. Vietnam's Song Da Corporation has partnered with Nepal's Kalika Group to construct the Tanahu hydropower dam on the Seti River. (ANI) North Korea on Saturday accused South Korean forces of firing warning shots at its soldiers who were part of a border reinforcement project, cautioning Seoul that its actions risked raising tensions to "uncontrollable" levels, Al Jazeera reported. In a report published on Saturday, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted the North's Korean People's Army Vice Chief of the General Staff Ko Jong Chol as saying that the South should stop its "premeditated and deliberate" provocation, which he described as "inciting military conflict", as per Al Jazeera. Calling the incident from earlier this week a "serious provocation", Ko said the South Korean military fired more than 10 warning shots towards North Korean troops. "This is a very serious prelude that would inevitably drive the situation in the southern border area, where a huge number of forces are stationed, in confrontation with each other, to the uncontrollable phase," Al Jazeera quoted Ko as saying. The incident took place on Tuesday as North Korean soldiers were working to permanently seal the heavily fortified border that divides the peninsula, state media outlet KCNA said, citing a statement from Ko. In a statement on Saturday, the South Korean military acknowledged that its soldiers had fired warning shots after it claimed North Korean troops had briefly crossed the border. "Some North Korean soldiers operating near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the central frontline DMZ [Demilitarised Zone] crossed the MDL, prompting our military to fire warning shots," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, referring to the de facto border. "The North Korean soldiers then moved north of the MDL," the statement added. The reported firing of warning shots is only the latest confrontation between North and South Korean forces, which have been at odds for decades over the heavily guarded border that divides both nations. The last border clash between the archrivals was in early April when South Korea's military fired warning shots after a group of 10 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI) DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Aug. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Polyvinyl Butyral Market by Application (Films & Sheets, Paints & Coatings, Adhesives, Other Applications), Thickness (Ultra-thin Films, Standard Films, Mid-range Films, Thick & Composite Interlayers and Above), Resin Type (Higher Molecular Weight Grade PVB Resin, Medium Molecular Weight Grade PVB Resin, Lower Molecular Weight Grade PVB Resin, Modified PVB Resin), Product Type (Powder & Granulated, Other Product Types), End-use Industry (Automotive, Constructions, Electrical & Electronics, Other End-use Industries), and Region - Global Forecast to 2030", is projected to grow from USD 1.5 billion in 2025 to USD 1.9 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. Browse in-depth TOC on "Polyvinyl Butyral Market" 150 - Tables 64 - Figures 240 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=234670896 The polyvinyl butyral (PVB) market is steadily expanding, fueled by its continued use in several key industries, mainly automotive, construction, and renewable energy. In the automotive industry, PVB is utilized in laminated safety glass for windshields and side windows, which has become standard due to rising vehicle production and strict safety regulations in countries like China, India, and Japan in the Asia-Pacific region. Laminated glass made with PVB offers unique benefits in impact resistance, acoustic insulation, and UV protection, aligning well with global safety and performance standards for vehicles. In construction, rapid urbanization, major infrastructure projects in emerging economies, and green building regulations across Europe are boosting the adoption of laminated glass in commercial and residential developments. Additionally, PVB enhances the durability of renewable energy systems, particularly photovoltaic modules, where it functions as an encapsulant to prevent environmental damage. Recently, industry trends emphasizing sustainability have encouraged the shift toward recycled or bio-based PVB products, supporting environmental policies and the circular economy. Moreover, advancements in PVB interlayer technology and regional production are expected to further accelerate market growth in response to increasing demand. Automotive to be fastest-growing segment in polyvinyl butyral market during forecast period Among the various end-use industry segments of the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) market, the automotive industry is the fastest-growing due to increasing vehicle production, strict global safety standards, and the shift toward electric and high-performance vehicles. PVB is a crucial material in laminated safety glass used in windshields, side windows, and panoramic sunroofs. Its strong adhesion, optical clarity, impact resistance, and sound-dampening properties make it ideal for improving passenger safety and comfort. As countries tighten automotive safety regulationssuch as the mandatory use of laminated glass for occupant protectionthe demand for PVB continues to rise. Additionally, the growing adoption of acoustic glazing to reduce cabin noise, especially in electric vehicles (EVs), further supports this trend. Asia Pacific, especially countries like China and India, leads in vehicle production, significantly driving regional PVB demand. Meanwhile, global automakers increasingly prioritize lightweight, energy-efficient, and sustainable materials, boosting demand for advanced PVB formulations. Industry leaders like Eastman and Kuraray have expanded their automotive-grade PVB product lines to meet changing OEM requirements. Compared to other sectors such as construction, paints & coatings, or electronics, the automotive industry offers both higher volumes and faster innovation cycles, making it the most dynamic and fastest-growing segment in the PVB market. Films & sheets to be largest segment in polyvinyl butyral market during forecast period Among the various segments of the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) market, including films & sheets, paints & coatings, adhesives, and other applications, films & sheets hold the largest market share and exhibit the highest growth rate. This dominant position is primarily due to the widespread use of PVB films as interlayers in laminated safety glass for automotive windshields, architectural glazing, and photovoltaic panels. The automotive industry plays a significant role since PVB films offer impact resistance, optical clarity, UV filtration, and sound insulation for laminated safety glass used in vehicles. Similarly, the construction industry also drives demand for laminated glass made with PVB films, especially in markets for building facades, windows, and skylights in city centers that prioritize energy efficiency and safety standards. The paints & coatings and adhesives segments are comparatively smaller, despite their moderate expected growth. PVB in powder or resin form is utilized in specialty coatings to provide bonding to substrates and offer corrosion resistance, particularly in electronics and protective coatings. The adhesives segment mainly employs PVB as a bonding agent for niche applications, with lower volume needs compared to films & sheets. The scalability of the films & sheets subclass, combined with regulatory compliance and versatile functionality, makes PVB films and sheets the leading and fastest-growing category of products. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=234670896 Standard film to be largest segment in polyvinyl butyral market during forecast period Within the thickness segment of the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) marketplaceincluding ultra-thin, standard, mid-range, thick, and composite interlayer productsthe standard film sub-segment has held the largest market share and shows the greatest growth potential. Standard PVB films (0.380.76 mm thick) are widely recognized as the baseline industry standard for laminated safety glass used in automotive applications (windshields), architectural glazing, and solar panels. The widespread adoption is because standard thickness films provide a good balance between mechanical strength, optical transparency, acoustic performance, and cost, making them suitable for mass production and meeting varying requirements. For instance, the automotive industry is experiencing increasing global vehicle production, especially in Asia Pacific, and stricter governmental safety standards have boosted the demand for standard thickness laminated glass in windshields and side windows. Similarly, standard films are preferred for facades and windows in residential and commercial construction because they are easier to process and can be manufactured on automated lamination lines. Furthermore, standard thickness films are more effective in meeting building codes related to safety and energy performance compared to ultra-thin films and thicker laminated glass options. Powder & granules to be largest segment in polyvinyl butyral market during forecast period The largest segment of the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) market is powder & granules, as they offer greater flexibility in form, ease of use, and versatility in many industrial applications. While aqueous dispersions and resin solutions are usually used in specialty coatings, powder and granular formulations have more processing options for high-performance applications, such as automotive coatings, adhesives, metal primers, and specialty inks. The adhesives, coatings, and plastics industries will favor powder & granules because they provide longer shelf life, easier shipping and storage, and lower processing waste. Additionally, controlling formulation processes is easier, including the ability to blend with various resins and additives to meet industry demands. Granules and powders provide superior film-forming ability, chemical resistance, and adhesion on various substrates or forms in the electronics and industrial coating markets. It is important to note that manufacturers are beginning to use recycled PVB (which is processed and shipped as powders and granules), as sustainability and circular economy trends become more prominent. PVB powder & granules offer flexible radiation properties for product development and supply chains within a circular economy. Request Customization: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=234670896 Key Players To enable an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes the profiles of some of the top players in the polyvinyl butyral market, including Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. (Japan), Kuraray Co. Ltd. (Japan), Eastman Chemical Company (US), Hubergroup (US), Chang Chun Group (China), Anhui WanWei Bisheng New Material Co., Ltd. (China), Kingboard Fogang Specialty Resin Co., Ltd (China), Qingdao Jinuo New Materials Co., Ltd. (China), Huakai Plastic Co. Ltd., Tridev Resins Pvt. Ltd. (China), and EVERLAM (Belgium). Get access to the latest updates on Polyvinyl Butyral Companies and Polyvinyl Butyral Market Size Browse Adjacent Market: Resins and Polymers Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Solvents Market - Global Forecast to 2029 Polyurethane Foam Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market - Global Forecast to 2029 Silicone Market - Global Forecast to 2029 Green Hydrogen Market - Global Forecast to 2030 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. 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Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has issued a stark condemnation of the ongoing famine in Gaza, describing it as a preventable crisis fuelled by "systematic obstruction" by Israel and a collective global failure that will "haunt us all". During a press briefing on Friday, after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed initiative, confirmed that famine is currently occurring in Gaza, Fletcher urged immediate action, including a ceasefire and unrestricted aid access, to avert further catastrophe. While pointing to findings of the IPC report, Fletcher noted the human toll, highlighting how food aid is piling up at borders due to Israeli restrictions, creating a famine "within a few hundred metres of food, in a fertile land." "Please read the IPC report, cover to cover. Read it in sorrow and in anger. Not as words and numbers but as names and lives. Be in no doubt that this is irrefutable testimony. It is a famine. The Gaza Famine. It is a famine that we could have prevented if we had been allowed. Yet food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel. It is a famine within a few hundred metres of food, in a fertile land," he stated. The UN official also painted a grim picture of the crisis, noting that it disproportionately affects the vulnerable, forcing harrowing choices like deciding which child to feed and risking lives for sustenance. "It is a famine that hits the most vulnerable first. Each with a name, each with a story. That strips people of dignity before it strips them of life. That forces a parent to choose which child to feed. That forces people to risk their lives to seek food. It is a famine that we repeatedly warned of. But that the international media has not been allowed in to cover. To bear witness. It is a famine in 2025. A 21st century famine watched over by drones and the most advanced military technology in history. It is a famine openly promoted by some Israeli leaders as a weapon of war," the UN Relief Chief added. Fletcher underscored the global responsibility of the situation in Gaza, stating, "It is a famine on all of our watch. Everyone owns this. The Gaza Famine is the world's famine. It is a famine that asks 'but what did you do?" A famine that will and must haunt us all." He described the situation as "a predictable and a preventable famine. A famine caused by cruelty, justified by revenge, enabled by indifference and sustained by complicity," calling for it to "spur the world to more urgent action" and "shame the world to do better." Calling for immediate action, he issued a direct plea to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and global leaders for a "ceasefire" and access to aid and supplies in the region. "Enough. Ceasefire. Open the crossings, north and south, all of them. Let us get food and other supplies in, unimpeded and at the massive scale required. End the retribution. It is too late for far too many. But not for everyone in Gaza. Enough. For humanity's sake, let us in," Fletcher stated. According to Al Jazeera, citing Gaza's Health Ministry, a total of 273 people have died from malnutrition and starvation in the region, including 112 children. Meanwhile, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 62,622 people and injuries to 157,673 following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel by Hamas, which left 1,139 people dead and over 200 taken hostage, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday spoke to Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof on the occasion of National Flag Day in Ukraine and apprised him of the talks in Washington. Schoof and Zelenskyy also discussed security guarantees from the US and European allies. "Today is a very special day in Ukraine - National Flag Day. Thank you, Dick, for your important and warm words of support to our people, to all Ukrainians. We greatly value the assistance of the Netherlands and the solidarity of the Dutch people. Thank you for standing with us and helping to protect lives," Zelenskyy said in a post on X. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959212393579385044 "We also talked about our joint projects and investments in Ukraine's defense production. We are preparing important agreements and a meeting in the near future," he added. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959161131722805549 Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump renewed a threat on Friday to impose sanctions on Russia if there is no progress towards a peaceful settlement in Ukraine in two weeks, showing frustration at Moscow a week after his warm meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there is no agenda for a potential summit between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he accused of saying "no to everything", as per Al Jazeera. Lavrov said a meeting with Zelenskyy and a deal were possible, provided there was a proper agenda for such a session. Zelenskyy has accused Russia of doing everything it can to make sure that a meeting between him and Putin does not take place, and called on Ukraine's allies to apply renewed sanctions on Moscow if it continues to show no desire to end its invasion of his country, as per Al Jazeera. Putin has said there was "light at the end of the tunnel" in Russia-US relations, and that the two countries were discussing joint projects in the Arctic and Alaska, signalling Russia's optimism that it can mend relations with Washington and strike business deals with Trump, despite a lack of progress towards ending its war on Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) The United Nations Security Council has added five individuals from Libya, Tunisia, Kuwait, and Tajikistan to its international sanctions list for their involvement in financing, recruiting, and supporting ISIS and al-Qaeda operations, Khaama Press reported. According to Khaama Press, citing a statement by the council issued on Friday, the UN sanctions committee announced that these individuals face asset freezes, international travel bans, and arms embargoes as part of global counterterrorism measures. Experts say these targeted sanctions are a crucial tactic in disrupting extremist financial networks and by cutting off access to the global banking system, the sanctions aim to prevent funding for terrorist recruitment and operations in hotspots such as Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. Among those designated are Libyan national Ibrahim Ali Abu Bakr Tantoush, Tunisian citizen Al-Azhar bin Khalifa Rouin, and Kuwaitis Suleiman Jassim Ali Abu Ghaith and Shafi Sultan al-Ajmi. Also listed is Gulmurod Khalimov, a former police commander from Tajikistan who rose to a senior military position within ISIS, as reported by Khaama Press. According to the UN, some of these individuals have been previously imprisoned or convicted on terrorism-related charges, either in Western countries or in absentia. Several are currently wanted by Interpol, and investigators say that their operations extended beyond direct combat, involving transnational efforts to move weapons, money, and fighters across borders. As per Khaama Press, the UN report notes that these individuals have long-standing connections to al-Qaeda and ISIS cells operating in conflict zones across West Asia and North Africa. Their roles highlight the difficulty in dismantling well-established terrorist support networks. The Security Council updates its sanctions list based on intelligence contributions from UN member states and global partners. Officials emphasise that while sanctions are not a replacement for military or intelligence operations, they are an essential part of international efforts to disrupt terrorist activity by targeting financial and logistical lifelines. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday appreciated the solidarity of the Baltic states with Ukraine against its conflict with Russia. Zelenskyy affirmed that Ukraine, with its allies, will bring peace to the European continent. In a post on X, he said, "We remember the longing for freedom that Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian people demonstrated with the Baltic Way. We honor the unity these nations showed in defending their right to freedom and independence." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959232705658294334 "And today we highly appreciate the genuine solidarity of the Baltic states, in the face of dumb Russian imperialism. Just as you have, we are defending the right of our state and our people to independent life, and against the Russian attempt to subjugate us. Together we will return durable peace and uphold human dignity on the European continent," he added. Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy spoke to Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof on the occasion of National Flag Day in Ukraine and apprised him of the talks in Washington. Schoof and Zelenskyy also discussed security guarantees from the US and European allies. "Today is a very special day in Ukraine - National Flag Day. Thank you, Dick, for your important and warm words of support to our people, to all Ukrainians. We greatly value the assistance of the Netherlands and the solidarity of the Dutch people. Thank you for standing with us and helping to protect lives," Zelenskyy said in a post on X. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959212393579385044 "We also talked about our joint projects and investments in Ukraine's defense production. We are preparing important agreements and a meeting in the near future," he added. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959161131722805549 Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump renewed a threat on Friday to impose sanctions on Russia if there is no progress towards a peaceful settlement in Ukraine in two weeks, showing frustration at Moscow a week after his warm meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there is no agenda for a potential summit between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he accused of saying "no to everything", as per Al Jazeera. (ANI) The Pentagon has dismissed US Air Force Lt Gen. Jeffrey Kruse from the position of the Chief of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) on Friday (local time), the New York Times reported, citing a senior defence official and a US senator. According to the New York Times, the removal comes weeks after the US defence agency produced a preliminary report that contradicted US President Donald Trump's claim that US strikes in June had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities. Lt Gen. Kruse is the latest high-ranking official to be removed under the second Trump administration and the second senior military intelligence leader to be ousted. Earlier this year, Gen. Timothy D Haugh, who led the National Security Agency (NSA), was dismissed following criticism from a prominent right-wing figure, the New York Times reported. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth also fired Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, chief of the Navy Reserve, and Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, who oversaw Naval Special Warfare Command, the New York Times reported, citing a US Department of Defence official. However, the Pentagon have not provided any official explanation for their removals. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, voiced serious concern over Kruse's firing, calling it indicative of the Trump administration's tendency to treat intelligence as a loyalty test. "The firing of yet another senior national security official underscores the Trump administration's dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country," Warner said, as quoted by the New York Times. The DIA plays a critical role in gathering military intelligence on foreign forces and informing Pentagon operations. While the Pentagon has not publicly detailed the reason for Kruse's removal, two congressional officials stated lawmakers were told it was due to a "loss of confidence". After the US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in June, the DIA produced an initial assessment suggesting the damage had delayed Iran's nuclear programme by only a few months. The findings, first reported by CNN and The New York Times, sparked backlash from the White House, which had presented the operation as a significant success. Warner directly tied Kruse's firing to the agency's honest assessment. "That kind of honest, fact-based analysis is exactly what we should want from our intelligence agencies, regardless of whether it flatters the White House narrative... When expertise is cast aside and intelligence is distorted or silenced, our adversaries gain the upper hand and America is left less safe," he stated, as quoted by the New York Times. For now, DIA Deputy Director Christine Bordine will serve as acting chief until the Senate confirms a new leader. After the Iran strike assessment went public, some within the Trump administration began to view Kruse, appointed under President Biden, as politically misaligned. According to the New York Times, citing officials, there is now a broader push to replace all top military leaders selected during Biden's term. (ANI) Pakistan has called on the US to repurchase military weapons left behind in Afghanistan following its and its allies' withdrawal from the country back in 2021, warning that these arms are increasingly ending up in the hands of militants and threatening regional security, Khaama Press reported. According to Khaama Press, citing the Pakistani military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the unregulated circulation of US weaponry poses a direct danger to Pakistan's stability. The cache of US weapons, estimated by the Pentagon to be worth over USD 7 billion, includes armoured vehicles, advanced firearms, biometric systems, and other sensitive equipment, Khaama Press reported. Many of these arms are believed to have been seized by the Pakistani Taliban and are now being used in attacks against the country's military forces. In Afghan black markets like Khost and Paktika, prices for US-made weapons have soared. As per Khaama Press, an M4 rifle now sells for over USD 4,200, while an M16 goes for around USD 1,400. Although Chinese rifles are available at lower prices, militants reportedly prefer the reliability and quality of US models. According to Khaama Press, citing The Washington Post, up to 400,000 NATO-supplied weapons may now be under Taliban control. Insurgent groups throughout Pakistan, including Islamist militants in the north and Baloch separatists in the southwest, are said to be actively using these US-origin arms, Khaama Press reported. Pakistan considers domestic insurgents, particularly the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch separatists, to be its primary security threats. In 2024, attacks from these groups surged by over 45 per cent, Khaama Press reported. Pakistan's appeal to the US to reclaim abandoned weaponry reflects growing concern over the proliferation of advanced arms in the region. With no effective controls in place, these weapons continue to destabilise the Afghan-Pakistan border and fuel insurgent violence, Khaama Press reported. (ANI) According to Focus Taiwan, the Taichung District Court on Friday sentenced the Air Force Intercept Controller Hsu Chan-cheng to seven years and four months in prison, ordered the confiscation of his illegal earnings, and revoked his civil rights for five years. The ruling is subject to appeal. Although the leaked documents were not officially classified as defence secrets, the court emphasised that their contents still posed a risk to Taiwan's national security, Focus Taiwan reported. Hsu was recruited in 2021 by retired Air Force Major Shih Chun-cheng, who had reportedly been working with Chinese intelligence since leaving the military in 2008. In exchange for payments, Hsu handed over internal Air Force training documents. Among the materials provided were details on fighter jets equipped with Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles and Taiwan's tactical responses to frequent Chinese military incursions near its airspace, Focus Taiwan reported. The court stated that even though the documents lacked formal classification, they contained critical operational insights that could help Beijing assess and adapt to Taiwan's defence posture. Hsu received more than TWD 220,000 (approximately USD 7,200), a small portion of the total payments Shih allegedly received from Chinese intelligence agents. Hsu admitted to the crime during interrogation and was charged under both the National Security Act and the Anti-Corruption Act, Focus Taiwan reported. His conviction comes amid heightened concern over China's ongoing attempts to infiltrate Taiwan's military by targeting both current and former officers with financial or business lures. Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan's Supreme Court upheld a 26-month prison sentence against Shih and ordered a retrial for an additional 10-month sentence. (ANI) Following the disqualification of 12 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from Pakistan's National Assembly and from the Assembly of Punjab province, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Saturday announced that they will jointly contest the upcoming by-elections, agreeing not to run candidates against each other in any constituency, The Express Tribune reported. According to The Express Tribune, the decision was made following a meeting at the residence of PPP senior leader and former Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. The PML-N delegation included Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, while PPP was represented by Ashraf and Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, The Express Tribune reported. In a joint press conference after the meeting, both parties confirmed they had reached a seat adjustment understanding, based on constituency-wise cooperation. "Our leadership has directed us to work together for these by-elections... The agreement is that whichever party was the runner-up in a particular constituency during the general elections will get the support of the other," Raja Pervez Ashraf said, as quoted by The Express Tribune. Hanif Abbasi emphasised unity and coalition strength. "We are coalition partners in the National Assembly, Senate, and provincial legislatures. This partnership will now extend into the by-polls. Together, we will achieve victory," he said, as quoted by The Express Tribune. The leaders noted that this collaborative strategy had been used in previous by-polls and would continue in the same manner. The move follows a series of discussions in recent months between the two major parties, aimed at improving coordination and strengthening their political partnership in Punjab and at the national level following tensions within the ruling coalition that surfaced after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari publicly criticised Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for failing to deliver on development promises in Karachi, accusing him of applying a double standard between the provinces of Punjab and Sindh. Earlier, Zardari met with Sharif to raise his party's concerns. The prime minister assured the PPP of ongoing cooperation and reaffirmed commitment to addressing its reservations. In return, the PPP pledged its full support for the government's economic recovery initiatives, The Express Tribune reported. The renewed alliance comes ahead of several by-elections, scheduled after the disqualification of 12 PTI lawmakers, eight from the National Assembly and four from the Punjab Assembly, due to the verdicts related to the May 9 riots. Additionally, the death of Mian Muhammad Azhar has left the NA-129 Lahore seat vacant, The Express Tribune reported. According to The Express Tribune, citing the Election Commission of Pakistan, polling for NA-96, NA-104, and PP-98 (Faisalabad) is scheduled for October 5. By-elections in NA-143 (Sahiwal), NA-185 (Dera Ghazi Khan), and PP-203 (Sahiwal) will also take place on the same day. Meanwhile, elections for NA-129 (Lahore), NA-66 (Wazirabad), and PP-87 (Mianwali) are expected on September 18, with preparations underway. (ANI) The Texas Senate on Saturday (local time) approved a new Republican-leaning congressional map, paving the way for Governor Greg Abbott to sign it into law, The Hill reported. The new Texas map secures an additional five Republican-leaning congressional districts, shifting the balance of power ahead of competitive midterm elections expected in 2026. The legislation cleared the Senate by 18 votes to 11, with Democrats opposing what they described as a partisan attempt to force Republican control. The move followed a similar party-line passage in the Texas House, where Democratic lawmakers had earlier staged a two-week boycott before returning to the chamber. The Senate had initially passed the proposal during a previous special legislative session, but fresh approval was required after that session ended. Abbott convened a second session this week, allowing the House-passed version to move forward. In a post on X, Abbott welcomed the passage and said, "The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate. Despite Democrats' petty stunts, we delivered on our promise. This map reflects Texans' actual voting preferences, and I look forward to signing it into law." As reported by The Hill, Democrats have pledged to challenge the legislation in court. Representative Suzan DelBene, Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, termed the plan an "unprovoked, unwarranted Texas gerrymander." "We are seeing Democrats around the country respond and fight back to make sure DC Republicans cannot steal the House majority," Suzan DelBene said. "I applaud the Texas Democratic lawmakers who have been at the forefront of this fight and inspired people across the country to stand up and fight back against Republicans' shameful attempt to cling onto power," she added. The developments in Texas come amid similar redistricting efforts across the country. In California, the legislature this week approved a ballot measure that will allow voters to decide on new district lines for the remainder of the decade. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the measure into law shortly after its passage. The revised map could provide Democrats with up to five additional seats in the House, The Hill reported. Republican-led states, including Florida and Missouri, are also considering new congressional boundaries, signalling that the battle over redistricting is likely to intensify ahead of the midterm polls. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday spoke with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and told him that he is ready to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the call, Zelenskyy also spoke about opportunities for joint work with Africa and said the Global South must send "relevant signals" in favour of peace. In a post on X, he said, "I spoke with President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, at his request. I informed about the joint diplomatic efforts with our partners and the productive meetings with President Trump in Washington." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959216634721083615 "I reaffirmed my readiness for any format of meeting with the head of Russia. However, we see that Moscow is once again trying to drag everything out even further. It is important that the Global South sends relevant signals and pushes Russia toward peace," he added. Zelenskyy also appreciated the solidarity of the Baltic states with Ukraine against its conflict with Russia. He affirmed that Ukraine with its allies will bring peace to the European continent. In a post on X, he said, "We remember the longing for freedom that Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian people demonstrated with the Baltic Way. We honor the unity these nations showed in defending their right to freedom and independence." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959232705658294334 "And today we highly appreciate the genuine solidarity of the Baltic states, in the face of dumb Russian imperialism. Just as you have, we are defending the right of our state and our people to independent life, and against the Russian attempt to subjugate us. Together we will return durable peace and uphold human dignity on the European continent," he added. Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy spoke to Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof on the occasion of National Flag Day in Ukraine and apprised him of the talks in Washington. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1959212393579385044 Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump renewed a threat on Friday to impose sanctions on Russia if there is no progress towards a peaceful settlement in Ukraine in two weeks, showing frustration at Moscow a week after his warm meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there is no agenda for a potential summit between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he accused of saying "no to everything", as per Al Jazeera. (ANI) China's Fujian uses digital, intelligent technologies to upgrade traditional industries Xinhua) 09:23, August 23, 2025 Technicians operate a data monitoring system at Frog Prince (China) Daily Chemicals Co., Ltd. in Zhangzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) Cities of southeast China's Fujian Province have been taking good use of digital and intelligent technologies to upgrade its traditional industries in recent years. Panpan Foods in Jinjiang has leveraged intelligent technology in its bread making. SinceTech, a shoe material textile company headquartered in Jinjiang, has achieved digitalized production. In its smart workshop, a single worker can operate over 10 machines simultaneously. At a custom-made shoes factory of SEMS in Putian, an equipment can record consumers' foot measurements to create personalized designs based on their preferences. The intelligent production line can then manufacture a pair of new shoes in just over an hour. Frog Prince (China) Daily Chemicals Co., Ltd. in Zhangzhou continually sharpens its edge in its supply chain capabilities, and research and development advantages to meet consumers' diverse demands. This photo taken on Aug. 20, 2025 shows a scene at the smart workshop of SinceTech, a shoe material textile company, in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) A robotic arm is seen at the smart workshop of Panpan Foods in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) A worker operates at the smart workshop of a custom-made shoes factory of SEMS in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) This photo taken on Aug. 20, 2025 shows a scene at the smart workshop of SinceTech, a shoe material textile company, in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2025 shows a smart production line at a custom-made shoes factory of SEMS in Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2025 shows a smart production line at the workshop of Panpan Foods in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) A worker operates at the smart workshop of Panpan Foods in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) A visitor takes photos of an exhibit at SinceTech, a shoe material textile company, in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) This photo taken on Aug. 20, 2025 shows a scene at the smart workshop of SinceTech, a shoe material textile company, in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) Workers operate at the workshop of Frog Prince (China) Daily Chemicals Co., Ltd. in Zhangzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2025 shows a production line at the smart workshop of Panpan Foods in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2025 shows an exterior view of the Frog Prince (China) Daily Chemicals Co., Ltd. in Zhangzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Blog Archive: Aug 2025 (130) Jul 2025 (155) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) During the visit, professional and cultural engagements were conducted to enhance maritime cooperation and mutual understanding. Key activities included professional interactions and cross-deck visits - fostering operational synergy between the two navies. According to the release, the crew also participated in a combined yoga session onboard and a friendly volleyball match with TNI AL personnel, showcasing the shared spirit of camaraderie and collaboration. As part of community outreach, the ship welcomed members of the Indian diaspora residing in Indonesia, providing them with an opportunity to visit the ship and engage with the crew. Additionally, courtesy calls with senior naval leadership further emphasised the commitment of both nations to work together towards ensuring a secure and stable maritime domain in the region, the release stated. The visit of INS Kadmatt reaffirmed the Indian Navy's role as the preferred security partner in the region and reinforced the long-standing maritime partnership between India and Indonesia under the shared vision of 'Partnership Across Sea'. (ANI) Senior Sri Lankan journalist S Venkat Narayan has described the arrest of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe as "ridiculous" and said that it will not affect relations between India and Sri Lanka. He also suggested that if needed, India could extend medical help to the 76-year-old leader. Speaking to ANI, Narayan underlined Wickremesinghe's role in securing crucial support for Sri Lanka during its financial crisis and his close ties with India. "I would say this [arrest] is ridiculous. Because of his excellent relationships with India, India gave them aid worth over USD 4 billion. India has a formidable reputation because he has been the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka six times. He knows practically everybody who is somebody on the planet. So it is because of his personal influence. You know the World Bank, IMF, Japan, France and all those aid givers, you know have been considerate and they gave some breathing space for Sri Lanka," he said. Narayan stressed that Wickremesinghe had repeatedly said before being taken into custody that he did not engage in corruption and that all his actions were for the benefit of Sri Lanka. "I think this is highly ridiculous because as he said before he was taken in, he said, hello, I never did anything for myself. I only worked for Sri Lanka. And you know the fact that they are arresting me shows what kind of administration Anura is heading at the moment," he added, referring to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. When asked if the arrest could strain India-Sri Lanka ties, Narayan dismissed the possibility. "No, I don't really think so," he said. He further emphasised that the matter was an internal issue for Sri Lanka and not one in which India should intervene. However, he added that New Delhi could extend medical assistance if needed. "No, I don't think India should intervene if there should be anything at all. They should offer to fly, run in Vikratsinga to Apollo Hospital in Chennai or bring him to Delhi and offer him the best possible treatment because he is 76 and has high blood pressure. Sugar level is very high. He needs urgent, excellent medical treatment. I do hope that if necessary India will offer to shift him to India and offer him a good treatment," Narayan said. (ANI) At least 51 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza as Israeli forces advance deeper into Gaza City in a bid to impose their evacuation plan, Al Jazeera reported, citing medical sources. Al Jazeera Arabic obtained footage showing Israeli tanks entering the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City, indicating an expansion of the ground offensive. Sabra is situated near the besieged Zeitoun neighbourhood, which has faced intensified Israeli attacks over the past week. An Al Jazeera source at Gaza City's al-Ahli Hospital confirmed that a child was killed in the latest bombardment of Sabra. On Saturday, Israeli artillery struck tents sheltering displaced families in the Asdaa area, northwest of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing 16 people, including six children, medical sources said. At least 16 Palestinians were also killed while seeking humanitarian aid. Among them, a Palestinian was shot dead near a distribution point close to the "Morag axis" southeast of Khan Younis, while another civilian was killed near the Israeli-controlled Netzarim Corridor. Earlier, Palestinian health authorities said that eight more Palestinians, including two children, died from malnutrition over the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 281 since the conflict began nearly two years ago. Munir al-Bursh, director-general of Gaza's Health Ministry, noted on social media that 114 children are among the victims, Al Jazeera reported. On Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented the condition in Gaza, as a famine was officially declared there. As per the UN, more than half a million Palestinians are facing catastrophic famine conditions, which include starvation, destitution, and death. "Just when it seems there are no words left to describe the living hell in Gaza, a new one has been added: "famine"," Guterres said in a post on X. Meanwhile, Israel has called the allegations as 'fake campaign'. "The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has just published a "tailor-made" fabricated report to fit Hamas's fake campaign. Unbelievably, the IPC twisted its own rules and ignored its own criteria just to produce false accusations against Israel: the IPC changed its own global standard, cutting the 30% threshold to 15% for this report only, and totally ignoring its second criterion of death rate, solely to serve Hamas's fake campaign," the Israel Foreign Ministry said in a post on X. (ANI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday expressed concern about the arrest of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe and called on Colombo to "abjure the politics of vengeance" and treat their former President with dignity. In a post on X, Tharoor stated that the alleged charges against Ranil Wickramasinghe "seem trivial" and expressed concern about the health of the former Sri Lankan President, who was admitted to the hospital shortly after the arrest. "Concerned about the detention of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe on what, on the face of it, seem trivial charges. His health issues have already seen him taken to the prison hospital. I call on the government of Sri Lanka -- while fully respecting that this is their internal matter -- to abjure the politics of vengeance and treat their former President with the respect and dignity that he deserves, after his decades of service to the nation," Shashi Tharoor said. Earlier, senior Sri Lankan journalist S Venkat Narayan had described the arrest of the former Sri Lankan President as "ridiculous." He also suggested that if needed, India could extend medical help to the 76-year-old leader. Speaking to ANI, Narayan said, "I think this is highly ridiculous because, as he said before he was taken in, he said, hello, I never did anything for myself. I only worked for Sri Lanka. And you know the fact that they are arresting me shows what kind of administration Anura (President Anura Kumara Dissanayake) is heading at the moment," he added. Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday on allegations of state funds' misuse, as reported by Newswire Lanka. As per Newswire, his arrest is linked to allegations of using state funds to cover the expenses for a private visit to London, where he had attended a university graduation ceremony. It was further reported that the investigators claim the trip, which formed part of a wider overseas tour, was not an official engagement but was financed with government money. Ranil Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, assumed office as Sri Lanka's interim president in July 2022 following Gotabaya Rajapaksa's removal. He lost the Presidential Elections to Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of National People's Power, in September 2024. (ANI) KANAGAWA, Aug 23 (News On Japan) - A 19-year-old worker died after falling about 20 meters from an elevated section of the Ken-O Expressway in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, on the afternoon of August 22nd. Police said that around 3 p.m., a witness reported that someone may have fallen from the highway in the Kamiechi area of Atsugi. The worker, identified as Asuka Koizumi, was conducting maintenance inspections on the elevated road when he slipped through a gap at the junction of merging lanes and fell. Koizumi was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead. At the time, he had been inspecting a road ramp. Police are investigating the cause of the fall. Source: TBS The FBI agents raided former national security adviser John Boltons home in Maryland on Friday as part of a national security investigation in search of classified records, several U.S. TV channels announced. A federal magistrate judge in Maryland approved the search, while Bolton was not detained or charged so far with any crimes. The operation is part of a high-profile investigation into allegations that Bolton used a private email server to transmit highly sensitive classified documents during his tenure in the White House. The raid began at Boltons residence in Bethesda, where agents were seen entering the property and carrying boxes out over the course of several hours. Boltons wife, Gretchen Smith Bolton, was visibly shaken as she interacted with agents at the front door. Later in the day, agents moved to Boltons downtown D.C. office, but waited for a judge to sign a warrant before entering. The investigation was ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist who posted a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the raid began: NO ONE is above the law @FBI agents on mission The investigation concerns the handling of classified materials and potential instances of such documents being used in leaks to news media, according to a source familiar with the matter. The search was related to a criminal investigation that began during the Biden administration that did not go further at that time. U.S. intelligence agencies have chosen in the past not to pursue criminal leak prosecutions because the information involved is so sensitive that the agencies do not want it made public in court. It was not clear if that played a role in the Biden administrations decision. President Donald Trump told reporters that he is unaware of any details on the FBIs raid on the home of former national security adviser John Bolton. Trump went on to call Bolton a low-life who is very bad at what he does. Publication of Boltons memoir was delayed in 2020 as the White House reviewed its content. The administration sued Bolton in federal court claiming he breached his contract by failing to complete a pre-publication review for classified information. The Justice Department in 2021 under President Biden closed its criminal investigation into whether Bolton disclosed classified information in his memoir. The investigation centers on violations of federal laws governing the handling of classified information, including potential breaches of the Espionage Act and statutes related to unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense materials. Bolton is notorious for his close ties with the Algerian regime and its Polisario separatist proxies. Despite his sulphurous past, the Algerian military regime used him extensively in its hostile and smear campaign targeting Morocco and its territorial integrity. At the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), Japan unveiled a sweeping initiative to deepen economic ties with Africa, committing $5.5 billion in development loans and announcing the training of 30,000 AI specialists across the continent over the next three years. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed the creation of an Indian OceanAfrica Economic Zone, connecting African nations with India and the Middle East to boost trade, infrastructure, and innovation. The funding, arranged through the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is aimed at spurring sustainable growth and addressing Africas mounting debt burdens. In creating solutions together, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa, Ishiba emphasized. The summit drew leaders from nearly 50 African countries. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used the platform to call for systemic global reform, pressing for Africa to gain permanent representation on the UN Security Council and greater say in global financial systems. Africa must have a stronger voice in shaping the decisions that affect its future, Guterres stressed. Angolas President Joao Lourenco echoed the urgency, noting that limited access to affordable capital continues to stifle Africas progress. As U.S. engagement in Africa cools and Chinas footprint expands, TICAD 9 signals Japans strategic intent to offer a long-term, tech-driven partnership focused on inclusive development. A joint Yokohama Declaration is expected later in the week. Uganda has firmly denied reports that it has entered into an agreement with the United States to accept migrants deported under a Trump-era immigration policy. The denial follows a CBS News report citing confidential U.S. government documents, which claimed that both Uganda and Honduras had agreed to take in asylum seekers and deportees from third countries. Ugandas State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Okello Oryem, rejected the claims, stating that to the best of my knowledge, we have not reached such an agreement. The minister also added that we do not have the facilities and infrastructure to accommodate such illegal immigrants in Uganda. The alleged agreement, reportedly limited to deportees with no criminal record from Africa and Asia, was tied to a broader U.S. policy allowing the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries deemed safe. However, Uganda joins Eswatini and other African nations in rebuffing US attempts to redirect deportees. Human rights groups have condemned the policy, warning that vulnerable migrants are being sent to countries where they have no ties or support systems. Critics also argue the strategy undermines international asylum laws. Meanwhile, African nations continue to face growing diplomatic pressure as the U.S. steps up what White House officials have described as the largest massive deportation operation in history. As of now, Uganda maintains that no formal agreement exists and no infrastructure is in place to support such a policy. Cameroons long-serving president, Paul Biya, faces a high-stakes legal challenge as opposition candidate and veteran lawyer Akere Muna petitions the Constitutional Council to block his bid for an eighth term ahead of the 12 October election. At 92, Biya has held power since 1982, making him one of the worlds oldest and longest-serving leaders. Munas challenge cites Article 118 of the electoral code, which bars individuals who find themselves in a state of dependency on another person, organization, or foreign power from running for office. He argues that Biyas declining public presence, recurring health issues, and reliance on ministers for key duties signal diminished capacity to govern. Paul Biya reigns, but does not govern, Muna concluded. At 92 years old, invisible to the public, is he truly able to lead for another mandate? The Council is set to rule on Friday (22 August) at the Palais des Congres in Yaounde. Despite doubts over the courts independence, the move has ignited public debate over Biyas fitness to lead. The controversy deepens amid growing concerns about electoral fairness. The Council recently upheld the exclusion of opposition figure Maurice Kamto from the race, prompting condemnation from Human Rights Watch and tear-gas-filled protests. Though Munas legal victory appears unlikely, his challenge confronts a long-avoided national question: Should Biya continue to lead, or is his rule a relic of a past era now overdue for change? In recent years, several countries have introduced carbon taxes as a way of making consumers change their habits to support a green transition. However, it remains unclear whether carbon taxation and rebates can have a lasting impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consumer spending. Austria introduced a range of carbon taxes aimed at encouraging consumer decarbonisation. In the Austrian model, the money raised from the tax gets returned directly to taxpayers. This was aimed and encouraging higher levels of public spending while reducing emissions, to bolster the national economy. The central European country aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a whole decade ahead of the European Unions deadline and its carbon tax is expected to help it achieve this aim. In Austria, around 69.3 percent of GHG emissions were subject to a positive Net Effective Carbon Rate (ECR) in 2023, according to OECD estimates. Fuel excise taxes covered around 52.8 precent of emissions that year. The research showed that ECRs were $93 per tonne of CO2e on average, while explicit carbon prices stood at an average of $48, fuel excise taxes amounted to $57 on average, and fossil fuel subsidies averaged $12 per tonne of CO2e. The carbon tax is not only aimed at companies but also individuals, encouraging people to drive less and take public transport more, alongside several other habit changes. The rebate, known as the Klimabonus, varied by region depending on access to public transport networks and other factors, and in 2024, the annual payment ranged from $169 to $338 for an adult resident. There was a mixed response from Austrians when the initiative was first proposed, although it received wide enough support to keep it. However, this year, the new Austrian government decided to change the initiative by eliminating the rebate payments to taxpayers. The decision was made after assessing the total cost of the scheme in the face of a national recession. Austria has been forced by the EU to reduce its budget deficit by cutting spending, introducing higher taxes, and stimulating economic activity. Cutting the rebate is expected to save around $2.3 billion a year. While Austria has been successful in reducing its carbon emissions in recent years although it is uncertain just how closely this is linked to the carbon tax and rebate scheme its efforts to encourage higher levels of consumer spending were less successful. Austrias chancellor, Christian Stocker, explained, It was also a compensation payment to maintain disposable income. And when it was sent to Austrians, the money remained in savings accounts at banks. It did not go into consumption. And therefore, the effect we expected was not achieved. In North America, Canada also introduced a carbon tax scheme, although there are mixed feelings about its success rate. In 2018, the then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced the pan-Canadian climate framework, which was modelled on British Columbias pioneering carbon tax. As in Austria, the scheme aimed to collect the carbon tax and return the funds to consumers in the form of a quarterly rebate. The government said that a family of four in Ontario would receive around $811, while a family in a rural region could expect $973, and a family in Alberta province would get around $1,564. However, in October, the new Conservative government said it wanted to hold a referendum on the tax, suggesting that the initiative increased the economic burden on Canadians at a time when they were facing rising consumer costs. However, not everyone agrees with this assessment of the tax. Kathryn Harrison, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia, explained, The current political discourse means a lot of Canadians misunderstand how the policy affects them. They dont think it works. They think theyre paying more than they are. And thats a very distressing thing for me, from not just a climate policy perspective, but a democratic perspective. Harrison added, This isnt a debate about how much emphasis to put on one issue or another. The unpopularity of the carbon tax is, to a large degree, driven by voters misunderstanding it and having the facts wrong. In April this year, the Conservative government axed the carbon tax, with wide support from Canadians who did not want to pay an additional tax. However, Werner Antweiler, an economist from the University of Sauder, believes this could have a negative impact on both emissions and consumer wealth. Antweiler explained, Carbon pricing was poorly understood and poorly communicated. Although most of the revenue was returned to householdsthrough rebates or tax cuts in places like B.C.many people only noticed higher fuel prices and ignored the money coming back. The policy felt like a tax, and that made it unpopular. Ironically, now that its gone, many lower-income households will be worse off. Carbon taxes in Austria and Canada have faced different challenges. In the Central European country, tax rebates were ultimately deemed too costly to keep up during a time of recession, while in the North American state, many taxpayers were less open to paying an additional tax, even if it could provide a long-term economic benefit. However, the two initiatives demonstrate that a carbon tax and rebate system has the potential to help change consumer habits and reduce GHG emissions. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com For years, energy workers from the fossil fuel sector have been growing increasingly concerned about their future working in the sector. As many countries invest heavily in renewable energy, in a bid to decrease dependence on oil, gas, and coal, many traditional energy jobs are disappearing. However, the knowledge and experience that workers in this sector hold could be well-suited to new jobs in the renewable energy industry, so long as governments invest in a just transition. According to the European Union definition, a Just transition is the term used to describe the transition to a climate-neutral economy while securing the future and livelihoods of workers and their communities. A just transition to a climate-neutral economy provides and guarantees better and decent jobs, social protection, more training opportunities and greater job security for all workers affected by global warming and climate change policies. Meanwhile, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says a just transition means greening the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind. Workers are key to the functioning of the global energy network. Those employed in both the fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors have the skills and experience needed to ensure that consumers have access to stable supplies of power and heating. Around 67.5 million people were working in the energy sector globally in 2023, with around 34.8 million jobs in the renewable energy sector and 32.6 million jobs in the fossil fuel industry. In 2015, the ILO published Just Transition Guidelines, which included measures such as labour market policies to create new decent jobs and limit job losses, skills development, mechanisms for social dialogue, guidance on policy coherence, occupational safety and health policies, and social protection policies to safeguard workers. In 2023, the agency adopted a resolution based on the guidelines. In Southeast Asia, a region that continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels, some governments have begun to invest in large-scale renewable energy projects, in some cases with support from international donors. The coal mining industry employs approximately 180,000, 86,000, and 4,000 people in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively, while many workers in Malaysia are employed in the liquefied natural gas industry. As the countries gradually decrease their dependence on fossil fuels, it will be important to train workers to transition to work in renewable energy projects to help avoid increased unemployment. Several transition policies already exist across the region, such as the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 20262030, Advancing Regional Cooperation in Ensuring Energy Security and Accelerating Decarbonisation for a Just and Inclusive Energy Transition. The 2021 launch of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) at COP26, which provides $20 billion and $15.5 billion to Indonesia and Vietnam, respectively, to phase out fossil fuels and increase the contribution of renewables, also supports this aim. However, the implementation of these policies is less simple due to pushback from fossil fuel lobbies, as well as a lack of funding and political will. In India, the worlds third-largest energy consumer, workers' unions are increasingly demanding a just transition as the government gradually begins to close the countrys coal mines and more renewable energy capacity is deployed. There are around 300,000 permanent and 500,000 contract workers currently employed in Indias coal industry, while over 1.4 million people depend on the industry for their livelihoods. While some coal workers have found jobs in the renewable energy sector, trade unions have raised concerns about the safety standards and wages in certain industries. For example, workers in solar farms face threats such as snake bites and electric shocks in the field, and many are paid extremely low wages, at around $ 3.2 a day. Meanwhile, in the European Union, there are 31 coal regions in 11 EU countries, with around 200,000 workers employed in coal mines and power plants. To manage the just transition of these workers, the EU has introduced the COALition initiative, which brings together researchers, policymakers, businesses, and communities in regional hubs to shape locally tailored solutions. The EU aims to establish a regional framework for a just transition to ensure that all member states can successfully shift to green without the worry of high unemployment and economic burden. Panagiotis Grammelis, the research director at the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas in Greece, explained, We are leaving the coal era and moving into the renewables era We have common problems, common policy issues and we want a common innovation model to address them. Several countries and regions of the world are establishing frameworks to support a just transition for workers in the energy sector. However, some regions are doing this in a more collaborative way than others. The success of these frameworks will come down to the effectiveness of implementation by individual state governments, but they could ultimately support a green transition, limit unemployment growth, and reduce training costs through the upskilling of workers. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Trade uncertainty and tariffs are prompting Americas battery makers and battery material manufacturers to expand overseas to have production sites in the biggest demand centers now that clean energy isnt a favorite with the U.S. Administration. The trend has become evident in recent weeks, in which two U.S. battery companies have taken over production sites in South Korea and Europe, betting on being close to customers in markets favoring green technology and renewable energy expansion. First, it was California-based Lyten, which said in early August it would buy all remaining assets in Sweden and Germany of failed European battery firm Northvolt, which was Europes great hope to have a domestic giga-scale battery manufacturer. But Northvolt in March filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, unable to overcome mounting challenges including rising capital costs, geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions, and shifts in market demand. A few months later, U.S. battery maker Lyten signed deals to buy Northvolts assets in Europe and is considering acquiring a Northvolt Six battery manufacturing facility under construction in Quebec, Canada. In total, Lytens acquisition includes assets valued at approximately $5 billion, including 16 GWh of existing battery manufacturing capacity, more than 15 GWh of capacity under construction, the infrastructure and plans to scale to more than 100 GWh, and the largest and most advanced battery R&D center in Europe, in Swedens Vasteras. Related: Cenovus to Buy MEG as Canadas Oil Sands Consolidate Further The demand for European and North American made batteries is only growing, Lars Herlitz, Lyten chairman and co-founder, said in a statement. Lyten, whose investors and partners include FedEx, Stellantis, and Honeywell, currently manufactures lithium-sulfur batteries in Silicon Valley and is selling commercially into the rapidly growing drone and defense markets. Upon close of Northvolts asset acquisition, Lyten plans to immediately restart operations in Skelleftea (Ett) and Vasteras (Labs) in Sweden. At Northvolt Drei in Germany, Lyten is working with Northvolt and the German government to continue the program to establish a battery manufacturing facility near Heide in Schleswig-Holstein, with 15 GWh of initial capacity. Lyten plans to rehire a large part of the previously laid-off workers, while its collaboration with Northvolts prior anchor customers is progressing constructively. The acquisition of Northvolts assets brings the facilities and Swedish talent to accelerate this mission by years, just at the moment when demand for Lyten lithium-sulfur batteries is growing exponentially to meet energy independence, national security, and AI data center needs, said Dan Cook, Lyten CEO and co-founder. Resuming Northvolts operations would be a risky undertaking for Lyten, but considering the current policy and demand climate, it makes sense for a predominantly US-based company to shift toward the European market, said Connor Watts, battery raw material demand analyst at Fastmarkets. While Lyten is pursuing large-scale battery manufacturing operations in Europe, another U.S. battery supply chain firm, battery materials manufacturer Group14 Technologies, is looking for growth in Asia, the worlds top battery manufacturing market. Washington State-based Group14 Technologies this week closed a $463-million funding round led by SK, Inc. In addition, Group14 obtained full ownership of its joint venture with SK Inc located in Sangju, South Korea. Formed in 2021, the joint ventures battery active materials (BAM) factory produces Group14s flagship technology, SCC55, at EV scale to support the global battery manufacturing industry. Group14 Technologies existing investors include Porsche Investments, ATL, OMERS, Decarbonization Partners, Lightrock Climate Impact Fund, and Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund. Group14s first and second BAM factories are located in Washington State. But the company is also expanding silicon battery infrastructure in Europe with a silane gas factory in Germany, which will supply a critical precursor for next-generation energy storage technologies. Strengthening regional supply networks and shifting to next-gen battery chemistries like silicon that reduce material dependency, is more than just risk management, Group14 chief executive and co-founder, Rick Luebbe, told Techstrong IT earlier this month. Commenting on the deal in South Korea, Luebbe said in a statement this week, We're strengthening regional battery supply chains and safeguarding our customers from global trade uncertainty. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com NORMAL Thousands descended upon uptown Normal Saturday morning for the annual Sweet Corn Circus featuring vendors, tons of sweet corn and, of course, a circus. The event continues Sunday morning and is free to attend. The weekend festivities kicked off with a performance by Illinois State University's Gamma Phi Circus that was based on last year's theme, "Journey Through the Fine Arts," said Jovana Emerick, a 20-year-old junior with the circus. "I mainly do dance, but I also do (acrobatics), and I sometimes fly for some of the acts," she said after her performance. "My favorite part is, like, performing for the kids," Emerick said. "We sometimes do exhibitions at elementary schools and stuff. They're so cute." Performers raced around on unicycles, juggled while balancing on a ball and leapt through the air during a martial arts-style display. Afterward, they set up stations for local children to try circus acts like stilts or walking the tight rope. Last year was Emerick's first Sweet Corn Circus, and she was a little nervous to perform then, she said. "But then, I'm like, this is what I love to do. And I want people to know what I love to do," she said. There are "only two programs like this in the United States: Florida State and Illinois State University have circus programs," said Ivan Stoinev, circus artistic director. Stoinev began performing in 1978 in Bulgaria and has traveled the world, he said. This is his 13th year with Gamma Phi. "What brought me here is the love for circus that the kids have," Stoinev said. "They do everything from their heart." The Sweet Corn Circus is a big draw for local families, said Ashley Giebelhausen. She and her husband, Adam, brought their two young boys to the circus on Saturday. "It's special that we get to have this and experience this as a family. ... You don't get that everywhere you go," Ashley Giebelhausen said. The couple grew up in the suburbs, Adam Giebelhausen said. "So, we're kind of used to that kind of community around the area. So, it's nice to have place outside of that Chicago metro area, too," he said. While their son Logan said he would not be participating in any circus activities, other families are hoping to get their children involved, like the Wyatt family of Bloomington. "I was a circus performer, so we go to all the Gamma Phi shows," said Terra Wyatt. She and her husband Ric brought their two daughters to the show. When asked what her favorite part was, their 11 1/2-year-old Kadence quickly, and excitedly, replied, "All of it." Twenty years ago, Terra Wyatt was one of the performers flying around on the swinging ladders and acrobatics displays, she said. "I love having them experience it. I hope someday that they want to join the circus, because it's a great experience," she said. That experience is not secluded to the stage, Stoinev said. "The circus prepares them very well for the real world," he said. "They've got to learn how to work with other people, trust other people." Performers with Gamma Phi are highly motivated individuals, Stoinev said, training and performing for no school credits or scholarships. Rather, it's their love of the circus that drives them, he said: "That's why you can see their smiles and all that." Emerick has been a dancer for 13 and is originally from Indiana, she said. "I didn't know much about ISU when I got here, and they had it chalked on the sidewalk, like, 'Come to the Gamma Phi open house,'" she recalled. "I was like 'A circus! That's so cool.' And I went, and I literally fell in love with it." The open houses are how Gamma Phi attracts new members, Stoinev said. "We start open houses this Sunday (Aug. 24)," he said. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Horton Fieldhouse South Gym. There are two more open houses scheduled for Monday, Aug. 25, and Thursday, Aug. 28, at the same time. They are open to all students, faculty and staff at ISU. Every year, Gamma Phi chooses a special topic to theme their main performances. Stoinev is being tight-lipped about this year's theme, as he has not even told the circus' members, he said. "It will be a surprise," Stoinev said, chuckling. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: (A) Nassarius spp. with resin residue. (B) Nassarius spp. with red pigment. (C) Cypraeidae showing ground dorsal surface. (D) Olividae spp. showing spire removed (photographs by Bryce Barker). Credit: Australian Archaeology (2025). DOI: 10.1080/03122417.2025.2540136 New research conducted at Walufeni Cave, an important archaeological site in Papua New Guinea, reveals new evidence of long-distance interactions between Oceania's Indigenous societies, as far back as 3,200 years ago. Our new study, published in the journal Australian Archaeology, is the first archaeological research undertaken on the Great Papuan Plateau. The findings continue to undermine the historical Eurocentric idea that early Indigenous societies in this region were static and unchanging. Instead, we find further evidence for what Monash Professor of Indigenous Archaeology Ian J. McNiven calls the Coral Sea Cultural Interaction Sphere: a dynamic interchange of trade, ideas and movement over a vast region encompassing New Guinea, the Torres Strait, and northeastern Australia. Tracking movement across Sahul The goal of the Great Papuan Plateau project was to determine whether the plateau may have been an eastern pathway for the movement of early people into northeastern Australia, at a time when New Guinea and Australia were joined in the continent of Sahul. The two countries as we know them separated about 8,000 years ago due to sea levels rising after the last glacial period. Our research in Walufeni Cave, located near Mount Bosavi in New Guinea's southern highlands province, identified occupation dating back more than 10,000 years. We also found a unique and as yet undated petroglyph rock art style. Our analyses of cave deposits reveals significant changes in how the site was used starting from just over 3,000 years ago. This includes changes to the frequency of occupation, to plant and animal use, as well as the sudden appearance of coastal marine shells. Specifically, we found 3,200-year-old evidence for the transport of marine shells 200km inland, which has previously been recorded as coming from the southern coast of the Gulf of Papua, and from as far away as Torres Strait. This suggests the long-distance maritime trade and interaction networks between the societies of coastal southern New Guinea, Torres Strait and northern Australia extended far inlandand much further than previously known. The significance of marine shells Archaeologists and ethnographers have widely documented the use of culturally modified marine shells as important items of trade and prestige in New Guinea. These shells were used as markers of status and prestige, for ritual purposes, as currency and wealth, as tools, and to facilitate long-distance social ties between groups. Despite the coastal availability of a large variety of shellfish, only a relatively small selection are recorded as being commonly used in New Guinea. The most prominent of these are dog whelks (Nassaridae), cowrie shells (Cypraeidae), cone shells (Conidae), baler shell (Volutidae), and pearl/kina shell (Pteriidae). Many of these are significant for ritual and symbolic functions across the Indo-Pacific and indeed, globally. Dog whelks were the predominant species we found in Walufeni Cave, along with olive shells and cowrie shells. These come from very small "sea snails," or gastropods. All of the shells we found had been culturally modified, such as to allow stitching onto garments, or threading onto strings. Gastropod shells continue to be used by today's plateau societies. They may be sewn onto elaborate ceremonial costumes, or offered in long strings as trade items, or as bridal dowry. 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. Pottery and oral tradition Further evidence for long-distance voyaging between the southern coast of Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait and Northern Australia comes in the form of pottery. Researchers have found Lapita pottery at two archaeological sites on the south coast of New Guinea (Caution Bay and Hopo). These have been dated to 2,900 and 2,600 years ago, respectively. Lapita pottery is a distinctive feature of Austronesian long-distance voyagers with origins in modern-day Taiwan and the Philippines. Lapita peoples bought the first pottery to New Guinea about 3,300 years ago, providing the template for later localized pottery production. In a separate finding, Aboriginal pottery dating back to 2,950 years ago was reported from Jiigurru (Lizard Island), off the coast of the Cape York Peninsula. While this pottery isn't stylistically Lapita, the technology used to make it is. Similar pottery dating back 2,600 years ago has been reported on the eastern Murray Islands of Torres Strait, and in the Mask Cave on Pulu Island, western Torres Strait. Analysis of the Murray Island pottery indicates the clay was derived from southern Papua New Guinea. These studies suggest the Lapita peoples' knowledge of how to make pottery spread to Torres Strait and northern Australia via the interaction sphere. Furthermore, the cultural hero Sido/Souw, who is present in oral tradition on the Great Papuan Plateau, is also present in oral tradition from the Torres Strait and southern New Guinea. This demonstrates sociocultural connections across a vast area. Our research builds on the continuing reevaluation of the capabilities of Indigenous societies, which were often characterized by early anthropologists as static and unchanging. More information: Bryce Barker et al, Marine shell from Walufeni Cave and the origins of the Kasua: Implications for Late Holocene socio-cultural interaction on the Great Papuan Plateau, Papua New Guinea, Australian Archaeology (2025). DOI: 10.1080/03122417.2025.2540136 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Ever felt like doing a bare minimum at work? Not investing any extra effort, not going any extra mile? You aren't alone. That's a known workplace phenomenon. It's called quiet quitting. The term quiet quitting is used to describe the action of employees who reduce their work efforts to only the absolute minimum required for their job. Although they are not formally resigning, they are "quitting" any work and commitment beyond what's explicitly listed in their job description. Commonly attributed to issues such as work dissatisfaction, burnout or lack of purpose, quiet quitting isn't a new phenomenon. However, in the post-pandemic years, it has seen a definitive resurgence, prompting two Stevens researchers to team up for a study to pinpoint its underlying causes. "We were seeing a lot of #quietquit hashtags and a lot of publicity about it," says Assistant Professor Justine Herve whose research focuses on labor economics. "We were really puzzled by that resurgence and trying to understand what happened during the pandemic that caused this phenomenon to come back." Herve's colleague, Assistant Professor Hyewon Oh, who studies consumer well-being aimed to help people lead a happier life, was also intrigued by the phenomenon. "As a consumer psychologist, I've always been interested in what shapes people's sense of well-being and meaning in their daily lives. We started talking about quiet quitting and wonderedwas it simply about disengagement at work, or was there something deeper happening?" Oh says. "This phenomenon was kind of overlapping our research interests." So they decided to join forces. Study authors note that quiet quitting isn't necessarily negative. "Quiet quitting means that employees are still doing what's expected of them, they are still performing their duties," says Herve. "They are just not going the extra mile, not taking on extra tasks, not devoting more time to their work beyond the required hours." That's different from disengagement, she adds. "Refusing to perform tasks beyond what is required contractually does not necessarily imply disengagement during the agreed-upon work hours." What caused the resurgence of quiet quitting in the post-pandemic era? The collaborators hypothesized that this behavior was linked to individuals' reduced perception of control over their circumstances in periods of uncertainty such as the pandemic. To test this, they recruited about 1400 participants through CloudResearch, an online platform that offers survey data collecting tools. The survey participants were asked a series of questions about their perception of control over their lives. Their answers led Herve and Oh to confirm their study's hypothesis that the perceived lack of control over one's situation could be a precursor for quiet quitting. The collaborators published their findings in the study titled Quiet Quitting in Times of Uncertainty: Definition and Relationship with Perceived Control, which appeared in the journal Human Resource Management on June 1, 2025. 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. Uncertainty, such as periods of political turmoil, economic instability, health or climate crisescan diminish individuals' perception of control over their environment. That could explain why the phenomenon of quiet quitting has re-emerged in the post-pandemic erait coincided with a significant decline in employees' perceived control over their circumstances. "The pandemic represented an aggregate shock to one's perception of control," says Herve. "There was a lot of uncertainty." The authors also find evidence that the association between low perceived control and high quiet quitting can be explained through two channels: on one side, a high sense of replaceability; and on the other side reduced affective commitment to the employer. The authors point out that the relationship between perceived control and quiet quitting is complex. While lower perceived control is strongly associated with quiet quitting, the precise mechanisms and causal pathways remain an important area for future research. Understanding how feelings of replaceability, diminished affective commitment, or other psychological processes translate a loss of control into quiet quitting will require further investigation. The collaborators also think that quiet quitting behaviors can be reduced. When people feel that they have a voice, some autonomy, and that their contributions matter, they're less likely to scale back to the bare minimum, Oh explains. "That doesn't just mean giving employees more tasks or perksit's about creating conditions where they feel their work has impact, their input is valued, and they're not easily replaceable," she clarifies. "Managers can take small steps, like involving employees in decision-making, clarifying how their work connects to the bigger picture, or giving them ownership over meaningful projects." Those signals of agency and trust can go a long way in preventing quiet quitting, authors say. Herve and Oh are excited about being able to conduct this interdisciplinary research at Stevens, which encourages cross-disciplinary projects and collaborations. "Justine studies economics, and my work is in consumer psychology and marketing, which are pretty different disciplines," says Oh. "But because of the multidisciplinary nature of our school, we were able to join forces on such an interesting project." More information: Justine Herve et al, Quiet Quitting in Times of Uncertainty: Definition and Relationship With Perceived Control, Human Resource Management (2025). DOI: 10.1002/hrm.22317 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: Volunteers from the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center search for sea turtle nests and to relocate turtles on Topsail Island, N.C., after Hurricane Erin battered the barrier island. Credit: Topsail Turtle Project via AP As Hurricane Erin pelted North Carolina's barrier islands with strong winds and waves this week, it destroyed many nests of threatened sea turtles, burying the eggs deep in sand or washing them out to sea. On Topsail Island more than half the 43 loggerhead turtle nests were lost in the storm, according to Terry Meyer, conservation director for the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. "I didn't anticipate the water table being so high and the eggs being just literally sitting in water when we got to them," she said. "I don't think I've seen that on such a wide scale." Erin never made landfall and caused no widespread damage to infrastructure despite being twice the size of an average hurricane. But the turtles were not so lucky. Loggerheads, which are known for their large head and strong jaw muscles, are threatened in the U.S. due to fishing bycatch, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They are the state's primary sea turtle and nest every two to three years between May and August, with each nest containing about 100 eggs. Meyer said that in the big picture, the destruction of dozens of nests will not have a significant impact on the species. But for the many volunteers who spend every summer helping to monitor each nest on the 26-mile (42-kilometer) beach, it's heartbreaking. "When you're digging up a nest that's got 100 dead, fully developed, ready-to-go hatchlingsI'm old and jaded, but that can be pretty tough to handle," she said. Terry Meyer, conservation director for the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, searches for sea turtle nests and to relocate turtles on Topsail Island, N.C., after Hurricane Erin battered the barrier island. Credit: Topsail Turtle Project via AP About 33 miles (53 kilometers) to the northeast, the storm likely wiped out eight of the 10 remaining loggerhead turtle nests on Emerald Isle, said Dale Baquer, program coordinator and president of the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol. One survived when the turtles managed to hatch Wednesday night, while another one likely made it safely through the storm because of its higher location on the dunes, according to Baquer. But there is little chance for the others, though it will not be known for sure until about 75 days into the incubation cycle. "They really suffered a lot of damage. A lot of high tides and a lot of sitting water. But we're just going to remain optimistic," she said. Both organizations tried to get ahead of the storm by picking up signs or extra stakes or fencing that could be washed out or cause other problems for the turtles. But there is little they can do given North Carolina's strict laws about keeping the sea turtle hatching process natural. Baquer said the only time the group can obtain state permission to help a nest is if it knows it has already hatched or possibly if the tide hits the nest and the eggs are washing out. "It's stressful and of course it's not something you ever get used to, but I think we all have a science mindset that this is nature and this is what's going to happen," she said. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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: GNOME measurement station at Leibniz IPHT in Jena: Dr. Theo Scholtes (left) and Goran Hellmann adjust a quantum magnetometer used in the search for traces of dark matter. In continuous operation, it sends measurement data to the GNOME server. Credit: Sven Doring A highly sensitive quantum sensor from Jena has traveled nearly 9,000 kilometers: by truck to Hamburg, by ship across the Atlantic, and finally overland to Vassouras, Brazil. At the campus of the Observatorio Nacional, researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT) in Jena, together with Brazilian partners, have installed a new measurement station. It is part of the worldwide GNOME project and is designed to help address one of the great unsolved questions in modern physics: the nature of dark matter. Dark matter cannot be directly detected with conventional measurement methods. However, it demonstrably influences the motion of galaxies and the structure of the cosmos. Understanding its nature remains one of the central open problems in physics. The international GNOME collaboration (Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic physics searches) specifically looks for signs of hypothetical particlesamong them so-called axionsthat might interact with atoms inside magnetometers. "Our station is based on an optically pumped magnetometer, in which we use laser light to drive cesium atoms into specific quantum states," explains Dr. Theo Scholtes, physicist at Leibniz-IPHT. "If this state changesfor example, due to a passing dark-matter fieldwe can measure it with high precision." The sensor's technologyincluding magnetic shielding, laser stabilization, and system controlwas developed, built, and tested at Leibniz-IPHT in Jena. The new GNOME station in Brazil is the first permanently operating station of the network in the Southern Hemisphere. This geographical expansion is of particular significance for the project. "With the station in Vassouras, we improve our ability to triangulate potential eventsthat is, to determine their origin more precisely by comparing signals from multiple stations. The principle is similar to how gravitational waves are detected," says Theo Scholtes. GLENS FALLS In June, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained long-time Glens Falls resident Yuriy Zinovyev during a regular check in at the agencys Ballston Spa field office. He was moved to an ICE servicing and processing center in Batavia where his detainment continued. Earlier this month, Zinovyev was sent to a staging facility at the Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana and deported to Kazakhstan. We know he is in Kazakhstan, [but] we dont have any more information, reported Cheryl Gnade-McGrattan, media liaison with Indivisible ADK/Saratoga. Gnade-McGrattan had been in contact with Zinovyev throughout his incarceration as the advocacy group worked to have him released while his removal was processed. During that time, details about Zinovyevs time in the U.S. have been staggered and at times, conflicting. Zinovyev was born in the Soviet Union, when the USSR fell, the area in which he was living became the independent state of Kazakhstan. According to his long-time friend, Igor, Zinovyev came to America around 25 years ago to teach linguistics at a summer camp. In a statement from ICE first released by CBS6, the agency claims Zinovyev has had multiple convictions, including attempted trafficking in cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia in North Carolina and DWI on six different occasions in New York, as well as pending charges for sexual assault. In an interview with CBS6, Zinovyev pushed against those claims, stating that he only had one DWI, the drug charges were the result of poor representation from a public defender, and that the sexual assault case had been dropped. The ICE statement also claimed that in 2013, Zinovyev had been scheduled for removal from the U.S. and cited that as the reason for his detainment and eventual deportation. A bigger problem While Zinovyevs story is becoming a familiar one, it highlights a far less known and complicated issue that many immigrants have been facing for decades: statelessness. According to United Stateless, an advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness of and lobbying for legislation regarding stateless residents, there are nearly 220,000 stateless individuals living the United States. A stateless person is someone who is not recognized by any country under the operation of its law. Thats a legal definition recognized by the International Court, Karina Ambartsoumian-Clough, executive director of United Stateless, explained in an interview with The Post-Star. The term was formalized by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees as an acknowledgement and response to the number of displaced individuals during the events of World War II. A person can be born stateless or become stateless in a myriad of ways. Out of the 195 countries across the globe, only 30 countries allow birthright citizenship. Most other countries recognize citizenship through descent, meaning only if ones parents are citizens can a person be considered a citizen at birth. However, in 24 of those countries, women alone cannot pass nationality down to their children. If the father is unknown, or youre a product of violence, you do not have access to nationality [in those countries], Ambartsoumian-Clough said. And then, on top of that countries change borders, they dissolve all the time, and with [them] also peoples nationalities. Such was the case for Zinovyev. Because the USSR dissolved before he came to the U.S., Zinovyev was already stateless when he got here. However, when the U.S. government determined that he should be sent back in 2013, it was unable to do so because he had no country of origin to be sent back to. Although the term, stateless is internationally recognized, it is not a recognized legal state of being in the U.S. So there is almost no understanding within the law of how individual stateless cases should be handled. That can start to get complicated when were in court, said Samantha Sitterley, staff attorney for United Stateless, adding that the first plea in any immigration proceeding is always whether or not the individual claims to be a citizen of the United States. The next is to acknowledge what nation the individual is from. Before we can even go anywhere, the judge has to decide whether those allegations are true. So, for a stateless person there might be a lot of litigation and argument about that first point before we even get to the merits of the application for asylum. While that litigation plays out, a stateless person will usually be placed in an order of supervision. Which is basically like a permanent probation under ICE jurisdiction, Sitterley explained. They could easily spend the rest of their lives in that situation. Theyre not going to get deported and theres no easy or obvious way maybe not even a difficult way for them to get out from under that order of supervision. In Zinovyevs case, he had been checking in at the ICE facility regularly for the past 12 years. But when he went in for his appointment in June, he was told that the new administration would no longer allow him to remain in the country under that status. Suddenly it has been happening to others in our community the exact same way, Sitterley said. Nothing has changed and yet because we have a new president, they get arrested. Typically orders of supervision are rescinded only if there has been a new violation, or if there has been a change in the ability to remove someone. The fact that Zinovyev had been detained for two months without immediate expulsion made her question the legality of ICEs case against him. Its not arrest first and ask questions later, [but] thats whats been happening, she said. The issue is not a new one, Sitterley said the last time the U.S. overhauled its immigration system was in 1996, and even then the status of a stateless individual was not taken into account. [The system] just completely fails everyone, noncitizens and Americans, she said. Essentially, we have this system where you have to fit a very, very narrow set of criteria in order for you to apply for any kind of legal status. But for Sitterley, the actions being taken by the current administration do nothing to address the problems in Americas immigration laws, only exacerbate them. Sitterley said that she represents several stateless individuals who are currently detained by ICE but are not accounted for in the regular reports submitted to Congress. And because so much of the agencys internal process is kept hidden, it is almost impossible to mount any kind of defense against those actions. When theres no policy, when theres no procedure, when theres no definition, theres no regulation, yeah, sure, ICE can kind of make it up, she said. Personally, my opinion is that this is by design, to terrorize people. To get them to give up and to run away. In cases such as Zinovyevs, when the individual has broken a law, Sitterley said it can be hard to engender sympathy for the individuals civil rights being violated. But insisted that we not lose sight of the bigger picture at play. To me its very sympathetic and understandable that people turn to self-medication which can lead to substance abuse disorders, which can lead to controlled substances violations and other violations, she said. Are we willing as a society or as a country to fix this, to offer a solution instead of just looking for ways to blame and to other. The immediate outlook is bleak for Sitterley and her clientele. In her estimation immigrants in this country are walking around with targets on their backs and stateless individuals, like Zinovyev, stand even less of a chance of getting due process before being deported. But there is hope, she said in knowing that groups such as Indivisible and United Stateless are not letting these actions go unnoticed. What we also are as an organization is a community, she said. And thats something that has been a critical lifeline for people over these last few months, is to just remember that youre not alone. Thats so, so important because they want you to give up they want you to run away, but youre not alone and were stronger together. For more information about United Stateless, visit unitedstateless.org. For more information about Indivisible ADK, visit indivisiblesaratogaadk.com. Former House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, ruled the House of Delegates through a Republican-controlled committee system that routinely prevented Democratic legislation from reaching the floor for a vote by all delegates. Now, Howell is joining Republican leaders in the General Assembly to challenge a court ruling that if it stands would let Democrats on a single Senate committee block appointments by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to the governing boards of three public universities. In a friend-of-the-court ruling filed this week at the Supreme Court of Virginia, they accused a Fairfax County judge of judicial fiat. The judge ruled in favor of nine Senate Democrats who seek to block eight Youngkin appointees from continuing to serve on the boards of visitors at George Mason University, the University of Virginia and Virginia Military Institute. To ensure the representation it enables, our Constitutions architects put that process under the control of the General Assembly as a whole not either house or any elected minority and certainly not under the supervision of an unelected court, the Republican lawmakers and former speaker said in a 22-page legal brief. This case seeks to subvert that constitutional principle by judicial fiat, they write. Here, a handful of our Senate colleagues not even a majority of the other side of the aisle in that body are purporting to speak for the entire Senate, House of Delegates, and General Assembly at once. Attorney General Jason Miyares makes the same argument in an appeal he filed at the Supreme Court earlier this month. Miyares is seeking to overturn a ruling by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Jonathan Frieden, who had blocked the governors appointees from continuing to serve on their respective boards of visitors. Miyares chose to appeal the decision directly to the Supreme Court instead of asking the judge for a temporary stay on the ruling. George Mason Frieden issued his decision on July 29, two days before the George Mason board was scheduled to consider the job performance of President Gregory Washington. Mason was under investigation by President Donald Trumps administration for alleged civil rights violations. As a result, the board met without four members whom Youngkin had appointed since the General Assembly adjourned its regular legislative session in late February. Washington kept his job, with a small raise, after meeting with the remaining board members, all appointed by the Republican governor. University of Virginia President Jim Ryan had resigned in June under pressure from the Trump administration. In February, Youngkin appointees on the Virginia Military Institute board voted against extending the contract of Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, the schools first Black superintendent. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education ratcheted up the pressure on George Mason, led by its first African American president. It found that the Fairfax-based university had violated federal civil rights laws by illegally using race as a factor in hiring and promoting employees. I hope the board of visitors defends our university, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said on Friday. Eight Democrats on the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted on June 9 to reject the governors appointments to the George Mason, UVa and VMI boards. They, along with Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, filed suit to enforce their decision after Miyares instructed the leaders of the three boards that the committee vote did not constitute a decision by the full General Assembly to refuse to confirm the appointments, as the Senate majority leader had told them. Republican legislators 19 in the Senate, four in the House, plus the former speaker made the same argument as the attorney general in their brief this week. Surovell, who served three terms in the House during Howells tenure as speaker, questioned whether they would have made that argument when they were killing tens of thousands of bills in committee when they were in the majority. I think theyre grasping at straws because they dont have an argument, he said Friday. Howell and the legislators challenged the role of the courts in reviewing the dispute, as well as Frieden's handling of the case. They said Senate Democrats "are asking this Court to wade into the political morass of an intra-body dispute of a co-equal branch that is still playing out, subject to its own rules and independent governance." "In sum, the Judicial Branch should decline to wade into this ongoing intramural dispute over gubernatorial appointments and so upset the delicate balance struck by the Virginia Constitution, lest every Committee vote become the occasion for a declaratory judgment action," they said. Republican legislators say they rely on correspondence with Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar, who has held the office for 35 years and worked in the Senate for more than 50 years. After the committee vote, at the chairman's direction, Schaar wrote Secretary of the Commonwealth Kelly Gee to inform her that the Senate committee had voted to not report the resolution with the eight appointees, which she said constituted a refusal to confirm the appointments under the Virginia Constitution. Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, asked Schaar to reconsider her position. They said Senate could reverse the committee action, and the House could propose and adopt its own resolution with the governor's appointments. (Democrats hold majorities of 21-19 in the Senate and 51-49 in the House.) Like Miyares, they claim that both chambers must take action or adjourn the legislative session entirely for the committee vote to constitute a refusal to confirm. Currently, the assembly remains in a continuing special session, which prevents Youngkin from making recess appointments without their consent. Schaar, in response, acknowledged that "there are still avenues of opportunity" for the assembly to confirm the governor's appointments. Frieden considered the same arguments during a two and a half hour hearing in Fairfax last month and ultimately rejected them. He said that the appointments die if one chamber refuses to confirm them, and that the Senate had delegated authority to the P&E Committee to make that decision. "Here, then, the question is not whether the Committee could properly act on behalf of the entire General Assembly, but whether it could properly act on behalf of a single chamber, the Senate," Frieden wrote in his decision on July 29. Under Senate rules, a committee does not have to report a bill or resolution to the full Senate for a vote. "The failure to report is how some bills and resolutions fail to advance and die in committee," he said. Schaar, in an interview on Friday, said the assembly would have to meet physically to take any further action on the resolution and added, "We're not in session." "As of right now, it's dead in committee," she said. August 23, 2025: Bomb Damage Assessment (BDA) has been a critical yet challenging aspect of military operations since World War I (19141918). Despite advances in technology and tactics, accurately determining the effectiveness of airstrikes has remained elusive, impacting coordination between air and ground forces and shaping military strategy. Since World War I, BDA has sought to accurately determine the effectiveness of airstrikes, but early efforts were often unsuccessful. During World War II (19391945), air and ground forces grew increasingly frustrated by the lack of timely and accurate BDA, particularly regarding the impact of airstrikes. This led to persistent challenges for air forces and the ground troops they supported. The U.S. Air Force has long advocated for military victory through air power, a stance rooted in its well-earned reputation for technological prowess. Since 1945, it has consistently achieved and maintained air supremacy in its operational theaters. However, its influence on ground warfare has been less dominant, largely due to BDA limitations. During World War II, large-scale aerial bombing, especially against economic targets in Germany (19431945), highlighted the issue. Post-war surveys revealed that strategic bombings impact differed significantly from wartime BDA reports, prompting the Air Force to pledge improvements. Subsequent conflictsKorea (19501953), Vietnam (19651972), Kuwait (1991), Kosovo (1999), Iraq (2003), Lebanon (2006), and Ukraine (since 2022)demonstrated that adversaries consistently deceived even the most rigorous BDA efforts. The only reliable solution was deploying personnel on the ground to verify targets during combat, a practice resisted by air forces due to the risks of casualties or capture and overconfidence in aerial reconnaissance, such as scrutinizing aerial photos. By the 21st century, the wide availability of commercial satellite photos enabled media and individuals to conduct independent BDA. Ground forces have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to deceive aerial surveillance. Even in the early 21st century, when the U.S. introduced persistent drone surveillance, irregular forces adapted to reduce its effectiveness. This underscores a key limitation: air powers impact on ground operations often manifests gradually, not immediately. Public and media expectations, particularly in the U.S., exacerbate this issue, as support for military campaigns typically wanes after three yearsthe so-called Three Year Ruleregardless of air campaign effectiveness. The Air Force and Army differ in their approach to planning and risk. The Air Force, aligned with the Navy, perceives warfare as a precise, predictable endeavor, leveraging technical control over its forces. Conversely, the Army views warfare as inherently unpredictable and adapts accordingly. Army generals often express skepticism about the Air Forces ability to decisively defeat ground forces through airstrikes, a perspective frequently validated by historical outcomes. Despite their technological sophistication, the U.S. Air Force and Navy have struggled to adapt to post-Cold War changes. The shift from large, organized enemy forces to elusive irregular forces complicated aerial targeting. The Air Force reluctantly adopted new reconnaissance and surveillance methods, such as drones, following the lead of the Army and CIA. Precision munitions also transformed air campaigns, rising from 8% of U.S. fires in the Gulf War (1991) to 68% in Iraq (2003), and becoming standard for industrialized nations thereafter. The CIA pioneered Persistent Surveillance with armed drones, enabling 24/7 monitoring and precise missile strikes on identified targets. This reduced collateral civilian casualties to historically low levels and proved effective against terrorist leaders. However, Air Force traditionalists argued that such tactics were impractical in conventional wars with advanced air defenses, where drones like Predators and Reapers could be easily shot down. Critics countered that militaries must address current threats, not just preferred scenarios. Even in conventional wars, these tactics and technologies remain relevant. The Air Forces focus on stealth aircraft like the F-35 and B-2/B-21 bombers persisted, despite adversaries developing sensors to counter stealth technology. Meanwhile, Ukraines war against Russian forces since 2022 showcased a drone revolution. Ukrainians replaced much of their artillery, manned aircraft, and anti-tank weapons with diverse drone designs. Thousands of small, inexpensive surveillance drones overwhelmed air defenses, enabling precise attacks by coordinating with attack drones, resulting in significant enemy casualties. The U.S. Air Force and Navy faced similar adaptability issues during the Vietnam War (1960s), where Russian-trained North Vietnamese pilots, using Russian aircraft and tactics, outperformed U.S. aviators. This led to the reintroduction of autocannons on aircraft, as air-to-air missiles proved unreliable. The Navy responded with the Top Gun program in 1969, emphasizing dissimilar training to simulate enemy tactics and aircraft. The Air Force followed with its Red Flag school. By the 1980s, Russia, China, and other air forces adopted similar programs, and smaller nations sent pilots to commercial Top Gun/Red Flag equivalents staffed by veteran instructors. Since World War I, air powers primary value lay in reconnaissance, a role that persisted through World War II. Strategic bombing, despite its prominence, was less effective than tactical bombing and strafing, which supported ground troops and provided immediate feedback on strike effectiveness. The Air Force, however, prioritized strategic bombing, which often produced indiscriminate damage without decisive outcomes. In the 21st century, BDA improved significantly through ground-based intelligence, including cellphone photos from agents or civilians in enemy territory. In Ukraine, civilians used air defense apps to record and photograph incoming attacks, enhancing air defense effectiveness. However, this reliance on cellphones introduced risks, as their signals could reveal user locations, enabling enemy counterattacks. Despite rules prohibiting cellphone use in combat zones, enforcement remained challenging, as soldiers and civilians valued connectivity despite the dangers. Electronic jamming provided only partial mitigation. BDA remains a persistent challenge for air forces, rooted in the difficulty of accurately assessing airstrike impacts from the air. Historical and modern conflicts highlight the necessity of ground-based verification, despite resistance from air forces favoring technological solutions. The evolution of drone warfare and civilian technologies like cellphones has revolutionized BDA, but new vulnerabilities, such as enemy exploitation of cellphone signals, underscore the complexity of modern warfare. CFE announces multi-billion dollar modernization to Mexicos transmission network Mexico City, Mexico CFE says they are planning to invest $8.1 billion USD to strengthen the countrys transmission network. From 2025 to 2030, 275 new transmission lines and 524 new electrical substations will be built. According to the the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), the project will include the modernization and connection of the grid, which will be expanded to provide greater access to electricity, meet the needs of the Well-being Development Hubs and address new industries. The Government of Mexico, through the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the Ministry of Energy, made the announcement Friday. President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo emphasized that Mexico, compared to other countries, is interconnected and with this $8.1 billion dollar investment, strengthens the connectivity of the entire country. Its a very important investment, $8.1 billion dollars for our countrys electric power transmission system. Our entire country is interconnected. Not all countries have national interconnected systems. Sometimes they have regional ones. We have an interconnected system, she explained. The interconnection to the peninsula of Baja California is nearing completion. For years, the peninsula had its own grid, its own generating plants, and there was no interconnection between San Luis Rio Colorado and Mexicali. Now, that began with President Lopez Obrador. So, the entire Republic is truly interconnected with this system. There are 275 new line projects and 524 substations across the country, she explained during her Friday morning press conference. She noted that the 2025-2030 Strengthening and Expansion Plan will also increase generation capacity by 29,074 megawatts (MW): CFE, 22,674 MW, and an additional 6,400 MW from private investment. Energy Secretary Luz Elena Gonzalez Escobar explained that the strengthening of the National Transmission Grid is a result of the President of Mexicos constitutional reform and allows for the reliability and security of the entire national electricity system, as well as the interconnection of isolated communities and systems, increasing the response capacity to natural disasters, and reducing energy poverty. CFE Director General Emilia Calleja Alor reported that strengthening the National Transmission Grid means modernizing and connecting Mexico even further by expanding access to energy, meeting the needs of the Development Hubs for Well-being and new industries and by reducing grid congestion. CFE Director General Emilia Calleja Alor She explained that the projects for new lines and substations are divided into zones: Northern Zone: 92 projects, of which 23 are already completed and 69 will be built during this administration, to provide 137 new transmission lines and 247 substations to guarantee energy to 6 million homes. Central Zone: 49 projects, seven of which are already completed and 42 are yet to be built, creating 90 transmission lines and 181 substations, to guarantee energy to 8.5 million homes. Southern Zone: 30 projects, of which five are already completed and 25 are yet to be built, creating 48 transmission lines and 96 substations to guarantee energy for one million homes. She also noted that 5,097 workers are assigned to the operation and maintenance of the National Transmission Grid to optimize resources and ensure a safe, reliable and modern network. In addition to implementing innovations such as the Smart Electric Grid (REI), which consists of remote monitoring and control, remote adjustment of electrical flow based on demand, and fiber optic communication, existing infrastructure is also being renovated, including high-temperature cables, insulating crossarms, digital transformers, monitoring of overhead and underground lines, 3D digital mapping, and mobile sensors. Royal Caribbean responds to ongoing criticism about lack of plan-sharing for Mahahual port Mahahual, Q.R. Cruise company Royal Caribbean has responded to ongoing criticism about their lack of plan-sharing for Mahahual. The mega-travel company has taken administrative control over the towns Port of Costa Maya, which it intends to revamp into a private travel destination for their cruise ship passengers. While some have defended the up and coming transformation, others are questioning what the companys plans are for the small town. In a statement by Jay Schnaider, the Director of Product Innovation for Royal Caribbean, he says their plans comply with local regulations and will contribute to the local community. The company also says they have met with locals to listen and identify priorities. Royal Caribbean says in coming weeks, they will submit their Environmental Impact Statement, and once submitted will host a community meeting to explain the details of the project and gather feedback. In an official statement sent to Riviera Maya News, the company said: Royal Caribbean Group is proud to share more details about our Perfect Day Mexico project in Mahahual, a transformative development characterized by transparency and a deep respect for the local community and the environment. As we move forward, we remain focused on creating lasting benefits for the region through careful planning and open dialogue. Our acquisition of the port of Costa Maya in July marks the beginning of this journey. Perfect Day Mexico is designed to generate a positive and lasting impact on the economy, the local community, and the environment. All current and future Royal Caribbean projects in Mexico and around the world comply with local regulations, meet the highest sustainability standards, and contribute significantly to the communities in which we operate. Since recently assuming responsibility for port management, we have worked closely with employees, suppliers and the community to listen to, identify and understand their priorities. This collaborative approach ensures the continuity of port operations for all cruise lines that call at Costa Maya, maintaining and supporting regional tourism. We have also established direct and open dialogue with residents through community meetings, a practice we will continue as part of our commitment to transparency in our operations. The Port of Costa Maya at Mahahual is under under the administration of Royal Caribbean. In the coming weeks, we will submit the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for our Mahahual project to the relevant authorities for evaluation. Once submitted, we will host a community meeting to explain the details of the project and gather feedback, ensuring that the project reflects our commitment to a shared vision of prosperity. Construction and renovation activities will only begin once we have the necessary environmental permits from the relevant authorities. As part of our ongoing environmental commitment, we will conserve 45 hectares of existing mangroves. These mangroves are currently polluted due to damage to existing infrastructure. We will actively participate in restoring water flow throughout the ecosystem and working to reverse existing degradation in groundwater, allowing mangroves to thrive in a natural habitat and flourish in their surroundings. We will also collaborate to protect the Mesoamerican reef by leaving existing reef structures intact and implementing sustainable solutions to remove sargassum and coastal debris. Furthermore, we are committed to protecting native species, including sea turtle nesting sites along the coast. A new wastewater treatment plant and solid waste management facility will also be built, serving not only our destination but also the local community, significantly improving the quality of life for residents throughout the region. Over 95 percent of the treated wastewater will be available for beneficial reuse and the remaining byproduct will be composted for landscaping and vegetation. Importantly, the solid waste facilities will support our work toward achieving zero waste to landfill, along with our commitment to Perfect Day Mexico being free of single-use plastics, instead offering compostable service items at food and beverage outlets, and leveraging advanced biodigesters to reduce organic waste. Our plans also include a reverse osmosis plant to generate the fresh water needed for our operations and ensure we are not depleting the regions water resources. Our commitment to using 100% green energy to power our site by 2040 is based on a holistic approach to sustainable development that balances economic growth, community well-being and environmental protection. We look forward to continuing to work and innovate with the local community to build a brighter, more sustainable future together. We invite anyone interested in learning more about our project to join our WhatsApp channel (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb5u55F2v1IwDm92da0M) to stay informed about the progress of our activities in Mahahual. On his first day as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Todd Gilbert was asked about his plans for the job. My main priority is not to mess up a good thing, Gilbert told The Roanoke Times in a July 14 interview, saying he had no immediate plans for change in an office that appeared to be running smoothly. That, apparently, was not what the White House had in mind. Gilbert, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, resigned on Wednesday. The former Republican state lawmaker did not publicly explain the reason for his unusual and unexpected departure, which came less than two months after he was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. He did not return calls and texts this week. But according to a person with knowledge of what happened, Gilbert had a falling out with officials in the Trump administration over his second-in-command, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Lee. Lee had been serving as acting U.S. attorney until Gilberts appointment, at which time he resumed his previous duties. Lee also was first assistant U.S. attorney under Chris Kavanaugh, the former U.S. attorney who was nominated by then-President Joe Biden. Concerned about what they believed to be Lees connections to the former Democratic administration, Trump officials pushed Gilbert to replace him with someone more in step with their agenda, the source said. When Gilbert resisted, Robert Tracci a former Virginia assistant attorney general who had earlier been a contender for Gilberts job was appointed by the Department of Justice to replace Lee. Tracci began work Aug. 4 as the offices new first assistant U.S. attorney. An irritated Gilbert then named Lee as senior counsel and executive assistant U.S. attorney, a new position that retained much of the authority of his old job. Angered by his actions, administration officials gave Gilbert a choice: resign or be fired, according to the source, who asked not to be identified. When Gilbert resigned, Tracci became acting U.S. attorney under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which elevates the first assistant U.S. attorney to the position of acting head prosecutor when theres a vacancy at the top. Brian McGinn, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office, declined to comment on the circumstances of Gilberts resignation, except to confirm the personnel changes. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice in Washington also had no comment. He paid the price It is very rare for the Justice Department to get involved in a personnel matter in the Western District, said Tony Giorno, who spent nearly 30 years in the Roanoke-based office in roles that included assistant, first assistant and acting U.S. attorney. If it did happen, Im not aware of it, said Giorno, who added that he had no knowledge of the circumstances of Gilberts decision to resign. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said he found the situation troubling for several reasons. For one, Tobias said a U.S. attorney should be free to pick his own second-in-command. It seems like a good gesture to me, he said of Gilberts decision to keep a long-time and respected prosecutor such as Lee in a supervisory position. But he paid the price for it. The law professor, who closely follows the appointments of federal judges and prosecutors, said that too much intervention from Washington could threaten the offices autonomy and diminish morale. What you want is a smooth-running district court, without a lot of drama, and its important to have a well-functioning U.S. Attorneys Office to do that, Tobias said. Others say it is common in the Western District for an incoming U.S. attorney to pick a new first assistant U.S. attorney. Keeping a holdover from the past administration could run counter to imposing the priorities of a new president, the thinking goes. In some respects, Tobias said, what happened with Gilbert is similar to a trend that is playing out across the United States. Usually, after a president nominates a candidate for the job, he or she must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before taking office. But in many cases, the Trump administration is appointing its picks on an interim basis allowing them to immediately take office and begin imposing the presidents priorities, with limited oversight from the legislative branch. An interim appointee, which Gilbert was, has a term of 120 days. After that, they must have received Senate confirmation or had their tenure extended by judges in the district they serve. The judges are also free to select another U.S. attorney. When someone is appointed acting U.S. attorney, it is for a term of 210 days. Just the way it is Virginias two Democratic U.S. senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, in April recommended two candidates Gilbert and Tracci for nomination by Trump, who then selected Gilbert. In a joint statement last week, Warner and Kaine said they were surprised to learn of Gilberts resignation. After a thorough interview process that included the input of a bipartisan panel of former Virginia U.S. attorneys and other well-respected members of the Virginia legal community, the senators recommended two candidates, the statement said. Todd Gilbert was among them because he was exceptionally qualified to execute the duties of this role. Gilbert, who once served as speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, has previous experience as a state prosecutor in Lynchburg and later in the Shenandoah Valley, which he calls home. Although he was not Trumps first pick, Tracci also has strong qualifications. During his tenure in the attorney generals office, Tracci served as section chief for major crimes and emerging threats. He was elected Albemarle County commonwealths attorney in 2015 and has served as assistant commonwealths attorney in Louisa County. Tracci has also worked as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the Western District, where he assisted in the prosecutions of complex financial fraud, child abuse, drug cases and firearm offenses. Efforts to reach both Tracci and Lee, who remains an employee in the U.S. Attorneys Office, were unsuccessful last week. U.S Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said that it was not my place to comment on the resignation of Gilbert. But generally speaking, he said, it is not unheard of for someone selected to head a government office or private company to not work out as hoped. Ive known Todd for decades, and I know him to be a fine lawyer. Griffith said. But sometimes, no matter how good someone is, the fit isnt right. Thats just the way it is. In May 2024, these homes were burned down near Abu Shouk IDP camp in El Fasher, North Darfur, in Sudan. document London The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement on the situation in El Fasher, Sudan. Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said: Shocking reports are emerging of the latest assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in and around El Fasher, North Darfur. In Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons (IDP), attacks earlier this week killed at least 40 defenceless civilians who had already fled violence in El Fasher. As fighting intensifies, exit routes from El Fasher remain blocked, trapping hundreds of thousands who now face famine, widespread reports of atrocities, and the rapid spread of disease, including cholera. Those who managed to flee to camps like Abu Shouk were already cut off from aid and are now under attack. This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a pattern of deliberate violence and brutality against civilians. The warring parties have a responsibility to end this needless suffering. They must urgently comply with their clear obligations under international humanitarian law and the commitments made in Jeddah: protect civilians and allow and facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access. Last month, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor confirmed that there are reasonable grounds to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity have been - and continue to be - committed in Darfur. Deliberate attacks on civilians are a clear violation of international law. The perpetrators must be held accountable. Today, together with our African partners & Guyana, we led a UN Security Council statement calling for immediate humanitarian access & respect for international law. The UK will continue to use all tools at our disposal to get aid to those who need it the most. I urge the RSF, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and allied armed groups to agree to the UN Secretary-Generals call for a humanitarian pause in and around El Fasher and urgently put in place the conditions that will allow immediate access. Only this will allow the delivery of food, water, medicine, and other life-saving supplies to those facing starvation. In line with UN Security Council Resolution 2736, the RSF must end its siege of El Fasher and cease attacks on civilians, and the SAF and allied Joint Forces must also allow and facilitate a rapid and unimpeded passage for humanitarian workers and civilians, so that aid can reach those most in need. Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. Dear Prudence, My husband is Black. I am white. For the past couple of years, weve been living on the family farm in the Midwest for a few months a year, to make sure the pipes dont freeze, keep the vermin down, etc., before another family comes for the summer. My husband isnt crazy about this arrangement (hes a city kid, and the farm is in a rural, red area), but loves the family, and realizes we save hella money this way. For the record, we are both progressive politically, feminist, anti-racist, etc. Well today, out of the blue, he said something that has me seriously considering divorce. Unprompted, he described the farm (a medium sized white house and three acres, and never more than 120 acres at its max) as the plantation. We have been married for over 30 years. I honestly thought I loved and could trust him. But this comment enraged me and felt like a nasty, deep playing of the race card in some primal, unforgivable way. I felt accused, disrespected, and smeared. When called on it, he protested first that he genuinely thought the farmhouse was a plantation (because its so big, which it is not) and then that he had no idea the word plantation is associated with slavery. I call bull-puckey. My husband is well-read, well-educated, and savvy. He hooted when it was in the news that a big plantation house down South burned down a few months ago, as did I. I want to leave him immediately. Am I overreacting? Not Scarlett OFlipping Hara Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Not Scarlett OHara, Yes, you are overreacting. But also, you should divorce him immediately. What I mean is: This overreaction tells me that you A) dont like your husband that much, and B) are not cut out to be married to a Black person. If you were enraged by what you saw as a nasty, deep playing of the race card in some primal, unforgivable way, based on this offhand comment, I cant imagine how things would play out if you had a legitimate debate about an issue related to race, or if, God forbid, your husband expressed concerns about your own racial attitudes. Advertisement I had to read this again to catch that youve been married 30 years. The letter was giving me more of a three years feeling. Im surprised that you have made things work for so long and that things have not already fallen apart over him joking about white people not using as much seasoning on food or something. If theres another issueif youve fallen out of love or are having an affair or cant stand his snoring anymoreand you want to split, just say that. Or make up something that actually justifies feeling accused, disrespected and smeared. The use of the word Plantation is not it. Get advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Prudence, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Dear Prudence following up) Submit Dear Prudence, I met and married my wife while her daughter, Zoe, was in college. My kids were in middle school, so the best I honestly hoped for was a friendly relationship. Zoe made it clear that she wasnt interested in having a relationship with me or my kids, despite many overtures over the years. She just wanted to see her mom and would turn down any invitations, even when my parents invited her to Hawaii. Advertisement Well, Zoe has boomeranged back home after a failed relationship, and it is like living with a nasty teenager rather than a grown adult of 30. She sleeps all day and is a slob. Worse, she increasingly makes nasty remarks about my children. My son is setting up to buy his first house and my daughter graduated with honors and will be taking a gap year in Europe. They are the only grandchildren and my parents are very comfortable helping them out financially. My kids are grateful; Zoe is not. We are covering all her expenses, including her phone and car note. My wife has talked to Zoe, but it only has made her worse. Advertisement Recently, things really escalated. Zoe came in while I was on speaker phone with my daughter about her travel plans. Zoe loudly called my daughter a spoiled little princess. I told my daughter I would call her later. I turned to Zoe and told her to shut the fuck up and if I heard one more comment about my kids from her, she would be living in her car instead of here. Zoe said I couldnt kick her out of her house, and I said her name wasnt on the mortgage. Zoe stormed out and refused to answer her phone for several days. My wife was frantic; we eventually found out Zoe had booked a hotel with her mothers emergency credit card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, my wife and I are fighting about what to do next. She keeps making excuses for how hard Zoe has it compared to my children. I said my kids would never have stolen from their own mother. No one forced Zoe to make a mess of her life. Since she moved back in, she has made zero effort to find a job, and I am not working to support an ungrateful adult that cant even keep a civil tongue in her head. This might be the final straw for me. I love my wife and made every effort with Zoe over these past eight years. It has gotten me nowhere. Eight Years Exhausted Dear Eight Years, I would never recommend a marriage that includes an immediate family member (because, yes, even adult stepkids are immediate family members) who you hope to be friendly with at best. Thats a very low bar! The best I hoped for was a friendly relationship is a fine thing to think about a neighbor or your dentist, but its just not enough for someone who is one of the most important people in your wifes life and will be in your space for significant amounts of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this era, adult kids often return to live at home. Your compatibility with your spouses childrenand your agreement with your spouse about how the two of you will engage with themis just as important as being on the same page about money, religion, and where youll live. As you now know, and as Ive read in countless letters, conflicting perspectives on how to deal with adult stepchildren can create a huge impasse in a relationship. You, understandably, dont want to live with or support someone who is a jerk to you and your kids. Your wife, understandably, is willing to tolerate a lot more from Zoe than she would from a stranger. Im sorry to lecture you about how you got here, because you cant change that. But I just needed to explain that the fight youre having now is not just about Zoes latest antics. It reflects a deep, unaddressed divide over who Zoe is to you as a married couple. And Ill say it in case its not obvious to everyone: Zoe is terrible! The thing is, that doesnt really matter if your wife loves her and is willing to make the accommodations we tend to make for a terrible person when we love them, and you just see her as a random jerk whos mean to your kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the issue you and your wife need to discuss when it comes to figuring out if you can have a future together. Its not Has Zoe had a hard time and does that explain her behavior? or Should I have to work to support someone who is ungrateful? or Is Zoe worse than my kids would ever be? Its Is there any future for us when one of us loves this very unpleasant adult and one of us hates her? Is there any possible scenario in which we are married and we both feel good about Zoes place in our lives? Youll need to reflect on whether you are okay with any relationship at all with someone who has made nasty remarks about your kids. Your wife needs to think about whether she can have a partnership with someone who has told Zoe to fuck off and is fine with her being homeless. Advertisement Advertisement I have to say Im struggling to imagine a solution that leaves you living in the same home, having a traditional marriage. Maybe you could separate and be open to reevaluating things when Zoes situation settles down. Maybe you could stay married and live under separate roofs. Or fully split and separate your finances and just date, so that all questions about who is working to support whom are off the table. Or, if you do decide this is the final straw, move on but make sure you take a lesson from this experience: A spouses children, no matter how old they are, are part of the deal when you get married. And if the deal is going to be a good one, you need to do much more than just tolerate them. Dear Prudence, My parents preferred my siblings my whole life. I was never abused, but they just werent as interested in me. They said my school events were too boring, but went to every game my siblings played in. I had everything I needed at home; I never went without food or essentials. But I didnt get much attention, and I never got focused on time together like my siblings did. They gave me a small amount of help with college, but I also took out loans and got scholarships. Both my siblings got fully paid for undergraduate degrees. I got a $200 check to help me with my first home, while both siblings got fully covered 20 percent down payments. They prioritized my siblings emotionally and financially, and eventually, I accepted that it wasnt changing. Advertisement I dealt with this through therapy, and building my own support network of friends. My husband and I are close with his parents. My dad passed away during the pandemic. My mom died suddenly a few months ago, and Im still processing it. I really wish we could have been close, and knowing that the door is closed forever hurts. She hired a professional to manage her estate, and I assumed she would do in death what she did in life. I didnt expect to receive much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Im apparently receiving 3/4 of her estate, and an apology. Its not millions, but it is shocking and I dont know what to think. My siblings, with whom Ive had a vague, surface-level relationship as adults, are furious. My husband says its late but deserved, while my siblings say its selfish and clearly Mom wasnt in her right mind. Meanwhile, Im just sad that she didnt act in life, and instead left me an apology after death. How do I handle this? Sad on the Seacoast Advertisement Dear Sad, Downgrade your relationship with your siblings from surface-level to very distant. Take the money and book a great vacation for you and your husband and the small handful of friends who treat you the way you wish your family of origin would have. Or even your in-laws, if you love and enjoy them. Im really happy to hear youve already had therapy to deal with the way you were treated by your family. Now, its time to invest in the relationships that remind you that despite your parents beliefs, youre just as valuable as anyone else. Money doesnt buy happiness, but in this case, it can definitely buy some quality time with people who think youre great. Contrary to what your family might believe, you deserve that. Catch up on this weeks Prudie. Advertisement More Advice From Slate I ended things with my partner recentlywed been together for a little over a year. I kept noticing toxic behavior over and over again, which were: a lack of trust, trying to catch me in lies that didnt exist, keeping a close eye on my location constantly, asking where I was/who I was with every time we were apart, and making unsolicited and sometimes hurtful comments about my appearance. I would bring those things up occasionally, but the sense he didnt trust me was always there. I love this person, and the decision to end things was challenging because we do have a very strong bond. In the time we took apart, which was only two days, we both realized we didnt want to give up on things. We reconciled, and I promised to work on my own part of the dynamic (fear of being hurt, better communication, etc.). I came to find that in those two days, he had posted bashing commentary on Reddit about me. Sign up for the Surge, the newsletter that covers most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. Hello, hello! Youre reading the Surge, Slates weekly ranking of the most relevant figures in American politics. Before we get into things, though, wed like to second the Food and Drug Administrations advice about not eating the radioactive shrimp that was recalled from Walmart stores this week. It would simply be a bad idea, we believe, to snarf down one of the little guys from a bag that may have been contaminated with the cesium-137 isotope in an Indonesian shipping container. No, not even one little nibble, as much as you might really want to find out what isotope shrimp tastes like! What if it tastes really good and you just want more and more, and eventually you cant fall asleep because you glow in the dark, smell like shrimp, and are dead? Anyway, this week we have a surprisingly robust amount of news to cover given that its late August and Congress isnt in session. Two of the items are about foodfood thats not radioactivewhile another is about a very off-putting idea for a map and yet another is about whether the United States should take advice about democracy from the guy who ended democracy in Russia. (The Surge leans toward no.) But first grudging recognition for Gruesome Gav. 1. Gavin Newsom Fine. Fine. Fine. Our general opinion of California Gov. Gavin Newsom is that he is a guy who likes talking and getting attention more than he likes actually governing or thinking about things. He does not necessarily have a set of fixed beliefs about why hes doing what hes doing, in other words, but he sure likes the feeling of other people watching him do it. Sometimes, though, his publicity stunts do end up having a real effect on the United States, like when he drove some of the early momentum toward legalizing same-sex marriage by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as the mayor of San Francisco in 2004. Now something similar is happening again: In response to Texas Republicans push to further gerrymander their states congressional districts, Newsom has launched a campaign to enact retaliatory gerrymandering in Californiaitll require a voter referendum in Novemberthat he has for some reason decided to sell by posting like Donald Trump on social media (all caps, being annoying, etc.). And its working. Barack Obama is endorsing his redistricting tactics, the resistance-leading publication the Bulwark is calling him a model for how to handle the current president, California voters are reportedly behind the plan big time in the Democratic world, it was all Gavin all the time this week. The next question is, how will the partys other would-be shadow president respond? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. The D.C. Sandwich Thrower An appropriate symbol of whatever all of this is. On Aug. 11, Trump ordered more than 1,000 National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officers into the District of Columbia in response to what he described, not accurately, as its growing crime and homelessness problem. Crime and homelessness do not appear to have been significantly addressed by the operation, which is heavy on detentions of immigrants who werent actively breaking any laws and patrols of tourist areas that were not dangerous to begin with. The most high-profile arrest that the feds have been involved in is probably the detention of Sean Dunn, a (now-former) Department of Justice employee who threw a salami sandwich at a federal officer on the street, ran away, and was hunted down a few days later so he could be charged with felony assault. And now, according to the Washington Post, Dunn and his sandwich have become a folk-heroic image of resistance, the subject of posters and online jokes and tributes at other protests. It really is a good encapsulation of the political moment: a galvanizing and memeable but ultimately childish and ineffectual strike against a regime that is mostly resented by the public but is also not going anywhere anytime soon. Another skirmish, if you will, in the long stalemate. Is anyone else getting hungry (hahahaha) for a different, more constructive kind of political square-off in this country? Advertisement 3. John Bolton The Department of Bothering the Presidents Critics is shifting into high gear. On Friday morning, the FBI raided the Bethesda, Maryland, home of Iraq war advocate and first-term Trump national security adviser John Bolton. (He has a modestly sized two-story in a nice, wooded lot, it looks like.) Ostensibly, the search was part of a long-running investigation into whether [Bolton] mishandled classified information, as the New York Times put it, but in reality it was retaliation against Bolton for having written a tell-all book in which he described Trump as a deeply corrupt know-nothing dope. Honestly, theres not a lot more to say about this one: It has troubling implications for democracy, any way you look at it. And also that if youre considering moving into a home thats surrounded by trees, youre going to want to prepare for some significant and frequent service costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4. Vladimir Putin Always a force in U.S. domestic affairs, unfortunately. On the diplomatic track, Trumps meeting last week with Vladimir Putinfollowed this week by a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaderswas actually somewhat productive, in that Trump appears to have decided to steamroll both sides of the RussiaUkraine war into ending their conflict so he can win the Nobel Peace Prize. In other ways, the Putin meeting was less salutary, in that the Russian president made an effort to get on Trumps good side by telling him that the 2020 election was rigged against him using mail ballots. Needless to say, this is something Trump already believed strongly, but the reminder set him off on a series of social media tirades that culminated in a Wednesday post about passing the Texas gerrymander and getting rid of voting machines (hand-counted paper ballots are less fraudulent, apparently) so that Republicans can pick up 100 seats in the House of Representatives and the game of politics in America will be over. So thank you, Vladimir! Thank you for all that youve done for the integrity of our elections. (Fortunately, whether the people around Trump do anything to follow through on his ranting is TBD.) Advertisement 5. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie The Epstein Odd Couple. When Congress reassembles after Labor Day, its agenda will include one of the most sacred duties the Constitution delegates to it as a body: trying to determine why the presidents name apparently appears multiple times in documents related to the systematic sexual abuse of teenage girls. That Jeffrey Epsteinrelated effort will be led by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna in partnership with libertarian Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who hails from the northern Kentucky suburbs and has become one of Trumps most hated enemies because he tends to vote against government spending bills and foreign military activity in accordance with his principles rather than rolling over and doing whatever MAGA people want him to do, like the rest of his colleagues. Khanna and Massie have launched whats called a discharge petition to force a House vote on ordering the DOJ to publicly release all the records of investigations into Epstein. While the pair already appear to have enough bipartisan support to force the vote, they also plan to hold a Sept. 3 press conference with Epstein victims to draw more attention to the issue. Could get interesting! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6. Jason Levin Please do not show me that map again, sir. Up yonder in the Big Apple, Andrew Cuomo is still pursuing an independent campaign for mayor against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. (As is incumbent Eric Adams, whose already slim chances in the race took a further beating this week when one of his advisers gave a bag of potato chips filled with cash directly to a reporter, who immediately wrote a story about it.) Cuomos new strategy against Mamdani is to post troll content about him on social media; one of the memes posted under Cuomos name last week was created by a young man named Jason Levin who, on Monday, also posted a picture of himself with the candidate and said hed be working on marketing strategy for the campaign going forward. It turned out, though, that Levin is also a self-proclaimed Trump voter whose online oeuvre includes both references to white nationalist slogans and the claim to be CEO of a company called Goonmaps, which encourages men to post the locations where theyve masturbated. The Cuomo team now says that Levin is not paid by the campaign and that the photo of Levin and Cuomo together was taken at a fundraiser, not a strategy meeting. It did not, however, comment on the map. Advertisement 7. Oyster Man This weeks edition of Is This Guy the Future of the Democratic Party? Up even further yonder, in Maine, Democrats are looking for a 2026 candidate to run against Sen. Susan Collins, the squishy-on-Trump moderate who has kept a choke hold on her seat for what seems like 400 years. This weeks entrant into the race is named Graham Platner, an honest-to-God macho oysterman who launched with a well-produced two-minute video about making government work for working people rather than billionaires and the oligarchy. While we have no idea whether Platner will make a good candidate against Collins, it does set up an interesting test for the Democratic Party, whose other primary option for the nomination at the moment is 77-year-old current Gov. Janet Mills. How serious is the Dem establishment about trying to appeal to the disaffected younger male voters who helped win the 2024 election for Trump? Thats the question Platners campaign is asking, literally. And while editors hate it when writers end a piece by punting and saying well see, our professional opinion is well see! https://sputnikglobe.com/20250823/arrested-ukrainian-suspected-of-leading-operation-to-bomb-nord-stream-pipeline---reports-1122665799.html Arrested Ukrainian Suspected of Leading Operation to Bomb Nord Stream Pipeline Arrested Ukrainian Suspected of Leading Operation to Bomb Nord Stream Pipeline Sputnik International German investigators suspect a Ukrainian citizen, who has recently been arrested in Italy, of leading a sabotage group that bombed the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, Germany's television channel reported on Saturday, citing the arrest warrant. 2025-08-23T11:34+0000 2025-08-23T11:34+0000 2025-08-23T11:55+0000 world italy germany ukraine nord stream nord stream pipeline nord stream 2 nord stream ag russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/0c/1117285675_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_71ec0928f82b4eedb8cbf3857f39c30a.jpg Sergei K., is believed to have led the operation and the sabotage group, ARD reported. He was allegedly part of the crew of the Andromeda, a yacht that Ukrainians are said to have used for sabotage on the gas pipeline. On Thursday, Italian carabinieri arrested a 49-year-old Ukrainian in the province of Rimini. The suspect was arrested after coming to Italy on vacation with his family. The carabinieri identified him after he checked into a hotel. The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas links were hit by explosions in September 2022. Germany, Denmark and Sweden did not rule out an act of sabotage. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office opened an investigation into the attack on suspicion of international terrorism. Russia repeatedly requested data on other countries' investigations into the explosions but never received it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250821/ukrainian-suspect-in-nord-stream-sabotage-arrested-in-italy--german-prosecutors-1122658387.html italy germany 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 arrested ukrainian, operation to bomb nord stream pipeline, nord stream gas pipeline in the baltic sea https://sputnikglobe.com/20250823/europe-ill-equipped-for-existential-challenges-of-new-geopolitics--ex-ecb-chief-1122663769.html Europe Ill-Equipped For Existential Challenges Of New Geopolitics Ex-ECB Chief Europe Ill-Equipped For Existential Challenges Of New Geopolitics Ex-ECB Chief Sputnik International Any illusion of the EUs clout in geopolitics and global trade has vanished after a brutal wake-up call from Trump," said former Italian Prime Minister and ex-European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi. 2025-08-23T07:35+0000 2025-08-23T07:35+0000 2025-08-23T07:35+0000 world mario draghi vladimir putin donald trump italy european union (eu) ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/11/1097400806_0:0:3103:1745_1920x0_80_0_0_460454525a8f5e69d59181c711967bfa.jpg The European Union has had to resign itself to being slapped with US tariffs by its largest trading partner, former Italian Prime Minister and ex-European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi told the annual Rimini Meeting. The bloc has been pushed by the US to increase military spending in ways that probably do not reflect Europe's interests," he said, and noted the EUs role as an observer of the massacre in Gaza. While Draghi called the EUs part in peace talks on Ukraine marginal, it should not be forgotten that in effect, Europes war hawks are vested in fueling the proxy conflict and tried desperately to sabotage the recent Putin-Trump Alaska summit."There are countries that easily exist without sovereignty. The whole of today's Western Europe is practically deprived of sovereignty," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250817/europe-marginalized-after-putin-trump-summit---british-professor-1122633697.html italy ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International any illusion of the eus clout in geopolitics and global trade has vanished after a brutal wake-up call from trump," said former italian prime minister and ex-european central bank (ecb) chief mario draghi. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250823/iran-russia-fms-hold-talks-on-nuclear-deal-and-iaea-cooperation-1122663366.html Iran, Russia FMs Hold Talks on Nuclear Deal And IAEA Cooperation Iran, Russia FMs Hold Talks on Nuclear Deal And IAEA Cooperation Sputnik International Iranian and Russian foreign ministers Abbas Araghchi and Sergey Lavrov discussed nuclear issues and Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 2025-08-23T03:54+0000 2025-08-23T03:54+0000 2025-08-23T03:54+0000 world abbas araghchi sergey lavrov iran un security council (unsc) international atomic energy agency (iaea) iranian foreign ministry iran, north korea, and syria nonproliferation act https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/06/16/1122314211_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_fddf906bd39ed153a47a4a95ea3c8c64.jpg "During the conversation, the parties exchanged views on the development of the situation with the Iranian nuclear issue, in particular regarding the actions of three European countries (Germany, the UK and France) in anticipation of the legal expiration of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (which approved the 2015 nuclear deal), and also discussed Iran's cooperation with the IAEA," the statement said. The sides also assessed prospects for nuclear negotiations and stressed that UN Security Council Resolution 2231 expires on the designated date - October 18, 2025. Araghchi, speaking about the idea of the three European countries to extend the resolution, said the decision on this would be made by UN Security Council members. The ministers, according to the statement, also agreed to continue consultations at various levels. The UK, France and Germany earlier sent a letter to the UN, stating that they were ready to renew sanctions against Iran if Tehran did not agree to the nuclear deal by the end of August. At the same time, in exchange for resuming talks on the Iranian nuclear deal, a proposal was voiced to extend the implementation of a number of provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that approved the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, which expires on October 18, 2025. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250813/france-germany-and-uk-send-iran-an-ultimatum-on-the-nuclear-deal-1122602960.html iran 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 iran nuclear deal, abbas araghchi, sergey lavrov, araghchi-lavrov call, iran iaea talks, iran e3 talks https://sputnikglobe.com/20250823/nato-sharpens-its-war-wallet-doubles-down-on-ukraine-aid-1122665138.html NATO Sharpens Its War Wallet: Doubles Down On Ukraine Aid NATO Sharpens Its War Wallet: Doubles Down On Ukraine Aid Sputnik International Russia states that supplying arms to Ukraine hinders peace efforts and drags NATO allies into the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that... 23.08.2025, Sputnik International 2025-08-23T10:40+0000 2025-08-23T10:40+0000 2025-08-23T10:40+0000 sergey lavrov donald trump vladimir putin ukraine russia netherlands european union (eu) nato white house military https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1b/1118651085_0:0:3277:1844_1920x0_80_0_0_33de146be020391840e81ec3f208d79a.jpg NATO countries have provided 99% of military aid to Ukraine, which reached $50 billion in 2024, the alliances Military Committee Chair Giuseppe Cavo Dragone told Corriere della Sera. As of January 1, 2025, the alliance had already funneled $33 billion and plans to boost funding for the Ukraine regime even more, he said. He mentioned three packages of around $580 million each. The first was funded by the Netherlands, the second by Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. The third was paid by Germany. While Russia and the US at their recent summit thrashed out a roadmap to achieve an end to the Ukraine conflict, the NATO hawk said they intend to continue military aid and even increase it. On August 15, Putin and US President Donald Trump met in Anchorage, Alaska, for three-on-three talks that lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes. In addition to the presidents, Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, and the US by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. On August 18, Trump hosted Volodymyr Zelensky and EU leaders for talks at the White House. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250818/payback-time-ukraine-might-become-major-arms-supplier-for-europe-1122640334.html ukraine russia netherlands 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 sergey lavrov, donald trump, vladimir putin, ukraine, russia, netherlands, european union (eu), nato, white house https://sputnikglobe.com/20250823/remembered-for-courage--resilience-rossiya-segodnya-executive-kirill-vyshinsky-passes-away-1122663906.html Remembered for Courage & Resilience: Rossiya Segodnya Executive Kirill Vyshinsky Passes Away Remembered for Courage & Resilience: Rossiya Segodnya Executive Kirill Vyshinsky Passes Away Sputnik International Kirill Vyshinsky, Russian journalist, Rossiya Segodnya Executive Director, and member of the Presidential Human Rights Council, has passed away after battling a prolonged illness. 2025-08-23T07:35+0000 2025-08-23T07:35+0000 2025-08-23T12:37+0000 russia russia margarita simonyan kirill vyshinsky dmitry kiselev rossiya segodnya https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107784/36/1077843602_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_992371ca1b17b0bfad7bea393fad6491.jpg Kirill Vyshinsky, Russian journalist, Rossiya Segodnya executive director, and member of the Presidential Human Rights Council, has passed away after battling a prolonged illness. Kirill Vyshinsky was an example of the highest civic and professional standard, said Dmitry Kiselev, director general of Sputnik's parent media group Rossiya Segodnya. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova called Vyshinsky an unwavering person who spent his life fighting to defend freedom of speech and the right to choose your own path in life.Valery Fadeyev, the chairman of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, praised Vyshinsky as an outstanding journalist, human rights activist and a very courageous person.He added that Vyshinsky headed the Council's commission on international cooperation and actively supported Russians abroad, doing everything "from protecting them from Russophobia to repatriation to Russia."Dnepropetrovsk-born Vyshinsky, despite harassment and pressure, spoke openly about what he believed to be the truth and supported those in Ukraine who sought to preserve their Russian identity. In 2018, Ukrainian authorities imprisoned him for his beliefs, with the intention of later exchanging him for the imprisoned filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. Kirill endured this ordeal, never renounced his views, and was released in 2019 as part of a RussiaUkraine exchange, with President Vladimir Putin playing a key role in his freedom. https://sputnikglobe.com/20190907/plane-with-freed-detaineess-released-by-ukraine-lands-in-moscow-1076745017.html 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 kirill vyshinsky, russian journalist, rossiya segodnya executive director, kirill vyshinsky dies, kirill vyshinsky imprisoned in ukraine, kirill vyshinsky released from ukraine prison as russiaukraine exchange https://sputnikglobe.com/20250823/republika-srpska-defiantly-sets-referendum-to-back-dodik-for-oct25---broadcast-1122663245.html Republika Srpska Defiantly Sets Referendum to Back Dodik for Oct.25 - Broadcast Republika Srpska Defiantly Sets Referendum to Back Dodik for Oct.25 - Broadcast Sputnik International The Republika Srpska Parliament unanimously approved a referendum on October 25 challenging the globalist-backed BiH courts verdict against President Dodik and the revocation of his mandate. 2025-08-23T03:37+0000 2025-08-23T03:37+0000 2025-08-23T03:37+0000 world republika srpska milorad dodik bosnia and herzegovina national assembly referendum https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/06/0e/1096313109_0:41:3001:1729_1920x0_80_0_0_3090eaf8d24ecc804d8d3ce07a910b27.jpg The National Assembly (parliament) of Republika Srpska, a Serb-majority entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), set the date for a referendum on the acceptance of the BiH court's verdict and the revocation of the mandate of President Milorad Dodik by the BiH Central Election Commission for October 25, according to a broadcast by the Radio Television of Republika Srpska. The parliament of Republika Srpska on Friday unanimously accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic. Lawmakers also discussed the possibility of calling a referendum on whether to accept a Bosnian court's ruling against Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and the revocation of his presidential mandate by the BiH election authority. Around midnight, a total of 50 of the 65 lawmakers present voted for the referendum to be held on October 25, with no votes "against" or abstentions. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240623/dodik-us-creates-chaos-in-bosnia-to-serve-its-interests-hinders-local-agreements-1119074946.html republika srpska bosnia and herzegovina 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 republika srpska, milorad dodik, milorad dodik prosecution, republika srpska referendum, bosnia and herzegovina referendum https://sputnikglobe.com/20250823/russia-has-very-good-quality-of-space-rockets---errol-musk-1122663559.html Russia Has 'Very Good' Quality of Space Rockets - Errol Musk Russia Has 'Very Good' Quality of Space Rockets - Errol Musk Sputnik International Errol Musk, the father of US entrepreneur Elon Musk, has praised Russian space rockets in an interview with Sputnik, in which he discussed the International Space Station (ISS) and how SpaceX had become an important part of US space endeavors. 2025-08-23T05:36+0000 2025-08-23T05:36+0000 2025-08-24T16:38+0000 world elon musk kirill dmitriev russia moscow russian direct investment fund (rdif) roscosmos https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/08/0a/1122586153_0:60:3194:1857_1920x0_80_0_0_c3d014ed4942eb9e10412ed2e07fcf38.jpg "The Russians have very good stuff," Errol Musk said about Russian rocket ships. During the conversation, he noted that Russian rockets were "designed and built many years ago", while his sons company SpaceX is "more modern". In June, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, Kirill Dmitriev, said that the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos is actively communicating with Elon Musk's team on cooperation in the space sector. Errol Musk has also highlighted the remarkable ingenuity of the Russian people noting their significant contributions to global innovation.During the conversation, he mentioned the invention of the telephone pointing out that a Russian inventor had developed a similar device around the same time Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent in the United States.Errol Musk also pointed out the simultaneous development of aviation, with Russia's efforts in the field of flight coincided with the historic achievement of the Wright brothers in 1903.He spoke very highly of the Russian capital, calling it a magnificent city.He further said that Moscow is "far more impressive" than Paris or London, and that only Washington DC has a "little bit" of what Moscow has.In June, Errol Musk attended the Forum of the Future 2050 in Moscow, where he called Russia one of the world's best countries. He also called Russian President Vladimir Putin an impressive man. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250729/russian-space-agency-chief-bakanov-arrives-in-us---roscosmos-1122506357.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250811/americans-get-russia-wrong--errol-musk-tells-lavrov-1122590711.html russia moscow 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 errol musk, the father of us entrepreneur elon musk, has praised russian space rockets in an interview with sputnik, in which he discussed the international space station (iss) and how spacex had become an important part of us space endeavors. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250823/russian-azerbaijani-foreign-ministers-discuss-south-caucasus-events-in-call-1122666415.html Russian, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Discuss South Caucasus Events in Call Russian, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Discuss South Caucasus Events in Call Sputnik International Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, have discussed the latest developments in the South Caucasus during a phone call, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. 2025-08-23T14:40+0000 2025-08-23T14:40+0000 2025-08-23T14:40+0000 world russia azerbaijan south caucasus russian foreign ministry sergey lavrov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102559/25/1025592560_0:566:3952:2789_1920x0_80_0_0_cff26c2289b9f0d7879d2431563d7d5b.jpg "On August 23, at the initiative of the Azerbaijani side, a telephone conversation took place between the foreign ministers of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, and Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov," the statement read.The top diplomats exchanged assessments of the meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, which had been held the day before in the southern Russian city of Astrakhan, the ministry said."Sergey Lavrov and Jeyhun Bayramov also discussed the latest developments in the South Caucasus region and the cooperation between Moscow and Baku in multilateral platforms," the ministry concluded. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250702/russia-calls-on-baku-to-take-steps-to-return-relations-to-strategic-alliance-1122384846.html russia azerbaijan south caucasus 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 russian, azerbaijani, south caucasus events, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov Eliminations for the Barrieau McIsaac Memorial Stakes headline the Saturday, Aug. 23 card at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock N.B. New Brunswick has been the host of the prestigious race for three-year-old pacers since its inception and the eliminations have drawn horses from across the Maritimes. The eliminations will be contested as races four and seven on Saturday's eight-race program, which starts at 1 p.m. (ADT). The 6-5 morning line favourite in the first of two $10,000 eliminations is the Landon Campbell-trained DJ Mustang from post four. Marc Campbell will drive the Betterthancheddar-Kellys Keepsake colt, who is owned by Brady Doyle of Stratford, P.E.I. and Dan Belliveau of Halifax, N.S. A New Brunswick Breeders Stakes winner in his last Woodstock start on Aug. 4, he has earned more than $20,000 this year and took his mark of 1:54 last month at Charlottetown Driving Park. Like A King, a New Brunswick owned and bred colt for Kingston's Jennifer Ritchie, has the inside post with Paul Langille picking up the catch-drive on the Wayne Watson trainee. The son of Arthur Blue Chip out of Twin B Cuzisaidso has won already over the Woodstock oval in 1:55.4, taking his lifetime mark in a June 14 division of the N.B. Breeders Stakes. Langille trains and drives the second elimination even-money favourite, Malevolent, who comes over the Confederation Bridge for good reason. The Malicious-Lady Kelleigh Anne gelding is coming off back-to-back stakes win at Charlottetown, including a career-best 1:52.3 triumph in the Atlantic Sires Stakes on Aug. 11. Malevolent, who is 13-for-18 lifetime, is owned by Nova Scotia's Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner and Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow. He will start from post three. One Wicked Man, who captured the 2024 Milton Downey Memorial Stakes at Connell Park, will have veteran teamster Kenny Arsenault with rail control in this elimination. A colt by McWicked out of Alexander Valley, the Arsenault trainee is owned by James Perrot of Stratford, P.E.I. Nuttin But Finesse headlines the afternoon's $2,000 top overnight event as the James "Roach" MacGregor Gold Cup & Saucer Consolation winner goes to post in the final race of the day. Mike Downey will drive the seven-year-old son of Art Major-Nuttin But Trouble for Saint John, N.B. owner Dr. Mitchell Downey, who purchased the pacer earlier this month from the U.S. He captured the MacGregor Memorial in a razor sharp 1:52 flat. Nuttin But Finesse will have four other rivals in the race and is handicapped with post position five. Wagering is available at teletheater locations in Saint John, Fredericton and Dieppe in New Brunswick and through the HPIbet platform or on site. Horse Racing New Brunswick would like to thank all participants of Saturday's race card. Contact Courtney McKay for race day win photos. To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodstock Connell Park. (With files from HRNB) If there was ever a horse with a home field advantage, its Livonjaxandqueens, who will be making his next start in the $100,000 USD Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Aug. 23. Jax and all of his connections have close ties to the city of Batavia. New York and the track that bears its name, and theyre all rooting for this "David" as he takes on a field of "Goliaths." Livonjaxandqueens is owned and bred by Howard Ouriel, who is a lifelong fan of harness racing and a staunch supporter of the sport in Western New York. Ouriel lives in Rochester, New York, which is only a short drive down the thruway from Batavia Downs, and since first getting in the business 15 years ago, he has owned 55 horses, 19 of which he bred. And although he has raced all over the U.S. east coast, Ouriel has always maintained a constant racing presence at Batavia Downs. Ouriel has had his share of good ones too, led by Macs Jackpot (1:50.2f, $1,036,566), Divine Caroline (1:49.2, $959,588), The Lunch Pail (1:51.1f, $568,582) and Cultural Paradise (1:51.3f, $381,206). But his current stable star may be providing the proudest moment of his career as his homebred will start in the home tracks main event. Livonjaxandqueens was foaled at Genesee Valley Farm in Batavia, New York, which is literally across the street from Batavia Downs. Hes a five-year-old gelding by American Ideal out of Ouriels mare, Its De Lovely, who he bought in November of 2010 at the end of her three-year-old campaign. Its De Lovely raced in upper-level conditions and Opens throughout the east for Ouriel until her last season in 2015 when she raced primarily in Western New York and Batavia Downs. Her 24 lifetime wins, mark of 1:51.2f and earnings of $642,029 made her a candidate for breeding once her track career came to a close. To date, she has had six foals, but her best by a mile has been her fourth, Livonjaxandqueens. Livonjaxandqueens' trainer is Jim Rothfuss, whose father Don was a leading trainer and driver at Batavia Downs for over 40 years. Jim Rothfuss trained at The Meadows for most of his 25-year career, but came home in 2022 and has been training on Ouriels farm in Spencerport, New York ever since. Rothfuss explained how Livonjaxandqueens has progressed through the years. I got him at two, then he went to New Jersey and he came back at three. Thats when we gelded him. He was good those first two years and competed in the New York Sire Stakes, producing seven wins and [$102,080] in earnings," said Rothfuss. "But he was a handful behind the gate and in the race and very hard on himself. Since we gelded him, hes been super. Hes a lot easier to manage all the way around and now everyone loves to drive him. As a gelded four-year-old, Livonjaxandqueens entered the Open ranks and was a seven-time winner while taking a lifetime mark of 1:50.1 at Vernon Downs in May of 2024. This year, Livonjaxandqueens has really come on and is in the midst of the best year of his life. So far, he has already won six starts including three in a row at Tioga Downs last month, and he matched his lifetime mark of 1:50.1 at Tioga on Aug. 10. Last week, Livonjaxandqueens just got beat by Santana Hanover in 1:49.2 at Tioga, marking the fastest mile he has ever been race timed. He was a lot better last year, but this year hes been really good," said Rothfuss. "Hes matured a lot more and weve raced him at Tioga most of the year and he seems to like that track a lot. But he also had a lot of success at Batavia last year as he raced almost the entire meet there. As Rothfuss readies his horse for this event, hes very optimistic despite dealing with a slightly shorter week. His schedule was a little different this week because we raced Sunday and hes back Saturday. He gets a day out in the field after the race, then he jogs and trains two days out. Hes been good all week; sound, healthy and happy. Hopefully we get away close, sit and see what happens. Its a tough bunch were in with but I dont think hes going to embarrass himself; I think hes going to be alright. I think if we can get away close, hell go along with them. Its up to Drew now. Rothfuss was referring to his driver, Drew Monti, who has teamed a lot of Ouriels horses over the years, including Livonjaxandqueens. Monti is the reigning 2024 dash driving champ at Batavia Downs and is currently second in the standings at this meet with 36 wins. From his 74 lifetime outings, Livonjaxandqueens has won 20 times, which is 27 per cent of those starts while being in the money 57 per cent of the time and earning just over $260,000 in the process. His continued improvement on the track brings him into this event at the top of his game as he looks to win the biggest race of his career. The $100,000 USD Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace will go as race 10 on Saturday with an estimated post time of 9 p.m. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. $100,000 USD Robert J. Kane Memorial Invitational Pace Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds 1. Livonjaxandqueens - Drew Monti - James Rothfuss - 9-2 2. Buzzsaw Russ - Jason Bartlett - Melissa Essig - 7-2 3. Desperate Man - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander - 3-1 4. Captain Albano - Tyler Buter - Noel Daley - 5-2 5. Birthday - Jim Morrill Jr. - Ron Burke - 9-1 6. Blazing Home N - Larry Stalbaum - Larry Stalbaum - 15-1 7. Typhoon Banner N - Brett Beckwith - Joe Bongiorno - 15-1 8. Natameri - Kevin Cummings - Jessica Okusko - 15-1 AE1. Howlenthehills - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander (With files from Batavia Downs; photo of Livonjxandqueens winning at Buffalo Raceway earlier this year) Driver Chris Page, trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owner Odds On Racing captured two of the five $27,778 divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for two-year-old colt pacers on Friday, Aug. 22 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. The fastest split went to Odds On Ray in 1:51.4. Captains Dance (Sam Widger) rolled to the :26.2 opening quarter while Odds On Ray stalked from the pocket. As the field headed from the :54.1 half and towards the 1:22 third quarter, Odds On Ray was full of pace but locked in. At the top of the stretch, Odds On Ray dove into the passing lane and won by a neck over a fast-closing Thunder Nation (Kurt Sugg), with Captains Dance just over a length back in third. Odds On Ray now has two wins in five lifetime starts. Bred by Rose Run Farm, the Downbytheseaside-Stirling Delilah colt was a $189,189 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase. Morgans other winner was Odds On Phil in 1:53.2. Initially getting away second from the rail, Page had Odds On Phil out and moving before the :27.4 opening quarter to take the lead. Early leader Heerz Corinthian (Cam McCown) took the pocket trip as Odds On Phil fronted the field to the :57.2 half and 1:26.1 third quarter. Posting a :27.1 last quarter, Odds On Phil won by 1-1/4 lengths over Heerz Corinthian. Aint No Fire (Widger) was third. Odds On Phil now has three wins in five lifetime starts. The colt by Lather Up out of Beach Granny was bred by Larry Miller and was a $20,270 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase. Hunka Hunka and driver Brett Miller were among the other Buckeye division winners, scoring in 1:52.3. The duo got away second while Catch My Dragon (Trevor Smith) took the field towards the :27.4 opening quarter. Odds On RPJ (Dan Noble) went first-up to pressure the leader by the :56 half, but stalled heading down the backstretch. After the 1:24 third quarter, Miller pulled Hunka Hunka out of the pocket and mid-way down the stretch had cleared to the lead. Hunka Hunka won by a length over fast-closing Heerz Ledger (McCown) with Catch My Dragon finishing third. Hunka Hunka, by Catch The Fire out of Betterluvnexttime, was bred by LMN Bred Stables. A $16,216 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase, Hunka Hunka has made six starts with four wins for owners Wayne Mast Jr., Eden Acres Farmstead, Steven Miller and trainer Daren Harvey. The Ebony Dragon and Luke Hanners took their division in 1:53. Stoke The Fire (Chris Lems) took the field towards the :27.1 opening quarter. Odds On Sugar (Noble) was flushed out from third just at the :56.4 half. By the 1:24.2 third quarter, Stoke The Fire had put away Odds On Sugar but could not hold off the pocket-sitter, The Ebony Dragon, who came up the inside to win by a half-length. Stoke The Fire was second with Larry Legend (Miller) getting up for third. Tyler Bates trains The Ebony Dragon for Suzanne Bates and Cedar Point Beach Racing. The Fear The Dragon-Glorious Virgin colt was a $16,216 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase from Emerald Highlands Farm. The Ebony Dragon now has eight wins in 11 starts. Solid Rock and Brett Miller took the last division in 1:54. After leaving smartly from the gate, Solid Rock originally let Barcelona Legend (Darren Dowler) take the lead by the :28 quarter, but the fired up colt quickly took over again and led through the :57.1 half. Pressured by Odds On Mase (Tony Hall) mid-way down the backside, Miller popped the plugs and put away the contender past the 1:25.3 third quarter mark. Pocket-setter Barcelona Legend was second by 1-1/4 lengths with Nico (Tyler Smith) getting up the passing lane for third. Solid Rock, by Pet Rock out of Awakening, is a homebred for Marjorie Polhamus. The Dan OMara-trained colt broke his maiden in his eighth lifetime start. A pair of Opens were won by the Ron Burke-trained trotter Oh Look Magic (Widger) in 1:52.1 and distaff pacer A Girl That Twirls (Noble) in 1:50.1 for the Tyler George stable. Racing continues on Saturday, Aug. 23 at Scioto with an action-packed 16-race card. The featured races include a quartet of Grade 3 $100,000 USD stakes the Moni Maker (early closer for three-year-old trotting fillies), the Nadia Lobell (early closer for three-year-old pacing fillies), the #SendItIn Invitational for pacers and the Cleopatra Invitational for filly and mare pacers. Also on the card are 11 splits of Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-olds. All-in-all, the Saturday card boasts purses of $1 million USD. (With file from Scioto Downs; photo of Odds On Ray winning on Aug. 22) 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: Illustration of the experimental setup. Credit: The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign For researchers from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a new avenue for reducing carbon emissions can be found on the side. A side of salad dressing, that is. In 2020, the United States federal government committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. An important step toward carbon neutrality is embracing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), an alternative to conventional jet fuel that is made from renewable feedstocks. As part of this initiative, Grainger engineers have been hard at work creating the critical nanocatalysts for converting biocrude oil from food waste such as salad dressing into sustainable aviation fuel. Hong Yang, a professor of chemical & biomolecular engineering, and Yuanhui Zhang, a professor of agricultural & biological engineering, joined forces to tackle this problem. Their findings, published in Science Advances, present a low-cost, scalable and reusable catalyst to produce an alternative to traditional jet fuel, demonstrating the first production of SAF from food waste-derived biocrude using non-noble metal carbide catalysts. "There is already an industry effort for SAF production in North America, but primarily in competition with food supply such as soybean oil," said Zhang. "Currently, the United States consumes about 40 million tons of jet fuel annually which only includes about 1% of SAF. We could increase that number to 1020% from biowaste alone." Unlike traditional jet fuels derived from fossil crude oil, SAF is made from renewable resources such as biomass, energy crops, food waste, sewage sludge, and algal bloom. For nearly three decades, Zhang's lab has been working to produce biocrude oil via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of organic waste streams. HTL mimics the natural process of fossil crude formation but accelerates the conversion timeline from millions of years to half an hour. Yang and Zhang thought that by simultaneously addressing carbon emissions and food waste they could kill two birds with one stone. After collecting food waste from the Kraft food plant in Champaign, Illinois, the researchers utilized HTL to convert the waste into a biocrude oil. This biocrude was upgraded using non-precious metal carbide catalysts developed by Yang's lab. "Molybdenum carbide is an attractive option for a catalyst that aids this process because its outer shell electrons interact with biocrude molecules to remove oxygen," Yang said. For their specific food waste of choice, the team quickly zeroed in on salad dressing because it is preprocessed, homogeneous and high in energy. Through a catalytic conversion process, scientists can remove unwanted oxygen in these biocrudes, turning them into hydrocarbon fuels. "We also have to fine-tune the catalysts by adding iron atoms and other species to produce fuel molecules with molecular weights that resemble the fuel composition" said Siying Yu, a chemical & biomolecular engineering graduate student and the first author of the paper. Going forward, Zhang and Yang will continue collaborating with the goal of enhancing their catalyst design to better convert biocrude made from other biowaste to meet SAF criteria. Specifically, they'd like their catalyst to work for a variety of bio feedstocks such as algae and sewage. The metal carbide nanocatalysts they developed could also be applicable in studying SAF production from oleochemical-based fermentation products and crop-based feedstocks. "There is no good substitute for aviation fuel for long-haul air transportation, so the research on SAF products is very much needed." Yang said. "I'm optimistic because our students love this research topic. They want to work on something that will change the world." Other co-authors on this study included Haozhen He, Runnan Gao and Anran Song of the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Sabrina Summers and Buchun Si of the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering; and Zhibin Yang and Joshua Heyne of Washington State University. Yang is affiliated with the Department of Chemistry, the Materials Research Laboratory, the Prairie Research Institute and the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation. More information: Siying Yu et al, Upgrading biocrude oil into sustainable aviation fuel using zeolite-supported iron-molybdenum carbide nanocatalysts, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adu5777 Journal information: Science Advances THE walkovers that straddle most highways across Trinidad are being used during daily rush hours. But at night, weekends and early mornings, potential users tend to take chances and run across the highway. On the weekend of August 9 and 10, two men were killed in separate incidents while crossing the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway. One man was killed on the Saturday night while crossing the highway in the vicinity of Maloney, while the other was killed the next day while he and his wife were crossing the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway approximately 100 metres from the El Socorro walkover. Even her biggest fans have trouble choosing Dolly Partons greatest hit. Was it Jolene? 9 to 5? I Will Always Love You? Maybe, but millions of American families might choose None of the Above, because for them Dollys biggest hit has been the book program that sends their preschoolers a free book every month until she or he turns 5. Welcome to Dolly Partons Imagination Library, which ships more than 2 million free books a month to kids living in all 50 states and five other countries. Again: free. Every month. For up to five years. Hello, Dolly! The Library has some 25,000 young clients in Arizona, more than 2,000 of them in Pima County where the program has been co-sponsored by United Way of Tucson since 2011. Dont you wish we had something like this when we were kids? asked Allison Titcomb, chief impact officer at United Way. What an incredible gift to our young families. Established in 1995, Dolly Partons Imagination Library began as a resource for children in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she was raised. By 2004, the program was serving the entire state, and now? Like those first kids in Sevierville, the organization is all grown up. The Imagination Library has become a multi-national partnership between the Dollywood Foundation whose sole focus is the book program and local sponsors in each of the areas it serves. Those partners are generally libraries, nonprofits or school districts, and each tailors the program to suit the communitys own resources and needs. The basics are, well, basic: Local partners are asked to contribute $2.60 a month for each child enrolled in the program. The foundation does the rest, from selecting and purchasing the books to ensuring their safe delivery to all 2 million young readers every month. Our promise is that we will provide high-quality, age-appropriate new books to as many kids as we can squeeze into the program, Regional Director Michelle Anthony said from Denver. The books change every year a panel of early childhood literacy people pick the titles but the first book a child receives is always The Little Engine That Could. When he or she ages out at 5, the last book is always Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come. In between, every book is a surprise. Two books a year are bilingual, with text both in English and a second language, and every new book comes personalized, with the childs name stickered on the back cover. Our mission is to inspire a love of books and reading, whether you live in a blue house or green house, wherever you might be, Anthony said. Every child deserves a chance to grow up with books. Imagination Library first came to Arizona in 2009, with pilot programs in Graham and Greenlee Counties. Today, there are 48 programs running in areas throughout the state. Here in Pima County, the focus is on rural areas and neighborhoods with limited access to books. More specifically, new enrollments are being accepted from 12 area ZIP Codes, which can be found at unitedwaytucson.org. Ideally, we would have enough funding to offer the program all over the county, Titcomb said, but right now were looking at towns like Ajo, Sells and Catalina, and Tucson neighborhoods with limited access to libraries and bookstores. If you live in one of those ZIP Codes and have young kids, you can enroll on our website in less than 90 seconds. Please do! The Imagination Library is one of several such initiatives supported by United Way of Tucson, which for years has focused on early childhood literacy. Another is the My Summer Library program, which invites students to select 12 free books to read over the summer. Local agencies such as Make Way for Books, Literacy Connects and Books for Classrooms are also on the list. Studies all show the connection between the number of books in the home and how students do later on, Titcomb said. Whats the old cliche, we learn to read so we can read to learn? Its still true, maybe more now than ever. In her 2020 memoir, Songteller, Parton put it this way: If we can teach children to read, we can help them dream, and when they can dream? Well, they can become whoever they want to be. Thanks to Dolly, theres a whole lot of dreamin going on. Interestingly, her book program was inspired in large part by a man who couldnt read: her late father, Robert Parton. One of 15 brothers and sisters growing up on a farm in rural Tennessee, he was needed in the fields. There wasnt much time for school. Daddy was the smartest man Ive ever known, Dolly said in her book, but he was always embarrassed that he couldnt read or write. When I was first starting Imagination Library, I had to talk him into helping me, but he loved it especially when he heard kids call me the Book Lady. Deep down I think he was prouder of me for that than anything I ever did. Footnotes United Way of Tucson would welcome donors and funders who would like to grow the Imagination Library program in Pima County. For more information, visit unitedwaytucson.org or email imaginationlibrary@unitedwaytucson.org. Stacks Book Club, a vibrant part of Oro Valley Marketplace the last two years, has announced plans to open a second location in midtown Tucson. The address will be 2920 E. Broadway, near Broadway Village Center and Country Club Road. Owners Crispin and Lizzy Jeffrey-Franco said the new space will open early next year. The University of Arizona Poetry Center will present Pulitzer Prize finalist Jennifer Chang the evening of Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. It will be the centers first major program of the new academic year. For more, visit poetry.arizona.edu. PHOENIX State schools chief Tom Horne is making a last-ditch effort to force schools to use only structured English immersion to teach students who are not proficient. In a new filing, Horne asks the Arizona Supreme Court to rule he has inherent authority to enforce a 2000 voter-approved law that says all children in Arizona public schools shall be taught English by being taught in English, and all children should be placed in English language classrooms. The Republican elected official also wants to be able to sue Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, whom he contends have aided and abetted school districts he said are ignoring that law, and ignoring his demands they obey it. So far, though, Horne has been unable to get his day in court on his claims. Both a trial judge and the state Court of Appeals said his objections to what the schools are doing are legally irrelevant because nothing in state law authorizes him to enforce what he believes is the law. His claims against the governor and attorney general have fared no better, with the appellate judges saying neither has any authority over what schools teach. Now Horne wants the states high court to reverse all that and let him proceed. Educators sought flexibility in teaching Central to the issue is Proposition 203, the 2000 ballot measure that was designed to prescribe only one acceptable method of teaching English to those coming from homes where that is not the predominant language: To put new English language learners, as they are referred to in state law, in a class together for four hours a day where they are taught English. Horne said that mandate makes sense. It gives them the amount of English instruction that they need, he told Capitol Media Services. And for beginners, they do need four hours so that they can learn English quickly and then succeed academically. But the practice caused concern among some education officials who said separating these students from their peers was a form of segregation. They also argued that the immersion system meant the students were not getting instruction in their other subjects. In 2019, state lawmakers agreed to allow the state Board of Education to adopt and approve alternate research-based models that involve two hours a day of English instruction, giving schools more flexibility in how to schedule that time. This also allows classes mixed with students whose native language is not English with those from homes where that is not the case. Based on that, the board concluded backed by Mayes that one of the acceptable alternatives is a 50-50 dual language model, where students can learn English but also keep up with their peers on other subjects. Courts say its not up to Horne Horne filed suit in 2023 against the districts, the governor and the attorney general. He cites data from Creighton Elementary School District in Phoenix, one of those he sued for using a dual language approach, which he said shows the rate of English language learners becoming proficient in one year at the pathetically low rate of 5.1%. By contrast, Horne cited five districts using structured English immersion which he said had rates ranging from 23.9% to 33%. But so far, he has been unable to make his arguments about the legal and educational merits of English immersion. Thats because courts have said if anyone has the ability to sue over what schools are doing, it is the state Board of Education, not he as superintendent of public instruction. And the board has not sued. Horne, through attorney Dennis Wilenchik, said that makes no legal sense. He told the justices that Arizona law says it is the schools chief who determines whether school districts and charter schools are complying with laws dealing with English language learners. So, under the interpretation of the Court of Appeals, the superintendent is duty-bound to go to a district and say, Youre not complying with state laws applicable to English language learners, wrote Wilenchik. But the district can say, Were going to continue doing what were doing and what are you going to do about it? he continued. That is the case now unless this court grants review. Horne said if he knows that districts are not complying with the law but does nothing, there could be penalties if it was determined that his failure to implement the law was willful and repeated. As for the 2019 law, Horne contends it doesnt specifically mention bilingual or dual-language instruction. But even if it did, he said, the Arizona Constitution forbids the Legislature from tinkering with anything approved by voters unless the measure furthers the purpose of the original measure. Allowing districts to ignore the mandate for structured English immersion does not meet that test, he said. He also argues he should be able to sue Mayes and Hobbs. Horne said Mayes issued a legal opinion that empowered districts to put students into dual language programs, even without seeking a waiver from the immersion instruction from their parents. As for Hobbs, it was her advocacy for dual language, even though it was illegal, that helped the districts decide to violate the law, Horne said. After all, if the governor is for it, how bad can it be? he continued. Instead of advocating for illegal action, the governor should have been calling on the attorney general to enforce the law. On the taxpayers tab Horne has another request of the justices. He wants them to reverse the decision by Maricopa County Superior Court Katherine Cooper, the first judge to toss his case, that he pay $120,000 to those he sued to cover their legal costs. The state Court of Appeals not only upheld that order but said the defendants also can seek reimbursement for what they spent on the appeal. Either way, its taxpayers on the hook. Horne said because he sued in the name of the Department of Education, it is that agency and not he which owes the money. Immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children are the latest target of the Trump administration's mass-deportation campaign, and the future of the Obama-era program that has protected hundreds of thousands from removal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA is increasingly in peril, advocates say. Recent arrests of immigrants with DACA protection, including a 27-year-old Arizona man arrested by Yuma border agents this month, have spurred outrage and will likely lead to a legal showdown, possibly in the nation's highest court, legal experts said. In Tucson, advocates are fielding calls from worried DACA recipients amid the recent arrests, said Carolina Silva, executive director of Scholarships A-Z, a nonprofit that supports undocumented youth and those with DACA status in accessing higher education. "This is really scary. DACA recipients should be safe," she said. "It opens up the door to, who else is going to be targeted? And what can we do about it when it literally feels like DHS is not following their own rules?" Though President Donald Trump previously said he supported creating a path to permanency for "Dreamers" immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, including DACA recipients the U.S. Department of Homeland Security now argues that DACA recipients may be subject to arrest and deportation, and encourages them to "self deport." "It's an abuse of power," said Alba Jaramillo, a Tucson immigration attorney and co-executive director of the Immigration Law and Justice Network. "When they created the program, and by giving all these Dreamers the opportunity to apply, theyre promising them deferment of deportation. So this could result in a legal challenge against the administration for arresting people that already have been granted relief from deportation, even if it's a temporary relief." In an emailed statement, the White House press office ignored the Star's query about Trump's position on DACA and the recent arrests of DACA recipients, but provided a statement about prioritizing the removal of violent criminals. Established in 2012, DACA grants work authorization and temporary protection from removal to qualifying undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children prior to 2007. DACA recipients must reapply for the program every two years, must have entered the U.S. before age 16 and cannot be a threat to public safety or national security, federal guidelines say. The 2012 DHS memo announcing the program was codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. The Trump administration hasn't altered the code, but has simply rejected its premise that DACA temporarily protects enrollees from removal without explanation, said Tucson immigration attorney Rachel Wilson. "We all agreed on that, because that's what the words say," Wilson said. "Now Trump is trying to take the position that, 'I don't think the words mean that.' Basically saying, 'Make me. Make me stop trying to deport this person.'" Wilson relates it to DHS's efforts to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and Columbia University student, for his pro-Palestine political activism, she said. "Before, we always assumed, because the law says it, that you cant be thrown out (of the U.S.) for speech-related issues. But Trump is saying, 'Oh really? Let me try,'" she said. "It's the same tactic. ... He is taking every institution and pushing it in every way he can, to find the parts that break." Ultimately, the courts will have to weigh in, which will first require detained DACA recipients to file a legal challenge, Wilson said. "It's not going to be settled until it makes its way through various district courts, and possibly even the Supreme Court," she said. Rallying for DACA recipients will become part of Tucson organizers' "overall resistance strategy," said Jaramillo, an organizer with Coalicion de Derechos Humanos in Tucson. "Were seeing so many people unlawfully being detained by ICE," she said. "At this point, if you're not a U.S. citizen, theres really no saying what the government is going to do to try to strip your status and put you at risk of arrest. Its a very, very dangerous time." 'Perfect is not enough' Today, there are more than 525,000 active DACA recipients, who are mostly under age 36. About 81% are from Mexico. In his first term, Trump tried to end DACA, but in 2020 was blocked by the Supreme Court. The program was reopened to new applicants that year, but processing of those applications was shut down again in 2021, when a Texas judge ruled the program unlawful and blocked new applicants. The ruling allowed existing DACA recipients to maintain their status as the case went through appeals. Most with DACA were taught from a young age to be high achievers and avoid any bad behavior, said Luna Lara, 30, a Tucson-based DACA recipient, who works as an insurance adjuster. Lara's mother moved her children to Texas from Nuevo Leon, Mexico when she was 3 and her brother was 6 months old. "We're still trying to prove ourselves," she said. "It's a lot of weight on everybodys shoulders. ... It's like a DACA unspoken rule that we have to keep showing our best." Tucson videographer Liz, who asked to be identified only by her middle name, said her parents moved with her to the U.S. in 2001, when she was 1 year old, after her older sister died from medical problems that couldnt be treated in Mexico. Growing up in Tucson, Liz, now 25, said she was told not to tell anyone she was born in Mexico, but didn't understand what "undocumented" meant until years later. She applied for and received DACA as a teen, but threats to the program have brought uncertainty, and some heartbreak, to her life. When DACA was paused during Trump's first term, DACA recipients lost the ability to apply for "advanced parole," which allowed for travel outside the U.S. That meant Liz couldn't go to Mexico to see her grandfather before his death, she said. Liz applied for 60 scholarships to piece together funding for college, since DACA recipients cant apply for federal financial aid through FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program. "I was a straight-A student and that didnt matter," in terms of financial aid, she said. "Its really weird. Being perfect is not enough." After one year at Pima Community College, she transferred to the University of Arizona, where she took on as many classes as she could to ensure her scholarship funds would last. "I knew I just needed to finish as soon as I could," said Liz, who graduated in 2021, after two years at UA. Liz recently saw a therapist for the first time to address her worsening anxiety and "overthinking," due to the constant news about Trumps mass deportations, she said. Shes not only worried for herself, but also for her undocumented parents, and has nixed plans to move to Los Angeles to pursue filmmaking so she can "watch over them" in Tucson, she said. Half the time I try not to even look (at the news), to try not to make myself more upset, she said. CBP declines interview Several DACA recipients across the country have been detained in recent months, including a father of three who was arrested in June after a traffic stop and was among the first detained at "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida. The arresting agents told him that "DACA was canceled," the man told CBS News. In Yuma, DACA recipient Jose Valdovinos, 27, was arrested by border agents on Aug. 10, despite having no criminal record and having renewed his DACA status every two years, his wife Jitzell Flores told local media. Flores said her family is now declining media interviews as her husband's case proceeds. U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Dennis Smith declined the Star's request to interview Border Patrol's Yuma sector chief Justin De La Torre about Valdovinos' arrest, and about how the agency is handling DACA recipients. CBP, which also declined the Star's request to interview Tucson sector chief Sean McGoffin on DACA, provided a written statement from DHS that said border agents stopped Valdovinos' vehicle at the time, driven by his U.S. citizen wife because it was "driving in a suspicious manner." CBP would not elaborate on what that means, nor why Valdovinos and his wife were questioned about their citizenship, in response to the Star's follow-up questions. The DHS statement described Valdovinos as "a citizen of Mexico with no legal status to reside in the U.S. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings." "Illegal aliens who claim to be recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals are not automatically protected from deportations," said the statement, attributed to DHS assistant press secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country. Any illegal alien who is a DACA recipient may be subject to arrest and deportation for any number of reasons." U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that processes DACA applications, says while DACA does not confer "lawful immigration status," it does mean the person is allowed to be in the country and is protected from removal. "An individual who has received deferred action is authorized by DHS to be in the United States for the duration of the deferred action period," the website said. The status can be revoked, but DACA recipients are first supposed to receive notice and an opportunity to respond, except in the case of certain serious crimes. DACA recipient Cata Xochitl Santiago, an immigrant rights activist, was arrested by border agents Aug. 3 while trying to board a domestic flight at the El Paso airport. Her friend and fellow activist Belen Sisa, of Phoenix, helped organize a vigil for Santiago on Wednesday night in Tempe. Sisa, also a DACA recipient, said she'll continue to be vocal in her fight for immigrant rights, despite her growing concern that she could be arrested for being so public in her advocacy. She cited USCIS's recent move to expand scrutiny of immigrants' social-media posts for "anti-American activity," which she calls an effort to silence dissent. "I don't want to give them the satisfaction of silencing me," Sisa said. "If that means I will be retaliated against, at least I will go down fighting, and I will go out with people knowing the truth about what this administration truly is doing to people. Because the moment that all of these things happen in darkness is the moment when weve lost." Contributions of DACA Arrests of DACA recipients are "meant to instill fear" in a population of young people whose contributions to the country are well-documented, and whose presence here has broad bipartisan support, said Anabel Mendoza, communications director for United We Dream, an immigrant-youth group. "It's meant to make people who should be protected feel like theyre not, and that is something we should be outraged about," she said. A 2020 Pew Research Center survey found 74% of respondents supported a path to permanency for Dreamers, including 54% of Republican or Republican-leaning respondents. An annual survey of DACA recipients, led by United We Dream and other immigrant-rights groups, found more than nine in 10 DACA recipients were in school or employed, earning an average of $66,300 a year and contributing to the U.S. tax base. DACA status increased their consumer spending, with 26% of DACA recipients reporting purchasing their first home, and 72% buying their first car, after receiving DACA. Legal challenges to DACA mean young people who otherwise qualify are living in limbo, including Tucson DACA applicant Yaneth, 22, who asked to be identified only by her middle name, due to her fear of arrest. The recent Grand Canyon University graduate is a "Dreamer" whose parents brought her to the U.S. when she was 3. But Yaneth was too young to apply for DACA when it first opened, and by the time she could apply, at age 15, the program was closed under the first Trump administration. When the program reopened to new applicants in December 2020, Yaneth got her application in the next month. But in July 2021, USCIS stopped processing new applications, leaving about 90,000 applications pending, including Yaneth's. "It was very hard. I got my hopes up. I was already envisioning what I would do," she said, such as getting her driver's license and work authorization. She said she's been able to obtain work in her field business administration and marketing by acting as an independent contractor. Yaneth said she still checks her USCIS account every day to look for updates, despite knowing applications are frozen. "It would change my life" to get DACA, she said. "It would alleviate a lot of my problems." Yet considering recent arrests and ICE's apparent reliance on racial profiling, Yaneth said now she'd still fear arrest even if she had DACA. "I look Mexican. It seems like that's all that matters now," she said. Legislators weigh in Republicans looking to echo Trump's views on DACA have to deal with his administration's backtracking on the president's earlier support for immigrants brought to the U.S. as kids. U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona, did not respond to the Star's multiple requests for an update on his position on DACA, which he's previously supported. In December, Ciscomani said on X, formerly Twitter, that he agreed with Trump that DACA recipients should be able to stay in the U.S., linking to a story quoting Trump on his support for Dreamers, reiterating that support in a May post. "I agree with President Trump," Ciscomani said in the December post. "We must secure the border and DACA recipients should be able to stay in the country. Its time to find a permanent solution for this critical issue that is near and dear to my heart and #AZ06. This has been a long time priority of mine and I look forward to partnering with President Trump and my colleagues to ensure these young people can have a well deserved shot at the American Dream!" In an emailed statement, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, said the Trump administration should work with Congress on "real, lasting solutions" and that he'll keep pushing for a path to citizenship for Dreamers. "President Trumps decision to target DACA recipients is plain wrong," Kelly said. "Dreamers are as American as my own two daughters. Going after Dreamers instead of real criminals is ripping families apart, spreading fear, and wasting taxpayer money." Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, introduced immigration-reform legislation in July that included a path to citizenship for Dreamers. "The U.S. is the only home most Dreamers have ever known," Gallego said in an emailed statement. "They have attended our schools, obtained degrees, grown our economy, and started families here which makes our communities stronger. Theyre just as American as my kids. Not only is this attempt to strip them of legal protections wrong, it is also self-defeating. This cruelty once again highlights the desperate need for Congress to deliver long-term solutions that fix our broken immigration system." Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who is running for Congressional District 7 seat previously occupied by her father, Raul Grijalva, said she's strongly opposed to DHS's current stance on DACA. "If youre a DACA recipient and have committed no crimes whatsoever, you should be protected," she said in an interview. "Just like in many other situations, this administration is blurring those lines, and innocent people are clearly being swept up for deportation efforts. ... This administration has thrown due process out the window. And unfortunately, what that means for so many families in Southern Arizona and across the nation is everything is a question mark." Grijalva noted her support for the "American Dream and Promise Act," which provides a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers and was recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Grijalva's opponent, Republican Daniel Butierez, said he has friends with DACA, and he believes that status should protect them from deportation. He also supports a path to permanency for Dreamers, such as legal permanent residency. "Its not their fault theyre here," he said in a brief phone call Friday. "They should have legal status and I absolutely agree they should not be arrested." DACA was meant to be a temporary measure awaiting a permanent legislative fix, but lawmakers in Congress have failed to take action for more than a decade, Silva said. "We talk about the law like it's this unmovable thing," she said. "But all of them (legislators) have decision-making power. All of them have the ability to choose what our laws look like. I don't know, I don't think it should be that hard. ... Especially in light of the political climate, this would be the right time for elected officials to stand up and put their money where their mouth is." In the meantime, USCIS is still allowing existing DACA recipients to renew their status at a cost of $555 online, or $605 via mail. But it's unclear whether that renewal provides real safety under an administration unbound by its own regulations, Silva said. "The tactics of ICE and DHS have escalated so much that people are scared, even if they have that status and that protection," she said. Who qualified for DACA? The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, only accepted qualified enrollees who met the following criteria, among others (although the program is no longer accepting new applications): Born after June 16, 1981 (the oldest DACA recipients are now 44); Entered the U.S. prior to age 16 and have continuously resided in the U.S. since 2007; Currently enrolled in high school; have a high school degree or GED; or were an honorably discharged veteran; Have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not pose a threat to national security or public safety. DACA recipients must renew their status every two years. A June 2024 survey from the National Immigration Forum and The Bullfinch Group found 68% of voters supported Congress passing legislation allowing Dreamers to earn legal status and eventual citizenship, if they paid taxes and met certain requirements. Among Republicans, 54% supported the proposal. The University of Arizonas enrollment office advised off-campus student housing partners in June to expect a decline of about 20% in the fall 2025 new student class, saying most of the decline would come from out-of-state and international students. A 20% drop from last fall's class of 9,300 new UA students would mean about 1,860 fewer students. The semester starts Monday, Aug. 25. At this stage, there remain several significant unknowns that make it challenging to offer a definitive forecast, said Mary E. Venezia, UAs chief of staff of enrollment management, in the June email. National and international enrollment trends continue to shift, the impacts of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) changes are still being felt, and additional external factors have contributed to a more unpredictable landscape than in previous years. In a June Arizona Board of Regents meeting, meanwhile, UA estimated a 6% decline in non-resident undergraduate students and a 4% decline in international students. Both groups pay the highest tuition rates and bring in the most revenue. Nationally, the number of international students arriving on visas to the U.S. declined by 28.5% in July 2025 compared to July 2024, according to U.S. International Trade Administration data in a Forbes article Thursday. The drop was from 106,993 international students who arrived in July 2024 to 76,519 students in July 2025, including a decline of almost 50% in students from India. Under the Trump administration this year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked the visas of thousands of international students studying at universities across the country, making them vulnerable to arrests, detention and deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. Additionally, NAFSA: Association of International Educators expects the Trump administrations travel ban on nationals of 19 countries, the temporary suspension of visa interviews and limited appointment availability to result in the decline of new international student enrollment this fall, Forbes reported. UA spokesperson Mitch Zak declined to confirm or comment on the projected 20% decrease in UA's fall 2025 new student enrollment, saying the university won't provide such information until after its Sept. 15 census. "We intend for our incoming class to be somewhat smaller than it was the prior year, reflecting our more thoughtful approach to balancing access with student success," Zak said Friday. "The university is implementing a new comprehensive enrollment strategy that prioritizes academic outcomes and financial stability," he said. "At its core, our central emphasis is on retaining the students we enroll, ensuring they progress through their programs in a timely manner, and then graduating with rewarding job opportunities and careers waiting for them." Zak said the UA won't release enrollment numbers until after the census date, unlike previous years, saying that's because the university is now operating under President Suresh Garimella and his administration. Last year, under former UA President Robert Robbins, the university put out its fall enrollment numbers in August. Megan Gilbertson, the Arizona Board of Regents' associate vice president of public affairs, said the regents want to ensure the state's three public universities UA, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University are effectively managing enrollment changes. Regents staff continues to monitor estimates, trends and impacts, Gilbertson said. The three universities will present enrollment reports in a Sept. 11 ABOR committee meeting. To combat the decline of international students due to the Trump administrations crackdown on visas and immigration, the UA announced in June that it would launch a new first-semester study-abroad option in London. UA Vice President Jenny Lee told ABOR the UAs global micro campuses will allow international students to obtain a U.S. degree closer to home, with no visa necessary. The Trump administration's actions disrupted the legal standing of thousands of students across the United States, Lee noted at the June ABOR meeting. "... The uncertainty has certainly created doubts for prospective students who may think twice about choosing the United States for their education, she said. In addition, as weve been following the news changing every day the federal government has recently imposed a travel ban, and this is affecting our newly admitted students across 19 countries. Combined with ongoing visa barriers, this is presenting, across the United States, a broader systemic challenge, one that can lead to a steady decline of international students over time," she said. UA administrators have also spoken about a demographic cliff facing universities across the U.S., and acknowledged a need to combat that as well. The phrase refers to a steep decline in 18-year-olds in the U.S., starting around 2025, due to lower birth rates that began in 2008 after the Great Recession. Due to this demographic change, the number of new high-school graduates is expected to fall by about 13% by 2041, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported. Compounding this cliff are the uncertainties in international student recruitment, increased competition in higher education, and people questioning the value of higher education, ABOR was told in June by Kris Wong Davis, UAs vice president of enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions. All these factors combined have led to the reshaping of application pools, she said, adding that the UA is working to help Arizonas low-income students attain higher education. UA Chair of the Faculty Leila Hudson said she has heard from knowledgeable sources that UA will have a substantial enrollment decline this fall. I have not seen the data breakdown, but I imagine that a substantial portion of the decline comes from non-Arizona students staying in their home states while navigating increased economic challenges, and international students uncertainty about their welcome in the U.S. under the current U.S. presidential administrations policies, Hudson told the Arizona Daily Star. At the same time, the new U of A administrations priorities include a new approach to enrollment not based on the single unsustainable goal of year-over-year growth in entering classes," Hudson said. Feature: Fighting for motherland: Taiwan volunteers in China's WWII resistance against Japanese aggression Xinhua) 10:14, August 23, 2025 TAIPEI/BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, original documents detailing a special task force from Taiwan have been added to the latest national documentary heritage list. The 625 documents reveal moving stories of a group of volunteers from Taiwan, then under Japanese colonial rule, fighting against the Japanese on the mainland. Their founder, General Lee You-pang, exemplifies the struggle of people in colonized Taiwan striving to return to their motherland. In Luzhou District of New Taipei City, where Lee You-pang was born, visitors to his former residence are greeted by bronze statues of the general and his wife, Yen Hsiu-feng, at the entrance. The statues rest atop a black stone base engraved with two red Chinese characters: "Fu Jiang." "Fu means 'restoration,' and Jiang means 'territory,' which refers specifically to Taiwan," explained 80-year-old Lee Li-chun, son of You-pang. "These words capture my father's lifelong commitment to the restoration of Taiwan to the motherland." Lee You-pang was born in 1906 into a respectable family whose ancestors had migrated to Taiwan from Fujian Province, just across the Taiwan Strait. By then, Taiwan had been under Japanese colonial rule for a decade. In 1895, following its defeat in a war with Japan, the Qing government was forced to cede Taiwan to the Japanese. "From a young age, my father had a strong sense of being Chinese and felt deep anger at the discrimination and exploitation that the people of Taiwan endured under Japanese colonial rule," Lee Li-chun said. At 16, while studying at a normal school, Lee You-pang joined a cultural association in Taiwan and actively took part in efforts opposing Japanese colonial rule. He participated twice in attacks on Japanese police stations, putting him on the Japanese colonial authorities' wanted list. In 1924, he left for the mainland to enroll at the Huangpu (Whampoa) Military Academy in Guangzhou. After Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China in 1937, Lee, convinced that Taiwan's fate was tied to the motherland, founded the Taiwan volunteer corps and the Taiwan youth league in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, in February 1939. The Taiwan volunteer corps began with just over 30 members and grew to more than 380 by 1945, playing an active role along the frontlines in Zhejiang and Fujian and contributing to the resistance in various fields, including publicity, medical support and productive services. As many members were doctors, Lee You-pang made medical work one of their priorities. He established four hospitals to treat wounded soldiers and civilians. Since 1895, the people of Taiwan have continuously resisted colonial oppression and fought for reunification with the motherland, with more than 650,000 sacrificing their lives. Official data show that between 1937 and 1945, more than 50,000 Taiwan patriots went to the mainland to join the war of resistance against Japanese aggression. China's victory ended Japan's colonial rule in Taiwan. On Oct. 25, 1945, the Chinese government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan, and the ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in the Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taipei. In 1985, Yen Hsiu-feng, on behalf of all descendants of the Lee family in Luzhou, donated the family's ancestral home as a public venue honoring Lee You-pang's contributions to the war of resistance against Japanese aggression. It later became a key site commemorating Taiwan people's resistance against Japanese aggression. Lee Li-chun also donated all of his father's archives, and to this day, the 80-year-old remains actively involved in cross-Strait exchanges, sharing with people on both sides the heroic stories of his father's generation. However, this important chapter of history is being deliberately downplayed by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, who seek to promote a secessionist interpretation of the past. "Nowadays, many young people in Taiwan are not even familiar with the term 'anti-Japanese war.' This is deeply painful," Lee Li-chun said. "I hope that more people will come to know this chapter of history, when compatriots on both sides of the Strait stood shoulder to shoulder in order to defend their homeland." Lee Li-chun can still sing the song of the team his father founded: "We are volunteers fighting the Japanese and the vanguard of Taiwan's liberation. We shall expel the Japanese invaders from our motherland and break the shackles they locked on Taiwan." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Copper Worlds water-use plans We note with interest that the Tucson City Council voted unanimously this week to require management plans for current and future businesses that have significant demands on our scarce water resources. Going forward, a business that will use more than 7.48 million gallons of water a month just shy of 90 million gallons a year will need to submit a water-conservation plan to Tucson Water. Meanwhile, HudBays plan for Copper World just south of Tucson says it plans to use up to 4 billion gallons of primarily groundwater a year for 44 years! Seems the Hudbay folks up in Canada dont see the problem with pumping from our aquifers here in the Sonoran Desert, where we are 25 years into a mega-drought. All for 500 jobs, they say. Maybe Pima County needs to get a hold on this situation before HudBay decimates our water supplies. Jeff Herr North side A simple question I submitted a letter on this point a week ago. It was not published for some reason, so I hereby resubmit my question to Star readers. Trump is doing things that are anti-democratic, such as the use of the National Guard in D.C. and L.A. and denying access to due process for those rounded up by ICE. If Obama or Biden did the same thing, would you support these actions as valid under presidential authority, or would you consider them illegal and demand impeachment? Simple question, and it should be a simple answer? What say the MAGA supporters to this point? George Ball Midtown Monsoons Many have been bemoaning the absence of a good monsoon. Growing up in Arizona, they were called thunderstorms. Monsoon sells better on the weather reports. Being a 77-year-old Arizona native, there have been many changes that I think have reduced the number of monsoons. For example. I notice on the weather forecasts a normal stream of storms flowing up from Mexico into the Arizona-New Mexico border. Many bubbling up through Nogales and bypassing Tucson to the west or east. I believe one of the causes is the Tucsons heat island effect. It is five degrees Fahrenheit (I have seen estimates as high as 10 degrees) hotter in the Tucson area compared to the surrounding desert and higher at night. Im sure the downtown and midtown temperatures are much higher. Many factors contribute to the heat island. Among them are dramatic increase in population, asphalt, concrete, vehicle and air conditioning emissions. This is a common problem with cities around the country. I wonder how this affects climate change? Cal Rooker Oro Valley Intel robbery Intel has been producing chips in the U.S. longer than anyone. Right here in Chandler, to be specific. Common sense says if grants are to be awarded under the CHIP Act, Intel, as a local company, is a logical recipient. Especially over the like of foreign entities, TWSM and others. Funny politics appear to be in play, as the grant appears tied to Ohio. Huh? Now the Ohio politicians are whining. And now by proclamation, Lutnick says well deliver the money, but well take an equity stake. How is that even conceivable? An equity possession in Intel makes no sense unless one takes an equity in others for the same grants. Wake up, America. Only bad things happen when you fall asleep at the wheel. Brode Meyer Midtown For profit, for real? I was immediately drawn to Reengage with GCU in Janet Wittenbrakers Aug. 21 guest opinion. Consequently, I did not read, but skimmed her opinion. Items 2-4 may be acceptable for consideration. I do have a problem with inviting a for-profit college to come to Tucson that avoided its day in court until a favorable administration came into power. Sounds like the delay, delay playbook of the current POTUS. A for-profit college exists to maximize profit first and provide an effective education for students, if that provision of education does not materially impact profit. I earned a BS in accounting from ASU. A coworker earned a BS in accounting from a for-profit college. The depth of knowledge from the for profit was inferior probably because the degree was earned in a shorter time period. Thats my for-profit anecdotal experience. Buyer beware. James Abels Midtown Heres an update 1. There is no deal in Ukraine and no ceasefire. It was one big $2 million publicity stunt. 2. The Trump-Epstein case has faded away, like Roe vs Wade and Jan 6. 3. Elon Musk has dropped his plans for a 3rd party. Trump and the Republicans have no threat. The Democrats do nothing. 4. Texas will get five new seats in the House. 5. Washington, D.C. is effectively under martial law. This model will be used in other Democratic-run cities. 6. It will get worse. Terry Louck East side Change begins at the local level Recent Letters to the Editor are filled with controversy and anger over national issues. Its starting to get old, especially when we CAN change the message. While national issues may seem overwhelming, there are things we can do at the local level to make a difference. For example, yesterday, a group of people from across the area (yes, they were Democrats with AZ Representative Kevin Volk) collected and delivered six carloads of food and supplies to support Youth On Their Own (YOTO) in Tucson. YOTO helps homeless students get an education. It serves 1,600 students a year and has an amazing 93% graduation rate higher than the state average. Remember, these are homeless kids, some in middle school, dealing with issues many of us cannot comprehend. And they desperately want an education. There are many great organizations in our community that need help. So, lets turn our anger into action. When you finish the daily Opinion section, get up, out, and involved! Carla Ohara Oro Valley Testing teachers The Oklahoma Public Schools superintendent is going to test teachers from suspect states to guard against radical leftist ideology (Star, Aug. 20). Some of his ideas are not too bad, except that the test is going to be administered and judged by Prager U, which is not known for veracity or impartiality. And then lets consider: Radical. Leftist. Ideology. Hmmm... Presumably that means those who are ideologically aligned with the Worldwide Communist Conspiracy right? So, people who admire and adhere to the views of the neo-Communist current brutal dictator of Russia would presumably all be suspect right? But wait: Trump echoes Putin stance (Star, August 17, p.1). Oops! Logically, wouldnt that mean the superintendent will have to exclude the MAGA devotees of Mr. Trump? How he will get out of this conundrum will be interesting to watch. Not to mention that he is demanding that Trumps lies about the 2020 election be taught as truth. My, it will be interesting to be in school in Oklahoma. Abraham R. Byrd III North side One-man rule sounds authoritarian It is becoming apparent that Trump and most of the Republican Party believe in a one-man rule like Hungary and Russia, not in a representative democracy that the country was founded on. As Ben Franklin said, We have given you a republic, if you can keep it. Trump is slowly but surely getting control of levers of government by executive orders based on a national emergency. He believes in changing our culture and history to match his wishful view of our country as Hitler tried in the 1930s. Hitler was changing German history to match his view and burning books etc. Hitler wanted to establish a pure Aryan nation by paying women to produce German babies. They tried coupling of single German women with SS troopers. Trump wants to give a woman $5,000 for each baby (Trump would prefer white). It costs $300,000 to raise a child. Trump is establishing a private police force with the FBI, ICE, the National Guard and the military. Donald Plummer Northwest side Border wall hue You gotta be kidding me. You chose to run your front page lead story about the color of a wall? You couldnt come up with something more important? Gee, I guess maybe theres nothing else of importance going on in this country and the world. Come on, Arizona Daily Star, get your act together. Jim Evans Foothills Conservatorship/guardianship exploitation In 2023, Arizona promised reform after SB1291 but families are still being robbed. A soft or light conservatorship meant to protect assets became years of outside control: orders with no preserved hearing record, ex-parte medical reports from unrelated cases, and fee approvals that look more like paychecks to insiders than care for a vulnerable person. Not a single jury trial has vindicated those rights, and Im one of many still denied justice. Worse, the Probate Advisory Panel required by law hasnt even reached quorum nearly two years after enactment, blocking oversight the public was promised. Even Court Accountants report in my case shows over-budget spending, missing invoices, unexplained transfers, and large payees but still approved. Im running for Congress to fix this. Federally enforceable reforms when the state fails to protect its vulnerable citizens. If you believe the law should protect people not enrich insiders join me in demanding real accountability now. David Redkey Gallery: KPopped Australia's Eureka has produced an East meets West pop fusion with Kylie, Boy George, Spice Girls, Taylor Dayne, Patti Labelle and more. Australias Eureka Productions joins with South Koreas CJ ENM Co., Ltd. for eight-part song battle series KPopped, starring PSY, (Gangnam Style) and Megan Thee Stallion. From executive producers Lionel Richie and Miky Lee, the show brings together some of the biggest names in Western music and top K-pop idols for unexpected, high-energy reinterpretations of iconic hits. Hosted by actor/comedian Soojeong Son (Servant, Search Party), each episode finds Western chart-toppers teaming up with celebrated K-pop groups to reimagine one of their biggest songs, culminating in bold, collaborative stage performances. With just a short window to rehearse, these genre-bending partners deliver electrifying renditions for a live audience in Seoul, who vote for the standout K-popped performance of the night. After the song battle winner is determined, the K-pop Idols close out the episode with an exciting performance. Featured artists include: K-pop acts: Billlie, ITZY, Kep1er, JO1, Ateez, StayC, Kiss of Life, and BlackSwan Western artists: Megan Thee Stallion, Patti LaBelle, Spice Girls Mel B and Emma Bunton, Vanilla Ice, Taylor Dayne, Kesha, Eve, J Balvin, Kylie Minogue, TLC, Boy George, Jess Glynne, Ava Max, and Boyz II Men These legendary and rising artists trade stages and styles across eight episodes, offering a fresh spin on hit tracks including Savage, Wannabe, Ice Ice Baby, Lady Marmalade, Cant Get You Out of My Head, Motownphilly, Waterfalls, and more. The series is executive produced by Moira Ross, Lionel Richie, Miky Lee, Megan Thee Stallion and Greg Foster, alongside Harry H.K. Shin and Jake Hong, with producer Ki-woong Kim for CJ ENM Co., Ltd., with its unparalleled expertise in music variety shows and content production. Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening and David Tibballs executive produce for Eureka Productions (a Fremantle company), alongside Bruce Eskowitz. Western Artists K-pop Artists Notable Tracks Episode Megan Thee Stallion, Patti LaBelle Billlie Flipping a Coin Savage, Lady Marmalade 1 Mel B, Emma Bunton (Spice Girls) ITZY Gold Wannabe, Say Youll be There 2 Vanilla Ice, Taylor Dayne Kep1er Wa Da Da Ice Ice Baby, Tell It To My Heart 3 Kesha, Eve JO1 Love seeker Joyride, Let Me Blow Ya Mind 4 J Balvin, Kylie Minogue ATEEZ Bouncy (K-Hot Chili Peppers) Mi Gente, Cant Get You Out of My Head 5 TLC, Boy George STAYC RUN2U Waterfalls, Karma Chameleon 6 Jess Glynne, Ava Max Kiss of Life Get Loud Hold My Hand, Kings & Queens 7 Boyz II Men BLACKSWAN Roll Up Motownphilly, End of the Road 8 All episodes Friday, 29 August, on Apple TV+ Menendez brothers denied parole Despite the coverage from Netflix miniseries, which suggested new perspectives, brothers remain behind bars. Both Erik and Lyle Menendez, portrayed in the Netflix series Monsters: The Erik & Lyle Menendez Story have been denied parole in California. In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for the murders of their parents in what became one of the most famous criminal cases of the late 20th century. In a resentencing hearing in May 2025 a judge made them eligible for parole. However in August, both brothers were denied release. Erik, now 54, appeared before a panel at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on 21 August. He was told that he still posed a risk to public safety and had not been a model prisoner. A day later 57-year-old Lyle, long regarded as the dominant sibling, was denied parole by a different board. It cited the brutal nature of the killings and Lyles lack of self-control. We find your remorse is genuine, parole commissioner Julie Garland told him. But despite all those outward positives, we see you still struggle with anti-social personality traits like deception, minimisation and rule-breaking that lie beneath that positive surface. They can try for parole again in three years time although this can be reduced to 18 months with good behaviour. California Governor Gavin Newsom is examining a separate request to offer the brothers clemency possibly in the form of a pardon. They also featured in the Netflix doco The Menendez Brothers. Source; BBC On August 22, CT Group, in collaboration with the Vietnam National University Hanoi, organised a scientific seminar titled "Ensuring security and technological autonomy in Vietnams chip manufacturing amid national digital transformation." A panel discussion on how to build an independent and autonomous semiconductor industry Chairman of CT Group Chan Kim Chung emphasised the urgent need for independence and autonomy in science and technology. Total dependence on foreign chips could put Vietnam at risk of data disruption or leakage during its robust digital transformation, particularly during the digital twin phase, when both data volume and connected devices surge dramatically, he said. Mastering the technology to design, manufacture, and commercialise semiconductor chips is not only a scientific and technological responsibility but also a critical requirement for national security. In the digital age, semiconductor technology has been the foundation of all modern industries, acting as the "brain" of the world. From smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles, to AI, 5G and 6G networks, and defence equipment, all rely on ultra-small but immensely powerful integrated circuits. If we do not control production, we could lose national data or be unable to respond proactively in emergencies. We must create 'Made by Vietnam' products to serve both civilian and defence needs, and to compete fairly in the global market, he asserted. The CT Group chairman proposed the formation of a strong, independent, and autonomous semiconductor industry, focusing on fewer than 10 essential chip types, such as microcontroller unit (MCU) chips, AI chips, IoT chips, and chips for telecommunications and satellite frequencies. Developing domestic chips would also help position Vietnam as a semiconductor hub in Southeast Asia and boost its global competitiveness, he added. Chung said that based on the successful research and design of the analogue-to-digital converter semiconductor chip, announced in early July, it typically takes about two years to design a chip. Producing a chip involves several stages like research, design, photolithography, testing, and packaging. More complex chips such as MCUs, telecom chips, and remote sensing chips require even more intricate processes. Therefore, if Vietnam begins working on all essential chip types now, they would only be available by 2027, while digital transformation is rapidly accelerating, and every hour saved is invaluable, he emphasised. The CT Group chairman asked authorities like the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defence to decide and propose to the government which chip lines must be developed domestically. Enterprises are ready to collaborate with the Vietnam National University to research, develop, and meet the demand. That is the way for us to be proactive and autonomous, he said. Thai Truyen Dai Chan, a member of CT Groups scientific council, noted that the current global competition over semiconductor chips is not just about trade, it is a geopolitical battle. Whoever controls semiconductors will control much of the worlds future technological power. Therefore, if a nation cannot master integrated circuits, the risks are immense, he emphasised. Economically, even a small disruption in the global supply chain, such as a pandemic or trade conflict, could cripple entire industries, directly affecting GDP, employment, and social stability. From a defence and security perspective, modern military systems, including radar, satellites, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to precision weapons, all rely on semiconductor components. If supply is cut off, defence capabilities will suffer. More dangerously, imported chips may contain security backdoors, posing risks of unauthorised access and threats to national sovereignty. Moreover, dependency can stifle technological innovation, he added. A country aiming to develop AI, IoT, EVs, or next-generation telecommunications infrastructure needs the appropriate microchips. Relying solely on imports means higher costs, slower innovation, and a constant threat of external manipulation. A signing ceremony of strategic cooperation between the Vietnam National University Hanoi and CT Group Agreeing with this, Le Hai Trieu, director of the Institute of professional electronic engineering under the Ministry of Public Securitys Department of Security Industry, said that while some domestic firms are doing well in chip design, manufacturing still takes place abroad, posing both security and cost risks. He proposed that chips currently used in Vietnamese ID cards and passports are widely adopted globally. This chips line accounts for 95 per cent of the global market and will continue to be relevant for the next 20-25 years. Therefore, local semiconductor companies should focus on producing these products, Trieu emphasised. He also added that manufacturers should connect researchers, policymakers, and tech businesses to promote autonomy in core technologies for sustainable digital transformation. Currently, the Ministry of Public Security has tasked the Institute of Professional Electronic Engineering with leading the development of a project titled "Research, develop, and transfer technology to master semiconductor chip technology for national defense and security," to be submitted to the prime minister this year. Experts believed that Vietnam needs a realistic and selective roadmap for chip autonomy. Competing in the ultra-advanced semiconductor segment, requiring tens of billions of dollars and decades of technological development, is difficult. However, Vietnam can focus on practical areas aligned with domestic demand. For example, low- and mid-power microchips for IoT, sensors, smart devices, and 6G infrastructure represent large markets and match Vietnams current capabilities. Enterprises can focus on secure circuits for e-government, national defence, UAVs, and smart identity, where Vietnam has strengths due to its cybersecurity research. They can also invest in application-specific integrated circuits for smart traffic systems, edge AI, and defence applications. Other potential areas include power management and EV chips, such as battery management, motor control, and energy conversion, aligning with Vietnams green industrial development strategy. Semiconductor industry in Vietnam can now go global Vietnams semiconductor and electronics sector is gaining momentum, fuelled by rising global demand and government support. Do Thi Thuy Huong, an executive board member of the Vietnam Electronic Industries Association, spoke with VIRs Hoang Oanh about key strategies to develop a globally competitive ecosystem. Localities look into microchip gains Many localities are proposing special mechanisms to engage large-scale foreign investors to develop ecosystems for the semiconductor industry. Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Tam meeting with Samson Khaou, executive vice president of Dassault Systemes in charge of Asia-Pacific Deputy Minister Tam highly appreciated the operations of Dassault Systemes in Vietnam since the opening of its representative office in July 2022. He also welcomed the groups close cooperation with the National Innovation Centre (NIC) in implementing advanced technological solutions, contributing to promoting digital transformation, innovation, and the development of key industries such as semiconductors, aerospace, AI, and high technology. The deputy minister emphasised that the Vietnamese government has issued Resolution No.57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in developing science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, along with Decision No.1131/QD-TTg on the list of national strategic technologies, including semiconductors, AI, digital twins, robotics, aviation, and aerospace which are also Dassault Systemes' strengths. From August 19 to 22, the largest working delegation of the group, led by executive vice president Samson Khaou and including 15 country directors from the Asia-Pacific region, visited Vietnam to strengthen practical cooperation. Deputy Minister Tam proposed the group to continue working with the NIC to promote the research, application, and commercialisation of strategic technologies in the country. Vietnam encourages the attraction of global technology corporations, especially those within Dassault Systemes ecosystem such as Dassault Aviation and STMicroelectronics, to invest in and develop here, Tam highlighted. He also proposed that Dassault Systemes accompany the NIC in connecting, introducing, and supporting businesses in its ecosystem to expand research, production, and business activities in Vietnam. The Vietnamese government is implementing a high-tech human resource development initiative and innovation incubation programmes, he added. Therefore, the MoF has asked Dassault Systemes, in coordination with the NIC, to implement training courses and develop high-tech human resources, while supporting the incubation of innovation projects in strategic technology fields. The deputy minister also requested that the group continue to provide consultations to the MoF and the Vietnamese government on financial mechanisms and innovation policies to promote public-private partnerships and drive the development of the high-tech industry, including semiconductors and smart cities in Vietnam. In response, Samson Khaou highly appreciated the insightful guidances on the group's development direction in Vietnam. Dassault Systemes would study the MoFs proposals and work closely with NIC to provide concrete responses regarding future cooperation, he said. He also praised the strategic vision and leadership of the Vietnamese government and the MoF in promoting technology and innovation. He emphasised that the current resolutions and legal frameworks have created a solid legal foundation, enabling Dassault Systemes to confidently make stronger investments in Vietnam. Now is a golden time to invest in science and technology in Vietnam, Khaou said, and expressed enthusiasm for the new vision of positioning Vietnam as the next country for the group to develop key projects. He also hoped that Vietnam would soon complete a clear policy framework for the protection of intellectual property rights to create favourable and sustainable investment conditions. Deputy Minister Tam said, The MoF is always ready to support and resolve difficulties to promote bilateral cooperation. Dassault Systemes established its representative office in Vietnam in July 2022. Since then, the group has been closely cooperating with the NIC and various domestic partners to implement advanced technological solutions, contributing to digital transformation and enhancing innovation capacity among Vietnamese enterprises. Dassault Systemes strengthens regional footprint with new office Dassault Systemes on July 27 cut the ribbon on its new Vietnam office, formalising its relationship and reinforcing its commitment to one of the fastest-growing markets in Southeast Asia. Dassault Systemes champions Vietnams digital future at French Tech Summit Dassault Systemes, a global leader in 3D design, engineering software, and virtual twin experiences, reaffirmed its commitment to Vietnam's digital transformation journey as a Diamond Sponsor of the French Tech Summit Vietnam 2025. Banquet Given in Honour of Commanding Officers and Combatants of KPA Overseas Operation Unit and Bereaved Families of Martyrs Date: 22/08/2025 | Source: Naenara (En) A grand banquet was given at the Mokran House in honour of the commanding officers and combatants of the overseas operation unit of the Korean Peoples Army and bereaved families of the martyrs. The banquet hall was filled with boundless emotion, joy and excitement of the commanding officers and combatants honoured with high glory and happiness of their lives under the care of the motherland and the great brilliant commander they have yearned for even in a dream. Senior officials of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea and leading commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence attended the significant banquet together with the commanding officers, combatants of the overseas operation unit of the KPA and bereaved families of the martyrs. Pak Jong Chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and secretary of the Party Central Committee, made a speech at the banquet. At the decisive battlefields for defending the absolute authority of the Party Central Committee and safeguarding the dignity and honour of the DPRK and the appellation and tradition of the KPA, officers and men of the KPA wrote the immortal combat records at the cost of their blood, created a new great history of the KPA with their militant courage and legendary military merits that would pale the heroic stories in the human history of wars and added a new glorious page to the history of war victory of the DPRK in gold letters, the speaker said. The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK will always emerge victorious in the sacred war they have to face in the future regarding the brilliant and heroic life of the brave soldiers who participated in the war as an example, he said, stressing that all divisions, brigades, regiments and battalions and service personnel of the whole army will courageously advance along the road of victory won by the brave soldiers who participated in the war. The commanding officers and combatants of the KPA overseas operation unit pledged to keep glorifying the dignity and honour of the KPA with the priceless military feats of the present generation in the militant journey of opening up a new era of building a rich country with a strong army, regarding the trust and love of the Party as the lifeline of their destiny and the spirit of their courage. KCNA Washington Elementary School kindergarten teacher Monica Keel couldnt be more excited about the new school year: Shes teaching in a new space, shes looking to welcoming back last years students and, as an added bonus, shell be reunited with several staff and students from the now-closed Wilson Elementary School. Washington and Wilson are fully merging this year, forming a community in Washington Elementarys upgraded space, with renovations funded by the referendum voters approved last November. Keel was a teacher at Wilson for 15 years before she came to Washington last year when some of the younger students entered the school. This year the merger finalizes between the two schools. Im so excited, because the cool thing about being at a school for a long time is watching the kids go from kindergarten all the way through, Keel said. The Beaver Dam School Districts capital referendum was approved in November with a 6,288 to 5,648 vote. Voters approved a $107 million referendum question, with $87 million to be used to build a new Beaver Dam Middle School, $13 million used to update Washington Elementary School, and $7 million to fund districtwide facility improvements. With nearly 300 students this fall, Washington Elementary will be the third-largest elementary school in the Beaver Dam school district, behind Jefferson Elementary and Prairie View. Washingtons population last year was 255. Whats new? Some renovations are still forthcoming, but already there are a lot of changes at Washington. Some stem from needing to fix up an aging building, but the space also has been reconfigured to accommodate the influx of students coming from Wilson. The greatest need was in the kindergarten wing, where three new kindergarten rooms, a special education room, therapy rooms, sensory room and bathrooms were added. Each room has four children sharing space on larger tables, new interactive boards and all the other items that make kindergarten rooms special. The rooms also have their own bathrooms. Each of the students will have a little cubby in a large area where they can easily be watched by adults before going into their rooms. It is beautiful really, kindergarten teacher Alicia Sether said about her room. It is a nice big calm space for all the kiddos to learn in. Im super excited to have a new space to be working in, teacher assistant JoAnne Callies said. Its going to be great for the kids. The first-grade students were moved into the rooms where the kindergarteners had been, but the bathrooms in that area were updated as well. The school also has a new literary support room. Among the infrastructure changes was converting the school from steam heat to hot water, Principal Paul Wilson said. The outside of the building is nearly complete, with a parking lot that is scheduled to be completed in the fall. The curb and gutter in front of the school are scheduled to be completed next week. Lunchroom windows were added. A new air conditioning handler over the library will control air flow for the new commons area that is being added onto the building this fall. The goal is to have the commons area done by the holiday break so students will be able to use it during the second semester, Wilson said. And next year, the school plans to add an art and music room. Making a community Theres more to integrating two schools than upgrading the facilities. Starting last school year, Wilson and Washington held activities intended to welcome Wilson students into their new building, including having the schools students spend time with each other. They had their little Washington shirts on and came over here, Wilson said. It was really nice for the students. They did a lunch, recess with our students as well. This Wednesday is the open house when students will meet their teachers prior to the first day of school Sept. 2. Our staff is really excited as for all the students and families to come together, Wilson said. There are somethings in school that you make easier by having more people to collaborate about kids and how to support kids. Im just grateful for the community members supporting the investment in kids, he said. It really does make a difference. Endangered golden lion tamarins arrive at Chester Zoo Two highly endangered golden lion tamarins have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time. The pair, named George, aged seven, and Leaf, aged 12, are among the smallest primates in the world, standing at just eight inches tall. They are now living alongside titi monkeys, pygmy marmosets, emperor tamarins and a goeldi monkey. Golden lion tamarins, found in the forests of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. They were once close to extinction, with only a few hundred left in the wild, before a global conservation breeding programme helped bring the population back. James Star, Primate Keeper at Chester Zoo, said: Leaf and George have moved in with the titi monkeys, pygmy marmosets, emperor tamarin and a goeldi monkey, and they all seem to be getting along brilliantly. Lion tamarins have elongated fingers and hands that allow them to forage for insects in tree crevices that are otherwise out of reach for the other species they live with, and weve already seen them using this kind of foraging behaviour. Despite their tiny stature, standing at the same size as a bottle of pop, their distinctive coats and charismatic behaviour make them easy to spot when theyre jumping from tree to tree in their new home. Golden lion tamarins are a major zoo conservation success story. There were once only a few hundred remaining in the wild. But a coordinated breed and release programme was initiated across conservation zoos around the globe, and the population quickly bounced back, helping to turn it around and bring them back from the brink. The tamarins play an important role in the health of their native forests, spreading seeds from the fruit they eat as they move through the trees. Nick Davis, Mammals General Manager at Chester Zoo, said: Golden lion tamarins are an iconic species with an important conservation story to tell, and its great to welcome this highly endangered species to Chester Zoo for the very first time. They really are a must see for our visitors. Alongside the conservation breeding programme George and Leaf are part of for these precious primates, we are also supporting primate conservation work around the globe, protecting threatened forests and the species that depend on them, in South America, Madagascar and Southeast Asia. The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office says two people died in a shooting on August 21st. Deputies were called to 3000 Oakwood Drive in Cameron Park, California around 9 p.m., where they found one woman and a boy inside with gunshot wounds. The woman died at the scene and has been identified as 29-year-old Marissa N. Divodi-Lessa. The boy was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died. Investigators identified 47-year-old Darin McFarlin, who is a CalFire employee, as a person of interest. He has been booked into the El Dorado County Jail on two counts of homicide. The City of Reno is asking people to be prepared for upcoming storms, especially if they live in areas prone to flash flooding. We saw how quickly things could turn just a few weeks ago. "We plan for the worst on each storm," said Ryan Bird, Maintenance and Operations Manager, City of Reno. "That's something that's in our control." The National Weather Service and our Meteorologist at 2 News Nevada are tracking monsoonal activity to hit our region, which could bring a good amount of moisture with it. The City of Reno has sandbag locations all throughout the region. There's also a full list in the Truckee Meadows. "If you have areas where you want to channel water, we have sandbags and a number of sites that you can get those sandbags, might help you out, to channel those waters," Bird said. Bird stressed he is not a meteorologist and didn't want to exactly predict what was going to happen. However, he says the severity of potential flash floods depends on how many tears Mother Nature cries. "In this area, if we get, like, an inch of rain in the course of a half day, this area's designed to take that and do well," Bird said. "Anybody who's lived here for any length of time when we get it, when we get rains and, you know, an inch an hour, there's really no part of this valley that has designed for that. So those areas give us problems." The manager says it's best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. "The best we do is we plan and prepare," Bird said. "We know where a lot of those areas are. So, we go ahead yesterday, today and maybe even tomorrow. We make sure those that those areas are free of debris. So those have the best chance of draining properly." The city has about 20 crews out doing preparation work Friday. They plan to have 30 out for the weekend. Bird says residents should be clearing and cleaning gutters and making sure their home has a clear path to drain water. "If in the last five, ten years, you've had little issues on your property, might be a good idea to readdress those areas," he said. If you're out driving and an intersection is loaded with water, it's a common phrase, turn around don't drown. However, Bird says he's more concerned about the potential wind and the lightning more than the water. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 33 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, including people sheltering in tents or seeking scarce food, local hospitals said as a famine in Gazas largest city puts new pressure on Israel over its 22-month offensive. Israel's defense minister has warned that Gaza City could be destroyed in a new military operation perhaps just days away, even as famine spreads there. Aid groups have long warned that the war, sparked by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack, and months of Israeli restrictions on food and medical supplies entering Gaza are causing starvation. Israel has rejected the data-based famine declaration as an outright lie." Ceasefire efforts are on hold as mediators await Israels next steps. Women and children struck and killed in tents Israeli strikes killed at least 17 people in southern Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to morgue records and health officials at Nasser Hospital. The officials said the strikes targeted tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis. Awad, why did you leave me? a small boy asked his brother's plastic-wrapped body. Another grieving relative, Hekmat Foujo, pleaded for a truce. We want to rest, Foujo said through her tears. Have some mercy on us." In northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed at least five aid-seekers near the Zikim crossing with Israel, where U.N. and other truck convoys enter the territory, health officials at Sheikh Radwan field hospital told the AP. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said cameraman Khaled al-Madhoun was killed while covering events at the Zikim crossing, and asserted that he was targeted by Israeli troops. The local Palestine TV confirmed his death. Eleven people were killed in attacks elsewhere, according to hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Israel's military said it was not aware of a strike in Khan Younis at that location and was looking into the other incidents. AP journalists have seen chaos on roads leading to aid deliveries, and there have been almost daily reports of Israeli troops firing toward aid-seekers. Israels military says it fires warning shots if people approach troops or pose a threat. Braving gunfire and crowds for food Mohamed Saada was among thousands seeking food in the Zikim area and one of many who left empty-handed. He cited the huge numbers of people, the shootings and trucks running over people. Some carried sacks of food like lentils and flour. Others carried the wounded, including on a wooden pallet. They navigated fetid puddles and the rubble of war as temperatures reached above 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius). Friday's famine report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said nearly half a million people about one-fourth of Gaza's population face catastrophic hunger. The rare pronouncement came after Israel imposed a 2 1/2-month blockade on Gaza earlier this year, then resumed some access with a focus on a new U.S.-backed private aid supplier, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. In response to global outrage over images of emaciated children, Israel has also allowed airdrops and new deliveries by land, but the U.N. and others say it's far from enough. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office asserts it has allowed enough aid to enter during the war, while accusing Hamas of starving the hostages it holds. An increase in Israeli airstrikes this month With ground troops already active in Gaza City's outskirts, the military operation could start within days in an area with hundreds of thousands of civilians. Israel says Gaza City is still a Hamas stronghold, with a network of militant tunnels. Aid group Doctors without Borders, or MSF, said its clinics around Gaza City see high numbers of patients as people flee. Caroline Willemen, MSF project coordinator there, noted a marked increase in airstrikes since early August. Those who have not moved are wondering what they should do, she told the AP. People want to stay, they have been displaced endlessly before, but they also know that at some point it will become very dangerous to remain. Ceasefire efforts await Israel's response Many Israelis fear the assault on Gaza City could doom the 20 hostages who are believed to have survived since 2023. Another 30 are thought to be dead. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested a week ago for a deal to end the fighting and bring everyone home. Anyone who truly wants to bring the hostages home does not launch a ground invasion of Gaza, Yotam Cohen, brother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, said ahead of a weekly rally in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu said Thursday he had instructed officials to begin immediate negotiations to release hostages and end the war on Israels terms. It was unclear if Israel would return to talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar after Hamas said it accepted a new proposal from Arab mediators. Hamas has said it will release hostages in exchange for ending the war, but rejects disarming without the creation of a Palestinian state. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Hamas stance, suggesting the militant group is less interested in making deals with few hostages left alive. I actually think (the hostages are) safer in many ways if you went in and you really went in fast and you did it," Trump told reporters Friday. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 62,622 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including missing people now confirmed dead by a special ministry judicial committee. The number of malnutrition-related deaths rose by eight to 281, the ministry said. Israeli protest against far-right security minister A small group of Israelis protested against the far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, as he walked to a synagogue in Kfar Malal, north of Tel Aviv. Videos showed the minister arguing with the protesters. We dont want him in our village. Our message is to bring back the hostages, one of the protesters, Boaz Levinstein, told the AP. Ben-Gvir is a key partner in Netanyahus political coalition and a staunch opponent of reaching a deal with Hamas, which hostages families see as the only way to secure the release of loved ones. Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Sam Mednick in Jerusalem and Michelle Price in Washington contributed to this report. Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war A man was arrested in Las Vegas on Thursday on charges related to supplying drugs to prisons in Nevada and California, as well as second-degree murder. Make the most of every day (and the long weekend) this week. Labor Day unleashes San Francisco's second summer. Let loose with the Mission Bowling Club, Geeks Who Drink, and party-goers in Mint Plaza. Seize the day before Ruth Asawas retrospective leaves town or at Non Stop Bhangra's Indian wedding celebration. And dont forget to stop and smell and pick the flowers on the Mendocino Coast. Jump ahead to this week's top events: Cringe at the self-proclaimed Worst Film Festival. Fill up on jazz, hip-hop, R&B, soul, and spoken word at the Black Radio Experience. Crash an Indian wedding with Non Stop Bhangra. Boot scoot on Treasure Island with a day of Country on the Bay. Have a good one. Catch a free Japanese Breakfast show in Petaluma as the Philly favorites celebrate the release of their first studio album; Monday at 4:20pm. // The Lagunitas Brewery, 1280 N. McDowell Blvd. (Petaluma); RSVP at eventbrite.com Drink and be seen at the stylish Empress by Boon, which is rolling out happy hour every day of the week. Enjoy deals on beer, wine, and inventive cocktails with a side of city views; Mondays through Sundays, 4:30pm to 6:30pm. // Empress by Boon (Chinatown); reservations at opentable.com Go for turkeys with the Bargain Bowling Club. Gather a squad for a night of bowling on the cheap$12 gets you unlimited plays; Monday, 6pm to 10pm. // Mission Bowling Club, 3176 17th St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com Experience the legendary work of Ruth Asawa and the local icons groundbreaking textile art before her retrospective wraps up at SFMOMA; through Tuesday, September 3. // SFMOMA, 151 Third St. (SoMA); tickets at sfmoma.org Thank you to our partners at SFMOMA. Get your best game on with a panel on mental health hosted by the Golden State Valkyries and Olly; Monday, 6:30pm to 8pm. // Sephora Performance Center, 1011 Broadway (Oakland); RSVP at gsvchangingthenarrative-olly.splashthat.com Throw down for some trivia at Saluhall with the folks at Geeks Who Drink. Expect a wide variety of topicsjust like your food and drink options; Tuesday, 6pm to 7:30pm. // Saluhall, 945 Market St. (SoMa); RSVP at saluhallmarket.com Pedal through Sonoma on the ultimate chill afternoon adventure: a guided tour to two family-owned wineries and a boutique cannabis dispensary in the vineyards and rolling hills of Dry Creek Valley; available through Sunday. // H2Hotel, 219 Healdsburg Ave. (Healdsburg); reservations at h2hotel.com Cringe at the self-proclaimed Worst Film Festival. The creative night focuses on moving (and laughing) through failure, beers in hand; Thursday at 6pm. // Mama Dog Studios, 700 26th St. (Oakland); tickets at eventbrite.com Change up the vibe with Corner Store Comedy. Grab a drink and a sandwich and be part of an intimate show in an anachronous setting; Thursday at 8pm. // Dolores Deluxe, 3500 22nd St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com Get away for the long weekend at Four Sisters Inns boutique hideaways throughout California. Whether youre seeking coastal air or rolling hills, theres a stay for youone thats 35 percent off for 7x7 Social Club members. // Reservations at foursisters.com Dance in the streets with a free summertime party that brings together live music and local hotspots for a night of music, food, and community; Friday, 5pm to 9pm. // Mint Plaza, 5th St. and Mission St. (SoMa); details at eventbrite.com Relive the Grateful Dead glory with Jerry Garcia in the Lower Mission. Catch performances from the work on the famed band members local beginnings; Friday and Saturday at 8pm. // The Magic Theatre, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina); tickets at classy.org Whip up some salsa with the pros at Picobar in a guac-included class; Friday, 2pm to 3pm. // Picobar, Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection, 755 Silverado Trail N (Calistoga); reservations at aubergeresorts.com Fill up on jazz, hip-hop, R&B, soul, and spoken word with Robert Glasper, The Roots, Questlove, and more stars at the Black Radio Experience; Friday through Sunday. // The Meritage Resort and Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way (Napa); tickets at bluenotejazz.com Soak up Sonoma vibes at a dinner with Gehricke Wines. Experience terroir paired with farm-to-table menus carefully crafted by sous chef Jenny Kim; Friday, 6pm to 8pm. // Beacon Grand, 450 Powell St. (Union Square); reservations at opentable.com Pamper your pup at a doggy-themed farmers market. Shop accessories, treats, and more from ten local vendorsplus meet adoptable dogs from local rescues; Saturday, 12pm to 5pm. // 485 Hayes St. (Hayes Valley); details on Instagram.com Crash an Indian wedding. Learn some moves, watch the pros, and dance the night away in a festive, no-invite-needed affair from Non Stop Bhangra; Saturday at 8pm. // Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell St. (Tenderloin); tickets at eventim.us Stock up on cucurbitsAKA cucumbers, melons, and squashat the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market with a day of tastings, demonstrations, and education around this summer favorite; Saturday, 10am to 1pm. // Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, One Ferry Building (Embarcadero); details at foodwise.org Head out for the Hiero Day Street Festival, a multi-day celebration of Bay Area creativity, music, and culture; Friday through Wednesday, September 3. // Schedule and details at hieroday.com Pick your own bouquet of dahlias and more during an afternoon in the vibrant fields of EarthSpoke Farms; Saturdays, 11am to 1pm, 12pm to 2pm, and 1pm to 3pm. // EarthSpoke Farms, 13501 Point Cabrillo Dr. (Mendocino); book at earthspokefarms.com Meditate in Golden Gate Park as you learn about the power of flower essence in a guided experience with herbalist Bonnie Rose Weaver; Saturday, 11am to 1pm. // Dahlia Dell, 100 John F Kennedy Dr. (Golden Gate Park); tickets at eventbrite.com Make your cake (and eat it too) with a decorating class focused on tips and tricks to elevate your cake game; Sunday at 3pm. // Olesia Cake, 2940 16th St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com Boot scoot on Treasure Island with a day of Country on the Bay. Enjoy live music and dancing, Southern-inspired eats, and cocktails with killer views; Sunday, 2pm to 7pm. // Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery Tasting Room, 1 Avenue of the Palms (Treasure Island); tickets at eventbrite.com North Dakota's Republican Party narrowly chose a populist as its leader after a contentious June reorganization meeting, but one district was barred from attending and could have made the difference. So, what happened? In spring, district parties took on the task of choosing new leadership ahead of the state partys June reorganization meeting. On April 26, District 25 -- Wahpeton and surrounding Richland County -- held its meeting. As soon as the meeting ended, Vice-Chair of the NDGOP state party at the time John Trandem received a complaint stating the meeting was improperly conducted. Trandem said he went to then-state party Chair Sandi Sanford, who determined the reorganization results were void and the district party would need to hold another meeting. He was not surprised to receive the complaint -- he expected it. He told the Tribune the party was aware of the district operating counter to its bylaws for years but had not cracked down on the violations because there had not been a contested race for chair of the district in some time. When we found out there was going to be a contested race for chair, there was no question it was going to be a problem, he said. The violation resulted in a monthslong saga that saw the district unable to participate in the state party's contentious reorganization vote. What violations were made? During the April meeting, District 25 committed two main violations, including allowing "proxy voting" -- one person could carry the votes of up to 20 people -- a violation of both state law and NDGOP state party rules, Trandem said. The second violation encompassed the use of the at-large method to elect new leaders instead of the caucus method, meaning instead of organizing the district members by precinct and then having the precincts choose members to vote, the district allowed members to vote in one big pool. The at-large system is used by several districts but it is not the method dictated by District 25s bylaws, Trandem said. Ann Smith was elected as district chair in that meeting. Smith calls herself a responsible Republican and not a member of the populist wing of North Dakotas Republican Party. Her opponent, Matt Evans, has a history of associating with more populist parts of the party. In 2022, Forum columnist Rob Port reported that Evans was part of a Young Republicans group chat where members made racist, antisemitic and homophobic comments. In the chat, Evans called openly gay lawmaker Sen. Josh Boschee, D-Fargo, a degenerate clown and referred to him and Fargo City Commissioner John Strand, who also is gay, as alphabet soup creatures. Evans declined comment to the Tribune on his previous actions. Smith said the April reorganization meeting was run the same way it had for years. She said some district members became concerned that the state party invalidated the meeting because it was displeased with her election. Trandem said that narrative has no merit. He told the Tribune that he did not explain to Sanford who won the election, simply what violations had occurred, when she made her decision. Smith said Rep. Cindy Schreiber-Beck, R-Wahpeton, and others in the district felt the April meeting results should have been honored. There's a couple schools of thought with parliamentary procedure, Smith said. (One) is that if you've been acting that way for the past 10 years, even if your bylaws haven't been changed, that you can accept the way it's been done. Some also argued that there was a section of century code often referred to as the "Kasper amendment" that prohibits the state party from dictating how a district organizes itself. In practice, Trandem said that this amendment collapses under its own weight. If a district is not recognized to have organized legally, then it loses the ability to endorse legislative candidates, partake in state party committee meetings or elect delegates to the state convention. They can wave that 'Kasper Amendment' all day long, but it isn't going to make any difference, because ultimately, the party has sovereignty over party functions, Trandem said. Regardless of the objections from District 25 members, a second meeting was held May 10. Smith said several district members did not attend in protest, at the behest of Schreiber-Beck. During that meeting, Evans was elected as chair. Proxy votes were not used and the caucus method was followed in the meeting. However, a public notice error rendered the meeting invalid. The state law ... says we have to give a printed public notice in the newspaper 10 days ahead of the meeting, Evans said in an email to the Tribune. Our newspaper only prints once per week now. So, there weren't a full 10 days between the ink being dry and the meeting happening. In an attempt to remedy the two failed reorganization meetings, a final District 25 ratification meeting was held on June 11 to vote on whether to accept the results of the May 10 meeting regardless of the public notice violation. The vote failed, leaving District 25 without representation at the state party reorganization meeting. Smith continued to act as the district's chair while she and others sought legal counsel to understand their options. On June 18, Smith submitted a letter to North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe, stating a quorum of the District 25 executive committee had appointed Richland County Supervisor Terry Goerger to fill the seat left open by the death of Schreiber-Beck on May 18. The Secretary of States Office declined to issue a letter of appointment, stating that District 25 had not yet formally organized. The secretary of state cannot establish certainty as to the leadership of the District 25 Republicans, and therefore cannot issue a certificate of appointment, as the letter requesting the appointment is not from a chairman recognized in the district by the NDGOP, the office said in a June 20 release. Goerger declined to comment on his failed appointment. Years of not following the rules District 25s violations were not unique, though flagrant -- they were part of a larger pattern of district violations Trandem said he and Sanford had been working to remedy from before they took the helm of the state party in 2023. It kind of just reached a point where there were people who were playing too loose with the rules, and just saying, Well, you know this, everyone kind of seems to agree on this, despite the fact that our bylaws completely contradict it, Trandem said. The state party tackled the issue in two ways, according to Trandem. First, it tried to send out emails to districts in advance of meetings, explaining the nuance of any rules the state party was concerned would trip up districts. We were able to preempt some things that may have become issues, and not even by any fault of the perpetrator, so to speak, but due to misunderstandings, Trandem said. If districts were made aware of rules and still chose to break them, then the state party would deny them the ability to participate in state party functions, such as state committee meetings or the state convention. After District 25 failed to legally reorganize by a May 15 deadline, the state party was forced to use these enforcement tools and ban the district from the June state reorganization meeting. Trandem said he was not sure if District 25 operated with malicious intent in its first meeting where it violated its bylaws and state party rules, but he said the district was aware of its rule violations. We've been working with that district for some time and communicated to them that these rules are not in compliance, Trandem said. Some district officials reportedly attempted to change the rules, while others, such as Smith, claimed they weren't aware of any such attempts. Trandem said it is especially important for districts to follow rules, given the divide in the NDGOP in recent years. The divide means votes are closer on endorsements, elections and reorganizations, and more people are paying attention and willing to challenge what they perceive as a violation. I don't think the factions are good, Trandem said. But I think that the fallout from some of the factionalization has been good, in that we've all just (been) keeping everyone honest. State reorganization and factional infighting The contest for chair of District 25 is a microcosm of the conflict between populist and establishment factions that has plagued the North Dakota Republican Party in recent years. The divide resulted in hostile comments made toward several incumbent lawmakers in Bismarck's District 30 during the 2024 election cycle that forced them to bypass the traditional district endorsement process and instead collect signatures to put themselves directly on the primary ballot. They ended up beating the candidates endorsed by their district party. In another example, the state partys endorsement process for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in June of 2024 was upended when populist candidate Rick Becker encouraged delegates to spoil their ballots by voting for him despite the fact he was ineligible to receive the partys endorsement for violating state party rules. The June 14 state NDGOP reorganization and District 25's August organization meetings proved to be further examples of the divide. According to the North Dakota Monitor, after five rounds of voting, Mathew Simon was chosen in June as the new chair of the state party in a 24-22 vote. Simon represents the populist wing of the party and longtime state lawmakers said that faction appears to have disdain for the governor and the Legislature. Rep. Bernie Satrom, R-Jamestown, said there was a general nastiness in how the newly elected state party leadership criticized the governor and Legislature at the June meeting. It is unclear if having District 25 at the June meeting would have changed the results, but their participation would have made a tie impossible and saved the state party the headache of five rounds of voting. Dissolving and reforming the district party After the failed June ratification meeting, District 25 was effectively dissolved. It ceased to exist. As far as we know, this has never happened before, and there's nothing in that part of the law that tells us how to deal with it, Evans said. After working with the attorney general, secretary of state, and Legislative Management, Evans said the state party decided to host a reorganization meeting on behalf of District 25. Peter Leedahl was appointed to facilitate the organization meeting as a temporary chair. The state party also provided a parliamentarian to ensure the meeting was run correctly. The new meeting was held on Aug. 12, and Evans was elected as chair. Leedahl told the Tribune that explaining the caucus method to district members took time but the meeting went smoothly. Smith accepted the result with equanimity. She said some of the people she had hoped would show up to the meeting were unable to attend, and the decisions are made by those who attend. The Tribune reached out to NDGOP state party leadership for comment and was told the party would not comment because officials felt it was better left to Evans. Evans said there is a lot the district needs to tackle in a short amount of time. He specified that century code leaves the district a "pretty short time frame" to appoint a replacement for Schreiber-Beck. I think our entire team was looking forward to having a moment to catch our breath ... but that moment is going to take a little bit longer to arrive, He said. He has not yet announced a replacement for Schreiber-Becks vacant seat. The most expensive public college for Alabama students is also considered to be one of the best regional schools in the nation. Troy University is the most expensive public four-year university for in-state undergraduate students in fall 2025, according to data gathered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. The latest U.S. News and World Report rankings lists Troy as No. 45 among regional universities in the South. Annual tuition rates for in-state students at the five most-expensive public colleges are: Troy University: $12,720 University of Montevallo: $12,510 University of Alabama: $11,684 University of Alabama at Birmingham: $11,640 Auburn University at Montgomery: $11,370 The tuition rates are based on full-time enrollment as an undergraduate and do not include fees. Full time in this report is 30 credit hours. Troy University is seeing an enrollment decline of about 10% from in-state students since 2015, according to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. However, several schools are seeing enrollment jumps in the last decade. Students have moved in to the University of Alabama month, and in-state enrollment has increased about 7% since 2015. Auburn University in-state enrollment increased 12% since 2015. Students looking to apply next year will see a major change in the admissions policy. Rates for graduate, doctoral, online and international students are calculated separately. A poster of Dolly Parton with the caption "Inspire a love of reading" is displayed in the lobby of Better Basics in Birmingham, Ala. on Jan. 26, 2023. The legendary country music artist's Imagination Library program is being expanded in Alabama to benefit foster children. Children in Alabamas foster care system will now receive a free book every month through country music legend Dolly Partons literacy nonprofit. Every child in Alabama deserves a strong start, and that foundation begins with reading, said Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey in a news release. By putting a new book in the hands of our youngest Alabamians each month, we are planting the seeds for a lifetime of learning and success. In partnership with the state Department of Early Childhood Education, the Department of Human Resources will automatically enroll all children ages 0-5 in foster care in the Imagination Library program from Dolly Parton. Those children will receive a free book in the mail every month as part of the program. The books are promised to be high-quality and age-appropriate. Since 2023, Alabama has participated in the Imagination Library program, which provides a free book every month for children from birth to age 5, so long as parents or guardians sign up for it. Now, Alabamas DHR will handle the enrollment for foster children at no cost to the foster parents. In the life of a foster child, circumstances are ever-changing, and these monthly books will be something these children will look forward to every month, said Alabama DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner in a news release. Gifting these books will be one way we work to ensure success in their life later down the road. Foster care parents caring for a child in the programs age range should expect a letter in the mail explaining the details of the program, according to the news release. Children will automatically roll off the program after their fifth birthday. Founded in 1995, the Imagination Library initially provided books to children in Sevier County, Tenn., where Parton grew up. It quickly expanded and today sends books to children all over the U.S., as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Ireland. Around one in seven children in the U.S. under the age of 5 receives monthly books from the Imagination Library, according to the news release. President Donald Trump speaks with members of law enforcement and National Guard soldiers, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP This is an opinion column A half-century ago, my dream job was being a white knight prosecutor helping crime victims in the fight between good and evil. I got to live that dream for four years, first as a Tuscaloosa assistant district attorney and then as the Madison County district attorney. That law-and-order fire in my belly prompts me to write about President Trumps ordering national guard and other federal resources into Washington, DC. Alabama vs Washington The FBI collects crime data in America for public use. It comes in two categories: Violent Crime (murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) and Property Crime (burglary, theft, and arson). Alabamas data gives perspective to Washingtons. In 2024, Birmingham was Alabamas most violent city, with 2,436 violent crimes and 115 killings. Second worst in the state was Mobile, with 1,783 violent crimes and 39 killings. Huntsville was best of the large cities at 1,105 violent crimes -- but, oddly, had 111 rapes, more than Alabamas three other major cities 103 combined. Although Alabamas biggest four cities have more combined population (850,000 to DCs 700,000), Washington has more violent crime and three times more robberies . And that disparity is worsened by the BIG CAVEAT that DC crime data is suspect because it arguably has been falsified by DC police to satisfy politicians demands to make DC crime appear less than it is. Violence in DC In my 12-year Washington experience, the Capitol, Mall, Ellipse and White House areas (heavily patrolled since they are terrorist targets) are all relatively safe during daylight hours. But if you go just a few blocks outside of those areas, you do so at your own peril. For example, I lived in a Navy Yard condo a few blocks south of the House Office Buildings. The Navy Yard is one of DCs safer areas. Yet I well remember a gun battle breaking out near National Stadium, a mere four blocks from my condo. A staffer for Rep. Sarah Jacobs, D-Cal., was assaulted and carjacked at the Harris Teeter grocery store three blocks from my condo. A Metro police officer was stabbed in the face at the Navy Yard metro station (three blocks from my condo) for confronting a criminal who refused to pay his metro fare. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who lived in the same condo complex as me, was carjacked by multiple armed, masked men. Cuellar, who represents the volatile Rio Grande border area, says Washington is two to three times more dangerous than his Texas district. As an aside, I drove an old 2003 Honda CR-V in DC that no criminal found worthy of stealing. Sometimes being frugal (my wife lovingly says cheap) has benefits! Even now, roving groups of 100 or more lawless teens wreak havoc in the Navy Yard area, assaulting bystanders and stoking fear. In May, two Israel Embassy staffers were murdered south of the White House. In June, just a few blocks north of Pennsylvania Avenue, a staffer for Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas, was randomly murdered after stepping out of a car. More recently, a White House DOGE staffer was attacked and severely beaten by criminals just a few blocks north of the White House . for protecting a woman. DCs violent crime is so bad U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, says he refuses to wear a seat belt . so he can more quickly exit his jeep should he become a carjacking target. Wow! I could go on and on. Each of DCs 6,500 violent crime victims in 2024 deserves public recognition. But I cant cover them all. You get the point. Crime is bad in Americas capitol. If you must visit, dont go at night and dont stray far from DCs protected areas. Trump to the Rescue! In response to DCs high crime rates, President Donald Trump mobilized the National Guard and other federal resources. Trumps intervention is long overdue by the executive branch and is appreciated by the vast majority of DCs law-abiding citizens. I dont know how effective Trumps efforts will be but at least he is trying. Kudos for that! Democrats respond The Democrats attack Trump for his intervention by stoking racism fears in hopes of getting an election day bloc vote, claiming that Trumps rhetoric portends violence against Black, Brown and poor citizens and complete disdain for the unhoused. This Democrat argument baffles me since law-abiding citizens of all races are clearly sick and tired of criminals running amok in their communities. Per a recent YouGov survey, 67% of Americans think crime in big cities is a major problem. Another 23% say it is a minor problem. Only 9% are unsure or say crime in major cities is not a problem. Worse yet for Democrats, their Black, Brown and poor voters they work so hard to cultivate disagree with Democrats pernicious soft-on-crime approach even more than the general population does. The same YouGov survey found that 73% of Hispanic Americans say crime is a major problem while 71% of Black Americans say the same. Thats a lot of voters Democrats are unnecessarily alienating. As a Republican, I say Hoorah!! President Trump hits Democrats on an issue Democrats cannot win but insist on flailing away at anyway. Why be soft on crime? You may ask, What motivates Democrats to alienate so many voters? Thats a great question. Just as fisherman fish where fish are; politicians campaign where votes are. As best as I can figure, the primary motivation for the Democrats soft-on-crime views is that, in many high crime areas in America, criminals (even including felons in jail) vote. And Democrats covet that felon bloc vote. It should surprise no one that criminals prefer soft-on-crime candidates. In turn, Democrat candidates perceive they must be soft-on-crime to get that criminal bloc vote (a bloc that ccould easily swing close Democrat primaries). Personally, I believe felons are not good citizens whose evil conduct demands forfeiture of voting rights. But thats me. DC is the opposite. In DC, and in some states like Vermont, felons serving time not only can lawfully vote, they are encouraged to do so! Yuck! I hate that Democrats feel compelled to support criminals and undermine law and order to enhance their prospect of winning Democrat primaries. But I give kudos to President Trump for standing strong against them! On this issue, Trump is 100% right and Democrats are 100% wrong. Period. Its not even close. On election day, Democrats will pay for their absurd and dangerous soft-on-crime policies should they persist in siding with criminals over law-abiding citizens. And deservedly so. Mo Brooks served on the House Armed Services Committee for 12 years and the Foreign Affairs Committee for 6 years. Brooks graduated from Duke University in 3 years with a double major in political science and economics (highest honors in economics). Voting runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 26, 2025 in most municipalities in the Birmingham region. Voters in Pelham will select their first new mayor in more than a dozen years on Tuesday and both names on the ballot are already familiar. Tuesday, Aug. 26 is election day in Pelham and throughout the Birmingham area. Two city council members, Maurice Mercer and Rick Wash, are stepping away from the dais in campaigns to claim the mayors seat to lead the Shelby County suburb of about 25,000 people. One of the candidates will replace Mayor Gary Waters, who is not seeking a fourth term. Mercer is currently the city council president. He announced his intention to run exactly a year before election day. On his campaign website, Mercer said he wanted to help support the citys growth. Community First is more than a motto, he wrote. I desire to be a driving force to help Pelham remain inclusive, transparent, and fiscally responsible. He listed education, public safety and economic development as his greatest priorities. My role as a city council president and serving various community boards has given me the experience needed to unify our council, advocate effectively for our residents, and lead, Mercer said on this website. My theme of Community First is about keeping residents safe, enhancing quality of life, supporting education and driving economic development. Mercer is a small business owner and a business accountant. Mercer touts initiatives accomplished during his three terms in public office including support for multiple restaurants coming to Pelham, mixed-use development along U.S. 11 and his support of the citys purchase of the former Oak Mountain Amphitheater. Last, it will be important to work with the council and city manager to maintain a fiscally responsible budget while providing excellent services and preserving our AAA bond rating, Mercer said on his website. Rick Wash is a retired Pelham police officer and business executive. He cites his lifelong ties to Pelham. Wash lists strong city schools, support for small business and support for city employees as essential. With a lifelong commitment to Pelham, a proven record in public service and business, and deep roots in this community, Im ready to serve again, Wash wrote on his campaign website. Ive served this city as a public servant, been a successful small business owner, and held key leadership roles in companies both local and national. I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility, teamwork, and strategic planning. Wash cites his long and varied career starting and managing businesses of various sizes as an asset he would bring to the city. I have a proven track record of managing large, complex projectsand I never forget the value of working together toward a common goal, he said. Wash said Pelham must continue its commitment to transparency and financial accountability while continuing to grow the city responsibly. Every dollar should be spent with the taxpayer in mind, ensuring we balance progress with prudence, he wrote in his campaign newsletter. Likewise, he said, support for public safety must remain a priority. That includes embracing camera technology for neighborhood security and supporting training and equipment for police officers. Wash also called for planned growth for the city. Bigger isnt always better, he wrote. We must carefully plan for smart growth, being wise stewards of the remaining land and ensuring development aligns with the values and vision of our community. For example, he calls for a comprehensive infrastructure plan to address future needs such as roads, lighting and utilities. We must invest today to support tomorrows success, Wash said. Candidates for the five-member council are: Place 1: David Coram (incumbent), Michelle Power Place 2: Will Blake, Chad Leverett (incumbent) Place 3: Cathy Cartagena, Tim Reddock, Chris Townes Place 4: Darius Foster, Ron Griggs, Markus Snowden Place 5 : Michael Harris (incumbent), Russell Platt Lipscomb, Alabama is home to about 2,000 people just outside Bessemer. Joseph D. Bryant Political divisions in the small town of Lipscomb are as solid and deep as the old railroad bed that runs in front of city hall. Three people are seeking to lead the tiny town of about 2,000 just outside Bessemer including the incumbent, her chief political rival on the council, and a disgruntled police officer who accuses the mayor of corruption. Incumbent Mayor Tanja Baldwin, former police officer Robin (Rob) Sims and Councilwoman Lakendria Poellnitz are seeking the position. Election day in Lipscomb and throughout the Birmingham area is Tuesday, Aug. 26. Lipscomb has seen tough times both economically and politically over the years as it struggles to attract businesses and a stable tax base to support the town. Past ventures in bingo, a quick-revenue generating, but legally questionable endeavor in Alabama, have led to state raids, forced closures and the freezing and forfeiture of city tax money. Adding to the burden is the longstanding feud between the mayor and council members over a variety of issues ranging from the citys handling of bingo permits and the status of city accounts, to who has authority over the police chief and who could hire the city attorney. The division has led to lawsuits, harsh words and a stalemate at city hall. Baldwin, who is seeking a second term as mayor, acknowledges the challenges, but highlights improvements made during her term. They include bringing city reserves from just $10,000 up to $1 million, she said. More money allowed the city to expand its police force, clear abandoned buildings and cut overgrown lots. Im putting in the work and Im standing on my record and the work Ive done, Baldwin said. The city is getting better and I have unfinished work to do. Baldwin, on her social media page, cautioned voters against embracing campaigns that magnified the citys challenges over its recent successes. Mayoral campaigns are not just a reflection of the candidate. How the campaign is run gives you a glimpse into how the candidate will govern if they win, Baldwin wrote in a post on her campaign Facebook page. Vision, hope, a plan, bringing people together, and receipts (a record of positive things you have done for citizens) are what we should be talking about. Candidates vying to lead have dramatically divergent views about the state of their town and what is needed for its future. Poellnitz has said she will not sit quietly when it comes to underscoring the serious problems in her town and a lack of leadership in the mayors office. I will not stay silent. I will not allow corruption to define the future of our city, she wrote on her campaign Facebook page and blog. We deserve leaders who follow the law, respect their oath, and put the people first. Poellnitz was among the council members asking Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall to intervene to resolve the dispute over the growth of bingo halls in the town. As mayor, Poellnitz said she would deliver transparent communication, work to bring reliable ambulatory services, and reform the police department to ensure fairness and integrity. Both Poellnitz and Sims are critics of the police departments leadership under its acting chief and under Baldwins administration. What has been happening inside City Hall is not politics as usual, but corruption, retaliation, and a deliberate abuse of power, Poellnitz wrote recently. She said the mayor has crossed a line that no leader should ever cross by removing Police Chief Lanita Neal. Neal continues to fight to restore her previous position. This is not a misunderstanding but a pattern of lawlessness that puts every single citizen at risk, Poellnitz wrote. If the mayor can do this to our Police Chief, whats stopping her from doing it to anyone else in Lipscomb? Sims echoes similar criticism as Poellnitz regarding the police department. Sims accuses Baldwin and the acting police chief, Jatavius Merritt, of firing him in retaliation for him running for office. I stood with courage, with a holy boldness, and with my faith intact. Because integrity will always win, Sims said in a campaign Facebook post this week. Right will always win. Now that this has been addressed, its time to finish strong. Both Merritt and Baldwin deny any wrongdoing and no lawsuit has yet been filed against them. Sims said that as mayor he would restore relations between the mayor and council. Also, he said the citys leader must be emotionally grounded, guided by logic, critical thinking and consistency. As Mayor of Lipscomb, Alabama, I am committed to working with our City Council listening, collaborating, and building together, he wrote. Being mayor doesnt mean I lead alone it means Im a team player, working alongside other leaders to serve our community. Along with the mayoral contest, Lipscomb voters will also elect a new council. Candidates are: District 1: Allision R. Early, Monique Wilkerson District 2: Christine Burrell Unopposed incumbent District 3: Vanessa Reed Unopposed incumbent District 4: Erskine R. Davis, Michelle S. Proctor (incumbent) District 5: Sonya Coleman, Barbara Moore (incumbent) Two people were killed in a Friday morning crash outside of Moulton in Lawrence County. Timothy J. Early and James I. Early, both from Moulton, died Friday after a two-vehicle accident around 10:40 a.m. on State Highway 33, near County Road 214, according to a Saturday news release. The driver of a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban was also injured in the wreck and transported to Helen Keller Hospital for treatment. State troopers say that the men were fatally injured when the Suburban struck the 1984 Toyota pickup truck Timothy Early, 58, was driving. James Early, 63, was a passenger. The Suburban left the roadway and struck a ditch, according to the release. Neither man was using a seat belt at the time of the crash, and they were pronounced dead at the scene. State troopers continue to investigate, and no more information is available, according to the release. South Alabamas swamps, wetlands and prairies are home to one of the most graceful fliers in the bird world. The swallow-tailed kite lurks in the tops of trees and soars over open fields. Like their cousins, the Mississippi kites, swallow-tailed kites catch and eat much of their prey on the wing, or while flying. They are masterful fliers, able to soar easily and turn on a dime. Swallow-tailed kites can even roll and dive backward in the air to catch insects behind them, according to Cornell University. This is a bird that finesses everything, said Greg Harber, a birder with Alabama Audubon, the local chapter of the national group. They are truly the ballerina of the skies. And, to top it off, they also have a truly striking appearance. The kites are long and slender, with white heads and bellies. But their backs, wings, and long forked tail are black, creating a distinctive look On a birding trip in Autauga County, Harber said he saw swallow-tailed kites dive 15 feet to catch a Junebug. But swallow-tailed kites are meant for soaring, not battling headwinds. Their wingspan is around four feet long, but the birds only weigh around a pound, so they lack the strength that other raptors, like eagles and hawks, are known for. Its fitting that toy kites are named for the bird, not the other way around, Harber said. In the summer, swallow-tailed kites nest in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, in tall trees near water. They soar over the trees and into open fields looking for food: insects, snakes or even small birds. Theyll tear apart the food with their talons and then bring it to their beak, all while flying, Harber said. After the birds have nested and raised their young, they begin to gather in open fields in Alabamas Black Belt, or even around the Auburn-Opelika area near the Georgia line. There, the juvenile birds, almost as big as the adults, hunt for food with the adults in preparation for their long flight south for the winter. They were one of the stars of this months Black Belt Birding Festival, held in the region the first week of August. Along with the Mississippi kites, they followed behind a tractor as it cut hay and caught the insects that were stirred up. A swallow-tailed kite hunts for insects as a tractor harvests hay. Swallow-tailed kites and Mississippi kites will follow behind tractors and catch the insects that have been stirred up for food. (Photo by Gregory J. Harber Gregory J. Harber Starting in September, the birds will leave Alabama and migrate south through Florida. Harber said at least a thousand of them will roost in a wildlife preserve called Fisheating Creek near Lake Okeechobee in south Florida. From there, the swallow-tailed kites will travel to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, through Central America and eventually ending in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, where they spend the winter. However, in order to get to the rainforest, the birds have to cross the Andes Mountains in South America. There is a pass in the mountain range that is low enough elevation for the birds to cross, Harber said. Though its only six miles wide, every bird tracked during migration one year had to cross through the pass. The number of swallow-tailed kites has dwindled over the years. Their range in the U.S. is now limited to the coastline of six Gulf Coast states. It used to extend all the way north to Minnesota, according to the Audubon Society. Over the last century, the birds have largely disappeared from everywhere but the far southeast. Alabama lists the birds as a species of high conservation concern, and estimates that there are no more than 5,000 swallow-tailed kites in total by the time nesting season ends each year. The states department of conservation and natural resources says the greatest threat to these birds is the loss of habitat, a common threat to many endangered species. Harber says hes a little more optimistic about the birds chances in Alabama: The Mobile-Tensaw Delta remains largely undeveloped. The coastal area is so popular, thats putting stress on any bird, Harber said. But theres good habitat for them in our state because the Delta is protected. President Donald Trump speaks as Vice President JD Vance listens in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP Donald Trump was asked about the Epstein files again in a meeting with the media on Friday, and his response has folks talking. Im in support of keeping it open, the president said when asked about the Justice Department sending the files to the House Oversight Committee. Innocent people shouldnt be hurt, but Im in support of keeping it totally open, I couldnt care less. Youve got a lot of people that could be mentioned in those files that dont deserve to be, he added. Because (Epstein) knew everybody in Palm Beach. I dont know anything about that, but I have said to (Attorney General) Pam (Bondi) and everybody else, give them everything you can give them because its a Democrat hoax. Trump was not through. So, we had the greatest six months, seven months in the history of the presidency, and the Democrats dont know what to do so they keep brining up that stuff, he said. Trump then claimed the hoax files were created by Democrats and implicated Democrats. Bill Clinton was on his plane and went to the island supposedly 28 times. I dont want to bring that up frankly, Trump said while bringing it up. Larry whatever his name is Summers, he was Jeffery Epsteins best friend. Nobody ever talks about that. But I dont want to hurt Larry Summers. But he was best friends with Jeffrey Epstein. This is a Democratic hoax to try to get the significance of what weve done over the past seven months, nobody has ever seen anything like it, Trump continued. They say its number-one in history. What weve done, including stopping seven wars just include that. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Trump was told by Bondi that he is in the Epstein files. When she reviewed the truckload of files that she said she had, she discovered that the presidents name appeared in them multiple times, the outlet reported citing senior administration officials. The site said that Trump was told many other high-profile figures were also named. Being named in the files is not proof that a crime was committed. The officials who spoke to the Wall Street Journal said that the files contained what they felt was unverified hearsay about many people, including Trump. The officials said Trump said at the meeting he would defer to the Justice Department on whether or not to release the files. Trump is currently suing the Wall Street Journal for its report that he sent Jeffrey Epstein a provocative card with a sketch of a naked woman for his 50th birthday. Trump was actually named in the Epstein Files: Phase 1 released by Bondi back in February. You can review the files on the justice departments website, here. Trump is listed on the flight logs a total of seven times. Also, previously reported to be on the Epstein flight logs, per Newsweek, were the likes of former president Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew of England, Naomi Campbell, David Copperfield, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, former vice president Al Gore, Stephen Hawking and Bruce Willis. PEOPLE said Trump was listed on page 24 of the first flight log which was dated Oct. 11, 1993, and twice more on page 27 with at the time, Marla Maples, daughter Tiffany Trump and a nanny on May 15, 1994. PEOPLE said three of the dates that Trump was on the flight logs also had Epsteins initials on them as well. Ghislaine Maxwell, the site said, had her initials listed on an Oct. 1993 flight along with Trump. Flying on Epsteins plane also does not mean the president or any of those celebrities committed a crime. English News Shanghai FTZ experience spurs innovation-driven growth through institutional reform Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 23 Aout 2025 Leveraging the FTZ's role as a testing ground, Ant International, an affiliate of China's Alibaba Group, has introduced two new services: enabling overseas bank cards to be linked to Alipay, China's leading mobile payment platform, and allowing overseas e-wallets to be used directly in China. By Luo Shanshan, Ding Qianqian At Nangang Terminal in southeast Shanghai, a roll-on/roll-off vessel was steadily berthed at the dock, as a fleet of electric vehicles bound for export drove in an orderly manner into the ship's hold under a "first-line direct customs release" model. "Under this model, companies are exempt from customs declarations. With a single self-declaration, goods can move directly into and out of the Yangshan Free Trade Zone, significantly improving clearance efficiency," explained an official from Yangshan Customs under Shanghai Customs. As the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) pursues its goal of becoming a global shipping hub, it has refined its multi-country consolidation model. Cargo shipped from overseas, transiting via Yangshan, and bound for a third country, is exempt from inspection, cutting overall handling time by 50 percent. This reform has driven the proportion of international transit and consolidated cargo at Yangshan Port from 12.6 percent to 18.6 percent, propelling it to the top of the global container port performance rankings. In the first half of this year alone, approximately 52,000 bonded vehicles were exported through consolidation, sharply reducing logistics costs. In recent years, the Shanghai FTZ has pioneered institutional innovation, exploring new pathways and achieving "zero-to-one" breakthroughs to steadily expand institutional opening up, providing what has become known as the "Shanghai FTZ experience." Seventy-seven pilot measures tested in Shanghai will soon be promoted nationwide, extending the benefits of institutional innovation across a broader landscape. Beyond trade facilitation, Shanghai has taken the lead in formulating high-standard digital trade rules. The city is promoting regulated cross-border data flows, advancing digital technology applications, and expanding data openness and sharing. At the Shanghai Data Exchange in Pudong New Area, intangible and invisible data products dominate corporate discussions. Meeting the rising demand for precise and efficient data transactions is a pressing concern. According to Li Denggao, deputy general manager of the Shanghai Data Exchange, the exchange has established a cross-border data trading framework, developed a trusted delivery mechanism and released trading rules, gradually laying a solid market foundation. In the first half of this year, the exchange's transaction volume exceeded 3 billion yuan ($417.39 million), a year-on-year increase of more than 50 percent. Secure and efficient cross-border data flows are vital for companies' international operations. At the Cross-border Data Service Center in the Lin-gang Special Area of Shanghai pilot FTZ, real-time operation guidelines are displayed on electronic screens, tailored to industry-specific scenarios. In the intelligent connected vehicle sector, for example, guidelines cover cross-border production and manufacturing, global research and development testing, global after-sales services, and the global used car trade. "In the past, cross-border data flows were managed from an industry-wide perspective, which was not sufficiently targeted for enterprises," said Lu Sen, head of the data division of the Administrative Committee of the Lin-gang Special Area. "We have identified specific data fields requiring across-border transfer and compiled detailed lists with relevant authorities to address the real challenges faced by enterprises." In February this year, the administrative committee of the Lin-gang Special Area, together with Shanghai Cyberspace Administration and other departments, jointly issued a negative list for data exports in the Shanghai FTZ. In May, it followed with detailed operational guidelines for such exports. Financial innovation has also been a hallmark of the Shanghai FTZ. From establishing China's first foreign-controlled joint-venture wealth management company and the first wholly foreign-owned public fund, to building an international oil and gas trading center, executing the first cross-border RMB settlement for international crude oil in digital currency, and piloting relaxed rules on non-resident mergers and acquisitions loans, the FTZ has delivered many "firsts" in financial opening up. These breakthroughs have been followed by deeper reforms, including optimizing cross-border cash pooling for multinational corporations, advancing payment service internationalization, and continuously enhancing the free trade account system. With inbound tourism and shopping in China continuing to boom, improving payment convenience for overseas visitors has become another focus. Leveraging the FTZ's role as a testing ground, Ant International, an affiliate of China's Alibaba Group, has introduced two new services: enabling overseas bank cards to be linked to Alipay, China's leading mobile payment platform, and allowing overseas e-wallets to be used directly in China. From downloading an app and linking international bank cards to scanning and paying directly with an overseas e-wallet, inbound visitors now enjoy greater payment convenience. Meng Huating, director of the free trade zone and free trade port department of China's Ministry of Commerce, said the ministry will continue to work with relevant departments to actively support localities in replicating and adapting the "Shanghai FTZ experience" in light of their strategic positioning, industrial strengths, and local conditions. Dans la meme rubrique : < > A Chinese hero remembered in reverence They Leave to Uplift, Not to Escape: How Migration Sustains Lesothos Quiet Villages Chinese couple runs 'first-aid stall' for eight years to teach life-saving skills Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) From Wikipedia Commons: The Battle of Marston Moor (John Barker, before 1886) In historical times, the British Isles were first inhabited by Celts. Then they were invaded by Romans who withdrew after a few hundred years. Anglo-Saxons immediately replaced the departing southerners, landing in droves on the English east coast. Vikings also crossed the North Seas and tried their luck, gradually integrating with the natives. Finally, the isles were conquered by Normans a third Germanic wave. England and the rest of Britain have experienced numerous invasions from outside. However, ethnic peculiarities of neighboring peoples from the continent have been absorbed into the existing culture and have enriched it over time. Only in the last thirty years have the British experienced unlimited flows of aliens that threaten their own culture with extinction. In addition to foreign invasions, British history is punctuated by moments of intense internal conflict. The English Civil War (16421651), a series of armed clashes between Parliamentarians and Royalists (known as Roundheads and Cavaliers, respectively), became instrumental in shaping the Britain that we used to know. The protracted state of war, intermittently complicated by Scottish and Irish independence efforts, not only settled the balance of power between monarchy and parliament but also deeply affected the religious, cultural, and political fabric of the nation. Pious, proud, and principled, Charles I, son of Scottish-born King James VI, House of Stuart, ascended the English throne as ruler of three kingdoms (England, Scotland, and Ireland) in 1625. Like his father, he believed firmly in the divine right of kings: the idea that monarchs were appointed by God and accountable only to Him. This belief tempted him to govern without parliamentary consent for long periods and impose unpopular taxes and policies. The urban bourgeoisie (e.g. merchants) and lesser gentry resented his autocratic rule and demanded a greater share for Parliament in governance. Intra-Christian divisions plagued England long after the break with the Roman Catholic Church (1534). Officially, papal authority had been renounced. However, Puritans swore to cleanse their church definitively of any pre-Anglican liturgy. What is more, Parliamentarians of Puritan persuasion viewed the kings religious policies as Catholic-leaning and obstinate. Royalists, on the other hand, supported the hierarchical Anglican church and the kings authority over religious matters. While Royalists were largely aristocrats, greater gentry, and others loyal to tradition and monarchy, eager to maintain the established order, Parliamentarians, by contrast, included politically ambitious segments from prosperous areas and Puritans impatient for more parliamentary authority and religious reform. The war was fierce and brutal. Battles such as those of Marston Moor and Naseby eventually decided the matter, leading to the capture and trial of King Charles I in 1646 and 1649, respectively. Anticipating the fate of Louis XVI and Nicholas II, his public execution was a dramatic turning point that shocked Europe. A shrewd commander and devout Puritan, Oliver Cromwell would prove his abilities as leader of the Parliamentarian movement. After the royal execution, he set up the Commonwealth of England, a republican government that abolished the monarchy and the House of Lords. With the tyrannical privilege of making arbitrary decisions, a proto-revolutionary, he ruled Britain as Lord Protector (a peculiarly Orwellian title). However, his tenure brought relative stability after years of unrest. Distrustful of both Catholics and political dissenters until the end, he enforced Puritan moral reforms. Civil wars inherently threaten social cohesion by pitting neighbor against neighbor. Yet, the English example shows how they may paradoxically increase sociocultural integration. So, albeit destructive in the short term, the war created a narrative vital to nation building the process of forging an integrated political community from diverse social and religious groups. The conflict forced England to reconsider the nature of authority and governance. Ultimately, by challenging the divine right of kings and stipulating parliamentary sovereignty, Parliamentarians laid the foundation for a constitutional framework that unified the nation under shared laws and institutions. The historical process drew inspiration from politico-legal traditions dating back to the Magna Carta of 1215. Signed nearly 400 years before the war, the charter stated that neither the king himself nor his government was above the law. Additionally, it guaranteed certain legal protections to the nobility. Originally intended to curb the abuses of King John, it became a venerable symbol and legal precedent for limiting royal power. Its ideals such as the protection against arbitrary rule and the affirmation of legal rights were echoed by Parliamentarians as they resisted King Charles Is autocracy. In the context of national reconciliation, the Restoration Settlement of 1660 was to become a precursor to the constitutional monarchy. At his coronation, Charles II accepted the limits on royal power decided by Parliament. A purported advocate of tolerance, he tried to restore social peace and trust. Much as the war disrupted traditional institutions, it stimulated new ideas about governance, rights, and religious freedom. Recovering from hostilities, which highlighted the menaces of autocracy and religious intolerance, the nation showed resilience. Inspired by principles of parliamentary sovereignty, rule of law, and individual rights, it fostered a political culture that prized negotiation, legal frameworks, and representative government. Like a phoenix, England emerged as a remarkably stable, orderly, and civilized society the cradle of modern Western civilization. The laborious process of nation building, highly indebted to Magna Carta, and the post-war reinforcement of social cohesion succeeded after all. The English people united in a common culture, ensuring its long-term prosperity and global legacy. Now, however, patiently invaded, England is broken. Unlike the drama at Hastings in 1066, the Islamic conquest has been insidious. Across the British Isles, a shift is taking place from a high-trust society, presupposing a homogenous culture, towards a multicultural no-mans-land characterized by widespread suspicion and division. Alienation originates from foreign clan loyalties, which corrupt civil society and public institutions, religious supremacism, and social segregation. Analogous to Maos Long March, Marxist activist Rudi Dutschke introduced the Long March through the Institutions. The revolutionary scheme was to seize academia in order to prepare the people for the showdown with Western civilization. In 1997, PM Tony Blair decided to change his country forever and let the Muslim masses in. Fresh supplies of dispossessed became necessary for socialist rule in the absence of a belligerent working class. At this point, public institutions had been taken over by anti-Western progressives. In recent years, jihadist atrocities committed by rape gangs have provoked public outrage. Targeting minors has proven to be a criminal specialty of certain ethnic groups. In the wake of a cover-up by authorities and politicians, news media have revealed the depth of Islamic contempt, intertwining with concerns about mass immigration and Islamization of society. The unprecedented case of tribal warfare has increased tensions and distrust between communities and public institutions. As the invasion progresses, the future balance of power becomes clearer. Christians, whether Catholic or Anglican, and Jews are in retreat. The political elite, as if it were a vassal court, betrays the indigenous people, denying them the right to speak freely and defend themselves against injustice. Unforgivingly, its police and courts persecute those who openly resist the anti-civilizational transformation of society. If the ancient giants could see their descendants humble themselves and cower before Muslim invaders see them submit and become enslaved in their own homeland, surrendering the green isles that their ancestors cultivated and inhabited for millennia Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Norman warriors alike would turn in their graves. David Betz, Professor of War at Kings College, London, argues that Western societies particularly Britain are drifting towards a new kind of civil war. Nothing like a war in the traditional sense, it is a decentralized, low-intensity conflict rooted in tribal identity, grievance, and collapsing trust. As public institutions fail to mediate social tensions, animosity freezes along ethnic, religious, and ideological lines. Betz sees growing alienation among young people, eroded faith in political systems, and state incapacity to enforce norms as ominous signs of breakdown. Awaiting the caliphate, as predicted by demographics, the warring parties will engage in urban disorder, infrastructure sabotage, and community self-policing. In the crumbling ruins of Western civilization, the state itself becomes just one faction among many. Lebanonization. Anarchy. For Britain, that is the end of the road. Forsyth County, North Carolina has decided to raise property tax values by an enormous amount, which is not surprising for a county controlled by Democrats and RINOS. One property owner told me that his 36-year-old 1,600-square-foot house, which was formerly appraised at $125,500, was just re-appraised at $242,600; this is a 93.3% increase in property tax value. (The median home value in Forsyth County is $163,426, which is already 25% higher than the national median value of $130,626.) This homeowner appealed this increase in February of 2025, as he thought this level of increase was absurd. His new appraisal showed 0% for economic depreciation and 0% for functional depreciation, yet he received the new bill with the enormously high property tax value the first of August. Contacting the tax office, they said they had no record of his appeal, and he was patched through to a lead tax deferment specialist with twenty years of experience, who on two separate occasions stated that just because the appeal was not scanned into the system does not mean that they do not have it. So, the homeowner asked if he could send a copy of the appeal to the specialist so that it could be put into the system. Upon doing this, he promptly received a telephone call stating that his appeal had been deemed untimely and the July 7, 2025 newly appointed tax assessor stated that all appeals had been scanned into the system, and the 20-year tax specialist was in error. This homeowner is still fighting. How could something like this happen? How could property tax values be raised so enormously high? Well, apparently the Board of Commissioners took a vote in June of 2025. The board consists of four Republicans and three Democrats. This sounds like a board that was elected by conservatives wanting lower taxes, but when two of the republicans are RINOS who vote with the spend-and-tax Democrats, the vote for the enormous rise in property taxes was passed. The members of the board who voted for the tax increase are Republicans Don Martin and Gray Wilson along with Democrats Dan Besse and Tonya McDaniel. While the average countywide increase in property tax value increased 53%, Don Martins $934,600 home increased 32%, Gray Wilsons $1.5 million home increased 43%, Dan Besses $254,100 home increased 45%, and Tonya McDaniels $210,400 home increased 46%. The three members of the board who voted against the tax increase are Republicans Gloria Whisenhunt and Richard Linville, and Democrat Shari Woodbury. Gloria Whisenhunts $527,200 home increased 38%, Richard Linvilles $185,500 home increased 47%, and Shai Woodburys $31,000 home increased 52%. Inquiring as to why they voted against the bill, the two Republicans responded that they wanted a lower rate, as would be expected. Surprisingly, when the Democrat who voted against the bill was asked her reason for the no vote, she said she thought the increase should be higher to help the financially strapped Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS). While thinking about all this mess on the drive home from work, the national radio news stated that the WS/FCS is right now $46 million dollars in debt. How do you get $46 million dollars in debt in a school district? The buildings are built. You can use last years books. It is true you would have to purchase new paper and pencils. Perhaps pencils and paper must cost more than we all realize. Researching this further reveals that state auditor Dave Boliel just released his audit of the WS/FCS. Mr. Boliels audit reveals: More than $75 million in bonuses were given out as WS/FCS overspent its annual revenue during FY 2022 and FY 2023. WS/FCS used COVID-era temporary federal funding to support staff salaries, but once the federal funds dried up, WS/FCS did not remove positions and instead absorbed the costs. WS/FCS failed to reduce its staffing levels proportionally despite a decrease in its student population. WS/FCS manually overrode the budget 311 times to approve purchase orders. WS/FCE did not reconcile budgeted and actual revenue and expenditures in a timely manner. WS/FCS misused suspense accounts meant to hold transactions until proper classification. As of June 5, 2025, the total balance under all the suspense accounts was more than $332 million. In standard accounting practice, all items in a suspense account should be promptly investigated and resolved to ensure the account regularly maintains a zero balance. WS/FCS was not fully reviewing all active contracts when creating the systems annual budget. With a $46 million deficit, more than $75 million paid out in bonuses, and $332 million in a suspense account, when does someone go to jail? When do individuals get fired? Another article used these terms, WS/FCS mismanaged money for years, state audit shows. Isnt mismanagement of government money against the law? WS/FCS is the fourth largest school district in the state of North Carolina, and it has a $46M budget hole. Further investigation reveals that the former Forsyth County tax assessor and collector, John Burgiss, retired at age 55, May 31, 2025. According to records at openpayrolls.com, in 2022 Burgiss was making $70.97/hour. Thats around $136,000/year. That is 252.6 percent higher than the average pay of co-workers and 105.8 percent higher than the national average for government employees. Maybe Mr. Boliel needs to perform an audit of the Forsyth County tax assessors office as well. Mr. Boliel stated, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools dug itself into a deep financial hole, and its going to take real discipline to climb out of it. Is it discipline they need to climb out of the deep financial hole or is it an enormous increase in property taxes? If there is a connection between these latter two, it would be like a banker robber robs a bank and gets away with the money. Instead of catching and jailing the robbers, the bank just decided to decrease all interest, increase fees, and pass along the deficits to all the law-abiding citizens. When do the crooks go to jail? Image generated by AI. As Winston Churchill once noted, The only thing worse than having allies is not having allies. As a cabinet member during World War I (during which he also served for a while in the trenches in France) and British prime minister during World War II and the early Cold War, he knew firsthand the disagreements within but then the ultimate triumph of strong alliances. President Donald Trump knows both facets as well. His White House gathering of the leaders of the major nations of Europe followed weeks of heated negotiations over trade problems between the United States and the European Union. But the group photo on August 18, with President Trump in the center with Ukrainian Hero-President Volodymyr Zelensky on his right and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on his left sent a powerful message that the West was united against the aggression of Russia. President Trumps pledge to support NATO-member troops on the ground in Ukraine with American airpower as part of a security guarantee, along with his earlier deal to develop and profit from Ukrainian rare earth elements critical to advanced technology, means America remains actively engaged in European defense strategy as the leader of the Free World. This role that dominated the 20th century was in full view as the leaders of the major nations sat crowded around the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Ukraine is not a one-off situation any more than Israel is, or any of the other conflict zones around the world. As the lead nation in the lead civilization of the modern world, the U.S. operates with its allies across the globe. A week before the White House meeting, the U.S., UK, and Japan conducted a major joint naval operation in the Philippine Sea, an area marked by Chinese aggression. Two American, one British, and one Japanese aircraft carrier launched their U.S.-made F-35 fighter planes in a massive show of force. The British Carrier Strike Group 2025 had sailed from the UK to take part in this and other joint operations with aligned nations along its the way around the world including India. Sailing from Europe as part of CSG 2025 are warships from NATO-partners Spain and Norway. Joining the group at various times have been warships from the former British Empire states of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In February, a French carrier strike group conducted joint exercises with the U.S. 7th Fleet and Japanese forces in the Philippine Sea. The Chinese Communist Party media outlet Global Times denounced this as aggravating tensions in the region. Beijing opposes any European interest in Asia. On the same day as the White House meeting, Global Times denounced remarks by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Japan claiming China had issued public threats in the Taiwan Straits, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea. He specifically called attention to "China's behavior in the Taiwan Straits is aggressive" and stated "Germany and Japan are standing together against the crisis of the global security environment caused by Russia and China." Beijings Foreign Ministry reiterated its false claim that the fate of Taiwan was purely an internal affair, as if Taiwan has not been a very successful self-ruled island state for over 75 years. China is particularly sensitive to German remarks, having long considered Berlin to be the bellwether of European opinion, which under former chancellor Angela Merkel had been uninterested in strategic policy. But the first Trump administration had pushed NATO to get involved in Asia, as laid out in the NATO 2030 position paper. Global Times was correct on one point, these naval deployments are meant to show Europe's military value and strategic stance in the context of security in the Asia-Pacific to the US, thereby seeking to secure the US' continued deep commitment to NATO and European security. This is also true of the joint operations China has been conducting with Russia including one this month in the Western Pacific. Though these exercises have been smaller than those conducted between the U.S. and its allies, they have not been inconsequential as demonstrations of unity against the West. Some have even involved joint flights of nuclear-capable strategic bombers. Moscow hopes by showing support for Beijings ambitions in Asia, it will get more support for its invasion of Ukraine. It should be remembered just 20 days before Russia attacked Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin at the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing. The two leaders issued a joint statement declaring that China and Russias bilateral partnership was greater than a traditional alliance and that their friendship would know no limits. Putin has received vital support for his aggression from his allies. Weapons from Iran, troops from North Korea and money plus industrial supplies from China. Yet Beijing has not made anything public displays on a par with President Trumps meeting with NATO and EU leaders. Putin had assured Xi that victory would be quick in Ukraine with minimal Western response. When this proved not to be the case, Xi had second thoughts about any deep association with a losing cause that has provoked Western mobilization. Everyone knows that how things play out in Ukraine will affect how Beijing thinks about a possible invasion of Taiwan. Xi had ordered his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, but President Trump says Xi told him that he would not invade during Trumps term. That is another benefit of a credible peace through strength posture. During these coming years, the increased military spending and defense industry expansion on both sides of the Atlantic that President Trump has instigated will hopefully continue to give Beijing pause even after 2028 if his successor keeps these positive trends moving forward. Vice President J.D. Vance is the odds-on favorite to be that successor, but as a senator expressed what many considered an ignorant view of alliances and Americas leadership in the world. Hopefully, he will have learned better watching events like the August 18 Oval Office meeting. In Alaska, Putin again claimed he attacked Ukraine to block NATO expansion, which he saw as a threat to his revanchist ambitions. NATO expands when free nations, with centuries of painful experience, join a collective security organization to defend against Russia, which has always expanded by fire and sword. Putin has proven these concerns were valid. The free nations of Asia also have a long history of war and empire. They correctly see China as a threat, with ties to other violent regimes in Russia, Iran and North Korea that undermine Beijings image as a lover of peace. NATO expansion into Asia is thus also warranted in conjunction with the network of alliances the U.S. already leads there. That NATO conducts exercises with India is crucial. The Quad alignment of India with Japan, Australia, and the U.S. tips the balance of power in Asia in our favor. Australia is also supplementing its own shipbuilding by ordering frigates from South Korea and Japan, an idea that is gaining attention in the U.S. As the great ancient writer on war and strategy Thucydides noted, What encourages men who are invited to join a conflict is clearly not the good will of those who summon them to their side, but a decided superiority in power. The American alliance system combines the most advanced and wealthiest nations on the planet into a common front against common enemies who cannot match their strength when exercised by resolute leadership. Adversaries constantly work to break up this network, but the advantages of alliances are so obvious, their attempts will continue to prove futile. The word abundance and the phrase abundance agenda are everywhere in blue political circles and causing quite a bit of consternation over there, so I decided to plow into it and see what its all about. What is the Abundance Agenda? Via a May 2025 Jonathan Chait piece in The Atlantic: After percolating for years among policy wonks, the abundance agenda a term coined by my colleague Derek Thompson in a 2022 essay ascended suddenly in response to the deflating failure of the Biden administrations policy program. In short, the Abundance Agenda is the notion that government can and should do more vis-a-vis public and private building projects, both home building and infrastructure building, especially green projects, but in order to do that, the cumbersome leviathan of liberal regulations needs to be pared down considerably and thats where the trouble starts. Bright blue progressives dont like that part. The Atlantic piece goes on to describe the lefts general disappointment with the lack of shovel ready projects in Obamas big spending programs and then later with the lack of anything tangible or durable coming out of Bidens big spending programs. They just couldnt understand why trillions of government dollars didnt result in a glistening utopia on the order of I.G.Y. by Steely Dans Donald Fagen. Id never noticed before, but dang, it tracks perfectly with their vision for an urban green Xanadu: Here at home well play in the city Powered by the sun Perfect weather for a streamlined world Therell be spandex jackets one for everyone What a beautiful world this will be What a glorious time to be free... On that train all graphite and glitter Undersea by rail Ninety minutes from New York to Paris (More leisure for artists everywhere)... What a beautiful world this will be... So they sat themselves down and had a think. The Abundance Agenda in policy and book form is what they came up with. Its surprising in some ways...and in others, just your standard redistribution scheme. The most important piece of it is the cutting regulations piece. Yes. Democrats. Advocating cutting regulations just the ones to advance their agenda, but still... An actual moment of self-reflection! Via an August 15, 2025 Axios piece entitled Abundance Movement Sparks Dems Identity Fight for 2028: Abundance was popularized by this years bestselling book of the same name by New York Times columnist Ezra Klein and journalist Derek Thompson. The idea: Democrats have lost voters trust because of governing failures in blue cities and states, and need to respond by cutting excess regulations to build more housing, energy projects and more. Liberals speak as if they believe in government and then pass policy after policy hamstringing what it can actually do, the authors wrote. Indeed. Hence the fight among themselves over it. The Los Angeles Review of Books summarizes it this way: Why is it so hard to build in the United States? Over the last 50 years, a set of regulations and procedural obstacles pioneered primarily by those on the left have, in Klein and Thompsons view, gone from asset to liability. Environmental review processes cost millions of dollars and slow projects by years. Requirements to use union workers on public projects decrease the number of bids and increase costs. Consider just the environmental faction here. Many of these progressive green groups derive their entire identities thus the entirety of their funding through the promise of litigation and rule-making. The Abundance Agenda is taking direct aim at them and their livelihoods, and they dont like it one little bit. How popular is it? According to Jonathan Chait at The Atlantic: Three new books have expressed abundance-agenda themes: Abundance, by Thompson and Ezra Klein; Stuck, by my colleague Yoni Appelbaum; and Why Nothing Works, by the Brown University scholar Marc Dunkelman. The proliferation of such works is a sign of the excitement these ideas have generated. And the abundance libs are rapidly winning over Democratic politicians, especially moderate ones. Its really the Thompson/Klein book thats caught fire. Via the June 1 Wall Street Journal: The book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson has been a surprise hit, with a sold-out national tour, hundreds of thousands of copies sold and two months on the bestseller list since its release in March. Hundreds of thousands of copies is insane. Thats a hugely successful book. Most nonfiction books will sell a few hundred copies in the first few months, and maybe one to three thousand copies over their lifetime. There are exceptions, of course, but thats the point: They are exceptions. Whos on board with it? Theres a bipartisan (!) Abundance caucus in the House, and theres this familiar group of motley fools, says the WSJ. Democratic politicians are rushing to embrace the new mantra. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis have all name-checked it publicly. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker discussed it at length in his recent 25-hour Senate speech. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and the U.S. Senates Democratic caucus are among the many politicians who have recently sought the authors counsel. Not one but two congressional caucuses have recently formed to push legislation advancing the ideas laid out in the book. Whos not on board with it? Hardcore progressives, mostly. They regard it as a way to take away their power to shape policy. Much of their power derives from non-profit groups practicing what the right might call, for one example, eco-lawfare, like the launching of a (ridiculous) lawsuit over an endangered frog (or something) to stop a builder from building. Abundance appears to be a shot across their bow. It also has in mind what we used to call blue dog Democrats, the more moderate wing, which has all but disappeared nowadays. The Abundance movement seems to have acted as a kind of permission structure for those more moderate Democrats to now come forward and show themselves. What the Abundance Agenda is not This is not a paean to regulatory conservatism. Via The Wall Street Journal, April 16: A rightward turn, however, theirs is not. Messrs. Klein and Thompson appear to have only contempt for American conservatism, their knowledge of it confined to what liberal journalists and academics have written about Reagan, the Tea Party and Donald Trump. The authors might best be described as Marxist technocrats smart enough to know theyll need a market economy to pay for their utopian vision. I dont use the term Marxist for effect. The books conclusion includes three paragraphs on how the Communist Manifesto was right about production. Conclusion In short, the Abundance movement has caused a fissure in the Democrat party. They may have actually found a way to grow the party instead of shrink it further, and instead of embracing it wholesale, they are circular sniping. I say stand back and let them fight. Image via Pixabay. Australia canola's re-entry into Chinese market threatens Canada's dominance Kate HelmoreAgriculture and food policy reporter July 30, 2025 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-australia-canola-china-market-tariffs/ Australian canola is poised to take a sizable chunk of Canadas market share in China, where Canada has historically dominated sales but is now facing significant trade winds. Five cargoes of 150,000 to 250,000 tonnes of Australian canola are set to enter the Chinese market, the largest amount since Beijing barred the crop in 2020 over concerns about a disease called blackleg. The shipments are part of a trial of a new framework between China and Australia intended to address concerns over the disease. The Australian shipments will barely put a dent in Chinas canola demand. China is the largest importer globally, averaging four million tonnes a year over the past five years, and Canada accounts for the vast majority of these imports. But Canadas canola industry is worried this is the start of higher-volume shipments from Australia that will damage its dominance of the Chinese market. Should this market access be lost, some of the blame would fall on Ottawa. Chinese tariffs on canola products leave Canadian farmers caught between two trade fights Canadas canola industry is facing 100-per-cent tariffs from Beijing on canola oil and meal, a retaliation for Ottawas 100-per-cent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles. Beijing is also investigating Canada for dumping canola. Updates on this investigation are expected this fall. The investigation was launched shortly after Ottawas EV policy came into force. From a farmers perspective, they feel really exposed, said Tracy Broughton, executive director of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission. Canola farmers are being used as a pawn in these trade negotiations and discussions. China still depends on Canada for canola. In the 2023-24 marketing year, China imported 4.9 million tonnes and 4.6 million tonnes were supplied by Canada. Open this photo in gallery: A pumpjack by a canola field near Cremona, Alta. Canada accounts for the vast majority of China's canola imports.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press In an attempt to deal with this, China has been pursuing a policy of market diversification for the past five years, said Marlene Boersch, co-founder of Mercantile Consulting Venture Inc., an agricultural market insights firm in Winnipeg. Australia is a good option, she said. The country is geographically close and is the second-largest canola exporter worldwide. In 2023, it exported US$4.03-billion worth of canola, compared to Canadas US$4.57-billion worth of exports, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Australia is also expanding production and exports. Farmers are forecast to produce 8.1 million tonnes of the crop by 2035, according to the Australian Oilseeds Federation. Canola exports are expected to reach between 2.1-billion and 3.2-billion Australian dollars in 2027-28, according to Grains Australia (about $1.9-billion to $2.9-billion). Australias high-quality grain crop is a direct competitor with Canadas crop, said Wade Sobkowich, executive director at the Western Grain Elevator Association in Winnipeg. The countrys agricultural production is similar: advanced and large-scale. For this reason, Beijing has historically played Australia and Canada against each other. Canada has sometimes been a beneficiary, he said. For example, in 2020, Beijing imposed 80.5-per-cent tariffs on Australian barley following an 18-month anti-dumping investigation. Annual Australian barley exports to China averaged around 1.2-billion Australian dollars (about $1.1-billion) over the previous five years. It is an ebb and flow in the trade world, said Mr. Sobkowich. But the rate of Beijings trade diversification is tied to political tensions, said Ms. Boersch. China is giving us the signal. If Canada does not move on electric vehicle tariffs . . . then we will not be super considerate. Canola farmers feel their livelihoods are being sacrificed to save the auto industry The impacts could be stark, she added, pointing to what happened with Canadian pea exports to China. Four years ago, Canada had around 97-per-cent market share. Beijing and Russia agreed to phytosanitary protocols in 2022. Russia is now Chinas top pea supplier. Australia may not be able to win that much share of canola, said Ms. Boersch. The Australian shipments to China are trial based. It is not a done deal, she said. And Australia, while expanding production, might not be able to meet this volume of demand. But it is still a real threat to Canada. Australia is chipping away at a really dominant position we have. And the Australian threat should get Ottawa to revisit its position on EVs, she said. Canadas tariffs on Chinese models were imposed during the Biden administration. Relations with the United States were different at the time, and an integrated North American auto sector was a given. The current context is vastly different. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Canadas auto industry and levied tariffs on the Canadian auto sector that amount to around 12.5 per cent after U.S. content is subtracted. I think it is time to clarify our route. Which way are we turning as a nation in terms of alliances and how long does it take to make any such decision? The world is moving very quickly right now, said Ms. Boersch. Many students are going back to school in the coming days of August. Almost everyone is also aware that universities and high schools represent an ideological backbone in the nation. It is important and necessary to understand that to a large but not exclusive extent, educators hold a reactionary zeal with regard to any Republican President and that is especially true of President Donald Trump. As a professor and academic for more than 35 years working in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, and even the larger global community, I have observed this rather abysmal cycle of cynicism that fuels too much of the academic endeavors. Casual examination of FEC data regarding donations by professors in 2023 and 2024 easily demonstrates that on average more than 85% of professor donations are to the Democratic Party. That percentage escalates as you climb the ladder of elite universities -- approaching 99%. It is disingenuous for academia to pretend that it is ideologically fair or even interested in essential premises of American civics such as the First Amendment promise of free speech. Students openly pretend to hold anti-Republican views in order to curry favor with professors. The survey found 88% of students from 2023 to 2025 indicate such behavior on campus. Top universities such as Harvard and Columbia have become some of the most stalwart opponents of free speech. In 2014, in my first academic book -- The Rhetoric of Genocide: Death as a Text -- I included a chapter about the New Anti-Semitism. I warned a decade ago that campuses were cultivating a mood of genocidal contempt for Jews in the 21st century. Many of my colleagues were skeptical. But today the idea of purging every Jew from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea (though many of these protesters cannot identify or locate these places) is politically viable not only in the larger global community but upon some of our greatest college campuses. There are painful lawsuit results than now prove it. As a debate professor, I do all I can every day to remedy this serious national problem. I will try again this fall. But the public needs to again hear the fair warning. Academia is as agitated and upset as ever. Cuts in federal grants and an array of adjustments regarding Title 9 and so many other aspects of the federal relationship to universities have campuses feeling incredibly defensive. Academia has largely as a culture brought these results upon itself by refusing the basic necessity of debate and civics. Administrators now appear confused as to why campus advocates publicly argue such absurd and violent themes. Of course, students should be able to oppose and disagree with President Trump, but they should also be equally free to oppose and disagree with Zohran Mamdani. Colleges and universities are dominated by an anti-capitalist ethic that makes Mamdani the mainstream of campus politics to which all participants are expected to bow. The solution is as it always has been free and fair debate. Until this ethic is restored, all efforts at academic reform will fail. Every campus raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in student fees. These fees are supposed to go to valuable on-campus student activities. No less than five percent of these funds should be expended each year supporting debate activity. These debate programs should honestly practice switch-side debate. Every national debate expert knows what this is but all too often discreetly refuse to let it happen. Unfortunately, debate activity at the college level largely realizes that critical theory places a predicate burden upon switch-side debate meaning students will not entertain or perform opposing viewpoints on a wide range of important issues including: education, abortion, immigration, gender, gun control, energy, and more. College debate programs determine the style and substance of high school debate. I have helped the Coolidge Foundation conduct a decade-long successful experiment in switch side debate focused primarily on economic issues. This style and substance of debate needs to become a new national norm so that true critical thinking not eclipsed by critical theory assumptions can prevail. Without this renaissance of debate, Americas top colleges and universities will not only fail to uphold basic premises of the civil right of free speech, they will become the very founts of authoritarian limitations they profess to oppose. We must continue to demand and expect critical thinking as found in switch-side debating on college campuses. This is the heart of our national educational crisis. Dr. Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is the author of several academic books regarding political communication, debate, presidential rhetoric, and genocide. Image: Jakob Reiter Ive always believed those born American have won lifes lottery. True, many throw away that invaluable heritage, but no one has a leg up on success in life like natural-born Americans. Whether they consciously understand it, foreigners desperate to move to America recognize that reality. Virtually nowhere else in the world is the success and prosperity earned by so many immigrants possible. America citizenship is one of Earths prizes, a pearl of great price. Thats why Normal Americans are so disgusted by Democrats who not only allowed anyone and everyone into the country during Bidens Handlers Administration, but are desperate to keep them all, particularly the worst of the worst criminals. For them, citizenship is a cheap carnival prize, a political token to be handed out to secure political power and money. Thats why their heads are exploding over a recent Trump order to ensure all legal immigrants have good moral character. Graphics: DHS memo. Public Domain. The Trump administration is ordering officers at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to take a more holistic approach when determining whether to award U.S. citizenship to immigrants, saying they must weigh more factors in determining whether an applicant has good moral character. The Friday memo from USCIS said officers must now weigh not just any disqualifying behavior but whether those seeking to naturalize are in good standing in their community. The graphic is the first page of that memo. Take the link to read the whole thing. Going forward, USCIS officers must account for an aliens positive attributes and not simply the absence of misconduct, the memo states. Why should they not if American citizenship has any value? Why should we admit less than the best the world has to offer? Why shouldnt we admit only people who will benefit America and Americans rather than become eternal parasites and/or public safety dangers? But the new memo also encourages officers to consider rejecting applicants with other convictions, including drug use or two or more convictions for driving under the influence. Officers are also encouraged to weigh conduct that may not be illegal but frowned upon, such as reckless or habitual traffic infractions or soliciting. Repeated criminal conduct such as multiple DUI convictions undermines moral character unless rebutted by affirmative evidence of reform, the memo states. In assessing conditional bars officers have authority and now explicit directive to weigh all relevant evidence, both adverse and favorable, before granting or denying naturalization. One might be astonished to learn our immigration authorities have apparently not been screening for these qualities, even before the Bidens Handlers years, when anyone and everyone including known terrorists and likely Chinese spies were allowed into the country, unvetted. One might think it unremarkable Trump is requiring such screening because its the least any POTUS ought to do, but weve fallen so far, the value of US citizenship has become so devalued, it is remarkable and very welcome. Ive seen a naturalization ceremony and wiped away tears of pride and gratitude at those immigrants who worked so hard, sacrificed so much to become Americans among us. How could I fail to be moved to tears by their pride, joy and relief at becoming Americans? They understood the value of American citizenship, the opportunity America provides to all, and many of them risked their lives to get here, worked hard to assimilate, and while proud of their heritage put no other flag or creed before America. Yeonmi Park is among them. At 13, she escaped from North Korea, risking her life to make it to America. The author of two books about her life and joy in finding freedom, she epitomizes the kind of person every Americans should want to become one of us. Amazed by and deeply appreciative of America, Park was disgusted by her Columbia University professors: My professors were telling me, stay angry and stay outraged because America is fundamentally racist, and this system is being dismantled and the Constitution is being torn down, Park said. I was thinking, Are you psychopaths? Have you been outside of America? There are human beings sold for like, 100 bucks. Park, and so many others, are no less American than those born here. It is worthy people like them that might reasonably cause us to wonder about the worthiness of natural born Americans who defend unlimited illegal immigration, would welcome, unvetted, the worlds worst criminals and fight to keep them in the country and who plainly hate America and Americans. Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Todays talking heads have, thus far, mostly avoided describing why Putins Russia is prevailing in the horrible war in Ukraine since might makes right. The plucky Ukrainians have nonetheless been the favored underdogs as opposed to the evil dictators vast human resources. It is also becoming painfully obvious that starting a war is much easier than ending one. The Treaty of Versailles stands out as a hugely complicated historical bungle. The Armistice hinged on the Kaisers exile in the Netherlands. Then various factions immersed themselves in reinventing Europe and the Middle East. The newly created nations of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia lasted less than a century, while the loss of Ottoman control then plunged the Middle East into persistent turmoil. Such is the result of a apocalyptic war that had no real reason to happen in the first place -- basically due to pre-existing alliances that kicked in after the murder of an archduke and his wife. Historians point to the unreasonable popularity of armed conflict among the common folk since Europe had been mostly peaceful since the long-ago days of Napoleon. The leadership, however, knew all too well of the increased lethality of modern weaponry -- which prompted the Kaiser to tell his generals just after they sent the telegram launching the Schlieffen Plan: Gentlemen, we will regret this. The United States may have only seen two obviously conclusive wars since the Revolution: The Civil War and the Second World War. Towards the end of the Civil War, the Confederacy sent a group of officials to meet with General Grant to arrange an armistice. When asked to reveal their requirement(s) for peace, they simply wanted the Confederacy to remain a sovereign nation. Grants reply was, more or less, Why do you think weve been fighting you all these years? Hence, the final deal was eventually done at Appomattox -- and there never was again a sovereign Confederacy. A little over a year after Pearl Harbor, the Casablanca Conference in January, 1943 revealed the Allies demand for unconditional surrender. Some newsreel footage is thought by some to show Churchill wincing as Roosevelt made the announcement -- since letting the Axis know about this would likely prolong the fighting. A month later, at Stalingrad, the Wehrmacht was essentially soundly defeated though they still continued to fight. Germanys last gasp culminated in the Battle of the Bulge, after which American soldiers largely stopped taking prisoners and just confiscated weapons except in the case of black-uniformed Waffen SS soldiers who were inclined to offer a false surrender and then start shooting. Long-range B-29 bombers enabled devastating incendiary attacks on the Japanese home islands. The unknown fate of the emperor and an almost suicidal sense of nationalism continued to keep Japan from surrendering, until the only hostile use, ever, of nuclear weapons brought the inevitable conclusion. All the same, Japanese army officers attempted a coup before the emperor could announce the surrender. They shot their way into the Imperial Palace itself before they were overwhelmed. Speaking of Russia being at war and a U.S. president negotiating the peace, back in 1905, Theodore Roosevelt was instrumental is concluding the Russo-Japanese War. Both nations had designs on Manchuria, and the conflict was mostly fought with naval forces. Roosevelt got the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts and Japan subsequently allied with Great Briain to wage naval war against Germany in the South Pacific during WWI. Forty years later, Soviet Russia again declared war against Japan just a few days before they surrendered to the U.S. Todays presidential peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine rely on the parties mutual desire to quit the conflict which leaves much room for doubt. Putin wants the Russia-friendly parts of Ukraine and Zelenskyy feels he cant afford to cough up any more territory after losing the Crimean Peninsula. The overriding concern is the issue of durability the long sustainability of a real peace. At this point, the old adage of good fences makes good neighbors comes to mind. The failed Maginot Line also comes to mind but that was both very expensive and easily bypassed. The intense focus of the worlds media on this issue, in some ways, reveals the innate human yearning for peace. But how? A flimsy cease-fire is nothing more than a pause. A solution would bring an end to a horrible conflict. One side has a distinct numerical advantage -- the other has mediagenic and inspiring cause celebres. All along, Ive enjoyed the calming effect of this conflict being far away on the opposite side of the world. Image: Louis Mathieu Guillaume A cult can be any system of religious worship or veneration of a person, thing or ideal. Most commonly its understood to be a false or radical pseudo-religious system, usually headed by someone afforded god-like status by their followers. During Donald Trumps first term, and even now, numerous psychologists pronounced him mentally ill, despite having never met or diagnosed him. Such arms-length diagnoses are, to say the least, unethical. Trump has repeatedly taken, and passed, cognitive assessments. But now, there is a movement in psychological circles not only to brand Trump as the leader of a cult, but to so brand everyone who votes for Trump or appreciates his policies. Graphic: X Post A new training out for therapists and mental health professionals paints President Donald Trump as a cult leader and the Make America Great Again movement as a "cult on a national scale." The course, designed for therapists, is entitled The Impact of Donald Trump on America - A Cultic Studies Perspective and it was held on August 7, 2025. The course is a violation of ethical guidelines for therapists and encourages therapists and mental health professionals to position themselves both in opposition to Trump-supporting clients and to bring activism into their treatment. The course was led online by Jamie Marich, Ph.D. who listed her pronouns as she/they/we and is a clinical trauma specialist. She was joined by Dr. Janja Lalich, a sociologist and cult expert. Chief executive officer of Healing Selves Therapeutics Heather LS Scarsboro, who also listed her pronouns (they, them, we), joined them as well. Marich and Lalich teach MAGA is a cult on a national scale and a white supremacy movement. The "cult" members, they say, see Trump "as someone who promised them he would make America great again, and for them that meant getting rid of the black and brown peopleI think that's what most people bought into," stated Dr. Janja Lalich. [skip] She continued to say that the United States was built on racism and the "MAGA crowd" doesn't care about the price of eggs, but "all they care about is that he [Trump] is getting rid of black and brown people in our country. Lalich also claims MAGA is grounded in racism, but apparently was unable to provide any specific examples of that racism. She did, however, expose her real ideology: "We have to challenge ICE in every state." She believes illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the United States unchallenged and implied that those who support border laws are racist. Dr. Marich described the Catholic Church as "cultish" and blames religious beliefs and churches for the negative traits she associates with Trump supporters. Democrats are infamous for projection. Whatever theyre accusing others of doing or wanting to do, theyre doing themselves. This is particularly true of cultish behavior, as fiercely secular Democrats tend to rally around a maximum leader like Barack Obama, who is depicted as a savior with pseudo-religious trappings. Oprah Winfrey called Obama The One, a probable reference to Neo in the Matrix films, an all-powerful, god-like savior. Others called him The Lightbringer, and innumerable depictions of Obama with a halo can be found by googling Obama halo. Upon winning the Democrat nomination for president, he proclaimed: this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal ... Obama was the New Hope. The New York Times produced a graphic montage superimposing him over a cross with the White House at its base for Easter, 2010. Normal Americans, largely but not exclusively Republicans, dont see politicians as saviors, and certainly not as religious figures. For most thats blasphemy, a sin they avoid. To them, MAGA represents nothing more than an acronym for a worthy, patriotic goal. There is no connotation, racial or otherwise, beyond that. They tend to see all politicians as liars, fools and scoundrels, but are willing to be pleasantly surprised, as they have been by Donald Trump. Theyre clear-eyed about his faults. They know we all sin, but theyre also willing to give people second chances, which they see as a uniquely American, positive attribute. They, like me, vote for whoever they think will do the least damage to the Constitution and to Americans. Trump has done very well by that measure, better than expected. Trump is no Lightbringer. Hes not the One. Hes a flawed man and a good president, putting America and Americans first. If thats crazy, racist and cultish, sign me up. Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Russias brutal strike on August 2021, which unleashed 574 drones and forty ballistic and cruise missiles, brought the war home to western Ukraine. The direct hit on a U.S.-owned Flex electronics factory in Mukachevo a civilian facility employing Ukrainians and producing consumer goods was more than an attack on Ukraine. It was an attack on American interests. The question now is unavoidable: What is our strategy in Ukraine? The Biden administration didnt have one that worked. It offered open-ended aid, vague assurances, and sanctions that Moscow quickly evaded. The results are plain: Putin escalated, Ukraine suffered, and American credibility eroded. Now it falls to President Trump to define a plan. If diplomacy is to mean anything, it must be paired with teeth. Putin respects only the stick tariffs, sanctions, and credible military deterrence not empty promises. Give Guarantees Teeth Immediately A genuine strategy starts with enforceable measures that impose consequences for every Russian strike. First, tighten the sanctions vise. Secondary sanctions must hit the tankers, insurers, and banks that enable Russias oil revenues. Target the brokers and middlemen who feed Moscows missile and drone supply chains. The goal is simple: Make every Russian missile fired more expensive to build, finance, and replace. Second, the White House should announce an Aid-on-Attack trigger: Any major Russian assault on civilians or U.S.-affiliated facilities must automatically unlock shipments of air defense interceptors and counter-drone systems to Ukraine within 72 hours by prepositioning them in Europe. No ambiguity. No bureaucratic delays. Third, harden western Ukraine the very region Moscow just hit. This means building a no kill gap air defense ring anchored by Patriot and NASAMS systems stationed in NATO territory, cued by allied AWACS inside non-Ukraine airspace, and prioritized for protecting civilian and American-owned assets. Not one U.S. combat soldier need set foot inside Ukraine, but the shield must be real. Finally, Washington must go beyond general condemnations and explicitly name and shame Russias deliberate targeting of U.S.-owned businesses, starting with the Flex electronics plant in Mukachevo. The administration should launch a Private-Sector Critical Asset Protection (PSCAP) initiative to safeguard American investors in Ukraine. That effort must include reinforced shelters, fire suppression systems, and redundancy in power and communications, as well as direct integration into Ukraines rapid-alert system. In parallel, Washington should create a war-risk insurance fund coordinated with allied partners to keep American firms viable despite Russian intimidation. Protecting U.S. business is not corporate charity; it is a matter of national interest, proving that attacks on American assets abroad will bring real economic and diplomatic consequences. Build Staying Power Short-term deterrence must evolve into a sustainable framework. That requires a bilateral U.S.-Ukraine security accord, approved by Congress, with three pillars: guaranteed resupply floors, an integrated early warning system, and automatic sanctions snap-backs tied to ceasefire violations. Pair that with NATOs emerging guarantees, and suddenly the Wests words have weight. Domestically, Trump should invoke the Defense Production Act to expand interceptor and counter-drone production. Deterrence depends on magazine depth. Ukraine must also receive accelerated F-16 training and suppression-enabler packages because only a credible air force can push back Russias escalating barrages. Meanwhile, Washington should lead in creating a war risk insurance facility to keep American investment alive in Ukraine despite Russian strikes. That is how you demonstrate commitment: by showing that U.S. businesses will not be driven out by intimidation. A Durable Posture for the Long Haul Over time, the U.S. should help Europe stand up a SkyShield-West consortium, pooling air defense assets to cover Ukraines western skies with layered protection. Alongside that shield, codify an escalation ladder in cyber and finance: targeted cyber-operations against Russias defense-industrial base, and automatic banking sanctions for verified civilian-targeting patterns. The Bottom Line Russia has made one thing clear: Weak guarantees invite more strikes. Words without enforcement are worthless. A genuine ceasefire will come only when Putin realizes that every escalation carries an immediate and painful price. Trump has the chance to succeed where Biden failed. He must ask and answer the question: What is our strategy in Ukraine? It cannot be endless aid with no purpose, nor symbolic diplomacy that Putin mocks. The strategy must be enforceable guarantees, credible deterrence, and a sanctions hammer that gets Moscows attention. And lets be clear: This does not require American combat troops in Ukraine. It requires willpower. It requires speed. And it requires the recognition that peace is won not with empty words, but with guarantees that have teeth. Robert Maginnis is a retired U.S. Army infantry officer and the author of twelve books, including Preparing for World War III. Image: The Presidential Administration of Ukraine via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. The world of consumer electronics is a battlefield, and a new lawsuit is proving just how intense the competition is behind the scenes. This week, Apple filed a legal complaint against a former employee and the rising tech company OPPO, alleging that the employee stole confidential trade secrets related to the Apple Watch. The case reads like a potential corporate espionage novel. Apples lawsuit against OPPO for alleged theft of Apple Watch tech Apple sued a former employee named Chen Shi, who held the title of Sensor System Architect. According to the document, Shi allegedly began plotting his exit while still working for the company. Apple claims that Shi manufactured a reason for his departure, saying he was returning to China to care for his elderly parents. The problem is that the former employee had access to valuable internal information about the Apple Watchs design, development, and product roadmap. The lawsuit alleges that in the days leading up to his final day, Shi downloaded 63 sensitive files from a protected company folder and transferred them to a USB drive. To make matters worse, he also allegedly sent a message to his new employers at OPPO. He would have promised the Chinese company to collect as much information as possible on his way out. OPPOs response In response, OPPO has issued a formal statement. The company denies the accusations and promises to cooperate with the legal process. The firm stated that it has found no evidence of any wrongdoing by the employee during his time at OPPO. They also claim not to have misappropriated any of Apples trade secrets. This legal battle isnt just about a single employee. It highlights the cutthroat race to dominate the smartwatch market. Apple has long been a leader in wearable technology, but companies like OPPO are rapidly growing, and they are pouring resources into developing their own smartwatches and sensing technology. The high value that these tech giants place on their intellectual property is more apparent than ever. A companys product roadmaps, internal research, and unreleased designs are often their most valuable assets. The case now sits with the courts. A judge will have to determine whether this was a simple case of an employee leaving for a new job or a coordinated attempt to gain a major competitive advantage. Regardless of the outcome, this legal drama related to potential corporate espionage on the Apple Watch tech seems far from over. Calese Crowder, 38, is back in jail after allegedly sniffing a womans butt in public, less than two weeks after his August 9 release for a similar incident (Burbank Police Department) Police in Burbank, California, say a man with a nose for trouble has once again been arrested. Calese Carron Crowder, 38, a registered sex offender and alleged serial butt sniffer, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly taking a whiff of a womans rear end in public, KTLA reports. Officers took him into custody at a Burbank store, though authorities have yet to confirm where the incident occurred. The Independent has requested comment from Burbank police. Online court records show he was booked in the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles on Thursday. This arrest comes less than two weeks after his release from that facility on August 9 following a July 22 arrest for a similar alleged incident at a Nordstrom Rack in Burbanks Empire Center. Calese Crowder, 38, is back in jail after allegedly sniffing a womans butt in public, less than two weeks after his August 9 release for a similar incident (Burbank Police Department) In that case, he allegedly buried his face in a womans backside before bolting, according to police. Officers tracked him down at a nearby Walmart that night, where he was also allegedly seen sniffing other women. At the time, Crowder was on active parole with a history of similar lewd conduct since 2021. He was charged with loitering with intent to commit a crime and held on $100,000 bail and had a court date on August 1. Crowder is allegedly the man who sniffed this womans rear end at a Barnes & Noble in a viral August 2023 TikTok (TikTok/@michaela.witter) Crowders alleged actions first gained attention in August 2023 after a viral TikTok showed him allegedly sniffing a woman at a Barnes & Noble bookstore. Other women later came forward, claiming Crowder targeted them in stores like Urban Outfitters and Marshalls. He has previously served time for burglary and robbery and, in February 2023, was sentenced to a year in jail for indecent exposure in Santa Clarita. He was granted early release. That August, he was again arrested for allegedly peeping and prowling at a Glendale home with children present. Online court records on Wednesdays arrest do not list an upcoming court date. The Irish president has said the conflict in Gaza is at the realm of non-accountability. Michael D Higgins described the ongoing conflict as a tragic period in the worlds history. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said on Friday that famine is occurring in Gaza City and could spread further south. It comes after weeks of warnings by aid groups that restrictions on aid were leading to starvation among Palestinians. In an interview with RTE Radio 1 as he prepares to step down from his role, which he has held since 2011, Mr Higgins said the realm of unaccountability is the most dangerous threat to democracy. He said: We are at the realm of non-accountability. And we are in an extraordinary moment where you have three members of (the Israeli) cabinet who are interested explicitly in illegality, but theyre not worried about international law. The other thing which is now proposed is, in fact, breaking the link between the West Bank and Gaza. The realm of unaccountability is the most dangerous threat to democracy. Standing at the back of it (threat) is the unaccountable role of technology, the idea that you could shift it up to the arms race, without taking into account the fundamental distinction with humanity itself. You cant use the genocide that is taking place (in Gaza) as a distraction from the neglected political issues that have been neglected for so long. The main thing is, I think, for a global reassertion of the importance of the General Assembly. I have been outlining recently how in the Charter there is a mechanism called Chapter Seven, where, if a certain proportion of the committee of the General Assembly supported, even if the Security Council uses the veto to block it, the secretary general can call for a force to be put together to guarantee humanitarian access. On Friday, Mr Higgins condemned the famine in Gaza City, saying the declaration has not come as a surprise. Americas two leading detention companies, Geo Group and CoreCivic, were among the Trump campaigns most notable donors last year (AFP/Getty) For many workers or organizations reliant on the federal government, President Donald Trumps return to office has meant jobs, funding and entire agencies slashed, as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claims to have cut $202 billion. But one industry has seen exponential growth and expects even more to come: immigration detention. Private prison companies have been so giddy since last November, about the prospect of making billions of dollars at the expense of every American, Stacy Suh, director at Detention Watch Network, told The Independent. And the companies made sure to help Trump get elected. Americas two leading detention companies, Geo Group and CoreCivic, were among the Trump campaigns most notable donors last year, with executives and subsidiaries donating a total of $2.7 million to the presidents campaign and associated political action committees. An officer wears the logo of the GEO Group private prison company outside the Adelanto ICE Processing Center detention facility in Adelanto, California, on July 11, 2025 (AFP/Getty) CoreCivic even bestowed over $500,000 towards Trumps inauguration this year, while Geo Group contributed to his 2016 inauguration fund. Trumps Big, Beautiful, Bill set aside an unprecedented $45 billion for ICE to boost immigration detention. As the two largest detention powerhouses in the U.S., both Geo Group and CoreCivic stand to win big. As soon as Trump won the election last November, CoreCivics share price saw a huge spike, nearly doubling from $13.63 per share to $22.13 per share in just one week. GeoGroups share price jumped from $15.13 to $25.05 in the same post-election period. This is likely because the privately-run facilities house 86 percent of the detained immigrant population, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). Yet just 6 percent of Americans believe that ICE detention centers should be run privately, an exclusive poll for The Independent can reveal, with the majority saying facilities should be run by federal or state governments, according to Prolific. Over 60,000 people are currently held in immigration detention across the U.S., according to ICE records seen by The New York Times. That number has already jumped by 54 percent since Trumps return, with average detention populations under the Biden administration around 39,000, according to TRAC. Immigrant Detention Leavenworth (AP) But though the government may determine their future, the 20 largest ICE detention centers are all operated by private companies, according to TRACs data in January. GeoGroup and CoreCivic are the leading operators, both in terms of facilities operated and their capacity. Other private firms, like Lasalle Corrections and Management & Training Corporation (MTC), also have contracts to run ICE facilities. CoreCivic runs the biggest detention centre in the country Adams County Correctional Facility in Natchez, Missouri, with over 2,100 detainees on average each day. The new federal facility at Fort Bliss may soon take the cake, however, with a capacity of 5,000 people. Both CoreCivic and GeoGroup provide both traditional prison incarceration services, and immigration detention services, to federal and state governments. But with a slowdown in incarceration and greater focus on rehabilitation in recent years, prison contracts have been drying up and increased immigration detention contracts has become more foundational to their business models. One of Trumps first actions in office was also to end the Biden-era ban on private prison providers, allowing companies like GeoGroup and CoreCivic to once again contract with the Department of Justice. When asked for comment about its reliance on punitive policies by the new administration to build its business, CoreCivic noted that it does not enforce immigration laws, or arrest anyone, or have any say over an individuals deportation but it acknowledged that Trumps policies does provide it with growth opportunities. As the current administration is exploring all options available to them to address the increasing demand for detention services and capacity, we expect that those options will include the high-quality solutions CoreCivic provides, Ryan Gustin, director of Public Affairs at CoreCivic, told The Independent. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for GeoGroup told The Independent that simply put, our facilities are never overcrowded. But Freedom of Information Act requests by TRAC last month revealed that several facilities run by GeoGroup were significantly overcapacity on at least one day this year. This includes GeoGroups Pine Prairie processing centre in Louisiana, which has a contractual maximum of 500 people but held 1,311 detainees at some point in 2025. (Google) Immigration operations make up over a third of revenue for both Geo Group and Core Civic, latest financial reports show, making ICE their largest governmental partner. We are proud of the role our company has played for 40 years to support [ICEs] law enforcement mission, over seven different Presidential Administrations, a GEO Group spokesperson told The Independent. Geo Group has been awarded nearly $8 billion in federal contracts over successive governments, according to the federal database, in addition to state contracts. Over half of this ($4.4 billion) was awarded by ICE for immigration detention services. Meanwhile CoreCivic has been awarded over $8.3 billion in federal contracts over time, with a quarter ($2 billion) of those being ICE contracts to run detention facilities. ICE's budget now is larger than many militaries around the world, while our hospitals and schools remain underfunded, and people are losing their access to health care and food benefits, said Suh. The Independent contacted ICE for comment for this article but did not get a response. Federal contracts from ICE have been steadily increasing since Trumps first term (with for a brief time during the peak of the pandemic), according to the federal spending database, rising from $137.5 million awarded in 2016 to $463.4 million in 2025 so far. ICE contracts awarded since January alone include $353.5 million to GeoGroup, $148 million to CoreCivic, and $313 million to CSI Aviation ICEs deportation flight contractor. There is more and more incentivization to cage people in immigration detention. The more people that they detain, the more their business grows, Suh said. Financial Incentives are really the bedrock of incarceration. And now, documents seen by The Washington Post reveal that ICE is planning to more than double detention capacity, from around 50,000 to more than 107,000 by January 2026. These plans include opening or expanding 125 facilities before the end of the year with over $1 billion in contracts each year between CoreCivic and GeoGroup, according to the Posts analysis of ICE documents. Already, both detention giants have seen a flood of new or amended contracts and have opened up new facilities to expand their capacity. Whats more, ICE has issued nine of these contracts without allowing competitive bids , citing a national emergency at the Mexico border meaning that CoreCivic secured the deal to reopen its contentious Leavenworth facility without competition, according to PBS. We stay in regular contact with ICE and all our government partners to understand their changing needs, and we work within their established procurement processes. It is our policy to respect these processes, Gustin told The Independent of CoreCivics contracts. (AFP/Getty) Since January alone, several facilities have been opened up to hold more immigrants in detention as ICE ramps up its raids. In the Michigan town of Baldwin, former prison North Lake Correctional Facility has now reopened as an immigration center operated by Geo Group, to the tune of $70 million in annual revenue. The 1,800-bed facility opened in June despite facing significant pushback from residents and local protests. And just last week, a tense dispute broke out at a local board meeting in Mason, Tennessee, over the reopening of a CoreCivic facility as an immigration detention center. Residents crowded the meeting and chanted outside in protest of the contract, which was ultimately approved, according to reports in the Tennessee Lookout. Nebraska Detention Center (AP) If ICE expansion plans are fully realized, that's a massive shift in resources. Its also a massive transformation in the very fabric of American society and how it operates, Suh told The Independent. Communities across the country are rightly outraged about detention expansion happening on their doorstep. People are saying, No, we don't want detention in our community. We don't want our neighbors to be torn apart away from their loved ones. Caspar Veldkamp said he was insufficiently able to take meaningful additional measures. Photograph: Sem van der Wal/ANP/AFP/Getty Images The Dutch foreign minister, Caspar Veldkamp, has resigned after a cabinet meeting failed to secure sanctions against Israel, weakening the Netherlands already fragile caretaker government. Veldkamps colleagues from the centrist New Social Contract (NSC) party also walked out after the cabinet debate late on Friday reached an impasse over adopting harsher measures against Israel. The discussions about taking further steps against Israel came after the Netherlands joined 20 other countries in signing a joint declaration on Thursday condemning Israeli plans to build an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank. Critics say the 3,400-home settlement would split the territory in half. The Netherlands barred the far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country in July. Related: Very sick and very tired: the reality of famine for Gazas most vulnerable After Fridays meeting, Veldkamp a former ambassador to Israel told the Dutch news agency ANP he was insufficiently able to take meaningful additional measures. In a statement announcing his resignation, he said we are living in a time of unprecedented geopolitical tension, where diplomacy matters more than ever. Backing his stance, the NSC said its coalition partners, the centre-right Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), refuse to acknowledge the alarming situation [in Gaza] and take necessary action. There have been a number of protests in the Netherlands to pressure the government to take action against Israels war in Gaza, which is nearing its two-year mark. Between 100,000 and 150,000 people took part in a demonstration in The Hague in June, making it the largest protest in the Netherlands in two decades. Veldkamps resignation came after UN-backed experts said on Friday that Gaza City and the surrounding area was in the grip of an entirely man-made famine, and that deaths could rise exponentially. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has only declared four famines since it was established in 2004, most recently in Sudan last year. The NSC wwas part of a caretaker administration that has been running the Netherlands since June, when the coalition government collapsed after the far-right politician Geert Wilders withdrew his partys ministers from the alliance. The PVVs withdrawal from the coalition in June triggered an early election, with a snap poll called for 29 October. Venice is the backdrop for the latest series of Emily in Paris, starring Lily Collins (pictured) (GIULIA PARMIGIANI/NETFLIX) An assistant director working on the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris has died during filming in Venice. Diego Borella, 47, collapsed in front of colleagues on the set, according to local reports. Medics reportedly rushed to the luxury five-star Hotel Danieli around 7pm on Thursday but were unable to save Mr Borella. It has been reported that the cast and crew were about to film the final scene for the fifth series of the smash-hit romantic comedy when tragedy struck. Venice-based Mr Borella worked in film, visual arts and literature and was reported to have recently undertaken writing fairytales and children's stories. The 10-day shoot for Emily in Paris was expected to wrap up on Monday, August 25. Earlier this week, Netflix confirmed all 10 episodes of the fifth series, starring Lily Collins, will premiere on Thursday, December 18. Lily Collins in the latest series of Emily in Paris in Venice (GIULIA PARMIGIANI/NETFLIX) The fifth series is set in Italy, with main character Emily Cooper, played by Collins, working for Agence Grateau in Rome, as she settles in another romantic European city after moving from Chicago to Paris in the first series. Promotional pictures released by Netflix show Collins character looking glamorous in a boat on a Venetian canal. Show creator Darren Star previously said of the upcoming series: This season is a tale of two cities. Rome and Paris. Straddling both, Emily takes love and life to the next level. He added: From Parisian rooftops to Roman ruins, we cant wait to share where Emilys next chapter takes us. A major crime scene has been declared in Ilford after the suspected arson attack at an Indian restaurant (UKNIP) A suspected arson attack at a restaurant in east London has left three people in a life-threatening condition. Five people were rescued by firefighters and taken to hospital after the blaze broke out at the Indian Aroma on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill at about 9pm on Friday. Part of the ground floor was damaged and firefighters rescued five people from the restaurant, while nine others were able to get out beforehand, London Fire Brigade said. One local businessman compared the fire to a Halloween scene, after CCTV footage appeared to show a man running out of the building with his clothing on fire. CCTV footage appears to show a group of people with their faces covered walk into the restaurant before pouring liquid on to the floor. A forensic investigator at a restaurant in Ilford, east London after three people are in a life-threatening condition after a suspected arson attack (Helen William/PA Wire) Seconds later, the inside of the restaurant is engulfed in flames. Sayed Bokhari, 39, said he had spoken to the manager of the restaurant, adding: He was crying. He was very shocked. He was really crying. He was extremely scared. Mr Bokhari said: Its awful and its very scary. It looked like a scene from Halloween. It was a serious, dramatic thing and people were running around him, he said, referring to the injured man. Mr Bokhari, who has run a business in the area for 15 years, said: It is scary because we run retail stores which are welcoming customers in. The doors are open like the doors of your house. We cannot body check everyone to see if they are safe. There is only so much that high street security can do. It is scary. You are worried for people. You are worried about your business. London is not such a fun place any more. Police outside the restaurant in Ilford (Helen William/PA Wire) Five people - three women and two men - were treated for burns and smoke inhalation. Two of them were taken to a major trauma centre and three were taken to local hospitals, London Ambulance Service said. Three of the injured are in a life-threatening condition, the Metropolitan Police said. A local resident described seeing a man whose whole body was burnt in the aftermath of the suspected arson attack. Hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, stepped outside his nearby home with his 12-year-old son to see if he could help after hearing screaming. The police and ambulance were already at the scene, which Mr Thawe described as "horrible" and "more than scary and the sort of thing that you don't want to look at twice". He said he thought one man who was on the street and a woman who was also outside may have been customers. Mr Thawe added that the man's "whole body was burnt", including his shirt, but he was still wearing his trousers. Uniformed officers guarded the police cordon that was in place on Saturday as forensic officers in protective clothing examined the scene. Forensic officers in protective clothing examined the scene in Gants Hill (UKNIP) The taped cordon stretched from outside the shop on local high street which faces on to a busy main road and on to the pavement. A trail of what appeared to be bloodstained footsteps along the pavement was spotted by a forensic officer. A number of items were also bagged up in clear plastic carriers outside the shop. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Mets Central Specialist Crime North unit said: We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together. Locals can expect to see a large police presence in the area. If you have any concerns, please speak to those officers on the ground. No arrests have been made at this stage. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called at 9.04pm yesterday to reports of a fire on Woodford Avenue, Ilford. Huge thanks to @metpoliceuk @LondonFire @Ldn_Ambulance for their response to a serious incident on Gants Hill/Woodford Avenue this evening. Please avoid the area for now. Further updates will follow from @RedbridgeLive and emergency services. Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) August 22, 2025 "We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and paramedics from our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London's Air Ambulance. "We treated five people for burns and smoke inhalation. We took two patients to a major trauma centre and three others to local hospitals." A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "We were called at 9.02pm to reports of a fire at a restaurant on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill. "Part of the ground floor restaurant was damaged by fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued five people from the restaurant. They were all taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service. Around nine further people were able to leave the restaurant before firefighters arrived. "The brigade's control officers received seven calls about the fire and mobilised crews from Ilford, Hainault, Leytonstone and Woodford fire stations to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 10.32pm. "The cause of the fire is being investigated by the brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service." Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is the MP for Ilford North, posted on X saying: "Huge thanks to @metpoliceuk @LondonFire @Ldn-Ambulance for their response to a serious incident on Gants Hill/Woodford Avenue this evening. "Please avoid the area for now. Further updates will follow from @RedbridgeLive and emergency services." Anyone with information is urged to contact the Met via 101, quoting 7559/22AUG. If you wish to remain anonymous, please speak with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Geert Wilders also said all Ukrainian men would be deported to Ukraine, and Syrians returned to their own or other Arab countries - Ricardo Rubio/Getty Images Geert Wilders has promised to stop all asylum claims in the Netherlands for four years if he wins the Dutch general election in October. In his manifesto, the anti-Islam politician vowed to close all borders, shut down asylum centres, end family reunification and ditch the UN Refugee Convention. Mr Wilders, known as the Dutch Trump, also said that all Ukrainian men would be deported to Ukraine, and Syrians returned to their own or other Arab countries. The populist triggered Octobers snap election after pulling his Party for Freedom (PVV) out of the Right-wing coalition government. He had become impatient at the lack of progress in implementing what he called the Netherlands strictest-ever asylum policy. The coalition was formed eight months after Mr Wilders surprise landslide victory in the November 2023 general election. The price of the coalition deal was that the 61-year-old would not be part of the cabinet, meaning he could not fulfil his dream of becoming prime minister. This was blamed on his coalition allies nervousness about his divisive and controversial policies. Mr Wilders had called for a ban on the Koran, mosques and Islamic schools before the 2023 vote, as well as a zero asylum policy and a Nexit referendum on Dutch membership of the EU. He agreed some of those policies aimed at Muslims would be put on hold to secure the coalition agreement. A protest in Utrecht against the suspension of asylum policies by the Netherlands last December - Mouneb Taim/AFP via Getty Images The deal ushered in the now collapsed government led by Dick Schoof, the prime minister and former spymaster, which is continuing in a caretaker capacity until the vote. The four-party coalition pledged a two-year Asylum Crisis Act to drive down numbers arriving in the Netherlands, but progress was slowed by legal hurdles. The PVVs manifesto for the vote on Oct 29 this year is less extreme than the one in 2023. Rather than an indefinite end to asylum claims in the Netherlands, there is a four-year halt. There is no reference to banning the Koran or mosques from Mr Wilders, who lives under constant protection because of his anti-Muslim rhetoric. But he still wants a ban on Islamic schools and wrote in the manifesto that Islam was the greatest existential threat to our freedom. Mr Wilders, whose manifesto declares there are only two genders, has a tied lead in the polls with GroenLinksPvdA, the biggest Left-wing party and opposition. Even if he outperforms expectations once again, his path to finally becoming prime minister appears difficult because of the fragmented world of Dutch politics. The latest poll from Peil.nl has him tied with GroenLinksPvdA at 28 seats, meaning he would have to find coalition partners to form a government. Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, the leader of the pro-business VVD, the third party in the running to win the election, has ruled out another alliance with Mr Wilders after he collapsed the coalition of which it was part. Ghislaine Maxwell insisted she did not introduce Andrew to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and that the duke's alleged sex with Virginia Giuffre in her house could not have happened, transcripts released by the US Justice Department have revealed. The papers, released on Friday, show the convicted sex trafficker was grilled at length about the Duke of York's links to Epstein and Donald Trump. The Trump administration issued hundreds of pages of transcripts of interviews conducted by deputy attorney general Todd Blanche last month amid a fierce backlash over a previous refusal to disclose records from the Epstein case. The duke strenuously denies any wrongdoing. Ghislaine Maxwell (right) was Jeffrey Epsteins girlfriend (US District Court for the Southe) Maxwell said Epstein first met Andrew at a vineyard in Nantucket, an island off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the early 2000s and that Sarah, Duchess of York, Andrew's now ex-wife, was the one who had "pushed" the pair's friendship. The 63-year-old former girlfriend of Epstein said she was "sure" Andrew himself had suggested he meet Epstein through her. Of the paedophile financier, Maxwell said: "First of all, let's just state, I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew. "I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew or to Sarah Ferguson. That is a flat untruth. I'll start with that." She continued: "I would never have introduced them. It would never have occurred to me to introduce them. "I couldn't imagine them being friends. Two chalk and cheeses would never... for real, there's nothing there to connect them. "So he met Prince Andrew and then he had a really good relationship. I don't like that word. It sounds clunky." Ghislaine Maxwell (right) in a now-notorious picture of Prince Andrew and a young Virginia Giuffre (PA Media) She added: "I think Sarah is the one that pushed that. And they met and hung out, I want to say two or three times that had nothing to do with me. "I wasn't communicating with Andrew, I wasn't in touch with him. "And I know this because I was annoyed and I felt left out, and I felt disrespected and I was like, this is weird. I couldn't even imagine Epstein and Andrew together. "And I thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey, if I'm being honest, and I thought the whole thing was annoying and I was pissed off." Later in the transcripts, Maxwell said allegations that Andrew and Ms Giuffre had sex in her London home were untrue because at the time of the alleged incident she was at her mother's 80th birthday celebrations in the countryside outside the city. She added: "The second reason why... probably maybe even the more important reason than my mum's birthday, that I think it's absolute rubbish, is that Prince Andrew - the idea of him doing anything of that nature in my house, that's the size of this room, is so mind-blowingly not conceivable to me, as the man or what... I just can't... I can't even... I... no." Ghislaine Maxwell said she never saw Donald Trump in any inappropriate setting (BBC PANORAMA) She said Ms Giuffre's allegation that she and Andrew had sexual contact in the bathroom of Maxwell's London flat were not true as the room was not big enough. She added: "So her description of whatever the two people were doing in the tub, that wouldn't work. "The bathroom itself is so small, you can't lie flat on the floor. "So it couldn't happen on the floor, because you physically, physically can't. "This bathroom is too small to even be on the floor." Asked by Mr Blanche whether the alleged incident in the bathroom was "logistically and physically not something that could have happened", Maxwell said: "Well, there's that. "And there's just... Andrew would... he's so English. He's so... he had a tie on." Asked if there was "any way it could have happened", Maxwell replied "no", according to the transcripts. She added that a well-known image of her standing alongside Andrew with his arm around Ms Giuffre's waist was "literally a fake photo". Elsewhere in the interviews, Maxwell was questioned on Epstein's relationship with Trump, and said she "never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way" and that he was "never inappropriate with anybody", the transcripts said. Asked about a rumoured "black book" or "client list" Epstein reportedly kept of famous people he knew, the former British socialite said "there is no list", adding "there is nothing like that". Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with the paedophile financier, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met. During her three-week trial in 2021, jurors heard prosecutors describe Maxwell as "dangerous", and were told how she helped entice vulnerable teenagers to Epstein's properties for him to sexually abuse. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the southern district of New York in June 2022. Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide. According to the transcripts, Maxwell said she does not believe Epstein died by suicide but does not have a view on who could have been behind his death. The Duke of York has been contacted for comment. Welcome to the Jungle aims to help jobseekers navigate career changes and future work. (Antonio_Diaz via Getty Images) As a fan of rock band Guns N Roses, Jeremy Cledat wanted to start his company with a name that not only resonated with the global job search market but also had a positive word in English. A decade ago, French recruitment platform Welcome to the Jungle was launched. When you join a company the first word you want to hear is welcome, says Cledat, co-founder and CEO. Welcome to London may well have been a phrase Cledat also received from the founders of UK-based Otta, the fast-rising job search platform which was purchased by its French rival last year having raised nearly 43m to establish a global recruitment presence. Read More: Meet the British billionaire who still works harder than anyone he knows Over an 18-month period, Cledat travelled back and forth on the Eurostar from Paris to Ottas Barbican base over 30 times to meet its three co-founders, who built the company from their bedrooms in 2019. Cledat and Otta's Sam Franklin had known each other for a while and would have coffee every six months or so. When Franklin mentioned that they were looking for an exit, Cledat knew it was a great match. Otta was acquired for an undisclosed sum only a few months later. Data specialist Dealroom had given Otta an estimation value between $80m (59.6m) and $120m after investment in 2021. We operated a bit differently in terms of platform, but we both had the same vision in that looking for a job is quite soul-crushing and we need a better search experience for people, says Cledat. Jeremy Cledat is CEO and founder of global job-seeking and recruitment platform Welcome to the Jungle. Indeed, in an interview with Yahoo Finance UK in 2023, Franklin said feeling like a second-class citizen was a common response for job searchers. It was one reason why Otta was launched, as well as to champion salary transparency globally. What they did right was understand the needs of the candidate, adds Cledat. The UK team at Otta was kept on and 45 staff now work for a global outfit of over 300. Some 4 million candidates use Welcome to the Jungles platform, bolstered by the 2 million acquired from Otta. Globally, Welcome to the Jungle is now working with over 13,000 companies and with 5,000 paying clients. Read More: 'I pitched my car finance idea to my mother-in-law and she got it straight away' So, to the company name and the reasons for launching in 2015. When I tell new people that its a great song, they go Who are Guns N' Roses? Things are changing but its still a great song, smiles Cledat. Its name is coherent with the job market but we can give you the tools and means to what you want to find. It is a very transactional industry. You search, apply, wait and pray. We knew we could do more and to be sure the human side was central to the experience. Otta co-founders Xav Kearney, Sam Franklin and Theo Margolius left the business after acquisition. Welcome to the Jungle and Otta combined skills as employer branding and job matching algorithm specialists, with company profiles showcasing videos to information such as gender spread, pay transparency and DE&I. It aims to increase the attractiveness of companies for jobseekers. What the recruiting industry lacks is authenticity and transparency, says Cledat. When you look at a job description it doesnt tell you much about the company so we are trying to give you more insight. "Sometimes people compare us like an Airbnb (ABNB), giving more visibility on where you should go, if its the right fit for you and we need that as a job description is not enough. Read More: 'Future is the USA' for Pasta Evangelists, the 40m British made success story Earlier this year, Parisian-born Cledat, who had previously worked in the VC industry before his calling came in HR and learning, reduced the companys workforce in France to ensure longevity and allow investment to grow in other countries. When we did the [Otta] acquisition we knew it wasn't a one shot thing, says Cledat. The UK is a super important market and should be a bigger market than France. With Otta being well known in London, especially in the tech industry, Cledat hopes to broaden its footprint across the UK Manchester has been mooted as well as moving into the media and finance sectors. Otta, now under the Welcome to the Jungle brand, empowers job seekers to find a company that matches their interests In the US, the global volume of company applications has grown 40% in the last two years and the recruitment marketplaces CEO says this is now becoming the norm in the UK market due to the global macro situation and AI giving more tools to build CVs and apply in batch. Cledat, now based in New York and travelling to the UK monthly, hopes Welcome to the Jungle can live up to its name and help global jobseekers navigate the career changes and future work. He says: If we can do that then I think we would have done a great job. It really does matter. We have stayed faithful to what we wanted to do. Work is a wonderful topic even if it takes me 20 years. Its still the beginning for me. Read more: Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android (Christian Adams) A man who says he is homeless has been convicted of not paying for a TV Licence while volunteering as a live-in carer for a partially-sighted disabled woman. The 48-year-old man says he offered to put his name forward to deal with official business while staying with his sick friend at her home in Barking, east London. When a TV Licensing inspector came to the property in February, he disclosed that the home owner is disabled, partially-sighted, and bedbound. In a letter to the court after facing prosecution, he revealed his own financial struggles, his efforts to care for his friend, and offered a suggestion that she could have been entitled to a free or discounted licence. I am the carer for the person who lives at the address, he wrote. At the time she was in hospital because she is disabled with a rare autoimmune disease and has been for a while. She is housebound, partially sighted, and sleeps four days out of the week. He said she struggles to get up to answer the door or telephone on time, so I put the TV licence in my name. I am actually homeless and got no fixed address, so getting a fine for TV Licence seems strange, he added. I was in the process of contacting TV Licence about a discount for her or not to pay anywhere because her disability are so bad, but time goes quick, I didnt realise. She always had a licence, I made a payment then got muddled up with things, trying to get licence lowered. I am a volunteer carer and Ive just started to get an enhancement to help with my low earnings. The man was prosecuted by TV Licensing in the Single Justice Procedure, in a hearing earlier this month which took place in private. A magistrate decided to give the man a six-month conditional discharge, together with an order to pay 60 costs and a 26 victim surcharge. He also now has a criminal conviction. The government says it is considering reforming the Single Justice Procedure after a string of scandals. It has been pondering changes since a consultation ended in early May. The BBC responded to that consultation by objecting to the idea that prosecutors like TV Licensing should read mitigation letters before a case goes to court. Other bodies have backed the idea, which would enable prosecutors to determine if a case remains in the public interest in light of information put forward in mitigation. In this mans case, TV Licensing did not see the mitigation he put forward to the court. In the agencys record of the doorstep interview, the man was asked how long he had lived at the address and he is recorded as replying five years. The record shows he did not know details of the TV Licence expiry, and he told the agent upfront that he is the carer for his friend, who is bed bound, had nine disabilities, and is partially sighted. The Single Justice Procedure continues to operate in courts across England and Wales each week without reforms, dealing with around 800,000 low-level criminal cases each year. A TV Licensing spokesperson said: TV Licensings primary aim is to support customers to help them get licensed. Prosecution is always a last resort, and we have a duty to enforce the law when there is evidence that someone has watched television without a licence. All prosecutions brought by TV Licensing are subject to evidential and public interest tests. Irish folk music band The Mary Wallopers have said they were cut off from performing at a British music festival for having a Palestinian flag on the stage. The band were performing at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth on Friday, an event which is set to feature Vampire Weekend, The Kaiser Chiefs and Kings of Leon over the weekend. In a post on Instagram following their set, the band said: Just got cut off at Victorious Festival for having a Palestinian flag on the stage. Weve been doing this for 6 years now and this has never happened before. Free Palestine all day every day. However, a spokesperson for the festival said the band had their set cut short for using a discriminatory chant. Our good pals The Mary Wallopers have just been pulled off stage and the PA shut down at @VictoriousFest in Portsmouth for taking out a flag and saying Free Palestine. Speak up against genocide in England and you're treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers pic.twitter.com/l9XdBL1jcm KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) August 22, 2025 In a statement, a spokesperson for Victorious said: We spoke to the artist before the performance regarding the festivals long-standing policy of not allowing flags of any kind at the event, but that we respect their right to express their views during the show. Although a flag was displayed on stage contrary to our policy, and this was raised with the artists crew, the show was not ended at this point, and it was the artists decision to stop the song. The decision by the event management to cut the sound and end the performance was only taken after the band used a chant which is widely understood to have a discriminatory context. To be clear, we respect the right of artists to use their platform to express their views within the inclusive nature of the event and it was not the bands call to Free Palestine which resulted in this outcome. The Mary Wallopers received support from Irish rap trio Kneecap, who wrote in a post on X: Our good pals The Mary Wallopers have just been pulled off stage and the PA shut down at @VictoriousFest in Portsmouth for taking out a Palestinian flag and saying Free Palestine. Speak up against genocide in England and youre treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers. Free Palestine! Free the 6 counties! It comes after the BBC last month issued an apology for the divisive set by punk rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury in June. The broadcaster apologised for the groups deplorable behaviour after frontman, Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, led crowds in chants of death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) during their set at the festival which was shown live on TV and the iPlayer. Avon and Somerset Police have also launched an investigation into comments made during the groups West Holts Stage performance. From the grey rubble of Gazas bombed water treatment plants, a rare and deadly paralytic disease has emerged that has brought a new crisis to a region already devastated by starvation and illness. An unprecedented surge in acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) a condition which causes a rapid onset of muscle weakness and paralysis has seen 110 people diagnosed in the past three months. In previous years, Gaza saw just one or two cases of AFP per year. The symptoms occur when the bodys immune system is triggered by certain viruses, in some cases causing it to attack its own nervous system. In Gaza, the rapid spread of water-borne infectious diseases has led to a striking rise in AFP cases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Dr Ahmed al-Farra, head of paediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, told The Independent that Israels destruction of Gazas vital water treatment plants is largely responsible for the spread of these diseases. To see 110 cases, this is incredible. This is an outbreak, it is alarming for us to see that number, Dr Farra said, describing the situation as one of the most challenging medical incidents Gaza has seen since 2023. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis was flooded with sewage last week (Reuters) Acute flaccid paralysis is associated with a variety of causes, including GuillainBarre syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune condition and the main cause of AFP in Gaza. Severe cases of AFP and GBS can cause lifetime paralysis, or respiratory failure, potentially resulting in death. Gazas health ministry says 36 per cent of the reported cases of GBS were in children aged under 15. In Nasser Hospital and Al-Shifa hospital, the hotspots of the outbreak, at least nine people have died of AFP so far. Senior Palestinian and Israeli medics, along with the WHO, have told The Independent that critical and lifesaving treatments are not available anywhere in the ravaged enclave. A Palestinian girl drinks water near a distribution centre in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip (AP) The Israeli military denies that it prevents the entry of medicine into the strip, and says it continuously and consistently facilitates the operation of medical services in Gaza. It blames its destruction of water infrastructure on Hamas, which it accused of embedding its military assets among the civilian population. Other factors such as overcrowding in shelters, malnutrition, and restricted access to healthcare have all exacerbated the crisis, a WHO spokesperson said, adding that the abrupt nature of the recent surge in cases is partly due to improved monitoring processes. Lab testing samples came back positive with enterovirus, a group of viruses which typically spreads through humans or water. Most samples also contained Campylobacter jejuni, a species of bacteria commonly found in animal faeces, Dr Farra said. The lab findings show that water that the patients are receiving is completely polluted by sewage due to the destruction of the sewage system, he said. In July last year, Oxfam reported that Israel had destroyed 70 per cent of all sewage pumps and 100 per cent of wastewater treatment plants in Gaza. It accused Israel of restricting the entry of Oxfams water testing equipment. Satellite imagery shows that the solar panels powering the Sheikh Ejleen wastewater treatment plant have been largely destroyed (Planet Labs) Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Thursday that Israel is deliberately depriving people of water in Gaza. Since June 2024, Israel has only approved one in every 10 import requests of items for water desalination, the charity said. Israel must begin allowing the importation of critical equipment for water supply and distribution, at scale, MSF added. The Israeli military must stop its destruction of water infrastructure and allow the immediate repair of water systems that have been damaged to ensure people have life-sustaining access to water. Such is the desperation for clean water that health officials in Gaza are advising people to place water which they want to drink in sunlight, so it is as sterilised as possible before they drink it, Dr Farra said. An IDF spokesperson said the military does not seek to harm civilian infrastructure and strikes only military targets, in accordance with international law. It added that the IDF works to ensure humanitarian water supply in Gaza, and said millions of litres are provided daily via Israels water lines alongside the local water system. Young girls drink from communal taps (Masoud/SOPA Images/Shutterstock) But medics and humanitarian organisations in Gaza say that a shortage of clean water is behind the increase of AFP which they are struggling to address without the proper treatments. Severe cases can need months to recover in hospital, but beds are in high demand. An Australian medic who recently left Gaza told The Independent that all 50 intensive care beds in Nasser Hospital are filled up, each and every day. AFP requires a long time for recovery with challenging treatment, Dr Farra said. Children walk past destroyed buildings and a puddle of sewage water erupting from collapsed underground pipes in Khan Younis (AFP/Getty) Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), an expensive treatment for GBS which prevents respiratory failure, is not available in Gaza. Neither is plasma exchange, a procedure in which blood is filtered. Israeli paediatrician Prof Dan Turner, a human rights activist and deputy dean of the medical faculty at the University of Hebrew, helps coordinate the entry of medical aid into Gaza. He told The Independent he had received an urgent call for IVIG from physicians within the strip last week. The WHO said it needs unimpeded access to get medical supplies into Gaza and to rehabilitate the water, sanitation, food and health systems. But the Israeli military denies that it prevents the entry of medicines and other aid into the Gaza Strip, and said that 45,000 tons of medical equipment have been transferred to Gaza via more than 3,000 trucks. A young man distributes bottled water to children during Iftar in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza (Middle East Images) It added: The IDF continuously and consistently facilitates the operation of medical services through aid organisations and the international community, maintaining ongoing communication with international aid agencies in the Strip to meet hospital needs. Diagnosis with AFP which can lead to long-term or even permanent paralysis, particularly if not treated properly has been made more difficult due to the lack of MRI machines and cerebral spinal fluid analysis, Dr Farra said. Many are asking to be medically evacuated to undergo comprehensive treatment in foreign countries. Unfortunately, when the approval comes for the evacuation, and lots of connections and phone calls are made, the patient is already dead, Dr Farra said. Kilmar Abrego Garcia says Trump admin is trying to force him to plead guilty with Uganda threat Within minutes after he was released from a Tennessee jail Friday as he awaits criminal trial, Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Kilmar Abrego Garcia that he may be deported to Uganda, his attorneys said. If he pleaded guilty to criminal smuggling charges against him, Donald Trumps administration said he would be removed to Costa Rica, according to his attorneys. If not, he would be sent to Uganda, court filings show. The wrongfully-deported Salvadoran immigrant has been ordered to report to ICEs Baltimore field office Monday morning, according to court documents. A federal judge in Maryland, who is overseeing his deportation case, has required the government to give him 72 hours' notice before initiating deportation proceedings. His lawyers accused the Department of Justice and Homeland Security of working in lockstep to coerce him into accepting a guilty plea in his criminal case, holding over his head the prospect of possible indefinite detention or worse in a country halfway across the world, according to court filings. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rages after Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a wrongly deported Maryland father, was released from a Tennessee jail Friday, calling him a 'monster' (AP) The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia in March, accusing the Salvadoran national of being a MS-13 gang member a label he and his attorneys have rejected and sent him to a brutal Salvadoran megaprison, where he was jailed for nearly one month. After ignoring several court orders for his return, the administration sent him to Tennessee, where a grand jury indicted him on federal smuggling charges. Last month, a federal judge ordered his pretrial release, finding the government failed to provide any evidence that warrants his detention. On Thursday, the government said if he stayed in custody and pleaded guilty to both counts in the criminal indictment, then he would be removed to Costa Rica, after serving any time imposed by the court, his lawyers wrote in a Saturday filing. Costa Rica assured he could live freely as a refugee or with residency status and wouldnt be sent back to his home country, the lawyers said. But Abrego Garcia appears to have refused the arrangement and was released Friday. DHS then sent an email to Abrego Garcias attorneys, warning that ICE intended to deport the Salvadoran immigrant to Uganda no earlier than 72 hours from now and ordered he appear at an ICE filed office in Baltimore on Monday. After his release, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem branded Abrego Garcia a monster and accused the judge who allowed the Maryland father to return home disregarding Americans safety. Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country, she said in a statement. By ordering this monster loose on Americas streets, this judge has shown a complete disregard for the safety of the American people, she continued. We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country. Noem regularly uses inflammatory language about migrants as she implements the presidents anti-immigration agenda. DHS is facing a barrage of lawsuits over its aggressive deportation efforts. The governments decision to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda makes it painfully clear that they are using the immigration system to punish him for exercising his constitutional rights, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, a lawyer for the Salvadoran national, told The Independent. There is a perfectly reasonable option available, Costa Rica, where he his family can visit him easily, but instead they are attempting to send him halfway across the world, to a country with documented human rights abuses and where he does not even speak the language. This is not justice; it is retaliation. Kilmar Abrego Garcia walks, after he has been released from the Putnam County Jail in Cookville, Tennessee (Reuters) Uganda and the U.S. reached a temporary deal in which the African country agreed to accept people who may not be granted asylum in the United States but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin, Ugandas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday. However, that deal excludes individuals with criminal records. The Independent has contacted DHS for more information. Earlier this week, a senior DHS official told The Independent that Abrego Garcia wont be on American streets again. He entered the U.S. illegally as a teenager in 2011 after fleeing gang violence in his home country, and has since been living in Maryland with his wife, a U.S. citizen, and their three children. An immigration judge in 2019 allowed him to legally live and work in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds, preventing the government from sending him back to El Salvador. Despite this order, in March, he was removed to El Salvadors notoriously brutal CECOT prison. The government admitted in a court filing that his removal was due to an administrative error. In April, the Supreme Court ordered the government to facilitate his return to the U.S. Still, the Trump administration fought court orders and insisted he would never set foot in the U.S., branding him as a criminal gang member. Abrego Garcia has vehemently denied the claim and has never been charged with or convicted of being a member of any gang. In the eastbound lanes of the Thruway, just before the Pembroke exit in Genesee County, a spot in the ground was torn up Saturday from the tour bus that had violently rolled over a day earlier with 54 people on board. Planted at the scene were tiny red flags, but also a yellow one marked: "evidence, do not touch." It was here where five adults, traveling back to New York City after a trip to Niagara Falls, died at the scene after the bus exited the roadway into the median, abruptly corrected, overturned and rolled off the Thruway on the south embankment. State police on Saturday identified the five who died as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhu Bani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, N.J.; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China, and a Columbia University student in New York City; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, N.J.; and Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City, N.J. Driver was 'distracted' in Thruway tour bus crash that killed 5 people, state police say State police said several witnesses saw the bus lose control, enter the median, cross the southern shoulder and overturn. Investigators have ruled out mechanical failure and impairment or intoxication of the driver as causes of the crash. Police said the driver became "distracted," but declined to specify how, other than to say it was not by another vehicle. An earlier report that one of the deceased was a child was incorrect. In a statement, a Columbia University spokesperson said the school was devastated by the death of Hongzhuo. "This heartbreaking loss is felt deeply across our community," the statement read. "We are in close contact with her family and offering them our full support. Columbia is also providing counseling and other resources to students who may need them during this painful time. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family, friends, and all who have been touched by this tragedy." The bus operator, Bin Shao, 55, of Flushing, N.Y., had no signs of impairment, and the tour bus had no mechanical failure, state police said Saturday. At a news conference Friday evening, State Police Major Andre J. Ray said the driver became "distracted," but declined to specify how, other than to say it was not by another vehicle. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and the National Transportation Safety Board had a team on site Saturday to conduct a safety investigation. An NTSB spokesperson said the investigation includes an examination of the scene, as well as the damaged tour bus that was towed away from the scene Friday evening. At a media briefing Saturday in Cheektowaga, NTSB board member Tom Chapman said investigators would be on scene four to six days and issue a preliminary report within 30 days. A final report could take up to two years, he said. Our mission is to understand not just what happened but why it happened and to recommend changes to prevent it from happening again, said Chapman. Chapman said NTSB investigators had not ruled out mechanical problems as a possible factor and said it was too early to do so. The crash, which occurred at 12:22 p.m. Friday, involved a 2005 tour bus owned by M&Y Tour Inc. out of Staten Island. M&Y Tour did not respond to two voicemails from The Buffalo News on Saturday. Ray said early Friday evening that while many were hospitalized from the crash, there were no other patients in a "life-threatening status." Encouraging updates came out of the area's hospitals Saturday. Erie County Medical Center received 21 patients from the crash Friday, with seven of them discharged that evening. Of the remaining 14, six were admitted to inpatient beds at ECMC, five were in the trauma intensive care unit and three were admitted to the observation unit, hospital spokesperson Peter Cutler said around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. All 14 were listed in stable condition, and two of the three patients in the observation unit were scheduled to be discharged Saturday, he added. Kaleida Health received 20 patients Friday from the crash, and 19 of them were discharged from hospitals as of 7 p.m. Saturday, spokesperson Jacqueline Bett said. One child remained at Oishei Children's Hospital in serious condition, she said. University of Rochester Medical Center, which operates Strong Memorial Hospital, also received patients, including two who had critical injuries as of Friday, but the health system did not immediately provide an update Saturday. Complete coverage: 5 killed in tour bus rollover on I-90 near Pembroke Five people were killed Friday when a tour bus carrying 54 people lost control in the eastbound lanes of the Thruway just before Exit 48A near Community responds The Amherst Senior Center, which is typically closed on the weekend, was open for continued service to bus crash victims and members of the American Red Cross on Saturday. Multiple cars, as well as State Police vehicles, were present at the center. The Red Cross released a statement saying that at the request of the Genesee County emergency manager, their Western New York volunteers are supporting those affected in the crash by providing temporary hotel accommodations, food, emotional support and spiritual care. Erie County spokesperson Peter Anderson said the Red Cross was using Amherst as the reunification site for bus passengers and family members. A Red Cross spokesperson said the agency had partnered with Journey's End Refugee Services to provide translation services to non-English-speaking bus passengers, as well as Language Line, for phone-based translation. Another white charter bus operated by M&Y Tour Inc. arrived at the Senior Center parking lot on Saturday, possibly to return stranded passengers. That Amherst reunification site was scheduled to shut down Saturday afternoon, state police said, after family members had made contact with all passengers. With the influx of patients to area hospitals, ConnectLife, the region's nonprofit organ procurement organization and community blood bank, on Friday afternoon put out an emergency appeal for blood donations following the accident on the Thruway. ConnectLife spokesperson Sarah Diina said that, as of Friday night, the organization had sent nearly 200 units of blood to area hospitals, and additional units of platelets were sent Saturday. "We anticipate the need for blood will continue into next week," Diina said. "The response we have received from the community has been great. We saw over 200 blood donors today, and had 375 voicemails when we came to the office this morning from community members who want to make an appointment to donate." M&Y Tour safety record M&Y Tour Inc. had a satisfactory rating with the federal Department of Transportation and a good rating with the New York Department of Transportation, according to a search of federal and state records. The Safety Measurement System for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration showed no driver fitness violations, no unsafe driving violations, and no reportable crashes over the past two years for the tour bus company, which is based in Staten Island. Minor violations were found in about 21% of the 43 vehicle inspections conducted between July 2023 and this past July for M&Y Tour. The national average was 23%. Out of 59 driver inspections, there was one minor violation on July 22 for noncompliance with hours of service. Violation examples in the hours of service category include operating a bus while ill or fatigued and requiring or permitting a driver to drive more than 11 hours, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is part of the Department of Transportation. The carrier was cited for 47 vehicle maintenance violations, ranging from non-working lights to a flat tire, in inspections dating back to July 27, 2023. The Safety Measurement System assigns a severity weight to violations and comes up with a monthly performance score for bus operators. No acute or critical violations were detected for M&Y, which had a most recent on-road performance score of 3.82. The score means that 48% of motor carriers in the same safety event group as M&Y had better on-road performance. A traumatic scene Michelle Mocniak, her husband and 7-year-old son were on their way to the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester when they witnessed the bus crash Friday. The family, from Wheatfield, was cruising in the left lane of the Thruway when, suddenly, cars started swerving into their lane. Everything came to a stop. Within three minutes, the family saw a state trooper arrive at the scene, who quickly ran back to his vehicle, presumably to radio for more assistance. The family watched as emergency responders descended upon the scene within five minutes. Mocniak stood up, poking through her vehicle's sunroof, and could see a bus on its side, and people everywhere. "You could tell it was something very, very bad," she said. 'It was just a real hellish scene': Mercy Flight describes response to tour bus crash on Thruway Dozens of people from the bus, which state police said was carrying 54 people, sustained injuries and were transported to hospitals by Mercy Flight and other emergency responders. Both sides of the Thruway were closed, and Mocniak watched as helicopters landed at the scene only to return later to get more patients. Mocniak saw people get out of their cars to see what was going on. She saw one woman walk up to the scene and just start praying. Mocniak and her family weren't able to leave until about 3 p.m., when state police made a space for vehicles to turn around. After turning around, the family made a stop just to decompress and process what they had seen. After, they went to their in-laws' house, just to be around family. "It was something you couldn't explain unless you were there," Mocniak said. Melania Trump is emerging as a greater influence on the US president in his second term - Samuel Corum/Getty Images Turkeys first lady has written to Melania Trump pleading with her to raise the plight of children in Gaza with Benjamin Netanyahu. Emine Erdogan said she had been inspired by the letter Mrs Trump sent to Vladimir Putin asking him to consider the children of Ukraine and Russia. I have faith that the important sensitivity you have shown for the 648 Ukrainian children ... will be extended to Gaza as well, she wrote in a letter released by the Turkish presidency yesterday. Emine Erdogan, pictured with her husband Recep Tayyip Erdogan, wrote a letter pleading with Melania Trump to use her influence in Gaza - Toby Melville/Reuters It is the latest sign that Mrs Trump is emerging as a quiet influence on White House policy. The Telegraph recently revealed that after seeing images of children killed in a gas attack in 2017, she was the driving force that led her husband to launch strikes on Syria. Mr Trump also spoke recently about how he and the First Lady have discussed the horrifying images of starving children coming out of Gaza. A Palestinian girl carries an empty pot on her head as she waits at a charity kitchen in Gaza - Mohammed Saber/EPA/Shutterstock On Monday, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, delivered a letter from his wife thanking Mrs Trump for her letter to Putin. World leaders and their wives have worked out that the First Lady is a really useful conduit to the president, said a former adviser to the president. The appeal to Mrs Trump came amid fresh warnings of a devastating humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where a global hunger monitor declared that a famine was under way in Gaza City, and that 132,000 children were at risk of death. Children in a tent camp in Gaza City - Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) a globally recognised system for classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition described the famine in Gaza as entirely man-made. Mrs Erdogan wrote in her letter: The phrase unknown baby written on the shrouds of thousands of Gazan children opens irreparable wounds in our consciences. The letter asks Mrs Trump to contact the Israeli prime minister, who has denied there is a famine in Gaza, and ask him to end the crisis. These days, when the world is experiencing a collective awakening and the recognition of Palestine has become a global will, I believe that your call on behalf of Gaza would fulfil a historic responsibility toward the Palestinian people, Mrs Erdogan wrote. A spokesman for the First Lady declined to comment Mrs Trump has kept a low profile since her husbands return to power. She will travel with him to London next month for a state visit. But she has made only a handful of appearances this year, including travelling with her husband on Air Force One to see hurricane damage in North Carolina and wildfire destruction in California. Her staff in the East Wing of the White House has been trimmed down since the first term. But Mr Trump has described how she has quietly offered her insight behind the scenes on major humanitarian crises. In particular, she advised him to be sceptical of Putins warm words during phone calls. Donald Trump has acknowledged the First Ladys influence on him - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The Trumps with President Erdogan and Mrs Erdogan at the White House during Mr Trumps first term in office - Tom Brenner/Reuters I tell the First Lady, You know, I spoke to Vladimir today we had a wonderful conversation. She said, Oh, really? Another city was just hit, he said during an Oval Office meeting last month. When Mr Trump arrived in Alaska for his summit with Putin, he carried a letter from the First Lady urging the Russian leader to think about his responsibility to protect children. Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nations rustic countryside or a magnificent city centre. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger, she wrote. She did not mention the war in Ukraine, but she made clear her belief that Putin could protect children with the simple stroke of a pen. Now activists are hoping she might put her soft power to use in Gaza, an even thornier issue given her husbands strong support for Mr Netanyahu. Palestinians flock to the site of airdrops in Gaza and, below, swarm around lorries carrying aid - Mohammed Nassar/Anadolu via Getty Images Hatem Khaled/Reuters Last week, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report declared a famine around Gaza City. It said more than 640,000 people will face catastrophic conditions during the next two months. Last month, Mr Trump revealed he had discussed the crisis with his wife. Melania thinks it is terrible, he told The Telegraph aboard Air Force One as he returned from Scotland. She sees the same pictures that you see and we all see. Everybody, unless they are pretty cold-hearted or worse than that, nuts, [thinks] theres nothing you can say other than its terrible when you see the kids. A member of Mr Trumps National Security Council during his first term said the plight of children was also a good way to engage the president. Children suffering is a way to get the presidents attention, he said. That is a sensitive spot for him. Lyle Menendez denied parole almost four decades after murdering parents with brother Lyle Menendez has been denied parole after an 11-hour hearing on Friday. His younger brother Erik Menendez was also denied parole on Thursday after a similarly long hearing potentially the two longest in the history of California. They can apply again for release in three years. Almost 30 years after their convictions for murdering their parents, Lyle and Erik were given the opportunity to present their cases for parole the closest they have come to securing freedom since then. They were sentenced in 1996 to life imprisonment for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion on August 20, 1989. They were 21 and 18 at the time. Lyle Menendez has been denied parole over the murders of his parents with his brother Erik in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. (AP) Defense attorneys argued the brothers acted in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father; prosecutors claimed they murdered their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The brothers became eligible for parole in May after a Los Angeles judge reduced their sentences from life in prison without the possibility of parole, to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible under California law because they were under 26 when they committed their crimes. It was decided that a panel of parole hearing officers would evaluate the brothers individually. They both appeared by video link from prison on their respective days, with other participants joining from various locations. In California, if a board recommends parole, there is a 120-day review period for the case. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom then has 30 days to affirm or deny the parole. Erik and Lyle Menendez in court in 1990 a year after murdering their parents (Copyright 1990. The Associated Press. All rights reserved) There was no live feed of the hearing, and only one journalist was allowed to watch and provide reports to other media outlets, which were barred from publishing them until a decision was reached. James Queally of The Los Angeles Times reports that the hearing was stalled for hours after the California Corrections Department accidentally released a recording of Erik Menendez's parole hearing to a news outlet. The family was furious. Many then declined to speak in support of Lyle for fear their recordings would be made public. Transcripts of parole hearings become public within 30 days, and there was an indication that public records requests for audio recordings of the Menendez brothers' hearings would be honored, but the victims' families said they were never informed, which sparked outrage in the hearing. Lyle told the parole board details about the abuse he claims to have suffered under his parents. He cried, face reddened, while delivering his closing statement. He seemed to still want to protect his baby brother, telling commissioners he took sole responsibility for the murders. I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family," he said. I am so sorry to everyone, and I will be forever sorry. The panel started by asking how abuse impacted decision-making in his life. Lyle described how his father physically abused him by choking, punching and hurting him using a belt. I was the special son in my family. My brother was the castaway," he said. "The physical abuse was focused on me because I was more important to him, I felt. The Menendez brothers in court in August 1990. Now 35 years later they have both been denied parole (AP) He said his mother also sexually abused him, and appeared uncomfortable discussing this with the panel, who asked why he didn't disclose his mother's abuse in a risk assessment conducted earlier this year. Asked if one death made him more sorrowful than the other, Lyle said: My mother, because I loved her and couldnt imagine harming her in any way. He added: I think also, I learned a lot after, about her life, her childhood, reflecting on how much fear maybe she felt. Later, Lyle broke down in tears when recounting how they confronted their mother about Jose Menendez's alleged abuse of his younger brother. I couldnt wrap my mind around the fact that she knew," he said. Heidi Rummel, Lyles parole lawyer, was more outspoken during the hearing than the one for Erik on Thursday. She quarreled with the commissioners over several lines of questioning and whether the panel had access to trial evidence in the case. The panel asked Lyle whether the murders were planned and about the brothers buying guns. There was zero planning. There was no way to know it was going to happen Sunday, he said, referring to buying the guns as the biggest mistake." I no longer believe that they were going to kill us in that moment, he said. "At the time, I had that honest belief. He was also asked about the sophistication of the web of lies and manipulation you demonstrated afterward," referring to having witnesses lie for them in court, and attempts to destroy his father's will. The Menendez brothers may apply for release again in three years (AP) Menendez maintained that there was no plan, only that he was flailing in what was happening and didn't want to go to prison and be separated from his brother. In closing, Rummel expressed frustration that the hearing spent almost no time on Lyle's achievements in prison or his efforts to build positive relationships with correctional staff. She noted he never touched drugs or alcohol inside. How many people with an LWOP [life without parole] sentence come in front of this board with zero violence, despite getting attacked, getting bullied, and choose to do something different? she said. Eriks parole was denied, with his behavior in prison cited as the main reason, not the seriousness of the crime for which he was incarcerated. These included the use of cell phones, drugs, allegedly aiding a gang in a tax scheme, as well as two instances of violence. Similarly, the panel zeroed in on Menendez's use of cellphones in prison as recently as March 2025. I had convinced myself that this wasnt a means that was harming anyone but myself in a rule violation," Menendez said. He said correctional staff were monitoring his communications with his wife and family and selling them to tabloids, so he saw cellphones as a way to protect his privacy. Commissioner Patrick Reardon applauded him for starting a prison beautification project and mentorship programs. But he questioned if the cellphone violations tainted those accomplishments. I would never call myself a model incarcerated person," Menendez said. I would say that Im a good person, that I spent my time helping people. ... Im the guy that officers will come to to resolve conflicts. The panel noted that a psychologist found that Menendez is at very low risk for violence upon release. My life has been defined by extreme violence," he said. I wanted to be defined by something else. For years, the brothers filed petitions for appeals from behind bars, but they were denied by state and federal judges. The brothers have engaged in educational activities while in prison, participated in self-help classes, and established various support groups for fellow prisoners. They also launched a prison beautification project inspired by the Norwegian approach to incarceration that believes rehabilitation in humane prisons surrounded by nature leads to successful reintegration into society, even for people who have committed terrible crimes. Over the years, the Menendez case has continued to fascinate the public, and the brothers became celebrities of sorts. They also were the subjects of true crime shows, including last year's nine-episode Netflix crime drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Lyle Menendez, left, and his brother Erik in court in Beverly Hills in 1991. Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/AP Lyle Menendez was denied parole for his role in the 1989 killings of his parents on Friday, just a day after the California parole board denied the release of his brother Erik. Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, will have the final say in whether or not the 57-year-old will be released. Related: California parole board denies release of Erik Menendez Lyle and Erik Menendez have spent nearly 30 years behind bars for the murders of their parents. The brothers, who were 18 and 21 at the time of the killings, have said they fatally shot Jose and Kitty Menendez after years of molestation by their father. They were sentenced to life in prison in 1996, after prosecutors argued they committed the violence in order to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The case has long fascinated the public and drawn international attention. Their first trial was televised by Court TV. But their story reached a new generation thanks to social media and numerous TV dramas and documentaries that focused on the abuse the brothers say they faced and criticism that they were treated unfairly by prosecutors and the media. Their family members publicly supported them and backed their allegations of abuse for years. Last year the Menendez brothers had hope for the possibility of release for the first time in years, when the then Los Angeles district attorney announced he would recommend they be resentenced. They have been in prison for nearly 35 years. I believe that they have paid their debt to society, George Gascon said, stating he believed they were subjected to a tremendous amount of dysfunction in the home, and molestation. In their years behind bars, the brothers have earned college degrees and served as mentors and caregivers. The brothers were resentenced by California judge in May, reducing their original full-life punishment to one of 50 years with the possibility of release. But the new district attorney, Nathan Hochman, opposed their release, arguing they never fully accepted responsibility for the crimes. On Thursday the parole board denied Eriks bid for freedom, arguing his misbehavior while in prison, such as using a cellphone, demonstrated he still poses a risk to public safety. They denied him parole despite strong support from family members for his release. Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you, and you can still be found unsuitable for parole, commissioner Robert Barton said. Related: Key takeaways from the parole hearings of Erik and Lyle Menendez Hochman praised the boards careful, evidence-based assessment. The board correctly determined that Erik Menendezs actions speak louder than words, and that his conduct in prison and current mentality demonstrates that he still poses an unreasonable risk of danger to the community, he said in a statement. Erik will be eligible for parole again in three years. Fridays hearing, which was closed to the public, lasted 11 hours. It was held separately to Thursdays hearing. Both brothers appeared by video link from the San Diego prison where they are being held. The panel members, whose identities was not released by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, quizzed the brothers on their behavior and attitude towards the murders. The holiday hotspots most at risk from wildfires have been revealed as blazes continue to sweep Europe amid scorching temperatures. As many Britons jet off for the bank holiday weekend, experts have also issued a health warning over the potentially deadly fires. Meanwhile, in the UK, wildfires have continued to break out, as the country endured one of its hottest and driest summers on record, and four heatwaves so far. But those looking to head abroad have been warned that Greece is the country most at risk from wildfires this summer, followed by Turkey, then Cyprus. Health and security company International SOS revealed Spain, Portugal and Albania come next on the list, with Montenegro, Germany, Italy then France following. Adam Lakhani, security director at the firm, told The Independent: There has been below-average wildfire activity in the lead up to the summer months, likely due to high levels of rainfall across historically at-risk regions, including Southern Europe France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. A major incident was declared by firefighters tackling a large moor fire in the North York Moors National Park last week (North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service/PA Wire) However, in recent days and weeks, wildfires have begun to hit the regions, also extending as far as Eastern Europe. Currently, much of Southern Europe is facing fires and warnings of extreme heat. Wildfires can directly impact health by causing injuries and even death from burns or smoke inhalation. Dr Kate OReilly, regional medical director, explained: The smoke from wildfires is a mixture of hazardous air pollutants, including particulate matter, that can affect those in near proximity to the fire, as well as distant populations. Exposure to wildfire smoke can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, affect the immune system and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. The long-term impacts of wildfire exposure include worsening lung and cardiovascular disease. Mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, in both adults and children can increase after witnessing a wildfire. She added that access to healthcare can also be impacted during and in the aftermath of wildfires. She warned: The current situation across Europe is of great concern. New research by International SOS found the country worst affected by wildfires in 2024 was Portugal, where roughly 425 square miles (1,100 square km) of land was burnt, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, making up approximately 25 per cent of the total area burnt in Europe that year. The report, titled 2025 Europe Wildfire season: preparation, response, said, in Europe, Greece has regularly been one of the worst-affected countries by wildfires, with authorities increasing the number of firefighters from 15,500 in 2022 to more than 18,000 ahead of this years wildfire season, while the Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection increased its fleet of firefighting vehicles from 270 to 3,700. Residents battle a fire advancing toward Rebordondo village, near Ourense, in northwestern Spain, on Monday (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Firefighters have been battling to put out blazes across southern Europe in one of the worst summers for wildfires in 20 years. Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to Copernicus. 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. The EU monitoring agency says that 2024 was the hottest year on record both globally and in Europe, which experienced its second-highest number of heat stress days. The blazes in Spain have killed four people this year and burned more than 382,000 hectares or about 1,475 square miles, according to the European Union's European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). That surface area is more than twice the size of metropolitan London, more than six times the 2006-2024 average for land burned during the same period, according to EFFIS. Air quality deteriorated across large parts of Spain over the past week as a result of the wildfires, data from the EU's Copernicus climate monitoring agency showed. Smoke from the Iberian Peninsula fires reached France, the UK, and Scandinavia, it said. In Portugal, wildfires have burned about 235,000 hectares or 907 square miles, according to EFFIS nearly five times more than the 2006-2024 average for this period. Two people there have died. A huge blaze recently broke out at the iconic Arthurs Seat landmark in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA Wire) Meanwhile, the UK experienced the fourth heatwave of the summer last week, with some areas seeing the mercury climb above 33C in the hottest places. A major incident was declared by firefighters tackling a large moor fire in the North York Moors National Park last week, just days after a huge blaze broke out at the iconic Arthurs Seat landmark in Edinburgh. Fire and rescue services in England and Wales had already responded to 856 wildfire incidents in the UK as of last week, with firefighters warning the country is on track to break the wildfire record this year. Warning that fire services are being pushed to their limits, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) chair Phil Garrigan said: We are already seeing more wildfires at this point in the year than in 2022 which itself was a record year and that is deeply concerning. The bus was reportedly transporting about 50 passengers from Niagara Falls to New York City. Photograph: WBEN At least five people, including a child, were killed after a tour bus carrying 51 people crashed in upstate New York on its way back from a trip to Niagara Falls on Friday. The passengers were initially trapped in the wreckage, according to law enforcement, and then admitted to hospitals in the region where more than 40 of them were evaluated or treated with injuries ranging from head trauma to broken arms and legs. The bus, which had 52 passengers onboard, including the driver, was traveling eastbound when it apparently lost control on Interstate 90 near the Pembroke exit, roughly 25 miles (40km) east of Buffalo. It went into the median and then ended up in a ditch on the right side of the road, New York state trooper James OCallaghan said. OCallaghan told reporters at the scene that the bus did roll and most people had not been wearing seatbelts. People inside were ejected as the windows shattered. There were multiple ejections, he said. There were multiple people trapped and theres multiple fatalities, and this includes children as well. The driver survived. The driver is alive and well, OCallaghan said. Were working with him. We believe we have a good idea of what happened, why the bus lost control. He did not provide further details. Related: Bus carrying junior high football team crashes in Pennsylvania, sending 21 people to hospital Photos from witnesses showed the bus tipped on its side near the road, with emergency crews and medical helicopters rushing victims to hospitals. There was glass all over the road and peoples stuff all over the road, Powell Stephens of Medina told the Buffalo News after passing the scene. Windows were all shattered. The tour bus was heading back to New York City from the famous falls on the US-Canada border, when it crashed between Buffalo and Rochester. OCallaghan said the tourists were chiefly of Indian, Chinese and Filipino origin, and officials were trying to get interpreters to the scene. The interstate highway was blocked, and OCallaghan said there were multiple entrapments and people were being taken to local hospitals. The Mercy Flight medical transport service said its three helicopters, and three more from other services transported people from the crash site. At a news conference at Erie county medical center later in the day, Dr Samuel Cloud, the facilitys chief medical officer, said the crash was probably the most trauma patients from one incident in my career here in Buffalo. Two people who needed surgery at the center were expected to recover, said Dr Jeffrey Brewer, the chief of surgery. The New York State Thruway Authority announced that a significant section of the highway was shut down in both directions. Officials urged drivers to avoid the area. Kathy Hochul, the New York governor, wrote on X that she had been updated on the tragic tour bus accident and that her office was coordinating with law enforcement and local agencies. Letitia James, the attorney general, also posted on X: This bus crash is heartbreaking, and Im praying for everyone [affected]. Grateful to our first responders on the scene working to rescue and help people. Almost one million young Britons have been left idle while the number of migrants aged under 25 with jobs in the UK has increased fourfold, a report has found. Britons under 25 are being squeezed out of the workforce by mass migration, rising payroll taxes and surging benefit awards, a report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think tank has claimed. Researchers found that the number of Britons aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training known as Neets has increased by almost 200,000 since the pandemic to 948,000. It has been compounded by a slump in the number of Britons under 25 in paid employment, with 49,000 fewer on company payrolls than there were five years ago. By contrast, the number of non-EU workers aged under 25 employed by British companies rose by 315 per cent or 258,200 between January 2020 and December last year. 2408 Indices of payrolled employees by age since January 2020 The report by the CSJ which was founded by Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader suggested the widening gulf in employment patterns could be partly explained by UK firms opting to employ migrants, while thousands of British young people are instead claiming out-of-work benefits for conditions such as anxiety and depression. It called for an overhaul of the system that shifts away from uncontrolled mass migration to focus on getting British young people into work. Its central proposal is for a future workforce credit which has been backed by Lord Blunkett, the former Labour home secretary, and Sir Jeremy Hunt, the former Tory chancellor. The credit would help firms to recruit and provide training for Neets by paying the employer 30 per cent of their salary, half of which would be paid up front and half after six months of continuous employment. The CSJs modelling suggested the credit would help almost 120,000 Neets into work, reversing a big portion of the rise in their numbers since the pandemic. It estimated that it could generate tax revenue and welfare savings worth some 765m. 2408 Rate of other NEETs among young people by region Writing for The Telegraph, Lord Blunkett said the scale of the problem faced by Sir Keir Starmer was incomparable to the 250,000 Neets that he had to deal with in 1997 when New Labour came to power and made youth employment and skills a top priority. The peer, who was Sir Tony Blairs first education secretary, urged the Government to consider the workforce credit, saying Labour had to go much further than currently planned in welfare and employment reform. He warned that the alternative was hundreds of thousands of young people left exposed to the vagaries of ill-health, isolation and long-term unemployment, adding: Its costing all of us, through an exploding working-age benefit bill and squandered potential. Sir Jeremy said: With almost a million young people now not in education, employment, or training, there is the risk of a lost generation of wasted potential. The future workforce credit would represent a significant effective tax cut on employment, while reforms to mental health benefits would see thousands given better support to move into work. The CSJ research found that the surge in the recruitment of non-EU migrants was largely concentrated in jobs such as retail and hospitality, where qualifications are typically lower. 2408 Change in indices of non-EU payrolled workers across industries between January 2020 and December 2024, weighted by industry employment share in January 2020 The report said: The increase in the young non-EU workforce does not seem to reflect employers demanding highly skilled workers unavailable in the UK. It appears that firms in the lower-skilled sectors that less qualified young people would usually work in have a growing preference for non-UK workers. It means that one in eight 16 to 24-year-olds are now Neets, a rise that the CSJ report said had also been driven by rocketing claims for mental ill-health, the increase in employers National Insurance levies by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, and the end to age-based minimum wage bands. The CSJ said Neets were split into two groups the sick and others. The first group comprised more than 250,000 16 to 24-year-olds who were economically inactive Neets because of sickness, an increase of 83,000 from 2019. Six in 10 had mental, emotional or other difficulties. Some 128,000 had depression or anxiety, a rise of 36,000 since the pandemic. Universal credit was the most common benefit, followed by incapacity and disability benefits. The second group, the CSJ admitted, was a known unknown where there were limited figures because they interact so little with government services. Almost three-quarters did not claim any form of welfare, but still mostly lived with parents who were not well-off. The CSJ recommended that young people should not be abandoned to welfare. It said the Government should follow through with its plans to delay access to Universal Credit until a claimant is 22 or older. It said ministers should also go further and withdraw eligibility to personal independence payments and Universal Credit health benefits from claimants with less severe mental health conditions. A Government spokesman said: This government is ending the failed experiment in open borders that saw net migration soar to nearly one million under the previous government, and through our Immigration White Paper are replacing it with one that puts Britains young people at the front of the queue for skills, training and work. We will ensure every young person has the chance to thrive which is why any employer hiring someone under the age of 21 doesnt have to pay National Insurance contributions until they earn over 50,000. In addition to this, we are investing a further 45 million in our Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme to help ensure that no young person will be left behind as we unlock economic growth and secure prosperity for all under our Plan for Change. There is a workforce waiting in the wings the Treasury must take notice By David Blunkett Almost one million 16 to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training today. They are otherwise known as the Neets. But that stark figure is not just another debit in the Chancellors ledger. Its hundreds of thousands of young people left exposed to the vagaries of ill-health, isolation and long-term unemployment. And its costing all of us, through an exploding working-age benefit bill and squandered potential. The number of Neets now is almost incomparable to the expectation of 250,000 young people out of education and work that was enough to make youth employment and skills the New Labour governments top priority in 1997. In my four years as secretary of state for education and employment through to 2001, I benefited from accelerating growth in the economy as well as a windfall levy on the profits of the privatised utilities. My successors in the current Government have, unfortunately, a very different legacy. Take welfare. By the time the Tories left office, sickness benefit claims had hit 2,000 a day, fuelled by an extraordinary increase in awards for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, in particular among younger adults. Meanwhile, as thousands more signed on every week, a broken system saw immigration skyrocket to unprecedented levels, putting downwards pressure on the opportunities for British youngsters. In the years following the pandemic, Neets increased by a staggering 170,000. Welcome steps A substantial investment in Novembers Budget statement in addition to the 1bn already announced to move people from welfare into work, and the Government would gain a political as well as substantial economic dividend. The Government is already taking some welcome steps here reforming the Apprenticeship Levy, while simplifying and devolving skills funding as I was privileged to recommend as the chairman of Labours Council of Skills Advisers. But the urgency and scale of the problem means the Government needs now to go much further. A combination of rising unemployment costs and unreformed welfare is seeing yet more young people falling out of work, or failing to get started in the first place. There are already 120,000 fewer under-25s on payrolls than just a year ago, and sickness benefit claims have risen to 3,000 a day, possibly rising to a cost of 100bn by 2030. In a timely set of proposals, the Centre for Social Justice has published a serious contribution to the debate on how to turn things round. Firstly, ministers should look again at directly, financially incentivising employers to hire and upskill young people. The CSJ has called for a Future Workforce Credit, drawing from the success of the New Deal for Young People in 1998, which offered unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds the opportunity to take on subsidised employment after four months of intensive job search. Covering 30 per cent of a Neets salary in sustained work, the credit would help struggling businesses as a massive effective tax cut on creating such jobs, and would get up to an estimated 120,000 young people back into work. The upfront cost could be covered by savings from the Governments plan to remove the Universal Credit health element for under-22s, although modelling shows the credit would also be fiscally positive this could generate as much as 760 million in welfare savings and tax revenue. Look first to domestic workforce Secondly, difficult as I fully appreciate this now is, the Government will have to grasp the nettle of reforming the threshold for entitlement to some mental health benefits. As part of the review being undertaken by Sir Stephen Timms MP, sensitively and over a period of time, there must be limits on entitlement to the Universal Credit health element, and personal independence payments, confining them to those with much more clearly defined and serious forms of anxiety, depression and non-debilitating neuro-diverse challenges. In the long term, this could save far more than the 5bn predicated in the legislation that created such controversy this summer. In this way, it would be possible to fund expanded NHS Talking Therapies and back to work support. Finally, rules (abandoned by the previous government) must be reinstated to ensure employers always look first to the domestic workforce before seeking visa applications from abroad. To build a more resilient economy, and see off the threat from Reform, we must follow through on our commitment to shift the economic model back towards upskilling locally. Nearly one million Neets is a daunting challenge. But it is also a profound opportunity. With the right support, the right welfare system, the right incentives, they are a workforce waiting in the wings. Lord Blunkett is the former Labour education secretary, home secretary and work and pensions secretary Residents say the renovation plans are not in keeping with the local architecture Kirstie Allsopps husband is locked in a planning row with locals after erecting railings outside his London pub, The Telegraph can reveal. Ben Andersens company, Wentworth Andersen, is redeveloping the former Ariadnes Nectar Bar in north Kensington. Under the latest renovation plans submitted by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, the railings would fence off a front terrace. The plans also include the proposed installation of a grilled light-well, a vertical shaft allowing natural light into interior spaces, which has previously sparked fears of upskirting. But residents compared the renovation plans to Poundland Prison Chic and said they were not in keeping with the local architecture. The cheap black-painted metal railings installed outside the pub have been criticised by locals One resident said: Conservation area? Not any more. This is Gritty-Gate meets Poundland Prison Chic. One would think, given the areas historic character, we might aspire to a touch of restraint or failing that, at least basic competence. Instead, we have cheap black-painted metal railings bolted straight into the pavement with all the delicacy of a motorway crash barrier. The effect is somewhere between prison chic and abandoned industrial park. A second said: The railings are all Victorian wrought iron, not steel. This is a cheap substitute, and quite apart from any railings not being appropriate to this site, they are not in keeping with a conservation area as documented. A third added: The public highway has now been absorbed and concreted crudely over with a cheap railing that is not wrought iron and not spiral as per other properties? The pub on Latimer Road is being redeveloped by the company run by the husband of Allsopp, the star of Location, Location, Location. The company bought the pub in 2023, with renovation work currently ongoing. One resident said: The effect is somewhere between prison chic and abandoned industrial park Last year, neighbours were left infuriated after a huge sign reading Allsopps appeared on the side of the building, with some claiming the owners were imposing the TV presenters name on the area. But it later transpired Allsopps great-great-grandfather owned a beer brand of the same name, which is now being revived by her cousin Jamie and is expected to be sold at the pub. On the latest application, representatives for Wentworth Andersen said the plans would respect the local heritage of the area, adding: Both interventions the installation of conservation railings and the reinstatement of the heritage-grade metal pavement grill are entirely appropriate within the Latimer Road Conservation Area. The proposal ensures heritage preservation, improves site functionality, and supports broader conservation objectives. Approval is sought in recognition of its alignment with heritage protection principles and the need for responsible site management. Residents have previously raised concerns about Mr Andersens plans for a grilled light-well. The proposed installation over the cellar of the pub has been met with a dozen objections, including claims it could be used to upskirt pedesetrians walking along the pavement above. One resident likened the idea to a voyeurs deluxe box seat, while others feared the change could lay the foundation for the basement to be converted into flats. Allsopp, 53, and Mr Andersen have been together for more than two decades and they have two teenage sons. Wentworth Andersen was contacted for comment. Nigel Farage is to publish plans for mass deportations of asylum seekers who come to the UK on small boats. His Reform UK party would seek to put these plans in place if it entered government. Arresting asylum seekers on arrival, automatic detention and forced deportation to countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea are among the proposals reported to be announced on Tuesday. They also include deals with third countries, which could include reviving the Conservatives Rwanda link-up, and sending asylum seekers to British Overseas Territories such as Ascension Island as a fallback option. Mr Farage said the plans could see hundreds of thousands of people deported and five charter flights taking off from the UK every day. It comes amid rising tensions over asylum hotels and as the government said it planned to appeal against a court ruling blocking the use of a hotel in Epping, Essex. The first step of Reform UKs plans would be to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and to scrap the Human Rights Act, followed by legislation to bar those who come to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum. Reform party leader Nigel Farage is set to announce the plans next week (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The aim of this legislation is mass deportations, Clacton-on-Sea MP Mr Farage told The Times. We have a massive crisis in Britain. It is not only posing a national security threat but its leading to public anger that frankly is not very far away from disorder. There is only one way to stop people coming into Britain and that is to detain them and deport them. Sir Keir Starmers government is struggling with rising tensions over hotels housing asylum seekers and a record number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year. Those arriving on small boats would face immediate arrest under Reform UKs plans, and the party would also seek to build detention centres to house 24,000 people, Mr Farage told The Times. He wants to sign deals with countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea to send people back. Reviving the Conservative Partys Rwanda plan or a deal with Albania could also be on the table under plans to send people to third countries. After a temporary injunction was granted on Tuesday to Epping Forest District Council to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, councils across the country controlled by Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK are considering following suit with their own legal challenges. Protesters gather outside The Bell Hotel in Epping (AFP/Getty) On Friday, the Home Office said it would appeal against the High Courts refusal to allow it to intervene in the case of the Bell Hotel, and to further appeal against the temporary injunction. Somani Hotels, the owner of the Bell Hotel, also plans to appeal against the court order blocking the use of its site as accommodation for asylum seekers. A wave of protests outside hotels used to temporarily house asylum seekers is expected in the coming days. The Home Office has a legal obligation to provide accommodation to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute and can move people to alternatives such as hotels and large sites, like former military bases. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said ministers are working to close hotels housing asylum seekers as swiftly as possible as part of an orderly programme that avoids creating problems for other areas. South Norfolk Council said on Friday that it had been informed that the Home Office intends to stop housing asylum seekers at the Park Hotel in the town of Diss. The hotels operator had warned it would close if the Home Office followed through with plans to begin placing men at the site instead of families. Protests took place outside the hotel last month. Council leader Daniel Elmer said: The Home Office thought it could just impose this change and that we would accept it. Home secretary Yvette Cooper says ministers are working to close hotels housing asylum seekers (PA) But there is a right way of doing things and a wrong way and the decision by the Home Office was just plain wrong. The council had to make a stand to support the women and children and our local community and thats exactly what we did. Although I welcome the decision, in reality it does mean that the women and children who we fought so hard to protect will now be moved elsewhere, and that is a shame. A Home Office spokesperson said: As part of our ongoing effort to reduce the number of hotels in use and close them all by the end of this parliament, we are not planning to use this site beyond the end of the current contract. The government has also pledged to crack down on smuggling gangs to deter Channel crossings. Nearly 28,000 people have arrived in the UK so far in 2025 after crossing the English Channel, a record for this point in the year since data collection began in 2018. Figures in Extinction is a deeply memorable and profound work of contemporary dance theatre - Rahi Rezvani The Edinburgh International Festivals 2025 dance programme goes out on a high with Figures in Extinction. Co-created by acclaimed English theatre director Simon McBurney and celebrated Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite, it is a co-production between theatre company Complicite and the Nederlands Dans Theater, and will arrive in London, at Sadlers Wells, in November. Pite, who trained as a dancer under the legendary dance-maker William Forsythe, has been garlanded with international awards for her choreographies for the likes of Paris Opera Ballet and famous Quebecois theatre-creator Robert Lepage. In this collaboration with McBurney which reflects upon human-made extinctions and the condition of humanity against the backdrop of the climate crisis she has created a deeply memorable and profound work of contemporary dance theatre. The piece is constructed of three distinct, but interconnected, parts. The first considers extinctions of fauna, flora and natural phenomena (such as rivers, seas and glaciers). The second ruminates on the human need to connect in an increasingly atomised world. The third part entitled Requiem contemplates grief and our dislocated relationship with death and the dead. The work reflects upon human-made extinctions against the backdrop of the climate crisis - Rahi Rezvani These stunning three sections which are separated by two intervals share common themes and an impressively totalising aesthetic. Each part boasts a complex soundtrack that mixes sound and music, and lends recorded speech a prominent role. The spoken word ranges from the itemisation of extinctions, to a child reflecting on the absence of departed birds, to a reading from the late writer John Bergers reflections on the relationship between the living and the dead. It is a bold and brave move, as the weight and quantity of spoken language could easily threaten to overwhelm the movement. However, assisted by McBurneys tremendous visual imagination and Tom Vissers brilliantly responsive lighting designs, Pites vivid and original choreographies which are performed by universally excellent dancers more than hold their own. A lone, male dancer with two immense antlers on his arms represented the extinct Pyrenean ibex by way of affectingly dignified movement. An army of suit-wearing professionals is paradoxically regimented, yet individualised. Bergers insights on the continuous presence of the dead are joined to choreography that seeks, movingly, to restore the broken link between ourselves and our ancestors. The courage and boldness of the piece is reminiscent of the convention-busting work of the late, great German choreographer Pina Bausch. A remarkably complete work of contemporary dance theatre, Figures in Extinction is a deeply moving and thought provoking triumph that should be at the top of every dance lovers list of shows to book this coming autumn. At the Edinburgh International Festival again tonight and tomorrow (eif.co.uk), and Sadlers Wells from 5-8 November (sadlerswells.com/whats-on) Until we undermine Putins own sense of control, he will ensure ours continues to erode. - Getty Your world will collapse just like ours did. I would often hear such sentiments from Moscows elites when I lived there two decades ago. The hegemony of the hypocritical West would soon end, they claimed. Some revelled in it anticipating a world of corruption and flux where might will mean right. A few lamented it. The historian Mikhail Gefter worried when he read Francis Fukuyamas famous The End of History thesis: if history has no idea of progress, its ideals will dissolve and all that will be left are brutal power grabs. Back then I dismissed these ideas as belonging to historys losers. Defeated in the Cold War, having seen the vast, seemingly eternal system they grew up in collapse in a historical heartbeat, Russians were now projecting their experience onto ours. Two decades later, as Putin, smirking with triumphant cynicism, took a seat in Trumps limo to determine the future of Ukraine, its hard not to feel they were correct. This war has always run in two dimensions. One is a kinetic, almost 19th-century struggle over land, with success measured out in miles. The other runs in the realms of perception. The more esoteric Russian military theorists like to talk about how the great conflicts of the world play out in the psycho-sphere, and are fought and won in the collective imagination. In that war it is Germany, Britain and France that are being dissected. And in this sense, Russia feels its winning. Gone is any talk in Washington DC about protecting the rules-based international order, the right of a democratic nation such as Ukraine to choose its future, of its people under occupation, of the sovereignty of borders. All the rhetoric that America used so effectively in the Cold War is over. The institutions that projected them, such as the bureau of human rights or the once great broadcaster Voice of America, are dismantled. Theres an advert in DC local news right now selling off the studio equipment from an international broadcaster. This is how the world order ends: with a garage sale. As we move forward, the prospects for Moscow must seem even more delicious. The Russians are already running their well-worn trick of setting impossible terms such as the surrender of non-conquered Ukrainian territory and, while all search earnestly for solutions, increasing their bombardment. Negotiations are a cover to rachet up the violence, rather than turn it down. They want Trump to grow so frustrated with Kyivs refusal to capitulate that America and Europe will begin to split apart. If the US then starts to relax sanctions against Russia, which the White House has indicated it will, and Europe wont, as the EU has suggested, then Moscows opportunities widen. How will German car manufacturers or French energy consumers feel as America initiates business with Moscow? Will we sanction US companies that try? The whole scenario tears apart Transatlantic relations, and boosts the pro-Kremlin parties across the continent. Already Kremlin propaganda is revelling at the idea of Russia and America teaming up to crush Europe together. Troll factories push out memes of Russian and US bayonets stabbing Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU Commission. According to the cynical Kremlin line, the US has covertly controlled every pro-democracy movement in Europe but now the conspiracy will be allied to Russias interests. European leaders of course understand this. Thus Putins visit to DC was followed with the mass gathering in the Oval Office to display unity. But the very fact that Trump welcomed Russia and Europe as equals, each petitioning his graces, is already a victory for Putin. No longer is the West a Band of Brothers. Instead Trump is like The Bachelor on reality TV, comparing wooing suitors. But there is a more effective way of striking back into Russias psychosphere than this defensive patching up. Putins and his ruling cliques vulnerability lies in the place from which their cynical world-view emanates. Precisely because they saw the Soviet Union collapse so quickly they are also now over-sensitive to any perception they may be about to lose control. Whenever they feel they are doing so, they retreat. One of the reasons Biden was so reluctant to apply maximum pressure on to Russia was because it was so careful not to upset the balance of the world order he was trying to preserve. But now there is no world order to protect, guardrails can come off. Russia might be relishing the end of the international rules-based order, but in a weird way that world order was also protecting it, allowing it to play the rule-breaking bad boy among ponderous adults. A recent piece by the military analyst Jack Watling might provide a roadmap for Western action, starting with the need to seize Russias illegal shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea, which is the lifeline of its oil economy. One could follow up with pressure on the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, more assertive information operations to undermine recruitment of soldiers and morale inside the army, and secondary sanctions on Indian and Chinese companies. There is no one magic bullet. Its more a case of piling on many pressures all at once so the Russian regime finally feels its system could be at risk. We cant hope for imminent regime change it will retreat way before that risk were realised. But we can make the Kremlin feel that its world could collapse just as it did before. And until we undermine Putins own sense of control, he will ensure ours continues to erode. Before the general election, Rachel Reeves said that a revaluation of council tax bands was not where Im going to put my political energy - Oliver McVeigh/PA Rachel Reeves has refused to repeat a pre-election pledge not to hit middle-class families with higher bills by overhauling council tax. Labour frontbenchers had ruled out any reforms to the system, such as a revaluation, adding extra bands or raising rates for more valuable properties. But on Saturday the Treasury would not stand by that commitment, saying only that the Chancellor wanted to keep taxes for working people as low as possible. It comes amid speculation that Ms Reeves is planning a raft of new property levies as she struggles to fill an estimated 50bn black hole in the public finances because of higher than expected borrowing and sluggish growth. Labour categorically ruled out making any changes to the current system of council tax bands a fortnight before last years election was held. Ms Reeves, the then shadow chancellor, told The Financial Times that a revaluation of the bands was not where Im going to put my political energy. But it now appears that the commitment has been dropped after the Treasury refused to say that the Chancellor still stood by it. Sources close to Ms Reeves told The Telegraph she would be looking at property taxes as part of wider efforts to boost growth. Council tax, based on property valuations from 1991, has been heavily criticised, with the top band covering homes worth 320,000 or more. Because of the uneven growth in house prices since then, families in the North and Midlands now pay proportionally more than those in the South. Labour-run Wales has unveiled plans, since delayed, for a revaluation and the introduction of new bands for more valuable homes. Meanwhile, in Scotland the SNP increased the rates for properties in the higher E-H bands compared to those levied on houses and flats that are worth less. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has calculated that, if Ms Reeves were to follow that example in England, councils would raise an extra 1.5bn a year. If she were to go further, and increase rates for higher bands by 50 per cent compared with other properties, they would bring in around 3.5bn more. That cash could be effectively recouped by the Treasury because it would then need to hand local authorities less generous central funding settlements. Official data suggest that increasing council tax on the highest F, G and H bands would hit more than a million homes across England and Wales. Introducing new bands in England would be complex and could take a year to achieve, according to sources close to HMRC. But council tax is forecast to raise 50bn this year, and increasing it is one of the few major revenue raising options open to the Chancellor. Downing Street has confirmed that she will stick by her commitment not to raise the big three of income tax, VAT and employee National Insurance. Labour made a manifesto pledge not to increase corporation tax above its current rate of 25 per cent and is unlikely to target employer National Insurance again. A Treasury spokesman said: As set out in the Plan for Change, the best way to strengthen public finances is by growing the economy which is our focus. Changes to tax and spend policy are not the only ways of doing this, as seen with our planning reforms, which are expected to grow the economy by 6.8bn and cut borrowing by 3.4bn We are committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible, which is why at last autumns Budget, we protected working peoples payslips and kept our promise not to raise the basic, higher or additional rates of income tax, employee National Insurance, or VAT. Treasury officials said Ms Reeves would make any decisions on tax at the budget. Thousands have joined demonstrations against hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers as a wave of weekend protests takes place across the UK. Around 200 anti-immigration protesters wearing St Georges and Union flags clashed with Stand Up to Racism protesters in Surrey on Saturday, after an asylum hotel in Orpington, south-east London was targeted on Friday night. Demonstrations under the Abolish Asylum System slogan were also held in Canary Wharf. Officers struggled to separate the groups as they tried to move the Stand Up to Racism protesters through the anti-migrant crowd in Surrey. The two groups met on Bonehurst Road near the Four Points By Sheraton hotel, which is used to house asylum seekers, and were separated by lines of police. Tensions were high before the two groups collided, as anti-racism protesters were heckled by residents of Horley while they marched through the town. Meanwhile, the anti-racism protesters held signs calling for racist scum to get off the streets. A counter-protester speaks to a Stand Up to Racism protester in Horley (PA Wire) They were met with a torrent of abuse from the anti-migration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone youre all scum and you should be ashamed and that this wasnt about racism. Later, the anti-immigration protesters sang songs in support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Three people were arrested two for breach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice, Surrey Police said. This week, at Staines Magistrates Court, a man who was living at the hotel was convicted of three counts of sexual assault against three different women. Qais Al-Aswad, 26, has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced for those offences at the same court on October 1. Meanwhile, in Liverpool there were 11 arrests for offences including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray, as a UK Independence Party protest was met by a counter-demonstration. Dozens of people had shouted "Get them out" and "Save our children" while others held Union and England flags during Friday nights protest outside a hotel in Orpington. Counter protesters could be seen holding banners and Stand Up To Racism placards which read 'Refugees welcome, Stop the far right'. A large police cordon was formed between the two groups and the hotel. The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that no arrests were made. In the town of Cheshunt, which neighbours Enfield in north London more than 250 anti-immigration protesters blocked an A road and set off red flares. Rule, Britannia! Blared from speakers as the group protested at the Delta Marriott hotel. Protests have been held in communities across the UK this weekend, including (clockwise from top left) Orpington in south-east London, Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, Perth and Bristol (PA) Barriers were erected around the hotel and police were there in large numbers. Demonstrators voiced fears that asylum seekers evicted from The Bell Hotel in nearby Epping could be relocated to their town after the High Court ruled that 140 migrants must be moved from the site. A former leader of the far-right group Homeland was seen in the Cheshunt demo, according to The Times. Protesters briefly shut a road as some carried signs saying "I support Tommy Robinson", "Two Tier Kier" and "Leave our kids alone". The protest remained peaceful and was joined by an anti-migrant group of women called the Pink Ladies, who have been staging protests outside the Britannia hotel in Canary Wharf, where a fresh demonstration is planned this weekend. Dozens of people took part in protests in Orpington on Friday night (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) Abolish Asylum System protests were also being held in locations around England, including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, and Newcastle. Aberdeen and Perth in Scotland and Mold in Flintshire, Wales, will also hold their own protests. A separate batch of protests organised by Stand Up to Racism will be held in Bristol, Cannock, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wakefield, and Long Eaton in Derbyshire. In Bristol, mounted police were brought in to separate rival groups in the Castle Park, with officers scuffling with protesters. Mounted police officers scuffle with demonstrators during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter protesters at Castle Park in Bristol on Saturday, August 23 (Ben Birchall/PA Wire) The wave of demonstrations comes after tensions around the use of the hotels for asylum seekers spiked earlier this week. On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel from September 12. People take part in the Stand Up To Racism rally near the TLK Apartments and Hotel in Orpington (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) Regular protests had been held outside the hotel in recent weeks after an asylum seeker was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl, which he denies. The Government then announced plans on Friday to appeal against the High Court's refusal to allow it to intervene in the case, and to then further appeal against the temporary injunction. A group of other local councils also publicly announced their intentions to seek legal advice as to whether they could achieve a similar injunction for their hotels. UK temperatures could hit 30C over the bank holiday weekend before the remnants of Hurricane Erin bring wind and rain along with big waves to the coast. Warm and sunny spells are expected over the weekend, hitting a peak on Monday, before Erin will bring more unsettled weather, the Met Office said. The RNLI urged people to go to a lifeguarded beach where possible and beware of rough seas. High pressure keeps things settled through the rest of weekend, with sunshine building nicely for Bank Holiday Monday, perfect for outdoor plans! From Tuesday, expect a shift: rain returns, winds pick up, and coastal areas could see some lively waves pic.twitter.com/hH5n3lqvW8 Met Office (@metoffice) August 23, 2025 Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said: Its looking fairly fair, its going to turn increasingly warm, the warmest day is going to be Monday. Each day there will be more sunshine developing. Saturday will be a mix of cloud and sunshine, with some showers breaking out in Northern Ireland, western parts of Scotland and north-west England, the forecaster said. A maximum temperature of 24C is expected. Sunday will be a mix of cloud and sunshine again, but possibly sunnier than Saturday, with the risk of a few showers around northern and western parts of Scotland, Mr Snell said. It will be a degree or two warmer than Saturday, then the sunshine will be more widespread on Monday with maximum temperatures of 29C or even 30C. The fine weather will end on Monday, and more unsettled conditions are expected for next week. The remnants of Hurricane Erin will bring a return of some rain, the forecaster said. Mr Snell said: It does stay for most of next week to the north west of the UK, so really strong winds stay offshore, the main impacts for us is it will bring a return of some rain. From Tuesday onwards some of the rain will be heavy so well keep an eye on that. Temperatures return back down to average, low 20s in the south. It will be a little bit blustery. There will be some more larger waves towards the western coasts. If you are planning to head towards the beach early next week, stay up to date with forecasts on our website and keep up to date with the RNLI. Chris Cousens, RNLI water safety lead, said: We want people to enjoy the bank holiday and stay safe, and with this unusually big surf forecast for this time of year likely to peak later in the bank holiday weekend and early next week, its important for people to be aware so they can keep themselves and their families safe. Big surf means greater risk from rip currents and the swell also coincides with spring tides which means more powerful tidal water movement at greater speed. The forecast is changeable, so things might look different over the next couple of days. But we do know that with the current forecast for bigger waves building and arriving towards the end and the day after the August bank holiday weekend, beaches are likely to be busy with holidaymakers and locals. Some places could see bigger waves building through the weekend too. We always advise people to visit a lifeguarded beach where possible but we also appreciate people will be out on the coast where lifeguards are not present. Rip currents are powerful channels of water that become more powerful in larger surf. They are also found around river mouths, estuaries and man-made structures like piers and groynes. Our rip current advice is the same whether you are at a lifeguarded beach or not. If you find yourself caught in a rip current dont fight against it or youll get exhausted. If you can stand, wade back to shore, or swim parallel to the beach until youre free of the current, then return to the beach. Alternatively, if you cant do either of those or are becoming exhausted, Float to Live to preserve your energy and then wave and shout for help. The Trump administration reportedly plans to mobilize up to 1,700 National Guard troops across 19 states in the coming weeks to support its immigration and anti-crime crackdowns, a dramatic expansion of the controversial operation thats seen federal agents and Guard troops carrying out activities across Washington, D.C. The troops, who will largely be activated across Republican-controlled states, will serve in support of the administrations Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, as well as other law enforcement priorities, according to comment from unnamed Pentagon officials and documents obtained by Fox News. The Guardsmen assisting ICE will be carrying out tasks that may include personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing and photographing of personnel in ICE custody," an official told outlet. The deployments will take place across the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, per Fox. Texas is reportedly slated to have the largest deployment. The Trump administration is reportedly expanding its crime crackdown by deploying up to 1,700 National Guard troops across 19 states in support of its immigration and crime crackdowns (AFP via Getty Images) The Independent has contacted the reported states for comment, as well as the central National Guard leadership and the Department of Homeland Security. The Guardsmen will be serving under Title 32 Section 502F authority, in which they technically remain under state command and control, but can assist with federal missions and are paid with federal funds. The status allows them to avoid running afoul of a federal law limiting military involvement in domestic law enforcement. When asked about the reported operation, the Defense Department referred The Independent to a July announcement from the Pentagon changing the status of troops supporting ICE to Title 32 and adding 500 additional personnel to the mission, bringing it to a total of approximately 1,700 troops. The statement said the troops could be involved in direct interaction with individuals in ICE custody, and that the mission stemmed from a May request from the Department of Homeland Security for assistance. The Virginia National Guard plans to mobilize approximately 60 Soldiers and Airmen with a mission to provide administrative and logistics support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at locations across the state, a spokesperson told The Independent. VNG personnel will not conduct law enforcement functions, and VNG support will not include making arrests. National Guard operation in Washington has reportedly netted over 700 arrests alongside local and federal partners this month (AP) Nevada officials pointed The Independent to a Tuesday announcement from Gov. Joe Lombardo, which described up to 35 Nevada National Guardsmen assisting DHS with vital clerical, administrative, and logistical support ensuring there will be no direct contact with detainees, no law enforcement duties, and no weapons involved. A spokesperson for the Idaho National Guard told The Independent the states contingent will feature 14 personnel providing three ICE offices with administrative functions, potentially including data entry, record keeping, creating and maintaining reports, and other clerical duties. The apparent expansion in operations comes as President Trump threatened to send the regular military into Chicago for a similar crime crackdown, as well as potentially send troops to New York City. We're going to make our cities very, very safe. Chicago is a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent, and we'll straighten that one out, probably next that'll be our next one after this, and it won't even be tough, Trump told reporters at The White House. Nearly 2,000 Guard troops from Washington, D.C., and six states are deployed to the capital as part of the presidents anti-crime and immigration push. Washington residents overwhelmingly oppose the federal law enforcement operation there, according to polling. The operation has netted more than 700 arrests since beginning earlier this month, according to the Trump administration, though it hasnt released in-depth information about the identities or alleged offenses that form this figure. The Trump administration and Intel have reached an agreement for the U.S. government to own nearly 10 percent of the struggling chip maker, the president announced on Friday. The United States paid nothing for these Shares, and the Shares are now valued at approximately $11 Billion Dollars, Trump wrote on Truth Social, claiming the agreement means the government fully owns and controls a major portion of the company. This is a great Deal for America and, also, a great Deal for INTEL. Building leading edge Semiconductors and Chips, which is what INTEL does, is fundamental to the future of our Nation, he added. Funding for the $11.1 billion deal comes from $2.2 billion in funding Intel received under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, plus $5.7 billion from the act the company was awarded but has not received, as well as $3.2 in funds already awarded as part of the Secure Enclave national security program, the company announced on its website. The stake is in the form of passive ownership and does not give the government board representation or other governance rights, Intel said, adding that the U.S. had an option to purchase further shares. Deal converts billions U.S. invested in Intel under 2022 CHIPS and Science Act into equity, marking one of largest government interventions in American firm since 2008 financial crisis (REUTERS) As the only semiconductor company that does leading-edge logic R&D and manufacturing in the U.S., Intel is deeply committed to ensuring the worlds most advanced technologies are American made, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said in a statement. President Trumps focus on U.S. chip manufacturing is driving historic investments in a vital industry that is integral to the countrys economic and national security. The deal marks a striking change in tone from the administration, as well as the most consequential government investment in a single U.S. company since the multi-billion-dollar auto bailout of GM and Chrysler during the 2008 financial crisis. Earlier this month, Trump called on Tan to resign, accusing the CEO of being highly conflicted because of his past work and investments in the Chinese tech sector. The administration said the deal sprang from negotiations last week with the Intel boss, who walked in wanting to keep his job, and he ended up giving us $10 billion for the United States, Trump said at a news conference. A framework for the deal between Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Intel finance chief David Zinsner was solidified on Wednesday, The New York Times reports. BIG NEWS: The United States of America now owns 10% of Intel, one of our great American technology companies. This historic agreement strengthens U.S. leadership in semiconductors, which will both grow our economy and help secure Americas technological edge. Thanks to Intel pic.twitter.com/AYMuX14Rgi Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) August 22, 2025 Following the announcement of the deal, Lutnick praised the agreement as fair to Intel and fair to the American People, posting a photo on X of himself with Tan. This historic agreement strengthens U.S. leadership in semiconductors, which will both grow our economy and help secure Americas technological edge, Lutnick wrote. The deal could face legal challenges from shareholders, and some experts say its unclear if the CHIPS Act funds can legally be turned into equity. Some observers were also unsure if a government investment would turn things around for Intel, a pioneering Silicon Valley chip maker that has struggled in recent years as competitors like Nvidia outpaced it on key innovations like chips for artificial intelligence. The questions I have are first, what are the guardrails to ensure that a government stake doesnt result in unhelpful political influence on the company, and, second, how exactly a government stake will facilitate the financial turnaround, economic historian Chris Miller told The Washington Post. Trump administration has made influencing semiconductor industry a majority priority in its effort to reshore U.S. manufacturing (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Intel shares were up more than 5.5 percent as of Friday afternoon. The Trump administration previously sharply criticized the Biden-era CHIPS Act for awarding billions to revive the U.S. semiconductor industry, which makes key components for computers and numerous other devices with digital components, arguing the act was a giveaway to companies that didnt result in enough benefit to the American people. The White House, which has also negotiated golden share-style government influence over Nippon Steels investment in U.S. Steel, has shown particular interest in putting Trumps mark on the semiconductor industry, which has largely moved to Asia in recent decades. Trump said this month he plans to put a 100 percent tariff on computer chips unless companies build in the U.S., and the administration agreed to a deal to receive 15 percent of Nvidia and AMD's revenues from the sale of the companies chips in China. Jeremy Corbyn has said United Nations special rapporteur Francesca Albanese will contribute to the Gaza tribunal event which he is hosting. The former Labour leader, who is campaigning for a new political party with the working title Your Party, said hearings for the event would take place in early September. His private members bill for an official inquiry into the UKs role in Gaza was blocked by the Government at its second reading in July. Instead, the Peace and Justice Project which Mr Corbyn founded is holding a two-day event called the Gaza tribunal. On Saturday he told an Edinburgh festival audience that the special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories would be offering her views to the hearings. Mr Corbyn has previously welcomed Ms Albanese to an event at Westminster. He told the Edinburgh festival event that his inquiry would seek answers on the use of the RAF Akrotiri air base around the war in Gaza, as well as other issues. Being interviewed by musician Calum Baird, Mr Corbyn said: What weve done through the Peace and Justice Project is set up a two-day open public inquiry on September 4 and 5 in Church House in Westminster. Weve invited people to make submissions, lawyers and others and voices from Gaza and the West Bank and other places in order to put forward their view on the policy. And Francesca Albanese has agreed to take part and put forward her view on the legality of it. He said Ms Albanese is very keen to support it and get involved, comparing his tribunal to the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War. The former Labour leader also discussed the new left-wing party he is campaigning for under the working title of Your Party, saying it will have its own Scottish operation. He said: I dont see it as a top-down party, I dont see it as a conventional political party. I see it much more as a community base of political activity. On Friday, Mr Corbyn said he was astonished to have been described as exuding sneering superiority by Nicola Sturgeon in her newly released book. Speaking in Glasgow, the former Labour leader said the ex-Scottish first minister should get over it. New goal celebration: Viktor Gyokeres (AFP via Getty Images) Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has said his new goal celebration might have been a response to his critics. Gyokeres, the big summer signing from Sporting CP, got off the mark for his new club with a brace as Arsenal thumped Leeds 5-0 on Saturday. After scoring his second in injury time, emphatically dispatching a penalty after youngster Max Dowman had been fouled, the Swede initially celebrated in trademark fashion. However, Gyokeres cut the celebration short to touch his hair instead. When quizzed about the different goal celebration, the 27-year-old admitted it may have been connected to criticism he received following his Premier League debut against Manchester United last weekend. On social media, it was joked that Gyokeres touched his hair 28 times as he struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford. That said, he enjoyed a more productive outing in his home debut. "Of course, I am really happy with the result. Of course, it was very nice to score two goals as well, he told Sky Sports. "It is always pressure. I know I'll take my chances sooner or later. We won 5-0 so it was a great day. "Of course, it was a short pre-season for me and not too many weeks training and then, of course, playing 90 minutes in pre-season. "It was important for me to get 90 minutes and get the rhythm and to get to know the team even more during this game. "I felt more comfortable in how we're playing, and I think you can see that as well. "I am comfortable when the ball is coming in-behind and then cutting inside. I know I'll take the chance when I have it like that. First goal: Viktor Gyokeres (Getty Images) "We have so many amazing players going forward. For me, it is important to be in the right place. "It is difficult. All the teams we play against want to challenge us. We have to prepare for every game as best as possible, but we have an amazing team, and we train well and work hard every day. "We have started off well with two wins and two clean sheets and a lot of goals. I think we are on the right path, but we can always do better and improve." A child has reportedly died in Liverpool this summer after contracting measles (PA Wire) Hundreds of people could die in measles outbreaks in the next 20 years unless vaccination rates are dramatically improved, a top disease expert has warned. Unvaccinated babies aged under 12 months would make up a significant proportion of 480 avoidable deaths over the next two decades, according to modelling by Imperial College London. Katharina Hauck, a professor in health economics and deputy director of the universitys Jameel Institute, which led the research, suggested there could be two major outbreaks resulting in an additional 390,000 cases, based on a vaccination rate of around 90 per cent. Current vaccination rates for the two doses required to provide protection against the highly contagious disease are around 85 per cent. The warning comes after a child died and several others were left seriously ill at Liverpools Alder Hey Childrens Hospital after contracting measles, just days after health officials warned about an increase in cases due to people not being vaccinated. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said the decline in UK vaccination rates is extremely concerning and urged governments across the UK to act urgently to reverse the trend. The researchers estimated that the costs of hospitalisation combined with productivity loss because people are unable to work due to measles could amount to 290m over 20 years. The modelling is a worst-case scenario as it assumes no increased uptake in vaccinations and that health authorities take no action to improve rates in the event of an outbreak. It also assumes that 3 per cent of those who are unvaccinated are against vaccination in principle. However, several officials told The Independent that reasons for not being vaccinated vary, and a significant proportion of children who have not received the vaccine will have missed out because their parents either didnt have access to it or havent prioritised it. Since 1989, fewer than five people have died each year from measles, but experts warn that cases will rise if uptake doesnt improve. Professor Steve Turner, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said more must be done to improve vaccination rates. He said: [Measles] poses a significant risk to everyone, putting immense strain on already struggling health services and also our economy. Paediatricians are particularly concerned about current measles outbreaks in the UK. Measles can be safely prevented by vaccination. Uptake for the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in children aged 2 years in England is 85.6 per cent, and uptake of the second dose at age 5 years is 85.5 per cent. This is below the 95 per cent target the World Health Organisation (WHO) says is necessary to achieve and maintain elimination of the virus. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), whose remit is to prevent and respond to disease, warned in 2023 that cases in London could result in an outbreak affecting between 40,000 and 160,000 people if vaccination rates, which were at 74 per cent for both doses, did not improve. The latest vaccination rates from January 2025 to March 2025 show that the figure has fallen further in the capital to just 70 per cent. In 2023-24, NHS England implemented a nationwide catch-up campaign for MMR vaccinations for those who had missed out, which delivered an extra 180,000 vaccinations. Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said the agencys 2023 projections are still valid as vaccination rates remain a concern. She said: You can argue on the size of the outbreaks, [but] we all agree you are going to see outbreaks. Its not a surprise what were seeing at the moment, so its very important we work as a system to reverse that trend. If vaccine coverage is below 95 per cent, we will see cases, outbreaks, and potentially deaths. Dr Saliba said the UK has never met the WHO targets for measles, so the current outbreaks are not unexpected. The agency has brought forward the MMR jab schedule to allow children to receive it at 18 months instead of at three years old, in a bid to boost uptake. The UKHSA said projections within the Imperial College research should be treated with caution as they assume no action would be taken by health authorities following an outbreak something that is unlikely to be the case. Professor Hauck said that poor vaccine uptake is due to a range of issues, including difficulties accessing primary care services that provide the vaccine, as well as misinformation. Past medical accidents, and poor communication of the benefits of vaccination, have also caused vaccine hesitancy to spike in some areas, including parts of Britain, she said. She listed a number of interventions that can help promote vaccine uptake, including information campaigns, opening up access to vaccinations, and building trust in authorities. However, Professor Hauck suggested there should also be discussions around measures such as mandating vaccination, which is done in other countries, and taxing the unvaccinated. Azeem Majeed, a professor of primary care and public health at Imperial College, said the modelling highlights the serious public health implications of allowing vaccine coverage to remain below optimal levels. In a no change scenario, with coverage at around 90 per cent, the population is vulnerable to large-scale outbreaks every few years, as the number of susceptible individuals builds up over time, and the main message to be taken is the need for sustained high vaccine coverage, he said. He added that the precise number of cases would depend on the assumptions made, and that the response mounted by the government and the NHS in the event of an outbreak would reduce the total number of infections and deaths. Cold beer on a Friday night? Maybe non-alcoholic. Only 54% of drinking-age Americans consume alcohol today, according to a recent poll from Gallup, the lowest proportion since the survey began in 1939. Even those who do drink are partaking less, by a factor of nearly half. The US is drinking less, and cultural connotations around alcohol consumption have shifted. The number of Americans who see drinking as bad for their health has increased every year since 2016, according to Gallup. These changes are hurting the country's biggest alcohol producers, forcing them to find ways to adapt to what might, according to several experts, be the early stages of a tobacco-like sea change for alcohol. On Coors-maker Molson Coors' (TAP) most recent earnings call, an analyst buzzed in to ask: Could consumer behavior get worse before it gets better? Or was the distributor seeing any bullish signs? "Candidly," CEO Gavin Hattersley said, "we have not seen an improvement in overall consumer confidence or behavior." When the country's drinking giants released their latest earnings, they reported slowdowns in volume growth across the board. Among the largest names in the industry, Molson Coors and Corona distributor Constellation Brands (STZ) took the hardest hits, recording volume declines of 7% and 3.3%, respectively. Anheuser-Busch (BUD) and Sam Adams parent Boston Beer Company (SAM) fared slightly better, with beer volume declines of 1.9% and 0.8%, respectively. "The industry," said Bottle Raiders vice president of marketing Amanda Paul-Garnier, "has never faced as much pressure as it does today." Alcohol's Big Tobacco moment? In the 1960s, smoking was deeply embedded in American life. Ads selling cigarettes were regularly slotted into commercial breaks on TV. Restaurants, airplanes, and even hospitals were filled with smoke. Nearly half of the country were regular smokers. That all changed in January 1964, when Surgeon General Luther Terry released a report that would almost overnight shift Americans' tobacco habits the first to make a direct link between smoking and cancer. It turned out to be a watershed moment for Big Tobacco. Within five years, Congress had passed a series of laws that required warning labels on all tobacco products and banned cigarette ads throughout broadcast media. The percentage of Americans who smoked had dropped by 5%, according to the American Lung Association. The alcohol industry is now having to contend with the same health-conscious movement that hit tobacco. In January, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a damning report linking alcohol consumption to cancer risk and calling for measures including warning labels on alcoholic drink containers, just like the ones adorning every box of cigarettes sold in the US. Consuming one drink per day, the report found, raises the risk of alcohol-related cancer by 19% in women and 11.4% in men. Having two drinks per day bumps those figures to 21.8% and 13.1%, respectively. According to Peter Monti, a professor at Brown University who studies alcohol use and addiction, the public hadn't previously appreciated that link, but he sees the possibility for that to shift. "We've really reversed attitudes, beliefs, and behavior with respect to tobacco in a way that I think we could for alcohol, as well," Monti said in January. Moderated drinking, Monti told Yahoo Finance, is "more popular now than ever before." Cigarettes being sold at a Manhattan kiosk. (Mary Salen via Getty Images) (Mary Salen via Getty Images) Culture might already be moving. The results of the Gallup poll reflect "a shift that has been building in society for quite some time," Paul-Garnier told Yahoo Finance. Alcohol consumption has dropped every year since 2022, down from 67% of Americans reporting that they use alcohol to only 54%, according to Gallup. And the trend isn't confined to any one demographic. Only 1 in 2 of the 18- to 34-year-old young adult crowd reported that they drink alcohol, down from 59% in 2023. Consumption levels for both the 35- to 54-year-olds and the 55-plus cohort sit at 56%, down 10 and 5 percentage points, respectively, over the past two years. The drop also holds true across all income levels. "All signs suggest alcohol is following a trajectory similar to tobacco," Paul-Garnier said. And among those who do drink, the frequency with which they do so is falling. Twenty years ago, survey participants who consumed alcohol had an average of 5.1 drinks in the seven days prior to taking the survey. Now, that figure is just over half what it was, at 2.8 drinks. Consumers continue to be social, enjoying their moments," Anheuser-Busch CEO Michel Doukeris said to Yahoo Finance. But now, they are "more in control of their entire consumption." 'Beyond Beer' All of this has forced the largest alcohol distributors to adapt, similar to what smoking giants like Philip Morris (PM) have done by leaning into smoke-free nicotine products like Zyn. Where once they might have bought a six-pack of beer, alcohol brand leaders said, consumers are increasingly likely to reach for low- or no-ABV options. That's pushed the biggest distributors to lean into what Molson Coors, Boston Beer, and Anheuser-Busch call "Beyond Beer" side-offerings such as seltzers and non-alcoholic products and other products like hemp-derived beverages, Paul-Garnier told Yahoo Finance. Anheuser-Busch reported revenue from its no-alcohol beer portfolio led by Corona Cero up 33%, while its "mega-brands," such as Corona, Michelob Ultra, and Budweiser, only saw an increase of 5.6%. Constellation, which is the US distributor for Corona, told investors that its Corona Non-Alcoholic offering is now the second-highest share gainer in the non-alcoholic beer category. The evidence has led Anheuser-Busch to believe that "non-alcohol beer is a key opportunity to develop the category and drive incremental volume growth," CEO Doukeris said on the company's second quarter earnings call. Cases of beer are stacked in a Milwaukee liquor store on Nov. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Ivan Moreno, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Boston Beer, which co-founder and chairman James Koch told investors is "operating in a challenging and unpredictable macroeconomic environment," reported perhaps the starkest numbers. The producer's Beyond Beer portfolio, with brands like Truly seltzers, now makes up 85% of the company's volume, outperforming beer, wine, and spirits. "To be honest, yes, three years ago, we probably didn't look at anything outside of alcohol," Koch said. "Now, our innovation team is starting to poke at opportunities." Jake Conley is a breaking news reporter covering US equities for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on X at @byjakeconley or email him at jake.conley@yahooinc.com. Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com. Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy By Mark Trevelyan (Reuters) -Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday dampened hopes for a mass release of prisoners that U.S. President Donald Trump requested from him in a phone call last week. The Belarus opposition and human rights groups say up to 1,300 political prisoners - a figure also cited by Trump - are being held in Belarusian jails. Many of them were arrested when he cracked down on mass protests after a disputed election in 2020. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, denies there are political prisoners in Belarus and described the people in question as "bandits". "We will release them, and they will again wage war against us? Society won't support me on this," he was quoted as saying by state news agency Belta. Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has faced years of isolation and sanctions from the West because of his human rights record and backing for Moscow's war in Ukraine. But Trump's surprise call last week, followed by social media posts in which he called Lukashenko "the highly respected President of Belarus" and said he hoped for the early release of the 1,300 prisoners, have opened up the possibility of a thaw in relations. Franak Viacorka, chief advisor to exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said Trump's intervention was a "big present" to Lukashenko but it had also sharply raised the stakes and increased pressure on him. "Lukashenko is in a tough position... If he denies (the request), he will go into conflict with Trump. If he agrees, then he loses his last and only bargaining chip - political hostages," Viacorka told Reuters. He said Lukashenko saw the high-profile detainees - including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava - as a threat to his hold on power. "He's afraid if these people are free and stay (in Belarus), there will be another wave of protest." Lukashenko on Friday rejected the idea of talking to the opposition, saying he had nothing to discuss with them. He also said that he had told the Americans he would break off dialogue with them if they engaged with his political opponents. "I warned the Americans right away: as soon as we learn that you are starting to play along with them, our fugitives, and are starting to play some kind of game here together, we will immediately stop all negotiations with you," he said. Viacorka, however, said that Tsikhanouskaya's camp had been in contact with both the State Department and White House officials since Trump's call with Lukashenko. "I don't think, no matter what Lukashenko wants, that the Americans will stop talking to us," he said. (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Clelia Oziel) China urges U.S. to stop harassing Chinese students Xinhua) 10:30, August 23, 2025 BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to stop the groundless interrogations, harassment and repatriation against Chinese students arriving in the U.S., Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. Every time such incidents occurred, China immediately protested to the U.S., Mao said at a regular news briefing, adding that China will continue to take measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals going to the U.S. She said that recently, the U.S. has frequently carried out discriminatory, politically-driven and selective law enforcement against Chinese students arriving in the U.S., adding that the students went through unfair treatment and were taken into small separate rooms for extended interrogation. Mao said some students' visas were even revoked, and they were banned from entering the country after being told they "might endanger national security." "The U.S.'s moves severely violate the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals, impede the flow of people between the two countries, and dampen China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges," Mao noted. "We urge the U.S. to face the issue squarely, take China's concerns seriously, act on the U.S. leader's statement of welcoming Chinese students, and stop the groundless interrogations, harassment and repatriation against them," added Mao. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The parents of a missing 7-month-old Southern California child have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the child was falsely reported kidnapped, authorities said Friday. Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, were taken into custody at their home in Cabazon, 90 miles east of Los Angeles, the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said. The agency added that it would continue the ongoing search for Emmanuel Haro. "The circumstances surrounding this investigation are tragic, and we will continue to search for Emmanuel," San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said. "I trust our justice system will hold the parents accountable." The child was reported missing on Aug. 14. His mother told investigators that she took her children to football practice with her husband before stopping at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa to buy a mouthguard. California Woman Found Dead In National Forest, Husband Seen Dragging Something In Large Tarp Jake Haro, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, were arrested Friday on suspicion of murder after their son, Emmanuel Haro, went missing. Rebecca Haro said she was attacked while changing Emmanuel's diaper in the parking lot, authorities said. She claimed that someone said "Hola" to her, after which everything "went blank." Read On The Fox News App "I woke up on the floor and my son was gone," she said in an interview last week with FOX Los Angeles. Authorities said there was no security footage in the area at the time of the incident and that an Amber Alert was not issued due to the lack of suspect or vehicle descriptions, which did not meet the criteria for activation. Over the weekend, investigators said the couple had stopped cooperating, adding that there were "inconsistencies" in the mother's story. "Multiple individuals, including the childs parents, Jake and Rebecca Haro, were interviewed," the department stated. "During questioning, inconsistencies were noted in Rebeccas original statement, after which she chose not to continue the interview." After conducting "numerous" interviews and analyzing digital and electronic evidence, investigators determined a kidnapping never happened. "It is believed Emmauel is deceased and the search to recover his remains is ongoing," the sheriff's office said. Mother's Story Questioned By Authorities As 7-Month-old Remains Missing After Alleged Kidnapping A law enforcement officer stands in front of a memorial to Emmanuel Haro. Footage posted to social media by the sheriff's department shows both parents being led away from their home in handcuffs into law enforcement vehicles. Fox News Digital has reached out to Vincent Hughes, an attorney for Jake Haro. Jake Haro previously pleaded guilty to child cruelty charges in Riverside County in a separate case in 2018, Fox Los Angeles reported. At the time of Friday's arrest, he was on probation after he was convicted of those charges and jailed in 2023. "He did not serve in state prison for four years as being reported. He reached that deal through a plea agreement," Hughes said. "He acknowledged his role in that situation and there was more than one person convicted." The case immediately drew attention from advocacy groups, including the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, which initially offered a $5,000 reward for Emmanuels recovery. However, less than a day later, the foundation withdrew its support. In a statement, the foundation said it was "cautiously optimistic" that news of Friday's arrests "illustrates the tenacity and dedication" of investigators to find answers. "Our foundation has suspected foul play from the very beginning and will now be reassessing how we might provide support and aide to the community at this time," the foundation said in a statement. "First and foremost the focus will be on recovering Emmanuel. He deserves at least that much ..." In another statement, Daniel Chapin, founder of the Uvalde Foundation For Kids, called for a full investigation into Emmanuel's disappearance, including his grandmother. "The grandmother's involvement, or lack thereof, must be fully examined," Chapin said. "We are calling on law enforcement to investigate every possible angle and person connected to this tragedy. The community deserves answers, and this precious child deserves justice. We will continue to advocate for Emmanuel until every person responsible is held accountable." Original article source: California parents arrested, charged with murder of missing 7-month-old son after mother's story falls apart A "longtime teacher" in Sacramento was sentenced to 215 years to life in prison after admitting in court to sexually assaulting female students and photographing and videotaping the abuse, county prosecutors announced. Kim Kenneth Wilson, 64, pleaded guilty to nine counts of committing lewd acts upon a child on Feb. 25. On Friday, Aug. 22, Judge Satnam Rattu handed down the sentence to the now-former Del Paso Heights Elementary School teacher, according to the Sacramento County Prosecutor's Office. Throughout Wilson's tenure at the elementary school, he would take female students to a room designated for a private media/broadcasting club he established, prosecutors said. Once in the room alone with the girls, he "committed sex acts on the students, often photographing or recording the sex acts," prosecutors added. While most of the sexual assaults happened in the school broadcasting room, some of Wilson's victims were assaulted at the teacher's home during events he hosted, according to the prosecutor's office. When law enforcement learned about the sexual assaults, Sacramento police detectives searched Wilson's home and found several "child sized sex toys," prosecutors said. Additionally, detectives discovered a "substantial amount of VHS tapes, DVDs and other digital storage devices containing videos depicting Wilson sexually assaulting his students," prosecutors stated. The videos include abuse spanning multiple years, with numerous students, according to prosecutors, adding that the recorded content also shows Wilson forcing the children "to look into the camera while saying and depicting sexual acts." Menendez brothers: Their parole hopes shattered by 'rule-breaking.' What now? Under California law, Wilson will be eligible for release once he serves 20 years of his 215-year-to-life sentence. According to court records, Wilson has been in jail since his arrest in late January 2023. Counting in-custody credits, he'll have to serve 17 more years before being eligible for release. Student sues Twin Rivers Unified School District, Kim Wilson Wilson and his former employer, the Twin Rivers Unified School District, are being sued in June 2023 by a female student who alleged she was "physically and sexually assaulted, sexually harassed, molested, threatened and intimidated" by the now-imprisoned teacher during school hours on the Del Paso Heights Elementary School campus, according to the complaint obtained by USA TODAY. The student, who was 7 at the time, alleged the abuse occurred when she was in second grade during the 2013-2014 school year, the complaint says. The lawsuit also accuses Wilson of frequently giving frontal hugs to female students on school grounds, and regularly pulling the accuser and other girls out of their scheduled class periods and/or recess periods to invite them into a "secluded and unsupervised broadcast room" on the elementary school's campus. In addition to alleging the abuse at the hands of Wilson, the student and her guardian are accusing the Twin Rivers Unified School District of "mishandling student complaints and failing to document, investigate and report complaints" of sexual misconduct by the now-former district employee. Attorney Lauren Cerri, who represented a different student in a similar lawsuit against Wilson and the district, told The Sacramento Bee, "Sadly theres a repeated pattern of schools putting their image and reputations over the safety of students, turning a blind eye to complaints and ignoring red flags." The lawsuit Cerri was part of, which was filed in January 2023, settled earlier this month for $6 million, reported the Sacramento Bee. The lawsuit filed in June 2023 is still ongoing, court records show. USA TODAY contacted the Twin Rivers Unified School District and its attorney on Saturday, Aug. 23, but has not received a response. Court records do not show an attorney listed for Wilson in his criminal and civil cases. As of Saturday, Aug. 23, he is also no longer listed on Del Paso Heights Elementary School's staff page. Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Calif. teacher sentenced for filming himself sexually abusing students An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Two women embracing and crying, Image 2 shows Mugshot of a man in an orange jumpsuit A judge on Friday rejected a plea agreement for a Colorado funeral home owner who acknowledged abusing 191 corpses, after family members described the pain and shame theyve carried since learning their loved ones bodies were left to rot. The rare decision to reject the plea agreement that called for a 20-year prison sentence followed anguished testimony from family members seeking a more severe punishment. Among them was Crystina Page, whose son David Jaxon Page, 20, was killed by police during a mental health crisis in 2019. A Colorado judge rejected a plea deal from funeral home owner Jon Hallford, who admitted to abusing 191 corpses. AP His body languished in the funeral home for years as Page carried with her an urn that she wrongly thought contained her sons cremated ashes. I loved it, I cried over it, I held it close during sleepless nights. I kissed him, Page said. It wasnt him at all. What happened to my son has broken me in ways I cannot repair. For four years, Jon Hallford and his wife, Carie, ran a fraudulent scheme from their Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs while maintaining a lavish lifestyle. They took money from customers for cremations, only to stash the bodies and give the families dry concrete resembling ashes. Page and others said the plea agreement would have essentially erased the crimes committed against the 191 people whose bodies were discovered in 2023 in a building in Penrose, Colorado. The agreement said Hallfords state sentence was to run concurrently with a 20-year federal sentence, meaning he could have been freed many years earlier than if the sentences had run consecutively. Colorado has struggled to effectively oversee funeral homes and, for many years, had some of the weakest regulations in the nation. Its had a slew of abuse cases, including an estimated 20 decomposing corpses discovered this week at a funeral home in Pueblo. Jon Hallford already is bound for prison after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges. The rejection of the plea deal effectively resets the separate state criminal case. Hallford and his wife, Carie, committed a fraudulent scheme at the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. AP Hallford can now withdraw his guilty plea, sending the case to trial. He could also keep his guilty plea and let the judge sentence him without any guarantee of the outcome. He returns to court on Sept. 12. Defense attorney says trial would not provide families with answers Some of the victims who filled the court seemed to brace themselves for the judge to accept the deal and then applauded when he announced his decision. Bentley said he had never rejected a plea agreement in his nine years on the bench and called it an extreme action by the court. He suggested he was swayed after listening to Fridays testimony. I heard an overwhelming perception that the justice that had been worked out between the attorneys was justice that did not accurately reflect the truth of the victims experiences, Bentley said. The prosecutor, Rachael Powell, had argued that a 20-year sentence was appropriate since abuse of a corpse is the least serious type of felony under the law, with a possible sentence ranging from probation to a maximum of up to 18 months in prison. Defense attorney Adam Steigerwald said a trial would not deliver what family members wanted: answers. The answers the people are looking for, sadly, are not satisfactory, and they largely dont exist, he said. Samantha Naranjo, whose grandmothers body was found at the funeral home over a year after she died, said Bentley acknowledged the experiences of families of the 191 people whose remains were identified and also of the relatives of the approximately 1,000 additional people whose remains were handled by the funeral home. Bentley said those people are considered potential victims even though the Hallfords were not prosecuted for how their remains were handled. The couple were able to maintain a lavish lifestyle, taking the money from customers used for cremations, only to stash the bodies in the funeral home and give the providing families dry concrete instead of the actual ashes. AP I feel heard, she said as tears welled up in her eyes. Carie Hallford is accused of the same crimes as her husband and also pleaded guilty. Her sentencing on the corpse abuse charges has not been scheduled. The couple was accused of letting 189 bodies decay. In two other instances, the wrong bodies were buried. Four remains were yet to be identified, the district attorneys office said this week. The Hallfords got a license for their funeral home in 2017, and authorities said the bodies started piling up by 2019. Some decomposed beyond recognition. Others were found unclothed or on the floor in inches of fluid from the bodies. The Hallfords bought luxury items after defrauding the government As the gruesome count grew, Jon and Carie Hallford were also defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic relief aid. With the money from families and the federal government, the Hallfords bought luxury goods, a GMC Yukon and Infiniti worth $120,000 combined and $31,000 in cryptocurrency. In 2023, a putrid smell poured from the building and the police turned up. Investigators swarmed the building, donning hazmat suits and painstakingly extracting the bodies. Hallford and his wife were arrested in Oklahoma, where Jon Hallford had family, more than a month later. Families learned that their cathartic moments of grief spreading a mothers ashes in Hawaii or cradling a sons urn in a rocking chair were tainted by a deception. It was as if those signposts of the grieving process had been torn away, unraveling months and years of working through their loved ones deaths. An illustration of vintage desserts like a pink and cream Swiss roll, strawberry tart, and others - Graphicaartis/Getty Images Picture a cafeteria tray in the 1970s or '80s, where a sludgy scoop of tapioca pudding sits next to meatloaf and flaccid, grayish-green beans, the gelatinous pearls bobbing under a layer of dusted cinnamon. Back then, tapioca pudding was served from large vats on lunch trays in school cafeterias and hospitals, its lumpy texture and muted flavor inspiring both nostalgia and mockery. It is the kind of food that has made its way into pop culture as textural shorthand for institutionalized blandness. Tapioca pudding's reputation is complicated. Many grew up with it as a comfort food, while others remember it as a weird, wobbly oddity. But a new generation of younger eaters, whose tastes veer toward the adventurous or ironic, may be poised to rediscover tapioca pudding, finding something to bounce off of in its chewy pearls and creamy base. This could be part of a broader revival of retro foods that pop back into fashion under fresh, enthusiastic eyes. It is a fascinating, unexpected test case of how foods cycle through history, gaining and losing cultural cache with each generation's reinvention. From nose-to-tail eating strangely making offal trendy again to the recent resurgence of homemade charcuterie boards, food memory is anything but linear. Tapioca pudding's comeback taps into that larger pattern, belying a collective willingness to rethink, and reclaim, the foods we once lost a taste for. Past the virality of irony and aesthetics, tapioca pudding holds a valid place in the dessert pantheon. Its mild flavor and unique texture offer a foundation for creativity, supporting fresh interpretations that range from tangy blueberry-lemon versions to rich dulce de leche takes. The sweetly inert flavor profile and singular, jiggly composition invite textural interplay and flavor layering, which align well with current culinary trends favoring contrast, complexity, and riffs on nostalgia. Read more: 15 Vintage Snacks No One Remembers Anymore Pudding The Tapioca Pieces Together White dried tapioca pearls in a wooden bowl with a wooden scoop against a straw mat background. - New Africa/Shutterstock The new generation of eaters are not diving headfirst into the vat of tapioca pudding but, instead, have most likely approached it sideways, through the beloved bobas of bubble tea. Those satisfyingly tender, bouncy beads, first popularized in the fruity or milky drinks from Taiwan, have become a global phenomenon, particularly among young people. In much of Asia, that chewy, elastic mouthfeel is a beloved texture, not a freaky novelty, and it is celebrated in sweets like Japanese mochi to Filipino halo-halo. Western dessert trends have only recently started embracing that pleasure in chew, which might be why younger palates are more open to tapioca's charms. The same tapioca pearls that make bubble tea a sensation can be coaxed into a slow-simmered milk pudding with almost no effort: Soak, sweeten, and cook them gently in milk or coconut milk until translucent and suspended in a thick custard-like base. From there, the pudding can be dressed up with citrus zest, tropical fruits, or spicy, caramel notes. Tapioca balls, and the delicately flavored, gluey textured pudding they make, may find new life as a visually striking treat primed for social media and younger generations' appetite for rediscovery. Tapioca pudding's third act shows that even the most unlikely foods can bounce back with surprising style and substance, and that food connects us to history, identity, and evolving tastes. If the cycle of food nostalgia has taught us anything, it's that nothing is ever truly out of style. It is just waiting for someone to serve it in a better bowl. Read the original article on Tasting Table. FILE - Netherlands' Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp lays flowers during a wreath laying ceremony on the 30th anniversary of Srebrenica massacre at the Memorial Center in Potocari, Bosnia, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File) AMSTERDAM (AP) Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned Friday evening, after he failed to secure new sanctions against Israel over the war in Gaza. Veldkamp had informed the countrys Parliament he intended to bring in new measures in response to Israel's planned offensive in Gaza City and other heavily populated areas but was unable to secure the support of his coalition partners. The 61-year-old former ambassador to Israel told reporters he felt he was unable to implement policy myself and chart the course I deem necessary. Following Veldkamps resignation, the remaining Cabinet members of his center-right New Social Contract party also quit, leaving the Dutch government in disarray. In short we are done with it, party leader Eddy Van Hijum said, calling the Israeli governments actions diametrically opposed to international treaties. The Dutch government already collapsed in June when anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled out of the countrys four-party coalition over a fight about immigration. The three remaining parties stayed on in a caretaker government until elections could be held in October. Prime Minister Dick Schoof was set to address Parliament later Friday evening over the crisis. The worlds leading authority on food crises said earlier on Friday the Gaza Strips largest city is gripped by famine, and that its likely to spread across the territory without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid. The Netherlands Parliament had repeatedly delayed a debate on sanctions against Israel, a discussion that was already postponed from Thursday, as the Friday afternoon Cabinet meeting dragged on. Theres a famine, ethnic cleansing, and genocide going on, Kati Piri of the merged Green Left/Labor parties told Parliament, And our cabinet has been deliberating for hours about whether to take any action at all. Shameful. Veldkamp had proposed a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in response to the planned military escalation. Opposition politicians had called for a no-confidence vote for the minister, frustrated at what they saw as a lack of action against Israel. COBRA TEAM / BACKGRID Lily Collins shooting 'Emily in Paris' on Aug. 23 NEED TO KNOW The fifth season of Netflix's Emily in Paris is back in production following the death of assistant director Diego Borella According to local reports, Borella died during preparation for a final scene inside Hotel Danieli in Venice, Italy, on Thursday, Aug. 21, Lead star Lily Collins was spotted back on set alongside her costars on Saturday, Aug. 23 Emily in Paris has resumed filming just two days after the death of the shows assistant director. On Saturday, Aug. 23, Lily Collins, who plays the titular character in the Netflix series, was seen returning to the set in Venice, Italy, after assistant director Diego Borella tragically collapsed and died on location two days prior. Collins, 36, was photographed on a boat in Venice along with her costars Eugenio Franceschini, Ashley Park and Paul Forman as they continued to film the show's fifth season. Borella, 47, died during filming of the fifth season of Emily in Paris in Venice, Italy, on Thursday, Aug. 21, Paramount Television Studios confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the Emily in Paris' production family, a studio spokesperson said. Our hearts go out to the individuals family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. COBRA TEAM / BACKGRID Lily Collins, Ashley Park, Eugenio Franceschini, and Paul Forman shooting 'Emily in Paris' on Aug. 23 Borella reportedly collapsed on set during preparation for a final scene inside Hotel Danieli in Venice. Medical staff on set tried to revive him before he was pronounced dead at around 7:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, local news outlets La Repubblica, Il Messaggero and Corriere della Sera reported. A local doctor confirmed the assistant director's death, stating that he likely died of a sudden heart attack, according to La Repubblica. Borella was an accomplished director and writer from Venice and had trained in Rome, London, and New York. He also worked in the visual arts and literature, per La Repubblica. Filming for the fifth season of Emily in Paris began in Italy on Aug. 15, with the aim to end on Monday, Aug. 25, before the fifth season hits Netflix on Dec. 18. 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. Stefano Mazzola/GC Images Lily Collins on the set of 'Emily in Paris' on Aug. 16 Borella's death came just days after Collins shared behind-the-scenes of her time on location in Venice on social media. In an Instagram post shared on Aug. 19, the actress was snapped on a pier and posing on a boat in Venice with her Emily in Paris costar Ashley Park. Joy ride to and from work with the best, Collins wrote in the caption. Collins had earlier posted other snaps of her taking in the Italian sights while filming on a boat in another Instagram post. A very Venetian getaway. When work becomes play, she wrote in the caption. Read the original article on People Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Every 100 years or so, someone creates a very special piece of fashion that is as beautiful as it is practical. In the early 1900s, that piece was the Burberry trench coat a feat of design thats as desirable now as it was over a century ago. When the fashion houses new creative director, the British designer Daniel Lee, unveiled his debut Burberry collection during London Fashion Week in February 2023, it was a trench coat that he chose to open the show witha signifier of just how important and integral the piece is to the brand. His version, a darker and grungier take on the classic style, came oversized and slouchy, and complete with faux fur-trimmed lapels. Gareth Cattermole/BFC - Getty Images But while this may be what the trench coat looks like in its most modern iteration, it was a different story back in 1879, when gentlemens outfitter (and founder of the eponymously named brand) Thomas Burberry first invented gabardine. Until then, waterproof macs were made of rubberized cotton a heavy fabric that would cause the wearer to sweat profusely. Not very chic. Unlike its vulcanised rubber counterpart, gabardines fibres were individually waterproofed before weaving, making it lightweight, comfortable, and considerably less sweaty. Getty Images The revolutionary new material was such a hit among adventurers that Burberry was entrusted with outfitting several high-profile expeditions. Norwegian explorer, zoologist, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Fritjof Nansen was the first to take gabardine to the poles in 1893, and he wasnt the last Sir Ernest Shackleton wrapped himself, his team, their tents (and even the engine of their motor car) in gabardine on three separate Antarctic treks. It was a PR dream and one that likely contributed to the British Army asking Burberry to create a coat suitable for the battlefield. Thomas Burberry took the existing Tielocken coat (Burberrys one-button, single-strap design that was popular among officers in the Boer War) and updated it with D-rings to carry flasks, maps, and grenades, flaps for extra chest protection, and epaulettes upon which an officer could display his rank. The trench coat was born. Chelsea Trench Coat Hearst Owned $2850.00 at Saks Fifth Avenue Kensington Trench Coat Hearst Owned $2590.00 at net-a-porter Waterloo Trench Coat Hearst Owned $2850.00 at Burberry Kennington Trench Coat Hearst Owned $2250.00 at Nordstrom Long Bradford Reversible Car Coat Hearst Owned $3650.00 at Ssense Getty Images Notably, it was only those of officer rank who were permitted to wear such an item, establishing it as a status symbol. Affluent civilian men and women followed suit, wearing Burberry trenches as a show of national prideand social standing while officers continued to wear their coats after the war (and later, into WWII). By 1934, the trench coat was so popular that Burberry was even offering same-day delivery in London. The trench had become synonymous with adventure and utility, but it was Hollywood that made it glamorous. In the 1942 film Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart utters his famous line, Heres looking at you, kid, while wearing a trench coat. (A Burberry coat worn by Bogart for the films publicity photossold for over $10k at auction in 2005). Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images It would be remiss to write about the trench coats most iconic silver screen moments without mentioning Breakfast at Tiffanys kissing-in-the-rain scene. In the 1961 films final moments, Audrey Hepburns Holly Golightly (and her cat, Cat) is wrapped in a mac as she reunites with Fred. It is one of the films most iconic costumessecond only, perhaps, to that Givenchy LBD. Although the designer of the aforementioned coat remains a mystery, its likely this cinematic moment fueled sales of the Burberry original. Sure enough, by 1965, one in five coats exported from Britain was a Burberry product. Sunset Boulevard - Getty Images Decade upon decade, the allure of Burberrys trench never waned. It appears on-screen in 1964s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, on a bow-haired Catherine Deneuve; 1979s Kramer vs Kramer, as worn by the elegant Joanna, played by Meryl Streep; and 1987s Wall Street, as the coat of choice for Michael Douglass Gordon Gekko. Michael Ochs Archives - Getty Images If it aint broke, dont fix it, and nearly a century after the trench was first dreamt up, the brands iconic creation remains virtually unchanged, from its beige cotton-gabardine to the craftsmanship with which each is madehoned over 50 years at the Burberrys Castleford Mill in Yorkshire. Each garment comprises 80 pieces (including the pork chop, a piece that can be buttoned at the neck for extra insulation) and takes four hours to stitch. Of 120 separate processes, the most labor-intensive is the collar, which involves more than 180 hand-sewn stitches to create a curve that perfectly contours the necka method that takes one year for each specialist tailor to master. Getty Images Burberrys five heritage styles are reprised season after season. There is the Kensington, Chelsea, Waterloo, Camden, and Paddington, each with a slightly different silhouette and lengthsome with soft raglan shoulders, others sharper, sleeker. You can also add custom embroidery, monogramming, and vintage linings, using Burberrys Trench Bespoke serviceavailable at the brands London flagship store. For collectors, there are limited-edition, seasonal versions. Over the years, this iconic piece has been metallicized in jewel tones, adorned with feathers, cloaked in leather, or deconstructed, its Nova check lining (added in the 1920s) turned inside outmany of which can be tracked down via pre-loved websites including 1stDibs and Vestiaire Collective. There, youll also find myriad versions in classic beigea wise investment, considering the timeless design. If you find a label that reads Burberrys, that means the coat was made before 1999, at which point the s was dropped. Karwai Tang - Getty Images The Burberry trench possesses a rare kind of versatility that goes some way in explaining its enduring appeal. It layers as effortlessly with a Breton tee and jeans (just ask Katie Holmes and Miranda Kerr) as it does with a cocktail dress (see Rihanna in a 2019 satin version). Its polished enough for Kate and Meghan (with the unofficial royal uniform of tailored dress and pointed pumps), and cool enough for Bella Hadid when paired with a hoodie and chunky boots. You can wear it day and night, at work or at the weekend and of course, for kissing in the rain. You Might Also Like Oceans have long hidden the remains of ships that never completed their journeys. Many went down with vast amounts of cargo. Some of them were intended for trade, while the rest were looted in war. These wrecks, scattered across the globe, have revealed fortunes in gold, silver, ceramics, and rare artifacts. Here are some of the most valuable shipwreck finds ever recorded, based on both the financial and historical worth of their contents. Merchant Royal Credit: Wikipedia The Merchant Royal, built in 1627, sailed trade routes connecting England to the Spanish colonies. In 1641, while returning to London, the ship began leaking and eventually sank off Cornwalls coast. It had just taken on a massive shipment of silver and gold, intended to pay 30,000 Spanish soldiers. San Jose Credit: Youtube The San Jose had more than 200 tons of gold, silver, and emeralds when it drowned during a battle in 1708. The ship exploded off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, after British forces attacked the Spanish fleet. Though a U.S. company claimed discovery in the 1980s, Colombia announced its own find in 2015. Bom Jesus Credit: Wikimedia Commons A team prospecting for diamonds stumbled across the remains of Bom Jesus in Namibia in 2008. The ship dated back to 1533 and likely sailed toward India when it vanished. Archaeologists found thousands of coins bearing the faces of Spanish monarchs, along with copper ingots, muskets, and ivory tusks. Flor de la Mar Credit: Wikimedia Commons After the capture of Malacca in 1511, Flor de la Mar left port with treasure seized from the Sultans palace. A storm hit a short while following the departure and broke the weakened vessel on coastal shoals. Though it is submerged in relatively shallow waters near Sumatra, no confirmed wreckage or cargo has ever been located by search teams. Nanhai No. 1 Credit: Wikimedia Commons The Nanhai No. 1 stayed hidden for more than 800 years. In 1987, a British-led team searching for another ship stumbled upon it off Chinas southern coast. Authorities decided to lift the entire ship and place it in a climate-controlled museum tank. Inside, researchers continue to examine ceramics, gold, coins, and silver bars from the 12th century. Black Swan Credit: Wikipedia In 2007, a U.S. company announced the recovery of nearly 17 tons of colonial-era coins from the Atlantic Ocean. They refused to share the wrecks location and called it the Black Swan Project. Spain also filed suit by claiming the treasure came from the warship Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes. Following years of litigation, the treasure was returned to Spain. Palmwood Wreck Credit: Wikipedia Divers found the Palmwood Wreck off the Dutch coast in the Wadden Sea. Its cargo wasnt gold or coins, but luxury items belonging to European elites. Among the artifacts were velvet garments, silk dresses with silver thread, and finely bound books. A silver grooming set and imported carpets were also recovered. Santo Cristo de Burgos Credit: oregonencyclopedia This Spanish galleon likely ran aground off the Oregon coast in 1693, while carrying porcelain and beeswax from Asia. Locals have found marked wax blocks and ceramic fragments washing up on beaches for centuries. Recent findings of wooden timbers matching the period support the connection to the Santo Cristo de Burgos. SS Central America Credit: Wikipedia Legal battles followed for years once salvagers recovered gold from the SS Central America in 1989. The ship had gone down in an 1857 hurricane on its way to the Eastern banks with three tons of California gold. News of its loss helped trigger a financial crisis as investors panicked. The lead diver vanished for years with much of the wealth. Belitung Wreck Credit: Wikipedia Archaeologists believe a ninth-century Arab dhow found off Belitung Island was part of a major maritime trade network connecting China, the Persian Gulf, and East Africa. The wreck contained Tang dynasty items, which changed historians views on early sea trade through the scale and sophistication of the routes. Nuestra Senora de Atocha Credit: depaulas In 1622, a hurricane tore through the Spanish fleet sailing from Havana, scattering ships across the Caribbean. The Atocha sank near the Florida Keys with gold bars, Colombian emeralds, and silver coins. Mel Fisher spent 16 years searching before he finally found the wreck in 1985. Gairsoppa Credit: sail-world Over 100 tons of silver ingots were moving in the direction of colonial India on Gairsoppa when a German U-boat sank it in 1941. Resting at 15,000 feet deep, it was among the worlds deepest wrecks. But years later, Odyssey Marine obtained nearly 48 tons and completed one of the most successful deep-sea salvage operations ever. SS Republic Credit: Wikipedia The discovery of the SS Republic gave researchers a rare view of commercial life in the Reconstruction-era South. The ship had left New York in 1865 but eventually took a hit from a hurricane. In 2003, individuals found thousands of artifacts, including medicine bottles, dishware, and other everyday merchandise. De Liefde Credit: Wikipedia While De Liefde didnt carry treasure in the typical sense, it arrived in Japan in 1600 with books, weapons, and navigational tools. Only a few crew members survived the Pacific crossing, like William Adams, who became an advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the powerful shogun who unified Japan under his rule. Tek Sing Credit: Wikipedia One of the largest ceramic salvage efforts ever recorded came in 1999 with the recovery of the Tek Sing. The ship had left China in 1822, transporting over 1,600 passengers and a massive cargo of porcelain bound for Southeast Asia. It struck a reef in the South China Sea, which led to the loss of most people on board. Erik (left) appeared before his parole board a day before his brother Lyle (right) [Reuters] Erik and Lyle Menendez were denied parole after appearing before separate boards in California this week. The brothers have spent decades behind bars for killing their wealthy parents in 1989. They claimed self-defence, and have long pushed for their freedom. Erik, now 54, attended his hearing on Thursday. Lyle, 57, appeared before a different panel on Friday. Both hearings were lengthy and held remotely. They revealed details about the pair's time in prison some of which explain why the panels denied their release. Prison behaviour, not killings, prompted refusal In Erik's case, parole commissioner Robert Barton said the main reason for his denial was not the killings themselves, but Menendez's behaviour in prison. Barton rejected the notion that he had been a "model prisoner". He cited Menendez's involvement in fights, drug use and even a tax-fraud scam while linked to a gang. Erik was revealed to have stashed banned objects including ingredients for making wine and art materials which he used to decorate his cell. Barton said Menendez's "institutional misconduct showed a lack of self-awareness". At Lyle's hearing the next day, parole commissioner Julie Garland acknowledged the prisoner's "remorse" and the changes he had made while incarcerated. "But despite all those outward positives, we see... you still struggle with anti-social personality traits like deception, minimisation and rule breaking that lie beneath that positive surface," Garland said. Garland said "incarcerated people who break rules" are more likely to break rules in society. Mobile phone problems Both boards highlighted the brothers' repeated use of mobile phones which are prohibited in prisons. Erik stated that he initially felt that connecting with the outside world meant more to him "than the consequences of me getting caught with the phone", but he said he had later rethought this view. The issue of phones also featured prominently in Lyle's case he has pleaded guilty to a mobile phone violation as recently as March of this year. Although he had a tablet that he was allowed to use, Lyle explained that he had resorted to mobile phones because they gave him more privacy. "I would never call myself a model incarcerated person. I would say that I'm a good person, that I spent my time helping people," Lyle told the board, noting he's done a lot for vulnerable inmates. Menendez saw father and mother 'as one person' Erik, who was 18 at the time of the murders, was asked why he and brother had shot dead their parents rather than simply leave home. They have long claimed the killings were a matter of self-defence, as their father was sexually abusing them. "When I look back at the person I was then and what I believed about the world and my parents, running away was inconceivable," Menendez responded. "Running away meant death." He added: "I just want my family to understand that I am so unimaginably sorry for what I have put them through." Lyle, who is regarded as the dominant brother, also insisted that more than three decades on he was a different person. "I'm profoundly sorry for who I was for the harm that everyone has endured. I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family." Asked why they killed their mother as well as their father, Erik said he "saw them as one person" after he learned that his mother was aware of the abuse. Lyle said it was his "honest belief" at the time that his parents "were going to kill" him. More than a dozen relatives back brothers' release Many people, mostly relatives, spoke in their support during the hearings. The brothers' aunt Teresita Menendez-Baralt, tearfully said she forgave the pair for killing her brother. Explaining that she had late-stage cancer, she spoke of her wish to welcome Erik into her home to "wrap my arms around" him before it was too late. Lyle's cousin Eileen Cano, who spoke at both hearings, told the board that she is amazed by how much Lyle had achieved despite facing life in prison. "While most people surrender to the crushing weight of prison life, Lyle rose above it," she said. "Lyle will not be a risk to the community because we as a family will hold him accountable," she continued. "Delaying his release would serve no purpose.." Barton acknowledged the support, but told Erik: "Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you, and you can still be found unsuitable for parole." Sheylla Cabrera with her husband, Jossimar Cabrera. (NBC Los Angeles / Telemundo) A California man who is accused of killing his wife and fleeing to Peru with their children has been charged with murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. An extradition warrant has been issued for 36-year-old Jossimar Cabrera Cornejo of Lancaster, north of Los Angeles. Cabrera is accused of killing his wife, 33-year-old Sheylla Cabrera, last week before escaping to Peru. He was charged with one count of murder with allegations of using a knife as a deadly weapon, the district attorney's office said. Cabrera was reported missing Aug. 12 to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Deputies found security video of her husband dragging a large object in a large piece of material from the apartment complex where they lived with their three young sons, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said Tuesday. The district attorney's office said that Cornejo allegedly killed Cabrera on Aug. 10 at their Lancaster home before fleeing to Peru with the children. On Saturday, the three children were found safe and taken into protective custody in Peru, the sheriffs department said. The Montrose Mountain Search and Rescue team reported spotting an object similar to the material that was seen being taken away by the person of interest over the side of an embankment in the forest Saturday morning, the sheriffs department said. That material contained Cabreras body. Neighbors told NBC Los Angeles that Cabrera confided in them that her husband was physically abusive. The allegations against this man are horrific, and we will do everything possible to bring him back under our jurisdiction to be held accountable, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement. Domestic violence creates chaos in our communities and shatters families. My office is committed to bringing stability back into the lives of those who have been victimized. A court date will be scheduled if Cornejo is apprehended, the office said. If convicted, he could face 26 years to life in prison, according to the district attorney's office. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department did not respond to a request for comment. After the surprise removal of King Center Charter School Principal Antoinette Radford, Assistant Principal Joellen Thurman and Dean of Students Brandon Thurman following eighth-grade graduation on June 24, the charters board of trustees said it would not discuss personnel decisions and would not schedule a public meeting until September. In the two months since, roughly 100 members of the King Center Charter community have mobilized to contest the legitimacy of the building leaders removal and attempt to restore them to their positions. A board response early this week has not satisfied the protesters, which means their complaints and the future of King Centers building leadership are now in the hands of the State University of New York Charter School Institute, which will determine if the King Center board violated a law or its charter agreement. The community has spoken with one voice, read a statement by the schools protesters, and we are asking SUNY to act without delay. The saga took a step forward Monday, when King Centers board of trustees through Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC attorney Kirsten Barclay denied or countered allegations from the formal complaint by a group of school parents and community organizers led by Sam Radford III, husband of the former King Center principal and grandfather to a current student; as well as Keisha Alston and Jamal Davis. Parents concerned that King Center Charter School remains silent on principal dismissal, administrative changes "It's just unacceptable," said Keisha Alston, a leader of the King Center Charter parents. "I've never dealt with anything like this, where people are just unresponsive." The parents chief argument was the King Center board of trustees did not roster the minimum of 11 members required by their bylaws the school website still lists only seven so the boards decision to remove the leaders should be voided. In a letter to the protesters legal representative, Terry McKelvey, on behalf of the trustees, Barclay disputed that claim, noting the board of trustees had recently altered its bylaws to significantly reduce its size from the previously established minimum of 11. The Board disagrees its composition was unlawful, Barclay wrote. The Board has been in compliance with the legal requirement that it have at least five board members. Those bylaws were changed just days prior to the administrators dismissal. King Center Charters website includes a June meeting agenda teasing the topic KCCS Board of Directors By-Laws under new business, but no minutes for the meeting are available because, as is common with school boards, they do not get approved until the next meeting, which is in September after the summer break. Barclay shed some light on what happened. At its June 18, 2025 meeting, the Board amended its bylaws to reduce the required number of Board members to five (5) in accordance with the requirements of New Yorks Nonprofit Corporations Law, the attorney wrote. In other words, before the board acted to remove the three building leaders, the trustees altered their regulations to ensure any ensuing action was in compliance. Radford, the community organizer, said Tuesday that King Centers board misinterpreted his complaint; the parents argument was not that the board had run afoul of the Nonprofit Corporations Law, but because they did not have the appropriate members to edit the bylaws in the first place. The parents further argued that a listed board member, Michael McMahon, has not been active in more than four years, and the boards parent representative, Ryanelle Fuqua, had been told her vote did not count. Barclay countered that McMahons term expired June 30 a week after the personnel moves and that Fuqua never stated she was told, nor has she ever believed, she does not have voting rights. 'This was calculated': King Center Charter School community rebels after abrupt removal of building leaders At the conclusion of King Center Charter's eighth grade graduation last week, the principal, assistant principal and dean of students were fired by the charter's board of trustees with students and staff still in the building. The board of trustees declined comment on specific personnel matters twice in its letter to McKelvey, including to the parents allegation that the administrators removals were done without severance, due process or justification and were retaliatory. Although no federal or New York State law prevents schools from disclosing reasons for personnel decisions which differs from protections students receive from the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) school leaders are often advised to keep confidential details of personnel decisions. Unless your school attorney advises otherwise, its not appropriate to explain the rationale for someone losing their job, reads a post from the New York State School Boards Association published last fall. That is especially true if the change occurred as the result of a disciplinary proceeding. Declining to share details of such sensitive matters should not be viewed as a failure to be transparent. The reasons for the administrators removal, however, is pertinent to the protesters. Radford, the principal, said in early July she was told she was terminated for student performance, but she believes her ouster, and the elimination of the Thurmans positions, was an abuse of power by King Center Executive Director Tamaira Coleman and the board of trustees, and the timing of the announcement was calculated and intended to humiliate. During the protesters mobilization most recently through a virtual meeting Aug. 11 the parent leaders were pointed to an auditors report that showed King Center Charter has lost $1.2 million over the last two years. Still, the audit showed that King Center Charter held $6.8 million in net assets on June 30, 2024, but only about $1.17 million in cash. Barclay, in a statement on June 30, said King Center Charter School is deeply committed to maximizing its limited resources in pursuit of high student achievement, but has not explicitly said the personnel moves were dictated by finances. Regardless of the transparency debate, the King Center protesters urge quick action because students return to the Pine Hill neighborhood elementary school Sept. 2. A new principal has not been announced, and theres no posting for the position on the Western New York Regional Information Centers jobs board. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told the lawyers of illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia that he may be deported to Uganda after he was released from jail in Tennessee on Friday, Fox News has learned. ICE and Department of Homeland Security documents obtained by Fox News showed that ICE notified Abrego Garcia's lawyers that he may be deported to Uganda in "no less than 72 hours" and must check in with any agent at the ICE office in Baltimore on Monday. This comes after Uganda reached a deal with the U.S. to accept third-party deportations. Following his release from a Tennessee jail on Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes placed Abrego Garcia in his brother's custody as a third-party custodian ahead of trial. He must wear an electronic monitoring device, check in with Pretrial Services in Maryland and report there no later than 10 a.m. on Monday. Abrego Garcia Released From Jail, Will Return To Maryland To Await Trial Kilmar Abrego Garcia walks after he was released from the Putnam County Jail in Cookville, Tennessee. Abrego Garica was first deported to El Salvador earlier this year for being a suspected MS-13 member despite an immigration court in 2019 granting him protected status over the risk he would be targeted by gangs. Read On The Fox News App He was brought back to the U.S. in June and placed in federal custody in Tennessee on human smuggling charges after a 2022 traffic stop resurfaced. Court filings later revealed the investigation began while he was jailed in El Salvador, raising questions about how the probe was conducted. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Sets Strict Conditions For Abrego Garcia's Release As Trump Officials Pursue Case Against Him Kilmar Abrego Garcia may be deported to Uganda after his release from jail in Tennessee. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland, who is overseeing Abrego Garcia's civil lawsuit challenging the legality of his deportation, has instructed federal officials to give his lawyers 72 hours notice before beginning deportation proceedings to allow them the opportunity to file a challenge. Abrego Garcia's case sparked national attention this year after the Trump administration initially refused to bring him back from El Salvador, despite acknowledging in court filings that his deportation was an "administrative error." His detention in the Central American country sparked visits from U.S. lawmakers, notably Sen. Chris van Hollen, D-Md. Uganda reached a deal with the U.S. to accept third-party deportations. His release on Friday was met with public frustration by Trump administration officials. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem purported that Abrego Garcia is a criminal and a violator of immigration law, describing him as a "monster" released by "activist liberal judges" after he was released on Friday. "We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country," Noem wrote on X. Fox News' Breanne Deppisch and Ashley Oliver, and Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: ICE notifies Kilmar Abrego Garcia's lawyers of possible deportation to Uganda after Tennessee jail release President Trump is keeping his foreign policy focus on Russia and Ukraine as global outrage grows over Israels plans to launch a major new offensive in the Gaza Strip and a declaration of famine on Friday that underscored the catastrophic suffering of Palestinians. Trump has backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus decision to launch a major offensive to take over the strips capital, Gaza City, even as he had earlier expressed concern over starving Palestinians and discussed the U.S. taking control of the main food distribution effort. Aid groups are pleading with the U.S. to exercise its influence to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis, where more than half a million people face starvation. And Israelis advocating for a ceasefire deal to secure the release of at least 20 living and 30 deceased hostages are begging for Trump to turn his attention to the Middle East. You have spoken powerfully about ending wars and bringing peace. As you work to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, we pray you will apply that same determination to end this nightmare in Gaza, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents many families of captives in Gaza, wrote an open letter to Trump this week. But Trumps top envoy for peace, Steve Witkoff, has not signaled a return to talks that he left in late July, saying at the time that Hamas is the obstacle to peace. The White House did not return a request for comment on the current level of U.S. involvement in the ceasefire talks. Witkoff, currently tasked with settling Russias war in Ukraine, is spread far too thin, said Daniel Shapiro, distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Councils Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. Shapiro, who also served as U.S. ambassador to Israel under former President Obama, said that Trump needs to appoint a full-time senior envoy specifically to deal with the Israel-Hamas war. If an all-out Israeli assault on Gaza City can be averted with a ceasefire and hostage deal, it will take intense U.S. diplomacy, he said. Trump succeeded in getting a ceasefire deal over the finish line in January, but it fell apart after two months. It provided for the release of dozens of hostages and a desperately needed reprieve for suffering Palestinians. But since then, he has contributed significantly to the worsening of the war, and he has missed opportunities to hasten its end, Shapiro wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council. Trumps quip about building a Riviera of the Middle East in Gaza emboldened far-right members of Netanyahus coalition to argue for Israel taking over the Gaza Strip, Shapiro said. And Trump held back criticism on Israels decision in March to impose a food blockade. He failed to use the momentum of successful Israeli and US strikes on Irans nuclear program as a pathway to declare victory, Shapiro continued. And now, he expresses no concern over an ill-founded and, many fear, ill-fated expanded Israeli military campaign. He has seemingly endorsed it. Trump on Friday said that not all Israelis want a ceasefire and hostage deal and suggested that a swift Israeli military option might be the best way to save surviving hostages. The situation has to end. Its extortion, and it has to end, and well see what happens. I actually think theyre safer in many ways, if you went in and you really went in fast, and you did it, he told reporters in the Oval Office. In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump said, We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! Play to WIN, or dont play at all! Asked about his efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Trump said hed decide in two weeks how to proceed with his push for peace. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth last met with his Israeli counterpart on July 18, the Pentagon said Friday, affirming the U.S. will continue to enable Israels ability to defend itself as part of President Trumps mission to achieve Peace Through Strength. With the declaration of famine in Gaza Governorate on Friday, by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), humanitarian experts are urging U.S. intervention to push off Netanyahus planned offensive in the area. The United States, Israels closest ally, also bears direct responsibility for failing to utilize its diplomatic and military leverage to demand an unconditional surge of humanitarian aid, Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International, said in a statement. The IPC warned that famine will spread into the southern parts of the strip by September. Israel has rejected the IPCs finding of famine, claiming the body forged its findings. Theres still time for a ceasefire deal to take place, said Seth Frantzman, a Jerusalem-based adjunct fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington D.C. think tank. But he said Netanyahu has repeatedly changed his goal posts for a deal. It does appear that Israels leadership doesnt want to agree to a deal that ends the war. And Hamas basically says, we want guarantees from the Trump administration that if the Israelis agree to a partial deal, that they also will stop the war. Thats where theres an impasse, he said. Hamas reportedly accepted this week an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire deal, which mediators tout is nearly identical to a proposal offered by Witkoff in May. That includes a two-month pause in fighting and the release of 10 living hostages, in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails including some with life sentences and follow-on negotiations to end the war. Netanyahus most explicit terms include for all hostages to be released at once, the disarmament of Hamas and abdication of governing, the establishment of Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip and an alternative civilian government that does not include Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank. While Israeli officials are reportedly still looking at the deal Hamas accepted, Netanyahu has not signaled backing off the offensive on Gaza City, calling up approximately 60,000 Israeli troops for the massive military undertaking and with no clear end state. I came to approve the IDFs [Israel Defense Forces] plans to take control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas, Netanyahu said in a video message released Thursday, outside the headquarters of the IDFs Gaza Division. At the same time, I instructed that immediate negotiations begin for the release of all our hostages and for ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel. Frantzman, who authored The October 7 War: Israels Battle for Security in Gaza, is critical of the decision to launch an operation to take Gaza City. He questioned why such a move had not been proposed earlier if it was really a magic wand to end the war. Moving forward on the military operation presents a whole new set of challenges, Frantzman added. Israel is facing a manpower issue. The 60,000 reservist troops being called up are exhausted soldiers who have already done multiple rotations over 22 months of war, with forces facing attrition, burnout, and disillusionment. And Gaza City is a huge urban area the main city, suburbs, and a collection of dense, overpopulated refugee camps that are Hamas strongholds. He said the IDF will call for evacuation of civilians before launching combat operations, but that Hamas will likely blend in with that group and sit in wait. Hamas appears to just leave when the civilians leave. And then Hamas waits, and Hamas comes back, and that is a challenge for the IDF, 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 The Hill. A Florida judge on Saturday denied bond to Harjinder Singh, an illegal migrant trucker from India accused of causing a deadly crash in Fort Pierce that killed three people. St. Lucie County Judge Lauren Sweet ruled that Singh is an unauthorized alien and a substantial flight risk. Sweet also found probable cause for all six charges against Singh and classified them as forcible felonies under Florida law. Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old illegal alien from India who was arrested Aug. 16, 2025, allegedly attempted to make an unauthorized U-turn in Ft. Pierce, Fla., resulting in a crash that killed three people. Illegal Immigrant Truck Driver Accused In Deadly Florida Crash Got Biden Work Permit After Trump Denial: Dhs "There are no conditions of release that will ensure your appearance at trial," Sweet said. "Therefore, sir, Im setting your bond on each charge at no bond." Singh, who appeared virtually from the St. Lucie County Jail with the help of an interpreter, was arrested on two warrants charging him with three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of manslaughter for the deadly Aug. 12 crash. Read On The Fox News App Investigators say Singh attempted an illegal U-turn in his semitruck, causing his truck to jackknife, blocking the northbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike. A minivan then slammed into the trailer, killing all three people inside. Judge Lauren Sweet in court on Saturday morning in St. Lucie County, Fla., where she denied bond for Harjinder Singh, accused in a deadly Turnpike crash. Florida tragedy shows why trumps trucking License crackdown is needed Sweet said that both arrest warrant affidavits were previously reviewed by a judge. Each judge found probable cause at that time for each of the six charges. "This court finds there is probable cause to believe you committed a forcible felony for all six charges," Sweet said. Singh hesitated when asked if he wanted an attorney before Sweet provisionally appointed the public defenders office to represent him. Singh was arrested in Stockton, California, last week and extradited to Florida. Singh, who crossed into the United States illegally in 2018 via the southern border, obtained a commercial driver's license in California. He attempted to obtain work authorization, but it was rejected by the first Trump administration Sept. 14, 2020, according to Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs. Original article source: Judge denies bond for illegal immigrant trucker in deadly Florida Turnpike wreck Des Willie/Netflix Suranne Jones as Abigail on 'Hostage' Key Points Hostage is a new political thriller starring Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy. The series follows the U.K. Prime Minister as she's swept up in a kidnapping plot with political implications. You can now stream the five-part series in its entirety on Netflix. The political becomes personal in Hostage, Netflix's new thriller about a kidnapping plot involving the husband of the British Prime Minister. Created by Matt Charman, who previously brought to life Netflix's 2022 thriller Treason, Hostage stars Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack) as Abigail Dalton, the British Prime Minister who's swept up in a high-stakes conspiracy following the abduction of her husband, Alex (Ashley Thomas). Also in peril is French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy), who finds herself at the center of a blackmail scheme that's related to the kidnapping. With Hostage rapidly climbing the Netflix charts following its Aug. 21 release, let's unpack the series' intense ending the perpetrators behind the kidnapping, their political goals, and the complex motivations that set their plan in motion. What is Hostage about? Kevin Baker/Netflix Suranne Jones as Abigail and Julie Delpy as Vivienne on 'Hostage' Hostage centers on Abigail and Vivienne's partnership as they set aside their own disagreements in the face of a multi-armed plot that aims to oust both women from power. It begins when Alex, Abigail's husband, is kidnapped in French Guiana while working with Doctors Without Borders. The kidnappers' only demand is that Abigail resign as Prime Minister, but Abigail refuses, which causes tension with her teenage daughter, Sylvie (Isobel Akuwudike). Vivienne, meanwhile, discovers while visiting London for a summit that she's being blackmailed amid her re-election cycle. If the fling she had with her stepson, Matheo (Corey Mylchreest), gets out, it would tank her political career. These two plots, while separate, are overseen by the same shadowy forces. And they come amid a crisis in which Britain is seeking help from the French government to obtain the medical resources they lack. But the two countries will need to collaborate on more than just medicine in order to put a stop to the coup brewing beneath the surface of these plots. Who kidnapped Alex? Cr. Ollie Upton/Netflix Ashley Thomas as Alex on 'Hostage' Alex and his Doctors Without Borders colleagues were kidnapped by mercenaries working for John Shagan (Martin McCann), a former military sergeant with the British Armed Forces who has a bone to pick with Abigail. But he's not working alone. His right hand is Saskia Morgan (Sophie Robertson), a former military colleague of Shagan's who's been dating Matheo as a means of espionage. Saskia, we learn, saw her battalion directly impacted by Abigail's leadership, as she's drastically cut military spending as Prime Minister. Alex is saved after Vivienne agrees to send her military forces into French Guiana, though his own heroic efforts also help him overcome his abductors. But the story isn't over with his retrieval. It turns out that Shagan and Saskia are in league with General Livingston (Mark Lewis Jones), a bigwig in the U.K.'s Ministry of Defense who has more up his sleeve when it comes to removing Abigail from power. So, how does he know Shagan? He served as his commanding officer during a military operation in Belize several years previous. What happened in Belize? The fifth and final episode of Hostage opens with a flashback in which Abigail is consulted about an invasion by Guatemalan soldiers into Belize, a former Crown colony. Abigail was just a junior minister at the time, but nevertheless the most senior official available to make a critical call. That call? Whether to get the area's British soldiers and civilians out of the country while it's still safe, or to wait for the locals in Belize who assisted the British forces. Those left behind, she's told, could be executed as enemy collaborators. With the clock ticking, Abigail gives the gutting order to leave the locals behind. What does Belize have to do with the kidnappings? Netflix Suranne Jones, Isobel Akuwudike, and Ashley Thomas on 'Hostage' Well, it turns out that Shagan was among the soldiers impacted by Abigail's decision to leave behind the locals in Belize. Shagan, in particular, holds a grudge against Abigail. Among those left behind in Belize was his fiancee, a local translator who was six months pregnant with his child when she was killed. How does General Livingston fit in? Livingston's issues with Abigail aren't personal, but political. The general, who served as Shagan's commanding officer in Belize, harnesses the soldier's anger and utilizes it for his own purposes by helping to fund and organize the kidnapping and blackmail plots executed by Shagan. His issue with Abigail concerns her political platform, which includes an investment in the National Health Service at the expense of the military. He wants her out of power and the military's funding restored, even if that means staging a coup. John, meanwhile, wants her dead, and he's willing to defy the general's orders in order to get revenge. Is the coup successful? Des Willie/Netflix Sophie Robertson as Saskia and Corey Mylchreest as Matheo on 'Hostage' The penultimate episode ends with a bomb detonating at 10 Downing Street, the office of the prime minister. It kills Vivienne, but Abigail, Alex, and Sylvie survive the blast. Livingston is angry at Shagan for detonating the bomb without his order, but nevertheless takes advantage of the confusion over Abigail's fate to remove her from power. As Defense Secretary Dan Ogilvy (Pip Carter) is appointed as interim Prime Minister, Livingston deploys the military into the streets and instills a 24-hour media blackout. So far, his plan is working. But with the help of her colleagues, Abigail is able to piece together the conspiracy. After pinning down the identity of Shagan, they're able to draw a line between him and Livingston. She goes to the Ministry of Defense and the pair have a heated argument in front of the cabinet, with Abigail accusing him of working with Shagan in order to reverse the cuts she made to military spending. He fires back, "In a dangerous world, you left us exposed and vulnerable." But he slips after she accuses him of being behind the bombing at 10 Downing Street, revealing that he knows the bomb was inside a laptop. This being classified information, he's outed as a collaborator and arrested. Ogilvy subsequently reinstates Abigail as prime minister. Does Shagan kill Abigail? After Alex, Matheo, and Sylvie retreat to a safe house, Shagan and Saskia follow them there and hold them hostage. Shagan calls Abigail and tells her to come alone. When Abigail arrives, she acknowledges how her decisions regarding Belize impacted him. "I know you were serving there when it was evacuated," she says. "You have to know that whatever call I made, people would've died." He feels no sympathy for her. "We made promises to local men and women," he says. "They risked their lives working for us and you left them to be shot on a f---ing runway." After revealing that his pregnant fiancee died in the aftermath, he says he's going to "gut you like you gutted me." She's saved, however, by Sylvie, who stole Saskia's gun during a struggle between Saskia and Matheo. She points the gun at Shagan, who encourages her to shoot him, knowing how much it would devastate Abigail and Alex for their daughter to have blood on her hands. When Shagan reveals to Sylvie that he's responsible for the death of her grandfather (James Cosmo), she snaps and shoots him as police storm the safe house. How does Hostage end? Des Willie/Netflix Suranne Jones as Abigail Dalton on 'Hostage' Hostage ends with Abigail back in power and preparing to give a public statement. "For too long, I've listened to the wrong voices," she says to the gathered press. "I've allowed myself to be led into making the wrong decisions in an attempt to maintain my position. And I've forgotten the candidate I was when my people first elected me." She continues, "People want the truth from their politicians. It's the least you deserve. Those words belonged to Vivienne Toussaint, an extraordinarily brave leader, and I use them today to call a general election. I want to be totally honest with the British people about the challenges we face and seek a radical new mandate so that I can work with you to fix our country. I will be straight with you, always, even if the answers are hard to take. Because it's the least you deserve." Where can I watch Hostage? Des Willie/Netflix Julie Delpy as Vivienne and Suranne Jones as Abigail on 'Hostage' Hostage is now streaming on Netflix. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly A former seasonal reserve officer in Maine has agreed to leave the United States after federal authorities said he violated his visa by attempting to purchase a firearm. Jon-Luke Evans, who was born in Jamaica, began working for the Old Orchard Beach Police Department on June 13, according to a notice of employment termination file obtained by USA TODAY. The department said immigration officials confirmed he had authorization to work in the United States when he was selected to join the force, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials stated Evans overstayed his visa in 2023. ICE officers arrested Jon Luke Evans on July 25 in Biddeford, Maine, the federal law enforcement agency said in a news release. Jon-Luke Evans, a former seasonal reserve officer in Maine, voluntarily left the country after immigration officials said he overstayed his visa and attempted to purchase a firearm Evans told ICE officers he attempted to purchase a firearm for his employment as a police officer. The attempt triggered an alert to agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who worked with ICE to make the arrest. Evans lawfully entered the United States in September 2023 at Miami International Airport, but he violated the terms of his admission when he didn't board a flight in October 2023 that was set to take him out of the country, ICE said. On Monday, Aug. 18, a judge granted Evans voluntary departure, meaning he was able to leave the country at his own expense instead of facing formal deportation proceedings. ICE said agents accompanied Evans to the airport to ensure he left the country on Monday. USA TODAY contacted ICE on Friday, Aug. 22, regarding whether Evans had retained an attorney, but the federal agency has not responded. 84792904007 Evans' employment eligibility was confirmed, Old Orchard Beach police says Old Orchard Beach Police Department Chief Elise Chard said in a statement that the department "does not knowingly employ undocumented immigrants or those living in the country unlawfully, and we go to great lengths to verify the employment eligibility of all applicants." She added: To assert otherwise about our police department is simply not true or accurate. Old Orchard Beach is 20 miles south of Portland. To hire Evans, department officials reviewed his Jamaican birth certificate, Massachusetts drivers license, Jamaican passport, U.S. Social Security card and U.S. Work Authorization Card. Additionally, Chard said Evans would not have been hired without the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) verifying his status, which was done through E-Verify, a web-based system operated by DHS and the Social Security Administration that helps employers verify the work eligibility of newly hired employees. "The federal government has aggressively pushed all employers government and private to rely on E-Verify in the hiring process," Chard's statement said. Any insinuation that the Town and Department were derelict in our efforts to verify Mr. Evans eligibility to work for the Town is false and appears to be an attempt to shift the blame onto a hard-working local law enforcement agency that has done its job. In a statement emailed to USA TODAY, Chard said, "The Town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment. We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility." Evans wanted to become an 'excellent police officer one day' In response to a question on his job application, which was reviewed by USA TODAY, Evans said he wanted to become a seasonal reserve officer to take a step forward in gaining more experience so I can become an excellent police officer one day. Chard, in a statement shared July 28 on Facebook, said the department was "never officially informed about Evans detention, and the department officially learned the details of the matter in a news release issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement." ICE said the agency handled a similar case in April, when agents arrested Gratien Milandou-Wamba, 32, in Falmouth, Maine. Wamba was working as a corrections officer. He similarly attempted to purchase a firearm. Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maine police officer detained by ICE to voluntarily leave country Chien Yu recently offered to take his 12-year-old son Hudson for a haircut. It seemed like a harmless suggestion, but the shaggy-haired boys answer reminded Yu that his two sons are still processing the trauma theyve endured this year. The last time they all got haircuts together, Hudson reminded him, was the same day his school and their home of six years burned to the ground. "I forgot. I was blown away, he remembered," Yu said. "So I just dropped it and went without them." 77575958007 A Pasadena, California, firefighter, Yu, long ago developed skills to block out such tragedies. But the wildfire that tore through Los Angeles and their Altadena neighborhood early this year literally struck close to home. "Its so much more personal now," the 46-year-old said, adding that his firehouse has conducted more mental health check-ins since then. "Our tough journey is far from over." Tedious road to rebuilding The path to recovery will be a long one for the Yu family and the thousands of others who lost homes, schools, workplaces, and livelihoods during the three-week fires that scorched more than 37,000 acres, or 57.8 square miles of California coastline. The fires caused between an estimated $95 billion and $164 billion in financial losses. More than 30 people died. The Yus, like many, are just starting the process of rebuilding. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has finished clearing the debris from the family's lot ahead of schedule, but is still chipping away at the more than 9,000 lots in the Eaton and Palisades fire burn zones. Los Angeles County has approved 238 rebuilding permits as of August 22, out of 1,523 received, the majority coming from Altadena, the area hardest hit by the wildfires, according to a county dashboard. Most property owners in Altadena including the Yus havent submitted applications yet. 'A new reality': Price tag for LA fires pegged at $65 billion, report says Still, the pace of permitting has been too slow, President Donald Trump said in an Aug. 22 conversation with reporters at the White House. The mayors incompetent, the governors incompetent, Trump said, referring to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. They want to build the houses and theyre unable to get permits from the mayor and from the governor, and thats a terrible thing. The Yus are making progress, though. They are working to share costs with their neighbors in Altadena, a diverse, working-class community: buying wood and other supplies in bulk, jointly hiring contractors, and benefitting from a retired architect on their block who has offered to help design their new home. Kim and Chien Yu, along with their sons Atticus, left and Hudson, attend the Los Angeles Dodgers 2025 home opener honoring area firefighters. Chien Yu, a Pasadena firefighter, battled the Eaton Fire right after his family evacuated their home they lost in the blaze. The family also hopes to benefit from the county and states decision to temporarily suspend or waive certain regulations to expedite the rebuilding. "It gives us hope that this wont be a long, drawn-out process," said Yus wife, Kim, also 46, a volunteer Altadena town council member. "We're still trying to have each others backs." Meeting financial needs Kim Yu, along with council colleagues Nic Antzen and Milissa Marona, helped create the Altadena Eaton Fire Recovery Fund (AEFRF) in partnership with GoFundMe, whose CEO and fellow Altadena resident, Tim Cadogan, whose home suffered severe smoke damage from the wildfire. The fund aimed to provide one-time grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support recovery and rebuilding efforts for Altadena residents. It netted more than $300,000. More than 3,000 households applied, but only 300 households received grants averaging about $1,000 each, Marona said. "The money will go right in their hands," Marona said. "The need is so outstanding." The Yu's launched their own GoFundMe campaign, which raised more than $250,000 to cover related costs and expenses. Small signs of progress as two homes are under construction in west Altadena, California just six months after the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles that left 31 dead and destroyed 15,000 structures. There are other funds as well, including one from Southern California Edison, which has acknowledged that its transmission lines may have started the fires. Still, the federal funding that many hoped would help with reconstruction hasnt materialized. 'There's so much uncertainty': Los Angeles is grappling with collective grief and frustration' amid protests California Gov. Gavin Newsom marked the wildfires' six-month anniversary on July 7, calling again on the Trump Administration to provide federal funding for the states recovery. Congress left for its summer recess that month without making progress on Newsom's February request for $40 billion to help rebuild homes, schools, and hospitals, as well as provide economic development grants and small business loans. Newsom said that fire funding should be a nonpartisan issue, reiterating, "were all in this together." Chien Yu agreed. "I'm hoping this is not an 'out of sight, out of mind' occurrence," he said. "That would be the saddest part of it all if politics got in the way." ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 08: The Eaton Fire burns through a neighborhood on January 08, 2025 in Altadena, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Eaton Fire has grown to over 10,000 acres and has destroyed many homes and businesses. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Being strong for family, community Amid the rebuilding, Kim and Chien Yu say finding routine and stability for their sons, Hudson and Atticus, 8, has been a priority during a period of makeshift arrangements. We try to keep things light, yet focused. Atticus seems pretty fine, but you can tell hes still affected by it, Kim Yu said. Hes a very independent child, but its harder for him to be alone. And Hudson, he likes to reminisce and points things out as hes coming to terms with what happened, she added. Kim Yu, whose full-time job is as a fire safety specialist at Cal Tech, said she and her husband have to be strong not only for their family, but also for their community. "Honestly, when I ran (for town council) last year, I never imagined Id be put in a position like this," she said. "These few months have been really hard, but we have no other choice. There are times when I feel like Im failing, and I rely on my husband and my family to give me grace." Chien Yu agrees, adding they are digging deep to maintain resilience. My wish is that while the kids remember our house burned down, they will have the capacity to make new, happier memories," he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Months later, slow, steady progress for L.A. wildfire victims After spending the morning taking in the breathtaking sights at Niagara Falls, a group of tourists boarded a bus to return to New York City, not knowing about an hour later, their bus would be lying on its side in the ditch off the New York State Thruway. The bus driver got distracted and lost control, officials said, overcorrecting and rolling over on the interstate, near the town of Pembroke, east of Buffalo, about 40 miles east of Niagara Falls. Investigation determined the tour bus exited the roadway into the median then abruptly corrected causing the bus to overturn and roll off the I-90 on the south embankment, according to a New York State Police press release. Some of the 52 passengers were ejected, others were trapped, police said, as ground and air ambulances, state and local police and other first responders rushed to the crash to help. Five people died and dozens were hurt. Many of the passengers, some from China and the Philippines, spoke little English, so along with the ambulances and the tow trucks, translators were brought in to help police sort out what happened. State police on Saturday released the names of the five people killed in the crash, identifying them as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, of Madhubani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China and a Columbia University student; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, and Jian Mingli, 56, who are both residents of Jersey City, New Jersey. This heartbreaking loss is felt deeply across our community, a spokesperson for Columbia University said in a statement about Hongzhuo. We are in close contact with her family and offering them our full support. The driver of the bus, who survived, was identified as Bin Shao, 55, of Flushing, New York, state police said. We were lucky to survive, but its just an awful feeling, passenger Gao Gao Yu told CNN affiliate Spectrum News Rochester. Yu and her father had taken an M&Y Tour bus to Niagara Falls from New York City. On the way back from Buffalo, Yu noticed the bus was starting to shake. I started to scream because the bus, like in a few seconds, lost control, Yu told the outlet. It started to shake, like a boat left and right. And then it flipped. We all climbed out of the windows. We were the first few to come up. I had no shoes on at first and there was glass everywhere. We had to crawl ourselves out and were some of the first out of the bus, she added. A few rows away sat 8-year-old Zihan Lnfu. I saw when the cars crashed, she told the outlet. So many people were hurt and some of them are smaller than me, maybe 4 or 5 years old. Yu told Spectrum News Rochester she saw a guy who had a really bad cut on his head who couldnt move. She also saw a family of five, including a one-year-old in a car seat, sitting behind the bus driver. I heard people who survived from the left side. They said they saw people getting out of the window, but their legs were stuck. So a few of them passed away right away, Yu said. Lfnu and Yu, who after the crash were traveling back to their homes in Indiana and Maryland, suffered only minor injuries. Both said they felt blessed and fortunate to have survived, according to the outlet. People who saw the aftermath of the wreck told CNN affiliate WHAM glass and peoples belongings were scattered on the highway. It was certainly heartbreaking to see, Powell Stephens told WHAM after he drove by the crash on his way home to Medina from Buffalo. There was a lot of people embracing each other. It looked like people were breaking down. First responders work to rescue victims at the scene of a tour bus that crashed and rolled over on the New York State Thruway on Friday. - Libby March/Buffalo News/AP Heres what we know. Passengers thrown as bus rolled over The bus was driving at full speed and did not hit any other vehicles, but lost control from the median onward, New York State Police spokesperson James OCallaghan said. The bus crashed just after 12:20 p.m. and was heavily damaged. Most passengers were not wearing seat belts, authorities said, and several were thrown from the bus, while some were stuck inside as first responders swarmed the scene to rescue them. The passengers ranged in age from 1 to 74 years old and no children were killed, state police said, revising an earlier statement which said they believed there was one child fatality. Scores of vehicles were stuck on the busy interstate when authorities shut down both eastbound and westbound lanes to respond to the crash. Both lanes were reopened later in the day. The tour bus involved in the crash was towed to the NYSP barracks for further investigation. - Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle/USA Today Network/Imagn Images Hospitals handled mass casualties Four regional hospitals received patients from the accident Friday afternoon, with at least two being told to be ready for a large number of patients coming all at once. At least 47 people were taken to the hospitals, some by air, with a range of injuries from critical to minor, from head and internal injuries and broken bones, while others were deemed medically stable. The Mercy Flight medical transport service said its three helicopters and three more from other services transported people from the crash site, according to The Associated Press. Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo revised the number of patients it received down to 21 and said seven were discharged Friday. Two additional patients are expected to be discharged Saturday. The remaining patients are in stable condition, including five patients who are in the hospitals Trauma Intensive Care Unit, the hospital said. We were able to take care of all patients very quickly, said Dr. Jennifer Pugh, chief of emergency medicine at the hospital. Six victims were brought to the University of Rochester Medical Center by air and ground ambulance, said hospital spokesperson Scott Hesel. Two are being treated for critical injuries and four are medically stable, including one pediatric patient, he said. Kaleida Health said in a statement to CNN affiliate Spectrum News Rochester it received 20 patients, including four adults in good condition to Buffalo General Medical Center, 11 adults and two children to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and three children one in serious condition to Oishei Childrens Hospital. Most of the patients were in good or fair condition and at least one of those adults has been discharged, the health care network said. Additional patients were taken to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, according to state police. The Chinese Consulate General in New York told state media CCTV Friday six Chinese nationals were on the bus. The consulate did not identify victims or disclose where they were transported to. CNN has reached out to the Chinese Consulate General for further information. Also on Friday, the Philippine Consulate General in New York released a statement saying it is monitoring developments and will provide assistance to any Filipino nationals affected. The consulate urged any relatives of possible victims to reach out. In response to questions from CNN on Saturday, Consul Anna Guerra from the Philippine Consulate General said that it is possible that those mentioned as coming from the Philippines are US citizens of Filipino descent. A list of the passengers provided by the bus company, based in Staten Island, confirmed there were 54 people on board, including the driver and another tour company employee, police said in a statement. On Saturday morning, state troopers, staff with Erie County services and volunteers with the American Red Cross of Western New York were at the Family Assistance Center set up to help survivors and victims at the Amherst senior center. Translators speaking several different languages including Arabic, Mandarin and Cantonese were also at the center. The Red Cross said in a statement they provided those impacted by the crash lodging, emotional support, spiritual care, meals, snacks and water. All family members have connected with the passengers and the assistance center was winding down operations, state police said Saturday. Police probing the rollover crash Several witnesses observed the bus lose control, enter the median, then cross to the southern shoulder and overturn, the state police said in a news release. The cause of the crash is still under investigation but mechanical failure as well as operator impairment or intoxication have been ruled out, Maj. Andre J. Ray, a New York State Police troop commander, said Friday afternoon. Its too early to determine whether any charges will be filed, Ray said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is sending a go-team to the crash scene to conduct a safety investigation in coordination with state police and the state Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Compliance Bureau. Members of the team would arrive Friday and Saturday, the NTSB said. The NTSB is conducting a safety investigation running parallel to the law enforcement investigation being led by the state police, NTSB board member Tom Chapman said at a news briefing Saturday. We are particularly interested in issues related to occupant protection and seat belt usage, driver performance, operations and oversight of the motor carrier, he said. A team of investigators specializing in human performance will look at the drivers qualifications and whether he was fatigued or distracted, said lead investigator Scott Parent. The bus was equipped with an engine control unit with data recorder capability, which will show what speed the bus was going and other actions the driver took before the crash, he said. Investigators are also interested in whether the bus was equipped with dash camera footage and a GPS unit which may have recorded its speed, said Parent. They will determine the extent to which the lack of seat belt use may have been a factor in some of the passengers being ejected, said Chapman. A recently passed law in New York state requires seat belt usage on buses manufactured after 2016, but the tour bus involved in the crash was made in 2005, he said, adding it is not clear yet whether the law would have applied in this case. The NTSB investigative team will be at the scene for four to six days and a preliminary report is expected to be released in 30 days, after which final reports will be completed in 12 to 24 months, said Chapman. The tour bus was owned by M&Y Tour Inc. and based in Staten Island. It has no record of accidents or fatalities over the past two years, as well as a satisfactory safety rating, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The companys buses and drivers were inspected 60 times over the past two years, according to the agency. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul described the crash as tragic and said first responders were working to rescue and provide assistance to everyone involved in a post on X. CNN has contacted the tour bus company for comment. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Mark Morales, Karina Tsui and Nic F. Anderson contributed to this report. Correction: An earlier version of this story gave the wrong gender for passenger Gao Gao Yu. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Gwladys Fouche OSLO/ARENDAL, Norway (Reuters) -Investments in Israel have taken centre stage in Norway's election campaign, sparking an unusually public debate over how the world's largest sovereign wealth fund operates. The row could help sway which political party leads Norway's next government as the Sept. 8 election race is tight. Right-wing parties - the Conservatives, Progress Party, Liberals and Christian Democrats - are currently seen winning 85 seats - just one above the number needed to secure a majority in parliament, an average of all polls conducted in August compiled by pollofpolls.no showed. Turning up the heat on the incumbent Labour party, the left-wing Socialist Left this week said it would only support a future Labour government if it divested from all companies involved in what it called "Israel's illegal warfare in Gaza". Labour rejected the demand, but it may be difficult to reject such calls after the election. WORST EVER CRISIS "This is my worst ever crisis," fund CEO Nicolai Tangen told Swedish daily Dagens Industri on Friday. "This is a serious situation because it is about trust in the fund." In an interview with Reuters last week Tangen ruled out stepping down, saying he had carried out the fund's mandate, as decided by parliament. Since June 30, the fund has divested from 23 Israeli companies following media reports it had built a stake in a jet engine company that provides maintenance for Israeli fighter jets. During the war prior to that the fund had divested from just two Israeli companies. It held stakes in 38 companies worth 19 billion crowns ($1.85 billion) as of Aug. 14, in sectors including banking, tech, consumer goods, and industrials, according to fund data. More divestments are expected, Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg said on Aug. 18. Advocates of divesting from Israel say Norway is contributing to the violation of international law by investing in companies active in the occupied Palestinian territories. They also argue the fund's formal divestment process which follows ethics guidelines set by parliament takes too long, while supporters say it is necessary to be fair. Opponents of divesting, however, argue that formal process is necessary and that singling out a country might violate its ethical rules. LOW PROFILE The fund invests Norway's oil and gas revenue abroad so as not to overheat the domestic economy. Its $2 trillion size is equivalent to $355,000 for every Norwegian man, woman and child. Its operations, and changes to them, generally keep a low profile, something it is currently struggling to do. Traditionally, the four biggest parties in parliament try to work to agree changes to the fund via a "supermajority" to avoid changes every time there is a change of government. "The fund is now invested in close to 9,000 companies globally ... the more visible this fund is out in the world, the higher the risk to its reputation," said Mahmoud Farahmand, a lawmaker from the opposition Conservatives who sits on the parliamentary finance committee that oversees it. HOSTILE INTERPRETATION While fund officials say they can navigate the current public challenges, they worry in private. Reuters obtained the minutes from a Dec. 6 meeting under a freedom of information request that has not been reported previously. They show fund operator Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), the Council on Ethics and the finance ministry debated how to balance ethical investment while avoiding it being misinterpreted as hostile government action. The Council noted a "challenge with companies that have a dominating state owner and the risk of politicising the fund," the minutes showed. "For these companies, the recommendations will be perceived more as direct criticism of the authorities. This is valid in Europe as well as in emerging markets." The meeting's participants are named at the top of the documents while statements are attributed to one of the three organisations in attendance. "Norges Bank pointed out ... that states that own companies, especially in authoritarian regimes, could be a challenge for the fund in the future". The Council on Ethics and NBIM declined to comment. The finance ministry did not respond to a request for comment. PUBLIC SPAT In public, Finance Minister Stoltenberg has come under unusually harsh criticism from parliament's highest supervisory organ, the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, for his responses to its questions. "The most arrogant response I have read in four years on the committee," its head, opposition lawmaker Peter Froelich, told public broadcaster NRK. "Instead of answering factual questions, the finance minister provides a lengthy lecture on matters the committee is well aware of." ETHICAL GUIDELINES The fund follows ethical guidelines introduced in 2004 under Conservative finance minister Per-Kristian Foss and implemented by his left-wing successor, Kristin Halvorsen. The guidelines stipulate, among other things, that the fund cannot invest in companies involved in serious violations of individuals' rights in war or conflict situations. "Public support for saving money this particular way is dependent on the ethical guidelines being followed," Halvorsen told Reuters. "There would be less public support for it if people did not trust that the money is managed properly." Conservative party leader Erna Solberg, who governed Norway between 2013 and 2021, said keeping the fund's investments politically impartial was a long-standing priority. "Having this principle that investments are done without political influence has been important for us," she told a meeting with foreign correspondents on Aug. 6. Finance Minister Stoltenberg this month told a town hall in the southern city of Arendal that the fund had always faced challenges. "We will be confronted with challenges sometimes. We have been in the past, we are now and we will be in the future." "We have managed, for 30 years, to do something that no other country has been even close to doing: take the revenues from our natural resources, save all the money, and ... only use the financial return." (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo and Arendal; editing by Jason Neely) Emily Long is accused of killing her husband, Ryan Long, and their two oldest children, Parker, 8, and Ryan, 6, inside their home in Madbury, New Hampshire. Emily Long Facebook For weeks, a 34-year-old wife and mother of three posted TikTok videos about her life, her family, and her rapidly declining mental health. Earlier this week, police said she killed nearly her entire family before turning the gun on herself. Emily Long, 34, Ryan Long, 48, and their two oldest children, Parker, 8, and Ryan, 6, were found shot to death inside their home in Madbury, New Hampshire, on Monday, Aug. 18, according to the state Attorney Generals Office. The couple's 3-year-old son was not harmed. Investigators say Emily killed them all before turning the gun on herself. As detectives piece together what led to the horrific crime, online sleuths have unearthed several videos Emily Long posted that showed a woman in crisis. Her TikTok account, which she called her "personal diary," has since been set to private. Ryan Long had been battling terminal glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. In several videos, Emily Long discussed her struggle with the thought of life without him. I feel very, very lonely. I feel so anxious. I know that I need to see a therapist, I know that I need to ask for help, but Im not ready to acknowledge that, I think," she said in one video, according to the New York Post. Emily said she felt as if she were "withering away" and that it was only going to get worse. She described Ryan, a school therapist, as her "devil's advocate" who could tamp down her more impulsive tendencies. She gushed about his best qualities in a seven-minute video, where she said Ryan lived by an ethical code that made him a good husband and father. Police investigators said Emily shot her husband multiple times before turning the gun on herself. While many online have used the videos as evidence to explain her motives, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office urged the public not to rush to judgment. While investigators are becoming aware of various concerns/issues ongoing in the household at the time of the event in question," a spokesperson said, "people should avoid speculating that this event was caused by a single reason or stressor." By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration plans to make available about 20 metric tons of Cold War-era plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads to U.S. power companies as a potential fuel for reactors, according to a source familiar with the matter and a draft memo outlining the plan. Plutonium has previously only been converted to fuel for commercial U.S. reactors in short-lived tests. The plan would follow through on an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in May ordering the government to halt much of its existing program to dilute and dispose of surplus plutonium, and instead provide it as a fuel for advanced nuclear technologies. The Department of Energy, or DOE, plans to announce in coming days it will seek proposals from industry, said the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The source cautioned that because the plan is still a draft, its final details could change pending further discussions. The plutonium would be offered to industry at little to no cost -- with a catch. Industry will be responsible for costs of transportation, designing, building, and decommissioning DOE-authorized facilities to recycle, process and manufacture the fuel, the memo said. The details on the volume of the plutonium, industry's responsibilities in the plan and the potential timing of a U.S. announcement, have not been previously reported. The 20 metric tons would be drawn from a larger, 34-metric-ton stockpile of weapons-grade plutonium that the United States had previously committed to dispose of under a non-proliferation agreement with Russia in 2000. The Department of Energy did not confirm or deny the Reuters reporting, saying only that the department is "evaluating a variety of strategies to build and strengthen domestic supply chains for nuclear fuel, including plutonium," as directed by Trump's orders. Boosting the U.S. power industry is a policy priority for the Trump administration as U.S. electricity demand rises for the first time in two decades on the boom in data centers needed for artificial intelligence. The idea of using surplus plutonium for fuel has raised concerns among nuclear safety experts who argue a previous similar effort failed. Under the 2000 agreement, the plutonium was initially planned to be converted to mixed oxide fuel, or MOX, to run in nuclear power plants. But in 2018, the first Trump administration killed the contract for a MOX project that it said would have cost more than $50 billion. The U.S. Energy Department holds surplus plutonium at heavily guarded weapons facilities including Savannah River in South Carolina, Pantex in Texas, and Los Alamos in New Mexico. Plutonium has a half-life of 24,000 years and must be handled with protective gear. Until Trump's May order, the U.S. program to dispose of the plutonium has involved blending it with an inert material and storing it in an experimental underground storage site called the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. The Energy Department has estimated that burying the plutonium would cost $20 billion. "Trying to convert this material into reactor fuel is insanity. It would entail trying to repeat the disastrous MOX fuel program and hoping for a different result," said Edwin Lyman, a nuclear physicist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "The excess plutonium is a dangerous waste product and DOE should stick to the safer, more secure and far cheaper plan to dilute and directly dispose of it in WIPP." (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Lisa Shumaker) News / National by Staff reporter The Government of Zimbabwe has pledged to tighten gun licensing laws and crack down on criminals using illegal firearms, following growing concerns over a surge in gun-related murders.During Wednesday's Question-and-Answer session in Parliament, MP Thomas Muwodzeri raised alarm over the abuse of unregistered guns by criminals, citing the recent murder of prominent businessman Joseph "Mutangaz" Mutangadura (67), who was shot dead at his Lisheen Estate in Ruwa last Sunday.Acting leader of government business in Parliament, Anxious Masuka, confirmed that stricter measures are being pursued. "Guns have to be licenced. I know the ministry has requested that more punitive measures be meted on those found to be in possession of illegal firearms, and not just in possession, but it is also worrisome to hear that those firearms are used to commit robberies and some of those culminating in murders," he said.Masuka stressed that whether licensed or not, firearms are being misused for criminal activities, adding that a deeper inquiry into the matter was needed. "If it is unlicensed, it is illegal. The law must take its course and the full wrath of the law must visit those that use unlicensed firearms and carry unlicensed firearms," he told Parliament.Zanu PF MP Tafanana Zhou raised concern over foreigners allegedly acquiring licences with ease and abusing firearms. Masuka promised to consult the Ministry of Home Affairs to review existing laws and strengthen vetting processes for licence applicants.CCC MP Charlton Hwende claimed some members of the security forces were behind armed robberies involving illegal guns, arguing that poor remuneration of soldiers and police officers was a contributing factor. However, Speaker Jacob Mudenda ordered him to submit the matter in writing, citing the need for statistical evidence.Dzivaresekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa called for an amendment to the outdated Firearms Act [Chapter 10:09], noting that some firearms in circulation were inherited and never properly re-registered. Dangamvura-Chikanga legislator Prosper Mutseyami also queried what steps government was taking to prevent firearms from being smuggled across Zimbabwe's borders.In response, Mudenda underscored the importance of securing borders but emphasised that citizen cooperation was equally vital in curbing illegal arms trafficking.The debate comes as public concern mounts over rising cases of violent crime involving guns, with authorities now under pressure to tighten firearm controls and plug loopholes in the licensing system. Photo: Underground Printing House Museum; Hunt Beaty This is part of Reason's 2025 summer travel issue. Click here to read the rest of the issue. The people of Georgia might well be the first folks who ever got properly wine-drunk. Straddling the Promethean Caucasus mountains, wedged between both Black and Caspian seas, Georgia is a cultural crossroads between Europe and Asia. Its fertile valleys and slopes yielded the oldest archaeological evidence of wine production currently on record. During my short yet delightfully buzzed visit last fall, it was apparent that they've only gotten better at both the making and the drinking. Georgian winemaking traditions are hard won; in the Soviet era, many indigenous grape varieties were lost to brutish demands for quantity, not quality. Some families preserved precious varieties in secret. Photo: Hunt Beaty I saw this heady spirit in the small town of Kachreti at the Burjanadze family home. At a traditional supra (banquet), my host and tomada (toastmaster) poured glass after glass of his own inky red Saperavi, each after a heartfelt toast, before bursting into a polyphonic song alongside his father. The wine came from a qvevri, a traditional clay pot submerged in his backyard, and the bottle's label was stamped with his family's fingerprints, several of whom shared the table and the cherished moment. Georgia also gave the world one of the 20th century's worst tyrants, Josef Stalin. Born in Gori, west of capital city Tbilisi, Stalin's dark shadow lingers. Venture across the Kura River a few miles outside the city center and find yourself down a dank underground museum where a young revolutionary Stalin printed secret pamphlets during the Bolshevik Revolution. A charming yet perhaps contextually overeager docent asks you to sign a guest book scattered among USSR memorabilia. Soviet-era grisliness aside, it's an understatement to say Georgian politics have been complicated. Surrounded on all sides by great powers, the seismic situation encompasses many languages, plus the friction of competing political ideas and faiths in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Most notably it shares a contested border with Russia, the bear next door with an appetite. If geography really is destiny, then the Georgian situation has understandably necessitated a stiff, perpetual drink. After the Soviet Union's collapse and at least a decade's worth of post-Soviet corruption, a young Mikheil Saakashvili climbed Parliament's stairs with flowers in hand. The Rose Revolution swept Saakashvili into office peacefully; he reduced government corruption and increased economic liberalization, spurred on by his libertarian-leaning minister of economy, Kakha Bendukidze. Georgia's economy received a jolt, as if the whole country had taken a shot of its beloved brandy chacha (second only to the wine) and raised eyebrows in the Western world with the speed and success of those reforms. Though Saakashvili left a mixed legacy (he's now imprisoned on abuse of power charges), the stickiness of those free market ideas and reforms is notable, however fraught the country remains. Girchi, the only official libertarian party in a post-Soviet state outside of Russia, was formed by dissenters from Saakashvili's United National Movement party after his collapse. It has since advocated both economic and drug liberalization, while staging stunts against conscription and state crackdowns on sex workers, going so far as opening a brothel in its party headquarters. Georgia remains a swirl of political foment, as I realized by stumbling accidentally onto Rustaveli Avenue before fall parliamentary elections. Thousands of Georgians paraded, draped in Georgian and European Union colors, marching in support of then-President Salome Zourabichvili, as she tried to hold off billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream party. Ivanishvili's ties to Russia and presence in politics still loom large, much like his Bond villainesque mansion perched high above Tbilisi. Despite the turbulence, pockets of Tbilisi buzz with young entrepreneurs reclaiming and redefining the Georgian trajectory, one pointed decidedly west. Down an unassuming street, there's Lasha Devdariani selling handcrafted silk robes from his cozy studio, some of which cloaked Tilda Swinton in Only Lovers Left Alive. Walk into Sololaki where traditional meets modern at Iasamani restaurantbare candles burning over peeling paint, cracked tiles, and khachapuri hint at the history of both the room and the nation. Around the corner the gents at 41 Degrees Art of Drinks sling cocktails from a handwritten book that taste like the throng on Rustaveli Avenue felt: fiery and self--assured. John Steinbeck heard of Georgia's magic before arriving in 1947 at the start of the Cold War. In A Russian Journal,he noted: "People who had never been there and possibly never could go there spoke of Georgia with a kind of longing and great admiration. They spoke of Georgians as supermen, as great drinkers, great dancers, great musicians, great workers and lovers. And they spoke of the country in the Caucasus and around the Black Sea as a kind of second heaven." More people, especially free thinkers and drinkers, should visit. Drink the wine, pet the dogs (tagged strays roam lazily, freely, even into bars and hotel lobbies), shoot the chacha, stare at giant Jesus in Holy Trinity Cathedral, devour khinkali (hands only), and let the hospitality intoxicate you in its distinctly Georgian way. 6 Days in Georgian Wine Country The Sighnaghi World War II Memorial; Adam Jones/Creative Commons Day 1 Flight to Tbilisi It's best to have a car to see Georgia at your own pace. Pick up a rental and head to your hotel. Stay in Tbilisi for three nights. Day 2 Explore Tbilisi The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi; Marcin Konsek/Creative Commons Start your adventure by getting a feel for Georgia's capital, Tbilisi. This is a place where the old meets the new, offering a mix of historic sites and trendy bars and restaurants. Rustaveli-Mtatsminda Cable Car; Mirko Kuzmanovic/Alamy The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi is the largest Orthodox church in Georgia and boasts fantastic views of the city. Next, take the Tbilisi Funicular up to Mtatsminda Pantheon, where some of Georgia's most prominent writers, artists, and national heroes are buried. Up there, you can enjoy Mtatsminda Park and get a view of former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's stunning house. Take the Rustaveli-Mtatsminda Cable Car back down the hill to end the trip. Day 3 Free day in Tbilisi Underground Printing House Museum; Hunt Beaty Go where the wind blows today, and be sure to drink some wine along the way. 8000 Vintages wine shop and bar. Sighnaghi; Andrey Khrobostov/Alamy Optional activities: 8000 Vintages wine shop and bar, Cafe Daphna, Dry Bridge Market, Queen Darejan Palace, Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, the National Gallery, Underground Printing House Museum Day 4 Self-Drive to Sighnaghi The Sighnaghi World War II Memorial; Adam Jones/Creative Commons Head east for your two-hour drive to Sighnaghi, known as "the city of love" and located in the heart of Georgia's wine region. Revel in the colorful buildings, the medieval architecture, and the stunning Caucasus mountains on the horizon. And of course, the wine. Visit the Kerovani Winery to sample an assortment of Georgian wines and learn about the traditional Kakhetian method of winemaking in qvevri (clay vessels). Stay in Sighnaghi for two nights. Day 5 Free day in Sighnaghi Enjoy your final day in Georgia! Optional activities: Sighnagi National Museum, St. George Church, Marriage Palace, The Sighnaghi World War II Memorial, Sighnaghi Wall Day 6 Flight Home Drive back to Tbilisi for your return flight home. The post Georgia: The Possible Birthplace of Wine and Definite Birthplace of Stalin appeared first on Reason.com. The remains of 33-year-old Sheylla Cabrera were found by the Montrose Search and Rescue Team in the Angeles National Forest. (Tim Berger/TCN) A husband accused of killing his wife then dumping her body in the Angeles National Forest before fleeing the country with their children has been officially charged with murder, paving the way for his arrest and possible extradition back to the United States. Here's what we know so far: What do we know about the investigation? Jossimar Cabrera, 36, who investigators believe fled to Peru after the death of his wife, Sheylla Cabrera, was charged with one count of murder, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. Prosecutors have filed an extradition arrest warrant for Cabrera and a court date is expected to be scheduled for a later date. The remains of 33-year-old Sheylla Cabrera, also known as Sheylla Lisbet Gutierrez Rosillo, were found Saturday by the Montrose Search and Rescue Team, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. What do we know about the wife's death? On Aug. 12, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lancaster Station took down a missing persons report on Sheylla, officials said. The next day, they found video surveillance of Jossimar Cabrera allegedly dragging a large object from the apartment complex in the 500 block of Lancaster Boulevard, where the couple lived with their three young sons. Officials suspected foul play and homicide investigators began conducting their investigation, according to authorities. The couple's three children were also entered into the missing persons system. On Aug. 16 in the Angeles National Forest, authorities found Sheylla's body wrapped in material that appeared similar to what was seen being dragged in the video footage, though the department didn't specify what the material was. A cause of death has not yet been established and is being investigated by the L.A. County medical examiners office, authorities said. What about the husband? Jossimar Cabrera allegedly fled the country with the couple's three children, the Sheriff's Department said. On Aug. 16, the children were found safe and taken into protective custody in Peru. Cabrera was detained twice after leaving the country once in Mexico and once in Peru but was released because he hadn't yet been charged with a crime, according to Lt. Michael Modica, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. What else do we know about the couple's background? The Cabreras are originally from Peru and immigrated to the U.S. in search of a better life, according to Peruvian news outlet Latina Noticias. Helga Rocillo, Sheylla Cabreras mother, told the publication that Sheylla is a victim of domestic violence and that Jossimar abused her physically and verbally. Rocillo also said that Jossimar told her that his wife had been taken by U.S. immigration authorities. Rocillo told the outlet that she spoke with her daughter over video call a few days before she was reported missing. Sheylla told her that she was going to report her husband for domestic violence. "She told me that Jossimar Cabrera Cornejo hit her, mistreated her, and even slapped my youngest grandchild, who is 3 years old," Rocillo said. "I called my daughter, but she didn't answer. I spoke to Josimar on Sunday, and he told me that immigration had taken my daughter." 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. By Tim Kelly and Joyce Lee TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed on Saturday to closer security and economic ties ahead of Lee's planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. On his first official visit to Japan since taking office in June, Lee met Ishiba at the premier's residence in Tokyo to discuss bilateral ties between the East Asia neighbours, including closer security coordination with the United States under a trilateral pact signed by their predecessors. "As the strategic environment surrounding both our countries grows increasingly severe, the importance of our relations, as well as trilateral cooperation with the United States, continues to grow," Ishiba said in a joint announcement with Lee after their meeting. The leaders agreed to resume shuttle diplomacy, expand exchanges such as working holiday programs, and step up cooperation in defence, economic security, artificial intelligence and other areas. They also pledged closer coordination against North Koreas nuclear and missile threats. The snap election victory of the liberal Lee - following the impeachment of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol for declaring martial law - raised concerns in Tokyo that relations with Seoul could sour. Lee has criticised past efforts to improve ties strained by lingering resentment over Japan's 191045 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean government last week expressed "deep disappointment and regret" after Japanese officials visited a shrine in Tokyo to Japan's war dead that many Koreans see as a symbol of Japan's wartime aggression. In Tokyo, however, Lee reaffirmed support for closer relations with Japan as he did when he met Ishiba for the first time in June on the sidelines of a Group of Seven summit in Canada. Despite their differences, the two U.S. allies rely heavily on Washington to counter China's growing regional influence. Together, they host around 80,000 U.S. troops, dozens of American warships and hundreds of military aircraft. We "agreed that unwavering cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan is paramount in the rapidly changing international situation, and decided to create a virtuous cycle in which the development of South Korea-Japan relations leads to stronger cooperation," Lee said alongside Ishiba. In Washington, Lee and Trump are expected to discuss security concerns including China, North Korea, and Seouls financial contribution for U.S. forces stationed in South Korea - something the U.S. leader has repeatedly pressed it to increase. Japan and South Korea also share common ground on trade, with both agreeing to 15% tariffs on U.S. imports of their goods after Trump had threatened steeper duties. (Reporting by Tim Kelly in Tokyo and Joyce Lee in Seoul; Editing by William Mallard, William Maclean) Shirley Temple drink with ice - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. When in a bar that doesn't have a fancy mocktail list, there's one nostalgic drink you can almost always depend on. And when the kids want something fun to sip on, like the adults, the same drink is the perfect order. The Shirley Temple is one of the most widespread non-alcoholic drinks in the United States, a dependable way to sip on something fizzy and flavorful without an ABV. To make this drink conveniently available to sip on at any time, one company came up with the clever idea to bottle it in the 1980s. Hollywood's Original Shirley Temple Soda Pop is a family-founded business that started in Santa Rosa, and can be considered a regional soda of the West Coast. The brand, founded in 1986, packaged the iconic drink into colorful pink and aquamarine blue cans, making it accessible outside of restaurants and bars. The original drink recipe is a base of ginger ale or Sprite with grenadine syrup and a maraschino cherry, and the ready-to-drink soda more so emphasizes the cherry flavor. The soda now comes in bottles, and instead of grenadine syrup, natural flavors and cane sugar are used to achieve the correct taste. It has an ideal level of carbonation, and a user on the r/Soda subreddit reported that it has a lighter, less sweet flavor than restaurant versions. Read more: Store-Bought Lemonade, Ranked From Worst To Best Where Hollywood's Original And Other Brands Can Be Found Hollywood's Original Shirley Temple Soda Pop bottles and cans - Hollywood's Original Shirley Temple Soda Pop / Facebook Hollywood's Original can be found on several online retailers, including Amazon. Once Shirley Temple Soda Pop appeared on shelves, other soda producers wanted to capitalize on the idea. No single company or restaurant owns rights to the beverage recipe, and so now, there are multiple store-bought versions, from mainstream companies to smaller craft soda producers. For example, Spindrift now offers a cherry lime Shirley Temple flavor, as does 7Up. Despite the star's name being attached, the Shirley Temple drink was never trademarked or patented. This left the door open for companies to bottle and sell their own versions. However, the actress was quite protective of licensing her name for the use of products, and in 1988, she tried to put a stop to another company trying to use her name to brand their cherry-flavored soda. The irony is that the child actress didn't actually like the drink, especially made for her, because it was too sweet. That said, you can always make a Shirley Temple at home with a true grenadine syrup, which is actually supposed to be pomegranate, not cherry. Read the original article on Chowhound. Airports lose millions of bags every year, but Kansai International Airport has avoided that entirely for more than three decades. Since opening in 1994, not a single suitcase has gone missing under their watch. This outcome didnt happen by chance. It reflects a structured system shaped by careful checks, shared responsibility, and quiet discipline. Heres a closer look at how Kansai built and sustained one of the most reliable airport baggage systems in the world. No One Skips Steps Because the Steps Work Credit: Getty Images Each baggage handler knows the order of operations and doesnt cut corners, even when things run smoothly. That discipline helps Kansai avoid careless mistakes that often lead to misplaced luggage. Staff dont assume someone else double-checked because they each stay focused on their own roles. Baggage Accuracy Is Treated Like a Daily Standard Credit: Getty Images Teams manually verify bag records before loading and again after landing. When numbers dont match, the people in charge immediately search cargo holds or sorting areas. This layered system catches errors early and leaves no room for confusion later. The entire workflow revolves around removing the opportunity for problems to start in the first place. Procedures Adjust Depending on the Airline Credit: Getty Images We all know that every airline operates differently, and Kansai respects that. Handlers follow specific instructions tailored to each carrier. That removes ambiguity when juggling multiple flights and reduces the chance of miscommunication. Instead of a single catch-all mechanism, workers reference detailed guidelines that match the way each airline organizes and tags luggage. Baggage Claim Rarely Involves Long Waits Credit: Getty Images Most passengers at this Japanese airport receive their luggage within fifteen minutes after arrival. This speed isnt driven by automation, but comes from precise timing, coordination, and accountability across teams. Travelers benefit directly from this efficiency, since it reduces time spent waiting around after long-haul flights. Airport Design Prevents Extra Handling Errors Credit: Getty Images Kansai sits on an artificial island in Osaka Bay and was built entirely from scratch in the 1990s. Because of that, the airport didnt inherit the layout problems of older terminals. Baggage routes follow a clean, predictable flow. There are fewer handoffs, fewer holding areas, and fewer chances for a suitcase to disappear in a maze of transfers. Repetition Keeps Things Steady Under Pressure Credit: Getty Images The airports staff follow the same order of operations each day, regardless of how busy the schedule looks. That repetition builds consistency across shifts and departments. Its all about following a routine that already works and continuing to refine it. This discipline helps the airport manage growing traffic without adding baggage errors. Skytrax Awards Havent Changed the Routine Credit: Wikimedia Commons So far, the Japanese airport has received eight Skytrax awards for best baggage delivery, but the attention hasnt altered daily work. Staff dont chase recognition because they focus on the next flight, cart, and count. Even when international headlines highlight the record, the handlers continue with their normal routines. Expo 2025 Shows How Kansai Plans Ahead Credit: Wikimedia Commons Large events put pressure on airport systems, but Kansai prepares long before crowds arrive. With Expo 2025 expected to draw over 20 million visitors, training has already expanded, and managers are reinforcing procedures. This preparation reflects how the airport works in generalanticipating pressure points instead of reacting later. Shared Accountability Reduces Slips and Gaps Credit: Getty Images Baggage delivery involves airline staff, airport management, and contracted ground crews. At Kansai, these groups share one goalno lost bags. They dont wait for problems to land on someone elses desk. Instead, each group owns its part of the process. That shared accountability eliminates the cracks that lost luggage usually slips through at other airports. Manual Checks Still Carry More Weight Than Machines Credit: Canva Technology supports the system but doesnt dominate it. Bag tallies still happen by hand at key steps, and teams rely on visual confirmation. When something doesnt line up, someone walks over and checks in person. This human layer keeps small glitches in automated systems from turning into actual losses or delays for passengers on the ground. Physical Presentation Matters to the Team Credit: Canva Baggage crews make sure to place every suitcase on the carousel with the handle facing outward, which makes it easier for passengers to collect their belongings quickly. Many travelers dont notice this small adjustment, but it highlights the precision applied at every stage. Bags Are Handled with Extra Consideration Credit: Getty Images In many airports, luggage is stacked and moved quickly, often treated as bulk freight with little thought beyond transport. Kansai operates differently, as the crews handle bags carefully to prevent scratches, dents, or misplacement. They recognize that each suitcase carries something important to a traveler. Guessing Is Never Part of the Process Credit: Getty Images If a bag seems to be missing, the team doesnt assume it will turn up later. They stop and verify its location before continuing. That habit may take longer in the moment, but it prevents large issues later. Kansai trains staff to pause and confirm early, which keeps passengers from having to file claims or wait days for updates. Luggage Organization Starts Before the Flight Takes Off Credit: Getty Images Bags dont go onto planes in random order. Ground crews arrange them by weight, size, and destination to reduce damage and simplify unloading. This preparation helps speed up arrival checks, shortens the time needed to match bags to passengers, and minimizes handling errors on both ends of the trip. Training Focuses on Building Long-Term Consistency Credit: Canva Kansai doesnt rely only on experienced veterans to keep its streak alive. New recruits undergo detailed training that emphasizes accuracy and responsibility over speed. They learn to follow protocols in the same way as senior crew and ensure efficiency across shifts. This investment creates a workforce where habits remain steady over decades. Simply Recipes / Getty Images As a proud Italian American, surprisingly I cook very little Italian food. My reason is simple: I'm spoiled. And no, it's not in the sense that I refuse to spend hours chopping, sauteing, and simmering. It's because I have a grandmother who makes my Italian cooking taste underwhelming. When requested by my family, I'll occasionally dabble in a few dishes from my roots. Recently, I made meatballs and they were so disappointing. They were mushy, spongy, and salty. Sadly, they turned out nothing like the smooth, juicy meatballs I had intended to serve and my grandmother makes. Trying not to rely too heavily on my grandma, I reached out to my community of Italian chefs to get some insider secrets and discovered there is one key trick I had been missing. The Meatball Maestros Silvia Barban: A Northern Italian chef, competitor on Season 14 of Top Chef, and co-owner of Larina Pastificio e Vino in Fort Greene, Brooklyn Angelo Caruso: Italian chef and owner of Angelo's Ristorante in Stoneham, Massachusetts David McIntyre : Culinary Director at Lana Solana Beach, chef, and culinary consultant Rocco Carulli: Southern Italian owner-executive chef of R HOUSE in Miami Simply Recipes / Getty Images The Simple Tip for the Best Meatballs These four chefs insist that moist, succulent meatballs all come down to one single step. Instead of using breadcrumbs, "soak bread in milk or water before mixing it into the meat," explains Caruso, "it makes all the difference." This step was a non-negotiable for the chefs, many of whom attributed the specific knowledge to family members: "It's just like nonna taught us!" exclaims Carulli. While some prefer to soak the bread in water, others push for a richer option. "I like to soak the bread in milk or cream," says McIntyre, noting that it adds moisture and prevents the meatballs from becoming dense. You'll want to use old bread, notes Barban. She explains that it will absorb more fat from the milk or cream compared to fresh bread, making for an even more tender meatball. "Soaking the bread will also help it blend more evenly into the meat mixture," adds Caruso, "which also keeps the meatballs from drying out as they cook." When it comes to which meat to use, you really can't go wrong, insists Carulli. "This trick works across the meatball universebeef, pork, veal, chicken, turkeywhatever your heart desires," he says. Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon More Meatball-Making Tips Besides the soak, the experts share a few more meatball tips. "Don't overmix!" pleads Barban, "and make sure you mix the meatballs with your hands and not with a machine." McIntrye adds, "Chill the mixture before forming the meatballs to help them hold their shape," who notes this will firm up the fat and lead to a more even texture. No matter what ingredients you mix in or what protein you choose, "just don't skip the bread bath," Carulli warns. "That's the non-negotiable Italian grandma clause." Read the original article on Simply Recipes Closeup of fried fish tacos on white plate - Robert Patrick Briggs/Getty Images When you think about the great, big, delicious world of tacos, you might assume most are topped with cheese; but the truth is, many are cheese-free. Traditional Mexican street tacos, pineapple-flavored al pastor, barbacoa, and carnitas tacos are often garnished with onions, cilantro, and salsa. The same is largely true for fish tacos, which typically pair grilled or fried fish with a tangy white sauce, some onion, cilantro, and shredded cabbage or slaw. This doesn't necessarily mean you can't put cheese on a fish taco. On the contrary, it can be plenty tasty. That being said, the type of cheese you use definitely matters. The Takeout spoke to Marissa Stevens, recipe developer and founder of Pinch and Swirl, regarding the matter. When it comes to fish tacos, turns out Cotija is her go-to cheese. "Cotija is excellent with fish and seafood," she said. "It's salty, crumbly, and brightens tacos without taking over or clashing with the other flavors." Cotija is named after the town of the same name in Michoacan, Mexico. It's a salted cow's milk cheese that comes in fresh and aged versions. The fresh version is better for fish tacos because it is softer than aged Cotija (it's similar in texture to Parmesan cheese). Just don't expect even the fresh version to melt on your warm tacos. Not a problem, that's exactly what make it a fantastic garnishing cheese. Read more: 10 Cheap Fish That Are Absolutely Not Worth Buying No Cotija? Another Mexican Cheese Can Stand In Wedges of Cotija cheese next to bowl of shredded cheese and grater - Marcos Castillo/Shutterstock If you're familiar with Mexican cheeses, you've probably noticed how similar Cotija looks to queso fresco. Cotija is a bit saltier, but queso fresco makes a fine substitute. "Queso fresco is softer, creamier, and slightly less salty for when I want something milder," Stevens said. Depending on the way she prepares the dish, she does sometimes reach for something else. "I use Oaxaca or Monterey Jack in small amounts when the fish is grilled or blackened and needs a light melt." Stevens' first choice for fish tacos (which you can easily make in one pan), Cotija, is useful in several Mexican dishes, including other types of tacos. Even if you want to use a melting cheese for a dish like enchiladas, you can still combine it with Cotija for its salty bite. Sprinkle Corija on soups like chicken tortilla or albondigas (Mexican meatball soup), use it as a topper for taquitos, or finish a bowl of simple pinto beans with a layer of the stuff. Of course, crumbled Cotija is also the go-to cheese for elotes, one of summer's perfect dishes. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Pentagon has been quietly blocking Ukraine from using U.S.-made long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets inside Russia, limiting Kyiv's ability to employ these weapons in its defense against Moscow's invasion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing U.S. officials. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The news came as U.S. President Donald Trump has grown more frustrated publicly over the three-year-old war and his inability to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. After his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a subsequent meeting with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy failed to produce observable progress, Trump said on Friday that he was again considering slapping Russia with economic sanctions or, alternatively, walking away from the peace process. "I'm going to make a decision as to what we do and it's going to be, it's going to be a very important decision, and that's whether or not it's massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or we do nothing and say it's your fight," Trump said. Trump had hoped to arrange a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy, but that has also proven difficult. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told NBC on Friday that there was no agenda in place for a sitdown with Zelenskiy. "Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskiy when the agenda would be ready for a summit. And this agenda is not ready at all," Lavrov told NBC, saying no meeting was planned for now. As the White House sought to persuade Putin to join peace talks, an approval process put in place at the Pentagon has kept Ukraine from launching strikes deep into Russian territory, the Journal reported. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has final say over use of the long-range weapons, the Journal said. Neither Ukraine's presidential office nor the defence ministry immediately responded to Reuters' request for a comment outside business hours. The White House and the Pentagon also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Writing by James Oliphant; Editing by Don Durfee and Diane Craft) Matt Towery on "The Ingraham Angle" discussing Virginia Gov race [Screenshot/Fox News/"The Ingraham Angle"] [Screenshot/Fox News/"The Ingraham Angle"] Pollster Matt Towery said Friday on Fox News The Ingraham Angle that Republican Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears needs the support of conservative media to bring energy to her race for governor. A recent poll conducted by Roanoke College shows Earle-Sears, the GOP nominee for governor, trailing former Democratic Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger by seven points. While discussing the race and Earle-Sears potential outcome, Foxs Laura Ingraham asked Towery if the GOP nominee could defeat Spanberger as Democrats have fallen in favorability nationwide. (RELATED: Dont Rest On Your Laurels: Vance Lists Reasons Why Republicans Must Take Nothing For Granted In 2026) No, I think this race could be winnable. I think you made a good point, though, and that is the conservative media, other media, Towery said. Theres just not been that energy there like there was four years ago. That has to happen. WATCH: If that happens, and if the Republicans really decide and understand this is a bellwether and this is going to lead us into the midterms, I think you could see this become a very close race, and Sears could have a great chance of winning, Towery added. She is a fantastic candidate, in my judgment. Despite Democrats confidence in flipping seats ahead of the 2026 midterms, a slew of recent polls show the partys approval ratings plunging to near-historic lows. According to a CNN poll conducted in March, Democrats favorability hit just 29% and dropped a staggering 20 points since January 2021. In addition, a report released by the New York Times found that between the 2020 and 2024 elections, Democrats lost an estimated 2.1 million voters across 30 states and Washington, D.C., while Republicans added 2.4 million registered voters and gained more new voters than Democrats between 2024 and 2025. Earle-Sears race has also come under media spotlight after a racially charged sign aimed at her was held by a left-wing supporter of transgender ideology at an Arlington County Public School Board meeting. The sign read, Hey Winsome, if trans cant share your bathroom, then blacks cant share my water fountain. Earle-Sears slammed the supporter in a response on X. Im disgusted, but not surprised. This is the tolerant left Abigail Spanberger defends, Earle-Sears wrote on X. There is no place for this disgusting hatred in our Commonwealth. Anyone who doesnt condemn this sign is complicit in approving it. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. President of Chagos Refugees Group Louis Olivier Bancoult holds a statue of the Virgin at the Vatican, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. Mary(Philippe Sands Via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) ROME (AP) Pope Leo XIV strongly affirmed the right of people to return to their homes after an unjust exile, issuing the message during an audience Saturday with refugees from Chagos, the Indian Ocean archipelago that is home to the strategic U.S.-U.K. military base. No one can force them into exile, history's first American pope said. Leo met with a delegation of about 15 refugees from Chagos, some 2,000 of whom who were evicted from their homes by Britain in the 1960s and 1970s so the United States could build a naval and bomber base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia. Displaced islanders fought for years in U.K. courts for the right to go home. In May, Britain and Mauritius signed a treaty to hand sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius that allows resettlement, while still ensuring the future of the base. A grave injustice Leo told the refugees he was delighted the treaty had been reached, saying it represented a significant victory in their long battle to repair a grave injustice. He praised in particular the role of the Chagossian women in peacefully asserting their rights to go home. The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and a powerful symbol on the international stage," Leo said in French. "All peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, in particular the right to live on their land; and no one can force them into exile. Leo said he hoped that Mauritian authorities will commit to ensuring their return, and pledged the help of the local Catholic Church. One of the last remnants of the British Empire, the Chagos Islands have been under U.K. control since 1814. Britain split the islands away from Mauritius, a former British colony, in 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence. Under the May agreement, the U.K. will pay Mauritius an average of 101 million pounds ($136 million) a year to lease back the base for at least 99 years. It establishes a trust fund to benefit the Chagossians and says Mauritius is free to implement a program of resettlement on the islands other than Diego Garcia. However, the deal does not require the residents to be resettled, and some displaced islanders fear it will be even harder to return to their place of birth after Mauritius takes control. Plans to go home Philippe Sands, the international lawyer who represented Mauritius in the dispute and long championed the Chagossians' right to go home, said the pope's words were enormously important. He noted the intimate private audience, originally expected to be part of a general audience, was apparently instigated by Leo himself. The words spoken by His Holiness offered clear support for the urgent return of Chagossians to the islands from which they were deported and sent the clearest possible signal to the governments of Britain, United States and Mauritius that the Vatican expects the Chagossians to be able to return and remake their lives, he told The Associated Press after the audience. Louis Olivier Bancoult, the head of the Chagossian delegation who has fought for more than four decades for the right to go home, said the meeting had come together very much at the last minute thanks to the bishop in Port Louis, Mauritius. Speaking to the AP at a cafe near the Vatican, he marveled that ever since the treaty had been signed, he had met for the first time with officials from the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis. He also received representatives of the British high commission in the capital. For me its a miracle," he said. After the U.S., the U.K. and now the pope. Who will be next? Preparations, including the building of infrastructure on the islands, now must begin to allow the forcibly deported Chagossians, like himself, to go home. Bancoult was four when his family was forcibly evicted from their home on the island of Peros Banhos, with the British designating him a contract laborer with no right of permanent residence, Sands said. Now we have the blessing of God, Bancoult said, displaying a statute of the Madonna that he brought to Leo to be blessed and will be taken to Chagos. Pope Francis visited Mauritius in 2019 and met briefly with a group of Chagossians during a general audience at the Vatican in 2023. Francis told reporters en route home from Mauritius in 2019 that Britain should obey the United Nations and return the islands to Mauritius. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. News / National by Staff reporter ELEVEN Chipinge schoolchildren have dragged ethanol producer Green Fuel and three of its security guards to court, demanding more than US$100,000 in damages after they were assaulted earlier this year over allegations of stealing sugarcane.The guards, identified as Makina Ngwenya, Benjamin Dube and Munorwei Gomondera, were captured in a viral video forcing the minors, aged between 13 and 17, to lie on the ground while one of them flogged them.The children's parents and guardians, represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), filed summons at Chipinge Magistrates Court on Friday, accusing the guards and their employer of unlawful assault and ill-treatment.Lawyers Peggy Tavagadza and Tatenda Sigauke said the pupils sustained serious injuries from the beatings. "The children sustained injuries from the assault and experienced swollen backsides and were not able to walk properly for some time. They experienced shock, pain and suffering both physical and psychological, emotional trauma and distress, contumelia and suffered public humiliation while their dignity and bodily integrity was violated," they argued.The legal team is demanding US$10,000 compensation for each student, totalling US$110,000, for pain and suffering, trauma, humiliation and violation of dignity. They also want Green Fuel to publicly apologise to the learners, their families and the Chisumbanje community, condemn the guards' actions and pledge to prevent similar abuses in future.According to the summons, the apology must be published in a local Manicaland newspaper, broadcast daily on Vemuganga Community Radio for five days, and displayed on the company's social media pages and notice boards for two weeks.The case has sparked outrage among child rights advocates and community members, who say it underscores the need for corporate accountability and stronger safeguards for children's welfare. For nearly three decades, Quincey Morris has been a quiet but powerful force for change in North Memphis. As Executive Director of the Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation (KSCCDC), she is dedicated to uplifting two of the citys most historic neighborhoods. With a deep respect for the areas legacy, Quincey is helping move the neighborhoods forward, one step at a time. Get to know Quincey Morris, the Executive Director of the Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation, and our newest FACE of Memphis! Image: KSCCDC Youve been leading the Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation since 1996. What first drew you to this work? I attended community meetings with my mother and members of my church. I had a deep commitment to the community and a strong desire to see lasting change in my neighborhood, which had long been overlooked. Back in the mid-90s, Klondike and Smokey City were facing significant challenges blighted properties, disinvestment, and limited opportunities for residents. But they were also home to incredible history, culture, and resilience. I saw potential. I saw families who cared deeply, churches that were anchors, and young people who deserved more options for their future. I wanted to be part of building something that gave people a reason to stay, hope, and thrive. Klondike and Smokey City are two of the most historic neighborhoods in Memphis. How do you balance honoring that legacy with focusing on the future? Balancing legacy with progress starts with listening. Our neighborhoods carry the stories of Black excellence, entrepreneurship, music, and civil rights that helped shape Memphis. Honoring that means preserving whats meaningful whether its a historic building, a longtime residents voice, or a neighborhood tradition. But honoring the past doesnt mean staying stuck in it. We also must create pathways for the future: affordable housing, business opportunities, safe streets, and strong schools. We protect the roots, but we also plant new seeds. Every new project we take on is filtered through that lens. Does it respect who weve been? And does it move us toward who we want to be? When you keep both in view, sustainable progress happens. Our vision is for Klondike and Smokey City to be neighborhoods where residents and businesses thrive economically and have a vibrant quality of life, Quincey tells us. Image: KSCCDC How do you approach economic development in a way that respects the fabric of the community? For us, economic development isnt just about bringing in businesses or new buildings. Its about building wealth with the community, not on top of it. Development that doesnt include existing residents in the planning, hiring, or ownership isnt true progress its displacement. It also means preserving cultural landmarks and making sure new developments fit the character of the neighborhood. At the end of the day, economic development should feel like something you helped shape, not something that just happened to you. If were doing it right, residents can walk down the street, point to a new project, and say, Thats ours. What does effective community leadership look like to you? Effective community leadership is grounded in trust, vision, and service. Its about empowering others, creating lasting positive change, and fostering a sense of belonging. A good leader engages with community members, actively listens to their concerns and aspirations, and makes decisions based on shared values, not personal agendas. They show up consistently and make themselves approachable to all members, especially those often overlooked. Rather than acting as the sole voice, they create opportunities for others to lead, participate, and grow. Effective leaders build bridges between neighborhoods, organizations, businesses, and governments to tackle problems collectively. They move ideas into action whatever the community needs, they push for real progress. When she retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN, Quincey says she changed careers because the neighborhood pulled her in, and the work keeps her committed! Image: KSCCDC What win makes you most proud in your decades of work with KSCCDC? One of the wins Im most proud of is acquiring 150 lots from the Shelby County Landbank, a milestone many believed was out of reach for us. We were told we didnt have the capacity or the influence to pull it off. But through persistence, strategic planning, and deep belief in our mission, we proved them wrong. That victory wasnt just about land. It was about reclaiming power and possibility for our community. KSCCDC has maintained and stabilized the 150 lots; eventually, we will develop them with community input. The Moving Klondike Forward initiative was a major step toward revitalization. What are some of the most exciting elements of that plan? The Moving Klondike Forward initiative is a master plan for visionary, inclusive revitalization of the historic Klondike neighborhood in North Memphis. Some of its most exciting elements are: The Klondike Community Land Trust (KCLT) maintains longterm affordability and a diversity of housing types for local, incomequalified households, preventing displacement even as property values rise. The formation of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District that funnels tax revenue into Klondike. Funds are earmarked for affordable housing or home repair; streets, sidewalks, lighting, parks, and trails; environmental clean-up and remediation, and public facilities and spaces. We ensured that priorities were shaped by current residents through deep community engagement throughout master planning. Project partners such as The Works, Neighborhood Preservation, and local foundations work closely with community members to retain local leadership and ownership. Transformation of the former Northside High School into Northside Square an $81 million project set for late 2025 will include affordable apartments, nonprofit commercial space, community programs, and the Memphis Symphony Orchestras neighborhood hub! Quinceys roots in the neighborhood run deep. She had a very happy childhood in the walkable neighborhood, and attended Klondike Elementary School and Manassas High School. Image: KSCCDC Whats something you wish more people outside of Klondike Smokey City understood about this community? Klondike and Smokey City are two of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods in North Memphis. Numerous civil rights leaders have called the area home, including two of the Memphis 13, the first children to integrate Memphis public schools. Tom Lee, the African-American man who rescued 32 people from a sinking steamship in 1925 near the park that now bears his name, was awarded a house in Klondike for his heroism. Whats the best advice youve ever gotten? Look for God in everything you do. Quincey offers this advice to the next generation of leaders: Fight for affordability, dignity, and ownership. Show up for long-term impact, not short-term recognition. Understand that real transformation takes time, and results matter more than headlines. Let humility guide your decisions and let purpose fuel your stamina. Know that leadership is a responsibility, not a reward, and that its a relay, not a solo sprint. Image: KSCCDC Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you cant live without? My recliner, my TV, and my grandbaby making me laugh. ********** For more inspiring FACES of Memphis, check out our archives! Netflix Suzanne Sevakis, Michael Hughes NEED TO KNOW Franklin Delano Floyd kidnapped Suzanne Marie Sevakis as a child, raised her under false names and later married her In 1990, Suzanne was killed in a suspicious hit-and-run four years later, Floyd kidnapped their 6-year-old son, Michael Hughes After his arrest for Michael's abduction, Floyd was charged with murdering Cheryl Ann Commesso, a fellow dancer at Suzanne's strip club, and admitted to killing the 6-year-old Franklin Delano Floyd the career criminal at the center of Netflixs 2022 documentary The Girl in the Picture died on Floridas death row in 2023 after killing the 6-year-old son he fathered with a girl he abducted as a child. Born Suzanne Marie Sevakis, she was about 5 years old when Floyd abducted her after briefly marrying her mother. During her mothers short jail term for writing bad checks, Floyd vanished with Suzanne and her infant brother Phillip, according to FBI case files and journalist Matt Birkbeck, author of A Beautiful Child and Finding Sharon. Suzannes two sisters Allison and Amy were later located in foster care, but Suzanne and Phillip remained missing. Phillip was identified decades later when he approached authorities; Suzanne never got to know her real name. Before meeting Suzannes mother, Floyd had already served time in a Georgia prison for kidnapping and raping a 4-year-old girl, according to the FBI. Netflix Franklin Delano Floyd Over the years, Floyd moved Suzanne across state lines, enrolling her in school under aliases first as his daughter, then as his wife. In high school, she was known as Sharon Marshall, a standout student who earned a full scholarship to Georgia Tech University for aerospace engineering. She later gave birth to a son, Michael, who was fathered by Floyd, in 1988, according to Esquire. They relocated to Tampa, where Suzanne worked as a dancer. In 1989, she and Floyd married in New Orleans under aliases Clarence Hughes and Tonya Tadlock. In April 1990, Suzanne was found unconscious on the side of a highway outside Oklahoma City, groceries scattered around her. Though first believed to be a hit-and-run, she was found with severe bruising and a large hematoma. She died the following day, per FBI documentation. Suzannes identity remained unknown and Michael was placed in foster care. In 1994, Floyd forced his way into Michaels Oklahoma school at gunpoint, abducted the child, and vanished, according to the FBIs cold case summary. Netflix Suzanne Sevakis Floyd was arrested in Kentucky two months later but Michael was gone. According to the FBI, Floyd refused to say what happened to the boy and was later convicted of a federal kidnapping charge. During that investigation, authorities found photos taped to the gas tank of Floyd's truck showing a young woman who appeared to be bound and beaten. That woman was later identified as Cheryl Ann Commenso, who had worked at Mons Venus club in Tampa along with Suzanne her remains had been discovered near a freeway on-ramp in Tampa, Fla. Netflix Floyd was charged with her 1989 murder, convicted and sentenced to death in 2002, per the Tampa Bay Times. According to the FBI, Floyd confessed to killing Michael in 2014, admitting he shot the 6-year-old twice in the back of the head on the same day he abducted him. Michael was being a typical 6-year-old. He was out of control, and that pushed Floyd over the edge, Special Agent Scott Lobb, who elicited the confession in an interview recalled, per the FBI cold case file. Floyd felt the pressure and he just ran out of patience. Lobb remembered the confession vividly: He turned and looked at me and said, I shot him twice in the back of the head to make it real quick,'" he said. Although Floyd told authorities that he'd buried the boy's body near an interstate exit close to the Texas state line, per the Tampa Bay Times, his body was never found. That same year, investigators determined through DNA testing that "Tonya Hughes" Suzanne's alias at the time of her death was actually Suzanne Marie Sevakis, the long-missing daughter of the woman Floyd had briefly married in the 1970s. We were able to find her birth parents and give them some closure about their daughter, Lobb said. However, the specifics of Suzanne's death remain a mystery, as Floyd has never been charged in connection with her death. Thats the one thing Floyd wont talk about, Lobb said. After years of court delays due to questions about his mental competency, Floyd died of natural causes in 2023 at age 79, per the Florida Department of Corrections. A better thing couldnt happen to a worse person, Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett, who prosecuted Floyd, told the Tampa Bay Times. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People Courtesy of Michael Kors "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Welcome to the Week in Fashion, Bazaars at-a-glance guide to what the industry is talking about. Suki Waterhouse and Logan Lerman Transform Into Italian Movie Stars for Michael Kors For its Fall 2025 campaign, Michael Kors tapped two of its biggest brand ambassadorsSuki Waterhouse and Logan Lermanto star in a shoot that was photographed on the streets of Rome. Captured by Lachlan Bailey, Waterhouse and Lerman look like Italian movie stars as they pose amongst the Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, and the Fountain of Acqua Paola, in looks that were styled by Emmanuelle Alt. Lachlan Bailey Rome, for me, is just a city that inspires awe, no matter how much time I spend there, designer Kors said in a statement. Its cinematic, its dramatic, its urban, its got a pulse, and it has all this incredible natural beauty and history. When you combine that with the modern, laid-back elegance of Suki Waterhouse and the classic movie star energy that Logan Lerman brings, it creates an unforgettable campaign. We couldnt agree more. Shop the brands newest pieces here. Miu Miu Taps French Filmmaker Alice Diop for the 30th Edition of Its Womens Tales Series For the 30th chapter of its Womens Tales series, Miu Miu tapped French filmmaker Alice Diop, who directed a short film titled Fragments for Venus, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festivals Giornate degli Autori on August 30th. The Womens Tales series has been going on since 2011, remaining the longest-running commissioning platform of female-led short films. Diop is known for her documentaries such as La Permanence (2016) and Nous (2020), and debut narrative film, Saint Omer (2022), was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. On making her Womens Tales project, Diop said: Ive been making films from the margins, with a political intention of filming those margins, because those are the people I come from. Thats my territory, my history. Fragments for Venus is an essential film to make at this time. It is my most simple and radical work to date. Cate Blanchett Becomes a Global Brand Ambassador for Uniqlo Welcome to the Uniqlo family, Cate Blanchett. Earlier this week, it was announced that the Academy Award-winning actress will become a global brand ambassador for the Japanese brand, in a role that will involve advancing the labels LifeWear philosophyan effort by the brand to combat fast fashion. The collaboration makes sense, given Blanchetts dedication to sustainability in fashion. In a statement, the Disclaimer star said: I value the ambition of Uniqlo to make life better through its LifeWear apparel: timeless design, perfected simplicity, affordable, accessible, quality clothing that lasts. I am energized by the opportunity to help Uniqlo advance important aspects of its LifeWear philosophy-supporting the next generation, playing a part in highlighting and combatting the ongoing global displacement crisis, giving back to communities, and finding meaningful ways to contribute to a more equitable world. The North Face Unveils Its First Aime Leon Dore Collaboration Aime Leon Dore With the temperatures starting to cool down, the North Face and Aime Leon Dore have us covered. The two American brands have teamed up for a six-piece capsule collection, which consists of apparel, accessories, and footwear that will launch on September 19, in stores and online. While the North Face has been a dominant force in outerwear for years, it appears the brand is leaning more into streetwear, as evidenced by this new collab with the beloved, New York-based Aime Leon Dore. Our collaboration with Aime Leon Dore inspired us to reimagine iconic The North Face pieces originally born on the mountain, said David Whetstone, the North Faces Director of Global Collaborations and Energy. Weve elevated classics like the Nuptse, Denali, Borealis and Verto with pinnacle materializations like Casentino Wool, Leather, and Ballistic Nylon which have unlocked a new depth of color within our Summit Gold, The North Face Blue and Evergreen iconic colors. Aime Leon Dore's focused point of view enhanced these icons from our DNA with careful consideration. To find out more information about when the sale goes live, enter your email at the bottom of the webpage here. The Latest Wales Bonner Collection Incorporates Images From the Archives of Ebony and Jet Magazines For her Fall 2025 collection, titled Selah creative director Grace Wales Bonner teamed up with Theaster Gates, who works on the The Black Image Corporation, a project that aims to celebrate preserve the archives of the Johnson Publishing Company. Within these records lies the entire archives of Ebony and Jet magazines, and to highlight the vintage photography, the newest collection from Wales Bonner includes images from these magazines, shot by Moneta Sleet Jr. and Isaac Sutton, printed on tees, button-up shirts, shorts, and jackets. You can shop the entire Selah collection at the link here. John Hardy Reissues Archival Pieces From the Dot Collection When it was first introduced, John Hardys Dot Collection contained pieces with carefully-placed dots that symbolized the connection between individuals and nature. Now, the Dot Collectionwhich was inspired by Balinese art and cultureis making a comeback. After first being introduced in the 90s, the collection has been reimagined across eight different silhouettes to celebrate the brands 25th anniversary. If anything, the return of these archival pieces prove that the Dot designs are simply timeless. You can shop the full collection here. Alex Consani Gets Contorted in New Victorian Gothic McQueen Campaign The McQueen Fall/Winter 2025 campaign is here, and its led by Alex Consani, alongside models Athiec Geng, Chu Wong, and Libby Taverner, who all lean into the provocative in a fabulously-shot photoshoot by Glen Luchford. Here, creative director Sean McGirrs designs borrow from the codes of the Victorian Gothic, and the looks consist of belt-covered tops, lacy boots, ruffled dresses, and billowing blouses, placed front and center in this dynamic campaign. A press described the shoot as: A visceral evocation of liberation and expression, echoing the spirit of 19th century provocateurs. The artists, writers and aesthetes whose spirit underscores the collection: Oscar Wilde, Vesta Tilley, Romaine Brook. The collection was rooted in the uncompromising self-expression of independent thinkers, exploring the tension between tradition and transgression, McGirr noted. Their spirit of progressivism feels pertinent now, inherent in modern questions of character, identity, idealism and gender. Shop the collection here. You Might Also Like An airplane towing a banner that reads "Trump and Bondi are protecting predators" is seen over the Florida Capitol, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla., as Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche meets with Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the nearby federal courthouse. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley) In the hundreds of pages of transcripts from Justice Department interviews of Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein spoke glowingly of President Donald Trump, called him a gentleman in all respects and describing him as friendly with Epstein. Both Trump's supporters and his Democratic opponents have clamored for documents about the case to be made public. In the transcripts released Friday, Maxwell also details what she knew of Epstein's interactions with other high-profile men, including former President Bill Clinton, current Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Britain's Prince Andrew, saying she never observed untoward behavior from any of them. Here are key takeaways: What documents were released by the government The transcripts are from interviews Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted with Maxwell last month. The sit-down came as the Trump administration scrambled to present itself as transparent amid backlash among even some of Trumps most loyal supporters over a perceived broken promise to release more information on Epstein's case. Trump has faced questions about a long-ago friendship with Epstein and as his administration has endured continued scrutiny over its handling of evidence from the sex-trafficking case. The ire peaked when Attorney General Pam Bondi said last month that Epstein did not leave behind a client list, after earlier suggesting it was on her desk, and said no other evidence would be released. Blanche later interviewed the imprisoned Maxwell at a Florida courthouse. What Maxwell said about Trump The transcripts show Maxwell repeatedly denying under questioning from Blanche that she had observed Trump engaged in any form of sexual behavior Maxwell recalled knowing about Trump and possibly meeting him for the first time in 1990 when her newspaper magnate father, Robert Maxwell, was the owner of the New York Daily News. I may have met Donald Trump at that time, because my father was friendly with him and liked him very much, Maxwell said, according to the transcript, saying that her late father had been fond of Trumps then-wife Ivana because she was also from Czechoslovakia where my dad was from. As far as Im concerned, President Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me, Maxwell said. I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. And I like him, and Ive always liked him. So that is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him. Maxwell told Blanche she didnt know how Epstein and Trump met nor how they became friends. I certainly saw them together and I remember the few times I observed them together, but they were friendly, she said. I mean, they seemed friendly. Maxwell said she recalled only seeing Epstein and Trump in social settings, not private settings. Asked by Blanche if she ever observed Trump receiving a massage, she answered: Never. I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting, Maxwell said. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. When Maxwell last saw Trump Maxwell estimated that she hadnt seen Trump since the mid-2000s, again in a social setting. Asked if she ever heard Epstein or anyone else say Trump had done anything inappropriate with masseuses or anyone else in their orbit, Maxwell replied: Absolutely never, in any context. Maxwell said she and Epstein would go to Trumps Mar-a-Lago club, often separately, though she didnt say specifically when that was. She said she loved going there and that Epstein would maybe go himself to the spa. I certainly did. Maxwell said RFK Jr. and Epstein were friends While being quizzed about which powerful men were friends with Epstein, Maxwell told Blanche that Epstein did know Robert Kennedy Jr., who leads the Health and Human Services Department under Trump. Maxwell said they went on a trip together dinosaur bone hunting in the Dakotas in the early 1990s. Asked by Blanche if she had any recollection of any inappropriate behavior involving Kennedy on the trip, Maxwell replied: I never saw anything inappropriate with Mr. Kennedy. What she said about Epstein and Prince Andrew Maxwell spoke favorably of Britains Prince Andrew and dismissed as rubbish the late Virginia Giuffres claim that she was paid to have a relationship with Andrew and that he had sex with her at Maxwells London home. She denied introducing Epstein to Prince Andrew, using a British idiom to describe how she felt they wouldnt have anything in common. I couldnt imagine them being friends. Two chalk and cheeses would never I mean, for real, theres nothing there to connect them, she told Blanche. Maxwell questioned the details of Giuffres claim, telling Blanche that she wasnt even in London when the purported sex happened. Rather, she said, she was in the country celebrating her mothers 80th birthday. Maxwell said her home is so tiny about 900 square feet (83.6 square meters) with tight quarters that it wouldve been physically impossible to have sex in the bathroom, as Giuffre claimed. Giuffre became an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in Epsteins prolonged downfall. The prince settled with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, agreeing to make a substantial donation to her survivors organization. Maxwell discussed other high-profile men Asked about trips she went on with high-profile men, Maxwell said it was difficult to remember details, as they became a blur. And after a while, you know, in the incredible job that you have, all of you, that when youre so high pressured and youre spending so much time with extraordinary people like you do with President Trump, it it can blur, she said. It just does. Blanche pressed Maxwell on whether she knew certain high-profile names, such as Elon Musk and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Maxwell said she met Musk around 2010 or 2011 during an event for the co-founder of Google that Epstein did not attend and then saw Musk again later at the Oscars. Maxwell told Blanche she was friends with Cuomos ex-wife, Kerry, but had only met him a few times and she didnt think Cuomo knew Epstein. Maxwell said she had no recollection of either man flying on Epsteins plane or ever visiting his homes. Maxwells interview wasnt only helpful to Trump, but also another one-time White House occupant with Epstein ties: former President Bill Clinton. Maxwell told Blanche that Clinton was initially her friend, not Epsteins, and that she never saw him receive a massage nor did she believe he ever did. The only times they were together, she said, were the two dozen or so times they traveled on Epsteins plane. That wouldve been the only time that I think that President Clinton could have even received a massage, Maxwell said. And he didnt, because I was there. ___ Michael R. Sisak, Adriana Gomez Licon, Alanna Durkin Richer and Matt Brown contributed reporting. ___ Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP Prenuvo; Shannen Zitz "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Ive always believed in being proactive about my health, but like most people, I usually only see a doctor when something feels wrong or if Im overdue for an annual exam. That changed when I learned about the Prenuvo scana whole-body MRI designed to detect serious conditions like cancer, aneurysms, and degenerative diseases before symptoms appear. The idea of a non-invasive, radiation-free scan that could potentially catch issues early intrigued me. Still, I was skeptical. Its not a medically necessary procedure, is quite pricey (more on this later), and not widely available. Would it be just another wellness trend wrapped in high-tech marketing, or could it actually be the latest health breakthroughor better yet, a life-saving health screening? Prenuvo has gained a lot of attention lately, especially after celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner publicly endorsed it, calling it a life-saving machine. Though I dont have an endless health budget of a Hollywood elite, I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary Enhanced Screening. Im 27 years old, generally healthy, and have no major concerns aside from some chronic neck pain and degenerative disc disease, of which Ive already had imaging and treatment. Still, with a family history of cancer and a growing awareness that symptoms dont always show up until its too late (Ive worked at Prevention for years), the opportunity to really see whats going on inside my body excited me. Meet the experts: Daniel Durand, MD, MBA, chief medical officer and president of Prenuvo Medical Group; Ken Berry, MD, family physician and co-author of Common Sense Labs; and Mia Kazanjian, MD, board-certified radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging The entire process, from booking the appointment to the scan itself to my post-scan consultation, was overall a positive experience. In this Prenuvo review, Ill walk through what the appointment was like, the cost, what my screening found, what medical experts think of a (non-medically-necessary) whole-body MRI, and ultimately, whether I think it was worth it. What is a whole-body MRI scan? An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging technique that uses protons, magnets, and radio frequency pulses to create a detailed picture of the inside of the body, says Mia Kazanjian, MD, board-certified radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging. It has no radiation, unlike CT scans and X-rays. MRI is typically used on individual parts of the body, like the pelvis or the head, on an as-needed basis. Whole-body MRI, on the other hand, does exactly what it sounds like: It uses the same magnetic resonance imaging technology to take a picture of the whole body, which, at Prenuvo, takes about an hour. Typically, imaging is done in a very focused manner based on a specific question that another physician is asking, says Daniel Durand, MD, MBA, chief medical officer and president of Prenuvo Medical Group. What Prenuvo does is digitize the entire body. You can think of Prenuvo as a tech-enabled, direct-to-specialist care model. Were digitizing the human body with the most powerful tool, which is MRI, and then were having a radiologist do a head-to-toe, on the inside, examination of the patient. An important note about the limitations of whole-body MRI: Preunvo exists to layer on top of existing screenings. This is in addition to, not a replacement of, and we have always said that, Dr. Durand explains. The idea is that if you have a primary care doctor and youre doing your routine screenings, Prenuvo supercharges all that. Our belief is that whole body MRI, plus existing screenings, offers a level of diagnostic accuracy and reassurance that goes beyond anything that came before. Ken Berry, MD, family physician and co-author of Common Sense Labs, agrees that right now, whole-body MRI doesnt replace guideline-based screening (like colonoscopies or mammograms). Its a supplemental tool, not a substitute, he says. Whole-body MRI can detect early cancers, aneurysms, and neurological issues, but its not always better than traditional screening. Dr. Berry says if you have a strong family history of cancer, a genetic risk, or a history of serious illness, it may be worth considering, but hes cautious about recommending it for the average healthy adult. My experience I underwent the Enhanced Screening, the most thorough evaluation Prenuvo offers. This included a whole-body MRI, which covered the brain, chest, abdomen, pelvis, spine, and major vasculature, free from radiation or contrast; a body composition analysis and advanced brain health assessment (taken during the MRI); and a comprehensive bloodwork panel. The actual experience of getting the MRI was fairly painless. Before the procedure, I was sent a fairly lengthy survey of my medical history to determine whether it was safe for me to undergo the scan and ascertain any health concerns I may have. I also took Prenuvo up on the offer to take a light sedative before heading in to ease any anxiety or claustrophobia to make the experience more comfortable. Then, I arrived at the Manhattan location ready to sit still in an MRI machine for just about an hour. Surprisingly, that hour went by pretty quickly. They gave me the option to choose a show or movie to watch on Netflix during the scan (I decided on Ginny and Georgia), which helped move things along mentally. Before I knew it, I was heading home, where a nurse from a concierge service employed by Prenuvo later drew my blood for the bloodwork portion. About two weeks after my scan, Prenuvo reached out to schedule my post-scan consultation with Vikash Modi, MD, senior medical director of preventative medicine at Prenuvo. My virtual consultation with Dr. Modi lasted about 45 minutes, and he walked me through my scan, all of my bloodwork, my body composition analysis, and brain health assessment. He also answered any questions I had and gave me a few suggestions regarding my health moving forward. Courtesy of Shannen Zitz The results About a week prior to officially receiving my results, I got a call from Dr. Modi to discuss one potentially urgent finding from my bloodwork. My blood panel showed that I had a glucose level of 38, which can be very dangerous. We discussed that this was likely due to fasting all day before the bloodwork (which I had scheduled for 3:00 p.m.), as my A1c (a blood test that measures the average blood glucose from the last two-to-three months) was normal. But I was advised to repeat bloodwork with my primary care physician as a precaution. Dr. Modi then reassured me that there were no other major findings on my scan or my bloodwork, but that we would discuss it further at my official consultation. Fast forward to that appointment: Dr. Modi thoroughly went over my results, starting with my bloodwork, then my scan, the brain health assessment, and finally body composition analysis. Thankfully, my bloodwork showed Im in good health, which was reassuring since the blood panel was very comprehensive. However, as Dr. Berry explains, comprehensive doesnt always mean useful. While it did give me a lot of peace of mind, Dr. Berry says that although most doctors dont order enough bloodwork, as I discuss in Common Sense Labs, it is also true that ordering too much labwork creates a new set of problems, including confusion and the potential for reacting when it may not be medically needed. My scan, however, did show one moderate finding, four minor findings, and one informational finding. In addition to my virtual consultation with Dr. Modi, I was able to visit the Prenuvo online dashboard, which features an interactive and informative report. Courtesy of Prenuvo and Shannen Zitz Heres a deeper look at those findings: FLAIR hyperintense lesion, right frontal lobe. This sounds scary, but it was actually one of my minor findings. On the Prenuvo app, it was labeled a small vessel ischemia, which is a term describing the changes that occur by disrupting the small blood vessels in the brain, and is often a sign of poor cardiovascular health. However, Dr. Modi reassured me that the online interface is always being updated, and that the patient-facing side doesnt always align perfectly with the clinical interpretation. In my case, it may have been caused by head injuries I sustained during my time as a cheerleader. I had no signs of white matter disease, aneurysm, growths, or masses, and overall, my brain volume was very healthy. Scoliosis. I knew about this minor finding previously from a recent X-ray. I have mild scoliosis in my lumbar spine. Spondyloarthropathy of the cervical and thoracic spine. These are two minor findings I was also aware of from previous imaging. Spondyloarthropathy is the medical term for degenerative arthritis. I have long struggled with neck and upper back pain, and have been undergoing treatment (mainly physical therapy) for a few months now. Discussing these findings with Dr. Modi reassured me that Im doing everything right in my current treatment plan. Hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. This was my only moderate finding; one that I was not previously aware of. While Im not experiencing any symptoms due to these benign, fluid-filled ovarian cysts, Im glad I know about them now in case they ever do rupture or cause any complications. While Dr. Modi didnt officially diagnose me, he suggested these may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) due to my semi-irregular menstrual cycle, history of acne, and recent struggle to lose weight. He suggested some supplements I might consider taking and made me aware of the typical treatment and medications doctors usually prescribe, should I ever seek that. Dense breast tissue. The scan also revealed that I have dense breast tissue, which means I have more glandular tissue (as opposed to fat tissue) in my breasts, which may make it more difficult to screen for breast cancer with a typical mammogram. I was already aware of this, as I have a history of breast cysts, which is why I get regular ultrasounds. I was a little surprised the Prenuvo MRI did not pick these up, but Dr. Modi explained that the threshold for breast cysts at Prenuvo is around five millimeters. So, anything smaller than that (which my cysts likely are) would not be picked up by the MRI. Its a see-a-lot test, not a see-everything test, Dr. Modi said. Following my bloodwork and MRI scan, Dr. Modi went over my brain health assessment, which measured the volume of every structure within the brain. Thankfully, all of those structures in my brain fell into normal ranges. Finally, we discussed my body composition analysis, which showed data for total muscle mass, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat. This test is very useful, says Dr. Berry. Knowing visceral fat and muscle mass is much better than just looking at Body Mass Index (BMI), he explains. Again, thankfully, Dr. Modi ensured that for the most part, my analysis falls into normal ranges for my age and sex, except that I actually have a bit more muscle mass than average, which is a good thing. This test was really interesting to look at because it included a very detailed analysis of hip and lower body muscle volume, as well as a symmetry analysis. None of this was major, but it did confirm a few things I suspected about the way my body works and moves. Are whole-body MRIs the future of preventative healthcare? Its difficult to say. The essence of what Prenuvo does, and I think its poorly understood, is that we dont by ourselves prevent anything. But, we can absolutely help a patient choose their own destiny and pursue the right preventative strategies, because we can show them whats going on in them, as opposed to just general advice, Dr. Durand explains. However, as Dr. Durand and the Prenuvo website state, there are limitations. I asked Dr. Berry, an unaffiliated family physician, whether whole-body MRIs can meaningfully replace or reduce the need for standard individualized screenings based on modern-day recommendations. He said, not right now. It doesnt replace guideline-based screening. It cant do what a colonoscopy or mammogram does, and it doesnt offer the same level of detail. Its a supplemental tool, not a substitute, Dr. Berry explained. If it could fully replace traditional tests, Id be on board, but the evidence just isnt there yet. Dr. Kazanjian adds that whole-body MRI tends to be more effective at detecting lesions in the kidneys, pancreas, lymph nodes, and bones, among some others, but that the screenings ability to characterize them as benign or malignant may be limited. She adds that whole-body MRI does not effectively screen for some of the most common cancers, including skin cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer. And while there will certainly be findings of import on these exams, including brain aneurysms, evidence of autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndromes, and small cancers, among others, Dr. Kazanjian explains, its impossible to say whether whole-body MRI truly leads to improved health outcomes or whether those results would be uncovered via traditional screening methods. Theres also the aspect of incidental or benign findings, which are clinically insignificant (meaning they cause no harm), but create a type of scanxiety, or anxiety felt by patients pre- and post-scan, Dr. Kazanjian says. The cost and impact My Enhanced Screening at the Manhattan location has a cost of $4,500, but it varies based on the exact scan you choose, and sometimes, the location. There are less costly options, like the regular whole-body MRI ($2,500) or the torso-only MRI ($999). Prenuvo also offers its Warriors Program, which offers discounted services to first responders, military members, and veterans. While some doctors, like Dr. Kazanjian, do recommend whole-body MRI for high-risk individuals (like those with a strong family history of cancer and/or genetic mutations) and for patients with cancers such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma, it is generally not recommended for the general population, she explains. I do not think this is cost-effective for the population, particularly given the large percentage of false positives with the necessity for costly follow-ups, says Dr. Kazanjian. I say this even if the initial service were cost-free. Dr. Durand also acknowledges that not everybody can afford the Prenuvo model of healthcare today. Thats why he says Prenuvo is working every day to harness the powers of artificial intelligence to become more efficient, which will allow them to bring prices down long-term. In terms of side effects, MRI, including whole-body MRI, is mostly safe. The scanxiety and inconsequential benign findings that Dr. Kazanjian points out are the main downsides. As with any MRI, its important to tell your doctor and radiologist if you have any metal or electrical implants in your body (such as pacemakers and infusion pumps), as the magnetic field generated by the MRI machine can pose a hazard to patients in these cases. The detailed questionnaire sent over by the Prenuvo team before your appointment covers these in length, and your radiologist will also inquire about any metal in or on your body before your scan. The bottom line These scans have potential and may help in the future, but right now theyre best for people with high risk or specific concerns or a lot of disposable income, Dr. Berry explains. For the average person, they often create more questions than answers. Too much testing can lead to fear, cost, and harm, especially when theres no clear benefit. Prevention and early detection are very important, but it has to be reasonable and relevant, not just expensive. Reflecting on my experience with the whole-body MRI at Prenuvo, I feel fortunate to have had access to such advanced technology. The scan provided valuable insights into my bodys health that I wouldnt have otherwise had. However, while I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it to those who have the resources and are curious about their health, I do believe its important to approach it with a balanced perspective. From a cost-benefit standpoint, its not yet a universally essential tool in healthcare, and its value largely depends on individual circumstances and priorities. The best advice I can give to the people reading this is the advice I live by and the advice I give my patients. This is the same advice I give my motherand I love my mother. Its to live a healthy lifekeep a healthy weight, eat whole grains and vegetables and lean protein, exercise regularly, sleep seven hours a night, avoid tobacco and alcohol, and get annual checkups, recommended screenings, and vaccines with your doctor, Dr. Kazanjian says. Prevention is the best medicine. You Might Also Like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, center, leaves the Putnam County Jail, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Cookeville, Tenn. - Brett Carlsen/AP The Trump administration might try to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda in the coming days, according to a notice sent by a Department of Homeland Security official to his lawyers on Friday. The notice, made public in a court filing in Abrego Garcias human smuggling criminal case in Tennessee, came minutes after he was released from criminal custody pending his trial on the federal charges, and Abrego Garcias lawyers accused the government of using the notice to try to coerce Abergo Garcia to accept a plea deal in his case. Let this email serve as notice that DHS may remove your client, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, to Uganda no earlier than 72 hours from now (absent weekends), the notice read in part. Administration officials have hinted in the past at the possibility that Abrego Garcia, who was unlawfully deported to El Salvador earlier this year before being returned to the US in June to face the charges, may be deported to a third country. But until Friday, it wasnt clear whether they would let his trial conclude before they initiated any removal proceedings. Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, an attorney for Abrego Garcia, told CNN in a statement the move to send the Salvadoran national to Uganda was retaliation by the government. The governments decision to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda makes it painfully clear that they are using the immigration system to punish him for exercising his constitutional rights, Sandoval-Moshenberg said. There is a perfectly reasonable option available, Costa Rica, where he his family can visit him easily, but instead they are attempting to send him halfway across the world, to a country with documented human rights abuses and where he does not even speak the language. This is not justice; it is retaliation. Under a ruling issued last month by US District Judge Paula Xinis, who had ordered the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return from a mega-prison in El Salvador, officials are required to give him and his lawyers a heads up of removal plans at least 72 business hours before they intend to carry out the deportation to a third country. That requirement is meant to give him time to raise a claim that he may face torture or persecution in the third country identified by the government. The filing submitted by Abrego Garcias lawyers Saturday morning to the federal judge overseeing his criminal case also said that earlier this week, the government tried to cut a deal with him in which he would plead guilty to the two federal charges and, after serving any court-imposed sentence, be deported to Costa Rica. The Central American country would accept him as a refugee or give him some form of legal status, according to a letter sent from its government to a State Department official at the US embassy in Costa Rica. That offer was renewed Friday evening, Abrego Garcias attorneys said in court papers. They told the judge that their client now has until Monday morning to accept a plea in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, or else that offer will be off the table forever. The offers, Abrego Garcias lawyers argued, are evidence of what they described as the governments effort to punish Abrego Garcia for challenging his wrongful deportation earlier this year. They told the judge, Waverly Crenshaw, that the developments buttress their request for him to throw the case out on the grounds that Abrego Garcia is the subject of vindictive and selective prosecution. There can be only one interpretation of these events: the DOJ, DHS, and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat, the attorneys wrote. It is difficult to imagine a path the government could have taken that would have better emphasized its vindictiveness, they continued. This case should be dismissed. CNNs Rafael Romo contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com FILE - Wind turbines of South Fork Wind are seen off the coast of Block Island, R.I., Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) The Trump administration halted construction on a nearly complete offshore wind project near Rhode Island as the White House continues to attack the battered U.S. offshore wind industry that scientists say is crucial to the urgent fight against climate change. Danish wind farm developer Orsted says the Revolution Wind project is about 80% complete, with 45 out of its 65 turbines already installed. Despite that progress and the fact that the project had cleared years of federal and state reviews the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued the order Friday, saying the federal government needs to review the project and address concerns related to the protection of national security interests of the United States. It did not specify what the national security concerns are. President Donald Trump has made sweeping strides to prioritize fossil fuels and hinder renewable energy projects. Trump recently called wind and solar power THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY! in a social media post and vowed not to approve wind or farmer destroying Solar projects. The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!! he wrote on his Truth Social site this week. Scientists across the globe agree that nations need to rapidly embrace renewable energy to stave off the worst effects of climate change, including extreme heat and drought; larger, more intense wildfires and supercharged hurricanes, typhoons and rainstorms that lead to catastrophic flooding. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee criticized the stop-work order and said he and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont will pursue every avenue to reverse the decision to halt work on Revolution Wind in a post on X. Both governors are Democrats. Construction on Revolution Wind began in 2023, and the project was expected to be fully operational next year. Orsted says it is evaluating the financial impact of stopping construction and is considering legal proceedings. Revolution Wind is located more than 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of the Rhode Island coast, 32 miles (51 kilometers) southeast of the Connecticut coast and 12 miles (19 kilometers) southwest of Marthas Vineyard. Rhode Island is already home to one offshore wind farm, the five-turbine Block Island Wind Farm. Revolution Wind was expected to be Rhode Island and Connecticuts first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than 350,000 homes. The densely populated states have minimal space available for land-based energy projects, which is why the offshore wind project is considered crucial for the states to meet their climate goals. This arbitrary decision defies all logic and reason Revolution Winds project was already well underway and employed hundreds of skilled tradesmen and women. This is a major setback for a critical project in Connecticut, and I will fight it, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, said in a statement. Wind power is the largest source of renewable energy in the U.S. and provides about 10% of the electricity generated in the nation. Today, the U.S. has only one fully operational large-scale offshore wind project producing power. That is not enough to meet Americas rising energy needs. We need more energy of all types, including oil and gas, wind, and new and emerging technologies, said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, a group that supports offshore oil, gas and wind. Green Oceans, a nonprofit that opposes the offshore wind industry, applauded the BOEMs decision. We are grateful that the Trump Administration and the federal government are taking meaningful action to preserve the fragile ocean environment off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the nonprofit said in a statement. This is the second major offshore wind project the White House has halted. Work was stopped on Empire Wind, a New York offshore wind project, but construction was allowed to resume after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, intervened. This administration has it exactly backwards. Its trying to prop up clunky, polluting coal plants while doing all it can to halt the fastest growing energy sources of the future solar and wind power," said Kit Kennedy, managing director for the power division at Natural Resources Defense Council, in a statement. Unfortunately, every American is paying the price for these misguided decisions. ___ Reporter Jennifer McDermott contributed from Providence, Rhode Island, and Matthew Daly contributed from Washington. ___ 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. ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan has written to U.S. President Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump, and urged her to contact Israel's prime minister and raise the plight of children in Gaza, authorities in Ankara said on Saturday. Emine Erdogan wrote that she had been inspired by the letter Melania Trump sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month about children in Ukraine and Russia. "I have faith that the important sensitivity you have shown for the 648 Ukrainian children ... will be extended to Gaza as well," Emine Erdogan wrote in the letter dated Friday that was published by the Turkish presidency. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "These days, when the world is experiencing a collective awakening and the recognition of Palestine has become a global will. I believe that your call on behalf of Gaza would fulfil a historic responsibility toward the Palestinian people," Emine Erdogan's letter added. A global hunger monitor determined on Friday that Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine, and it will likely spread, escalating pressure on Israel to allow more aid into the Palestinian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed that report as an "outright lie", and said Israel had a policy of preventing not causing starvation. The Gaza war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's military campaign has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Climate journalist Alec Luhn survived six harrowing days stranded in Norways wilderness with a broken leg by drinking his own urine, eating grass and moss and even popping a blister to drink his own blood. The 38-year-old American plunged down a steep mountain face in Folgefonna National Park on July 31, shattering his femur in two places, fracturing his pelvis in three spots and breaking about half a dozen vertebrae. The ordeal began when Luhn decided to extend a family vacation in Bergen for the solo glacier hike. Near the trails summit around 10 p.m., he noticed his left boot sole starting to separate but continued hiking in the still-bright Norwegian summer sun. Alec Luhn, an American climate journalist, survived six days in the Norwegian wilderness after falling off a cliff and suffering debilitating injuries. Veronika Silchenko / Facebook I just took a wrong step. I dont remember exactly how it happened, but I took a step and slipped and started sliding, he explained to the Washington Post. Luhn lost his cellphone, water bottle and most of his food during the terrifying fall while hiking alone to see one of Norways largest glaciers. I remember thinking, This is really bad. This is the start of the disaster movie,' Luhn told CNNs Anderson Cooper. Luhn said he survived by drinking his own urine, eating grass and moss and popping a blister in order to drink blood. CNN This is that moment where everything goes really, really wrong. The experienced outdoorsman, who has reported from remote locations including Siberia and the Arctic Ocean, told WaPo that he found himself facing the ultimate survival test when he regained consciousness the next day. I just remember sliding down the mountain at first, and then spinning down the mountain, rolling down the mountain, and then just pinballing down the mountain, he told CNN. When the fall finally stopped, Luhn realized the devastating extent of his injuries. His left femur had snapped completely, leaving his foot dangling around uselessly. Luhn, a Wisconsin native, shattered his femur in two places, fractured his pelvis in three spots and broke about half a dozen vertebrae. CNN My left foot was just flopping around with no direction, he said. I was basically immobilized. His wife Veronika Silchenko had flown home to England expecting not to hear from him until Aug. 4, knowing cellphone service would be spotty during his planned four-day solo trek. Unable to move up the mountain to search for his lost phone, Luhn rationed the few snacks remaining in his backpack while eating whatever vegetation he could find nearby. After two days without water, desperation set in. The granola bars and peanuts in his pack felt like concrete paste that he couldnt swallow due to his parched throat. Norwegian Red Cross search and rescue teams are seen above looking for Luhn on Aug. 5. Norwegian Red Cross I was so desperate for any kind of liquid that I popped a blister on my hand to drink the blood, he revealed. Remembering childhood warnings that three days without water could prove fatal, Luhn reluctantly urinated into an empty water pouch and drank minimal amounts to survive. When rain finally arrived on the third day, he collected every precious drop by sucking water from the creases of his sleeping bag. The 38-year-old American plunged down a steep mountain face in Folgefonna National Park on July 31. Norwegian Red Cross It was the best thing I ever tasted, he said with a laugh. But the rain brought new dangers. Luhn got soaked and cold, struggling to stay warm in his makeshift shelter constructed from a tent pole and rain jacket. Meanwhile, Silchenko couldnt eat or sleep as worry consumed her after reporting her husband missing on Aug. 4. I knew that he would do everything he could to wait for us to rescue him, Silchenko, also a journalist, told the Washington Post. I didnt doubt that for a minute because hes very strong, mentally and physically. Search-and-rescue teams battled constant rain and wind that made their mission nearly impossible. Low-hanging clouds on Aug. 5 left Luhn wondering if he would survive. This actually might be it. I might not make it through this, he thought as the clouds merged indistinguishably with the mountain peaks around him. I just remember sliding down the mountain at first, and then spinning down the mountain, rolling down the mountain, and then just pinballing down the mountain, he told CNN. CNN Rescuers finally located Luhn on Aug. 6 and rushed him to the hospital, where doctors discovered severe frostbite on his feet alongside his multiple fractures. Despite the extensive injuries, doctors believe he will make a full recovery after a long rehabilitation process. True to his journalistic instincts, Luhn immediately asked for pen and paper upon reuniting with his wife to document his survival story. The harrowing experience gave him time to reflect on what truly mattered. I spent a lot of time thinking about my wife and my family and how silly it was that here I was possibly going to die because I wanted to do a cool hike around this glacier, he said. Silchenko remains confident her husband will return to hiking once he recovers, but with one crucial condition. He is definitely not hiking alone. Hes banned from solo hiking, she said with a laugh. Gov. Josh Shapiro announces $20 billion Amazon investment in data centers across Pennsylvania in Berwick, June 9, 2025. Commonwealth Media Services (The Center Square) Its 52 days into the states new year and lawmakers still dont know how much taxpayer money they will spend to keep government running. Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed $50 billion in February, including a nearly $300 million boost for public transit. The latter is a sticking point between the Democrat-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate. Like the governor, House leaders want to divert a portion of sales tax revenue to support transit services, like the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. After years of a pandemic-induced slump and high-profile crimes, SEPTA has resorted to fare increases and service cuts to make the best of a roughly $250 million budget deficit. The Senate majority isnt against more money for SEPTA and other transit agencies. They just want to use the $2.4 billion Pennsylvania Transportation Trust Fund to pay for it. Democrats say it's reserved for maintenance upgrades, not operational shortfalls. Shapiro said this week its time for both sides to make tough choices to reach and agreement. News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's Government-backed Air Ambulance Service has successfully responded to 778 civil emergency cases across the country since its launch in August 2024, a new report has revealed.The service, run through a partnership with Russia's HeliDrive Air Medical Services, has been hailed as a milestone in President Emmerson Mnangagwa's drive to modernise the healthcare system and expand access to emergency medical care, especially in remote areas.According to Dr Freddy Mhondiwa, Helidrive Zimbabwe's medical director, the service is transforming the national emergency response system:"Since the launch, a total of 778 civil emergency cases have been successfully attended to across the country. Between July 14 and August 20, 2025 alone, the service responded to 125 cases, with a balanced gender distribution of 62 males and 63 females. Of these, 66 were adults, while specialised care was extended to 18 paediatric patients, 19 neonates and 22 maternity emergencies."The free air transfers have benefited hospitals in Musami, Madziva, Makunde, Sadza, West Nicholson, Victoria Falls, Gwanda, and Mt Darwin, boosting response capacity in hard-to-reach communities.The service is staffed by a mix of Zimbabwean and Russian doctors, nurses and emergency responders, operating around the clock. Patients are treated with intensive care-level support mid-flight, bridging the gap between rural areas and central hospitals.Since its inception, the air ambulances have dealt with maternal emergencies, malaria cases, mining accidents, knife wounds, and road traffic injuries. Among the most dramatic rescues was a mid-air birth of a healthy baby boy delivered from a 13-year-old mother en route from Maphisa Hospital to United Bulawayo Hospitals.Gweru Provincial Hospital also recently hosted its first inter-hospital air transfer, involving a seven-month-old baby managed by paediatric specialists.Zimbabwe's air ambulance fleet 18 Russian-made Ansat and Mi-17 helicopters acquired last year is already credited with saving lives, particularly in rural and disaster-prone areas.Dr Mhondiwa said more than 70% of cases have been critical, underscoring the importance of the service. Rollout has so far covered Harare and Bulawayo, with Victoria Falls next in line.With its proven ability to respond swiftly and effectively, the Air Ambulance Service is emerging as one of the most important health interventions of the Second Republic, bridging geographical divides and bringing lifesaving care closer to communities once beyond reach. Dallas Theater Center (DTC) encourages qualified candidates to apply for the Enloe/Rose Artistic Director Position. The successful candidate will join one of the most important producing companies in Dallas-Fort Worth, one of the most economically robust regions in the U.S. Management Consultants for the Arts has been engaged to facilitate this search. A full position description may be found here: https://www.mcaonline.com/searches/artistic-director-dtc Compensation Amount The annual salary range for the Enloe/Rose Artistic Director position is $200,000-$210,000, depending on qualifications, and includes a full benefit package commensurate with other organizations of its size. DTC intends to make a hiring decision by the end of calendar year 2025, with the selected candidate transitioning into the position as soon as possible afterwards. Organizational Profile Dallas Theater Center (DTC) is one of the leading regional theaters in the country and the recipient of the 2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award. DTC is committed to producing theater with resident artists (their Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company and a Resident Playwright) that illuminate diverse experiences and spark collaboration and dialogue. More information can be found on their website: https://dallastheatercenter.org/ by Stefano Caprio Patriarch Kirill praises the expression of goodwill by the two leaders of "the most powerful countries on the planet." Meanwhile, Russian bloggers and propagandists praise the magnificent achievement of peace with America while in Donbass we continue to advance. And for Moscow, Zelensky can come to the Kremlin to acknowledge his defeat. The meeting in Alaska between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, beyond the actual results and content of the negotiations, marked a shift in perspective in global geopolitical relations, much more than any possible solutions to the war in Ukraine. The aim of both presidents was to rise above every other leader and country on the world stage, establishing themselves as emperors of the East and the West, builders of a new universal civilisation. This is not just what many politicians, experts, and journalists are saying; it is an explicit proclamation by Moscow Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev), who backs the Kremlin leader in reviving the medieval dream of the great "Moscow as the Third Rome," and the "new Yalta" of world division. Without waiting for the outcome of the Anchorage talks, Kirill led a moleben, a service of supplication on the morning of 15 August to accompany Putin on his flight to the "Orthodox land" on the border of the two worlds, which, he said, was heading toward "a fundamental change in the trajectory of relations between Russia and the United States." The patriarch praised "the show of goodwill by the two leaders of the world's greatest nuclear powers. In his address, he repeatedly emphasised the issue of nuclear weapons, not as a display of aggression, but as the "right condition" for those who truly want to establish universal peace, in the true spirit of Soviet-era rhetoric. He mentioned "the dangers in the relations between the Soviet Union and the United States, which have persisted between Russia and America today," and therefore the new friendship forged between Donald and Vladimir can influence the development of human civilisation as a whole more than anything else, avoiding "coming close to anything less than the tragic demise of the human race," the apocalyptic dimension ever-present in the Russian soul. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church made no mention whatsoever of Ukrainian issues, not even the defence of the members of the pro-Russian Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), which Putin had cited as a condition for peace, along with the defence of the Russian language in Ukraine and the division of territories, an issue that has dragged on for centuries and which, in reality, does not interest the Russians. According to Kirill, our time is one that can open up new possibilities of development for all of human civilisation, in accordance with the right decisions of the leaders of Russia and the United States, as evidenced by the very fact that they decided to meet. This was the true purpose of the meeting; otherwise "they would not have risked ruining their reputations, and above all, the balance of international politics. Instead, thanks to them, the world can now breathe a sigh of relief. The purpose of the meeting was to prevent any possibility of a real war between Russia and the United States," certainly not to intervene in the "special operation in Ukraine" that the Russians will continue in every possible way. The patriarch insists, we must ensure that all countries become allies in the best sense of the word, and full participants in practical and intellectual, political and cultural dialogue, to jointly decide the future destiny of the entire human family. This way, Russia will not limit itself to negotiations with America, but will open itself to relations with the entire Western world, emphasising that the negotiations between the two heads of state are not directed against anyone else, but are intended to benefit many other peoples and states throughout the world. The concluding invocation of the patriarchal prayer was addressed to Our Lord, that He may direct His benevolence to the leaders of the two most powerful states on the planet, to remove the threat of any conflict and to support friendship among all peoples. In addition to the revival of the great Soviet slogans about the "struggle for universal peace," which the young Bishop Kirill has been repeating since the 1970s at every international gathering, his words clearly demonstrate an apodictic interpretation of Orthodoxy, in which affirmation and denial are considered necessary: "true faith" cannot exist without the manifestation of an "other faith", Orthodoxy/Heterodoxy (Pravoslavie/Inoslavie, /); there can be no East without West, in a more spiritual than geographical sense, meaning Light and Darkness, certainly not Asia and Europe, with which Russia has been confused since the Baptism of Kyiv. The days following the Alaskan drama have indeed seen an uninterrupted continuation of Russian attacks in Ukraine, with drones and missiles coming from all sides as if nothing had happened. The logic of war requires a continuation of the aggression in the summer version, as in the previous three years, deploying reserves of men and weapons until the colder months arrive. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side is still defending its positions in Donbass, where the Russians are advancing at a rate of about a hundred metres a day, and is trying to hit military and energy targets in various parts of Russia with drones, including around Moscow and St Petersburg. Universal patriarchal ideals do not mesh well with the local reality of the disputed lands, even on a religious level: pro-Russian Orthodox Christians in Ukraine are waiting for Russia to prevail, while the civil authorities in Kyiv are threatening to ban them permanently, knowing full well they will never succeed. The war continues. This is the true message of the Trump-Putin alliance: it will be a new version of the Cold War, more technological and digital, in which, in addition to missiles and tanks, messengers and social media will count, Russia's Max versus the West's WhatsApp, competing to see who can best control people's minds. The West of America and Europe is pitted against the East of Russia and China. While the real economic power is in Beijing, the military knife is in Moscow; indeed, Russian soldiers are training the Chinese in invasion tactics, anticipating a possible new episode of the truly "hot" war on the island of Taiwan. For their part, Europeans are wondering how many weapons and soldiers they need to deploy on the Ukrainian border, perhaps invoking NATO's Article 5, pretending it is not NATO. The emperor of Washington now demands the Nobel Peace Prize, so the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia have decided to jointly sign the request, even though they have not yet signed the peace treaty as pledged in the other American charade. Trump constantly repeats that he has already ended at least six wars, when the only real agreement signed in his presence was between Congo and Rwanda, which, moreover, continue to calmly fight each other like Russia and Ukraine. Trump's "seventh seal" will eventually take place in the Kremlin, which the American dreams of visiting far more than Putin dreams of entering the White House, even considering his visits to the UN headquarters in New York. Meanwhile, many Russian bloggers and propagandists continue to repeat that the war goes on, all very enthusiastic after the Alaska summit. As Yegor Kholmogorov writes, Putin has achieved a fantastic diplomatic victory, without giving up on anything, while Akim Apachev notes that Putin is no longer a scoundrel for the West; Trump has restored his status as a world-class politician, one to shake hands with... this does not prevent us from continuing to wage war, even if it is a new starting point." Orthodox oligarch Konstantin Malofeev states that we must acknowledge that Putin is, as always, the best in the world at negotiations: there is peace with America, while in Donbass we continue to advance, and Eurasianist ideologue Alexander Dugin sums up the situation saying: we must congratulate everyone on this magnificent summit, winning on everything and losing on nothing, something only Tsar Alexander III knew how to do... There is still much to do, but we must not be afraid of peace negotiations like Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Putin knows how to get to the bottom of things. Now we wait for Putin's decisive meeting with Zelensky, provocatively proposed at the Kremlin, implying that the defeated subject must prostrate himself at the feet of the victorious tsar. Both Russian and international commentators doubt that Putin will agree to see the Ukrainian Nazi on neutral territory, even in Viktor Orban's friendly Hungary; at most, he will send a delegation slightly more authoritative than the working group at the meetings in Istanbul, continuing to stall negotiations in favour of theatrics, because the war must go on. RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SATURDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. The pontiff met in the Vatican with former residents of Diego Garcia, the island in the Indian Ocean, who were removed in the 1970s to make way for a large UK-US military base. Last May, the UK signed an agreement transferring sovereignty to Mauritius, while maintaining a military presence. The pope expressed hope that local authorities and the international community [will] allow their return, after 60 years, under the best possible conditions. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Leo XIV met this morning in the Vatican with a delegation of the Chagos Refugees Group, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean that belongs to Mauritius. The prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and has symbolic force on the international stage, the pontiff said. All peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, particularly the right to live in their own lands; no one can compel them into forced exile. These words are deeply significant in relation to the injustice suffered by the Chagos people, who lived on the eponymous islands, located approximately 1,600 kilometres south of the Indian coast and for decades a British overseas territory. Since 1970, the island of Diego Garcia, the largest of the archipelago, has hosted a joint UK-US military base. To establish this base, the Chagossians then numbering around a thousand were forcibly expelled between 1968 and 1973 and relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles. With an agreement signed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 22 May, the UK agreed to return sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius, while leasing Diego Garcia for 99 years, thus guaranteeing the permanence of the UK-US military base. However, the question of the original inhabitants returning to the Chagos remains open, which the UK must settle with the government of Mauritius. Pope Francis had also spoken out in favour of Chagossian rights in 2019, during his apostolic journey to the Mauritian capital of Port Louis. Picking up the torch, Leo XIV said, "I am pleased that dialogue and respect for the decisions of international law have finally been able to remedy a grave injustice. What is more, I pay tribute to the determination of the Chagos people, and especially that of the women, in peacefully asserting their rights. I now express the hope that Mauritian authorities and the international community will work to ensure that your return, after 60 years, takes place under the best possible conditions. The local Church, he added, will not fail to make its contribution, especially spiritual, as it has always done in times of trial. These years of exile have caused much suffering among you. Lastly, You have known poverty, contempt, and exclusion. May the Lord, with the prospect of a better future, heal your wounds and grant you the grace of forgiveness towards those who have harmed you. I invite you to look resolutely to the future. Today's news: UN agency officially declares famine in Gaza City; dozens of Palestinians are killed in Israeli raids. India's Supreme Court rules that stray dogs must be released after vaccination and sterilisation. Protests take place in Indonesia over Prabowo's cuts to regional funding. Warning shots are fired at the inter-Korean border. SRI LANKA Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested on charges of misuse of state funds. He faces three charges related to travel abroad during his presidency. Wickremesinghe appeared in a Colombo court yesterday, after giving a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) earlier that day. He was remanded in custody. He served as president from 2022 to 2024, taking office after the worst economic crisis in the country's history. GAZA ISRAEL The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has determined that Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially experiencing famine, which is likely to spread. The international hunger monitoring body has stated that 514,000 people, nearly a quarter of Palestinians in Gaza, are experiencing famine; the number could rise to 641,000 by the end of September. Meanwhile, following Israel's approval of the plan to occupy Gaza City, Netanyahu said that the army will continue even if Hamas accepts a ceasefire agreement. Since yesterday, dozens of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli raids on Gaza. INDIA India's Supreme Court has amended its previous order requiring authorities in Delhi and surrounding areas to move all stray dogs to shelters, following protests by animal welfare groups. It has instead mandated that strays must be released after being vaccinated and sterilised, and that dogs with rabies or aggressive behaviour must be immunised and held in shelters. The number of stray dogs in Delhi is estimated at one million. INDONESIA Thousands of Indonesians are protesting against a tax hike, with local leaders warning that public outrage will worsen if President Prabowo Subianto's new proposal to reduce regional funding is implemented. Last week, Prabowo proposed to parliament cutting regional funding by a quarter, as part of his efforts to recentralise public finances to fund ambitious flagship policy programmes, such as the nationwide free school lunch programme. NORTH KOREA SOUTH KOREA South Korea fired warning shots at North Korean troops who temporarily crossed the heavily fortified border between the two countries. North Korean state media called the attacks a "deliberate provocation," and Pyongyang accused Seoul of risking "uncontrollable" tensions. The incident was made public as new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left Seoul for a visit to Japan and the United States. In recent weeks, Pyongyang has rejected attempts at reconciliation by Lee's government. RUSSIA The threat of Ukrainian drone strikes is changing social and cultural life in many Russian regions, with festivals, concerts, and sporting competitions cancelled, access to public parks and shopping malls restricted, and many scheduled events moved to safer cities, not just on the border with Ukraine. ARMENIA Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Armenpress that he is ready to begin the process of amending the constitution to eliminate WHAT might contradict the peace process with Azerbaijan, in accordance with the Constitutional Court's recommendations. The government expects the new text to be approved in 2027. News / National by Staff reporter All eyes are on the Bulawayo Magistrates Court today as prominent businesswoman and activist Sipho Mazibuko awaits judgment in her high-profile case over an illegal demonstration held last month.Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba was expected to hand down the ruling yesterday but postponed to today, citing logistical delays. The verdict is anticipated to bring closure to a case that has drawn intense public interest.Mazibuko, along with seven alleged accomplices among them Mr. and Mrs. Rural Zimbabwe title holders and their aides was arrested on 24 July after staging an unsanctioned protest outside the courthouse. Police swiftly moved in to disperse the gathering and detained the group despite prior warnings not to proceed.The outspoken Mazibuko insists the demonstration was a call for justice on behalf of a 16-year-old girl from Mabheleni Village in Mbembesi, who was allegedly raped multiple times by her cross-border truck driver uncle.According to Mazibuko, the man exploited the girl under the pretense of providing "spiritual healing" to her ill mother. The abuse reportedly persisted for weeks until a whistle-blower tipped her off in April.In a dramatic twist, Mazibuko says she personally carried out a sting operation, posing as a wealthy businesswoman seeking transport to South Africa. She claims the suspect fell for the ploy, sending explicit messages that later became crucial evidence leading to his arrest.Mazibuko has also taken steps to safeguard the teenage survivor, ensuring she remained in school and was relocated to a supportive environment. Both the accused uncle and his mother are currently in custody awaiting trial.The court's ruling today will determine Mazibuko's fate in the protest case, even as she continues to champion the cause of the young survivor. 23 August 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more In a move symbolizing deepening strategic ties between two Caspian neighbors, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan paid an official visit to Turkmenistan on August 22, 2025. This high-level visit follows the July meeting in Baku with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty (Peoples Council) of Turkmenistan, highlighting a clear pattern of increasing engagement between the two historically, culturally, and geopolitically intertwined nations. A shared past, a strategic future The relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan is built on more than just contemporary political interests. It is rooted in centuries of shared Turkic heritage, linguistic closeness, and cultural overlap. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, both countries have carefully cultivated a bilateral relationship based on mutual respect and shared regional goals. This latest visit underscored how these cultural bonds are now translating into tangible cooperation across key strategic sectors such as energy, transport, and diplomacy. Both nations are leveraging their positions along the Caspian Sea and within the broader East-West transport axis to transform regional dynamics. From bilateral to trilateral: A regional vision takes shape The one-on-one meeting between Aliyev and Berdimuhamedov in the port city of Turkmenbashi was more than ceremonial. It set the tone for what would become a significant trilateral summit involving Uzbekistan. The inclusion of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in this high-level format signals a growing alignment among Central Asias key actors - a format that could evolve into a new cooperative model in the region. As Berdimuhamedov noted, We are united by the Caspian Sea, emphasizing that geography, shared infrastructure ambitions, and economic interdependence now complement historical ties. The leaders spoke openly about their intentions to deepen collaboration in transport, digitalization, logistics, culture, and trade. The East-West corridor, which stretches from China to Europe and passes directly through all three countries, was at the heart of these discussions. Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, in particular, are key logistical gateways on this corridor, and their coordination is crucial for its functionality. With massive investments in seaports, railways, and road infrastructure on both sides of the Caspian, these nations are positioning themselves not only as transit hubs but as critical actors in shaping Eurasias economic future. Political support and diplomatic alignment The political dimension of the visit also cannot be overlooked. Both sides reaffirmed their support for one another in international organizations and praised the consistency of their diplomatic stances. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijans role as a co-author of the UN resolution on Turkmenistans permanent neutrality - a strong signal of long-term trust and mutual endorsement on global platforms. President Berdimuhamedov, in turn, congratulated Azerbaijan on its progress in normalizing relations with Armenia and the strategic opening of a transport corridor through Armenian territory to connect Azerbaijans mainland with Nakhchivan. Such statements not only reflect goodwill but also reveal the strategic lens through which both sides view regional connectivity - as an engine of peace, not just commerce. Beyond high-level political and economic dialogue, the visit was rich in symbolism. The presentation of a prized Akhal-Teke horse named "Taus" to President Aliyev served as more than a gesture of friendship - it reaffirmed shared cultural values and centuries-old traditions. These elements of soft power diplomacy help reinforce mutual respect and deepen people-to-people connections, which are vital for sustainable long-term alliances. Joint cultural initiatives, including cooperation in horse breeding, carpet weaving, applied arts, and the hosting of Days of Culture, were highlighted as priority areas. Such efforts signal a shared understanding that diplomatic relations are more resilient when underpinned by cultural affinity. Institutionalizing cooperation: Signed agreements cement vision A pivotal moment during President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Turkmenistan was the ceremony of signing strategic documents held on August 22 in the city of Turkmenbashi. Attended by President Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the signing marked a concrete step forward in institutionalizing the growing trilateral cooperation between the three states. The event culminated in the adoption of the Joint Statement of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, a political declaration underscoring the shared commitment to deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest - particularly in connectivity, trade, regional security, and cultural dialogue. Among the signed agreements, several stand out for their forward-looking vision: - The Memorandum of Understanding on the Future Development of International Air Relations between Azerbaijans Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and Turkmenistans State Service Turkmenhavayollar reflects both nations' aim to expand direct connectivity and improve regional mobility through enhanced aviation infrastructure and policy harmonization. - A Protocol on the Establishment of Twinning Relations between the city of Fuzuli in Azerbaijan and the newly built city of Arkhadag in Turkmenistan was also signed. This cultural and municipal cooperation initiative signifies a shared vision of post-conflict reconstruction (in the case of Fuzuli) and modern urban development (as exemplified by Arkhadag), bridging national development narratives through people-to-people diplomacy. - Another key agreement was the Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Transport and Logistics Cooperation signed by transport authorities from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This tripartite accord aims to streamline coordination in rail infrastructure, optimize cross-border transit operations, and support the full activation of the East-West Trans-Caspian transport corridor (Middle Corridor)further reinforcing the region's role as a strategic hub in the evolving Eurasian trade landscape. These agreements collectively demonstrate that the trilateral cooperation framework is not merely symbolic. It is evolving into a functional mechanism that aligns infrastructure, connectivity, and policy objectivesproviding a solid institutional backbone to the political goodwill displayed at the highest level. The summit in Turkmenbashi may be remembered as a milestone in the evolution of a new regional architecture. The Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan trilateral format holds potential to expand beyond symbolic meetings into concrete economic and political alignment. This could serve as a counterbalance to larger regional powers while offering smaller states more agency in shaping regional affairs. The growing synergy between Baku and Ashgabat - once overshadowed by cautious neutrality and resource competition - is now visibly transforming into a purposeful alliance. Their shared ambition to become critical nodes in the Eurasian supply chain, combined with complementary economic models and strong leadership diplomacy, makes this partnership increasingly strategic. President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Turkmenistan was more than a diplomatic courtesy, it was a signal. It reaffirmed Azerbaijans strategic pivot toward stronger regional alliances, emphasized its central role in Eurasian connectivity, and showcased how historical bonds are being converted into 21st-century geopolitical capital. As energy security, transport corridors, and cultural diplomacy converge, the Azerbaijani-Turkmen relationship appears poised to move from bilateral cordiality to regional leadership. Whether this momentum will translate into institutionalized partnerships remains to be seen, but the trajectory is undeniably upward. 23 August 2025 17:26 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. In JanuaryJuly 2025, Azerbaijan produced 282,800 decaliters of whiskey and brandy (1 decaliter = 10 liters), Azernews reports,citing the State Statistics Committee. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 23 August 2025 17:58 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani musicians are taking part in Turkiyes renowned Kultur Yolu (Culture Road)festival, one of the countrys most celebrated cultural events. According to Azernews, a special concert titled From Beloved Azerbaijan, with Love was held in the city of Erzurum as part of the festival program. The event was organized with the support of the ministries of culture of both countries and the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Turkiye. The concert, hosted at Erzurums Ibrahim Erkal Cultural Palace, drew a large audience, including government officials, public figures, and music enthusiasts. Opening the evening, Samir Abbasov, Director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Turkiye, highlighted the historical friendship and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, stressing that cultural ties are flourishing alongside political and economic ones. He referred to National Leader Heydar Aliyevs famous motto, One nation, two states, underlining that the Kultur Yolu festival provides a global stage to present Azerbaijans rich cultural heritage, traditional music, and national dances. The program featured a performance by the celebrated Karabakh Mugham Ensemble, led by Peoples Artist Mansum Ibrahimov. Joining him were young khananda and mugham competition laureate Ayten Maharramova, Peoples Artist Elchin Hashimov on tar, Honored Artist Elnur Ahmadov on kamancha, and Elnur Aliyev on percussion. The ensemble captivated the audience with a repertoire of mugham pieces and folk songs, including Azerbaijan, Karabakh, Beribakh, Khudayar Tsnifi, Crpnrd Qara Dniz, and Yasa Mnim Xalqm. Adding further vibrancy to the evening, the ZangezurAzerbaijan Folk Dance Ensemble of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Turkey performed traditional dances such as Cngi, Zngzur Yalls, Uzundr, and Vagzal. The audience greeted the performances with prolonged applause, underscoring the deep cultural bond and mutual appreciation between the two brotherly nations. 23 August 2025 11:23 (UTC+04:00) Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, has sent a congratulatory letter to First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of her birthday, Azernews reports. "From Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation To Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mehriban Arifovna, Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of your birthday. In the Russian Federation, you are recognized as an experienced and wise leader, and talented organizer with an outstanding authority across the Republic of Azerbaijan and beyond. It is with great pleasure and deep sense of gratitude that I recall our meetings held in a sincere and friendly atmosphere. I am confident that in the future, we will have an opportunity to openly explore ways to develop the mutually beneficial Russia-Azerbaijan relations, including the inter-parliamentary cooperation, and to contribute to the implementation of projects meeting the interests of our countries. On this remarkable occasion, I would like to commend your inexhaustible energy and truly exceptional charm, as well as your successful performance in your responsible state position and your ability to combine the roles of a caring, loving wife and mother. Dear Mehriban Khanim! Allow me to wish you all the blessings of the world, robust health, success, and the support of your loved ones. May you always be surrounded by your loved ones, inspiring and protecting you, and may harmony, love, and happiness reign in your home. May each new day bring you joy, light, and a deep sense of satisfaction in all your endeavors for your people and country. Please accept the assurance of my highest consideration. Valentina Matviyenko Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation," the letter reads. 23 August 2025 11:55 (UTC+04:00) Participants of the 2nd International Youth Forum on Multiculturalism of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC) visited the Alley of Honors and the Alley of Martyrs on August 23. The participants first visited the Alley of Honors and paid tribute to the memory of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state, Heydar Aliyev, and laid flowers at his tomb. They also put flowers on the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva, as well as commemorated the memories of the well-known statesman Aziz Aliyev and professor Tamerlan Aliyev, and placed flowers on their graves. The event participants then proceeded to the Alley of Martyrs to commemorate Azerbaijani heroes who sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence and territorial integrity and placed flowers on their graves. The Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), together with ICESCO, is hosting the 2nd International Youth Forum on Multiculturalism on August 2227. Held under the theme Youth as ambassadors of peacebuilding in a multicultural environment, the Forum brings together about 70 participants from more than 50 countries. Events will take place in Baku, Khankendi, and Shusha, featuring panel discussions, interactive sessions, training programs, and cultural visits to Azerbaijans liberated historical lands. Participants will be also informed about the cultural heritage and the construction efforts underway in Azerbaijans historical lands liberated from occupation. 23 August 2025 16:23 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to discuss regional and international security issues, Azernews reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. The discussion also covered various aspects of bilateral and multilateral political, economic, and humanitarian cooperation. The ministers exchanged views on the recent session of the Azerbaijan-Russia Intergovernmental State Commission on Economic Cooperation, held in Astrakhan on August 22, and expressed high appreciation for its outcomes. The conversation further touched on other topics of mutual interest, reflecting the continued dialogue and collaboration between the two countries. 23 August 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Nvidia has directed several of its component suppliers, including Samsung Electronics and Amkor Technology, to pause production of its H20 artificial intelligence (AI) chips tailored exclusively for the Chinese market, Azernews reports, citing foreign media. This suspension comes shortly after the Chinese government urged domestic technology firms to cease purchasing these customized chips due to alleged security risks. The move reflects growing regulatory scrutiny and geopolitical tensions affecting the tech supply chain. Furthermore, Beijings directive to local companies to avoid Nvidias AI chips reportedly contributed to delays in the launch of DeepSeeks R2 model, as revealed by last weeks Financial Times report. News / National by Staff reporter His Royal Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Jabor Bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar, accompanied by a senior delegation, arrived in Victoria Falls yesterday to formalise strategic partnerships and initiate bilateral investment agreements valued at over US$19 billion. The visit, expected to span three days, marks a major milestone in Zimbabwe's economic and diplomatic engagement with Qatar.The delegation was welcomed by Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, highlighting the significance of the visit for regional development and investment. The initiative forms part of President Mnangagwa's broader engagement and re-engagement policy, aimed at attracting long-term strategic investment into key sectors of Zimbabwe's economy.Speaking after arrival, Ambassador Mahomed Jassat, Director of Public Relations and Chief Advisor to Sheikh Mansour, reaffirmed the delegation's commitment to Zimbabwe. "We promised President Mnangagwa that we would bring investment from Qatar. We envisage approximately US$19 billion flowing into Zimbabwe's economy. We are proud to have brought this investment back home and look forward to doing business with Zimbabwe," he said.Mr Nidal Ammach, Chairman of Mansour Holding, outlined the broad scope of the delegation's investment interests, which include agriculture, livestock, food security, tourism, affordable housing, cyber security, and infrastructure such as ports and airports. "Our vision is long-term. We aim to integrate all these industries to contribute to Zimbabwe's sustained growth, including investments in a five-star hotel and other strategic sectors," he said.Over the past ten months, Qatar has laid the groundwork for this partnership, emphasizing mutual trust, strategic alignment, and a commitment to Zimbabwe's prosperity. The visit positions Zimbabwe as a central hub in Qatar's regional investment strategy, alongside countries such as Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, Angola, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The three-day agenda includes formal signing of bilateral agreements, a private engagement between President Mnangagwa and Sheikh Mansour, a joint press briefing, and site visits to key national projects. This historic engagement signals a new chapter for Zimbabwe-Qatar relations and promises significant economic transformation for the nation. 23 August 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) The foreign ministers of South Korea and the United States held talks in Washington on Friday to coordinate ahead of next weeks summit between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump, according to the State Department, according to the Korea Times. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with both sides emphasizing plans to strengthen their alliance amid growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the two officials discussed enhancing deterrence against regional threats, deepening burden-sharing, revitalizing U.S. manufacturing, and ensuring fairness in bilateral trade. They also stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation with Japan. Both ministers highlighted the enduring nature of the U.S.South Korea partnership, which has served as a cornerstone of stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the broader region for more than 70 years. Seouls foreign ministry described the upcoming summit as historic, while Rubio expressed confidence that the meeting would yield constructive results. The two diplomats also exchanged views on North Korea and pledged closer coordination on security and technology issues. 23 August 2025 18:05 (UTC+04:00) Ahead of Ukraine's 34th anniversary of independence on 24 August, the EU delivers another strong signal of unwavering support by disbursing 4.05 billion to the country, Azernews reports, citing Azertag. According to the EUs official website, this includes 3.05 billion via the Ukraine Facility and 1 billion through the European Commission's exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA). Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission said: As Ukraine celebrates its 34th Independence Day, the EU sends a clear message: our solidarity with Ukraine is unwavering. Today's disbursement of over 4 billion demonstrates our staunch commitment. This new funding underlines our commitment not only to Ukraine's recovery, but to its future as a sovereign and democratic country. Because when Ukraine is strong, Europe is stronger too. The Commission has disbursed a fourth regular payment of over 3.05 billion under the Ukraine Facility. This funding will enhance Ukraine's macro-financial stability, strengthen its public administration, and drive critical long-term reforms. With this latest disbursement, the total EU support to Ukraine under the Facility has reached 22.7 billion since its start on March 1, 2024. This represents nearly 60% of the funds available under the Ukraine Plan. Following the payment request submitted by Ukraine, on 8 August the Council endorsed the Commission's assessment that Ukraine has satisfactorily fulfilled 13 reform indicators tied to this fourth regular quarterly payment. Key reforms accomplished for this payment concern public administration, management of public assets, human capital, green transition, regulation of the digital and agri-food sectors, and management of critical raw materials. This fourth regular payment under the Facility demonstrates Ukraine's commitment to implementing the ambitious reforms agreed in the Ukraine Plan. Ukraine is set to receive up to 50 billion in grants and loans for the period 2024-2027 under the Ukraine Facility. The disbursement comes in the context of Ukraine's continued progress on EU accession reforms, including the restoration of the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office by the Verkhovna Rada on 31 July. Safeguarding the autonomy of these two institutions is a cornerstone of Ukraine's anti-corruption architecture and of its European path. In addition, the European Commission has also disbursed the seventh tranche of its exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine, worth 1 billion. With this payment, the Commission's total lending to Ukraine under this MFA reaches 9 billion since the start of the year and comes on top of the assistance provided via other support instruments. In total, the MFA amounts to 18.1 billion and represents the EU's contribution to the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative, which collectively aims to provide approximately 45 billion in financial support to Ukraine to cover its urgent needs. The ERA loans from G7 partners, as well as the EU's MFA loan, are being repaid with proceeds from immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank, held by central securities depositories in the EU via the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism. Inside Culture Night Belfast 2025: It may be smaller, but it will be better it was just getting too big Amy Cochrane speaks to Adam Turkington ahead of the return of one of Belfasts most popular arts events which this year comes back to the city in a new format Watch: Culture Night set to return to Belfast Amy Cochrane Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 08:29 For artists, musicians and lovers of culture, the date has been marked in the calendar for the past two months. Conspiracy expert on why NI has held on to one particular nonsensical theory: In some ways, it makes sense, right? Queens University Belfast academic Dr Tristan Sturm explains why our troubled past could be behind the 5G mast attacks in the city: Its about a concern that the state is surveilling a particular community through these radiation towers Gillian Halliday Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 20:00 Theres an old joke that neatly encapsulates humanitys ability to cling on to fervent conviction in the face of irrefutable evidence: a JFK conspiracy theorist dies and goes to heaven. When hes greeted by God, hes told that he can ask one question which the Almighty will answer truthfully. Without hesitation, the conspiracy theorist asks: Who really shot Kennedy? God replies that it was Lee Harvey Oswald, and that he acted alone. Stumped, the conspiracy theorist pauses, then says: Wow! This goes higher up than I thought. The brother of a man stabbed to death in west Belfast has appeared in court charged with his murder. Martin Lowry was remanded in custody at Lisburn Magistrates Court this morning. The 32-year-old, of no fixed abode, is accused of the murder of his brother Shane on Thursday evening, August 21. He is further charged with possession of a knife. Police previously said Shane Lowry, who was aged in his 30s, had been stabbed in the Mulberry Park area. Police at the scene in Twinbrook on Thursday night. Photo: Kevin Scott Lowry spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during a brief appearance at Lisburn Magistrates Court this morning. None of the alleged background facts of the incident were opened in court during the hearing. A PSNI detective said she believed she could connect the accused to the charges. No application for bail was made. Asked by Judge Eamonn King to clarify the relationship between the defendant and victim, the court heard they were brothers. Lowry was remanded into custody to appear back in court via video link on September 15. On Friday Danny Baker, a local Sinn Fein MLA, said there was shock and sadness in the local community following the death. SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty said it was a shocking incident. A man has been arrested in connection with a security alert in north Belfast which has now ended. Controlled explosions were carried out by police over the course of its three-day duration. Around 100 residents were evacuated from their homes during the public safety operation which began shortly after 11.30am on Friday following the discovery of a suspicious device on Victoria Parade in the New Lodge. In the early hours of Saturday morning, police said: In relation to the ongoing incident in the New Lodge area of Belfast, residents should be aware there will be some controlled explosions taking place now for approximately one hour. One man, in his 30s, has since been taken into custody on suspicion of a number of offences. Chief Inspector Pete Cunningham said: Police attended an address in the Victoria Parade area shortly after 11.30am on Friday 22nd August and discovered a suspicious device at a property. Officers attended the scene and quickly moved to put a safety operation in place. Roads were closed and a number of nearby houses were evacuated while the operation was ongoing but they have since been able to return and roads have re-opened. Ammunition Technical Officers attended and conducted examinations and controlled explosions on multiple objects located throughout the property. The items, which included suspected explosive devices and firearms, have been removed from the property and will be sent for further forensic examination." PSNI at scene of security alert in north Belfast. (Kevin Scott) Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset Chief Inspector Cunningham added: This was an extremely distressing experience for residents, who had to deal with the huge disruption to their community alongside the discomfort and inconvenience of being put out of their homes. I would like to thank everyone affected for their patience while we worked to make the area safe. Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone with any information to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 513 22/08/25. Martin Smyth (second left), with Bill Craig, George Allport and Stanley Morgan at the launching of the Ulster Vanguard Association in 1972. Rev Martin Smyth in 2014 and in 1970. Unionist leaders past and present have led tributes after the death of former UUP MP Martin Smyth. Rev Smyth (94) served as MP for South Belfast from 1982 until 2005. He took the seat in a by-election after the sitting MP, Rev Robert Bradford, was murdered by the IRA in November 1981. Rev Smyth also served as Grand Master of the Orange Order for 26 years. Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt led tributes, saying: "I am terribly sorry to hear of the passing of Martin Smyth. From my days as a broadcast journalist, he was an ever-present heavyweight in local politics, whose views were always important. Rev Martin Smyth pictured in 1970 "He may not have been as prominent as others in the public sphere, but hugely influential behind the scenes. He was another of that fateful generation of what we so euphemistically call The Troubles whose imprint will last forever. He will be remembered for his quiet confidence but also his power Former UUP leader Lord Empey recalled Rev Smyth leading the way in Parliament in his pursuit of legislation to assist the disabled. "It was a consistent theme of his representation of the people of Northern Ireland, he said. While well known and respected for his defence of unionism, his compassion for those less fortunate shone through. Jim Nicholson, a former UUP MEP, said his late colleague was a titan of unionism. He will be remembered for his quiet confidence but also his power as an orator and champion of Ulster Unionism, he added. Former UUP MLA Danny Kennedy said: He was a deeply committed Christian and an unapologetic Unionist. He gave leadership in difficult and different times. DUP leader Gavin Robinson also offered his condolences to Rev Smyths family. Martin Smyth (second left), with Bill Craig, George Allport and Stanley Morgan at the launching of the Ulster Vanguard Association in 1972. The East Belfast MP said: A stalwart of unionism, he stepped forward in South Belfast at a most volatile time. "Firm and faithful, he represented his constituents and NI with a strong sincere strength and unswerving belief in the Union. TUV leader Jim Allister said Rev Smyth served Protestantism and unionism for many years through some of the worst of the terrorist campaign. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland described Rev Smyth as "a leader of unwavering principle and determination through often difficult times and a stalwart of the Orange cause". Former First Minister Arlene Foster reminisced on the happy memories she shared with Rev Smyth. Lord Peter Weir, a former Education Minister, said he was a staunch unionist and Orangeman, dedicated public servant and man of conviction. "He was prepared to be a political representative at a time when it literally risked his life, he added. Rev Martin Smyth in 2014 and in 1970. Blue-green algae arrives back on Lough Neagh Rev Smyths views were conservative and often hardline. He resigned his ministry and was elected to Parliament in the 1982 by-election following the murder of Rev Bradford. Rev Bradford (40) and a 29-year-old caretaker, Ken Campbell, were shot dead during a constituency clinic at Finaghy Community Centre. In a lengthy political career, Rev Smyth was an unsuccessful candidate for the UUP leadership in 1995 after the resignation of Lord Molyneaux, finishing fourth to the winner, David Trimble. In 2000, Rev Smyth unsuccessfully attempted to oust Mr Trimble as leader on an anti-agreement platform. In January 2005, he announced he would be stepping down from Westminster at the next election to spend more time with his wife. Alasdair McDonnell took the South Belfast seat for the SDLP in the 2005 election. Twinbrook murder: The youngest wee girl came in here in hysterics, she was shouting a guy was stabbed Man aged 32 has been charged with the murder of Shane Lowry Police and forensics at the scene of serious incident in Twinbrook Liam Tunney Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 20:00 Twinbrook was noticeably quiet on Friday afternoon only hushed conversations and the sound of police tape fluttering in the breeze breaking the silence in its warrened streets. A fire at a restaurant in north-east London was like a Halloween scene, a local businessman has said, after CCTV footage appeared to show a man running out of the building with his clothing on fire. Three people are in a life-threatening condition after the suspected arson attack at Indian Aroma in Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill, Ilford, at about 9pm on Friday. CCTV footage seen by the PA news agency appears to show a group of people with their faces covered walk into the restaurant before pouring liquid on to the floor. Seconds later, the inside of the restaurant is engulfed in flames. Police outside the restaurant in Gants Hill (Helen William/PA) Part of the ground floor was damaged by fire, and crews rescued five people from the restaurant. Nine others got out beforehand, London Fire Brigade said. Sayed Bokhari, 39, said he had spoken to the manager of the restaurant, adding: He was crying. He was very shocked. He was really crying. He was extremely scared. Mr Bokhari said: Its awful and its very scary. It looked like a scene from Halloween. It was a serious, dramatic thing and people were running around him, he said, referring to the injured man. Mr Bokhari, who has run a business in the area for 15 years, said: It is scary because we run retail stores which are welcoming customers in. The doors are open like the doors of your house. We cannot body check everyone to see if they are safe. There is only so much that high street security can do. It is scary. You are worried for people. You are worried about your business. Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the scene in Woodford Avenue (Helen William/PA) London is not such a fun place any more. Five people three women and two men were injured in the incident. They were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital, where they remain. Three of the five are in a life-threatening condition, the Metropolitan Police added. No arrests have been made. The cause of the blaze is being investigated by firefighters and the Met. One local resident described the aftermath of the suspected arson attack. Hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, stepped outside his nearby home with his 12-year-old son to see if he could help after hearing screaming. Police search the area on Woodford Avenue in Ilford (Helen William/PA) The police and ambulance were already at the scene, which Mr Thawe described as horrible and more than scary and the sort of thing that you dont want to look at twice. He said he thought one man who was on the street and a woman who was also outside may have been customers. Mr Thawe added that the mans whole body was burnt, including his shirt, but he was still wearing his trousers. Another Ilford resident, who did not want to give his name, said he went outside after hearing screaming and the sound of sirens in the street. He said he saw three injured people being doused by the emergency services. He said they were severely burned and he saw they were being given oxygen. He added: I can only imagine the pain they were going through. Part of the restaurants ground floor was damaged by fire and five people were rescued (Helen William/PA) I came down because there were so many police and ambulance sirens and when I open the doors there were lots of lights flashing and I could see the scene. I could not sleep properly last night over it. It was just absolutely horrible situation. Uniformed officers guarded the police cordon that was in place on Saturday as forensic officers in protective clothing examined the scene. The taped cordon stretched from outside the shop, which faces on to a busy main road and on to the pavement. A trail of what appeared to be bloody footprints along the pavement was spotted by a forensic officer. A number of items were also bagged up in clear plastic carriers. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Mets Central Specialist Crime North unit, said: We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together. Locals can expect to see a large police presence in the area. If you have any concerns, please speak to those officers on the ground. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Met on 101, quoting 7559/22AUG. If you wish to remain anonymous, speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. News / National by Staff reporter A high-profile Zanu-PF funeral in Gutu took an unexpected turn on Tuesday when retired Hellen McGhie Primary School head, Herbert Horuno Zengeya, openly denounced the ruling party, accusing it of deceiving Zimbabweans for 45 years.Zengeya, who was speaking at the burial of his nephew Nyazvidzi Ward 4 Councillor Philip Garirai Tagwirei told mourners that he quit Zanu-PF long ago, describing it as a party built on false promises. His remarks reportedly left senior party officials and supporters in stunned silence."Zanu-PF is deceitful and it has been lying to the people for 45 years. I am a Christian and a teacher by profession. As a teacher, I had a duty to nurture children to become good citizens, but one cannot be a good teacher and a member of Zanu-PF at the same time," Zengeya declared, to the applause of mourners.The veteran educator, who revealed he had been active in the party since the liberation struggle, said he regretted having sold people false dreams of prosperity and justice."We told people a lot of lies that when we gain independence, we would till our fields using tractors, education was going to be free, Government would provide decent houses for everyone and employment would be for every citizen. We also said there would be democracy and justice. These have all turned out to be lies. If at all, the situation is far worse now than then. I regret the lies and I apologise to the people of Zimbabwe and I will never be a member of Zanu-PF again," he said.Zengeya added that his decision to cut ties with Zanu-PF was also informed by his Christian faith, saying he wanted to meet his Creator "with clean hands."The funeral, attended by Gutu RDC CEO Alexander Mtembwa, District Development Coordinator Chiedza Tafirei, Gutu East MP Zvarevase Masvingise, and representatives of Winston Chitando and Lovemore Matuke, was described by witnesses as resembling more of a political rally than a solemn burial. Party officials reportedly focused their speeches on the upcoming by-election, with supporters clad in Zanu-PF regalia.Notably, none of the senior officials present responded to Zengeya's stinging criticism. People take part in a counter protest to a Stand Up To Racism rally outside the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Horley, Surrey (Gareth Fuller/PA) A new fast-track asylum appeals process will be introduced to speed up the process of removing people with no right to be in the UK, Yvette Cooper has promised, amid protests about the use of hotel accommodation for migrants. The Home Secretary said completely unacceptable delays in the appeals process left failed asylum seekers in the system for years. There are about 51,000 asylum appeals waiting to be heard, taking on average more than a year to reach a decision. As measures have been put in place to speed up initial decisions, court delays over appeals are now thought to be the biggest cause of pressure in the asylum accommodation system. The Government plans to set up a new independent panel focused on asylum appeals to help reduce the backlog, as first reported by the Sunday Times. The new independent body will use professionally-trained adjudicators, rather than relying on judges. Ministers are introducing a new 24-week deadline for the first-tier tribunal to determine asylum appeals by those receiving accommodation support and appeals by foreign offenders. But they believe the current tribunal system, which covers a wide range of different cases, is still failing to ensure failed asylum seekers can be returned as swiftly as possible, nor can it accommodate a fast-track system for safe countries. (PA Graphics) The Government will set out further details of plans for asylum system reforms in the autumn, drawing on lessons from other European countries which have faster appeals systems including some which run independent appeals bodies similar to the one being proposed. The Home Secretary said the overhaul would result in a system which is swift, fair and independent, with high standards in place. She said: We inherited an asylum system in complete chaos with a soaring backlog of asylum cases and a broken appeals system with thousands of people in the system for years on end. That is why we are taking practical steps to fix the foundations and restore control and order to the system. We are determined to substantially reduce the number of people in the asylum system as part of our plan to end asylum hotels. Already since the election we have reduced the backlog of people waiting for initial decisions by 24% and increased failed asylum returns by 30%. Police dealing with the protest and counter-protest in Horley (Gareth Fuller/PA) A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Avon and Somerset Police said no officer sustained serious physical injury or has required hospital treatment, but inquiries will be carried out after reports of assaults on them. In Liverpool there were 11 arrests for offences including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray, as a UK Independence Party protest was met by a counter-demonstration. In Horley, Surrey, about 200 anti-immigration protesters draped in St George and Union flags clashed with roughly 50 Stand Up to Racism protesters. The two groups almost came together in the early afternoon, with lines of police separating them. The Stand Up to Racism protesters were shepherded into a smaller area as they continued to chant no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here, which were met with no theyre f****** not from the other side of the street. Three people were arrested, two for breach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice, Surrey Police said. On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, from September 12. Regular protests had been held outside the hotel in recent weeks after an asylum seeker was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl, which he denies. An Abolish Asylum System protest outside the Radisson Hotel in Perth (Jane Barlow/PA) The Government announced plans on Friday to appeal against the High Courts refusal to allow it to intervene in the case, and to further appeal against the temporary injunction. Other councils also publicly announced their intention to seek legal advice as to whether they could achieve a similar injunction for hotels in their areas. Reform UKs Nigel Farage has set out plans for mass deportations if he becomes prime minister. Arresting asylum seekers on arrival, automatic detention and forced deportation to countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea are among the proposals which will be set out in detail on Tuesday. They also include deals with third countries, which could include reviving the Conservatives Rwanda link-up, and sending asylum seekers to British overseas territories such as Ascension Island as a fallback option. Mr Farage said the plans could see hundreds of thousands of people deported and five charter flights taking off from the UK every day. The first step of Reform UKs plans would be to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and to scrap the Human Rights Act, followed by legislation to bar those who come to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum. When an RAF Chinook crashed into the Mull of Kintyre in 1994, killing 29 people including many elite intelligence personnel, it left their families devastated and had shocking security implications for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. What nobody could have predicted is that 31 years later we would be none the wiser about what caused the tragedy because successive governments would stonewall those relatives and the rest of us from getting basic information. Daughter of UDA man murdered in loyalist feud slams delays in Police Ombudsman probe Were still fighting for justice 25 years after my dads shooting, says Tracey Coulter Tracey at a mural dedicated to her dad Ciaran Barnes Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 18:00 The daughter of a loyalist murdered by the UVF has said she is still being denied justice more than 20 years on. Belfast mum on how son saved her life after losing parents and sisters in tragedies: I want him to have a better childhood than I did Top dissident insists he did nothing wrong after crash sees teen biker airlifted to hospital Barry Big Mouth Millar takes to social media to rubbish claims made about him in wake of incident Barry Millar at the scene of the road smash while an injured teenager gets treatment John Toner Sat 23 Aug 2025 at 19:00 A prominent dissident republican with terror convictions has denied any wrongdoing connected to a car crash that led to a teenager being airlifted to hospital. Quality local journalism needs your support Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Subscribe today. Cancel anytime. Subscribe now for 99 Subscriber Sign In | Return Home News / National by Staff reporter Former Senator for Kwekwe, Silobela and Chirumhanzu, Clarissa Vongai Muchengeti (76), a trailblazing educationist and politician, has died.Muchengeti, who was also the mother of Manyame Rural District Council CEO Farirai Guta, passed away last Friday at St Anne's Hospital in Harare after being diagnosed with cancer in July. She was laid to rest on Wednesday at Kwekwe Central Cemetery.Confirming the sad news, her daughter Farirai Guta told The Mirror:"It is true. My mother, Clarrisa Vongai Muchengeti, is no more."Muchengeti was among the leading women in education and politics in post-independence Zimbabwe. She held senior roles in both sectors, leaving an indelible mark over her decades of service.In politics, she was elected Zanu PF Senator in 2005, representing Kwekwe, Silobela, Redcliff and Chirumhanzu. During her tenure, she was part of a delegation that represented Zimbabwe at the European Union. She served on the Zanu PF Central Committee for 15 years, and rose through the Women's League structures, where she was Midlands Vice Secretary for Administration (19982000) and Secretary for Education (19931998).At local government level, she was a Kwekwe City Councillor for 12 years, Deputy Mayor from 1993 to 1994, and in 1997 was conferred with the dignity of Alderman, one of the first women in Zimbabwe to receive such recognition.She also made her mark in the energy sector. From 2014 to 2018, she served on the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) board, where she chaired the Human Resources Committee. She was directly involved in major national infrastructure projects, including the Kariba South Expansion Project (US$533 million), the Hwange Extension Project (US$1.5 billion), and the Deka Pipeline Upgrade Project (US$48.5 million).As an educationist, Muchengeti dedicated 36 years to teaching, 12 of them as headmistress. She taught at several schools in Bikita before moving to Kwekwe, where she led Kushinga Primary School from 1993 to 2005.Her academic journey was as remarkable as her career. She held a Master's Degree in Educational Management, Administration, Planning and Policy Studies and a Bachelor of Education Degree from the Zimbabwe Open University. She also obtained a Certificate in Local Government from the City of Peterborough in the UK.With more than three decades of experience in policy, planning, and public administration, Muchengeti was widely respected for her leadership, mentorship, and pioneering role as a woman in positions of influence.She is remembered not only as a dedicated public servant, but also as a woman who broke barriers in politics, education, and governance. Did you know a secret service agent died while protecting Teddy Roosevelt during trolley and carriage collision on the way to Lenox? Calvin Coolidge was once left behind by his team at The Red Lion Inn in 1915. Woodrow Wilson once dined where a Dunkin Donuts now stands on East Street in Pittsfield. STOCKBRIDGE In the lead-up to Tuesdays special Select Board election, both candidates for the open seat vacated by Patrick White in June are offering neighborly final messages and citing their decades of serving in town government. Lifelong residents Jorja Marsden and Charlotte Sally Underwood-Miller each told The Eagle on Friday that if elected to Whites term that expires next May, they would run for a full three-year slot. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Town Offices, 50 Main St. As for turnout, Town Clerk Terri Iemolini said Friday that she has received 50 absentee and early mail-in ballots, but the total is tough to predict. The weather is supposed to be great, she said, so Im hoping for a big turnout for this special election. In a phone interview, Marsden said she senses momentum in her direction. Im looking forward to serving all the people of Stockbridge, thats my thing, of course depending on what happens on Tuesday," she said. She cited deep family roots in Stockbridge her great-grandfather and his brother built the Old Town Hall on West Main Street, now renovated for the Berkshire Waldorf School. Her grandfather and father were both fire chiefs. Her father was also on the Board of Health for 33 years and earned a Massachusetts Health Board lifetime achievement citation. Her son, Chris Marsden, is local coordinator for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Its all about the people and doing whats best for the town that I love, she said. Its been a great campaign for both of us, and we both grew up here. Marsden said no matter the outcome, her friendship with Underwood-Miller will survive. They both support potential expansion of the three-member board to five, subject to approval by voters if and when the idea is presented to them. Marsden voiced caution, since Select Board members are paid and are eligible for benefits while the town faces major infrastructure projects and a crucial vote this fall on a costly, proposed new Berkshire Hills Regional high school in Great Barrington. Underwood-Miller, also interviewed on Friday, pointed out that the three-member board is problematic, since they cant discuss any town business or bounce ideas off each other, since two are a quorum. And, when a third member is out of action for any reason such as illness, the board cant conduct special permit public hearings, since approval required a supermajority. Marsden and Underwood-Miller both support restoration of open public comment periods at Select Board meetings. Underwood-Miller said shes keeping an open mind on the expected new special permit application for a resort at the historic Elm Court estate on Old Stockbridge Road. As a member of the Conservation Commission, shes also focused on potential impact to Lily Pond, which feeds Stockbridge Bowl. That will be critical, she stated. If elected, Underwood-Miller has stated, I will work hard, be prepared and be beholden to no one except the citizens of Stockbridge. Along similar lines, Marsden declared that I sincerely believe that the people of Stockbridge are the town's greatest asset and should be treated with respect and fairness whether you are a full-time resident, a second-home owner or a visitor. We are a community with challenges, but we can work together to foster positive outcomes. Marsden cited significant issues we need to address locally and regionally such as affordability, shared services to enhance our Fire Department and EMS services, protecting the Stockbridge Bowl, appropriate conservation of our open space and natural resources, ensuring safe drinking water, and investing in the needs of our public schools to ensure a bright future for the community. My background and experience have prepared me to thoughtfully navigate the opportunities that lay ahead. The challenges facing our small town are daunting, Underwood-Miller said. How do we keep Stockbridge as Stockbridge and still allow for growth? This gem of a town draws visitors from all over the world who recognize how very special it is, yet we are in danger of losing the thing that makes it so special if we arent very careful. Too much growth without an affordable component for young families and working people will tip the scales, losing those unique qualities we love. Marsden has noted her 40 years serving the town, first as the elected town clerk in 1985, as well as assistant tax collector, assistant treasurer, secretary to the Planning Board and filling in for the accountant's office. After she became Select Board secretary in 1996, town voters changed the position to town administrator in 2006; she retired from that post in 2016, but is currently on the Historic Preservation Commission, Historic Committee and the Finance Committee. Underwood-Miller also has described her long record in town government about 30 years on the Conservation Commission my passion as member, chair and now member/secretary, as well as a founding member of the Stockbridge Land Trust, working on what is still our biggest challenge: balancing growth with land preservation, she stated. She also served on the Community Preservation Committee, the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission and the Kampoosa Bog Stewardship Committee. I have a thing for Wyoming, where I visited last week. It was where I first discovered that walking long distances over reasonably strenuous terrain need not be a torturous experience. Quite the opposite. It provided an opportunity to commune with nature in a way thats impossible if one remains planted in front of a television set, where I spent much of my childhood. There are a couple of caveats regarding that inaugural trek. It occurred in Jackson Hole, and I must have taken a gondola to the summit because I dont recall it requiring spectacular exertion. In other words, it was mostly downhill. Also, it occurred in the midst of a teen tour: about 40 15- and 16-year-olds traveling from New York to Los Angeles and back again during the summer of Woodstock. We hit every tourist hot spot and national park along the way. What made the hike a revelation is that most of my attention to that point had been directed to the social life within the confines of our air-conditioned bus who was dating whom, who was sneaking into whose room after curfew, and whether a crew-cut, sunken-chested adolescent geek had any chance of finding love. The unequivocal verdict was no. Approximately 50 years later, my wife and I were standing on a beach in Maine when another teen tour pulled up and disgorged dozens of adolescents. One teenager turned to another and asked, Is this the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean? My spouse was shocked at the apparent ignorance. I wasnt, at least not completely. As an alumnus of such an experience at such an emotionally precarious age, I understood that ones attention during that journey was focused on peers and being popular. The stunning scenery passing outside the bus window the Badlands, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon served mostly as window dressing. The day before yesterday, we climbed a mountain that is only 1,000 feet lower than Mt. Blanc, I boasted of my achievement in a July 1969 letter to my parents, who were vacationing in Switzerland (hence the local topographical reference.) It probably also needs to be added that I was a New York City kid. The tallest structure in my frame of reference, at 1,454 feet, was the Empire State Building. Grand Teton Mountain, rising dramatically from the Jackson Hole valley floor, stands at 13,775 feet. What that teen tour accomplished besides me putting my foot down and no longer allowing my pathological mother to control the length of my hair when the rest of my generation was growing theirs was to establish a lifelong love for the American West. I dont fully understand the urge to return to the Moon (my roommate and I watched Neil Armstrong step onto its surface on the black and white TV in our Motel 6 room in Fresno) or Mars when we have even more spectacularly extraterrestrial landscapes right here on Earth in places like Utah and Arizona. The vast spaces reorient your perspective and relationship to yourself. They instill an involuntary sense of humility. That hike through the Grand Tetons temporarily liberated me from the hot house social life of the tour bus. Ive been seizing such experiences ever since. I find that the further away I get from civilization the more content I am with certain qualifications. A walk through forest or desert or along a deserted beach is all the more enticing knowing that an excellent lunch or dinner awaits at its conclusion. I can understand the allure of camping. But Im also wedded to the notion of knowing in advance where Im going to spend the night and that it includes a hot shower or better yet a bath and a firm mattress. Most of those desires were met when we visited my brother and sister-in-law last week at their ranch in Wyomings high desert. Located near Laramie, its on the opposite end of the state from Jackson Hole and so underpopulated that you can see 50 miles with barely any sign of human habitation. Except for the occasional rumble of ATV tires the preferred mode of transportation on the distant dirt road or the buzz of hummingbirds feeding on hollyhocks, the silence was shocking. The wind feels as if it has more character and personality than it does back east. Theres nothing and nobody to interrupt what its saying. From Wyoming, we traveled to visit friends in Santa Fe, N.M. We broke up the eight-hour drive by spending a couple of days along the way in Colorado. Again, what most impressed me was the harshness of the landscape en route: vast plains of sage and desert cactus with little to no shade and the Rockies looming in the far distance. Few people live there for a reason. Occasional gas stations serve as oases. Santa Fe incorporates the best of both worlds. Its highly civilized with a vibrant arts scene, good shopping and excellent restaurants without forsaking its relationship to nature. In Manhattan, its easy to forget that youre actually living on an island. Between its canyons of skyscrapers and rush of humanity, it feels entirely man-made. Its the epitome of hubris. Denizens of the American West, on the other hand, are forced to acknowledge that theyre merely renting the landscape and that it can be reclaimed through fire, floods or wind at any time. If nothing else, those endless vistas serve to remind us of our relative insignificance. We spent the night in New York City when we returned, then took the train to Hudson and a taxi to our house the next morning. Looking out the cab window, I marveled at how lush and green the landscape looked. Then I realized that lushness was mostly in comparison to the parched environment where wed spent the previous 10 days. I dont think Id want to live in the western wilderness full-time, but its good to go back as often as possible, especially to remind yourself where you fit in the larger scheme of things. Stewart Edelstein, a Stockbridge resident, is author of several books, including Dubious Doublets: A Delightful Compendium of Unlikely Word Pairs of Common Origin, from Aardvark/Porcelain to Zodiac/Whiskey and An Alphabetical Romp Through the Flora of Berkshire Botanical Garden from Agave to Zinnia. Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his brother in west Belfast. Martin Lowry, 32, of no fixed abode, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court on Saturday morning. Advertisement The 32-year-old also faces a charge of being in possession of a knife. He has been charged with the murder of Shane Lowry on August 21, who died on Thursday evening following a stabbing incident. Police previously said Mr Lowry, who was aged in his 30s, was stabbed in the Mulberry Park area of Dunmurry. A PSNI constable told the Lisburn court that she could connect the accused to the charges. Advertisement Lowry spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. There was no application for bail. It was confirmed to Judge Eamonn King that the victim is the accuseds brother. Lowry was remanded into custody and will appear before Lisburn Magistrates Court on September 15. Advertisement A large police cordon remained in place in Mulberry Park and a number of surrounding streets on Friday. Sinn Fein MLA Danny Baker said there was shock and sadness in the local community after the death. He said the incident happened shortly after a fire at a block of flats in the estate. More than 1,000 people marched through the streets of Dublin to call for justice for a young child who died after dealing with long delays for scoliosis surgery. Nine-year-old Harvey Morrison, who had scoliosis and spina bifida, died on July 29th. Advertisement His parents, Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt, said their son waited for years for spinal surgery, during which time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130 degrees. By the time Harvey received spinal surgery last December, the curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected. The march took place in Dublin city centre (Gareth Chaney/PA) The curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing. His parents, opposition politicians and campaigners have called for the Tanaiste and former minister for health, Simon Harris, to step down, after he pledged in 2017 that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment. Advertisement Speaking at the Justice for Harvey rally in Dublin, Ms Sherratt said that her son was forced to spend the majority of his life waiting for treatment. Harveys painfully short life was very much a rollercoaster. There were a lot of low times but the highs were what kept us going, she told the large crowd at Custom House. We often called Harvey our easy child, as despite how complex he was, he was also just so laid back and took everything on the chin. Harvey spent the majority of life waiting. He was made to wait for everything but he asked for nothing. Advertisement All he wanted was his iPad, his Hunky Dorys, the odd lollipop and timely access to healthcare. To us, that seems like so little to ask. We could provide him with most things. We could ensure that almost all his needs were met, but we unfortunately didnt control all aspects of his healthcare. Joan Daly and Aaron Daly from Dun Laoghaire with their daughter Sophia during the march (Gareth Chaney/PA) Despite doing everything we could, despite begging for help, we didnt have the final say. CHI (Childrens Health Ireland) has not only failed to met their basic needs, but they appear to he protecting those that indirectly or directly caused harm. Advertisement Harvey was nine. He waited 33 months for scoliosis surgery and, in that time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130. He had to have his whole life put on hold while he waited. We cancelled family holidays, cancelled our wedding, postponed his sisters heart surgery as he sat and waited for a date for surgery. We had to watch him deteriorate, cry in pain, struggle to breathe and lose the sparkle in his eye over those 33 months. Most importantly it robbed him of his childhood, it robbed him of his comfort, robbed him of quality of life and robbed us of the opportunity to make precious family memories with him. Advertisement That is something we will never get over. This is why we will continue to advocate. What we have been through, what Harvey has lived through, is soul-destroying. We will keep pushing in hope that no family will have to face what we did. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald spoke to demonstrators (Gareth Chaney/PA) This is something we vow to continue in his death. Among those attending Saturdays march were People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin and Senator Tom Clonan. Mr Murphy and Mr Toibin were among those to call for Mr Harris to resign. Mr Toibin has vowed to table a motion of no confidence in Mr Harris at the earliest opportunity. Ms McDonald said Mr Harris needs to be accountable for his absolute failure to meet the commitment he made in 2017. Asked if she will support a motion of no confidence in the Tanaiste, Ms McDonald said it should be done on a cross-party basis among opposition parties. Mr Morrison thanked the demonstrators. We would like to say a massive thank you for everyones support over the last few weeks. The level of support has been absolutely overwhelming, he said. People during a Justice for Harvey March in Dublin city centre (Gareth Chaney/PA) We are here to call for justice for Harvey and all the other kids continuing to be failed by Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) and the state. Harvey was our first child. He is the one that made us parents, he made us a family and he made us into the people we are today. He showed us how to be brave, how to be patient, courageous and kind. Today we hope we make him proud. His parents are leading a campaign and have called for a public inquiry into governance at CHI. Mr Toibin said: I believe that the heartbreaking passing of Harvey can be a turning point in Irish society, one that makes real the objective of the proclamation of the Republic to make sure every child in this country is cherished. Mr Murphy said that Harvey has become a symbol for all the children badly failed by the state. For the hundreds of others waiting for necessary surgeries for scoliosis and being failed by the CHI. Ireland 'We watched him deteriorate, cry in pain, struggle... Read More For all the other children, and other aspects of the CHI who are failed but the hundreds of kids who will not have appropriate school places come September. Harvey is a symbol for all of that. Its a failure of CHI, the Government and the State and a failure of Simon Harris. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declaring that famine is occurring in Gaza City dominates the front pages of Irish newspapers on Saturday. The Irish Times reports on the IPC also warning that these famine conditions are expected to spread next month to Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza Strip and to Khan Younis in the south. Advertisement Gazan mothers are now to hungry to breastfeed due to the "entirely man-made" famine in Gaza, the Irish Examiner reports. The Echo leads with Cork being allocated 25 new gardai at the latest graduation from the Garda Training College in Templemore, with 20 going to the city and five to the county. Thousands of homeowners are facing a triple hit in local property tac bills next year, according to the Irish Independent. Analysis carried out by the paper reveals rising house prices, changes to LPT bands and more councils voting to increase the amount they charge could see some homeowners homes paying far more than in previous years. Advertisement The Irish Daily Star reports on Taoiseach Micheal Martin and President Michael D Higgins joining worldwide outrage after famine was declared in Gaza. The Irish Daily Mirror reports on the UN saying that Gaza is suffering from famine due to the "systematic destruction" of aid by Israel. Ghislaine Maxwell has sensationally claimed she did not introduce Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein, the Irish Daily Mail reports. The Herald leads with a teenager who is the chief suspect for the murder of a 53-year-old man in Dublin remaining "on the run" almost two months after the stabbing. Police and protesters have scuffled as demonstrations against hotels housing asylum seekers took place across the UK. Demonstrations under the Abolish Asylum System slogan were being held in major towns and cities around England, including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, Horley in Surrey and Canary Wharf in central London. Advertisement Aberdeen and Perth in Scotland and Mold in Flintshire, Wales, were also holding protests. Mounted police officers are deployed at Castle Park in Bristol (Ben Birchall/PA) A separate batch of protests were organised by Stand Up to Racism in Bristol, Cannock, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wakefield, Horley and Long Eaton in Derbyshire. In Bristol, mounted police were brought in to separate rival groups in the Castle Park, with officers scuffling with protesters. A 37-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Advertisement Avon and Somerset Police said no officer sustained serious physical injury or has required hospital treatment, but inquiries will be carried out after reports of assaults on officers. Chief Inspector Keith Smith said: Our priority today has been to enable lawful peaceful protest for both groups. Our officers have dealt admirably with a really challenging situation and Id like to take the opportunity to thank them for their professionalism. While there were moments of disturbance, were pleased to say the two protests have passed without significant incident. Advertisement In Liverpool there were 11 arrests for offences including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray, as a UK Independence Party protest was met by a counter-demonstration. Rival protesters were separated by a police line in Horley (Gareth Fuller/PA) In Horley, around 200 anti-immigration protesters draped in St George and Union flags clashed with roughly 50 Stand Up to Racism protesters in Bonehurst Road. The anti-racism protesters chanted say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here, and held signs calling for solidarity and to stop deportations. They were met with a torrent of abuse from the anti-migration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone youre all scum and you should be ashamed and this wasnt about racism. Advertisement The two groups almost came together in the early afternoon, with lines of police separating them. The Stand Up to Racism protesters were shepherded into a smaller area as they continued to chant no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here, which were met with no theyre f****** not from the other side of the street. Three people were arrested two for breach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice, Surrey Police said. Saturdays events come amid continued tension around the use of the hotels for asylum seekers. Advertisement Police dealing with the protest and counter-protest in Horley (Gareth Fuller/PA) On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, from September 12th. Regular protests had been held outside the hotel in recent weeks after an asylum seeker was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl, which he denies. The UK government announced plans on Friday to appeal against the High Courts refusal to allow it to intervene in the case, and to further appeal against the temporary injunction. Other local councils also publicly announced their intention to seek legal advice as to whether they could achieve a similar injunction for hotels in their areas. Reform UKs Nigel Farage has set out plans for mass deportations if he becomes prime minister. Arresting asylum seekers on arrival, automatic detention and forced deportation to countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea are among the proposals reported to be announced on Tuesday. They also include deals with third countries, which could include reviving the Conservatives Rwanda link-up, and sending asylum seekers to British overseas territories such as Ascension Island as a fallback option. An Abolish Asylum System protest outside the Radisson Hotel in Perth (Jane Barlow/PA) Mr Farage said the plans could see hundreds of thousands of people deported and five charter flights taking off from the UK every day. The first step of Reform UKs plans would be to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and to scrap the Human Rights Act, followed by legislation to bar those who come to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum. The aim of this legislation is mass deportations, Clacton MP Mr Farage told The Times. We have a massive crisis in Britain. It is not only posing a national security threat but its leading to public anger that frankly is not very far away from disorder. There is only one way to stop people coming into Britain and that is to detain them and deport them. Palestinians sheltering in tents or seeking food were among at least 33 people killed by Israeli strikes and shootings in Gaza, medics said, as the world confronts an exceptional announcement that famine is now gripping its largest city. The famine determination by the worlds leading authority on food crises galvanised governments and aid groups to intensify their pleas for Israel to halt its 22-month offensive on Gaza, prompted by Hamas attacks on October 7 2023. Advertisement Aid groups have warned for months that the war and Israels restrictions of food into Gaza are causing starvation among civilians. "Its time for the Government of Israel to stop denying the famine it has created in #Gaza. All of those who have influence must use it with determination and a sense of moral duty. Every hour counts." UNRWA Commissioner-General @UNLazzarini pic.twitter.com/g6tng6LxCr UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 23, 2025 Israel denounced the famine declaration as lies and the military is pressing ahead with preparations to seize Gaza City. Efforts toward a ceasefire that could forestall the offensive are on hold as mediators await Israels next steps. Israeli strikes killed at least 17 people in the southern Gaza Strip early on Saturday, according to morgue records and health officials at Nasser Hospital. Advertisement The officials said the strikes targeted tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, which became home to hundreds of thousands who had fled from elsewhere in Gaza. More than half of the dead were women and children. In northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed at least five aid-seekers on Saturday near the Zikim crossing with Israel, where the UN and other agencies convoys enter the enclave, health officials at the Sheikh Radwan field hospital said. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said cameraman Khaled al-Madhoun was killed while covering events at the Zikim crossing, and said that he was targeted by Israeli troops. The local Palestine TV confirmed his death. Advertisement Eleven people were killed in other attacks on Gaza elsewhere on Saturday, according to hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Israels military said it was not aware of a strike in Khan Younis at that location and was looking into the other incidents. #GazaStrip#Famine is confirmed in #Gaza Governorate, projected to expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis Governorates by the end of September. After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing #starvation, #destitution and pic.twitter.com/y11HIxBNMt The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (@theIPCinfo) August 22, 2025 AP journalists have seen chaos on roads leading to aid deliveries, and there have been almost daily reports of Israeli troops firing towards aid-seekers. Israels military says it fires warning shots if people approach troops or pose a threat. Advertisement On Friday, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said Gaza City is gripped by famine that is likely to spread if fighting and restrictions on humanitarian aid continue. It was a rare pronouncement by the group, its first in the Middle East, and came after Israel imposed a two-and-a-half-month blockade on Gaza earlier this year, then eased access with a focus on a new US-backed private aid supplier, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). In response to global outrage over images of emaciated children, Israel in recent weeks has allowed airdrops and a new influx of aid entering by land, but UN and other aid agencies say the food reaching Gaza is still not nearly enough. Journalists have seen chaos and security problems on roads leading to aid deliveries, and there have been reports of Israeli troops firing towards people seeking aid. Advertisement Israels military says warning shots are fired if individuals approach the troops or pose a threat to soldiers. The IPC said nearly half a million people in Gaza, about a quarter of the population, face catastrophic hunger that leaves many at risk of dying. It said hunger has been magnified by widespread displacement and the collapse of food production. Famine has gripped Gaza after Israel blockaded aid earlier this year (AP) Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office denounced the IPC report as an outright lie, and accuses Hamas of starving the hostages. Israel says it has allowed enough aid to enter during the war. With ground troops already active in strategic areas, the widescale operation in Gaza City could start within days. Aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF) said on Saturday its clinics around Gaza City are seeing high numbers of patients as people flee recent bombardments. The group said in a statement that strikes are forcing people, including MSF staff, to flee their homes once again, and we are seeing displacement across Gaza City. The Israeli military has said troops are operating on the outskirts of Gaza City and in the citys Zeitoun area. Jeffrey Epsteins imprisoned former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell repeatedly denied to the US Justice Department witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions with Donald Trump, according to records released on Friday meant to distance the Republican president from the disgraced financier. The Trump administration issued hundreds of pages of transcripts from interviews that deputy attorney general Todd Blanche conducted with Maxwell last month as the administration was scrambling to present itself as transparent amid a fierce backlash over an earlier refusal to disclose a trove of records from the sex trafficking case. Advertisement The records show Maxwell repeatedly showering Mr Trump with praise and denying under questioning from Mr Blanche that she had observed Mr Trump engaged in any form of sexual behaviour. The administration was presumably eager to make such denials public at a time when the president has faced questions about a long-ago friendship with Epstein and as his administration has endured continued scrutiny over its handling of evidence from the case. The transcript disclosure represents the latest Trump administration effort to repair self-inflicted political wounds after failing to deliver on expectations that its own officials had created through conspiracy theories and bold pronouncements that never came to pass. By making public two days worth of interviews, officials appear to be hoping to at least temporarily keep at bay sustained anger from Mr Trumps base even as they send Congress evidence that they had previously kept from view. Advertisement I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting, Maxwell said, according to the transcript. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects. Maxwell recalled knowing about Mr Trump and possibly meeting him for the first time in 1990, when her newspaper magnate father, Robert Maxwell, was the owner of the New York Daily News. She said she had often been to Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, sometimes alone, but had not seen Mr Trump since the mid-2000s. Advertisement Asked if she ever heard Epstein or anyone else say Mr Trump had done anything inappropriate with masseuses or anyone else in their orbit, Maxwell replied: Absolutely never, in any context. Audrey Strauss, acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during a news conference in New York on July 2 2020 (John Minchillo/AP) The British one-time socialite, who was convicted in 2021 of helping lure teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, was interviewed over the course of two days last month by Mr Blanche at a Florida courthouse. She was given limited immunity, allowing her to speak freely without fear of prosecution for anything she said except for in the event of a false statement. After her interview, Maxwell was moved from the low-security federal prison in Florida where she had been serving a 20-year sentence to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. Advertisement Neither her lawyers nor the federal Bureau of Prisons have explained the reason for the move, but one of her lawyers, David Oscar Markus, said in a social media post on Friday that Maxwell was innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted. Meanwhile, the Justice Department on Friday began sending to the House Oversight Committee records from the investigation that the panel says it intends to make public after removing victims information. The case had long captured public attention in part because of the wealthy financiers social connections over the years to prominent figures, including the Duke of York, former US president Bill Clinton and Mr Trump, who has said he had a falling-out with Epstein years ago and well before Epstein came under investigation. Maxwell told Mr Blanche that Mr Clinton was initially her friend, not Epsteins, and that she never saw him receive a massage nor did she believe he ever did. Advertisement The only times they were together, she said, were the two dozen or so times they travelled on Epsteins plane. David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, in July after deputy attorney general Todd Blanche met with Maxwell (Colin Hackley/AP) She also spoke glowingly of Andrew and dismissed as rubbish the late Virginia Giuffres claim that she was paid to have a relationship with him and that he had sex with her at Maxwells London home. That wouldve been the only time that I think that President Clinton could have even received a massage, Maxwell said. And he didnt, because I was there. Maxwell sought to distance herself from Epsteins conduct, repeatedly denying allegations made during her trial about her role. Though she acknowledged that at one point Epstein began preferring younger women, she insisted she never understood that to encompass children. I did see from when I met him, he was involved or involved or friends with or whatever, however you want to characterize it, with women who were in their 20s, she told Mr Blanche. And then the slide to, you know, or younger looking women. But I never considered that this would encompass criminal behavior. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges, accused of sexually abusing dozens of teenage girls, and was found dead a month later in a New York prison cell in what investigators described as a suicide. The saga has consumed the Trump administration over the last month following an abrupt two-page announcement from the FBI and Justice Department that Epstein had killed himself despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, that a client list that attorney general Pam Bondi had intimated was on her desk did not actually exist and that no additional documents from the high-profile investigation were suitable to be released. Ghislaine Maxwell recalled knowing about Donald Trump and possibly meeting him for the first time in 1990 (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) The announcement produced outrage from conspiracy theorists, online sleuths and Trump supporters who had been hoping to see proof of a government cover-up, an expectation driven in part by comments from officials including FBI director Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, who on podcasts before taking their current positions had repeatedly promoted the idea that damaging details about prominent people were being withheld. Mr Patel, for instance, said in at least one podcast interview before becoming director that Epsteins black book was under the direct control of the director of the FBI. The administration had an early stumble in February when far-right influencers were invited to the White House in February and provided by Ms Bondi with binders marked The Epstein Files: Phase 1 and Declassified that contained documents that had largely already been in the public domain. After the first release fell flat, Ms Bondi said officials were poring over a truckload of previously withheld evidence she said had been handed over by the FBI and raised expectations of forthcoming releases. But after a weeks-long review of evidence in the governments possession, the Justice Department said last month that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. The department noted that much of the material was placed under seal by a court to protect victims and only a fraction of it would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial. Faced with fury from the base, Mr Trump sought to quickly turn the page, shutting down questioning of Ms Bondi about Epstein at a White House cabinet meeting and deriding as weaklings supporters who he said were falling for the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. The kerfuffle also created bitter divisions within the administration, as Ms Bondi and Mr Bongino angrily clashed at a White House meeting last month. Mr Bongino was uncharacteristically silent on social media for several days after that. Simplified Chinese edition of Flying Tiger pilot's memoir released Xinhua) 10:35, August 23, 2025 GUANGZHOU, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The simplified Chinese edition of "A Memoir by Lt. Donald W. Kerr," which recounts the story of a U.S. pilot rescued during World War II (WWII), was released Friday in south China's Guangdong Province. The book details the story of Lieutenant Donald W. Kerr, a Flying Tiger veteran pilot whose aircraft was hit by Japanese forces over Hong Kong in 1944 during a mission to bomb Kai Tak airport. Kerr was rescued by local villagers and guerrilla fighters from the Dongjiang (East River) Column, a guerrilla force led by the Communist Party of China. David Kerr, the second son of the late lieutenant, attended the release ceremony at a memorial museum in Dongguan. He said that his father flew in combat side-by-side with Chinese soldiers against Japanese forces from 1943 to 1944. The memoir offers a valuable account of the rescue and the guerrilla fighters' operations from the perspective of an American soldier, providing important historical material for the study of WWII. The Dongjiang (East River) Column, operating near Hong Kong and Macao during the war, was renowned for its collaboration with international allies. The rescue of Kerr remains an example of cooperation. The bond forged during the war has endured across generations. David Kerr and his family first visited the Dongguan museum in 2009, donating his father's flight jacket and photographs. In 2015, they returned for the release of the memoir's English and traditional Chinese editions. This latest visit marks another milestone in preserving this chapter of history. "Our father wanted us to know the story. We want our friends in China to know the story, with our thanks," David Kerr said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Good Word Pastor Jacob Afolabi - Spoken Word My Special Prayer Jah Cutta - Jah Cutta Sings Gold - Jah Cutta Sings Gold That's How Strong My Love Is Jah Cutta - Jah Cutta Sings Gold - Jah Cutta Sings Gold How Sweet it is( to be love By You) Jah Cutta - Jah Cutta Sings Gold - Jah Cutta Sings Gold Natural Juice Jah Cutta - Jah Cutta Sings Gold - Jah Cutta Sings Gold Pitta Patta Jah Cutta - Jah Cutta Sings Gold - Jah Cutta Sings Gold Square One Glen Washington - Just Giving Thanks Love Knows No Shame Glen Washington - Just Giving Thanks Dreadlocks Conqueror Glen Washington - Just Giving Thanks Seeking Jah Love Glen Washington - Just Giving Thanks A Change is gonna Come Glen Washington - Just Giving Thanks Are You Ready Glen Washington - Just Giving Thanks Why am I a Rastaman? Culture - single If Jah is Standing By My Side Tony Rebel - single Never Dis the Man Sanchez - single Its Me again Jah Luciano - single Take Up Your Cross Morgan Heritage - single Superior Gentleman - single Ghetto Pain Duane Stephenson - single No Guns to town Natty King - single Shark Attack Wailing Souls - single Back Stabba Israel Vibration - single The Pope has strongly affirmed the rights of the weakest against the ambitions of the powerful during an audience with refugees from Chagos, the contested Indian Ocean archipelago that is home to a strategic US-UK military base. Historys first American pope insisted on the right of the Chagossian people to return to their homes and hailed a recent UK-Mauritius treaty over the archipelagos future as symbolically important on the international stage. Advertisement Leo XIV met with a delegation of refugees from Chagos, some 2,000 of whom who were evicted from their homes by the UK in the 1960s and 1970s so the US could build a naval and bomber base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia. Displaced islanders fought for years in UK courts for the right to go home. In May, the UK and Mauritius signed a treaty to hand sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius while still ensuring the future of the base. Leo told the refugees he was delighted that the treaty had been reached, saying it represented a significant victory in their long battle to repair a grave injustice. There is a military base on the islands (Alamy/PA) He praised in particular the role of the Chagossian women in peacefully asserting their rights to go home. Advertisement Leo said in French: The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and a powerful symbol on the international stage: all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, in particular the right to live on their land; and no-one can force them into exile. He said he hoped that Mauritian authorities will commit to ensuring their return, and pledged the help of the local Catholic Church. Under the agreement, the UK will pay Mauritius an average of 101 million a year to lease back the base for at least 99 years. It establishes a trust fund to benefit the Chagossians and says Mauritius is free to implement a program of resettlement on the islands other than Diego Garcia. Advertisement But it does not require the residents to be resettled, and some displaced islanders fear it will be even harder to return to their place of birth after Mauritius takes control. Mauritius had long contested the UKs claim to the archipelago, and the United Nations and its top court had urged Britain to return the Chagos to Mauritius, 1,250 miles south-west of the islands. In a non-binding 2019 opinion, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK had unlawfully carved up Mauritius when it agreed to end colonial rule in the late 1960s. The late Pope Francis visited Mauritius in 2019 and met a group of Chagossians at the Vatican in 2023. Advertisement Francis told reporters en route home from Mauritius in 2019 that the UK should obey the UN and return the islands to Mauritius. 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 Australian novelist Amy Taylor thought shed carved out a brief intermission between two labours of love: the release of her second novel, Ruins, and the imminent arrival of her first child. Then came the email: someone wanted to turn her novel about a young couple at a crossroads and their ill-fated trip to Athens into a film. Turns out, a lot of someones did. It was the quiet before the storm of publication, Taylor says. Then it snowballed, and we ended up with nine meetings booked across different production companies, and the last one was three days before I gave birth. Taylor, who lives in Brunswick, in Melbournes inner north, found herself 39 weeks pregnant, juggling Zoom calls at all hours, watching her inbox ping with new pitches from different production companies. For Taylor, it offered comfort that her story, not yet on the shelves, was resonating with readers. Novelist Amy Taylor has sold the screen rights to her novels The Ruins and Search History. Credit: Celeste Holm It was the best experience ever, especially in that period right before publication, Taylor says. I was in the stage where its just radio silence in a way. So to be able to go on these calls with production companies and just have them say lovely things to me was such a treat in that period. The meetings and emails resumed a few days after Teddy was born before the rights went to Oscar-nominees Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman; Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning) and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice; A Different Man), who will produce and star as the lead couple freshly unemployed Emma and academic Julian in the Miramax adaptation. I was trying very hard to be cool for the first meeting. They introduced themselves and started talking, and I remember glancing at myself in the corner of the screen my face was just like And I thought I was being really cool, Taylor laughs. Advertisement What convinced her ultimately wasnt the wattage, but their love for the novel. I was drawn to the genuine passion from everyone involved, she says. And I got to hear from Vanessa and Sebastian as well about their connections to the work, which was very generous of them and something I really appreciated. Its not difficult to see what drew them in (think Netflixs 2021 adaptation of Elena Ferrantes The Lost Daughter, starring Olivia Colman, for the screen aesthetic). Ruins is a page-turner, glistening with the sweat, sunshine and spanakopita of Greece. Emma and Julian arrive in Athens to house-sit for a friend and to recalibrate and reconnect but tensions simmer, particularly over whether they want to try for a child. Meeting Lena, a charismatic local, tips the trip into disarray. The story resists postcard Greece whitewashed villages and endless blue seas in favour of something claustrophobic, charged and intimate. Relationships teeter on a knife-edge, complicated by class, history, and desire. Vanessa Kirby is slated to play Emma in the film adaptation of The Ruins. Credit: AP Athens has such a complex, turbulent history, and even in more recent times, with economic turbulence. Its not an easy place to live, and its not an easy place to holiday even. I thought that atmosphere would make for a good setting for a novel where there was already an undertone of escalation of pressure, Taylor says. Taylor first visited Athens in 2019. While many visitors breeze past on their way to island getaways, she was drawn to the layers of history. She returned for research trips, notebook in hand, but wrote most of the novel from Melbourne, where she moved in 2020, after growing up in Perth. I was just absorbing as much as I could, as quickly as I could and walking around the streets so that when I came home, I could look at my Google Maps and recall where that was and what that looked like, so I could carry these characters through the city. Greek mythology subtly shapes the books architecture. Its three-act arc nods to classical drama: a chorus-like introduction, a rising complication, the hand of God a plot device where an unsolvable problem resolves unexpectedly and the ever-present shadow of Medea, whose mythological influence threads through the story. Advertisement I was trying very hard to be cool for the first meeting. The leap from Brunswick to Athens wasnt without hesitation. Taylors first novel, Search History (2023), was rooted in a city she lived in every day. Moving to another language, another landscape, was daunting. Yet, the two novels share a thematic continuity: Search History explored a young womans increasingly pathological obsession with her boyfriends dead ex, and Ruins continues that fascination with tangled love triangles. Amy Taylors second novel, Ruins, is set in Greece. I think its really hard to write a novel where its just two people breaking up. To me, that third element is what makes the conflict and tension and what makes a story out of it. I dont even see that just in relationships. I feel like every novel I write will probably in some way have three people, Taylor says. When we speak, Teddy is six weeks old. Taylor admits sleep is scarce, but the baby has offered a kind of ballast. There are two different worlds I can escape into when I need a reset, she says. And having something as grounding as a newborn snaps you back to reality when the anxieties of publishing rise. The film deal has also given her something else invaluable: time. With both Ruins and Search History now optioned (Search History by Netflix earlier this year), Taylor, who formerly worked in marketing, says she has bought herself some breathing room to work on her third novel. Advertisement Advertisement Review Eating outSt Peters Suits-everyone food can be hard to find but this food truck in a brewery nails the brief Tony Eats, a new food venture at Chuck and Sons Brewing Co., is powered by Whole Beast Butchery in Marrickville, serving sausage rolls, beef burgers, hot smoked trout and soft serve with beef fat caramel and bacon toffee crumble. Lenny Ann Low August 24, 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 / 17 Marcus Papadopoulo and Amina Latypova of Tony Eats. Edwina Pickles 2 / 17 Whole Beast Butchery sausage roll with old-fashioned smoky tomato sauce. Edwina Pickles 3 / 17 Labne and crackers. Edwina Pickles 4 / 17 Double dry-aged beef burger. Edwina Pickles 5 / 17 Hot dog. Edwina Pickles 6 / 17 Chicken burger. Edwina Pickles 7 / 17 Marcus Papadopoulo and Amina Latypova of Tony Eats. Edwina Pickles 8 / 17 Hot smoked rainbow trout. Edwina Pickles 9 / 17 Chip on a stick. Edwina Pickles 10 / 17 Pork crackle. Edwina Pickles 11 / 17 Soft serve with beef fat caramel and bacon toffee crumble. Edwina Pickles 12 / 17 Sticky pork ribs. Edwina Pickles 13 / 17 Chuck and Sons beers and cocktail. Edwina Pickles 14 / 17 Spiral potato and a hot dog. Edwina Pickles 15 / 17 Slabs of intensely flavourful biltong. Edwina Pickles 16 / 17 Brewers Scott and Chuck Hahn with Marcus Papadopoulo and Amina Latypova of Tony Eats. Edwina Pickles 17 / 17 Good, affordable, suits everyone food. Edwina Pickles Previous Slide Next Slide Contemporary$$$$ Deciding where to eat usually involves much hoo-hah about getting bang for your buck with added rigmarole around suiting all ages, being quality food and getting there without two trains, a bus and then a bunfight to find a table. Note also, parking. Let me introduce to you Tony Eats, a new food venture inside Chuck and Sons Brewing Co., powered by Whole Beast Butchery in Marrickville. First, transport. The venue is on two train lines, three bus routes and a car park rivalling Bunnings. Advertisement Getting a table is equally easy. Based in a food truck parked on Chuck and Sons outdoor verandah, Tony Eats cooks for the craft brewerys entire warehouse space five areas of indoor and outdoor tables and lounge seating. It gets busy but I swear youll find a spot. Try for the train-spotting verandah or the retro couch chairs under a bank of through-the-years portraits of Chuck and Sons co-founder Dr Charles Chuck Hahn, also founder of Hahn Brewery and James Squire. Double dry-aged beef burger. Edwina Pickles Is it good, affordable, suits-everyone food? Yes. Chuck and Sons beer (and cocktail range) is fine stuff but, from my perspective, its a boon to be eating produce from Whole Beast Butchery. Tony Eats, which opened at Chuck and Sons in July, is the joint venture of Marcus Papadopoulo and partner Amina Latypova, the people behind Whole Beast. Their butchery uses only whole carcasses, developing the flavour of beef, lamb or pork by dry-ageing the meat. Advertisement A major supplier to cafes and restaurants across Sydney, every second roll or sandwich in town seems to hold their smoked bacon and cold cuts. Visit their eight-year-old shop, its shelves and fridges laden with Latypovas preserves, pickles, jams, sauces, relishes and take-home meals, and Papadopoulo and his butchers cut meat to your order. Whole Beast Butchery sausage roll with old-fashioned smoky tomato sauce. Edwina Pickles Tony Eats is named after Latypova and Papadopoulos four-year-old son, Tony, who, his parents proudly say, eats widely and heartily. Everything on the menu is a dish Tony loves. From the biltong to the labne, from the dry-aged beef hamburger to the whole hot smoked trout, smoked chicken and leek pie and the soft-serve ice-cream topped with beef fat caramel and bacon toffee crumble hes a fan. This is partly because Papadopoulo, who learnt his trade at Vics Meat in Mascot, develops extraordinary depth of flavour by hanging the meat. And because Latypova, who leads the Tony Eats kitchen, has created great dishes, all tested at home. Sun or drizzle, I cannot think of a finer urban scenario than scooping Jatz biscuits through Whole Beasts utterly beautiful labne drizzled with smoked honey and lemon oil as trains shoot by on four track lines below. Advertisement Planes wheel across the sky as I take on Latypovas chip on a stick curling golden crunchiness that rivals Easter Show offerings before slabs of intensely flavourful biltong, dark pink and veined with fat, arrive. Then theres sumac and pepper-sprinkled pork crackle crisp and golden as butterscotch and sticky pork ribs, their glimmering glaze made with Chucks Amber Ale. Soft serve with beef fat caramel and bacon toffee crumble. Edwina Pickles The heft and meatiness of the Tony Eats sausage roll Whole Beast pork sausage with natural casing, coiled inside pastry and served with their smoky tomato sauce is meaty magic, as is the whole hot smoked rainbow trout. Hahn, now 79 and still brewing, recommends matching the fishs pink flesh with Chuck and Sons Original Pilsner. Id pair it with everything the fragrant garlic bread, using Whole Beasts smoked garlic, the strapping beef burger with pickles or even the hot dog, its momentous red length lolling out from a bunful of herby ketchup, mustard and caramelised onions. This is excellent, hearty, stupendously flavourful food and prices are not mountainous. Every family I spied, every age of human in the room, was intently and exuberantly eating it. Tonys palate is onto something. Advertisement Three other brewery food pairings to try The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre Match a Hawkes Patio pale ale with prawn toast, Mongolian lamb stir-fry and sweet retro joy vanilla ice-cream with Ice Magic chocolate topping, at The Lucky Prawn, the retro Australian-Chinese bistro inside Hawkes Brewing Co. A 1980s time-capsule, its replete with Hawkey memorabilia, a giant prawn and mullet-friendly vibes. 8-12 Sydney Street, Marrickville, hawkesbrewing.com Buckettys Brewing Co Brookvales independent craft brewing and distillery scene flourishes on but head chef Martin Britos superior pub fare at Buckettys cocktail lounge and sports bar Valentines and Chalkys steps things up. Try an English Amber Ale with Sundays Yorkshire pudding, slow-roasted wagyu and properly crispy spuds under splendid gravy. 26 Orchard Road, Brookvale, buckettys.com.au Brisket Boys Not technically inside a brewery, Brisket Boys outdoor Texas-inspired barbecued meat empire is a cans roll away from Drink West Brewery in the Manufactor dining and business precinct. Order smoky seasoned beef brisket, cooked over ironbark wood for 12 hours, or a one-metre-long hot-link sausage. Theres a trophy if you can eat it in three minutes. Tenancy 25/2115 Castlereagh Road, Penrith, brisketboys.com.au Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. He says the principle of fairness between the generations affects a wide range of policy areas housing, wages, public debt, the environment, how to handle AI, all of which were discussed at the closed-door confab in the cabinet room. And, the most politically explosive of all tax. Chalmers didnt need to be convinced. He already was concerned at the perversity of a country that offers each successive generation a worse deal than the one before. He already was interested in pursuing reform of negative gearing, for example. At an age where people no longer have to worry about the cost of raising children and paying a mortgage, they get generous concessions funded by people who do. Negative gearing, while sacrosanct to many older voters, is seen as an affront to younger ones. Older people are seen to be gathering up all the available real estate as tax dodges while leaving nothing affordable for their youngers. And the treasurer invited to his roundtable a couple of experts who illustrated how government policy was aggravating the problem of unfairness. ANU economist Professor Bob Breunig gave a paper which said: The evidence is stark: the Australian governments relative expenditure on older Australians has increased significantly in recent decades, funded by those of working age. The average impact of the tax and transfer (social welfare and other government payments) system, he estimates, cuts the income of a 30-year-old by a few thousand dollars a year, while it adds some $25,000 to the income of a 75-year-old. At an age where people no longer have to worry about the cost of raising children and paying a mortgage, they get generous concessions funded by people who do. Grattan Institute chief executive Aruna Sathanapally explained how younger people pay much more tax than older people even if they have an identical income. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers at the opening of the economic reform roundtable at Parliament House on Tuesday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Someone under the age of 65 with household earnings of $100,000 pays about $30,000 a year in tax on average. Someone over 65 with exactly the same income pays around $10,000 in tax on average: Largely because of the tax concessions they enjoy on their super, negative gearing and capital gains. In other words, it doesnt pay to work for a living. It pays to live on the proceeds of investment income. Is that really the principle Australia wants to live by? The system was not designed this way; it was gradually twisted this way by governments increasingly favouring older voters over the past 30 years. It now needs correcting. Point made. But before Chalmers can even think about making any changes, he has to persuade a notoriously cautious prime minister to take the risk. Once given a tax concession that is, a favour courtesy of the Treasury the lucky beneficiaries guard it jealously as a fundamental human right. Even the gentlest adjustment brings violent screams of political protest. Just look at the outrage over the governments plan to reduce the tax concession on super balances over $3 million. Just look at the outrage over the governments plan to reduce the tax concession on super balances over $3 million. Credit: Getty Images The Daily Telegraph on Friday supplied a premonition of the sort of campaign the government would face if it tried to address the anti-youth bias in the system. Its front page headline: Incoming Tax. Jims warning: older Aussies will take the heat. In the famous Chinese classic novel of the 16th century, Journey to the West, Buddha assigns an important task to the mischievous Monkey King. He must guard a priest on a journey carrying sacred sutras from India. But Monkey chafes under Buddhas control. So Buddha gives him a challenge. If he can leap out of Buddhas hand, he can go free. Monkey summons all his supernatural strength into a mighty bound that carries him high into the sky. But when he lands, he finds himself still in the palm of Buddhas hand. Buddha is all-powerful. Monkey sullenly resumes his task. Anthony Albanese is the Buddha of Australian politics; Chalmers is the Monkey King. Will the dominant Albanese allow his treasurer to break free? Even before Chalmers delivered his closing remarks to the reform roundtable this week, Albanese had read the treasurers proposed conclusions. And approved them. The prime minister wasnt in the room; he was a kilometre away in the Lodge. Albanese is all-seeing. The common refrain from frustrated commentators and would-be reformers is that, with his swag of 94 seats in the House, Albanese has enormous political capital and he now must spend some to achieve reform. Thats not how Albanese sees it. His priority is not political capital; its trust capital. Not the overwhelming majority of 94 seats but Labors underwhelming primary vote of 34.56 per cent. To compare, when Kevin Rudd won in 2007, Labors primary vote was 43 per cent. When Keating won in 1993, it was 44.9. When Hawke won in 1983, it was 49.5. Albaneses intention is to build trust with voters to increase Labors primary vote. Why? To entrench Labor in power over the long term. His mission is to expand Labors base to establish a more stable and secure grip on power. Which is why hes reluctant to make a big or sudden change beyond his election platform. Its not that he lacks ambition. He has a different kind of ambition. Loading Mind you, hes very keen to enlarge his House majority, as well as build Labors primary vote. He wants it all. Hes already told Labor national secretary Paul Erickson that he wants the party to conclude its preselections for the next election by the end of this year. Thats unheard of. Parties usually finalise their preselections weeks or months ahead of an election. Albaneses deadline would be two years ahead. Why? His logic is threefold. One, to show that Labor is not complacent but intent on expanding its command of the parliament. Two, to give Labors candidates the time and predictability to plan their campaigns. This is especially important to the candidates who ran and lost at the May election. Albanese wants to encourage many of them to run again. Third, to take advantage of the Liberals dire precariousness and disorganisation. So what hope does Chalmers have of persuading his leader to take the risk of proposing controversial new tax policies before the 2028 election? Albaneses refrain in the run-up to the roundtable was they might be in the cabinet room, but theyre not the cabinet. Chalmers has been careful publicly to defer to the primacy of the cabinet in any future decisions on reform. But Albanese is not absolutist about resisting future reforms, even controversial ones. He will keep an open mind and see how the term evolves. As he did with the stage 3 tax cuts in his last term, where he refused to make any changes until circumstances dictated that he should. This weeks roundtable produced other results. Chalmers list of 10 immediate action points begins with pursuing a road-user charge, abolishing nuisance tariffs, reforming the national construction code to speed house building, and accelerating reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. 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 Walking into Rode Meats in Stafford Heights, youre met with a cabinet full of fresh meat, a selection of pre-cooked take-home meals, and a smiling Ethan Johns. The 14-year-old apprentice butcher has become the unofficial face of the butcher shop thanks to his energetic, educational and enthusiastic behind-the-scenes videos on TikTok. Heaps of people come in just to see me, some of them are asking for autographs, he laughs. When this masthead visits the shop on a weekday morning, Johns is stopped by a passerby as soon as he steps outside. Ethan Johns from Rode Meats has become a viral sensation. Credit: Brittney Deguara Everyone around here knows who you are now, the local man tells him. Johns videos have amassed millions of views, putting the shop at the forefront of the #ButcherTok movement. A single clip of him making sausages, while showcasing his quick wit, was viewed nearly 5 million times. Advertisement Im 13 years old, but Ive already got 35 years of experience, he says in the video. Its all history from there The success of the channel as a whole, and Johns stardom, hasnt come as a surprise to Rode Meats owner Patrick Will Burgoyne, who describes the teen as outgoing. But he couldnt take credit for the idea to put him front and centre that honour belongs to the boys mum. Ethans mum came into the shop one day and said, Oh, when are we going to get Ethan in a video?, Burgoyne explains. This came after he had offered Johns a job the way Johns remembers it, he told him to come in and get a job instead of just clowning around while riding his bike to the supermarket. Its all history from there. Advertisement Since the account went viral three of the most popular videos had a combined view count of more than 8.6 million Burgoyne had noticed an uptick in customers travelling across the city to spend some money and meet the man himself. People are just coming from all over, travelling half an hour, 45 minutes, to come see Ethan and grab some food. Ethan Johns is a first-year apprentice at Rode Meats. Credit: Brittney Deguara One of nine apprentices across Burgoynes four butcher shops he and his partner also own Prestige Meats Fairfield, Yamanto and Mount Ommaney Johns describes his favourite jobs as making sausages and cutting steaks. Look at that sucker, he says while grabbing a piece of steak from the cabinet. Thats probably my favourite steak, or even my favourite meat in the whole shop. With three years to go until hes fully qualified, Johns will then decide whether he stays with the Rode Meats team or opens up his own shop. A rare dream come true Advertisement Johns is working in owner Burgoynes dream shop. It was actually a dream of mine to purchase this store, because its such an iconic Brisbane butcher shop. Ever since I was an apprentice, Ive always had my eye on this store [and said] if it ever came up for sale, Id always do whatever I could to try and get my hands on it. Rode Meats owner Patrick Will Burgoyne. Credit: Brittney Deguara In 2023, Burgoyne did get his hands on it, taking over the store from the previous owners who ran it for 43 years. The decision was also made at the time to keep the well-known name, rather than bring it under the Prestige Meats banner. Since it was such an iconic store, we didnt touch it, I didnt have it in me to change it, he laughs. The team at Rode Meats has 136 different sausage flavours on rotation. Credit: Brittney Deguara In the past two years, Burgoyne has turned the shop into a buffet of affordable options, with the aim of catering for all tastes and budgets. From pre-cooked, vacuum-sealed family pies, made by the in-house chefs and freshly cooked steak and chips, to over 136 different sausage varieties on rotation and every cut of meat you can imagine, its all on display. Advertisement We try and cater for absolutely everyone. The majority of meat is sourced from Tasmania, but cuts do come from other parts of the country. Without diving into politics too deeply, Burgoyne has an opinion on Australias lifting of import controls on US beef. Oh hell no. [Trump] calls it the greatest beef in the world, it just shows hes got no idea about meat. The dozens of staff employed across Burgoynes four stores, however, know about meat. And with the help of Johns and the Rode Meats team, that knowledge is going viral. And for anyone who recognised Johns from those viral videos, his message is clear. Dont be scared to come down and say hi to me, because Ill be here all week. What is Brisbanes Social Scene? Advertisement Advertisement InspirationBright You dont have to ski to love winter in the Victorian alps Justine Costigan August 24, 2025 5:00am Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Two minutes walking in shade and my breath has turned to fog. My partner and I stop to compare the effect until were laughing and panting like pugs. Only a few metres further on the Huggins Lookout trail, and were back in the sun, so its off with the toasty jackets and scarves and on with the sunglasses. This is winter in the Victorian alps: threatening snow one moment and gloriously sunny the next. On the hiking trails above Bright. Ive been coming to Bright and its neighbouring towns in spring and summer for decades to camp and hike. We plan to do a lot of the latter, but in winter, camping is not very appealing. Instead, were spending two nights in a cabin at the BIG4 Tasman Holiday Park on the Ovens River, just a short walk from Brights town centre. Caravan parks have come a long way since my childhood when all they offered was a place to park your van, unpowered sites and a basic amenities block. The BIG4 in Bright has a range of cabins from small to family-sized a few with decks overlooking the river and powered sites for caravans. Were in one of the new one-bedroom alpine villas, offering hotel-style luxuries including linen, fancy toiletries, a well-stocked kitchen with a pod coffee machine, and a small but cosy lounge area with a flat-screen TV (and another in the bedroom). The interior is classic alpine chic dark, moody colours, timber floors and joinery, and a fireplace (electric). Advertisement Inside the cabin at the BIG4 Holiday Park. We arrived at 4pm so we still have an hour or so of daylight to enjoy. I never forgo the opportunity to ask a local for suggestions, and the parks receptionist, Margie, has loads of ideas. She recommends we tackle the Canyon Walk along the Ovens River, so we head out along paths thickly carpeted with the last of the autumn leaves to catch the remaining daylight. Half an hour in and all we can hear is rushing water and kookaburras. By the time we reach the canyon itself, a pale line of pink tints the horizon. We have plans for eating out in Bright, but on our first night, its all about staying in. Weve vowed to eat local so weve stocked up on Milawa cheeses, spicy pasta sauce (made by JimJam foods in nearby Stanley) and Ringer Reef Sangiovese, all from the local supermarket. Earlier, we made a detour to Wandiligong for pink lady apples and a home-made apple and boysenberry pie from Nightingale Orchards. Fresh from the trees. The next morning, were focused on walking and nature. Its icy cold, but theres a hint of blue sky and no wind. At Huggins Lookout, the clouds come and go, playing peekaboo with the peaks. Water sparkles in the sun from a recent rain shower and our boots are satisfyingly encrusted with leaves and mud. Advertisement After surveying the town from on high, we hike down to the centre to spend an hour browsing boutiques and bookshops. At Winding Road Design Studio, the Bright surrounds are beautifully interpreted by artist Alicia Marshall. Each one is inspired by this environment, she tells me as I admire the limited edition prints on display. Inside the Winding Road Studio. Bright is well supplied with great places to eat. We choose Food Wine Friends for baguettes stuffed with corned beef, mustard and cheese. Later, we pick up two coffees from the cute vintage onsite coffee van at Tasman Park then head out for another long walk, this time to admire Wandiligongs protected historic landscape, before achieving our real goal a local Mountain Monk Brewers beer in front of the fire at the Wandi Pub. A few hours later, we find another welcoming fire at Bright newcomer Basils Bar and Eatery. Over steamed mussels and fried calamari, we discuss our itinerary so far. From the outside looking in, it might not add up to much, but the combination of walking, mountain air and good food is exactly what this region does so well. We havent missed out. The Ovens River, on its way through Bright. Advertisement The next morning, we take in a final view of the mountains from a Porepunkah paddock where local mobile wood-fired sauna business Haut Hutt has set up for the winter. The cedar-lined sauna is positioned to take in views of Mt Buffalo. Sadly, the clouds obscure the view, but we take the warmth of the region with us all the way back to Melbourne. The details Related Article Tours High Countrys hottest new stays linked by tasty cycling trail Stay BIG4 Tasman Holiday Park Bright is on the banks of the Ovens River, a short stroll to town. One-bedroom luxury alpine villas from $249, including free Wi-Fi. See big4.com.au Fly + drive Qantas and Rex fly from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to Albury, where you can rent a car or book a transfer for the 80-minute drive to Bright. Bright is a 3-hour drive from Melbourne or just over four hours by train and bus via Wangaratta. Advertisement More visitbright.com.au The writer was a guest of BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Traveller Guides FILE PHOTO: A view of the exterior of the JP Morgan Chase & Co. corporate headquarters in New York City May 20, 2015. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files/File Photo) JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay the Malaysian government $330 million to settle all outstanding claims tied to its role in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, both parties said Friday. The agreement marks another major step in Malaysia's yearslong effort to recover billions looted from its sovereign wealth fund. Malaysia's Finance Ministry said the payment, equivalent to 1.4 billion ringgit, will go directly into the government's 1MDB Assets Recovery Trust Account. "Under the settlement, JPMorganChase will, without admission of liability, contribute RM1.4bil (US$330mil) to Malaysia's Assets Recovery Trust Account," the ministry said in a statement. The settlement resolves all current and potential legal claims between Malaysia and JPMorgan, including a lawsuit filed by 1MDB in 2021 against JPMorgan (Switzerland) Ltd. That case, which also named Deutsche Bank and Coutts & Co., sought up to $800 million for alleged "negligence, breach of contract, conspiracy to defraud/injure, and/or dishonest assistance." As part of the settlement, each side agreed to withdraw pending appeals. In a joint statement, JPMorgan and Malaysia confirmed the agreement "resolves all existing and potential claims and binds both parties from any future claims or litigations related to 1MDB." JPMorgan said it welcomed the outcome. "Since then, we've enhanced our controls, earning the trust of regulators in Switzerland and beyond," the bank said. The announcement came the same day Swiss prosecutors fined JPMorgan's Swiss unit 3 million francs ($3.71 million) for failing to prevent money laundering linked to 1MDB. The Swiss Attorney General's Office said the bank was guilty of "failing to take all reasonable and necessary organisational measures" in its dealings. The probe centered on two oil company executives convicted last year of embezzling more than $1.8 billion from the Malaysian fund. The scandal, which ran from 2009 to 2014, saw at least $4.5 billion misappropriated from 1MDB, according to Malaysian and U.S. investigators. Proceeds were used to buy luxury real estate, art, and finance the Hollywood film "The Wolf of Wall Street." The fallout implicated major financial institutions and toppled former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was jailed in 2022 after being convicted of corruption and money laundering. Najib has denied wrongdoing. Malaysia says it has recovered about 29.7 billion ringgit ($7.03 billion) through settlements with institutions including Goldman Sachs and Deloitte. Officials say additional recovery efforts remain underway as Kuala Lumpur presses claims against other parties linked to the fund. MUSIC by a producer from Rathoe, County Carlow, will feature on a new series starring acclaimed actress Alicia Silverstone. Glen Austin is a musician and music producer who specialises in re-interpreting classic, folk and modern Irish music. He works with a band called New Airs which released their eponymous debut album a few years ago, featuring instrumental versions of songs by such artists as U2, Kodaline, The Script, Snow Patrol and Enya. Glen has also collaborated with many Irish and global artists for recordings and performances. He has recorded with artists such as Liam O Maonlai of The Hot House Flowers, Brian Kennedy, Mundy and Wallis Bird. Hes just been told that New Airs interpretation of Thin Lizzys The Boys are back in town is on the soundtrack to a new series on Acorn TV, featuring Alicia Silverstone, called Irish Blood. It came out of the blue, really, said Glen. The musical director of the series got in contact with me in January this year about using the track and, between the contract clearance and all, the final go ahead was about two months ago. The series is just about to be launched on Acorn TV in America where the story features Silverstone as a lawyer whos been estranged from her father. After receiving a message from him, she travels to Ireland where she unlocks her familys dark past. The series was shot almost completely in County Wicklow so thats nice because my dad, Tom is from Carnew. This is the first time that New Airs have been used on a big television production and its very cool to be associated with it. Its released in the USA and may be released on Sky later this year, said Glen. Breaking News Would you like to receive our breaking news news? Signup today! e-Edition Subscribers e-Edition Only - $39.00 Year This is the exact replica of our weekly printed paper. Great for searching archives! General Interest Imported List: General Interest The body of a man who went missing on Melton Hill Lake Thursday afternoon has been recovered. He was identified as Kim Daugherty, 53, of Clinton. At approximately 9:20 a.m. on Friday, a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) investigator located the body using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) in 21 feet of water. Divers with the Blount County Special Operations Response Team later recovered the body. The incident began around 4 p.m. on Thursday, when the Oak Ridge Police Department received a report of a missing boater. The incident began around 4 p.m. on Thursday, when the Oak Ridge Police Department received a report of a missing boater.According to witness statements, Mr. Daugherty and a woman had launched a boat from the Edgemoor Road ramp in Oak Ridge earlier in the afternoon. After the boat experienced engine trouble, the woman was returned to the ramp while Mr. Daugherty remained with the vessel. A short time later, she observed the unoccupied boat had drifted onto a sandbar downstream. TWRA extends its gratitude to the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire and Rescue, Tellico Village Fire and Rescue, Blount County Rescue Squad, and the Knox County Sheriffs Office for their assistance in the search and recovery efforts. The victims body has been taken for an autopsy, and the incident remains under investigation. His identity will be released later today, pending family notification. Two Cleveland Police officers have been honored for their life-saving efforts several months ago. The Cleveland Police Department commends Officer Martin and Officer Schwarzer for their extraordinary life-saving actions during this horrifying event. On Friday, Aug. 15, Officer Martin was selected and named Officer of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) for his heroic efforts. Officer Martin and Officer Schwarzer will also be recipients of the Life Saving Award that is awarded by the Cleveland Police Department. The Cleveland Police Department responded on Saturday, May 31, to assist Bradley County Sheriffs Office deputies at a call of a possible drowning at 2850 Pleasant Grove Place SW. The incident involved a two-year-old child and the childs mother. Bradley County Sheriffs Office deputies who were on scene were Deputy Larry Seibers and Deputy Anthony Anderson. Within minutes, Cleveland Police Officer Jordan Martin and several Bradley County deputies arrived on scene. Without hesitation, Officer Martin entered the water to rescue the victims. He was able to reach the child first, handing him to the deputy before returning to assist the mother. The deputy then passed the child to Cleveland Police Officer Schwarzer, who immediately began rescue efforts until EMS personnel arrived. The child, who was conscious and crying while being treated in the ambulance, was transported by EMS and later airlifted to Chattanooga for advanced medical care. Officer Martin became fully submerged during the rescue. Despite losing equipment in the process, he placed the lives of the victims above his own safety. Officer Schwarzer not only assisted with the childs care but also provided translation services on scene to help gather critical information for first responders. Chief Mark Gibson said, Their bravery, quick thinking, and selflessness undoubtedly saved lives. These officers exemplify the highest standards of the Cleveland Police Department. Chase is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its third bank branch in Chattanooga, at 5526 Brainerd Road. It will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. Those attending include Mark Cassara, market director of Chase Banking in Chattanooga; Sonya Platt, branch manager of Chase Brainerd; and Brandon Abney, executive director of J.P. Morgan Commercial Bank in Chattanooga. This is the third full-service bank branch in Chattanooga. Visitors will discover the branch looks and feels different from a typical bank combining a modern design, layout and state-of-the-art banking technology, reflecting how customers engage with Chase today. Employees will welcome customers in casual meeting spaces, emphasizing a more consultative approach, with personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans and payment processing. Self-service transaction areas are also available, including an indoor ATM, outdoor 24-hour ATM and night depository. The branch also features Chase teller services and free Wi-Fi. Chase opened its first two Chattanooga branches at Hamilton Place and Northshore in January. JPMorganChase has had commercial banking offices in Chattanooga since 2012. Chase Brainerd branch hours are Monday Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and closed on Sunday. A local snow cone truck will be available during the event. Morning Pointe Senior Living announces that Samantha Parker, community relations director at Morning Pointe of Hixson Assisted Living and Memory Care, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Assisted Living Facility Service Excellence Award, presented by the Tennessee Health Care Association during the THCA/TNCAL Convention & Trade Show in Nashville. The award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to make their community a better place for residents, staff and families alike. Ms. Parker was honored for her compassionate leadership, creativity, and devotion to building meaningful connections at Morning Pointe of Hixson, said officials. One of Ms. Parkers most cherished projects is the Monarch Watch butterfly program, which she first began in college and later brought to the Hixson community. Residents join her in planting milkweed, caring for caterpillars, and experiencing the joy of butterfly releases. Every morning when I walk in, there will be residents sitting out by the cage, watching the caterpillars grow, Ms. Parker said. When the butterflies hatch, they act like labor and delivery nurseswatching the whole process deeply. Its beautiful to see how something so simple brings such joy and meaning. Connected to her own military family, Ms. Parker is also a supporter of veterans. With the help of residents, she helped create Morning Pointe of Hixsons Veterans Wall, a permanent tribute to honor those who served. She also volunteers year-round with service members, keeping gratitude at the forefront of her work. Her creativity extends throughout the community. From organizing events and raising awareness for causes to advocating for residents, Ms. Parkers positivity and whatever it takes and then some spirit have inspired associates, residents, and families alike, said officials. My dad has always said that you dont work a day in your life if you love what you do, Ms. Parker shared. Thats what senior living feels like to me. This isnt just a jobits a family. Ms. Parker also brings a unique perspective to her role, as her own mother is a resident at Morning Pointe. I see things both as a director and as a family member. It reminds me daily that everything we do here is truly a team effort." The award was presented during the THCA/TNCAL Convention & Trade Show (Aug. 2022, Music City Center, Nashville), a gathering that brought together long-term care leaders from across the state for three days of collaboration, education, and celebration of excellence in senior living. 100 Food 8, 5513 Highway 153, Unit 109, is a restaurant that serves Hibachi style food and Sushi. This will be the fifth location in the Chattanooga area. There are around 40 seats at this site. The owner, Jeff Sun. was warned that the occupancy number from the health department includes staff and anybody working there in addition to the customers to prevent overcrowding. Approval for a beer license was given contingent upon the citys approval for zoning of the location. The Regulatory board will issue the beer license upon zoning requirements being approved. The Chattanooga Beer Board no longer hears a violation and decides a penalty for the offense. The procedure now is that the violation is first heard by an Administrative Hearing Officer, Trevor Atchley. He makes a recommendation and at the following meeting two weeks later, the Chattanooga Beer Board hears what the AHO recommended and then either sustains the decision or changes it to what they believe is appropriate. The latest violation at the bar The Dream that took place on May 10 was the fourth in less than 14 months. Authorities said The Dream, located at 2308 Glass St., failed to report a fight or disorder to the Chattanooga Police as required by the citys beer code. Previously, another failure to report a disorder took place on Marh 17, 2024, which resulted in a vote of the board not to sustain the recommendation from Mr. Atchley. On Dec/ 1, 2024, there was a shooting inside the club that resulted in a five-day suspension, and on March 6, 2025, the owner of the bar was cited to the beer board for operating a disorderly place for which the penalty was their choice of a three-day suspension or a $1,000 fine. For the latest violation from May 10, the recommendation was for a 10-day suspension of the bars beer license, which was sustained by the beer board. The Dream is not open every day of the week. The vote to suspend the beer permit was for 10 days, beginning Aug. 29 amd ending on Sept. 7 which includes Labor Day, a big drinking weekend. That bar is not open seven days a week and some days of the suspended license fall on days it is closed, said board member Brooke Barclift. But the vote had already been taken and so the days of the suspension could not be changed. James Jim Turner Dunn, 92, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, in Chattanooga. Jim was born on Jan. 30, 1933, to the late Albert and Mattie (Jackson) Dunn. Jim graduated from the University of Mississippi and received a masters degree from Pepperdine University while serving in the Army. He would go on to retire from the Army after serving 22 years, including overseas duty in Germany and Vietnam, retiring at the rank of Lt. Col. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service. Jim also retired from CBL & Associates after 21 years. He was Director of Leasing- VP and he helped the company grow and was instrumental in the companys IPO in 1993. Jim was a Member of Christ United Methodist Church and very active in the Life Investors Club along with his wife. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lou Dunn and Justin Fleischmann. Jim is survived by his two daughters, Suzanne Fleischmann (Mike), Julie Manning (Greg), one sister, Susie James, one grandchild, Jamie Paynter (Michael) and two great grandchildren, Alexander and Elizabeth Paynter. Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Heritage Funeral Home East Brainerd Road Chapel with Pastor David Hall officiating. He will be laid to rest in Chattanooga National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. prior to service at Heritage Funeral Home East Brainerd Road Chapel. In lieu of lowers, the family request donations be made to Christ United Methodist Church. Visit the online obituary www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories. Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel. Chattanooga is home to approximately 90,000 residential properties, with research indicating that about 25,128 of these are mortgaged. For these homeowners, property taxeslets say, averaging an estimated $2,500 annually in combined city and county rates, these are typically bundled into monthly mortgage payments via escrow. This structure offers convenience, but it also obscures the actual weight of the tax burden.When you do the math, those 25,128 mortgaged homes represent a staggering estimated $62.8 million in annual property taxes.Yet most of these residents never see a direct bill. The cost is quietly absorbed into their mortgage, camouflaging the impact and muting public awareness. For many, especially those on fixed incomes or living paycheck to paycheck, paying $2,500 in a single lump sum would be financially devastating.This hidden dynamic matters. When property taxes increase, mortgaged homeowners often dont feel the pinch immediately. Theres no annual invoice, no moment of reckoning, just a subtle uptick in monthly payments that may go unnoticed. As a result, tax hikes can pass quietly, without the scrutiny or pushback they might otherwise provoke.Meanwhile, the remaining estimate of 64,872 non-mortgaged homeowners, including retirees, veterans and long-time residents, often face the full brunt of these increases head-on. For them, the annual bill is real, visible and sometimes unmanageable.If were serious about protecting Chattanoogas most vulnerable residents, we must acknowledge how property tax structures affect perception and affordability. Escrows may soften the blow, but they also hide the punch. Transparency, outreach and thoughtful reformprimarily through programs like PILOTare essential to ensuring that a system blindsides no homeowner they dont fully see.It is trusted that the City Council members have not taken the early position of: Dont bother us with the facts, we have already made up our minds.Johnny Jones Photo Credit: Facebook/ LifeWise Academy LifeWise Academy, offering off-campus religious education, reports its highest-ever enrollment for the 2025-26 school year. In a statement, LifeWise Academy announced that, in the 2025-26 school year, nearly 100,000 students will participate in Bible-based character education during school hours through programs that allow for released time for students to receive off-campus religious instruction. A fact sheet compiled by LifeWise Academy indicates that 44,438 students were enrolled in the program last year. LifeWise aims to make its program available to all 50 million public school students. Additional statistics shared by LifeWise Academy show that LifeWise will serve students in more than 1,100 schools, nearly double the amount from the previous school year, and that the number of states where LifeWise provides off-campus religious instruction has grown from 27 to 34. In an interview with Christian Post, LifeWise Academy CEO Joel Penton stated that the organization has experienced growth thanks to the homegrown support of communities throughout America. When a community collects 50 signatures saying theyd like to start a local LifeWise program, we work with them to bring it to fruition. Our staff will help them work with school districts, develop plans and launch the program, he said. As weve grown, so too has funding, ranging from small dollar donors to large nonprofits that see the tremendous impact that LifeWise has on childrens emotional, academic and spiritual growth, he added. Penton attributed the surge in enrollment at LifeWise Academy to parents discovering the program through word of mouth, seeing how it works in neighboring communities and states or hearing about it through the media. Many states are also responding to the demand by passing released time religious instruction laws, which make Bible-based education more accessible to parents, he explained. A poll of 1,000 registered voters conducted by RMG Research for LifeWise Academy from Feb. 25-26 showed strong support for religious instruction during the school day, with 78% backing teaching moral and character education and only 13% opposed. 67% of those surveyed responded positively when asked if they wanted to see public school students have access to Bible-based character education available for public school students. Home News Lecrae previews 'Reconstruction,' meets with fans at Dallas megachurch ahead of world tour Grammy-winning rapper Lecrae met with fans at a Dallas church this week to preview his new album and upcoming world tour. The 45-year-old rapper whose given name is Lecrae Devaughn Moore stopped by Watermark South Dallas for a one-of-a-kind experience to offer an early listen to his 10th studio album, Reconstruction. Partnering with The Human Impact, Lecrae drew fans and local residents to assemble care packages for those experiencing homelessness as part of the event. Born in Houston and spending time as a teen in Plano before receiving a full scholarship as a theater student at the University of North Texas, Lecrae, a four-time Grammy and Dove Award-winning rapper, gave fans a chance to engage with him directly at the event, which included a $20 "required" donation in lieu of an entry fee. The intimate church setting at Watermark allowed Lecrae to share five new tracks. Standing before a backdrop adorned with three crosses, Lecrae provided candid backstories for each track. At @lecraes #Reconstruction listening in Dallas and he has a song with @KillerMike and @Tip called Headphones. Heres him explaining how it came together pic.twitter.com/uIK2m9f7aO Eric Diep (@E_Diep) August 20, 2025 For "Headphones," featuring Killer Mike and T.I., Lecrae opened up about the profound grief of losing his cousin to a fentanyl overdose a couple years ago. "It was the deepest form of grief that I had experienced," he said. "I haven't lost anybody that close to me yet, and it rocked me. I realized that whether you know God or you don't, you are going to experience loss. That's something across the aisle." He reflected on his evolving friendships with Killer Mike and T.I., noting their challenging conversations about faith and loss. "For me, these are not superstars. They are not celebrities. These are just brothers that I sit and have conversations with and we can talk and be real," he said. "And [T.I.] has asked me some hard questions and challenged and pushed back. And I love and I welcome it. It challenged me to get deeper into my word." Acknowledging that his collaborators don't always share his faith, Lecrae said he's had some fruitful conversations with Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Santiago Render. "We had a lot of disputes about Christianity, but we still love each other," Lecrae said. "He has come around a lot more. If you listen to his last album, he's, like, processing this, heavy. He lost his mom, and I was able to have some conversations about the loss of his mom." Lecrae's stop at Watermark was only part of his visit. The Human Impact shared video dated Aug. 19 of Lecrae walking the streets of Dallas as part of an apparent local outreach effort, with a caption reading, "Big thanks to @lecrae for coming out to Meet and Greet and walking the streets with us! We loved having you!" The Dallas event sets the stage for Lecrae's "Reconstruction World Tour," which kicks off Sept. 4 in Harare, Zimbabwe, and stops in Dallas this November with special guests Miles Minnick, Gio, 1K Phew and Torey D'Shaun. The tour follows his recent Atlanta back-to-school drive with City Takers, where he distributed school supplies to over 100 students. Earlier this month, Lecrae also surprised 1,000 loyal fans with handwritten mailers revealing the "Reconstruction" track list and an invite to The Workshop, an online community for exclusive content. In recent years, Lecrae has taken his own shots at what he once called "corporatized" Christianity. He suggested he was almost "done with Christianity" after backlash over his appearance at a December 2020 event in Atlanta held in support of pro-choice Democrat Raphael Warnock during a contentious U.S. Senate election runoff. The rapper also gave a 2021 interview with The Breakfast Club in which he discussed "deconstructing" from a "Western, political, Evangelical version of Christianity." Home News Pro-life club's suspension upheld after school's objection to Planned Parenthood flyers A federal appeals court rejected a pro-life student's claim that an Indiana school district violated her First Amendment rights when it suspended the freshman's Students for Life club and vetoed flyers with slogans like "Defund Planned Parenthood." In its ruling last Thursday, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a previous decision from a lower court that sided with Noblesville High School leaders. The student in question, known as E.D. in the complaint, sued the district, claiming that her club's suspension and rejection of her flyers were driven by "hostility" to her views. The school claimed to have a policy requiring wall postings for student clubs to be content-neutral, and that it had asked E.D. to revise the flyers to comply with the rules. This rule applies to other student clubs, the school argued, including Young Republicans, Young Democrats, a Gender and Sexuality Alliance club and a Black Student Union club. "The record shows that school officials approved (the student's) club, reasonably accommodated her speech, and suspended the club only for neutral, conduct-related reasons," Judge Nancy Maldonado, a Biden appointee, wrote in the Aug. 14 ruling. In response to the appeals court ruling, Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins argued that school districts appear more willing to accommodate organizations that uphold certain perspectives over pro-life groups. "It's extraordinary how in the woke environment over the last few years, schools have accommodated kids dressed up like animals and every kind of club imaginable, and yet we are still fighting for the rights of pro-life students to be heard," Hawkins told The Christian Post. "The case continues because the Pro-Life Generation supports those students working to share their love of preborn babies and their concern for their friends, targeted by a predatory abortion industry," the pro-life leader continued. In response to an inquiry from CP, Marnie Cooke, a spokesperson for Noblesville Schools, said that the school supports students in "forming clubs they're passionate about," adding that it has dozens of student-led clubs that "represent a wide range of interests, activities, and beliefs including a Students for Life club." E.D. obtained permission to start a Students for Life of America chapter at Noblesville High School in 2021. The student used a template provided by the organization to create flyers to advertise the club's first meeting. While the template contained several blank spaces for students to write information about their respective clubs, the template also included photos of individuals holding signs that stated, "Defund Planned Parenthood" and "I Am the Pro-Life Generation." Administrators at the school reportedly told the student that she would have to revise the flyer and remove the photos, and that she could only include information about the club meeting. According to court documents, the school became concerned that the pro-life club was not entirely student-led after E.D.'s mother, Lisa Duell, accompanied her daughter to a meeting with Dean of Students Jeremy Luna. During the meeting, E.D. re-raised the issue of the flyers, with Luna later telling Principal Craig McCaffrey that he felt that the student's mother had led the conversation. The principal later suspended the chapter as an approved student club due to what he described as an "attempt at insubordination led by an outside adult advocating with the student." However, McCaffrey said that E.D. could reapply in January 2022, which she did, and the club was then reinstated. Both parties reached an agreement to allow the pro-life club to continue operating as the student's lawsuit moved through the courts. In December 2021, Hawkins commented on Charitable Allies, Inc., of Indianapolis, filing a lawsuit against the Noblesville School District and the high school. The lawsuit also named several school employees who allegedly posted defamatory statements about the student online, calling her "bigoted" and "misogynistic." "The degree to which adults in authority attempted to intimidate a high school freshman is astonishing," Hawkins said at the time. "Noblesville High School officials went all out to ensure that a minor girl could not speak in their presence about her love for mothers and their children, born and preborn, and that she would keep quiet at school." "Parents in Noblesville must surely be concerned about school officials turning using media to attack a pro-life girl," the pro-life leader stated. "Is this a pattern of behavior for Noblesville school officials, using the press to attack community members who share a different point of view? Viewpoint discrimination is unconstitutional in Indiana and nationwide." Home News Pastor Tony Evans returns to preaching while his restoration to ministry is unclear Just over a year after Pastor Tony Evans stepped down as leader of the 11,000-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, due to a sin that has not been disclosed publicly, he is back to preaching. Last month, the megachurch founder spoke at the FAMiLY Leadership Summit hosted by The FAMiLY Leader in Iowa, led by President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats. The Christian conservative advocacy organization, which started as the Iowa Family Policy Center in 1996, has evolved from a mission to "promote God-honoring public policy" to "empowering the Church to lead that transformation." In an address billed "Principle Over Politics," Evans told the audience that it is the job of Christians to promote the principles of God's Kingdom on Earth in every area of life. "God's not going to skip the church house to fix the White House. It will be the job of the Church of Jesus Christ to birth a generation of followers of Christ who progressively grow to representing Christ in the statehouse, in the White House, in the schoolhouse and in the culture who aren't dumbed down by the culture but who are impactful for the culture," he said. "In movies, they show you previews of coming attractions. These previews are the hot clips of the upcoming show. They're always the fight scene, love scene or chase scene. ... And they stitch them all together to excite you about watching the whole show," he continued. "Now, it may be a terrible movie, but you'd never know it from the clips, because the clips are always the most exciting parts of the movie. My brothers and sisters, one day, there's a big show coming to town. God is the producer, the Holy Spirit is the director, Jesus is the superstar, and it will be a worldwide production. It's called the Kingdom of God," he said. "But in the meantime, He has left you and me here as previews of coming attractions. See, we're supposed to be the hot clips of the upcoming show. People are supposed to see the clips of our presence and impact and the culture and say that clip is hot and raise the question, 'Where can I buy a ticket to the whole show?'" he added. In June 2024, after 48 years of leading his church, Evans, 75, revealed he had fallen short of biblical standards a number of years prior, and his failure was serious enough to warrant stepping away from his ministry. Though he did not reveal what the sin was, he was quick to point out that he had not violated secular laws. "The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God," Evans said in his confession. "A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me," he said. "While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders." It was unclear on Friday whether Evans, who has previously spoken at The FAMiLY Leadership Summit, had been biblically restored to ministry. An Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church official could not immediately confirm Evans' fitness for ministry on Friday when contacted by The Christian Post. Officials at The FAMiLY Leader also did not respond when CP asked if the ministry had discussed the reason for Evans' resignation from his church last year. On its website, The FAMiLY Leader says it connects pastors with government leaders to "foster a movement rooted in prayer, revival, and gospel-driven change." "We believe true hope for America lies in the Church rising to be the salt and light Christ called it to be in homes, communities, and government," the website states. In introducing Evans at The FAMiLY Leadership Summit last month, Vander Plaats said Evans had embraced the model of leadership his organization is promoting, saying he is a "champion of the Gospel." "He's a guy who has embraced this model of leadership of inspiring the Church to engage government, not for the advancement of a party but for the advancement of God's Kingdom and the blessing of people," he said. "He started The Urban Alternative about how the Church should be a resource in meeting community needs." Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone. Our work is made possible by the generosity of supporters like you. Your contributions empower us to continue breaking stories that matter, providing clarity from a biblical worldview, and standing for truth in an era of competing narratives. By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount, youre helping to keep CPs articles free and accessible for everyone. Home Opinion What does it mean that God is sovereign? Sometimes Christians get confused about predestination and free will, as if they are opposites. We must understand that free will is not simply a pagan concept, though the pagan conception enjoys widespread approval. Christians also believe in free will, but the free will that we believe in is not the humanistic or pagan version of it. One secular idea that has been pervasive in the church today is the humanistic doctrine of human freedom that says that our will, even in our fallen condition, remains indifferent and equally able to incline ourselves to the good or to the evil. It ignores the biblical revelation that, though we have the power of choosing, our choices are in bondage to sin. Only the power of God the Holy Spirit can rescue us from that bondage, that spiritual death, and that paralysis. We have to get our view of the human will not from the secular culture but from the Word of God. Not only are we deficient at that point, but also the pagan world has intruded into our thinking the idea that this world functions according to internal independent laws of nature and of physics. The idea is that the universe operates moment to moment under its own steam without the transcendent sovereign power of God enabling it and ordaining it. I cannot lift my arm, for example, apart from the power of God. Whatever power I have in my right arm to exercise my will is at best secondary in its causal expression, but all the things that I do in this world are done under and because of the transcendent sovereign power of God. Some say God is sovereign, but Gods sovereignty is limited by human freedom. If that were the case, then who is sovereign? We have been given a measure of freedom by our Creator, but our freedom is always and everywhere limited by Gods freedom. God is sovereign, not we ourselves, and His sovereignty extends to all things, not only the creation of the world but the sustaining and governing of the world, and what we describe as the laws of nature only describe the ordinary ways that God in His sovereignty governs nature. If there is one maverick molecule in this universe running free from the sovereign control of God, we have no reason to believe any future promise that God has made, because that one maverick molecule may be the very thing that will destroy those plans. But thanks be to God, there are no maverick molecules running loose outside of the scope of Gods sovereign government. I once was asked to teach a seminary course on the theology of the Westminster Confession of Faith. When we got to the section of the confession on the eternal decrees of God, the seminary students brought their non-Reformed friends to the class. And to this group of inquisitive seminarians I read, with no explanation, the first section of this part of the confession: God from all eternity did ... freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass (WCF 3.1). I then asked: How many of you believe that? How many believe that God immutably and eternally ordains every single thing that comes to pass? Now, I was in a Reformed seminary. So, it wasnt astonishing that 175 students raised their hands. In any other general seminary, that would have been astonishing. But about 75 students didnt raise their hands. I then asked, How many of you would describe yourselves as atheists? No students raised their hands. I said: Theres just one thing I dont understand. You didnt affirm that God ordains whatsoever comes to pass. And yet, you didnt say that you are an atheist. But if God doesnt ordain everything that comes to pass, then God isnt sovereign. And if God isnt sovereign, then God is not God. We then examined more carefully what the confession really means. It goes on to say that secondary causes are not eliminated; nor is violence done to the will of man. God is not the author or doer of sin. Centuries earlier, Augustine said that as Christians who believe in a sovereign God, we have to affirm that, in some sense, God must ordain whatsoever comes to pass. Some people are quick to bring up the concept of Gods permissive will. This concept has been invented as a way to excuse God from responsibility for those things we dont want to assign to Him. But God knows whats going to happen before it happens. He knows what I am going to say before I say it. He knows what I am going to do before I do it. Does God have the power to stop me? Does God have the right to stop me if He so chooses? If He permits me to commit a sin, He has chosen to permit me. If He chooses to permit it, He deems it wise that it should come to pass, or else He would not permit it because He does all things well, including the exercise of His sovereignty. In Genesis 37, we read about Josephs brothers, who were guilty and responsible for the sins they committed against their brother, the betrayal and treachery that sent him to languish in prison, removed from his family. Later, Joseph said, You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good (Gen. 50:20). Now, the Bible says we are never to call evil good or good evil (Isa. 5:20). Evil is evil, and evil is deserving of divine retribution. But it is good that there is evil, or evil could not be, because all things are under the scope of Gods sovereignty, including our wickedness, which He uses for His righteous purposes. That God can be involved in catastrophic events or in the evil actions of fallen human beings becomes a matter of national interest when catastrophic events such as hurricanes and tsunamis occur. People say, This is an accident of nature. But even the insurance companies have enough sense to call these things acts of God. When we go beyond natural calamities and look at calamities foisted on us by human wickedness, we find it all the more difficult to think that Gods sovereignty could somehow be behind it. After 9/11, some Christian leaders opined that the attacks were Gods judgment on the rampant immorality of our culture. Those observations outraged the press, who demanded that the men retract their comments. It was an unthinkable idea to the American public that God could possibly be involved in such a calamity, because apparently they never read Isaiah 45: I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; ... I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and I create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things (Isa. 45:57). Two things happened out of 9/11. First, there was a fresh awakening in the public consciousness about the reality of evil. All of a sudden, moral relativism was arrested as people witnessed an event that they could not regard as morally indifferent but that must be viewed as unspeakably wicked. There was a new acceptance of the idea of sin. Second, there came a revival of interest of Gods blessing a given nation. All over the country on windows, bumpers, and everywhere else was the slogan God bless America. Now, the same people who were praying for God to bless America were the people who thought it completely impossible that God could judge America. If you pray that God would bless a nation, certainly in your prayer you must allow for the possibility that He might not, that indeed, if Hes capable of bringing prosperity and peace to a nation, then He must also be capable of withdrawing that blessing and even bringing calamity and wrath on it. But our understanding of God has degenerated into a cosmic bellhop, a celestial Santa Claus, who exists to serve our needs and to give us nice things when we inquire after Him, but we will not bow before His sovereignty that extends over all things. I generally say that there are four ways that God is sovereign. He is sovereign over nature. He is sovereign over history and human affairs. And He is sovereign in His inherent right to impose obligations on His creatures, to say to them, Thou shalt not do this and Thou shalt do that. Do we believe that He has that sovereignty, that right to command obedience from us and impose obligations on us? Every time we sin, we challenge Gods sovereign right to command what we should do. Some Christians believe that God is sovereign over nature and history and morality but not over His grace. They deny that He has the eternal inherent right to give His mercy to whom He will give mercy. Ill conclude with Romans 11:36: For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. From Him: He is the source, the author of all that is good, true, beautiful, and real. Through Him: by means of His sovereign power and agency. Not only do all things come from Him, but they come by means of His power. To Him: the purpose for all things is not me. It is not you. It is Him. All things are from Him, through Him, and to Him, or we could say for Him. And it ends with a doxology: To Him be glory forever. Soli Deo gloria, to God alone the glory. This article was first published in Tabletalk, the Bible study magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Find out more at TabletalkMagazine.com or subscribe today at GetTabletalk.com. Anti-tech people in some rural Ohio counties want to get rid of voting machines and return to hand-counting of ballots, even though the machines have proven to be faster and more reliable. What's next? A return to leaded gasoline? John Kuntz, cleveland.com A growing movement in rural Ohio counties is pushing to abandon modern voting technology in favor of hand-counted paper ballots, sparking criticism of those who would debilitate election security and accuracy. Fridays episode of Today in Ohio blasted the idea. It would be a disaster if we let idiots start to set policy. People who dont understand science, so they just want to reject it, said Chris Quinn during the discussion. This is a backward way of thinking. And really, I wish we had a time machine so we could ship them back to the Middle Ages, which is where they want to be. The push is coming from a group calling themselves the Coalition of Concerned Voters in Monroe and Seneca counties, who are fighting to get a local referendum on the ballot that would replace electronic voting machines with hand-counted paper ballots. Their argument? Ohioans never really had a say in adopting machines in the first place, and they dont trust the audit process that samples approximately 5 percent of ballots. The movement got a push after President Donald Trump vowed to ban voting machines nationwide, something he has no power to do. According to Leila Atassi, organizers claim eight more counties are asking how to try similar referendums. But election officials and voting rights groups are sounding the alarm, warning that such a move would lead to slower counts, more mistakes, less accessibility for voters, and significantly higher costs to taxpayers. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has defended the states current system as the gold standard. Laura Johnston used a relatable personal anecdote to highlight why human counting is problematic: Im not an idiot. I took all the hardest math classes, I took calculus and I still cant add up Girl Scout cookie orders correctly every time. So, the idea of hand counting ballots is absurd. The history of hand-counted ballots reminds us why we moved to machines in the first place. Remember the days when election results would drag on for days while officials meticulously counted and recounted ballots? Machines were implemented precisely because theyre faster and more accurate than humans. The suggestion to do away with the machines fits into a dangerous trend. As Quinn noted in the podcast, This is just part of that effort Donald Trump has been making for a decade to undermine our faith in the best election system in the world. Our current voting system includes important safeguardspaper backups that can be hand-counted if an election is particularly close or contested. The machines themselves undergo rigorous testing and certification. The push to abandon them isnt about making elections more secure; its about sowing doubt in a system that has repeatedly proven reliable. The question Ohio voters should be asking isnt whether we should return to antiquated counting methods, but why certain politicians want us to distrust the technologies that have made our elections more accurate, accessible, and efficient than ever before. Listen to the discussion here. Listen to full Today in Ohio episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston. MARQUETTE, Michigan As the sun was setting, I was walking along perhaps a half-mile of a beach. I was the only one there. I looked out at Lake Superior, the greatest (and largest) of the Great Lakes. That early August evening was a reminder of how big nature is and how small I am in comparison. I thought of Psalm 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Roberta and I have been going to Michigans Upper Peninsula during the summer for more than 20 years. The reason is Lake Superior and the remoteness of the Upper Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula is slightly smaller in land mass than the state of Virginia. You can put the states of Rhode Island, Delaware, Vermont and New Hampshire together and theyd be smaller than the Upper Peninsula. But only 301,608 people live in the Upper Peninsula, according to the 2020 census. Lorain County near Cleveland has a population of 322,030. Summit County, which includes Akron, has a population of 538,370. Lake Superior or Lake Erie, great sunsets abound. Terry Pluto / Cleveland.com Getting away, getting God Whats the point? There are times when most of us feel the need to get away from people. Or as Roberta recently said when we encountered a mob of tourists at a place called Tahquamenon Falls, Too peoplely. We took a quick picture of the beautiful falls and headed to a remote trail along Lake Superior. Trudging along a ridge overlooking Lake Superior, we sometimes stopped and just stared at the water. I thought of Psalm 46:10: Be still and know I am God. The heavens and sunsets do point to the glory of God. Terry Pluto Close to home The reason Im writing about Lake Superior is because it truly is the greatest of the five Great Lakes. You can pour all of the water from lakes Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Erie together and still not have enough to fill Superior. The only freshwater lakes larger than Superior are Lake Baikal in Siberia and Lake Tanganyika in Africa. But while the Upper Peninsula is a magnificent place for those who love the Great Lakes, right near us is Lake Erie. Several times each year, Roberta and I travel to different spots on Lake Erie exactly for that reason. The sunsets. Its like God draws a different masterpiece each evening before the Almighty says Goodnight. You can find places that arent too peoplely. We like the Vermilion/Huron area. You can stand on the beaches early in the morning and think of Psalm 113:3: From the rising of the sun until the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. An empty beach is a good place to "Be still and know I am God." Terry Pluto What is the message? When I was much younger, I was a spiritual wanderer. I went to church much like it was brushing my teeth or using mouthwash it was a way to avoid bad breath. I hadnt been hit with any major hard times where I could look back and think, God brought me through that. Nonetheless, I knew there was a Grand Designer every time I saw a magnificent sunset or when simply staring at what seemed like the endless horizon of Lake Erie. Psalm 8:1 reads: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Psalm 8:3 reads: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place As I was writing this, I realized I wanted to hear from you. Is there a special place you feel Gods presence? Write me about it and explain why. Try to keep it short. Send emails to terrypluto1234@gmail.com. Gov. Mike DeWine announced in 2021 he was sending another 185 Ohio National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to conduct non-law enforcement work. But what about his 2025 deployment of Ohio National Guard forces to D.C.? The Editorial Board Roundtable weighs in. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta) ASSOCIATED PRESS Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer that, in sending 150 Ohio National Guard troops to help patrol Washington, D.C., he was just doing what hes always done when Republican and Democratic leaders ask for help -- including 2020 deployments to D.C., Cleveland and Columbus during George Floyd protests, and to Minnesota after police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty in Floyds murder. But Democrats have pounced on DeWines deployment as meritless support for President Donald Trumps D.C. police takeover in a feud that appears to go back to Trumps anger over homeless encampments. Based on FBI data, the districts violent crime rate last year was lower than in Cleveland, Toledo and Dayton, cleveland.coms Lucas Daprile reports. Some other red states -- including West Virginia, Mississippi and South Carolina -- provided guard troops, too. But Vermonts Republican Gov. Phil Scott politely declined, Vermont Public media reported. The governor just does not support utilizing the guard for this purpose, and does not view the enforcement of domestic law as a proper use of the National Guard, said Scotts chief of staff, Jason Gibbs. So what motivated DeWine? The Editorial Board Roundtable offers its thoughts. Leila Atassi, manager public interest and advocacy: Youd think that a governor in the twilight of his career might summon the courage to stand for whats right. But DeWines fellow Republicans beat that out of him long ago for daring to keep Ohioans safe during the pandemic. Now hell ride out his last term with the constitution of a marshmallow and the loyalty of a lapdog. Vermonts Phil Scott showed what real backbone looks like. Thomas Suddes, editorial writer: Gov. Mike DeWine shouldnt have sent Ohio troops to the District of Columbia just because the presidents Army secretary requested them. Its yet another distraction staged by the president so voters forget about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, who preyed sexually on underage women, and the presidents having being out-flimflammed yet again (it happens more than many Americans think) by Vladimir Putin over Russias rape of Ukraine. Ted Diadiun, columnist: Not being a mind reader, Im not equipped to say what motivates Mike DeWine. Ill just note his statement that when a president of either party requests his help, he believes it is his responsibility to respond. Reaction to his decision has inevitably broken down into the usual pro-Trump and anti-Trump camps, but DeWines instinct to not second-guess the president is the reasonable and responsible path for a governor to follow. Eric Foster, columnist: Although too often they are used as such, policies are not licenses to stop thinking. Sending national guard personnel to quell violence stemming from protests is one thing. Sending them to stop a fabricated crime wave is another. If Trump asked DeWine to send troops to Springfield to stop the violent Haitian immigrants from eating residents dogs, would DeWine send them? If you believe DeWine, the answer would be yes. Lisa Garvin, editorial board member: DeWine is a principled man who is also term-limited, so he had nothing to lose by denying Trumps request. Where is the governor who defended Springfield Haitians or led us through the pandemic? That he should now capitulate to bald-faced authoritarianism is both sad and infuriating. If Trump decides Cleveland needs military intervention, I now have no confidence that DeWine will come to our defense. That should horrify all Ohioans. Victor Ruiz, editorial board member: Once again, Gov. DeWine falls in line with the so-called Commander in Chief. I can picture these governors convincing themselves theyre doing something good. In reality, theyre simply feeding the ego of a narcissistic, wannabe dictator who, as Ive said many times, only cares about himself. Whatever favors they think theyll gain are nothing more than delusions. Mary Cay Doherty, editorial board member: When elected officials handcuff police rather than criminals, people suffer. Sadly, some seem to believe there are acceptable levels of violence, crime, and social decay that good citizens should endure. Thankfully, President Trump understands that safety is especially vital for those who live, work, or vacation in our nations capital, the heart of American democracy and exceptionalism. Gov. DeWine was right to support that effort by sending Ohio National Guard forces. Elizabeth Sullivan, opinion director: DeWine likely saw this request as a no-win one - send the troops as requested, or risk Ohio being further targeted with ICE arrests and harassment of hard-working immigrants. Those who think such reprisals arent on the table havent been paying attention. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this Editorial Board Roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com As earnings season winds down, investors should be on the lookout for some stocks that might still have room for upside, according to UBS. Stocks rallied on Friday , spurred by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments in Jackson Hole, Wyo. that suggested the central bank may begin adjusting its policy stance . Even with those gains, UBS has identified certain names that have already outperformed the market but still might have more upside potential, as "based on supportive valuations and [cash flow return on investment] momentum," analyst Jenny Huang wrote in a Thursday note. She screened for stocks that met several criteria, including: Price return relative to the market over the past 13 weeks is more than 5% Cash flow return on investment revisions over the past 13 weeks is more than zero When splitting up the identified names by sectors, the analyst found that financials led the way with 22%, followed by industrials at 20% and information technology at 16%. Here are some of the names that popped up. Broadcom has outperformed the broader market in recent months, rising nearly 28% in the last three and almost 35% in the past six. That's compared to the S & P 500's rise of almost 11% and more than 7% in those timeframes, respectively. AVGO 6M mountain AVGO, 6-month The chipmaker's price return relative to the market in the last 13 weeks is 25.4%, UBS found. A majority of analysts on Wall Street are bullish on the name as well, with 41 out of 43 total analysts having a strong buy or buy rating on it, per LSEG. Piper Sandler is among those, reiterating its overweight rating on Friday. Its $315 price target also implies 7% upside potential from Friday's close. Anglo-Swedish biotech firm AstraZeneca has outperformed the broader market this year, with U.S.-listed shares gaining more than 23% versus the S & P 500's nearly 10% advance in 2025. Not only that, Huang noted that the stock's nearly 15% gain in the last month has outpaced its European pharmaceutical peers. Additionally, AstraZeneca's price return relative to the market in the last 13 weeks is 6.8%. Moreover, with most analysts covering it having an optimistic view of the stock, the LSEG consensus target of almost $101 reflects nearly 25% upside ahead. PepsiCo also made the list, having a price return relative to the market over the past 13 weeks at 5.4%. While the stock is negative on the year, it's risen 15% in the past three months, outperforming the broader market. When the cost of a college degree can exceed $500,000, it's smart to consider schools with reputations for providing students with the education and experience necessary to thrive after graduation. And when it comes to the best return on investment, the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta earns top marks for the third year in a row, according to The Princeton Review's latest rankings. The publication considered colleges' ratings in the following categories to determine which schools offer the best value: Academics: based on admissions selectivity and student surveys based on admissions selectivity and student surveys Financial aid: based on school-reported data and student opinion based on school-reported data and student opinion College costs: based on the difference between the school's sticker price and average scholarship and grant awards Of course, the amount you ultimately pay for your college education may depend less on a school's sticker price and more on your family's financial situation. It's possible for some students to go to an expensive college for free or close to nothing if they qualify for and receive federal or institutional aid. But with relatively low tuition fees and high median earnings among former students, Georgia Tech offers the best value for students out of the nearly 400 colleges Princeton Review considered. Like other schools known for their academic rigor, Georgia Tech's focus on science, technology, engineering and math likely contributes to the high salaries students go on to command. Forbes named Georgia Tech one of the "new Ivies" in 2024 and again in 2025. The list identified highly selective universities that employers say are on par, if not better, than the eight Ivy League colleges. Still, "there isn't a sense of cut-throat academic rivalry" at Georgia Tech, a student wrote in Princeton Review's survey. "Everyone is much more helpful and supportive of one another." Here are the 10 public colleges with the best ROI, according to The Princeton Review, along with tuition figures for the 2025-26 academic year, per the schools' websites; average annual net prices and median earnings among students 10 years after attendance, according to Department of Education data. A local house with a porch in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA. Wolfgang Kaehler | Lightrocket | Getty Images A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox. The great wealth transfer is leading to a great real estate transfer, with up to $25 trillion in real estate owned by older generations that could get passed down and fought over in their families. According to Cerulli Associates, $105 trillion is expected to be passed down by baby boomers and older generations by 2048. Real estate, including primary and vacation homes, as well as investment properties, is expected to be a large component. The silent generation and baby boomers own nearly $25 trillion in real estate combined, according to the Federal Reserve. Yet with property comes conflict. Wealth advisors say handing down real estate is increasingly filled with both financial and emotional pitfalls for families, ranging from taxes and maintenance costs to disputes over ownership and usage. The straightforward solution is just to sell it and divide the proceeds. "Some people want to retain the house and other children don't," said BNY Wealth's Jere Doyle. "I can tell you, as a practical matter, there's going to be fights. There's going to be disagreements. You're not going to have the perfect situation." But lawyers and wealth planners say there are measures families can take to more effectively pass down real estate to minimize taxes, costs and family battles. Here are five secrets to successful real estate inheritances, whether it's an apartment on Park Avenue, a beach house on the Vineyard or a ranch in Montana. 1. Transfer real estate in your will or through a trust to avoid a major tax bill. Passing down vacation homes is the most fraught, said Elisa Rizzo of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Her clients often downsize their primary residences later in life, but families stay attached to their second homes. "That vacation home, often for our families that are very mobile, becomes the centering place," said Rizzo, head of family office advisory at JP Morgan. "The vacation homes are where people go, and they make really special memories with one another, whether it's a ski house up in Vermont or a vacation home on Nantucket." Doyle advises against gifting long-held real estate before you die. If your heirs choose to sell the property, they have to pay capital gains taxes on the property's appreciation since the parents originally bought the property. "If you give during your lifetime, the kids take your cost basis," said Doyle, senior estate planning strategist for BNY Wealth. "One of the things that people have to bear in mind is that the senior generation probably didn't pay an awful lot for the property." There are ways to minimize the tax burden, such as using a qualified personal residence trust. However, if you can afford to wait, it is best to leave real estate to your heirs in your will or in a trust at death, according to Doyle. If the heirs later sell the property, they only have to pay capital gains taxes on how much the home has appreciated since they inherited it. 2. Use LLCs and trusts to shield the home from lawsuits. Rather than having the heirs own the property directly, lawyers recommend placing homes in a limited liability company and setting up a trust for the kids' benefit that holds interest in the LLC. These legal maneuvers protect assets in several ways. For instance, if a vacation home is rented and a tenant slips and falls, the heirs are not held personally liable for any damages. "Your other assets, stocks, bonds, are not subject to any creditors' claims," Doyle said. It also shields heirs from the liabilities of their siblings, according to Dan Griffith, director of wealth strategy at Huntington Private Bank. For instance, if one heir files for bankruptcy, the LLC structure prevents the creditors from putting a lien on the shared home, he said. You can also save on transfer taxes by gifting interest in an LLC that owns the property rather than putting heirs' names on the deed, Griffith said. Since these fractional interests are illiquid, parents can claim a discount on the taxable value. Get Inside Wealth directly to your inbox The Inside Wealth newsletter by Robert Frank is your weekly guide to high-net-worth investors and the industries that serve them. Subscribe here to get access today. 3. Outline who gets to use the home and how. Parents can put rules in place with an operating agreement for the LLC. Clients can use the document to make sure the home doesn't end up in the hands of their children's spouses, which is a common concern, according to Northern Trust's Laura Mandel. "Typically families want to retain these properties along the bloodline," said the chief fiduciary officer. Parents can restrict an LLC interest from transferring to surviving or former spouses of their children. With a well-drawn trust, it would be difficult for the spouse to contest it in court, Mandel said. These operating agreements often include buyout provisions that allow the heirs to buy out the spouse. Parents can also use the document to guide how the property is used, such as laying out how many holiday weekends each child gets, who has the right to redecorate or whether the home can be rented out or used for weddings. Leaving these issues unaddressed can cause fights among siblings. Mandel recalled a set of four siblings with a large ranch out west that they rented out frequently. After complaints that the ranch felt like a "VRBO," Mandel helped the siblings reach an agreement on how the property could be used. 4. Set aside liquid assets for the house's upkeep and insurance. Money is the most common trigger for family feuds, Griffith said. An inherited home can quickly become a financial burden unless the parents also set aside cash to pay for the upkeep. "What ends up inevitably happening there is that one person pays the bills, and then enormous resentment grows, because either that person has to ask their siblings or cousins for money and sometimes those people don't pay," he said. "Or they say, 'Hey, I'm the one paying all the bills. How come I don't get to use this more often than any of the rest of you?'" Doyle recommends that parents use liquid assets like marketable securities or take out a life insurance policy in order to endow the trust. This outlay makes it possible for siblings to hold onto the home even if they can't afford to share the expenses. "In a lot of cases, you may have some kids that can afford to pay the maintenance expenses, and others can't, so how do you treat them equally?" he said. However, the operating agreement should still include a contingency plan for dividing expenses if the trust runs dry. This is especially important for waterfront homes that are expensive to insure or susceptible to erosion. 5. Prepare for the likelihood that some heirs may want to cash out. The U.S. and South Korean flag against the backdrop of a building. When South Korean President Lee Jae Myung meets U.S. President Donald Trump next week for their first summit, he will be asked to pay more for the upkeep of American troops on the peninsula during talks set to be dominated by security issues and China. Left largely out of the frantic trade talks that culminated in an unwritten deal last month, questions over the future of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the approach to nuclear-armed North Korea will be a key part of the White House discussions, officials and analysts said. A thorny issue for Lee may be Trump's push for Seoul to pay significantly more for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a key area of focus would be so-called burden-sharing, and Trump is expected to push the South Koreans for more. Seoul provides more than $1 billion a year to support the U.S. troop presence and also paid to build the largest U.S. base overseas, Camp Humphreys, said Victor Cha, of Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. "But President Trump clearly wants more," Cha said, noting his past calls for Seoul to pay $5 billion or even $10 billion. "He wants defence spending closer to 5% of GDP for all allies; South Korea is currently at 3.5%." South Korea wants to modernise the U.S. alliance to adapt to the changing security environment such as U.S.-China rivalry and is looking at higher defence spending, Seoul's top security advisor Wi Sung-lac said. "The issue (spending) is being discussed between South Korea and the United States, and the figures and such are still in progress and under discussion," Wi told a press briefing. Kilmar Abrego Garcia walks, as he has been released from the Putnam County Jail in Cookville, Tennessee, U.S., August 22, 2025. U.S. immigration officials have notified Kilmar Abrego Garcia of their intent to deport him to Uganda, his attorneys said in a Saturday filing that accuses the government of pressuring Abrego Garcia to accept a plea deal. The move comes after Abrego Garcia, who in March was wrongfully deported to an infamous prison in El Salvador, was released from a jail near Nashville, Tennessee on Friday. He had been held there since he was returned to the United States in June to face federal human smuggling charges, which he denies. In the new filing, Abrego Garcia's lawyers say that the Trump administration offered on Thursday to deport him to Costa Rica, after serving any sentence imposed by the court, if he agreed to remain in jail until Monday and plead guilty to both counts in the criminal indictment. Abrego Garcia declined to prolong his stay. His attorneys write that "within minutes of his release" on Friday, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement representative informed them that "the government intended to deport Mr. Abrego to Uganda," ordering him to report to ICE's office in Baltimore on Monday morning. His attorneys allege that the Trump administration is effectively forcing Abrego Garcia to choose between pleading guilty and being deported to Costa Rica, or being deported to Uganda. "On Friday evening, the government informed Mr. Abrego that he has until first thing Monday morningprecisely when he must report to ICE's Baltimore Field Officeto accept a plea in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, or else that offer will be off the table forever," his attorneys say. "There can be only one interpretation of these events: the DOJ, DHS, and ICE are are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat," Abrego Garcia's lawyers write. It is official. Indian tourism to Turkey has halved in the last three months, after the role of Ankara in arming and backing Pakistan became clear during Operation Sindoor.Latest figures of Turkish tourism accessed by News18 show only 16,244 Indian tourists went to Turkey in July this year, compared to 31,659 in May. That is a nearly 50 per cent drop. Even comparing the year-on-year figures, the massive drop is clear. Against 16,244 Indian tourists landing up in Turkey this July, 28,875 went there in the same month last year. That is a 44% drop.Turkeys role was exposed in May with the discovery of Turkish-made drones being used by Pakistan against India during Operation Sindoor. Turkey also adopted a blatant diplomatic stance in favour of Pakistan. Since then, a Boycott Turkey" campaign has emerged in India.This has had a visible impact, as the number of Indian tourists going to Turkey fell from 31,659 in May to 24,250 in June and now 16,244 in July. These three summer months are the top tourism months for Indians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gave a clear message in June when he visited Cyprus, and, along with President Nikos Christodoulides, he went to the historic centre of Nicosia, where they were given a guided tour along the United Nations ceasefire line, a symbol of the islands long-standing division. Christodoulides also showed PM Modi the mountainous region in northern Cyprus, which has remained under Turkish occupation since 1974.Prime Minister Modi last month told Parliament that only three of the 193 member countries of the United Nations favoured Pakistan, while the remaining nations stood in Indias support during Operation Sindoor. He was referring to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijannations that have often stood by Islamabad on the international stage, including at the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The three countries had given statements in favour of Islamabad when the Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Turkeys stance had prompted boycott calls in India, and travel portals like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, and Cleartrip said they would not promote Turkish tourist packages.The sharp drop of nearly 50% in Indian tourism numbers to Turkey since May is not surprising. When a country openly sides with forces that challenge Indias sovereignty, it cannot expect Indians to contribute to its economy. Today, Indian travellers are more conscious of where they spend their money. They prefer destinations that value India and Indians. If any foreign country wants Indian footfalls, it must respect our people and our country. This decline in Turkeys numbers is a wake-up call for all the foreign tourism boards. They cannot take us for granted. India is a global force, and respect for our nation is non-negotiable," said Nishant Pitti, chairman and founder, EaseMyTrip.Even in its stance and statements after the Pahalgam terror strike, the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken a full pro-Pakistan line. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also visited Turkey to thank Erdogan for support during tensions with India during Operation Sindoor. #WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand: Rishav Kumar Jha, SP ATS says, "We have extradited him from Baku, Azerbaijan. This is the first successful extradition in the history of Jharkhand police, and we hope that the remaining criminals who are based out of the country will also be https://t.co/bfKxQgUKq5 pic.twitter.com/zR8RFsN9bO ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Jharkhand's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has successfully extradited gangster Mayank Singh, also known as Sunil Meena, from Baku, Azerbaijan. This marks the historic first extradition for the Jharkhand police.Singh was brought back to Ranchi on Saturday morning, August 23. The ATS will produce him before a Ramgarh court and plead for his remand.Singh has about 50 cases filed against him in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and other states. Led by Jharkhand ATS SP Rishav Kumar Jha, the team travelled to Azerbaijan to bring back Singh after a local court ordered Meena's extradition as per the treaty between the two countries, The Times of India reported.At the Ranchi airport, Jha said, We have extradited him from Baku, Azerbaijan. This is the first successful extradition in the history of Jharkhand police, and we hope that the remaining criminals who are based out of the country will also be extradited or deported very soon.This is a huge achievement, and credit goes to our DGP, the CM and the support of both the state and central governments, he said.Mayank looks like an important link between local gangster Aman Sahu and the famed Lawrence Bishnoi gang, he added.Prima facie, he appears to be a point of contact between Aman Sahu and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. We will interrogate him and get all the details as to what kind of relations the two gangs are having in the prison. He has 50 cases registered against him in Jharkhand, Rajasthan and other cases, Jha added.In June 2024, the Jharkhand police issued a lookout notice against Meena. Later in September 2024, the ATS requested the CBI to issue a red corner notice against Meena. The CBI forwarded the matter to Interpol, which spread the message among other countries. The gangster was apprehended last October in Datu, Azerbaijan.Last week, Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) apprehended two most-wanted operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang on the Patiala-Ambala Highway near Shambhu and seized an Austrian-made 9mm Glock pistol and six live cartridges. 480.90 per piece. Delhi-based pharmaceutical company Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited has announced that it will set up a manufacturing facility in Zambia.In an exchange filing released on Friday, August 22, the company said that the company entered into an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Zambia to establish a local manufacturing facility in Zambia and to undertake the manufacturing and supply of medicines in Zambia.The company will be entering into a joint venture with the government of Zambia. In this JV, Akums will be wielding the majority stake of 51%, with the rest lying with the state of Zambia. Both the entities in the JV, as per Akums, will jointly invest in the facility and commercial operations in the ratio of their respective shareholdings.The facility is expected to be completed by 2028 and will look to manufacture general oral solids, liquids, and injectables, as well as beta-lactam products.In addition, Akum also said that the Zambian government shall purchase medicines from the JV having a minimum aggregate value of $50 million over 2 years in 2026 and 2027, i.e., USD 25 million annually, which will be manufactured and supplied from Akum's and/or its subsidiaries facilities in India.Laying out the objectives of the project, the company added that it aims to support the government's national health programmes and enhance local production capabilities.Furthermore, the company also added that the said facility also plans to export to neighbouring countries in the southern half of the African continent, including Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, etc.When it comes to the company's Q1 results, the company recorded a net profit of 63.48 crore in the quarter ended June 2025. This was higher than the previous cycle's 60.17 crore, marking a 5.50% increase in profits.The company's sales rose 0.48% to 1024.03 crore in the quarter ended June 2025.The company shares closed in red on August 22, with a decline of 0.90, or 0.19%. In the past month of trade, the pharma company shares have seen a decline of 60.05, or 11.10%. The current stock price is at Labour in Opposition cavalierly disparaged and disrupted all attempts by the Conservatives to get a handle on illegal immigration, while simultaneously exuding supreme confidence in its own ability to solve the problem by smashing the people-smuggling gangs. (As if the Conservatives hadnt been trying to do just that.) So, after 14 months of Labour government, I think we have a right to expect at least a sliver of progress. Alas, far from any sign of improvement, every relevant measure indicates its getting worse. A record 50,000 migrants arrived illegally on small boats in the first 12 months of Keir Starmers watch, up 27 per cent on the previous 12 months. By the end of June, 111,000 so-called asylum seekers were having their claims processed, another record, and 14 per cent up on a year ago. More than 32,000 of these are being housed in over 200 hotels, a rise of 8 per cent on a year ago, despite Labours promise to phase out the use of this type of accommodation. The few claims of success Labour does make crumble on examination. Starmer boasts that people with no right to be here are being returned in record numbers. In fact, the vast majority of those leaving volunteered to go. The number being forcibly ejected is still minuscule. The latest figures show that in the first half of this year 70 per cent of illegal migrants arriving by boat were single males, aged between 18 and 39, writes Andrew Neil A Labour minister recently claimed most of the boat people were women and children families fleeing persecution and war zones. It was such a ludicrous proposition, he quickly had to correct it. The latest figures show that in the first half of this year 70 per cent of illegal migrants arriving by boat were single males, aged between 18 and 39. The much touted one-in, one-out deal recently agreed with Paris has all the makings of a French farce. Nobody seriously thinks it will make more than the smallest dent in the numbers coming here illegally from northern France. As for smashing the people-smugglers, they seem to be operating with as much impunity as ever. All thats been smashed is faith in Starmers ability to resolve the issue. We are witnessing the impotence of the British state in a matter of grave and growing public concern. As a result, people are at the end of their tether, increasingly inclined to take matters into their own hands. Asylum hotels across the country are facing a wave of anti-immigration protests this weekend after a High Court judge ordered the removal of migrants from a hotel in Epping, Essex, because it did not have planning permission to turn itself in to a hostel (which is what, in effect, it had become). Folks elsewhere are on the march demanding the landmark ruling applies to asylum hotels in their communities too. Yvette Cooper, the hapless Home Secretary, announced yesterday she would appeal the High Court ruling, which is hardly surprising as it stands, it leaves the Governments approach to housing asylum seekers in ruins. Over 80 councils up and down the land, including at least ten controlled by Labour, are mulling copycat versions of Epping Forest District Councils legal challenge. Ministers are stuck up that famously malodorous creek without a paddle. They tied themselves in knots this week when asked, in the aftermath of the court order, where theyd put 32,000 asylum seekers if hotels were no longer an option. It was clear they didnt have a clue. Theres talk of speeding up attempts to move them into rented housing, empty tower blocks and disused student accommodation. Dubbed Operation Scatter, only in the closeted world of the Whitehall Blob, hermetically sealed off from daily reality, could this be regarded as a serious solution. Asylum hotels across the country are facing a wave of anti-immigration protests this weekend after a High Court judge ordered the removal of migrants from a hotel in Epping, Essex Protesters stand behind fencing during a demonstration calling for the closure of the Bell Hotel in Epping At a time of acute housing shortage it would stoke up even more resentment in the wider population, especially among those struggling to afford a decent place to live. Private landlords would be paid handsomely to house migrants in flats and houses at a time when there are already stories of tenants being evicted by unscrupulous landlords in anticipation of bigger takings to come from asylum seekers, whose rents would be paid by the taxpayer. If the Government wants to fan the flames of current protests, it has stumbled upon a foolproof way of doing it. Its time for some fresh thinking, starting with deterrence that is, dissuading illegal migrants from coming here in the first place. At the moment, there is almost none. If you can make it most of the way across the Channel, Border Force vessels will escort your dinghy for the final miles. Youll then be provided with free food, a weekly stipend, a mobile phone and free accommodation often a four-star hotel while your claim for British residence is processed. There is no obligation to do anything but wait. No wonder those protesting this week fear asylum hotels make their neighbourhoods more dangerous. I dont subscribe to the view that migrants are more likely to commit crimes. But I do know that street and violent crime is largely a young, single mans game and most illegal migrants coming by boat are young, single men now with a lot of time on their hands. I think we can all agree they are unlikely to be put off coming here by the prospect of the indefinite right to remain in a comfortable hotel. Sending them to another territory far away from Britain to process their claims might have done the trick. That was the Tories Rwandan gambit. Im not sure it would have worked, since it couldnt be scaled up. But it was killed off by the courts and Labour before it was given a chance. So well never know. In the absence of another territory prepared to take large numbers for processing there is only one other alternative: large-scale detention centres in the UK. Either on some of the islands that surround our shores (we are the British Isles, after all), or in the more remote parts of the mainland. These would provide basic accommodation, decent but spartan, and far away from population centres. Canteens would provide the food weve all eaten at some stage in our lives, there would be medical care and perhaps even some education courses on offer to keep minds occupied. Those who got bored waiting for the asylum process to wend its painfully slow way to a conclusion would be welcome to return from whence they came, perhaps with a little financial assistance. Those who were economic migrants might baulk at such conditions and request to leave the country since it was not quite in accord with the economic nirvana theyd been promised from afar. Genuine asylum seekers would not be deterred, as a temporary stay in a UK detention centre would surely be an improvement on the hardships and danger theyd faced in their homelands. You could be forgiven for fearing that such a project is beyond the capabilities of todays British state. But we quickly built seven Nightingale hospitals in England alone in the early days of the pandemic, each one far more sophisticated than a basic detention centre. Nightingale accommodation for asylum seekers should surely not be beyond even this governments competence. As my Daily Mail colleague Stephen Glover has pointed out, the British Army built Camp Bastion in the wilds of Afghanistan, a vast base accommodating 28,000 people. Pop up detention centres in a few remote corners of our kingdom should be a breeze in comparison. One thing is certain: for the Government to continue on its current ramshackle course would be perilous. The British are slow to anger but, when riled, our fury can quickly boil over. My fear is that todays protests are a harbinger of greater unrest to come. Already, 56 per cent think illegal immigration is the most important issue facing this country. Detention centres would signal to the world that we are no longer a soft touch. And that alone would be the start of the solution. London Tube drivers are among the most feather-bedded of all public service workers. They receive a basic salary of around 64,000 a year for a job which could have been automated years ago and, with overtime and allowances, most earn between 70,000 and 80,000 for a four-day, 34-hour week. Yet next month their union is subjecting passengers to seven days of rolling strikes, citing unaddressed issues of 'fatigue and extreme shift rotation' as the reason and, of course, demanding more cash. So much for the new era of co-operation with the unions that Labour promised in its election manifesto. Perhaps they should have mentioned it to the comrades first. It's not just Tube drivers who are demanding public money with menaces. The Royal College of Nursing and both main teacher unions have spurned perfectly reasonable pay offers and are expected to ballot their members on industrial action. The resident doctors' and Birmingham bin strikes remain unresolved, while action by staff on the Cross Country rail line is expected to cause severe disruption to bank holiday services. Despite having had a 9billion bung as soon as Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Downing Street, they all want more. They are in the extortion business. Nothing will ever be enough. London Tube drivers are among the most feather-bedded of all public service workers - but their union is subjecting passengers to seven days of rolling strikes next month Far from discouraging this kamikaze behaviour, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is piloting a Bill through the Commons that will make striking easier Sucking up to the unions hasn't made them co-operative, it's made them increasingly militant. And the more Sir Keir panders to them, the bolder and greedier they become Never mind that the country is already broke, with near-record borrowing and the highest national debt and taxes since the War. There are distinct echoes here of the 1970s, when bone-headed union leaders sent the UK into a vicious wage-price spiral, ending in mass redundancies and the public sector being slashed as the price for an IMF bailout. Yet far from discouraging this kamikaze behaviour, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is piloting a Bill through the Commons that will make striking easier. Ironically her own civil servants have pre-empted this expansion of their rights by going on strike over being asked to come into the office every now and then. Sucking up to the unions hasn't made them co-operative, it's made them increasingly militant. And the more Sir Keir panders to them, the bolder and greedier they become. Reclaiming the flag The wave of patriotism that has seen Union flags and crosses of St George springing up in towns and cities across the country has not been universally welcomed. Over the years hard-Right groups have attempted to appropriate these standards for their own warped and divisive purposes. So, it's perhaps understandable that some are unnerved by this latest outpouring. The flying of national flags, along with widespread protests over thousands of migrants being dumped on communities ill-equipped to accommodate them, are expressions of disquiet They shouldn't be. They are shared symbols of nationhood that belong to every citizen, regardless of race, colour or creed. As Kemi Badenoch writes in today's Daily Mail, flying them should not be a revolutionary act. It's high time they were reclaimed for all. Labour has spent years denigrating this nation's history and cultural heritage. And with the failure to control migration, people fear society is being fundamentally changed without their consent. The flying of national flags, along with widespread protests over thousands of migrants being dumped on communities ill-equipped to accommodate them, are expressions of their disquiet. The Scots venerate their Saltire, the Welsh their Dragon. Even the Palestinian standard flies high in many cities. Why then should the English be denied a similar right to display St George's or indeed the Union flag. To paraphrase GK Chesterton, the people of England have not spoken yet. But they are beginning to find their voice, and the Government would be well-advised to listen. Official Toryism has now moved from feeble uselessness to crazy lawlessness. The party leader Kemi Badenoch has tried to put herself at the head of those complaining about the punishment of Mrs Lucy Connolly. An obscure Tory peer with intellectual pretensions has joined in, declaring madly that Mrs Connolly who pleaded guilty to a criminal offence and was sentenced according to law, and then released in due time was a political prisoner. Mrs Connolly had gone on Twitter to urge others to set fire to buildings full of people. She did this on the basis of foolish rumours which turned out to be untrue. On Twitter, which seems better at spreading muck than sense, about 300,000 people saw what she said. Around that time, others befuddled by the same rumour had begun to engage in violent disorder on the streets. Even Mrs Connollys growing band of respectable Tory defenders concede that what she said was revolting and stupid. Yet they have decided to identify with her. After the horrific murder of three young girls in Southport, Lucy Connolly went on Twitter to urge others to set fire to buildings full of people They complain of two-tier justice and, of course, they are right that others, equally deserving of fierce punishment, have got away with it. This unequal treatment is rooted in changes which the Tory Party either made or accepted when it was in office. The only wise and thoughtful response is to demand that those others are treated as Mrs Connolly has been, and to pledge action to make this happen. Making this woman into a martyr is dangerous. But theres an interesting thing about the new radical Right which has sprung up since Tory defectors to Reform idiotically put Labour in office last year. Theyre not interested in serious policies that might reverse the Left-wing revolution. Theyre only interested in slogans and the quick and fickle street popularity they get from sympathising with Mrs Connolly. Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch has tried to put herself at the head of those complaining about the punishment of Mrs Connolly This is a grave mistake and a sign of desperation. There is a very old rule about politicians and mobs, and I will restate it here in case the very youthful Mrs Badenoch and Lord Whatsisname dont know it. Those who try to put themselves at the head of a mob in the morning are very likely to end up being chased by the same mob before sunset. This sort of folly endangers law-governed parliamentary democracy and, while you may not think much of it, you will like the alternative even less. Civilisation is delicate and precious. It is easily smashed. I have seen cities and countries which used to be civilised and then descended into disorder. It could happen here as it did there. And Mrs Connollys defenders may well help that to happen. Freedom law is just an illusion You may think that Freedom of Information (FoI) laws make it easy for people such as me to squeeze facts out of unwilling public bodies. It is not true. Last November, I asked Cheshire Police for a recording of a briefing they gave to selected journalists (not me) in October 2022, just before Lucy Letbys first trial opened in Manchester. Alas Vine & Hitchens: What's the big idea? Get the Mail's new politics podcast, hosted by columnists Sarah Vine and Peter Hitchens - wherever you listen to podcasts now. Remember that what I am asking for is material which has already been given to journalists, not some deep national secret. Cheshire Police refused, so I went through Freedom of Information (FoI) procedures. This got nowhere, so I appealed to the Information Commissioners office. I have read their reply several times and discussed it with lawyers. Yet it still seems to say that the information requested concerns a living person, and criminal charges, so it cant be disclosed. Yet it has already been disclosed to a roomful of reporters. So much for FoI. Ukraine warwongers get their way again It look as if the Euro-warmongers who rushed to Washington last week have got their way. A peace deal in Ukraine, never much of a possibility, has now been parked in a dark corner, where I suspect it will rust to death. Im not surprised. Lots of people now prefer war without end to a scruffy, underhand peace. While I long for someone to end this stupid war, I think it is now almost impossibly difficult to do so. As in the equally futile 1914-18 war, too many passions have been unleashed for anyone to accept the sort of shabby deal that used to end wars in the old days. Now they either go on indefinitely, as in Kashmir, or they continue until one side or the other secures a total victory at vast expense, as in the Second World War. But I still dont understand why weak, peaceable European countries are so keen to continue this war, which they did not start or seek. The conflict really belongs to the US, which goaded Russia for years, and to Russia, which eventually lost its temper and moronically did what the US wanted it to. European leaders last week joined President Zelensky in Washington to meet with President Trump to discuss peace talks between Russia and Ukraine Poor old Ukraine just serves as Americas battering ram and as the scene for their quarrel, as Vietnam did in another age. Most EU countries have suffered from this war. Britain, which cannot even protect its own south coast, is in no fit state to match its denuded forces against Russia. But some such plan seems oddly popular with populations who seem to think the blood and screams will never come near them or their homes and families. This is the second time that European politicians have managed to extend Americas proxy war in Ukraine. I cant think why. Back in 2022, peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul were derailed. Europe, much encouraged by one Alexander Johnson, persuaded Kiev back then to believe it could win a shooting war against Russia. Many thousands of deaths and much misery later, this has turned out to be a false promise. But, as the severely anti-Putin commentator Owen Matthews rightly says in The Spectator, Ukraines President Zelensky cannot possibly make the concessions demanded by Putin. As Mr Matthews says: Its possible his troops would refuse orders to withdraw even if he tried to make them. And Ukraines ultra-nationalists would be literally up in arms over such a betrayal, making Ukraine instantly ungovernable. Zelensky has been the prisoner of these ultras since his attempt to make peace (he campaigned for office on a peace platform) was derailed by protests in 2019. As so often, those who started this should have remembered that wars are easy to begin and very difficult to end. But there really is a major wisdom shortage in the world just now. First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar calls for concerted efforts to realize right to development Xinhua) 10:52, August 23, 2025 Jiang Jianguo, executive vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and vice director of the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee, addresses the First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 22, 2025. The First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar was held on Friday in Addis Ababa, under the theme "Building the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and Working Together to Realize the Right to Development." (Xinhua/Han Xu) ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar was held on Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, under the theme "Building the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and Working Together to Realize the Right to Development." The event brought together more than 200 policymakers, scholars, diplomats, and media representatives from China and Africa to explore ways to advance human rights, particularly the right to development. In his address at the event, Jiang Jianguo, executive vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, noted that development is the eternal theme of human society and also the top priority for the Communist Party of China in governance. He said the historic achievements made in China's human rights cause demonstrate that ensuring and improving people's livelihoods, and promoting and protecting human rights during the process of development, form the foundation for advancing modernization and the right path to a happy life for humanity. The people of China and Africa, both cherishing peace and development, have always stood together through thick and thin to achieve human dignity and value, said Jiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and vice director of the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee. Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai, while addressing the event, emphasized the great potential for deepening human rights cooperation between China and Africa. He said China is the world's largest developing country, and Africa is the continent with the largest number of developing countries. The two sides share similar ideas and demands, and have a profound understanding of each other. For his part, Fekadu Tsega, director general of the Policy Studies Institute of Ethiopia, highlighted that this seminar is conducive to promoting the building of the China-Africa community with a shared future and facilitating the realization of the right to development, describing the event as a landmark platform for shaping the future of human rights governance and strengthening cooperation between Africa and China. Liberian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeddi Mowbray Armah said Liberia is committed to South-South cooperation, to strengthening Africa's strategic voice in shaping its future, and to establishing a China-Africa community with a shared future that is characterized not only by trade and investment, but also by inclusiveness, empowerment, and peace. At the seminar's closing ceremony, the Addis Ababa Consensus on the China-Africa Right to Development was released, following three sub-forums on poverty reduction, sustainable development, and international solidarity and cooperation. Liberian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeddi Mowbray Armah addresses the First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 22, 2025. The First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar was held on Friday in Addis Ababa, under the theme "Building the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and Working Together to Realize the Right to Development." (Xinhua/Han Xu) Fekadu Tsega, director general of the Policy Studies Institute of Ethiopia, addresses the First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 22, 2025. The First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar was held on Friday in Addis Ababa, under the theme "Building the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and Working Together to Realize the Right to Development." (Xinhua/Han Xu) Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai (at the podium) addresses the First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 22, 2025. The First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar was held on Friday in Addis Ababa, under the theme "Building the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and Working Together to Realize the Right to Development." (Xinhua/Han Xu) The First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar, under the theme "Building the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and Working Together to Realize the Right to Development," is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Xu) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The numbers dont lie. Keir Starmers political fate is now sealed. On Tuesday, pollster YouGov published its latest government approval figures. Starmers had collapsed to a net rating of minus 56, matching the final level of Rishi Sunaks doomed administration. In addition, Sir Keir had a personal approval rating of minus 44. Yes, its only one poll. But it tells a story that is supported by a plethora of other data. A second pollster, Ipsos Mori, has been publishing approval surveys for half a century. And the figures are unequivocal. In December 1981, Margaret Thatchers net approval stood at a subterranean minus 41. Then Argentina invaded the Falklands, and it rebounded to plus 23. At the time of the 1982 election it had slipped back again, but was still in positive territory at plus 9. During her second term, Thatchers popularity waxed and waned. At its lowest point, in August 1986, it had dropped as low as minus 36. But by June 1987, when Britain again went to the polls, she had recovered to plus 1. John Majors lowest rating was plus 4, after which he comfortably won the 1992 Khaki Election, following Thatchers defenestration and the successful expulsion of Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. Tony Blair momentarily plunged to minus 31 during the September 2000 fuel protests, and minus 35 following the invasion of Iraq. But he rallied to win the 2001 and 2005 elections. David Cameron slumped to minus 30 before recovering to overcome Red Ed Miliband. And Boris began his premiership in negative territory, and had fallen to minus 20 by December 2019. Yet he was still able to best Jeremy Corbyn at the polls. But, according to Ipsos Moris most recent survey, Keir Starmers rating is a staggering minus 54. Of those questioned, 73 per cent say they are dissatisfied with his performance, while only 19 per cent express approval. No Prime Minister has ever recovered from the depths of such unpopularity to win a subsequent general election. Yes, political fortunes are fickle and can be transformed. But that requires a number of factors. The first is a united party. And Keir Starmers is starting to fracture. Just before the summer recess, his seemingly impregnable majority of 174 crumbled as his MPs rebelled over his welfare bill. The Cabinet have begun to openly defy him, ambushing him and forcing him into the panicked announcement that his government would recognise a Palestinian state. His activist base is drifting away to Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana and their as yet unchristened party. And potential successors Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper are beginning to activate their leadership campaigns. A second prerequisite for any potential recovery is a clear, focused political strategy. And Keir Starmer currently has the clarity of vision of a blindfolded miner who has just been robbed of his Davy lamp. Sir Keior Starmers activist base is drifting away to Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana and their as yet unchristened party According to Ipsos Moris most recent survey, Starmers rating is a staggering minus 54. No Prime Minister has ever recovered from the depths of such unpopularity to win a subsequent general election At the start of the week, it emerged that the Prime Minister was set to embark on a new campaign to talk up Britain. According to a briefing given to Huffington Post, itll be about how the Government is a force for good backing Britain, dismissing this sense of Britain being broken which the other parties seem obsessed with. That will be a big part of the run-up to conference. Reform and the Tories talk about Britain being broken and thats just not what the PM thinks. Which would be fine, if the party most obsessed with claiming the country is broken wasnt Keir Starmers own. Last year it was Sir Keir himself who unveiled an analysis of the national finances by baldly stating: The assessment will show that Britain is broke and broken revealing the mess that populist politics has made of the economy and public services. Last week, Home Office minister Angela Eagle responded to the chaos created by a court ruling backing the closure of The Bell Hotel in Epping by insisting: This Government inherited a broken asylum system at the peak there were over 400 hotels open. The Governments messaging is now in utter disarray, with Starmer and his ministers running around, issuing directly conflicting, and increasingly incoherent, statements. And thats because their entire political strategy is underpinned by a series of glaring contradictions. At times the Prime Minister seems to want to fall back on the tried and tested technique of blaming his predecessors for the mess he inherited. Then he suddenly changes tack, and instead tries to pretend to the nation the mess has been successfully and neatly cleared away. All the while trying to rationalise why, if Britain really is no longer broken, things are getting so much worse. And that is, perhaps, the key reason why Keir Starmers premiership is now doomed. To claw things back the Prime Ministers luck needs to turn. And it is indeed about to turn. Its going to get a whole lot worse. The real political problems havent even begun for this Government. In a couple of months, Rachel Reeves is going to have to deliver her Budget. And at that moment she, Keir Starmer and the Labour Party will fall off a cliff. A taste of whats on offer was provided last week by a raft of increasingly haphazard not to say manic briefings over how Reeves intends to fill the gargantuan hole in the public finances. It began with a threat to introduce some sort of Mansion Tax. This morphed into a warning that any home valued more than 500,000 would be targeted. By Friday just about anyone who had ever clicked on RightMove was reportedly in the Chancellors sights. In a couple of months, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is going to have to deliver her Budget. And at that moment she, Keir Starmer and the Labour Party will fall off a cliff This increasing desperation in government circles is because the truth is finally dawning on Keir Starmer and his ministers. They have nowhere left to hide. Last December, Rachel Reeves announced to the CBI: I do not plan to have another Budget like this. I have wiped the slate clean. Public services now need to live within their means because Im really clear: Im not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes. It was a lie. In the Budget she will announce more borrowing, more taxes and more public spending. And when she does, she and the Prime Minister will look back with fondness at the days when his approval rating languished at minus 54. There is now nothing that can save Sir Keir. When Reeves officially breaks her tax promise, its game over. From that moment there is no statement, or policy or pledge that can be issued that will shift the publics perception of their government and Prime Minister. The Starmer administration is about to be locked on to the railway tracks. And the destination is electoral oblivion. The numbers dont lie. Keir Starmer has reached the point of no return. Gareth Jones had to sneak to the local gym to shower and use the toilet, and was punished with beatings A man who escaped an abusive relationship after nine months of hell has revealed how his ex-girlfriend forbade him from eating or using the toilet and branded him 'worthless'. Gareth Jones, 41, now based in Cheshire, was subject to coercive control, verbal and physical abuse after moving in with with Sarah Rigby, also 41. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Gareth revealed how Rigby controlled his meal times and portion sizes, forbidding him from eating more than her. She also stopped him from defecating in the house and restricted him to just one shower per fortnight, forcing him to wash at the gym. Caught in a cycle of abuse, Gareth was terrified to speak out against his partner, who threatened to accuse him of raping her in he told anyone about her abuse. However after seeking help and support from a charity, Gareth was finally able to break the cycle of abuse and moved out of the house of horrors he shared with Rigby before reporting her to the police. Last month, she pleaded guilty to coercive control at Chester Crown Court and was given a suspended 20-month sentence. NHS manager Gareth, originally from Pontypridd, met student nurse Rigby on the dating site Plenty of Fish and has previously described the early days of as like 'a normal relationship'. Gareth Jones (pictured), 41, from Pontybridd in Wales, suffered nine months of horrific abuse at the hands of his ex-girlfriend Sarah told Gareth that if he 'dared' disclose the abuse to anyone, she would go to the police and tell them he had raped her Gareth began sending evidence to his mother when Sarah said flippantly that she might 'end up killing him' However, looking back now, he realises aspects of the relationship were 'overpowering' and likened it to 'love-bombing'. Within two months of meeting Rigby, Gareth had moved in with her - but almost as soon as they were living under the same roof, her behaviour began to turn. Rigby began to control every aspect of Gareth's life, including when he ate and when he showered - branding him 'fat', 'disgusting' and 'smelly' among other insults. As a result of her tight control of his portion sizes, Gareth lost a staggering four stone in just two months. She made Gareth drink half a bottle of mouthwash, saying she wouldn't kiss him until he did. Amid her campaign of abuse, Rigby threatened that if Gareth 'dared' disclose it to anyone, she would make the false claim that he had raped her. Speaking to MailOnline, Gareth said: 'She told me "Who are they going to believe? Me or you?" 'It completely, completely battered my confidence. I felt completely demoralised. Sarah Rigby (pictured with Gareth) banned Gareth from showering, using their bathroom and restricted his meal times 'When you're being told you're worthless, overweight, smelly - you start believing these things.' Gareth said he noticed the change in Sarah's behaviour when he moved in with her. She immediately demanded he 'back pay' 700 in rent from the previous four months he had spent time there, as well as 700 monthly rent and all of the bills. Despite this, Gareth was refused a house key and had to leave the property while Sarah was out, which meant he was often left roaming the streets. Rigby didn't allow Gareth to keep his belongings at the house, saying they were 'excessive' and eventually confining his clothes to the garage. Throughout their relationship, Rigby kept her dating app profile live and used it to taunt Gareth, leaving him 'intimidated' by other, younger men who showed an interest in her. The abuse was also financial, with Gareth giving his ex around 40,000 in cash and gifts while they were together. Once, when visiting London together, Sarah ordered Gareth to buy her 'something expensive'. She clawed his arm through his jumper until he bled, and refused to leave until he spent 2,000 on a designer handbag. Gareth described how, in their early stages of dating, he had booked a romantic trip away but Sarah told him at the last minute that she didn't want to continue the relationship. When Gareth moved in, Sarah immediately demanded he 'back pay' 700 in rent from the previous four months he had spent time there, as well as 700 monthly rent and all of the bills Despite paying rent and all of the bills, Gareth was refused a house key and had to leave the property every time Sarah was out, instead roaming the streets or working at a library Having lost money on the trip, Gareth reactivated his profile on the dating app, messaging other women in pursuit of a romantic connection. Sarah then told him she had 'made a mistake' by ending things so abruptly and asked him to come round to her house. While Gareth was showering, a message popped up on his phone from a match on the dating app. 'She came downstairs and went berserk and then threw me outside in my underwear,' Gareth said. 'I was stuck outside in my boxers. She was refusing to give me anything back.' Eventually, Sarah gave Gareth some of his clothes. He went home and heard from her two days later. 'It was always very apologetic,' said Gareth. 'She'd say "This is just a phase I'm going through, things will be better". 'You start believing that this is just what this person is going through at the moment, and come out of it. 'And because you're then trapped in that bubble, you don't really see it.' After Gareth moved in, Sarah began frisking him every time he exited or entered the house, looking for possessions she didn't approve of. After Gareth moved in, Sarah began frisking him every time he exited or entered the house, looking for possessions she didn't approve of Last year, Sarah (pictured outside court) received a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a 35-day rehabilitation order If he fell short of her expectations, Rigby would punish him through kicking, biting, clawing or punching him. He was made to sleep on the floor with no covers and the windows open, and was locked out of the house so frequently during the day that he began working through the night. Gareth said: 'If she wanted to go out, just because she felt like it, I'd have to go and walk the streets. 'I would have to make excuses for missing meetings with work. 'I used to have to do most of my work at night, save it, then send it first thing the following morning so it didn't look to my work as if I was working through the night.' Rigby banned Gareth from seeing his friends and family, and he had to sneak out to see his mother when his abusive partner was out. 'At Christmas, my brother was visiting with my little nephew,' Gareth recalled. 'He said "I'm sure it'd be nice for Uncle Gareth to give the Christmas presents." My nephew was only two or three at the time. If Gareth fell short of Sarah's expectations, he would be punished by Sarah kicking, biting, clawing or punching him Gareth was made to sleep on the floor with no covers and the windows open, and was locked out of the house so often during the day that he began working through the night 'I really wanted to go meet them, and Sarah said to me "You're not going to see them. And if, if you do go and see them, I'll ring the police and tell them you raped me." In the short time Gareth spent with his mother, she began to notice bruises on his arms. Gareth now has a permanent scar across his nose, which he claims he sustained from when Rigby threw a candlestick holder at him because 'she was having a bad day.' 'She used to periodically kick me out, so a couple of times I went down to my parents' house,' said Gareth. 'My mum was imploring me to leave, saying "Look, you need to get out of this relationship". 'I tried to play it off a few times but eventually I was only allowed to have a phone conversation if [Rigby] was in the room next to me. 'And then she talked about putting cameras up around the house. 'Then once she said "If this continues, I might even end up killing you." Sarah banned Gareth from seeing his friends and family, and he had to sneak out to see his mother while Sarah was out Gareth now has a permanent scar across his nose from where Sarah threw a candlestick holder at him because 'she was having a bad day' 'That's when I started taking screenshots and sending them to my mum. Rigby would delete calls and texts from Gareth's phone but, when he could, he began sending as much evidence of her abuse as possible to his mother for safekeeping. They used the code word 'cat' to indicate that it was safe to text and talk freely without Rigby's leering influence. He once stayed awake through the night, sending as much as much evidence as possible and deleting the texts afterwards. Eventually Gareth decided to leave, motivated by desire to relieve his family's worry. 'I knew I'd have to do it when she wasn't expecting it.' Gareth turned to the Mankind Initiative charity for help, and was advised to leave with just the essentials - laptop, passport, phone, wallet and driving license. 'She had taken my passport but I remembered where she'd hidden it,' said Gareth. Sarah would delete incriminating texts from Gareth's phone, and even began talking about installing surveillance cameras 'I went upstairs to pretend I was going to brush my teeth, went into the bedroom, got the passport and put it down my pants, because I knew she wouldn't check down there.' He pretended he was going to the library to work, but was stopped at the door by Rigby. 'I think she said something like "You'd better not be trying to sneak down the gym again for a shower." 'She said "Well, fine, but you better be back in four hours otherwise you're in trouble, and I'll be ringing you in an hour to make sure that you are down there." 'And then, I walked out. I rang my mum first, and I said "I'm out, I'm done, I'm out." 'I rang the police straight afterwards. And then I broke down. 'I'll never forget the weather as well on that day, because it was like that flying, misty rain, you know, it's not really raining, but it still gets you wet, that type of rain. 'The police came down and took a statement. [Sarah] tried to ring me a couple of times, and they said not to answer it, which was really, really, hard. Gareth found the courage to leave, sought help from the Mankind Initiative, underwent a year of therapy and is now spreading awareness about male domestic abuse victims 'They were just shocked. They made a phone call to the sergeant and said, "Yeah, we're going to arrest her." Gareth has since spoken publicly about his story, and moved the nation by coming forward to tackle the stigma surrounding domestic violence suffered by men. He is now an ambassador with the Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA), a charity that pushes workplaces to take action on domestic abuse, and allow employees to turn to their seniors for help if they, or someone they know, is at risk. 'The more men that can speak up and address the stigma, the more it shows others that it does happen,' said Gareth. 'It is okay to say that you're not okay. It helps, I think, just sharing support within the male community to show there are a lot of different impacts of domestic abuse, and it's that psychological impact that's the most long-lasting.' Susan Bright, CEO of EIDA, told MailOnline: 'Everything we do is rooted in the experience of people who have suffered domestic abuse. 'Its absolutely vital that everything we do and suggest is practical and will work from a survivors perspective.' EIDA offers a free membership and connects workplaces to one another, raises businesses' awareness of domestic abuse and provides a step-by-step employer guide on effective employer responses to domestic abuse. The organisation also works with academics and the government to create change and influence policy surrounding domestic violence. For confidential support, call ManKind on 0808 800 1170 or see mankind.org.uk for details Elezha Hudson, from Houston in Texas, is yet to experience her first kiss A woman who is still a virgin at 27 years old has revealed why she doesn't even plan to kiss anybody until her wedding day. Elezha Hudson, from Houston in Texas, was just 10 years old when she told her mum she didn't want to kiss someone she wasn't married to. Now almost 30, the security guard claims she has stuck to her word and still hasn't experienced her first kiss. She says that when people find out they wonder 'if she's in a cult' or 'there's something wrong with her'. The singleton says she goes on dates but the relationships don't last long if the other person wants to be intimate before saying 'I do'. Elezha admits that despite being excited to finally kiss 'Mr. Right' she would be happy to remain 'kissless' for life if she doesn't meet him. She is now speaking out to show others that choosing not to have sex isn't something to be ashamed of. Elezha said: 'I've never had a first kiss. The meaning of a kiss is different for me and I'm waiting for the one to have this moment with. Elezha Hudson from Texas has revealed why she's still a virgin at 27 - and hasn't had her first kiss yet 'When I speak to people my age or younger, they are usually shocked and sometimes a bit disturbed. 'While at work, we would be on break and the conversation would randomly come up about marriage. 'Especially when you're talking to guys, the conversation quickly goes to intimacy and they are normally taken back when they hear that I'm 27 and a virgin.' Elezha is a Christian but says remaining a virgin until marriage is a 'personal choice' and says she knows people in her faith that have had sex before their wedding day. She continued: 'I get asked if there is something wrong with me or if I'm in a cult, but this doesn't bother me. 'I have dated before and usually it's not a surprise for them as we've had a conversation about it even before dating. 'When I meet the person, some have the same values and some don't and then the relationship doesn't continue further. 'I'm a virgin and I'm saving this for marriage too. A kiss can sometimes lead to intimacy and I don't want any of this before my wedding day. Now almost 30, the security guard claims she has stuck to her word and still hasn't experienced her first kiss She says that when people find out they wonder 'if she's in a cult' or 'there's something wrong with her' 'Before speaking with people in the same situation, I did feel uncomfortable as I would question if there was something wrong with me. 'As I became older though, I realised it's nothing to be ashamed about. I'm comfortable with the idea that if it never happens [my first kiss or losing my virginity], I'm not missing out on anything. 'If a family is what I desire, I can adopt and have a family. I will just be a kissless person.' She says she doesn't feel like she is missing out by waiting until the big day for her first kiss and admits she can't be disappointed as she has nothing to compare it to. Elezha said: 'When you have never kissed anyone, people ask how I know if they're going to be a good kisser. It doesn't matter to me as I have nothing to compare it to. 'I don't feel like I'm missing out. If I really liked that person, I don't think it would be a problem. 'At one point in high school, I did ask myself if I was scared of intimacy. 'I think it's more about being intimate with someone that doesn't really like me and they took something from me that's important. Elezha is a Christian but says remaining a virgin until marriage is a 'personal choice' 'On my wedding day, I'm excited to share a kiss with someone who wants commitment. 'I'm more excited about being with a person that I have a real connection with rather than the kiss itself.' In 2018, a study revealed that the number of people in Britain who have never had sex is on the rise - partly due to the fear of intimacy and being humiliated on social media. One in eight 26-year-olds told researchers from the Next Steps project - which charts the private lives of millennials - that they were virgins. This is a considerable rise compared to previous generations, where the figure was one in 20 - including late bloomers such as comedian Jimmy Carr, now aged 52, who didn't have sex until he was 26. 'Millennials have been brought up in a culture of hypersexuality which has bred a fear of intimacy,' Susanna Abse, a psychoanalytic psychotherapist at the Balint Consultancy, told the Sunday Times at the time. 'The women are always up for it with beautiful bodies - and the men have permanent erections... The fear for young men is of being humiliated that they can't live up to that, plus the fear of exposure in your Facebook group,' she continued. It is possible that the real figure for virginity is even higher. In 2018, a study revealed that the number of people in Britain who have never had sex is on the rise (stock photo) These 'late-bloomers' also include Lauren Harkins, who previously revealed she was still a virgin at 33. While her friends were having their first crushes and navigating their way through their first relationships, Lauren found herself disinterested - viewing them as 'juvenile' and 'overly complicated.' Deciding striking up a romance wasn't for her, Lauren, from Portland, Maine, admits she's never felt the need to prioritize having a romantic relationships in her life, and therefore has remained a virgin. 'I'm a virgin but I'm not a traditional, usually it's one or the other but I'm just very content on my own,' she continued, describing it as a 'unique situation.' 'The 20s is such a confusing time, everyone is figuring out careers and navigating all this stuff - it just wasn't something I wanted,' she added. Meanwhile in May this year, Andrew Brookman said she is still a virgin at 47 as he is 'petrified' to be intimate with anyone. His parents divorced when he was aged 10 which fuelled his fear of being social, getting into a relationship or being intimate with anyone, he claims. Andrew didn't want to go through arguments and had a 'fear of life' so felt he would 'rather be on my own'. He says his fears also stemmed from suppressing his sexuality and homophobia he saw at the time he was growing up. Porn became his 'only outlet' and reference for sex and Andrew says he struggled with an addiction to watching it for up to a two hours a night everyday when he was in his 30s. Now he is starting to open up about his sexuality and is no longer ashamed of being a 47-year-old-virgin. He feels he can relate to those on Channel 4's new show, Virgin Island - a unique course in intimacy to help them overcome the fears that are holding them back. Krispy Kreme has launched a limited edition collection of doughnuts - inspired by Harry Potter and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The range, which hit shelves in the UK on August 18 and will be available for a limited time, has four different flavours - representing the four Hogwarts houses, all retailing from 3.49 - in addition to one speciality option, which costs 3.99. They include the Gryffindor Doughnut, which is filled Biscoff Kreme and topped with red icing, biscuit crumble and the Gryffindor crest. The Slytherin is an Original Glazed doughnut with chocolatey and green frosting swirl, dark crumb, silver sugar and a Slytherin crest. Meanwhile, the Hufflepuff Doughnut is another filled treat - this time with Caramel Kreme - topped with chocolate drizzle, cookie pieces and the Hufflepuff crest. Finally, the Ravenclaw features an Original Glazed doughnut, which is dipped in blueberry flavour icing, and topped with sprinkles and the Ravenclaw crest. In addition, there is one speciality 'one-of-a-kind doughnut celebrating the Hogwarts houses' on offer. According to the brand: 'The new specialty Sorting Hat Doughnut is a surprise house coloured Kreme Kreme, representing one of the four Hogwarts Houses, dipped in chocolatey icing sprinkled with gold stars, and topped with the Sorting Hat piece. Take a bite to see which house you will reveal.' Among the social media creators who sampled the sweet treats online was Ishan (who uses the handle @ishxn.a). He described the partnership between the doughnut brand and the franchise as 'the collaboration of the century' The Sorting Hat doughnut is sold separately in a limited-edition specialty box exclusive to Krispy Kreme shops only, while stocks last. Accompanying the sweet treat range is a line of Golden Snitch drinks. These include the golden caramel toffee inspired Golden Snitch Latte (from 4.69), the Golden Snitch Ice Latte (from 4.69) and Golden Snitch Shake (from 5.49), topped with whipped cream, cookie crumble and gold sugar. The Golden Snitch drinks are available in Krispy Kreme shops only while stocks last. Speaking about the range, Alison Holder, chief brand and product officer for Krispy Kreme said: 'We're channeling the beloved magic of Harry Potter and the Houses of Hogwarts for a collection that is truly bewitching. 'But the magic is fleeting, and so are these doughnuts, so don't miss your chance to try them!' Fans on Instagram seemed to be excited about the new offering, with one writing: 'Cant wait to try these! I might be a Gryffindor but the Slytherin one looks amazing!' Another wrote: 'How to order or where to get this ? Im underneath the spell of this duo of donuts and hogwarts.' TikTok creator @heymazz (pictured) picked up the range of limited edition Harry Potter doughnuts Krispy Kreme has launched a limited edition range of Harry Potter- themed doughnuts which are available now In a similar vein, one Instagram user said: 'Harry Potter themed doughnuts?! Were obsessed.' 'Obsessed with these!! ' said another. 'Been trying to find a sorting hat one but havent been successful yet. I will not give up.' A further Instagram user simply wrote: 'I am EXCITED.' Similarly, the doughnuts were popular among TikTokkers, with numerous sweet-toothed creators reviewing them. Among them was UK-based creator Ishan, who uses the handle @ishxn.a. In his video about the limited edition Krispy Kremes, he described the partnership between the doughnut brand and the franchise as 'the collaboration of the century'. He continued: 'The Gryffindor one has Biscoff cream inside with Biscoff pieces. 'I'm so excited to try this, because me and Biscoff are inseparable.' A number of fans took to Krispy Kreme's Instagram to comment on the brand's post announcing the collaboration - with many excited about the limited edition treats Biting into the doughnut, he described the flavour as 'insane', adding: 'I'm in heaven. I'm in literal heaven right now.' Meanwhile, TikTokker @heymazz tried the Sorting Hat Doughnut, hoping to reveal red filling representing Gryffindor in her video on the platform. She was pleasantly surprised to find that the filling (which can be any of the four colours) was indeed red. Sampling bites from other flavours, she described the doughnuts as 'yum'. The Harry Potter doughnuts are available individually and in custom-designed multi packs in-shop and for pickup or delivery via Krispy Kreme's app and website, and third-party retailers. Two years ago Oliver Alvis was the sort of young man every parent hopes their son will be. Diligent, clean-living, responsible, he worked long hours as a train driver and had paid off the mortgage on his four-bedroom home. He had also gained his private pilot licence in his spare time and bought his own light aircraft. All this, and he was not yet 30. But today he has lost everything: health, home, job and the future bright with hope and promise that beckoned. The cause? A constant, nerve-fraying wakefulness that has deprived him of restorative sleep for almost two years. Its not merely poor sleep, its the virtual obliteration of sleep, he says. I dont feel drowsy. I dont drift off. Im locked in a perpetual state of alertness. Endless days bleed into interminable nights and its torment. Sleep deprivation isnt just exhaustion, it dismantles your spirit. Ive lost almost everything. The person I once was has disappeared. How can something as natural, as essential as sleep be completely stripped away? I used to wonder what pain could drive someone to wish for death. Now I understand. I dont want to die, but I cant survive this torture much longer. I would give every penny I have worked myself into the ground for, just to be able to close my eyes and sleep. And the hardest part for Oliver is the absence of answers. His GP has said there is nothing more he can do. His psychiatrist has run out of options. No one really knows how to approach this despite the fact that sleep is the very foundation of life itself, says Oliver, 32. Oliver Alvis has lost everything thanks to a constant, nerve-fraying wakefulness that has deprived him of restorative sleep for almost two years In his spare time, he had gained his private pilot licence and bought his own light aircraft Oliver started working for Great Western Railway (GWR) as a ticket inspector at 18, rising through the ranks to become a train driver His body seems resistant even to powerful anaesthesia. Hes been injected with the drug used to sedate patients before surgery, yet that still didnt make him unconscious. And the effects of this constant restiveness are gruelling: I have spent the past 21 months in a waking nightmare, fighting to survive in a body that feels like its on fire, burning from the inside. My head is gripped by the most torturous pressure imaginable. My joints, bones and muscles scream with pain. I feel like Im in an iron suit. My eyes feel like theyre melting out of my skull. I cannot walk in a straight line. My sight is impaired. I cant digest food properly. I cannot relate to anyone any more. Nothing gives me pleasure or enjoyment; not watching a film, eating, reading a book. And through every day and night, I remain awake, not even drowsy trapped in a mind that cannot rest, cannot recover, cannot reset. Its desperately lonely because I feel Im the only person in the world who suffers like this. How long can a human mind and body endure sleeplessness? Total insomnia is considered a fatal condition, says consultant neurologist Professor Guy Leschziner, author of The Nocturnal Brain, who specialises in sleep disorders. While we do not have very clear data from humans for ethical reasons, dogs kept awake will invariably die within 17 days, and rats will also die within 32 days. And yet Oliver claims he has been living without restorative sleep for nearly two years, confounding the medics he has consulted in the UK, according to documentation seen by the Mail. Ive begged doctors and emailed sleep experts and scientists around the world, pleading with them to observe me over several weeks. I have offered to pay but my pleas have gone unanswered. If youre a researcher, a neuroscientist, a sleep specialist or simply someone who believes this could be real please, Im begging you to come forward. Now funding his own private treatment from the proceeds of the sale of his house, he is currently travelling the world in pursuit of a diagnosis and effective treatment, undergoing dozens of therapies. Nothing has worked so far. Desperate, tearful, often close to breaking down, he speaks to me from a rented apartment in India, his latest stop off. Why is he in India? Im trying all kinds of medications, therapies, alternative treatments, just to see if they will make me sleep, he says. But nothing works. Occasionally I sleep for an hour a night but I still feel wired. Not tired at all. His voice he speaks with a soft West Country accent cracks. Im sorry for crying, he apologises. But its just so painful. Ive collapsed in airports. I fall on the floor. I walk the streets at night, envying the homeless people who can fall asleep in shop doorways. I would swap places with them just for the oblivion of sleep give up every penny I have to sleep like a normal person. People think Im delusional, he says. But why would I make this up? I have nothing in the world to gain from pretending I cant sleep. Its hard to believe, I know. Two years ago I would not have believed it could have happened myself. He is talking now, he says, to raise awareness of how debilitating insomnia can be and how little is known about it. Before his waking nightmare began, Oliver filled every minute of his life with work and activity. Its not merely poor sleep, its the virtual obliteration of sleep, he says. I dont feel drowsy. I dont drift off. Im locked in a perpetual state of alertness' He has resorted to travelling the world, pictured in Italy, in pursuit of a diagnosis and effective treatment and undergoing dozens of therapies One of six siblings, he was raised in Wiltshire, where he still lives. His dad, a retired police sergeant, and his mum, a riding instructor, are now divorced, but they imbued all their children with a strong sense of public service and the values of thrift and altruism. Throughout his 20s Oliver bought, renovated and sold properties in his spare time. The estate agent Purple Bricks used his success story in a promotional video. By the age of 28 he had paid off his mortgage and owned his detached house. My life was filled with purpose, structure and ambition, he says. Id built everything I had through dedication, discipline and hard work. I never wasted a day. He started working for Great Western Railway (GWR) as a ticket inspector at 18, rising through the ranks to become a train driver. He also gained his private pilot, powerboat and motorcycle licences. He shows me photos of himself a handsome young man with a dimpled smile and bright eyes flying his own aircraft over his home town. He was poised to complete his aerobatic training and hoped to perform at air shows when sleeplessness descended. Today he looks utterly wrung out theres a deadness in his eyes, a shadow of stubble, and he can barely walk from fatigue. Weve communicated most days for a couple of weeks. Sometimes he has neither the energy nor the capacity to speak. It is remarkable that he can even marshal his thoughts coherently. But when he musters the strength to talk he is polite and although he pauses often to gather the threads of a thought lucid and articulate. During those pre-insomnia years he was focused, energetic, determined. He kept in peak physical condition: I lived cleanly never touched alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. I trained at the gym every day and spent as much time as possible outdoors. I had a vision for my life. Sleep never eluded him in those busy, productive years. Id sleep six, eight, ten hours a night, without any struggle, he says. Then, without any warning, his life was thrown into disarray: It was so unthinkable, so unimaginable, I still struggle to understand it. He tells the story of how it all started at the end of December 2023. I came home from work late one evening and couldnt sleep. I thought nothing of it. But the next night, sleep didnt come again. Days passed still no sleep. The strangest thing is, I didnt even feel drowsy. There was no drifting off, even for a second. My brain felt as if it was stuck in an emergency mode that would never turn off. From that moment Ive barely slept at all. First, he tried over-the-counter remedies, then he went to his GP who prescribed sleeping pills; neither of which worked. On January 5, 2024, he drove a train for the last time, realising it was no longer safe for him to do so. He continued to go regularly to his doctors surgery in his fruitless search for answers he has seen every GP in the busy Chippenham practice where he is registered. One told me to go home, light a candle and relax. Another said I was delusional. Then I was told: Im tired of you now. Theres no more we can do for you. Ive been dismissed, ridiculed, humiliated. I asked my doctor: What do people with serious sleep issues do? He said: They stop calling us. After a month or so Oliver was referred to an NHS psychiatrist who was also confounded by his case: He admitted he just didnt know what the answer is. Oliver, one of six, pictured with his brother Monty passing out at Sandhurst I walk the streets at night, envying the homeless people who can fall asleep in shop doorways. I would swap places with them just for the oblivion of sleep,' says Oliver, pictured in India Oliver sold his house and moved back in with his mother, Jill, 57, early in 2024. She remains distraught: He had the world at his feet, she tells me. I just do not understand how this has happened. When he first moved back in with me Id try to stay up all night with him, talking to him. But I couldnt do that for long. He became more and more desperate and lonely. Hed tell me hed taken enough prescribed sleeping tablets to knock out a rhino but still he stayed wide awake. Oliver corroborates this: Ive been all over the world trying different sleeping tablets and strong hypnotics at very high doses and nothing puts me to sleep. Youd think a drug company would want to experiment on me. The most powerful sleeping medications are just like taking a sugar pill to me. He says he has consulted more than 50 GPs, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists and sleep clinics. He has been referred to mental health teams and has been admitted to hospitals, including psychiatric units (there is a strong link between prolonged lack of sleep and mental health issues) across the UK. Doctors have diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder (he witnessed a suicide and an attempted suicide while a train driver) chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, a disease that causes brain fog, insomnia and fatigue. But when he was referred to the Royal United Hospital, Bath for further exploration he was just told to pace himself and rest between activities. It was useless advice. I told them I couldnt brush my teeth without feeling I was going to die, he says. No one, it seems, has succeeded in establishing the root cause of his problem. Meanwhile, he has spent tens of thousands of pounds on private treatments in his desperate search for respite. And the list of treatments is long: from cognitive behavioural therapy to hypnotherapy, sound baths, Chinese massages and meditation retreats. Hes been prescribed the gamut of drugs from benzodiazepines strong sedatives for anxiety and insomnia to sleeping pills, opioids and painkillers. Wrung out and despairing of ever finding relief, he flew to Colombia, South America, in June to take ayahuasca with a shamen. The powerful, hallucinogenic plant medicine is said to have healing properties and therapeutic effects on depression but can also be fatal. It had no effect on me at all, says Oliver. From there, propelled by sheer desperation, he continued his odyssey, flying to Turkey for a stellate ganglion block a series of injections in his neck to modulate an overactive nervous system, commonly linked to insomnia. The video he shows me is heartbreaking. When the procedure brings no relief, he breaks down. I just want to go to sleep. I just want to go to sleep, he cries between sobs. Then the doctor, sympathetic to his plight, agrees to give him a general anaesthetic just so he can have some rest. He shows me a video of the Turkish hospital where the doctor and his medical team inject the anaesthetic propofol into Olivers arm but astoundingly even this does not deliver oblivion. The doctor is incredulous. He laughs in disbelief. You are very powerful man, he says. Oliver replies: Youve injected me with anaesthetic and I feel nothing. Within half an hour, having failed again in his quest for unconsciousness, he is out with the doctors having lunch, trying to smile, tortured by the obduracy of his condition. It simply will not relent. It will not bring him relief. His distress is perpetual and excruciating. I am a ghost of the person I was, he says. One theory, suggested by Professor Leschziner, is that Oliver could be experiencing a condition called paradoxical insomnia. This is where someone perceives themselves to be awake, despite their brainwaves showing that they are getting some sleep. This used to be considered a psychological issue, but recent evidence suggests that what might actually be going on is that while most of the brain is in sleep, regions of the brain responsible for consciousness or awareness do not show such deep sleep activity, explains Professor Leschziner. It can be a difficult condition to treat, but is sometimes amenable to both drug and non-drug based treatments. Occasionally paradoxical insomnia can also be seen alongside mental health conditions, and the treatment of associated mental illness is also very important. Whatever the explanation, Olivers suffering clearly continues. One evening, after speaking to me, he took a handful of prescription tablets Xanax, diazepam, zopiclone and melatonin then lay down for two hours, but sleep still eluded him, he says. Every day I am dragged through a kind of torture that is simply too much for any human being to bear, he says. It is a slow, waking death with no rest, no relief, just pain and disbelief that something like this can even happen. All I long for is rest, so that I can live, not just exist. Ill never forget the first time that I held a womans hand as she slipped away. I was volunteering at a local hospice and had been asked to sit with her because she was constantly crying out. Though she was young, she had no family or friends to comfort her. She had been restless and terrified. All I could think was: What would her mother do if she was here? So, I held her hand and told her that I would stay with her. She stopped crying and turned to look at me, and I began to sing. A warm cloak pulled in around us and I could feel her fear begin to ebb away. She knew she was dying and that there was no turning back. Her body and soul knew what to do. Feeling safe with me holding her hand, she surrendered and grew calmer. Despite the pain and anxiety, there was also a feeling that all was well. And it was. She died very peacefully a few hours later. Her death showed me how miraculous and rich a good death could be. So much so that I decided to dedicate my life to the terminally ill and, leaving my job as a health journalist, became whats known as a Soul Midwife, someone who offers love, compassion and practical help in the final weeks, days and minutes of someones life. Over the past 25 years I have sat at the deathbeds of hundreds of people, and I have come to a profound understanding of what really happens when you die, both physically and spiritually. Also known as death doulas, Soul Midwives are today frequently found working alongside doctors and nurses in salaried roles within hospitals, hospices and care homes, as well as supporting people in their own homes. In 2017, I was even named End of Life Care Champion by the UKs National Council for Palliative Care. Felicity Warner is a Soul Midwife, someone who offers love, compassion and practical help in the final weeks, days and minutes of someones life Yet the work of a Soul Midwife is far from clinical. As Soul Midwives, we marvel at the mysteries of the dying hour and have deep insights into them. We know that as we watch, wait and listen, miracles sometimes do happen. Soul Midwives are very often drawn to the work they do because they are often highly sensitive people who feel the emotions of others to an extraordinary extent. That was certainly the case for me. As a child, I dreaded meeting new people not because I was shy far from it but because I was hyper-aware of what they felt. If someone held my hand or sat me on their knee, I could sense their energy and read their thoughts. I could also smell if they were ill, even if the illness hadnt manifested yet. I remember hearing an aunt talking about the cruise of a lifetime she was going on in a few months time and knowing that shed have a heart attack. She died on the ship at Southampton, only half an hour after boarding. Staying with school friends was impossible. While everyone in the house slept, Id see things hovering in the shadows and have innocent conversations with the familys dead relatives (at the time, I didnt realise that they were dead). Gradually I learned to disguise my peculiarities. I was bright and outgoing and became a very skilled chameleon. But in my mid-forties, I experienced a huge power surge in my abilities. I woke up one morning and felt as if I had been completely rewired. It was as if the volume dials on all my senses had been turned to full. Everything danced and pulsed with light and for the first time, I began to see auras the energy fields that surround all living things around people. It fed directly into my work as a Soul Midwife, allowing me to better sense the approach of death, feel the departure of spirits in the moment of leaving, and even help trapped spirits escape to the light. Today, in the days and hours before someones death, I can often detect changes in their aura. An aura is made up of two parts: the etheric, which is next to the skin and looks like a thin band of smoky grey film, and the energetic, which extends like a colourful, swirling plume all around the body for about 40cm (16 inches). With old age, or as the dying person becomes weaker, the etheric aura begins to fade until eventually it becomes almost undetectable. However, a couple of days prior to death it begins a rapid transformation, becoming softer and fuller. The colours of the energetic aura also begin to fade during the weeks before death, until there is only a faint glow left, giving the aura a pale and hazy appearance. As with the etheric aura, however, the energetic aura expands just prior to death, and this often has the effect of temporarily revitalising the dying person. Observing auras can also be a useful way of gauging how much time a dying person is spending out of their body in preparation for finally leaving. When someone is out of body, the aura virtually disappears, and at this point, you know that the end is near. In the years after that first young womans death, I began to see a pattern in the deaths around me. I could see that on a very primal level there was a common experience of dying that was somehow being missed or overlooked in the busy medical context. So today I believe that dying consists of three distinct psycho-spiritual phases: 'Today, in the days and hours before someones death, I can often detect changes in their aura,' says Felicity 'Those who have near-death experiences often recall a tunnel of light where they are greeted by loved ones or spiritual beings and are enveloped in the purest energy of love,' Felicity Warner writes Chaos: At the start, following a diagnosis, when death is imminent, all safe boundaries are dissolved and there is often a feeling of intense emotional chaos. Surrender: After a period of fighting the illness, there comes a point of surrendering and going with the flow. Transcendence: A period sometimes very brief, perhaps only during the last moments of bliss and ecstasy as transition occurs. Those who have had near-death experiences often recall experiencing the same sensations: a chill spreading up through the body, a sensation of rocking backwards and forwards, disorientation, an altered sense of time, a diminishing of the senses, starting with touch and followed by taste and smell, then sight and hearing and loud buzzing noises. As they move out of the body, they are able to look down and see their empty shell. They then enter a tunnel of light where they are greeted by loved ones or spiritual beings and are enveloped in the purest energy of love. Towards the end, though the physical senses are fading, the dying may become super-sensitive to things we cannot perceive. They may become aware of worlds beyond this one. They often experience hallucinations and visits from deceased loved ones. One woman I worked with, Catherine, had been in the hospice for several weeks, hardly speaking. Yet when I went in to see her, she told me that her (deceased) parents and sister (a twin who had died at birth) were with her in the room. She carried on a detailed conversation with them while I was there. She died two days later, at peace in the knowledge that she was joining her loved ones. Soon after clinical death, when the heart has stopped beating and the last breath has been taken, the final stage, the separation of the spirit and the soul, will take place. Soul Midwives call this the unbinding. To many people, the spirit and soul are one and the same thing. However, Soul Midwives tend to see a distinction between the two. The spirit is the transitory and ego-based aspect of our personality, relating to who we have been in this lifetime. It drives us on throughout our lives, in an upwards, soaring, expansive and spiralling motion. It finally disperses and vanishes at the point of death or soon after. The soul meanwhile is the eternal template, a map of everything we are and have the potential to be. Its nature is deep, solemn and immortal. I know this sounds woo-woo but for me, it is an understanding based on decades of study. Over the years I have spoken to many of those who deal with the dying doctors, nurses, nuns, priests, healers and celebrants. The separation of spirit and soul is a splitting of two different energies which can be intuited at the moment of death. For those like me who are thoroughly experienced in these extraordinary last moments, sometimes it is even seen as the separation of a thin silver cord, which spins from a centre point in the body in two opposite directions. The spinning motion thins the cord, which then dissolves. Sometimes I can see the soul or spirit energy leave the body before clinical death has been recorded. Even though the persons heart is still beating and they are continuing to breathe, you can feel them shift and then leave. Indeed, the shift of energy can be very dramatic an energy explosion creating shock waves around the room. Often that explosion is then followed by a vacuum-like force, which sucks the energy from the room, including the warmth. A sudden chill can appear and the area around the dead person can feel very cold. Soul Midwives often feel the spirit of the person around them for some time after the death. It can be hours or days, but usually it takes about three days for an energy signature to disperse. If you experience a sense of your loved one after theyve gone, continue to talk to them and reassure them until that sense disperses. Many families who are newly grieving receive signs sometimes subtle, sometimes not that their loved ones are still present. Birds are a common motif, but so too are butterflies and animals acting strangely in general. I have lost count of how many stories I have heard about birds flying into the house and staying around for a few days following a death, or a cat arriving, or a pet behaving differently. I once heard of an out-of-season butterfly that seemed to be everywhere, fluttering around the supper table and even appearing at the funeral. The strangest story I heard was the appearance on a bedroom wall of a message written in lipstick after the sudden death of a young husband. It simply said: I love you. Occasionally, a persons energy wont go at all. As Soul Midwives, we sometimes have to help someone who has become trapped and earthbound move towards the light and leave. There are various reasons for an energy body to linger when a physical one has died, including guilt, fear, unfinished business or not enough spiritual energy to move to higher planes. The excessive grief of loved ones left behind, and their inability to let go, can also cause a spirit to become earthbound. Sometimes spirits dont even know they are dead. When we work with earthbound spirits, we spend time talking to them first. Some spirits need to be counselled to help them overcome a fear of annihilation, which is often the real reason for them not moving on. Soothing them and giving them confidence, as well as showing that there is nothing to fear, will in most cases be enough to convince them it is safe to move forward. We offer all earthbound spirits love and compassion before asking that they be received by someone already dead who loves them and will help them towards the light. Soul Midwives usually do this as a group, sitting in circle together or linking up at certain times when we can focus together. Though rare, spirits can also attach themselves to us and create problems for our own wellbeing. Common symptoms of spirit attachment include feeling restless and frustrated or as if your energy is being drained. Or waking up in the early hours and finding it hard to get back to sleep. Sensing or seeing presences. Having sharp pinprick feelings over the legs, hands and arms. Feeling something crawling under your skin, or feeling unexplained bursts of anger, sadness or other emotions. Some people, especially those who are very empathetic, are more susceptible to picking up stray spirits than others, and some environments have greater numbers of discarnate spirits than others too. Hospitals, for example, tend to have larger numbers of spirits because many people die in them. To release a spirit which has attached itself to you, breathe in their suffering, surround it with light, then breathe it out again and let it go. Adapted from The Soul Midwives Handbook (Revised Edition) by Felicity Warner (HayHouse, 14.99), to be published on Tuesday. Copyright Felicity Warner 2025. To order a copy for 13.49 (offer valid to September 6; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Queen Camilla was pictured beaming on Saturday while attending the final day of the Ebor Festival in York. The royal, 78, a huge fan of horseracing, has been a patron of the racecourse since June 2024. Camilla is even believed to have interrupted her annual summer holiday in Balmoral with King Charles to attend the festival earlier this week. She was pictured looking chic as she joined other racegoers on Thursday, the second day of the event, which ran from August 20-23. Once again, the queen looked stylish during her appearance at the York venue on Saturday, donning a pale blue coat dress, featuring a v-neck. She opted for a natural make-up look, with a dewy base, soft blush, and a pink lip. Meanwhile, her light blonde locks were worn loose, styled into loose waves, which fell beneath her large, pale cream straw hat. The final touch to her stylish ensemble was jewellery, which she kept simple, sporting a pair of pearl earrings. Queen Camilla (pictured, left) is seen at York Racecourse while attending the final day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival on Saturday It comes after the royal attended the event on Thursday, during which she unveiled a plaque at the racecourse in celebration of the Juddmonte International race being named by the Longines World Racing Awards as the 'World's Best Race' of 2024. Upon her arrival that day, Camilla was met by Chris Legard, Vice Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Bridget Guerin, the Chairman of the York Race Committee, and William Derby, the Chief Executive of York Racecourse. She was pictured smiling as she greeted the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Martin Rowley BEM, and took the salute from the RAF Falcons display team at the start of the racing programme. Throughout the day, Camilla chatted to fellow racegoers and met representatives of local charities supported by York Racecourse. Camilla looked typically elegant during her appearance, donning a pale blue coat and a cream, wide-brimmed hat featuring a bow. She took off her knee-length jacket to reveal a long-sleeved, floral dress in white, blue and red. Perfect for the bright day, it had puff sleeves and a pleated skirt. Her ensemble was accessorised with a striking necklace made up of four strings of pearls and diamonds as well as a pair of classic pearl earrings and several dainty bracelets in silver and gold. And the royal carried a beige, woven handbag by Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta, which matched her suede, pointed-toe kitten heels. The royal beamed as she attended the event in Yorkshire. She has been a patron of the Yorkshire racecourse since June 2024 RACES: The horseracing fan appeared engrossed in the action as she watched on from the stands TENSE: At one point on Saturday, the queen appeared tense as she watched one of the races from the stands As patron, Camilla cut the ribbon to open the racecourse's new Bustardthorpe Development last year after the refurbishment of the 1913 Bustardthorpe Stand had been completed. She was later taken on a tour of the grounds before taking her spot in the royal box, where she was seen holding a pair of binoculars and paying close attention to the races. The Queen's love for horses echoes that of her mother-in-law, the late Queen Elizabeth II. Camilla has even reportedly taken over the day-to-day running of the late Queen's stables rather than King Charles. She also has a life-long association with equestrian charities. As the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla supported the Ebony Horse Club, the British Equestrian Federation and the Brooke Hospital for Animals. In 2013, she joined Queen Elizabeth II on a joint visit to the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, south London, where children learn to ride in an urban setting. Queen Camilla is pictured while presenting Oisin Murphy the trophy for winning the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes During her appearance on Saturday, Her Majesty (pictured, centre) was snapped socialising with others at the event Her Majesty interrupted her summer holidays to attend the York event this year - leaving Balmoral Castle so she could watch the races. There, she and King Charles have been joined by other members of the royal family in a tradition that has been continued since the estate was acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852. Last Friday, the royal couple were pictured together attending a service of remembrance marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire was organised by the Royal British Legion in what made for a moving tribute to war heroes. Charles and Camilla were moved to tears by the powerful first-hand testimony of VJ veterans as they spoke at the event. READ MORE: Supplements taken by millions linked to deadly liver disease Courtney Kidd was just 19 when she learned she'd eventually die if she didn't get a new liver. The New York teen had been diagnosed five years earlier with Crohn's disease, which causes inflammation in the digestive tract. During a round of routine bloodwork, doctors noticed Kidd had elevated liver enzymes, proteins that help produce substances like bile to filter toxins out of the blood. After an MRI scan, doctors diagnosed Kidd with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a progressive liver disease that causes scars to form inside the bile ducts, which makes them narrow. Bile then builds up in the liver and causes progressive damage and eventual liver failure. Kidd, now 38, told the Daily Mail: 'I was still in bed, and the doctor came in and sat down on my bed and took my hand. And that's never a great sign. 'And I just remember her going, "I don't want you to Google this, but you have something called PSC".' Kidd, a clinical social worker and professor at Stony Brook University on Long Island, followed her advice for some time before finally researching the condition and coming to terms with the inevitable reality: one day she would need a liver transplant. Courtney Kidd, a 38-year-old clinical social worker and professor, was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis nearly two decades ago. Now she needs a liver transplant She said: 'It was terrifying, but I didn't have a lot of choices. There's no real medication for it. There's no treatment for it. 'And so I kind of decided, have to do things when you feel good, because I have no idea what's going to happen with this.' About 100 million Americans have some form of liver disease, and most don't know it. Fatty liver disease, the most common type, often develops silently, causing few or no symptoms at all. But over time, the liver gradually becomes inflamed and eventually scarred, a condition called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is irreversible, meaning the only treatment is either a partial or full liver transplant. It's unclear exactly what causes primary sclerosing cholangitis, but it's thought that immune reactions to toxins or infections, as well as conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, may raise the risk. About nine in 10 PSC patients also have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lowest parts of the colon. Kidd now is one of 9,000 Americans awaiting a liver transplant. This makes it the second most sought after organ behind kidneys. While most organs come from deceased donors, more and more patients with liver disease are seeking live donors. Living donors provide up to 70 percent of their liver to a recipient. Unlike other transplanted organs, the liver regenerates. In fact, it only takes about three months for both the donor and recipient livers to regrow to their full size and capacity. 'The liver is an incredible organ,' Kidd said. 'A lot of people don't realize you can donate part of your liver and be totally fine without any change to their lifestyle.' Most living liver donors are close family members or friends, but everyone in Kidd's inner circle has not been a match. Living donors need to be the same blood type as the recipient or type O negative, the universal donor blood type. They also need to be free of any form of liver disease, be under 50 and have a relatively healthy lifestyle. Kidd, pictured second from the right, once traveled the world and lived abroad. Her condition has now progressed and forced her to stay stateside Kidd is pictured above with her family. Family and friends have been tested, but none have been a match to donate to her yet Kidd spent nearly a decade 'fairly asymptomatic' after her diagnosis, allowing her to travel to 12 countries, including living in Scotland for three years before moving back home to New York. This is because PSC progresses slowly and is usually diagnosed via routine blood test or x-ray before symptoms like fatigue, yellow eyes, itching and abdominal pain set in. In later stages, it can cause fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss and an enlarged liver and spleen. Kidd told this website: 'The only symptom I really had was that my lab work was getting worse, the liver enzymes were getting worse.' When she finally did develop minor symptoms in her late 20s, they started with what she calls 'the itch.' The liver normally processes and excretes bile acids, but as it failures, those acids build up in the bloodstream and skin, causing an unbearable itch. Kidd said: 'I knew at that point I had kind of crossed over the mark of being symptom free to symptomatic.' Her condition deteriorated in her 30s, forcing her to cut down on travel and be placed on the transplant list for a new partial liver. A patient's need for a new liver is measured by a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, which ranges from six to 40. A higher score indicates a greater risk of death within three months or a more urgent need for a liver. Patients with high MELD scores are prioritized for getting an entire liver from a deceased donor, which means patients like Kidd have to rely on living donors. Kidd's MELD score is around 10 to 12. She told this website: 'My MELD score has, fortunately and, yet, unfortunately, remained very low, so I have no hope of a deceased donor call coming in. I will not get a call at this point saying, "Hey, we've got a liver for you. Come in for surgery."' 'So my only viable option without getting really sick is a living donor.' But in later stages, conditions like PSC can progress rapidly while Kidd waits for a donor, leaving her with less time to get a new liver than her MELD score may suggest. Kidd said if she gets a transplant, she will take her mother (pictured here with Kidd) to Ireland As Kidd awaits a transplant, her treatment plan 'is to try to stay out of the hospital as much as possible.' 'I fail pretty drastically at that,' she added. 'I've landed myself there twice this summer alone.' PSC can put pressure on the portal vein, a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver. This causes blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach to enlarge and become prone to rupture and bleeding, which requires urgent attention. Liver disease has also weakened Kidd's immune system, landing her in the hospital with infections several times a year. Despite this, she has maintained her private therapy practice, though she has had to cope with less freedom. She told this website: 'I try to live as normally as possible. I had to stop a lot of the things I love. I used to be a huge traveler. I would kind of just drop the hat and go to Europe for a weekend and see my friends. 'I would fly back and forth, I would go see friends, I would travel. I would do a lot of things, even making plans, seeing shows. It's always with the kind of asterisk now of if I can. So I'm homebound a lot more, more New York-based.' Kidd's donor would need to have either type A or O blood and be able to locate to the Long Island, New York, area for surgery. Testing prior to surgery can be done remotely, and Kidd's insurance covers all costs for the donor's treatment. Those who are interested in getting tested can visit Kidd's website for more information. If Kidd gets the call that there's a donor ready for her, she's most looking forward to hopping on a plane again and jetsetting around Europe. For her first trip with a new liver, she plans to take her mother to Ireland. She also hopes to start a national liver donation registry to help other patients get matched with a donor more quickly. Kidd told this website: 'I'd really like to get back to my life.' As irritating as it may be to admit, 'mess equals stress' isn't just a catchy phraseit's backed by science. Clutter really can harm mental health. Psychotherapists warn that holding on to possessions for too long can create 'an emotional prison that is difficult to escape'. Dr Katie Barge told the Daily Mail that the old adage 'tidy home, tidy mind' is borne out by researchand the effect is particularly pronounced for women, people with mental health difficulties and those with ADHD. 'It's a vicious cycle,' she explained. 'The more prone you are to stress and anxiety, the more likely you are to have a cluttered home, which then feeds into that stress and anxiety. 'Stress feeds clutter, and clutter feeds stress. 'Our brains see clutter as visual noise, which makes it harder for us to focus and relax. 'That's why clutter feels so draining, because it creates decision fatigue. Instead of thinking "what's my next task?", people are stuck asking "do I clear up the clutter?". It clogs up our brain space.' Psychotherapists warn that holding on to possessions for too long can create 'an emotional prison that is difficult to escape' Homes often act as museums of personal history, filled with souvenirs from holidays, wardrobes packed with rarely worn clothes, and the inevitable 'bits and bobs' drawer best left unopened. While it can seem comforting to surround ourselves with physical reminders of the past, research shows that too much clutter can be harmful to healthand by the time people realise action is needed, it can feel impossible to know where to start. 'There's a tipping point,' said Dr Barge. 'When your house gets so messy and cluttered, it reaches this point of overwhelm where the brain can't even find one corner to focus on clearing out.' A 2009 study by UCLA found a direct link between messy homes and high levels of cortisol, the body's stress hormone. The researchers concluded that women living in cluttered households produced more cortisol than those in tidier environments. There are many reasons why clutter builds up. Sometimes it is sentimental, sometimes it stems from guilt over how much money was spent on unused items, and sometimes it is the deluded hope that they may prove useful 'one day'. Families face extra challenges as children outgrow clothes and toys faster than they can be thrown away, creating yet another mountain of mess. And clutter can even be passed down through generations. 'If we grew up in cluttered homes, we're more likely to have a cluttered home,' Dr Barge added. At the most extreme end of the scale are hoarderspeople whose homes become unliveable due to the sheer volume of possessions they accumulate, some of them decades old, broken or rotting. 'Often hoarding is linked to attachment needs, it really relates to childhood and our inner child,' she explained. 'The need to hold on to things sentimentally can often be because we didn't get the kind of nurture that we wanted from our parents, so we develop sentimental attachments to birthday cards and things like that, where people show their love. 'Similarly, we'll just hold on to silly things that have those kind of values to us it's an attachment response.' As a psychotherapist, Dr Barge has worked with scores of hoarders and others struggling to sift through box after box of personal items. 'Quite often I'll use guided meditation and hypnotherapy with them to release the association with the object and the emotion,' she said. 'It usually goes back to something like the death of a parent when they were young, or parents divorcing, or when their children move out of home and they get that empty nest feeling. Researchers concluded that women living in cluttered households produced more of the stress hormone cortisol than those in tidier environments 'I help them see that the emotion they're attaching to whether it's their child's love, or the love that they're looking for isn't in that object.' Dr Barge also offers her clients practical advice. 'I tell them to start with one small space, even just one drawer,' she said. 'If the whole house is cluttered, we'll let it get worse and worse because tackling it in one go just feels too overwhelming.' Her views are echoed by Ingrid Jansen, who co-hosts The Declutter Hub Podcast with Lesley Spellman. 'Living with clutter means making hundreds of tiny decisions every day: where is that thing, do I need it, what should I do with it? That's exhausting and creates decision fatigue,' she told the Mail. 'Holding onto outdated belongings such as old clothes, textbooks or ornaments often ties people to past versions of themselves. Instead of helping us cherish memories, these items can weigh us down and stop us moving forwards. 'In the end, decluttering isn't just about creating a tidy home. It's about creating a calmer mind, stronger routines and better wellbeing. More space in your home really does mean more space in your head and that means more calm in your life.' The psychology of hoarding has long held public fascination, spawning a string of hit television shows. Programmes such as Hoarders in the US and Britain's Biggest Hoarders on the BBC have drawn millions of viewers, shocked by the sight of homes so full of possessions they are virtually uninhabitable. Experts say part of the appeal lies in the extreme contrast: while most people may wrestle with a messy drawer or an overstuffed wardrobe, seeing lives overwhelmed by clutter on such a scale can be both horrifying and strangely compelling. The shows also shine a light on the deeper emotional struggles behind hoarding, exposing how what looks like 'junk' from the outside can carry powerful psychological meaning. At first, the small bruises scattered across her body seemed harmless. As a woodwork teacher, Elaine Hold thought nothing of it. I was used to banging about, picking up knocks and being a little bit clumsy, so when they appeared, I didnt really worry, she recalls. When the then 46-year-old mother of two from Newcastle also began suffering breathlessness and fatigue, she visited her GP but blood tests came back clear. Her symptoms were put down to bronchitis, a condition shed had for years. In fact, they were warning signs of a rare, aggressive type of blood cancer that kills most patients within five years. It was Elaines husband, alarmed by the countless bruises that continued to appear and disappear, who eventually urged her to seek medical help again. Another blood test was ordered and within a day, she received an urgent call from hospital telling her to pack an overnight bag, and not to come alone. The diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Recalling the moment she was told, Elaine says: I was in complete shock I actually laughed. Up to that point, I really thought it was just an infection. Treatment began immediately so I didnt get a chance to process it, but over the years it has really taken a mental toll on me and the family. Elaine Hold's blood tests came back as clear but she had a rare, aggressive type of blood cancer that kills most patients within five years Elaine was forced to quit her job, and everyday life became daunting. Terrified of catching a virus, which can be fatal with leukaemia, she avoided going out. Since then, Elaines illness has been successfully treated and returned four times. Shes undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and even a stem cell transplant. It really took a toll, Id feel incredibly weak and was often hospital bound for weeks on end, she says. Then each time I was told I was in remission, the relief was only ever short lived. I just knew it would return. I have had nearly every treatment available but nothing can rid the cancer for good. A stem cell transplant previously known as a bone marrow transplant is often used for aggressive blood cancers such as leukaemia. It works by wiping out the patients own diseased bone marrow (where blood cells are made) with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, then replacing it with healthy stem cells. Elaines illness has been successfully treated and returned four times. Shes undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and even a stem cell transplant These usually come from the blood or bone marrow of a donor, and once infused they travel to the patients bone marrow, where they grow into normal red blood cells, white cells and platelets essentially giving the body a new blood-making system free of cancer. Elaines transplant used stem cells donated by her eldest son, who was what doctors call a half match. This meant that while some of his immune markers (proteins on the surface of cells that help the immune system distinguish between the bodys own tissue and anything foreign) matched hers, others did not. Without a perfect match, the new cells are more likely to attack the patients body, making the procedure riskier and less likely to cure the cancer completely. But in nine years since her diagnosis, a perfect donor has not been found. To get through the ordeal of gruelling treatment, Elaine took part in charity fundraising events as well as leading woodwork sessions for widowed men. Now, the disease has become terminal. At Christmas, doctors told her she could have just months to live. The latest relapse caused clusters of leukaemia cells to form around her ribs and spine, leaving her with six broken bones and reliant on a wheelchair. Being here today is something of a miracle, she says. Im not sure what the future holds for me or how much of a future I have, but what I do know is I will spend it in happiness. I do not want to waste one moment of this precious time I have been given. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia occurs when rogue white blood cells grow out of control, overwhelming the bone marrow and crowding out healthy cells. Its the most common childhood cancer in Britain and thanks to modern treatments more than nine in ten children now survive. But for adults the picture is more sobering survival rates fall sharply with age. Around 750 adults are diagnosed every year, out of 10,000 new leukaemia cases. Yet research by charity Leukaemia Care found just 14 per cent of the public can name the four main symptoms. The latest relapse caused clusters of leukaemia cells to form around her ribs and spine, leaving her with six broken bones and reliant on a wheelchair Early diagnosis is really important in leukaemia, so its important patients are aware of the symptoms, says Professor Hendrik-Tobias Arkenau, a blood cancer specialist at University College London Hospitals. Alongside bruising, fatigue and unexplained bleeding, he says patients should look out for sudden weight loss, night sweats and fever. Its also important patients persevere. Unfortunately, especially for rare cancers, its unlikely theyll get diagnosed first time, so going back to the doctor when things dont improve or change is key. Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukaemia UK, adds: Many people arent aware of the signs and symptoms until they or someone they know is diagnosed. But early diagnosis saves lives, so we want to make sure more people know to contact their GP to ask for a full blood-count test if theyre worried. Boudicca's Daughter is available now from the Mail Bookshop BOUDICCAS DAUGHTER by Elodie Harper (Head of Zeus 18.99, 496pp) THERES dazzle and danger in Harpers take on the charismatic revolutionary Boudicca and her daughter Solina, whos caught up in a morally complex world of Roman-conquered Britain. A proud Iceni warrior, Solina finds herself on the horns of a dilemma; her druid father wants to cooperate with the occupiers, her mother wants a war. When Solina and her sister Bellenia are brutalised by Roman soldiers, its Boudiccas vision that wins out, with violent consequences for all. Theres a raw energy to Harpers storytelling that shows the bloody realities of battle, and how the freedoms of Solinas earlier life are trammelled when she is enslaved by Roman legate Paulinus. Six Weeks by the Sea is available now from the Mail Bookshop SIX WEEKS BY THE SEA by Paula Byrne (William Collins 16.99, 256pp) ONE of the questions I am most frequently asked about Jane Austen is, Did she ever fall in love? says Austen scholar Byrne. Inspired by a snippet of gossip revealed by Janes sister Cassandra hinting at a seaside romance between Jane and a handsome young man Byrne heads to 1801 Sidmouth, in the company of the Austen sisters, their brother Frank, his best friend, the dashing Captain Parker, and attractive lawyer Samuel Rose. Alongside the formal balls, informal bathing, pompous clergymen, witty repartee and earnest conversation, Byrne introduces more serious subjects including slavery and the abolition movement. But the real fun is spotting Austens observations and characterisations, which Byrne has woven through her tantalising tale. Cairo Gambit is available now from the Mail Bookshop CAIRO GAMBIT by S. W. Perry (Corvus 18.99, 400pp) SAVVY secret agent Harry Taverner returns in a new thriller from Perry, best known for his Elizabethan Jackdaw Mysteries. Taverner plays second fiddle to the capricious Primrose (Prim) who heads to pre-war Egypt on the trail of her missing father, the duplicitous oil executive and amateur archaeologist Archie Nevenden, whom she hasnt seen for 15 years. But the Cairo of 1938 is a complicated place to be, and the intrepid Prim is soon mired in conspiracy, doubledealing and violence. Deftly plotted, with compelling characters, Perry captures a menacing political situation in this fastpaced, danger-filled novel. Swerve: moisturiser 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 I know, controversial; touted as the cornerstone of most beauty routines. I was told to stop using it in my 30s by a dermatologist after a rosacea diagnosis (unguents can trigger the condition). Now I feel all but the driest skins are happy without moisturiser. I even tested this theory recently on a colleague aged 60 and her skin has never been glowier. Swap for: serum, SPF I target skin concerns (fine lines/dryness/pigmentation) with serums as they generally have a higher concentration of active ingredients. I then use SPF daily, for sun protection and to boost skin-barrier resilience. Try The Ordinary Multi-Active Delivery Essence (10.60, theordinary.com) before your serum it helps ingredients penetrate skin more effectively. Swerve: setting spray Perhaps if you really, really need your make-up to last 12 hours, ie, youre about to walk a red carpet and then go on to an awards ceremony (unlikely), or you are the bride or the brides mother, then invest. But Ive tried a gazillion and for every day they seem like a superfluous step. Swap for: long-lasting base Try one of the excellent new formulations that have hit the market. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation (39, charlottetilbury.com) is waterproof transfer-proof and delivers natural-looking coverage that stays all day. Swerve: bust cream Does a cream that can transform boobs from deflated to Venus de Milo-esque sound too good to be true? It is. Despite trying many varieties to transform my saggy post-children bosoms, apart from feeling well moisturised I saw little difference. Swap for: body lotion In my opinion, a general body cream will give you the same moisture hit. Try the new Vaseline Gluta-Hya Serum Burst Lotion (12.99, boots.com), with brightening niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Swerve: caffeine hair-growth shampoos Im constantly asked if they work. Unlikely, according to a BBC podcast with Professor Ralf Paus from the University of Miami, who explains how studies in petri dishes do show that caffeine stimulates the hair follicles but that clinical evidence in humans is still missing. He also says a shampoos contact time with your scalp is far too low to have any real effect. Swap for: root lifters Color Wow Raise The Root Thicken + Lift Spray (17.20 Lookfantastic) is my tried-and-true way to give tired hair real volume. Swerve: mouthwash Thought gargling minty freshener was essential to oral care? Dentist Dr Wyman Chan told YOU: If youre brushing twice daily and flossing, mouthwash adds very little. It wont clean your teeth or gums. Some formulas claim to kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria, but your mouth has a delicate ecosystem. Disrupting it with high-alcohol or antiseptic rinses can cause dry mouth, taste changes, even an overgrowth of the wrong bacteria. Swap for: a tongue scraper For a cost-effective way to beat bad breath, try Urban Veda My Tongue Scraper (11, healf.com). Swerve: face scrubs Gritty scrubs may feel gratifying and as teens we reached for abrasive exfoliators (apricot kernels! Walnut shells!) hoping we could scrub away blemishes. Sadly, dermatologists Ive interviewed say these products often damage the skin barrier and can cause permanent redness through micro-injuries. Swap for: AHAs and BHAs These chemical exfoliants such as glycolic acid and salicyclic acid are a smart alternative. Try Alpha H Liquid Gold + Vitamin C Exfoliating Treatment with 5% Glycolic Acid (50.99, Lookfantastic) to boost cell turnover on mature skin. OUR LATEST BLUSH CRUSH The packaging skews young, but Revolution Superdewy Blush Burst (6.99, revolutionbeauty.com), an easy-blend product, adds a brilliant subtle pop of late-summer colour to faces of all ages. Im not ashamed to say that I am a sun worshipper and will no doubt pay the price for that. I sometimes use filters in my pics because its easier than foundation. Ulrika Jonsson THE NEW BRONZE AGE According to the BBC, 40 per cent of 18-25 year olds are using sunbeds and sporting visible tan lines, a major Gen Z trend. For the past three years, since AI became available free (more or less) to everyone with a phone or a computer, its been hard to go an hour without it being mentioned in the news or everyday conversation. AI has been the fastest-developing technology Ive known in 35 years of writing about the latest next big things. So is it something we seniors/oldsters/Boomers should ignore, like getting your news from TikTok or putting your preferred pronouns at the bottom of an email? Or should we get stuck in and use it multiple times a day as a kind of outboard brain, as Ive come to do? How can we benefit from AI, even enjoy it, rather than just tolerate it and live in hope that the machines dont rise up against us? The best approach is to regard AI as a vastly cleverer, more flexible and intuitive form of Google, which you can ask complex, multi-part questions. Or as an infinitely knowledgeable and patient colleague who never minds you asking them how to do this or that. Let me explain how AI might help you by recounting four exceptionally useful or intriguing things it has done for me in the past few weeks things for which traditional Google, immensely powerful as it is, would have been a bit useless. (As it happens, Google has just been updated to include an AI mode.) We were on holiday in Canada and were looking to find some interesting things to do on our last day that, crucially, were less than an hours drive north from Calgary, the airport from which we were flying home. Google was hopeless, suggesting places that were up to four hours north, south, east and west of Calgary. I suspect they were all advertisers because, as people are apt to forget, Google is really an advertising company. ChatGPT, however, took a fraction of a second to send my phone a set of attractions and a fantastic overnight-stay suggestion that were the making of an already terrific trip. A couple of weeks earlier, we had been staying at a wonderful glamping site in the mountains. The only disappointment was that the view from our deluxe tent, of a distant blue lake and snowy peaks, was blocked by a stand of silver birch trees. For fun I took a photograph of the obstructed view and asked AI to remove the trees. It obediently did so, inventing a pretty but wholly fictional landscape it guessed might have been hidden. The simulated photo was undetectable as a fake. Creepy, I know, but it fascinated me. On the plane home I (finally) wrote my speech for my daughters upcoming wedding. I had been avoiding this task all holiday. At one point, I used the word tautology without really knowing what it was. I later asked AI to check the paragraph and learned that what Id cited was definitely not tautology. Embarrassment averted. Since then Ive had a long late-night conversation with AI about extremes of scale, from subatomic particles to the size of the universe. I had started by wondering how many atoms there are in a Rice Krispie, thinking that it was as many as a billion. It turned out it was a quintillion, which is a trillion trillion. We also discussed the vastness of the universe, and it was honestly like an unbelievably geeky conversation with an unimaginably brilliant superhuman mate down the pub. I opted to have the conversation by voice rather than text, as you can. It was my most intense, awe-inspiring, scary experience yet with AI. How should you get into this absorbing/terrifying brave new world? Notwithstanding my friend-like science chat with AI, its unlikely that you will use it in the same way as the astonishing 70 per cent of American teenagers who rely on it for companionship, one-third of whom say that conversations with AI are as satisfying [as] or more satisfying than talking to real friends. But experimenting with AI is fascinating, fun and nothing to be uneasy about. Whats more, while you can pay for these AI services, they all offer a large amount of free use most can be consulted by logging into their respective websites on a computer or through a free app that can be downloaded to your phone. Ask AI a question ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot are three of the most popular then play around. It wont bite. Theres much mystery about asking AI a question or prompt, but just go ahead and ask what you want. If AI misunderstands, you can always ask the same thing a different way it is infinitely patient. When youre more confident, get it to design a piece of art, compose a song, give financial and emotional advice, write an awkward email, or almost anything else. Just make sure you double or treble fact-check any specific tips it shares before acting on them. AI does make mistakes. A French-language AI agent, Lucie, was launched earlier in the year and retracted for getting things hilariously wrong. It told users that King Herod played an important role in the development of the atomic bomb and that cows eggs are considered to be a healthy and nourishing food source. How does a superhuman entity get something so wrong? It depends on what information the AI has absorbed. Remember the old computing acronym from 40 years ago, Gigo, which stood for garbage in, garbage out? Advanced these things may be, but they are still mindless robots. So if theyre told rubbish, they will spout it back. AI chatbot Claude has the clearest explanation Ive found of how AI works: Think of it like learning a language by reading millions of books Ive absorbed patterns of how words relate to each other. When you ask a question, I predict what a helpful response would look like based on all the patterns Ive learnt. One last word this from ChatGPT. Do we humans, I asked it, not have an insurmountable advantage over AI because we have bodies that can physically pull the plug and disconnect a computer if it goes rogue? Yes, we have a plug, it replied. But having a plug doesnt matter if no one is willing or able to pull it or if the plug becomes too entangled in everything else needed to survive. My favourite drink as a child was a black-and-white milkshake. Thats vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. Kathy Sledge, 66 I didnt drink until I got to college. I grew up in West Philadelphia and went to Temple University. I remember having white wine in a clear plastic cup at a party off campus. I was served my first drink at a club in Philadelphia called The Library. The DJ, Doug Henderson, used to give these parties on Wednesday nights, and everyone would show up. I was a bit more daring back then, so the drink would have been a cosmo. My husband Phil and I drank champagne on our first date at an Italian restaurant. He was the Delaware Philharmonic Orchestra percussionist before joining Sister Sledge and I remember seeing the drummers turn up to audition and going, Hes cute. But I didnt think I was going to marry him! Weve been together for over 40 years. I spend more time touring than at home, and Veuve Clicquot has to be on my rider as well as a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The dancers love red and the musicians have beer. Prince invited me to do a show in New Orleans in 2014. When Nile Rodgers sang We Are Family, I jumped out as a surprise. At the aftershow my daughter and I sat with Prince and I had a glass of champagne, but I didnt want to take up too much of his time. Later I was told hed asked, Why did they leave? I wish Id stayed longer. We will have opened for Mariah Carey at Brighton Pride by the time you read this. Id love to share a drink with her. You can tell shes a champagne girl. The worst drink Ive ever had is gin. It doesnt do anything for me, its too strong. I get a headache. I love certain martinis if theres vodka or chocolate in them. Anything with chocolate in it is a problem for me, by which I mean I cant stop drinking it. Or espresso. Whos the artist with the huge hit Espresso? I think shes adorable. (Ed: Sabrina Carpenter.) I throw a party for up to 300 people at my home in Pennsylvania every October. Its called First Of The Fall, with big fires and caterers. At the end of the night I give out fleeces, and theres always champagne on hand. Kathy wants to break open the bubbly with Mariah Carey Baileys Irish Cream is my autumn drink. After a few my husband says Im most likely to sing 99 Bottles of Beer On The Wall, but its actually Auld Lang Syne. The person Id most like to have a drink with, alive or dead, is Michael Jackson. We toured with the Jackson 5 when I was 17. I was buying a set of cheap dishes at a truck stop because I was about to move into my own apartment. The brothers were laughing at me but Michael asked, Why are you getting your own place? He didnt understand what it was like to want to live by yourself at that age, and I had to explain it to him. You get very lonely when youre that iconic. The late Bernard Edwards of Chic told me over a glass of wine at lunch that my first solo project was a great compilation of great songs, but what was missing was the thread. What I learned from that is you should write for yourself. Do what you love and the rest will follow. After you pass, there must be champagne to celebrate your life. When we lose people, or as I like to say they go home, you have to celebrate. When my mum passed, without discussing it, everyone showed up in white. No one wore black. We celebrated my mother, and thats what she would have wanted. Kathys new single Promise Me is out now on all platforms WireImage for ABA, Shutterstock, Alamy SATURDAY 10am I arrive at Hotel Martinez (from 286 B&B, hyatt.com), 45 minutes from Nice airport. Like its guests, it has continual tweakments to maintain its look (art deco meets slick nautical). Its on the famous boulevard, La Croisette: a perfect base for city exploration. 11am The hotel spa is partnered with Paris skincare brand Carita. My one-hour Pro.Morphose Regenerating Radio Frequency treatment (216) super-stimulates collagen, and results are said to be visible for nearly a year. (A month in, Im starting to see benefits.) 1pm In Cannes old town, Le Suquet, we stroll around Marche Forville, which brims with flowers and southern French treats including olive tapenade and socca, a flatbread made of chickpea flour. Lunch is oysters and rose, standing at one of the barrels in the market. 4pm A 10-minute stroll down the Croisette is La Malmaison, a contemporary-art centre in art deco surrounds. Jean-Michel Othoniels nature-inspired glass sculptures explore the interplay of light, material and scale (until 4 January 2026; 5.65, cannes.com). 7pm Drinks and dinner at the hotel: after a smoky negroni in the speakeasy-style Martinez Bar (above) we move on to La Palme dOr, Cannes only Michelin-star spot. All wood panelling and chrome, its like a private yacht. The lobster is heaven (tasting menu 208). 11pm The nocturnal ticket is cabaret club Medusa (medusacannes.com): a sexy neon-lit space where girls in sequins and feathers dangle from hoops on high. The Martinez is the only hotel in Cannes that can swing preferential access for its VIP guests. SUNDAY 9am A little tired and fuzzy-headed, I take a leisurely breakfast of poached eggs, crusty bread and mushrooms oozing butter (ordered the night before on a little card left for me to fill out) on the terrace of my room. Watch out for the huge, greedy seagulls they are bold. 10am We amble into the old town, past many luxury boutiques. The real find is Zara, which hits different to the ones back home. I come away with a few impossibly chic pieces change, too, for pistachio ice cream at Niva Gelateria (3, nivagelato.com). 2pm At the Martinez beach club we relax in directors chairs a nod to the hotels starry clientele for a late lunch of black panko-crusted avocado and baked clams, with top people-watching. Then a last dip in the bluest sea. Its not called the Cote dAzur for nothing. , , Getty Images, Boby Ghislaine Maxwell paints herself as the ultimate victim in a newly released interview that lays bare her humiliations at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein, her fears of dying a lonely spinster and the moment their relationship crumbled in the aftermath of 9/11. The disgraced socialite broke her silence on the ten-year romance when she was briefly let out of jail last month to speak with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. In transcripts released late Friday, Maxwell describes how the warped financier seduced her over a cup of tea after they were introduced by a gal pal in 1991. But after a one-night stand Epstein gave a confused Maxwell the cold shoulder, she says, blowing off further attempts at intimacy, seeing other girlfriends and forcing her to sleep alone. He claimed to have a heart condition that limited his love making and when they did go to bed Epstein struggled to maintain an erection, Maxwell told Blanche in a self-pitying diatribe. She accepted their ten-year tryst was over when the billionaire wouldn't travel five blocks to comfort her when they were both in Manhattan during the 9/11 attacks. Maxwell nonetheless remained on the late pedophile's payroll, earning a 20-year federal prison sentence in 2022 for procuring young girls for him to abuse. Her new testimony offered few new clues about the supposed high-profile individuals lurking on Epstein's unpublished client list. Ghislaine Maxwell, 63, paints herself as the ultimate victim in a newly released interview that lays bare her humiliations at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein The disgraced socialite broke her silence on the ten-year romance when she was briefly let out of jail last month to speak with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche Indeed, in her own words, Maxwell likened the frenzy for names to a 'Salem witch trial'. But it did paint her as a lonely heiress - scorned, embittered and so desperate for love that she even dreamed of having a child with the billionaire predator, who hanged himself behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial. 'He just invited me to come and have tea, and I was like, tea, that's English. Okay,' Maxwell recalled glowingly of their first meeting in 1991 at Epstein's New York offices. Maxwell was in her late 20s but already panicking about her ticking biological clock. She had just split up with a boyfriend when a female friend offered to introduce her. 'I've got a guy for you to meet. And I was like, who is it? And she goes, he's been dating my sister. You'll love him,' Maxwell told Blanche. 'He's looking for a wife. I'm edging towards 30. I don't need to tell you guys, that's a very important moment for a girl to, like, think about important things. And sure, I'd be happy to meet him.' The first thing Maxwell noticed during her date with Epstein, who worked for banking giant Bear Stearns, was a food stain on his necktie. 'I think the most memorable thing I can think about that is he was wearing a tie, which he didn't often do. It had a giant, seemed like a ketchup stain on it,' she recalled. 'So I was like, wow, okay.' In transcripts released late Friday, Maxwell describes how the warped financier seduced her over a cup of tea after they were introduced by a gal pal in 1991 She is said to be seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump a former pal of Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s whom she lavished with praise every time his name was brought up in the hours-long grilling. Pictured: Donald Trump and Melania, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000 Maxwell in a 2022 mug shot taken at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn She nonetheless found her rich new beau 'very engaging'. After their initial night of passion, lovelorn Maxwell believed she had bagged a rich boyfriend. 'So in 1992, I slept with him one time and I was like, whoa, that's it. We're going to be dating because that's how I thought,' she told Blanche. 'I felt if you slept with someone, that you were then dating them. That's the world I came from but we didn't sleep together again for, I don't know, really a significant period of time.' The barren spell lasted nine months by which time Maxwell was helping Epstein acquire a lavish property empire including a former Iranian embassy while living in a poky ten-foot-square apartment herself. She was acting as his de facto general manager with an annual salary of $25,000, rising eventually to $250,000 per year. The pair slept in the same bed when they visited Epstein's swish homes in Ohio and Palm Beach, Florida but lovemaking was a rarity. 'Epstein told me that he had a heart condition,' she told Feds. 'Which meant that he didn't have intercourse a lot, which suited me fine, because I actually do have a medical condition, which precludes me having a lot of intercourse.' Blanche pushed the disgraced daughter of the late newspaper baron Robert Maxwell for more detail about the heart condition. 'I don't know. I mean, he liked other forms of sexual activities,' Maxwell replied. Maxwell told Blanche in a self-pitying diatribe that Epstein claimed to have a heart condition that limited his love making and when they did go to bed Epstein struggled to maintain an erection Maxwell nonetheless remained on the late pedophile's payroll, earning a 20-year federal prison sentence in 2022 for procuring young girls for him to abuse Jeffrey Epstein hanged himself behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial Maxwell agreed Epstein was 'basically her life.' But by 1999 they weren't having sex at all and Epstein was openly dating someone else. If Maxwell still hoped he might one day put a ring on her finger, the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, shattered the illusion. Both were in Manhattan that day, just blocks apart. As the city reeled, Maxwell turned to her long-term love interest for comfort. Instead, he refused to see her. 'If you're not going to be there for someone on 9/11, you're never going to be there. For me, that was the line's end,' she recalled bitterly. 'I had wanted to get married and have children. And Epstein had encouraged me to believe that that would [happen] certainly by the mid late '90s. 'I knew the marriage part was never going to happen. I had believed that maybe in '96, '97, '98 maybe, but then I realized it wasn't that. But I did think that we might have a child, which is what I had really wanted.' By 2001, Maxwell said she had fallen in love with Ted Waitt, an American business mogul and philanthropist, and the pair embarked on 'an amazing relationship.' The pair slept in the same bed when they visited Epstein's swish homes in Ohio and Palm Beach, Florida but lovemaking was a rarity Now, when asked if Trump ever received a massage from one of Epstein's girls, she objected: 'Absolutely never' But as her federal trial would later reveal, her association with Epstein was far from over. In the wake of her chat with Blanche, Maxwell was suddenly moved from FCI Tallahassee, a low security lockup in northern Florida to the far cushier Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. Her attorney David Oscar Markus insists she was moved for her safety not because of any favoritism. She is said to be seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump a former pal of Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s whom she lavished with praise every time his name was brought up in the hours-long grilling. 'The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects,' Maxwell insisted. Asked if Trump ever received a massage from one of Epstein's girls, she objected: 'Absolutely never.' Spirit Airlines is reportedly on shaky ground and could soon close due to financial sturggles. The budget airline is now exploring strategic alternatives in a scramble to stay afloat, The Wall Street Journal reported. To address worsening financial strain - previously flagged as a threat to its continued operations - Spirit has hired financial adviser PJT Partners. The company is also working with consulting firms FTI and Seabury Airline Strategy Group. The airline emerged from bankruptcy back in March, eliminating $795 million in debt through a deal in which bondholders accepted equity in exchange. However, the process failed to resolve several core challenges, including high lease expenses, leaving the carrier in a precarious position once again. But, on Thursday, Spirit announced several new moves aimed at shoring up its finances. According to the Wall Street Journal, the airline drew down the remaining $275 million available under its credit revolver and extended its credit-card processing agreement with U.S. Bank National Association for two more years. The revised agreement allows the bank to withhold up to $3 million per day - providing greater protection in the event of a default. Spirit Airlines is once again on shaky financial ground and facing the possibility of closure, after a recent restructuring failed to stabilize the low-cost carrier The company also brought in new leadership with turnaround experience, including CEO Dave Davis (pictured), who took the helm in April Spirit is also evaluating potential asset sales to raise capital, including aircraft, real estate, and unused gate capacity. The company has brought in new leadership with turnaround experience, including CEO Dave Davis, who took the helm in April. Spirit is also continuing to work with law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, which advised the airline during its recent bankruptcy. The renewed financial turbulence comes amid broader headwinds in the airline industry. Domestic travel demand remains soft, and excess seat capacity has kept fares low, leaving ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit hit hard. In an attempt to attract more customers, Spirit has upgraded its offerings, but the strategy has yet to reverse its financial decline. During its bankruptcy proceedings, the airline projected a $252 million profit for 2025, but between mid-March and the end of June, Spirit reported a $256 million loss. Analysts say the company misjudged its recovery prospects and underestimated ongoing market pressures. 'The airline was overly optimistic on its strategic turnaround coming out of bankruptcy and ran into a more difficult environment,' Fitch Ratings analyst Joe Rohlena said. Fitch downgraded Spirit last week, citing an increased risk of near-term default. The budget airline is also evaluating potential asset sales to raise capital, including aircraft, real estate, and unused gate capacity Moody's Ratings - credit ratings issued by Moodys Investors Service, one of the 'Big Three' credit rating agencies - also issued a downgrade on Friday. The high-ranked investor service projected that Spirit will burn through more than $500 million in cash this year - which is enough to potentially breach liquidity covenants by year-end, according to the Wall Street Journal. Following the news, shares of Spirit Airlines' parent company, Spirit Aviation Holdings, fell 14.6 percent in after-hours trading to $1.40. Spirit filed for bankruptcy protection in November after years of heavy losses, a failed merger attempt with JetBlue, and mounting debt, marking the first time a major U.S. airline entered Chapter 11 since 2011. Though the company exited bankruptcy earlier this year with support from creditors, its long-term viability remains in serious doubt. With credit tightening, costs rising, and cash reserves dwindling, the future of Spirit Airlines now hangs in the balance. Daily Mail has reached out to Spirit Airlines for comment. Germany has slumped back into 'recessionary territory' as revised figures showed it shrank by 0.3 per cent in the second quarter. An earlier estimate suggested Europe's largest economy fell by 0.1 per cent between April and June. However, manufacturing, construction and household spending were weaker than previously thought, raising fears it could suffer another dismal year after shrinking in 2023 and 2024 with US tariffs piling on further pressure, too. Sinking feeling: Germany has slumped back into 'recessionary territory' as revised figures showed it shrank by 0.3 per cent in the second quarter Carsten Brzeski, at ING Bank, said Germany now looks 'increasingly unlikely' to mount a serious recovery until 2026. The economy welcomed a bounce in the first quarter with GDP growing 0.3 per cent as exports to the US surged in anticipation of fresh tariffs. But Brzeski said there had been a 'full reversal' of that trend. America was Germany's biggest trading partner last year, with imports and exports totalling 219billion. Moving to a new country is an expensive ordeal even more so if you are forced to flee your home to escape a totalitarian regime only to have your life savings frozen. But this is the situation faced by tens of thousands of British nationals from Hong Kong who say they are too scared to demand access to their pension pots, which have been blocked by the Chinese authorities with the aid of some of the UK's largest banks. Many emigres live in fear of reprisals if they request their money despite saying their inability to access the funds has shut them out of the housing market and forced to forgo vital medical treatment. It comes as Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds prepares to visit China next month in a bid to reopen trade talks despite growing fears the People's Republic is using its agents to harass and intimidate exiles in Britain. Senior politicians, including Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride, have joined activists calling for Labour to pressure Beijing to release the cash rather than 'bend the knee' to Xi Jinping's government. More than 1 billion of savings were frozen after the introduction of repressive national security laws in Hong Kong sparked an exodus of people holding British National Overseas (BNO) passports to the UK. Most of this money, 978 million, is held in accounts overseen by HSBC. Excuse: HSBC has argued that it cannot release the cash because of the Chinese government Those now living in the UK told The Mail on Sunday that not being able to withdraw savings built up over years of employment, had forced them into hard decisions. Despite this, they are frightened to request the money, as filing a claim with the banks will expose their identity to Chinese agents. 'Most of us don't even dare apply any more,' said a former Hong Kong resident, who did not wish to be named. 'We're at a stage where even trying to claim what is rightfully ours feels dangerous.' Another said: 'I've asked multiple times, and the answer is always the same: if you apply under BNO status, your request will be denied. 'And worse still, they keep a record of the rejection.' Fears of retaliation are growing with neighbours of democracy activists receiving letters encouraging them to deliver the Hong Kongers to the Chinese embassy for bounties of 100,000. Concerns have also been raised that a new Chinese mega-embassy in London will be a hub for espionage if Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner approves the plan. A decision is due in October. Negotiations: Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds prepares to visit China next month in a bid to reopen trade talks The savings are held in the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF), a compulsory pension scheme most Hong Kongers and their employers pay into. HSBC and Standard Chartered are trustees for savings held through the MPF. Hong Kongers can withdraw their pension early if they have permanently resettled overseas. To do so, they need to provide documentary proof that they are permitted to reside abroad. In 2021, Chinese authorities said they would no longer recognise BNO passports as valid travel documents or forms of identity. This was widely seen as retaliation after the UK Government said Hong Kongers with BNO passports could apply for a new visa, letting them settle in Britain. BNO was a special status of passport issued to Hong Kongers before the territory was handed over to China by the UK in 1997. Since the visa scheme was launched four years ago, more than 166,300 BNOs have moved to Britain, according to rights group Hong Kong Watch. But China's order to freeze their pension pots has left thousands of emigres in dire financial straits. Alpha, a 33-year-old IT worker living in Sutton, South London, said being unable to access his 30,000 in savings meant he could not pay for his mother's dental work. He said 'My mother needs it done but prices are very high in the private sector. We are also struggling to pay for treatment on the NHS. It is not affordable if I can't access my savings.' When asked whether he had requested to withdraw his savings from HSBC, Alpha said he was 'afraid' any enquiries would bring him to the attention of Beijing. 'You need to disclose your identity to request your money, which in my understanding is not safe. They think that leaving Hong Kong makes you a traitor.' He also did not hold out much hope of Ministers helping BNOs. 'I don't think the UK Government wants to touch our cases. They want to leave negotiating room with Beijing,' he said. Brutal: Hong Kong saw a crackdown on protests against the regime in 2019 Stride said: 'If Labour's China strategy was working, they would be able to resolve these sorts of issues. In reality, it appears the 'reset' has been a one-way street. Ministers should be working to help these people access their savings, not bending the knee to Beijing and getting crumbs in return.' One 40-year-old teacher now living in Edinburgh told the MoS she and her two siblings had given up trying to retrieve 50,000 in savings locked in an account overseen by HSBC. 'If we were able to bring our pension savings over, we would have been able to settle in the UK much more easily. We would have been able to buy a property, but instead we are currently forced to rent. 'We believe it is almost impossible to get our money back.' HSBC has argued that it cannot release the cash because of the Chinese government. But campaigners and MPs want the banks and UK Government to push for the decision to be reversed, arguing it has no basis in law. Labour MP Blair McDougall called the blocking of savings 'an absolute scandal'. He said: 'British Hong Kongers know the long arm of the Chinese Communist Party reaches around the world and it's little wonder they're fearful of raising their voices. The UK must support the victims of this injustice so they are able to fight back.' The MoS revealed in March that Foreign Secretary David Lammy had met HSBC chairman Mark Tucker to quiz him over the bank freezing savings owed to Hong Kongers. A Government source told The Mail on Sunday that following reporting by this newspaper both the Trade Minister Douglas Alexander and City Minister Emma Reynolds had also raised the issue with officials in Hong Kong in April and June, respectively. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We continue to raise this issue with the Hong Kong and Chinese governments and have discussed it with the relevant banks. 'We have urged them to facilitate early drawdown of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently, and have made clear such discrimination of British nationals overseas is unacceptable. Jonathan Reynolds' trip to China forms part of an effort to restart trade talks suspended in 2019 after the outbreak of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, which were crushed by Chinese police. But the visit has prompted concern from exiles who fear Ministers will kowtow to Beijing. And Mark Sabah at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation said: 'It remains an outrage that British-owned banks like HSBC are withholding pensions or savings. Reynolds should demand this issue be resolved if trade deals with China are to go ahead.' An HSBC spokesman said: 'Hong Kong legislation sets the conditions under which a member may withdraw pension benefits under the MPF scheme. 'The conditions for early withdrawal are a matter of law and are not set by the trustee company. There are significant penalties for non-compliance. 'Neither HSBC nor any other firm acting as an MPF trustee has any discretion in this matter.' A spokesman for Standard Chartered said: 'All MPF-approved trustees in Hong Kong, including us, have to comply with the MPF schemes ordinance. 'As in all our markets, we are committed to complying with all relevant laws and regulations.' It is the infamous picture of Prince Andrew with his arm around the waist of his alleged teenage sex victim that ultimately brought about his downfall. The photograph of Andrew with 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre was taken at the London home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001 and first published by The Mail on Sunday 14 years ago. In her bombshell interview with US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche last month - the 380-page transcript of which has now been published - Maxwell again derided the photograph as a fake and ludicrously questioned whether Andrew even met Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April aged 41, saying: I do not know that they met. I dont have any recollection of that. Two years ago, however, the MoS revealed incontrovertible proof that the photograph is indeed genuine and had not been altered with digital trickery. This is our painstaking investigation - including video - that demolishes Maxwells attempt to discredit the MoSs photo and describes, in forensic detail, how we were able to prove its authenticity The Mail on Sunday today reveals crucial evidence that the picture of Prince Andrew with his alleged teenage sex victim Virginia Roberts is genuine. Since it was first published, the 62-year-old Prince has suggested the devastating photograph could have been altered with digital trickery. But this newspaper can prove the picture was an ordinary printed photograph developed at a one-hour photo lab that would have been virtually impossible to doctor. The original print of the now infamous picture taken in London on March 10, 2001 A bombshell picture of the back of the original photograph showing a date stamp that proves it was developed on March 13, 2001 three days after it is alleged Miss Roberts was forced to have sex with Andrew The MoS can today exclusively reveal: A bombshell picture of the back of the original photograph showing a date stamp that proves it was developed on March 13, 2001 three days after it is alleged Miss Roberts was forced to have sex with Andrew; That the original, taken on a Kodak disposable camera, was developed at a branch of Walgreens, a major US pharmacy chain; That the store where it is understood the photograph was processed is just a two-minute drive from Miss Roberts' former home in West Palm Beach, Florida; Newly unearthed camera data which proves Miss Roberts showed the original picture to professional photographer Michael Thomas, who took 39 copies of the image, both front and back, before the MoS was involved in taking it to the FBI; Mr Thomas branded claims by Andrew and Maxwell that the original photograph could be fake as 'ridiculous' and 'absurd', saying he wants people to 'stop dealing in conspiracies'. Our sensational evidence undermines the Duke's dramatic bid, revealed exclusively in last week's MoS, to overturn the multi-million pound settlement he struck with Miss Roberts and restore his battered reputation. This newspaper first published the photograph showing Andrew, then 41, grinning with his arm around Miss Roberts at Ghislaine Maxwell's mews house in Belgravia, London, on February 27 2011. The picture, which shows Maxwell in the background, had been taken nearly a decade earlier by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein using Miss Roberts' camera. In devastating legal testimony, Miss Roberts, now 39 and using her married name Giuffre, claimed the picture was taken the night she had sex with Andrew at Epstein and Maxwell's bidding, after the pair had danced at Tramp nightclub in London. Andrew has repeatedly and strenuously denied the allegations and during an interview with BBC Newsnight in 2019 attempted to cast doubt on the photo's authenticity. 'Nobody can prove whether or not that photograph has been doctored but I don't recollect that photograph ever being taken,' he said. Last week, in a televised prison interview Maxwell - who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking declared: 'It is a fake. I don't believe it's real for a second, in fact I am sure it's not. There has never been an original and further there is no photograph.' Miss Roberts first showed the picture, which had been taken on a yellow Kodak camera, to MoS reporter Sharon Churcher and photographer Michael Thomas at her modest bungalow on Australia's Central Coast in February 2011. Ms Churcher was investigating a mysterious civil writ filed in a Florida court in 2009 by a woman identified only as 'Jane Doe 102' who claimed she had been sexually exploited by friends of financier Epstein 'including royalty'. After meticulously piecing together a string of clues, Ms Churcher discovered that the writ had been filed by a woman named Virginia Roberts and that she had moved to Australia. The picture featuring Prince Andrew had been kept with more than a dozen others from Miss Roberts' time with Epstein in a white envelope that was stuffed in a bookcase. The Walgreens where the photograph was developed, just two minutes from Virginia Giuffre's then Florida home The type of 'fun' camera Virginia says she used Realising its enormous significance, the journalists met Miss Roberts the following day at a Crowne Plaza hotel in the nearby town of Terrigal where she allowed Mr Thomas to take photographs of the original print standard practice for newspaper photographers handling sensitive pictures. So where IS the original now? Mystery still surrounds the whereabouts of the original photograph of Prince Andrew with his sex accuser, Virginia Roberts. In February 2011, Mail on Sunday reporter Sharon Churcher and photographer Michael Thomas drove Miss Roberts to the US consulate in Sydney, Australia, where she met two FBI agents. She handed them a collection of snaps, including the print showing her with Ghislaine Maxwell and Andrew, and they gave it back to her after making a scan. It appears, however, to have then gone missing. When quizzed by attorney Laura Menninger during a legal deposition in 2016, Miss Roberts said: 'I probably still have it. It's not in my possession right now.' When pressed, she added it was 'probably in some storage boxes' in Sydney and suggested it could have been at a relative's house in the Australian city. Last year, a source connected to Miss Roberts told the Daily Beast website: 'The picture is not in Virginia's possession.' The website claimed that no one on Roberts' legal team knew where the photograph was nor, indeed, had any of them ever seen it. Advertisement 'She handed me the photograph and I put it on the table in the hotel room and I copied it,' Mr Thomas, a photographer of 37 years' experience, told the MoS last night. 'I think I took more than 30 frames, which is overkill for copying one photo but I didn't want to get it out of focus or get it wrong because I knew how important it was.' He was in no doubt the photo was genuine. 'I was holding the original photo in my hand. It was a normal 6x4 inch print that you would have got from any developer at the time. 'It looked like it was ten years old. It wasn't crisp because it had been developed in 2001. She had held on to it for ten years by the time I saw it. For Ghislaine Maxwell to come out and say it was fake is ridiculous. I held the photo. It was a normal photograph. It was a physical print. It exists. I saw it and that's what I photographed and that's what you see now.' Since then, the set of duplicates have sat on a hard drive in the office of Mr Thomas's home near Queenstown in New Zealand. But last Monday, while driving home from a DIY store, he was infuriated to hear a report on the radio in which Maxwell insisted the photograph was fake. 'I thought, 'here we go again'. When they say it's fake, they are saying that I'm involved. They are basically accusing someone of faking it and me being party to it. It's not fake and it never has been.' Determined to kill the conspiracy theory once and for all, Mr Thomas examined his pictures from more than a decade ago and, to his surprise, realised that as well as taking 36 separate shots of the front of Ms Roberts' photograph he had also turned the picture over and taken three shots of its reverse. Those images published exclusively for the first time today reveal a stamp that contains crucial new information. The stamp reads: '000 #15 13Mar01 Walgreens One Hour Photo'. Experts say this proves the original photo was developed at Walgreens a huge pharmacy chain similar to Boots in one hour on March 13, 2001. Last week, the MoS visited the Walgreens store in West Palm Beach which is most likely to have developed the photograph. Photographer Michael Thomas holds a reprint of his photographed copy The large shop on Royal Palm Beach Boulevard opened in 1988 and is less than a two-minute drive from Miss Roberts' home at that time in Bent Oak, a development of flats where she lived with her then boyfriend Tony Figueroa. Joel VanHemel, a Florida-based photographic expert and court witness, who was shown the back of the print last week, was unequivocal in saying it was genuine. 'It was definitely produced in a Walgreens, for sure, probably using a Noritsu or Fuji machine. 'The 000 number would be the order number, presumably because it was their first order that particular day. And the #15 is the negative number it was the 15th picture in the film roll.' Mr VanHemel, who has been working in photographic development since 1986, added: 'Then you have the date 13Mar01 and it states it was Walgreens One Hour Photo. It's on Kodak paper like the standard print you'd get from any Walgreens.' A veteran photo developer who works in a different printing shop in West Palm Beach said he thought Miss Roberts' original print was on Kodak RA-4 paper, which was used by Walgreens around that time. DENIAL: The Duke said he had 'absolutely no memory' of the photograph being taken Prince Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre signs book deal worth millions: READ MORE Plans have been drawn up to 'maxmise' the book release. Virginia Giuffre and lawyer David Boies are pictured in August 2019 at Federal Court in New York Advertisement Crucially, the date displayed on the picture perfectly fits with the known timeline of Miss Roberts' movements. Flight logs obtained by the Daily Mail in 2019 show that Miss Roberts arrived in London on March 9, 2001, and departed for the US two days later. The photograph of Andrew and Miss Roberts is believed to have been taken on March 10. Quizzed under oath, Miss Roberts has said that while she cannot remember exactly where she got the photograph developed, she believed it was 'when I got back to America'. A top forensic imaging expert consulted by this newspaper last week said he believed our evidence showed the picture was unlikely to have been faked. 'The original image is likely to be genuine,' he said. 'Film grain is visible so the original print will most likely be taken on a film camera and printed onto photographic paper rather than be a digital image.' And renowned US digital forensic expert Bryan Neumeister, who gave evidence during last year's Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial, said he could find no evidence of forgery from his preliminary assessment of one of Mr Thomas's duplicates. 'With more than 42 years of film, video and digital photography professional experience, and having worked more than 1,000 legal cases, It is my initial opinion that the photo in question is not a composite,' he said. A photograph of Virginia Roberts, taken by Michael Thomas during their meeting For Mr Thomas, the discovery of the image of the back of the photo is documentary proof that he saw and held the original print. 'People are now saying it was just a copy and there was no original photo. Well, I saw the photo. And it was a photo with the information of when and where it was processed on the back.' Mr Thomas is not the only person who saw the original print. Miss Roberts showed the photo soon after it was developed to her friend Carolyn Andriano, who was also abused by Epstein and Maxwell when she was 14. Last week, her husband John told the MoS that Andrew and Maxwell were 'wrong' to claim the photo had been doctored, adding: 'My wife only tells the truth, she ain't no liar. If she said that's what she saw then that's all there is to it.' Tony Figueroa, Miss Roberts' ex-boyfriend, has also said that he also saw the photo in 2001 when she first told him about Andrew. Quizzed under oath in 2016 about whether he saw a photograph with Miss Roberts with the Duke, he replied: 'Yes'. ACCUSER: Virginia Roberts holds a photo of herself at age 16, when she says Palm Beach multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein began abusing her sexually An analysis of the 'meta-data' embedded in each of Mr Thomas's 39 images of the original photograph, also provides proof of his account. They show that he took the images with a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV camera on February 17, 2011. He took the final picture of the front of the original image at 1.04pm, before turning it over and photographing its reverse. Mr Thomas said the idea that the photo could have been doctored before he saw it is also fanciful. 'Virginia lived in a basic bungalow in pretty rural New South Wales. She wasn't massively computer literate I don't think she even had a computer at the house. We didn't get anything computerised from Virginia. You've got to remember that this was 2011. If at any stage someone had faked it, they would have had to fake the front and the back of the photo.' 'They throw out this line that it's been faked but have three different people been put in the photo? How was it done? What's fake about the picture? 'If you look at the original print there's a thumbprint in shot and there's a flash bouncing back off the back window. It's not exactly the most technically perfect picture. 'I'd like this all to be put to bed. I don't want every six months to get emails from people saying it's fake. Hopefully people can stop dealing in conspiracies.' So, Ghislaine - still think it's doctored? Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell have for years questioned the authenticity of the photograph showing the Duke with Virginia Roberts but have failed to produce any evidence that it is fake. Attempts to undermine its credibility began in 2019 when 'friends' of the Duke told a newspaper that the photo may not be real because his hands were too slender. In reality, Andrew's fingers were 'quite small and chubby', one said. Then in November 2019, during his BBC Newsnight interview, Andrew himself suggested it could have been fake, adding: 'From the investigations we've done, you can't prove whether or not that photograph is faked or not because it is a photograph of a photograph.' Speaking from a US jail in an interview last week, Maxwell said: 'It is a fake. I don't believe it's real for a second' He won support this month from former girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey, who suggested an 'Irish body double' may have been used. Last week, speaking from the US jail where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, Maxwell, 61, claimed: 'It is a fake. I don't believe it's real for a second. I am sure it's not. There has never been an original... there is no photograph.' Her allegation of forgery contrasts with comments she made in 2015. Lawyer Alan Dershowitz emailed her: 'Do you know whether the photo of Andrew and Virginia is real? You are in the background.' Maxwell replied 11 minutes later: 'It looks real. I think it is.' Following the MoS's revelations, a forensic image expert now plans to make a computer reconstruction of the photograph and simulate the lighting and shadow positions. A source said: 'A great deal of what has been written in the past about this image is utter tosh.' With the municipal elections set throughout the Wiregrass area on Tuesday, here is some important information to know about voting in municipalities in Coffee and Dale counties. When do the polls open? The voting places are open at 7 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. Aug. 26. What do I need to bring to the polls? Since the 2014 primary election, Act 2011-673 requires an Alabama voter to have a specific type of photo identification at the polls in order to vote. If a voter does not have one of the approved forms of photo ID as stated in the law, then he or she may receive a free Alabama photo voter ID from various locations. When was the deadline to register? In Alabama and most states, you must be registered in order to vote. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in federal, state, and most local elections. The deadline to register to vote for the Municipal Elections was Aug. 11. Alabamians may obtain an application or register to vote online at https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/register-to-vote. They may also obtain a voter registration application at Driver License Offices, Libraries, and at Alabama Public Assistance offices such as Medicaid, WIC and DHR. Citizens can also register to vote at the Coffee County Board of Registrars office located in the Coffee County Complex, E. McKinnon Street in New Brockton. The Dale County Board of Registrars office is located on the first floor of the Dale County Courthouse in Ozark. Who can vote? Any person may register to vote, provided that they: are a citizen of the United States; live in Alabama (and the county of registration); are at least 18 years old on or before Election Day; are not barred from voting due to a disqualifying felony conviction; and have not been declared mentally incompetent by a court Voters who want to update their voting information to reflect a change in name or address should contact the Board of Registrars in the county they vote in. How and when can I vote early? Aug. 19 was the last day an application for an absentee ballot may be received by mail by the registrar. Aug. 21 was the deadline to apply in person for an absentee ballot. Multiple absentee ballots cannot be mailed in the same envelope. Any qualified voter may submit an absentee ballot application by mail or in person to the Absentee Election Managers office for the following reasons: The voter is out of the county or state on Election Day. The voter has any physical illness or infirmity which prevents the voter from attending the polls. The voter works a shift that has at least 10 hours, which coincide with the hours the polls are open at the voters regular polling place. The voter is a student enrolled in school outside the county of residence. The voter is a member, a spouse. or a dependent of a member of the United Stated Armed Forces or is similarly qualified to vote absentee according to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. The voter is a caregiver for a family member who is confined to their own home. The voter is incarcerated in prison or jail and have not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude. Alabama voters voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) may receive additional information by contacting the Board of Registrars office or the office of the Alabama Secretary of State for expanded options. If a runoff election is needed If a runoff election is needed, it will be held Tuesday, Sept. 23. Who is on the ballot in Enterprise? Incumbent Mayor William Cooper faces three challengers Aug. 26: William Baker, Richard Moore, and Lister Reeves. District 1 City Councilwoman Sonya Rich does not have an opponent in the election. Incumbent District 2 Councilman Eugene Goolsby is not seeking re-election. Kenneth LeBlanc and Casey Mack are vying for that seat. District 3 City Councilman Greg Padgett is running unopposed. Incumbent Councilman Scotty Johnson faces challenger Adair Lee for the District 4 seat. Incumbent District 5 Councilman Turner Townsend is not seeking re-election. Todd Boland and Todd Walz are vying for that seat. All registered voters in the Municipal Election Aug. 26 in Enterprise vote at the Moose Hope Gymnasium located at 421 East Lee Street. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Who is on the ballot in Ozark? Incumbent Mayor Mark Blankenship faces challenger Charles Ray Ward. Incumbent Place 1 City Councilwoman Leah Harlow faces challenger Bryan Macario. Incumbent Place 2 City Councilman Les Perault does not have any opposition in the Aug. 26 election and that seat will not appear on the ballot. Incumbent Place 3 City Councilman Winston T. Jackson faces challenger Danella Redding Peterman. Incumbent Place 4 City Councilwoman Brenda Simechak does not have any opposition in the Aug. 26 election and that seat will not appear on the ballot. Incumbent Place 5 City Councilman Stanley Enfinger faces challenger Caitlyn Cummings. All registered voters in Ozark vote at the Ozark Civic Center located at 320 East College Street. The polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Who is on the ballot in Daleville? Incumbent Mayor Jayme Stayton faces challenger Kevin Turley. For Daleville City Council, candidates run at large and the top five vote getters are named to the five city council seats. The mayoral race is a separate race. Running for Daleville City Council are incumbents Katheryne Horace, Jimmy Monk Sr., Alicia Jo Reese, and Alan Souders. Other candidates for Daleville City Council are Karl P. Boesen, Lisa M. Brown, Bobby R. Hardrick, Glen Lininger, Bobby Love, James Roberts, Sheridan Smith, and Jada Stone. All registered voters in Daleville vote at the Daleville Culture and Convention Center on Daleville Avenue. The polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Who is on the ballot in Elba? Incumbent Mayor Tom Maddox is not seeking re-election. Vying for the seat he vacates are Tim Johnson, Carlos J. Magwood, and Marty Tarey. Incumbent District 1 Councilman Johnathan T. Lockett faces challenger Tom G. Hooks. Incumbent District 2 Councilman Gappa Wise faces challenger Aaron Pope. Incumbent District 3 Councilperson Jane B. Brunson faces challengers Christy Eubanks Laramore, and Todd Martinetti. Incumbent District 4 Councilman Bryan Grimes is not seeking re-election. Tim Hudson and William Love are vying for that seat. Incumbent District 5 Councilman AR Williams faces challenger Kaye Ellis. All registered voters in the Municipal Election Aug. 26 in Elba vote at the Elba Church of Christ located at 715 Troy Highway. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Who is on the ballot in New Brockton? Incumbent Mayor Charles Chuck Schieffer faces challengers Ricky Chandler and Sherry Seetahal. Incumbent District 1 City Councilman Allan Rodriguez will face challenger Richard Driskell Incumbent District 2 Councilman is unopposed in his bid for re-election. Incumbent District 3 Councilwoman Courtney Whittaker is unopposed in her bid for re-election. Incumbent District 4 Councilman Todd Askins is not seeking re-election. Cody Reeves is running unopposed for that seat. Incumbent District 5 Councilwoman Selena Terrell is running unopposed in her bid for re-election. All registered voters in the Municipal Election Aug. 26 in New Brockton vote at the New Brockton City Hall. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Who is on the ballot in Kinston? The town of Kinston will not need to hold a municipal election as all incumbent council members are unopposed. Incumbent Mayor William W. Reichardt is not seeking re-election and Bobby Chamblee is running unopposed. Who is on the ballot in Level Plains? Incumbent Mayor Ronnie Thompson faces challenger James J.R. Cambron for the mayors seat in Level Plains Aug. 26 Incumbent Place 1 City Councilman Cornelius Burrows is unopposed in this election. Incumbent Place 2 City Councilman Peter Willingham chose not to run for reelection. Candidate Ray Graham is running unopposed for the Place 2 seat. Incumbent Place 3 City Councilwoman Melinda Achman has no opposition. Incumbent Place 4 City Incumbent Councilman Moses Crowder faces Don Choate in this election. Incumbent Place 5 City Councilman Greg Eldridge is unopposed. All registered voters in Level Plains vote at the Community Center located at 47 Z Street. The polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Aug. 26 Who is on the ballot in Newton? Incumbent Mayor Lonnie E. Daniels III is facing challengers William (Bill) E. Pruett, Jr., Sharolyn Sidebottom, and Diane Irby. For the District 1 Council Seat, incumbent Terry Dykes faces challengers Tim Brookshire and Jason Stanford. Incumbent District 2 Council member has decided to run for mayor. Candidate Jesse Lawrence is running unopposed for the District 2 seat. For the District 3 Council seat, incumbent Jeff Jordan declined to run for reelection. Candidate Carla Enfinger is unopposed for the District 3 seat. For the District 4 Council seat, incumbent Kathy Snow faces challenger Angelia Willis-Fulford. For District 5 Council seat, incumbent Mike Cherry is unopposed. All registered voters in Newton vote at the Newton City Hall located on North College Street. The polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Aug. 26. Parts of Europe have seen a 700% rise in baby boys being named Muhammad or another variation since the Millennium. One in 200 boys born in Austria today will be called either Muhammad, Mohammed, Mohammad, Mohamed and Mohamad, official statistics suggest. For comparison, Daily Mail analysis shows the equivalent rate stood at around one in every 1,670 in 2000. In England and Wales last year, 3% of boys were given the name Muhammad or one of four separate iterations ubiquitous in Islamic culture. Yet in parts of the nation this was as high as 9%, separate figures suggested. Many Muslims of Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Indian heritage regard it as a blessing to give a baby the name of the prophet, the founder of Islam. Growing sizes of Muslim communities across the UK fuelled by immigration, as well as the popularity of sporting figures such as Mohamed Salah are likely to be behind the increase, experts say. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The Daily Mail audit involved trawling official baby naming figures from 11 European countries. Datasets for some, including Germany which has seen the most Muslim refugees arrive in the last decade - were not publicly accessible in full. Due to the many spelling variations and their varying popularity in each country, our audit combined the five most common spellings into one grouping. Behind England and Wales, the nation with the highest rate was Belgium. There, just over 1% of boys born in 2024 were given one of the five names up from 0.5% in 2000. Similarly high figures were seen in France (0.87%) and the Netherlands (0.7%). Meanwhile, the rate in some countries stayed relatively static, while others saw a decline in the prevalence in recent years. However, given there are thirty-plus ways to spell the name, it's likely the Daily Mail's analysis underrepresents the true figure. Research from the influential Pew Research Centre estimated that Muslims made up 4.9% of Europe's total population in 2017. Yet this would double to 11.2% by 2025 if migration continued at a 'medium' level, its projections showed. It said in its report: 'In recent years, Europe's experienced a record influx of asylum seekers fleeing conflicts in Syria and other predominantly Muslim countries. 'This wave of Muslim migrants has prompted debate about immigration and security policies in numerous countries and has raised questions about the current and future number of Muslims in Europe.' Your browser does not support iframes. Robert Bates, of the Centre for Migration Control, said: 'Europe has seen a rapid uptick in migration from the Islamic world as families and whole communities have moved westward to benefit from Europes greater relative prosperity and stability.' Across all 11 countries in our audit, Poland had the fewest number of baby boys called Muhammad or one of the other spellings (0.01%) in 2024. Polish governments have fought bitterly against EU migration plans over the years. Mateusz Morawiecki, who served as Poland's prime minister from 2017 to 2023, said when he left office that he didn't want Polish culture to be 'destroyed by the Muslim migrants coming from the Middle East or from Africa'. An investigation into baby names by the Economist earlier this year found that in the past, migrants often felt pressure to discard names that sounded too foreign, but as Europe becomes more diverse, the range of names has grown broader. Instead of changing names, today many parents proudly select a name that preserves their cultural identity, seeing it as a statement of belonging rather than a barrier to integration. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last month revealed that the top boys' name in 2024 was Muhammad, for the second year running. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Some 5,721 boys were given the specific spelling of Muhammad in 2024, a rise of 23 per cent on the previous year. Mohammed, a different spelling, first entered the top 100 boys' names for England and Wales 100 years ago, debuting at 91st in 1924. Its prevalence dropped considerably in the lead up to and during WW2 but began to rise in the 1960s. That particular iteration of the name was the only one to appear in the ONS' top 100 data from 1924 until Mohammad joined in the early 1980s. Muhammad, now the most popular of the trio in the UK, first broke into the top 100 in the mid-1980s and has seen the fastest growth of all three iterations since. The name means praiseworthy' or 'commendable' and stems from the Arabic word 'hamad', meaning 'to praise'. Alp Mehmet, of Migrationwatch UK, said: 'This is not a surprise given the pace at which the Muslim population has grown. It more than doubled in 20 years. 'According to the census it went from just over 1.5 million in 2001 to just under 4 million in 2021. It is still growing. So, expect Muhammad to stay at the top of the pile for years to come.' Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. But the ONS, alongside most other European statistical bodies, only provide figures based on the exact spelling and do not group names. If multiple spellings were grouped under one umbrella name, Theodore (8th in 2024, 2,761 and Theo (12th in 2024, 2,387) would have ranked above Noah (second-place 2024 name). Therefore, because five spellings of Muhammad have been used for this data set, it has an advantage over other names. The different backgrounds of Muslims around the world partly explain the variation in spelling. For instance, the transliteration of the name from South Asian languages is more likely to yield Mohammed, whereas Muhammad is a closer transliteration of formal Arabic. Nestled in the rolling hills of central Chile, Villa Baviera looks like a peaceful village, with its red tiled roofs, manicured lawns, and lush forest. But, beneath the picture-book setting lies a chilling past. Once known as Colonia Dignidad, it used to be a secretive paedophile sect established by a one-eyed Nazi after he fled Germany. Paul Schaefer oversaw daily torture and abuse of child slaves living at the commune, in Parral, south of the capital Santiago, for over three decades after founding it in 1961. He formed the cult after persuading followers to sell their possessions in Germany and move to Chile to form what he said would be a religious farming commune and charity. Schaefer imposed a regime of harsh punishments and humiliation on the residents, including cruelly separating children from their parents. The monster also collaborated with the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet whose secret police used the colony as a place to torture opponents. The scale of the atrocities at the commune - which at its peak in the 1960s and '70s had roughly 300 members - came to light only after the end of Pinochet's regime. Schaefer died in prison in 2010, but some of the German residents stayed and have turned the former torture site into a tourist destination. Nestled in the rolling hills on central Chile, Villa Baviera looks like a peaceful village, with its red tiled roofs, manicured lawns, and lush forest. Pictured: This aerial view shows Villa Baviera Village Once known as Colonia Dignidad, it used to be a secretive paedophile sect established by a one-eyed Nazi paedophile in Parral, south of the capital Santiago after he fled Germany. Pictured: A barbed wire fence surrounds the secretive German colony of Villa Baviera Paul Schaefer (pictured) oversaw daily torture and abuse of child slaves living at the commune for over three decades since founding it in 1961 The entrance of one of the bunkers used by German Paul Schaefer Schneider at Colonia Dignidad The bulletproof window of the room of cult leader former Wehrmacht soldier Paul Schaefer is pictured in Colonia Dignidad View of the entrance of one of the bunkers used by cult leader former Wehmacht soldier Paul Schaefer in Colonia Dignidad (Dignity Colony), now called Villa Baviera Schaefer imposed a regime of harsh punishments and humiliation on the residents, including cruelly separating children from their parents The community has transformed former workshops where devotees labored without pay into a hotel with glowing Trip Advisor reviews. One person gushed: 'This was our first travel to Villa Baviera. There was given good food and super service. 'The atmosphere and area is very attractive. The fresh air helped us to sleep good. The staff was very friendly and capable to handle our questions. I want to go again back to visit. The communal dining hall, one of the few places where parents in the colony could see the children who had been taken away from them, is now a public restaurant. It celebrates Oktoberfest, and a small store sells souvenirs and homemade pastries and sausages. The tourism complex also has a small lagoon with paddle boats, a pool, hot tubs and bicycles for rent. Services include wedding ceremonies and so-called historical tours through the former leader's bedroom, where he abused boys, and the hospital, where followers were drugged and tortured. For decades, the residents of Villa Baviera, initially called Colonia Dignidad, submitted to the authoritarian whims of Schaefer, who banned almost all contact with the outside world at the commune 210 miles south of Santiago. Under his rules, men and women lived separately, intimate contact was controlled and children were split from their parents. Schaefer formed the cult after persuading followers to sell their possessions in Germany and move to Chile to form what he said would be a religious farming commune and charity View of the Villa Baviera Hotel in Colonia Dignidad (Dignity Colony), now called Villa Baviera, near Parral, Maule Province, Chile on April 15, 2025 Schaefer was born in Troisdorf, Weimar Germany, in 2921 and joined the Hitler Youth movement at a young age Pictured: View of the Villa Baviera Hotel in Colonia Dignidad The tourism complex also has a small lagoon with paddle boats, a pool, hot tubs and bicycles for rent Schafer died in prison in 2010, but some of the German residents stayed and have turned the former torture site into a tourist destination. Pictured: An artificial lagoon created by settlers in Villa Baviera View of the guesthouse in Colonia Dignidad In 2006, former members of the cult issued a public apology and asked for forgiveness for 40 years of sex and human rights abuses in their community, saying they were brainwashed by Schaefer, who many viewed as God. The enclave's history features in a movie called Colonia, released in 2015, starring Emma Watson and Daniel Bruehl. Schaefer was born in Troisdorf, Weimar Germany, in 1921, and joined the Hitler Youth movement at a young age. He served as a medic in the German Army during World War II, where he reached the rank of corporal. As an ex-Nazi, he lived in Germany until 1961. Following the war he set up a children's home and Lutheran evangelical ministry. In 1959, he created the Private Social Mission, purportedly a charitable organisation. That same year, he was charged with sexually abusing two children and fled Germany with some of his followers. Schaefer resurfaced in Chile in 1961, where the government at the time, led by conservative President Jorge Alessandri, granted him permission to create the Dignidad Beneficent Society on a farm outside of Parral. As an ex-Nazi, Schaefer lived in Germany until 1961. Pictured: Paul Schaefer is transferred from a police station to a prison in Buenos Aires, late March 10, 2005 Workers and German colonists hold up a banner that reads 'Welcome to Baviera Hotel' in preparation for the opening of a hotel run by German colonists at Villa Baviera in 2012 This aerial view shows Villa Baviera Village, formerly known as Colonia Dignidad (Dignity Colony), now called Villa Baviera, near Parral, Maule Province, Chile on April 15, 2025 Founded primarily on anti-communism, this society evolved into the Colonia Dignidad community. Schaefer disappeared on May 20, 1997, fleeing child sex abuse charges, this time filed by Chilean authorities after 26 children who went to the commune's free clinic and school reported abuse. He was tried in Chile in his absence, and found guilty in late 2004. Schaefer was found on March 10, 2005, nearly eight years after his disappearance, hiding in a suburb known as Las Acacias, 30 miles from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Following two days of negotiations between Chilean and Argentine authorities, Schaefer was sent back to Chile to face a court hearing. There, he was charged with being involved in the 1976 disappearance of the political activist Juan Maino, and he remained in custody until his death. On May 24, 2006, Schaefer was sentenced to 20 years in jail for sexually abusing 25 children and was ordered to pay 1million to 11 minors whose representatives established suits. He died aged 89 in a Chilean jail in 2010 while serving his sentence. Paul Schaefer, leader of a mysterious German colony in southern Chile, ignores the press after appearing in court in Parral The community, which at its peak in the 1960s and '70s had about 300 members, has transformed former workshops where devotees labored without pay into a hotel with glowing Trip Advisor reviews Former leader of the Colonia Dignidad (dignity community), Paul Schaefer (C), sits in a wheelchair outside Interpol police station after questioning in Santiago, March 14, 2005 Now, the Chilean government has made the controversial decision to expropriate some of its land to to turn it into a memorial for the victims of the country's 1973-1990 dictatorship. Across Chile, more than 3,000 people were killed and more than 40,000 tortured during the Pinochet regime. In June last year, President Gabriel Boric ordered that 116 hectares (287 acres) of the 4,800-hectare site, an area including the tourist complex. But some of the inhabitants, who were separated from their families as children, subjected to forced labor, and in some cases, sexually abused, say they are being victimized all over again. Luis Evangelista Aguayo was one of those who was forcibly 'disappeared'. Mr Aguayo worked as a school inspector, was a member of the teachers' trade union and was active in the Socialist Party. On 12 September 1973, one day after Pinochet overthrew Chile's elected Socialist President, Salvador Allende, police came to Mr Aguayo's house and arrested him, the BBC reported. Two days later, he was sent to the local prison, but on 26 September 1973, police arrived and bundled him into a van. His family never saw him again. Mr Aguayo was one of 27 people from Parral believed to have been killed in Colonia Dignidad, according to an ongoing judicial investigation ordered by the Chilean government. German settlers' clothes are exhibited at the Villa Baviera Hotel's restaurant in Colonia Dignidad In this file photo taken on January 20, 2016 a German boy rides his bicycle in Villa Baviera or Bavaria Village, formerly known as Colonia Dignidad The total number of people murdered here is not known, but there is evidence that this was the final destination of many opponents of the Pinochet regime, including Chilean congressman Carlos Lorca and several other Socialist Party leaders. The Chilean justice ministry says investigations suggest hundreds of political detainees were brought here. Ana Aguayo, Luis' sister, supports the government's plan to create a site of memory there. 'It was a place of horror and appalling crimes. It shouldn't be a place for tourists to shop or dine at a restaurant,' she told the BBC. But the government's expropriation plans have divided opinion in Villa Baviera, which has fewer than 100 residents. Dorothee Munch was born in 1977 in Colonia Dignidad. The government plans to expropriate 117 hectares of the 4,829-hectare site, including buildings where torture took place, and sites where victims' bodies were exhumed, then burnt and their ashes deposited. Ms Munch disagrees with the expropriation plans because they include the centre of the village, encompassing the residents' homes and shared businesses including a restaurant, hotel, bakery, butchers and a dairy. Bosses at one of America's busiest airports have sparked fury by unveiling controversial plans to explore using nuclear energy. Leaders at Denver International Airport in Colorado made the announcement earlier this month, sparking an immediate backlash from locals who claim they were never consulted. The airport has since been forced to pause its plans for a feasibility study following the outcry. Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore, who represents District 11, said the issue was never discussed with her constituents, who have questions about safety and nuclear waste. 'It never came up,' she told Daily Mail. 'Denver International Airport is trying to put the cart before the horse, and they got called out by the community.' The airport was planning to pay up to $1.25million for a six to 12-month study to determine if nuclear power is viable for the airport long-term, what are the risks, and how much it would cost, among other things. But Gilmore said her constituents are unequivocally opposed and highlighted that the proposed nuclear reactor is a relatively new technology which would be located near the two most racially diverse populations in the city and county of Denver. 'People don't want something that produces radioactive waste - something that we currently don't have a way to even store it - in a community of color,' Gilmore added. She called Denver Airport CEO Phil Washington's 'rushed' plan 'half-baked'. But more than that, she said the airport hasn't reached out the community to hear their concerns, which include, the heightened risk for cancers, air and noise pollution, and radioactive chemicals being nearby, among others. Denver International Airport has sparked fury after announcing it would conduct a study to evaluate relying on nuclear power Stacie Gilmore, who represents District 11, said the bold new plan was never discussed with her constituents, who have questions about safety and nuclear waste The study is now on pause while the city and airport talk to constituents. Normally, they said, they would do community outreach while the study was happening. 'However, since it was requested, we are happy to do so,' the airport said in a statement. But Gilmore said that wasn't enough and claimed the airport would never shell out so much on a study if it hadn't already made up its mind. 'The concerns of the community would be one page of that study. The rest of the study would be saying exactly how this is a great idea,' she told Daily Mail. 'If you're raising your kids in a single neighborhood where you bought a single-family home and that is your greatest asset of your family, do you want your grandparents' home located next to a small nuclear reactor? 'And god forbid something catastrophic happens out there, it will mean people's lives,' she continued. 'It doesn't jive with Denver's values. Phil Washington is so greedy.' She said the communities that would be affected by this have been 'systematically ignored' and she's 'not willing to play with people's lives'. Gilmore called Denver Airport CEO Phil Washington's (pictured) 'rushed' plan 'half-baked' Mayor Mike Johnston (pictured) is in full support of the study, which has been paused amid a backlash Denver is the third busiest airport in the US and the sixth worldwide. It handles 80million passengers a year and is estimated to see more than 120million by 2045 'This is brand new technology that nobody really knows long-term issues with,' she told Daily Mail. 'That's irresponsible.' Denver is the third busiest airport in the US and the sixth worldwide. It handles 80million passengers a year and is estimated to see more than 120million by 2045. The city is hoping to find a more sustainable way to generate electricity to become 'energy independent' and to have the 'greenest airport in the world,' a press release stated. 'Denver leads with bold ideas, and our vision for the future of our airport is no exception,' Mayor Mike Johnston said in a statement. 'We must explore every innovative solution available to meet the demands of a growing city and a changing climate.' Mayor Johnston and Denver Airport did not return Daily Mail's request for comment. Nuclear power is a growing energy field as it has low greenhouse gas emission, while still generating electricity. Those that use small reactors can also add more as the demand for energy grows and have a smaller carbon footprint than a bigger reactor. The city is hoping to find a more sustainable way to generate electricity to become 'energy independent' (Pictured: small nuclear reactor in Clinton, Illinois) However, small reactors are still in the development stage in the US and it could be up to a decade before operations begin. Another drawback to nuclear power is that waste is stored on site as the US does not have a national disposal site. The US, however, is the world's largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for roughly 30 percent. The Donald Trump Administration set a target to quadruple the US' capacity by 2050. The majority of nuclear reactors are on the Eastern side of the country. The family of sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre have vowed to continue her fight for justice despite their fundraiser failing to make any significant money. Giuffre, 41, took her own life on April 25 at her farmhouse in Neergabby, about an hour north of Perth. She was one of the most prominent victims of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and claimed she was trafficked for sex at 17, including to Prince Andrew. The Duke of York denied the claims but reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, reportedly about $16million. Now her brothers Sky and Danny have launched a 'platform of safety and support' as they continue their sister's legacy. In an Instagram post under a newly created page, @virginias_voice, they wrote: 'As the family of Virginia we carry the weight of grief every day. Throughout this journey we have realised this loss isn't just ours but a catastrophic loss to the survivor community. 'We intend to fill this gap and create a platform of safety and support for our sister's voice and survivors everywhere! Join us on our journey of justice and healing.' The family also added the hashtags #jeffreyepstein and #ghislanemaxwell. Giuffre, 41, took her own life on April 25 at her farmhouse in Western Australia Virginia Guiffre's brothers Sky (left) and Danny (right) have launched a 'platform of safety and support' The GoFundMe has only raised $1,235 USD of the $15,000 target. Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex, has asked the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction and is reportedly seeking a pardon from Donald Trump - something Giuffre's family have urged the US President to reject. Giuffre's family also said it was 'shocking' to hear Trump say that Epstein had poached her from the Mar-a-Lago club, where she worked at the spa in 2000. The family said Trump's comment raised questions about whether he was aware of Epstein's sexual abuse at the time. 'The government and the president should never consider giving Ghislaine Maxwell any leniency,' the family said in a statement. 'Ghislaine Maxwell is a monster who deserves to rot in prison for the rest of her life for the extraordinary violence and abuse she put not just our sister Virginia through, but many other survivors, who may number in the thousands.' While it is unclear how the new Virginia's Voice platform will specifically help survivors, it comes four months after the family launched a public fundraiser in Giuffre's memory. At the time, the family explained they needed donations to build a public memorial dedicated to Giuffre's memory, despite her multi-million dollar estate. Giuffre's sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, revealed that Giuffre's remaining money and property, including the family's $1.9million beach mansion and $1.3million farm, would take 'years' to divide in a drawn-out legal process. Ghislaine Maxwell (right) is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role recruiting and trafficking minors with Jeffrey Epstein (left) So far that GoFundMe has only raised $1,235 USD of the $15,000 target. 'Though our family are experiencing an immeasurable sense of grief, we know that this will make us stronger,' it read. 'That is what Virginia would have wanted. With that, we think it is imperative that we find a way to leave her mark of legacy. 'Virginia, through her fight and testimony, was able to amass settlements, but unfortunately, through this tragedy, as many of you may know, funds and estates can take years to settle. 'While her estate is being settled in Australia, her family in America is dedicated to memorialising and celebrating her spirit. 'It is our intention with this fund that we create a public memorial not just for family but for survivors and supporters from all over to visit and share space with Virginia. 'She deserves to have a permanent mark in this world that demonstrates her lasting impact.' The family also thanked supporters. An instagram page Virginia's Voice has been launched 'First and foremost, thank you for the outpouring of love and support for our beloved Virginia,' the appeal added. 'We know Virginia was not just a bright light to us, but to many. The lives she touched, the strength, and the fight she has given us will live with us always.' They also pledged to continue Giuffre's legacy in fighting for stronger laws to protect victims of sexual abuse and prevent culprits from escaping justice. The family vowed to take on her mission 'with all our heart and soul'. Researchers believe they may have finally solved the mystery behind the disappearance of the infamous Lost Colony of the 16th century following a new discovery. The so-called Lost Colony refers to 118 English settlers who vanished from Roanoke Island in North Carolina sometime after they set up in 1587. The only trace of the settlers was a carving of the word 'Croatoan' in a palisade, which many believed referred to Croatoan Island, or modernday Hatteras Island. For centuries historians have speculated on whether the group evert made it to Croatoan as they seemed to suggest. Now, researchers believe they did actually migrate there and assimilated with the Native Americans after finding iron filings known as hammerscale in a trash heap on Hatteras Island, Fox News Digital reports. Hammerscale are flaky bits that contains iron forging byproducts, which the Native Americans would not have had yet, but English colonists would have been wellversed in. 'This is metal that has to be raised to a relatively high temperature which, of course, [requires] technology that Native Americans at this period did not have,' Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at Royal Agricultural University in England, told Fox News Digital. 'We're looking at the middens - that's the rubbish heaps - of the Native Americans living on Croatoan Island, because we deduced that they would have very rapidly been assimilated into the Native American population.' Between 1587 and 1590 a group of 18 settlers on Roanoke Island mysteriously vanished, leaving only a wooding carving of the word 'Croatoan' in a palisade, which many believed referred to Croatoan Island, or modernday Hatteras Island Researchers have now discovered evidence of hammerscale (pictured) on Croatoan and believe it indicates the colony settled there The hammerscale discovery led researchers to conclude that the Englishmen 'must have been working' with the Native American community. The colony's disappearance was uncovered by Governor John White on his return to the island from England in 1590. White had sailed back to his homeland in August 1587 to collect more supplies and settlers but was delayed by the Spanish Armada. When he arrived back at Roanoke found the original settlers, including his daughters, had vanished from the island. A plan had been preestablished that if the settlers were to leave the island, they would carve their location into a tree so he would know where they were. But only remnant of human life left on the island was a carving of the word 'Croatoan' in a palisade, which many believed referred to Croatoan Island, or modernday Hatteras Island. White attempted to sail to the other island, but a storm disrupted him and forced him to reroute back to England with no news of the settlers. Their disappearance left centuries of people wondering if the colonists were killed or if they had immigrated to a new home. 'This is metal that has to be raised to a relatively high temperature which, of course, [requires] technology that Native Americans at this period did not have,' Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at Royal Agricultural University in England, said The finding of hammerscale made researchers believe that the Englishmen 'must have been working' with the Native American community This changed with the discovery of the hammerscale, which was accurately dated due to its position in the soil, buried in layers researchers say would have come from that century. The team also found guns, nautical fittings, small cannonballs, and more, they told Fox News Digital. Wine glasses and beads were also discovered, which helped build a picture of what the settlers' lives were on the island. Researchers believe the settlers' family lived on the island until the 18th Century. Another reason they believe the English settlers assimilated with the Native Americans was historical evidence from the 1700s that described 'people with blue or gray eyes' Horton said. He said these individuals, 'could remember people who used to be able to read from books,'. 'Also, they said there was this ghost ship that was sent out by a man called Raleigh,' Horton added. The name is most likely a reference to Sir Walter Raleigh, an English statesman who played a key role in colonization. Archaeologists found the substance buried in layers of soil they knew would have come from that century The colony's disappearance was uncovered by Governor John White on his return to the island from England in 1590 but it isn't known exactly when they left He organized and funded two attempts at settlement on Roanoke Island. The first was a military outpost evacuated in 1586, before the arrival of the Lost Colony two years later. Following the colony's failure, White all but disappeared from the historical record. He is believed to have died in around 1606, one year before England established its first successful colony in Jamestown, Virginia. A Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing young boys was shot to death by one of his alleged victims in a rampage at the clergyman's home. Father Robert 'Bob' Hoeffner was gunned down at his Florida home by Brandon Kapas, 24, who also fatally shot Hoeffner's sister, Sally, before turning the gun on his own grandfather. The bloodbath on January 28 last year only came to an end when Kapas was killed by officers during a shootout at a family member's Palm Bay home. The triple murder sent shockwaves through the community, but Hoeffner's memory has since been tainted by a series of allegations he carried out a decades-long campaign of sexual abuse. More than 40 pages of graphic notes describing sick acts against children were found by police at Hoeffner's home following his murder, though officials said they cannot be sure who they were written by. Kapas' aunt told investigators her nephew was among Hoeffner's alleged victims while he was a young boy attending St. Joseph Catholic School, according to a police report. Since Hoeffner's death, three individuals have come forward with similar allegations of abuse in lawsuits filed against the Diocese of Orlando, accusing the religious authority of engaging in a cover up. The latest pair of lawsuits, both filed in state court on last month, were filed by two men who claim Hoeffner repeatedly molested them in the late 1980s when they were 14 to 15-years-old. Father Robert 'Bob' Hoeffner (pictured) along was shot and killed by a man whose aunt claimed was sexually abused by the priest as a child Brandon Kapas, 24, murdered Hoeffner and his sister Sally in their Florida home on January 28, 2024 Kapas was later killed in a shootout with police after there was a domestic disturbance at the home of one of his family members The explosive filings accuse Hoeffner's sister of facilitating and being present for some of the alleged abuse. The only alleged victim to come forward publicly is Shawn Teuber, 26, who also sued the Diocese of Orlando in May. Teuber was friends with Kapas and said in his lawsuit that Hoeffner abused him through seventh and eighth grade while at St. Joseph Catholic School from 2012 through 2014. The suit claimed that Hoeffner molested Teuber in the school counselor's office, at Hoeffner's home and in a car when he was teaching the boy how to drive. 'I've carried this pain for years, and I couldn't stay silent any longer,' Teuber said. 'By sharing my story, I hope to show others they're not alone and to make sure this doesn't happen to another person.' The Diocese of Orlando and St. Joseph Catholic Church filed a motion to dismiss Teuber's lawsuit late last month. In a statement to Daily Mail, a spokeswoman for the Diocese said the organization is 'aware of the new claims against Fr. Robert Hoeffner and have been evaluating the allegations'. 'We reiterate that the Diocese of Orlando was not made aware of any allegations of abuse during Fr. Hoeffners pastoral leadership or after he retired in 2016,' the spokeswoman continued. Shawn Teuber, now 26, publicly accused Hoeffner of sexually abusing him when he was in seventh and eighth grade following the priest's murder After Kapas' rampage Teuber offered a sworn statement to police that he had been groomed and violated by the priest. Kapas's aunt, Kourtney Bonilla, told police said that Kapas had a weird' and 'long-standing relationship' with Hoeffner going back to his teen years at the Catholic school. Bonilla said Hoeffner shared a bank account with Kapas and that he bought a vehicle for him when he got his driver's license. She said that even though Kapas never confided in her, she 'firmly believed' Hoeffner sexually abused him as a child. Lisa Hoeffner, the priest's other sister, also spoke with police and corroborated certain details that Bonilla offered, including the shared bank account. Detectives also looked through Hoeffner's phone and found bizarre text messages from Kapas on January 27, the day before he and sister Sally were found dead in their home. Text messages sent by Kapas read in-part, 'You have woken up all of Egypt... Ancient ones know what you have done...' Multiple plaintiffs accused Sally Hoeffner, the priest's sister of either being present for the alleged sexual abuse or doing nothing to stop it. Sally was shot and killed by Kapas alongside her brother A search of Hoeffner's home turned up a folder with 46 pages of handwritten notes documenting stories of graphic child sexual abuse, according to the police report After Teuber sued in May, two more anonymous plaintiffs filed suits on July 1 containing similar accusations. One of the plaintiffs, John Doe I, said Hoeffner walked around his Orlando home naked, while also demanding he do the same. The same lawsuit claimed the alleged victim was inappropriately touched by Hoeffner during so-called therapy sessions that Sally Hoeffner was accused of participating in. Hoeffner also put a down payment on John Doe I's first car, according to the lawsuit. The other plaintiff, John Doe II, said in his lawsuit that he met Hoeffner in 1987 at age 14 when he became an altar boy at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church. He was allegedly sexually abused and forced to commit acts on Hoeffner during private 'prayer sessions', according to the complaint. The abuse only stopped when Hoeffner allegedly grabbed the boy by the face and kissed him on the lips in front of his mother, who then publicly admonished the priest and took her son out of altar service, per the suit. The Diocese of Orlando was hit with yet another lawsuit on July 1 accusing Father George Zina (pictured) of committing sexual abuse in two central Florida parishes which he denies Both lawsuits said Hoeffner of spending time alone with young boys in a canoe out on a lake near the San Pedro Retreat Center as early as the mid-1980s. Both also claimed that it was well known in the community at the time that boys lived at his residence. Herman Law, the firm representing the three alleged victims, is demanding $25 million in damages from the Diocese for 'giving [Hoeffner] unfettered and unsupervised access to a vulnerable population of underage males'. The Diocese of Orlando was hit with yet another lawsuit on July 1 accusing a different priest of committing sexual abuse in two central Florida parishes. George Zina, now a priest at St. Elias Catholic Church Maronite Center in Roanoke, Virginia, was named as the person who allegedly molested a young boy in the mid-2000s. The Diocese of Orlando told Daily Mail that Zina 'was not a priest of the Diocese of Orlando and was not employed by the Diocese', adding that it was unaware of any claims against him at the time. The Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, which oversees all East Coast Maronite Catholic Churches, including St. Elias, said that since no criminal charges have been filed against Zina, it has decided to keep him as a priest. 'The Eparchy has never received a complaint of this nature against Father Zina in his more than 38 years of priestly ministry,' a statement read. The Eparchy added that Zina denied the allegations to them. Daily Mail approached Zina for comment. A wealthy California city is being overrun by geese which are clogging up its streets with 300lbs of feces per day. Residents of Foster City, located in San Mateo County, are constantly having to deal with the mess and stench left behind by the city's 400-strong Canada goose population. Parks and open spaces in the otherwise ritzy city, where a typical home will set you back around $1.8 million, are now spattered with droppings. The problem has been growing over the years, and is even sparking health concerns. In 2022, a two-year-old was hospitalized after she put some goose feces in her mouth while playing in a park, her dad told the New York Times. Meanwhile, the birds' droppings are also contributing to high E. coli levels in parts of the local lagoon. 'We are at the front lines of dealing with this issue,' Derek Schweigart, Foster City's parks and recreation director, insists. Although locals remain less convinced, with many in the liberal Silicon Valley city even contemplating taking up arms to deal with the issue themselves.'The birds have just taken over,' said Mark Beltran, who works in corporate finance in Silicon Valley and believes it would be right to euthanize the birds. Foster City (pictured) is being overrun by geese which are clogging up its streets with 300lbs of feces per day The birds' droppings are also contributing to high E. coli levels in parts of the local lagoon Residents of Foster City, located in San Mateo County, are constantly having to deal with the mess and stench left behind by the city's 400-strong Canada goose population The problem has been growing over the years, and is even sparking health concerns (pictured: Buckets of collected goose droppings) 'This beautiful place that we call home, we cannot even use it as it was intended. 'I'm not here to kill birds. I'm here to save our local environment.' When Foster City's X shared a post last summer encouraging park-goers not to feed, provoke or approach Canada geese it prompted a furious response. A disgruntled local responded, 'Can we hunt them instead? We have beautiful parks, yet they are covered from end to end to [sic] geese poop, its a nightmare for all of us that have kids.' But problems with the geese date further back than just last summer. The goose population doubled between 2020 and 2022, and so have the complaints. Susan Lessin, a 30-year resident of Foster City and member of the San Mateo County Bird Alliance, said she thinks the issue worsened during the pandemic when residents started spending more time outdoors and quickly learned they had to be careful where they stepped. Raju Gadiraju, a biopharmaceutical executive, told the NYT he no longer lets his dog run off its leash because the dog 'likes to eat geese droppings' 'It's just disgusting,' he added. With 24 parks and more than 160 acres of open space, there is plenty of room for the geese to play. There is also plenty of room for them to poop. With 24 parks and more than 160 acres of open space, there is plenty of room for the geese to play in Foster City (pictured). There is also plenty of room for them to poop The droppings do not clean easily - to get rid of the poop requires regular power washings Parks and open spaces in the otherwise ritzy city, where a typical home will set you back around $1.8 million, are now spattered with droppings The animals can also be dangerous and become particularly aggressive during nesting season. They have been known to chase off small dogs and children Each goose can produce one or two pounds of droppings each day, which can seriously stack up. To make matters worse, the droppings do not clean easily. To get rid of the poop requires regular power washings. The animals can also be dangerous and become particularly aggressive during nesting season. They have been known to chase off small dogs and children. Foster City officials took serious measures earlier this month. The city council approved a $400,000 contract with a wildlife company to deter the geese from habituating at seven 'high impact' parks. This will involve measures such as using drones, balloons and dogs to scare - or 'haze' - the geese. However, the contract only approved non-lethal measures to get rid of the birds. Other San Mateo County locations with less open spaces and lagoons have far fewer Canada geese and far fewer geese-related problems. Redwood Shores and Redwood City Port had fewer than 200 as of 2025, while San Mateo itself barely had 100. The Daily Mail reached out to Foster City Council for comment. More than 116,000 mobile phones were stolen in London last year, or 320 every single day, new figures show. Data from the Metropolitan Police reveals there were 116,656 reported mobile thefts in 2024 the highest number on record. It was more than 50 per cent higher than the total recorded in 2017 when mobile thefts in the capital stood at just over 77,000. Last years total was equivalent to 13 phones being stolen every hour. It was 1,300 incidents higher than in the previous 12 months. Despite the staggering number of thefts, only 169 suspects were charged in the year, and seven were let off with a caution. The new figures, obtained from police under freedom of information laws by the campaign group Crush Crime, also showed a further 8,588 handset thefts in January this year. Your browser does not support iframes. Scotland Yard figures, seen by the Daily Mail, revealed 116,656 mobile phones were reported stolen last year The police data showed 61,000 of victims were female and just under 48,000 were male, with the remainder not recorded. Dr Lawrence Newport, campaign founder, said: We are in the midst of a phone theft epidemic, and our government is failing to act. Our politicians need to wake up to reality: they need to stop this epidemic, and push our justice system to catch, convict and imprison these career criminals. Half of all crime is committed by just 10 per cent of offenders, meaning only a small number of career criminals are committing most phone thefts. Astonishingly, from 2017 to 2024 the total number of mobile phones reported stolen was almost 684,000. They were estimated to have a value of 365million, based on values reported to the police by victims. Retailer Curry's launched a new campaign earlier this month to warn Londoners of the risk of mobile phone theft Signage warning pedestrians in London of the danger posed by mobile phone snatchers The number of phone thefts climbed to 91,000 in 2019 but dipped during pandemic lockdowns. It then went on to exceed the pre-Covid total in 2023, with just over 115,000 thefts. The type of handset most commonly reported stolen last year was Apple iPhones, with just under 71,000, followed by Samsung phones, with 14,000. Late afternoon and early evening was the time of day when most handset thefts took place. For example, last year saw 8,231 between 4pm and 5pm; 8,806 between 5pm and 6pm; and 8,975 between 6pm and 7pm. The lowest number of thefts was between 6am and 7am, with 1,036 reported in that timeslot during the year. The London borough with the most phones stolen last year was Westminster, with 34,039. Camden came second with 10,907, followed by Southwark with 7,316. Seventeenth-century French statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert famously said the trick to taxation was 'plucking the goose [so] as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing'. Dead geese don't hiss. That's the blunt logic behind inheritance taxes - or death taxes as they are often referred to. Simply put, they are efficient, hard to dodge, and payable when you no longer need the cash. For decades, Australians across the political spectrum have loathed the idea of inheritance tax. But under certain conditions, it might not be so bad. Hear me out. Who wouldn't rather pay taxes after you're dead rather than when you're alive? As long as introducing death taxes means reducing the taxes we all pay now. But the problem with politicians eyeing new ways to balance the budget is they tend to raise new taxes without abolishing inefficient or productivity-sapping old ones. If inheritance tax ever lands in Australia, don't kid yourself that it'll come with anything scrapped in return. More likely it'll be the usual story: taxed from the cradle to the grave, then clipped once more on the way out. For decades, Australians across the political spectrum have loathed the idea of inheritance tax (stock image of retired couple) An avalanche of wealth will be passed down from boomer babies to their Millennial and Gen Z children when they die in the coming decades. (Pictured: Schoolies in November 2024) Australia once had death taxes, just as many countries around the world still do today. Then came the 1970s stampede. Joh Bjelke-Petersen scrapped Queensland's death duties, other states panicked about a northbound retirement rush, and by the early 1980s, the whole country was death-duty-free. Ever since, a new death tax has been the scare campaign that keeps on giving: a weapon used even when no party was even proposing it. The truth rarely gets in the way of a good scare campaign. This week, the subject crawled out of the political crypt. Jim Chalmers' economic roundtable entertained a wide suite of ideas, and the old taboo got a mention: inheritance taxes, alongside a wealth levy and changes to capital gains. The Treasurer didn't adopt any of it. He convened a conversation without explicitly endorsing a new policy. But simply putting fairness and sustainability on the table was enough to unleash the usual chorus: a 'tax on dying', an 'aspiration tax', a raid on the family home. The lines are familiar because they work. Here's the awkward truth, however. We rely heavily on wages and company profits for revenue while allowing large, unearned windfalls to pass untaxed between generations, exacerbating wealth inequality. Most rich countries still have a version of death duties. If you care about basic equity, taxing very large bequests is the least distorting way to help repair the budget without belting work... as long as the move coincides with tax reductions elsewhere, such as on incomes - that's the crucial bit. Jim Chalmers' economic roundtable entertained a wide suite of ideas, and the old taboo got a mention: inheritance taxes. The Treasurer (centre) didn't adopt it The design matters more than the slogan. A politically durable model should look like this: Make it federal. We tried state-based death duties - it didn't work. One premier abolished them, the rest soon followed. A national tax with the proceeds distributed to the states prevents another race to the bottom. Aim high and narrow. Set a threshold that's so generous that most estates never cop a bill. Exempt real, working farms and family firms with succession plans, and instead focus on dynasties hiding behind clever accountants. The target is entrenched privilege at the top, not middle Australia. Close the gift door. If you only tax inheritances, wealthy people will dodge it by giving money away before they die - it's an invitation for tax avoidance. The fix? Clear, enforceable rules on gifts above a substantial annual cap - and a look-back period tough enough to sting. Keep it simple, stupid. One or two rates would be enough. Minimal exemptions. Don't build a labyrinth of carve-outs to be gamed by cashed-up heirs who can afford slick lawyers. Straightforward rules reduce avoidance and increase legitimacy. Show the value. Hypothecate the revenue to things voters can see and use - such as hospitals, aged care, disability services and schools. People just might tolerate a new tax when they can see what it buys. Brace for the inevitable fear campaign. We'll be told death taxes punish aspiration. It's nonsense. They modestly tax unearned windfalls at the very top so we can ease pressure elsewhere. We'll be told it's 'double taxation'. Well, by that logic, everything is: you pay GST on goods bought with post-tax income. The real question is whether the tax distorts behaviour. Inheritance taxes, designed well with a high threshold, distort far less than ramping up taxes on pay packets. In fact they have the potential to bring income taxes down, so you have more money while you're alive rather than after you're dead. 'Who wouldn't rather pay taxes after you're dead rather than when you're alive? As long as introducing death taxes means reducing the taxes we all pay now,' writes PVO We should also be honest about who benefits from the status quo. Inheritances increasingly flow to people already well into middle age, usually better off than average. Untaxed, they entrench advantage. If you want a society where effort matters more than parentage - and remember, Australia is the country of the 'fair go' - you don't just preach merit, you need to temper dynasties. There are legitimate cautions when thinking about new death taxes. In a global economy, wealth can move. Set the threshold too low or the rules too fiddly and you encourage avoidance schemes and political backlash. That's why any reform must be modest, simple and well-targeted. Pair it with obvious protections for the family home up to a generous limit, clear treatment of super that doesn't keep changing, and real relief for genuine small-business succession. And, most importantly of all, the new law would need to be written in plain English, not a thousand-page invitation to creative accounting. Australia has a structural deficit, an ageing population and long-term costs mounting in areas such as health. If Labor won't broaden the GST, an inheritance tax above a high threshold is the cleanest of the imperfect options. The alternative is pretending bracket creep and debt will pay for everything without stifling productivity. The Opposition has a choice here as well. It can run a scare campaign and it'll probably work - or it can be honest about trade-offs and argue over design specifics to make an inheritance tax work better and fairer. A report published by the left-leaning Australia Institute ahead of the government's economic roundtable recommended three 'simple' tax reforms to bolster the nation's finances - including scrapping the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount on selling a property Here's the question I put to Aussies who immediately gawk at the idea of death taxes: Do we keep leaning on workers while untaxed fortunes glide across generations, or do we ask those inheriting very large windfalls to help fund the services we all use? If that idea is political suicide, what does that say about the state of our politics? Colbert's goose still needs plucking. The trick is to take a few feathers from only the fattest birds. If Canberra wants to prove it can do more than convene conversations, it knows where to start. That said, the problem with this government is they want to find ways to tax more without reforming the wider tax system. New death duties need to happen as part of a wider shake-up, not in isolation. Two decades ago, Brumby's Bakery was hailed as an Australian business success story - but its future is now up in the air after its owner put it up for sale. What began as a single bakery in Melbourne half a century ago expanded to more than 320 stores across Australia and New Zealand and was as popular as its major rival, Bakers Delight. The brand claims on its website to be one of the first Australian companies to successfully embark on a franchising program in the very early days of franchising. In 2007, the business was acquired by parent company Retail Food Group, which owns a string of Aussie food and beverage chains, including Gloria Jean's, Donut King, Beefy's Pies and Crust Gourmet Pizza. Today though, fewer than 100 stores remain. On Wednesday, RFG announced plans to sell the chain, with 'no guarantees it will result in an acceptable offer'. The company has since stressed that Brumby's stores won't close if the chain isn't not sold to another buyer. It comes after Brumby's former chief executive Michael Sherlock weighed in with a brutal message for the corporation which bought it over. 'How do you start a small business?' Mr Sherlock posted on LinkedIn on Thursday. 'Sell a big business to RFG and watch them destroy it slowly.' Brumby's Bakery faces an uncertain future with 'no guarantees' a planned sale will result in an acceptable offer Brumby's Bakery can bounce back by diversifying its range and reinventing the business model, according to retail expert Gary Mortimer While the company insists Brumby's is a profitable part of to its convenience, cafe and bakery division, it has seen a sharp decline in outlets over recent years. Experts believe the franchising model was a major contributing factor, where operators face additional challenges on top of economic pressures. 'They face much higher expenses than your locally run bakery,' Queensland University of Technology marketing and consumer behaviour expert Professor Gary Mortimer told Daily Mail. 'On top of wages and leasing costs, those owners are also paying for franchising, operation, marketing and store fit-out fees.' Increased competition from supermarket giants also played a role. 'For some time, bakeries such as Brumby's have produced good, high-quality products,' Professor Mortimer explained. 'But now, people can wander into their local Coles and Woolworths and find a similar range of baked goods, such as sourdough.' Professor Mortimer believes the potential new owners could breathe new life into Brumby's by diversifying its product range and reviewing the business model. Brumby's Bakery once consisted of more than 320 stores. Fewer than 100 remain today He cited how a popular pie chain bounced back from voluntary administration in 2014 through a creditor-approved financial rescue plan. 'Pie Face went out of business and then reinvented itself with a new business model by going into service stations,' Professor Mortimer said. He hopes Brumby's won't meet the same fate as Michel's Patisserie. The cafe chain was also part of the RFG fold until cafes were shut down or converted into Gloria Jean's or Donut King stores in February after a few tough years of trade. The former long-time chief executive of Brumby's has now launched a scathing attack on RFG following news of its plans to offload the bakery chain. Originally called 'Old Style Bread Centre', the first bakery opened in Melbourne's east in 1975. The business was rebranded as Brumby's in the 1980s and later expanded to hundreds of franchises across Australia and New Zealand. Michael Sherlock spent 26 years at the helm of Brumby's as chief executive, where he instilled a winning culture and saw the firm's capitalised value soar from $6million to $46million. Michael Sherlock spent 26 years as Brumby's Bakery chief executive until the business was acquired by Retail Food Group in 2007 It included an eight-year stint as managing director until the business was acquired by RFG and he also lays the blame for the firm's decline with RFG's franchise model. 'The fairness dial needs to be in the middle,' he said. 'A franchisee needs more than a wage - if they work hard, they should get a good return on the investment. 'Not pay extra for purchases, receive little support and see their marketing fund disappear in headquarters expenses.' Mr Sherlock is now Sentinel Property Group chief experience officer, and says he has no intention of buying Brumby's back. 'For the record, I am not interested - not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow,' he added. Former franchisee Michael Kopittke added: 'While other bakeries / chains are thriving, as an ex Brumby's master franchise who opened 60 stores with some great successful franchisees in North Queensland and New Zealand, let's hope a new owner can regain potential.' Two months ago, Mr Sherlock shared another scathing post following the demise of the long-standing Brumby's Mount Isa store in outback North Queensland While Retail Food Group regards Brumby's as a profitable contributor to its convenience, cafe, bakery segment, it has seen outlet declines over an extended period It was forced to close its doors after the owners were unable to find new operators, leaving the town with just one independent bakery. 'Our franchise agreement was coming to an end and we didnt want to renew it,' Michelle Russell told the North West Weekly at the time. 'We looked into de-branding, doing our own store, but at the end of the day, we werent able to go forward.' The bakery has been running for almost 30 years but faced tough competition after Coles and Woolworths began trading seven days a week. Mr Sherlock added in another post in LinkedIn: 'In 2007 when Brumby's bakery was bought by RFG in a hostile takeover, there were 321 stores with 50 to open. 'In 2025, there are 60 to 70 left (depending on if you count ghost stores). In Townsville alone, we had 16, now around 1 to 2.' 'Another store bites the dust.' RFG insists it's currently business as usual with no plans to close down Brumby's stores. 'While Brumbys same store sales continues to improve and we have confidence in the customer proposition, including the bakery segment, we are testing the market for an owner to take it to the next stage of its development. If we dont find a buyer at the right price, we wont sell,' a spokesperson said. 'For Brumby's and its customers, it is currently business as usual, with no changes to roles or relationships with franchise partners, customers and suppliers. 'RFG remains fully committed to supporting Brumbys and our franchise partners through this process and will continue to work with them to drive sales through ongoing support, technology and product innovation.' RFG announced on Wednesday that the company recorded a $14.9million loss in 2024-25, down from a profit of $5.8million in the previous financial year. Popular chain Pie Face was forced to reinvent its business model after it went into voluntary administration The long-term decline and restructure of the ageing Brumbys brand cost the company $12.2million in the last 12 months. 'Based on a review of our strategic growth pillars, we have announced that we are exploring options for the sale of the Brumbys Bakery and are shifting the focus of our company store operations towards Beefys Pies and Firehouse Subs to support their rapid expansion,' chairman Peter George wrote in a letter to shareholders. 'The group is investigating opportunities to divest of Brumby's and has recognised non-cash impairment charges relating to the brand assets and goodwill in FY25.' The company stressed that Brumby's Bakery stores continue to operate and remain profitable. The news has sparked a mixed reaction from Aussies online. 'This is terrible news,' one loyal customer commented. Another wrote: 'Tough to see an Aussie icon like Brumby's get sliced off, but makes sense if it's not the cash cow anymore. 'Markets will be watching to see if this lets RFG focus better on their other brands.' Increased competition from supermarket giants has also played a factor in the downfall of Brumby's Bakery The same month it shut down Michel's Patisserie, RFG unveiled plans to launch US sandwich brand Firehouse Subs in Australia. It remains on track to open the first Firehouse Subs store in mid-2026. ENTERPRISE-His legacy is not written in stone but in the hearts of the hungry he fed, the weary he sheltered and the broken that he helped. That statement, surrounded by photos spanning decades, welcomed the capacity crowd of friends, family, coworkers, elected officials and fellow clerics attending the official retirement of the man who founded the Enterprise-based Christian Mission Center 42 years ago. Thank you for helping celebrate the incredible legacy of Rev. John Belcher, said Open Door Baptist Church Pastor John McCrummen, who emceed the event held at First Methodist Church of Enterprise Monday evening. This is a time to reflect on a life poured out for others. It began as a vision A faith based, Christ-centered, spiritual ministry helping to meet the needs of all people through recovery, food, benevolence, and shelter, is the focus of the mission, Belcher said he was inspired to build in 1983 while serving his sixth year as pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church on Geneva Highway in Enterprise. During his morning devotional, the words from the Bibles Book of Matthew, Chapter 25, verses 31-46 jumped out at him, he said. There Jesus talks about how we should feed, clothe and visit the sick. I knew we were not doing enough in the community to fulfill this need, and God put it in my heart to do something more. Later that day Belcher said that while at the site of the run-down Grantham Grocery and Laundry building next to his church, he had a vision of a new, renovated structure there. And I know I heard God say, Build a mission here and I will bless many people. Belcher said he asked God to help him make the dream a reality. A few weeks later his answer came with a knock on his door. I had been trying to sell a house near my own residence for many years, with no luck, he recalled. One day a man came asking if he could buy the home and move in it that very day. Belcher said the man wrote him a check for the house. I took that money and bought the lot with the old grocery store, he said. Completely renovating the building, with a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, he and many volunteers started collecting food and clothing for people in need, Belcher said. Nondenominational charitable organization We started out with the simple motto that still holds true, The good we do today becomes the happiness of tomorrow, and through the kindness of others we are able to keep our doors open. We have always been a nondenominational charitable organization, incorporated under the state of Alabama, for the express purpose of helping the impoverished people of the area, he said. The spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing of the community we serve is important to maintain. With good people around who want to do the work of God, no one should ever go hungry, or lack for help when they need it. Whatever you do to the least of my brothers Belcher said his church members were onboard with the concept of the Christian Mission. He received help from the surrounding communitys civic and church organizations. On July 15, 1983, the Christian Mission Center opened, and the people have not stopped comingnor stopped helping those who come. Benevolence Assistance Program In 2024, more than $710,463 was spent meeting the needs of the community through the Missions Benevolence Assistance Program. Some 60,000 meals were served, 908 people received clothing vouchers, 587 nights of emergency shelter were provided, 3,760 people received financial assistance, 348 received utility and housing support, hotel lodging was provided for 201, pantry items were received by 1,303 people, and 37 people graduated from the missions New Life Recovery program. Passing the baton In 2024, Belcher felt the leading of the Lord to step away from his role as Executive Director, he said. Following Gods direction, he entrusted the leadership to the one God had placed on his heartAmanda Simmons who stepped into the role of assistant executive director and, after nearly a year of training, now serves as the missions second executive director. A graduate of the Christian Missions six-month residential work-study program that offers non-medical, Christ-centered, faith-based recovery from addiction, Simmons journey began as a client. Since then, she has served the mission in areas to include the warehouse, bookkeeping, human resources, office administration, and as Belchers assistant. It is only through this ministry that I am the woman I am today. Not only did New Life Recovery change my life, but it has also changed my whole familys lives, she said. Her dedication, compassion, and leadership have made an impact over the years, said Belcher. What makes her appointment even more inspiring is her incredible testimonya story of redemption, faith and transformation through Gods grace. Looking back We could never have imagined how much growth and happiness comes with every life we touch, Belcher said. When someone asks why they should give, I tell them, Because God told us to and its our Christian mission to do what is right, the best we can. I can never say thank you enough to the many great folks who are always there when we need them, he added. If you cant donate something right now, just keep praying for our clients and the ministries. For more information To learn more about the ministry, contact the Christian Mission Centers office at 231 Geneva Highway in Enterprise, call (334) 393-2607 or visit www.christianmissions.org or newlifeenterprise.org. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken was ordered to leave a beach in the Hamptons after violating closures put in place for Hurricane Erin. The 63-year-old was spotted relaxing on a beach chair on Georgica Beach on Thursday in the ritzy area of Long Island when he was approached by a beach patrol. The former diplomat, who was trying to enjoy the sands with a friend, quickly packed up his things after seemingly being asked to leave. Blinken quickly grabbed a tote bag, cooler, and beach chair before making his way away from the water. Daily Mail has approached his representative for comment. As Hurricane Erin approaches the East Coast of the US, beach closures have been brought into place across the majority of the coast. The storm was forecast to cause possible coastal flooding into the weekend along the East Coast but was also expected to gradually lose strength. New York state had issued advice earlier in the week from steering clear of beaches and the water due to high levels and rip currents. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported early Friday that Erin had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. The former diplomat, who was trying to enjoy the sands alongside a friend, quickly packed up his Blinken grabbed a tote bag, cooler, and beach chair before making his way away from the water It had moved to around 425 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Novia Scotia, after having thankfully threading the needle between the East Coast and several islands. Nantucket's airport recorded winds hitting as high as 45 mph overnight and into Friday. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced Friday that it was canceling ferry service to and from several Boston area cities. Several oceanside beaches along Cape Cods National Seashore also closed to swimmers and other recreation due to high surf and rip currents. The NWS issued coastal flood warnings for places as far north as the Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts, saying that some roads could be made impassable. Tens of thousands were evacuated earlier this week from the most vulnerable barrier islands in North Carolina as storm surges of up to 4 feet threatened the region. The central Outer Banks faced the brunt of the storm, with waves up to 20 feet and surges of 2 to 4 feet overwhelming some islands. On Thursday night firefighters rescued more than 50 people from cars, restaurants and bars after tidal flooding in Margate City, New Jersey. The NWS issued coastal flood warnings for places as far north as the Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts People look out on a closed beach as waves have reached over 15 feet from Hurricane Erin on August 21, 2025, in Bay Head, New Jersey Tens of thousands were evacuated earlier this week from the most vulnerable barrier islands in North Carolina Waves hit the shoreline in Long Beach, New York, on August 21, 2025 Beaches were closed to swimming Thursday in New York City, but more than a dozen surfers still rode waves at Rockaway Beach in Queens. Erin has fluctuated in intensity since forming nearly a week ago but remained unusually large, stretching across more than 600 miles. The hurricane center was also watching three tropical disturbances far out in the Atlantic. With thousands of miles of warm ocean water, hurricanes known as Cape Verde storms are some of the most dangerous to North America. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are lining up a documentary about Princess Diana as part of their new 'first look deal' with Netflix, it has been reported. The streaming giant is understood to be in discussions with the couple about the programme which would mark 30 years since Diana's death in a car crash in 1997. It comes as Harry and Meghan announced on August 11 they had renewed their contract with Netflix which was due to expire later this year. A long list of potential shows were put forward as part of the talks, including a second season of the Duchess's lifestyle show 'With Love, Meghan', as well as a Christmas special in December. 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'. But according to The Sun, Prince Harry is also considering a 2027 documentary on his mother Diana, which would coincide with the anniversary of her death. Such a programme would likely be a ratings winner for Netflix, who are yet to match the success they had with the Sussexes' six-part documentary Harry & Meghan. An industry source said: 'If Harry wants to do it then Netflix will bite his hand off.' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are lining up a documentary about Princess Diana as part of their new 'first look deal' with Netflix, it has been reported Princess Diana is seen visiting New York in December 1995. She was killed in a car crash two years later Harry and Meghan (pictured on her show With Love, Meghan) announced on August 11 they had renewed their contract with Netflix which was due to expire later this year Prince Harry, who was just 12 when Diana was killed in the horrific car crash in Paris, has spoken previously about the deep impact his mother's death has had on him. In his memoir Spare, the Duke opened up about the trauma he felt walking behind her coffin and wrote about his father breaking the devastating news to him. Despite being told what had happened, Harry recalled telling himself his mother was just 'hiding' and not really dead - a theory he says he has often returned to for comfort many years later. Moreover Prince Harry has already appeared in two documentaries about Diana, which were commissioned to mark the 20th anniversary of her death in 2017. Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy featured interviews from Prince Harry and Prince William, alongside unseen photographs, archival footage and home movies from Diana's childhood. The other documentary, Diana, 7 Days, focused on her death and funeral and the effect it had on those closest to her, as well as the grieving public. Both shows were ratings hits and drew in millions of viewers. 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. Pictured: Prince William and Prince Harry with Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Diana in 1997 Meghan is pictured with her husband during the Invictus Games earlier this year Prince Harry previously appeared in a BBC documentary about Prince Diana to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her death in 2017 (pictured) However, since signing the mega deal, Harry and Meghan have only produced one smash hit show. 'Harry & Meghan' was the streaming service's biggest documentary debut, viewed in almost 29million households in its first four days, and proved a global sensation. But their other offerings, such as documentaries on the Invictus Games, social justice and the elitist sport Polo have all failed to pull ratings. The renewed deal was described by the Sussexes this month 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. Despite being told what had happened, Harry wrote in Spare that he believed his mother was just 'hiding' and not really dead Princess Diana's brother, the Earl Spencer, alongside Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales as they wait for the hearse carrying the coffin of Diana '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.' However, the Duchess of Sussex said when the deal was announced last week: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix 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.' 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.' A spokesperson for the Sussexes told the Daily Mail they would not be commenting on claims surrounding a new documentary about Princess Diana. It was the Saturday afternoon that Sydney will never forget. What began as an ordinary day at Westfield Bondi Junction turned to terror when a lone attacker Joel Cauchi rampaged through the centre armed with a knife, killing six people, injuring others and leaving many more traumatised. For Nike assistant manager Amy Van Der Jagt, that fateful day on April 13, 2024, was life-changing. Holed up inside the locked Nike store alongside terrified colleagues, she vividly remembers the helplessness that gripped her as panicked screams rang out across the shopping centre during the chaos. 'It was in that moment, amidst the stark terror and adrenaline, that a fierce resolve surged through me - a burning desire to become the shield, not the sheltered; the rescuer, not the rescued,' Ms Van Der Jagt, 37, told news.com.au. 'Witnessing the vulnerability of fear en masse and feeling entirely helpless - that solidified my decision to become a police officer. It really cemented that for me. 'I want to have all the skills and knowledge so that I can be the one running towards the danger, not running away from it.' One woman in particular left an impression on her that day: Inspector Amy Scott, the brave officer who ended the rampage by confronting Cauchi and shooting him dead. Amy Van Der Jagt (pictured) joined the NSW Police less than 18 months after she ecame caught up in the Westfield Bondi Junction attack Van Der Jagt was inspired by Inspector Amy Scott, the officer who bravely confronted Bondi Junction killer Joel Cauchi 'Amy Scott was the hero that day. I'm another Amy. I thought, 'it's a sign,'' she said. That sign quickly became a new path and within four months, Ms Van Der Jagt had entered the NSW Police Academy. On Friday, she proudly marched alongside more than 300 fellow police graduates in Goulburn - the largest cohort of new officers in 13 years. On Monday, she will take her first shift as a probationary constable. Her story was singled out by NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley, who praised her courage and determination in a public statement. 'Amy's journey to a career in blue is one marked by courage and compassion,' Catley said. 'On 13 April 2024, she was working at Bondi Junction Westfield when the horrific fatal stabbings took place. She remembers feeling helpless in that moment, and wanted to dedicate her life to helping others. 'That day changed the course of her life, and we couldn't be more proud that she's decided to serve our great state.' Amy Van Der Jagt (pictured with loved ones on Friday) was working at the Westfield's Nike store when the chaos unfolded The retail worker turned police officer regards Inspector Amy Scott (pictured) as a hero Van Der Jagt's policing career began at a defining moment for NSW Police Force. As the newest recruits prepare to start, Commissioner Karen Webb, the first woman to lead the organisation, is preparing to step down. Webb will retire next month, leaving the government to appoint the 24th commissioner of a force now 17,000 strong. Probationary Constable Van Der Jagt has her sights set on the general purpose dog squad or tactical operations, units she believes best reflect the bravery she aspired to on that fateful April afternoon. Ghislaine Maxwell has sensationally claimed she did not introduce Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, it was Andrew's wife Sarah Ferguson who pushed for a friendship with the convicted paedophile, she said. And she defended the Duke of York, saying he is innocent of the sex allegations against him and that the 'bull****' claims were fabricated to make money and to attack the Royal Family. Her bombshell comments were revealed in audio tapes and a 380-page transcript, released last night, of a two-day interview convicted child sex trafficker Maxwell had with US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche last month. She provided no incriminating information on high-profile individuals but spoke about her interactions with several well-known names. Disgraced socialite Maxwell, 63, defended Andrew against allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre that she had been trafficked to the Duke of York when she was 17. Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations against him. Maxwell, daughter of billionaire publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell, repeated her claims that the photo of her standing behind Andrew and Virginia isn't real. 'I believe it's literally a fake photo,' she told officials. Ghislaine Maxwell (right) has sensationally claimed she did not introduce Prince Andrew (left) to Jeffrey Epstein Maxwell says it was Andrew's wife Sarah Ferguson (left) who pushed for a friendship with the convicted paedophile. Pitcured: The Duke and Duchess of York at Royal Ascot in 2019 Andrew (pictured with Epstein in 2010) has always vehemently denied the allegations against him She insisted Andrew was introduced to Epstein through his ex-wife Sarah, who had met Epstein via US socialite Lynn Forester De Rothschild. She said: 'I did not introduce him [Epstein] to Prince Andrew. That's a flat untruth. Lynn Forester had a house and invited Epstein to go and I believe that's where he met Prince Andrew. 'However, I believe that before that event he had gone to the Bahamas and had hung out with Sarah Ferguson. And Sarah had called Epstein and had arranged with Lynn. I think Sarah is the one that pushed that. 'I couldn't even imagine Epstein and Andrew together. And I thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey.' Maxwell described the Duchess of York as 'a frenemy', saying: 'I don't know if she liked me... I think my friendship with her ex-husband, well, sometimes she really did like me and sometimes she didn't. So maybe a frenemy. I think there was some latent hostility.' She also said that Epstein told her to organise a trip that Andrew was making to New York, saying: 'He wanted to make sure that Andrew was taken care of and that he was comfortable, he had whatever he needed.' Maxwell also denied there was a 'client list' of powerful men, saying: 'There is no client list.' She added that Epstein was 'proud to flaunt royal connections'. Ms Giuffre's name has been redacted from the documents. Maxwell said: 'The allegation was that at my house in London, in March 2001... we went to London, especially so that X [Virginia] could have a relationship with Prince Andrew and she was paid a vast amount of money for that purpose. Maxwell described the Duchess of York (above with Prince Andrew) as 'a frenemy', saying she thought 'there was some latent hostility' between Fergie and herself Maxwell (above) said accusations that she had introduced Prince Andrew to Epstein were 'a flat untruth' Maxwell (left) insists Andrew was introduced to Epstein (right) through his ex-wife Sarah, who she claims had met Epstein via US socialite Lynn Forester De Rothschild 'And that she then got in my bathroom in my house and had sexual relations with him and then went into my guest room and had full-blown sex. 'And a photograph was taken of them just before all these events took place in my study... I think it's absolute rubbish.' She said her Victorian bath was too small for Andrew and Virginia to have sex in: 'There is no way in God's green earth if that had taken place, that this is something that you would miss, because you couldn't miss it.' Maxwell said she was not even sure Prince Andrew and Virginia had ever met. She said: 'I do not know that they met. I don't have any recollection of that.' But then she seemingly backtracked to say: 'Could Andrew have come to the house to see me or see Epstein and she had been there? Yes, I can't say that didn't happen.' Maxwell said she placed mirrors around her tiny bathroom at her London mews home to make it seem bigger. She said: 'She [Virginia] could say she was having sex with 5,000 generations of the Royal Family because that's how far back you could see yourself.' She accused Ms Giuffre, who committed suicide earlier this year, of making up the story for financial gain: 'I can absolutely, categorically say that I never, at any time, set Andrew up to have relations with her or any other human being ever. Maxwell accused Virginia Giuffre (above) who committed suicide earlier this year, of making up the story for financial gain 'I believe that story was created for the purposes of well, there are multiple. The first one is financial ... for the serialization, both of her book and [her story] in the papers. And for the story to attack the Royal Family.' Maxwell is currently serving 20 years for her 2021 convictions on sex trafficking charges. She has appealed to the US Supreme Court to hear her case. She told Mr Blanche she believed Epstein may have been murdered, saying: 'I do not believe he died by suicide, no. If it is indeed murder I believe it was an internal situation.' Maxwell defended President Donald Trump whose administration has been rocked by claims of a cover-up over the Epstein Files saying she never heard that Trump acted inappropriately 'absolutely never, in any context'. She said: 'The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.' She also said Mr Trump never received massages from underage girls. She added that she never saw anyone behaving inappropriately with a woman 'of any age' but said her definition of 'inappropriate' could differ from others. Maxwell also said she did not remember Trump submitting a sketch to a book she put together for Epstein's 50th birthday. Mr Trump is suing the Wall Street Journal over claims he wrote a note to Epstein which included a sketch of a naked woman with his signature as the pubic hair. Maxwell (pictured in 1991) is currently serving 20 years for her 2021 convictions on sex trafficking charges Maxwell mentioned other big names including Bill Clinton, saying: 'President Clinton was my friend, not Epstein's friend.' She claimed Clinton only travelled on Epstein's jet for philanthropic trips and never visited the paedophile's private island. 'He never. Absolutely never went,' Maxwell said. 'I don't believe he had an independent friendship with Epstein.' And she mentioned Tesla billionaire Elon Musk saying she met him at Google co-founder Sergey Brin's birthday party: 'We went to another friend's island and we were together for... three or four days.' Supermodel Naomi Campbell struck up a friendship with Epstein and may have gone to his Island, Little St Jeff's, nicknamed 'Paedo Island', Maxwell claimed. Maxwell said of Campbell: 'I believe she may have gone to the island and she may have gone to see his house in New York... They were friends. Her friendship with Mr Epstein was independent of me.' Maxwell also mentioned a trip she took to Africa alongside President Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker on Epstein's private jet, nicknamed the 'Lolita Express.' And she said she went to Virgin billionaire Sir Richard Branson's private Necker Island in the Caribbean with Epstein, adding: 'I wouldn't characterize Branson and him as friends but he did go, and I think I went with him.' Maxwell mentioned other big names in the released tapes including Bill Clinton (above) saying: 'President Clinton was my friend, not Epstein's friend' Maxwell said she met Elon Musk (above) at Google co-founder Sergey Brin's birthday party, claiming: 'We went to another friend's island and we were together for... three or four days.' Maxwell also claims that supermodel Naomi Campbell (above) struck up a friendship with Epstein Maxwell attempted to whitewash claims she was Epstein's madam made by multiple victims saying: 'I am not here to defend him. But I never knew about it.' Maxwell claimed both Epstein and she had 'medical conditions' that prevented them from having a lot of sex. Epstein told her he had a heart condition and she explained she had a medical condition which 'precludes me having a lot of intercourse'. She acknowledged that at one point Epstein began preferring younger women but insisted she never understood that to 'encompass children'. She was interviewed on July 24 and July 25 in a Tallahassee federal courthouse close to the jail where she was sent after her conviction. She was told that she would have immunity over anything she said in the interview unless it transpired to be a lie. The Duchess of York was contacted for comment. A Florida man who was awaiting execution for the horrific murder and rape of a 13-year-old girl has died by suicide in prison. Matthew Caylor, 50, took his own life on Tuesday, despite being on death row. It is unclear how Caylor died or why it wasn't prevented by corrections officers. State Attorney Larry Basford confirmed Caylor's death, and said by committing suicide 'he saved the taxpayers of Florida a lot of money,' WTVY reported. 'Matthew Caylor was a sexual predator that had violated his parole in Georgia and came down here for a last hurrah in Bay County. After a trial and numerous appeals, he knew he was facing the same inevitable fate as Kayle Bates.' Bates, who abducted a woman from an insurance office and killed her more than four decades ago, died earlier this week by execution. Caylor was found guilty of the murder and rape of Melinda Hinson in a Panama City motel room. On July 8, 2013, Hinson, whose family was staying at the Valu-Lodge Motel, disappeared, Fox 13 reported. Death row inmate Matthew Caylor, 50, died on Tuesday night in prison by suicide It remains unclear how Caylor died or why it wasn't prevented by corrections officers. Pictured: The crime scene in 2013 at Valu-Lodge Motel in Panama City, FL Her body was discovered two days later stuffed under Caylor's motel room bed. Caylor had fled felony probation in Georgia for molesting a 14-year-old and was selling drugs from a room he was staying in at the motel, court documents obtained by the outlet stated. Caylor raped Hinson (pictured) before choking her with a phone cord and hiding her body under his motel room bed According to court documents, Caylor felt his accusations in Georgia were false so he would make it 'worth it' when Hinson knocked on his door. He said that if he was 'going to be in trouble for having sex with this girl being in my room, I might as well have sex with this girl.' Caylor choked Hinson due to 'hate and rage' from his Georgia conviction and a 'recent break-up,' documents stated. Hinson then rolled onto the floor, at which point Caylor unplugged the phone cord and strangled her with it, the outlet reported. He lifted the mattress and stuffed her body and clothes under it before plugging the phone back in, document stated. Caylor was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery involving great physical force, and aggravated child abuse in October 2009. Caylor was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery involving great physical force, and aggravated child abuse in October 2009 for the murder of Melinda Hinson, 13 Hinson's mother Rhonda McNallin wrote: 'There is not a second, minute, or hour that goes by that I am not thinking about you and how much I would do or give to see your beautiful smiling face and put my arms around you.' Pictured: A young Melinda Hinson Caylor had fled felony probation in Georgia for molesting a 14-year-old and was selling drugs from a room he was staying in at the motel WUFT reported that Hinson's mother, Rhonda McNallin, said in a 2020 interview: 'I wish [the motel] was burnt to the ground a long time ago.' 'But its kind of sad in a way because thats the last place she was on Earth breathing,' she added. Caylor had promised McNallin that he wouldn't put Hinson's family through a lengthy court process, yet McNallin died of cancer in 2021 which Caylor said relieved him of his promise, the outlet reported. In 2020, McNallin wrote on Facebook: 'There is not a second, minute, or hour that goes by that I am not thinking about you and how much I would do or give to see your beautiful smiling face and put my arms around you. 'I miss you so much. Just like the song I played at your funeral "I CAN ONLY IMAGINE" I can only imagine how much a beautiful young lady you would have grown up to be today, I love u and miss you so much.' Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each. The state uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections. Experts say the uptick in executions around the country can be traced to aggressive Republican governors and attorney generals pushing to get through lengthy appeals processes and get executions done. Also, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on his first day back in office to urge prosecutors to seek the death penalty, which may have also fueled the increase, according to John Blume, the director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project. The family of Australia's most notorious serial killer has claimed that he was 'framed' over the murders of seven backpackers and have accused police of a cover-up. Ivan Milat was sentenced to consecutive life sentences without parole over the murders of seven backpackers and hitchhikers between 1989 and 1992 in the Belanglo State Forest, south of Sydney. He was suspected of being responsible for dozens of other murders, which remain unresolved. Milat died aged 74 of oesophageal and stomach cancer at Long Bay Jail's hospital in October 2019. Six years after his death, Milat's family is still fighting to clear his name. His nephew Alistair Shipsey claimed that his uncle's arrest in 1994 occurred to avoid a national scandal and wouldn't impact Sydney's reputation, having just secured the 2000 Olympics. 'I see they keep vilifying Ivan with no real proof, just stories,' he told news.com.au. Mr Shipsey claims that police failed to follow up on sightings of a kombi van, believed to be carrying UK backpackers, Carolyn Clarke and Joanne Walters, with a group of men before their deaths in 1992. The family of serial backpacker killer Ivan Milat (pictured) claim that he was 'framed' over the murders Milat (pictured) was sentenced to consecutive life sentences over the murders of seven backpackers He claims the van was later found full of human blood in a storage yard in Sydney's south-west before it was towed away, never to be seen again. Mr Shipsey has released a new book, called Secrets Belanglo, which he says is the 'only real story of Ivan Milat' which aims to 'get the truth out there.' Carol Milat insisted her brother-in-law maintained his innocence while gravely ill on his deathbed, where he categorically denied committing the murders. 'I said, 'Look, I know you're a Christian, you have Christian faith, and so do I did you do it or not? Because if you want to speak to a priest, we can arrange it,' she recalled. Milat told his brother Bill and his wife that he didnt need a priest because he had nothing to confess. Ms Milat admitted that it was difficult to carry a name synonymous with the murders, adding that 'you quickly learn who your friends are.' Despite the family's claims, former NSW detective Clive Small, who led the task force into the backpacker killings, said Milat did admit guilt to his mother, in a private moment, before she died in 2001. Evidence linked Milat to the backpacker murders after personal belongings of the victims were discovered inside his home. Investigators also uncovered weapons consistent with those used to inflict the victims injuries at his western Sydney property. Ivan Milat was convicted of the murders of seven backpackers between 1989 and 1992. Pictured top are Deborah Everest, Anja Habschied and Simone Schmidl. Pictured bottom are Joanne Walters, Gabor Neugebauer, Caroline Clarke, and James Gibson Milat's nephew claims that police failed to follow up on sightings of a kombi van, believed to be carrying UK backpackers Carolyn Clarke (left) and Joanne Walters (right) with a group of men before their deaths in 1992 The family's bombshell claims come after NSW Premier Chris Minns revealed that he was considering a parliamentary inquiry into Milat and other cold cases linked to him. 'I wouldn't rule it out. I think that may be the necessary next step given the scale of some of the things that you're mentioning,' Minns told parliament this week. 'It would be a privilege to meet victims' families. I think that's an important thing to do, to understand not just their circumstances and their anguish associated with the loss of their loved ones.' NSW Upper House MP Jeremy Buckingham has pressed for further investigation and has led the push for a parliamentary inquiry, which he said would 'shed more light on the darkest of chapters in this state's history.' Using parliamentary procedures, Buckingham gained access to previously unreleased police records, including a list of 58 missing persons cases once considered potentially connected to Milat. Milat (pictured five months before his 2019 death) categorically denied killing the backpackers while on his deathbed Ivan Milat's nephew Alistair Shipsey (pictured) has written a book claiming his uncle is innocent The records show that Milat was involved in a number of incidents across the country. They include the 1993 vanishing of German backpacker Nancy Grunwaldt in Tasmania, 18-year-old dental nurse Robyn Hickie in NSW in 1979, and 30-year-old Italian backpacker Anna Liva, who went missing in Coober Pedy in 1991. The list stretches back to 1971 and includes victims as young as 14, raising renewed questions about possible links across decades. Ghislaine Maxwell's testimony to the DOJ contained some details about Jeffrey Epstein but nothing incriminating any of the famous men linked to the late billionaire pedophile. In the hundreds of pages of records, published Friday, Maxwell - who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting young girls for Epstein to sexually abuse - provided no incriminating information on high-profile individuals including Donald Trump. However, she did reveal some details of her relationship to Epstein, including that the transactional nature of their relationship continued long after their romantic one did. As late as 2008 or 2009, Maxwell said that Epstein paid her around $250,000 a year, until he went to jail. 'He had never stopped paying me,' she admitted. Maxwell told the Department of Justice she knew her romantic and sexual relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was over after he refused to spend time with her during the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. At one point, she discusses when her relationship - often described as the billionaire pedophile's boyfriend, madam and right-hand woman - started to go south. 'By 1999 our relationship had foundered. We stopped having sexual relations in 1999, not full sex,' she said. Ghislaine Maxwell 's testimony to the DOJ contained some details about Jeffrey Epstein but nothing incriminating any of the famous men linked to the late billionaire pedophile In the hundreds of pages of records, published Friday, Maxwell - who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting young girls for Epstein to sexually abuse - provided no incriminating information on high-profile individuals including Donald Trump Maxwell noted that they sometimes would 'share a bedroom' but Epstein had another girlfriend at this point. However, it took Epstein refusing to visit her after the attacks on New York City to make her understand it was over. She definitively knew it was over after 9/11 because 'he wouldnt see me at all' on the day of terror attacks despite only being five blocks away. 'And then I knew, as anyone did at that time, if you're not going to be there for someone in 9/11, you're never going to be there.' Maxwell also admitted to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that, while the young women constantly in Jeffrey Epstein's presence was 'not normal,' she said they'd have left if he 'had been creepy.' Maxwell spent multiple days testifying to Blanche about the deceased billionaire pedophile. At one point, Blanche challenged Maxwell: Did he seem to you to be a sexual deviant? Young women were everywhere. Multiple massages on some days. Flew with the women to the island, to New York, Paris. Theres always women, theyre always rubbing him, giving him massages. I think it would be an understatement to say that thats not normal?' Maxwell simply replied: 'I agree.' She did reveal some details of her relationship to Epstein, including that the transactional nature of their relationship continued long after their romantic one did However, she challenged the idea that the young women were there purely for sex. Saying that Epstein preferred them, provided they were of legal age, because they were 'invigorating' and would turn him on to new music. 'If he had been creepy I dont think the women would have been there,' Maxwell claimed. Maxwell also denied allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre that she was paid to be in a relationship with Prince Andrew and that she had sex in Maxwell's home. Giuffre died by suicide earlier in 2025. Maxwell referred to the allegations as 'rubbish,' and said that she wasn't in London when Giuffre claimed this happened. She said she was out of town for her mother's 80th birthday at the time. Maxwell also claimed that Giuffre's allegations that they had sex in Maxwell's bathroom were physically impossible because her home is only 900 square feet. Prince Andrew settled a lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed amount. Maxwell also denied allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre that she was paid to be in a relationship with Prince Andrew and that she had sex in Maxwell's home As late as 2008 or 2009, Maxwell said that Epstein paid her around $250,000 a year, until he went to jail Furthermore, Maxwell never had any inkling that she should introduce Prince Andrew to Epstein. 'I couldnt imagine them being friends. Two chalk and cheeses would never I mean, for real, theres nothing there to connect them,' she said, using a British expression. The attorney for several of Jeffrey Epstein's victims called the release of the Ghislaine Maxwell transcripts 'probably about the best we could get' from the billionaire pedophile's right-hand woman. James Marsh, who represented Maria Farmer and others, called the release 'a good thing but told CNN he's been 'trying to lower expectations about this transcript and the so-called DOJ records for weeks now.' He noted that he and the victims had heard similar answers from Maxwell 'over decades.' Marsh said that Maxwell 'has a really good recall of his finances, the deals that he was involved in, intricate details of the people that he knew.' However, he called her answers to the most hot button accusations and topics related to Epstein, she becomes 'a little bit more vague and very studied in her responses.' Ultimately, he understands why Maxwell testified that way, as she's appealing her conviction and is 'sort of damned if she does and damned if she doesnt.' Maxwell provided no incriminating information on high-profile individuals including Donald Trump The attorney for several of Jeffrey Epstein's victims called the release of the Ghislaine Maxwell transcripts 'probably about the best we could get' from the billionaire pedophile's right-hand woman 'If she tells the full truth, everything she absolutely knows about Jeffrey Epstein, the public is not going to view her in good light. And certainly shes got these cases on appeal. Shes trying to get a commutation, Im sure. Shes trying to get a reduction in her sentence or an outright pardon,' Marsh said. 'So this was probably about the best we could get for her under those circumstances.' Maxwell answered questions regarding Epstein's acquaintanceships with Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Prince Andrew, Elon Musk and others, but denied she ever saw anything wrong. 'If I didnt make it clear, I will reiterate it. I never, ever saw any man doing something inappropriate with a woman of any age. I never saw inappropriate habits,' she said. 'Now, somebodys inappropriate and mine may be different, but were not talking about anything that resembles the accusations that weve discussed here. So that would be a flat no to any man.' Of Trump, she said: 'The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects,' insisted the criminal who's likely angling for a presidential pardon. She also denied the existence of a so-called 'client list' and insisted Bill Clinton had never visited Epstein's 'pedophile island'. But, she did share revealing details about her own relationship with Epstein including details of his erectile dysfunction and an issue with her own sexual function which she claims hampered the sex life between the two pedophiles. She briefly mentioned having been on a dinosaur bone hunting expedition with Epstein and Robert F. Kennedy Jr Maxwell denied having any relationship with Andrew Cuomo or any of his family members The release of the hours-long interview transcripts comes the same day that the Justice Department handed over thousands of pages of documents related to the late sex offender to Congress. In the interview, on July 24 and 25, Maxwell told Blanche she does not believe Epstein killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 - but suggested she agrees with the theory that he had been murdered. 'I do not believe he died by suicide, no,' she said. 'If it is indeed murder, I believe it was an internal situation.' She said she did not know who killed him but believes it was likely another inmate, flying in the face of claims his death was part of a conspiracy to prevent any blackmail. 'In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will pay - somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary,' she said. 'That's about the going rate for a hit with a lock today. Maxwell has previously stated that she believes her former associate was murdered. She also revealed she has no knowledge of a so-called 'client list' of high-profile individuals Epstein had damaging information on - which he could then use to blackmail them. Deputy AG Todd Blanche pressed Maxwell on what was described as 'creepy' behavior from Epstein Ghislaine Maxwell said that her father Robert (pictured in 1984) never met Jeffrey Epstein 'There is no list,' Maxwell insisted to Blanche in her nine hours of interviews last month. 'The genesis of that story, I can actually trace for you from its absolute inception.' The convicted sex offender insisted: This is one man. He's not some... they've made him into this. He's not that interesting. He's a disgusting guy who did terrible things to young kids. In her July sit-down, Maxwell told investigators she may have first met Trump in 1990 through her late father Robert Maxwell, who 'liked him very much' and was fond of his first wife Ivana Trump because of her Czech background. When pressed about allegations she recruited a Mar-a-Lago employee to meet Epstein, Maxwell claimed she couldn't remember but admitted it was 'not impossible' since she frequently approached spa workers. Maxwell's testimony acknowledges that her father, Robert Maxwell, had a background in intelligence during World War II as a British officer, and she believes he continued to help people in intelligence contexts, though he was not formally employed by an agency. She insists her father and Epstein never met. Maxwell is currently serving 20 years behind bars for her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges related to helping Epstein abuse teenage girls, though she has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, August 22 that there are 'innocent' people in the Epstein files Her lawyers claim Maxwell was covered under a 2007 plea deal that Epstein reached in his Florida sex offender case. Blanche interviewed Maxwell on July 24 and 25 for a combined nine hours at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tallahassee, Florida. At the time of the interviews she was serving her sentence at the low-security Federal Correctional Institution, Tallahassee. Just days after her sit-down, Maxwell was transferred to minimum-security Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. While Maxwell made a lot of important revelations about her longtime boyfriend and associate that could help shed light on the sex trafficking ring, she also divulged some highly personal information. For example, Maxwell claimed she rarely had sex with Epstein because he suffered from a heart condition 'which meant that he didnt have intercourse a lot'. She added that it 'suited her fine' because she also had a medical condition that also 'precludes me [from] having a lot of intercourse'. Throughout the interview, Maxwell tried to paint herself as somewhat subservient to Epstein - a romantic victim who later learned her long-term partner didn't love her. She told the DOJ how she met Epstein in 1991 when she was going through a bad break-up with her long-term boyfriend. She was visiting New York and her friend offered to set her up on a date. He's been dating my sister. You'll love him. He's looking for a wife, she recalled her friend saying. Maxwell lamented that she was edging towards 30 at the time. I don't need to tell you guys. That's a very important moment for a girl to, like, think about important things, she said. She met Epstein for the first time at his Manhattan offices. The most memorable thing about that meeting was that Epstein had a giant ketchup stain on his tie, she recalled. Maxwell found Epstein very engaging and that was that'. They became friends, had a one-night stand in 1992 and then didn't sleep together again for nine months, she said. After that they got into a years-long relationship. During the hours-long interviews, Maxwell was also asked about several high-profile individuals and their potential connections to both her and Epstein. She claimed that Prince Andrew often stayed at Epstein's properties, describing him as someone who 'relished Jeffrey's hospitality'. And she said that Epstein was 'proud to flaunt royal connections', making Andrew a useful social asset. At one point, she was asked about disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in shame in 2021 amid a string of sexual harassment allegations. Maxwell confirmed she knew Cuomo and his TV show host brother Chris Cuomo 'socially' but only because he was married to Kerry [Kennedy]'. When asked if Epstein knew Andrew, Chris Cuomo or Kerry Kennedy - or if they ever flew on Epstein's plane or visited him in Palm Beach or on his Caribbean island - she said: I don't think so. Maxwell also confirmed she knew Trumps former First Buddy Elon Musk, having first met him at an exclusive birthday party for Google co-founder Sergey Brin. She later met up with Musk at the Oscars. While Epstein was not present for those meetings, Maxwell said she believes he and the Tesla CEO did know each other. Maxwell described Victorias Secret founder Les Wexner as Jeffrey Epsteins closest friend, from the time they first met. During her two days with Blanche, she also addressed financial matters. Maxwell disputed that the sum of over $30million Epstein sent to her was simply for personal gain, citing some funds tied to a helicopter she never owned. She also admitted to having banking licenses and day-trading in the 1990s, where she made significant profits, including millions from Epstein-financed Palm Beach real estate flips. The resurgence of the terror group Islamic State in Africa is a 'real and present danger' to the UK, security experts have warned. The jihadist organisation, which lost its final stronghold in Syria in 2019, is posing a new challenge to security services, a UN Security Council meeting was told this week. The group is now taking advantage of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and social media, to grow a foothold in West Africa. The United Nations has reported an increase in activity by Islamic State - which shocked the world with its beheading videos last decade- in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and other parts of the region . Vladimir Voronkov, who heads the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, said the organisation has emerged 'as a prolific producer of terrorist propaganda and attracted foreign terrorist fighters, primarily from within the region'. Moreover in Somalia, local security forces countered a large scale attack by Islamic State that led to some 200 terrorist fighters being killed and a further 150 being arrested. Professor Anthony Glees, a defence and security expert from the University of Buckingham, warned that the developments in Africa were a 'huge concern'. He told The Mirror: 'I suspect MI6 and MI5 will have also looked at this with huge concern.' Soldiers of the Somali National Army are seen near Baidoa in 2022 - an area which has seen ISIS activity Picture shows the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp, which holds relatives of suspected Islamic State (IS) group fighters in Syria 'Having a base was a key cause of its success in recruiting Islamists and would-be extremists from Europe, including as we know to our cost, from the UK,' Professor Glees added. 'IS ideology is an off-shoot of Al Qaeda ideology and it is the ideology with a 'state' attached to it, that presents us in the UK with a real and present danger which has two aspects to it.' There are fears that if the group is allowed to grow in West Africa, it could inspire a new generation of British Islamist extremists. It comes after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed earlier this year that ISIS families living in Syria's largest refugee camp have declared the terror group is 'ready to rise again'. Since the jihadist organisation fell six years ago, tens of thousands of ISIS fighters and their families have been held in prisons and refugee camps in Rojava - the Kurdish-led autonomous region in northeast Syria. The largest of them - Camp Al-Hol - holds almost 40,000 people, many of whom are extremist families who go tent to tent, abusing refugees and indoctrinating their children. Syrian women sit next to the fence during a sandstorm at a temporary refugee camp in the village of Ain Issa, housing people who fled Islamic State group's Syrian stronghold Raqa And with the instability following the toppling of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, it has created fertile ground for a horrifying ISIS resurgence. Camp authorities conduct regular raids on the camp as ISIS routinely smuggles in weapons, explosives, communications devices and other contraband. They have also discovered various dugouts and tunnels created by the inmates to move the weapons, or attempt to break out. Jihan Hanan, one of the chief administrators of Al-Hol, spoke with the Daily Mail during a visit to the camp about the threats ISIS families have delivered. 'They tell us: 'Soon, we will be liberated from this camp and you will be inside it',' she said. 'They call us pigs and say they'll round us up. They believe they will get out of the camp and that ISIS will be revived again. 'The people of this camp are ready... they are ready and waiting for something to happen.' A new tax on spare bedrooms has been proposed as a bold solution to fix Australia's crippling housing shortage. As the federal government struggles with its goal to build 1.2 million new dwellings within the next four years, property researchers have warned that the right homes may not be being built. New data has revealed more than 60 per cent of Aussie households consist of just one or two people, yet the majority of dwellings are being built for families, with three or more bedrooms. Property research group Cotality described the situation as a 'stark mismatch' between Aussies who live in homes and the type of housing dominating the market. Cotality's head of research, Eliza Owen believes the imbalance raises serious questions about whether the housing system is meeting residents' needs, particularly amid rising affordability and supply pressures. 'While there's nothing wrong with having more bedrooms than people in a dwelling, there could be some inefficiencies in the way housing is being allocated,' Ms Owen told ABC Radio. At the 2021 Australian Census, more than 1.3 million twoperson households were living in threebedroom homes, outnumbering households with three or four residents in similar dwellings. The data also revealed that families with dependents made up around 30 per cent of households, couples without children 31 per cent, and people living alone 27 per cent. New data has revealed that more than 60 per cent of Aussie households consist of just one or two occupants. Pictured are homes in Brisbane Cotality's head of research, Eliza Owen, (pictured) has called for a tax on spare bedrooms Yet the most common dwelling size remains three bedrooms or more. One person households account for over a quarter of homes, but onebedroom or studio apartments represent just six per cent of housing stock. Ms Owen acknowledged that many households have their reasons for larger homes. 'With the rise of the home office, the desire for inhome care later in life, and space for hobbies and visitors, having additional bedrooms is potentially very attractive,' she said. 'It's also reasonable to assume many couple households without dependents have more bedrooms because they are planning to have children.' But Ms Owen argued that bold reforms are needed to address the housing crisis. 'Governments could make it more expensive to have more housing than you need, and cheaper to live in smaller housing,' she said. Others have advocated for tax changes, such as abolishing stamp duty, which can discourage mobility, and replacing it with a broadbased land tax that would increase costs based on the amount of land a household owns. the federal government aims to build 1.2 million new dwellings within the next four years. Pictured is housing construction in Sydney's north-west Eliza Owen says that bold reforms are needed to address Australia's housing crisis 'It seems unfair to ask younger households to pay higher prices for stock that is being utilised by older households,' Ms Owen added. While the share of apartments and units has risen to around 40 per cent of approvals in the past decade, more 'missing middle' housing like townhouses and lowrise apartments are needed. 'Strides are already being taken on the supply side to establish welllocated apartments in our larger cities that can accommodate smaller households,' Ms Owen said. 'But shifting demand through tax reform could help the takeup of these new homes.' Ms Owen conceded that the spare room tax proposal is controversial but insisted that radical thinking is essential. 'If we want a system that works for the next generation, then we need to be open to reforms, - even the ones that are politically difficult,' she said. Car thefts have soared due to a lack of policing at Britain's busiest port, allowing criminals to ship stolen vehicles to the Middle East and Africa. A lone cop is responsible for screening containers for stolen vehicles at Felixstowe in Suffolk, making it easier for criminals to export cars out of the country, The Times reports. Adam Gibson, the only police officer at the port, said that there was 'no way in hell' that he could search even a small portion of the containers before they were loaded on to giant vessels and shipped off. In the whole of the south of the UK, there are just three dedicated officers. The lack of checks is said to be fuelling the increase in car thefts across Britain. According to industry figures, less than five in every 100,000 containers leaving the country are searched, while thieves are becoming better at hiding their stolen goods. In 2024, a total of 129,727 cars were reported stolen. Stolen vehicles being exported out of the UK, most commonly to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Arab Emirates, are often stored with other metal goods to conceal them and confuse metal detectors. An aerial photograph taken on August 22, 2022 shows the Ever Alot container ship docked by stopped container loading cranes at the empty UK's largest freight port, in Felixstowe Felixstowe in Suffolk is the UK's largest and busiest container port Other vehicles are stolen and immediately stripped for parts, which are then shipped out of the country. The Middle East and Africa have a huge market for second-hand car parts, driving the demand for stolen cars in the UK which is also linked to illegal drugs market. Tim Morris of the Associated British Ports said: 'It really is a needle in a haystack. 'At any point there can be thousands of containers on the dockside. The information we have on what is in them is scarce and the ability to target is very hard. We are only told if the contents are dangerous, for example fireworks. 'The authorities do have more detailed manifests, but of course these do not say 'cocaine' or 'stolen cars' so it has to be intelligence led. As ports we are simply told to move X container from a stack to an inspection point.' Earlier this year, investigators opened a shipping container at Felixstowe port hiding three stolen pick-up trucks which were intended to be smuggled to Africa. The three vehicles worth at least 40,000 each were found to have been stacked on top of each other in the container which was intercepted at the port. Experts told Channel 4's Dispatches that Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and Lexus cars were increasingly being stolen as well as higher-value Range Rovers. The sting was carried out by Mr Gibson, who could not reveal on camera why the containers he was checking were deemed suspicious amid fears such a revelation could give criminals an advantage. But the clip showed his team opening up the unit at Felixstowe, which is the UK's largest container port where 11,000 shipping containers pass through each day. Inside the container he found three cars stacked on top of one another, all stolen and with falsified paperwork. Investigators open up a shipping container at Felixstowe amid suspicions stolen cars are inside Three stolen pick-up trucks are found inside the container which was meant to head to Africa Mr Gibson said: 'We've seen five cars in a container this size, so you'll see quite quickly from the way it's probably loaded that something's not quite right.' Looking inside, he added: 'They've got 40,000 plus per car. That's not how you load them in a container. This box is headed to Africa, which the roads out in Africa are obviously suited to this kind of thing.' A white pick-up truck Mr Gibson found had a 2022 number plate - but he determined that it was actually made in 2023 and had been reported stolen from Kent in January. He continued: 'Whereas we were finding Range Rovers worth 150,000, we're getting pickup trucks and SUVs worth 40,000 now. 'We are seeing brands like Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Lexus. So the quality has dropped off, I suppose, but the volume has gone up.' Across three containers, Mr Gibson found 12 cars in total - with family photographs visible inside at least one of them. He added: 'Some gangs will literally gut the car of any personal effects. Others will just leave everything. 'There's kids' seats, toys, all sorts of them. I'm constantly told by people that vehicle crime, where it's victimless, it's just the insurance companies. 'Yes, the insurance company pay out, but we all get our premiums go up because the insurance aren't going to absorb it. So it has a knock-on effect on everyone else.' Governments are being urged to hold for-profit childcare providers to account amid concerns an over-reliance on technology will not curb abusive behaviour. Federal, state and territory education ministers have agreed to a $189million trial of CCTV at 300 small and medium childcare operators. A national register for childcare workers is expected to roll out in February. Mobile phones will be banned from September, site visits will increase and workers will have mandatory training to detect and report suspected grooming and abuse. National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds said the laudable measures could work as potential deterrents to predators but emphasised they must be matched with compulsory courses. 'My concern would be that we would overly rely on technology when what is more important is the mandatory child safety training of everyone from the boardroom to the sandpit,' she told ABC on Saturday. 'It's the human elements that will really help to keep children safer.' Experts have warned that an over-reliance on technology in childcare centres will not curb abusive behaviour by childcare workers National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds (pictured) said that it's human elements that will help to keep children safer at childcare The crisis meeting came after Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown was charged with sexually abusing eight children under the age of two. Brown was known to have worked at 24 facilities between 2017 and 2025. Early childhood education consultant Lisa Bryant said cameras were good at helping police find perpetrators of abuse that had already happened. 'But I don't think that they actually stop people from abusing children and so I'm worried about the focus on that,' Ms Bryant said. She highlighted a high turnover of inexperienced staff who were paid 'really poorly' at for-profit providers. In her submission to a NSW inquiry into the sector earlier in August, Ms Bryant said media attention and criminal charges had prompted a rush of solutions and levers such as CCTV and phone bans, which were the 'wrong answers' to the broader issue. 'The better question is what changed in the sector to make abuse more possible and more likely?' Ms Bryant said. 'The entrance and dominance of private equity and corporate providers is what fundamentally changed this sector.' Mobile phones will be banned from September, site visits will increase and workers will have mandatory training to detect and report suspected grooming and abuse (stock image) The reforms were announced on Friday after Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown (pictured) was recently charged with over 70 child abuse offences Tasmanian Education Minister Jo Palmer said on Friday governments can legislate and tighten laws but do not have a lever to mandate 'human decency.' The Independent Education Union's NSW secretary, Carol Matthews, called for centre owners and operators to be included in mandatory training, as they often had the final say in referring child safety reports to authorities. 'It is high time that for-profit providers were held to account for failing to ensure the safety of children in their care,' she said. 'The focus on profits rather than high-quality education and care is a big reason behind safety breaches.' The federal government has vowed to cut off funding to for-profit providers that fail to meet national safety and quality standards. Childcare worker wages are being increased by 15 per cent over two years under laws that passed federal parliament in November. Education Minister Jason Clare said restoring confidence among parents would be an ongoing challenge. 'The awful truth is this work will never end because there will always be bad people who try to poke holes in the system and find vulnerabilities,' he said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A Florida grandmother accused of orchestrating her former son-in-law's execution wept uncontrollably in court as her long-awaited murder trial got underway. Donna Adelson, 75, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in connection with the 2014 killing of Daniel Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was shot in the head in his garage. Prosecutors allege the killing was the culmination of a plot by Adelson and other family members to eliminate Markel, who had blocked her daughter, Wendi Adelson, from moving their two young sons to South Florida. At the time, Markel and Wendi had been divorced for a year and were locked in a bitter custody dispute, the Associated Press reported. Adelson, visibly emotional as trial testimony began Friday, broke down as a forensic specialist took the stand, describing evidence recovered from the crime scene - including Markel's eyeglasses and cell phone - found near his vehicle in the garage. As the specialist testified there were no signs of a struggle or burglary and the house was otherwise secured, Adelson sat in the background with her lip quivering and tears rolling down her cheeks. Donna Adelson, 75, wept uncontrollably in a Tallahassee courtroom on Friday as her long-awaited murder trial got underway Adelson (pictured) is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in connection with the 2014 killing of her former son-in-law, a Florida State University law professor who was found shot in the head Daniel Markel, 41, was found shot dead outside his garage in what police believe was a murder for hire plot Days earlier, during opening statements, prosecutors painted Adelson as a controlling and calculating matriarch of a wealthy South Florida family who 'hated' Markel and was determined to remove him as an obstacle to her daughter's move. 'The defendant said that she would never, never, never give up and never stop fighting for Wendi and the boys to be relocated to Miami. And she never did,' prosecutor Sarah Kathryn Dugan told jurors. 'The defendant acted in furtherance of this murder plot that went beyond just thinking about it or talking about it,' Dugan added. 'And these acts make her guilty as a principal in first-degree murder, just as if she was the one pulling the trigger in the garage herself,' she continued. Four people are already serving prison sentences for their roles in the killing, including Adelson's son, Charles Adelson, who was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to life in prison. After Wendi Adelson (pictured) divorced Markel she left for South Florida with the couple's children, but was forced to return after a court ruling which prosecutors say could have motivated the murder Prosecutors allege the killing was the culmination of a plot by Adelson and other family members to eliminate Markel, who had blocked her daughter from moving their two young sons to South Florida. Pictured: The defense team uses a display depicting photos and arrows of how people are connected in the murder of Dan Markel Adelson, visibly emotional as trial testimony began Friday, broke down as a forensic specialist took the stand, describing evidence recovered from the crime scene Prosecutors say Sigfredo Garcia (pictured) killed Markel on request Prosecutors say the family at one point considered offering Markel $1 million to allow Wendi to move the children to Miami - before allegedly turning to murder, with Adelson as a key player. Throughout the trial however, Adelson has remained active in her defense, taking notes on a legal pad and closely watching testimony from behind tortoise-shell-style glasses, according to the Associated Press. Her attorneys argue there is no direct evidence linking her to the crime, and insist the prosecution's theory relies solely on motive and speculation. 'It is truly outrageous,' defense attorney Jackie Fulford said of the killing. 'But what's more outrageous is, without any evidence, only motive and theory, they put her at the top of this pyramid.' Adelson was arrested at Miami International Airport in 2023, just one week after her son's conviction. She and her husband, Harvey Adelson, were at the airport reportedly preparing to board a one-way flight to Vietnam - a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. Throughout the trial however, Adelson has remained active in her defense, taking notes on a legal pad and closely watching testimony from behind tortoise-shell-style glasses If convicted, Adelson could spend the rest of her life in prison. Her trial is expected to extend into September Harvey and Wendi Adelson have denied involvement in the murder and have not been charged. Prosecutors plan to call both Charles and Wendi Adelson as witnesses during the trial, along with Katherine Magbanua - Charles's former girlfriend - who prosecutors say acted as the go-between with the two hired gunmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Rivera also took the stand Friday and testified that he did not believe Adelson was involved in the plot, which he said was carried out to give Wendi full custody of her two sons. If convicted, Adelson could spend the rest of her life in prison. Her trial is expected to extend into September. The polygraph results for the parents of two missing children who disappeared three months ago have been revealed. A series of lie detector tests were conducted on the parents of Jack Sullivan, 4, and his sister Lily, 6, who were last seen in May on a road close to their home in Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia. Jack and Lily were reported missing on May 2 by their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray. The first round of polygraph tests, which measures fluctuations in a person's nervous system to indicate if they are being truthful when answering a series of questions, took place on May 12, according to new documents obtained by CTV News. The results for both Brooks-Murray and the children's stepfather, Daniel Martell, indicated that the pair had been 'truthful,' the documents stated. An investigator added at the end of both the children's mother's and stepfather's results that, 'At this point in the investigation Jack and Lillys disappearance is not believed to be criminal in nature.' 'I do not have reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence has occurred. Because Jack and Lilly are still missing, polygraph examinations were conducted with the intention of ruling out that possibility,' the comment continued. Then on June 10, the missing children's stepmother, Janie MacKenzie, also participated in a polygraph test, but it was noted that her 'physiology was not suitable for analysis and an opinion on the polygraph examination was not rendered.' Lilly and Jack Sullivan vanished from their Lansdowne Station home, located 88 miles from Halifax, on the morning of May 2 The children's mother Malehya Brooks-Murray (right) and their stepfather, Daniel Martell (left) who shares a young daughter with Brooks-Murray, were both found to be 'truthful' in polygraph testing Two days later, the children's father, Cody Sullivan, was also found to be 'truthful' in a polygraph examination. Police have said, as the hunt for the missing young children continues, that they are still 'considering all scenarios.' 'The team continues to evaluate all tips and information, with no scenarios having been ruled out,' spokesperson Cindy Bayers said in a statement to CTV. 'Investigators have and will continue to receive forensic results, including those related to the pink blanket, which theyre assessing.' In July, a piece of a pink blanket, determined to belong to Lily, was found by three family members in a tree less than a mile from their home. Another piece of the blanket, found to be the same one, was found on May 4 in a trash bag at the end of the family's driveway. A sniffer dog was later dispatched but was unable to pick up a scent from area where the blanket had been found. The documents revealed that earlier in the investigation, Sullivan had been suspected of taking the children to New Brunswick. However, the children's father told police he had not seen his children or their mother for around three years. Sullivan added that he had been continuing to pay child support, contradicting what their mother had told police, CTV reported. Brooks-Murray and Martell believe the kids went out a sliding back door of the family's home while they fed their baby 'He said he did not know what happened to Jack and Lilly,' police said, according to the documents. 'He was home on May 2, 2025, and never goes anywhere. He has not been anywhere other than his house recently and has had no contact with Malehya since the children went missing.' In June, the children's paternal grandmother, Belynda Gray, said in a heartbreaking interview with CBC that she feared she would never see her grandchildren again. 'My heart tells me these babies are gone,' she said. 'I just want them back. These are everybody's grandchildren. They're not just mine now. It does seem like the whole world cares.' Gray explained that Sullivan and the children's mother, Brooks-Murray, had been in a relationship for about three years before the children's mother decided to end it, citing 'relationship problems.' She claims they were already in little to no contact and was unable to see them for two years after her son and ex daughter-in-law broke up. Following Brooks-Murray's estrangement from the children's biological father, she sought sole custody of the children. Her decision prompted Cody to withdraw from the situation entirely, Gray said. An investigator added at the end of both the children's mother's and stepfather's results that, 'At this point in the investigation Jack and Lillys disappearance is not believed to be criminal in nature' Belynda Gray (pictured), the children's paternal grandmother, shared her heartbreaking thoughts during an interview with CBC News, revealing that she believes her 'babies are gone' 'When she did that, he said that he was done. He just didn't want any part of it,' Gray told CBC, adding that Brooks-Murray had also confided in her that she 'wasn't happy.' Despite the strained relationship between the parents, the devoted grandmother maintained a strong bond with Brooks-Murray at first. She said the children would often visit her whenever she asked. However, that changed when Brooks-Murray moved in with her new boyfriend, Daniel Martell, who shares a young daughter with Brooks-Murray. Brooks-Murray and Martell believe the kids went out a sliding back door of the family's home while they fed their baby. Police are reportedly working on the assumption that the children, who are both autistic, wandered off, but their stepdad said he feared they may have been abducted. Brooks-Murray explained that she and Martell thought the children were playing, and they snuck away the short time the couple were occupied. 'We always make sure that we're out there with them, watching them, and they happen to just get out that sliding door, and we can't hear it when it opens,' she said. 'They were outside playing, but we weren't aware of it at the time, and the next thing we knew it was quiet. Police have said, as the hunt for the missing young children continues, that they are still 'considering all scenarios.' Pictured: Lansdowne, Nova Scotia, less than a mile from Lansdowne Station 'We get up and look outside. We're looking everywhere, yelling for them, and I instantly just called 911. I just had the instinct I needed to call.' Brooks-Murray said her children may have mild autism but were friendly, contrary to rumors online claiming they were non-verbal. 'They're both really happy-go-lucky children. They're so sweet. They talk to anyone. They'll talk your ear off. They will speak to anyone in a store, everyone. They're just extremely sweet kids,' she said. The distraught mother questioned why an Amber Alert wasn't issued, but police said there was no reason to believe they were abducted. Martell told CBC News that he was frightened the children were taken by a stranger. An FBI raid on the home of ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton was reportedly linked to allegations he used a private email server to send sensitive documents to his family. Bolton, who has since turned against Donald Trump after being fired from the White House in his first term, was home at the time of the 7:00 a.m. raid on his D.C.-area house, according to a source familiar. A senior US official told the New York Post that the raid - ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel - was part of the revival into an investigation into Bolton sending private national security documents to his wife and daughter from his work account. He allegedly did this just before Trump fired him in September 2019. The probe continued after Trump left office but was paused by the Biden administration. A senior US official told the Post that Bolton 'was literally stealing classified information, utilizing his family as a cutout' while he still worked there. Patel appeared to publicly address the raid on Friday, posting to X: 'NO ONE is above the law @FBI agents on mission.' The Daily Mail has reached out to a spokesperson for Bolton for comment. Bolton has not given a statement or made any comments to the press as of Friday evening. The ex-Trump adviser turned acidic critic returned to his home in Bethesda, Maryland Friday evening, nearly eight hours after the FBI raided the property. The Friday morning FBI raid on the home of ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton was linked to allegations he used a private email server to send sensitive, classified documents Bolton, who has since turned against Donald Trump after being fired from the White House in his first term, was home at the time of the 7:00 a.m. raid on his D.C.-area house, according to a source familiar Bolton waved to the cameras but did not take questions from the press as he entered his house to greet his wife, who was visibly shaken by the federal dragnet. Throughout the raid that started at 7 am ET, more than a dozen federal agents were seen carrying boxes in and out of his house. Other agents were spotted entering Bolton's downtown Washington, D.C., office. A source told the Daily Mail that Bolton was home when the raid commenced, but he wasn't seen, making his exact whereabouts unclear. Instead, cameras caught a glimpse of his distressed wife, Gretchen Smith Bolton, at the front door interacting with the federal agents on Friday morning. Gretchen walked away from the door as agents entered the Bolton residence in Bethesda, which is one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the Bolton drama by comparing the raid his Mar-a-Lago property endured in 2022. Speaking in the Oval Office, the president said he wasn't involved in its execution, but quickly ripped into his nemesis. 'I purposely dont want to really get involved in it. Im not a fan of John Bolton,' he said. FBI Director Kash Patel (pictured center) appeared to publicly address the raid on Friday 'My house was raided also... So I know the feeling. Its not a good feeling.' The Daily Mail spoke with one of Bolton's self-described 'nosy' neighbor's. As agents ransacked the house, Bolton's neighbor Holly asserted that karma had caught up to the polarizing national security official. 'If he would have testified in the first impeachment hearing, maybe we wouldn't be here,' Holly told the Daily Mail while grinning. A probe into Bolton was first launched in 2020, but an administration official tells the Daily Mail that it was quashed during President Joe Biden's administration for 'political reasons.' Patel's FBI has reopened the high-profile case. Once privy to some of the most classified information in the world, Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stripped Bolton of his security clearance. Bolton, who served as Trump's national security adviser from April 2018 until September 2019, has been at odds with Trump ever since parting with the first administration. President Donald Trump reacted to the Bolton drama by comparing the raid his Mar-a-Lago property endured in 2022 One of the anti-Trump protesters outside Bolton's home said they disagree with Bolton's politics but will still defend him from Trump He regularly appears in TV interviews criticizing Trump's national security strategy and foreign policy. And in response, Bolton has become one of the former officials that the president has taken aim at since getting back into office this year. Trump slammed his former aide as a 'lowlife' and 'not a smart guy.' 'He doesn't talk, he's like a very quiet person except on television and then he can say something bad about Trump. He'll always do that. But he doesn't talk, he's very quiet,' Trump told reporters. During the raid, protesters affiliated with the anti-Trump group #NoKings showed up outside Bolton's house. A protester held a sign reading, 'Trump uses FBI for vengeance.' One of the demonstrators later told the Daily Mail they do not agree with Bolton's politics, but will still defend him as he faces Trump's FBI. The raid on Bolton's home comes after Hillary Clinton was investigated for her use of a private email server while Secretary of State - an issue that helped derail her 2016 election campaign. A celebrity chef claims he was racially profiled and falsely accused of fraud while attempting to deposit a government-issued check. Shawn Davis, known professionally as 'Chef Big Shake', filed the complaint on Wednesday in Nevada's Clark County District Court against Wells Fargo and David Parra, a business adviser at the Wells Fargo branch in Henderson. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of racial discrimination, defamation, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. According to the lawsuit, Davis, who lives in Florida, had traveled to Las Vegas with his family and visited the branch on July 11 to open a business account and deposit a U.S. Treasury check for approximately $20,400. Davis, a restaurateur and entrepreneur who has appeared on the Rachael Ray Show and Shark Tank, said he had received the check the day before his flight. However, after he arrived at the Anthem Village Drive location - 16 miles outside Las Vegas - Parra reportedly took Davis's information and stepped away from his desk. About 15 minutes later, Parra returned and accused the celebrity chef of attempting to deposit a fraudulent check, according to the complaint. Shawn Davis, known professionally as 'Chef Big Shake', filed a lawsuit against Wells Fargo, alleging he was racially profiled and falsely accused of fraud while attempting to deposit a government-issued check. Pictured: Shawn Davis with Rachael Ray The complaint accuses the bank and David Parra, a business adviser at the Wells Fargo branch in Henderson (pictured) of racial discrimination, defamation, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress 'The accusation was made abruptly, without evidence, and in a manner that conveyed the assumption that Plaintiff could not rightfully have received such a check due to Plaintiff's African-American race,' the complaint states. Davis (pictured) Is a restaurateur and food product entrepreneur known for his hot chicken and shrimp burgers Davis immediately denied the accusation, but branch manager Georgia Bell backed Parra, claiming she had contacted the IRS through a 'special line' and confirmed the check was forged. She then asked Davis to leave the branch, according to the complaint. The lawsuit alleges Wells Fargo's 'racist and discriminatory conduct' caused Davis reputational harm, public humiliation, and a loss of dignity. The Friday complaint also states Davis was left 'distraught and overwhelmed' and sat crying in his car for nearly an hour after the incident. Davis later returned to Tampa, where another Wells Fargo branch reviewed the check, opened a business account, and deposited the funds without issue, he said. 'They opened a business account for Plaintiff, deposited the U.S. Treasury check without issue, and confirmed that Defendant Wells Fargo has no direct line to the IRS,' the lawsuit reads. He previously appeared on ABC's Shark Tank (pictured) and has built a national profile as a chef and business owner 'In reviewing the system, the Personal Banker and Branch Manager also noted that the Nevada Branch had not created an account, entered any internal notes, or performed any legitimate work during the forty-five minutes that Plaintiff spent there.' The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $15,000, however Davis' attorney Milan Chatterjee, said the case is about principle, not money. 'Shawn doesn't need the money, but his story personifies the discrimination and prejudice that African Americans often face at the hands of major corporations,' Chatterjee, who is based in Las Vegas, said. 'He recognizes how this can bring attention to a nationwide issue. I give him great credit for being willing to put himself out there and do this.' The Daily Mail has contacted Wells Fargo for comment. Kat Zam will never use Uber again A young woman from Melbourne has declared she will never ride in rideshare apps Uber or DiDi after she claimed the drivers made her feel uncomfortable. Kat Zam, 38, posted a video on Instagram describing how she was left uneasy when male drivers asked for personal details about her. 'I feel nervous, you know, when you get asked questions like "how old are you", or "do you have a boyfriend",' she said in July. 'I don't want to be asked those things when I'm trying to get home, especially when it's late at night. I just never felt safe.' Ms Zam said she had a similar feeling when she used another rideshare app, DiDi. 'I haven't used Uber or DiDi in such a long time because I just didn't feel comfortable, especially late at night,' she told Yahoo News on Saturday. 'I've had some weird experiences. Drivers would ask how old I was, if I had a boyfriend, one guy asked for my number. 'There was just an overall fear for my safety.' Melbourne woman Kat Zam (pictured) said she will avoid Uber after she claimed drivers kept making her feel uncomfortable by asking her personal questions Ms Zam said she felt uncomfortable with drivers asking questions late at night (stock image) The Daily Mail has contacted Uber and DiDi for comment regarding the young woman's experiences with their drivers. Dozens of social media users commented on Ms Zam's video, with some sharing similar experiences with rideshare drivers. '(Once) I couldnt get the doors unlocked until I had given my Uber driver five stars (and I didnt book the ride),' one woman said. 'Longest five minutes of my life and my last Uber trip.' Another said: 'Far too many trips I've been asked multiple details about my personal life by men and its just unnecessary.' A third said: 'An Uber driver once asked me out - like, dude its 1am, Im tipsy, and you know where I live? NO!' Research from the University of Melbourne has revealed women often face disproportionate rates of harassment and assault in Australian rideshares. University of Melbourne Professor of Criminology Bianca Fileborn told ABC News in June 2024 that most passengers who report feeling unsafe are women or gender-diverse. University of Melbourne research found that most rideshare passengers who report feeling unsafe are women or gender-diverse (stock image) Based on research from two years earlier, she said the two groups were more likely to 'receive unwanted flirting or inappropriate questions, especially about their body or gender identity'. 'We also had a small portion of participants who experienced sexual or physical assault, the majority of whom were women or gender-diverse,' she said. 'It was vital that we noted that (drivers) are not more likely to perpetrate violence. 'But there's increased vulnerability when you're in the car; you're usually alone with a stranger, and they have complete control over the vehicle.' In her video, Ms Zam described coming to her decision on Uber and DiDi after she tried rideshare app Shebah during a late-night trip back from an international airport. Shebah only employs female drivers and prioritises safety during rides. 'It was great I felt so safe and it was just really nice to not feel worried (like I have) when I catch Ubers,' she said. The body of a mother-of-three has been pulled from a reservoir after she 'got into difficulty' in the water. Kimberley Johnson, 33, was found in Strinesdale Reservoir, Greater Manchester, on Sunday following a major search and rescue operation. Paying an emotional tribute, her close friend Tanya Kennedy described her as an 'amazing woman' who would 'light up every room she walked into'. She confirmed Ms Johnson was a mother-of-three from Rochdale. 'Kim was such an amazing woman, she took me in when I was younger and from there she always treated me like a sister,' she said. 'I really wish I could speak to her one last time.' Emergency services attended the scene, situated on the A62 between and Delph, at around 4pm that day after reports of a woman 'getting into difficulty' in the water. A rescue operation was launched with the area, off Waterworks Road, being cordoned off. The fire service's specialist water incident unit was drafted in. Kimberley Johnson (pictured), 33, was found in Strinesdale Reservoir Greater Manchester, on Sunday following a major search and rescue operation Emergency services attended the scene, situated on the A62 between and Delph, at around 4pm that day after reports of a woman 'getting into difficulty' in the water. Pictured: Trinesdale Reservoir A rescue operation was launched with the area, off Waterworks Road, being cordoned off. The fire service's specialist water incident unit was drafted in A woman's body was later recovered, at around 6.25pm, Greater Manchester Police said in an update shared the following morning. 'Emergency services responded to an incident at Strinesdale Reservoir at around 4:50pm yesterday (Sunday 17 August 2025) after reports of a woman getting into difficulty in the water,' a force spokesperson said. 'Sadly, the body of a woman was recovered. 'There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.' The woman has now been named as 33-year-old Kimberley Johnson, from Oldham, a spokesperson for Rochdale Coroners' Court confirmed. No further details about Ms Johnson or the circumstances have yet been disclosed. Lord Blunkett has said Keir Starmer should suspend the European Convention on Human Rights to deport thousands of rejected asylum seekers and finally 'get a grip' on the migrant crisis. The ex-Labour home secretary urged ministers to take the 'radical' step as fury grows over the use of nearly 200 hotels to house 32,000 asylum seekers at taxpayers' expense. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Lord Blunkett pointed to Germany and other nations that have temporarily set aside the ECHR and said Britain should do the same for six months if necessary to clear the ballooning asylum appeals backlog. His intervention came as Nigel Farage set out a 10billion 'mass deportation' blueprint that would see five migrant removal flights leave the UK every day under a Reform government. Dubbed Operation Restoring Justice, the five-year plan would block small boat arrivals from ever claiming asylum, detain them on surplus RAF bases, and force the state to build detention centres with capacity for 24,000 people within 18 months. According to Lord Blunkett, the provisions that could be suspended include articles three and eight, which protect against breaches of family life and persecution if people are returned to their home country. He said: 'I think we are going to have to look at not necessarily pulling out of the ECHR or 1951 UN [Refugee] Convention but perhaps temporarily suspending particular elements of it until we can actually get a grip. 'That would mean changing the appeal process because a lot of people who are stuck in accommodation at the moment have gone through the initial process, been rejected and the legal process allows them to appeal again and again.' Lord Blunkett is urging Keir Starmer should suspend the European Convention on Human Rights to deport thousands of rejected asylum seekers and finally 'get a grip' on the migrant crisis The ex-Labour home secretary urged ministers to take the 'radical' step as fury grows over the use of nearly 200 hotels to house 32,000 asylum seekers at taxpayers' expense His intervention came as Nigel Farage set out a 10billion 'mass deportation' blueprint that would see five migrant removal flights leave the UK every day under a Reform government He cited Germany as an example of a European country who took this approach but said the UK might have to do it for six months so the process 'is not abused' and help the Government step up removals by returning more people to their home countries. His remarks go beyond the steps already outlined by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who has proposed curbing judges' reliance on articles three and eight. However, they do not go as far as the Conservatives, with Kemi Badenoch ordering a review into whether Britain should withdraw from the ECHR ahead of her party's autumn conference. Lord Blunkett also urged Britain to press France into adopting a licensing scheme for small vessels, allowing dinghies to be confiscated before they reach the Channel. He threw his support behind Ms Cooper's challenge to a High Court decision to close a migrant hotel in Epping, Essex, arguing that it undermined the Home Secretary's legal duty to provide shelter for asylum seekers at risk of destitution. Ms Cooper has cautioned that the asylum system would collapse into 'chaos' if councils launched similar legal bids to shut down hotels. The Home Office is appealing the ruling, which forced the closure of the Bell Hotel in Epping after the local authority cited safety concerns and the risk of unrest. Police, meanwhile, are bracing for demonstrations outside hotels nationwide over the Bank Holiday weekend, following protests in nine towns and cities this week, including Cardiff, Bournemouth, Leeds and Leicester. Reform UK's proposals go further still, promising migrants the option of voluntary return via a 'self-deportation app,' sweetened by a 2,500 incentive to leave. Lord Blunkett's remarks don't go as far as the Conservatives, with Kemi Badenoch, pictured, ordering a review into whether Britain should withdraw from the ECHR ahead of her party's autumn conference Reform UK's proposals go further still, promising migrants the option of voluntary return via a 'self-deportation app,' sweetened by a 2,500 incentive to leave Those who re-enter the country after removal would face new criminal charges, while fresh agreements with Rwanda, Albania and even British overseas territories such as Ascension Island would provide offshore facilities to hold asylum seekers. Mr Farage told The Times: 'The aim of this legislation is mass deportations. We have a massive crisis in Britain. 'It is not only posing a national security threat but it's leading to public anger that frankly is not very far away from disorder. There is only one way to stop people coming into Britain and that is to detain them and deport them. 'Who is our priority? Is it the safety and security of this country and its people? Or are we worrying about everybody else and foreign courts? That's what it comes down to. Whose side are you on?' He said the programme would cost 10billion over five years, with 2.5billion set aside for converting RAF and other military bases into detention centres. Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell has claimed that she never saw US President Trump in 'an inappropriate setting' with young girls as she seeks a pardon. Disgraced socialite Maxwell, 63, flattered Trump, who has faced weeks of allegations of a cover up after promised Epstein files were not released, and said she never heard he acted inappropriately 'absolutely never, in any context'. Her bombshell comments were revealed in audio tapes and a 380-page transcript, released last night, of a two-day interview convicted child sex trafficker Maxwell had with US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche last month. It comes after Trump's base became increasingly angry after his administration said the expected Epstein files, rumoured to contain a client list, do not exist. He previously promised Americans he would publish all files on the disgraced billionaire and accused Democrats of refusing to release information to protect their own. Critics of the President now claim the reason no files have been released is because Trump's name appears in the documents multiple times, as he had a long-standing friendship with Epstein. Speaking with the Deputy Attorney General, sex offender Maxwell said: 'The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.' She also said Mr Trump never received massages from underage girls. She is currently serving two decades in prison for her crimes and is understood to be seeking a pardon from the President. Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell pictured together in 2000 Ghislaine Maxwell revealed new details about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein in nine hours of interview testimony Maxwell, pictured with Epstein, claimed the billionaire did not kill himself and may have been murdered She said: 'I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.' She added that she never saw anyone behaving inappropriately with a woman 'of any age' - but the convicted sex trafficker also admitted her definition of 'inappropriate' could differ from others. Maxwell also said she did not remember specifics about Trump submitting a sketch to a book she put together for Epstein's 50th birthday: 'It's been so long. I want to tell you but I don't remember'. Trump is currently suing the Wall Street Journal over claims he wrote a note to Epstein which included a sketch of a naked woman with his signature as the pubic hair. It comes after protesters gathered outside the White House earlier this month demanding the release of files relating to Epstein. In February, the Department of Justice released an initial tranche of 'Epstein files' to a group of far-right influencers and journalists - but this simply sparked more anger after it emerged most of the information was already in the public demain. In her July sit-down, Maxwell told investigators she may have first met Trump in 1990 through her late father Robert Maxwell, who 'liked him very much' and was fond of his first wife Ivana Trump because of her Czech background. When pressed about allegations she recruited a Mar-a-Lago employee to meet Epstein, Maxwell claimed she couldn't remember but admitted it was 'not impossible' since she frequently approached spa workers. During the interview, Maxwell also denied the existence of any client list and disputed that the Clintons were ever involved in any disreputable behaviour through Epstein. Throughout the interview, Maxwell tried to paint herself as somewhat subservient to Epstein Trump is currently suing the Wall Street Journal over claims he wrote a note to Epstein which included a sketch of a naked woman with his signature as the pubic hair She claimed Clinton only travelled on Epstein's jet for philanthropic trips and never visited the paedophile's private island. 'He never. Absolutely never went,' Maxwell said. 'I don't believe he had an independent friendship with Epstein.' Maxwell also repeated claims that Epstein, who died while awaiting trial for his crimes in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019, was murdered and didn't kill himself. 'I do not believe he died by suicide, no,' she said. 'If it is indeed murder, I believe it was an internal situation.' She said she did not know who killed him but believes it was likely another inmate, flying in the face of claims his death was part of a conspiracy to prevent any blackmail. 'In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will pay - somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary,' she said. 'That's about the going rate for a hit with a lock today.' During the hours-long interviews, Maxwell was also asked about several high-profile individuals and their potential connections to both her and Epstein. Maxwell also addressed the relationship between Epstein and Prince Andrew and claimed it was Sarah Ferguson who introduced them Protesters outside the White House have called for the release of the Epstein files, as well as alienated members of Trump's base Maxwell claimed that no client list of Jeffrey Epstein exists, but critics of the President assert he is refusing to release more information because he features in the files She claimed that Prince Andrew often stayed at Epstein's properties, describing him as someone who 'relished Jeffrey's hospitality'. And she said that Epstein was 'proud to flaunt royal connections', making Andrew a useful social asset. She told investigators it was Sarah Ferguson who introduced Andrew to Epstein, and not her, and claimed the sex allegations against him surrounding Virginia Giuffre, one of her victims who killed herself earlier this year, are not true. Maxwell has previously been found to have lied under oath. Bizarrely, she also claimed both Epstein and she had 'medical conditions' that prevented them from having a lot of sex. Epstein told her he had a heart condition and she explained she had a medical condition which 'precludes me having a lot of intercourse'. Maxwell is currently serving 20 years behind bars for her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges related to helping Epstein abuse teenage girls, though she has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court. Her lawyers claim Maxwell was covered under a 2007 plea deal that Epstein reached in his Florida sex offender case. Blanche interviewed Maxwell on July 24 and 25 for a combined nine hours at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tallahassee, Florida. At the time of the interviews she was serving her sentence at the low-security Federal Correctional Institution, Tallahassee. Just days after her sit-down, Maxwell was transferred to minimum-security Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. The move has angered many of her victims, as well as prisoners at the Texas jail, who are mainly there for low-level fines such as theft. READ MORE: Manhunt after sedan rams store targeted three times in SIX weeks An urgent search was launched over 24 hours for a man accused of 'serious sex offences' who allegedly fled police custody in Perth's CBD. WA Police issued a statement that officers were urgently seeking the whereabouts of Robert Kevin McCullough, 39, who escaped custody about 4:45pm on Friday. It is understood he had appeared in the Perth Central Law Courts on 'serious sexual offences' earlier that morning. He had been remanded into custody before he fled. 'Mr McCullough has an extensive history of a variety of different offences,' Detective Superintendent Kellie Taylor told reporters on Saturday, ABC reports. 'We don't believe he will be violent towards any person, but he has already demonstrated a willingness to not be in custody and anyone that is on the run is unpredictable.' Police do not believe McCullough used violence to evade custody, with Det Supt telling the media 'it has more to do, we believe, with deceit and trickery'. She said officers have visited known associates of McCullough across the city. Police said Robert Kevin McCullough (pictured) escaped custody about 4:45pm on Friday 'Assisting someone who has escaped legal custody is a criminal offence, so anyone that is considering assisting McCullough should think again,' she said. 'Specialist units are involved, all being coordinated from our state command centre, and we anticipate (having) him in custody soon.' On Saturday afternoon, WA Police confirmed McCullough had been located and was returned to police custody. 'We would like to extend our thanks to the WA community for their assistance,' the statement said. The Government has delayed the decision on approving plans for the Chinese mega-embassy in London amid fears over a 'secret basement' that could be converted into 'spy dungeons'. China intends to build the largest embassy in Europe in London but has faced three years of opposition from residents and activists, while politicians in the UK and US have warned that they could use the site as a base for spying. Beijing has refused to provide full floorplans in planning documents to Tower Hamlets Council, with the basement and other areas 'greyed out', while two suites of anonymous rooms and a tunnel were redacted 'for security reasons'. Other buildings on the plans for the two-century-old site near the Tower of London were also partly greyed out, including the Cultural Exchange Building and Embassy House. DP9, the planning consultancy working for the Chinese government, wrote to Angela Rayner to say China felt it would be inappropriate to provide full internal layout plans. The Deputy Prime Minister earlier this month demanded that Beijing provides additional information after the blueprints contained blacked-out drawings. She also told China they had just two weeks to explain why plans were blacked out with a deadline for a decision on the 20,000 sq metres embassy at Royal Mint Court originally set for September 9. The embassy has been met with fierce opposition from local residents and campaigners concerned about the country's human rights record in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The Government has delayed a decision on the planning application for the Chinese embassy in London The embassy's proposed plans have been met with strong protests by activists and lawmakers Critics fear the site will become the centre of increased espionage operations and may be used to harass Chinese dissidents But the long-running saga will continue with the government pushing that date back until October 21 because it needs more time to consider responses to the application. Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, was accused of only raising questions over the new mega-embassy after being 'spooked' by briefings over national security concerns. While a well-placed source told the Mail that Ms Rayner had been 'spoken to' by the security services, who had flagged concerns over the application. DP9 said that additional drawings already provided an acceptable level of detail after the government asked why certain areas were blacked in their drawings. 'The Applicant considers the level of detail shown on the unredacted plans is sufficient to identify the main uses,' the planning firm said in a letter to the government. 'In these circumstances, we consider it is neither necessary nor appropriate to provide additional more detailed internal layout plans or details.' In response, the department of housing said it needed more time to consider the responses. Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group with ties to an international network of politicians critical of China, said: 'These explanations are far from satisfactory.' The Chinese government bought the Royal Mint site for 255 in 2018 but have faced difficulties with plans for opening it Angela Rayner gave China two weeks to explain why it has redacted blueprints for its 'mega-embassy' The US has already expressed 'deep concern' over the project, as it sits close to the City of London, home to some of the world's largest financial institutions. MPs in the Netherlands have also raised similar concerns He described the response from China as akin to 'trust me bro, it'll be all right'. 'The Chinese side has refused to explain the redacted mega-embassy drawings,' he wrote on X, adding they had also declined 'to build a wall to allow safe access to the historic ruins'. 'The application for this disastrous embassy must be refused,' he added. The Chinese embassy in London expressed 'serious concern' over the government's response and said host countries have an 'international obligation' to support the construction of diplomatic buildings. 'The Chinese side urges the UK side to fulfil its obligation and approve the planning application without delay,' the embassy said in a statement. Earlier this month, they said claims the building could have 'secret facilities' used to harm Britain's national security were 'despicable slandering'. The Chinese government purchased Royal Mint Court in 2018 for 255million but it has faced intense scrutiny when trying to expand the embassy. Plans to build the new embassy were rejected by the local council in 2022 while Chinese President Xi Jinping asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer last year to intervene. The embassy has faced years of opposition from residents and activists, while politicians in the UK and US have warned that they could use the site as a base for spying Chinese President Xi Jinping asked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last year to intervene Critics fear the site will become the centre of increased espionage operations and may be used to harass Chinese dissidents. The US has already expressed 'deep concern' over the project, as it sits close to the City of London, home to some of the world's largest financial institutions. MPs in the Netherlands have also raised similar concerns. Diplomatic sources warned the Mail that the new embassy will have on-site accommodation for more than 200 intelligence officers. A source said: 'There will effectively be a student-style campus for spies in the heart of the City. 'And those spy dungeons are so deep that the sensitive cables are virtually at head height.' The Mail also revealed that the embassy plans exempt a 'cultural exchange' section from 'inspection and verification' by UK authorities. A US security source said 'cultural interests/exchange' is a 'euphemism for intelligence and security services', adding: 'It's where they often stuff their security and intelligence staff, among other diplomats. Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: 'Everywhere there is a mega embassy... Chinese state-sponsored, trans-national repression of those who have fled the Chinese state or who criticise it grows dramatically. The embassy has been met with fierce opposition from local residents and campaigners concerned about the country's human rights record in Hong Kong and Xinjiang More than 1,000 people congregated outside the Royal Mint Court to protest against the embassy in February 'It's simple: a bigger embassy has more spies and more repression.' Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said Labour had been 'caught red-handed trying to ram through this sinister embassy' in a 'desperate attempt to woo the Chinese Communist Party to bail out their failing economic policies'. He added: 'It is shocking Labour want to sign a legal document that will ban British officials checking what is being built in the embassy building. This is yet another surrender document from a Labour Government that puts foreign interests over British interests.' 'The so-called cultural exchange will clearly be used by Chinese spies and communist bullies to further their political ends. This is the adorable moment a young boy dressed in a British Army costume had a chance run-in with an incredibly high profile admiral. At just six years old, Frank Gates, from Egremont, Cumbria, has amassed millions of views worldwide for his heartwarming videos dressed as a miniature soldier. Frank, who takes to the streets of various UK cities dressed in traditional uniform, shares his joy at meeting various Army cadets, generals and soldiers to his more than 376,000 followers, with viewers often praising him for his 'brilliance' and 'dedication'. Now, the youngster has happened to cross paths with one of the UK's highest ranked Admirals - Sir Tony Radakin. Professional head of the UK's armed forces, Sir Tony also serves as Chief of the Defence Staff, alongside military strategic commander and principal military adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence. In a heartwarming video clip and an incredible stroke of luck, army-loving Frank is captured walking past Sir Tony in the streets of London. Approaching the Admiral with confidence, Frank is seen asking: 'Excuse me, could I please have a photo?' to which Sir Tony responds: 'Yes, certainly'. Walking alongside him, Sir Tony's wife, Louise Radakin, joked: 'You're in the wrong uniform you know that, don't you?', to which Sir Tony quips: 'No you can't say that'. At just six years old, Frank Gates, from Egremont, Cumbria, has amassed millions of views worldwide for his heartwarming videos dressed as a miniature soldier. Now, the youngster has happened to cross paths with one of the UK's highest ranked Admirals - Sir Tony Radakin In a heartwarming video clip and an incredible stroke of luck, army-loving Frank is captured walking past Sir Tony in the streets of London. Approaching the Admiral with confidence, Frank is seen asking: 'Excuse me, could I please have a photo?' Professional head of the UK's armed forces, Sir Tony also serves as Chief of the Defence Staff, alongside military strategic commander and principal military adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence Expressing a real interest in the young boy, Sir Tony then turns to Frank and proceeds to ask: 'Who are you?'. After Frank simply gives his name, the armed forces leader replies: 'Hi Frank, I'm Tony Radakin, I'm the chief of defence.' After the incredible meeting, Frank even revealed that Sir Tony had recognised him from his social media presence, though this unfortunately was not captured on video. Adorning a bright red tunic assorted with three medals, alongside a peaked forage, Frank was dressed the part to meet his hero - even holding a wooden stick, often referred to as a stagger stick. Meanwhile, Sir Tony adorned the full dress Royal Navy uniform, featuring a dark blue jacket and trouser with a gold braid. As a four-star Admiral and Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir Tony's naval uniform displays his rank, featuring one broad and three narrow gold bands on the sleeve, a standard style for Admirals in the Royal Navy. Meanwhile, he also holds four stars on his epaulettes to indicate his four-star rank. Several social media users took to the comments to express their amazement at the coincidental run-in, with one commenter remarking: 'Chief of defence. You certainly can't get any higher than this Frank. Well done'. Several social media users took to the comments to express their amazement at the coincidental run-in, with one commenter remarking: 'Chief of defence. You certainly can't get any higher than this Frank. Well done'. Pictured: Sir Tony Radakin Appointed Chief of the Defence Staff in November 2021, Sir Tony's tenure has been significantly shaped by the ensuing war between Russia and Ukraine. Under his position, he has held regular meetings with his counterparts in Kyiv, Washington and Brussels In early June, it was announced that Sir Richard Kighton (pictured) is set to replace Sir Tony as the next Chief of the Defence Staff, with Sir Tony set to step down from the position in September 2025 Meanwhile, another added: 'What an opportunity'. Others also praised Sir Tony for taking the time to stop and have a photograph with the young boy, with one user writing: 'He was so cool with the kid, nice to see', while another added: 'Total respect for Sir Tony Radakin.' Appointed Chief of the Defence Staff in November 2021, Sir Tony's tenure has been significantly shaped by the ensuing war between Russia and Ukraine. Under his position, he has held regular meetings with his counterparts in Kyiv, Washington and Brussels in order to help organise military assistance to Ukraine, while also strengthening NATO deterrence. The Admiral has also worked closely with the Gulf Nations in order to help manage any risks posed by the conflict in the Middle East. In early June, it was announced that Sir Richard Kighton is set to replace Sir Tony as the next Chief of the Defence Staff, with Sir Tony set to step down from the position in September 2025. Having served as Chief of the Air Staff, professional head of the Royal Air Force, since June 2023, Sir Richard will be set to oversee the government's changes to the UK defence capability as Sir Keir seeks to make the country 'war ready'. In a statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton has led the Royal Air Force to deliver on operations across the world, while championing a culture of innovation and excellence, which is why I am certain he will make an exceptional leader of our Armed Forces as Chief of Defence Staff. In a statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'I would like to thank Admiral Sir Tony Radakin for his dedicated service and exceptional advice and service to me as Prime Minister, I wish him every success in his future endeavours' Sir Tony met US defence officials, alongside other European military chiefs, in Washington DC on Wednesday in a bid to help generate security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 14 'In such a rapidly changing global context, we need our Armed Forces to be more lethal, better integrated and equipped for the future as they keep our country safe, I know Rich will rise to that challenge. 'I would like to thank Admiral Sir Tony Radakin for his dedicated service and exceptional advice and service to me as Prime Minister, I wish him every success in his future endeavours.' Sir Tony met US defence officials, alongside other European military chiefs, in Washington DC on Wednesday in a bid to help generate security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia. It follows crunch talks at the White House on Monday between the US President and European leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky. After the emergency summit in the Oval Office - held in the wake of Mr Trump's talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week - Sir Keir said there had been a 'common understanding' about a NATO-style security guarantee for Ukraine. The PM added this was an 'Article 5-like guarantee', which could mirror the 'collective defence' clause of the NATO treaty that states that an attack against one NATO ally is considered an attack against all NATO allies. Sir Keir has pledged to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine as part of efforts by the so-called 'coalition of the willing' of Ukrainian allies to help ensure a potential peace agreement with Russia holds. Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted in a spectacular display on Friday, as a few lucky onlookers watched molten lava shoot 100 feet into the air. Some residents got to see Kilauea's 31st display of molten rock since December - an appropriately high number for one of the world's most active volcanoes. But this is only the fourth time in 200 years that Kilauea has shot lava fountains into the air in repeated episodes. The previous episodes were in 1959, 1969 and 1983. The north vent at the summit crater began continuously spattering on Friday morning, before lava overflowed a few hours later and lava fountains shot out in the afternoon. The eruption was fortunately contained within the summit crater and no homes were threatened. Lucky tourists and locals had a front-row view at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Park Service volunteer Janice Wei rushes to get photos and videos of Halemaumau Crater every time she hears that the lava is back. Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted in a spectacular display on Friday, as a few lucky onlookers watched molten lava shoot 100 feet into the air Some residents got to see Kilauea's 31st display of molten rock since December - an appropriately high number for one of the world's most active volcanoes 'Every eruption feels like I am sitting in the front row at nature's most extraordinary show', Wei said. Wei added that when the molten rock shoots high like a foundation it sounds like a roaring jet engine or crashing ocean waves - and she can feel its heat from over a mile away. According to native Hawaiian tradition, the crater is the home to the volcano goddess Pele. Kilauea is on Hawaii Island, the largest of the Hawaiian archipelago and about 200 miles south of the state's largest city, Honolulu. Ken Hon, the lead scientist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, explained how the explosion happened. 'A lower magma chamber under Halemaumau Crater is receiving magma directly from the earth's interior at about 3.8 cubic metres per second. 'Magma has been using the same pathway to rise to the surface since December, making the initial release and subsequent episodes all part of the same eruption,' Hon said. Many of these eruptions have featured lava soaring into the air, in some cases more than 1,000 feet. Kilauea is on Hawaii Island, the largest of the Hawaiian archipelago and about 200 miles south of the state's largest city, Honolulu The fountains are generated in part because magma - which holds gases that are released as it rises - has been traveling to the surface through narrow, pipe-like vents. Hon joked: 'Our job is like being a bunch of ants crawling on an elephant trying to figure out how the elephant works.' Scientists don't know how the current eruption will end or how it may change. In 1983 magma built enough pressure that Kilauea opened a vent at a lower elevation and started continuously leaking lava from there rather than shooting out of a higher elevation. The eruption continued in various forms for three decades and only ended in 2018. Something similar could happen again in this current eruption - unless it stops at the summit if its magma supply peters out. Scientists are able to estimate a few days or even a week ahead of time when lava is likely to emerge with the help of sensors around the volcano that detect earthquakes and miniscule changes in the angle of the ground, which indicate when magma is inflating or deflating. Steve Lundblad, a University of Hawaii geology professor, said that although the lava fountains have been shorter lately, 'we're still gonna have spectacular eruptions - they're just going to be wider and not as high'. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park spokesperson Jessica Ferracane noted that the last several episodes have only lasted about 10 to 12 hours. The lava erupting out of Kilauea volcano captured on camera yesterday in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park A screenshot from the US Geological Survey's video shows the Kilauea volcano spewing lava yesterday Ferracane advises anyone who wants to go to sign up for US Geological Survey alert notifications because the eruption 'could be over before you know it'. 'Visitors should stay on marked trails and overlooks because unstable cliff edges and cracks in the earth may not be immediately apparent, and falling could lead to serious injury or death. 'Volcanic gas, glass and ash can also be dangerous. Nighttime visitors should bring a flashlight', she added. Ferracane's advice comes after a major rescue operation was launched in June after a tourist plunged off a cliff trying to get 'a closer look' at Kilauea erupting. The number of tourists flocking to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has risen every month of the year so far - partly because of the eruption. In April, for example, there were 49 per cent more visitors than last year in April 2024. The American tourist, a 30-year-old man from Boston, fell 30 feet from the Byron Ledge Trail at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and was saved by a tree branch, breaking a 100 foot plummet to the volcano's caldera. The park's search and rescue team then had to perform a 'high-angle' operation that involved cautiously climbing down the cliff and hauling the tourist to safety. A photo taken by Janice Wei, a Park Service volunteer, in March shows another lava eruption from Kilauea earlier this year Hawaiian officials also warn visitors about the potential health risks that could result from getting too close to eruptions releasing toxic gases. Volcanic gas and ash can irritate the eyes and respiratory system, and lead to other symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, headaches, difficulty breathing, visual disturbances and tremors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also notes that long term exposure to these volcanic air pollutants can lead to lung infections such as bronchitis, and respiratory disorders such as lung disease or lung cancer. Some people may see lava flows as destructive. But Huihui Kanahele-Mossman, the executive director of the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation, said that lava is a natural resource that hardens into land and forms the foundation for everything on Hawaii Island. Kanahele-Mossman's nonprofit organisation is named after her grandmother - the esteemed practitioner of Hawaiian language and culture and founder of a noted school. Experts warn about the health dangers of getting too close to an eruption, which releases toxic gases Scientists are unsure when or how the current eruption will end Kanahele-Mossman has visited the crater a few times since the eruption began. While at the crater, she delivers a chant prepared in advance and places offerings. Recently she presented awa, a drink made with kava, and a fern lei. 'You as the dancer, you are the storyteller and you carry that history that was written in those mele forward', she said, using the Hawaiian word for song. 'To be able to actually see that eruption that's described in the stories, that's always exciting to us and drives us and motivates us to stay in this tradition.' Police are searching for the driver A 45-year-old man was run over by a car A man has miraculously survived after a car ploughed into him in broad daylight in front of several people including a child. Emergency services responded to a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian on Watkins Court in Traralgon, regional Victoria, about 5.45pm on 7 August. It is believed there was an altercation between parties known to each other, before a 45-year-old man was hit by a maroon Ford Falcon which did not stop. CCTV published by 7News on Saturday captured the moment the man attempted to flee from the car. In the footage, a pedestrian can be seen starting to run from the car before the Ford mounted the kerb and accelerated towards him. Two bystanders looked on as the vehicle sped towards the man. The video showed the moment the Ford drove over the man and further down the street. Several witnesses, including a seven-year-old child, allegedly saw the driver slowly drive off the kerb. A 45-year-old man was run down on a public Victorian road on August 7 Victoria Police have said investigations are ongoing and the driver remains on the run It is understood the driver then fled the scene before police arrived. The man, who is from Traralgon, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers said the two parties were known to each other. No arrests have been made and investigations remain ongoing. Anyone with information about the circumstances surrounding the incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers. A nurse and mother-of-two has died after a frenzied stabbing attack in her bedroom, with police saying a man known to her is helping with inquiries. A family member is understood to have found 48-year-old Carra Luke suffering from critical injuries and unresponsive at her home in the Brisbane suburb of Taigum. Emergency services were called to the property at Osprey Place at about 12.30am on Saturday, Queensland Police said. Ms Luke was pronounced dead at the scene despite attempts to revive her. Following initial investigations, officers attended a Hackman Street home in McDowall, 11km away, a short time later, where they located a 52-year-old man, who is assisting in the investigation. No charges were immediately laid, with police confirming the pair were known to each other and are investigating all angles. Ms Luke was known to people in the area as a devoted mother, a respected nurse and generous neighbour. 'Everyone on the street is devastated by the news,' neighbour Jackson Hughesman told Nine News. Nurse and mother Carra Luke (pictured) was found stabbed to death a property in Brisbane's north on Saturday Ms Luke was found by a family member early on Saturday, Queensland Police said 'Carra was a kind and loving person who would go to extremes for anyone she met.' Mr Hughesman said the family is in his thoughts during this hard time, adding: 'We will miss her chats, her generosity and kindness.' Ms Luke's employer, Nundah Doctor Surgery also released a statement paying tribute to her 20 years of work as the 'heart and soul of the practice'. 'A most empathic and caring human being, nurse, mother, and friend... She has cared for her patients and helped through the most difficult times with the greatest professionalism and dedication,' it said. 'She is irreplaceable, and we will miss her every day. She will always remain in our hearts here at the practice.' Crime scenes were established at both homes, with detectives and forensic officers seen scouring the quiet cul-de-sac throughout Saturday morning. The SES also supported the search of a nearby aged care facility during the afternoon, which was then declared a third crime scene. 'We're investigating all angles, including domestic violence,' Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman told reporters. A 52-year-old man is currently assisting police with their inquiries about the woman's death 'I think any scene where there's violence involved is traumatic, including for first responders, police and ambulance. 'Whilst trained and respond to events such as this right across the state on a daily basis, it's still very confronting and a difficult scene for them to manage. 'We'll be providing support services for those frontline officers who attended.' Investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information or CCTV footage is urged to call Policelink or Crime Stoppers. RESPECT 1800 737 732 BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636 A leading Putin propagandist has become the latest mysterious high-profile death in Russia. Kirill Vyshinsky, executive director of the Russia Today state media empire and earlier a Putin collaborator in Ukraine, died in Moscow today at the age of 58. In 2018, as a then Ukrainian citizen, he was detained in Kyiv on charges of high treason for working for Russian propaganda. He spent about a year in a detention centre before being handed over to Moscow as part of a prisoner exchange in 2019. Russian state media outlets today said Vyshinsky had died after a 'lengthy' or 'serious' illness. Yet he had made regular radio appearances this summer, while also working as executive director of the Russian Today (RT) propaganda machine, and there had been no earlier report that he was ill. Vyshinsky headed the Putin propaganda outlet RIA Novosti news agency starting in 2014, according to the Chesno civic movement. That same year, he was awarded a Russian state honor 'For the Return of Crimea' and the Order 'For Merit to the Fatherland,' later obtaining Russian citizenship. Kirill Vyshinsky (pictured), executive director of the Russia Today state media empire and earlier a Putin collaborator in Ukraine, died in Moscow today at the age of 58 In 2018, as a then Ukrainian citizen Vyshinsky was detained in Kyiv on charges of high treason for working for Russian propaganda. Pictured: Putin delivers a speech during a meeting with specialists of the nuclear industry on August 22, 2025 He spent about a year in a detention centre before being handed over to Moscow as part of a prisoner exchange in 2019. Pictured: Vyshinsky, who has died in Moscow at 58, seen in 2019 after he was freed in a prisoner swap by Ukraine In 2018, Ukraine's SBU Security Service detained Vyshinsky after charging him with encroaching on Ukraine's territorial integrity and state treason. But, in 2019, he was transferred to Russia as part of a '35 for 35' prisoner exchange and became the Russian Today director later that year. In 2022 he supported Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, describing the goal as 'demilitarisation and denazification'. He was on Putin's so-called 'human rights council' and publicly represented the tyrant in the last presidential election. In June this year Ukraine's Supreme Anti-Corruption Court granted the Justice Ministry's claim to seize over 200,000 of Vyshinsky's assets. Chief of RT Margarita Simonyan described him as a 'courageous man who served time for his values - for our values - in a Ukrainian prison, unbroken, strong. 'He was stoically ill.' His is the latest in dozens of mysterious deaths of leading figures in Russia since shortly before the start of the war against Ukraine. There are notable cases of prominent Russians plunging from windows or balconies. Vyshinsky was on Putin's so-called 'human rights council' and publicly represented the tyrant in the last presidential election In 2022 he supported Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, describing the goal as 'demilitarisation and denazification' In July, Transneft vice-president Andrey Badalov, 62, fell to his death from the elite tower block where he lived on Moscow's Rublevskoye Highway. He reportedly lived on the building's 10th floor but fell from the 17th storey, according to local media. A source said the 'preliminary cause' of death is 'suicide', as investigators reportedly discovered a note Badalov had left to his wife. In 2022, Ravil Maganov, chairman of Lukoil, Russia's second-largest oil company, died when he plunged from a sixth floor window at Moscow's elite Central Clinical Hospital, also known as the Kremlin Clinic. Russian state media quickly said his death was a suicide but law enforcement sources said there was no suicide note and there were no CCTV cameras on the section of the building where Maganov fell. On the same morning, Putin - who had earlier decorated Maganov, 67, with a top honour - swept into the hospital to pay his final respects to Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, who had died the same week. In 2023, leading war official Marina Yankina, 58, head of the financial support department of the Russian Defence Ministry's Western Military District, was found dead after falling 160ft from a 16th-floor window in St. Petersburg. The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. Former oil company vice president Mikhail Rogachev, 64, died after falling 110ft from his tenth-floor apartment in Moscow in October 2024. He had been a senior executive at Yukos, an oil company dismembered by Putin and his cronies. Rogachev was found at the entrance to his building by an employee of Russia 's SVR foreign intelligence agency and with injuries characteristic of a plunge, local media said. TV channels reported that he lived on the tenth floor and that it was a suicide, claiming he had cancer and left a note - which police are now investigating. But these reports were vehemently denied by his close friends and relatives. North Korea has released footage appearing to show Kim Jong Un's soldiers fighting for Russia on the brutal front lines in Ukraine. The slick propaganda video, broadcast by the country's state television KRT, purports to show soldiers engaged in harsh combat in Russia's Kursk region, which borders northeastern Ukraine. North Korean soldiers are seen advancing through snow-covered battlefields, shooting machine guns and artillery, launching missiles and grenades and manoeuvring through ruined buildings. The undated video, which was screened during a ceremony led by Kim Jong Un to honour soldiers sent to fight for Russia, also shows soldiers undergoing medical procedures, singing, crying and waving the secretive nation's flag. Kim Jong Un wept during the ceremony as he comforted families of 'heroic' troops who he sent to die fighting against Ukraine. The tyrant oversaw a service where he decorated returning soldiers and consoled children of the bereaved with hugs, state media said on Friday. In a speech, quoted by state news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), he said: 'The combat activities of overseas operational forces... proved without regret the power of the heroic (North Korean) army', and the 'liberation of Kursk' proved the 'fighting spirit of the heroes'. In front of a memorial wall listing the dead, Kim was seen hugging tearful children of fallen soldiers, with one wrapping his arms around the North Korean leader. North Korea has released footage appearing to show Kim Jong Un 's soldiers fighting for Russia on the front lines in Ukraine North Korean soldiers are seen advancing through snow-covered battlefields and manoeuvring through ruined buildings The undated video, which was screened during a ceremony led by Kim Jong Un to honour soldiers sent to fight for Russia Along with army generals, Kim attended a concert for soldiers who had returned from Russia as well as a banquet that included bereaved family members, KCNA said. The events were the latest public honourings of North Korean troops who fought in Russia. Kim praised their overseas mission as 'the victorious conclusion', KCNA reported, though it was not clear whether that indicated the withdrawal of its troops from Russia. North Korean troops were first sent to Russia last October, according to NATO, as Vladimir Putin looked to solve Russia's manpower problem. The Russian and North Korean leaders had signed a pact in June to pledge mutual support against 'aggresion'. Last week Putin hailed North Korean troops sent to fight in Ukraine as 'heroic'. In a letter to mark the anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule in August 1945, Putin recalled how the two countries fought together to end Japanese occupation of the peninsula. 'The bonds of militant friendship, goodwill and mutual aid which were consolidated in the days of the war long ago remain solid and reliable even today,' Putin said in the letter revealed by North Korean state media. Around 600 North Korean troops have died fighting for Russia against Ukraine out of a total deployment of roughly 15,000 The same ceremony saw Kim Jong Un weep as he comforted families of 'heroic' troops who he sent to die fighting against Ukraine The tyrant oversaw a service where he decorated returning soldiers and consoled children of the bereaved with hugs, state media said on Friday North Korea only confirmed that it had deployed soldiers in the Russia-Ukraine conflict in April, when state media said its soldiers had helped Russian forces 'completely liberate' the Kursk border region. The country has also reportedly supplied millions of shells to Russia in a bid to tip the balance of the conflict. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has also provided ballistic missiles, 120 long-range artillery systems and 120 multiple-launch rocket systems. Around 600 North Korean troops have died fighting for Russia against Ukraine out of a total deployment of 15,000, South Korean lawmakers said in April, citing the country's intelligence agency. The official tributes this week appear to want to 'justify the deployment and boost morale', the South Korean Yonhap news agency quoted a unification ministry official as saying. Five people have been rushed to hospital with three in a life-threatening condition after being injured in a suspected arson attack at a London restaurant. Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the blaze at Indian Aroma on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford, at around 9pm on Friday. Firefighters rescued three women and two men trapped inside the restaurant, three of whom suffered life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made so far and all five remain in hospital. Nine other people were able to escape from the premises before the fire brigade arrived and part of the ground floor was damaged, the London Fire Brigade said. The five injured were treated for burns and smoke inhalation. Two of them were taken to a major trauma centre and three were taken to local hospitals, London Ambulance Service said. The cause of the blaze is being investigated by firefighters and the Metropolitan Police. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met's Central Specialist Crime North unit said: 'We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together. Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford, at about 9pm on Friday CCTV footage showed the moment the restaurant, Indian Aroma, was set on fire in the suspected arson attack The cause of the blaze is being investigated by firefighters and the Metropolitan Police 'Locals can expect to see a large police presence in the area. If you have any concerns, please speak to those officers on the ground.' A local resident described the aftermath of the suspected arson attack. Hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, stepped outside his nearby home with his 12-year-old son to see if he could help after hearing screaming. The police and ambulance were already at the scene, which Mr Thawe described as 'horrible' and 'more than scary and the sort of thing that you don't want to look at twice'. He said he thought one man who was on the street and a woman who was also outside may have been customers. Mr Thawe added that the man's 'whole body was burnt', including his shirt, but he was still wearing his trousers. Uniformed officers guarded the police cordon that was in place on Saturday as forensic officers in protective clothing examined the scene. The taped cordon stretched from outside the shop on local high street which faces on to a busy main road and on to the pavement. On Saturday forensics officers were seen gathering evidence as a police cordon remained in place A cordon remains in place after five people were left injured by the blaze and were taken to hospital (Pictured: Police officers respond on Friday night) Police officers search the area on Woodford Avenue in Ilford outside the Indian restaurant on Saturday A trail of what appeared to be bloodstained footsteps along the pavement was spotted by a forensic officer. A number of items were also bagged up in clear plastic carriers outside the shop. Another Ilford resident, who did not want to give his name, said he came outside after hearing screaming and the sound of emergency service sirens in the street where the suspected arson attack happened. He said he saw three injured people being doused by the emergency services. 'The whole road was blocked and there was lots of police.' He said the people were 'severely burned' and he saw they were being given oxygen. He added: 'I can only imagine the pain they were going through.' 'I came down because there were so many police and ambulance sirens and when I open the doors there were lots of lights flashing and I could see the scene. I could not sleep properly last night over it. It was just absolutely horrible situation.' Police officers and forensic experts speak at the crime scene on Saturday morning, as three people fight for their lives in hospital Met Police officers stand guard outside the restaurant as investigatons continue A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called at 9.04pm yesterday to reports of a fire on Woodford Avenue, Ilford. 'We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and paramedics from our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London's Air Ambulance. 'We treated five people for burns and smoke inhalation. We took two patients to a major trauma centre and three others to local hospitals.' A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: 'We were called at 9.02pm to reports of a fire at a restaurant on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill. 'Part of the ground floor restaurant was damaged by fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued five people from the restaurant. 'They were all taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service. Around nine further people were able to leave the restaurant before firefighters arrived. 'The brigade's control officers received seven calls about the fire and mobilised crews from Ilford, Hainault, Leytonstone and Woodford fire stations to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 10.32pm. 'The cause of the fire is being investigated by the brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.' Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is the MP for Ilford North, posted on X saying: 'Huge thanks to @metpoliceuk @LondonFire @Ldn-Ambulance for their response to a serious incident on Gants Hill/Woodford Avenue this evening. 'Please avoid the area for now. Further updates will follow from @RedbridgeLive and emergency services.' Anyone with information is urged to contact the Met via 101, quoting 7559/22AUG. If you wish to remain anonymous, please speak with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The SNP's nationalised rail service is scrapping the use of its AI station announcer following a row with a renowned Scots voiceover artist. In an embarrassing climbdown, ScotRail is set to remove the AI voice of Iona, which was based on that of real-life actor Gayanne Potter, after complaints from the public and very concerned ministers. In May trained voiceover professional Ms Potter from Edinburgh hit out at the company after learning her voice data had been introduced on Scotlands trains without her permission. ScotRail initially insisted it had no plans to change the voice - claiming Ms Potters dispute was with a foreign company called Readspeaker that held her voice data from a recording in 2021. Now, in a victory for the actor, The Daily Mail can reveal an alternative voice is being sourced by Transport Scotland. The move was last night welcomed by her union, Equity, who said: Gayanne Potter would welcome ScotRail changing the Iona voice. As a union, Equity has serious concerns about the use of AI in performance and audio work. We are advocating a system based on transparency, consent and fair remuneration for professional artists. And Scots Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane said: The SNP should be championing homegrown talent, not overlooking the pressures this sector faces or deferring action until flaws are exposed. Actor Gayanne Potter hit out after ScotRail used an AI version of her voice without permission The 'AI clone' was called Iona and was based on voice data recorded by Ms Potter in 2021 ScotRail initially claimed it had no plans to change the AI voice despite Ms Potter's concerns ScotRail must replace the artificial AI voice currently used in announcements with authentic Scottish voices, delivered by skilled Scottish voice actors. The row emerged after Ms Potter realised Readspeaker had used her voice data to create a text-to-speech programme fronted by an AI-generated Scottish character called Iona. It was only after she read Press reports that she learned the voice, based on her own, was being introduced across ScotRail trains. Ms Potter then shared an angry post online accusing the nationalised train operator of dismissing her concerns, asking: Why continue to choose a dreadful AI version of me when Im right here?. Its not about money, she said at the time, adding: Its about my identity. I feel violated. My voice may be something I use as a tool, but its also my personal data and I should have control over that. Amid widespread debate about the move to use the AI voice, 78 members of the public complained to ScotRail, freedom of information responses show. ScotRail - which was brought under public ownership by Nicola Sturgeon in 2022 - initially defended the new announcements, saying that they give us flexibility and that there were no plans to remove the voice. However, emails obtained between ministers and officials reveal that the state-owned operator U-turned after SNP ministers objected. ScotRail was nationalised under Nicola Sturgeon in 2022 and has been beset by problems Scots Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop was said to be very concerned' about the AI voice ScotRail is implementing a different voice 'as soon as practicable', Transport Scotland says On 27 May 2025, when actor Ms Potter spoke out about the debacle, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop was said to be very concerned about this, and asked if there are any options here. Business Minister Richard Lochhead then contacted Ms Hyslop, demanding to know why ScotRail has chosen to use an AI generated voice. The following week, Transport Scotland rail chief Bill Reeve wrote to Ms Hyslop, saying: Following discussions with the SRH Chief Executive, we have now received an updated recommendation from ScotRail Trains to change the current AI generated voice. When Ms Potter first spoke out, Readspeaker said she had been 'informed of ReadSpeakers intended use of the recordings for the purposes outlined in the contract, including commercial use of the synthetic voice'. It said it had acted 'ethically and lawfully and that Ms Potter 'was fairly paid for her voice talent services'. This week a spokeswoman declined to comment further. A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: While subcontracts are a matter for ScotRail, this issue was raised directly with Ministers, both in correspondence and in Parliament, therefore it is entirely normal that information on the subject was provided to them. Our understanding is that ScotRail is working to make changes to the system, and this includes implementing an alternative voice as soon as practicable. A ScotRail spokesman said: 'ScotRail is continuing to work with ReadSpeaker on the matter, and while there is no update at present, we do expect to be able to provide a further update in the coming weeks.' Deadly fires are raging through Spain and Portugal as the worst wildfire season on record continues across the continent. Villages have been evacuated, farmers drafted in to fight the flames, and huge areas of land have been destroyed, four times the average for this time of year, official figures show. More than 1million hectares have burned so far, smashing the previous record of 988,544 hectares set in 2017, with more dangerous fire weather still to come. Homes have been reduced to ashes, forests turned black, and thick smoke has blanketed cities for miles. The blazes have pumped out around 37million tonnes of carbon dioxide roughly the same as the annual emissions of Portugal or Sweden while PM2.5, particles, which can penetrate deep into the lungs, have hit record levels. Experts say climate change and human land use are driving conditions for ever-larger, more intense wildfires, the Guardian reports. Cristina Santin Nuno, a fire researcher at Spain's National Research Council, said while the scale of this year's fires is alarming, it is not surprising. 'It is sad and scary my home region is burning right now but not surprising, really,' she said. Villages have been evacuated, farmers drafted in to fight the flames, and huge areas of land have been destroyed Spain is enduring its most devastating wildfire season since records began, with blazes consuming more than 382,000 hectares of land This marks Spain's worst-ever fire season since records began in 2006. It has eclipsed 2022's case, when 306,000 hectares were burned A prolonged heatwave across the Mediterranean and Balkans has pushed temperatures above 40C. The searing heat has dried vegetation, creating tinderbox conditions that allow fires to spread faster and burn hotter. Victor Resco de Dios, a forestry engineer at the University of Lleida, said heatwaves had made grasses and herbs more flammable, while unstable atmospheric conditions triggered fire storms. More than a dozen deaths have been confirmed, though experts warn the true toll is likely higher, with toxic smoke harming lungs and entering the bloodstream. A 2019 study estimated wildfire smoke contributes to 111,000 deaths a year across Europe, including Russia. The EU's monitoring service said Spain's wildfire emissions this year reached the highest levels in 23 years, worsened by smoke drifting from Canada's own massive fires. Santin Nuno warned that while catastrophic wildfire seasons may not occur annually, the likelihood of record-breaking events is rising. She said: 'This is a new reality. And the sooner we realise it, and take action to be more resilient to these types of wildfires, the better.' Portugal has been battling blazes since late July, with the north and centre hardest hit A resident walks among the rubble of houses destroyed by a wildfire in the Spanish northwestern village of San Vicente de Leira, in Ourense province, on August 19, 2025 Firefighters fight with the forest fire at Malhada do Rei, Pampilhosa da Serra, Portugal SpanishPrime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned on August 19 that 'difficult hours remain' as exhausted emergency crews continue battling infernos that have destroyed villages In Portugal, a 65-year-old man was killed when his bulldozer ran over him as he tried to escape fast-moving flames in Mirandela. The country has been battling blazes since late July, with the north and centre hardest hit. More than 216,000 hectares have burned this summer, around 2.3% of Portugals land, with two firefighters dead and more than 130 people injured, many of them emergency workers. One deadly fire tornado in the north claimed the life of a former mayor as he tried to defend his town. Last week, the mayor of Vila Real said: 'We are under enormous attack, with absolutely incalculable losses, the resources are clearly insufficient given the scale of what we are experiencing.' In Spain, at least four people have died as wildfires continue to scorch the land. In Librilla, Murcia, a tornado swept away cafe terraces and threw debris into the streets, reducing visibility to near zero. Locals screamed as wheelie bins and outdoor furniture were hurled into the road. Local police said the high winds were carrying away embers that could cause wildfires The freak weather forced the town hall to cancel a BBQ event organised as part of its annual summer festival because of the fire risk if it went ahead. The Costa Tropical south of Granada also faced extreme conditions when the so-called Satans Storm struck, forcing beach evacuations in resorts like Motril and prompting seven emergency rescues. Two tornadoes and waterspouts formed as temperatures surged past 37.8C (100F) and winds reached 53mph. The freak weather forced the town hall to cancel a planned summer BBQ due to fire risk. Police warned that high winds were carrying embers capable of igniting further fires. In one dramatic moment, a woman holding a large parasol was blown over by a gust, as tables and chairs smashed around her. The area where the BBQ had been organised was turned into a dustbowl. An electricity pylon was also snapped in half and brought down by the force of the wind. Local police said in a statement: 'A tornado has carried away sunshades, chairs and tables at bars as it swept through Librilla. 'The town hall has had to cancel its Night of Migas BBQ event because of the fire risk as the tornado carried away tables and chairs people had put out and even embers. 'Our officers and Civil Protection workers are still dealing with incidents involving fallen trees and lampposts.' Manhattan, New York famously plays host to some of the world's tallest and most recognisable buildings, from the Empire State Building to Rockefeller Plaza. But despite centuries of construction success stories, the 59.1 square kilometres is more recently known for an embarrassing tale the city would rather have visitors forget. Unofficially dubbed 'The Leaning Tower of FiDi', a catastrophic high-rise near Wall Street has plagued downtown Manhattan's lucrative property market. 1 Seaport was lauded to be the first ever all-glass residential skyscraper built on the lower-Manhattan waterfront, complete with sixty stories, a private porte cochere, a hydrotherapy spa and an infinity pool. Located on the edge of the financial district, developers had high hopes of selling properties in the 670ft building for $30 million. But after early sales success, the $300 million project descended into disaster when developers realized the building had a 3-inch tilt, leading to a tumultuous spiral of legal battles, architectural scraps and even the death of a builder. The development began when construction giant Fortis Property Group bought one of the last undeveloped plot's of lower Manhattan - an old car park. The purchase was completed in 2013 for $64 million, and construction work on the tower, which would have 80 residential units, began in July 2015. Unofficially dubbed 'The Leaning Tower of FiDi', a catastrophic high-rise near Wall Street has plagued downtown Manhattan's lucrative property market The 670-foot high rise has been left to rot as it looms over Manhattan's East River Juan Chonillo, pictured, fell to his death from the skyscraper's 29th floor while working on the structure in 2017 Despite being a lucrative site, the site's ground was far from ideal to host such a large building and developers opted for a departure from usual skyscraper foundations. Rather than drilling steel pylons through the ground until they reach bedrock, Fortis opted for soil improvement, which is where concrete is directly injected into the ground in order to make it firmer. It was reported at the time that this would save the constructors $6 million, and developers went ahead with it despite all other surrounding buildings being anchored by piles. Fortis hired Italian construction firm Pizzarotti to direct the project, but there were problems from the beginning - workers reported carrying out jobs in darkness and in areas scattered with debris, the New Yorker reports. By 2016, the two firms were already butting heads over working hours and ambitious targets to finish the building within a year. But matters became far worse in 2017, when a worker at the tower plunged to his death. Juan Chonillo, 44, a father-of-five and carpenter originally from Ecuador, had moved to Queens with his older sister Angela and joined cousins working in construction. Eleven years later, on September 21, 2017, he was working on the high-rise site on floor 29. The development is still a skeleton of its once-great potential, where luxury apartments are instead left open the elements and million-dollar amenities are yet to be installed Residents were promised lavish amenities including a health spa, fitness center, infinity pool, and even a luxury yacht service at no extra cost The building's developer has insisted that despite going uncompleted for nearly a decade, it still maintains plans to finish the towering skyscraper Miscommunication with a crane operator meant a platform he was standing on moved and he slipped and fell, crashing down onto the sidewalk and dying instantly. Construction was halted for several months as a result, before getting back underway in January 2018. Just three months later, execs received more bad news - a memo warning of 'structural issues', 'unusual settlement', and ultimately stating that the tower was leaning three inches to the north. Rather than halt work, construction efforts sped up and a botched attempt to straighten it out in mid-air began, by deliberately setting higher floors off centre to the south to try and balance out the lean. Instead, it simply made things worse. Now the lean stands at around eight centimetres and, in one lawyer's pithy description during a court hearing, is 'shaped like a banana'. Meanwhile with the cheapest apartment costing over $1.3 million, the building sold half its available units within months, after striking preliminary sales launched in April 2016. By the time the on-again off-again skyscraper officially topped out by September 2018, 78 of the building's 98 condos were already off the market. Amid hostile finger pointing over the lack of progress, Pizzarotti launched its lawsuit against Fortis in March 2019 over the 8cm northward lean. The One Seaport structure, pictured, has been on hold since 2020 amid mountain lawsuits and numerous controversies The building was in the top 100 tallest buildings in Manhattan when it was initially constructed Construction halted in 2020 and now the $300 million project sits in limbo. A series of court cases has been brought, including over unpaid wages. The only work that has reportedly been carried out is by Pizzarotti's replacement as general contractor, Ray Builders, who designed another glass curtain wall to accommodate the gaudy tilt. But by July 2020, Ray Builders again stopped construction after claiming that Fortis failed to pay its workers, before resigning as contractor. Bank Leumi, who reportedly gave Fortis a $90 million construction loan for the doomed skyscraper in June 2016, were subsequently blamed by Fortis for the non-payments in yet another lawsuit filed in August 2020, claiming the bank failed to follow through on part of its loan deal. By the end of the year, the bank attempted to foreclose on its loan for the skyscraper, according to PincusCo, and as of February 2021, all but six of the condo buyers had cancelled their contracts. Structural engineers have assessed the building as not being at risk of toppling over - but that does little to help rescue the project. Fortis reportedly still hopes to finish the project one day - but it could be years before anyone takes up residence in Manhattan's most disastrous project of recent years. This is the moment a dog walker is allegedly chased down by a gang, who dubbed themselves the 'Three Musketeers', minutes before he was stabbed to death in broad daylight. CCTV footage shows Kieran Shepherd, 30, with his dog before being ambushed by Joseph Dawe, Zack O'Keeffe and Harrison Carpenter. Mr Shepherd was brutally stabbed and left for dead on Meadgate Avenue, in Great Baddow in October 15, 2024, Chelmsford Crown Court heard. During the opening of the trial, the jury was shown the distressing video of the chase which happened at 12.24pm that day. Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Shepherd had been stabbed twice - puncturing his lung and heart. He was found six minutes later by cleaner, Holly Duffett, who was working at a block of flats near the attack. She later called 999. She told the operator Mr Shepherd 'wasn't talking' as she continued to reassure him that she was getting help. He was later pronounced dead at the scene at 1.22pm. Joseph Dawe, Zack O'Keeffe and Harrison Carpenter, all 20, have pleaded not guilty to murder. This is the moment a dog walker is chased down by a gang, who dubbed themselves the 'Three Musketeers', minutes before he was stabbed to death in broad daylight Kieran Shepherd (pictured) was brutally stabbed and left for dead on Meadgate Avenue, in Great Baddow in October 15, 2024, Chelmsford Crown Court heard Yesterday, O'Keeffe told the court he 'panicked' and 'couldn't believe what [he] had just done.' 'If I didn't defend myself, I felt like mine and my friends lives could have been at risk. I had no idea it was going to be fatal,' he told the court, according to the BBC. 'A month or two' prior to the incident Mr O'Keeffe said he had dealt cocaine to the victim. Around two weeks later, he and Carpenter met again with Mr Shepherd in an alleyway for another drug deal, where he claimed the 30-year-old 'pulled out a knife'. While being questioned by barrister Michael Borelli KC, O'Keeffe said Mr Shepherd told them they would 'get it'. He claimed they both left as it was not 'worth it' for 70. When the 20-year-old, Dawe and Carpenter crossed paths with the victim on October 15, O'Keeffe claimed they were not on the look out for him. He alleged Mr Shepherd shouted towards the three that his dog bites. In the later chase, O'Keeffe claimed he fell and when he eventually caught up he saw Carpenter on the victim, but could not see his other co-defendant, Dawe. He told the court he saw a knife on the ground, which he claims belonged to Mr Shepherd. CCTV footage of Mr Shepherd walking his dog in Great Baddow, Chelmsford on October 15, 2024 During the opening of the trial, the jury was shown the distressing video of the chase beginning at 12.24pm that day Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Shepherd had been stabbed twice - puncturing his lung and heart 'He was reaching for [the knife]. He was going to use it on Joe, Harrison, or me, or all of us,' he said. O'Keeffe told jurors the victim's dog was 'being very aggressive', that the pet was 'snarling and barking', and as such, he believed the pet would bite him. The 20-year-old said he swung the knife but 'didn't think' he had made contact. O'Keeffe told the court he ran out of fear once he saw the blood, adding that he was too 'scared' to call police. He added that he didn't contact emergency services as he didn't realise the seriousness of the injuries. Mr Shepherd was stabbed in the back with a knife, which was as long as 30cm (12inch), prosecutors said. Previously, Ms Ayling KC, prosecuting, said Mr Shepherd was 'clearly caught by the three men', before he was found dead with stab wounds to the back. She said he was stabbed with such force that the wound was 13 to 15cm long, with the blade going through his left lung, 'into his heart' and 'out the other side of it'. The prosecution says while only one person stabbed Mr Shepherd, the jury should find them guilty of murder via joint enterprise. 'One person may have delivered the fatal blows but the prosecution case is the three are jointly liable as they were acting together in a joint attack,' she said. Joseph Dawe, Zack O'Keeffe and Harrison Carpenter, all 20, have pleaded not guilty to murder 'If I didn't defend myself, I felt like mine and my friends lives could have been at risk. I had no idea it was going to be fatal,' O'Keeffe told the court 'You will hear the defendants called themselves the three musketeers.' Previously, it was heard how cleaner Ms Duffett found Mr Shepherd after hearing shouting as well as three men run past her line of sight. 'The man in the middle was putting a big knife, which she described as massive, into his trousers, Those men ran off,' Ms Ayling KC said. As she came out of the building, she saw Kieran Shepherd curled up lying on the floor. She was on the phone to her boyfriend but hung up and called 999.' During the audio of the 999 call Ms Duffett was heard becoming more distressed as she reassured the victim before ambulance crews arrived. CCTV footage was shown of the trio at a newsagents shortly before the attack at 12.21pm, as well as doorbell footage at Carpenter's grandmother's home in Stock at 1.10pm. Carpenter's girlfriend Olivia McElvaney, said she had been with the defendants on the day of the alleged murder, in a statement read by the prosecutor. She explained they had been sitting on a bench when Carpenter received a call from the other two defendants. Ms McElvaney knew the defendants to be friends who referred to themselves as 'The Three Musketeers'. 'O'Keeffe was a drug dealer, and didn't hide the fact,' Ms Ayling said, while summarising Ms McElvaney statement. The 20-year-old said he, Dawe and Carpenter, were not searching for the victim when they crossed paths on October 15, alleging Mr Shepherd shouted that his dog bites He was found six minutes later by cleaner, Holly Duffer, who was cleaning a block of flats near the attack. She later called 999 'Possibly the plan was to get some food but suddenly Zack stopped the car as if he had seen someone he knew,' the prosecutor said while continuing to summarise. She was told to stay where she was, while the three defendants left the car for what she believed to be around half an hour. 'When they got back in Zack drove off immediately,' Ms Ayling said. 'She [Ms McElvaney] said Zack kept saying "shut up, shut up".' She said she believed there was blood on Carpenter's jeans, and that she saw a knife pass from the front to the back of the vehicle. 'There was also talk between the defendants of the need to burn clothes,' Ms Ayling said. Ms Ayling said the men later went into woods located in Stock, before getting a lift to a caravan in Clacton on Sea. She also told the court that Carpenter handed himself into a police station on October 16, while O'Keeffe and Dawe 'weren't located' until two days later. Ms McElvaney had also attended the caravan with the three men, later giving a statement to police regarding what was said. When asked by police if the men said they were there when Mr Shephard got stabbed, and if they were responsible, she answered: 'Yes'. 'She [Ms McElvaney] said Joe and Harrison had a fight with Kieran but Zack O'Keeffe stabbed him apparently twice in the back,' Ms Ayling KC said. According to the prosecutor, Ms McElvaney claimed O'Keeffe said it 'had to be done'. 'The reason she said it had to be done, according to Olivia, was he (Mr Shepherd) had pulled a knife on a 14-year-old at some time in the past,' Ms Ayling said. 'Zack O'Keeffe said in stabbing Mr Shepherd he was doing the police's job for them.' The trial continues. Police have launched an urgent hunt for a 'wanted' one-eyed man after a teenage girl was raped. Officers are looking for James Doran from Kidlington, in connection with the rape of a teenage girl on Monday August 11 in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Doran is described as white, with short ginger-brown hair, a matching beard, and missing his right eye. The 23-year-old is believed to visit often areas across North Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire, and has known connections in Hillingdon, London, and Leicestershire. Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Becky Sargeant, said: 'We are urgently appealing for the public's help in locating James Doran. 'Anyone with information about his current whereabouts should call 999. It is important that if you see him, please do not approach him, and instead call 999. Doran is described as white, with short ginger-brown hair, a matching beard, and missing his right eye 'If you have any other information on the whereabouts of James Doran, please call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference 43250409668. 'Or if you do not wish to speak to the police, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, who will take your information 100% anonymously.' A police spokesperson said: 'Thames Valley Police is appealing for information to trace a wanted man. James Doran, aged 23, from Kidlington is wanted in connection with the rape of a teenage girl on Monday 11 August in Banbury. He is known to frequent the North Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire areas, and also has links to Hillingdon in London and Leicestershire. Doran is described as white, with short ginger/brown hair, a ginger/brown beard and is missing his right eye. Migrant protests descended into anarchy as at least 15 people were arrested at demonstrations taking place across the country over asylum seeker hotels. Today more than 30 protests under the Abolish Asylum System slogan were held in towns and cities including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, Horley, Canary Wharf, Aberdeen and Perth in Scotland, and Mold in Wales. A separate batch of protests were organised by Stand Up to Racism in Bristol, Cannock, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wakefield, Horley and Long Eaton in Derbyshire. Several demonstrators have been seen scuffling with police and shouting at the opposing side as chaos unfolds across the country. At least 15 people were reportedly arrested in Bristol, Liverpool and Horley, The Times reported. In Bristol, mounted police were brought in to separate rival groups in Castle Park, with one of those detained today said to be a 37-year-old woman on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Avon and Somerset Police said no officer sustained serious physical injury or has required hospital treatment, but inquiries will be carried out after reports of assaults on officers. Chief Inspector Keith Smith said: 'Our priority today has been to enable lawful peaceful protest for both groups. Mounted police officers scuffle with demonstrators during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter protesters at Castle Park in Bristol Children were among those attending a protest in Perth and were seen jeering and making obscene hand gestures at counter-protesters Anti-migrant campaigners are set to gather at more than 30 protests across the UK this weekend to express anger outside hotels housing asylum seekers 'Our officers have dealt admirably with a really challenging situation and I'd like to take the opportunity to thank them for their professionalism. 'While there were moments of disturbance, we're pleased to say the two protests have passed without significant incident.' In Liverpool, where crowds of UK Independence Party (UKIP) supporters and anti-fascist demonstrators gathered in the city centre for a 'Liverpool mass deportations' march', at least 11 people have been arrested. In an update put out on its social media, UKIP said its plan was to 'reclaim Liverpool from the far-left and send a message to the government'. Footage shot by influencer Charles Veitch showed the dramatic moment the two sides clashed, with their vocal arguments turning to violence. A man wearing a St George's flag tucked in behind his backpack was caught on camera scuffling with an anti-fascist supporter. The flag-bearing man was then seen seconds later kicking the protester before being stopped by two police officers, who promptly hauled the man away. Cheering and clapping could be heard from the counter-protesters as the man was taken back over to the side where anti-migrant campaigners were standing. Merseyside Police later reported that arrests were made for offences including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray. Meanwhile in Horley, three arrests were made outside the Four Points hotel - two for breach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice. Around 100 anti-immigration protesters draped in St George and Union flags clashed with roughly 30 Stand Up to Racism protesters in Bonehurst Road. The anti-racism protesters chanted 'say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here', and held signs calling for solidarity and to 'stop deportations'. Footage shot by influencer Charles Veitch showed the dramatic moment the two sides clashed in Liverpool, with their vocal arguments turning to violence A man wearing a St George's flag tucked in behind his backpack was caught on camera scuffling with an anti-fascist supporter in Liverpool Demonstrations by the Abolish Asylum System slogan are being held in major towns and cities around England Hundreds of people turned up to protest against Home Office plans to house asylum seekers in flats in the town centre of Mold, North Wales They were met with a torrent of abuse from the anti-migration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone 'you're all scum and you should be ashamed' and 'this wasn't about racism'. The two groups almost came together in the early afternoon, with lines of police separating them. The Stand Up to Racism protesters were shepherded into a smaller area as they continued to chant 'no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here', which were met with 'no they're f****** not' from the other side of the street. Chief Superintendent Juliet Parker said: 'Our officers were outside the hotel this morning to support the public's right to lawful protest. 'Unfortunately, while the majority of those present were protesting lawfully, there were some individuals whose behaviour became disruptive, and they were arrested. 'Officers were also present to minimise disruption to the local community. 'We appreciate that there was some disruption on the roads around the hotel while the protest was taking place and we would like to thank all those affected for their patience.' Saturday's events come amid continued tension around the use of the hotels for asylum seekers. People demonstrating at an Abolish Asylum System protest outside the Radisson Hotel in Perth on Saturday morning A large group of counter protesters pose for photos as they hold a banner reading 'No to racism, refugees welcome' in Perth On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, from September 12. Regular protests had been held outside the hotel in recent weeks after an asylum seeker was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl, which he denies. The Government announced plans on Friday to appeal against the High Court's refusal to allow it to intervene in the case, and to further appeal against the temporary injunction. Other local councils also publicly announced their intention to seek legal advice as to whether they could achieve a similar injunction for hotels in their areas. Reform UK's Nigel Farage has set out plans for mass deportations if he becomes prime minister. Arresting asylum seekers on arrival, automatic detention and forced deportation to countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea are among the proposals reported to be announced on Tuesday. They also include deals with third countries, which could include reviving the Conservatives' Rwanda link-up, and sending asylum seekers to British overseas territories such as Ascension Island as a 'fallback' option. Mr Farage said the plans could see hundreds of thousands of people deported and five charter flights taking off from the UK every day. Many protesters held signs reading 'get them out' and 'Perth is full' at a protest outside the Radisson Hotel On Saturday morning protesters began to gather outside a hotel in Perth, and were greeted with counter-protesters The first step of Reform UK's plans would be to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and to scrap the Human Rights Act, followed by legislation to bar those who come to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum. 'The aim of this legislation is mass deportations,' Clacton MP Mr Farage told The Times. 'We have a massive crisis in Britain. It is not only posing a national security threat but it's leading to public anger that frankly is not very far away from disorder. 'There is only one way to stop people coming into Britain and that is to detain them and deport them.' There were fears this morning that some of the locations would see an outbreak in disorder similar to last summer after the Southport attack, which triggered riots after misinformation stated the attacker was a migrant. Many hope the protests will ultimately result in a ruling for The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which must close to asylum seekers in weeks unless an appeal is granted. Demonstrations first began in Epping after it was revealed that one resident, an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, had been accused of sexually assaulting a local schoolgirl. It was alleged that he tried to kiss the 14-year-old. He denies the allegations. Mounted police officers are deployed during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter demonstrators at Castle Park in Bristol In Bristol, originally just a couple of dozen anti-migrant protesters turned up and were separated by a larger group of counter-protesters by police Police try to contain anti-immigration protests in Perth After a ruling which stated the hotel must close to asylum seekers following weeks of protests, the Home Secretary and the hotel itself announced plans to seek to appeal against the injunction. On Saturday morning protesters began to gather outside a hotel in Perth and at other locations across the country, and were greeted with counter-protesters. Many held signs calling for the hotel to be emptied and for tougher government action on immigration. A group called Abolish Asylum System held a protest outside the Radisson Blu on Saturday morning. It was met with a counter-protest organised by Perth Against Racism, with the sides chanting and shouting at each other. The site, previously known as the Station Hotel, is near Perth's railway station and the two sides stood across from each other in the car park with a police presence. The anti-immigration protesters held up signs with slogans such as 'Perth is full - empty the hotels' and 'get them out'. Their opponents held a banner saying 'No to racism, refugees welcome'. The groups dispersed in the early afternoon. Later scuffles broke out between police and protesters and mounted police officers in full riot gear were deployed People take part in a counter protest against an Abolish Asylum System protest outside the Radisson Hotel in Perth on Saturday Anti-immigration protesters gesture towards counter-activists in Perth while dressed in Union Jacks People demonstrating outside the asylum hotel in Horley Two men draped in Union Jack flags sit on a bench during an anti-immigration protest in Newcastle Stand Up to Racism Scotland said it had achieved 'victory' in Perth, with more than 200 gathering to oppose the Abolish Asylum System demonstration. Perth Against Racism released a statement saying: 'The actions today promoted by far-right groups from within and without Scotland are branded as concern about local communities. 'Everyone has a right to be concerned about housing, about healthcare, about schools, about safety in our communities, but why do migrants come into it? 'They do not control the policies and systems that fail our communities. It's the same old bigotry rebranded as concern about the community.' Before the protest, political leaders on Perth and Kinross Council issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment as a 'council of sanctuary'. It said: 'We defend the right to peaceful protest, but protests targeted at those who in many cases have lost their homes and family members to war does not reflect the compassion, solidarity and fairness our communities are known for. 'That is why we are asking all residents to look beyond the misleading headlines and misinformation and treat those seeking refuge in our area the same way they would hope to be treated.' A sign on the floor reads 'stop the boats get them out' in Newcastle A man waves a Union Jack as abolish Asylum System protesters and counter protests take place at Castle Park in Bristol In Perth, asylum seekers watch and photograph the protests from inside the Radisson Hotel A crowd of anti-immigration protesters waving Union Jacks and England flags outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle Police across Britain are out on the streets in force to police the protests and keep opposing groups separated. Pictured: People take part in a counter protest to a Stand Up To Racism rally outside the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Horley, Surrey Police officers stand guard between rival protest groups in Castle Park, Bristol Protests at a hotel in Aberdeen are due to take place later on Saturday. In Bristol, just a couple of dozen anti-migrant protesters were originally pictured separated by a line of officers from a far larger pro-refugee group. More later arrived and mounted police officers were deployed. Around 200 anti-immigration protesters draped in St George's and Union flags clashed with roughly 50 Stand Up to Racism protesters on Bonehurst Road in Horley, West Sussex. The anti-racism protesters chanted 'say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here' and held signs calling for solidarity and called to 'stop deportations'. They were met with a torrent of abuse from the anti-migration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone 'you're all scum and you should be ashamed' and that 'this wasn't about racism'. The two groups almost came together in the early afternoon, with lines of police separating them. Cops struggled to contain the anti-immigration protesters who chanted 'paedo' as anti-racism protesters were shepherded away. Mounted police officers scuffle with demonstrators during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter protesters at Castle Park in Bristol A man protesting immigration holds a sign reading 'stop the boats' outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle on August 23 A anti-immigration protester wears a t-shirt reading 'keep Britain British' in Newcastle this afternoon Met Police officers were seen speaking to protesters outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, London, on Saturday A protester gesticulates with his hand while speaking to a police officer outside the Britannia International Hotel A heavy police presence remained outside the hotel in Canary Wharf, which has been in the headlines in recent weeks The Stand Up to Racism protesters were guided into a smaller area as they continued to chant 'no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here' which were met with 'no they're f****** not' from the other side of the street. From just after 12pm until around 1.30pm the atmosphere remained tense as officers kept the two groups apart. One man wearing a West Ham United football shirt, was held by the police as he yelled 'you're not welcome here, you're not welcome here, you're not welcome here' going along the line of anti-racism protesters. Officers struggled to keep the groups separated as they tried to move the Stand Up to Racism protesters through the anti-migrant crowd. The anti-racism protesters chanted that refugees were welcome, held signs calling for solidarity and called for 'racist scum' to get off the streets. They were met with a torrent of abuse from the anti-migration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone 'you're all scum and you should be ashamed' and that 'this wasn't about racism'. 'You're being paid, you don't want to be here, you would not be here from your own free will' shouted the man in the West Ham shirt, who accused the anti-racism protesters of being 'bussed in from Brighton'. Later, the anti-immigration protesters sang songs in support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Counter protesters arrive to confront the anti-immigration protest in Mold, Wales A counter protester holds a sign reading 'migrants are welcome no room for hate' in Mold, North Wales Pictured: Counter-protestors in Mold arrive at the anti-immigration protest holding Welsh flags A Stand Up to Racism protester said: 'Not everyone in a hotel is a rapist, I'm not here to defend rapists, I'm here to defend ordinary people. 'F*** the rapists, I'm not here to defend them, none of us are. 'If you're against racism and you're against women being touched we should all be together, because that's what we all believe, that's what I believe.' One anti-immigration protester, wearing a West Ham United shirt, offered his hand out and said that was a 'valid' statement, but a couple of minutes later, he sat on another man's shoulders yelling 'what you're doing is disgusting' at the anti-racism protesters. The Stand Up to Racism protesters continued to chant 'no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here' which was met with calls of 'no they're f****** not' from the other side of the street. There were calls of 'two-tier policing' from anti-immigration protesters who appeared frustrated by attempts to separate them from the anti-racism group. Emma Taylor-Beale, who was protesting for Stand Up to Racism, said she believed the anti-immigration protests were a result of 'people buying into lies'. A far right group campaigning against migrants in the New Bridge Hotel stand off against a counter group defending the refugees Counter-protesters held signs reading 'refugees welcome' in Perth on Saturday Anti-racism groups have warned the ruling sets a 'dangerous precedent', with Stand Up To Racism saying that it will 'embolden the far-Right to call more protests outside hotels housing refugees' She told the PA news agency: 'I've got a heart for anyone who's got a need and our migrant community deserve protection, they deserve dignity, they've been through enough.' Ms Taylor-Beale said she was not surprised at the number of anti-immigration protesters that had turned out to the demonstration, given what she had seen on social media. 'This time last year when we had the riots in the summer, all of us showing support were the massive majority in Brighton and in Crawley, and the far-right were there, but they weren't like the members of the public,' she added. 'This isn't just the far-right, you can't label everyone on that side who's come out as far-right, I think people are buying into lies, they're angry, they're hurt and people have got a reason to be angry right now.' Ms Taylor-Beale argued that economic inequality and the housing crisis were at the root of the divide. Eventually the Stand Up to Racism protesters were escorted back towards Horley train station where their march had begun. Demonstrators have also gathered outside of a migrant hotel in Tamworth, Staffordshire. A man gesticulates while attending a counter-protest in Perth Anti-migrant protesters gather outside the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Horley, Surrey Tamworth Council has said it would look to challenge the use of the Holiday Inn Express in town, which was a focus of violent disorder during the Southport riots last summer. In a statement, it said: 'The situation at Epping Forest represents a potentially important legal precedent, and we are carefully assessing what this might mean for our circumstances here in Tamworth.' In Newcastle, demonstrators have gathered outside the New Bridge Hotel. Newcastle City Council has been in active talks with the Home Office this month to end the use of a city hotel to house asylum seekers, with Newcastle Labour leader Karen Kilgour having called for it to be closed down. Yvette Cooper has warned the asylum system would be plunged into 'chaos' if migrant hotels were forced to close as a result of 'piecemeal court decisions' by councils bringing copycat litigation. Labour has said it plans to end the use of asylum hotels, but that this must be done in an orderly fashion. It comes after a judge ordered the hotel to temporarily shut after Epping Forest District Council argued it was necessary for 'the safety of nearby residents' and to reduce the threat of 'violent protests'. Protesters from an anti-immigration group demonstrate against uncontrolled immigration outside Radisson Hotel Mounted police officers are deployed during a protest by Abolish Asylum System and counter demonstrators at Castle Park in Bristol People holding signs take part in a counter protest against an Abolish Asylum System protest outside the Radisson Hotel in Perth. One sign reads: 'Don't chose hate it's not too late' Meanwhile, police forces were braced for a wave of protests at hotels across the country this weekend as communities seek to replicate the results of Tuesday's High Court ruling. The Home Secretary said: 'We agree with communities across the country that all asylum hotels need to close, including the Bell Hotel, and we are working to do so as swiftly as possible as part of an orderly, planned and sustained programme. 'That is the reason for the Home Office appeal in this case, to ensure that going forward, the closure of all hotels can be done in a properly managed way.' The ruling threatens to collapse Labour's asylum system as protesters take to the streets and councils across the country prepare to hit the Home Office with copycat litigation over the use of hotels in their areas. But anti-racism groups have warned the ruling sets a 'dangerous precedent', with Stand Up To Racism saying that it will 'embolden the far-Right to call more protests outside hotels housing refugees'. Responding to the Government's legal bid, Epping Forest District Council's finance chief Holly Whitbread said the move was 'deeply disappointing'. She said: 'I hope that the Court of Appeal will make the right decision in upholding the decision of the High Court. 'It's not a piecemeal court decision, it's a decision on a planning point.' 'The Government keep churning out the line that they're going to get all the hotels closed by the end of this Parliament. Our community can't afford to wait another four years.' Vendors at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market were shocked after blazes were set in the middle of the night. Victoria Police were called to reports of four small fires at food stalls near the Peel Street end of the market in the city's CBD about 11.10pm on Friday. A member of the public was allegedly threatened by a 38-year-old man with a blowtorch lighter when he tried to put out the flames. No one was injured during the alleged confrontation. Before emergency services reached the popular tourist spot, one fire had ruined a juicer worth $20,000. CCTV footage, published by 7News, showed the man calmly set fire to several storefronts by appearing to hold a lighter to the covers of the stalls. A different member of the public could then be seen putting out one of the blazes using a fire extinguisher. None of the stores were open at the time of the incident, police said. A man allegedly set four stalls on fire in Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market on Friday night The blazes caused thousands of dollars worth of damage, market stall owners said The 38-year-old man has been charged with criminal damage by fire and unlawful assault Police said they were working with security at the market to notify stall owners of the damage. 'Absolutely no idea why anyone would do that to a small business,' one of the affected vendors Sev Ali said. Ms Ali, the owner of the destroyed juicer, said the machine was the 'heart of the business' and that she could not operate without it. Nash Bideci, another stall holder, said: 'Get up at 4am to make a living and then you come to work and this happens. It's shocking.' He said fresh produce worth thousands of dollars would have to be discarded as they were 'not sellable'. Police have charged the 38-year-old man, who has no fixed address, with criminal damage by fire and unlawful assault. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Saturday. This is the shocking moment armed police were captured descending on a pair of armed robbers who tied up a woman and stole 50k worth of jewellery. Ints Dombroskis, 45, and Hugo Ignats, 42, were arrested by officers along the A1 following a horrifying robbery in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, on May 30. CCTV footage captured the two men as they entered PG Jewellery and Collectables, with Dombrovskis seen lifting his mask up and walking towards the shopkeeper with his hand in a black bag, leading her to believe he was holding a gun. Ignants, who entered the shop with a mask covering his face, turned around and locked the door behind him while wielding a long-handled axe. He then proceeded to grab the terrified shopkeeper, aged in her 20s, and tie her hands together with duct tape and a bungee cord, before doing the same to her ankles. Fearing for her life, she recalled being told by Ignants: 'Don't move or I will kill you'. Over the course of a nine minute thieving spree, the two men were captured on camera grabbing watches, rings and necklaces from the display cabinets. The pair, who stuffed the jewels into both black bags and their pockets, laid the axe out on the floor as they raided the store. Ints Dombroskis, 45, and Hugo Ignats, 42, were arrested by officers along the A1 following a horrifying robbery in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, on May 30 CCTV footage captured the two men as they entered PG Jewellery and Collectables, with Dombrovskis seen lifting his mask up and walking towards the shopkeeper with his hand in a black bag, leading her to believe he was holding a gun Ignants then proceeded to grab the terrified shopkeeper, aged in her 20s, and tie her hands together with duct tape and a bungee cord, before doing the same to her ankles. Fearing for her life, she recalled being told by Ignants: 'Don't move or I will kill you' Both Dombroskis and Ignants also stole a mobile phone, bank card and 15 in cash before the quickly fled the scene. Lincolnshire Police said they were first made aware of the horrific incident when a 999 call was made just before 12.20pm. Then, shortly after 12.30pm, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were called following reports of a car on fire on Cranmore Lane, just a four-minute drive from the jewellers. Both number plates and charred clothing were discovered inside of the partially burnt-out silver Vauxhall Astra, with fire fighters believing that the vehicle had been deliberately set alight. Utilising tracking technology, officers were then able to establish that the Astra and a black Honda civic had travelled into the area that day, while the clothes found matched those worn by the offenders. An urgent manhunt was then launched by officers to locate the two men who were believed to have been travelling in the Honda and likely still in possession of a long-handled axe, alongside other weapons. Footage showed armed police as they closely followed the car towards Newark before eventually forcing the vehicle to pull over along the busy stretch of A1 road. Dombrovski was found to be driving the Honda, while Ignats was sat in the rear seat. Over the course of a nine minute thieving spree, the two men were captured on camera grabbing watches, rings and necklaces from the display cabinets. The pair, who stuffed the jewels into both black bags and their pockets, laid the axe out on the floor (pictured) Both number plates and charred clothing were discovered inside of the partially burnt-out silver Vauxhall Astra, with fire fighters believing that the vehicle had been deliberately set alight. An urgent manhunt was then launched by officers to locate the two men Footage showed armed police as they closely followed the car towards Newark before eventually forcing the vehicle to pull over along the busy stretch of A1 road. While the two men were arrested for the offence of robbery, an officer pulled three gold chains out of Ignants pockets Police bodycam footage indicated the sense of urgency as an officer, pointing an armed weapon at the two men, shouted 'armed police come here' and demanded that the thieves 'show me your arms now'. As rows of vehicles sat in standstill traffic, the officer proceeded to tell the men to get on their knees and place their hands on their head. While the two men were placed under arrest for the offence of robbery, an officer is shown pulling three gold chains out of Ignants pockets. Police later discovered two black bags in the car boot containing more stolen goods. Detective Constable Katie Munroe, the Investigating Officer, described being unable 'to comprehend how terrified' the victim must have been during the robbery and praised her for having 'huge courage' on the day of the incident. DC Munroe continued: 'The investigation moved at a fast pace with information of interest coming in quickly, thankfully. The Intelligence Unit played a significant part in identifying the offender's movements. 'The call from the fire fighters was instrumental in joining up more of the dots. The information from the scene gathered by response officers who were first to arrive was crucial. 'Detectives secured evidence including CCTV and completed searches of the vehicles. Detective Constable Katie Munroe, the Investigating Officer, described being unable 'to comprehend how terrified' the victim was and praised her for having 'huge courage' on the day of the incident Ints Dombrovskis (pictured) and Hudo Ignats, both based in Barnsley, were sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on August 22 having plead guilty to robbery Hugo Ignats (pictured) was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison, while Dombrovskis also received a seven year and four month sentence 'The final piece of the jigsaw fell into place when colleagues from armed policing found and arrested the two defendants, safely.' Sergeant Lee Giles, the Operational Firearms Commander on the day, said: 'This was a horrendous crime committed against a completely innocent member of our community merely going about her daily work. 'As soon as my team were aware of this incident we accepted nothing less than getting these offenders in handcuffs. 'Working with officers from Nottinghamshire Police armed response, we did exactly that on the A1 where these two offenders thought they had escaped with the proceeds of their crime. Not on my watch' Ints Dombrovskis and Hudo Ignats, both based in Barnsley, were sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on August 22 having plead guilty to robbery. Both men were sentenced to seven years and four months in prison. Two California parents who claimed their seven-month-old baby was violently abducted by a stranger were seen being hauled away in handcuffs as they were slapped with murder charges. Jake, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, were arrested on Friday for the alleged murder of their son, Emmanuel Haro. Jake was led from the couple's Cabazon home barefoot, while his wife followed dressed in shorts, a t-shirt and sandals. Rebecca kept her head low and avoided eye contact with the camera as she was loaded into the back of a police car. The couple was arrested following a raid on their home and were taken into custody without incident, video released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department showed. They were charged with murder as police believe the kidnapping never happened. 'Based on the evidence, investigators determined a kidnapping in Yucaipa did not occur. It is believed Emmanuel is deceased, and the search to recover his remains is ongoing,' Sheriff Shannon D. Dicus said in a statement. Police raided the home after arriving at the home in tanks and cruisers before taking them at Riverside County jail without bail. Jake, 32, and Rebecca Haro, 41, (pictured) were arrested on Friday for the alleged murder of their son, Emmanuel Haro The couple was arrested after a raid on their home and were taken into custody without incident Officers were seen sifting through garbage at the house while forensic investigators arrived to scour the property for clues. The arrests came after police seized a car belonging to Jake earlier in the week and police analyzed digital and electronic evidence. Rebecca claimed she was attacked from behind in front of a Big 5 retail store in Yucaipa, California, on August 14. She told police she regained consciousness with a black eye and no memory of what had happened and realized her son was gone. But inconsistencies began to emerge in her story, and police grew skeptical of the abduction, changing the case to a missing child instead. Some witnesses said they saw Rebecca with a black eye last week - one day before the alleged attack. When police confronted Rebecca with inconsistencies in her story about Emmanuel's abduction, she refused to continue speaking to investigators. Jake's violent past also came to light. He was convicted of felony willful child cruelty in June 2023 after he was arrested in Hemet, California, on October 12, 2018. He was jailed for 180 days and is still working through his 48 months on probation with a 72-month suspended sentence, according to Riverside County Superior Court records. The parents claimed Emmanuel Haro was abducted during an attack by a stranger Rebecca claimed she was attacked from behind and fell unconscious in front of a Big 5 retail store in Yucaipa on August 14 and awoke to find Emmanuel gone Police raided the home after arriving at the home in tanks and cruisers before taking them at Riverside County jail without bail Multiple people familiar with the crime said his relationship with the child's mother didn't end well and that he beat the child so badly they suffered a brain injury. Jake was due back in court again on September 2, accused of a parole violation that could send him back to prison. He was acquitted last year of illegally owning a gun and ammunition, which he is prohibited from doing as a drug addict and convicted felon. Emmanuel's grandmother claimed police asked the boy's parents to take a lie detector test, but that Jake refused to do so without a lawyer present. Such tests are generally not admissible in court and are not standard police investigation procedure. The grandmother, who previously said she believes the couple is innocent, said a two-year-old child had already been removed from their care. Prior to their arrest, they pleaded with the public to find their child. They were interviewed by KTLA 5 hours after Emmanuel's supposed disappearance, and begged for him to be returned. 'He's a happy boy,' Rebecca said. 'He was a healthy baby, he was crawling, he was kicking, he was playing with his toys. Whoever took our son, please give him back.' She told police she regained consciousness with a black eye and no memory of what had happened, and realized her son was gone Prior to their arrest, the parents (pictured) pleaded with the public to find their child 'Whoever took my son, please return him,' Jake added. 'We just want him back. We won't do anything to you. Just give us our son. Keep him safe, don't hurt him, make sure you feed him and change him.' Friends and family gathered outside the sporting goods store on Friday evening to begin their own search efforts, armed with flyers they had prepared. The Uvalde Foundation for Kids even offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the boy being found, but later yanked it after the parents' story changed and Rebecca stopped talking to police. 'We cannot in good conscience, utilize our team and resources when so much is missing in this case,' it said. 'Of particular concern to us lies within the inconsistencies in the details and the sudden decision by the mother to end communication with law enforcement and our team. 'Tell me, what parent would do that who was missing a child? Something is not right in this whole picture. Police are still searching for the boy's remains. 'The circumstances surrounding this investigation are tragic and we will continue to search for Emmanuel,' Dicus said in a statement. A Canadian teenager died in agony after waiting eight hours for treatment at the hospital despite staff identifying he required urgent care, a lawsuit claims. Finlay van der Werken, 16, died on February 9, 2024, at an Ontario hospital after suffering from sepsis and pneumonia with hypoxia. His family rushed him to the hospital when he began experiencing pain, vomiting, and upper respiratory symptoms, according to the suit, two days before his death. The suit cited a triage assessment performed at 10 pm that cited he was 'moaning and grunting in pain,' but wasn't assessed for another eight hours. Now his parents, Hazel and GJ van der Werken, are suing Halton Healthcare Services, which owns and operates Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, for $1.3 million, claiming that the hospital's alleged negligence contributed to their son's pain, suffering, emotional distress, and ultimately his death. 'Finlays death is an unimaginable tragedy that has raised serious concerns about the care he received and the systems ability to protect children in crisis,' the family's lawyer, Meghan Walker, told Daily Mail. The nightmare chain of events began on the night of February 7 when the teen started crying out in pain, Hazel recalled to local Canadian news outlet CTV. 'And I just remember being terrified that gut feeling that says something's really, really wrong,' she recounted. Finlay van der Werken, 16, died on February 9, 2024, at an Ontario hospital after suffering from sepsis and pneumonia with hypoxia Finlay's family alleged in a lawsuit that the staff at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (pictured) waited too long to provide care to him (file photo) His mother rushed him to the hospital, and a nurse brought a wheelchair to the parking lot to help Finlay around 10 pm. The staff took his vitals, and a doctor ordered Tylenol for Finlay just before 11 pm. It was noted that Finlay had a history of migraines, nausea, vomiting, but no urinary symptoms, according to a report cited in the lawsuit. Hazel notified a nurse around 3 am that her son was struggling to breathe. It wasn't until 6:22 am that a doctor came to assess Finlay, according to the court document. The doctor's assessment noted that Finlay was a chronic migraine sufferer, had developed an upper respiratory tract infection, and was experiencing acute right-sided pain in his chest, neck, and lower abdomen. 'Unfortunately, there have been long wait times overnight. Current wait times are over 10 hours. He had waited 8 hours to be assessed and had some blood work drawn at 0020,' the assessment added. The doctor added that the nursing staff 'had become concerned' about Finlay, noting his pain was increasing and he had an elevated respiratory rate. 'In retrospect his oxygen saturations had been decreasing throughout the morning,' the assessment added. Finlay's condition continued to decline, and the hospital staff intubated him at 11:30 am, the statement of claim reads. 'That was the last time we saw Finlay conscious,' his father recalled. Finlay's mom, Hazel (pictured), said she was 'terrified' and had a 'gut feeling that says something's really, really wrong' when her son was hospitalized Finlay suffered a cardiac arrest and was transferred to another hospital in Toronto, where he was connected to a machine that helps heart and lung function. The teen's organs were infected with a bacterium called Staphylococcal, which instigated the pneumonia, according to his obituary. Finlay's body went into sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when a response to an infection damages tissues and organs. It causes the immune system to overreact and can eventually lead to organ failure. After hours of fighting, doctors informed Finlay's parents that they could continue with life-supporting care, but warned that the teen may be in pain. GJ and Hazel made the heartbreaking decision to 'let him go' and Finlay succumbed to his illness after over a day of being in the hospital. His parents believe that Finlay could've been saved if hospital staff at Oakville had attended to him sooner before the sepsis spread. A year after his tragic death, Finlay's parents embarked on a fight to decrease potentially life-threatening wait times. Hazel and GJ are advocating for the passage of Finlay's Law, which would set a legal maximum standard for minors at the emergency room. His parents have started a petition to call on the local Ontario government to mandate that children receive a physician assessment within two hours and admission within eight hours. The petition also calls for a safe nurse-to-patient and physician-to-patient ratio, independent oversight to investigate pediatric ER deaths, and increased funding. Finlay's parents, Hazel and GJ, were forced to make the unimaginable decision to end his life support after his severe medical emergency Finlay's parents have launched a petition to call on the Ontario government to enhance safeguards and decrease wait times for pediatric emergency room visits Dr. Cheryl Williams, EVP Clinical Operations and Chief Nursing Executive, said in a statement to Daily Mail that Halton Healthcare extends its deepest condolences to Finlay's family. The statement added that although the healthcare group doesn't comment on individual patient cases, they are implementing measures to improve patient care including, an Emergency Department Working group, the Length of Stay committee, and a new command center. 'At Halton Healthcare, we are deeply committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve across all three of our hospitals,' Williams said. 'Our Emergency Departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are staffed by dedicated teams of physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to care for patients. 'Like many hospitals, we are seeing more patients presenting with increasingly complex health conditions and co-morbidities, often requiring longer stays and more intensive care. 'This places significant demand on our emergency departments, patient flow, bed availability and the patient experience.' The family's lawyer told Daily Mail that they are calling for a coroner's inquest and 'urgent reforms to pediatric emergency care'. 'Finlays Law is about making sure no other family is ever put through what he has endured,' Walker added. Scotland's struggling police service shelled out more than 500,000 in the last three years to battle the scourge of rats and other pests. The extraordinary bill comes as hundreds of Scottish police stations are in dire need of upgrading. New research from the Scottish Conservatives shows that spending on pest control by Police Scotland has increased every year since 2022. In 2024 alone, stations called in pest control to battle infestations of rats, bed bugs, maggots, fleas, flies, and ants. Govan Police Station had one of the top five highest spends on pest control in Scotland between 2022 and 2024, spending over 13,000 to remove rats, ants, and birds. Newton House Station in Ayr also had one of the highest spends, spending more than 12,000 in the same time period on removing rats, ants, and birds, despite only opening in 2023 to replace the old King Street Station. Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP said: It is appalling that hard-working police officers and staff are being forced to work in ageing buildings infested with rats and insects. Pests such as rats, ants, and birds have had to be removed from Scottish police stations Scottish Tory, Liam Kerr MSP, said the SNP had treated the police with 'shameful neglect' These shocking figures are just the latest example of the SNPs shameful neglect of Police Scotland and its estate. The SNP have continued to ignore warnings about Scotlands crumbling police estate and have left officers and staff working in these stations to face the consequences. The job of a police officer is hard enough the least they deserve is to be able to return to a facility which is safe and clean. This spiralling spend on pest control should be a wake-up call for the SNP about the reality of the impact of their brutal cuts and the need to finally guarantee funding to make the police estate fit for this day and age. It comes as 183 police stations require repairs in Scotland as of mid-July. Additionally, 177 have asbestos. In 2023 it emerged a number of police buildings had been built with collapse-prone concrete. The cost of removing it from Police Scotlands Fettes building, in Edinburgh, was estimated at a massive 4million. Meanwhile a total of 140 police stations and almost 100 police counters closed between 2013 and 2023. In March, the chair of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, warned Ministers of policing deserts in some areas. David Threadgold said station closures and stress on serving officers had left an almost invisible policing presence, providing an utterly reactive service. Latest pest control figures show that Police Scotland spent 533,675.57 on pest control in police stations between January 2022 and July 2025. The costs increased year on year from 134,399.60 in 2022, to 149,389.14 in 2023, to 163,073.72 in 2024. Already this year, 86,813.11 has been spent. A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: 'Necessary repairs and investment have been made over the years to ensure our buildings have met health and safety requirements. 'As part of our estates masterplan we are undertaking a 10-year programme to create a modern, fit for purpose estate. The masterplan will make long term tangible improvements to our estate for the benefit of our officers, staff and communities.' Resplendent in the famous Caledonian MacBrayne livery and proudly sporting both the Saltire and the Turkish flags, the MV Lochmor slipped quietly into the clear, warm waters of the Sea of Marmara on Saturday. The completion of the third out of four Scottish ferries outsourced to Turkey for construction is news sure to gladden the heart of islanders, many of whom will benefit from the vessel. The ferry along with sister vessel, MV Claymore, will provide a two-vessel service to the Outer Hebrides, including routes between Uig on Skye, Tarbert and Lochmaddy. However - launched on time - MV Lochmors fast completion stands in stark contrast to the slow pace of the SNPs Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow, which was nationalised in 2019. There, two vital CalMac ferries for the Arran service, the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa, have been dogged by years of delays and spiralling costs. SNP ministers signed off the purchase of the two boats for the West Coast in 2015 for 97 million, yet when the Glen Sannox was launched by Nicola Sturgeon to great fanfare in 2017, the ship had painted-on windows and only entered service earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Glen Rosa is set to arrive eight years behind schedule, with the total cost for the vessels passing 460 million. MV Lochmor was launched on Saturday by the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Turkey Scottish-built ferry MV Glen Sannox had painted on windows at its launch in 2017 Amid the chaos, island boat contracts were handed to the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Turkey. The first of the vessels, the MV Isle of Islay, was launched in March last year, followed by MV Loch Indaal last June after astonishingly fast work from Turkish labourers. In 2023, a 115 million contract for two further ferries of the same design as Islay and Indaal for the Little Minch route was also awarded to Cemre. MV Lochmor was the first to launch of that second order of boats. The final boat, MV Claymore, is also due to be launched this year. Following its first outing on Saturday, MV Lochmor will now undergo more outfitting plus sea trials and is scheduled to arrive in Scotland in 2026. Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: Im delighted to see the successful launch of the MV Lochmor, which marks another significant milestone in our efforts to renew the ferry fleet serving the Clyde and Hebrides network. Glen Rosa is due to be launched next year, but was meant to be complete eight years ago The Scottish Government is committed to investing in our ferry services, and the MV Lochmor, along with the MV Claymore and significant port improvements, will deliver our goal of a two-vessel service connecting Uig, Tarbert and Lochmaddy, improving capacity, frequency and resilience for Harris and North Uist. I look forward to the MV Lochmor arriving in Scottish waters and entering service for the communities reliant on the Little Minch routes. Kevin Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer at CMAL, said: Its great to see another successful launch at Cemre, with the third of four vessels launched in 17 months. The communities to be served by these vessels will notice a significant improvement in capacity and reliability when MV Lochmor comes into service next year, and even more so when her sister vessel, MV Claymore, joins her a few months later. Duncan Mackison, Chief Executive Officer of CalMac, said: With the uplift in capacity and reliability MV Lochmor and MV Claymore will bring, communities and businesses in Skye, Harris and North Uist will prosper with these new vessels in service. The vessel is one of 12 scheduled to join the fleet by 2029 and the regular arrival of new tonnage, starting with MV Isle of Islay later this year, will help us to deliver network-wide service improvements. Six students have drowned and 24 have been injured during a school trip to an Egyptian beach. Paramedics rushed to the beach in Alexandria, the country's second largest city, after reports that the students were struggling in the water, Egypt's health ministry has confirmed. But six people were pronounced dead at Abu Talat Beach, a popular tourist spot, despite a large rescue effort by 16 ambulances. At least 24 people were injured with three students treated on the beach and a further 21 taken to hospital. Thirteen were taken to Agamy Specialised Hospital, with another eight treated at Amriya General Hospital. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, said that all emergency treatment is being made available to the students and he is closely monitoring the emergency response and the medical care being provided. Authorities in Alexandria have since ordered the closure of the beach. Red warning flags have been put up across the area to warn the public against entering the sea because of dangerous wave conditions and strong currents. Six students have drowned and 24 have been injured during a school trip to an Egyptian beach Six people were pronounced dead at Abu Talat Beach, a popular tourist beach, despite a large rescue effort by 16 ambulances Thirteen were taken to Agamy Specialised Hospital, with another eight treated at Amriya General Hospital An investigation is now underway, and officials are examining whether proper safety measures were in place. The tragic incident comes just months after six tourists died when a submarine sunk in the Red Sea. All six who died were Russian, while 39 tourists were miraculously rescued. The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, had been carrying 45 international passengers, including children, at the time of the sinking, which took place off the marina of the Sindbad Club Hotel, in the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada. Meanwhile, at least eleven people died when a boat carrying 30 tourists, including Brits, drowned in the Red Sea in November. The boat, the Sea Story, had left a port near Marsa Alm for a five day diving trip, with 44 people on board - including 13 crew. Three Brits also died after a fire on a dive boat off the coast of Marsa Alam in the Egyptian Red Sea in June 2023. Israel has launched fresh airstrikes on Gaza as it prepares to seize the city after branding a declaration of a famine an 'outright lie'. At least 25 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes and shootings in Gaza, with over half of the victims sheltering in tents when they died while others were seeking food from aid providers, officials have said. It comes after a United Nations-backed report declared famine in Gaza City on Friday. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Report said starvation in the Strip 'is present and rapidly spreading'. It also warned that the situation was 'entirely man-made' and that in the absence of a ceasefire to allow in aid, 'avoidable deaths will increase exponentially'. However, Israel hit out at the findings - with Benjamin Netanyahu describing them as an 'outright lie' and insisting that since October 2023 Israel has 'enabled two million tons of aid to enter the Gaza strip, over one ton of aid per person.' Now, fresh strikes have been launched as Israel presses ahead with its preparations to seize Gaza City. At least 14 people were killed by strikes in the southern Gaza strips in the early hours of Saturday, according to both morgue reports and health officials at Nasser Hospital. At least 25 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes and shootings in Gaza, with over half of the victims sheltering in tents when they died while others were seeking food from aid providers, officials have said. Pictured: smoke rises following a strike in Gaza City o It comes after a United Nations-backed report declared famine in Gaza City on Friday. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Report said starvation in the Strip 'is present and rapidly spreading' At least 14 people were killed by strikes in the southern Gaza strips in the early hours of Saturday. Officials said that the strikes targeted tents that were sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis Officials said that the strikes targeted tents that were sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, home to hundreds of thousands of individuals who had fled from elsewhere in Gaza. More than half of those killed were women and children. Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed at least five aid-seekers on Saturday near the Zikim crossing with Israel, where the UN and other agencies' convoys enter the enclave, health officials at the Sheikh Radwan field hospital said. An additional six people were killed in other attacks across Gaza on Saturday, according to hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to questions about the deaths. While the findings of the UN backed-report were condemned by Foreign Secretary David Lammy as 'utterly horrifying', Israel denied all accusations against it. Its Foreign Ministry claimed the IPC had 'forged' a famine by 'lowering the bar' when it came to classifying a famine. The IDF also dismissed the figures that 87 per cent of Gazans it has killed were civilians, saying they were 'not only false but also reflect a lack of military understanding'. Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed at least five aid-seekers on Saturday near the Zikim crossing (pictured) with Israel, where the UN and other agencies' convoys enter the enclave. An additional six people were killed in other attacks across Gaza on Saturday Israel denied all accusations against it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) insisted that since October 2023 Israel has 'enabled two million tons of aid to enter the Gaza strip, over one ton of aid per person' Responding to the 59-page Famine Review Committee report published yesterday, David Lammy (pictured) said: 'The confirmation of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighbourhood is utterly horrifying and is wholly preventable In order for a famine to be declared, the IPC has three criteria: at least 20 per cent of households face an extreme lack of food, at least 30 per cent of children suffer acute malnutrition and two people for every 10,000 die each day because of 'outright starvation'. The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticised the IPC for declaring a famine due to 15 per cent of children suffering acute malnutrition, rather than the traditional 30 per cent rate. But the IPC report said it uses the 30 per cent rate when determining malnutrition by measuring a child's height and weight, but due to a lack of data it used arm circumference measurements, which only requires a 15 per cent threshold. Responding to the 59-page Famine Review Committee report published yesterday, Mr Lammy said: 'The confirmation of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighbourhood is utterly horrifying and is wholly preventable. 'The Israeli government's refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe. This is a moral outrage.' He called on Israel to 'immediately act to stop the situation deteriorating any further' and allow aid, food and medical supplies in. On Friday, Israel's defence minister warned that 'the gates of hell will soon open up' on Hamas if it does not accept a peace deal on the country's terms. In a post on X, Israel Katz said: 'Soon the gates of hell will open for the murderers and rapists of Hamas in Gaza, until they accept the conditions set by Israel for ending the war.' Fresh strikes have been launched as Israel presses ahead with its preparations to seize Gaza City. With ground troops already active in strategic areas, the widescale operation in Gaza City could start within days. Pictured: the damage of collapsed buildings in Gaza City The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticised the IPC for declaring a famine due to 15 per cent of children suffering acute malnutrition, rather than the traditional 30 per cent rate. But the IPC report said it uses the 30 per cent rate when determining malnutrition On Friday, Israel's defence minister Israel Katz (pictured) warned that 'the gates of hell will soon open up' on Hamas if it does not accept a peace deal on the country's terms. He added: 'If they do not accept, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah or Beit Hanoun' He added: 'If they do not accept, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah or Beit Hanoun.' With ground troops already active in strategic areas, the widescale operation in Gaza City could start within days. Aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF) said on Saturday that its clinics around Gaza City are seeing high numbers of patients as people flee recent bombardments. In a statement, the group declared that 'strikes are forcing people, including MSF staff, to flee their homes once again, and we are seeing displacement across Gaza City.' The Israeli military has said troops are operating on the outskirts of Gaza City and in the city's Zeitoun area. Aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF) said on Saturday that its clinics around Gaza City are seeing high numbers of patients as people flee recent bombardments. In a statement, the group declared that 'strikes are forcing people, including MSF staff, to flee their homes Hamas on Monday said it had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal put together by mediators from Qatar and Egypt. In that deal, half of the hostages would be released. Eighteen bodies of hostages who have died would also be released, under the proposal. Although Israel previously accepted a similar framework, Netanyahu has recently taken a harder line and has not accepted the offer. He says there will be no halt to the fighting unless all 50 captives are released at once and Hamas gives up its weapons. Netanyahu has also insisted on a list of conditions for ending the war, including the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarisation of Gaza, full Israeli security control, and a new governing authority that is not Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. New Yorkers could soon be sharing the road with driverless cars after Mayor Eric Adams signed off on a new pilot program that will allow autonomous vehicles to be tested in some of the city's busiest neighborhoods. The initiative, announced Friday, gives tech giant Waymo the green light to deploy eight self-driving cars across Brooklyn and Manhattan through late September. Each vehicle will have a so-called 'safety specialist' behind the wheel as a precaution. The cars will operate below 112th Street in Manhattan and in a swath of Brooklyn stretching from Brooklyn Heights to DUMBO and Downtown, bounded by Atlantic Avenue and Carlton Street. A company representative confirmed that the fleet was already on the streets as of Friday. However, it has been met with a backlash from locals and transport experts alike who raised concerns about the vehicle's use in one of the world's busiest cities. Adams pitched the move as part of his pledge to make New York a leader in transportation technology. 'We're a tech-friendly administration and we're always looking for innovative ways to move our city forward safely,' he said, calling the launch 'the first step in moving our city further into the 21st century'. Mayor Eric Adams has approved the first-ever pilot program allowing self-driving cars on the busy streets of Manhattan and Brooklyn Eight Waymo vehicles will be tested through September with safety 'specialists' sitting behind the wheel as backup Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez added that the vehicles would be subject to what he called 'the nation's strictest' safety requirements, stressing that the focus would remain on protecting pedestrians and cyclists. Not everyone is on board. The Transport Workers Union blasted the scheme as reckless, warning that autonomous vehicles could clog emergency routes, cost human drivers their livelihoods, and put profits for 'big tech bros' ahead of public safety. 'New York is unlike any other city - the sheer volume of people, bikes, and cars makes our streets uniquely unpredictable,' said union vice president Curtis Tate. 'Pedestrians in Manhattan don't follow rules - they cross when and where they want. These vehicles aren't built to handle that.' Former mayor Bill de Blasio also weighed in, declaring on X that, 'if there's one place on Earth that was NOT meant for self-driving cars, it's NYC'. Union president John Samuelsen accused Waymo of harboring ambitions to 'replace rideshare drivers, taxi drivers and transit workers with robots'. Waymo, a subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet, insists its record proves otherwise, pointing to years of testing in other major U.S. cities. Critics warn New Yorks chaotic streets, packed with pedestrians and cyclists, are far too unpredictable for driverless cars Waymo insists its vehicles have a proven safety record from trials in other U.S. cities including San Francisco and Phoenix The firm called its vehicles 'life-saving technology' and said it is committed to working closely with New York officials. Under the terms of the program, the company must submit data to the city, meet regularly with transportation officials, and follow cybersecurity best practices. After the initial run ends in September, Waymo may apply to extend the trial. For now, traditional cabbies and rideshare drivers have little to fear - autonomous vehicles are still banned from operating as for-hire cars under New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission rules. The Pope has praised Keir Starmer's 35billion deal to surrender the Chagos Island to Mauritius as a 'significant victory' repaired a 'grave injustice'. Pope Leo XIV met at the Vatican with a delegation of refugees from Chagos some 2,000 of whom who were evicted from their homes by the contested Indian Ocean archipelago. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer agreed to the controversial giveaway of Britain's territory in the Indian Ocean by the end of the year. The Prime Minister claimed the deal, which will cost 35billion, was necessary to secure a vital Anglo-American military base there. Britain is set to then lease back the Diego Garcia military base, which was constructed by the UK in the 1970s, and then used by both UK and US forces. However, opponents previously insisted there was no need to cede sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius, an ally of China. Leo, the first American Pope, met with refugees evicted from there homes by Britain in the 1960s and 1970s so the naval and bomber base could be built. Displaced islanders fought for years in UK courts for their right to go return home, and on Saturday, the Pontiff told refugees he was 'delighted' that the treaty had been reached. The Pope has praised Keir Starmer 's 35billion deal to surrender the Chagos Island to Mauritius as a 'significant victory' repaired a 'grave injustice' Pope Leo XIV met at the Vatican with a delegation of refugees from Chagos some 2,000 of whom who were evicted from their homes by the contested Indian Ocean archipelago. Britain is set to then lease back the Diego Garcia military base, which was constructed by the UK in the 1970s, and then used by both UK and US forces He said the deal represented a 'significant victory' in their long battle to 'repair a grave injustice'. He said in French: 'The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and a powerful symbol on the international stage: all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, in particular the right to live on their land; and no-one can force them into exile.' He also added that he hoped Mauritian authorities would commit to ensuring their return, as well as pledging the help of the local Catholic Church. Responding to the Pope's remarks, Mark Francois, the Tory shadow Armed Forces minister told The Telegraph: 'With great respect to the Holy Father, as I understand it the Vatican are not proposing to cover the 35bn cost to rent back islands and a vital strategic base, which already belong to us in the first place. 'That absurd cost would fall squarely on UK taxpayers, irrespective of their religion.' Under the agreement, the UK will pay Mauritius an average of 101 million a year to lease back the base for just under a century. It establishes a trust fund to benefit the Chagossians and says 'Mauritius is free to implement a program of resettlement' on the islands other than Diego Garcia. But it does not require the residents to be resettled, and some displaced islanders fear it will be even harder to return to their place of birth after Mauritius takes control. Philippe Sands, an international lawyer representing Chagossians, said the Pontiff's words were hugely important and 'offered clear support for the urgent return of Chagossians to the islands from which they were deported'. Leo, the first American Pope, met with refugees evicted from there homes by Britain in the 1960s and 1970s so the naval and bomber base could be built He said the deal represented a 'significant victory' in their long battle to 'repair a grave injustice' He also added that he hoped Mauritian authorities would commit to ensuring their return, as well as pledging the help of the local Catholic Church The Prime Minister claimed the deal, which will cost 35billion, was necessary to secure a vital Anglo-American military base there Mauritius had long contested the UK's claim to the archipelago, and the United Nations and its top court had urged Britain to return the Chagos to Mauritius, 1,250 miles south-west of the islands. Sir Starmer's controversial decision to hand over the Chagos Islands was heavily criticised by both Reform and the Conservatives, who dubbed it an 'act of national self-harm'. In May, the Prime Minister originally claimed it would cost the UK 3.4billion to give Mauritius the islands - ten times less than the government's own predicted cost of 35billion, according to documents obtained via the Freedom of Information act. According to The Telegraph, Downing Street have continued to defend its plans to give Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, while also contend against the figures. In a non-binding 2019 opinion, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK had unlawfully carved up Mauritius when it agreed to end colonial rule in the late 1960s. The late Pope Francis visited Mauritius in 2019 and met a group of Chagossians at the Vatican in 2023. Francis told reporters en route home from Mauritius in 2019 that the UK should obey the UN and return the islands to Mauritius. New York police are tracking down potential drug dealers as part of their investigation into the tragic death a of designer on a yacht in the Hamptons. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, 33, who was originally from Ireland but lived in Manhattan, was discovered unconscious on a vessel at Montauk Yacht Club in the early hours of August 5. Her body was found near a powdery white substance inside the yacht, police sources told the New York Post. And now police are searching for the potential drug dealers while they wait for the official toxicology report, insiders told the outlet. '[These dealers] may or may not have known [they were selling] poison to this girl, but that doesnt matter,' one source said. 'With higher profile cases like this poor girl in Montauk, youre going to see more and more of these dealers getting locked up.' If her toxicology reports comes back positive for drug usage, the dealers could face manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide charges, police sources said. Federal authorities could also become involved. Legislators have introduced 'Chelsey's Law,' which would give prosecutors the ability to add on drug-induced manslaughter and homicide chargers onto dealers. The bill is currently in a state committee assembly and has not been passed into law. It is named after Chelsey Murray, a 31-year-old who died after using fentanyl-laced heroin in August 2022 on Long Island. Her dealer, Jaquan Casserly, was sentenced to 10 years for felony drug sale. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, 33, who was originally from Ireland but lived in Manhattan, was discovered unconscious on a vessel at Montauk Yacht Club in the early hours of August 5 Her body was found near a powdery white substance inside the yacht, police sources said Nolan-O'Slatarra's family is working with police, their lawyer said. 'At this point, we are all cooperating with the authorities and allowing them to continue their investigation,' the family's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, told Daily Mail. The night before she died, the self-made entrepreneur is understood to have headed to the luxury Montauk Yacht Club to speak with 60-year-old insurance mogul, Christopher Durnan. But the evening ended in horro,r when the American businessman dashed down the dock naked around midnight screaming for help and indicating that Martha had passed out. Bystanders dialed 911 and clambered on board the boat named Ripple to try and perform CPR on the bikini designer, but she was declared dead at the scene by first responders. US detectives have said an initial post-mortem examination 'did not show evidence of violence and her final cause of death is pending further investigation'. The grief-stricken family of the fashion founder travelled from Ireland to the US to demand a second-opinion autopsy into her cause of death. The final post-mortem report, which will include toxicological, histological and other testing, which will take at least three months to conclude. Police are searching for the potential drug dealers while they wait for the official toxicology report The night before she died, the self-made entrepreneur is understood to have headed to the luxury Montauk Yacht Club to speak with 60-year-old insurance mogul, Christopher Durnan Durnan (pictured) had dashed down the dock naked around midnight screaming for help and indicating that Martha had passed out Martha had spoken to her boyfriend - who was out of town when the tragedy unfolded - just hours before she died, assuring him she was going to book an Uber and would be home at around 1 am. It is understood that the designer and 34-year-old sales exec Nicholas DiRubio had been staying in the Montauk area for the summer. The fashion entrepreneur lived an enviable life in Manhattan's Upper East Side, posting TikToks of herself sipping champagne, taking private jets and trips on helicopters with her boyfriend, who the Irish Independent said she planned to marry. She had finalized her uncontested divorce from ex-husband Sam Ryan in April, according to court documents filed in New York Supreme Court. Ambitious from a young age, she studied commerce at University College Dublin before completing a master's in digital marketing from the Smurfit Graduate School of Business. 'Carlow is a small town, I was the small-town girl who needed to get out to achieve her big dreams,' Martha said in an interview with the Irish Independent last year. 'I always knew I wanted to be successful, that I was money-driven, business-driven and that fashion is a tough industry and it would be a slow road.' She worked in Ireland until 2015 before moving to the US, where she founded several companies, including fashion accessories brand Duper and luxury swimwear label East x East. The small boats migrant who raped a 15-year-old girl after claiming asylum in Britain had lived as a tourist in THREE European cities before arriving in the UK. Sadeq Nikzad, 29, travelled 4,000 miles from his native Afghanistan to reach the UK and seek asylum around two years before the attack. Yet a Daily Mail investigation reveals how he travelled through at least THREE safe countries and lived happily as a tourist before arriving in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, where he attacked the schoolgirl yards from his migrant hostel. He was jailed for nine years for rape. The attack sent shockwaves across Scotland and prompted the countrys first angry protests against asylum hotels. Extraordinary images suggest Nikzads trip through Italy, Germany and France before arriving on British soil was more of a luxury tourist adventure rather than a fight to flee persecution or danger. The social media images show the migrant posing gleefully outside some of the worlds most famous landmarks, including Romes Colosseum, Cologne Cathedral, as he made his way to the UK to claim refuge. One picture shows him sporting a North Face puffa jacket, worth more than 300, and smiling in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris as the sun sets. The migrant was sent to The Cladhan Hotel, Falkirk, which holds about 50 other refugees Another shows that upon arriving in the UK by small boat, he stopped off at a shopping centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire, where he duly uploaded a post of him wearing a three-piece linen suit. Chillingly, his flamboyant social media posts have been met by encouragement from friends and family at home, who left comments reading: Good job and God bless. In June, Nikzad was sentenced to nine years behind bars for rape at the High Court in Livingston and will serve a further three years on licence. His lawyer claimed he had not been educated about the significant cultural differences between the UK and Afghanistan, where child marriage is prevalent. New details of the rapists luxurious journey to the UK have prompted fresh concerns about Britains embattled asylum system. It comes after it was last week revealed a record 111,000 migrants have sought asylum in the UK since Keir Starmer won power, with the highest number ever now staying in Scots hotels. The migrant shows off a three-piece linen suit after taking a small boat from France to the UK Nikzad's brutal rape of a 15-year-old in Falkirk has sparked protests from the local community Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: Keir Starmers loss of border control is also a public safety crisis, especially for women and girls. He said: This is a sickening case of an illegal immigrant from Afghanistan raping a 15 year-old-girl, and then trying to blame his appalling crime on cultural differences. He added: It is especially galling that he travelled through multiple obviously safe countries where he could easily have claimed asylum if he really needed to. Men with Afghan nationality are around 20 times more likely to commit sex offences, so this case is tragically not an isolated one. This appalling man arrived illegally by small boat - and this year so far has seen the highest ever number of arrivals, who are mainly men aged under 40. Chairman of Migration Watch Alp Mehmet said: The immigration and asylum system is shattered beyond repair. It must be replaced quickly with one that protects our girls and women from lying scumbags like Nikzad. And Scottish Tory community safety spokeswoman Sharon Dowey said: People will be appalled at how this now convicted rapist was able to brazenly make his way illegally across Europe. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said it was a 'sickening case' and said the UK was in crisis Chairman of Migration Watch Alp Mehmet said Britain's migration system was 'shattered' They will also be sickened by these images of him enjoying himself at world-renowned tourist attractions before coming into the UK. Nikzads native Afghanistan was the second highest country of origin for UK asylum claims in the year ending June 2025. Since October 2021, 33,970 Afghans have claimed asylum here. To be eligible for asylum, the Home Office states: You must have left your country and be unable to go back because you fear persecution. It last week confirmed there are currently 6,107 people bidding for refugee status in Scotland, double the number a decade ago, with 1,573 in Scotland-based taxpayer-funded hotels. Afghanistan, which was taken over by the Taliban in 2021, has been dogged by conflict, humanitarian crises and economic challenges. Nikzad was jailed for rape in June this year after attacking a Scottish girl in October, 2023 The migrant, pictured at Cologne mosque, shared his journey across Europe to the UK Yet an image uploaded to Nikzads Instagram page in April 2020 appears to show he had great admiration for the country, as he is pictured standing amid the mountains, wearing traditional dress with his hands raised to the sky. Seven months later, it appears his journey to the UK had begun, after he shared a snap of him more than 3,000 miles away in Europe, outside the Royal Palace of Turin, Italy. On November 24 of 2020, he then shared a photo of him posing in jeans and a puffa coat outside the Colosseum in Rome. Between that time and the autumn of 2021 Nikzad uploaded a raft of other pictures taken at spots around Italy wearing smart clothes such as Nike trainers and Nike tracksuits. He enjoyed boat trips in the sun, and even went to Sicily for a period, the social media images show. By 2021, it appears he had inched closer to the UK, by travelling north to Cologne in Germany. One image shows him standing proudly outside the famous Cologne Cathedral, wearing his North Face coat, Nike trainers and shades. In another, outside the Cologne Central Mosque, he wore leather loafers and skinny jeans. Sporting Doc Marten shoes and a North Face cap, Nikzad poses outside Montereau station in Marseille, France Globetrotter Nikzad is snapped overlooking the Eiffel Tower in Paris as the sun sets He is then believed to have tracked through to France, where he visited Marseilles in the South and onto Paris. There, he visited the famous shopping street, the Champs Elysees, sharing a picture of himself which showed a lit-up Arc de Triomphe in the distance. Nikzad also took a number of pictures of himself in front of the Eiffel Tower - one, on the banks of the Seine, the other from a vantage point high up over the city. According to the High Court in Livingston, Nikzad entered the UK illegally on a small boat. His intention was to settle here as an asylum seeker with access to taxpayer-funded accommodation, benefits and NHS healthcare. He is believed to have stayed in England for a period, as an image uploaded in December 2022 shows the migrant posing in a three piece suit in Basingstoke, Hampshire, inside the Festival Place shopping centre. Images suggest he was later housed by The Home Office in The Cladhan Hotel, in Falkirk. He updated his social media followers with a number of images of him lounging in the establishments plush leather chairs and taking-in the town. His and other asylum seekers presence in the area went largely unnoticed until in October 2023, when Nikzad approached a 15-year-old girl near a local pub and proceeded to brutally rape her in broad daylight. After taking a small boat across The Channel, Nikzad is pictured shopping in Hampshire He was convicted of rape by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh after they heard how he went up to the girl and asked for her phone number and whether she had a boyfriend. He made sexual remarks towards the underage youngster before leading her to the rear of The Courtyard pub and attacking her. Nikzads defence counsel Janice Green told an earlier hearing that her client had not been educated about the significant cultural differences between the UK and Afghanistan. She highlighted the cultural barrier between his home country and Scotland in the sense that child marriage was prevalent in Afghanistan and said: In particular in poorer regions in the north child marriages are nearly 50 per cent. She said Nikzad had lived in various locations in the UK since the age of 25 and had applied for asylum, but his claim had lapsed since his remand in custody. Passing sentence, Judge Morris KC told the accused: I appreciate that you dont accept that youve done anything wrong but the fact remains that youve been convicted of an extremely serious sexual offence against a child and I know your counsel has now explained to you that in those circumstances only a substantial custodial sentence is appropriate. Nikzad's crimes have shaken the local Falkirk community, sparking protests outside the hotel Residents say people have a legitimate right to know who is being housed in their area The Judge was forced to hurriedly leave the bench as Nikzad, screaming and gesticulating wildly, repeatedly shouted that he was a liar before being led to the cells. Nikzad will serve nine years in custody followed by three years on licence, go on the sex offenders register and at the end of his sentence, be deported. Angry protests in Falkirk around The Cladhan asylum hotel saw another suspected resident, Saif Aref Ageed, 23, arrested and charged with intentionally exposing himself in a sexual manner to another person, with the intention that the other person will see them, without that persons consent on August 16. He was also charged with coercing someone into being present during a sexual activity between June 1 and August 16 at the same hotel. Ageed was released on bail and the case was continued without plea until September 12. Connor Graham of Falkirk protest organisers Save Our Future and Our Kids Future last night said: The case of Sadeq Nikzad, who brutally raped a 15-year-old girl in Falkirk, shows exactly why local communities are so concerned. People deserve to know who is being housed in their area, especially when those placed there include individuals with such serious criminal backgrounds. Our call is simple transparency, safety, and putting our communities and children first. A Home Office spokeswoman said: While it is our longstanding policy not to comment on individual cases, any foreign national who commits sexual offences against children in our country will face the full force of the law and be deported at the earliest opportunity. Thanks to the new reforms we are introducing in our Border Security Bill, any asylum claims those offenders make will also be automatically denied. Angela Rayner has moved to block Sadiq Khan's chances of return to Parliament by 'blocking him from running as MP while mayor'. The Deputy Prime Minister has put forward a Bill that would prevent anyone from serving simultaneously as London mayor and a Member of Parliament. The legislation effectively closes off Sir Sadiq Khan's most direct path back to Westminster, limiting his chances of returning to the Commons before the next general election. A spokesperson for Ms Rayner's department said the measure, which would also apply to mayors in other cities, is designed to ensure officeholders can 'focus on' their local responsibilities. Boris Johnson famously held both roles, using the mayoralty as a springboard to the Tory leadership, and Sir Sadiq's career had followed a comparable trajectory, fuelling speculation he might attempt the same. The English Devolution Bill now blocks that route, amending the Greater London Authority Act of 1999, which established both the mayoralty and the London Assembly. Under the proposed law, 'a person is disqualified from being the mayor if the person is an elected member of a legislature in the United Kingdom.' The Deputy Prime Minister has put forward a Bill that would prevent anyone from serving simultaneously as London mayor and a Member of Parliament The legislation effectively closes off Sir Sadiq Khan's most direct path back to Westminster, limiting his chances of returning to the Commons before the next general election A Tory strategist told The Telegraph: 'Fresh out of trying to do in Wes Streeting, yet again Angela Rayner is on manoeuvres, knifing potential leadership rivals. 'She should focus on delivering for Britain rather than on her petty party political squabbles. Yet again it's party first, country last.' Sir Sadiq is now in the middle of his third term as Mayor of London, which many observers believe will be his last, after securing re-election in May. He first entered Parliament in 2005 as Labour MP for Tooting, a role he held until taking the mayoralty in 2016. As one of the party's most prominent figures, he has frequently been linked to the Labour leadership, though he has repeatedly downplayed any ambitions. Last year, he insisted he had 'no interest at all to be a Labour leader or the next Labour leader' and 'no ambitions to go back to the Commons'. At the time, he was campaigning for another term as mayor, and it is not unusual for politicians to publicly deny leadership intentions while keeping options open. Had he moved back to Parliament after his mayoralty, Sir Sadiq's career path would have closely resembled that of Boris Johnson. Sir Sadiq is now in the middle of his third term as Mayor of London, which many observers believe will be his last, after securing re-election in May Had he moved back to Parliament after his mayoralty, Sir Sadiq's career path would have closely resembled that of Boris Johnson, pictured launching Boris Bikes whilst he was Mayor of London Mr Johnson also began his political career in Parliament, winning the Henley seat in Oxfordshire in 2001 and representing it for seven years. He left the Commons after securing the London mayoralty in 2008, winning re-election in 2012, before returning to Parliament in 2015 as MP for Uxbridge while still serving as mayor. His high profile helped him campaign for Leave in the Brexit referendum, and he later used the platform to become foreign secretary under Theresa May and ultimately win the Tory leadership. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has recently been accused of employing a different tactic against potential rivals, notably Wes Streeting. In new legislation, she plans to reopen an electoral loophole that could favour pro-Gaza candidates, including those linked to Jeremy Corbyn's new party, by scrapping a ban preventing organisations from registering simultaneously as a campaign group and a political party. The move could put Mr Streeting at risk, as he won his seat by just 500 votes over a pro-Palestine opponent in the last election. Ms Rayner herself has been repeatedly linked to a future Labour leadership bid, with speculation intensifying after details of a leaked tax memo were reported by The Telegraph. A spokesman for her department told the Mail: 'It is already the case that mayors who are police and crime commissioners cannot also serve as MPs, and these changes will make this consistent for all mayors so that they can focus on what is a significant role at the forefront of delivering change.' The Daily Mail approached the Mayor of London for comment. Rescuers involved in trying to save a woman stuck 22,000ft up a mountain with a broken leg now fear she may have died, after the latest search mission was called off after ten days due to bad weather. Russian mountaineer Natalia, also known as Natasha, Nagovitsina, 47, has been trapped at 22,965ft on Victory Peak in Kyrgyzstan, with a summit height of 24,406ft. Nagovitsina, who is a well-known mountaineer, was reportedly seen moving on drone footage as recently as three days ago. She was injured on August 12, when her climbing partner helped her as best they could before returning further down the mountain to get help. But since then temperatures have sunk to minus 23C and multiple rescue attempts have ended in the tragic death of one rescuer. Italian climber Luca Sinigaglia, 49, was one of those who attempted to rescue her and managed to deliver a sleeping bag, tent, food, water and a gas cooker to Nagovitsina. But repeated efforts to bring her down failed, both by climbing and using a helicopter. Matters escalated after Sinigaglia himself then died on the mountain from prolonged exposure to low oxygen and hypothermia. Russian mountaineer Natalia, also known as Natasha, Nagovitsina, 47, has been trapped at 22,965ft on Victory Peak in Kyrgyzstan, with a summit height of 24,406ft Drone footage filmed four days ago showed clear movement from the sleeping bag she has been sheltering in Nagovitsina went viral in 2021 after she refused to leave her husband Sergei (right), after he suffered a stroke at 22,000ft Now Eduard Kubatov, head of the Kyrgyz Mountaineering Federation, has said that it is 'highly likely' that Nagovitsina is no longer alive. 'Due to severe weather conditions, climbers cannot get to Nagovitsyna,' he told the BBC. 'She has been at an altitude of seven thousand meters for more than nine days. This is practically incompatible with normal life, because at this altitude the body begins to die by 10% daily due to exhaustion and loss of strength.' On Saturday, a final effort to climb to Nagovitsina was abandoned just 3,600ft below where she is stuck, with the weather set to worsen, as the team were ordered to return to base camp. Previous attempts involved two separate helicopters, including a defence ministry Mi-8 helicopter which crashed as it sought to rescue her. Another helicopter, a Mi-17VM, was sent, but zero visibility again forced rescuers to abandon the attempt. Dmitry Grekov, rescue leader and head of base camp at Victory Peak, said that experienced mountaineer Vitaly Akimov had led a team seeking to climb to Nagovitsina. But the crew was forced to turn around when started suffering back pain from the helicopter crash and the mission was abandoned. Sinigagli, who had also been on the helicopter, was hailed a hero on social media after news of his death reached base camp. 'I turned the whole group around, there were four of them,' said Grekov. Asked if Nagovitsina was still alive, he admitted he did not know but said: 'I think not, because she has been there since 12 August - count how much time has passed. Today a final effort to climb to Nagovitsina was abandoned just 3,600ft below where Nagovitsina is stuck, with the weather set to worsen, as the team were ordered to return to base The Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the rescue mission has been called off 'It is unrealistic. It is unrealistic to survive at such an altitude.' The Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the rescue mission had been called off. Nagovitsina shot to fame four years ago when she refused orders to leave her husband alone on another mountain after he suffered a stroke at 22,638ft. He died on the mountain, but she somehow managed to survive the incident in 2021. Her radio conversion with base camp went viral as she refused to leave husband Sergei Nagovitsin on the mountain, close to the borders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. 'He can't sit up, falls on his side, his speech is confused,' she told rescuers. 'Natasha, you need to go down yourself. You won't be able to help him in any way. Do you understand me? Over.' She replied: 'I understand everything, but I will not leave him alone.' Previous rescue efforts for the climber failed due to bad weather The team later told her: 'You need to go down, Natasha, the weather is getting worse, it's almost night.' 'I won't leave my husband, he's completely helpless, I'm giving him something to drink.' 'So, your decision is to spend the night next to him?' 'Yes.' Rescuers eventually reached the pair and two men tried to move Sergey while she went down. But they could not go far, and secured him with ropes, and left all their warm clothing and food, before cutting a route further down the mountain, to get more help. When they were able to return, he was nowhere to be found. A report on the incident ruled: 'Most likely in delirium he broke out of ropes and crashed to his death. His body has never been found. 'A year later Natalia once again went to Khan Tengri to install a plaque in memory of her husband. 'But no one in the new group had any idea what this courageous woman had lived through on that summit a year earlier a woman who showed the whole world what love and self-sacrifice mean.' His body was never found. Furious residents near Joshua Tree National Park have filed a lawsuit to stop a sprawling luxury 'glamping' resort from being built just a half-mile their quiet desert community. The Ofland Hotel, approved in July by Twentynine Palms city council, would sprawl across 152 acres and feature 100 units hosting up to 400 guests, pools, splash pads, a spa, a restaurant, and even an outdoor movie theater with ambient music. Developers call it eco-friendly, but critics say the city signed off without conducting the full environmental review state law requires. Residents say the development would pose a threat to the wealth of wildlife in the area including endangered desert tortoises, burrowing owls and American badgers. On Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity and Indian Cove Neighbors took the city to court the Los Angeles Times reports, accusing officials of violating the California Environmental Quality Act by fast-tracking the resort. 'A full environmental impact report is required when there's any substantial evidence that a project may result in significant impacts,' said Meredith Stevenson, an attorney with the Center. 'Here we have a lot of substantial evidence that Ofland will cause serious harm to the environment in so many different ways.' The lawsuit claims the city failed to consider how traffic, greenhouse gas emissions and construction would impact sensitive animals in a critical wildlife corridor that links the national park to undeveloped land. Angry locals have launched a lawsuit to block a massive luxury 'glamping' resort planned just half a mile from Joshua Tree National Park Pictured: Renderings of what the glamp sites would look like Local bakery owner Travis Poston said his Indian Cove home has been a rare sanctuary from the grind of running a small business. He now fears that peace is under threat. 'This corridor is critical it's how species move between Joshua Tree National Park and open land to the north,' Stevenson explained. 'We're talking about desert tortoises, burrowing owls, American badgers, bobcats, even potentially mountain lions. Vehicle strikes, habitat loss, light and noise pollution all of it would affect the species that rely on this passage.' It also alleges the city provided only 20 days for public comment instead of the legally required 30. 'Public participation is what makes CEQA so important,' Stevenson said. 'By cutting the comment period from 30 days to 20, the city took away the community's voice in this process.' Residents who live near the project site say they aren't opposed to growth, just to 'reckless' development. 'We moved to Twentynine Palms because it borders one of the most beautiful national parks in the country,' said John Talley-Jones. 'I know I'm not the only one who values the open space and daily visits by wildlife - even the rattlesnakes, tarantulas and scorpions. I welcome growth, but it has to respect what makes this place special. When projects touch the park's buffer zone or wildlife corridors, we need strict review.' His neighbor Tonya Jones added: 'This is about more than opposing a single development. It is about honoring the natural harmony of this desert community, where people and the environment are deeply connected.' Cindy Bernard, who has personally seen tortoises emerge from burrows on her property, told the LA Times that the council failed to protect the very creatures the desert is known for. 'The same noise and light issues that might disrupt our ability to see the night sky or enjoy the quiet will also affect the wildlife here. We're not against this project. We're against it here.' Local bakery owner Travis Poston said his Indian Cove home has been a rare sanctuary from the grind of running a small business. He now fears that peace is under threat. The Center for Biological Diversity has sued the city, arguing the resort will harm endangered species and pollute the desert air Locals fear the project will disrupt endangered desert tortoises, burrowing owls, and other wildlife that roam the high desert He warned that allowing a commercial resort in a residential neighborhood could open the floodgates to more development. John Talley-Jones says he values the open space and daily visits from desert wildlife even rattlesnakes and tarantulas - and fears the resort would destroy what makes Twentynine Palms special Tonya Jones insists the fight is about more than one resort, calling it a battle to preserve the 'natural harmony' between residents and the fragile desert environment 'If this goes in, what's next?' Poston told the LA Times. 'The whole area is on the chopping block at this point.' But City manager Stone James, who also lives in Indian Cove, insisted the project will bring jobs and badly needed revenue to an area with a higher poverty rate than the state average. He dismissed the legal challenge, describing complaints about the lack of a full environmental impact report as 'a ruse' to the LA Times. 'We have a project that's consistent with the core identity of our community, a conservation-based project that would allow people to come in[to] our community in a respectful manner and enjoy the beauty of Twentynine Palms, enjoy the beauty of the national park, visit the artists and people who are starting businesses in our downtown, and we're going to say no to that?' he said. But residents pushed back. 'There are no wealthy elites in the Morongo Basin,' Bernard told the LA Times, adding that most members of the community rely on a fixed income. Ofland Hotels, the Las Vegas-based firm behind the proposal, says it was drawn to the desert for its 'natural beauty' and 'unique culture'. 'The hotel buildings will be single-story to protect views and located at least 500 feet from neighboring properties to mitigate noise,' Luke Searcy, head of development, told the LA Times. He added the resort will pursue a Dark Sky International certificate to curb light pollution. But the lawsuit argues that even with those promises, the project will spill light across the desert, undermining stargazing in Joshua Tree National Park - an official International Dark Sky Park. The Center for Biological Diversity has sued the city, arguing the resort will harm endangered species and pollute the desert air (Pictured: Houses in the desert of Twentynine Palms) Critics warn the 'eco-resort' will bring traffic, noise, and light pollution to what is now a quiet residential area (Pictured: A sign for an inn in Twentynine Palms with the town in the background) Developers promise 100 cabins, pools, a spa, and even an outdoor movie theater in what they call a conservation-minded project (Pictured: 29 Palms Street Sign) The Ofland Hotel would be the company's biggest project yet. Las Vegas-based Ofland Hotels already operates an outdoor boutique resort in Escalante, Utah, and has another planned near the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Developers say they intend to break ground in early 2027, with 42 acres built out for cabins and amenities and the remaining 110 acres reserved as 'open space.' But conservationists argue that label is misleading, since the land would still hold internal roads and a wastewater treatment plant - both of which, they warn, could expose wildlife to pollution and increase the risk of animals being struck by vehicles. City officials signed off last month using what's known as a 'mitigated negative declaration,' a streamlined approval process under California law that avoids a full environmental review if impacts are deemed minor or easily reduced. Critics insist the harms here are anything but minor. The lawsuit goes further, alleging the rezoning that allowed the resort also broke state housing law by slashing the potential for 61 residential units on the site. The lawsuit goes further, alleging the rezoning that allowed the resort also broke state housing law by slashing the potential for 61 residential units on the site. 'Under California's Housing Crisis Act, the city can't just wipe out residential capacity without replacing it,' Stevenson said. 'Rezoning the site to commercial and open space eliminated 61 units really almost 200 when you factor in accessory dwelling units and the city failed to rezone another parcel at the same time to make up for that loss. That's a violation of state law.' 'We're asking the court to rescind the city's approvals,' she added. 'A good outcome would be forcing a full environmental impact report, because that requires much more thorough analysis and mitigation. But we're also open to changes that could reduce the impacts on wildlife and the community.' Daily Mail has contacted the city and Ofland Developments for comment. Three men have been charged with rape after a teenage girl was allegedly drugged and attacked in a park. A fourth man, who was arrested on suspicion of administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence, has been released on bail pending further investigations. Police were called to Fishponds Park in Surbiton, south-west London, just before 7.15am on Thursday morning to reports a 17-year-girl had been raped. Forensic teams were seen combing the area throughout the day - with officers establishing a crime scene in the park. The Met Police said three men have since been charged with rape and they appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning. They are Vladas Rupeika, 35, from Epsom, Nerijus Venckus, 36, from Surbiton and Peter Hoppe, 41, from Tolworth. Rupeika has been charged with rape, Venckus has been charged with rape and assault by penetration, and Hoppe has been charged with oral rape. All three suspects have been remanded in custody. Police were called just before 7.15am on Thursday morning to Fishponds Park (pictured) in Surbiton, south-west London A spokesperson for the Met Police said today: 'Three men have been charged following allegations of rape and sexual assault in Fishponds Park, Surbiton. 'Police were called at 7.13am on Thursday, August 21 after reports a 17-year-old girl had been raped and sexually assaulted at Fishponds Park, Surbiton. 'Vladas Rupeika, 35, of Epsom was charged with rape on Friday, August 22. He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 23 and has been remanded into custody. 'Nerijus Venckus, 36, of Surbiton was charged with rape and assault by penetration on Friday, August 22. He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 23 and has been remanded into custody. 'Peter Hoppe, 41, of Tolworth was charged with oral rape on Friday, August 22. 'He appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 23 and has been remanded into custody. 'A 24-year-old man was arrested for suspicion of sexual assault and administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence on Thursday, August 21. 'At this time he has been released under investigation pending further enquiries. 'The victim and her family continue to be supported by specialist officers. 'Local residents can expect to see an increase of patrols in the area. Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting CAD1207/21AUG.' Cracker Barrel's decision to remove a beloved businessman from its logo has sparked fury across the United States. The company announced earlier this week it would remove the likeness of Uncle Herschel, the real-life relative of the brand's founder Dan Evins, from its iconic signage. In the old emblem, Herschel was shown sitting on a wooden chair in front of the eponymous barrel. But he is notably absent from the new logo, which features just the text of the brand name in a yellow hexagon. The change is being keenly felt by fans of the restaurant, who knew Herschel as a 'goodwill ambassador to the public', per the company website. His story resonated with the American public, as a flour salesman for 32 years who traveled across the South to general stores to make his living. 'After his retirement, Herschel brought the long-standing tradition of being a good neighbor to each and every Cracker Barrel store,' the company said. 'He spent most of his working life bringing forth the important yet simple message of what makes a business successful that people should be treated just as we would have them treat us. He was known throughout Cracker Barrel for his genuine sincerity.' The company announced earlier this week that they would remove the likeness of Uncle Herschel, seen here, the uncle of brand founder Dan Evins, from their logo Herschel was shown sitting on a wooden chair in front of the eponymous barrel, the new logo features just the text of the brand name in a yellow hexagon The rebrand has sparked a firestorm of opposition online, reopening a new front in the culture wars over legacy brands changing images. An announcement decreed the new logo is, 'Anchored in Cracker Barrels signature gold and brown tones'. It added that its logo is 'now rooted even more closely to the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all.' According to Cracker Barrel, this latest look marks the brand's 'fifth evolution' of its logo to date. It was unveiled as part of a campaign from the company called 'All the More,' which also advertises some new fall menu items. As people raged online, the company's share price tanked, wiping tens of millions of dollars from its value. President Donald Trump's son Donald Jr even waded in on the controversy, taking to X to demand to know, 'WTF is wrong with Cracker barrel'. He quoted a post by the 'Woke War Room' that claimed the chain had 'scrapped a beloved American aesthetic and replaced it with sterile, soulless branding.' In a statement to the Associated Press, the company said: 'Our values havent changed, and the heart and soul of Cracker Barrel haven't changed.' It added that Uncle Herschel 'remains front and center in our restaurants and on our menu,' as he represents 'The Herschel Way'. According to the company 'The Herschel Way' is 'the foundation of how our 70,000 plus employees provide the country hospitality for which we are known.' The new Cracker Barrel logo is seen in a restaurant after it was unveiled earlier this week As backlash against the old-timey restaurant spread, President and CEO Julie Masino went on Good Morning America to defend the rebrand. She told the outlet: 'People like what we're doing. Cracker Barrel needs to feel like the Cracker Barrel for today and for tomorrow. 'The things that you love are still there. We need people to choose us, and we want people to choose us.' She added that the top question Florida-based managers asked her during a recent meeting was 'How can I get a remodel, when can I get a remodel and how do I get on the list?' President and CEO Julie Masino has become a target for those outraged over the change The new Cracker Barrel logo is displayed on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in New York As the rebrand was revealed the stock price started to fall Yet Daily Mail has revealed that workers took aim at Masino over slashing working hours and lowering food quality. Staff vented over what they describe as poor management at the highest level of the company by airing their grievances on the employment review site Glass Door. A crew member in Minnesota posted: 'To the CEO Julie Masino, stop cutting our hours. 'We are making less pay for more work when we are understaffed because you suck at bringing this dead company from its grave. 'Stop lowering your food quality. No it is NOT a good idea to force your cooks to serve bacon that is over a day old. Bacon shouldn't be saved overnight, believe it or not.' One worker, who claims they are an Associate Manager at a branch in South Carolina, posted: 'New leadership is driving the company down. 'There is now nothing that makes Cracker Barrel any different from every other below-average restaurant chain.' The company has yet to respond to the statements made by staff. A keffiyeh-wearing man was arrested in San Francisco after allegedly threatening to stab Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as a mob ambushed them. Adrian Guerrero, who is a US citizen, was arrested after slashing a tire of a government vehicle and threatening to stab a law enforcement officer, Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement. He allegedly told officers: 'Im going to f**k you up,' and 'Im going to go after your family,' and 'Im going to stab you.' Officers found a knife and orange goggles on him while arresting him. He was charged with assault and destruction of federal property. Guerrero was among the roughly 20 people who were protesting against a targeted immigration raid at 100 Montgomery Street. Rioters allegedly pepper-sprayed agents and jammed one person's finger, DHS said. 'Our brave ICE law enforcement are now facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them as they risk their lives to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,' Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. Adrian Guerrero, who is a US citizen, was arrested after slashing a tire of a government vehicle and threatening to stab a law enforcement officer, Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement Officers said they found a knife and orange goggles on him while arresting him. He was charged with assault and destruction of federal property Guerrero was among the roughly 20 people who were protesting against a targeted immigration raid at 100 Montgomery Street 'These acts of violence are fueled by sanctuary politicians' rhetoric vilifying our law enforcement. We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down.' Last week, a Colombian migrant influencer, who documented immigration raids on social media, was arrested by ICE while livestreaming. Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez was filming inside her Tesla when she was detained by ICE officers in Los Angeles. She shrieked 'no, no, no' repeatedly and cried 'wait, wait,' in Spanish as agents ordered her out of the car. Onlookers tried to interfere with the arrest, with one person towing away a government vehicle, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Martinez, who has over 40,000 followers on TikTok, grew her following while posting videos about immigration raids and anti-ICE protests around California. The embattled CEO of Cracker Barrel has been accused by workers of slashing working hours and reducing food quality, Daily Mail can exclusively reveal, as she faces calls for her resignation over a disastrous rebrand. The chain debuted a new logo for the first time in 48 years earlier this week, sparking outrage among customers and wiping millions off the company stock price, which shed almost $100 million in market value on Thursday. President and CEO Julie Masino, who earns $1 million a year, has become a target for those outraged over the change. Staff have vented over what they describe as poor management at the highest level of the company by airing their grievances on the employment review site Glass Door. A crew member in Minnesota posted: 'To the CEO Julie Masino, stop cutting our hours. 'We are making less pay for more work when we are understaffed because you suck at bringing this dead company from its grave. 'Stop lowering your food quality. No it is NOT a good idea to force your cooks to serve bacon that is over a day old. Bacon shouldn't be saved overnight, believe it or not.' One worker, who claims they are an Associate Manager at a branch in South Carolina, posted: 'New leadership is driving the company down. 'There is now nothing that makes Cracker Barrel any different from every other below-average restaurant chain.' President and CEO Julie Masino has become a target for those outraged over the change A Cracker Barrel sign featuring the old logo hangs on the outside of a restaurant on August 21, 2025 in Homestead, Florida A general manager at a restaurant in Maumee, Ohio, added: 'Poor management and untraditional employee relations all the way up to the corporate level.' Daily Mail has approached the company for comment on the allegations made by the employees. The new, simplified logo features just the text of the brand name in a rounded-off yellow hexagon after the firm ditched its legendary mascot Uncle Herschel. President Donald Trump's son Donald J. took to X to demand to know 'WTF is wrong with Cracker barrel,' quoting a post by the 'Woke War Room' account. The post had claimed the chain had 'scrapped a beloved American aesthetic and replaced it with sterile, soulless branding.' One X user added: 'I am boycotting Cracker Barrel until they change the logo back and fire the CEO.' Another posted: 'Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino should face charges for this crime against humanity.' 'This Cracker Barrel remodel/rebrand is one of the most upsetting things I've seen in a long time. Literally everyone I know is in shock.' The new Cracker Barrel logo is seen in a restaurant after it was unveiled earlier this week Widespread anger erupted on social media over the move to rebrand the company As the rebrand was revealed the stock price started to fall Fellow chain Steak 'n' Shake even released a statement saying: 'Sometimes, people want to change things just to put their own personality on things. 'At CB, their goal is to just delete the personality altogether. Hence, the elimination of the 'old-timer' from the signage. 'Heritage is what got Cracker Barrel this far, and now the CEO wants to just scrape it all away. 'At Steak n Shake, we take pride in our history, our families, and American values. We will never market ourselves away from our past in a cheap effort to gain the approval of trend seekers.' As the toxic response started to roll out earlier this week, Masino went on Good Morning America and defended the move. The furor over the rebranding is the latest to engulf corporate America after Jaguar also suffered a similar backlash She told the outlet: 'People like what we're doing. Cracker Barrel needs to feel like the Cracker Barrel for today and for tomorrow. 'The things that you love are still there. We need people to choose us, and we want people to choose us.' She added that the top question Florida-based managers asked her during a recent meeting was 'How can I get a remodel, when can I get a remodel and how do I get on the list?.' One angered social media user slammed her remarks on GMA as being 'delusional', writing: 'Julie Masino has destroyed the brand. 'Literally, how long until the board removes her as CEO? Not only has she destroyed the brand, she is delusional in saying that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Clearly, it is not.' The furor is just the latest to engulf the corporate world after the British carmaker Jaguar drew howls of indignation from customers when it rebranded and removed its iconic 'leaping cat' emblem. Some have also likened the move to Bud Light after a similar fiasco happened for the beer company when they ran a disastrous campaign with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. A fire at a restaurant in north-east London was like a 'Halloween scene', a local businessman has said, after CCTV footage appeared to show a man running out of the building with his clothing on fire. Three people are in a life-threatening condition after the suspected arson attack at Indian Aroma in Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill, Ilford, at about 9pm on Friday. CCTV footage seen by the PA news agency appears to show a group of people with their faces covered walk into the restaurant before pouring liquid on to the floor. Seconds later, the inside of the restaurant is engulfed in flames. Part of the ground floor was damaged by fire, and crews rescued five people from the restaurant. Nine others got out beforehand, London Fire Brigade said. Sayed Bokhari, 39, said he had spoken to the manager of the restaurant, adding: 'He was crying. He was very shocked. He was really crying. He was extremely scared.' Mr Bokhari said: 'It's awful and it's very scary.' 'It looked like a scene from Halloween. It was a serious, dramatic thing and people were running around him,' he said, referring to the injured man. Mr Bokhari, who has run a business in the area for 15 years, said: 'It is scary because we run retail stores which are welcoming customers in. A fire at a restaurant in north-east London was like a ' Halloween scene', a local businessman has said CCTV footage appeared to show a man running out of the building with his clothing on fire Three people are in a life-threatening condition after the suspected arson attack at Indian Aroma in Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill, Ilford, at about 9pm on Friday 'The doors are open like the doors of your house. We cannot body check everyone to see if they are safe. There is only so much that high street security can do. 'It is scary. You are worried for people. You are worried about your business. 'London is not such a fun place any more.' Five people - three women and two men - were injured in the incident. They were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital, where they remain. Three of the five are in a life-threatening condition, the Metropolitan Police added. No arrests have been made. The cause of the blaze is being investigated by firefighters and the Met. One local resident described the aftermath of the suspected arson attack. Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford, at about 9pm on Friday CCTV footage showed the moment the restaurant, Indian Aroma, was set on fire in the suspected arson attack The cause of the blaze is being investigated by firefighters and the Metropolitan Police Hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, stepped outside his nearby home with his 12-year-old son to see if he could help after hearing screaming. The police and ambulance were already at the scene, which Mr Thawe described as 'horrible' and 'more than scary and the sort of thing that you don't want to look at twice'. He said he thought one man who was on the street and a woman who was also outside may have been customers. Mr Thawe added that the man's 'whole body was burnt', including his shirt, but he was still wearing his trousers. Another Ilford resident, who did not want to give his name, said he went outside after hearing screaming and the sound of sirens in the street. He said he saw three injured people being doused by the emergency services. He said they were 'severely burned' and he saw they were being given oxygen. He added: 'I can only imagine the pain they were going through.' 'I came down because there were so many police and ambulance sirens and when I open the doors there were lots of lights flashing and I could see the scene. On Saturday forensics officers were seen gathering evidence as a police cordon remained in place A cordon remains in place after five people were left injured by the blaze and were taken to hospital (Pictured: Police officers respond on Friday night) Police officers search the area on Woodford Avenue in Ilford outside the Indian restaurant on Saturday Police officers and forensic experts speak at the crime scene on Saturday morning, as three people fight for their lives in hospital Met Police officers stand guard outside the restaurant as investigatons continue 'I could not sleep properly last night over it. It was just absolutely horrible situation.' Uniformed officers guarded the police cordon that was in place on Saturday as forensic officers in protective clothing examined the scene. The taped cordon stretched from outside the shop, which faces on to a busy main road and on to the pavement. A trail of what appeared to be bloody footprints along the pavement was spotted by a forensic officer. A number of items were also bagged up in clear plastic carriers. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met's Central Specialist Crime North unit, said: 'We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together. 'Locals can expect to see a large police presence in the area. If you have any concerns, please speak to those officers on the ground.' Anyone with information is urged to contact the Met on 101, quoting 7559/22AUG. If you wish to remain anonymous, speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. The cause of the blaze is being investigated by firefighters and the Metropolitan Police. The Republican-controlled legislature in Texas passed a redrawn congressional map that heavily favors the GOP going into the midterm elections in 2026. The redistricting bill, which could hand Republicans five more seats in the House of Representatives next year, now heads to Governor Greg Abbott's desk. The move has sent Democrats spiraling and vowing to fight the redistricting by redrawing boundaries in their own states. Abbott said in a statement Saturday morning that he would 'swiftly' pass the piece of legislation. He's expected to sign it sometime next week. 'The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law,' Abbott said. 'I promised we would get this done, and delivered on that promise. I thank Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for leading the passage in the Senate of a bill that ensures our maps reflect Texans voting preferences,' his statement continued. Patrick also won praise from President Donald Trump, who like Abbott, heavily pushed for redistricting in Texas, even though such efforts are usually only done every ten years after the US Census is released. 'Dan Patrick is a terrific and powerful Lieutenant Governor for the Great State of Texas, a place I truly love,' Trump wrote Saturday afternoon on Truth Social. 'Dans leadership was pivotal in the passage of the new, fair, and much improved, Congressional Map, that will give the wonderful people of Texas the tremendous opportunity to elect 5 new MAGA Republicans in the 2026 Midterm Elections A HUGE VICTORY for our America First Agenda,' Trump continued. Governor Greg Abbott is expected to approve a new congressional map that could hand Republicans five more seats sometime next week Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (pictured on the floor of the Texas State Senate chamber on August 22) led the effort to pass the redistricting bill, drawing praise from Abbott and President Donald Trump Patrick is a long-time ally of Trump, serving as Texas chair for Trump's presidential campaigns in 2016, 2020 and 2024. The Texas Senate approving the new congressional map officially snuffed out the left-wing resistance to the effort, which saw around 50 Democratic House members fleeing the state for 15 days. This put the bill in limbo since the Texas House needs 100 out of 150 members present to achieve quorum. Enough Democrats returned on August 18 to pave the way for the map to pass the legislature, although Democrats in other states are already planning to retaliate with maps that help their chances. California just passed its own redrawn districts, a legislative effort led by Governor Gavin Newsom that hopes to give Democrats a five-seat boost. 'Were responding to what occurred in Texas,' Newsom said Thursday before signing the trio of redistricting bills. 'Were neutralizing what occurred, and were giving the American people a fair chance, because when all things are equal, were all playing by the same rules.' One hurdle Newsom still has to overcome is the fact that in 2010 Californians voted to place the power of drawing congressional maps with an independent commission. Implementing Newsom's maps will require voters to approve a constitutional amendment overriding the commission's district lines. Pictured: Protestors chant slogans outside the Texas Capitol in Austin as they criticize the GOP-led redistricting effort in the state Governor Gavin Newsom, hoping to offset Texas gaining five seats in Congress, signed a trio of bills on Thursday that aim to give Democrats in California five additional seats as well Trump is gearing up for the midterm elections in 2026 and wants Republicans to have a better chance. The White House is looking to states such as Missouri, Florida, Indiana and South Carolina where Republicans have total control to add more favorable GOP districts Democratic governors in Illinois, Maryland and New York have also suggested they could be open to redrawing their maps to add more Democratic-leaning districts. 'Game on,' New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on X Wednesday after the Texas House passed its new maps. The White House, in turn, is looking to states such as Missouri, Florida, Indiana and South Carolina where Republicans have total control over the state governments to add more favorable GOP districts. The Trump administration also sees an opportunity with Ohio, which has a state law requiring the legislature to redraw maps this year. This fight, which is increasingly spilling over into many states, is seen by both parties as crucial in winning the midterms. The opposing party to the newly elected president typically does well in midterm elections. This is something Trump is aware of since it happened to him in 2018 when Democrats picked up a whopping 40 seats in the House, giving them a majority. This led to Trump's agenda being stymied and allowed Democrats to pursue two impeachments against him, something he is anxious to avoid in 2026. Angela Rayner has added an 800,000 seaside apartment to her burgeoning property empire at a time when her department is cracking down on second-home owners. The Housing Secretary's new 'holiday home' in Hove is in addition to the 650,000 house she owns in her constituency and a three-bedroom grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House prompting the Tories last night to demand that she 'come clean' about her council tax arrangements. It comes as Ms Rayner's department has started allowing town halls to levy an extra 100 per cent council tax charge on second homes. The measure, inherited from the last Tory government, is in response to complaints that locals are being frozen out of the housing market in popular tourist destinations such as Hove. The Cabinet minister became known as 'Two Homes Rayner' last year after The Mail On Sunday revealed that she had shuttled between two right-to-buy council properties early in her marriage. It was claimed that she rented out her house while living in her then husband's property. It also coincides with moves by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to hit the middle classes with new property taxes in the autumn Budget. As part of the Treasury's desperate effort to balance the books, Ms Rayner is considering plans to increase council tax bills in affluent areas by 380 per year to divert funds to deprived parts of the country. Last week, the Deputy Prime Minister was pictured drinking a giant glass of rose on the beach by her new property, wrapped in a pink and camouflage Dryrobe. Angela Rayner has added an 800,000 seaside apartment to her burgeoning property empire The deputy PM Angela Rayner seen drinking wine on Hove beach at 6pm Tuesday evening The light and airy apartment's large living room boasts sweeping views of Hove's seafront Neighbours who said Ms Rayner had purchased the three-bedroom flat in May for use as a holiday home have spotted her strolling around the area with her on-off partner, Sam Tarry. When she entered the Government, Ms Rayner designated her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency home as her 'primary residence', and her pre-Admiralty home a rented London flat as her second home. That allowed her to claim back the 1,621 council tax bill on the London flat from the taxpayer as one of the housing costs reimbursed by Commons authorities. She has declined to say if she is still designating Ashton as her primary residence. If she is, then the 2,034 council tax bill for Admiralty House doubles to a whopping 4,068 if classed as a second home. The Brighton property is Band D, meaning it attracts a basic 2,455 bill for two people or 1,841 for single occupancy which also doubles if it is classed as a second home. Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly accused Ms Rayner of refusing to answer Parliamentary questions about her living arrangements. 'Angela Rayner is responsible for housing policy, yet she won't even be straight about her own,' he said. Image shows the living room in Angela Rayner's new property Ms Rayner is seen arriving in Downing Street to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting in London on July 1 Pictured: One of the bedrooms in Angela Rayner's new home Pictured: The kitchen of Rayner's latest acquisition featuring white cupboards and sleek black surface tops Homes 1 & 2...not bad for a council house girl Angela Rayner's clamber up the property ladder started when she bought her former council house in Stockport, Greater Manchester, with a 25 per cent discount in 2007, selling it for a 48,500 profit in 2015. She faced a police investigation after The Mail on Sunday reported that she remained listed on the electoral roll at this property for the five years after she married Mark Rayner in 2010 who was listed a mile away at another former council house, which Ms Rayner then moved into. In May 2023 she paid 650,000 for a four-bedroom house in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, which she has retained. At the end of last year, she moved into the three-bedroom, three-bathroom, taxpayer-funded Admiralty House, which used to be home to Winston Churchill and was where another Labour Deputy PM, John 'Two Jags' Prescott, conducted secret assignations with his lover Tracey Temple. Advertisement 'Time and again she's been asked to declare exactly what properties she owns and where she pays council tax, and time and again she's dodged those questions. 'We've done everything possible to get answers, but she still refuses to come clean. 'That matters, because this is the same Deputy Prime Minister who's hiked taxes on family homes across the country. 'If she's not prepared to be open about her own affairs while taxing everyone else, the public will wonder what she has to hide.' Ms Rayner's large, airy flat is located on the second floor of an elegant Victorian terrace that leads down to the beach and is made up of two flats converted into one. It has its own balcony and sash windows that look out onto the sea and a neatly maintained green. One resident said: 'Everybody knows Angela has moved into our block. I've seen her recently and she was sipping a coffee while leaving the building with her entourage. 'She's got the biggest and nicest flat in the block and appears to be using it as a holiday home for short breaks because she's not there very often. 'It's a fantastic flat that has great views of the sea.' Another neighbour said: 'She has her own security team but they don't make a big fuss and you wouldn't notice them. 'She's only at the flat on the odd weekend and most of the time doesn't appear to stay for very long.' At the end of last year, Ms Rayner moved into a three-bedroom grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House (pictured) - which used to be home to Winston Churchill In May 2023, Ms Rayner paid 650,000 for a four-bedroom house in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency (pictured) Her new apartment's large living room boasts a spacious living area and a small chandelier Ms Rayner made her relationship with Mr Tarry official in March by declaring him as her partner in the Register of Ministers' Interests. Mr Tarry, a former adviser to Jeremy Corbyn, was at the centre of controversy when it was revealed in 2016 that he was working as a councillor in London's East End, despite living with his then wife in Brighton. Last week, the MoS reported that she had been accused of using national security laws to disguise the fact that she has the choice of three bathrooms in her taxpayer-funded grace-and-favour home. Her officials refused to answer a Parliamentary question about her London residence in Admiralty House 'for security and operational reasons'. However, the Tories discovered through Freedom of Information laws that she enjoys the use of three bedrooms and three bathrooms. A source close to Ms Rayner said: 'Angela's work means that she's often had to be in and around London for over a decade now,but had always rented a flat for that purpose.' Stunning sea views, chilled rose on the beach and Fatboy Slim as a neighbour. Deputy PM's charmed life in oh-so-hip Hove By Ian Gallagher, Chief Reporter TO some onlookers, there was something a bit Hollywood diva-ish about Angela Rayner's seaside frolics. Consider the little tableau that played out last Monday. The Deputy Prime Minister emerges from the sea after an early evening dip and is promptly helped into an expensive robe to dry off. Next, she's handed a glass of chilled rose. Friends (and possibly a bodyguard or two) cluster around her on the beach as her laughter cuts above the soft hiss of gently lapping waves. California summer vibes. Not a bad life, eh? This, though, wasn't Malibu or Santa Monica but somewhere locals insist is trendier still. But what attracted this honest-to-goodness Northern lass to the hip, upmarket town of Hove on the South Coast rather than uncool Blackpool, the nearest major seaside town to her constituency? After all, as she likes to remind us, she's a woman of the people. At first it seemed Angela was simply on holiday. Nothing wrong with that. As she once said after she was pictured raving in Ibiza: 'I won't apologise for taking a day off.' But we now know that the Deputy PM who is also Housing Secretary has added another home to her property portfolio: an 800,000 apartment overlooking the sea. Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner arrives into Downing Street on July 8 this year 'Makes me laugh, all these lefties with their second homes,' says Graham Brinklow, 76, sitting in front of a beach hut reading a spy novel. 'No, it doesn't make me laugh, it actually makes me angry. My three grandchildren have all got good jobs but none can get on the property ladder.' On Friday a section of the pebble beach two minutes from Angela's front door was marked with flags of bright red and yellow Labour colours. That's how it looked from a distance. Had this little strip been designated a Socialist beach on her orders? That didn't take her long. Closer inspection revealed however that they were lifeguard flags. One of the Baywatch team explains that they were raised to warn swimmers about tricky offshore winds. Fair enough. By the way, had he ever rescued Angela Rayner? 'Never heard of her, mate,' he replies. Angela's immediate neighbours report variously that she 'likes a swim', 'is no trouble', and 'is someone who always says good morning'. Normally she's 'down at weekends' and sometimes 'she has her entourage in tow'. Fatboy Slim, one of Ms Rayner's new neighbours, performs at the 20th anniversary of Big Beach Boutique, Brighton, in 2022 Named as one of the best places to live in the UK, Hove is described as foodie, funky and Zen. Certainly, it is much less hectic than its neighbouring big brother, Brighton. Some in Hove say only half-jokingly that those who don't do yoga, for instance, are in the minority. Celebrities abound. Angela's nearest big-name neighbour, a couple of minutes' walk away, is Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. He's selling up though not, it must be said, because Angela has moved here. His beachfront home is on the market for 10 million. David Walliams, meanwhile, is not far away. And should Angela feel in the mood for a bop, she only has to call on Norman Cook, superstar DJ Fatboy Slim, who lives further along the esplanade next door to his ex-wife, Zoe Ball. Locals say Angela has been spotted all over Brighton and Hove during the summer, often with her boyfriend Sam Tarry, the former MP for Ilford South. An onlooker who saw them in popular Queen's Park said. 'They looked like any other couple if you discounted the presence of two security staff, who were quite conspicuous, dressed in black and hovering about, scoping out the area and who was coming in all the time.' Angela has also been seen strolling round the Lanes shopping district in Brighton with Tarry. Another witness said: 'They weren't holding hands but seemed very intimate, despite the presence of bodyguards. If she has moved down here from London to be close to him it tells you their relationship is strong.' Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour (pictured) is one of Rayner's nearest big-name neighbours and lives only a couple of minutes' walk away. Pictured: Gilmour receiving the 'O2 Silver Clef Award' onstage in July 2025 In May, Angela booked two tables at cosy 16th-century inn, The Bull, in Ditchling an idyllic village nine miles from Hove. There, accompanied by a friend and at least two bodyguards, she is said to have ordered a 23 bavette steak with chunky chips and a 45 bottle of Sancerre. One staff member said: 'I didn't recognise her when she came in. She wasn't wearing any make-up and was dressed very casually. She seemed very jolly.' The pub was the local of long-time Ditchling resident Dame Vera Lynn, who was occasionally seen lunching with her pal, actor Sir Donald Sinden. It is tempting to imagine that Dame Vera - unlike Angela, the Sancerre Socialist - opted for a patriotic tipple. A port and lemon perhaps, or maybe a milk stout. Still, as one regular notes, we shouldn't begrudge Angela her 'fancy tastes'. He adds: 'I suppose we're just a bit jealous. The way she's clobbering us with council tax it won't be long before we'll only be able to afford rotgut wine.' Cheers, Angela! A fairground worker has died after suffering serious head injuries following an 'emergency incident' on a ride at a seaside funfair. Police and paramedics rushed to the Spanish City Summer Funfair in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, at around 2.15pm today, where the funfair worker - a man in his 20s - was injured. Despite the best efforts of medical staff to save him, he succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead, Northumbria Police said. A police spokesperson said the man's next of kin had been contacted and were being supported by specialist officers. They added: 'Our thoughts are with the man's family at this extremely difficult time.' Police have contacted the Health and Safety Executive to 'establish exactly what happened'. The attraction features a row of seats which are suspended in the air and rotated at speed. The entire fair, which was packed with families this afternoon, has been shut down and a huge police presence was reported at the scene. Police and paramedics rushed to the Spanish City Summer Funfair in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, at around 2.15pm today The entire fair, which was packed with families this afternoon, has been shut down and a huge police presence was reported at the scene The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) confirmed that a man had been rushed to hospital with serious injuries An air ambulance was also seen landing on the grass area next to the fairground. A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: 'Shortly after 2.15pm today, we received a report that a man had been injured in a workplace accident at Spanish City Summer Funfair in the Spanish City Plaza area of Whitley Bay in North Tyneside. 'Emergency services attended and a man in his 20s was found to have suffered serious head injuries. 'Despite the best efforts of medical staff who attended the scene, a short time later, the man was sadly declared dead. 'His next of kin have been contacted and are being supported by specialist officers. 'Our thoughts are with the mans family at this extremely difficult time. 'We have contacted the Health and Safety Executive and are working with them to establish exactly what happened. 'The fair has been closed to the public and will remain closed until further notice. The entire fair, which was packed with families this afternoon, has been shut down and a huge police presence was reported at the scene Dog walkers at the popular seaside spot expressed their shock at the horror inside at the funfair 'Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police by sending them a direct message on social media, or by using the live chat or report form functions on the Force's website." Dog walkers at the popular seaside spot had earlier expressed their shock at the horror inside at the funfair. One said: 'It's horrific. You don't expect something like this. 'The fair is usually open in the afternoon but it's obvious something really serious has happened.' Police are to use drones at the Notting Hill Carnival for the first time to try to keep attendees safe as some two million people descend on west London for the annual event. Organisers say 7,000 officers and staff will be on site today and tomorrow with live facial recognition cameras and screening arches to detect weapons at the busiest entry points. If follows police warnings that the sheer volume of people in such a small residential area could cause 'a mass casualty event'. And the family of a young mother attacked in front of police last year called the event 'unmanageable' and said it should be moved to a safer location. Cher Maximen, 32, was stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter on the carnival's family day in an unprovoked attack after she was caught up in a street fight. She later died in hospital. Her cousin Lawrence Hoo warned that such an incident could easily happen again because the annual celebration is 'unsafe in its current format'. 'She was in the safest location possible on family day with her daughter and she was murdered directly in front of police officers, so if it can happen there, it can happen anywhere,' he told Sky News. 'In all honesty, it's an unmanageable event.' The three-day carnival has seen increasing levels of violence in recent years, with part of the blame falling on high crowd density and inadequate stewarding. Cher Maximen, 32, (pictured) was stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter on the carnival's family day in an unprovoked attack after she was caught up in a street fight Organisers say 7,000 officers and staff will be on site with live facial recognition cameras and screening arches to detect weapons at the busiest entry points Police are to use drones at the Notting Hill Carnival for the first time to try to keep attendees safe The Metropolitan Police said yesterday that it had already arrested 100 people and taken dozens of weapons off the streets as part of an operation to deter those who pose the greatest risk to public safety at this year's event. The drones will be operated by a dedicated team from British Transport Police. The use of facial recognition cameras at the carnival has been controversial, with 11 civil liberty and campaign groups claiming it to be subject to 'racial bias' and calling for it to be dropped. But Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended the choice, referencing the minority of carnivalgoers who 'have used the event to commit serious crimes'. Responding to calls for the event to be moved to a new space, the carnival's chief executive Matthew Phillip said: 'We've put a lot of measures in place, as we always do, but even more so this year, to keep people safe. Carnival is a safe space, it's no more unsafe than the rest of London. So I would say come and be respectful.' Sir Keir Starmer should sack Rachel Reeves as Chancellor because she is not up to the job, an exclusive poll of voters has found. A total of 43 per cent think Ms Reeves should be removed from the Treasury, while just 19 per cent think she should stay in post to deliver the autumn Budget when she is expected to hike taxes again to fill a widening black hole in the economy. The research, by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, found that even many Labour voters more than one in five want the Prime Minister to fire his Chancellor. Business leaders and economists have warned that many firms are being pushed to the brink as they struggle to absorb higher National Insurance payments, with the costs being passed on to customers in the form of surging prices. The poll also finds that nearly four in ten voters, 39 per cent, think Sir Keir's Government is doing worse than the last Tory government, while only 23 per cent think that it is doing better. They are split on whether Sir Keir will still be in No 10 in a year's time, with 35 per cent thinking that he will and 34 per cent that he will have been replaced or quit. The figures are even worse for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, with only 20 per cent expecting her to be leader in a year. A whopping 59 per cent think Nigel Farage will still be leader of Reform UK. Sir Keir Starmer should sack Rachel Reeves as Chancellor because she is not up to the job, an exclusive poll of voters has found A total of 43 per cent think Ms Reeves should be removed from the Treasury, while just 19 per cent think she should stay in post to deliver the autumn Budget The research was conducted by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft (pictured) Even many Labour voters more than one in five want the Prime Minister to fire his Chancellor, the poll found Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick receives strong support for his Mail on Sunday article this month, in which he said high migration made him fear for his daughters' safety 55 per cent say it was legitimate for him to say he didn't want his children 'to share a neighbourhood with men from backward countries who broke into Britain illegally and about whom we know next to nothing'. Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to strike a peace deal in Ukraine, Lord Ashcroft found that only 14 per cent think that Kyiv should accept Russian occupation as part of a peace deal; a total of 52 per cent do not. The peer writes in today's MoS: 'My poll finds a huge majority of voters saying they are pessimistic for the future of the country, including nearly two thirds of those who backed Labour last year. 'Only half of last year's Labour voters think this Government is any better than the last one, and people are as likely as not to think Starmer will be gone by this time next year an extraordinary position for a PM who walked into No 10 only last July with a majority of 174.' A distraught mother has issued a terrifying warning after her 11-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by a man she met on the popular online game Roblox. The family's story is part of a tidal wave of nearly 400 lawsuits against the Roblox Corporation, with legal experts accusing the company of prioritizing profits over child safety. Speaking on the horrifying aftermath, the mother said: 'It definitely brutalized my child. It brutalized us as a family. We will never, ever be the same.' The emotional toll has been immense. 'I watched my daughter turn from this happy little girl to this depressed, dark person,' she revealed. The mother told the U.S. Sun that the predator, Anthony Joshua Borgesano, who was 20 at the time, posed as a 15-year-old boy. He initially contacted her daughter on Roblox before persuading her to move to Discord. Once he earned her trust, the lawsuit states he traveled 85 miles across Florida to her grandfather's house, lured her into his vehicle, and violently raped her. He was later convicted of four separate offenses, placed on the sex offenders register, and is currently serving a 25-year sentence. The popular online game Roblox is at the center of a legal battle, with nearly 400 lawsuits alleging the company is failing to protect its young users from predators The perpetrator, Anthony Joshua Borgesano, who was 20 at the time, posed as a teenager. He groomed the girl on Roblox and Discord before traveling 85 miles to rape her The family's legal team is led by attorney Matt Dolman, who did not mince words when discussing the company's alleged actions. 'They've lied so many times, it's hard to keep up with Roblox's lies,' Dolman said. 'So no, I don't think the product is safe. I hope Roblox goes out of business.' Dolman is adamant that this is not an isolated issue. 'This isn't some lawyer, sharing some trumped-up facts with you. This is countless arrests, law enforcement investigations into sexual predation, the abuse, the grooming, the exploitation of minors. They knew this, they did nothing about it, because they didn't care.' He also addressed the issue of parental blame, a common refrain in these cases. 'They're going to say the parents could have done a better job of parenting, that they should have been aware of what their kids are up to. Frankly that's bullshit,' he stated bluntly. Dolman compared the situation to hiring a babysitter. 'You hire a babysitter, you vet that person carefully. You don't expect them to invite their 26-year-old or 40-year-old boyfriend over to watch your kid with them. That's what goes on every day on the Roblox platform. And there's nobody to watch for these children.' In response to the lawsuits and criticism, a Roblox spokesperson said: 'We are deeply troubled by any incident that endangers our users, and safety is a top priority.' Borgesano was convicted and is currently serving a 25-year sentence Roblox denies the allegations, stating that they have safety measures in place, including new age verification and AI detection systems 'We dedicate substantial resources, including advanced technology and 24/7 human moderation, to help detect and prevent inappropriate content and behavior, including attempts to direct users off platform, where safety standards and moderation may be less stringent than ours,' they added. The spokesperson also admitted that 'no system is perfect' but noted the company is working with law enforcement and leading child safety organizations worldwide. But for the mother, the company's actions are simply not enough. 'This isn't an oversight. This isn't a mistake. This is a complete systemic failure. And I want to see them held accountable,' she said angrily, ending with a powerful plea for all parents to take action. 'My daughter's not the first, and she won't be the last if we don't come together. This needs to stop.' The family of Virginia Giuffre reacted with outrage last night at Ghislaine Maxwell's 'whitewash' prison interview, saying it gave her a chance to 'rewrite history'. Mother-of-three Ms Giuffre, who claimed she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein and trafficked three times to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17, committed suicide in April. Bombshell audio tapes of convicted sex trafficker Maxwell's interview with US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche were released on Friday. In them, Maxwell defends the Duke of York, saying he is innocent of the sex allegations against him and accusing Ms Giuffre of making up the story for financial gain. Andrew has always vehemently denied the claims. In a statement, Ms Giuffre's family said: 'We are outraged. During Blanche's bizarre interview, she is never challenged about her court-proven lies, providing her a platform to rewrite history. 'This travesty of justice entirely invalidates the experiences of the many brave survivors who put their safety, security and lives on the line to ensure her conviction.' In the two-day interview last month, Maxwell, 63, provided no incriminating information on high-profile individuals but spoke about her interactions with several well-known names. Afterwards, Maxwell, who was jailed for 20 years in 2022 for helping Epstein abuse young girls, was moved from the federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. Blanche was accused of asking Maxwell 'soft-ball' questions about Epstein and failing to challenge her when she made comments that contradicted testimony from the financier's victims. Maxwell defended President Trump whose administration has been rocked by claims of cover-up over the Epstein Files saying she never heard that he acted inappropriately, 'absolutely never in any context'. She added that he was 'a gentleman in all respects' who was always 'very cordial and very kind to me'. Pictured: The Duke of York, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell. The family of Virginia Giuffre reacted with outrage last night at Ghislaine Maxwell's 'whitewash' prison interview, saying it gave her a chance to 'rewrite history' Pictured: Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein. Bombshell audio tapes of convicted sex trafficker Maxwell's interview with US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche were released on Friday John Sweeney, author of Hunting Ghislaine, said: 'This is a sorry spectacle, where a convicted sex criminal and the US President are using the American machinery of justice to massage each other's backs. Trump gets whitewashed. Maxwell gets out of [nasty] jail. The losers are the victims of Epstein, under-age or vulnerable girls, and law and order in America.' Last night a source close to President Trump told The Mail on Sunday: 'President Trump is delighted that this interview has been released in full. The Epstein Files is a scandal which has been concocted by his political rivals to detract away from the accomplishments of this administration. He hopes giving the world full transparency on this issue will allow people to finally move on.' Brad Edwards, a lawyer who represents dozens of Epstein victims, said: 'Sounds like she told crazy stories that can only be made up because she's telling them to people who don't know the case.' Sigrid McCawley, one of Ms Giuffre's lawyers, said: 'I sat across the deposition table from Ghislaine Maxwell when she lied repeatedly one question after the next. We have witnessed that again with the release of Maxwell's interview where this convicted felon repeatedly and brazenly lied on the record to the government. Maxwell ruined countless young lives with impunity for too long. 'Her effort to recreate history and distance herself from Epstein should not and will not be tolerated. The documents don't lie, the multiple witnesses that testified against her at trial didn't lie the only person lying is Maxwell.' When it was announced last week that William and Kate were to move with their three children from Adelaide Cottage, their rather pokey digs in Windsor Great Park, to the imposing eight-bedroomed Forest Lodge, much was made of the idea that it will remain the family residence when William ascends the throne. Indeed, they are already so attached to the place that it has even been said it will be their forever home. But how much due diligence did the couple do when it came to the history of their 18th-century pile before agreeing to move in? Not too much, it would appear. For I can reveal that Forest Lodge is a house full of dark secrets. To discover what these are, we must go back to the late 1700s when the lodge was built by Sir Jeffry Wyatville, the architect who rebuilt parts of the ancient Windsor Castle during the reign of King George IV. The lodges gardens have an equally distinguished pedigree, as they were laid out by Humphry Repton, who was considered the successor to Capability Brown, the father of the famed English landscape garden style. Sir Jeffry was so taken by his creation, which was originally adorned with an Indian-style cupola, that he considered making it his own home. Instead, the Georgian mansion was bought by a rather less distinguished character, a London-based Scot called Spencer Mackay. Unlike Wyatville, who plied his trade in his homeland, Mackay made his money from coffee and rum plantations in Guyana, South America, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Slavery is not the only story attached to the house once known as Holly Grove, but since renamed Forest Lodge (pictured) In 1823, there was a slave rebellion in the Guyanese region of Demerara, triggered by a mistaken belief that the British parliament had abolished slavery and their freedom was being blocked by colonial rulers. PIctured: a scene from the 1970s miniseries Roots, featuring actor Levar Burton as a slave Many other Forest Lodge tenants have come and gone, each with a story to tell but none has been so famous as its new occupants, the future king and queen (pictured) Mackay's priority was to extract as much profit as possible from his lands half a world away and, to this end, he bought hundreds of slaves. They experienced horrendous privations during their long journey by sea from West Africa and, once they arrived on Guyana, even worse horrors awaited them. Brutal whippings were common, as plantation managers sought to force the maximum amount of labour out of exhausted slaves. In 1823, there was a slave rebellion in the Guyanese region of Demerara, triggered by a mistaken belief that the British parliament had abolished slavery and their freedom was being blocked by colonial rulers. Between 9,000 and 12,000 slaves joined the uprising, dozens of them from Mackay's plantations. But it proved to be short-lived. Within just two days, the rebellion had been brutally crushed. Mackay's estate manager later gave a chillingly frank account of events in a letter to his boss. 'From fifty to one hundred [slaves] have absented themselves for some time to the back lands, near Mahaica, but particularly from the estates of Beehive and Greenfield, alleging that the manager had exacted too much labour. 'The Greenfield [slaves] having returned, on condition that the manager should be discharged, and other [slave]-drivers appointed, the remaining [slaves] were occupied during the nights in carrying into the woods plantains and a good many cattle.' One group which had fled the plantation turned on the men hunting them down, wrote the estate manager. Forest Lodge went to an old-school courtier and Scottish grandee, the 14th Lord Napier. After service in the Scots Guards, Napier had joined the royal court, rising to be Princess Margaret's (pictured, left) private secretary in 1975 Seasoned royal observers doubt William and Kate meant it literally when they described Forest Lodge as their 'forever home' Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's children's novel Alice In Wonderland, visited the house during the time it was occupied by her uncle, Colonel Augustus Liddell, groom-in-waiting to Queen Victoria and deputy ranger of Windsor Great Park 'Young Van Baerle, and another young man on the estate, had repeatedly attempted to bring home the runaways, and partly succeeded. 'But, finally, these young men were decoyed by a party of the estates' slaves who had not absented themselves, and in this affair they were murdered in the most savage manner. 'Their bodies were mutilated, and their heads and limbs carried in triumph round the camp. Every attempt is now being made to send a formidable party of whites and Indians in an endeavour to destroy them.' In the process of putting down the rebellion, up to 500 slaves were killed. And after the insurrection had been defeated, a further 27 slaves were executed on the orders of the British governor, John Murray, with their bodies left to rot in the sun for months as a deterrent to any other slaves considering a fight for freedom. Despite this butchery, when slavery was abolished in 1834, Mackay was compensated for the loss of his slave workforce to the tune of 10 million at today's prices. Nobody knows how many died on his watch but, by the time he received the money, he'd moved on from Holly Grove House (the original name of Forest Lodge) to a smart London residence in Harley Street. This piece of history, if William doesn't already know it, may come as an unwelcome reminder of the troubled West Indies tour, which he and Kate undertook in March 2022. Between 9,000 and 12,000 slaves joined the Demerara uprising, dozens of them from Mackay's plantations During a stop at Trench Town, the district of the Jamaican capital of Kingston best-known for being the childhood home of the king of reggae Bob Marley, the royal couple were photographed shaking hands with local children as they pushed their hands through a chain-link fence. The optics were not good as, to some eyes, it looked as if they were greeting people in a prison camp. It was criticised as a 'PR misstep' and a 'white-saviour parody' amid the ongoing debate over slavery reparations and increasingly vocal calls for Jamaica to throw off the monarchist yoke. Indeed, the island's prime minister told the royal couple in an awkward meeting that the country would become a republic, and a government committee in the Bahamas urged the royals to issue 'a full and formal apology for their crimes against humanity'. Slavery is not the only story attached to Holly Grove, which was renamed Forest Lodge in the 1930s. Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's children's novel Alice In Wonderland, visited the house during the time it was occupied by her uncle, Colonel Augustus Liddell, groom-in-waiting to Queen Victoria and deputy ranger of Windsor Great Park. Following the retirement of Sir Malcolm Murray as deputy ranger in 1936, the house was let, at the request of Edward VIII, to his long-time equerry, Sir John Aird. A decorated soldier and baronet, Aird was once described by King Leopold of the Belgians as 'the perfect caricature of an English gentleman'. But he was no stuffed shirt. In 1923, Aird was with the then Prince of Wales in Kenya's Happy Valley when Edward and his brother the Duke of Gloucester shared the bedroom favours of the transatlantic Kenyan aviator Beryl Markham. Aird also accompanied Edward on his official tour of South America in 1931 when far more energy was devoted to goings-on behind bedroom doors than to ribbon-cutting. 'There was a wild streak in him something he could not control,' Aird once observed. Sir John is also the man who could be said to have inadvertently triggered the 1936 abdication crisis. After all, it was he who organised the charter of the yacht Nahlin, whose cruise through the Adriatic that summer drew the world's attention to the secret relationship between the King and Wallis Simpson. After the ordeal that Kate, and the rest of the family, endured at Adelaide Cottage during her cancer treatment, it is time for a fresh start The original plan had been for the royal party to take a chateau in the south of France, behind whose walls there would have been a measure of privacy. But Aird's charter, it can be argued, altered the course of history. Though while Aird turned a blind eye to the royal bed-hopping activities, he remained as a courtier rigidly in favour of public decorum. And when he saw his king 'naked except for a pair of trunks' disporting himself publicly on his Nahlin cruise, he threw in the towel. 'That was my last crusade,' he said dismissively. The abdication followed shortly after. Unlike others close to Edward, who were tainted by the abdication, Aird remained in royal favour and continued to act as a courtier to both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. In 1973, diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer, he told his wife to bring him a locked dispatch case. Within it was his old service revolver. In the bedroom of Forest Lodge, Sir John Aird shot himself dead. He considered it to be the gentleman's way out. He was 75. Many thought Forest Lodge was then destined to become the home of Princess Anne, who had married Captain Mark Phillips a week before Aird's suicide, but the Queen instead gifted her daughter infinitely more elegant Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. As a result, Forest Lodge went to an old-school courtier and Scottish grandee, the 14th Lord Napier. After service in the Scots Guards, Napier had joined the royal court, rising to be Princess Margaret's private secretary in 1975. It was the unassuming Napier who was called in to adjudicate between the princess and her husband, Lord Snowdon, as they descended into drink, bad behaviour and angry recrimination. When things finally came to a head at the end of 1975, it was Napier who was deputed to deliver the coup de grace. As Snowdon's biographer Anne de Courcy recalls: 'On 26 November 1975 Margaret sent Nigel Napier to inform Tony that in future he was not to accompany her on any public engagement, nor was he to be informed of any private invitations or activities. The drawbridge had finally been pulled up.' Many other Forest Lodge tenants have come and gone, each with a story to tell but none has been so famous as its new occupants, the future king and queen. Seasoned observers doubt William and Kate meant it literally when they described Forest Lodge as their 'forever home' but surely everyone can agree that, after the ordeal that Kate, and the rest of the family, endured at Adelaide Cottage during her cancer treatment, it is time for a fresh start. Loved by celebrities for its quaint limestone cottages along idyllic streets - the Cotswolds are home to some of the most sought-after postcodes in the country. Stars including Kate Moss, the Beckhams and Jeremy Clarkson all have sprawling properties in the Cotswolds with American A-listers also moving in. Americans have been flocking to the region too - Ellen DeGeneres, 67, bought a $26 million home in Cheltenham with her partner Portia de Rossie, 52, after they became disillusioned with life in the US. Vice President JD Vance even came to town, staying in Dean, Oxfordshire, with a huge accompanying motorcade that annoyed locals when it shut down narrow country lanes. Simon Cowell owns an 8 million farmhouse in Chipping Norton, Calvin Harris and wife Vick Hope have a 3.9 million bolt hole in Moreton-in-Marsh, and Richard Hammond even owns a Grade II listed mock castle in Weston-under-Penyard. But for normal people looking for a rural escape, where can you pick up a bargain? The town of Stroud has an average house price of around 325,000 - up to 600,000 cheaper than its neighbours. Your browser does not support iframes. Ellen DeGeneres has put her Cotswolds farmhouse on the market for 22.5million - a staggering 7.5million more than she paid for it just 12 months ago. Pictured: The former talk show host (left) and her wife Portia de Rossi (right) David Beckham relaxed at his Cotswolds estate in Great Tew Over the years, and more frequently in recent times, David has shared snippets of what he gets up to at his rural home with his family, including caring for chickens The lovely Wallsbridge canal, where you can stroll past traditional limestone houses en route to Stroud town centre Situated deep in the valleys of the western Cotswolds and commutable to London by train in 80 minutes, Stroud is becoming increasingly popular as the affordable Cotswolds option. Locals who grew up there however say that it is still too expensive - and wealthy outsiders buying second homes aren't helping. Oliver Melsome, 41, has lived in the Cotswolds all his life and runs a family building business. He lives in the south of Stroud and said that whilst the town does offer the 'Cotswolds experience without the same prices as other places' he had seen more and more young families being priced out'. 'People are always buying second, third homes here. Its crazy. Its driving prices up around here too', Oliver told the Daily Mail. 'Those moving in from the cities are kicking out families who've grown up here and owned farms for generations. 'They're being outpriced. It's very sad to see.' According to Rightmove figures, Stroud is on average over half the price of its some of its Cotswolds counterparts. In Bibury for example, a neighbouring village in Cirencester, homes are on average a cool 915,000. And in Chipping Campden, a market town in the north of the Cotswolds, houses sell for an average of 769,735. One couple, Bob and Beryl Preedy, 79 & 78, moved to Stroud 52 years ago from Essex. They said Stroud is getting increasingly popular because it is 'pretty and affordable': 'It's affordable and good for young families. 'It's much nicer than Ilford or London - which are becoming more dangerous - and that explains why it's getting more popular. Rachel Hall, 34, was born in the Cotswolds and thinks Stroud is being 'gentrified' by Londoners and Airbnbs A church with scenic rolling green valleys as its backdrop in the heart of Stroud's town centre Hanna Rostokiah, 42, who moved to Stroud after leaving Ukraine with her daughter three years ago Stroud's winding canals and waterways are a key attraction for many people looking to buy a property there Slad Road in Stroud, a more expensive area of the town where house prices are an average of 473,100 'There are lots of new housing developments cropping up, however, which our roads aren't made for. We do also worry that will bring more people and it will become more crowded.' Rachel Hall, 34, was born in Stroud and moved back after living in London briefly. Rachel said that she loves her rural life but Cotswold outsiders moving in are driving prices up and 'gentrifying' the village. 'All the little villages are being stuffed full of Airbnbs and people are moving into the village from outside who haven't lived rural life before. 'Just like in Clapham or Brixton, Stroud is being gentrified. It's lovely for an organic market with sustainable produce at the weekend, but it's got a high cost of living.' Rachel added that: 'During the pandemic lots of Londoners bought houses here and then ended up relisting them a few years later or keeping them as an investment property, which screwed the housing market. 'House prices are going up which is a big concern for locals.' Reese and his wife, both retired and native to Stroud, said that Stroud is only affordable to retired people and wealthy Londoners moving in. 'We love it here - my daughter would say it's too expensive, but because we're retired, life is easier for us. 'It's the more affluent society from London coming in - when they say 'we're going to the Cotswolds', it's the big manor houses they're talking about. 'Stroud does seem more affordable - but only really to the posh people coming here!' Estate agents in the area said that Stroud is amongst the cheapest of the Cotswolds areas because of its location in the south of the region - which is further from London for city commuters. Samantha Scott-White, director of the Cotswolds Buying Agent, said: 'Anywhere north of the A40 is going to be more expensive - even by as much as 30 per cent more pricey. 'All the villages between Burford and around Soho Farmhouse are more expensive, and then south of the A40, towards Cirencester, you start to get more value for money.' A landscape view of the rolling green fields scattered with limestone houses that the Cotswolds are so well known for Ann Savage, 85, moved to Stroud from Swansea about 40 years ago and said the area is 'beautiful but still quite pricey' Frankie Kibble, 31, recently moved to Stroud with his partner, having worked as an account manager in London before A large redbrick detached property along Slad Road in Stroud Samantha explained that: 'The lowest prices in the Cotswolds are going towards Stroud, Nailsworth, and Wotton-under-Edge. 'These villages are further away from London, so for people who commute in a few days a week or for second homeowners, it's a bit far out. It's more than 1 hour 45 minutes from London so it's a little bit more affordable. 'In these areas you could afford a modern house for about 300,000-400,000, say a two-bed or a smaller cottage. 'But that wouldn't be your traditional stone houses you would associate as being a Cotswolds house. Those are generally more than 1 million, even 1.5 million plus.' Frankie Kibble, 31, is a Londoner who worked as an account manager and recently moved to Stroud a few months ago with his partner. 'I'd say it is affordable, yeah. I think people are moving out because London is so expensive. 'The cost of living here is cheaper - rent is definitely cheaper. Council tax, it's mainly bills that are lower.' Frankie added: 'I haven't noticed any locals being annoyed at Londoners coming in, like they would in Margate etc. But I probably don't associate with too many Strouders.' Another ex-Londoner, Joe Saunders, 32, thought that Stroud had a lot going on compared to other places in Gloucestershire. 'It's got a lot going on here for people my age unlike other places in the Cotswolds - Stroud fits the bill. 'I don't think it's exactly the most affordable place - to rent it's not that easy to find a good place. Places like Gloucester are more affordable - but then why would you want to move to Gloucester? 'But for affordability and stuff like that, it's a fun place to live, and it's not too bad. It's cheaper than London. 'It's interesting to see where Stroud is going...Maybe it will become the new Brighton.' During the pandemic, many Londoners and city dwellers moved out in favour of a more rural life and bought properties or second homes in greener areas. Local estate agents said Stroud is popular because of its commutability to London and traditional Cotswolds experience for less Eddie Andrew, 41, a former postman who moved to Stroud after previously living in Coventry The Cotswolds has recently become the location of choice for those looking to relocate, with pictures of stone houses on sloping valleys and little brooks going viral. But the Cotswolds dream is an expensive reality for many residents. Hanna Rostokiah, 42, moved to Stroud from Ukraine with her daughter three years ago. She said: 'I was drawn here because it's a peaceful life. But it's very expensive to rent an apartment or house here. 'I know many families who lived in London but moved out to the countryside and now they live in Stroud. 'It's cheaper than London, and it's very quiet and good for families. That's why people are coming here and like it I think.' Former postman, Eddie Andrew, 41, said that Stroud was a 'tale of two cities.' 'It depends where you're living - places like Forest Green are cheaper and more affordable.' Even teenagers Arrwinn Kirrbakr, 16, and Evan Walke, 16, thought Stroud was relatively affordable. 'I'd say in this area it is cheap, housing prices are pretty decent, it's not too bad. 'We've lived and grown up here all our lives. 'We don't have many complaints - there are lots of areas that get more expensive which is where Londoners will come for second homes, but it's alright here.' Clive, the Sales Manager at Sawyers Estate Agents in Stroud, said that the town was on the lower end of the Cotswolds price range. 'The average house price is around 300,000-400,000. 'In terms of renting, it's about 1,000 a month for a two bed house, a whole apartment is probably around 750, and you can get a room in a shared apartment for 500.' 'Stroud is the perfect middle ground in the Cotswolds - you can get more expensive parts of it but on the whole it's very affordable. 'Areas like Bisley, your stereotypical Cotswolds village, can be more expensive and are dominated by second homes.' Whether it's TikTok or Google, many of us use apps and websites every day without thinking twice about it. But rewind just 30 years, and the internet looked very different. TikToker @wilfredwebster has asked people in London about the early interent sites young people have never heard of. In the video, respondents suggest a range of oncepopular sites like Limewire, Bebo, Habbo Hotel, MSN, and Ask Jeeves. And, ask suspected, Gen Z are absolutely clueless when asked what these were. 'A toy? Or a cartoon character?' one youngster replied when quizzed on what Bebo is. So, do these early2000s websites evoke memories from deep within you, or leave you scratching your head? Scroll down to find out! LimeWire was a popular musicsharing service that allowed people to upload and download music without compensation to artists 1. LimeWire LimeWire was a popular musicsharing service that allowed people to upload and download music without compensation to artists. The site was originally created by Mark Gorton in 2000, and drew in millions of users. With people able to upload and download their own music, LimeWire was also known for spreading viruses. In fact, one investigation showed that of 123 randomly selected downloaded files, 37 contained malware about 30 per cent! The site soon drew the outrage of musicians and was eventually shut down in 2010. Taking to the comments on TikTok, several users have reminisced over the retro site. 'All those viruses on LimeWire,' one user commented, while another added: 'Got all my music from LimeWire.' MSN Messenger was the goto instant messaging service of the early 2000s And one joked: 'God only knows how infected my computer was from the Limewire downloads.' 2. MSN Messenger MSN Messenger was the goto instant messaging service of the early 2000s. Developed by Microsoft, the platform allowed users to connect and chat with each other through text, audio, and video. Unlike most instant messaging services used today, MSN Messenger had no public posting, filters, or monetisation tools including ads, sponsored content, or popups. This simple interface proved hugely popular, with a whopping 330 million active monthly users in 2009. Unfortunately, as rival platforms like WhatsApp and iMessage became more mainstream, MSN Messenger began to dieoff, and was eventually discontinued in 2014. 'MSN was such a big part of our lives,' one user reminisced on TikTok. Habbo Hotel was a popular online social networking and virtual world platform, launched in 2000 by the Finnish company Sulake 'The days of MSN and Bebo are probably some of the highlights of my childhood,' another added. 'It was the beginning of still being able to keep in contact with my friends without seeing them and for my socially anxious a** that was amazing.' 3. Habbo Hotel Habbo Hotel was a popular online social networking and virtual world platform, launched in 2000 by the Finnish company Sulake. It was designed as a pixelart style 'hotel' where players called Habbos could create customizable avatars, decorate virtual hotel rooms, and interact with others in real time. While it reached peak popularity in the early2000s, Habbo Hotel actually still exists today with many nostalgic players continuing to log on. 'I loved Habbo Hotel!!!!' one user delighted on TikTok. Another added: 'The lady that said Habbo Hotel just unlocked core memories that I completely forgot about!' Bebo was founded in 2005, and was known for its questionnaires and its infamous 'Top 16 friends' feature What was Bebo? Bebo was founded in 2005, and was known for its questionnaires and its infamous 'Top 16 friends' feature. Alongside MySpace, Bebo was one of the contenders to Facebook in the early 2000s. And at its peak it had about 40 million users. It was sold to AOL for $850 million in 2008, and was soon eclipsed by Facebook as well as other social networking sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, before being shut down in 2013. Advertisement 4. Bebo Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok may be the most popular social media apps these days, but back in the early 2000s, Bebo was the go-to site for keen millennials. Bebo was founded in 2005, and was known for its questionnaires and its infamous 'Top 16 friends' feature. Alongside MySpace, Bebo was one of the contenders to Facebook in the early 2000s. And at its peak it had about 40 million users. It was sold to AOL for $850 million in 2008, and was soon eclipsed by Facebook as well as other social networking sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, before being shut down in 2013. 'Bebo was miles better than Facebook, you could customise your page and everything!' one user commented on TikTok. 'Everyone went over to the boring dull Facebook and Bebo died sad times!!' In April 1997, web users traveled to a page where they could search in plain English. The site was accommodated by a butler named Jeeves, who originated from P. G. Wodehouse's famous novels Another added: 'Wish I could see all my old Bebo pictures.' Ask Jeeves In April 1997, web users travelled to a page where they could search in plain English. The site was accommodated by a butler named Jeeves, who originated from P. G. Wodehouse's famous novels. After typing in a question, users would be presented with a result page from three major sources: human-powered editorial content, crawler-based results from Teoma (owned by Ask Jeeves) and paid listings powered by Google. If users did not get the answer they were looking for, a query would be sent to one of the site's editors, who would search for them. Ask Jeeves was rebranded to Ask.com in 2006 and attempted to overtake Yahoo Answers as a Q&A site. Four years later, it was completely abandoned due to Google taking over the search engine industry. MySpace was a social media platform launched in 2003 that let users design profiles, communicate with friends, share photos and diaries and post music to their page 'Was Ask Jeeves not the OG AI?!' one user questioned on TikTok. Another added: 'Ask Jeeves was our ChatGPT.' MySpace MySpace was a social media platform launched in 2003 that let users design profiles, communicate with friends, share photos and diaries and post music to their page. Users not only invited friends to their profile but were allowed to show the internet who their 'top eight' were. People spent countless hours redesigning their profiles, savagely ranking friends and choosing tunes to fit their moods. Founder Tom Anderson sold Myspace to News Corp in 2005 for $580 million. Six years later, the website sold again for a hugely depreciated $35 million, prompting Rupert Murdoch to refer to the initial purchase as 'A huge mistake.' An ancient coin etched with the face of Jesus could challenge the long-held belief that the Shroud of Turin is a medieval fake. Carbon dating in 1988 placed the Shroud between 1260 and 1390 AD, seemingly ruling it out as Christ's burial cloth. Some researchers, however, have argued that the tested samples were merely taken from sections of the cloth that had been repaired during that period. Now, a bronze follis minted in Constantinople between AD 969 and 976 bears a striking resemblance to the Shroud's facial image. Justin Robinson, historian at The London Mint Office, notes that the coin's tiny one-centimeter portrait astonishingly reproduces a distinctive 'cross' shape formed by the eyebrows, forehead and nose, nearly identical to the features seen on the Shroud. 'In my opinion, the obvious similarities between the coin and the face on the Shroud of Turin show what the engravers saw in Constantinople [where the Shroud was displayed] in the tenth century,' Robinson, who purchased the coin in 2018, told the Daily Mail. 'If coin engravers were copying the face on the Shroud in the tenth century, then it stands to reason that the Shroud cannot be a late medieval fake,' Robinson said. The coin was minted in Constantinople between AD 969 and 976, bears a striking resemblance to the Shroud's facial image Historians highlighted the cross at the center of the face on the coin, suggesting it is nearly identical to what is seen on the Shroud Michael Kowalski, a leading expert on the Shroud of Turin, told the Daily Mail: 'The coin contains a portrait of Jesus with some distinctive features that seem to have been copied directly from the Shroud, including two long locks of hair on the left side of the head. 'I find it particularly hard to understand why the engraver would create an image with hair longer on one side unless he had copied what was believed to be a true likeness of Jesus.' The coin also carries inscriptions emphasizing its sacred significance: around the face reads 'God with us,' while the reverse proclaims 'Jesus Christ, King of Kings.' Robinson further noted that the image contains a distinctive mark on the right cheek, a small square beneath the moustache, and a forked beard, with long hair hanging down on both sides and two parallel strands at the bottom left, details that strongly echo the Shroud. 'All of these features can be seen clearly in the image on the Shroud, and the result is a coin that resembles the Shroud far too closely to be dismissed as a coincidence,' Robinson said. Jesus' face on the coin also features a forked beard, matching the Shroud, but what has surprised historians most is the two distinct strands of hair running parallel on the left side of both artifacts. High-resolution photographs of the Shroud reveal these strands hanging down from the forehead or temple area, part of the long hair framing Jesus' face and extending to the shoulders in a clearly defined pattern. There is also a distinctive horizontal band across the throat that corresponds with a similar band on the Shroud. High-resolution photographs of the Shroud reveal these strands hanging down from the forehead or temple area, part of the long hair framing Jesus' face and extending to the shoulders in a clearly defined pattern The coin itself carries inscriptions emphasizing its sacred significance: around the face reads 'God with us,' while the reverse (pictured) proclaims 'Jesus Christ, King of Kings.' 'I find this compelling evidence that the coin engravers in Constantinople carefully copied the face,' Robinson said. 'Having so recently arrived in Constantinople, the emperor would have been keen for the true image of Christ to appear on the coins of the empire. Such specific features would have been nearly impossible to invent without direct reference to a preexisting image.' The historian highlighted flaws in the Shroud's carbon dating, saying that 'the sample tested in 1988 had been taken from the corner of the Shroud that had been the subject of a medieval repair to strengthen the cloth.' 'The corner of the Shroud was often held by priests for hours during public displays, exposing the cloth to centuries of handling, sweat, and wear. In addition, scientists note that fire can distort carbon-14 results, and the Shroud was badly damaged in a blaze in 1532,' continued Robinson. A dangerous superbug commonly found in cattle can jump to humans, and researchers warn that infections may soon become untreatable. A team from Penn State University discovered that Salmonella Dublin has become increasingly resistant to antibiotics and is spreading to humans through contaminated beef, milk, or cheese, or through direct contact with infected cows. Researchers studied 2,150 Salmonella Dublin strains from cattle, humans, and the environment and found they were all genetically similar, making it easier for the bacteria to spread across species. This bacterium typically causes severe illness or death among cows, but it can also result in serious blood infections among people, especially those in close contact with farm animals. In severe cases, Salmonella Dublin can kill people. Making matters worse, the new study revealed that cattle strains have the highest levels of antibiotic resistance, particularly to drugs meant for treating infections, such as tetracycline and cephalosporins. The increasing antibiotic resistance means that infections may become harder to treat, potentially leading to longer illnesses or more severe symptoms for people and animals. If treatments become less effective, human infections could become more dangerous, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, or those with weak immune systems. Study authors added that the US, being a major beef and dairy-producing country, is at an even greater risk of this superbug turning into a widespread health emergency. Cattle are the main carriers of a superbug called Salmonella Dublin, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium (Stock Image) Penn State researchers (pictured) found that the bacteria was present in cows, people, and in both food and farm surfaces The researchers used data from two public sources: the National Center for Biotechnology Information Pathogen Isolate Browser and the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. These provided whole-genome sequences of Salmonella Dublin, which allowed the team to examine each strain's genes in detail. They compared 581 samples from cattle, 664 from humans, and 905 from the environment (food and farm areas) to identify patterns in how the bacteria's genes cause severe disease and resist antibiotics. The bacteria from cows, people, and the environment were incredibly similar, with 72 percent of the 2,150 strains differing by only a few DNA changes. Although cow strains had the most genes that were resistant to medication, those found contaminating food and surfaces had more DNA mutations linked to quinolone resistance, a drug used to treat humans. However, the study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology warned that each strain examined had similar genes that make them dangerous, like those helping them stick to cells or invade the body. These genes were present in almost every strain in cows, people, or food, meaning the bacteria are consistently harmful no matter where it's found. Study leader Erika Ganda, an associate professor of food animal microbiomes, said in a statement: 'That's important, because it shows that Salmonella Dublin is highly connected across humans, animals and the environment so efforts to control it need to consider all three.' Contaminated beef can make people sick with Salmonella Dublin, leading to blood infections (Stock Image) Direct contact on farms can also transmit the bacteria from cattle to people (Stock Image) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that Salmonella bacteria, including Dublin, cause about 1.2 million illnesses every year in the US. Salmonella Dublin infections have been particularly severe due to their tendency to cause bloodstream infections. Between 2005 and 2013, a staggering 78 percent of Salmonella Dublin infections required hospitalization, and 4.2 percent resulted in death. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) treats Salmonella outbreaks, including those involving Dublin, as high-risk health emergencies, often issuing urgent recalls to prevent their spread. One incident in 2019 saw 34,222 pounds of contaminated ground beef from Central Valley Meat Company in California recalled to prevent a large-scale outbreak. However, 13 people were infected with Salmonella Dublin in the state, and one died. Now that the bacterium has become resistant to antibiotics, the threat to humans is greater than ever. The CDC has said that antibiotic-resistant infections, including those from Salmonella, cause over 2.8 million illnesses and more than 35,000 deaths each year in the US. The researchers emphasized the need for a 'One Health' approach, combining efforts in human, animal, and environmental health to control the superbug's spread and reduce antibiotic use in livestock. Dust collected from an asteroid by a NASA spacecraft more than 200 million miles away from Earth contains material that is older than the sun. Scientists have analysed samples from the Bennu asteroid, which resembles the Death Star space station in the Star Wars films, and found it is 'chemically primitive'. It contained 'presolar grains' which are stardust that formed around dying stars billions of years ago. The samples provide a glimpse into the outer Solar System during the birth of the sun and are more pristine than any meteorite on Earth, according to a team of researchers. NASA spacecraft Osiris Rex briefly touched the surface of Bennu with a robotic arm and collected 120g of material which was put into a capsule before it returned to earth in 2023. Scientists have now pieced together the asteroid's origins going back over 4.5billion years. Professor Jessica Barnes, of the University of Arizona, who is one of the authors of the study, said: 'Our data suggest that Bennu's parent asteroid formed in the outer parts of the solar system, possibly beyond the orbit of Saturn.' The chemical analysis of the asteroid sample found a mixture of other material including organic matter from the outer Solar System and the interstellar medium which is gas and dust between star systems. Scientists have analysed samples from the Bennu asteroid (pictured), which resembles the Death Star space station in the Star Wars films, and found it is 'chemically primitive' NASA spacecraft Osiris Rex (pictured returning to Earth from space in September 2023) briefly touched the surface of Bennu with a robotic arm and collected 120g of material which was put into a capsule before it returned to earth in 2023 The samples provide a glimpse into the outer Solar System during the birth of the sun. Pictured: The Osiris Rex sample collector in 2023 with material from the Bennu asteroid It also discovered high temperature materials which are believed to have formed near the sun before it drifted outwards. Professor Sara Russell, planetary scientist at the Natural History Museum and another author of the study, said: 'We're looking at a unique snapshot of the outer Solar System at [the time of] the birth of our sun. 'Some of these grains have survived billions of years of Solar System evolution almost untouched and can tell us more about the environment in which planets were born.' The discovery paints a picture into the formation of our Solar System. It comes after scientists announced earlier this year that it contained the building blocks of life. Deft slicing with a long narrow blade, a swirl of spicy dressing and a gleaming smile, the most famous sushi chef in the world presents a glistening plate of sashimi to me and the other awe-struck diners sitting at the counter. This intimate setting and personal service is something Nobus rich and famous customers, who flock to his restaurants in Los Angeles, New York, Ibiza and London, can only dream about. It's been more than 30 years since Robert de Niro, a fan of his low-profile restaurant in Beverly Hills, persuaded Nobuyuki Matsuhisa to go into partnership and open his first Nobu restaurant in New York, serving his special take on Japanese cuisine with Peruvian ingredients. Now Nobus empire spans the globe and he travels ten months of the year, spreading himself thinly across his scores of restaurants and hotels. So, eat your hearts out Posh and Becks, Brad Pitt and Taylor Swift. I am sailing with Nobu aboard Crystal Serenity, for a whole week, round trip from Copenhagen. It is a week in which he cooks two Omakase (leave it to the chef) dinners in his Umi Uma restaurant, and one in the private Vintage Room. Both menus, which cost extra, consist of many courses, each paired with fine wines. Caroline Hendrie steps onboard the Crystal Serenity for a weeks' round trip from Copenhagen It is a week in which the owner of A-lister haunt Nobu, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa (pictured), cooks two Omakase (leave it to the chef) dinners in his Umi Uma restaurant, and one in the private Vintage Room Eat your hearts out Posh and Becks, Brad Pitt and Taylor Swift: Caroline hangs out with Nobu As Master Chef Nobu pops in and out of the galley taking exquisitely crafted lobster salad with nashi pear and steamed turbot with caviar to the Vintage Room, we feast on his legendary miso black cod, wagyu beef and our fill of sushi and sashimi, noodles and light-as-air fried tofu. Attentive waiters make sure our glasses are never empty, pouring our choice of sake, wine or beer. While only 14 lucky guests get to enjoy these menus cooked by Nobu himself, everyone onboard the two Crystal ships can dine in the only Nobu restaurants at sea, included in their fare. Then Japanese-owned Crystal Cruises opened the first sushi bar on a cruise ship in 2008, with Nobu at the helm. And now, Crystal Serenity is even more swish, having been thoroughly revamped by her new owners A&K Travel in 2023, creating fewer, larger cabins, for just 700 or so passengers (and almost as many crew). Butlers abound - every cabin has one. Ours, Rodrigo from Brazil, glides in every afternoon with a tray of canapes, placing it on the coffee table in the roomy sitting area of our verandah suite on deck 8. He makes our dinner reservations and brings early morning tea too. Crystal Serenity is even more swish now, having been thoroughly revamped by her new owners A&K Travel in 2023, creating fewer, larger cabins, for just 700 or so passengers (and almost as many crew) Butlers abound - every cabin has one. Ours, Rodrigo from Brazil, glides in every afternoon with a tray of canapes, placing it on the coffee table in the roomy sitting area of our verandah suite on deck 8 We have a deep balcony, as well as a huge bathroom and walk-in wardrobe - the greatest luxury you can find on a ship; space. This precious spaciousness extends to the plentiful public areas We have a deep balcony, as well as a huge bathroom and walk-in wardrobe - the greatest luxury you can find on a ship; space. This precious spaciousness extends to the plentiful public areas. The lounges, bars, restaurants, nightclub, cinema and theatre are never crowded. And we can always find a table for al fresco lunches at the Marketplace buffet restaurant. And below our balcony, is the best ever promenade deck I have set foot on at sea. Broad and long, uncluttered by deckchairs or lifeboats, the sun-bleached deck wraps all the way around the ship. With lungfuls of fresh air walking forward, and the breeze on my back pushing me along, after ten laps Ive walked three miles. Down on deck 7, close to the waves, this is prime position to spot dolphins and the place to be for shimmering sunsets. There is dancing in the evenings in the Palm Court, with Ambassador Hosts ready to cut a rug if you havent brought a partner with you. The lounges, bars, restaurants, nightclub, cinema and theatre are never crowded We can always find a table for al fresco lunches at the Marketplace buffet restaurant The Palm Court also does a splendid afternoon tea. The cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream - the real thing from Cornwall - are worth missing lunch for The Palm Court also does a splendid afternoon tea. The cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream - the real thing from Cornwall - are worth missing lunch for. Umi Uma is not the only restaurant on board with menus created by a celebrated chef. Italian restaurant Osteria DOvidio has signature dishes from the Alajmo brothers three-Michelin-starred Le Calandre in Padua, along with their take on Venetian cuisine. The Spaghetti Con Bloody Mary has quite a kick. Meanwhile the glass-roofed Beef Bar, open for lunch and dinner, is much more than a steak house. Our table is laden with bao buns, Kobe beef tacos and beef ham with salty Panettone. Crystal Serenity is a sizeable ship, but nifty enough to get in close at ports of call. We are a ten-minute stroll around Oslo harbour to the striking Opera House with walk-over roof and cutting edge Munch Museum next door. Crystal Serenity is a sizeable ship, but nifty enough to get in close at ports of call With superb service, fine dining and the gentle pop of champagne corks from morning till night, on Crystal Serenity we are all A-listers at sea It is the same in Kristiansand. The shining new Kunstsilo, a sort of Tate Modern for Norway, stylishly converted from a disused 1930s grain silo, is just around the waterfront from our docking place. And in Copenhagen it is a pleasant waterside walk past the Little Mermaid statue to colourful old Nyhaven filled with bars and restaurants. With superb service, fine dining and the gentle pop of champagne corks from morning till night, on Crystal Serenity we are all A-listers at sea. Southwest Airlines is axing its popular policy that allowed larger travelers to book two seats for the price of one. Starting in January next year, the airline will slap on new conditions for passengers seeking refunds for extra seats. Southwest also plans to switch from open seating to assigned seats - a massive departure from its decades-old model. The 'customer of size' policy let passengers buy a second seat for comfort and then get that money back after the flight. But now, that refund won't come so easily. According to Southwest, travelers must now meet certain criteria to qualify for a refund. The flight must have had at least one open seat (or included passengers flying on space-available passes), both tickets must be purchased in the same fare class, and the refund request must be submitted within 90 days. Critics say the change will make air travel harder - and far more expensive - for passengers who don't fit into a standard seat. 'It seems like a sneaky add-on from a policy that had been around for 20+ years without much hitting the bottom line,' Jeff Jenkins, founder of the plus-size travel community Chubby Diaries, told USA Today. 'It's just more anxiety to an already high-anxiety experience.' Southwest Airlines is axing its popular policy that allowed larger travelers to book two seats for the price of one The once-celebrated 'customer of size' policy let passengers buy a second seat for comfort and then get that money back after the flight. But now, that refund won't come so easily Under the new rules, passengers who show up without a second seat pre-booked could be bumped to a later flight - and forced to pay a walk-up fare for the extra space, often hundreds of dollars more than if they had booked in advance. Southwest now defines a single seat as the space between two lowered armrests. Anyone who can't comfortably fit in that space will be required to purchase two seats ahead of time. The airline says fewer than 0.25 percent of passengers request extra seating, and insists the update is part of a broader revamp, but for the plus-size community, the impact is already being felt. Tigress Osborn, head of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, says many won't be able to gamble on whether they'll get their money back. 'They can't afford to take that gamble,' she wrote in an Instagram post. 'This will literally mean they cannot travel by air anymore.' Travelers like Corinne Fay, who runs the fashion newsletter Big Undies, say the refund policy was the only thing keeping Southwest affordable. Now, she's looking at a 2,400-mile round-trip drive to see her sister - rather than risk paying double for airfare, The Washington Post reported. According to Southwest, travelers must now jump through three hoops to qualify for a refund Southwest now defines a single seat as the space between two lowered armrests. Anyone who can't comfortably fit in that space will be required to purchase two seats ahead of time Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan 'I definitely felt like crying because it'll make my life a lot harder,' she said. 'We're talking about the difference between spending $400 versus $800 or even more.' Until recently, plus-size flyers could book a second seat at the gate and still get a refund - sometimes with help from agents who'd ask for volunteers to switch flights. But now, that flexibility is gone. Now, passengers must wait for the next flight with two open seats. And even if you book two seats in advance, there's no guarantee you'll sit next to yourself. 'Now that people are choosing seats, you need to buy your tickets as early as possible,' Osborn warned. 'But even then, there's no promise they won't move your seats.' Southwest hasn't confirmed whether it will ensure adjoining seats stay together, saying only that it will 'attempt' to rebook passengers on a later flight if needed. Unique Gibson, who has flown with the airline for 25 years, said the new policies strip away everything that once made it special for plus-size travelers: open seating, two free checked bags, and compassion. 'The things that aligned me with Southwest are gone,' she said. She's now canceling plans to honor the airline at her SuperSize Your Life Expo in October - and shopping around for other carriers for a group trip to Jamaica. 'It's a gut punch,' she said. 'The little breaks that I thought I could take, I may not be able to, because I can't afford to buy two tickets.' Daily Mail has reached out to Southwest for comment. What do we really know about the Battle of Hastings? According to one account, rather than getting an arrow in the eye, Harold Godwinson was hacked to pieces by a death squad that included William the Conqueror himself. Now though, new TV drama King and Conqueror is set to portray the pair as firm allies who fall out before their final clash in 1066. James Norton, who portrays Harold and is also the show's executive producer, said ahead of the drama's debut on the BBC on Sunday that he and William were 'friends' for years. But, as historian Richard Huscroft explained to the Daily Mail, the reality of the Norman Conquest and the events leading up to it is rather less romantic. 'I wouldn't say they were ever friends,' he said. 'They probably only met once before 1066, when Harold visited Normandy in 1065. 'Historians argue about whether Harold stayed there willingly or whether he was kept there by William, essentially as a hostage, until he agreed to support William's claim to the throne. 'The Bayeux Tapestry shows them hunting and feasting together at this time, but that might be just Norman propaganda.' King and Conqueror, which features Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William of Normandy, has been touted by the BBC as the 'story of a clash that defined the future of a country'. James Norton as King Harold II in King and Conqueror, alongside an 18th century depiction of England's last Anglo-Saxon king Norton said that William and Harold were 'friends' before their clash at the Battle of Hastings That much is certainly true. The Norman Conquest changed the course of British history and revolutionised society. King and Conqueror follows the lives of Harold and William and their respective wives Edith Swanneck and Matilda of Flanders in the years leading up to the Battle of Hastings. Edith is portrayed by Emily Beecham, whilst Matilda is depicted by Clemence Poesy. It was the death of Edward the Confessor in January 1066 that sparked the lead-up to the revolution in the English way of life. There were three contenders to replace Edward: his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy, and the Norwegian King Harald Hardrada. As Dr Huscroft explained, before Edward's death, Harold visited Normandy, where he met his key rival for what is believed to have been the first time. Historians say that he could have been under duress when he agreed to support William's own claim to the English throne. Either way, Harold's vow did not last long. On the same day that Edward died, Harold declared himself King. King Harold of England was defeated at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Above: The 11th century Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts Harold with an arrow through his eye James Norton as Harold Godwinson in King and Conqueror, which begins on the BBC on Sunday, August 24 Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William of Normandy in a battle scene in King and Conqueror James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as King Harold and William the Conqueror in new TV drama King and Conqueror, which is airing on the BBC It was this act of supposed treachery that triggered William's invasion. Speaking of his belief that William and Harold were once close, Norton told the PA news agency: 'What was really exciting when this idea was conceived was that, while most people know about the battle, far fewer know about the 20 or 30 years leading up to it, when William and Harold were actually friends, and their lives were intertwined through their wives, Matilda and Edith. 'They had this twisty, turny story, and these relationships and these people falling in and out of love, and at the heart of it are these two men who became friends and then adversaries. 'That piece of history, I think I and most of the people don't know anything about, so that's why we're so excited about the show, because it's the first time.' He added in comments released by the BBC: 'We know they [Harold and William] became friends. 'They were kindred spirits in this new generation of leaders in Europe, and the fact that they fought alongside each other, brothers in arms, in Normandy, gives us a lot in terms of how close they had become, and then how this reversed by the time they got to the Battle of Hastings.' Dr Huscroft, who is the author of books including Ruling England 10421227 and The Norman Conquest: A New Introduction and is head of history at Westminster School, also cast doubt on Norton's claim about William and Harold's wives. Historians remain unsure about the exact nature of the relationship between Harold and Edith Swanneck. Their union may not have been a formal wedding. And, confusingly, Harold went on to formally marry another woman called Edith. The Ediths do not stop there. Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William of Normandy, and a 16th century portrait of the monarch Clemence Poesy as Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William of Normandy in King and Conqueror. Right: A 1925 depiction of the Norman Queen of England Emily Beechham as Edith Swan-neck, the reputed wife of King Harold. Right: Horace Vernet's 1827 depiction of Edith encountering Harold's body after the Battle of Hastings 'There may be a confusion here with Edward the Confessor's wife, also called Edith, who was Harold's sister,' Dr Huscroft added. 'Even then I don't know of anything directly linking Edward's wife Edith to William's wife Matilda.' Norton, who previously starred in BBC police drama Happy Valley, said he has never put so much work into a single project before. 'We've been developing this for over seven years. I think we worked out that the idea originally came to us in 2019, and it's the sheer amount of time, work, blood, sweat, and tears that have just gone into it,' he said. 'I was over every draft, every note session, every twist and turn in the kind of tone, story, and character-building of this world. 'The stakes are high and they've never been as high. 'I've never put so much time and work into one project, I don't think in my whole life.' Coster-Waldau said: 'We know the consequences of what would happen without William the Conqueror, we probably wouldn't have King Charles III today. Eddie Marsan as Edward the Confessor, whose death in January 1066 triggered major upheaval. Right: The depiction of Edward in the Bayeux Tapestry Luther Ford as Tostig Godwinson, the brother of King Harold. Right: Tostig Godwinson and King Harald Hardrada of Norway receive the submission of the city of York, 1066 Juliet Stevenson as Lady Emma of Normandy, who was Queen of England through her marriages to King thelred the Unready and then King Cnut. Right: A contemporary depiction of the queen 'It's such a compelling story about these two men who at first you think that could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and then it becomes something quite different. 'I didn't know anything about this history, and once I started doing my research and reading about it, I was really surprised by how different Europe looked back then and the influence of the Normans and the Vikings, how great that was at that time.' Dr Huscroft said in response: 'It's true that there is a line of succession connecting William and Charles, but an awful lot of other things happened in the intervening thousand years to end up with things as they are now. 'What if Elizabeth I or Queen Anne had had children who survived them?' Eddie Marsan, who stars as Edward the Confessor in the series, said he knew very little about his character beforehand but was drawn to his religious obsession. 'I find people who have a kind of religious obsession fascinating,' says the 57-year-old London-born actor. 'So I was really interested in playing that. He had a lot of faith and a lot of fear, those two things and the dichotomy of those is what attracted me to playing him.' 'In this story he is so powerless which I found really interesting. I'm a member of the British Humanist Association. William the Conqueror depicted after his victory at the Battle of Hastings 'But I find religious thought fascinating, of why people believe what they believe, and why they choose that narrative. 'And he was choosing a narrative, I believe, and I don't think it will be all religious people [who] do it, but Edward in this story is choosing a narrative based on desperation, and that is fascinating.' Marsan joked that he thinks King Edward was possibly asexual and would have chosen to be a monk if he hadn't married. 'You've got James and Nikolaj and they're sexy and macho and then there's this asexual man in the middle who can't make his mind up. I think that makes great drama.' Dr Huscroft said: 'Edward was famously pious he was made a saint in the twelfth century. 'He was married but had no children. Contemporaries interpreted this as deliberate celibacy and a sign of his sanctity. 'In reality, perhaps there were medical reasons. I'm not sure about [Marsan's claim he was] asexual. 'Either way, his failure to leave an heir led to the succession dispute between Harold and William, culminating the Battle of Hastings.' King & Conqueror airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday, August 24. Former Sri Lankan president Wickremesinghe arrested over alleged misuse of state funds Xinhua) 10:56, August 23, 2025 Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe is arrested in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Aug. 22, 2025. Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua) COLOMBO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. Wickremesinghe was arrested for charges of misusing state funds to visit London to attend a graduation ceremony of his wife, during his tenure as president in September 2023, according to local media. It is the first time a former executive president has been arrested in Sri Lanka's history, and he has been brought to the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court following his arrest, according to local media. As part of the investigations, the CID had previously recorded statements from the former president's private secretary and his presidential secretary. Wickremesinghe arrived at the CID to provide a statement on Friday morning, and he was taken into custody following the recording of the statement, said media reports. File photo taken on Sept. 21, 2024 shows Ranil Wickremesinghe (Front) leaving a polling station after casting his vote for the presidential election 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Aug. 22, 2025 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. (Xinhua/Wu Yue) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Businesses across Java and Sumatra continue to struggle with prolonged disruptions in natural gas supply, despite assurances from state-owned distributor PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) that conditions are gradually stabilizing. Several factories reported a modest improvement in gas pressure after weeks of drastic declines that had forced them to halt production, but many said supply remained unreliable. Gas station officers are refueling a motorcycle driver at one of the gas stations located in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia in November 2023. Photo by NurPhoto via AFP Industry representatives noted that numerous sectors had been compelled to switch to light oil, compressed natural gas (CNG) or even coal alternatives described as unsustainable due to high costs and the setback they pose to Indonesias energy transition goals. The shortage began on August 13, following unplanned maintenance by cooperation contractors. Since then, industrial consumers have received only 48% of their usual allocations, with consumption above this threshold incurring surcharges of up to 120% of the base regasification price. According to Indonesias Ministry of Industry, the situation threatens around 135,000 jobs in sectors reliant on the special gas pricing scheme (HGBT), including ceramics, fertilizers and food processing. Analysts warned that if shortages persist, many plants may be forced to reduce capacity, cut staff and face declining competitiveness. Sex And The City's divisive reboot And Just Like That... has concluded after three seasons - closing the book of Carrie Bradshaw's life. When AJLT first hit screens in 2021, fans of the original show - which ran from 1998 to 2004 with 94 episodes across six series - waited with baited breath to revisit Carrie's story, in the wake of the less than palatable 2008 and 2010 movies. Yet breath remained baited when the reboot hit screens, only to be met with a wall of criticism for excessive 'woke' storylines and clumsy attempts to introduce more diversity, in apparent reaction to sensitivites over a lack of people of colour in the early series. Tongues wagged in the lead-up due to the absence of Kim Cattrall, who refused to reprise her role as Samantha Jones - best friend to Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie, Kristin Davis' Charlotte York-Goldenblatt and Cynthia Nixon's Miranda Hobbes. Her well-publicised feud with 'mean girl' Sarah was the reasoning behind her refusal to return, however the gaping hole of sex positive Samantha was felt when Michael Patrick King decided to fill the gap with a slew of woke characters and stories. From Miranda's 'late life' lesbianism with nonbinary comic Che to Charlotte's kids' gender battles and various race issues, a look at the 'most woke moments': Sex And The City's divisive reboot And Just Like That... has concluded after three seasons - closing the book of Carrie Bradshaw's life - yet the show has been plagued with issues over 'wokeism' and failures from bosses to rebrand the previously criticised SATC When AJLT first hit screens in 2021, fans of the original show waited with baited breath to revisit Carrie's life, in the wake of the less than palatable 2008 and 2010 movies (Sarah Jessica Parker, pictured as Carrie in 1998) Cynthia Nixon's character Miranda Hobbes' romance with Che Diaz - played by non-binary star Sara Ramirez - came under fire and was deemed to ruin her character Sex And The City ran from 1998 to 2004 with 94 episodes across six series with two movies (PICTURED: L-R Kristin Davis as Charlotte York, Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes, Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw and Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones) CHE DIAZ AND MIRANDA'S SEXUAL AWAKENING Unfairly or not, Che Diaz - played by non-binary star Sara Ramirez, who uses they/them pronouns - was the launchpad of the woke critiques of the series. Their stand-up comedian character was introduced as the co-host and producer of Carrie's podcast, who is seen in episode one to have a 'Woke Moment Button' in her studio before engaging in a romance with Miranda. Throughout both Sex And The City and the movies, Miranda had always been a heterosexual, however Che is depicted as the founder of her true sexuality. Miranda and Steve (played by David Eigenberg) were a long-standing on-off couple on the show yet their marriage ended when Miranda met Che Che, a newcomer to the spin-off series who introduced themselves as a 'queer nonbinary Mexican Irish diva,' struck up the relationship with Miranda after she abandoned her marriage to husband Steve Brady. Sex made its comeback entirely when Che and Miranda enjoyed a drunked tryst in Carrie's kitchen while the former lay in bed recovering from surgery. Fans were left enraged by Che - branding their character 'insufferably woke' and accused them of '[setting] back non-binary representation 70 years.' Che was at one point seen to urge a co-star to ask questions like: 'What can I, as a straight cis-male, personally do to eradicate the harmful patriarchal system of the gender binary and compulsorily heterosexuality?' Che, a newcomer to the spin-off series who introduced themselves as a 'queer nonbinary Mexican Irish diva,' struck up the relationship with Miranda after she abandoned her marriage to husband Steve Brady They were axed from the show after two seasons, because their character Che was a 'waste of airtime,' according to insiders - in a shutdown of claims they were dropped due to their pro-palestine views. It was claimed that Sara's head had been 'on the chopping block since season two' because their character 'held no value anymore' and was 'annoying.' Hitting out at Miranda's sexual awakening, fans flooded Twitter, with users writing: 'Making Miranda gay is one of the reasons AJLT failed. Fans wanted to see the ladies they loved with the guys they loved. They didn't want to see all this woke nonsense!... 'I loathed the first season of #AJLT and stopped watching and canceled the streaming service. Too woke, too ridiculous. And what they did to Miranda was unforgivable. Very happy Kim Catrall stayed away... 'Fans loved the Steve & Miranda relationship. Making Miranda gay is one of the reasons AJLT failed. Fans wanted to see the ladies they loved with the guys they loved'. Miranda's sexual evolution appeared to take steps backwards rather than help progress things Hitting out at Miranda's sexual awakening, fans flooded Twitter, with users writing: 'Making Miranda gay is one of the reasons AJLT failed. Fans wanted to see the ladies they loved with the guys they loved. They didn't want to see all this woke nonsense!' Kim Cattrall's disappearance did not help matters for early fans (Kim, right, in 2000) CLUMSY ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE DIVERSITY Sex And The City was plagued with criticism for the lack of diversity on the show - with people of colour either falling victim to tokenism of merely starring as staff. Problems arose from Samantha's dalliance with Chivon, a Black music executive, whose 'big black c**k is detailed', Miranda's union with Dr Robert Leeds and Carrie refusing to date a bisexual man due to her lack of belief in the sexual orientation. So And Just Like That... appeared to be a chance for creators to remedy the pitfall. Despite this, the diversity on offer became a hodepodge of clumsy attempts, with Elle detailing: 'The revival was more than a disastrous train wreck. It was 'wokeness' and 'diversity' messily packaged into three rich white women's lives.' After a significant lack of people of colour in the original SATC, Nicole Ari Parker (right) joined the cast as Lisa Todd Wexley while the character of Black Columbia law professor, Dr Nya Wallace, played by Karen Pittman (left) also joined Additionally, real estate agent Seema Patel - played by Sarita Choudhury - was considered poor replacement for Samantha The introduction of Black Columbia law professor, Dr Nya Wallace, played by Karen Pittman, as Miranda's tutor, sees the latter fumble their first meeting with gaffes over Nya's braided hairdo and later attempts to be a 'white ally'. The Guardian described the moment, writing: 'It's the heavy-handed overcompensation of a show founded on four white, privileged, heterosexual women; atoning for SATC's history of racial cluelessness, AJLT confronts issues of race head on, with Miranda on the receiving end of its newly woke sensibilities.' In the next episode she references Ibram X. Kendi's 2019 book How to Be an Antiracist, in yet another clumsy attempt at awareness. Nicole Ari Parker's character Lisa Todd Wexley is also branded 'Black Charlotte', in a nod to her likenesses to her fellow school mom Charlotte, yet the need to reference her skin colour left fans baffled and enraged. Additionally, real estate agent Seema Patel - played by Sarita Choudhury - was considered a poor replacement for Samantha. Sarita, who is of English and Indian-Bengali roots, has been dubbed a 'checklist' addition to the cast due to showrunners' desperation to add diversity. One of Seema's storylines sees her take Carrie to a Diwali party, prior to which she takes her shopping in what they describe as 'a sari shop' - although the shop in question only displays lehengas not saris. The introduction of Black Columbia law professor, Dr Nya Wallace, played by Karen Pittman, as Miranda's tutor, sees the latter fumble their first meeting with gaffes ober Nya's braided hairdo and later attempts to be a 'white ally' Miranda's union with Dr Robert Leeds in series five of SATC was one of the few featuring a person of colour in the predominantly white cast Nicole Ari Parker's character Lisa Todd Wexley is also branded 'Black Charlotte', in a nod to her likenesses to her fellow school mom Charlotte, yet the need to reference her skin colour left fans baffled and enraged One of Seema's storylines sees her take Carrie to a Diwali party, prior to which she takes her sari shopping in what they describe as 'a sari shop' - although the shop in question only displays lehengas not saris CHARLOTTE'S FAMILY'S IDENTITIES Eternally prudish Charlotte's storylines centre around her family life - with her daughter Rose's evolution into non-binary Rock taking hold. In a further nod to spreading the SATC universe's wings, Charlotte's child, played by Alexa Swinton, is seen trying to navigate coming out as non-binary. Speaking about the storyline later on, Alexa said: 'I think for parents who have children who are trying to explore their gender identity, it's so comforting to see someone on screen they can almost relate to... 'Charlotte is also trying to figure it out. I am proud to be part of this because we need representation on television, and it's something we don't have enough of... 'I'm glad we're evolving and adding more characters like this every single day with every show that comes on.' Despite her passion over her own character's storyline, others have insisted: 'Che and Rock's storylines play into the fallacy that all gender non-conforming people are difficult' - among other criticisms. On top of Rock's story, their sister Lily's polyamorous boyfriend also set tongues wagging due to the alleged 'unnecessary' nature of the storyline. Eternally prudish Charlotte's storylines centre around her family life - with her daughter Rose's evolution into non-binary Rock taking hold Fat Ham (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon) Verdict: Rude but fun Rating: The poetry in Fat Ham a comic version of Hamlet set at a backyard barbecue has been raucously displaced by outrageous, X-rated repartee, delivered in a deep Southern drawl. James Ijamess Pulitzer prize-winning play is a provocatively irreverent take on Shakespeares tragedy. Our hero is Juicy (Olisa Odele), a young, gay, black man trying to break family tradition by doing an HR course online (school on a cell phone). Ghost at the barbecue: Juicy (Olisa Odele) is startled by the ghost of his father, 'Pap' (Sule Rimi), who pops up at the backyard get-together that is meant to be his wake The barbecue is actually a wake. Juicys preacher uncle Rev (Sule Rimi) has had his father Pap murdered in prison... with a toothbrush. Its a grotesque treatment by Ijames, who uses Hamlet to celebrate and lament black lives in the Deep South. Instead of a play within the play to expose Rev, we get charades. And as well as soliloquies, Juicy delivers a stirring karaoke version of Radioheads Creep. But its Ijamess love of his uncensored characters that drives the show. Theres Odeles puzzled, fearful and sensitive Juicy; Rimis boorish uncle (who also plays the gibbering ghost of Juicys father); and Kieran Taylor-Ford as Juicys buddy Tio, whose hilarious rhapsody on gingerbread men could be right out of South Park. The women are something to behold, too; in particular Andi Osho, as Juicys hot, middle-aged mum Tedra whos a bit of a karaoke star herself. Mamma's boy: Juicy (Olisa Odele) with his mother Tedra (Andi Osho) in Fat Ham at the RSC's Swan Theatre in Stratford Sideeq Heards production is fitted with excellent illusions (including a smoking ghost), while Maruti Evanss set is a mongrel of real decking, fake grass, and sliding doors fixed to giant photos of the family home. Fat Ham (the name is never fully explained) is a joyously disreputable, 100-minute verbal rollercoaster, descending into full-scale bedlam and a drag finale. Shakespeare must be jiving in his grave. Fat Ham is on at the Swan Theatre in Stratford upon Avon until September 13. Twelfth Night (Shakespeares Globe, London) Verdict: Poetry in commotion Rating: Poetry may not be the winner in the Globes new Twelfth Night. But that doesnt stop this new production from being frivolous and frisky fun. Evading the melancholy that sometimes colours performances of the play, it employs a mash-up of traditions Latin American carnival, English mumming, ancient Egyptian sun worship to conjure up the magical setting of Illyria. The shipwrecked Viola (Ronke Adekoluejo), who washes up on shore in modern Nigerian weeds and trainers, is soon enchanted by this tutti frutti universe. She is enlisted as a go-between for the lovelorn Duke Orsino (Solomon Israel), who hopes to seduce the virtuous Lady Olivia (Laura Hanna), whos in extended mourning for her brother. But the revelation of the evening is Pearce Quigley as Olivias manservant Malvolio. Quigley (from TVs Detectorists) looks like an Old Testament prophet and turns a character often seen as a dour killjoy into a furtive Lothario; albeit one who takes a Teddy bear to bed. The audience loves him, and by the end he wins groans (of sympathy) from the groundlings. Unlikely lothario: Malvolio (Pearce Quigley) proves to be a crowd favourite in the Globe's new production of Twelfth Night Theres also fun in the mischievous sub-plot, with one of the boozy errant knights, Toby Belch, re-created as a bawdy Lady Belch (Jocelyn Jee Esien), conspiring with her lover, Olivias muck-raking maid Maria (Alison Halstead). Instead of plodding political correctness, this adds a light-hearted feminine touch to the often bovine male shenanigans led by the psychedelically garbed Andrew Aguecheek (Ian Drysdale). Robin Belfields production is a work of out-and-out crowd-pleasing comedy, engaging the audience at each and every turn. The Globe is often a set-designers graveyard and Jean Chans staging, centred on a giant sun with thick wooden sun beams extending in all directions, does look a tad clunky. But Simon Slaters punkish score turns terrace chant Here We Go! into a can-can and ensures the clamour and clatter of Shakespeares comedy comes out on top. Twelfth Night runs at Shakespeare's Globe until October 25. The Gathered Leaves (Park Theatre, Finsbury Park, London) Verdict: Scattered themes Rating: The Gathered Leaves has many moving insights into the highs and lows of living with autism, but is rather less successful as a family drama. Set in 1997, and thoughtfully directed by former RSC boss Adrian Noble, it stars Jonathan Hyde as William patriarchal throwback to a pre-war era who is celebrating his 75th birthday with a family reunion. Flocking to the event are eight other characters: in particular Williams now grown-up autistic son Samuel (Richard Stirling), and Samuels protective doctor brother Giles (Chris Larkin, son of Maggie Smith and brother of Toby Stephens). Birthday boy William is furious at his estranged daughter Alice (Olivia Vinall), for turning up late to dinner - even though she has only just returned to the country, after running away to France 17 years earlier with her mixed-race baby (Taneetrah Porter). Make a wish: William (Jonathan Hyde) is celebrating his 75th birthday surrounded by his family. But he's not happy with them, and the feeling is mutual, in The Gathered Leaves Also at the party is Giless angry wife (Zoe Waites), their warring children (George Lorimer and Ella Dale) and Williams wife (Joanne Pearce, who is actually married to the director). She admonishes her husband, nurtures everyone else and keeps Samuels autism in check with Aga-baked jam tarts. We learn a lot about changes in social attitudes to autism over the course of two hours and 40 minutes. But as our main man William, Hyde has a very tricky job, and it isnt clear if his violently erratic behaviour is triggered by autism, dementia, or an extreme case of Victorian Dad syndrome. Indeed, while everyone around him quotes the Bob Hoskins BT ad about being good to talk, or the Nicole/Papa Renault Clio ad, he is isolated in his double-breasted pinstripe suit behind a broadsheet battlement of The Times. His son Giles, in his faded rugby shirt and saggy Barbour coat, gets the play over the line with a tense yet warm performance as a long-suffering man whose life is falling apart. Otherwise, Andrew Keatleys family saga - on Dick Birds plush set painted in ghostly neutrals - feels like a string of unresolved revelations without a dramatic motor. The mood meter swings from toe-curling to sentimental to dyspeptic, and back. Nobles fluent staging has a lot going for it, but the scattered themes never quite cohere. The Gathered Leaves runs until September 20. She was once one of the world's most talked-about women - the unknown Australian waitress-slash-model who managed to capture the heart of Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron back in 2020. But Vanessa Valladares' peasant-to-princess fantasy was snuffed out after just 10 months, and the budding socialite returned to obscurity. So what has Vanessa been doing? What every Byron Bay cool girl is doing - travelling around Europe for the summer with her artist boyfriend, Todd Clare. The brunette, who posts once or twice a month to her carefully-curated Instagram feed, has been country-hopping since May this year, first paying a visit to Madrid. Sharing a gallery of photos from her travels, she wrote: 'have found a quiet joy in the sound of old church bells ringing through the timeworn streets. Their music, weathered and wise, somehow gathers me into the moment.' Vanessa Valladares was once one of the world's most talked-about women - the unknown Australian waitress-slash-model who managed to capture the heart of Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron back in 2020 Valladares (pictured) has been living a quiet life since their whirlwind romance four years ago 'In a world cluttered with noise, these tones feel strangely comforting and enduring, equally alongside the many beautiful details one loves in an old city,' she added, finishing her prose with: 'Moments in Madrid'. In June, the couple flew to Portugal, where they spent time at the beach, exploring the cobbled streets and visiting art galleries. A month later, they hopped on a plane to Milan, with Vanessa sharing photos of the couple exploring more art galleries including a minimalist exhibition called NADA by Belgian artist Thierry De Cordier. Prior to her trip, Vanessa dabbled in some modelling jobs, posing in a campaign for photography equipment brand Urth back in October 2024. She also appeared nude in an art publication called P Magazine in the same month. In December 2024 she appeared in editorial photo shoots for fashion brand The Silk, skincare brand The Rest and a manifestation school called Uma. Vanessa now appears to be back home in Byron Bay, as just this week she posted about visiting a local breathwork studio for a much-needed unwind. Vanessa split from Zac in September 2021, and has since deleted all photos of the couple on Instagram. The model has been travelling around Europe for the summer with her artist boyfriend, Todd Clare (left) The brunette, who posts once or twice a month to her carefully-curated Instagram feed, has been country-hopping since May this year, first paying a visit to Madrid In June, the couple flew to Portugal, where they spent time at the beach, exploring the cobbled streets and visiting art galleries Ever the model, Vanessa effortlessly posed in her swimwear during an impromptu photo shoot in Madrid It's unclear how long Vanessa has been dating her artist boyfriend According to various reports, Zac was introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June 2020, and the pair immediately hit it off. Two months later, in August, Daily Mail revealed Zac had cancelled his scheduled return flight to Los Angeles because he 'didn't really want to go back'. Within weeks, the genetically-blessed couple had moved in together in Byron Bay. Zac confirmed their relationship in September when they were spotted holding hands in public. Vanessa accompanied her famous boyfriend as he travelled around Australia for various work projects from late 2020 to early 2021. But it was confirmed in April 2021 they had called it quits, with Zac's friend Kyle Sandilands announcing on his KIIS FM radio show: 'I can confirm [the break-up], after speaking with him yesterday.' Vanessa split from Zac in September 2021, and has since deleted all photos of the couple on Instagram Vanessa is pictured posing with one of Todd's artworks Good Morning Britain's Charlotte Hawkins has revealed her wilder party-girl side as she posed for pictures like you've never seen her before. The broadcaster, who celebrated her 50th birthday in May, has been a staple of the ITV breakfast programme since its launch in 2014 after she left Sky News. While Charlotte displays a softer and more reserved tone on GMB compared to her other co-hosts, she's revealed she loves a party off-screen and a shot of tequila. She's also gearing up for a getaway with her friends to celebrate her milestone birthday - and admitted she'll 'probably be up all night'. Speaking to woman&home for their September issue, she said: If you go to Ibiza, youve got to throw yourself into it, havent you? 'I do like a good night out, drinking cocktails and tequila shots!' Good Morning Britain's Charlotte Hawkins has revealed her wilder party-girl side as she posed for pictures like you've never seen her before While Charlotte displays a softer and more reserved tone on GMB compared to her other co-hosts, she's revealed she loves a party off-screen and a shot of tequila The mum-of-one looked just like a super model as she submerged herself in a swimming pool while wearing a white dress for the shoot Charlotte also revealed how she was a rebellious child, thanks to her father being a vicar, as she described her upbringing as 'straight-laced'. She said: 'As a teenager, I wasnt climbing out of windows, but I did stay over at friends houses and go clubbing, and I probably drove my parents to distraction.' Sharing details of her party side, Charlotte posed up a storm in sizzling new pictures for this next month's Women&Home magazine. The mum-of-one looked just like a super model as she submerged herself in a swimming pool while wearing a white dress for the shoot. Another snap showed the busy mum on a sun lounger as she rocked a black vest top and white shorts, showing off her bronzed legs while her blonde curly hair flowed in the breeze. Charlotte oozed elegance after an outfit change as she modelled a sheer black dress that featured a plunging neckline. Her petite figure was on full display as she also posed in a monochrome swimsuit that featured a white belt at the stomach and a sheer train from the waist. Speaking about her 50th birthday, Charlotte said how her husband Mark Herbert, who is her 'soulmate' took her for a special lunch after she had come off air, before they celebrated with daughter Ella that evening. Sharing details of her party side, Charlotte posed up a storm in sizzling new pictures for this next month's Women&Home magazine Another snap showed the busy mum on a sun lounger as she rocked a black vest top and white shorts, showing off her bronzed legs while her blonde curly hair flowed in the breeze Charlotte oozed elegance after an outfit change as she modelled a sheer black dress that featured a plunging neckline Good Morning Britain fans are used to seeing Charlotte displaying a more reserved side with her modest frocks for the breakfast programme The following day, she partied with old friends: 'All my friends from university came around the following night for a dinner party, and we booked an amazing chef, then danced until the early hours.' While Charlotte is glam first thing in the morning, she revealed once she gets home she changes straight into her joggers. She said: He [Mark] thinks its funny, because Ill come back from work with my make-up and hair done, but its not long before Ive changed into my jogging bottoms and T-shirt. 'We just had a garage conversion done and Im doing the painting myself, so often when he comes back Im covered in paint. I think he thinks, Wheres this woman I saw on television? Ive got a paint-splattered version with her hair in a scrunchy! Gushing about Mark, who she married in 2008, Charlotte said: 'Mark is my soulmate. When I was younger, I always thought, "Theres one person out there who is meant to be with you, who will completely complement who you are," and thats what we are for each other. 'Hes got a great sense of humour, and we have a lot of fun times and a lot of laughter. Thats so important.' The October issue of woman&home is on sale 28th August 2025 Brittany Cartwright seems to have found love again after her turbulent marriage and divorce. The Valley star, 36 who claimed ex-Jax Taylor 'threw a coffee table' at her during an 'aggressive' argument has found a good guy, according to her costar and pal Kristen Doute, 42. The two reality stars attended Narwal's End of Summer Soiree in Los Angeles on Thursday, and Cartwright's new guy was her plus one for the event. Photos obtained by The US Sun showed the former Vanderpump Rules star spending time with the mystery man, who wore a white T-shirt and dark jeans. 'It was clear he was Brittanys date for the evening,' a source said of the mystery man, even though Cartwright also arrived with Doute. 'He was very respectful and gave them their distance to have a girls chat, but he only had eyes for Brittany,' they added. 'At one point, he was seen rubbing her shoulders.' The two reportedly got cozy as Cartwright is in the midst of a contentious divorce from her estranged husband Jax Taylor. Brittany Cartwright, 36, has a new man in her life and brought him as her plus-one to Narwal's End of Summer Soiree in Los Angeles on Thursday Cartwright left husband Jax Taylor, 46, in February 2024 and filed for divorce in August 2024. It has not been finalized; Pictured in Los Angeles in March 2023 The source also claimed that Cartwright and her male pal were holding hands on their way to the valet stand. 'Brittany looked quite smitten and was glowing all evening,' they claimed. 'She appeared to be enjoying his company and they made a cute couple.' While the Kentucky native kept mum about her unidentified male friend, new mom Doute was only too happy to share the good news. 'She has someone in her life that's really amazing that I am head over heels for,' Doute told People. 'She's dated people during her single years since her ex-husband, and I have not approved of them. They've been fine, but not wonderful. This person is very wonderful and very cool. Very family-feeling,' she said. Cartwright shares her son Cruz, three, with Taylor and her fella has at least one kid himself, according to Doute. 'He's a dad, so it makes it really easy,' Doute explained, adding 'a lot easier and understandable.' In part one of The Valley reunion, Cartwright detailed a lengthy list of alleged abuses hurled at her by Taylor, 46. Photos obtained by The US Sun showed the former Vanderpump Rules star spending time with the mystery man, who wore a white T-shirt and dark jeans While Cartwright kept mum about her new boyfriend, new mom Doute was only too happy to share the good news. 'She has someone in her life that's really amazing that I am head over heels for,' she told People 'She's dated people during her single years since her ex-husband, and I have not approved of them,' Doute said. 'This person is very wonderful and very cool. Very family-feeling' Kristen and her fiance Luke Broderick welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Kaia Lily, in June; pictured April In part one of The Valley reunion, Cartwright detailed a lengthy list of abuses hurled at her by Taylor, 46. She accused Taylor of throwing a coffee table and bar stools and more at her during 'aggressive' argument Cartwright said she is focusing on herself. 'I just want to have fun with my friends, have fun with my baby.' She share son Cruz, three, with Taylor In May, Cartwright became linked to Grammy winner Will Gittens in May; Pictured in Los Angeles in September 2024 In addition to allegedly throwing the coffee table, the former Vanderpump Rules star said her ex 'threw both bar stools, he threw my Stanley cup and broke it.' 'He threw my phone and broke it. He threw my laptop and broke it,' before claiming Taylor 'threw me into the rose bushes.' When the former bartender denied doing it, Cartwright hit back, 'Yes, you did. It's on my Ring camera doorbell. My close friends up here have seen the videos.' The pair married in 2019, and separated in February 2024. Cartwright filed for divorce in August of that year, but it has not been finalized yet. As for her post-split life, Cartwright said she's in a better place now. 'I've been through so much,' she told People. 'I want to focus on me.' 'I just want to have fun with my friends, have fun with my baby [Cruz] and just do fun positive things because I'm so past the drama that I had for so long in my life, and I feel like I've grown so much and I've changed so much,' she explained of her new outlook. 'I'm excited to just have fun and explore this new me. Let go of the dead weight, let go of the drama and just enjoy my life and my family and my friends,' she said. As for the new guy, Cartwright isn't going public with that, but she has been linked to Grammy winner Will Gittens, 33. During an appearance on the Give Them Lala podcast with Lala Kent in May, Cartwright's former VPR castmate also gave her seal of approval to the new relationship. 'I like it. And I like him. He's talented,' she said. Chris Pratt and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger enjoyed some fun in the sun in recent days when they visited his mother-in-law Maria Shriver and her family. The 46-year-old Avengers star beamed while enjoying time on the water at the ShriverKennedy stomping grounds of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In photos posted Friday to Instagram by his 35-year-old wife, Pratt showcased his superhero physique while getting chummy with Maria's younger brother Anthony Shriver, 60, and Katherine's younger brother Christopher. The extended family outing came just days after Pratt stirred up fury on social media when he shared his support for his extended family member, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda for the Trump administration. The actor was mostly pictured shirtless in his wife's photos, including one of him with a towel wrapped around his waist as he sat on a boat next to his mother-in-law Shriver and his and Katherine's five-year-old daughter Lyla. Shriver looked festive in a pink-tinged patterned dress with white tear dropshaped tassels and a white visor that wasn't quite able to prevent her long hair from whipping around in the wind. Chris Pratt, 46, and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, 35, enjoyed some fun in the sun in recent days when they visited his mother-in-law Maria Shriver, 69, and her family. Katherine shared photos from their vacation on Cape Cod on Friday Katherine made one of her few appearances in her photoset in a group photo with her uncle Anthony Anthony Shriver and her mother Katherine made one of her few appearances in her photoset in a group photo with her uncle Anthony, who pulled Maria and one of the younger Shriver family members in for a photo on the boat. The brothersister duo bore a striking resemblance as they beamed for the camera. Like many members of his famous families, Anthony has devoted himself to helping others as an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. He's the founder and chairman of the non-profit Best Buddies, which creates social opportunities for adults and children with developmental disabilities, as well as helping to find suitable jobs for those adults. While they relaxed on the boat, Pratt cooled down in the water with his daughter Lyla. In one sweet snap, he gazed up at the camera as he treaded water while his daughter wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He also showed off his competitive side as he joined some of his in-laws to climb a tall red-and-white buoy, which Katherine shared a video of to her Instagram Stories. Katherine also snapped a photo of her brother Christopher, 27, who showed off his impressive weight loss in a white linen button-up shirt and faded coral-colored shorts. The brothersister duo bore a striking resemblance as they beamed for the camera While they relaxed on the boat, Pratt cooled down in the water with his daughter Lyla He also showed off his competitive side as he joined some of his in-laws to climb a tall red-and-white buoy, which Katherine shared a video of to her Instagram Stories Katherine also snapped a photo of her brother Christopher, 27, who showed off his impressive weight loss in a white linen button-up shirt and faded coral-colored shorts Another of Katherine's extended family members appeared to be having a conversation with Lyla at the bow of the boat in one photo 'A perfect day,' Katherine captioned her post He's often seen with a beard, but he had trimmed it down to a stylish mustache and some designer stubble. Katherine captioned her post, 'A perfect day.' Another of Katherine's extended family members appeared to be having a conversation with Lyla at the bow of the boat in one photo. In addition to Lyla, Pratt and Schwarzenegger also share their three-year-old daughter Eloise and their nine-month-old son Ford, though it wasn't clear if all of the children had joined them. Pratt also has an older son, 13-year-old Jack, whom he shares with his ex-wife Anna Faris, whom he was married to from 2009 to 2018. He began dating Schwarzenegger that year, and the couple tied the knot in June of 2019 in a ceremony in Montecito, California, that included Katherine's mother and her father, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Earlier this week, her husband found himself in the middle of a political firestorm that earned him the internet's ire. The Guardians of the Galaxy star sparked outrage after publicly defending his extended family member, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during a recent appearance on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast. Earlier this week, Pratt once again found himself in the middle of a political firestorm after defending Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; seen in August 2025 While Pratt framed his remarks as an appeal for bipartisanship and reason, critics online quickly accused him of excusing policies that harm vulnerable communities. On X (formerly Twitter), the reaction was swift and scathing. One user fumed: 'What a tone deaf a**hole. There's nothing funny and wonderful about cutting cancer research and funding, while firing teams of experts so rich people can get richer and sick people can die.' The criticism trended throughout the day, with more and more piling on to drag the father-of-four of legitimizing Kennedy's controversial stances. Some users connected the comments directly to real-world consequences, citing grant cuts that disrupted medical research, while others argued Pratt's statements reflect a long-running pattern of political missteps. Despite Pratt's insistence that his comments were meant to highlight shared goals, such as reducing toxins in food, many online saw his defense of RFK Jr. as reckless at best, harmful at worst. 'Policy changes rarely ever consider the actual people they hit,' one critic wrote, pointing to the way NIH funding cuts had already derailed graduate students' research. Another user summed up the mood more bluntly: 'Stop being mean to Chris Pratt you don't know his politics.' While Pratt framed his remarks as an appeal for bipartisanship and reason, critics online quickly accused him of excusing policies that harm vulnerable communities The A-list actor, who has often sought unity in divided political times, is married to actress Katherine Schwarzenegger, a cousin by marriage to Kennedy. In an appearance on Club Random, Pratt told Bill Maher - who counts Kennedy as a friend and has had him on both his talk show and his podcast - that there are parts of the 'MAHA' agenda he loves and that he wishes him well in his efforts. 'I hope there are certain things that he oversees that seem to be supported in a bipartisan way, like getting terrible, toxic stuff out of our kids' food. I think that's a great thing. And so, like, just - if you just do that, that's amazing.' He adds that when spending time with Kennedy he's willing to listen and hear him out but while he doesn't always assume everything RFK Jr. is saying is true, he refuses to hate the HHS Secretary. 'I'd hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I'd have an allergic reaction to. To be like, 'Oh, well, if they do it, I don't want it to happen. I'll put Clorox in my children's cereal myself.' 'You know, it's like, come on, be reasonable here. There's certain things that would be a good thing to have. I want them all to be successful,' Pratt said. Maher agreed that Kennedy was a great guy, saying he loves him but has some advice for his work in Washington. 'I love him. I don't agree with everything, but I agree with, like, the overall view that what makes us sick is the toxicity,' Maher said. Despite Pratt's insistence that his comments were meant to highlight shared goals, such as reducing toxins in food, many online saw his defense of RFK Jr. as reckless at best, harmful at worst The A-list actor, who has often sought unity in divided political times, is married to actress Katherine Schwarzenegger, a cousin by marriage to Kennedy 'When he was here, I said my advice to you is like you need to marry your former life more with what you're doing now. Your former life, you were very admired as an environmental lawyer.' Despite the outsized caricature of Kennedy as a conspiracy theorist, Maher flatly denies he's out of the ordinary. 'And he's not crazy. I mean the people trying to he's also got, like I said to him when he was here, 'I don't agree with everything you said, and I don't think your father would either, but your father would be so proud that you stuck to your guns like more than anybody,' he told the actor. 'I mean this guy, when this guy believes something you cannot move him off of it with your bribes. That's for better and worse,' Maher added. This isn't the first time Pratt has been accused of straddling the political divide in ways that frustrate both fans and critics. Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, which saw Donald Trump defeat Democrat Kamala Harris and reclaim the White House, Pratt penned an essay in his mother-in-law Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper. In it, he urged Americans to remain proud of their country regardless of the election's outcome. 'It's ok to take a moment to lick your wounds when you lose. Heck, go ahead and cry in the mirror,' he wrote. 'But if we become too paralyzed by defeat or too pompous in victory, allegiance to our 'team' can blind us to the fact that we are fellow countrymen.' In an appearance on Club Random, Pratt told Bill Maher that there are parts of the 'MAHA' agenda he loves and that he wishes him well in his efforts (RFK pictured in 2025) The comments were widely slammed as vapid and noncommittal, especially as they came just days after his father-in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger had forcefully endorsed Harris, warning that another Trump term would mean 'four more years of bulls**t with no results.' Pratt's attempts to present himself as above the political fray have often backfired. In 2019, he was called out by Elliot Page for attending a church with alleged anti-LGBTQ ties. Ahead of the 2020 election, he was branded 'Hollywood's Worst Chris' online for his suspected right-leaning views, sparking a wave of backlash that forced Marvel costars like Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo to come to his defense. He also came under fire in 2021 for a social media post celebrating the birth of his 'healthy' daughter with Schwarzenegger, which many took as a slight toward his son Jack, who was born prematurely with health complications. Pratt later admitted the backlash left him 'wrecked' and fearful his son would one day stumble across the controversy. A Gogglebox star was rushed into hospital this week to undergo emergency surgery in Melbourne after she was diagnosed with cancer. Anastasia Katselas revealed the harrowing news on Friday in a video she shared to Instagram following an emergency hysterectomy. The TV personality said doctors discovered cancer in her uterus just over a week ago when she went in 'for a concern' and they performed a pap smear. 'It was a big scare, but thank God they caught it early and I am fine,' she said on social media. 'But I urge all you women, make sure that you do your pap smears regularly, don't wait, don't forget about it. 'I used to do them regularly and I can't remember the last time I went.' Gogglebox star Anastasia Katselas was rushed into hospital this week to undergo emergency surgery in Melbourne after she was diagnosed with cancer 'I happened to go to the doctor, because I had a concern, and they did a pap smear and lo and behold a week later I am in hospital,' she added. 'They said they caught it early, but I am still waiting for the after surgery tests, and hopefully, the doctor said it did not spread, so hopefully I will be okay.' Anastasia said she was admitted to hospital on Tuesday and returned home on Thursday. She assured fans she is 'just a bit sore, recovering well', before thanking Cabrini Health, Dr Tom Manolitsis, and All Medical in Wantirna for looking after her. 'Recovering after surgery. I'm. Fine. Very lucky,' she wrote in the caption of the video. '@cabrinihealth @drtommanolitsis @allmedicalwantirna thank you for looking after me so promptly. God saved me again. Thank you God.' Followers flocked to the comments with their well wishes. 'Omg are u ok speedy recovery lovely,' one person wrote. She revealed the harrowing news on Friday in a video she shared to Instagram following an emergency hysterectomy. Pictured with co-star Faye Kontos Followers flocked to the comments with their well wishes 'Praying for you to have a speedy recovery. All of God's strength and healing power,' another said, as a third commented a string of heart emojis. 'Thank god they caught it early sweets x Recover well, sending you so much love,' added another. One user wrote: 'Wishing you all clear & best of luck Anastasia. Take it easy & rest.' Anastasia shot to fame on the inaugural season of Gogglebox in 2015 with her friend Faye Kontos. Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars fame took to Instagram on Friday to share outtakes from a trip to Italy with her friend Ashley Newbrough. The 36-year-old actress who is dating Harry Jowsey posed in a stringy black bikini that highlighted her stunning curves, along with a sizzling red two-piece. She soaked up the sun on the beach in several images, showing off her trim figure and a script tattoo on her midriff, just under her chest. Engaging her 23.4 million followers, Lucy captioned her post: 'film from perfect, heart opening trip in .' Ashley, 37, also shared a collection of photos that looked as if they had been shot on film with her 70,000 followers, captioning them, 'salty sunsets. i have no notes.' The girls trip also included snapshots of the friends indulging in self-care as they relaxed in robes and wore face masks. Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars fame took to Instagram on Friday to share outtakes from a trip to Italy One photo showed the bombshell walking through the sand after taking a dip in the ocean She soaked up the sun on the beach in several images Back in June, Lucy used social media to mark the 15-year anniversary of the show that catapulted her to stardom. Sharing a series of old photos with castmates Ashley Benson, Sasha Pieterse, Shay Mitchell and Troian Bellisario, she added a heartfelt caption. 'Happy 15 years to PLL. the nostalgia!!' she began, before continuing, 'Some of these photos are so low quality but it really was a different time lol. 'The last slide is a video I stumbled on and didnt even realize I had. Just a small, but not uncommon moment while filming this show.' She added, 'This experience changed my life and I will always be grateful to everyone involved. And to all of you, who made this one incredible ride. Thank you for keeping this alive for so many years and I know itll be one that people keep discovering. 'I want to hear all the crazy A theories you had in the comments.' The post has racked up more than one million likes from diehard Pretty Little Liars fans. The show aired for seven seasons between 2010 and 2017. The Tennessee native slipped into a flirty white dress Lucy was joined on the summer holiday by friend Ashley Newbrough She looked stunning while out and about in a patterned halter neck dress Ashley, 37, also shared a collection of photos that appeared to have been shot on film with her 70,000 followers, captioning them, 'salty sunsets. i have no notes' Lucy cooled off as she went swimming in the ocean The girls trip also included snapshots of the friends indulging in self-care as they relaxed in robes and face masks Lucy's boyfriend Harry, 28, an Australian reality TV star, was reported to be in a 'super casual relationship' with Lucy by People and Us Weekly in March. Insiders shared that the two stars first sparked a bond via social media. And in June, he practically confirmed the reports during an on-air interview with Australian radio station 2DayFM. While on the Jimmy & Nath Show with Emma, Harry was asked about his connection with Lucy, resulting in him going silent and turning red out of pure shock. He cleared his throat and laughed uncomfortably before Nath chimed in, 'You can blame the camera, but you going that red is a definitely yes.' Fans took Harry's candid reaction to be confirmation that insider reports about the relationship were on the money. Dina Broadhurst had not a care in the world on Friday as she all but skipped down a Bondi street to attend a Pilates class. Ever one for a scandalous look, the self-described 'nude artist', 48, went braless on her way to the exercise session. She flaunted her figure in a tight grey T-shirt and form-fitting red bike shorts, which she paired with white socks and comfortable beige slides. Dina protected herself against the cold with a black jacket, smiling broadly as she flaunted her natural beauty without a speck of makeup in sight. Carrying her phone and keys in hand, the socialite could be seen dashing across the road at one point, with her brunette locks pulled back in a loose braid. Dina appeared to be in high spirits after her latest Instagram posts had fans begging her to start an OnlyFans accountan adult subscription service. Dina Broadhurst, 48, had not a care in the world on Friday as she all but skipped down a Bondi street to attend a Pilates class Ever one for a scandalous look, the self-described 'nude artist' went braless on her way to the exercise session She flaunted her figure in a tight grey T-shirt and form-fitting red bike shorts, which she paired with white socks and comfortable beige slides The artist stunned fans on Sunday when she uploaded a jaw-dropping series of mirror selfies in a barely-there yellow T-shirt. The bold designer piece featured dozens of large oval-shaped cut-outs across the bust, arms and stomachrevealing generous flashes of skin. Worn without a bra and paired only with a black G-string, the cheeky ensemble drew instant comparisons to Swiss cheese. Dina took the sizzling selfies in what appeared to be a fitting room, using her signature Bottega Veneta iPhone case to cover her face. Her honey-brown tresses were styled sleek and straight, while her makeup highlighted her natural beauty, letting the attention-grabbing outfit take centre stage. In one photo, she struck a playful peace sign while jutting out her hip. In another, she smouldered into the camera, drawing attention to her flawless complexion and gym-honed curves. Her caption-free post didn't need wordsher followers knew exactly what to say. Dina protected herself against the cold with a black jacket, smiling broadly as she flaunted her natural beauty without a speck of makeup in sight Carrying her phone and keys in hand, the socialite could be seen dashing across the road at one point, with her brunette locks pulled back in a loose braid Dina appeared to be in high spirits after her latest Instagram posts had fans begging her to start an OnlyFans accountan adult subscription service 'You are a bad influence on me,' one follower quipped. 'Gorgeous Dina,' gushed another, while dozens flooded the comments with fire emojis and encouragement for her to join the adult platform OnlyFans. 'Only YOU,' another admirer added. The comments echoed the sentiments of followers who have long admired Dina's fearless self-expression and sultry aesthetic. Lindsay Lohan shocked fans as she made a surprise appearance at a screening of Freakier Friday at AMC Lincoln Square in New York City on Friday. The actress, 39, who reprises her role as Anna Coleman in the long-awaited sequel, looked sensational in a silver, feather-embellished corset as she made a glamorous entrance. She teamed the dazzling top with white satin trousers and boosted her frame with a pair of silver pointed heels. To complete the look, Lindsay accessorised with layered pendant necklaces, a gold bracelet, and delicate hoop earrings. The Mean Girls star appeared in high spirits as she greeted fans, posed for selfies, and shared a few laughs with the crowd. Lindsay famously starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, 66, in the smash-hit 2003 comedy Freaky Friday, which followed a mother and daughter who switch bodies and are forced to navigate each other's lives. Lindsay Lohan shocked fans as she made a surprise appearance at a screening of Freakier Friday at AMC Lincoln Square in New York City on Friday The actress, 39, who reprises her role as Anna Coleman in the long-awaited sequel, looked sensational in a silver, feather-embellished corset as she made a glamorous entrance After years of speculation and fan anticipation, the sequel Freakier Friday finally hit cinemas earlier this month 22 years after the original. The iconic duo have been heavily promoting the new film, with Disney Studios recently posting a TikTok of Jamie encouraging fans to head to theatres. Lindsay's surprise appearance comes just days after she wowed fans by sharing makeup-free selfies on social media, prompting floods of compliments in the comments. On Tuesday evening, the actress took to Instagram to share a couple of fresh-faced photos, posing in her pyjamas. In her post, the Freakier Friday star who denied having plastic surgery showed off her taut skin and radiant glow. In her caption, Lindsay wrote to her 16.1 million followers: 'Fresh face and ready for bed!' Her social media update comes after Lindsay famously said she 'never' had any plastic surgery done 'ever' earlier this year, following months of ongoing fan speculation about her youthful appearance. In response to her post, the former child star had her many followers all commenting similar messages as they shared their thoughts on her wrinkle-free look. She teamed the dazzling top with white satin trousers as she posed for a sweet selfie with a fan To complete the look, Lindsay accessorised with layered pendant necklaces, a gold bracelet, and delicate hoop earrings as she spoke to fans on stage The Mean Girls star appeared in high spirits as she greeted fans, posed for selfies, and shared a few laughs with the crowd In another snap, Lindsay looked overjoyed as she pulled out her phone to snap a selfie with the large crowd of fans Her fans flooded her comments section with praises for her bare-faced look, while others asked her to 'drop the skincare routine.' Many of her followers asked her for her secret to how she achieved such 'flawless' skin, as they speculated what non-surgical skin procedures she had done to enhance her beauty. 'Drop the skincare routine queen,' one fan commented among the flood of compliments. 'Ugh perfection,' another follower wrote. 'Yes please drop the skincare routine girlie,' one comment read among many other messages with similar sentiments. Other people straight-up asked Lohan to share how she maintains her good looks. 'What is your secret?' 'Ok girl we ALL want to know your skincare routine! Like everything from lasers to botox! Girl you're glowing,' another fan praised the actress. 'We need your skincare routine queen,' one Instagram user added while another asked for her to share the products she uses to 'tighten pores and minimize oils.' 'You look AMAZING GIRL,' the fan gushed. Lindsay famously starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, 66, in the smash-hit 2003 comedy Freaky Friday, which followed a mother and daughter who switch bodies and are forced to navigate each other's lives After years of speculation and fan anticipation, the sequel Freakier Friday finally hit cinemas earlier this month 22 years after the original 'Spill all the treatment secrets. The lovers and friends need to know,' one social media user commented. Another praised her for being 'so fresh looking.' 'Your skin looks amazing,' one fan commented before calling her a 'gorgeous lady.' Lindsay's post and her fans raving about her fresh-faced appearance come after the premiere of Freakier Friday. While promoting the Freaky Friday sequel, many fans theorised about how she achieved her youthful glow and beauty. The Mean Girls alum was revealed to have been getting treatments from Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Monika Kiripolsky. In late July, the dermatologist uploaded a selfie alongside the actress following an appointment in preparation for Lohan's red carpet appearance at the El Capitan Theatre for the Hollywood premiere of Freakier Friday. However, the dermatologist replied that 'due to patient confidentiality, I can't say what treatments I've done. 'But, EVERY patient in our practice is offered the most cutting-edge combination of lasers, peels, injectables, lipo, and other amazing treatments... Always customised to that particular patient and his/her goals.' A beach at Tsu city, Mie prefecture, where two Vietnamese youths rescued two Jappanese children from drowning. Photo by Tsu City Tourism Association Two Vietnamese youths, Tong Manh Tuan and Pham Quoc Dat, were honored by the Fire Department of Tsu city, Mie prefecture, Japan, on Aug. 22 for rescuing two children swept out to sea earlier this month. The incident happened on Aug. 11, when the pair were about to leave the beach but heard cries for help. Despite rough waves and strong winds, they swam nearly 100 meters offshore to reach the struggling children. Battling strong currents and a receding tide, both managed to bring the children safely back to land. Local authorities and residents commended their bravery, saying their quick response prevented a tragedy. The children's families expressed heartfelt gratitude, calling the rescue a lifesaving act that restored their happiness. The story drew attention of Japanese media, hailed as a symbol of courage and compassion. Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said the rescue not only saved lives but also helped strengthen VietnamJapan friendship. Iris Law cut a casual figure as she wobbled through busy traffic on a punctured Lime Bike in central London on Thursday. The model, 24, kept things low-key in a navy sweatshirt and light-wash denim jeans as she cycled down the street, veering uncomfortably close to traffic. She completed her look with chunky red trainers and a grey beanie, keeping her belongings stashed in the bike's front basket. With earphones in and music playing, Iris appeared focused as she battled the tricky ride - just about keeping her balance until she reached the next docking station and picked up a replacement. Iris's outing comes after she put on a racy display in a sheer chiffon mini-dress exposing sexy lingerie as she strolled through New York City. The daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost took to Instagram on Thursday to share that she had headed to the Big Apple. Iris Law cut a casual figure as she wobbled through busy traffic on a punctured Lime Bike in central London on Thursday The model, 24, kept things low-key in a navy sweatshirt and light-wash denim jeans as she cycled down the street, veering uncomfortably close to traffic Stepping out on West 14th Street for the day, Iris posed for an array of snaps surrounded by scaffolding. She looked sensational in a green floral off-the-shoulder mini-dress, which was completely see-through. The dress's fabric made Iris's racy white sheer lingerie set completely visible, and she paired the look with cream mules. Iris captioned the snaps: 'Sit next to meee.' It comes days after Iris sent temperatures soaring on Sunday during a sun-soaked holiday to Jamaica, showing off her toned frame in a string of barely-there bikinis. Iris enjoyed some downtime in Jamaica as she posed effortlessly in a brown triangle string bikini top that she paired with pink shorts. She later slipped into a gorgeous brown patterned two-piece, laughing and joking with her friends as they made their way around a cliff edge. In another snap, Iris switched to a multi coloured, sequin bikini top and bottoms as she swung upside down from a tree, dipping her hands into the sandy beach waters. Iris's outing comes after she put on a racy display in a sheer chiffon mini-dress exposing sexy lingerie as she strolled through New York City It comes days after Iris gave fans a glimpse into her sun-soaked holiday, showing off her toned frame in a string of barely-there bikinis The model and actress who is the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost, enjoyed some downtime in Jamaica as she posed effortlessly in a strapless blue bandeau top She also showed off her tree climbing skills, as another picture showed her confidently halfway up a branch and swinging from mid air.. A fourth picture showed the model striking another sultry pose for the camera, this time in a strapless blue bandeau top, offering a glimpse of her ample assets. She paired the look with some tiny striped hot pants and wore a patterned bandana plus an array of jewellery to up the style stakes. In another eye-catching snap, the beauty posed with a pal in a vibrant yellow two-piece, as she beamed for the camera, as she sat on a ledge by a lake. Taking a well-earned break from her hectic schedule, Iris also lounged on a red boat in a lilac crochet bikini, letting the wind whip through her hair as she stretched out against the backrest. The rising star was also seen enjoying a quiet moment over tea, dressed in a pair of high-cut shorts emblazoned with the word 'Dream' and a matching crop top. But it wasn't all sun, sea and sunbathing as Iris proved she's just as committed to fitness as she is to fashion, joining a group for an intense outdoor workout. Dressed in a sky-blue bikini, she showed off her enviable figure while powering through floor exercises with a caption that read: 'Grind never stops' followed by a sweat emoji and flexed arm. Alison Hammond has hit back at her critics who claim she shouldn't be hosting For The Love Of Dogs this week. The former Big Brother star turned TV presenter, 50, has fronted the fan-favourite series ever since Paul O'Grady's shock death in 2023. Paul, who was aged 67, died as a result of cardiac arrhythmia and was said to have been smoking a cannabis joint when he passed peacefully at his home. Alison has hosted two series of the show, which follows the staff and furry animals of Battersea Dogs And Cats Home. However, she has faced cruel trolling and continuous calls for her to be axed from the show. Now, in a new interview, Alison hit back at her critics and told them to 'deal with' the fact she is the host and not Pete Wicks, who hosts a similar show for UKTV. Alison Hammond has hit back at her critics who claim she shouldn't be hosting For The Love Of Dogs in a brand new interview this week The former Big Brother star turned TV presenter, 50, has fronted the fan-favourite series ever since Paul O'Grady 's shock death in 2023. Paul, who was aged 67, died as a result of cardiac arrhythmia and was said to have been smoking a cannabis joint when he passed peacefully at his home (pictured in 2023) Speaking to The Guardian, the Birmingham native said: 'People say Pete Wicks would be better than me at presenting For the Love of Dogs. 'He might be but I'm doing it. Deal with it! I know my worth. Besides, my mum would have been so proud. 'That's the reason I do this. She's my guiding light.' Alison added to the publication that she has been 'doing a job that I adore to the best of my ability, trying to be better than I was yesterday.' Her comments come as the future of the show is still yet to be revealed, with ITV still to confirm if Alison will be back for a third series. Meanwhile, the star, who is currently on her summer break from This Morning, recently shared a rare snap of her toyboy lover. She took to Instagram to share the loved-up snap of her with David Putman, 27. Boasting large smiles, Alison appeared smitten and happy-than-ever with her age gap lover as they set off on their holidays together. Speaking to The Guardian , the Birmingham native said: 'People say Pete Wicks would be better than me at presenting For the Love of Dogs' Alison added to the publication that she has been 'doing a job that I adore to the best of my ability, trying to be better than I was yesterday' Recently sharing a holiday snap with her toyboy lover David Putman, Alison appeared smitten and happy-than-ever The pair could be seen hugging for the camera while the sun shone down on them as they coordinated their outfits. Alison wore a blue blouse while David opted for a blue shirt as they both donned black sunglasses and caps to protect them from the UV rays. She captioned the sweet post with love heart emojis: 'Happy holidays to you all. Remember always choose love.' Alison recently told the Daily Mail the secret behind her incredible 11-stone weight loss despite hosting the Great British Bake Off. She also shared an insight into her relationship with David while admitting she's happier than ever. Mingus Lucien Reedus, the son of actor Norman Reedus and supermodel Helena Christensen, was taken into custody Saturday morning in Manhattan following an alleged assault. Police say Reedus, 25, struck a woman in the leg, leaving visible redness, and then reportedly choked her and slammed her to the ground, per the New York Post. A New York Police Department spokesperson confirmed the arrest but said Reedus has not been formally charged. Sources claimed he initially punched the woman to wake her up. According to police, it was Reedus who made a 911 call around 8:40 a.m. to report a woman in an apartment on West 16th Street who was allegedly taking pills and threatening to kill herself. According to police sources, when officers arrived on the scene, the 33-year-old woman accused Reedus of assaulting her. Mingus Lucien Reedus, the son of actor Norman Reedus and supermodel Helena Christensen , was taken into custody Saturday morning in Manhattan following an alleged assault Mingus Reedus seen smiling as he was released from the 10th precinct in Chelsea heading to the central booking Police arrested him, while the woman was then taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was determined to be in stable condition. Photos obtained by the Post show Reedus wearing a black T-shirt and green athletic shorts as he is led out of the building by police and into a cruiser. He was later seen grinning as he left the 10th precinct hours later in photos obtained by the Daily Mail, before officers escorted him into a waiting police vehicle As he briefly stepped out in public, a reporter was said to have asked why Reedus called the police, to which he replied, 'I didn't.' When the reporter asked him to 'tell us what really happened,' Reedus reportedly grinned and laughed, before responding, 'No.' According to the Post, Reedus said the altercation was 'a misunderstanding' before police shut him inside the car. A woman who claimed to be Reedus' girlfriend used the same language, describing the incident as a big 'misunderstanding.' It's unclear if the woman claiming to be Reedus' girlfriend was also the woman he allegedly hit and choked. Police say Reedus, 25, allegedly struck a woman in the leg to wake her up, leaving visible redness, and then reportedly choked her and slammed her to the ground, per the New York Post A man who was seen leaving the precinct with her reportedly added, 'You got your story all wrong.' Public records indicate that he is living in a luxury Chelsea apartment. This is not his first legal issue. In March 2022, he accepted a plea deal after allegedly punching a woman during the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy in 2021. Authorities have not released further details. DailyMail.com has not received a response to its request for comment from reps for Reedus. In 2022, Mingus was sentenced to five private counseling sessions for punching a woman in the face after pleading guilty to a downgraded charge of disorderly conduct. He originally faced a misdemeanor assault charge but his attorney Isabelle Kirschner told DailyMail.com that she negotiated with the District Attorney to downgrade the charge to disorderly conduct, which is only a violation in New York City. Mingus had claimed that the woman and her friends were inebriated and followed him for two blocks, pulling his hair, throwing water in his face and threatening his friends. Reedus called 911 and claimed a woman was taking pills and threatening to kill herself. Police arrested him and took the woman to the hospital, but Reedus claimed it was all a 'misunderstanding' to reporters; seen with father Norman Reedus in 2022 in LA His attorney previously told DailyMail.com that the allegations against him were 'baseless.' 'I believe that based on the evidence, there is no credible evidence to support the charges,' Kirschner said before Mingus pled guilty. Mingus - who has followed in the footsteps of his mother, an original Victoria's Secret angel, was taken into custody following the September incident. His victim was hospitalized with a cut under her left eye, according to the NYPD. After the incident, Mingus told the New York Daily News that the woman was one of a 'girls under the influence and looking for a fight' that 'swarmed' him, and that the police officers who arrested him 'refused to listen to the context.' Mingus said the women followed him and his friends for two blocks, 'throwing food at [them] and yelling.' 'We told them to leave us alone, but they kept following, threatening to hurt my girlfriend and her friend.' When the group reached the corner of Mulberry and Grand Streets, Mingus told the Daily News, the women set upon him, with 'one pulling my hair from the back, another throwing water in my face.' In March 2022, he accepted a plea deal after allegedly punching a woman during the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy in 2021 He said he 'threw his arm out' to protect himself, accidentally hitting the woman. 'It was instinct,' he explained. 'I was reacting to them swarming me and was afraid for the safety of my group.' The incident came just one week after Mingus made his Vogue cover debut. He was featured on the cover of the Vogue Hommes Paris' fall-winter 2021-2022 issue alongside Parker Van Noord, son of the late male model Andre Van Noord. Christensen and Reedus - who is best known for his role in The Walking Dead - began dating in 1998. Mingus was born the following year. The high-profile couple split in 2003, before Reedus went on to date Diane Kruger. Reedus and Kruger welcomed their own child together, a daughter, in 2018. Mingus is Christensen's only child. Love Island's Yasmin Pettet has revealed the emotional reason she 'hasn't been intimate' with boyfriend Jamie Rhodes yet. The couple, who came in third place on the ITV dating show, gave an insight into their relationship after leaving the villa on Saturday. Speaking in a new interview, Yas explained how she feels 'really bonded' to Jamie and there has been 'no rush.' She also admitted that the death of her beloved cat Miaow Miaow has been hard, with her partner supporting her as she deals with the grief. Yas told The Sun: 'Ive been going through grief and Jamie will just sit there when I cry on him. 'Ive taken a lot of time to process my emotions, so Jamie and I havent been intimate yet.' Love Island's Yasmin Pettet has revealed the emotional reason she 'hasn't been intimate' with boyfriend Jamie Rhodes yet The couple, who came in third place on the ITV dating show, gave an insight into their relationship after leaving the villa on Saturday She added: 'Hes so patient. Hes never rushed that, because he knows it will happen at the right time.' The reality star often spoke lovingly about her pet during her time in the villa, but heartbreakingly, Miaow Miaow passed away from cancer at the age of 11 while Yasmin was still filming the show. Announcing the news on Instagram, Yasmin wrote: 'As I've spoken about her on the show I'm sure a lot of you will know I have a cat called miaow miaow who's been by my side for 11 years now. 'When I was filming Love Island I had a bad gut feeling something was off and when my mum and sister came into the villa I asked them and still felt like something was off. 'Rightfully they didn't tell me because I was still in the villa but after the final I called my sister and she told me that miaow miaow had cancer and died whilst I was away filming Love Island. 'I'm trying to be as active as I can be on socials but am taking time for myself to process this heartbreak. She concluded the heartbreaking post: 'RIP to my beautiful baby girl, you were so loved and will always be in my soul.' Yasmin returned to social media a few weeks ago to thank fans for their support throughout her journey. Speaking in a new interview, Yas explained how she feels 'really bonded' to Jamie and there has been 'no rush' (pictured on the show in June) She also admitted that the death of her beloved cat Miaow Miaow has been hard, with her partner supporting her as she deals with the grief Announcing the news on Instagram, Yasmin wrote: 'As I've spoken about her on the show I'm sure a lot of you will know I have a cat called miaow miaow who's been by my side for 11 years' She said: 'My love island journey has been crazy to say the least but I really wouldnt have been able to do it without my Jamie, Toni and Shakira. 'I feel so grateful and blessed and cant wait to see what the future holds.' ITV released the voting breakdown for the final last month, confirming it was the closest result in the show's history. In total, Toni and Cach received 33.5% of the vote, with Shakira Khan and Harry Cooksley taking 26.2% - showing the result was a close call. Yasmin and Jamie came third with 22% and Angel Swift and Ty Isherwood placed fourth with 18.3%. Emma Corin and co-star Jack Lowden were spotted filming the new Pride and Prejudice series in The Peak District, Derbyshire on Tuesday. Emma, who plays feisty Elizabeth Bennet, joined Jack, who stars as Mr Darcy, on set to film their version of Jane Austen's Regency drama, which airs early next year. Buffeted by the wind as he strides across the moors, Jack cut a rugged figure as Mr Darcy. And Crown star Emma was just as windswept in a billowing grey silk dress worn with an empire line long-sleeved floral jacket and lace-up ankle boots. The Scot wore a long grey frock coat over a black waistcoat and riding breeches, a white high-neck shirt and calf-length boots. He even seemed to have perfected the trademark sneer of Darcy, who Austen described as the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world. Emma Corin and co-star Jack Lowden were spotted filming new Pride & Prejudice series in Derbyshire on Tuesday Emma, who plays feisty Elizabeth Bennet, joined Jack, who stars as Mr Darcy, on set to film their version of Jane Austen's Regency drama The hotly-anticipated Austen adaptation also stars Olivia Colman as Elizabeths mother Mrs Bennet, with Rufus Sewell as Mr Bennet But any female viewers hoping for a recreation of Colin Firths legendary lake scene may be sorely disappointed (pictured) The six-part series follows the classic love story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy straight from Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. Both the 1995 BBC series and the 2005 film adaptation are beloved by literature readers and film buffs alike. But any female viewers hoping for a recreation of Colin Firths legendary lake scene may be sorely disappointed. Reports suggest that the iconic moment Firth emerged dripping wet from a swim in the 1995 BBC adaptation will be sadly missing from Netflixs take for fear of objectifying men. An onlooker said: 'Jack was playing quite the dashing English gentleman riding his horse through the countryside before meeting up with Emma. 'Their characters had a heated conversation, where Emma seemed quite upset within the scene.' Jack previously won plaudits for his depiction of thug Kenneth Noye in BBCs The Gold a drama about the 26 million Brinks Mat robbery. The hotly-anticipated Austen adaptation also stars Olivia Colman as Elizabeths mother Mrs Bennet, with Rufus Sewell as Mr Bennet. Jack was seen riding a horse as Mr Darcy during filming Reports suggest that the iconic moment Firth emerged dripping wet from a swim in the 1995 BBC adaptation will be sadly missing from Netflixs take for fear of objectifying men An onlooker said: 'Jack was playing quite the dashing English gentleman riding his horse through the countryside before meeting up with Emma' 'Their characters had a heated conversation, where Emma seemed quite upset within the scene', an onlooker added Buffeted by the wind as he strides across the moors, Jack cut a rugged figure as Mr Darcy Crown star Emma was just as windswept in a billowing grey silk dress worn with an empire line long-sleeved floral jacket and lace-up ankle boots The limited series will finish filming in the UK at the end of 2025, per What's On Netflix Jack even seemed to have perfected the trademark sneer of Darcy, who Austen described as the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world The six-part series follows the classic love story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy straight from Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice Both the 1995 BBC series and the 2005 film adaptation are beloved by literature readers and film buffs alike Jack previously won plaudits for his depiction of thug Kenneth Noye in BBCs The Gold a drama about the 26 million Brinks Mat robbery Netflix has sparked uproar after releasing a first look at the casting for the new Pride & Prejudice series - with some fans now threatening to boycott it altogether. 'We know you've been yearning for a sneak peek. Pride & Prejudice is officially in production,' the post read. 'Here's a first look featuring Emma Corrin, Freya Mavor, Olivia Colman, Hopey Parish, Rhea Norwood and Hollie Avery as the Bennet women.' But fans immediately rushed to the comments to express their distaste at the prospect as one wrote: 'Not to self: unsubscribe from Netflix immediately, today,' someone wrote. 'This casting is awful what the f***', 'You cannot be serious', 'Oh help praying this isn't a c*** up like Persuasion', 'Actually scratch that this is a reminder to me to unsubscribe'. Other members of the cast include Rufus Sewell as Mr Bennet, Freya Mavor as Jane Bennet, Jamie Demetriou as Mr Collins, Daryl McCormack as Mr Bingley, and Louis Partridge as Mr Wickham, per Variety. More actors include Rhea Norwood as Lydia Bennet, Siena Kelly as Caroline Bingley, and Fiona Shaw as Lady Catherine de Bourg. Netflix sparked uproar after releasing a first look at the casting for the new Pride & Prejudice series in July - with some fans now threatening to boycott the steamer altogether But fans immediately rushed to the comments to express their distaste at the prospect as one wrote: 'Not to self: unsubscribe from Netflix immediately, today,' someone wrote The director and screenwriter of Heartstopper, Euros Lyn and Dolly Alderton, respectively, are taking on the series The limited series will finish filming in the UK at the end of 2025, per What's On Netflix Olivia Colman plays the nervous Mrs. Bennet, other members of the cast include Rufus Sewell as Mr Bennet Hopey Parish and Hollie Avery are making their acting debuts as Mary Bennet and Kitty Bennet respectively. The director and screenwriter of Heartstopper, Euros Lyn and Dolly Alderton, respectively, are taking on the series. 'Once in a generation, a group of people get to retell this wonderful story, and I feel very lucky that I get to be a part of it,' Alderton said in a statement, per the outlet. 'Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is the blueprint for romantic comedy it has been a joy to delve back into its pages to find both familiar and fresh ways of bringing this beloved book to life.' The limited series will finish filming in the UK at the end of 2025, per What's On Netflix. Drake and podcaster Bobbi Althoff seem to have put any differences they may have had aside. The pair teamed up for a new promotional video released Friday on social media for Althoff's new podcast and it's gone viral. The One Dance artist, 38, and the podcaster, 28, were seen holding hands while walking into what appeared to be a large ballroom. As they got cozy on a bed with white fluffy pillows by a window overlooking beautiful mountains, Drake made several attempts to describe the new endeavor. 'Welcome to a much more refined, poised, and pleasant podcast,' the rapper said. 'Pleasant?' asked Althoff. 'I don't know about that.' 'I know,' Drake replied, adding 'I'm trying to get you brand deals.' Drake, 28, and podcaster Bobbi Althoff, 28, seem to have put any differences they may have had behind them. The pair joined forces for a new video that's gone viral on social media 'Oh, so you want me to be more pleasant?' asked the influencer, who is known for her often awkward and confrontational style in interviews with A-listers such as Tyga, Nick Cannon and Mark Cuban. 'I was trying to pitch,' Drake countered, as he continued trying to come up with a tagline, finally landing on, 'Welcome to a much more scenic, serene and sexy...' Althoff was having none of that and finally said, 'Welcome to the first episode of my new podcast that no one asked for.' Then they both stated the title, 'Not This Again.' The social media star may have asked Drake to be the first guest on her new podcast due to his appearance on her previous show, The Really Good Podcast, going viral in 2023. A short time later, the conversation mysteriously disappeared from the internet, and the two unfollowed each other on Instagram, resulting in rumors about a rift. Fans were delighted the two had renewed their friendship. Drake's appearance on Althoff's previous podcast, The Really Good Podcast, went viral in 2023, which could be why she asked the rapper to help launch her new show, Not This Again Althoff is known for her awkward and sometimes confrontational questions which have landed her quite a few A-list interviews 'Welcome to a much more refined, poised, and pleasant podcast,' the rapper said. 'Pleasant?' asked Althoff. 'I don't know about that. I know,' Drake replied, adding 'I'm trying to get you brand deals' 'Drakes voice is so therapeutic,' stated one follower. 'Yall argue like brother n sister,' said another. 'Yall got a lot of explaining to do,' demanded a fan. Althoff held a funeral for her The Really Good Podcast three weeks ago, but has not yet announced when the first episode of Not This Again will debut. Kylie Jenner revisited a fashion shoot that many fans have called one of her worst on Saturday The influencer, 28, who was accused of having 'dead eyes' in a campaign for Miu Miu apparently tried to rally some support for the look after the fashion house shared it again, but fans were having none of it. 'NOPE!!!!!!!' stated one angry fan regarding the dark green knit cardigan and matching skirt. The stylists also put her in a pair of bedazzled socks with black loafers. Although Miu Miu has a no-fur policy, Jenner was given a fur stole to hold while posing. It was unclear if it was real or faux. The fashion house described it as 'Miu Miu Fall/Winter 2025 collection focuses on the power of the portrait and on a wardrobe that is as elegant as it is enriching.' Kylie Jenner was roasted, again, after Miu Miu posted looks this look featuring the influencer on social media Saturday. Fans hated the snaps the first time they were posted and many were only too happy to share their dislike Jenner's fans disagreed. 'Why they make her pose like that?' one asked in disbelief. Another called it 'Cringe,' while someone else noted, 'She look funny as hell.' That being said, and written, for some of the reality star's hardcore fans, no look could take away from their admiration for her. 'Epic, Kylie. KUDOS TEAM,' wrote an enthusiastic follower. Many others called her a 'Queen,' while others preferred 'hottie mami.' Jenner seemed to show support for boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, 29, and his love of True Religion jeans, posing in a pair in her Instagram Stories. Chalamet wore the jeans while promoting his film A Complete Unknown, for which he earned an Oscar nomination for portrayal of a young Bob Dylan. The Kylie Cosmetics mogul showcased her curves by going braless in a white tank top with the low-waist straight leg jeans. Jenner, 28, deleted this photo from her Instagram Stories. One fan called the looks 'Cringe,' while someone else noted, 'She look funny as hell' on Miu Miu's Instagram page The reality star seemed to redeem herself sharing this photo of her showcasing her curved in a pair of True Religion jeans with a white tank top A snap of her derriere, highlighted the red trim on the pockets and the belt loops Jenner's post could be a show of support to boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, 29, who wore True Religion jeans while promoting his film A Complete Unknown; Pictured in Paris in January A snap of her derriere, highlighted the red trim on the pockets and the belt loops. She kept the look simple, parting her long, dark locks on the side, and completing the look with small gold earrings, a black shoulder bag and a pair of black flip-flops. Chalamet is in Budapest shooting Dune: Messiah and missed Jenner's 28th birthday on August 10. The influencer recently traveled to Hungary to see her boyfriend of some two years, following rumors their being on two different continents may have lead to a breakup. Jowita Przystal looked happier than ever as she celebrated her birthday on a wild night out on Friday, after sparking romance rumours with Pete Wicks. As Jowita partied with her pals, Pete showed off the moves he learnt from the dancer during their Strictly stint. Pete larked around at O Beach Ibiza with fellow Strictly star Tyler West and Kiss FM radio co-host Olivia Attwood. Jowita and Pete often sparked romance rumours during their time together on Strictly Come Dancing last year. Fans of the BBC show are convinced that the former TOWIE star, 36, and the professional dancer, 31, are an item after Pete posted a slew of snaps from their time together on the show to his Instagram on Friday. In the photo dump, Pete included a steamy dance floor snap, a close-up car selfie, a rehearsal snap, and several photos from their nights out together. Jowita Przystal, 31, looked happier than ever as she celebrated her birthday on a wild night out on Friday, after sparking romance rumours with Pete Wicks, 36 As Jowita partied with her pals, Pete showed off the moves he learnt from the dancer during their Strictly stint Alongside the post, the star gushed: 'It was never about dancingit was about the person. 'Happy birthday @jowitaprzystal - I am so blessed and grateful to have you in my life. My pocket rocket (love heart emoji).' The 'hard launch' on social media sent fans wild, and they flocked to the comment section to speculate whether the former dance partners are now officially an item. Some wrote: 'WAIT IS THIS A HARD LAUNCH????'; 'I reeeeeaaalllyy hope that this is the woman you're in love with!!'; 'This is 1000% who hes in love with (eyes emoji)'; 'I hope thats who your in love with and she too you '; 'Is she the lie detector question tho!! Thats what wanna know!'; 'You two look like you belong together just saying.'; 'We were always team Pete and Jowita!' It comes after Pete reluctantly admitted that he is 'in love' with a new mystery woman six months on from his break-up with Maura Higgins. The Only Way is Essex star was forced to confess his love on the Staying Relevant podcast with bestie Sam Thompson, 33. The pair often sparked romance rumours during their time together on Strictly Come Dancing last year Fans of the BBC show are convinced that Pete and Jowita are an item after Pete posted a slew of snaps from their time together on the show to his Instagram on Friday In the photo dump, Pete included a close-up car selfie and a sweet snap of the pair together at rehearsal Alongside the post, Pete gushed: 'It was never about dancingit was about the person. Happy birthday @jowitaprzystal - I am so blessed and grateful to have you in my life. My pocket rocket (love heart emoji)' 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.' 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 'hard launch' on social media sent fans wild, and they flocked to the comment section to speculate whether the former dance partners are now officially an item It comes after Pete was forced to confess his love on the Staying Relevant podcast with bestie Sam Thompson, 33 Pete reluctantly admitted that he is 'in love' with a new mystery woman six months on from his split with Maura Higgins (Maura and Pete pictured 2024) 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. 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. A Strictly Come Dancing star has been arrested on suspicion of rape. The male suspect is reportedly being 'quizzed by police over allegations involving non-consensual intimate image abuse'. A Met spokesman told Daily Mail: 'On Friday, August 22, officers arrested a man on suspicion of rape and non-consensual intimate image abuse. 'This is a joint investigation with Hertfordshire Constabulary and while the investigation is in its early stages, we urge anyone with any information to come forward to us. 'The arrest follows a third party allegation of sexual and drug-related offences. Enquiries are ongoing.' The Met Police also added the alleged rape victim is being supported by specialist officers. A male Strictly Come Dancing star has been arrested on suspicion of rape and is being 'quizzed by police over allegations involving non-consensual intimate image abuse' A BBC spokesperson said: 'It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing police investigation.' There is nothing to suggest this is related to the current Strictly production. It's the biggest crisis the scandal-hit show has had to face, just weeks before the 2025 series returns to screen. During the last series, Wynne Evans, 53, was accused of inappropriate behaviour and forced to apologise for making an unacceptable sexual remark on stage at a press event. He denied it was a sexual remark but was later sacked by the BBC. In 2023, Amanda Abbington, 51, complained about Giovanni Pernice, 34, being 'unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean'. Whilst he was cleared of the 'overwhelming majority' of allegations, a probe did uphold some of her complaints of verbal bullying and harassment. The same year, former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott, 28, was left 'incredibly distressed' following her experience in the training room with Graziano Di Prima, 31, who admitted to kicking the documentary maker, resulting in his axing. The broadcaster has already launched an inquiry into the family show amid claims two of its stars had used cocaine. One of the stars involved in the drugs probe was also suspected of drinking while working on the show after crew smelt alcohol on their breath. It's the biggest crisis the scandal-hit show has had to face, just weeks before the 2025 series returns to screen The broadcaster has already launched an inquiry into the family show amid claims two of its stars had used cocaine One of the stars involved in the drugs probe was also suspected of drinking while working on the show after crew smelt alcohol on their breath (Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly seen) The Sun alleged that it was widely known that the pair, who have not been named, took the Class A substance, and that one of these Strictly performers was known for being a drinker. The publication have now reported that junior members of the team were asked to keep an eye on them during last year's show and to look for signs that they may have been boozing during work hours. A TV insider said: 'The person in question is renowned for loving to party, and that is a major problem when it impacts on their ability to do the job they need to do on Strictly in a safe and professional manner. 'It's not just about something being illegal or legal, it's about the BBC's workplace policies and how the behaviour of certain individuals can impact on their work colleagues. 'On a very physical show like Strictly, with lots of sets and moving parts, the idea of someone being intoxicated in any way is wholly unacceptable.' A member of the crew, who reportedly worked on show for a decade until 2023, broke their silence on Strictly's wild behind the scenes parties which they claimed were fulled by drink and drugs. He told The Sun: 'The main partying is on site at Elstree after filming of the live show has finished. Boozing and drug taking goes on until 3am, sometimes 4am. The smoking area outside is a hive of activity. Cocaine gets taken there'. He went on to claim that drug use was so common on the show, that when he found a suspicious bag of white powder, a unfazed senior producer told him to 'leave it on my desk' as the incident failed to raise even an eyebrow. This comes amid the revelation that the broadcaster had hired a law firm to probe allegations of drug taking by two individuals The staff member went on to claim the show's annual special filmed at the Blackpool Tower (pictured) Ballroom was an especially 'big party night' full of debauchery The staff member also said the show's annual special filmed at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom was an especially 'big party night' full of debauchery. 'I was offered cocaine by a star at an after show party. Lots of people would go back to the hotel. It was a closed-off party, just for the cast and crew. It went on until 5am, even to 6am, it was insane. People were wired and you could see it in their eyes'. A BBC spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further.' BBC bosses are reportedly set to offer professional support to two stars of hit dancing show Strictly, amid allegations they took cocaine on the programme. It was revealed the broadcaster has hired a law firm to probe allegations of drug taking by two individuals, whose drug use is said to be 'well-known' on the show. The claims were reportedly made in a legal submission to the BBC by law firm Russells back in March, on behalf of former contestant Wynne Evans. A source told the newspaper: 'The BBC is taking the allegations really seriously. Bosses are aware of the two stars in question and have a duty of care to make sure they're okay. 'As per BBC policy, the option of specialised professional support is on the table and will be offered.' During the last series, Wynne Evans, 53, was accused of inappropriate behaviour and forced to apologise for making an unacceptable sexual remark on stage at a press event. He denied it was a sexual remark but was later sacked by the BBC In July last year, Amanda Abbington accused pro dancer Giovanni Pernice of 'unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour' during their time dancing together (pictured, with Giovanni in September 2023) Elsewhere, in further scandals for the BBC, Gregg Wallace was recently dismissed from MasterChef after more than 40 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation While his co-star John Torode [left] was also sacked after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have 'absolutely no recollection' of In separate further controversy, it's recently been reported that Naga Munchetty could face an investigation from BBC bosses after she was accused of bullying a junior colleague They added: 'While drug testing won't happen on the main show, bosses are considering bringing in random checks for the tour next year. 'The BBC needs to be sure nothing illegal is going on. It all depends on what the investigation finds.' Elsewhere, in further scandals for the BBC, Gregg Wallace was recently dismissed from MasterChef after more than 40 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation. While his co-star John Torode was also sacked after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have 'absolutely no recollection' of. In separate further controversy, it's recently been reported that Naga Munchetty could face an investigation from BBC bosses after she was accused of bullying a junior colleague. The BBC Breakfast host, 50, has been placed 'under review' while bosses consider escalating complaints to a formal investigation, The Sun reports. A source said higher-ups had heard from several colleagues and logged concerns over her 'hard' and 'bullying' behaviour on the breakfast show, as well as her Radio 5 Live show. Married At First Sight UK's Charlene Douglas revealed she was in a wheelchair after being rushed to hospital on Saturday. The relationship expert, 44, shared a health update to her Instagram Story after falling ill before Notting Hill carnival. Charlene could be seen being pushed through the hospital in a wheelchair before being put on a drip. She did not specify what caused her to be admitted but added the hashtags 'iron deficiency' and 'slow down' to her update. Charlene wrote: 'When you had plans to represent your island [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines] at Notting Hill carnival and 'wuk your waistline' this weekend. But your body had other plans!' She later added: 'Life! Hair looks good though. Thank you NHS England.' Married At First Sight UK's Charlene Douglas revealed she was in a wheelchair after being rushed to hospital on Saturday The relationship expert, 44, shared a health update to her Instagram Story after falling ill before Notting Hill carnival Charlene has been a sex and relationships expert for over 12 years and works on the E4 show alongside Paul C Brunson and Mel Schilling. Together the experts try and match up a crop of contestants hoping to find someone to settle down with. As always, the hopefuls are coupled up based on science and sociology, with the brides and grooms then meeting for the first time at the alter. The newlyweds then face the challenges of married life, moving in together and seeing if they can form a connection with one another. Each week they are helped by the trio to see if they are meant to be together, and have the option to leave the experiment if it is not going well. The first Married At First Sight UK star for the upcoming 2025 series of the E4 show was revealed last month as a dental practice manager. Leisha Lightbody, who has been dubbed 'one of the most stunning in the show's history,' is reportedly due to take part in the social experiment later this year. A source told The Sun: 'Leisha is one of the most stunning brides MAFS UK has ever had, and shes sure to catch the eye of all the grooms on the new series - not just her own.' She did not specify what caused her to be admitted but added the hashtags 'iron deficiency' and 'slow down' to her update Elsewhere, the first Married At First Sight UK star for the upcoming 2025 series of the E4 show has been revealed as a dental practice manager, Leisha Lightbody They added: 'Leisha is obviously sworn to secrecy about being on the show, which filmed earlier this year, so there are no signs of it on her social media yet. 'The cast are set to be announced next month, with the show airing later in the autumn.' When the publication contacted C4 for comment, a spokesperson told them: 'We do not comment on speculation. The MAFS UK cast will be announced in the coming weeks.' MailOnline has also contacted C4 for comment. Applications for the upcoming series of the show closed back in February. Although nothing has been confirmed, the programme usually airs in September each year and wraps up in the middle of November. The Chinese delegation has accepted Vietnam's invitation to participate in the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of National Day on Sept. 2 and is expected to arrive in Hanoi next week. The Ministry of National Defense invited military units from four countriesRussia, China, Cambodia, and Laosto take part in the parade. Troops from Russia, Laos, and Cambodia arrived in Vietnam between Aug. 15 and 20 and joined the first full rehearsal on Thursday evening at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, Major General Tong Van Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Training under the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, told the press on Friday. The Sept. 2 parade will begin with a traditional torch relay and ceremonial gun salutes, followed by an air force flyover, and then the military and police parade with 43 formations26 from the army and 17 from the policealongside foreign military units, military vehicles, and specialized police vehicles. A naval parade in Khanh Hoa in central Vietnam will also be broadcast live to Hanoi. In addition, there will be 13 civilian parade formations. Supporting forces include ceremonial guards on the podium and 29 standing formations, an increase of 11 compared to previous years, along with a 4,600-person formation creating patterns and letters on the podium. Following Thursdays first joint rehearsal, the second is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Sunday, a preliminary state-level rehearsal from 8 p.m. Wednesday, the final rehearsal from 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 30, and the official parade from 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 2. Assessing the first rehearsal, Major General Thanh said the forces demonstrated accuracy, quality, and high morale. "With the strong support of the people, participating forces gained additional strength and energy, fully ready to fulfill their mission," he said. At the same briefing, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said that on the occasion of National Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host six high-level delegations from Cuba, Laos, Cambodia, Belarus, Russia, and China. Some of these delegations will also carry out bilateral activities alongside the main ceremony. In addition, 20 delegations invited by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will attend, while the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations has invited nearly 100 international delegates, including long-time international friends who supported Vietnam's national liberation struggle. Hang added that the foreign ministry has organized a delegation of 50 overseas Vietnamese representatives to join the parade. This group is training and sharing the celebratory spirit with people in the country. The ministry has also invited overseas Vietnamese who have contributed to the countrys development to attend the ceremony from the stands. Bobby Brazier is reportedly quitting showbiz and moving to India to pursue the Hare Krishna religion. The EastEnders actor and Strictly Come Dancing star, 22, is hoping to spend at least a year abroad, after immersing himself in the movement this summer. The Mail revealed that Bobby turned to the organisation which follows a branch of the Hindu faith after relations became strained between him, his brother Freddy and their father Jeff. And since the family put their feud to bed, Bobby is planning to make the move soon after he leaves the BBC soap later this year. A source told The Sun: 'Bobby is really excited and happy about his move to India. Hes been telling everyone about it and preaching to them about why he is devoted to Hare Krishna. 'Hes such a nice young man, his heart is in the right place, but some people are surprised that hes walking away from his career at a time when hes on such a high with it. Bobby Brazier, 22, is reportedly quitting showbiz and moving to India to pursue the Hare Krishna religion The EastEnders actor and Strictly Come Dancing star is hoping to spend at least a year abroad, after immersing himself in the movement this summer (pictured at the 2024 NTAs) 'He says he expects to be over there for a long while, at least a year, so maybe he will pick up on his career eventually when hes back.' Daily Mail has contacted Bobby's representatives for comment. Earlier this week, Bobby shared his love for the religion on Instagram with a slew of posts, writing: 'Chanting Hare Krsna mantra is so good my heart'. The actor joined the soap in 2022 as Freddy Slater and even won the National Television Award for Rising Star for his work on the show. According to The Sun, the actor will leave Albert Square later this year. An EastEnders spokeswoman said: 'We can confirm that Bobby Brazier will be leaving EastEnders, and we wish him all the best for the future.' A source added: 'Bosses had a meeting with Bobby only recently as they had a plan in mind for a storyline, and it just so happened that Bobby was also thinking that now was the right time to look for other opportunities outside the show. 'The timing of the decision worked for both, but his final scenes are not for a while yet. The character has had a great run, but the time is now right for Bobby to look for other opportunities, and for EastEnders to wave goodbye to Freddie Slater.' Bobby revealed that he 'spent a lot of money' after suddenly becoming a household name during his appearance on Strictly. Earlier this week, Bobby shared his love for the religion on Instagram with a slew of posts, writing: 'Chanting Hare Krsna mantra is so good my heart' Hare Krishna follows a branch of the Hindu faith (Bobby pictured on Strictly with Dianne Buswell in 2023) The actor joined the soap in 2022 as Freddy Slater and even won the National Television Award for Rising Star for his work on the show Since the family put their feud to bed, Bobby is planning to make the move soon after he leaves the BBC soap later this year (pictured with dad Jeff) He also joked that his newfound fame left him 'thriving' off the attention of older ladies, who he said were fans of his gyrating hips. Bobby finished in second place behind ex Ellie Leach and won plaudits for his routine in memory of late mother Jade Goody. Speaking to MailOnline about his time on the show, Bobby insisted that he remained the same person despite the attention, including rumours of a move to Hollywood, but laughed: I spent lots of money 'You kind of just takes it as it comes and nothing really changes, theres what everyone see and then theres your life and Im too invested in my own life to get wrapped up in what everyone else says and is talking about'. Before quipping: 'But I did see that a lot of older ladies liked my hips and I loved that and thrived on so thats cool'. The US tourism industry has held up despite the dire forecasts following President Donald Trump's tariff announcements. Analysts and experts warned that the launch of Donald Trump's trade war in April would lead to a sharp drop in international visitors to major tourist destinations in the US. Canada, long the top international visitors to the US, launched a campaign to deliberately boycott summer vacations across the border after Trump slapped the country with steep tariffs and threatened to annex it into the '51st state'. While visits from America's northern neighbors and the rest of the world have dropped, the impact on the US tourism industry has been muted. The gap has been filled by wealthier Americans choosing to spend their summer holiday at home, rather than meet a potentially hostile reception in Europe or elsewhere. Major hotel groups such as Hilton and Hyatt lowered their expectations for 2025 following the 'liberation day' announcements, but have now lifted their outlooks again. 'Obviously coming out of "liberation day" and other things, there's been a decent amount of noise in the system, but we are very optimistic,' Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta told investors on the company's most recent earnings call. 'There are legitimate reasons to feel really, really good about demand.' Wealthier Americans are choosing to spend their summer holiday at home Travel agency Expedia said it has seen an uptick in travel demand in the US since the beginning of July. The company expects bookings to be up between 3 and 5 percent compared to 2024. United Airlines, which initially slashed flights as it saw a pullback in demand for travel to and within the US in March and April, has now seen bookings stabilize. The demand is coming from Americans purchasing domestic flights as well as international journeys, which is balancing out the continued dip from foreign citizens flying to the US. The number of foreign travelers arriving at US airports is down 3.8 percent in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period last year, according to data from the US National Travel and Tourism Office. Florida, for example, has been hit hard by the drop in Canadian visitors as many people known as 'snowbirds' once headed to the state for a reprieve from the harsh winters of the Great White North. However, disillusionment with their southern neighbors has even led some Canadians to sell their dream US vacation homes. Yet these international declines have been 'easily offset by a stronger domestic market and the domestic market is strong,' Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy PC Agency, told the Financial Times. Driving that strong domestic market are the wealthiest Americans who continue to have a strong demand for luxury travel and are more insulated against rising prices and a declining jobs market. 'You've still got very strong balance sheets among households at the upper end, which is where the travel industry makes its real money,' Adam Sacks, president of research firm Tourism Economics, told the FT. Florida has been hit hard by the drop in Canadian visitors Campsites across the US are seeing their fastest growth since the pandemic Yet at the other end of the scale, ultra-budget vacation providers are also seeing an uptick as middle class Americans become more price conscious while still wanting to enjoy a break. Campsites across the US are seeing their fastest growth since the pandemic, according to Bank of America. The desire for an all-inclusive package to control spending has also seen demand for cruises ramp up too. The world's largest cruise operators, Royal Caribbean and Carnival, have raised their outlooks for the rest of the year. Buick is a middle child. GM's SUV brand isn't as ritzy as Cadillac, isn't as truck-y as a GMC, and isn't as affordable as a Chevy. Instead, it's a cushy brand with a supreme focus on passenger comfort. The redesigned 2025 Buick Enclave is a great example. I drove the top-end model of the three-row SUV for a week in New York City - the company paid for a tank of gas and the city's unending tolls - and walked away with mixed feelings. On the bright side, the three-row SUV's design updates are a significant improvement over last year's. The model is boxier and more aggressive than the outgoing, bulbous design. It now has width-stretching LEDs in the back, a massive grill in the front, and a brick-like side profile. Inside, the SUV occupies a cozy, in-between lane that was much appreciated for stressful New York driving. The wash of subway train clangs, honking taxis, and construction hammering melted away the second the door shut. Slide me The newly sculpted Buick Enclave is a major upgrade over the outgoing, curvy family hauler Nearly every seat is wildly comfortable. The driver's seat is perfectly positioned to see over the long hood, the second-row captain's chairs offer just the right amount of support, and the rear seat is comfortable. But I wouldn't recommend putting adults in the third row for extended road trips. And, starting at $46,200, the Enclave undercuts other high-end SUVs with similar features, such as the Lexus RX, Audi Q7, or Volvo XC90, which range from $50,000 to $80,000. Our Avenir variant tester - which features self-parking, highway self-driving, Wi-Fi, a digital rearview mirror, and blue-painted cladding - retails for $65,125. Drivers who don't need the tech and luxury updates can opt for the lower-priced Preferred and Sport Touring trims. However, those drivers can wave goodbye to the second-row heated seats, dual-tone interior, and ambient door lighting. On the dark side, the SUV has several glaring weak points. While the Enclave looks aggressive and truck-like on the outside, it does not drive like it. Like so many large SUVs in today's market, the Enclave receives inspiration from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Encore undercuts several luxury SUVs on price - but the powertrain won't feel as refined The Enclave features GM's highway self-driving tech and dual-tone interior colors - but only on the top trim The engine is prone to hesitation. Multiple times, the power setup felt clunky off the line, and the transmission loudly searched for the right gear. Despite the smaller engine, fuel economy also isn't a bragging point: the Enclave returned 21 mpg in our test. Still, the point of the Enclave isn't to thrill. It's to cocoon. And, so long as drivers aren't planning on winning drag races and skipping the gas station, it's largely successful at what it sets out to do. This is the kind of vehicle for buyers who want comfort, quiet, and technology wrapped in a handsome package - all without destroying the bank. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that he does not care about the demand of Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind for his resignation following the eviction drive in various parts of the State and to book him under hate speech laws. Sarma also said that if he gets Jamiat President Mahmood Madani, he would send the Islamic scholar to Bangladesh. I am officially showing my burha anguli (thumb) to them. There is Assamese blood, strength and courage in this thumb of mine. I dont care about what they demand, Sarma told the media on the sidelines of a programme in Morigaon. The Jamiats Working Committee in a meeting, chaired by Madani, on Wednesday expressed alarm over the eviction drives in Assam that have rendered more than 50,000 families homeless, mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims. Adopting a resolution, the organisation called upon Indias constitutional authorities particularly the President of India and the Chief Justice of India to immediately remove the Chief Minister of Assam and initiate criminal proceedings against him for hate speech. It is the people of Assam who will take the decision and not Jamiat President Mahmood Madani. If I get Madani, I will send him to Bangladesh. I will only say one thing that I dont care about Jamiat at all or anyone else, Sarma said. He also described the Congress as the B Team of Jamiat. If anyone attacks Assams Chief Minister, belonging to whichever party including Congress, we would protest as the people of the state elected him and not the Jamiat, he said. The Congress leaders in the state are sardars (chief) of unknown people. They want to live with these unknown people, and they are not the representatives of the indigenous people, the CM said. Sarma did not clarify who the unknown people are. He had used the expression several times during his Independence Day speech too, in an apparent reference to Bengali-speaking Muslims. The CM alleged that it was Madani who did not allow the appointment of teachers who cleared the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) when he was the education minister in the Congress Government. In association with the late Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, he (Madani) would call our officers to a room and make them cry, said Sarma who joined the BJP in 2015. Their frustration has become clear after the recent eviction drive and our decision to discontinue Aadhaar cards to those above the age of 18. They wanted to occupy Assam and Congress had allowed it to happen, he said. Those who need to get the Aadhaar card are getting it and those who do not deserve it would not get it, the CM said. If identified as a Bangladeshi, the person is now directly pushed back without the earlier process of going to courts or detention camps, he said. For these reasons, they are naturally angry. I have no objection to it as I do not compare the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind even to my thumb, Sarma said. Barclays PLC (LON:BARC Get Free Report) insider Anna Cross sold 753,438 shares of Barclays stock in a transaction on Friday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 373, for a total value of 2,810,323.74. Anna Cross also recently made the following trade(s): Get Barclays alerts: On Friday, June 20th, Anna Cross acquired 27,898 shares of Barclays stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 326 per share, with a total value of 90,947.48. On Friday, June 20th, Anna Cross sold 13,112 shares of Barclays stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 326, for a total value of 42,745.12. Barclays Stock Performance Shares of BARC stock opened at GBX 376.45 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 350.08 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 317.26. The stock has a market cap of 54.05 billion, a PE ratio of 11.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.36. Barclays PLC has a 1 year low of GBX 213.90 and a 1 year high of GBX 379.32. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Barclays ( LON:BARC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported GBX 11.70 earnings per share for the quarter. Barclays had a return on equity of 6.97% and a net margin of 19.54%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Barclays PLC will post 39.1062802 earnings per share for the current year. A number of brokerages recently weighed in on BARC. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Barclays from GBX 355 to GBX 435 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Barclays in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Shore Capital lifted their target price on Barclays from GBX 395 to GBX 410 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Citigroup cut Barclays to a neutral rating and lifted their target price for the company from GBX 360 to GBX 366 in a report on Friday, July 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 380 target price on shares of Barclays in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 400.20. Read Our Latest Research Report on Barclays About Barclays (Get Free Report) Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Barclays Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barclays and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. cut its stake in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report) by 0.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,097,866 shares of the fast-food giants stock after selling 3,735 shares during the quarter. McDonalds makes up 1.7% of Bahl & Gaynor Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. owned 0.15% of McDonalds worth $342,940,000 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 stock. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC increased its position in McDonalds by 0.9% during the first quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC now owns 3,630 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $1,134,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC increased its position in McDonalds by 3.5% during the first quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC now owns 988 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $309,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC increased its position in McDonalds by 1.9% during the first quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 1,793 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $560,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Consilium Wealth Advisory LLC increased its position in McDonalds by 2.5% during the first quarter. Consilium Wealth Advisory LLC now owns 1,334 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $417,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Security Financial Services INC. increased its position in McDonalds by 0.7% during the first quarter. Security Financial Services INC. now owns 5,043 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $1,575,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get McDonald's alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades MCD has been the topic of several analyst reports. TD Securities reissued a hold rating and set a $305.00 target price on shares of McDonalds in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. Melius initiated coverage on shares of McDonalds in a research report on Monday, July 14th. They set a sell rating and a $250.00 target price on the stock. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of McDonalds from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of McDonalds from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $346.00 to $315.00 in a research report on Friday, June 6th. Finally, KeyCorp restated an overweight rating and set a $335.00 price target (up from $325.00) on shares of McDonalds in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $326.38. McDonalds Stock Performance NYSE MCD opened at $313.8010 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $299.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $305.72. McDonalds Corporation has a twelve month low of $276.53 and a twelve month high of $326.32. The stock has a market cap of $223.93 billion, a PE ratio of 26.89, a PEG ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.52. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The fast-food giant reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.04. McDonalds had a net margin of 32.21% and a negative return on equity of 225.52%. The business had revenue of $6.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.68 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.97 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. McDonalds Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be paid a $1.77 dividend. This represents a $7.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.67%. Insider Activity at McDonalds In related news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,487 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total value of $770,970.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 8,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,713,740. This trade represents a 22.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 939 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $299.49, for a total transaction of $281,221.11. Following the transaction, the insider owned 9,283 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,780,165.67. This represents a 9.19% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 7,341 shares of company stock worth $2,229,327 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. 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. See Also 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. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) had its target price boosted by equities researchers at Bank of America from $145.00 to $150.00 in a report issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the apparel and home fashions retailers stock. Bank of Americas target price indicates a potential upside of 9.99% from the companys current price. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on TJX. Macquarie restated a buy rating on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Daiwa America upgraded shares of TJX Companies to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $140.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Citigroup upgraded shares of TJX Companies from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Loop Capital set a $150.00 target price on shares of TJX Companies and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $147.58. Get TJX Companies alerts: View Our Latest Report on TJX TJX Companies Price Performance Shares of NYSE:TJX opened at $136.3790 on Thursday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $127.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.48. TJX Companies has a twelve month low of $111.22 and a twelve month high of $145.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $152.35 billion, a PE ratio of 31.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.89. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 20th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.01 by $0.09. TJX Companies had a net margin of 8.59% and a return on equity of 58.63%. The firm had revenue of $14.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.96 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. TJX Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.520-4.570 EPS. Q3 2026 guidance at 1.170-1.190 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that TJX Companies will post 4.18 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity In other news, Director Amy B. Lane sold 950 shares of TJX Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.09, for a total transaction of $121,685.50. Following the sale, the director owned 22,712 shares in the company, valued at $2,909,180.08. This trade represents a 4.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On TJX Companies Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of TJX. Lavaca Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at $25,000. TCTC Holdings LLC boosted its stake in TJX Companies by 210.1% during the first quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 214 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in TJX Companies during the second quarter worth $28,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute purchased a new position in TJX Companies during the second quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in TJX Companies during the second quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors own 91.09% of the companys stock. About TJX Companies (Get Free Report) The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise. Read More Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 5.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,134 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 890 shares during the period. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLCs holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $862,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. Allstate Corp boosted its position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 22.1% in the first quarter. Allstate Corp now owns 73,667 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,493,000 after buying an additional 13,357 shares during the period. Gitterman Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb during the 1st quarter valued at about $315,000. Compound Planning Inc. lifted its position in Bristol Myers Squibb by 9.8% during the 1st quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 14,023 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $855,000 after acquiring an additional 1,255 shares in the last quarter. Bragg Financial Advisors Inc boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Bragg Financial Advisors Inc now owns 36,341 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,216,000 after acquiring an additional 565 shares during the period. Finally, Norinchukin Bank The grew its position in Bristol Myers Squibb by 16.2% in the first quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 111,552 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $6,804,000 after acquiring an additional 15,561 shares in the last quarter. 76.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol Myers Squibb alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BMY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Daiwa Capital Markets cut shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $42.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, August 5th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. William Blair reissued a market perform rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Daiwa America downgraded Bristol Myers Squibb from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $56.38. Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Down 1.2% NYSE:BMY opened at $47.8420 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.54, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.21. The company has a market capitalization of $97.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.36. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a one year low of $42.96 and a one year high of $63.33. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $47.06 and a 200 day simple moving average of $51.12. Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.39. The firm had revenue of $12.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.32 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 80.04% and a net margin of 10.58%.Bristol Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.07 earnings per share. Bristol Myers Squibb has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.350-6.650 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 3rd were issued a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 3rd. Bristol Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently 100.00%. Bristol Myers Squibb Company Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Read More 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. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp decreased its position in shares of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL Free Report) by 17.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 429,670 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after selling 89,046 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corps holdings in Oracle were worth $60,072,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Oracle by 71.6% in the first quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 257,378 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $35,984,000 after purchasing an additional 107,404 shares during the last quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. grew its holdings in shares of Oracle by 4.3% in the first quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 51,350 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $7,179,000 after purchasing an additional 2,110 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Oracle in the first quarter worth about $732,692,000. Rockland Trust Co. grew its holdings in shares of Oracle by 4.8% in the first quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 10,165 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $1,421,000 after purchasing an additional 467 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Calamos Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Oracle by 1.5% in the first quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC now owns 711,290 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $99,445,000 after purchasing an additional 10,426 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 42.44% of the companys stock. Get Oracle alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Guggenheim upped their price target on shares of Oracle from $220.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Oracle from $215.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Oracle from $245.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Oracle in a report on Thursday, July 17th. They set a sector outperform rating and a $300.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Oracle from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $227.04. Oracle Stock Up 1.3% NYSE:ORCL opened at $236.1670 on Friday. Oracle Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $118.86 and a fifty-two week high of $260.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $663.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 54.42, a P/E/G ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.07, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.75. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $235.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is $182.79. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 11th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.06. Oracle had a net margin of 21.68% and a return on equity of 87.34%. The business had revenue of $15.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.58 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.63 EPS. The companys revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Oracle Corporation will post 5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Oracle Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 10th were given a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 10th. Oracles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.08%. Insider Transactions at Oracle In related news, EVP Maria Smith sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.99, for a total value of $2,329,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 40,807 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,507,622.93. This trade represents a 19.68% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Michael D. Sicilia sold 15,880 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.48, for a total transaction of $4,041,142.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 99,212 shares of the companys stock, valued at $25,247,469.76. The trade was a 13.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 444,183 shares of company stock worth $86,521,198 over the last ninety days. 42.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Oracle Profile (Free Report) Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ORCL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Candriam S.C.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Toast, Inc. (NYSE:TOST Free Report) in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor purchased 111,983 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,714,000. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in TOST. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Toast in the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. Piscataqua Savings Bank lifted its position in shares of Toast by 57.1% in the 1st quarter. Piscataqua Savings Bank now owns 1,100 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. West Branch Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Toast by 862.1% in the 1st quarter. West Branch Capital LLC now owns 1,116 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Toast by 29.2% in the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 1,257 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the period. Finally, Signaturefd LLC lifted its position in shares of Toast by 227.1% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,472 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,022 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.91% of the companys stock. Get Toast alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have recently commented on TOST. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Toast from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Toast from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, August 9th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Toast from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Toast in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, DA Davidson increased their price target on shares of Toast from $40.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 29th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $45.54. Toast Price Performance Shares of Toast stock opened at $43.9010 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $44.76 and a 200 day moving average of $40.21. The firm has a market cap of $22.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 129.12 and a beta of 2.01. Toast, Inc. has a 1 year low of $22.91 and a 1 year high of $49.66. Toast (NYSE:TOST Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The company reported $0.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.23 by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $1.55 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.52 billion. Toast had a return on equity of 14.19% and a net margin of 4.07%.The firms revenue was up 24.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.02 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Toast, Inc. will post 0.39 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Toast In other Toast news, CFO Elena Gomez sold 2,006 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.38, for a total transaction of $97,050.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 141,263 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,834,303.94. This trade represents a 1.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Brian R. Elworthy sold 1,051 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.38, for a total transaction of $50,847.38. Following the sale, the general counsel owned 222,868 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,782,353.84. This represents a 0.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 405,554 shares of company stock worth $17,333,686 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 12.14% of the companys stock. About Toast (Free Report) Toast, Inc operates a cloud-based digital technology platform for the restaurant industry in the United States, Ireland, and India. The company offers software products for restaurant operations and point of sale, such as Toast POS, Toast now, multi-location management, kitchen display system, Toast mobile order and pay, Toast catering and events, Toast invoicing, Toast tables, and restaurant retail; and hardware products, including Toast flex, Toast flex for guest, Toast go 2, Toast tap, kiosks, and Delphi by Toast. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TOST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Toast, Inc. (NYSE:TOST Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Toast Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toast and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Visitors pass by Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Jan. 31, 2020. Photo by Reuters Malaysia has seen an increase in international student applications over two years, as policy reforms, improved university rankings, and post-study work opportunities boost its global appeal. According to the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) under the Ministry of Higher Education, international applications in the Southeast Asian country have increased by 26% over the past two years. EMGS now handles peaks of 14,00015,000 applications a month for the September intake, and typically turns around complete cases within 14 working days, sometimes in just 810 days. About 40 immigration officers are dedicated to student visa processing to streamline work between universities, immigration and agents, EMGSs CEO Novie Tajuddin told The PIE News. EMGS data show that in Q2 this year, Malaysia received 12,469 applications from East Asia, followed by South Asia (8,046), the Middle East & North Africa (4,990), Southeast Asia (4,682), Africa (2,560), Central Asia (1,013) and other regions (1,534). China led individual source countries with 10,947 applications, ahead of Bangladesh (4,159), Indonesia (2,194), Pakistan (1,412) and India (1,388). With Chinese enrollments softening in the U.S. and U.K. amid cost concerns and growing regional options, Malaysia is emerging as a compelling alternative, according to university leaders. Educators cited robust quality assurance, via the Malaysia Qualifications Framework, which is Malaysia's declaration about its qualifications and their quality in relation to its education system, and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, which implements the Malaysian Qualifications Framework as a basis for quality assurance of higher education and as the reference point for the criteria and standards for national qualifications, as reported by The PIE. "Malaysia is rising in rankings like THE and QS. This traction is attracting students from everywhere, especially China. If Im not mistaken, last year Malaysia approved about 20,000 students from China, and we expect similar numbers this year and next. Were also seeing more students from Bangladesh and the Middle East," said Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, deputy vice-chancellor at the Universit Utara Malaysia. He noted that Japans weakening yen has also driven many students to study in Malaysia. Malaysia takes the lead among Southeast Asia with 32 institutions ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (QS WUR 2026), released in June by U.K.-based education organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). In Southeast Asia, 95 universities were ranked. Sunway University in Malaysia, which has risen over 120 places, is the world's most improved institution according to the QS ranking. It jumps from the joint rank of 539 to the joint rank of 410 globally. In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, which ranks more than 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories, Malaysia also saw a strong performance, with seven universities reaching the top 500 globally. Policy changes are sharpening Malaysias appeal. Malaysias Graduate Pass, a post-study work visa launched in December 2023, together with a streamlined International Student Arrival Center and a centralized admissions system, is attracting significant interest from stakeholders. Malaysia has extended its post-graduate visa to 32 countries, including Australia, allowing graduates to work in Malaysia for one year after completing a bachelors, masters, or PhD, a benefit that was previously unavailable, said EMGS's CEO, Tajuddin. Groupe la Francaise boosted its holdings in Crh Plc (NYSE:CRH Free Report) by 86.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,154,803 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 535,474 shares during the quarter. CRH accounts for about 2.1% of Groupe la Francaises portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Groupe la Francaise owned approximately 0.17% of CRH worth $99,981,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of CRH. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Park Square Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Colonial Trust Co SC acquired a new position in CRH during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, GW&K Investment Management LLC increased its position in CRH by 86.7% during the 1st quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 448 shares of the construction companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.50% of the companys stock. Get CRH alerts: CRH Stock Performance NYSE:CRH opened at $113.2560 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $98.10 and its 200-day moving average is $95.82. Crh Plc has a 52 week low of $76.75 and a 52 week high of $113.95. The firm has a market cap of $76.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.26. CRH Announces Dividend CRH ( NYSE:CRH Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The construction company reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.06 by ($0.12). CRH had a net margin of 9.09% and a return on equity of 15.68%. The firm had revenue of $10.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.88 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Crh Plc will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 24th. Investors of record on Friday, August 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 22nd. CRHs payout ratio is presently 23.22%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $112.00 price objective (up from $108.00) on shares of CRH in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Vertical Research upgraded shares of CRH to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating on shares of CRH in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating on shares of CRH in a report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on shares of CRH in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $115.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $113.18. View Our Latest Stock Report on CRH About CRH (Free Report) CRH plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides building materials solutions in Ireland and internationally. It operates through four segments: Americas Materials Solutions, Americas Building Solutions, Europe Materials Solutions, and Europe Building Solutions. The company provides solutions for the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure and commercial and residential buildings; and produces and sells aggregates, cement, readymixed concrete, and asphalt, as well as provides paving and construction services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for CRH Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CRH and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Phoenix Wealth Advisors increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 25.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 554 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 114 shares during the period. Phoenix Wealth Advisors holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $458,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 97.5% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 101,305,650 shares of the companys stock worth $83,669,349,000 after purchasing an additional 50,002,551 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 79,224,392 shares of the companys stock worth $65,432,218,000 after purchasing an additional 4,975,395 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 103,831.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 14,866,380 shares of the companys stock worth $12,278,292,000 after purchasing an additional 14,852,076 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,707,512 shares of the companys stock worth $10,495,261,000 after purchasing an additional 81,587 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 14.6% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,448,219 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,294,025,000 after buying an additional 1,204,337 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In LLY has been the subject of a number of research reports. Leerink Partners reissued a market perform rating and set a $715.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $975.00 to $825.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Erste Group Bank lowered shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, June 5th. Finally, Leerink Partnrs lowered shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $950.17. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 0.1% LLY stock opened at $710.7290 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $623.78 and a 1 year high of $972.48. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $754.70 and a 200 day simple moving average of $790.90. The firm has a market cap of $672.68 billion, a PE ratio of 46.45, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.44. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The company reported $6.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.59 by $0.72. The business had revenue of $15.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.40 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 25.91% and a return on equity of 92.72%. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 37.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.92 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 21.750-23.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $1.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 39.22%. Insider Activity In other news, Director J Erik Fyrwald bought 1,565 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 12th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $642.33 per share, with a total value of $1,005,246.45. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 74,578 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,903,686.74. The trade was a 2.14% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Gabrielle Sulzberger bought 117 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $641.18 per share, with a total value of $75,018.06. Following the transaction, the director owned 2,703 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,733,109.54. The trade was a 4.52% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have acquired 4,514 shares of company stock worth $2,894,841. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Further Reading 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. Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new stake in shares of Avantis Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:AVRE Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 31,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,376,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC owned 0.25% of Avantis Real Estate ETF as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of Avantis Real Estate ETF by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 324,287 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,948,000 after acquiring an additional 21,366 shares during the period. CCM Investment Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Avantis Real Estate ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $51,427,000. Arcadia Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Avantis Real Estate ETF by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Arcadia Wealth Management Inc. now owns 50,772 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,184,000 after acquiring an additional 2,048 shares during the period. Keb Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Avantis Real Estate ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $278,000. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC boosted its holdings in Avantis Real Estate ETF by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 94,110 shares of the companys stock worth $4,120,000 after buying an additional 450 shares during the period. Get Avantis Real Estate ETF alerts: Avantis Real Estate ETF Trading Up 1.4% AVRE opened at $45.11 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $44.27 and a 200 day moving average of $43.50. The company has a market cap of $624.32 million, a PE ratio of 28.60 and a beta of 0.96. Avantis Real Estate ETF has a 12 month low of $37.71 and a 12 month high of $48.36. Avantis Real Estate ETF Profile The Avantis Real Estate ETF (AVRE) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P Global REIT index. The fund is an actively managed fund that provides broad exposure to real estate securities around the world. AVRE was launched on Sep 28, 2021 and is managed by American Century Investments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Avantis Real Estate ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avantis Real Estate ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Groupe la Francaise increased its position in New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD Free Report) by 2.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,850,000 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 50,000 shares during the quarter. Groupe la Francaise owned approximately 0.23% of New Gold worth $6,645,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of NGD. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL bought a new stake in shares of New Gold in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of New Gold in the 1st quarter valued at about $37,000. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of New Gold in the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of New Gold in the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Nwam LLC bought a new stake in shares of New Gold in the 1st quarter valued at about $45,000. 42.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get New Gold alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have weighed in on NGD shares. Raymond James Financial raised shares of New Gold to a hold rating and set a $4.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, June 30th. National Bankshares reissued an outperform rating on shares of New Gold in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. CIBC increased their price target on shares of New Gold from $5.50 to $6.25 and gave the company an outperformer rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of New Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $4.38. New Gold Stock Up 1.8% Shares of NGD opened at $5.54 on Friday. New Gold Inc. has a 12 month low of $2.31 and a 12 month high of $5.61. The firms 50 day moving average is $4.76 and its 200-day moving average is $3.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.39 billion, a PE ratio of 42.62 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. New Gold Company Profile (Free Report) New Gold Inc, an intermediate gold mining company, develops and operates of mineral properties in Canada. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper deposits. The companys principal operating properties include 100% interest in the Rainy River mine located in Northwestern Ontario, Canada; and New Afton project situated in South-Central British Columbia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for New Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF (NYSEARCA:RSPM Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 10,500 shares, anincreaseof25.0% from the July 15th total of 8,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 27,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently,0.2% of the shares of the company are short sold. Currently,0.2% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 27,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF Price Performance Shares of RSPM opened at $33.79 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $33.11 and a 200-day moving average of $32.13. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF has a one year low of $26.63 and a one year high of $37.85. The company has a market cap of $169.96 million, a PE ratio of 21.25 and a beta of 1.05. Get Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $212,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF by 15.8% in the 2nd quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 113,478 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,678,000 after acquiring an additional 15,515 shares during the period. Lavaca Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF by 1,011.1% during the 2nd quarter. Lavaca Capital LLC now owns 5,000 shares of the companys stock worth $162,000 after buying an additional 4,550 shares during the last quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $288,000. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $119,000. About Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF (RSPM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Equal Weighted / Materials index. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of US materials companies in the S&P 500. RSPM was launched on Nov 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Materials ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Valueworks LLC lifted its holdings in Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. (NYSE:MLP Free Report) by 14.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 919,343 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 116,076 shares during the period. Maui Land & Pineapple comprises about 6.1% of Valueworks LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Valueworks LLC owned 4.66% of Maui Land & Pineapple worth $16,153,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of MLP. First Hawaiian Bank purchased a new stake in Maui Land & Pineapple during the 1st quarter worth approximately $52,710,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Maui Land & Pineapple during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,648,000. NBC Securities Inc. increased its stake in Maui Land & Pineapple by 127,223.5% during the 1st quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 43,290 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $760,000 after buying an additional 43,256 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Maui Land & Pineapple by 374.6% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 26,344 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $579,000 after buying an additional 20,793 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new stake in Maui Land & Pineapple during the 1st quarter worth approximately $181,000. 24.55% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Maui Land & Pineapple alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Wall Street Zen upgraded Maui Land & Pineapple from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, August 16th. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Maui Land & Pineapple news, Director Stephen M. Case acquired 3,339 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 13th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $17.43 per share, for a total transaction of $58,198.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 11,921,445 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $207,790,786.35. The trade was a 0.03% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders purchased 11,909 shares of company stock valued at $195,861 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 65.88% of the companys stock. Maui Land & Pineapple Price Performance MLP stock opened at $17.1630 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $17.23 and a 200-day simple moving average of $17.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $338.80 million, a PE ratio of -24.17 and a beta of 0.81. Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $14.05 and a 1 year high of $26.46. Maui Land & Pineapple (NYSE:MLP Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 14th. The financial services provider reported ($0.05) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $4.60 million during the quarter. Maui Land & Pineapple had a negative net margin of 81.82% and a negative return on equity of 45.87%. Maui Land & Pineapple Profile (Free Report) Maui Land & Pineapple Co, Inc is a landholding and operating company, which engages in the development, sale, and management of real estate. It operates through the following segments: Real Estate, Leasing, and Resort Amenities. The Real Estate segment includes land planning and entitlement, development, and sales activities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Maui Land & Pineapple Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Maui Land & Pineapple and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL Free Report) by 5.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,959 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after buying an additional 1,119 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLCs holdings in Oracle were worth $2,812,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ORCL. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Oracle by 189.3% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 153,580 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $25,593,000 after acquiring an additional 100,494 shares in the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Oracle by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,418 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $903,000 after acquiring an additional 404 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its position in shares of Oracle by 7.6% in the 4th quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 64,065 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $10,676,000 after acquiring an additional 4,550 shares in the last quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp lifted its position in shares of Oracle by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp now owns 25,814 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $4,302,000 after acquiring an additional 201 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Oracle by 268.4% in the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 3,077,947 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $512,909,000 after acquiring an additional 2,242,520 shares in the last quarter. 42.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Oracle alerts: Oracle Stock Performance NYSE:ORCL opened at $236.1670 on Friday. Oracle Corporation has a 1 year low of $118.86 and a 1 year high of $260.87. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $235.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $182.79. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $663.35 billion, a PE ratio of 54.42, a PEG ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 1.43. Oracle Dividend Announcement Oracle ( NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, June 11th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.06. Oracle had a net margin of 21.68% and a return on equity of 87.34%. The business had revenue of $15.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.58 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.63 EPS. Oracles revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Oracle Corporation will post 5 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 10th were paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 10th. Oracles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.08%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Clayton M. Magouyrk sold 15,000 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $214.10, for a total transaction of $3,211,500.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 60,722 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,000,580.20. The trade was a 19.81% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Maria Smith sold 10,000 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.99, for a total transaction of $2,329,900.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 40,807 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,507,622.93. This trade represents a 19.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 444,183 shares of company stock valued at $86,521,198 in the last quarter. 42.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets ORCL has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Loop Capital set a $135.00 price target on shares of Oracle in a research report on Tuesday, June 10th. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of Oracle from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $180.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Monday, June 30th. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $221.00 target price (up previously from $202.00) on shares of Oracle in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Oracle from $220.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and issued a $240.00 target price (up previously from $200.00) on shares of Oracle in a research report on Thursday, June 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $227.04. Get Our Latest Research Report on Oracle Oracle Company Profile (Free Report) Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ORCL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Phoenix Wealth Advisors lifted its holdings in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report) by 2.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,231 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. Phoenix Wealth Advisors holdings in International Business Machines were worth $555,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of International Business Machines by 21.6% in the 1st quarter. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,533 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,376,000 after purchasing an additional 982 shares in the last quarter. Leslie Global Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in International Business Machines by 15.1% in the 1st quarter. Leslie Global Wealth LLC now owns 1,084 shares of the technology companys stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Allstate Corp boosted its holdings in International Business Machines by 17.4% in the 1st quarter. Allstate Corp now owns 32,147 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,994,000 after buying an additional 4,764 shares during the last quarter. RPG Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in International Business Machines by 100.9% in the 1st quarter. RPG Investment Advisory LLC now owns 98,189 shares of the technology companys stock worth $24,416,000 after buying an additional 49,318 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OFC Financial Planning LLC acquired a new stake in International Business Machines in the 1st quarter worth about $213,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.96% of the companys stock. Get International Business Machines alerts: International Business Machines Stock Performance NYSE:IBM opened at $241.6890 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $224.63 billion, a PE ratio of 39.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.69 and a beta of 0.69. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $269.61 and its 200 day moving average price is $258.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.87. International Business Machines Corporation has a 12 month low of $194.39 and a 12 month high of $296.16. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades International Business Machines ( NYSE:IBM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The technology company reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.15. International Business Machines had a net margin of 9.11% and a return on equity of 37.62%. The company had revenue of $16.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.43 earnings per share. International Business Machiness revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. International Business Machines has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. IBM has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup reiterated an outperform rating on shares of International Business Machines in a report on Saturday, May 10th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on International Business Machines from $260.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on International Business Machines from $320.00 to $310.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Erste Group Bank cut International Business Machines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Melius Research upgraded International Business Machines to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, July 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $268.75. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on International Business Machines International Business Machines Profile (Free Report) International Business Machines Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments. The Software segment offers a hybrid cloud and AI platforms that allows clients to realize their digital and AI transformations across the applications, data, and environments in which they operate. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IBM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for International Business Machines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Business Machines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ELKO Tradition meets technology at the 104th Elko County Fair and Livestock Show that kicked off this weekend with action-packed horse racing, barrel racing and roping ahead of home arts and livestock contests. This year, fairgoers can purchase their tickets online to horse racing events on Saturday, and next week, starting Aug. 29 and going through Labor Day at https://www.rodeoticket.com/rodeos/elko-county-fair/2025/tickets. Also, a new computerized betting system promises shorter lines and faster payouts, particularly for one of the largest purses in Elko racetrack history for the Quarter Horse Futurity. I think its going to be a big fair, Elko County Fair Board Chairman Tony Buzzetti said. He noted several traditional and new features of this years fair, offering something for everyone. Returning is the carnival that will run rides for two weeks starting this weekend. Children under 21 can also partake in a new kids bar that serves Shirley Temples and soft drinks. Action-packed horse racing Theres something for everyone at the fair, which organizers call one of the largest in recent years. The horse racing features a new parimutuel betting system from United Tote. Buzzetti said the change came after the owner of the previous odds boards retired. His machines were old and he was concerned about them. The new system is used at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby and was implemented at the White Pine County Fair for its horse races on Aug. 15-17. They had pretty good success down in Ely, Buzzetti said. Its an up-to-date computer. Supposed to be faster, and hopefully the [betting] lines and times will be a lot faster. Were excited to try that. White Pine also showed a record number of betting, added Fair Board Administrative Secretary Jennifer JJ Roemmich. A member of the Fair staff traveled to Ely and witnessed speedy transactions, resulting in shorter lines at the betting windows. About 24 parimutuel tellers are employed during the fair, all of whom Roemmich said would return during the fair. Among the entrants on the first weekend will be about 12 horses, two quarter horses and 10 thoroughbreds owned by Mike Scudder of Star, Idaho. Scudder has participated in horse races for about 30 years, said his sister Jeannie, who has accompanied him on his visits. This weekend of racing consisted of eight races on Friday and will have at least 10 on Saturday, ahead of some of the bigger races during Labor Day weekend, which includes the Quarter Horse Futurity Consolidation race. Buzzetti said the horse races were shaping up to hit record levels at the Elko track in recent years, with about 43 horses that have paid to enter. Our racehorse numbers so far have been really good. We have the largest futurity that Ive seen in years, he said. Roemmich estimated the payout could be about $300,000 during the six days of racing. The final race of the fair is the annual Nevada Blackjack Challenge featuring a mint julep bar hosted by last years winners, Misfit Stables. Home arts favorites added Baking, canning, quilting, Indian arts, produce, flowers, photography, sewing and fine arts are well-attended features of the fair. Exhibits can be entered online through 10 p.m. on Aug. 27. They can be dropped off in person at the Goicoechea Home Arts and Flower Buildings from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 28, with an extended time for plants, flowers and baking entries until 5 p.m. Adrienne George, home arts general superintendent, said there were some changes to help with entries and judging this year. One is for canning exhibitors who can bring a tasting jar for judging to prevent entries from being opened and possibly being spoiled. The Home Arts division also returns to a flat $7 entry fee for unlimited entries in all divisions, following a year of confusion that added an extra charge for more than 10 entries overall, George said. Volunteers are always welcome, she added. People with an eye for design are welcome to arrange the entries after judging concludes on Aug. 28. The public can view all exhibits starting at 1 p.m. on Aug. 29. George said the Publics Choice and Fair Board Favorite categories were added this year for attendees to choose an exhibit they like the best from all entrants and from Fair Board members. Last year, George said Livestock Committee supervisor Jay Dalton sparked the idea when he entered hand-knitted scarves. She asked friends of fair board members Dalton, Buzzetti, Racing Chair Justin McDermott, Parimutuels Chair Justin Wines, Home Arts Chair Cori Rainwater, Vendors Chair Kameron Clifford and Stockhorse Chair John Ross to encourage them to enter one of the 11 categories. The two fan-favorite categories are for bragging rights only and will not include any monetary prizes or ribbons, she added. Voting boxes will be available on the first day home arts is open to the public. Branding and roping contests In the arena, the fair will host branding and roping contests. On Saturday, the Breakaway Roping hosted by Steele Productions is open to youth and adults and starts at 9 a.m. Winners will receive a belt buckle donated by the Elko County Fair Board. Later, the 4D Night Barrel Race starts at 8 p.m., hosted by Feral Productions. Participants can enter one of the four classes: Peewee, Youth, Open and Senior on saddlebook.com. Buzzetti said team roping and branding entries seemed to be increasing every year. This is some of the largest branding weve seen, he said. The womens branding is at 15 entries right now. Thats one of the largest that I can remember. The Miner Branding competition starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Entrants must work for one of the gold mines or be MSHA certified to participate. On Sunday is the Drawpot Branding contest. Competitions such as herd work, reined work, ranch horse class, womens branding, open branding, co-ed branding, Nevada Cattle Working Womens Class, Champion Nevada Cow Horse, team roping, junior riders and young buckaroo contests start Aug. 27 and conclude on Sept. 1. Livestock show Large animals will be presented at this years fair, including goats, sheep and cows. Small animals such as rabbits, chickens and ducks will be allowed for the duration of the livestock show, compared with other years when viruses prevented exhibitors from taking them to the barns. The livestock show is open to junior livestock clubs such as 4-H and grange clubs. During the livestock sales on Aug. 31, a Bloody Mary bar will be opened at the Cowboy Bar. Elko Lions Club Parade This year, Roemmich will be honored as the Grand Marshal of the Fair Parade on Aug. 29. Roemmich has served for 23 years with the fair board, working year-round from the fair office and from home during the off-season. Sponsored by the Elko Lions Club, the parade begins at 11 a.m. in the downtown corridor on Commercial Street. Dances, vendors and parking After the races and roping are done, the fair will host an after-party on Aug. 30 and Aug. 31, featuring High Jacked next to the grandstand. Nearly 40 vendors will return to the fair, offering food, beverage and retail goods, along with community service and sales booths. We have a variety, Roemmich said. Ive got some barbecue people this year. Ramon Zugazaga and Elko Indar Futbol Club will be in charge of the concessions stand, selling food and soft drinks. Shuttles will also take fairgoers from the Elko Convention Center parking lot to the Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 29 through Sept. 1 free of charge. Buzzetti said cooler temperatures are forecasted over Labor Day weekend, allowing fairgoers to enjoy the activities without excessive heat. A little cool down with no terrential downpours would be good, he said. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in Employers Holdings Inc (NYSE:EIG Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 193,792 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $9,814,000. Nuveen LLC owned 0.81% of Employers as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Employers alerts: A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of EIG. Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Employers in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Employers in the 4th quarter worth about $48,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Employers by 16.4% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,147 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $109,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the period. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Employers in the 4th quarter worth about $137,000. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Employers by 8.0% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,895 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $147,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.49% of the companys stock. Insider Buying and Selling at Employers In other news, EVP John M. Mutschink sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.12, for a total transaction of $98,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 19,789 shares in the company, valued at approximately $972,035.68. This trade represents a 9.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock. Employers Trading Up 1.4% Employers stock opened at $43.7270 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.67 and a beta of 0.52. The companys 50-day moving average price is $44.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $47.57. Employers Holdings Inc has a 52 week low of $38.19 and a 52 week high of $54.44. Employers (NYSE:EIG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The financial services provider reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.94 by ($0.46). The company had revenue of $246.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $217.17 million. Employers had a net margin of 11.37% and a return on equity of 7.56%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.10 EPS. Research analysts expect that Employers Holdings Inc will post 3.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Employers Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 27th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 13th will be given a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 13th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. Employerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.22%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Employers from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, August 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Employers currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $58.00. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Employers Employers Company Profile (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. Featured Stories 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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to discuss territorial issues during a meeting with Putin, NBC News reported on Friday, citing an interview given by Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia to the Meet the Press program. The host asked Kyslytsia to comment on the statement by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is not planned, and to say whether he thinks that "this peace process is still moving forward, or has it stopped now?" "No, I believe that it is moving forward, and it is moving gradually. Unfortunately, not as fast as we would like. But I believe that this Monday and the meeting at the White House were extremely important events of the last months. And I believe that this was an important achievement in which President Trump played a decisive role," Kyslytsia said. When asked about the possible timing of a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, Kyslytsia replied that at least a week is needed "to prepare a reliable draft package of security guarantees for Ukraine." "So, ideally, we can have the first draft at the beginning of next week, and then we have to decide, the political leadership has to decide, how we will work with these projects from the political side," Kyslytsia noted. Asked what he thinks the United States should do if the meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin does not take place, and whether the United States should impose additional sanctions against Russia, Kyslytsia answered in the affirmative, emphasizing that "additional pressure should be almost immediate when the deadline Trump has in mind ends." "And then the Russians should really feel the pain of not wanting to follow the path of peace that President Trump has offered to the Russian Federation," the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized. When asked about Russia's claims to receive more territory than it has already illegally seized and about the possibility for Ukraine to discuss these issues, Kyslytsia replied that President Zelenskyy "is guided by both the current legislation of Ukraine and public opinion, and the public is categorically against exchanging our land for peace." "But when it came to territorial issues, President Zelenskyy made it clear that he was willing to sit down and discuss this with Putin, starting the discussion of territorial issues from the line of combat that exists now," Kyslytsia told NBC News. "Two worlds, two perspectives: sabotage versus the maximum desire to achieve progress," Kyslytsia commented on his and Lavrov's statements on NBC News, on the platform X. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reportedly told NBC News' "Meet the Press" program on Friday that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy was not planned. Holywell Trust is encouraging last minute applications for its Forward Thinking programme, which will include two residential study trips to Catalonia or the Basque Region in Northern Spain, and a visit to Scotland. The Forward Thinking programme will explore constitutional issues at home and abroad, considering Northern Ireland in a global context. A key part of the project is direct engagement with people involved in other constitutional campaigns and discussions, with Northern Spain and Scotland top of the agenda. By sharing the lived experiences of those involved in the debate, and gaining insight on tackling the challenges of constitutional reform, it is hoped that these foreign visits will contribute to the conversation in Northern Ireland. Forward Thinking is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and funded through Derry City and Strabane District Councils PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan, under the theme Celebrating Cultural Diversity. Gerard Deane, Director of Holywell Trust. Holywell Trusts Programme Manager, Sara Duddy explained the value of broad community participation in the Forward Thinking programme, at a pivotal point. She said: This is an important time in the evolving conversation around the Irish border. The Forward Thinking programme will explore the constitutional question here, while drawing on international experiences of constitutional change. The study visits to Northern Spain and Scotland will provide a really valuable opportunity for participants to see how other societies have navigated political and identity conflicts. We are particularly keen to hear from people across all communities and identities, including those from Protestant, Unionist and/or Loyalist backgrounds, minority/ethnic backgrounds, and residents in border areas, to ensure a wide range of voices are part of the discussion. READ NEXT: The Rocky Horror Show brings Derry audience to its feet For participants who prefer to stay closer to home, Holywell will also be hosting a series of Forward Thinking workshops exploring constitutional questions from a wide range of perspectives. These workshops, starting in September, will be free and open to all to attend. More information is available at www.holywelltrust.com/forward- thinking . To apply for the residential study visits, interested participants should submit a CV, cover letter and monitoring form by 12 noon on Friday, August 29 to Programme Manager, Sara Duddy: Sara@holywelltrust.com. 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. From hundreds of entries, the shortlists for this years AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize have been announced by the National Gallery of Ireland, with a Louth entrant making the shortlist. Dundalk native Miseon Lee has been shortlisted for the AIB Portrait Prize along with 25 other artists from across the country with her piece Blues, a work in oil on linen. The AIB Portrait Prize shortlist includes paintings, video and photography by artists from across the country. The winner of the AIB Portrait Prize will receive a cash prize of 15,000 and will be commissioned to create a work for the National Portrait Collection, for which they will be awarded a further 5,000. Two additional awards of 1,500 will be given to highly commended works. Judges for the AIB Portrait Prize are Gareth Reid, artist; Professor Emily Mark-FitzGerald, Professor in the School of Art History & Cultural Policy in UCD; and Dr Barbara Dawson, Director of the Hugh Lane Gallery. The AIB Young Portrait Prize returns for its seventh year in 2025, showcasing the artistic talent of young people aged eighteen and under. Five winners (one from each respective age category and an overall winner) will be selected from the shortlist. Winners will receive a bespoke art box and a cash prize. The overall competition winner will be awarded a personalised wooden box of high-quality art materials and a cash prize of 500. This years AIB Young Portrait Prize judges are Cian OBrien of COBA: Cian OBrien Arts; Neil-Jack (Alphonsus) Hamilton, artist; and Alice Rekab, artist. Exhibitions of the shortlisted works in both competitions will be on display in the Portrait Gallery (Room 23) in the National Gallery of Ireland from 8 November 2025 15 March 2026. The winners of the Prizes will be announced at a ceremony held in the National Gallery of Ireland on 25 November 2025. The Gallery is delighted to partner with Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny and Waterford Gallery of Art to present the AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize 2025. Following the exhibitions at the National Gallery of Ireland, the works will travel to Letterkenny from 4 April to 20 June 2026, and to Waterford from 18 July to 11 October 2026. Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said, Were thrilled to continue our collaboration with AIB on the annual AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize. Watching entries arrive and the shortlist be announced for the competitions is a highlight of our year every year. "Were excited for the exhibitions to open here at the Gallery in November and happy that audiences in Donegal and Waterford will have a chance to see these works close to home at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny and Waterford Gallery of Art in 2026. Colin Hunt, Chief Executive Officer of AIB, said, Irish Portraiture holds a valuable place in our cultural tapestry. The AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize capture a moment in time in Irish society and are a reflection of our people, our stories and our history. "These Portraits demonstrate the wonderful creativity and talent of portrait artists of all ages in communities across the country. Last year I had the pleasure of meeting the entrant artists and seeing their work. AIB is very proud to once again sponsor these competitions and I am delighted to see the inspiring works that artists have produced this year. Find out more at www.nationalgallery.ie The median house price for houses sold with the Dundalk Eircode A91 in June 2025 was 330,000, according to figures released by the CSO (Central Statistics Office) in their Residential Property Price Index report. The county wide median house price for Louth now stands at 349,000 an increase of 4000 on the previous month. Of the 52 houses sold in Dundalk in June, 16 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 24 to former owner-occupiers and 12 were to non occupiers. Forty-six of these houses were existing builds while six were new homes. The median price of the new houses sold was 405,000 and the median price of existing houses sold in June was 262,500. In Drogheda, the median price of residential properties sold in A92: Drogheda in June 2025, was 370,000. Of the 106 houses sold in Drogheda in June, 58 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 44 to former owner-occupiers and 4 were to non occupiers. Fifty-three of the houses sold were new houses and the other fifty-three were existing. The median price for the new houses sold was 420,601 while for existing houses it was 335,000. Commenting on the release, Niall Corkery, Statistician in the Prices Division, said: Residential property prices rose by 7.8% in the 12 months to June 2025, unchanged from the 7.8% in the year to May 2025. In Dublin, residential property prices saw an increase of 6.6%, while property prices outside Dublin were 8.8% higher in June 2025 when compared with a year earlier. In the 12 months to June 2025, house prices in Dublin rose by 6.6% while apartment prices also increased by 6.6%. The highest house price growth in Dublin was in Fingal at 8.0% while both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin saw a rise of 5.5%. Read Next: Dundalk IT launches healthy campus plan to promote student and staff wellbeing Outside Dublin, house prices were up by 9.0% and apartment prices rose by 6.6%. The region outside of Dublin that saw the largest growth in house prices was the West (Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon) at 10.3%, while at the other end of the scale, the South-East (Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford) saw a 7.1% rise. Households paid a median or mid-point price of 370,000 for a residential property in the 12 months to June 2025. The highest median price paid for a dwelling was 675,000 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, while the lowest was 190,000 in Leitrim. The most expensive Eircode area over the 12 months to June 2025 was A94 (Blackrock, Dublin) with a median price of 780,000, while F45 (Castlerea, Roscommon) had the least expensive price of 148,000. Marty Morrissey is encouraging people across Louth to get behind a major national fundraiser supporting the angels in Irelands hospices. The Gaelic games broadcaster said he is conscious of his own mortality and would like to receive hospice care in his final days, having witnessed it first-hand. He was speaking as ambassador for Bewleys Big Coffee Morning for Hospice, the annual charity partnership which has raised 47.6million for hospice care since 1992. The fundraiser, organised by Together for Hospice, takes place nationwide on September 25. My lust for life is as strong today as it was when I was 22 or 23, the RTE commentator said. But as you get older, youre far more conscious of getting blood tests done, dreading the results but hoping everything is fine. It is the circle of life, all we can do is hope that we can put it (death) off for as long as we can. Im in no rush to get to the other side! Morrissey said he personally witnessed the compassion shown by hospice staff when relatives received palliative care in the past. I thought it was amazing. Anyone who has visited a loved one in a hospice will be aware of the serenity, peace and joy the good feeling that a loved one is being really well minded. The work being done by nurses and care staff is truly incredible, they are a gift from God, they are angels. If I was heading into my final days, I would like that for myself and for my family. What Im trying to do as ambassador, in a very small way, is to support the people who do it, and I am urging everyone in Louth to go to hospicecoffeemorning.ie and get involved. Anne Newell, Treasurer, North Louth Hospice Homecare, said: Bewleys Big Coffee Morning for Hospice, one of our longest and most-loved fundraisers, is now in its 33rd year raising funds for Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland. Right across Ireland, we are asking everyone to celebrate our countless coffee morning hosts, who give so selflessly of their time and energy in their local communities. This support is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives, greatly improving care for patients with life-limiting illness. Read Next: Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly to visit Dundalk Col Campbell of Bewleys Ireland, said the company is honoured to again support the event, recognised as the countrys most successful charity partnership. Bewleys, an iconic Irish brand, was founded on the strong principle of caring for people and communities, which ties in perfectly with the ethos of Together For Hospice. We encourage everyone to host or attend a coffee morning, wherever they are in Ireland, to help support the incredible work that hospices nationwide carry out every day. The Patrick Kavanagh Centre in association with the Patrick Kavanagh Society and SoFFt Productions have announced Kavanagh Weekend 2025. It will take place over three days between Friday September 26th and Sunday September 28th 2025 in The Patrick Kavanagh Centre and The Round Tower Church in Inniskeen. The Kavanagh Weekend 2025 promises to be an unforgettable celebration of literature, music, and community, with a stellar lineup of events and performances. Headlining the festival is concertina virtuoso Cormac Begley and Michael Gallens Sudden Wells, setting the stage for a weekend rich in creativity. Festival highlights include the screening of Three Irish Writers, followed by a panel discussion with Frank McNally, John Connell, and Pat McCabe. The Saturday evening will also see the much-anticipated return of the music session curated by The Cobblestone at McNellos. Artist Dani Larkin joins as Artist-in-Residence, hosting numerous events throughout the weekend, including an offsite storytelling and music gathering at Brehon Brewhouse. Colm Keegan will inspire audiences with a series of poetry workshops, culminating in the announcement of the prestigious Kavanagh Poetry Award and the book launch of The Monsters Back. Read Next: Gardai seize e-scooter after rider caught doing wheelies in Dundalk town centre Following last years magical opening event, the Friday evening Procession of Light led by the Armagh Rhymers returns. New this year, The Rhymers will also lead a straw making and Performance workshop. With such a vibrant programme, Kavanagh Weekend 2025 is set to be a truly unmissable celebration of culture, creativity, and community in the heart of Inniskeen. Tickets can be bought: patrickkavanaghcentre.ticketsolve.com Weekend ticketing discounts are available. Contact Patrick Kavanagh Centre for details. The invaders losses during the day amounted to 840 units of military personnel and 118 units of equipment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a report as of 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. In particular, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed five tanks, four combat armored vehicles, 23 artillery systems, 86 units of automotive equipment and tank trucks. Air strikes cost the enemy 148 operational-tactical level UAVs. More than one thousand people marched through the streets of Dublin to call for justice for a young child who died after dealing with long delays for scoliosis surgery. Nine-year-old Harvey Morrison, who had scoliosis and spina bifida, died on July 29. His parents, Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt, said their son waited for years for spinal surgery, during which time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130 degrees. By the time Harvey received spinal surgery last December, the curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected. The curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing. His parents, opposition politicians and campaigners have called for the Tanaiste and former minister for health, Simon Harris, to step down, after he pledged in 2017 that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment. Speaking at the Justice for Harvey rally in Dublin, Ms Sherratt said that her son was forced to spend the majority of his life waiting for treatment. Harveys painfully short life was very much a rollercoaster. There were a lot of low times but the highs were what kept us going, she told the large crowd at Custom House. We often called Harvey our easy child, as despite how complex he was, he was also just so laid back and took everything on the chin. Harvey spent the majority of life waiting. He was made to wait for everything but he asked for nothing. All he wanted was his iPad, his Hunky Dorys, the odd lollipop and timely access to healthcare. To us, that seems like so little to ask. We could provide him with most things. We could ensure that almost all his needs were met, but we unfortunately didnt control all aspects of his healthcare. Despite doing everything we could, despite begging for help, we didnt have the final say. CHI (Childrens Health Ireland) has not only failed to met their basic needs, but they appear to he protecting those that indirectly or directly caused harm. Harvey was nine. He waited 33 months for scoliosis surgery and, in that time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130. He had to have his whole life put on hold while he waited. We cancelled family holidays, cancelled our wedding, postponed his sisters heart surgery as he sat and waited for a date for surgery. We had to watch him deteriorate, cry in pain, struggle to breathe and lose the sparkle in his eye over those 33 months. Most importantly it robbed him of his childhood, it robbed him of his comfort, robbed him of quality of life and robbed us of the opportunity to make precious family memories with him. That is something we will never get over. This is why we will continue to advocate. What we have been through, what Harvey has lived through, is soul-destroying. We will keep pushing in hope that no family will have to face what we did. This is something we vow to continue in his death. Among those attending Saturdays march were People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin and Senator Tom Clonan. Mr Murphy and Mr Toibin were among those to call for Mr Harris to resign. Mr Toibin has vowed to table a motion of no confidence in Mr Harris at the earliest opportunity. Ms McDonald said Mr Harris needs to be accountable for his absolute failure to meet the commitment he made in 2017. Asked if she will support a motion of no confidence in the Tanaiste, Ms McDonald said it should be done on a cross-party basis among opposition parties. Mr Morrison thanked the demonstrators. We would like to say a massive thank you for everyones support over the last few weeks. The level of support has been absolutely overwhelming, he said. We are here to call for justice for Harvey and all the other kids continuing to be failed by Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) and the state. Harvey was our first child. He is the one that made us parents, he made us a family and he made us into the people we are today. He showed us how to be brave, how to be patient, courageous and kind. Today we hope we make him proud. His parents are leading a campaign and have called for a public inquiry into governance at CHI. Mr Toibin said: I believe that the heartbreaking passing of Harvey can be a turning point in Irish society, one that makes real the objective of the proclamation of the Republic to make sure every child in this country is cherished. Mr Murphy said that Harvey has become a symbol for all the children badly failed by the state. For the hundreds of others waiting for necessary surgeries for scoliosis and being failed by the CHI. For all the other children, and other aspects of the CHI who are failed but the hundreds of kids who will not have appropriate school places come September. Harvey is a symbol for all of that. Its a failure of CHI, the Government and the State and a failure of Simon Harris. Sinn Fein has not yet decided whether to field its own presidential candidate or back another, Mary Lou McDonald said. The Dublin TD said she has been thinking about things on a personal level, but added that she has also been listening to the party on its views. She made the comments as she attended a Justice for Harvey protest in Dublin. Harvey Morrison, who had spina bifida and scoliosis, died last month aged nine. Asked whether the party had made its decision on whether to run its own candidate, Ms McDonald said: Well, look, were still in the process of deliberation. We have essentially two options. To stand a Sinn Fein candidate or to back another, and the party is still talking about that. Its August now. In September, well make that call. Well, Ive obviously been thinking about things on a personal level, but more importantly, Ive been leading and involved in and listening to the party conversation. Asked if she would like to be president, Ms McDonald said: I would like to be in the sunshine now walking the hills of north Portugal. Opposition parties who endorse presidential candidate Catherine Connolly hope that Sinn Fein will back her in the upcoming election. Asked if her party will support Ms Connolly if they rule out their candidate, Ms McDonald told reporters: Were looking at all options, and of course, the electorate will decide ultimately. It strikes me that outside of maybe political people and media people, when Im out and about, this is not the lead issue on peoples minds. People are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Thats what Im hearing. Kids are getting back to school. Young people are starting university and college. Theyre wondering what their fees are going to be. We have our process under way. Were weighing up all of those issues for us. I will say this, the issue of Irelands future and Irish reunification matters in this campaign, the issue of Irelands place in the world as a neutral but also as a champion of the UN system of the fair and equal application of international human rights. All of that matters in this campaign. I personally think our young people, we need to have a conversation about our young people. You could look across many other scenarios where Ireland at a time of great prosperity, our young people are being failed. I think that conversation across our society is long overdue. Ms Connolly has the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a range of other independents. Fianna Fail has yet to decide if it will field a candidate. Two hopefuls have announced their intention to seek Fine Gaels nomination for president. Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly and former party deputy leader Heather Humphreys announced their intention to seek nomination earlier this week. Nutriband entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, who also attended the justice rally on Saturday, is among other hopefuls seeking a nomination. Fordes Funeral Homes have appealed Cork City Councils refusal of their planning application to open a new service in Bishopstown to An Comisiun Pleanala. Fordes, who operate three funeral homes in Cork city, at South Gate Bridge, Carrigaline, and Turners Cross, had applied for permission for the development of a site of at the former Permanent TSB premises at 1 Curraheen Rd in Bishopstown, but this was refused last month. They had hoped to repurpose the former bank by changing its use, with the plans including the partial demolition of internal walls and partitions and a single storey building extension, as well as the construction of a new extension and new internal walls and partitions to facilitate two reposing areas, toilets, entrance and exit lobby, office, family room, and staff rooms. Several objections There were several objections by residents and local councillor Albert Deasy who said that the location was already the site of heavy traffic and that there would be insufficient parking. Cork City Council explained the reasons for their refusal of permission: The site is located in close proximity to the Curraheen Rd/Bishopstown Rd/Woodbrook Rd junction, which is a major junction serving two main arteries in and out of the city from the N40. Given the proximity of major institutions in the area such as Munster Technological University and Cork University Hospital, the junction experiences congestion on a daily basis, particularly at peak times. The proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard. Furthermore, the proposed development would increase the incidence of parking on a major traffic route and close to a major traffic junction and would endanger public safety by reason of obstruction of road users. Cork has been allocated 25 new gardai at the latest graduation from the Garda Training College in Templemore, with 20 going to the city and five to the county. In the city, seven new Garda graduates are to be assigned to Anglesea Street Garda Station, five to Gurranabraher, and four each to Mayfield and Togher. In the county, two graduates are going to Midleton, two to Mallow, and one to Bandon. The attestation ceremony saw the graduation of 154 probationers sworn gardai who must complete two years probation of whom 132, or 79%, are male and 22 are female. Speaking to The Echo, Taoiseach and Cork South Central TD Micheal Martin said he warmly welcomed the allocation of additional gardai to Cork. As the numbers have ramped up in Templemore, more and more gardai are being appointed, he said. There was a focus on Dublin initially and the impact of that has been significant, and now this 20 will create momentum in Cork city. Hopefully, over time, we can add even more to that in the time ahead, said the Taoiseach. Last month, Mr Martin told this newspaper that he had engaged with justice minister Jim OCallaghan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, and he had been promised 20 probationers for Cork. Between December 31, 2022, and May 31, 2025, the number of gardai declined by 46 in the Cork City Division to 663 and by 43 in the Cork North and Cork West divisions to 616. In allocations in March and June of this year, Cork city received three probationers each time, while the county also received three on both allocations. The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents the majority of garda rank-and-file officers, has repeatedly called for a greater allocation of resources to Cork. Padraig Harrington, GRA delegate for the Cork City Division, said the GRA was delighted at the news, but wanted to see the allocation repeated in subsequent graduations. We would like to see it replicated again in the next batch that are due out in November, and the next four or five batches that are due out, he said. We would need to be getting 20 to 30 each time to bring the numbers back up to sufficient levels. Three or five coming to Cork city out of Templemore is useless, youre not even touching the surface of problems. Thomas Gould, Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, said 20 gardai was a drop in the ocean and not sufficient for Corks needs. The Government is trying to make this a good news story, but 20 isnt going to keep up with the rate that were losing gardai in the city, he said. We needed a minimum of 100 [new] gardai. Seamus McGrath, Fianna Fail TD for Cork South Central, said that after recent disappointing allocations, the news represented a turning of the corner for Cork. I think its a step in the right direction, and we need to build on this into the future, he said. Colm Burke, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, said he was very happy to see more gardai for Cork. A visible garda presence is central to the Governments aim to build safe and secure communities, he said. The latest graduation brings the national garda strength to 14,408 sworn gardai, while there are 3,672 garda staff members and 296 garda reserves. Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) is urging any woman who was booked under the care of Private Midwives Ireland (PMI), and is currently 37 weeks pregnant or more, to contact their local maternity hospital as soon as possible. On Wednesday, August 15, Private Midwives Ireland, an independent provider of midwifery care across Ireland, ceased its services. Private Midwives Ireland said last week: Unfortunately, the current financial and political climate has made trading conditions exceedingly tough, and it has become increasingly costly to provide the service, whilst at the same time, fewer families can afford our service. Acknowledging the distress the closure could cause for women now having to reconsider birth plans at a late stage in pregnancy, the HSE is reassuring women that care and support are available. Each woman will be assessed individually and provided with an appropriate care plan. Women who are affected and have clinical concerns or are approaching their due date, 37 weeks or more, are encouraged to contact the CUMH on 021 4920 500. Dr Mairead ORiordan, clinical director at CUMH, said: We want to reassure any woman affected by the sudden closure of Private Midwives Ireland that we are here to support them. We urge women approaching their due date to contact their local maternity hospital and ask to be put through to the Bed Manager. From there, a plan will be put in place to ensure they receive timely and appropriate care as they prepare for the arrival of their baby. Many women will have built strong relationships with their midwife through PMI. If they wish, that midwife can attend the birth as their support person. Swimmers have been encouraged to avoid a popular West Cork spot as a dangerous jellyfish has been spotted in the water. As many as 100 Pelagia Mauve Stingers were spotted in the water at Lough Hyne near Skibbereen, Irelands first Marine Nature Reserve. The mauve coloured jellyfish are a golden brown colour as juveniles, and swimmers in the lake, which is also popular for late-night kayaking, are encouraged to avoid both colours. Skibbereeen Heritage centre shared the news online, writing: Around 100 Pelagia Mauve Stingers recorded around the circumference of the South Basin in Lough Hyne, but moving northwards, so will affect swimmers at the Lough, so swimming is not advisable at present. Please spread the word. They later posted an update: A lot of them are in the brown juvenile stage, so do take care as can still give quite a nasty sting and they are encroaching into the northern basin where people generally swim. Last year, thousands of Pelagia Mauve Stingers were spotted in Lough Hyne, with scientists warning that they pose a threat to other species and to humans. More common in the Mediterranean, they have been seen with increasing frequency in Ireland and the UK. Sea swimmers have been advised to stay out of the water, as the small purple jellyfish with long tentacles can emit a painful sting which can even scar. Local volunteers, businesses, and community leaders from across the Ballyhoura Region are preparing for the upcoming Ireland Canada Homecoming. Organised by Ballyhoura Development CLG, the event will welcome over 150 international guests from Canada and the United States from September 15 to 21, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Peter Robinson Emigration. The Homecoming honours the journey of over 2,500 Irish men, women, and children who emigrated to Upper Canada in 1825, and a week-long programme will reconnect descendants with the communities their ancestors once called home. Amanda Slattery, development manager at Ballyhoura Development, expressed her gratitude to all involved: The local voluntary effort going into presenting this programme is hugely impressive. We thank all the local communities, volunteers, and businesses for giving their time and support to reignite this almost forgotten piece of our local history. One that has been strengthened by the ongoing support of our Canadian friends in Nine Ships 1825 Inc., linking 200 years of shared heritage across the Atlantic. Programme highlights include community tours across Charleville, Liscarroll, Churchtown, Doneraile, Newtownshandrum, Milford, Colmanswell, Mitchelstown, Ballyporeen, Kilbehenny, Kildorrery, Kilfinane, Kilworth, Fermoy, Rathcormac, Ballyhooly, Castletownroche, and Mallow. There will also be a heritage tour to the Port of Cobh and the Cobh Heritage Centre the departure point of the 11 ships that carried the settlers to Canada in 1823 and 1825. Guests will be based in Mitchelstown, Kilmallock, Doneraile, Charleville and the surrounding areas, with up to 20 local accommodation providers hosting international visitors. Evening events will be open to the public, offering locals a unique opportunity to engage with this historic occasion. A new theatrical production by Callback theatre, will be held September 15 to 21 nightly at 8pm, at the Schoolyard Theatre, Charleville, while a Peter Robinson Settler Commemoration Concert will take place on September 19 at Saint Georges Arts and Heritage Centre, Mitchelstown. On September 20, the Peter Robinson Emigration Conference in the Mitchelstown centre will be opened by An Taoiseach Micheal Martin and His Excellency Dennis King, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, with guest speakers from Ireland, Canada, and the US. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/vadym.filashkin/ Head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration, Vadym Filashkin, reported the evacuation of more than seven thousand residents of Donetsk region with limited mobility to other regions of the country, where they have been provided with care and support. "This week alone, there were four evacuation flights: residents of Pokrovsk community are already in Lviv region; people from Dobropillia and Bilozerska communities are in Zhytomyr region; 20 people with limited mobility received shelter in Kyiv region; another 52 are in geriatric institutions in Kyiv region, where they will receive constant care. More than 7,000 of our fellow countrymen, who need special care are already safe," Filashkin wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday. According to him, people with limited mobility in the region arrive daily in the city of Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk region, where they are registered, provided with the necessary assistance and prepared for further departure to safe areas. Evacuation crews accompany people and help with things, and everyone has their own place in the evacuation cars. Users with Mississippi IP addresses can no longer access the Bluesky app. The decentralized social media network has explained in a post that Mississippi's new age verification law for social networks "would fundamentally change" how it operates, and it wouldn't be possible to comply with its small team and limited resources. Bluesky says that while it does follow the UK's Online Safety Act, it works very differently from Mississippi's approach to age verification. In the UK, it's only required to check for a user's age if they're accessing certain content and features. In Mississippi, however, it cannot allow anyone to access its service at all, unless they hand over sensitive data proving how old they are. Further, the platform will be required to keep track of which users are children under 18, and it will be responsible for making sure those users won't be able to access "harmful materials." Earlier this month, the Supreme Court decided not to intervene with the legislation, allowing it to go into effect. The service says that it doesn't have the significant resources needed to be able to build the required "verification systems, parental consent workflows and compliance infrastructure." In addition, it could be penalized with up $10,000 per user if the government finds it to be non-compliant. Because only big tech companies can afford the costs associated with those requirements, Bluesky says the "dynamic entrenches existing big tech platforms while stifling the innovation and competition that benefits users." Bluesky will now show a note to any user accessing the service from Mississippi, telling them why it's no longer available in the state. Prince Harry has been told any chance of returning to the royal family will come with strict conditions, including ending public criticism of the monarchy and curbing wife Meghan Markle's controversies, according to reports of a private peace summit. The 40-year-old Duke of Sussex has been estranged from the monarchy since stepping down from official duties in 2020. But sources say a meeting between senior aides for Harry and King Charles III in early July signaled a possible thaw in the years-long rift. The discussions, held at a private members' club in London, were described as "significant" by palace insiders. While the king has expressed affection for both his sons, advisers have stressed that Harry's frequent interviews and memoir detailing grievances against the royal family remain a major obstacle. "It has been made crystal clear to Harry by Charles that if he wants any chance of being welcomed back, he must stop attacking the family in public and ensure his wife avoids further controversy," one aide told reporters. The talks reportedly included Harry's staff from California and representatives from the king's communications team. Observers noted that the very act of convening the summit showed serious intent on both sides. However, reconciliation within the House of Windsor may not be simple. Prince William has reportedly struggled with the fallout from Harry's memoir, Spare, which detailed a physical altercation between the brothers. Court insiders suggest William feels "especially let down" by the revelations. Harry has previously said he is open to reconciliation, telling the BBC earlier this year that he "would like to get my father and brother back." But palace officials indicate any path forward will depend on Harry meeting the king's uncompromising conditions of calm and restraint. Former "Drake & Josh" star Drake Bell is officially single after a Florida judge granted a request to legally end his marriage to Janet Von Schmeling. Court documents filed Tuesday confirm that both Bell and Von Schmeling are now legally single, though their divorce proceedings are not yet fully finalized. The pair, who married in 2018 after five years of dating, still have to sort through important matters like property division, child support, and spousal support. They share one child, a 4-year-old son named Wyatt, TMZ said. Von Schmeling first filed for divorce in Los Angeles County in 2023, citing "irreconcilable differences." Bell filed his own paperwork in Seminole County, Florida, earlier this month, stating the marriage was "irretrievably broken." His filing included a request for the court to approve a parenting plan and a time-sharing schedule for their son. Drake Bell files for divorce from wife Janet Von Schmeling 3 years after split https://t.co/ADprxiZ28c pic.twitter.com/kj076bgurw New York Post (@nypost) August 16, 2025 Bell Prioritizes Son's Well-Being Amid Divorce Finalization Bell's manager, Juan Jose Rovirosa, told People in an email statement that the actor's recent court filing was just part of "concluding the legal process" that began last year. "Their priority remains the safety and well-being of their son, and they are doing so from a place of love and respect," he added. In a recent appearance on "The Unplanned Podcast," Bell opened up about co-parenting with his ex. He said that even during tough moments, he and Janet make sure their son hears only positive words from both parents. "All my son knows is that me and his mom love each other," Bell said. "We're not together, but we respect each other and love him unconditionally." He continued, "Whenever he's with me and says he misses his mom, I tell him, 'I love mama too. Mama's amazing.' That's what he hears from me, always." Despite the separation, Bell emphasized that he and Von Schmeling remain committed to raising their child in a loving and supportive environment. According to Bell, keeping any disagreements away from their son is a shared goal. As for what's next, Bell's manager noted the 39-year-old actor is "fully focused on his music and ongoing projects." Gary Coleman, once among television's highest-paid child stars with a fortune estimated at $18 million, died nearly broke at the age of 42 after years of legal battles, family rifts and financial mismanagement. Coleman, who shot to fame at age 10 as Arnold Jackson on the hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, reportedly earned $70,000 per episode at the height of the show's popularity, the equivalent of more than $200,000 today. But much of his wealth was lost in disputes with his parents and advisers, who controlled his earnings while he was a minor. In 1989, Coleman sued his parents, accusing them of siphoning more than $1.3 million from his accounts. A judge later determined that at least $770,000 had been withdrawn and placed into unsuccessful investments. Though Coleman won the case, financial struggles persisted, and he declared bankruptcy in 1999. The actor's career faltered after Diff'rent Strokes ended in 1986, though he made appearances on shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Married... with Children. Friends said the pressures of early fame left lasting scars. Reports from The Independent noted that Coleman often vomited after filming scenes as a child and resented being pushed into roles. Coleman died in 2010 from an intracranial hemorrhage following a fall at his Utah home. His death resurfaced this week after his ex-wife, Shannon Price, appeared on A&E's new series Lie Detector: Truth or Deception. Price, who divorced Coleman in 2008, allegedly failed key questions about whether she withheld help during his fall or caused the incident. She has denied any wrongdoing. Though Coleman's quick wit and catchphrase, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" cemented his place in pop culture history, his life ended far from the success he once enjoyed. Michelle and Barack Obama have pressed their daughters, Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24, to "date a lot," insiders tell RadarOnline.com. The former first couple is supposedly desperate for their daughters not to repeat their own "doomed" union. Former first lady Michelle, 61, weighed in on dating in a recent IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson podcast. She said, "The thing that I did do was date a lot," she explained. "And so when Barack showed up, I had experiences to compare him against. I knew a lot of how I didn't like this. I didn't like that." She went on with tips for her daughters; Michelle contributed, "So my whole thing is date. Date a lot, and if you run into a bad date or have a bad experience, move on quickly." The comments follow rampant speculation that Michelle and Barack, 64, are "secretly divorcing" and poised to split their estimated $70 million fortune. An insider said Michelle would remain in control of their Higher Ground production company and a few real estate investments, while Barack would retain their Washington, D.C., home and a portion of their stock portfolio. Barack also appeared on Michelle's podcast to look back at their marriage. Speaking in a humorous moment when Craig Robinson asked them if they liked each other, Barack joked, "She took me back it was touch and go for a while." Michelle pushed back on the rumors of divorce, insisting she was committed. She insisted, "There hasn't been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quittin' my man." She continued to explain their life together. Michelle further explained, "had some really hard times, we've had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I'm married to" Earlier this year, Barack confessed to remaining stress from his presidency. Talking in April to the president of Hamilton College, he admitted, "I was in a deep deficit with my wife... so I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things." Even with Michelle's protest, rumors persist. She added that when she missed high-profile appearances, folks jumped to the conclusion that her marriage was on the rocks. During an interview Today, Jenna Bush Hager remembered asking her father, former President George W. Bush, about the divorce rumors. According to Hager, "was kind of mad that I called to even ask"insisting, "That isn't true. I know them, and it isn't true." Nevertheless, sources say the couple has already made plans. One source claimed, "The Obamas' divorce deal is now the worst-kept secret in politics. They are done and are putting on a united show for their brand." The insider continued, "The reason they have told their kids to date around is because they don't want them rushing into a relationship and marriage that could leave them broken as people. In other words, they don't want them ending up like they have" ." Anuradha Chenoy writes: The next step in Israels diabolical plan of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people is the military occupation of Gaza City, announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with support from his security cabinet (8 August 2025) and green-lighted by President Donald Trump. This implies forced displacement of Palestinian civilians from north Gaza into central campsa move that violates international humanitarian law and escalates the ongoing genocide. United Nations (UN) officials, including the spokesperson of UN chief Antonio Guterres, describe the humanitarian crises in Gaza as beyond catastrophic. After months of indiscriminate bombing and forced displacement with thousands of Gazans killed, of which almost one-third were children, the Israeli bloodlust remains unsatisfied and conditions for starvation in Gaza are rife. Independent experts call the situation a planned famine. Reports from the global hunger monitors reveal that the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip, and widespread death is predicted if there is no immediate action. Some humanitarian foundations do the opposite of what they are meant to; for example, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) that reduced 400 aid sites to just four aid distribution centres. These became death traps for hungry Palestinians as the Israeli army fired deliberately on unarmed hungry crowds, killing hundreds in a day. One in four in the Gaza Strip, that is, over 5,70,000 people, are starving due to the Israeli siege. Depriving people of food and water is a violation of international humanitarian law. The negotiations between the Israeli government and Hamas have broken off many times, but Hamas has said that it has accepted ceasefire proposals, whereby the Israeli army would allow the entry of humanitarian aid and half of the 50 Israeli captives held by Hamas would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners within a period of 60 days of this ceasefire (Al Jazeera, 18 August 2025). Mediated by the Qataris and Egyptians, there is unease about an end to this siege because Hamas is looking for a permanent end to this conflict, while Israel seeks a temporary truce to continue its agenda. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich explained the plan to bring back Israeli settlers who had earlier left Gaza and to reoccupy it. Israel has approved a settlement project to build 3,400 new housing units that will divide the West Bank into two and bury any prospect of a two-state solution (BBC, 20 August 2025). The real-estate angle of a Riviera of the Middle East announced in February by President Trump persists as he indicated that plans for the Gaza takeover were up to the Israelis. This again violates international law. The degeneration of Israeli society is palpable. A survey showed that three quarters of all Israelis agreed with the statement there are no innocent people in Gaza, including children (Haaretz, 10 June 2025). Gideon Levy, an Israeli dissenting columnist, writes: The weapon of deliberate starvation is working. hundreds of Gazans have been shot while waiting for packages. Children lie on hospital floors on bare beds or carried in donkey carts. These are pictures from hell. In Israel people reject these photos, doubting their veracity. Others express their joy and pride on seeing starving babies (Haaretz, 24 July 2025). There is a system in place to exterminate much of the 2.1 million Palestinian people who remain in Gaza, and force others away. This system has enabled the bombing of Gazas hospitals, and targeted healthcare workers (killing at least 70 in MayJune 2025). This system believes that suppressing dissent and killing journalists hide these crimes. So, 192 journalistsof whom 184 are Palestinianshave been killed according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. This system destroys Palestinian institutions of culture and learning and kills writers and poets. The spine of this settler-colonial system is the Israeli economys integration with Western corporate entities that enable policies of dispossessing and ethnically cleansing Palestinians, supporting Israeli expansionism, stifling the Palestinian economy. The report, From economy of occupation to economy of genocide, by the UN rapporteur for human rights for Palestine, Francesca Albanese provides scathing evidence that myriad Western private multinational companies benefit from every sector, using Palestinian labour and extractive conditions, allowing degradation of natural resources. Palestinians are forced to purchase water from aquifers in their own territories. The military industrial complex, where big technology companies combine with military ones (Palantir and others), created special programmes to generate automated lists of kill targets. The report concludes that Israels genocide continues because it is lucrative for many. The forever settler-colonial occupation has turned genocide into profit. The impunity from international law and legitimisation comes from Israels United States (US) alliance that provides 70% of Israels arsenal and support from Western capitals. France and Britain say that they will recognise the state of Palestine but have done nothing to bring an end to the murderous actions of Israel. Anyway, Netanyahu has said that sovereign security control will remain with Israel. The Arab regimes of West Asia verbally criticises Israeli policies even as they continue to suppress internal dissent and deepen ties with Israel. Egypt is building a wall on its border with Gaza to prevent mass displacement and spillover. Israeli energy company NewMed signed a $35 billion deal to supply natural gas to Egypt, tripling its imports and binding Cairos energy future to Israel. Israels trade with the United Arab Emirates of $3 billion annually since 2023 is rising. In 2022, Morocco purchased a $500 million Israeli defence system and created a corridor of influence. Turkiye remains a key trading partner of Israel while supporting Hamas. Israel uses US-backed military force for hegemony in the region and its interest in oil pipelines. In Syria, Tel Aviv now occupies 250 square kilometres (sq km) in rural Damascus, which it had seized when former President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by terrorist al-Julani, renamed Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was installed as President of Syria with USTurkeyIsraeli backing. The US has now allowed foreign jihadists and ex-rebels into the Syrian army. In Lebanon, Israeli forces maintain a presence over the 30 to 40 sq km border. Syria and Lebanon face pressure from Washington to normalise relations with Israel. Israel threatens to again attack Iran, keeping it on constant alert. The region is unstable and militarised. A just solution can come if the world chooses to put into action the suggestion of UN Secretary General Guterres to create a just and sustainable two statesIsrael and Palestine within secure, recognised borders based on the pre-1967 lines with Jerusalem as the capital of bothin line with international law and UN resolutions. But Israel has stymied this. The International Court of Justice had passed a provisional order (March 2024), instructing Israel to provide full spectrum humanitarian relief and essential services to Palestinians through the UN. So, there are clear orders to act and it is a matter of shame that these are not implemented. Signatories to the Humanitarian Law Convention could make Israel comply if they had the moral courage. Instead, Israel is allowed to carry on with genocide. The EU transferred EUR10.1 billion in revenue from frozen funds of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to Ukraine in the first half of 2025 to support military and civilian projects in the country, the German publication Welt am Sonntag, citing data from the European Commission, reads. "According to these data, the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received EUR 1 bln in interest income annually in March, May, June and July; EUR 3 bln in January; and EUR 3.1 bln in April. The Russian assets themselves are owned by the Belgian company Euroclear, which stores securities and settles stock transactions. In 2022, the EU confiscated a total of EUR 210 bln from Russia," the publication says. At the same time, it is noted that some politicians are unhappy with this procedure and want to make all funds available to Kyiv, and not just the interest on them. "The time has come to use Russian funds directly. Either to provide economic support to Ukraine, or to finance weapons systems," EU MP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann said in a comment to the publication. But economists warn of devastating consequences for the financial system. "The whole issue is quite emotional. Many people, of course, think it is morally right to give the frozen money to Ukraine... Central banks need to be sure that their reserves abroad are safe," said French economist Nicolas Veron, who works at the Brussels-based Bruegel think tank and the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, adding that this is a central element of the global monetary order. From: Mitchell P. Davis -- Editor and Publisher of www.ExpertClick.com Washington , DC Saturday, August 23, 2025 News Release ExpertClick Launches NewsMakerTools Marketing Services News Release Are Your Press Releases Getting Noticed? ExpertClick Launches NewsMakerTools Marketing Services Optimizing press releases matters more than ever. ExpertClick's NewsMakerTools gives PR pros the edge to make headlines. Discover NewsMakerTools + Free Press Release September Introductory Offer: PR professionals can "stick a toe in the water" with a complimentary press release written and distributed by our in-house team, free of charge. What NewsMakerTools Delivers Members enjoy special savings on a full suite of services plus a free press release with membership: Manual Release Distribution We'll post your content (from copy you send or an e-mail newsletter we subscribe to): $75 each, six-release minimum. (Content provided by client; no writing included.) Banner Ad Development & Placement at ExpertClick $379 annually. Includes a fully designed leaderboard and placement on the topic of your choice. See sample. Twitter Integration Connect your News Release Wire account to your Twitter feed: $188. E-mail Opt-In HTML for your ExpertClick profile $975 setup. Includes: account setup, opt-in lift HTML on your Press Room page, and a three-wave automated response e-mail sequence. Google AdWords Program to drive traffic to your ExpertClick URL. $775 setup 35% monthly service fee $175 minimum monthly ad spend. Prefer a comprehensive solution? We offer a $5,000 annual retainer for complete services. A la carte costs are subject to change. Beyond Distribution Why It Matters "Getting coverage today requires more than sending a release it takes smart targeting, digital integration, and creative execution. NewsMakerTools gives professionals the right mix to amplify their reach" [Insert Spokesperson Name], [Title], ExpertClick Find Us At a time when Kenya is facing new trade tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is scheduled to expire next month, Kenya took a step ahead in signing a reciprocal trade pact with the United States. Kenyan trade cabinet secretary Lee Kinyanjui led a high-level delegation recently to Washington, DC, for talks with US trade representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer. The Kenyan government termed the meeting a key step toward securing a formal trade pact. As Kenya is facing new US tariffs and the AGOA will expire next month, the country's trade cabinet secretary Lee Kinyanjui led a high-level delegation recently to Washington, DC, for talks with USTR Jamieson Greer. Nairobi termed the meeting a key step toward securing a formal trade pact. Several US firms had expressed interest in establishing or expanding their presence in Kenya, Kinyanjui said. The discussions were built on earlier engagements Kinyanjui held with Greer in March 2025 and a separate round of talks held by prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi in May, Kinyanjui said. Kenya is deeply interested in the commencement of formal negotiations with the United States Government. A reciprocal trade agreement is crucial for securing long-term access to the US market for Kenyan products and will provide the stability needed to unlock new investments, Kinyanjui was quoted as saying by domestic media reports. Several US firms had expressed interest in establishing or expanding their presence in Kenya, he said, adding that a structured framework would make them confident to move forward. US-Kenya trade stood at $1.5 billion in 2024. Kenya has been chasing a trade pact with the United States since July 2022, when it announced its intention to negotiate a strategic trade and investment partnership with the latter. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) The Bhutani Filmfare Awards Punjabi 2025 is scheduled to take place today, at the prestigious IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali. The event will witness a star-studded celebration of the bests of Punjabi cinema. The main ceremony will begin shortly, but the preparation for the event has been happening since the press conference for the awards. The press conference was held on August 13, 2025. It was graced by Sargun Mehta, Ashwini Chatley, Director, Bhutani Group, Sanchit Chopra, Senior Vice President, EaseMyTrip, Abhishek Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, Force of Talent, and Jitesh Pillaai, Editor, Filmfare. The highly anticipated award function will witness electrifying and scintillating performances by Yo Yo Honey Singh, Urvashi Rautela, Neeru Bajwa, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Maniesh Paul and Soundarya Sharma and more. The performers have been preparing for some time, with many telling Filmfare that they are excited for the ceremony. Speaking about the highly anticipated edition, Mr. Rohit Gopakumar, Director of Worldwide Media and CEO of ZENL, BCCL TV & Digital Network, shared, "Punjabi cinema has always stood out for its vibrant storytelling, cultural richness, and artistic brilliance. With the support of our partners, Filmfare Awards Punjabi 2025 is all set to be the biggest celebration of Punjabi Cinema." Jitesh Pillaai, Editor, Filmfare, shared, "Punjabi cinema is a powerhouse of storytelling, music, and talent that resonates with audiences across the globe. At Filmfare, we take pride in celebrating this vibrant spirit, honouring the creativity and passion that drive the industry. This years edition will be bigger, brighter, and more spectacular than ever." After the award ceremony, an after party has also been prepared for the guests. It will take place today at Koyo Koyo, Chandigarh, in collaboration with luxury partner Longitude 77. Also Read: When Simi Chahal lit up the stage with her vibrant performance at the Filmfare Awards Punjabi 2017 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / August 22, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTC:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) reports two investor relations engagements. The Company has engaged Apaton Finance GmbH ("Apaton"), wholly owned by Mario Hose, of Ellernstr. 34, 30175 Hannover, Germany (email: office@apaton-finance.de; phone: +49 511 6768 731), pursuant to which Apaton will provide to the Company certain investor relations services, including but not limited to activities that are designed to enhance brand visibility, educate and engage stakeholders, and drive investor engagement in Germany. In particular, Apaton provides dissemination of Company news releases and German translations on social media platforms and through opt-in email publication. Under the terms of the engagement, Apaton will provide the services for a period of three months from August 25, 2025, until November 28, 2025.In consideration of the services, the Company will pay Apaton a cash fee of Euro 56,000 per month. The engagement can be terminated by the Company at any time. No equity consideration shall be paid in connection with the engagement. The Company has also engaged Cayo Ventures GmbH ("Cayo"), wholly owned by Yves Toelderer, of Grafenauweg 8, 6300 Zug, Switzerland (email: hello@cayo.ch; phone: +41 765 214 100), pursuant to which Cayo will provide to the Company certain investor relations services, including but not limited to providing German language engagement through opt-in email press release distribution, and digital marketing services designed to drive internet traffic to the Company's website. Under the terms of the engagement, Cayo will provide the services from August 25, 2025, until December 31, 2025. In consideration of the services, the Company will pay Cayo a cash fee of up to Euro 30,000 per week; however, it may be reduced on a week-to-week basis at the discretion of the Company depending on the number of trading days per week and other internal cash management decisions. The engagement can be terminated by the Company at any time. No equity consideration shall be paid in connection with the engagement. About BioNxt Solutions Inc. BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery platforms, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. Its proprietary platforms include sublingual thin films, transdermal patches, oral tablets, and a new targeted chemotherapy platform designed to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors while reducing side effects. With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide. BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com. BioNxt Solutions Inc. Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director Email: info@bionxt.com Phone: +1 604-250-6162 Forward-Looking Information The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/promotional-activity-engagements-1064541 Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - August 22, 2025) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (OTCQB: DTCFF) (FSE: DTC) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a leading biotechnology company specialized in drug delivery technologies, is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of debenture units (the "Units") at a price of $1,000 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,200,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit will consist of (i) one $1,000 principal amount of 8.0% convertible debenture (a "Debenture"), and (ii) 1,666 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"). The Debentures will bear interest at 8.0% per annum and will mature two years following the issue date. The Debentures are unsecured and will rank pari passu in right of payment of principal and interest with all the existing and future unsecured indebtedness of the Company. The principal amount of each Debenture will be convertible at the option of the holder into common shares in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") at the conversion price of $0.60 per Common Share (the "Conversion Price"). The accrued interest of the Debentures will be paid annually in Shares at the Conversion Price or in cash at the Company's election. Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.75 per Warrant Share for a period of two years from the issue date. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the closing date of the Offering in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Completion of the Offering is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all regulatory approvals. The Company may pay a finder's fee in connection with the Offering to eligible arm's length finders in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Debentures and the Shares which may be issued on exercise thereof have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. About Defence: Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and engineering the next generation of ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM technology, which enables precision delivery of ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against cancer. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, 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/263602 SOURCE: Defence Therapeutics Inc. DELRAY BEACH, Fla. , Aug. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Targeted Protein Degradation Market, valued at US$0.01 billion in 2024, stood at US$0.48 billion in 2025 and is projected to advance at a resilient CAGR of 35.4% from 2025 to 2035, culminating in a forecasted valuation of US$9.85 billion by the end of the period. This is mainly due to various factors such as Priority/Fast Track designations and expected first-in-class approvals & and multi-indication expansion. However, the CMC & scale-up complexity for heterobifunctional & IP disputes are predicted to cause market growth barriers. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=219352281 Browse in-depth TOC on "Targeted Protein Degradation Market" 380 - Tables 60 - Figures 402 - Pages By formulation, the global targeted protein degradation market is segmented by formulation into two main categories: oral and injections. In 2024, the oral formulations segment holds the highest share in the formulation landscape of the novel TPD market, driven by its favorable pharmacokinetics, patient compliance, and manufacturing scalability. Oral delivery remains the preferred route due to its non-invasive nature and ease of administration, which significantly enhances patient adherence, especially in chronic or long-term treatments. The advancements in medicinal chemistry have enabled the development of orally bioavailable degraders, overcoming early limitations of poor solubility and permeability. Many first-generation PROTACs faced challenges with oral bioavailability due to their large molecular weight and polarity; however, recent innovation in structural optimization has yielded degrader candidates suitable for oral dosing without compromising efficacy. From a commercial perspective, oral formulations offer cost-efficiency in distribution and storage, adding to their attractiveness. Oral TPD candidates in oncology, immunology, and neurology have shown promising clinical progress, reinforcing confidence in this route. As the TPD field matures, oral formulations are expected to dominate clinical pipelines and product launches, setting the standard for patient-friendly, scalable therapeutic solutions. The continued investment in optimizing oral bioavailability across heterobifunctional and molecular glue degraders is anticipated to fuel segment growth. By Type, the PROTACs (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras) segment was the fastest-growing within the targeted protein degradation (TPD) market due to their ability to selectively eliminate, rather than inhibit, disease-causing proteins. By leveraging the natural ubiquitin-proteasome system of cells, PROTACs redirect E3 ligases to tag specific proteins for degradation, offering a novel approach to address previously undruggable targets. Unlike conventional inhibitors, PROTACs can achieve greater potency and sustained therapeutic effects, often requiring lower doses and showing potential to overcome resistance mechanisms. This has sparked intense interest from the pharmaceutical industry, leading to a rapidly expanding pipeline with numerous candidates advancing through preclinical and clinical development. Clinical-stage PROTACs like ARV-471, ARV-110, and NX-2127 are being evaluated in oncology, particularly in hormone-driven cancers. Ongoing innovation in linker chemistry, E3 ligase selection, and optimization for oral delivery is driving improvements in drug-like properties. With increasing investments, strategic collaborations, and a broadening scope across therapeutic areas, PROTACs are poised to become a cornerstone of next-generation drug discovery. Their versatility and ability to precisely degrade specific proteins continue to position them as a leading modality within the growing TPD market. By geography, the market for targeted protein degradation is divided into six segments: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. North America holds the largest share in the targeted protein degradation (TPD) market, driven by strong R&D infrastructure, robust funding ecosystems, and a favorable regulatory environment. The region is home to several pioneering biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies that are leading the development of TPD platforms, particularly PROTACs and molecular glues. Major players such as Arvinas, C4 Therapeutics, and Nurix Therapeutics are headquartered in the US, benefiting from access to top-tier research institutions and a highly skilled scientific workforce. In addition, consistent capital inflow from venture capital firms, public markets, and strategic pharmaceutical partnerships has accelerated innovation and clinical progression of TPD candidates. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also played a critical role by granting fast track and orphan drug designations to promising TPD candidates, thereby expediting their development and regulatory pathways. Increasing investment in oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune indications, which are the key therapeutic areas for TPDs, will continue to drive demand in the region. Academic-industry collaborations, the presence of large-scale clinical trial networks, and a strong intellectual property framework further enhance the leadership position of North America. These combined factors position the region to achieve the highest growth trajectory in the global TPD market. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=219352281 Key players in the targeted protein degradation market include Bristol Myers Squibb (US), Arvinas (US), BeiGene (US), Nurix (US), Kymera (US), C4 Therapeutics (US), Stemline Therapeutics (US), AstraZeneca (UK), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Bayer (Vividion) (Germany), Captor Therapeutics (Poland), Ranok Therapeutics (US), Pfizer (US), Novartis (Switzerland), and Foghorn Therapeutics (US). Bristol Myers Squibb: Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) is a key player in the targeted protein degradation (TPD) market, leveraging its extensive drug development capabilities to advance next-generation therapeutics. BMS was among the earliest large pharmaceutical companies to recognize the potential of TPD, particularly through molecular glues that reprogram E3 ligases to degrade disease-causing proteins. The company inherited significant TPD assets and expertise by acquiring Celgene, including its partnership with Evotec and initial collaborations with startups such as C4 Therapeutics. BMS continues to build a robust pipeline of TPD candidates, especially in oncology and immunology, where traditional small molecules or biologics have limited efficacy. Its approach combines in-house discovery with strategic partnerships to broaden target scope and accelerate clinical progression. With ongoing investments in E3 ligase biology and protein degradation mechanisms, BMS is positioning itself as a long-term leader in the TPD space. Its focus on molecular glues and degrader programs highlights a commitment to expanding and offering new therapeutic avenues for complex diseases. Arvinas: Arvinas is a pioneer in the targeted protein degradation (TPD) field, recognized for being the first company to bring a PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera) degrader into clinical trials. Founded on technology from Yale University, Arvinas has developed a proprietary platform that harnesses the ubiquitin-proteasome system to selectively degrade disease-causing proteins. Its clinical pipeline includes ARV-110 and ARV-471, which target androgen and estrogen receptors in prostate and breast cancers, respectively. Its strong scientific foundation and first-mover advantage have positioned it as a leader in the TPD space. In addition to internal programs, Arvinas has formed high-profile collaborations with Pfizer and Bayer, leveraging its platform to explore new targets and therapeutic areas beyond oncology. These partnerships validate its technology and provide significant funding and development support. As the TPD field matures, Arvinas stands out for its clinical progress, strategic alliances, and expanding expertise in rational degrader design, which could lead to transformative therapies for patients with limited treatment options. For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery Market Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Drug Discovery Services Market Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Get access to the latest updates on Targeted Protein Degradation Companies and Targeted Protein Degradation Market Size About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. 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Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/targeted-protein-degradation-market-worth-9-85-billion-by-2035-with-35-4-cagr--marketsandmarkets-302536519.html Rio Tinto deeply regrets to announce that an employee of a contracting company has died following an incident at the SimFer mine site in Nzerekore, Guinea on Friday 22 August. Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said: "We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues impacted by this tragic event as well as the wider community. We will offer all the support we can at this very difficult time and a thorough investigation will take place together with the relevant authorities to establish the causes of this tragic incident." Incoming Chief Executive Simon Trott said: "At Rio Tinto, the safety of every member of the workforce is our main priority. It is devastating to lose a colleague in this way and I will be traveling to Guinea to spend time with our team there. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure the safest possible work environment where everyone goes home safely to their family after every shift." All activity at the SimFer mine site is currently suspended and support is in place for colleagues impacted by this event. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250823094224/en/ Contacts: Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com Media Relations, United Kingdom Matthew Klar M +44 7796 630 637 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Bruce Tobin M +61 419 103 454 Rachel Pupazzoni M +61 438 875 469 Media Relations, Canada Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973 Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152 Media Relations, US Jesse Riseborough M +1 202 394 9480 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Rachel Arellano M: +44 7584 609 644 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Laura Brooks M +44 7826 942 797 Weiwei Hu M +44 7825 907 230 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Phoebe Lee M +61 413 557 780 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 riotinto.com Category: General 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! Actor and author Soha Ali Khan steps into the world of podcasting with her brand-new show, All About Her. Seamlessly blending warmth, authenticity, and depth, the series brings together celebrated voices and leading experts in conversations that feel refreshingly real and impactful. Designed to move beyond surface chatter, the podcast creates a meaningful space that cuts through digital clutter, offering audiences honest stories, fresh perspectives, and practical takeaways on health, wellness, work, and lifemaking it a must-listen journey of inspiration and reflection. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the actress opened up on all of it. Edited excerpts from the interview Where did the idea of the podcast All About Her came from? So the idea of All About Her really came from my own personal experience, especially over the last year, when I have spent a lot of money trying to understand how to optimize my wellness because I really feel like in my 40s, my body is going through a bunch of changes, some of which I understand and some of which I dont and some of which are frustrating to me. So Ive met nutritionists, gynaecologists, Ive met therapists, Ive met doctors, fitness experts. And I have really achieved a better understanding of myself, but its a work in progress. And I really thought, why not invite some of these experts, as well as some women who are perhaps going through a journey with a particular subject and build a conversation around a particular theme. So whether its nutrition, physical fitness, epilepsy, raising neurodivergent children, suicide prevention, work-life balance, theres a host of topics that affect us as women. So weve invited these people, weve recorded some of them, we have a long list of subjects to explore in the coming months. And this is something that I just want to do to create a community, create a non-judgmental, unfiltered space where we can continue to have conversations about things that we should be talking about. What does the title of your podcast suggest? Everything touches our lives. And this is a podcast where we sort of do a deep dive into a number of issues, some of which are more generic, like nutrition, and some of which are more specific, like raising neurodivergent children. So its all about her, but its not just for her. It is also for him, because as Ive said before, I think that we would all as society be improved by a better understanding of our gender, which is her. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We have conversations and are starting to have conversations pertaining to her, but mainly the comfortable ones. And we need to scratch the surface and really get deeply involved into the uncomfortable subjects sometimes, whether its hormones, whether its perimenopause, whether its menstruation, whether its emotional well-being, whether its marital disharmony, whether its domestic violence or abuse. There are a range of subjects that were not talking about enough. As an interviewer, what are the cliches that youre avoiding or trying to avoid while talking to your guests? Well, Im a first-time interviewer. So I am becoming comfortable in the role, firstly, of not talking so much. Im so used to giving the answers from my lens that I have to reel back and say that this is not about me, its about her. Why have celebrities started opening up more in podcasts than those regular interviews? I think that a podcast, especially if you create the right environment, works. You know, sometimes with an interview also with the right journalist, with the right room and the right mood and the right energy and the right person, you can get a gold interview and that same person on another day will not be forthcoming. So its about timing, I think. What a podcast does, I think, is that it creates a sense of intimacy, with the sound conditions, with the, you know, especially if you just set it up in a way that, you know, the cameras are rolling and you dont have additional personnel in the room. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD You create an environment where you feel like you can have a conversation where youre being heard. I think often with interviews, we feel like were not being heard because sometimes youre having a conversation and that interviewer is not even listening to you. Theyre just going through their questions. And thats something all of us have experienced. So I think if the interviewer in that podcast is listening and is, you know, present, then I think that somebody will respond to that. Youre an actress. Youre now starting your podcast. Youre also a mother and an author. Whats your take on an actors work-life balance in todays time? I think that work-life balance for everyone now has become a little hectic post-COVID when weve got options of bringing your work home, working online. The lines are blurred and that creates sometimes an unprofessional environment at work and, you know, a disruptive environment at home. And I think that its important to try and create some kind of separation between the two for our own mental well-being. And thats something that I strive to do. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So when I am working, which usually Im wearing makeup. So Inaaya, for example, if Im wearing makeup, and Im working on that day, shed be like, Oh, where are you going? What are you doing? When will you be back? So thats like my body armour, which means, Im going in for my job. Some people dont have that. So I think its important to create some kind of distinction so that you can, I think its important to have that separation.